Daniel Inouye

Mr. INOUYE

Mr. INOUYE. Mr. President, all too often we find that our nation's civilian employees of our federal government who have been forcibly detained or interred by a hostile government do not receive the recognition they deserve. My bill would correct this inequity and provide a prisoner of war medal for such citizens. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. INOUYE. Mr. President, I introduce legislation today to amend Chapter 74 of Title 38, United States Code, to revise certain provisions relating to the appointment of clinical and professional psychologists in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). The VHA has a long history of maintaining a staff of the very best health care professionals to provide care to those men and women who have served our country in the Armed Forces. Recently, a distressing situation regarding the care of our veterans has come to my attention: the recruiting and retention of psychologists in the VHA of the Department of Veterans Affairs has become a significant problem. The Congress has recognized the important contribution of the behavioral sciences in the treatment of several conditions afflicting a significant portion of our veterans. Programs related to homelessness, substance abuse, and post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) have received funding from the Congress in recent years. Psychologists, as behavioral science experts, are essential to the successful implementation of these programs. Consequently, the high vacancy and turnover rates for psychologists in the VHA might seriously jeopardize these programs and will negatively impact overall patient care in the VHA. Recruitment of psychologists by the VHA is hindered by a number of factors including a pay scale that is not commensurate with private sector rates together with a low number of clinical and professional psychologists appearing on the register of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM). Most new hires have no post-doctoral experience, and are hired immediately after a VHA internship. Recruitment, when successful, takes up to sic months or longer. Retention of psychologists in the VHA system poses an even more significant problem. I have been informed that almost 40 percent of VHA psychologists have five years or less of post-doctoral experience. Psychologists leave the VHA system after five years because they have almost reached peak levels for salary and professional advancement. Under the present system, psychologists cannot be recognized, or appropriately compensated, for excellence or for taking on additional responsibilities such as running treatment programs. In effect, the current system for hiring psychologists in the VHA supports mediocrity, not excellence and mastery. Our veterans with behavioral and mental health disorders deserve better psychological care from more experienced professionals than they are now receiving. Currently, psychologists are the only doctoral level health care providers in the VHA who are not included in Title 38. This is without question a significant factor in the recruitment and retention difficulties that I have mentioned. Title 38 appointment authority for psychologists would help ameliorate the recruitment and retention problems. The length of time needed to recruit psychologists could be shortened by eliminating the requirement for applicants to be rated by the OPM. This would also encourage the recruitment of applicants who are not recent VHA interns by reducing the amount of time between identifying a desirable applicant and being able to offer that applicant a position. It is expected that problems in retention will be greatly alleviated by the implementation of a Title 38 system that offers financial incentives for psychologists to pursue professional development. Achievements that would merit salary increases include such activities as assuming supervisory responsibilities for clinical programs, implementing innovative clinical treatments that improve the effectiveness and efficiency of patient care, making significant contributions to the science of psychology, earning the ABPP diplomate state, and becoming a Fellow of the American Psychological Association. The addition of psychologists to Title 38, as proposed by this amendment, would provide relief for the retention and recruitment issues and enhance the quality of care for our veterans and their families. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of this bill be printed in the Congressional Record.

Mr. INOUYE. Mr. President, today I am reintroducing legislation to enable those former prisoners of war who have been separated honorably from their respective services and who have been rated as having a 30 percent service-connected disability to have the use of both the military commissary and post exchange privileges. While I realize it is impossible to adequately compensate one who has endured long periods of incarceration at the hands of our nation's enemies, I do feel this gesture is both meaningful and important to those concerned. It also serves as a reminder that our nation has not forgotten their sacrifices. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. INOUYE

Mr. INOUYE. Mr. President, in our effort to accommodate many Americans by making Memorial Day the last Monday in May, we have lost sight of the significance of this day to our nation. My bill would restore Memorial Day to May 30 and authorize our flag to fly at half mast on that day. In addition, this legislation would authorize the President to issue a proclamation designating Memorial Day and Veterans Day as days for prayer and ceremonies. This legislation would help restore the recognition our veterans deserve for the sacrifices they have made on behalf of our nation. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. INOUYE

