Kay Hutchison

Mrs. HUTCHISON

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 President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mrs. HUTCHISON. Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mrs. HUTCHISON

Mrs. HUTCHISON. Mr. President, I appreciate the fact that we have now passed an air cargo security bill that I think will move the ball a long way down the road toward ensuring the safety of the traveling public and our aviation industry. Since the 9/11 terrorist attacks, we have spent a tremendous amount of time, effort, and resources improving our passenger aviation security system. In fact, tomorrow we have a very important deadline that will be met. All of the airport screeners in our country will be Federal employees who have met a series of stringent requirements, undergone mandatory training, and passed performance and written examinations. I am proud of the work we have done in this area, but I am also concerned that we have been neglecting other modes of transportation as we continue to focus on passenger aircraft. 1 year ago, Congress created the Transportation Security Administration to implement and oversee security on our highways, in our airports, on trains, and in our ports. However, until now, we only gave to the TSA the tools to do the job with respect to passenger aviation security. Last week, we finally passed the port security bill. Now we need to take another step toward transportation security. While I am confident that our efforts have dramatically improved aviation security, we have not closed all the loopholes in our air cargo operations. This issue must be addressed. Twenty-two percent of all air cargo in the United States is carried on passenger flights, but only a tiny percentage of this cargo is inspected. There is no point to carefully screening every piece of luggage if the cargo placed aboard the same flight is not inspected at all. That is why I introduced the Air Cargo Security Act with my friend from California, Senator Dianne Feinstein. We reasoned it was pointless to require air passengers to wait in long security lines, undergo rigorous searches, which all of us have certainly had the privilege of suffering through, if we then allow packages to travel on the very same flight with no inspections whatsoever. Ignoring this problem could be an invitation to disaster. My legislation was the subject of a closed-door hearing of the Aviation Subcommittee. Without going into details, it was apparent there are significant vulnerabilities in our existing system of air cargo security. The Transportation Security Administration is doing the best it can with limited resources. But clearly, legislation is required. I modified the bill in response to those weaknesses and the recommendations made by the Transportation Security Administration, as well as the Department of Transportation Inspector General. This bill was unanimously passed by the Commerce Committee in September as part of a larger package of aviation security measures. Some of these provisions made their way into the homeland security compromise draft, but air cargo security is too important to simply wait until next year. The bill before us will establish a more reliable and accountable known shipper program, with frequent inspections of shipping facilities, tamper-proof identification cards for employees, and an accessible shipper database. For the first time, the Transportation Security Administration will have the power to revoke the license of a shipper or freight forwarder whose practices are unsound or who has engaged in illegal activity. The bill also requires the Transportation Security Administration to conduct regular inspections of foreign shipping facilities. Freight forwarders will have to submit to random inspections, and the TSA must also implement a training program for cargo professionals. All cargo facilities must have an improved security plan. While we tighten these rules and procedures, we must be careful not to cause any economic damage to an airline industry that is already in dire straits. It is critical that the measures we impose allow both passenger and cargo carriers to compete on an equal footing. We drafted this bill in consultation with air cargo carriers and the airlines. I am pleased that we have gained their support, because it is important we have the regulators and the aviation industry working together to make the most seamless security system possible, not only in our country but throughout the world. I also want to point out that the bill before us would accomplish several other goals. These provisions have all been approved by the Commerce Committee, and I thank Senators Hollings and McCain for their leadership. The bill reauthorizes the National Transportation Safety Board through fiscal year 2005. I was proud to serve as vice chair of the National Transportation Safety Board before I came to the Senate. This agency investigates civil aviation accidents and significant incidents in other modes of transportation: railroad, highway, marine, and pipeline. The NTSB also issues safety recommendations aimed at preventing future accidents. This reauthorization also strengthens performance requirements for booster seats for children weighing more than 50 pounds. The NTSB's important work is completed on a very reasonable budget. I am pleased to support this reauthorization bill. The bill before us also makes technical corrections to last year's Aviation and Transportation Security Act. It allows TSA to use biometric identification technologies such as retina scans and fingerprints to assist in aviation security. It defines circumvention of airport security as a Federal crime. It authorizes a study on blast- resistant cargo containers, and it strengthens security at flight schools. These necessary measures fine-tune the comprehensive security legislation we passed last year. I am pleased we have cleared this legislation, and I urge my colleagues in the House to follow suit. Mr. President, I would make a parliamentary inquiry. Am I correct in concluding that all of the necessary steps and procedures have occurred to assure that this bill has been passed and that Senate action on S. 2949 is now complete?

Ms. HUTCHISON

Ms. HUTCHISON. I thank the Chair. I appreciate the cooperation of my colleagues. I thank Senator Reid for helping me in this wrap-up. I know he has not yet come to the floor, but I know that he helped us in clearing this bill. This bill has been cleared by unanimous consent. It is a very important step in securing our homeland. We have taken great strides to secure our airports and the passenger screening is quite thorough. Everybody has to smile when you say that, because anyone who has flown in America in the last 6 months has certainly been subjected to a lot of scrutiny. I have certainly been frisked. I have had my shoes taken off, all of those things that drive people crazy. But the bottom line is, we do have a safer system. We got the wake-up call on 9/11 of 2001. We have taken extraordinary steps to secure our country and our aviation system. Anyone who says our system is not safer today than it was on September 10 of 2001 either has not flown or is being disingenuous. I would like to thank Admiral Loy at the Transportation Security Administration, and certainly Secretary Mineta and President Bush for their strong leadership in homeland and transportation security. We are going to do everything we can to make sure our people are safe. The port security bill was a huge step in the right direction. I have one of the largest petrochemical complexes in the world in Houston, TX. I want to make sure they had all the authority and resources they need to secure that port. In fact, just this week, I talked to the people from the Port of Houston, and they are taking steps on their own. We need to help them at the Federal level to improve security, but they are not waiting for us to act. They know the importance of this issue because they are on the front lines, hearing of new threats from Osama bin Laden just recently. So they are battening down the hatches. We are going to do the same thing with air cargo in the bill we just passed. If the House does come back this year, I will urge my colleagues in the House to look at this bill and try to work with us to make sure the belly of the airplane is just as safe as the passenger cabin is today. All of us want that to happen. I appreciate everybody's cooperation in passing this very important piece of legislation. Mr. President, I look forward to chairing the Aviation Subcommittee next year, working with Senator Rockefeller, my ranking member, with whom I have had a great working relationship. We have passed the aviation security measure that is the law today. We worked together to pass the port security bill. Senator Rockefeller and I have a great vision for what we can do in aviation to make our system not only secure and safe for the traveling public, but also economically viable. Without an aviation industry, this country would lose in commerce and in the freedom of our people to travel. Our country is vast and we need aviation. I am looking forward to chairing that Subcommittee with Senator Rockefeller and working to try to make sure that we maintain an economically viable aviation industry that is safe and secure for the traveling public, and for the goods that comprise our commerce. Mr. President, I yield the floor.

