[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 5 (Tuesday, January 25, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Pages S502-S504]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS
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SENATE RESOLUTION 10--HONORING THE LIFE OF JOHNNY CARSON
Mr. NELSON of Nebraska (for himself, Mr. Hagel, Mr. Kennedy, Mrs.
Feinstein, and Mr. Inouye) submitted the following resolution; which
was considered and agreed to:
S. Res. 10
Whereas Johnny Carson, a friend to the United States
Senate, passed away January 23, 2005;
Whereas Johnny Carson was a philanthropist, friend, and
favorite Nebraska native son;
Whereas Johnny Carson was born in Iowa, raised in Norfolk,
Nebraska, and made famous in Hollywood as a late night friend
to all of America;
Whereas Johnny Carson served in the United States Navy as
an ensign during World War II;
Whereas Johnny Carson late hosted ``The Tonight Show'' for
30 years;
Whereas Johnny Carson was best known as America's late
night king of comedy;
Whereas Johnny Carson was one of the biggest stars in
Hollywood but never forgot his roots;
Whereas Johnny Carson was respected by his colleagues as a
gentleman; and
Whereas Johnny Carson was bright and witty, and always set
the highest of standards for his performances: Now,
therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate--
(1) mourns the loss of Johnny Carson;
(2) recognizes the contributions of Johnny Carson to his
home State of Nebraska;
(3) admires the sense of humor and late night presence of
Johnny Carson in homes in the United States for over 30
years;
(4) expresses gratitude for the lifetime of memories Johnny
Carson provided; and
(5) directs the Secretary of the Senate to transmit an
enrolled copy of this resolution to the family of Johnny
Carson.
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SENATE RESOLUTION 11--HONORING THE SERVICE OF REVEREND LLOYD OGILVIE
Mr. KYL (for himself, Mr. Brownback, Mr. Lott, Mr. Chambliss,
[[Page S503]]
and Mr. Santorum) submitted the following resolution; which was
considered and agreed to:
S. Res. 11
Whereas a decade ago, on January 24, 1995, the Reverend
Lloyd Ogilvie was elected by the Senate as its 61st Chaplain;
Whereas Reverend Lloyd Ogilvie is a friend and confidant to
Senators, and to many staff members and Senate employees;
Whereas Reverend Lloyd Ogilvie was always a soothing
presence in a body whose Members are sometimes at
loggerheads;
Whereas Reverend Lloyd Ogilvie is someone upon whom
Democrats and Republicans, men and women of different
religious faiths, can count as a sympathetic and trusted
advisor; and
Whereas after the tragedy of September 11, 2001, and until
his retirement in 2003, we depended on him even more to
strengthen our spirit and help us find consolation in
Scripture: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate honors the significance of this
10-year anniversary by declaring to the Reverend Lloyd
Ogilvie that we remember his loving service to the Senate and
this Country, and use this anniversary to express our
gratitude to him for his ministry to the Senate family.
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SENATE RESOLUTION 12--COMMENDING THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
TROJANS FOOTBALL TEAM FOR WINNING THE 2004 BOWL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
Mrs. FEINSTEIN (for herself and Mrs. Boxer) submitted the following
resolution; which was considered and agreed to:
S. Res. 12
Whereas the University of Southern California Trojans
football team won the 2004 Bowl Championship Series national
championship game, defeating Oklahoma University by a score
of 55 to 19 in the FedEx Orange Bowl at Pro Player Stadium in
Miami, Florida, on January 4, 2004;
Whereas the University of Southern California Trojans
football team has won 11 national championships;
Whereas the University of Southern California Trojans
football team has won 34 Pacific 10 conference championships;
Whereas the University of Southern California Trojans
football team has won 27 bowl games, only 2 games fewer than
the University of Alabama;
Whereas the University of Southern California Trojans
football team won 13 games during the 2004 season for the
first time in the history of the school and became the first
team since the University of Nebraska in 1994-1995 to repeat
as Associated Press national champions and the second team to
start and finish the season at number 1 in the Associated
Press poll;
Whereas the University of Southern California Trojans
football team has won 22 consecutive games;
Whereas the University of Southern California Trojans
football team is ranked in the top 10 in every defensive
category;
Whereas the University of Southern California Trojans
football team has set a school record by scoring at least 20
points in its last 38 games;
Whereas Head Coach Pete Carroll has a record of 42 wins, 9
losses at the University of Southern California and is the
second University of Southern California coach to win back-
to-back national championships;
Whereas Heisman Trophy winner and Associated Press Player
of the Year, quarterback Matt Leinart, completed 18 of 35
passes for a total of 332 yards and set an Orange Bowl record
with 5 touchdown passes;
Whereas tailback Reggie Bush was a Heisman Trophy finalist
and the winner of the Chic Harley award, presented annually
to the College Football Player of the Year by the Touchdown
Club of Columbus; and
Whereas quarterback Matt Leinert, tailback Reggie Bush,
defensive tackle Shaun Cody, and linebacker Matt Grootegoed
were named to the Associated Press All-American first team:
Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate--
(1) commends the University of Southern California Trojans
football team for winning the 2004 Bowl Championship Series
national championship game; and
(2) directs the Secretary of the Senate to make available
to the University of Southern California an enrolled copy of
this resolution for appropriate display.
