Rick Santorum

Mr. SANTORUM

Mr. SANTORUM. Thank you, Mr. President. I ask the question finally: What are we afraid of?

Mr. SANTORUM. To Wellstone.

Mr. SANTORUM. Maybe 10 or 15 minutes.

Mr. SANTORUM. Thank you, Mr. President. I thank my colleague from New Hampshire. I have listened to the remarks and to the complaints of those who are going to vote against this amendment. First, they say it is not going to work; that the only program out there that is in fact in place right now is Milwaukee. Yet the superintendent of the Milwaukee school districts has come to Washington, DC, over the past few months and pleaded for us to pass this proposal because he and the poor people of Milwaukee whose children don't have an opportunity to get a good quality education in the existing school system want this program. It is the ultimate accountability. We don't have accountability. When you have the dollars and you can take them to this school or to that school, that is accountability. There is no accountability in the public system because there is no choice in the public system. Your child is trapped in the school if you have low income. The child is trapped in the school to which they are designated to go. Therefore, accountability is just simply a check sheet that you have to fill out for some government bureaucracy. But there is no accountability to the consumer of the product. Isn't that what we are talking about? The consumer is the child. We worry so much and talk so much. By the way, I know people are concerned about the money. This bill under consideration, to my understanding, increases the amount of money we are going to spend on education by over 100 percent. To suggest somehow or another that we have been parsimonious with the money we are throwing around here for education is somewhat disingenuous. Hundreds of billions of dollars are being authorized for this legislation. We are looking at $50 million for a pilot program. What are people afraid of? Are you afraid this program will actually work? And if it does, it makes these hundreds of billions of dollars we are spending look as if we didn't know what we were doing. Are you afraid that it won't work and that there are some children right now who are getting a poor education who will continue to get a poor education? There is no down side for these people. They are saying, if it doesn't work, we are no worse off than we are today. If you as the mother or father of a child in a poor school district want to give your child a chance, at least you are giving them hope of improving their situation. Hope is a powerful motivator. What are we afraid of? What are we afraid of? Hundreds of billions of dollars are being pumped into our educational institutions through this bill, and we are running for the hills because there is $50 million for pilot programs that only go into effect if the Governor and the people in the local community want it. Let me underline that again. There is not a Federal mandate on any State. There is not a Federal mandate on any school. This says, if you are a Governor and you want to work with your cities--principally there are going to be cities that are underperforming and leaving children behind--we are going to give you a chance, with some Federal dollars, for you and the school district to innovate and to do something very different that might change a child's life. We talk about leaving children behind. The Senator from Connecticut said we cannot afford to have any child be a loser. You make the assumption that there are no losers in the current system. Let me assure you that we have lots of losers when it comes to having the opportunity to get a good education in this country. Lots of children are losing out on the opportunity to get a good education in this country. For us to say we are not going to give caring Governors, caring superintendents, school boards, and parents the choice of doing something different for children who are right now losing out because of fear that it might work--let me get to the bottom line--isn't that what it is all about? Aren't we really afraid this might work? Because if we are afraid it is going to fail, that child who is losing under the current system right now is going to be no worse off. Aren't we really afraid of success here? What we have been talking about--these glorious proclamations we have made about how we are going to improve the quality of schools and change the system and how we are going to be the savior of education--can all come down to the fact that we just haven't been giving the right incentives to parents and kids to get the kind of education they want, that we haven't upgraded a system that has ultimate accountability. The ultimate accountability is that you can walk with your money. Isn't that what we are afraid of? I think it is. I think it is a great fear of giving up control. The big problem is my life; I don't want to give up control. I want control over every aspect of my life. One of the things I have found is that sometimes, by giving up control, wonderful things can happen. Whether it is the State, whether it is the local school board, or whether it is the Federal Government, we want control of every little aspect, all the way down to making sure we have our hands in everything, and to make sure everything is run right. We control all of it. We feel good because we are doing something about it. But I think all of us know in our own lives that when we try to micromanage control, everything gets screwed up, particularly when you are doing it from Washington, DC, in every little city and school district. We are talking about a child here. We are not talking about children. It is wonderful to talk about children. I am talking about a child, because you know that if you are a mother sending a child to a poor school, you are worried about that child. What does this have to do with my child and my child's education? I don't care whether you are controlling all of this. All I want is to give my child a chance. That is what this bill does. This amendment gives my child--mine--a chance--not children, my child. We are afraid of that. We are afraid to give parents the chance to care for my child. We want to care for children because we know best-- because, of course, we are smarter than all the people who worry about their child. We know best. So we are going to dictate to you every step of the way as to where the billions of dollars go; $50 million for a little pilot project that says we are going to give you the ability to take care of your child; we are going to give up control of your child; they say: Oh, no, we cannot do that. It is too risky. There might be a loser out there somewhere.

