[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 1 (Tuesday, January 27, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Page S3]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  SECOND SESSION OF THE 105TH CONGRESS

  Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, I welcome back the majority leader and 
again wish him a happy New Year and commend him for his leadership. 
During the past 3 months, when we have not been here, I have seen him 
on several public appearances and, as always, he has been articulate 
and very forthcoming with regard to the schedule and our plans for the 
coming weeks. I welcome the opportunity to work closely with him as we 
pursue our national agenda, and appreciate very much the cooperation he 
has already demonstrated in helping senators make plans both in terms 
of days, as well as weeks, ahead. I trust the past 3 months have been 
productive and enjoyable, Mr. President, and I expect it has provided 
us with rest and the perspective to fulfill our obligations now.

  It is obvious we return under very difficult circumstances. 
Allegations have been made against the President and have been 
vehemently denied. The legal process continues, flawed as it may be. 
While the circumstances may be extraordinary, the work of this 
Government must go on. The American system is uniquely constructed to 
withstand the winds of controversy and crisis which howl throughout 
history, and this moment is no exception. Important matters are at 
hand, dealing with both foreign and domestic policy, and the American 
people have a right to insist that their leaders continue to give those 
matters their full attention.
  Congress has a clear responsibility--a duty and an obligation--to go 
about our work on behalf of the American people. Despite allegations, 
investigations, and obvious distractions, our country would be ill-
served if we were to allow interruption in the steady function of 
Government or the remarkable progress that we have made on matters of 
great importance to our Nation.
  Democratic Senators begin this year with a true sense of 
accomplishment over what we have achieved and a sense of purpose 
directed toward the challenges ahead. We need to continue the economic 
momentum born of the 1993 budget plan, a momentum that will propel us 
in 1998 to the first balanced budget in over 30 years, and our first 
opportunity in our lifetime to reduce the accumulated debt.
  South Dakotans, like all Americans, have made clear their 
expectations. Having just returned from home, my conversations with 
South Dakotans remain clear and well understood. South Dakotans have 
urged us to work together, to continue to demonstrate that democracy 
can be both responsive and effective in addressing the challenges that 
lie ahead. They say, build on the extraordinary budgetary and economic 
record of the last 5 years, pay off the debt, solve the Social Security 
and Medicare problems we face. Remember that 42 million of us have no 
health insurance--find a way to solve that national embarrassment. 
Remember, above all, in this new age of information, that education, 
beginning virtually at birth, is one of the most important 
responsibilities of government at every level. There is so much to be 
done: Improve wages and child care, fix our political finance system 
that is broken and in great need of repair, be a leader to the world.
  New and old democracies around the world look to us for leadership, 
and there is no one else. In Iraq and Bosnia, in Europe and Asia, 
America's leadership is needed now more than ever. That is the message 
given to me by South Dakotans back home over and over again. Their 
wisdom dictates our collective response.
  Now is the time to go to work. As the majority leader has already 
indicated, we have very few days in this session of Congress. We must 
approach our work with urgency and with energy.
  We must make the most of each one. Over the past few months, 
Democrats in the Senate and House, working with the administration, 
have built a legislative agenda that addresses many of the challenges 
our country must face. It will build on the themes that we hear tonight 
in the State of the Union Message. It represents the legislative 
embodiment of the priorities contained in the President's budget to be 
submitted next week.
  So, again, I look forward to working closely with the majority 
leader. We will all certainly work with our Republican colleagues, 
because we believe this can be a most productive session. We begin 
today by extending a hand of partnership and a sincere hope for real 
success. I thank, again, the majority leader for offering me the 
opportunity to respond to his kind remarks.
  I yield the floor.
  Mr. LOTT addressed the Chair.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The majority leader.

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