[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 6 (Saturday, January 20, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Pages S58-S63]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
EXECUTIVE SESSION
Mr. ROBERTS. Mr. President, I now ask unanimous consent that the
Senate proceed to executive session to consider the nominations of
Donald H. Rumsfeld to be Secretary of Defense, Colin L. Powell to be
Secretary of State, Paul H. O'Neill to be Secretary of the Treasury,
Ann Veneman to be Secretary of Agriculture, Donald L. Evans to be
Secretary of Commerce, Rod Paige to be Secretary of Education, and
Spencer Abraham to be Secretary of Energy.
The PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so ordered.
Mr. ROBERTS. I further ask unanimous consent, Mr. President, that the
nominations be considered en bloc and disposed of en bloc, that each
nomination be considered separately in the Record, and following the
confirmations the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, that the
President be immediately notified that the Senate has given its consent
to these nominations, and the Senate then return to legislative
session.
Mr. REID. Reserving the right to object, Mr. President,
I wish the Record to reflect that with regard to the nomination of
Spencer Abraham to be Secretary of Energy, I am voting in the negative.
I appreciate the fact that we need a Secretary of Energy immediately
because of the dire energy crisis in the State of California. My
objection to Secretary designee Abraham's nomination is based on the
troubling record Mr. Abraham has established on nuclear waste. This
objection is based on a difference of opinion over this matter. Indeed,
I had the honor of serving in this body with Spencer Abraham in his
capacity as a Senator from Michigan. I know him to be a decent and
honorable man who served with distinction.
As a Senator from Michigan, however, he voted repeatedly to ship
nuclear waste to the State of Nevada despite the overwhelming evidence
that such a move was being made without regard for sound science and
public health and safety. He voted to ship nuclear waste to Nevada
notwithstanding the fact that there is no safe route for the
transportation of high level nuclear waste through the states and
cities and towns of America. He supported an industry backed bill that
would have expedited delivery of nuclear waste to Nevada on an
``interim'' basis. He even supported overriding President Clinton's
veto of a bill which would have greatly weakened the EPA's role in
establishing the appropriate radiation standards at Yucca Mountain.
The decision on the designation of a permanent nuclear waste
repository rests with the Secretary of Energy. This decision, and
others relating to Yucca Mountain, must be made absent bias.
Regrettably, Secretary designee Abraham's record as a Senator and his
testimony before the Energy Committee as a nominee lead me to believe
that he may not be capable of such impartiality on this very important
issue.
I withdraw my reservation.
Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I rise today to give my strongest
recommendation for the confirmation of the nomination of Donald H.
Rumsfeld to be Secretary of Defense.
On December 28, 2000, then President-elect Bush announced his
intention to nominate former-Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld, a man I
have known for more than 20 years, to be his Secretary of Defense. I
support this nomination, and I am pleased that the President decided to
recommend him for this important position.
Don Rumsfeld served as Secretary of Defense for President Ford from
1975 to 1977. I am confident that he will, once again, be a competent,
trustworthy, effective Secretary of Defense. He has the experience,
knowledge, skill and ability to oversee the best--the largest--military
force in the world. His challenge will be to prepare that force for
missions in the ever-growing, increasingly complex threat environment
of the 21st century. He must ``jump start'' the pace of transition from
cold war thinking to new thinking.
Don Rumsfeld has been extremely successful in the business world in
the years since he last served as Secretary of Defense. He has served
as the chief executive officer of G.D. Searle and Company, a worldwide
pharmaceutical company, and as chairman and chief executive officer of
General Instrument Corporation, a leader in broadband and digital,
high-definition television technology. While leading these major
private-sector businesses, he continued his public service by serving
in a variety of Federal posts and as a member of several commissions.
Many Senators are familiar with the excellent work Secretary Rumsfeld
has done on both the Commission to Assess the Ballistic Missile Threat
to the United States, which issued its report in 1998, and the
Commission to Assess United States National Security Space Management
and Organization, which issued its report on January 11, 2001.
President Bush has articulated a vision for the U.S. military and has
set three broad goals for national defense: first, to renew the bond of
trust between the President and the military; second, to defend the
American people against missiles and terror; and third, to begin
creating the military of the next century. I know that Don Rumsfeld is
committed to these goals as well.
In a speech at the Citadel in September 1999, then-Governor Bush
said, ``Those who want to lead America accept two obligations. One is
to use our military power wisely, remembering the costs of war. The
other is to honor our commitments to veterans who have paid those
costs.'' I doubt that any Member of the Senate would take exception
with those obligations. Don Rumsfeld will certainly accept these
obligations with enthusiasm.
Public service is a demanding vocation for the family as well as the
nominee. I want to express my personal appreciation to Mrs. Joyce
Rumsfeld for rededicating herself to public service as well. The Nation
will never fully appreciate the sacrifices spouses, such as Joyce
Rumsfeld, make supporting those who serve our country.
