Blanche Lincoln

Ms. LINCOLN

Ms. LINCOLN. Mr. President, I, too, compliment our colleagues from Rhode Island and from Florida. We have had a train wreck in terms of the health care proposals we tried to present this week in the Senate. For the past few days in the Senate we have had a lot of colorful charts and graphs. We have seen a lot of ads on TV paid for by special interest groups. There has been a lot of partisan maneuvering. What we haven't had, what the American people haven't seen, is a sensible, moderate debate on this critical issue of health care. Tonight, I am very proud to join my colleagues in trying to provide emergency relief, to find the middle ground in this debate with the proposal that should be acceptable to the majority of the people, the Members of the Senate, and without a doubt is in the best interests of the American people. This issue is of great importance to the American public and they are waiting to see if Washington--and more importantly, if the Senate--will be able to do their job. And that is to present a plausible response to the reforms that are needed in this Nation's health care program. I applaud my colleagues.

Mrs. LINCOLN

Mrs. LINCOLN. As the Senator from Ohio knows, he and I are working together on another piece of legislation that would protect the powers of states and impose accountability for Federal preemption of state and local laws. Does this bill preempt state laws?

Mrs. LINCOLN. So what my colleague is saying is that any violation that causes actual danger to human health and safety is exempted from coverage by this bill.

Mrs. LINCOLN

Mrs. LINCOLN. I thank my colleague. Mr. President, I rise today to make clear my position on such a very important issue. In the forefront of the managed care debate in the early nineties, I diligently supported the concept of trying to manage care, to control the cost of health care in this country in order to provide more health care to more Americans. When we did that, we in Congress never envisioned that medical decisions would be taken away from medical professionals or that an insurance company would circumvent a patient's access to specialists. Again we are debating this issue of how to provide better health care for more Americans. Today we are talking about the Robb amendment which is absolutely essential to women across this country. Managed care has been a very necessary and useful tool in our nationwide health care network. It has helped us cut the costs, especially in Medicare. But the issue of making sure women have the opportunity to choose as their primary care giver an OB/GYN is absolutely essential. Most women in this day and age go from a pediatrician to an OB/GYN. To have to go back through a primary care giver in order to see an OB/GYN is absolutely ridiculous. It is so important to do more to see that women have access to quality care. The Robb amendment takes us in the right direction with three very important provisions. It provides women with direct access to an OB/GYN. They should not have to obtain permission from a gatekeeper. I have had staffers in the past who had awful experiences of having to go to a primary care giver and not even bothering to see their OB/GYN to get the speciality care they needed because it took so much time to go through a primary care giver. That is absolutely inexcusable in this day and age with the kind of speciality care, research, and knowledge we have in our medical professionals. A great example: A lump is discovered in a woman's breast during a routine checkup. The OB/GYN ought to be able to refer that woman for a mammogram rather than sending her back to the primary care physician. The Robb amendment would designate the OB/GYN as the primary care giver. Most women try to do that already. They already view their OB/ GYN as their primary physician. It is especially important for women in rural areas. They are limited in their access and capability to get to their physicians, and if they cannot see an OB/GYN from a rural area, then they likely are never going to get the speciality care they need and deserve. Most important, we have to make sure our physicians are able to make those medical decisions. One of the most frustrating comments I ever heard from my husband, who is a physician, is when he spent 1 hour 45 minutes on the telephone with an insurance adjustor after seeing one of his partner's patients who had come through surgery. She was still running a fever, and the nurse called him and said: We have to send this woman home because the insurance company said we had to. He spent 1 hour 45 minutes on the phone with that insurance adjustor, and at the end of that conversation he finally said: If you can send me your medical diploma and if you will sign an affidavit that you will take complete responsibility for this woman's life, then, and only then, should I be able to discharge her from this hospital, because she is sick. Yet they were not going to pay for it. He said: We are going to keep her in the hospital, and you are going to be responsible, you are going to pay for that bill, and we are going to ensure the woman is well taken care of. It is so important for the women across this country to know they will have the primary care they need through their OB/GYN. I appreciate my colleagues' involvement.

Mrs. LINCOLN

Mrs. LINCOLN. Mr. President, I offer for the Senate's consideration, a bill to rename the Stuttgart National Aquaculture Research Center after a man that has been essential to the success of the aquaculture industry in Arkansas: Dr. Harry K. Dupree. Dr. Dupree has devoted his entire career to the progress of the warmwater fish industry. In Arkansas, aquaculture production has taken great strides in recent years. The catfish industry in the state has grown rapidly and Arkansas currently ranks second nationally in acreage and production of catfish. The baitfish industry is not far behind, selling more than 15 million pounds of fish annually. Much of this success is due to the ongoing efforts of Dr. Harry Dupree. The early years of Dr. Dupree's career were spent in Alabama. Harry received his master's in fisheries management from Auburn University in 1956 and his Ph.D. in Zoology in 1960. From 1960 to 1974, Harry served as both a Research Biologist and Laboratory Director at the Southeastern Fish Cultural Laboratory in Marion, Alabama. There, Dr. Dupree focused his efforts on catfish research and established the major elements required for a manufactured feed for channel catfish. His research activities led to the formulation of pelleted feed for catfish production and made it possible for catfish production to move from a small, labor intensive industry of local interest to a streamlined industry with potential for expansion on the national and international level. Arkansas was fortunate enough to lure Dr. Dupree to the Fish Farming Experimental Laboratory in Stuttgart, Arkansas, during 1974 where he served as Scientific Director for the next 18 years. His efforts, dating back to before 1985, resulted in funding for design and construction of the new laboratories and offices for the facilities on the campus of the Stuttgart National Aquaculture Research Center. These facilities were constructed in 1992 and Dr. Dupree has served as the Laboratory Director for the center ever since. I first met Harry during my tenure as Representative of the First Congressional District of Arkansas. I'll never forget the enthusiasm and genuine interest Harry displayed as he showed me around the research center that he had worked so hard to establish. I, and many others, share many fond memories and great gratitude for the wonderful friendship and great work of Dr. Harry Dupree. The pride that he has exhibited and has instilled in all Arkansans for the science industry of Aquaculture has been tremendous. Dr. Dupree is a great man with a huge heart. I urge my colleagues to act promptly on this legislation so that Dr. Harry K. Dupree will receive the recognition that he truly deserves. Mr. President, at this point I ask unanimous consent that letters of support for this bill be included in the Record from constituents and aquaculture associations across Arkansas.

