Paul Wellstone

Mr. WELLSTONE

Mr. WELLSTONE. Mr. President, military-paramilitary linkages are long and historic. Everybody agrees. I told you that FARC and the ELN are not Robin Hood organizations. But the paramilitaries, now listed as a terrorist organization by our State Department, account for 75 percent of the killings in Colombia by the AUC. The U.S. State Department, the United Nations High Commission on Human Rights, Amnesty international, and Human Rights Watch are among the organizations who have documented that the official Colombian military has remained linked closely with the paramilitaries and all too often collaborates in these atrocities. We don't need to be giving out any more money. The State Department's September 2000 report mentions ``credible allegations of cooperation with paramilitary groups, including instances of both silent support and direct collaboration by members of the armed forces.'' Two weeks ago, Human Rights Watch released a report titled, ``Sixth Division: Military-Paramilitary Ties and U.S. Policy in Colombia.'' It is troubling. The ``Sixth Division'' is a phrase Colombians use to refer to paramilitary groups seen to act as simply another part of the Colombian military. The Colombian military has five divisions. In this report, Human Rights Watch focuses on three Colombian Army brigades: The Twenty-Fourth, Third, and Fifth Brigades. I asked the general about direct ties to the paramilitary. They are documented. The paramilitaries are brazen. President Pastrana operates in good faith, and I know he has publicly deplored the paramilitary atrocities. But the armed forces have yet to take the critical steps necessary to prevent future killings by suspending these high-ranking security force members suspected of supporting these abuses. I am telling you that it is documented. We know. But these military folks aren't removed. They are not suspended. Nothing or very little is done. I don't think we need to spend more money on this. Human rights abusers are rewarded with promotion. The joint report of the Washington Office on Latin America, Amnesty International, and Human Rights Watch talks about the fact that a number of different high- ranking military people involved in atrocities are directly involved with the paramilitary, and are promoted. Human rights workers are under attack. There are systematic mass killings of union leaders and their members by the paramilitary in Colombia. I describe that as genocide. That is what it is. As a matter of fact, the AUC has actually bragged about this. Their leader bragged about this. And we need to give them more money? I don't think so. I wish I could mention some of the courageous people who have been murdered. I have gone to Colombia twice. I have gone to Barrancabermeja. I have gone there because it is sort of a safe haven in Colombia. It is one of the most violent cities in a very violent country. I have had the opportunity to meet with a man that I consider to be really one of the greatest individuals I have ever met--Francisco De Roux, referred to as Father ``Pacho.'' Why is he so respected and beloved? He has an organization called the Program of Development and Peace of the Magdalena Medio located in Barranca. They do wonderful social justice and economic development work. In the last several months, a number of innocent civilians, such as Alma Rosa Jaramillo and Eduardo Estrada, brave volunteers, were brutally assassinated--one, I think, in front of his family members. It was awful. They were murdered by the AUC. They were murdered by the paramilitary, and the civil society people who work for their organization still wait for the prosecution. I said to General Carreno, the military man in the region: Here is AUC's leader, the bad guys. Go get them. It hasn't happened. I thank my colleague, Senator Leahy, because I think there are some important human rights safeguards and Leahy safeguards in this legislation that go absolutely in the right direction. I will zero in on this for the Feingold amendment on fumigating and spraying. I am in profound opposition with the amendment of my colleague from Florida, who is one of my favorite Senators. I am not just saying that; he is. I have great respect for him. I oppose the additional ways in which money is being spent. Funding for disaster relief--you name it--and health care makes a whole lot more sense. I don't think we need to be putting any more money into this plan. Believe me. There are important human rights questions to be raised. I don't think the Colombian Government has been nearly as accountable as they should. Frankly, even with the war on the counternarcotics effort, there are very real questions as to how effective this is. At the very minimum, let's not spend even more money without making sure first we have the accountability, especially on the human rights issues. My colleague from Florida said: What is the message going to be? I will say this: What is the message going to be if the United States of America, over and over, all of a sudden says when it comes to democracy and when it comes to the human rights question that we are going to put all of that in parenthesis, and we are going to turn our gaze away from it, that it makes no difference to us, and it is not a priority for our government? If we do that, we will no longer be lighting the candle for the world. It would be a profound mistake. I hope colleagues will vote against this amendment.

