Bill Frist

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 President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.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 object to further proceedings.

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I understand that S. 414 is at the desk and is due for a second reading.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate now proceed to a period of morning business.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the appointments at the desk appear separately in the Record as if made by the Chair.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, as in executive session, I ask unanimous consent that there be an additional 6 hours for debate on the Estrada nomination; provided further that the time be equally divided between the chairman and ranking member or their designees; and that following the conclusion of that time the Senate proceed to a vote on the confirmation of the nomination, with no intervening action or debate.

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I modify my request to 8 additional hours.

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I was hoping that the recent Presidents Day recess would have convinced my colleagues that everything has been said and, thus, it is time now to vote. But we will continue to work with the other side with the hope that at some point they will allow an up- or-down vote on this qualified nominee.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I understand that S. 3 is at the desk and is due for a second reading.

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I object to further proceedings.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I understand that S. 13 is at the desk and is due for a second reading.

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I object to further proceedings.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it stand in adjournment until 9:30 a.m., Tuesday, February 25; 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 the Senate return to executive session and resume the consideration of the nomination of Miguel Estrada to be a circuit judge for the District of Columbia Circuit. I further ask unanimous consent that the Senate recess from the hour of 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. for the weekly party caucuses.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. For the information of Senators, when the Senate reconvenes, Senator Chambliss will lead us in the time-honored tradition of reading President Washington's Farewell Address. Following the reading, the Senate will return to the consideration of the nomination of Miguel Estrada. Once again, I encourage Members to come to the floor on that day, to make their statements regarding this nominee. Today is the seventh day we have considered the nomination. I remain optimistic, however, that upon our return my colleagues on the other side of the aisle will allow us to lock in a time certain for a vote on the confirmation of this important nomination. We have a number of important issues that will need to be addressed during the first session of this Congress. Therefore, I hope we can get past this delay and let the Senate work its will on this nomination. Under a previous order, at 3:30 p.m. the Senate will proceed to the consideration of S. 151, the PROTECT Act. There will be 2 hours of debate on the bill prior to a vote on passage. Therefore, Members should expect the next rollcall vote to occur on Monday, February 24, at 5:30 p.m.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. I understand S. 3, introduced earlier today by Senator Santorum, is at the desk and I ask for its first reading.

Mr. FRIST. I now ask for its second reading and I object to my own request.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. If there is no further business to come before the Senate, I ask unanimous consent the Senate stand in adjournment under the provisions of H. Con. Res. 4.

