July 9, 1998 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S7873 Day, Megan Murray, MaryEllen Let me join in commending staff: AMERICA’S STRATEGY AGAINST McGuire. They were all invaluable, as Mark Powden for his fine work, Susan ILLEGAL DRUGS was the Senator, in working very effec- Hattan, Scott Giles, Jenny Smulson, Mr. DEWINE. Mr. President, I rise to- tively during the course of the whole Corey Heyman. night to make some comments about day on this legislation. Senator KENNEDY’s staff: Marianna America’s strategy in the long and vi- I thank TOM HARKIN for his initia- Pierce did a wonderful job on the tally important struggle we are waging tives, PAUL WELLSTONE, JEFF BINGA- Democratic side working on this and against illegal drugs. When it comes to MAN, all who were very much involved keeping us well informed and trying to ensuring a bright future for our chil- in the debate; PATTY MURRAY, BAR- work out amendments during the com- dren, there are very few things we can BARA MIKULSKI and other members of mittee process and on the floor. do that are more important than pro- the committee who were active and in- f tecting them from drugs. volved today; JACK REED who follows in Earlier today, President Clinton and PRIVATE PROPERTY RIGHTS— a very long and distinguished tradition Speaker of the House GINGRICH un- on the Education Committee in the MOTION TO PROCEED veiled a major billion-dollar adver- great traditions of our dear friend Clai- Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I ask unan- tising campaign, a campaign approved borne Pell, who was chairman of the imous consent that the Senate now by this Congress to reach our children Education Committee and made monu- turn to the consideration of Calendar with a hard-hitting message about the mental contributions to the education No. 459, S. 2271, regarding private prop- dangers of drugs. Mr. President, in my of young people across this country. erty rights. view, this is a very worthwhile project; To all of them, I am enormously The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there it is something that we should do; it is grateful. I yield the floor. objection? something that I believe will in fact Mr. DODD addressed the Chair. Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. President, I ob- make a difference. It comes not a mo- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- ject. ment too soon. ator from Connecticut. CLOTURE MOTION Advertising is important in virtually Mr. DODD. Mr. President, very brief- Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, in light of every sector of our society. Those of us ly, I see my colleague from Ohio here, the objection, I now move to proceed to who run for public office use TV and I want to add my voice to those who S. 2271 and send a cloture motion to radio; products are sold every day. I have spoken in praise of Senator JEF- the desk. think the evidence is clear that we can FORDS, the chairman of the committee, The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clo- reach our young people; we can reach his staff, and the wonderful job they ture motion having been presented everyone through very effective anti- drug advertising. did in leading this piece of legislation under rule XXII, the Chair directs the and working with Senator KENNEDY as Mr. President, investing in antidrug clerk to read the motion. education campaigns is important, but the leading Democrat on our side. The assistant legislative clerk read What we witnessed today is a won- education is just one of the key compo- as follows: nents. It must be part of a balanced derful example of how the legislative CLOTURE MOTION process ought to work. It is hard to overall strategy if we are to truly fight We, the undersigned Senators, in accord- drug abuse. To succeed, we have to rely imagine taking on a piece of legisla- ance with the provision of rule XXII of the tion that has a 5-year lifespan to it, a on more than just creative minds on Standing Rules of the Senate, do hereby Madison Avenue. We need the help of higher education bill that affects so move to bring to a close debate on the mo- teachers, doctors, parents, and many many millions of Americans. We did tion to proceed to the private property more, to help reduce demand through this in one day in large measure be- rights legislation: education and through treatment. We cause the committee worked very Trent Lott, Orrin Hatch, Jon Kyl, Chuck need the help of law enforcement offi- closely together, Mr. President. A lot Hagel, Tim Hutchinson, Rod Grams, Pat Roberts, Pete Domenici, Dan cers, we need the help of prosecutors, of work went into trying to resolve Coats, Michael B. Enzi, Larry E. Craig, judges, to arrest and then send drug issues as a committee. There were a Craig Thomas, John Ashcroft, Frank pushers to prison. And we need drug en- couple we couldn’t, so we left those to Murkowski, Don Nickles, and