Today's Press Releases

Last weekend, I traveled to Kuwait, Jordan and Iraq with Senators Biden and Graham. We went to Baghdad to talk with coalition and Iraqi leaders as they prepare for the historic transfer of sovereignty to Iraq six days from today. We also went to thank our troops, who are making enormous sacrifices and braving extraordinary risks every minute of every day. We wanted to assure them that they have the support and respect of every member of this Senate and all Americans.

The trip was especially productive because of the experiences and insights of the Senators with whom I traveled. Senator Joe Biden, the ranking member on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, has been a leading voice in the Senate on foreign policy issues for a quarter-century. Senator Lindsey Graham has quickly established himself as one of the most authoritative and independent voices on the Senate Armed Services Committee. Senator Graham is a colonel and a reserve judge in the Air Force Criminal Court of Appeals. He and I have been working together for more than a year to improve health care benefits for National Guard members and reservists and their families. I know, from working with him on the TRICARE bill, that he is fiercely committed to American troops and veterans.

Lindsey Graham is a proud Republican. Joe Biden and I are proud Democrats. But we are all, first and foremost, Americans. We are all committed to the safety of our troops and we all want the Iraqi people to succeed in building a stable, free and pluralistic Iraq. It is in their interest. It is in America’s interest. It is in the world’s interest. Our trip to Iraq reminded me again how much this Senate, and the American people, benefit when we are able to focus on the problems that unite us.

No one who saw it will ever forget that cloudless, deep blue sky on the morning of September 11. Pilots have a term for visibility conditions on days like that. They call it “severe clear.”

We all saw clearly that day. We saw horrific acts of inhumanity. But we also saw, with equal clarity, countless acts of nobility and compassion. And we saw beyond the labels of race, income, gender and the other distinctions that too often divide us.

We are more alike than we are different. All Americans want to live in a world that is safe, and secure, and just. Whether we’re Republicans or Democrats, or don’t care one whit about politics, all Americans want to be able to earn enough to care for our family’s basic needs. And, after a lifetime of working hard, all Americans want to be able to retire with dignity and security. All Americans need affordable health care. All Americans want to be able to send their children to good schools. That’s not simply a Democratic or Republican aspiration, it’s a necessity for our children’s future and the economic, social and political well-being of our nation.

These are dangerous and challenging times. But Americans have faced danger and challenges before, and we have always emerged stronger when we have faced our challenges together. We are stronger together than we are separately.

This afternoon, I want to talk about how I believe the members of the Senate can work together more constructively to solve the big challenges facing America today. The result of all-or-nothing politics is too often nothing. We owe the American people better than that.

I believe in what I like to call the Politics of Common Ground. Practicing the Politics of Common Ground does not mean betraying one’s principles. We can bend on details without abandoning our basic beliefs. The Politics of Common Ground is pragmatic, not dogmatic. It recognizes that there can be different ways to reach the same goal. It puts our common interests ahead of personal or partisan interests. Instead of narrow ideological victories, the Politics of Common Ground seeks broad principled compromise.

I recognize that some people may think this is a bit of strange timing – to talk about searching for common ground now, in the midst of a campaign season. But I actually believe this is exactly the right time. The truth is, no one knows which party will control the Senate next year – or the House or White House, so neither party can be accused of embracing these ideas for partisan advantage.

The Politics of Common Ground rests on four fundamental commitments. Obviously, it takes at least two to seek common ground; neither party can make these principles work alone. If Democrats hold the majority in the next Senate, these are the four fundamental principles by which we would seek to govern. First: Deal in good faith with the executive branch – regardless of which party holds the majority. Second: Preserve and fulfill the historical role of the Senate regarding budgetary responsibilities, oversight, and advice and consent on nominees – regardless of which party holds the majority. Third: Respect the rights of the minority and seek to work in good faith with them. Fourth: End the cycle of partisan retaliation.

This week marks the 40th anniversary of the passage of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, one of the greatest common ground victories in our nation’s history. It was a Democratic President, Lyndon Johnson, who signed the Civil Rights Act. But it was a courageous Republican Majority Leader, Senator Everett Dirksen, who provided the political leadership that finally ended the years of opposition and put the Civil Rights bill on the President’s desk.

There are some today who believe that the only way to move America forward is to ignore or change the rules of the Senate. What their arguments fail to recognize is that the Founding Fathers deliberately designed this Senate to protect the rights of the minority. They did so because they understood that the only way to make just and lasting change in a democracy is to first build broad support for it. They also understood, as Everett Dirksen said in calling for the vote on the Civil Rights Act, that nothing can stop an idea whose time has come.

Finding common ground requires that we follow the rules of the Senate – not ignore or rewrite them. It requires that all Senators – whether they are in the majority or minority – be treated fairly. That means safeguarding the rights of every Senator. It means establishing fair representation on all Senate committees. And it means observing the traditional procedures for conference committees concerning the appointment of conferees, and the right of all conferees to participate fully in all meetings. A closed meeting that is a conference committee in name only is no place to look for common ground.

Finding common ground also means listening to each other. Someone who was a good friend to many of us, Senator Pat Moynihan, used to blame television for what he saw as a decline in cross-party cooperation. Before TV, he said, Senators from both parties used to spend their evenings talking to each other. It helped to see things from the other person’s perspective.

I’d like to see the Senate create more opportunities to increase cross-party understanding. Next year, I’d like to see the Senate hold bipartisan leadership meetings every two months at least, and bipartisan joint caucus meetings at least every quarter. I’d like to see us hold periodic, bipartisan policy forums for all Senators in the Old Senate Chamber, where the Missouri Compromise and other historic agreements were reached.

When Senator Lott was Majority Leader, he established the Leaders Lecture Series to draw on the wisdom of former Senate Leaders, from Mike Mansfield and Senator Byrd to Robert Dole and George Herbert Walker Bush. The Leaders Lecture Series represents one of the most insightful seminars ever taught on Common Ground Politics. I’d like to see us build on that success next year by inviting former Senate Leaders to a summit where they can share their ideas with us, and with each other. Senators Dorgan and Kyl had a good idea recently to hold occasional, thoughtful, Lincoln-Douglas style debates here on the Senate floor on the most important issues of the day. Let’s build on those debates next year.

President Reagan was probably as ideological a President as we’ve seen in recent times. But he understood that political adversaries don’t have to be enemies. He and Tip O’Neill had a rule: after 6 o’clock, they were always friends. Something as simple as just getting our families together once in a while for a barbeque or a potluck supper – or even choosing an annual charity to which all Senators could contribute – could help Senators find common ground, I think, and may strengthen the bonds of friendship and trust between our two parties.

In addition, I’d like to see the Senate reward the search for common ground solutions by giving special consideration to bills with strong bipartisan co-sponsorship.

There are questions of enormous consequence facing our nation today -- questions that will define what kind of nation we are, and what sort of future we will leave for our children. How do we balance freedom and security in a post-September 11 world? How do we keep the good jobs we have and create more of them in a global economy? How do we craft a national budget that reflects our national values? How can we reduce our over-reliance on imported oil so the fate of our nation is not tied so directly to the stability of some of the most dangerous and volatile places on earth?

Last year, I got a note from a father in South Dakota who had lost a good-paying job as a machinist two years earlier when his employer moved out of state. He was working as a handyman, earning a fraction of his old income. The only health insurance he and his wife could afford had such a high deductible that they tried never to use it. He hadn’t seen a doctor in 15 years or a dentist in 10 years. He felt ashamed. The worst part, he said, was having to tell his children, when they got sick, that there was no money for a doctor. Because Republicans and Democrats in Congress had the courage to practice the Politics of Common Ground seven years ago, I was able to tell that father about the Children’s Health Insurance Program.

Today, if his children are sick, he actually can take them to the doctor. As he puts it, “I show the people in the doctor’s office that card and I’m treated like a human being. It’s the greatest feeling in the world.”

Across America today, the CHIP program is providing health insurance for nearly 4 million kids from low-income families, and peace of mind for their parents. More than 9,300 kinds in South Dakota have health coverage through CHIP. How can we now build on this common ground success? How do we make health care more affordable so that exploding health care costs don’t break family budgets and eat up corporate profits that could be better used to create new jobs and invest in new plants and equipment?

We can choose to shrug our shoulders and say that the divisions in Congress simply reflect the increasing polarization in our society – and let it go at that. But I believe we have a higher responsibility. If society is divided, it is the responsibility of leaders to try to bridge the divide, not simply mirror or exploit it.

The Politics of Common Good is the politics of common good. It is more than a political challenge; it is a moral imperative.

Last weekend in Iraq, Senators Biden and Graham and I met with members of the new Iraqi government, with Paul Bremer, the head of the Coalition Provisional Authority, and with senior military leaders. They were all impressive. But the people who inspired me most were the soldiers.

We were helped by National Guard members from Minnesota, Kansas, Illinois and Texas, and we met troops from Mississippi, South Carolina, Delaware and other states. In fact, we met extraordinary people from almost every state. Every one of them deserves our profound appreciation.

I was especially moved by the dozens of South Dakotans I met. One of those South Dakotans is a member the South Dakota National Guard’s 153rd Engineer Battalion. Home for him is a small family farm in South Dakota. But these days, his unit is deployed to Baghdad International Airport. He and his unit provided security for our delegation in Baghdad. When we left, he handed me a letter that reads, in part, “I am very proud to fight and to serve my country, like so many of my relatives before me.”

He went on, in that letter, to talk about the challenges he and his family face today. He didn’t want his wife and their teenage children to have to bear the burden of caring for the family’s cattle while he was gone, so he sold the entire herd when he was deployed. When he returns – which may not be until sometime next year – he’ll buy the herd back. But he and his family will still be out two years’ worth of income they would have earned from their cattle. He wasn’t complaining. He just wanted us to know.

I met another soldier from South Dakota who is with the Army’s First Cavalry Division. They’ve got a dangerous mission: securing Baghdad. But he and the other members of the First “Cav” aren’t complaining, either. I met a family practice doctor who grew up in Rapid City. Today, she’s healing the bodies and saving the lives of U.S. troops and Iraqi civilians at the Combat Support Hospital in Baghdad.

Finally, I got to eat supper in Kuwait on Saturday with a group of men and women whose families I’ve been working with for months: the members of the South Dakota National Guard’s 740th Transportation Unit. Two months ago, the members of the 740th had already packed their bags when they got word that their tour was being extended. It was their second extension. They’ve now been deployed for 14 months – two months longer than they were told was the longest they would be gone when they left South Dakota.

When I asked one soldier at supper if they’d been given a new date to return home, he told me “the second.” I thought he meant their tour was ending on July 2nd. Then he explained, they’ll know when they’re coming home the second they get on the plane. Even these soldiers weren’t complaining – just trying to find a little humor in a tough situation.

Pride in one’s party and the principles for which it stands is admirable. But there are causes that matter more than political parties. There the values and hopes that transcend party labels and unite us all as Americans.

During campaigns, candidates and parties should be clear about where we stand on the issues and how we differ with our opponents so that voters can make a choice. That is an essential part of democracy. But we also have a responsibility to work together constructively, where we can, to find common ground.

Making the principled compromises necessary to make democracy work takes effort. It takes patience and trust and, often, a little humility. It requires that we listen to others and admit that someone else just might have a better idea sometimes. It’s not simple; it’s not easy. But if our troops can give the extra measure of devotion and risk their lives because our nation asks them to, surely we can make the extra effort to find solutions to the problems facing these soldiers’ families, and all Americans – both in times of war and in times of peace.

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democrats.senate.gov

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Rachel Reiter

202/224-4224

Thursday, June 24, 2004

CRP Acres to be Released

for Grazing

Washington, D.C. – Today U.S. Senator Chuck Hagel (R-NE) announced that Secretary of Agriculture Ann Veneman released specified Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) lands in Nebraska for emergency grazing to provide relief for farmers and ranchers from this year’s extreme drought. Hagel sent a letter on Thursday, June 10 urging Secretary Veneman to release the land for grazing.

"Many rangeland areas in Nebraska have been suffering from drought conditions for the past four years, which have had a serious negative impact on Nebraska’s livestock grazing industry. The ability of cattle owners and CRP operators to begin grazing is critical. I appreciate Secretary Veneman’s action on this urgent issue," Hagel said.

Today’s announcement authorizes emergency grazing of CRP acreage, in eligible counties only, until Sept. 30, 2004. To be eligible, a county must have suffered at least a 40-percent deviation from normal precipitation, or be at a D3 or D4 level for drought as rated by the U.S. Drought Monitor.

More information on this program is available at local Farm Service Agency offices.

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Original Letter to Veneman attached.

June 10, 2004

The Honorable Ann Veneman

Secretary

U.S. Department of Agriculture

1400 Independence Avenue, SW

Washington, DC 20250

Dear Secretary Veneman:

Thank you for your responsiveness in helping Nebraskans deal with the ongoing drought. On May 10th, 2004, I asked USDA to consider a disaster declaration for 21 Nebraska counties. Since then, the situation has worsened.

I am writing today to request your immediate consideration for the early release of Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) lands for emergency grazing. The ability of cattle owners and CRP operators to begin grazing prior to July 15 is critical given the extensive drought in western and southwestern Nebraska. Most of this area is in a D3 drought index classification.

These areas in Nebraska have been suffering from drought conditions for the past four years. As you are aware, emergency CRP grazing rules allow producers to graze program acres only once during a three year span. I request that you exempt these producers from this rule. This exemption may prevent further liquidation of Nebraska’s livestock grazing industry.

I welcome an opportunity to discuss these concerns with you. I appreciate your consideration of this request.

Thank you for your assistance.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Susan Wheeler (202) 224-5150
June 24, 2004 Lindsay Nothern (208) 334-1776

CRAPO: FOREST HEALTH A LONG-TERM COMMITMENT
Chairs hearing on community input, updates on forest treatment plans

Washington, DC - Idaho Senator Mike Crapo opened a Senate subcommittee review on the Healthy Forests Restoration Act (HFRA) today by warning the timetable to healthier forests could take years, not months, but federal agencies must work hard to get input from communities surrounded by forested public lands regarding the immediate fire danger on those lands. As chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee’s Forestry subcommittee, Crapo chaired the hearing to gather an update on how the Healthy Forests Restoration Act (HFRA) is working to date.

“The 2004 fire season is expected to be another difficult year. The drought facing our country continues to exacerbate the fire risks and many states in the west are expected to have another above-normal fire season. I raise this to make the point that we will have large fires this year and we will have large, destructive fires the year after and the year after that. Addressing these threats is a long term goal,” Crapo said.

USDA Undersecretary Mark Rey told Crapo that he expects the efficiencies gained by the authorities under HFRA will help the federal agencies exceed their goals for hazardous fuels reduction acres in 2005. Crapo noted Idaho foresters are working on fuels reduction programs across the state, and he praised the involvement by Idahoans in helping write local forest plans.

“I have also heard from many in my state who understand how large the crisis is and are anxious to see projects occurring in their communities and in their forests. The authorities under this bill will help and are crucial to addressing threats on private and public lands, but the bill will not be implemented overnight,” he added. Crapo singled out Lemhi County Commissioner Robert Cope, a witness at today’s hearing, saying urban interface mitigation plans written with local input are critical to success under the HFRA. “The role of communities in addressing forest health cannot be understated,” Crapo said, adding those plans “will be important in working with agencies on fuels reduction efforts.”

Cope, representing the National Association of Counties, highlighted the Lemhi County wildland fire mitigation plan and expressed concern that litigation and appeals have prevented fuels reduction activities in the Salmon-Challis National Forest. He called the level of timber coming off the forest inadequate and the need for treatment under the Healthy Forest Restoration Act and the use of other management tools to reduce the fuel load.

A satellite feed of Crapo’s Healthy Forests Restoration Act hearing is available:
1:45-2:15 p.m. Mountain Time / 12:45-1:15 Pacific
C-Band
Galaxy 3
Transponder 7 Horizontal
Downlink Frequency 3840
Standard Audio

# # #

FOR INTERESTED MEDIA: A radio actuality is available by calling 1-800-545-1267. Press 327 at any time during or after the greeting and instructions. You can also access the actuality through the Internet at <http://src.senate.gov/radio/>.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 24, 2004
Contact: Lynn Becker or Zach Goldberg (202) 224-5653

KOHL EXTENDS EFFECTIVE GANG
CRIME PREVENTION PROGRAM

WASHINGTON - The Senate Judiciary Committee today included in a larger crime bill a provision sponsored by U.S. Senator Herb Kohl that would extend an effective gang prevention program for five years. The Administration had requested no new money in fiscal year 2005 for the Gang Resistance Education and Training (G.R.E.A.T.) program, which Congress has funded since 1995. G.R.E.A.T. enables schools and law enforcement officers to combine their efforts to educate children about the dangers and consequences of involvement with street gangs. Recent studies have found that G.R.E.A.T. has lowered the rate of gang affiliation, increased children’s commitment to school, and improved communication between parents and their children.

“By providing our youth with structured community activities and classroom instruction, this initiative offers an alternative to involvement in street gangs. Reauthorizing G.R.E.A.T. demonstrates our continued commitment to this successful program and recognition that education and prevention are essential to a successful crime strategy,” Kohl said.

Through G.R.E.A.T., law enforcement provides a wide range of structured community-based activities and classroom instruction for school-aged children. Class topics include crime and victimization, prejudice and cultural sensitivity, conflict resolution skills, drugs and neighborhoods, and personal responsibility. G.R.E.A.T. focuses on developing in children a strong sense of personal empowerment, helping them avoid involvement in youth violence, gangs, and criminal activity.

Kohl supported the overall Judiciary Committee gang crime prevention bill, which provides law enforcement with new tools to prosecute gang members and enhances existing violent crime penalties. The bill provides funding for additional prevention programs. The bill must now be approved by the full Senate.

“This legislation will go a long way toward helping law enforcement clean up our streets by cracking down on criminal street gangs. By combining strong law enforcement tools with effective gang prevention programs, we will create a dynamic offensive against gang crime,” Kohl said.

# # #

June 24, 2004
Burns Gets Update from Rey and Bosworth Regarding Air Tankers

WASHINGTON- U.S. Sen. Conrad Burns met with Under Secretary for Natural Resources for the USDA, Mark Rey, and Chief of the U.S. Forest Service, Dale Bosworth, in order to discuss the status of fire fighting aircraft.

“As we move further into the summer season, threats of dangerous fires loom,” said Burns. “We have all seen the devastating impact fires can cause, and it’s important we maintain the very best ways of combating them. That's why I was so disappointed to see the large air-tanker contracts terminated in May and why I've continued to work towards finding adequate solutions to the problems we may be facing during the upcoming fire season."

In the meeting today, Senator Burns expressed the importance of ensuring the air-worthiness of Neptune Air Services air-tankers so that they may be reinstated before the pending fire season. He was assured that the company charged with analyzing the fleet, DynCorp Technical Services, are the experts in their field and have already begun the process necessary to do so. Upon completion of that analysis, targeted for early July, the Forest Service will make a determination based on its findings.

"The methods used by Neptune Air Services are invaluable to Montana, as are the folks that put themselves on the line by taking those tankers to flight," Burns continued. “One of my highest priorities is the protection of our people and lands from fire. But we've got to find a way to make sure that the folks doing the fighting are as safe as they possibly can be. I'm confident in the ability of DynCorp to do their job well, and I look forward to seeing the results of their analysis so that we can best move forward in preparing for the coming months."

###

Grant Toomey
Deputy Press Secretary
Senator Conrad Burns
187 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
202.224.6137 Phone
202.224.8594 Fax

Richard Shelby

United States Senator * Alabama

For More Information Contact:

Virginia Davis (202) 224-6518

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 24, 2004

SHELBY CHAIRS HEARING ON

AIRLINE SECURITY

WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Richard C. Shelby (R-Ala), Chairman of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Treasury, and General Government, chaired an oversight hearing today on passenger screening and airline authority to deny boarding. The following is Senator Shelby's opening statement:

“Good afternoon. The subcommittee will come to order. Today, the subcommittee is holding an oversight hearing to examine whether the Federal government has instituted policies to limit an airline from denying transport or requiring additional security screening to individuals who may be unsafe or dangerous.”

“The Federal Aviation Act allows air carriers the right of permissive refusal which is defined as the ability to refuse to transport a passenger or property the carrier decides is a potential risk to safety or security. The Federal Aviation Regulations authorize the pilot in command of the aircraft to discharge this right of permissive refusal on behalf of the air carrier in light of his final authority and responsibility for the operation and safety of the flight.”

“Despite this clear authority, however, there seems to be some question about the ability of an airline to remove passengers based on a perceived threat. At the January 27, 2004, hearing of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States, a former airline executive testified that, "Most recently after 9/11, 38 of our captains denied boarding to people they thought were a threat. Those people filed complaints with the DOT, we were sued, and we were asked not to do it again."”

“If this is the case, I am concerned that we may be jeopardizing aviation security by placing unnecessary restrictions on pilots and crew to take actions to protect passengers and the plane.”

“If this nation has learned anything since terrorists set their sights on destroying this nation, it is this: terrorists will learn a system, identify the weaknesses of that system, and then exploit those weaknesses to inflict harm.”

“I believe that we must balance an individual's civil liberties with an airline pilot's right to ensure the safety and security of the flight. But in trying to reach that balance, I want to ensure that we have not established policies or practices that will have a chilling effect on the willingness of the pilot in command to exercise his authority to safeguard the crew and all passengers.”

“The Transportation Security Administration check point is not, and should not be, considered the last line of defense to assure the security of a flight by clearing passengers for boarding. The pilot and the crew of an aircraft - and even the passengers - are an important layer in keeping our aviation system secure.”

“We should not forget that Richard Reid, the would-be shoe bomber, was thwarted by other passengers and crew during the flight. Removal of a passenger must be the final decision of the pilot. The last thing we should do is undermine the authority of the pilot to deny boarding or require additional screening to any passenger or group of passengers when has a reasonable suspicion of a threat to a safe flight.”

“I want to thank my colleague, Senator Specter, for raising this issue with me. I believe that it is important to hold this hearing today to highlight this issue and provide clarity on what should be the lines of authority in this matter.”

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: CONTACT: Gayle Osterberg with Sen. Gregg 202-228-4000

June 24, 2004 Maureen Knightly with Sen. Harkin 202-334-3254

GREGG, HARKIN INTRODUCE BILL

TO HELP INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES

WASHINGTON—Sen. Judd Gregg, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, and Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA) today introduced a bill to improve and extend federal programs that help individuals with disabilities to access services and devices.

The Assistive Technology Act Reauthorization would provide funds, improve access and foster better systems for administering the program. Assistive technology is generally defined as any kind of device or service that assists persons with disabilities in performing day-to-day tasks and activities.

“This program is a relatively small program, but to those who benefit, it can be life-changing,” Gregg said. “Individuals with a range of disabilities – from hearing loss to motor skill impairment – can with a small amount of individualized assistance, have the opportunity to lead fuller, more productive lives. This bill improves access to assistance by fostering public-private partnerships, improving access to technology and stabilizing state funding streams so devices and services are within reach of individuals with disabilities.”

“Assistive technology opens doors of opportunity for persons with disabilities and advances the promise of the ADA,” said Harkin. “This bill will ensure that people with disabilities and older Americans know about assistive technology and can use it on the job, in schools and in their homes and communities. Our legislation invests in technology and those who truly need it.”

The Assistive Technology Act of 2004:

Strengthens the existing successful state Assistive Technology programs.

Authorizes additional resources so each state will receive $500,000 minimum for the state program and $50,000 minimum for protection and advocacy services.

Ensures that technology will be available where people need it – in schools, on the job and in the community – by refocusing training and technical assistance and emphasizing the provision of assistive technology devices and services.
Requires programs to provide device demonstration, equipment loan, device reutilization/recycling and financing systems such as low interest loan programs.

Focuses training and technical assistance to improve service planning for individuals with disabilities and ensure that service providers have information on assistive technology.

Requires states to focus on one of three target populations: students with disabilities and educators, adult service provider clients and providers, or employees and employment providers. This aligns the AT Act with recent federal priorities, including the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, the Workforce Investment Act and the Americans with Disabilities integration mandate in Olmstead.

Provides supplemental grants for alternate finance programs and equipment loan programs.

Authorizes projects of national significance to increase public awareness, encourage research and development, and improve personnel preparation on assistive technology issues.

Improves technical assistance, data collection, and the public internet site.

Authorizes a comprehensive national study of the assistive technology industry.

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At the White House this morning, during a meeting on Iraqi sovereignty, Senator Levin, the top Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, delivered to the President a letter from himself and Senators Byrd, Kennedy, Leahy, Feingold, and Dayton. The text is below, and a copy is attached (PDF). As the President prepares to travel to the EU and NATO meetings, the Senators called on him to return with specifics on plans to increase foreign participation in the stability and reconstruction of Iraq.

June 24, 2004

The Honorable George W. Bush
Office of the President
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20500

Dear Mr. President:

As you meet with your counterparts from the European Union (EU) and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) during your trips to Istanbul and to Dublin, we urge you to seek concrete pledges for troops and financial support for the stabilization and security in Iraq.

It has been among the goals of your administration to secure pledges of increased financial support from other nations for the mission in Iraq. In addition, it has been among the goals of your administration to receive pledges of increased numbers of troops from other countries to assist in the stabilization of Iraq. Those goals are clearly within the scope of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1546, passed unanimously by the council on June 8, 2004.

The United States maintains more than 85 percent of the 163,000 troops on the ground in Iraq. The United States has dedicated $122 billion for the mission in Iraq, not including the $25 billion emergency reserve fund that you have requested from Congress for the coming fiscal year. This burden, which should be shared by the international community, seems to be falling squarely on the shoulders of the American people. Your envoy, former Secretary of State James Baker III, made limited progress in convincing other nations to forgive Iraqi debt, estimated at $120 billion. Although Secretary Baker was promised action, those promises have proved to be little more than good intentions.

Following your trips to Istanbul and to Dublin, we ask that you report on your efforts to decrease the heavy burden being carried by our men and women in uniform, and indeed by the American people, to build peace and security in Iraq.

Specifically, we request that you tell the American people: how many more military and police forces from other countries will be deployed to Iraq; what additional financial resources from other countries will be provided to Iraq; and what schedule has been developed for the contributions of these troops and funds.

During your presidential campaign in 2000, you noted that American troops should not act as nation-builders. We urge you to press your counterparts in the EU and NATO to increase their countries’ roles in the stabilization of Iraq.

War has proved, by comparison, far easier than peace. The United States had the weapons to win the war. Yet, the fighting has not ended. As each day passes, as the violence and chaos expand, it becomes increasingly important to find countries willing to share the burden of building a new Iraq. The challenge should not be met by the United States alone.

We wish you safe travels and wise counsel during your trip overseas, and look forward to your response to this request.

Sincerely,

Robert C. Byrd Carl Levin

Edward M. Kennedy Patrick Leahy

Russell Feingold Mark Dayton

June 24, 2004

Burns Helps Get Funding for Special Olympics

WASHINGTON- U.S. Sen. Conrad Burns participated in a press conference today in support of the Special Olympics Sports and Empowerment Act of 2004. Burns is an original cosponsor of bipartisan legislation which would allow more children and adults with disabilities to participate in the Special Olympics by creating a $75 million dollar authorization over five-years for the Special Olympics, with $15 million authorized for fiscal year 2005.

“During 2003 alone, over two-thousand Special Olympics athletes participated in activities in Montana, choosing from as many as fourteen Olympic-style sports. It is important to me that Montanans with developmental and intellectual disabilities have access to recreational opportunities that will not only improve their health and well-being, but also promote mental and emotional strength, and that’s exactly what this extraordinary organization allows. I am happy to be a cosponsor of this bill which will help expand the scope of the Special Olympics by offering more children and adults with disabilities the opportunity to join in the life-changing events of the Special Olympics program.”

Special Olympics was founded in Chicago in 1968, where more than 1,000 athletes from the U.S. and Canada participated in the First International Special Olympics Summer Games. Currently, more than 1.5 million children and adults from more than 150 countries around the world are directly benefiting from this life-changing idea.

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_____________________________

Jennifer O'Shea
Press Secretary
Senator Conrad Burns
187 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
202.224.6830 Phone
202.224.8594 Fax

June 24, 2004

Burns Applauds Passage of Defense Authorization Act

Over $447 Billion to Strengthen Defense Programs

WASHINGTON- U.S. Sen. Conrad Burns (R-Mont.) announced today that the Senate passed S. 2400, the National Defense Authorization Act, last night by a vote of 97-0. This bill includes $447.2 billion in defense spending, $25 billion of which will be directed towards emergency contingency funds for Iraq and Afghanistan. Also included is an increase of more than $20 billion over current levels for other expenditures. Also included is a 3.5 percent military pay raise along with increases in other benefits.

“Right now it’s imperative we do all we can to keep our troops at home and abroad prepared for the jobs they are doing,” said Burns. “We are facing difficult challenges, some of which our country has never had to face before, and our men and women in uniform are doing an extraordinary job at keeping our homeland secure and Americans protected. I am glad we were able to pass this bill out of the Senate last night and move it one step further in the process of final passage.”

Also included in the Defense Authorization Act is a provision to increase fines for indecency, following the Janet Jackson incident at the Super Bowl. This provision will increase fines for indecent programming to $275,000. Included with the indecency fines is a Burns amendment to protect small broadcasters by calling on the Federal Communications Committee (FCC) to consider the size of the viewing or listening audience of the programming and size of the broadcast market in question as well as whether they had anything to do with producing the offensive content in question.

“These small broadcasters cannot be run through the mill for a decision that was out of their control,” said Burns. “They stand by and expect the material they air to be of a certain caliber and it’s unfair to give them a guilty title when they’re completely innocent. I am glad to see Senator Brownback’s amendment increase fines for indecent material, which I think will go a long way in keeping this smut off the air, and I am pleased we were able to include my amendment to protect some of the smaller operations from being punished for something they had nothing to do with.”

The Senate version of the Defense Authorization Act must now be reconciled with the House version, a final version will then be voted on in both houses before it can go to the President to be signed into law.

###

_____________________________

Jennifer O'Shea
Press Secretary
Senator Conrad Burns
187 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
202.224.6830 Phone
202.224.8594 Fax

THURSDAY, June 24, 2004

New Revelations on Bush Administration Border Beef Policy Prompt Call for Investigation and Hearings

Special permits, secret USDA policies may have jeopardized food safety

WASHINGTON, DC - Three members of the United States Senate Committee on Agriculture are calling for an investigation to determine why, after the discovery of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), or Mad Cow Disease, in Canadian cattle, Bush Administration officials relaxed food safety standards on imported, high-risk beef products. The Administration took these steps without informing Congress or the public.

In a letter to USDA's Inspector General, Phyllis Fong, Senators Tom Daschle (D-SD), Tom Harkin (D-IA), and Mark Dayton (D-MN) demanded to know why USDA disregarded two important food safety standards - one requiring that brain and spinal tissue of U.S.-bound Canadian beef be removed before shipping to the U.S., and another stipulating that the beef must be processed in facilities that are used only for the slaughter of animals eligible for export to the U.S.

"These dramatic policy changes created a risk of cross-contamination in these facilities and increased the possibility that BSE could be introduced into the United States with these imports," the senators wrote.

Last week, in a closed-door briefing with Senate staff, USDA officials acknowledged that the Department granted 12 special permits allowing the importation of previously banned Canadian beef products, like ground beef, to 10 meatpacking companies. USDA Secretary Veneman specifically stated that these products would not be allowed until the public had an opportunity to comment.

In addition, previously unavailable documents uncovered as a result of court proceedings and obtained by the senators' offices reveal that, sometime during the Fall of 2003, USDA inexplicably disregarded two previously required food safety measures to ensure that no banned high-risk beef would be exported to the United States.

"An IG investigation along with public congressional hearings are needed to explore these breaches of the public trust in an effort to learn exactly why these actions were taken and to help ensure they are not repeated," the senators wrote.

###

democrats.senate.gov

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Maureen Knightly/ Jennifer Carrier

June 24, 2004 202.224.3254

****MEDIA ADVISORY***

HARKIN TO MEET WITH IOWA FIRE FIGHTERS

Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) will be in West Des Moines on Friday, June 25, to speak at the Iowa Professional Fire Fighters State Convention.

As a member of the Senate Homeland Security Appropriations subcommittee, Harkin has been instrumental in obtaining increased funding for Iowa firefighters and first responders with legislation such as the Assistance to Firefighters Grant program.

WHO: Senator Tom Harkin

WHAT: Speech to the Iowa Professional Fire Fighters State Convention

WHERE: University Park

1800 50th Street

West Des Moines, Iowa

WHEN: 12:45 PM

Friday, June 25

# # #

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Susan Wheeler (202) 224-5150

June 24, 2004 Eric Rasmussen (202) 224-7518

CRAPO: CHILD NUTRITION BILL WILL BENEFIT IDAHO STUDENTS, FARMERS

Measure passes Senate, will be considered by House

Washington, DC – Legislation passed by the Senate this week will benefit both Idaho children and agricultural producers, said Idaho Senator Mike Crapo. He praised Senate passage of S. 2507, the Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004, which increases fruit and vegetable consumption in schools and requires that milk continue to be offered as a part of school meals. The measure cleared the Senate early Wednesday evening without objection and will now be sent to the House for consideration.

“Every parent in America wants to make sure their children are getting the best nutrition possible,” Crapo said. “It can sometimes be difficult to get children to understand the importance of good nutritional choice. As a father of five, I have muttered more than once “eat your peas’ or ‘clean up your plate’. This legislation gives children the opportunity to develop better nutritional habits, and it makes great strides to ensure the nutrition of children across the nation. It provides the needed support for existing child nutrition programs while fostering the development of improvements. In addition, Idaho milk, fruit, and vegetable producers will benefit from the vegetable and dairy provisions in the bill. I am also pleased that the Lugar Pilot Program which provides summer food services will continue in Idaho. This is a win-win-win proposal for students, schools, and agriculture.”

The legislation maintains the requirement that schools offer milk as a nutritional part of school meals. In addition, it would create more flexibility for students and families by permitting a substitute beverage to be offered on the basis of a parent’s note rather than a physician’s statement in cases of special dietary needs, such as lactose intolerance.

The bill also continues Idaho’s participation in the Lugar Pilot Program, a project that provides summer food service for underprivileged children. During the summer 2002, over 652,422 meals were served to children at 165 locations around the state.

Additionally, the bill would extend and expand the Fruit and Vegetable Pilot Program, a program designed to place domestically grown fruits and vegetables in schools as healthy snacks. Crapo, along with Iowa Senator Tom Harkin, introduced a similar measure in July 2003. The pilot program, which has strong support from agricultural producers and the education community, was found to increase attention in class, reduce consumption of less healthy food, and increase awareness and preference for a variety of fruits and vegetables.

“At a time when there are so many concerns about increasing obesity rates, the Fruit and Vegetable Program will encourage healthy eating habits among our students,” Crapo added. “The pilot program demonstrated many successes.”

The bill contains a number of other provisions designed to benefit low-income students including: providing a pilot program to eliminate the "reduced price" lunch category in favor of free and full price lunch only, lowering the income cap for free lunch eligibility, reimbursing family or group day care homes in rural areas for providing meals for those eligible under the Child Nutrition Act, and protecting school meal benefits for military families.

The legislation was passed out of the Agriculture Committee, on which Crapo sits, in May and the bill will now be considered by the House of Representatives.

# # #

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Contact: Howard Gantman

Thursday, June 24, 2004 or Scott Gerber 202/224-9629

http://feinstein.senate.gov/

Senate Judiciary Committee Approves

Feinstein-Hatch Bill to Combat Gang Violence

Washington, DC – The Senate Judiciary Committee today approved legislation sponsored by U.S. Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) that would combat gang violence by increasing the penalties for the most serious gang crimes and by making it a federal crime to recruit minors to join a criminal street gang. The bill would also authorize $650 million for law enforcement and community groups for prevention, intervention, and suppression programs.

“The goal of this bill is simple: to stem the growing tide of gang violence across the country,” Senator Feinstein said. “It used to be that gangs were local problems, demanding local, law-enforcement based solutions. But over the last 12 years, I have seen the problem go from small to large and from neighborhood-based to national in scope. Today, gangs have become far more violent, far more numerous, and far more broad in scope. This is why we need a strong federal response.”

In 2002, there were approximately 731,500 gang members and 21,500 gangs in the United States. Additionally, the FBI report on national crime statistics found that youth-gang homicides had jumped to more than 1,100 in 2002, up from 692 in 1999.

“In my view, this legislation would take an important step toward reducing gang violence, and I am pleased that the Senate Judiciary Committee has approved it,” Feinstein said.

Legislative History

In 1996, Senator Feinstein, Senator Hatch, and others introduced the Federal Gang Violence Act, which would have increased criminal penalties for gang members, made recruiting persons into a criminal street gang a crime, and enhanced penalties for transferring a gun to a minor.

Many of the provisions of that bill were incorporated into the 1999 Juvenile Justice bill, which was approved overwhelmingly (73-25) by the Senate in the 106th Congress. However, the Juvenile Justice bill stalled in conference, and these provisions were never signed into law.

A summary of the bill follows:

The Gang Prevention and Effective Deterrence Act is a comprehensive bill to increase gang prosecution and prevention efforts.

The bill authorizes approximately $650 million over the next five years to support Federal, State and local law enforcement efforts against violent gangs including the funding of witness protection programs, and for intervention and prevention programs for at-risk youth. In support of this effort, the bill increases funding for federal prosecutors and FBI agents to increase coordinated enforcement efforts against violent gangs.

The Act also creates new criminal gang prosecution offenses, enhances existing gang and violent crime penalties to deter and punish illegal street gangs, proposes violent crime reforms needed to prosecute effectively gang members, and proposes a limited reform of the juvenile justice system to facilitate federal prosecution of 16 and 17 year old gang members who commit serious acts of violence.

Specifically, the bill:

Makes recruiting minors to join criminal street gangs a federal crime and requires offenders to pay the costs associated with housing and treating any recruited minor who is prosecuted for their gang activity.

Makes illegal participation in a criminal street gang a federal crime. A “criminal street gang” is defined to mean a formal or informal group, club, organization or association of 3 or more persons who act together to commit gang crimes.This legislation makes it a crime for a member of a criminal street gang to commit, conspire or attempt to commit two or more predicate gang crimes; or to get another individual to commit a gang crime. The term “gang crime” is defined to include violent and other serious State and Federal felony crimes such as:

Murder Manslaughter

Maiming Assault with a dangerous weapon

Kidnapping Robbery

Extortion Arson

Obstruction of justice Tampering with a witness, victim, or informant

Carjacking Distribution or intending to distribute controlled substances

Certain firearm offenses Money Laundering

Criminalizes violent crimes in furtherance or in aid of criminal street gangs. Racketeering laws (RICO) were designed to prosecute organized crime, with Mafia-style organizations in mind. One such law prosecuted violent crimes committed in furtherance of the racketeering enterprise. This legislation would create a similar crime for violent street gangs.

Makes murder and other violent crimes committed in connection with drug trafficking a federal crime.

Creates new offense of multiple interstate murders, where an individual crosses state lines and intends to cause the death of two or more people.

Allows for prosecution of gang members who cross state lines to obstruct justice, intimidate or retaliate against witnesses, jurors, informants, or victims.

Creates tougher laws for certain federal crimes like assault, carjacking, manslaughter, conspiracy, and for specific types of crimes occurring in Indian country.

Requires that someone convicted of hiring another person to commit murder be punished with imprisonment, instead of a fine.

Makes sexual assault a predicate act under RICO and increases the maximum sentences for these RICO crimes.

Allows for detention of persons charged with firearms who have been previously convicted of prior crimes of violence or serious drug offenses. Current law does not allow a prosecutor to ask that a person be held without bail even if the person has previously been convicted of a crime of violence or a serious drug offense. This bill would allow prosecutors to make that request of a judge but would allow a criminal defendant the right to argue why he or she should not be held.

Makes it clear that in a death penalty case, the case can be tried where the murder, or related conduct, occurred.

Extends the time within which a violent crime case can be charged and tried. For violent crime cases, the time is extended from 5 years to 10 years after the offense occurred or the continuing offense was completed, and from 5 years to 8 years after the date on which the violation was first discovered.

Permits wiretaps to be used for new gang crimes created by this bill.

Allows for murdered witness statements to be admitted at trial. This bill makes clear that the statements of a murdered witness can be introduced against the defendant who caused a witness’ unavailability and the members of the gang if the murder of the witness was foreseeable to the other members of the gang.

Makes clear where a case can be tried involving retaliation against a witness. This provision makes clear that for crimes involving the retaliation against a witness prosecution may be brought in the district where the witness testified or where the act of retaliation occurred.

Increases penalties for criminal use of firearms in crimes of violence and drug trafficking.

Includes modified juvenile provisions. This bill will allow prosecutors to more easily charge 16 and 17-year olds who are charged with serious violent felonies. A judge will review every decision a prosecutor makes to charge a juvenile as an adult.

Creates and provides assistance for “High Intensity” Interstate Gang Activity areas. This legislation requires the Attorney General to designate certain locations as high intensity interstate gang activity areas and provides assistance in the form of criminal street gang enforcement teams made up of local, state and federal law enforcement authorities to investigate and prosecute criminal street gangs in each high intensity interstate gang activity area.

Authorizes funding of $500 million for 2004 through 2008 to meet the goals of suppression and intervention.

· $50 million a year will be used to support the criminal gang enforcement teams.

· $50 million a year will be used to make grants available for community-based programs to provide for crime prevention and intervention services for gang members and at-risk youth in areas designated as high intensity interstate gang activity areas.

Authorizes $150 million over five years to support anti-gang efforts including–

· Expanding the Project Safe Neighborhood program to require U.S. Attorneys to identify and prosecute significant gangs within their district; coordinating such prosecutions among all local, state, and federal law enforcement; and coordinating criminal street gang enforcement teams in designated high intensity interstate gang activity areas.

· Supporting the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Safe Streets Program.

· Creating and expanding witness protection programs, the hiring of additional state and local prosecutors, funding gang prevention and community prosecution programs and purchasing technological equipment to increase the accurate identification and prosecution of violent offenders.

###

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Contact: Howard Gantman (Feinstein) 202-224-9629

Thursday, June 24, 2004 or Nicole Taylor (Pombo) 202/225-1947

Senator Feinstein, Representative Pombo Urge President to

Declare a Major Disaster for Delta Levee Break

Washington, DC – Citing the $93 million in damage and the increased risk of water supply contamination stemming from the June 3 levee break in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and Representative Richard Pombo (R-Tracy) urged President Bush today to issue a federal declaration of Major Disaster for the County of San Joaquin.

In a joint letter to President Bush, Senator Feinstein and Representative Pombo sought the President’s concurrence with Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s recent State declaration of a Major Disaster.

“Action by the Federal government to assist San Joaquin County and the State of California is urgently needed,” Senator Feinstein said. “It is our hope that President Bush concurs with the Governor’s designation and issues a federal declaration of Major Disaster.”

“It’s time for action,” said Rep. Pombo. “We’ve seen the assessment, we know the consequences, and it’s time to get moving on funding. That’s why Senator Feinstein and I have written this letter. It’s the next step in obtaining the funds needed to clean up the disaster area.”

The text of the letter is follows:

“June 23, 2004

The Honorable George W. Bush

President of the United States

1600 Pennsylvania Avenue

Washington, DC 20500

Dear Mr. President:

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger issued a Declaration of Major Disaster for the County of San Joaquin on June 17, 2004. This declaration was issued as a result of a levee break in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, which allowed the inundation of 12,000 acres of prime farmland and threatened the domestic water supply millions of residents. We write to you to urge the President of the United States, at the earliest time, to concur in the Governor’s designation by issuing a federal declaration of Major Disaster.

The County of San Joaquin, working closely with federal and State damage assessment experts, has identified damages totaling $93 million, of which $49 million is public and $44 million is private. Since more than 75% of the surface water flowing through the State of California passes through the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, unless the levee breech is repaired, the drinking water supply for the vast majority of households in Central and Southern California remains at risk of contamination due to the potential salt water intrusion. There is also great concern about other nearby levees. Should the wave action and erosion, greatly exacerbated by the existing break, cause adjacent levees to fail, then several communities and thousands of acres of both developed and agricultural land are in jeopardy of inundation.

San Joaquin County and the State of California need the full force and effect of the resources of the federal government to address this major disaster and put in place mechanisms to avoid its recurrence. It is for these reasons that we ask your immediate assistance in obtaining a Presidential Declaration of a Major Disaster for San Joaquin County.

Sincerely,

DIANNE FEINSTEIN RICHARD W. POMBO

United States Senate United States House of Representatives

###

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 24, 2004
Contact: Lynn Becker or Zach Goldberg (202) 224-5653

DEFENSE BILL ALLOWS COMMERCE SECRETARY
TO TRANSFER FUNDS TO MANUFACTURING EXTENSION PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM

Kohl-sponsored initiative to allow successful manufacturing
program to receive more funding

WASHINGTON - The FY2005 Defense Authorization Bill, which the U.S. Senate last night approved, includes a provision sponsored by U.S. Senators Herb Kohl and Jack Reed that will enable the Commerce Department to redirect unused resources to the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) program in the current fiscal year. In May, Kohl, along with a bipartisan group of 55 senators, contacted Commerce Secretary Donald Evans, requesting that he reprogram funding for MEP. However, Evans has since replied, saying that the Department does not have the authority to reprogram the funds. This amendment specifically clarifies that the Department has the authority. MEP -- a cost-effective, strong public-private partnership that helps manufacturers compete in the global economy -- was appropriated $39.6 million in federal funding in FY2004, an insufficient level to maintain the existing network of MEP centers.