Mrs. LINCOLN

Mrs. LINCOLN. Mr. President, I offer for the Senate's consideration, a bill to rename the Stuttgart National Aquaculture Research Center after a man that has been essential to the success of the aquaculture industry in Arkansas: Dr. Harry K. Dupree. Dr. Dupree has devoted his entire career to the progress of the warmwater fish industry. In Arkansas, aquaculture production has taken great strides in recent years. The catfish industry in the state has grown rapidly and Arkansas currently ranks second nationally in acreage and production of catfish. The baitfish industry is not far behind, selling more than 15 million pounds of fish annually. Much of this success is due to the ongoing efforts of Dr. Harry Dupree. The early years of Dr. Dupree's career were spent in Alabama. Harry received his master's in fisheries management from Auburn University in 1956 and his Ph.D. in Zoology in 1960. From 1960 to 1974, Harry served as both a Research Biologist and Laboratory Director at the Southeastern Fish Cultural Laboratory in Marion, Alabama. There, Dr. Dupree focused his efforts on catfish research and established the major elements required for a manufactured feed for channel catfish. His research activities led to the formulation of pelleted feed for catfish production and made it possible for catfish production to move from a small, labor intensive industry of local interest to a streamlined industry with potential for expansion on the national and international level. Arkansas was fortunate enough to lure Dr. Dupree to the Fish Farming Experimental Laboratory in Stuttgart, Arkansas, during 1974 where he served as Scientific Director for the next 18 years. His efforts, dating back to before 1985, resulted in funding for design and construction of the new laboratories and offices for the facilities on the campus of the Stuttgart National Aquaculture Research Center. These facilities were constructed in 1992 and Dr. Dupree has served as the Laboratory Director for the center ever since. I first met Harry during my tenure as Representative of the First Congressional District of Arkansas. I'll never forget the enthusiasm and genuine interest Harry displayed as he showed me around the research center that he had worked so hard to establish. I, and many others, share many fond memories and great gratitude for the wonderful friendship and great work of Dr. Harry Dupree. The pride that he has exhibited and has instilled in all Arkansans for the science industry of Aquaculture has been tremendous. Dr. Dupree is a great man with a huge heart. I urge my colleagues to act promptly on this legislation so that Dr. Harry K. Dupree will receive the recognition that he truly deserves. Mr. President, at this point I ask unanimous consent that letters of support for this bill be included in the Record from constituents and aquaculture associations across Arkansas.

Mrs. LINCOLN

Mrs. LINCOLN. It was my privilege as a Member of the other body to introduce a bill in the 103rd Congress that would have eliminated much of the unintended Superfund hindrance that is limiting legitimate recycling. Now as a Senator, I am proud to stand with the majority and minority leaders and the distinguished senior Senator from Virginia on this first anniversary of the introduction of S. 2180 to ensure Superfund relief for recycling will be addressed in this session of the 106th Congress.

Mrs. LINCOLN

Mrs. LINCOLN. Mr. President, yesterday during consideration of the Steel and Oil and Gas Loan Guarantee Program the Senator from Illinois, Senator Fitzgerald, raised several concerns regarding the potential for program abuse. During these discussions, my colleague from Illinois questioned whether or not a bank, or other investor, would be able to transfer their risk to the government upon enactment of the Steel and Oil and Gas Loan Guarantee Program. Fiscal responsibility is a top priority of mine and upon hearing of these concerns, I was initially troubled. However, I have been assured by the distinguished Senator from West Virginia, Senator Byrd, that the loan approval board is structured such that these situations will be prevented. Loans will not be approved on a whim and the taxpayers' dollars will not be thrown about recklessly to benefit those who did not need help in the first place. This program provides much needed, temporary assistance to keep our steel industry afloat. It should be noted that the Steel and Oil and Gas Loan Guarantee Program sunsets in three years and is not a permanent change in public policy. We are simply responding to the crisis currently faced by many in our nation's steel industry. I rise in support of this measure and thank the Senator from West Virginia for his leadership on this issue.