Mrs. HUTCHISON

Mrs. HUTCHISON. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the committee-reported amendments be agreed to; I understand that Senators Hollings and McCain have an amendment at the desk, and I ask that the amendment be considered; that the Hollings-Rockefeller-McCain amendment, which is at the desk, be considered and agreed to; that the substitute amendment, as amended, be agreed to; that the motions to reconsider be laid upon the table, en bloc; that the bill, as amended, be read three times, passed, and the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table; that any statements relating thereto be printed in the Record, without intervening action or debate.

Mrs. HUTCHISON. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 623, S. 2949.

Mrs. HUTCHISON

Mrs. HUTCHISON. I rise today to let my colleagues know that October is National Spina Bifida Awareness Month and to pay tribute to the more than 70,000 Americans--and their family members--who are currently affected by spina bifida--the Nation's most common, permanently disabling birth defect. The Spina Bifida Association of America--SBAA--an organization that has helped people with spina bifida and their families for nearly 30 years, works every day--not just in the month of October--to prevent and reduce suffering from this devastating birth defect. The SBAA was founded in 1973 to address the needs of the individuals and families affected by and is currently the only national organization solely dedicated to advocating on behalf of the spina bifida community. As part of its service through 60 chapters in more than 100 communities across the country, the SBAA puts expecting parents in touch with families who have a child with spina bifida. These families answer questions and concerns and help guide expecting parents. The SBAA then works to provide lifelong support and assistance for affected children and their families. Together the SBAA and the Spina Bifida Association of Texas work tirelessly to help families meet the challenges and enjoy the rewards of raising their child. I would like to acknowledge and thank SBAA and the Spina Bifida Association of Texas for all that they have done for the families affected by this birth defect, especially those living in my State. Spina bifida is a neural tube defect that occurs when the central nervous system does not properly close during the early stages of pregnancy. Spina bifida affects more than 4,000 pregnancies each year, with more than half ending tragically in abortion. There are three different forms of spina bifida with the most severe being myelomeningocele spina bifida, which causes nerve damage and severe disabilities. This severe form of spina bifida is diagnosed in 96 percent of children born with this condition. Between 70 to 90 percent of the children born with spina bifida are at risk of mental retardation when spinal fluid collects around the brain. We must do more to ensure a high quality of life for people with spina bifida so more families choose the blessing and joy of having a child with this condition. Fortunately, spina bifida is no longer the death sentence it once was and now people born with spina bifida will likely have a normal or near normal life expectancy. The challenge now is to ensure that these individuals have the highest quality of life possible. Today, approximately 90 percent of all babies diagnosed with this birth defect live into adulthood, approximately 80 percent have normal IQs, and approximately 75 percent participate in sports and other recreational activities. With proper medical care, people who suffer from spina bifida can lead full and productive lives. However, they must learn how to move around using braces, crutches, or wheelchairs, and how to function independently. They also must be careful to avoid a host of secondary health problems ranging from depression and learning disabilities to skin problems and latex allergies. The Spina Bifida Association of Texas has four chapters in San Antonio, Austin, Dallas, and Houston. These chapters serve the individuals and their families with spina bifida in the great state of Texas through a number of programs and services including providing emergency assistance; running a summer camp for children and a weekend retreat for adults; scholarships; and medical seminars. In addition, the Texas Scottish Rite Hospital is the largest single-site interdisciplinary center for the treatment of spina bifida in the United States and provides ongoing treatment for more than 13,000 children annually, without charge. During the month of October, the SBAA and its chapters make a special push to increase public awareness about spina bifida and teach prospective parents about prevention. Simply by taking a daily dose of the B vitamin, folic acid, found in most multivitamins, women of child- bearing age have the power to reduce the incidence of spina bifida by up to 75 percent. That such a simple change in habit can have such a profound effect should leave no question as to the importance of awareness and the impact of prevention. As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, I am pleased that we provided $2 million in much-needed funding to establish a National Spina Bifida Program at the National Center for Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities--NCBDDD--at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention--CDC--to ensure that those individuals living with spina bifida can live active, productive, and meaningful lives. In addition, I am proud that we in the Senate recently passed by unanimous consent the Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities Prevention Act of 2002, which takes many critical steps that will work to prevent spina bifida and to improve quality of life for individuals and families affected by this terrible birth defect. I am hopeful that the House will act shortly to pass the measure so it can be sent to the President for his signature. I again wish to thank the SBAA and its chapters for all of their hard work to prevent and reduce suffering from this birth defect and for their commitment to improve the lives of those 70,000 individuals living with spina bifida throughout our Nation. I wish the Spina Bifida Association of America the best of luck in its future endeavors.