“With many MEP centers coming up for renewal at the end of this month, time is of the essence to ensure that they have the resources to keep going strong. We hope that the Commerce Department will recognize the contributions MEP centers make to our economy and redirect unused funds to help these centers meet the needs of our manufacturers,” Kohl said.

MEP centers located throughout the state and across the nation work directly with small- and mid-sized manufacturers to help these companies compete by streamlining operations, shortening production times and lowering costs. Through MEP efforts, companies reported sales of $2.8 billion, $681 million in cost savings, $941 million invested in new plant and equipment, and more than 35,000 manufacturing jobs created or retained during fiscal year 2002.

The Administration's budget proposal for FY2005 slashed the MEP program to $39.6 million. Kohl, a long time supporter of the program, earlier this year offered an amendment to the federal budget to fund the MEP program at $106.9 million, the amount needed to fully implement the initiative.

Additionally, Kohl included in the FY2005 Defense Appropriations Bill $2 million for Wisconsin’s MEP Program for a two-year initiative to help streamline and accelerate the production of homeland security-related products from small and mid-sized manufacturers in the Midwest. Kohl is a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, which approved the FY2005 Defense Appropriations Bill Tuesday.
# # #

U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell
Washington

For Immediate Release
Thursday, June 24, 2004
Contact:
Charla Neuman
202-224-8277
202-309-3447 (c)

New evidence reveals Enron continued to manipulate energy markets until Enron’s bankruptcy in December 2001

Evidence contradicts testimony by Enron executives before Congress

Cantwell calls for new congressional hearings

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) today said new evidence reveals that Enron continued to manipulate energy markets until its bankruptcy in December 2001. The evidence contradicts sworn testimony to Congress by five Enron executives and lawyers in May 2002. Cantwell called for new congressional hearings on the Enron scandal in light of the inconsistent and incomplete testimony.

The executives claimed under oath that they had stopped the deceptive trading practices in December of 2000, but in fact the market manipulation continued for at least another full year until Enron’s bankruptcy. The evidence also raises serious questions about other aspects of the testimony, including how an internal Enron “smoking gun” December, 2000 memorandum that revealed Enron’s energy market manipulation was developed.

“What Enron lawyers said and what Enron traders did were two very different things,” Cantwell said. “Congress needs to get to the bottom of this since federal regulators are sitting on their hands.”

In addition to the testimony, a literal treasure trove of new evidence has been uncovered in the two years that have passed since Congress held its last hearings, including data showing five sets of accounting books at Enron and five new market manipulation schemes.

The testimony was delivered on May 15, 2002 before the Senate Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Consumer Affairs. The testimony was given by Enron attorneys Richard Sanders and Christian Yoder, and by Enron outside counsel Stephen Hall (a one-time Enron employee), Gary Fergus and Jean Frizzel. Each testified that Enron had stopped its manipulative trading practices in early December 2000.

The Enron witnesses claimed their order to stop energy market manipulation came after an internal memorandum detailing the deceptive practices was circulated within Enron on December 6, 2000. That memorandum described manipulative energy trading strategies such as “death star”, “get shorty”, “ricochet”, “fat boy”, and “load shift”.

In one exchange, Sanders tells then Subcommittee Chairman Dorgan that he “understood that the trading practices that I directed to be suspended in December 2000 did not continue.” In another exchange, Yoder tells current Commerce Committee Chairman John McCain (R-AZ) that after the memo “the trading strategies were stopped…out of prudence we suspended them, stopped them.”

But the new evidence shows the deceptive practices actually continued well after December 2000 into late 2001.

Enron’s “reconciliation sheets” are a key source of data proving Enron continued to manipulate energy markets. These sheets describe the variance between Enpower, the Enron internal database, and CAPS, the official schedules given by Enron to California regulators. Enron’s “reconciliation sheets” for 2001 show energy market manipulation at least through December 2, 2001. These sheets are available at http://www.snopud.com.

For example, a newly released December 2, 2001, Enron reconciliation sheet said a “load shift” was responsible for differences between Enpower, the internal Enron database, and CAPS, the official schedules given by Enron to California regulators. The Yoder-Hall Enron memo says that “one concern here [with ‘load shifts’] is that by knowingly increasing the congestion costs, Enron is effectively increasing the cost to all market participants in the real-time market.”

Moreover, audiotapes from January 2001 transcribed by Snohomish PUD clearly show that despite the Enron testimony, manipulative trading practices continued past December 2000. In one clip Enron traders discuss a “ricochet” transaction. In another, a trader tells an Enron lawyer to “make it sound like we’re in a competitive process” to which she responds “I feel like I’m being corrupted.” In another tape, employees discuss telling a “lie” to the Wall Street Journal because “you don’t ever want them to know the truth.” In yet another tape, a trader discusses a “ricochet” transaction.

In addition to the inconsistent testimony about whether the illegal energy market manipulation actually stopped, there remains a significant lack of clarity as to how the “smoking gun” memos that describe strategies such as “load shift” and “ricochet” were developed. While members of the Enron legal team asserted under oath that these memos were first received at the beginning of December 2000, a review of documents and emails released as part of the discovery process in ongoing proceedings at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) point to the existence of draft documents outlining these same schemes as early as October 2000.

One of the Enron executives, Richard Sanders, served as Vice President and Assistant General Counsel of Enron through last month and was reportedly involved in the company’s bankruptcy strategy, in which Enron has filed a $122 million lawsuit against Snohomish PUD and several other utilities in Nevada and California. If Enron is successful in its $122 million lawsuit against Snohomish PUD, the average ratepayer there will be forced to pay $420 to Enron.

Cantwell is requesting that the Senate Commerce and Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committees hold hearings on the new evidence. The new evidence also suggests the existence of a handful of previously-unidentified Enron schemes; points to the fact Enron maintained up to five different sets of books in order to account for variances resulting from these manipulative practices; and provides the first snapshot of the magnitude of Enron’s unjust profits—conservatively estimated as $1.1 billion on days in which the company was engaged in manipulation schemes.

Attachments:

- Cantwell’s letter to Chairman McCain and Senator Hollings requesting a hearing

- Excerpts from the testimony of five Enron executives and lawyers that Enron stopped energy market manipulation in December 2000

- Reconciliation statement from December 2, 2001 showing market manipulation

- Spreadsheet on market manipulation after December, 2000

- Transcript of audiotapes from January, 2001 showing market manipulation

# # #

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Rachel Reiter or Mike Buttry 202/224-4224

Thursday, June 24, 2004

Senate Passes Defense Authorization Bill

Hagel Amendment Included

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Late last night the U.S. Senate passed by a vote of 97 to 0 the Defense Authorization Bill that authorizes $447.2 billion for defense programs in fiscal year 2005. An amendment by U.S. Senators Jack Reed (D-RI) and Chuck Hagel (R-NE) to expand the size of the United States Army by 20,000 soldiers was included in the bill. The amendment raises the active duty end strength of the Army from 482,200 to 502,400.

"Passing the Defense Authorization Bill is important to meeting the needs of our military men and women. The additional troops included in this bill are urgently required to give the Chief of Staff of the United States Army the tools he needs to fight the War on Terrorism, help stabilize Iraq and Afghanistan, and meet the global demands being placed on our force structure today," Hagel said.

Under emergency authority, the United States Army has already exceeded its authorized end strength by around 15,000 soldiers. The Reed-Hagel amendment provides Congressional approval for these additional troops. The funding for the additional troops in 2005 will come from emergency funds. From 2006 onward, funding for the additional troops will be included in the Army’s regular budget.

The Defense Authorization Bill also includes $35 million of impact aid funding for school districts like Bellevue, Nebraska with heavy military populations.

- 30 -

For Immediate Release: Contact: Rich Chrismer

Wednesday, June 23, 2004 Tel: (202) 224-6154

SENATE PASSES DEFENSE BILL WITH TALENT AMENDMENTS FOR MILITARY HEALTH, LIBERTY MEMORIAL & OPERATION HERO MILES

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) The U.S. Senate tonight passed the Defense Authorization bill (S. 2400) which includes three amendments sponsored by U.S. Senator Jim Talent (R-Mo.) that would improve military health preparedness, designate the Liberty Memorial in Kansas City as the National World War I Museum and make it more affordable for troops to get home on emergency leave.

The defense bill authorizes weapons procurement, military personnel policy, health care, military pay and combat readiness issues. Sen. Talent, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, championed significant programs for Missouri defense-related industries. As Chairman of the Seapower Subcommittee, he wrote a large portion of the bill related to Navy and Marine surface fleet issues, attack submarines, strategic air and sealift and all research and development relating to specific weapons programs.

“I’m very pleased the Senate passed this important legislation to support America’s military and everyone who serves in our armed forces,” said Talent. “The bill we passed includes legislation that would provide the military with a before and after snapshot of the medical fitness of every service member deployed to a theater of war. It also includes a very important measure for Kansas City that would designate Liberty Memorial as the nation’s World War I Museum. We also approved an amendment to make Operation Hero Miles a permanent defense program allowing Americans to donate their frequent flyer miles to our troops and their families.”

MILITARY HEALTH READINESS AMENDMENT

Sens. Talent and Hillary Clinton (D-NY) on June 17 passed an amendment to the defense bill that addresses a major health care issue that arose from the first Gulf War. Talent and Clinton

sponsored the Armed Forces Personnel Medical Readiness and Tracking Act of 2004 to establish a new tracking system that would make certain active duty military personnel and

Reservists would receive detailed pre- and post-deployment health screenings, including blood sampling. The amendment was approved unanimously by the U.S. Senate.

LIBERTY MEMORIAL AMENDMENT

Sen. Talent’s successfully added an amendment to the defense bill to designate the Liberty Memorial in Kansas City as America’s World War I Museum. Sen. Talent’s amendment was approved by the U.S. Senate on June 15.

The Liberty Memorial Museum is the only public museum in the nation dedicated exclusively to interpreting the experiences of the United States and its allies in the World War I years (1914-1918), both on the battlefield and on the home front.

OPERATION HERO MILES AMENDMENT

Sens. Talent and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) on June 3 passed an amendment to (S. 2400) to allow Americans to directly support and assist our service men and women and their families by donating frequent flyer miles. The amendment permanently authorizes Operation Hero Miles, currently a temporary Department of Defense program.

The Senators legislation would allow the families of wounded service personnel to visit their loved one in a military hospital at no personal expense for the airfare. It will also permit soldiers who must return home from overseas while on emergency leave to do so at no cost by using donated frequent flyer miles.

The defense bill (S. 2400), which includes Sen. Talent’s amendments, will now be debated in a conference committee where differences between the House and Senate bills will be worked out. Additional details on each of Sen. Talent’s amendments is available at http://talent.senate.gov

###

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Todd Webster

June 23, 2004 Sarah Feinberg

(202) 224-2939

Daschle Vows to Continue Fight for Veterans’ Health
Senate Republicans block passage of Daschle full-funding amendment

(Washington, D.C.) – Senate Democratic Leader Tom Daschle vowed the narrow loss of his amendment to the FY 2005 defense authorization bill would not end his fight to fully fund VA health programs.

The Daschle amendment would have made a portion of VA funding “mandatory,” or automatic – the same way that other major health programs, like Medicare, are funded. The vote on Daschle’s amendment marked the first time the Senate had considered the concept of mandatory VA funding.

“Today, the Senate had the opportunity to make good on a pledge to provide the nation’s veterans with the health care they have earned and deserve,” Senator Daschle said. “Sadly, a narrow majority blocked the effort, but today’s loss will not deter us in the fight to fully fund veterans’ health programs. The VA is treating more and more veterans from World War II and the Korean and Vietnam wars. We also have a new generation of veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan who will need these vital services. America’s veterans have defended our freedoms, and the least we can do is defend their right to quality health care and the other benefits they have earned many times over.”

Daschle announced he would offer this amendment earlier this month at the American Legion convention in Pierre and the VFW convention in Spearfish.

The Partnership for Veterans Health Care Budget Reform, which represents 26 million veterans, endorsed the Daschle amendment. The coalition includes the American Legion, AMVETS, Blinded Veterans Association, Disabled American Veterans, Jewish War Veterans of the USA, Military Order of the Purple Heart, Paralyzed Veterans of America, Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, and Vietnam Veterans of America.

“As I’ve traveled around South Dakota meeting with veterans, I’m hearing more frequently that veterans see a gap between the thanks they are offered in word, and what they get in deed,” Senator Daschle said. “The waits at the VA hospitals are getting longer. The fees are getting higher. Health care costs are eating into savings. And with hints of new cuts to the VA and the influx of Iraqi War veterans just around the corner, the worst may be yet to come, unless we make the funding mandatory.”

The VA’s enrolled patient population has grown 134 percent since 1996, while appropriations have risen only one-third as quickly. The VA estimates that South Dakota has 78,000 veterans, 43,000 of whom were treated in VA facilities last year, up from 36,400 just four years ago.

Although a 2003 task force appointed by President Bush called for “full funding” of VA programs, the President has ignored the findings and proposed cuts in VA programs.

“Overall, the amount veterans have paid toward their own care in the past three years has increased 340 percent, or $561 million. With every passing year, budgets are getting tighter, and the VA is forced to put more restrictions and more conditions on the care veterans are offered. As a result, each year brings higher costs and longer delays,” Daschle added.

###

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Matt Hartwig/ Maureen Knightly

June 22, 2004

202-224-3254

HARKIN SUCCESSFULLY PUSHES CHILD NUTRITION

BILL THROUGH SENATE

Legislation Helps More Kids and Promotes Healthier Foods in Schools

WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Senate unanimously approved the Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004. Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) worked successfully with a bipartisan group of Senate and House colleagues to help deliver sound nutrition to more kids and bring healthier foods to our schools. Harkin praised final passage of the bill, noting several provisions to improve access for low-income students to school lunches, continue nutrition assistance to daycare homes, and expand access to the Summer Food Service Program. Harkin is the ranking Democrat on the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry.

“The facts tell the story here - students face unprecedented nutritional risk at school,” said Harkin. “Pervasive junk foods in our schools have become an accepted part of the school day. This bill sets the stage and empowers parents, teachers and local school districts to promote healthier foods in our school vending machines and snack bars.”

The bill increases funding to expand the Harkin Fruit and Vegetable Program. Currently, the program provides free fruits and vegetables to 60,000 students nationwide -- including in 25 schools in Iowa. The Senate-passed child nutrition bill extends funding for 25 schools in Iowa for five years and also expands the program to an additional 70,000 children in four additional states and on Indian reservations.

Harkin also successfully included a provision for local schools to develop “school wellness policies.” Under the provision, schools will set standards for the sale of junk foods and also set targets for physical activity.

After House passage, the bill will head to the President’s desk for final approval and signature.

Harkin’s work on the child nutrition bill is part of his ongoing efforts to promote healthier lifestyles and sound nutrition. Earlier this week, Harkin introduced comprehensive legislation on obesity, health promotion, and chronic disease prevention.

# # #

Jennifer L. Carrier
Press Secretary
Office of Senator Tom Harkin
(202) 224-3254
jennifer_carrier@harkin.senate.gov

CONTACT: June 23, 2004

Keith Williams: 202-224-4728

Senate Unanimously Adopts Child Nutrition Legislation
Within budget, to ensure good nutrition for children

Early Wednesday evening, the United States Senate passed without objection, S. 2507, is legislation to continue the child nutrition programs administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture for the next five years. These programs touch the lives of 1 out of every 5 people in this country, including over 37 million children and nearly 2 million lower-income pregnant and postpartum women. The Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry’s consensus bill will ensure the continuation of proven federal government support for meeting the nutritional needs of school children and others who will benefit from these programs. The Committee unanimously reported the bill to the Senate on May 19.

“This bill reflects the commitment of the Committee to ensure that our nation’s children have access to the nutrition they need to lead a healthy life. All of the worthwhile and important initiatives contained in this bill will play a significant part in ensuring that our children have access to good nutrition,” said Senator Cochran. “Even though we had no money for new initiatives, we believe the Committee has put together an overall package that improves these programs while protecting the interests of the participants.”

In a statement introducing the bill to the Senate, Cochran thanked Iowa Senator Tom Harkin for his assistance and for continuing the long-standing tradition of a bipartisan approach to the development of child nutrition bills in the Committee. Programs authorized in the bill touch the lives of 1 out of every 5 people in the United States, including over 37 million children and nearly 2 million lower-income pregnant and postpartum women. According to the Congressional Research Service, total fiscal year 2004 spending for these programs will be an estimated $16.4 billion, and the Administration’s fiscal year 2005 budget anticipates spending $16.85 billion. The Budget Committees of both the Senate and House have included new mandatory money that will enable continuation of otherwise expiring provisions contained in current law.

The most iImportant components of the bill are:

· protection of the integrity of school meal program benefits

· participation of for-profit child care centers in the Child and Adult Care Food Program

· protection of school meal benefits for military families

· expansion of the Summer Food Service Program Lugar Pilots

· expansion of the Fruit and Vegetable Pilot Program

· improvements to the WIC Program.

The bipartisan, consensus-based bill has received support that includes the American Dietetic Association, the American School Food Service Association, America’s Second Harvest, the Food Research and Action Center, National Council of La Raza, Bread for the World, the National Milk Producers Federation, the International Dairy Foods Association, and the National Food Processors Association.

– 30 –

Editors note: Full text of the bill as adopted by the Senate Wednesday evening, may be found on the Committee’s website, directly at: http://agriculture.senate.gov/nutri/reauth.htm -- or by selecting from the homepage link.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Contact: Howard Gantman

Wednesday, June 23, 2004 or Scott Gerber 202/224-9629

http://feinstein.senate.gov

Senator Feinstein Praises House for Passage of Bill
To Increase Penalties for Identity Theft Crimes

Washington, DC – The U.S. House of Representatives today passed legislation to increase penalties for identity theft, which is similar to a bill introduced by U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) that the Senate has passed.

“The epidemic of identity theft must be stopped and this legislation takes a big step towards making that happen,” Senator Feinstein said. “Prosecutors should have the tools they need to punish those who steal identities as a means to committing other serious crimes, such as acts of terrorism or murder.”

Senator Feinstein is the sponsor of similar legislation in the Senate, which was approved on March 19, 2003. The new House version of this bill will now go back to the Senate for passage before President Bush can sign it into law.

Both versions of the bill, which were developed in coordination with the Justice Department, would impose tougher penalties on identity thieves and make it easier for prosecutors to target those identity thieves who steal for the purpose of committing the most serious crimes, including terrorism.

“I am very pleased that both the Senate and the House of Representatives have now passed versions of this legislation,” Senator Feinstein said. “The changes made to the bill by the House of Representatives are good ones – they maintain the intent of the bill and strengthen it as well. It is my hope that the Senate will quickly pass this newly modified bill, and that President Bush will then sign it into law soon so that these egregious crimes can be suitably punished.”

According to the Federal Trade Commission, there were 214,905 victims of identity theft in the U.S. during 2003, up sharply from 161,836 in 2002 and 86,212 in 2001. Of last year’s victims, 39,452 were Californians, giving California the third-highest per capita rate of identity theft of any state. The Federal Trade Commission estimates that identity thefts cost U.S. businesses and consumers over $50 billion last year.

Both the House and Senate versions of the bill would:

· Increases penalties by two years for anyone who commits “aggravated identity theft” in order to commit other serious Federal offenses, known as predicate crimes, such as immigration violations, false citizenship crimes, and firearms offenses; and

· Increases penalties by five years for anyone who commits identity theft for the purpose of committing a terrorist act.

In addition to these provisions, the House version of the bill would:

· Add as a predicate crime the theft of federal funds, the theft or embezzlement of bank funds, the improper receipt of Social Security benefits, and the improper receipt of Supplemental Security Insurance benefits;

· Allow the aggregate value of stolen federal funds to be combined for felony prosecution in appropriate cases;

· Direct the Sentencing Commission to amend its guidelines in order to punish insider offenses that involve an “abuse of trust” of the offender’s position; and

· Authorize $2 million each year for fiscal years 2005 to 2009 to the Department of Justice for the investigation and prosecution of identity theft and related credit card and other fraud cases.

###

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Adam Elggren (202) 224-3370

June 23, 2004

PRES. HINCKLEY GIVEN MEDAL OF FREEDOM

Washington, D.C. — LDS Church President Gordon B. Hinckley was awarded the Medal of Freedom today by President George W. Bush at an afternoon ceremony in the White House. Senator Orrin G. Hatch (R-Utah), who attended the ceremony, issued the following statement:

“What a tremendous occasion this is. Nobody deserves this honor more than President Gordon B. Hinckley. He has stood as a beacon of decency and service throughout his life. He has traveled the world exhaustively, representing the highest ideals – freedom, brotherhood, peace, the sanctity of life – wherever he goes. President Hinckley has played a key role in advancing the cause of religious freedom in societies that have never known the concept. He is a great man, and it gratifies me to see another great man – President Bush – honor him on his birthday, of all days.”

President Hinckley turned 94 today.

# # #

CONFIDENTIALITY NOTE: The information contained in this e-mail is legally privileged and confidential information intended only for the use of the individuals or entities named as addressees. If you, the reader of this message, are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution, publication, or copying of this message is strictly prohibited. If you have received this facsimile in error, please forgive the inconvenience, immediately notify the sender, and delete the original message without keeping a copy.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Susan Wheeler (202) 224-5150
June 23, 2004 Eric Rasmussen (202) 224-7518

CRAPO CHOSEN AS
SAFARI CLUB’S “LEGISLATOR OF THE YEAR”
Honor given for support of hunting, wildlife conservation efforts

Washington, DC – Idaho Senator Mike Crapo has been named “Legislator of the Year” by the Washington chapter of the Safari Club for his efforts in Congress on behalf of hunting, second amendment rights and wildlife conservation efforts. Crapo, who chairs the Senate Environment and Public Works Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife and Water, was given the award during a dinner held Wednesday evening.

“Hunting is both an enjoyable pastime and an effective tool in species conservation,” Crapo said. “Hunters pay millions of dollars in taxes, which are then used to maintain wildlife populations, to conduct wildlife research and to enforce wildlife laws. Some of these projects are recognized as some of the nation’s most successful conservation programs. In addition, funds from hunters are used to encourage safe and responsible use of firearms through hunter safety programs. “

“The Washington Metro Chapter of Safari Club International is very pleased to honor Senator Mike Crapo as its 2004 Legislator of the Year,” said Charles C. Keller, President of the Safari Club’s Washington Chapter. “He has demonstrated a long-standing passion for, and dedication to, the heritage of hunting and promoting wildlife conservation as a Member of Congress and as a friend of hunting and the outdoors. In addition to be being an avid hunter and fisherman, Senator Crapo has also worked to ensure that Idaho receives the federal funds necessary to improve wildlife habitat. He exemplifies the best of the hunting tradition through his dedication to protecting and preserving our hunting heritage through wildlife conservation, education, and legislative involvement.”

The Legislator of the Year Award has been given to a member of the House of Representatives and a member of the Senate annually since 1999. The Safari Club is a non-profit association of over 43,000 members from more than 100 countries dedicated to protecting the rights of 45 million hunters worldwide, and to promoting wildlife conservation.

# # #

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Rachel Reiter or Mike Buttry
202/224-4224

Wednesday, June 23, 2004
Disaster Aid Request Granted by USDA

Hagel Applauds Announcement

Washington, D.C. – Today, Secretary of Agriculture Ann Veneman granted 19 Nebraska counties disaster designations following a request by Governor Mike Johanns in May. U.S. Senator Chuck Hagel sent a letter in support of Governor Johanns’ request. The designated counties have suffered from ongoing drought conditions and are generally located within the "drought extreme" D-3 category on the U.S. Drought Monitor.

"While some Nebraska counties have received much needed precipitation this year, many Nebraska counties have experienced poor growing conditions due to adverse weather. The disaster declaration will better help ranchers and agricultural producers cope with the drought," Hagel said.

The 19 counties requested for disaster declarations are: Arthur, Banner, Chase, Cheyenne, Deuel, Dundy, Frontier, Garden, Hayes, Hitchcock, Keith, Kimball, Lincoln, McPherson, Morrill, Perkins, Red Willow, Scotts Bluff and Sioux.

Counties that receive federal disaster declarations will be able to apply for low-interest loans. Disaster declarations have helped Nebraska producers to access more than $350 million in federal assistance in the past five years through the Livestock Assistance Program, the Livestock Compensation Program and the Crop Disaster Program.

In addition, Senator Hagel sent a letter to Secretary Veneman in support of Governor Johanns request that Box Butte, Dawes and Sheridan counties be considered for disaster declarations.

- 30 -

Letter to Secretary Veneman is attached.

June 23, 2004

The Honorable Ann M. Veneman

Secretary of Agriculture

Department of Agriculture

1400 Independence Avenue, SW

Washington, DC 20250-0100

Dear Secretary Veneman:

Thank you for your announcement today of emergency assistance for agricultural producers in 19 drought-stricken Nebraska counties. A disaster declaration will be helpful to many farmers and ranchers, particularly our livestock producers.

I am writing to support the request of Nebraska Governor Mike Johanns for a Secretarial Natural Disaster designation for three additional counties in western Nebraska. The U.S. Drought Monitor based in Lincoln, Nebraska, lists the counties of Box Butte, Dawes and Sheridan as D4 classification on the national drought index. This is the most severe level for drought.

Some limited rainfall was received this last week. However, most of the grassland in these three counties has received less than five inches of moisture thus far in 2004. Compounded by four consecutive years of drought, the vegetative condition of western Nebraska continues to be of critical status.

Thank you for your consideration of my request.

For Immediate Release:

June 23, 2004

COLEMAN TO HOLD HEARING ON DEMOCRACY, HUMAN RIGHTS IN VENEZUELA TOMORROW

Western Hemisphere Subcommittee Chairman to question top State Department officials and human rights experts

Washington, DC - Senator Norm Coleman, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere, Peace Corps and Narcotics, will hold a hearing on the recent political situation in Venezuela and human rights concerns in that nation tomorrow from 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm EST in the Dirksen Senate Office building, Room 419.

“The political situation in Venezuela is of fundamental importance for the entire hemisphere,” Coleman said. “In this hearing we intend to examine the way the forthcoming August 15th vote is to be conducted and to determine U.S. policy options to support democracy in Venezuela and throughout the region.”

Venezuela has been wracked by several years of political turmoil under the rule of President Hugo Chavez. Chavez’s opponents have collected millions of signatures for a recall referendum, which was recently scheduled to be held on August 15. To be recalled, the number of votes cast against him would need to exceed the number Chavez received when last elected in July 2000 (more than 3.75 million). If he is recalled, new presidential elections would be held within 30 days.

“I want to hear from the experts about the unfolding situation in Venezuela, from allegations about politically motivated arrests, to the composition of the Supreme Court, to the use of untested voting machines in the upcoming vote,” Coleman said. “I intend to get to the bottom of these allegations at tomorrow’s hearing.”

There has been increasing concern expressed by international human rights organizations about the deterioration of democratic institutions and threats to freedom of speech and press in Venezuela under the Chavez government. The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) issued a report in March 2004 expressing concerns about growing concentration of power in the executive branch of government and the tendency to militarize public administration. The report also expressed concern about attacks and intimidation against human rights activists and organizations, and the government’s tendency to confront and disparage the political opposition and its constant attacks on journalists and the media.

HEARING WITNESS LIST

FIRST PANEL:

- The Honorable Roger Noriega, Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs

- The Honorable John Maisto, US Representative to the Organization of American States.

SECOND PANEL:

- Dr. Jennifer McCoy, Director, Americas Program, The Carter Center, Atlanta, GA

- Mr. Jose Vivanco, Executive Director of the Americas, Human Rights Watch

- Mr. Miguel Diaz, Director, MERCOSUR/South America, Center for Strategic and International

Studies

- Mr. Roger Tissot, Director of Markets and Countries Group, Latin America, PFC Energy

###

___________________________

Andy Brehm

Press Secretary

U.S. Senator Norm Coleman

Telephone: 202.224.5641

Fax: 202.224.9640

Mobile: 202.247.7636

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Susan Wheeler (202) 224-5150

June 23, 2004 Eric Rasmussen (202) 224-7518

CRAPO ADDRESSES NATIONAL TELEHEALTH EXPO

Calls telehealth “important for Idaho”

Washington, DC – Idaho Senator Mike Crapo outlined the importance of telehealth and other distance medicine options during a speech today opening the eleventh annual Capitol Hill Health Care Information Technology Demonstration & Discussion. Crapo is an honorary Co-Chair of the Capitol Hill Steering Committee on Telehealth and Healthcare Informatics, the group who put on the event, which featured live, interactive health care displays and demonstrations on telemedicine’s evolving technology.

“In so many ways, technology is making medical care more effective as well as more accessible throughout the country,” Crapo said. “It is important that we use these tools to empower people to take better care of their health. Telehealth is extremely important in many rural areas of Idaho. High quality health care services must be available to all who need them, and with the advent of telemedicine, we can use technology to further assist that delivery. I commend the efforts of the faculty, administration and students of Idaho State University, some of whom are here today, who have been leaders in Idaho telehealth efforts.”

Today’s conference is part of a series of educational sessions, technology demonstrations and field visits put on annually by the Steering Committee. The events bring together government agencies, universities, healthcare technology organizations and private sector organizations from across the nation to help develop legislative priorities related to telehealth, eHealth and health care informatics.

Crapo, who is also a member of the Medical Technology Caucus, has been a strong proponent in Congress for breakthrough medical technologies and advancements in patient diagnosis, treatment and safety. Early this year Crapo helped establish a telehealth link to study diabetes and other health issues for the Coeur d’Alene Tribe in Plummer. In 2003, he was given a Recognition Award by the Steering Committee on Telehealth and Healthcare Informatics for his work on telehealth issues.

# # #

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 23, 2004 Contact: Paul Cardus (202) 224-6361

AKAKA WARNS OF ONGOING WMD THREATS FROM ROGUE STATES AND TERROR ORGANIZATIONS

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Daniel K. Akaka (D-Hawaii), Ranking Member of the Senate Governmental Affairs Subcommittee on Financial Management, the Budget, and International Security, co-chaired a hearing with Senator Peter Fitzgerald (R-IL), Chairman of the Subcommittee, on the threat to U.S. security posed by international smuggling networks seeking to obtain and traffic in weapons of mass destruction (WMD). The following is the text of Senator Akaka's opening statement at the hearing, "International Smuggling Networks: Weapons of Mass Destruction Counterproliferation Initiatives."

"Chairman Fitzgerald, thank you for holding today's hearing. It is the great tradition of this Subcommittee and the full Committee to focus on international security issues. This hearing is a very worthwhile contribution to the Subcommittee's continued efforts to improve the government's ability to address threats to our nation.

"It was little more than a year ago that President Bush announced the Proliferation Security Initiative, or PSI. Since then, there have been major developments in counter-proliferation, most notably, the decision by Libya to end its weapons of mass destruction (WMD) programs.

"The Libya case brought into the open what was once only whispered about in the corridors of the intelligence community: that is, the black market in WMD materials.

"Although much has been written about the A.Q. Khan network operating out of Pakistan -- but with tentacles in many countries -- we still have not fully unraveled this network, and there are other people directing similar operations. Arresting Khan did not destroy his network. His was only one of many now facilitating the transfer of WMD-related material. Never before has there been so much demand by so many for WMD materials.

"As an illustration of these extensive networks -- for nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons, I wish to point out two charts prepared by staff based on published reports.

"What these charts illustrate is that there is a web of relationships, some private, some governmental, that tie illicit activities by either rogue states or terrorist groups to legitimate companies and countries.

"To focus on stopping activities between rogue countries and terrorist groups would be to place a barrier only part way across the flood of destructive weapons.

"We need to broaden and intensify our efforts because it is only a matter of time before hundreds of thousands of people are killed in an attack by a weapon of mass destruction – nuclear, biological, or chemical."

-MORE-

AKAKA
2-2-2

"Yet, rather than aggressively doing all we can to prevent this, the United States sends, at best, mixed messages.

"For example, even though the Central Intelligence Agency has identified a bomb exploded by terrorists as a more likely threat than a missile launched by a rogue state, we are spending billions of dollars to develop a national missile defense system that may not work and against a threat that does not yet exist.

"For example, even though countless reports have identified radioactive material in the former Soviet Union as providing the most ready source of material to terrorists, funding requests for programs to secure Russian nuclear materials and eliminate weapons grade plutonium production have decreased.

"Even as we decry the development of nuclear weapons by other states, this Administration is investing millions in developing a new earth penetrating nuclear weapon and millions in making new nuclear weapons easier to test.

"What we need to do is clear. A simple six-step program would have tremendous impact:

1. accelerate efforts to control radioactive materials worldwide;
2. accelerate negotiations with the Russians to reduce the number of nuclear warheads and the number of weapons on alert status;
3. set an example by eliminating spending on new nuclear weapons;
4. ratify the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty;
5. negotiate a verifiable Fissile Material Cut-off Treaty, and
6. develop and strengthen existing export control systems.

"These are only a few steps of a broader agenda but they are critical components. What is so disappointing is how few of these obvious measures have been adopted.

"I am pleased that we have with us today such distinguished witnesses from the Administration and the public to discuss these important issues, and I welcome them to the Subcommittee."

###

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NEWS RELEASE

Contact Brian Hart/Aaron Groote

June 23, 2004

BROWNBACK’S HONG KONG RESOLUTION PASSES

Calls for democratic reform in Hong Kong

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Sam Brownback today applauded Senate passage of a resolution supporting democratic reform in Hong Kong. The bill, Senate Joint Resolution 33, passed yesterday by unanimous consent.

“Thousands are expected to march in the streets next week in Hong Kong, calling for democratic reforms. I am pleased that the Senate’s voice now can be added to those striving for universal suffrage and democratic change,” stated Brownback.

The resolution, introduced by Senator Brownback and co-sponsored by 12 other senators, declares that the people of Hong Kong should be free to determine the pace and scope of constitutional developments. The resolution notes that the People’s Republic of China has frustrated the process toward universal suffrage and democratic election of Hong Kong’s legislature and chief executive.

Brownback continued, “The people of Hong Kong are ready to be in control of their government. Hong Kong’s culture demands further democratization. Hong Kong’s business community depends on it, and the U.S. relationship with Hong Kong is based on that foundation. I hope China will listen to the clear message coming from Hong Kong’s citizens,” Brownback continued.

As the resolution indicates, the United States maintains a special relationship with Hong Kong, based on the Hong Kong Policy Act of 1992. The resolution also quotes a recent State Department report which noted the shared values and interests of the people of Hong Kong and the people of the United States.

Brownback is chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee’s Subcommittee on East Asian and Pacific Affairs.

-30-

Sam Brownback
United States Senator - Kansas
303 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
(202) 224-6521
http://brownback.senate.gov

FOR PLANNING PURPOSES Contact: Maureen Knightly/ Jennifer Carrier

June 23, 2004 202-224-3254

***MEDIA ADVISORY***

***Thursday***

Harkin to join national organization on disability for release of harris survey

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) will join the National Organization on Disability (N.O.D.) in releasing its 2004 Harris survey of Americans with disabilities tomorrow, June 24, at 12:00 p.m. at the National Press Club, 529 14th Street NW, Washington DC.

WHO: Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA)

Alan Reich, President, N.O. D.

Humphrey Taylor, Chairman of the Harris Poll

Robert David Hall, cast member of the CBS TV show, CSI, who is a new board member of N.O.D.

WHAT: Briefing with the results of the 2004 N.O.D./Harris Survey of Americans with Disabilities.

WHEN: 12:00 p.m.

Thursday, June 14, 2004

WHERE: Murrow Room

National Press Club

529 14th Street NW

Washington DC

###

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Susan Wheeler (202) 224-5150
June 23, 2004 Lindsay Nothern (208) 334-1776

CRAPO MOVES IDAHO PROJECTS INTO WATER BILL
Lewiston, Orofino, Snake River & Little Wood communities all benefit

Washington, DC - Idaho Senator Mike Crapo has included a number of Idaho water-related projects and a plan to assist wildlife in the committee markup of the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) for Fiscal Year 2005 and S. 2547, the Migratory Bird Treaty Reform Act of 2004. The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee approved the legislation today. Crapo is a member of the committee, and chairs the Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, and Water.

“Idaho water projects and increased potential for water-based recreation are major winners in the legislation the Environment and Public Works Committee has adopted today,” Crapo said. “We are authorizing and finding funds for projects from Fort Hall to Dworshak Reservoir and the Port of Lewiston and at the same time sending more help for communities with water and wastewater infrastructure issues.”

Crapo today assisted with the authorization of funds for:
· Gooding area: Stabilization of the Little Wood River banks near Gooding which are deteriorating,
· Orofino area: Increasing recreation facilities at Dworshak Reservoir. including houseboat moorage and boat ramp extensions
· Lewiston: Offering more potential for recreational boating and commercial leasing in Lewiston by consideration changes for the facilities at the Port of Lewiston that could bring new dollars and new tenants to the port;
· Studying the Upper Snake River near Fort Hall to study effects on wildlife, infrastructure, and water channels stemming from river diversions initially caused by the failure of the Teton Dam.

Crapo also won approval for language exempting the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) from additional fees for the use of federally-owned dam projects. Because BPA directly funds operation and maintenance costs, the fee would have been a double charge that could have increased costs to BPA and ultimately ratepayers. He convinced committee members to approve more flexibility for needed dredging and maintenance near the Port of Lewiston. He also won language aimed at furthering volunteer work at wildlife refuges, strengthening efforts to protect migratory birds, and reauthorizing funding for migratory bird programs, all a part of legislation authorized by the committee today.
# # #
FOR INTERESTED MEDIA: A radio actuality is available by calling 1-800-545-1267. Press 327 at any time during or after the greeting and instructions. You can also access the actuality through the Internet at <http://src.senate.gov/radio/>.

SPECTER & SANTORUM ANNOUNCE CONFIRMATION OF SANCHEZ

Washington, D.C.- Senator Arlen Specter (R-PA), a senior member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and Senator Rick Santorum (R-PA), Chairman of the Senate Republican Conference, announced today that the U.S. Senate has unanimously confirmed Juan R. Sanchez to serve on the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.

“Judge Sanchez was nominated by the President to serve on the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania on a recommendation from Senator Santorum and me,” Senator Specter said. “Judge Sanchez was born in Puerto Rico, immigrated to the Untied States and is a great Horatio Alger success story. He possesses excellent academic credentials, has a distinguished legal career and will make an outstanding jurist.”
“Judge Sanchez brings a broad base of knowledge, academic skills, and diverse practical experiences,” said Senator Santorum. “I am confident that Judge Sanchez will display the same integrity and fair judgment as he has serving Chester County.”

Juan Sanchez has served as a judge for the Chester County Court of Common Pleas 15th Judicial District of Pennsylvania since 1998. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree, cum laude, from City College of the City University of New York and his Juris Doctor from the University of Pennsylvania. The President nominated Judge Sanchez on November 25, 2003. His confirmation hearing was held on February 11, 2004, and his nomination was passed out of committee on March 11, 2004.

June 23, 2004
BURNS ANNOUNCES MORE THAN $83 MILLION FOR MONTANA IN INTERIOR APPROPRIATIONS BILL
Chairman Burns Secures Conservation, Research, Preservation Funding

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Conrad Burns (R-Mont.) announced today that funding has been designated for Montana through the FY05 Interior Appropriations Bill, which is being finalized today. Burns, who serves as Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee’s Subcommittee on Interior, and the only member of the Montana Senate delegation on the Appropriations Committee, was instrumental in the development of the legislation that will bring a total of more than $83.4 Million to the state.

“Our state is defined by our land, and it takes money to keep that land working for us,” said Burns. “Whether it’s ensuring that our national parks continue to draw a crowd, protecting our forests from the long, dry summer months, or developing new methods to preserve our environment on our quest for greater energy development, my role as Chairman of the Interior Appropriations Subcommittee is one of my most important because the funding we get through this committee keeps the wheels turning,” he continued. “I’m glad to see this funding remain intact this far into the appropriations process, and I’ll continue my work in Washington to make sure it stays there for Montana.”

Jim Stone, Ovando rancher and chairman of the Blackfoot Challenge said, "We owe tremendous thanks to Senator Burns for his outstanding support of the Blackfoot Community Project. This public funding is critical to helping us realize a community vision for maintaining the valley's tradition of ranching, forestry, wildlife, and public access."

Speaking of the funds made available for the Swan River Valley project, Bud Clinch, Director of the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation said, “We have worked with the local community, Trust for Public Land and landowners in this working forest proposal. These lands are extremely important to the future of the Swan River State Forest – the most productive timberland in Montana. The easements on these lands will assure that the Swan Valley remains as a working forest with a more consistent management direction. We are pleased to see continued support and attention to forestland protection in the Swan Valley.”

Tom Coston, coordinator of the Fuels for Schools program for the Bitterroot Resource Conservation and Development Area said, “Senator Burns has been a great supporter of the Fuels for Schools program. As a result of his work, Victor Public Schools saved more than 50% on their heating bills over the last year. We will have projects in Victor and Phillipsburg on line this fall and with the increase in Fuels for Schools funding we should be able to reach out to even more Montana communities.”

"Senator Burns has, once again, demonstrated his commitment to education in Indian Country,” said Joe McDonald, president of Salish Kootenai College. “These funds will provide accessible housing on campus for our students when completed and the jobs created by new construction will help our community and economy. We are indebted to Senator Burns for sharing our vision of a brighter future for our young people and for his dedication in seeing that vision become a reality."

Following is a list of Montana specific projects approved as part of the Subcommittee’s action on the Department of Interior Appropriations Bill for Fiscal Year 2005:

Montana Projects

Blackfoot Challenge – Missoula/Helena $18,300,000
Center For Landscape Fire Analysis – UM Missoula $3,000,000
Center for Zero Emissions Research and Technology – MSU $5,000,000
Hi TEC Electrochemical Engineering – MSU $5,000,000
Montana Fuels for Schools Program $2,000,000
Undaunted Stewardship – MSU $1,000,000
Swan River Valley – Missoula/Kalispell $6,000,000
Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem - Bozeman $3,500,000
White Sandy Beach Recreation Enhancement – Helena $750,000
Schwend Ranch – Billings/Red Lodge $1,200,000
Montana Habitat Conservation Plan $500,000
McMaster Ranch Conservation - Helena $3,500,000
Salish Kootenai College Student Housing $1,500,000
Health Education for Native Americans in Montana – Billings $500,000
Western Heritage Center – Billings $1,500,000
Whirling Disease Initiative – Bozeman $1,400,000
Indians into Psychology Program – UM Missoula $200,000
Center for Invasive Plant Management – MSU $750,000
Joe Skeen Institute for Rangeland Restoration – MSU $500,000
Wildlife Health Center – MSU $500,000
Wild Fish Habitat Initiative – MSU $500,000
Improvements and Repair of Northern Cheyenne School $350,000
Grizzly Bear DNA study – Kalispell/GF/Choteau/Missoula $988,000
Ft. Belknap IHS Staff Headquarters $5,000,000
Tongue River Water Quality Monitoring – Billings/Miles City $900,000
Extremophilic Life in Berkley Pit - Butte $200,000
Yellowstone Projects
Yellowstone Snowcoaches $1,000,000
Restoration of Old House at Old Faithful $9,801,000
Replace Existing Court Facilities with a New Courthouse at Mammoth Hot Springs $2,655,000
Replace Madison Waste Water Facilities $3,956,000
Reconstruct West Yellowstone Entrance $1,487,000

?????
Total Montana Projects $64,538,000
Total Yellowstone Projects: $18,899,000
?????
Total Montana and Yellowstone $83,437,000

Grant Toomey
Deputy Press Secretary
Senator Conrad Burns
187 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
202.224.6137 Phone
202.224.8594 Fax

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Contact: Howard Gantman

Wednesday, June 23, 2004 or Scott Gerber 202/224-9629

http://feinstein.senate.gov/

Senator Feinstein Urges Aggressive Action to Clean up Perchlorate Following Report of Widespread Milk Contamination

Washington, DC – In the wake of growing concerns about perchlorate contamination in drinking water, milk and other agricultural products, U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) today urged Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and the Bush Administration to move “aggressively” to clean up the contamination in the water and food supply.

“I am writing to urge you to lead a coordinated statewide effort in California to begin the remediation of perchlorate in water and the environment,” Senator Feinstein said in a letter to the Governor. “I have expressed my deep concerns about perchlorate percolating into the food chain in one of our discussions. Now, there is irrefutable proof that perchlorate has, in fact, penetrated the food chain. The State needs to move aggressively.”

In addition to the letter to Governor Schwarzenegger, Senator Feinstein also sent letters to:

· Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld,

· Environmental Protection Agency Secretary Michael Leavitt,

· Secretary of Agriculture Ann Veneman

· Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson.

She urged the Administration officials “to work with other federal agencies and affected states to assess the penetration of perchlorate in our food supply and to work to remediate perchlorate contamination.”

“I am deeply concerned about the impact of perchlorate on all Californians, but especially on pregnant women, the unborn, infants, and young children. Scientists have linked perchlorate exposure to deficiencies in thyroid metabolism in the unborn, newborns and infants. This can result in lowered IQ, mental retardation, loss of hearing and speech, and motor skill deficits,” Senator Feinstein said.

Senator Feinstein also wrote Dr. Bruce Alberts, President of the National Academy of Sciences, to urge that a study on the public health impacts of perchlorate not be delayed further and stressed the importance of the NAS examining the impact of perchlorate on the most vulnerable and sensitive populations, especially children.

Senator Feinstein noted that a study released Tuesday by the Environmental Working Group (EWG) revealed the penetration of perchlorate into the food chain in 32 out of 32 milk samples.

The EWG study examined milk samples gathered by the California Department of Food and Agriculture and found the following:

· The average perchlorate concentration was at 5.85 parts per billion, almost six times as high as the Environmental Protection Agency’s provisional daily safe dose.

