[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 97 (Wednesday, June 14, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Pages S8363-S8364]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    DR. HENRY FOSTER DESERVES A VOTE

  Mrs. BOXER. Madam President, perhaps I am interrupting the flow of 
the telecommunications bill for just 1 or 2 minutes because I promised 
that I would do so every day until we hear that there are plans to 
bring the nomination of Dr. Henry Foster for Surgeon General to the 
Senate for a vote.
  Senator Pat Murray from Washington and I brought this issue up 
yesterday. We noted very clearly that Dr. Foster was nominated by 
President Clinton in February. This country has no Surgeon General.
  We still have an AIDS epidemic, Madam President. We have an epidemic 
of teen pregnancy. I know my friend who is sitting in the chair now 
strongly supports efforts to reduce the rate of teen pregnancy and 
strongly supports efforts to reduce the rate of AIDS.
  We now have a tuberculosis epidemic that has reemerged, after we 
thought we had solved the problem. We have teens smoking in great 
numbers.
  This is the business of the Surgeon General, to look over the health 
issues. In the Senate we look over so many issues--telecommunications--
complicated issues, difficult issues. They change every day. 
The Surgeon General will look after the health of this country.
  We know when we have healthy babies and they are immunized and there 
is prenatal care for women, and we know when there is less drug use and 
alcohol use in our Nation, we become a much more productive nation. 
Certainly, as we are going to look a the welfare reform bill, we know 
one of the greatest causes of welfare is, simply put, that teens are 
having babies. This is a problem we must deal with.
  Again, I call on the majority leader to please move forward this 
nomination. Dr. Foster showed he had the true grit to stand the 
criticism. He emerged out of the committee with a bipartisan, favorable 
vote.
  I look forward to debating this nomination on the floor. I certainly 
hope that because an individual is an ob/gyn, an obstetrician/
gynecologist, and in that practice performed a small number of 
abortions and yet brought 10,000 babies into the world, it would not be 
used against that individual and that this will not become a pawn in 
the Presidential nomination. It would be very sad. I think the American 
people are very fair people. This man deserves a vote. This man 
deserves a hearing.
  I just really hope that the majority leader will come to the floor--
perhaps today, tomorrow, this week--and tell Members when we can hope 
to have the Foster nomination brought before the full Senate.
  I thank the Senate. I thank my colleagues. I yield the floor.
  Madam President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Ashcroft). The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.

[[Page S8364]]

  Mr. LIEBERMAN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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