[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 176 (Tuesday, December 9, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Pages S16154-S16157]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN THE FIRST SESSION OF THE 108TH CONGRESS

  Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I want to talk a little bit about the 108th 
Congress because we are about to draw to a close once we complete some 
of the final paperwork. I think it is a good time for me to review just 
a bit of what we have been able to accomplish and what has been really 
a truly exceptional legislative session. People have worked very hard; 
they have stayed very focused, and I believe anyone looking back will 
have to say that over the last 11 months we really have been able to 
serve the American people well and, in many ways, capped by the 
historic enactment of the Medicare prescription drug bill just 
yesterday.
  For the first time in the 40-year history of the Medicare Program, 
with which I am very familiar because of my profession before coming to 
the Senate, Medicare will offer prescription drug coverage, which is 
the most powerful tool in American medicine today. That will be offered 
to America's 40 million seniors and individuals with disabilities 
through the Medicare Program. It is a monumental achievement that I can 
stand before this body today and say we have accomplished with the 
signing of that Medicare bill yesterday.
  America's seniors will also have, for the first time, the option 
under Medicare of choosing a health care plan, or the type of coverage 
that can best suit their individual needs. Everybody's individual needs 
are very different. We have moved Medicare in the direction that allows 
this sort of flexibility, the individual attention, the responsiveness 
to individual needs. The seniors and the individuals on disability will 
now have that choice. These are reforms. This is a modernization, a 
strengthening and improving of Medicare, but they are indeed reforms.
  That is why I say this is a monumental piece of legislation. It is 
the most significant reform since the beginning of that program in 
1965. Although there was a lot of what I guess you could call 
partisanship expressed in the development of the bill, it was healthy 
debate on both sides; and ultimately the bill was generated by the hard 
work and dedication of both sides of the aisle.
  I thank my fellow Senators, my colleagues, for their leadership and 
praise them for stepping forward and addressing an issue that so 
directly impacts the 40 million seniors and the almost 80 million baby 
boomers who will be coming through over the next 30 years.
  It is that responsiveness, with action and with solutions, that 
indeed makes me proud as a Senator, and especially as majority leader 
of the Senate. It is an honor to be able to go back to the American 
people and say we delivered. It is not perfect. Everybody knows it is 
not perfect. But we delivered on what affects your lives in terms of 
your needs and in a way that is reflective of the tremendous talent in 
this body.
  Back in January, we set an ambitious agenda. We said we needed to get 
the economy back on track; we needed to lend the critical support of 
this body to the war on terror; we needed to promote public health here 
as well as abroad. Most colleagues have heard me say that our mission 
under the current leadership is to move America forward and in a way 
that serves the cause of freedom and the cause of liberty. You can 
write it on a little card and carry it in your pocket. It is simple and 
easy to understand. That is what we collectively in this body set out 
to do--to expand freedom, to expand opportunity, to strengthen 
Americans' security.
  Eleven months later, in looking back, we have done just that. We have 
made great strides on those goals, but it is sort of a halfway point. 
We set goals and we are moving toward them aggressively. We did so by 
respecting the longstanding Senate values of civility and trust--again, 
with healthy debate but civility and trust.
  By building strong and reliable and dependable relationships, each of 
us is going to be able to go home and visit with our constituents and 
with the families, the people who elected us, and be proud of the 
accomplishments we have achieved over the last 11 months.
  The year started out with us having to pass 12 of the 13 spending 
bills left undone by the previous Congress. We passed 11 of those bills 
in just the first 3 weeks. We also passed a budget to establish a 
blueprint of creating jobs, of investing in homeland security, of 
investing in education, of providing a Medicare prescription drug 
benefit and coverage, offering health insurance as well for America's 
children.
  With that unfinished business of the last Congress complete, we 
turned our attention to the President's jobs and growth agenda. Indeed, 
working with the President and under the President's leadership and his 
vision, we passed $350 billion in tax relief this year which is the 
third largest tax relief package. The third largest tax cut in the 
history of this country this Congress passed. Everybody--all of my 
colleagues, people listening now, people who will read the 
Congressional Record in the next several days--everybody who is paying 
taxes pays less taxes today than they did 11 months ago.
