[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 56 (Thursday, May 7, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4538-S4541]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  THE MILITARY HONORS PRESERVATION ACT

  Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce the Military 
Honors Preservation Act of 1998 which will ensure that those who have 
served this nation with distinction will not see their service medals 
devalued by the crimes of others.
  This bill simply states that a member of the United States armed 
forces may not enter a federal, state, or local penitentiary for the 
purpose of presenting a medal to a person incarcerated for committing a 
serious violent felony. My hope is that this bill will be seen as it is 
intended: an attempt to secure the well deserved sense of honor of 
those who have served in our nation's armed forces. Service to our 
nation and the opportunity to receive recognition for that service is a 
duty and a privilege not to be taken lightly.
  I decided that this legislation was necessary when I heard of the 
unbearable pain suffered by the family of Leah Schendel, a 78-year old 
woman who was attacked in her Sacramento, California home just before 
Christmas in 1980. Mrs. Schendel was brutally beaten and sexually 
assaulted. This vicious attack caused a massive heart attack that 
killed her. The man who perpetrated this horrific crime, Manuel 
Babbitt, was convicted and sentenced to die--he is currently sitting on 
death row in San Quentin Prison.
  This past March, the suffering of Mrs. Schendel's family was renewed 
when they learned that the man who had so viciously brutalized their 
loved one was being honored by the United States Marine Corps, in San 
Quentin! In a ceremony at the prison, Mr. Babbitt was awarded a Purple 
Heart for injuries he suffered during the Vietnam War. For Mrs. 
Schendel's family, this medal ceremony was a slap in the face. It said 
to them that the government was more concerned with honoring a 
convicted criminal than respecting the feelings of his victims.
  I believe that there is no higher calling for an American than to 
serve our nation. I have worked hard to make sure that California 
veterans, who have been overlooked or fallen through the

[[Page S4539]]

cracks of the system, get the recognition and benefits they deserve. 
However, I believe that someone who, in his or her post-service life, 
shows such a blatant disregard for the laws of this nation and makes a 
mockery of the high standards of the United States military should not 
be accorded recognition.
  Just like the right to vote, or the right to a military burial in 
Arlington Cemetery, I believe anyone who has committed a heinous crime 
forfeits the right to be honored by the American people. Please join me 
in supporting this bill for the sake of Leah Schendel, and for every 
American veteran who should rightly feel that they are a hero.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be 
printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                S. 2050

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. PROHIBITION ON ENTRY INTO CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES 
                   FOR PRESENTATION OF DECORATIONS TO PERSONS WHO 
                   COMMIT CERTAIN CRIMES BEFORE PRESENTATION.

       (a) Prohibition.--Chapter 57 of title 10, United States 
     Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:

     ``Sec. 1132. Presentation of decorations: prohibition on 
       entering into correctional facilities for certain 
       presentations

       ``(a) Prohibition.--No member of the armed forces may enter 
     into a Federal, State, or local correctional facility for 
     purposes of presenting a decoration to a person who has been 
     convicted of a serious violent felony.
       ``(b) Definitions.--In this section:
       ``(1) The term `decoration' means any decoration or award 
     that may be presented or awarded to a member of the armed 
     forces.
       ``(2) The term `serious violent felony' has the meaning 
     given that term in section 3359(c)(2)(F) of title 18.''.
       (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the 
     beginning of that chapter is amended by adding at the end the 
     following:

``1132. Presentation of decorations: prohibition on entering into 
              correctional facilities for certain presentations.''.
                                 ______
                                 
      By Mr. WARNER.
  S. 2051. A bill to establish a task force to assess activities in 
previous base closure rounds and to recommend improvements and 
alternatives to additional base closure rounds; to the Committee on 
Armed Services.


