S11618 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE December 6, 2000 here. Now, we will increase that num- ness and the culture of this country. Senator DANIEL PATRICK MOYNIHAN ber on January 3. But the 11 colleagues Every new Senator we bring on and from New York; and friends who leave this institution every Senator who leaves has had a Senator from Virginia; are among those 1,853 individuals who part in stitching the fabric—and con- And Senator BILL ROTH from Dela- have served and are now serving. tinues to stitch the fabric—of this ware. I think it is worthy to bring some country. They have accomplished, each in note to these 11 individuals. They have At a time when we question the insti- their own way but, more importantly, been honored and recognized through- tutional structures, the procedures and together as part of this institution, a out this year, and very appropriately the processes, we must not forget that remarkable number of things in their so, individually by many Members of it is the individual that has made this careers. Many will go on and do other this body, but I wish, in the few min- country what it is. De Tocqueville things. All will stay active. All will utes I have, to maybe tie some more wrote about it in the mid-19th century. stay committed to this country. general themes together about why When he observed America and wrote What they have done, for which we these 11 men have been so important at that point the most authoritative all are grateful and for which America together to this body. document on America, he said the most is grateful, deserves immense recogni- We begin by asking the question: amazing thing about America was the tion; that is, they leave this great in- Who are these 11 bold, different, distin- magic of America. He said it was the stitution stronger and better because guished citizens? individual. It was individual commit- of their service. Therefore, they leave Well, first, they are from all parts of ment. It was freedom. That was the America stronger and better because of the country. They are of different reli- magic of America. their service. gions. They are fathers, husbands, Arnold Toynbee, who probably wrote Mr. President, thank you for allow- brothers, uncles, and grandfathers. the most definitive book on the civili- ing me some time to talk about our Scattered among these 11, of course, zation of mankind as he documented colleagues whom all of us will miss. are Republicans and Democrats, maybe the 21 civilizations of the world, wrote I reserve the remainder of my time. liberals, maybe some conservatives, that each civilization begins with a I suggest the absence of a quorum. and maybe some moderates. challenge and a response. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The As we look further, we find the vet- Surely, as we reflect on these 11 Sen- clerk will call the roll. erans—World War II veterans, ators, each of their lives is a remark- The assistant legislative clerk pro- war veterans. One among them is my able story. Each has been, as Toynbee ceeded to call the roll. friend and colleague from , wrote in his study of history, a chal- Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, I ask Senator BOB KERREY, who holds the lenge and response. That is what rep- unanimous consent that the order for Congressional . resentative government is about. But the quorum call be rescinded. We have war heroes and veterans it cannot function without the indi- The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without among these 11. We have former Gov- vidual commitment of people such as objection, it is so ordered. ernors, former attorneys general, am- these 11 distinguished Americans who f bassadors, businessmen, journalists, leave this body. lawyers, and bankers—all representing Yes, they helped chart a course for ABOLISH THE ELECTORAL the fiber of this country, all rep- this country. And, yes, they helped ful- COLLEGE resenting the different universes of this fill the destiny of this country. Yes, country that tie us together as a na- they understood exactly what Hugh Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, 5 weeks tion. Surely among the 11 is one of the Sidey said—that hopelessness is not ago, on November 1, I held a news con- preeminent public servants of our time, our heritage. They understood that as ference with my colleague from Illi- Senator MOYNIHAN from New York. well as any 11 people in the history of nois, Congressman RAY LAHOOD, on the At a time when the world peers in this country. subject of the electoral college. I al- the large window of the front room of But they did something equally re- ways preface my remarks on this issue American politics—in some cases they markable in that they inspired others. by reminding people that that was be- may be bewildered by what they are I suspect, as you go across those 11 fore the November 7 election. seeing in this country, that we can’t States represented by these 11 Sen- In 1993, I had introduced legislation seem to elect a President—it is even ators, and go into schools and talk to with Congressman GERALD KLECZKA, of more important that we spend some teachers and young men and women Wisconsin, as a Member of the House, time reflecting on these 11 individuals who watched PAT MOYNIHAN, BOB to abolish the electoral college. Con- because, as we know, this country will KERREY, FRANK LAUTENBERG, and gressman LAHOOD and I came forward produce a President. That President CONNIE MACK, they would