Mr. WELLSTONE. As long as I can regain the floor. Amendment No. 1950

Mr. WELLSTONE. Mr. President, that is our intention. Human trafficking is a massive and multi-dimensional problem, impacting countless victims. The U.S. government is responding, but I am concerned that our response though well-intentioned, is both under- funded and under-coordinated. I believe that approximately $15 million is currently being spent to address human trafficking in the overall State Department budget, but it is not at all clear to me that activities are being coordinated among departments and agencies or that the results are being optimized. I believe that the State Department should work this year to dedicate not less than the $30 million authorized in the Trafficking Victims Protection Act, and that this funding would be distributed to all three prongs including law enforcement, victims assistance, and trafficking prevention activities. I am very optimistic that the newly established office to combat trafficking at the State Department will bring some transparency and coordination to these activities. I'm sure that both of us, as well as other members, will be watching for this to happen. To assist us all in monitoring progress, I will seek to add language to the statement of the managers to the conference report asking the State Department to report back to us next spring regarding plans and funding allocations for trafficking. Again, this is an important issue that certainly warrants more than $10 million and I believe there are ample funds in this bill to enable the State Department to meet the authorized levels.

Mr. WELLSTONE

Mr. WELLSTONE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that Madeline Lohman, an intern in my office, be allowed to be on the floor.

Mr. WELLSTONE

Mr. WELLSTONE. Mr. President, I want to remind colleagues, independent of the amendments, that I later on today will have a colloquy with Senator Brownback dealing with the whole question of women and girls being forced into prostitution. We want to talk about appropriations for that. I will probably be joined by my colleague, Senator Feingold, in some discussion about Plan Colombia. I want to talk about the number of trips I have taken to Colombia and what I have seen focusing on human rights and having a chance to speak on the human rights position; in particular, the work I have been able to do with a very powerful Jesuit priest, Francisco De Roux, and something I think we can learn from his wisdom. I want to move those amendments along. I want to say two other things very quickly. Last week, we passed a resolution which I have been trying to make long enough so that it can be in the Capitol Hill Police Office thanking the Capitol Police for their work. This may be gratuitous--my guess is that Senators are doing this all the time anyway--for which I apologize. I suggest to Senators when they are passing by the Capitol Police to be sure to thank them. I met, for example, a young officer today. He told Sheila and me that he has little children. He sees them 1 hour a day. He is working six 12-hour days. He says that is better than 17-hour days. They are working under a lot of pressure. I want on the floor of the Senate to again thank them for their work. I appeal to Senators to go out of their way to thank them. If you look at the Capitol Hill Police men and women, you can see a lot of exhaustion in their faces. I think we owe a real debt of gratitude to them. I yield the floor.

Mr. WELLSTONE

Mr. WELLSTONE. Three amendments. I will have one amendment that deals with the humanitarian crisis right now in Afghanistan. I am hoping the managers will accept it. I think it is a good statement. I think it is exactly what we are committed to as a nation. I will take 20 seconds tonight to say that the President--and he was eloquent--said our military effort is not aimed at the innocent people in Afghanistan; we are going after terrorists and those who harbor terrorists. I think one of the best ways we can show that we are good people who commit by way of deed is to make a serious effort on the humanitarian front. We are going to have hundreds of thousands of children who are going to starve to death. The first amendment is going to be a resolution that talks about the need to make this a priority. The second one is going to deal with the Andean plan, Colombia, and some of my concerns about human rights. The third one will be also a human rights amendment. I can do all of these with a time limit.

Mr. WELLSTONE. I thank the majority whip. I hope one, two, and three of them will be accepted as well. That would be a first for me, but I will certainly try. I yield the floor and suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. WELLSTONE. I withhold and yield the floor.

Mr. WELLSTONE. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 191, and I ask unanimous consent that the committee amendment be agreed to, the amendment to the title be agreed to, 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. This is the veterans homeless bill. This is a bill that provides support for homeless veterans.

