[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 2]
[Senate]
[Page 2092]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                  HELPING OUR MEN AND WOMEN IN UNIFORM

  Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, I first commend the Senator from Texas 
for her excellent statement on the needs of our men and women in 
uniform. As the Senator from Texas, I had the opportunity earlier this 
week to accompany President Bush and Secretary Rumsfeld, as well as a 
number of Members of Congress, on a trip to Fort Stewart in Georgia. 
There we had the opportunity to talk firsthand with our soldiers. We 
also had the opportunity to tour their barracks.
  I must say I was shocked with what I saw. We saw soldiers living 
three in a very cramped space, 55 square feet per soldier, housing that 
is an embarrassment to the United States of America.
  Mr. President, there is an old statement that nothing is too good for 
our troops. Well, ``nothing'' appears to be exactly what they are 
getting in some parts of this country. We need to recommit ourselves, 
if we are going to solve our recruitment and retention problems, to 
providing quality housing, competitive pay, and good health and 
retirement benefits to our men and women in uniform. For that reason, I 
applaud the President's initiative and his announcements this week of 
his commitment to remedy the pay, housing, and benefit problems that 
were so evident on this trip.
  Mrs. HUTCHISON. Mr. President, will the Senator yield?
  Ms. COLLINS. I am happy to yield.
  Mrs. HUTCHISON. Mr. President, I want to say how much I appreciate 
the statement that has been made by the Senator from Maine. I also 
appreciate that she took the time to go and see for herself. She is a 
new member of the Armed Services Committee and she wanted to see the 
conditions in which our soldiers are living. I know this is now going 
to be a priority for her to make these improvements.
  I talked to the President after that visit he made, and he was so 
touched by the response he got from our troops. I know he has 
recommitted himself to making sure our troops have the support they 
need to do the job we are asking them to do. So I thank the Senator 
from Maine for going on that very important trip and for making that 
statement and that commitment.
  I ask unanimous consent that the time I have used not be counted 
against the time of the Senator from Maine.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, I thank the Senator from Texas for her 
comments. I was, indeed, so impressed with the pride and 
professionalism of the soldiers that I met. They were so committed to 
their jobs and to serving our country. We simply need to do better by 
them.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Maine is recognized.
  (The remarks of Ms. Collins pertaining to the introduction of S. 351 
are located in today's Record under ``Statements on Introduced Bills 
and Joint Resolutions.'')
  Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, I yield the floor. Seeing no one seeking 
recognition, I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. BINGAMAN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. BINGAMAN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent I be allowed to 
speak as in morning business for up to 8 minutes and that that time not 
count against the majority's allotted time.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. BINGAMAN. I thank the Chair.
  (The remarks of Mr. Bingaman pertaining to the introduction of S. 352 
are located in today's Record under ``Statements on Introduced Bills 
and Joint Resolutions.'')
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under the previous order, there are now 90 
minutes under the control of the majority leader or his designee.

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