Jeff Sessions

Mr. SESSIONS

Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. President, I rise today to offer an amendment in the nature of a substitute to H.J. Res. 102, recognizing the ``Birmingham Pledge'' and its author, Birmingham attorney James E. Rotch, for the contributions it and he have made to healing wounds of racial prejudice that still, unfortunately, divide segments of our society. The Birmingham Pledge is a powerful declaration that has had a profound impact on those who have heard or seen it. It uses words of conviction and purpose that promote racial harmony by helping people communicate about racial issues in a positive way and by encouraging people to make a commitment to racial harmony. By affixing our signatures to the message conveyed by these words, we are, in effect, saying to the world that we stand for freedom and equality for all, regardless of race or color. Further, we are saying that we will not tolerate discrimination leveled at anyone simply because of their race or color. The words of the Pledge are as follows: I believe that every person has worth as an individual. I believe that every person is entitled to dignity and respect, regardless of race or color. I believe that every thought and every act of racial prejudice is harmful; if it is in my thought or act, then it is harmful to me as well as to others. Therefore, from this day forward I will strive daily to eliminate racial prejudice from my thoughts and actions. I will discourage racial prejudice by others at every opportunity. I will treat all people with dignity and respect; and I will strive to honor this pledge, knowing that the world will be a better place because of my effort. These words do not reflect any new science or ground-breaking theory, instead they reflect the time-honored principles, not always followed, that have made this country the greatest example of individual liberty and freedom the world has ever known. The words of the Birmingham Pledge are reflective of those used by Thomas Jefferson in penning the Declaration of Independence so may years ago. Jefferson wrote that ``all Men are created equal, [and] that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights.'' That language is clear. Thousands of citizens in Birmingham and Alabama and throughout this country and the world have recommitted themselves to these principles, and by offering this Pledge to the rest of the country, we ask everyone else to be rededicated to them, too. By signing this pledge, people make an outward showing of that commitment. Again, that is why I, on behalf of my constituents, offer this Joint Resolution. In addition to calling us to our uniquely American heritage, the words of the Birmingham Pledge also recognize Birmingham's unfortunate history as a site of significant civil rights confrontation. The Pledge conveys, as does the city's political and economic reality, that Birmingham has moved forward from that difficult time in its history to a more complete embrace of the principles embodied in this Pledge. Indeed, the city has experienced an astonishing measure of social, political, and economic progress in recent years. More than 70,000 people around the world have seen the merit of the Birmingham Pledge and signed it because they thought it was the right thing to do. Those signing it include the President, Members of Congress, Governors, state legislators, mayors, county commissioners, city council members, clergymen, students, and the list goes on. The point is, a broad cross-section of our society has embraced the high principles conveyed in the Birmingham Pledge because they see it as a powerful tool to facilitate dialogue on racial issues and additionally as a way for people to take personal steps to achieve racial harmony and tolerance in the communities in which they live. This Resolution simply recognizes the good work that the Birmingham Pledge has already accomplished, and the potential it has for further progress in this important area of our national and international life. In order to increase awareness of the Birmingham Pledge and to further its message, this resolution calls for the establishment of a National Birmingham Pledge Week. Setting aside such a period of time to further the message of the Birmingham Pledge and to celebrate the marked progress we have made in the area of racial harmony would be a fitting way to recognize the influence the Pledge is having on race relations in communities all across America and around the world.

Mr. SESSIONS

Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. President I rise to day to pay tribute to the Local 1945 Chapter of the American Federation of Government Employees. On December 1, 1959 the charter of the American Federation of Government Employees (Local 1945) was established at Anniston Army Depot. Of the seventy-eight charter members that established Local 1945, only nine survive today. These nine leaders in government service, through their courage and dedication, were instrumental in the development of a proud and professional workforce for Anniston Army Depot and the Department of Defense. The workforce these individuals cared for and inspired has supported United States soldiers around the world during times of conflict, crisis and war. In the jungles of Vietnam, along the thirty- eighth parallel, and in the sands of Kuwait have been evidenced the dedication of the Anniston Army Depot employees to their nation's soldiers. Tanks, small arms, and munitions did not leave the hills of Alabama alone but were accompanied by the thoughts and prayers of a humble and caring group of federal employees shaped in many ways, by these special nine men. Today, while we seek to honor these fine men in the sunset of their lives it must be noted that the traditions of excellence and integrity they gave to their co-workers still survives in youthful exuberance, rekindled by this remembrance. In homage to: Billy Bean; Elmer Graham; Raymond Guthrie; Atwell Burgess; William Hammond; Raymond Lusk; George Hunt; J.B. Perry; and William Hagan.

