Bill Frist

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. That is correct.

Mr. FRIST. Yes.

Mr. FRIST. We expect them to act. They said they will act. This bill will be held at the desk. If they don't act, this bill will not be sent over. That is part of the unanimous consent request.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the Senate proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 481 submitted by Senator Santorum earlier today.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. I ask unanimous consent the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of S. 3027, introduced earlier today by Senator DeWine.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, today we are convening for this unusual Saturday session with the hope of finishing our work and adjourning the 108th Congress. We anticipate the omnibus conference report will arrive from the House of Representatives today. In all likelihood that would be early to midafternoon. I hope we will be able to have a short period of debate and then proceed to a vote on adoption of that conference report. Once the report arrives officially from the House of Representatives--again, I think it is going to be early to midafternoon, possibly around 2 o'clock--we would like to go to that bill at that point in time. As you can see before me, we have the copies, both here and each of the cloakrooms have several copies at this point in time. I know people have been interested and have been looking through the copies of that report. But we will be prepared to go to it this afternoon. One of the issues we will be checking with also, over the course of the rest of the morning and early afternoon, is to ask Members how much time they do want to spend on debate and how much debate time will be necessary in order that we can advise our colleagues with regard to their schedules. In addition, over the night--which was a long night for many people, both staff as well as Members, in bringing to a close the 108th Congress--there was a lot of work on the intelligence reform bill, the 9/11 intelligence reform bill. Huge progress has been made over the last 24 hours under the leadership, from the Senate side, of Senator Collins, joined by Senator Lieberman and, indeed, they have done yeoman's work in bringing us to this point. So if that conference report becomes available, we may also be considering intelligence reform over the course of the day. A third issue that we have spent a lot of time with yesterday and through last night and over the course of the morning is the nominations. People do not realize that in our calendar right now there are over 200 nominations pending that we either need to wrap up today or it will be in the next Congress. It is not 10 or 20 or 50 or 100; it is almost 200 nominations that have been held up for various reasons. But they made it to the calendar and I am very hopeful that over the course of the next several hours we can reach an agreement to address all 200 or so of those pending nominations. Many people are working on that. I just encourage our Members to continue to work on that. These individuals have accepted the call to public service in many different capacities. Yet because of inactivity on the floor of the Senate, they are going to be just a name in that book where if we can act on that, they will be allowed to proceed. They have gone through the entire process. I know it is incumbent upon us to act. We just have to find a way to confirm these noncontroversial executive nominations before we finish our work. Middle East Peace I want to comment on two things. First is a resolution we passed yesterday, last night, in support of democracy in the Middle East. On November 12, the President of the United States and the Prime Minister of England articulated their joint resolve to press for a peaceful resolution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. Specifically, they support the creation of a Palestinian State that is peaceful, that is democratic, that is free, and that is based and grounded on the rule of law, that will include free press and free speech and an open political process and religious tolerance. Last night, here in the Senate, we voted unanimously to ratify this vision. It is our hope that both parties to the roadmap will follow it to a peaceful resolution. With courage and determination on both sides, we believe, in fact we know, that peace can be achieved. Politics of Decency One final issue I want to spend a few minutes talking about is the people's expectation of how this body should function as we come together after what we know have been tough, competitive elections. Two days ago I had the opportunity to travel with Senator Daschle and a number of Senators and House Members to the opening of the Clinton Library, and it was remarkable, while I was there, the number of people from other countries--there was a huge delegation from other countries--who came forward and spoke about the remarkable flexibility, pliability, resilience of America in coming together after tough elections, aggressive elections. Within a week or 2 weeks, we come together. That is what the American people expect and that is characteristic of America. To accomplish the people's work, the Senate and Senators, the Members of this body, must work together and do work together. They must work toward consensus. They must conduct their affairs with respect for each other and with civility. They must practice those politics of decency. In my office, just down the hall, one of my predecessor Republican leaders, Everett Dirksen, has a portrait on the wall there. It reminds me that he was often an ardent antagonist of Democratic administrations. He broke with some in his party to lead the Nation's Republicans in support of the laws that ended legal racial discrimination in this country. He acted because he knew he was doing the right thing and the reasonable thing and the moral thing. He acted because the Nation needed, the Nation deserved, racial equality, and in acting he had to work with members of the other party. Indeed, he did, and he could. He had strong personal relationships with President Lyndon