14648 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD—SENATE July 26, 2001 As Secretary General Annan stated, the custody of the National Park Serv- Naval personnel during not one, but the goals of the conference were to ad- ice since 1981. two, wars. dress the problems created by ‘‘unscru- The Cassin Young was constructed at It is my sincere desire that the pulous arms dealers, corrupt officials, the Bethlehem Steel Shipyards in San U.S.S. Cassin Young remain available drug trafficking syndicates, terrorists Pedro, CA, and commissioned on De- to the people of this country far into and others who bring death and may- cember 31, 1943. She was named for the future so that she and those who hem into streets, schools and towns Captain Cassin Young, a true naval served aboard her may continue to re- throughout the world.’’ hero who received the ceive the honor they so deserve. The conference’s program of action for valor during the attack on Pearl f represents an important first step by Harbor and who later lost his life dur- PRAISE ON THE 11TH ANNIVER- the international community toward ing the great naval battle off Guadal- SARY OF THE AMERICANS WITH developing an international framework canal on Friday, November 13, 1942. DISABILITIES ACT for cooperation and collaboration to From early 1944 until the end of promote better national and inter- World War II in 1946, the U.S.S. Cassin Mr. JOHNSON. Madam President, I national laws and more effective regu- Young was involved in active combat rise today in praise of the Americans lations to eliminate the illicit trade in operations. She suffered strafing off with Disabilities Act on the occasion of small arms and light weapons. the island of Formosa in 1944 and with- its 11th anniversary. The advances in In fact, the has not stood two Japanese kamikaze attacks, law, health care, education and tech- formally consented to the program for one of them causing heavy damage. De- nology promoted in this historic legis- action, so this is a step I urge the Ad- spite this damage, the U.S.S. Cassin lation over the past 11 years have given ministration to take as soon as pos- Young was repaired locally and re- Americans with disabilities a new lease sible. turned to the battle line. The ship was on life. And much more will be needed in the the last to be struck by a ka- Today, 53 million Americans live future. Many important issues that mikaze during the fight for Okinawa, a with a disability, and 1 in 8 of them is should have been addressed by the con- battle that was so destructive to the severely disabled. According to the ference were not and other issues that U.S. destroyer fleet. The U.S.S. Cassin most recent data available, there are were did not receive sufficient empha- Young lost 21 crew members and saw approximately 117,701 individuals six- sis. approximately 100 others injured in teen years or older living with a dis- I am hopeful that, looking ahead, the combat. ability in South Dakota and 57,233 who United States will be able to play a At war’s end, the U.S.S. Cassin Young have a severe disability. Yet due to the more constructive leadership role as we rested in mothballs until the Korean landmark Americans with disabilities work towards developing real and bind- War brought expansion of the U.S. fleet Act, the stereotypes against these per- ing international norms and agree- and she was recommissioned on Sep- sons are crumbling and they are able to ments on these issues. tember 7, 1951, in Long Beach, CA. Dur- lead increasingly integrated and ful- f ing her second tour of active duty, the filled lives. The Act has guaranteed U.S.S. Cassin Young operated with both that people with disabilities be able to LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT ACT the Atlantic and the Mediterranean live in the most integrated settings OF 2001 Fleets and completed a voyage around possible in their communities. The Mr. SMITH of Oregon. Madam Presi- the world to the Philippines and Korea. Americans with Disabilities Act has dent, I rise today to speak about hate She returned to the western hemi- also spurred research and improved crimes legislation I introduced with sphere via the Panama Canal and care for seniors, children and mentally Senator KENNEDY in March of this joined the Atlantic Reserve Fleet in disabled persons. In doing so, the Act year. The Local law Enforcement Act April 1960. has ensured improved quality of life for of 2001 would add new categories to In addition to her many Service Rib- people living with disabilities and has current hate crimes legislation sending bons and Battle Stars, the U.S.S. promised disabled children hope for a a signal that violence of any kind is Cassin Young received the Navy Unit successful future. The contributions of unacceptable in our society. Citation and the Philippine Presi- the Americans with Disabilities Act I would like to describe a terrible dential Unit Citation for her actions over the past 11 years are an inspira- crime that occurred August 28, 1993 in during World War II and also was given tion for what can be done to improve New York City. Two gay men were the Korean Presidential Unit Citation the lives of Americans living with dis- beaten with a golf club by three men during the Korean War. abilities, and a proponent of more outside a Greenwich Village gay bar. In 1978, the National Park Service ac- progress in the future. Noel Torres, Joseph Vasquez, and quired the U.S.S. Cassin Young and Once again, it gives me great pleas- David Santiago were charged in con- painstakingly restored her to the con- ure to recognize and honor today’s nection with the assault. figuration under which she sailed in celebration on behalf of the millions of I believe that government’s first duty the 1950s. Ceremonies commemorating disabled Americans throughout this is to defend its citizens, to defend them the second commissioning of the U.S.S. country. against the harms that come out of Cassin Young are scheduled to take f hate. The Local Law Enforcement En- place on August 18, 2001, when the ship hancement Act of 2001 is now a symbol will undertake a towed sea trial of Bos- THE VERY BAD DEBT BOXSCORE that can become substance. I believe ton Harbor. Some 500 individuals, in- Mr. HELMS. Madam President, at that by passing this legislation, we can cluding many of the original crew the close of business yesterday, change hearts and minds as well. members from both of her tours of Wednesday, July 25, 2001, the Federal f duty, will be on board the ship as it debt stood at $5,725,120,881,956.31, five tours the waters off Massachusetts’ trillion, seven hundred twenty-five bil- HONORING THE HISTORY OF THE capital city. Former crew members and lion, one hundred twenty million, eight U.S.S. CASSIN YOUNG, DD–793 friends of the ship have created the hundred eighty-one thousand, nine Mr. DURBIN. Madam President, I U.S.S. Cassin Young Association, which hundred fifty-six dollars and thirty-one rise today to call attention to an im- counts more than 400 men and women cents. portant date in the history of a valiant among its members. One year ago, July 25, 2000, the Fed- ship, the U.S. Navy Destroyer U.S.S. Through the U.S.S. Cassin Young, the eral debt stood at $5,670,718,000,000, five Cassin Young, DD–793. citizens of this country and visitors trillion, six hundred seventy billion, The ship today is moored with the from abroad have the opportunity to seven hundred eighteen million. U.S.S. Constitution in Charlestown, MA, experience firsthand an heroic vessel Five years ago, July 25, 1996, the Fed- and has been open to the public under that represents the sacrifices of our eral debt stood at $5,181,309,000,000, five

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