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SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 4--EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF THE CONGRESS
THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE SHOULD CONTINUE TO EXERCISE ITS
STATUTORY AUTHORITY TO SUPPORT THE ACTIVITIES OF THE BOY SCOUTS OF
AMERICA, IN PARTICULAR THE PERIODIC NATIONAL AND WORLD BOY SCOUT
JAMBOREES
Mr. NELSON of Florida (for himself, Mr. Allard, Mr. Allen, Mr. Nelson
of Nebraska, Mr. Sessions, and Mr. Enzi) submitted the following
concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Armed
Services:
S. Con. Res. 4
Whereas the Boy Scouts of America was incorporated on
February 8, 1910, and received a Federal charter on June 15,
1916, which is codified as chapter 309 of title 36, United
States Code;
Whereas section 30902 of title 36, United States Code,
states that it is the purpose of the Boy Scouts of America to
promote, through organization, and cooperation with other
agencies, the ability of boys to do things for themselves and
others, to train them in scoutcraft, and to teach them
patriotism, courage, self-reliance, and kindred virtues;
Whereas, since its inception, millions of Americans of
every race, creed, and religion have participated in the Boy
Scouts of America, and the Boy Scouts of America, as of
October 1, 2004, utilizes more than 1,200,000 adult
volunteers to serve 2,863,000 youth members organized in
121,051 units;
Whereas the Department of Defense and members of the Armed
Forces have a long history of supporting the activities of
the Boy Scouts of America and individual Boy Scout troops
inside the United States, and section 2606 of title 10,
United States Code, enacted in 1988, specifically authorizes
the Department of Defense to cooperate with and assist the
Boy Scouts of America in establishing and providing
facilities and services for members of the Armed Forces and
their dependents, and civilian employees of the Department of
Defense and their dependents, at locations outside the United
States;
Whereas sections 4682, 7541, and 9682 of title 10, United
States Code, authorize the Department of Defense to sell and,
in certain cases, donate obsolete or excess material to the
Boy Scouts of America to support its activities; and
Whereas Public Law 92-249, enacted on March 10, 1972, and
codified as section 2554 of title 10, United States Code,
recognizes that Boy Scout Jamborees may be held on military
installations and authorizes the Department of Defense, in
support of Boy Scout Jamborees, to lend certain equipment and
to provide transportation from the United States or military
commands overseas, and return, at no expense to the United
States Government, and to provide other personnel services
and logistical support to the Boy Scouts of America to
support national and world gatherings of Boy Scouts at events
known as Boy Scout Jamborees: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives
concurring), That it is the sense of the Congress that the
Department of Defense should continue to exercise its long-
standing statutory authority to support the activities of the
Boy Scouts of America, in particular the periodic national
and world Boy Scout Jamborees.
Mr. NELSON of Florida. Mr. President, today I rise to submit a
concurrent resolution on behalf of myself, Senators Allard, Allen, Ben
Nelson of Nebraska, Sessions and Enzi expressing the sense of the
Congress that the Department of Defense should continue to exercise its
statutory authority to support the activities of the Boy Scouts of
America, in particular the periodic national and world Boy Scout
Jamborees.
I ask unanimous consent that, the attached letter from Secretary of
Defense Rumsfeld be printed in the Record.
There being no objection, the letter was ordered to be printed in the
Record, as follows:
The Secretary of Defense,
Washington, DC, December 2, 2004.
The Speaker,
House of Representatives,
Washington, DC.