Mr. President, I want to commend my friend and colleague, Senator
Levin, for the manner in which, as the chairman of the Armed Services
Committee, he dealt with this nomination. Chairman Levin and I worked
together very closely as the committee considered the nomination in a
deliberate and timely manner.
I support this nomination. I urge my colleagues to support the
nomination as well. Secretary Rumsfeld will be a crucial part of the
great national security team that President Bush has assembled.
The nominations were considered and confirmed, as follows:
Department of Agriculture
Ann Margaret Veneman, of California, to be Secretary of
Agriculture.
Department of Defense
Donald Henry Rumsfeld, of Illinois, to be Secretary of
Defense.
Department of Commerce
Donald Louis Evans, of Texas, to be Secretary of Commerce.
Department of Energy
Spencer Abraham, of Michigan, to be Secretary of Energy.
Department of the Treasury
Paul Henry O'Neill, of Pennsylvania, to be Secretary of the
Treasury.
Department of State
Colin Luther Powell, of Virginia, to be Secretary of State.
Department of Education
Roderick R. Paige, of Texas, to be Secretary of Education.
nominations
Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, I said on January 3 that I intended to
savor every one of the next 17 days. And I am pleased to tell you, I
did.
In fact, I called my office this morning just to hear the
receptionist say--one last time--``Majority Leader's Office.'' I did it
again this morning.
It was an honor to serve as majority leader of this Senate--even if
only for 17 days.
In the spirit of bipartisanship, I want to say to my friend, Senator
Lott that if he every needs to take a day off--for any reason--I'll be
happy to fill in for him.
I also want to thank my fellow Democratic Senators--particularly our
committee chairs.
It's been a while since a Democratic Senator had banged a chairman's
gavel around here.
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But you never would have known it to see them in action.
One measure of their dedication is the fact that we are here today to
confirm the first seven of President Bush's Cabinet nominees.
Every other Cabinet nominee has gotten, or is getting, a fair
hearing.
Something else happened during these last 17 days: We reached a
historic agreement to share responsibility in America's first-ever 50/
50 Senate.
I want to thank Senator Lott again, and commend him for having the
faith and the courage to do the right and fair thing.
Today, I hand the title of Majority Leader back to him.
And that's just fine.
As Thomas Jefferson said: ``I like the dream of the future better
than the history of the past.''
Today, as President Bush begins his Presidency, we wish him well. We
want to work with him to make a better future--for all Americans.
To the cynics who say that's not possible, let me point out seven
reasons for hope: Colin Powell, Donald Rumsfeld, Paul O'Neill, Don
Evans, Spence Abraham, Ann Veneman, and Rod Paige.
I'd like to say a few words about each of these extraordinary men and
women.
Colin Powell:
I told Colin Powell earlier this week that he has lots of admirers on
both sides of the aisle here, and I consider myself one of the biggest.
America is fortunate to have him as our ambassador to the world.
General Powell has spent his entire adult life serving this nation.
He started in the Army as a second lieutenant in June 1958 and spent
the next 35 years as a professional soldier. He eventually rose to
become Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff--the highest military
assignment at the Pentagon--and National Security Adviser to President
Reagan. He received many awards, including: the Defense Distinguished
Service Medal with 3 oak leaf clusters, the Army Distinguished Service
Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Defense Superior Service Medal, the
Legion of Merit with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Soldier's Medal, the Bronze
Star, and the Purple Heart.
In 1993, General Powell retired from the Army and found a new way to
serve his country: as chairman of America's Promise--The Alliance for
Youth.
The world has changed dramatically since Colin Powell first put on an
Army uniform. I was reminded of that again a few days ago when I read a
newspaper article about police officer in Sioux Falls by the name of
Greg Schmit. Officer Schmit and 10 other police officers throughout
America recently returned from Russia.
They went to Russia as part of a State Department program to train
Russian police in Western policing methods. They didn't go out of some
misguided idealism. They went because it is in America's national
security interest to help foster the rule of law and a professional
police force in Russia.
I mention this because I believe there are parallels between what
Officer Schmit and his colleagues did, and what Secretary Powell can,
and must, do as Secretary of State.
The threats to world peace are different today than when Colin Powell
first joined the Army--but they are no less dangerous.
The proliferation of weapons of mass destruction has turned what used
to be regional conflicts into potential global catastrophes.
New technologies and more open societies have enabled drug
traffickers and other criminals to expand their activities--threatening
American citizens and democratic advances worldwide.
Abandoning our responsibilities as a world leader will not protect us
from the threats in today's world. But it would deprive us of the
benefits.
We must not fall for the false security of isolationism.
We must remain engaged in the world.
Protecting America's interests and promoting the causes of peace and
democracy throughout the world will require a team effort.
I can think of no one better-suited to head that team than Colin
Powell.
Donald Rumsfeld:
Joining Secretary Powell on that team is an outstanding leader who
has also had a long and distinguished career inside and outside of
government: Donald Rumsfeld.
