Bill Frist

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. I just wanted to thank Chairman Enzi for his tremendous leadership. So many people have been thanked over the course of the night, and it has been a very productive 4 weeks. But if you look at the committee chairman, he has probably been the busiest just overseeing the greatest number of bills, and then on top of that, having a very challenging conference, as we have all seen. It started with pensions, and for a period developed into about three or four other issues. I just wanted to thank him for his work, his tremendous work, his dedication, his passion, his independent but dedicated thinking where he listened to everybody and to his staff who have been tremendous on this particular bill, a very difficult bill, the pensions bill. So on behalf of all of us, we thank Chairman Enzi.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, reserving right to object, S. 3765 to permit nationals being granted temporary protected status in United States is a bill that I personally support. And the chairman of the Judiciary Committee commented to the distinguished assistant minority leader his support. I just received it 15 minutes ago. I am trying to clear it but have not heard back from everybody tonight. Without giving everyone the opportunity to review it, I am going to have to object tonight. Again, we will see what happens over the next 30 or 40 minutes that we are in tonight. Not having heard back from everyone, I am unable to verify. So I do object.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Foreign Relations be discharged from further consideration of S. 3769 and the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration. I ask unanimous consent that the bill be read a third time and passed, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, and that any statements relating to the measure be printed in the Record.

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I am disappointed that tonight we could not pass this bill. This is the Cuba Transition Act of 2006 which I cosponsored along with the Senators Ensign and Martinez. This bill would have authorized assistance to the people of Cuba, encouraged a democratic election process, and created a fund to support independent civil-society-building efforts. It would have created the Fund For a Free Cuba which would have provided assistance to a transitional government in Cuba, and included assistance to political prisoners and their families, other dissidents, independent libraries, youth organizations, workers rights activists, agricultural cooperatives, associations of the self-employed, journalists, economists, and medical doctors. This has been cleared by our side. I believe that the other side, the Democrats, will have an opportunity to show solidarity with the Cuban people. We will try to clear this bill through the Senate when we reconvene.

Mr. FRIST

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

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, during the next probably 20 or 30 minutes we will be working on a number issues which are coming up unexpectedly at this late hour given the fact that we will be out for 4 weeks. It is a little bit disjointed as we pull together a number of these unanimous consent requests. And then we have the issue of nominations and a few more remarks.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, the Senate community is losing a longtime and valued employee. After 18 years of loyal and distinguished service, Marty Berman is retiring from the Senate Recording Studio. Marty played an integral part in the television broadcast of the Senate's proceedings and in helping facilitate the audio and video needs of Senators and their staffs. His service to his country really started 45 years ago. Marty served faithfully, enlisting twice in a military career that began when he was 17 and lasted 6 years, from 1961 to 1967. Before leaving the military, he was a communications specialist with duty in Vietnam. Marty brought extensive television experience to his job at SRS. In the private sector he worked at Satellite News Network, CNN, and finally at CBS. His work for Charles Kuralt and ``CBS Sunday Morning'' was nominated for an Emmy. A 13-minute long story he had photographed was aired, which is the television equivalent of a long book. His career at the recording studio began in 1988 where he quickly came to specialize in audio operations. However, his contributions were not only technical. He also had just the right personal touch with Senators. It isn't always easy to get up in front of TV cameras and lights to speak, even for Senators, but Marty had the ability to put any Senator at ease. When floor directing, he spoke to each Senator easily and with warmth, and they trusted him. He was never intimidated, but he was always respectful. Marty can be a bit feisty, but his bark is much worse than his bite. To those who have gotten to know him, he is warm and caring, too. Marty ended where he had started, working the Senate television shift. In 18 years he braved many long days and late nights through the Senate's always unpredictable schedule. Throughout his time at the studio, Marty could always be counted on to be at his post. That included his work as chief STV audio operator where for most days during his shift he started up in the audio booth, assuring that the Senators could always be heard in the Chamber and on television. Marty is the father of 3 grown children: Tracy, Eric, and Alex. The 3 have been the pride of his life and have become responsible and caring adults. He is also the proud grandfather of two. His marriage to Darlene has brought him much happiness. Both share the same three hobbies: antique collecting, antique collecting, and more antique collecting. Their home is a somewhat cluttered but fascinating museum of American Western and American Indian artifacts, pottery, Big Little Books, and just about anything else you can think of. Last, but not least, there are four others who hold a place in his heart. They are Hoover the yellow lab, Clarence the bassett hound, Crystal, the cat, and Birdie the cockatiel. Birdie likes to lay back and listen to the blues with Marty and Darlene and can even whistle Colonel Bogey's March from ``Bridge on the River Kwai.'' Marty's unique personality, loyalty, and dedication will be missed. We all join to wish Marty the best as he begins this next adventure in his life and know he will enjoy the newfound time for family, friends, pets, and antique collecting.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. (for himself and Mr. Reid) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to: S. Res. 555 Whereas, the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations of the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs has been conducting an investigation into the use of offshore tax havens for abusive tax shelters; Whereas, the Subcommittee has received a number of requests from law enforcement officials and regulatory agencies, for access to records of the Subcommittee's investigation; Whereas, by the privileges of the Senate of the United States and Rule XI of the Standing Rules of the Senate, no evidence under the control or in the possession of the Senate can, by administrative or judicial process, be taken from such control or possession but by permission of the Senate; Whereas, when it appears that evidence under the control or in the possession of the Senate is needed for the promotion of justice, the Senate will take such action as will promote the ends of justice consistent with the privileges of the Senate: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Chairman and Ranking Minority Member of the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations of the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, acting jointly, are authorized to provide to law enforcement officials, regulatory agencies, and other entities or individuals duly authorized by federal, state, or foreign governments, records of the Subcommittee's investigation into the use of offshore tax havens for abusive tax shelters.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs' Subcommittee on Federal Financial Management, Government Information, and International Security be authorized to meet on Thursday, August 3, 2006, at 2:30 p.m. for a hearing regarding ``Financial Management at the Department of Defense.''

