Daniel Inouye

Mr. INOUYE

Mr. INOUYE. Mr. President, I would like to announce that the Committee on Indian Affairs will meet on Tuesday, June 11, 2002, at 1:30 p.m. in room 485 of the Russell Senate Office Building to conduct an oversight hearing on the work of the U.S. Department of Interior's Branch of Acknowledgment and Research within the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Those wishing additional information may contact the Indian Affairs Committee at 224-2251. subcommittee on public lands and forests

Mr. INOUYE

Mr. INOUYE. I certainly do agree that construction must not be delayed. I am also aware of the tremendous role the 8th Air Force has played in the war in Afghanistan.

Mr. INOUYE. I am aware of the testimony to which you refer and the importance the Guard attaches to acquiring additional targeting pods. I will gladly work with the Majority Leader to secure funds for additional LITENING pods for the Air National Guard.

Mr. INOUYE. I am delighted to discuss LITENING pods with the majority leader.

Mr. INOUYE. I assure the Senator from Louisiana that, within Air Force appropriations for fiscal years 2002 and 2003, sufficient resources will be available to fund the requisite outfitting of the restored 8th Air Force Headquarters.

Mr. INOUYE. I agree with the Senator that those of us with offices in the Hart Building know the feeling of being left without adequate office space, but the Senator from Louisiana should be pleased to know that the Air Force has committed to rebuilding the 8th Air Force Headquarters beginning in fiscal year 2002.

Mr. INOUYE. I would say to my friend from Louisiana, that I understand her concern that such an important military resource be rebuilt as soon as possible. I want to let you know that the Air Force has notified the Senate Appropriations Committee by letter that the Air Force will commit $19.3 million to an operation and maintenance project at Barksdale Air Force Base, LA, to repair the 8th Air Force Headquarters Facility.

Mr. INOUYE. I support the Army's decision to expedite destruction of our Nation's chemical weapons stockpile in a safe and cost efficient manner. As the Senators from Indiana and Maryland know, the Army planned to reprogram existing funds this year to accelerate destruction at Aberdeen and Newport, and I would have support such a request. However, I would ask my colleagues to refrain from offering their amendment, and want to assure them that I will support funding for the accelerated destruction of chemical agents stored at Newport and Aberdeen in conference when the opportunity arises.

Mr. INOUYE

Mr. INOUYE. I move to reconsider the vote.

Mr. INOUYE

Mr. INOUYE. Mr. President, CEROS, the National Center of Excellence for Research in Ocean Studies, is not a State government institution. It is a Federal institution. It was established by the Department of Defense. That is why it is called a national defense center. Secondly, the $2.5 million does not come out of this bill. The sums have already been appropriated for mapping of coral reefs. This just expedites it because NOAA wants it expedited. The amendment itself was drafted by the staff of NOAA. It is not to benefit any Hawaiian organization, I can assure you, Mr. President. This is to benefit the people of the United States who have been crying about the environment, about protecting the species of this planet. This is how we are going to do it. If we do not do it, then it is going to be wide open to fishermen, and if the lobsters disappear, if the exotic fishes disappear from that area, do not blame me. We are carrying out the wishes of the administration. I yield the floor.

Mr. INOUYE. Mr. President, will the Senator yield?

Mr. INOUYE. Mr. President, if I may repeat myself, not a penny is appropriated by the coral reef initiative--not one penny. Moneys were appropriated in the fiscal year 2002 bill. This is to set aside, of that amount, $2.5 million for the mapping of the coral reef around the northwestern islands of the Hawaiian chain. Mr. President, 84 percent of the coral reefs of the United States are found in the Hawaiian chain. Of that 84 percent, 6 to 9 percent would be found in the northwestern islands and 15 percent around the occupied islands. This is not important for the Hawaiian people. This is an emergency as far as the Commerce Department is concerned because they are in the process of establishing a sanctuary in the northwest islands. In order to set the sanctuary, you must begin mapping that area to determine what sort of fishes are there, what sort of plant life. If we are to carry out the national mission of protecting our environment and protecting the species of this land and this planet, then this is an important part of it. Furthermore, the funds that will be designated for this initiative will be administered by the National Defense Center of Excellence for Research and Ocean Sciences through a cooperative agreement with NOAA. One specific item they must live up to is that this will be done by competition, using a competitive process of selecting whoever does the mapping. This initiative does not designate any person, institution, or organization to do this job. Yes, it is not part of homeland security, but as far as NOAA is concerned, this is an emergency. We are not appropriating any money; we are just saying let's use the money we have already appropriated for this purpose. I yield the floor.

