United States Senate 1400 - 1500
SENATE FLOOR DEBATE: Convene and resume consideration of S. 2320,
the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Funding Act (LIHEAP).
14:14:49.2 recess:
14:16:07.6 the presiding officer: the senate will come to order. a senator: mr. president, i
14:19:27.3 suggest the absence of a quorum. the presiding officer: the clerk will call the roll. quorum call:
14:21:43.4 a senator: mr. president?
14:21:43.7 the presiding officer: the senator from minnesota. mr. dayton: thank you, mr. president. i ask unanimous consent that i may speak for up to ten minutes as in morning business with the time to be charged against my -- the presiding officer: the senate is current until a quorum call. mr. dayton: i'm sorry. i ask unanimous consent the quorum call be dispensed with. the presiding officer: without objection.
14:21:58.6 mr. dayton: thank you, mr. president. i ask unanimous consent that i might speak for up to ten minutes in morning business with my time charged -- time charged against my hour under cloture. the presiding officer: without objection, so ordered. mr. dayton: mr. president, i note with sorrow one of minnesota's greatest sports heroes, kirby puckett, who
14:22:15.9 suffered a stroke yesterday and died at the age of 45. kirby puckett was born and raised in chicago but he became a minnesotan when he was drafted at the age of 22 by the minnesota twins. after two seasons in the minor leagues, he played his first major league game for the twins on may 8, 1984, where he became
14:22:33.1 the ninth player in baseball history to get four hits in his first game. two years later, he appeared in the first of eight consecutive all-star games during which time he also won the american league most valuable player honors and
14:22:47.5 most valuable player in the american league championship series. when his great career was cut short by blurred vision caused by glaucoma in 1996, he sported a lifetime major league batting average of .318 with 2,304 hits,
14:23:05.4 07 home runs, and 1,085 runs batted in and 1,783 games. but even those extraordinary statistics comprise only part of kirby puckett's greatness.
14:23:19.3 he played baseball with an enthusiasm, a devotion, and an excitement that was thrilling to watch. whether at bat or in center field, where he was a golden glove outfielder, he brought twins fans out of their seats with spectacular game-winning
14:23:34.6 plays. no minnesota twins fan old enough to remember our team's two world championships will ever forget kirby puckett. in 1987, with the twins trailing the st. louis cardinals three games to two, kirby tied world
14:23:50.1 series records by reaching base five times and scoring four runs to lead the twins to victory in game number six. the next night the twins won game seven to win their first world championship. and the minnesota team's first
14:24:05.0 professional world championship in almost 30 years. four years later, in another world series game six, with the twins this time trailing the atlanta braves three games to two, kirby puckett was unbelievably even more spectacular than before.
14:24:21.0 his over-the-wall catch saved a game-winning braves home run and sent the game into extra innings, which he then won with a home run in the bottom of the 11th inning. the next night the twins won another game seven and another
14:24:34.9 world series. during those years, kirby puckett was a wonderful representative of the minnesota twins and major league baseball. he hosted celebrity events for local charities, made countless appearances for others, signed endless autographs, all with his
14:24:51.4 infectious kirby puckett smile.f the chicago cubs and general manager of the twins during those world series years, said yesterday -- quote -- "kirby puckett was probably the greatest teammate i've ever been
14:25:05.5 around. you always felt better when you were around kirby. he just had that way about him." the years following his retirement from baseball stardom were more difficult ones, with his sterling reputation tarnished by marital discord and
14:25:20.9 other public incidents. when his contract as executive vice president for the twins expired at the end of 2002, kirby puckett retired from baseball and later moved to scottsdale, arizona, where he passed away. he is survived by his two children, katherine and kirby
14:25:36.1 jr., and his fiancee, jodie olson, to whom i extend my deepest condolences. the kirby puckett i will remember, as will a generation of minnesota twins fans, young and old, will always be -- will always be wearing a minnesota twins uniform number 34, leaping
14:25:52.5 for fly balls, racing around the bases, making his greatest plays in the most important games and doing so with a zest for the game and for life that was unmistakable and unforgettable. thank you, kirby, for those treasured moments now forever our memories.