Mrs. HUTCHISON

Mrs. HUTCHISON. Mr. President, I would first like to thank Senator Hollings and Senator McCain for helping us get this bill through the committee. Senator Breaux's remarks were right on target. I hosted Senator Breaux's hearing in Houston. He toured the Port of Houston with me. We saw firsthand what some of the problems are. I have to say, I was very impressed with what the Port of Houston is doing on its own. Using its own resources, it has beefed up its patrols and its security guards. Certainly, the Coast Guard is more involved in checking manifests and the ships that come into the Port of Houston. But the fact is, the Port of Houston is the largest port in America in terms of foreign tonnage. It handles more than half of the Nation's petrochemical capacity. We certainly need Federal funding and support to make sure a port like this one, which is vulnerable, and presents such a risk, has a fully implemented security system. I thank Senator Breaux for coming to see firsthand this great port in my State, for looking at what they are doing on their own, and then realizing the need to give them added help through this port security bill. I am very pleased that we are taking this first step. Due to the volume of hazardous materials, a terrorist attack in the Port of Houston could result in the loss of millions of lives. Of course, it would also interrupt our Nation's energy supplies, delivering a huge blow to our economy at a time when we certainly cannot afford any more economic disturbances. However, there are other ports as well in my State, and smaller ports throughout our Nation. In my State of Texas we have Corpus Christi, Brownsville, Port Lavaca, Galveston, Freeport, and Texas City. They each have different challenges. Some have to safeguard cruise ships. Cruise ships are a new, burgeoning tourist industry that is working particularly in Galveston. We are very happy about this, but it means we have to safeguard these cruise ships by taking similar security measures. Texas City, on the other hand, faces the security challenge of screening cargo containers and shipping vessels on a shoestring budget. We have Brownsville and Corpus Christi that are becoming very important ports for Central and South American goods coming in. We are very pleased about that, but they too need security. So this is a compromise bill. It lays the foundation for a port security system under the Transportation Security Administration. It requires security plans for every port, background checks for employees with access to secure areas, and improved identification technology for both individuals and vessels traveling in United States waters. The proposed Homeland Security Department would also be tasked to assess potential threats presented by security practices at foreign ports, so that we are able to find out if a foreign port is particularly lax. Then we would have to take extra steps for ships coming into the United States from that port, whether it is the port of origin or whether it is a through-port. I think those are the steps we need to take. I support this compromise because certainly it is important to take these immediate first steps. However, I do not think the bill goes far enough. I am an original cosponsor, with Senator Feinstein, of the Comprehensive Seaport and Container Security Act that would provide more resources and greater emphasis on port security. Our bill requires profiling of cargo containers and scrutiny of high-risk shippers. We are not closing the book on port security with the passage of this compromise bill, but we are taking a major first step. I look forward to working with Senator McCain, Senator Hollings, Senator Breaux, and others who are very concerned about the whole port security issue. In the next session, I look forward to really addressing the container cargo and other high-risk port needs, and to assure we do not have a void in our port areas. Senator Stevens was saying the other night that 50 percent of the American people live within 50 miles of a port. That is a very important statistic. We have to check our ports, our people, and the goods coming into this country. I am very pleased we have taken this first step, because what we have done in aviation certainly has been a huge improvement. Are we finished with aviation? No, we are not. But are our airports safer today than they were on 9/10/01? Yes, they are. I travel as much as anybody in America, commuting back and forth to my home State every week. I see a significant difference in the quality of screening with the new Transportation Authority personnel. They are trained. They are polite. They are doing their jobs in a professional way and I am very proud of that. We need to do more and, hopefully, we are going to address some of the other aviation needs in the very near future. But right now we are addressing a major area of responsibility for our country and that is the security of our ports, the people, and the cargo that comes through our ports. I yield the floor.

Mrs. HUTCHISON

Mrs. HUTCHISON. Madam President, I rise today to pay tribute to our Nation's devoted Veterans. It is these men and women, past and present, who embody the ideals of freedom, liberty and justice, which are the foundation of our great Nation. Veterans Day is a time to recognize those Americans who gave what President Abraham Lincoln once called ``the last full measure of devotion.'' While we reflect on the deeds of these heroes and stand grateful for their service and sacrifice, we must also ponder the ongoing actions of our soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines. Ours is a great Nation of free people who call our finest men and women to stand guard and protect the liberty that all Americans enjoy. To this end, all of those who have donned the uniform of our Armed Forces have consciously given a piece of themselves. Whether during peacetime or a time of conflict; at home or abroad; in the active component, the reserves or the national guard; their service has been characterized by selflessness and a sense of a greater purpose. Throughout our history, they have answered the call. Whether that call to service sent them to a distant land full of turmoil, or to the flight line at a base in the Midwest, they have served with dignity and honor. I am proud that my home State of Texas has a rich tradition of military leadership. Our young men and women have signed up to serve their Nation and are stationed throughout the United States and in all corners of the globe. More Marines join the Corps from Texas per capita than any other State. And we are home to more Army and Air Force bases than any State. As these men and women have sacrificed, so too has a far less recognized segment of our Veteran population--their spouses. For each displaced serviceman, there is often a husband or wife left behind. These silent patriots have kissed their loved ones goodbye and sent them off to serve this country. They diligently run their households while their mate provides security at an airport in another part of the country or serves on a foreign base halfway around the globe. They have often put their career on hold and patiently moved the family to the next in a long series of new bases and new communities. Whatever accolades we bestow upon our Veterans, we must also remember the parallel sacrifice of their heroic spouses. Today our troops are answering the call to duty in locations around the world. The war on terrorism is being waged by America's finest, from Afghanistan to the Philippines. Soldiers in South Korea continue to keep watch on the communist regime to their North. Air Force pilots continue to patrol the skies over Iraq as the world contemplates the future of the region. Reservists and National Guardsmen continue to serve, at the expense of their civilian vocations, on extended active duty for a year or more. Some of our military patriots continue to serve well beyond the date they were to leave active service because the Nation continues to need their expertise. On this Veterans Day, we express our heartfelt gratitude to our Nation's veterans and to their spouses. We have incurred a debt to them that can never be fully repaid. Today we remember those who have gone before and honor tomorrow's veterans who serve our country today.