Mr. INOUYE. Madam President, as the distinguished chairman of the Appropriations Committee has stated, this coral reef initiative does not appropriate any money, not even a penny. The sums involved have been appropriated and were appropriated in the last fiscal year. It may interest the Senate to know that the administration does not oppose this initiative. In fact, they authored the initiative. The initiative as drafted in the supplemental was drafted by the staff of NOAA. Eighty-four percent of the coral reefs of the United States are found around the Hawaiian Islands. Of that 84 percent, 15 percent are found around the occupied islands, the inhabited islands, the islands I live on; 69 percent are in the northwest. The Commerce Department is in the process now of establishing a sanctuary in the northwestern islands. In order to establish a proper sanctuary to identify the ecosystem, to identify the fishes, the plant life that all of us want to preserve for generations to come, we must have a mapping. We must know where they are. This is a technical thing. Therefore, my staff was not adequately prepared to draft such legislation. It had to be done by the staff of Commerce. This is not a pork item. One may get the impression that we were using this vehicle to get $2.5 million for the people of Hawaii. Such is not the case. The moneys will be handled by the Commerce Department together with the National Defense Center of Excellence for Research in Ocean Sciences, CEROS. This was established by the Defense Department. Under the rules of CEROS, this will be under a competition. No organization has been selected for the purpose of this mapping. We have no idea who that organization will be. If we are to carry out the initiative started by the Government of the United States to protect our environment, to protect our coral reefs, this is absolutely essential. What we have done was to carry out the wishes of the people of the United States and the wishes of the administration. I hope we can defeat the amendment. I move to table the McCain amendment.

Mr. INOUYE

Mr. INOUYE. Mr. President, I would like to announce that the Committee on Indian Affairs will meet on Tuesday, June 4, 2002, at 10 a.m. in room 485 of the Russell Senate Office Building to conduct an oversight hearing on the protection of Native American sacred places as they are affected by undertakings and activities of the military services of the Department of Defense. Those wishing additional information may contact the Indian Affairs Committee at 224-2251.

Mr. INOUYE

Mr. INOUYE. Mr. President, I would like to announce that the Committee on Indian Affairs will meet on Wednesday, May 22, 2002, at 10 a.m. in room 485 of the Russell Senate Office Building to conduct a hearing on S. 1340, a bill to amend the Indian Land Consolidation Act to provide for probate reform with respect to trust or restricted lands. Those wishing additional information may contact the Indian Affairs Committee at 224-2251. subcommittee on water and power

