Gordon Smith

Mr. SMITH

Mr. SMITH. Mr. President, I speak about the need for hate crimes legislation. On May 1, 2003, Senator Kennedy and I introduced the Local Law Enforcement Act, a bill that would add new categories to current hate crimes law, sending a signal that violence of any kind is unacceptable in our society. I would like to describe a terrible crime that occurred in Germantown, MD. A 16-year-old Arab-American girl was physically attacked by a group of unknown young adults on the Campus of Montgomery College on September 14, 2001. This was the first of three hate crimes targeting the student and her family. On September 21, her family was out driving when unknown assailants threw a firecracker in front of their car. On September 28, vandals smashed the rear window of the family's minivan while it was parked in front of their home. I believe that government's first duty is to defend its citizens, to defend them against the harms that come out of hate. The Local Law Enforcement Enhancement Act is a symbol that can become substance. I believe that by passing this legislation and changing current law, we can change hearts and minds as well.

Mr. SMITH

Mr. SMITH. Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. SMITH. Mr. President, I rise today in support of the Prescription Drug and Medicare Improvement Act of 2003. I am so pleased to be on the Senate floor today for this historic event. Within the next 2 weeks, for the first time in our Nation's history, the Senate is going to pass a real prescription drug benefit for all seniors. This historic time does not come a moment too soon. For years, seniors all over the country have been making hard choices--choices between filling a prescription and buying food; choices between losing their homes or buying the drugs they need to stay alive and healthy. The prospect of providing senior citizens with access to life saving prescription drugs under Medicare for the first time is truly exciting. It is truly a historic achievement of the 108th Congress. When I talk to senior citizens around Oregon, access to prescription drugs is the issue by far that resonates most clearly among them. The Senate special Committee on Aging held a field hearing in Oregon last August. I was privileged to chair that hearing. We were tasked the issue of adding prescription drugs to the Medicare program. The room was packed with seniors from all around the State. When I asked them to tell me how much they spent each month on drugs, their answers were astounding. They were astronomical. And of course, there were the seniors who were paying for their drugs. Others made the decision not to fill prescriptions or to skip doses, cut their pills in half or try cheaper remedies. One of our star witnesses was 76-year-old Roy Dancer, a retired educator from Beaverton, OR. He testified that many of his friends in his small retirement community have out-of-pocket expenses for prescription drugs that well exceed $5,000 per year, including one resident with no insurance whose drug costs exceeded $8,500 per year. Mr. Dancer was an active member of his community. One of the ways he maintained his health was by taking eight prescription drugs daily. His wife, Betty, was also being kept healthy and active by using multiple medications daily for her high blood pressure, diabetes, and arthritis. Mr. Dancer told the committee that he had once gone to Mexico to purchase prescription drugs to save money. That is just one small snapshot of a relatively healthy couple in a relatively affluent retirement community with relatively healthy residents. At that field hearing, the committee also heard from an Oregon geriatrician who described the irreplaceable benefits of modern prescription drugs, and the importance of patient compliance with a prescribed drug regimen to achieving the full potential benefits of contemporary medical care. This Aging Committee field hearing was held just 2 weeks after the Senate's failed attempt to pass a prescription drug benefit last year. And let me tell you, this failure weighed heavily on me during that hearing. We are talking about basic access to life saving medicines--many of them developed in this country--and in many cases these folks just could not afford to buy them. It was a truly humbling experience to listen to the stories of these good people and know that we had not helped them. I want to be able to go back to the seniors in Oregon this year and tell them what the U.S. Senate has finally done for them. This year, I joined the Finance Committee, and we have had many, many meetings to discuss how to design a drug benefit this year that we can actually pass and get to the President's desk. And with this bill, I think we have accomplished that. Every Senator comes to the floor with their views of what is the perfect. The question again becomes, Will our individual views of the perfect thwart the good? Truly, this bill represents a lot of good, and it certainly is a very good start. When this bill is signed into law, no senior will again ever have to lose their home when they lose their health. This bill provides substantial assistance to low income seniors, while making improvements to the Medicare program, all in a way that will ensure the financial viability of the Medicare program in the long term. This bill doesn't give anyone a free ride. Every senior is asked to contribute something for this sweeping new benefit. However, low-income seniors, in particular, are protected from high drug costs under this legislation. While everyone will pay something for their prescriptions, payments for low-income seniors are tied to their ability to pay. Very low- income seniors will pay very little for their prescriptions, while moderately low-income seniors will pay a little more. Higher income seniors will pay a small premium to have access to a plan with moderate cost sharing, and, importantly, protection against catastrophic drug expenses. The peace of mine from this coverage alone is, for me, one of the most important provisions in this bill. In addition to making prescription drug coverage available and affordable to all seniors, this bill updates the Medicare program to include new choices for seniors. Making preferred provider organizations, available to seniors has enormous potential to improve care coordination and provision of preventive services for seniors. Let me tell you why this is important. Medicare beneficiaries with multiple chronic conditions are by far the most expensive group of seniors to care for. Their care is also the most complex, creating quality of life challenges for many seniors, their multiple health care providers, and their families. Beneficiaries with 5 or more chronic conditions represent 20 percent of the Medicare population but account for 66 percent of the cost. These seniors to go the doctor four times as often, and fill five times more prescriptions than healthier seniors. I believe there is an enormous potential to improve care for this rapidly growing group of seniors while keeping costs down for Medicare by coordinating their health care better. Preferred provider organizations can help do that. And while no senior in America will have to move into a PPO, they will now have the option to do so. In my mind, that is a substantial improvement to Medicare. For the first time in a long while, this bill also addresses one of the biggest problems in Medicare--the inequity between rural and urban America. I would like to thank Chairman Grassley again for his personal commitment to this issue and for his tireless efforts on behalf of rural States such as Oregon. In addition to correcting some of the Medicare reimbursement issues that have disadvantaged people and health care providers who live and work in rural areas, this bill contains numerous protections to ensure that rural Americans have access to the same health care choices as urban Americans and at the same cost. These improvements were critical to win my support for this bill, and they represent just a few of the improvements in this bill over last year's bill as it was debated. Several months ago, the Senate Budget Committee calculated that a comprehensive, responsible drug benefit that the country could also afford would cost around $400 billion. Subsequently, the Budget Committee set aside $400 billion for the addition of a prescription drug benefit in Medicare and improvements to the program. This bill strengthens Medicare in a substantial way. It uses the $400 billion set aside for this purpose without running the program into the ground in the long term. I know I am not alone in striving to update Medicare in such a way that the program will be there for our children who will want to participate in it. Americans across the country are asking for our help. They cannot afford to wait another year while we search for the perfect solution. This bill represents years of careful research, debate, and compromise, and it is going to strengthen and improve Medicare for generations to come. I look forward to working with every one of my colleagues over the next few weeks to improve this bill and to get it to the President's desk before the end of summer. Mr. President, I thank you for the time. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the time spent in quorum calls during today's session be charged equally to both sides.