Mr. FRIST

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

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to a period for morning business.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, in a few minutes I will be closing the Senate for our recess break, but I wanted to take this opportunity to speak a few moments on an issue that is on my mind and on the mind of my wife and family, and it is on the minds of most every American today in what I would consider very trying times, from an intellectual standpoint, from an emotional standpoint, a spiritual standpoint. And indeed, this week has been a very trying week for the Nation. There is much alarm about the increased threat of terrorism. We know we are at a time that is closely approaching the possible use of force to ensure that Saddam Hussein is disarmed of weapons of mass destruction, such as chemical agents and biological agents; and we all feel the stress all across America--not just in this body in Washington, DC, and in New York, where the stress level is high because of the symbolic value of being a potential site for attack. We are concerned for families, we are concerned for friends, we are concerned for neighbors all over America, and we are concerned for the service men and women overseas. As elected officials in this body, we have taken the opportunity over the last 3 or 4 days, coinciding with the increased alert, to talk about the nature of our duties and responsibilities both to our constituents, as well as to our families as we serve in this body. We, in the Senate, have a great honor to serve in this beautiful Chamber, in this beautiful Capitol Building, and it is indeed the symbol of our Nation's strength and our Nation's purpose. Throughout this week, while fully aware that our enemies, as I speak now and as so many have debated so many issues over the course of the week, are plotting their evil designs. We know that. Yet we continue to carry out our duties as Senators and as citizens. It is truly remarkable. I could not be prouder of the many fine women and men who make up this institution. Yes, I have mentioned the Senators, but I also include the thousands of individuals who come to this building and surrounding buildings on Capitol Hill to support the activities of what goes on in this body and in this room as we debate and amend and pass legislation. Through very difficult, long, and hard hours so many have demonstrated to this fine city and to the Nation that life must go on in times of threat and increased alert. Terrorists will have won when they can so intimidate us that we stop performing our most basic duties and responsibilities. Clearly, they have not, nor will they. Last week Secretary Tom Ridge of the Department of Homeland Security announced the President had determined that the Nation should be moved to that next higher level of alert, a heightened threat level. Attorney General John Ashcroft explained this was done in response to recent reporting that indicates an increased likelihood that al-Qaida may attempt to attack Americans in the United States and/or abroad around the end of the Haj, the Muslim religious period ending mid-February, 2003. What does this mean? It is confusing to the American people. It is confusing based on what one reads and sees on television. People see the imagery. It looks like a thermometer going to that orange level, with that orange beginning to pulse. It is confusing to people as to what it means: What does it mean to my spouse and to my children? What does it mean when I drive to work and drive home? What does it mean to my constituents back in Tennessee or the Presiding Officer's constituents in Utah? What does it mean? What should our response be? As was explained to us, I think very well, from a Government standpoint, an increased threat level captures a response where all Federal agencies focus and work together to reduce the vulnerabilities and increase security, and this, in itself, serves as a deterrent to the terrorist whose goal is to personally terrorize and strike fear. The terrorist wants to kill, but the terrorist really wants to strike fear, to paralyze, and to bring pain and paralysis to America. We see a reduction in vulnerabilities and increased security in this deterrence. Also, as was explained well, this heightened alert--that is, Federal agencies working together, but at the same time literally tens of thousands of intelligence agencies, public health agencies, hospitals, law enforcement at the State level, at the county level, at the city level, at the community level and, indeed, at the neighborhood level are all activated and begin communicating and coordinating--acts as a deterrent to that would-be terrorist who all of a sudden says: My action--whatever it is--has less chance of being successful. I wish to also mention the responsibility we have as citizens. I just spoke about government. That is law enforcement and public health. But we also, as individuals, have responsibilities. That is what I think has become confusing to American parents and families. What do we do? How do we respond? What should our efforts be? Indeed, Secretary Ridge, at the same time we have this activation from above coming down, integrated I think very well today--and that is why I am comfortable with where we are today. We can always do better, we can always be better prepared, but I am very comfortable with where we are today. Secretary Ridge asked that individual Americans remain alert. We use the words ``remain vigilant.'' All of a sudden, instead of having government working, we have 250 million people out there being the eyes and ears of law enforcement, and that is where the real power is in terms of stopping a potential act of terrorism. The recommendations that have come out over the last week were picked up and