Howell Heflin

Mr. HEFLIN

Mr. HEFLIN. Madam President, last week, one of Alabama's outstanding citizens and great success stories came to Washington in his effort to give something back to his country. Richard Scrushy is founder, chairman, and CEO of Healthsouth Corp., the Nation's largest provider of medical rehabilitation and sports medicine. He is also founder of the Healthsouth Sports Medicine Council, a nonprofit organization whose goal is to educate young athletes and help them become champions--not only in sports, but in every-day life. The Sports Medicine Council is made up of top professional athletes and the Nation's leading sports medicine physicians and orthopaedic surgeons. The group unites sports celebrities who know the importance of good attitude, team spirit, and competitiveness, with physicians who have studied how the human body works, how to make it strong, and how to keep it well. Under Richard Scrushy's direction, this group has crafted a program and message that ultimately will reach hundreds of thousands of school children between the ages of 8 and 18 in cities across the United States. It will teach kids the importance of receiving an education, staying away from drugs, and practicing good sportsmanship on and off the field. Last week in Washington, the Sports Medicine Council's message reached nearly 14,000 kids through a series of field trips to Sports Medicine Council shows. They were hosted by such sports figures as Bo Jackson, Herschel Walker, Kristi Yamaguchi, Cory Everson, and Lex Luger. The shows combined high-technology, interactive entertainment with the council's message and a hands-on opportunity for kids to meet their sports heroes and play on a team with them. In a time when many of America's youth are in urgent need of positive role models and encouragement, Richard Scrushy's Sports Medicine Council is a wonderful idea and most welcome enterprise. It represents one of the ways in which private individuals and good corporate citizens can make a difference through their own initiatives. In this way, Richard Scrushy serves as a role model for all corporate CEO's. Richard is truly one of the great American success stories. He is a self-made man who has never forgotten his roots. Part of his vision is to give back to his community. In the 12 years since the founding of Healthsouth Corp., he has led the company to employ over 33,000 people in over 900 locations across the United States. Healthsouth is an employer of over 3,000 people in Alabama alone. The company's revenues recently rose above the $2 billion mark. Not only has Richard Scrushy been a good citizen, he has been a great asset to the State of Alabama. He has received such awards and honors as the 1994 Arthritis Foundation Humanitarian of the Year Award. He was named National Honorary Chairman of Multiple Sclerosis for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. He has worked as a fundraiser for such charities as United Cerebral Palsy, the Ronald McDonald House, and the American Cancer Society. As a modern-day, ``renaissance man,'' Richard is an accomplished musician and also a commercial multiengine instrument pilot. I congratulate Richard Scrushy on his tremendous success and on the rapid growth and contributions of the Healthsouth Sports Medicine Council. His is a tremendous example for others in the business community to emulate.

Mr. HEFLIN

Mr. HEFLIN. Mr. President, I am proud to cosponsor the legislation Senator Grassley is introducing today to reauthorize the State Justice Institute for another 4 years. I was the original sponsor of the State Justice Institute Act when Congress first passed the act in 1984, and when it reauthorized SJI in 1988 and 1992. The State Justice Institute has proven to be a uniquely valuable component of the Nation's justice system. Among all the agencies in the Federal Government, SJI is the only organization dedicated to helping the State courts of our Nation. Mr. President, those counts handle well over 95 percent of all the criminal prosecutions and civil litigation brought in this country. No one State can provide the funds for innovation that SJI can, and no State has the ability, the money, or, in fact, the reason to share its good ideas with every other State. That's the role SJI plays, and it has worked very well with the very modest appropriations Congress has provided over the years. Congress has entrusted the decision about what innovations merit SJI support to a board of directors composed--by statute--of State supreme court justices, appellate and trial judges, court administrators, and members of the public, all of whom who are keenly aware of the real problems in our courts and dedicated to assuring that SJI target its funds at the courts' most serious problems nationwide. In this era of Federal fiscal responsibility and restored political balance between Federal and State governments, this small, economical institute that is governed largely by State officials may be an excellent working model for any Federal grant program that serves important national purposes. At a time when every segment of American society is demanding a more effective justice system, Congress must keep alive the only Federal entity that is dedicated to helping the State courts of this country manage an overwhelming torrent of cases with greater effectiveness, efficiency, and justice. I am pleased to join Senator Grassley in sponsoring this important legislation.

Mr. HEFLIN

Mr. HEFLIN. Mr. President, I am proud to cosponsor the legislation Senator Grassley is introducing today to reauthorize the State Justice Institute for another 4 years. I was the original sponsor of the State Justice Institute Act when Congress first passed the act in 1984, and when it reauthorized SJI in 1988 and 1992. The State Justice Institute has proven to be a uniquely valuable component of the Nation's justice system. Among all the agencies in the Federal Government, SJI is the only organization dedicated to helping the State courts of our Nation. Mr. President, those counts handle well over 95 percent of all the criminal prosecutions and civil litigation brought in this country. No one State can provide the funds for innovation that SJI can, and no State has the ability, the money, or, in fact, the reason to share its good ideas with every other State. That's the role SJI plays, and it has worked very well with the very modest appropriations Congress has provided over the years. Congress has entrusted the decision about what innovations merit SJI support to a board of directors composed--by statute--of State supreme court justices, appellate and trial judges, court administrators, and members of the public, all of whom who are keenly aware of the real problems in our courts and dedicated to assuring that SJI target its funds at the courts' most serious problems nationwide. In this era of Federal fiscal responsibility and restored political balance between Federal and State governments, this small, economical institute that is governed largely by State officials may be an excellent working model for any Federal grant program that serves important national purposes. At a time when every segment of American society is demanding a more effective justice system, Congress must keep alive the only Federal entity that is dedicated to helping the State courts of this country manage an overwhelming torrent of cases with greater effectiveness, efficiency, and justice. I am pleased to join Senator Grassley in sponsoring this important legislation.