Dear Mr. Speaker: The Department of Defense (DOD) has a
long tradition of providing worldwide support for Boy Scout
activities, which have been mutually beneficial to the
Department and the Boy Scouts of America. I am especially
appreciative of the efforts undertaken by numerous Scouting
organizations to assist Service members deployed in the war
on terrorism.
As you are aware, the American Civil Liberties Union sued
the Department of Defense, the Department of Housing and
Urban Development, and others, challenging the various
statutory authorizations of support for the Boy Scouts on the
grounds that they violate the Establishment Clause of the
First Amendment. The Department of Justice is fighting the
lawsuit, and the Department of Defense is assisting in all
respects.
The Department of Defense entered a ``partial settlement''
in the litigation, which apparently resolved a small
component of the overall lawsuit. I was unaware of this
settlement, but I have since been advised that this agreement
does not fundamentally change the long-standing relationship
between America's Boy Scouts and U.S. military installations.
I have been assured that Scouts will continue to have access
to our facilities for camping, hiking, fishing, etc.
I am concerned with the impression left by the ACLU in
recent reporting of this matter that suggests the Department
of Defense is changing its relationship with the Boy Scouts.
Recently, I supported Sense of Congress resolutions
introduced in the House and Senate that the Department should
continue to exercise its statutory authority to
[[Page S504]]
support the activities of the Boy Scouts, in particular the
periodic national and world Boy Scout Jamborees.
I also have reviewed legislation recently introduced that
affirms Congressional support for Scouting organizations. I
believe this legislation is important and welcome the
opportunity to work with you as it moves forward.
Sincerely,
Donald Rumsfeld.
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SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 5--CONGRATULATING THE PEOPLE OF UKRAINE
FOR
CONDUCTING A DEMOCRATIC, TRANSPARENT, AND FAIR RUNOFF PRESIDENTIAL
ELECTION ON DECEMBER 26, 2004, AND
CONGRATULATING VIKTOR YUSHCHENKO ON HIS ELECTION AS PRESIDENT OF
UKRAINE AND HIS COMMITMENT TO DEMOCRACY AND REFORM
Mr. LUGAR (for himself and Mr. Biden) submitted the following
concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign
Relations:
S. Con. Res. 5
Whereas the establishment of a democratic, transparent, and
fair election process for the 2004 presidential election in
Ukraine and of a genuinely democratic political system have
been prerequisites for that country's full integration into
the international community of democracies;
Whereas the Government of Ukraine has accepted numerous
specific commitments governing the conduct of elections as a
participating State of the Organization for Security and
Cooperation in Europe (OSCE);
Whereas the election of Ukraine's next president was seen
as an unambiguous test of the extent of the Ukrainian
authorities' commitment to implement these standards and
build a democratic society based on free elections and the
rule of law;
Whereas a genuinely free and fair election requires
government and public authorities to ensure that candidates
and political parties enjoy equal treatment before the law
and that government resources are not employed to the
advantage of individual candidates or political parties;
Whereas a genuinely free and fair election requires the
full transparency of laws and regulations governing
elections, multiparty representation on election commissions,
and unobstructed access by candidates, political parties, and
domestic and international observers to all election
procedures, including voting and vote-counting in all areas
of the country;
Whereas efforts by national and local officials and others
acting at the behest of such officials to impose obstacles to
free assembly, free speech, and a free and fair political
campaign took place throughout Ukraine during the entire 2004
presidential election campaign without condemnation or
remedial action by the Government of Ukraine;
Whereas on October 31, 2004, Ukraine held the first round
of its presidential election and on November 21, 2004,
Ukraine held a runoff presidential election between the two
leading candidates, Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovich and
opposition leader Viktor Yushchenko;
Whereas a consensus of Ukrainian and international election
observers determined that the runoff election did not meet a
considerable number of international standards for democratic
elections, and these observers specifically declared that
state resources were abused in support of Viktor Yanukovich,
and that illegal voting by absentee ballot, multiple voting,
assaults on electoral observers and journalists, and the use
of counterfeit ballots were widespread;
Whereas following the runoff presidential election on
November 21, 2004, tens of thousands of Ukrainian citizens
engaged in peaceful demonstrations in Kiev and elsewhere to
protest the unfair election and the declaration by the
Ukrainian Central Election Commission that Viktor Yanukovich
had won a majority of the votes;
Whereas, on November 25, 2004, the Ukrainian Supreme Court
blocked the publication of the official runoff election
results thus preventing the inauguration of the next
president of Ukraine until the Supreme Court examined the
reports of voter fraud;
Whereas on November 27, 2004, the Parliament of Ukraine
