Robert Torricelli

Mr. TORRICELLI

Mr. TORRICELLI. It is at the desk.

Mr. TORRICELLI. I ask that it be reported, and I ask unanimous consent that before the recorded vote, each side be given 2 minutes to explain their positions.

Mr. TORRICELLI. I reserve the remainder of my time pending Senator Lautenberg having a chance to come to the floor.

Mr. TORRICELLI

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 President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. TORRICELLI

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 President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. TORRICELLI

Mr. TORRICELLI. Reserving the right to object.

Mr. TORRICELLI

Mr. TORRICELLI. Mr. President, let me finally, in conclusion, also thank Carlos Romero-Barcelo. The fact that this Senate has come together in this extraordinary judgment would not have been possible without his leadership. And also, as Senator Murkowski said, Governor Pedro Rossello has been such an important person in building this very broad coalition. To the Governor, I offer my very sincere congratulations. He is an extraordinary man who has given great service to his people in making this night possible. Carlos Romero-Barcelo, your service has been nonetheless a great credit to the people of Puerto Rico. Mr. President, I yield the remainder of my time to the Senator from Connecticut, Mr. Lieberman.

Mr. TORRICELLI. Mr. President, I yield back my time.

Mr. TORRICELLI. How much time remains?

Mr. TORRICELLI. Mr. President, is there a unanimous consent request proposed by the Senator from Alaska?

Mr. TORRICELLI. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that I be able to control the remainder of the minority time and the Senator from Alaska control the remainder of the majority time.

Mr. TORRICELLI. Mr. President, I want to first express my congratulations to Senator Murkowski without whose efforts in committee we would not, today, be discussing this resolution; Senator Graham of Florida, who has labored for so long on this cause; Senator Daschle; Senator Landrieu; Senator D'Amato; Senator Craig; so many Members of this institution who have taken the cause and interests of the people of Puerto Rico and made them their own. There are few more solemn responsibilities to come to the Congress of the United States than the issue of admission into this great Union. It is solemn because to join in union is to share a future, to pledge our fortunes, our lives, together. It is a serious occasion because the prospect of joining this Union raises the prospect of ``forever,'' because this Union is indivisible, it is permanent. The judgment to join this Union is made by any peoples and any lands but once in their history, and it is never revisited again. For 100 years, the people of Puerto Rico and these United States have shared a common history. Our people have fought together, bled together, and died together. Our cultures over a period of time increasingly have merged. Hundreds of thousands, indeed, millions, of people of Puerto Rico have chosen to live among other Americans in these United States. Indeed, the judgment that potentially might be made by the people of Puerto Rico who reside on the island has economically and culturally and even politically already been made by millions of others in how they live and where they choose to live. The history of the United States for these 200 years has been a history of constant enfranchisement, expanding the right to vote to African-Americans, to women, people 18 years of age, in our own generation to the people of Hawaii and Alaska. It is part of the great history of this country that we, unlike other nations, were not satisfied to simply enfranchise ourselves but recognized we were the greater and the better people through our expansion. Now we, potentially, visit that question again. It is a judgment that can only be made by the people of Puerto Rico for themselves. This is ultimately their responsibility to decide. But it is the responsibility of this Congress that they have the right to decide. It is a peculiar and tragic irony of history that the first republic to be created out of colonialism might now enter the 21st century in a neocolonialist position. No American should be content with this contradiction of our own history, and some might claim--some might even accuse--that this U.S. Government is in a position with the people of Puerto Rico that is anything less than full, free, fair, and democratic. Yet, by the definition we have applied for ourselves, it would be difficult to defend against the charge. Written on the walls of this Capitol from the inaugural address of President Harrison in 1841 is, ``The only legitimate right to government is an expressed grant of power from the governed.'' Yet, Mr. President, every day, the people of Puerto Rico are subjected to fees, rules, regulations, policies, and determinations from this Congress, having no representative who has a right to vote and make a judgment on their behalf. The relationship between the people of Puerto Rico and the United States is a contradiction with everything that we hold dear and every principle upon which this country was founded. Mr. President, I urge the people of Puerto Rico to take this judgment seriously between this date and December 13 and to think carefully. If they decide to join this Union, this is a moment that they will not visit again. Joining this Union is permanent. If it were my judgment, I, like the Senator from New York, Senator D'Amato, would choose to join the Union. I believe history has given us the right and the responsibility to face the future together. But I recognize mine is no more than a casual opinion. The decision rests with the people of Puerto Rico alone. The importance of this resolution is that as the people of Puerto Rico vote, they should recognize that the U.S. Congress considers Puerto Rico to genuinely be the unfinished business of American democracy. The people of Puerto Rico should recognize as they vote that the Congress of the United States is watching, that we recognize our responsibilities and are prepared in the 106th Congress to receive their judgment and make our own decision about the future of this Union. Mr. President, once again, I want to congratulate Senator Murkowski for having presided over these issues these months, and Senator Graham for his leadership, and each of my colleagues who come to this floor on a bipartisan basis, across ideological lines, uniting in our common belief that there is no right to govern without the consent of the governed and that it is not good enough, in spite of the enfranchisement of all of our people across this continent, that there remains a single exception. America is too good a land, our history is too great, for anyone to be an exception to these great and lasting principles. Mr. President, I yield the floor.

