Congressional Record—Senate S4951
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
May 6, 2004 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S4951 for, children with disabilities or special The legislative clerk read the nomi- litical legitimacy of the interim Iraqi health care needs; nation of John D. Negroponte, of New government, and take the American ‘‘(C) identify successful health delivery York, to be Ambassador Extraordinary face off of the occupation of Iraq. The models for such children; and Plenipotentiary of the United appointment of an ambassador who oc- ‘‘(D) develop with representatives of health cupies such a high and visible post un- care providers, managed care organizations, States of America to Iraq. health care purchasers, and appropriate The PRESIDING OFFICER. There is derscores for our coalition partners and State agencies a model for collaboration be- 51⁄2 hours equally divided. Who yields the Iraqis that the American commit- tween families of such children and health time? ment to Iraq is strong and we mean to professionals; The Senator from Indiana. succeed. ‘‘(E) provide training and guidance regard- Mr. LUGAR. Mr. President, I direct a In April, the Foreign Relations Com- ing caring for such children; parliamentary inquiry to the Chair. mittee held three hearings to examine ‘‘(F) conduct outreach activities to the Would the Chair describe at the outset whether American and Iraqi authori- families of such children, health profes- of this debate the unanimous consent ties are ready for the transition to sionals, schools, and other appropriate enti- agreement and the allocation of 51⁄2 Iraqi sovereignty on June 30. These ties and individuals; and hearings greatly advanced our under- ‘‘(G) are staffed by families of children hours of time? with disabilities or special health care needs The PRESIDING OFFICER. The 51⁄2 standing of the situation in Iraq and who have expertise in Federal and State pub- hours for debate is equally divided be- answered many questions. We will hold lic and private health care systems and tween the chairman and the ranking additional hearings this month to mon- health professionals. member of the committee. itor developments and to illuminate ‘‘(3) The Secretary shall develop family-to- Mr. LUGAR. Mr. President, I yield for the American people the challenges family health information centers described myself as much time as I require. and responsibility we face in Iraq. in paragraph (2) in accordance with the fol- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- The President and other leaders, in- lowing: ator is recognized. cluding Members of Congress, must ‘‘(A) With respect to fiscal year 2006, such communicate with the American peo- centers shall be developed in not less than 25 Mr. LUGAR. Mr. President, today the States. Senate considers the nomination of ple about our plan in Iraq. American ‘‘(B) With respect to fiscal year 2007, such Ambassador John Negroponte to be lives will continue to be at risk in Iraq, centers shall be developed in not less than 40 U.S. Ambassador to Iraq. This position and substantial American resources States. will clearly be one of the most con- will continue to be spent there for the ‘‘(C) With respect to fiscal year 2008, such sequential ambassadorships in Amer- foreseeable future. I am convinced that centers shall be developed in all States. ican history. The Ambassador to Iraq the confidence and commitment dem- ‘‘(4) The provisions of this title that are onstrated by the pronouncement of a applicable to the funds made available to the not only will be called upon to lead an estimated 1,700 embassy personnel— flexible but detailed plan for Iraq is Secretary under section 502(a)(1) apply in the necessary for our success, and such a same manner to funds made available to the 1,000 Americans from as many as 15 dif- Secretary under paragraph (1)(A). ferent agencies of our Federal Govern- plan would prove to our allies and to ‘‘(5) For purposes of this subsection, the ment, and 700 Iraqis—but he will also Iraqis that we have a strategy and we term ‘State’ means each of the 50 States and be the focal point of international ef- are committed to making it work. If the District of Columbia.’’. forts to secure and reconstruct Iraq we cannot provide this clarity, we risk SEC. 5. RESTORATION OF MEDICAID ELIGIBILITY and to provide the developing Iraqi the loss of support of the American FOR CERTAIN SSI BENEFICIARIES. government with the opportunity to people, the loss of potential contribu- (a) IN GENERAL.—Section tions from our allies, and the disillu- 1902(a)(10)(A)(i)(II) (42 U.S.C. achieve responsible nationhood. American credibility in the world, sionment of Iraqis. 