Bill Frist

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Yes. Amendment No. 4261

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, in a couple of minutes we will resume work on the Defense authorization bill. This morning we have an order for 90 minutes of debate prior to the two votes related to the minimum wage. Following those votes, Senator Levin will offer an amendment related to Iraq on which there will be 5 hours of debate. Many Senators have expressed a desire to speak during that time, and we may be able to set up blocks of controlled time in order to line up speakers. Following debate on the Levin amendment, we will set that amendment aside and begin debate on Senator Kerry's Iraq language. Although there is no limit for debate on that amendment, we anticipate that we will lock in a debate structure for that amendment as well. This is our second week of consideration of the bill, and last night, to ensure that we will finish the bill in a reasonable time, we filed cloture on the Defense authorization bill. Senators will have until 1 o'clock today to file their first-degree amendments. With respect to the Iraq language, it is my expectation that we will vote on the Iraq amendments prior to the cloture vote which would occur on Thursday. Senator Warner and Senator Levin have cleared a large number of amendments and will continue to work to clear additional amendments as we go forward. In addition, there will likely be germane amendments debated and voted once cloture is invoked. Having said that, I look forward to constructive debate throughout the day and evening on the two Iraq amendments before us. I yield the floor.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, today, as we resumed consideration of the Defense authorization bill, we have debated two very important amendments on U.S. policy in Iraq. After the votes on the minimum wage amendments offered by Senators Kennedy and Enzi, there were 5 hours of debate on the amendment on Iraq offered by Senators Levin and Reed. Following this debate, Senator Kerry offered his amendment. These amendments would call upon the United States to cut and run from Iraq, just when the Iraqi Government and the Iraqi people need us the most. It is important for all of us to fully understand the dangerous implications of a premature withdrawal from Iraq. If we withdraw from Iraq before the Iraqi Government and the Iraqi people are capable of defending their new democracy, the terrorists would see this as a vindication of their strategy of intimidation and violence. This would only embolden them to challenge us, as well as our friend and allies, elsewhere in the Middle East, around the world, and even right here at home. While the new Governmment in Iraq is making substantial progress every day, it is not fully ready to defend itself and provide security for the Iraqi people. If we were to cut and run before Iraq can defend itself, the violence in Iraq would certainly increase. The terrorists could be expected to mount even deadlier attacks against the new Iraqi Governmment and innocent Iraqi civilians. Chaos would result. Bloody civil war would almost certainly follow, as terrorists and rival militias tore the country apart. In the process, they would kill thousands of innocent Iraqis. In addition, the very unity of Iraq--a unity that we along with our coalition partners and the Iraqi people have worked so hard and sacrificed so much to secure--would be destroyed. Sectarian violence would tear the country apart. It would split Iraq into segments controlled by terrorists or ethnic and tribal militias. This would allow the terrorists to achieve one of their highest priorities: to turn Iraq into a safe haven for terrorists and a base from which to launch attacks against our friends and allies in the region and even the American homeland. The terrorists affiliated with bin Laden and Zarqawi have clearly stated their aim of overthrowing moderate governments throughout the Middle East. We therefore would have to worry about close friends that have cooperated with us in the global war on terror, such as Jordan, being transformed into terrorist regimes. The violence and instability that the terrorists seek to sow in Iraq would spread throughout the Middle East. The terrorists have also demonstrated a strong interest in acquiring weapons of mass destruction for use as the ultimate terrorist tool. They seek to obtain these weapons and use them against innocent civilians. Given the presence in Iraq of many of Saddam Hussein's former weapons scientists, an Iraq under the control of terrorists likely would become a safe haven for the covert production of chemical and biological weapons. President Bush has repeatedly stated that the potential combination of terrorism and weapons of mass destruction poses the greatest threat to the United States. The destruction of 9/11 would pale in comparison to the devastation terrorists could inflict with weapons of mass destruction produced in Iraq and covertly slipped across Iraq's porous borders. Cutting and running from Iraq would allow