Mrs. LINCOLN

Mrs. LINCOLN. Mr. President, I am pleased to be here today with my colleague from Mississippi, Senator Cochran, to introduce the Crop Insurance Equity Act of 1999. We believe this bill makes fundamental changes to the existing Federal Crop Insurance Program that are necessary to make crop insurance more workable and affordable for producers across the country. As we all know, the government's role in farm programs has changed. The 1996 Farm Bill phased out traditional support for our farmers, and current farm programs require producers to assume more risk than ever before. Due to the Ag economic crisis, there has been much discussion lately on the issue of the ``safety net'' for our nation's producers. On that point I would like to be perfectly clear. Crop insurance is a risk management tool to help producers guard against yield loss. It was not created and was never intended to be the end all be all solution for the income needs of our nation's producers. As the crop insurance reform debate proceeds, I am hopeful that my colleagues will be cognizant of the various needs in the agriculture community and recognize that while crop insurance is an important part of the ``safety net,'' it is not and should not be the only income guard for our nation's farmers. Congress has been attempting to eliminate the ad hoc disaster program for years because it is not the most efficient way of helping our farmers who suffer yield losses. Senator Cochran and I have been working over the last few months with individuals involved in crop insurance delivery, major commodity organizations, and most importantly, farmers, to craft a comprehensive bill that addresses the various reform needs of the crop insurance program. We feel that this legislation takes a significant step toward providing a crop insurance program that is equitable, affordable, and effective. In response to the outcry we have heard from producers in Arkansas, Mississippi, and across the nation, we have attempted to make the crop insurance program more cost effective for our farmers. In Arkansas, the last estimates I heard indicated that 1% of our cotton producers were participating in the buy-up program this year. Buy-up coverage for all commodities in Akansas historically is around 12%. That tells me that producers at home don't think that crop insurance is currently providing the kind of help they need. Our bill establishes a process for re-evaluating crop insurance rates for all crops and for lowering those rates if warranted. By making the crop insurance program more affordable, additional producers will be encouraged to participate in the program and protect themselves against the unforeseeable factors that will be working against them once they put a crop into the ground. This legislation directs USDA to establish ``good experience'' premium discounts for producers who have not filed claims in the last years. This simply makes sense. If you have car insurance and you haven't had a wreck or a ticket over a significant period of time, then your premium is reduced. Crop insurance should not be any different. The bill also provides for a more equitable subsidy method by setting the subsidy for crop insurance premiums at a flat rate, regardless of the level of coverage a producer purchases. Current law provides higher levels of federal subsidy to producers who purchase the lowest levels of coverage. In an attempt to improve the record keeping process within USDA, this legislation establishes the Farm Service Agency (FSA) as the central repository for all acreage and yield record keeping. Current USDA record keeping, split between FSA and RMA, is redundant and insufficient. By including both crop insurance program participants and non-program participants in the process, we hope to enhance the agricultural data held by the agency and make acreage and yield reporting less of a hassle for already overburdened producers. In addition, this bill establishes a role for consultation with state FSA committees in the introduction of new coverage to a state. The need for this provision was made abundantly clear to Arkansas' rice producers this spring. A private insurance policy was offered to farmers at one rate, only to have the company reduce the rate once the amount of potential exposure was realized. In my discussions with various executives from the company on this issue it became apparent that their knowledge of the rice industry was fairly minimal. Had they consulted with local FSA committees who had a working knowledge of the rice industry before introduction of the policy, the train wreck that occurred might have been stopped in its tracks. Many of the problems associated with the crop insurance program have been addressed in previous reform measures, however, fraud and abuses are still present to some degree. This bill strengthens the monitoring of agents and adjusters to combat fraud and enhances the penalties available to USDA for companies, agents and producers who engage in fraudulent activities. There is simply no room for bad actors that recklessly cost the taxpayers money. While this bill was crafted with the input of producers from Arkansas and Mississippi, there is no preferential treatment toward any commodity or geographic region. We have attempted to include provisions that will make the crop insurance program more effective across the nation. We hope that we have achieved this goal and look forward to working with our colleagues to address any measures that will make the crop insurance reform effort more effective. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that letters of support for this bill be included in the Record from the following commodity organizations: The National Cotton Council, USA Rice Federation, American Sugar Cane League, the Southern Peanut Farmers Federation, and the Alabama Farmers Federation. These organizations have been very helpful in the crafting of this bill and we certainly appreciate the input they have provided.

Mrs. LINCOLN

Mrs. LINCOLN. Mr. President, I am pleased to be here today with my colleague from Mississippi, Senator Cochran, to introduce the Crop Insurance Equity Act of 1999. We believe this bill makes fundamental changes to the existing Federal Crop Insurance Program that are necessary to make crop insurance more workable and affordable for producers across the country. As we all know, the government's role in farm programs has changed. The 1996 Farm Bill phased out traditional support for our farmers, and current farm programs require producers to assume more risk than ever before. Due to the Ag economic crisis, there has been much discussion lately on the issue of the ``safety net'' for our nation's producers. On that point I would like to be perfectly clear. Crop insurance is a risk management tool to help producers guard against yield loss. It was not created and was never intended to be the end all be all solution for the income needs of our nation's producers. As the crop insurance reform debate proceeds, I am hopeful that my colleagues will be cognizant of the various needs in the agriculture community and recognize that while crop insurance is an important part of the ``safety net,'' it is not and should not be the only income guard for our nation's farmers. Congress has been attempting to eliminate the ad hoc disaster program for years because it is not the most efficient way of helping our farmers who suffer yield losses. Senator Cochran and I have been working over the last few months with individuals involved in crop insurance delivery, major commodity organizations, and most importantly, farmers, to craft a comprehensive bill that addresses the various reform needs of the crop insurance program. We feel that this legislation takes a significant step toward providing a crop insurance program that is equitable, affordable, and effective. In response to the outcry we have heard from producers in Arkansas, Mississippi, and across the nation, we have attempted to make the crop insurance program more cost effective for our farmers. In Arkansas, the last estimates I heard indicated that 1% of our cotton producers were participating in the buy-up program this year. Buy-up coverage for all commodities in Akansas historically is around 12%. That tells me that producers at home don't think that crop insurance is currently providing the kind of help they need. Our bill establishes a process for re-evaluating crop insurance rates for all crops and for lowering those rates if warranted. By making the crop insurance program more affordable, additional producers will be encouraged to participate in the program and protect themselves against the unforeseeable factors that will be working against them once they put a crop into the ground. This legislation directs USDA to establish ``good experience'' premium discounts for producers who have not filed claims in the last years. This simply makes sense. If you have car insurance and you haven't had a wreck or a ticket over a significant period of time, then your premium is reduced. Crop insurance should not be any different. The bill also provides for a more equitable subsidy method by setting the subsidy for crop insurance premiums at a flat rate, regardless of the level of coverage a producer purchases. Current law provides higher levels of federal subsidy to producers who purchase the lowest levels of coverage. In an attempt to improve the record keeping process within USDA, this legislation establishes the Farm Service Agency (FSA) as the central repository for all acreage and yield record keeping. Current USDA record keeping, split between FSA and RMA, is redundant and insufficient. By including both crop insurance program participants and non-program participants in the process, we hope to enhance the agricultural data held by the agency and make acreage and yield reporting less of a hassle for already overburdened producers. In addition, this bill establishes a role for consultation with state FSA committees in the introduction of new coverage to a state. The need for this provision was made abundantly clear to Arkansas' rice producers this spring. A private insurance policy was offered to farmers at one rate, only to have the company reduce the rate once the amount of potential exposure was realized. In my discussions with various executives from the company on this issue it became apparent that their knowledge of the rice industry was fairly minimal. Had they consulted with local FSA committees who had a working knowledge of the rice industry before introduction of the policy, the train wreck that occurred might have been stopped in its tracks. Many of the problems associated with the crop insurance program have been addressed in previous reform measures, however, fraud and abuses are still present to some degree. This bill strengthens the monitoring of agents and adjusters to combat fraud and enhances the penalties available to USDA for companies, agents and producers who engage in fraudulent activities. There is simply no room for bad actors that recklessly cost the taxpayers money. While this bill was crafted with the input of producers from Arkansas and Mississippi, there is no preferential treatment toward any commodity or geographic region. We have attempted to include provisions that will make the crop insurance program more effective across the nation. We hope that we have achieved this goal and look forward to working with our colleagues to address any measures that will make the crop insurance reform effort more effective. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that letters of support for this bill be included in the Record from the following commodity organizations: The National Cotton Council, USA Rice Federation, American Sugar Cane League, the Southern Peanut Farmers Federation, and the Alabama Farmers Federation. These organizations have been very helpful in the crafting of this bill and we certainly appreciate the input they have provided.

