November 18, 2004 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S11453 President and the Governors, by agreeing to tional history, educational reform has been a ever to grace this body, TOM DASCHLE the need for national education goals and vital and characteristic part of the American of South Dakota. agreeing on a strategy for developing those impulse. We have always believed that we Unsurprisingly, I am sure I have goals, had agreed upon a framework. There can, by the force of our own imagination and known TOM longer than anyone here. I WOULD be a Federal role; education WOULD determination, improve tomorrow by im- vividly remember his first campaign be a national issue, addressed with national proving ourselves and our children. solutions. But, never has it been more important that for Congress in 1978, the same year I It meant that educational decisions would our traditional convictions give rise to delib- ran for the South Dakota House of no longer be settled solely at the local level. erate action. Representatives for the first time. We It meant that legislative deliberations at the If ignorance is the enemy of democracy, in were two young candidates, almost the State and Federal levels would become rel- an international economy, ignorance could same age, recent graduates, the same atively less important, and executive deci- well be an invitation to national decline. In year, of South Dakota colleges. While sion and vision relatively more important. 1989, it was clear and apparent that the time we were running for very different of- That’s what happens when results are re- had arrived for us to put ourselves on the fices, I felt an immediate bond with quired; when speeches, money and programs spot, That was the message I heard in Char- him at that time. are just not enough. lottesville, TOM’s first race for Congress was in This all seems like conventional wisdom Accountability and the measurement of today, but we can easily forget it was not al- student performance, we declared, must be many ways predictive of the career ways so. The 1989 Summit had a real impact, an integral part of our educational process. that would follow. He was then, and far beyond the imagining of those of us privi- Indeed, Charlottesville portended a signifi- still is, the hardest working, most fo- leged enough to have participated. It fun- cant shift in our approach to education: cused person I have ever met in any damentally changed the balance of political From here on, we said that we are going to sphere of my life. That year he power on education issues, and it national- be increasingly measured by more than the knocked on more than 40,000 doors, per- ized education policy in a way few would resources we invest. Instead, we declared sonally asking South Dakotans for have conceived just a few years earlier. that we are going to be questioned and exam- their vote. I can tell you, knocking on CONCLUSION ined on the progress our students achieve— 40,000 doors in the middle of a South or fail to achieve. When the President called for a Summit Dakota winter is a real challenge. with the Nation’s Governors to discuss edu- Frankly, I think that is how it should be— TOM looked so young he was once cation, many observers may not have known for there is too much at stake for it to be what to expect. I don’t recall any of the Gov- otherwise. mistaken as the paperboy at one of ernors believing beforehand that, while we In 1989, the President and the governors those doors—a woman asked how much agreed on the need for national goals, we joined efforts to ensure that America be- money she owed him. I have a photo I would settle the argument over Federal in- comes a Nation resolved to using education cherish to this day of TOM and me to- volvement in education, or that we would as the best means for shaping the future. The gether during that first campaign, both shift the Federal focus on education from reason we are here today is to assess our na- of us looking like we were 14 years old. one end of Pennsylvania Avenue to the tional performance since 1989. Where are the It makes you wonder how anyone voted other. benchmarks of progress? Where are the for either of us at that time. guideposts for confronting the challenges? I do recall a great deal of skepticism and I remember watching the election re- criticism from outside observers, especially Our speakers and panelists today are here Congress and the press. But I do not recall to help us make those assessments. I share turns coming in for TOM’s campaign anything but the most constructive attitude your interest in their opinions of how far we that evening and it didn’t look very being expressed by any of the principal par- have come, and I am confident that they will good, frankly. In fact, when I went to ticipants. And, by the way, this was a meet- focus our attention on the significant chal- bed that night I was almost certain he ing of principals, very few staff aides were lenges at hand. had lost. It was only when I woke up permitted much of a role at all. Today, as in 1989, we recognize that we that I found TOM was only behind by 50 It is worth noting, by the way, that the have a lot of work to do, and we should al- votes with a recount certain, and as it participants—despite all of the good will and ways keep in perspective that all of our edu- turned out, he was certified the winner convergence of thinking on the value of set- cational goals, commitments and resources ting national goals—did not settle on spe- come down to two fundamental points: officially by 14 votes out of 130,000 cific goals at the Summit. We agreed on the First, education’s role as a transmitter of votes cast. Who would have dreamed need for goals, and, in general, what those civilization’s knowledge and values must not that such a close victory in South Da- goals should address. The actual goals them- be diminished. It is part of the glue that kota would have been the beginning of selves, however, were not developed until binds