Dirk forcement agents, Coast Guard crews, our colleagues, which is the way it Kempthorne. and even members of our military to should be here when you can’t come to Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, for the in- seize drugs at the source or in transit a final resolution. formation of all Senators, this cloture before they come into our country. It That shows remarkable leadership on vote will occur on Monday, July 13, at takes all these individuals, and so the part of the chairman and the rank- 5:45 p.m. many more, to wage a comprehensive— ing Democrat, that they can take a bill I propound the request that the man- to wage a balanced, effective war on as complicated and as comprehensive datory quorum under rule XXII be drugs. History proves the fight against as this, one as long in duration as this waived. drugs is only successful when it is bal- and bring it to the floor and, in the The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without anced and when it is in fact com- space of virtually 12 hours, provide the objection, it is so ordered. prehensive. kind of unanimous—it may have been Mr. LOTT. I now withdraw the mo- Mr. President, sadly—sadly—our unanimous, I don’t know what the vote tion to proceed. I yield the floor, Mr. overall drug strategy today is neither was here—almost unanimous vote in President. balanced nor comprehensive. Our drug support of the Higher Education Act The PRESIDING OFFICER. Who strategy today is imbalanced because for our Nation. seeks time? of a lack of commitment for the inter- I want others to know that this is a Mr. DEWINE addressed the Chair. national and for the interdiction com- good example of how we ought to work The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- ponents of the antidrug effort. Let me here. I hope others will heed this exam- ator from Ohio. repeat, I believe that we are not mak- ple. MORNING BUSINESS ing enough effort in the international For DAN COATS, who is not on the area and in the interdiction compo- floor this evening, our colleague from Mr. DEWINE. Mr. President, I ask nents of the antidrug effort. Indiana, this will be the last higher unanimous consent that there now be a Now, what do I mean by the interdic- education bill he will be involved in, as period for the transaction of routine tion component? What do I mean by he made the decision to leave the U.S. morning business. the international component? Let me Senate at the end of his term. Cer- The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there define ‘‘international effort,’’ what I tainly, there will be other bills between objection? mean by that, and what I mean by now and when the session ends. I am Without objection, it is so ordered. ‘‘interdiction efforts.’’ certain Senator COATS feels a sense of Mr. DEWINE. Mr. President, I ask International efforts include any di- pride, as he should, having played a unanimous consent that I be permitted rect assistance, resources and training major role in the last higher education to proceed for the next 30 minutes. the United States provides to foreign bill he will be involved in in the U.S. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without countries specifically for counter- Senate. I commend him for his efforts. objection, it is so ordered. narcotics matters.

VerDate Mar 15 2010 00:38 Oct 31, 2013 Jkt 081600 PO 00000 Frm 00169 Fmt 4637 Sfmt 0634 E:\1998SENATE\S09JY8.REC S09JY8 mmaher on DSKCGSP4G1 with SOCIALSECURITY S7874 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE July 9, 1998 By interdiction efforts, I mean to in- remarks, effective international and ef- second chart. Of the $13.3 million na- clude the seizing of drugs, the disrup- fective interdiction programs are a tional drug control budget for the year tion of drug-trafficking routes outside necessary and key component of any 1995, 35 percent was allocated for drug our borders from where the drugs are national drug control strategy. demand reduction programs—35 per- produced in source countries, through During the period from 1985 through cent—53 percent for law enforcement, the so-called transit zones, then up 1992, the U.S. Government waged a but only 12 percent for the inter- until they reach our border. comprehensive and a balanced antidrug national and the interdiction compo- Basically, Mr. President, what we are effort. The evidence clearly shows that nents combined. So we went from one- talking about is everything from the with a balanced strategy we were mak- third of the total budget to 12 percent, production of the drugs all the way ing great progress. We significantly re- a dramatic change. Think of it—only 12 until they hit our border. It is in this duced drug use. percent of the total drug control budg- effort in the past few years we have not In 1987, the Federal drug control et was dedicated to these efforts, down made the effort, not made the suffi- budget