Mrs. LINCOLN

Mrs. LINCOLN. I thank my colleagues for this explanation.

Mrs. LINCOLN. Mr. President, this marks the third time I have been to the floor to discuss the emergency supplemental bill. For months now I have been trying to get my colleagues' attention about the extreme urgency of the items included in this bill. There are provisions included in this bill that were deemed an ``emergency'' back in March of this year. In addition to the tornado-related funding we just referenced, I have received call after call from farmers who have been anxiously awaiting the loan money that is tied up in this supplemental appropriations bill. Mother Nature does not wait for Congress to act. The ideal planting window has already come and gone for several commodities in the South, and yet, many producers have not been able to put a crop in the ground because they do not have adequate funds for operating expenses. The money is included in this bill and it is critical that we act on this matter as quickly as possible. While I am pleased that these funds are included, I am disappointed that more assistance is not provided to the agriculture community. If ever there was an emergency in this country, we are seeing one now in rural America. I commend the distinguished ranking member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, Senator Harkin, on his efforts to provide additional assistance to farmers. I hope that my colleagues will be ever mindful of the potential consequences this country will face if we allow our producers to simply die on the vine, and I strongly urge this body to revisit the agricultural crisis as soon as possible. Some of my colleagues have chosen to use this bill, which is designed specifically for emergency needs, to fund projects that would have a hard time passing the laugh test of emergency spending. In spite of this, I will be casting a vote in favor of this bill on behalf of the brave servicemen and women representing our nation in the conflict in Kosovo, and on behalf of our nation's family farmers. I thank the President, and I yield the floor. emergency community development block grant funding

Mrs. LINCOLN. Mr. President, I would like to thank my colleagues, Senator Cochran and Senator Kohl, the chairman and ranking member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development and Related Agencies, for their help regarding clean up needs in my state following the devastating tornadoes that struck on January 21, 1999. On that day, an estimated 38 tornadoes touched down in at least 16 counties in Arkansas, a one-day record for the number of tornadoes in a single state in one day. Eight deaths and scores of injuries resulted. The storms damaged or destroyed two thousand homes, at least 126 businesses, and various utilities in eleven counties. As you might imagine, a tremendous amount of debris is scattered throughout the damage area. When the Senate considered S. 544, the supplemental appropriations bill which is now before us as the conference report to H.R. 1141, an amendment of mine was adopted that would direct the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to assist in the removal of debris left from those storms. It is extremely important that we provide assistance necessary to remove this debris in order to help restore lands to a more productive state, but even more importantly, to prevent more serious emergencies that will result if this debris is allowed to obstruct stream flows and cause flooding, erosion, and other economic and environmental problems. Could the Senators please explain how his conference report addresses this situation.

Mrs. LINCOLN

Mrs. LINCOLN. Mr. President, today I'm pleased to join my colleagues Senator Harkin and Senator Wellstone in offering an amendment that will help reduce crime and violence in our nation's schools. This amendment specifically addresses the issue of our children's emotional well-being, and what we as a nation, can do to provide schools with the necessary resources to help our kids. The lives of America's children are very different than they were 20, 30 or 40 years ago. Before our children reach their teenage years, they've already been exposed to drugs, alcohol, violent movies and a general culture of violence that influences their thoughts and actions. Many have expressed that they are even desensitized to violence in their everyday lives. And today's students bring more to school than just backpacks and lunch boxes. They bring severe emotional problems. They disrupt classes, they have difficulty learning, they suffer from depression, and they fight with teachers and students. And when they do not know how to deal with their feelings of anger and rage, they may even kill. Since the school shooting a year ago in Jonesboro, I have been grappling with ideas to ensure that this type of tragedy never happened again. Unfortunately, it did happen again and we as a nation have got to act. Children should not be afraid to go to school in the morning and parents should not be scared to send them there. Studies show that 71% of children ages 7 to 10 say they are worried they will be stabbed or shot while at school. The Department of Education reported that in 1997, there were approximately 11,000 incidents nationally of physical attacks or fights in which weapons were used. I don't claim to have all the answers on how to help our children, but I do think we should do more to get to the root of the problem. We've got to look at the source of this problem; we must come up with some kind of preventive medicine, rather than using a haphazard Band- aid approach. Metal detectors and controlling access to guns can hinder their ability to act out, but doesn't address their illness to begin with. And as the tragedies in Jonesboro, Paducah and most recently as the horror in Colorado has shown us--while much of our country is prospering economically, we cannot allow our country's economic success cause us to ignore our social ills. We can train our children to use computers, to analyze stocks and to meet the economic challenges of the new millennium. But if we do not address their emotional needs or teach them the value of human life, then what have we accomplished? As Theodore Roosevelt said, ``To educate a man in mind and not in morals is to educate a menace to society.'' Together, we must call for improvements, changes and accountability. This can be done, and it must be done. We can install more metal detectors and surveillance cameras in schools, but we won't get to the root of the problem. The youth of America are suffering and all the increased security in the world may ease our minds, but it won't solve their problems. The United States Congress can lead the way. We can take common-sense steps to see that tragedies like those in Colorado and Jonesboro become a distant, painful memory. I've traveled all over my home state of Arkansas talking with educators and school administrators about what's happening in our schools. The one common denominator--the one thing they all tell me is--``We need more counselors in our schools. We need more qualified mental health professionals to adequately deal with the enormous and overwhelming problems kids have today.'' The National Institute of Mental Health estimates that although 7.5 million children under the age of 18 require mental health services, fewer than 1 in 5 receive it. The Harkin/Lincoln/Wellstone amendment calls for $15 million in authorizing funds for FY 2000. In order for these services to reach children at a younger age, this money must be spent in elementary schools. Only qualified mental health professionals may be hired with this funding. Fortunately, these funds are eligible to urban, suburban and rural local school districts. As we all know, rural and suburban areas need our help as much as inner city schools. The additional school counselors, psychologists and social workers will work hand-in-hand with an advisory board of parents, teachers, administrators and community leaders to design and implement counseling services. School counselors will involve the parents of children who receive services so parents can be more involved in the development and well- being of their children. This legislation will help accomplish that and will allow teachers to focus more on a student's skills at writing and arithmetic, rather than on his or her potential for violence. I will fight to see that this legislation passes, so we can begin to make changes happen in my home state and across our country now, and not wait until the next tragedy. I hope my colleagues will work with me in that effort. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that an article by Doug Peters of the Arkansas Democrat Gazette regarding teen death be printed in the Record.

