Bill Frist

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. I close with some announcements. We had a good, productive week. We completed the Labor-HHS appropriations bill after 7 days of consideration. We had 68 amendments considered. We disposed of all 68 amendments. We had 25 rollcall votes. I congratulate both of the managers who did just a superb job in staying focused, handling some very difficult situations but allowing time for debate and votes. We have completed that bill. Both Senator Specter and Senator Harkin did a superb job. Senator Allen helped clear the way for Senate action on H.R. 978 with regard to the disability compensation computation bill which can now go to the President's desk. Earlier today the Senate spoke with a voice vote as it unanimously adopted S. Res. 224 relating to the second anniversary of September 11. Next week I look forward to beginning a fresh week and continuing on our appropriations process. Again, we have a number of appropriations bills to address. We have made real progress; in fact, five appropriations bills. If you look at the overall amount of money, that is probably 70 percent of the overall amount of money appropriated. So we are making progress. It is tough--slower than I would like, but we are making steady progress.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. I ask unanimous consent the Senate immediately proceed to executive session to consider Executive Calendar No. 309, the nomination of Christopher A. Wray.

Mr. FRIST. I further ask unanimous consent the nomination be confirmed, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action, and the Senate then return to legislative session.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, it is a day to honor the memory of the victims of September 11, 2001. The essence of September 11 was and remains apparent to us all. The victims were innocent. They were simply going about their everyday lives--working at the desk, coming into work, answering the telephones, maybe answering an emergency call, checking on the children to make sure they got off to school, traveling on business, or possibly on vacation. All had families who loved them and all had futures yet to be lived. And now there is emptiness, not only for those 3,000 women and men and children affected on that day but for what they could have and would have become if that event had not occurred. There is little one can do to fill the immense void that is created by such a loss. We can remember. We must remember. But even the fondest and most vivid memory is but a whisper. Simply nothing--nothing--can replace a loved one's absence from the very special moments in life and, above all, the simple everyday pleasures. I recall the story of a woman whose husband was killed in the collapse of the World Trade Center Tower One. In the months after September 11, she did what so many of us would understand--she contemplated suicide. She said: When I lost my husband, I had no bottom, no basis to get up in the morning. I knew I was going to do something terrible if I didn't define a reason. Now she is an advocate for other families who lost loved ones in the September 11 attacks. She has found not only new strength but she has become the source of strength for others. In a recent interview, she said: The best legacy for all of the people who died is that something better comes out of all of this, even with the pain. The crumbling of the World Trade Center's towers into a massive cloud of black dust still haunts us. The explosive thunder of a plane slamming into the side of the Pentagon still haunts us. The image of a crater filled with the debris of embattled flight 93 in Shanksville, PA, still haunts us. All of these, and other horrific memories, will continue to haunt us for decades to come. They have become an inescapable part of our national conscience. But so must be the love, so must be the charity, so must be the caring, so must be the compassion, so must be the unity, and so must be the grace that poured and continues to pour from the American people in the aftermath of September 11. Remember the thousands of volunteers who rushed into lower Manhattan from all across America to help with those rescue and recovery efforts? Remember when we gathered just several yards from here on the steps of the Capitol to sing in unity with our colleagues from the House ``God bless America''? Remember the flood of letters and drawings schoolchildren sent and continue to send out of feelings and out of sympathy for the victims, out of love and patriotism for their country? I brought with me this picture drawn by Sara Deatherage who is a third grader from Knoxville, TN. She wrote: I chose the American Flag because I love America. Those of us who have the opportunity to serve in public office received scores, hundreds, thousands, and continue to receive scores, hundreds, and thousands of these signs, these signals of patriotism. Did September 11 change our lives and the course of our Nation forever? It, of course, did. It most assuredly did, and it did it in a horrific and still painful way. But it also brought forth the very best in the American people--an abundance of kindness, an abundance of caring, an abundance of compassion that is really unparalleled in our history. So let us fittingly and appropriately honor the memory of the victims of the September 11 attacks. Let us, again, express our deepest regrets to the families who lost loved ones. But let us also hew from the pain of that horrific day, September 11, 2001, a lasting and a better America.

