Congressional Record United States Th of America PROCEEDINGS and DEBATES of the 105 CONGRESS, SECOND SESSION
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E PL UR UM IB N U U S Congressional Record United States th of America PROCEEDINGS AND DEBATES OF THE 105 CONGRESS, SECOND SESSION Vol. 144 WASHINGTON, FRIDAY, MAY 22, 1998 No. 67 Senate The Senate met at 9:30 a.m. and was It is possible that some time may be Mr. INHOFE. Could we extend that called to order by the President pro yielded back on the sanctions bill, and unanimous consent to give me 10 min- tempore [Mr. THURMOND]. therefore votes could occur before utes after the Senator from Minnesota? noon. The Senate will also consider the The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there PRAYER ISTEA conference report when it be- an objection to the time requests? The Chaplain, Dr. Lloyd John comes available. Therefore, votes could Without objection, it is so ordered. Ogilvie, offered the following prayer: occur throughout Friday’s session, in Mr. COVERDELL. I yield 3 minutes Gracious God, our Father who has an effort to conclude several important of my time to the Senator from Or- given us life, bless us this day as we ac- items prior to the Memorial Day re- egon. cept the privilege of work. Thank You cess. Mr. SMITH of Oregon. Mr. President, that the work You have given the Sen- Mr. President, it is my under- and my colleagues who have allowed ators and those who work with and for standing, in conference with the other me to speak, I thank you for your cour- them is crucial for the future of our side, that they are comfortable with al- tesy. Nation. lowing two of our 10-minute sessions to As this intense and busy week comes occur back to back and to then go to f to a close, we express our gratitude for the other side—and I will begin that, each Senator’s staff, the officers of the but before I do, for just a couple of TRAGEDY IN OREGON Senate and their staffs, the reporters of minutes the Senator from Oregon will debates, the media, the pages, the po- speak to express his grief over cir- Mr. SMITH of Oregon. Mr. President, lice guards and Secret Service, the ele- cumstances in his State. I rise today with a very heavy heart. vator operators, the food service per- Mr. WELLSTONE. Might I interrupt Yesterday, Senator WYDEN, my col- sonnel, the landscape and maintenance my colleague for a second. I know we league from across the aisle, and I were people, and so many others who work will hear from the Senator from Or- confronted with news of a tragedy in so faithfully on hundreds of important egon to speak about the tragedy in Or- our State that was, frankly, in my tasks. May we take no one for granted egon, and I think his remarks are per- mind, quite unimaginable. and communicate our esteem and affir- haps the most important remarks of The Willamette Valley of Oregon is mation to everyone who works around the day. perhaps one of the most beautiful us. Might I ask, since we have some places in the world. It is surrounded by Today, we especially thank You for order, after the Senator from Oregon mountains with snowcaps and clear Stuart Balderson, Financial Clerk of speaks, then two Republicans will streams running through it. It is filled the U.S. Senate, who has recently re- speak? with farmers and loggers, college pro- tired after faithfully serving this body The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. fessors and students, people working in for 38 years. Bless Stuart and his wife, ALLARD). Correct. State government. It is truly an Eden Marie. May their retirement years con- f on Earth. But yesterday, a most mindless and tinue to be joyful and purposeful. ORDER OF PROCEDURE Through our Lord and Savior. Amen. senseless act was committed that Mr. WELLSTONE. Could I ask unani- leaves me, frankly, speechless. A young f mous consent to have 10 minutes in the man, obviously very troubled, on the RECOGNITION OF THE ACTING sequence after Senator DORGAN? way to school killed his parents and MAJORITY LEADER The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- then took three weapons into his The PRESIDENT pro tempore. The ator is asking there be two 10-minute school cafeteria at Thurston High able acting majority leader is recog- segments? School in Springfield, where he opened nized. Mr. WELLSTONE. I would like to up and killed 1 student and injured f speak after Senator DORGAN for 10 min- nearly 30 others. This occurred before a utes. wounded student tackled him and held SCHEDULE Mr. ENZI. Could I request permission him to the ground. Mr. COVERDELL. Mr. President, for