Ted Kennedy

Mr. KENNEDY

Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. President, it is an honor to take this opportunity to recognize a leader who has given so much to the people of Cambridge, Massachusetts. Mayor Francis H. Duehay has been an elected official in the City of Cambridge for thirty-six consecutive years. Under his leadership, the city has made great progress in housing, welfare, youth employment, and many other important issues for the people. This year, Frank is retiring, and his loss will be felt deeply by all those whose lives he has touched. Frank's commitment to public service is extraordinary. Throughout his years as Mayor, City Councilor, and on the School Committee he has taken pride in his commitment to work directly with the people he represents, in order to learn their concerns firsthand. Frank's work with city officials and numerous other organizations to open new lines of communication between the city government and the people of Cambridge has created a local government at its best--responsive to the needs of the people, accountable for its actions, and always open to new ideas. Frank worked tirelessly to improve the quality of life for Cambridge families. He served as the chairperson for the Cambridge Kids' Council, where he's worked to create greater opportunities in the community, giving hope to children and families and providing a model for cities throughout the state. The Mayor's Summer Youth Employment Program has been extremely successful in giving young men and women the opportunity to serve their city during the summer months, enabling them to explore their interests and enhance their lives. Frank has fought hard for the families of Cambridge, and his legacy will live on through their success. In all of these and many other ways, Frank Duehay has served the people of Cambridge with great distinction. I am honored to pay tribute to this remarkable leader. His public service and generosity are shining examples to us all. I know that I speak for all of the people of Cambridge when I say thank you, Frank, for your commitment and dedication to public service. You will be deeply missed.

Mr. KENNEDY

Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. President, I am honored to have this opportunity to congratulate Henri Termeer on receiving the Golden Door Award from the International Institute of Boston. I also congratulate Henri for recently being sworn in as a United States citizen during a ceremony on October 29. As chairman, chief executive officer and president of Genzyme Corporation, one of the largest biotechnology companies in the world, Henri is renowned as a pioneer in the industry. He serves on the board of directors of both the Biotechnology Industry Organization, the industry's national trade association, and the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, a national pharmaceutical trade organization. It is very fitting, indeed, that Henri was honored with the Golden Door Award, which is presented to US citizens of foreign birth who have made outstanding contributions to American society. Henri is a native of the Netherlands, and in recent years he has received numerous honors such as the Anti-Defamation League's Torch of Liberty Award and the Governor's New American Appreciation Award. He was also recently inducted as a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Throughout his career in biotechnology, Henri has been a strong advocate for the responsibility of industry and government to make life-saving drug treatments available to all people in need, regardless of their economic status or geographic location. Under Henri's leadership, Genzyme has worked diligently over the years to make this vision a reality. In addition to his commitment to patients, Henri is also a leader in promoting educational opportunities for minorities. Since 1995, he has been a director of the Biomedical Science Careers Project, which provides corporate scholarships to academically outstanding minority high school students. In May 1999, the group presented Henri with highest honor, the Hope Award. Henri's extensive record of public service includes his role as a director of the Massachusetts Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, as a trustee and vice-chairman of the Boston Museum of Science, and as a member of the Massachusetts Council on Economic Growth and Technology. In receiving the Golden Door award, Henri joins a distinguished list of previous recipients including Arthur Fiedler, the famed former conductor of the Boston Pops; Jean Mayer, the eminent nutritionist, educator, and former president of Tufts University; and An Wang, the founder of Wang Labs. I commend Henri Termeer for this well-deserved award, and for his new American citizenship. Massachusetts is proud of him, and I congratulate him for his many impressive contributions to our Nation.