As Secretary of Defense, Don Rumsfeld will lead 1.5 million active
duty personnel, nearly 1 million reserve personnel and more than
800,000 full-time civilian employees. And he will encounter new and
unconventional threats that defy conventional solutions.
Clearly, these are daunting challenges. But Don Rumsfeld is well-
qualified to meet them.
A graduate of Princeton University, he served three years as a U.S.
Navy aviator before being elected in 1962--at the age of 30--to the
House of Representatives.
In 1969, he resigned from Congress to work for President Nixon, and
stayed to work for President Ford.
In 1975 he was confirmed by the Senate to serve as our 13th and
youngest Secretary of Defense.
Two years later, he began a 20-year career in the private sector. But
he continued to answer the call of public duty, serving as President
Reagan's Special Envoy for the Middle East and chairman of the
Commission to Assess the Ballistic Missile Threat to the United States.
I look forward to working with both Secretary Powell and Secretary
Rumsfeld.
There are five areas in particular where I hope we can build
bipartisan support:
First: In recent years, the U.S. has worked with NATO to end ethnic
cleansing in the former Yugoslavia and restore stability to
southeastern Europe. In East Asia, we worked with our Korean and
Japanese allies to diminish North Korea's nuclear threat and come
within striking distance of an agreement to halt that country's missile
program. We must not threaten these and other critical alliances by
rushing to disengage from successful efforts in the Balkans and
elsewhere.
Second: We must also avoid threatening our friends--and our enemies--
unnecessarily by rushing too quickly to deploy a national missile
defense. President Bush has said he is committed to deploying such a
system, and Secretaries Powell and Rumsfeld also have expressed support
for it.
Let me be clear: Democrats also support ballistic missile defense
system--as long as it meets four essential criteria. It must be
affordable and effective, it must meet the threat, and it must not
damage relations with our allies. In short, it must make us more
secure, not less.
Third: We want to work with Secretaries Powell and Rumsfeld, and with
President Bush, to build bipartisan support for the Comprehensive Test
Ban Treaty.
I will not dwell here on the lengths to which CTBT opponents went in
the last Congress to tilt the playing field--both procedurally and
substantively. Suffice it to say that this important treaty did not get
the fair and full hearing it should have, and the Senate failed to
ratify it.
General John Shalikashvili, former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of
Staff, said recently: ``(t)he advantages of the Test Ban Treaty
outweigh any disadvantages, and thus . . . ratification would increase
national security.'' I hope the Bush administration will pay close
attention.
Fourth: We must maintain our support for efforts to control the
spread of weapons of mass destruction, such as the Cooperative Threat
Reduction program--better known as ``the Nunn-Lugar program.'' This
program enables us to work with Russia to reduce its nuclear arsenal.
It has led to the destruction of thousands of Russian nuclear weapons
and weapons platforms. It has also resulted in tighter security at
Russian nuclear weapons development and production facilities.
It is hard to imagine a better investment in our national security.
We must maintain it.
Fifth: Our diplomatic corps will always be our first line of defense.
We must make sure it has the resources it needs to do its job well.
At the same time, we must make it clear to our friends and our
enemies alike that, if America's values and interests are threatened,
and if diplomacy fails, we will use force.
We must maintain America's role as a global leader.
Paul O'Neill:
To do that, we must maintain our fiscal discipline.
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Paul O'Neill, our next Secretary of the Treasury, understands that.
Like Secretaries Powell and Rumsfeld, he comes to his post with a
long and impressive record of achievement in both the private and
public sectors.
He has been a tremendously successful CEO of a major American
corporation, Alcoa, which operates worldwide and has thrived in the
global economy under his leadership.
He has earned the respect of Wall Street--and Alcoa employees.
George Becker is president of the Steelworkers Union. Listen to what
he had to say about Paul O'Neill--quote: ``Most of our relationships
with employers are confrontational by nature. but we found that Paul
had very keen interest on the side of working people.''
His predecessors in the current Administration--Lloyd Bentsen, Bob
Rubin, and Larry Summers--played critical roles in restoring the fiscal
strength of the United States and in responding to financial crises
around the globe. As a result--in significant measure--of their insight
and actions, the new Treasury Secretary will inherit a remarkably
strong fiscal situation.
In his new office, I hope Secretary O'Neill will remember how hobbled
our economy was a decade ago, and how hard Americans worked to put our
economy back on sound financial footing. I also hope he will look to
the future.
In less than a decade, the first Baby Boomers will retire. We want to
work with Secretary O'Neill, President Bush, and our Republican
colleagues to prepare for the Baby Boomers' retirement now, while we
still have the time, so we can avoid a crisis down the road.
We can afford to cut taxes. We can afford to provide to add a
prescription drug benefit to Medicare. But we must not go too far. We
cannot afford to return to fiscal irresponsibility and weakness.
There's a better way. Together, we can find it.