Mr. INOUYE. Mr. President, today I am introducing legislation to amend Title XVIII of the Social Security Act to correct discrepancies in the reimbursement of clinical social workers covered through Medicare, Part B. The three proposed changes contained in this legislation clarify the current payment process for clinical social workers and establish a reimbursement methodology for the profession that is similar to other health care professionals reimbursed through the Medicare program. First, this legislation sets payment for clinical social worker services according to a fee schedule established by the Secretary. Second, it explicitly states that services and supplies furnished by a clinical social worker are a covered Medicare expense, just as these services are covered for other mental health professionals in Medicare. Third, the bill allows clinical social workers to be reimbursed for services provided to a client who is hospitalized. Clinical social workers are valued members of our health care provider network. They are legally regulated in every state of the nation and are recognized as independent providers of mental health care throughout the health care system. I believe it is time to correct the disparate reimbursement treatment of this profession under Medicare. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of this bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. INOUYE

Mr. INOUYE. Mr. President, our Nation has been most pleased with the extraordinary leadership of Secretary William S. Cohen at the helm of our Armed Forces for the past 4 years. On January 17, 2001, the Chairman and members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff honored Secretary Cohen and his lady, the First Lady of our military, Janet Cohen, with a spectacular ceremony at Fort Myer. Although the ceremony was to officially honor Secretary Cohen, it made all in attendance most pleased that Mrs. Cohen, Janet, as she is known to men and women in the Armed Forces, was also honored. I believe it was the first time in history when our troops were officially reviewed by the Secretary and his lady. Janet Cohen was most deserving of this high honor. As the remarks eloquently note, she was, indeed, the First Lady of the United States Armed Forces. The pomp and ceremony, the colors and the parade were memorable, but the remarks made by the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Henry S. Shelton, and the response by Secretary Cohen will be long remembered. I respectfully believe that these speeches are worthy of the attention of my colleagues. Accordingly, I ask unanimous consent that a copy of the remarks by General Henry S. Shelton, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the responding remarks of the Secretary of the Department of Defense, the Honorable William S. Cohen, be printed in the Record.

Mr. INOUYE

Mr. INOUYE. Mr. President, today I introduce legislation to amend Title 18 of the United States Code to allow our nation's clinical social workers to use their mental health expertise on behalf of the federal judiciary by conducting psychological and psychiatric exams. I feel that the time has come to allow our nation's judicial system to have access to a wide range of behavioral science and mental health expertise. I am confident that the enactment of this legislation would be very much in our nation's best interest. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of this bill be printed in the Congressional Record.

Mr. INOUYE

Mr. INOUYE. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce legislation to amend the Public Health Service Act for the establishment of a National Center for Social Work Research. Social workers provide a multitude of health care delivery services throughout America to our children, families, the elderly, and persons suffering from various forms of abuse and neglect. The purpose of this center is to support and disseminate information about basic and clinical social work research, and training, with emphasis on service to underserved and rural populations. While the federal government provides funding for various social work research activities through the National Institutes of Health and other federal agencies, there presently is no coordination or direction of these critical activities and no overall assessment of needs and opportunities for empirical knowledge development. The establishment of a Center for Social Work Research would result in improved behavioral and mental health care outcomes for our nation's children, families, the elderly, and others. In order to meet the increasing challenges of bringing cost- effective, research-based, quality health care to all Americans, we must recognize the important contributions of social work researchers to health care delivery and the central role that the Center for Social Work can provide in facilitating their work. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of this bill be printed in the Congressional Record.