Mr. SESSIONS

Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. President, I commend my colleague from Vermont, Senator Leahy, for his support in getting this bill passed. Our Armed Forces and their families are in desperate need of this legislation and it has been a long time coming. This legislation closes a legal loophole which prevented effective prosecution of certain crime committed by civilians accompanying the Armed Forces overseas. When civilian dependents, contractors, and Federal employees go overseas with the military, the Uniform Code of Military Justice and the Federal criminal code generally do not apply to them. Therefore, if one of these civilians commits a criminal act--even a serious one such as rape or child molestation--then he or she could be beyond the reach of Federal law if the foreign authorities refuse or neglect to prosecute. Surprisingly, host countries often choose to not prosecute American civilians, especially where the crime was committed against another American or against property owned by an American or the U.S. Government. That is why this legislation is needed. Since this legislation initially passed the Senate on July 1, 1999, the House of Representatives, under the leadership of Representative McCollum of Florida, took the bill and further refined it based upon concerns that arose after Senate Consideration. In addition, Mr. McCollum submitted House Report 106-778 to accompany the House version of the bill--H.R. 3380. This report does an outstanding job of outlining the background and need for this legislation. The report also includes a section-by-section analysis and discussion of the legislation. We have agreed to incorporate the text of H.R. 3380 into this final bill. I have reviewed House Report 106-778, and I agree with it. I believe that report reflects the intentions of the Senate. At this time, I yield to my distinguished colleague from Vermont.

Mr. SESSIONS

Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the bill be read a 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. SESSIONS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate now proceed to the consideration of H.R. 4068, which is at the desk.

Mr. SESSIONS

Mr. SESSIONS. I ask unanimous consent the committee amendment be withdrawn.

Mr. SESSIONS. I ask unanimous consent the Senate proceed to the consideration of Calendar No. 930, H.R. 3023.

Mr. SESSIONS. Senator Murkowski has an amendment at the desk. I ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. SESSIONS

Mr. SESSIONS. I ask unanimous consent the Senate concur in the amendment of the House, with further amendment which is at the desk.

Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. President, I ask the Chair lay before the Senate a message from the House of Representatives on the bill H.R. 150. The PRESIDING OFFICER laid before the Senate the following message from the House of Representatives: Resolved, That the House agree to the amendment of the Senate to the bill (H.R. 150) entitled ``An Act to authorize the Secretary of Agriculture to convey National Forest System lands for use for educational purposes, and for other purposes'', with the following House amendment to Senate amendment: In lieu of the matter proposed to be inserted by the amendment of the Senate, insert the following:

Mr. SESSIONS

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

Mr. SESSIONS. I ask unanimous consent the amendment be agreed to.

Mr. SESSIONS

Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the Senate proceed to the consideration of H.R. 2884, which is at the desk.

Mr. SESSIONS. Senators Murkowski and Bingaman have an amendment at the desk. I ask for its consideration.

Mr. SESSIONS

Mr. SESSIONS. I thank Senator Feingold for his concerns about civil liberties in America. It is important for us to give great attention to these issues. Police need to be constantly reminded of their responsibilities. I was a prosecutor for nearly 18 years full time. I have dealt with police. I remember clearly the policies for years against racial profiling. The law is against that. One of the most famous cases was 25 or 30 years ago, when an immigration officer stopped some individual in a car and arrested him for being an illegal alien. When he asked why he stopped him, he said he had a ``psychic feeling'' that there was something wrong there. The court said no. A psychic feeling is not good enough. A racial profile is not good enough. You have to have an articulable basis to make a stop. But we do not want to suggest, in my view, that this is a routine thing in America. Police officers I know, and the Federal agents I know, are very sensitive about these issues. They have been trained about them. They know precisely what they have to do. It almost takes a law degree to know what to do, but they know precisely how and when they can make stops and when they cannot. I believe consistently they follow those rules. I know Vice Presidential candidate Senator Lieberman, in one of his debates, said that he knew someone who had been stopped, an African American, a Government employee. He described that he was offended by it. But the local police said, when they were asked about it--the local police said he was stopped because the car matched perfectly the description of a stolen car. When they stopped it, they did not even know whether the driver was white or black. They were just doing their job. It was not a racial profiling. So we need not to go too far, suggesting this is too common. I do not believe it is. I think it may happen and it should not happen. It is against the law. It is not proper, and arrests and matters rising from it should not be justified. I appreciate Senator Feingold's interest in making sure the law is properly followed.