Mr. KENNEDY

Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. President, families across the country know that a college education is essential for their children. A college graduate earns twice what a high school graduate earns in a year, and close to three times what a high school dropout earns. More and more students are applying for college each year--over 2 million freshmen began college last year. The result is increasingly heavy pressures on schools, families, and colleges. No one understands these pressures more than prospective college students and their families who are now filling out applications, visiting college campuses, and preparing to make the all-important choices for their futures. An article by Nicholas W. Allard, in the Washington Post last week, provides excellent common sense advice to prospective students and their families about the college application process. Mr. Allard, whom many of us recall from his years as a staff member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, has had extensive experience in interviewing college applicants. I believe his article will be of interest to all of us in the Senate, and I ask that it be printed in the Record. The article follows. [From the Washington Post, Nov. 9, 1999] Navigating the College Admissions Process (By Nicholas W. Allard, Associated Press) A friend who is intelligent, high educated, and a wonderful parent recently called me in a meltdown panic over whether to give white or manila envelopes to their teenager's teachers for college recommendations. My anxious friend has lots of company. Every year this is the season when tree leaves turn color and drop, while common sense about college admissions heads south. Aside from the uselessness of self-inflicted pressure, important decisions by college prospects are often based on inadequate information and worse advice. So I can't resist offering some food for thought. apply to the colleges you want to attend Pretty basic, huh? Yet how many times have you heard advice such as: ``You need some `reach' schools.'' Or ``Where's your `safety' school?'' In other words, you're often encouraged to think about schools in a way that ranks their desirability according to the difficulty of being admitted. This approach will make you feel like you are ``settling'' if you decide to attend anywhere but one of the most selective schools. According to Peterson's Annual Survey of Undergraduate Institutions, in the United States there are almost 2,000 accredited, public and private four-year colleges and universities. They vary tremendously. Find a handful or so of colleges out of this very large number you would be enthusiastic about attending. Then, once you've got your working list together, turn to the issue of how to be admitted to your favorite schools. the early application program In you're considering participating in an early application program because you are very, very sure that a college is your top choice, then go ahead. If you're not sure, then don't do it. Think about it. What if you succeed and are admitted to a place that you are not sure is your first choice? If the early acceptance is nonbinding, you're going to apply elsewhere anyway. If it is binding, then you are stuck. You are not going to find any college that will tell you it's relatively easy to be admitted at the early stage. But you'll tell me you are worried that some colleges admit so many students early that there seem to be very few places left if you wait. Keep your head. Those people who are so well qualified that colleges are sure they want to offer them a binding offer at the early stage are taken out of the pool of applicants. They are not filing multiple applications to schools that may interest you. You even may appear to be a relatively stronger candidate in the remaining pool come spring, especially after your strong academic performance this fall. And, remember, many, if not most, college applicants are not accepted at the early stage. Are you sure that you want to go through the angst of applying to college for the first time, and then suddenly finding, without any counter- balancing good news, that your hopes have been dashed and you must apply in earnest to several other colleges? you and your guidance counselor Your job is to learn enough about yourself and about colleges to think clearly about where you would want to attend, and then for you (not your parents) to take the lead applying for admission. Many high school college advisers act as if their job is to make sure that you and all your classmates have been admitted somewhere, anywhere. Also, understandably, they are concerned about managing the bureaucratic demands of processing a large volume of college applications. It's not necessarily a bad thing if your list of favorite colleges makes counselors nervous. Maybe they'll pay a little more attention to your file. The best high school counselors help you match your preferences with colleges. They also can assist your campaign to be admitted where you want to go. That takes a lot of time and dedication. make the process fun Think about what it's going to be like to be on your own and to live, study and goof off in a new place, meeting new people. Take advantage of the need to pause, to make a detailed report about what you've accomplished in this first part of your life. In this way the college application can be more than a chore. It can be a satisfying inventory of positives and promote honest self-evaluation of how you want to grow or change or improve. The application process doesn't have to be nerve-racking. If you only apply to schools that really turn you on, then you really don't have to worry about being accepted to the wrong place. In the unlikely event that you do not gain acceptance to any of your favorite schools, maybe you should take another year and do something that interests you or prepare yourself to reapply to colleges after spending some time better equipping yourself for college. The dirty little secret is that there simply is no single school that will make or break your future. be a `smart shopper' You are in the market for one of the most expensive, most valuable things you will ever acquire; a college education. Have you talked to people who have recently attended the colleges that you are considering? What have you read about the colleges? Have you visited colleges that you are seriously considering, alone, without your family? The traditional family summer tour of colleges is a nice starting point and often can be very helpful in eliminating college choices. But in terms of getting a good feel for what it's like to be a student on campus during a term, there is only so much you can learn by staring at bricks and mortar from the outside of empty buildings, while trying to act as if you are not actually part of your family encourage--how embarrassing. Thump the melon, test-drive the car, try to get, on your own, to the few colleges that most interest you. Bring a sleeping bag, arrange to stay, if you can, in the dorm room of a friend or somebody who graduated from your home area high schools. Attend class, find out how bad the food is in the dining hall, attend an athletic event or concert, go read, in the library and work on some homework in the midst of other students doing the same thing. If you're already in your senior year and haven't done this, it's not too late. And, of course, after you are accepted at a college you certainly have the opportunity to visit before you make your decision. be yourself When you're applying to college you certainly want to put your best foot forward and present an accurate and compelling case for admission. But above all things, remember to be yourself. Suppose, if by some miracle, you actually were able to gussy up your application and essays to come across as a different person or convincingly act out a role in an interview. Would the college be accepting the wrong person? More practically, it just often doesn't work to try to be someone else. Phoniness is difficult to maintain, and in most cases it's transparent. This also means that the application form that you complete should be your own work. Relax; take the task seriously; do the best job you can and don't forget: Parents, teachers and consultants who have too large a hand in preparing applications leave very visible fingerprints. the interview process Colleges generally do not require interviews, but, if available, they provide an opportunity to learn more about a school and to supplement your written application. If you have an interview with an alumni volunteer, remember they are not decision makers. Their task is to collect information and pass it on. They can be very good or very bad. Count on this: Whatever they report to their alma maters will be taken with a full shaker of salt. Their views will not outweigh the record you have built over time, the evaluations of professional teachers who have seen you in a class context or your own words on your application. Still, alumni interviews can help uncover or reinforce strengths and corroborate the profile that appears on the written application file. Again, be yourself, and be prepared for a variation of the inevitable final interview question: ``Is there anything else you would like to ask me?'' Also, if you're wondering about what to wear to an interview, the acceptable range of attire is very broad. On matters of dress, and all such questions about your application, let your own good judgment be your guide. don't worry about other applicants It is simply not true that somebody else in your school or your neighborhood is competing with you for a spot that they might take away your space at a college that you want to attend. At the very most selective colleges you are not competing against the person sitting next to you in a classroom, you'r competing against the national pool of applicants. In colleges that are less selective, if you make a compelling case that satisfies its requirements, you have a very good chance of being accepted. Your case for acceptance is not diminished, it is not less compelling if other qualified candidates in your community are accepted. In any event, know that any information you have about other candidates for acceptance is suspect: What somebody's board scores supposedly are or are not; whether or not a particular college has a quota for your high school; what a college has supposedly communicated to a candidate; what athletes have been told; whether students with learning disabilities get a fair shake--it's all unreliable. None of it helps you make your case and it will get your stomach juices roiling if you pay attention to such gossip. Have confidence in yourself. Focus on what you can do something about, which is your own application and at the end of the day things will work out just fine. Be happy if people you know also are accepted to a college of your choice. You'll already know people to embrace or avoid when you get to campus in the fall. making your decision Don't torture yourself about the choice you make. Remember, you've carefully compiled a list of schools that make sense for you. Be liberated in the idea that you can't make a wrong decision. Attending college is expensive. Whether or not you receive scholarships, take out loans, or get a part-time job, it's likely your college education is going to cost a lot. Talk this over with your family and determine your realistic options. In the end, after you carefully weigh the different factors that are important to you, it's probably going to come down to a gut reaction. Trust your own instincts. Make up your mind and then get excited about it. Also make sure to thank your parents, other family members, teachers and advisers. and, finally I'm not a professional admissions officer or an educator. I don't know any particulars about you or your situation. I just suggest you think about the questions raised. Don't let hopes about college become a black cloud over the best year of high school. Oh, either white or manila envelopes are fine, but don't forget the postage.

