John Warner

Mr. WARNER

Mr. WARNER. I move to lay that motion on the table. The motion to lay on the table was agreed to. Amendment No. 3470 (Purpose: To modify the management and per diem requirements for members subject to lengthy or numerous deployments; and to authorize extensions of TRICARE managed care support contacts)

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

Mr. WARNER. Madam President, this amendment would modify the management and per diem requirements for the military service members subject to lengthy deployments and to authorize extensions of TRICARE management care support contracts. This has been cleared on both sides.

Mr. WARNER. Madam President, I move to reconsider the vote.

Mr. WARNER. I thank the Senator for his kind words and would be glad to indulge him in a colloquy on this subject.

Mr. WARNER. Madam President, I believe we will proceed in accordance with the order. Madam President, I rise this afternoon--14 days since the Senate first turned to consideration of the Fiscal Year 2001 Defense Authorization Bill--to, once again, emphasize the importance of the Senate passing this critical legislation. Our troops deployed around the world, many in harm's way, their families here at home, and all those who have answered the call to duty before them are waiting on the Senate to act. Since June 6 when the Senate first began consideration of the Defense Authorization bill we have had productive debate and dialogue. The Senate has spent four days debating and voting on this legislation, and the Committee has done a great deal of work during the ``down time''-- when the Senate was considering various appropriations bills--in clearing many of the amendments that are in order on the authorization bill. We now have a Unanimous Consent agreement for the next day and a half to deal with several pending amendments. In my view, there is perhaps an additional day's worth of debate and votes on the remaining amendments which we believe will be offered to this bill. I urge my colleagues to work with the Committee on any remaining amendments so that we can pass this bill in the Senate and send a strong signal of support to our troops. Mr. President, I think it is useful to remind my colleagues of the amount of hard work that goes into the annual defense authorization bill. This year alone, the Armed Services Committee has conducted 50 hearings related to the defense budget, and spent four days--15 hours-- in marking up the bill which is before the Senate. This bill, which we reported out of the Senate Armed Services Committee on May 12th with bipartisan support, is a good bill which will have a positive impact on our nation's security, and on the welfare of the men and women of the Armed Forces and their families. It is a fair bill. It provides a $4.5 billion increase in defense spending--consistent with the congressional budget resolution. But, the real beneficiaries of this legislation are our servicemen and women who will not only have better tools and equipment to do their jobs, but an enhanced quality of life for themselves and their families. We must show our support for these brave men and women all of whom make great sacrifices for our country and many of whom are in harm's way on a daily basis by passing this important legislation. I am privileged to have been associated with the Senate Armed Services Committee and the development of a defense authorization bill every year of my modest career here in the Senate--a career quickly approaching 22 years. The Senate has passed a defense authorization bill each and everyone of those years. In fact, the Senate has passed a defense authorization bill each year since 1961--since the beginning of the current authorization process. This year, the House passed its version of the defense authorization bill by an overwhelming vote of 353-63. It is now the Senate's duty to fulfill its responsibilities on this important legislation. But our responsibility to consider and pass the annual defense authorization bill goes beyond statutory requirements and historical precedent. We must also be aware of the importance of this measure to our men and women in uniform around the world. U.S. military forces are involved in overseas deployments at an unprecedented rate. Currently, our troops are involved in over 10 contingency operations around the globe. Over the past decade, our active duty manpower has been reduced by nearly a third, active Army divisions have been reduced by almost 50 percent, and the number of Navy ships has been reduced from 567 to 316. During this same period, our troops have been involved in 50 military operations worldwide. By comparison, from the end of the Vietnam War in 1975 until 1989, U.S. military forces were engaged in only 20 such military deployments. In an all-volunteer force, where increasing deployments and operations challenge the capabilities of our military to effectively meet those commitments, as well as challenge the efforts of our military to recruit and retain quality military personnel, we must embrace every opportunity to demonstrate our commitment to our military personnel. The National Defense Authorization Bill for Fiscal Year 2001 sends this important message. Mr. President, I would like to take a moment to make my colleagues well aware of the impact of NOT passing The National Defense Authorization Bill for Fiscal Year 2001. With respect to personnel policy, the committee included legislation in the defense authorization bill for fiscal year 2001 to continue