Rick Santorum

Mr. SANTORUM

Mr. SANTORUM. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to the youth group from Devonshire Memorial Church in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. On Sunday, July 26 ten students from the church will travel to Manning, South Carolina to assist in the rebuilding of the Macedonian Baptist Church which the Ku Klux Klan destroyed by fire in 1996. The young people will also be working to renovate homes of church members that suffered damage due to the fire. The teenagers, who raised their own support for the trip through things such as church-wide dinners and fundraising letters, will join approximately 250 other young people from across the nation to work on painting, hanging drywall, repairing roofs and caulking windows. Church burnings are a violent act of hatred against the free exercise of religious faith. Arson, which has destroyed many southern African American churches, has also destroyed our dignity and our humanity. By dedicating their time and effort to rebuilding the walls of a church burned by hatred and bigotry, these young men and women are tearing down the walls of violence and racism and restoring faith to the Christian community. Mr. President, I ask my colleagues to join me in commending the young men and women of Devonshire Memorial Church for their dedication to restoring a church and a community, as well as the ideals of freedom in this country.

Mr. SANTORUM

Mr. SANTORUM. Mr. President, today I introduce legislation transferring Schuylkill County from the Eastern Judicial District of Pennsylvania to the Middle District. I am pleased to work on this needed effort with the senior Senator from Pennsylvania Senator Spector, who has signed on as an original cosponsor. Many of the residents of Schuylkill County have voiced concern about the hardship they face in performing jury duty as they are often forced to travel as far as Philadelphia. Most of the counties adjacent to Schuylkill County are in the Middle District, where courtrooms are generally twice as close as those in Philadelphia. In addition, transferring Schuylkill County will help relieve the Eastern District of its much larger caseload. Both the Chief Judge of the Eastern District, Edward Cahn, and of the Middle District, Sylvia Rambo, have raised no objections with this transfer. The Schuylkill County Bar Association, the Schuylkill County District Attorney, and numerous judges and attorneys have expressed strong support. This legislation serves as a companion bill to H.R. 2123, a bill introduced by my esteemed colleague in the House of Representatives, Representative Tim Holden, whose district includes Schuylkill County. Representative Holden has worked diligently on passage of his bill or over a year, including a successful effort at incorporating its provisions into the Federal Courts Improvement Act of 1998. H.R. 2294, which passed the House on March 18, 1998. I congratulate my colleague on his success. Now, it is the responsibility of myself and Senator Specter to shepherd this legislation through the Senate. I look forward to working with the Chairman of the Judiciary Committee, Senator Hatch, and the Ranking Member, Senator Leahy, and the rests of my colleagues in securing passage of much needed legislation. 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 to oppose the amendment offered by the Senator from Iowa. This amendment, which purports to lower guarantee fees on student loans, would, in actuality, increase fees for borrowers in Pennsylvania and elsewhere. Under current law, student loan guarantee agencies participating in the Federal Family Education Loan Program (FFELP) have the option of charging borrowers a guarantee fee of up to 1% for subsidized Stafford loans, unsubsidized Stafford loans, and PLUS loans. Amendment No. 3117 would eliminate the optional guarantee fee for subsidized Stafford loans, and it would reduce by 1% the guarantee fee on Direct subsidized loans administered by the Department of Education. The costs of this provision would be offset by obligating guarantee agencies to charge the full 1% guarantee fee on all unsubsidized Stafford loans and PLUS loans. The Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA), which guarantees loans for borrowers within the Commonwealth, presently waives the guarantee fee for both subsidized and unsubsidized Stafford loans, as well as the fee for PLUS loans. In addition, PHEAA also waives all guarantee fees for borrowers in West Virginia and Delaware, the two states for which it has been designated by the state's governor as the guarantee agency. Should Amendment No. 3117 become law, PHEAA would be compelled to begin charging a 1% fee on unsubsidized Stafford loans and PLUS loans. Consequently, total guarantee fees charged to student borrowers in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Delaware would actually increase. Consider that in FY1997, PHEAA guaranteed $651 million in unsubsidized Stafford loans for 172,000 students and $171 million in PLUS loans for 28,000 parents. None of those borrowers were charged a guarantee fee. However, if this amendment had been law, it would have cost those borrowers $8.22 million in total guarantee fees. Moreover, 20% of FFELP borrowers nationwide receive fee waivers or fee reductions from their guarantor. Consequently, Amendment No. 3117 would increase fees for borrowers in states other than just those serviced by PHEAA. As such, I must oppose this amendment, and I urge my colleagues to join me in doing so.