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

Mr. SMITH

Mr. SMITH. Mr. President, I rise today to speak about the need for hate crimes legislation. On May 1, 2003, Senator Kennedy and I introduced the Local Law Enforcement Act, a bill that would add new categories to current hate crimes law, sending a signal that violence of any kind is unacceptable in our society. I would like to describe a terrible crime that occurred in Prince William, VA. On November 1, 2001, a 26-year-old and his 25-year-old friend were charged with a hate crime after assaulting a 46-year-old Pakistani taxi driver. The driver had picked up the pair and, during the ride to a nearby motel, the two passengers verbally accosted him. Upon their arrival, the frightened driver exited his car and tried to flee, but the pair caught hold of him and began beating him in the motel parking lot. I believe that Government's first duty is to defend its citizens, to defend them against the harms that come out of hate. The Local Law Enforcement Enhancement Act is a symbol that can become substance. I believe that by passing this legislation and changing current law, we can change hearts and minds as well.

Mr. SMITH

Mr. SMITH. Mr. President, I rise today to speak about the need for hate crimes legislation. On May 1, 2003, Senator Kennedy and I introduced the Local Law Enforcement Act, a bill that would add new categories to current hate crimes law, sending a signal that violence of any kind is unacceptable in our society. I would like to describe a terrible crime that occurred in Palos Heights, IL. On September 11, 2001, a man attacked a Moroccan-American gas station attendant with the blunt end of a 2-foot machete. The attacker was arrested and charged with a hate crime. I believe that Government's first duty is to defend its citizens, to defend them against the harms that come out of hate. The Local Law Enforcement Enhancement Act is a symbol that can become substance. I believe that by passing this legislation and changing current law, we can change hearts and minds as well. (At the request of Mr. DASCHLE, the following statement was ordered to be printed in the Record.)