before that happens to drop in a bill on I don’t have words to express the out- the information of all Senators, this behalf of myself and Senator BINGA- rage I feel or the heartache that I feel morning the Senate will begin 1 hour of MAN? for the families, for the victims, for morning business. At 10:30 a.m., the The PRESIDING OFFICER. Does the this community, for my State, for my Senate will begin the Iran sanctions Senator concur with that? country, at this outrageous and des- bill under a time agreement of 3 hours. Mr. WELLSTONE. Yes. picable act. ∑ This ‘‘bullet’’ symbol identifies statements or insertions which are not spoken by a Member of the Senate on the floor. S5359 . VerDate Mar 15 2010 03:24 Oct 31, 2013 Jkt 081600 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\1998SENATE\S22MY8.REC S22MY8 mmaher on DSKCGSP4G1 with SOCIALSECURITY S5360 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE May 22, 1998 Yesterday, Senator WYDEN and I were It is about taking every possible step ference report on H.R. 2400, the ISTEA asked to be on program after program, in the schools, in the family, through reauthorization legislation. I regret and we declined, because it was not a the education and health programs and that I am unable to be here to vote on day for pontificating about policy or through law enforcement programs, to this important piece of legislation, but political posturing. It was a day for protect our citizens and to reach out to I must depart momentarily to speak to grief and mourning. I reach out to my those young people in trouble. That the 25th Anniversary Reunion of Viet- State. I cannot be there physically, but way we have a chance to restore safety nam-Era Prisoners of War in Dallas, my heart is with you and I am in agony in our communities and peace of mind Texas. with you. It becomes all of us here and for parents who, right now across this If I were able to record my vote, how- in any place in government not to pick country, because of Springfield and the ever, I would vote against this con- a single issue and say that is why, but previous tragedies, are going to get up ference agreement. This legislation is to look at the strings that run from in the morning saying to themselves: likely the most pork-laden legislation Springfield to Jonesboro or in any What is going to happen at my child’s ever to be considered by Congress in other community in this State and to school today? We cannot have that. No the 20th Century. This conference re- find out what is happening with the Member of the Senate can abide by port should be defeated, despite the in- youth of America whereby they solve that. And that, to me, is our central clusion of many important and com- their problems by resorting to this challenge today. mendable provisions. I cannot support this conference re- kind of violence. Oregonians have come together in port despite the fact that it does in- We must have the courage to face all the last 24 hours to do what we always clude significant motor carrier, high- of the possibilities. It isn’t just the do best, and that is to help friends and way and boating safety initiatives de- school. It isn’t just the gun. It isn’t neighbors in a time of great need. We veloped by the Committee on Com- just the family. It isn’t any of these have seen an extraordinary outpouring merce, Science, and Transportation. things in isolation, but it is all of them of concern in Springfield towards fami- The Commerce Committee conferees, together. lies. It is not possible to find any real Senator HOLLINGS, Senator STEVENS, I, for one, reach across to my col- comfort at a time like this, but if you and I, worked diligently and respon- league from Oregon, Senator WYDEN, can feel hopeful—we have got to get up sibly to ensure that effective truck and every other member of the Oregon every morning working to make this a safety inspection and enforcement ac- delegation in this Congress, and to our better world and a safer world—we can tivities are continued, that safety ini- Governor, and to school officials and to take some comfort in knowing that tiatives on motor vehicle occupant pro- parents in Oregon and across this coun- communities like Springfield do work. tection are created, and that rec- try and say, let’s figure it out and let’s They are getting up this morning and reational boating activities are ad- try to prevent it from occurring again. saying that they are going to try to vanced. This does not belong in America. The reach out to everybody in that commu- The Committee on Commerce, answers start with us.