Mr. SANTORUM. Mr. President, this amendment does three things, all of which will, I believe, aid career colleges in proprietary skills and in their ability to hold down at-risk default rates. They are serving populations who, as a result of being at risk, have a tendency to have higher default rates. They want to work with the system to be able to help hold down those default rates because, obviously, they want to stay in business and continue to educate. So the first provision that we put in this amendment is to require the guaranty agencies and lenders to contact institutions when they are doing skip-tracing of borrowers who have gone into default. In other words, this will allow the schools to be notified when former students of theirs are going into default because, in many cases, through their placement offices they know where to locate these people and can, in fact, aid the lending institutions and guaranty agencies in bringing these people back on to a payment schedule, to avoid default, and to keep the default rate low, but also to help the young people who are out now in the working environment avoid a bad thing on their credit. And, obviously, it will save the Federal Government some money. Secondly, it sets September 30 of each year as the deadline for the Department of Education to release its annual default rate for schools. This will help schools in their planning process, giving more certainty in how to deal with potential problems they may have with the default rate down the road. Third, it creates a liaison position at the Department of Education for proprietary schools, similar to the liaison position created several years ago for community colleges. Community colleges and proprietary schools, in many cases, serve similar populations. There have been problems in communicating, in getting information, and having a voice at the Department of Education. This is a mechanism for those who are sometimes considered somewhat of a ``stepchild'' in the higher education community to get some real responsiveness from the Department to their needs and to their concerns. That is the sum total of the amendment. I believe it will help these career and proprietary schools better serve an at-risk population that is in desperate need of making up a skills deficit. It will put them in a better position to keep the default rates down and improve the program overall. Again, I thank the chairman, the ranking member, Senator Coats, and Senator Dodd for working with me and my staff in coming up with this amendment. I yield the floor.

Mr. SANTORUM. Mr. President, I thank the chairman of the committee and also the ranking member, Senator Kennedy, and other members of the working group, including Senator Coats and Senator Dodd, for working with me on this amendment. It is a very important amendment to proprietary schools, career schools, who are doing the real lion's share of the work in educating in the poor communities, with disadvantaged people in our society. They are doing a great job in some of the toughest settings to try to make up the skills deficit that we have heard so much talk about in this country for the working poor and for those, in many cases, coming off of welfare. We are moving from welfare to work, and we are going to have to have educational institutions in poor communities, in the cities, to be able to educate the poor. As a result, I have worked with the working group. And I will send the amendment to the desk I am offering with Senators DeWine and Coverdell. Amendment No. 3114 (Purpose: To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to improve accountability and reform certain programs)

Mr. SANTORUM. Mr. President, I send an amendment to the desk and ask for its immediate consideration.

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

Mr. SANTORUM

Mr. SANTORUM. Mr. President, the 1999 Defense Authorization bill before us contains a demonstration project that would allow some DoD- eligible retirees to join FEHBP plans, under a separate risk pool. It is my understanding that this ensures that DoD retirees who enroll in this demonstration project are able to choose from competing, private sector FEHBP plans. It is also my understanding that retirees, like other FEHBP-eligibles, will be able to choose among plans that offer fully integrated health care benefits that use market-based competition to control cost and improve quality of care.

Mr. SANTORUM. I thank the Chairman. I appreciate this clarification and I look forward to evaluating the success of the FEHBP demonstration along with the two other demonstration projects included in this bill. Y-12 plant in oak ridge, tennessee

Mr. SANTORUM

Mr. SANTORUM. Mr. President, this amendment to S. 2057, the Fiscal Year 1999 Defense Authorization Act, seeks to add $17 million for the procurement of M888, 60-millimeter, high-explosive munitions for the Marine Corps. The additional funds would help alleviate training constraints for Marine Corps units due to shortages in this item, and will help reduce the coming bow-wave of procurement requirements that we may not have the resources to fund in future years. I would like to clarify that funds from the Marine Corps' OPTEMPO and base support lines, both Operations & Maintenance accounts, have been identified to offset this additional funding. The offset draws on funds that were authorized in excess of what was appropriated for these particular funding lines. Initially, I had identified Marine Corps' initial use and base support lines as an offset for this amendment. I wish to alert the Senate Armed Services Committee and the full Senate of this specific change. Lastly, it is my understanding that the Marine Corps supports this amendment. amendment no. 3035 (Purpose: To require a report on the peaceful employment of former Soviet experts on weapons of mass destruction) At the end of subtitle C of title X, add the following:

Mr. SANTORUM

Mr. SANTORUM. Mr. President, this amendment to S. 2057, the Fiscal Year 1999 Defense Authorization Act, provides authority for the United States Marine Corps to enter into a barter agreement with a commercial entity for the purpose of allowing existing Marine Corps ribbon bridges to be remanufactured into an Improved Ribbon Bridge configuration. The Marine Corps has 250 bays [length] of ribbon bridge, of which 180 require repair. The ribbon bridge is the Marine Corps' only floating bridge capability and is used to allow vehicles to cross streams and gullies. The ribbon bridge bays used by the Marine Corps are approximately 20 years old. Due to limited fiscal resources and higher priorities, it is unlikely that the ribbon bridge upgrade will successfully compete for funding. It is my understanding that a remanufacture of these existing bridges to the Improved Ribbon Bridge configuration will provide an additional 15-20 years of service from these bridges. I am aware that the Marine Corps and Office of the Secretary of Defense supports this amendment.

Mr. SANTORUM

Mr. SANTORUM. Mr. President, I rise today to commemorate the courage and bravery of Rabbi Alexander D. Goode and the three other chaplains aboard the U.S.A.T. Dorchester on the night it sank into the icy waters off the coast of Greenland. On February 3, 1943, the Dorchester, filled to capacity with over 900 men, was struck by German torpedoes around 1:00 am. The Germans succeeded in knocking out the ship's communication, injuring and killing scores of men, and fatally wounding the Dorchester. As the crew realized what had just occurred, chaos and panic erupted on all sides. In the midst of the confusion, four Army Chaplains, Lt. George L. Fox, Methodist; Lt. John P. Washington, Roman Catholic; Lt. Clark V. Polling, Dutch Reformed; and Lt. Alexander D. Goode, Jewish, brought hope and light to those around them. The Arctic air made protection from the cold essential to those hoping to survive the night. As one sailor, Petty Officer John J. Mahoney, tried to return to his cabin to retrieve his gloves, he was stopped by Rabbi Goode. ``I have two pairs,'' the Rabbi said, handing the sailor the pair he had been wearing. In retrospect, Mahoney realized the Rabbi could not have had an extra pair and had sacrificed his only gloves to aide the sailor. As the ship sank, the four chaplains distributed jackets and words of encouragement to those remaining. When there were no more life jackets left, the four removed their own preservers and handed them to the sailors next in line, sealing their own fate. Approximately 18 minutes after it was hit, the Dorchester sank. The last sight many of the survivors recall was the four chaplains, arms linked, praying together with over 600 men still on board. The sinking of the Dorchester 55 years ago not only showed the chaplains' tremendous strength of spirit, but also illuminated their racial and religious tolerance. In an era of prejudice, these four men embraced ideas on interfaith relationships. These men shared a special brotherhood which lasted until the very end. Mr. President, there are people in history who stand apart from the rest, and who go above and beyond what is demanded by their fellow men and women. Rabbi Goode and the three other chaplains were such men. I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the memory of these truly remarkable heroes. Their story and the lessons it teaches will not soon be forgotten.

Mr. SANTORUM

Mr. SANTORUM. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize Mrs. Rosemarie Pecillo Knowlton. For almost 50 years, Rosemarie has dedicated her life to education. She will be sincerely missed after her retirement from Sacred Heart Parish School. At the age of four, Rosemarie asked to attend school with some of her older friends. The principal allowed her to begin, believing it was probably just a ``phase.'' This phase turned into a teaching career. Such was her desire to teach, that immediately after graduating high school, Rosemarie took a teaching position which required her to travel on four modes of public transportation just to commute back and forth. When Rosemarie transferred to a position closer to home, she decided to continue her own formal education by taking night classes at Villanova University. There, she met her future husband, Arthur L. Knowlton. They were married in 1956. As her son, Arthur, Jr., graduated from high school in 1975, Rosemarie also received her degree from Villanova. Rosemarie never saw teaching as a job that began and ended with morning and afternoon bells. She enriched her students through forensics, the annual Science Fair, and CCD classes. She also directed the school's music shows, the Parish Living Stations of the Cross, and the Living Rosary. Mr. President, the lives Rosemarie has touched are too numerous to count. She is leaving a legacy of dedication and accomplishment, and her son, Richard, carries on the family's teaching tradition. I ask my colleagues to join me both in congratulating Rosemarie for 46 years of dedication to the children of southeastern Pennsylvania and in extending the Senate's best wishes to the Knowltons as Rosemarie retires to devote all of her time to her husband, children, and seven grandchildren.