Mr. SMITH

Mr. SMITH. Mr. President, I rise today to speak about the need for hate crimes legislation. On May 1, 2003, Senator Kennedy and I introduced the Local Law Enforcement Act, a bill that would add new categories to current hate crimes law, sending a signal that violence of any kind is unacceptable in our society. I would like to describe a terrible crime that occurred in Champaign, IL. On December 16, 2001, a Muslim Tunisian-American university student was beaten by a mob of several men. Participants in the attack restrained the victim's brother and his friends to prevent them from coming to his aid. The student was beaten by more than six of the men, one of whom broke his nose with a blunt object. I believe that Government's first duty is to defend its citizens, to defend them against the harms that come out of hate. The Local Law Enforcement Enhancement Act is a symbol that can become substance. I believe that by passing this legislation and changing current law, we can change hearts and minds as well.

Mr. SMITH

Mr. SMITH. Mr. President, on June 10, Senator Grassley, chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance, issued a statement concerning the Coal Act, included in the 1992 Energy bill, and very specifically the intolerable situation regarding reachback and superreachback coal companies. The tax levied on these companies in that act is unfair. It never should have been enacted to begin with. It even applies to companies that are no longer in the coal mining business. The Coal Act created the combined benefit fund, CBF, in an attempt to solve many of the pension problems of retired coal miners. There were never any hearings. There was no serious debate on the Senate floor. The combined benefit fund is approaching insolvency. There are accountants who today would say it is already insolvent. It has been saved from terminable illness only by annual appropriations in recent Appropriations bills. These appropriations do not permanently solve the problem. I, for a number of years, have attempted to pass legislation to solve this issue. It is my hope that the House of Representatives would at last send to the Senate a bill rectifying this problem so we might also enact it and at least put an end to this inequity.

Mr. SMITH

Mr. SMITH. Mr. President, I rise today to speak about the need for hate crimes legislation. On May 1, 2003, Senator Kennedy and I introduced the Local Law Enforcement Act, a bill that would add new categories to current hate crimes law, sending a signal that violence of any kind is unacceptable in our society. I would like to describe a terrible crime that occurred on November 10, 2001. In San Antonio, TX, two people in ski masks robbed and beat the female owner of a small Persian restaurant, leaving behind racial slurs on the walls. The attackers forced open a back door. One of them bound the victim's hands and legs with duct tape and beat her to the ground. The second attacker sprayed hate messages on the walls. I believe that Government's first duty is to defend its citizens, to defend them against the harms that come out of hate. The Local Law Enforcement Enhancement Act is a symbol that can become substance. I believe that by passing this legislation and changing current law, we can change hearts and minds as well.

Mr. SMITH

Mr. SMITH. Mr. President, 5 years ago, the State of Oregon witnessed one of the greatest tragedies in its 150 year history--a senseless school shooting at Thurston High School in Springfield. The shock waves from that awful event still reverberate in our State and in our schools. But as so often happens in the face of great evil, good people stand together in grief to create hope for a better future. In the case of the Thurston shooting, that beacon of hope is the Ribbon of Promise campaign. Five years after the shooting, the campaign is continuing its work to prevent school violence. Because of the impact the campaign has made and the lives it has saved, I rise today to recognize this program and its volunteers as a Health Care Hero for Oregon. The Ribbon of Promise National Campaign to Prevent School Violence was founded on May 22, 1998, the day after the Thurston shooting. Thurston was one of several school attacks occurring across the Nation, from Pearl, MS, to Jonesboro, AR. While still in the throes of grief, the Springfield community decided enough was enough and began the work of preventing future attacks. Overnight, the Springfield area bloomed with miles of blue plastic ribbons decorating cars, mailboxes, lampposts, trees and lapels, signaling the community's support for the victims and their families. The ribbons promised to end the specter of school violence, a promise repeated at candlelight vigils, community gatherings, and funerals. But the promise didn't end when the media attention subsided. The ribbons were woven together into a grassroots organization dedicated to making a national impact on the problem of school violence. The resulting campaign, the Ribbon of Promise, identified its mission as bringing communities together with schools, law enforcement, and the juvenile justice system to prevent school violence. Today, the organization continues to fill its role by acting as resource for communication, education, and action against future attacks. Since the campaign's inception, the ribbons have appeared in many important places. President Clinton wore one when he traveled to Eugene for a Thurston memorial service. NASA crewmember Wendy Lawrence took the ribbon on the shuttle Discovery in 1998. Since that time, over 250,000 lapel ribbons have been distributed across the world. Results of the campaign have been tremendous. The group's web site has become a primary resource for violence prevention information. Springfield High School's DECA class developed a video called By Kids 4 Kids, launching the student arm of the campaign. This important program, also known as BK4K is teaching students to speak out when they hear threats of violence. This information, spread from student to student, is often the only way schools, parents, and law enforcement have the opportunity to prevent violent attacks. The BK4K campaign is changing the student culture of our Nation, teaching kids to break their code of silence in order to save lives. Scores of other campaign accomplishments include a parent information program, a network of 24-hour report hotlines across the country, and continued research on the problem of school violence. While there remains much work to be done, the accomplishments of the Ribbon of Promise campaign are very real. But the best result of their work is the safe return of students at the end of each schoolday. Oregon continues to mourn for the victims of the Thurston shooting. But we also have hope that through the efforts of this outstanding organization, further violence in our State has been prevented. I thank all the volunteers and staff of this great campaign and designate the Ribbon of Promise as a Health Care Hero for Oregon.