Don Evans:
Maintaining fiscal discipline is the key to keeping our economy
strong.
We must also continue to help American businesses and entrepreneurs
grow and create new jobs, and continue to seek out new markets for
American good and services--at home and abroad.
That will be the job of President Bush's new Commerce Secretary. And
he is well-prepared to take it on.
Mr. Evans understands that we live in a global economy, and that
erecting trade barriers between countries is the wrong approach.
As someone from a rural state, I particularly appreciate his
commitment to promote access to the newest technologies in rural
America.
We are ready to work with Secretary Evans on all of these priorities.
We also want to work with him to keep politics out of the census, so
that we can get an accurate count of America's population.
Spencer Abraham:
These last couple of weeks have provided dramatic reminders of how
essential affordable, reliable energy supplies are to our nation.
In California, rolling energy blackouts have forced temporary
shutdowns of Silicon Valley computer giants, and turned off traffic
lights at the height of rush-hour.
In South Dakota and many other states, soaring oil and natural gas
prices are making it harder for families to heat their homes, and
eating into business profits.
As Secretary of Energy, Spence Abraham is the person to whom America
will look for solutions to our nation's pressing energy needs.
He is also the person most responsible for ensuring the safety and
security of our nation's nuclear stockpile, storing and cleaning up
nuclear waste, and overseeing critical research at our national energy
labs.
I am confident that Secretary Abraham is ready for these difficult
tasks.
He showed during his six years in the Senate that he is willing to
work in a bipartisan fashion. I look forward to continuing to work with
him in his new capacity.
I am especially interested in working with him to promote the use of
renewable energy sources such as wind and ethanol, and providing
incentives for improved energy efficiency.
By using our resources wisely, we can reduce our dependence on
foreign oil and ensure the stability of our economy.
Ann Veneman:
The Department of Agriculture is charge with the oversight of a wide
range of policy areas--from commodity programs and trade to food
safety, from natural resources and forestry management to nutrition
programs.
I am confident that Ann Veneman has the breadth of experience and
knowledge to ensure Americans are very well served in all of these
areas.
Ms. Veneman has a long history of public service.
In 1991, Agriculture Secretary Madigan tapped her to be Deputy
Secretary at USDA. She was the first women ever to be appointed to that
position. But what people know her for was her significant
contributions to the GATT Uruguay round negotiations on agriculture,
from which we continue to benefit.
In 1995, Governor Wilson appointed her to be Secretary of Agriculture
in California.
She was the first woman to serve as Agriculture Secretary in
California. While there, she pursued a strong and varied agenda that
included opening new markets for trade and making significant
improvements in California's food safety system.
With this nomination, Ms. Veneman will be the first woman United
States Secretary of Agriculture. She brings considerable strengths to
this post, and we are confident that we will take major strides in farm
policy with her at the helm.
Roderick Paige:
Finally, I want to commend President Bus for choosing Dr. Roderick
Paige as his Secretary of Education. As superintendent of the Houston
Independent School District and before that, as a member of Houston's
school board, Dr. Paige has shown that he believes every child deserves
an opportunity to attend a good public school.
During his nearly seven years as superintendent, Houston saw
significant gains in the numbers of 10th graders passing Texas' basic
skills test--especially among minority students.
Dr. Paige understands from personal experience the many challenges
facing America's public schools, the men and women who work in them,
and the children who depend on them.
He has earned the support and admiration of a wide variety of
education professionals. He has earned this nomination. I look forward
to working closely with him to help President Bush fulfill his pledge
to leave no child behind.
Again, I commend President Bush for sending us seven such strong
nominees. I urge my colleagues to support all of them. And I look
forward to working with each of them to make that dream of a better
future, that Thomas Jefferson wrote about, a reality.
nomination of colin powell
Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President I rise today to offer my unequivocal
support for the nomination of General Colin Powell as our Secretary of
State. Colin Powell's experience as a soldier, a public servant, and a
civilian leader will serve him well in overcoming the challenges ahead.
Americans should know that we could not ask for any person with
better preparation, more knowledge, or greater skills to take the helm
of U.S. foreign policy and its diplomatic corps at this time in our
history.
As a former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Powell
fully understands the role of the military in the implementation of
foreign policy. He also understands that a powerful military can be
eroded through misuse. The use of force should be the last resort, not
the first best solution to failed diplomacy.
As General Powell stated in his testimony before the Foreign
Relations Committee, the United States' challenge is one of leadership.
U.S. power--military, economic, and diplomatic--is unparalleled. We
must use such power judiciously. And we must apply the appropriate type
of power in the right situations to shape a more peaceful and
prosperous world.
But first we must know and clearly define our objectives.
President Bush stated that U.S. foreign policy was ``like a cork in a
current being swept from crisis to crisis. I believe this image
accurately depicts the struggle over the last several years with the
lack of a clearly formulated and executed foreign policy.
