John Warner

Mr. WARNER

Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I rise today in support of legislation to add two areas in my State to the National Wilderness Preservation System. These areas, known as The Priest and the Three Ridges, are located in the George Washington National Forest and comprise approximately 10,500 acres. The Commonwealth of Virginia is blessed with rich geographic diversity. From the Chesapeake Bay in the East to the Appalachian Mountains in the West, residents of the state and visitors alike are able to participate in a broad range of activities not often found in other areas of the country. The Priest and the Three Ridges, in particular, offer unique opportunities for visitors to enjoy scenic views, interaction with wildlife, hiking, fishing, and other types of outdoor recreation. These areas need to be protected from development, and this legislation would ensure that they remain pristine for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations. Mr. President, I look forward to the designation of The Priest and Three Ridges as wilderness through the swift passage of this bill.

Mr. WARNER

Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I rise today in support of legislation to add two areas in my State to the National Wilderness Preservation System. These areas, known as The Priest and the Three Ridges, are located in the George Washington National Forest and comprise approximately 10,500 acres. The Commonwealth of Virginia is blessed with rich geographic diversity. From the Chesapeake Bay in the East to the Appalachian Mountains in the West, residents of the state and visitors alike are able to participate in a broad range of activities not often found in other areas of the country. The Priest and the Three Ridges, in particular, offer unique opportunities for visitors to enjoy scenic views, interaction with wildlife, hiking, fishing, and other types of outdoor recreation. These areas need to be protected from development, and this legislation would ensure that they remain pristine for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations. Mr. President, I look forward to the designation of The Priest and Three Ridges as wilderness through the swift passage of this bill.

Mr. WARNER

Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, let's fetch him to the floor if possible. Perhaps he can join us and bless this body.

