J. Thurmond

Mr. THURMOND

Mr. THURMOND. Mr. President, pursuant to section 304(b) of the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. sec. 1384(b)), a notice of proposed rulemaking was submitted by the Office of Compliance, U.S. Congress. The notice relates to the Congressional Accountability Act and the Extension of Rights and Protections under the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, as applied to interns and irregular work schedules in all employing offices except the Senate and the House of Representatives. Section 304(b) requires this notice to be printed in the Congressional Record, therefore I ask unanimous consent that the notice be printed in the Record.

Mr. THURMOND

Mr. THURMOND. Mr. Speaker, Mr. President, it is an honor for me to address this joint meeting of Congress to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the end of the second World War; and it is my privilege to cochair this event with my able and distinguished colleague from South Carolina, Congressman Floyd Spence. It is appropriate that we commemorate the end of the war, for it is truly a defining moment in our history. It is also fitting that we honor the memory of those who supported the war effort, those who served and particularly those who fell. Many individuals worked unselfishly and to the limit of their ability to achieve the victory. Many contributed their best efforts to provide our soldiers, sailors, airmen, marines, Coast Guardsmen and merchant mariners with the means they needed to prevail. Many served in uniform and placed their lives at risk and many paid the ultimate price. We pause today to remember these sacrifices because each one was an essential component of our overall success and, without them, our world today would be a very different place. We pause to express our formal appreciation of those who placed the value of liberty and the future of our civilization above their own personal safety and comfort. Our hearts go out once again to the parents and loved ones whose loss has been so great. This is also a day to recall the bravery of individuals who were decorated and particularly those who were awarded the Medal of Honor. In the Chamber today are three veterans who were awarded the Nation's highest honor whom I would like to recognize: Col. Charles Murray, who personally attacked an enemy position of more than 200 soldiers, then led the platoon to capture their objective and despite serious wounds refused medical attention until his men were deployed for a counterattack. Capt. Maurice Britt, who endured multiple grenade and bullet wounds in an intense firefight but refused medical attention and led a small group of his men in repelling a very strong enemy attack. And Rear Adm. Eugene Fluckey, who entered a harbor containing more than 30 enemy ships while commanding the submarine U.S.S. Barb. He destroyed six of the enemy ships, escaped the harbor with his boat and crew, and sank another ship 4 days later. I am proud to recognize these fine Americans who are with us today. The event we commemorate today is in sympathy of the military victory of the allies over the Axis powers. The end of the Second World War means much more than that. It signifies the end of a period of tyranny of a magnitude and scale previously unknown in the world. The images of combat in this war are horrible, as are those of the concentration camps, the senseless murders of civilians and the mistreatment of prisoners of war. Today, we commemorate the end of an event that continues to serve as a warning to aspiring dictators that men will bear any hardship to secure their ultimate freedom. This event is also a powerful symbol and indicator of what good people working together in a just and righteous cause are capable of achieving. It also serves to remind free men that freedom is not free and that freedom is always worth the price. There is a panel inside the rotunda of our U.S. Capitol depicting freedom in the form of a woman with her soul upraised chasing away a figure depicting tyranny. That sentiment, expressed by the artist Bernini 150 years ago, is the same heartfelt sentiment of our Founding Fathers, of those who sacrificed in the Second World War and of those of us here today. Let us dedicate ourselves to a future anchored on that sentiment and worthy of these sacrifices. Mr. Speaker and Mr. President, I thank you for this opportunity to honor our veterans, their families and also those who served on the home front. God bless our veterans and God bless this great country for which they fought.

Mr. THURMOND

Mr. THURMOND. Mr. President, pursuant to section 304(b) of the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. sec. 1384(b)), a notice of proposed rulemaking was submitted by the Office of Compliance, U.S. Congress. The notice relates to the Congressional Accountability Act and the Extension of Rights and Protections under the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, as applied to interns and irregular work schedules in the House of Representatives. Section 304(b) requires this notice to be printed in the Congressional Record, therefore I ask unanimous consent that the notice be printed in the Record.