· The Environmental Working Group also took its own samples of milk sold in supermarkets in Southern California. Out of the 32 samples, 31 were contaminated with perchlorate. The average concentration of perchlorate was at 1.3 parts per billion.

· By drinking milk contaminated with the levels of perchlorate found in the two studies, “half of all children age 1 to 5 would exceed EPA’s provisional safe dose just by drinking milk, and more than a third would get twice that dose.” And that is by drinking milk alone—not by drinking water or eating other fruits and vegetables that also contain perchlorate.

Regarding the Department of Defense, Senator Feinstein wrote Secretary Rumsfeld: “I am calling upon the Department to clean up perchlorate at the source of the problem: at the Department of Defense sites and at water sources contaminated by Department of Defense activities and their contractors. In order to fully remediate perchlorate and remove it from our food supply we will need to make sure it is no longer in our soil or riverbeds. In other words, the Department must act swiftly and expeditiously to clean up perchlorate contamination of our water and our environment.”

In her letter to Secretary Veneman, the Senator said: “I urge the Department of Agriculture to take swift and aggressive action, coordinating with the Food and Drug Administration, to facilitate the sampling, testing and monitoring of foods for perchlorate. It is time for the Federal government to assess the degree to which foods contain perchlorate and to clean up perchlorate wherever it is found in order to protect our children from exposure to this harmful chemical.”

She also noted in her letter to Administrator Leavitt: “The Administration has stated that actions towards remediation and elimination of perchlorate in the environment cannot be undertaken until the EPA establishes a reference dose for perchlorate. In the absence of federal leadership, States are beginning to act on their own to establish drinking water standards. However, these standards do not take into consideration all potential sources of exposure, nor do they consider the impact of perchlorate on vulnerable populations. California, for instance, has established a public health goal of 6 parts per billion, Massachusetts and Maryland have established advisory levels of 1 part per billion, and Texas has an action level of 4 parts per billion.

I know the EPA is waiting for the results of the National Academy of Sciences’ study before issuing a final reference dose. I urge the EPA to be prepared to immediately issue an updated reference dose upon delivery of the NAS study. I am also urging the NAS to complete the study by its deadline of August 2004.

And in her letter to Secretary Thompson, “I urge the Department of Health and Human Service to take swift and aggressive action, coordinating with the United States Department of Agriculture and the Environmental Protection Agency, to sample, test and monitor foods for perchlorate. It is time for the Federal government to assess the degree to which foods contain perchlorate and to clean up perchlorate contamination to protect our children from exposure to this harmful chemical.”

On Tuesday, the Senate Appropriations Committee approved Senator Feinstein’s proposal to provide $4 million to clean up perchlorate in the Inland Empire. The funding was included in the FY 2005 Defense Appropriations Bill which has now been referred to the full Senate. Specifically, it would provide $4 million for the Environmental Security Technical Certification Program to conduct research and a demonstration of clean-up technologies in the Rialto-Colton Basin, where a seven-mile plume was discovered in 2002. This plume has contaminated 22 drinking water wells in western San Bernardino County, jeopardizing water supplies for 500,000 local residents.

In addition to the funding, the Appropriations Committee adopted a provision proposed by Senator Feinstein that the Department of Defense “should expedite the development of a plan to remediate perchlorate contamination. Once that plan is developed, the Committee believes that the Department should take appropriate action to implement this plan.”

And the Committee reiterated that the DOD should provide a report to Congress on Perchlorate contamination as required in the FY 2004 Military Construction Conference Report, which was due April 30. To date, the DOD has not provided the report.

Last week, the U.S. Senate approved an amendment to the Department of Defense (DOD) Authorization bill, sponsored by Senator Feinstein, calling on the Pentagon to remediate perchlorate contamination on DOD sites where the chemical threatens the health and safety of Americans.

Perchlorate, which is used in munitions and jet fuels, has contaminated drinking water supplies or the environment in 34 states. If ingested, perchlorate can interfere with thyroid function, and scientific evidence suggests that this effect can impair the normal development of the brain in fetuses newborns and infants, permanently damaging cognitive abilities and brain function in affected children.

Copies of the letters sent by Senator Feinstein on perchlorate are available upon request.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Susan Wheeler (202) 224-5150
June 23, 2004 Lindsay Nothern (208) 334-1776

CRAPO LAUDS LDS PRESIDENT HINCKLEY
Hinckley honored along with twelve others at White House ceremony

Washington, DC – Idaho Senator Mike Crapo will join other dignitaries at the East Room of the White House this afternoon to honor LDS Church President Gordon B. Hinckley and other Presidential Medal of Freedom recipients. Hinckley is among thirteen individuals being honored by President Bush this year for their contributions to the country.

“President Hinckley’s years of service speak volumes about his commitment to reaching out beyond the boundaries of religious belief,” Crapo said. “During his tenure as President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the Church has increased its humanitarian efforts and provided educational opportunities to many individuals who had not had scholarship opportunities in the past. He is a principled, loving leader who has provided an outstanding example for all those who have come in contact with him. I am honored to be able to participate in the ceremony today and appreciate the recognition afforded to President Hinckley by President Bush.”

The Presidential Medal of Freedom is our nation's highest civil award, given to individuals of exceptional merit and integrity. Other honorees this year include: Pope John Paul II; golf pro Arnold Palmer, National Geographic Society Board Chairman Gilbert Grosvenor; former Massachusetts Senator Edward Brooke, the first black person elected to the Senate; pioneer ophthalmologist and researcher Arnall Patz; former Brown University President Vartan Gregorian; a former head of Citibank Walter Wriston; cosmetics entrepreneur Estee Lauder; and actresses Rita Moreno and Doris Day.

The Medal was established in 1945 by President Harry S Truman to recognize civilians for their service during World War II. It was reinstated by President John F. Kennedy in 1963 to honor distinguished service by civilians. Since that time, more than 400 people have been honored. For more information, please go to http://www.medaloffreedom.com.

# # #

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: CONTACT: Maureen Knightly/ Jen Carrier

June 23, 2004 202.224.3254

HARKIN ANNOUNCES FIREFIGHTER ASSISTANCE FOR IOWA COMMUNITY

WASHINGTON – As part of his continued effort to support Iowa’s first responders, Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) today announced that the Boyden Area Fire Department was awarded $80,000 from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to increase the effectiveness of fire operations and to support fire fighter safety.

“I’m pleased these brave men and women will receive the essential fire fighting tools they need to keep our communities safe," said Harkin. “The equipment, technology and training these grants will support are the key to protecting Iowa’s firefighters and our homes and loved ones.”

Specifically, these grants will help Iowa fire departments fund the purchase of firefighting equipment, fund firefighter health and safety programs, enhance emergency medical services programs, and conduct fire prevention and safety programs.

DHS expects to announce grants weekly, and will distribute $746 million to fire departments across the country this year. For more information on the Assistance to Firefighters Grant program, please visit www.usfa.fema.gov.

###

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Crapo-Susan Wheeler (202) 224-5150

June 23, 2004 Craig-Dan Whiting (202) 224-8078

CRAPO BILL AIMS TO BRING STABILITY

TO MILK PRICES FOR PRODUCERS

Measure Extends Dairy Risk Management Tool

Washington, DC – Idaho Senator Mike Crapo introduced a bill in the Senate today aimed at ensuring the continued availability of an important risk management tool for dairy producers. The bill would make permanent the dairy forward contracting pilot program, a program that allows producers and processors to enter into voluntary, long-term contracts for their milk supplies. Idaho Senator Larry Craig is an original co-sponsor of the legislation.

“Without question, dairy producers are subject to a very fickle dairy market,” Crapo said. “Dairy prices can go from all-time highs to all-time lows over the course of a year, making long-term planning extremely difficult. This legislation would enable voluntary agreements for the sale of a specific volume of milk for a set price over an established period of time. There is no reason that dairy farmers should be forced to ride a dairy price roller coaster, when the extension of this sensible program would provide farm families with an option to help plan for their futures.”

"This legislation creates another free-market tool for dairy farmers to manage risk,” said Senator Larry Craig. “It will help Idaho dairies survive periods of low prices and maintain the strength and viability of Idaho's valuable dairy industry."

The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2000 authorized the forward contracting pilot project, which is set to expire at the end of 2004. A 2002 U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) report to Congress suggested that the daily forward contracting pilot program has been effective in reducing price volatility. Without the pilot project, only cooperatives can enter into forward contracts with producers.

Stressing the bill’s importance to Idaho, Idaho Dairymen’s Association Executive Director Bob Naerebout said: “Over 60% of the dairy producers in Idaho sell their milk directly to a processor and not through a cooperative organization. This no doubt accounts for the fact that Idaho ranks third among states participating in the forward contracting pilot program. It has given all dairy producers in Idaho access to a reliable risk management tool.”

# # #

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 23, 2004 Contact: Paul Cardus (202) 224-6361

AKAKA APPLAUDS SEC ACTION ON MUTUAL FUND GOVERNANCE

Washington, D.C. – United States Senator Daniel K. Akaka (D-Hawaii) issued the following comment on the rules approved today by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Senator Akaka is the sponsor of the Mutual Fund Transparency Act of 2003 (S. 1822), legislation which would strengthen board independence, enhance the transparency of financial relationships, and require disclosure of financial relationships between brokers and mutual fund companies and of certain brokerage commissions paid by mutual fund companies.

"I commend the SEC for approving proposals that will improve the governance of mutual funds. The new SEC requirements for an independent chairman for mutual fund boards and an increased percentage of independent directors to 75 percent are significant steps towards ensuring that independent directors are better able to protect shareholders' interests. I am delighted that the Commission, under the leadership of Chairman Donaldson, has taken these bold steps to protect the 95 million American investors who have invested a significant portion of their financial security in mutual funds. These provisions mirror those in my Mutual Fund Transparency Act of 2003, which I introduced last year in order to restore public trust in the mutual fund industry.

"In addition to the regulatory actions taken by the SEC, the Senate must act on legislation to further strengthen the independence of mutual fund boards and prevent reforms from being rolled back in the future."

-30-

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Adam Elggren (202) 224-3370

June 23, 2004

HATCH STATEMENT ON UTAH GOP PRIMARY RESULTS

Washington, D.C. — Sen. Orrin G. Hatch (R-Utah) released the following statement today on the results of yesterday’s Utah Republican primary election:

“The Utah Republican Party fielded outstanding candidates yesterday for races across the state. These were races about ideas, about the best policies for our state and for America, and I’m proud of the fine slate that has emerged to represent our party. Now it is time for Utah Republicans to unite behind these terrific candidates and ensure that our state has the leaders that it deserves come November.

“John Huntsman Jr. is an exceptional candidate for governor of our state. I’m confident that my fellow Utahns will recognize his outstanding qualities: leadership, vision, an amazing understanding of the issues facing Utah, tremendous managerial acumen, and a compassion that rivals that of his father. And I would like to congratulate Nolan Karras – who, like John, is also a good friend of mine – on running such a fantastic campaign.

“I’m pleased that my good friend Congressman Chris Cannon will move on to the general election in November for Utah’s Third District and, I am sure, once again lead the Utah delegation in the U.S. House of Representatives. Chris is a bold and forceful advocate for Utah, and always has the best interests of his constituents at heart.

“John Swallow won a close, well-fought battle to earn the Second District nomination and has shown that he has what it takes to compete in that tough district. Utahns know that John Swallow shares their views and is a man of strong convictions and moral grounding. He will represent the Republican Party well.

“Matt Throckmorton and Tim Bridgewater would have made good candidates for their respective House districts. Both clearly were devoted to their fellow Utahns.”

# # #

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Matt Hartwig/Maureen Knightly

June 23, 2004 202-224-3254

MISSISSIPPI RIVER IMPROVEMENT PROJECT TAKES BIG STEP FORWARD

Harkin cosponsored bill moves to Senate floor

WASHINGTON – Legislation to improve navigation and ecosystems on the Mississippi River took a big step forward today. The bill, which includes $2.92 billion equally on lock reconstruction and ecosystem restoration, was included as part of the larger Water Resources and Development Act (WRDA) reauthorization bill passed out of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (EPW). Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) joined with Senator Kit Bond (R-MO), Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and a bipartisan group of Mississippi River senators to introduce this legislation and push the bill to the floor.

“This bill will modernize the way products grown by Iowa farmers reach the world market and provide much needed funding to restore precious ecosystems along the Mississippi River,” said Harkin. “It will continue to allow our farmers to compete globally while protecting and preserving ecosystems and natural resources that are an important part of the river’s history and lore.”

Specifically, the legislation Harkin cosponsored would spend $2.92 billion, split equally, to build seven new 1,200-foot navigation locks and restore ecosystems damaged by the initial lock and dam construction in the 1930s. The bill calls for new locks to be constructed at Locks 20, 21, 22, 24, 25, as well as at LaGrange and Peoria. In addition, the bill would authorize $100 million to help mitigate the loss of habitat connected with lock construction, and $24 million for non-construction navigation improvements, such as helper boats.

Passing the legislation out of committee is a big first step toward beginning the much-needed modernization. Next, the bill will be brought to the Senate floor for consideration.

“I am encouraged by the quick action of the EPW Committee to include this bill into the larger WRDA legislation and move it to the floor,” said Harkin. “It is my hope that we can pass this bill swiftly and begin this important modernization project right away.”

# # #

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Susan Wheeler (202) 224-5150
June 23, 2004 Lindsay Nothern (208) 334-1776

CRAPO WATER BILL CLEARS COMMITTEE
Idaho communities to gain millions more in infrastructure assistance

Washington, DC – Legislation authored by Idaho Senator Mike Crapo that would provide assistance to water and wastewater systems throughout the United States has cleared the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. S. 2550, the Water Infrastructure Financing Act, deals with the central problem that most clean water systems in the country have—that of crumbling infrastructure with growing upgrade costs. The measure will provide authorized spending for water and wastewater infrastructure programs of $35 billion over the next five years. Crapo chairs the EPW Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife and Water, which maintains jurisdiction over water infrastructure issues.

The Water Infrastructure Financing Act is the major authorizing bill for federally funded water system programs. It includes the State Revolving Funds, which are the primary means of financing drinking water systems and treatment of wastewater throughout the country.

“Presently Congress appropriates $1.35 billion a year for wastewater infrastructure improvements and $850 million for drinking water assistance programs, but some estimate the needs actually run into the hundreds of billions of dollars,” Crapo explained. “There is obviously a gap in what we are spending to keep our water and wastewater systems operating efficiently and effectively and what needs to be spent to keep our communities safe and our water clean. There is also a large gap between what states receive, with some receiving tens of millions and others hundreds of millions of dollars each year for improvements.

Crapo continued, “For example, Idaho and other states receive less than $10 million each year for wastewater system improvement. That’s less than what many new water treatment plants cost. Idaho has many communities in dire need of assistance, and this legislation will provide the state with millions more in the State Revolving Funds. This means communities like Castleford, Pocatello, Clearwater Valley, Burley and Spirit Lake that are now struggling with water and wastewater difficulties will be eligible for additional funds to assist in upgrading water and wastewater treatment systems.

“Under the present allocation, smaller states have traditionally received negligible amounts of assistance and they need to receive more,” Crapo concluded. “Our challenge is to do so while remaining within current fiscal restraints. As we have worked through this dilemma, we have set up a formula that sets us on a path that will allow states the needed funds to begin improvements without taking away any funds from states receiving larger allocations. The measure passed by the EPW Committee today meets that challenge and will help us move along in ensuring that our communities have safe and clean water available.”

The measure will now be referred to the full Senate for consideration.
# # #

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Maureen Knightly/ Jennifer Carrier

June 23, 2004 202-224-3254

HARKIN SUCCESSFULLY ADDS IAAP WORKERS TO

SPECIAL EXPOSURE COHORT

IAAP Workers Under Title B Automatically Eligible for Compensation

WASHINGTON, D.C.— Senators Tom Harkin (D-IA) and Christopher Bond (R-MO) today successfully passed an amendment to the Defense Authorization bill that will add workers from Iowa and Missouri nuclear weapons facilities who have subsequently developed cancer to a Special Exposure Cohort (SEC) making them automatically eligible for compensation. Workers from Kentucky, Ohio, Alaska, and Tennessee are already included in the SEC. The Defense Authorization bill must pass the full Senate and be approved by the Senate-House Conference.

“These workers have waited years to be compensated,” Harkin said. “Many of them are buried by burdensome healthcare bills after years of dealing with work-related illnesses, and many have died waiting for compensation. The workers at IAAP and their families devoted their lives to our national security, and their compensation is long overdue.”

Harkin was one of the Senate sponsors of the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation (EEOICPA), which was enacted in October 2000. The EEOICPA specifies that for those facilities whose workers are not currently included in a SEC, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is responsible for completing the “dose reconstructions” that estimate the amount of radiation workers were exposed to and whether it caused their cancer, which entitles them to compensation.

A recent study by NIOSH revealed that little to no radiation screening was conducted at IAAP prior to 1975. As a result of the inadequate documentation, many workers made sick by exposure at the plant will have difficulty receiving compensation unless they are added to the SEC.

Last week, Harkin was also able to successfully add an amendment that would speed efforts to administratively add workers to the cohort if recommended by HHS. This provision was part of a package of improvements to the other half of the compensation program primarily for people with non-cancer illnesses that was cosponsored by Harkin.

IAAP was the “forgotten” nuclear weapons plant until Harkin brought it to the government’s attention after being contacted by Robert Anderson, a constituent and former IAAP worker who has non-Hodgkins lymphoma, in 1997. Harkin was a Senate sponsor of the original Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Act (EEOICPA) in 2000 and of a bill to amend it last fall, and he has obtained government funding for health screening of workers at the plant.

# # #

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Susan Wheeler (202) 224-5150
For the Week of June 27, 2004 Laura Thurston Goodroe (202) 224-7500

REACHING OUT ACROSS THE MILES
Guest opinion submitted by Idaho Senator Mike Crapo
2300 miles, four days of driving, and two or three time zones (depending on where you live) separate Idaho from Washington, D.C. It takes almost twice as long to get from any city in Idaho to Washington than it takes to drive from Frankfurt, Germany to Athens, Greece -- a trip which crosses eight countries and at least as many languages and distinct cultures.
While Idahoans share a common language and culture with the rest of the United States, the distance can cause people to feel significantly removed from national issues and decision-making. Often, it is only when the results of those decisions ripple out into daily life, that people take notice and have questions and concerns about legislation that affects them. Our government functions most effectively when citizens are involved in the process at the outset of policy-making. Better, longer-lasting decisions result, antagonism with “the system” is diminished, and people have a sense of ownership and control over their lives.
For these reasons, nearly ten years ago I began a monthly live town hall meeting, broadcast from the basement of the United States Capitol called “Capitol Watch.” The distance separating Idaho and Washington sometimes poses a hindrance to Idahoans who
want to participate in our government on a national level. While contacting any of my offices by phone, fax, email, or letter is an effective way to get your voice heard on issues, “Capitol Watch” gives me the opportunity to speak with constituents directly. I am very grateful to the Idaho Cable Television Association for their willingness to support me in this effort.
Since its inception, I’ve attempted to highlight timely issues important to Idahoans. Many times, after spending a few minutes covering current legislation, I simply open the program up to e-mail or phoned-in questions on any topic. Sometimes, I invite special guests; most recently, United States Department of Veteran’s Affairs Director Anthony Principi, and William Magwood, Director of the Office of Nuclear Energy, Science, and Technology for the U.S. Department of Energy. Last winter, I featured real stories by Idaho veterans, and I’ve addressed seasonal topics such as toy safety at Christmas, tax advice this past March with Grover Norquist, President of Americans For Tax Reform, and becoming an intern in my office.
In addition, on my website, http://crapo.senate.gov, I post information related to the “Capitol Watch” of the month, including biographies of guests and resources for viewers who would like more information. “Capitol Watch” is broadcast on Idaho cable channels Boise/Treasure Valley 11, Coeur d’Alene 19, Idaho City 37, Idaho Falls/Blackfoot 19, Lewiston 13, Moscow 11, Pocatello 22, and Twin Falls 17, the Boise Public Access channel; and, it can also be heard live on the Internet through my website. The program airs on the second Tuesday of every month from 6:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. Pacific time, and from 7:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. Mountain time.
My staff and I put considerable time and effort into this “Capitol Watch” because I believe it is an effective way to reach out to Idahoans when I am many miles away. The business I do as a Senator in Washington is Idaho’s business, and I want to encourage and facilitate participation in this process. It is my hope that this program will continue to engage Idahoans across the miles as you share the wisdom of your experiences and knowledge with me.
“Capitol Watch” airs live, which means that we start the program at 9:00 p.m. Eastern time. Most nights as I make my way home following the program, it is dark and the powerful floodlights of the Capitol illuminate the Dome. I am struck by its commanding presence. It, like the Republic it represents, is a bright beacon against a dark sky. It is largely alone in the skyline, but unmistakably powerful.
Please join me next month on July 13 for “Capitol Watch.” I look forward to answering your questions and hearing what you have to say.

WORD COUNT: 656

MEDIA ADVISORY
JOHN CORNYN
United States Senator - Texas
CONTACT: DON STEWART
(202) 224-0704 office (202) 365-6702 cell

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 23, 2004

CORNYN TO OUTLINE NATIONAL SECURITY IMPLICATIONS OF LEAHY/KENNEDY MEMO SUBPOENA AMENDMENT

Press conference will follow Kennedy/Leahy press avail in Radio/TV gallery—approx. 3:00

WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas), a member of the Armed Services and Judiciary committees will discuss the Leahy subpoena amendment to the Defense authorization bill. The amendment would require the administration to produce an extraordinary amount of additional documents, beyond those already released by the White House yesterday afternoon.

Sen. Cornyn will be available to the media immediately following the Kennedy/Leahy avail in the Senate Radio/TV gallery (S-325). Cornyn chairs the subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights & Property Rights, and is the only former judge on the committee. He served previously as Texas Attorney General, Texas Supreme Court Justice, and Bexar County District Judge.

“Where I come from, people want direct questions and straight answers – not Beltway games and political tricks. People want the President and his officials to do everything necessary to win the war against terrorism, and to do so in full compliance with the law. That is exactly what the President and his officials are doing – and these documents that have been released are further proof. I’m proud of the Administration. And I’m disturbed that the President’s political opponents constantly try to politicize the war against terrorism. It is a presidential election year, but it is never the right time for the President’s partisan detractors to exploit the difficulties of the war against terrorism to score cheap political points at the expense of national security.”

“We must remember who we are fighting. And it is important to remember what happened to Nick Berg, Paul Johnson, and the thousands of Americans who died on 9/11. It is offensive for anyone to insinuate that Paul Johnson and Nick Berg were killed, not because of terrorists, but because of a memo written by a Justice Department lawyer. This kind of attack is all too typical of the ‘blame America first’ crowd, and it is deeply offensive.”

* * *

WHAT: Sen. Cornyn responds to Sens. Kennedy and Leahy on their call to produce additional sensitive and confidential administration memos detailing techniques used to gain critical intelligence from captured terrorists.

WHEN: June 23, 2004 3:00 (approx.). Avail will begin immediately following Kennedy/Leahy press conference

WHERE: Senate Radio/TV Gallery (S-325)

http://cornyn.senate.gov

Senator Specter is expected to participate in this hearing.

United States Senate
COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS

NOTICE OF SUBCOMMITTEE MEETING

The Subcommittee on Transportation, Treasury and General Government will meet in open session at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, June 24th, 2004 in Room 138, Dirksen Senate Office Building.

The program includes: Oversight Hearing on Passenger Screening and Airline Authority to Deny Boarding

Witnesses:

Panel I

The Honorable Jeff Rosen, General Counsel, Department of Transportation

Mr. Tom Blank, Assistant Administrator, Office of Transportation Security Policy, Transportation Security Administration

Panel II

Mr. Michael Smerconish, Esq., Talk show host and columnist

Ms. Peggy Sterling, Vice President, American Airlines

Ms. Christy E. Lopez, Esq., Relman and Associates

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 23, 2004

CONTACT:

Landrieu: Adam Sharp (202) 224-0098
Alexander: Alexia Poe (202) 224-8816

*** Press Conference Advisory ***

Alexander and Landrieu
Introduce Americans Outdoors Act

WASHINGTON – Sens. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) and Mary L. Landrieu (D-La.) will tomorrow hold a press conference to introduce the Americans Outdoors Act, a bipartisan piece of legislation that will provide a landmark federal commitment to conservation, coastal restoration, and outdoor recreation.
The Americans Outdoors Act would provide a steady and reliable stream of funding by redirecting a portion of offshore oil and gas revenues to four areas:
· Coastal Impact Assistance. $500 million to oil and gas producing coastal states to mitigate the impacts of offshore drilling activity and provide funding for wetlands restoration.
· State side of the Land and Water Conservation Fund. $450 million to states for the planning and development of state and local parks and recreation facilities.
· Wildlife Conservation. $350 million to states for a broad variety of wildlife conservation programs, both game and non-game species.
· Urban Parks Recreation and Recovery Program (UPARR). $125 million for UPARR in the form of matching grants to assist local governments in improving their park and recreation systems.

WHO: Sen. Mary L. Landrieu (D-La.)
Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.)
WHEN: Thursday, June 24, 2004
11:00 a.m.
WHERE: Russell Park (North Side of Russell Senate Office Building)
RAIN LOCATION: Senate Radio/Television Gallery, S-325

For final weather/location status on 6/24/04, visit http://landrieu.senate.gov/aoaloc.htm.

###

The Senate Appropriations Committee’s Subcommittee on Transportation, Treasury and General Government will hold an oversight hearing on Passenger Screening and Airline Authority to Deny Boarding at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, June 24th, 2004 in Room 138 of the Dirksen Building.

The scheduled witnesses are:

Panel I

The Honorable Jeff Rosen, General Counsel, Department of Transportation

Mr. Tom Blank, Assistant Administrator, Office of Transportation Security Policy, Transportation Security Administration

Panel II

Mr. Michael Smerconish, Esq., Talk show host and columnist

Ms. Peggy Sterling, Vice President, American Airlines

Ms. Christy E. Lopez, Esq., Relman and Associates

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 23, 2004
Contact: Lynn Becker or Zach Goldberg Phone: (202) 224-5653

KOHL, HATCH INTRODUCE LEGISLATION TO HELP LAW ENFORCEMENT TRACK EXPLOSIVES IMPORTED INTO U.S.

WASHINGTON B U.S. Senators Herb Kohl (D-WI) and Orrin Hatch (R-UT) today introduced the Imported Explosives Security Act to enable law enforcement to trace explosive materials imported into the United States. While domestic manufacturers - for security reasons - are required to place identification markings on all explosive materials they produce, markings are not required of explosives manufactured overseas and imported into the U.S.

Each year, more than 25,000 pounds of stolen, lost, or abandoned explosives are recovered by law enforcement. Identification markings enable law enforcement officers to determine the source of these explosives and help them solve crimes.

“Millions of pounds of unmarked explosives have already been distributed in this country. Each day we delay closing this loophole, we let more untraceable explosive materials cross our borders and undermine our national security. This is sensible legislation that will help law enforcement’s ability to solve crimes,” Kohl said.

Senator Hatch added: “There is simply no reason why explosive materials that are imported into the United States should not be required to meet the same safety standards as those produced domestically. In today’s environment, we cannot afford to allow loopholes like these to go unclosed.”

Kohl and Hatch’s legislation would require all imported explosives to carry the same markings currently placed on domestic explosives. It would require the name of the manufacturer, along with the time, date and shift of manufacture, to be placed on all explosives materials, whether they are manufactured in the U.S. or abroad.

According to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the explosives can then be tracked through records kept by those who manufacture and sell them, often leading them to the criminal who has stolen or misused them. At a recent Senate hearing, FBI Director Robert Mueller said that “determining the source of the components to any explosive device will assist you in determining who was responsible for any act using such a device.”

# # #

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MEDIA ADVISORY

Contact Brian Hart/Aaron Groote

June 23, 2004

BROWNBACK TO VISIT SUDAN, PRESS KHARTOUM GOVERNMENT TO ALLOW ACCESS FOR AID WORKERS

Will speak at U.S. Holocaust Museum tomorrow about potential genocide

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Sam Brownback this weekend will travel to the Darfur region of the Sudan to view the dire human rights situation there and to press the Khartoum government to allow access for international aid workers. Brownback will be joined on the trip by U.S. Congressman Frank Wolf.

Tomorrow Brownback will speak at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum to bring attention to the danger of genocide in the Darfur region of the Sudan. “Bearing Witness for Darfur” will feature Members of Congress, a Holocaust survivor, a Darfurian exile, and a Museum representative speaking about the situation in Darfur and what can be done about it.

On this weekend’s trip, Brownback will travel to western Darfur to visit several camps of internally displaced Sudanese, meet with NGOs, African Union monitors, as well as U.S. monitors. Media who are interested in traveling to the Darfur region with Brownback should contact Brian Hart at (202) 224-6521 as soon as possible.

“Bearing Witness for Darfur” takes place tomorrow at 10:30 a.m. Eastern at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, Hall of Witness, 100 Raoul Wallenberg Place, SW in Washington, D.C. Media wishing to attend the event should RSVP by contacting Andy Hollinger at (202) 488-6133 or ahollinger@ushmm.org.

There is an escalating human rights and humanitarian crisis in the Darfur region of western Sudan. The situation there is already dire. Arab militias, known as the Janjaweed, and government forces continue their violent campaign against Darfur’s Black African population.

Reports indicate that some 200,000 refugees have fled to Chad, and over 1 million have been displaced inside the region. USAID Director Andrew Natsios claims that, “Even in a best-case scenario, under optimal conditions, we could see as many as 320,000 people die. Without optimal conditions, the numbers will be far greater.” Some reports estimate that the final death toll could reach 1 million if humanitarian organizations are unable to deliver aid.

-30-

Sam Brownback
United States Senator - Kansas
303 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
(202) 224-6521
http://brownback.senate.gov

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Rodell Mollineau

June 23, 2004 202-224-2353

Senate Passes Pryor Legislation to Support Injured Troops

Measure to Track Injured Soldiers, Modernize Medical Combat Equipment

WASHINGTON D.C. – The U.S. Senate last night unanimously passed Senator Mark Pryor’s legislation to recognize the sacrifice of American military personnel injured in combat, help families better follow the whereabouts and medical progress of an injured loved-one and accelerate research and development funding to modernize medical combat equipment. Pryor offered his legislation as an amendment to the Department of Defense Authorization Bill currently before the Senate.

Pryor said the Service Act for Care and Relief Initiatives for Forces Injured in Combat Engagements, or the SACRIFICE amendment recognizes the sacrifice of American military personnel injured in combat through a Sense of the Senate resolution. As of today, 5,271 military personnel have been injured in Iraq including 3,072 soldiers who could not return to action and will face months if not years of rehabilitation.

The SACRIFICE amendment secondly requires the Secretary of Defense to establish a tracking system for wounded personnel being transported out of a combat zone. Pryor believes a uniform system will provide swift and timely responses and more reliable information to families seeking information on where their loved-ones are being sent for treatment, for how long and the prognosis of their injuries.

The SACRIFICE amendment also addresses a shortfall in funding to modernize medical combat equipment. The legislation expresses the importance of providing the best medical equipment, treatment and combat triage care for American troops, and calls for an authorization of $10 million for defense-wide research and development for medical equipment and combat casualty care. The funding authorization is offset with excess funds in the Air Force Personnel Account.

“I’m pleased the Senate has joined with me in recognizing the sacrifice of our men and women in combat, many of whom will suffer life long disabilities as a result of their service,” Pryor said. “This amendment shows our immense respect for our injured soldiers, and it goes a step further by demonstrating a strong commitment to improve the communication and safety for these soldiers and those that will follow in their footsteps.”

Pryor’s legislation has the national endorsement of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and Disabled American Veterans. In addition, nearly a dozen Senators cosponsored his amendment including, Jeff Sessions (R-AL), Saxby Chambliss (R-GA), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Elizabeth Dole, (R-NC), Jack Reed (D-RI), Bill Nelson (D-FL) and Ben Nelson (D-NE); Susan Collins (R-ME), John Cornyn (R-TX), Hillary Clinton (D-NY) and Blanche Lincoln (D-AR).

--30--

Rodell J. Mollineau

Communications Director

U.S. Senator Mark Pryor

202-224-2353 (office)

202-228-0908 (fax)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MEDIA ADVISORY

Contact Brian Hart/Aaron Groote

June 23, 2004

BROWNBACK PRESS CONFERENCE ON ADVANCES IN ADULT STEM CELL RESEARCH

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Sam Brownback will hold a press conference on Thursday, June 24, at 9:30 a.m. Eastern to promote recent advances in adult stem cell research.

A hearing on the subject scheduled for today was postponed due to family obligations. However, Brownback, along with scheduled witnesses will be available to the media tomorrow.

Press conference to discuss advances in adult stem cell research

Thursday June 24, 2004

9:30 a.m. Eastern

303 Hart Senate Office Building (Sen. Brownback’s office)

Participants:

Senator Brownback

Susan Fajt, patient

Laura Dominguez, patient

The hearing had been rescheduled to take place on Wednesday, June 23 at 11:00 a.m. in the Science, Technology and Space Subcommittee of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee.

Susan Fajt and Laura Dominguez are patients with severe spinal cord injuries who were treated with adult stem cells. Both patients were previously paralyzed and can now walk with the aid of braces, and are continuing their therapeutic treatments.

-30-

Sam Brownback
United States Senator - Kansas
303 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
(202) 224-6521
http://brownback.senate.gov

FOR PLANNING PURPOSES Contact: Maureen Knightly/ Jennifer Carrier

June 23, 2004 202.224.3254

MEDIA ADVISORY

TODAY

HARKIN TO ADDRESS EFFORTS TO FIGHT CHRONIC DISEASE, OBESITY CRISIS FACING AMERICA

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) will host a conference call with reporters and editorial writers to lay out the goals of his Healthy Lifestyles and Prevention (HeLP) America Act on Wednesday, June 23, at 12:15 pm EDT. Harkin unveiled major legislation to reduce health care costs by giving Americans access to better preventive care and consumer information to promote healthier lifestyles.

If you are interested in participating, please contact Jennifer Carrier at 202.224.3254 or e-mail Jennifer_carrier@harkin.senate.gov.

To join the call, dial toll free 1.866.416.3416 then enter your PIN - 2696.

Details of the event are as follows:

WHO: Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA)

WHAT: Conference call on Harkin Efforts to Fight Chronic Disease, Obesity Crisis Facing America

WHEN: 12:15 p.m. EDT

Wednesday, June 23

HOW: Dial Toll Free – 1.866.416.3416

PIN - 2696

###

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Todd Webster
TUESDAY, June 22, 2004 Sarah Feinberg

(202) 224-2939

Daschle Commemorates the 60th Anniversary of the GI Bill

(Washington, D.C.) - As Americans marked the 60th Anniversary of the GI Bill, Senate Democratic Leader Tom Daschle issued the following statement calling for a renewed commitment to our nation's veterans.

"The GI Bill has provided 21 million veterans and their families with over $77 billion in education and training benefits, as well as over $800 billion in home loan assistance. Behind each of these numbers is a story of a veteran who had access to opportunities in exchange for his or her service to our country.

"We must honor the success of the GI Bill by reaffirming our commitment to our nation's veterans. That's why I will continue to fight for fully funding VA health programs, providing National Guard members and reservists and their families access to affordable health care, and ensuring that our troops in Iraq, Afghanistan, and around the world have the protective equipment and supplies they need to carry out their missions.

"This weekend during my trip to Iraq, Kuwait, and Jordan, I met with many of the modern-day heroes serving in those countries, including members of the 740th Transportation Company from Brookings and Milbank. Like the veterans of our past, they and their families have made countless sacrifices for our national security. We must live up to the promise of the GI bill and ensure that the services and benefits the next generation of veterans are earning will be there when they need them."

###

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Contact: Howard Gantman

Tuesday, June 22, 2004 or Scott Gerber 202/224-9629

http://feinstein.senate.gov/

Senator Feinstein Gains Committee Approval for

$4 million to Clean up Perchlorate Contamination

Washington, DC – In the wake of growing concerns about perchlorate contamination, U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) won Senate Appropriations Committee approval today for the Defense Department to spend $4 million to clean up perchlorate in the Inland Empire.

The funding was included by the Appropriations Committee in the FY 2005 Defense Appropriations Bill. Specifically, it would provide $4 million for the Environmental Security Technical Certification Program to conduct research and a demonstration of clean-up technologies in the Rialto-Colton Basin, where a seven-mile plume was discovered in 2002. This plume has contaminated 22 drinking water wells in western San Bernardino County, jeopardizing water supplies for 500,000 local residents.

“What’s clear is that perchlorate is now permeating the food chain – in row crops, lettuce, tomatoes and dairy products. It’s a very serious thing, and the number one contributor is the Department of Defense,” Senator Feinstein said.

“The bottom line is that the State and Federal governments must work closely together to address this issue. I don’t want to see the dairy industry suffer, but this contamination has to be rapidly cleaned up and we need the help of the Defense Department in a major way.”

In addition to the funding approved today, the Appropriations Committee adopted a provision proposed by Senator Feinstein that the Department of Defense “should expedite the development of a plan to remediate perchlorate contamination. Once that plan is developed, the Committee believes that the Department should take appropriate action to implement this plan.”

Perchlorate, which is used in munitions and jet fuels, has contaminated drinking water supplies or the environment in 34 states. If ingested, perchlorate can interfere with thyroid function, and scientific evidence suggests that this effect can impair the normal development of the brain in the fetuses and newborn babies, and permanently damage cognitive abilities and brain function in affected children.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 22, 2004 Contact: Paul Cardus (202) 224-6361

SENATE DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS REAFFIRMS SUPPORT FOR NATIVE HAWAIIAN FEDERAL RECOGNITION BILL

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Daniel K. Akaka and Daniel K. Inouye announced that they had the privilege of making a presentation today to the Senators who are members of the Democratic caucus of the Senate regarding S. 344, a bill expressing the policy of the United States regarding the United States relationship with Native Hawaiians and to provide a process for the recognition by the United States of the Native Hawaiian governing entity.

"The caucus responded to our presentation with their support for the bill and their blessing, which was followed by a rousing ovation," said Senator Inouye, who serves as Vice Chairman of the Committee on Indian Affairs – the Committee of jurisdiction over the measure in the Senate.

Senate Democratic Leader Thomas Daschle reiterated his support for the legislation, stating, "I strongly support passage of the Native Hawaiian Recognition Act and so, I suspect, do the vast majority of Senators. I know from speaking with tribal leaders in South Dakota that this bill also enjoys broad support throughout Indian Country. The Hawaiian language and Native Hawaiian traditions are among the most beautiful threads in America's rich cultural tapestry. Preserving Native Hawaiian culture and heritage is critically important to the Hawaiian people and to our entire nation. This measure is long overdue and I hope that Congress will pass it soon so that it can become law."

"As we work to bring S. 344 to the Senate floor for consideration, today's strong expression of support from our caucus, coupled with the bipartisan support we have attracted from Senators Stevens, Campbell, Hatch, and Smith, and other Republican colleagues, sends a clear signal to the Majority Leader that we have the support necessary to overcome procedural hurdles and pass the legislation in the Senate, given the opportunity," Senator Akaka noted. "This is particularly important in light of the pressing national issues pending consideration on the Senate Calendar."

-30-

Sen. Kerry's remarks as prepared for delivery...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contacts: Andy Davis or April Boyd
June 22, 2004 (202) 224-4159
pressoffice1@kerry.senate.gov

Remarks by Senator John Kerry On
Making Funding for Veterans’ Benefits Mandatory

As prepared for delivery

“Mr. President, 60 years ago today, Franklin Roosevelt signed the GI Bill. He showed us how to honor our veterans and launched the greatest expansion of the middle class in our nation’s history.

“Never before has an act of legislation-a vision and an investment by one President-done so much for so many Americans. On the day it became law, President Roosevelt said: ‘The signing of this bill. . .gives emphatic notice to the men and women in our armed forces that the American people do not intend to let them down. . .’

“Today, the United States Senate has an opportunity to make history in the spirit of Roosevelt and his commitment to the Greatest Generation.

“Senator Daschle’s amendment will take an important step toward full, mandatory funding of veterans’ health care. It would say to the 500,000 veterans closed out of the VA health care system in the last two years that you are welcome, there is care for you.

“In the tenth year of its enactment, it will provide care to 3 million veterans who otherwise would be shut out of the system. And it will end the practice of rationing health care for those who have already given so much to this country.

“I hope that the Republican Leadership will allow us to proceed with this amendment. There is no reason to wait. We’re not asking for a lengthy debate. We are prepared to move to an immediate vote. We’re not delaying the defense bill.

“And it is absolutely consistent with the rules and traditions of the Senate that time be made available for the Minority Leader to offer his amendment and for a vote to be ordered.

“There is nothing stopping the Senate from acting today-from acting right now. And if we act, we will honor the 26 million Americans who wore the uniform.

“More than a decade ago, Senator Daschle and I worked together to help veterans exposed to Agent Orange receive the recognition, care and benefits they deserved. I am happy to join him on the floor today to make sure that the Department of Veterans Affairs has all the resources it needs to care for America’s veterans.

“I am honored to stand with the veterans backing Senator Daschle’s amendment: The VFW, the American Legion, AMVETS, Paralyzed Veterans Association, Disabled American Veterans, Blinded Veterans Association, Jewish War Veterans, Military Order of the Purple Heart and Vietnam Veterans of America.

“That’s a distinguished group of veterans-a lot of courage and honor and kindness comes from the men and women who belong to those organizations. And they are Americans whose opinions and guidance I trust.

“In this time of great sacrifice, we must show our veterans that we honor them, respect them. We must show them by our actions and our deeds-not just our words.

“During a time of war-a time when tens of thousands of Americas are asked to fight and possibly die for their country-our message must be loud and clear: when you come home, your country will take care of you because you took care of us.

“This is an important issue to the country, to our veterans, and to the men and women in harm’s way in Iraq, Afghanistan, and around the world-today’s service members who will be tomorrow’s veterans. They want us to vote on this amendment and so do I.

“I ask my colleagues to support this amendment. Mr. President, I yield the floor.”
# # #

___________________________________

Andy Davis
Communications Director
U.S. Senator John F. Kerry
P: (202) 224-4159
C: (202) 369-0240
F: (202) 224-2304
E: andy_davis@kerry.senate.gov
U: http://kerry.senate.gov
___________________________________

June 22, 2004

Contact: Courtney Schikora, 202-224-1028

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Senate Appropriations Committee Approves

FY05 Defense Appropriations Bill

Measure Contains Training and Infrastructure Improvements for Alaska

And 3.5 % Pay Raise for Military Personnel

The Senate Appropriations Committee has approved the FY05 Defense Appropriations bill. Nationally, the bill provides for a 3.5 percent average pay raise for military personnel and provides for the military readiness of our armed forces. After being considered by the full Senate, this bill must be reconciled with its House counterpart before being sent to the President.

“This bill ensures that our military men, women and families are taken care of in this time of war by fully funding military pay, benefits and medical programs. This is a good bill that is needed by our military,” said Stevens. “This bill supports the initial deployment of National Missile Defense Programs and continues the investment in theater missile defenses. This funding will greatly enhance the capabilities of the Ground-based Midcourse Missile Defense program in Alaska,” he added.

The $416.2 billion bill includes a number of training and infrastructure improvements requested by Senator Stevens, including funding to continue the work to relocate the Alaska Railroad tracks on Elmendorf AFB and Fort Richardson, to provide enhancements for the Port of Anchorage in support of the Army and provide for an Army Deployment Staging Area, and for utilidor repairs at Fort Wainwright and Eielson AFB.

The bill also provides funding to enhance both Army and Air Force training infrastructure and equipment throughout the state. Many of these enhancements are related to the Army’s fielding of the Stryker Interim Brigade Combat Team (SBCT) at Forts Wainwright and Richardson and to the upgrade of the Air Force’s training ranges, enhancing their ability to conduct air-to-ground operations in a joint environment.

Funding is included for the Department of Defense share of the Alaska Land Mobile Radio – ALMR. This project helps correct shortfalls in communications interoperability between federal, state and municipal agencies for mutual aid, disaster response, crisis management and day-to-day operations. The bill also provides funding for risk reduction activities associated with the Ground-based Midcourse Missile Defense system at Fort Greely, including military personnel, a power plant feasibility study, and continued upgrades to Allen Army Airfield. Additionally, the bill supports several defense-related Alaskan technology development programs throughout the State.

Funding for the Alaska Federal Health Care Telemedicine Network is also included in the bill, a continuation of the FY04 program.

Other projects included in the bill:

ARMY:

Fort Richardson Biathlon Trail Upgrade

Infrastructure Upgrades at Camp Carroll

Kodiak Range Upgrades

Hybrid Electric Infrastructure at Cold Regions Test Center

AIR FORCE:

COPE THUNDER Facilities Renovation

172nd Stryker Brigade Access Road Feasibility Study

Elmendorf AFB Community Center Enhancements

Power and Fiber upgrades for 11th Air Force Training Ranges

###

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Wendy Morigi

June 22, 2004 (202) 224-6101

ROCKEFELLER FIGHTS TO CLOSE LOOPHOLE IN MEDICARE DRUG BILL THAT RAISES COSTS FOR RETIREES

- 35 Senators Urge HHS Secretary Thompson Not To Undermine System-

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) and 35 of his Senate colleagues have asked the Secretary of Health and Human Services to close a loophole in the new Medicare drug law so that retirees are not burdened with more health care costs while their former employers receive federal subsidies. In a letter dated June 18, Rockefeller and his colleagues recommended that Secretary Tommy Thompson use his administrative authority and provide ‘clear guidance’ to employers so that they will not misuse the faulty provision in the new law.