Mr. SANTORUM

Mr. SANTORUM. Mr. President, on Sunday, June 30, 2001, family, friends, colleagues, and former parishioners will gather to memorialize Reverend Doctor Leon Howard Sullivan--to celebrate his life, and recognize his accomplishments as one the most outstanding and effective civil and human rights leaders born in the 20th century. I rise today to lend my thoughts and reflections as I was privileged to know Rev. Sullivan, and to have worked with him on initiatives important to Philadelphia, as well on African trade and development issues. Reverend Sullivan was born into poverty in an unpaved alley in an unpainted clapboard house in Charleston, WV on October 16, 1922. From such humble beginnings began a life's journey that was to last seventy- eight years. Sullivan was born in a State that practiced ``Jim Crow Laws,'' and while still in grade school, he started in his own way to fight against racial discrimination. By the time he was in the tenth grade, he had sat-in and been told to leave every drug store and eatery where ``only whites'' were allowed to sit in the city of Charleston, WV. At the age of sixteen, he won a basketball and football scholarship to West Virginia State College. Sullivan graduated from West Virginia State College at the age of twenty, and at the invitation of the Rev. Adam Clayton Powell, traveled to New York City. He was successful in winning a scholarship to the Union Theological Seminary. Rev. Powell also helped him secure his first job as a coin collector for the Bell Telephone Company. Leon H. Sullivan became the first African-American in the United States to hold that position. In 1941, at the age of twenty-one, Sullivan was elected President of the March on Washington organized by A. Phillip Randolph, President of the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters, the first African-American recognized and controlled union in America. A few days before the march was scheduled to take place, President Roosevelt acted on the demands of the march organizers to end discrimination against African-Americans on Army and Navy industrial installations. From the first march on Washington that never took place came Executive Order 8802. This action ended discrimination against African-American workers in government ordnance plants. Sullivan's career path continued when he accepted the position of assistant pastor to Rev. Powell. It was here that he learned first-hand about church administration and the art of running a political campaign. During this time, Rev. Powell campaigned for and won his seat in the U.S. Congress. It was also during this period of time that Sullivan met his life partner, Grace Banks. In 1944, in Philadelphia, PA, Leon and Grace were married. Not long after marrying, Leon Sullivan was called to lead The First Baptist Church of South Orange, NJ. While serving as pastor, he started a number of outreach ministries and continued his education at Union Theological Seminary and Columbia University. In 1950, Sullivan was called to be the pastor of the Zion Baptist Church of Philadelphia, where he would serve as pastor for the next thirty-eight years. The church membership grew from 600 to 6,000 and many outreach ministries were born. It was during his pastorship of Zion Baptist Church that Rev. Sullivan became locally, nationally and internationally known for his civil rights and human rights activities. One of these outreach programs was the Citizens Committee that worked with the police in the community to actively reduce crime. In 1955, Rev. Sullivan was chosen as one of the Ten Most Outstanding Men in America and presented the award by Vice President Richard M. Nixon. His achievements would also be recognized by Presidents George Bush in 1992 and Bill Clinton in 1999 when he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Eleanor Roosevelt Award respectively. Rev. Sullivan founded the Youth Employment Service, and in 1957, it was cited by the Freedom Foundation as the most effective, privately- developed employment program in the nation. A year later, Rev. Sullivan would undertake a great challenge that confronted African-Americans in the city of Philadelphia and across the Nation. Encouraged by his wife, Rev. Sullivan set out to bolster employment opportunities for African-American Philadelphians. This effort would prove to be a turning point in the civil rights movement for the Nation. With the assistance of 400 ministers in Philadelphia, Rev. Sullivan began the movement called ``Selective Patronage.'' The movement had one message, ``if the company won't hire blacks, don't buy their products.'' That movement became very successful in Philadelphia and led to the employment of thousands of African-Americans who were previously unwelcome as employees. In 1962, at the request of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Rev. Sullivan traveled to Atlanta to explain to King and the black ministers working with him, about Selective Patronage and how it worked. A few months later a similar program was started by Dr. King. Rev. Sullivan went on to make one of his greatest contributions by creating the Opportunities Industrialization Center, OIC. This job training and retraining program, initially started in Philadelphia, expanded operations to more than 100 cities throughout the United States and in 19 countries. OIC job training programs have enabled thousands of people to acquire the tools needed to secure skilled jobs with good wages. The OICs of America, in conjunction with OIC International, have trained more than 2 million men and women. Further building on Rev. Sullivan's philosophy of self-help and empowerment, he founded the International Foundation for Education and Self Help, IFESH, in 1983. IFESH is a non-governmental, non-profit organization with a mission of reducing poverty, promoting literacy, providing skilled job training, and providing basic and preventive health care. Specifically, IFESH designed programs to train 100,000 skilled workers; prepare 100,000 people for the farming profession; and help five million people achieve literacy. IFESH programs are international in scope with a strong emphasis on fostering social, cultural and economic relations between Africans and Americans. Rev. Sullivan's vision of and dedication to empowerment, equality and fairness touched many lives throughout the world. One of his celebrated accomplishments is the establishment of a code of conduct for companies operating in South Africa. These principles, known as the Sullivan Principles, are the standard for social responsibility and equal opportunity, and are recognized to be one of the most effective efforts to end workplace discrimination in South Africa. Rev. Sullivan built a bridge between America and Africa by organizing the five African/African-American Summits that were held in Africa. The first summit was in the Cote d'Ivoire and drew 2,000 people and the last was in Accra, Ghana with 4,200 people attending from throughout the United States and Africa. The last summit included 12 African heads of state, five vice presidents and prime ministers, and 14 delegations led by ministers of state. From the business community, more than 300 American businesses were represented. The life's work of Rev. Leon Sullivan charted a course and paved the way for hope, opportunity, and fulfillment for many African-Americans in Philadelphia, across the Nation, and throughout the world. In memorializing Rev. Sullivan, we celebrate his monumental contributions and achievements as a civil rights leader and a human rights advocate.