the threat posed by the combination of terrorism and weapons of mass destruction to materialize. This is an unacceptable risk to the American people, and we simply cannot allow that to happen. It is clear that those calling for an early withdrawal of American troops from Iraq fail to understand the potentially catastrophic implications of their proposal. Cutting and running before Iraq can defend itself would pose unacceptable risks to all Americans. We, our coalition partners, and the Iraqi people have come too far. We cannot turn back now. We must stay until the job is done. I look forward to today's debate on these amendments, and I urge my colleagues to speak out against the strategy of cutting and running from Iraq. It is a strategy that guarantees failure. And failure in Iraq is not an option.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, yesterday, my colleague and friend, Senator Santorum, hosted a bipartisan, bicameral event to evaluate the status of religious freedom in America and around the world. I thank Senator Santorum for his passionate commitment to the cause of religious liberty, as well as my colleagues Norm Coleman and Sam Brownback for their participation. Religious freedom is the bedrock of our founding principles. Indeed, it is the very first clause of the first amendment of the U.S. Constitution: ``Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.'' As George Washington wrote in his letter to the United Baptist Chamber of Virginia, May of 1789: ``Every man, conducting himself as a good citizen, and being accountable to God alone for his religious opinions, ought to be protected in worshiping the Deity according to the dictates of his own conscience.'' We are blessed to live in a country built on freedom of conscience, thought, and action. Waves and waves of hopeful aspirants have flocked to these shores to exercise this basic human right. But in every era, religious freedom, like all other freedoms, has come under challenge. And in every era, we have been called upon to promote and defend religious liberty here at home and in faraway lands. We do so as a matter of principle. Freedom of conscience and religion is the most basic, fundamental human right. No person should be persecuted, imprisoned or harmed because of their personal faith. But as 9/11 showed us with such terrible force, we also do so as a matter of national security. I thank Senator Santorum for bringing this topic front and center to Capitol Hill yesterday, along with his distinguished panelists. We heard from the eminent U.N. Ambassador John Bolton on the gains that are being made around the globe. We also heard from courageous dissidents, including Dr. Wafa Sultan and Eli El-Khoury, who have suffered for their faith and been persecuted for their convictions. America must remain ever vigilant to the threats, challenges, and opportunities we face. From North Korea to the troubled Middle East, for millions of people, religious liberty is still a fragile hope they look to us to nurture. It is our duty as Americans and our honor as sons and daughters of the greatest revolution and the ongoing American experiment in ordered liberty and religious freedom.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, today we open the Senate with a 30-minute period of morning business. After those statements, we will resume consideration of the Department of Defense authorization bill. There are now six pending amendments that the chairman and ranking member are reviewing to determine how much debate will be necessary. Yesterday, Senator Levin filed an amendment related to troop withdrawal in Iraq. I understand that amendment may be offered today. I know many Senators will want to participate in that debate. It is my expectation that we will set up blocks of time for debate, perhaps for this afternoon, so that Senators will know of the appropriate time to come to the floor to give their remarks on the amendment. In addition to the pending amendments, other amendments will be offered today. Therefore, we will be voting today on amendments to the Defense authorization bill. The Democratic side of the aisle will have their normal policy meeting today, and we will recess from 12:30 to 2:15. As a reminder to my colleagues, we have scheduled our Republican policy meeting to occur during Wednesday's session instead of today.