Johnson and the Democratic leader, Mike Mansfield. He worked alongside them to pass the historic 1964 Civil Rights Act and the groundbreaking 1965 Voting Rights Act. But without his will to cooperate, in all likelihood, neither would have become law. And Dirksen cared about keeping a civil atmosphere in Washington, DC. In 1969, he even rode in that Presidential inauguration with President- elect Nixon and President Johnson in an effort to smooth the troubled relationship between those two statesmen. In the last 4 years, with civility and the will to work together, we set tough new standards in fields such as education, with No Child Left Behind. We created the Department of Homeland Security, again coming together and working on the issue with great civility. I have been proud to work with numerous colleagues on issues important to me--with Senator Kerry aggressively, over a period of about a year, on issues surrounding AIDS and malaria and tuberculosis. I was deeply proud to work with my distinguished colleague from Louisiana, John Breaux, as we fashioned over the last several years, culminating last year, a Medicare modernization package that extended, for the first time in the history of Medicare, prescription drug coverage to seniors; and with Senator Ron Wyden on flexibility and accountability in education, and Senator Kennedy on issues surrounding public health and bioterrorism. Throughout our history, indeed, America has been governed best when the women and men of the Senate--and I should also add the House of Representatives--and the Executive have treated each other with respect and with civility and with decency. A lot of it comes down to personal relationships, which a lot of people don't see but really is the heart of this body. Rule XIX says--I don't need to remind my colleagues of the clear message of rule XIX of this body: No Senator in debate shall, directly or indirectly, by any form of words impute to another Senator or to Senators any conduct or motive unworthy or unbecoming a Senator. The American people have sent us a clear message as well. They want to move America forward, but they want to make sure we do it in a way that shows respect for one another. They reelected a Republican President, chose significant Republican majorities in both the House of Representatives and the Senate, but regardless of whether we are Republicans or whether we are Democrats, we all take the same pledge, which our new Senators will be doing in early January, to defend the same Constitution. It is our duty to represent all Americans. The American people expect us to work together, the American people want us to work together, and they deserve to have us work together. I know that all of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle share the same ultimate goal of a safer America, a more prosperous America, and a healthier America, and that none of us want to be thought of as blanket obstructionists to accomplishing this goal. We want to move with civility, with cooperation, working toward consensus. But all too often, as we all know--we have seen it in this body and outside the body and in committees--people tend to lean to partisan bickering. We need to move away from that because we have all seen that it does get in the way of our genuine, our shared desire to move America forward. Many believe things have worsened over time here in comparison to the way it may have been 15 years ago or 30 years ago. It is true that Senators of different parties rarely get together, or clearly don't get together as much as they did in more distant times. We come together for floor votes and we come together for occasional Senate dinners and we come together for weekly prayer breakfasts, many of us, but clearly we haven't generated those opportunities nearly as much as they were in the past. Every year, more and more people are commenting on the partisan divide and the bickering and the sniping back and forth. As my distinguished colleague, Senator Daschle, has said, it is not enough to say that society has become divided and throw up your hands. We have a higher responsibility, he says, and I quote his words, ``to try to bridge the divide, not simply mirror or exploit it.'' I simply could not agree with that more. At the Clinton Library opening 2 days ago we had the opportunity to spend a couple of hours together. It was a tremendous ceremony, the opening of that library. But as we sat there, we very specifically talked about how best this institution can be served by moving toward greater civility, more opportunities for us to come together. Civility in this body has eroded over time, and it will take time and a renewed commitment, maybe a new commitment for many, but a renewed commitment to regain it. But we have got to begin. I think we have a great opportunity to begin in the coming weeks. We have had other Members of this Chamber who have already begun much of this task. I want to highlight the recent bipartisan orientation sessions that the Senator from Delaware, Mr. Carper, along with my colleague from Tennessee, Senator Alexander, along with Senator Mark Pryor and Senator George Voinovich, put together. When they first brought this idea to us, both Senator Daschle and I said: Yes, absolutely, let's do it. Indeed, over 4 days this past week, starting Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, the nine newly elected Senators from both parties were together for the better part of each and every one of those days addressing how they can best serve their constituents and, indeed, the American people. They were joined by their spouses. They had lively discussions. They had meals together. They had dinner and conversation well into the night each of these evenings. I think it is a tremendous foundation for what we all need to make a renewed commitment to do in the coming weeks and months in this body. Tip O'Neill, who would sit and swap stories with President Reagan after hard days fighting on everything from appropriations to welfare reform, liked saying, in a quotation we all hear again and again, ``We should all be friends after 6 p.m.'' At the same time, we all know that in this body, we have two