together the fabric of our society. such a distinguished career? several months later. Second, education is, also, increasingly, In the intervening years, I watched But, for the first time, the President and the engine that drives the American econ- with admiration while TOM’s career ad- Governors were discussing on a national omy—our economic future depends upon our vanced in the House of Representa- level a series of important questions. Many ability to compete, but our ability to com- tives. He was a natural leader, and I do of these had long been discussed and debated pete depends upon our ability to educate. It in the States, and particularly in the South- is just that simple. not believe that many who knew him ern Regional Education Board states. These Thank you. I look forward to the rest of were surprised, in 1986, when he decided questions included, among others: the Conference. to run for the Senate, taking on the Intervention: Could we do a better job of Mr. ALEXANDER. Mr. President, I same man who, 6 years previously, de- preparing children for first grade? suggest the absence of a quorum. feated Senator George McGovern, an Dropout rates: Could we slow the tide? institution in our State. Adult literacy: Could we put a dent in it, The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. It was far from an easy race, but TOM even eliminate it? CHAMBLISS). The clerk will call the prevailed in the end, and his leaving Teacher quality: Could we motivate and in- roll. his House seat opened it for my elec- spire it? The assistant legislative clerk pro- Decentralized management: Could it tion that year as well. It was the cul- ceeded to call the roll. produce better results? mination of those two elections which And, parental choice: Could this be a work- Mr. JOHNSON. Mr. President, I ask led to an extremely close working rela- able technique or just the latest fad? unanimous consent that the order for tionship but also to a very close friend- In the end, it was a focus on such questions the quorum call be rescinded and I be that formed the basis of the goals and the ship. recognized to speak in morning busi- I have spent the last 18 years work- national education policy that we know ness. today. ing side by side with TOM DASCHLE. I I believe the Education Summit was, to The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without cannot imagine a better partner with paraphrase Winston Churchill, the ‘‘begin- objection, it is so ordered. whom to work. He is, as I mentioned ning of a new beginning’’ in education pol- f earlier, the hardest working person I icy. I believe the way we think, as a Nation, have ever known. He is also the most about the goals and objectives of education TRIBUTES TO RETIRING SENATORS patient person I have ever known, as began to change in September, 1989. well as unfailingly generous—qualities Unsurprisingly, we did not find all the an- TOM DASCHLE swers at the Summit. But we were asking that served him very well as Senate the right questions—and for the first time, Mr. JOHNSON. Mr. President, it is Democratic leader, an extremely de- we were asking them as a Nation. with great sadness that I rise to bid of- manding job. In one sense, this should not have been all ficial farewell to one of my best friends There have been fewer than 2,000 Sen- that surprising, because throughout our na- and to one of the greatest Senators ators who have served our Nation in

VerDate Aug 04 2004 04:24 Nov 19, 2004 Jkt 039060 PO 00000 Frm 00013 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A18NO6.003 S18PT1 S11454 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE November 18, 2004 this body, but there never has been one they would like to get rid of something of beef approved for processing was in- who cared as much or worked as hard called country-of-origin labeling for fected with bacterial blood infection. for his home State as TOM DASCHLE. I meats and vegetables. This is a law The problem is not limited to the can list his many and varied accom- that has been previously enacted by Mexican plants. This is one plant in plishments but I would be here for the Congress saying that consumers Mexico. Incidentally, this plant was hours and that would not serve the pur- have a right to know where their meat shut down, then reopened under an- pose of this farewell. It was the Greek and vegetables come from. So a Mem- other name, and to my knowledge has philosopher Plato who said, ‘‘The ber of the House and the Speaker of the never again been inspected. measure of a man is what he does with House and the majority leader of the Mr. President, by unanimous consent power.’’ And it is that test that so House have indicated they would like let me ask to show this piece of beef clearly shows the character and the hu- to find a way, in these waning days, from a supermarket. manity and the values of TOM DASCHLE. perhaps in the Omnibus appropriations The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. TOM never used the power that he had bill, to repeal the requirement to es- Mr. DORGAN. Mr. President, no one attained for self-aggrandizement. He tablish country-of-origin labeling for knows where this comes from. No used it to build a better South Dakota, meat and vegetables. Member of the Senate will know where and a stronger America. Country-of-origin labeling is now the this originated. Did this come from the He has always realized that our coun- law of the land. The Secretary of Agri- Mexican plant I just described? Does it try works best when people have an op- culture has been dragging her feet for come from a French plant that was portunity to live up to their own po- some long while in implementing it. also inspected and contaminated? Does tential, when our children are not While she was dragging her feet, the this come from one of those plants, or shackled by poverty and lack of edu- Congress decided to extend the time for does it come from a domestic source in cation, when our people who need a implementation, so