have a story. on November 1 of this year and made will govern. That President will be ef- They would have some dynamic to the same recommendation before the fective. And the institution of the U.S. their personal lives that somehow election on November 7. So what I am Senate will be very much a part of as- would be tied back to leadership and about to say and what I am about to sisting that President in governing this the inspiration of one of these 11 Sen- propose, really, although it is going to country, which has immense con- ators. In the end, that is our highest take into account what happened in sequences for the world. obligation in public service. In the end, our last election, is motivated by a be- If there is a question about unsteadi- that is the most important thing we lief that the underlying mechanism in ness in this country or our institu- can do. America for choosing the President of tions, again we need only reference the Not just for the RECORD but because the is flawed and should 11 Senators who will be leaving this it is important that we hear the list of be changed. body because there was nothing un- these names, I would like to read the On that day, November 1, I came to steady about these 11 individuals. They list of these 11 Senators: the floor of the Senate to explain why were anchored to a Constitution that Senator SPENCE ABRAHAM from I thought the Constitution should be has been the roadmap for this great Michigan; amended to replace the electoral col- country for over 200 years, and that has Senator JOHN ASHCROFT from Mis- lege with a system to directly elect our ensured the liberties, the privileges, souri; President. One week after the press and the rights that these 11 individuals Senator RICHARD BRYAN from Ne- conference, the American people went fought for, debated over, and made vada; to the polls to express their will. It is stronger. Senator from Wash- worth pausing to realize that we are These 11 Senators brought unique ex- ington; living through an extraordinary elec- perience and perspectives. They applied Senator ROD GRAMS from ; tion, the closest by far in more than a those in their own ways and in their Senator BOB KERREY from Nebraska; century. As we await the outcome, it is own individual styles, which again has Senator FRANK LAUTENBERG from important to remember that soon our added to the richness of the culture of New Jersey; country will have a new President. I this institution and reflects the rich- Senator CONNIE MACK from Florida; am confident that our great Nation December 6, 2000 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S11619 will successfully navigate the difficul- time—appointed by the States, who closer to the voters, and if the voters ties of this historic election. I am con- would gather to select a President made a mistake, in 24 months they cerned, however, at the loss of con- based primarily on their individual could correct it. But when it came to fidence of the American voters in the judgments. It was a compromise be- the election of Senators in the original system we know as the electoral col- tween election of the President by Con- Constitution, those Founding Fathers lege. gress and election by popular vote. Cer- committed to democracy did not trust If we do nothing else over the next tainly, it is understandable that a democracy. They said: We will let year, let’s commit to improve and re- young nation, forged in revolution and State legislatures choose those who form the way we elect leaders in Amer- experimenting with a new form of gov- will serve in the Senate. That was the ica. There are three critical areas of ernment, would choose a less risky case in America until 1913. With the election system reform that I think we method for selecting a President. 17th amendment, we provided for the should address. The first is campaign Clearly, most of the original reasons direct election of Senators. So now we financing. I certainly support the for creating the electoral college have directly elect Senators and Congress- McCain-Feingold bipartisan approach long since disappeared, and after 200 men, but we still cling to this age-old to cleaning up the way we pay for cam- years of experience with democracy, electoral college as an indirect way of paigns. The second is the mechanisms the rationale for replacing it with a di- electing Presidents of the United of the voting process. My colleagues, rect popular vote is clear and compel- States. The single greatest benefit of Senator SCHUMER of New York and ling. adopting the 17th amendment and pro- Senator BROWNBACK of Kansas, have First, the electoral college is un- viding for the direct election of Sen- suggested we put some money on the democratic and unfair. It distorts the ators was that voters felt more in- table for States and localities that election process, with some votes by vested in the Senate as an institution want to put in more efficient and more design having more weight than others. and therefore able to have more faith accurate voting machinery. I think Imagine for a moment if you were told in it. that is a good idea. And, of course, the as follows: We want you to vote for In my State, in that early debate third is changing the electoral college. President. We are going to give you one about the 17th amendment, there was a Today I will discuss replacing that sys- vote in selection of the President, but Senator who was accused of bribing tem with a direct popular vote for a neighbor of yours is