Mr. SMITH

Mr. SMITH. Mr. President, I rise today to speak about the need for hate crimes legislation. On May 1, 2003, Senator Kennedy and I introduced the Local Law Enforcement Act, a bill that would add new categories to current hate crimes law, sending a signal that violence of any kind is unacceptable in our society. I would like to describe a terrible crime that occurred in Lincoln Park, MI, on September 19, 2001. Mr. Ali Almansoop, a 45-year-old U.S. citizen originally from Yemen, was shot to death by a man who confessed the attack was in retaliation for the September 11 tragedy. The attacker broke into the apartment where Mr. Almansoop was asleep, dragged him out of bed, and shot him in the back as he attempted to flee. The Department of Justice investigated the slaying as a hate crime murder. I believe that government's first duty is to defend its citizens, to defend them against the harms that come out of hate. The Local Law Enforcement Enhancement Act is a symbol that can become substance. I believe that by passing this legislation and changing current law, we can change hearts and minds as well.

Mr. SMITH

Mr. SMITH. Madam President, I rise today to speak about the need for hate crimes legislation. On May 1, 2003, Senator Kennedy and I introduced the Local Law Enforcement Act, a bill that would add new categories to current hate crimes law, sending a signal that violence of any kind is unacceptable in our society. I would like to describe a terrible crime that occurred in Mesquite, TX. On October 4, 2001, Vasudev Patel, a 49-year-old Indian gas station owner, was shot to death during an armed robbery. His killer told police that he was motivated by vengeance for the terrorist attacks as he allegedly had lost a relative in the World Trade Center. A security camera recorded the armed man walking into the station, ordering the owner to give him all of the money before shooting him. Unable to open the cash register, however, the man fled without taking any of the money. I believe that government's first duty is to defend its citizens, to defend them against the harms that come out of hate. The Local Law Enforcement Enhancement Act is a symbol that can become substance. I believe that by passing this legislation and changing current law, we can change hearts and minds as well.

Mr. SMITH

Mr. SMITH. Mr. President, I rise today to speak about the need for hate crimes legislation. On May 1, 2003, Senator Kennedy and I introduced the Local Law Enforcement Act, a bill that would add new categories to current hate crimes law, sending a signal that violence of any kind is unacceptable in our society. I would like to describe a terrible crime that occurred on March 21, 2003. In Burbank, IL, an explosion caused by a powerful fireworks-type device damaged the 1989 Ford Econoline van of a Palestinian Muslim family and shook doors and windows of neighboring homes. The blast shattered the vehicle's windows and blew open the vehicle's door. The man who committed the crime is being held on bond and is being charged with arson, criminal property damage, and committing a hate crime. I believe that government's first duty is to defend its citizens, to defend them against the harms that come out of hate. The Local Law Enforcement Enhancement Act is a symbol that can become substance. I believe that by passing this legislation and changing current law, we can change hearts and minds as well.

Mr. SMITH

Mr. SMITH. Mr. President, I rise today to speak about the need for hate crimes legislation. On May 1, 2003, Senator Kennedy and I introduced the Local Law Enforcement Act, a bill that would add new categories to current hate crimes law, sending a signal that violence of any kind is unacceptable in our society. I would like to describe a terrible crime that occurred on April 10, 2003. A day after taking part in the national Day of Silence to promote school safety for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered students, 16-year-old Caitlin Meuse was savagely attacked in Concord, MA. According to police, the attack may have been related to her participation in the event at her high school. Meuse had been struck by a blunt object such as a baseball bat or a tire iron. Knocked unconscious and bleeding from the head, Caitlin was found lying in the street by a neighbor near her home. She was held in intensive care at the hospital for 2 days and was treated for a head injury, missing front teeth, a fractured nose, deep cuts and severe facial swelling. I believe that Government's first duty is to defend its citizens, to defend them against the harms that come out of hate. The Local Law Enforcement Enhancement Act is a symbol that can become substance. I believe that by passing this legislation and changing current law, we can change hearts and minds as well.

