Howell Heflin

Mr. HEFLIN

Mr. HEFLIN. Mr. President, it took many of us by surprise when the junior Senator from Kansas, Nancy Landon Kassebaum, announced late last year that she would not run for reelection this time. She and I arrived in the Senate together after being elected in 1978, and it has been honor to serve here with her. Now, we will be leaving together when our terms expire at the end of this Congress. Senator Kassebaum is someone who is thoughtful and deliberative, and her colleagues truly listen to her. She also has a willful determination which not only commands but earns the respect of others. She comes from a well-known political legacy as the daughter of the 1936 Republican nominee for President Alf Landon, who lived to be 100 years of age. She has consistently demonstrated shrewdness, intelligence, and prudence in her approach to the issues since she has been in office. Senator Kassebaum is perhaps best known for her leadership as ranking member and chair of the Labor and Human Resources Committee, working there for bipartisan agreements on the many contentious issues which confront that committee. She is also known for her role in foreign affairs, having worked for many years on the Subcommittee on African Affairs of the Foreign Relations Committee. She was a major force behind the establishment of sanctions against South Africa and was key in deciding the conditions under which they should be eased before apartheid finally ended. Her background in education and the humanities has made her a strong leader on these issues as well. The people of Kansas and the Nation have benefited greatly from the service of Nancy Kassebaum in the U.S. Senate. She has led by example, and this body will be a decidedly lesser place after she leaves. I commend her and wish her well as she moves on to a new phase of her life.

Mr. HEFLIN

Mr. HEFLIN. Mr. President, when I learned that Senator David Pryor was not planning on seeking reelection this year, I realized that few Members of this body have meant so much to the Nation while at the same time serving the people of their State. Back in 1951, at the age of 16, young David Pryor served as a page here in the Senate. Looking back, he summed it up this way: ``It was the first time I'd seen Washington, the first time I'd seen the Capitol, the first time I'd seen the Senate, and the first time I'd been in a taxicab.'' Times have changed since 1951. Most of the faces that David Pryor saw during that initial visit are long gone. Some of the problems facing the Nation have been solved. New ones have arisen. But, since his election by the people of Arkansas in 1978, the same year I was first elected, Senator David Pryor has worked for this Nation's betterment. He is perhaps best known for his excellent work on behalf of the Nation's elderly citizens through the Senate Aging Committee, which he chaired for several years. The State of Arkansas has benefitted immeasurably from his service. Alongside men like Senators J. William Fulbright and Dale Bumpers, Senator Pryor has been an outstanding standard bearer of the legacy and tradition of those who have served Arkansas in the Senate. ``Smart as heck'' was how he described Senator Fulbright in 1951. It will be no surprise to read similar comments written by those pages who have encountered Senator Pryor during their service. He is also a true gentleman, and always treats others with respect and courtesy, traits that are all-too-often missing in today's harsh political climate. He is a man with deep ties to his State. He started his own newspaper in his home town after graduating from the University of Arkansas. He spent years as a country lawyer, serving everyone who walked in the door. In fact, as a lawyer, he participated in the famous coon case--an ownership dispute over a dog in which the judge allowed the dog to choose its own owner. The Senate itself has benefitted from the efforts of David Pryor. He has worked to maintain its dignity and unique style of debate and policymaking. He has served in the Senate for nearly 18 years. We came here together, and will leave together. Senator Pryor has made many contributions to both his constituents and his colleagues. We will wish him well as he leaves to enter a new phase of his life.

Mr. HEFLIN

Mr. HEFLIN. Mr. President, along with many of our colleagues, the senior Senator from Nebraska has announced that he will retire at the end of this Congress. When Jim Exon leaves, the Senate will have lost one of its most loyal and dedicated Members. The business of governing often comes down to being a team player. While he has not been reluctant to stand his ground when his conscience required him to do so, Jim Exon has also stuck by his team on the toughest votes that help to define our two parties. Senator Exon has gained our deep respect because of the wisdom of the measures he has advocated. He wrote the law that prevents the foreign takeover of American corporations which threatens our national security. Also, he increased the penalty for drug sales near truck stops to make America's highways even safer. These are just two of the numerous legislative initiatives Jim Exon accomplished during his successful tenure in the Senate. He has been quick to recognize and adapt to the dramatic global changes which have occurred over the last 6 years. His foresight in advocating the establishment of barter arrangements with the former Soviet Republics will become even more apparent as those nations become more fully integrated into the world economy. Senator Exon has not been afraid to stand by his beliefs. While we were not always on the same sides of a given issue, there has never been a doubt in my mind that he based his decisions and votes on what he believed to be in his State's and the country's best interest. He has been an outstanding leader on defense and national security issues. Senator Jim Exon has demonstrated in his 18 years in the Senate that he is valuable both for his inclination to be a team player and his willingness to stick to his position in the face of stiff opposition. We were elected the same year, and will be leaving together when our terms expire early in 1997, and I wish him well. The people of Nebraska have had a true friend in Senator Jim Exon.

Mr. HEFLIN

Mr. HEFLIN. Mr. President, I would like to bring to the attention of my colleagues a tribute written by Christopher Lee McCall to his uncle, the late Uyless Wardell White, of my hometown, Tuscumbia, AL. The Whites are known as a pioneer family in northwest Alabama. They are well-known in the Muscle Shoals area for Christian fellowship, civil responsibility, excellence in education, and total family devotion. This fitting tribute written by Christopher McCall to his uncle invokes the memory of the love of Ruth for Naomi found in the Bible in the First Chapter of the Book of Ruth, verses 16 and 17: . . . entreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge. Thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God: Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: The Lord do so to me, and more also, if I ought but death part thee and me. Mr. President, U.W. ``Cush'' White was a model for his nephew, Christopher, to emulate. I ask unanimous consent that this tribute to U.W. White be entered into the Congressional Record immediately following my remarks.