passed a resolution declaring that there were violations of
law during the runoff presidential election on November 21,
2004, and that the results of the election did not reflect
the will of the Ukrainian people;
Whereas on December 1, 2004, the Parliament of Ukraine
passed a no confidence motion regarding the government of
Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovich;
Whereas European mediators and current Ukrainian President
Leonid Kuchma began discussions on December 1, 2004, to
attempt to work out a resolution to the standoff between the
supporters of both presidential candidates;
Whereas on December 3, 2004, the Ukrainian Supreme Court
ruled that the runoff presidential election on November 21,
2004, was invalid and ordered a new presidential election to
take place on December 26, 2004;
Whereas on December 8, 2004, the Parliament of Ukraine
passed laws to reform the Ukrainian electoral process,
including to reconstitute the Ukrainian Central Election
Commission, and to close loopholes for fraud in preparation
for a new presidential election;
Whereas on December 26, 2004, the people of Ukraine again
went to the polls to elect the next president of Ukraine in
what the consensus of domestic and international observers
declared as a more democratic, transparent, and fair election
process with fewer problems than the previous two rounds;
Whereas on January 10, 2005, the election victory of
opposition leader Viktor Yushchenko was certified by the
Ukrainian Central Election Commission; and
Whereas the runoff presidential election on December 26,
2004, signifies a turning point for Ukraine which offers new
hope and opportunity to the people of Ukraine: Now,
therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives
concurring), That Congress--
(1) commends the people and Government of Ukraine for their
commitment to democracy and their determination to end the
political crisis in that country in a peaceful and democratic
manner;
(2) congratulates the people and Government of Ukraine for
ensuring a free and fair runoff presidential election which
represents the true choice of the Ukrainian people;
(3) congratulates Viktor Yushchenko on his election as
President of Ukraine;
(4) applauds the Ukrainian presidential candidates, the
European Union and other European representatives, and the
United States Government for the role they played in helping
to find a peaceful resolution of the crisis;
(5) acknowledges and welcomes the strong relationship
formed between the United States and Ukraine and expresses
its strong and continuing support for the efforts of the
Ukrainian people and the new Government of Ukraine to
establish a full democracy, the rule of law, and respect for
human rights; and
(6) pledges its assistance to the strengthening of a fully
free and open democratic system in Ukraine, the creation of a
prosperous free market economy in Ukraine, the reaffirmation
of Ukraine's independence and territorial sovereignty, and
Ukraine's full integration into the international community
of democracies.
Mr. LUGAR. Mr. President, today I offer a resolution celebrating the
December 26 election in Ukraine. I am pleased that Ukraine has
dominated newspaper headlines and media broadcasts all over the world
for the last sixty days. In that time, extraordinary events have
occurred. A free press has revolted against government intimidation and
reasserted itself. An emerging middle class has found its political
footing. A new generation has found its hope for the future. A society
has rebelled against the illegal activities of its government. It is in
our interests to recognize and protect these advances.
I congratulate the people of Ukraine in their undeniable quest for
freedom and democracy. Furthermore, I would also like to congratulate
President Viktor Yushchenko, who was inaugurated last Sunday, for his
victory.
The December 26 election in Ukraine was a tribute to Ukraine's
maturing democracy and places Ukraine on a path to join the community
of European democracies. A fraudulent and illegal election would have
left Ukraine crippled. The new president would have lacked legitimacy
with the Ukrainian people and the international community.
With the stakes so high, I commend President Bush, his
Administration, and the international community for providing the
people of Ukraine with the support they needed to withstand the threats
to free and fair elections. Even in the face of repeated attempts to
end any hope of a free and fair election, I was inspired by the
willingness and courage of so many citizens of Ukraine to demonstrate
their passion for free expression and the building of a truly
democratic Ukraine.
I am hopeful that the momentum to foster democratic freedom around
the world will continue. In his inaugural speech last week, President
Bush stated his unequivocal support for democracy and put securing
individual freedom at the forefront of America's foreign policy. I
agree with the President. We must be prepared to play an active role in
ensuring that democracy and basic freedoms are promoted and preserved
around the world.
The future of Ukraine rests with its leaders and its people, but the
United States and Europe must continue to support a foundation of
democracy, rule of law, and a market economy, which will allow Ukraine
to prosper and reach its full potential. I urge my colleagues to lend
their support to U.S. policy in Ukraine and ask their support for this
resolution.
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