Mr. SANTORUM

Mr. SANTORUM. Mr. President, I rise to join my colleague, Senator Chris Dodd of Connecticut, in lending support to the pressing cause of addressing the ruinous effects of America's most common tick-borne illness, Lyme disease. I thank the senior Senator from Connecticut for his long involvement and leadership on this most important public health issue. With thousands of Americans contracting Lyme disease each year, it is critical that we work aggressively to wage a comprehensive fight against this devastating tick-borne illness, which costs our country dearly in the way of medical expenditures and human suffering. The current lack of physician knowledge about Lyme and the inadequacies of existing detection methods are particularly problematic, and only serve to compound this growing public health hazard. Approximately one year ago, I joined with Senator Dodd, and Representatives Smith of New Jersey, Pitts and Goode to request of the U.S. General Accounting Office a report on some of the current concerns surrounding public and private efforts dedicated to Lyme. We asked about the past and present funding trends within the NIH and CDC and to what projects these resources are being devoted, and we asked about possible conflicts of interest within government agencies related to decisions about the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of Lyme. Although we have not yet received the official report of the GAO, we have received some preliminary findings that Senator Dodd and I believed merited the development of new legislation that we are introducing today the Lyme and Infectious Disease Information and Fairness in testing ``LIIFT'' Act to build upon the solid foundation laid by the Lyme Disease Initiative of 1999. The GAO's preliminary findings suggest that the CDC and NIH have lost sight of what ultimately matters to the people living with Lyme: Accurate diagnostic tools, access to effective treatment and ultimately a cure. Needless to say, the patient community is not well-served if these areas are not given proper priority at the CDC and NIH. Between 1991 and 1999, the annual number of reported cases of Lyme disease increased by an astonishing 72 percent. Even as the dramatic increase took place, according to the GAO, funding for Lyme disease at the CDC has increased by only 7 percent over the past 10 years. Whereas we applaud NIH for its work and we are pleased to see that Congress' efforts to double NIH funding have directly benefited Lyme research, poor coordination and the lack of proper funding at the CDC has left too many questions unanswered. Senator Dodd and I share the frustration of the patient community; why hasn't all of this research translated into better treatment? We similarly believe that the CDC's lack of proper funding and attention to tick-borne disease has stalled progress in the development of more accurate diagnostic tests for Lyme disease. The LIIFT Act will seek to remedy these issues by ensuring that the proper collaboration is taking place on the Federal level the proper collaboration between the Federal Government and the people it serves. Our bill will also address the funding imbalances for Lyme disease activities at the CDC that has inhibited the development of accurate detection methods and treatment for Lyme. With this new legislation we are calling for the formation of a Department of Health and Human Services Advisory Committee that will bring Federal agencies, such as the CDC and the NIH, to the table with patient organizations, clinicians, and members of the scientific community. This Committee will report its recommendations to the Secretary of HHS. It will ensure that all scientific viewpoints are given consideration at NIH and the CDC and will give a voice to the patient community which has often been left out of the dialogue. The LIIFT Act will also provide an additional $14 million over the next two years to the CDC to ensure that the Centers work with researchers around the country to develop better diagnostic tests and to increase its efforts to educate the public about Lyme disease. We also call upon the NIH to place an emphasis on funding the neurologic and vascular aspects of Lyme disease and to recruit a larger pool of researchers. In addition, this legislation authorizes an additional $7 million to fund the extraordinary research and eradication efforts already underway at the U.S. Army Center for Health Promotion and Preventive Medicine located in the Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland. I sincerely hope that our colleagues will join Senator Dodd and me in this most worthy cause and cosponsor the LIIFT Act. Lyme disease patients and their families have waited too long for a responsive plan of action to address their suffering and needs. The Tireless efforts of the Lyme patient and advocacy community have been instrumental in raising awareness and mobilizing support for this issue, and for this both Senator Dodd and I thank them. I look forward to working with them, Senator Dodd, and our colleagues to synthesize the best ideas from last session's Lyme Disease Initiative and the new LIIFT Act, and to enact into law strong legislation to help correct the mistakes of the past, and to give greater hope for the future by ensuring patients that the Federal Government is doing everything in its power to provide better treatments and ultimately, a cure.

Mr. SANTORUM

Mr. SANTORUM. Mr. President, for the information of all Senators, the Senate will be in a period of morning business beginning at 10 a.m. tomorrow. Senators should be aware that votes may occur during tomorrow afternoon's session and throughout the remainder of the week. The Senate may consider the conference report to accompany the reconciliation bill and any executive or legislative items available for action prior to the Memorial Day recess.