to support initiatives to address critical recruiting and retention shortfalls. In this regard, the committee increased compensation benefits and focused on improving military health care for our active duty and retired personnel and their families. Without this bill, there will be: No extension of TRICARE benefits to active duty family members in remote locations; No elimination of health care co-pays for active duty family members in TRICARE Prime; No Thrift Savings Plan for military personnel; No stipend for military families to eliminate their need to rely on food stamps McCain amendment); No five year pilot program to permit the Army to test several innovative approaches to recruiting; and No transit pass benefit for Defense Department commuters in the Washington area. Without this bill, almost every bonus and special pay incentive designed to recruit and retain service members will expire December 31, 2000, including: Special pay for health professionals in critically short wartime specialities; Special pay for nuclear-qualified officers who extend their service commitment; Aviation officer retention bonus; Nuclear accession bonus; Nuclear career annual incentive bonus; Selected Reserve enlistment bonus; Selected Reserve re-enlistment bonus; Special pay for service members assigned to high priority reserve units; Selected Reserve affiliation bonus; Ready Reserve enlistment and re-enlistment bonuses; Loan repayment program for health professionals who serve in the Selected Reserve; Nurse officer candidate accession program; Accession bonus for registered nurses; Incentive pay for nurse anesthetists; Re-enlistment bonus for active duty personnel; Enlistment bonus for critical active duty specialities; and Army enlistment bonuses and the extension of this bonus to the other services. And, Mr. President, without this bill, the Congress will not meet it's commitment to our miliary retirees and their families to provide a comprehensive lifetime health care benefit, including full pharmacy services. Without this bill, military health care system benefits will continue to be denied to retirees and their dependents who reach age 65 and become Medicare eligible. Military beneficiaries will lose the earned military health care benefit that this bill finally restores to them. The committee has carefully studied the recruiting and retention problems in our military. We have worked hard to develop this package to increase compensation and benefits. We believe it will go a long way to recruit new servicemembers and to provide the necessary incentives to retain mid-career personnel who are critical to the force. Mr. President, on many occasions I have shared my concerns about the threats posed to our military personnel and our citizens, both at home and abroad, by weapons of mass destruction: chemical, biological, radiological and cyber warfare. Whether these weapons are used on the battlefield or by a terrorist within the United States, we, as a nation, must be prepared. Without this bill, efforts by the committee to continue to ensure that the DOD is adequately funded and structured to deter and defeat the efforts of those intent on using weapons of mass destruction or mass disruption would not be implemented. Efforts that would not go forward without this bill include: Establishing a single point of contact for overall policy and budgeting oversight of the DOD activities for combating terrorism; Fully deploying 32 WMD-CST (formerly RAID) teams by the end of fiscal year 2001; Establishing an Information Security Scholarship Program to encourage the recruitment and retention of Department of Defense personnel with computer and network security skills; and Creating an Institute for Defense Computer Security and Information Protection to conduct research and critical technology development and to facilitate the exchange of information between the government and the private sector. Mr. President, I would like to briefly highlight some of the other major initiatives in this bill that would be at risk without the defense authorization bill: Without this bill, multi-year, cost-saving spending authority for the Bradley Fighting Vehicle and UH-60 ``Blackhawk'' helicopter would cease. Without this bill, there would not be a block buy for Virginia Class submarines. Without the block buy, there would be fewer opportunities to save taxpayer dollars by buying components--in a cost-effective manner--for the submarines. All military construction projects require both authorization as well as appropriations. Without this bill, over 360 military construction projects and 25 housing projects involving hundreds of critical family housing units would not be started. The Military Housing Privatization Initiative would expire in February 2001. Without this bill, the program would not be extended for an additional three years, as planned. The military services would not be able to privatize thousands of housing units and correct a serious housing shortage within the Department of Defense. Mr. President, it has been said that, ``Example is the best General Order.'' The Senate needs to take charge, move out, and pass the National Defense Authorization Bill for Fiscal Year 2001. This legislation is important to the nation and to demonstrate to the men and women in uniform, their families and those who have gone before them, our current and continuing support and commitment to them on behalf of a grateful nation. Military Installations

Mr. WARNER. Madam President, I move to reconsider the vote.

