the matter of NATO expansion is perhaps the single most important foreign policy or defense issue to come before Congress this year. Because of the complexity of the issues involved, the importance of this decision, and its implications…

it was Samuel Johnson who said in 1777 that the knowledge that you will be hanged in a fortnight does wonders to concentrate your mind. In 1998, former Senate Majority Leader and Maine Senator George Mitchell proved the truth of this…

I rise in support of No. 555 on the Executive Calendar, the nomination of Kermit Lipez, of Maine, to the first circuit. Mr. President, it is an honor and a pleasure to rise to speak in support of the nomination of Justice Kermit Lipez to…

I am honored to congratulate Fort Benning, Georgia, for winning the Army Community of Excellence Chief of Staff Award. This is the sixth consecutive year that Fort Benning has been recognized as the best Army installation in the United…

I was totally surprised by the attitude of our soldiers upon my first arrival in Bosnia, about how positive they were about what they were doing and why they are there. I was totally set back, I was not expecting this, and I thought to…

contrary to the assertions of opponents to this legislation, the fact is that it will bring more money to our public schools, and it is a very pro-education pro-public-schools piece of legislation that the Senator from Georgia has brought…

Similarly, I ask the Senator from Georgia to clarify that the money in these A+ accounts could be used in fact to assist children that are attending public schools. I believe that is one of the purposes of this bill. For example, am I…

approximately 70 percent of the parents who would benefit from this important legislation have children in public schools.

Mr. Chairman, the foundation of our American republic is built upon the idea that citizens have the inherent right to life, liberty, and property. In fact, throughout the writings of our Founding Fathers, the right to property is viewed as…

I particularly support its expansion of outreach efforts designed to help emerging small businesses compete for Federal contracts. I think that those specific provisions of the amendment offered by the Senator from Kentucky would truly be…

the time has come to strike an important blow for our democracy by making some limited, but urgently needed, repairs to our campaign finance laws. Mr. President, the legislation currently pending before this body is dramatically different…

as the Congress grapples with the problem of maintaining the solvency of the Medicare program and with proposals to expand Medicare coverage, we must not overlook a critical problem that threatens the financial integrity of this vital…

I rise to say a few words in honor of one of our Nation's most legendary Senators and one of Maine's most beloved public figures: Senator Margaret Chase Smith. December 14 marks the 100th anniversary of Senator Smith's birth. Since we will…

I agree with Publisher Neely Young and Editor Tom Kerlin that giving the line-item veto to the President of the United States is an excellent method to control wasteful Federal spending and programs and was proper. I supported and voted…

In the life of a country, as in the life of an individual, there are times when we must choose between moving forward and standing still. Our trade policy is at just such a crossroads: We must decide whether to help promote freer trade and…

I have had a lot of inquiries from constituencies about problems they have had and told me about experiences they have had with IRS. Just recently, I held a townhall meeting in Columbus, GA, where we invited in some of the constituency to…

last week I was pleased to join with my colleague from West Virginia, Senator Rockefeller, in introducing S. 1345, the Advance Planning and Compassionate Care Act which is intended to improve the way we care for people at the end of their…

I rise to announce my intention to join my colleague from Arizona, Senator McCain, and vote for his motion to table the amendment offered by the distinguished majority leader to the McCain-Feingold campaign reform legislation. This has not…

Americans have long been urged by our doctors, our teachers, and our parents to eat at least five servings every day of fruits and vegetables. When we follow this good advice, we assume that the fruits and vegetables that we are consuming…

I rise today with a tremendous sense of pride and great pleasure to inform my colleagues that a citizen of the great State of Maine has been elected national commander of the American Legion. As many in this Chamber are aware, the American…

In that letter they state that they regard this action as ``a substantial alteration of a material term'' of the agreement and that they will ``exercise their option of rejecting the settlement and continuing the prosecution of their…

I quote just briefly from Stephanie D'Amico's letter. She wrote: College is one of the best investments we can make in America's future. It is critical to a strong democracy and a healthy economy. To me personally it represents opportunity…

Mr. Speaker, I was sent to Congress in 1993 by the people of the Third District of Georgia with a very specific list of legislative goals. The budget agreement negotiated between the Congress and the President includes many of those goals…

Mr. President, I am delighted to join my colleagues, particularly Senator McCain and Senator Feingold, in announcing our intent to bring bipartisan campaign finance reform legislation to a vote in September. At the State level, Maine has…

I also want to again applaud his efforts to ensure that we have adequate funding for our transportation infrastructure, which is so vital to this Nation's prosperity.