Mr. SANTORUM

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

Mr. SANTORUM

Mr. SANTORUM. Mr. President, today, I rise on behalf of legislation which I have introduced with Senator Joe Lieberman, S. 592, The Savings Opportunity and Charitable Giving Act of 2001. Other bipartisan cosponsors of the underlying bill include Senators Hutchinson, Durbin, Brownback, Landrieu, Lugar, Bayh, DeWine, Miller, Kyl, Johnson, Bob Smith, Sessions, and Cochran. The amendment number is 655. I am disappointed that we have not included in H.R. 1836 the key tax relief provisions of the President's Faith-Based Initiatives to expand charitable giving opportunities and incentives for all Americans and expansion of savings opportunities through Individual Development Accounts (IDAs) which President Bush also endorsed in his campaign and included in his budget. Just yesterday, in a speech at Notre Dame University, President Bush reaffirmed his vision and support for these initiatives in the effort to enable the community renewal and poverty alleviation efforts throughout this country. I will continue to work with the President and my colleagues to create additional opportunities to advance this initiative this year. Representatives J.C. Watts, Jr. and Tony Hall have introduced a similar measure in the House of Representatives along with Speaker Hastert, H.R. 7, the ``Community Solutions Act of 2001.'' Charitable or Beneficiary Choice expansion, charitable donations liability reform, and other provisions will be introduced in the Senate, but on a separate track from the tax provisions which have already been introduced in S. 592 and reflect two-thirds of the President's initial faith-based proposals. Success in today's new economy is defined less and less by how much you earn and more and more by how much you own--your asset base. This is great news for the millions of middle-class homeowners who are tapped into America's economic success, but it is bad news for those who are simply tapped out--those with no assets and little hope of accumulating the means for upward mobility and real financial security. This widening asset gap was underscored in a report issued earlier this year by the Federal Reserve. The Fed found that while the net worth of the typical family has risen substantially in recent years, it has actually dropped substantially for low-income families. Statistics: For families with annual incomes of less than $10,000, the median net worth dipped from $4,800 in 1995 to $3,600 in 1998. For families with incomes between $10,000 and $25,000, the median net worth fell from $31,000 to $24,800 over the same period. The rate of home ownership among low-income families has dropped as well. For families making less than $10,000, it went from 36.1 percent to 34.5 percent from 1995 to 1998; for those making between $10,000 and $25,000, it fell from 54.9 percent to 51.7 percent. How do we reverse this troubling trend? IDAs are the unfinished business of the Community Renewal and New Markets Empowerment initiatives which became law in December of 2000 and will increase job opportunities and renew hope in what have been hopeless places. But to sustain this hope, we must provide opportunities for individuals and families to build tangible assets and acquire stable wealth. Our legislation is aimed at fixing our nation's growing gap in asset ownership, which keeps millions of low-income workers from achieving the American dream. Most public attention focuses on our growing income gap. Though the booming American economy has delivered significant income gains to the nation's upper-income earners, lower-income workers have been left on the sidelines. This suggests to some that closing this divide between the have-mosts and the have-leasts is simply a matter of raising wages. But the reality is that the income gap is a symptom of a larger, more complicated problem. How do we do this? We believe that the marketplace can provide such opportunity. Non-profit groups around the country have launched innovative private programs that are achieving great success in transforming the ``unbanked''--people who have never had a bank account--into unabashed capitalists. Through IDAs, banks and credit unions offer special savings accounts to low-income Americans and match their deposits dollar-for-dollar. In return, participants take an economic literacy course and commit to using their savings to buy a home, upgrade their education or to start a business. Thousands of people are actively saving today through IDA programs in about 250 neighborhoods nationwide. In one demonstration project undertaken by the Corporation for Enterprise Development (CFED), a leading IDA promoter, 1,300 families have already saved $329,000, which has leveraged an additional $742,000. While the growth of IDAs has been encouraging, access to IDA programs is still limited and scattered across the nation. The IDA provision of this legislation will expand IDA access nationwide by providing a significant tax credit to financial institutions and community groups that offer IDA accounts. This credit would reimburse banks for the first $500 of matching funds they contribute, thus significantly lowering the cost of offering IDAs. Other state and private funds can also be used to provide an additional match to savings. It also benefits our economy, the long-term stability of which is threatened by our pitiful national savings rate. In fact, according to some estimates, every $1 invested in an IDA returns $5 to the national economy. What are IDAs? IDAs are matched savings accounts for working Americans restricted to three uses: (1) buying a first home; (2) receiving post-secondary education or training; or (3) starting or expanding a small business. Individual and matching deposits are not co-mingled; all matching dollars are kept in a separate, parallel account. When the account holder has accumulated enough savings and matching funds to purchase the asset (typically over two to four years), and has completed a financial education course, payments from the IDA will be made directly to the asset provider. Financial institutions (or their contractual affiliates) would be reimbursed for all matching funds provided plus a limited amount of the program and administrative costs incurred (whether directly or through collaborations with other entities). Specifically, the IDA Tax Credit would be the aggregate amount of all dollar-for-dollar matches provided (up to $500 per person per year), plus a one-time $100 per account credit for financial education, recruiting, marketing, administration, withdrawals, etc., plus an annual $30 per account credit for the administrative cost of maintaining the account. To be eligible for the match, adjusted gross income may not exceed $20,000 (single), $25,000 (head of household), or $40,000 (married). Supporters: President Bush has expressed support for IDAs in his campaign and included them in his budget and we are working with the Administration to coordinate efforts. Supporting groups include the Credit Union National Association, the Financial Services Roundtable, the Corporation for Enterprise Development, the National Association of Homebuilders, the National Center for Neighborhood Enterprise, the National Federation of Community Development Credit Unions, the National Council