Trent Lott

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, for the information of all Senators, there will be no further votes this evening. The discussion regarding the dairy issue will occur from 9 a.m. until 9:40 a.m. on Wednesday, with the cloture vote occurring at approximately 9:45 a.m. Assuming cloture is not invoked on Wednesday morning, I anticipate the Senate will resume consideration of the pending Ashcroft amendment, which is an amendment to the disaster amendment by Senators Harkin and Daschle. Also, if an opportunity does present itself, I understand that there will be another disaster-related amendment by Senator Roberts and Senator Santorum. Of course, that will be in line behind the other amendments because of procedure. But at the appropriate time there is a plan by those two Senators, and others, to offer another amendment.

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that a vote occur on the motion to table that I just made at 5 p.m., with the time between now and then equally divided.

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I move to table the pending amendment and I ask for the yeas and nays.

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, if I can respond, I understand that, depending on how this vote goes, there may be a second-degree amendment that would be offered perhaps by Senator Ashcroft. But after that is dispensed with, that would be the final vote of the day, I believe, once we dispense with this whole process. Then we can go on to debate dairy, and the vote on dairy cloture will occur in the morning. We would have time for debate on cloture tonight.

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I move to reconsider the vote.

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I now withdraw the amendment I offered on behalf of Senator Cochran, amendment No. 1500.

Mr. LOTT. I move to lay that motion on the table. The motion to lay on the table was agreed to.

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. Having said that, I now ask unanimous consent that there be a period of morning business with Senators permitted to speak for up to 10 minutes each.

Mr. LOTT. I yield the floor, Mr. President.

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. Therefore, the Senate will convene at 9 a.m. and we will have 40 minutes of debate, equally divided, on the dairy issue; at 9:45 will be the cloture vote on the dairy amendment. Following the vote, the Senate will resume consideration of the pending Agriculture appropriations bill. Amendments and votes are expected throughout tomorrow's session of the Senate with the anticipation of completing action on the bill. After that is completed, we could have a vote on a nomination after some period of debate, and then we would turn to the Interior appropriations bill.

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. I ask unanimous consent that the Senate now proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 241, S. Res. 95.

Mr. LOTT. I ask unanimous consent the resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, and any statements relating to this resolution be printed in the Record.

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate immediately proceed to executive session to consider the following nominations en bloc: Executive Calendar Nos. 192, 193, and 200. These nominations are Michael A. Sheehan to be Coordinator for Counterterrorism; Robert S. Gelbard, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Republic of Indonesia; and William B. Taylor to be Ambassador during tenure of service as Coordinator of the U.S. Assistance for the New Independent States. I further ask unanimous consent that the nominations be confirmed en bloc, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, any statements be printed in the Record, the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action, and the Senate then return to legislative session.

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn until the hour of 9 a.m. on Wednesday, August 4. I further ask consent that on Wednesday, immediately following the prayer, the Journal of proceedings be approved to date, the morning hour be deemed expired, the time for the two leaders be reserved for their use later in the day, and the Senate immediately begin 40 minutes of debate on the dairy issue to be equally divided between the opponents and proponents, and the cloture vote occur at 9:45 a.m. with the mandatory quorum having been waived.

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of the conference report to accompany H.R. 2465.

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. I ask unanimous consent the Senate proceed to the consideration of Calendar No. 229, H.R. 2415.

Mr. LOTT. I ask unanimous consent that all after the enacting clause be stricken and the text of S. 886 as passed by the Senate be inserted in lieu thereof. I further ask consent that the bill be read the third time and passed, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table. I further ask consent that the Senate insist on its amendment, request a conference with the House, and the Chair be authorized to appoint conferees on the part of the Senate.