Mr. SMITH

Mr. SMITH. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce the Holocaust Victims' Assets, Restitution Policy, and Remembrance Act of 2003. In this effort, I am joined by my colleagues: Senator Clinton from New York, Senator Murray from Washington, Senator, Lautenberg, from New Jersey and Senator Dodd from Connecticut. I appreciate their support for this important legislation. We are motivated by a desire to achieve justice for Holocaust victims and their families, and we recognize that if such justice is to be attained, the United States must continue to lead the world by example. The United States has provided leadership in this area ever since American troops liberated the death camps in Nazi Germany. This legislation recognizes that the struggle for justice requires continued American leadership and that the Foundation is the appropriate mechanism for that leadership. The purpose of this act is to create a public/private Foundation dedicated to supporting research and education in the area of Holocaust-era assets and restitution policy and promoting innovative solutions to restitution issues. The need for the Foundation arises from the findings of the Presidential advisory Commission on Holocaust Assets in the United States. I was proud to serve as commissioner on that Commission. The Commission identified several policy initiatives that require U.S. leadership, including: creating mechanisms to assist claimants in obtaining resolution of claims; supporting databases of victims' claims for the restitution of personal property; reviewing the degree to which other nations have adhered to agreements reached at international conferences on Holocaust issues; synthesizing the work of other national commissions throughout the world; supporting further research and review of Holocaust-era assets; and disseminating information about restitution programs to survivors and their families. If the nations of the world are to be convinced of our lasting commitment to justice for Holocaust victims and if continued work on Holocaust assets issues is to be truly effective, the Foundation must have the stamp of the Federal Government. But the Federal Government cannot, and should not, perform these tasks by itself. It will coordinate the efforts of the Federal Government, State governments, the private sector and individuals here, and abroad, to help people locate and identify assets who would otherwise have no ability to do so. It will encourage policy makers to deal with contemporary restitution issues, including how best to treat unclaimed assets. Each passing day reveals the existence of still unclaimed assets. This bill will create an institution able to provide the academic center of research into this area of continuing importance. It will also show that the United States is willing to ask of itself no less than it asks of the international community. The restitution of property is part of a larger process of obtaining a measure of justice for the victims of Europe's major human disasters of the 20th century--fascism and communism. Justice for these individuals is long overdue. Having had justice delayed for so long, they are entitled to expect that democratic governments will move promptly to bring closure during their lifetimes. I ask unanimous consent that the text of the Holocaust Victims' assets, Restitution Policy, and Remembrance Act of 2003 be printed in the Record.

Mr. SMITH

Mr. SMITH. Mr. President, I rise today to speak about the need for hate crimes legislation. On May 1, 2003, Senator Kennedy and I introduced the Local Law Enforcement Act, a bill that would add new categories to current hate crimes law, sending a signal that violence of any kind is unacceptable in our society. I would like to describe a terrible crime that occurred in Phoenix, AZ, on May 19, 2003. Avtar Chiera, a Sikh American, was seriously wounded after being shot twice. The 52-year-old truck driver was shot after he parked his 18-wheeler. The suspects, who were riding in a red pickup truck, yelled hateful comments. The FBI and Phoenix police department are investigating the shooting as a hate crime. I believe that government's first duty is to defend its citizens, to defend them against the harms that come out of hate. The Local Law Enforcement Enhancement Act is a symbol that can become substance. I believe that by passing this legislation and changing current law, we can change hearts and minds as well.