Mr. THURMOND

Mr. THURMOND. Mr. President, pursuant to section 304(b) of the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. sec. 1384(b)), a notice of proposed rulemaking was submitted by the Office of Compliance, U.S. Congress. The notice relates to the Congressional Accountability Act and the Extension of Rights and Protections under the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, as applied to interns and irregular work schedules in the Senate. Section 304(b) requires this notice to be printed in the Congressional Record, therefore I ask unanimous consent that the notice be printed in the Record.

Mr. THURMOND

Mr. THURMOND. Mr. President, I rise today to express my profound sorrow upon hearing the announcement by the senior Senator from Georgia, my close and trusted friend, Sam Nunn, that he will not run for another term in 1996. His departure at the end of this Congress will surely mark a point of great loss to this body. I truly believe our future collective efforts will be notably diminished by his absence. I recall very clearly when Senator Nunn first joined the Senate in 1973. It was evident to me from the outset that he was a man of integrity, ability, and dedication, and that he would maintain the highest standards for both his personal conduct and the quality of his work. He was appointed to serve on the Committee on Armed Services when Congress convened in 1973, and in 1974 he was named chairman of the ad hoc Subcommittee on Manpower and Personnel. In 1975, when the Subcommittee Manpower and Personnel was actually formed, he was named its chairman and he served in that capacity for 6 years, until 1981. In 1983, 10 years after he joined the Committee on Armed Services, he became the ranking minority member until 1987, when he became the chairman of the committee. He served with great distinction in that capacity for 8 years, and during that time he earned the respect of leaders around the globe for his wisdom, statesmanship, and insight. Among his many accomplishments in the Senate, there are two which particularly stand out. First is the Nunn-Lugar program of reducing the possibility of nuclear war by actually removing nuclear weapons. This initiative has been carried out in a manner which promotes mutual trust and respect between the United States and Russia, and its consequences have reached far beyond simply dismantling weapons. Second is the manner in which Senator Nunn guided the legislative program during the turbulent post-cold-war drawdown of the Armed Forces. His highly skillful work, both inside and outside the Congress, ensured our Armed Forces would remain as strong and viable as possible. I believe history will note what all of us here already know, that Senator Nunn led the Committee on Armed Services and guided the national agenda on defense matters through some of our most challenging periods with exceptional skill, courage, and wisdom. His high standards of excellence, his ability to view an issue from all relevant angles and perspectives and analyze problems across all different levels, combined with his high intelligence and strong leadership skills, have resulted in a wisdom of effort which has benefited the entire Nation. We have heard many hours of debate in this Chamber about defense and national security matters. All too often that debate has focused on very narrow aspects of the issues, and the major points of the larger issue are easily lost. Senator Nunn has a well-earned reputation for returning our debate to the larger, principal issue and pointing out the implications of various courses of action. He has been able to illustrate how defense is only one element of national security, and how national security is only one element of national policy. Senator Nunn's ability to recognize the primary issue and guide the process to a meaningful conclusion have served our Nation and this body very well these past 23 years. Throughout his 27-year career in political life, Senator Nunn has exemplified strong, selfless devotion to duty to our Nation and its citizens. He represented his constituents well and faithfully, and remained mindful of the national interest. He well deserves his reputation as a figure of high international stature. We will remember him as a man of dignity and high purpose. Mr. President, our Nation owes Senator Nunn its deepest appreciation for his truly distinguished service. I am pleased that he intends to remain engaged in public policy matters, and I wish him and his wife, Colleen, continued success and happiness in all future endeavors. Mr. President, I yield the floor.