Mr. WARNER

Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize and honor Admiral Jay L. Johnson, United States Navy, our 26th Chief of Naval Operations, as he prepares to turn over the helm of the United States Navy to his successor. As former Secretary of the Navy and a member of the Armed Services Committee for 22 years, I have worked closely with every Chief of Naval Operations since 1969. Admiral Johnson, in my view, ranks with the finest of this long line of great Chiefs. Thirty-six years ago, on the 30th of June, 1964, a young Midshipmen Johnson raised his hand on Tecumseh Court at the United States Naval Academy and took his oath of office to support and defend the Constitution. In the years since that day he has devoted indeed all of his great energy and talent to that task. Oceans of water have passed beneath the keels of the ships he has commanded and many men and women have stood proudly on their decks. He has been steadfast in his covenant to this nation and his devotion to those with whom he has served. An illustrious career gives eloquent testimony to his service to our country and his leadership of its Navy. He was commissioned an Ensign upon his graduation in 1968 and, demonstrating exceptional tactical and technical acumen, he soloed in both propeller and jet aircraft within six months, setting the pace for a most impressive future. His first sea duty tour was aboard U.S.S. Oriskany (CVA 34), where he made two combat cruises flying and fighting the F-8J Crusader over Vietnam with the Hellcats of VF-191. He flew the F-14 Tomcat as a Ghostrider of VF-142, a Grim Reaper of VF-101, and as Commanding Officer of the Jolly Rogers of VF-84. Admiral Johnson's follow-on sea tours demonstrated the tactical brilliance and the consensus-building skills that would characterize his tenure as CNO. As Commander, Carrier Air Wing ONE, he planned and coordinated the joint Navy and Air Force air strikes against Libya in response to terrorist acts in Europe. In this same carrier airwing, he successfully integrated the F/A-18C with the F-14, providing a superior day-night combat capability to our forward-deployed carrier battle groups. Admiral Johnson's early shore assignments reinforced his commitment to our Sailors as he served in the Bureau of Naval Personnel, detailing junior aviation officers. His selection to the prestigious Chief of Naval Operations' Strategic Studies Group further cemented his reputation as a Naval Warfare visionary, and marked him as a future leader of our nation's Navy. As a new Flag Officer, Admiral Johnson went back to the Bureau of Naval Personnel, where his profound concern for the well being of our Sailors resulted in dramatic improvements in retention and support of our Fleet Sailors. It is particularly noteworthy that these institutional changes were orchestrated at the same time he was coordinating the Navy's activation and call-up of Reserve Sailors in support of Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm. Back to sea in command of U.S.S. Theodore Roosevelt Battle Group, his tactical acumen and diplomatic skills proved key to a more efficient and combat-ready coalition of forces in Bosnian Theater operations. But nowhere was Admiral Johnson's leadership, focus on mission execution, and consensus-building skill more brilliantly demonstrated than in his next assignment as Commander, Second Fleet: Striking Fleet Atlantic and Joint Task Force 120. He simultaneously guided the Eisenhower Battle Group through preparations for its deployment to the Sixth Fleet while serving as the Deputy Commander for Operation Uphold Democracy, which restored the democratically elected government to Haiti. After serving as the Vice-Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral Johnson took the helm of our Navy as its 26th Chief. He has exemplified the quiet dignity and honor of that office, ably and wisely counseling leaders at the highest echelons of our Government. His leadership, integrity and foresight have set a true and steady course for the Navy as it transitions into the 21st century. It has been written in ancient annals that ``anyone can hold the helm when the sea is calm.'' This man took the helm of our Navy in heavy seas. Steering by a constellation of four guide stars--Operational Primacy, Leadership, Teamwork, and Pride--Admiral Johnson guided the Navy through the shoals of four tempestuous years, balancing mandated reductions in forces with dramatically increased operational tasking. The Fleet's mission accomplishment in our forward operating areas overseas--at the tip of the spear--was never placed in doubt. And never for a moment did he loose sight of the interests of the men and women of our Navy. Admiral Johnson empowered the Navy's commanding officers by removing unnecessary inspections and burdensome paperwork, and gave these skippers the opportunity to lead and truly command their ships, submarines, squadrons, and SEAL teams. He also led the Joint Chiefs of Staff in calling for much-needed increases in the Navy's budget: Pay Table Reform and the reform of the Retirement Program are resulting in dramatic increases in retention of the Navy's most valuable asset--our Sailors. Admiral Johnson's legacy for the future of Naval Warfare is embodied in his vision of the Navy at sea and ashore. At sea, he has boldly committed his service to build upon the Navy's strategy laid down in ``Forward From the Sea'' and the Marine Corps' ``Operational Maneuver From the Sea.'' He has championed the creation of a Navy and Marine Corps team that will directly and decisively influence events ashore-- anytime, anywhere. He has focused the Navy's research, development and investment capital upon improving the Fleet's ability to conduct Land Attack Warfare, Theater Air and Missile Defense, and Organic Mine Warfare. Admiral Johnson has prepared the Sailors and the Fleet to defeat future threats and he has created an information technology revolution at sea, which is dramatically and irreversibly changing the way we employ our Navy in peacetime, crisis, and war. Ashore, Admiral Johnson has re-invigorated the Naval War College, reminding us of the years prior to World War II, when the Navy's war games anticipated nearly every enemy operation. He has conducted Battle Experiments with cutting-edge technology and brought together the best minds of government, academia, business, and the military to create new rule sets for an international security environment characterized by an Internet-driven, global economy. Standing beside this officer throughout his superb career has been his wife Garland, a lady to whom he owes much. She has been his key supporter, devoting her life to her husband, to her family and to the men and women of the Navy family. She has traveled by his side for these many years visiting the Fleet. Her sacrifice and devotion have served as an example and inspiration for others. This team has served our Navy well and we will miss them both. With these words before the Senate, I seek to recognize Admiral Johnson for his unswerving loyalty to the Navy and the Nation. From the beginning, he has been a model Naval officer who has always done his duty to God and to Country. It has been my personal good fortune, and the Senate's good fortune as a whole, to witness Admiral Johnson's leadership of the finest Navy in the world. The Department of the Navy and the American people have been served well on his watch. The men and women of the United States Navy will not forget the leadership, service and dedication of Admiral Johnson as he has left the Navy better prepared to face the challenges and opportunities of the 21st century. We thank him and wish Jay, and his lovely wife Garland, fair winds and following seas as they continue forward in what will most assuredly remain lives of service to this Great Nation.