Mr. WELLSTONE. Madam President, I very much appreciate the Senator from Kentucky saying that the objection is not on his behalf. I say to whoever is objecting that I am going to do this every day. I would like to know who objects. It is interesting. I am not going to mix the agenda. But in all due respect, it is hardly helpful to veterans to object to a piece of legislation that passed with unanimous support out of the veterans committee of Republicans and Democrats alike focusing on what is a national scandal. If you look at the number of men who are homeless--there are too many women and children--probably about 30 percent of them are veterans. Many of them are Vietnam veterans. Many of them struggle with addictions. This piece of legislation was a bipartisan piece of legislation coming out of committee. Lane Evans has done great work for veterans in the House of Representatives. He has taken the lead. It is legislation named after Katie Marie Harman, who is Miss America. Her dad is a disabled veteran. She has made it her priority. I say to whoever is objecting that I would like for them to come out on the floor of the Senate and object. Tomorrow I will spend as much time as I can finding out who is objecting to this piece of legislation. Pretty soon we will either find out, and we can work it out together, or I will figure out a way to come out on the floor with this legislation and take a long time talking about what is on for veterans and the health care needs in particular. The fact that I can't even move a piece of legislation that passed with unanimous support out of a committee that deals with providing a little bit of help to homeless veterans--I am not being histrionic; I am not trying to be melodramatic--is just plain maddening. My God, in order to have a piece of legislation that deals with universal health care coverage and national health insurance, there can be a debate about the role of the Government. Economic stimulus, I hope we will have that debate. There are many other issues. But when you take the most modest step that you can think of--I will start outlining the provisions of this bill tomorrow when I get a chance--and you have support among Republicans and Democrats in the committee and you believe you can move it and you have a lot of veterans who are hopeful about it--a number of them came from all around the country to testify for this legislation--then we have some anonymous objection. That is enough said for tonight. I hope tomorrow I can find out who is objecting and that we can pass this by unanimous consent. I was working on amendments for this foreign operations appropriations bill. I want to let Senator Reid, the whip, and other Senators know that the first thing tomorrow morning, or whatever best accommodates the Senate's schedule, I will come to the floor with amendments and be ready to go with time limits. I will be very anxious to get done tomorrow. I am glad we are in session. I am glad we are on this piece of legislation.

Mr. WELLSTONE. Madam President, if it is OK, I will ask unanimous consent when we come back on the floor that I be allowed to introduce the first amendment.

Mr. WELLSTONE

Mr. WELLSTONE. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that Brian Hanley, a fellow in my office, be allowed to be in the Chamber throughout the debate on the foreign operations appropriations bill.