Mr. THURMOND

Mr. THURMOND. Mr. President, I congratulate Senator Kassebaum and the Committee on Labor and Human Resources for their work on S. 143, the Workforce Development Act. I support this bill, and commend and thank the distinguished chairwoman for responding to my concerns regarding employment and training programs for veterans and for the disabled. Currently, there are 160 Federal job training programs administered by 15 different Federal agencies. This bill will consolidate and restructure these programs into a single block grant that will go directly to the States with a minimum of Federal requirements. By eliminating the additional administrative costs of overlapping employment training programs at the Federal, State, and local level, this bill will drastically reduce the $20 billion spent each year to fund these programs. The purpose of S. 143 is not to eliminate the opportunities provided by these programs, but to maximize their effectiveness through reorganization and consolidation. In particular, I am pleased that S. 143 addresses the special needs of unemployed individuals with physical or mental disabilities. Under title I of the Rehabilitation Act, the Vocational Rehabilitation Program has provided special job training to persons with disabilities. Of the 160 Federal job training programs, this is the only one that targets the special needs of the disabled. This bill recognizes the importance of training individuals with disabilities by preserving the integrity of the current Vocational Rehabilitation Program. Title I of the Rehabilitation Act will be amended so that vocational rehabilitation will be coordinated with the comprehensive workforce development system. A vocational rehabilitation representative will participate in the overall employment and training efforts for each State, providing technical assistance on training individuals with disabilities. By ensuring that the special needs of the disabled are met, S. 143 will strengthen an important service to a valuable element of our work force. Another significant feature of this bill relates to veterans employment. This Nation has a long history of providing assistance to our veterans, dating back to colonial days. Since World War I, several laws have been enacted to reaffirm and strengthen the Federal Government's role in promoting wider employment and training opportunities for veterans. Currently, the primary programs to assist veterans are those administered by the Department of Labor, through the Veterans' Employment and Training Service [VETS]. These include the Disabled Veterans' Outreach Program [DVOP], the Local Veterans' Employment Representative [LVER], and Veterans Employment Program, which are grant programs to the States. Because of the national interest in veterans' programs, these grant programs will continue in their present form. In addition, the committee included language in the bill which first, added a veteran representative to the State workforce development board; second, added a veteran representative to the local workforce development boards; third, included veterans in the collaborative process developing a State plan; and fourth, designated veterans as a population group for benchmark measurement. These provisions of the bill will ensure that veterans employment and training programs get the priority and visibility they need at a national level to address the unique concerns of veterans. At the same time, the bill provides that veterans employment and training programs will be integrated into the overall strategy, at the state and local level, for improving employment and training opportunities. Again, I thank Senator Kassebaum for her excellent work on this bill and urge my colleagues to support it.

Mr. THURMOND

Mr. THURMOND. Mr. President, I thank the distinguished Senator from Pennsylvania. Mr. President, the Armed Services Committee and the Intelligence Committee have worked closely together over the past nineteen years, and that cooperation is going to grow even closer in the years ahead. The Armed Services Committee greatly appreciates the advice of the Intelligence Committee regarding tactical intelligence programs. I agree with the distinguished chairman of the Intelligence Committee that the creation of the JMIP budget category is a sign of the times. All the programs in JMIP have been previously found in the tactical category, but several were recently in the national category and others have clear national, as well as tactical, application. In fact, there are very few intelligence activities today that do not have potential benefit for both the policymaker and the tactical military commander. For that reason, the Intelligence Committee sought to have a formal role in authorizing and overseeing JMIP. I believe that the Committee on Armed Services should be the committee of jurisdiction for JMIP for fiscal year 1996. The Armed Services Committee benefited this year from the Intelligence Committee's work on JMIP, and in almost every case we agreed with the Intelligence Committee. Our close working relationship has resulted in general agreement on the JMIP issues and an efficient allocation of the work to be done. However, I also agree that this decision to allow JMIP to be authorized in the Defense Authorization bill rather than the Intelligence Authorization bill this year does not reflect a judgment on the scope of authority provided to the Intelligence Committee by Senate Resolution 400. There is great change on the horizon for intelligence. Major reorganization may occur next year, and our legislative process must keep pace with it. My colleagues on the Committee on Armed Services and I look forward to working with the Intelligence Committee to determine the best way for the Senate to authorize and oversee the JMIP next year, as well as any new categories of intelligence programs that may come out of the newly reorganized intelligence community. Mr. President, I thank the Senator from Pennsylvania and the Senator [[Page S 14791]] from Nebraska for their cooperation, and I yield the floor.