Mr. KENNEDY

Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. President, each year, the American Immigration Law Foundation and the American Immigration Lawyers Association sponsor a national writing contest on immigration. Thousands of fifth grade students across the country participate in the competition, answering the question, ``Why I'm Glad America is a Nation of Immigrants.'' In fact, ``A Nation of Immigrants'' was the title of a book that my brother President Kennedy wrote in 1958 at a time when he was a Senator. All his life, he took pride in America's great heritage and history of immigration. As one of the judges of this year's contest, I was immensely impressed with the quality of the students' writing and the pride of the students in America's immigrant heritage. Many of the students told the story of their own family's immigration to the United States. The winner of this year's contest is Crystal Uvalle, a fifth grader from Pennsylvania. She wrote about her father's immigrant background and how he came to America 20 years ago. Other students honored for the high quality of their essays were Leif Holmstrand and Eugene Yakubov of Chicago, Samantha Huber of Fredonia, Wisconsin, Alexa Lash of Miami, and Daniel Rocha of Media, Pennsylvania. Mr. President, I believe these award winning essays from the ``Celebrate America'' essay contest will be of interest to all of us in the Senate, and I ask that they be printed in the Record. The essays follow: Why I am Glad America Is a Nation of Immigrants (By Crystal Uvalle, Grand Prize Winner) It was about 20 years ago, A man come here from Mexico. He sought a better way to live, And found he had a lot to give. He didn't speak a word of English, So he took a job busing dishes. To learn his new country's ways, He worked and studied everyday. He made Dallas his new home, And before he knew it he was in the know. He worked his way up in that restaurant, And a lady there, his eye she caught. She was a native of another state, And he asked her out on a date. She liked pierogies and roast beef, He liked tamales and spicy meat. It didn't take long, they were in love, Then God sent them a baby from heaven above. I'm so happy for them you see, That man and woman and I make three. I'm so happy America let him in, He's my father and my friend. I love you Daddy!

Mr. KENNEDY

Mr. KENNEDY. With the understanding of the Senator from New York, I ask unanimous consent we temporarily lay aside that amendment.

Mr. KENNEDY

Mr. KENNEDY. That would be fine.

Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. President, there has been focus on different provisions of the amendment before us. I want to address two of those in my remarks. One of those provisions is, if a child attends a title I school and becomes the victim of a violent criminal offense, including drug- related violence, while in or on the public school grounds, the school district may use the title I funds or any other Federal funds, including IDEA funds, to provide a voucher for a child to attend a private or religious school or pay the cost to transfer the child to another public school. In title I, we are basically talking about $500. I do not know how one expects to pay tuition to a school for about $500. A variety of technical issues and questions are raised. It, obviously, is creating a sense of expectation by those who put this proposal forward. Nonetheless, on the issue of the value of the measure, even if it did have sufficient funds to do what it intends, it will not make the schools any safer and will not improve student achievement. We should support violence and crime prevention programs in and around public schools, not divert precious resources to private schools. Therefore, we should further invest in programs such as the Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act, afterschool programs, community crime prevention activities, encourage parent and community involvement, and help communities and schools ensure that all children are safe all the time. We all know that juvenile delinquent crime peaks in the hours between 3 and 8 p.m. A recent study of gang crimes by juveniles in Orange County, CA, shows that 60 percent of all juvenile gang crimes occur on schooldays and peaks immediately after school dismissal. We know afterschool programs reduce youth crime. The Baltimore City Police Department saw a 44-percent drop in the risk of children becoming victims of crime after opening an afterschool program in a high-crime area. A study of the Goodnow Police Athletic League Center in northeast Baltimore found juvenile arrests dropped by 10 percent, the number of armed robberies dropped from 14 to 7, assault with handguns were eliminated, and other assaults decreased from 32 to 20 from 1995 to 1998. This demonstrates how we can deal with the problems of violence in communities, violence around schools, even violence within the schools. We ought to be focusing on what works and supporting those efforts, rather than having an untried, untested program that shows on the face of it very little difference in safety and security for children in schools. In addition to improved youth behavior and safety, quality afterschool programs also lead to better academic achievement by students. At the Beech Street School in Manchester, NH, the afterschool program has helped improve reading and math scores of students. In reading, the percentage of students scoring at or above the basic level increased from 4 percent in 1994 to one-third in 1997. In math, the percentage of students scoring at the basic level increased from 29 percent to 60 percent. In addition, Manchester saved an estimated $73,000 over 3 years because students participating in the afterschool program avoided being retained in grades or being placed in special education. This kind of investment will help keep children safe and help them achieve, and that is the right direction for education. There are precious few public funds available, and those public funds should not be funneled to private and religious schools. Public tax dollars should be spent on public schools which educate 90 percent of the Nation's children, and the funds should not go to private schools when public schools have great needs. We should be doing all we can to help improve public schools, academically as well as from a security point of view. We should not undermine the efforts taking place in those public schools. This amendment will allow any Federal education funds to be used for private school vouchers, including the title I, IDEA, and Eisenhower Professional Development Program. The Eisenhower Professional Development Program is targeted to enhance math and science. Rather than enhancing math, science, and academic achievement for children in the public schools, we are drawing down on those funds to permit some students to go to other schools. It makes absolutely no sense. Federal funds should not go to schools that can exclude children. There is no requirement for schools receiving vouchers to accept students with limited English proficiency, homeless students, or students with disciplinary problems. Precious funds should be earmarked for public schools which do not have the luxury of closing their doors to students who pose a problem. The challenges the schools are facing today are much more complex, much more complicated than they were even a few short years ago. I was with the head mistress of the Revere School in the last week. I said: I remember visiting the school 2 years ago and they had nine different languages. She said: How about 29 different languages now with different cultures and traditions? They are facing more complexity in dealing with children, and it is necessary to give them support and not deplete scarce resources. They obviously should have accountability in how effectively those resources are being used, but when you talk about undermining the Eisenhower training programs for math and science or IDEA, which is funding needs for special education, and even the title I programs for disadvantaged children, it makes no sense whatsoever. Our goal is to reform the public schools, not abandon them. Instead of draining much needed resources from public schools, we should create conditions for improvement and reform, not in a few schools but in all schools, not in a few students but in all students. Effectively, what we would be doing is abandoning a great majority of students. That is wrong. I ask unanimous consent to have printed in the Record a list of the various organizations representing parents and teachers and students who are strongly opposed to the provisions.

Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. President, drug abuse in our Nation is a menace that threatens the security, health, and productivity of all of our citizens. Every reputable authority who has examined the problem of drug addition knows that there is no army large enough to keep all drugs from crossing our borders and no nation powerful enough to imprison all pushers and suppliers. We must use all the constitutional enforcement tools at our command to make the criminals who would profit from the degradation of our fellow citizens pay the price of their crimes. An effective fight against drug abuse must take three approaches: law enforcement, prevention and treatment. Each of these three approaches is vital; no program can be successful unless it involves them all. The widespread use of illegal drugs is one of the most pressing problems facing our society. Illegal drugs are killing children and destroying families. Vast profits from the sale of illegal drugs have created a new criminal underworld which promotes violence and feeds on death. However, this amendment does not go about this problem in the right way. By raising powder cocaine penalties, the amendment reduces the current 100 to 1 ratio between the two drugs, but it doesn't solve the underlying problem. The real problems is that crack penalties are out of proportion to the penalties for other drugs. Increasing the penalty for powder cocaine makes the penalties for both forms of cocaine disproportionately severe compared to other drugs. Twenty-seven former U.S. attorneys who are now Federal judges say they ``disagree with those who suggest that the disparity in treatment of power and crack cocaine should be remedied by altering the penalties relating to power cocaine. The penalties for powder cocaine, both mandatory minimum and guideline sentences, are severe and should not be increased.'' Clearly Congress is right to be concerned about excessively lenient sentences for serious offenses. but the sentencing guideline system in place today is the most effective way to limit judicial discretion. In 1984, Senator Thurmond, Senator Biden, I, and others, worked together to pass bipartisan sentencing reform legislation. A key reform in that legislation was the creation of the Sentencing Commission, to achieve greater fairness and uniformity in sentencing. since its creation, the Commission has developed sentencing guidelines that have eliminated the worst disparities in the sentencing process, without seriously reducing judicial discretion. Unfortunately, actions by Congress continue to undermine the Commission's work. The guidelines system was designed to achieve greater uniformity and fairness, while retaining necessary judicial flexibility. Instead, Congress has enacted a steady stream of mandatory minimum sentences that override the guidelines and create the very disparities that the guidelines are designed to end. A recent study by the Rand Corporation shows that ``mandatory minimums reduce cocaine consumption less per million taxpayer dollars spent than does spending the same amount on enforcement.'' On the issue of controlling drug use, drug spending, and drug-related crime, the same study found that ``treatment is more than twice as cost-effective as mandatory minimums''. One of the important goals of sentencing is general deterrence. We should allow the Commission to do its job, and weigh the Commission's recommendations more carefully before acting to override them. In 1995, the Sentencing Commission issued a formal recommendation to Congress to change the crack ratio to 1 to 1 at the current level of powder cocaine. Congress rejected the Sentencing Commission's recommendation in a House vote and told the Commission to come up with another solution. Two years later, in 1997, the Sentencing Commission issued a second recommendation to Congress to lower crack penalties and raise powder cocaine penalties. Both the Department of Justice and the drug czar's office agreed with this recommendation. Yet, the Commission's recommendation continues to be rejected by Congress. Crack cocaine penalties were enacted over a decade ago without the benefit of research, hearings, or prison impact assessments. Today, we have the advantage of scientific evidence about cocaine in both forms and about the impact of crack sentencing policies. Shame on Congress for ignoring the experts it put in place to address these issues in an informed manner. The Sentencing Commission's conclusion is clear--crack penalties are out of line, not powder cocaine penalties. Two wrongs don't make a right. The Sentencing Commission reports that more than half of current powder cocaine defendants are at the lowest levels of the drug trade, and 86 percent are nonviolent. Increasing the penalty will add almost 10,000 addicts and small-time drug users to the prison population in the next 10 years, at a cost to taxpayers of approximately $2 billion. In the next 20 years, that cost will escalate to over $5 billion, and in 30 years it will be $10.6 billion. This amendment will also increase the disproportionate representation of minorities in federal prison, because 68 percent of the people sentenced federally for powder cocaine offenses are non-white. Of those, 40 percent are Hispanic. Enacting this legislation will worsen current imbalances in drug policy at significant cost. The new powder cocaine sentences will be far above those for many other more serious and violent offenses. We know that merely talking tough is not enough. The war on crime has been declared again and again--and it has been lost over and over. It is clear that we will never succeed in defeating crime if we try to do it on the cheap. We can support our State and local police without turning any locality into a police state, and without destroying the fundamental civil liberties and constitutional guarantees that make this Nation truly free. To combat the drug menace we need local law enforcement programs that work. It is increasingly clear that stronger law enforcement at the local level can be successful when coupled with enhanced drug treatment and education opportunities. One of the most important tools in the war against drugs is Federal assistance to increase the number of these successful local law enforcement programs, not locking up more low- level drug dealers and throwing away the key. Mr. President, I yield the floor.

Mr. KENNEDY. What was the general time? I was just trying to conclude. I was going to be probably 10 or 15 minutes. If I thought that the two Senators will be finished shortly after 11, that is fine.

Mr. KENNEDY. Reserving the right to object, I prefer not to.

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

Mr. KENNEDY

Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. President, I strongly support our distinguished former colleague, Senator Carol Moseley-Braun, and I urge the Senate to confirm her as Ambassador to New Zealand. Senator Carol Moseley-Braun served the people of Illinois with great distinction during her six years in the Senate. She fought hard for the citizens of Illinois and for working men and women everywhere, and it was a privilege to serve with her. In her years in the Senate, she was a leader on many important issues that affect millions of Americans, especially in the areas of education and civil rights. She worked skillfully and effectively to bring people together with her unique energetic and inspiring commitment to America's best ideals. Senator Moseley-Braun has been breaking down barriers all her life. She became the first African-American woman to serve in this body. Her leadership was especially impressive in advancing the rights of women and minorities in our society. As a respected former Senator, she will bring great stature and visibility to the position of Ambassador to New Zealand. That nation is an important ally of the United States, and it is gratifying that we will be sending an Ambassador with her experience and the President's confidence.