going to have members of the State legislature to be President. three votes in selecting the President. elected to the Senate. There were two For those who want to defend the You would say that is not American, different hearings on Capitol Hill. The current electoral college system, I that is fundamentally unfair. We live first exonerated him. The second found want to ask, What are the philo- in a nation that is one person—one cit- evidence that bribery did take place. sophical underpinnings that lie at its izen, one vote. That was part of the impetus behind foundation? I submit there are none. But that is exactly what the elec- this reform movement in the direct Instead, the electoral college was a toral college does. When you look at election of Senators. contrived institution, created to appeal the States, Wyoming has a population Second, while it appears smaller and to a majority of the delegates to the of roughly 480,000 people. In the State more rural States have an advantage in Constitutional Convention in 1787, who of Wyoming, they have three electoral the electoral college, the reality of were divided by the issue of Federal votes. So that means that roughly they modern Presidential campaigns is that versus State powers, big State versus have 1 vote for President for every these States are generally ignored. small State rivalries, the balance of 160,000 people who live in the State of One of my colleagues on the floor power between branches of Govern- Wyoming—1 vote for President, 160,000 said: I will fight you, DURBIN, on this ment, and slavery. people. My home State of Illinois: 12 idea of abolishing the electoral college. James Madison was opposed to any million people and specifically 22 elec- I come from a little State, and if you system of electing the President that toral votes. That means it takes 550,000 go to a popular vote to elect a Presi- did not maintain the South’s represen- voters in Illinois to vote and cast 1 dent, Presidential candidates will pay tational formula gained in an earlier electoral vote for President. Com- no attention to my little State. compromise that counted three-fifths paring the voters in Wyoming] to the I have news for my colleagues. You of the African American population to- voters in Illinois, there are three times did not see Governor Bush or Vice ward their State totals. A direct pop- as many people voting in Illinois to President GORE spending much time ular election of the Chief Executive have 1 vote for President as in the campaigning in Rhode Island or Idaho. would have diluted the influence of the State of Wyoming. In fact, 14 States were never visited by South and diluted the votes based on On the other hand, the philosophical either candidate during the campaign, the slave population. underpinning of a direct popular elec- while 38 States received 10 or fewer vis- Many delegates opposed a direct pop- tion system is so clear and compelling its. The more populous contested ular election on the grounds that vot- it hardly needs mentioning. We use di- States with their large electoral prizes, ers would not have sufficient knowl- rect elections to choose Senators, Gov- such as Florida, Pennsylvania, Ohio, edge of the candidates to make an in- ernors, Congressmen, and mayors, but and Wisconsin, really have the true ad- formed choice. Roger Sherman, dele- we do not use it to elect a President. vantage whether we have a direct elec- gate from , said during the One-person, one-vote, and majority tion or whether we have it by the elec- Convention: I stand opposed to the rule are supposedly basic tenets of a toral college. election by the people. The people want democracy. Third, the electoral college system for information and are constantly lia- I am reminded of the debate that sur- totally discounts the votes of those ble to be misled. rounded the 17th amendment which supporting the losing candidate in Given the slowness of travel and provides for the direct election of Sen- their State. In the 2000 Presidential communication of that day, coupled ators. It is interesting. When our race, 36 States were never really in with the low level of literacy, the dele- Founding Fathers wrote the Constitu- doubt. The average percentage dif- gates feared that national candidates tion, they said the people of the United ference of the popular vote between the would be rare and that favorite sons States could choose and fill basically candidates in those States was more would dominate the political land- three Federal offices: The U.S. House of than 20 percent. The current system scape. James Madison predicted that Representatives, the U.S. Senate, and not only discounts losing votes; it es- the House of Representatives would the President and Vice President. But sentially adds the full weight and value end up choosing the President 19 times only in the case of the U.S. House of of those votes to the candidate those out of 20. Representatives did they allow the voters oppose. Also, this system was created before American people to directly elect that If you were on the losing side in a the era of national political parties. Federal officer with an election every State such as Illinois, which went for The delegates intended the electoral 24 months. , if you cast your vote for college to consist of a group of wise I suppose their theory at the time George Bush, your vote is not counted. men—and they were all men at that was those running for Congress lived It is a winner-take-all situation. All 22 