for La Raza, and others. Individual Development Accounts, combined with other community development and wealth creation opportunities, are a first step towards restoring faith in the longstanding American promise of equal opportunity. That faith has been shaken by stark divisions of income and wealth in our society. With the leadership of President Bush and Speaker Hastert, I am hopeful, along with our other cosponsors, that Congress will take this first step toward restoring the long-cherished American ideals of rewarding hard work, encouraging responsibility, and expanding savings opportunity this year. The charitable giving incentives provision will initially allow non- itemizers to deduct 50 percent of their charitable giving, after they exceed a cumulative total of $500 in annual donations ($1,000 for joint filers). The deduction will be phased into a 100 percent deduction over the course of 5 years in 10 percent increments. Under current law non- itemizers receive no additional tax benefit for their charitable contributions. More than 84 million Americans cannot deduct any of their charitable contributions because they do not itemize their tax returns. In contrast, there are 34 million Americans who itemize and receive this benefit. For example, in Pennsylvania, there are nearly 4 million taxpayers who do not itemize deductions while slightly more than 1.5 million taxpayers do itemize. While Americans are already giving generously to charities making a significant positive impact in our communities, this provision provides an incentive for additional giving and allows non-itemizers who typically have middle to lower middle incomes to also benefit from additional tax relief. In fact, non-itemizers earning less than $30,000 give the highest percentage of their household income to charity. It is estimated that restoring this tax relief provision to merely 50 percent which existed in the 1980's would encourage more than $3 billion of additional charitable giving a year. The phased in increase to 100 percent will result in even more additional giving. The floor is included because the standard personal deduction encompasses initial contributions. One important dimension of promoting charitable efforts helping to revitalize our communities, empower individuals and families, and enhance educational opportunities is encouraging charitable giving. This legislation is a great opportunity to lower the tax burden on the many Americans who have not received any tax relief for their charitable contributions since 1986. The IRA charitable rollover allows individuals to roll assets from an IRA into a charity or a deferred charitable gift plan without incurring any income tax consequences. The donation would be made to charity directly without ever withdrawing it as income and paying taxes on it. The rollover can be made as an outright gift, for a charitable remainder annuity trust, charitable remainder unitrust or pooled income fund, or for the issuance of a charitable annuity. The donor would not receive a charitable deduction. This incentive should assist charitable giving in education, social service, and religious charitable efforts. Food banks are finding it increasingly difficult to meet the demand for food assistance. In the past, food banks have benefitted from the inefficiencies of manufacturing, including the over-production of merchandise and the manufacturing of cosmetically-flawed products. However, technology has made businesses and manufacturers significantly more efficient. Although beneficial to the company's bottom-line, donations have lessened as a result. The fact is that the demand on our nation's church pantries, soup kitchens and shelters continues to rise, despite our economy. According to an August 2000 report on Hunger Security by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, 31 million Americans (around 10 percent of our citizens) are living on the edge of hunger. Although this number has declined by 12 percent since 1995, everyone agrees that this figure remains too high. Unfortunately, many food banks cannot meet this increased demand for food. A December '99 study by the U.S. Conference of Mayors found that requests for emergency food assistance increased by an average of 18 percent in American cities over the previous year and 21 percent of emergency food requests could not be met. Statistics by the United States Department of Agriculture show that up to 96 billion pounds of food goes to waste each year in the United States. If a small percentage of this wasted food could be redirected to food banks, we could make important strides in our fight against hunger. In many ways, current law is a hindrance to food donations. The tax code provides corporations with a special deduction for donations to food banks, but it excludes farmers, ranchers and restaurant owners from donating food under the same tax incentive. For many of these businesses, it is actually more cost effective to throw away food than donate it to charity. The hunger relief community believes that these changes will markedly increase food donations--whether it is a farmer donating his crop, a restaurant owner contributing excess meals, or a food manufacturer producing specifically for charity. This bipartisan legislation was introduced separately by Senators Lugar and Leahy with 13 additional cosponsors including myself. It has been endorsed by a diverse set of organizations, including America's Second Harvest Food Banks, the Salvation Army, the American Farm Bureau Federation, the National Farmers Union, the National Restaurant Association, and the Grocery Manufacturers of America. Under current law, when a corporation donates food to a food bank, it is eligible to receive a ``special rule'' tax deduction. Unfortunately, most companies have found that the ``special rule'' deduction does not allow them to recoup their actual production costs. Moreover, current law limits the ``special rule'' deduction only to corporations, thus prohibiting farmers, ranchers, small businesses and restaurant owners from receiving the same tax benefits afforded to corporations. This provision would encourage additional food donations through three changes to our tax laws: Expand Deduction to All Business Taxpayers: This bill will extend the ``special rule'' tax deduction for food donations now afforded only to corporations to all business taxpayers, including farmers and restaurant owners. Enhance Deduction for Food Donations: This legislation will increase the tax deduction for donated food from basis plus \1/2\ markup to the fair market value of the product, not to exceed twice the product's basis. Codify Lucky Stores Decision: This bill will codify the Tax Court ruling in Lucky Stores, Inc. v. IRS, in which the Court found that taxpayers should base the determination of fair market value of donated product on recent sales. I encourage my colleagues to join me in this important bipartisan effort to increase savings opportunities for lower income working Americans, to encourage the charitable giving of all Americans, to provide additional resources for the charitable organizations which serve their communities, and to encourage additional donations of food to alleviate hunger. I would also like to thank President Bush for his leadership in this critical area.