put on television such that, at the end of the week, we were just saying: Duct tape on doors and plastic sheets. All of what I just said, in terms of this huge coordination and communication network of deterrence above and the power of 250 million people being vigilant and picking up on anybody whose behavior might be a little bit different in one's neighborhood, all of a sudden gets symbolized by a piece of duct tape. That is where it gets confusing and vague. The reason I have come to the floor is to try to put that in some perspective. From the information standpoint, we in Congress are aware of that confusion and that confusing message. People want to go out and say the messenger is not doing a good job. We are all in this together. It is important for us in Congress to make sure we have the very best intelligence coming in to make sure when we go to a threat level, it is made on the best information, and that is the precision of information. But we also have an obligation to help not just to educate but to share the information we have with what individuals can do and families can do, make it understandable and not as confusing or vague as it was after anthrax hit, as it was after September 11, and even over the course of this week: What do we do as individuals? It is important at this time of heightened awareness and vigilance that we also maintain the right perspective. As I have talked to people throughout Tennessee and family members who are not here in Washington, they have watched on television gas masks being put on, duct tape being put up; they see artillery with the Capitol in the background. I am speaking mainly to families at this standpoint. We have to be very careful because with 24-hour news cycles 7 days a week, every 30 minutes the news cycle being repeated, with the potential use of germs, microbes, bacteria, chemical agents, all of which are new in this arsenal of terrorism--new in terms of the weapons of mass destruction we traditionally think about being nuclear 50, 40 years ago, now we are thinking about little viruses and bacteria--it is easy to overstate, and all of a sudden the pain and paralysis you begin to feel inside, if you are mesmerized by that television set, seeing these images come again and again, we have to be careful. We all know these visual images are put on television to capture your attention. We know this captures our emotion and attention because we have that inner fear that we do not want that little virus to hit us. Again, we have to be careful as we look at television, as we look at media today, not to let it feed our paralysis and fear. I am a parent. I have two high school boys; they are still children. I do not want them sitting there every day watching what is, yes, real, but in terms of perception, if you just watch television, you say: This risk is huge; that virus or bacteria is going to hit tomorrow; and there is nothing I can do about it. I am helpless, and things are out of control, and I don't know what is going to happen to my parents or kids. I do think the vigilance is important as we go forth because, as I said just a few minutes ago, there are no better eyes than those of 250 million people who, in driving to work every day, notice something just not quite right, or in your everyday surroundings, there might be somebody just hanging around for the last 3 or 4 days who did not used to be hanging around. That is the sort of vigilance and alertness that becomes a deterrent and also, of course, important information if there is potential terrorist activity. My perspective for a lot of this has been as a surgeon and a doctor-- I have been very involved in viruses, chemical agents, and microbes-- and as a Senator because of my participation in a lot of hearings on bioterrorism, the risk of bioterrorism, but also my experience as a husband and a parent who sees the impact this can, indeed, have on families in a very direct way. Past generations have been affected in many ways, as well, by the threat of nuclear war. When I was very young and the generation before me lived with this accommodation of the image of a nuclear explosion and immediately in schools having exercises of hiding under a desk or seeking cover under a desk, of bomb shelters being built in communities, the same discussion going on in terms of having a supply of water and food for 3 days or 5 days, people converting their basements to bomb shelters--in the same way that situation took a lot of accommodation, learning, and new ways of thinking, indeed, we are having to do that today, 40 years later. We are doing it with the viruses and bacteria and chemical agents. The same way we got through without a major catastrophe in the last 50 years, we need to get through this with an understanding and an increased knowledge that we need to share about chemical agents and microbes. It is a new vocabulary. There is a lot to learn, and that can be overwhelming. If one is watching this on TV, they know there is a real risk--a tiny risk but a risk--that there is a body of information that we need to get accustomed to understanding, just as we did with nuclear weapons 40 and 50 years ago. The reason I encourage people, no matter who they are, to learn a little bit about the microbes and chemical agents and what one would do if something happened in their neighborhood, is because it is real. The terrorist activity we are talking about is weapons of mass destruction. We know people such as Saddam Hussein have those weapons of mass destruction, these viruses and bacteria. When we see these linkages to al-Qaida and to terrorist activity, it is incumbent upon us, as Americans, to learn more about these biological agents. The good news is the Government has responded aggressively in a lot of ways in terms of funding, in terms of organization, in terms of