Many recognize, and General Powell addressed this also in his
testimony,
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that the world we live in has radically changed in the last decade. We
no longer face an ideological foe. We no longer live with the threat of
annihilation from Soviet nuclear forces.
But the world today is not peaceful. The end of the Cold War
stalemate unleashed forces of change. These forces of change couple
with unprecedented technological advances have fundamentally altered
the global landscape. The threats we face are diffuse, and many tools
of the Cold War era prove insufficient in countering these new threats.
These new challenges--from cyber-terrorism to AIDS in Africa to
proliferation of weapons of mass destruction--will require new
approaches and better coordination between our federal agencies. The
Bush Administration is bringing together the most talented and
experienced Cabinet in recent years to tackle these problems.
Colin Powell brings the leadership skills and commands the respect
necessary to initiate needed changes, renew our diplomatic corps,
clearly define our national interests and implement policies to achieve
U.S. objectives. I look forward to working with Secretary Powell in my
role as Chairman of the Budget Committee to give him the means
necessary to address the State Department's needs.
Mr. President, in closing I would like to thank General Powell for
his willingness to, once again, serve the American people.
Mr. DODD. Mr. President, I rise today to add my enthusiastic support
for the nomination of Colin L. Powell to be the next United States
Secretary of State--a view that I believe is unanimous in this body.
The reasons are obvious. General Powell is a distinguished American who
will bring credit to the Bush administration and our country over the
next four years. He is without doubt extremely well qualified by
experience and temperament to represent our nation as its chief
diplomat and foreign policy spokesman.
I know a number of my colleagues have already gone on at length about
the distinguished record of public service that General Powell has
performed during his thirty-five years of military service before
retiring, in 1993, from his post as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of
Staff. In the interest of time, I will simply associate myself with
their remarks in noting that General Powell's record of public service
is truly impressive. I would point out, however that the various
positions he has held over the years have prepared him well to assume
his new responsibilities as Secretary of State.
And, as if his years of public service were not enough, General
Powell continued to serve his country and community in ``retirement.''
He agreed to chair President Clinton's Summit for America's Future in
1997 and founded and chaired America's Promise--The Alliance for Youth,
a non-profit organization dedicated to strengthening the character and
competence of America's young people. General Powell's efforts to raise
the profile of such an important issue, one that goes to the very
fabric of our society, have clearly begun to bear fruit. As a Senator
with a particular interest in the welfare of our children, I hope that
America's Promise will continue its important work now that General
Powell has a new ``day job.''
General Powell has now agreed to take on yet another assignment for
the American people, this time as our country's chief diplomat and
international spokesman. There is no doubt in my mind that he will do a
superb job as Secretary of State. While some of President Bush's recent
appointments have provoked controversy, the Rumsfeld/Powell--Defense/
Foreign Policy team has strong bipartisan support in Congress and has
been welcomed by the American people. I want to commend President Bush
for his wise choice in asking General Powell to join his
administration, and I want to personally thank General Powell for his
willingness to once again answer the call of public service to his
country. No one would have begrudged him had he said, ``thanks but no
thanks.'' His commitment and service to our country is truly
extraordinary.
Let me also say for the record that General Powell's recent
predecessors, Madeleine Albright and Warren Christopher have also
distinguished themselves during their tenures and have left the world a
better place for their efforts. I want to thank them for their service
to our country and wish them well in their future endeavors.
On Thursday, I had the privilege of questioning General Powell at his
nomination hearing before the Foreign Relations Committee. While we did
not agree on every topic discussed, it was clear to me that General
Powell has taken his nomination seriously and has educated himself on
all aspects of foreign policy. He listened to every question
attentively and answered every query thoughtfully. I was heartened in
particular by the high priority he has placed on ensuring that adequate
resources are made available to the State Department to make it
possible for our diplomatic responsibilities to be effectively
discharged around the world. In his prepared statement. General Powell
also outlined his view of the world and emphasized that the United
States cannot suddenly isolate itself from the global community.
Moreover, he reiterated the necessity of the United States remaining
engaged internationally in order to build upon the successes of
previous administrations.
I took the opportunity to question General Powell at length on issues
of special concern to me. He pledged to continue to monitor the Irish
and Middle East peace processes, and while I know we have a difference
of opinion on this issue, he did not reject outright the idea of an
International Criminal Court, although he made clear his concerns with
the treaty as currently drafted. Furthermore, I was extremely pleased
to hear that President Bush has pledged to take a more active role in
foreign policy with respect to strengthening our relations with
countries in our own hemisphere. Many of my colleagues know of my
interest in this region. I had numerous questions for General Powell on
a wide range of topics of interest in Latin America--Mexico, Plan
Colombia, our complex relationship with Cuba, the political chaos in
Peru, and how best to spur democratization in Haiti. While we did not
discuss any of these topics in great depth, it was clear to me that
General Powell has a clear grasp of the problems extant in this region
of the world, and I look forward to working with him over the next four
years on issues of mutual concern.
