[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.

[[Page S59]]

  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.

[[Page S60]]

  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,

[[Page S61]]

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

[[Page S62]]

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.