Trent Lott

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. I modify it to say Senator Sarbanes or his designee.

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that notwithstanding the agreement of May 4, Senator Sarbanes now be recognized to offer a CRA amendment with all other provisions of the previous consent agreement still intact. I further ask that a vote occur in relation to the CRA amendment at 7 p.m. tonight, and if debate has been completed prior to that time, the amendment may be laid aside in order for Senator Gramm, or his designee, to offer an additional amendment.

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I join my other colleagues here today in recognizing National Teacher Appreciation Week. I am the son of a schoolteacher. My mother taught school for 19 years, between first and the sixth grade. She finally had to leave teaching because in those days teachers basically could not make enough money to live on. She wound up in bookkeeping and broadcasting. I also worked for a university for 3 years, and I have a very serious appreciation for our teachers and the jobs they do. I have stayed in touch, over the years, with my second-, third-, and fourth-grade teachers at Duck Hill, MS. I don't know why, but I particularly remember those three and have always appreciated them. I guess we remember the ones who teach us to write and do the basic reading. They were wonderful women and wonderful people, and they inspired me in many ways. So in appreciation of this National Teacher Appreciation Week, I will quote from the Bible. It says: Train up the child in the way he should go, and when he's old, he will not depart from it. Those were the words of Solomon. That is good advice from Solomon. So today I want to pay particular attention to our Mississippi Teacher of the Year, Mary Beth Black. She teaches chemistry, physics, and advanced placement physics. I remember those courses. They are the reason I didn't go into pharmacy or med school. Biology, chemistry, physics--I took all the college preparatory courses, and I look back now and I know that I was wasting space. I was really never destined to major in the sciences. But it is so important that we have teachers who inspire students in that area. If we are going to be competitive in the future, in the next millennium, and participate in the world economy, we are going to have to have students who are good in science, physics, computer sciences, and the sciences in general. In order for them to learn what they need to know and to be inspired in that field, you need great teachers like this teacher, the ``Teacher of the Year'' in Mississippi, who teaches at Emory, MS, a wonderful lady with a wonderful record. She points, interestingly enough, to her second-grade teacher who, she noted, inspired her when she was 7 years old--that she knew when she was 7 she could be anything she chose to be: She could be a brain surgeon, she could drive a fire truck, or go to the Moon. But this second-grade teacher inspired her to want to be a teacher. She always wanted to be a teacher--and to be more than just a teacher, to be an inspiration to young people. She said: Second grade can be challenging. My problem was cursive writing or ``real writing'' as we second graders called it. No matter how hard I tried, my loops and swoops and tilts were never as good as my peers. ``Until now,'' she said, ``school had been great.'' But in this instance it got to be a problem and a challenge. But her second-grade teacher, Mrs. Hurt, worked with her and taught her and then became an inspiration to her. So today I give thanks and appreciation to all of our teachers across our great country, and in my State of Mississippi to the ``Mrs. Hurts'' who taught in those small, sometimes one- and two-classroom buildings as my mother did, who not only taught the course but inspired a generation of more teachers such as Mary Beth Black, Mississippi's Teacher of the Year. An 18th-century American historian, Henry Brooks Adams, said: ``A teacher affects eternity; (she) can never tell where (her) influence stops.'' So our teachers influence our young people, and they affect the future of our country and the world. Thanks to all of them. I yield the floor.

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on the Judiciary be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, May 5, 1999, at 9:30 a.m. in room 226 of the Senate Dirksen Office Building to hold a hearing on: ``Department of Justice Oversight.''

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Subcommittee on Seapower be authorized to meet on Wednesday, May 5, 1999, at 3:00 p.m., in closed session, to receive testimony on Submarine Warfare in the 21st century.

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I will be brief because we have to get back to this Financial Services Modernization Act. I know the two managers managing this are working on it studiously, and we will be having votes later today. It looks to me as if we can make good progress.

