David Pryor

Mr. PRYOR

Mr. PRYOR. Mr. President, when the 105th Congress meets for the first time early next year, this Chamber will have many new faces. This is partly because 13 of us, including myself, will leave this body to pursue other goals and ambitions. I rise today to pay a special tribute to those of my colleagues who will retire from the U.S. Senate at the end of this term. Mr. President, it has been my pleasure to work with my distinguished colleague from New Jersey, Senator Bill Bradley, since 1978. We arrived together, and together we depart. Senator Bradley's respect for the opinions of his colleagues and thoughtful demeanor have made him one of the true gentlemen of the Senate. I have enjoyed working with him on the Committee on Finance and the Special Committee on Aging. He has been a leader on tax reform, environmental protection, and violence prevention. Senator Bradley established himself as a progressive leader in tax reform by proposing the Fair Tax Act in 1982. That later became the Tax Reform Act of 1986. This act closed most of the loopholes that had created unfair and unbalanced tax burdens on the people of the United States. This legislation also reduced Federal taxes on many low-income Americans. Bill has taken a personal interest in the protection of the environment over the years. He passed legislation to protect the shores of not only New Jersey but of the entire country through his support of the Shore Protection Act of 1996 and has fought to protect millions of acres of virgin land from mining and development. His determination to create jobs and to expand the police force in those areas have made Senator Bradley a leader in finding solutions to the violence that has become an everyday part of life in many communities. The Senate is losing a great Member in Senator Bill Bradley. I wish him and his family the best in the future. I also want to pay tribute today to Senator Hank Brown. I have had the honor of serving with the Senator from Colorado on the Government Affairs Committee. In addition, he has been a leader in the fight for a balanced budget. While he chose to serve only one term in the Senate, Hank had spent 10 years in the House of Representatives. I served in the House and know how difficult the schedule can be, splitting time between Washington and my home district, leaving little time to see family and friends. Yet, while a Member of Congress, he earned a masters of law degree from George Washington University. Hank is always looking for new things to learn and new ways to grow as an individual. I am sure that, after he moves back home, Hank will find many new experiences from which to learn whatever he chooses to do. He has served the people of Colorado well and will be missed. Senator Bill Cohen and I came to the Senate in 1978 and I have greatly enjoyed working with him over the years. In addition to being an effective Senator and a true champion for his State of Maine, Senator Cohen also found the time to author eight books. I have served with Bill Cohen on the Governmental Affairs Committee and he has been a reliable ally in the struggle to reform our government's procurement practices. Too many people think that our work is done here in the Congress when we pass appropriations bills. Senator Cohen is among a small group of Senators who realizes that the oversight process is just as important as approving the money. Mr. President, the Senate will certainly miss the insights and energy of Senator Bill Cohen. Mr. President, the senior Senator from Nebraska, James Exon, is another of my colleagues who has decided not to seek another term in the U.S. Senate. I know that Senator Exon's retirement will cast a shadow over the great State of Nebraska and this body. Senator Exon's friendship has been extremely important to me during my time as a member of the Senate. I will miss him as we continue with the next phase of our lives. We have been friends for 20 years, dating back to the days when we served our respective States as Governor. James Exon was one of a group of Senators who dropped by a gathering of folks from Arkansas last week. I was honored that he took the time out of his schedule to attend the gathering. I appreciated Senator Exon's help on many pieces of legislation, including his strong support for my work to keep pharmaceutical drug prices down. He was also an original cosponsor of the Taxpayer Bill of Rights, and worked with me to make the Internal Revenue Service more accountable for its actions. I am grateful for his help and support throughout the years. Mr. President, it has been an honor and a privilege to serve alongside Senator Exon here in this great body. We came to the Senate as dear friends, and I hope to continue the friendship in the future. Barbara and I have enjoyed our time spent with James and Pat Exon, and we wish them the best in the future. Mr. President, one of this country's true statesmen, Senator Mark Hatfield of Oregon, has been a Member of this body since 1966. I am truly grateful to have had the opportunity to serve with this great man. Senator Hatfield's dedication to his State and Nation can be seen by his mere length of service. For the past 30 years, Mark Hatfield has worked hard to improve living conditions for the people of Oregon and the United States. Senator Hatfield has always been an ardent proponent of peace as he has continually worked to end armed conflict. It was Senator Hatfield who offered an amendment with then Senator McGovern to end the Vietnam War. Senator Hatfield is also a man of great conscience. Mark has deep- seated beliefs and he stands by those beliefs regardless of the consequences. Senator Hatfield has always looked to both parties for help in enacting important legislation. It is for this reason that Mark Hatfield is one of the most respected and influential Members of the U.S. Senate. Mr. President, Oregon is lucky to have a public servant who is as dedicated as Mark Hatfield. Barbara and I wish Mark and Antoinette all the best and on behalf of my colleagues, I want to thank my friend Mark Hatfield for all he has done for this institution and this Nation. Mr. President, the senior Senator from Alabama, Howell Heflin--known to many as the Judge--and I came to the Senate together in 1978. I have had the honor of serving the last 18 years with this dedicated public servant. Howell Heflin embodies the spirit of the U.S. Senate. Senator Heflin is a true gentleman and statesman. Therefore, it is not ironic that he is one of the most popular Members of the U.S. Senate and one of the most beloved public figures ever in the State of Alabama. Whenever times get tough, Howell is always there to liven up the mood with his great wit and personality. I have had the opportunity to serve on the Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee with Senator Heflin and I have seen firsthand the tireless effort he has given to improving the cotton, soybean, and peanut programs. Farmers all over this country should thank Howell Heflin for the contributions he has made to agriculture. Knowing the importance of agriculture in my own State of Arkansas, I am very thankful for the leadership of Howell Heflin. Senator Heflin