[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 114 (Tuesday, September 21, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Pages S9426-S9427]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  NOMINATION OF BISHOP GREGORY PALMER

  Mr. HARKIN. Mr. President, I strongly support the nomination of 
Bishop Gregory Palmer to the Board of Directors of the United States 
Institute of Peace. It has now been over a year since Bishop Palmer was 
officially nominated on September 16, 2003. On that date, the Senate 
officially transmitted our paperwork to the White House.
  The reason I recommended this distinguished spiritual leader for this 
important position at the U.S. Institute of Peace is that I strongly 
believe that Bishop Palmer would work to promote a just peace in the 
world. I don't think that there is anyone in this Chamber who would 
disagree that we need more advocates for peace in this time of 
international crisis.
  I know Bishop Palmer well. He is a native of Philadelphia, PA. He 
graduated from The George Washington University and received a master's 
in divinity from Duke University. His father is a minister in 
Philadelphia.
  Bishop Palmer came to Des Moines, IA, on September 1, 2000, and he 
has had a profound influence in our State ever since.
  Bishop Palmer has had a distinguished career of service. He has 
taught at the pastor's school in Burundi, and serves on the Senegalese 
Task Force of the Global Ministries. He also served as President of the 
Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance.
  In March of this year, Bishop Palmer received the 10th Annual Bishop 
Maurice J. Dingman Peace Award. This award recognized Bishop Palmer's 
commitment to peace and social justice. The award was presented by the 
Iowa Catholic Peace Ministry.
  One of the ways Bishop Palmer has turned Scripture into deeds is by 
starting the Matthew 25 Ministry throughout Iowa. This ministry heeds 
the call of Matthew 25:31-46 to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, and 
care for the sick. Bishop Palmer has provided services to our Iowa 
communities most in need--from English classes for immigrants to soup 
kitchens for the hungry. These laudable acts, in my view, are the works 
of a man truly committed to fostering peace and social justice.
  I could go on and on at great length about Bishop Palmer's good 
works, but I know that my floor time is limited. It is, however, very 
clear that Bishop Palmer would make an outstanding addition to the 
board of directors of the

[[Page S9427]]

U.S. Institute of Peace; therefore, I was deeply disappointed and 
surprised that Bishop Palmer's nomination to the U.S. Institute of 
Peace has been stalled at the White House for over a year now, and his 
name was not included in the nominations to be considered by the 
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
  I am hopeful that the White House will reconsider and send his 
nomination to the HELP Committee before Wednesday, tomorrow, when we 
are due to act upon other nominations. We have one nomination that has 
come down to be renominated to the U.S. Institute of Peace. I am 
certain this person will have no problem being renominated. But I was 
very surprised, as I said, and disappointed that Bishop Palmer's name, 
which has been at the White House for 1 year now--1 year his nomination 
has been sitting there, and I know of no opposition to Bishop Palmer. 
As I said, he is head of the Methodist Church for the entire State of 
Iowa. He is known nationally and internationally. I cannot think of a 
more qualified person to be on the board of the U.S. Institute of 
Peace.
  I am quite upset with this, and I hope that the White House will 
reconsider this nomination. It would not take but just about half an 
hour to transmit his name here, and I wish they would do that before we 
meet tomorrow so we can report his name out and get Bishop Palmer on 
the board of directors as soon as possible.
  Mr. President, I yield the floor.
  Mr. REID. 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. DURBIN. 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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