Mr. HEFLIN

Mr. HEFLIN. Mr. President, retired Alabama Supreme Court Justice Richard ``Red'' Jones passed away on April 22. I had the pleasure of serving with him on the court in the mid-1970's, and remember well his great wit and ability to tell stories. He was also a true legal scholar who approached cases and issues with zeal accompanied by seriousness. He loved the law. He was always tenacious in his determination to arrive at the correct decision under the law. Red grew up in rural Pickens County, located in west-central Alabama, where he was known by his initials, ``R.L.'' People there continued to refer to him as R.L. throughout his life, as opposed to Richard, Dick, or Red. While he was growing up in this part of Alabama, he had an insatiable appetite for reading and for educating himself. He loved to tell of how he took full advantage of the book mobiles that would come around during those days bringing books to residents in rural areas. Red attended law school at the University of Alabama. He began practicing law in Aliceville, AL, after obtaining his law degree. He later practiced in Fairfield and eventually became a partner in a Bessemer law firm. He then moved his law office to Birmingham, but had clients all over Alabama. Red was an outstanding trial attorney. He handled many cases seeking compensation for lung diseases suffered by coal miners and cotton gin workers, and served for a time as the president of the Alabama Plaintiff Lawyers Association, now known as the Alabama Trial Lawyers Association. As a plaintiff attorney, he was highly regarded as an ardent advocate by attorneys and judges in both the criminal and civil fields. He served on the Alabama Supreme Court for a total of 18 years, from 1973 to 1991. He was generally known for his keen understanding of the law and its majesty. He wrote his opinions in clear language so that all could understand them. While on the State's high court, he was consistently supportive of all judicial reform efforts. He was a true champion in the area of improving the administration of justice. He oversaw the establishment of the unified judicial system, the rules of procedure that govern the trials in both civil and criminal cases, and the establishment of training programs for judges, clerks and registers, judicial assistants, and court reporters. He participated in the revision of the Alabama code, serving on the code revision committee. One of the hallmarks of his esteemed career was his excellent service as commissioner of the uniform State law commission. This commission's job was to propose State laws which could serve as models for the States, such as uniform commercial codes. He was highly regarded for his work on the commission. As I traveled, I encountered people all over the country who praised his accomplishments in developing model State laws. Red's sense of self-deprecating humor is something I will always remember about him. He had a way of putting people at ease through humor and amusing stories, and often made himself the brunt of his own jokes. As his pastor at Shades Valley Presbyterian Church said so correctly of him: ``He was a great talker, a great storyteller, and a great friend.'' It seemed as if he used humor to put serious problems and issues in their proper perspective so that personal passions and feelings would not interfere with his decisionmaking. It helped him retain his objectivity when considering a case. He had an abiding interest in serving others by volunteering his time in several civic organizations and associations that he felt would improve the communities in which he lived or that he thought would advance his profession. He believed strongly in country, family, and faith. At his funeral, Justice Hugh Maddox gave a warm eulogy to his long- time friend, saying: Red Jones had boundless energy, and although Red has passed his baton to those of us who are still in the race . . . he left with us the legacy of how the race should be run. He prepared well, he was totally committed, and he ran with endurance. One of his last acts on the court a few years ago was to swear in Alabama's newest lawyers--among them his son, Rick Jones--who had recently been admitted to the State bar. Judge Red Jones was an outstanding lawyer, family man, and public servant. Everyone liked him and enjoyed his companionship. I will miss him greatly. I extend my sincerest condolences to his wife, Jean, and their entire family in the wake of this immeasurable and untimely loss.

Mr. HEFLIN

Mr. HEFLIN. Mr. President, I rise today in support of S. 1664, the Immigration Control and Financial Responsibility Act, which was reported out of the Judiciary Committee, after a rather long and arduous process, by a vote of 13 to 4. I especially commend my long-time friend and colleague, Senator Alan Simpson, who is chairman of the Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration who has guided this legislative effort which is aimed at reducing illegal immigration in this country. He has the patience of Job, and I will miss his good company when we end our Senate careers, which began together 18 years ago. Also, I commend Senator Kennedy who has worked diligently on this bill, as he does on so many legislative proposals. I do not believe that there is much question that we need to reduce the high level of illegal immigration in this country, which has been an enormous drain on the country's welfare system, its public education system, as well as other Government resources. The committee report shows that the number of illegal aliens apprehended each year since 1990 has been over 1 million. This figure alone justifies the steps that need to be taken to reduce illegal immigration. The provisions in title I of this bill will strengthen law enforcement efforts against illegal immigration. The bill provides for additional law enforcement personnel and detention facilities, authorizes pilot projects to verify eligibility for employment and contains provisions to reduce document fraud. Title I contains higher penalties for document fraud as well as alien smuggling, and it also streamlines exclusion and deportation procedures and establishes procedures to expedite the removal of criminal aliens. The provisions in title II relating to financial responsibility of aliens is very important. I believe that aliens should be able to support themselves and, in fact, the U.S. law requires that an immigrant may be admitted to the United States upon an adequate showing that he or she is not likely to become a public charge. This has been a longstanding policy of our Nation, and the legislation before this body would strengthen that policy. Title II contains certain provisions to reduce aliens being a burden on our Nation's welfare system. It contains a provision that an alien is subject to deportation if she or he becomes a public charge within 5 years from entry into the U.S. Title II prohibits the receipt of any Federal, State or local government assistance by an illegal alien, except in rare circumstances, such as emergency medical care, pregnancy service or assistance under the National School Lunch or Child Nutrition Act. Further, one of the ways an alien can prove he or she will not become a public charge is to have a sponsor in the U.S. file an affidavit of support which, under current law, requires the sponsor to support an alien for 3 years. This legislation increases a sponsor's liability to 10 years, which is the same time it takes any citizen to qualify for Social Security retirement benefits and Medicare. This liability against the sponsor is reduced if the alien becomes a citizen before the end of the 10-year maximum period. These are some of the highlights of this important legislation. A number of amendments have been offered to this bill, some of which I will support and others that I will oppose. But I will keep my eye on the overall objective of the bill, which is to support a national policy to reduce illegal immigration and to make it unattractive for illegal aliens to come to the United States. In these days of declining governmental resources, we must provide for our own citizens first and foremost. This legislation, under the worthy stewardship of Senator Simpson and augmented by Senator Kennedy, is a step in the right direction. Mr. SIMPSON addressed the Chair.

Mr. HEFLIN

Mr. HEFLIN. Mr. President, my dear friend William Mansel Long, Sr., passed away on March 31, 1996, at the age of 92. Mr. Long was an outstanding civil rights leader and senior citizens advocate and was one of the founding members of the Alabama Democratic Conference. His son, William Mansel, Jr., has been on my staff ever since I came to the Senate, and has been my legislative director for several years. Mansel Long made his mark on society in many ways during his long life. His tenacity and accomplishments were an inspiration to so many who knew him. His was a life of struggle, but also one of extraordinary achievement spurred by an unusual devotion to duty. He dedicated himself to improving the quality of life for his fellow citizens and to enriching his community and society as a whole. His life was marked by many varied accomplishments--he excelled on both a professional and personal level. Even late in life, he continued to be a vital force in political and religious affairs. Mr. Long received the certificate of appreciation from the Northwest Alabama Council of Local Governments Area Agency on Aging; the Quality of Life Award, presented by the Mental Health Association; the Community Leadership Award, presented by the Shoals National Bank; and awards of appreciation for his long years of service to Lesley Temple Christian Methodist Episcopal Church. He was my appointee to the 1981 White House Conference on Aging, where he helped formulate the recommendations for developing national policy on aging. Mansel Long was a gifted orator, organizer, and a moral force in his community. Over the course of several decades, he fought for civil rights and for social and economic equality for all people. In addition to helping establish the Alabama Democratic Conference, he was a member of the board of directors of the Alabama Legal Services Corporation; served as president of the Colbert County League of Voters; a member of the Council on Human Relations; a member of the board of directors of the Young Volunteers in Action; and was chairman of the Board of Stewards and a leader of the trustee board of his beloved Lesley Temple church in Tuscumbia. After serving for 30 years as a chemical analyst with the Tennessee Valley Authority, Mr. Long began a career as an advocate of the rights of the elderly. His record of accomplishment in this field was awesome. His many, many years of tireless leadership in the North Alabama community are unmatched in time and in scope. He commanded the respect of all those who met him and was one of the most hard-working, dedicated, and selfless individuals I have ever known. He was not only an exemplary citizen and community leader, but also a loving husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. As the patriarch of his family, he passed on his legacy of community involvement and concern for others to his children and grandchildren. One of the most moving stories about Mansel Long which I will always cherish is how he graduated from college in 1985 at the age of 81. He had entered Alabama's Talladega College in 1925 at the age of 22 after working 4 years to save enough money to pay his tuition. He studied biology and chemistry there for more than 3\1/2\ years, but had to leave to take a job in order to help his family financially. Sixty years later, his life-long goal of being a college graduate was fulfilled as he received his bachelor of arts degree. Mansel Long was a prime example of those ideals that we hold dear in our country. He was a model to emulate and one of Tuscumbia's and Alabama's most revered citizens. He was a credit to his family, church, community, state, and country who will be solely missed by all of those fortunate to have know him. His legacy of service and duty will serve as an inspiration to many future generations.