Mr. KENNEDY

Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. President, one day a year, on Veteran's Day, America pauses to recognize the sacrifices and the contributions of our veterans. We express our gratitude to all those who have served our nation so well. For all of the veterans being honored today, I salute you for your service and your dedication to our country. All veterans deserve our gratitude for their service. But it is especially fitting that we take special notice of the nation's World War II and Korean War veterans. America is losing 1,000 of its World War II and Korean War veterans every day. As they pass, so does our opportunity to pay tribute to them directly. Tom Brokaw has called the World War II generation the ``Greatest Generation.'' He captured the essence of this generation in his recent book by that name. As he stated: The World War II generation came of age during the Great Depression and the Second World War and went on to build modern America--men and women whose everyday lives of duty, honor, achievement, and courage gave us the world we have today. The World War II generation and the size of its veteran population are unique in American history. Sixteen million Americans served in World War II from 1941 to 1945. That war united all Americans--men and women; blacks and whites; rich and poor; old and young. My oldest brother Joe gave his life, and Jack served with great courage on PT-109 in the Pacific. As much as we owe the World War II generation, we are still waiting for the construction of a national memorial in Washington to their service. At last, a site on the Mall has been selected and a design has been chosen for the National World War II Memorial. We owe it to these extraordinary veterans to complete it without delay, so that as many of our World War II veterans as possible can see the nation's enduring monument to their service. We also honor these veterans by ensuring they receive the hard-earned benefits they so eminently deserve. I remain concerned about the healthcare budget of the Veterans' Administration. Health costs continue to rise and the budget has not kept pace. We have an ongoing responsibility to provide every veteran with adequate heath care. This year's VA budget includes a 1.7 billion dollar increase, and we must continue to do all we can so that veterans receive their fair share in each year's budget. In addition, as the number of older veterans continues to grow, the Veterans Administration must find a way to provide long-term care. The VA published an advisory report on this issue last year, but their recommendations were far from adequate. We need to pursue this issue next year, and develop more specific initiatives. Another challenge we face is to deal with the increasing concern that today's generation is estranged from the military. Only 6 percent of people under the age of 65 have ever served in the armed forces. Compare that with the fact that half of men over 50 have had at least two years of military service. In the years ahead, when we no longer have the Greatest Generation--The World War II Generation--as our model, we will have to do much more to guarantee that our society keeps our armed forces strong and able to meet any threat to our country. David Broder, the senior Washington Post journalist and a veteran himself, recently expressed his concern about the growing civilian- military gap. He stated: The fact that no one younger than their mid-forties has even faced the possibility of being called-up for military service is one of the most significant generational divides in this country. Clearly, this is cause for concern. The nation must work harder to preserve and strengthen the duties of citizenship that our veterans symbolize for all of us. The military has traditionally been an effective way for America's youth to serve the nation. It is troubling that today almost two thirds of the nation's youth say they would not join the armed forces. Twenty years ago, only 40 percent said that. Since the Persian Gulf War, the interest among 16 to 21 year olds in enlisting has dropped from 34 percent to 26 percent. Last year the Army asked young adults: If you want to do something beneficial for your country, are you more likely to do it in the military or in a civilian job? Two to one who responded said: In a civilian job. Prosperity and complacency may explain such answers, but they do not justify them. Because of our nation's veterans, America is the greatest in the world, free from any major challenge from any other nation. The skillful work and dedication of our veterans have enabled our children and grandchildren to enjoy unparalleled national security and economic prosperity. It is imperative in our democracy that citizens remain proud of the military and continue to respect and appreciate the sacrifices of those who serve. As President Kennedy said in his Inaugural Address: Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and the success of liberty. Million of Americans were inspired by these words, and our obligation is to continue that inspiration into the next century, so that a new generation will continue to ask not what their country can do for them, but what they can do for their country. The reduction in the population of veterans is being felt in Congress as well. The proportion of members of the House and Senate who have served in the military has dropped from more than 75 percent in 1971 to less than 34 percent today. Without the World War II and Korean generations, we will have to pay special attention to ensure that our society does not forget about our Vietnam, Gulf and Cold War veterans, or view their contributions with any less significance. The veterans of these more recent wars did not come home to the fanfare that accompanied the Allied victory in World War II. But their sacrifices and contributions to our nation's defense and to the protection of our democracy are immeasurable. As a nation, it is imperative that we continue to recognize the service of these veterans and pay tribute to their sacrifices. To help ensure that our nation remembers all of its veterans, I supported a Resolution this year that expresses the Sense of the Congress that the third Monday in April be designated as ``In Memory Day.'' That Day will recognize the Vietnam Veterans who have died as a result of illnesses and conditions associated with service in the Vietnam War. We must honor the missing too. Today, over 80,000 American servicemen remain