John Warner

Mr. WARNER

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 President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. WARNER

Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the consideration of H.R. 4259, which is at the desk.

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

Mr. WARNER

Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I now ask for its second reading and object to my own request.

Mr. WARNER

Mr. WARNER. This will be the 39th consecutive authorization bill for the Armed Forces of the United States by the Senate. And it is an absolute must piece of legislation, as our distinguished leader and the distinguished Democratic whip said.

Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I, first, thank the distinguished leader and distinguished Democratic whip, all of us who made this possible. We are within 1 millimeter of resolving this problem. It has just been addressed to me. This is the first time I heard it. I know the Senator very well and we are going to see what we can do to work this thing out. So I think the Senate can assume that what the leadership has presented here, this unanimous consent request, can be accepted in the course of the day.

Mr. WARNER

Mr. WARNER. I withdraw the request.

Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I handed the Senator a colloquy which Senator Levin signed. The Senator raising the objection signed the colloquy.

Mr. WARNER

Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of S. Con. Res. 149, which is at the desk.

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

Mr. WARNER

Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate now proceed to the consideration of Calendar No. 905, H.R. 3069.

Mr. WARNER

Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of S. Con. Res. 148, submitted earlier today by Senator McConnell.

Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the concurrent resolution be agreed to, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, and any statements relating to the concurrent resolution be printed in the Record.

Mr. WARNER

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

Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, Senators Gramm and Enzi have an amendment at the desk, and I ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Banking Committee be discharged from further consideration of H.R. 5239 and the Senate then proceed to its immediate consideration.

Mr. WARNER

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

Mr. WARNER

Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, if there is no further business to come before the Senate, following the remarks of Mr. Wyden for not to exceed 5 minutes, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate stand in recess under the previous order.

Mr. WARNER

Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, on behalf of myself, Mr. Inouye, Mr. Stevens, and Mr. Thurmond, I send to the desk a concurrent resolution and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I thank the Chair, the floor staff, and the staffs of many Senators who were able to clear this resolution. I appreciate that. I note the presence of another colleague on the floor. I would like to consult the Republican floor staff before I address the Senate further. Mr. President, I understand our distinguished colleague wishes to address the Senate for a period of time. How much time will he require?

Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, our former distinguished majority leader, Mr. Dole, has headed up, together with others, an effort across America, and indeed from abroad, to raise the funds and otherwise provide for a memorial to be erected in the Nation's Capital in memory of those who served in World War II, and indeed those who were not in uniform but here on the homefront who, in every other respect, supported that heroic effort during that period from the day beginning December 7, 1941, to and including the surrender of Japan in August of 1945. Mr. President, as we all know, World War II was the defining event of the 20th century for the United States and its wartime allies with more than 16,000,000 American men and women serving in uniform in the Armed Forces. Over 400,000 Americans gave their lives for our nation and more than 600,000 were wounded. In addition, countless Americans back home in the United States organized and sacrificed to give their unwavering support to those in uniform. Today, there are less than 6,000,000 surviving World War II veterans and we mourn the passing of greater than 1,200 veterans each day. Mr. President, this is why the construction of the National World War II Memorial must follow an expeditious and critical path to completion. In 1994, legislation was enacted which approved the location of a memorial to this epic era in an area of the National Mall that includes the Rainbow Pool. Since July 1995, the National World War II Memorial site and design have been subject to 19 public hearings that have resulted in an endorsement from the State Historic Preservation Officer of the District of Columbia, three endorsements from the District of Columbia Historic Preservation Review Board, and most significantly, four approvals from the Commission of Fine Arts and four approvals from the National Capital Planning Commission. In July of this year, the Commission of Fine Arts approved the design of the memorial followed by final architectural design approval by the National Capital Planning Commission on September 21, 2000. Mr. President, it is my feeling that construction of this magnificent memorial, which has received a thorough review and given final approval by all jurisdictional authorities, should begin without delay. It is imperative that this fitting tribute to those brave and patriotic Americans be completed and dedicated while surviving veterans are still alive. I ask my Senate colleagues to support this resolution and allow our World War II veterans, veterans of the most devastating war the world has known, to see and be a part of the memorial they so fiercely deserve. Mr. President, I sought to get the cosponsorship of all those in this body who served in World War II. The ability to do this, time-wise, precluded that, but I am certain that almost all would have joined. Therefore, it is a particular privilege for me to submit this to the Senate. Congressman Stump will introduce the identical measure in the House of Representatives. Mr. President, I ask that we take action on this resolution.