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I want to pay tribute to a great educator who has fought diligently on behalf of all Mississippi students. Dr. Rudolph E. Waters has been employed at Alcorn State University, the nation's oldest historically black land-grant institution since 1957. Over the past 40 years, Dr. Waters has worked tirelessly to improve education standards. While at Alcorn State, Dr. Waters has served as Dean of Students, Dean of Instruction, Coordinator of Title III Programs, Vice President, Interim President, and Executive Vice President. In 1964, while serving as Dean of Instruction, he was a participant in the Institute for Academic Deans at Harvard University. Born in Brookhaven, Mississippi, Waters received his B.S.C. from DePaul University in 1954. After studying for his master's degree at Boston University and doing a stint at Southern Illinois University, he received his Doctorate of Philosophy from Kansas State University in 1977. His professional affiliations include the American Association for Higher Education, the National Association of Collegiate Deans and Registrars, Phi Delta Kappa, Delta Mu Delta, and the National Society for the Study of Education. Dr. Waters has worked with youth of all ages. He has been a member of the Commission on School Accreditation; the Commission of Interinstitutional Cooperation for Alcorn State University and Mississippi State University; and a member of the board of directors for several organizations including the Andrew Jackson Council of the Boy Scouts of America, the University Press of Mississippi and the National Commission for Cooperative Education. Dr. Waters's commitment to excellence has allowed him to serve on visitation teams for the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and the Council on Study and Accreditation. In his work, he has advised schools across the southeast including Morris Brown College in Atlanta, Alabama Lutheran Junior College in Selma, Morris College of Sumter, South Carolina; and Natchez College in Mississippi. He has been awarded several special honors and commendations throughout his professional career including the Outstanding Educator Award from Rust College in 1976, the Alumni Fellow Award from Kansas State in 1988, and the Kappan Of The Year from the Utica chapter of Phi Delta Kappa in 1993. Dr. Waters's writings have focused on teaching and the shaping of young minds He authored ``Implications of Studies on Class and School Size for Programs in Business Education in the Public Secondary Schools'' and ``A Profile of Presidents of Historically Black Colleges and Universities.'' He also co-authored ``Justice, Society, and the Individual: Improving the Human Condition'' which was published in the 1978 Yearbook of the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development. Dr. Waters is not only a great educator, but a great rhetorician and historian. On numerous occasions, he has been called upon to represent the university at both state and national events. He has a great knowledge of history and a distinguished usage of rhetoric and philosophy. On the campus, Dr. Waters is loved by administrators students and faculty. His kindness and gentle manner are always appreciated, and his upbeat spirit and attitude are an attribute is caught by all who come in contact with him. I commend Dr. Waters for all he has accomplished and all that he has yet to achieve. Dr. Waters is truly a shining star for Alcorn State University and for all Mississippians.

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, today I want to honor a man of integrity, perseverance, intellect, and dedication. Dr. Gerald Walton recently retired from my alma mater, the University of Mississippi. Dr. Walton has served Ole Miss for nearly forty years in several capacities ranging from a part-time English instructor in 1959 to the position of Provost from which he is retiring. Born and raised in Neshoba County, Mississippi, Dr. Walton has been a great servant of higher education in Mississippi. He graduated from the University of Southern Mississippi in 1956 with a degree in English. He then attended Ole Miss, where he obtained his master's degree and then his doctorate. Dr. Walton's next step was a stint as a teaching assistant. Once he got his foot in the door, he quickly gained the respect of his colleagues and began to move up in the ranks. He has demonstrated exemplary commitment to public education. In addition to managing the demands of a career in academia, Dr. Walton has been dedicated to his family. He has always put his wife and three daughters first. I am envious of all the free time he will have for his four grandchildren. Mr. President, Dr. Walton has stood the test of time. He has adjusted to the many changes Ole Miss and our society have experienced. Dr. Walton has always stood by his principles of right and wrong, which were first professionally tested in 1962. He was one of only a handful of faculty who publicly supported James Meredith and the integration of Ole Miss. Several members of the faculty advised him not to sign a letter of support, but as Dr. Walton would say, ``I felt it was the right thing for me to do.'' His character was challenged early and he passed with flying colors. Dr. Walton's abilities and personal demeanor have made him one of the favorite administrators on campus, a fact which is evidenced by his holding several leadership positions during his tenure at Ole Miss. He has been described as modest and deeply principled. Often, Dr. Walton has been the one who carried the responsibility and made crucial decisions, but he shies from the spotlight, and allows others to be recognized and applauded. Today, we applaud Gerald Walton. Mr. President, at Ole Miss, Dr. Walton has proven himself to be multi-talented. He has served the University as a teaching assistant, Assistant Professor, the Director of Freshman English, the Associate Dean and Dean of Liberal Arts, Associate Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, Interim Chancellor, and finally in the position of Provost. In each of his positions, Dr. Walton has been the type of leader for whom every one of his students and colleagues would do most anything. Other contributions on his long list of accomplishments are the roles he played in organizing the first Faulkner and Yoknapatawpha Conference and the Oxford Conference for the Book. Mr. President, Dr. Walton is not one to brag on himself, but never thought twice about bragging on the University or his colleagues. I am pleased to have the opportunity to honor such a deserving individual. I trust that the Senate will join me in congratulating Dr. Gerald Walton on his retirement from a distinguished career at the University of Mississippi. My dear friend, Chancellor Robert C. Khayat, said it best when he was speaking of Dr. Walton. He said, ``Truly, Gerald Walton can move into the next phase of his life knowing that the words, `Well done, my faithful servant,' apply to him.''

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. If there is no further business to come before the Senate, I now ask unanimous consent the Senate stand in adjournment under the previous order.

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that reading of the amendment be dispensed with.

Mr. LOTT. Madam President, I now move to recommit the bill with instructions to report back forthwith with an amendment, and I send the motion to the desk.

Mr. LOTT. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that reading of the amendment be dispensed with.

Mr. LOTT. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that reading of the amendment be dispensed with.

Mr. LOTT. Madam President, I ask for the yeas and nays.