Mr. HEFLIN

Mr. HEFLIN. Mr. President, for 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 President Clinton's campaign, and our inability to enact comprehensive reform legislation 2 years ago was a profound disappointment. The debate on the size and scope of the Federal budget and on various items within the so-called Contract With America have dominated congressional business for much of the last year and a half. Nevertheless, there remains a firm national consensus that something must be done to reform the health care system. In light of all the money spent on the provision of health care in this Nation, it is surprising that we have not already found a way to deliver a sufficient level of care to the millions of citizens who do not have health insurance. 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 translated 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, one 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 bill before us--S. 1028, 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. It will also provide increased purchasing power to small businesses and individuals. I am proud to support this legislation, which is aimed at covering millions of those who do not have insurance or who have an inadequate level by addressing the issues of portability and preexisting conditions. S. 1028 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. Passage of this measure is being called a relatively modest first step toward the kind of comprehensive reform legislation we tried to pass in 1994. I agree that it is only a first step, but feel instead that it is a rather major first step in that it goes a long way toward reaching the goal of universal health care. The General Accounting Office estimates that enactment of S. 1028 would help at least 25 million Americans each year. This would be a major step in the right direction. It would also provide much-needed momentum for future reform efforts. Equally important, it would not increase Federal spending, 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. Specifically, the bill does the following: Limits exclusions for preexisting conditions; guarantees insurance availability; guarantees renewability; ensures portability; and allows small employers and individuals to increase their purchasing power by negotiating for more competitive rates with health plans and providers. S. 1028 was passed unanimously by the Labor and Human Resources Committee under the leadership of Senators Kassebaum and Kennedy. During this year's State-of-the-Union address, President Clinton challenged Congress to pass it quickly, and described it as the very least that can be done to help some of those 37 million with inadequate care or no care at all. 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. It is a consensus-building approach that can lead to comprehensive reform down the road. While it is true that this measure 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 this without interfering with those parts of the system which work and without taking away the ability of States to implement their own reforms. I congratulate the bill's managers for their work and the majority leader for scheduling this debate, and urge its swift passage.

Mr. HEFLIN

Mr. HEFLIN. Mr. President, I rise in opposition to Senate Joint Resolution 21, which provides for a constitutional amendment to limit congressional terms. Nearly 1 year ago, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that State-imposed term limits on Federal legislators are unconstitutional. The only way to institute such limits is, therefore, through a U.S. constitutional amendment such as that embodied in Senate Joint Resolution 21. Altering our cherished Constitution in such a way would be a huge mistake in my opinion. The idea of term limits for Members of Congress addresses the general disapproval voters seem to consistently have for Congress as an institution. However, they do not address the issue of losing good, productive leaders through arbitrary limits on their time of service. Many believe the experience gained from serving in Congress is a valuable resource for serving effectively as a legislator and as a questioner in an oversight role over agencies and departments of the executive branch of the Federal Government. This experience can only be gained over a period of years. Even those who support term limits acknowledge that the many years of service to our Nation by many long- time Members of Congress have made a meaningful difference in countless lives. In this body, leaders such as Senator Byrd, Senator Dole, Senator Biden, Senator Stevens, Senator Bumpers, Senator Leahy, Senator Simpson, Senator Hollings, Senator Nunn, Senator Thurmond, Senator Kassebaum, and Senator Hatfield, to name only a few, would not be here if term limits were in effect today. This is not a partisan issue; term limits would deny the Nation the service of outstanding leaders on both sides of the aisle. Term limits are an unwarranted restraint on democracy. I think the limit on Presidential terms passed in the wake of Franklin Roosevelt's long tenure in the Oval Office was a mistake. The most fundamental and basic right citizens of this country have is the right to vote for the candidates of their choice. This right should not be abridged just because some Government leaders are reelected with regularity and are labeled as being bad because of that. If they are reelected, common sense would suggest that the voters are generally happy with the job he or she is doing. If not, they can vote for the opposing candidate. They already have the right to limit the term of any officeholder they wish by voting. In effect, term limits suggest that the ultimate judges in the political arena, the voters, are not competent to make decisions after a public servant has served for a few years. Voters should view term limits as a slap in the face that restricts their discretion and their right to be represented by those whom they so choose. If term limits are instituted, what we will see is a Congress run by a staff of unelected bureaucrats with no limits on the time they can work in the legislative branch. Members will increasingly come to depend on staff as the institutional memory and precedent that guide much of the work here are eliminated. Term limits will also shift more power to the executive branch and its legions of unelected and unaccountable careerists. Simply put, there is no reason to deny voters the right to elect an individual to Congress simply because of that person's previous service. In their wisdom, the Founders correctly chose not to incorporate term limits in the Constitution for Members of Congress or the President. Alexander Hamilton called them ``ill-founded,'' ``pernicious,'' and ``a diminution of the inducements to good behavior.'' The Constitution already provides a check on the power of Members of Congress by requiring that each Member of the House and one- third of the Members of the Senate be presented for reelection every 2 years. The clamoring for term limits is a byproduct of the bumper sticker admonition to just ``throw the bums out!'' It is a populist slogan that in no way addresses the issue of making Congress more effective. This specious argument is based on the notion that anyone who has been in office for any length of time is automatically corrupt and incapable of being responsive to the views of their constituents. But, how responsive will they be when they do not have to face the voters for reelection? They will be free to simply ignore the wishes of the people. The process of learning issues and policy takes time. Voters might prefer a long-distance runner over the sprinter, a representative for the long haul, not just for the short term. Voters should have the option of electing a person who will work in the long-run for the best interests of the district or State they represent and the Nation which they serve. Voters can make up their own minds about the effectiveness and worthiness of a candidate regardless of the length of service. There is no more effective or dependable means for applying term limits than election day, the second Tuesday of November every 2 years. All Americans should think carefully before this precious freedom is abridged by this amendment.