                  BASE CLOSURE TASK FORCE LEGISLATION

  Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, during this past week, I and my colleagues 
have been working in committee on the defense authorization bill for 
the upcoming fiscal year. We have debated a host of issues of 
significant import to the national security of this great nation, among 
them the future of the BRAC process.
  Mr. President, a decade ago, I worked with my good friend from 
Georgia, Senator Sam Nunn, to formulate legislation that would guide 
this nation through the base closure process. We understood then that 
this would be a difficult and, for many communities across this 
country, a painful process.
  In this decade, each of us in this chamber has come to know how 
communities in our states had come to rely on the military as the 
mainstay of their economic livelihood. For many communities, a base 
closure would impart significant economic impact. In some communities a 
positive result, in others a negative impact. No two communities are 
the same. The challenge to these communities after a base closure was 
then to reorient their goals and to plan for continued growth and well-
being, or plain survival.
  I learned a great deal from Senator Nunn during our discussions on 
planning for base closures. He is a man of great intellect and keen 
foresight and fully understood the possibility that this process could 
become politicized. Under our leadership, the committee went to great 
lengths to legislate the appropriate direction, responsibilities and 
necessary safeguards that might preclude either the executive or 
legislative branch from manipulating the process for political gain, 
rather than the collective gain of the national security of this 
country.
  The BRAC rounds in 1991 and 1993 were basically free from challenge, 
but 1995 was a different story--one with which we are all familiar. 
Like many of you, I was truly disappointed that we have come so far 
with such a degree of success only to have the process, under such a 
dark cloud, break down with confidence lost.
  So, it is under this cloud that we attempt to continue a discussion 
on the necessity of future base closures. The citizens of the 
Commonwealth and my colleagues in this chamber, know my position on 
this. Like Secretary Cohen and other experts on national security 
policy, I believe we still have work to do to reduce base 
infrastructure if we are to continue to meet the rising costs of 
national security challenges of the coming millennium, particularly 
modernization.
  The shadow cast on the process continues to grow--seemingly unabated 
by our remarks, and probably the counsel of Secretary Cohen. I am 
severely distressed by a recent Defense Department memo which, once 
again, puts in question the BRAC process.
  To get this process back on track, I am proposing legislation today 
to form a task force to revise these issues. This task force will be 
composed of experts chosen by both the majority and minority from both 
chambers in bipartisan spirit. The charter of the task force will be to 
investigate and report to the Congress by March of next year how we 
might efficiently achieve, without manipulation, the continued 
reduction in military infrastructure.
  I believe it is important that we assure the American people that a 
future base closure can be maintained in the spirit in which I and 
Senator Nunn and our colleagues on the committee has originally 
intended those few years ago. I invite members to join me on this 
legislation.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be 
printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                S. 2051

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. TASK FORCE ON BASE CLOSURE REFORM.

       (a) Establishment.--There is hereby established a 
     commission to be known as the ``Task Force on Base Closure 
     Reform'' (in this Act referred to as the ``Task Force'').
       (b) Purpose.--The purpose of the Task Force is to review 
     the base closure process (including the recommendation and 
     approval of installations for closure and the closure of 
     installations) under the 1990 base closure law in order to 
     recommend improvements, and potential alternatives, to the 
     base closure process under that law.

     SEC. 2. MEMBERSHIP.