has always believed in doing what is right and standing up for what you believe in. He regularly crosses party lines and votes his own personal beliefs. This is refreshing in a time when partisanship seems to take precedence over all other things. Mr. President, it has truly been an honor for me to work with such a great man as Howell Heflin, but most importantly, it has been an honor for me to call this man my friend. Barbara and I consider Howell and Mike to be among our closest friends and we will miss them greatly. We wish them all the best as they return home to Tuscumbia, AL. And while the U.S. Senate is losing one of its most dedicated members, Alabama is getting back two wonderful citizens in Howell and Mike Heflin. Mr. President, over the last 24 years, the distinguished Senator from Louisiana, Bennett Johnston, has become one of the most accomplished and dedicated Members to have served in the Senate. As chairman of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee for 8 years, and now the ranking member, the Senator's remarkable leadership has led to important legislation in energy policy. Mr. President, one of the greatest things I will miss about the Senate is the wonderful relationships that Barbara and I have formed over the past 18 years, including the one we have with Bennett Johnston and his lovely wife, Mary. As we both travel back to our neighboring States in the South, I look forward to continuing this friendship. I wish them all the best in their years ahead. I am truly honored, Mr. President, to have served with such a fine man. Another fine colleague who arrived with me to the U.S. Senate in 1978 is Nancy Landon Kassebaum, the distinguished senior Senator from Kansas. She has done an outstanding job representing Kansas and is truly a dedicated public servant. My fellow Arkansans and I were honored when Senator Kassebaum spoke at the unveiling of the portrait of Hattie Caraway, who represented Arkansas in the U.S. Senate and was the Nation's first woman to be elected to the Senate. Senator Kassebaum gave an eloquent speech that demonstrated how far women have come in the U.S. Senate. It has been an honor to serve with the Senator from Kansas. She has always been willing to cross this center aisle to accomplish what is best for the Nation. When she leaves this body, her humility and dedication will be sorely missed. Indeed, the State of Kansas and her colleagues in the U.S. Senate will be saddened by her departure. Barbara joins me in wishing her all of our best in the future. Mr. President, one of the finest men to ever serve as U.S. Senator, Sam Nunn of Georgia, is also leaving this body. Sam Nunn's tireless dedication, loyalty, and determination extend not only to his work as Senator, but in his personal life as well. Barbara and I have enjoyed many years of friendship with Sam and Colleen Nunn. I will carry many happy memories of that friendship with me as I return to Arkansas. Senator Sam Nunn has won not only my admiration and respect, but that of the American people. His efforts on the Senate Armed Services Committee, the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations and the Small Business Committee are testaments to his desire to maintain peace, hope and prosperity in America. His work has also earned him the distinction of one of the greatest national security and foreign policy experts of our time. All who have worked with Sam Nunn, all who have followed his career, surely recognize the numerous contributions he has made. I will miss him. America will miss this great Senator even more. When I was first elected to the Senate in 1978, Senator Claiborne Pell had been here for 18 years. I had always assumed he would be here long after I left. When Senator Pell retires this year, he leaves an impressive record of accomplishments in the areas of education, the arts, and foreign policy. He has been more than a Senator from Rhode Island, but a true statesman for the entire Nation. Senator Pell was instrumental in instituting the education scholarships for disadvantaged students that bear his name. Untold numbers of students have had the opportunity to go to college through the Pell Grant Program. He has continued to be an advocate for education throughout his career. Senator Pell recognized early on that the education of our children is the best investment this country could make. Senator Pell has been a true friend and teacher to many of us here in the Senate. I wish him well in his retirement. He has certainly earned it. Mr. President, last week my colleagues and I gathered in this chamber to pay tribute to our dear friend, the senior Senator from Illinois, Paul Simon, by decorating ourselves with a trademark Paul Simon bow tie. I have known this distinguished man for many years and have always found him to be a man of the highest regard in his love for this country of ours. He serves as a guide to all of us who serve in public life through his honesty and decency. Mr. President, Paul Simon stands strong for the things he believes in his heart to be good and true. But under no circumstance has he ever turned a deaf ear to any of us wanting to express our views or concerns. As I told this body just last week--as I go to the University of Arkansas next semester to speak to students from various educational backgrounds--If I am ever asked the question by one of those students as to how to pattern their lives for a political future, I will tell them to look at the life of Paul Simon, both the political life and the personal life. I say this because Paul Simon has humanized politics and the Government for each of us. I thank my friend for his leadership and service to this country and wish him a health and happy future. Mr. President, my good friend and colleague, Senator Alan Simpson, is also leaving this body at the end of the term. Eighteen years we have served here together, separated only by this center aisle. And it is this very aisle that Alan Simpson has worked his career at building a bridge across--to join both sides in doing what is best for every citizen of this great Nation of ours. Over the past several years, I have had the honor and privilege of working with my friend, not only on this floor, but also on the Finance Committee and the Special Committee on Aging. His hard work and dedication to the people of this country have served as a constant reminder to me and my colleagues of what we have been sent here to do--and that is to serve the people of our home States and all citizens of the United States. Alan Simpson's humorous and unique approach to business on this floor will be a great loss. Mr. President, Alan Simpson is one of the greatest doers and builders that we have ever seen in this body, and his presence will be sorely missed. Barbara and I wish my friend and his beautiful wife Ann the very best in the years to come. Mr. President, I know that all of my friends who are leaving will miss the Senate. But I have even more confidence that those remaining in the Senate, and millions of citizens back home, will miss these wonderful public servants and the energy and wisdom they go generously gave to their country. We are truly a better nation for their contributions.