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I want to take a few moments to comment on the debate that has been underway on the Defense authorization bill. In particular, I want to draw attention to the heroism, courage, and great work of our soldiers on the frontline. Every day they are risking their lives to defend our freedom. They are taking that battle to the enemy so that the enemy does not bring that battle to us on our own soil. No one would have guessed almost 5 years ago that we would be free from having suffered another major terrorist attack. We have been extraordinarily fortunate. We remember 1993, the World Trade Center attack, Khobar Towers, our embassies in Tanzania and Kenya, the USS Cole, and then that day on 9/11. We have been safe because of our brave men and women, Americans who are putting their lives on the line to protect this country. Then there was that day on 9/11 where our enemy declared war. They slaughtered innocent citizens right here on American soil. They judged us to be weak, to be vacillating. They believed we would cower in the face of brutality. They were wrong. Out of the black smoke and ashes of that terrible day, America stood up strong, united, and determined. And after careful deliberation, we answered back. We toppled the Taliban in Afghanistan, where al-Qaida had trained. We toppled Saddam Hussein, a real and continuing threat to the security of our Nation and to our allies. Since then we have continued the hard work of draining the swamp that nurtured and festered these monsters. It hasn't been easy. The last 3 years have strained our patience as we have watched the terrorists' counterattack. Innocent Iraqis, coalition forces, humanitarians, and journalists have been targeted simply for trying to secure a free and open Iraq. But the enemy's effort to plunge Iraq into chaos will not succeed. Slowly, freedom is gaining ground. The Iraqi people are emerging from three decades of brutal repression and claiming their right to stand among democratic nations. Last year, millions of Iraqis defied the threats of Abu al-Zarqawi and streamed to the polls in three national elections. Iraq's Sunni population participated in greater numbers each time. On June 8, the new democratically elected Prime Minister Jawad al-Maliki named the last three members of his Cabinet--the Ministers of Defense, Interior and Security--thereby completing formation of his unity government. What huge progress. The new government is committed to facing the challenges of terrorism and corruption and to move Iraq's fledgling democracy forward on the path to freedom. I believe they will succeed as long as we do not break faith with them. It was a week ago the Iraqis formally asked the United Nations Security Council to maintain the U.S.-led coalition with these words: While great achievements have been gained by the people of Iraq in the realm of political development, the continuation of the mandate of the multinational force in Iraq remains necessary and essential for our security. Far from the rhetoric that is being used by some today, the Iraqi people want us, and they need us to help them. If we don't, if we break our promise and cut and run, as some would have us do, the implications could be catastrophic. Not only would it be a dishonor to our Americans, a dishonor of historic proportions, the threat to America's national security would be potentially disastrous. If large parts of Iraq were to fall into the hands of terrorists, there would be no end to the threats we might face. Iraq could become a terrorist base for attacking us and undermining our allies. Many of Saddam Hussein's weapons scientists are still in Iraq, and the destruction of 9/11 would pale in comparison to the devastation terrorists could inflict with weapons of mass destruction produced in Iraq using their experience. Leaving Iraq to the terrorists is simply not an option. Surrendering is not a solution. Zarqawi's elimination on June 7 was a profound victory. Coalition forces have captured or killed 161 of Zarqawi's leaders, key elements in the command and control of the terrorist network. Iraqi troops and the Iraqi people are working ever more diligently to defeat the terrorist enemy. In July of 2004, there were no operational Iraqi Army division or brigade headquarters. In just 2 years, 2 divisions, 14 brigades, and 57 battalions control their own area of responsibility. That is progress. Also, 28 authorized national police units are in the fight with 10 battalions in the lead. Over 254,000 trained and equipped Iraqi security forces are taking the battle to the enemy. These are just a few of the positive indicators. With our help, Iraq is making steady and impressive progress every day. America has faced great challenges before. We rose up to defeat Naziism, one of the ugliest ideologies in modern history. It took terrible sacrifice and great pain, but we defeated the Nazi scourge. Through the Marshall plan, we rebuilt a continent of democratic and independent states. For the next four decades, we battled the Cold War against Communism, a long battle we ultimately won. In the great wars of the 20th century, our ideals carried us through even when victory seemed far from assured. Young American men and women who had never seen the world came to be its bravest defenders. As we continue the war on terror, we cannot retreat, we cannot surrender, we cannot go wobbly. The price is far too high. The strength we show now is the security we earn for the future. As the President has explained, America's troops will stand down as the Iraqi troops stand up. They are gaining strength every day. By keeping a steady eye on the ultimate goal, by having flexibility and patience, I am confident we will succeed. No less than America's security depends on it. I yield the floor.