Mr. HEFLIN

Mr. HEFLIN. Mr. President, I am proud to pay tribute today to a dear friend to me and several members of my staff, James L. Jones. Jimmy is a long-time employee of the Senate Superintendent's Office of the Architect of the Capitol, where his friendliness, dedication, and warm personality have become familiar to many of us. On April 26, Jimmy will be retiring from his position with the Superintendent's Office after 31 years of service to the U.S. Senate. He started out working on the grounds and worked his way up to become the Senate garage attendant foreman. For many years, he has headed up the entire Senate parking garage operation. Jimmy Jones is one of those individuals who takes extreme pride in his work and who truly loves the Senate as an institution. He and his capable staff are welcome sights to those who routinely park in the various garages in the Senate office buildings. He is fun to joke around with and he really goes the extra mile to take care of those who use the parking facilities. He is a Maryland native, and his delicious crabcakes have been most appreciated over the years. He never fails to greet us with a joke or humorous story to brighten our day, and his special brand of generosity and humor never fail to uplift our spirits and provide a welcome reprieve from the rigors of Senate business. Jimmy Jones is one of those colorful Senate institutions who will be sorely missed after he retires. His friendliness, cheerfulness, and willingness to accommodate are genuine. He is a person of character. I join my colleagues in thanking him, commending him, and wishing him all the best as he embarks upon a well-earned retirement. I do hope he will continue to bring us his crabcakes from time to time. Since he is such an avid stock car racing fan, I also expect to see him at the Talladega International Motor Speedway on occasion after my own retirement.

Mr. HEFLIN

Mr. HEFLIN. Mr. President, Jefferson County Sheriff Mel Bailey announced earlier this month that he will be retiring after a distinguished 33-year record as the county's chief law enforcement official. This means that for the first time since the early days of the Civil Rights Movement, Jefferson County will have a new sheriff. He is the dean of Alabama law enforcement officers. Mel Bailey has provided outstanding leadership, guidance, and service to the State of Alabama as Jefferson County's sheriff since 1963. Throughout his terms in office, he has made tremendous strides in preparing the sheriff's department for its fight against crime and in serving the citizens who elected him. In the process, he has become known as a symbol of law and order in Alabama. Since he has been in office, Mel Bailey has come to epitomize the office in the minds of many citizens. He joined the Birmingham Police Department in 1946 and was promoted to detective in 1953, resigning in 1962 to successfully campaign for sheriff. He didn't draw an opponent until 1978, when he still received 70 percent of the vote. When Sheriff Bailey began his tenure, there were 77 sheriff's department employees working within a $735,000 budget. Today, the department has about 600 workers and a $28 million budget. He began the Turn in a Pusher [T.I.P.] program, the United Narcotic Detail Operation Program, and developed one of the first SWAT teams in the United States. He also initiated a countywide radio network that linked 34 cities with the sheriff's department. Many give Sheriff Bailey credit for creating a modern, professional law enforcement agency. He put deputies in uniforms and into marked cars, and got his department to start investigating automobile accidents and keeping records. During the 1960's, he dramatically improved working conditions for deputies. In the 1970's, he established the county's substation system and the special deputies program. A training program for jailers was implemented in 1982. He worked to provide his deputies with the best equipment possible and began a standard training procedure which provided them with the expertise necessary to meet any threat. He has been instrumental in obtaining innovative equipment for use in fighting crime. For example, he implemented a radio-controlled toy airplane which can be used to drop tear gas or small bombs to stop a sniper lodged in a protected place. He also added a robot which police agencies can send into a building to dismantle a bomb. In both of these cases, a highly dangerous problem can now be handled without threat to the life of an officer. The outstanding contributions Sheriff Mel Bailey has made during his long tenure in office are the result of his great capabilities, his ability to delegate responsibility, and by his professional attitude. He has also surrounded himself with outstanding people who hold the same qualities of professionalism and commitment to fighting crime. He is a prominent symbol of law and order throughout Alabama. He has enjoyed the full confidence of the people of Jefferson County for good reason: his fundamental effectiveness in battling crime, as evidenced by the fact that he was named Alabama's Law Officer of the Year in 1971 and was inducted into the Alabama Peace Officers Hall of Fame in 1991. I commend and congratulate Sheriff Mel Bailey for his many years of service to the cause of law enforcement in Alabama's most populous county. All are proud of his achievements and thankful for his long period of excellent service. He has done an outstanding job and I wish him well as he enters retirement.

Mr. HEFLIN

Mr. HEFLIN. Mr. President, former Alabama Congressman Laurie Calvin Battle will be inducted into the Birmingham-Southern College Sports Hall of Fame on Saturday, April 27. As a member of the Sports Hall of Fame's Class of 1996, Congressman Battle will be honored and recognized for his many athletic achievements while at Birmingham-Southern and since. Laurie Battle was born in Wilsonville, AL in 1912, attended elementary school in Jefferson County, and moved to my hometown, Tuscumbia, in 1926. He graduated from Deshler High School in 1930 and went on to obtain his bachelor's degree in psychology at Birmingham- Southern, my alma mater. He later earned his master's degree in sociology at Ohio State University. During World War II, he served in the U.S. Army Air Corps, rising to the rank of major, with service in the Asiatic-Pacific theater. He was awarded a Bronze Star for his bravery and remained in the Reserves until 1972. He was first elected to the U.S. Congress in 1946, serving four consecutive terms from 1947 until 1955. After retiring from the House of Representatives, he began a career in the insurance business in Birmingham. The former Congressman later served as a government relations executive in Washington, DC, and as staff director and counsel for the House of Representatives Rules Committee from 1966-76. He was later a special adviser to the U.S. League of Savings Associations. Laurie Battle is well-renowned for his athletic ability. Although he is now retired, he still plays paddleball with one of his constituents, former Alabama Congressman Ben Erdreich, now chairman of the U.S. Merit Systems Protection Board. They play twice a week in the House gymnasium, even as Congressman Battle approaches his 84th birthday on May 10. He was Ben's Congressman when he was in high school in Jefferson County. I am pleased to commend and congratulate former Congressman Laurie Battle for accomplishing so much during his outstanding and colorful career, and especially for this latest honor of being inducted into Birmingham-Southern's Sports Hall of Fame.