Mr. HEFLIN

Mr. HEFLIN. Mr. President, 2 years ago, we in the Senate--and the Nation--were saddened to hear that our colleague Paul Simon would not seek reelection this year. As a national figure who truly embodies integrity, respectability, and character, Senator Simon will certainly be missed here. Paul Simon was one of the first politicians to disclose his personal finances so that they would be open to scrutiny by the public. He has firmly supported a balanced budget amendment in order to prevent the Government from continuing to spend itself into greater debt. He has been the Democratic standard bearer on the balanced budget amendment legislation, and I am still hopeful that we see it become a reality before we both leave in early 1997. In the same vein, he has supported a line-item veto for the President to allow the Chief Executive to trim fat from the budget. Senator Simon recognizes that the Founding Fathers did not intend for the Government to operate in the red. I think that Senator Simon's strong commitment to integrity in Government can be traced to his roots in the newspaper business. At the age of 19, he bought his own newspaper, the Troy Tribune. As its publisher, he crusaded against local gangsters who had subverted local law and order. His success in running his own newspaper no doubt influenced his belief in the ability of the Government to operate in a thrifty and effective manner while maintaining the same honesty that he had shown in running his paper. The business flourished, expanding to 14 papers. Then he decided to sell his interest so that he could devote himself full time to serving his country through Government service. We will always remember the candor, wit, and knowledge he brought to the 1988 Presidential race. It has been my personal privilege and pleasure to have served on the Senate Judiciary Committee with him. He is not a lawyer, but his keen insight into the legal issues that affect real people is enlightening and instructive. He is an outstanding member of that committee. This body will be a decidedly lesser place without Paul Simon. We congratulate him and will wish him well after he leaves.

Mr. HEFLIN

Mr. HEFLIN. I have no objection.

Mr. HEFLIN

Mr. HEFLIN. Madam President, several of us in the U.S. Senate, as well as some in the House of Representatives, have had the pleasure over the years of knowing and working with the Right Honorable Michael Jopling, a British Member of Parliament and former Minister of Agriculture under Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. He has been a familiar and most welcome participant at both the North Atlantic Assembly sessions and at the British-American Interparliamentary Group meetings in which some of us have participated. He is well respected by his fellow Members of Parliament, both Conservative and Labour alike. Mr. Jopling, whose retirement from the House of Commons is imminent after close to 33 years in the Parliament, has served as secretary to this important and engaging interparliamentary group for the past 9 years and served the previous 4 years as its vice chairman. The position of secretary is a most important responsibility, since that officer is the chief liaison official with the American delegation. The secretaries of the delegations make most of the logistical decisions. The exchange plan he helped institute is an excellent program and vehicle for dealing with issues common to our two countries. He has referred to his activities with the British-American group ``as a labour of love'' and believes ``with a great deal of passion that the continued warm relationship between Britain and the United States is crucial for world peace.'' Mr. Jopling was an outstanding and courageous Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food in the British government for two 4- year periods between 1979 and 1987. Some of his policies angered British farmers, since he was appointed at a time when food surpluses under the Common Agricultural Policy of Europe had reached very high levels. It has been said that he was a victim of Jopling's law, which says that whatever you do is going to be unpopular with the environmentalists for not going nearly far enough and with the farmers for doing far too much. For those of us who serve on the Agriculture Committee, Jopling's Law has particular resonance. Nevertheless, he stood firm and became a moving force during the 1980's for bringing the Common Agricultural Policy of Europe under control. Under trying circumstances, he endeavored to achieve a proper and reasonable balance on these issues and always acted in a manner that served the public interest. He was warmly praised and encouraged by former American Secretary of Agriculture Clayton Yeutter. He also served as government chief whip. The government and the opposition in Parliament both appoint whips whose duty is to manage the affairs of the party and to organize their members to provide support. The government chief whip is in charge of the important responsibility of arranging the scheduling of the government's business in the House of Commons. This is done in consultation with the opposition chief whip. In addition, he was assistant whip, spokesman on agriculture, deputy spokesman on agriculture, secretary of the conservative MPs' agriculture committee, and a member of the Select Committees on Science and Technology, Agriculture, Foreign Affairs, and Privileges. He was also vice chairman of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, chairman of the Select Committee on Sittings of the Commons, and president of the Auto Cycle Union. Michael Jopling was born on December 10, 1930 in Ripon, Yorkshire. He was educated at Cheltenham College; King's College, Newcastle-upon- Tyne; and Durham University, where he earned a degree in agriculture. He is a farmer, sharing a 500-acre farm in Thirsk, Yorkshire ``on some of the finest arable land in the country.'' He has also served as a consultant to the Hill and Knowlton public relations firm. Mr. Jopling represents Westmorland and Lonsdale, an area of Great Britain which is dominated by agriculture and tourism, with some light industry. One British newspaper referred to it as ``a curious mixture of farmers in tweeds and sprightly geriatrics * * *'' While I do not think of him as being ``geriatric,'' he certainly reflects the overall nature of his constituency. He has been called ``a farmer in politics rather than a politician who makes agriculture his specialty.'' He is know as being likable, engaging, and affable. I have had the pleasure on several occasions to swap humorous stories with him about the politics, government, and cultural idiosyncracies of our respective nations. He is a practical joker who has said that ``riding a motorcycle is one of the life's most exhilarating experiences.'' He is also a serious leader who pays close attention to the nuances of public policy and who judges by eye and instinct. His voice of reason at NAA meetings has helped guide favorably its deliberations and improved its decisions. He has always supported a strong national defense and strong NATO. He often criticized backsliders like Canada ``with its miserable 1.2 percent of GNP'' for defense expenditures. He also warned the British cabinet to take ``unpopular decisions, if necessary'' to ensure the Army had the best tank possible. His natural manner is one of caution, of getting all the facts before making a decision. He instinctively distrusts high-flown theory, preferring instead the directness of personal dialog and negotiation. His height, square build, and rustic manner often conjure up the image of a genial giant, but his country gentleman appearance often masks his shrewdness, keen sense of politics, and anayltically sharp mind. All these traits come together to give him an unusual ability to take the full measure of a person, situation, or piece of legislation objectively, but always with an eye toward accomplishing his goals. I am pleased to commend and congratulate the Right Honourable Michael Jopling for his outstanding leadership and dedication as a Member of the British Parliament and as a British good-will ambassador at-large. I wish him, as well as his red-haired, beautiful, and talented wife, Gail Dickinson Jopling, all the best as he approaches retirement. He deserves our profound thanks for his many lasting contributions over the years to British-American relations in general and for his personal commitment to preserving the special nature of the relationship between our two great nations. After he leaves government service, I hope he will continue to use his enormous talents and energies to benefit British-American relations. Madam President, I thank the Chair, and I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. HEFLIN. I yield the floor.

