Richard Shelby

Mr. SHELBY

Mr. SHELBY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the amendment be agreed to, the substitute amendment be agreed to, the bill be considered read a third time and passed, the amendment to the title be agreed to, the title, as amended, be agreed to, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, and that any statements relating to the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. SHELBY

Mr. SHELBY. I ask unanimous consent that the committee amendment be agreed to, the bill be considered read a third time and passed, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, and that any statement relating to the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. SHELBY

Mr. SHELBY. Mr. President, on behalf of the majority leader, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate now proceed to the consideration of S. 1677, as under the previously agreed unanimous consent.

Mr. SHELBY. Mr. President, Senator Chafee has an amendment at the desk.

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

Mr. SHELBY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the amendment be agreed to, that all time be yielded and the bill be read a third time, and passed, with the motion to reconsider laid upon the table.

Mr. SHELBY

Mr. SHELBY. Mr. President, I want to first associate myself entirely with the remarks of the Senator from Texas. He was speaking very articulately for himself. But he was also speaking for me and a lot of other people, I believe, here in the Senate when he was talking about the problems with H.R. 10. There are a lot of good things in H.R. 10. But one of the most reprehensible things, I believe, Mr. President, is the expansion of the Community Reinvestment Act. Senator Gramm has gone to great lengths to explain that tonight. But before any of my colleagues would think about voting for the bill, if it comes up, H.R. 10, I think they ought to ask themselves and ask their local bankers, small bankers, the small directors and the officers if they in America support these measures that I think are reprehensible, such as increased administrative enforcement authority of the regulators to fine directors and officers of banks up to $1 million a day for CRA noncompliance. That is not the law today. Two, that would make activities like insurance sales, or mutual fund sales, subject to CRA compliance on all depository institution affiliates on an ongoing basis. That is not the law today; and regulatory authority to shut down any affiliate within the holding company if just one subsidiary depository institution falls out of CRA compliance. Just think about this. These are sweeping, sweeping changes in the law as we know it today. Senator Gramm talked at length about passing this banking reform bill--and I think it has a lot of reform in it--and keeping CRA neutral; not bother or try to repeal the CRA law as it exists today, although I personally would like to; leave it alone for another day, but not to try to expand it, either. Those are some of my concerns. Senator Gramm and I have offered and we are hoping to negotiate with the proponents of this legislation for a resolution to the problems dealing with CRA issues. I will go over them one more time. Mr. President, it would apply to the formation of financial services holding companies the same CRA structure that applies to the formation of bank holding companies today. I don't see anything wrong with that. It would be uniform, and it makes a lot of sense. Second, Mr. President, any financial institution that has been found to be in compliance with CRA in its most recent exam shall be deemed to be in compliance with CRA for all purposes and for any action until its next regularly scheduled CRA exam. And, thirdly--I think this is very important--to put forth some language in there dealing with antifraud, antibribery provisions, and to say basically that it shall be illegal for any financial institution in connection with the CRA review evaluation or consideration to give anyone not employed by the bank any grant or subsidy in cash, or in kind, or to establish any quota, or set aside for employment, management, sales, purchases, or other business activities other than activities voluntarily undertaken by the financial institution to meet the credit needs of the local communities in which the financial institution is chartered. This makes a lot of sense to me. I think it makes sense that people would focus in on this as we debate this bill. But I just want to again say that we should go ahead if we could knock out and make CRA neutral in this; go ahead and work on the merits of H.R. 10, which are many, and try to do something. If we can't, Senator Gramm--and there will be others--and I are going to do everything we can to protect our rights here in the Senate.

Mr. SHELBY

Mr. SHELBY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate concur in the amendments to the House.

Mr. SHELBY. Mr. President, I ask the Chair lay before the Senate a message from the House of Representatives on the bill (S. 1355) to designate the United States courthouse located at 141 Church Street in New Haven, Connecticut, as the ``Richard C. Lee United States Courthouse.'' The PRESIDING OFFICER laid before the Senate the following message from the House of Representatives: Resolved, That the bill from the Senate (S. 1355) entitled ``An Act to designate the United States courthouse located in New Haven, Connecticut, as the ``Richard C. Lee United States Courthouse'', do pass with the following amendments: Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert:

Mr. SHELBY

Mr. SHELBY. I thank the chairman of the committee and I appreciate his response.

Mr. SHELBY. Mr. President, I would like to ask the distinguished floor manager of the bill a question.