Mr. HEFLIN

Mr. HEFLIN. Mr. President, one of the great pioneers of aviation passed away on Saturday, April 13, at the age of 89 at his home in Tuskegee, AL. Charles Alfred Anderson, who as a young boy dreamed of soaring through the skies as a pilot, leaves a legacy of breaking down racial barriers in the field of aviation. He did this by training a famed unit of black fighter pilots during World War II, known since as the Tuskegee Airmen. Among the members of Chief Anderson's unit were Coleman Young, who later became the mayor of Detroit; Gen. Daniel ``Chappie'' James, the Nation's first four-star black general; and William Coleman, Transportation Secretary under former President Ford. The inspirational story of the 332d Fighter Group was told in a 1995 movie, ``The Tuskegee Airmen.'' In 1939, a decade after obtaining his own flying license, Charles Anderson began a civilian pilot training program at Alabama's Tuskegee Institute, now Tuskegee University. In 1940, First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt visited the campus and decided to take a plane ride. At that time, an erroneously-held view was that blacks could not fly planes. Mrs. Roosevelt brushed aside the nervous warnings of her Secret Service detail and went on a long ride with Anderson, landing safely nearly an hour later. Soon after, Tuskegee Institute was chosen for an experimental Army Air Corps Program designed to determine whether black men could be successful pilots. The participants, many of whom came from small towns all across America, passed rigorous tests to join what became the 332d Fighter Group. Anderson was the chief flight instructor, thus earning him the nickname ``Chief,'' by which he was widely known throughout the rest of his life. The Tuskegee Airmen overcame extreme prejudice to win combat status, allegedly only after Mrs. Roosevelt pressed their case with her husband. The unit escorted American bombers over Europe and North Africa, providing a virtually impenetrable shield while downing hundreds of German fighters. After the war, Anderson managed an aircraft-sales business and continued to give flight instruction at Tuskegee. By this time, he had earned the title of ``Father of Black Aviation.'' Chief Anderson borrowed $2,500 from friends and relatives and bought a used airplane when he was only 22. He learned to fly by reading books and getting tips from the white pilots who were willing to be cooperative. He eventually became the first black pilot to hold an air transport license. He flew a round trip transcontinental flight in 1933 and is believed to have flown the first land plane to the Bahamas in 1934. He flew up until a few years ago, still willing to teach anyone who wanted to learn. Chief Charles Anderson was a great American and an outstanding, committed teacher who will forever be remembered as someone who overcame unfair barriers and prejudice to change the course of history. I extend my sincerest condolences to his family in the wake of this tremendous loss and share their enormous pride in all that he accomplished.

Mr. HEFLIN

Mr. HEFLIN. Mr. President, my long-time friend A.W. Todd, who served 3 terms as Alabama's commissioner of agriculture, passed away at his home on March 29, 1996. He was regarded as one of our State's most popular government leaders and one of the most colorful and effective politicians to ever hold office in Alabama. A long-time Democrat, A.W. Todd represented Franklin, Colbert, and Marion Counties in the State Senate from 1950-1954. Colbert is my home county. His terms as commissioner of the Department of Agriculture and Industries ran from 1955-1959, 1963-1967, and 1991-1995. He was also a gubernatorial candidate in 1958 and 1966. He had boundless energy and was a tireless campaigner. In fact, the last time I saw him, A.W. told me that he was planning to run again for agriculture commissioner in 1998. He is regarded by many as the best agriculture commissioner Alabama ever had. The small, family farmer was always foremost in his mind, and the agriculture community in the state benefitted directly from his devotion and hard work. Among his many accomplishments as commissioner was the coliseum program, which resulted in 6 coliseums being built statewide. He also oversaw the expansion of the farmers' market program to Birmingham, Montgomery, Slocomb, and Mobile. The quality of eggs sold in the State was dramatically improved through the Todd Egg Law, which placed new inspection requirements on eggs and established a grading system. While serving in his last term, A.W. Todd had the distinction of being the oldest elected State official in Alabama and was among the oldest in the entire country. He took pride in introducing himself as the country's oldest ``Young Democrat.'' He was an old-school Democrat who grew up in Belgreen, Alabama. When he was only 13, he was permanently injured in a hunting accident that resulted in his left arm being severed. This did not slow him down at all. He used a job on Auburn University's experiment farm to work his way through college. After graduating, he returned to Franklin County, where he operated a feed mill and poultry company and served in State government. One of his children, Elizabeth Campbell, followed him into public service, becoming a Federal magistrate in Birmingham. A.W. Todd was an outstanding public servant who will be greatly missed. I was proud to have known and worked with him over the years. I extend my sincerest condolences to his wife, Robbie, and their entire family in the wake of this tremendous loss.

Mr. HEFLIN

Mr. HEFLIN. Mr. President, Eula Sims Durbin, who was a pioneer of the modern poultry industry in Alabama and throughout the southeast, passed away late last month at the age of 98. She earned a place in the annals of Alabama business history during the dark years of the Great Depression when she and her husband Marshall used her $500 in savings to finance a new business venture, a fish concession. Eventually, the Durbins switched to dressed chickens because of the great difficulty in keeping fresh fish, and opened their own processing plant in Birmingham. Today, the Birmingham-based Marshall Durbin Companies is the nation's 10th largest poultry producer. On April 2, the Birmingham Post-Herald carried an excellent story detailing the history and growth of Marshall Durbin Companies and of the crucial role Mrs. Durbin played in its enormous success. I ask unanimous consent that the text of the article be printed in the Record after my remarks.

Mr. HEFLIN. Mr. President, Mrs. Eula S. Durbin will long be remembered for her astute business instincts, for her willingness to take risks, and for her perseverance in the face of great uncertainty and adversity. I extend my condolences to her family in the wake of their loss. exhibit 1 [From the Birmingham Post-Herald, April 2, 1996] Mrs. Durbin's Risks are Remembered (By Patrick Rupinski) When they write about the seeds of Alabama's successful businesses, the gamble of Eula Sims Durbin will be recorded. Mrs. Durbin risked all of her personal savings in a move that helped build the poultry industry in both Alabama and the Southeast. Mrs. Durbin, who co-founded Marshall Durbin Cos. with her husband--the late Marshall Durbin Sr., died Thursday. She was 98. ``She worked to build this company and kept an active interest in it even in her 90s,'' said Pat Shea, a spokeswoman for Birmingham-based Marshall Durbin Companies, the nation's 10th largest poultry producer. Mrs. Durbin's place in Alabama's business history occurred as the Great Depression gripped Birmingham in the 1930s. Her husband wanted to start a business even though businesses were failing in record numbers. Money was tight, but Mrs. Durbin believed in her husband enough to give him her $500 in savings to finance the venture, a fish concession at a Birmingham market. The business struggled, particularly in the hot Alabama summers when a lack of refrigeration made keeping fish fresh difficult. But Mrs. Durbin never shied from taking a risk and supported her husband's decision to begin selling dressed chickens. The move proved popular and soon chicken sales replaced fish. In time, the Durbins opened their own chicken processing plant in downtown Birmingham. It started small with Mrs. Durbin doing the bookkeeping and other chores, said Ms. Shea, who had interviewed Mrs. Durbin for a history of the company. By the 1950s, the poultry industry was changing. No longer did farmers with a few hens sell directly to poultry processors. The industry was becoming highly integrated. By the 1960s, Marshall Durbin Companies had become part of the changes. It added more processing plants plus feed mills, hatcheries, growing facilities and distribution centers. Today, the family-owned company has annual sales of about $200 million with facilities in three states--Alabama, Mississippi and Tennessee. The chickens--processed at a rate of more than 2 million a week--end up as everything from frozen breaded nuggets at local supermarkets to cut pieces at KFC restaurants in California and frozen leg quarters shipped to Russia. Ms. Shea said Mrs. Durbin however, always seemed to take the most pride in how her husband taught their son the business. Durbin died in 1971. The couple's son, Marshall Durbin Jr., runs the company today. Mrs. Durbin's interest in the company never waned. Even in her 90s when she was legally blind, she would have someone read her the monthly employee newsletter, Ms. Shea said. Mrs. Durbin was born in Brookhaven, Miss., and moved to Sulligent after finishing her education, becoming a secretary to the president of a lumber company. She met her future husband while in Sulligent. Their courtship blossomed after Mrs. Durbin moved to Birmingham to take another secretarial job. Mrs. Durbin's funeral will be at 2 p.m. today at Ridout's Valley Chapel, followed by a private family burial. Survivors besides her son include two granddaughters, two great- grandsons and six sisters. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials to the Eula Sims Durbin Scholarship Fund at Birmingham-Southern College, Box 549003, Birmingham, Ala. 35254.