Mr. WARNER

Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, for the Committee on Armed Services, I report favorably nomination lists which were printed in the RECORDS of the dates indicated, and ask unanimous consent, to save the expense of reprinting on the Executive Calendar that these nominations lie at the Secretary's desk for the information of Senators.

Mr. WARNER

Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to General Anthony Zinni, United States Marine Corps, on the occasion of his completion of a successful tour of duty as Commander in Chief, United States Central Command, and his retirement from active duty after 36 years of loyal service. I offer these remarks with great respect for General Zinni, a true American patriot and a Marine's Marine. General Zinni is a remarkable individual, a distinguished combat soldier, and an inspiring, uncompromising leader. During his 36 year military career, General Zinni's intellect, candor, and unshakeable optimism have had a profound, positive influence on the U.S. Armed Forces from the Quang Nam province of Vietnam to the sheikdoms of the Middle East, and a hundred points in between. A life long adventure that began in a small Pennsylvania town on the banks of the Schuykill River has taken him around the world and to the top echelons of military leadership. A first generation American, General Zinni began his service to the nation in 1961. His father, Antonio Zinni, who immigrated from Italy and fought for his adopted country in the trenches of France in World War I, and his mother, Lilla, instilled in General Zinni an unconditional devotion to the principles of American freedom and liberty and a profound respect for military service. On his first day of classes at Villanova University, with the lessons of his parents in mind, General Zinni joined the Marine Corps. From the Augustinians and the Marine Corps Drill Instructors, General Zinni developed an intellectual prowess and professional military acumen that would distinguish him as a ``cut above'' throughout his career. Beginning with two combat tours in Vietnam, General Zinni embarked on a series of assignments that reflect the myriad missions to which the military has been deployed in the latter part of the 20th Century-- combat operations, humanitarian operations, peacekeeping and peace enforcement. Following Vietnam, General Zinni participated in humanitarian relief operations in the Philippines and in Northern Iraq. He commanded U.S. military forces in Somalia and also commanded the task force responsible for safeguarding the withdrawal of U.N. peacekeeping forces from Somalia in 1995. In August 1997, General Zinni, recognized as one of the most operationally competent, most experienced and most versatile military leaders in uniform, was selected by the President to be the Commander in Chief of United States Central Command. Following a unanimous confirmation vote by this chamber, General Zinni spent the next three years representing the United States and ensuring the security of U.S. interests in one of the most challenging areas of the world. As many of my colleagues are aware, United States Central Command encompasses a region that includes 25 nations, extending from Egypt and the Horn of Africa through the Arabian Peninsula and Gulf States, to the newly independent central Asian nations and Pakistan. While abundant in cultural, ethnic and religious diversity, these same enriching features are also the source of deep-rooted, historic animosities--animosities within the region and toward the United States. Guided by his imperative to genuinely understand the unique perspective of a society and his desire to work with the people of the region, General Zinni earned the respect and administration of the area's national leaders. There is no question that he was the right man in the right place at the right time. While we acknowledge the long list of General Zinni's accolades, we recognize that the challenges of military life are most successfully accomplished as a team effort. General Zinni's wife, Debbie, and their children Lisa, Tony, and Maria have shared the challenges and rewards of General Zinni's military life. The journey which brought General Zinni to Central Command, the hallmark of his distinguished military career, would not have been possible without the unconditional and loving support of his family. On behalf of a grateful nation, I congratulate you and your family for your service to the Nation, the Armed Forces and to the Marine Corps. Semper Fi! General, as a former Maine, I salute you on the floor of the U.S. Senate.