Mr. SHELBY. Under Title II of the pending legislation, entitled Improving Teacher quality, the Secretary of Education is authorized to make teacher training partnership grants. These partnerships may include non-profit education organizations, businesses and teacher organizations.

Mr. SHELBY. I know that the Senator from Vermont is quite familiar with the work of the State Humanities Councils and he is aware of the extensive number of teacher institutes which they have supported over the past few years. In Virginia, for example, the council has sponsored teacher institutes on local and regional history. The Alabama Humanities Foundation's SUPER (School and University Partners for Educational Renewal) reached more than 800 Alabama teachers over a two year period.

Mr. SHELBY. I agree. Consequently, I simply wanted to make certain that state councils, which are non-profit entities, would qualify for participation in the teacher training partnerships.

Mr. SHELBY

Mr. SHELBY. Mr. President I rise today to pay tribute to an Alabama couple who, in their persistent pursuit of justice, successfully raised awareness of illegal activities taking place in Marengo County in some of the highest levels of county government. Goodloe and Jean Sutton, who together head The Democrat-Reporter-- Goodloe serves as editor and publisher and Jean as chief reporter-- remind us of what the Fourth Estate is all about. Through their thorough and diligent coverage of questionable activities in the Marengo County Sheriff's office, former Sheriff Roger Davis was convicted on federal extortion charges; Sonny Breckenridge, who had been appointed by Sheriff Davis to lead the county's drug enforcement unit, was sentenced to life without parole for conspiring to protect drug dealers. Another deputy was also arrested. All are serving jail time for the deeds the Suttons helped to uncover. Goodloe and Jean Sutton are to be commended. Not only have they helped to rid the Marengo County Sheriff's office of misdeeds and rampant corruption, but they have helped to restore the public faith in local government. They have also set an exemplary standard for others in the profession of journalism where truth should always be the highest and most important pursuit and consideration. In addition to my statement, Mr. President, I believe it is fitting to include the following article about the Suttons, entitled ``Paper Tigers,'' that appeared in the September 28, 1998 edition of People Magazine. I ask that the article be printed in the Record. The article follows. [From People Magazine, Sept. 28, 1998] Paper Tigers--Newshounds Goodloe and Jean Sutton Get the Goods on a Lawbreaking Sheriff (By Peter Ames Carlin and Grace Lim) From where they sat in the tiny newsroom of The Democrat- Reporter in rural Linden, Ala., Goodloe and Jean Sutton sensed there was something wrong about Roger Davis. Not only did the sheriff of Alabama's rural Marengo County (pop. 25,000) sell jewelry out of the trunk of his police car but he seemed to enjoy throwing his weight around. ``Davis thought being sheriff made him all-powerful,'' says Jean. ``He was impressed with himself.'' But the Suttons were not, so when they learned that Davis had skimmed money from the county, they featured the story in their family-owned weekly newspaper. Ignoring threats and boycotts by the sheriff's cronies for more than three years, the couple kept on writing until Davis and two of his deputies had earned jail terms and the modest, six-employee paper had earned Pulitzer Prize consideration and a wall full of journalism trophies. ``To take on the sheriff, the most powerful political leader in a rural county, is beyond gutsy,'' says Alabama Attorney General Bill Pryor, who investigated the crooked sheriff. Sheriff Davis, now 57, started dipping into the county till in 1991, a year after the retired Alabama state trooper was elected to his $35,000-a-year