was divided as follows: 29 per- from 33 percent just a few years before. cient effort. cent for demand reduction programs. Although the overall drug budget in- Sadly, the current administration, These, of course, include education, creased threefold from 1987 to 1995, the despite its promises in this area, has treatment, prevention. Thirty-eight piece of the drug budget pie allocated been either unwilling or unable to percent of the budget in that year—38 for international and interdiction ef- maintain the support needed for a suc- percent of the budget—went for domes- forts has dramatically decreased. This cessful comprehensive and balanced tic law enforcement, and 33 percent is not only unfortunate, it is also unac- international and interdiction strat- went for international and interdiction ceptable. egy. efforts. There was then and continues to be It is, Mr. President, because of this The total national drug control budg- no real effort made, no real commit- imbalance that the current administra- et at that time was $4.79 billion. Now, ment made, no real resources given, for tion has failed to uphold the tremen- what were the results of this very bal- international and interdiction efforts. dous successes of the Reagan and Bush anced—very balanced—approach? We We are spending some money, but it administrations in reducing illegal achieved some progress, with some suc- has been a dramatic decrease in the drug use, particularly among young cess. message of our total effort. I believe people. In fact, the evidence shows that In 1988 to 1991, total drug use was the results are clear and the con- drug use has been on the rise. This down 13 percent, cocaine use dropped sequences have been devastating. must be of great concern to all Ameri- by 35 percent, marijuana use was re- Counternarcotics funding for defense cans. duced by 16 percent. fell 57 percent between 1992 and 1995. Mr. President, I am going to be talk- How did interdiction contribute to Coast Guard funding fell 32 percent ing in the balance of this speech about this decline? First, major efforts to during that same period. As a result, a that lack of effort in the international limit the easy access to drugs by street number of Defense Department and area and that lack of effort in the dealers caused the number of potential Coast Guard ship days devoted to drug interdiction area. I want to also say, drug users to fall off. Second, limiting interdiction dropped from 4,448 in fiscal though, that part of the problem has success through interdiction drove up year 1993 to 2,845 in 1995. Further, not been that initially this administration the street price of drugs dramatically. surprisingly, Coast Guard seizures did not focus on the drug problem. It Because of interdiction, drugs became dropped from a little over 90,000 pounds was not a high priority. The President, more difficult to find and more expen- in 1991 to a little over 28,000 pounds in for years, did not use the bully pulpit sive to buy. 1996. In addition, the number of flight of the Presidency to talk about this During this period of time, our drug hours by airborne warning and control issue. And I think this contributed to interdiction strategy was serious busi- systems, AWAC planes, dropped from the problem as well. ness. President Bush called illegal The fact is, over the course of the drugs the ‘‘gravest domestic threat fac- 38,100 hours in fiscal year 1992, clear previous decade, international and ing our Nation today.’’ In 1989, Presi- down to 17,713 hours in fiscal year 1996, interdiction programs beyond our bor- dent Bush tasked the Defense Depart- a 54 percent reduction. Had it not been ders were essential parts of a balanced ment to play an important role in the for the change in leadership in Con- plan to reduce drug use, a plan that drug war. Specifically, the Defense De- gress in 1995, this very troubling situa- also included drug education, drug partment was tasked to engage in the tion would have been far, far worse. treatment, and local law enforcement detection and monitoring of drugs in However, the damage of an unbal- efforts. When we used all of these, Mr. transit towards the United States. As a anced strategy has been done. Cocaine President, we made some progress. Member of the House of Representa- seizures had dropped, the price of co- But beginning in 1993, the adminis- tives at that time, I can recall very caine had dropped, and there was an in- tration abandoned this balanced ap- well the investment we dedicated to- crease in drug use. Overall drug use proach and shifted resources away from ward the international and toward the among teens aged 12–17 rose by 70 per- the international and interdiction interdiction components of the war on cent. Drug-abuse-related arrests more components of our antidrug efforts. drugs. These investments did make a than doubled for minors between 1992 Simply put, this administration