Mr. HEFLIN

Mr. HEFLIN. Mr. President, Alabama State Senator Michael Anthony Figures, of Mobile, passed away on Friday, September 13, 1996. He was President Pro Tem of the State Senate, making him the highest-ranking African-American in the State legislature. This is the second highest-ranking position in the Alabama Senate and one of the most powerful and visible posts in State government. Senator Figures was the first black to ever hold the job and was exceptionally effective and politically astute. He could dissect an issue and get to its essence very quickly and directly. He was very close to Lieutenant Governor Don Siegelman, President of the Senate, and was instrumental in carrying out his legislative agenda. Senator Figures, who was only 48 years of age, was almost universally admired by the people who knew and worked with him. Both friends and political adversaries admired and appreciated his honesty, integrity, and work ethic. Senator Figures was born on October 13, 1947, the youngest of three sons of Reverend Coleman and Mrs. Augusta Mitchell Figures. He attended Stillman College and the University of Alabama Law School. He was first elected to the State Senate in 1978 as a Democrat, at that time only the third black person to serve in the Senate. He represented District 33, which includes part of Mobile and Prichard. Over the years, he built a solid legislative record on local and statewide issues. He worked long and hard to ensure minority representation while helping to create a ``strong'' mayoral position in Mobile's city government. Many view his finest legislative accomplishment the 1994 Senate passage of former Governor Jim Folsom's ``Alabama First'' education reform plan. Although it did not pass the House, it received 32 out of 35 votes in the Senate, due largely to Senator Figures' tenacious leadership and persuasion. Senator Figures was a founder of the Alabama New South Coalition, started in the 1980's to promote progressive causes and candidates. This influential political caucus has been instrumental in bringing blacks and whites in Alabama together. Senator Figures's wife, Vivian Davis Figures, is a member of the Mobile City Council. They had four sons together, Jelani Anthony, Shomari Coleman, Akil Michael, and Derrick. Senator Figures was a visionary and progressive leader who will be sorely missed by the people of Alabama. He had considerable ability, intellect, and drive. As one of the most influential politicians in Alabama's government, he had an unyielding desire to correct what he perceived as wrongs in society. He was an outstanding orator and had a quick mind and will be impossible to replace. He had an uncommon ability to smooth over disagreements and build bridges. Other members of the Senate really listened to him and responded to his arguments. Much of his success was rooted in his high degree of integrity. He was a stickler for following the Senate's procedural rules, even if bending those rules might have helped his side prevail. He never compromised his honesty or credibility as he quickly ascended to the heights of power and influence. The sad and untimely death of State Senator Michael Figures is an immeasurable loss for my State. He was an uncommon force for justice and progress who accomplished a great deal in a relatively short time. I extend my sincerest condolences to Vivian and their entire family in the wake of this loss. I hope they find some solace in the fact that he truly made Alabama a better state and better place to live. His many lasting contributions will stand as his personal legacy and as a testament to his ideals and leadership.

Mr. HEFLIN

Mr. HEFLIN. Mr. President, I rise today to extend my birthday wishes to Mrs. Mary Singletary Taylor, a native of Henry County, AL. She was born 98 years ago today--September 18, 1898. I understand that with the exception of some hearing loss, Mrs. Taylor is in good shape and still reads the Dothan Eagle newspaper each morning before working on her tatting. She calls her tatting, which is a handmade lace and somewhat of a lost art, her therapy. Mary's parents were W.B. and LaNora Singletary and her husband was Jasper Taylor, a farmer. Her niece is our own LaRose Taylor Shirley, who most of us know as a 16-year member of the U.S. Capitol Police Force. LaRose also hails from Henry County, which is located in the southeastern corner of Alabama. Mary S. Taylor was a lifelong resident of Newville, AL, in Henry County, and now resides in the Henry County Nursing Home in Abbeville. She attended a one-room school in Caps, AL, until she finished the fifth grade and then transferred to the Abbeville Normal School, where she completed her education. She was an active and dedicated member of the Tolbert Baptist Church for approximately 70 wonderful years. Mary was a homemaker and was known far and wide as an excellent and talented seamstress. She was especially known for her handmade baby clothes and her tatting. I am pleased to congratulate Mrs. Taylor for reaching this milestone in her life and wish her many, many more happy birthdays.

Mr. HEFLIN

Mr. HEFLIN. Mr. President, our friend and colleague from Colorado, Senator Hank Brown, will be leaving at the end of the 104th Congress after only one term in the Senate. But, he will nevertheless leave a lasting legacy of accomplishment that matches that of others who have served here for far longer periods. I have had the pleasure of serving with Hank on the Judiciary Committee during the last few years. His leadership on that committee and his contributions to our sometimes controversial debates were always thoughtful, analytical, fair, and respectful. He has been firm in his beliefs and opinions, but never failed to listen and consider those of the other members of the committee. Senator Brown has also been an outstanding leader on military, foreign policy, trade, budgetary, and a host of other issues. I was especially impressed with his efforts to resolve the dispute with Pakistan over certain weapons transfers. He was able to forge a compromise between the administration and Congress which serves our national interests as well as those of India and Pakistan. He has covered a great deal of public policy territory during his relatively short tenure in the Senate. Hank Brown was born in Denver, CO, on February 12, 1940. He received his bachelor's degree from the University of Colorado in 1961 and his law degree from there in 1969. He began his career as an accountant. He received a master of tax law degree from the George Washington University here in Washington in 1986, while serving in the House of Representatives. The future Senator from Colorado served as a lieutenant in the U.S. Navy from 1962 to 1966, including service as a forward air controller in Vietnam. He was awarded the Air Medal with two gold stars, the Vietnam Service Medal, Naval Unit Citation, and National Defense Medal. He served in the Colorado State Senate from 1972 to 1976, where he was the assistant majority leader for 2 years. In 1973, he was named ``Outstanding Young Man of Colorado.'' In 1980, he was elected to the House of Representatives, serving there until his election to the Senate in 1990. While he was in the House, he sponsored the first wild and scenic river designation for the Cache La Poudre River, and worked to expand the Rocky Mountain National Park. He also sought tougher child support enforcement mechanisms and specialized in ethics issues as a member of the House Ethics Committee. Likewise, he has been an outspoken leader in urging Congress to be covered by the civil rights and labor laws it imposed on others. The Congressional Accountability Act, which passed the Congress and was signed into law in early 1995, was due in large measure to his efforts on this issue. Senator Hank Brown has been a true friend to the people of Colorado and an outstanding legislator who consistently strived to do what was best for the Nation. His presence will be sorely missed when the next Congress convenes early next year, but I join my colleagues in congratulating and commending him for his public service and in wishing him and his family well as he moves on to the next phase of his life.