Mr. TORRICELLI

Mr. TORRICELLI. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize St. Rose High School as it celebrates its 75th Anniversary. This year marks the 75th year the high school will provide quality education to students in and around the Belmar area. It is a pleasure for me to recognize this important milestone. St. Rose exists to educate high school age men and women so that they may realize their spiritual, academic, and social potential. St. Rose's mission, since beginning as a parish school in 1923, emanates from a tradition of Roman Catholic education administered by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Chestnut Hill. The staff of religious and lay faculty is responsive to the needs of a changing world. They have created a safe, supportive, disciplined atmosphere and curriculum that honors and nurtures the dignity, worth and capabilities of each student. The alumni go on to assume positions of leadership within their communities and professional fields. This school has become an extraordinary educational institution that has improved the quality of life for the citizens of New Jersey, and it has long been an example of the standard that we set for our nation's high schools. Through hard work and dedication, the faculty have illustrated their commitment to building the leaders of tomorrow, and their success over the past 75 years serve as an inspiration to all educators. I am proud to recognize St. Rose on its anniversary, and I look forward to another 75 years of quality education from this institution.

Mr. TORRICELLI

Mr. TORRICELLI. Mr. President, I would like to thank the many Senators who have demonstrated a commitment to historic Civil War battlefield preservation which culminated in this amendment to the Interior Appropriations Bill that directs $10 million be made available for matching grants to States and local communities for Civil War Battlefield preservation. I especially want to thank Senators Lott and Gorton for their efforts over the past several months as well as my long time ally in this issue, Senator Jeffords. Battlefield preservation is essential to allow current and future generations to experience the powerful lessons these places convey about the past, present, and future of the United States. A battlefield's landscape speaks beyond written accounts and motion picture and television recreations. The remarkable story of our country's struggle for independence cannot be compellingly told or wholly understood without these sites. The need to protect these sites of heroism and sacrifice has never been more acute. Today, residential, commercial, and industrial development threaten significant battle sites in many states. A Congressional study of the nation's Civil War sites completed in 1993, found that 20% of the most important sites had already been lost and an additional 50% would be lost in the next ten years without concerted action. The report specifically recommended that $70 million be made available over a 7 year period for matching grants to aid land acquisition efforts. This amendment would for the first time provide a $10 million installment for this purpose. The premise behind this amendment is simple: Congress must provide funds to leverage nonfederal resources to preserve endangered battlefields. These funds are an investment in our national heritage, an investment that will pay dividends not just for our towns and states, but for the entire country and for generations to come.