has de- difference. and 1996. Since 1992, there has been an emphasized effective strategies beyond All this changed in 1993. The Clinton overall 80 percent increase in illicit our borders that are designed to keep administration immediately pursued drug use among graduating high school drugs from entering our country and policies that upset this careful balance seniors. This negative effect has sent infecting our communities. in drug funding. Although we have seen shockwaves through our communities Mr. President, I believe it is time to a considerable increase in the overall and our homes. reverse this current policy. This national drug control budget, the pro- The rise of drug use is not at all sur- evening, I call on my colleagues to join portion of resources dedicated to inter- prising. With the decline of emphasis me in restoring—in restoring—a bal- national and to interdiction efforts has on drug interdiction, it became far anced drug control strategy that will dramatically declined over the past 5 easier to bring drugs into the United put us back on a course toward ridding years. States and thus far easier to purchase our schools and our communities of il- In addition, interdiction no longer re- drugs. A significant price decline legal and destructive drugs. mains a priority within the Depart- caused by the increased availability of By doing this, we can in fact make a ment of Defense. In fact, the Defense cocaine and heroin made it easier for difference. By restoring our prior com- Department currently ranks counter- casual adult users and our youth to mitment to source and transit zone narcotics dead last in importance, dead buy these drugs. The Office of National interdiction efforts, we can once again last in its global military force policy. Drug Control Policy reported that reduce the trafficking of drugs. Let me spend a few minutes talking small ‘‘pieces’’ or rocks of crack once Let me address this issue in more de- about this major shift in policy. Let sold for $10 to $20 and are now available tail. As I said at the beginning of my me refer Members of the Senate to my for $3 to $5.

VerDate Mar 15 2010 00:38 Oct 31, 2013 Jkt 081600 PO 00000 Frm 00170 Fmt 4637 Sfmt 0634 E:\1998SENATE\S09JY8.REC S09JY8 mmaher on DSKCGSP4G1 with SOCIALSECURITY July 9, 1998 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S7875 Mr. President, what disturbs me Caribbean in the past few months. Dur- agencies to effectively complete the about this current national drug con- ing my last visit, I learned that our job that they have been assigned, and trol strategy is that this unbalanced agents in the Bahamas seized more co- the job that they so desperately want trend continues. As we can see in the caine in the first 3 months of 1998 than to do—the job to protect our borders second chart, in the late 1980s there in the previous 3 years combined. This from the importation of illegal nar- was a generally balanced distribution may sound great, it may sound like we cotics. The most effective way to stop among the three different functions— are making progress, but our agents the drug business is to find ways to demand reduction, law enforcement, there inform me that although they make it more difficult for them to en- and international interdiction efforts. would like to take tremendous credit gage in this illicit and, frankly, im- In 1987, you can see, they are fairly bal- for these seizures, their belief, their moral practice. We need to have a re- anced. Compare that to the distribu- concern, is that the higher amount newed commitment and rededication of tions for the years 1994, 1995, and then seized represents probably just a small resources toward drug interdiction. 1998. One can see that our previous bal- fraction of the total amount of drugs Mr. President, there is a clear link anced approach certainly no longer ex- coming through this area. They told between the rise in the drug use and ists. me that they think the amount of the decline of resources devoted to The red on the chart is the inter- drugs coming through is significantly interdiction. The interdiction efforts national and interdiction compo- up, and they are only getting a fraction conducted from 1985 to 1992 made a dif- nents—again, Mr. President, basically of what is coming through. ference in reducing drug use. Interdic- our entire antidrug effort from the For example, Mr. President, of the tion does drive up the price of doing source countries to the transit zones, total drug air events in the Bahamas business in drugs, and this drives up right up to the border of the United from April 1997 to April 1998, our U.S. the price and drives down the purity of States. That is what this red rep- agents told me that they believe there cocaine on the street, or any other resents. What you find is, it was basi- was only an 8 percent success rate in drug. Also, it is important to note that cally a