       (a) Membership.--(1) The Task Force shall be composed of 10 
     members, appointed from among individuals described in 
     paragraph (2) as follows:
       (A) Three members shall be appointed by the Majority Leader 
     of the Senate.
       (B) Two members shall be appointed by the Minority Leader 
     of the Senate.
       (C) Three members shall be appointed by the Speaker of the 
     House of Representatives.
       (D) Two members shall be appointed by the Minority Leader 
     of the House of Representatives.
       (2) Members of the Task Force shall be appointed from among 
     retired members of the Armed Forces, or other private United 
     States citizens, who have one or more of the following 
     qualifications:
       (A) Past membership on a commission established under the 
     1990 base closure law or under title II of the Defense 
     Authorization Amendments and Base Closure and Realignment Act 
     (Public Law 100-526; 10 U.S.C. 2687 note).
       (B) Past service on the staff of a commission referred to 
     in subparagraph (A).
       (C) Experience with military force structure planning and 
     strategic planning.
       (D) Financial management experience.
       (E) Past membership in the legislative branch or service on 
     the staff of the legislative branch.
       (b) Appointment.--(1) All members of the Task Force shall 
     be appointed not later than 45 days after the date of 
     enactment of this Act.
       (2)(A) Members of the Task Force shall be appointed for the 
     life of the Task Force.
       (B) A vacancy in the membership of the Task Force shall not 
     affect the powers of the Task Force, but shall be filled in 
     the same manner as the original appointment.
       (c) Chairman.--The members of the Task Force shall choose 
     one of the members to serve as chairman of the Task Force.

     SEC. 3. DUTIES.

       (a) In General.--The Task Force shall--
       (1) carry out a review of the base closure process under 
     the 1990 base closure law in accordance with subsection (b);
       (2) carry out an assessment of the impact of the number of 
     base closure rounds on the base closure process under that 
     law in accordance with subsection (c);
       (3) carry out a comparative analysis of various means of 
     disposing of excess or surplus

[[Page S4540]]

     property in accordance with subsection (d); and
       (4) make recommendations in accordance with subsection (e).
       (b) Review.--In carrying out a review of the base closure 
     process under subsection (a)(1), the Task Force shall--
       (1) review the activities, after action reports, and 
     recommendations of each commission established under the 1990 
     base closure law in the 1991, 1993, and 1995 base closure 
     rounds under that law;
       (2) review the activities and after action reports of the 
     Department of Defense and the military departments with 
     respect to each such base closure round under that law, which 
     shall include an assessment of the compliance of the military 
     departments with the provisions of that law in each such 
     round; and
       (3) assess the effectiveness of the provisions of that law 
     in providing guidance to each such commission, the Department 
     of Defense, and the military departments with respect to 
     subsequent closures of military installations.
       (c) Assessment.--In carrying out an assessment of the 
     impact of the number of base closure rounds on the base 
     closure process under subsection (a)(2), the Task Force 
     shall--
       (1) review the activities of the Department of Defense and 
     the military departments in preparing for and carrying out 
     the closure of installations approved for closure in each 
     base closure round under the 1990 base closure law, 
     including--
       (A) the capacity of the Department of Defense and the 
     military departments to process the data required to make 
     recommendations with respect to the closure of installations 
     in each such round; and
       (B) the effectiveness of the activities undertaken by the 
     Department of Defense and the military departments to dispose 
     of property and equipment at such installations upon approval 
     of closure; and
       (2) assess the impact of the number of installations 
     recommended for closure in each such round on--
       (A) the accuracy of data provided by the Secretary of 
     Defense to the commission established under that law in such 
     round;
       (B) the capacity of such commission to process such data; 
     and
       (C) the ability of such commission to consider fully the 
     concerns of the communities likely to be effected by the 
     closure of the installations recommended for closure.
       (d) Comparative Analysis.--In carrying out a comparative 
     analysis under subsection (a)(3), the Task Force shall--
       (1) compare the law and experience of the United States in 
     disposing of surplus and excess property with the law and 
     experience of similar nations in disposing of such property; 
     and
       (2) compare the law (including any regulations, policies, 
     and directives) of the United States relating to the closure 
     of military installations with the law of similar nations 
     relating to the closure of such installations.
       (e) Recommendations.--In making recommendations under 
     subsection (a)(4), the Task Force shall--
       (1) recommend such modifications to the 1990 base closure 
     law as the Task Force considers appropriate in light of its 
     activities under this section;
       (2) compare the merits of requiring one additional round of 
     base closures under that law with the merits of requiring 
     more than one additional round of base closures under that 
     law; and
       (3) recommend any alternative methods of eliminating excess 
     capacity in the military installations inside the United 
     States that the Task Force considers appropriate in light of 
     its activities under this section.