post. First he used public money to buy his teenage daughter a $3,000 all-terrain vehicle for Christmas, only later returning to the dealer to pay with his own money. Davis funneled county dollars into his account for several years, then extorted more than $20,000 from bail bondsmen who had been operating illegally without the required financial reserves. He wasn't subtle about it. ``If he could control you by fear, he'd do it,'' says Goodloe. ``Or if he could do you a favor, he'd expect you to repay him. And he charmed people too.'' Operating on a tip in early 1994, Jean Sutton first dug into the county financial records and discovered that $9,000 in public funds delivered to Davis had never made it to the office account. The Suttons ran the story as front-page news, eliciting a denial from the sheriff. ``He told people he was a good Christian,'' says Jean. ``When they asked why he didn't sue us for libel, he'd say, `I prayed over it, and it wasn't the right thing to do.' '' Although Davis (who declined People's request for an interview) dodged those first editorial bullets, battle lines were drawn. Many of his supporters canceled their subscriptions to The Democrat-Reporter, cutting its circulation 20 percent from 7,500 to 6,000, and some local businesses pulled their advertisements. ``As far as I know, he did a good job sheriffing while he was in office,'' says retired store owner Gaines Williamson, who once backed the sheriff. ``Everybody knew him. We'd chitchat over a couple of coffee.'' Some Davis partisans felt so strongly they even phoned the Suttons, threatening to blow up the family van. ``Remember,'' one letter assured them, ``your day will come.'' For Goodloe, 59, the chance to take down a crooked sheriff was worth the tension. The youngest of three kids born to publisher Robert Sutton, who bought The Democrat-Reporter in 1917, and his wife, Lorie, Goodloe first set type at the family newspaper when he was 12. He met aspiring writer Jean Rodgers, daughter of Will and Mary, while studying journalism at the University of Southern Mississippi, and the couple married after graduating in 1964. Moving home to Linden, Sutton succeeded his father as editor and publisher of The Democrat-Reporter and installed Jean, now 57, as chief reporter. The couple--who have two sons, Goodloe Jr., 27, who works for the state Republican Party, and William, 14, a high school freshman--gained a reputation as uncompromising journalists. ``Goodloe can sell a paper, that's for sure,'' says cement-company foreman Jerry Stewart. ``There's a lot of controversy, which makes for interesting reading.'' The Democrat-Reporter became even more interesting in May 1997, when two sheriff's deputies were arrested by federal and state agents for conspiring to protect drug dealers--one, Sonny Breckenridge, who was sentenced to life without parole, had been appointed by Davis to lead the county's drug enforcement unit. Meanwhile, with the Suttons' articles pointing the way, the state and federal authorities began closing in on the sheriff. By August of last year, Davis too was behind bars, caught in a joint state and FBI sting while squeezing a $975 payoff from an illegal bondsman. Two months later, he pleaded guilty to federal extortion charges; he was assessed $30,000 in fines and restitution. ``I would like to apologize to my family, my friends and my church and to the people of Marengo County,'' the sheriff said en route to prison, where he'll serve 27 months. ``I'm sorry.'' Although their circulation has yet to rebound fully, the Suttons vow to continue in Marengo County whether their future holds trophies or threats. ``We're just humble scribes,'' says Goodloe, who is also running to represent the region in Alabama's House of Representatives. ``And we have the best turkey hunting, the best deer hunting and the best- looking women in the country. Why would anybody want to go anywhere else?''

