I am extremely pleased by action taken today by the Senate in passing the National and Community Service Trust Act.

Today the Senate passed our national service program, one of my top legislative priorities.

I look forward to her speedy confirmation by the full Senate.

It won one for the American people, but it also won one for the Senate itself.

I am pleased that the Senate Committee on Labor and Human Resources has recognized the talents and capabilities of Dr. Joycelyn Elders.

By breaking the gridlock and ending the filibuster on national service today, the Senate scored two victories.

We just have to see quick action from the Senate.

I transmit herewith, for the advice and consent of the Senate to ratification, the Convention on the Marking of Plastic Explosives for the Purpose of Detection with Technical Annex.

The Senate sent a strong signal to middle class Americans that Washington can work to create jobs, increase incomes, and spur economic growth.

I challenged the Senate to pass a plan that met these principles: It had to reduce the deficit by $500 billion; it had to be balanced between spending cuts and taxes.

Tonight the Senate voted for growth over gridlock by passing our plan to cut deficit spending by $500 billion and lock the savings in a deficit reduction trust fund.

The Senate met these challenges, and that's why this vote is a victory for the American people.

I am transmitting herewith, for the advice and consent of the Senate to ratification, the Protocol to the Treaty Between the United States of America and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.

I transmit also, for the information of the Senate, the report of the Department of State with respect to this treaty.

I think there's general agreement around the country and certainly in the Senate that the present process is simply not fair.

S. 1722 is substantively flawed.

I just hope that the Senate will do what's needed, and that is help these people, but also do something that is budgetarily sound.

I urge the full Senate to act on this bill swiftly.