[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 55 (Friday, March 24, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Page S4565]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


             NOMINATION OF DR. FOSTER TO BE SURGEON GENERAL

  Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, I want to take this opportunity to state 
my concern about the direction and tenor of the debate on the 
nomination of Dr. Henry Foster to be Surgeon General.
  I spoke on the floor a month ago about this nomination. At that time, 
I expressed hope that this debate could be restored to its proper 
perspective--an honest assessment of whether Dr. Henry Foster's skills 
fit the Nation's needs for the position of Surgeon General.
  So far, Mr. President, that has not occurred.
  First of all, there has not been much substantive discussion about 
this nomination. At a time when many of the public health problems 
historically addressed by the Surgeon General are reaching crisis 
proportions, it seems that there should be more discussion about the 
contributions Dr. Foster can make in this capacity and the urgency of 
approving his nomination.
  Unfortunately, what little debate there has been has not centered on 
Dr. Foster's qualifications, skills, and contributions to society. 
Instead, it has revolved around Dr. Foster's performance of a legal 
medical procedure, and how many times he has performed it.
  Little attention has been paid to the thousands of lives Dr. Foster 
has brought into the world over his 35-year career, or the hundreds of 
lives he has saved.
  Little attention has been paid to the evidence that supports 
President Clinton's evaluation that Dr. Henry Foster has much to 
contribute as Surgeon General of the United States.
  Do not be fooled into believing the evidence is lacking. Nothing can 
be further from the truth.
  Before being nominated to the post of Surgeon General, Dr. Foster was 
perhaps best known for his efforts in establishing the I Have A Future 
Program. This teen pregnancy prevention program, which stresses 
abstinence and attempts to help teens understand the positive reasons 
for delaying pregnancy, was selected by President Bush as one of his 
Thousand Points of Light.
  Listen to the words of Dr. Louis Sullivan, President Bush's Health 
and Human Services Secretary.

       [The] I Have a Future [program] turns young people's lives 
     around . . . [it is] the kind of program that the country 
     needs.

  Dr. Foster has pledged to focus on teen pregnancy prevention as 
Surgeon General. That cause certainly should be a national priority, 
and Dr. Foster would bring great experience and credibility to it.
  Little attention has been paid to the stories of Dr. Foster's 
commitment and heroism. Like the time he saved the life of the mayor's 
son when his wife developed complications with her pregnancy.
  Or the time a pregnant patient of Dr. Foster's called him up in the 
middle of the night because she was bleeding, and Dr. Foster met her at 
the hospital in his bedroom slippers.
  Or the time Dr. Foster talked a young, pregnant and unmarried woman 
out of having an abortion. Her child later went on to become high 
school valedictorian.
  These are the elements that are missing in the debate over the 
Surgeon General nomination. These are the reasons Dr. Foster deserves 
every consideration for this post.
  It is my sincere hope that Dr. Foster will receive a fair hearing. It 
is unfair to judge a candidate before having heard all the facts. I 
hope that those who have reservations about the nomination will keep an 
open mind until committee hearings are held.
  I also hope that these hearings will be held sooner rather than 
later. The Nation needs a Surgeon General.
  Every day approximately 2,781 teenagers become pregnant.
  Mr. President, this many teenagers become pregnant while we wait to 
confirm a Surgeon General who plans to make teen pregnancy prevention 
the centerpiece of his tenure in that post.
  We should not delay action on this nomination. I urge the Chair of 
the Labor Committee to schedule hearings on this issue as soon as 
possible and do everything within her power to ensure that Dr. Foster 
is given a full and fair hearing.
  Mr. President, I yield the floor. I note the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. KERREY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. KERREY. Mr. President, is there a time limit for morning 
business?
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. It has been 10 minutes per Senator.

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