Mr. SESSIONS

Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. President, this Capital and in the world too seldom do people of real achievement, people who have given of themselves sacrificially for others, receive proper recognition. As Leo Durocher once said, ``Nice guys finish last.'' But, today there is good news. I want to celebrate the fact that good things do happen to those who serve in America. Often, it takes time, often it comes only after long years of service, but our country still remains capable of recognizing excellence. Today I want to describe for you the magnificent contributions to children, to teachers, to community and to the highest ideals of education and enrichment that have been made by Alabama's Distinguished Principal of the Year, Mr. Terry Beasley. The Greeks once said that the purpose of education is more than technical learning, it was to make a person ``good''. In those days, people apparently didn't have the difficulty distinguishing between good and the bad that we seem to have today. In addition to academic excellence, in abundance, Terry Beasley exemplifies ``the good.'' Although I did not know he was being considered for this award and had absolutely nothing to do with his selection, the name ``Mr. Beasley'' has always held the highest position in our family. You see, he taught our children at Mary B. Austin elementary School, a part of the public school system in Mobile County, AL, my home. He taught math and his name was mentioned with the greatest respect, even awe, by my children. You could tell just the way they said ``Mr. Beasley'' and how often the name ``Mr. Beasley'' was repeated, that they knew he was special. My wife, Mary, a former elementary school teacher herself, was a regular volunteer parent in the classroom at Mary B. Austin. She knew Mr. Beasley then and the fire reputation he had with teachers, principal, parents and students. People still talk about the famous school playday when Mr. Beasley would not only play ball with the children but would race the bases and slide into home. Our friends, also, with children in the school, frequently discussed his remarkable skill as a teacher and his dedication to teaching. Before he became a teacher. Terry Beasley was a minister and youth director at a Mobile church. He considered that perhaps teaching could be a calling too, and decided to give it a try. In fact, the scripture lists ``teacher'' as a person who can be called. So he decided to give it a try. It was a divine inspiration, indeed. As he told me recently, it soon became clear to him that ``I had found my calling in teaching''. His first job was at Mary B. Austin. Certainly, his later skills as a principal benefitted from the fact that he was able to work under and observe the great leadership skills of Glenys Mason, who was principal at Austin at the time, and to work with excellent teachers. Later, he moved across Mobile Bay to the Baldwin County school system and became principal at Fairhope Elementary School. They have 370 students and 36 teachers in the second and third grade school. Under Mr. Beasley's leadership the school has flourished. Last year the school was recognized as having the best physical fitness program in Alabama, and was also recognized for its Kindness and Justice Program which teaches kindness and consideration to others with reference to the teachings of Dr. Martin Luther King.--We need to be intentional about these character programs. Finally, the school was also recognized as having the best elementary environmental science program in Alabama. In fact, the third graders drafted a statute which became Alabama law to name the Red Hill Salamander as the state amphibian. As a result of this work, and the efforts of the teachers, the student scores on the Stanford Achievement Test showed a significant increase. Fairhope Elementary is a wonderful school with a diverse student population. 23 percent of the students are on free or reduced lunch and 18 percent are minority students. Mr. Beasley has created a learning environment that is dedicated to helping each child reach his/her fullest potential. He is in the classroom constantly, assisting teachers, training teachers, and insisting on excellence. His leadership is extraordinary. Being a good teacher has certainly helped him be a great principal. As he told me, ``Math is my love, I don't claim to be an expert, but I love it. If we can't make math real then kids won't learn.'' These are not just words for Mr. Beasley. His intense interest in helping children led him to study how they learn. His experience caused him to write a paper on ``writing math''. Ohio State University wants to publish it. In this technique, Mr. Beasley encourages students to write out in their own words exactly the processes they are going through when they do their math calculations. From this experience, the student comes to understand what they do not know and the teacher is able to help them. It helps them to relieve their anxiety about math and makes them more comfortable with it. Mr. Beasley quotes John Updike as saying, ``Writing helps me clear up my fuzzy thoughts''. He adds, ``Write about math and it becomes clear.'' A principal is a valuable thing indeed, as is an exceptional teacher. This nation needs to venerate them, to lift them up and to celebrate their accomplishments. Hundreds of thousand of them strive daily to help each child learn too often with little recognition. As Mr. Beasley notes, the scripture lists teaching as a ``calling.'' It is good for us to praise and give thanks to those who touched us with their work and those who daily work to prepare the next generation for service. Terry Beasley is a great American with a powerful determination to fulfill his calling--to help make young people better and to help them learn. He is a native of Waynesboro, Mississippi, and his wife, Charlotte, also an educator at Spanish Fort Middle School in Baldwin County, Alabama, is a native of Millry, AL. Together they represent the best in education in America. I have been honored to know them. I am pleased and honored that Mr. Beasley has been able to teach my children. There are so many others like him. I have been in 20 different schools in Alabama this year and there are a lot of problems. Teachers have shared with me from their heart their frustrations. But we have some great teachers all over America and some great principals. Sometimes I think we don't realize how important a good principal is because without a good principal a school just can't reach its best. In my visit to those 20 schools, they didn't ask for a bunch more Federal programs. We have 700 Federal programs right now. What they have told me, time and again, was that Federal regulations are micromanaging the work they have to do, requiring them to fill out much more paperwork than even their whole school system requires and, in fact, undermining their ability to maintain discipline in the classroom. I hear that time and time again. That is another matter. I simply want to say again how much I appreciate the distinguished group that had the wisdom and insight to select Terry Beasley as the principal of the year because he is indeed special.

Mr. SESSIONS

Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to consideration of H. Con. Res. 390, which is at the desk.

Mr. SESSIONS

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

Mr. SESSIONS

Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate agree to the amendment of the House.

Mr. SESSIONS

Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of H. Con. Res. 376, which is at the desk.

Mr. SESSIONS

Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate now proceed to the consideration of Calendar No. 576, S. 1854.

Mr. SESSIONS

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

Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the amendment be agreed to, the committee amendment, as amended, be agreed to, 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. SESSIONS

Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate now proceed to the immediate consideration of S. Res. 380 submitted by Senator Lott and Senator Daschle.

Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, and the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table.