  It was across the board. Yes, it was capital gains; it was affecting 
the marginal rates as well across the board. Mr. President, 136 million 
hard-working taxpaying Americans had their taxes cut. It did focus on 
families as well. We increased the child tax credit from $600 per child 
to $1,000 per child. We accomplished that this year.
  A lot of people don't realize those rebate checks were sent out 
immediately and, as a result, this summer 25 million families received 
checks from the U.S. Treasury of up to $400 per child, going from $600 
to $1,000, and an additional check of $400. In total, we returned 13.7 
billion tax dollars to families all across the country. That was just 
the start.
  Under that Jobs and Growth Act of 2003, a family of 4 making $40,000 
will see their taxes reduced by $1,130 this year. Of the overall $350 
billion in tax cuts in fiscal relief, the bulk of it was moved forward, 
and nearly $200 billion, fully 60 percent, is provided this year and 
next.
  There have been critics of the tax cut. Some say $1,300 is not a lot 
of money you are returning; $1,300 is just not a lot; that is not going 
to make a big difference in somebody's life; and it wouldn't make a big 
difference if the bureaucrats took it away again. Tell that to the 
families working hard every day to raise children in this day and time, 
those families who are working hard to pay those household expenses. 
They are working hard just to have a little bit of money to take their 
family on vacation.
  I can almost guarantee that the U.S. Treasury didn't get a flurry of 
checks

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in the mail from families who said: No, I don't need that check you 
just sent me; no, America's families can use it. And they did use it.
  Small business owners, as well, got a major boost from the tax 
package. Mr. President, 23 million small business owners who pay taxes 
at the individual rates saw their taxes lowered. We quadrupled the 
expense deduction for small business investment. It had a huge impact. 
We receive e-mails and letters every week about the impact this single 
issue, this expense deduction has for small business investment.
  I think we all know small business owners are the engine of growth; 
they are the heart of the American marketplace. Workers and consumers 
depend on that small business sector to generate jobs, products, and 
services. Small business innovators create as much as 60 percent to as 
high as 80 percent of new jobs nationwide, and they generate more 
than 50 percent of the gross domestic product of this country. By 
cutting taxes and by encouraging investment, we are helping unleash a 
tremendous economic power in this country: the economic power of 
individuals working together in their small businesses.

  Taken together, this year's tax cut and the tax cuts of 2001 are 
providing an astonishing $1.7 trillion in tax relief over the next 
decade. We are beginning to see the results. We have already seen those 
results. We are right now in the midst of a strong economic recovery. 
Again, compared to 11 years ago, the jobs and growth package, the 
unleashing of the potential of small business and midsize and large 
business, of unleashing that individual hard work and spirit, we have 
an economic recovery.
  Consumers today have more money in their pockets. Consumers' 
sentiment rose in November to the highest level since May 2002, and 
businesses, as well, are optimistic about the direction of the country, 
and with good cause.
  Economic growth--again, I am comparing it to 11 months ago--economic 
growth in the third quarter soared--and that is the best word, 
``soared''--at an incredible rate of 8.2 percent. That is the largest 
third quarter increase since 1984, in just about 20 years.
  There is more money in one's pockets; disposable income is up 7.2 
percent for the third quarter, and consumer spending is up a whopping 
6.6 percent, the biggest third quarter growth since 1988. This 
November, sales of previously owned homes hit their third highest level 
on record. The National Association of Realtors reports that previously 
owned home sales rose 3.6 percent to a record annual rate of nearly 7 
million units in September. Meanwhile, housing starts are nearing a 17-
year high. I should repeat that. Housing starts are nearing a 17-year 
high.
  The association credits the phenomenal growth in home sales to ``the 
powerful fundamentals that are driving housing markets: household 
growth, low interest rates, and an improving economy.''