Mr. SMITH

Mr. SMITH. Mr. President, I realize it cannot be considered as part of the pending legislation, but I ask Senator Grassley to consider including a bill I have introduced, the Municipal Debt Refinancing Act, in future tax legislation. The Municipal Debt Refinancing Act would permit an additional advance refunding for bonds used to finance governmental facilities as part of the tax legislation to be considered by the Finance Committee. The Municipal Debt Refinancing Act would permit fiscally strapped State and local governments to take advantage of the current low market interest rates by refinancing their outstanding bonds an additional time. This proposal could translate into millions of dollars in savings for states and localities across the country. By requiring bond issuers to use the additional advance refunding authority within the next 2 years, the legislation also guarantees the maximum near-term benefit. Individuals and corporations who borrow money are free to refinance these debts whenever the opportunity to borrow at a lower rate arises. State and local governments who issue tax-exempt bonds generally do not share this freedom. States and localities are permitted to ``advance refund'' outstanding bond issues only one time, or else they must wait until a pre-set date when interest rates have risen and the opportunity to garner savings has passed. But cost-saving refinancing opportunities typically occur only when market interest rates fall below the rate on the original bond issue. Issuers cannot effectively predict when this will happen. By providing an additional advance funding, your legislation would give issuers more flexibility to react to interest rate changes and manage their debt. This legislation would mean significant savings for State and local governments--many of which are in the midst of their worst fiscal crisis in memory--without raising taxes or increasing spending.

Mr. SMITH

Mr. SMITH. Mr. President, I speak about the need for hate crimes legislation. On May 1, 2003, Senator Kennedy and I introduced the Local Law Enforcement Act, a bill that would add new categories to current hate crimes law, sending a signal that violence of any kind is unacceptable in our society. I would like to bring to my colleagues' attention a landmark report by the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee's Research Institute, ADCRI, entitled, ``Report on Hate Crimes and Discrimination Against Arab Americans: The Post-September 11 Backlash.'' This report catalogues the experiences of the Arab-American community for the year following the tragic September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. According to the report, over 700 violent incidents targeting Arab Americans, or those perceived to be Arab Americans, Arabs and Muslims occurred in the 9 weeks following the attacks. The report demonstrates the profound challenges confronting the Arab- American community, as well as other communities caught up in the post September 11 backlash. However, the report also emphasizes that Americans have consistently demonstrated their commitment to maintaining tolerance and respect for all Americans and that hatred is confined to a distinct minority. It is this minority that breeds hatred and violence against innocent individuals. I believe that government's first duty is to defend its citizens, to defend us against the harms that come out of hate. The Local Law Enforcement Enhancement Act is a symbol that can become substance. I believe that by passing this legislation and changing current law, we can change hearts and minds as well. This is a challenge that none of my colleagues should shy away from.

Mr. SMITH

Mr. SMITH. Mr. President, I rise today to speak about the need for hate crimes legislation. On May 1, 2003, Senator Kennedy and I introduced the Local Law Enforcement Act, a bill that would add new categories to current hate crimes law, sending a signal that violence of any kind is unacceptable in our society. I would like to describe a terrible crime that occurred on February 22, 2003. An Arab-American teenager in Yorba Linda, CA, was badly beaten by a group of teenagers with bats and golf clubs who were yelling racial slurs. He suffered head injuries, a broken jaw, and stab wounds. Metal plates had to be inserted into his face during reconstructive surgery, and his jaw was wired shut for nearly two months. I believe that government's first duty is to defend it citizens, to defend them against the harms that come out of hate. The Local Law Enforcement Enhancement Act is a symbol that can become substance. I believe that by passing this legislation and changing current law, we can change hearts and minds as well.

Mr. SMITH

Mr. SMITH. Mr. President, I rise today to speak about the need for hate crimes legislation. On May 1, 2003, Senator Kennedy and I introduced the Local Law Enforcement Act, a bill that would add new categories to current hate crimes law, sending a signal that violence of any kind is unacceptable in our society. I would like to describe a terrible crime that occurred in Fresno, CA. On September 20, 1998, the apartment of transgender female Chanel Chandler was set ablaze. Inside the apartment the authorities discovered Chandler's body, stabbed repeatedly with a broken beer bottle. According to a police spokesperson, Chandler's gender identity and expression was a primary motivation for the attack. The fire, which did not reach the room where Chandler's body was found, was likely a failed attempt to hide Chandler's murder. I believe that government's first duty is to defend its citizens, to defend them against the harms that come out of hate. The Local Law Enforcement Act is a symbol that can become substance. I believe that by passing this legislation and changing current law, we can change hearts and minds as well.