Mr. SHELBY

Mr. SHELBY. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to an award-winning Alabama journalist and author who has written the definitive history of the World War II military career of Hollywood-great Jimmy Stewart. Mr. Smith, who served with Stewart in WWII, wrote ``A Retrospective of the World War II Military Career of Hollywood's James M. (Jimmy) Stewart'' for the James M. Stewart Museum Foundation, located in Stewart's hometown--Indiana, PA. I believe excerpts from this article are a fitting tribute to both the life and legacy of a true American hero: Jimmy Stewart, as well as to one of Alabama's fine authors: Starr Smith. In compliance with the Congressional Record text-length rules, only excerpts of Mr. Smith's article could be placed in the Record; however, I encourage my colleagues and the American people to obtain a complete copy of this important article from either the James M. Stewart Museum or the September 1998 edition of The Retired Officers Magazine. In addition to his many accomplishments, Smith is a travel columnist for the Montgomery Advertiser and is a retired Air Force Reserve colonel. He lives in Montgomery, AL. Mr. President, the following are excerpts from ``A Retrospective of the World War II Military Career of Hollywood's James M. (Jimmy) Stewart'' by Starr Smith: When the melancholy news came of Jimmy Stewart's death I was in Montreal, Canada. I thought it singular that I was out of my own country at the time because my relationship with this remarkable American had taken place on foreign soil-- wartime England. Much has been said and written since Stewart's death about his extraordinary life and career as a film actor of the first rank, but little has been said about Stewart's brilliant and brave record as an Army Air Force combat pilot and commander in World War II. I served with Stewart on a windswept and cold bomber station, called Old Buckingham, near the North Sea between Cambridge and Norwich in England's East Anglia in 1943-1944. Our outfit was the 453rd Bomb Group. The commander, Colonel Ramsay Potts, was a battle-tested B-24 specialist who had been on the historic and pivotal Ploesti mission and earned the Distinguished Service Cross. Stewart, then a major, was the group's operations officer and I was an intelligence officer who handled much of the briefings for the air crews prior to their mission over Nazi Germany. It was in this capacity that I worked with Stewart, night after night, preparing the details of the mission. I have never known a more intelligent, knowledgeable, hardworking, conscientious and dedicated officer. In my book, ``Only the Days Are Long: Reports of a Journalist and World Traveler,'' I wrote of Stewart: ``At night, working with me preparing the mission, Stewart was crisp and business-like; reserved, but he knew his job and was a keen student of daylight precision bombing. (The Americans bombed in daylight, the RAF at night). It was interesting to see Stewart at the bar of the Officer's Club after a tough day and hear his discussion of the mission with the returning pilots. But even then he was always slightly aloof. He was never one of the boys. This is not to say Stewart was unfriendly. Rather, he went about his work with a cool professional detachment--a single purpose approach that did not allow for personal involvement. This, I think, was the reason for this success in the war. He was determined to prove that he was more than an actor, more than a Hollywood star. He was determined to prove that now he could measure up as a man doing a really important job in the military crucible and not just a celluloid hero. Almost a year before Pearl Harbor, Jimmy Stewart had a deep feeling that his country would soon be at war. Stewart also knew that if war came he wanted to be in uniform and overseas on combat duty. At the beginning of the new year of 1941, Stewart was at the top of his career as a movie actor and international star. His 1939 picture, ``Mr. Smith Goes to Washington,'' has made him a folk hero throughout America and he was destined for an Academy Award for his role as the reporter in ``Philadelphia Story'' later in the year. His life was blissful, romantic, flawless, and ahead was the golden promise of infinite stardom as one of the premier movie players of all time. . . . but with England fighting Hitler since 1939, Edward R. Murrow's bleak broadcasts from London, the Pacific war against the Japanese going badly for the British . . . Jimmy Stewart decided to join the fight. But, he faced two major roadblocks: his boss and his country. Louis B. Mayer, the forceful and dictatorial head of MGM used every persuasive tactic at his command--choice roles, contract revisions, free time to help with the war effort as a civilian. The other matter was different. In September of 1940, the Selective Service Act became law, and men between the ages of 21 and 36 were required to register. Being 32, Stewart registered . . . when he was called up for a physical in late 1940, he was turned down: underweight. That could have ended the whole affair. . . . perhaps thinking of his father's fierce patriotism and his service in two wars, plus his own fervent love of country, Stewart favored the volunteer route. He appealed the Army's underweight decision, embarked on an eating binge, made the weight requirements and reported for induction on March 22, 1941 at Fort McArthur, California. Stewart was among the very few officers in American military history to rise from private to full colonel in slightly over four years. Moreover, Stewart was actually on combat duty all the time he was overseas, performing vital, demanding and dangerous jobs: squadron operations officer, squadron commander, group operations officer, wing operations officer, and later at the end--Second Bomb Wing Commander. And, all the while, he was flying combat missions as a B-24 pilot and command pilot. . . . Stewart spent all of his service in England assigned to the 2nd Combat Wing. . . . in late August of 1945, he returned to New York on the Queen Elizabeth. And on September 29th of that year, Stewart was discharged at Andrews Air Force Base in Washington. He was immediately appointed a full colonel in the Air Force Reserve. In his war years, Stewart had flown 20 combat missions, among them the tough ones: Brunswick, Bremen, Frankfort, Schweinfut, and I recall that he was on Berlin twice--once leading the entire 1,000 plane 8th Air Force. His wartime decorations include: Distinguished Flying Cross, with Oak Leaf Cluster; four Air Medals, and the French Croix de Guerre with Palm. He was promoted to Brigadier General in the Air Force Reserve in 1959 and retired in 1968. After Stewart died in July of 1997, Air Power History published a memoriam . . . (which) contained this little-known fact: ``In 1966, during his annual two weeks of active duty, Stewart requested a combat assignment and participated in a bombing strike over Vietnam.'' . . . With all the myriad honors of a celebrated and eclectic career, including the highest in his profession--the Academy Award--it is not too much to believe that Jimmy Stewart reached the blue lawn of his life in those eventful and dangerous years of World War II. A small town boy who grew up with strong family values and a bed-rock foundation in honesty and integrity, intertwined with a fervent patriotism--Stewart served his country with dedication and distinction, and, like F. Scott Fitzgerald, his fellow Princetonian--he lived his life with an unbending determination, subtle style and a certain mystique.