Mr. HEFLIN

Mr. HEFLIN. Mr. President, our distinguished colleague from Maine, Senator William Cohen, will be leaving the Senate at the end of the 104th Congress. His departure will leave a void for his State of Maine and for the Nation that will be extremely difficult to fill. We were both first elected to the Senate in 1978 and will now be leaving together. He has been a true friend and a wonderful colleague to serve with over these last 18 years. In addition to being an outstanding Senator and leader on a wide range of issues, Senator Cohen is an accomplished poet and spy novelist in his own right. Among his books are: ``Of Sons and Seasons,'' ``Roll Call,'' ``Getting the Most Out of Washington,'' ``The Double Man,'' which he wrote with former Senator Gary Hart, ``A Baker's Nickel,'' ``Men of Zeal,'' which he wrote with former Maine Senator and Majority Leader George Mitchell, ``One-Eyed Kings,'' and ``Murder in the Senate.'' Altogether, Senator Cohen will have served for 25 years in Congress when he retires. Born in 1940, his father was a baker in Bangor, ME. He received his bachelor of arts degree from Bowdoin College in 1962 and his law degree from Boston University 3 years later. He later became the assistant county attorney for Maine's Penobscot County and was elected vice president of the Maine Trial Lawyers Association in the early 1970's. He was the mayor of Bangor, ME and a fellow at the John F. Kennedy Institute of Politics. He was elected to the 93d Congress on November 7, 1972, and served in the House until his election to the Senate 6 years later. As a Member of Congress, William Cohen has not been afraid to break with his party when his conscience dictated it. Overall, he has been a leading advocate of a more assertive American defense posture. This was his view long before the defense build-up of the 1980's. As a Senate candidate in 1978, his platform was military preparedness and when he arrived here, he immediately got a seat on the Armed Services Committee. He opposed the SALT II Treaty, strongly supported President Reagan's defense build-up, and spoke out against the nuclear freeze. He condemned Saddam Hussein's regime in Iraq for using chemical weapons long before the invasion of Kuwait in August 1990 and in July of that year was instrumental in the debate over sanctions against Iraq. He served as vice chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee during the late 1980's, working closely with its chairman, Senator David Boren. He also served on the Iran-contra committee, on which I served as well. On trade issues, he has been for free but fair trade. He has worked to ban the import of underweight lobsters and opposed the American- Canadian Free Trade Agreement. Senator Cohen is known as somewhat of a maverick, but there is no question that he put the concerns of his country and State at the top of his agenda. There is a great need for mavericks--really, I should call them independents. There is also no question that his sincere interest and leadership in public policy issues at the national level has led to many benefits for the American people in general. He will be sorely missed after he leaves the Senate early next year, but I join my colleagues in wishing him and his lovely wife, Janet Langhart-Cohen, well as he embarks on a new phase of his life. I also look forward to reading more of his novels in the years to come.

Mr. HEFLIN

Mr. HEFLIN. Mr. President, my long-time friend, Sheriff John L. Aldridge, is one of the giants of law enforcement in the State of Alabama. He has spent over 30 years in law enforcement and is presently serving his sixth term as sheriff of Colbert County, AL, having first been elected in 1975. He was the commissioner of public safety for the city of Tuscumbia from 1960 through 1969. He is a loyal and dedicated public servant whose service and commitment to law enforcement in general and his community in particular have been impeccable. Sheriff Aldridge received his bachelor of science degree in law enforcement from the University of North Alabama. He is a past president of the Alabama Sheriff's Association and is a member of the board of trustees of the Alabama Sheriff's Boys-Girls Ranches. He has received many honors and awards, including County Officer of the Year from the Sheffield Elks' Lodge and the Colbert County American Legion. He is a past State Officer of the Year and Officer of the Year for Colbert, Lauderdale, and Franklin Counties. In 1977, he received the Liberty Bell Award from the Colbert County Bar Association. Under former Governor George Wallace, he served on the executive board of the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency. He is also a past president of the Lions Club and past commander of American Legion Post 31. He is a Mason and first vice president of the Sheffield, Alabama Kiwanis Club, as well as a former member of the Tuscumbia Utility Board and of the Colbert County Hospital Board. He served for a time as a board member of the Colbert-Lauderdale Attention Home for Delinquent Boys and Girls. He is a loyal Democrat whose enthusiasm for the party has never wavered. In 1992, he served on the Steering Committee for the Clinton- Gore Campaign. He strongly endorsed the ticket that year and, although the Democrats did not carry Alabama, campaigned tirelessly for his party's candidates. Sheriff Aldridge's leadership and service have gone far beyond what we traditionally think of as law enforcement duties. He initiated a rape counseling program for the Muscle Shoals Mental Health Center to assure victims of rape were interviewed by a female professional counselor rather than a male. When the program was begun, there were no female officers in law enforcement in Colbert County. Sheriff Aldridge made a firm commitment to change this. He received an award from the Muscle Shoals Mental Health Center for initiating this program. Under his tenure as chairman of the Sheffield Kiwanis Club Major Emphasis Program on ``Safeguard Against Crime,'' the club received the Silver Bell Award for his work in organizing a county-wide program aimed at reducing crime and spurring public interest in law enforcement. I am proud to commend and congratulate Sheriff John Aldridge for his many years of outstanding leadership in terms of law enforcement and community service. I look forward to seeing more of the fruits of his labors first-hand when I return home to Colbert County next year.

Mr. HEFLIN

Mr. HEFLIN. Mr. President, on Sunday, August 11, 1996, the Zion No. 1, Missionary Baptist Church celebrated its 126th anniversary. Zion No. 1 was formed in 1870, only a few miles from its present location in Barton, AL. It is one of the oldest in the State of Alabama. Arthur Barton, a white landowner, donated the land for this church as a gift to its organizers, who had a phenomenal zeal for worshipping God. The church they built stood for many years. A second building, home of the Pine Grove Methodist Episcopal Church, located on a hill just off Highway 72 in west Colbert County, was purchased from the Methodist Conference by the small Zion No. 1 congregation in 1891 for $300. This church building was held together by wooden pegs. It is reported that there are no nails in the building. Kerosene or coal oil lamps were used for light. Two enormous pillars were visible in the center of the sanctuary running from the floor to the ceiling. These are still in place today. During the Civil War, the Pine Grove Methodist Episcopal Church building had been used as a temporary hospital for wounded soldiers. It is said that two cannon balls were found in the walls as a result of a battle which took place between the town of Barton and the Tennessee River. There were blood stains on the floor and on portions of its baseboards and gunshot holes were visible in the walls. The basic structure which exists today remains largely as it was when it was constructed before the Civil War. Subsequent renovations have hidden evidence that it was once a hospital and church for wounded Confederate soldiers. In 1969, brick was added, as well as new fixtures, carpeting, and a public address system. In 1977, a new roof was added, carpeting was laid in the educational annex, and folding doors were added. The years between 1978 and 1986 were a time of rapid growth for Zion No. 1, Missionary Baptist Church. The congregation purchased three acres of land to expand the cemetery, and the central heating system was installed. A second educational annex, which includes a baptismal pool, was constructed. Previously, the Tennessee River had been used for baptizing new members. The Reverend Wayne S. Bracy became the 16th and current pastor on February 8, 1992. He has brought a fervent spiritual atmosphere and a commitment to teaching and training to Zion No. 1. I am pleased to congratulate the Zion No. 1, Missionary Baptist Church on the occasion of its 126th anniversary. Its rich heritage and dedicated leaders and members are testaments to the tremendous role religion continues to play in America's culture and development.