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, today we honor the memory of the victims of the September 11 attacks. Many Americans will bow their heads in silence. Many will kneel before the Almighty in prayer. Others will take time from the regular course of their day to reflect in their own personal way upon the terrible events of 2 years ago. Regardless of how we pay tribute to those who perished, we all share a profound sense of sadness for their families and sincere hope that the wounds of those who still hurt may heal. We press on--we press on--because it is our nature to do so. Life is a precious gift. As long as God wills us to have it, we have a purpose. And as long as God wills this Nation to exist, we have the liberty to realize that purpose and make of our lives what we wish. Mr. President, at this time, I will ask the Democratic leader to join me at the bell of remembrance for the first moment of silence.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, today we will remember the second anniversary of the September 11 tragedy with a series of moments of silence. These times will be announced by the ringing of a bell of remembrance just outside these Chamber doors. In a moment, at a time that corresponds with the initial attack on the World Trade Center, the Democratic leader will join me in ringing that bell just off the floor.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, on Sunday night in his televised address to the Nation, the President of the United States outlined clearly and unequivocally why we are at war and what is required to defeat our enemies. In his remarks, he urged us to remain steadfast and resolute. In that speech, he reminded us that our enemies are motivated not by the perception that we are strong. No. Indeed, they attacked us out of the mistaken belief that we are weak. This is not mere guess or conjecture. When one listens to the words of Osama bin Laden himself, he calls America ``a paper tiger.'' He boasts that at the first sign of danger, that first painful blow, we retreat to wallow in our so-called--his words--decadence. The terrorists did not launch the September 11 attacks in retaliation to military action. They struck America as a direct demonstration of their pure and unshakable hatred. One only has to listen to the words of one of Osama bin Laden's closest associates, Yussuf al-Ayyeri--no longer with us, I might add, in body. This murderer warned in a treatise written just before Operation Iraqi Freedom that: It is not the American war machine that should be of the utmost concern to Muslims. What threatens the future of Islam, in fact its very survival, is American democracy. Why? Mr. al-Ayyeri fears democracy will-- . . . make Muslims love this world, forget the next world, and abandon jihad. He fears that if democracy takes root in Iraq, Muslims might actually benefit in the here and in the now, that they might become prosperous, self-sufficient, tolerant, and consequently--going back to quoting him: . . . reluctant to die in martyrdom. For this reason, and he explains in the treatise, his comrades must defeat unbelief, must defeat modernism, and most of all must defeat the democracy brought on by the Americans. While Mr. al-Ayyeri falsely conflates his power-mad ideology with the Muslim faith, a faith that we all know is practiced peacefully by millions in this country and indeed around the world, one cannot deny, however, unwittingly, that he makes his case. Success in Iraq spells failure for al-Qaida, failure for al-Qaida's murderous fanaticism, failure for al-Qaida's tyrannical goals. Success in Iraq strikes at the cold, arid hearts of men who murder Muslims for daring to reject al- Qaida's warped demands. Our efforts to help the Iraqi people build a decent and free nation, yes, a democratic society where people of differing ideas, of differing ethnicity can live in peace, live with one another, will be a clear refutation of all that the terrorists stand for and the poison that they continue to peddle. September 11--most Americans have spent much of the day in thought and reflection on that event 2 years ago. I wish, as every American, that September 11 had never happened, that those innocent women and men and children were alive today, were with their families, were thriving, were safe. I wish our enemies had never emerged from their caves and they never cooked up their crazed campaign. I wish all these things. But clearly wishing will not and does not make it so. Thus, we are called to act. We are called to lead. We must protect our fellow citizens and defeat terror and those regimes that support them. Our enemies will not disappear or go away. It is not going to happen. We know that. Words do not in any way mollify them. Negotiation in no way mollifies them. Thus, we must stand firm and we must not waver. We must support our troops; let them know how much we admire their courage, their sacrifice, their bravery. We must let the enemy know that America will press on to victory. I know we will meet the challenge. Americans are strong and Americans are tough. We have seen that tenacity. In many ways September 11 made it come alive. It uplifted all of us, but it made that tenacity and that strength come alive. We are sincere in our compassion. Why? Because it springs from the fundamental belief that all people have a God-given right to liberty, to freedom, to know what is in their own minds and to control their own futures; freedom to act in a room and a body like this in the political sphere; freedom to participate in their own governance. And, unlike our deadly enemies, we wish the best--not the worst--for Iraq. The President has come this week to this body seeking our support. It really began formally in his speech now 5 days ago on Sunday night. His proposal for emergency funding to defeat terror and to stabilize our efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan clearly warrants it. We will continue to meet with the administration in the days ahead, as we have in the last several days, to assist them in these efforts. I know there will be much debate and there will be careful examination of the request, but I know the Senate will overwhelmingly support the President's request. Why? We think back to September 11. We know who the enemy is and we know what it takes to defeat that enemy. Over the course of the week and in our briefings and after we talked to our colleagues who have gone to Iraq, it is very clear that we are making a lot of progress in Iraq. It is not what you see when you first turn on the television or when you open the newspapers now, but from our colleagues who have gone there to see firsthand, and as we have been briefed by people who have just come back, clearly, we are making progress. Just this week the League of Arab States granted the Iraqi Governing Council membership, albeit conditional membership but membership, in their deliberative body. This is a significant step forward. There will be many more steps forward in the coming weeks and months ahead. I know we will succeed in this mission. We will defeat terror. And the Iraqi people will have a free and a democratic nation to lead into the future.