Mr. SHELBY

Mr. SHELBY. Mr. President, I rise today to eulogize and celebrate the life of one of Alabama's great native sons--Dr. George Vernon Irons, Sr., who passed away July 21, 1998. Dr. Irons was Distinguished Professor of History and Political Science Emeritus at Samford University, having served the University for 43 years. During that time, he taught a record number of University Presidents, 17. Dr. Irons was the oldest member of the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame and one of Alabama's athletic greats---the only Alabama track and distance star inducted into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame from the University of Alabama. Mr. President, only three men have been inducted into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame on the first ballot: Ralph Shug Jordan, Paul ``Bear'' Bryant, and Dr. George Irons. Dr. Irons is survived by his wife, Velma Wright Irons, a distinguished educator and nominee for the Alabama Women's Hall of Fame at Judson College; two sons: Dr. George Vernon Irons, Jr., a cardiologist in Charlotte, North Carolina; and William Lee Irons, a prominent Birmingham attorney. Dr. Irons and his son William are the only father and son to be selected for the 1998 Who's Who in America from Alabama. Mr. President, Dr. George Vernon Irons Sr., gave tirelessly of himself to God and country. He was a man of great distinction, and I take great pride in offering this tribute on his behalf. Mr. President, the following tribute, edited to meet Congressional Record length requirements, was written by Dr. Irons' son. It provides a comprehensive and detailed account of Dr. Irons' life and many accomplishments. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the tribute written by Dr. Irons' son William be printed in the Record. The tribute follows: Tribute to Dr. George Vernon Irons, Sr. (By William L. Irons) Dr. George Vernon Irons, Sr., arrived at Birmingham's Howard College (now Samford University) in 1931. At that time, the school was experiencing serious financial difficulty, owing more than $400,000. Dr. Irons' first assignment for the troubled school began when University President Neal called him in and explained that the school had been noticed for foreclosure. ``Your job, Irons, is to go to the banker and stop this foreclosure,'' President Neal directed. Dr. Irons persuaded the banker, after much deliberation, to grant the university a two-year extension. The rest is history. Today, Samford University is the largest privately endowed Baptist school in the world, and is the only Baptist institution in America with an inspiring domed school of divinity. As a result of Dr. Irons' key role in assisting Howard College to grow into an internationally acclaimed university, he was elected by the Samford University faculty to serve as Grand Marshall of all academic, graduation and commencement exercises. Leading the academic processional for 15 years. In 1976, he was recognized by Samford University Faculty Resolution for ``his impeccable character and qualities of modesty, humility, kindness, and selfless service to the University.'' While the final years of service often ebb, this was not the case for Dr. Irons. In the last few months of his life, at nearly 96 years of age, Dr. Irons secured a $100,000 scholarship contribution to Samford University as a perpetual memorial to his academic excellence as Distinguished Professor for 43 years. In addition to his tireless efforts on behalf of Samford University, Dr. Irons is known as a sports legend. In the early 1920's, George Irons kept the athletic flame burning at the University of Alabama as its ``Knight of the Cinderpath.'' As a Junior in 1922, Irons won the prestigious A.A.U. Road Race in Atlanta. That same year, Irons broke the A.A.U. record, running four miles in 17-minutes and 24-seconds---an average of four, four-minute 21-second miles in succession. The four minute mile record would not be broken until 30-years later. Irons then won the All Southern S.I.A.A. Road Race in Birmingham--a grueling three mile event over solid pavement. In a hard, driving rain, he broke the record by more than 20 seconds. This record has never been equaled nor broken. For his prowess on the track field, Irons ran himself into the Alabama record books, including his addition to the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame in 1978 on the first ballot--the only track and distance runner ever inducted into the Hall of Fame. While at the University of Alabama, Dr. Irons was a Phi Beta Kappa honors student, and the University's nominee for the Rhodes Scholarship in 1924. From there, he went on to Duke University where he earned his doctorate degree in history. To his friends, Dr. Irons was the quintessential American. With large inviting hands, captivating smile and charming gentleman's demeanor, he radiated a generous spirit accessible to everyone. Witty and charming, he always made the other person ``look good,'' even if to his own detriment. Eager to listen, never critical or negative, he could penetrate the soul of another and give an inspiring uplifting word of encouragement or silently go about doing good. A generous heart who cared deeply and passionately about the loves of his life and consecrated his energies to them. A braveheart of Scottish ancestry, he had the heart of a lion when his interests were challenged. A consummate gentleman with the ``can do'' American spirit on any endeavor--interested in what you were doing and how he could help accomplish your objectives. With foresight he encouraged female colleagues to pursue their professional goals long before it was a popular undertaking. He was a genteel man ever sensitive to another's hurt. He went about assisting without being asked. Dr. Irons had an unlimited capacity to give his endless energies to any task. His crisp walks across the Samford campus at near running gait were legendary among his students and the faculty. He had a great fighting heart for his beliefs and often referred to his middle initial ``V'' as ``V for victory.'' Dr. Irons had an elegance rarely seen rivaling the beauty and grace of a swan, yet strong with the swift power of a lion if called upon. Loyal and faithful, easy to greet, he was at ease before a large convocation audience or content to enjoy cherished time of solitude. In addition to his other accomplishments, Dr. Irons, who was also Colonel Irons, proudly defended the United States in war and in peace for over one-third of the 20th Century. Dr. Irons, who achieved the rank of Lt. Col., served in the Anti- Aircraft Artillery branch of the U.S. Army and reserves. Devoted to God, Dr. Irons gave selfless service to his Church as deacon, Sunday school teacher, and Chairman of the Board of Deacons. He was elected as lifetime Deacon, Southside Baptist Church. His life reflects his depth of devotion in word, deed and thought. Dr. Irons was an icon of virtue and a legendary role model for Samford students for almost a century. Dr. Irons' life was one of sacrificial service. From his service to our nation, to his work on behalf of Samford University students and faculty, Dr. Irons was a figure of character, devotion to cause, and exemplary standards of honor, duty and integrity. His life is an inspiration to all. Funeral services for Dr. Irons were conducted at Mountain Brook Baptist Church Chapel on July 27, 1998 by Dr. Irons' former student, Dr. James D. Moebes, Senior Minister.