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ak unanimous consent that the Committee on Foreign Relations be authorized to MEET DURING THE SESSIOn of the Senate on Thursday, August 3, 2006, at 11 a.m. to hold a hearing on nominations.

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Foreign Relations be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Thursday, August 3, 2006, at 2:30 p.m. to hold a hearing on nominations.

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Armed Services be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on August 3, 2006, at 9:30 a.m. to receive testimony on Iraq, Afghanistan, and the Global War on Terrorism.

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Thursday, August 3, 2006, at 10 a.m. The purpose of this hearing is to receive testimony on S. 2589, to enhance the management and disposal of spent nuclear fuel and high- level radioactive waste, to ensure protection of public health and safety, to ensure the territorial integrity and security of the repository at Yucca Mountain, and for other purposes.

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Finance be authorized to meet during the session on Thursday, August 3, 2006, at 10:30 a.m., in 215 Dirksen Senate Office Building, to hear testimony on ``Kick-Off for Tax Reform: Tackling the Tax Code''.

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I am requesting unaimous consent that the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation Subcommittee on National Ocean Policy Study be able to hold a hearing on the State of the Oceans 2006 on August 3, 2006 at 10 a.m.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, after a few more moments of gathering papers, in 10 or 15 minutes, we will likely be closing. We are working on some of the final nominations and the nomination process. Before we leave for the August recess, I will take a moment to reflect on the Senate's tremendous productivity over the last month. We can all be very proud of the progress we made in this Senate over the last 4 weeks. We have had several agenda items. First, we worked hard to secure our homeland, to secure America's homeland. Specifically, we passed, this month, both the Homeland Security appropriations bill, the spending bill, as well as the Foreign Investment and National Security Act of 2006 which strengthens the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, the so-called CFIUS. Over the past 3 days, we made substantial progress on the Department of Defense appropriations bill. We were unable to finish it today, but we have a glidepath to finish it within 2 days after we return from the recess. The Senate's productivity this past month goes way beyond securing America's homeland. We have taken action to ensure that the homeland we secure is a homeland we value that is worth securing. We have taken action to secure America's prosperity by passing an important bill, the Water Resources Development Act, an act which focuses on building that infrastructure along the waterways, and by passing the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act, an act we passed just a couple of days ago that addresses opening up an area to deep sea exploration that will have more than a billion barrels of oil and more than 5.5 trillion cubic feet of natural gas--a huge amount of natural gas to increase our supply, enough to supply 6 million homes for 15 years. In securing America's prosperity, just a few moments ago we passed the pensions bill which will affect millions of Americans. In America, we have a rich history of working hard, of setting ambitious goals, setting that ambitious vision, and doggedly pursuing that vision, pursuing that goal. That tradition of hard work has brought us the prosperity we know today. In the Senate, we have the responsibility to protect that prosperity. We have the responsibility to ensure that hard work is rewarded just as richly tomorrow as it was yesterday or is rewarded today. Securing America's prosperity is a noble goal toward which we made considerable progress this month. To enjoy that prosperity, we also have to secure America's health. Again, as we look over the last 4 weeks, just this month we engaged in a thorough debate, a thoughtful debate on the future of stem cell research, a tough issue for many. We have adult stem cells, we have embryonic stem cells; we had to examine and struggle with that nexus of advancing science and ethics and morality--a topic that is comfortable to many, but it is an issue all of us need to be very comfortable with because we will see that topic and topics like that which involve ethics, medicine, and advances in science increasingly over the years ahead. At the end of that debate, we passed the Stem Cell Therapies Enhancement Act which supports the alternative ways of developing these powerful so-called pluripotential stem cells that give us so much hope for the future. That is progress. On that particular piece of legislation, the House has not yet acted, but I have high hope they will do so in the near future. That bill is broadly supported in the Senate, as well as by the American people. Finally, this month we also worked hard to secure America's values by passing the Fetus Farming Prohibition Act, by passing a tremendously exciting