Mr. SMITH of Oregon

Mr. SMITH of Oregon. Mr. President, I rise today in support of the National Cancer Act of 2003. This bill represents the way ahead in the battle against cancer, and I am proud to co-sponsor it again in the 108th Congress. Like many Americans, I have seen the battle for cancer first hand. I support this important legislation for the millions of Americans who have been diagnosed with cancer and their family members. I do so also in honor of my mother, whom I lost to cancer in October, 2001. The statistics for cancer victims can be so numbing that they lose their effect over time, but behind every number is a face and a family. And while Oregon is a small state, the pain experienced by cancer sufferers and their families is the same regardless of where they live. Cancer kills more people in my home State of Oregon than any other condition except heart disease, and as the population ages, it will surpass heart disease to become the number one killer. Each year, more than 18,000 new cases of cancer are diagnosed among Oregonians--about 50 every day. On average, 19 Oregonians die of cancer every day. Breast cancer is the most often diagnosed cancer in Oregon. Nine women every day hear the words, ``You have breast cancer,'' and every day, one family in Oregon will lose a family member to breast cancer. Every three days, one child in Oregon will be diagnosed with cancer. I could continue to cite statistics, but the message is clear: we have worked hard to eradicate cancer, but we must do more. While little progress has been made in reducing the incidence of cancer, advances from research are producing more effective treatments, allowing us to improve mortality rates. The National Cancer Act of 2003 is designed to do just that. It represents a comprehensive plan to speed the discovery and application of new cancer treatments to find cures for--and to prevent--cancer. The bill's special provisions for additional research dollars for targeted cancer drugs will directly impact the work of Brian Druker, a researcher at Oregon Health and Sciences University who has worked to develop a cancer treatment and prevention drug called Gleevac. Gleevac is a promising new oral treatment for patients with chronic myeloid leukemia, CML--a rare, life-threatening form of cancer. The National Cancer Act will help ensure that new and groundbreaking cancer treatments like Gleevac make their way from the research bench to the patient's bedside table faster. Currently, there are many promising new drugs awaiting clinical trial. Although 60 percent of children with cancer are currently participating in clinical drug trials, only 4-5 percent of adult patients do the same. In order to save lives, new cancer drugs must be tested and perfected. The National Cancer Act will also authorize a program to help attract, train, and retrain health care professionals who provide cancer care. By offering tuition assistance in exchange for cancer patient care, the National Cancer Act makes a decisive step in lessening a Nation-wide cancer-care workforce crisis. The National Cancer Act also aims to stop cancer before it starts by allocating significant funds to early prevention and detection efforts. The bill would require that insurers pay for cancer screenings, smoking cessation, nutritional counseling and other preventive measures. Additionally, Medicare and Medicaid would be authorized to make payments to cancer specialists who coordinate their patients' cancer care. Coordinated care will, in turn, improve the health outcomes for cancer patients. I am also pleased that this year the bill adds a new provision authorizing the creation of a permanent office of Cancer Survivorship to focus research on the issues of cancer survivors. By developing a new cancer surveillance system and a national cancer survivorship action plan, we will be better able to address the challenges affecting those in recovery. Cancer is not a partisan disease and we can, and should, do more to treat and prevent it. I am proud to sponsor the National Cancer Act of 2003 as a Republican, an American, and a member of the human family.

Mr. SMITH

Mr. SMITH. Mr. President, I rise today to speak about the need for hate crimes legislation. On May 1, 2003, Senator Kennedy and I introduced the Local Law Enforcement Act, a bill that would add new categories to current hate crimes law, sending a signal that violence of any kind is unacceptable in our society. I would like to describe a terrible crime that occurred in Baltimore, MD. In October 1998, a group of 10 people attacked Leonard ``Lynn'' Vine, a 32-year-old native of East Baltimore, in front of his family's home because of his perceived sexual orientation. Vine was shot six times, yet survived the attack. The police investigated the attack as a hate crime, and 20-year-old Paul Bishop was charged with attempted murder. I believe that government's first duty is to defend its citizens, to defend them against the harms that come out of hate. The Local Law Enforcement Enhancement Act is a symbol that can become substance. I believe that by passing this legislation and changing current law, we can change hearts and minds as well.