unaccounted for from all our nation's wars, including approximately 10,000 from the Vietnam and Korean Wars. We must never forget our missing veterans. And we must never give up the effort to bring them home. On behalf of the nation's disabled veterans, I strongly support the Disabled Veterans LIFE Memorial Foundation to establish a national memorial to honor all disabled veterans. Recently, Miss America 1999, Heather French of Kentucky, testified before the Senate on behalf of this memorial. During her Miss America pageant, she chose veterans as her cause, and she is emphasizing veterans issues throughout her reign. It is commitments and gestures of goodwill like hers that will keep America proud of its armed forces and the sacrifices of its veterans. The cornerstone of our military preeminence rests on many factors, but the most critical is its people. Without men and women willing to volunteer for military duty, we will not be able to respond to crises around the globe that threaten our vital interests. We need cutting- edge weapon systems. But we also need dedicated service members to operate these systems. As we do more to take care of the veterans of today, we must never lose sight of our obligation to take care of the veterans of tomorrow. This year Congress passed the broadest and most sweeping improvements in military pay and benefits in over twenty years. The new law calls for a well-deserved 4.8% pay raise for military personnel--the single largest pay raise for servicemen and women since 1982. It also expands authority to offer additional pay and other incentives to critical military specialties, and it improves retirement benefits for those who are serving now. The military now faces one of the most difficult recruiting and retention challenges in many years. A major reason for the current problem is the strong U.S. economy. But the demands of far-flung military operations in recent years have also taken their toll on our troops. Today's military is a smaller force, and yet it is also a more active force, and we have been slow to recognize the problems that are building. In the past year alone, our servicemen and women conducted combat operations in Kosovo and Iraq. They are serving as peacekeepers in Bosnia, and as humanitarian support personnel in Central America. All of these demands are in addition to the day-to-day operations and exercises at home and overseas in which the military participates throughout the year. Massachusetts is a major part of all these operations. This past year, Guard and Reserve units from Massachusetts were deployed in support of Operation Northern Watch in Iraq, Hurricane Mitch relief in Central America, and in Kosovo. I especially commend all those who served during Operation Allied Force in Kosovo. This was the first war that America fought and won without a single casualty. Yet its victors came home to no parade marking V-K day, and no celebration of heroes. Yet their bravery and skill saved thousands of innocent lives, and they deserve our highest praise. The success of their operations was an impressive tribute to the capability and dedication of our service men and women. Veterans, in particular, should be proud, because it is their legacy and example that have helped create the world's finest armed forces. I am very disappointed that a provision to improve and expand GI Bill benefits was not included in this year's Defense bill. The GI Bill has been a very successful and important program for the military and the nation. Over 2.3 million World War II veterans took advantage of the GI Bill upon returning from the war. It has been called the greatest investment in higher education that any society has ever made, and a brilliant and enduring commitment to the future. In order for the GI Bill to continue its valuable work, it must evolve as our military forces evolve. Access to higher education is an increasingly important benefit for servicemen and women in today's all- volunteer, professional military. Improvements are needed in the GI Bill to enhance the program's value and benefit to our troops, and to improve the bill's effectiveness as a recruiting tool--and these improvements need to be enacted into law as soon as possible. Today's armed forces contain well-educated professionals who have chosen to serve their country in the military. We must treat them as the skilled professionals they are--or we will lose them. Finally, when we think about our veterans, it is easy to recall the Eisenhowers, the Pattons, the MacArthurs, and the Powells. But we must never forget the countless silent heroes--the fathers, brothers, sisters, sons, and daughters who served when their country called. Stephen Ambrose, in his book ``Citizen Soldier,'' talks about the ``can-do'' attitude of these quiet heroes that sets the American military apart. He describes the Normandy landing, where the American Sherman tanks were outgunned, and tells how skilled the Americans were in salvaging damaged tanks, patching them up, and sending them back into action. Ambrose writes: Indeed no army in the world had such a capability. Within two days of being put out of action by German shells, about half the damaged Shermans had been put back on the line. Kids who had been working at gas stations and body shops two years earlier had brought their mechanical skills to Normandy. Nearly all the work was done as if the crews were back in the States, rebuilding damaged cars and trucks. These were not professional soldiers, but average Americans. They left their families and friends behind to fight because their nation called. It is the dedication and ingenuity of these silent heroes that has made America great, and that made their Greatest Generation. All of us in the Kennedy family have enormous respect for our veterans and their service to the nation. Today, on the eve of Veteran's Day, I recall once again the words of President Kennedy. He visited the U.S. Naval Academy in August 1963, and spoke at a ceremony honoring the new class of midshipmen. This is what he said about his service in the Navy: I can imagine a no more rewarding career. And any man who may be asked what he did to make his life worth while, I think can respond with a good deal of pride and satisfaction: ``I served in the United States Navy.'' My brother was a Navy man, but I'm sure that veterans of all the other services feel the same way. I know I am both grateful and proud of my fellow veterans, and I honor, respect, and thank them for their service.