Mr. INOUYE

Mr. INOUYE. Mr. President, I rise to introduce legislation today to modify Title VII of the U.S. Public Health Service Act in order to provide students enrolled in graduate psychology programs with the opportunity to participate in various health professions loan programs. Providing students enrolled in graduate psychology programs with eligibility for financial assistance in the form of loans, loan guarantees, and scholarships will facilitate a much-needed infusions of behavioral science expertise into our community of public health, providers. There is a growing recognition of the valuable contribution being made by psychologists toward solving some of our nation's most distressing problems. The participation of students from all backgrounds and clinical disciplines is vital to the success of health care training. The Title VII programs play a significant role in providing financial support for the recruitment of minorities, women, and individuals from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. Minority therapists have an advantage in the provision of critical services to minority populations because often they can communicate with clients in their own language and cultural framework. Minority therapists are more likely to work in community settings where ethnic minority and economically disadvantaged individuals are most likely to seek care. It is critical that continued support be provided for the training of individuals who provide health care services to underserved communities. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of this bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. INOUYE

Mr. INOUYE. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce the Rural Preventive Health Care Training Act of 2001, a bill that responds to the dire need of our rural communities for quality health care and disease prevention programs. Almost one fourth of Americans live in rural areas and frequently lack access to adequate physical and mental health care. As many as 21 million of the 34 million people living in undeserved rural areas are without access to a primary care provider. Even in areas where providers do exist, there are numerous limits to access, such as geography, distance, lack of transportation, and lack of knowledge about available resources. Due to the diversity of rural populations, language and cultural obstacles are often a factor in the access to medical care. Compound these problems with limited financial resources, and the result is that many Americans living in rural communities go without vital health care, especially preventive care. Children fail to receive immunizations and routine checkups. Preventable illnesses and injuries occur needlessly, and lead to expensive hospitalizations. Early symptoms of emotional problems and substance abuse go undetected, and often develop into full-blown disorders. An Institute of Medicine (IOM) report entitled, ``Reducing Risks for Mental Disorders; Frontiers for Preventive Intervention Research,'' highlights the benefits of preventive care for all health problems. The training of health care providers in prevention is crucial in order to meet the demand for care in underserved areas. Currently, rural health care providers lack preventive care training opportunities. Interdisciplinary preventive training of rural health care providers must be encouraged. Through such training, rural health care providers can build a strong educational foundation from the behavioral, biological, and psychological sciences. Interdisciplinary team prevention training will also facilitate operations at sites with both health and mental health clinics by facilitating routine consultation between groups. Emphasizing the mental health disciplines and their services as part of the health care team will contribute to the overall health of rural communities. The Rural Preventive Health Care Training Act of 2001 would implement the risk-reduction model described in the IOM study. This model is based on the identification of risk factors and targets specific interventions for those risk factors. The human suffering caused by poor health is immeasurable, and places a huge financial burden on communities, families, and individuals. By implementing preventive measures to reduce this suffering, the potential psychological and financial savings are enormous. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of this bill be printed in the Congressional Record.

Mr. INOUYE

Mr. INOUYE. Mr. President, I am introducing legislation today to amend Title VII of the Public Health Service Act to establish a psychology post-doctoral program. Psychologists have made a unique contribution in reaching out to the nation's medically underserved populations. Expertise in behavioral science is useful in addressing grave concerns such as violence, addiction, mental illness, adolescent and child behavioral disorders, and family disruption. Establishment of a psychology post-doctoral program could be an effective way to find solutions to these issues. Similar programs supporting additional, specialized training in traditionally underserved settings have been successful in retaining participants to serve the same populations. For example, mental health professionals who have participated in these specialized federally funded programs have tended not only to meet their repayment obligations, but have continued to work in the public sector or with the underserved. While a doctorate in psychology provides broad-based knowledge and mastery in a wide variety of clinical skills, specialized post-doctoral fellowship programs help to develop particular diagnostic and treatment skills required to respond effectively to underserved populations. For example, what appears to be poor academic motivation in a child recently relocated from Southeast Asia might actually reflect a cultural value of reserve rather than a disinterest in academic learning. Specialized assessment skills enable the clinician to initiate effective treatment. Domestic violence poses a significant public health problem and is not just a problem for the criminal justice system. Violence against women results in almost 100,000 days of hospitalization, 30,000 emergency room visits and 40,000 visits to physicians each year. Rates of child and spouse abuse in rural areas are particularly high, as are the rates of alcohol abuse and depression in adolescents. A post- doctoral fellowship program in the psychology of the rural populations could be of special benefit in addressing these problems. Given the demonstrated success and effectiveness of specialized training programs, it is incumbent upon us to encourage participation in post-doctoral fellowships that respond to the needs of the nation's underserved. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of this bill be printed in the Congressional Record.