Mr. WELLSTONE

Mr. WELLSTONE. Mr. President, even before the world focused on it as a sanctuary for Osama bin Laden and other terrorists, Afghanistan was on the brink of a humanitarian catastrophe, the site of the greatest crisis in hunger and refugee displacement in the world. Now the worsening situation on the ground is almost unimaginable. After 4 years of relentless drought, the worst in three decades, and the total failure of the Taliban government in administering the country, 4 million people have abandoned their homes in search of food in Pakistan, Iran, Tajikistan, and elsewhere, while those left behind eat meals of locusts and animal fodder. Mr. President, 7.5 million people inside the country are threatened by famine or severe hunger as cold weather approaches, according to the United Nations. As President Bush made clear, we are waging a campaign against terrorists, not ordinary Afghans, who are some of the poorest and most beleaguered people on the planet and were our allies during the cold war. Yet, the current military air strikes and the disintegration of security is worsening the humanitarian situation on the ground. Aid organizations are increasingly concerned about their ability to deliver aid to Afghanistan while the United States continues its bombing campaign. Several aid organizations have been accidentally bombed by the United States in the last week. In addition to these accidental bombings, law and order are breaking down inside Afghanistan. Reports indicate that thieves have broken into several aid organization offices, beat up the Afghan staff and stolen vehicles, spare parts, and other equipment. Warehouses of the International Red Cross in Kabul were bombed yesterday. The ICRC says that the warehouses were clearly marked white with a large red cross visible from the air. One worker was wounded and is now in stable condition. One warehouse suffered a direct hit, which destroyed tarpaulins, plastic sheeting, and blankets, while another containing food caught on fire and was partially destroyed. The Pentagon claimed responsibility for the bombing later in the day, adding that they ``regret any innocent casualties,'' and that the ICRC warehouses were part of a series of warehouses that the United States believed were used to store military equipment. ``There are huge needs for the civilian population, and definitely it will hamper our operations,'' Robert Monin, head of the International Red Cross' Afghanistan delegation, said on Islamabad, Pakistan. Another missile struck near a World Food Program warehouse in Afsotar, wounding one laborer. The missile struck as trucks were being loaded for an Oxfam convoy to the Hazarajat region, where winter will begin closing off the passes in the next two weeks. Loading was suspended and the warehouse remains closed today. Last week, four U.N. workers for a demining operation were accidentally killed when a bomb struck their office in Kabul. In response to the dangers threatening humanitarian operations, the Oxfam America President said, ``It is now evident that we cannot, in reasonable safety, get food to hungry Afghan people. We've reached the point where it is simply unrealistic for us to do our job in Afghanistan. We've run out of food, the borders are closed, we can't reach our staff, and time's running out.'' The World Food Program was feeding 3.8 million people a day in Afghanistan even before the bombing campaign began. These included 900,000 internally displaced people at camps. Although the United States military has dropped thousands of ready to eat meals, everyone agrees that only truck convoys can move sufficient food into Afghanistan before winter. As of last Friday, there were only two convoys confirmed to have gotten though. WFP announced that two more convoys since the bombing campaign started were nearing Kabul. Complications and delays in delivering emergency food supplies to Afghanistan could cause rising death rates from starvation and illness as winter sets in. Many of the high mountain passes will be closed by mid-November due to 20-30 foot snows. Aid agencies are falling behind in their efforts to deliver enough emergency relief to Afghans to avoid a large loss of life this winter. UNICEF estimates that, in addition to the total of 300,000 Afghan children who die of ``preventable causes'' each year, 100,000 more children might die this winter from hunger and disease. The main reasons for this shortfall in aid are related to security concerns. Aid agencies have withdrawn their international staff, and local staff have attempted to continue the aid programs but have been subjected to intimidation, theft, and harassment. As the United States continues to pound Taliban targets, law and order in some cities is reportedly also breaking down. Truck drivers are unwilling to deliver supplies to some areas for fear of being bombed by the United States, or being attacked by one faction or another. Taliban supporters have obstructed aid deliveries on some occasions. Despite these nightmares, shipment of food and nonfood emergency items arrive in Afghanistan daily--but the total shipped is only about one-half of what is needed. The situation is particularly urgent as some of the poorest and most needy areas will be cut off from overland routes by mid-November. An estimated 600,000 people in the Central Highlands are dependent upon international food aid, and little is on hand for them now. The food shortfall in Afghanistan may result in an increased flow of refugees to the borders. A flood of refugees to the border would present a different but also challenging set of problems. Clearly, as everyone has said, it is better for them to remain at home than flee to neighboring countries out of hunger. There is no easy solution to this humanitarian crisis. It is complex and requires the international community to take urgent and imaginative action to boost the flow of food inside. The United States should take the lead in helping to devise aggressive and imaginative ways to expand the delivery of food. These could include the creation of humanitarian corridors, the use of existing commercial trading companies and air deliveries to airports that have not yet been bombed. The establishment of humanitarian ground and air corridors should be considered for the secure transportation and distribution of emergency aid. The administration should push to have some roads or air routes in areas of limited conflict be designated as protected humanitarian routes. Such possible ground and air corridors include Northern Alliance held territory along the border of Tajikstan, and Northern Alliance airfields which have not been bombed. These airfields could be used for a Berlin style airlift to get massive amounts of aid into the country quickly. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees estimates that 1.5 million additional Afghans could seek to flee the country in coming months due to the ongoing military conflict. All six countries neighboring Afghanistan have closed their borders to refugees both on security grounds and citing an inability to economically provide for more refugees. Thousands have been trapped at borders with no food, shelter, water, or medical care. I am introducing a resolution today which addresses this crisis. The text of the resolution states the following: Afghanistan's neighbors should reopen their borders to allow for the safe passage of refugees, and the international community must be prepared to contribute to the economic costs incurred by the flight of desperate Afghan civilians; As the United States engages in military action in Afghanistan, it must work to deliver assistance, particularly through overland truck convoys, and safe humanitarian access to affected populations, in partnership with humanitarian agencies in quantities sufficient to alleviate a large scale humanitarian catastrophe; The United States should contribute to efforts by the international community to provide long-term, sustainable reconstruction and development assistance for the people of Afghanistan, including efforts to protect the basic human rights of women and children. I urge my colleagues to support this measure. Mr. President, I spoke yesterday in this Chamber in relation to this resolution I am submitting today. I will offer this as an amendment on legislation to have a vote. I think we in America are probably as united as we can be as a people, especially when it comes to our horror and sadness, indignation and anger at the innocent slaughter of so many people, so many Americans. In response to that, a resolution was passed authorizing the use of force, targeted on those who committed this act, hopefully drawing a distinction between justice and vengeance. I think most of us also believe--and certainly Secretary Powell has said this more than once, as it is terribly important--that the use of force, the military action, must be as targeted as possible; that every step be taken that is humanly possible to avoid innocent people being killed, innocent Afghans who had nothing to do with the murders in our country. I worry to the extent that there are reports that innocent people have been killed in the bombing. I certainly worry about that. Our country wants to avoid that. Moreover, there is also the whole question of the Islamic world and how people respond to this. So, again, I will make the point that this has to be as carefully targeted as possible. But the other issue, which I do not think we have paid enough attention to--and I had a chance to write a piece for the Boston Globe a couple weeks ago, and I am going to start speaking about this in the Chamber more, and I think there is a lot of strong bipartisan interest and support for this--is the whole question of this humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan. The reports are there are about 7.5 million people who go hungry. We do not know how many hundreds of thousands could starve to death this winter if we do not get food to people. The problem is, though there has been a lot of discussion about the airdrops, maybe a half of 1 percent, maybe 1 percent at best, doesn't do the job. The only way we can get the food to people is through the truck convoys, and now not nearly enough of this is happening. Different organizations, the NGOs, the nongovernment organizations, food relief organizations, are all saying on present course they may be able to get enough food for half the people who need it at best. In 3 or 4 weeks there will be cold winter weather, and we will see pictures of innocent, starving Afghan children. That is a fact. The resolution calls upon our Government to take stronger measures, with a more focused effort to get the food to people. That will be complicated. Part of it involves people who will still be trying to leave Afghanistan. Some of the neighboring countries have to open up their borders. Those people have been stopped at the borders. Then there are the people who don't leave. And the conditions in the refugee camps have to be dramatically improved. The fact is, the people who don't leave are the poorest of the poor. They are the elderly, the infirmed; they are the children. They are the ones about whom we all worry. There have been intermittent reports-- quite often when you try to confirm it, it is not clear what happened-- that the Taliban itself has taken some of the food. Many organizations are saying with the bombing the truck convoys can't go through. I am not making an argument for cessation of bombing. I argue it be as targeted as possible and to avoid in every way possible bombing innocent people. There has to be a way, whether it is the creation of safe corridors, coordinated with military activity or whatever to get these truck convoys in to get the food to people. Time is not neutral. We are going to deeply regret if we don't take these steps. The resolution expresses the sense of the Senate regarding the urgent need to provide humanitarian assistance to the civilians of Afghanistan. Well before the terrorist attack of September 11, this was the site of great hunger and displacement in the world. Whereas, after more than 20 years of conflict, 3 years of severe drought and the repressive policies of the Taliban regime, 4 million Afghans have sought refuge in neighboring countries, and Afghan women have one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the world, and one in four children dies before the child's fifth birthday; whereas the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees estimates that 1,500,000 additional Afghans could seek to flee the country in the coming months due to the military conflict; whereas all six countries neighboring Afghanistan have closed their borders to refugees both on security grounds and are also saying they can't provide for the refugees economically; whereas 7,500,000 people inside Afghanistan face critical food shortages or risk starvation by winter's end and are partially or fully dependent on outside assistance for survival, and of these people 70 percent are women and children; whereas the United Nations World Food Program, which we commonly call the WFP, which distributes most of the food within Afghanistan, estimates that food stocks in the country are critically short and WFP overland food shipments inside and outside the border of Afghanistan have been disrupted due to security concerns over United States military strikes; whereas the airdrops of food cannot meet the humanitarian needs of the Afghan people--and there is more to it, but I do not have the time--and that the most effective delivery is the overland convoys of food; whereas the President has announced a $320 million initiative to respond to the humanitarian needs in Afghanistan and for Afghan refugees in neighboring countries; whereas the United States is the largest donor of humanitarian assistance, be it resolved--and this is what I am hoping to get a strong vote on--it is the sense of the Senate that, A, Afghanistan's neighbors should reopen their borders to allow for safe passage of refugees, and the international community must be prepared to contribute to the economic costs incurred by the flight of desperate Afghan civilians; B, as the United States engages in military action in Afghanistan, it must work to deliver assistance particularly through overland truck convoys and safe humanitarian access to affected populations in partnership with humanitarian agencies--that is critical--and C, the United States should contribute to efforts by the international community to provide long-term sustainable reconstruction and development assistance for the people of Afghanistan, including efforts to protect the basic human rights of women and children. I announce this resolution today, which will be in the form of an amendment on the first vehicle for a vote, because it is critically important for the Senate to go on record with an intense and focused effort because it is who we are. It is our values to make sure these truck convoys can go forward and we can get the food to people. A, it is who we are as a nation. It is about the values we live by and, frankly, B, it is national interest. If you have juxtaposed with military actions pictures of starving Afghan children in the winter to come, that will be used against us. We know it will be used against us. We do not want to see that happen. I am hoping there will be a strong message from the Senate to work with the administration, to work with the NGOs, to work with the food relief organizations. We have to put a focus on this.