Mr. WARNER

Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to an exceptional leader in recognition of a remarkable career of service to his country--Admiral Leon A. Edney, United States Navy, Retired. Admiral ``Bud'' Edney has amassed a truly distinguished record, including 35 years of commissioned service in the U.S. Navy uniform, that merits special recognition on the occasion of his retirement as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Retired Officers Association (TROA). Born in Dedham, Massachusetts, he entered the Navy as an ensign in 1957, following his graduation from the United States Naval Academy, and culminated his distinguished naval service with tours of duty as Vice Chief of Naval Operations and as NATO's Supreme Allied Commander and Commander-in-Chief of the U.S. Atlantic Command. He retired from active duty in August 1992. Admiral Edney has shown valor and leadership throughout his 35 years of dedicated military service to his country, and has been a positive role model for countless sailors in the process. His dedication to service and excellence has not diminished since leaving active duty, serving as a trustee of the Naval Academy Foundation and the Association of Naval Aviation. For two years, he also held the distinguished Professor of Leadership chair at the U.S. Naval Academy. Admiral Edney was elected to the board of directors of The Retired Officers Association in 1994. For the last two years, he served as TROA's chairman of the board, the position from which he is now retiring. Through his stewardship, The Retired Officers Association continues to play a vital role as a staunch advocate of legislative initiatives to maintain readiness and improve the quality of life for all members of the uniformed service community--active, reserve, and retired, plus their families and survivors. His tenure as chairman of TROA began simultaneously with my chairmanship of the Senate Armed Services Committee, and I am pleased to state that these two years have witnessed very substantial quality- of-life enhancements for active, reserve, and retired service members and their families. Admiral Edney has been a strong supporter of the Senate Armed Services Committee's efforts toward improving long-term retention and readiness through a competitive compensation package for active and reserve forces, restoration of lifetime health care for retired personnel and their families, and enhancing protections for the survivors of deceased service members. Under his leadership, TROA has been an invaluable source of information that has proven of considerable utility in the committee's deliberations on a long list of compensation and benefits issues during this extraordinarily productive period. Admiral Bud Edney has been, in every sense of the word, a leader in the military, TROA, and the entire retired community. Our very best wishes go with him for long life, well-earned happiness, and continued success in service to his nation and the uniformed service members whom he has so admirably led and served. As a former Sailor and Marine, I offer Admiral Edney a grateful and heartfelt salute, and wish him ``fair winds and following seas.''

Mr. WARNER

Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I would like to recognize the professional dedication, vision and public service of Mrs. Patty Lewis who will be leaving the staff of the Senate Armed Services Committee at the end of this year to return to the Department of Defense to serve in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs. It has been a privilege for me to work with Mrs. Lewis and it is an honor to recognize her many outstanding accomplishments. I asked Mrs. Lewis to join the staff of the Armed Services Committee last October to assist me and the other Members of the Committee deal with the complex issues of improving the Military Health Care System, TRICARE, and providing health care to Medicare-eligible retired military personnel and their families. She is superbly competent and demonstrated a level of professionalism which far exceeded that of many of her contemporaries. Mrs. Lewis is an expert at cutting through the red tape of the military health care bureaucracy and never losing sight of the fact that taking care of the individual is paramount. Her focus was always on doing the right thing for our service members and their families. Mrs. Lewis has earned a reputation as someone on whom we could rely to provide fresh ideas, detailed research, and practical solutions to complex problems. Her professional abilities and expertise have earned her the respect and trust of her colleagues on both sides of the aisle and in both Houses of the Congress. Mrs. Lewis' ability to clearly see a viable alternative when others could only see the fog of confusion contributed to the success of the Committee on Armed Services in developing the legislation that will, for the first time in history, definitively entitle retired military personnel to the lifetime of health care that they were promised when they were recruited and reenlisted. With Mrs. Lewis' help, we are finally able to fulfill that commitment. Mr. President, initiative, caring service and professionalism are the terms used to describe Mrs. Lewis. Patty Lewis is a great credit to the Senate and the Nation. As she now departs to share her experience and expertise with the Department of Defense I call upon my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to recognize her service to the Senate and wish her well in her new assignment.