Mr. INOUYE

Mr. INOUYE. Mr. President, on behalf of our nation's clinical social workers, I am introducing legislation to amend the Public Health Service Act. This legislation would (1) establish a new social work training program; (2) ensure that social work students are eligible for support under the Health Careers Opportunity Program; (3) provide social work schools with eligibility for support under the Minority Centers of Excellence programs; (4) permit schools offering degrees in social work to obtain grants for training projects in geriatrics; and (5) ensure that social work is recognized as a profession under the Public Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) Act. Despite the impressive range of services social workers provide to people of this national, few federal programs exit to the provide opportunities for social work training in health and mental health care. This legislation would (1) provide funding for existing social work training programs or fellowships for individuals who plan to specialize in, practice, or teach social work; (2) help disadvantaged students earn graduate degrees in social work with a concentration in health or mental health; (3) provide new resources and opportunities in social work training for minorities; and (4) encourage schools of social work to expand programs in geriatrics. Social workers have long provided quality mental health services to our citizens and continue to be at the forefront of establishing innovative programs to service our disadvantaged populations. I believe it is important to ensure that the special expertise social workers posses continue to be available to the citizens of this nation. This bill, by providing financial assistance to schools of social work and social work students, acknowledges the long historic and critical importance of the services provided by social work professionals. I believe it is time to provide them with the cognition they deserve. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of this bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. INOUYE

Mr. INOUYE. Mr. President, today I rise to introduce the Physical and Occupational Therapy Education Act of 2001. This legislation will increase educational opportunities for physical therapy and occupational therapy practitioners in order to meet the growing demand for the valuable services they provide in our communities. Several factors contribute to the present need for federal support in this area. The rapid aging of our nation's population, the demands of the AIDS crisis, increasing emphasis on health promotion and disease prevention, and the growth of home health care has increased the demand for physical and occupational therapy services. This demand has exceeded our ability to educate an adequate number of physical therapists and occupational therapists. In addition, technological advances are allowing injured and disabled individuals to survive conditions that would have proven fatal in past years. An inadequate number of physical therapists has led to an increased reliance on foreign-educated, non-immigrant temporary workers (H-1B visa holders). The U.S. Commission on Immigration Reform has identified physical therapy and occupational therapy as having the highest number of H-1B visa holders in the United States, second only to computer specialists. In addition to the shortage of practitioners, a shortage of faculty impedes the expansion of established education programs. The critical shortage of doctoral-prepared occupational therapists and physical therapists has resulted in a depleted pool of potential faculty. This bill would assist in the development of qualified faculty by giving preference to grant applicants seeking to develop and expand post- professional programs for the advanced training of physical and occupational therapists. The legislation I introduce today would provide necessary assistance to physical and occupational therapy programs throughout the country. The investment we make will help reduce America's dependence on foreign labor and create highly-skilled, high-wage employment opportunities for American citizens. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of this bill be printed in the Congressional Record.