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I want to use my leader time to make a brief statement also. Mr. President, I should begin by saying I understand the feeling of the sponsors of this resolution and I commend them for their dedication and their untiring efforts. But I would today, in dealing with this resolution, quote an ancient Greek historian who once said, ``Observe due measure, for right timing is in all things the most important factor.'' This resolution is out of sync with current events. There is no request for this action. NATO is not seeking additional authority. The President is not seeking additional authority. The Senate has already acted and expressed its support for the bombing campaign. I have had my reservations about the President's policy from the beginning and I so voted; but it appears that perhaps the Administration has stopped deciding on targets by committee and that they are actually attacking targets that have greater value. We should allow that campaign to continue to work. This is the wrong language and it is at the wrong time. Currently, there seem to be some effort to find a negotiated settlement. We should encourage that. But this language would go too far, beyond what I think the Senate is prepared to do and what is necessary and what has been requested. It authorizes the use of all necessary force and other means to prosecute this fight. That does include ground troops. I think the Senate would want to have a longer debate and want to discuss other options. For instance, when we were considering the timing of this resolution last week, we were exchanging language between the majority leader and the Democratic leader, to see if we could find language that would have broad, bipartisan support. That was interrupted by this resolution. Let me review how we got here. This resolution was introduced weeks ago. And under the War Powers Act, it was the pending business as of last Friday. We cannot go to another matter, under the War Powers Act, once the Parliamentarian ruled that this language kicked into action the War Powers Act. So we had to either act on it or get an agreement to postpone it. I agreed and urged that we postpone it for a week or 10 days until we had some bipartisan language we could agree on. Senator McCain agreed to that postponement. Senator Daschle indicated that he thought he could support that. But, along the way, as Senators are entitled to do, there were objections to postponing it by unanimous consent. So we had to deal with this issue. My suggestion at that time was that we not get into a substantive debate, that we offer a procedural motion to set it aside until another time when we can better determine what is needed--if something different is required than what is already on the books, if something more is asked for by the President, or if we are ready to go forward with the War Powers Act or even a declaration of war. But I don't think we are there at this moment. So we are forced to have this vote today. I would like to describe it as a procedural vote because I think it is. It is to table this resolution and to reserve the opportunity at some future date to have a vote on whether or not we want to give the President authority to prosecute this matter with all necessary force. I do not think that is where we are today. But I do want to say emphatically that I think the language is substantively excessive, not necessary, and uncalled for. So, Mr. President, I urge our colleagues to support the motion to table and I so move to table the resolution. I ask for the yeas and nays.

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, the past year has been a trying one for the United States Capitol Police. The deaths of Officer Jacob Chestnut and Detective John Gibson struck a chord with the American people and the Congress. We are keenly aware that we rely on the men and women of the U.S. Capitol Police to protect the Capitol Complex and all of those who work and visit here. In doing so, they ensure that the national legislative process proceeds unhindered and that citizens are safe and free to visit their Capitol, view the House and Senate in session, and meet with their elected representatives. Protecting the Capitol Complex requires well trained, highly- motivated, and dedicated police officers. On April 27, the U.S. Capitol Police added such officers to its ranks when it graduated Recruit Class 116. The twenty-four recruits in this class proudly became police officers after successfully completing five months of exhaustive training. These officers came from all walks of life and from a number of states around the nation. Many had prior military experience, others had previous experience in the law enforcement profession, while some just recently graduated from college. The common bond among these officers is the desire to enter the law enforcement profession and honor the memory of Officer Chestnut and Detective Gibson. During the graduation ceremony, which was attended by the members of the U.S. Capitol Police Board, the Department's Command Staff, and family and friends of the recruit officers, Class President Robert Garisto gave a speech on behalf of the members of the Recruit Class 116. I feel that this speech is indicative of the caliber of personnel who fill the ranks of the U.S. Capitol Police. I ask unanimous consent that Officer Garisto's speech be printed in the Record.

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I am proud of the men and women of the United States Capitol Police and I appreciate what they do, each day, in service to the Congress and the nation. I would like to congratulate Officer Garisto and the men and women of Recruit Class 116 on their accomplishments and I wish them continued success during their careers with the United States Capitol Police.

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. This morning the Senate will resume consideration of S.J. Res. 20, with a brief statement by Senator McCain. Following Senator McCain, the majority leader will be recognized to make a motion to table S.J. Res. 20. Before I speak, however, and make that motion, I believe Senator Daschle will use leader time to make some remarks, too. So Senator McCain will speak, Senator Daschle, and I will speak and make a motion to table S.J. Res. 20. Therefore, the first rollcall vote of the day will occur at approximately 9:45. If S.J. Res. 20 is tabled, the Senate will immediately begin debate on S. 900, the financial services modernization bill, under the provisions agreed to last night by unanimous consent. It is hoped that significant progress will be made on the banking bill, and therefore Senators can expect further rollcall votes today. We do have one complicating factor. We have also had another natural disaster to strike our country, this time in Oklahoma. The Senators from Oklahoma feel the necessity, understandably, to go to Oklahoma, and we will have to take that into consideration in how we schedule votes. I will consult with the Democratic leader about that timing. The Senate will be in recess for the weekly party caucus luncheons from 12:30 to 2:15. I thank my colleagues for their attention. I believe Senator McCain is ready to speak.

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. I thank the Chair.

