[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 27 (Friday, February 10, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Page S2492]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                   THE NOMINATION OF DR. HENRY FOSTER

  Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, I would like to talk for just a moment 
about the nomination of Dr. Henry W. Foster, Jr., to be Surgeon General 
of the United States. No one could deny that Dr. Foster has had a 
distinguished career both in terms of his service as a practicing 
physician as well as his contributions as a medical educator and 
community leader. No one can deny that.
  For the last two decades now, Dr. Foster has served in the department 
of obstetrics and gynecology at Meharry Medical College where he has 
helped to train some of our Nation's finest doctors. At Meharry, Dr. 
Foster has demonstrated his vast leadership abilities by serving not 
only as professor and chairman of the department, but also as dean of 
the school of medicine and the acting president of the college.
  Throughout his distinguished career, Dr. Foster has been a clear 
voice for personal responsibility. His work on teen pregnancy 
prevention has been a valuable contribution at a time when we are 
struggling desperately to identify effective solutions to this 
nationwide problem.
  The ``I Have A Future'' program which Dr. Foster developed and 
directed was chosen by President Bush as one of his ``thousand points 
of light.'' The program stresses abstinence. It engages communities in 
helping teenagers make positive decisions about their future.
  Dr. Foster is endorsed by the American Medical Association, the 
Association of Schools of Public Health, the National Medical 
Association, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. 
He has been endorsed by Dr. Sullivan, Secretary of Health and Human 
Services under President Bush.
  I have no doubt that this man's background makes him well qualified 
to be Surgeon General. It is a shame that his distinguished career and 
many contributions to society have now been clouded by his opponents' 
attempts to turn this nomination into a debate about abortion. But this 
debate is not about abortion. No doctor in this country should be 
disqualified from consideration for the post of Surgeon General for 
performing a legal medical procedure.
  This debate is about qualifications. Dr. Foster is the President's 
choice for the position of Surgeon General. He is qualified for this 
position and I daresay most people know that today. Of course, the 
Senate has a constitutional advice and consent role. Any remaining 
questions about this nominee should be dealt with during the 
confirmation process where they belong. This is what we do with every 
nomination, and it is critically important.
  I must say, this town can be pretty mean. I hope, as we consider this 
nomination, we remember that Dr. Foster is a man who has come forward 
to serve his country at the request of the President of the United 
States to serve in an important role. It is a role to help children, to 
help families, to make as positive a contribution as possible in what 
time he may have to do it.
  We ought to respect that. We ought to be careful about what we say 
and about asking people to join in public service if every time they 
accept the call to public service they are beaten down, and ultimately 
characterized as people they are not. Let us be careful about that.
  Let us also recognize if we are going to deal in a bipartisan manner, 
as we have attempted to do on a whole array of issues, it must be a 
two-way street.
  Democrats and Republicans need to work with one another. But if this 
becomes a one-way street, if this becomes a partisan issue, that sends 
a clear message, it seems to me, about what expectations the majority 
may have as they look to us for cooperation on many issues in the 
future.
  This man deserves confirmation. This man deserves our support. And I 
hope we will all give it to him.
  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Utah.

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