     SEC. 4. REPORT.

       (a) Report.--Not later than March 15, 1999, the Task Force 
     shall submit to the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate 
     and the Committee on National Security of the House of 
     Representatives a report on its activities under this Act.
       (b) Elements.--The report shall include the results of the 
     activities of the Task Force under section 3, including the 
     recommendations required by subsection (e) of that section.

     SEC. 5. TASK FORCE MATTERS.

       (a) Meetings.--(1) The Task Force shall hold its first 
     meeting not later than 30 days after the date on which all 
     members have been appointed.
       (2) The Task Force shall meet upon the call of the 
     chairman.
       (3) A majority of the members of the Task Force shall 
     constitute a quorum, but a lesser number may hold meetings.
       (b) Authority of Individuals To Act for Task Force.--Any 
     member or agent of the Task Force may, if authorized by the 
     Task Force, take any action which the Task Force is 
     authorized to take under this section.
       (c) Hearings.--The Task Force may hold such hearings, sit 
     and act at such times and places, take such testimony, and 
     receive such evidence as the Task Force considers advisable 
     to carry out its duties.
       (d) Availability of Government Information.--The Task Force 
     may secure directly from the Department of Defense and any 
     other department or agency of the Federal Government such 
     information as the Task Force considers necessary to carry 
     out its duties. Upon the request of the chairman of the Task 
     Force, the head of a department or agency shall furnish the 
     requested information expeditiously to the Task Force.
       (e) Postal Services.--The Task Force may use the United 
     States mails in the same manner and under the same conditions 
     as other departments and agencies of the Federal Government.

     SEC. 6. TASK FORCE PERSONNEL MATTERS.

       (a) Pay and Expenses of Members.--(1) Each member of the 
     Task Force who is not an employee of the Government shall be 
     paid at a rate equal to the daily equivalent of the annual 
     rate of basic pay prescribed for level IV of the Executive 
     Schedule under section 5315 of title 5, United States Code, 
     for each day (including travel time) during which such member 
     is engaged in performing the duties of the Task Force.
       (2) Members and personnel of the Task Force may travel on 
     aircraft, vehicles, or other conveyances of the Armed Forces 
     when travel is necessary in the performance of a duty of the 
     Task Force except when the cost of commercial transportation 
     is less expensive.
       (3) The members of the Task Force may be allowed travel 
     expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, at rates 
     authorized for employees of agencies under subchapter I of 
     chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code, while away from 
     their homes or regular places of business in the performance 
     of services for the Task Force.
       (4)(A) A member of the Task Force who is an annuitant 
     otherwise covered by section 8344 or 8468 of title 5, United 
     States Code, shall not by reason of membership on the Task 
     Force be subject to the provisions of such section with 
     respect to such Task Force.
       (B) A member of the Task Force who is a member or former 
     member of a uniformed service shall not be subject to the 
     provisions of subsections (b) and (c) of section 5532 of such 
     title with respect to membership on the Task Force.
       (b) Staff and Administrative Support.--(1) The chairman of 
     the Task Force may, without regard to civil service laws and 
     regulations, appoint and terminate an executive director and 
     up to three additional staff members as necessary to enable 
     the Task Force to perform its duties. The chairman of the 
     Task Force may fix the compensation of the executive director 
     and other personnel without regard to the provisions of 
     chapter 51, and subchapter III of chapter 53, of title 5, 
     United States Code, relating to classification of positions 
     and General Schedule pay rates, except that the rate of pay 
     may not exceed the maximum rate of pay for grade GS-15 under 
     the General Schedule.
       (2) Upon the request of the chairman of the Task Force, the 
     head of any department or agency of the Federal Government 
     may detail, without reimbursement, any personnel of the 
     department or agency to the Task Force to assist in carrying 
     out its duties. A detail of an employee shall be without 
     interruption or loss of civil service status or privilege.