Mrs. HUTCHISON

Mrs. HUTCHISON. Mr. President, I am pleased to bring before the Senate the conference agreement on the fiscal year 2003 military construction appropriations bill and endorse those comments made by the Chairman, Senator Feinstein. I am gratified that the Congress was able to move forward on a military construction bill for fiscal year 2003. This is especially critical when the nation is considering military action to prevent the spread of terrorism and the potential use of weapons of mass destruction. Given the circumstances, this is a particularly timely, and time sensitive, Conference Report, and it is important that the Senate is moving quickly to pass it so that we can provide our military personnel the housing and facilities they need to perform their duties. This is a good package that meets the most pressing needs of the military, both in terms of readiness and quality of life issues. It is not, of course, a perfect package. The Conference Report does not include everything that the Senate wanted; nor does it includes everything that the House wanted. It does, however, address the priorities of the Department of Defense as well as both Houses of Congress. It is a carefully crafted compromise that is both balanced and bipartisan. The Chairman highlighted several of the critical items contained in this bill, such as $1.2 billion for new barracks, $151 million for military hospitals and medical facilities, $688 million for new Guard and Reserve facilities, and $1.34 billion for new family housing for military personnel and their families. These are important increases that signal a renewed commitment to upgrading and rebuilding the infrastructure that is truly the backbone of our Nation's military. I am proud to support funding for these important programs. In recent years, we have made real progress in improving family housing for single service members and for families, as well as improving the workplaces for the men and women who serve America both at home and abroad. However, much remains to be done. It is my hope that in future budgets, we will see sufficient resources to continue the Department of Defense's efforts to modernize, renovate and improve aging defense facilities and infrastructure. the effects of sustained and structural inattention by the Pentagon and the military services to basic infrastructure are apparent on nearly every military installation. This will continue to have long-term implications as facilities continue to age disproportionately without a sustained level of investment in maintenance and repair. Mr. President, I want to thank Chairman Byrd, Senator Stevens, and the Chairman of this subcommittee, Senator Feinstein, for their unflagging support and assistance in bringing this conference agreement to the Senate. I also thank the subcommittee staff for their hard work on this measure.

