[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 16 (Wednesday, January 29, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Page S1724]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 NOMINATION OF SECRETARY GORDON ENGLAND

  Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, I rise tonight in strong support for the 
nomination of Secretary Gordon England to be the first Deputy Secretary 
of Homeland Security. I thank the majority leader, in cooperation with 
the Democratic leader, for promptly scheduling the Senate's 
consideration of this very important nomination.
  President Bush nominated Secretary England on January 7. The 
Governmental Affairs Committee, which I am privileged to chair, held a 
hearing on his nomination last Friday, and today, I am pleased to 
report, the committee unanimously voted to discharge the nominee from 
consideration. The committee thoroughly considered the nomination at a 
hearing on Friday. In addition, Secretary England responded to 
extensive prehearing questions about a wide variety of issues.
  I have no doubt, based on my review of the record, and my conducting 
of the hearing, that Secretary England is extraordinarily well 
qualified for this position. In fact, it is difficult for me to think 
of two more qualified Americans than Tom Ridge and Gordon England to 
head up this vital new Department.
  Secretary England currently serves as Secretary of the Navy. As a 
member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, I have gotten to know 
him well in that capacity. I have enormous regard for his ability. He 
has held that position since May of 2001.
  Prior to becoming our Secretary of the Navy, Gordon England had an 
impressive portfolio of management experience. He served as executive 
vice president of General Dynamics Corporation, and he previously 
served in various executive positions at a number of General Dynamics 
divisions. His experience in both the public and the private sectors 
will provide him with exactly the experience and expertise needed to 
oversee the merger of some 22 agencies and 170,000 Federal employees 
that will be transferred into this new Department.
  As preparation for being Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security, it 
would be difficult to beat a tour as Secretary of the Navy. The 
Department of the Navy has a budget of over $100 billion. It consists 
of 372,000 active duty and 90,000 Reserve sailors, 172,000 active duty 
and 40,000 Reserve marines.
  In addition, as Secretary of the Navy, Gordon England has overseen a 
civilian workforce of nearly 190,000 employees. That number, I note, 
exceeds the number in the workforce of the new Department. We often 
talk about what a management challenge it is going to be to the leaders 
of this new Department to oversee 170,000 civilian employees. As 
Secretary of the Navy, Gordon England has overseen a civilian workforce 
that exceeds that number, not to mention the sailors and marines under 
his jurisdiction.
  Secretary England's extensive experience in managing large, complex 
operations in both the public and private sectors will serve him well 
in his new position. I have been very fortunate to have had the 
pleasure of working with him when he was Secretary of the Navy, and I 
look forward to continuing our partnership in his new capacity.
  I urge my colleagues to support confirmation of this important 
nomination. The new Department of Homeland Security opened its doors 
officially last Friday, and it is critical that we get the top 
management positions filled as quickly as possible.
  Mr. President, I do hope this nominee will be approved unanimously.
  I yield the floor.
  Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I rise today to draw attention to an 
alarming issue--the growing number of premature births. According to 
data released by the National Center for Health Statistics, the 
percentage of babies born prematurely--birth at less than 37 completed 
weeks of gestation--has risen to nearly 12 percent, the highest level 
ever reported in the United States. In 2001 alone, more than 476,000 
babies were born prematurely in the U.S. Unfortunately, in my own State 
of Tennessee, 14 percent of births are preterm. There cannot be a 
clearer wake-up call for us.
  Today, the March of Dimes is launching a national, five-year 
prematurity awareness, education, and research effort aimed at 
preventing prematurity, the leading cause of infant death in the first 
month of life. I cannot imagine a better organization to take on this 
serious problem. Over its 63-year history, the March of Dimes has 
conducted two highly successful national campaigns--the first focused 
on preventing polio and the second involved educating the public and 
health providers on the role of folic acid in preventing neural tube 
defects. My friend, former Health and Human Services Secretary, Dr. 
Louis Sullivan, is the honorary chair of this campaign, and I salute 
him for his continued commitment to the public's health.
  I'm pleased to be able to salute and encourage this new campaign 
which holds the promise of significantly reducing the incidence of 
premature birth throughout the country. Babies born prematurely are 
more likely to face serious multiple health problems following 
delivery: a tragedy for families but one which may be preventable.
  Since coming to the Senate, I have focused on disparities in 
healthcare quality and access. Prematurity is one of the clearest 
indices of this problem. Rates of preterm birth vary significantly by 
race and ethnicity. In 2001, rates for black women were highest among 
all racial and ethnic subgroups--17.5 percent for black as compared to 
11 percent for white Americans. We simply do not know why these numbers 
vary so dramatically. But without further research, our public policy 
options are limited.
  Our great health research institutions also have an important role. I 
have fought for the five-year doubling of NIH's budget. With this 
significant increase in funding, the National Institute for Child 
Health and Human Development and the National Center on Minority Health 
and Health Disparities cab expand research in this area.
  I ask all of my colleagues to join me today in congratulating the 
March of Dimes on its launch of this new national campaign to target 
the rising rate of premature births.

                          ____________________