Mr. PRYOR

Mr. PRYOR. Mr. President, I am not going to discuss whether there was a mistake or not. I think that has been bandied around quite a bit. I would like to discuss the company itself. I have heard many of our colleagues, or heard about many of my colleagues, talking about this being an antiworker company, or this being an antiworker cause that we are debating on the floor of the U.S. Senate. Mr. President, I would challenge any colleague of ours in the U.S. Senate to go out around this town, or around this country, and when they see a Federal Express worker I would challenge my colleagues to ask that person, that employee of Federal Express, what they think of that company. I say that because it is not only one of the hundred best companies in our country, but they have a scholarship program, and they are going to say this works wonderfully for our families. They have a reimbursement program for tuition. They have extended health care. And they have many other programs that makes the morale of this company I think second to none.

Mr. PRYOR

Mr. PRYOR. Mr. President, I want to call the attention of my colleagues to a new book by a very brave Arkansan, James ``Paladin'' Fore. Written along with Larry Jacks, the book, ``Tragedy and Triumph: A Pilot's Life Through War and Peace,'' serves as both a biography and a history. In a very unique way, Jim writes about the horrific events he witnessed through a flying career of more than 40 years. I want to commend Jim for writing this fascinating book which follows him from World War II through the conflict in Southeast Asia accumulating more than 37,000 flying hours. As both a military and civilian pilot, Jim witnessed history in the making in over 100 countries. Mr. President, for a unique perspective on history through the eyes of a pilot, I highly recommend this book.

Mr. PRYOR

Mr. PRYOR. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to a very dear friend who has spent more time working for the U.S. Senate than I have. Jan Paulk has left this body to go on to bigger and better things, and Barbara and I want to wish her all the best in her future endeavors. Mr. President, there is not a member of this Senate that Jan has not helped in one way or another, and I know all my colleagues join me in thanking Jan for her service. As a fellow Arkansan from Russellville, Jan came to Washington in 1966 as a staff member to the late Senator J. William Fulbright. In 1971, she joined the Committee on Foreign Relations and served as a professional staff member for 10 years. However, most of my colleagues have become better acquainted with her in her most recent post. Since 1982, Jan Paulk has served as the director of the Office of Interparliamentary Services, guiding and assisting each one of us in our official duties both here and abroad as Members of the U.S. Senate. Mr. President, the entire Senate will miss Jan Paulk, but I know she will move on to other challenges. Mr. President, Jan Paulk will face all of these new endeavors with the charm and grace that made her such a viable part of the United States Senate.

Mr. PRYOR

Mr. PRYOR. Mr. President, it is very clear to me that there is, in fact, confusion. But the quickest and best way to eliminate that confusion is to simply support the Hollings amendment, return us to 1995, December, under that particular Act which for 62 years guided and had jurisdiction over ``express carriers.'' We could go into a long legal argument, and I am sure that legal arguments will be made on the floor of this body as to who is right and who is wrong. The substance of this issue must and should be debated. But now is the time, we think, that we should correct the issue, that we should go back to where we were, that we should once again set the record straight and start from there. If hearings are needed next year, that is fine. But we should in this legislation support the Hollings amendment to the FAA Authorization and Reform Act. Mr. President, I yield the floor. Several Senators addressed the Chair.

Mr. PRYOR. Mr. President, I stand here this afternoon in the waning hours of this Congress urging our colleagues to support not only the FAA reform authorization bill but to urge with all my heart this body to include the language adopted by the conference offered by Senator Hollings of South Carolina, the so-called Hollings amendment. I think that we should approach this rationally. I think that we should approach this matter with understanding and certainly with truth, a calm atmosphere. I know it has gotten remarkably emotional in the last several hours. First, I hope our colleagues will know that this is not some amendment offered by the Senator from South Carolina to make it difficult for unions to organize. It is not a union-bashing amendment. It is nothing of the sort. Furthermore, in my humble opinion, this was a mistake. It was a mistake when we phased out the Interstate Commerce Commission and moved those areas of concern and jurisdiction to other parts of our Government. Clearly, there was a disclaimer by the Congress and it said in section 10501 of the Interstate Commerce Commission Termination Act--it has been cited in the Chamber by the distinguished Senator from South Carolina. Once again I will cite that language: The enactment of the ICC Termination Act of 1995 shall neither expand nor contract coverage of the employees and employers by the Railway Labor Act. That is precisely what I think this debate is all about. Why the so- called express carrier language was omitted in 1995, I, frankly, do not know. I think it was an error. I think it was a drafting error. If that be the case, then I think it is incumbent upon this body to cure that error and to set the record straight. I do not believe that one person can be produced who can come and testify before this body, or tell this Senator, or perhaps any other Member of this body, that this was not an error. I do not know who that person is. That is notwithstanding a report that is being cited freely on the floor of the Senate this afternoon by the American Law Division of the CRS, the Library of Congress. In all due respect to whomever authored this particular rendition of what they felt the law was, I think that this is, perhaps, one of the most confusing, ambiguous memoranda that I have read from this erstwhile very, very reputable division of the Library of Congress. This flies also in the face of the staff of the Senate Commerce Committee and also of the staff of the House of Representatives Commerce Committee. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent their rendition of what actually happened in this area be printed in the Record.

Mr. PRYOR

Mr. PRYOR. I thank the Chair for recognizing me.

Mr. PRYOR. Mr. President, I think under a unanimous-consent agreement I am to be recognized now for 5 minutes. Is that correct?

Mr. PRYOR

Mr. PRYOR. Mr. President, reserving the right to object--I do not want to object--I do not think that I am going to ask to speak for 5 minutes, but at least if I could reserve 5 minutes in this process for myself I would appreciate very much the distinguished manager allowing me to speak.