Mr. HEFLIN

Mr. HEFLIN. Mr. President, on April 3, James Stillman Free, a native of Gordo, Alabama and for 33 years the Washington correspondent for The Birmingham News, passed away at the age of 87. Jim enjoyed a rich and colorful career as a journalist and historian. Back in November 1993, I had the opportunity to attend his 85th birthday celebration and it was a wonderful experience for his many friends and associates as we gathered with him to celebrate and reflect. Jim Free attended the public schools of Tuscaloosa, AL; earned his bachelor's degree at the University of Alabama; and obtained his master's degree from Columbia University. He was part owner and editor of a weekly Tuscaloosa newspaper shortly before joining the News in 1935. Jim's 33 years as The Birmingham News' Washington correspondent was the longest tenure for any Washington correspondent for Alabama newspapers. He spent a total of 35 years with that paper, his name and writings becoming synonymous with Alabama political coverage and analysis in the nation's capital. He also served as the Washington correspondent for the Chicago Sun, Raleigh News and Observer, and Winston-Salem Journal during the 1940's and '50's. His coverage extended from the Great Depression and New Deal through World War II preparations and his own combat duty as a Navy Captain in the Pacific; the McCarthy ``Red Scare'' era; the Civil Rights movement; the assassinations of John and Robert Kennedy and Martin Luther King; and all national defense, medical, educational, and environmental issues that affected Alabama. He was an on-the-scenes, eye witness to much of the social change and history of this century. His many ``scoops'' included President Truman's 1946 order for the Army to take over strike-threatened railroads, and he led the national press with his stories on the Justice Department's civil rights decisions. Jim filed overseas reports on the 1957 Berlin crisis and NATO operations in the North Sea, Western Europe, and the United Kingdom in 1966. He served as the historian for the Gridiron Club and was the author of ``The First One Hundred Years: a casual chronicle of the Gridiron Club.'' His World War II service allowed him to bring special insight into his coverage of national defense issues. In an October 1961 article on his time in Berlin, he said, ``* * * our test of strength with Russia in the months and years ahead * * * will be 90 percent non-military. It will be political, economic, scientific, and educational. It will be a showdown of our way of life against theirs.'' Indeed, history proved him right. While covering the Justice Department, Jim relayed messages from Alabama moderates to then-Attorney General Robert Kennedy during the Freedom Rider bus burning crisis. He was also one of the first reporters to question in print the validity of charges brought against public officials and private citizens by Senator Joseph McCarthy. Jim held a number of leadership positions in his field and received a number of honors. In 1967, he was elected president of the Washington chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists. In 1989, he was inducted into the society's hall of fame. The Raymond Clapper Award committee gave him a special citation for exceptional reporting on national affairs and he received the Outstanding Alumnus Award from the University of Alabama alumni association. It is a grand understatement to say that Jim Free was a highly regarded and respected figure. He was a well-rounded professional and a genuine person of integrity. Jim never tried to purposely harm anyone's reputation through his reporting. His professional ethics dictated that he would let the facts speak for themselves. He never tried to make a career of finding dirt on government officials. He was not a practitioner of yellow journalism and was not a purveyor of scandal. Jim was a gentleman who possessed all the traits that one would expect to find in a gentleman--civility, an educated mind, sensitivity, courteousness, and a healthy respect for the views of others. I was proud to have known Jim Free, who will long be remembered in the dual worlds of journalism and politics for his lifetime of service to the cause of informing citizens about the world around them. I extend my condolences to his family in the wake of their tremendous loss.

Mr. HEFLIN

Mr. HEFLIN. Mr. President, earlier this year, Dave Harris retired from his position as head of the public affairs office for Redstone Arsenal and the Army Missile Command in Huntsville, AL. He was a dedicated and outstanding public servant for 33 years. An editorial which appeared in The Huntsville Times at that time discusses his career and the characteristics which make him a truly unique individual and pleasure with which to work. I ask unanimous consent that a copy of the editorial, ``One Who Made a Difference,'' be printed in the Record following my remarks.

Mr. HEFLIN. I commend and congratulate Dave Harris for all his accomplishments and hard work on behalf of the Army over the years, and hope he is enjoying his well-earned retirement. Exhibit 1 [The Huntsville Times, Friday, Dec. 8, 1995] One Who Made a Difference There are a handful of people who make a difference in any community. They're usually visible personalities like government or community leaders, businessmen or clergy. Dave Harris has made an impact behind the scenes for 33 years. Harris, 65, will retire Jan. 3 as the head of the public- affairs office for Redstone Arsenal and the Army Missile Command. During that time, he's been a trusted source of information for the media on subjects ranging from high-tech missiles to traffic accidents. He's also been a trusted source for Army employees, squelching unfounded rumors that could affect morale or raising legitimate concerns to management's attention. Less well known has been his role as adviser to Redstone commanders, project managers and community leaders on matters of importance to each. Harris is uncommon partly because he has been at the same job for so long. He knows who to call for answers. He has a historical perspective on weapons development and the community and knows how to put both in the proper context for generals, soldiers, civil servants and citizens. Very few media spokespersons today have any actual media experience. Harris worked for a newspaper. He is a skilled writer and knows how a story will play. He not only understands reporters and tolerates their eccentricities, he likes working with them. Those qualities make news stories more accurate and cast the Army in a more positive light. He has believed in what his Army was doing at Redstone Arsenal. Generals to whom Harris reported describe him as ``the heart and soul'' and ``conscience and ombudsman'' of the command. Dave Harris possesses intelligence, honesty, integrity, common sense, a sense of duty and responsibility, and a long- standing reputation for all the above. He will be difficult to replace.