parties and we have two very different views of how to get to that common goal. So we don't expect Senators to compromise their principles in any way. We don't expect Republicans to stop being Republicans or Democrats to stop being Democrats, and it takes effective spokesmen on both sides of the aisle to articulate those principles. The principles we stand for both as parties and as caucuses do reflect some very different visions. In some cases, they can be serious and in some ways quite fundamental, but when it comes to the details of policy, we can and should move together and have discussions with civility to move toward consensus. We face an imperative to reduce the deficit by keeping spending in check, but without raising taxes and stifling job growth. We must transform our health care system into one that puts people and their doctors first and puts the doctor-patient relationship in charge. We do need to confirm judges who justly and independently interpret the law. We can't move America forward unless we do these things, and we can't do these things unless we do work together. Doing this and improving the environment and the tenor of this body is going to require a lot of hard work. We will need more good ideas devised by Senators Alexander, Carper, Pryor, and Voinovich. We should give strong consideration to the proposals my colleague Senator Daschle made several months ago such as all-Senate policy forums to discuss the issues of the day, and bipartisan leadership meetings which bring leadership together. These are all great suggestions, fruitful suggestions, and great starting points and productive ideas. Senator Reid and I have already begun to discuss ideas on how to achieve this, again working together to make my ideas and his ideas a reality. Senators on both sides of the aisle should know that as we approach these issues, accomplish this, and their ideas we ask them to bring forward. In closing, the traditions, rules, and customs of the Senate rest on a foundation of civility. That is why we have rules that are in print, a body of rules. Then we have this whole element of tradition and precedent which is so important to this body. We have essential work ahead of us as we all begin to plan and look at the next Congress. We are stewards of rich Senate traditions and stewards of constitutional principles that simply must not be undone. We are leaders elected by the American people for one simple purpose; that is, to move America forward. Doing it is going to require a lot of work. It will require a lot of consensus building, and above all it will require civility. I look forward to working with our leadership and working jointly with the Democratic leadership to make that our goal and to implement and incorporate whatever we need to do in this body so we indeed can achieve that goal. I yield the floor.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, what we just heard on the floor of the Senate captures the essence of this remarkable, remarkable body, the leadership, which dictates the character, which dictates the fabric of the body that all of us have the real privilege of participating in. I know several Members want to speak, so I will be very brief. I take a moment to pay tribute to a truly exceptional leader with whom I have had the honor to serve alongside, and whom I have had the opportunity to serve with over the last year. We first began working together 2 years ago, when I suddenly became majority leader of the Senate. Oftentimes, we have been on the opposite side of issues. But I want to say how much I deeply respect his abilities and his judgment as a Senator, as Democratic leader, and as a person. This environment is fiercely competitive, and as leaders, both he and I are thrust into that competitive environment. Yet Senator Daschle has always, always, without exception, handled each and every situation in that competition with class and with honesty, with integrity, with forthrightness, and with true grace. Clearly, I have had the opportunity to learn from him much more than I could have ever possibly given him in any way. I was the beneficiary of that each and every day. From that very first day that I became majority leader, he has treated me in that position with respect and with that very same grace. For that, I will forever be grateful. I wanted to pay tribute to Senator Daschle and close with one reference. The great Daniel Webster once remarked that the Senate is a community of equals, of men of individual honor and personal character. Indeed, Senator Tom Daschle is no exception. He is the epitome of that and a great credit to this venerable institution. On behalf of all of our colleagues, I wish all the best for Tom and Linda and their entire family in the years ahead.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, so our colleagues will know what our plans will be tonight and tomorrow--and I talked with the Democratic leader briefly earlier--the House will finish the omnibus tonight, midnight or 1 o'clock. Because I know many Senators have lots of other things to do, since we cannot say with definition when the House will complete the bill, I think it is best that we say there are no more rollcall votes tonight and that we will address the omnibus tomorrow. In addition, we have IDEA, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, which we need to vote on tomorrow as well. We will talk back and forth as to what time we will be coming in tomorrow morning. We have had a very busy day. It has been a very constructive day, a great day in terms of tributes on both sides of the aisle. So we have had a good day. We will, unfortunately, not be able to complete our business until tomorrow. There will be a lot of phone calls in terms of what time we will be voting. We cannot really say at this juncture--depending on how people view the omnibus coming over--whether or not a rollcall vote will be required on IDEA. My expectation is we will have one or two votes over the course of tomorrow. As soon as we get some sort of certainty in the schedules--it is a little bit out of our hands, depending on what action is taken in the House--we will be sure, through our respective conferences, to let everybody know tonight. Before we leave tonight, we will set a time to come in tomorrow morning. I assume it is going to be around 9:30 or 10 o'clock. We will address that accordingly. That is it in terms of information. I thank the Chair.