1396a(a)(10)(A)(i)(II)) is amended— During Foreign Relations Committee (1) by inserting ‘‘(aa)’’ after ‘‘(II)’’; progress in the war on terrorism, rela- hearings, I posed six detailed questions (2) by striking ‘‘) and’’ and inserting tionships with our allies, and the fu- as a way of fleshing out a plan for Iraq. ‘‘and’’; ture of the Middle East depend on a Answers to these questions would con- (3) by striking ‘‘section or who are’’ and in- positive outcome in Iraq. What happens stitute a coherent transition strategy. serting ‘‘section), (bb) who are’’; and there during the next 18 months almost (4) by inserting before the comma at the We discussed issues surrounding Am- end the following: ‘‘, or (cc) who are under 21 certainly will determine whether we bassador Brahimi’s efforts, the status years of age and with respect to whom sup- can begin to redirect the Middle East of American Armed Forces in Iraq after plemental security income benefits would be toward a more productive and peaceful the transition, the role of the U.N. Se- paid under title XVI if subparagraphs (A) and future beyond the grip of terrorist in- curity Council resolutions, plans for (B) of section 1611(c)(7) were applied without fluences. Helping the Iraqi people elections, the composition of the U.S. regard to the phrase ‘the first day of the achieve a secure, independent state is a month following’ ’’. Embassy, efforts to provide security vital United States national security for its personnel, and how we intend to (b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments priority that requires the highest level made by subsection (a) shall apply to med- pay for the continued U.S. involvement ical assistance for items and services fur- of national commitment. With so much in Iraq. nished on or after January 1, 2006. at stake, I am pleased the President Under Secretary of State Mark The committee amendment in the has nominated a veteran diplomat and Grossman testified about the reporting nature of a substitute, as amended, was manager to lead the American presence of engaging the interim Iraq govern- agreed to. in Iraq. ment as soon as it is selected. We can- The bill was ordered to be engrossed Ambassador John Negroponte has not simply turn on the lights in the for a third reading, was read the third served as U.S. Ambassador to Hon- Embassy on June 30 and expect every- time and passed. duras, to Mexico, and to the Phil- thing to go well. We must be rehears- ippines. He has also served as an As- f ing with Iraqi authorities and our coa- sistant Secretary of State and Deputy lition partners on how decisionmaking EXECUTIVE SESSION Assistant for National Security Affairs and administrative power will be dis- under President Ronald Reagan. He has tributed and exercised. been the U.S. Ambassador to the It is critical, therefore, that Ambas- NOMINATION OF JOHN D. United Nations since September 18, sador Negroponte and his team be in NEGROPONTE, OF NEW YORK, TO 2001, 7 days after the September 11 at- place at the earliest possible moment. BE AMBASSADOR EXTRAOR- tacks. The contacts and credibility he For this reason, the Foreign Relations DINARY AND PLENIPOTENTIARY has developed at the United Nations Committee made a bipartisan decision OF THE UNITED STATES OF will be invaluable. to take up Ambassador Negroponte’s AMERICA TO IRAQ If we are to be successful in Iraq, the nomination in an expedited fashion. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under United Nations and the international Processing the diplomatic nomination the previous order, the Senate will pro- community must play a more central often requires weeks and sometimes ceed to executive session to consider role. The United Nations’ involvement months from the time the President the following nomination, which the can help us generate greater inter- announces it. Through the diligent ef- clerk will report. national participation, improve the po- forts of the State Department and our VerDate Mar 15 2010 21:43 Jan 29, 2014 Jkt 081600 PO 00000 Frm 00021 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\2004SENATE\S06MY4.REC S06MY4 mmaher on DSKCGSP4G1 with SOCIALSECURITY S4952 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE May 6, 2004 own committee staff on both sides of Ambassador Negroponte returned, in In our hearing, we also raised with the aisle, we accelerated the normal fact, from our public hearing before the Ambassador Negroponte the prob- timetable to give Ambassador Foreign Relations Committee to the ability of a U.N. Security Council reso- Negroponte and the administration a U.N. to consult with Ambassador lution that brings some certainty to chance to stand up the U.S. Embassy in Brahimi who was, in fact, making a these arrangements I have been de- Iraq as soon as possible. presentation before the Security Coun- scribing and does so at least in as time- I thank Senator JOE BIDEN and all cil that very afternoon. ly a way as possible. Clearly, Ambas- the members of the Foreign Relations Ambassador Brahimi is now in Iraq. sador Negroponte’s current duties—he Committee for their help in moving He is, once again, proceeding through has worked with colleagues on the Se- this nomination forward unanimously.