Mr. PRYOR

Mr. PRYOR. Mr. President, today I am asking the Senate to approve H.R. 2700, a bill to name a post office in Elmendorf, TX, the ``Amos F. Longoria Post Office Building,'' with an amendment. The amendment, which I offered in the Governmental Affairs Post Office and Civil Service Subcommittee and which was unanimously adopted, addresses mailing problems faced by Elderhostel, an independent, nonprofit organization which operates a central course catalog and registration system for college level classes for people over the age of 60. These courses are sponsored by colleges and universities at more than 1,900 colleges, universities, museums, national parks, and environmental education centers in the United States, Canada, and 47 other countries. Elderhostel receives no Federal or State support. Elderhostel provides easy access to these continuing education programs through the mailing of its course catalog. Unfortunately, a U.S. Postal Service definition prevents Elderhostel from mailing their catalog at a second-class catalog rate. This catalog rate is used, for example, by the American Bar Association's continuing legal education material. Elderhostel is barred from using that rate because rather than being a catalog of one institution of higher learning, it is a compilation of courses offered by otherwise eligible ``regularly incorporated nonprofit institutions of learning.'' The amendment I am offering to H.R. 2700 simply expands the definition of an institution of higher education eligible to mail at second-class rates to include a nonprofit organization that coordinates a network of college level courses that nonprofit colleges and universities offer to older adults. The National Federal of Nonprofits, the Advertising Mail Marketing Association, and the Direct Marketing Association have no objection to this legislation. Mr. President, H.R. 2700, as amended, will solve a problem caused by the fact that Elderhostel doesn't fit neatly into the Postal Service's definitions and I urge my colleagues to support the amendment and pass the bill.

Mr. PRYOR

Mr. PRYOR. Mr. President, I join my colleague from Arkansas to express thanks to the Committee on Environment and Public Works for including the language in section 304 of the Water Resources Development Act relating to the project purposes of the White River Basin Lakes in Missouri and Arkansas. This is a significant development for the tourism and recreation industries in our States. In Arkansas, tourism has become the second leading industry, directly behind agriculture, in terms of its impact on State and local economies. Nowhere is it felt more strongly than in the White River Basin. And it is not just the local economies that feel the impact. The tax revenues generated return to the Federal treasury an amount far exceeding the Federal investment. The White River Basin Lakes were authorized during an era when our Nation's needs and economies were quite different from today. While the Congresses of the 1940's were visionary and accomplished many positive things for our Nation in terms of flood control, and later power generation, it would have been impossible for them to imagine the development of tourist industries, such as Branson, MO, that would be affected by these lakes. It would have been impossible to know that millions of visitors each year would spend untold millions of dollars on recreation related goods and services. I am aware of the concerns of power suppliers in both States who worry that this language will somehow subordinate power generation at these dams to recreation interests. Mr. President, as we read this language, it is absolutely clear that flood control and power generation will not be adversely affected by any actions that this legislation authorizes the Army Corps of Engineers to undertake. This language simply grants a place at the table to recreation, tourism and fish and wildlife interests. It allows the Corps of Engineers to consider impacts on these interests when making decisions about the management and operation of these lakes. This is long overdue.

Mr. PRYOR

Mr. PRYOR. Mr. President, last Wednesday night, as I looked around the Russell Caucus Room at the many wonderful people that have served on my staff these past 18 years, I was filled with pride. I will always remember the loyalty and hard work of my staff--the greatest in the Senate. Today I would like to honor one such staffer, Walter Edwin Droskie. Walter Droskie is retiring at the end of the 104th Congress after 35 years as a Senate employee, serving 6 senators over the years. In 1962, Senator Patrick McNamara from Michigan, was the first senator to realize Walter s potential. Hired as a data entry operator, Walter started off on his long journey of service to his home State of Michigan and eventually the States of Texas and Arkansas. In 1966, Walter continued working for the State of Michigan by joining the staff of Senator Robert Griffin and spent 13 years there. By now Walter was developing a reputation for his expertise as mailroom manager. In 1979 Senator John Tower from Texas heard about Walter and offered him his next job. He continued this pattern of invaluable service to the State of Texas by going to work for Senator Lloyd Bentsen in 1984. When Bob Krueger filled Lloyd Bentsen's seat in 1992, Walter was wisely kept on staff. In 1993, I was fortunate enough to finally get Walter Droskie on my staff. We had been hoping to catch him between Senators for a long time--he was always in demand. Walter has brought so much to my office. The mailroom has never run smoother, and Walter's wonderful disposition has won him the friendship of everyone on my staff--past and present. As he retires this year, I hope Walter Droskie realizes how much he has contributed not only to my office, but all the offices he has worked for during these past 35 years. His dedication and tireless hard work have won him the respect and gratitude of all he has known. I wish him the best during his retirement. The U.S. Senate will surely miss the many contributions of this fine man.