Mr. TORRICELLI

Mr. TORRICELLI. Mr. President, today with Senator Lautenberg I introduce legislation to preserve land on which our nation was forged. During the harsh winter of 1779-1780 the Continental Army, and its leader, General George Washington camped at Morristown, New Jersey. Washington chose Morristown for its logistical, geographical, and topographical advantages and also because of its close proximity to British-occupied New York City. Washington and his men encountered great hardships here, as the winter of 1779 was the worst winter here in over 100 years. When soldiers first arrived at Morristown, they had no choice but to sleep out in the open snow as it took most about two to three weeks to build wooden huts to hold groups of a dozen men. The last of the Continental Army, however, did not move into the huts until the middle of February, and conditions were so bad that many soldiers stole regularly to eat, deserted, or mutinied. Only the leadership of General Washington held the Continental Army intact, enabling him to plot the strategy for the coming spring that would turn the tide of the war. Through the preservation of this site, we honor the men who served at Morristown and fought for our independence. And more than that, we preserve the best classroom imaginable to understand how our nation was born. Recognizing the importance of this site, Congress created the Morristown National Historical Park in 1933, the first historical national park in the National Park System. In the years since the establishment of the park, however, New Jersey has undergone a revolution of another sort: from Garden State to Suburban State. In 1959, there were 15,000 farms in New Jersey covering 1.4 million acres. Today, there are 9,000 farms on 847,000 acres, a 40% decrease. In New Jersey, as much as 10,000 acres of rural land is being developed every year. North-central New Jersey and the area around the park has not been spared from this development. Much of the private land adjacent to the park has been subdivided and developed for residential use. Many of these residences are visible from park areas, altering the rural character of the park and diminishing the visitor's experience of the park's historic landscape. The legislation we are introducing today will help preserve the natural environment of the Park by authorizing the Park Service to expand the boundary of the park to include the 15-acre Warren property on Mt. Kemble Ridge. Specifically, our legislation authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to acquire through purchase, purchase with appropriated funds, or donation, the Warren Property. This acquisition will prevent this land, where patriots made their camp during the winter of 1779-1780, from being re-zoned and subdivided for residential development. The National Park Service strongly supports this legislation. NPS Deputy Director, Denis Galvin, recently testified in support of legislation to acquire the Warren Property before a House National Parks and Public Lands Subcommittee hearing on March 26, 1998. This important parcel of land has been classified as ``desirable for acquisition'' by the National Park Service since 1976. In addition, the property's owner, Jim Warren, is a willing seller and interested in seeing the property preserved as part of Morristown National Historical Park. Acquisition of the Warren Property for inclusion in the park would ensure that the character of the park's historic landscape is not further degraded. Unfortunately, there are historic sites in my home state of New Jersey and across our country that need to be preserved. It is my hope that through this effort, the Morristown National Historical Park and sites like it across the country will be preserved for generations to come so that the history of our country and its guiding principles will remain alive in the hearts of all Americans.