Mr. WELLSTONE

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

Mr. WELLSTONE

Mr. WELLSTONE. Mr. President, I decided today is the day I want to speak to the Senate. Tomorrow I am going to submit a resolution, and then I want to make this resolution an amendment and have a vote on it at the first opportunity. The focus is on the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan. It will be a resolution that will be constructive, positive, and outline some of the steps that this administration and we as a nation can take to make sure hundreds of thousands, perhaps millions, of people do not starve to death in Afghanistan. The problem is twofold. The reports are that there are about 7.5 million people who will starve to death if we do not get food assistance to them. Some of the Afghan people are going to be able to get to refugee camps in Pakistan. The problem there is the conditions in the refugee camps. The conditions are deplorable, and we are going to have to do much more to make sure people are provided food assistance and some health care. The second problem is the elderly, the infirm, and the poorest people of Afghanistan are not going to be able to leave. This needs to be discussed on the floor of the Senate, and the Senate needs to focus on this issue. I am also trying to get the administration to focus much more on this as well. The truth of the matter is that the air drops that have been much discussed at best may help 1 percent, probably more like one-half of 1 percent of the people, many of whom are women and children. We will not be able to get food to people unless we do it through truck convoys and deliver it to them directly. If we do not get the food to the people in Afghanistan--we are talking about the people who are the poorest of the poor of the world who had nothing to do with the terrorist attacks against the people in our country--if we do not get the food to them in the next 4 weeks, then we are going to see in Afghanistan a humanitarian crisis of unthinkable proportions. We are going to see many innocent people starve to death. There are two problems. The first problem is this is not what we are about as a nation. It is inconsistent with our values to not make every effort possible to get the food to people and, second, it is a matter of our national interest because if, in fact, the people in the Near East and South Asia associate or see a direct linkage between our military action and then large numbers of people starving to death in Afghanistan, it will only create a tremendous amount of bitterness and ill will. There is absolutely no question about it. I have always said that the use of force is something we have to do. It should be directed at the people who committed this act of mass murder in our country. We should do everything we know how to make sure innocent people do not lose their lives. The truth is, I worry about that, but there are going to be a lot more innocent people who lose their lives through starvation than probably through this bombing campaign. We could be talking about hundreds of thousands, some say millions, of people. The resolution contains a number of items, but one I want to focus on--and I think we need to pay very close attention to--is what the NGOs, the nongovernmental organizations, organizations such as Doctors Without Borders, tell us because these are the people who have been in the trenches. They know what it is like to try to deliver food assistance. They are saying we have to figure out a way that the military action, which some have called for an end to--that is not what I am calling for as a Senator. Others have argued what we have to do, at the very least, is coordinate the military action, the bombing, with the truck convoys; otherwise, the truck convoys will not go in because they could mistakenly be bombed. I am not sure our Government would want them to go in because we do not want them mistakenly bombed. We have to figure out some way to have agreed-upon safe corridors where people who are delivering the food through truck convoys will be able to get the food to many people in Afghanistan who are suffering, the likes of which we would never want anybody we know or love to suffer. I talk about this today because we have not had that much focus on it. I will have a resolution tomorrow. I will try to write a piece. I will try to talk about this as much as I can to people in the country. It would be a terrible mistake for our Government, for this administration--and I think we need more clarity from the administration about how we are going to get the food to the people in Afghanistan. The President has talked about how children have committed money and clothes to the children of Afghanistan. That is fine and good, but the truth is that will not address this humanitarian crisis, nor will the air drops. We have to make sure the people get the food. If we do not do this the right way, if we do not get this job done, if we do not deliver the food to people there, then there is going to be massive starvation. That is unacceptable. That is unacceptable. I am quite sure there is no support from the Taliban. They are not helpful. It is a complicated problem, but this should be a first priority of our policy right now when it comes to the United States of America and the role we play in Afghanistan, the role we play in the Near East, the role we play in South Asia, the role we play in the world. We cannot let innocent people starve to death. We must make every effort to make sure that does not happen, and I think to date we have not made that kind of concerted effort. The only other thing I want to do, because I know we are about to finish, is to thank the majority leader, the minority leader, the Presiding Officer, and Senators for making sure we continue with our work. It goes down on the record so I will just say it one time. I am no big deal at all, but I am very lucky to be a Senator from Minnesota. I am a first-generation American. My father fled persecution from Ukraine, Russia. I do not think I can ever remember a day or a period of time when I have been more emotional when I look at the Capitol. I think the work of democracy should proceed. We do not always do it as well as we should, but the work of democracy should proceed. I am glad we are in session today. I am glad we are going to be in session tomorrow. I think it is important we do so. My hopes and prayers go to all who have been exposed to anthrax. I feel within me people will be all right, but my hopes and prayers go to everyone. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. WELLSTONE