bill, the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act, which was billed by the Walsh Family as being probably the most significant piece of child safety and child protection legislation in the last 20 years. In securing America's values, we passed the Child Custody Protection Act, although I have to say I am disappointed that the Democrats have stopped us from going to conference. The House of Representatives has passed it, and it is time for the Senate to go to conference and time to end that obstruction. This month, we authorized the historic Voting Rights Act, and we confirmed five nominees to Federal judgeships. Yes, we have been tremendously productive this month, but we will have a lot more to do. We will have a recess that will give us the time to go back to our States and talk to our constituents, to interact, to be with our families, but we have a lot to do when we return in September. As I look ahead, we will continue to secure America's homeland. The most pressing issues we should address as we look into September include port security, the Homeland Security conference report, complete Defense appropriations, confirm John Bolton, the authorization of military commissions for terrorist combatants, consistent with the Supreme Court's Hamdan decision. In September, we will work to secure America's prosperity by bringing budget process reform to the Senate--specifically, the line-item rescission veto--and by finalizing a very exciting bipartisan competitiveness agenda package. We will also work to continue securing America's health by focusing on a bill that has already passed this Senate and has passed the House and is now in conference on health information technology, the health information technology that we know will establish interoperability platforms and the ability to communicate in a seamless way to improve that quality of care for patients and reduce the cost, to eliminate the unnecessary health expenditures, and to eliminate the waste, fraud, and abuse. I also would like to come back to something we were blocked, once again, by the other side, the small business health plans, the association health plans. Chairman Enzi has done a tremendous job in leading us forward, but we were unsuccessful in the past because we were obstructed. I hope to have the opportunity to bring those back. Finally, as I look into September, we must continue securing America's values by promoting sound government. That begins with fulfilling our constitutional duty of advice and consent, by bringing more judicial nominations to the Senate for confirmation. We have a lot on our plate for September. I realize we are not going to be able to get all of that done over those 4 weeks, but we will try. We will move in that direction. I am confident we will use the limited time remaining after the August recess productively and efficiently, and with continued hard work and determination we will keep that ball moving forward. I thank all of my colleagues for their tremendous efforts to make this past month productive. I am confident that when we do return from our recess we will continue to secure a freer, safer, and healthier future for generations of Americans to come. Indeed, finally, I extend to our colleagues the wish for a happy, restful, productive, and wonderful August recess. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

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 the Enzi amendment at the desk be agreed to, the bill, as amended, be read a third time and passed, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, and that any statements relating to the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 436, S. 1899.

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the amendment at the desk be agreed to, the committee-reported amendment, as amended, be agreed to, the bill, as amended, be read a third time and passed, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, and that any statements relating to the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. I ask unanimous consent that the amendment at the desk be agreed to, the bill, as amended, be read a third time and passed, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, and any statements relating to the measure be printed in the Record.

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs be discharged from further consideration of H.R. 3858 and the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that at 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, September 5, the Senate proceed to executive session and proceed to the immediate consideration of Executive Calendar No. 819, Kimberly Ann Moore, to be U.S. circuit judge, with 1 hour of debate equally divided, to be followed by a vote on confirmation at 5:30 p.m., with no intervening action or debate. Finally, I ask unanimous consent that following that vote the President be immediately notified of the Senate's previous action and the Senate then resume legislative session.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 540, S. 2694.

Mr. FRIST. I ask unanimous consent that the committee-reported amendment be agreed to, the bill, as amended, be read a third time and passed, the title amendment be agreed to, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, and any statements relating to the bill be printed in the Record.