Mr. TORRICELLI

Mr. TORRICELLI. Mr. President, I thank my colleague and friend, the Senator from Florida, Senator Graham. I, too, rise in observance of Hispanic Heritage Month, noting that there could be no better way to note the importance of our Hispanic heritage and this month of observance than to deal with the reality of the political status of Puerto Rico. In 1841, President Harrison said, ``The only legitimate right to govern is an express grant of power from the governed.'' Those words were deemed so important to our Republic, so basic to our system of government, they became a part of the architecture of the Capitol itself. The history of our country is about the expansion of democracy and the enfranchisement of people. The very purpose for founding this Nation was to ensure that our people would have control over their own destiny and choose their own Government. Through the generations, this maturation process has included the enfranchisement of women, African- Americans, and eventually to all people over the age of 18. The democratic process was probably never better exercised or no firmer commitment made than when this Congress established an orderly procedure to admit new States. That process committed to the people of our country that the process of enfranchisement and of self-government was not simply for themselves but other people who share our ideals, culture, and our geography. Ever since 1898, the end of the Spanish-American War, we have shared a culture, a history, and a geography with the people of Puerto Rico. The people of the island of Puerto Rico have been subject to our laws and regulations, but they have been unable to vote for the very legislators who would govern them through their actions. Puerto Rico is the unfinished business of American democracy. Having long since enfranchised all of our population, having extended our sovereignty into the Pacific Ocean and the Northwest, all that remains is the people of these few islands including Puerto Rico, the first and most important case that remains to be dealt with. This is important not only to the 29 million Hispanic-Americans, it is important to all of our people, because it involves justice and fairness. Earlier this year, Senators Craig and Graham introduced the Puerto Rican Political Status Act. I was very proud to follow their leadership and be part of its drafting and its introduction. That legislation in similar form passed the House of Representatives in March. It would fully and clearly allow the people of Puerto Rico to follow the path of full democracy if they so chose. Unfortunately, the legislation remains in the Energy and Natural Resources Committee. While we are all grateful that the chairman has scheduled consideration of the legislation, in truth it is very late in the life of the 105th Congress. Each day that passes, every week that goes by, we increase the chance that the people of Puerto Rico will not have an expression from this Congress about the chance they may possess to enfranchise themselves and be heard through a recognized plebiscite this year. Regardless of individual opinion of Members of this body as to what the judgment of the people of Puerto Rico might or should be, whether Members of the Senate support statehood or commonwealth or independence, the one thing I believe upon which we can all agree is that we have a responsibility, consistent with our own ideas, our ideals, our culture--a mandate of history to ensure that the people of Puerto Rico are heard. What decision the people of Puerto Rico might make is their choice. Whether or not they have a choice is our obligation. There are 3.8 million people on Puerto Rico, with too long an association with our country to pretend this is not a historic problem. They are too many in number to conclude that it does not really matter. I urge the leadership of this Senate to ensure that this legislation dealing with the political status of Puerto Rico and its opportunity for a plebiscite come before this Senate before it expires. I urge the people of Puerto Rico to proceed with their plebiscite and make a final and lasting judgment about their political status. The United States cannot allow itself to enter the 21st century in a great irony of history--that the product of the world's most important democratic revolution, the first people on the face of this Earth to rise up against colonialism and demand the right of the governed to express themselves, be a party to what is by any measure a postcolonialist political arrangement. It is not simply that it is unfair to the people of Puerto Rico, it is wrong for the people of the United States. It is inconsistent with our history and it cannot endure. I compliment Senator Craig and Senator Graham for their leadership, and say how grateful I am to be a part of this truly historic effort. I thank the Senator from Florida for yielding time.

Mr. TORRICELLI

Mr. TORRICELLI. Mr. President, today with Senator Lautenberg I introduce legislation to preserve land on which our nation was forged. During the harsh winter of 1779-1780 the Continental Army, and its leader, General George Washington camped at Morristown, New Jersey. Washington chose Morristown for its logistical, geographical, and topographical advantages and also because of its close proximity to British-occupied New York City. Washington and his men encountered great hardships here, as the winter of 1779 was the worst winter here in over 100 years. When soldiers first arrived at Morristown, they had no choice but to sleep out in the open snow as it took most about two to three weeks to build wooden huts to hold groups of a dozen men. The last of the Continental Army, however, did not move into the huts until the middle of February, and conditions were so bad that many soldiers stole regularly to eat, deserted, or mutinied. Only the leadership of General Washington held the Continental Army intact, enabling him to plot the strategy for the coming spring that would turn the tide of the war. Through the preservation of this site, we honor the men who served at Morristown and fought for our independence. And more than that, we preserve the best classroom imaginable to understand how our nation was born. Recognizing the importance of this site, Congress created the Morristown National Historical Park in 1933, the first historical national park in the National Park System. In the years since the establishment of the park, however, New Jersey has undergone a revolution of another sort: from Garden State to Suburban State. In 1959, there were 15,000 farms in New Jersey covering 1.4 million acres. Today, there are 9,000 farms on 847,000 acres, a 40% decrease. In New Jersey, as much as 10,000 acres of rural land is being developed every year. North-central New Jersey and the area around the park has not been spared from this development. Much of the private land adjacent to the park has been subdivided and developed for residential use. Many of these residences are visible from park areas, altering the rural character of the park and diminishing the visitor's experience of the park's historic landscape. The legislation we are introducing today will help preserve the natural environment of the Park by authorizing the Park Service to expand the boundary of the park to include the 15-acre Warren property on Mt. Kemble Ridge. Specifically, our legislation authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to acquire through purchase, purchase with appropriated funds, or donation, the Warren Property. This acquisition will prevent this land, where patriots made their camp during the winter of 1779-1780, from being re-zoned and subdivided for residential development. The National Park Service strongly supports this legislation. NPS Deputy Director, Denis Galvin, recently testified in support of legislation to acquire the Warren Property before a House National Parks and Public Lands Subcommittee hearing on March 26, 1998. This important parcel of land has been classified as ``desirable for acquisition'' by the National Park Service since 1976. In addition, the property's owner, Jim Warren, is a willing seller and interested in seeing the property preserved as part of Morristown National Historical Park. Acquisition of the Warren Property for inclusion in the park would ensure that the character of the park's historic landscape is not further degraded. Unfortunately, there are historic sites in my home state of New Jersey and across our country that need to be preserved. It is my hope that through this effort, the Morristown National Historical Park and sites like it across the country will be preserved for generations to come so that the history of our country and its guiding principles will remain alive in the hearts of all Americans.