Mr. SHELBY

Mr. SHELBY. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to my friend Bertie Sweeney Gammell Parish, a lifelong resident of Clayton, Alabama, hardworking wife and mother, dedicated member of the community, newspaper professional, and an inspiration to all who knew her. Bertie passed away at her home on Wednesday, August 26, 1998. Born on June 4, 1915 in Dothan, Alabama, Bertie was the daughter of William Lee and Pearle Ennis Gammell. From her earliest beginnings, Bertie was an active member of the Clayton United Methodist Church where she combined her love of music with her service to God as organist and choir director for almost 50 years. Bertie held a bachelor's degree in music from Alabama College, teaching music briefly at Montgomery County High School and later in Clayton. A former member of the Eufaula Music Guild, Bertie was a Paul Harris fellow of the Rotary Foundation of Rotary International---an award presented by the Clayton Rotary Club, a lifetime member of the Alabama Federation of Garden Clubs and a member of the Clayton Garden Club. In addition to the many awards and community service position she held, Bertie is probably best known as the editor and publisher of The Clayton Record---a post she assumed in 1960 after the deaths of her father and later her mother---both held the position in consecutive terms before her. She passed this torch to her daughter Rebecca Parish Beasley who holds the position today. The Clayton Record is one of only a few remaining family-owned and operated newspapers. Bertie's column ``One Comment,'' which appeared on the front page of The Clayton Record, was a favorite of subscribers. From her astute observations on everything from politics to gardening, Bertie thrilled, inspired and delighted her readers, including local gardeners who hoped to receive mention in one of her columns. Bertie was well known not only in Clayton, but across Alabama. She received many awards and kudos from colleagues in the news business including a listing in Who's Who of American Women, and the News Media Service to Education Award. She was also a staunch preservationist who worked diligently to preserve history and local historic structures in and around Clayton. Despite a demanding schedule, Bertie never forgot what matters most: family and friends. She is survived by her husband Thomas William Parish, Sr.---to whom she would have been married for 59 years on August 30, 1998; three children: Dr. Thomas William Parish, Jr., of Geneva, Joseph Edward Parish, Sr., of Clayton; and Rebecca Parish Beasley of Clayton; six grandchildren: Joseph Edward Parish, Jr. of Montgomery; Lucile Martin Parish of Columbus, Georgia; Edna Elane Parish Gulledge of Virginia Beach, Virginia; Thomas Frank Kelly, Jr., of Montgomery; Rebecca Parish Kelly of Clayton; and Thomas William Parish, III, of Geneva; three great-grandchildren; other relatives and friends too numerous to mention. I will miss Bertie. She was a good friend for many years. My heart goes out to her family as they remember her love, her many accomplishments, and the important role she set for them and for others in and around Clayton, Alabama. My prayers are with you.