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

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I would like to make some comments regarding the Ryan White CARE Act and the Labor-HHS appropriations bill that we passed yesterday. Twenty two years ago, the Centers for Disease Control published a case study that involved five patients infected with a mysterious virus. At the time, I was a third-year surgical resident at the Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. I remember, vaguely, those first cases and the worrying questions. What was it? How was it transmitted? Could it travel by air? Should we be afraid? As reports of the illness grew, so did the public anxiety. Never before had we seen a virus with such power to destroy--to destroy cells, cellular function, to destroy lives, families, and entire communities. During my surgical residency, we began to treat blood in the operation room as potentially toxic, potentially deadly. We began wearing double gloves, masks in the operating room. And we took these precautions to protect ourselves, not our patients. The emergence of HIV/AIDS changed the practice of medicine, public health, and it changed the public consciousness. Fast forward to 2003. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that between 850,000 and 950,000 Americans are infected with HIV/AIDS. One quarter of them do not know they have it and for the first time in many years we are seeing an increase in rate of HIV infection. CDC experts estimate that, since the virus was first identified, 500,000 Americans have died from AIDS-related illnesses. The number of new infections among adolescents is rising, and rising disproportionately among minorities. AIDS is the leading cause of death among African Americans 25-44 years of age. It is the second leading cause of death among Latinos of the same age group. In Shelby County in my home State, African Americans comprise 45 percent of the population, but make up 75 to 85 percent of county residents infected with the virus. Over the course of more than 20 years of treating patients, I have seen first hand the deadly results of HIV infection. I have also seen the devastation it wreaks across entire communities: mothers who unknowingly transmit the virus to their newborns; children who suffer the double curse of being HIV positive and orphaned by parents taken by the disease. Fortunately, since those early days, researchers have discovered methods to double the life expectancy of people with HIV/AIDS. They have developed new and powerful drugs for the treatment of HIV infection, and researchers continue making advances in the treatment and prevention of AIDS-related opportunistic infections. We may not yet have a cure, but we are working around the clock to find one. Key to this effort has been the Ryan White CARE Act first passed in 1990. The Ryan White CARE Act forms a unique partnership between Federal, local and State governments; nonprofit community organizations, health care and supportive service providers. For the last decade, this legislation has successfully provided crucial support services for low-income, uninsured and underinsured people with HIV/ AIDS. In particular, through the AIDS Drug Assistance Program, the CARE Act has helped patients gain access to life saving drugs. In 2000, more than 125,000 people living with HIV and AIDS received drug therapy because of this provision. Without the CARE Act, none of these individuals would have had the necessary resources to get the drugs they need which can total a whopping $12,000 per year. And when we say the CARE Act, we must pay proper tribute to the American taxpayer who is making this compassionate intervention possible. Paradoxically, because of our success in decreasing AIDS mortality, however, the total number of individuals living with HIV disease continues to climb; and more individuals are becoming dependent on these programs. But success should not breed failure. Congress has demonstrated its commitment to ensuring the availability of funds to meet this need by increasing funding for Ryan White programs from $656 million when I entered the Senate in 1995 to more than $1.9 billion last year. The bill passed yesterday provides more than $2 billion for these programs, an increase of almost $24 million. I know many are concerned that, because of State funding shortfalls, some States have begun to restrict their AIDS drug assistance programs. This year, Congress has provided more than $20 billion in fiscal relief to the states. It is my hope that some of those funds will be used to improve and maintain access for HIV patients. I thank the chairman for the hard work he has put into crafting the Labor-HHS bill that is currently before us. In 1996, I had the pleasure of working with Senator Kassebaum to reauthorize the Ryan White CARE Act and put in place a number of essential improvements. Again in 2000, when the law was up for reauthorization, I worked with Senator Kennedy and Senator Jeffords, among others, to put in place another round of critical improvements. I know that Chairman Specter faces many challenges in developing this important legislation every year, and I commend him for his leadership. He did an excellent job in securing Senate passage of this bill under certain constraints. It is my hope that we will be able to address this issue further in conference, in next year's budget cycle, and through the upcoming reauthorization of these vital programs. I close with a report from my home State of Tennessee. This morning a gentleman named Albert Jones came to visit my