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, Senator Lieberman and I extend congratulations to the Center for Excellence in Education, and its president, Joann DiGennaro, for the achievements of its educational programs to nurture young scholars of careers of excellence and leadership in science and technology. The Center's Research Science Institute, held on the campuses of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the California Institute of Technology, are nationally recognized for promoting this nation's competitive future in math, science, engineering and technology and for encouraging international understanding among future leaders. To date, over 1,500 U.S. students, including students from the U.S. Department of Defense Overseas Schools and student representatives from 46 nations have benefited from the Center's programs. They remain the only U.S. programs sponsored at no cost to students, who are competitively chosen to attend. The Center boasts of more winners and honorees of the Intel Talent Search competition than any other U.S. organization. The USA Biology Olympiad has been sponsored in this Nation by the Center for 2 years. Over 5,000 students competed in the Center's USABO this past summer, from which four outstanding high school students represented the U.S. in the International Biology Olympiad in Australia. For the first time in the 15-year history of the IBO, a four-member team was awarded four gold medals. We are proud that the Center for Excellence in Education has encouraged talented U.S. high school students to succeed in one of the premier world scientific competitions, and would like to take this opportunity to congratulate each one of the Gold Medalists: Kay Aull, Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, Alexandria, VA ZeNan Chang, Santa Monica High School, Santa Monica, CA Clinton Hansen, Oneida High School, Oneida, NY Brad Hargreaves, Caddo Parish Magnet High School, Shreveport, LA We also congratulate the two coaches of the USABO: Dr. Alan Christensen of George Mason University, and Dr. William Stuart of the University of Maryland. We appreciate this opportunity to recognize the Center for Excellence in Education for its 22 years as an outstanding nonprofit educational organization. The late Admiral H.G. Rickover, father of the nuclear powered submarine, can be proud of the organization which he established in 1983.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, on leader time, I want to make a few comments in tribute, not in response, to the great man we just heard on the floor of this institution. Over the last several days, all of us have taken that opportunity for three of our colleagues on this side of the aisle and others on the other side of the aisle, to reflect on the past and how people have affected us directly. All of us have prepared remarks, and we have taken the opportunity to read them into the Record or enter them into the Record. What we just heard does reflect in many ways why so many of us have such strong feelings about Don Nickles and his family--Linda and their children. For me, it boils down to two general areas. One is the tremendous respect he has and continues to have and will always have for this institution. He literally reveres this institution. We heard it in his words today, the way he closed referring back to Chaplain Barry Black's opening this morning where causes beyond our lifetime is the essence of this institution, and he has captured that in his 24 years in the Senate--respect for the institution, for its traditions, for its values, for its rules, for its precedents, all of which he has manifested. The second general area when I think of Don is his wise counseling that he has been able to reflect in different ways to each and every one of us. For me, it is the National Republican Senatorial Committee. When I was first thinking about running, I went directly to Don Nickles because in the early 1990s he developed a model which was revolutionary at that time which really did go to what happens at the grassroots, and it applied both in terms of politics and fundraising. That model is one that has come full cycle. One thing he did not mention directly but touched me in a very special way is what he did 2 weeks ago, and that is run, whether it is marathons or short races or out for a daily jog--I call it a jog; he actually runs. But for about a year, at least once a week, sometimes several times a week, we ran together with a few Senators--I think there were more than two--a few Senators, but more than that, about 8, 9, 10, it got up to about 14 other people who every morning at 6 o'clock would take off and go initially for 30 minutes, an hour, an hour and a half, 2 hours, 3 hours, and Don kept going. But those are my memories. What is interesting is that of the people running with us, there were some new people, but then there were also people who had done this for years and years, and those rich relationships were played out on the floor of the Senate or with his golf, which everybody knows about, or the running, which is touching me. A few weeks ago, he ran in the New York City marathon. He ran it by himself. He probably ran it in 3 hours. I would go much longer than that. I was back here, but I was really with him, thinking of him when he was going to be taking off and at each of those miles, as you run through those boroughs. I was really with him because it brought back memories of us spending time together. That was for, again, a cause that goes beyond our lifetime because our running and the group that he put together was for an effort that Linda, his wife, I think introduced him to, the Lombardi Cancer Center. Again, it shows how everything comes together, in ways beyond going out to have a good run and working for this greater cause. He mentioned getting to know each other. In terms of counseling to me, directly or indirectly, you cannot