Mr. PRYOR

Mr. PRYOR. Mr. President, I want to thank my distinguished colleague from Illinois, Senator Carol Moseley-Braun, for the eloquent statement she has made about our departing colleague, the honorable Paul Simon, the senior Senator from her State. I also want to thank, Mr. President, our distinguished colleague, the junior Senator from Illinois, for the role that she has played in making this so-called bow tie day in honor of Paul Simon, not only a reality, but I think certainly, Mr. President, a success. I must say, I have been asked several times during the course of the afternoon--because I think I have gotten a little bit too much attention or credit for this, and I should not get any--but I was sitting at an airport some months ago, visiting with my friend and colleague from the State of Florida, Senator Connie Mack, and I do not know exactly how we started talking about Paul Simon of Illinois, but something came up, and Connie Mack said to me, he said, ``You know, we ought to do something to honor Paul Simon. What a grand person. What a distinguished American. What an opportunity we have had to serve with this man, Paul Simon.'' We started thinking out loud, sitting in the airport, waiting for the plane. And the plane did not come, and it did not come, so we had idea after idea. Finally, Connie Mack said, ``You know what we ought to do? We all ought to, before Paul Simon leaves the Senate, we ought to wear a bow tie in his honor because it is such a symbol of this great man.'' So I said, ``Connie Mack, you have come upon a great idea.'' I raced to the telephone and called my friend in Little Rock, Mr. Bill Humble, and I said, ``Bill, can your tie plant make us up 100 bow ties?'' He said, ``We'll be glad to.'' And so with that, and then with the help, the wonderful help of Senator Carol Moseley-Braun, who helped arrange the disbursing of the ties today, and keeping this a secret, even almost from all of the Paul Simon staff, and almost Mrs. Simon, Jeanne Simon--I did notice she was here today to see the thunderous applause, the thunderous ovation that her husband, Paul Simon, received by his colleagues, I would say about 95 percent of those colleagues wearing a bow tie to pay tribute to our colleague. So it has been a nice day. It was a nice way to express our affection and our respect for Paul Simon of Illinois. I have always admired him. I have admired him from afar when he was a Member of the House of Representatives, when he was doing so much with children's issues, when he was championing the cause of education in our society, when he was concerned about the breakdown of the family unit, which he was talking to us about, as Senator Moynihan was talking to us about decades ago, about this breakdown, and the perseverance with which he approached each and every issue that he undertook. And I am so grateful that I have had the privilege of not only sitting alongside this man, but also literally sitting behind Senator Paul Simon's desk for these numbers of years. Mr. President, it is time for those of us who are departing, like my colleague and wonderful friend from Wyoming, Senator Simpson, who I came to the Senate with in 1979, it is time now, speaking of desks, for us to clean out our desks and take those humble belongings that we have in these desks home with us or wherever we might go, and to inscribe our name as occupant of the desk. Many in our country might not know the history of these beautiful Senate desks in the Senate Chamber, but I hope all Americans will know that each Senator who occupies a particular desk will have his or her name inscribed in that desk for posterity and for all future generations to know. Finally, Mr. President, back to our friend, Senator Simon, if I were speaking to a political science class--and I think come the next semester at the University of Arkansas I might be speaking to one or two of those classes--if I am ever asked the question by one of those political science students as to how to pattern their life into becoming a politician, and a public servant, ultimately a public official, I think I would say to that class that you have to look no further than the life, the personal life and the political life, of Paul Simon of Illinois, because I think with his life he has made a statement, just like we on the floor today made a statement by wearing a Paul Simon bow tie. Paul Simon has made a statement for the last three decades that I think will be an inspiration to all who believe in this system of government and to all who believe that we can make this system of government better. A lot of people have so-called ``lost faith'' with our system of government, with politicians and with Washington, and what have you. But I think I would say this--and I am proud that my colleague from Illinois is here, my colleague from Wyoming, and our new colleague from Tennessee, and the distinguished occupant of the Chair from Idaho--I would just say that I think that Paul Simon, perhaps as much as any Senator that I have ever had the privilege of serving with, has humanized government. He has humanized politics. And he has humanized politicians. I think he has done it with grace. He has done it with vision. And he has done it I think with joy, because that joy exudes from Paul Simon. The happiness of his profession, the happiness of his work, I think will live long after Paul Simon has left these Chambers of the U.S. Senate. So, Mr. President, with that, we say thank you, Paul Simon, thank you for being our friend, thank you for being truly a great U.S. Senator and a great Member of this body and a great friend of us all. Mr. President, I yield the floor. Mr. SIMPSON addressed the Chair.

Mr. PRYOR

Mr. PRYOR. Mr. President, I, too, would like to join with my colleagues this afternoon in paying special respect here on the floor of the U.S. Senate to our friend Howard Greene. He has served this institution with great dignity, with great candor, and certainly with great understanding and respect for the Senate of the United States and for each and every Senator. He has respected and served and answered to not only the Senators on that side of the aisle, but he has been most respectful and most helpful also to the Senators on the Democratic side of the aisle. Howard Greene is the type of individual who makes the U.S. Senate not only unique, but I think that because of his service to the Senate and his years involved with the Senate, the U.S. Senate is better today because of his years of very, very distinguished service. He is a part of the heart and the nerve and the sinew that makes the U.S. Senate what it is today, Mr. President. I take great pride in being able to add this humble voice as a vote of confidence for this fine man and as one who has worked with him and alongside him for a number of years. Mr. President, it gives me great pleasure to add my words of support and best wishes to this fine servant of the people of our country and the U.S. Senate, Howard Greene. Mr. President, I yield the floor.

Mr. PRYOR

Mr. PRYOR. Mr. President, today, I will be unavoidably absent from the Senate, as I am in Arkansas on a family matter. However, I feel it is important to express my support for this welfare reform measure and discuss briefly the reasons for my support. My concerns in the debate over welfare reform stem from proposals that would outright dismantle the safety net in this country. For decades, the Federal Government has assumed the responsibility to help those that can-not help themselves. The welfare reform bill before us shifts much of that responsibility to the States. I voted against last week's Senate version of the welfare bill with the hope that I could improve it in the conference committee. In some ways it has improved, in others it has not. Even so, if I were able to vote for this bill today, I would. I am not going to say this bill before us today is perfect. It is not. But I cannot justify keeping the current system. There are more individuals in poverty now than ever before. I believe we have a responsibility to seek new ways to help people help themselves. Our current system fails at this task and we must recognize this fact. Welfare as we know it has not effectively emphasized work or pulled individuals out of poverty. I do not like all of the provisions in this bill, but I can not support the status quo. In the past week I have heard from many people in Arkansas about welfare reform. They know how the current program works in places like Little Rock, and in Camden, in Fayetteville, and across the Arkansas Delta. They can see that the current program needs reform. Under this bill, States will be given the flexibility to reform welfare to meet the needs of that State. Yesterday, President Clinton said that the welfare population today is different than the one 60 years ago. It is also true that the welfare population today differs from State to State. Individuals on welfare in Arkansas face different problems and have different strengths than those in New York or California. This legislation will give States the opportunity to design a welfare program unique to that State. It is a big responsibility we hand over to the States today. I pray they act wisely.