Mr. INOUYE

Mr. INOUYE. Mr. President, I introduce legislation today to amend Chapter 74 of Title 38, United States Code, to revise certain provisions relating to the appointment of clinical and professional psychologists in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). The VHA has a long history of maintaining a staff of the very best health care professionals to provide care to those men and women who have served our country in the Armed Forces. Recently, a distressing situation regarding the care of our veterans has come to my attention: the recruiting and retention of psychologists in the VHA of the Department of Veterans Affairs has become a significant problem. The Congress has recognized the important contribution of the behavioral sciences in the treatment of several conditions afflicting a significant portion of our veterans. Programs related to homelessness, substance abuse, and post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) have received funding from the Congress in recent years. Psychologists, as behavioral science experts, are essential to the successful implementation of these programs. Consequently, the high vacancy and turnover rates for psychologists in the VHA might seriously jeopardize these programs and will negatively impact overall patient care in the VHA. Recruitment of psychologists by the VHA is hindered by a number of factors including a pay scale that is not commensurate with private sector rates together with a low number of clinical and professional psychologists appearing on the register of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM). Most new hires have no post-doctoral experience, and are hired immediately after a VHA internship. Recruitment, when successful, takes up to sic months or longer. Retention of psychologists in the VHA system poses an even more significant problem. I have been informed that almost 40 percent of VHA psychologists have five years or less of post-doctoral experience. Psychologists leave the VHA system after five years because they have almost reached peak levels for salary and professional advancement. Under the present system, psychologists cannot be recognized, or appropriately compensated, for excellence or for taking on additional responsibilities such as running treatment programs. In effect, the current system for hiring psychologists in the VHA supports mediocrity, not excellence and mastery. Our veterans with behavioral and mental health disorders deserve better psychological care from more experienced professionals than they are now receiving. Currently, psychologists are the only doctoral level health care providers in the VHA who are not included in Title 38. This is without question a significant factor in the recruitment and retention difficulties that I have mentioned. Title 38 appointment authority for psychologists would help ameliorate the recruitment and retention problems. The length of time needed to recruit psychologists could be shortened by eliminating the requirement for applicants to be rated by the OPM. This would also encourage the recruitment of applicants who are not recent VHA interns by reducing the amount of time between identifying a desirable applicant and being able to offer that applicant a position. It is expected that problems in retention will be greatly alleviated by the implementation of a Title 38 system that offers financial incentives for psychologists to pursue professional development. Achievements that would merit salary increases include such activities as assuming supervisory responsibilities for clinical programs, implementing innovative clinical treatments that improve the effectiveness and efficiency of patient care, making significant contributions to the science of psychology, earning the ABPP diplomate state, and becoming a Fellow of the American Psychological Association. The addition of psychologists to Title 38, as proposed by this amendment, would provide relief for the retention and recruitment issues and enhance the quality of care for our veterans and their families. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of this bill be printed in the Congressional Record.

Mr. INOUYE

Mr. INOUYE. Mr. President, today I am introducing a private relief bill on behalf of Donald C. Pence of Stanford, North Carolina, for compensation for the failure of the Department of Veterans Affairs to pay dependency and indemnity compensation to Kathryn E. Box, the now- deceased mother of Donald C. Pence. It is rare that a federal agency admits a mistake. In this case, the Department of Veterans Affairs has admitted that a mistake was made and explored ways to permit payment under the law, including equitable relief, but has found no provisions authorizing the Department to release the remaining benefits that were unpaid to Mrs. Box at the time of her death. My bill would correct this injustice, and I urge my colleagues to support this measure. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. INOUYE

Mr. INOUYE. Mr. President, today I am introducing legislation that would provide a federal charter for the National Academies of Practice. This organization represents outstanding medical professionals who have made significant contributions to the practice of applied psychology, medicine, dentistry, nursing, optometry, podiatry, social work, and veterinary medicine. When fully established, each of the nine academies will possess 100 distinguished practitioners selected by their peers. This umbrella organization will be able to provide the Congress of the United States and the executive branch with considerable health policy expertise, especially from the perspective of those individuals who are in the forefront of actually providing health care. As we continue to grapple with the many complex issues surrounding the delivery of health care services, it is clearly in our best interest to ensure that the Congress has direct and immediate access to the recommendations of an interdisciplinary body of health care practitioners. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of this bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. INOUYE

Mr. INOUYE. I appreciate the opportunity to explain this matter for our colleagues. coal waste impoundment study clarification