Mrs. LINCOLN

Mrs. LINCOLN. Mr. President, I rise today to speak on a bill that we have been addressing and that I think we have made some good progress on, the juvenile justice bill. But I rise today to encourage, to plead with both sides of the aisle, with all of my colleagues in the Senate, that we remember what it is we are here to address, and that is the well-being of our children; that we put down and put aside all of the other things to really focus on what it is we are here to do, and that is to address the well-being of our children in this country. I think it is so important that we do not lose sight of the tragedies we have seen that have presented to us the agony which has brought us to this floor and to this debate to try to do something to correct those tragedies and, more importantly, to prevent any others from happening in the future. It is so easy to lose sight of the forest for the trees. If we continue that in this debate on juvenile justice, we will have done a true disservice to the children of this Nation. I will speak today on an amendment which will be offered, which I am joining two of my colleagues in offering, Senator Harkin and Senator Wellstone. We think it will help to reduce crime and violence in our Nation's schools by preventing it before it ever happens, and that is exactly what can be the most important tool in this Nation in providing safety for our children. It addresses the issues of the children's emotional well-being and providing schools with the necessary resources to help our children deal with the complicated problems that today society brings them. Students bring more to school today than just backpacks and lunch boxes; they bring severe emotional problems. Our children in today's world come to school with problems far more severe than we can imagine, and certainly far more severe than we may have experienced ourselves. And 71 percent of the children ages 7 to 10 are worried whether they will be stabbed or shot while in their school. This is inexcusable in a country like ours, that that many children are frightened to go to school and they are frightened of what they will be up against. The Department of Education reported that in 1997 there were approximately 11,000 incidents nationally of physical attacks or fights in which weapons were used. We can no longer continue to look for a solution which is only a Band-Aid. We must look at the source of the problem. Preventative medicine rather than a haphazard Band-Aid approach is something that is absolutely essential to the emotional well-being of our children today and the future of our country. Theodore Roosevelt said: To educate a man in mind and not in morals is to educate a menace to society. It is so absolutely essential, in today's society where we are blessed with so much advanced technology, that we remind our children that their emotional well-being, that the friendships and the fellowships that they must build with their fellow students is essential to the safety of mankind and the future of this country. Isn't it great that my children and other people's children, one day when they are older, will be able to communicate on the Internet to children in France and other countries across the world? But let us not forget that we must encourage them also to walk out the back door of the house and to talk over the back fence again with their neighbors and their neighbor's children so they know who their friends and their neighbors are and so they are less likely to violate them. It is absolutely essential that we do not lose sight of what it is we are here to do on behalf of our children. Improvements, changes in accountability, are absolutely essential in our children's education. Metal detectors and surveillance cameras in schools won't get rid of the root of the problem. They will help us in dealing with what we have to deal with right now, but the most important thing we can do is provide our children with the kind of counseling and background to deal with the severity of problems they are coming to school with at a younger and younger age. We must minimize access to guns that can address the means to act out, but it doesn't address the illnesses that we begin with in our children's minds. I have traveled across our State of Arkansas, and in absolutely every school I have visited, every teacher and administrator has said the same thing to me--we do not have adequate counselors and trained professionals to deal with the severity of problems our children are coming to school with today in K through 3. We do not have the appropriate resources to give to our teachers and our administrators to help them recognize the problem in these children. It is absolutely essential that we give them that resource in counselors and professionally trained individuals. The National Institutes of Health estimates although 7.5 million children under the age of 18 require mental health services, fewer than one in five receives it. All of us have our own personal stories to tell of a relationship or something we have heard through the education process. One of my older sisters was a teacher in the public schools. She had a classroom of 31 students, 6 and younger. She said that wasn't the biggest challenge in her classroom. The biggest challenge in her classroom was that those students came to school hungry and sick and, most importantly, frightened. We have a severe crisis on our hands in the fact that we now, in our State of Arkansas and in other States, have no young people going into the teaching profession. Less than 25 percent of the teachers in the State of Arkansas are under the age of 40. We will hit a brick wall soon, because no one is going into the teaching profession. My sister is a great example. One of the reasons she got out of teaching was she said she couldn't handle bus duty when she had it, because there were students that clung to her leg and said, please, don't make me go home. It is essential that we deal with the emotional well-being of our children. I rise today in support, with two other colleagues, of an amendment we will offer to this juvenile justice bill when we get beyond the forest and we start to recognize what it is we are here to do; that is, the details of dealing with the well-being of our children. The details of the Harkin-Lincoln-Wellstone amendment are basically to put $100 million in authorizing funds for fiscal year 2000. The first $60 million must be spent for counseling services in elementary schools where the illness and the problem begins, before it grows into the problems that we deal with in terms of guns and violence in later grades. Only qualified mental health professionals may be hired with this funding. The funds are eligible to urban, suburban and rural local school districts, knowing that every school is suffering from these problems. Some more than others, but all of them equally in need. It is absolutely essential. The benefits of what we are proposing are to treat the emotional problems before they are out of control, to work hand in hand with an advisory board of parents, teachers, administrators and community leaders to design and implement counseling services, because we know that the most important part of any child's well-being is their parental and family involvement. It is essential in what we are doing. We know that when we involve the parents in the child's life, it is far more productive. But involve the parents of the children who receive services so that the parents can be more involved in the development and the well-being of their children, so it is not just one shot at trying to fix the problem, but a continuing of trying to fix the problem both through the counseling services to the children and assistance with the parents. Teachers focus more on a student's skills at writing and arithmetic, rather than their potential for violence, because they do not have the support that they need, because their classroom sizes are too large, and they don't have the time to devote to it. I plead with my colleagues that we must get back to the business at hand, and that business is the well-being of the children of this country who are our future. I urge Congress to act quickly, and I certainly want to devote the time to this important issue that we have begun to do and I hope we will continue. I just plead with my colleagues to remember that what we are dealing with in this legislation is our Nation's greatest resource--our children. Thank you, Mr. President.