Mr. THURMOND

Mr. THURMOND. Mr. President, I went to the White House today and met with the President and Members of the Senate on this particular subject. I took the occasion at that time to make three points: First, the American public needs to fully and completely understand what U.S. national security interests are at stake before the United States commits or sends United States service men and women to Bosnia. Next, the President of the United States should not commit or send U.S. troops without congressional approval. Now, if that congressional approval is given--this is the third point--any U.S. forces will have to be under the NATO operational control with robust rules of engagement. And I feel that this is such a serious situation, that these three points should be observed in considering this important matter. I yield the floor.

Mr. THURMOND

Mr. THURMOND. Madam President, I move we go into executive session.

Mr. THURMOND

Mr. THURMOND. Mr. President, today the Senate is considering the nomination of Gen. John M. Shalikashvili for reappointment as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and for reappointment to the grade of general. We all know General Shali very well. His record is exemplary. General Shali was only a young lad when he came to this country with his family as they immigrated from Poland. He began to excel almost immediately. General Shali graduated from Bradley University receiving a degree in mechanical engineering. Later he received a Master's degree in international relations from George Washington University. General Shali entered the Army as an enlisted man in August 1958. Later, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the field artillery. He served in the United States, Germany, and Vietnam rising to the rank of general, the highest rank attainable. He commanded a division. He was the deputy commander-in-chief of the U.S. Army in Europe. He also commanded Operation Provide Comfort, feeding and preserving the freedom of the Kurds in northern Iraq. Not only did General Shali rise from the lowest enlisted rank to the highest grade possible, he was selected to succeed Gen. Colin Powell as the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. As such, he became the principal advisor to the President on military matters. To say that this is a significant achievement is an understatement. His accomplishments represent what is right and good about America. General Shali is an outstanding soldier and an outstanding American. Through hard work, dedication and professionalism, he became the most important military officer in our Armed Forces. Last week, the Armed Services Committee held a confirmation hearing at which General Shali testified. He responded fully and completely to every question, many of which focused on current and potential operations in Bosnia. Following the hearing, the committee unanimously voted to favorably report General Shali's nomination to the Senate. I point out to my colleagues that General Shali's current appointment expires at the end of September. In order to ensure there is no gap in his appointment, the Senate will have to act on this nomination before the end of the month. I urge my colleagues to vote to confirm General Shali's nomination. I thank the Chair. I yield the floor.

Mr. THURMOND. I move to reconsider the vote whereby General Shalikashvili was confirmed.

Mr. THURMOND. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the President be immediately notified of this confirmation.

Mr. THURMOND. Mr. President, I would like to thank the distinguished Senator from Wisconsin, Senator Kohl, for allowing us to proceed with this nomination ahead of his amendment. He is a gentleman and a scholar.

Mr. THURMOND

Mr. THURMOND. Mr. President, I am an original cosponsor of the Prison Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and was pleased to join Senator Hatch as an original cosponsor of this amendment. We have an opportunity here to put a stop to the thousands and thousands of frivolous lawsuits filed by the prisoners across this nation. They have tied up the courts with their jailhouse lawyer antics for too long. This amendment will allow meritorious claims to be filed, but gives the judge broader discretion to prevent frivolous and malicious lawsuits filed by prison inmates. In my home State of South Carolina, the State government last year spent well over $1 million to defend against frivolous lawsuits filed by inmates. Compare that to 10 years ago when South Carolina spent only about $20,000 to defend these types of lawsuits. The problem is getting worse, not better. Mr. President, the overwhelming majority of these cases are dismissed, in fact well over 95 percent. We need to put a stop to these jailhouse lawyers who are making a mockery of our criminal justice system. Mr. President, the other provisions in this bill will place limits on Federal judges who have been micromanaging prisoners with population caps. Our amendment requires a strong showing from the judge to justify population caps as the least intrusive means as a judicial remedy. We need this legislation. I commend Senator Hatch for offering it and I urge my colleagues to support its adoption.

Mr. THURMOND. Mr. Chairman, the reappointment of General Shalikashvili we will take up this afternoon, that nomination, in order for him to continue in office. It will not take over 10 minutes, I do not think. I just wanted to remind everyone we will have to take it up.

Mr. THURMOND

Mr. THURMOND. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent now to bring up the nomination of General Shalikashvili for reappointment as general. Today is the last day. We have to act on it now.