office. Mr. Jones is the executive director of New Directions, Incorporated, an organization based in Memphis which serves people infected with HIV/AIDS. He and representatives from the National Minority AIDS Council came to describe what they encounter down in Shelby County and what they think we need to do to fight the epidemic. What Mr. Jones hears most from HIV/AIDS patients is that they need better access to health care services. Getting to and from treatment is often the biggest obstacle. He also urges us to support early treatment for HIV/AIDS, so that HIV becomes a chronic rather than fatal disease. Mr. Jones had a colleague who recently died of AIDS. He tells me that his colleague was so engrossed in his work, so dedicated to the cause, that he worked right up until the day he went to the hospital the very last time. By passing the Ryan White CARE Act yesterday, may we honor this man's strength and commitment by continuing the fight against HIV/AIDS here and around the world.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. For the information of all Senators, on Monday the Senate will resume debate on the energy and water appropriations bill. Senators Feinstein and Kennedy will have an amendment to that legislation which will be debated during Monday's session. As announced earlier, any votes ordered on Monday will be delayed until Tuesday. In addition, on Monday, under a previous understanding, the Senate will debate a motion to go to conference on the partial-birth abortion bill. Also, as previously ordered, the FCC rule resolution will be debated and voted on Tuesday morning.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. For the information of all Senators, this consent will now move the debate and vote in relation to the FCC rule resolution from Monday evening to Tuesday evening. With this consent granted, there will be no votes on Monday. The next vote will occur Tuesday morning.

Mr. FRIST. I ask consent that the debate time allocated for the consideration of S.J. Res. 17 be delayed to begin at 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, September 15, with all other provisions remaining in effect.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. I ask unanimous consent when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn until 1 p.m. Monday, September 15. 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 for their use later in the day, and that there then be a period of morning business until 2:30 p.m. with Senators to speak for up to 10 minutes. Further, I ask that at 2:30 the Senate then resume consideration of calendar No. 218, H.R. 2754, the energy and water appropriations bill.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I will talk a little bit on another topic for a couple of minutes, in large part because we began this morning opening at 8:30, and over the course of the morning I personally, in part representing this body, have had a wonderful day. It was a day that was truly inspiring if you look at public service, but also if you look at the sacrifice that others made on September 11 and since that time, and others who continue to make right now in Iraq and Afghanistan to preserve the freedoms and liberties that we have. We opened this morning with a commemoration, a bell ringing, and had a moment of silence with that glorious sound of that bell dramatically ringing for each of the incidents and the tragedies that occurred on September 11. Over the course of the day on this floor, we have heard our colleagues on both sides of the aisle reminisce, talk about what they were doing then but also how they have been affected as public servants in dealing with others, how people have been brought together, how the common threads which bind all of us have been stressed a little bit more the last couple of years than maybe in the previous years. A little bit later in the morning I had an opportunity to go by the Pentagon. At the Pentagon I saw the reconstruction. I had the real privilege of having the Speaker of the House give to Secretary Rumsfeld the flag that was flying over the east wing of the Capitol 2 years ago. We were in the chapel in the part of the Pentagon that was struck. In that new chapel are four beautiful stained-glass windows dedicated to the events, to the families, and to the institution--all related to September 11. Coming back here a little bit later, the Congress--Members of the House and Senate, and others--were on the front steps of the Capitol not too far from where I am speaking now on the floor of the Senate. It was very reminiscent of that night 2 years ago when we were on the steps. We made a statement. It was a spontaneous statement that the terrorists will not shut down our Government, where we joined hands and sang ``God Bless America'' on the night of September 11. Then later this afternoon--just a few minutes ago--we had a wonderful service with our Senate family, staff, Senators, President pro tempore, and the Senate Chaplain and the House Chaplain, again reflecting late this afternoon on the events of 2 years ago. It was a wonderful 10 minutes when the Chaplain said: ``I just want three people to volunteer to come forward and say how September affected them.'' Usually everybody kind of sinks down and doesn't want to be the one to volunteer in front of a few hundred people. But hands shot up, and people spoke from the heart about how September 11 affected them each in individual ways, but with a common theme coming back of appreciation for what this country has given us and the importance of our doing everything we can to protect the freedom