“There are great flaws in the Medicare drug bill and I’m very concerned that many seniors will have more problems getting the health care they need as the new law is implemented. The bill is especially cruel to retirees who have employer-sponsored health care. We call on Secretary Thompson to close the harmful loopholes that allow employers to shift costs to retirees, discourage employers from providing prescription drug coverage, and leave monumental gaps in coverage,” Rockefeller said.

Rockefeller continued, “Retiree coverage is essential to millions of Americans, and we cannot provide a federal handout to employers who shift the costs of premiums or cost-sharing onto our retirees. It’s bad policy and it’s detrimental to retirees.”

In addition to urging Secretary Thompson to clarify that employers cannot cost-shift to their retirees under the new Medicare law, Senator Rockefeller and his colleagues also called on Secretary Thompson to work with Congress to make employer subsidies equal to the generous payments offered to private plans. The law provides a 73 percent subsidy to private insurers while employer-sponsored plans receive only a 28 percent subsidy for each retiree’s drug costs between $250 and $5000. This unequal subsidy discourages employers from continuing to offer prescription drug coverage to their retirees and, if left uncorrected, will ultimately shift more costs to the Medicare program.

Finally, Rockefeller opposed a provision in the Medicare law that penalizes employers who are trying to provide retiree health benefits. Currently, the law does not allow any spending by employers to fill in the significant gaps in coverage and count toward a Medicare participant meeting the catastrophic limit. This provision leaves retirees paying more out-of-pocket costs and is expected to cause at least 2.7 million retirees – including nearly 30,000 West Virginia retirees – to lose their employer-sponsored prescription drug coverage altogether.

The full text of the senators’ letter is attached.

###

For Immediate Release CONTACT: Barry E. Piatt

Tuesday or Rebecca Pollard

June 22, 2003 PHONE: 202-224-2551

DORGAN APPLAUDS SENATE VOTE ON CONCENTRATION OF BROADCAST OWNERSHIP

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) --- U.S. Senator Byron Dorgan applauded Tuesday’s action by the U.S. Senate to limit the concentration of media ownership. The Senate approved, by unanimous consent, Dorgan’s amendment which would reverse Federal Communications Commission (FCC) rules approved last June which would have cleared the way for even greater concentration of media ownership.

“Last June, the FCC performed one of the most complete cave-ins to corporate interests against the public interest in the history of the country,” Dorgan said. “The Senate, to its credit, has taken a series of strong, bipartisan actions to roll back the FCC rules. Today the Senate expressed itself again, in the strongest possible terms, saying that it wants the FCC’s cave-in reversed and wants it reversed now.”

“When the number of people and corporations who control what 293 million Americans see and hear in the media shrinks to just a relative handful, democracy suffers,” Dorgan said. “It is clear that as media ownership is more and more removed from local communities, those owners become more removed and less in touch with local community standards. Increasing levels of indecency is the result.”

“Today’s action is an important victory for the American people, for efforts to strengthen standards of decency on the public’s airwaves and for localism in broadcasting,” Dorgan said.

Doran’s amendment was added to the broader Defense Authorization bill, which the Senate continues to consider.

-- END --

NEWS RELEASE FROM THE OFFICE OF U.S. SENATOR LARRY CRAIG

For Immediate Release Dan Whiting (202) 224-8078
June 22, 2004 Mike Tracy (208) 342-7985

CRAIG SECURES MONEY TO PREPARE AIR GUARD FOR NEW MISSION
Idaho will be at the forefront of the war on terror

WASHINGTON, DC – Idaho Senator Larry Craig today announced that Department of Defense (DoD) appropriations bill for FY 2005 includes $2 million for making the Idaho Air National Guard ready to become the permanent carrier for the “SENIOR SCOUT” intelligence mission. Craig is a member of the Appropriations Committee, which wrote the bill.

“I’m pleased to announce that a year of diligent work with members of several congressional committees, including the House and Senate Intelligence Committees, resulted in our securing money and support to prepare the Idaho Air National Guard to become the permanent carrier of this high-priority mission,” said Craig.

“Although no final decision has been made on the permanent carrier, all indications from Air Force leadership point to the fact that Idaho will be the permanent carrier for this national security mission and asset.”

SENIOR SCOUT is an airborne electronic signals collection platform that is instrumental in performing intelligence and anti-terror missions worldwide. The encapsulated intelligence package, called a shelter, fits into the back of a standard C-130E or C-130H model that has been modified to accommodate the mission. Currently, there are three shelters stationed at the 169th Intelligence Squadron at the Utah Air National Guard in Salt Lake City, Utah. The shelters will remain in Utah, while Idaho’s planes and flight crews will likely be the permanent carriers.

The SENIOR SCOUT Mission relies solely on the Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard for mission air support.

The bill now goes before the full Senate.

[30]

[Below is BACKGROUND INFORMATION and a TIMELINE relating to the torture memos released today by the White House. Following that is the subpoena motion sought by Democratic members of the Senate Judiciary Committee last Thursday. The motion was blocked by Republicans on the Committee in a party line vote of 10-9. Leahy reax also is available, on the Leahy website (leahy.senate.gov.)]

Backgrounder and Timeline

February 2002: President Bush issues directive on status of Taliban and Al Qaeda detainees as unlawful combatants; thus they do not qualify under Geneva Conventions.

Fall 2002: The President’s earlier designation on Taliban and Al Qaeda detainees is followed by an exchange that begins with defense officials seeking approval to engage in more aggressive counter-resistance strategies and interrogation techniques.

December 2002: Secretary Donald Rumsfeld approves the defense officials’ requests in part – allowing techniques such as prolonged standing, use of dogs in the case of individual phobias and the removal of clothing. In comments, Secretary Rumsfeld asks why the prolonged standing technique was limited to 4 hours when he stood for 8-10 hours a day.

January 2003: Secretary Rumsfeld reverses position and summarily rescinds the December 2002 order. He then establishes a working group to analyze the detainee interrogations.

April 2003: The so-called Pentagon working group completes its work and Secretary Rumsfeld issues a memo regarding what counter-resistance techniques are approved. The memo is limited on its face to interrogation of unlawful combatants at Guantanamo Bay.

++++++

Did the President sign any directive regarding the treatment or interrogation of detainees after February 2002, and, more specifically, after the United States invaded Iraq in March 2003? Both the President’s initial directive on Taliban and Al Qaeda detainees and the defense officials’ requests were issued long before defense operations began in Iraq and focused exclusively on the Taliban, al Qaeda and detainees in Guantanamo Bay.

Why did Secretary Rumsfeld leave out Iraq detainees in his April 2003 memo on approved techniques? Despite the fact that the war in Iraq had begun at this point, the Rumsfeld memo was specifically limited to interrogations of unlawful combatants held at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. No documentation was produced about the detainees in Abu Ghraib.

Where are the other 20 documents that members of the Senate Judiciary Committee have requested? The White House released only 3 of the 23 documents the Democratic members of the Committee sought in the subpoena motion that the Judiciary Committee voted on last Thursday but which was blocked by Republicans in a party-line vote.

Why is the White House withholding relevant documents issued after some of the worst abuses that we know occurred? The latest document released by the White House is dated April 16, 2003.

# # # # #

ATTACHMENT A

For the time period January 20, 2001 to the present, provide:

1. Copies of the following documents:

(A) Memorandum for Timothy E. Flannigan, Deputy Counsel to the President, from John Yoo, Deputy Assistant Attorney General, Office of Legal Counsel, Re: The President’s authority to conduct military operations against terrorists and nations supporting them (Sept. 25, 2001);

(B) Memorandum for Alberto Gonzales, Counsel to the President, from Patrick F. Philbin, Deputy Assistant Attorney General, Office of Legal Counsel, Re: Legality of the use of military commissions to try terrorists (Nov. 6, 2001);

(C) Memorandum for William J. Haynes, General Counsel, Department of Defense, from John Yoo, Deputy Assistant Attorney General, and Patrick F. Philbin, Deputy Assistant Attorney General, Re: Possible habeas jurisdiction over aliens held in Guantanamo Bay (Dec. 28, 2001);

(D) Draft Memorandum for William J. Haynes, General Counsel, Department of Defense, from John Yoo, Deputy Assistant Attorney General, and Robert J. Delahunty, Special Counsel, Office of Legal Counsel, Re: Application of treaties and laws to al Qaeda and Taliban detainees (January 9, 2002), and any final version of this Draft Memorandum;

(E) Memorandum from William Howard Taft IV, Department of State Office of Legal Advisor, Re: Response to the January 9 Yoo/Delahunty memo (Jan. 11, 2002);

(F) Memorandum for Alberto Gonzales, Counsel to the President from Jay S. Bybee, Assistant Attorney General, Re: Application of treaties and laws to al Qaeda and Taliban detainees (Jan. 22, 2002);

(G) Draft Memorandum for the President from Alberto Gonzales, Counsel to the President, Re: Decision re application of the Geneva Convention on Prisoners of War to the conflict with al Qaeda and the Taliban (Jan. 25, 2002), and any final version of this Draft Memorandum;

(H) Memorandum for Alberto Gonzales, Counsel to the President, from Secretary of State Colin Powell, Re: Response to the Gonzales draft memo of January 25, 2002 (Jan. 26, 2002);

(I) Memorandum for John Yoo, Deputy Assistant Attorney General, Office of Legal Counsel, from James C. Ho, Attorney-Advisor, Office of Legal Counsel, Re: Possible interpretations of Common Article 3 of the 1949 Geneva Convention Relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War (Feb. 1, 2002);

(J) Memorandum for Alberto Gonzales, Counsel to the President, from William Howard Taft IV, Department of State Office of Legal Advisor, Re: Comments on your paper on the Geneva Convention (Feb. 2, 2002);

(K) Memorandum for Daniel J. Bryant, Assistant Attorney General, Office of Legal Counsel, from Patrick F. Philbin, Deputy Assistant Attorney General, Office of Legal Counsel, Re: Swift Justice Authorization Act (Apr. 8, 2002);

(L) Memorandum for Alberto Gonzales, Counsel to the President, from Jay S. Bybee, Assistant Attorney General, Re: Standards of conduct for interrogation under 18 U.S.C. §§ 2340 – 2340A (Aug. 1, 2002);

(M) Draft Memorandum for Defense Secretary Rumsfeld from Working Group appointed by William Haynes II, General Counsel, Department of Defense, Re: Detainee interrogations in the global war on terrorism: Assessment of legal, historical, policy, and operational considerations (Mar. 6, 2003), and any final version of this Draft Memorandum;

(N) Memorandum for General James T. Hill from Defense Secretary Rumsfeld, Re: Coercive interrogation techniques that can be used with approval of the Defense Secretary (Apr. 2003);

(O) Memorandum from CJTF-7, Re: Applicability of Army Field Manual 34-52 and sensory deprivation (Sept. 10, 2003);

(P) Directive of Lt. General Ricardo Sanchez entitled “Interrogation and Counter-Resistance Policy” (Sept. 12, 2003);

(Q) Memorandum from CJTF-7 on interrogations (Sept. 28, 2003);

(R) Memorandum for MI personnel at Abu Ghraib, Re: Interrogation rules of engagement (Oct. 9, 2003);

(S) Memorandum for Commander of MI Brigade from Lt. General Ricardo Sanchez, Re: Order giving military intelligence control over almost every aspect of prison conditions at Abu Ghraib with the explicit aim of manipulating the detainees’ “emotions and weaknesses” (Oct. 12, 2003);

(T) Memorandum for MP and MI personnel at Abu Ghraib from Colonel Marc Warren, the top legal adviser to Lt. General Ricardo Sanchez, Re: New plan to restrict Red Cross access to Abu Ghraib (Jan. 2, 2004);

(U) Memorandum for Superiors from Maj. General Antonio Taguba, Re: Results of investigation into the 800th MP Brigade’s actions in Abu Ghraib (Mar. 12, 2004);

(V) Memorandum from the Department of Justice, Re: Liability of interrogators under the Convention Against Torture and the Anti-Torture Act when a prisoner is not in U.S. custody.

(W) Review, study, or investigation report by LTC Chamberlain, Re: State of prisons in Iraq (addressing the high proportion of innocent people in the prisons and the lack of release procedures for detained Iraqis).

# # # # #

CONTACT: David Carle / 202 224 3693

Tracy Schmaler / 202 224 2154

For Immediate Release

June 22, 2004

Contact: Melanie Alvord (202) 224-0992

Appropriations Committee Reports Fiscal Year 2005

Defense Appropriations Bill

The Senate Appropriations Committee today unanimously approved the fiscal year 2005 Defense Appropriations bill. The bill provides $416.2 billion in new discretionary spending authority for the Department of Defense for functions under the Defense Subcommittee’s jurisdiction, including $25 billion in a contingent emergency reserve fund requested by the President for early fiscal year 2005 costs associated with operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The Senate-reported bill is $1.7 billion under the President’s amended FY 2005 budget request of $417.8 billion and reflects an increase of $22.5 billion over amounts provided in the FY 2004 Defense Appropriations Act, excluding the FY 2004 Iraq Supplemental and the FY 2005 contingent emergency reserve fund.

The bill fully funds the President’s request for a $25 billion contingent emergency reserve fund, only for operations in Iraq or Afghanistan (Title IX); funds an Army end strength increase of 20,000 soldiers; and fully funds military pay, benefits and medical programs. It provides a total of $4 billion in General Transfer Authority, the amount requested in the FY 2005 budget request.

Title I – Military Personnel: $103.9 billion

Funds overall Department of Defense end strength of 2,263,900.

Funds a 3.5 percent across-the-board pay raise for military personnel.

Funds an increase in Basic Allowance for Housing to reduce average out-of-pocket expenses for military personnel from 3.5 percent to zero in FY 2005.

Provides $14.7 million for 154 Active Guard Personnel to support 7 additional Weapons of Mass Destruction/Civil Support Teams, which will result in a total of 55 teams by the end of FY 2005.

Title II – Operation and Maintenance: $121.4 billion

Fully funds key readiness programs critical to the Global War on Terrorism: OPTEMPO flying hours and steaming days, depot maintenance, training, spare parts, base operations, and facility maintenance.

Adds $60 million for environmental cleanup at Formerly Used Defense Sites (FUDS).

Title III - Procurement: $76.5 billion

Aircraft

Fully funds acquisition of 24 F-22 raptor aircraft.

Fully funds acquisition of 14 C-17 transports.

Fully funds 27 UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters.

Fully funds V-22 acquisition of 11 aircraft.

Adds $120 million for advance procurement of F-15 Fighters.

Adds $110 million for advance procurement of Air Force tankers.

Adds $25.6 million for Shadow Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs).

Adds $12 million for acquisition of Joint Primary Air Training System (JPATS) aircraft.

Adds $11 million for one additional Army Predator UAV.

Adds $5 million for one additional Hunter UAV.

Adds 1 UC-35 aircraft.

Adds $25 million for Litening Targeting Pods for the Air National Guard.

Weapons/Missiles

Fully funds the PAC-3 procurement program.

Adds $50 million for modernization of Army ammunition plants.

Adds $37 million for Tactical Tomahawk missiles.

Adds $15 million for Mobile Tactical High Energy Laser.

Shipbuilding

Provides $10.2 billion for shipbuilding programs:
Funds the President’s request for the construction of one DD(X)
Adds $99.4 million to initiate procurement of a second DD(X)
Adds $175 million for advance procurement for the LHA(R)

Realigns funding for Advanced Seal Delivery System (ASDS) to Research and Development.

Vehicles/Force Protection

Fully funds Army Stryker procurement.

Adds $75 million for Army trucks.

Adds $25 million for Bradley reactive armor tiles.

Adds $15 million for M113 Infantry Carriers.

Adds $6 million for the Stryker Brigade fielding and equipment.

Other

Adds $500 million for equipment for the National Guard and Reserve.

Title IV - Research, Development, Test and Evaluation: $68.8 billion

Aircraft

Fully funds the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) at $4.5 billion.

Reduces funding for the VXX Executive Helicopter by $220 million due to delays in the program schedule.

Shipbuilding

Fully funds the budget request of $352.1 million for the Littoral Combat Ship.

Fully funds the budget request for the DD(X) destroyer program.

Missile Defense

Provides $10.2 billion for missile defense programs, an increase of $1.1 billion from the fiscal year 2004 level.

Provides an additional $100 million for risk reduction associated with the Ground-Based Midcourse program.

Adds $80 million for Arrow co-production.

Other

Adds $191.5 million for Army medical research.

Adds $107 million to the Chemical, Biological Defense Program.

Provides $3.03 billion for the Future Combat System, an increase of $1.3 billion over FY 2004; reduces $150 million from the Future Combat System (FCS) for excessive management costs.

Reduces transformational Satellite Communications by $400 million for technological risk reduction.

Reduces $200 million from the Joint Unmanned Combat Air System (J-UCAS) program.

Reduces $100 million from Air Force Space Based Radar for technological risk reduction.

Reduces funding for the Mobile User Objective System (MUOS) by $100 million due to cost and schedule uncertainty.

Reduces funding from the Loitering Attack Munition.

Realigns funding for the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency.

Realigns $344 million for the Future Combat System Non-Line-of-Sight (FCS NLOS) Cannon.

Restructures the Land Warrior program.

Title V – Revolving and Management Funds: $2.1 billion

Provides $1.7 billion in Defense Working Capital Funds, including $1.2 billion for military commissaries.

Title VI – Other Department of Defense Programs: $20.6 billion

Defense Health Program: $18.1 billion

? Provides a $2.3 billion increase over the FY 2004 DOD Appropriations Act, and is $424 million above the FY 2005 budget request.

? Adds $200 million for peer reviewed cancer research fund.

? Adds $50 million for medical research fund.

? Adds $18.4 million for improving amputee care at Walter Reed Army Medical Center.

Drug Interdiction and Counter-Drug Activities: $908.8 million

Provides $56.1 million above the President’s budget request.

Adds $25 million for the National Guard State Counter-Drug support programs.

Title IX - Contingency Emergency Reserve Fund : $25 billion

The Contingent Emergency Reserve Fund:

Is only for Iraq or Afghanistan
Is available upon enactment
Is available only after the President submits a formal budget request and designates the amount an emergency

Uses the Iraq Freedom Fund (IFF), a transfer account created by the Congress, to be consistent with the Administration’s request that this be a “contingent emergency reserve” fund.

By directed transfers from the IFF, provides $22.5 billion to service appropriation accounts, as follows:
o Military personnel – $.505 billion

o Operation and maintenance accounts – $17.595 billion

o Army procurement and modularity – $1.750 billion

o Marine Corps procurement – $.554 billion

o Classified programs – $1.250 billion

o Defense Health Program – $.746 billion

o Secure/destroy Iraqi captured enemy ammunition – $.100 billion

Leaves $2.5 billion, or 10 percent, remaining in the Iraq Freedom Fund to deal with unexpected contingencies, which is consistent with S. 2400, the National Defense Authorization Act for FY 2005.

Consistent with S. 2400, the National Defense Authorization Act for FY 2005, the bill provides $605 million to support an Army end strength increase of 20,000 soldiers. Of this amount, $378 million is provided in the military personnel accounts, and $227 million is provided in the operations and maintenance accounts.

Provides $126.6 million to fund permanent increases in Family Separation Allowance (FSA) (from $100 to $250 per month), and in Imminent Danger Pay (IDP) (from $150 to $225 per month).

Adds $865 million for force protection initiatives, including Up-Armored Humvees, Armored Security Vehicles, and bolt-on armor kits.

Adds $100 million to secure and demilitarize captured enemy ammunition in Iraq. As of June 11, 2004, approximately 340,000 tons of enemy ammunition has been discovered in Iraq. The additional funding is to help ensure that newly discovered weapons caches are secured and disposed of before they become available to enemy combatants.

Addresses concerns for increased fuel costs, National Guard & Reserve equipment, and for U.S. Coast Guard expenses:
o Provides up to $100 million for the Coast Guard in support of DOD operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.

o Provides up to $100 million for the purchase of equipment for the National Guard and Reserve.

Maintains the 5-day advance notification to Congress before making any transfer.

Maintains a quarterly reporting requirement on the use of funds.

###

U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell
Washington

For Immediate Release
June 22, 2004
Contact:
Charla Neuman
202-224-8277
202-309-3447 (cell)

Cantwell Questions Proposed New Tax Increase on Airlines

cites negative impact on regional airports like those in spokane, tri-cities

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA) asked Department of Homeland Security Under Secretary Asa Hutchinson about the potential negative impacts of a proposed increase in airport security fees on economic development in areas served by regional airports in a hearing of the Senate Commerce Committee.

“Improving aviation security must continue to be a national priority, but we can’t pay for it by grounding business at our regional airports.” Cantwell said. “For many cities, regional airports are economic gateways to their communities. Increasing taxes on airlines and their passengers amounts to slamming the door on economic opportunity. The federal government must shoulder greater responsibility for these critical investments in our national transportation infrastructure.”

The Bush Administration has proposed increasing the Air Carrier Security Fee, which currently costs the airline industry $315 million, to $750 million – a $435 million increase. Increases in security fees and security burdens have already had a negative impact on passengers – not only by increasing prices per ticket, since the all the fees are being passed on by the airlines to passengers, but also by decreasing flight options for regional airports that depend on limited airlines feeding into major airports.

“We are very concerned about any additional fees assessed to airline tickets,” said Todd Woodard, Director of Marketing/Public Affairs at Spokane International Airport. “Spokane’s short haul markets such as Seattle, Portland, and Boise have experienced sharp declines in passenger traffic over the last three years and price has certainly been a contributing factor. We appreciate Senator Cantwell’s attention to this matter of critical economic importance to Spokane and the entire Pacific Northwest region.”

Regional airports in Washington state have already been effected by the increase in security fees. Since September 11, departing flights from Spokane to Seattle have dropped from 34 to 25, a decrease of 26 percent. Over the same period, Delta Airlines has changed the planes with which it serves the Tri-Cities from 737s to RJ-50s, reducing the available seats to and from Seattle by 57 percent. Horizon has also cut two daily flights to and from the Tri-Cities.

Under current law, federal aviation security is funded through the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which received $3.34 billion and $561 million, respectively, for aviation security this year. In addition to federal funding, the aviation security system receives $2.57 billion through five fees and taxes that are placed on airlines and ports. Of these taxes and fees, two – the Federal Security Surcharge and the Air Carrier Security Fee – are devoted to security.

# # #

Daschle Veterans Health Amendment:
Ensures Access to VA Prescription & Health Services for All Veterans

The amendment by Senator Tom Daschle would ensure that VA prescription drugs and health services are available to all veterans. The amendment sets up a new full-funding process, with an opportunity for fast-track Congressional review after two years' operation.

The amendment is supported by the Partnership for Veterans Health Care Budget Reform, comprised of all leading veterans' organizations.

VA FUNDING HAS FALLEN BEHIND DEMAND & HEALTH INFLATION

The VA's enrolled population has grown 134 percent since 1996, while appropriations have grown 44 percent - one-third as fast. When health care inflation is taken into account, it is even more obvious that VA funding has failed to keep pace with changing needs.

The President's Task Force to Improve Health Care Delivery for Our Nation's Veterans - created by President Bush through Executive Order 13214 - reported "a significant mismatch in VA between demand and available funding."

THE BUSH STRATEGY: LESS CARE, RISING COSTS, MORE RESTRICTIONS

The Bush Administration's response has been a policy it calls "demand management," which means any and all steps to restrict and reduce the number of veterans treated at the VA. This has included lengthy waiting lists for hundreds of thousands of veterans, a six-fold increase in out-of-pocket payments by veterans since President Bush took office, and restrictions on enrollment.

MANY AGREE THAT FULL FUNDING IS NEEDED

The amendment would remove veterans health care from the annual politics of the appropriations cycle. Instead, veterans health care would be funded like other vital programs - including military retirement, Social Security, and Medicare. Such an approach has been endorsed by:

§ President Bush's Task Force to Improve Health Care Delivery for Our Nation's Veterans in its May 2003 final report.

§ Bi-partisan leadership of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, in a Feb. 25, 2004, letter.

§ The Partnership for Veterans Health Care Budget Reform, comprised of the American Legion, AMVETS, the Blinded Veterans Association, the Disabled American Veterans, Jewish War Veterans, Military Order of the Purple Heart, Paralyzed Veterans of America, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and Vietnam Veterans of America.

THE FULL-FUNDING MECHANISM

The amendment would provide the Veterans Health Administration with funding from two sources: First, an annual discretionary amount, which would remain unchanged from year to year, locked in at the funding level of Fiscal Year 2004. And second, an annual sum of mandatory funds. This amount would adjust each year to reflect changes in demand from veterans and the rate of health care inflation.

The amendment also mandates a review of the formula and the overall funding process after two years, with fast-track procedures for consideration of changes.

AMOUNT OF HEALTH CARE PROVIDED TO VETERANS BY THIS AMENDMENT

CBO predicts that a reliable funding stream would allow 3 million more veterans to receive pharmaceuticals and health services from the VA, a 40% increase over current policies. CBO says the total cost of this additional health care would be $100 billion over 5 years and $300 billion over 10 years. In the final year, treating the additional 3 million veterans would cost an additional $11 million, a cost of less than $3,700 per enrollee.

VA IS A COST-EFFECTIVE PROGRAM FOR TREATING VETERANS

Despite severe inflationary pressures affecting public and private health programs, VA's per-patient expenditures have declined consistently for more than a decade, to just over $4,000 in FY03. VA is a leader in many cost-containment categories, most notably acquisition of pharmaceuticals. Providing more health care through the VA will reduce expenditures in other programs, including Medicare and Medicaid.

###

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Maureen Knightly/Jennifer Carrier

June 22, 2004 202-224-3254

HARKIN ANNOUNCES NATIONAL

DEFENSE INVESTMENTS FOR IOWA

WASHINGTON, D.C.--U.S. Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) today announced that he has secured critical funding for Iowa in the 2005 Department of Defense (DOD) Appropriations bill. Funding has been approved for the Iowa Army Ammunition Plant, Rock Island Arsenal, the National Guard Counterdrug School, John Deere, and a variety of other Iowa businesses, colleges, and communities. The final DOD Appropriations bill must pass the full Senate and be approved by the Senate-House Conference. Harkin is a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee.

“These investments bolster Iowa’s economy and help to fortify America’s defenses,” said Harkin. “Iowa plays an important role in the strength of our nation’s defenses, and I am proud to announce this Defense Department funding for our communities and businesses.”

Details of the funding are as follows:

NATIONAL GUARD COUNTERDRUG SCHOOL AT CAMP DODGE in Johnston: $5 million for counterdrug training, along with a $25 million increase in nationwide funding for National Guard counterdrug assistance. This facility serves as a narcotics investigation and enforcement training center for state and local law enforcement agencies from18 Midwestern and Northwestern states.

ROCK ISLAND ARSENAL: $1 million for equipment that will allow the arsenal to continue building armor kits to fully armor Humvee vehicles currently deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan, $6.5 million for Industrial Mobilization Capacity to cover the cost of maintaining plant facilities which would be necessary in wartime but lay unused in times of peace, $8 million for an automated inventory system to improve plant efficiency, and $12 million in ASPI support for bringing in tenants.

IOWA ARMY AMMUNITION PLANT in Middletown: $1 million to continue a health study and screening to test former workers for health problems due to exposure to hazardous and radioactive chemicals. This money has been instrumental in establishing the levels of radiation that workers were exposed to and is proving critical in Harkin’s efforts to get compensation for former IAAP workers suffering from beryllium disease and cancer. Harkin offered an amendment last week to make IAAP workers suffering from cancer eligible for automatic compensation. The bill also contains $5 million for a flexible artillery munitions line for IAAP to modernize their current munitions manufacturing capabilities.

“I’m proud that this bill reflects the important role that the Burlington area has played in our nation’s defenses since World War II. The health study will go a long way toward getting help for those who have suffered as result of exposure to dangerous materials at the plant,” Harkin said.

IOWA UNIVERSITIES

IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY in Ames: $4 million to develop command and control structures for unmanned aerial vehicles.

SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS FOR LEARNING (SCOLA) in McClelland: $3.5 million to expand innovative foreign language training programming based in Western Iowa.

UNIVERSITY OF NORTHERN IOWA in Waterloo: $1 million to train math teachers and improve student curriculum at DoD Dependent Schools, and $1 million for the STAR (Spray Technique Analysis and Research) Defense program that will establish training sites for painting and coating operations adapted to military uses.

UNIVERSITY OF IOWA in Iowa City: $1 million for IAAP health study (described above), $1 million for their digital human simulation project to help develop the Army's Future Combat System, and $1 million for muscle research.

IOWA COMPANIES

INTERMEC TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION in Cedar Rapids: $8 million for advanced automated inventory systems (plus $8 million for the arsenal inventory project above).

ROCKWELL COLLINS, INC. in Cedar Rapids: $5 million for modernization program to upgrade the Air Force’s worldwide High Frequency (HF) communications network, and $5 million for the national range high frequency program that utilizes SCOPE equipment.

JOHN DEERE in Quad Cities: $6 million for the Army Reserve to purchase M-Gators, highly mobile vehicles that can be used to transport a variety of supply materials and evacuate casualties, $2.1 million for fuel cell and unmanned M-Gator research and development, and $6 million for Navy SeaBee construction equipment

ETREMA PRODUCTS, INC. in Ames: $5 million for development of advanced materials.

ALCOA in Davenport: $4 million for aluminum research to lower costs of lightweight vehicle manufacture.

FAKESPACE SYSTEMS in Marshalltown: $7 million to create virtual environments in which to test and observe operator interaction with a variety of weapon systems under realistic conditions.

CARLETON LIFE SUPPORT in Davenport: $8 million to equip F-16’s with an On-Board Oxygen Generating System (OBOGS), which provides a continuous supply of breathing oxygen to pilots, and $6 million for research on ceramic oxygen generators, which will also be a cost-effective replacement for liquid oxygen tanks.

THINFILM in Boone - $3.2 million for flexible solar panel research and development. Military operations currently rely upon generators, large batteries, and limited-life small batteries such as AA batteries for power.

---end---

JOHN CORNYN
United States Senator - Texas
CONTACT: DON STEWART
(202) 224-0704 office (202) 365-6702 cell

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 22, 2004

BUSH ADMINISTRATION USED CAUTION, FOLLOWED LAW, MEMOS SHOW

U.S. Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas), a member of the Senate Armed Services and Judiciary Committees, made the following statement Tuesday regarding the release of sensitive and confidential Justice Department legal memoranda concerning the legal tools available to the United States government to fight and win the war against terrorism:

“With the presidential election approaching, we have seen increasing – and disturbing – efforts by the President’s political opponents to use the war against terrorism to score political points, most recently with the conduct of military interrogations. This politicization of the war against terrorism is wrong, dangerous and must end.

“It’s critical to remember that the conduct of military interrogations is one of the most essential tools we have as a nation to detect and prevent future terrorist attacks on American soil and against members of the U.S. armed forces.

“Partisan critics of the administration want to have it both ways: they want to blame the administration for every setback in the war against terrorism, while at the same time criticizing the administration for taking steps to prevent and overcome those very setbacks.

“But the record is clear: All Americans, including President Bush, Secretary Rumsfeld, and General Ashcroft all condemn torture, and all are committed to fighting and winning the war against terrorism in full compliance with U.S. and international law. Partisan suggestions to the contrary are not only false – they dangerously undermine troop morale, put our troops at risk, and impede our efforts to win the global war against terrorism.

“The documents released today demonstrate conclusively that the administration proceeded with great caution and deliberation, and stayed well within the boundaries of U.S. and international law in its effort to identify all lawful means available to prevent future terrorist attacks.

Sen. Cornyn chairs the subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights & Property Rights, and is the only former judge on the committee. He served previously as Texas Attorney General, Texas Supreme Court Justice, and Bexar County District Judge.

http://cornyn.senate.gov

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

June 22, 2004

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Tom Steward (202) 253-4481

VETERANS AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES “STRONG SUPPORT” FOR COLEMAN INITIATIVE TO PROVIDE CARE FOR VETERANS’ NEWBORNS

Veterans Affairs Committee also considers Eric and Brian Simon Act authored by Coleman at hearing

Washington, DC – The Veterans Department came out today in strong support of legislation that would expand health care coverage for newborn babies of veterans, one of two veterans’ initiatives authored by Senator Norm Coleman that were included today in a hearing on pending legislation by the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.

“We strongly support this bill, which is identical to a legislative proposal we submitted to Congress in 2003,” Gordon Mansfield, Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs said at today’s hearing. “After childbirth, some veterans may need this limited benefit to give them time to apply for medical assistance. Offering this care would also be consistent with the normal pregnancy and delivery coverage in the community. The modest cost of the proposal was included in the President’s Budget submitted earlier this year.”

On May 13, 2004 Senator Coleman introduced legislation that would expand health care coverage for babies born to veterans relying on VA for health insurance coverage. Although female veterans have access to prenatal and delivery services at VA contracted hospitals, the VA health insurance program does not cover post-delivery care for newborn infants. Thus, it is the responsibility of parents to find alternative private coverage or enter need-based federal health programs. While uninsured parents can often gain coverage through Medicaid, the process can sometimes take up to two-weeks, leaving the newborn uninsured for that period of time. Coleman’s legislation would instruct the VA to provide health insurance for the uninsured newborns of veterans for a maximum of fourteen days following delivery.

“Our men and women in uniform risk their lives to defend American liberty,” Coleman said. “In return, a grateful nation provides them with well-deserved access to health services provided by the VA. As part of that promise, we need to ensure that the newborn children of veterans are welcomed into this world with access to health insurance, and I am not going to allow red tape to get in the way. My legislation will ensure that veteran parents, regardless of their income, will be able to provide health insurance for their newborns.”

At the informational hearing today another bill authored by Coleman was considered, The Brian and Eric Simon Act of 2003 (S. 1509) which would provide a $100,000 benefit to veteran families for every family member infected with HIV/AIDS as a result of a service-related blood transfusion. Today, hospitals treat more than 2,800 veterans for the condition.

Mr. Simon, who joined the Minnesota National Guard in the early eighties, contracted the AIDS virus during a routine blood transfusion while on active duty. His wife, Nancy, and their daughter, Candace, also contracted the disease, and have since passed away.

“I will tell you that this is a family that has suffered tremendously as a result of a service-related condition,” Coleman said. “They have lost their mother and their sister to AIDS, and they have been tireless in taking care of their sick father. These two young men have had to grow up very, very quickly. Words cannot convey how proud I am of Eric and Brian. Talk about courage. Talk about character.”

Coleman hopes that legislators will understand the need to better compensate military families who contracted HIV/AIDS as a result of a blood transfusion following a service-connected injury. Currently, the Department of Veterans Affairs may only provide relief for veterans who themselves have acquired the disease.

The next step for Coleman’s legislation will be Senate Veterans Affairs Committee mark-up, which is expected to take place sometime in July.

###

___________________________

Andy Brehm

Press Secretary

U.S. Senator Norm Coleman

Telephone: 202.224.5641

Fax: 202.224.9640

Mobile: 202.247.7636

TUESDAY, June 22, 2004

Congressional Leaders Call on the Administration, Republican Leaders to Investigate Medicare Bill Allegations

"The withholding of the Medicare cost estimates undermines the integrity of the legislative process."

(Washington, D.C.) - In two letters sent today, congressional Democratic leaders urged the President, Senate Majority Leader Frist and Speaker Dennis Hastert to investigate allegations that the Chief Medicare Actuary was forced to withhold critical information about the costs of the Medicare prescription drug legislation from the Congress last year.

The Democratic Leaders have sent two previous letters to the President and have not received a response from the White House.

The Members wrote:

"Regardless of the party affiliation of the President, there are some matters that are too important to be ignored. The withholding of the Medicare cost estimates undermines the integrity of the legislative process. We [Congress] will be derelict in our constitutional duties if we continue to overlook such a serious abuse."

The texts of both letters are attached.

June 22, 2004

The President
The White House
Washington, DC 20500

Dear Mr. President:

On March 12, Senators Daschle and Kennedy wrote to you expressing concern that your Administration had withheld information about its cost estimates for the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act while the legislation was pending in Congress last year. In the letter, they asked you to answer questions about the extent of your knowledge of your Administration's cost estimates for the bill, and who in your Administration was aware of threats to dismiss the Medicare Chief Actuary if he released the Administration's cost estimates to Congress.

On May 10, Senators Daschle, Kennedy, and ten additional Senators sent a follow-up letter to you asking again that you answer the questions in the March 12 letter. On May 25, Secretary Thompson replied on your behalf, but his letter did not respond to any of the specific questions in the original letters. A majority of those questions related to your personal knowledge and actions or actions by members of your White House staff, and therefore require a response from you and your staff.

We are writing to request that you respond to these letters by providing complete answers to the straightforward questions the Senators raised about your role in this important Medicare issue.

We look forward to a full and timely response.

Sincerely,

Senate Democratic Leader Tom Daschle

Senator Ted Kennedy
Senator Frank Lautenberg
Senator Debbie Stabenow
Senator Bob Graham
Senator Hillary Clinton
House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi
House Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer
Congressman Pete Stark
Congressman Henry Waxman
Congressman Charles Rangel
Congressman John Dingell

* * *

June 22, 2004

The Honorable William H. Frist, M.D.
United States Senate Majority Leader
461 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510

The Honorable J. Dennis Hastert

Speaker of the House of Representatives
235 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515

Dear Senator Frist and Mr. Speaker:

We are writing about the failure of the House and Senate to investigate the withholding of Medicare cost estimates from Congress. The Administration's decision to withhold the cost estimates misled legislators about the costs of the controversial proposal. Given the gravity of the allegations involved, the failure to investigate is a gross abdication of Congress' constitutional oversight responsibility.

Congress' right to receive information is both essential and incontrovertible. The Supreme Court has ruled numerous times that no "separation of powers" principle or "executive interest" can justify the withholding of public policy information from Congress. When this right is threatened, Congress' ability to legislate effectively is compromised, and a duty to investigate arises.

Unfortunately, Congress appears to have abandoned its oversight role. There have been serious allegations that the Administration misled Congress about the projected costs of the Medicare legislation, which created a complex but limited drug card and prescription drug benefit for seniors. These allegations include charges that the Administration violated federal law by threatening to fire Medicare's Chief Actuary if he disclosed the cost information to members of Congress. Committee Chairs have been unwilling to compel the appropriate witnesses to testify on these matters, and are largely ignoring these allegations in both the House and the Senate.

We understand why the White House would not want these charges investigated. The Administration has refused repeated requests by members of Congress, including requests under the Seven Member Rule, to release the actual cost estimates. The Administration has refused to allow knowledgeable officials to testify about the White House's role in misleading Congress and withholding the cost estimates. And the Administration will not provide a responsive answer even to a direct request from twelve Senators for information about the cost estimates.

But the oath of office requires us to put our constitutional obligations ahead of partisan considerations. The possibility that Congress was misled when it passed the Medicare bill is an extraordinarily serious breach that should be immediately and thoroughly investigated.

Background

The Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 narrowly passed the House on November 22, 2003, and the Senate on November 25, 2003. A major issue in the congressional debate was the cost of the legislation. After a meeting with the House and Senate conferees on November 17, just days before final passage, the President promised that the legislation would cost only $400 billion, stating: "There's 400 billion additional dollars available for our seniors in this bill."

These assurances were repeated, without qualification, by other senior Administration officials. Days before the House and Senate voted, Thomas Scully, the Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), wrote in the New York Times, "We are spending $400 billion." At a National Press Club Luncheon the same day, Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Tommy Thompson stated:

The president said, You are not going to spend more than $400 billion on this over 10 years. And the score is going to come in under $400 billion. I think that is a remarkable thing. This has been out there for well over a year. We've been in the conference committee for three months, and both Democrats and Republicans use that as the high- water marks, saying we will not go over $400 billion. And the score on this proposal that's being introduced this afternoon will be under $400 billion.

These assurances regarding the cost were critical to passage of the legislation. The Medicare legislation passed in the Senate only after the Administration assured the Senate that the cost would not exceed this ceiling over the next ten years. In the House, it took an unprecedented three hour roll-call vote to persuade enough Republican members to support the bill, which passed by one vote. As the Wall Street Journal stated, "no one doubts that release of the higher cost estimates last fall could have killed the measure, which only passed by one vote after hours of arm-twisting in the House." In the Senate, a point of order that the bill violated the Budget Act was only narrowly defeated, suggesting that had the CMS estimates been available, they might have changed the outcome.

On February 2, 2004 - less than three months after congressional passage of the legislation - the President submitted a new budget to Congress. This budget disclosed that the actual cost of the Medicare legislation, as estimated by the Office of the Actuary at CMS and the White House Office of Management and Budget, would be $534 billion, more than $130 billion over what the Administration had repeatedly claimed.

White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan claimed at the time that President Bush had learned of these higher estimates "just in the last two weeks." But it now appears that the Administration knew of the higher cost estimates for many months and withheld this information from Congress.

In testimony before the House Ways and Means Committee in March 2004, CMS Chief Actuary Richard S. Foster stated that through the summer and fall of 2003 he had consistently estimated that the legislation would cost more than $400 billion. According to Mr. Foster, he prepared "dozens and dozens of analyses and estimates" of the legislation, and they were all "in the range of $500 billion to $600 billion." Mr. Foster further testified that he had shared these higher estimates with White House officials, including Doug Badger, Special Assistant to the President for Economic Policy; and James Capretta, Associate Director for Human Resource Programs at OMB.

These estimates were not shared with members of Congress, however. Mr. Foster testified that he had been expressly instructed not to provide his estimates to Congress.

According to Mr. Foster's testimony and a copy of an email sent by Mr. Scully's aide that Mr. Foster provided to the Committee, Mr. Foster was told that he would suffer "extremely severe" consequences for "insubordination" if he shared his estimates with Congress.

Unanswered Questions

There are four crucial questions related to these facts that urgently need investigation.

First, who in the Administration knew about the higher cost estimates? We know that the President asserted as late as November 17, 2003 that the legislation would cost only $400 billion. We also know that Mr. Foster has said that the HHS cost estimates were shared with White House officials. To assess whether there was a coordinated effort within HHS and the White House to mislead Congress, we need to know who in the Administration knew about the higher cost estimates and when they knew.

Second, who in the Administration participated in the decision to withhold the cost estimates from Congress? According to the Congressional Research Service (CRS), federal employees have a statutory right to communicate with Congress, and also have certain whistleblower and employment protections. In addition, the appropriations law currently applicable to HHS prohibits the use of funds to pay the salary of anyone who prevents or attempts to prevent any executive branch employee from providing information to Congress if that information relates to relevant official matters. CRS found that Mr. Scully may indeed have violated these laws when he threatened Mr. Foster. We need to know if others above Mr. Scully's level participated in or authorized such violations.

Third, were senior leaders in Congress part of the effort to withhold the cost estimates from the rest of Congress? In a letter to Rep. Henry Waxman, the Department of Health and Human Services has conceded that "HHS made conferees aware that HHS expected its final scoring to be higher than CBO's final scoring" and cited Republican conferee Rep. Nancy Johnson as one member who "knew about these numbers." If the Administration shared the cost estimates with selected Republican leaders, why did these leaders not share the estimates with all conferees and with other members?

Fourth, is the Administration seeking to obstruct congressional investigations? To date, the Administration has refused to cooperate with legitimate efforts to investigate its actions. Despite publicly stating that his Department has "nothing to hide," HHS Secretary Thompson has refused to comply with his obligations under the Seven Member Rule to provide the cost estimates of various iterations of the legislation. White House Counsel Alberto Gonzales has intervened to prevent Mr. Badger from testifying before the House Ways and Means Committee about White House involvement. And President Bush has refused to respond to a request for information from 12 Senators. These actions suggest that there may be a concerted effort by the Administration to block oversight of its actions.

Our Request

Congress has a constitutional duty to seek answers to these questions. Our system of checks and balances requires that we take seriously allegations that executive branch officials misled Congress about major domestic legislation. We are therefore asking that you take the following two steps.

First, Congress should ask the Administration to provide copies of relevant documents.

Specifically, Congress should insist that the Administration provide:

Any internal Administration estimates of the costs of the Medicare legislation;

Any communications (whether written or electronic) relating to the cost estimates or their release to members of Congress between Administration officials;

Any communications (whether written or electronic) relating to the cost estimates or their release to members of Congress between Administration officials and members of Congress or their staffs; and

Any communications (whether written or electronic) relating to the cost estimates or their release to members of Congress between Administration officials and other persons.

Second, Congress should hold a hearing at which Mr. Scully, Mr. Badger, and Mr. Capretta are called to testify. Mr. Scully's relevance is self-evident; Mr. Badger and Mr. Capretta received cost estimates from Mr. Foster and are likely to have information about the White House's involvement in this matter.

These actions are essential if Congress is to fulfill its oversight responsibilities. They are simple and straightforward and will enable Congress to learn why the Medicare cost estimates were withheld and who is responsible.

We are writing separately to President Bush to urge him to clarify what he knew about the Medicare cost estimates, the Administration's attempts to suppress them, and the Administration's communications with Congress about the issue. We have enclosed a copy of our letter to the President, and we also ask you to urge the President to respond.

Conclusion

During the Clinton Administration, the actions of White House and other executive branch officials were repeatedly investigated by the Republican-controlled Congress. Committee chairmen issued over 1,000 subpoenas for documents related to Administration conduct, dozens of senior White House officials were called to testify or give depositions before committees, and no allegation seemed too small to pursue.

During the Bush Administration, the Republican-controlled Congress has veered to the opposite extreme. Major allegations of misconduct, such as the outing of the identity of a covert CIA agent for political gain, have been ignored.

This is fundamentally wrong. Our constitutional oversight responsibilities should not be driven by political expediency. Regardless of the party affiliation of the President, there are some matters that are too important to be ignored. The withholding of the Medicare cost estimates undermines the integrity of the legislative process. We will be derelict in our constitutional duties if we continue to overlook such a serious abuse.