Mrs. HUTCHISON

Mrs. HUTCHISON. Mr. President, I thank the Senators from Virginia, Arizona, and Connecticut for all of the efforts being made to bring a full debate on this issue to the Senate. Congress has no greater responsibility under the Constitution than to provide for our Nation's common defense. There is no decision we make that requires more careful consideration than a decision to authorize the use of armed forces and, in so doing, send America's sons and daughters into harm's way. Shortly after I was elected to the Senate, our Nation suffered through the brutal battle in Mogadishu, Somalia. It left 18 of our soldiers dead. Our mission was vague. There was no clear American national security threat in Somalia. The President did not come to the American people and explain the rationale for continued military involvement. The impact of this uncertainty became very clear to me soon after the tragedy when I met a constituent on a flight from Washington, DC, to Dallas. He came up to me and said: Senator, my name is Larry Joyce. I am your constituent. I said: Hi, Larry, how are you doing? What were you doing in Washington? He said: I was burying my son in Arlington National Cemetery. His son Casey had been killed in the street ambush that was depicted in the book ``Black Hawk Down,'' also a movie. Colonel Joyce said to me, with tears rolling down his face: Senator, I am a military man. I served two tours in Vietnam. And now my son Casey, on his first mission as an Army Ranger, is not coming home. Senator, I can't tell you why. I vowed that day that I would never vote to send an American into battle unless I could answer that question. I want to be able to face any parent and say: This is the national security interest of our country, and that is why your child signed up and was willing to fight and was sent to do so. Since Somalia, I have come to the Senate floor to express grave reservations about deployments to Haiti, Bosnia, and Kosovo. In each case, I called on the President to come to Congress, make the case to the American people, and outline the U.S. security interest. After the tragic events of 9/11, President Bush sought and received the authorization to use force to find and destroy the terrorists who had launched that heinous crime. There was no question in my mind and in the minds of most Members of Congress that our national security demanded our support of the President. Today, President Bush seeks congressional authorization to use military force to deal with the threat Saddam Hussein poses with weapons of mass destruction. We must answer the major question for America: What is the U.S. security interest? Why Saddam? Why now? It is a question I thought about as I sat among the hushed crowds at the Pentagon's memorial service on September 11, 2002. It was a poignant moment. I was surrounded by those who had suffered so much and many who will ultimately bear the consequences of the decision we are about to make. I doubt there is anyone in America who doesn't feel as I do. If we could have prevented 9/11, we certainly would have. We didn't have warning, and we paid a heavy price. It is this experience that has led President Bush to think in a different way about protecting our homeland. I believe he doesn't want to wait until an enemy is finished building his deadly arsenal and ready to attack from a position of strength. It is one thing to turn three commercial airliners into weapons of mass destruction. It is another to have a nuclear missile ready to deploy or to arm an unmanned aerial vehicle with anthrax ready to ship anywhere in the world. Each generation of Americans has been called to defend our freedom. Each time, our forefathers and mothers have answered the call. Our generation's time of national trial has come. We are being called to stop a new kind of enemy, different from any we have ever fought before. This enemy is not just contained in one country or two, it is spread throughout the world and even within our own borders. This enemy purposely kills itself in order to harm others. This enemy is patient, building resources and striking when and where we are least prepared. This enemy uses a different method each time. This enemy requires a new kind of defense. That is what the President is attempting to build. The cold war ended when the Iron Curtain and Berlin Wall came tumbling down. The post-cold-war era ended when the World Trade Center towers came crashing down. September 11 made it abundantly clear that the strategy of deterrence alone is not enough. The President recently released a new national security strategy. It articulates a policy of preemption and dominance. Some fear that our new national security strategy is too bold. A bold defense does not cause calamities to occur, but a lack of action will. It is not our defense strategy that will provoke attacks on the United States. Rather, it is when we fail to act or fail to lead that our enemies strike. It is when they think we have become soft and complacent that they will kill innocent Americans again. We have learned hard and valuable lessons these past few years. The first terrorist attack on the World Trade Center occurred in 1993, a bombing that killed 6 Americans and injured more than 1,000. What did we do? In 1996, Hezbollah extremists bombed the United States military barracks at Khobar Towers in Saudi Arabia, killing 19 American servicemembers and injuring 500 others. What did we do? In 1998, al- Qaida terrorists bombed the United States Embassies in Kenya and Tanzania, killing and injuring hundreds. What did we do? In 2000, al- Qaida terrorists again attacked Americans, this time bombing the U.S.S. Cole in Yemen, killing 17 American servicemembers and injuring scores more. What did we do? Then came the devastating attacks of 9/11. Our Nation finally was awakened. We put the pattern together to see the threat to the very freedom that we cherish. We did do something. We took action against our enemy swiftly and boldly after 9/11. Now we must follow through. The President has asked for authority to meet this threat. Congress gave him wide latitude to root out terrorism. We and our allies are doing that job in Afghanistan, the home base of al-Qaida. We have liberated millions and millions of innocent Afghanis from the cruel Taliban regime. Now the President is asking for authority to go into Iraq. Why Iraq? Why now? Because we have learned the lessons of complacency. We have learned the lessons of not being prepared. The President has solid information that with a small amount of highly enriched uranium, Iraq could have a nuclear weapon in less than a year. We know Iraq already has the means to deliver it. He has hard intelligence that Iraq has chemical and biological weapons and small, unmanned aerial vehicles to disseminate them, potentially killing thousands of people anywhere in the world. The President is saying: ``Do we wait for the attack, or do we take steps to prevent it?'' Our post-9/11 defense strategy demands that we prevent it. Saddam Hussein has fired on coalition aircraft patrolling the no-fly zones over Iraq 2,500 times since the Gulf War. Saddam Hussein has rewarded the families of Palestinian suicide bombers. He has attempted to assassinate the former U.S. President who led the international coalition that defeated him in the Gulf War. His No. 1 enemy is the United States of America. So if all diplomatic efforts fail, and if the U.N. weapons inspectors are not allowed unfettered access to suspected sites, our President wants to be able to take away Saddam Hussein's means to destroy us and our allies. It is our responsibility to give the President the authorization he needs. The question of whether the security of the United States is threatened has been answered. The answer is yes. It is with a heavy heart and a realization of the consequences that I will vote yes. But it would be a burden I could not carry to vote no and then, a year or 2 from now, see a preventable attack kill thousands more innocent Americans or our allies. Mr. President, we are going to meet this test of our generation. We are going to protect the freedom and the way of life that has become the beacon to the world of the way life should be. We can do no less. I yield the floor.

Mrs. HUTCHISON. Yes.

Mrs. HUTCHISON. Thank you. I say to the Senator from Virginia that I appreciate that. We have worked together on this resolution to try to ensure that the President has the authorization he needs and that Congress plays its constitutional role. I appreciate all the cooperation on both sides of the aisle to make this happen.

Mrs. HUTCHISON

Mrs. HUTCHISON. Mr. President, it is an honor to pay tribute today to the senior Senator from North Carolina, Jesse Helms. The son of a police chief from Monroe, NC, Jesse Helms has been part of the fabric of the United States Senate for nearly three decades. Upon his retirement after five terms of service, it is fitting that we pay tribute to his leadership and commitment to the people of North Carolina and this country. Senator Helms has served in the Senate during the administrations of seven Presidents, from the Vietnam War, through the launch of the war on terrorism. His views have enlivened the debate on the editorial pages of newspapers in his home State and throughout the country. He defines the term ``sticking to your guns.'' From 1960 until he ran for the Senate in 1972, Senator Helms delivered some 2,700 editorials on WRAL-TV in Raleigh, NC. Those opinions also appeared in more than 200 papers across the Nation and on 70 radio stations, making Jesse Helms a household name. He built that name on the principles of free enterprise, representative democracy and conservative values--ideals he holds true today. He has always stood on principle. He does not waiver or falter, and is not easily persuaded, a fact to which many of my colleagues can attest. Senator Helms has never forgotten the people he represents while in Washington. An editorial about his retirement in the Charlotte Observer observed, ``People who can't stand his views go to the voting booth every 6 years and push the button next to his name. Maybe he helped their mama get Social Security. Maybe he kept their farm alive. Maybe they just like the idea of a North Carolina boy going to Washington and raising hell.'' He's always had a place in his heart for the youth of our Nation. In his retirement speech, he calculated that he has met with more than 100,000 young people during his tenure in the Senate. He always took the time to talk with them about what an honor it was to serve America. The issues that have driven his Senate career have varied from the minute to the global. He has left an indelible mark on American foreign policy from his service on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and his tenure as chairman. From favoring the lifting of the arms embrago on Bosnia to his opposition of U.S. military intervention in Haiti, he has consistently fought to keep our Nation focused on U.S. interests abroad. On February 24, 1996, when Cuban Mig-29 fighter jets shot down two Cessna 337s in the Florida Straits, killing four members of the humanitarian group ``Brothers to the Rescue,'' Jesse Helms demanded that the U.S. call Fidel Castro to account for his actions. His time as a Navy recruiter during World War II gave him insight into the importance of supporting our military troops. He has vigorously fought to strengthen the U.S. armed forces and ensure that our men and women in uniform are deployed only when clear U.S. interests are at stake. On behalf of the American taxpayer, he demanded and received greater accountability at the United Nations for the funds America pays as part of our dues. He was one of the chief architects responsible for dramatically reshaping and reorganizing the Department of State. Indeed, no matter what the cause, whether it affects a North Carolina farmer or textile worker, or the U.S. relationship with the U.N., Jesse Helms has stood his ground. He has always done so without rancor and has always been a gentleman when the fight was over. He is stubborn, he is committed to his cause, and he fights vigorously, but he is also one of the most gentle and kind men in the Senate. For years he sat next to the late Senator John Chafee on the Senate floor. They were two Republican colleagues who didn't agree on a great deal, yet were best of friends and spoke affectionately of each other. When John died, Jesse made it his first order of business to visit his office and personally comfort the Senator's grieving staff. There are hundreds of similar stories of Jesse's graciousness and caring nature. Each of us has been touched at one time or another by his kindness. His conviction, his determination and his passion will be missed. As Jesse leaves Washington to join his beloved wife, ``Miss Dot,'' at home in North Carolina, we wish him well. The 108th Congress will be a different place without Jesse Helms. The set from North Carolina will be filled, but it will never be the same.