Mr. FRIST

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

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, today we are resuming our work on the Department of Defense authorization bill. This afternoon provides a good opportunity for Senators to come to the floor and offer Defense- related amendments. Under last week's order, at 4 o'clock today the Senate will proceed to executive session to begin consideration of Sandra Ikuta to be a circuit court judge for the Ninth Circuit. We have allocated an hour of debate on the nomination and, therefore, the vote will occur at 5 p.m. on the Ikuta nomination. Tomorrow we will return to Defense authorization again. I encourage Members to work with the two bill managers to determine the best time to debate their amendments. I hope the Senate will maintain focus on the pending issue of authorizing appropriations for our military activities. We can complete this bill in a reasonable period of time this week if Senators will work with the chairman and ranking member on relevant amendments. Our two managers have a great deal of experience in shepherding this bill through on the floor and have already done a great job working together to clear amendments on both sides of the aisle. Having said that, I look forward to moving forward on this bill and completing our work on it at the earliest possible time. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. I send a second-degree amendment to the desk.

Mr. FRIST. I ask unanimous consent the reading of the amendment be dispensed with.

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, a lot of discussion has been going on in the Senate with regard to a shift that we are making that I don't entirely agree with. That is a shift off of the underlying bill--not literally off the bill but in terms of substance--addressing the issue of minimum wage that my colleague from Massachusetts has addressed. Personally, as I have explained to my colleagues, I don't believe this is the appropriate bill on which to be addressing the minimum wage. We should be debating the war on terror and the progress that has been achieved in Iraq and the way we can further that success in the future. We have agreed to set aside amendments so that the Senator from Massachusetts can offer an amendment on the minimum wage, and I second- degreed that amendment with a child custody protection amendment. Our discussions have led to the understanding that after we figure out how we are going to address both the minimum wage and child custody protection over the course of this afternoon or tonight or tomorrow, we will get around to having a vote on the minimum wage issue. There has been some discussion whether we had to file cloture on the minimum wage or on child custody protection, but we agree that, after further discussion, we will figure out the most appropriate manner to bring to the floor and address these issues over the next--I am not sure how long it will take, but figure out exactly how long that is. I do encourage our Members to come to the floor and to continue debating the underlying bill as well, the Department of Defense authorization bill. Again, I wish that neither one of these issues that we just offered were going to be debated on this particular bill, but I understand it is the right of each Senator to come forward and offer those two bills. Again, I will turn to my colleague from Massachusetts to make a statement as to whether that is the general understanding of where we are.

Mr. FRIST. That is correct.