Mr. SANTORUM

Mr. SANTORUM. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize the outstanding drug and crime fighting efforts of Mr. Herman C. Wrice. Mr. Wrice, once called the ``John Wayne of Philadelphia'' by President Bush, is one of today's most effective non-violent community activists. His grassroots approach to cracking down on drugs and crime has been successful in cities, towns, and Indian reservations across the country. Herman's career as a social activist began in the late 1960's after a personal tragedy; his wife, Jean, was caught in gang crossfire at a local supermarket. Mr. Wrice's organization, Turn Around America, unites ordinary citizens and police who are determined to take back their neighborhoods. They organize street marches and all-night vigils at identified drug houses to separate drug dealers from their customers. This partnership depends on trust, cooperation, and mutual respect. Citizen efforts enhance, but do not replace, law enforcement efforts. I am pleased to say that Turn Around America has yielded impressive results. In neighborhoods where demonstrations have taken place, crack houses have closed. Children play in parks that were once littered with drug paraphernalia. The number of drug-related arrests have risen, several of which were directly linked to citizen involvement. Even veteran police officers have been inspired by Herman's anti-drug crusade. Mr. Wrice's relentless efforts to fight crime and violence have received wide-spread attention. Villanova University honored him with an honorary doctorate degree for his activism. His programs have been described in many publications, including the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, Readers Digest, Policy Review, and Philadelphia Magazine. Mr. Wrice and his anti-crime program were even featured on 60 Minutes. This exposure led to requests for training from over 200 cities and towns across the country. In 1994, Herman was one of six activists to receive an America's Award for Courage during special ceremonies at the Kennedy Center. The following year, he was named a Join Together Fellow by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. On a local level, Herman has been a two-time recipient of the Mayor's Outstanding Citizen Award, and a three time honoree as the Junior Chamber's Outstanding Young Man of the Year. Finally, he has received the Freedom Foundation's Citizenship Award, the NAACP Unsung Hero's Award, and was named the Citizen Crime Commission's Crime Fighter of the Year. Mr. President, Herman C. Wrice is a man with a purpose. He has dedicated his life to community service, and he has made a difference. He has worked to make the streets safe for neighborhood children, and he has raised 17 of his own--11 of whom were adopted. I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Mr. Wrice and in extending the Senate's best wishes to his family.

Mr. SANTORUM

Mr. SANTORUM. Mr. President, on May 30, the Rutherford Elementary School Memorial Committee commemorated the history of the Rutherford Elementary School. I rise today to mark the closing of this building. The community of Rutherford has been served for 89 years by the current elementary school, which is scheduled for demolition. Amidst music, civic organizational displays, and food vendors, students past and present gathered to reflect on their childhood experiences. Members of Rutherford's first class still fondly reminisce about the ``good old days.'' Mr. President, the Rutherford Elementary School symbolizes strength and continuity in education. I ask my colleagues to join me in acknowledging this memorial.