Mrs. HUTCHISON

Mrs. HUTCHISON. Mr. President, I want to speak briefly on the reauthorization conference report that is before the Senate today. There are many parts of this legislation I want to talk about. One part that is very important to me is the new judgeships that would be created in the border areas of our country, including two new district judgeships in the western district of Texas, and one temporary judgeship in the eastern district of Texas. The conference report contains language that Senator Feinstein and I put forward because of the judicial emergencies that we find in our States. Largely in the border regions, we have had an onslaught of caseload that has made it very difficult for our judges to not even stay even but just to try to handle the most important cases. So we have been trying to add some judgeships, both in California and in Texas, to relieve some of this emergency. The judgeships in the western and eastern districts of Texas have been declared ``judicial emergencies'' by the nonpartisan Judicial Conference of the United States. The creation of new judgeships will certainly bring much needed relief. Of all the courts in the country that are desperate for judges, the United States-Mexico border courts have the most critical need. According to the statistics from last year, the western district of Texas handles the most criminal cases in the country; last year, 4,434. Currently, the western district of Texas is facing a criminal caseload of 1,987 pending cases; that is 2,758 defendants. In El Paso, 884 cases are pending overall--more than any other region in the district. Each day, more cases are added, overwhelming an already overburdened western district. As our war against terrorism is advancing, as well as our war against drugs, it is even more crucial we have highly qualified judges and law enforcement officials in charge of our justice system. Mr. President, I really appreciate the fact that we do have a cloture motion on this conference report. I hope very much we will be able to pass this legislation and create these courts. Hopefully, they will be able to be up and running sometime next year and try to bring justice. Justice delayed is justice denied in many instances. We would like to clear out the backlog and let people face trials and either serve their sentences or, if they are acquitted, of course, allow them to go free. Right now, they are incarcerated, and it is creating not only a burden on the court system but on the prison system. Many of our county prisons and State prisons are overloaded and trying to help with the backlog, but it is very hard for these counties to justify the costs when they do not get full reimbursement. So we would appreciate passing this bill so we could get these courts. I hope the Senate will act expeditiously on this bill. I yield the floor and suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mrs. HUTCHISON. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mrs. HUTCHISON

