Bob Smith

Mr. SMITH of New Hampshire

Mr. SMITH of New Hampshire. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to Mr. Vaughan Taylor, a Jacksonville, North Carolina, attorney and his wife Linda for their heroic efforts to help save the lives of three of the crew members aboard the Frisco, a Virginia Beach fishing vessel. Avid sailors, Vaughan and Linda are no strangers to the perils of the sea. As Vaughan navigated their 40 foot sailboat, Legacy, off the shores of North Carolina, he encountered a pile of floating wreckage. What he did not expect to find were three members of the Lynnhaven based scalloper, Frisco. It had been more than eight hours since a freighter had emerged from the fog, crushing the Frisco and leaving its crew of four clinging to debris in the dead of night. Knowing that their boat was not only low on fuel in bad weather, but also dangerously testing the limit to his radio's frequency, Vaughan and Linda pushed ahead, determined to rescue these men. After radioing for help from anyone who could hear his plea, Vaughan sprang to action aboard the sailboat and began to haul the first member of the crew out of the water. Time was of the essence as he struggled to pull the other crew member from the water. Unable to fight against the weight of his water logged survival suit, Vaughan secured the survivor to the boat with a life preserver and tight line. Using their years of experience at sea, Vaughan and his wife risked their own safety to save the lives of these men. By treating them for hypothermia, they were able to avoid a fatal tragedy for these men. Concentrating on getting the men the five miles back to shore safely, Vaughan hoisted the sails, kept in touch with the U.S. Coast Guard and began cruising at top speeds towards the Chesapeake Bay. Ending the heroic crusade with the credit of saving these lives, and only a mere .8 gallons of gas to spare, Vaughan Taylor serves as a positive role model for all those who venture into the high seas. In all that Vaughan Taylor approaches, he gives unbridled efforts, and stops at nothing short of success. As has been the case in his work for U.S. personnel missing in action and their families, Vaughan continuously fights for the rights of others. He is also one of the most well-respected attorneys representing military personnel who need help, and his knowledge of the uniform code of military justice is second to none. It comes as no surprise that he would risk his own life with his wife by his side, to save his fellow man. I am proud to call Vaughan Taylor a close friend of mine, and I applaud his devotion to humanitarian causes. Mr. President, also let me express my sympathy to the family of Captain Charlie Peel, the owner of the Frisco, who, unfortunately was never found. He was very much respected by all of the waterman in Lynnhaven Inlet, and was like a father to the others aboard the Frisco. I am sure he will be missed, and is in our thoughts and prayers.

Mr. SMITH of New Hampshire

Mr. SMITH of New Hampshire. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate now proceed to the consideration of Calendar No. 819, S. 2811.

Mr. SMITH of New Hampshire. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the bill be read the third time and passed, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, and that any statements relating to the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. SMITH of New Hampshire

Mr. SMITH of New Hampshire. I ask unanimous consent that the bills be read a third time and passed, the motions to reconsider be laid upon the table, and any statements be printed in the Record, with the above all occurring en bloc.

Mr. SMITH of New Hampshire. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Governmental Affairs Committee be discharged from further consideration of the following legislation; further, that the Senate proceed en bloc to their consideration in the following bills at the desk: H.R. 4450, H.R. 4451, H.R. 4625, H.R. 4786, H.R. 4315, H.R. 4831, H.R. 4853, H.R. 5229.

Mr. SMITH of New Hampshire

Mr. SMITH of New Hampshire. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Judiciary Committee be discharged from further consideration of S. Res. 340, and the Senate then proceed to its immediate consideration.

Mr. SMITH of New Hampshire. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, and any statements relating to the resolution be printed in the Record.

Mr. SMITH of New Hampshire

Mr. SMITH of New Hampshire. I ask unanimous consent that the Banking Committee be discharged from further consideration of H.R. 5273, and the Senate then proceed to its immediate consideration.

Mr. SMITH of New Hampshire

Mr. SMITH of New Hampshire. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Judiciary Committee be discharged from further consideration of S. Res. 339, and the Senate then proceed to its immediate consideration.

Mr. SMITH of New Hampshire. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, and finally, any statements relating to the resolution be printed in the Record.