Mr. PRYOR

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

Mr. PRYOR

Mr. PRYOR. Mr. President, today marks the conclusion of a monumental effort by numerous individuals and organizations to finally update food safety laws of this country. With the help of the Clinton administration, members of both the Agriculture and Labor Committees-- particularly Senator Lugar, the chief sponsor of the bill in the Senate--as well as our colleagues in the House, passage of the Food Quality Protection Act has finally become a reality. This legislation at long last updates the famed Delaney Clause which was first enacted in the 1950's, but became obsolete with the advances in science and technology. Although the provision served a very useful purpose in its day, we have recently found ourselves in a situation where the outdated law was working against the ability of the crop protection industry to find safer alternatives for our farmers and ranchers to use in the production of food and fiber. Again, Mr. President, I want to complement the Clinton administration for helping find a bipartisan solution to a problem that has plagued farmers and consumers for a number of years. The result is consumers continue to have a safe and abundant food supply and that farmers and agribusiness will be treated more fairly by government regulators. It is a clear victory for both farmers and consumers and proves once again that when we work in a bipartisan fashion we're all the better. consumer right to know section

Mr. PRYOR

Mr. PRYOR. Mr. President, over the past several years there has been a very extensive debate over ways to achieve more fairness for taxpayers, especially small taxpayers, through reform of our tax system. Proposals are most often very complex and sometimes extremely partisan. But there is one simple, inexpensive, and I must say unanimously-agreed upon legislative package that helps make paying taxes fairer to the taxpayer. Mr. President, we call this proposal the taxpayer bill of rights 2, which passed the Senate by unanimous vote on Thursday evening. I am very proud we passed this particular piece of legislation by unanimous consent. The passage of this important piece of legislative work is the culmination of over one decade of dedication to its philosophy. Many of our colleagues in the Senate today were not here in 1988 when Congress passed, and President Reagan signed into law, the very first taxpayer bill of rights. That bill was the first ever comprehensive piece of legislation enumerating the rights of the American taxpayer. For example, in the taxpayer bill of rights 1 provided: First, the right of the taxpayer to be informed of their respective rights; Second, the right of the taxpayer to rely on written advice of the Internal Revenue Service; Third, the right of the taxpayer to representation; and Fourth, the right of the taxpayer to recover, for the first time, civil damages and attorney's fees from the Internal Revenue Service. These and other basic, commonsense provisions were codified by the first taxpayer bill of rights. The battle waged by a strongly bipartisan coalition for their codification was hard-fought, and their ultimate enactment was a first giant step for the American taxpayer. But, since 1988 Mr. President, we have learned much about the Internal Revenue Service and the needs of taxpayers. Now is clearly time to more fully develop and expand those particular rights. With Thursday's passage of the taxpayer bill of rights 2, we have taken a very significant step forward, treating taxpayers more like customers. This step follows the efforts taken in 1988 with the enactment of the first taxpayer bill of rights. In 1992 I first introduced the taxpayer bill of rights 2 with considerable bipartisan backing of some 52 of our colleagues on each side of the aisle. The bill passed Congress twice that year. It was ultimately vetoed because it was included as part of two large tax bills with which President Bush did not agree. Since these two bills were vetoed at that time, the Senate has not considered taxpayer bill of rights 2 on its own merits until this past Thursday. In making its way to the Senate, this very important piece of legislation passed the House of Representatives by a unanimous 425 to 0 vote. I applaud the action of the House of Representatives, and I am proud that this Thursday, because of a strong bipartisan coalition, the Senate has now followed suit by unanimously passing taxpayer bill of rights 2. I am also proud to say I have had the privilege and honor of working very closely with my colleagues in the Senate. Senator Chuck Grassley, of Iowa, has been a strong champion for years of increasing taxpayers' rights. He has been, certainly, a grand ally in this long fight. Senator Harry Reid, from Nevada, has also been a strong advocate for giving additional rights to the taxpayer. He has been a strong advocate and supporter of taxpayer bill of rights 2. In fact, the very first speech that Senator Reid made on the floor of the U.S. Senate, shortly after his election, related to the necessity and the need of having a taxpayer bill of rights. I look forward to President Clinton signing this very important bill in the days ahead. The taxpayer bill of rights 2 builds on a foundation laid by the original taxpayer bill of rights. It protects taxpayers by requiring the IRS to achieve higher standards of accuracy, timeliness, and fair play in providing taxpayer service. It makes the Internal Revenue Service accountable. The taxpayers bill of rights 2 achieves these new standards through 27 new provisions--27 new protections for the American taxpayer, as a result of the passage of the taxpayer bill of rights 2. First, expansion of the authority of the taxpayer advocate to prevent hardships on taxpayers; Second, creation of small taxpayers' rights to an installment agreement, and further rights when installment agreements are denied or terminated are specifically spelled out to benefit the taxpayer; Third, the expansion of the reasons for which the IRS must abate interest when it has delayed a taxpayers' case, and for the very first time in our history, a grant of authority to the courts of the power to review the interest abatement determination; Fourth, an increase in the amount a taxpayer can recover in civil damages from $100,000 to $1 million, when the Internal Revenue Service or an agent thereof has acted negligently or recklessly in the taxpayer's case; Fifth, provisions strengthening the code so the taxpayer may recover out-of-pocket costs; Sixth, rules prohibiting the Internal Revenue Service from issuing retroactive proposed regulations unless the Congress provides otherwise. Mr. President, the taxpayer bill of rights 2 contains many more commonsense provisions, designed to safeguard the rights of taxpayers. Taken together, these provisions will work to restore more faith in our system of taxation. It will provide more protection for the taxpayer in dealing with the Internal Revenue Service. I truly believe that in the long run, this very important, bipartisan legislation will help bolster taxpayer confidence in dealing with the Government by ensuring taxpayers that they are going to get fair treatment by the tax collector, the Internal Revenue Service. Mr. President, in closing, I would like to this morning pay a very, very special tribute to a fine gentleman who has worked for years to make certain that the taxpayers' bill of rights No. 2 became the law of this land. This fine gentleman is Steve Glaze. He is a member of my staff. He sits to my left at this moment on the floor, and I can say without reservation that without Steve Glaze's constant help and support, his inspiration many times when we thought the taxpayers' bill of rights 2 would never see the light of day and never become law, Steve Glaze was always that optimistic individual, knowledgeable, inspired and committed to making certain that the American taxpayer got a fairer break. So, Mr. President, I thank my very worthy staff member, Steve Glaze, for his magnificent contribution to this bipartisan piece of legislation. I thank the Chair, and I yield the floor.