Mr. SANTORUM

Mr. SANTORUM. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn until the hour of 10 a.m. on Thursday, May 24. I further ask consent that on Thursday, immediately following the prayer, the Journal of proceedings be approved to date, the morning hour be deemed to have expired, the time for the two leaders be reserved for their use later in the day, and the Senate then begin a period of morning business with Senators speaking therein for up to 5 minutes each, with the following exceptions: Senator Thomas, or his designee, from 10 a.m. to 10:45 a.m., and Senator Durbin, or his designee, from 10:45 to 11:30 a.m.

Mr. SANTORUM

Mr. SANTORUM. Mr. President, I take this opportunity to recognize a driving economic force in Hazleton, PA. CAN DO, Inc., Community Area New Development Organization, has served the Greater Hazleton area with economic development initiatives since its founding in 1956. With the decline of the coal mining industry in the 1950s, Hazleton suffered terrible unemployment and low community morale, and several members of the community took it upon themselves to reverse the high- unemployment trend in the region. With that, Dr. Edgar L. Dessen and a group of community leaders formed CAN DO. CAN DO's initial purpose was to raise money to turn around the difficult time that the community was experiencing. With its tremendous fundraising efforts, CAN DO raised almost $750,000, which was enough to purchase land for the development of an industrial park. In less than a year, Valmont Industrial Park was completed, providing an outstanding facility for businesses to call home. General Foam Company was the first firm to occupy the space and created 100 new jobs. This was just the beginning of the great work that CAN DO would do. Many years and several facilities later, CAN DO has revitalized Greater Hazleton in many ways. The dedication of the leadership in CAN DO is phenomenal, and it is without a doubt that they have changed the lives of many Northeastern Pennsylvania residents. When economic times were tough in the 1950s, CAN DO displayed the courage and initiative to revitalize their community. As they celebrate their 45th anniversary I would like to congratulate them with the following resolution: Whereas CAN DO is an economic development agency serving Greater Hazleton in Northeastern Pennsylvania, and, Whereas CAN DO was founded in 1956 as a grass-roots movement to attract new industries to Greater Hazleton as the anthracite coal industry failed, and, Whereas CAN DO has created four industrial parts--Valmont Industrial Park, Humboldt Industrial Park, McAdoo Industrial and the CAN DO Corporate Center, and, Whereas CAN DO has been responsible for more than 280 development projects, and, Whereas CAN DO has been responsible for the creation of more than 11,000 current jobs in Greater Hazleton, and Whereas CAN DO has been responsible for the creation of a tax base worth millions of dollars, and, Whereas CAN DO has been recognized nationally for the quality of their work in the field of economic development, and Whereas CAN DO has worked cooperatively with other governing and volunteer bodies to improve the general quality of life for every man, woman, and child in and around Greater Hazleton, and, Whereas CAN DO is this year celebrating its 45th anniversary, Therefore, be it declared that CAN DO is to be congratulated for reaching such an important milestone in its long, distinguished history, and Be it declared that CAN DO is to be commended for performing such meritorious service in the area of economic development.

Mr. SANTORUM

Mr. SANTORUM. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. SANTORUM

Mr. SANTORUM. Mr. President, I would like to celebrate the life, and commemorate the death of an American cultural icon from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Perry Como. On May 18, 1912, Pierino Roland Como was born in Canonsburg, PA, the seventh of thirteen children to Italian immigrants. Pierino, who would become known to the world as Perry, would lead a life which was the American dream personified. He began working as a barber's apprentice in Canonsburg at the age of eleven to help provide for his family. It is reported that Mr. Como's illustrious singing career developed by singing to patrons in his own barber shop which he opened by fourteen. The baritone voice, which would become famous throughout the world, was soon discovered by a band traveling through his steel town and he began his career as an entertainer. In 1933, Mr. Como married his childhood sweetheart, Roselle Beline, who told him he could open another barber shop if his singing career failed. His career did not fail, nor did their marriage which lasted until Roselle's death in 1998. Perry Como's singing and performing career spanned six decades and during that period he sold over 100 million records. Twenty-seven of his albums went gold, while fourteen singles reached number one on the charts. In 1945, ``Till the End of Time'' became the first single to sell more than one million records. After his great success in record sales in the 1940's, 50's and 60's, his career evolved into that of a television star. From 1948 to 1963, Perry Como was a fixture in American homes as a pioneer of the variety show format. He won acclaim for his performances including 5 Emmy awards. He also won Peabody and Golden Mike awards during his career. And in 1987 Mr. Como was presented a Kennedy Center Honor for outstanding achievement in the performing arts by President Ronald Reagan. Mr. Como's fame was worldwide and lasting. The BBC reports that he had twelve top ten hits in Britain, over twenty years. His Christmas broadcasts, for which, perhaps, he was most famous, were broadcast from around the globe over the years, including Israel, Paris, and London. A Roman Catholic, he reached Protestants and Catholics alike through his renditions of ``Ave Maria'' and ``The Lord's Prayer.'' He sang ``Kol Nidre'' each year on his television program in observance of Yom Kippur. Mr. Como also made many fans in Japan, where his variety shows had unique success. Perry Como continued to perform for fans in the United States well into his eighties. It is with great humility that I ask this body to remember an American cultural icon on the occasion of his passing. I hope and pray that future generations of Americans will use Perry Como's example of dignity and decency in conducting their personal and professional lives.