Mr. TORRICELLI

Mr. TORRICELLI. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize Rowan University as it celebrates its 75th Anniversary. This year marks the 75th year that Rowan will provide quality education to residents in New Jersey and across the country. It is a pleasure for me to be able to recognize this important milestone. Rowan provides an exceptional environment for achievement and fulfillment through rigorous academic training and vigorous personal interaction among the members of its diverse learning community. As a regional public university committed to teaching, Rowan combines liberal education with professional preparation and offers programs from the undergraduate through doctoral levels. Rowan University seeks to achieve knowledge through ambition, responsibility through service, and character through challenge. The University is a constantly expanding resource for the State of New Jersey, developing as a community of learners with a curriculum that integrates professional and liberal education. Rowan has succeeded in developing values, shaping character, and enhancing the capacity for a fulfilling and socially responsible life among its graduates. Rowan University alumni are well prepared to assume positions of leadership within their communities and professional fields. Rowan University has become an extraordinary comprehensive institution that has improved the quality of life for the citizens of New Jersey, and it has long been an example of the standard that we set for our nation's universities. Through hard work and dedication, the faculty have illustrated their commitment to building the leaders of tomorrow, and their success over the past 75 years serve as an inspiration to all educators. I am proud to recognize Rowan University on its anniversary, and I look forward to another 75 years of quality education from this institution.