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, today I want to honor the premiere high school show choir in the Nation--Mississippi's own Clinton High School's Attache. Forty-two singers/dancers, sixteen instrumentalists, and seventeen crew members make up the outstanding group of young adults from a high school with an enrollment of 11 hundred. For the past decade, the members of Attache have proven to be goodwill ambassadors for their high school, their community, and the great State of Mississippi. They have traveled to competitions all across America--Indiana, Illinois, Alabama, Florida, New York, and California. During this time, Attache has not only competed in, but won every major show choir competition in the United States. They are the only high school show choir to ever win the grand championship in each venue of the Showstopper's International Invitational Competitions--an accomplishment of which Mississippians should truly be proud. While competing with other American high school students, they have demonstrated to the nation Mississippi's culture and excellence in the arts. Mr. President, I want to point out that all of these accomplishments have been made while balancing practice and performance schedules with academics. These students serve as role models for the Nation. They demonstrate the tremendous achievements which are possible through dedication and hard work. Since 1992, David and Mary Fehr have led Attache. David serves as the group's director. He arranges all numbers, directs the vocals and serves as the pianist during the show choir's performances. Mary designs the sets and costumes for the performers and personally sews the girls' outfits. This husband and wife team illustrates the value of teamwork. Discipline, self-reliance, and hard work are each of their charges. They are the epitome of what a public school educator should be. The Clinton Public Schools are blessed to have them on board. This outstanding group of young adults and their dedicated leaders are shining examples of what positive energy can produce. It is refreshing to know that there are still teenagers out there with dedication and determination. Being a part of this show choir requires long hours and hard-work. Clinton and the whole state of Mississippi should be truly proud of the accomplishments of Attache.

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. I ask unanimous consent that following the vote relative to S.J. Res. 20, if tabled, the Senate move to proceed and agree to the motion to proceed to S. 900--that is, the financial services modernization bill--and, following opening statements, Senator Sarbanes be recognized to offer an amendment in the nature of a substitute, the text of which is S. 753, and no amendments or motions to commit or recommit be in order during the pendency of the substitute, and, if the amendment is agreed to, it be considered as original text for the purpose of further amendment. I further ask that, following disposition of the Sarbanes substitute, the next two amendments in order be first-degree amendments to be offered by the chairman or his designee. I also ask that following the disposition of two Republican amendments, Senator Sarbanes or his designee be recognized to offer an amendment, the text of which is the CRA provisions of S. 753 substituting for the CRA provisions of S. 900 and no amendments or motions to commit or recommit be in order during the pendency of the Sarbanes/CRA amendment. Finally, I ask that all amendments in order to S. 900 be relevant to the financial services legislation.

Mr. LOTT. I thank my colleagues and yield the floor.

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. I thank the Senator from Connecticut for yielding. Mr. President, I do have a unanimous consent request to propound momentarily. This is on the financial services modernization bill. While I am waiting, I commend Senator Daschle for his leadership, helping to get us to a position where we could move to that legislation tomorrow; and Senator Gramm and Senator Sarbanes have been working together. I think this is a good agreement, a fair one, and allows us to get to a substitute that could be offered.

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

Mr. LOTT. I yield to the Senator from Delaware.

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, just one moment to explain what has transpired. We have a number of Senators who wish to be heard on this issue. I view this as a procedural vote by moving to table it. We have this issue before us at this time because of the War Powers Act. There was a lot of feeling that we should have postponed this debate and vote until a later time, but under our rules we couldn't get that done. That is why Senator Daschle and I felt at this time that a procedural motion to table was appropriate and that that vote should occur at 5:30. Senator Daschle is on the way back, but I understand he has agreed to this request. You cannot cut Senators off who are asking to speak on a matter of this magnitude. We have worked out an arrangement. We have gone into the night. There are probably an hour or two more of speeches left, and that way we will have a vote in the morning. Even if Senators had to come back for a 9:30 vote, they would have to be here tonight anyway. So I apologize for any inconvenience that may be caused by this delay of the vote for Senators who did come back for the 5:30 vote, but it seems it is the fair thing to do at this time. I appreciate the cooperation of Senators on both sides of the aisle.

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that during today's debate no motions be in order and at 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, the majority leader be recognized to make a motion to table S.J. Res. 20.

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, for the information of all Senators, I am including in the Record today a draft Senate Joint Resolution setting forth requirements that must be met before the United States Armed Forces may be deployed in or adjacent to the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro) to conduct offensive ground operations. This draft resolution has been the subject of discussion among numerous Senators, as a possible compromise measure on the subject of Kosovo. My discussions with Senator Daschle and other Senators, from both parties, continue in an effort to determine whether bipartisan agreement can be reached on the timing and substance of a Kosovo debate here in the Senate. I commend the attached resolution to the attention of my colleagues. I ask unanimous consent it be printed in the Record.

Mr. LOTT

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

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. I further ask that following that vote, the Senate proceed to S. Res. 33 reported today by the Judiciary Committee regarding National Military Appreciation Month, and the Senate proceed to vote on the resolution without further debate.

Mr. LOTT. I ask consent it be in order for me to ask for the yeas and nays at this time.

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I now ask for the yeas and nays on adoption of S. Res. 33.

Mr. LOTT. There will be two rollcall votes on Friday beginning at 10 a.m. I thank my colleagues for their consideration of these issues. As a result of the agreement outlined, there will be no further votes today. In addition, I am working with the minority leader, Senator McCain, and others to reach an agreement for consideration of the resolution Senator McCain introduced regarding Kosovo. That could involve other votes or other resolutions. For now, we are working on exactly when the McCain resolution would come up. I hope the Senate can reach consideration on this matter in early May. I expect a little debate yet today on the pending lockbox issue.