Mr. FRIST. The challenge with the Department of Defense authorization bill is really just this, what is playing out; that is, for us to address what is the issue, I believe, that is most important to the United States today. That is supporting our men and women who are fighting so bravely and gallantly for us right now in this war on terror. Thus, I believe that a minimum wage amendment should not be debated on this particular bill, but it looks like it will be debated on this particular bill. In the colloquy that was just entertained, it is clear we will be debating it on the bill. It was clear last week the other side did not really want to stay on this issue of debating Iraq, surrounding Iraq. And by offering this amendment, they made it clear they do want to shift debate off to an entirely different issue, an issue that does have a time and a place that is more appropriate for it to be addressed. At that time, we should be debating the overall economy and the impact that it would have on small business and on jobs in this country. We need to also have that debate on how to maintain, to continue the strong economic growth that we are seeing in this country today because of President Bush's strong progrowth economic policies which have created 5.3 million jobs in the last 3 years. We have unemployment that is down to 4.7 percent, which is lower than the average of the 1990s and 1980s and 1970s. In order to keep the economy growing, we need to continue to debate how to open new markets, how to reduce the burden on our economy of taxation and regulation, how we make education more affordable, how we tackle health care costs--all of which are very important issues. Again, I prefer not to debate all those issues on this important bill, the Department of Defense authorization bill. We need to look, at some point, at the issues surrounding our overall economy, a progrowth package, and look at the issues surrounding the minimum wage, but to do it in isolation on a totally unrelated bill I don't think is the way to go. On this bill, I do believe America can do better. Mr. President, I yield the floor.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, in a few moments we will be closing for the week. Before we leave, I want to take just a few moments to reflect on a very special holiday coming up this weekend, and that is Father's Day. On Sunday, families all across America will celebrate their dads with dinners and lunches and gifts and, if my family is typical, some gentle teasing over the course of the day. It is a day that we show our gratitude and how important our dads are--and have been and continue to be--in our lives. In my own case, I cherish my memories of my dad. I think of him each and every day. He was my mentor in medicine, mentor in public service, mentor in humanitarian efforts, and my friend. It was his love and his wisdom and his encouragement that gave me the confidence to work outside of the box, to take risks, and to set high goals. As I was thinking back a few moments ago as to what I would say, I remembered and recall most vividly, after returning back to Nashville, TN, and working at Vanderbilt--after having been away from Nashville for a long period of time with college and medical school and my internship and residency and training and moving back to Nashville-- every day I would drive by my parents' home on the way to work at Vanderbilt Hospital. As I would go by that house--and, ironically, it is the same house I live in today, but as I would go by that house, I would think, each day, about the values that dad--both parents and really the entire family--instilled in each of us. I also used it as a marker place in coming home every night. As I drove by that white house, I would call. That number would be dialed as I was driving by. And by the time I got home, we would complete our conversation, on a daily basis--each and every day. Indeed, he was an extraordinary man in many ways, not in his accomplishments or just being a great physician, a humble physician treating people throughout middle Tennessee, but in his acts of generosity and in his kindness, known throughout the community for his good works. My father died in 1998. Mother and Dad both died within about 36 hours of each other of totally independent causes. In truth, it was referred at the funeral as a great love story. A lot of people arrived for the funeral of my dad--my mother died about 30 hours later--and there were two caskets there. Thinking about how tragic it was, in truth it was a manifestation of what was a great love story, a marriage of over 65 years. Dad, not too long before he died, wrote a letter to his grandchildren and great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren that he would never know--that is the way he opened the letter to them--passing on in about a two-page letter the insights he had in very simple ways, humble ways. It is a long letter, and I won't read the whole of it but just a few paragraphs. Again, this is a letter he left to be passed on to future generations. His advice was: Be happy in your family life. Your family is the most important thing you can ever have. Love your wife or your husband. Tell your children how great they are. Encourage them in everything they do. Be happy in your community. Charity is so important. There's so much good to do in the world and so many different ways to do it. A little bit later in the letter he wrote: The world is always changing, and that's a good thing. It's how you carry yourself in the world that doesn't change. Morality, integrity, warmth, and kindness are the same things in 1910, when I was born, or in 2010 or later when you will be reading this. And that's a good thing, too. Dad is the one who had the high ideals. I have done my best to try to live up to those ideals and to that sterling example he set before us. I have worked hard as a dad to instill those same values and commitments in my own sons. This weekend, as we celebrate our fathers and the good news that America's fathers are more present in their children's lives than ever, we all realize that they have a huge impact. Children involved with loving fathers are more likely to do well in school, to have healthy self-esteem, to show empathy, to avoid destructive behaviors. Kids do better with their dads around. For a while, America seemed to forget this. But now we know in our kids what we have always known in our hearts: America's dads deserve our respect and our support, dads on the frontline who risk their lives for our freedom, dads on the home front who work hard to support their families. Fatherhood is the most important responsibility a man will ever take on. It is also the most rewarding.