Mr. TORRICELLI

Mr. TORRICELLI. Mr. President, there is perhaps no greater foreign policy priority in the post-cold-war world than assisting former Communist countries in making the difficult transition to democracy. The fall of the Soviet Union was not the final victory of the cold war. That will come only when all of these former adversaries embrace liberty, free markets, and the rule of law. Recognizing this, the 102nd Congress in 1992, passed the Freedom Support Act. This bill acknowledged that we can help countries make the transition to democracy both with the carrot of economic aid and the stick of withholding such assistance. It included a provision, Section 907, which mandated that with the exception of humanitarian aid, democracy- building funds, and investment assistance, Azerbaijan will not receive any direct economic aid until it ceases the blockade of neighboring Armenia and the Armenian enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh. However, since that historic moment in 1992, this provision of the Freedom Support Act has repeatedly come under fire for its scope and perceived effect on relations between the United States and Azerbaijan. Opponents of Section 907 have repeatedly sought the opportunity to weaken its restrictions, or eliminate them altogether, arguing that they are no longer valid and have unfairly constrained U.S. investment in the Caspian Sea region. In response, I would argue that Section 907 is still necessary to safeguard the rights of the Armenian people. Mr. President, I am pleased that the Foreign Operations Appropriations Bill reaffirms our commitment to Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act. By doing so, this Congress reaffirms our commitment to the peaceful resolution of international conflicts and to the Armenian people themselves. The Azeri blockade of Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh is a direct result of the dispute between the two countries over the status of Nagorno-Karabakh, the longest-running ethnic conflict in the former USSR. The human cost to date has been 35,000 lives and 1.4 million refugees. The Azeri blockade has been particularly brutal for Armenia which relies on its ties to the outside world for survival. It is a land- locked country where only 17 percent of the land is arable. Due to the blockade, 80 percent of the Armenian population now live in poverty. Humanitarian assistance cannot get to Armenia, which is still trying to rebuild from the devastating earthquake of a decade ago, and Nagorno- Karabakh is dealing with a critical shortage of medical equipment. Industrial recovery has been stalled as 90 percent of Armenia's energy supply comes from abroad, and without its usual rail and transportation routes, Armenia is forced to rely on chartered cargo flights from Russia and Ukraine, or insecure land connections through Georgia, one of the most unstable countries in the former Soviet Union. Mr. President, the tragedy is that while life in Armenia is bleak, Azerbaijan has a bright future. It is estimated that Azerbaijan controls oil reserves of 40 billion barrels, and with it the potential to generate tremendous revenue. Section 907 will not cripple Azerbaijan. Indeed, since 1992, we have sent $130 million of humanitarian aid to ensure that this does not happen. Instead, this provision sends a powerful message to the Azeri government that in the post-Cold War era the United States will not tolerate the inhumane and belligerent treatment of innocent people in Armenia, in the former USSR, or anywhere the world over. We owe it to the Armenian people to continue this pressure on Azerbaijan to lift its blockade, and I am proud that this bill keeps Section 907 intact. Amendment No. 3516

Mr. TORRICELLI. Mr. President, I rise today in support of the amendment offered by Senator Kennedy regarding the tragedy of Pan Am Flight 103. This year marks the tenth anniversary of the bombing over Lockerbie, Scotland which killed 270 people. The memory of the 189 American citizens on board that doomed flight has not faded with the passage of time, but those who want to see justice done have become increasingly frustrated with the amount of time it has taken to try and bring the perpetrators to justice. It now appears as if the indicated suspects, Abdel Basset Al-Megrahi and Lamen Khalifa Fhimah, may finally be tried for their crime. The United States-United Kingdom proposal urges Colonel Qaddafi to transfer the suspects to the Netherlands to stand trial before a Scottish court, under Scottish law, and by a panel of Scottish judges. However, I believe that it is critical for the United States to retain its pressure on Colonel Qaddafi to comply with the will of the international community. Qaddafi must transfer these suspects to the Netherlands, but the United States must also continue to refuse to negotiate with Qaddafi on this issue. Should Qaddafi fail to transfer the suspects, it is critical that the United Nations prepare a strong response and impose a multilateral oil embargo against Libya. I wholeheartedly support the language of this amendment, and I am pleased to be a cosponsor. restrictions on imet for indonesia

Mr. TORRICELLI

Mr. TORRICELLI. Mr. Leahy, I know that you join me in welcoming the progress that the citizens of Northern Ireland and the Republic have made toward implementing a peace agreement. I would like to thank you and the members of the Appropriations Committee for the tremendous work you have done this year, including funding the International Fund for Ireland (IFI) at the full amount President Clinton requested in FY 1999. At this critical point in time, this Senate, and the United States as a whole, must begin to study our relationship with Northern Ireland and do our best to ensure that peace takes hold in the region. Dramatic cuts in the budget, particularly foreign aid, have made this task more challenging. Understanding both the need to support peace in Northern Ireland and dealing with budget cuts, I would like to request your support for consideration of adding any additional funding to the IFI, should it become available at a later time. It is important that we consider ways to meet the needs of the people of Northern Ireland and the Republic, and I hope you will join me in this effort.