Mr. WARNER

Mr. WARNER. Yes. Mr. President, we will try to reduce the times so that we are not here for a lengthy period.

Mr. WARNER

Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, if there is no further business to come before the Senate, I now ask that the Senate stand in adjournment under the previous order.

Mr. WARNER

Mr. WARNER. Perhaps it would be important to put it in the Record.

Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, with the concurrence of my distinguished senior colleagues, I urge adoption of the amendment.

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

Mr. WARNER. Could the distinguished Senator provide us with a copy of that letter?

Mr. WARNER. Let's make it clear. I think in my request I said the time that I consumed would be chargeable to my side.

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

Mr. WARNER. Let's make it clear for purposes of future colloquies. The time consumed by Mr. Levin and myself will be charged to our side, and the time for response will be charged to the other side.

Mr. WARNER. I thank the Chair.

Mr. WARNER. I thank my colleague, the senior Senator from West Virginia. Now, from the unanimous consent agreement, the distinguished Senator from Wisconsin is to be recognized. Amendment No. 3759 (Purpose: To terminate production under the D5 submarine-launched ballistic missile program)

Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, Senator Levin and I have several amendments cleared by myself and the ranking member, some of which have been modified. I call up amendments Nos. 3733, 3737, 3734, and I send to the desk a modified version of amendment No. 3762. I ask unanimous consent that these amendments be considered en bloc, that the Senate agree to the amendments, and that the motions to reconsider be laid on the table. Finally, I ask unanimous consent that statements relating to individual amendments be printed at the appropriate place in the Record.

Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I ask at this time if I may clear some amendments and ask unanimous consent that the time consumed by the two managers not in any way be counted against the time for the Senator from Illinois.

Mr. WARNER. Yes.

Mr. WARNER. I have to say with all due respect to our three colleagues, opponents on this amendment, indirectly this amendment is suggesting that the Department is not proceeding in a prudent way towards their responsibilities on this program. I have to state that. I do not find any specific fault with some of the requests made but momentarily when I take the floor in my own right, I will have documentation to show that the Welch panel is doing the very things for which the Senator asked. I will point to the fact that the Secretary of Defense has said in previous testimony what he is doing on this program. In fact, I say to the Presiding Officer, being a member of the Armed Services Committee and indeed the chairman of the strategic subcommittee, I asked the Secretary of Defense to come up at his earliest opportunity and report to the Committee on Armed Services. He has agreed to do so shortly after his return from his trip currently in Asia. I thought he addressed the test program, which did, regrettably, end in a failure, I thought in a very courageous and forthright way he addressed that failure to the American public and, indeed, the world.

Mr. WARNER. I certainly agree.

Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I ask my colleague a question and the time allocated to the Senator from Virginia be charged for the portion of the colloquy I use. The Senator makes a fairly strong statement indirectly at our former colleague, Senator Cohen, now Secretary of Defense, that he would proceed blindly on this program which is so vital to the security of the United States, assuming, as you say, under the full criteria that the President addressed goes forward--that he would go blindly. Is that a purposeful choice of words directed at this distinguished former colleague who, in my judgment, having been on the Armed Services Committee 22 years and having served 18 or 19 of those years with him, I cannot imagine undertaking the responsibility to oversee a program of this importance and proceeding, as the Senator said, ``blindly.''

Mr. WARNER

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

Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I understand that H.R. 894 is at the desk. I ask for its first reading.

Mr. WARNER

Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, Senator Edwards and Senator Hagel have amendments at the desk. I ask unanimous consent that they be considered in the appropriate order, the amendments be agreed to, the motion to reconsider the resolution be laid upon the table, the title amendment be agreed to, and the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table.

Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Judiciary Committee be discharged from consideration of S. Res. 268, and the Senate then proceed to its immediate consideration.