coordination. My message is that families need to respond, too, not with pain and paralysis and increased stress but by taking the opportunity to learn, to share information, to talk about it over the dinner table and to ask questions. If someone asks a question of somebody and they do not know, ask it of somebody else. That sharing of information brings down the stress, brings down the potential for pain and paralysis. With that, we will get through this. We will get through it in a comfortable way and everything will be OK. Our officials at all levels of Government are taking the appropriate steps. I say that as a Government official. I think it is important for Americans to recognize that this body, the House, and the President of the United States has responded to make sure in terms of prevention, in terms of protection, and in terms of response that we have acted and will continue to act. I will run through several questions that I get all the time. How big is the risk? The risk of biological weapons or chemical weapons, although I think it is higher than nuclear weapons being used in our homeland, is still small. It is tiny. It is real. It is bigger than it was 2 years ago. It is bigger than it was 5 years ago. It is bigger than 10 years ago, but the overall risk of biological and chemical agents being used successfully as agents of mass destruction in this country is small. The threat is real and our response needs to be proportionate to that overall small risk. There are things that families need to know and be prepared to do. A couple of questions that I get are: What does high alert mean? The alerts, as I said, are the way that the Federal Government responds to increased threats. Typically, these threats are nonspecific. They do not say an attack is going to happen in this city or in this location at a certain time. The intelligence is gathered through a myriad of sources from all over the world, and when they reach a certain threshold where it is clear there is something potentially going on the threat level is raised. Government responds and we, as individuals, need to respond. I do not think everybody needs a disaster supply kit. It may be that if one lives near a highly visible potential target that they would be more likely to develop that disaster supply kit, and I leave that to individuals to discuss with their family. What should our response be? Communities need to respond by increasing their vigilance because that increase in vigilance does empower us as part of this war that I would say is an extension of what may well go on in Iraq--it is part of our patriotic responsibilities of being a citizen in America to discuss and learn something about what the biological agents might be, and to remain vigilant. People ask me all the time while I am in the public, what should I look for? We do not know where terrorists are. Terrorists are everywhere. The anthrax letters a year ago were first in Florida, not in Washington, DC. It was in New Jersey and, yes, New York and Washington, DC. True, terrorism can be anywhere, although terrorist activity traditionally goes to highly symbolic areas and sites. It was 10 years ago, by the way, that we had the first big terrorist activity in the United States. We know what happened during that second attack on the World Trade Center. We have seen biological weapons used for the first time in Washington, DC, and in Florida in October, just a month after September 11. The question of what do I do if I find myself in the middle of an attack, it depends on whether one is inside or outside, and that is the sort of information that can be exchanged with local law enforcement, and public health and emergency responders. If people will go to the Web sites of the Department of Homeland Security, they can see what those responses would be. I think it is important, as a family, that people talk about communication, what happens if something occurs right now, what telephone number do the children have. I would say to have a number both in State, in the neighborhood, an extra number to call inside, but also out of State. A decision needs to be made where to go. I encourage people, if there were a biological attack or some sort of chemical attack, to have everybody in their family know where would you go. Let me comment on one last thing and then I will close. This is a time of stress. In talking to my colleagues and their families, I sense that when we go to this high alert--and as a physician I know this-- there is a sense of stress that may or may not be talked about or noticed. I have to put my physician hat on for one second, because it can be reflected both physically and emotionally. I think it is important at least to be aware of it. People do not sleep as well. Some people eat more; some people eat less. Some people develop tummy aches or belly aches. Some people develop back pain. That is sort of the physical and emotional manifestations: irritability, detachment, periods of depression, feeling blue, being on edge, waking up in the middle of the night. That is normal. The body is remarkable. We are truly remarkable. The fact that we have this response, it is physiologic but it has an emotional component; it has a mental component and a physical component. The important issue is how one deals with it. When we go to these elevated stress levels or heightened threat levels, which correlate with stress levels, it is important to realize that everybody feels it to a certain extent. It is not just you. You are not alone. There are a lot of things you can do. First and foremost, communicate. Talk to other people. Talk about it over the dinner table. Share. You have to be careful a little bit because if you are anxious and you feel the stress and you want to talk to your children, you might wait and talk an hour later when