Mr. PRYOR

Mr. PRYOR. Mr. President, I assume we are in morning business. I ask unanimous consent I may proceed for no more than 10 minutes.

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

Mr. PRYOR

Mr. PRYOR. Mr. President, H.R. 3448 reinstates all airport and airway trust fund excise taxes, including the section 4271 tax on the transportation of property by air. In Revenue Ruling 80-53, the Internal Revenue Service clarified that this excise tax does not apply to charges paid by the U.S. Postal Service for accessorial ground services. Although the Internal Revenue Service has followed the same interpretation in an unpublished ruling involving a commercial carrier, there seems to be confusion about the application of section 4271 to commercial integrated carriers that provide accessorial ground services, in addition to air transportation. In reinstating section 4271 excise tax, is it your view, Senator Thompson, that the statutory language of section 4271 is to be interpreted and applied to commercial carriers in accordance with the holding of Revenue Ruling 80-53--i.e., that amounts reasonably attributable to accessorial ground services of commercial carriers are not taxable under section 4271? If you agree with this statement, would you also agree that any uncertainty about the present or future application of section 4271 to commercial carriers should now be eliminated.

Mr. PRYOR

Mr. PRYOR. Mr. President, I wish to pay a special tribute to a very important figure in the State of Arkansas and in the U.S. Senate. This past Monday, many Arkansans, congressional staffers, members of the Arkansas State Society, representatives from the U.S. Senate and Capitol historical offices, and a few of my fellow colleagues gathered just outside this Chamber for a ceremony honoring this distinguished American. We gathered to unveil the newest portrait being added to the Senate art collection--a portrait of the first woman ever elected to the U.S. Senate. Mr. President, Hattie Caraway came to this distinguished body on November 13, 1931, following the death of her husband, Senator Thaddeus Caraway. A gubanatorial appointment and a special election allowed Senator Caraway to complete the remaining year of her husband's term. She then decided to do what no woman had done before her--win a seat in the U.S. Senate in her own right. In the election year of 1932, Hattie Caraway, with the staunch support of Senator Huey P. Long of Louisiana, made her bid to hold her seat in this body. Hattie Caraway and Huey Long traveled across the State of Arkansas winning support and winning votes. This fascinating team spoke in over 35 communities during the first week of August 1931. Hattie Caraway won that election and became the first woman popularly elected to the U.S. Senate. Mr. President, Senator Caraway, at first, spoke so infrequently that she became know as Silent Hattie. As she grew more accustomed to her new role, she emerged as a strong supporter of the New Deal legislation. She even had the honor of seconding the nomination of President Franklin Roosevelt at the 1936 Democratic National Convention. Hattie Caraway also served as the first woman to preside over the Senate--May 9, 1932--and the first to chair a Senate committee. Silent Hattie emerged as a respected and honored Member of this body. Senator Caraway was re-elected in 1938 and went on to champion legislation important in the history of our country--most notably, she cosponsored the equal rights amendment in 1943. She served until the Democratic primary of 1944, when she was defeated by another political hero from Arkansas, J. William Fulbright, thus ending a historical career in the Senate. Mr. President, Hattie Caraway has her place in history, and now she has her place in the U.S. Capitol. She watches over the main Senate hallway, just outside these doors. This portrait shows Senator Caraway dressed in her customary color of black, a sign of mourning for her husband. She is pictured in front of a map of the great State of Arkansas. The portrait is hung across from Senator Joe T. Robinson--a fellow Arkansan. It has been my pleasure, Mr. President, to have the opportunity to help in the completion of this project. My good friend and colleague, Senator Bumpers, along with his wife, Betty, as well as my wife, Barbara, who were both honorary cochairs, have all been involved in the selection of the Hattie Caraway Portrait Committee and completion of the portrait project. Senator Bumpers and I were proud to appoint Mary Ellen Jesson of Fort Smith to chair the committee, which was made up of many fine and outstanding Arkansans, including Diane Alderson, Diane Blair, Cassie Brothers, the Honorable Irma Hunter Brown, Meredith Catlett, Gwen Cupp, Ann Dawson, Dorine Deacon, Mimi Dortch, Jacqueline Douglas, Lib Dunklin, Judy Gaddy, Jane Huffman, Dr. Charlotte Jones, Chloe Kirksey, Karen Lackey, Bev Lindsey, Donna Kay Matteson, Susan Mayes, Clarice Miller, Betty Mitchell, Julia Mobley, Nancy Monroe, Sylvia Prewitt, Billie Rutherford, Irene Samuel, and Helen Walton. Mr. President, I would like to thank the Senate Commission on Art, in particular Kelly Johnston, who serves as both the executive secretary of this commission and as Secretary of the Senate, Howard Greene, the Senate Sergeant at Arms, and Diane Skvarla, Senate Curator, for all of their hard work and advice that they so freely gave. I would also like to acknowledge Melinda Smith, Senate Registrar, Dick Baker, Senate Historian, and Jo Quatannens, Assistant Senate Historian for their dedication to this project. J.O. Buckley, an artist from Little Rock, was chosen by the members of the U.S. Senate Commission on Art to paint the portrait of Senator Caraway. He was chosen, Mr. President, from a group of outstanding Arkansas artists to add this piece of history to the U.S. Capitol. We are so pleased with the results and congratulate J.O. Buckley on his marvelous work. We gathered here Monday night and had the privilege of hearing Prof. Diane Blair and Dr. David Malone praise the outstanding career of Senator Caraway. We also had the privilege to be joined by my distinguished colleagues Senator Strom Thurmond and Senator Nancy Kassebaum, both of whom spoke about Hattie's historical and inspirational presence in this body. Mr. President, I, as an American, an Arkansan, and a U.S. Senator, am proud to stand here today to pay tribute to Hattie Caraway--a woman dedicated to serving the citizens of my home State and this great country of ours.

