March 6, 1996 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S 1595 recognize, in all due sincerity, that my and let us be able to do the best we period for the transaction of routine friend probably has a number of col- can, given that we cannot control all morning business with Senators per- leagues who just do not want to agree the circumstances in this investiga- mitted to speak therein for up to 5 to even 5 weeks. I recognize that, too. tion. Some of it is beyond our ability minutes each. Mr. SARBANES. If the Senator will to control. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without yield on that point, there are many I yield the floor, and I thank my objection, it is so ordered. people who feel the committee should friend for his courtesies in giving me f have done its work within the require- the opportunity at various times to ments of Senate Resolution 120, just as make some points that I thought were DEPLORING TERRORIST ATTACKS Iran-Contra had to do its work within important. IN ISRAEL its allotted requirements under the res- The PRESIDING OFFICER. Who Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, every olution under which it was operating. seeks recognition? American deplores the bombings in Tel Mr. D’AMATO. I really tried as hard Mr. D’AMATO. Mr. President, I be- Aviv and Jerusalem in the past days. as possible to attempt to put forth an lieve, without imposing upon my col- The Tel Aviv bombing was a sense- offer—— league, that concludes our discussion less act of violence cynically targeted Mr. SARBANES. No, I just want you with respect to going forward on the to hit as many innocent people as pos- to understand there are some strongly Whitewater resolution. sible at a shopping mall on a school held views of that sort. Mr. SARBANES. Yes. holiday commemorating what is to be Mr. D’AMATO. Sure, and you must f a joyous holiday of Purim. Once again, recognize that there are legitimately VACANCIES AT THE FEDERAL a suicide bomber did this awful deed; held views that people themselves feel RESERVE BOARD people are dead and injured; a nation is strongly about without any partisan stricken; and the peace process is fur- Mr. D’AMATO. Mr. President, on ther jeopardized. motives being attached to their feel- that note, let me say this. The Banking Ironically, Purim commemorates the ing; that they say we want to end that. Committee has been waiting for time in which Esther, a Jewish hero- I understand that, and I am saying to months now for the President to fill ine, convicted her husband to stop the you that I have a number of Members vacancies at the Federal Reserve who do not want to compromise as it Board. It was just a little less than 2 slaughter of the Jews. There was no relates even to a time line and they weeks ago last Saturday, March 2— modern day Esther Monday in Tel suggest we are going to be back in the there are two vacancies, two other va- Aviv. same problem again. But there comes a cancies aside from Mr. Greenspan—I Monday’s bombing follows Sunday’s point in time when you have to make guess it was about 10 days ago when in Jerusalem, which took place on a the best of the situation. the President indicated that he was street down which I have walked. I can I am suggesting possibly we explore going to recommend not only Chair- see with terrible clarity the horror of looking at a time certain, from which man Greenspan but two other people, Sunday’s bombing. we say we will conclude, that being the Alice Rivlin as the Vice Chairman, and Mr. President, along with my col- conclusion of the trial, one way or the Lawrence Meyer as a Governor. leagues, the President, and all Ameri- other, if it is a hung jury, whatever it Since this announcement from the cans, I offer my condolences to the might be. We may not be able to get White House—and I have indicated pub- families of those killed and injured. I any of those witnesses. licly that we would move expeditiously fear for the future of the peace process, Mr. SARBANES. That is right, and to take up these nominees—we have which offers hope that, maybe, some we need to examine that up front. not received any word and the Federal day, Israelis and Palestinians can walk Mr. D’AMATO. I am first to admit Reserve has been forced to adopt var- down these same streets in Jerusalem that. I am first to admit that. What I ious rules to address this gap so that and Tel Aviv in peace, free of the fear am trying to do is to say there is a Chairman Greenspan could carry on his that they may be the terrorists’ next good faith offer, an attempt to wind work. This continues to be a very criti- victims. I join the President in pledg- this up in a manner that does not de- cal post, and these positions are criti- ing to do all we can to stop this sense- tract from everything and everybody cal. I hope the administration will less slaughter; apprehend the terrorists because there are going to be those move with some speed and alacrity in and bring them to justice; and get the who say in the drumbeat of the politi- sending those nominations over to us peace process back on track. cal spin doctors on one side saying the so we can move. f Senator from New York is attempting I pledge to the body here and to the GEN. BARRY MCCAFFREY, DIREC- to keep this going for political reasons. administration and to the President Mr. SARBANES. That is right. TOR OF THE OFFICE OF NA- that we will move as quickly as we pos- TIONAL DRUG CONTROL POLICY Mr. D’AMATO. I understand that. On sibly can. We will set up a hearing—if the other side, there will be the chorus, it means in the afternoon, if it means Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, in to- What are you hiding? For every edi- whatever time