14:26:08.3 thank you, kirby. may you rest in peace. thank you, mr. president. and i suggest the absence of a quorum.the presiding officer: tk will call the roll.n
14:30:52.2 quorum call:
DANA REEVE TRIBUTE:
14:32:53.5 a senator: mr. president?
14:32:54.2 the presiding officer: the senator from massachusetts. mr. kennedy: -- mr. kerry: mr. president, i ask unanimous consent that the quorum call be dispensed with. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. kerry: and i ask, mr. president, that i be permitted to proceed for ten minutes as if in morning business. the presiding officer: without objection.
14:33:08.8 mr. kerry: i thank the chair. today, mr. president, we learned of the unbelievably tragic passing of a remarkably
14:33:27.6 courageous, strong, and dedicated woman, dana reeve. most americans knew dana as the wife of christopher reeve and most americans knew christopher as superman and as this unbelievable figure capable of
14:33:44.4 overcoming so many op stick cels. -- obstacles. i think the whole nation was shocked and touched when they learned that dana, not too long after the loss of chris, herself
14:34:00.7 was battling lung cancer. she was always a brilliant and strong in that effort, at times filled with doubt about her kids and the future as anyone would be, but always unbelievably
14:34:19.0 courageous. she was a passionate advocate after chris passed away and even before. she was herself an accomplished actress and singer appearing off
14:34:34.1 broadway and on broadway. she was above all aboving mother -- above all a loving mother and a stunningly supportive and nurturing wife. and through her very selfless effort to be part of chris' live
14:34:53.0 in gyp taintic ways -- gigantic ways that are bigger than most people can describe after his accident, if that she became an
14:35:06.5 inspiration to millions of americans. there's no way for anybody who was touched by that family to adequately express our shock and our sorrow to her immediate family, to will, who is now age 13, and her stepchildren matthew
14:35:23.7 and alexandra and to her friends who were with her until the end. dana was always a crusader, but with chris' accident she became an even more tireless,
14:35:40.3 passionate crusader for the particular promise of medical research and stem cell treatments. after chris' paralysis, she and chris together created the christopher reeve foundation
14:35:55.3 which has raised and distributed over $55 million in research grants, much of it aimed at speeding the development of stem cell treatments. can i remember visiting chris at his home in new york, and they
14:36:10.3 had elaborate exercise set up which he went through, i think, almost every day whenever possible, always keeping his muscles as alive and growing as possible under the circumstances
14:36:26.8 with the belief that he was going to walk again. dana believed in him, and she believed in that possibility. together with chris she was deeply involved in the fight for increases in medical research
14:36:43.9 funding. and she was an active advocate for the rights of the disabled. many colleagues here in the senate had the opportunity to get to know her, talk with both she and chris in the course of that advocacy.
14:36:58.7 after chris' death in 2004, dana courageously kept up the battle to advance medical research. she became the chairwoman of the foundation picking up where chris had left off. she was responsible for
14:37:13.8 developing the foundations christopher and dana reeve paralysis resource center. and for a program that has now distributed more than $8 million for projects that improve the daily lives of people with pennsylvania lice sis.
14:37:29.6 in october -- paralysis. in october of 2004 i was particularly honored and moved to be joined by dana on the campaign trail in ohio. i can't tell you how incredible it was that within two weeks of
14:37:49.3 chris passing away, less than two weeks, dana took the time, found the courage somewhere, and the strength and the sense of purpose, that she described to
14:38:03.2 me as coming directly from chris himself, to come out on the trail and fight for what he had been fighting for. i will never forget the grace and the strength and -- strength that she showed that day and
14:38:20.3 even a glow that she exuded in her love for chris and her passion about the issue. let me just share, if i may, a few of the words that she spoke that day which i found so moving but i also find important for
14:38:35.4 all of us to focus on today. she said chris struggled for nine and a half years, but essential to him that every day brings some kind of forward progress, either personally or globally.