Mrs. LINCOLN

Mrs. LINCOLN. Mr. President, I compliment my colleague from North Carolina. In the recent debates, certainly in the passage of the Ed- Flex bill, the great State of North Carolina showed what a great example it could be in its forward thinking and being able to look for innovative solutions for our children's education.

Mrs. LINCOLN

Mrs. LINCOLN. Mr. President, I take this opportunity to recognize the Washington Regional Medical Center in Fayetteville, AR, for being awarded the American Hospital Association's prestigious 1999 NOVA award. This award is given to acknowledge hospitals that create and implement new and innovative community partnerships. Only nine hospitals nationwide were honored by this distinction. The Washington Regional Medical Center is a leader in its commitment to the health and well-being of Washington County's children. The Washington Regional Medical Center works to reverse the trend of chronic disease, disability, and even death through its ``Kids For Health Program.'' In collaboration with the Washington County school system, more than 8,000 children have been educated about self-esteem, general health, nutrition, fitness, hygiene, safety, and environmental health. Good health habits learned at a young age often parlay into better health in adult life. The ``Kids For Health Program'' proves that communities which educate their children in healthy habits reap vast benefits by becoming healthier communities overall. On behalf of all the children in Arkansas, I thank the Washington Regional Medical Center for its impressive achievement in children's health and its contribution to stronger communities.

Mrs. LINCOLN

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

Mrs. LINCOLN. I thank the Chair.

Mrs. LINCOLN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to address the Senate for 10 minutes.

Mrs. LINCOLN

Mrs. LINCOLN. Mr. President, I rise today to do something that I know my fellow colleagues in the Senate will be very interested in, and that is to pay tribute to one of the Senate's esteemed graduates and a role model for all Americans, former Senator David Pryor. As a young woman and a former Congresswoman from Arkansas, I have always looked up to Senator David Pryor for his intelligence, his dedication, his tenacity and his compassion for his fellow man. Now, I have found a new reason to admire my former colleague and long-time friend. For those of you who don't know, last week David Pryor left his current post at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government. No, he didn't take a job at Yale or even an Ambassadorship. He has gone to Kosovo. Not as a diplomat or as a U.S. official, not even as a Harvard professor, but as a hands-on volunteer who is helping care for Kosovo refugees in Albania. I am sure that many of you who served with David Pryor and already know him as a great humanitarian are not in the least bit surprised by this. Senator Pryor recently signed on with the International Rescue Mission, a New York based group which was started by Albert Einstein to help those suffering under Hitler's regime. The organization is currently building shelters and assembling sanitation systems to improve living conditions for thousands of displaced Albanians. Senator Pryor loaded up his suitcase with gifts for the refugee children--candy bars and crayons. And he told the International Rescue Mission that he was going there to work for 30 to 60 days. Some may ask what prompted David Pryor to take this step. By all accounts, he has had a remarkable career--serving as a Senator and the Governor of my home state and the state legislature as one of its youngest members. He has been able to continue his love of politics by teaching young people at Harvard's esteemed school of Government. And he has a wonderful family, who he enjoys immensely and who loves him dearly. It all sounds like a pretty full life. When asked by a friend why he made the decision to go to Kosovo, Pryor responded that he was too young to fight in World War II and he was too involved in his own career during the civil rights struggle to contribute much in that event. Now, later in life he was struck by the reports and pictures coming out of the Yugoslav region. He was concerned for the thousands of children and families who were in need and who he wanted to do something for. So, after a week of deliberating within himself, he woke his wife in the middle of the night and said, ``Honey, we've got to talk.'' A week later, off he went. Since he has been in Albania, Senator Pryor has reported once back to his family and sent a fascinating letter to friends, family and former staff. He works in a camp digging latrines and assisting the Red Cross efforts to secure supplies. Last Saturday he bought 5,000 bars of soap and diapers for 1,000 babies. ``Being here a week makes me wonder about our world and how people can do such unthinkable, brutal things to other humans,'' Senator Pryor wrote. ``It is a world of unreality.'' He says of the men ``All their incentive and pride has been stripped from them and they having nothing left.'' About half of the dislocated refugees in the camp where Senator Pryor works are children. They are scared. They are tired. They are hungry. And above all, they are devastatingly sad. They mourn lost loved ones and ache to return to their homeland. Senator Pryor also shared with his family the stories of two women, one whose daughter had been raped at the hands of a Serb police officer; the other a young mother has been separated from her three children, all under the age of 5, for more than a month. She was forced to flee her home, abandon her life and possessions in Yugoslavia, and now continues to desperately search for her family, her small children. These are just some of the images Senator David Pryor is seeing on his trip. They are even more heart wrenching than any of us could imagine. Whether or not you support U.S. involvement in the Kosovo region, none of us can imagine or ignore the human tragedy that is unfolding along its borders. Every day our televisions and newspapers carry new images of the suffering--new reports of atrocities by Yugoslav troops. I, for one, feel better about the humanitarian conditions and the thousands who are suffering, knowing that David Pryor is lending a hand and leading with his heart. My generation has yet to see the kind of nationwide mobilization and spirit of volunteerism that swept our country during World War II and the Korean War. My mother has often told me of rationing gas and preserving food. She told me of joining together with friends and family to plant a victory garden and to make morale-boosting gifts to send to our troops overseas. I have such enormous respect for the efforts of all Americans during that time and I hope we as a nation can join together in support of our troops and the humanitarian efforts to help the Kosovo refugees now. I commend Senator David Pryor's efforts, wish him well, and urge all of us to take note of his selfless example. Mr. President, I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mrs. LINCOLN