that time was ex- this country in which inspection, we helping hand are given one, and when tended over the objection of many of know, is rigorous? Does it come from a our older Americans are able to live us. My colleagues, Senator DASCHLE, domestic source where we have farmers out the balance of their lives with dig- Senator JOHNSON, and many others and ranchers who produce the best sup- nity. The truth is, if it weren’t for TOM here in the Chamber objected to that. ply of meat available in the world? DASCHLE and his untiring work, there But, nonetheless, it was done last year Where does this piece of beef originate? are children who would not be educated in one of these omnibus bills. No one knows. Consumers deserve to and families who would not be housed If those who are making decisions know. They have a right to know. and vulnerable people who would be about what to put in omnibus bills The country-of-origin labeling re- uncared for. these days decide they want to repeal quirement passed by the Congress will TOM DASCHLE’s priorities and values the country-of-origin labeling law in an give them the opportunity to know, have been the priorities and values of omnibus bill this year, they will do a but some of our colleagues around his strong family and his devout faith. great disservice to American con- here, hailing the call of the big packing It was Jesus Christ who said: sumers. They will pull the rug out from plants and others, decide now they under farmers and ranchers in our Inasmuch as ye have done unto one of the want to try to repeal that. Maybe, just least of these, my brethren, ye have done it country. Why? Because the fact is, we once, this place can stand up on the unto Me. produce the highest quality food in the side of farmers and ranchers and con- world. And no matter what level of accom- sumers, just once, and ignore the call Consumers want to know where their plishment and power TOM DASCHLE at- of the bigger economic interests who food comes from. Almost any consumer tained, he never forgot the ‘‘least of say: Let’s not do this. We clearly in this country can take a look at his the people’’ who Christ referenced. should do this. While we will no longer have TOM or her T-shirt or their shoes, and on Labeling is important. Labeling em- DASCHLE to lead us in this body, we are the label it will say: Made in the U.S.A. powers consumers. Labeling protects both instructed and warmed by the ex- Made in China. You will find out ex- American producers who are producing ample he gave us during his 26 years in actly where it was made. We know the best quality food at the lowest dis- his congressional career. He and his where shirts come from, and we know posable income of any country in the wife Linda have made an extraordinary where shoes come from because it is all world. So my message to those who are team and will always be among the labeled. But meat is not labeled. The now sauntering around the Chambers closest of friends to my wife Barbara law requires it to be, but it is not at watching this Omnibus appropriations and me. I will never serve with a man this point. So the question is, Will this bill be put together is this: It would be I admire more than TOM DASCHLE, and law remain, and will it, in fact, be im- a very foolish mistake to believe that it is with very great sadness that I say plemented, or will it not? the Omnibus appropriations bill goodbye to his presence in this body. We had a U.S. Department of Agri- should, without any debate, carry a But more than anyone I have ever culture report about the condition of provision that would repeal something served with, or ever will serve with, he meat that has been imported into this Congress has already done that will has given glory and meaning to the country. And I would like to just show give people the right to understand term ‘‘United States Senator.’’ a couple of comments from that report. where their meat and vegetables come I yield the floor. I suggest the ab- The report was talking about condi- from, where the origination point is for sence of a quorum. tions inside a meatpacking plant in the vegetables and the meat that is The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Hermosillo, Mexico. That plant in Mex- being consumed by the American peo- clerk will call the roll. ico supplied raw beef to the American ple. The legislative clerk proceeded to consumers. It had never been inspected If, in fact, the majority party decides call the roll. and was finally inspected once. Here is to do this—as I indicated, one Member Mr. DORGAN. Mr. President, I ask what they found. They found: of the U.S. House especially is pro- unanimous consent that the order for ‘‘Shanks and briskets were contaminated posing it. It has been, it is reported, the quorum call be rescinded. with feces.’’ supported by the Speaker of the House The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. AL- A U.S. Department of Agriculture of- and the majority leader of the House. If EXANDER). Without objection, it is so ficial wrote of his tour of the plant: they move in this direction, it will be ordered. ‘‘In the refrigerator a disease-condemned a very serious mistake, in my judg- f carcass was observed ready for boning and ment. distribution in commerce . . . Paint and con- f COUNTRY-OF-ORIGIN LABELING densation from dirty surfaces were dripping FOR MEATS AND VEGETABLES on the meat.’’ INTERNATIONAL TRADE DEFICITS Mr. DORGAN. Mr. President, in re- The official found that workers were Mr. DORGAN. Mr. President, I would cent days there have been news reports literally walking on the beef that was like to, on another subject, speak for about our colleagues on the other side going to be approved for export to the just a moment about the area of inter- of the Capitol Building deciding that United States. They found that a side national trade.

VerDate Aug 04 2004 00:33 Nov 19, 2004 Jkt 039060 PO 00000 Frm 00014 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G18NO6.028 S18PT1