Trent Lott

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, it is my great pleasure to see the Senate today approve the nomination of a fellow Mississippian, Wayne O. Burkes, to serve as a member of the Surface Transportation Board (STB). Wayne is qualified to serve because he brings a wealth of experience and a depth of character to the STB. Wayne Burkes comes to this position after serving as the Transportation Commissioner for the Central District of Mississippi for the past ten years. In this capacity, he supervised all modes of transportation in the state involving aviation, highways, public transit, and rail safety. Prior to that, he served for 14 years in the Mississippi Legislature as both a Senator and a Representative on the Highways and Transportation Committees. Mr. President, Wayne Burkes brings a real multimodal background to the STB. He is a thoughtful, introspective, humble, and mature public servant. Wayne knows who he is and this will help him be an effective STB Member. Significantly, his experience, education, and training extend beyond the world of transportation. He understands the economics of business from his experience as an insurance underwriter and serving on the Board of Trustees of the Mississippi Baptist Medical Center. Wayne Burkes answered our Nation's call to duty by serving in the Air Force and Mississippi's Air National Guard, including service in Vietnam. He rose to the rank of major general before retiring from the Air National Guard. His background includes over two decades as a pastor at his church, where he now serves as a deacon. He also volunteers his time and talents to assist the Boy Scouts of America. Mr. President, our Nation can count on Wayne Burkes to diligently and faithfully execute his duties as a member of the STB. He is the one of the most decent and honest men you could hope to find. We wish him well as he embarks on another public service mission.

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I wish to take this opportunity to recognize and say farewell to an outstanding Marine Corps officer, Lieutenant Colonel Chase Moseley, upon his retirement from the Marine Corps after more than twenty-one years of commissioned service. Throughout his career, Lieutenant Colonel Moseley has served with distinction, and it is my privilege to recognize his many accomplishments and to commend him for the superb service he has provided the Marine Corps and the Nation. Lieutenant Colonel Moseley, a native of the State of Mississippi, graduated from the University of Southern Mississippi and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant through the Platoon Leaders Class Program in 1978. Since then, Lieutenant Colonel Moseley has spent his career patrolling the world's skies as a Naval Aviator. Following flight training, he began his service flying the F-4 Phantom in Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 531 in El Toro, California. After his tour in California, he reported to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 232 in Kaneohe, Hawaii, making two deployments to the Western Pacific and Far East. In 1985, he reported to Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 101 in Yuma, Arizona for instructor duty. Completing F/A-18 training in 1987, Lieutenant Colonel Moseley was again assigned instructor duty, now flying the F/A-18 Hornet. During this tour, Lieutenant Colonel Moseley was selected to attend the Naval Fighter Weapons School (TOPGUN) and in July 1989 was selected to join the Naval Flight Demonstration Squadron ``Blue Angels'' in Pensacola, Florida. In 1991, Lieutenant Colonel Moseley reported to Marine All Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 242 in El Toro, California to assist in the squadron's transition to the new F/A-18 ``Delta'' (All Weather Night Attack) aircraft. During this tour, he completed two Western Pacific deployments serving as the Squadron Operations Officer and Executive Officer. When not in the air, Lieutenant Colonel Moseley has like-wise served with distinction. In 1994, he served on the staff of the 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, Camp Pendelton, California as the Regimental Air Officer. In 1995, he was assigned to the Marine Aviation Department at Headquarters Marine Corps, Washington, D.C. to serve as the Congressional Liaison Officer for the Marine Aviation Plans, Programs & Budget Branch. During this tour, Lieutenant Colonel Moseley was selected for a Federal Executive Fellowship in a national competition sponsored by the American Political Science Association and Johns Hopkins University for its 1997-1998 Congressional Fellowship program. Upon completion of the Congressional Foreign Affairs program at Johns Hopkins University, Lieutenant Colonel Moseley was selected to serve as the Military Legislative Assistant to Senator Trent Lott, U.S. Senate Majority Leader. Among Lieutenant Colonel Moseley's many awards and decorations are the Meritorious Service Medal, the Navy Unit Commendation, Meritorious Unit Commendation with one star, the National Defense Medal, and the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon with 4 stars. During his more than twenty one-year career, Lieutenant Colonel Moseley has served the United States Marine Corps and our nation with excellence and distinction. He has been an integral member of, and contributed greatly to, the best-trained, best-equipped and best- prepared expeditionary combat force in the history of the world. Lieutenant Colonel Moseley's strong leadership, integrity, and energy have had a profound and positive impact on the United States Marine Corps and the Nation. Lieutenant Colonel Moseley will retire from the United States Marine Corps on April 1, 1999, after twenty-one years and three months of dedicated commissioned service. On behalf of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle, I wish Lieutenant Colonel Chase Moseley ``fair winds and following seas.'' Congratulations on completion of an outstanding and successful career.

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. Yes. That has already been cleared. I believe we have a unanimous consent request propounded.

Mr. LOTT. Yes.

Mr. LOTT. It should be given to the clerks at the desk, or to Marty on your side, or your secretary of the minority, or the secretary of the majority. They will get it into the Record at the right place. So I believe, once again, we are ready to go to our closed session.