Mr. INOUYE. Mr. President, I would be happy to have a brief discussion with Chairman Stevens on this matter. As he knows, on many occasions I have expressed to my colleagues in this Chamber my strong opposition to gambling in the Hawaiian Islands. Our State of Hawaii is one of only two states in the entire country that prohibits gambling of all kinds. When Federal laws, including the Gambling Devices Transportation Act, more commonly known as the Johnson Act, affecting the ability of cruise ships to conduct gambling operations were relaxed over the past decade, I was involved in drafting those provisions to be sure that the longstanding Federal prohibition against the possession and operation of gambling devices be maintained with respect to the State of Hawaii. Unfortunately, I understand that a foreign cruise line seeks to exploit a loophole in Federal law and circumvent this long standing prohibition. This legislation closes this loophole. This recent announcement by a foreign cruise line--that is substantially owned by foreign gambling interests--to permanently based a large cruise ship with an extensive casino on board in Hawaii for year-round operation on cruises that will begin and end in Honolulu has prompted this amendment. This amendment ensure that there is no ambiguity in the intent of the Johnson Act's application to the State of Hawaii by expressly preserving the act's original prohibition of the transportation, possession, repair, and use of any gambling devices aboard vessels that embark and disembark passengers in the State of Hawaii, as defined in 19 C.F.R. 4.80a(a)4. I want to make clear to my colleagues that this provision would not affect any State other than Hawaii. Moreover, it would not prohibit current gambling operations on board cruise ships that, for example, begin or end their cruises on the mainland or in foreign countries, even if they call at multiple ports in Hawaii, so long as the gambling facilities are closed when the vessel is in Hawaii and the passengers do not begin and end their trip in Hawaii. Passengers could either begin or end their trip in the State, but could not do both. A vessel that is operating in dedicated service in Hawaii, however, cannot escape the Johnson Act's broad prohibitions simply by calling at Christmas Island or some other similar foreign port. I have made clear that I do not want gambling in Hawaii many time and in particular on the occasions that we have debated the Johnson Act and gambling on cruise ships. I have been unwavering in my position that gambling on voyages beginning and ending in Hawaii will not be accepted practice. This provision should clarify any ambiguity in the Johnson Act as to what types of gambling operations on board vessels are allowed and not allowed in Hawaii. I can assure my colleagues that if gambling interests believe they can exploit and circumvent the spirit and intent of Federal laws prohibiting gambling in Hawaii, I will be back in this Chamber to attempt to make the necessary changes to continue our State's longstanding prohibition on such activities.

Mr. INOUYE. The Senator is correct.

Mr. INOUYE

Mr. INOUYE. Madam President, my colleague from Florida is correct. Together, we are seeking to expand the South Florida Medical Corrections Options Program to initiate a Hawaii program that will enhance our knowledge in this field. We are also seeking to provide much needed data for the eventual expansion of the national mental health court program.

Mr. INOUYE. I thank my colleague for his support in expanding this important project into the State of Hawaii, and would appreciate the agreement of the Chairman to support this project for funding consideration.

Mr. INOUYE. Mr. President, in 1992, Congress enacted legislation regulating the cable industry because of the lack of competition and the resulting high rates. In 1996, Congress anticipating that competition would replace regulation in restraining prices, passed legislation terminating the FCC's right to regulate the price of basic cable in March 1999. Unfortunately, competition has not emerged as fully as I would have liked. According to the FCC's latest report only 157 communities out of 33,000 communities across America have ``effective competition.'' In fact, in many communities in Hawaii, consumers have no cable service at all. Northpoint Technology and its Broadwave affiliates want to provide low cost multi-channel video and data services in every television market in the United States. Therefore, it is critical that Congress and the FCC take the actions necessary to resolve sharing and other technical and policy issues quickly with respect to the applications of the Broadwave affiliates. Furthermore, these applications are subject to a Congressional mandate (Section 2002 of S. 1948, the Satellite Home Viewer Improvement Act) that requires the FCC by November 29, 2000 to grant or deny applications such as those of the Broadwave affiliates, that can provide television service in rural areas. The technical sharing analysis required by the ``Launching Our Communities' Access to Local Television Act of 2000'' does not obviate the legislative obligation imposed by S. 1948. Therefore, the FCC should do whatever is necessary to meet its November 29, 2000 obligations.