Sincerely,

Senate Democratic Leader Tom Daschle
Senator Ted Kennedy
Senator Frank Lautenberg
Senator Debbie Stabenow
Senator Bob Graham
Senator Hillary Clinton
House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi
House Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer
Congressman Pete Stark
Congressman Henry Waxman
Congressman Charles Rangel
Congressman John Dingell

Footnotes:

Memorandum from Jack Maskell, Legislative Attorney, American Law Division, CRS, to Rep. Charles B. Rangel, Ranking Minority Member, House Committee on Ways and Means (Apr. 26, 2004).

Letter from Sen. Ted Kennedy et al. to President Bush (May 10, 2004)P.L. 108-173.
President Bush, Media Availability after Meeting with Medicare Conferees (Nov. 17, 2003).

Tom Scully, The Medicare Bill: A Good Thing? (letter to the editor), New York Times (Nov. 20, 2003)

Secretary of HHS Tommy G. Thompson, Remarks at National Press Club Luncheon (Nov. 20, 2003)

Democrats Demand Inquiry into Charge by Medicare Officer, New York Times (Mar. 14, 2004).

June 20 Directive Says 'Work up the Numbers' and Points to 'Consequences for Insubordination,' Wall Street Journal (Mar. 18, 2004).

Scott McClellan, White House Press Briefing (Jan. 30, 2004).

Democrats Demand Inquiry into Charge by Medicare Officer, supra note 7.
Id.

E-mail from Jeffrey Flick to Richard Foster (June 20, 2003).

The Lloyd-LaFollette Act gives federal employees a statutory right to communicate with, and provide information to, Congress. 5 U.S.C. §7211. The Whistleblower Protection Act protects employees from reprisal for disclosure of information to Congress. 5 U.S.C. §2302(b)(8). The Chief Actuary of CMS is expressly not an "at-will" employee and therefore can be fired only for cause. 42 U.S.C. §1317.

P.L. 108-199 §618(1).

Memorandum from Jack Maskell, supra note 1.

Letter from Dennis G. Smith, Director, Center for Medicaid and State Operations, to Rep. Henry A. Waxman (Apr. 16, 2004).

Thompson Launches Inquiry into Medicare Drug Bill Cost, Los Angeles Times (Mar. 17, 2004).

###

democrats.senate.gov

TUESDAY, June 22, 2004

Statement of Senate Democratic Leader Tom Daschle

On the Need for Stronger Congressional Oversight

Mr. President, no question more occupied the minds of our Founding Fathers than how to keep American democracy from devolving into despotism. The delicate and elaborate structure of our government is designed not merely to represent the will of American people, but to prevent the concentration and abuse of power.

To eliminate the prospects that tyranny could take hold, the Framers not only created a separation of equal powers, but they gave each branch authority over its peers. “Unless these departments be so far connected and blended as to give each a constitutional control over the others,” James Madison wrote in the Federalist Papers, “the degree of separation ... essential to a free government, can never in practice be duly maintained.” For our system to work, no part of government can be free from scrutiny. Not Congress, not the Judiciary, and not the White House.

Unfortunately, Congress seems to have abdicated its role in our system of checks and balances. Partisan loyalty is taking precedence over our constitutional responsibilities, and oversight has ground to a halt. There are few clearer examples than Congress’s failure to investigate the Administration’s decision to withhold the cost estimates for its controversial Medicare proposal.

There have been serious allegations that the Administration misled Congress about the projected costs of the Medicare legislation, denying access to a study that projected much higher costs than those Administration officials, including the President, discussed publicly. These allegations include charges that the former Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services violated federal law by threatening to fire Medicare’s Chief Actuary if he disclosed the cost information to members of Congress.

Yet the allegations are being ignored in both the House and the Senate. The White House, too, has stonewalled. There have been no hearings. No inquiries. Nothing but silence. These charges are too serious to ignore. There are four crucial questions related to these facts that urgently need investigation.

First, who in the Administration knew about the higher cost estimates? CMS Chief Actuary Richard Foster has said that the HHS cost estimates were shared with White House officials. To assess whether there was a coordinated effort within HHS and the White House to mislead Congress, we need to know who in the Administration knew about the higher cost estimates and when they knew.

Second, who in the Administration participated in the decision to withhold the cost estimates from Congress? According to the Congressional Research Service (CRS), federal employees have a statutory right to communicate with Congress, as well as certain whistleblower and employment protections. Moreover, HHS is expressly prohibited from using funds to pay the salary of anyone who prevents or attempts to prevent an executive branch employee from providing information to Congress if that information relates to relevant official matters. CRS found that the Administrator may have violated these laws when he threatened Mr. Foster. We need to know if others above the Administrator’s level participated in or authorized this activity.

Third, were senior leaders in Congress part of the effort to withhold the cost estimates from the rest of Congress? In a letter to Rep. Henry Waxman, the Department of Health and Human Services has asserted that “HHS made conferees aware that HHS expected its final scoring to be higher than CBO’s final scoring” and cited Republican conferee Rep. Nancy Johnson as one member who “knew about these numbers.” If the Administration shared the cost estimates with selected Republican leaders, why did these leaders not share the estimates with all conferees and with other members?

Fourth, is the Administration seeking to obstruct congressional investigations?

To date, the Administration has refused to cooperate with legitimate efforts to investigate its actions. White House Counsel Alberto Gonzales has intervened to prevent officials from testifying before the House Ways and Means Committee about White House involvement. And President Bush has failed to respond to a request for information from twelve Senators. These actions suggest there may be a concerted effort by the Administration to block oversight of its actions.

There could be no clearer case demonstrating the need for congressional oversight. To preserve our system of checks and balances and maintain citizens’ trust that the power they have vested in their elected leaders is being exercised responsibly, we must take very seriously allegations that executive branch officials misled Congress.

Therefore, along with several of my colleagues, I have requested that Leader Frist and Speaker Hastert take the following two steps:

First, Congress should ask the Administration to provide copies of any documents relevant to this investigation.

Second, Congress should hold hearings at which Mr. Scully; Doug Badger, Special Assistant to the President for Economic Policy; and James Capretta, Associate Director for Human Resource Programs at OMB, are all called to testify. Mr. Scully’s relevance is self-evident. Mr. Badger and Mr. Capretta received cost estimates from Mr. Foster and are likely to have information about the White House’s involvement in this matter. Their testimony would therefore be critical to establishing key facts about this affair. These actions are essential if Congress is to fulfill its oversight responsibilities. They are simple and straightforward and will enable Congress to learn why the Medicare cost estimates were withheld and who is responsible.

In addition, we are writing President Bush to urge him to clarify what he knew about the Medicare cost estimates, the Administration’s attempts to suppress them, and the Administration’s communications with Congress about the issue. The credibility of the White House on all matters of policy is at stake. These concerns are not limited to the Medicare debacle. As the cost of operations in Iraq have climbed past $200 billion, American taxpayers have been asking questions regarding whether every dollar spent has been necessary.

Of late, those questions have centered on Halliburton. Even before the invasion of Iraq, there were concerns about Halliburton’s contracts. And very quickly, those concerns proved to be justified.

Last year, an investigation found that Halliburton charged American taxpayers $2.64 per gallon for gasoline shipped into Iraq, which was double the price other suppliers were charging. That gasoline was then sold to Iraqis for as little as $.05 per gallon.

Recently, the reports of waste, fraud, and abuse have literally been piling up. This week, we learned Halliburton charged taxpayers $10,000 per day to house its employees in Kuwait's five-star Kempinski Hotel. The same employees could have stayed in air-conditioned tents like those used by American troops for $600 a day. The company purchased embroidered towels that cost three times that of standard towels. One employee discovered that Halliburton was charging for 37,200 cases of soda every month even though they were only providing 37,200 cans. In effect, Halliburton was charging the remarkable price of $45 for each 30-can case of soda for which supermarkets charge about $7. When the employee began making progress in reducing Halliburton's overcharges in this and other areas, she was taken off the accounts.

Most troubling, a former Halliburton truck convoy commander disclosed that Halliburton removed all the spare tires from its brand-new $85,000 trucks. When the tires went flat, the trucks were abandoned or torched. In addition, there seemed to be near total disregard of maintenance on trucks. “There were absolutely no oil filters or fuel filters for months on end. I begged for filters, but never got any,” the convoy commander said. “I was told that oil changes were ‘out of the question.” The convoy commander also indicated that convoys of empty trucks often were sent out. He said Halliburton “would run trucks empty quite often. Sometimes they would have five empty trucks, sometimes they would have a dozen. One time we ran 28 trucks, and only one had anything on it.” Well, whatever they’re putting on the trucks, one thing is clear: The American taxpayer is being taken for a ride.

When other Halliburton employees reported similar examples of waste, fraud, and abuse, they were told, “Don’t worry about it. It’s a cost plus contract.” “Cost plus,” evidently, is jargon for war profiteering. Despite these abuses, none of the Senate committees controlled by the Republican majority have investigated Halliburton’s activities in Iraq or indicated that they intend to look into this matter. Such scrutiny, we’re told, could jeopardize the rebuilding efforts.

This attitude could not be more misguided. The danger in our rebuilding of Iraq is that the American people will lose faith in this effort because they feel it’s too expensive, or that they’re being cheated. There’s one way to guarantee that the American taxpayer is not being cheated: that is, for Congress to step up to its constitutional obligations to oversee the actions of the executive branch of government.

Sunlight, it’s been said, is the best disinfectant. But for too long, the Administration has been able to keep Congress and the American people in the dark. Medicare and Halliburton represent only the tip of the iceberg. Still more major allegations of misconduct, such as the outing of the identity of a covert CIA agent for political gain, have been ignored. And other serious matters, such as the manipulation of intelligence about Iraq, have received only fitful attention.

This is fundamentally wrong. Our constitutional oversight responsibilities should not be driven by political expediency. Regardless of the party affiliation of the President, there are some matters that are too important to be ignored. The American people are looking to us to provide leadership. If no wrongdoing has been committed, let our investigations reaffirm people’s faith in the government’s credibility. But if there has been wrongdoing, the American taxpayer has a right to see that those responsible are held accountable.

Ensuring accountability is one of the roles the Framers set out for us. In a way, it is our most solemn obligation, because in fulfilling our task, we preserve the democratic nature of our government.

Not only is a great deal of money at stake, the continuing faith of the American people in their system of governance is at stake. Safeguarding that democratic system is our responsibility, and it’s time we met it.

I yield the floor.

###

democrats.senate.gov

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Ilene Zeldin, (202) 224-6654
Tuesday, June 22, 2004 <http://hollings.senate.gov>

Sen. Hollings’ Legislation To Protect Children From
TV Violence Moves Through Senate

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Senate today approved by voice vote legislation U.S. Sen. Fritz Hollings proposed to better protect children from violence on television. The legislation is attached to the Department of Defense Authorization bill now moving through the Senate.

"The Congress has made it clear we want to address violence on TV,” Sen. Hollings said. “For years, we've accumulated studies showing the link between violent TV programming and violent, anti-social behavior in children. Now we have a chance to do something about it."

The legislation requires the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to study whether V-Chip technology and content-based ratings system effectively meet the compelling government interest in protecting children from harms associated with exposure to violent programming. If the FCC determines they do not constitute an effective alternative measure of protection, it must institute a safe harbor to prohibit violent programming when children are likely to represent a substantial portion of the viewing audience.

In the interim, the bill directs the FCC to develop rules prohibiting distribution of violent programming on television that is not blockable by the V-Chip. This prohibition will increase the incentive for programmers to accurately rate their programming with a "V" for violence.

Currently, a similar "safe harbor" exists with respect to "indecency" on broadcast television. Courts have upheld the regulation of indecency, and Sen. Hollings believes a "safe harbor" for violence would be constitutionally permissible as well.

Sen. Hollings has fought for common sense legislation to guard children from TV violence for 10 years. The Commerce Committee previously approved this legislation four times. “I’m glad the full Senate took this step today, and I look forward to final passage,” he said.

Dorgan/Snowe amendment

In the amendment, strike all beginning on page 1, line 2 through page 3, line 3, and insert the following:

SEC. ___. BROADCAST DECENCY ENFORCEMENT ACT OF 2004.
SHORT TITLE.--This section may be cited as the ``Broadcast Decency Enforcement Act of 2004''.
(a) Purpose- The purpose of this section is to increase the FCC's authority to fine for indecent broadcasts and prevent further relaxation of the media ownership rules in order to stem the rise of indecent programming.
(b) Findings -The Congress makes the following findings:
(1) Since 1996 there has been significant consolidation in the media industry, including:
(A) Radio. Clear Channel Communications went from owning 43 radio stations prior to 1996 to over 1200 as of January 2003; Cumulus Broadcasting, Inc. was established in 1997 and owned 266 stations as of December 2003, making it the second-largest radio ownership company in the country; and Infinity Broadcasting Corporation went from owning 43 radio stations prior to 1996 to over 185 stations as of June 2004;
(B) Television. Viacom/CBS's national ownership of television stations increased from 31.53% of U.S. television households prior to 1996 to 38.9% in 2004; GE/NBC's national ownership of television stations increased from 24.65% prior to 1996 to 33.56% in 2004; NewsCorp/FOX's national ownership of television stations increased from 22.05% prior to 1996 to 37.7% in 2004;
(C) Media Mergers. In 2000, Viacom merged with CBS and UPN; in 2002, GE/NBC merged with Telemundo Communications, Inc. and in 2004 with Vivendi Universal Entertainment; in 2003 News Corp./Fox acquired a controlling interest in DirecTV; in 2000, Time Warner, Inc. merged with America Online.
(2) Over the same period that there has been significant consolidation in the media industry the number of indecency complaints also has increased dramatically. The largest owners of television and radio broadcast holdings have received the greatest number of indecency complaints and the largest fines, including
(A) Over 80% of the fines proposed by the Federal Communications Commission for indecent broadcasts were against stations owned by two of the top three radio companies. The top radio company alone accounts for over two-thirds of the fines proposed by the FCC;
(B) Two of the largest fines proposed by the FCC were against two of the top three radio companies;
(C) In 2004, the FCC received over 500,000 indecency complaints in response to the Superbowl Halftime show aired on CBS and produced by MTV, both of which are owned by Viacom. This is the largest number of complaints ever received by the FCC for a single broadcast;
(D) The number of indecency complaints increased from 111 in 2000 to 240,350 in 2003;
(3) Media conglomerates do not consider or reflect local community standards.
(A) The FCC has no record of a television station owned by one of the big four networks (Viacom/CBS, Disney/ABC, News Corp./Fox or GE/NBC) pre-empting national programming for failing to meet community standards;
(B) FCC records show that non-network owned stations have often rejected national network programming found to be indecent and offensive to local community standards;
(C) A letter from an owned and operated station manager to a viewer stated that programming decisions are made by network headquarters and not the local owned and operated television station management;
(D) The Parents Television Council has found that the "losers" of network ownership "are the local communities whose standards of decency are being ignored;"
(4) The Senate Commerce Committee has found that the current fines do not deter indecent broadcast because they are merely the cost of doing business for large media companies. Therefore, in order to prevent the continued rise of indecency violations, the FCC's authority for indecency fines should be increased and further media consolidation should be prevented.
(c) INCREASE IN PENALTIES FOR OBSCENE, INDECENT, AND PROFANE BROADCASTS.--Section 503(b)(2) of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 503(b)(2)) is amended-
(1) by redesignating subparagraphs (C) and (D) as subparagraphs (D) and (E), respectively;
(2) by inserting after subparagraph (B) the following new subparagraph:
``(C) Notwithstanding subparagraph (A), if the violator is--
``(i)(I) a broadcast station licensee or permittee; or
``(II) an applicant for any broadcast license, permit, certificate, or other instrument or authorization issued by the Commission; and
``(ii) determined by the Commission under paragraph (1) to have broadcast obscene, indecent, or profane language, the amount of any forfeiture penalty determined under this subsection shall not exceed $275,000 for each violation or each day of a continuing violation, except that the amount assessed for any continuing violation shall not exceed a total of $3,000,000 for any single act or failure to act.''; and
(3) in subparagraph (D), as redesignated by paragraph (1), by striking ``subparagraph (A) or (B)'' and inserting ``subparagraph (A), (B), or (C)''.

(d) NEW BROADCAST MEDIA OWNERSHIP RULES SUSPENDED.
(1) SUSPENSION.-Subject to the provisions of paragraphs(d)(2), the broadcast media ownership rules adopted by the Federal Communications Commission on June 2, 2003, pursuant to its proceeding on broadcast media ownership rules, Report and Order FCC-03-127, published at 68 FR 46286, August 5, 2003, shall be invalid and without legal effect.
(2) CLARIFICATION.-The provisions of paragraph (1) shall not supersede the amendments made by section 629 of the Miscellaneous Appropriations and Offsets Act, 2004 (Public Law 108-199).

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NEWS RELEASE

Contact Brian Hart/Aaron Groote

June 22, 2004

BROWNBACK’S DECENCY BILL PASSES SENATE

Increases fines up to $275,000, bill headed to conference with House

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Sam Brownback today applauded passage of his Broadcast Decency Enforcement Act. The bill passed today by roll call vote 99-1 as an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2005.

“The Decency bill that passed the Senate is a clear signal to broadcasters that Congress and the American people expect them to abide by the longstanding guidelines for use of the public airwaves,” said Brownback. “This bill will empower the FCC to levy fines that are updated to reflect the current market by allowing increased fines that will have a tangible, punitive effect. We have also given the FCC the flexibility to take into account several factors, including market size and financial ability, when levying fines so that all actions are appropriate to each incident.”

The bill increases fines per offense up to $275,000 with a cap of $3 million per day.

Brownback continued, “This bill was strongly supported by the House and the Senate, and more importantly, by the American people, who have deep concerns regarding questionable content on public airwaves clearly intended to ignore regulations that are designed to protect children and families from indecent material.”

The Broadcast Decency Enforcement Act passed the Senate Commerce Committee in March, and similar legislation has already passed the House of Representatives. The amendment that passed the Senate did not include any of the amendments added to the bill in the Senate Commerce Committee. However, several Senators, including Conrad Burns of Montana, added second degree amendments to the Brownback amendment.

Brownback is a member of the Senate Commerce Committee and serves on the Communications Subcommittee.

-30-

Sam Brownback
United States Senator - Kansas
303 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
(202) 224-6521
http://brownback.senate.gov

June 22, 2004

Press Contact: Courtney Schikora

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(202) 224-1028

Senator Ted Stevens

Remarks in Opposition to an Amendment to Realign Critical Funds from Ground-Based Midcourse Interceptors

Senator Ted Stevens today made the following remarks on the Senate floor in opposition to the Levin amendment, #3338 to S. 2400, the Fiscal Year 2005 National Defense Authorization bill. Amendment #3338, Realign Critical Funds from Ground-Based Midcourse Interceptors was not agreed to by a vote of 44 to 56. The following are Senator Stevens’ remarks:

Mr. President, I come to the floor today to strongly oppose the Levin Amendment.

This amendment would realign critical funds from ground-based midcourse interceptors. The consequences of that decision would be devastating; by reallocating those funds, congress would effectively cripple the deployment and testing of interceptors in Alaska.

Now let me hasten to add, that decision to go to alaska with these interceptors was not a political decision, it was made by the scientists, but I support that decsion.

Ballistic missiles are a serious threat to the United States and our interests, forces, and allies throughout the world. The missiles our enemies possess are growing in range, reliability, accuracy and number.

A missile carrying nuclear, biological or chemical weapons could inflict damage that would make the tragedy our country experienced on September 11th pale by comparison.

We cannot afford to ignore this threat. We must confront it if we want to address the challenges that characterize our nation’s new security environment.

The new security challenges of the 21st Century require us to think and act differently.

With that in mind, the decision was made to field the ground-based midcourse system in Alaska. Alaska’s location gives us a strategic advantage; interceptors launched from Alaska will be capable of protecting all 50 states.

If Congress rejects Senator Levin’s amendment and remains committed to the ground-based midcourse program, the United States will be able to meet any potential threat from a rogue nation or terrorist group.

The Fort Greely interceptors are the centerpiece of our integrated, layered national missile defense system.

The funding contained in the 2005 budget is a down payment on additional interceptors that will enable us to conduct additional flight testing and maintain industrial base production lines for key components of the ground-based system.

Senator Levin’s amendment cuts this funding.

The amendment also disregards what years of experience have shown – that it is wise to move into a deployment phase before the testing phase of a program has been completed.

I remind the Congress of the Gulf War, when we fielded a number of systems that were under development at the time, including J-Stars And I personally whitnessed the testing and early deployment of J-Stars. and the Patriot Missile.

Over many years we enhanced the Patriot batteries that first saw action in 1991 by implementing a follow-on enhancement program and replacing the original missile with a completely new interceptor.

Similarly, the B-52 bomber that first flew in 1952 is hardly the same aircraft that dropped bombs over Afghanistan in the War Against Terror. The original B-52 gave us early intercontinental bombardment capability, and it was enhanced over time with hardware and software improvements that helped us meet evolving operational challenges.

These examples are reminders that a requirement written into a system’s development phase can quickly become irrelevant or yield a dead-end. That is a lesson we must keep in the forefront of our minds as we confront today’s dynamic security environment.

The time to move forward with the deployment of a ground-based mid-course operational capability is now, Now.

We must continue to improve the system. It must be allowed to evolve over time and take advantage of breakthroughs in technology as they occur.

Congress should follow the proven wisdom of experience and resist the urge to “build to perfection” – a national security strategy that has never served us well.

But that’s exactly what this amendment would have us do – turn our backs on the proven wisdom of experience and wait until there is a tragedy to confront the national security threats that we know are emerging Now.

I urge my The Senate to support the ground-based midcourse system and oppose Senator Levin’s amendment. again, This system has been deployed in my state in the Test phase and is vital to our nation’s defense.

###

June 22, 2004

Senate Includes Burns Amendment to Protect Small Broadcasters

WASHINGTON- U.S. Sen. Conrad Burns (R-Mont.) announced today that his amendment to protect the interests of small broadcasters from being punished for events outside of their control was agreed to in the Senate. The Burns amendment was added to the Department of Defense reauthorization bill, included with Senator Brownback’s (R-KS) amendment to increase fines for indecency.

The Burns amendment protects small businesses by calling on the Federal Communications Committee (FCC) to consider the size of the viewing or listening audience of the programming and size of the broadcast market in question as well as whether they had anything to do with producing the offensive content in question. It was included as part of Sen. Brownback’s indecency amendment which would increase the maximum penalties for indecent material to $275,000 for the first violation, $375,000 for the second violation, and $500,000 for the third and any subsequent violation. A Burns provision would allow the fine to be doubled by the FCC if the violation is determined to be aggravated, with a total cap of $3,000,000 during a 24-hour period.

Greg MacDonald, President and CEO of Montana Broadcasters Association said: “With his amendment Senator Burns has once again shown his understanding of both the issue and the broadcast industry. He has shown leadership in amending this bill to make certain that the innocent are not lumped in with the guilty and that the punishment for violators fits the magnitude of the crime. Once again we are pleased that the voice of reason comes from the heartland and not the beltway.”

Senator Burns is a senior member of the Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation.

###

_____________________________

Jennifer O'Shea
Press Secretary
Senator Conrad Burns
187 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
202.224.6830 Phone
202.224.8594 Fax

For Immediate Release

June 22, 2004

Contact: Melanie Alvord (202) 224-0992

Opening Statement of Chairman Ted Stevens

At Today’s Defense Subcommittee Markup

of the Fiscal Year 2005 Defense Appropriations Bill

WE MEET THIS MORNING TO MARKUP THE DEFENSE BILL FOR FISCAL YEAR 2005.

FIRST, I THANK SENATOR INOUYE AND HIS STAFF FOR THEIR HELP IN GETTING THIS BILL READY FOR MARKUP. IT REFLECTS A TRUE BIPARTISAN EFFORT ON BEHALF OF THE SUBCOMMITTEE.

THIS BILL PROVIDES $416.2 BILLION IN BUDGET AUTHORITY FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE INCLUDING $25 BILLION OF CONTINGENT EMERGENCY FUNDING FOR COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH OPERATIONS IN IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN.

THE BILL IS $1.7 BILLION UNDER THE PRESIDENT’S AMENDED FISCAL YEAR 2005 BUDGET REQUEST OF $417.8 BILLION.

THE BILL PROVIDES FUNDS TO SUPPORT OPERATIONS IN IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN, FIGHT THE GLOBAL WAR ON TERRORISM, AS WELL AS FULLY FUND KEY READINESS PROGRAMS.

IT PROVIDES GROWTH IN THE INTELLIGENCE BUDGET AND MAINTAIN THE OVERALL READINESS OF DOD FORCES WORLDWIDE.

THE BILL FULLY FUNDS MILITARY PAY, BENEFITS AND MEDICAL PROGRAMS.

IT SUPPORTS THE INITIAL DEPLOYMENT OF NATIONAL MISSILE DEFENSE PROGRAMS AND CONTINUES THE INVESTMENT IN THEATER MISSILE DEFENSES.

THE BILL PROVIDES PROGRAM INCREASES IN SUPPORT OF “MILITARY TRANSFORMATION” WHILE MAKING DELIBERATE ADJUSTMENTS TO ENSURE THAT FUTURE COSTS, AS WELL AS DEVELOPMENT, TESTING, AND PRODUCTION ARE EFFICIENTLY MANAGED.

FINALLY, WE HAVE ALSO INCLUDED MANY INITIATIVES THAT HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN THE SENATE 2005 NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION BILL, SUCH AS ADDITIONAL ARMY END STRENGTH AND TRICARE FOR GUARD AND RESERVE.

WE HAVE A MANAGER’S AMENDMENT THAT INCLUDES TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS AND OTHER TIMES WHICH HAVE BEEN CLEARED ON BOTH SIDES.

LET ME RECOGNIZE THE RANKING MEMBER, SENATOR INOUYE FOR HIS REMARKS.

###

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MEDIA ADVISORY

Contact Brian Hart/Aaron Groote

June 22, 2004

***POSTPONED***

BROWNBACK TO CHAIR HEARING ON ADVANCES IN ADULT STEM CELL RESEARCH

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Sam Brownback has postponed due to family obligations his previously scheduled hearing to investigate recent successes with adult stem cells. The hearing had been scheduled to take place on Wednesday, June 23 at 11:00 a.m. in the Science, Technology and Space Subcommittee of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee.

Witnesses scheduled for the original hearing included a previously wheelchair-bound patient with spinal cord injuries who was treated with her own stem cells, and a doctor who has been successful in completely reversing Parkinson’s symptoms through the use of adult stem cells.

***POSTPONED***

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Sam Brownback
United States Senator - Kansas
303 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
(202) 224-6521
http://brownback.senate.gov

News Release

For release: June 22, 2004 Contact: Coy Knobel, phone 202-224-3424
Web address: enzi.senate.gov Email: Coy_Knobel@enzi.senate.gov

Enzi cosponsors cell phone privacy bill
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Mike Enzi, R-Wyo., said legislation is needed to protect the privacy rights of subscribers to wireless communications services.
“The wireless industry is on the verge of introducing a telephone directory with phone numbers for every person who subscribes to a mobile phone service. Although beneficial for some, consumer protection questions have not been answered for most,” said Enzi. “This legislation is important because it allows customers to choose whether they want to keep their phone numbers private or if they want to increase who has access to their personal mobile phones."
Enzi is cosponsoring the “Wireless 411 Privacy Act", S. 1963. The bill would require wireless telephone service companies to get consent from existing wireless subscribers before listing them in the wireless directory assistance databases and provide to new subscribers the ability to "opt-out" of inclusion. This feature gives consumers the ability to keep their phone numbers entirely private.
“There are 150 million wireless subscribers in the United States and currently no federal or state laws that prohibit wireless carriers from divulging those wireless telephone numbers,” said Enzi. “We need to preserve the expectation of privacy that wireless consumers have.”
The wireless privacy bill has been referred to the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation committee for consideration.
-end-

For Immediate Release

June 22, 2004

Contact: Melanie Alvord (202) 224-0992

Appropriations Committee Chairman Ted Stevens’

Remarks in Opposition to an Amendment to Realign Critical Funds

from Ground-Based Midcourse Interceptors

Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Senator Ted Stevens, today spoke on the Senate floor in strong opposition to an amendment to realign critical funds from ground-based midcourse interceptors. The amendment subsequently failed by a vote of 44 to 56. Following are Senator Stevens’ remarks:

Mr. President, I come to the floor today to strongly oppose the Levin Amendment.

NOW LET ME HASTEN TO ADD, THAT DECISION TO GO TO ALASKA WITH THESE INTECEPTORS WAS NOT A POLITICAL DECISION, IT WAS MADE BY THE SCIENTISTS, BUT I SUPPORT that decsision.

A missile carrying nuclear, biological or chemical weapons could inflict damage that would make the tragedy our country experienced on September 11th pale by comparison.

We cannot afford to ignore this threat. We must confront it if we want to address the challenges that characterize our nation’s new security environment.

The new security challenges of the 21st Century require us to think and act differently.

The Fort Greely interceptors are the centerpiece of our integrated, layered national missile defense system.

Senator Levin’s amendment cuts this funding.

The amendment also disregards what years of experience have shown – that it is wise to move into a deployment phase before the testing phase of a program has been completed.

I remind the Congress of the Gulf War, when we fielded a number of systems that were under development at the time, including J-Stars and the Patriot Missile.

Over many years we enhanced the Patriot batteries that first saw action in 1991 by implementing a follow-on enhancement program and replacing the original missile with a completely new interceptor.

The time to move forward with the deployment of a ground-based mid-course operational capability is now.

We must continue to improve the system. It must be allowed to evolve over time and take advantage of breakthroughs in technology as they occur.

Congress should follow the proven wisdom of experience and resist the urge to “build to perfection” – a national security strategy that has never served us well.

I urge the senate to support the ground-based midcourse system and oppose Senator Levin’s amendment.

###

MEDIA ADVISORY
Contact: Michael Briggs

June 22, 2004
202-224-1545

SENATOR EDWARDS TO HOLD PRESS

CONFERENCE ON PATIENTS’ PROTECTION

WASHINGTON – Senator John Edwards today will discuss the Patients’ Protection Act in light of Monday’s Supreme Court decision.

Tuesday, June 22

Who: Senator John Edwards

What: Press Conference

Where: Senate Radio/TV Gallery

When: 1:45 p.m.

____________

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JOHN CORNYN
United States Senator - Texas
CONTACT: DON STEWART

(202) 224-0703 office (202) 365-6702 cell

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 22, 2004

CORNYN STATEMENT ON DEFENDING TRADITIONAL MARRIAGE

Judiciary Committee Holds Hearing on Impact of Massachusetts Court Decision on States

WASHINGTON—U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, Chairman of the Constitution Subcommittee, made the following statement Tuesday regarding a Judiciary Committee hearing on traditional marriage laws and the states:

“Governor Romney speaks with authority on how activist judges have overruled elected representatives and the will of a people in his state. The attack on traditional marriage laws was thrust upon us by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, and other states are now in danger of facing this same problem. So, this has clearly risen to the level of a federal issue. The idea that the states can maintain their democratically enacted traditional marriage laws, given the judicial effort to overturn them at the federal level, is quaint.

“There are currently three federal court cases around the country attempting to overturn traditional marriage, and scores more at the state court level. Nebraska’s constitutional amendment defining marriage as between as a man and woman is in danger of being overturned by a federal court. Utah’s polygamy law has been challenged as unconstitutional under the federal Constitution. And in Florida, there is a lawsuit pending that claims the federal Defense of Marriage Act itself is unconstitutional.

“The only way to reverse this terrible trend, to ensure that the American people finally get their say, is through a federal constitutional amendment. I think when the American people get a chance to have their voices heard, they will overwhelmingly reaffirm their commitment to traditional marriage, just as a vast bipartisan majority of Congress did in 1996.”

At Tuesday’s hearing, Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney testified on his state’s situation. The hearing was titled “Preserving Traditional Marriage: A View from the States.”

Sen. Cornyn chairs the subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights & Property Rights, and is the only former judge on the Judiciary Committee. He served previously as Texas Attorney General, Texas Supreme Court Justice, and Bexar County District Judge.

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www.cornyn.senate.gov

For Planning Purposes: Contact: Natalie Ravitz, Sen. Boxer (202) 224 - 8120
June 22, 2004 Scott Gerber, Sen. Feinstein (202) 224-9629

*** MEDIA ADVISORY ***

BOXER AND FEINSTEIN READY TO SETTLE
FRIENDLY WAGER ON NBA FINALS
Pistons Startling Win Over Lakers Leaves California Senators
Thirsty for Vernors Ginger Ale, Lugging Avocados

Washington, D.C.– U.S. Senators Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein (both D-CA) will hold a press conference TODAY to settle up on a friendly wager they made with Michigan Senators Carl Levin and Debbie Stabenow (both D-MI) on the outcome of the NBA Championship between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Detroit Pistons.

Banking on the Lakers athletic star power and the relative inexperience of the underdog Pistons, the California Senators wagered DVDs of Academy Award winning movies, two Disneyland tickets, a crate of avocados, and two bottles of California wine.

In turn, the Michigan Senators put up cherry pies, Vernors Ginger Ale, Motown CDs, and two bottles of Michigan wine.

Sadly, the Lakers were beaten by the Pistons.

WHO: Senator Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein
Senators Carl Levin and Debbie Stabenow

WHAT: Press Conference to Pay Off NBA Finals Wager

WHEN: Tuesday, June 22, 2004
2:30 p.m.

WHERE: Senate Radio-TV Gallery

###

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Todd Webster

MONDAY, June 21, 2004 Sarah Feinberg

(202)224-2939

Statement of Senate Democratic Leader Tom Daschle
on Supreme Court Limiting Patients' Rights

(Washington, D.C.) -- The U.S. Supreme Court ruled today that patients may not hold their HMOs accountable under state law for refusing to pay for doctor-recommended care.

Senate Democratic Leader Tom Daschle released the following statement in response to that ruling:

“Today's decision by the Supreme Court is a setback for those who believe that doctors and patients - not the big HMOs and insurance companies - should make the decisions affecting Americans' health care.

Today's decision would prevent HMOs from being held accountable for the decisions they make to withhold medical care. Rights aren't rights if you can't enforce them.

Today's decision reinforces the need for a real, enforceable patients' bill of rights at the national level. It appears that only comprehensive federal legislation can guarantee that doctors and patients are in charge of medical decisions and that HMOs and insurance companies are held accountable when they put profits over patients.

The patients' bill of rights was the first new bill I called up in 2001 after becoming the Senate Majority Leader. Today's decision should spur my colleagues in congress to revisit this critical legislation immediately.”

###

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Contact: Maureen Knightly/ Jen Carrier

June 21, 2004 202.224.3254

HARKIN ANNOUNCES BOOST FOR MASS TRANSIT THROUGHOUT IOWA

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) announced today that the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) is awarding $4.35 million to improve buses, equipment and facilities across the state of Iowa. Harkin, a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, successfully included these funds in the 2004 Transportation Appropriations measure.

“Transportation is vital to the growth of Iowa’s economy,” said Harkin. “Many Iowans rely on mass transit to get to work and take care of their daily needs. That’s why I am pleased these Iowa communities will receive this support.”

The funds will be allocated to the 11 city transit systems listed below:

· Ames - $1,046,000 for five buses and updated security on ten buses

· Burlington - $52,000 for a new bus

· Cedar Rapids - $742,000 for five new buses

· Coralville - $48,000 for improvements on the maintenance facility

· Des Moines - $500,000 for improvements to bus facilities

· Dubuque - $90,000 for two buses

· Fort Dodge - $16,000 for security equipment on buses

· Mason City - $56,000 for a new bus

· Ottumwa - $12,000 for facility improvements

· Sioux City - $44,000 for facility and security enhancements

· Waterloo - $456,000 for two buses

DOT will also award funds to 13 rural transportation systems throughout Iowa including:

Northeast Regional Transit System in Decorah
Mid-Iowa Development Association (MIDAS) in Fort Dodge
Western Iowa Transit System in Carroll
North Iowa Area Regional Transit System in Mason City
Regional Transit Authority in Spencer
Siouxland Regional Transit System in Sioux City
Delaware, Dubuque and Jackson County Regional Transit Authority in Dubuque
Great River Bend Services, Inc. in Davenport
East Central Iowa Transit in Cedar Rapids
Western Iowa Transit System in Carroll
Southwest Iowa Transit Agency in Atlantic
Southern Iowa Trolley in Creston
Regional Transit Agency in Ottumwa
Southeast Iowa Transit Authority in Burlington

###

Comment on Patients Bill or Rights and today's Supreme Court ruling, by Senator Dianne Feinstein:

"Today's Supreme Court ruling points out the need to re-invigorate the patients' right movement. In 2001 the Senate acted on a Patients Bill of Rights which I supported. Unfortunately that bill never made it to the President's desk. For patients across the country the situation is largely the same as it was in 2001. Patients have few opportunities for recourse against the health plans that harm them. That is simply wrong."

MEDIA ADVISORY: Contact: Howard Gantman

Monday, June 21, 2004 or Scott Gerber 202/224-9629

http://feinstein.senate.gov/

Weekly Planner of Senator Dianne Feinstein

*** For Planning Purposes Only – All Times Subject to Change***

Public Hearings and Markups of Note:

Senate Appropriations Defense Subcommittee – MARKUP
Time/Location: Tuesday, June 22, 2004

10:45 – 12:45 a.m., 192 Dirksen Senate Office Building

Senate Judiciary Committee – MARKUP
Feinstein bills on markup agenda:

S. 1735 – The Gang Prevention and Effective Deterrence Act. (Held over).

S. J. Res. 4 – An amendment to the Constitution of the United States authorizing Congress to prohibit the physical desecration of the flag of the United States. (Hatch-Feinstein-Stevens)

Time/Location: Thursday, June 24, 2004

9:30 a.m., 226 Dirksen Senate Office Building

Upcoming floor action of note:

Burma Sanctions (S.J. Res 39) -- A joint resolution approving the renewal of import restrictions contained in the Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act of 2003. (McConnell-Feinstein)

Identity Theft Penalty Enhancement Act (S. 153/H.R. 1731) – The Senate approved this legislation, sponsored by Sens. Feinstein and Kyl on 3/19/03. The House of Representatives may approve this legislation this week.

Defense Authorization (S.2400)
The following amendments sponsored by Senator Feinstein have been approved:
Clarifying responsibility for Perchlorate contamination and cleanup. (Accepted into bill on 6/16/04)
Calling upon the President to make the elimination of the Afghanistan heroin trade one of his highest national security priorities. (Accepted into bill on 6/17/04)
Establishing a task force and authorizing funding for the removal of nuclear waste material from sites vulnerable to terrorists around the world. (Accepted into bill on 5/19/04)

Additional information on any of these issues is available upon request.

###

MONDAY, June 21, 2004

Senator Daschle Commends USDA's Decision to Reverse Policy that Cut Food Assistance Benefits for Low-Income Seniors

South Dakota senior's story spurred change in policy related

to the new Medicare Drug Discount Card

(Washington D.C.)-Senate Democratic Leader Tom Daschle said the U.S. Department of Agriculture has done the right thing by issuing new guidelines that reverse a policy that cut the food assistance benefits for low-income seniors who enrolled in the new Medicare Drug Discount Card.

Daschle had brought the issue to the attention of Mark McClellan, the administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, after a South Dakota senior contacted his office and said that, if she signed up for a $600 subsidy under the new Medicare Drug Discount card, she would see a reduction in her food stamp benefits.

In March, USDA told all state programs that, in calculating their net incomes, food stamp recipients would not be able to deduct as medical expenses the cost of drugs they get using this drug discount card. This would mean less food stamp assistance.

"The South Dakota senior who got in touch with me deserves credit for taking action and preventing further hardship for thousands of other seniors struggling in the face of skyrocketing prescription drug costs," Senator Daschle said. "We were able to get Medicare and USDA to work together to correct an unfair policy that told some seniors they'd need to choose between help with their medicine or help with their food. That's not a choice."

According to new regulations issued late Friday, USDA will allow households to deduct the $600 transitional assistance that comes with the drug discount card. They will also be able to deduct a standard amount for medical expenses and select from one of three options to gain additional deductions for drug-related costs.

Daschle said USDA's policy reversal is good news for low-income seniors in South Dakota and across the country, but he would continue to fight for more affordable prescription drugs for all seniors and consumers.

"We were able to convince the Administration to make this change, but I continue to have grave concerns about the flawed Medicare drug plan. I will keep fighting to bring down the skyrocketing costs of prescription drugs for every senior--and all Americans. Allowing for the safe reimportation of prescription drugs from Canada and other countries, and allowing the federal government to negotiate on behalf of all seniors for lower-cost prescriptions are steps Congress must take to deliver real relief to our seniors," Daschle said.

###

democrats.senate.gov
June 21, 2004

Contact: Courtney Schikora, (202)224-1028

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CORRECTED:

SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE REPORTS

FY05 HOMELAND SECURITY APPROPRIATIONS BILL

Note: The correction is the date of the Senate Appropriations Committee approval of the FY05

Homeland Security Appropriations bill. The date of the committee mark-up is June 17, 2004.

On Thursday, June 17, 2004, the Senate Appropriations Committee approved the Fiscal Year 2005 Homeland Security Appropriations bill. Included in the bill are several national items that benefit Alaska. This bill will now be put on the Senate Calendar for consideration on the Senate floor; later, it will be reconciled with its House counterpart.

At the request of Senators Stevens and Murkowski, $10 million has been provided for the Department of Homeland Security’s use of the National Weather Service (NWS) radio system as the foundation for the Homeland Security Advisory System. The Committee has been advised that only 15 percent of Americans to have access to NWS radio broadcasts and have provided this funding for the distribution of NWS radios to schools throughout the country on a priority basis.

“Our country has a network of alert systems that does not effectively cover everyone,” said Stevens. “We need to have a system that notifies people about all emergencies, not just one type or another. To use existing technology is well meaning, but only if everyone has access to it.”

As the number one cargo airport in the country (in terms of cargo landed) the Anchorage International Airport will benefit from $15 million nationwide for the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to continue operation testing and evaluation of commercial off-the-shelf explosives detection technologies that will detect containerized material-specific cargo threats as part of the Air Cargo Inspection pilot program. This will allow for the expansion of the program to airports experiencing extreme environmental conditions to ensure equipment durability. “Anchorage is the top-ranked cargo airport in North America,” said Stevens. “This program will ensure the continued flow of cargo through the United States and will protect us from future terrorist attacks.”

Senator Stevens ensured the inclusion of $5 million to expand the Cyber Crime Center within the Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). These funds will allow for the establishment of additional Computer Forensic Laboratories to expand ICE’s ability to investigate child and other internet-related crimes.

The bill also provides $700 million for Firefighter Assistance Grants nationwide; many Alaska fire departments have received firefighting grants in recent years. The Department of Homeland Security to continue its direct funding to fire departments, the peer review process for determining funding awards, and the practice of allowing the Alaska Village Initiatives to apply for grants on behalf of Alaska communities. According to the State Fire Marshal’s Office, 75 percent of all fire fatalities in Alaska occur in rural areas, most without any fire response capabilities.

The report again includes language encouraging the Coast Guard to continue existing cooperative agreements and partnerships with organizations that provide marine vessel safety training and cold water immersion education and outreach programs. The Alaska Marine Safety Education Association (AMSEA) benefits from this initiative. AMSEA has trained over 600 instructors and 200 teachers to provide cold water safety education to more than 100,000 school children, commercial fishermen, recreational boaters and agency personnel.

In addition to its maritime safety education programs, the Coast Guard is directed to work with the National Academy of Science to conduct a comprehensive study of the role of Coast Guard icebreakers in supporting the United States operations in the Antarctic and the Arctic. The study is due to the Congress in September of 2005.

Additionally, the Coast Guard will receive $5 million above the President’s budget request to be used to augment research activities in support of traditional Coast Guard mission program. These programs include marine environmental protection, living marine resources, search and rescue, aids to navigation, marine safety, and fisheries enforcement. The bill also directs the Coast Guard to coordinate research and development activities with the under Secretary for Science and Technology. These activities are particularly important to Alaska which has half of the coastline of the United States, prodigious marine life, and many remote fisheries management challenges.

###

Immediate Release Contact: Susan Irby

Monday, June 21, 2004 202-224-4239

2005 Inaugural Committee Opens Offices,

Launches Website
http://inaugural.senate.gov

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Trent Lott of Mississippi, chairman of the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies (JCCIC), today announced the opening of the Committee's offices and the launch of the Committee's official website for the January 20, 2005, Inaugural Ceremony.

"An incredible amount of detail goes into preparing for this historic moment in our democracy, so we're hitting the ground running, early," Lott said about today's launch of activities.

The new website - fully accessible to the public - initially includes information for those seeking inaugural tickets and for marching bands and other performers who want to apply for consideration to be part of inauguration day events.

Website visitors can find profiles of JCCIC members, look up the Committee's history, and access the authorizing legislation for the 2005 inaugural. A daily countdown clock will remind visitors how many days are left until the January 20 inaugural.

Chairman Lott encourages web users to keep a regular eye on the site for upcoming additions including an historical timeline and detailed look back at past inaugurals, fun facts, links to other inaugural sites and lots of photos and reports marking the preparations for the 2005 event.

The JCCIC plans and executes all inaugural activities at the U.S. Capitol, including the swearing-in ceremony and the traditional inauguration luncheon that follows. Committee members in addition to Lott, who also chairs the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration, are: Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist; Senator Chris Dodd, Ranking Minority Member of the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration; House Speaker Dennis Hastert; House Majority Leader Tom DeLay and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi.