Mr. THURMOND

Mr. THURMOND. I would like to ask the distinguished sponsor of this [[Page S 14691]] amendment, Senator Hollings from South Carolina, if he would yield for a question.

Mr. THURMOND. The amendment offered last night by the Senator from Oregon and the Senator from South Carolina restores funding for a very important part of the Department of Commerce, the International Trade Administration. The International Trade Administration houses many critical programs that are vital to U.S. companies in the field of global trade and competitiveness. Some of the programs that are of greatest concern to me at the International Trade Administration are those administered by the Office of Textiles & Apparel, including the Textile Clothing Technology Corporation program, known as (TC)2 and the National Textile Center. Am I correct in stating that one of the intentions of this amendment is to ensure that all the existing functions at the Office of Textiles & Apparel, including the operation of the Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements, as well as (TC)2 and the National Textile Center, will continue to be funded in FY 1996 at current year levels?

Mr. THURMOND. I thank my distinguished colleague from South Carolina.

Mr. THURMOND

Mr. THURMOND. Mr. President, I rise today to submit, along with 34 of my colleagues, a resolution which commemorates the 50th anniversary of the end of World War II. September 2d of this year marked this 50th anniversary. World War II changed the face of the world like no other in our history. We owe this distinction to our veterans, their families, and those who served on the home front to support the war effort. Americans made tremendous sacrifices to protect the ideals of freedom and democracy. Their accomplishments should not be forgotten. Many American men and women answered the call of their country, left their homes and jobs, and boldly entered the war. Civilians on the home front performed the impossible by manufacturing goods at a rate that astonished the world. Our country joined together to ration food and grow victory gardens which aided the war effort. American farmers stepped forward and grew enough produce to support the allied forces. The troops overseas offered the ultimate sacrifice as they fought in the deserts of North Africa, on the streets of European cities, under the Atlantic Ocean, and on the islands of the Pacific. The Americans that served and died gave the greatest honor possible to their families and their country. We should honor these veterans to show that we are a grateful nation. Our support of this resolution sends a clear message to all Americans. It is a reminder to them that we will not forget those that answered the call of [[Page S 14798]] duty. This resolution designates the week of November 4-11 as the Closing Week of Commemorations for the 50th Anniversary of World War II. This week will be celebrated across the United States. Activities and honors will be held to recognize the 17-million Americans that served. The President will also be asked to arrange for any celebrations he deems appropriate. It is of vital importance that we not only honor these men and women, but also ensure that the current generation of Americans are educated about this war and its consequences. The Bells of Peace will ring on November 11th at 11 a.m., striking 50 times for the 50 years without a world war and symbolizing the hope for at least 50 more years of peace and freedom. This national recognition of Veterans, their families, and all those who served at home is well deserved. The dedication and sacrifice of all our Americans must not be forgotten. We celebrate the valor of those involved to honor the past.

Mr. THURMOND

Mr. THURMOND. Mr. President, pursuant to section 304(b) of the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. sec. 1384(b)), a notice of proposed rulemaking was submitted by the Office of Compliance, U.S. Congress. The notice relates to the Employee Polygraph Protection Act of 1988 and its applicability to the Capitol Police under the Congressional Accountability Act. Section 304(b) requires this notice to be printed in the Congressional Record, therefore I ask unanimous consent that the notice be printed in the Record.

Mr. THURMOND

Mr. THURMOND. Mr. President, pursuant to Section 304(b) of the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. sec. 1384(b)), a advance notice of proposed rulemaking was submitted by the Office of Compliance, United States Congress. The advance notice seeks comment on a number of regulatory issues arising under the Congressional Accountability Act. Section 304(b) requires this notice to be printed in the Congressional Record, therefore I ask unanimous consent that the notice be printed in the Record.

Mr. THURMOND

Mr. THURMOND. I wish to thank the manager of the bill on behalf of the veterans of this country. Amendment No. 2794 (Purpose: To direct the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency not to act under section 6 of the Toxic Substances Control Act to prohibit the manufacturing, processing, or distributing of certain fishing sinkers or lures to giving notice to Congress)

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

Mr. THURMOND

Mr. THURMOND. I move to lay that motion on the table. The motion to lay on the table was agreed to.