Mr. WELLSTONE. Mr. President, I rise today on behalf of this year's Hispanic Heritage Month, commemorated annually between September 15 and October 15. This celebration is an opportunity to honor a community devoted to family, faith, country and hard work. It is also a demonstration of patriotism as we appreciate the diversity from which our country derives its strength. This month, and all year, we honor the courage, talent, determination, leadership and vision of Hispanic men, women and children who have done so much for our Nation in the face of incredible obstacles. We also honor the rich culture and heritage of the Chicano/ Latino community and the tremendous gifts the community has given to our country. Our greatness lies in the diversity of our beliefs as well as in the strength of our common ideals. The history of our country, its values and beliefs, are thus intertwined with the Chicano/Latino community. In acknowledging the rich heritage of the Chicano/Latino community, I would like particularly to acknowledge the outstanding contributions of four Chicano/Latino institutions in my State of Minnesota. Their efforts have helped shape the social, economic and political landscape of their vibrant community as well as the community at large. The Chicanos Latinos Unidos en Servicio, CLUES, has provided critical services to advance the Chicano/Latino community. Founded in 1981 in St. Paul to provide culturally appropriate and bilingual mental health services, CLUES has just opened a new office in Minneapolis that provides mental health, chemical health, education, employment and elder wellness programs. The Chicano Latino Affairs Council, CLAC, advises the Government and State legislature on issues of importance to the Minnesota Chicano/ Latino community. CLAC consists of 15 members appointed by the Governor of Minnesota from all different levels of government. The CLAC educates the legislature, the general public, the media, and agency heads on the contributions of Chicano/Latinos and the issues facing the community. In addition, Minnesota has funded a bi-lingual charter school, El Colegio, designed to improve the achievement of high school students. Its mission is to engage students in experiences that help them find meaning and purpose in their lives. This experimental education uses Hispanic, Chicano and Mexican perspectives to study art, environment and technology. The school helps students take pride in who they are and in what they can do for American society. One student, David Juanez is currently helping me with legislation which would allow States to create permanent resident status for undocumented students in good standing, enabling them to receive state funding when applying to college. This is only an example of what these students can do when given the opportunity. A further great contribution to the Chicano/Latino community has been the opening of Mercado Central in August, 1999 and its ongoing operation since then. The market features 45 Latino merchants offering authentic foods, housewares, gifts, and groceries. The entrepreneurs that have opened this market have changed the face of Minneapolis' Lake Street forever. Its addition is a celebration of the Hispanic, Chicano, and Mexican community here in Minnesota. At a time when we are faced with national challenge, we must strive even more to continue building a society in which people of diverse backgrounds are valued for the richness of their contributions. I hope that we can use this special occasion of Hispanic Heritage Month to bring the American people closer together.