     SEC. 7. SUPPORT OF TASK FORCE.

       (a) Temporary Services.--The chairman of the Task Force may 
     procure temporary and intermittent services under section 
     3109(b) of title 5, United States Code, at rates for 
     individuals that do not exceed the daily equivalent of the 
     annual rate of basic pay prescribed for level IV of the 
     Executive Schedule under section 5315 of such title.
       (b) Department of Defense Support.--The Secretary of 
     Defense shall furnish to the Task Force such administrative 
     and support services as may be requested by the chairman of 
     the Task Force.

     SEC. 8. TERMINATION.

       The Task Force shall terminate 30 days after the date on 
     which it submits the report required by section 4.

     SEC. 9. FUNDING.

       Upon the request of the chairman of the Task Force, the 
     Secretary of Defense shall make available to the Task Force, 
     out of funds appropriated for the Department of Defense, such 
     amounts as the Task Force may require to carry out its 
     duties.

     SEC. 10. DEFINITION.

       In this Act, the term ``1990 base closure law'' means the 
     Defense Base Closure and Realignment Act of 1990 (part A of 
     title XXIX of Public Law 101-510; 10 U.S.C. 2687 note).
                                 ______
                                 
      By Mr. WARNER:
  S. 2053. A bill to require the Secretary of Treasury to redesign the 
$1 bill so as to incorporate the preamble to the Constitution of the 
United States, the Bill of Rights, and a list of Articles of the 
Constitution on the reverse side of such currency; to the Committee on 
Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.


                        LIBERTY dollar BILL act

  Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce the Liberty 
Dollar Bill Act.
  Recently, the eighth grade students of Liberty Middle School in 
Ashland, Virginia came up with an idea. The measure I introduce today 
simply implements their vision. This bill directs the Treasury to place 
on the back of the one dollar bill the actual language from the 
Constitution of the United States.
  Our founding fathers met in 1787, to write what would become the 
model for all modern democracies--the Constitution.

[[Page S4541]]

  Our Constitution is a beacon of light for the world. Shouldn't all 
people be able to hold up our one dollar bill as a symbol of there 
freedom of modern democracy worldwide.
  Washington, Madison, Franklin, Hamilton and many other great 
Americans met for four months in 1787 to ignite history's greatest 
light of government.
  They argued, fought, and compromised to create a lasting democracy, 
built on a philosophy found in the preamble of the constitution. And 
they protected this philosophy and these ideals by creating three 
branches of government and divisions of power between the federal and 
state governments found in the articles and the amendments of the 
Constitution.
  Three of the men mentioned are on our United States currency, but not 
the document they put their lives into--not the document they then 
asked Americans to ratify.
  While our currency celebrates the men who first wrote the 
constitution, it doesn't celebrate, their most noble achievement, the 
living document that has been so ably protected while it continues to 
evolve with each new generation.
  Shouldn't this greatest of American achievements be in the hands of 
all Americans?
  All Presidents, likewise all public officers, swear to ``preserve, 
protect and defend'' the constitution.
  No country can survive if it looses its philosophical moorings. The 
freedoms and liberties we enjoy give substance, value and meaning to 
the laws by which we live. Our Nation's philosophy can be taken for 
granted in the daily business of lawmaking. Yet we can hear in John F. 
Kennedy's inaugural address that we do not defend America's laws, we 
defend its philosophy--a philosophy embodied in the Constitution.
  Seventy-five percent of Americans say that ``The Constitution is 
important to them, makes them proud, and is relevant to their lives.''
  So important is this document that we built the Archives in 
Washington to house and safeguard it. Hundreds of thousands go there 
each year to see it. However, ninety-four percent of Americans don't 
even know all of the rights and freedoms found in the First Amendment.
  Sixty-two percent of Americans can't name our three branches of 
government.
  Six hundred thousand legal immigrants come to America each year. 
Often their first sight of America is the Statute of Liberty, holding 
high her torch, symbolizing our light and our freedom. Many of these 
immigrants become American citizens by the naturalization process and 
learn more about the Constitution than many natural born citizens
  If America's most patriotic symbol--the Constitution--were on the 
back of the one dollar bill, wouldn't we all know more about our 
Government? And shouldn't we?
  Shouldn't it be where all Americans can readily read it. Shouldn't 
the Constitution be on the back of the one dollar bill?
  Today, I am proud to join my colleague in the House, Chairman Tom 
Bliley, and introduce the companion legislation in the Senate. The 
Liberty Dollar Bill Act directs the Secretary of the Treasury to 
incorporate the preamble to the Constitution of the United States, the 
Bill of Rights, and a list of the Articles of the Constitution on the 
reverse side of the one dollar bill.
  Mr. President, I agree with the students of Liberty Middle School. 
The Constitution belongs to the people. It should be in their hands.
  I want to commend the eighth grade students of Liberty Middle School 
and their teacher, Mr. Randy Wright for their contribution to our 
Nation. I hope all my colleagues in the Senate will see the wisdom of 
these students and join me as a cosponsor of this legislation. Let the 
nation hear that the younger generation can provide ideas that become 
the laws of our land.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be 
printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                S. 2053