Mr. KENNEDY

Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. President, Senator Dodd and I have proposed an amendment to address the explosion of credit card debt offered to students on college campuses. The amendment prohibits a credit card company from giving an individual under the age of 21 a credit card unless the young person has income sufficient to repay the debt or a parent, guardian, or other family member over the age of 21 shares liability for the credit card. Credit card applications and solicitations must disclose this information to potential consumers. This amendment is particularly appropriate during debate on bankruptcy reform legislation. We know that credit card debt may not be the sole factor leading to bankruptcy, but for many individuals it is a significant contributing factor. Congress should be particularly concerned that since 1991, there has been a 50-percent increase in bankruptcy filings by those under the age of 25. In many cases, these are young men and women who are just establishing their independence--and just starting to build a credit history. Poor financial decisions, especially credit card mismanagement can have long-term implications. We know the siren song of the credit card industry is loud and clear. In 1998, credit card issuers sent out 3.45 billion credit card solicitations to people of all ages, including college students and others who may not have the ability to repay their debts. In fact, First USA recently issued a credit card to 3-year old Alessandra Scalise. Alessandra's mother said she accurately completed and mailed in the preapproved credit card application as a joke. There was no Social Security number or income listed and Alessandra's occupation was listed as ``preschooler.'' Apparently, this didn't make a difference to First USA. Alessandra received a Platinum Visa with a $5,000 credit limit. This incident may be attributable to ``human error'' but there are numerous examples of irresponsible lending practices by credit card issuers--especially when they lend to students who don't have the capacity to repay their debts. For example, one Discover platinum card issuer's terms of qualification require a minimum household income of $15,000 unless you are a full-time student. Discover explains that an individual either has to have a $15,000 minimum income or needs to prove that they are a full-time student. Student applications are rejected only if they have a bad credit history--a prior bankruptcy filing, for example--or if their student status can not be confirmed. During a February 1998 Banking Subcommittee hearing, Senator Sarbanes asked credit card issuers how they determined student income. Bruce Hammonds, senior vice chairman and chief operating officer of MBNA Corporation responded if a student has a loan, ``that means they do not have to pay tuition in most cases and we are looking at that tuition payment. Then we would not count the tuition payment against them with their income and expense analysis.'' In other words, the company ignores the reality of tuition and views a student loan as ``free'' money--an income stream that can be used to repay credit care debt. Not surprisingly, credit card companies have unleashed a well- organized and pervasive campaign to attract student consumers. Credit is available to almost any college student--no income, no credit history, and no parental signature required. The National Bankruptcy Review Commission received an advertisement for a 2-day workshop for creditors entitled, ``Competing in the Sub Prime Credit Card Market,'' including a presentation entitled, ``Targeting College Students: Real Life 101,'' with tips on how to ``target the money makers of tomorrow.'' Students are targeted by the industry the moment they step on to a college campus. Applications are placed in their book bags at the student store, and tempting gifts and bonuses and low teaser rates are used to entice them to send in the application. The American Express Card for College Students has a teaser rate of 7.75 percent for the first 90 days, then it more than doubles to 15.65 percent. Perks include Continental Airlines travel vouchers. The Citibank College Card for Students initial rate is 8.9 percent for 9 months and then it skyrockets to 17.15 percent. The incentive? Eight American Airlines travel coupons. Brian is a student at the University of Minnesota. He said, They gave me a free T-shirt and a water bottle to apply for their credit cards. My clever plan? To sucker them out of their prizes and cut up the cards. $4,000 later . . . I stopped spending . . . In my glory days, I was like King Midas, pointing to things and turning them into my own . . . For me, the worst temptation was food . . . While listening to tunes on your new stereo and munching take out food, the monthly payment seems easy to pay, especially when you can get a cash advance to cover it. The ads are tempting, too. One ad directly targeting students reads: ``Free from parental rule at last. Now all you need is money. Cha- Ching! Get 3 percent cash back on everything you buy.'' The Internet is the new frontier for credit card advertising to students. When a student clicks on ``www.studentcreditcard.com'' he or she finds a treasure trove of shopping offers and discounts, as well as the assurance of 3 percent cash back. Students are told that, ``It's totally simple. Spend $200 on an item with your card and you have an extra six bucks in your pocket. Spend another $400, that's $12. It adds up fast when you use The Associates Student Credit Card for all your purchases.'' The web site includes some information on establishing a good credit record, but nothing compared to the bonuses and incentives for student consumers. Not surprisingly, college students respond to solicitation by credit card companies. A recent study by Nellie Mae found that 60 percent of undergraduates have credit cards and 21 percent have 4 or more cards. The median credit card debt among students is $1,200 and 9 percent of students have debt between $3,000 and $7,000. Five percent of students have credit card debt exceeding $7,000. Other studies replicate similar findings. A June 1998 national survey by the Education Resources Institute--``Credit Risk or Credit Worthy''--found that 55 percent of students obtained their first card during their first year of college and a significant proportion received their first credit card while still in high school. The study argues that many students use credit cards reasonably, but the facts and statistics are disturbing. Fifty-two percent of students say that one of the most important reasons to have a credit card is to ``build a credit history'' and 45 percent say it's to use in an emergency, but the survey shows that 77 percent of all student credit card purchases were for ``routine personal expenses''--a category that may include a wide-range of items. While attending Villanova, Meghan charged $15,000 on her credit cards. When she and her friends first applied for the cards they decided to keep them for emergencies, only. But, according to Meghan, they would ``end up buying things . . . or taking cash advances just to live on.'' Meghan planned to get a job to pay off her debt, but that didn't happen. Instead, her mother paid-off the balance on the card-- twice. What's particularly troubling is that many students who use their credit cards when they ``run out of checks'' or are ``on Spring Break'' don't realize the financial implications of credit. In a September 1999 article, Joan Bodnar, senior editor of Kiplinger's Personal Finance Magazine wrote, ``Kids tend to equate credit cards with free money--in a recent survey of college students, fewer than half of those interviewed knew the interest rate on their cards.'' Similarly, a 1993 American Express/Consumer Federation of America study of college students revealed that college juniors and seniors only have a ``fair'' understanding of financial services products, and few appear to understand an annual percentage rate. A similar study of high school seniors reveals that they have a ``poor'' understanding of such products. The result? College students with no income and good intentions often find themselves in debt with no way out. For example, of the 20 percent of students who report an average balance greater than $1,000, half of those students have four or more credit cards and only 18 percent pay off their outstanding balances every month. In addition, 48 percent of these students have other debt and nearly one-third have charged tuition and fees. The economic and emotional consequences of credit card debt can be devastating--even deadly--for many students. Tricia Johnson received a desperate call from her daughter, Mitzi, a student in her first year at the University of Central Oklahoma. Mitzi had lost her part-time job and was afraid she could not pay her debts. Mrs. Johnson tried to comfort her distraught daughter. But, later that night, Mitzi committed suicide. She had accumulated $2,500 in credit card debt, but her weekly income rarely exceeded $65. When the police found Mitzi, credit cards were spread across her bed. Janie O'Donnell--the mother of Sean Moyer, a National Merit Scholar attending the University of Oklahoma--had the same devastating experience. In 1998, Sean told his mother he had no idea how to get out of his financial mess, and he did not see much of a future for himself. Sean had moved home to save money and pay off the $10,000 he owed Visa and Master Card. A week later, he committed suicide. A study by the University of Minnesota in 1996, suggests that credit card debt by students often goes hand in hand with stress and depression. Two-thirds of students who said they were taking medication for depression had more than $1,000 in credit card debt. The study also found that as credit card debt increased, the student's grade point average went down. In 1998, a University of Indiana administrator said, ``we lose more students to credit card debt than to academic failure.'' Tennessee legislators were disturbed by a study that revealed a large number of Tennessee bankruptcy filers to be surprisingly young, and they are taking action. Several bills were introduced, and the state Senate passed legislation that gives students an opportunity to remove their name from solicitation lists. It's time for Congress to take action as well. The purpose of the amendment before the Senate is to ensure responsible lending by credit card companies to students. In fact some credit card issuers are adhering to self-imposed restrictions that are more narrow than the Dodd/Kennedy amendment. For example, Dorinda Simpson, CEO of American Partners Federal Credit Union testified that when issuing student credit cards, they set a $500 credit limit and require a co-signor ``so parents know up front what we are loaning to that college student.'' This amendment doesn't go that far. It requires credit card companies to either establish that a student has the income to repay the debt or have a co-signor. The requirements aren't overly burdensome. They won't disadvantage 20-year-olds in the military--they have an income. They won't disadvantage a student with deceased parents--another person may co- sign or the student may have income. They won't disadvantage a 19 year- old, non-college student who is between jobs--that person may have unemployment compensation or another form of income. And, finally, this amendment is not a form of lending discrimination. When similarly situated individuals aren't treated equally, that's discrimination. When underwriting standards are based on perception instead of facts, that's discrimination. But, requiring credit card issuers to stop preying on college students they know don't have a means to repay debt--that is ensuring responsible behavior. I urge my colleagues to support this amendment. Mr. DODD addressed the Chair.