Mr. HEFLIN

Mr. HEFLIN. Mr. President, one of the major reasons that Huntsville, AL, has been nationally recognized as one of the country's top high- technology growth areas is the strength and vitality of its community leadership. One of these visionary leaders is Charles E. Grainger, vice president of administration at Teledyne Brown Engineering and 1992 chairman of the Huntsville-Madison County Chamber of Commerce. Recently, he received the chamber's Distinguished Service Award. As chairman of the chamber 4 years ago, Charlie Grainger expanded its economic development emphasis to create a coordinated Partnership for Economic Development. Madison County led all Alabama's counties in new plant and equipment investments that year. As vice president of administration at Teledyne Brown, a major defense contractor, Charlie is responsible for coordinating governmental relations activities with agencies and Congress. He has overall management responsibility for the departments of human resources, facilities, public relations, administrative services, security, technical communications, and computing resources and technology. He has held his current position since 1978, having served as director of administration from 1967 to 1978. He joined Brown Engineering as assistant to the director of administration in 1963. Charlie was elected to the Alabama House of Representatives in 1968 and 1970, and was an award-winning legislator. He sponsored a water pollution control act and a school bus safety act, both of which became national models. Both pieces of legislation were named after their sponsor by joint resolution, which is somewhat rare. As a member of the Ways and Means Committee, he secured funding to begin the University of Alabama in Huntsville nursing education program, to establish physical health facilities at Alabama A&M University, and to complete the Huntsville-Madison County Mental Health Center. He served as an elected member of the Alabama Democratic Executive Committee from 1966 through 1990, serving as a delegate to the 1980 Democratic National Convention. He was a presidential campaign coordinator for Senator John Glenn in 1984 and Vice President Al Gore in 1988. A native of Lawrence County, Alabama, Charlie grew up in Sheffield, attended Florence State College, and earned a master of science degree in management from Southeastern Institute of Technology. His work as a member of the Base Realignment and Closing Commission Community Task Force was invaluable during the base closure rounds of 1991, 1993, and 1995. He has received the Governor's Air Pollution Control Award; Madison County Good Government Award; Alabama Water Conservationist of the Year Award; and Huntsville-Madison County Mental Health Distinguished Service Award. He was originally a journalist. He spent several years as a reporter for the Birmingham News. He served as editor and publisher of the Valley Voice, a weekly newspaper published in Tuscumbia. One of the secrets to Charlie Grainger's phenomenal success is that he truly understands that in order to thrive and grow, the various groups and resources within a community must be united in supporting the bottom-line economic imperatives. In Huntsville's case these are the defense and space industries. He is an instrumental unifying force who sees the big picture and Huntsville's role in that picture. He is a leader who brings people from divergent points of view to common understandings so they can work together for the common good. I congratulate and commend Charlie for all his accomplishments and for his superb leadership role in the development, growth, and vitality of the Hunstville area. He is a unique role model and a living testament to the tremendous results which can be realized through strong partnerships between government and industry.

Mr. HEFLIN

Mr. HEFLIN. Mr. President, one of the most interesting people and charming characters I have met in my lifetime is Aura J. ``Bucky'' Miller, who celebrates the 55th anniversary of first coming to work at the Marriott Grand Hotel Resort and Golf Club in Point Clear, AL, on April 18, 1996. He just celebrated his 79th birthday on April 12 and, thankfully, has no plans to retire. As an associate at the Grand Hotel over the course of these many years, Bucky Miller has become the very embodiment of hospitality. For many years, he has served as the hotel's resident expert on mint juleps, all-around hospitality ambassador, and official historian. He is well-known throughout Alabama and the South. Once he meets a guest, he never forgets the name or face. He has taken care of a seemingly endless number of politicians, sports figures, actors, and business people who have been guests at the hotel over the decades. As an extraordinary hospitality ambassador, he has received a great deal of recognition and attention for his natural skills in making people feel welcome and comfortable. In 1989, the town of Fairhope, which is near Point Clear, declared the first week of June ``Bucky Miller Week.'' That same year, he was chosen along with 17 other Marriott associates nationwide to receive the J.W. Marriott Award of Excellence in recognition of exceptional hospitality skills. As a people-person, Bucky has a caring attitude that really endears him to his guests. He has a talent for making people feel like they are special. Over the years, Bucky has worked as a housekeeping aide, wine steward, bartender, and kitchen steward. He left the hotel for a time to serve in World War II and to teach mathematics, but soon returned for good saying, ``This hotel is in my blood.'' His outgoing personality soon earned him the title ``Mr. Hospitality,'' and resulted in a continuous flow of favorable guest comments and feature articles in newspapers and magazines. His legendary mint juleps, which he makes from his own recipe with fresh mint he grows in a garden outside the lounge, are internationally known. Seagram's published his recipe in its recipe book and named Bucky one of the country's 100 best bartenders. Bucky's other specialties include his country lemonade, the Grand Hotel brunch punch, and his hot mint toddy. An avid sports fan, he is well-known for his philosophical conversations about football with such notable figures as Alabama Coach ``Bear'' Bryant and sportscaster Howard Cosell. I am proud to be among those many privileged patrons of the Grand Hotel to have enjoyed the unique charm and natural hospitality of Bucky Miller over the years. He has always practiced what he preaches, which is, ``Let simplicity, sincerity, and service be your motto.'' As I look toward retirement, I want to thank and commend him for all his hard work and achievements. I am looking forward to enjoying more of his simplicity, sincerity, and service when I return to Alabama next year.

Mr. HEFLIN

Mr. HEFLIN. Mr. President, I will support passage of the Terrorism Prevention Act Conference Report. Although the conference report is not as strong as the Senate-passed bill, nor is it as strong as I would like, it is much stronger than the House-passed bill and reflects a compromise between the two houses which is an essential element of our Nation's democratic process. It is fitting that we enact this legislation around the anniversary of the tragic bombing which occurred in Oklahoma City and resulted in such a massive loss of life and injury to innocent people. We must enhance our Nation's efforts to combat domestic and international terrorism, and the conference report is a step in the right direction. I am pleased that the conferees were able to restore many provisions which the House-passed bill deleted, such as allowing courts to expeditiously deport alien terrorists, allowing the President to designate foreign terrorist organizations so any assets they have in the United States can be more easily frozen by the Government, and making it a crime to donate or accept funds for foreign terrorist organizations. Further, the House-passed bill contained almost no funding for Federal law enforcement, and the conference report has a funding level of $1 billion for Federal and State law enforcement over a 4-year period. The conference report contains a provision to require taggants be placed on plastic explosives, which are most commonly used by foreign terrorists, thereby making them more detectable, and it calls for a study on placing taggants on other types of explosives. I would have preferred that the conference report contained the Senate-passed provisions allowing for multipoint wiretaps and other strong provisions, but this did not occur and motions to recommit the bill to conference with instructions to include those provisions have been unsuccessful. This is the democratic process, and I accept the will of the Senate. That does not, however, leave this legislation a toothless tiger. It contains strong provisions to reform Federal habeas corpus laws-- something that is long overdue. Reform of the habeas corpus process will speed up the imposition of sentences of those criminal convicted of especially brutal crimes. Overall, the conference report is a step in the right direction, and I urge its passage so that it can be signed by the President and allow our Nation to enhance its efforts to combat both domestic and international terrorism.

Mr. HEFLIN

Mr. HEFLIN. Ten to twelve minutes.