Mr. SHELBY

Mr. SHELBY. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to Aubrey ``Cotton'' Lake, a long-time friend and respected member of the Tuscaloosa community, who passed away on Friday, August 14, 1998 at the age of 69. Aubrey was a valued employee of the Tuscaloosa News for 18 years and traveled extensively with the Alabama Crimson Tide football team. His photographs of the team won him the coveted Look Magazine National Sports Photography award, and many of his photographs hang in Tuscaloosa's Coach Bear Bryant Museum. Aubrey captured many of the Crimson Tide images that have become emblazoned on our memories--from photographs of Bear Bryant coaching the team to victory, to Joe Namath before his tenure with the NFL. Aubrey was there, documenting sports history, shooting and selecting the most descriptive photographs for the next day's Tuscaloosa News sports page. Aubrey was more than a sports photographer, however, and served both God and country throughout his life. In addition to his active membership at the First Freewill Baptist Church of Tuscaloosa, he also served many of Alabama's elected officials. For more than 24 years, Aubrey worked for late Representatives Walter Flowers and Claude Harris, and most recently for me, on my own staff. More than just an employee, Aubrey was a friend and a confidant. He was loyal, had a lifetime of experience in Alabama, and was a true servant to the people of our state. I could never have asked for a more dedicated staff member or friend. After leaving public service, Aubrey worked as president of Tuscaloosa Insulation Company, and served as a member of the Tuscaloosa Home Builders Association. He was an avid sportsman, and attended as many Alabama football games as possible. Aubrey was a loving father, devoted community member, and friend to most anyone he met. He will be missed by all who knew him, especially his wife Dot, his daughter Suzanne, his son Greg, his grandchildren, and other family members and friends. I'm glad I had the opportunity to know and work with Aubrey Lake. He was a good friend, and I will miss him.

Mr. SHELBY

Mr. SHELBY. I thank the Majority Leader and my colleague from North Carolina and the Senator from Colorado, the Chairman of the Treasury and General Government Appropriations Subcommittee, for their support. The Administration's resistance to providing the public access to federal research data not otherwise protected from disclosure under current law indeed contradicts the spirit of current law. The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 requests the Director of OMB to ``foster greater sharing, dissemination, and access to public information.'' OMB Circular 110, Subpart C, is even more specific, stating that unless specifically waived, Federal agencies ``have the right to . . . obtain, reproduce, publish or otherwise use the data first produced under an award''. Unfortunately, these policy directives are not being implemented on a systematic basis. Given the prevalent use of government funded research data in developing regulations and federal policy, it is important that such data be made available to other interested Federal agencies and to the public on a routine basis for independent scientific evaluation and confirmation. I thank my colleagues for their support on this issue and I look forward to working with them to improve the language in Conference.

Mr. SHELBY. I thank the Chairman for his support on this issue.

Mr. SHELBY

Mr. SHELBY. Mr. President, I rise to oppose the Dodd amendment, and my opposition is this: First, the Dodd amendment would give foreign organizations--foreign organizations--extraordinary statutory privileges to expedite and to compel declassification of U.S. national security information. Yes, it would give foreign organizations--not us--extraordinary statutory privileges to expedite and compel declassification of U.S. national security information, something that we have not ever had. Creating such statutory rights, which the Dodd amendment, if it is adopted and becomes law, will do, also opens the door to foreign organizations to take intelligence, law enforcement, defense and foreign policy agencies to court to compel special declassification requests. Second, to complete the review of the numerous documents that fall under this amendment in just 4 months--4 months--agencies will be forced to reassign personnel, many of whom would otherwise be carrying out important mission functions, or risk being sued by foreign organizations for noncompliance. Imagine that, think about this, I ask my colleagues this afternoon. Third, this amendment offered by the Senator from Connecticut is woefully inadequate in protecting intelligence sources and methods and, as a result, will chill current and future sources from providing the CIA with critical information--the very information that policymakers need to address human rights and other important foreign policy issues in many countries. Fourth, the Dodd amendment applies the same standards for withholding information that are being used to declassify records relating to the JFK assassination. The JFK records are over 40 years old. The documents covered by this amendment are much newer, some only a year old. Because the privacy, law enforcement and intelligence concerns are much greater in newer documents, there is no reason for the standards to be any different than those set out in President Clinton's Executive Order No. 12958. Otherwise, we risk jeopardizing ongoing prosecutions, losing critical intelligence sources and methods, and releasing private information. Mr. President, while we have previously enacted declassification exceptions for other historical records, special statutory authority to expedite and compel declassification of records should be exclusively reserved for American citizens, not foreign entities. The intelligence community has informed the Intelligence Committee in the Senate that it expects that substantial litigation costs will result if the amendment offered by the Senator from Connecticut becomes law. Litigation costs can be approximately 100 times as much per case than processing information for declassification and usually results in little, if any, additional information being released. Just think about it, Mr. President. Think about how far this amendment will go. Finally, the Dodd amendment is an unfunded mandate. Agencies would be required to pay for this declassification requirement out of existing funds. I understand that there are only a limited number of personnel with the necessary expertise to review and to declassify our intelligence records. As a result, resources spent on reviewing documents for the foreign organizations under this amendment, if it were adopted, will no longer be available to process declassification requests for others--including many U.S. citizens. U.S. citizens with equally meritorious requests for information will have to stand aside while these foreign entities go to the front of the line. In the fiscal year 1998, Mr. President, Congress funded a special declassification program to review and to declassify many of these documents. Since this amendment changes the standards for withholding information, the intelligence community will have to re-review the documents that the taxpayers have already paid to review. Mr. President, at the proper time I would hope that we would table this amendment, especially until we have an opportunity to fully consider its impact on the intelligence community and the Departments of State, Defense and Justice, as well as the American people. I think this amendment has not been well thought out. I know it has not been debated at length yet. I yield the floor. Mr. KYL addressed the Chair.