General Powell demonstrated a willingness to listen to Senators
thoughts and concerns over the six hours that his hearing lasted. Such
an attitude can only serve to forge a strong and productive
relationship between the State Department and the Senate. At the end of
the day, dialogue between the Secretary and the Congress will ensure
that the United States foreign policy agenda has strong bipartisan
support here at home. U.S. foreign policy and national security
interests will be best served if this proves to be so. If anyone can
foster a spirit of bipartisanship in foreign policy, I believe that
General Powell can. I look forward to working with him on issues of
mutual interest and concern, and urge my colleagues to support his
nomination.
nomination of donald h. rumsfeld
Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, I support the nomination of Donald Rumsfeld
to be Secretary of Defense, and I urge my colleagues to support this
nomination. It is important for the Senate confirm Mr. Rumsfeld today,
the first day of the new administration, so that the new Secretary of
Defense can assume his position in the chain of command of our armed
forces.
Mr. Rumsfeld is well qualified to serve as Secretary of Defense. He
has a distinguished record of public service, and in fact served as
Secretary of Defense in the last 14 months of President Ford's
administration. Since then, he has led several large private sector
companies, while still remaining active in national security policy
issues. Most recently, he served as Chairman of the U.S. Ballistic
Missile Threat Commission and the Commission to Assess the United
States National Security Space Management and Organization.
President Bush announced his intent to nominate Mr. Rumsfeld to be
Secretary of Defense on December 28. Since then, the Armed Services
Committee has conducted the same thorough review of this nomination
that we apply to every nomination that comes before the committee. The
nominee has submitted the required paperwork to the committee, met
applicable financial disclosure requirements, and pledged to comply
with the conflict of
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interest standards of the executive branch and the committee.
Mr. Rumsfeld has completed the detailed Armed Services Committee
questionnaire that we require of all nominees. He has also responded in
writing to an extensive series of policy questions which were
circulated to all members of the committee and released to the public.
On February 11, the committee conducted a lengthy hearing with the
nominee. A number of members of the committee submitted additional
questions in writing to the nominee at the end of the confirmation
hearing, and Mr. Rumsfeld has responded to all of those questions.
Finally, Senator Warner and I have reviewed the summary of the FBI
background investigation of Mr. Rumsfeld.
Yesterday, the Armed Services Committee met and voted unanimously to
recommend that the full Senate give its advice and consent to this
nomination. I ask unanimous consent that a memo that Senator Warner and
I sent to Senator Daschle and Senator Lott informing them of the
committee's action be printed in the Record at the conclusion of my
remarks.
The PRESIDENT pro tempore: Without objection it is so ordered.
(See exhibit 1.)
Mr. LEVIN. As Secretary of Defense, Mr. Rumsfeld will inherit the
most dominant military force in the history of the world. Over the last
two decades, our military has incorporated a series of technological
improvements that have revolutionized their military capability--from
precision-guided munitions and stealth technology to satellite
reconnaissance and electronic warfare capabilities. Today, each of our
military services is more lethal, more maneuverable, more versatile and
has greater situational awareness on the battlefield than at any time
in our history.
But this is not a time for us to rest on our past accomplishments.
The next administration and the Congress must work together to make
sure our military is prepared to deal with the new threats to our
security--particularly the terrorist threat--with new technologies,
more mobile forces and improved intelligence capabilities. It is also
essential that we devote a great deal of energy to combating what I
believe is the greatest single threat to our security in the future--
the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.
Mr. President, Donald Rumsfeld has a strong commitment to the
national security of our country and to the well-being of the men and
women of our armed forces and their families. He is well-qualified to
lead the Department of Defense. I look forward to working with him in
his new position, and I urge the Senate to confirm his nomination.
Exhibit 1
U.S. Senate,
Committee on Armed Services,
Washington, DC, January 19, 2001.
Memorandum to: Senator Daschle and Senator Lott.
From: Senator Levin and Senator Warner.
Subject: Nomination of Donald H. Rumsfeld to be Secretary of
Defense.
On December 28, 2000, President-elect Bush announced his
intention to nominate Donald H. Rumsfeld to be Secretary of
Defense.
On January 3, 2001, the Committee on Armed Services
forwarded the Committee's nomination questionnaire to
Secretary-designate Rumsfeld. The Committee requires each
nominee to complete a questionnaire relating to the nominee's
qualifications and potential conflicts of interest. Mr.
Rumsfeld's responses to the questionnaire provided basic
biographical and financial information.
Pursuant to its normal practice, on January 3, 2001, the
Committee submitted a number of advance policy questions to
the nominee. Secretary-designate Rumsfeld provided his
responses to these questions on January 9, 2001. The
questions and Secretary-designate Rumsfeld's responses were
made a part of the record of the Committee's nomination
hearing.