you have settled down a little bit. The big thing is to talk. Listen, talk, share your concerns. Two, keep the faith. Some people rely more on drawing strength from traditions, from their synagogue, or their mosque, or their church. Third, embrace daily routines. Do not stop doing the things that you do every day. Go ahead and continue to do them. In fact, focus on doing them better than you did in the past because you want to feel as if you have more control over your life. If you work hard to do something well, like bake a cake, make sure it is a good cake. Take pride in that cake because it gives you sense of control. As I mentioned earlier, take a news break. Do not get mesmerized by the television or the newspapers or as you are flipping through the newspaper do not stop on that one article that will scare you to death in terms of what a smallpox virus will do to you. It is real, so you have to be careful, but once you know it you do not need to read it every day as you go through the paper. You do not need to watch the 24- hour news channels where you see those same images of gas masks and what the agents can do to people. The fifth is, join a group. Participate with others. Do not lock yourself down and worry about this. Some people play cards or play bridge. Take part in something that is larger than yourself. With most people it probably begins with family, doing family activities. Again, as a doctor--and then I will take my doctor hat off--exercise regularly, eat well, and get a good night's rest. That is enough of the physician end of things. It is a time of heightened anxiety, increased stress and if we do not address each of these head on it does result in pain and paralysis. We are about to begin a recess that will take us to our home and to our families. I encourage all of our colleagues to engage in a quiet resolve that they have shown on the floor of the Senate in completing the Nation's business. It has been a hugely successful first 45 days as we look at what has been accomplished in terms of nominations, unemployment insurance, addressing the 11 appropriations left over from the last Congress. It is pivotal. Now we can move on to the agenda which is very exciting for me as we look at jobs, and we look at the economy, and we look at growth and the feeling, the security in our everyday lives, and the health care issues, and the education issues as we go forward. When we go back home to our constituents, we will be held to a high standard. They want to make absolutely sure and we need to make it very clear to them that we are totally committed to defending them internationally, globally, and here in our homeland. Really, in each of those categories, defending them in this war against terrorism. We have done it today. We have huge challenges over the coming weeks to continue to do so. Under President Bush's leadership, we have done a tremendous amount in making America safer from our enemies. We have reorganized Government and created a new Cabinet-level agency that consolidates, coordinates, and maximizes communication in our antiterror efforts. We passed the landmark bipartisan legislation in June 2002 to provide additional funding for our local law enforcement authorities to protect the Nation from public health threats, such as bioterrorism. We included $3.5 billion in the bill we passed--18 hours ago--that will go directly to the first responders. In the event something were to happen, those first responders become the most important people. That is who you will call. They are the people who provide treatment. The Department of Health and Human Services 2 years ago did not have smallpox vaccine. Right now, because of the hard work and the dedication and leadership of President Bush, we know the Department of Health and Human Services has obtained and procured enough smallpox vaccine for every man, every woman, and every child in the United States. That is but a part of what Government has done, and will continue to do, as we go forward. But we must also commit to defending ourselves from the terrorists' most dangerous weapon of all, the guts of what my remarks have been, and that is fear. It was one of our greatest Presidents ever, President Franklin Roosevelt, who in an earlier and darker moment in our history, calmed the Nation with the gentle remainder that we have nothing to fear but fear itself. In these days of stress and distress we must never forget the great words of those who have preceded us, and the test that they, over many generations, endured. At such a moment, I often turn to a favorite piece of Scripture or a passage from an inspirational work. As we in the Congress recess to our homes and families for the coming week, let me offer a closing thought, a passage from Thomas Paine's classic treatise ``The Crisis.'' Lay your shoulders to the wheel, better have too much force than too little when so great an object is at stake. Let it be told to the future world that in the depth of winter when nothing but hope and virtue could survive, that the city and the country, alarmed at one common danger, came forth to meet and repulse it.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate now return to legislative session.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that during this adjournment of the Senate, the majority leader or the assistant majority leader be authorized to sign duly enrolled bills or Joint Resolutions.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. I understand that S. 13, introduced earlier today by Senator Kyl, is at the desk. I ask for its first reading.

Mr. FRIST. I now ask for its second reading and object to my own request.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I understand S. 414, introduced earlier today by Senator Daschle, is at the desk and I ask for its first reading.