- 30 -

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Michael Briggs

June 21, 2004
202-224-1545

COURT RULING FOR HMOs SPOTLIGHTS

NEED FOR PATIENT PROTECTION LAW

WASHINGTON – Senator John Edwards said the need for a national patient protection law was underscored by a Supreme Court ruling Monday that managed care insurance programs cannot be held responsible in state courts.

In a decision that casts a legal cloud over similar provisions of patient protection laws in North Carolina and other states, justices ruled that patients in Texas cannot pursue malpractice claims against their insurers under a Texas law.

"Millions of working people still have nowhere to go when HMO bureaucrats overrule their doctors' decisions," said Senator Edwards. "Now, more than ever, we need to pass real patient protections to make certain that all people get the health care they need."

Senators Edwards, John McCain and Edward Kennedy last November reintroduced legislation to protect patients’ rights.

"At a time when the Bush administration is pushing millions of seniors on Medicare into HMOs, it is more important than ever to put health care decisions back in the hands of patients and their doctors," Senator Edwards said.

President Bush, who campaigned as a supporter of patient rights, has failed to deliver on his campaign promises and his White House aides have worked with insurance industry lobbyists to undermine efforts in Congress to help patients receive the health care they deserve.

Under the Edwards legislation that has languished in the hostile Republican-controlled Senate, 190 million patients insured by managed care programs would win the clear cut right to see medical specialists like pediatricians, obstetricians and gynecologists. The law also would guarantee that when people are hurt or get sick they have the right to go to the nearest emergency room without being penalized by their HMO.

Patients would be able to appeal to a medical expert when their insurance company denies coverage for procedures that their doctor ordered. The bill also would end HMOs' virtual legal immunity by giving patients the right to take their insurance company to court when doctor-recommended care is denied.

Senate Republican leaders, who have financial and political ties to the insurance industry, have blocked consideration of the legislation that is similar to a McCain-Edwards bill approved in 2001 by a vote of 59 to 36.

The latest legal setback for patients came in a unanimous Supreme Court opinion written by Justice Clarence Thomas. The justices concluded that a 30-year-old federal law, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act, forces HMO patients to sue only in federal courts. The insurance industry has long claimed the federal law trumps state patient protection laws and vigorously lobbied against congressional attempts to hold them accountable.

____________

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U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell
Washington

For Immediate Release
June 21, 2004
Contact:
Charla Neuman
202-224-8277
202-309-3447 (cell)

FERC Suppresses Enron Emails Which Could Provide New Proof of Energy Market Manipulation

Cantwell Calls on DOJ, FERC to Cooperate and Release Evidence to Snohomish PUD, Public

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) today called on Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) Chairman Pat Wood and Attorney General John Ashcroft to release e-mails written by Enron employees that could provide new “smoking guns” in the investigation of Enron’s illegal market manipulation.

FERC has hidden these e-mails from the public record under protective seal and has opposed the release of additional e-mails which may contain valuable evidence.

Cantwell made her request in letters to Attorney General Ashcroft and Chairman Wood.

“Just as the now-infamous Enron audiotapes exposed Enron’s corrupt corporate culture and trading practices, these e-mails may help prove how Enron manipulated energy markets,” Cantwell wrote in a letter to FERC Chairman Wood. “I therefore request that DOJ and FERC cooperate to make all such e-mails available to the public, state and local governments, and utilities attempting to defend themselves from Enron lawsuits.”

Some of the Enron e-mails requested by Cantwell are contained in Staff Exhibit 44 (S-44) of FERC Docket EL03-180. The e-mails in S-44 were pulled from a database controlled by the Department of Justice (DOJ). That database likely contains additional e-mails relevant to Enron’s commercial activity.

FERC has suppressed the release of the Enron e-mails by redacting S-44 from the public record and by denying Snohomish PUD’s request for access to the full database of e-mails. Snohomish requested the documents as part of its efforts to defend itself against a $122 million lawsuit filed by Enron.

“I am deeply troubled by FERC’s ongoing efforts to quash and obstruct the investigation of Enron’s illegal activity,” Cantwell wrote. “Last December, FERC attempted to quash the subpoena for Enron’s audiotapes sought by the Snohomish PUD… Now, it appears FERC is again obstructing efforts by keeping important Enron documents, such as these e-mails, hidden under protective seal.”

Letters attached.

# # #

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Bob Stevenson (202) 224-4445

June 21, 2004 Amy Call (202) 224-1865

Nick Smith (202) 224-3355

FRIST SCHEDULE FOR JUNE 21-25

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The following is U.S. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist’s schedule for June 21-25:

Tuesday, June 22

12:30 p.m. Republican Policy Lunch, S-207 Stakeout at Ohio Clock to follow luncheon

Wednesday, June 23

10:00 a.m. Speech, Congressional Award Gold Medal Ceremony, SR-325

4:00 p.m. Swearing-In Ceremony for Polish Ambassador Victor Ashe, Department of State, 2201 C

Street, NW, Washington, DC

6:00 p.m. Isaac Hayes Foundation Reception, Hotel Monaco, 700 F Street, NW, Washington, DC Frist to be honored for mission work in Africa; will speak briefly around 7:15 p.m.

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04-151

News Release . . .

United States Senate

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Nick Smith (Frist) 202-224-3344

June 21, 2004 Andrew Blotky (Wyden) 202-224-3789

FRIST, WYDEN TACKLE CHILDHOOD OBESITY WITH LEGISLATION TO EMPOWER KIDS, SCHOOLS

Senators’ bill promotes better nutritional choices, more exercise

for students in America’s elementary and middle schools

Washington, DC – U.S. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.) and Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) today introduced legislation to address the fast-growing problem of obesity among American youth. The “Childhood Obesity Reduction Act” would encourage school-aged children to increase their physical activity and make better nutritional choices by promoting school and community-based activities to improve children’s health.

“Obesity is one of the biggest public health threats facing our next generation,” said Frist. “By encouraging physical fitness and healthy eating in schools, we empower children with the tools they need to ebb the tide against the obesity epidemic. This legislation is a critical step toward helping schools and communities improve the health of children across the nation.”

“Childhood obesity is a serious problem throughout the nation and in my state, robbing young people of a healthy future and straining our limited federal health dollars,” stated Wyden. “This plan will enlist schools in the battle, giving them the resources they need to guide our children toward a lifetime of healthy activity and healthy food choices.”

The Childhood Obesity Reduction Act would recognize schools that voluntarily implement plans to increase physical activity and promote healthy nutritional choices. The bill would authorize $2.2 million in fiscal year 2005 to establish a Congressional Council to Combat Childhood Obesity. The Council would highlight successful programs, develop model nutrition and exercise plans for schools, and coordinate outreach and public awareness efforts. After two years of identifying and selecting model programs, the Council will create a public-private foundation that will award grants to schools that wish to implement model anti-obesity programs.

More than 15 percent of American children and teens ages six through 19 are overweight, nearly four times the percentage in 1960. Being overweight or obese carries increased risks for heart disease, cancer and musculoskeletal disorders, such as osteoarthritis.

Being overweight or obese also increases a child’s risk for diabetes, which can lead to a host of chronic illnesses and is the leading cause of kidney disease, heart disease, amputations, and blindness. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that, due to the childhood obesity epidemic, one in three Americans born in the year 2000 will develop diabetes in their lifetime. Among African American and Hispanic children, that number jumps to nearly half.

# # #

FOR PLANNING PURPOSES Contact: Maureen Knightly/Jennifer Carrier

June 21, 2004 202-224-3254

MEDIA ADVISORY

WEDNESDAY

HARKIN TO ADDRESS EFFORTS TO FIGHT CHRONIC DISEASE, OBESITY CRISIS FACING AMERICA

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) will host a conference call with reporters and editorial writers to lay out the goals of his Healthy Lifestyles and Prevention (HeLP) America Act on Wednesday, June 23, at 12:00 pm EDT. Harkin unveiled major legislation to reduce health care costs by giving Americans access to better preventive care and consumer information to promote healthier lifestyles.

If you are interested in participating, please contact Jennifer Carrier at 202-224-3254 or at jennifer_carrier@harkin.senate.gov.

Details of the event are as follows:

WHO: Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA)

WHAT: Conference call on Harkin Efforts to Fight Chronic Disease, Obesity Crisis Facing America

WHEN: 12:00 p.m. EDT

Wednesday, June 23

RSVP: If you would like to participate, please contact Jennifer Carrier at 202-224-3254 or at jennifer_carrier@harkin.senate.gov.

# # #

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

June 21, 2004

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Tom Steward (202) 253-4481

COLEMAN TO CHAIR HEARING TOMORROW TO ASSESS THE SAFETY AND SECURITY OF PEACE CORPS VOLUNTEERS ABROAD

Peace Corps director Vasquez and Minnesotan Cynthia Threlkeld to testify

Washington, DC: U.S. Senator Norm Coleman, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, Peace Corps and Narcotics, will hold a hearing tomorrow to assess the safety of Peace Corps volunteers and the steps that still need to be taken to ensure that participants abroad are secure. The Peace Corps has been working hard to address security concerns, Coleman noted, and the purpose of tomorrow’s hearing is to find ways to assist the agency’s efforts.

“The Peace Corps is American diplomacy at its best,” Coleman said. “Now more than ever it’s important that our country is working to foster international goodwill at the grassroots level. That’s exactly what Peace Corps work does. We need to make sure that we maintain that mission by ensuring Peace Corps volunteers live and work in safety.”

The reported incidence rate for major physical assaults on Peace Corps volunteers nearly doubled from an average of about 9 per 1,000 volunteers in years 1991 – 1993 to an average of about 17 per 1,000 volunteers in years 1998 – 2000. Data for 2001 and 2002 show that this rate has not changed.

“The world is a different place than it was in 1962 when President Kennedy founded the Peace Corps,” Coleman said. “Unfortunately, Americans abroad face greater security risks today than they did 42 years ago. It’s critical that we take every step necessary to ensure the safety of Peace Corps volunteers, and I hope this hearing will help shed light on ways to do that.”

Gaddi Vasquez, the director of the Peace Corps, will testify at tomorrow’s hearing, along with Jess Ford, the director of International Affairs and Trade at the General Accounting Office. Mr. Ford will discuss updates to a 2002 GAO report detailing the security threats Peace Corps volunteers face and the steps that still need to be taken to ensure their safety.

Also testifying tomorrow will be Minnesotan Cynthia Threlkeld, Peace Corps’ country director in Guatemala. Ms. Threlkeld, a graduate of St. Thomas University and former director of the Minnesota International Center, will discuss how she has dealt with security concerns in her program and what further steps she feels need to be taken.

The hearing will run TOMORROW from 9:30 am EST to 12:00 pm EST in the Dirksen Senate Office building, room 419

###

___________________________

Andy Brehm

Press Secretary

U.S. Senator Norm Coleman

Telephone: 202.224.5641

Fax: 202.224.9640

Mobile: 202.247.7636

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Mike Buttry 202/224-4224
Monday, June 21, 2004

Community Colleges: Meeting Nebraska’s Higher Education Needs

By U.S. Senator Chuck Hagel

June 21, 2004

As we work to meet the challenges and adapt to the changes of a 21st century economy, community colleges have become very important resources for our country. Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan, in a speech delivered to the Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce’s 2004 Annual Meeting, emphasized the importance of providing rigorous education and ongoing training accessible to every American. He highlighted the specific role of community colleges:

"The avenues to acquiring...skills are many, and one effective tool that we have developed to facilitate the transition to a new job or profession has been our community colleges. These two-year institutions have been in the forefront of teaching the types of skills that build on workers’ previous experiences to create new job skills. The impressive expansion of these learning centers attests to their success in imparting both general and practical job-related learning."

In Nebraska there are six community college districts (Western, Mid-Plains, Central, Southeast, Metropolitan, and Northeast); thirteen major campuses; fourteen centers; and over 302 sites statewide. Nebraska’s community colleges offer individuals the opportunity to work toward a higher education degree or receive technical and vocational training while enjoying the flexibility of alternative class schedules and meaningful career preparation.

Nebraska’s community colleges saw a 76.48 percent increase in enrollment between 1980-1981and 2002-2003. There was a 7.17 percent increase in enrollment from the 2001-2002 to 2002-2003 school year, from 25,011 students to 26,804 students. This growth is expected to continue, especially as Nebraska’s community colleges quickly respond to area business and industry needs by providing custom training programs and classes for rapidly growing fields like computer engineering, nursing, and database administration.

Each of Nebraska’s community colleges play a unique and critical role in the community. Nebraska’s community college system is designed to respond quickly and effectively to the needs of local students, citizens, businesses and industries. That strong commitment to student, community, and state defines Nebraska’s community colleges and creates a culture of pride in the institution and the region it serves.

Community colleges offer access to a higher education opportunity that may not otherwise be available to ordinary Nebraskans. Greg Heathcock, a recent graduate of Grand Island Community College, is a good example of someone who embraced the opportunities offered by community colleges. Greg spent 25 years in the food service industry when he decided it was time for a change to a new career. After careful consideration, he decided to become a nurse and enroll in classes at Grand Island Central Community College. A nursing associates degree program provided him with in-demand skills and an opportunity to begin a new career in the middle of his life.

On May 9th, I had the privilege of addressing Greg and his fellow graduates at the 2004 Grand Island Central Community College commencement. It was a special day to see Nebraskans of every age celebrating their graduation with friends and family. The graduates’ futures are filled with limitless possibilities and hope, and we can be confident in their abilities.

We are living in a time of great transformation in the world and that presents corresponding opportunities in Nebraska. Community colleges help open doors to Nebraskans. The students and faculty of Nebraska’s community colleges are on the front lines of the 21st century economy. We thank them all and are proud of their efforts to strengthen our communities and state.

###

The Senate Appropriations Committee’s Defense Subcommittee will hold a markup of the FY05 Defense Appropriations bill at 10:45am on Tuesday, June 22 (previously scheduled for 10am) in Room 192 of the Dirksen Building. The Full Appropriations Committee markup of the bill is scheduled for later the same day, at 3:30pm in Room 106 of the Dirksen Building.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Rachel Reiter 202/224-4224

Sunday, June 20, 2004

Nebraska to Receive $107,909 for

Drought Research

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Chuck Hagel (R–NE) announced today that the University of Nebraska Board of Regents will receive $107,909 from the U.S. Department of Commerce. The funding will support research to better understand linkages between sustainable agriculture and drought management by surveying Nebraska producers about how they cope with drought in their farm and ranch operations.

"Nebraska has been hard hit with the drought for the past few years. This funding will collect and analyze information from Nebraska producers to help strengthen management methods when dealing with drought conditions," Hagel said.

Researchers from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, the University of Nebraska-Omaha, and the Center for Rural Affairs at Walthill will conduct a mail survey of state agriculture producers. Data collection will focus on sustainable agriculture management during severe drought and the effectiveness of drought and forecasting resources. Research results will identify specific mitigation actions that producers might take to reduce the risk of future drought impacts.

-30-

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Rachel Reiter 202/224-4224

Sunday, June 20, 2004

Hagel Encourages Nebraska Educators to Apply for International Exchange Program

Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Chuck Hagel (R-NE) announced today that the U.S. Department of State is accepting applications for the Fulbright Teacher and Administrator Exchange Program. The exchange program allows educators the opportunity to engage in a one-to-one exchange with participating institutions abroad. Administrators and teachers employed at K-12 schools and two-year colleges who wish to work abroad during the 2005-2006 academic year are eligible to apply.

"In today’s world, it is important for our educators to build global relationships. Educational exchanges like the Fulbright Exchange Program are critical for fostering understanding and sharing resources among the world’s educators. I encourage Nebraska educators and administrators to apply," Hagel said.

U.S. educators interested in the program must be U.S. citizens, have a full-time teaching or administrative position, be in at least the third year of full-time employment or in the second year of full-time teaching, and be fluent in English. Applications must be postmarked no later than October 15, 2004. Applications are available at www.fulbrightexchanges.org. For more information, contact the Fulbright Teacher and Administrator Exchange Program by phone at

1-800-726-0479 or by e-mail at fulbright@grad.usda.gov.

- 30 -

JOHN CORNYN
United States Senator - Texas
CONTACT: DON STEWART
(202) 224-0704 office (202) 365-6702 cell

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 18, 2004

AL-QAEDA LEADER KILLED IN SAUDI ARABIA

‘A determined effort to eradicate terror, in cooperation with our allies, can bring swift justice to those bent on our destruction’

U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, a member of the Emerging Threats and Capabilities subcommittee, made the following statement Friday regarding the death of al Qaeda terrorist Abdulaziz al-Muqrin. Al-Muqrin is thought to be responsible for the kidnapping and brutal murder of American Paul Johnson:

“The beheading of American Paul Johnson by Al Qaeda leaders is a sick and terrible reminder of the evil we face in defending our nation against terror. Any doubts about the need to continue fighting and winning the war against terror were erased with the brutal actions of al-Muqrin and his depraved, extremist followers.

“The world now sees clearly that appeasing fanatical terrorists only leads to the growth of evil, murder of innocent civilians, and an erosion of freedom and hope. But the death of al-Muqrin, shows that a determined effort to eradicate terror, in cooperation with our allies, can bring swift justice to those bent on our destruction.”

http://cornyn.senate.gov

FRIDAY, June 18, 2004

Statement of Senate Democratic Leader
Tom Daschle on the Murder of Paul Johnson, Jr.

Like every American, I am sickened and deeply saddened by today's news. My heartfelt sympathy and support go out to Paul Johnson's family and loved ones. There is absolutely no justification for this terrible act and I condemn it in the strongest possible terms. We must work with our friends in the region to do everything possible to track down these murderers and bring them to justice. This brutal act affirms why America must wage and win the war on terrorism.

###

democrats.senate.gov

The Senate Appropriations Committee’s markup of the Defense Appropriations bill will be in Dirksen 106 (at 3:30pm).

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Contact: Howard Gantman

Friday, June 18, 2004 or Scott Gerber 202/224-9629

http://feinstein.senate.gov

Statement by Senator Feinstein on Ethanol Mandate in Light of

ADM’s Latest Price-Fixing Settlement

Washington, DC – Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) raised new questions today about the wisdom of a proposed new federal ethanol mandate in the wake of revelations that Archer Daniels Midland Company (ADM), which controls over 46 percent of the ethanol marketplace, has agreed to a $400 million price fixing settlement.

“Yesterday’s agreement by ADM is only its latest acknowledgement of corporate wrongdoing. This company has shown a disregard for consumers and its competitors. Unfortunately, the current energy bill before Congress would only further the ability of ADM to control the ethanol marketplace,” Senator Feinstein said.

“ADM currently controls 46 percent of the ethanol marketplace. A provision within the energy legislation would mandate the use of the subsidized additive, resulting in increased smog in areas such as Los Angeles, and less revenue for the Highway Trust Fund. Yesterday’s agreement is another reason why Congress should start over in developing a long-term energy plan and not simply offer a gift basket to companies like ADM with a history of price-fixing.”

The ethanol mandate in the energy bill would require an increase in ethanol consumption from 3.1 billion gallons per year to 5 billion gallons annually. The mandate forces states like California to use the oxygenate ethanol even when that State does not need to do so to meet clean air standards. The result of the new requirement would be to:

· Raise gasoline costs for coastal states like California that lack the infrastructure to produce ethanol,

· Increase smog due to the increased amount of ethanol blended into gasoline,

· Decrease California’s share of the Highway Trust Fund by $900 million because ethanol is subsidized, and

· Force consumers in every State to pay for ethanol, whether they use it or not.

June 18, 2004

Burns Statement on Murder of Paul Johnson

“I am disgusted and outraged by what has occurred today. The evil actions we continue to see from this violent terrorist network once again solidifies the reasons we have waged a war on terror. These murderers hold no value in human life and have no shame for their unscrupulous actions. What they have done is not only illegal, but it is immoral and savage, and clearly shows the face and spirit of the enemy with whom we are dealing. I have full confidence our coalition forces will hunt down these evil-doers and bring them to justice. I look forward to that day.”

###

_____________________________

Jennifer O'Shea
Press Secretary
Senator Conrad Burns
187 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
202.224.6830 Phone
202.224.8594 Fax

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Susan Wheeler (202) 224-5150

June 18, 2004 Eric Rasmussen (202) 224-7518

CRAPO GOES TO BAT FOR REHABILITATION FACILITIES

Senator requests continued moratorium, study on Medicare rule change

Washington, DC – Idaho Senator Mike Crapo wants to keep seniors, persons with disabilities, and others from being hurt by a proposed Medicare rule change. Crapo joined with 79 Senate colleagues to protect Medicare reimbursements for Inpatient Rehabilitation Facilities (IRF), facilities which serve patients with a multitude of diagnoses including stroke, orthopedic conditions, arthritis, spinal cord and traumatic brain injuries. Crapo and his colleagues sent a letter today to Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson requesting that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) continue a moratorium on the “75 percent rule,” a rule that restricts Medicare reimbursements to IRFs.

“Rehabilitation facilities throughout the nation provide essential health care for citizens,” Crapo said. “These benefits come with a financial cost that often requires support from Medicare. The restrictive 75 percent rule has set a standard that many medical rehabilitation facilities cannot meet. The rule especially hurts seniors and persons with disabilities who are seeking quality medical attention. The rigidity of the 75 percent rule prevents Medicare from providing intended services to those in need.”

The rule requires 75 percent of patients at an IRF be diagnosed with one of ten qualifying medical conditions and receive intense rehabilitation services in order for the hospital to receive enhanced reimbursement payments from Medicare. The letter warns that the high standard proposed in the rule could jeopardize patient access to care. It reiterates a call that came from Crapo and others in Congress in October 2003 for the Institute of Medicine (IOM) to examine the impact of the 75 percent rule before any rule change. The letter also requests that a moratorium on the enforcement of the 75 percent rule continue or be extended until the rule is reviewed by the IOM. The letter states Congress’ overall goal of forming policies that “reflect the consensus opinion of independent medical rehabilitation experts convened by IOM.”

Crapo, who helped kick-off National Men’s Health Week earlier this week, has worked on numerous health care issues during his time in the U.S. Senate. He is a sponsor of S. 1028, the Men’s Health Act of 2003, which will form an Office of Men’s Health in the Department of Health and Human Services. Crapo also serves as co-chair of the Congressional Heart-Stroke Caucus and is a cofounder of the recently formed Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Caucus. Crapo, a cancer survivor himself, is committed to supporting legislation that improves the health care of the American people.

# # #

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: CHRIS GALLEGOS

JUNE 18, 2004 (202) 224-7082

DOMENICI: ECONOMIC GROWTH BOOSTS NEW MEXICO,

LABOR DEPT. REPORTS 2,800 NEW JOBS ADDED IN MAY

N.M. Unemployment Rate Also Ticks Down to 5.5 Percent

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Pete Domenici today said the 2,800 new jobs added to New Mexico’s workforce is further evidence that the American economy is finally outgrowing the recession and economic shocks of the 2001 terrorist attacks.

Domenici today welcomed new jobs figures issued by the U.S. Department of Labor on Friday, showing that more people are working in New Mexico and that the state’s unemployment rate dropped to 5.5 percent from 5.6 percent from April to May. The Labor Department earlier reported that 1,100 new jobs were added in April in New Mexico. In all, 7,000 more jobs have been created in New Mexico since January and 16,700 in the last year.

“Every indicator shows that our economy is growing, and that means more people are working. New Mexico is not being left behind. Nearly 7,000 jobs for New Mexicans in the past five months is great news, but we want more. We are now seeing the benefits from the sound pro-growth policies President Bush and Congress put in place. We must build on the incentives and policies that allow companies and small businesses to thrive and hire workers,” Domenici said.

“There are those who like to preach the gospel of economic gloom, but they are being proven wrong with the continuous good news about our expanding economy and people being employed,” he said. “The fact is that economic growth over the last year has been the fastest in nearly 20 years. We should move forward with the economic policies that are causing unemployment to fall and incomes to rise.”

New Mexico is among six states that experienced the largest over-the-month percentage increase in non-farm payroll employment (+0.4 percent).

Domenici noted that the Labor Department’s Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) report shows that New Mexico experienced growth in all nonagricultural sectors of its economy including construction, manufacturing, financial, trade and transportation, health services, tourism and government. As of May, the Labor Department says New Mexico has a civilian labor workforce of 903,100 workers.

The BLS reports that across the nation, 248,000 new jobs were created in May, and it revised its April and March increases by 58,000 and 16,000 respectively. On average, more than 237,000 jobs per month have been created since the beginning of this year.

--30--

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Adam Elggren, 202.224.3370
JUNE 18, 2004
HATCH STATEMENT ON DEATH OF BOBBYE SLOAN

Washington, D.C. — Sen. Orrin G. Hatch (R-Utah) released the following statement today upon learning of the death of Bobbye Sloan, wife of Utah Jazz coach Jerry Sloan, following a bout with pancreatic cancer:

"I was very saddened today to learn of the death of Bobbye Sloan. Bobbye was a good friend. She was a wonderful, vibrant woman and a terrific support to her husband. Bobbye was a shining example of courage and resilience under difficult circumstances, and her personality and enthusiasm touched everyone who knew her."

# # #

CONFIDENTIALITY NOTE:
The information contained in this e-mail is legally privileged and confidential information intended only for the use of the individuals or entities named as addressees. If you, the reader of this message, are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution, publication, or copying of this message is strictly prohibited. If you have received this message in error, please forgive the inconvenience, immediately notify the sender, and delete the original message without keeping a copy.

Thank you.

STATEMENT FROM SENATOR COLEMAN ON THE KILLING OF PAUL JOHNSON

“Paul Johnson’s brutal and senseless murder and the killing of Nicholas Berg last month remind us why we fight an aggressive war on terror. Our enemies know no honor. Theirs is a false faith that violates the peaceful tenets of Islam and instead worships hate, merciless violence and destruction against free peoples everywhere. The tragic slaying of Paul Johnson confirms that this is a fight we cannot surrender.

Although the war of terror is testing and hard, its outcome is clear. We fight for freedom, they fight for fear. We live by the time tested values of justice and human equality, they live by a lie.”

___________________________

Andy Brehm

Press Secretary

U.S. Senator Norm Coleman

Telephone: 202.224.5641

Fax: 202.224.9640

Mobile: 202.247.7636

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NEWS RELEASE

Contact Brian Hart/Aaron Groote

June 18, 2004

BROWNBACK FATHER’S DAY RESOLUTION PASSES

Senate honors fathers and Father’s Day

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Sam Brownback today applauded passage of his resolution honoring fathers and Father’s Day.

Brownback authored the resolution which was cosponsored by 22 Senators and passed the Senate today by unanimous consent.

“Fathers play an important role in our society. Our fathers have a demanding job in their role supporting our nation’s families. I have fond memories of growing up and working with my dad on the family farm, and this resolution is a small way of saying thank you to him and all fathers for the wonderful work they do.”

The resolution, which cites several proof points on just how great fathers are, recognizes the importance of fathers to a healthy society and calls on the people of the United States to observe Father’s Day by considering how society can better respect and support fatherhood.

-30-

Sam Brownback
United States Senator - Kansas
303 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
(202) 224-6521
http://brownback.senate.gov

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Adam Elggren, 202.224.3370
June 18, 2004
HATCH STATEMENT ON BEHEADING OF PAUL JOHNSON

Washington, D.C. — Sen. Orrin G. Hatch (R-Utah) released the following statement today regarding the reported beheading of American Paul Johnson in Saudi Arabia:

"The barbaric murder of Paul Johnson today is something that no civilized society condones, and that no human being with a conscience can tolerate. That Mr. Johnson was an innocent civilian, in Saudi Arabia only to do his job and provide for his family, underscores the brutality and utter lack of morality of the enemy. Such cowardly acts will never defeat the civilized world, and will only strengthen our resolve to prevail in the global war on terrorism."

# # #

CONFIDENTIALITY NOTE:
The information contained in this e-mail is legally privileged and confidential information intended only for the use of the individuals or entities named as addressees. If you, the reader of this message, are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution, publication, or copying of this message is strictly prohibited. If you have received this message in error, please forgive the inconvenience, immediately notify the sender, and delete the original message without keeping a copy.

Thank you.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Contact: Howard Gantman

Friday, June 18, 2004 or Scott Gerber 202/224-9629

http://feinstein.senate.gov

Senator Feinstein Introduces Private Bill to Provide

Permanent Residence Status to Plascencia Family

Washington, DC – Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) introduced legislation today to provide lawful permanent resident status to Alfredo Plascencia Lopez and his wife, Maria del Refugio Plascencia, two undocumented immigrants who live in San Bruno, California with their four children, all of whom are American citizens. The Plascencias have lived in the United States since 1988.

Following is Senator Feinstein’s floor statement introducing the private bill:

“Mr. President, I rise today to offer legislation to provide lawful permanent residence status to Alfredo Plascencia Lopez and his wife, Maria del Refugio Plascencia, Mexican nationals who live in the San Bruno area of California.

I have decided to offer legislation on their behalf because I believe that, without it, this hardworking couple and their four United States citizen children would endure an immense and unfair hardship. Indeed, without this legislation, this family may not remain a family for much longer.

The Plascencia’s have worked for years to adjust their status through the appropriate legal channels, only to have their efforts thwarted by inattentive legal counsel. Repeatedly, the Plascencia’s lawyer refused to return their calls or otherwise communicate with them in anyway. He also failed to forward crucial immigration documents, or even notify the Plascencias that he had them. Because of the poor representation they received, Mr. and Mrs. Plascencia only became aware that they had been ordered to leave the country fifteen days prior to their deportation. Although the family was stunned and devastated by this discovery, they acted quickly to secure legitimate counsel and to file the appropriate paperwork to delay their deportation to determine if any other legal action could be taken.

The Plascencias current date of removal from the United States is set for June 23rd.

For several reasons, it would be tragic for this family to be removed from the United States.

First, since arriving in the United States in 1988, Mr. and Mrs. Plascencia have proven themselves to be a responsible and civic-minded couple who share our American values of hard work, dedication to family and devotion to community.

Second, Mr. Plascencia has been gainfully employed at Vince’s Shellfish for the past 13 years, where his dedication and willingness to learn have propelled him from part-time work to a managerial position. He now overseas the market’s entire packing operation and several employees. The president of the market, in one of the several dozen letters I have received in support of Mr. Plascencia, referred to him as ‘a valuable and respected employee’ who ‘handles himself in a very professional manner’ and serves as ‘a role model’ to other employees. Others who have written to me praising Mr. Plascencia’s job performance have referred to him as ‘gifted,’ ‘trusted,’ ‘honest’ and ‘reliable.’

Third, like her husband, Mrs. Plascencia has distinguished herself as a medical assistant at a Kaiser Permanente hospital in the Bay Area. Not satisfied with working as a maid at a local hotel, Mrs. Plascencia went to school, earned her high school equivalency degree and improved her skills to become a medical assistant. Until her work permit expired last week, Mrs. Plascencia was working in Kaiser Permanente’s Oncology Department, where she attended to cancer patients. Those who have written to me in support of Mrs. Plascencia, of which there are several, have described her work as ‘responsible,’ ‘efficient,’ and ‘compassionate.’

In fact, Kaiser Permanente’s Director of Internal Medicine, Nurse Rose Carino, wrote to say that Mrs. Plascencia is ‘an asset to the community and exemplifies the virtues we Americans extol: hardworking, devoted to her family, trustworthy and loyal, [and] involved in her community. She and her family are a solid example of the type of immigrant that America should welcome wholeheartedly.’ Mrs. Carino went on to write that Mrs. Plascencia is ‘an excellent employee and role model for her colleagues. She works in a very demanding unit, Oncology, and is valued and depended on by the physicians she works with.’

Together, Mr. and Mrs. Plascencia have used their professional successes to realize many of the goals dreamed of by all Americans. They saved up and bought a home. They own a car. They have good health care benefits and they each have begun saving for retirement. They want to send their children to college and give them an even better life.

This legislation is important because it would preserve these achievements and ensure that Mr. and Mrs. Plascencia will be able to make substantive contributions to the community in the future. It is important, also, because of the positive impact it will have on the couple’s children, each of whom is a United States citizen and each of whom is well on their way to becoming productive members of the Bay Area community.

Christina, 13, is the Plascencia’s oldest child, and an honor student with a 3.0 grade-point average at Parkside Intermediate School in San Bruno.

Erika, 9, and Alfredo, Jr., 7, are enrolled at Belle Air Elementary, where they have worked hard at their studies and received praise and good grades from their teachers. In fact, last year, the principal of Erika’s school recognized her as the ‘Most Artistic’ student in her class. Recently, Erika’s teacher, Mrs. Nascon, remarked on a report card, ‘Erika is a bright spot in my classroom.’

The Plascencia’s youngest child is 2 year-old Daisy.

Removing Mr. and Mrs. Plascencia from the United States would be tragic for their children. Children who were born in the United States and who through no fault of their own have been thrust into a situation that has the potential to dramatically alter their lives.

It would be especially tragic for the Plascencias’ older children – Christina, Erika and Alfredo – to have to leave the United States. They are old enough to understand that they are leaving their schools, their teachers, their friends and their home. They would leave everything that is familiar to them. Their parents would find themselves in Mexico without a job and without a house. The children would have to acclimate to a different culture, language and way of life.

The only other option would be for Mr. and Mrs. Plascencia to leave their children here with relatives. This separation is a choice which no parents should have to make.

Many of the words I have used to describe Mr. and Mrs. Plascencia are not my own. They are the words of the Americans who live and work with the Plascencias day in and day out and who find them to embody the American spirit. I have sponsored this legislation, and asked my colleagues to support it, because I believe that this is a spirit that we must nurture wherever we can find it. Forcing the Plascencias to leave the United States would extinguish that spirit.”

###

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Contact: Howard Gantman

Friday, June 18, 2004 or Scott Gerber 202/224-9629

http://feinstein.senate.gov/

Feinstein Calls on FERC to End
Enron’s Abuse of California Ratepayers

Washington, DC – U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) today called on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to revoke Enron’s ability to sell energy on the market as of January 1, 2000. This would, in effect, force Enron to give up $1.8 billion in profits it has received since that time and also end Enron’s lawsuit against Western utilities for money the company claims it is owed.

Following is the letter Senator Feinstein sent to FERC’s Chairman, Pat Wood:

June 17, 2004

The Honorable Pat Wood

Chairman

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

888 First Street, N.E.

Washington, DC 20426

Dear Mr. Chairman:

I continue to be outraged by FERC’s inaction to resolve the Western Energy Crisis, particularly as it relates to Enron. It is well past time for FERC to take strong action to prove to my constituents, and all who were affected by the Western Energy Crisis, that FERC will protect ratepayers, not the companies that intentionally caused the lights to go out in the West.

The head of Enron’s Western trading desk, Timothy Belden, and Jeffrey Richter, head of Enron's Short-Term California energy trading desk, have pled guilty to federal charges related to market manipulation. John Forney, another Enron executive, has been charged with being the architect of several of the illegal trading strategies employed by Enron in order to manipulate California's energy markets. While Forney’s case is scheduled to go to trial in October, Belden has admitted to helping devise schemes to manipulate the California wholesale-electricity market from when it was first deregulated in 1998 until Enron's collapse in December 2001 to maximize Enron’s profit. In doing so, he admitted to deliberately submitting false data to the California Independent System Operator and the Power Exchange. Richter also admitted guilt to participating in Enron’s games that manipulated the California market.

Enron knew what it was doing—the manipulation of California’s market was widespread, intentional, and well-planned. FERC can no longer ignore the evidence—it is time for FERC to revoke Enron’s market-based rate authority as of January 1, 2000.

This should not be difficult for FERC to do—the Commission has already concluded that Enron violated both its market-based rate authority and the California Independent System Operator and Power Exchange tariffs, both of which are filed rates. In my view, FERC has the clear authority to order remedies dating back to the time Enron’s violations began, or at least as of January 1, 2000.

I understand that the Federal Power Act only allows the Commission to establish a refund effective date 60 days from the date the complaint is filed. However, in this case, Section 206 does not apply because Enron defrauded the Commission in 2000 when applying for the market-based rate authority. The company did not report all of its affiliations with any entities that own generation or transmission facilities, contrary to the Commission’s own directives. The evidence is overwhelming that Enron intentionally and strategically manipulated the Western Energy markets since 1998. They should not benefit while the ratepayers still suffer.

Mr. Chairman, you have a responsibility to the 35 million people of California to revoke Enron’s market-based rate authority as of January 1, 2000. This would disgorge all of Enron’s profits since that time, which amounts to approximately $1.8 billion. It is time that the ratepayers of California and the West get that money back.

Thank you for your consideration and I look forward to your reply.

Sincerely,

Dianne Feinstein

United States Senator

###

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Angela de Rocha
June 18, 2004 (202) 224-5944

SENATOR ALLARD SUPPORTS
GOVERNOR OWENS’ OPPOSITION TO TRIBAL CASINOS

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Wayne Allard said Friday he supports Colorado Governor Bill Owens in opposing the development of an Indian casino east of Denver.

“I am in complete agreement with Governor Owens’ position on this issue,” Senator Allard said. “The governor is on target when he says this is not in the best interest of our state.”

Senator Allard said he will be writing a letter to Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) asking that no language that would expand gaming in Colorado be included in any of the FY2005 appropriations bills currently before the committee.

“Just last fall, Colorado voters rejected, by an overwhelming margin, efforts to expand gaming in the state,” Senator Allard said. “This issue should be determined by Colorado citizens, not by back-room political maneuvers. Our state would not be well served if Congress approved a casino in Colorado without state approval.”

###
***********************************************
Stephen Myers
Deputy Press Secretary
Office of Senator Wayne Allard
521 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
(202) 224-5941

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Joan Kirchner, 202-224-7777
Friday, June 18, 2004 joan_kirchner@miller.senate.gov

Miller Praises Passage of Resolution
Honoring Ray Charles

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Zell Miller (D-GA) today praised the Senate’s approval of S.Res.381, a resolution recognizing the accomplishments and significant contributions of Ray Charles to the world of music. Charles died June 10 at age 73 from complications of liver disease.

Miller co-sponsored the resolution introduced by U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL). Charles was born in Albany, Ga., and his family moved to Greenville, Fla., when he was a few months old. He was one of the first two individuals inducted into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame.

“Ray Charles’ life and music were intertwined with the state of Georgia from the day he was born in Albany to an auto mechanic and a mother who took in other people’s wash,” said Miller. “One of my most unforgettable moments was Ray Charles playing ‘Georgia On My Mind’ in the state Capitol in 1979 when it was adopted as the state song of Georgia.

“The entire nation -- but especially Georgia -- will miss this gifted musician,” added Miller. “I am proud to be a co-sponsor of the resolution honoring such an incredible talent.”

###

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Maureen Knightly/ Jennifer Carrier

June 18, 2004 202-224-3254

Harkin Pushes Comprehensive Wellness Initiative

To Fight Chronic Disease, Obesity

HeLP America Act to Reduce Health Care Costs by Promoting

Healthier Lifestyles, Emphasizing Prevention

WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator Tom Harkin today unveiled major legislation to reduce health care costs by giving Americans access to better preventive care and consumer information to promote healthier lifestyles.

“Promoting healthy lifestyles and preventing chronic disease will not be accomplished quickly or simply. Achieving these goals will require a comprehensive approach that, rather than focusing on sickness, encourages healthy lifestyles and integrates healthy choices into individual’s daily lives,” Harkin said. “The HeLP America Act of 2004 provides all sectors - child care centers, schools, workplaces, and communities -with the tools they need to reach the goal of making America a healthier place.”

Chronic diseases such as hart disease, cancer, and diabetes are the leading causes of death and disability in the United States, and the economic impact is staggering. Fully 75 percent of the $1.8 trillion the United States spends annually on healthcare is spent on the treatment Americans with chronic diseases. Yet only two percent of annual health care spending in the United States goes toward the prevention of chronic diseases.

The HeLP America Act consists of the following:

Title I: Healthier Kids and Schools

More kids across America are suffering from overweight and obesity. Since 1965, there has been a 300 percent increase in the number of children ages 6-11 that are overweight. These conditions will have a negative impact on long term health, as they contribute to increases in diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and other chronic conditions.

One goal of the HeLP America Act is to improve the overall wellness of our children by improving nutrition, increasing physical activity, helping diagnosis and prevent mental illness, and providing alternatives to the competitive foods that are sold in vending machines and on a la carte menus in schools. Title I will help kids develop good habits by putting fresh fruits and vegetables in school, and taking junk food out. It also takes on the tidal wave of ads in schools and on TV pushing junk foods on our kids.

Title II: Healthier Communities and Workplaces

Title II seeks to assist businesses and communities in offering a range of opportunities for people to start leading healthier lives. It also seeks to expand our knowledge on the prevalence and impact of mental and behavioral health status and risks. Initiatives include providing tax credits to businesses that offer comprehensive programs to promote employee health and encouraging new road construction that accommodates bicycles and pedestrians.

Title III: Responsible Marketing and Consumer Awareness

Having accurate information about the nutritional value of the food people eat is the first step toward improving overall nutrition. In an effort to increase the information available to consumers about the foods they are buying and promote a culture of more responsible marketing, the HeLP America Act seeks to implement mandatory menu labeling at chain restaurants, and restore the rulemaking authority of the FTC to issue restrictions on unfair advertising to children. The bill will also give the FDA authority to reduce smoking by preventing tobacco advertising which targets children.

Title IV: Reimbursement for Prevention Services

At times, the costs can be prohibitive for seeking preventative screenings for chronic diseases and mental health disorders, counseling to improve nutrition and physical activity, and treatment for substance abuse and smoking cessation. Title IV would provide reimbursements and expand current federal health care programs to cover counseling and preventative services.

Harkin has promoted preventive healthcare throughout his career with such measures as increased access to breast cancer screenings, the school fruit and vegetable pilot program, the Menu Education and Labeling Act (MEAL), and tobacco control. In the last several months, Harkin has spent time visiting and talking with schools, employers and other community organizations in Iowa and nationwide who are doing innovative things to promote wellness. Harkin also recently held a hearing in Iowa to learn more about the medical and financial costs of chronic conditions such as obesity, tobacco use and mental illness.

# # #

Senator Harkin’s HeLP (Healthy Lifestyles and Prevention) America Act

Title I. Healthier Kids and Schools

Fruit and Vegetable Program: Expands the Harkin Fruit and Vegetable Program to more schools and creates healthy cooking demonstrations.
School Wellness Policy: Requires schools to formulate wellness policies that include goals for nutrition education and physical activity.
Competitive Foods in Schools: Restores authority of the Secretary of Agriculture to regulate the sale of junk foods in schools.
Healthy School and Child Care Nutrition Environment Incentive Grants: Competitive grants to schools and child care centers to create healthy school environments.
Mental Health Services in Schools: Grant program to provide mental health screenings and mental health prevention programs at schools.

Title II. Healthier Communities and Workplaces

Healthy Workforce: Provides tax credits to businesses that offer comprehensive programs to promote employee health; also grants for small businesses.
Healthy Community Grants: Grants to communities to establish coordinated chronic disease prevention programs.
Working Well and Living Well with a Disability: Grant programs to facilitate healthy lifestyles for individuals with disabilities.
Complete Streets Incentive program: Creates standards and incentives to provide for sidewalks, bike lanes and intersections on new and reconstructed federal and local roads.
Mental Health Surveillance: SAMHSA will enhance existing public health surveillance systems to include data on mental and behavioral health status and risks.
FDA regulation: FDA authority to regulate tobacco to protect public health.

Title III. Responsible Marketing and Consumer Awareness

Restaurant Labeling: Requires nutritional information on menus of chain restaurants.
Protect Kids from Unfair Junk Food Advertising: Restores the rulemaking authority of the Federal Trade Commission to issue restrictions on advertising with respect to children.
Food Advertising in Schools: Gives Secretary of Agriculture authority to prohibit the marketing and advertising of food in schools participating in the School Lunch or Breakfast programs.
Tobacco Marketing: Eliminates tax deductibility of tobacco advertising, and funds counter-advertising.

Title IV. Reimbursement for Prevention Services

Medicare expansion and co-payment elimination: Coverage of counseling for nutrition and physical activity, mental health screening, substance use including smoking cessation and injury prevention.
Smoking cessation: Coverage required under Medicare, Medicaid, and FEHBP.
Preventive Health Services for Women: Authorizes the Wise Woman program that provides breast and cervical cancer, osteoporosis and cardiovascular screenings for low-income women.

Title V. National Health Promotion Trust Fund

Creates a trust fund through offsets to pay for new programs in the bill and expands funding for existing prevention programs such as PEP and the CDC Division of Nutrition and Physical Activity.

Title VI. Research

Expansion of Research Regarding Obesity: Expand on the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force on Obesity conclusions to conduct and expand research on obesity prevention, treatment, and control in the primary-care setting with various populations utilizing nutrition and physical activity counseling.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Angela de Rocha
June 18, 2004 (202) 224-5944

SENATOR ALLARD POINTS
TO STRONG JOB GROWTH IN COLORADO, AND ACROSS NATION
Colorado creates 10,400 new jobs over past 12 months

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Wayne Allard hailed the strong job growth evident in state-by-state employment data released Friday by the U.S. Department of Labor.

“Colorado created 1,600 jobs in May alone, and has created 10,400 new jobs in the past 12 months,” Senator Allard said. “This is great news for our state’s economy.”

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, job creation was up in 44 of the 50 states during the past year, and the unemployment rate was down in all regions.

“Nearly 1 million new American jobs have been created in the last 100 days alone,” Senator Allard said. “The President’s tax cuts have made the economy strong, and it’s growing stronger. The economy has shifted into high gear, factories are busier, families are earning more and home ownership continues to rise. Minority home ownership is at its highest level ever. People are finding work.”