Mr. INOUYE

Mr. INOUYE. Mr. President, this month marks the 65th anniversary of the world's first commercial trans-Pacific flight. I wish to pay tribute to those who possessed the vision and tenacity to achieve this historic milestone, which significantly altered the travel industry, mail service, and cargo service, and forever change my home state of Hawaii. On November 22, 1935, Pan American World Airways' China Clipper traveled from San Francisco to Manila. This feat was remarkable for many reasons, including the following: This inaugural fight was the longest ocean-spanning flight in history. The China Clipper traveled 8,746 miles and completed the one- way route in six days. Prior to this flight, the longest over-water flight was a 1,865-mile journey from Dakar in French West Africa to Natal, Brazil, in South America. This aircraft delivered the first airmail across the Pacific ocean. It carried 110,865 letters weighing a total of 1,837 pounds. This China Clipper, an M-130 aircraft built by G. L. Martin Company specifically to meet the demands of this trans-oceanic flight, was the largest flying boat ever. About 125,000 people cheered as the four-engine China Clipper taxied out of a harbor in San Francisco Bay and headed for the Philippines. They watched from vantage points along the shore and the still-under- construction Golden Gate Bridge, and aboard recreational boats and small private planes. Postmaster General James A. Farley traveled from Washington, D.C. to witness this inaugural event and President Franklin D. Roosevelt sent a special message conveying his heartfelt congratulations. The China Clipper made stops at several Pacific Islands. On November 23, 1935, its arrival in Oahu's Pearl Harbor was watched by about 3,000 people. Then the aircraft continued on, making stops at Pan American bases at Midway Island, Wake Island, and Guam. The China Clipper brought the staffs at these bases 12 crates of turkeys, and cartons of cranberries, sweet potatoes, and mincemeat. The meals represented these islands' first Thanksgiving celebrations. The China Clipper's brave crew of seven were: Captain Edwin C. Musick, First Officer R. O. D. Sullivan, Second Officer George King, First Engineering Officer Chan Wright, Engineering Officer Victor Wright, Navigation Officer Fred Noonan, and Radio Officer W. T. Jarboe, Jr. Captain Musick's own description of the landing at Wake Island, a barren atoll, offers a glimpse of what it was like to be aboard the China Clipper's inaugural trans-Pacific flight. According to Captain Musick, the landing was the ``most difficult'' on the trip and ``called for the most exacting feats of navigation on record.'' It was like striking a point that was ``smaller than a pinhead'' in the ``vast map of the Pacific Ocean.'' On November 29, 1935, the China Clipper landed in Manila and on December 6, it arrived in San Francisco to complete the round trip. Although the aircraft did not carry any paying passengers, its journey marked the beginning of trans-oceanic passenger commercial aviation. Eleven months later, on October 21, 1936, Pan American inaugurated a passenger service route with stops in San Francisco, Honolulu, and Manila. The four-engine China Clippers cruised at 150 miles per hour. Passengers, who sat in broad armchairs and ate their meals with fine china and silverware, paid $1,438 for a round trip from San Francisco to Manila. The airlines purchased six Boeing B-314 aircraft to add to its Pacific-route fleet. Thirty years later, the advent of the jet age brought Hawaii--located approximately 2,400 miles from the nearest major port--closer to the rest of the world. In 1967, visitor arrivals jumped 34.6 percent to 1.1 million tourists from the previous year when the first jets arrived in Hawaii. By 1968, Continental Airlines, Western Air, Braniff International, American Airlines, Trans World Airlines, Inc., and United Airlines had joined Pan Am in flying Hawaii-Mainland routes. Today, Honolulu International Airport is home to about 40 carriers. In recent years, the state's annual visitor count has approached 7 million tourists. The China Clipper also paved the way for the export of Hawaii's agricultural products, such as pineapples and flowers. The Hawaii floriculture industry's out-of-state sales each year are about $40 million. The timely export of these perishable goods is made possible by aviation. Today, agriculture and tourism are mainstays of Hawaii's economy. The China Clipper's crew and Juan Trippe, who was president of Pan American at the time of the inaugural flight, would marvel at the economic and social ramifications of that historic journey more than six decades ago. I salute the people of Pan American World Airways, G. L. Martin Company, and Boeing who pursued what others thought was impossible. It is my hope that today's aviation industry will follow the example of its forebears by continually striving to achieve new milestones in safety, efficiency, and customer service.