Mr. SANTORUM

Mr. SANTORUM. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. SANTORUM

Mr. SANTORUM. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize the outstanding national service of Lieutenant General Daniel William Christman. On June 30, 2001, General Christman will retire upon completion of a highly successful five-year assignment as the 55th Superintendent of the United States Military Academy in West Point, New York. The Military Academy that General Christman leaves this June is noticeably improved due to his commitment to high standards in military, academic, physical and morale development for the cadets. It is only fitting that his final post would be at West Point as, in 1965, Daniel Christman graduated first in his class thereby beginning 36 years of illustrious service both in peace and in war to the United States. Over the course of his career, General Christman has served as the nineteenth U.S. Representative to the NATO Military Committee in Brussels, Belgium, 1993-94; Commanding General, U.S. Army Engineer Center and Fort Leonard Wood and Commandant, U.S. Army Engineer School, Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., 1991-93; Commander of the Savannah District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Savannah, Ga., 1984-86; Commander of the 54th Engineer Battalion in Wildflecken, Germany 1980-82; Company Commander in the 326th Engineer Battalion, Hue, Vietnam, 1969-70; and Company Commander, 2nd engineer Battalion, Changpo-Ri, Korea, 1966. Prior to becoming the Commanding General and the Superintendent of the United States Military Academy, General Christman served as Assistant to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) where he supported Secretary of State Warren Christopher as a member of the Middle East Peace Negotiating Team and in arms control negotiations with the Russian Federation. In addition, he has served as Director of Strategy, Plans and Policy in Department of Army Headquarters, Washington, D.C. His duties in this assignment focused on negotiations relating to the Conventional Forces in Europe, CFE, arms control talks between NATO and the Warsaw Pact. In the course of supporting these negotiations on behalf of the Chief of Staff of the Army and the Chairman, JCS, General Christman briefed President George H.W. Bush and traveled to Europe to brief allied heads of state and the NATO Secretary General. During the course of his career, General Christman's illustrious service to this country can be exemplified by the honor and decorations he has received, from the Defense Distinguished Service Medal (two awards), Distinguished Service Medal, two awards, Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, two awards, Bronze Star Medal, two awards, Meritorious Service Medal, two awards and the Air Medal, three awards. General Daniel William Christman has exemplified the impeccable integrity, honor, and character that the American people have come to expect from the professional Army. As a member of the U.S. Military Academy Board of Visitors, I have valued and appreciated General Christman's insight, leadership and commitment to our United States Army. General Christman's service to this nation demonstrates the highest standards and proud traditions of the United States military. As he moves forward in his life, I wish General Christman and his family continued success and happiness in all his future endeavors.

Mr. SANTORUM

Mr. SANTORUM. Mr. President, today I would like to recognize A. Reid Leopold, Jr., MD, an accomplished physician from the great Commonwealth of Pennsylvania who will be retiring on June 30, 2001. Dr. Leopold has dedicated his entire professional life to improving the health and well-being of others in our communities. Dr. Leopold was born October 7, 1931 in Lewistown, PA. A graduate of Lewistown High School, he studied for four years at Bucknell University in Lewisburg, PA before moving on to study medicine at Pittsburgh Medical School. In addition to practicing medicine for 43 years, Dr. Leopold served his country in the United States Navy for two years and served as Mifflin County Coroner from 1964 to 1996. A member of St. John's Lutheran Church in Lewistown, Dr. Leopold is married to the former Karen Doyle, and has two daughters, three sons, two step-daughters and eight grandchildren. Also a sports enthusiast, Dr. Leopold can often be found spending his free time boating and fishing in Lake Raystown. Dr. Leopold has been an outstanding member of the Lewistown community, and has provided his friends and neighbors with quality healthcare for many, many years. I congratulate him on his retirement and hope that he is blessed with many years of relaxation and enjoyment with friends and family. I ask my Senate colleagues to join with me in recognizing the contributions that Dr. Leopold has made to the medical profession and to improving the lives of others. May his retirement be filled with health, happiness and memorable times with family and friends for many years to come.

Mr. SANTORUM

Mr. SANTORUM. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize Mr. Ronald Carl Casner of McVeytown, PA, as he retires as Vice-President from Omega National Bank after 42 years. He has given a great deal of time and energy to his profession, and has ensured a trustworthy banking service to his customers for many years. On June 30, 2001, he will bring his lengthy and accomplished career to a close, and I commend him for the many years of service he has provided to his community. Mr. Casner was born February 7, 1936 in Lewistown, PA. After he graduated from high school, he served in the United States Marine Corps from 1954-1958. Upon his return to the United States from his military service, Ronald became employed at the former Penn Central National Bank, located in Mount Union and Huntington, PA. When Mr. Casner retires in June, he will retire as Vice-President of what is now Omega National Bank. Mr. Casner is a member of the McVeytown United Methodist Church, serves on the Church's Board of Trustees, is an avid sportsman, and is a member of the Loyal Order of the Moose. His involvment in these civic organizations displays Mr. Casner's dedication both as a professional and in the community. Ronald and his wife, Anna, have two daughters, one grandson and one granddaughter. I ask my colleagues to join with me in recognizing Mr. Ronald Casner for the many years he has given to his community. May his retirement be filled with health, happiness and memorable times with family and friends for many years to come.

Mr. SANTORUM

Mr. SANTORUM. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize the outstanding accomplishments of Austin Gunder, a 15-year-old freshman at Red Lion High School in York County, PA. Austin recently competed with the U.S. Junior Aeronautic International Free Flight Model Aircraft Team in the Junior World Championship Contest held in Seaimovo Usti, Czech Republic. A member of a six-person team selected by the Academy of Model Aeronautics, AMA, Austin achieved the World Champion Ranking in what is known as the ``F1J'' or the powered event. This event involves taking a model airplane designed and constructed by the contestant, putting a very small engine and propeller on it, launching it vertically for an exact period of no more than seven seconds to the highest obtainable altitude, and then having the engine shut off with the airplane going horizontal at exactly the right time to starts its timed free flight glide. This is all done by adjusting the small airplane to obtain peak performance, and by testing and practicing to assure that every operation is perfect. The contestant must calculate the most favorable temperature and winds for the 10-minute window in which to fly. Austin was the only U.S. competitor, and he achieved World Champion Ranking 9 minutes into his flight beating out 13 other contestants from all over the world who competed in the event. Austin Gunder was featured on the cover of the February 2001 issue of Model Aviation, the official publication of the Academy of Model Aeronautics, and will be honored at his high school by the Federal Aviation Administration. Austin's World Champion status in the ``F1J'' competition is the highest honor of the model airplane organization. Austin Gunder is an outstanding young man and a great example for youth in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and across the country. I personally commend him for his accomplishments in the field of aeronautics and wish him the very best as he prepares himself for the future challenges that lie ahead.