###
***********************************************
Stephen Myers
Deputy Press Secretary
Office of Senator Wayne Allard
521 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
(202) 224-5941

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Contact: Howard Gantman

Friday, June 18, 2004 or Scott Gerber 202/224-9629

http://feinstein.senate.gov/

Feinstein Amendment Calls on Department of Defense to Develop Perchlorate Contamination Clean-Up Plan

-- Amendment accepted into DOD Authorization Bill --

Washington, DC – The U.S. Senate last night approved an amendment to the Department of Defense Authorization bill, which was sponsored by Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), calling on the Department of Defense to remediate perchlorate contamination on DOD sites where the chemical threatens health and safety of Americans.

Perchlorate, a propellant used in munitions and jet fuels, has contaminated drinking water supplies or the environment in 34 States. If ingested, perchlorate can interfere with thyroid function, and scientific evidence suggests that this effect can impair the normal development of the brain in the fetuses and newborn, and permanently damage cognitive abilities and brain function in affected children.

“Perchlorate contamination poses a major threat to the health of Californians and all Americans,” Senator Feinstein said. “It is imperative that the Department of Defense disclose all evidence of perchlorate contamination at DOD sites, and begin cleaning it up as soon as possible.”

The amendment expresses the sense of the Senate that:

· Perchlorate has been identified as a contaminant of drinking water sources or in the environment in 34 States and has been used or manufactured in 44 States.

· Perchlorate exposure at or above a certain level may adversely affect public health, particularly the health of vulnerable and sensitive populations.

· The Department of Defense should:

o Continue remediation the Department has begun already;

o Continue evaluating and prioritizing sites for clean up without waiting for the establishment of a Federal standard; and

o Develop a plan to remediate perchlorate contamination resulting from the Department’s activities to ensure it is ready to act once a drinking water standard is established.

“Perchlorate contamination is a national problem, and its scope is enormous,” Senator Feinstein said. “I am hopeful that with the approval of this sense of Senate language, the Department of Defense will understand that we expect much more cooperation than we have received previously.”

Here is the scope of the threat to drinking water supplies:

· In April 2003, perchlorate contamination was documented in 25 States. One year later, significant perchlorate contamination has been found in 34 States.

· This contamination is particularly serious in the State of California. At least 329 groundwater wells operated by 84 different local water agencies in California have perchlorate contamination. These include wells in eastern Sacramento County, Simi Valley, San Gabriel Valley, the Rialto-Colton Basin, water sources for the Santa Clara Valley Water District, and in the Colorado River, which supplies water to Southern California. Collectively, these agencies serve more than half of the State’s population.

· In the Inland Empire, a seven mile plume was discovered in 2002, which has contaminated 22 drinking water wells in western San Bernardino County, jeopardizing water supplies for 500,000 local residents.

And, the problems are not limited to drinking water.

· Preliminary surveys of produce grown in Southern California and Arizona suggest that perchlorate becomes concentrated in fruits and vegetables that rely on irrigation water from the Colorado River, as well as dairy products. This productive farming area grows much of the Nation’s produce, including about 90 percent of the winter lettuce crop.

· This contamination has been traced up the Colorado River to Nevada. Between 1951 and 1962, the U.S. Navy owned and contracted for the operation of the largest perchlorate production facility in the country, located in Henderson, Nevada. Even after relinquishing its ownership of the facility, the Department and its contractors continued to be the primary customers of perchlorate produced in Henderson at the Kerr-McGee site.

Currently, there is no National standard to measure perchlorate contamination in drinking water supplies.

· On March 11, 2004, the State of California set a public health goal for the level perchlorate, in drinking water supplies at 6 parts of perchlorate per billion parts of water.

· The National Academy of Sciences is conducting an assessment of the state of science regarding the effects on human health of perchlorate ingestion that will aid in understanding of the effect of perchlorate exposure on sensitive populations. This study is due to be completed later this year.

· Following the issuance of the NAS study, the Environmental Protection Agency will issue a national standard for the level of perchlorate in drinking waters supplies.

# Statement by Senator John D. (Jay) Rockefeller (D-WV) on the Denial of United Airlines’

Loan Guarantee Application

June 18, 2004

"I am extremely disappointed in the Air Transportation Stabilization Board's (ATSB) decision.

“Both labor and management at United Airlines have worked hard to reduce their costs and emerge from bankruptcy. The ATSB decision ignores what is actually going on in the marketplace and the sacrifices that the workers at United have made. Many of our nation’s airlines are still reeling from the economic aftermath of the September 11th terrorist attacks, which is why these loan guarantees were created in the first place. I hope the ATSB reconsiders its decision."

Senator Rockefeller is the Ranking Member of the Senate Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Aviation.

###

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Contact: Maureen Knightly/ Jen Carrier

June 18, 2003 202.224.3254

HARKIN ANNOUNCES FUNDING TO REDUCE GUN VIOLENCE IN IOWA

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) today announced that the Iowa Governor’s Office of Drug Control Policy has received a $485,000 investment from the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) for Project Safe Neighborhoods, a nationwide initiative to reduce gun crime through existing local programs.

“I am pleased that Iowa will be receiving these important funds to help combat gun crimes,” Harkin said. “Removing illegal guns from our communities is a significant step towards reducing violent crimes.”

Specifically, the funding is to provide for regular and overtime salaries for gun crime investigations, increase public education programming and materials, and utilize greater technology and heightened awareness. The project seeks to increase arrests and convictions of those illegally possessing firearms, increase public awareness of prohibited persons and penalties for illegal possession of firearms, and reduce gun crime among adult and juvenile offenders.

Project Safe Neighborhoods seeks to achieve heightened coordination among federal, state, and local law enforcement, with an emphasis on tactical intelligence gather, more aggressive prosecutions and enhanced accountability through performance measures.

###

FRIDAY, June 18, 2004

Daschle Reservists Amendment Passes Senate

Provision Would Allows Mobilized Military Reservists to Defer Federal Farm Loans

(Washington, D.C.) - Senate Democratic Leader Tom Daschle has secured passage of a provision in the 2005 National Defense authorization bill that would allow mobilized military reservists to defer their federal farm loan payments.

"Our military men and women deserve to be treated fairly when they have been asked to serve our nation," Senator Daschle said. "They should not be asked to sacrifice their farming or ranching operation because of their service."

The Daschle amendment, which was adopted late Thursday night, would ensure that reservists would not have to make payments on their farm loans during the period that the farmer or rancher is a mobilized military reservist. In addition, interest on those loans would not accrue during that period.

According to Daschle, a typical National Guard member or reservist serving in Iraq would be able to save thousands of dollars by deferring his or her farm loans. Thousands of reservists throughout the nation, including roughly 100 South Dakotans, would benefit. Even more would benefit as additional reserve units are called up in the future.

"The inclusion of this provision in the Defense bill is a victory for the farmers who are now defending our country," Daschle said. "This provision will ensure that mobilized military reservists do not return home to farm loans larger than when they were called to serve."

After the Senate completes consideration of the defense bill, the differences between the House-and Senate-passed versions must be reconciled before the final bill is sent to President Bush for his signature.

###

democrats.senate.gov

U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell
Washington

For Immediate Release
June 17, 2004
Contact:
Charla Neuman
202-224-8277
202-309-3447 (cell)

Cantwell Introduces Legislation to Protect Educational Radio Stations

legislation would protect school stations like Mercer Island’s KMIH

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA) introduced legislation today that would protect small educational radio stations from being forced to shut down because larger stations decide to take their frequency. Cantwell introduced her bill as the fate of Mercer Island High School radio, KMIH, remains uncertain.

“Educational radio provides a homegrown voice for local communities and a valuable hands-on experience for students,” Cantwell said. “The FCC should not be in the business of choosing big business over education. Mercer Island High School has provided a service to students and the community for over 35 years. KMIH deserves protection.”

Cantwell’s bill, the “Educational Radio Protection Act” (S. 2540), would provide protection to “super-powered” Class-D stations, like KMIH operating out of Mercer Island High School and nine other educational stations around the country, by changing their status to Class-A. This change would protect the stations from having their signal overpowered by larger stations looking to relocate.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) originally decided to shut down KMIH because a larger station from Oregon was attempting to relocate. The FCC issued an unexpected reversal of that decision last week. It is uncertain whether the FCC will allow KMIH to remain in operation, or simply reissue the decision with some technical changes. Either way, Cantwell’s legislation is necessary for permanent protection.

Cantwell visited Mercer Island High School in May, promising to introduce legislation protecting stations like KMIH. She will use her positions on the Senate’s Commerce Committee and its Subcommittee on Communications, which monitors the FCC, to move her bill toward passage.

# # #

June 18, 2004

Burns Introduces Amendment to Protect Small Broadcasters

WASHINGTON- U.S. Sen. Conrad Burns (R-Mont.) announced today that he introduced an amendment last night to protect the interests of small broadcasters from being punished for events outside of their control. The Burns amendment was added as an addition to the Department of Defense reauthorization bill, included with Senator Brownback’s (R-KS) amendment to increase fines for indecency.

“If every local affiliate that broadcasted the Super Bowl was expected to pay a huge fine for a decision they had no knowledge of, we would see numerous small broadcasters go under and that’s just not right,” said Burns. “The amendment I included will allow the FCC to look at a specific situation and use their discretion, making sure our small broadcasters in Montana and across the country are not penalized unfairly. Each day it seems the entertainment industry pushes the envelope a little bit further, and I believe these increased fines will do a great deal to make people think twice about the content of their programming.”

This Brownback indecency amendment raises fines for licensees to help combat indecent or obscene broadcasts on television or on the radio to the sum of $275,000 if a violator is determined by the FCC to have broadcast obscene, indecent, or profane language, with a maximum of $3 million for any single act or failure to act. The Burns amendment protects small business by calling on the Federal Communications Committee (FCC) to consider the size of the viewing or listening audience of the programming and size of the broadcast market in question as well as whether they had anything to do with producing the offensive content in question.

Senator Burns is a senior member of the Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation.

###

_____________________________

Jennifer O'Shea
Press Secretary
Senator Conrad Burns
187 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
202.224.6830 Phone
202.224.8594 Fax

FRIDAY, June 18, 2004

Six Senators Call On Bush Administration To

Rectify Misleading Terrorism Report

Despite acknowledging report is flawed, it remains on State Department website

Administration must take additional steps to correct mistakes

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) - Six U.S. Senators have called upon the Bush Administration to take immediate steps to correct the misimpressions created by its release of an inaccurate terrorism report and conduct an investigation into how the Administration could produce such a flawed product.

The signatories were Democratic Leader Tom Daschle, Assistant Democratic Leader Harry Reid, and Joseph Biden, Patrick Leahy, Carl Levin, and John Rockefeller. The latter four serve, respectively, as the senior Democratic members of the Foreign Relations Committee, Judiciary Committee, Armed Services Committee, and Intelligence Committee and collectively have oversight responsibilities for every aspect of the war on terrorism.

"Prevailing in the war on terrorism will require the long-term cooperation of the American people and the world. Our government's credibility is essential to these efforts. By releasing an inaccurate report, the Administration has undermined our nation's credibility at a critical moment in the war on terrorism," the Senators wrote in a letter to Secretary of State Colin Powell.

The report in question, "Patterns of Global Terrorism," concluded that, "the figure in 2003 represents the lowest annual total of international terrorist attacks since 1969." Deputy Secretary of State Armitage said this report was, "clear evidence we are prevailing in the fight."

An independent analysis of the data concluded that the report failed to include terrorist attacks after November 11, 2003, a step that excluded a number of serious terrorist attacks. When all the attacks are included, the number of significant terrorist incidents increased last year, perhaps reaching its highest level in two decades.

The senators asked for the immediate removal of the report from the State Department's website, a public accounting of the corrections made to the report, and an independent investigation to determine how such the Administration could produce and release such a flawed report.

A copy of the letter is attached.

###

democrats.senate.gov

Richard Shelby

United States Senator * Alabama

GAS PRICES: TOO HIGH FOR TOO MANY

By: Richard Shelby

Over the past few months, I have heard from many Alabamians about the dramatic increase in the price of gasoline. Gas prices reached record levels in late May, and they are expected to remain high for some time. While the prices we are paying today do not compare to the prices our country faced during the oil embargo of the 1970s, I am concerned about the disruptive effects that they may have on businesses and individuals in Alabama and all across the country.

Higher fuel prices affect nearly every aspect of our daily lives, and they resonate through almost every sector of our economy. As a result, it becomes more expensive for us to commute to work, take our kids to daycare and school, get to important medical appointments, visit friends and loved ones who live far away, and even purchase everyday items that must travel through our economy. The increased costs of goods and services impact every community, and they are especially harmful to rural areas and small businesses. Most importantly, they can be devastating for anyone who struggles just to make ends meet.

I believe we must address the problem of volatile gasoline prices, and their related costs, before they threaten our economic recovery and our long-term prosperity. Without a comprehensive strategy to ensure steady, reliable supplies of petroleum, our country will always be subject to erratic prices that result from the uncertainty created by the cartel of oil producing nations. The price of crude oil accounts for nearly half of the price of a gallon of gasoline, and it is a major factor in the rise and fall of gas prices.

Lately, the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), which controls the majority of crude oil production throughout the world, has been reluctant to increase its output of oil to other nations. While it has increased output somewhat in recent weeks, in many ways, it continues to be a significant driver of higher prices. A number of other factors, such as conflict in the Middle East and increased demand, particularly in developing countries such as India and China, have also had a significant impact on the recent growth in crude prices.

While the price of crude oil is the most influential factor in the price of gasoline, it is the most difficult for the federal government to change in the short-term. Nevertheless, I firmly believe we must work to reduce our long-term reliance on foreign oil by encouraging exploration and production of oil here at home. The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) has the potential to play a significant role in reducing our dependence on foreign oil. Only with an increased domestic capacity to meet our own oil demands will we be able to establish real energy independence, and free ourselves from the whims of the OPEC cartel.

I also believe it is important to increase our domestic oil refining capacity. Presently, the United States has reached its domestic refining capacity. Because this capacity does not meet the country’s needs for refined gasoline, it must be imported, at a significant cost to the consumer. Further, the construction of a new refinery in the United States has not occurred in more than a quarter century. As our demand continues to increase, so must our capability to provide for that demand. To that end, Congress should take steps to provide incentives for the construction of new refineries or the expansion of existing ones that allow U.S. refiners to increase their capacity.

We must, as a nation, continue to invest in research to improve energy efficiency and create new and improve existing alternative fuels. Initiatives such as the President’s hydrogen fuel initiative have the potential to reduce America's dependence on foreign oil and we must, where feasible, continue to explore them further.

I believe these are important issues facing the nation, and I am committed to working with my colleagues in Congress to achieve a solution. In the short term, I believe that we must find a way to achieve lower gas prices, and in the long-term, I believe we must work towards energy independence so that we can avoid many of the problems we encounter today.

FOR RELEASE UPON RECEIPT: June 18, 2004

For More Information Contact: Virginia Davis 202/224-6518

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 18, 2004
CONTACT: Angela de Rocha at (202) 224-5944

U.S. SENATOR WAYNE ALLARD JOINS REPUBLICAN EFFORT
IN DEFENDING MARRIAGE
Says federal marriage amendment debate ‘next logical step’
in countering assault on traditional marriage

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Wayne Allard (R-Colorado) said Friday
that Senate consideration of the Federal Marriage Amendment is, “The next logical step in addressing the assault on traditional marriage that is being carried out by activist courts.”

“Activist judges and lawyers have been working to redefine traditional marriage in literally dozens of states,” Senator Allard said. “We must not stand still when the courts are being used to challenge and distort civilization’s oldest, most venerable social institution. We will defend marriage as the union between a man and a woman.”

Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist this week confirmed that the Senate will debate Senator Allard’s legislation to amend the U.S. Constitution in defense of marriage during the week of July 12. The Senate has conducted six hearings in less than 10 months on the importance of marriage and the judicial threat to traditional marriage. More are expected before the floor debate begins.

“I am pleased that the Majority Leader has decided to dedicate time for a discussion of the defense of marriage,” Senator Allard said. “The move to bring this issue to the floor for debate represents a response to these activist courts through the most democratic of bodies, the U.S. Congress.”

“As the primary Senate sponsor of the Federal Marriage Amendment, I am hopeful that this discussion will highlight the need for Congress to address the judicial threat to traditional marriage,” the Senator said. “Support for this amendment comes from a cross-section of America that believes, as I do, that it is important to ensure that marriage continues to be defined as it has been defined historically and culturally as the union between a man and a woman.”

###
***********************************************
Stephen Myers
Deputy Press Secretary
Office of Senator Wayne Allard
521 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
(202) 224-5941

The Senate Appropriations Committee’s Subcommittee on the District of Columbia will hold a hearing on the Structural Imbalance of the District of Columbia at 10:00a.m. on Tuesday, June 22 in Room 138 of the Dirksen Building.

The scheduled witnesses are:

The Honorable Eleanor Holmes Norton, D-DC

The Honorable Tom Davis, R-VA

The Honorable Anthony A. Williams, Mayor of the District of Columbia

The Honorable Fred Thompson, President, Federal City Council

The Honorable Alice Rivlin, Senior Fellow and Director, Greater Washington Research Program, The Brookings Institution

Ms. Patricia Dalton, Associate Director, General Accounting Office

Mr. William Edwards, Chair-Elect, Greater Washington Board of Trade

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE FOR MORE INFORMATION

Friday CONTACT: Barry E. Piatt

June 18, 2004 PHONE: 202-224-1191

10:00 AM, Friday, June 18:

SENATE DPC TO HOLD HEARING ON POTENTIAL IMPACT OF CAFTA, COST OF PREVIOUS TRADE AGREEMENTS

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) --- U.S. Senator Byron Dorgan, Chairman of the U.S. Senate Democratic Policy Committee (DPC), announced the DPC will conduct a hearing at 10:00 AM, Friday, June 18, on the potential impact of the Central American Free Trade Area agreement (CAFTA) and bilateral agreements with Australia and Thailand, as well as the actual impact of previous agreements like the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).

Witnesses will include experts who both support and oppose the treaties, as well as an American worker who will share his personal experience of losing his job as it moved overseas due to the impact of the treaties.

Among the Senators expected to take part in the hearing are: Dorgan, Carl Levin (D-MI), Jack Reed (D-RI), and Evan Bayh (D-IN).

Details follow:

WHO: DPC Chairman Byron Dorgan, Senators Carl Levin (D-MI), Jack Reed (D-RI), and Evan Bayh (D-IN) and others.

Panel I:

Jerry Nowadsky, a laid-off U.S. manufacturing worker from

Monticello, Iowa; Robert Green, a sugar beet farmer from St. Thomas, North

Dakota.

Panel II:

Ron Gettelfinger, the President of the UAW; Linda Chavez-Thompson, the Executive Vice President of the AFL-CIO; Claude Barfield, Resident Scholar and Director of Science and Technology Policy Studies at the American Enterprise Institute; John Hansen, President of the Nebraska Farmers Union.

WHAT: DPC Hearing on CAFTA and other trade agreements

WHEN: 10:00 AM, Friday, June 18, 2004

WHERE: 562 Dirksen Senate Office Building, U.S. Senate, Washington, DC

WHY: To examine the potentially damaging impact CAFTA and other new trade

agreements would have on U.S. workers, farmers, and manufacturers, and the

actual impact of previous trade agreements on the U.S. economy.

-- END --

The following is an op-ed by Senator Feinstein that appeared in today's San Diego Union Tribune

It's time to stop rogue Internet pharmacies

By Dianne Feinstein
June 18, 2004
On Feb. 12, 2001, Ryan Haight, an 18-year-old honor student from La Mesa, died of an overdose from prescription drugs obtained on the Internet. His parents later found a bottle of Vicodin, a highly addictive painkiller, in his room with a label from an out-of-state pharmacy. Ryan, it turns out, had been ordering drugs online through an Internet pharmacy, paying with the debit card his parents gave him to buy baseball cards on eBay.
Unfortunately, this is not an isolated incident. This is becoming an increasingly frequent scene – and it's not just limited to teenagers.
Americans of all ages have discovered that with a few clicks of the mouse they can obtain powerful pharmaceuticals like Vicodin, Codeine, Valium and OxyContin from rogue Internet pharmacies without ever having an exam or speaking with a physician.
Here's how rogue Internet pharmacies work: A patient can go on the Internet, fill out a medical evaluation questionnaire describing his symptoms, whether real, imagined or made up, and then a physician and pharmacist, often employed by the same Web site and working in tandem, will write and fill the prescription – no questions asked.
In most cases, the patient's drugs arrive in the mail the next day.
This seems unbelievable, but today, in fact, there are numerous physicians operating on hundreds of sites on the Internet where pharmaceuticals can be obtained in just this way.
Jon Steven Opsahl, a physician who held a license in California, issued prescriptions for multiple Internet pharmacy Web sites. He allegedly wrote 11,000 prescriptions for 1,500 patients in 2001 and 2002, many of which were for Vicodin, Codeine and various tranquilizers – without conducting in-person medical examinations. When it finally came to light what he was doing, Opsahl's medical license was revoked.
This system is made possible largely because of the anonymity of the Internet. Anonymous patients find their way onto untraceable Web sites, contacting anonymous physicians.
How can we stop this?
First, we should require that all Internet pharmacies disclose information identifying the business, pharmacist and physician associated with the Web site. This includes names, addresses and medical/pharmacy licensing information.
This will make it much easier to identify those operating a Web site shown to be providing pharmaceuticals illegally. Additionally, physicians and pharmacists may not be so willing to write and fill prescriptions if their actions are easily traceable.
Second, we should prohibit the dispensing or sale of a prescription drug based solely on a "virtual exam," such as the completion of an online medical questionnaire.
There is simply no reason for a physician to be prescribing medication to a patient who has never been examined in person. An in-person physical examination, combined with a reliable medical history, is recommended by the American Medical Association and the policies and statutes of 31 states. This will ensure that a patient has to visit a physician in person and have a valid prescription in order to obtain prescription drugs.
Third, we should give state attorneys general the ability to bring a case in a federal district court. Under current law, those seeking to shut down an Internet pharmacy must take enforcement actions in every state where the pharmacy operates, requiring a tremendous amount of resources and manpower.
This change would make it much easier for an attorney general to shut down a rogue Internet pharmacy that illegally supplies drugs to citizens of his state, but which may be based in another state.
These provisions are included in legislation that I have sponsored with Sen. Norm Coleman, R-Minn. This legislation would not prevent people with valid prescriptions from a licensed doctor from being able to buy medications via the Internet. It is my hope that Congress will approve this legislation soon.
We all know that the Internet has changed our world dramatically. It has changed the way that we communicate, conduct research and shop.
At the same time, it has presented new opportunities for criminals to defraud or endanger the public. This is true with regard to identity theft, fraud on auction Web sites and now with Internet pharmacies as well.
Simply put, a few unethical physicians and pharmacists have become drug suppliers to a nation.
The way to stop them is to make them accountable for their actions – by requiring basic disclosure information, prohibiting virtual examinations and making it easier to shut down rogue Internet pharmacies.
If we fail to take these modest, but important steps, there will be hundreds more families who suffer the unbearable loss of a loved one as a result of drugs obtained from rogue Internet pharmacies.

Feinstein is a U.S. senator from California.
For Immediate Release: Contact: Philippe Reines (Clinton)

Thursday, June 17, 2004 Tel: (202) 224-4451

Rich Chrismer (Talent)

Tel: (202) 224-4812

U.S. SENATE PASSES CLINTON-TALENT MILITARY HEALTH READINESS LEGISLATION

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) U.S. Senators Hillary Clinton (D-NY) and Jim Talent (R-MO) announced today that the Senate passed legislation that addresses a major health care issue that arose from the first Gulf War. Talent and Clinton sponsored the Armed Forces Personnel Medical Readiness and Tracking Act of 2004 to establish a new tracking system that would make certain active duty military personnel and Reservists would receive regular health screenings. The senators offered their legislation as an amendment to the Defense Authorization bill (S. 2400) and it was approved unanimously by the U.S. Senate.

“With American troops serving in Iraq and Afghanistan and elsewhere, we need to make sure that our men and women in uniform get the best possible health care,” said Senator Clinton. “The legislation we passed today provides a comprehensive approach to tracking the health of our soldiers before and after an overseas deployment so that we have adequate information if medical problems develop.”

“Our legislation addresses a major health care issue that arose from the first Gulf War, in which some of our servicemen and women returned home with symptoms of an illness commonly referred to as Gulf War illness,” Senator Talent said. “The bill we passed today requires pre- and post-deployment blood samples, and a thorough post-deployment health assessment. The legislation will provide a before and after snapshot of the medical fitness of every service member deployed to a theater of war. The results can then be compared to help determine whether or not an individual, or their unit, was exposed to a dangerous substance or pathogen. We owe it to our troops who deploy to take the necessary steps to address possible medical problems.”

Medical Tracking

The Armed Forces Personnel Medical Readiness and Tracking Act of 2004 would establish procedures to ensure that information about soldiers’ health is systematically collected so that if a group of soldiers begins to exhibit symptoms consistent with exposure to some hazard, there will be adequate information to help identify the cause. The bill establishes a program for collecting baseline medical data for recruits and establishes an Advisory Working Group to improve the medical tracking system for members deployed overseas. It also requires a report on Department of Defense responses to concerns raised by members of the Armed Forces regarding exposure to environmental hazards. Current law requires that information about the health of soldiers returning from deployment be collected but it appears that these provisions are not being enforced. This legislation establishes audits of the blood serum collection program as well as the pre-deployment and post-deployment health assessment database that DOD maintains.

Medical Readiness of Guard and Reservists

The Armed Forces Personnel Medical Readiness and Tracking Act of 2004 also focuses on another problem that came to light with the unprecedented demands being placed on our National Guard members and reservists. Many of the Guard and reserve units activated are not at full strength because of a lack of medical or Dental readiness. It requires a GAO study of health of reserve components ordered to active duty for Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. It also requires physical examinations for members of reserve components every 30 months instead of the current requirement of 60 months. For those Guard or Reserve members who are medically unqualified for their current position, it requires them to be retrained, reassigned or separated from service. Finally, the legislation would require DOD to prescribe a policy that specifies: (1) the circumstances under which treatment for medical conditions may be deferred to be provided in the theater of operations in order to prevent disruption to a deployment; and (2) the circumstances under which medical conditions are to be treated before deployment to the theater.

Armed Forces Personnel Medical Readiness and Tracking Act of 2004

Summary of Provisions:

Section 1301: Requires the establishment of a Joint Medical Readiness Oversight Committee: The Committee is to review medical readiness of service members, make recommendations on improvements to the medical readiness tracking and health surveillance policies, monitor compliance of medical readiness standards, and to advise

the DOD on military health research. The Committee includes DOD officials, members of veteran health advocacy groups and civilian experts on military health treatment.

Section 1302: Study of Health of Reserves Ordered to Active Duty for Operations Enduring and Iraqi Freedom: Requires GAO study of health of reserve components ordered to active duty for Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. Requires Reservists to receive a detailed health assessment at least every two years. DOD is required to prescribe a policy that specifies: (1) the circumstances under which treatment for medical conditions may be deferred to be provided in the theater of operations in order to prevent disruption to a deployment; and (2) the circumstances under which medical conditions are to be treated before deployment to the theater.

Section 1303: Baseline Health Data Collection Program: Establishes a program for collecting baseline medical data for recruits. Requires blood samples to be taken not earlier than 60 days before deployment and not later than 30 days after return from deployment.

Section 1304: Medical Care and Tracking and Health Surveillance in the Theater of Operations: Requires records of medical care provided to service members in theater to be maintained as part of the complete health record of the member. Requires a report on analysis and improvement recommendations on the medical tracking system and on recommendations for future research areas on health problems. Requires DOD to provide a plan on reporting the extent and types of medical services that were provided members of the U.S. military in facilities of U.S. allies during previous and current deployments. DOD shall prescribe policy on the collection and dissemination of in-theater personnel location data.

Section 1305: Declassification of Information on Exposures to Environmental Hazards: DOD shall review and revise classification policies with a view to facilitating the declassification of data that is potentially useful for the monitoring and assessment of the health of members of the Armed Forces who have been exposed to environmental hazards during deployments overseas.

Section 1306: Report on Training of Field Medical Personnel: Requires a report on the training of field medical personnel within a year. Report on Responses to Health Concerns of Members: Requires a report within 180 days on DOD responses to concerns raised by members of the Armed Forces regarding exposure to environmental hazards.

Section 1307: Responsibilities of Installation Commanders: Requires commanders at installations where members of the Armed Forces are to be processed upon redeployment

from an overseas deployment to identify and analyze the health care needs of returning members and report the needs to the Secretary

Section 1308: Full Implementation of Force Health Protection and Readiness Program: Authorizes such actions as necessary to ensure that each of the Services fully implements at all levels the Force Health Protection and Readiness Program of the Department of Defense.

Section 1309: Requires an audit of records of blood samples in DOD’s serum repository and the health assessment records to determine the percentage of members of the armed forces in compliance with DOD and service policies regarding collection of blood samples and health assessments. Requires a report on the quality assurance of the medical readiness and tracking program. Accessibility of Health Assessment Information to Army Members on the Internet: makes information on DOD health assessment policies available on the internet.

Section 1310: Use of Civilian Experts as Consultants: Authorizes DOD to procure outside services to meet requirements of the legislation.

###

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Mike Buttry

202/224-4224

Thursday, June 17, 2004

Senate Includes Hagel Amendment to Increase Size of Army in Defense Bill

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today the U.S. Senate passed by a vote of 93 to 4 an amendment introduced by U.S. Senators Jack Reed (D-RI) and Chuck Hagel (R-NE) to expand the size of the United States Army by 20,000 soldiers in 2005. The bill would raise the active duty end strength of the Army from 482,200 to 502,400.

"These additional troops are urgently required to give the Chief of Staff of the United States Army the tools he needs to fight the War on Terrorism, help stabilize Iraq and Afghanistan, and meet the global demands being placed on our force structure today. The size and cost of the United States Army must be transparent to the American people, our allies and to those who would oppose us in the War on Terrorism," Hagel said.

In February, Reed and Hagel introduced a bill to expand the size of the Army. Last October, Reed and Hagel introduced an amendment to the President’s $87 billion Iraqi Supplemental Bill that would expand the size of the Army by 10,000 soldiers. The amendment was approved by the Senate, but at the urging of the administration was eliminated in a joint House of Representatives-Senate Conference Committee.

The Senate is expected to vote on the Defense Authorization Bill next week.

- 30 -

U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell
Washington

For Immediate Release
June 17, 2004
Contact:
Charla Neuman
202-224-8277
202-309-3447 (cell)

Energy Undersecretary Commits to Cantwell:
99% of Nuclear Waste Will be Cleaned Up

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The senior Department of Energy (DOE) official who oversees nuclear waste cleanup made a clear commitment today to U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA) that the DOE would clean up 99% of nuclear waste left in underground tanks like those at Hanford. In previous testimony in 2002 and 2003, the DOE refused to commit to the 99% threshold, even though it was legally obligated to do so. In the last two years of negotiation with the state of Washington, the DOE also failed to commit to 99% tank cleanup.

Cantwell questioned DOE Undersecretary Jessie Roberson today during a Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing on the accelerated cleanup of nuclear waste.

Cantwell said, "If the DOE sticks to the commitment made by Undersecretary Roberson this would be a significant step forward in protecting Washington State from shortcut cleanup tactics.”

The state of South Carolina, under language currently moving through the Senate, could be stuck with almost 10 percent of the high-level nuclear waste left in tanks at Savannah River. The last 10 percent is the most toxic and dangerous of all the waste.

Cantwell said, "Hanford won't be left with large amounts of tank waste if the DOE sticks to its 99% cleanup plan."

# # #

NEWS RELEASE FROM THE OFFICE OF U.S. SENATOR LARRY CRAIG

For Immediate Release Mike Tracy (208) 342-7985
June 17, 2004 Dan Whiting (202) 224-8078

SENATE COMMITTEE APPROVES HOMELAND SECURITY FUNDING
Grant programs important to Idaho are funded

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Idaho Senator Larry Craig announced unanimous approval by the Senate Appropriations Committee of its first appropriations bill for the upcoming fiscal year – the Department of Homeland Security.

“This bill continues and builds upon the commitment of this President and this Congress to safeguard Americans at home, work, and travel; to better secure our borders; and to protect our country from terrorist threats,” said Craig.

Overall, the bill includes a nearly 10 percent increase from current-year appropriations, almost the only area in addition to national defense that will see actual growth in the federal budget.

Some of the major programs included in the $33 billion bill include:

Bureau of Customs and Border Protection, which is responsible for border security and enforcing the laws for legal entry of persons and goods into the United States
Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, charged with enforcement of immigration laws and deportations
Transportation Security Administration
Coast Guard
disaster relief and emergency preparedness
information analysis and infrastructure protection
science and technology development
continued state and local formula grants, including local law enforcement terrorism prevention

Craig is a member of both the full Committee and the Homeland Security Subcommittee that crafted the bill. The bill now goes to the full Senate for its consideration.

Please visit http://craig.senate.gov for more news.

[30]

For Immediate Release Contact: Michael Brumas or Nancy Wall

June 17, 2004 (202) 224-4124

Senate Adopts Sessions’ Amendment That Would Direct The Defense Department To Enhance Death Benefits For Military And Their Families

WASHINGTON — The Senate today by voice vote accepted a proposal by Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-AL) that would direct the Bush administration to include enhanced death benefits for America’s military and their families when it submits its Fiscal Year 2006 budget to Congress early next year.

The amendment to the pending Fiscal Year 2005 defense bill grew out of a study requested by Sessions last year that required the Department of Defense to review military death benefits.

Congress last year raised the death gratuity to $12,000 from $6,000, but Sessions said much more needs to be done to bring the program into line with the sacrifices made by service men and women and their families.

Sessions’ amendment recommends increasing the Servicemen’s Group Life Insurance maximum benefit to $350,000 from $250,000. The military would cover the cost of the first $100,000 of insurance for service members who purchase the maximum benefit. The amendment also recommends indexing the death gratuity and life insurance benefits to the rate of annual pay raises. The amendment recommends that indexing of the death gratuity begin in the fiscal year that starts Oct. 1.

The amendment also includes provisions for the military to provide a year’s salary and benefits for families of military personnel who die while in service.

“Similar in intent to the Public Safety Officers Benefits Act of 1976 which acknowledges the risks faced by our police officers and firefighters, this would recognize the risks of military service and help those left behind with transition assistance,” Sessions said.

The amendment further recommends two years’ salary and allowances for families of military personnel killed in hostile action. The amendment recommends that the benefits be retroactive to cover those killed while deployed in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan.

Sessions noted that the administration’s Fiscal Year 2006 budget proposal will be sent to Congress in less than eight months and that he wants to direct the Pentagon to include enhanced military death benefits in the spending blueprint.

“We owe our brave service men and women no less,” he said.

-30-

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: CONTACT: Maureen Knightly/Jennifer Carrier

June 17, 2004 202.224.3254

HARKIN ANNOUNCES FIREFIGHTER ASSISTANCE FOR IOWA

WASHINGTON, D.C. – As part of his continued effort to support Iowa’s first responders, Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) today announced that the Iowa Farm Safety Council was awarded $20,000 from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to increase the effectiveness of fire operations and to support fire fighter safety.

Specifically, this grant helps the Iowa Farm Safety Council fund the purchase of firefighting equipment, fund firefighter health and safety programs, enhance emergency medical services programs, and conduct fire prevention and safety programs.

###

U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell
Washington

For Immediate Release
June 17, 2004
Contact:
Charla Neuman
202-224-8277
202-309-3447 (cell)

Statement of Sen. Maria Cantwell on Confirmation of James Robart

Cantwell praises vote for well-qualified nominee

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA) voted to confirm attorney James Robart for a seat on the District Court for the Western District of Washington. The Senate unanimously approved Robart’s nomination on a 99-0 vote.

“In one sense, today’s confirmation vote is a homecoming for Jim,” Cantwell said. “Early in his career, he served as an aide to Senator Scoop Jackson. I am sure that he would be proud of his accomplishments during a long and productive legal career, and would whole-heartedly endorse his confirmation.”

Before today’s vote, in a statement Sen. Cantwell reiterated her support for Robart and urged her colleagues to confirm him. Senator Cantwell’s full statement follows below:

“Mr. President, this afternoon it is my privilege to introduce you to the incredibly talented nominee for a vacancy on the District Court for the Western District of Washington, James Robart.

“In one sense, today’s hearing is a homecoming for Mr. Robart. Early in his career, he served as an aide to Senator Scoop Jackson. I am sure that he would be proud of his accomplishments during a long and productive legal career, and would whole-heartedly endorse his confirmation.

“Following his public service as a staff member in both houses, Mr. Robart returned to Washington state, where he has worked as an attorney for the past three decades. During his considerable years of practice in federal court, he has earned a reputation for fairness and integrity.

“Mr. Robart’s nomination is the result of a bipartisan selection process that has worked very well for Washington state. Members of Washington state’s legal community, the White House, and my colleague Sen. Patty Murray and I worked together to review a group of applicants. This cooperative approach has produced a number of highly qualified judicial nominees, and I believe it is a sound model for other states.

“I am confident that James Robart will make an outstanding federal judge, and that the people of the Western District of Washington will be well-served by his presence on the bench.

“I am pleased to offer Mr. Robart my full support, and I urge my colleagues to approve his nomination.”

# # #
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NEWS RELEASE

Contact Brian Hart/Aaron Groote

June 17, 2004

BROWNBACK INTRODUCES NASA REAUTHORIZATION LEGISLATION

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Sam Brownback today introduced legislation reauthorizing NASA and U.S. space programs.

“We are defining major new initiatives in space to maintain American leadership and opportunity, and to do so boldly while managing costs by empowering the full potential of our private sector,” Brownback stated. “None of us wants to explain to our children why other nations are walking on the moon and Mars while we are not.”

NASA was last reauthorized in 2000. This legislation will authorize NASA and U.S. space programs for five years. The bill will refocus NASA toward the President’s vision for space and several objectives outlined in the President’s Commission on Space report. Brownback has previously called for reallocation of current budgets to be focused on missions to the moon and beyond.

Brownback continued, “This subcommittee has worked closely with NASA and the President’s Commission to provide the necessary legislative support for our renewed and reinvigorated journey into the solar system. Today we are introducing authorizing legislation for NASA’s 2005 program and beyond. I have focused much of our attention on empowering private sector partnerships for our space program moving forward. We are urging NASA to initiate a private sector-managed robotic mission to the moon within three years, which will ensure America remains the leader in space exploration. We will also soon see private sector initiatives, motivated by prizes, duplicate and exceed past successes. We have included in the bill the necessary legislation to enable NASA to offer such prizes. I propose that NASA’s first big prize be for a full orbital flight, duplicating or exceeding Yuri Gagarin’s and John Glenn’s historic flights in the 1960s.

“I have called in the last few months for a new look at what functions and facilities NASA maintains. Having the private sector take a much more active role in managing some of these facilities is a first step. But it must be followed with a hard look at consolidation of facilities as well. The transformation of the NASA labs into private sector-managed research and development centers is a major step towards streamlining NASA.”

Brownback is chairman of the Science, Technology and Space Subcommittee of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee. He has held several hearings, including a field hearing in Houston, on U.S. space exploration, the space shuttle, the International Space Station, lunar and Martian exploration.

-30-

Sam Brownback
United States Senator - Kansas
303 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
(202) 224-6521
http://brownback.senate.gov

Richard Shelby

United States Senator * Alabama

For More Information Contact:

Virginia Davis (202) 224-6518

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 17, 2004

SHELBY ANNOUNCES COMMITTEE PASSAGE OF HOMELAND SECURITY FUNDING FOR ALABAMA

WASHINGTON, DC -- U. S. Sen. Richard C. Shelby (R-Ala.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced funding for several projects included in the Homeland Security Appropriations Bill for Fiscal Year 2005. The bill passed the full Appropriations Committee today, and is now headed to the Senate floor for consideration.

Center For Domestic Preparedness - $55 Million

Sen. Shelby said, “I am pleased the Appropriations Committee has agreed that the Center for Domestic Preparedness (CDP) at Ft. McClellan is the cornerstone of our nation's emergency responder training facilities. The funding included in this legislation will allow CDP to increase its training capacity for first responders so that we may respond to terrorist attacks quickly and effectively. These first responders include law enforcement personnel, firefighters, and emergency medical personnel who are trained by CDP to prevent and respond to incidents of domestic terrorism.”

“To date, CDP has trained 37,000 first responders in fiscal year 2004, and expects to train 60,000 more by the end of fiscal year 2005. In addition to training our nation’s local first responders, CDP works closely with a number of federal agencies including the Department of Agriculture (USDA), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and others to develop new integrated counter-terrorism training programs.”

“Since the September 11, 2001 attacks on our country, the importance of first responders has become evident. Ft. McClellan's Center for Domestic Preparedness provides the necessary training for professionals to rapidly respond and react to terrorist attacks,” Shelby concluded.

Firefighter Assistance Grants - $700 Million

Sen. Shelby said, “Our bill includes $700 million for Firefighter Assistance Grants. These funds will assist local fire departments in their efforts to protect the health and safety of the public and firefighting personnel against fire and fire-related hazards, and to provide assistance for fire prevention programs.”

These funds are administered by the Department of Homeland Security's Office of Domestic Preparedness. Funds can be used for such things as fire operations, firefighter safety programs, emergency medical services, and firefighting vehicles.

Transportation Security grants - $325 Million

Sen. Shelby said, “I am pleased our bill provides $150 million for rail and transit security grants, $150 for port security grants, $15 million for the Highway Watch grant program, and $10 million for inter-city bus security grants. I believe these funds are crucial in our efforts to improve homeland security. We have made great strides in improving our nation’s aviation security, but Americans deserve to have the government’s full attention devoted to the security of every mode of transportation.”

These funds will be administered by the Office of the State and Local Government Preparedness and Coordination within the Department of Homeland Security.

National Center for Missing and Exploited Children - $7.1 Million

Sen. Shelby said, “The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) provides services nationwide for families and professionals to help prevent the abduction, endangerment, and sexual exploitation of children. NCMEC is an invaluable organization for the safety and security of our nation’s children. I am pleased that our bill includes $5 million to assist NCMEC with their work within the Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and an additional $2.1 to compliment their efforts with the U.S. Secret Service.

- 30 -

[WASHINGTON (Thursday, June 17) – A bill co-authored by Senators Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) and Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) that expands some satellite television services and provides consumers with more choices easily passed the Senate Judiciary Committee Thursday. The bipartisan legislation extends provisions of the Satellite Home Viewer Improvement Act of 1999, which was also coauthored by Leahy, the ranking Democratic member of the committee, and Hatch, the panel’s chairman. The bill, which now moves to the full Senate, would also bring local broadcast stations to two of the Vermont’s southern counties that have been unable to receive that service. Senator Leahy’s statement on the bill follows.]

Statement of Senator Patrick Leahy

On Satellite Home Viewer Extension Act of 2004

Senate Committee on the Judiciary

Executive Committee Meeting

June 17, 2004

Mr. Chairman, the satellite bill before us today is an example of the achievements we can make when we work together. This bill is great for the industry, for television consumers and for programming owners. It protects subscribers in every state, expands viewing choices for most dish owners, promotes access to local programming, and increases direct, head-to-head, competition between cable and satellite providers.

Easily, this bill will benefit 21 million satellite television dish owners throughout the nation, and I am happy to note that over 85,000 of those subscribers are in Vermont.

I want to thank Chairman Hatch, along with Senators Kohl and DeWine for providing such strong leadership in this effort. In 1998 and 1999 we developed a major satellite law which transformed the industry by allowing local television stations to be carried by satellite and beamed back down to the local communities served by those stations. This marked the first time that thousands of TV owners were able to get the full complement of local network stations. In 1997 we worked together to find a way to avoid cutoffs of satellite TV service to millions of homes and to protect the local affiliate broadcast system. The following year we forged an alliance behind a strong satellite bill to permit local stations to be offered by satellite, thus increasing competition between cable and satellite providers.

We also worked with the Public Broadcasting System so they could offer a national feed as they transitioned to having their local programming beamed up to satellites and then beamed back down to much larger, new audiences.

Because of those efforts, today, in Vermont and most other states dish owners can watch their local stations instead of getting signals from distant stations. Such a service allows television watchers to be more easily connected to their communities as well as providing them access to necessary emergency signals, news and broadcasts.

A Careful Balance of Interests

This bill provides a careful balancing of interests. I am pleased that it includes a provision which complements a provision in the House Judiciary Committee’s bill. That House provision provides that WMUR, an ABC affiliate, will be available via satellite throughout New Hampshire. I know that this is strongly supported by Senators Gregg and Sununu.

That represents good policy for New Hampshire residents in the northern counties who do not now receive signals from WMUR via satellite. They have been shut out of receiving news about New Hampshire political and social events.

However, that provision would mean that an ABC-affiliated Vermont television station would likely lose viewers in two, of those four New Hampshire counties, which that Vermont station is now authorized to serve. It could also mean that other Vermont stations would lose viewers to WMUR in two New Hampshire counties and one Vermont county. Working with Chairman Hatch and the New Hampshire Senators, I crafted a provision that benefits viewers in both Vermont and New Hampshire. Under my provision, Vermont stations will be available via satellite for the first time in Vermont’s two southern-most counties. The signals of Vermont’s ABC affiliate will directly compete with WMUR in Windham County in Vermont – that will provide balance to the fact that under this substitute WMUR will compete with Vermont stations which now serve New Hampshire. Indeed, one of those New Hampshire counties has a large population.

Viewers in both states will simply choose whether they want to watch WMUR, from Manchester, or watch WVNY or one of the other Vermont stations. For the first time, these residents in both states will be able to receive home-state news and programming via satellite.

Long-Awaited Service For Bennington And Windham Counties

Under this new language, all Vermont broadcast stations will be available in those two counties. For too long, Bennington and Windham Counties have not been able to receive television news about what is happening in Vermont. Because of Vermont’s alpine topography, with many towns in the saddles of our mountains, thousands of Vermonters did not receive Vermont television stations over the air. This new provision solves that problem.