Mr. SHELBY. Mr. President, what is the pending business before the Senate?

Mr. SHELBY

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

Mr. SHELBY

Mr. SHELBY. Mr. President, I rise today to honor Mr. Ernest A. Young on the occasion of his retirement from the Department of the Army. Throughout his 40 years of Federal Service, culminating in his current position as Deputy to the Commanding General, U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command, Mr. Young has distinguished himself time and time again as an individual of the utmost integrity, capability, and foresight. Mr. Young began his career as an Army civilian employee in 1958, as a technical program specialist. He held managerial positions for various missile programs, including the very successful HAWK missile. Twenty- three years later, in September 1981, he was appointed to the Senior Executive Service where he held several key command and staff positions with the U.S. Army Missile Command. Mr. Young continued to rise through the ranks, and in June 1993, he was the first civilian to be selected as the Deputy to the Commanding General of the U.S. Army Missile Command (MICOM). In this position, Mr. Young was responsible for achieving all of the command's missions. Due in large part to his leadership, MICOM maintained a high state of readiness by adhering to procurement schedules and successfully executing weapons development programs despite the enormous challenge posed by shrinking annual defense budgets. Mr. Young's dedication to efficiency was recognized as MICOM became the first major subordinate command of the Army Materiel Command to be designated as a Reinvention Laboratory. Though faced with funding shortages, his skills also enabled him to implement several human resource initiatives that obviated the need for a reduction in force during his tenure as Deputy to the MICOM Commander. Mr. Young, however, may best be remembered for his personal attention to the implementation of the 1995 Base Realignment and Closure decision to consolidate the U.S. Army Aviation and Troop Command (ATCOM) with MICOM at Redstone Arsenal. The fact that 55 percent of ATCOM's aviation managerial workforce successfully moved to Redstone serves as a testament to Mr. Young's leadership and professionalism during this transition. Since the formation of the Aviation and Missile Command, Mr. Young has continued in his role as Deputy to the Commanding General. While the AMCOM formally merged the various aspects of aviation and missile program management into a single commodity command, Mr. Young diligently worked to integrate the aviation and missile cultures. He continued to work closely with the Commanding General to ensure the uninterrupted accomplishment of the procurement, readiness, and materiel development missions and functions of the command. In addition to Mr. Young's exemplary career, his frequent participation in seminars and workshops designed for senior government executives demonstrated his continual desire to better himself and improve his technical and managerial capabilities. Moreover, Mr. Young's involvement in such noteworthy associations as the American Society of Military Comptrollers, American Institute of Physics, Society of Logistics Engineers, the American Society for Public Administration and Rotary Club, exemplify his steadfast commitment to professional improvement and civic duty. Mr. President, for 40 years, Ernest Young has been an asset to the U.S. Army, Alabama, and the nation. On behalf of the United States Senate and a grateful nation, I thank Mr. Young for his dedicated service as he closes one chapter in his life and begins another.