[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 101 (Tuesday, June 20, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Pages S8653-S8654]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                         THE FOSTER NOMINATION

  Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. President, yesterday, the majority leader met with 
Dr. Henry Foster, President Clinton's nominee for Surgeon General. 
After that meeting, he proposed a cloture vote on the nomination to 
take place at some point in the near future.
  While I am pleased about this progress, the proposed cloture vote is [[Page S 
8654]] only the first step to clearing the way for a real vote on the 
floor. Supporters and opponents alike who agree that Dr. Foster 
deserves a vote by the entire Senate, will vote to invoke cloture, so 
that we can finally give this nomination the fair vote it deserves.
  Cloture is a step on the road to fairness, but it is only the first 
step. I hope that my colleagues will vote to invoke cloture, giving us 
the opportunity to take the second step--the step that counts--the up-
or-down vote on the nomination by the entire Senate.
  Throughout this nominations process, several Republicans have stated 
that, in fairness, the nomination should go before the entire Senate 
for a final vote. Some Members have suggested that by allowing a 
cloture vote, the majority leader will be giving the nomination the 
fair consideration it deserves. They have suggested that a vote on 
cloture is the same as a vote on the nomination. Obviously, that is not 
the case.
  I believe that some Senators who feel strongly about the issue of 
fairness intend to vote for cloture, even if they intend to vote 
against the nomination itself.
  Although I disagree with their position on Dr. Foster, they at least 
agree that it is wrong to filibuster this nomination. They refuse to 
let a minority of the Senate block the will of the majority.
  Dr. Foster is well qualified to be Surgeon General. He has endured 
this confirmation process with dignity and grace. He has fully and 
forthrightly answered all the questions raised, and he deserves to be 
confirmed. And if the Senate treats him fairly, I am confident he will 
be confirmed.
  We all know what is going on here. Republican opponents of a woman's 
right to choose are filibustering this nomination because Dr. Foster, a 
distinguished obstetrician and gynecologist, participated in a small 
number of abortions during his long and brilliant career.
  From the beginning, the only real issue in this controversy has been 
abortion. All the other issues raised against Dr. Foster have 
disappeared into thin air. They have no substance now, and they have 
never had any substance. Dr. Foster has dispelled all of those 
objections, and he has dispelled them beyond a reasonable doubt.
  The only remaining question is whether Republicans who support a 
woman's constitutional right to choose will vote for their principles, 
or pander to the antiabortion wing of their party by going along with 
this unconscionable filibuster.
  The vote will tell the story. If the Senate is fair to Dr. Henry 
Foster, this filibuster will be broken, and Dr. Foster will be 
confirmed as the next Surgeon General of the United States.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from North Dakota.
  Mr. DORGAN. Mr. President, I notice the Senator from Rhode Island is 
on his feet. I was intending to seek unanimous consent to speak for a 
minute as in morning business.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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