Mrs. LINCOLN. Mr. President, I rise today to bring attention to a situation that grows more dim with each passing day. My colleagues and I came to the floor before the Easter recess and addressed this very issue. The Farm Service Agency has depleted many of its accounts, and quick passage of the supplemental appropriations bill is absolutely vital to replenish these funds and to get our farmers back into the fields. I was very pleased with USDA's emergency action on March 26 to keep loan money available and to keep temporary employees on staff. However, that funding has run out in many areas, and Congress has yet to complete action on the bill. The billions of dollars in agricultural credit authority contained in the bill is literally the only hope of staying on the farm for hundreds of Arkansas producers and many farm families. In Arkansas, we need an additional $41 million for FSA's loan programs. We are experiencing the largest USDA credit demand since the mid-1980s. As of April 23, our State FSA offices had delivered more than $179 million in credit assistance. Due to bad weather, low prices and poor outlooks, the need for Government-guaranteed credit has increased substantially this year. Our agricultural industry is on a deadline with Mother Nature, and it cannot wait any longer. The timeliness of this legislation cannot be overemphasized. For those of us in Southern States, our planting time has already come and is just about gone. We are in dire straits. All farmers across this Nation are in dire straits. It is so very important for us to act in this body in a timely fashion in recognizing this problem. In addition, I take this opportunity to express to my colleagues that agriculture is vitally important to all of us across this Nation and to the rest of this world. It seems that every time I turn on the television, there is another story applauding the unbelievable success of our Nation's economy. Unfortunately, not every segment of our society is sharing in this period of economic bliss. The agricultural community nationwide is suffering. USDA economic projections for 1999 do not offer much hope for relief in the immediate future, and it will fall upon our shoulders to explore the short-term, as well as the long-term, policy resolutions to farm revenue problems. It may not be the most popular issue of the day, but every one of us enjoys the safest, most abundant and most affordable food supply in the world today produced by American agricultural growers. This safe and abundant food supply will not be there for this Nation or for the world if we do not support our family farmers at this critical time. Once those family farms are gone, they will no longer be back in production. I certainly thank the President for allowing me to talk about this and to reiterate to my colleagues how absolutely important it is.

Mrs. LINCOLN

Mrs. LINCOLN. I appreciate and certainly add my support to the Ed- Flex bill. I encourage the rest of the Members of this body to continue this debate on education throughout the next 2 years of this Congress. I thank the Chair.

