S4096 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE May 1, 2001 Identification Laboratory have under- As we continue to debate and develop scure our policy objectives. And we taken the most challenging assign- new legislation aimed at improving the cannot determine China policy based ments to locate and identify former health of Americans and our environ- on vague ideological images. American prisoners of war or service- ment, we should take a moment to con- Like all Americans, I am outraged by men missing in action. Some exca- sider and thank the men and women, the behavior of the Chinese Govern- vations have consumed months of like ‘‘Mr. Health,’’ who initiated this ment in holding the crew of our recon- painstaking labor under very difficult crusade. I am extremely pleased that naissance plane and demanding an conditions to retrieve the smallest Paul Rogers’ tireless efforts are being American apology, when the blame was items of evidence to help identify duly recognized by the National Insti- so clearly with a reckless Chinese pilot American casualties. Much of the work tutes of Health. following reckless orders. is done by hand in order not to disturb f I congratulate President Bush on his potential evidence. Our service per- handling of the first foreign policy cri- sonnel such as those who lost their U.S. POLICY TO CHINA AND sis of this administration. He kept lives last month have routinely ex- TAIWAN emotions in check. He rejected the ad- posed themselves to significant dan- Mr. BAUCUS. Mr. President, these vice of those who wanted to take pre- gers in the quest for honoring our past few weeks have been eventful ones cipitous action. He secured the safe re- former POW–MIAs. Sadly, they lost in our relationship with China. lease of our crew without giving China their lives in their deeply patriotic President Bush announced a robust the kowtowing apology they demanded. quest. arms sale package for Taiwan. It in- President Bush’s decision last week I call on all Americans to pause and cluded several major weapons systems on which defense items to transfer to remember Major Lewis and the brave and, of greater long-term significance, Taiwan was also responsible and cor- men and women of the Joint Task it provides for increased cooperation rect. It will provide Taiwan with the Force and Central Identification Lab- and coordination between our two mili- hardware and the ‘‘humanware’’ it oratory who have given their lives in tary forces. He also announced the end needs to defend itself, while avoiding such a noble cause. of the annual review of arms needs, actions that would have been unneces- f putting our support for Taiwan’s de- sarily provocative vis-a-vis China. Un- DEDICATION OF THE PAUL G. ROG- fense on a more regular and less polit- fortunately, he followed this measured ERS PLAZA AT THE NATIONAL ical setting. decision with a ‘‘shoot from the hip’’ INSTITUTES OF HEALTH We secured the release of our recon- comment on a possible U.S. response to naissance plan’s crew that was being Mr. NELSON of Florida. Mr. Presi- Chinese military action against Tai- held on Hainan Island. Subsequently, dent, I rise today to honor and recog- wan. That remark has created unneces- there were several important, albeit in- nize the achievements of a distin- sary confusion uncertainty, and poten- conclusive, meetings with Chinese rep- guished Floridian and former congress- tial instability across the Taiwan resentatives about the return of the man, the Honorable Paul Rogers. The Strait. plane and about establishing future National Institutes of Health is dedi- We need to look at what is good for cating the Paul Rogers Plaza at Be- rules of engagement to ensure that U.S. interests, not what is bad for thesda, MD on June 12, 2001 in recogni- there will not be a repeat of this irre- China. There is no room for emotion as tion of his phenomenal efforts and ar- sponsible Chinese action. we defined the relationship we want President Bush made a potentially dent advocacy for public health and with China and determine how to move medical research. dangerous gaffe in an interview where them in the right direction. Paul Rogers represented Florida’s he seemed to reverse precipitously a Last year Congress approved, by a 11th District in the House of Rep- two decade old policy that has resulted wide margin, legislation granting Per- resentatives from 1956 to 1979, where he in relative stability across the Taiwan manent Normal Trade Relations status earned the distinguished and fitting Strait. I believe that the trilateral re- to China once they join the World title, ‘‘Mr. Health.’’ During his twenty- lationship among the PRC, Taiwan, Trade Organization. The benefits of in- four years of service in Congress and and the United States, and the ‘‘One corporating China into the world trade eight years as the Chairman of the China’’ policy must adapt and evolve. community were clear. House Subcommittee on Health and But change must be made with extreme American farmers, businesses, and Environment, he consistently dem- care. workers would be well served by a onstrated his heartfelt commitment to The United States approved a visa for growing and liberalized economy in improving medical care and technology former Taiwan president Lee Teng-hui China. Economic growth in China and preserving our fragile environ- to visit for a month, and we have would, over the long term, lead to a ment. His extensive list of legislative agreed to issue a transit visa for cur- larger middle class making its own de- accomplishments and contributions is rent Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian, mands on the government for greater too great to fully recount, but there although the conditions set on Presi- accountability and personal choice, are several legislative achievements dent Chen’s visit are still under nego- just as happened in South Korea and that are particularly noteworthy. The tiations. Taiwan. Membership in the WTO would National Cancer Act, the Clean Air China continues to hold as a prisoner bring international disciplines to the Act, the Safe Drinking Water Act, and Gao Zhan, an innocent scholar who is a Chinese economy. And the reformers, the Medicare-Medicaid Anti Fraud and permanent resident of our country led by Premier Zhu Rongji, would be Abuse Act are just a few of Paul Rog- with a U.S. citizen husband and son. strengthened. ers’ endeavors that continue to impact They also hold several other American The events of the last few weeks have our nation today. citizens of Chinese origin. not changed this calculation. If any- It is fitting that the National Insti- Some of these developments are infu- thing, nurturing growth in our eco- tutes of Health has chosen to honor riating and frustrating. After our plane nomic and trade relationship with him with a permanent plaque at the was downed, some in Congress called China is more important than ever. Paul Rogers Plaza, as I am certain that for revenge, retaliation, and retribu- Let’s be clear about what happened the beneficial effect of his public serv- tion. Proposals include that congress in China while our crew was detained ice on the health of American people reverse its approval of PNTR, Perma- on Hainan Island. will continue to be felt for many years nent Normal Trade Relations, for The delay in releasing our crew mem- to come. Paul Rogers’ foresight in the China; that the United States oppose bers was a reflection of a monumental areas of medical research and environ- holding the 2008 Summer Olympics in struggle for China’s future between re- mental regulation brought about cut- Beijing; and that we reduce or cease formers led by Premior Zhu Rongji and ting edge policies that continue to pro- military-to-military relations with President Jian Zemin, on one side, and tect Americans everyday. His prolific China. the old guard, including the People’s efforts helped bring these critical Our long-term interests with China Liberation Army, the managers of issues to the forefront of our nation’s require a carefully measured course of most state-owned enterprises, and agenda. action. We cannot allow emotion to ob- many entrenched politicians, on the VerDate Mar 15 2010 03:00 Dec 20, 2013 Jkt 081600 PO 00000 Frm 00042 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 J:\ODA425\1997-2008-FILES-4-SS-PROJECT\2001-SENATE-REC-FILES\RECFILES-NEW\S mmaher on DSKCGSP4G1 with SOCIALSECURITY May 1, 2001 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S4097 other side. That is, a battle between Twenty-five years ago, April 30, 1976, to our Nation. Inter-city passenger rail those who we hope will be China’s fu- the Federal debt stood at is a critical link to our Nation’s his- ture and those who should be made $601,974,000,000, Six hundred one billion, tory, reminding us of how we used to part of China’s past. nine hundred seventy-four million, travel this glorious country. And that’s One manifestation of this struggle is which reflects a debt increase of more a link which many members of Con- political and perhaps increasing mili- than $5 trillion, $5,059,373,798,002.65, gress have taken great pains to main- tary friction with the United States. Five trillion, fifty-nine billion, three tain in their states and districts. At Taiwan remains the No. 1 flashpoint. hundred seventy-three million, seven the same time, in many places, such as Add disputes over human rights, polit- hundred ninety-eight thousand, two the northeast, a modern inter-city pas- ical prisoners, arrest of American citi- dollars and sixty-five cents during the senger rail network is not a luxury, it zens and permanent residents of Chi- past 25 years.