Ted Stevens

Mr. STEVENS

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act is an important piece of legislation that will address the growing problem of junk lawsuits filed with the intention of driving the firearms industry out of business. I thank Senator Craig and Senator Burns for their efforts to ensure this legislation is addressed and moved through Congress. This act does not curtail the legal rights of victims who suffer injuries from the actions of firearm or ammunition manufacturers. The purpose of this legislation is to prevent the multiple lawsuits that have materialized which name the firearms and ammunition industries as defendants and attempt to hold these industries liable for the criminal acts of a third party. These frivolous lawsuits target the legitimate firearm and ammunition industries in attempts to destroy these industries. If firearm and ammunition manufacturers were forced to pay for the criminal acts of third parties, the concept of fairness would be eliminated. The impact of these suits would also affect this country economically and socially. Any limitation of one's constitutional right to bear arms is not acceptable. The destruction of the firearms and ammunition industries would cause many Americans to lose their jobs. In addition, if the firearms and ammunition industries were destroyed, the right to lawfully bear arms may be curtailed. Many Alaskans depend upon the right to bear firearms for subsistence purposes as well as for self- defense. Courts across the Nation are wasting valuable time on frivolous lawsuits. At this time, 28 States have enacted legislation to prevent frivolous lawsuits against the firearms and ammunition industries based on the criminal behavior of others. I encourage all of my colleagues to join me and take a stand against the lawsuits that attempt to abuse the legal system of this great country, by supporting the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act.

Mr. STEVENS

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 President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I ask that the sense-of-the-Senate amendment be read.

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, embedded in this amendment is a provision that really intends to lift the cap so that the outlays under this concept of increased highway spending will not be charged back against the discretionary spending. It is the intent of this sense-of-the-Senate to state that it is the Senate's position, that we support this increase only on the basis that it will not be charged against outlays to the discretionary spending and therefore reduce the amount of money available to the Appropriations Committee under this resolution.

Mr. STEVENS

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, as President pro tempore, I ask unanimous consent to have printed in the permanent Record a letter I have received from the President consistent with its requirements under the authorization for use of military force against Iraq, Public Law 107- 243.

Mr. STEVENS

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, as President pro tempore, I send to the desk a letter received from the President of the United States wherein he informs the Congress of his comments concerning his actions consistent with the War Powers Resolution, Public Law 107-40. I ask unanimous consent it be printed in the Record.

Mr. STEVENS

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I will be brief. I am proud to stand here with this former marine, my great friend from Virginia, Senator Warner, as I recall the phrase, ``From the halls of Montezuma to the shores of Tripoli.'' I believe the President has the authority. We all pledged, ourselves, when we were sworn into Federal office, to defend this country against enemies foreign and domestic. He has taken action--firm action--to protect us against enemies. The freedom of Iraq, the freedom of the people of Iraq, is the goal of this effort we are undertaking. But it is being done by free men and women-- young women, young men of this generation. They have talked about our generation being the Greatest Generation. These young men and women are all volunteers. They have gone out there in harm's way to protect us and to carry out their pledge to the people of the United States. I support them for that. I only add one comment. I keep hearing people talk about overtime, and getting money to pay people here who are working so long and working overtime in cities and various functions. Those men and women over there are not getting paid overtime. I think it is time we started thinking about some voluntarism in the United States right here at home, volunteers to help this country get through this period. When our men and women are over there, they are volunteers, they are not getting any extra pay for what they are doing. I think we should recognize the concept that every one of us should volunteer more of our time to help our country in this period.

Mr. STEVENS

Mr. STEVENS. You should have been here this afternoon.

Mr. STEVENS

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I would like to take this opportunity to commemorate the 47th anniversary of Tunisia's independence. Since the establishment of the Republic of Tunisia, it has made significant progress in the areas of social and economic development, transparency of the electoral process, respect for human rights, and the promotion of women's rights. As the Bush administration recently stated, Tunisia has become a force for tolerance and moderation in the region. It has been a vital partner with the United States in our efforts to facilitate dialogue in the Arab world. This role has become increasingly important in this turbulent time. I would also like to express my appreciation for Tunisia's continued support and cooperation in the fight against terrorism. By working together against this common enemy, we will eliminate the threat of terrorism and ensure international peace and security. Our shared commitments towards this end will only serve to strengthen our relations in the future. I hope my colleagues will join me in congratulating the government and people of Tunisia on the occasion of their 47th anniversary of independence.

Mr. STEVENS

Mr. STEVENS. The oilwells are just 25 miles away; does he know that?

Mr. STEVENS. Madam President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. STEVENS. Regular order.

Mr. STEVENS. Madam President, again, I think this is the most important vote in the history of my service in the Senate. I worked on this with President Eisenhower. Our people were about ready to go to war. He said in World War II that our ships, our planes, and our tanks must have oil. That will continue on into the future. Opening this area will not give our people oil now but will assure that we have a greater reserve in the future. My last comment is this. In the time I have served here, many people have made commitments to me, and I have never broken a commitment in my life. I make this commitment: People who vote against this today are voting against me, and I will not forget it.

Mr. STEVENS. I will save it.

Mr. STEVENS. Madam President, this is a diagram of the 1002 area. I pointed out previously that in 1958 there was a well drilled just east of Kaktovik. It is still classified as the result of overwhelming interest by the oil industry after that to conduct seismic in this area. This is the Marsh Creek anticline. East of that area is where this enormous reservoir is. To the west going over to the river, where this is the Prudhoe Bay area, that has all been very prolific. There was a well drilled off shore in Camden Bay. There has been a series of wells drilled offshore. The only well that has been drilled onshore was in 1985. This is an area, as I said, a million and a half acres that in 1980 was kept open for oil and gas exploration by the Tsongas-Jackson amendment. The balance of this area is wilderness. This has never been wilderness. We heard repeatedly about wilderness. I have now been here 35 years. I have trusted the Senate quite often. The one time I really trusted Senators was when I decided to work with Senators Tsongas and Jackson to get this bill passed, get it done. We thought we had a substantial concession in the fact that the Arctic Slope would continue to be open for oil and gas exploration as it was intended by President Eisenhower, as it was intended entirely up until 1980. Through the period of the discussion of this matter, since 1980, I have had a series of Senators tell me, I will be with you if you need me. They know who they are. This is the day that I need them. This vote is going to be very close. It represents a vote that culminates some substantial period of my life because I started working on this area in 1956.

Mr. STEVENS. I ask the Chair to let me know when I have 1 minute left.

Mr. STEVENS. Certainly.

Mr. STEVENS. I yield 1 minute to the Senator from Oklahoma.

Mr. STEVENS. How much time remains?

Mr. STEVENS. I yield my colleague 2 minutes, Madam President.

Mr. STEVENS. Madam President, I yield the Senator from New Mexico 5 minutes.

Mr. STEVENS. How much time remains, Madam President?

Mr. STEVENS. Madam President, I am delighted the Senator from Rhode Island has gone to our State and seen it in August. I would invite him to come up and join me right now, and go take a look at that same place. But what I would really like for him to do is to remember, if I had not changed my vote in 1980, there would have been no refuge at all. It was a wildlife range. My colleague wanted to block it entirely, and I associated myself with Senator Jackson and Senator Tsongas and got the job done, and got it withdrawn, so we could proceed with development. And now the colleagues you have joined want to renege on the commitment that was made to me as a Senator by two distinguished leaders of the Senate, the Senator's father included. I reserve the remainder of my time.

Mr. STEVENS. Madam President, I yield myself 1 minute.

Mr. STEVENS. We will wait.