Mr. LOTT. I believe it does take an affirmative act. It is not automatic.

Mr. LOTT. I would like to clarify one other matter. Senators will recall the motion approved February 9, 1999, which permitted each Senator to place in the Congressional Record his or her own statements made during final deliberations in closed session. I ask unanimous consent that public statements made by Senators subsequent to the approval of that motion, with respect to his or her own statements made during the closed session, be deemed to be in compliance with the Senate rules. This would permit a Senator to release to the public his or her statement made during final deliberations in closed session, except that, in doing so, a Senator may not disclose any remarks of the other Senators made during deliberations, without the prior consent, of course, of that Senator. I further ask unanimous consent that Senators have until Tuesday, February 23, 1999--that would be the Tuesday after we come back--to have printed statements and opinions in the Congressional Record, if they choose, explaining their votes. Finally, I ask unanimous consent that the Secretary be authorized to include these statements, along with the full record of the Senate's proceedings, the filings by the parties, and the supplemental materials admitted into evidence by the Senate, in a Senate document printed under the supervision of the Secretary of the Senate, that will complete the documentation of the Senate's handling of these impeachment proceedings.

Mr. LOTT. I presume we will go on for a couple hours--2 or 3 o'clock in the afternoon, yes. Unanimous-Consent Agreement--Printing of Statements in the Record and Printing of Senate Document of Impeachment Proceedings

Mr. LOTT. In the UC that was reached last night, I believe we have 2 hours, which will be equally divided, for Senators to submit statements at that point or to make speeches if they would like. So I presume-- after the votes, yes.

Mr. LOTT. Yes.

Mr. LOTT. For the information of all Senators, later on today, the Secretary of the Senate will be putting at each Senator's desk something I think you will enjoy reading later. It is the prayers of the Chaplain during the impeachment trial. Subsequently, we plan to put it in a small pamphlet, because they truly have been magnificent. We thought you each would like to have copies. The Senate will resume final deliberations now in the closed session. Thank goodness. At this point in the proceedings, there are approximately eight Members who still wish to speak or submit part of their speech into the Record. Following those final speeches, the Senate will resume open session and proceed to the votes on the two articles of impeachment. I estimate that those votes will begin at approximately 11, 11:30. However, the exact time will depend on the length of the remaining speeches, and also we will have to have a few minutes to open the Chamber and the galleries so that our constituents and our families can enter the galleries if they would like to. Following those votes, all Senators should remain at their desks as the Senate proceeds to several housekeeping items relating to the adjournment of the Court of Impeachment. So again, I emphasize, please, after the votes, don't rush out of the Chamber because we have some very important proceedings to attend to, and I think you will enjoy them if you will stay and participate. Under the consent agreement reached last night, following those votes, a motion relating to censure may be offered by the Senator from California, Senator Feinstein. If offered, Senator Gramm will be recognized to offer a motion relative to the Feinstein motion, with a vote to occur on the Gramm motion. Therefore, Senators may anticipate an additional vote or votes following the votes on the articles. I thank the Senators. And I believe we are ready to proceed to the closed session.

Mr. LOTT. Thank you, Mr. Chief Justice. Order of Procedure

Mr. LOTT. Now, Mr. Chief Justice, I move that the Senate, sitting as a Court of Impeachment on the articles exhibited against William Jefferson Clinton, adjourn sine die.

Mr. LOTT. Mr. Chief Justice, I ask unanimous consent that the February 5, 1999, affidavit of Mr. Christopher Hitchens; the February 7, 1999, affidavit of Ms. Carol Blue; and the affidavit of Mr. R. Scott Armstrong be admitted into evidence in this proceeding and the full written transcripts of the depositions taken pursuant to S. Res. 30 be included in the public record of the trial. This matter has been cleared on both sides of the aisle.

Mr. LOTT. Mr. Chief Justice, on behalf of myself and the entire U.S. Senate, we want to offer you our thanks and the gratitude of the American people for your service to the Nation and throughout this Impeachment Court and to this institution. As our Presiding Officer during most of the last 5 weeks, you have brought to our proceedings a gentle dignity and an unfailing sense of purpose, and sometimes sense of humor. The majority leader realized when it was time to take a break and not to take a break when the Chief Justice said let's go forward. By placing duty above personal convenience and many other considerations, you have taught a lesson in leadership. Your presence in the chair of the President of the Senate, following the directives of our Constitution, gave comity to this Chamber and assurance to the Nation. I would like to close with our traditional Mississippi parting: Y'all come back soon. But I hope that is not taken the wrong way, and not for an occasion like this one. So instead, as you return to your work on the Court in the great marble temple of the law right across the lawn from this Capitol, we salute you, sir, with renewed appreciation and esteem for a good friend and good neighbor. Presentation of the Golden Gavel Award Now, Mr. Chief Justice, if the Democratic leader will join me, we have a small token of our appreciation. We have a tradition in the Senate that after you have presided over the Senate for 100 hours, we present you with the Golden Gavel Award. I am not sure it quite reached 100 hours, but it is close enough.