Mr. INOUYE

Mr. INOUYE. Mr. President, I rise today to discuss a matter of grave national importance, the canned tuna industry in Mindanao. As I was listening to the debate last week, I heard my friend, the gentleman from Texas, advocating rejection of the Dodd amendment that sought to apply the same labor and environmental standards used in the Jordan Free Trade Agreement to trade agreements negotiated under Trade Promotion Authority. During the debate, the Senator from Texas attempted to distinguish between the Jordan Free Trade Agreement and future trade agreements by saying ``that free trade agreement was a foreign policy action, not a trade action.'' I would say to you that all trade actions are foreign policy actions. We are currently debating a multifaceted trade package that includes expansion of the Andean Trade Preference Act. The reasons given for expansion of the current ATPA include the need to expand the economies of the Andean region to provide alternatives to the illegal drug trade. The United States would like to provide alternatives to drug production in order to reduce the drug supply reaching our nation. This is the essence of foreign policy conducting relations with other nations in a manner intended to improve our Nation. An element of the expansion under consideration would provide limited duty-free access to the U.S. market for canned tuna from the Andean region. This provision, intended to complement our war on drugs, conflicts squarely with our Nation's efforts to fight international terrorism. This point is eloquently described in an article that recently appeared in the New York Times entitled, ``Drugs, Terror and Tuna: How Goals Clash.'' The article describes the canned tuna industry in the Philippines, which is entirely based in Mindanao, where the Philippine Government is waging a war against Muslim terrorists and the poverty that breeds them. Damaging the Philippines' export of canned tuna to the United States would seriously harm many workers in Mindanao. Morever, American commitments made by the United States to President Gloria Macapagal- Arroyo, and the common struggle against worldwide terrorism would be in jeopardy. At present, at the invitation of the Philippine government, we have American troops in Mindanao advising and training Philippine troops. Much of the success of our efforts depends on the outcome of the Andean Trade debate. Our trade policy must not undermine our foreign policy efforts to fight terrorism worldwide and protect our citizens. I have filed amendments that I will not call up today, but that I have submitted to ensure the continued cooperation of one of our most vital partners in the international war against terrorism, the Philippines. I urge my colleagues to read the article and to study this situation. I ask unanimous consent that a copy of the article be printed in the Congressional Record.