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Liberty Dollar Bill Act''.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

       The Congress finds as follows:
       (1) Many Americans are unaware of the provisions of the 
     Constitution of the United States, one of the most remarkable 
     and important documents in world history.
       (2) A version of this important document, consisting of the 
     preamble, a list of the Articles, and the Bill of Rights, 
     could easily be placed on the reverse side of the $1 Federal 
     reserve note.
       (3) The placement of this version of the Constitution on 
     the $1 Federal reserve note, a unit of currency used daily by 
     virtually all Americans, would serve to remind people of the 
     historical importance of the Constitution and its impact on 
     their lives today.
       (4) Americans would be reminded by the preamble of the 
     blessings of liberty, by the Articles, of the framework of 
     the Government, and by the Bill of Rights, of some of the 
     historical changes to the document that forms the very core 
     of the American experience.

     SEC. 3. REDESIGN OF REVERSE SIDE OF THE $1 BILL.

       (a) In General.--Section 5114 of title 31, United States 
     Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new 
     subsection:
       ``(d) Liberty Dollar Bills.--
       ``(1) In general.--In addition to the requirements of 
     subsection (b) (relating to the inclusion of the inscription 
     `In God We Trust' on all United States currency) and the 
     eighth undesignated paragraph of section 16 of the Federal 
     Reserve Act, the design of the reverse side of $1 Federal 
     reserve notes shall incorporate the preamble to the 
     Constitution of the United States, a list of the Articles of 
     the Constitution, and a list of the first 10 amendments to 
     the Constitution.
       ``(2) Design.--Subject to paragraph (3), the preamble to 
     the Constitution of the United States, the first 10 
     amendments to the Constitution, and the list of the Articles 
     of the Constitution shall appear on the reverse side of the 
     $1 Federal reserve note, in such form as the Secretary deems 
     appropriate.
       ``(3) Authority of secretary.--The requirements of this 
     subsection shall not be construed as--
       ``(A) prohibiting the inclusion of any other inscriptions 
     or material on the reverse side of the $1 Federal reserve 
     note that the Secretary may determine to be necessary or 
     appropriate; or
       ``(B) limiting any other authority of the Secretary with 
     regard to the design of the $1 Federal reserve note, 
     including the adoption of any design features to deter the 
     counterfeiting of United States currency.''.
       (b) Date of Application.--The amendment made by subsection 
     (a) shall apply to $1 Federal reserve notes that are first 
     placed into circulation after December 31, 1999.

                          ____________________