Mr. HEFLIN

Mr. HEFLIN. Mr. President, I want to take a moment to congratulate my friend, Billy Clyde Diffie, who entered the ranks of retired persons on August 31, 1996. Billy Clyde Diffie was born on March 27, 1934 in Ohatchee, AL to Carl and Alta Diffie. He graduated from Ohatchee High School, where he excelled as a running back. He followed in his father's footsteps by later taking a job at the Anniston Foundry in Anniston, AL. In July 1959, he began a career with the Alabama Highway Department as an engineer assistant. Over the next three and a half decades, until his retirement last month, he worked his way through the engineer grades all the way to the rank of CE 1--civil engineer. Right by his side during his long career with the Alabama Highway Department was his wife, Vera Sue, who he married on April 17, 1953. They have five children, Rodney Clyde, Stanley Keith, Anthony Karl, Pamela Rene, and Kimberly Sue. All five children graduated from Sylacauga High School in Sylacauga, AL, where the Diffies reside in the Fairmont Community. They have just recently purchased a second home in Laguna Beach, FL, just in time for his retirement. The house is located between his brother's beach house and his sister's on the other side. As his children were growing up, Billy was very active in little league baseball both as a parent and as an umpire. He also coached baseball and football and was active in the youth program at the Marble City Baptist Church. I congratulate and commend Billy Clyde Diffie on his outstanding career and wish him all the best for a happy, healthy retirement.

Mr. HEFLIN

Mr. HEFLIN. Mr. President, I rise in opposition to the Bumpers amendment. I have supported the space station from the very beginning. In fact, I made a speech and have been told by people at NASA that I was the first Senator to call for the building of the space station, more than 15 years ago. I think the space station is coming along in an excellent manner. I happen to have had the opportunity to visit Boeing during the recess and saw the progress that is being made on the space station. It is up to schedule and is moving in a manner that will mean it will be launched on time and it will move forward in a proper manner. The space station has many benefits for mankind. People sometimes question the byproducts that have occurred as a result of the space program. There are many, many byproducts that have come about as a result of the space program. Many of them were not anticipated, but they developed as you develop the program for the space station. For example, digital watches came out of the space program. I happen to be sort of a walking example of the various benefits that the space program has provided in the field of medical services. I have a pacemaker. The pacemaker idea came as a result of activities involved in the space station. I also have what is known as a stent. A stent is sort of a metal pipe that is placed in my coronary artery, that holds open an area that became occluded. Therefore, this program with the idea of having a stent originated out of the space program, in regard to the use of metal and how metal could tie into tissue. So I am sort of a walking example of what the space program has done. There are many other benefits that have occurred as a result of the space program. There are volumes, actually, that have been developed, outlining the various programs. So, I am fully supportive of the space program and of the space station. I think there are several things that are very important. Senator Glenn has gone into this in detail. But the crystallography, by which you grow crystals in microgravity, has been exceptionally beneficial to working toward finding a cure for disease. There is another program known as the electrophoresis program, which is the ability to separate a cell down to the smallest integral parts. To be able to someday use the ability to grow crystals and to grow cells to a much higher degree than they exist on Earth in microgravity, and then use the process of electrophoresis to separate those cells, into the smallest integral parts, has a great potential relative to finding cures for diseases. So I am fully supportive of this. Mr. President, to reiterate, I rise today in firm opposition to the amendment before us which seeks to terminate funding for the international space station. I have been, and will continue to be, a strong and vocal supporter of the international space station. I first rose on this floor over 15 years ago as one of the first proponents of a manned laboratory in space. I share with many in this Nation and this Congress a vision of maintaining and expanding the human experience in space. The space station is an investment in the future, an investment fully consistent with NASA's mission. The first words appearing in the 1958 act which created NASA state that the ``Congress declares it is the policy of the United States that activities in space should be devoted to peaceful purposes for the benefit of all mankind.'' This project, more so than many others, is true to that charter. The space station is the largest international peacetime cooperative effort ever undertaken. It will provide a platform for scientific research which could never be duplicated in any laboratory on the ground. The rhetoric surrounding this celebrated program seems to have taken on a life of its own. Old complaints, long since recognized and addressed, resurfaced with every budget debate. From the moment President Reagan proposed the space station in 1984, however, the project has been engulfed in controversy. Skeptics are not shy about decrying the space station as a flagrant misuse of tax dollars in a time of fiscal restraint. Social critics have argued that the money would be better spent at home, shoring up fractured urban areas and investing in better schools. Congress has repeatedly voted by substantial bipartisan margins to continue our space exploration projects. But in a time of tight budgets, more attempts to kill sound investments in our future are expected. It seems to me, however, that we cannot back away from a strong investment in public interest and research, any more so than parents can decide not to fund their children's college education just because they might still have a mortgage on their home or a large balance on their credit card accounts. At the same time, we cannot ignore our fiscal dilemma. I have long been in the forefront of efforts to inject responsibility and discipline into the Federal budget process. Any public investment must be cost effective. I believe it is time to review the results of efforts to date and recognize the benefits of the project. The vision of the Congress was to construct in orbit a permanently- manned space station. The purpose of the project was to exploit and enhance the technological superiority of our scientific, engineering, and aerospace industries. While much of the hard science and technology necessary to construct such a facility did exist, the scope of the project extended into hundreds of areas where the existing technology and knowledge base were not fully developed. The need to create an environment in space which would support a permanent manned presence led us through years of life sciences experiments which have added to our understanding of the human body and produced countless biomedical breakthroughs which are saving or improving the quality of life for people everywhere. I have personally benefited from one such technology breakthrough when I have experienced heart problems in the recent past. The technique used to treat my condition came from the space station's life sciences developments. Our defense systems have also benefited from space exploration. Composite materials needed to endure the harsh environment of space have enhanced our competitive advantage in the engineering and aerospace industries. Our international relations were enhanced and our construction and operations costs were reduced when we extended participation in this project to our international partners in Europe, Canada, and Japan. Each makes a contribution to the overall design in return for access to the completed station. And an unprecedented cooperative effort was forged when we extended our hand in friendship to the Russian people to join in this truly international space station. Over the last few years, an enormous number of technological, organizational, and managerial difficulties have been resolved. A diffused and decentralized program structure suitable to the early design stages has been replaced by a lean, integrated, and responsive management structure where communication and accountability are clear. A single host center and a single prime contractor now coordinate and integrate the hardware which support the program. Just a few days ago, the first U.S. space station module, node 1, passed a critical pressure test. This module features six docking ports and will serve as a gate-way connecting other station modules. The space station is expected to begin assembly in November 1997 with the launch of the Russian-built core vehicle, the functional cargo block. Node 1 is expected to be launched into space 1 month after this core- vehicle. Now is not the time to pull the collective rug out from under this effort. We have made commitments to our international partners which we must not breach. We have sought the intellectual and capital investment of countless scientists, engineers, and program managers who have labored long and hard to support our ever elusive vision of this project. We gave these groups the vision of an international space station. We gave them the mission of constructing an orbiting laboratory in space. We have held the reins tight and offered considerable course correction at every turn in the development and design stages. Just as we are about to realize the results of this long labor, there are calls to squander our investment, terminate the work, and redirect the funding. Such calls are short-sighted and ill-conceived, and should not be supported. This Nation enjoys a technological competitive advantage in aeronautics and space issues because of its tradition in investing in the future. Continued construction and operation of the space station will further our advantage. It will provide a laboratory in microgravity which will enhance our understanding of crystallography. It will give us advancements in biomedical research which will improve our health and welfare. It will provide a platform for environmental study of our fragile planet by allowing us to monitor and measure global changes both above and below the atmosphere. When I hear some of my colleagues rail against the space station and other projects designed to propel us into the future, I cannot help but wonder what they would have said had they been around in 1492. Certainly had these political pundits been in Spain, the news headlines would have read: ``Columbus voyage disaster, ship lost, India not found.'' We never know what benefits research and development will ultimately yield. Some of the most important discoveries in medicine and other field have been accidental in nature, just as Columbus' arrival in the New World was 500 years ago. Could any of us argue, with a straight face, that the cost of that long-ago voyage, which at that time was astronomical, has not been outweighed many, many times over by the benefits that were bestowed upon mankind? As we reflect upon that journey during 1996, it would serve us well to think of and focus on the miraculous technological advances and discoveries--many of which have benefitted the human race immeasurably--that would never have been possible had the naysayers carried the day. In his inaugural address to the Nation over 30 years ago, President Kennedy told Americans that they stood ``on the edge of a New Frontier.'' In describing the phrase that has become synonymous with his short administration, he inspired an entire generation by saying, ``Let both sides seek to invoke the wonders of science instead of its terrors. Together let us explore the starts, conquer the deserts, eradicate disease, tape the ocean-depths * * *''. Those words are no less profound today that they were in Kennedy's time, for as long as man is on this Earth, and as long as we are able to move forward with scientific and technological advances, we will always be on the brink of a new frontier. As this will probably be my last opportunity to champion the international manned space laboratory, I remain fully committed to our vision. I ask my fellow colleagues to join with me today in defeating this unreasonable amendment and signaling our collective resolve to support the continued construction and operation of the international space station.