Mr. INOUYE

Mr. INOUYE. Mr. President, I rise to pay tribute to Dr. Faye Glenn Abdellah, who is about to retire after 49 years of service to the Federal Government and the Nation. Dr. Abdellah is currently serving as the Founding Dean of the Graduate School of Nursing, GSN, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, USUHS. It does not seem so long ago that the United States Senate recognized Dr. Abdellah's induction into the National Women's Hall of Fame in October of 2000 for a lifetime spent establishing and leading essential health care programs for our country. I have had the privilege of knowing Dr. Abdellah for many years, and I would be remiss if I were to focus only on the last nine years of Dr. Abdellah's service as Dean of the GSN. Dr. Abdellah is a nurse, and educator, a researcher, and an internationally recognized leader in nursing. As the first nurse to hold the rank of Rear Admiral, Upper Half, and the title of Deputy Surgeon General of the United States, her incredible leadership abilities have resulted in many truly remarkable accomplishments. Her numerous achievements include: the development of the first tested coronary care unit, which saved thousands of lives, the authorship or co-authorship, of more than 152 publications, some of which have been translated into six languages and which have altered nursing theory and practice, and the receipt of almost 90 professional and academic honors and eleven honorary degrees, all recognizing her innovative work in nursing research and health care. She has the unique honor of being elected as a Charter Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing where she later served as the Academy's Vice President and President. Dr. Abdellah was also the recipient of the prestigious Allied Signal Award in 1989 and the Institute of Medicine's Gustav O. Lienhard Award in 1992. In 1994, the American Academy of Nursing presented her with ``The Living Legend'' Award; in 1999, she was elected to the Hall of Fame for Distinguished Graduates and Scholars at Columbia University. On April 30, 2001, she received the ``Breaking Ground in Women's Health Award'' in Chicago, IL. Her military awards include: the Surgeon General's Medallion and Medal, two United States Public Health Service Distinguished Service Medals; the USUHS Distinguished Service and Meritorious Service Medals, the Secretary of the Department of Health Education and Welfare Distinguished Service Award, and two Founders Medals from the Association of Military Surgeons of the United States. Dr. Abdellah is renowned as an expert in health policies related to long-term care, mental retardation, the developmentally disabled, aging, hospice, and AIDS; her pioneering contributions have substantially and lastingly improved our Nation's health. In 1993, the Congress directed the initiation of a demonstration program for the preparation of family nurse practitioners to meet the needs of the uniformed services. Of course, the individual who stepped forward to assist the USUHS President, James A. Zimble, M.D., Vice Admiral, Retired, was Dr. Abdellah. In the short time since its establishment, the USUHS Graduate School of Nursing has: recruited and retained a qualified faculty, successfully established curricula for two programs, identified accredited clinical practice sites and completed memoranda of understanding with 19 military treatment facilities, submitted self-studies and received full accreditation for the two GSN programs from three professional accrediting entities, received formal approval and permanent status on February 26, 1996, from Health Affairs, Office of the Secretary of Defense, initiated, implemented, and continuously reviewed the outcomes evaluation process for both academic programs, and has awarded 157 Masters of Science in Nursing Degrees to advanced practice nurse graduates through the Nurse Practitioner and Certified Registered Nurse Anesthesia Programs. All GSN graduates have passed their certification examinations, and 97 percent, of 152, of the GSN graduates remain on active duty. One of the most successful and innovative programs between the Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs is the Distance Learning Program established at the USUHS GSN. In 1999, the collaborative efforts of Dr. Abdellah with the Department of Veterans Affairs, VA, in the area of distance learning successfully demonstrated a cost- effective form of advanced education where nursing students can receive advanced training in critically-required specialty areas while maintaining their current positions at the VA medical centers. Twenty- six students, through a ``virtual commencement exercise,'' graduated from the VA/DoD Distance Learning Program on May 18, 1999. The virtual graduation was broadcast from USUHS and linked with eight VA Medical Centers located across the United States, and all graduates were eligible to sit for the American Nurses Association Credentialing Examination for Adult Nurse Practitioners. This graduation marked the first virtual advanced-level graduation for either the VA or DoD. A second class, with students located in ten VA Medical Centers, graduated in May of 2001, for a total of 60 distance learning graduates. A third class is on-going. The exerpience gained by both the GSN and the VA will allow future projects in distance learning to benefit from the lessons learned and the technologies tested during the twenty-month program. I believe that the recent grant of full accreditation by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission, NLNAC, sums up Dr. Abdellah's successful leadership at the USUHS GSN. The accrediting commission pointed out in its summary findings to the University that the mission and philosophy of the USUHS GSN is grounded in the University's mission and in the mission of the Uniformed Services. The GSN curriculum is designed to be specific to the unique mission of military service nurses: to serve in times of war and peace. The GSN students expressed a clear understanding that the program keeps them connected to their mission and prepares them to function immediately after completing the program. The GSN is successfully preparing unique advanced practice nurses to deliver care for the Uniformed Services during disaster relief and humanitarian interventions and, by doing so, ensures military readiness. As my friend Dr. Abdellah reaches the conclusion of her second career of service to our Nation, I take this opportunity to say, without reservation, thank you for all that you have done and will continue to do for our great nation. You may be assured that the Congress, the United States Public Health Service, the Department of Defense, and the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences take great pride in all of your accomplishments. Thank you for another job well done and for your tremendous dedication and love for our country.

Mr. INOUYE

Mr. INOUYE. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize a great American and a true heroine in the Department of Defense who has honorably served our country for over 34 years: Major General Nancy R. Adams, United States Army Nurse Corps. Major General Adams has had a brilliant career in the military. She quickly rose through the Army ranks as a medical- surgical nurse totally dedicated to caring for people. Her leadership abilities and talents were quickly recognized, and her performance in a variety of roles was exemplary. Her exceptional career includes many prestigious assignments, such as: Chief of the Army Nurse Corps, Commanding General of the Center of the U.S. Army Center for Health Promotion and Preventive Medicine, Commanding General of William Beaumont Army Medical Center and the Southwest Regional Medical Command, and culminated with her assignment as Commanding General of Tripler Army Medical Center and the Pacific Regional Medical Command. Major General Adams initiated numerous changes that have improved the delivery of health care to our men and women in uniform and their families, and she has led the fight to improve business practices in the Department of Defense. She has played a key role in the delivery of care to our deserving veterans, always emphasizing the need for an integrated system that puts patients' needs first. Such perseverance and commitment to the health of this Nation has garnered her numerous accolades not only from military and civilian health care organizations but from academic institutions as well. She has been a champion for women's rights in the military and holds the distinction of being the senior ranking women on active duty at this time in the United States Army. Major General Adams has fostered the proud and cherished traditions of the military with her unselfish service. Her performance reflects greatly on herself, the United States Army Medical Command, the United States Army, the Department of Defense, and the United States of America. I extend my deepest appreciation on behalf of a grateful Nation for her dedicated service. Congratulations, Major General Nancy Adams. I wish you Godspeed.