Mr. HEFLIN. Mr. President, I rise today to talk a few moments on the farm bill conference report that is before the Senate. Last year, when the farm bill process began, farmers came to me representing all types of commodities enthusiastically supporting the continuation of the present programs which provided a safety net for farmers in times of disaster or low market prices. They told me the programs were working well, and, particularly in the South, these programs had worked exceptionally and extremely well, specifically in regard to cotton. However, there was substantial Republican opposition to the continuation of such programs, even within budgetary limits. Therefore, the Republicans pushed the Agricultural Market Transition Act of 1996, formerly known as the freedom to farm bill, in which the farm program payments were decoupled and all Government programs would ultimately be phased out at the end of 7 years. In order to gain producers' support for a farm program phaseout, the Republicans advocated fixed, but declining, payments regardless of market prices. The program that they advocated guaranteed payments to farmers whether they needed them or not. This program, in my opinion, constituted a welfare program. In regard to cotton, it is understood that if you can produce cotton and get a price close to the target price, which is 72.9 cents a pound, you can make a living. The target price was based on the idea of taking the cost of production and the minimum amount necessary to have a return on equity comparable to what business groups endeavor to try to have as a return on equity, on a conservative basis. But we find that under this program, this freedom to farm act, that if cotton went up to 85 cents a pound, which would be a bonanza year for profits and for prices, nevertheless under this, you would get a Government payment, a mailbox payment. If cotton went, as it did last year, to $1.06 a pound, you would, nevertheless, under the Republican proposal, get a Government subsidy. There is no point in paying money to people who do not need it, and that would be what would have happened last year under this particular program. Support for farmers should be available during times of low market prices or uncontrollable natural disasters. Payments should not be made to farmers when commodity prices are as high as they currently are. I oppose such an approach, feeling that this program could not survive close public scrutiny and is simply not good policy. However, in the Senate, there was extended debate, there were cloture motions filed, and it appeared that cloture would not be obtained at one point, so compromises were worked out. Senator Leahy took a lead in trying to work out a compromise, and I commend him for the end result. I do not like all the compromises, but at least with the circumstances with which we were faced, we did achieve a bill. One aspect of the compromise was reinstating permanent law. Permanent law will ensure that Congress in the future must address farm programs and not simply allow them to expire. The addition of permanent law as a part of the now called Federal Agricultural Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 is a vital element for assuring that the Federal Government will refocus its attention on agricultural policy and ensure that we maintain a partnership with rural America and not abandon our agriculture producers at the end of 7 years. The Senate compromise also reauthorized conservation programs, including the Conservation Reserve Program [CRP] and permitted new CRP enrollments. The conservation title of the farm bill demonstrated a very strong commitment to the environment. In addition, the very important nutrition programs were also reauthorized. Discretionary agricultural programs, such as research, trade, rural development and credit were also rolled into the final bill. The conference report before us today contains much of the Senate bill, and even some improvements were achieved in conference, including improvements in the peanut program. However, to me, this bill contains about an equal amount of good and bad, and this is so even after the compromise changes were included in the conference report. If I had to weigh the good and the bad on a scale, they would come out about equal. But we are faced today with the fact that the planting season is upon us. A day has not passed in which I do not hear from farmers anxious for some direction from Congress regarding farm programs. Time is of the essence. The planting season is upon us, and that is an element that we must consider. Nevertheless, I cannot overlook my strong concerns regarding the outyears when it is predicted that commodity prices will fall and the farmers will need an adequate and certain safety net. The agricultural policy in China, for all practical purposes, is today controlling cotton prices in America, among others. They have vast billions of citizens to feed, and whatever policy they may establish concerning agriculture, it certainly affects the commodity prices in America today. If Chinese agricultural policy changes immediately, or in the next couple of years, then we will again experience commodity price fluctuations and the safety net provided in the bill before the Senate does not provide an adequate safety net to deal with this potential problem, and this concerns me deeply. But at the same time, we also are faced with another situation. In my State of Alabama and in the Southeast, and in other sections of the country, last year saw disastrous conditions that affected the production of farm commodities. In the cotton belt, we had to deal with the boll weevil, the tobacco budworm, and the beet armyworm. Alabama also experienced a terrible drought, and then had to deal with two hurricanes unfortunately at harvest time. Alabama, along with other regions of the country, each had their share of uncontrollable factors to deal with this last season. Unfortunately, catastrophic crop insurance proved to be inadequate and many farmers struggled to make back their cost of production, and many did not. We tried to pass some limited degree of disaster assistance for cotton farmers during agriculture appropriations, but this effort was unsuccessful. So we are looking at a situation today where the first payment under the, as I call it the freedom to farm act, would act as a disaster payment to farmers for the disastrous situations experienced last year. Therefore, while I believe this bill to be flawed in some areas, I have decided to vote for the conference report. I base this decision on weighing the good and the bad, and I believe it to be about equal. The fact that it is late in the day and this bill does provide some immediate assistance to farmers, I will, with reservation, vote for this conference report. I have hopes in the future that we will come back and take a responsible look at the policy, a year from now or 2 years from now, and look again at the overall policy pertaining farm programs. I would like to commend Senator Leahy for his work in this regard.

Mr. HEFLIN. I think he did a great job and he reestablished a great deal of Democratic principles into the policy that we have, particularly research and conservation and environmental as well as others in regard to it. I would briefly like to mention the peanut program. In my judgment the peanut program reform went far too far. According to studies that were made by Auburn University, the final version of the peanut program being voted on today will result in a 28-percent loss of income to the peanut farmer. While other commodity producers are receiving transition payments, the peanut producer is seeing nearly a one-third reduction in his income. In my judgment, the degree to which the program was reformed was unnecessary and punitive. Mr. President, as I am looking at this farm bill, this will be the last farm bill that I will participate in, since I am retiring at the end of the year. I have long been a supporter of the American farmer. My commitment to agricultural producers has been constant throughout my career. I am concerned that the bill before us today does not provide the kind of safety net that I would prefer to see and leave as a legacy for future generations of farmers. I hope that in the future, Congress will not turn its back on American farmers in the event that commodity prices fall and farmers are left without any price protection. I ask the Senator if I could have a couple more minutes.

Mr. HEFLIN. Basically, I think that the farm bill ought to have balance. Take for example feed grains. Feed grains are important to the producers, and the structure of their program is important to them. But so on the other hand are the users of feed grains, such as the producers of cattle, hogs, and catfish. It is so necessary to have a balance. So I hope that as we look to the future and look again in regard to these matters, that we will attempt to achieve a balance between producers and users of agriculture commodities. I would like to recognize Senator Lugar for his work on this farm bill. Senator Lugar has been a good chairman. I disagreed with him on many aspects of the bill and of the overall policy but he was certainly a gentleman throughout; he made certain that everybody had an opportunity to be heard. I think that he wants to achieve a balance in regard to farm policy and hopefully this will be addressed in the future. So, as we look forward toward the future, we hope we can have a farm policy that has balance. At some time in the future I will deliver a speech to the Senate relative to balance--balance relative to trade, balance in regard to agriculture policy. But today, Mr. President, I will vote for the conference report. Mr. LEAHY addressed the Chair.