E PL UR UM IB N U U S Congressional Record United States th of America PROCEEDINGS AND DEBATES OF THE 105 CONGRESS, FIRST SESSION Vol. 143 WASHINGTON, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 9, 1997 No. 41 Senate The Senate met at 10:30 a.m., and was this important legislation during to- Mr. THOMAS. I thank the Chair. called to order by the President pro day's session. Rollcall votes are there- (The remarks of Mr. THOMAS and Mr. tempore [Mr. THURMOND]. fore possible throughout the day, and KEMPTHORNE pertaining to the intro- the Senate may be in session into the duction of S. 532 are located in today's PRAYER evening if necessary. As always, all RECORD under ``Statements on Intro- The Chaplain, Dr. Lloyd John Senators will be notified as to when duced Bills and Joint Resolutions.'') Ogilvie, offered the following prayer: any votes are scheduled. He also re- Mr. KEMPTHORNE. Mr. President, I Gracious Father, thank You for this minds all Members that we are now be- yield the floor. I suggest the absence of time of prayer in which we can wake ginning a lengthy period of legislative a quorum. up to reality, see things as they really session prior to the next scheduled re- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The are, and be totally honest with You. cess, and he also asks for the coopera- clerk will call the roll. Grant us a healthy blend of realism tion of all of our colleagues as we at- The bill clerk proceeded to call the and vision. We tire of the fake and the tempt to move forward and complete roll. false. We become fatigued fighting pre- action on a number of important issues Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, I ask tense that polishes problems and during this period. unanimous consent that the order for evades Your judgment. The spin runs Mr. President, I also ask for about 10 the quorum call be rescinded. thin; the damage control delays expo- minutes for a statement on a bill I am The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without sure of truth. Distinctions between the introducing, if I may. objection, it is so ordered. real and the illusion become blurred. The PRESIDENT pro tempore. With- The Senator from Iowa is recognized. Lord, it is in this kind of world that out objection, it is so ordered. Mr. GRASSLEY. I thank the Chair. You have called us to serve and give (The remarks of Mr. CAMPBELL per- (The remarks of Mr. GRASSLEY and leadership. Bless the Senators as they taining to the introduction of S. 528 are Mr. GRAMS pertaining to the introduc- seek and then speak Your truth. May located in today's RECORD under tion of S. 529 are located in today's the quality of the life of this Senate be ``Statements on Introduced Bills and RECORD under ``Statements on Intro- distinguished by an integrity in which Joint Resolutions.'') duced Bills and Joint Resolutions.'') words are used to motivate and not The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. ROB- (The remarks of Mr. GRASSLEY per- manipulate, where debate is an arena ERTS). Who seeks time? taining to the introduction of legisla- for communication and not competi- Mr. THOMAS addressed the Chair. tion are located in today's RECORD tion. You are Sovereign of this land, The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- under ``Statements on Introduced Bills and we accept our accountability to ator from Wyoming is recognized. and Joint Resolutions.'') You for how we relate to one another f Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, I in the relationships we share as we yield the floor. work together. In the name of our Lord MEASURE PLACED ON CALENDAR Mr. GRAMS addressed the Chair. and Savior. Amen. Mr. THOMAS. Mr. President, a little The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. f housekeeping. First, I understand that ENZI). The Chair recognizes the Sen- ator from Minnesota. RECOGNITION OF THE ACTING there is a bill due for its second read- Mr. GRAMS. Mr. President, I ask MAJORITY LEADER ing. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- unanimous consent to speak for up to The PRESIDENT pro tempore. The ator is correct. The clerk will report. 20 minutes as in morning business. able acting majority leader is recog- The legislative clerk read as follows: The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without nized. A bill (S. 522) to amend the Internal Reve- objection, it is so ordered. SCHEDULE nue Code of 1986 to impose civil and criminal f Mr. CAMPBELL. Mr. President, on penalties for the unauthorized access of tax behalf of the leader, today the Senate returns and tax return information by Fed- TRIBUTE TO GEORGE will be in a period of morning business eral employees and other persons, and for DURENBERGER until the hour of 1 p.m. to accommo- other purposes. Mr. GRAMS. Mr. President, on March date a number of Senators who have re- Mr. THOMAS. Mr. President, I object 20, my dear friend and former col- quested time to speak. By consent, at 1 to further proceedings on this matter league, Senator Dave Durenberger, lost p.m. the Senate will begin consider- at this time. his father, George Durenberger, at the ation of S. 104, the Nuclear Policy Act. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The age of 90. The leader hopes the Senate will be measure will be placed on the calendar But, because the Senate was just be- able to make substantial progress on under rule XIV. ginning its recess at that time, I did · This ``bullet'' symbol identifies statements or insertions which are not spoken by a Member of the Senate on the floor. S2865 S2866 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD Ð SENATE April 9, 1997 not have the opportunity to pay re- Supreme Court Justice John Simonett. MEDICARE REFORM spect to my friend and the much-cele- ``Then we met `Big George'. And we Mr. WYDEN. Mr. President, I have brated life of his father. It is for this looked up to himÐboth literally and come to the floor each day this week to purpose that I rise today. figuratively.'' talk about what I think is the critical It has been said that, ``the worst sin George Durenberger lifted spirits, re- need for the Senate to develop a bipar- against our fellow creatures is not to called another St. John's alumnus, ``I tisan plan to reform Medicare. Medi- hate them, but to be indifferent to always left George feeling better about care is a lifeline for millions and mil- them; that is the essence of inhuman- myself.'' George Durenberger ``was the lions of American families, and I think ity.'' George Durenberger, the parent, first person I met as a student at St. it is understood by every Member of the teacher, the coach, must have been John's in 1924,'' remembered Fred this body that this is a program that acutely aware of this because there was Hughes, a St. Cloud attorney and faces financial crisis as we look to the not indifference in him. He saw worth former University of Minnesota Re- next century. in every person he met and rewarded gent, ``and to this day, he remains the Today, as part of the effort to build them with a first chance, a second, and best.'' support for a bipartisan Medicare re- a third. And, consider what the Hill news- form effort I will look specifically at In short, George Durenberger never paper's Al Eisele, who attended St. the Medicare reimbursement formula. I gave up on anyone. Beyond all his John's, had to say. Mr. Eisele said, think it is important to take this sub- other contributions, George Duren- ``George Durenberger was as much a ject up because I believe today's Medi- berger will be most remembered for his part of the modern history of St. care reimbursement system in many abiding faith in people. John's University as the Benedictine instances overcharges taxpayers on According to newspaper accounts, monks who founded it 150 years ago.'' costs and shortchanges older people George Durenberger was one of the Durenberger, ``a physically imposing who need and deserve good quality ``best known and most well-liked men man with a booming voice and out- care. in Central Minnesota.'' By the same ac- going personality,'' as described by Now, Mr. President, as we all know, counts, ``Big George'' as he was often Eisele, ``helped shape the lives of thou- there are essentially two major types called, was ``a legend.'' sands of young men.'' As athletic direc- of health care in America. There is tra- Coming to St. John's Abbey and Uni- tor, Durenberger was such a forceful ditional health care, what is known as versity in Collegeville, MN in 1924 as a man, noted Eisele, that he even got the fee-for-service. It means just what it student, George Durenberger obtained monks to exercise. sounds like. Providers get paid on the hero status as the star offensive center In closing, Eisele remarked that basis of the number of services that on the football team, the first three Durenberger and his wife Isabelle were they render. This, unfortunately, can time All-Minnesota Intercollegiate ``surrogate parents to many * * * and encourage waste. If, for example, an Athletic Conference award winner, and an inspiration to all.'' older person in traditional health care George Durenberger never left St. also the captain of not only the foot- receives 10 medical tests and 4 would John's until he died. He loved the insti- ball team but the basketball team as have been sufficient, under traditional tution and all the people and memories well. health care the provider gets paid for that came with it. However, this love Upon graduation in 1928, Durenberger 10.