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 the following letter be printed in the Record.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, today, at 10:45, the Senate will resume consideration of the Department of Defense authorization bill. The bill's two managers, Chairman Warner and Senator Levin, will be here to continue to work on this important bill. Although there will be no votes during today's session, Senators are encouraged to come today and speak on the bill. Senators who are intending to offer amendments should be consulting with the managers on getting their amendments in the queue. Senators are reminded there is a scheduled vote for 5:30 on Monday on a U.S. circuit judge nomination. We could possibly have additional votes on Monday evening on amendments to the Defense bill.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, just very briefly, I want to comment on the supplemental appropriations bill we passed yesterday morning. I commend Senator Cochran and really both of the managers, and all of our colleagues, as well as the House, and especially Congressman Lewis, for their leadership in crafting a package that reflects our commitment to economic growth, that keeps America moving forward, that is fiscally responsible. As the majority says time and time again, the Federal budget is not the Government's money. It is the taxpayers' money. Americans work hard to get what they earn. And it is our responsibility to spend that money wisely, appropriately. That is why we are working hard to crack down on excessive Washington spending. And I think the way that supplemental bill was handled from the beginning, and especially at the end, reflects that fiscal responsibility. As we all know, that bill did reflect a lot of priorities of this body, but it grew and grew and grew. Once that bill was taken to conference, under the leadership of Chairman Cochran and Congressman Lewis, it was scaled back down to meet the specific guidelines and request of the President of the United States. I think we exercised fiscal restraint and responsibility, but still there is a lot more we do need to do in terms of demonstrating that fiscal restraint and that responsibility. One of our big challenges is the fact that much of our spending is on autopilot. We see that in our entitlement programs. Also, our budgetary process--the way it is conducted--leaves little time for oversight as to the spending. I mention that because I want to express my strong support for the efforts of our budget chairman, Senator Gregg, for an act that is called the SOS Act, called the Stop Overspending Act, that will be marked up by his committee, addressed in his committee next week. What it is--and he introduced it to many of us this week--is a broad package on the budgetary process. It is a package of reforms that will tamp down on and give us the tools and ways to control excessive spending. It adopts the President's proposal to establish a legislative line- item veto. It would reestablish spending caps which have been used effectively in the past. It initiates across-the-board reductions in entitlement spending if the Federal deficit fails to meet specific established targets. It includes a proposal I have been very supportive of and introduced actually when I first arrived in the Senate to put the budget on a 2- year budget cycle, thereby giving us time for appropriate oversight. I realize enacting this entire bold package--comprehensive in many ways, this SOS package--would be a huge challenge, particularly in Washington where the forces of spending from below, from within, remain so strong. But achieving even one of the reforms or, hopefully, several of the reforms of this package would be a major victory in the battle to control spending. It is my goal to accomplish just that before I leave the Senate. So just like every family has to make tough tradeoffs and live within their means, Congress should, too. Mr. President, I yield the floor.

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. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Record remain open until 2 p.m. today for submission of statements only.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate now proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 514, which was submitted earlier today.

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, this resolution concerns a request for testimony and representation in a criminal trespass action in Municipal Court in Eugene, OR. In this action, an antiwar protestor has been charged with criminally trespassing on the building housing Senator Ron Wyden's Eugene, OR, office on March 20, 2006, for refusing repeated requests by building management to leave the premises. A trial on the charge of trespass is scheduled to commence on June 20, 2006. The defendant has subpoenaed a member of the Senator's staff who had conversations with the defendant and other protestors before and during the charged events. The enclosed resolution would authorize that staff member to testify in connection with this action, with representation by the Senate legal counsel. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, and the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I understand there is a bill at the desk, and I ask for its first reading.

Mr. FRIST. I now ask for its second reading, and in order to place the bill on the calendar under the provisions of rule XIV, I object to my own request.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it stand in adjournment until 2 p.m. on Monday, June 19. 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 resume consideration of S. 2766, the Defense authorization bill; further, that the previous order for executive session be changed so that at 4 p.m. on Monday, the Senate will proceed to executive session to consider the nomination of Sandra Ikuta; I ask unanimous consent that the time be equally divided as provided earlier, with the vote now occurring at 5 p.m., and that the remaining provisions of the order stay in effect.