go anywhere in this town without Don Nickles being recognized, without him having touched or having a relationship in some special way over the last 24 years, and counseling in terms of the prayer breakfast. Don Nickles was there every single week, and the Bible studies again touch me directly in that those few moments every week we have the opportunity to come together and share. He mentioned the positive and guiding light of Doug Coe in the same way he has touched us in those prayer breakfast meetings. He mentioned the budget, again the wise counsel that he set in place that we will be using over the next several years as we look at tax relief, but also the impact it has had on the jobs and growth in this country. I have to mention his overall optimism because there is nobody more optimistic in the Senate, even in very tough times, trying times. There were times dealing with the budget over the last 4 years that were tough, difficult, hard, challenging, especially in 2003. Even through all that, he was optimistic, upbeat, reaching out. He always knew there was some way to get the best out of people working together. I will close by mentioning--and we had this conversation two nights ago--his overall commitment to family. Everything comes back to Linda and their four children--Don Nickles, Jr., Jenny Rossiter, Kim Nickles, and Robyn Nickles. Everything he does comes back through that unit, to Linda who has--he used the word ``tolerance,'' and it does take a lot of tolerance to put up with Don Nickles, I am sure. Linda was there, I should also add, with support through every one of his endeavors. It has been a real privilege for Karyn and me to get to know them and their entire family. He used a Bible verse, his favorite Bible chapter, Galatians 5. The Apostle Paul lists a godly man's attributes. A godly man works hard, says Paul, lives a life of--the words that are key--love, joy, peace, kindness, goodness, and faithfulness. As we look at that string of words, those nouns, I cannot think of a better description of Don Nickles. So, Don, we will miss you. I say that recognizing all our relationships will continue to grow. We will clearly miss you on the floor of the Senate.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, this morning we will have 30 minutes of debate prior to the cloture vote on the miscellaneous trade and technical corrections conference report. Therefore, I expect cloture to occur shortly after 10 a.m. I expect cloture to be invoked, and if it is invoked I hope we can complete the conference report in short order. I will talk to the Democratic leadership after the vote to see what time may be necessary during that postcloture period. I also expect the appropriations conference report, the so-called omnibus package, will be filed today. If so, I hope we will be able to act on that measure at some point today or this evening. I am optimistic that we can, in fact, finish our work sometime today and adjourn this Congress. While we are waiting for the omnibus conference reports, we will continue to try to process other cleared legislative items. The IDEA, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act conference report, is expected to arrive today from the House, and we will consider that legislation before we adjourn this year. Finally, we have a very large number of nominations that are available on the Executive Calendar. It would be irresponsible to leave without acting on at least those nominations which we know are noncontroversial. We must move toward resolution of these nominations over the course of the day. We need to continue to pursue a way of clearing that Executive Calendar. I will close so we can move on for the vote, but I have to add that I personally had a remarkable day yesterday. I had the opportunity to visit the Clinton Library for what was an exceptional and remarkable day in terms of having our former Presidents together in a wonderful bipartisan spirit. It was a rainy day so we all sat in 2 or 3 hours of the downpour. It really was an inspiration to see what has made and continues to make this country so great. It is a wonderful library. I have three boys and look forward to going back and taking them through a magnificent structure. It really does capture President Clinton's upbeat, optimistic enthusiasm, his whole view of life. A number of the Senators attended. I wanted to mention it because it was quite remarkable for me, personally.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I would like to say a few words about the man from which I have stood across this aisle the past 2 years--Tom Daschle. Tom, as we all know, is a good and decent man. He has a big heart for the people of South Dakota, for every Member of this body, and for all of the American people. He has devoted his life to public service--from serving as an intelligence officer in the Air Force to serving four terms in the House to serving three terms in the United States Senate. That is seven times Tom Daschle has been reelected statewide in South Dakota. Tom has been such a successful leader, because he has always put others first. This selflessness, this sacrifice is the quality that I admire most about Tom. Every year Tom returned to South Dakota for an ``unscheduled driving'' tour. He would travel without staff or a schedule--going wherever the road and the people of South Dakota would take him. This driving tour helped him travel to each of South Dakota's 66 counties--which he did every year. But, most importantly, it was his way of staying in touch with the people who sent him time and time again to Washington to represent them. Tom has served as the Democratic Leader for 10 years now. And those have been no easy 10 years for the Senate or for America. The Senate itself has switched hands and back again. And we have helped lead the Nation through wars and recession and the horrific September 11th attacks. But throughout this Congress and throughout his career, Tom Daschle has handled his job with grace and dignity. And I have always seen in him a gentle, yet stirring passion. I wish Tom and Linda and their family all the best in the many years to come. john edwards