  This is great news for America's families and, incidentally, for 
America's businesses. When a family buys a home, their purchase not 
only benefits a community, it sets off a whole chain of purchases that 
help fuel the economy. They have to buy that living room furniture. 
They have to buy those kitchen appliances. They have to buy new beds 
and new curtains. They buy that washer and dryer. All of this is 
reflected in these new housing starts. Many related industries benefit 
from one family's momentous and gratifying decision to do what all of 
us envision as the American dream, and that is to buy a home.
  Not only is individual consumption up, but the business sector is 
showing impressive signs of recovery. Nonresidential recovery is up 10 
percent, business investment went up 11.1 percent in the third quarter, 
and productivity soared by 8.1 percent, its highest level in 20 years.
  Businesses are rebuilding their inventories, and they are retooling 
their factories. And all of this economic activity ultimately leads to 
jobs. Indeed, the labor market appears to be stabilizing, and the 
economy is finally providing Americans with those much needed jobs.
  Over the past 3 months, 286,000 new jobs came on line. In October 
alone, 126,000 jobs were added. Meanwhile, since the initial tax cut, 
initial claims for unemployment insurance have gone down more than 10 
percent, and if we look just at the week ending November 1, 
unemployment claims hit a 34-month low.
  Finally, there is good news for individual State treasuries. Their 
budget gap of nearly $20 billion at the beginning of the last fiscal 
year has now declined to a budget gap of less than $3 billion--$20 
billion down to $3 billion for the beginning of this fiscal year. 
States are just beginning to see revenue surprises in their estimates.
  Whether it is consumers or whether it is businesses, all are 
optimistic about America's economic direction. Inflation is low, 
interest rates are low, and American taxpayers have more of their hard-
earned money to spend and to save as they choose. And they have more 
and more opportunities to secure the jobs they need.
  This body will continue to champion fiscal policies that strengthen 
the economy and create jobs. We will also continue to pursue fair and 
free trade policies that increase consumer buying power, that stoke 
that economic furnace. I can list all sorts of examples, such as the 
free trade agreements we passed this year with Chile and Singapore. 
These and other policies, indeed, are maximizing freedom, are expanding 
the opportunity for every American--indeed, are moving America forward 
in a way that serves the cause of liberty.
  That leads me to national security. Our mission to expand freedom and 
opportunity applies not just to our economy but to national security as 
well. We know that freedom cannot find its fullest expression under a 
threat of terror. Likewise, terror cannot spread where freedom reigns. 
This is why this year America took the extraordinary action of toppling 
Saddam Hussein and his terrorist-sponsoring regime.
  In 3 short weeks, men and women of the United States military, with 
the support of 49 nations, swept into Baghdad, ending three decades of 
ruthless rule and terror. In the months since, our soldiers have worked 
tirelessly. Our thoughts and prayers are with them as we enter this new 
holiday season. They have worked and continue to work under dangerous 
conditions.
  They are working with that focus of helping the Iraqi people build a 
democracy. Our soldiers have rebuilt schools. They have rebuilt 
hospitals. They have rebuilt electrical grids, pipelines, and roads. 
They are training the Iraqi police forces to patrol the streets and to 
hunt down terrorists. Every day our troops are helping the people of 
Iraq and Afghanistan move forward, becoming free and open societies. To 
support their efforts, this body acted. We passed the President's $87 
billion war supplemental this year. We did so because we recognized 
that investing in the future of Iraq and Afghanistan is an investment 
in our security.
  September 11 taught us a really cruel lesson. We learned that we 
cannot wait in this country while storms gather. As the President said, 
the Middle East region will either become a place of progress and peace 
or it will remain a source of violence and terror. I repeat that 
quotation: The Middle East region will either become a place of 
progress and peace or it will remain a source of violence and terror.
  This year, we in the Senate took bold action to support the war on 
terror because we are determined that progress and peace take root. The 
Middle East is not the only region where we are working to bring 
stability. In this session, in this body, we passed the Burmese Freedom 
Act and the Clean Diamond Act to promote peace and freedom. We also 
took the historic action of dedicating $15 billion to drive back, to 
fight, and to eventually eradicate the HIV/AIDS virus. That little 
virus that I have talked a lot about on this floor did not exist, as 
far as we knew, until the early 1980s, which is not that long ago. 