Mr. PRYOR

Mr. PRYOR. Mr. President, to day I am introducing legislation that will address a situation facing Elderhostel. Elderhostel, for those who have not heard of this organization, is an independent, non-profit organization which operates a central course catalog and registration system for college level classes for people over the age of 60. These courses are sponsored by colleges and universities at more than 1,900 colleges, universities, museums, national parks, and environmental education centers in the United States, Canada, and 47 other countries. Elderhostel receives no Federal or State support. Elderhostel provides easy access to these continuing education programs through the mailing of its course catalog. Unfortunately, a U.S. Postal Service definition prevents Elderhostel from mailing their catalog at a second-class catalog rate. This catalog rate is used, for example, by the American Bar Associations' continuing legal education material. Elderhostel is barred from using that rate because rather than being a catalog of one institution of higher learning, it is a compilation of courses offered by otherwise eligible ``regularly incorporated non-profit institutions of learning.'' The legislation I am introducing today simply expands the definition of an institution of higher education eligible to mail at second-class rates to include a nonprofit organization that coordinates a network of college level courses that non-profit colleges and universities offer to older adults. The National Federal of Nonprofits, the Advertising Mail Marketing Association and the Direct Marketing Association have no objection to this legislation. Mr. President, this bill solves a problem caused by the fact that Elderhostel does not fit neatly into the Postal Services' definitions and I urge my colleagues to support the bill.

Mr. PRYOR

Mr. PRYOR. Mr. President, to day I am introducing legislation that will address a situation facing Elderhostel. Elderhostel, for those who have not heard of this organization, is an independent, non-profit organization which operates a central course catalog and registration system for college level classes for people over the age of 60. These courses are sponsored by colleges and universities at more than 1,900 colleges, universities, museums, national parks, and environmental education centers in the United States, Canada, and 47 other countries. Elderhostel receives no Federal or State support. Elderhostel provides easy access to these continuing education programs through the mailing of its course catalog. Unfortunately, a U.S. Postal Service definition prevents Elderhostel from mailing their catalog at a second-class catalog rate. This catalog rate is used, for example, by the American Bar Associations' continuing legal education material. Elderhostel is barred from using that rate because rather than being a catalog of one institution of higher learning, it is a compilation of courses offered by otherwise eligible ``regularly incorporated non-profit institutions of learning.'' The legislation I am introducing today simply expands the definition of an institution of higher education eligible to mail at second-class rates to include a nonprofit organization that coordinates a network of college level courses that non-profit colleges and universities offer to older adults. The National Federal of Nonprofits, the Advertising Mail Marketing Association and the Direct Marketing Association have no objection to this legislation. Mr. President, this bill solves a problem caused by the fact that Elderhostel does not fit neatly into the Postal Services' definitions and I urge my colleagues to support the bill.

Mr. PRYOR

Mr. PRYOR. Mr. President, earlier today the Senate agreed to a unanimous-consent request agreement whereby at this point I would be recognized to offer the Pryor-Chafee-Brown amendment. This last vote, of course, was an up or down vote on the amendment offered by the Senator from Utah. Mr. President, I think the Senate has spoken. I am sorry the Senate spoke in this manner, as we lost some key Senators who had supported our position before. But that is the prerogative of each Senator. Mr. President, I see no real reason to put the Senate through this vote again because I think there would probably be no changes. Therefore, I congratulate the Senator from Utah in his real win today. I thought we were within about one or two votes difference, but evidently that was not the case. I do feel, Mr. President, and I would like to say that I think, ultimately, this correction needs to be made in the GATT treaty. I feel very, very strongly about this. If there is another way to frame this issue, or another way on another day to have a debate on this matter so that we can have more competition in the drug market, then I am going to, once again, rise on this floor and try to present that case to my colleagues. Once again, I congratulate the Senator from Utah. I think I know when I am defeated. I think today we were defeated. I am very sorry for the outcome. But the Senate, Mr. President, has spoken, and I bow to the will of this great body.