convenient to the nomi- day’s Washington Post there is a re- torial you can produce, I can produce nees—to deal with these important markable article. I commend all to one, two, three, four and you can nominations, because they are impor- read it. It is about the President’s ap- produce some, and back and forth. tant and they are critical. pointment of Gen. Barry McCaffrey, a What does that achieve? My gosh, what We want to move this. I hope they four-star general, to the position of have we advanced? will send those nominations over. Cer- drug czar. It has been my privilege to So I am—and I am not asking you for tainly they should send over Mr. know this fine American for some an answer now—I am asking you to Greenspan at this point in time. We many years. I recall on one occasion, consider attempting to deal with this could dispose of that. I do not under- together with other colleagues in this impasse, so that we do not have to stand why they would not have Mrs. body—it may well have been the distin- come down here and have our col- Rivlin ready, given her long steward- guished whip was on that trip, the Sen- leagues vote, line up on one side, those ship in Federal Government and the ator from Kentucky, when we visited vote to cut off debate, cut off the fili- fact that she has had all her clear- the gulf region. We visited a number of buster, and those who take the oppo- ances, et cetera. So at least two of the U.S. commanders who had taken an site possible positions and all the var- those positions are something we active participation in the war in the ious characterizations that are going would be willing to move on very expe- gulf. General McCaffrey was the gen- to flow—from both sides, absolutely to- ditiously. eral who spearheaded the tank column tally well-meant. All right. So I hope I Mr. President, I yield the floor. which crushed Saddam Hussein’s have covered the waterfront on that. f armor. It may be that we cannot find a way From that experience and many to resolve this. But I am suggesting MORNING BUSINESS other chapters of complete heroism as that I am certainly willing to spare us Mr. D’AMATO. Mr. President, I ask a soldier, he now takes on another as- further debate here, further time here, unanimous consent that there now be a signment and immediately goes into S 1596 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE March 6, 1996 battle, this time a battle to counter General McCaffrey considerable sup- In all, the new Clinton drug policy office the threat of illegal drugs and drug port, and I am glad General will have funding for 150 employees, four abuse to this Nation. It is a threat as McCaffrey’s conditions are being met. more than its high point in the Bush admin- serious as any that has ever faced this Just look at the record. The Clinton istration. It was these workers that Clinton administration has virtually wiped out turned to in large measure when he had to Nation in our history from any foreign make the cuts in White House operations to military power or terrorist organiza- the Drug Control Policy office reducing meet his campaign pledge to shave the staff tion. I congratulate the President of the staff from 146 in 1993 to just 25 as of by 25 percent. the United States. Indeed, he had awe- today. This decision to staff up, made Despite significant misgivings from his some powers of persuasion, to get this in conjunction with the appointment of own staff and many outsiders, Clinton ar- American to step aside, to promptly re- General McCaffrey, comes at a time gued during the campaign that the White tire as a four-star officer, a man who when numerous articles and television House should operate with 25 percent fewer may well have been destined to become programs about the terrible increase in workers than in the Bush era. The pledge substance abuse are appearing through- was meant to symbolize the president’s com- Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army. He will mitment to make sacrifices himself before take on a new challenge and enter an- out our country. he asked other parts of government and the other battle in a life which, although Mr. President, thank you for getting American people to sacrifice in the name of this man is quiet and humble, is filled the message from the American people. deficit reduction and more efficient govern- with heroism. I pledge to this fine general and his ment. But General McCaffrey’s appoint- staff my full cooperation so long as I On taking office, the Clinton team used ment is timely, Mr. President. As to- am privileged to be a Member of the some creative accounting to readjust the day’s Washington Post article opens U.S. Senate. I daresay my colleagues baseline of what is normally considered White House staff so that fewer cuts would up—and I will quote the article and I likewise will support him. I yield the floor. I thank the Chair. produce the 25 percent goal. But they still ask unanimous consent that it be had to cut 350 slots from a total of 1,394, and EXHIBIT 1 printed in full at the end of my state- the drug office took by far the biggest hit. ment. ABOUT-FACE White House officials argued that other parts The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without (By Ann Devroy) of the government, including the Pentagon objection, it is so ordered. Moving full circle in this election year, and the State Department, could pick up the (See exhibit 1.) President Clinton plans an ambitious up- slack. Mr. WARNER [reading]: ‘‘By moving grading of the White House drug control pol- White House officials now say they will try full circle in this election year, Presi- icy office three years after virtually wiping to keep the staff level down for the full year out that office in order to fulfill a campaign to meet the 25 percent reduction, even with dent Clinton plans an ambitious up- pledge to reduce White House staff. the rush of new workers. grading of the White House drug con- According to requests submitted yesterday And they reject any link between the elec- trol policy office three years after vir- to Congress and sources at the White House, tion year and staffing up anti-drug efforts. tually wiping out that office in order the president is seeking to increase drug pol- ‘‘Our policy has been strong throughout. to fulfill a campaign pledge to reduce icy staffing from 40 to 150 slots, reversing The president has emphasized anti-drug ef- White House staff.’’ steps he took in 1993 to reduce the office forts throughout his administration. It has How tragic, Mr. President. Just look from 146 workers to 25. been an important priority,’’ Barry Toiv, a In addition, the White House has agreed to what happened statistically since the deputy to White House Chief of Staff Leon E. requests by its new drug policy chief, retired Panetta, said yesterday. ‘‘The president ob- Clinton administration has been in of- Gen. Barry R. McCaffrey, to move the oper- viously has tremendous respect for General fice. ation from a relatively distant office near McCaffrey’s ability, and the general feels The statistics over the past 21⁄2 years the New Executive Office Building back into that with additional resources he can do an are astonishing and alarming. The the Old Executive Office Building, where it even better job. The president wants him to number of 12- to 17-year-olds using was located under its first and most high- have those resources.’’ marijuana in the United States in- profile director, William J. Bennett. McCaf- f creased from 1.6 million in 1992 to 2.9 frey, also at his request, will be a given a slot on the National Security Council, a new MESSAGES FROM THE PRESIDENT million in 1994. power perk, and the job will continue to hold The category of recent marijuana use Cabinet rank. Messages from the President of the increased a staggering 200 percent One White House official explained the re- United States were communicated to among the 14- to 15-year-olds in this versal this way: ‘‘The general wants some the Senate by Mr. Thomas, one of his same period of time. troops to command, and Clinton wanted the secretaries. Since 1992 there has been a 52-percent general.’’ But White House aide Rahm Eman- f jump in the number of high school sen- uel, who handled the upgrading of the oper- EXECUTIVE MESSAGES REFERRED iors using drugs on a monthly basis. ation, said the new staffing levels and access for McCaffrey signal Clinton’s confidence in I spoke with a group of parents the As in executive session the Presiding the former head of the military’s Southern Officer laid before the Senate messages other day. The principal theme of our Command and his commitment to an ex- meeting was education. Yes, we talked panded fight against drugs. from the President of the United extensively about education, but in the ‘‘This is what he needs to get the presi- States submitting sundry nominations course of an exchange between myself dent’s policy implemented,’’ Emanuel said. which were referred to the appropriate and this group they quickly turned to ‘‘It is what the president believes will help committees. the threat that drug abuse poses to us improve on our record.’’ (The nominations received today are While the new staff and spending are likely printed at the end of the Senate pro- their children’s safety. We all know to consign Clinton’s staff-cut efforts to his- that safety in the educational environ- tory, it will help him with what may be a ceedings.) ment equates with the quality of edu- more potent political issue: his commitment f cation that these children hope to re- to drug control at a time when drug use MESSAGES FROM THE HOUSE ceive. We also know that a portion of among young people has risen every year he the violence that occurs in our schools has been in office. At 1:52 p.m., a message from the is related to illegal drugs and their Clinton yesterday sent to Congress a re- House of Representatives, delivered by quest for $3.4 million in supplemental spend- Ms. Goetz, one of its reading clerks, an- sales and distribution. ing for the Office of National Drug Control One in three high school seniors now nounced that the House has passed the Policy. That request will pay for 80 new jobs, following bills, in which it requests the smoke marijuana. The American peo- according to the White House submission. In ple recognize the problems with drug addition, McCaffrey has gotten White House concurrence of the Senate: abuse. A December 1995 Gallup Poll approval to take 30 ‘‘detailees’’ from the H.R. 497. An act to create the National shows that 94 percent of Americans feel Pentagon to his new operation. Detailees are Gambling Impact and Policy Commission. illegal drug abuse is either a crisis, or paid by their home agencies, so their cost is H.R. 2778. An act to provide that members a very serious problem. not reflected in the White House budget. of the Armed Forces performing services for The White House also has given McCaffrey the peacekeeping effort in the Republic of So, Mr. President, I am glad the the go-ahead to formulate a plan for spend- Bosnia and Herzegovina shall be entitled to President of the United States has re- ing an additional $250 million this year on certain tax benefits in the same manner as if sponded. He has gone to general quar- the anti-drug effort, much of it repro- such services were performed in a combat ters, as well he should. He is providing grammed Pentagon funds. one, and for other purposes.