Since that period in time, that little virus has killed a million 
people, killed 5 million people, killed 10 million people, killed 15 
million people, killed 23 million people over the last 20 years.
  As a physician, as one who participates in medical mission trips to 
Africa--indeed, around the world, but predominantly to Africa--on a 
regular basis, I am especially gratified by this body demonstrating its 
compassion on this issue. Millions of lives have been cut short by this 
scourge, and we responded. It is a new problem around

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the world and it is a problem that we, following the leadership of the 
President of the United States, are addressing with the full might and 
power and boldness of this body.
  Countries have lost whole midsections and swaths of their population. 
In my trip to parts of Africa, we took a Senate delegation into August 
and September of this year and we saw this whole midsection of a 
population where, yes, there are young people running around but they 
have lost their parents and there are older people who are typically 
grandparents but the whole midsection of a population has literally 
been wiped out. I have said it many times, and I will continue to say 
it because we need to make Americans aware, that to my mind HIV/AIDS is 
the greatest moral, humanitarian, and public health challenge of the 
last 100 years.

  The good news is that this body has responded. By passing the global 
HIV/AIDS bill, we are helping to prevent 7 million new infections, 
provide antiretroviral drugs for 2 million HIV-infected people, care 
for 10 million HIV-infected people and AIDS orphans, and bring hope to 
millions of people around the world. Our leadership serves as an 
example for every government in the world today.
  It is not just in Africa. Actually, the fastest growing rates are not 
in Africa. We see it in elements of the Caribbean and we see it in 
Russia. Just a few minutes ago, I had the opportunity to meet with the 
Premier of China, and we were talking about HIV/AIDS. It is really 
unprecedented. I cannot help but think that the President of the United 
States, with the leadership in this body and the House of 
Representatives, has contributed to that global understanding, that 
global leadership, which will allow us eventually to reverse the tide 
of destruction of this virus.
  Our work in passing this critical legislation does demonstrate that 
the United States of America places a high value on life. We have 
responded. We have a lot more to do in this regard, but we have 
responded with that boldness. History will judge how we responded, and 
in this Congress we have responded in that bold fashion. We have taken 
the necessary actions.
  We have also addressed other sorts of life-related issues in this 
Congress. We have made the right choice to end that morally 
reprehensible practice of partial-birth abortion. This body and the 
House and various administrations have talked about outlawing this 
objectionable--I would say abominable--procedure, but we delivered. 
This body delivered and no longer, as I stand here, is that practice of 
partial-birth abortion legal. Eleven months ago, it was legal; it was 
performed and unnecessary lives were taken. Today, it is against the 
law. We did it, I should say, with an overwhelming majority in this 
body. We voted to end this immoral and medically unnecessary procedure 
and say yes to life.
  This Senate can be proud of many strides taken in the 108th Congress 
to protect those most vulnerable among us. Again, I add that partial-
birth abortion really demonstrates that. In addition, there was other 
legislation, such as Amber Alert. In January, we passed legislation to 
establish the National Amber Alert. Law enforcement now--and they did 
not have it at the beginning of this year--has another tool to work 
with the public. Governments and law enforcement can now work together 
to be able to find missing children.
  Another example: In June of this year, we passed legislation to 
protect the victims of child abuse. We also voted to extend welfare 
reform to help lift families out of poverty. There was Medicare reform, 
jobs and growth tax cuts, the Iraqi war supplemental, the global HIV/
AIDS bill.
  In January, we set our sights high, and I would argue that we 
exceeded expectation. We are moving America forward, and we will 
continue to do so in the coming months because there is a lot more to 
do.