S11620 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE December 6, 2000 electoral votes in the State of Illinois ceives a majority of electoral votes. ing that goal. As the world’s first and went to AL GORE, as the votes in other That happened in 1801 and 1825. greatest democracy, it is time to fully States, such as Texas, went exclusively The electoral system allows Congress trust the people of America and allow to George Bush. to dispute the legitimacy of electors. them the right to choose a President. Fourth, the winner-take-all rules This occurred several times just after We would like to say, when this is all greatly increase the risk that minor the Civil War and once in 1969. over, that the American people have third party candidates will determine In 1836, the Whig Party ran different spoken and chosen their President. The who is elected President. In the elec- Presidential candidates in different re- fact is that is not the case. With the toral college system, the importance of gions of the country. Their plan was to electoral college, the American people a small number of votes in a few key capitalize on the local popularity of do not make the choice. The choice is States is greatly magnified. In a num- the various candidates and then to pool made indirectly, by electing electors in ber of U.S. Presidential elections, third the Whig electors to vote for a single each State, on a winner-take-all basis. party candidates have affected a few Whig candidate or to throw the elec- I leave you with a quote from Rep- key State races and determined the tion to Congress. resentative George Norris of Nebraska, overall winner. In this century, electors in seven who said the following during the de- We can remember that elections have cast ballots for can- bate in 1911 in support of the direct may have cost President Bush his re- didates contrary to their State vote. election of U.S. Senators. I quote: election in 1992, and Ralph Nader may Presidents have received fewer popular It is upon the citizens that we depend for have cost AL GORE the 2000 election. In votes than their main opponent in 3 of stability as a government. It is upon the pa- fact, in 1 out of every 4 Presidential the 44 elections since 1824. triotic, common, industrious people of our elections since 1824, the winner was one In the 2000 election, I ask why the in- country that our Government must always State away from becoming the loser tense spotlight on Florida? The answer lean in time of danger and distress. To this is simple: That is where the deciding class of people then, we should give the right based on the electoral college vote to control by direct election the selection of count. electoral votes are. More disturbing is our public officials and to permit each cit- This is a chart which basically goes the fact that anyone following the elec- izen who is part of the sinew and backbone of through the U.S. Presidential elections tion knew that Florida was the our Government in time of danger to exer- since 1824 and talks about those situa- tightest race of those States with large cise his influence by direct vote in time of tions where we had a minority Presi- electoral prizes. Those wishing to ma- peace. dent, which we did with John Adams in nipulate the election had a very clear Mr. President, I will be introducing 1824, with Rutherford B. Hayes in 1876, target. this proposal to abolish the electoral and Benjamin Harrison in 1888. These In contrast, under a direct popular college and to establish the direct elec- Presidential candidates lost the pop- vote system, there is no equivalent tion of a President as part of our agen- ular vote but won the election, which pressure point. Any scheme attempting da in the next Congress. I sincerely is rare in American history. It may to change several hundred thousand hope it will be debated and considered. happen this time. We do not know the votes necessary to turn even the clos- This time is the right time for us to outcome yet as I speak on the floor est Presidential election is difficult to take the time and look at the way we today. imagine in a country as vast and popu- choose the President of the United In so many other times, though, we lous as the United States. Similarly, as States. It will not change the outcome had very close elections where, in fact, I previously mentioned, recounts will of what happened on November 7 in the the electoral vote was not close at all. be much more rare under a direct pop- year 2000. But if history is our guide, I Take the extremely close race in 1960 ular vote system given the size of the hope we will learn from this past expe- to which many of us point: John Ken- electorate. rience and make our election machin- nedy, 49.7 percent of the vote; Richard Some people have said to me: DUR- ery more democratic and more respon- Nixon, 49.5 percent. Look at the elec- BIN, if you have a direct popular vote— sive. toral college breakdown: 56 percent here we had GORE winning the vote this Part of my proposal will also include going to John Kennedy; 40 percent to time by 250,000 votes—wouldn’t you the requirement that anyone to be Richard Nixon. The electoral college have contests all across the Nation to elected President has to win 40 percent did not reflect the feelings of America try to make up that difference? Look of the popular vote. Failing that, the when it came to that race. what happened in Florida. The original top two candidates would face a runoff The same thing can be said