Mr. President, John Edwards came to the Senate just 6 years ago. Yet he has won us all over as friends for his sunny disposition, his positive attitude, his intelligence, and his hard work. John can make anyone smile. He forms a personal bond with nearly everyone he meets. No doubt this quality comes from the fact that he always remembers his roots. The first member of his family to go to college, John grew up the son of two textile workers, moving from town to town. This upbringing shaped John Edwards. It instilled in him a burning desire to improve the world and a strong commitment to populist values. He became a lawyer. And with ardent trial advocacy, hard work, and genuine concern for others, he scored astounding success. A terrible tragedy--the death of a child--marked a deciding point in his life. He did not let it destroy him. Never forgetting the terrible pain, John turned tragedy into triumph. He set out to change America for the better. A political unknown, he faced long odds, but he overcame them. In the halls of the Senate, John has won new laws to protect patients, increased funding for public schools, and improvements to our banking system. He and Elizabeth, Catherine, Emma Claire, and Jack have been delightful additions to our Senate family. And our prayers are with them as they strive to overcome the difficulty of Elizabeth's recent diagnosis of breast cancer. John Edwards has already played a vital role in American public life. And whatever he chooses to do next, we wish him and Elizabeth and their entire family all the best for a bright future. don nickles Mr. President, Senators follow many different paths on their way to this Chamber. Some come from the professions, others from a life in public service. Few have lived the American dream the way Don Nickles has. At age 20, Don Nickles was paying his way at Oklahoma State University, living in a trailer home, working as a janitor, and raising his growing family. A few years later, he returned to his hometown. There he pulled his family business from the verge of bankruptcy. Pretty soon his neighbors elected him to the Oklahoma Senate. Then, in 1980, at the age of 31, when few expected it, he became a U.S. Senator. Don did not let his early success go to his head. He worked hard to keep our country a place where men and women can dream big and live those dreams. In the Senate, he has been a friend to taxpayers, an opponent of overbearing regulation, a voice for traditional values, and an ardent advocate for Oklahoma. Don Nickles has worked to keep America a land of opportunity--a place where everyone has a valued place and nobody lacks the opportunities to succeed. Through all of his hard work, through all of his toil, he has always put family first. He and Linda have been married for 36 years. And they have raised four wonderful children. In Don's favorite Bible chapter, Galatians 5, the Apostle Paul lists a godly man's attributes. A godly man, says Paul, work hard and live a life of ``love, joy and peace . . . kindness, goodness, faithfulness.'' I could not think of a better description of Don Nickles. He has had an amazing career--and I take comfort in that he is just hitting his stride. We all wish Don and his family the best in what will certainly be a bright future. Fritz Hollings Mr. President, Fritz Hollings is a passionate advocate for the people of South Carolina, a true statesman, and a fine gentleman. He is one of the most senior members of our body and, to all of us, he is a friend, a mentor and a guide. He has devoted his life to public service. Fritz Hollings has always shown courage, conviction, and an ability to get things done. His work has touched every corner of our country and every American's life. Fritz helped our Nation confront its spiraling budget deficits, maintain a strong posture against the Soviet Union, integrate our schools, and create the WIC program. His work has helped protect our coastal ecology, preserve our oceans, and defend our transportation networks from terrorists attack. And, when a family eats dinner without interruption, free from never-ending telemarketing calls, well, we can all thank Fritz for that too. On trade, on spending, on taxes, on military issues, and on Senate pay, he has never been afraid to speak his mind, even when his own party, or sometimes even most of the Senate, disagrees with him. In the end, he has always been a winner thanks to his grace and honor. A summary of Fritz' legislative achievements reads an astounding eight single-spaced pages. He's always campaigned on the creed that: ``Performance is better than promise.'' And he has lived up to it. We'll all miss Fritz: His friendship, his principles, and his willingness to tell it like it is. We wish fritz and Peatsy all the best and want them to know that they will always have a home, a family and a place in the history of the United States Senate. ben nighthorse campbell Mr. President, Ben Nighthorse Campbell is a man of many talents. He is an Indian chief, a Korean war veteran, a champion quarter horse trainer, an Olympic judo competitor, a rancher, and a jewelry designer. After his service in the military and a series of athletic victories, Ben settled down to run his ranch and design jewelry. But, by pure accident, politics entered his life. Colorado, the Senate, and America would never be the same. In 1982, Ben attended a meeting to support a friend's bid for Sheriff. He made a stunning impression and walked away drafted as a candidate for the Colorado State legislature. Ben served the people of Colorado there and in the House of Representatives. And 12 years ago, they elected him to the Senate. More than 20 years after that fateful evening, Ben has left an indelible mark on the Senate. He has taken the lead on critical agricultural issues, fought excessive spending, argued for a balanced budget, and sponsored Federal drought relief for farmers. From drug policy to natural resources conservation, he has advocated for Colorado interests, and he has brought home what the people of his State elected him to do. He has also sponsored or co-sponsored 54 Indian-related bills that became law. And he is the first American Indian ever to