Mr. SMITH of New Hampshire

Mr. SMITH of New Hampshire. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the amendment be agreed to.

Mr. SMITH of New Hampshire. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the bill, as amended, be read the third time and passed, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, and any statements relating to the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. SMITH of New Hampshire

Mr. SMITH of New Hampshire. I ask unanimous consent that the amendment be agreed to, the bill be read the third time and passed, as amended, and the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, and any statements relating to the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. SMITH of New Hampshire. Mr. President, Senator Murkowski has an amendment at the desk, and I ask for its consideration.

Mr. SMITH of New Hampshire

Mr. SMITH of New Hampshire. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. SMITH of New Hampshire

Mr. SMITH of New Hampshire. Mr. President, in closing, on behalf of the leader, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it recess until the hour of 11 a.m. on Wednesday, October 25. I further ask unanimous consent that on Wednesday, immediately following the prayer, the Journal of proceedings be approved to date, the time for the two leaders be reserved for their use later in the day, and the Senate then proceed to a period of morning business until 12:30 p.m., with Senators speaking for up to 5 minutes, with the following exceptions: Senator Durbin, or his designee, from 11 a.m. to 11:45 a.m.; Senator Thomas, or his designee, from 11:45 to 12:30 p.m.

Mr. SMITH of New Hampshire. I further ask unanimous consent that at the hour of 12:30 p.m. the Senate stand in recess until the hour of 2:15 p.m. in order for the weekly party caucuses to meet.

Mr. SMITH of New Hampshire

Mr. SMITH of New Hampshire. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, and any statements relating to the resolution be printed in the Record.

Mr. SMITH of New Hampshire

Mr. SMITH of New Hampshire. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the amendment be agreed to.

Mr. SMITH of New Hampshire. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the bill, as amended, be read the third time and passed, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, and any statements relating to the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. SMITH of New Hampshire

Mr. SMITH of New Hampshire. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Judiciary Committee be discharged from further consideration of S. Res. 31, and the Senate then proceed to its immediate consideration.

Mr. SMITH of New Hampshire

Mr. SMITH of New Hampshire. Mr. President, in executive session, I ask unanimous consent that the following nominations be discharged from the Finance Committee and, further, the Senate proceed to their consideration en bloc: Joel Gerber and Stephen Swift to be Judges of the U.S. Tax Court; Thomas Saving and John Palmer to be Members of the Board of Trustees of the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund and the Federal Disability Insurance Trust Fund, to be Members of the Board of Trustees of the Federal Supplementary Medical Insurance Trust Fund, and to be Members of the Board of Trustees of the Federal Hospital Insurance Trust Fund; Gerald Shea and Mark Weinberger to be members of the Social Security Advisory Board, and Troy Cribb to be Assistant Secretary of Commerce. I further ask consent that the Senate proceed to the consideration of the following nominations on the calendar: Nos. 693, 694, 756, 757, 758, and all nominations on the Secretary's desk in the Army and Coast Guard. I further ask unanimous consent that the nominations be confirmed, the motions to reconsider be laid upon the table, any statements relating to the nominations be printed in the Record, the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action, and the Senate then return to legislative session.

Mr. SMITH of New Hampshire

Mr. SMITH of New Hampshire. Mr. President, for the information of all Senators, the Senate will be in a period of morning business on Wednesday until 12:30 p.m. Following morning business, the Senate will recess until 2:15 p.m. for the weekly party conferences. The House is expected to consider the foreign operations conference report during tomorrow morning's session, and it is hoped that the Senate can begin consideration of that conference report upon reconvening at 2:15 p.m. The Senate is also expected to have the final votes on S. 2508, the Colorado Ute Settlement Act Amendments of 2000, as well as a vote on the continuing resolution. Therefore, Senators can expect votes during tomorrow afternoon's session.

Mr. SMITH of New Hampshire

Mr. SMITH of New Hampshire. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, and any statements relating to this resolution be printed in the Record.

Mr. SMITH of New Hampshire

Mr. SMITH of New Hampshire. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Chair lay before the Senate a message from the House to accompany H.R. 4788.