Mr. HEFLIN. Amen.

Mr. HEFLIN

Mr. HEFLIN. Mr. President, I am pleased to rise in support of the conference report to S. 1028, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996. The road leading to this compromise has been long and tortuous, but I'm happy that the leaders in this effort have finally come to an agreement. Over the past 5 years, the issue of health care reform has been at the top of our national agenda. The need for an overhaul in our health care delivery system was a centerpiece of the last Presidential campaign, and our inability to enact comprehensive reform legislation 2 years ago was a profound disappointment. At the same time, there remains a firm national consensus that something must be done to reform the health care system. The Department of Health and Human Services estimates that between 32 and 37 million Americans have no health insurance, and an additional 50 to 60 million are underinsured. As stated by the Office of Management and Budget, a total of 13 percent of all Americans are completely uninsured, with as many as 28 percent without insurance for 1 month or more. The Labor Department reports that each year, 1 million people lose their health insurance. As currently structured, the private health insurance market provides an insufficient level of coverage for individuals and families with major health problems and makes it difficult for employers to obtain adequate coverage for their employees. This is especially true of small businesses. The Health Insurance Reform Act will reduce many of the existing barriers to obtaining insurance coverage by making it easier for people who change jobs or lose their jobs to maintain adequate coverage. As many as 25 million Americans will be helped by this legislation, since its protects portability and against losing insurance due to preexisting medical conditions. This measure builds upon innovative and successful state reforms and enhances the private market by requiring health plans to compete based on quality, price, and service instead of refusing to offer coverage to those who are in poor health and need it the most. It would also provide much-needed momentum for the more comprehensive reform that is still needed. Equally important, it would not increase Federal spending--because of offsets--impose new or expensive requirements on individuals, employers, or States, or create new Federal layers of bureaucracy. This measure enjoys wide bipartisan support in Congress and from a host of organizations, including the National Association of Manufacturers, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the National Governors Association, the American Medical Association, the American Hospital Association, Independent Insurance Agents of America, and the Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities. Virtually every medical group in the country has endorsed the bill and the House passed it by an overwhelming vote of 421 to 2. I want to commend Senators Kennedy and Kassebaum for their outstanding leadership in bringing us this conference report. They have been tenacious and steadfast when it would have been understandable if they had just called it a day and moved on. It is a sound, targeted, market-based reform measure that will make it easier for millions of Americans to change jobs without the fear of losing their health coverage. I must say that I share the disappointment of Senators Domenici, Wellstone, Simpson and others that their amendment guaranteeing parity of coverage for mental and physical conditions was dropped by the conference committee. I sincerely hope that the next Congress will again take a close look at mental health coverage and reconsider giving it parity. Too many citizens have mental health conditions that not only affect their personal lives, but also lower their productivity and lead to serious physical problems. This results in higher costs to the health care system and to employers. While this bill does not make all the necessary changes we need in the health care system, it does make a series of valuable reforms that will make a discernible difference in the lives of millions of our citizens. It does so without interfering with those parts of the system which work and without taking away the ability of States to implement their own reforms. If we learned anything from the health care debate in 1994, it is that our system must be reformed gradually and incrementally. The Health Insurance Reform Act before us is an example of the kind of incremental changes that can be enacted step-by-step in a bipartisan, collegial manner. Hopefully, this will serve as a model for future legislative reforms to our health care system and prompt the two sides of the aisle to seek more ways of working together for the betterment of the Nation. Again, I congratulate the managers of this bill and am proud to lend my support. I thank the Chair and yield the floor. Mr. PRESSLER addressed the Chair.