Mr. TORRICELLI

Mr. TORRICELLI. I move to lay that motion on the table. The motion to lay on the table was agreed to. Mr. McCONNELL addressed the Chair.

Mr. TORRICELLI. Mr. President, I am very proud to join with my colleague, Senator Lautenberg, in offering this resolution of congratulations. With all the rancor and discord of our times, it is worth the Senate taking a moment to note that in small towns and cities across America, there are values that endure. On Saturday, 12 young men, no more than 11 and 12 years old, reminded us of some of those values. They became the first American team in 5 years to win the Little League World Series. It is a process that began a year ago when 7,000 different teams across America and in several other nations began to compete for this honor. The culmination was on Saturday when, by a score of 12 to 9, they defeated Kashima, Japan. There is no denying the athletic prowess of each of the 12 young men who produced this victory. An 11- or 12-year-old boy to hit a baseball more than 210 feet in repeated home runs is as much an achievement in its own way as Mark McGwire racing for a home run title. But in truth, there is more to this success than simple athletic prowess. Behind each and every one of these young men was a parent, a coach, a teacher, a neighbor, an umpire--someone who gave something of themselves, not simply to teach an athletic skill, but character, values, the qualities of determination that are so very American. In this way, each of the 46,000 people of Toms River were a part of this victory; indeed, in a special sense, so was every American a part of this victory. The lesson learned is that sacrifice and humility are an essential part of victory. How else does one explain a Mike Belostock who, in a championship game at a principal moment of his life, discovers that his eye is scratched from a contact lens and tells his mother he has decided not to play because the eye damage could have sacrificed the chances of his team. Or persistence: Chris Cardone who replaced Belostock in the lineup and hit a game-winning home run, his first in 28 games, and only his second hit of the tournament. Or Todd Frazier who not only struck out the final Japanese batter, but who also batted a perfect 4 for 4 in the game. Those are all sources of pride, but when the game was over and the team came home, there was something that impressed me even more. Every parent made it very clear that on Monday morning, every superstar of the ``Beasts from the East'' would be at school promptly and ready for work when school resumed. Mr. President, I join my colleagues in congratulating Chris Cardone, Todd Frazier, Scott Fisher, Gabe Gardner, Joe Franceschini, Casey Gaynor, Eric Campesi, R.J. Johansen, Mike Belostock, Brad Frank, Tom Gannon, Chris Crawford and their coaches, Mike Gaynor and Ken Kondek, for a job well done. Toms River is a town of champions, those who were on the field and those who were off. For those of us in the Senate and across America who watched their achievement with pride, we are reminded that there are values in our children as quintessentially American as baseball itself. Toms River, congratulations and well done. Mr. President, I yield the floor.

Mr. TORRICELLI

Mr. TORRICELLI. Mr. President, yesterday I engaged in a colloquy with Senators Kohl and Moseley-Braun regarding the intent of report language in S. 2312 concerning tax standards for tax-exempt health clubs. In that colloquy, I stated that my expectation was that the report would ``focus on adult fitness provided by tax-exempt organizations that serve only adults.'' However, both tax-exempt health clubs and for- profit health clubs serve entire families including young adults and children. While I believe the report should focus on adult fitness provided by tax-exempt organizations, tax-exempt organizations also offer non-adult service. The fact that they offer service to non-adults does not qualify an entity for tax-exempt status. Therefore, to eliminate any entity that provides any level of services to non-adults would greatly restrict the usefulness of this report in providing guidance to Congress. Again, I want to emphasize that my intent here is only for the IRS to provide Congress guidance in this area. Therefore, I want to clarify that it is my expectation that the report will reflect the language in the report accompanying S. 2312 with the input of yesterday's colloquies as well as this clarification. Again, I want to thank Senators Campbell and Kohl for their assistance on this and I look forward to working with them and all other interested Senators and parties on this issue. Amendment No. 3388

Mr. TORRICELLI

Mr. TORRICELLI. While considering current business practices, we would expect the IRS to focus on adult fitness provided by tax-exempt organizations that serve only adults.