when we Bush margin was about 1,700 votes. It is election. I think it is reasonable to look at the race in 1976. Jimmy Carter now down to 500 votes after 4 weeks of suggest that leading this country re- won with 50.1 percent of the vote over recount efforts and efforts in court, not quires at least the approval of 40 per- Gerald Ford with 48 percent of the a very substantial change in a State cent of the popular vote. That is why it vote. Jimmy Carter ended up with 55 with 6 million votes. So to change would be included. percent of the electoral college and 250,000 votes nationwide if we go to a I hope my colleagues in the Senate, Gerald Ford with 44 percent. Again, the popular vote would, of course, be a even those from the smaller States, electoral college did not reflect that daunting challenge. will pause and take a look at this pro- reality. Throughout American history, there posal. In comparison, under a direct popular has been an inexorable march toward I hope, before I yield the floor to my vote system where over 100 million one citizen, one vote. As the Thirteen colleague from Minnesota, to make one votes are cast, third party candidates Colonies were debating if and how to other comment. There is a lot of talk generally would have a much more dif- join a more perfect Union, only a privi- about how this contest is going to end ficult time playing the spoiler. For in- leged few—those with the right skin when it comes to this last election and stance, there have only been two elec- color, the right gender, and the right the impact it will have on the Presi- tions since 1824 where the popular vote financial status—enjoyed the right to dency. has been close enough to even consider cast votes to select their leaders. The I continue to believe that the Amer- a recount. Those were 1880 and 1960. In people even gained the right to choose ican people want a strong President. today’s Presidential elections, a dif- their Senators by popular vote with They want a strong leader in the White ference of even one-tenth of 1 percent the ratification of the 17th amendment House. They want our President to suc- represents 100,000 votes. in 1913. ceed. Whoever is finally declared the Fifth, the electoral college is clearly As one barrier after another has fall- winner in the November 7, 2000, elec- a more risky system than a direct pop- en, we are one step away from a system tion, that person, I believe, deserves ular vote, providing ample opportunity that treats all Americans equally, the support not only of the American for manipulation, mischief, and litiga- where a ballot cast for President in Il- people but clearly of Congress, too. We tion. linois or Utah or Rhode Island has the have to rally behind our next President The electoral college provides that same weight as one cast in Oregon or in support of those decisions which the House of Representatives choose Florida. The electoral college is the really do chart the course for America. the President when no candidate re- last barrier preventing us from achiev- I think that force, coupled with the December 6, 2000 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S11621 Senate equally divided 50–50, is going In 1997, we passed the Balanced Budg- with people. We all go back to our to be a positive force in bringing this et Act with much acclaim. To be very States. We should. We meet with peo- Nation back together after this session bipartisan about this, President Clin- ple in communities. We want to do well of Congress comes to a close. ton was very much for it. I think many for people. Mr. President, I yield the floor to my Democrats and Republicans voted for I said: Listen, I think this is going to colleague from Minnesota, Senator it. But what has happened is—with the really help. To the best of my ability, WELLSTONE. benefit of some time for observation I talked about what this package was. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- and, hopefully, reflection—the cuts in But as it turns out, it, at best, I think, ator from Minnesota. Medicare have been draconian and have dealt with about 10 percent of the cuts, Mr. WELLSTONE. I thank my col- had a very harsh effect on health care, somewhere in that neighborhood. league from Illinois. the quality of health care in our We should not leave here—I want to f States, for Minnesota, Rhode Island, go home, believe me. I want to go and all across the country. home. I would love to be back home. I VICTIMS OF GUN VIOLENCE It does not do any good to look back would love not to be here right now, al- Mr. WELLSTONE. Mr. President, I and affix blame. The point is, last year though I am always happy to be in the submit for the RECORD the names of we said we were going to fix this prob- Senate. It is an honor. But you know those Americans who exactly 1 year lem. I think Senators—Democrats and what I am saying. ago were killed by gunfire. Republicans alike—have heard from Mr. President, I ask unanimous con- It has been more than a year since people back in their States. sent that I have 2 more minutes. the Columbine tragedy, but still this In my State of Minnesota, here is the The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without Republican Congress refuses to act on effect of this. First of all, in our rural objection, it is so ordered. sensible gun legislation. communities, in what we call greater Mr. WELLSTONE. If we just put ev- Since Columbine, thousands of Amer- Minnesota outside the metro area, in erything off and have