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

Mr. WARNER. I move to lay that motion on the table. The motion to lay on the table was agreed to. Amendment No. 3472 (Purpose: To reform Government information security by strengthening information security practices throughout the Federal Government)

Mr. WARNER

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

Mr. WARNER

Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I want to offer my strong support for the Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act. This legislation removes legal barriers to electronic commerce by establishing important legal standards for electronic contracts and signatures. With the passage of this important legislation, businesses will have the legal certainty that they require and consumers will have the assurance of safety and security that they need. The measure represents a balanced approach. It ensures that protections in the digital world equal those in the paper world. Mr. President, E-commerce offers tremendous benefits for businesses and consumers in terms of efficiency, choice, convenience, and lower costs. The measure will ensure the continued expansion of electronic commerce, the roots and future of which lie in Virginia. It will take electronic business-to-business and business-to-consumer commerce to the next level.

Mr. WARNER

Mr. WARNER. This is a subject in which I have been heavily involved, as have others. Senator Dodd and I on repeated occasions have put legislation up, I presume comparable to what the Senator has in mind. I clearly associate myself with the Senate's goals. As a matter of fact, on the authorization bill for the Department of Defense, there is a Warner-Dodd amendment which asks for the appointment of a commission, to be appointed by President Clinton, drawing on nominees from not only the President but the majority, the Democratic leader, and others in the Congress, to begin to focus on a broad range of policy considerations with regard to the relationship between the United States and Cuba. So I am highly supportive. I have listened to the Senator enumerate a few Senators, and with a lack of humility I ask my name be included among those who strongly support, as I have now for 2 years, with Senator Dodd and others, the lifting of particulars. If we are to make any inroads on the Government in Cuba, it has to be done people to people. What better way than food and medicine because if there is anything that does not have the taint of politics, it should be food and medicine. So I commend my colleague.

Mr. WARNER

Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Subcommittee on Communications be authorized to meet on Wednesday, June 14, 2000, at 9:30 a.m. on wireless high speed Internet access for rural areas.

Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Subcommittee on Clean Air, Wetlands, Private Property, and Nuclear Safety be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, June 14, at 9:30 a.m., to conduct a hearing to receive testimony on the environmental benefits and impacts of ethanol under the Clean Air Act.

Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Select Committee on Intelligence be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, June 14, 2000 at 2:30 p.m. to hold a closed hearing on intelligence matters.

Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Select Committee on Intelligence be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, June 14, 2000 at 10:15 a.m. to hold an open hearing on intelligence matters.

Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Indian Affairs be authorized to meet on Wednesday, June 14, 2000 at 2:30 p.m. in room 485 of the Russell Senate Building to mark up the following: S. 1586, Indian Land Consolidation Act Amendments; S. 2351, Shivwits Band of the Paiute Indian Tribe of Utah Water Rights Settlement Act; S. Res. 277, Commemorating the 30th Anniversary of the Policy of Indian Self-Determination; S. 2508, the Colorado Ute Indian Water Settlement Act Amendments of 2000; and H.R. 3051, Jicarilla Water Feasibility Study, to be followed by a hearing, on S. 2282, to encourage the efficient use of existing resources and assets related to Indian agricultural research, development and exports within the Department of Agriculture.

Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Subcommittee on Antitrust, Business Rights and Competition be authorized to meet to conduct a hearing on Wednesday, June 14, 2000, at 10 a.m., in SD226.

Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Foreign Relations be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, June 14, 2000 at 10 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. to hold two hearings (agenda attached).

Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Finance be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, June 14, 2000, for an Open Executive Session to mark up H.R. 3916 (Repeal of the Federal Communications Excise Tax); S. 662, the Breast and Cervical Cancer Treatment Act; and, S. Res , expressing the sense of the Senate that the President should initiate negotiations with the members of the European Union to resolve the current dispute regarding the foreign sales corporation provisions of the Internal Revenue Code and to modify World Trade Organization rules governing the border adjustability of taxes to ensure that such rules do not place United States exporters at a competitive disadvantage.

Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Select Committee on Intelligence and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, June 14 at 10:15 a.m. to conduct a joint oversight hearing. The Committees will receive testimony on the Loss of National Security Information at the Los Alamos National Laboratory.

Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, June 14, 2000, to conduct a roundtable discussion on ``Accounting for Goodwill.''

Mr. WARNER

Mr. WARNER. I thank our distinguished colleague. It had been my hope to lay aside the Smith amendment to which is attached the McCain amendment regarding campaign finance issues. I have been advised there is an objection to laying that aside. There is a possibility that objection could be raised solely for the purpose of the managers of the bill, Mr. Levin and myself, proceeding to clear amendments that have been agreed to on both sides. I am just not at the moment able to assure the Senate that is in place.

Mr. WARNER

Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that Mandy Sams of Senator Hutchinson's staff be granted floor privileges for the duration of today's debate.

Mr. WARNER

Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, yesterday, I inserted into the Congressional Record the speeches of two graduates from Virginia Tech University who addressed their class during its commencement ceremonies last month. During the commencement ceremony, at which I had the privilege of also speaking with the Class of 2000, I listened to the eloquent and inspiring speeches of three Virginia Tech students, Class President Lauren Esleeck, Graduate Student Representative Timothy Wayne Mays, and Class Treasurer Rush K. Middleton. Yesterday, I inserted Ms. Esleeck's and Mr. Middleton's speeches into the Congressional Record. I have now obtained a copy of Mr. Mays' speech, and it is my pleasure to ask that a copy of his speech also be printed in the Record. Graduation Speech by Timothy Wayne Mays Good morning. I'd like to begin with a brief story that I recently read that illustrates the theme of my message today. A successful business executive and former University of Alabama football player was asked ``what was the first thing coach Paul Bear Bryant said to you and the other scholarship athletes after arriving on campus.'' Surprisingly, at the first team meeting, Coach Bryant asked the group ``Have you called your folks yet to thank them?'' After hearing those words, the players looked confused--most had their mouths open. They looked at one another with disbelief. Apparently, not one of them had anticipated this question. These freshman athletes had been on campus less than 24 hours, but they already had their first lesson in team productivity. No one in the room that day had acknowledged having called home with a word of thanks. What was the essence of the lesson? Coach Bryant followed up his initial question with a second statement. ``No one ever got to this level without the help of others. Call your folks. Thank them.'' [from The Millionaire Mind (Stanley, 2000)] When I was asked to speak at today's graduation ceremony, I kind of struggled with what I wanted to talk about, but preparing this speech gave me the opportunity to reflect on how I got to this point in my life. And the main thing that stood out to me was the significant influence that certain individuals have had on my life. In some way or another, these people gave me a chance or an opportunity that I would not have had otherwise. Now some of these people are, of course, my parents and other family members who have given me a chance by raising me in a safe, loving, and spiritual environment. In the most challenging times of my life, their prayers and support have helped me stand strong, or sometimes, just make it through. In a different way, some of the people who have most significantly influenced my life are friends, teachers, and even just acquaintances that have taken an interest in me for some reason or another. They have given me the guidance and motivation that I need to succeed. As a recent example, when I came to Virginia Tech, I wasn't sure what type of structural engineering work I wanted to do after graduation. Over the last four years, Dr. Tom Murray, in the Civil Engineering department here at Virginia Tech, has helped me find the specific type of work that I will enjoy. I will surely remember his help in the years to come when I wake up every morning happy to go to work. Also, it was Dr. Ray Plaut who took a personal interest in me during my college visit and brought me here to Virginia Tech. Everything that I have accomplished here at Virginia Tech would have been impossible without his help and guidance over the last four years. The truth of the matter is this: Had some of these people not entered my life, I definitely would not be here speaking today. As graduates of this great university, we really do have so much for which to be proud. However, I challenge each of you to take the time to reflect on the individuals who have helped you get to this place in your life, and to personally thank them for taking an interest in you. At this chapter in our life comes to an end, a new chapter begins, and one of the most exciting things to think about is the new people we will meet and the impact they will have on our lives. More importantly though, I hope that we can be influential people in others lives. By always recognizing the impact that other people have had on us, I believe that we can. Thank you very much and God bless.