  I go through this sort of partial discussion of what we have 
accomplished in terms of jobs and growth, health care, the value of 
life issues, and global HIV/AIDS in part to reflect. It is important 
for our colleagues because we have been working pretty hard, we have 
been going pretty much nonstop, especially over the last couple of 
months, and I do want to encourage our colleagues to look back and say 
that, yes, we are making progress, but there is much to be done.
  I do want to really just project out a little bit about where I think 
we will be going in the next Congress as we come back in January.
  We will build on the success of this year's appropriations process 
and we will tackle all 13 appropriations bills so that Government can 
perform its basic function to serve the people. Beyond appropriations, 
we still must pass a comprehensive energy plan. We have been debating 
national energy and national energy policy for 3 years. During the last 
Congress, we spent a total of 7 weeks debating energy on the Senate 
floor. In this Congress we spent more time debating energy than any 
other bill. More time than any other bill we debated energy on this 
floor. Yet despite all this time devoted to debate, there still remains 
a small contingent, a minority in this body I should add, that 
continues to obstruct progress. While this small group insists on yet 
more debate, national gas prices keep rising to even higher levels.
  U.S. chemical companies are closing plants. They are laying off 
workers. They are looking to expand production abroad because of high 
energy prices. The United States is expected to import approximately $9 
billion more in chemicals than it exports this year. American consumers 
are getting hit with higher electric bills and small businesses are 
struggling to contain costs, all because of rising energy prices.
  So we have to pass an energy plan, and we will pass an energy plan 
when we return. Not only will the energy plan lower prices, it will 
save jobs and it will create thousands more. It is estimated the energy 
package will create half a million jobs. The Alaskan pipeline alone 
will create at least 400,000. The hundreds of millions of dollars that 
will be invested in research and development of new technologies will 
not only benefit the environment but will create new jobs in 
engineering, math, chemistry, physics, and science. We simply cannot 
allow the obstruction of a few in the Senate to continue to harm the 
interests of millions of Americans.
  I do use that word ``obstruction,'' and indeed I use it purposely 
because we saw it used to an alarming degree in this Congress, no more 
so than, as we demonstrated on this floor to the American people, now 
several weeks ago, in the consideration of the President's judicial 
nominees. Here obstruction has become a tool to undermine the 
democratic process itself. It, too, is a new problem.
  For the last 200 years we have never seen the filibuster used to stop 
and to obstruct and to deny Senators an up-or-down vote on Presidential 
nominees. A minority of Senators in this body today, this year, unlike 
in previous Congresses, is denying all 100 of us their constitutional 
duty--it is spelled out in the Constitution--to give advice and 
consent.
  We took that opportunity, now, several weeks ago, to make it plain to 
the American people. Yes, we worked around the clock. We had the 40-
hour debate. We held it in October on three of the President's judicial 
nominees, and after 40 hours of debate to fully consider the eminently 
qualified candidates for the bench, the minority refused to allow us 
that very simple request--not approval of them all but simply an up-or-
down vote.
  Yes, this is obstruction. It really can't be described as anything 
but obstruction, and I would argue plain partisan obstruction. It is 
something we will continue to fight and we will not give up until we 
can break that partisan obstruction which is new to this wonderful 
institution, and it is something we must take back to what has been 
both the tradition and the culture of the last 200 years.

  When we return in January we will continue to press for the fair 
consideration of the President's judicial nominees. Again, the fair 
consideration--advice and consent, a simple vote. People can vote 
against or they can vote for, but just allow us to vote. As we pointed 
out several weeks ago, the democratic process itself, as enshrined in 
the United States Constitution, is at stake.
  We will also continue, as we look forward, to press for policies that 
expand and strengthen our economy. This session we did pass, as I 
outlined, smart,

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progrowth fiscal policy, and we are already beginning to see those 
results. But there is still a lot more to do. We have to address, and 
we will address in the next year, the frivolous lawsuits that we all 
know are clogging our State courts. They are unnecessarily wasting our 
taxpayer dollars, and that gets reflected in inhibiting, almost 
straitjacketing businesses, especially small businesses. It 
straightjackets that entrepreneurial spirit that we know bubbles 
underneath here in the United States of America. It is that 
entrepreneurial spirit; it is that innovation and creativity that 
creates jobs. Yet we have a tort system, mainly reflected in these 
frivolous lawsuits, which keeps it contained, keeps it trapped.