and liberty upon which this country has been founded and of which we take advantage. Also, 40 minutes ago I had the opportunity to go to the West Front of the Capitol and look out over The Mall, with the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument--again, not too many yards from where we are today--to have the lone bugler quietly--right at 6 o'clock tonight, 40 minutes ago--play Taps with a clear sky--the Sun was just beginning to go down--to express our appreciation, our love, and our feeling for the many families who have been affected by the tragedy of September 11. Again, I want to add that people continue to sacrifice and fight for that very same freedom. It is appropriate that we use this day for a day of reflection. We continue business. I think that is important. A lot of people said we should stop all business in the Senate. No, I don't think anybody from September 11 would say stop the Nation's business. In effect, they would say continue the Nation's business. Indeed, we made real progress today and continued the work of the Senate well into last night as well. Americans all over the country--and indeed all over the world; indeed, not just Americans--I know spent the day kneeling, praying, going to synagogues, mosques, and churches, holding services like the many services we have had here in Washington, DC. A large part of that I think is reflected in the power of faith and the fact that faith has that power to help heal, to help explain the questions of ``Why?'' that continue to arise: Why did things happen on that fateful day? Power to console, faith to reassure--both right now and as it did 2 years ago on that fateful day. Although 2 years later memories are a little bit fainter and our pain may be just a touch more distant, we still ask questions, questions of ``Why?'' In that answer of the ``why,'' I think it makes all of us a bit more determined, a bit more focused, and a bit more appreciative of what we have. We do put our trust in providence. It is hard to be in this body for very long and not realize the importance of faith and providence in the Senate and in our Founding Fathers and the democracy we share today. Abraham Lincoln, in his second inaugural address after 4 of the most traumatic years in U.S. history, said: ``The almighty has His own purposes.'' I thought of that today while sitting through one of the ceremonies. It does help that question of ``Why?'' Clearly, in Abraham Lincoln's time, faith was able to support, console, and give strength to our Nation. Clearly, that is the same thing today as we look at the various services. Our Founders had a belief. They believed--they knew, and believed--that our Nation was founded with divine purpose. During some of the most difficult moments, with the odds being against us at certain points in time, our leaders turned to faith. And indeed God has watched over this Nation. Although we asked, ``Why?'' on September 11, God was watching over us on September 11. Over the course of the day, it came up to each of us in different ways. And Lisa Beamer--the world knows now because she was able to articulate and put a face that expresses what we are all trying to describe--said of her husband's flight on that day, September 11: The courageous actions of the passengers and crew reminded me that on the day when people around the world felt violated, helpless, alone and afraid, there were still people of character, people who in the midst of crisis dared to live to the last second with hope. She captured it. We all have to ask ourselves: Where did those heroes on Flight 93 reach to get their courage? We answer: ``Family.'' That is where we get our strength. They answer: ``Faith.'' There is no question that each individual's faith almost certainly played a role. Todd Beamer said what is probably the most inspirational thing many of us have heard in our lives. He was talking to the telephone operator and said: ``Let's roll.'' But what he said a few seconds before that was the recitation of The Lord's Prayer. A few days after September 11, Billy Graham, in the national prayer service at the cathedral, along with folks here looking at the lessons of the ``why,'' said: The lesson of this event is not only about the mystery of iniquity and evil, but . . . it's a lesson about our need for each other. I was thinking about that when I was at the Senate service about an hour ago with the Senate family. Regardless of whether we are staff, or a Member, elected official, worker, Democrat, Republican, whether we are in our first term or seventh term, those in the room there, that common bond is a calling to public service. We believe in the greatness of this institution. As you look at the inscriptions all around--the inscription on the east doorway that we come through every day, or that most Senators come through--the inscription written up there is the English translation of the Latin, ``God has favored our undertakings.'' We start coming back to those ``why's.'' I will close. But I think, clearly, my final reference today, after coming in 11 hours ago for what has been a meaningful day for me, is a wish and a prayer that God continues to watch over the family members of the victims of September 11, that God heal their wounds as time goes forward, and that God continue to shine on America and indeed on this Senate.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. I ask unanimous consent that notwithstanding the passage of H.R. 2660, the Labor-HHS appropriations bill, it be in order to consider the amendment I now send to the desk, that the amendment be considered and agreed to, and the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table without intervening action or debate.