third when we started, when we stopping drug air flights that had been seizing or destroying a ton of cocaine looked at 1987, but by the time we get detected. They are working hard and in source or transit areas is much more they are doing the best they can, but to 1995 and 1998 it is a much smaller cost effective than trying to seize the that means that over 92 percent got percentage, down to as low as 12 per- same quantity of drugs at the point of away. Without a doubt, there is a larg- cent. That is the problem. sale. No doubt, interdiction is a key er, larger flow of drugs entering the Our previous balanced approach sim- factor driving down drug use, and you United States and a larger, larger flow ply no longer exists. The strategy has do it by driving up drug prices. changed, and, sadly, so have the re- of drugs coming through this part of Mr. President, the answer to this cur- sults. This really is the untold story of the world. rent problem is clear: We need a bal- Mr. President, when I was in Key what has gone on in regard to our anti- anced antidrug approach. That means West for a short visit in May, I was drug efforts during the past few years. we have to restore source country/tran- briefed on specific interdiction efforts It is a story that I think has to be told, in the Eastern Pacific. I was surprised sit zone interdiction efforts. I believe and it is a story that I think the Sen- to find that in the Eastern Pacific the that we can in fact do this. I believe we ate, the House, and the American peo- coast is literally clear today for the can restore the strategy we had not so ple simply have to pay attention to. We drug lords to do their business. We many years ago before the current ad- have to change this trend. We need to have virtually nothing going on to stop ministration hobbled these efforts. We restore a balance, a balanced strategy. drug trafficking in this area. It is wide, need to reduce the flow of cocaine and Let me make it clear that I strongly wide open. This is simply unacceptable. heroin into the U.S., we need to drive support funding to keep with the de- The U.S. Government is not effec- up the cost of these drugs, and we need mand side of the drug situation; that tively dealing with this increasingly to reduce their availability and support is, finding a way to persuade Ameri- large threat in the eastern Pacific. We efforts to reduce demand. This will cans, particularly young people, that have virtually no presence because of a work. doing drugs is wrong, that it destroys lack of funding and commitment. I was Mr. President, I have been working lives, families, schools, and commu- briefed about an operation called Caper with colleagues both in the Senate and nities. Truly, in the end, reducing de- Focus, which would have focused on the House in developing this com- mand is the only permanent way to interdiction efforts in the area. We prehensive interdiction eradication and really overcome the threat of drugs. As would have had a number of surface as- crop substitution program. So I intend long as there is demand for drugs, sets and aircraft to patrol the waters to take the floor again soon and out- there will always be a supply. That is and to do interdiction. This operation, line how we can restore our inter- why education and treatment, both— unfortunately, was canceled—canceled national interdiction efforts and how education and treatment—remain es- before it started—because of a Depart- we can restore the balance we need to sential long-term goal components of ment of Defense decision to send the once again effectively fight the scourge our antidrug efforts. needed surface assets elsewhere. To of illegal drugs. However, reducing the demand for date, this issue has not been resolved Mr. President, Abraham Lincoln once drugs is not going to happen overnight. and the coastal waters in the Eastern said, ‘‘We cannot escape history.’’ Well, It will take many years to change Pacific are wide open—wide open—for history shows that only with a com- minds regarding the use or abuse of drug business. prehensive, balanced antidrug strategy drugs. I believe one way to reduce de- Mr. President, it is situations like can we actually reduce drug use. So it mand is to have an effective interdic- this that greatly disturb me and, I is time for our drug strategy to em- tion policy, one that will seriously re- think, should disturb all Americans. As brace history, not escape it. duce the level of drugs into this coun- a Nation, we are not doing all we can Mr. President, I will discuss this try. We must find ways to raise the to fight drugs beyond our borders. The matter in the future in more detail and costs of narcotics trafficking, making drug lords in South America are well with more specifics, as far as what I it far more difficult for drug lords to aware that the United States no longer think we need to do. But the bottom bring these