chair the Senate Indian Affairs committee. Without him, the spectacular Museum of the American Indian that graces our National Mall would not have become a reality. Ben is as leader who stands firm by his beliefs and works hard for the people of Colorado and Americans everywhere. We wish him and his wife, Linda, all the best for the future. john breaux Mr. President, the people of Louisiana first sent John Breaux to serve in this Capitol in 1972. He was only 28 years old. For the next 32 years, he would serve as one of the most respected and admired public servants--from both sides of the aisle--anywhere in American government. John Breaux has been a superb United States Senator. He is not inextricably wedded to one ideology or one party's line. He is thoughtful. He is independent. He is deliberative. He is experienced. He always wants to do the right thing for Louisiana and for America. What I admire most about John is his consensus-building skills. He never gives up on bringing people together. In fact, he has helped bring this body together on landmark pieces of legislation over the past two decades--from welfare reform to health insurance reform to balancing the budget. I have enjoyed working with John to reform Medicare. We proposed the first Breaux-Frist reforms in 1999. And we followed up with Breaux- Frist II in 2001. And we toiled together on the Bipartisan Commission on the Future of Medicare, which John so ably chaired. Breaux-Frist laid the foundation for bipartisan work to come and, ultimately, the most comprehensive and meaningful improvements to Medicare since the program's creation. John's departure is bittersweet for me--as I am sure it is for every member of this body. We will miss him as a leader we all love and all can work with. But he still has many of his best years ahead--which he will no doubt enjoy spending with Lois and their wonderful and growing family. Peter Fitzgerald Mr. President, Peter Fitzgerald has devoted his life to public service. He first ran for office before the ink on his law degree had dried. And, in the last 6 years, we have come to know Peter as a man of integrity, as a man of honor, and as a friend. In the Illinois Senate, he was a staunch opponent of corruption. He often had to go it alone. But he still got results. He continued his mission in the United States Senate--where he arrived in 1998 as our youngest member. In only 6 years, he has made his mark. He helped uncover the devastating corporate fraud and accounting scandals. And he helped us pass tough new regulations to prevent them from reoccurring. He has been an ardent advocate for Illinois farmers and businesses, always working to make sure that markets are open and barriers are low. Whether working to appoint honest federal prosecutors or taking a hard look at major federally-supported projects, he has always stood for doing the right thing. Peter has made sure that we have tax relief that helps families and creates new jobs. And he has helped protect our children with tough new child safety seat laws. Our Senate family will miss Peter, Nina, and Jake. They have each enriched our lives, their State, this Senate, and our country. And we wish them all the best in the future. bob graham Mr. President, during his first campaign for the United States Senate in 1986, People Magazine compared Bob Graham's mind to a Florida thunderstorm; resolute and impossible to deflect. But as a member of this body for 18 years, Bob Graham has shown that while he may have the energy of a lightning storm, his works are guided with far greater purpose and direction. In 40 years, Bob has never lost a statewide election. He is one of Florida's most beloved politicians. And that is for good reason. Always looking for ways to connect with his constituents, Senator Graham uses his ``workdays'' to toil alongside everyday Floridians to understand the problems they face. A true American patriot, he has consistently put country before party. On the Senate Intelligence Committee he has helped us tackle the monumental task of overhauling America's intelligence agencies. We will all miss his knowledge, his expertise, and his ability to clarify difficult issues. Bob and his wife, Adele, have been treasured members of the Senate family--as much for who they are as for what they have done. For a couple who has accomplished so much in their lives together, that's saying something. I want to thank Senator Graham for his valued contributions to our body and to our country. And we wish him and Adele the best in all their future endeavors. zell miller Mr. President, Zell Miller commands a certain respect. He has guts. He has integrity. He speaks simple truths. He is as good and honest a man as I know. Zell is the type of leader that takes a stand and doesn't yield an inch of ground--no matter how hard the political winds blow. America saw this first-hand with his unwavering support of President Bush in the most recent election. At the Republican Convention, Zell described the President perhaps better than anyone in our own party. He said the President is: ``a God- fearing man with a good heart and a spine of tempered steel.'' Those same words also describe Senator Miller. As a former Marine, Zell has never wavered in his support of the men and women in uniform who defend our liberty--or the values he shares with them. And he has worked hard and steadfast to end the unprecedented filibuster of judicial nominees. More than anything, Zell loves his wonderful wife, Shirley, and their family. Of course, by family, I also include Gus and Woodrow, his two Labrador Retrievers. Zell will always be a touchstone of good ole' common sense for this body. He will forever remind us that all we need to do is what is right--nothing more, nothing less. Zell Miller is one of the most colorful Senators ever to grace the halls of this Capitol. And he and Shirley have been two of the most valued members of the Senate family. We will miss them both, sorely, as a special part of our daily lives. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I move to proceed to the conference report to accompany H.R. 1047, the Miscellaneous Trade and Technical Corrections Act.