Mr. KENNEDY

Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. President, on October 14, the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library in Boston hosted a dinner in honor of King Abdullah II of Jordan. In his remarks, King Abdullah spoke eloquently of the strong ties between the United States and Jordan, his vision for strengthening peace in the Middle East, and his hope of creating new opportunities for future generations in Jordan. Like his father, King Hussein, King Abdullah cares deeply about the Jordanian people and stability in the region, and his comments are very inspiring. I believe that all of us who care about the future of the Middle East will be interested in his remarks, and I ask that they be printed in the Record. The remarks follow: Speech by His Majesty King Abdullah II at the Kennedy Library in Boston, Thursday, October 14, 1999 Senator Kennedy, Mrs. Kennedy, Mr. Manning, Ladies and gentlemen, allow me first to express my sincere gratitude for this beautiful evening which Rania and I shall cherish for the rest of our lives. Senator, I would like to add my voice to all those who have paid tribute, over the years, to the Kennedy family, for the contribution that they have made to the improvement of human life and for the painful sacrifices that have made us all realize the value of true citizenship. I say that Senator, because I also happen to belong to a family that has devoted itself since the turn of this century to the improvement of the life of the Arab people. Over the years, many sacrifices have been made to ensure that the freedom, liberty, and integrity of the Arab mind is sacrosanct, that the rights of the Arabs are not forgotten or betrayed and that their future is protected. As I conclude my second working visit to the United States, I am very proud of the special relations that bind Jordan with your country. The foundations of these ties, so carefully laid by my late father have seen us making peace with our Israeli neighbors, and subsequently guarding its sustainability and continuity. Through our partnership with America, we have built a unique model in our region. It is a model of peace that is cemented by the respect of the principles of democracy, freedom of expression, political pluralism, free economic enterprise, and human dignity. It is being continually reinforced through our positive interaction with our neighbors. Most importantly, it is the necessary requirement for successfully facing the challenges ahead which are numerous and quite complex. In my mind, the most daunting task that I have set myself to accomplish is to guarantee that our younger generation get an equal opportunity like others elsewhere in the world: An opportunity to be active participants in the shaping of their own destiny, one that will hopefully focus on technological advances in science, on being a part of the information technology revolution, and on being able to enjoy the best of education, medical care, and environmental standards. These are big challenges that necessitate, first and foremost, that we rid ourselves of the dark past of war, conflict, and strife in our region, prior to getting ready to embark on a future course of promise, rewards, and accomplishments. These challenges require more than ever that the partnership with the United States be solid, strong, and sustainable. The role that the United States has played in the making of peace in our region must be complemented with continued efforts designed to rehabilitate our region. If it is to effectively participate in the community of nations, not through conflict, but rather through a concrete realization of a new positive role. All of you present here tonight can contribute to the making of a new region. We in Jordan will continue to provide the model, but we need your support and contribution. I do not want to keep you any longer; suffice it to say that I am very grateful to all of you for your interest, your support, and your determination to help us attain a dream that befits the dawn of a new millennium. Thank you again, and we hope to see you in the near future in our part of the world.

Mr. KENNEDY

Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. President, I add my support for the amendment that has been offered by the Senator from Connecticut, Mr. Dodd, to address the explosion of credit card debt because students on college campuses are offered credit cards. The amendment, as has been outlined, prohibits credit card companies from giving an individual under the age of 21 a credit card unless the young person has income sufficient to repay the debt or a parent or a guardian, or other family member over the age of 21, to share the liability for the credit card. The point has been made, but I think it needs to be underlined, that when you get right behind this whole issue, what is happening is that the credit card companies are making these credit cards so available to young people who are attending college that the credit cards are effectively irresistible. The amount of debt that is being run up by these students is escalating into significant figures. What inevitably happens is that the parents are required, by one reason or another, to assume the debt obligation. That is the background, really, on why these efforts are being made by the credit card companies. What isn't so evident is the kind of turmoil, anxiety, and depression that surrounds this whole atmosphere of student debt. What we found, in the course of the hearings on the Judiciary Committee, in a number of the different presentations that were made while considering the bankruptcy legislation, is that it isn't only the financial obligations that were assumed, but that many of the young people, who had stellar academic records, who were outstanding students in all forms of behavior, who were actually seduced by these credit card obligations and responsibilities, when they found they were unable to free themselves from these kinds of obligations, went into severe depression and into adverse behavior, where the students had tensions in their relationships with their parents, assuming an entirely different chapter in their development. And this is something that is happening with increasing frequency across this country. The kind of recommendations that the Senator from Connecticut has outlined in the amendment is a very modest and reasonable way of addressing the excesses of this particular phenomenon taking place. This is the place to be able to do it. I welcome the chance to join with Senator Dodd in urging that this particular amendment be adopted. It makes a great deal of sense in terms of the young students in this country. It makes a great deal of sense in terms of their parents, most of whom are hard working, decent parents who get caught up in these obligations, assuming the debts of their children. It puts an extraordinary burden on them as well. This is a winner for the students and for their parents and for more sensible and responsible bankruptcy legislation. I reserve the remainder of the time. Mr. DURBIN addressed the Chair.

Mr. KENNEDY. I understand that the Senator from Illinois has yielded 4 minutes to me. Amendment No. 2754

Mr. KENNEDY

Mr. KENNEDY. I yield myself the remaining 30 seconds. Mr. President, first, this is a watered-down increase in the minimum wage that does not deserve to pass. It is a sham. Second, this legislation assaults the whole formula on overtime. It threatens overtime for 73 million Americans. And third, it provides $75 billion in tax breaks for wealthy individuals that is not paid for. It does not deserve the support of the Senate. I hope it will be defeated.

Mr. KENNEDY. The Senator from Maryland would like to address this issue, and I yield her the time on our side. I would insist on order, if I could.

Mr. KENNEDY. No. If we could have order, Mr. President.

Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. President, it is important to understand exactly what the situation is for our working poor. The number of full-time, year-round workers living in poverty is at a 20-year high: 12.6 percent of the workforce, says the Bureau of Labor Statistics, as of the last 3 days. That is the fact. People are working harder, and they are living in poverty. These are people who value work. Second, the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that, of those who will benefit from a minimum wage increase, 70 percent are adults over age 20, and about 30 percent will be teenagers. If Senators come to Boston and talk to the young people going to the University of Massachusetts, they will find 85 percent of their parents never went to college and 85 percent of them are working 25 hours a week or more. That is true in Boston, in Holyoke, in New Bedford, and Fall River, and cities across the country. I don't know what Members have against working young people who are trying to pay for their education. We have 6 million working in the workforce, and we have 2 million working at the minimum wage. Why are we complaining about that? The Republican proposal is a Thanksgiving turkey with three right wings. It has a watered-down increase in the minimum wage, it has a poison pill for overtime work, and it has juicy tax provisions for the rich. This Republican turkey is stuffed with tax breaks, and it does not deserve to be passed. Vote for the real increase in the minimum wage; vote for the Daschle increase.

Mr. KENNEDY. I yield a minute to the Senator from Connecticut.

Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. President, how much time remains?

Mr. KENNEDY. I yield 3 minutes to the Senator from California.

Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. President, how much time remains?