Mr. INOUYE

Mr. INOUYE. Mr. President, I am deeply honored to rise in tribute to Ken Otagaki, who is a very dear friend of mine. He is a patriot in the fullest sense of the word. His life and his service to our Nation should make all of us very proud to call him a fellow American. His story should inspire you. I ask to print in the Record an article about him and his family printed in the April 28, 2002, edition of the Honolulu Star-Bulletin in Hawaii. The article follows. Loving Persistence Pays Off for Otagakis (By Treena Shapiro) Members of the Otagaki family say that their patriarch has never let obstacles defeat him. And as his children note, Kenneth Otagaki has faced challenges that would have discouraged a lesser man--from supporting himself while still a child, to wooing a reluctant bride, to learning to cope with a disability after World War II, to raising five children--eventually earning his Ph.D. and becoming a member of Gov. John Burns' cabinet. Even at 84, ``He's full of energy for someone who could have just sat around and said, `I can't do this, I can't do that,''' said his daughter, Joy Miyashiro, 55. Consequently, while growing up, the Otagaki children never wanted for anything, but had a lot to live up to. Ken Otagaki took control of his life at the age of 12, his son Robin Otagaki said. He was the second son of a Big Island field laborer and his picture bride wife. Because Japanese tradition at the time dictated that the first-born son inherit everything, Ken ran away to Honolulu at age 12 and worked as a houseboy, then put himself through college. At the University of Hawaii in 1936, Ken met Janet, his bride-to-be. He was majoring in agriculture, she was majoring in home economics. When Ken first asked Janet on a date, she tried to fix him up with a friend instead. ``And the next time he asked me, I gave him the brush off because I'm not interested in him since I had a boyfriend,'' Janet said. Eventually she consented to a date, ``but I wasn't very much interested.'' But Ken was more fun that her boyfriend, and more persistent, she said. ``I tried to brush him off, but he just wouldn't. This is what he said: `If I see a good one, why should I stop? I'm going to keep chasing you,' '' she remembered. After the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Ken enlisted and joined the famed 100th Infantry Division. He proposed to Janet before being sent overseas and they decided to wait until he returned to get married. Ken became a litter bearer, once helping an injured Spark Matsunaga down from the mountains. In January 1944, near the hills of Cassino, Italy, Ken and six other litter bearers were called upon to help soldiers in front of them. It was about 10 p.m. and snowing, Ken recalled. ``The Germans saw us coming, I suppose, so they threw a barrage of mortar shells. Unfortunately, one landed about three feet away from where we were, backed up against a big rock,'' he said. Of the eight American soldiers in the group, one escaped injury. Three were killed and four, including Ken, were wounded seriously. It was 20 hours before Ken was evacuated. The battle cost him his right leg, two fingers on his right hand and the sight in his right eye. He wrote to Janet, telling her about his injuries and absolving her of her commitment to marry him, Joy said. However, ``She figured that he wasn't going to sit around and feel sorry for himself,'' Joy said. They were married later that year. Robin said Ken's injuries interfered with his plans to become a medical doctor, then he was told he could not practice veterinary medicine, either. He ended up using his G.I. Bill to attend graduate school in Iowa and California, earning a doctorate in animal science. Joy, who was born in Iowa, said her father's career took the family to Berkely and Davis, Calif., while her mother stayed home and raised five children that all came within one or two years of each other. When Joy was 8, the family moved back to Hawaii, where her father taught at the University of Hawaii and later led the state Department of Agriculture during the Burns administration. Joy said her father was always a good example for the kids. ``Even though he was physically challenged, he taught us how to ride bicycles, he taught us how to swim. If there was ripe mango up on the tree he would go up and get it,'' she said, adding that he kept his tree-climbing a secret from her mother. ``My mom really never worked, she did some substitute teaching, but she never really had to go out (and work),'' Miyashiro said. ``She always had Sunday dinners cooked for us, she sewed, she entertained, she was den mother, brownie leader.'' She was also the family peacekeeper, according to Robin. ``My mother always had to be the one who was the mediator. She had to buffer the father from the children and the children from the father,'' he said. His father had high expectations of his children, particularly in school, he said. But Robin, who now teaches secondary science at Punahou, said the children were never academically inclined. In fact, he graduated last in his class from the University Lab School. He and his late brother were the only Otagaki children who finished college. These days, however, Robin, 52, and his wife live in the Manoa home he was raised in, while Ken and Janet live in a cottage on the same property and they all get on ``tremendously,'' Robin said, describing how he and his father putter around the garden together. ``Little by little we meet in the middle,'' he said. ``He has seen what I have become, and I realize where he has come from.'' Both Joy and Robin noted how their father dotes on his eight grandchildren. Ken said the key to raising his family has been respect: ``Like any family, all-in-all, it requires a lot of understanding, a lot of give and take.''