Mrs. HUTCHISON. Mr. President, after hearing the remarks of the Senator from Alaska, I have to say I am very sorry that my children, Bailey and Houston, will not have the chance to have birthday parties with Strom Thurmond since he will be leaving this year. I know it was a rich part of Lily Stevens' heritage and probably why she is a student at Stanford today. She had such an upbringing and she learned a lot throughout her early life. It is a privilege to be able to add to the accolades to Senator Strom Thurmond. So much has been said already today, but it is fitting that the first retiring Senator in this cycle who does get floor tributes be Senator Strom Thurmond. There is no one like him. There never has been, and there never will be. On December 5, Strom Thurmond will celebrate his 100th birthday. To give you some perspective, Strom Thurmond was born the same year as Thomas Dewey, Charles Lindbergh, and the nation of Cuba, which gained its independence from Spain. Strom was 14 when Lenin overthrew Czar Nicholas in Russia. Strom was 15 when a young, left-handed pitcher named Babe Ruth led the Red Sox to their last World Series victory. Strom was 17 when women earned the right to vote, and now he has served with 24 of the 31 women to ever hold a seat in the Senate. On November 3, 1954, Strom became the only Senator ever to be elected as a write-in candidate. He is the oldest sitting and the longest serving Senator in U.S. history. I doubt his record will be broken in the near future--maybe never. During my own tenure in the Senate, a mere 9 years by comparison, I have been touched by Strom Thurmond's presence. South Carolina and Texas hold a rich heritage together. Strom often reminds me that William Barret Travis, a Texas hero who commanded the forces at the Alamo, hailed from Strom's home county in South Carolina. Another South Carolinian who made his way to the wild west of Texas was Thomas Jefferson Rusk. Thomas Rusk was the first Senator from Texas to hold my seat. He was one of the heroes of the battle of San Jacinto which liberated the Republic of Texas. Senator Rusk's family was living in a rented home in South Carolina when he was born. The home, which belonged to John C. Calhoun, would later become the site of Strom's alma mater, Clemson University. An even more important connection is our States' contributions to the Nation's Armed Forces. I have been proud to stand side by side with Strom in supporting our men and women in uniform and ensuring that they have every available resource to do the job we ask them to do. In his almost 50 years in the Senate, Strom Thurmond has accomplished a great deal. But his greatest legacy is his enduring support for those who serve in uniform. I was privileged to work with Strom when he was chairman of the Armed Services Committee. He focused on a host of important issues, such as military health care and quality of life for service members and their families. In 1998, we named the Defense authorization bill the Strom Thurmond Defense authorization bill in recognition of his lifelong commitment to the defense of our Nation. When the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor, Strom was a 40-year-old circuit judge who would have been forgiven most certainly if he had decided to spend the duration of the war guarding the homefront. Not Strom. Even though he was exempt from the draft, he volunteered for combat and went on to become a highly decorated officer. At the age of 42, LTC Strom Thurmond became the oldest man to help take the beach of Normandy on D-day. His unpowered glider was shot down behind enemy lines, and he survived by taking shelter in an apple orchard. Given the casualties on that dreadful day on Normandy's beach, Strom Thurmond probably considered a long and fruitful life to be measured in days, not decades. Soldiers who survived the horrific days at Normandy or Guadalcanal or Iwo Jima often say that every day thereafter is a free day. Fifty years later, in defiance of every insurance actuary who ever built a calculator, or more aptly a slide rule, Strom Thurmond skipped the 50th anniversary celebration of that brief but memorable flight. I remember because I was here at the 50th anniversary of Normandy. There was a huge celebration of the Members of Congress who had participated in that particular part of our war effort. But, there was one Senator missing from that 50th anniversary at Normandy. It was Strom Thurmond. Strom Thurmond, who was 92 at the time, missed the 50th anniversary because that was the weekend of his son's graduation from high school. Think about it. Strom has always known what matters. He has always focused on what is important. He continues to do that today. He continued to serve after the war in the Reserves, rising to the rank of major general. His whole life has been a tradition of service. From World War II to the Governor's mansion and ultimately to the halls of the Senate, he has always made public service his top priority. In the final scene of the movie ``Saving Private Ryan,'' the movie's namesake returns 50 years after that battle to the grave at Normandy of the captain who gave his life to save Private Ryan. In one of the movie's most touching scenes, Ryan tells the long-dead captain that he has tried to honor his sacrifice by living a good life. That scene captures the essence of what we as a nation owe to those who have fought for our country and our freedom: to honor their sacrifice by trying to lead a good life and by doing everything we can to keep our country free and at peace. Strom has truly honored his comrades who fell that dreadful day and all those who have worn the uniform since. He has been good, as he has also been great. He has led the Senate to keep our military strong through the generations. For those of us who have served with Strom in the Senate, he has been the senior Senator from South Carolina during our entire careers, including of course, Fritz Hollings. Fritz must be the oldest, longest serving junior Senator in the history of the Senate. That will surely change. And that change is going to take some getting used to. Having Strom Thurmond gone, will make this a different place for all of us, particularly the Senate pages. Strom Thurmond has always been particularly attentive and sweet to the Senate pages, probably throughout his career. I have seen it time and time again where he has taken the pages for lunch or for ice cream to talk to them so that they can ask him questions. I truly believe if you ever took a poll of the Senate pages, their favorite Senator would always be Strom Thurmond. He is a legend. He is an institution. More important, Strom Thurmond is the heart and soul of the Senate. We honor him today.

Mrs. HUTCHISON

Mrs. HUTCHISON. Madam President, I would like to split my time with my colleague from Texas, so I wish to be notified when I have used 5 minutes.

Mrs. HUTCHISON. Madam President, 1 year ago today, 3,000 people woke up, kissed their loved ones goodbye, went to work, and never returned. In the blink of an eye, their lives were brutally taken by the violent acts of terrorists. Together, we grieved and mourned for those who lost their lives. We marveled at the heroism and bravery of the first responders--the firefighters, emergency personnel, and police officers--who rushed into the devastation to help others, many sacrificing their own lives in the process. But the American spirit of resilience rose from the ashes of Ground Zero, the Pentagon, and that quiet field in Pennsylvania. Our collective anguish became our national resolve. We focused our energies on destroying the cowardly instigators of this tragedy so they could not do it again to us or any other nation on Earth. We will forever recall this day, but we are not a vengeful people. As Americans, we value peace, freedom, and liberty. We know our diversity and tolerance of other views, religions, and ways of life are what make our Nation great. We do not perpetuate hatred or violence. We teach our children to love one another and treat others with respect. America was born out of a great struggle. The words of our Founding Fathers ring as true today as they did more than 200 years ago. In 1771, Samuel Adams said: The liberties of our country, the freedom of our civil constitution, are worth defending at all hazards; and it is our duty to defend them against all attacks. We have received them as a fair inheritance from our worthy ancestors: they purchased them for us with toil and danger and expense of treasure and blood, and transmitted to us with care and diligence. It is our duty to carry on the crusade for freedom that generations of Americans have fought and died to keep. The heroes of September 11 did not lose their lives in vain. The protection of our liberty and freedom remains resolute. It is the words of a civilian hero that remain with us, a young man with a pregnant wife at home. He saw the horrors on his airplane that morning on September 11 as they were flying over Pennsylvania. He realized from telephone reports that this airplane, too, was part of a terrible plan headed for one of our treasured symbols of freedom in Washington, DC. Though he had little time to prepare, he and other brave passengers decided to fight. And Todd Beamer's last words in his valiant effort are our battle cry in this war on terrorism: ``Let's roll.'' America is ready to roll, Madam President, and we will never forget those who gave their lives for our freedom on September 11, 2001.

Mrs. HUTCHISON

Mrs. HUTCHISON. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate agree to the committee substitute amendment, that the bill, as amended, be read a third time and passed, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, and that any statements relating to the bill be printed in the Record.