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I rise in support of the Senator from Oklahoma. And this is a spirited debate. I guess I rise in large part because of the agreement, as I understand it, that has gotten us to the point we are today; that is, to be able to progress on the appropriations bills with an overall sum that was set with a budget that was specifically designed and agreed to, which this amendment, as I interpret it, blows away. Although I, as a physician and as someone who values what the NIH does tremendously--indeed, it is my life, or has been my life--the idea that we add $1 billion as an emergency at this point in time is inconsistent with the agreements we made up to this date. Again, I would like to see that money invested and the NIH properly use that money well. If $1 billion is not put in, the NIH will be able to continue to do its responsible role, and fulfill that role, in a way that, to me, means this is not emergency money. Thus, I will support the chairman of the Budget Committee, the Senator from Oklahoma, in the vote which we are about to take.

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, to reach this total sum, we established a budget that we have been able to adhere to today, to which we have all agreed. My interpretation of this amendment, describing it as an emergency, blows away that budget which leads to the total.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, this morning at 9:45 the Senate will begin a sequence of stacked votes in relation to six pending amendments to the Labor-HHS appropriations bill. Following these votes this morning, the two managers will continue to work through the remaining amendments to the bill. As we stated yesterday, it is our intention to complete this bill prior to the close of business today. And given our progress last night--and I do thank everyone for participating and working together as we got on a track that will allow us to complete this bill today, but given that progress, I am hopeful we will be able to finish the bill at a reasonable time today. With the understanding we do complete that bill, we will not have votes on Thursday or on Friday. We, of course, will be in session both of those days. Tomorrow, September 11, there will be a number of events throughout the day that Members will be participating in, and we will try to adjust the schedule accordingly. We will have business Thursday and Friday. I plan on bringing up one of the appropriations bills after discussion with the President pro tempore, the chairman of the Appropriations Committee, about what is the most appropriate bill. We will be making that announcement a little bit later today. I will have more to say on events for tomorrow as well as Friday's schedule following completion of the Labor-HHS bill.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I rise to engage the distinguished chairman and ranking member of the Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Subcommittee in a colloquy. I want to thank the chairman for the hard work he has put into crafting the Labor-HHS bill that is currently before us. I know that he faces many challenges in developing this important legislation every year, and I commend him for his leadership. As the chairman knows, I am a very strong supporter of Federal health professions training programs. These important programs administered by the Health Resources and Services Administration, HRSA, provide critical support to health professions institutions, facilities, students and communities throughout the country. Support from these programs is particularly important to our Nation's historically black health professions schools. HRSA's Health Professions Training for Diversity Programs, including Minority Centers of Excellence, Health Careers Opportunities, Scholarships for Disadvantaged Students, and Faculty Loan Replacement, support those institutions with a historic commitment to training minorities in the health professions. Without support from these programs, many of our historically black health professions schools, including Meharry Medical College in my home State, would be unable to sustain their mission of training minorities for clinical careers in medically underserved areas. The other programs that comprise the Health Professions Training cluster are equally important to ensuring that we meet our health professions workforce needs, particularly in the over 3,100 Federally Designated Health Professions Shortage Areas. Primary Care Medicine and Dentistry, Area Health Education Centers, Health Education and Training Centers, Allied Health, and other Title VII programs all play a critical role in our health care system. As we continue to work to expand access to quality health care for all Americans, I believe it is important that we support those existing Federal programs that make a difference. I also recognize that these programs have not yet been formally reauthorized, and so I appreciate the chairman's continued support for funding these items. I look forward to working with him, Chairman Gregg and others to reauthorize these programs and to look for ways through the reauthorization process to improve performance measures and accountability. I, again, thank the distinguished Senator from Pennsylvania and express my interest in working with him and our colleagues in the House to fully restore funding for all Health Professions Training Programs when the Labor-HHS bill gets to conference.