Mr. SMITH of Oregon

Mr. SMITH of Oregon. Mr. President, I rise today in support of the National Cancer Act of 2003. This bill represents the way ahead in the battle against cancer, and I am proud to co-sponsor it again in the 108th Congress. Like many Americans, I have seen the battle for cancer first hand. I support this important legislation for the millions of Americans who have been diagnosed with cancer and their family members. I do so also in honor of my mother, whom I lost to cancer in October, 2001. The statistics for cancer victims can be so numbing that they lose their effect over time, but behind every number is a face and a family. And while Oregon is a small state, the pain experienced by cancer sufferers and their families is the same regardless of where they live. Cancer kills more people in my home State of Oregon than any other condition except heart disease, and as the population ages, it will surpass heart disease to become the number one killer. Each year, more than 18,000 new cases of cancer are diagnosed among Oregonians--about 50 every day. On average, 19 Oregonians die of cancer every day. Breast cancer is the most often diagnosed cancer in Oregon. Nine women every day hear the words, ``You have breast cancer,'' and every day, one family in Oregon will lose a family member to breast cancer. Every three days, one child in Oregon will be diagnosed with cancer. I could continue to cite statistics, but the message is clear: we have worked hard to eradicate cancer, but we must do more. While little progress has been made in reducing the incidence of cancer, advances from research are producing more effective treatments, allowing us to improve mortality rates. The National Cancer Act of 2003 is designed to do just that. It represents a comprehensive plan to speed the discovery and application of new cancer treatments to find cures for--and to prevent--cancer. The bill's special provisions for additional research dollars for targeted cancer drugs will directly impact the work of Brian Druker, a researcher at Oregon Health and Sciences University who has worked to develop a cancer treatment and prevention drug called Gleevac. Gleevac is a promising new oral treatment for patients with chronic myeloid leukemia, CML--a rare, life-threatening form of cancer. The National Cancer Act will help ensure that new and groundbreaking cancer treatments like Gleevac make their way from the research bench to the patient's bedside table faster. Currently, there are many promising new drugs awaiting clinical trial. Although 60 percent of children with cancer are currently participating in clinical drug trials, only 4-5 percent of adult patients do the same. In order to save lives, new cancer drugs must be tested and perfected. The National Cancer Act will also authorize a program to help attract, train, and retrain health care professionals who provide cancer care. By offering tuition assistance in exchange for cancer patient care, the National Cancer Act makes a decisive step in lessening a Nation-wide cancer-care workforce crisis. The National Cancer Act also aims to stop cancer before it starts by allocating significant funds to early prevention and detection efforts. The bill would require that insurers pay for cancer screenings, smoking cessation, nutritional counseling and other preventive measures. Additionally, Medicare and Medicaid would be authorized to make payments to cancer specialists who coordinate their patients' cancer care. Coordinated care will, in turn, improve the health outcomes for cancer patients. I am also pleased that this year the bill adds a new provision authorizing the creation of a permanent office of Cancer Survivorship to focus research on the issues of cancer survivors. By developing a new cancer surveillance system and a national cancer survivorship action plan, we will be better able to address the challenges affecting those in recovery. Cancer is not a partisan disease and we can, and should, do more to treat and prevent it. I am proud to sponsor the National Cancer Act of 2003 as a Republican, an American, and a member of the human family.

Mr. SMITH

Mr. SMITH. Mr. President, I rise today to speak about the need for hate crimes legislation. On May 1, 2003, Senator Kennedy and I introduced the Local Law Enforcement Act, a bill that would add new categories to current hate crimes law, sending signal that violence of any kind is unacceptable in our society. I would like to describe a terrible crime that occurred in Humboldt, Nebraska. Brandon Teena, 21, was brutally raped, beaten, and killed by two ``friends.'' Teena, who had been living as a man, befriended John Lotter and Tom Nissen when she moved to Humboldt. After a local newspaper revealed Teena's true identity as anatomically female, Lotter and Nissen became enraged. On Christmas Day 1993, the pair beat and raped Teena. A week later the men stabbed and shot Teena to death. I believe that government's first duty is to defend its citizens, to defend them against the harms that come out of hate. The Local Law Enforcement Enhancement Act is a symbol that can become substance. I believe that by passing this legislation and changing current law, we can change hearts and minds as well.

Mr. SMITH

Mr. SMITH. Mr. President, I rise today to speak about the need for hate crimes legislation. On May 1, 2003, Senator Kennedy and I introduced the Local Law Enforcement Act, a bill that would add new categories to current hate crimes law, sending a signal that violence of any kind is unacceptable in our society. I would like to describe a terrible crime that occurred in Aloha, OR. On August 26, 2001, Lorenzo ``Loni Kai'' Okaruru was found dead in an overgrown field with her face smashed in and her fingertips cut off. A biological male born 28 years before in Saipan, Okaruru, Loni began living as a woman before she had migrated to Oregon. Given the savagery of the attack--a telltale sign of a probable hate crime--local police counted Loni's murder as the first official hate crime in the county's history. I believe that government's first duty is to defend its citizens, to defend them against the harms that come out of hate. The Local Law Enforcement Enhancement Act is a symbol that can become substance. I believe that by passing this legislation and changing current law, we can change hearts and minds as well.