14:38:51.1 despite the enormous challenges he faced each morning, he awoke with focused determination and a remarkable zest for life. chris was able to keep going because he had the support of his loved ones and dedicated nursing, the belief of his fans and members of the disabled
14:39:10.7 community, and because he had hope, hope that one day science would restore some of his function. chris actively participated in clinical trials. he was on a strict exercise regimen and was recently in a
14:39:25.8 clinical trial right here in ohio, she said, to breathe on his own. chris could breathe off his ventilator for hours at a time tanks -- thanks to science and scientists taking bold steps. chris understood that all
14:39:42.0 journeys begin with a single step, and to take that first step, one needs hope. his vision of walking again, his belief that he would reach this goal for himselves and others in his lifetime was central to the way that he conducted his life. dana went on to describe how
14:40:00.6 while chris led the crusade for the research, she, in turn, put her energy into improving the quality of life for people who were living with diseases, inspired by individuals who
14:40:14.8 could still benefit from research. and she talked about how right there in ohio where we stood that day, the christopher reeve paralysis foundation had funded a number of programs that kept people healthy and active
14:40:34.1 despite living with a disability. she did all this, mr. president, because both she and chris imagined living in a world where politics would never get in the way of hope. dana shared that vision and she worked tirelessly to help achieve it.
14:40:48.5 today the whole country will remember again this couple.
14:40:54.9 they'll remember them together and their dedication to furthering stem cell research. here in the senate we have an opportunity to honor their memories and that work by fighting to advance stem cell research.
14:41:09.3 we can do it mindful of all the ethical considerations which we understand. there is a by to do -- there is a way to do it and to respect life. we have the opportunity to take the steps that dana and chris would have been so thrilled to
14:41:25.5 see, worked so hard to achieve, to finally see a stem cell bill passed through the senate. in the end, mr. president, none of their efforts nor their lives -- nor their lives were about policy.
14:41:40.4 it was about hope and it was about values. it was about honoring their -- it's about honoring their lives now that we should set about that task. she shared an unquenchable belief in the genius of america when we put our minds to it.
14:41:57.3 they drew strength from the talent and the dedication of the scientists that they met. and in turn, they inspired them to go out and do even more. chris stunned doctors by regaining some sensation over 70% of his body and moving most
14:42:13.1 of his joints which people said he would never do. did he that because of science. dana and -- did he that because of -- he did that because of science. they never lost hope that science was the greatest hope
14:42:28.6 for humanity. that's a hope we all should share. for chris and dana and the millions who believe in the possibility of this remarkable time and our remarkable country. a lot of people ask, how with he with do that? the answer is simple, mr. president, how can we commit
14:42:44.2 ourselves to anything less to. will and matthew and alexandra and dana and chris' friends and families, colleagues and supporters, i say that the best thing we could do is complete their journey by doing our best
14:43:00.5 in ours. and if we do that, we will give even greater meaning to two remarkable lives. i yield the floor.
14:44:01.1 the presiding officer: the clerk
14:44:01.9 will call the roll. quorum call: ?
14:46:10.0
14:46:14.6 quorum call:
14:58:08.1 mr. dorgan: mr. president?
14:58:09.7 the presiding officer: the senator from north dakota. mr. dorgan: i ask that the quorum call be vacated. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. dorgan: mr. president, last evening and this morning in news reports there was a suggestion that some sort of deal was being reached here in the united states congress
14:58:24.7 between the congress and the administration on the issue of the you don't pie ports world company-- --dubai ports world company managing six of america's largest seaports. let me just point out, there's no deal that i'm aware of. if there is a deal, it is being
14:58:42.5 made by people who have not consulted many of us in the congress. and in any event, i think this proposal still lacks basic common sense. i want to speak about it just for a couple of minutes. mr. chertoff in "the wall street journal," the secretary of
14:58:58.1 homeland security, says, "u.s. ports takeover" -- again by the dubai ports world, united arab emirates-owned company -- the head of our homeland security, said it would tighten grip on
14:59:12.8 security. so he actually makes the case, the head of our homeland security agency, that allowing the management of the takeover of our six major port facilities, seaport facilities, would strengthen american security.
14:59:27.2 that is an unbelievable statement. i'll describe why he says it. he says, well, that, assuming the deal would go through, we intend to have a deep look into your practices, certainly in the u.s. ports.
14:59:43.4 "assuming this deal goes through, we intend to have a deep look into your practices, certainly in u.s. ports." those are direct quotes. that's almost unbelievable. so they apparently haven't had a deep look into their practices before the deal goes through? look, this is a circumstance