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, the next vote will be the last vote of the week. Tomorrow morning, the Senate will convene at 8:30 in order to recognize the second anniversary of the September 11 tragedy. Throughout tomorrow, there will be various events to honor those who perished on that date 2 years ago. Tomorrow morning, there will be four different moments of silence which will begin with the ringing of a bell just outside the Chamber doors. Members are welcome to come to the floor tomorrow morning to participate and give remarks if they choose. We will also conduct business during tomorrow's session. However, any rollcall votes ordered on Thursday or Friday will be scheduled to occur on Monday. I thank all Members.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, we will engage in a colloquy now to explain a little bit about what has been going on today and yesterday and outline what the plans will be for tonight and tomorrow. It will be myself and Senator Daschle and the managers of the bill, to clarify our general understanding. First of all, last week tremendous progress was made on the bill. The managers have done a superb job in taking what we all know is a large, very important bill, a complicated bill, and systematically addressing the amendments that Senators have brought to the floor. A particular amendment, the Harkin amendment, has been the amendment talked about today and over the last 3 days. And it is an amendment that people feel very strongly about on both sides of the aisle. In addition, both sides have looked at a whole range of amendments. And the managers have been made aware of those amendments. As is always the case, the list is very long. But after discussion with the managers, it is clear that we have a manageable number of amendments that can be addressed if we started right now, tonight, in which case we would have to go very late tonight, tomorrow, and tomorrow night and complete action on the bill. What it would mean is going back, in essence, to regular order in the sense of going back and voting shortly on four amendments, starting in a few minutes, after which the general understanding is that we would debate about six amendments tonight. Again, these are amendments which have been presented. They have been talked about and discussed. They would be debated tonight with the expectation that tomorrow morning we would vote on those amendments that require a vote and that we would vote on the Harkin amendment in the morning. All of this is with the understanding that we would complete the bill tomorrow night and that we would stay and complete the appropriations bill as long as it takes tomorrow night, understanding that it is going to be challenging, that we are going to have to stay right on the bill and the amendments under discussion and stay focused in order to complete that bill tomorrow night. If that could be done--and it will be done, based on the agreement-- then it would be possible for us not to have rollcall votes on Thursday or Friday. We have September 11 on Thursday. We will have services here at the Capitol, and most of us will be participating in services either in our districts or here. So it is a challenging day. But I also think it is important for us to continue the normal business of the Senate on September 11 around those services. We would have a legislative day on Friday. In fact, we would be able to move to other business on Thursday and on Friday. But when we finish the bill tomorrow night, it would be with the understanding that we would address the amendments that I mentioned tonight, the specifics of which we will talk about shortly, and that we would finish the bill tomorrow night; that we would not leave until we finish the bill.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Subcommittee on National Parks of the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Tuesday, September 9, 2003 at 2:30 p.m. The purpose of the hearing is to receive testimony on the following bills: S. 808, to provide for expansion of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore; S. 1107, to enhance the Recreational Fee Demonstration Program for the National Park Service, and for other purposes; and H.R. 620, to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to provide supplemental funding and other services that are necessary to assist the State of California or local educational agencies in California in providing educational services for students attending schools located within the park.

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Subcommittee on Financial Institutions of the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on September 9, 2003, at 2:00 p.m. to conduct a hearing on ``Oversight of the Federal Home Loan Bank System.''

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Special Committee on Aging be authorized to meet on Tuesday, September 9, 2003 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. in Dirksen 628 for the purpose of conducting a hearing.