In anticipation of the nomination, the Committee conducted
a hearing on January 11, 2001, in public session, to
carefully review the credentials of Secretary-designate
Rumsfeld. Secretary-designate Rumsfeld was the only witness
at this hearing.
As part of the confirmation process, the Committee received
the nominee's Public Financial Disclosure Report and appended
ethics agreement, as well as letters on conflict of interest
and related matters from the Director of the Office of
Government Ethics and the General Counsel of the Department
of Defense. Based on this information, the Committee
concludes that the nominee has agreed, upon appointment, to
initiate the necessary actions to comply with all applicable
laws and regulations regarding conflict of interest.
The Committee on Armed Services found Donald H. Rumsfeld to
be highly qualified for the position of Secretary of Defense.
In an Executive Session on January 19, 2001, the Committee
voted unanimously to recommend the Senate provide its advice
and consent to the nomination of Mr. Rumsfeld.
John Warner,
Ranking Member.
Carl Levin,
Chairman.
Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, I rise today to offer my support to the
nomination of Donald Rumsfeld as our Secretary of Defense. He will
bring unparalleled experience, tremendous knowledge, and tactics of no
fear to a daunting task.
Let me briefly describe his task: As Secretary of Defense, Donald
Rumsfeld will be charged with leading the world's most powerful
military. The U.S. military is the most technologically advanced and
best trained in the world. Today, no other nation would take us on
head-to-head.
But this is also a military machine that suffered years of neglect
and misuse.
Donald Rumsfeld will take charge after the peace dividend has long
expired. The motto of doing ``more with less'' is no longer feasible.
The fabric of our military forces is stretched so thin as to begin
unraveling.
While U.S. forces have continued to shrink in size, increased
deployments and the corresponding operational tempo has eaten away at
moral. Plummeting retention and recruitment appears to have been
arrested for the time being, but without acknowledging this situation
and turning the tide, our military might will wither.
In 1975 Donald Rumsfeld had only 14 months to turn the tide before
Jimmy Carter took the election in 1976. In reviewing his achievements
in that short period, I believe the next four years hold great promise.
I would also like to mention some of Donald Rumsfeld's most recent
contributions to important national security issues. The Rumsfeld
Commission's report in the summer of 1999 underscored the heightened
threat and accelerated pace of missile programs in nations hostile to
the United States. Within a month of the Report's release, North Korea
proved Rumsfeld right.
Donald Rumsfeld also headed the Commission to Assess United States
National Security Space Management and Organization. The unanimous
report of the Commission was released on January 11--just nine days
ago. The Commission's findings will help inform and guide our national
space policy in the coming years.
On a more parochial note, Donald Rumsfeld also has a working cattle
ranch in northern New Mexico. He and his wife, Joyce, spend many months
a year there. He is known and admired by many in the local community.
Knowing the beauty of El Prado as I do, I must say that he is
sacrificing a great deal to take this job. But knowing Donald Rumsfeld
also as I do, he's never shirked in performing his duty to this great
nation.
Donald Rumsfeld brings the necessary experience, leadership ability,
and esteem to initiate needed changes, reinvigorate our military
forces, and prepare them for the 21st century. As chairman of the
Budget Committee and a member of the Defense Appropriations
Subcommittee, I look forward to working with Secretary Rumsfeld in
meeting these challenges.
Mr. DODD. Mr. President, I am pleased to have the opportunity on this
historic inauguration day to rise in strong support of the Honorable
Donald Rumsfeld, President Bush's nominee for Secretary of Defense. In
my judgment, Secretary Rumsfeld is eminently qualified for the post, a
position he previously held some 25 years ago, and the decisive action
I believe will be taken on the Senate floor today is a clear indication
of the strong bipartisan support he has rightfully earned.
Secretary Rumsfeld has long been a prominent and positive figure in
American public life. Most recently, he chaired the U.S. Ballistic
Missile Threat Commission and served as a member of the U.S. Trade
Deficit Review Commission, positions that both inform his understanding
and expertise, and demonstrate his diverse
[[Page S63]]
broad-ranging talents. A former naval aviator, Mr. Rumsfeld ably
represented the people of Illinois in the House of Representatives for
four terms before joining President Nixon's Cabinet in 1969. He
faithfully served this country in a number of capacities, including
United States Ambassador to NATO, White House Chief of Staff and, as I
noted, the 13th Secretary of Defense under President Ford from 1975
through 1977.
The Pentagon Mr. Rumsfeld presided presided over in the 1970s was
very different from the one he will inherit today. Then, the world was
divided by cold war and our nation was divided by the Vietnam war.
Stung by the lessons of Vietnam, the efficacy of our military was in
question. Today, the United States stands as the fortress of democracy
and a compassionate champion of peace and freedom in an evolving global
environment. Our military is the best equipped, the best trained and
the most capable fighting force in the world. The difference between
the two eras is profound, but let there be no question: this Secretary
of Defense is the right person for today and the days to come.