drugs to our Nation and in considers interdiction an important line is that we need that balanced ap- making the drugs far more costly to facet in its drug program. It is no exag- proach. We need to get back to doing buy. geration to say that they are having a what we were doing a few years ago, It is sad to say, the drug cartels don’t field day. Although the Coast Guard when one-third of our budget was de- have a budget process or a bureaucracy and agencies can monitor drug traf- voted to interdiction, stopping drugs to slow them down. Unfortunately, the ficking operations, they stand by help- before they reached the United States. job is not getting done. As I have men- less because they lack the necessary We need to do everything—we need to tioned before, the Caribbean is becom- equipment to turn detection into sei- have drug treatment, we need to have ing more and more the transit route of zures and arrests. drug education, we need to have domes- choice for drug traffickers. I have made Mr. President, I believe it is time to tic law enforcement, and we need to two visits to the transit zone in the provide the resources essential for our work at our borders. All of these things

VerDate Mar 15 2010 00:38 Oct 31, 2013 Jkt 081600 PO 00000 Frm 00171 Fmt 4637 Sfmt 0634 E:\1998SENATE\S09JY8.REC S09JY8 mmaher on DSKCGSP4G1 with SOCIALSECURITY S7876 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE July 9, 1998 are important. But we also must do the board of the Green Bay Packers foot- He was instrumental in securing a final thing. The final thing is to stop ball team and the University of Wis- revenue-sharing agreement between the drugs at the source, in the source consin medical school. He was a found- large and small market teams, and I country, and in transit. er of athletes for youth, helped estab- am confident that he will continue f lish the child abuse prevention net- seeking ways to address this issue. work and serves on the board for busi- BUD SELIG—COMMISSIONER OF In addition to a valuable perspective, nesses against drunk driving. He is also BASEBALL Bud Selig also possesses the leadership a trustee of the Boys and Girls Club. skills and demeanor that will be nec- Mr. DODD. Mr. President, I rise From the day that he took the reigns essary to take baseball into the next today to congratulate Alan H. ‘‘Bud’’ of baseball’s executive council he has century. He’s a far cry from the iron- Selig, on his unanimous selection been faced with serious and difficult fist of Judge Kinnesaw Mountain Lan- today to serve as baseball’s ninth per- issues. He presided over the 230-day dis. Instead, Bud Selig rules by con- manent commissioner. strike that wiped out the World Series sensus, and his consensus building Alan ‘‘Bud’’ Selig is a very good for the first time in 90 years and led to skills will help him provide the unified friend of mine. a sharp drop-off in attendance and pop- leadership that will keep baseball on Admittedly today’s announcement is ularity. But eventually, he was able to the right track as it heads into the 21st somewhat anti-climactic as Bud Selig’s help secure a new collective bargaining century. tenure has already surpassed that of agreement with the players associa- On a personal note, I want to thank four of his eight predecessors as com- tion, and the game has been moving in missioner. But this is truly a special Bud Selig for his efforts to help expe- the right direction ever since. dite the move of the Yankees double-A day and a great accomplishment for a Bud Selig has implemented a number farm team to Norwich, Connecticut. deserving and wonderful American. of changes to the game that have been This ball club has played in Norwich Senator HERB KOHL of Wisconsin and overwhelmingly popular with base- for a few years now, and it has really Bud were college classmates. Most col- ball’s fans. lege classmates would consider it a As a Red Sox fan, I want to person- helped to bring that community even great success if later in life they were ally thank the commissioner for imple- closer together. They play in a beau- to share season tickets to a ballpark. menting the popular wild card system. tiful ball park, that I’m proud to say is This was a unique college roommate When I look in the sports pages today named after my father—Senator Thom- relationship in that both of them ended to check the standings, I don’t see Bos- as Dodd. The dedication of that sta- up being owners of major league fran- ton as being 11 games out of first place. dium and the playing of the first minor chises within their own city. Instead, I see them with a five game league game in Norwich was a special I must admit that I can think of few lead in the wild card race. For that, I day for me, and Bud Selig took the college rooming groups in our Nation’s and much of New England thank the time from his busy schedule to spend history who have attained such suc- new