Mr. WELLSTONE

Mr. WELLSTONE. I can do this in less than 5 minutes because it feels as if every day, day after day after day, week after week after week, I have been on the floor to speak to the question of simple justice, which is to make sure we provide help to aviation employees. I am starting to regret that I just didn't hold up the $15 billion package for the industry. I want to support the industry. I think it was the right thing to do. But I knew then--I have been here long enough--that this was some leverage that we had to make sure the employees were included. I don't think the aviation industry was exaggerating their difficulty. We were very worried about what was going to happen, but I knew we would have some leverage for employees. But on the basis of commitments that had been made from other Senators that surely we were going to help the employees, I thought: Let's go forward and help the aviation industry. Surely there will not be any opposition to helping the employees. We have 4,500 Northwest employees out of work. There is also Sun Country; there is Mesaba Airlines. There are other aviation employees out of work as well. I find it hard to believe that we do not have enough heart here to provide the help for them. We have an aviation airline safety bill on the floor with Senator Hollings providing great leadership. It is an important piece of legislation and must be passed. It makes all the sense in the world to support the Carnahan amendment. For people who are in a lot of economic pain, the Carnahan amendment says do three things: No. 1, extend the unemployment benefits up to a year; No. 2, since the economy is fluid and some people may want to get skills for other jobs that are available, make sure you have the workforce development; No. 3, and I argue most important of all, since it is terrifying not only to be out of work but to know in a couple of months you are not going to have any health care coverage for yourself and your loved ones, provide up to 12 months of helping these families afford health care coverage for themselves and their children. Is this too much to support now? Instead, we have a second-degree amendment. I will not get into ANWR. Some of my colleagues are so much in a rush to help the oil industry, so much in a rush to do something that is environmentally reckless--it doesn't have a heck of a lot to do with what we need to do by way of having an independent energy policy-- anything that can be done to block help for hard-pressed employees who are out of work. This doesn't make sense. I was convinced 2 weeks ago when we passed this package for the companies that there would not be any resistance at all. I said yesterday--I will say it again--99.9 percent of the people in Minnesota believe that we should not only help the industry, but we should be helping the employees. Mr. President, 99 percent of the people in Minnesota believe it is a matter of elementary justice and fairness. Apparently too many Senators do not get it, and they are blocking this assistance. If this is the dividing line between Democrats and Republicans, I am proud to be a Democrat. Better yet would be if we had the support of every single Senator, which would be the right thing to do, but apparently we have an all-out effort to block this package. I wish my colleagues had such passion and had such a heart not to oppose helping people who are flat on their backs but to help them instead. And the Senator from Illinois is right. Actually the sooner we do this the better because the fact is, we are in a recession in our country. It is a deep recession. It has cut across a broad section of the population--certainly in Minnesota, way beyond the aviation industry. There are lots of small businesses and lots of other employees--tourism, you name it--and the fact is, we need to pass an economic stimulus package. We need to pass an economic stimulus package that puts the purchasing power back into the hands of working families--whether it be tax rebates vis-a-vis payroll tax that helps them or whether it be a massive school construction program where we repair buildings that have been crumbling and create jobs; whether it be affordable housing and we create jobs; whether it be extending unemployment benefits; getting the health care benefits; whether or not we do a lot of other things that will help employees support their families and buy in this economy. The sooner the better. We ought to be supporting the Carnahan amendment as an important first step. I yield the floor.

Mr. WELLSTONE

Mr. WELLSTONE. Will the Senator yield for a question?

Mr. WELLSTONE. Again, I am not a lawyer. I do not think I understood exactly all the argument you were making. Are you saying there has to be some standard of proof? That before conducting surveillance, law enforcement has to make sure? In other words, before you actually wiretap a phone or bug a house or a home, the target of the surveillance has to be in that home you are bugging?

Mr. WELLSTONE. In other words, other people who are in the house who have nothing to do with the target of surveillance, their conversations could be--

Mr. WELLSTONE. And the same thing for the bugging?

Mr. WELLSTONE. So you are trying to minimize the misuse of authority. It might be unintentional?

Mr. WELLSTONE. Madam President, if I could take 2 minutes --I ask the Senator from Wisconsin, might I have 2 minutes?

Mr. WELLSTONE. My colleague is saying we have to be very careful about not eavesdropping on the conversations of innocent individuals. Again, we all are painfully aware of September 11. I personally think there is much in this bill that is good, that we need to do. But I think all the Senator from Wisconsin is trying to do is achieve some balance and make sure we do not go above and beyond going after terrorists who are trying to kill Americans and instead end up eavesdropping on innocent people in our country. I think the vast majority of the people in the country, if they understood what this amendment was about, would support this amendment. I do not think passing this amendment does any damage whatsoever to much of what is in this bill, which is so important. So, again, I hope Senators will support this amendment on the merits. I think it is a very important amendment. I thank the Senator from Wisconsin.

Mr. WELLSTONE

Mr. WELLSTONE. I ask unanimous consent Janelle Sagness, an intern in my office, be granted the privilege of the floor during today's deliberations.