Mr. HEFLIN

Mr. HEFLIN. Mr. President, 1 week ago, I voted for the welfare reform legislation that passed the Senate. Previously, I had supported two alternatives--one a Democratic version and the other a bipartisan alternative. Although both these attempts failed, some of their provisions were adopted into the bill that passed, making if far better by providing a wider safety net for children and the poor. The conference report before us now is not as good as I would like. It probably is not anyone's ideal plan for welfare reform. Frankly, I think the Senate's version was preferable to this conference report. But, while some provisions within the legislation are still troubling and need to be reworked down the road, at least we are off to a good start in reforming a system that we all agree to a good start in reforming a system that we all agree is broken and needs to be overhauled. One thing is certain: regardless of its shortcomings, this bill is a product of sincere efforts to end the harmful dependency and other severe short-comings which currently exist in our welfare system. Throughout this debate and these difficult negotiations, I have been impressed with the diligence, tenacity, and honesty which Members have displayed in trying to come up with an acceptable plan to end welfare as we know it. The measure we are considering today does, in fact, represent a change in philosophy in how we think about children and families. This is the most significant and sweeping change in the social compact of our Nation since the New Deal. Its strength is that it overhauls our welfare system without the harshness of previous bills that have been vetoed. The two vetoes, along with the threat of a third, served the purpose of eliminating the extreme measures that made the previous bills unacceptable--even harmful. For example, we have now rightly recognized that a mother with young children who wants to work will have access to adequate child-care. Also among its vast improvements is the fact that child nutrition programs, such as the school lunch program, are not block granted. The same is true of the Food Stamp Program. I had grave fears that block- granting these kinds of nutrition programs would impose tremendous burdens on States like Alabama, which over the years has suffered from several periods of budget proration and economic recession. Programs like these aimed at helping children and the poor would have faced drastic cuts if they had been block-granted. This measure raises the cap on the contingency fund from $1 billion to $2 billion to provide States with more protection during economic downturns. It also adds a new trigger mechanism based on the food stamp caseload. It includes some provisions for States to establish objective criteria for delivery of benefits and to ensure equitable and fair treatment. This welfare reform legislation, while not as sound as the Senate- passed plan, is still a vast improvement over the Republican bills which were vetoed. As I stated earlier, I still have some reservations surrounding certain provisions contained in the measure. But I believe, overall, that the positive outweighs the negative. I think the compromise we have struck is a major step in the right direction, and an overall positive effort at making welfare more of a helping hand in getting people on their feet economically. Our debate over the last few months has been both constructive and productive. We now have a bill before us which is a testament to the Congress and its leadership--majority and minority. In essence, it is a product of the Congress' legislative process working as it was designed to work. We have seen some hard-fought battles and witnessed significant changes from the original bill after some intense debate and good-faith negotiations between the two sides of the aisle. Each side has made concessions, while holding firm to certain core principles. We have arrived at agreements on several major issues. As a result, we now have a bill that contains stronger work provisions and that is not as harsh on children. While there are undoubtedly problems still remaining in the legislation that will have to be addressed down the road, this compromise is an overall positive step for reforming welfare, reducing dependency, and offering a brighter future for millions of American families. Mr. President, except for the balanced budget constitutional amendment, this welfare reform bill is arguably the most important legislation we will tackle in this or any other Congress. There is no doubt that our current system is failing welfare recipients and taxpayers alike. I am pleased to join my colleagues and the President in taking advantage of this historic opportunity and enacting reforms which will empower recipients to break cycles of dependency, to focus on work and responsibility, and to become successful and productive citizens.

Mr. HEFLIN

Mr. HEFLIN. Mr. President, Grady Liles, the moving figure behind bringing the NCAA division II national championship game and with it national recognition to the Shoals area of north Alabama, will be honored for his outstanding community leadership on September 5, 1996, at the Florence, AL, Conference Center. He also originated the idea of the Harlon Hill Trophy to honor the top collegiate football player in division II. It is named after a former University of North Alabama player who went on to star with the Chicago Bears, winning the Jim Thorpe Award in the mid-1950's. In 1985, Grady helped organize and establish the Shoals National Championship Committee, which made a successful bid to host the NCAA division II football championship game. The nationally televised game has been played in the Shoals for 10 years. Grady Liles is a native of Florence and was the 1947 golden gloves boxing champion and the 1950 middle-weight champion in the U.S. Marine Corps. In 1957, he helped organize the Florence rescue squad, which was the first volunteer squad in north Alabama. He served as a firefighter for 13 years and was selected Alabama's fireman of the year in 1965. In 1963, he had successfully lobbied for the approval of the State fireman's bill, which regulates and controls the maximum working hours for city firefighters. This bill was the first to help firefighters on a Statewide level. Grady is a man of many awards. He was named ``outstanding young man'' by the Jaycees in 1965 and 1967 and that same year was selected for outstanding personalities of the south in 1967. In 1968, he received the Distinguished Service Award after saving the life of an infant who had stopped breathing through mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. He was selected Shoals citizen of the year in 1987. He is a member of the Florence Civitan Club, Shoals Chamber of Commerce, American Legion, Knights of Phythias, and Shrine Club. He is also president of the UNA Sportsman's Club and the National Harlon Hill Award Committee and chairman of the Shoals National Championship Committee. I am pleased to commend and congratulate Grady Liles for all his energetic boosterism and tireless community leadership. I wish him all the best for a memorable night of honor and roasting on September 5 in Florence.

Mr. HEFLIN

Mr. HEFLIN. Mr. President, my friend Nina Reeves will soon be retiring from her position as youth director of the North Alabama Conference of the United Methodist Church after nearly 50 years. She will be leaving her post in August 1996 after the conference's international peace camp. The official publication of the North Alabama Conference, the Voice, published a tributary interview with Nina in its April issue, saying, If the North Alabama Conference has an icon, then Nina H. Reeves definitely would be that person * * * From thousands of youth and hundreds of events, the ministry of Nina Reeves stretches from the lives of each youth she has touched throughout the years. Nina Reeves grew up in Yazoo City, MS and was reared as a Presbyterian. She went on to attend Millsaps College and later graduate school at the University of Alabama, earning a master's degree in physical education and recreation. After working part time for the Wesley Foundation, she joined the North Alabama Conference at the early age of 22. She had planned to be a teacher, but, even though she didn't know that much about the Methodist Church at the time, took the position as youth director at the persistent urging of Brother V.H. Hawkins, who vowed to teach her everything she needed to know. Hawkins had seen her at work leading folk dancing, story-telling, and recreation at a Tuscaloosa Methodist Church. She calls herself the oldest living youth worker. Each year, Nina has brought a large group of Methodist youth from all over north Alabama to Washington each year. While in the capital, they met with Government leaders to get acquainted with public affairs and the political process. They also visited the United Nations headquarters in New York City. The annual breakfast town meetings with the Alabama congressional delegation at the Capitol complex were truly outstanding and informative. I was always impressed with these young people, since they seemed to have a genuine interest in Government and world affairs. They also tended to be intellectually curious and quite progressive in their thinking, believing that they had the ability to make a real difference in their communities, State, Nation, and world. Nina Reeves deserves much of the credit for instilling these kinds of positive attitudes in the youth to whom she ministered and offered guidance over the years. I am pleased to commend and congratulate Nina Reeves for her nearly 50 years of service to the Methodist youth of north Alabama. She has been their spiritual guide, their teacher, and their friend. She will be greatly missed, and never really replaced, but her immeasurable contributions and life of service in shaping the leaders of tomorrow will never be forgotten. I wish her all the best as she enters the well-deserved retirement phase of her life.