commissioner. that day with me and the people of cess. Most roommates simply aspire to He has also instigated interleague Connecticut. And for that, I am thank- one day share a set of season-tickets, play that has brought tremendous ex- ful. but for each roommate to own one of citement to cities all across America. So our deep and sincere congratula- the home town professional sports For years, the Yankees-Mets or Cubs- tions to Bud. teams must surely be unprecedented. White Sox debate took place in bar In closing, I would like to read a pas- While Bud may be an owner, he has rooms and diners, but today it’s taking sage from one of Bud Selig’s prede- always remained first and foremost, a place on the baseball diamond, where it cessors that highlights the significance fan, and that is why I think that he has should be. of the job that he has just taken. been and will continue to be a success- Thanks to Bud Selig’s leadership, A former Connecticut resident who ful commissioner. He understands the baseball fans are no longer talking served as commissioner of baseball, A. power of the game and the joy and dis- about labor programs. Instead they’re Bartlett Giamatti, who passed away, appointment that it can deliver to its talking about the quest to surpass former president of Yale University, fans. Roger Maris’s 61 home runs or Hack wrote: Bud, you have an important job Wilson’s RBI record. They’re talking ahead of you, and some large footsteps about whether or not the Yankees can I believe baseball is a beautiful and excit- ing game, loved by millions—I among them— that you must walk in. But I have break the record for most wins in a and I believe baseball an important, endur- every confidence that you will serve in season. They’re talking about the play- ing American institution. It must assert and a manner worthy of the position and off hopes of the Red Sox and the Mets. aspire to the highest principles—of integrity, its history. Congratulations. And not only are they talking about of professionalism of performance, of fair When Milwaukee joined the major baseball, but they’re also going to the play within its rules. It will come as no sur- leagues in 1953, Bud became a Braves ball park, as major league attendance prise that like any institution composed of fan and subsequently the largest public has almost completely returned to its human beings, this institution will not al- stockholder in 1963. But he saw his be- pre-strike levels. ways fulfill its highest aspirations. I know of no worldly institution that does but this one, loved Braves move to Atlanta in 1965 Today’s vote is a testament to the because it is so much a part of our history as and he then sold his stock. job that Bud had done as interim com- a people, and because it has such a penchant But in recognition of the importance missioner. When he took the post in a on our national soul, has an obligation to the of baseball to the city, Bud formed an temporary role in 1992, few people people for whom it is played to, its fans, and organization to bring baseball back to would have ever imagined that an well-wishers to strive for excellence in all Milwaukee. After several heart- owner could be approved as full-time things to promote the highest ideals. I am breaking failures Bud was successful in commissioner. But Bud Selig is a com- told that I am an idealist. I hope so. I will 1970 when a Seattle bankruptcy court missioner for the future of baseball, continue to locate ideals I hold for myself and my country in the national game as well awarded the Seattle franchise to the and he will continue doing an admi- as in others of our national institutions. investment group led by Bud Selig, and rable job tackling the problems of the the modern-day Milwaukee Brewers modern game. ‘‘Bud’’ Selig, I think, embraces those were born. Perhaps the biggest problems facing thoughts that Bartlett Giamatti ex- Bud has led the Brewers since the baseball today is the dichotomy be- pressed some years ago before his un- move to Milwaukee, and has upon his tween rich and poor teams. And few timely and early death. I am very con- selection as commissioner placed his Commissioners could be as uniquely fident that we will all be proud of his interest in a trust. His daughter Wendy well-suited to address this issue. As the tenure as commissioner of baseball. is currently serving as the president of owner of a small-market team Bud I wanted to take this moment to con- the club. Selig understands the difficulties that gratulate ‘‘Bud’’ Selig and his family Not only is Bud an asset to the game the Milwaukees and Montreals of the this evening. It is a proud night for of baseball, but he is a pillar in his world have going up against teams like them, and certainly it is a good night community. He is a member of the the Braves and the Yankees. for baseball and for America as well.

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