Mrs. LINCOLN. Thank you, Mr. President. And I thank my colleague for yielding. It certainly is ironic that we should be scheduled to vote on education legislation today in the wake of last night's tragedy in Colorado. All of the Nation is wondering how we can help our children. Since a school shooting a year ago in my home State of Arkansas, I have been grappling with ideas to ensure that this type of tragedy never happens again. Unfortunately, it did happen again yesterday when the peacefulness of a Denver, CO, suburb was shattered by the sounds of explosions and gunfire. The first line of defense against the terrible television images that we have seen over and over during the last 24 hours, and all too often during the last year, is guidance and love in the home. Parents must take responsibility for their children. And we, as a society, must do all that we can to provide the support our children need. Our children are truly our greatest national resource. We must make their education a national priority. In order to do this, our teachers need help, too. Each year our Nation's educators are asked to wear more than one hat, to take on more roles--all the while teaching our most precious resource. They make sacrifices every day, and quite literally in some instances have put their lives on the line for the safety of our children. I do not claim to have all of the answers, but I do think we should provide more assistance to our teachers in identifying troubled children and giving them skills to deal with these students. One of the single common denominators I get from school principals in K through 3 elementary grades is that they must have more resources in their schools, more medical professionals to deal with the severity of problems that our young children are coming to school with today. We have to give the teachers and the administrators the support and trust necessary to guide our children when we cannot be there. And finally, we must put more counselors and qualified medical health professionals in our schools as resources for teachers and administrators. Yes, we can install more metal detectors and surveillance cameras in schools, but we will not get to the root of the problem. The youth of America are suffering, and all of the increased security in the world may ease our minds but it will not ease their pain. I plan to work with the Senate Education Committee on school counseling and mental health legislation so that we can take proactive, commonsense steps toward seeing that tragedies such as those in Colorado and Jonesboro, AR, become only a distant, painful memory. But we are here today to move forward in the field of education. I am proud to be an original cosponsor of the Ed-Flex bill. I am pleased that both sides could reach an agreement in conference so we can proceed to final passage of S. 280. Although this process has taken longer than most of us wanted, there is a silver lining in this cloud. The Ed-Flex bill has given the Senate the opportunity to talk seriously and comprehensively about education-- one of the most important issues facing our country. It is absolutely essential that we continue that debate in the Senate. I have a county in southwest Arkansas where our superintendent made it an obligation to his school district that within 3 years he would minimize the size of K through 3 grades to well below 18 students per teacher. This school year they achieved that goal and have seen remarkable differences in their students. Once the Ed-Flex bill passes, and States have greater flexibility with Federal funds, we hope to see so much more of that. We still have lots of work to do to ensure that our children get a good education and the best possible start in life. Why? Because education is a national investment, with the highest possible return for which we could ask. The knowledge and training that we provide our children are the tools that they will carry with them for the rest of their lives. When we give them these tools, we have successfully invested in the success of our workforce and the future of our country. How do we accomplish this? First, let's talk about school construction and renovation. As a product of Arkansas's public schools, I know they are not just buildings where students and teachers spend their time; they are the cornerstones of our communities. And when a community works together to improve its schools, everyone benefits. We have to physically fix our schools that are crumbling. What kind of a message does it send to our children when we send them to a school that has been allowed to literally fall apart? We have to devote the resources necessary to improving these situations. School buildings also need to be adapted and equipped for computers that are wired to the Internet. All of our Nation's children should be able to take advantage of technology and a ride on the information superhighway. In Arkansas, a recent survey of school facilities conducted by the Arkansas Department of Education reports that facility maintenance is one of the largest expenses for schools. The need for maintenance is often forgotten or overlooked, but in fact, the cost of roof repair or replacement is one of the largest expenses that schools incur. The study also indicates that 364 buildings are occupied beyond their capacity. Some areas of the state are struggling to provide adequate facilities to accommodate the student population growth. No one wants our children to study in make-shift classrooms. Portable buildings and mobile trailers don't serve children or teachers well. As a Senator who represents a predominantly rural state, let me point out that we can't ignore our rural schools when we talk about school construction and renovation. I raised the needs of rural schools last week on the Senate floor and will continue to do so as long as the education debate continues. I look forward to working with Senator Kennedy on the needs of rural schools as well as other Senators on both sides of the aisle who share my concern. In addition to building new schools and renovating older ones, we must reduce class size by hiring new teachers. Studies show that children learn better in smaller classrooms and teachers are able to do a better job teaching children when they can devote more time to fewer children. I have spent a lot of time talking with teachers in Arkansas. They are desperate for Federal assistance to help them reduce class size because a crisis is looming. Only 15 percent of the teachers in Arkansas are under the age of 40. This summer, Arkansas will receive $11.6 million as its first installment of funds to hire teachers to reduce class size in early grades. Clearly, State educators are excited about this new pool of funding to hire more teachers, but they are quick to point out that they need commitments from Congress for additional funding to maintain the new teachers in years 2 through 7. They simply don't have the funds to pay for these new teachers in years 2 through 7. What an important field. But we also must encourage young adults to go into education. Schools are now in the process of making hiring decisions for the fall. Let's make a commitment to this funding soon so school boards and principals can hire new teachers and promise them jobs for more than just one year. I believe that as Senators, we can come together and do the right thing by our Nation's children, parents and educators. Let's take steps to end violence, reduce class size and rebuild our schools so America's children can thrive. Let us, in the Senate, not end our discussion on education--our greatest national investment with this Ed-Flex bill, but let us continue this discussion and truly make our children's education a national priority.

Mrs. LINCOLN

Mrs. LINCOLN. Mr. President, on tax-filing day, it is customary for Senators to note the many difficulties that taxpayers have complying with a complex and unwieldy tax system. I plan to highlight some problems with the system later today. But I do think it is important, however, to note that some aspects of our system have worked very well. Since the Internal Revenue Code was enacted in 1913, the tax system has provided a deduction for mortgage interest. The mortgage interest deduction is one of the simplest, most widely available, and most widely understood of all the provisions in the Code. What is important about the deduction is the support it provides for a goal that is of paramount importance to all Americans--Homeownership. Just five years ago, the rate of homeownership was declining in our country. Beginning in late 1997, however, the rate of homeownership began to climb, so that now, a record number of American families own their own homes. For the first time in our history, two-thirds of all households own their own homes. Where has the growth in homeownership been most evident? Every age group has expanded its ownership, and, even more importantly for the future of our country, the two categories of homeowners that have seen the greatest rates of growth are first- time homeowners and minorities. It is also notable that within 6 years of naturalization, foreign-born individuals achieve the same rate of homeownership as the nation at large. This is a great achievement that shows that the American Dream is alive and well. When asked why they want to own their own homes, Americans in all parts of the country note that ``Owning my own home is the American dream. That is what it all boils down to, that I own my own home.'' They do not buy a home to get tax breaks. They buy a home to attain a sense of community. Neighborhoods that have a high rate of homeownership have high rates of voting, participation in schools, and lower crime rates. It seems that we all complain a great deal about the complexity of the tax system. I think that a great deal of this tax code ridicule is justified. The U.S. Tax Code now consumes more pages than eight Bibles. It is generally too complicated and unfair for most taxpayers. I too believe that the tax code must be streamlined but only while preserving important taxpayer deductions such as the home mortgage deduction. It is important to note that, as far as the tax code goes, one of the easiest steps in the computation process is the mortgage interest deduction. Unlike many more recently created tax breaks, the mortgage interest deduction presents no difficult formulas, calculations, or income limits for taxpayers who utilize the deduction. The lender simply provides the interest and property tax amounts to the homeowner on a Form 1098. The taxpayer then simply transfers these two numbers from the form on to their tax return. Among the taxpayers who itemize their deductions, 28 million used the mortgage interest deduction in 1995, the most recent year for which statistics were available. In that group, 71% had incomes below $75,000, and 42% had incomes below $50,000. Clearly, the mortgage interest deduction is a significant benefit for middle class taxpayers. Homeownership is a cornerstone of American life. The tax code has always supported that goal and facilitated the great achievements we have made. The stability and simplicity of the tax policies supporting homeownership have played a crucial role in the progress we have made in keeping the American Dream alive. I suggest the absence of a quorum.