Mrs. HUTCHISON. Thank you, Mr. President. I thank the Senator from Florida. I do not know if a bill has ever gone through the Senate any faster. It couldn't have happened without Senator Leahy. I think passing this kind of bill before we leave for 3 months could be responsible for saving lives. I am just so appreciative that we can go forward and that every single Senator on both sides of the aisle will give their consent to this bill passing. So, Mr. President, I thank the Senator from Vermont for his leadership and for helping us work through what could have been a delay, but it was not because of his leadership.

Mrs. HUTCHISON. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the Senate immediately proceed to Calendar No. 566, S. 2896.

Mrs. HUTCHISON. Mr. President, I would like to speak on the bill. My colleague, Senator Feinstein, will speak, and then I would like to have the bill passed following those remarks. Mr. President, I am so proud that the Senate Judiciary Committee has already passed the AMBER Alert bill on which Senator Feinstein and I worked during the recess, after the tragic happening in California with the teenage girls who were lost but then found because of AMBER Alert, and the tragic kidnapping in Texas of a baby who was also found because of the AMBER Alert. Although in numbers the child abductions through the summer weren't any more than previous years, they seemed so much more because we knew about them and we were able to do something about them. Not all of them have had a happy ending, but more than ever before have had a happy ending. The realization that their child has been abducted must be the most terrifying nightmare a parent can endure. But that is what has happened to parent after parent in our country. The AMBER Alert bill is named for Amber Hagerman, who was abducted when she was 9 years old, riding her bicycle near her home in Arlington, TX, in 1996. Amber was murdered. But her mother and law enforcement personnel in the Arlington-Dallas-Fort Worth area believed so strongly there should be some way to do something that would find these children that they created the AMBER Alert on a local level. Today, cities, regions, and States have established AMBER Alerts and 30 abducted children have been found and rescued because of the AMBER Alert. Most of the credit for this remarkable record goes to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, which provides technical guidance to communities and coordination among widely separated AMBER networks. And the Center could not be effective without the willing cooperation of the National Association of Broadcasters and local television and radio stations across the nation. As we have witnessed this summer, AMBER Alert plans in different communities have been effective in bringing children home safely. Recently, an AMBER Alert was sent out to search for 10-year-old Nichole Timmons of Riverside, California. The Alert was not only delivered throughout California but contacts also were made in neighboring states, and Nichole was found in Nevada. Nichole and her family were extremely lucky because dedicated people at the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children made the effort to notify every possible jurisdiction, and local broadcasters devoted previous air time to the Alert. The vast majority of States, however, do not yet have comprehensive, statewide coverage and lack the ability to effectively communicate between plans. This is a critical issue particularly when an abducted child is taken across State lines. Nichole's case clearly illustrates the need for a national AMBER network. My bill, the National AMBER Alert Network Act, prepared with the help of my friend, Dianne Feinstein of California, will fill the gaps that exist in the current patchwork of AMBER systems. We will provide resources for states and communities to build their AMBER Alert systems and spread information to surrounding jurisdictions. Our bill establishes an AMBER Alert Coordinator within the Department of Justice to assist states with their AMBER Alert plans. The AMBER Alert Coordinator will set minimum, voluntary standards to help states coordinate when necessary. The AMBER Alert Coordinator will help to reconcile the different standards for what constitutes an AMBER alert. In doing so, the Coordinator will work with existing participants, including the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, local and state law enforcement and broadcasters to define minimum standards. Overall, the AMBER Alert Coordinator's efforts will set safeguards to make sure the AMBER system is used to meet its intended purpose. In addition, the bill provides for matching grant programs at the Department of Transportation and the Department of Justice. The grant programs will help localities and states build or further enhance their efforts to disseminate AMBER Alerts. To this end, the matching grant programs will fund road signage and electronic message boards along highways, dissemination of information on abducted children, education and training, and related equipment. When a child is lost, the whole community grieves along with the family. An AMBER Alert channels this energy to a positive purpose. Tips from average citizens have resulted in the safe and rapid recovery of many children. We can spread the work about abducted children across county and state lines quickly, before the kidnappers have the chance to cover their tracks and get too far away. I was very touched, when Senator Feinstein and I decided we were going to introduce this National AMBER Alert bill, that Mr. Ed Smart, the father of Elizabeth Smart, who was abducted from her home in Utah and who has not been found, had a press conference with Senator Bennett from Utah to say: Please enact this national system. Maybe it could have helped if we had had that in place. Senator Hatch from Utah was so helpful in making sure the Judiciary Committee did expedite the passage of this bill. We could not have done it without Senator Leahy, who allowed us to go forward, really, in miracle record time. Senator Clinton came forward immediately to offer her help. So we have had a lot of people working on this issue. I do not think the Senate has ever come together so uniformly and so quickly to enact a piece of legislation as this AMBER Alert bill. It is important that we enact this bill and that the President be able to sign it before we leave for a 3-month recess because there is no telling how many children could be helped if we had this in place and ready to go. In memory of Amber Hagerman and for every family ravaged by the tragedy of child abduction, I urge my colleagues to pass the National AMBER Alert Network Act to safeguard America's children.

Mrs. HUTCHISON. Mr. President, I thank the Senator from California for jumping right in after the tragic abduction of the teenage girls. Those lives were probably saved 5 minutes before they would have been murdered. That is what the testimony was. It was the result of the AMBER Alert, which is a statewide system in California. Senator Feinstein, as the Senator from the home State, has an emotional tie to this issue. I just hope we can prevent in other States other parents from having this kind of scare in their lives. At least, if they have the scare, we will be able to help them and save the lives of the most innocent in our society. Of course, that is our children. I send a list of cosponsors--we have 38--to the desk and ask that they be printed in the Record.

Mrs. HUTCHISON. Thirty-eight.