Mr. INOUYE

Mr. INOUYE. Mr. President, I am pleased to share with my colleagues in the Senate and the American people the song, ``We Unite,'' by Becky Cole. The strength and patriotism of Americans following the September 11 attacks inspired her to write and record this song. It captures our citizens' love for their country, its ideals, and its liberties. For me, this song is a reminder of those who are working to rebuild the buildings that were destroyed and reverse the economic consequences of that terrible day. It reminds me of the victims and their families' courage to carry on and live. This song also reminds me of our service men and women around the world who are defending our Nation. I ask to print in the Record the lyrics to Ms. Cole's song. The material follows: A National Anthem ``We Unite'' (Words and Music by Becky Cole) From the depths of the graves we come now as one, Yielding our lives to an unselfish love. To expose that which is evil, to remove that which is dark, To lift up our flag as others burn and tear it apart. We will fight for justice, We will risk our lives for love, We'll rebuild America, with hope we'll stand as one. To the mighty God above us, we salute and pray, As one nation under God, we unite our lives today. Though the winds and the waves have swept across our land, Causing us to question the beliefs on which we stand. But now, we're a new nation, under the red, white and blue, A flag that stands for freedom and waves for me and you.

Mr. INOUYE

Mr. INOUYE. Mr. President, I am proud to rise and pay tribute to the University of Hawaii men's volleyball team for winning the 2002 National Collegiate Athletic Association, NCAA, Championship this past weekend in Pennsylvania. The Warrior Volleyball squad made history by winning the first National Championship for any men's athletic program at the University of Hawaii. I salute all of the athletes and coaches of the NCAA Championship tournament. I commend them for their sacrifice and determination; they should all be proud of their achievements as student-athletes. I also commend the people of Hawaii for their support of the University's athletic programs. Indeed, they are the greatest volleyball fans in the nation. The success of the men's volleyball team is indicative of the depth of the community's support, and the caliber of students, faculty, and staff at the University. As our nation's only public institution of higher learning in the Pacific, the University of Hawaii has many unique strengths and comparative advantages. It offers premiere science, math, business, art, social science, and, as it has now demonstrated irrefutably, athletic programs. The people of Hawaii should be proud of their University. I applaud Head Coach Mike Wilton who, for the past decade, has worked tirelessly to successfully build and strengthen the men's volleyball program, and I commend the members of his coaching staff for their commitment to preparing the athletes for success both on and off the court. Finally, I extend my sincerest congratulations to the Warrior Volleyball players for capturing the national title. I am pleased to note that the team is comprised of young men from Hawaii, Arizona, California, Oregon, Guam, Canada, Cuba, Israel, Puerto Rico, and Serbia. Despite their cultural differences and language barriers, they remained unified in their mission and goal. The team has proven that all things are possible through hard work. I submit the team's roster of players and coaches for the Record: Players: Dejan Miladinovic, Geronimo Chala, Robert Drew, Kimo Tuyay, Jake Muise, Eyal Zimet, Vernon Podlewski, Jeffrey Gleason, Costas Theocharidis, Jose Delgado, Kyle Denitz, Marvin Yamada, John Bender, Ryan Woodward, Tony Ching, Brian Nordberg, Delano Thomas, and Daniel Rasay. Coaches: Mike Wilton, Tino Reyes, Aaron Wilton, and Marlo Torres.