Mr. SANTORUM

Mr. SANTORUM. Mr. President, on May 2 through May 4, 1998, more than 1200 students from across the nation came to Washington, DC, to compete in the national finals of the ``We the People. . . The Citizens and the Constitution'' program. I am proud to announce that the class from Hampton High School of Allison Park represented Pennsylvania. These young scholars worked diligently to reach the national finals by winning local competitions in Pennsylvania, and ultimately won the Northeastern States Regional Award. The distinguished members of the class representing Pennsylvania were: Angela Ambrose, Rebecca Amrhein, Aren Bierkan, Christine Brady, Heather Gahagan, Emily Huie, Jessica Kiefer, Lauren Klemens, Jessica Lin, Rina Mansukhani, Lauren Montgomery, Laura Ostapenko, Andrew Scharff, Christian Spearline, Courtney Vetter and Katrina Werger. I would also like to recognize their teacher, Mrs. Tara O'Brien, who deserves much credit for the success of the class. The district coordinator, Ms. Jennie-Lynn Knox, and the state coordinator, Ms. Christine Crist, also contributed much time and effort to help the class reach the national finals. The ``We the People. . . The Citizen and the Constitution'' program is the most extensive educational program in the country developed specifically to educate young people about the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. The three day national competition simulates a congressional hearing whereby students are given the opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge while they evaluate, take, and defend positions on relevant historical and contemporary constitutional issues. The simulated congressional hearing consists of oral presentations by the students before panels of judges. Administered by the Center for Civic Education, the ``We the People. . .'' program has provided curricular materials at upper elementary, middle, and high school levels for more than 75,000 teachers and 24 million students nationwide. Members of Congress and their staff enhance the program by discussing current constitutional issues with teachers and students. The ``We the People. . .'' program is designed to help students achieve a reasoned commitment to the fundamental values and principles that bind Americans together as a people. The program also fosters civic dispositions, traits of public and private sector character conducive to effective and responsible participation in politics and government. I congratulate these constitutional experts from Hampton High School for their success in the ``We the People. . .'' competition and commend them for their great achievement of winning the Northeastern Regional Award.

Mr. SANTORUM

Mr. SANTORUM. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize Lehigh Valley Hospital and Health Network, along with the American Nurses Association, who declared May 6-12 National Nurses Week 1998. The theme of the week, ``Nursing: Health Care With a Human Touch,'' was in commemoration of the ways in which registered nurses strive to provide safe and high quality patient care and find ways to improve our health care system. The 2.2 million registered nurses in the United States comprise our nation's largest health care profession. The far-reaching duty of the registered nursing profession is to meet the emerging health care needs of the American population, while registered nurses' education focuses on restoring and maintaining the health of the individual. Registered nurses will continue to be an important component of the U.S. health care system. They play an integral role in the safe, quality care of hospitalized patients, as well as contributing to the growth of home health care services and advancements in life-sustaining technology. Mr. President, I commend Lehigh Valley Hospital and Health Network and the American Nurse Association for honoring National Nurses Week 1998. I ask my colleagues to join with me in recognizing the registered nurses who care for us all.

Mr. SANTORUM

Mr. SANTORUM. Mr. President, I rise today to congratulate Jennifer Daly for being named the Pennsylvania state winner in The Citizens Flag Alliance Essay Contest. Jennifer is the recipient of a $1,000 scholarship for her one thousand word essay on the theme, ``The American Flag Protection Amendment: A Right of the People . . . the Right Thing to Do.'' She is among 50 other outstanding young Americans named as state winners and will compete for one of ten college scholarships in a national competition next month. Mr. President, Jennifer Daly is a great source of pride for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. I hope my colleagues will join with me in extending best wishes to her for continued success in the years to come.

Mr. SANTORUM

Mr. SANTORUM. Mr. President, in 1948 when Israel was fighting its most costly war ever--the war for independence--Israel's future Prime Minister was told by the greatest military experts in the world that his newly created State of 600,000 had no chance of surviving. Now, in 1998, Israel is celebrating its 50th year of independence. I commend the Jewish Federation of the Scranton-Lackawanna community for observing this historic occasion the weekend of May 1-3. The State of Israel became a home for Jews after more than 6 million European Jews were massacred during the Holocaust. Over the past 50 years, Israel has acted as a refuge for thousands of Jews throughout the world and integrated them into their society, while rebuilding a nation and creating an active democratic political system. On May 17, I joined Mayor Edward Rendell and Israeli Consul General Daniel Ashbel in Philadelphia to celebrate Israel's 50th Independence Day birthday party. During the opening ceremonies, I thought of how Israel is a land of wonderful contrast. It is both a nation of great history and a nation of great accomplishment. From the historical perspective, the events that have sprung forth from that land over the centuries are overwhelming to even consider. No matter what religious tradition one might follow, the basic laws that went on to frame many of the tenants of our democratic form of government, and the rules of conduct in a civil society, came out of the land we have always called Yis-ra-el. Today, Israel has a growing economy, farms on land that were once claimed by the deserts, and high-tech companies producing cutting edge products for our global marketplace. No other society in the course of human history can claim such progress in 50 short years. No other nation can claim to have risen to these heights from the horrors of the Holocaust. That is why Israel is so unique, so special, and so deserving of our unyielding and unconditional support. The United States has always maintained a relationship with Israel that is based on mutual respect. America's commitment to Israel's security undergirds the entire peace process and provides Israel the confidence it needs to take very real risks for peace. I encourage the United States to continue to act in a respectable manner by not imposing a settlement on Israel that is contrary to its national security interests.