Mr. SANTORUM

Mr. SANTORUM. Mr. President, I ask consent that the following article be printed in the Record. The article follows: [From the Washington Post, May 2, 2001] Timeout for the Uninsured House Conferees have been fighting with their Senate counterparts to reduce the spending levels in the congressional budget resolution. No doubt some cuts can be made in the Senate totals without the country's suffering harm. But at least one relatively minor Senate proposal deserves to remain. Oregon Sens. Gordon Smith and Ron Wyden won inclusion in the budget of an additional $28 billion over three years to reduce the number of Americans without health insurance. The money would mainly be spent on lower-income people. Exactly how would be up to the authorizing committees, but an add-on of some kind to Medicaid and/or the children's health insurance program that Congress enacted several years ago seems most likely. The modest expansion would hardly solve the un-insurance problem, but it would push in the right direction. About a seventh of the population remains uninsured. Most are poor or near poor. They lack insurance mainly because they can't afford it. The administration has proposed a tax credit to help those whose employers don't offer insurance. But the credit would cover only part of the cost of an average policy, and most uninsured families still would find such a policy beyond their means. Some people think the industry might respond by offering only partial policies, but it's not clear that would be a good result, either. The administration proposal has some interesting features and would do limited good, but limited is the operative word. The spending programs for the lower-income uninsured have shown themselves to be efficient ways of increasing coverage. Whatever the fate of the tax credit, they should be expanded. Much attention has lately been paid to the health care problems of the already insured. The elderly lack a drug benefit; people enrolled in managed care complain that care is sometimes sacrificed to cost. But at least these people have insurance. More than 40 million don't. The budget argument this year has been mainly about how large a tax cut to give the better-off. What about a timeout to pay a little heed to those who can't afford to get sick?

Mr. SANTORUM

Mr. SANTORUM. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Small Business be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate for a hearing entitled ``SBA's Funding Priorities for FY 2002'' on Tuesday, May 1, 2001, beginning at 10:00 a.m. in room 428A of the Russell Senate Office Building.

Mr. SANTORUM. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Subcommittee on European Affairs and the Subcommittee on East Asian and Pacific be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Tuesday, May 1, 2001, at 10:15 am and 2:00 pm to hold hearings. The agendas for these meetings follow: Subcommittee an East Asian and Pacific Affairs--Agenda where are u.s. china relations headed? (Tuesday, May 1, 2001, 2:00 pm SD-419) Witnesses: Panel 1. Administration witness to be announced Department of State, Washington, DC. Panel 2. Ambassador James Lilley, Resident Fellow, American Enterprise Institute, Washington, DC. Mr. Douglas H. Paal, President, Asia Pacific Policy Center, Washington, DC. Mr. Michael E. O'Hanlon, Senior Fellow, Brookings Institute, Washington, DC. Mr. David Shambaugh, Director, Department of Asian Studies, George Washington University, Washington, DC. Subcommittee on European Affairs--Agenda Religious Freedom in Europe (Tuesday, May 1, 2001, 10:15 am, SD-419) Witnesses: Panel I. Mr. Michael E. Parmly, Acting Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor. Panel II. Ms. Elizabeth A. Clark, Associate Director, BYU International Center for Law and Religion Studies, Provo, UT. Representing: Dr. W. Cole Durham, Jr., Gates University Professor of Law, Director, BYU International Center for Law and Religion Studies, Provo, Utah. Rabbi Andrew Baker, Director of International Jewish Affairs, The American Jewish Committee, Washington, DC.

Mr. SANTORUM. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities of the Committee on Armed Services be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Tuesday, May 1, 2001, at 2:30 p.m., in open session to receive testimony on the U.S. military's capabilities to respond to domestic terrorist attacks involving the use of weapons of mass destruction.

Mr. SANTORUM. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation be authorized to meet on Tuesday, May 1, 2001, at 9:30 am on climate change.

Mr. SANTORUM. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Finance be authorized to meet Tuesday, May 1, 2001, immediately following the first vote on the Senate Floor, in S-301 of the Capitol, to consider reporting the following nominations: Mr. David Aufhauser, to be General Counsel, Department of the Treasury; Mr. Kenneth W. Dam, to be Deputy Secretary, Department of the Treasury; Faryar Shirzad, to be Assistant Secretary of Commerce, Department of Commerce; Michele A. Davis, to be Assistant Secretary of the Treasury, Department of the Treasury; Grant D. Aldonas, to be Secretary of Commerce for International Trade, Department of Commerce; John B. Taylor, to be Under Secretary, Department of the Treasury; and Scott Whitaker, to be Assistant Secretary of Health and Human Services, Department of Health and Human Services.

Mr. SANTORUM

Mr. SANTORUM. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that at 2:15 today Senator Thomas be recognized for up to 1 hour allotted post cloture and, following that time, Senator Wellstone be recognized for his hour post cloture.