Mr. INOUYE

Mr. INOUYE. I thank the Senator. As Senator Harkin has since learned, the provision contains a technical matter that would undermine this important purpose. As Hawaiian fishermen well know, because of their migratory nature, certain species of fish are often caught outside of the 200-mile U.S. exclusive economic zone--more than 50 percent of the catch landed by Hawaii vessels are harvested on the high seas. These include tuna, swordfish, and squid. Whether U.S. fishermen are in U.S. waters or on the high seas pursuing highly migratory species like tuna, from the time they leave the dock to the time they return to port, our fishermen are subject to U.S. law--some of the most stringent conservation, safety and health restrictions in the world. This has often led to economic hardship. I do not object to the purpose of such costly measures, but what do I tell these fishermen when they are undersold in the market by the foreign-caught fish, which are harvested in an indiscriminate and environmentally unsound manner? I would like to tell them that they will benefit from a U.S. label, and that their legal compliance will be rewarded in the marketplace. But the technical matter in the farm bill will not allow this to happen. Moreover, it will result in a labeling gap that will confuse consumers. Under the language in the bill, a migratory fish that is harvested beyond the 200-mile zone by a U.S. fisherman on a U.S. registered vessel, processed under U.S. regulations, and landed at a U.S. dock, does not qualify for a U.S. origin label.

Mr. INOUYE. Mr. President, title X of the farm bill contains provisions that would provide country of origin labeling for certain covered products. This program will specifically inform consumers right at their local markets whether they are eating U.S. products, or products produced under the laws of another nation. In a time of uncertainty about our economic, environmental, and personal security, we want to provide this level of assurance to our citizens and to our producers. U.S. origin labeling is important because it will allow consumers to vote with their wallets to support U.S. farmers, ranchers, and fishermen. This is important in the case of wild-caught fish, particularly in Hawaii, where we have traditionally relied on our vast ocean ``backyard'' for sustenance, chasing highly migratory species like tuna and swordfish as well as closer to shore species. I ask the distinguished Senator from Iowa, one of the managers of the bill, if this is not the purpose of the country of origin provision?

Mr. INOUYE

Mr. INOUYE. Mr. President, I would like to announce that the Committee on Indian Affairs will meet on Wednesday, May 8, 2002, at 10 a.m. in room 485 of the Russell Senate Office Building to conduct a hearing on S. 343, a bill to establish a demonstration project to authorize the integration and coordination of Federal funding dedicated to the community, business, and economic development of Native American communities. Those wishing additional information may contact the Indian Affairs Committee at 224-2251. committee on indian affairs

Mr. INOUYE. Mr. President, I would like to announce that the Committee on Indian Affairs will meet on Friday, May 10, 2002, at 10 a.m. in room 485 of the Russell Senate Office Building to conduct a hearing on implementation and reauthorization of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996. Those wishing additional information may contact the Indian Affairs Committee at 224-2251.