a continuing res- icans have been killed by gunfire. Until the absence of getting some decent olution until next year and we do not we act, Democrats in the Senate will Medicare reimbursement, where you fix this problem, it will be irrespon- read the names of some of those who have a disproportionate number of el- sible. have lost their lives to gun violence in derly people living who are dependent There is one proposal—that tends to the past year, and we will continue to on health care, the cost of providing be the Republican proposal, as I under- do so every day that the Senate is in that health care runs ahead of the re- stand it—that gives a lot more of the session. imbursement. The hospitals are losing money over the next 5 years to man- In the name of those who died, we money. aged care plans without any require- will continue this fight. Following are Here is the problem. This is not the ment that they be accountable and the names of some of the people who case of greedy hospitals or greedy doc- that they serve senior citizens and were killed by gunfire one year ago tors. As a matter of fact, they have a serve people who live in rural commu- today: very low profit margin. In fact, many nities, which they do not do now. Too December 6, 1999: Shyheem Abraham, hospitals have gone under over the last many managed care plans have cut 17, Philadelphia, PA; Godofredo several years. When the hospital is no loose people they are supposed to be Carmenate, 70, Miami-Dade County, longer there, that is the beginning of helping, and that is not the answer. FL; Mike D’Alessandro, 32, Philadel- the death of a community because peo- We have a package—I believe it is a phia, PA; John Davis, 18, Gary, IN; ple do not raise their children in com- Democratic package; it can be Demo- Norman Dotson, 33, Detroit, MI; Bernie munities unless there are good schools cratic, Republican, anybody’s package Graham, 29, Fort Worth, TX; Latnaia and good hospitals and good health for all I care; I just want to get it Jefferies, 27, Gary, IN; James Jones III, care. done—which is $40 billion over the next 24, Baltimore, MD; Lorraine Lawhorn, So we are in a real crisis, which 5 years, which does put the emphasis 45, Knoxville, TN; Tavares Lavor should be spelled in capital letters, in on getting the resources back to our McNeil, 22, Baltimore, MD; Emmett the State of Minnesota, where many of rural health care providers and home Outlaw, 76, Memphis, TN; Chester Ros- our rural health care providers will go health care providers and nursing coe, 28, Rochester, NY; Tavrise Tate, under unless we fix this problem, which homes and public hospitals and med- 20, Chicago, IL; and Antonio Thomp- is a problem we created. The same ical education, all of which is essential son, 21, Charlotte, NC. thing can be said for nursing homes, to whether or not we are going to be One of the victims of gun violence I where there is inadequate reimburse- able to provide people with humane, mentioned, 45-year-old Lorraine ment. The same thing can be said for dignified, and quality health care. Lawhorn of Knoxville, was shot and home health care providers. The same This is an important family issue. killed by one of her coworkers who re- thing can be said for medical edu- This is an important people issue. This cently had been fired. The gunman shot cation, which is financed, believe it or is an important Minnesota issue. This Lorraine in the back of the head. not, in part out of Medicare. The cuts is an important national security We cannot sit back and allow such in the reimbursement have led to a issue. We ought to get the job done be- senseless gun violence to continue. The very serious situation in all of our fore we leave. deaths of these people are a reminder States—certainly in Minnesota. Mr. President, it is my understanding to all of us that we need to enact sen- Then there are those hospitals—Hen- that we now have concluded with sible gun legislation now. nepin County Medical Center is a per- morning business. Mr. President, am I correct that we fect example; it is a very good public The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. have 5 minutes left in morning busi- hospital; there are not a lot of them HUTCHINSON). The Senator’s time has ness, and then we will be going to the left—that, in fact, provide medical care expired. bankruptcy bill? to a disproportionate number of poor f The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- people in America. These hospitals are ator is correct. really having a difficult time making CONCLUSION OF MORNING f it. They are not going to continue to be BUSINESS financially solvent because we have so The PRESIDING OFFICER. Morning HEALTH CARE cut the reimbursement that they do business is closed. Mr. WELLSTONE. Mr. President, I not have the financial stability. f will speak on the bankruptcy bill in a We never should have done this, but moment. But in the time I have in we did. BANKRUPTCY REFORM ACT OF morning business, I will speak on an- Then last year, we passed a piece of 2000—CONFERENCE REPORT—Re- other matter. I do not have any statis- legislation. I feel kind of guilty about sumed tics with me, but maybe that is better; this. I didn’t think it 100-percent fixed The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under I can talk about it in more personal or the problem, but I thought it did more the previous order, the Senate will now human terms. than it did. So I went back to meet resume consideration of the conference