What I'm happy about is that the parties have agreed to a cease-fire and they're talking directly.

I transmit herewith the Convention on the Conservation and Management of Pollock Resources in the Central Bering Sea.

This Convention is a state-of-the-art fishing agreement that will aid in ensuring the longterm health of pollock stocks in the central Bering Sea.

The future of the country clearly would be better if we passed this crime bill.

I recommend that the Senate give early and favorable consideration to the Convention and provide its advice and consent to ratification.

Growth and development in the minority business community are crucial to the social fabric, as well as to the overall economy, of this Nation.

I call on the people of the United States to recognize the contributions that minority-owned businesses make to the well-being of this Nation.

As Leon said earlier today, there's something wrong when the Congress takes 6 years to pass a crime bill and the average violent criminal is out of prison in 4 years.

We are definitely on the right track, as the economic policies of this Administration have already resulted in renewed economic growth that has generated 3.5 million new private-sector jobs for our citizens.

Diversity is our strength.

Yes, the United States will have a very significant aid package this year.

Minority business development is an essential element in helping to enable every American to become a full participant in the economic life of our country.

We continue to be concerned about the potential implications of these operations for resources dedicated to overall defense readiness.

I therefore direct the drawdown of commodities and services from the inventory and resources of the Department of the Treasury of an aggregate value not to exceed $ 1.1 million to support international sanctions enforcement efforts against…

I hereby authorize the use of the aforesaid $1 million in funds made available under Chapter 5 of Part II of the Act to increase programs for countries of Central and Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union.

Something is wrong somewhere.

This would undermine the principle that new mandatory spending should be offset by reductions in existing mandatory spending.

We can do no less.