Mr. INOUYE

Mr. INOUYE. Yes, in addition to the evaluation process provided for in the designation, the legislation ensures that such a 5-year review would take place. While we know enough about the area to understand the need to protect it, we will know far more about it in 5 years. In conjunction with the development of a Sanctuary the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is already mapping and assessing the coral ecosystem of this area, and evaluating the status of its living marine resources. It will be important to use this information to evaluate whether the management of the area under the National Marine Sanctuaries Act, in conjunction with other marine conservation laws, is adequate.

Mr. INOUYE. Mr. President, I take this opportunity to thank Senators Snowe, Kerry and Hollings for their dedicated efforts in support of this important measure and engage in a discussion of certain provisions of S. 1482, the National Marine Sanctuaries Amendments Act of 2000. Since its creation in 1972, the National Marine Sanctuary Program has successfully protected our nation's unique marine resources through a deliberative process that has allowed affected citizens to help shape the future of the protected resources. The Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary is an excellent example of how divergent interests came together to develop a plan for the protection of the unique marine resources of this area. We now have a new opportunity to enhance the protection of another unique Hawaiian resource--the coral reef ecosystem surrounding the Northwestern Hawaiian Island (NWHI). In May of this year, President Clinton expressed his desire to provide strong and lasting protection for the coral reef ecosystem of the NWHI, and directed the Secretaries of the Interior and Commerce, in cooperation with the State of Hawaii and in consultation with the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council (WESPAC), to develop recommendations for ``a new, coordinated management regime to increase protection for the coral reef ecosystem'' of the NWHI. I agree with the President that there should be strong and lasting protection for the coral reef ecosystem of the NWHI. I also believe that it is critical to ensure meaningful public input on the nature of actions to be taken and to foster public support for these lasting protections. Prior to the President's announcement, the Commerce Department already had a solid head start in efforts to identify and evaluate actions to protect the resources of the NWHI in developing the first ever ecosystem level fishery management plan. This Coral Reef Ecosystem Fisheries Management Plan, which identifies a series of actions such as ``no-take'' closures for coral and monk seal protection, was subject to extensive public comment and is now undergoing departmental internal review. To complement this ongoing effort, the sanctuary program is well equipped to achieve the President's goals while ensuring meaningful public participation. Accordingly, S. 1482 would trigger an immediate process for designating a sanctuary in the NWHI. In the interim, to accommodate President Clinton's desire to implement protections without delay, S. 1482 would authorize the President, after consulting with the Governor of the State of Hawaii, to designate any coral reef ecosystem area in the NWHI as a coral reef reserve, and establish a Coral Reef Reserve Advisory Council to work with the Secretary of Commerce in developing a long-range and lasting plan to protect the living marine resources of the NWHI. The Coral Reef Reserve area would ultimately become part of any sanctuary established in the NWHI. The Dry Tortugas Ecological Reserve and Natural Resource area off the Florida Keys is in many ways similar to what is being proposed for the Northwestern Hawaiians Islands. However, the Dry Tortugas process benefited from an extensive public process which ensured community concerns were heard and addressed. As a result of this process, there is now widespread support for this ecological reserve. I am concerned about the administration's interest in immediately establishing, without any public input, areas around the NWHI within which all activities are permanently prohibited except for Native Hawaiian access and subsistence. This could mean that all other activities, including commercial and recreational access and possibly certain defense activities, would be prohibited within these areas forever. Whatever protections the administration feels are necessary should be subject to review during the course of the sanctuary designation process. Even the Administration's U.S. Coral Reef Task Force contemplated a deliberative process when it recommended the goal of achieving at least 20 percent protection by the year 2010.