I want to make a point about what dish owners will have to pay for these new options. I have been working to assure more competition between cable and satellite television providers to keep consumer costs down. There is nothing in this substitute language which would require any increase in rates to consumers. Indeed, competition with cable, and between DirecTV and EchoStar, could reduce rates.

Under the substitute, the U.S. Copyright office is required to determine the “fair market value” of the programming made available via satellite. They would then determine the royalties which the satellite carriers, not home dish owners, would pay for the programs. Note that the royalties set by the copyright office are a small fraction of what the satellite carriers actually charge consumers for out-of-state network broadcast stations.

Also, current law requires that no royalties, whatsoever, be charged for offering local TV stations to satellite dish owners. Yet both satellite carriers, EchoStar and DirecTV, charge dish owners about $6, or so per month for this programming, which they receive for free. Satellite carriers will have no sound excuse to increase rates under this approach.

I want to make one final point regarding those households who were permitted to continue to receive distant network broadcast signals via satellite while they also received competing local signals from the same network. I know one Senator wants to have termination of this “dual” service at some fixed date. I will certainly work with that Senator and others on this issue of promoting localism in network broadcasting.

I received a great deal of input from Vermont on this effort. Many state Senators and Representatives from Bennington and Windham counties encouraged me to include the provision allowing all Vermont stations to be offered via satellite in those southern counties. The Vermont General Assembly also enacted a resolution supporting that provision.

I heard testimony from John King of Vermont Public Television at a hearing before the Judiciary Committee on those same issues. In addition, my staff provided drafts and met with representatives of every full-power television station in Vermont. They also met with representatives of Adelphia Cable, Vermont’s largest cable provider, and other providers.

The staff of each Member of this Committee was involved in this year’s effort and their work was much appreciated. I would like to note in particular the careful work of David Jones from the majority staff. The U.S. Copyright Office, especially Bill Roberts, did another great job assisting us. Eloise Gore of the FCC provided very helpful guidance.

I hope that the Congress acts swiftly on this important legislation.

# # # # #

CONTACT: David Carle / 202 224 3693

Tracy Schmaler / 202 224 2154

For Immediate Release

June 17, 2004

Contact: Melanie Alvord (202) 224-0992

Senate Appropriations Committee Reports Fiscal Year 2005

Homeland Security Appropriations Bill

The Senate Appropriations Committee today approved the fiscal year 2005 Homeland Security Appropriations bill. The bill recommends $32 billion in discretionary spending for the Department of Homeland Security. This is $896 million more than the President’s fiscal year 2005 discretionary spending request and $2.8 billion more than the fiscal year 2004 enacted level.

Departmental Management and Operations – A total of $632,102,000 is recommended to continue the operations of the Office of the Secretary, Office of the Under Secretary for Management, Office of Inspector General, and investments in department-wide technology.

Security, Enforcement, and Investigations:

US Visitor and Immigration Status Indicator Technology (US VISIT) – A total of $340,000,000 is recommended to continue the development of the US VISIT system.

Customs and Border Protection – A total of $5,008,587,000 is recommended for securing the Nation’s borders, including:

$126,096,000 for the Container Security Initiative;
$64,162,000 for sensor and surveillance technology; and
$449,909,000 for automation modernization.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement – A total of $3,409,657,000 is recommended for investigating and enforcing immigration and customs laws, including:

$1,039,562,000 for investigations and intelligence;
$1,074,645,000 for detention and removals;
$662,900,000 for the Federal Air Marshals;
$478,000,000 for the Federal Protective Service; and
$267,535,000 for Air and Marine Operations.

Transportation Security Administration – A total of $5,159,935,000 is recommended for securing transportation, including:

$2,638,620,000 for passenger and baggage screening;
$161,000,000 for aviation checkpoint security;
$210,000,000 for the procurement of explosive detection systems;
$43,000,000 for air cargo security enforcement;
$15,000,000 for rail security;
$57,000,000 for research and development of next generation explosive detection systems; and
$75,000,000 for cargo security screening and cargo security research and development.

United States Coast Guard – A total of $7,469,130,000 is recommended, including:

$5,153,220,000 for operating expenses;
$17,000,000, as requested in budget, for environmental compliance and restoration;
$117,000,000, as requested in the budget, for Reserve training;
$1,062,550,000 for acquisition, construction, and improvements to fund new assets and maintain old assets and facilities. This amount includes an $88 million increase above the President’s Budget in the Deepwater recapitalization project;
$15,400,000 for alteration of bridges. The President did not request funding for this account;
$18,500,000 for Research, Development Test and Evaluation; and
$1,085,460,000, as requested in the budget, for retired pay.

United States Secret Service – A total of $1,162,758,000 is recommended for the operations of the United States Secret Service, including $2,100,000 for the Service’s forensic support costs associated with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

Preparedness and Recovery:

Office of State and Local Government Coordination and Preparedness – A total of $3,750,081,000 is recommended for first responder grants and assistance, including:

$940,000,000 for basic state grants;
$400,000,000 for local law enforcement terrorism prevention grants;
$875,000,000 for the urban area security initiative;
$150,000,000 for port security grants;
$150,000,000 for rail and transit security grants;
$135,000,000 for the National Domestic Preparedness Consortium;
$55,000,000 for competitive training grants;
$700,000,000 for firefighter assistance grants;
$180,000,000 for emergency management performance grants;

Counterterrorism Fund - $10,000,000 is recommended for the counterterrorism fund to provide for unforeseen emergencies not budgeted for in the regular process..

Emergency Preparedness and Response -– A total of $2,990,438,000 is recommended for emergency preparedness and response (EP&R) activities, including:

$231,499,000 for Preparedness, Mitigation, Response and Recovery to fund all operating expenses for FEMA programs including $30 million for the 28 strategically located Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) teams;
$196,939,000, for administrative and regional operations;
$34,000,000, for the National Disaster Medical System;
The Strategic National Stockpile which gathers and maintains bulk pharmaceutical products is transferred to the Department of Health and Human Services as requested by the President;
$2,528,000,000, for Bio-defense Countermeasures (BioShield);
Emergency Management Performance Grants are transferred to The Office of Domestic Preparedness, an agency within DHS, as requested by the President and
The Emergency Food and Shelter program is not transferred as requested by the President because the program is appropriately administered where it currently is.

Research and Development, Training, Assessment, and Services:

Citizenship and Immigration Services – A total of $140,000,000 is recommended for Citizenship and Immigration Services, for the reduction of application processing backlogs.

Federal Law Enforcement Training Center – A total of $224,357,000 is recommended for the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center, this amount is $28 million above the President’s budget request.

Information Analysis and Infrastructure Protection –A total of $875,576,000 to identify and assess threats, map threat information against current vulnerabilities, issue warnings, and take preventive action, including:

$91,592,000 for critical infrastructure outreach and partnerships for data sharing with infrastructure owners and operators;
$64,730,000 to identify critical infrastructure and their vulnerabilities, to assess risks identified, and to reduce vulnerabilities;
$193,673,000 for developing and implementing protective programs for critical infrastructures;
$11,000,000 to rapidly identify and characterize a potential bioterrorist attack;
$67,380,000 for cyber security activities; and
$140,754,000 for national security and emergency preparedness telecommunications activities.

Science & Technology - A total of $1,069,197,000 to support basic and applied research, development of prototypes, and procurement of systems to mitigate the effects of weapons of mass destruction including:

$346,310,000 for biological countermeasures including $118,000,000 for the biosurveillance initiative;
$127,810,000 for nuclear and radiological countermeasures;
$52,400,000 to counter chemical warfare agents toxic industrial chemicals;
$33,590,000 for high explosives countermeasures including $23,890,000 for commuter and passenger rail environments;
$75,120,000 for rapid prototyping;
$69,048,000 for university programs;
$61,000,000 for the counter-MANPADS program;
$17,800,000 for cyber threat characterization, detection, and origination; and
$11,000,000 for interoperability communications.

###

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NEWS RELEASE

Contact Brian Hart/Aaron Groote

June 17, 2004

BROWNBACK COMMENDS PRESIDENT’S

COMMISSION ON SPACE EXPLORATION

Will introduce NASA authorization bill

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Sam Brownback today chaired a hearing of the Science, Technology and Space Subcommittee to discuss the final report by the President’s Commission on Implementation of U.S. Space Exploration Policy. The report outlines recommendations on realizing President Bush’s vision for space. The witness before the hearing was Edward C. Aldridge, Jr., the chairman of the President's Commission on Implementation of U.S. Space, along with some of his colleagues.

“On January 14th of this year President Bush presented the nation with a Vision for Space Exploration. This is a vision of unlimited opportunity for Americans,” Brownback stated. “It is a vision of continued American leadership on this most important of frontiers. It is a vision which focuses on human voyages to the moon and Mars. The Presidential Commission on Implementation of United States Space Exploration released its report yesterday. I have reviewed the Commission’s report and I am very pleased with the result. Mr. Aldridge and the Commission are to be commended for producing a thoughtful and compelling roadmap for our future exploration activities.”

The mission of the Commission is to provide recommendations to President Bush on implementation of President’s vision for space.

Brownback continued, “The key to a successful and affordable human and robotic exploration program, as the Commission so eloquently states, is to transform NASA with a far larger presence of private sector involvement. I believe the private sector can get us back to the moon affordably, within three years. We are urging NASA to pick up on the Commission’s approach and initiate a private sector managed robotic mission to the moon in three years – to ensure America remains in the lead in understanding and utilizing this body. I also applaud the Commission’s support of prizes.”

Senator Brownback has long championed efforts to bring private sector expertise to bear on U.S. space endeavors through the use of private contracts, space prizes and sponsorships. He has also called for reallocation of current budgets to be focused on realizing the President’s vision for space sooner rather than later. Brownback today will introduce legislation to reauthorize NASA. The bill will refocus NASA toward the President’s vision and several objectives outlined in the Commission’s report. NASA was last reauthorized in 2000. The current legislation would authorize NASA for the next five years.

-30-

Sam Brownback
United States Senator - Kansas
303 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
(202) 224-6521
http://brownback.senate.gov

CONTACT: Angela de Rocha at (202) 224-5944

Stephen Myers at (202) 224-6207

June 17, 2004

MEDIA ADVISORY

U.S. SENATOR WAYNE ALLARD TO SPEAK

AT ‘DEFENDING MARRIAGE’ PRESS CONFERENCE

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Wayne Allard (R-CO), author and sponsor of the Federal Marriage Amendment in the Senate, is scheduled to speak Friday at a press conference to highlight the Senate Republicans’ Defending Marriage initiative.

WHEN: 10:30 a.m. on Friday, June 18

WHERE: Senate Radio-TV Gallery

S-325 in the U.S. Capitol

[WASHINGTON –In a 10-9, party-line vote Thursday, the Senate Judiciary Committee reported the nomination of Henry Saad to the Senate. Saad is nominated to fill a vacancy on the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals. The statement of Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), the ranking member of the panel, follows.]

Statement of Senator Patrick Leahy

Senate Judiciary Committee

Executive Business Meeting

The Saad Nomination

June 17, 2004

A Republican Double Standard

A vote on the nomination of Henry Saad today will set a precedent in this Committee, and will be long remembered in the annals of the Senate and of our Committee for the double standard it embodies. In collusion with a White House of the same party, the Senate’s Republicans have engaged in a series of changed practices and broken rules on this Committee. The White House and some in the Senate have even suggested changing the Senate’s rules to consolidate the White House’s control over the judicial nominations process. Over the last three and one-half years, the good faith efforts of Senate Democrats to repair the damage done to the judicial confirmation process over the previous six years has been met with nothing but divisive partisanship.

Today is the first time that our Chairman will proceed to a Committee vote on a judicial nominee with two negative blue slips returned to the Committee. I believe this nomination evidenced the first time any Chairman and any Senate Judiciary Committee proceeded with a hearing on a judicial nominee over the objection of both home-state Senators. It is certainly the only time in the last 50 years, and I know it to be the only time during my 29 years in the Senate.

When Chairman Hatch chaired this Committee and we were considering the nominations of a Democratic President, one unreturned blue slip, let alone a negative blue slip from one home-state Senator, was enough to doom a nomination and prevent a hearing on that nomination. Indeed, among the more than 60 Clinton judicial nominees who this Committee did not consider there were several who were blocked in spite of the positive blue slips from both home-state Senators. So long as one Republican Senator had an objection, it appeared to be honored, whether that was Senator Helms of North Carolina objecting to an African-American nominee from Virginia, or Senator Gorton of Washington objecting to nominees from California.

Last year this Committee, under this Chairman, took the unprecedented action of proceeding to a hearing on President Bush’s controversial nomination of Carolyn Kuhl to the Ninth Circuit, over the objection of Senator Boxer. When the senior Senator from California announced her opposition to the nomination at the beginning of a Judiciary business meeting, I suggested to the Chairman that further proceedings on that nomination ought to be carefully considered and noted that he had never proceeded on a nomination opposed by both home-state Senators once their opposition was known. Nonetheless, in one in a continuing series of changes of practice and position, this Committee was required to proceed with the Kuhl nomination, and a divisive vote was the result. The Senate has withheld consent to that nomination after extended debate.

Now this Committee is making a further profound change in its practices. When a Democratic President was doing the nominating and Republican Senators were objecting, a single objection from a single home-state Senator stalled any nomination. The Chairman cannot cite a single example of a single time that he went forward with a hearing over the objection or negative blue slip of a single Republican home-state Senator during the years that President Clinton was the nominating authority. But now that a Republican President is doing the nominating, no amount of objecting by Democratic Senators is sufficient. The Chairman overrode the objection of one home-state Senator with the Kuhl nomination. The Chairman outdoes himself today by overriding the objections of both home-state Senators and going forward with this nomination.

What I doubt we will hear from the other side of the aisle is the plain and simple truth of the two conflicting policies the Chairman has followed. While it is true that various Chairmen of the Judiciary Committee have used the blue-slip in different ways -- some to work unfairness, and others to attempt to remedy it -- it is also true that each of those Chairmen was consistent in his application of his own policy -- that is, until now.

Partisanship Patterns

The double standards that the Republican majority has adopted obviously depend upon the occupant of the White House. This change in practice marks another example of their disregard for the rules and practices of this Committee. The Republican majority has already abandoned our historic practice of bipartisan investigation as in the Pryor nomination, and the majority has abandoned the meaning and consistent practice of protecting minority rights through a longstanding Committee rule, Rule 4, that required a member of the minority to vote to cut off debate in order to bring a matter to a vote in several other instances. The Committee took another giant step in the direction of unbridled partisanship through Judge Saad’s hearing. During these years we have suffered through the scandal of the theft of staff memoranda and files from the Judiciary computer by Republican staff, a matter which is now under criminal investigation by the Department of Justice. It is all part of a pattern that has included bending, changing and even breaking this Committee’s rules to gain partisan advantage and to stiffen the White House’s influence over the Senate. At the White House’s urging, some have even sought to change the Senate’s own rules. clearly Republican partisans will apparently stop at nothing in their efforts to aid and abet this White House in the efforts to politicize the federal judiciary.

Both of the Senators from Michigan are respected Members of the Senate. Both are fair-minded. Both are committed to solving the problems caused by Republican high-handedness in blocking earlier nominees to the Sixth Circuit. Both of these home-state Senators have attempted to work with the White House to offer their advice, but their input was rejected. They have suggested ways to end the impasse on judicial nominations for Michigan, including a bipartisan commission along the lines of a similar commission in Wisconsin. This is a good idea and a fair idea. I am familiar with the work of bipartisan screening commissions. Vermont and its Republican, Democratic and Independent Senators had used such a commission for more than 25 years with great success. I commend the Senators representing Michigan for their constructive suggestion and for their good faith efforts to work with this White House in spite of the Administration’s refusal to work with them.

Some Senators in this Committee have said we need to forget the unfairness of the past on nominations and start on a clean slate. But the way to wipe that slate clean is through cooperation now, and moving forward together -- not with the petulant, partisan unilateralism that we have seen so often from this Administration.

Although President Bush promised on the campaign trail to be a uniter and not a divider, his practice once in office with respect to judicial nominees has been more divisive than those of any president any of us have served with. Citing the remarks of a White House official, The Lansing State Journal reported, for example, that the President is simply not interested in compromise on the existing vacancies in the State of Michigan. It is unfortunate that the White House is not willing to work toward consensus with all Senators.

Under our Constitution, the Senate has an important role in the selection of our judiciary. The brilliant design of our Founding Fathers established that the first two branches of government would work together to equip the third branch to serve as an independent arbiter of justice. As columnist George Will has written, “A proper constitution distributes power among legislative, executive and judicial institutions so that the will of the majority can be measured, expressed in policy and, for the protection of minorities, somewhat limited.” The structure of our Constitution and our own Senate rules of self-governance are designed to protect minority rights and to encourage consensus. Despite the razor-thin margin of recent elections, the Republican majority is not acting in a measured way but in disregard for the traditions of bipartisanship that are the hallmark of the Senate.

Republican White House, Different Rules

Today we meet to consider the nomination of California Judge Carolyn Kuhl to the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, Florida Judge Cecilia Altonaga to the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida, and Louisiana Judge Patricia Minaldi to the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana. The District Court nominees have the support of their home-state Senators, although, as I will discuss in a moment, Senators Graham and Nelson have had a most difficult time getting the White House to agree to continue the fine tradition of the Florida bi-partisan nominating commission, and have only recently come to a meeting of the minds.

The Circuit Court nominee before us today, Judge Carolyn Kuhl, however, is not supported by both of her home-state Senators. Her appearance before this Committee, despite that clearly stated opposition, is another in a string of transparently political actions taken by the Chairman since the beginning of this Congress. In each of these actions, each unprecedented, the Chairman has either done something he has never done as Chairman before, or backed the White House in its efforts to break new ground in politicizing the federal judiciary.

When there was a Democratic President in the White House, circuit court nominees were delayed and deferred, and vacancies on the Courts of Appeals more than doubled under Republican leadership from 16 in January 1995, to 33 when the Democratic majority took over part way through 2001.

First, in January, he scheduled three controversial circuit court nominees on one hearing, scheduled to take place in the course of one very busy day in the Senate. Of course, he will argue that it was not the first time that more than two circuit court nominees had appeared in Committee together, and that is correct. But it was absolutely the first time that this Chairman had ever scheduled such a hearing for a president’s nominees. In the previous six years he headed this Committee, he never once brought in three circuit court nominees, let alone three very controversial ones, before this body in a single hearing. But in this new chairmanship, it is the very first hearing that got scheduled. Why the change in practice? The only conceivable difference is that now there is a Republican in the White House.

Under Democratic leadership, we held hearings on 20 circuit court nominees in 17 months. Indeed, while Republicans averaged seven confirmations to the circuit courts every 12 months for the last President, the Senate under Democratic leadership confirmed 17 in its 17 months with an historically uncooperative White House.

Next, he supported and facilitated the re-nomination of Priscilla Owen to a seat on the U.S. Court of Appeals for Fifth Circuit for which she was already rejected by this Committee. He brought her back for a hearing during which no new facts of any significance were introduced, but during which many leading questions were asked and accusations of unfairness made. This is a nomination which should never have been re-sent to the Senate, and which, if it succeeds, will only be because of a display of raw politics.

With a Republican in the White House, the Republican majority shifted from the restrained pace it had said was required for Clinton nominees, into overdrive for the most controversial of President Bush’s nominees. In 2003 alone, 13 circuit court judges were confirmed. This year we held more hearings have been held for nominees in just five months than were held in all of 1996 or all of 2000. One hundred and eighty-six of President Bush’s nominees have been confirmed so far – more than in all four years of President Reagan’s first term, when he had a Republican Senate to work with. When a Democratic President was seeking re-election in 1996, the Republican Senate majority did not allow a single circuit court nominee to be confirmed the entire 1996 session -- not one. Now, the Chairman has scheduled this hearing for a nominee who does not have blue slips returned from both of her home-state Senators – that is, a nominee for whom only one of her home-state Senators has indicated she agrees that a hearing should be held. Now, we will surely hear today [have already heard today], in defense of this hearing, a long recitation of the history of the blue slip. We will hear how it was used unfairly during the unfortunate past of the Committee, to keep the federal bench from being integrated. We will hear how other Chairmen, Senators Kennedy and Biden modified their policies to allow for more fairness in the consideration of a diversity of nominees for the federal bench. And, we will hear how the Chairman’s real objection during the Clinton Administration was the so-called “lack of consultation” with Republican Senators, and how fairly and successfully President Bush’s White House has consulted with obstreperous Democrats. The Chairman will tell us that he considers himself the heir to Democratic traditions, that he has always followed those policies and is only now acting consistent with his own past practice.

Without going through a lengthy discussion of blue slips and practices and policies let me illustrate the Republican double standards by noting the distinctive blue slips used by the Chairman with a Democratic President, and then with a Republican President. These pieces of blue paper are what the Chairman uses to solicit the opinions of home-state Senators about the President’s nominees. Simply stated, the blue slip practice is the enforcement mechanism for the consultation that the Constitution intends and requires. When President Clinton was in office, the Chairman’s blue slip sent to Senators, asking their consent, said this:

“Please return this form as soon as possible to the nominations office. No further proceedings on this nominee will be scheduled until both blue slips have been returned by the nominee’s home state senators.”

When President Bush began his term, and Senator Hatch took over the chairmanship of this Committee, he changed his blue slip to drop the assurance he had always provided Republican Senators who had an objection. He eliminated the statement of his consistent practice in the past by striking the sentence that provided: “No further proceedings on this nominee will be scheduled until both blue slips have been returned by the nominee’s home state senators.” Of course what that had meant in practice in the years 1995-2000 was that no hearings would take place on a judicial nominee unless and until both home-state Senators returned blue slips indicating that they did not object to proceeding with a hearing on the nominee.

Confirmation Amnesia

I know Republican partisans hate being reminded of the double standards by which they operated when asked to consider so many of President Clinton’s nominees. I know that they would rather exist in a state of “confirmation amnesia,” but that is not fair and that is not right. The Because the blue slip policy in effect, and enforced strictly, by the Chairman during the Clinton Administration operated as an absolute bar to the consideration of any nominee to any court unless both home-state Senators had returned positive blue slips. No time limit was set and no reason had to be articulated.

Remember also that before I became Chairman in June of 2001, all of these decisions were being made in secret. Blue slips were not public, and they were allowed to operate as anonymous holds on otherwise qualified nominees.

A few examples of the operation of the blue slip process and how it was scrupulously honored by the Committee during the Clinton Presidency are worth remembering. Remember, in the 106th Congress alone, more than half of President Clinton=s circuit court nominees were defeated through the operation of the blue slip or other such partisan obstruction.

Perhaps the most vivid is the story of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, where Senator Helms was permitted by this Committee to resist President Clinton’s nominees for six years. Judge James Beaty was first nominated to the Fourth Circuit from North Carolina by President Clinton in 1995, but no action was taken on his nomination in 1995, 1996, 1997, or 1998. Another Fourth Circuit nominee from North Carolina, Rich Leonard, was nominated in 1995, but no action was taken on his nomination either, in 1995 or 1996. The nomination of Judge James Wynn, again a North Carolina nominee to the Fourth Circuit, sent to the Senate by President Clinton in 1999, languished without action in 1999, 2000, and early 2001 until President Bush withdrew his nomination.

A similar tale exists in connection with the Fifth Circuit where Enrique Moreno, Jorge Rangel and Alston Johnson were nominated but never given confirmation hearings.

Perhaps the best documented abuses are those that stopped the nominations of Judge Helene White, Kathleen McCree Lewis and Professor Kent Markus to the Sixth Circuit. Judge White and Ms. Lewis were themselves Michigan nominees. Republicans in the Senate prevented consideration of any of President Clinton’s nominees to the Sixth Circuit for years. When I became Chairman in 2001, I ended that impasse. The vacancies that once plagued the Sixth Circuit have been cut in half. Where Republican obstruction led to eight vacancies on that 16-judge court, Democratic cooperation allowed four of those vacancies to be filled. The Sixth Circuit currently has more judges and fewer vacancies than it has had in years.

Those of us who were involved in this process in the years 1995-2000 know that the Clinton White House bent over backwards to work with Republican Senators and seek their advice on appointments to both circuit and district court vacancies. There were many times when the White House made nominations at the direct suggestion of Republican Senators, and there are judges sitting today on the Ninth Circuit and the Fourth Circuit, in the district courts in Arizona, Utah, Mississippi, and many other places only because the recommendations and demands of Republicans Senators were honored.

In contrast, since the beginning of its time in the White House, this Bush Administration has sought to overturn traditions of bipartisan nominating commissions and to run roughshod over the advice of Democratic Senators. They attempted to change the exemplary systems in Wisconsin, Washington, and Florida that had worked so well for so many years. They ignored the protests of Senators like Senator Boxer who not only objected to the nominee proposed by the White House, but who, in an attempt to reach a true compromise, also suggested Republican alternatives. And today, despite the best efforts of the well-respected Senators from Michigan, who have proposed a bipartisan commission similar to their sister state of Wisconsin, we see the Administration has flatly rejected any sort of compromise.

Record of Consensus Confirmations

Many of the 186 nominees who have been confirmed for this President have proceeded by consensus out of Committee and on the Senate Floor. I would have hoped that the scores of nominees agreed upon by home-state Senators of both parties, voted out of Committee unanimously and confirmed without opposition in the full Senate would have been enough of a lesson for the President. I would have hoped that the Michigan Senators’ principled and reasoned opposition to the way the Sixth Circuit nominations have occurred would have been a starting point from which to reach a compromise. But, as with so many other nominees and so many other issues, compromise was not forthcoming from this White House. Instead, they have refused to acknowledge the wrong done to President Clinton’s nominees to the very same Court, and they have refused to budge. It is a shame.

When the Committee reports this nomination, we will have reported more than 200 of President Bush’s judicial nominees. As I said, most have been reported with unanimous support by Democrats and Republicans. Some have been contentious and some have been so extreme that they have not garnered bipartisan support and have been problematic. We have demonstrated time and again that when we unite and work together we make progress. Republicans have too often chosen, instead, to seek to pack the courts and tilt them out of balance and to use unfounded allegations of prejudice to drive wedges among Americans for partisan political purposes.

We have more federal judges currently serving than at any time in our nation’s history and we have succeeded in reducing judicial vacancies to the lowest level in 14 years. Even Alberto Gonzales, the White House Counsel, conceded recently that: “If you look at the total numbers, I think one could draw the conclusion that we've been fairly successful in having a lot of the president's nominees confirmed.” The Republican leader in the Senate has termed our efforts “steady progress.” The White House would be even more successful if they would work with us to resolve this situation in the Sixth Circuit.

An Invitation For Confrontation

That Chairman Hatch has carried this matter over for so many months, so many times is indicative of how divisive it will be. When I was chair he insisted that any matter or nominee carried over for a week was entitled to and must necessarily receive a vote the next week. That was never our rule of course and his practice here belies it. What was troubling in this case was that he proceeded over the objection of both home-state Senators.

His decision to proceed to a vote today is even more deeply troubling. It portends more conflict in the days and weeks ahead. Far from achieving a truce and more progress in filling judicial vacancies it appears that Republican partisans are demanding more confrontation. That is regrettable.

Senate Democrats had demonstrated our good faith in confirming 100 of President Bush’s judicial nominees in our 17 months in the majority. We have now cooperated in the confirmation of more judicial nominees for President Bush than President Reagan achieved working hand in hand with a Republican Senate majority. We have already confirmed more judges this Congress than were confirmed before the presidential elections in 1996 or 2000. We are proceeding in accord with the agreement reached with the White House last month to consider and possibly confirm as many as 198 judicial nominees. We have demonstrated not only our willingness to cooperate but we have done so to achieve historic confirmation numbers and historically low numbers of judicial vacancies. I have come to recognize that no good deed we do in correcting the Republican abuses of the past goes unpunished.

Another Troubling Nominee

Unfortunately, this President has also chosen to nominate for some important circuit court seats some candidates who on their merits are not deserving of lifetime appointments. It appears that Judge Saad is one of those nominees. Clearly the Senators from Michigan have grave concerns.

I also have concerns about the nominee, his legal judgment, and his ability to be fair.

While Judge Saad was an attorney his practice primarily consisted of defending large corporations against employees’ claims of race discrimination, age discrimination, sexual harassment and wrongful termination. A review of Judge Saad’s cases on the Michigan Court of Appeals raises concerns because he frequently favored employers in complaints brought by workers, even in the face of extremely sympathetic facts.

For example, in Cocke v. Trecorp Enterprises, a young Burger King employee was aggressively and repeatedly sexually harassed and assaulted by her shift manager. More than once, she reported this treatment to her other shift managers who promised to take care of it. The trial court prevented her case from going to the jury but Judge Saad dissented from an appellate decision reversing the trial court. Judge Saad ignored the legal standard of review followed by the majority and would have protected the corporation from responsibility for the shift manager’s notorious and unlawful behavior.

Also, in Coleman v. Michigan, a female corrections officer brought a sexual harassment suit against her employer, the State of Michigan. This officer was assaulted and nearly raped by an armed prisoner. According to the officer’s complaint, after this terrible attack, her supervisor insinuated that she provoked the attack because of her attire. The supervisor made the officer come to his office on a regular basis to check the appropriateness of her clothing and he frequently called her to discuss personal matters, such as her relationship with her boyfriend. Despite these serious allegations, the trial court granted summary disposition in favor of the state of Michigan. Judge Saad joined in the Michigan Court of Appeals’ per curiam opinion affirming the trial court’s grant of summary disposition. The corrections officer appealed his decision to the Michigan Supreme Court, which reversed and held that her claims constituted sufficient evidence to go to trial.

In another case, Fuller v. McPherson Hospital, a jury who heard live testimony was persuaded to conclude that a woman had endured sexual harassment from her immediate supervisor and other superiors. The trial court vacated the jury findings because it found that the plaintiff had not complained of the harassment while working at the hospital. On appeal, the panel reinstated the jury’s finding of sexual harassment but Judge Saad dissented. Unfortunately, his dissent in this case was only two sentences and failed to address his colleagues’ legal conclusions.

An Intemperate Response

I cannot speak in open session about all concerns but I can note a temperament problem, as evidenced by an email he sent, a copy of which he mistakenly sent to Senator Stabenow as well. In Judge Saad’s email he displays not only shockingly bad manners, but appalling judgment and a possible threatening nature.

In the email exchange, Judge Saad is writing to someone named Joe, forwarding him a copy of another email sent by Senator Stabenow in response to a letter of support for Saad’s nomination. In her response Senator Stabenow politely and reasonably explains the basis for her continuing objection to the nomination, explaining that she understands the writer’s “concerns and frustrations,” thanking them, and offering her help in the future. Apparently this type of honest disagreement with a constituent and courteous explanation was too much for Judge Saad. Here is what he wrote in response to the Senator’s explanation:

She sends this standard response to all those who inquire about this subject. We know, of course, that this is the game they play. Pretend to do the right thing while abusing the system and undermining the constitutional process. Perhaps some day she will pay the price for her misconduct.

I know that Senator Stabenow does not need me to defend her, and I doubt that sort of personal threat concerns her, but I think Judge Saad’s message deserves examination by this Committee. It shows a shocking lack of good judgment, a pronounced political viewpoint, and a total absence of respect for the process undertaken by Senators of good faith and good will.

As soon as they saw this email message, both Michigan Senators wrote to the President’s Counsel, Alberto Gonzales, alerting him to the offensive comments. While I do not believe Judge Gonzales or the President ever responded, two weeks later Judge Saad did get around to sending a “non-apology.” He wrote:

I write regarding your and Senator Levin’s recent letter to Alberto R. Gonzales, Counsel to the President (a copy of which you sent to me), relating to an e-mail message that I meant to send only to a close personal friend of mine. Unfortunately, this e-mail, which commented on my pending nomination, was inadvertently sent to your office. I regret that the e-mail was sent to you and certainly apologize for any personal concern this may have caused you. I have a great deal of respect for our political institutions and meant no lack of respect to you.

He cannot bring himself to say he is sorry for his words, to apologize for accusing a Senator of abusing the system she so respects, or even for expressing the hope that she would “pay for her conduct.” Instead he is sorry that he was caught, and if what he said may have caused Senator Stabenow “personal concern.”

Apart from all of the procedural problems with this nomination, I have serious concerns about giving lifetime tenure to someone with this stunning lack of judgment. The people of the Sixth Circuit deserve better than this. And the American people, the independent federal judiciary, the U.S. Senate, and this venerable Committee, all deserve better than the double standard that is now squarely on display for all to see.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Maureen Knightly/ Jennifer Carrier

202-224-3254

United States Senate Floor Statement by Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA)

on American Forces Radio and Television Service

June 17, 2004

“Mr. President, I would like to thank the managers of the Department of Defense (DoD) authorization bill, Senators Warner and Levin, for their assistance earlier this week in passing an important amendment. I offered the amendment, now a provision of this bill, to express the Sense of the Senate concerning programming on American Forces Radio and Television Service (AFRTS).

“Mr. President, as my colleagues know, for American service members and their families stationed in more than 177 countries and U.S. territories around the world, as well as for DoD civilians and their families, AFRTS is intended to broadcast a “touch of home” by providing programming that reflects a cross-section of what is widely available to stateside audiences. According to the AFRTS website, its programming is meant to “respresent what is seen and heard in the United States.”

“I support AFRTS in its mission. Making U.S. entertainment and news programming available to American service members wherever they are located is important for their morale and to keep them informed. I believe the Fiscal Year 2004 funding level of $47 million for AFRTS is justified.

“Several weeks ago, however, it came to my attention that the programming on one AFRTS service – its “uninterrupted voice,” or talk radio, service - has what I consider to be a political bias in its social and political commentary.

“For the information of my colleagues, the radio broadcast component of AFRTS, which is American Forces Radio, consists of 13 channels, or “services.” Seven of these radio services focus on music, with news briefs at the top of every hour. Two are continuous news information services. One service broadcasts National Public Radio 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Two services are continuous sports talk. The final service is what the network calls uninterrupted voice service, or talk radio service.

“Based on conversations between my staff and personnel at AFRTS, I believe the bias that exists in the social and political commentary portions of this talk radio service is not intentional. I commend the openness of American Forces Radio officials in the dialogue we have now begun on this topic. But in my view the bias in this programming is real.

“Mr. President, public criticism of American Forces Radio content has focused on the fact that Rush Limbaugh’s commentary is carried daily on the talk radio service. I generally do not agree with Rush Limbaugh’s commentaries. But I do not object to the fact that they are run on a daily basis on this service. Some people do object. However, what I do take issue with is the fact that there is no commentary on the service that would even begin to balance the extreme right-wing views that Rush Limbaugh routinely expresses on his program.

“Critics have specifically cited Rush Limbaugh’s use of his show to condone and trivialize the abuse of Iraqi prisoners by U.S. guards at the Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq. As many of my colleagues know, and as has been pointed out previously here on the Senate floor, Mr. Limbaugh reportedly likened the abuse of Iraqi prisoners by U.S. guards at Abu Ghraib to a fraternity initiation. He called some of the abusive tactics a “brilliant maneuver.” I think the critics are right. Limbaugh’s remarks – and there are many more offensive remarks by Mr. Limbaugh on this topic than I have mentioned here - are repugnant. They do damage to the American image when they are heard around the world. I would guess that Limbaugh’s comments on Abu Ghraib also probably offend a large majority of American service members.

“Still, I am not calling for American Forces Radio to pull Rush Limbaugh’s commentaries from their talk radio service. I am asking, and I am pleased that the Senate is now on record asking, that AFRTS meet its own mandate, as generally articulated in Department of Defense Regulation 5120.20R. That regulation calls for AFRTS political programming that is “characterized by its fairness and balance,” as well as news programming guided by a “principle of fairness” that requires “reasonable opportunities for the presentation of conflicting views on important controversial public issues.”

“Liberals, moderates and independents contribute to funding for American Forces Radio through payment of their taxes, just like conservatives do. There is no reason that American service members should receive lengthy right-wing commentaries with regularity on American Forces Radio’s talk service, without some balance from competing views as part of that same service. For the good of its listeners, and to meet its own mandate, American Forces Radio needs to make a greater effort to give a balanced, fair representation of varying political viewpoints on its talk radio service.

“In conversations with my staff, individuals at AFRTS have said that their programming of Rush Limbaugh on the talk service is driven strictly by national ratings here in the States. That was not the position taken by a DoD official on CNN earlier this month, however. According to news coverage posted on CNN.com, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Allison Barber has said that the appropriateness of content is a factor in deciding what commentaries are broadcast on American Forces Radio.

“Mr. President, I agree with the Deputy Assistant Secretary’s statement. Content is a factor in deciding which commentaries to run on American Forces Radio. At the same time, I also agree with stated AFRTS policy. There should be fairness and balance in political programming on American Forces Radio.

“My amendment in no way prescribes specific content or programming at AFRTS. That is not the role of the Senate. What my amendment does do, appropriately, is state that it is the Sense of the Senate that the Secretary of Defense should ensure that AFRTS policies of fairness and balance are being fully implemented. The amendment calls on the Secretary to develop appropriate methods of oversight in this regard. I look forward to working with the Department and others to see that AFRTS meets these proper goals.”

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For Immediate Release

Contact: Courtney Schikora, (202) 224-1028

June 17, 2004

Stevens Receives “America’s Promise to Our Youth” Award For Ensuring the Health of Nation’s Youth

Yesterday, Senator Ted Stevens, (R-Alaska), received the “America’s Promise To Our Youth” Award from American’s Promise – The Alliance for Youth for his continued work to ensure that our nation’s children receive a healthy start for their future.

Senator Stevens was recognized for his continued work in keeping America’s youth healthy. His advocacy of youth-focused physical education includes the Ted Stevens Amateur Sports Act, the PEP Act, National Guard Bureau’s Youth ChalleNGe Program, his strong support of Title IX and Special Olympics.

“I am honored to receive such an award from America’s Promise. The health and activity of our nation’s youth is very important to me. I encourage all young people to stay active early in their lives as it will continue throughout their lives,” said Stevens

America’s Promise—The Alliance for Youth also awarded Senators Kennedy and Clinton with “America’s Promise to Our Youth” Awards.

America’s Promise represents a range of efforts at work on behalf of youth across the country, from policymakers to teachers and parents, and is helping to ensure that all children receive the support they need to succeed.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: CONTACT: Matt Hartwig

June 17, 2004 202-224-3254

HARKIN OUTLINES CONCERNS WITH USDA’S ANIMAL IDENTIFICATION FRAMEWORK

Senator urges USDA to develop an animal ID system that assists all animal species and gives special attention to human health connections

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA), ranking Democrat on the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, today urged Secretary of Agriculture Ann Veneman to focus on all animal species and diseases in developing the rules and structure for a national animal identification system. In the letter to Secretary Veneman, Harkin also urged the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to examine existing disease tracking data and methods from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) since some animal diseases can cross over to humans.

Since the discovery of a cow with bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in Washington state, USDA is moving forward to develop a national identification system. Given the public concern about BSE, there has been a good deal of attention given to the needed elements of a system suitable for cattle. Animal identification must properly address the issues pertaining to all animal species and diseases given that some diseases cross over to different animals and to humans.

“I strongly urge USDA to address the specific requirements of all agricultural animals when designing the features of a national animal identification system,” said Harkin. “It would be detrimental to the livestock industry as a whole if any identification system were tailored to one species with the expectation that all other species fall in line.”

“The possibility of animal disease crossing over to humans is a very real, albeit minimal, threat. The Department of Agriculture must consider issues of public health when designing and implementing an identification system,” said Harkin. “To ignore these issues would be shortsighted and a failure to adequately protect public health.”

A copy of the letter is attached.

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June 17, 2004

The Honorable Ann M. Veneman

Secretary of Agriculture

200-A Jamie L. Whitten Building

Washington, D.C. 20250

Dear Secretary Veneman:

On April 27, you announced the framework for implementation of a National Animal Identification System (NAIS). You also announced on that day and in a letter to me dated March 25 that USDA was currently evaluating existing premise and animal number allocation systems now in use to determine the best system(s) to select and fund to develop both the national premise allocation number and repository system. On June 14, USDA posted its grants announcement to enter into cooperative agreements with states and tribes to assist with premise identification, to utilize various forms of technology and to adapt current systems to use in the new animal identification system.

The December 23, 2003 discovery of a BSE cow in the United States underscores the importance of a national animal identification system. However, given that BSE is not a highly transmissible disease, I caution you not to focus on the needs of cattle to the exclusion of other animal species and diseases in determining the best animal identification system or infrastructure. It would be detrimental to the animal industry if the adopted system(s) were tailored to one species with the expectation that all other species fall in line. Given this concern, what animal species do you plan to implement initially, and in so doing, how do you plan to conform and integrate other systems specific to additional animal species in the future?

Since some animal diseases can be transmitted across different species and to humans, I urge you to seriously examine existing data on disease tracking from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). The CDC has extensive experience in maintaining a disease tracking system and database which would be advantageous for the development of animal identification at USDA. It would be detrimental to the overall system if USDA decided to “go it alone” when coordinating with the CDC could serve the purpose of streamlining a system that would complement CDC’s monitoring system in the case of a bioterror or zoonotic outbreak, especially given that such a case would need to be monitored by both agencies simultaneously. On March 4, Under Secretary Hawks stated at a Marketing, Inspection, and Product Promotion Subcommittee hearing that the CDC was “welcome” to join the discussion on animal identification, but USDA was not seeking its advice or examining existing databases or systems. I would like to know what USDA has done thus far to seek out guidance from the CDC?

Cooperative agreements can be important to help identify gaps and develop a working knowledge for implementation of the animal identification system. As you move forward with the cooperative agreements, I urge you to give special consideration to those applications that focus on all animal species in every region of the country. Likewise, because some diseases are zoonotic in nature, cooperative agreements that focus on coordinated efforts with the public health sector would be beneficial both to the animal industry and public health.

It would also be beneficial to the animal industry if USDA enters into cooperative agreements with various partners that are critical to smaller producers. Producers remain largely in the dark concerning what is expected of them in the national animal identification system. This is especially so with respect to the critically important issue of cost. I urge USDA to enter into agreements that take into consideration and address effectively the costs and burdens on smaller producers. In addition, cooperative agreements should address the functional capacity at concentration points such as smaller auction barns and rendering plants where the system is most likely to fail.

I support the goal of moving forward with the implementation of an animal identification system for animal and human health purposes and to maintain consumer confidence both in the United States and abroad. I look forward to hearing from you regarding my concerns.

Sincerely yours,

Tom Harkin

Ranking Democratic Member

Senate Judiciary Republicans

Vote To Continue Torture Scandal Cover-Up

…In Party-Line Vote, GOP Senators Block Subpoena For Memos

[WASHINGTON – In a party-line vote Thursday, the Republican-led Senate Judiciary Committee rejected a Democratic proposal offered by Senators Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) to subpoena Department of Justice memoranda (and related memos from other agencies) involving the Administration’s policies and practices on torture and the treatment of prisoners in U.S. custody overseas. The Committee defeated the proposal in a vote of 10-9, with all 10 Republican senators voting against the subpoena motion. The proposal offered by Leahy and Feinstein would have directed Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), the chairman of the panel and Leahy, the ranking Democratic member of the panel, to negotiate with Attorney General John Ashcroft about voluntarily producing the documents by June 24 before requiring their compelled production pursuant to the subpoena by the end of June. Leahy and other Democratic Senators on the Committee pushed for the subpoena after many requests for the material over the last several months were ignored or rejected. Most recently, at an oversight hearing before the panel last week, on June 8, Ashcroft refused to provide the memos to the panel, despite requests for them by Leahy and other Democratic members. Ashcroft, when pressed, said the Administration was not invoking executive privilege as the basis for the denial. Reacting to the vote, Leahy, at the close of today’s committee voting session, expressed disappointment in the Republican blocking of the subpoena: “The Committee had an opportunity to stop the cover-up, but Republicans refused to do it.” The Leahy-Feinstein resolution follows, including the attachment outlining the 23 memos.]

RESOLUTION

Be it resolved that, pursuant to its authority under Rule 26 of the Standing Rules of the Senate, the Senate Committee on the Judiciary hereby authorizes its Chairman, in consultation with the Ranking Democratic Member, to issue to Attorney General John Ashcroft the subpoena attached as Exhibit 1 to this Resolution, which commands Attorney General Ashcroft to provide to the Committee the documents described in Attachment A by June 30, 2004. A personal appearance before the Committee on June 30, 2004, will not be necessary if the documents herein are delivered to the Committee’s offices prior to the scheduled return.

AMENDMENT

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES – 108th Cong., 2nd Sess., the Committee on the Judiciary

AMENDMENT intended to be proposed by Mrs. Feinstein, to a Resolution authorizing the chairman of the Committee on the Judiciary, in consultation with the Ranking Democratic member, to issue to attorney General John Ashcroft,

After the text of the resolution, and before Attachment A, insert the following,

“Further, that the Chairman and Ranking Democratic Member are authorized and requested to engage in discussions with Attorney General John Ashcroft prior to June 24, 2004 in order to attempt to obtain the documents described in Attachment A voluntarily, or to jointly ascertain that a lawful and applicable claim of privilege has been asserted with respect to a document or documents described in Attachment A, and upon their joint certification that Attorney General Ashcroft has satisfied the Committee’s need for the timely provision of information sought by this subpoena, or has advanced such a lawful and applicable claim of privilege with respect to any such document or documents, the subpoena shall be withdrawn or modified as they should jointly direct.

“Further, that to the extent documents described in Attachment A are classified pursuant to Executive Order, they shall be delivered to the Committee in accordance with appropriate security procedures of the Committee on the Judiciary and the Senate.”