  In my own area of medicine, for the first time in a long period of 
time this past summer we addressed the medical liability issues with a 
freestanding bill. It is going to come back and it is going to keep 
coming back until we solve this unnecessary problem which affects 
access to care, to quality care, as we see trauma centers closing, as 
we see obstetricians no longer delivering babies. Again, it is a 
problem that can be reversed, and in this body we have a responsibility 
to reverse it. And we will. America is a country that values its 
citizens and we will return fairness to the litigation process.
  We will also work to return fairness to the tax system. We will press 
for reforms to simplify the Tax Code. We will work to extend the tax 
credits passed in the Jobs and Growth Act. The work opportunity tax 
credit, for example, offers tax incentives to hire unemployed workers 
and welfare recipients. Not only is this smart, progrowth fiscal 
policy, it also is compassionate social action.
  Fairness and compassion also demand that we permanently repeal the 
Federal death tax, the estate tax. Americans who work hard their whole 
lives, who save and who invest, who start those small businesses which 
become that engine of economic growth, those individuals who contribute 
to America's economic vibrancy, simply should not be punished for their 
success. That is what the death tax does. No son, no daughter should 
have to sell that family home to pay the death tax collector. It makes 
no sense, it is unfair, and it discourages productive economic 
activity. We will address it and ultimately we will win.
  Compassion also demands that we turn our attention to fine-tuning the 
Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 
1996. Since it was enacted 7 years ago, welfare reform has helped to 
lift millions and millions of families out of poverty. There are over 
3.5 million fewer people living in poverty now than in 1995, a year 
before welfare reform was passed. Welfare caseloads have declined to 
one-half. When we return next year, we will look for ways to build on 
this success so that more families can have a fair chance at the 
American dream.

  We will also address that important issue, and an issue, again, I 
talk a lot about, and that is the problem of the uninsured. The 
increasing number--again, you will see this body is beginning to 
address those areas, those problems where the problem is getting worse 
over time, and the uninsured is just that area. It is an increasing 
number of uninsured, people without health insurance. Clearly, this 
problem represents one of the most daunting policy challenges facing 
our Nation.
  As a physician, I saw firsthand how the lack of insurance, the lack 
of coverage, puts forth the significant barriers to quality health 
care, including such things as basic as preventive services. The lack 
of affordable health coverage is also one of the key factors 
contributing to health care disparities among minorities among other 
medically underserved populations. I asked my colleague the Senator 
from New Hampshire, Mr. Judd Gregg, to lead the Senate Republican task 
force on this pressing issue, the uninsured. He will report back with a 
series of recommendations for modification, for strengthening, for 
reform next year.
  Next year we will also continue our efforts to improve America's 
public educational system. We are committed to improving Head Start to 
make sure that Head Start children enter school with the same tools and 
the same skills as their economically advantaged peers. We are also 
committed to expanding access to college education for every American 
student who seeks it, and for special education students we will work 
to pass comprehensive legislation that protects their educational 
rights as well.
  Education, as we all know, is the heart and soul of America's 
success. Our abundance, civic life, and democracy demand and depend 
directly on a thriving and educated citizenry.
  Education, the uninsured, tax policy, welfare reform, litigation 
reform, judicial nominees, energy, and appropriations are just some of 
the challenging issues we will be addressing next year. I am confident 
that next year, just as this year, we will be able to meet ambitious 
goals.
  In closing, each day that I have the opportunity to walk into this 
great institution, I am humbled. Indeed, I am inspired. I am humbled 
mostly by the great men and women who have come before and inspired by 
their example. In his 1862 address to Congress, President Lincoln told 
the assembled legislators that ``America is the world's last best 
hope.'' Those words have never ever been truer than they are today. I 
am confident that we will face the challenges ahead with honor and with 
courage for the simple reason that we are Americans.
  I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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