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I now send a cloture motion to the desk.

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the mandatory quorum be waived.

Mr. FRIST. For the information of all Members, this cloture motion will ripen on Friday morning. If cloture is invoked--and I think it will be--I hope we can move quickly to the adoption of the conference report.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, if there is no further business to come before the Senate, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate stand in adjournment under the previous order.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn until 10 a.m. on Thursday, November 18. I further ask that following the prayer and pledge, the morning hour be deemed expired, the Journal of proceedings be approved to date, the time for the two leaders be reserved, and the Senate then begin a period of morning business with Senators permitted to speak for up to 10 minutes each.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, tomorrow the Senate will be in a period of morning business. Senators are encouraged to use this time, as I mentioned early this morning, to deliver their tribute speeches to departing Members. While rollcall votes are unlikely during tomorrow's session, Senators should note we will have a lot of work to do prior to adjourning. Moments ago I filed a cloture motion on the Miscellaneous Tariffs conference report. That vote will occur Friday morning. In addition, we must complete action on the remaining appropriation bills which we hope to receive from the House on Friday. We will also consider any additional nominations and conference reports as they become available.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. As in executive session, I ask unanimous consent that the Foreign Relations Committee be discharged from further consideration of Treaty Document No. 108-25, the Protocol Amending the Tax Convention with the Netherlands. I further ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to its consideration and to the accompanying resolution of ratification which is at the desk; that the treaty be considered as having passed through its various parliamentary stages, up to and including the presentation of the resolution of ratification; that any statements be printed in the Congressional Record as if read; and that the Senate immediately proceed to a vote on the resolution of ratification; further, that when the resolution of ratification is voted upon, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, and that the President be notified of the Senate's action.

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask for a division vote on the resolution of ratification.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that there now be a period for the transaction of morning business, with Senators permitted to speak for up to 10 minutes each.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that with respect to the Foreign Operations appropriations bill, Senator Cochran be inserted in lieu of Senator Specter as a conferee.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, today the Senate will begin consideration of the debt limit extension bill. Last night we were able to lock in the time agreement of up to 6 hours on the measure with no amendments in order. I do not believe all the debate time will be required and therefore would like to vote on that measure, if at all possible, this evening. I will talk to the Democratic leadership about that possibility. I remind all Members that the House has to consider this after we act. Initially we thought about possibly doing it tomorrow night, but we have come to the general agreement to move ahead today because the House is waiting for us to act. Therefore, I appreciate everyone's consideration to go ahead and debate this afternoon and bring this to a vote. I also announce that we want to set aside some time tomorrow to pay tribute to our departing Members. We want to let our colleagues know, as we look further in the day, what time tomorrow that will occur. Finally, I remind Members we are still trying to close out other business. I was talking to the Democratic leader about the other items. One is the intelligence bill, the 9/11 Commission. Under our leadership, we set out a plan in late July. I hope we will be able to complete that over the course of today and tomorrow. Of course, we have the omnibus bill, and we have tremendous cooperation on all parts. It is a large bill. It is a complicated bill. The good news is that in a bipartisan way the subcommittees have been able to address all of these issues over the last several months. It is a matter of packaging it, bringing it to the floor, and making sure our Senate colleagues have the appropriate opportunity to review that bill. We have a lot of work to do. I continue to ask for everyone's assistance and patience as we proceed along these final days and this legislative and executive session and address calendar items.