Mr. HEFLIN

Mr. HEFLIN. Mr. President, in 1981, the Alabama Association of Retired Senior Volunteer Program [RSVP] project directors developed a proposal requesting State funding for their projects as a supplement to their Federal budgets. During State budget negotiations, the funding was also extended to Alabama's Senior Companion and Foster Grandparent projects, marking the beginning of a collaboration among senior service corps programs in my State that has continued for 15 years. As a State association known as the Alabama National Senior Service Corps Directors Association, these three programs--RSVP, Senior Companion, and Foster Grandparents--have worked together to secure other funding. The Senior Corps' 35 State projects receive more than a quarter million dollars annually from the State budget to cover costs related to volunteers. These funds have been used to establish several programs, including a public housing mentoring program and training programs in prescription and over-the-counter drug misuse. The funds have also been used to conduct free community intergenerational workshops at sites throughout the State. The association also contracts with the IRS to provide tax counseling services for the elderly. The association is now seeking Medicaid waiver funding and hopes to soon venture into the arena of private sector funding. Project directors have taken the first step toward seeking private sector support by incorporating as a 501(c)(3) organization. I am pleased to congratulate and commend the Alabama National Senior Service Corps Directors Association for developing an array of outstanding programs and for providing a model that illustrates the power and potential of these kinds of partnerships in providing important services to our senior citizens.

Mr. HEFLIN

Mr. HEFLIN. Mr. President, it would be my understanding that with regard to the authority given the administrator to require a period of not less than 60 days for public comment after issuing a regulation under section 408(e)(1) of the Act that this would apply only to those tolerance petitions submitted after the effective date of the Act.

Mr. HEFLIN

Mr. HEFLIN. Mr. President, people all over my State of Alabama are deeply saddened by the death of E.R. ``Bob'' Morrissette, Jr., who passed away on Sunday, July 21 in Mobile. Bob, who had served for many years on my State staff working out of the Mobile office, was a trusted friend, loyal ally, and close adviser. He was the kind of dedicated public servant who was a natural at the art of forging agreement and building bridges. He truly loved people and prided himself on being able to get along with just about anyone with whom he came in contact. People responded and warmed up to him because of his gentlemanly manner, his humor, and his genuineness. Two of his great passions were people and politics. He enjoyed politics in any shape or form. Another of his passions was the newspaper business. Before joining my staff, he spent over 3 decades covering the news as a reporter, editor, and publisher. After serving in the Army during World War II, Bob earned a journalism degree at the University of Alabama. This is where I first met and became close friends with him some 50 years ago. After college, he embarked on a career in journalism at the Baldwin Times paper in Bay Minette, AL. He took over the Atmore Advance in Atmore, a small town in South Alabama, in 1959, serving there as owner, editor, and publisher of the paper for the next 20 years. He plunged into civic life, always wanting to do his very best for the community he served. Bob always considered himself a newspaper man in the traditional sense and saw to it that he knew everything and everybody in his community. In 1976, Bob received the Distinguished Alumnus in Journalism Award from the University of Alabama. Two years later, he was named president of the Alabama Press Association. Shortly after I came to the Senate, he sold the Advance and I persuaded him to accept a position as my executive assistant for southwestern Alabama, heading up my Mobile office. He was an indispensable and energetic member of my staff who represented me at various meetings and events and handled many projects over the years. He served right up until the time of his death. I will always fondly remember the many barnstorming trips we went on together in Mobile and surrounding counties. The importance of family and relationships was something he understood fully. I was present at Bob and Joyce Henley Morrissette's wedding many years ago. They loved each other intensely and constantly. They were so close they knew intuitively the thoughts of the other; they could communicate without speaking. Each brought out the best in the other. They were spouses, best friends, superb parents, and tireless workers for the public good. Unfortunately, Joyce became ill and was not able to continue doing so many of the things she loved and enjoyed. But Bob was always devoted to her and cared for her in many different ways. His devotion to Joyce never wavered. His loyalty to her reminds me of a line from Elizabeth Barrett Browning's ``Love Song from the Portuguese'': ``Chance cannot change my love nor time impair.'' Bob was an outstanding family man. He had an unqualified love for all of his family and a reverence for his roots. Not only did he show this by his love for Joyce and his two daughters, Martha and Lulie, but he loved to talk about his relatives--close and distant. He loved to tell stories about members of his family. I believe he had more cousins than any one man in all of Alabama. He was extremely proud of his heritage. From my perspective as an office seeker, I could not have hoped for a better friend and campaign worker who could persuade so many kissing cousins. Bob Morrissette had an enormous number of friends across the State and his familiar presence will be sorely missed. His life was a testament to the very best qualities to be found in the journalism business and in government. He proved that people can be involved in these fields and be highly successful while still maintaining a level of civility, friendliness, integrity, decorum, and respect that is often absent from the public sphere today. He derived a great deal of satisfaction from helping others. He was an optimist by nature, always believing we can find the way to a better world and that each of us can be a valuable participant in the process. I cannot begin to list the ways that Bob improved the lives of others or to discuss the numerous people he touched and how he promoted the public good. Only those of us fortunate to have been the closest to him can begin to appreciate the thoughtfulness and kindness he displayed on a daily basis for so many people. He touched an infinite number of lives through his words, whether they were delivered over the phone, in writing, or in person. He had a rich and colorful south Alabama accent that had a way of putting people at ease and even disarming those who were upset or angry about something. Happiness was an integral part of his life because he was always doing things for other people. He knew that one does not become happy by pursuing happiness for its own sake. Bob understood that genuine happiness is a byproduct of living a meaningful and productive life. He was a genuinely happy man who used his talents fully and wisely and shared them generously. I extend my sincerest condolences to Joyce Morrissette and her entire family in the wake of this tremendous loss. This is not only a loss for his family, but for his community, State, and Nation as well. We are all infinitely better off for having had his service, his friendship, his dedication, and his spirit over the course of these many years.

Mr. HEFLIN

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