Mr. SANTORUM

Mr. SANTORUM. Mr. President, I rise today to honor Dr. John H. Moore Jr. for his humanitarian efforts on behalf of Operation Smile, an organization that provides free medical care to children around the world. Dr. Moore distinguished himself when he started the Philadelphia Chapter of Operation Smile in 1988. Since then he has expanded this group to provide annual missions to Nicaragua, the Philippines, Vietnam, Liberia, Kenya and other third world countries. Locally, Operation Smile provides free care for school children in the Philadelphia area. Working with philanthropic organizations, the group brings physicians from other countries to Philadelphia for advanced training in techniques used to reconstruct child deformities. Operation Smile consists of reconstructive surgeons, professional nurses and concerned citizens who have dedicated themselves to providing relief for children suffering from congenital and acquired deformities. Through a spirit of selflessness, Dr. Moore has given both this heart and time to Operation Smile. He has served as the President of the chapter's local board and is currently its medical director. Mr. President, Dr. Moore's dedication is a great source of pride, not only for Pennsylvania, but for the United States. I hope my colleagues will join with me in honoring Dr. Moore for his spirit of community and faithful service.

Mr. SANTORUM

Mr. SANTORUM. Mr. President, I rise today to discuss the importance of the National Association of Letter Carriers Food Drive. The National Association of Letter Carriers Food Drive, held in conjunction with the U.S. Postal Service and local United Way, is the largest one-day collection of food in the nation. Last year almost 5,000 pounds were collected in Horsham, Pennsylvania while some 73 million pounds were collected nationwide. On Saturday, May 9, letter carriers in Horsham and across the nation reached out to help their neighbors who fell on hard times by collecting nonperishable food donations along their mail routes. Each year, their efforts help to restock the shelves of local food pantries. Likewise, the donations raided through this annual event prepare charities for the overwhelming demand for food during the Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday seasons. Mr. President, I commend the letter carriers, the men and women of the U.S. Postal Service, and the United Way for making this collection possible. On behalf of the United States Senate, I would like to recognize the dedication of these public servants and the generosity of the families who donated to this worthy cause. I ask my colleagues to join me in extending the Senate's best wishes for continued success to all those who participated in the National Association of Letter Carriers Food Drive.

Mr. SANTORUM

Mr. SANTORUM. Mr. President, I rise today to congratulate Lisa Mauger, Mary McGuire, Stephanie Schmoyer and Christine Webster on being honored with the Stars of Life award by the American Ambulance Association (AAA). For the past four years, AAA has honored paramedics and emergency medical service (EMS) personnel who exemplify what is best about their field. Past Stars of Life award recipients have included paramedics who were part of the rescue efforts during disasters like the Centennial Olympic Park and Oklahoma City bombings and the severe flooding in the South and Midwest. Through a spirit of selflessness, Lisa, Mary, Stephanie and Christine have dedicated themselves to serving others. Their spirit of community is a great source of pride, not only for Pennsylvania, but for the United States. Mr. President, I hope my colleagues will join with me in honoring these women for their faithful service and extending best wishes for continued success in the years to come.