We face the world with strength and confidence, ever mindful of the
challenges ahead. The proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, the
threat of cyber-terrorism, the potential vulnerability of our space-
based assets, and the future of theater-wide and global missile defense
are among our present and future challenges that will require
innovative solutions. The health and well-being of our troops and their
families, and our ability to train and retain the brightest and most
talented personnel are persistent concerns that deserve close
attention. Our commitment to maintaining a technological advantage on
the battlefield and equipping our troops with the most advanced,
reliable, and effective weaponry available must never waver. And we
must achieve these objectives while providing the Navy with the
resources to carry out its expanding and accelerating mission,
transforming the Army into a more lethal and mobile force, building the
Air Force's next generation air-superiority fighter and air-lift
capacity, and maintaining the budgetary responsibility that has yielded
America's strongest fiscal footing in a generation.
At this moment of transition, I would also like to commend the
outgoing Secretary of Defense, William Cohen, on a job well done. He
was called ``the right person to secure the bipartisan support
America's armed forces must have and clearly deserve,'' by President
Clinton in 1997, and I believe his record of service confirms those
remarks. Secretary Cohen focused on force modernization and troop
readiness, and he made improving conditions for the fighting men and
women of this nation the touchstone of his tenure.
Secretary Rumsfeld will have a difficult act to follow. The
challenges ahead are many. The course laid out by President Bush is
neither quickly achieved nor easily traversed, but it gives me
confidence to know that Donald Rumsfeld has answered the call to serve
this nation once more.
I would also like to express my appreciation to his wife, Joyce, and
the Rumsfeld family for the countless sacrifices they will make in
course of his term.
In Secretary Rumsfeld, we have found the right person for the job. I
look forward to working with him.
Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, I had the honor of introducing my
distinguished colleague from the Land of Lincoln, Donald Rumsfeld, to
the Armed Services Committee for his confirmation hearing just a little
over a week ago.
I know that Presidents have often complained about the Senate
confirmation process. Herbert Hoover, upon the birth of his
granddaughter, said ``Thank God she doesn't have to be confirmed by the
Senate.'' Donald Rumsfeld has so much experience, I am sure he will
secure even more votes for his confirmation today than President
Hoover's granddaughter would have if she had required the Senate's
blessing.
Don Rumsfeld's resume is impressive: 4-term Congressman from
Illinois, Director of the Office of Economic Opportunity, US Ambassador
to NATO, White House Chief of Staff, the youngest-ever Secretary of
Defense, CEO of several major companies, and a Special Envoy for
President Reagan.
We've heard a lot about bipartisanship lately. When Donald Rumsfeld
represented Illinois in the House of Representatives, it was before
Supreme Court cases that applied the one-person one-vote standard to
the drawing of congressional districts. His district was enormous; he
represented 1.1 million people, whereas Sam Rayburn only represented
89,000. In the Congress that followed his departure to serve in the
Nixon administration, his district was split into two, with one
district represented by a conservative Republican and one by a liberal
Democrat. His ability to serve such a diverse district speaks well of
his ability to bridge a Congress and a country almost equally divided.
While all Senators may not agree with Mr. Rumsfeld on every issue, he
has earned our respect. I may disagree with him on the deployment of a
national missile defense system, depending on the plan he supports. I
certainly disagree with him about the importance of continuing to
adhere to the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty. I believe the treaty
remains the cornerstone of strategic stability, where he dismisses it
as ``ancient history.'' However, I am certain that he will conduct a
thorough and fair review of these issues as Secretary of Defense. It is
my hope that we can keep the lines of communication open on these and
other important defense issues as we address them in the Senate.
In fact, Senators may be reluctant to ``go to the mat'' with Mr.
Rumsfeld. Not only was he captain of Princeton University's wrestling
team and All Navy Wrestling Champion, he was also inducted into the
National Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum. He joins Speaker Hastert as
another famous wrestler who hails from Illinois. I, for one, plan to
keep in mind that wrestling depends on strategy and making the right
move at the right time as much as it does on strength and power.
Some of his critics have complained that Mr. Rumsfeld's experience
with defense issues is from the bygone cold war era. Those critics
ignore Mr. Rumsfeld's valuable contributions chairing several
commissions, including the Ballistic Missile Threat Commission, and
underestimate the value of his experience managing major corporations
in this new economy. Mr. Rumsfeld has kept up and I would challenge his
critics to try to keep up with him.
In 1775, in our revolutionary era, Patrick Henry said: ``I have but
one lamp by which my feet are guided, and that is the lamp of
experience. I know no way of judging of the future but by the past.''
It is only because the United States was so steadfast in fighting for
freedom and democracy that the world enjoys an unprecedented era of
freedom and prosperity today.
Mr. President, Mr. Rumsfeld carries the lamp of experience. I wish
him, for our country's sake, every success as he travels by its light.
It is with pride that I cast my vote to support the nomination of one
of Illinois' favorite and most distinguished sons.