Mr. LOTT. Mr. Chief Justice, I ask unanimous consent that the resolution be agreed to, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, and any statements that Senators wish to make on this resolution be printed at this point in the Record.

Mr. LOTT. Mr. Chief Justice, I ask unanimous consent the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of S. Res. 37 introduced earlier today by Senator Lott and Senator Daschle.

Mr. LOTT. I send a resolution to the desk.

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President--I almost called you Mr. Chief Justice; I have to get used to this, going back to ``Mr. President''--before Senator Feinstein is recognized, I must take just a moment further to recognize a few individuals, and I know Senator Daschle would like to do that. In addition to the Chief Justice and his assistants who were here throughout----

Mr. LOTT. The committee will go to the podium to escort the Chief Justice from the Chamber. Whereupon, the Committee of Escort: Mr. Thurmond, Mr. Roth, Mr. Domenici, Mr. Sarbanes, Mr. Moynihan, and Mrs. Lincoln, escorted the Chief Justice from the Chamber.

Mr. LOTT. I think we will ask Senator Nickles to handle that. (Laughter.)

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, if I could resume, I thank the assistants who came with the Chief Justice from the Supreme Court. I thank the Secretary of the Senate, Gary Cisco; the Sergeant at Arms, Jim Ziglar; and the Deputy Sergeant at Arms, Loretta Symms, who also gave us our instructions--the first time in history, I am sure, that a woman called the Senate to order. I would like to thank the secretary of the majority, Elizabeth Letchworth; counsel of the Senate, Tom Griffith, and deputy Morgan Frankel, our special impeachment counsel, Mike Wallace; my chief of staff, Dave Hoppe--who has just been tremendous and worked untold hours--and also all of our assistants at the desk--and especially our friend Scott Bates--for their wonderful work. I want the Record to reflect how much we appreciate the dedication and the long hours, the patience, and the competence of all these staff members. I would like to yield to Senator Daschle for his comments in this area.

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I call my colleagues' attention to a recent Associated Press article on the Gulf of Mexico ``Dead Zone'', a large area that suffers from hypoxia, a lack of oxygen in the water. The article states that researchers attending the national meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science say that fertilizer runoff, which is rich in nitrogen, into the Mississippi River may contribute to this oxygen deprivation. Now, I do not know the extent to which this may be true. However, I am proud to say that the Stennis Space Center in Mississippi is working on a high technology system that may hold the key to reducing farm nitrogen runoff while improving crop yield. The NASA Commercial Remote Sensing Program Office at Stennis, in concert with the local farming industry, are developing a new technique known as precision farming. It is, in real-time, bringing space age technology down to earth. Precision farming uses emerging space-based instruments to monitor farmers' soil content and computer technology to target fertilizer level to maximize crop yield. It will replace the widely used practice of fertilizing the entire crop to the same degree. Precision farming allows the farmer to give the land only what it needs. Mr. Kenneth Hood of Perthshire Farms, in the Mississippi Delta town of Gunnison in Bolivar County, which is about 25 miles north of Greenville, monitors the health and soil consistency of his farm through NASA hyperspectral imaging techniques. This technique allows Mr. Hood to add fertilizer as needed in specific portions of his acreage. It also helps him detect crop stress, before it can be seen through the human eye. Stennis Space Center's goal is to help Mr. Hood use less fertilizer, lower his costs, and improve his crop yield. This is a win for the farmer and a win for the environment. Most importantly, this technology may yield a private sector incentive to voluntarily reduce farm fertilizer runoff, a far better solution than imposing regulatory burdens or subsidizing inefficient and less productive fertilizer limits. NASA's Commercial Remote Sensing Program Office at Stennis Space Center should be congratulated for developing practical and productive commercial uses of this technology. This imaging technique, I believe, has application in other areas as well, such as in highway planning, environmental monitoring, resource exploration, coastal zone management and timber management. Mr. President, I encourage all of my colleagues with an interest to contact Mr. David Brannon of the Stennis Space Center's Commercial Remote Sensing Program. I am sure many of my colleagues have farmers such as Mr. Hood who want to improve crop yield, decrease costs, and be good stewards of the environment. All they need to do is call Stennis and learn about what Mississippi has to offer.

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I move the Senate recess subject to the call of the Chair.

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, as many of our colleges may be aware, Mr. David G. Marcos, who has served as the Senate's Executive Clerk for the last four years, has recently retired. Under David's supervision, the Office of Executive Clerk processed all of the executive business of the Senate. This includes the preparation of the Executive Calendar and processing hundreds of nominations and treaties to which the Senate gives its advice and consent each year. This effort requires a great deal of attention to detail. The Senate requires the staff of this office to work long and hard into the night after the Senate closes its floor proceedings. Dave Marcos was one of the uncomplaining individuals who put this Senate first and worked hard to make sure the Senate's ``advice and consent'' responsibility was accurately documented and recorded. Before becoming the Executive Clerk of the United States Senate, Dave worked as the Assistant Executive Clerk, the Keeper of Stationery and in other responsible posts. His career in the Senate spanned 39 years. Mr. President, I extend my best wishes to Mr. David G. Marcos in his well deserved retirement and wish him many years of health and happiness.