Mr. SANTORUM

Mr. SANTORUM. Mr. President, I rise today to reaffirm my support for the tireless efforts of the Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Association of Lehigh Valley to fight Chronic Fatigue and Immune Dysfunction Syndrome (CFIDS), or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS). For six years, the CFS Association of Lehigh Valley has been dedicated to finding a cure for CFIDS, increasing public awareness, and supporting victims of this disease. The Lehigh Valley organization is actively involved in CFS-related research. In addition, they regularly participate in seminars to train health care professionals. Public education is an essential aspect of the association's mission. Likewise, the Lehigh Valley organization raises public awareness through the International CFIDS Awareness Day, which is held on May 12 each year. I would also note that the CFS Association of Lehigh Valley received the CFIDS Support Network Action Award in both 1995 and 1996 for their initiatives in public advocacy. Although researchers have made some advances in the study of this condition, CFIDS remains a mysterious illness. Presently, there is no known cause or cure. Victims experience a wide range of symptoms including extreme fatigue, fever, muscle and joint pain, cognitive and neurological problems, tender lymph nodes, nausea, and vertigo. Recently, the Centers for Disease Control gave CFIDS ``Priority 1'' status in the new infectious disease category, which also includes cholera, malaria, hepatitis C and tuberculosis. Until this disease is obliterated, the CFS Association of Lehigh Valley will continue its research and education campaigns. Mr. President, I urge my colleagues to join me in commending the Lehigh Valley organization and in supporting the following proclamation: Proclamation Whereas, the Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) Association of the Lehigh Valley joined the Chronic Fatigue and Immune Dysfunction Syndrome (CFIDS) Association of America, the world's largest organization dedicated to conquering CFIDS, in observing May 12, 1998 as International Chronic Fatigue and Immune Dysfunction Syndrome Awareness Day; and Whereas, the Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Association of the Lehigh Valley, a member of the Support Network of the CFIDS Association of America, is celebrating their sixth year of service to the community; and Whereas, CFIDS is a complex illness which is characterized by neurological, rheumatological and immunological problems, incapacitating fatigue, and numerous other symptoms that can persist for months or years and can be severely debilitating; and Whereas, estimates suggest that hundreds of thousands of American adults already have CFIDS; and Whereas, the medical community and the general public should receive more information and develop a greater awareness of the problems associated with CFIDS. While much has been done at the national, state, and local levels, more must be done to support patients and their families; and Whereas, research has been strengthened by the efforts of the Centers for Disease Control, the National Institutes of Health, and other private institutions, the CFS Association of the Lehigh Valley recognizes that much more must be done to encourage further research so that the mission of conquering CFIDS and related disorders can be achieved; Therefore, the United States Senate commends the designation of May 12, 1998 as CFIDS Awareness Day and applauds the efforts of those battling the illness. I appreciate the Senate's consideration of this issue, and I thank my colleagues for their attention.

Mr. SANTORUM

Mr. SANTORUM. Mr. President, I rise to recognize the inventors, manufacturers, marketers, entrepreneurs, investors and media from across the United States and over 35 countries that are convening in Pittsburgh for the Invention/New Product Exposition (INPEX XIV). INPEX is held in conjunction with The Business Show, the region's business-to-business trade show, and the Global Partnership with Pennsylvania Conference. The conference provides the opportunity for international entrepreneurs to meet with representatives from the region's businesses. This conference helps to promote economic development and job creation in Western Pennsylvania and encourages participants to establish their operations in the region. Participants can attend the educational seminars to learn how to do business in Pennsylvania and network with Pennsylvania chambers, businesses and regional associations. Most inventions and new products displayed at INPEX are eligible to be a part of the INPEX Awards Program. Entries are judged by an International Jury, with winners determined on the basis of usefulness, overall appeal and creativity. Past sponsors of corporate awards include AAA, the World Trade Center Association, NASA and the Pennsylvania Institute Of Culinary Arts. Mr. President, I am pleased that Pittsburgh is the site of such innovation, business development and global partnership. I ask my colleagues to join me in extending the Senate's best wishes to participants and organizers of this conference, and in recognizing the week of May 11 as Innovation Week, Business to Business Week and Global Partnership With Pennsylvania Week.

Mr. SANTORUM

Mr. SANTORUM. Mr. President, this year marks the 150th anniversary of Coudersport, PA. Today, I rise to discuss the establishment, growth, and achievements of this town. Coudersport was named for Mr. Coudere, a European investor in the Ceres Land Company which owned 175,000 acres in this area of Pennsylvania. Established in 1848, the town had only 48 buildings and about 200 residents. After it was approved as the seat of the Potter County government, the village slowly grew. Just before the Civil War, Coudersport's population nearly doubled. Anti-slavery sentiment ran strong in this town. Residents held fundraisers to benefit abolitionist causes. Reminders of the town's rich history still stand. Six of the original 48 buildings are still inhabited. Today, the population of Coudersport stands at 2,854, and it is still the hub of Potter County. Although Coudersport has changed with the times, it never lost its small town charm. Mr. President, the people of this town are proud of their history and their traditions. I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating Coudersport on its 150th anniversary.