Robert Smith

almost everyday we hear about new Palestinian violence in Israel and all too often, American citizens are among the victims. Earlier this year, Mrs. Sarah Blaustein, of Long Island, New York, was murdered in a drive-by shooting by…

I rise today to reflect on a tragedy that weighs very heavy upon my heart. Last month four firefighters were killed in a conflagration in Washington State's Okanogan National Forest. My prayers and thoughts are with the families of Tom…

I rise today to give my support for the Employment Non Discrimination Act of 2001 or ENDA. I believe that every American should have the opportunity to work and should not be denied that opportunity for jobs they are qualified to fill. In…

I compliment the ranking member and the chairman of the Banking Committee for bringing this legislation to the floor. It has been my privilege to introduce it to their committee with Senator Schumer, the Senator from New York--a Republican…

many Americans are becoming familiar with a part of my State and a part of California known as the Klamath Basin because of the coverage of a tragic situation that has developed there in a contest between suckerfish and farmers. If I may…

I thank the majority whip and the chairman of the Environment and Public Works Committee for offering to have a hearing. I hope we have a hearing. But, frankly, I need the people of Klamath Falls to know where we are, so I am asking that…

I have been working over the past year with the judges of the ninth circuit, the circuit charged with overseeing the judiciary in the Pacific Islands, to help them secure the funds to conduct a needs assessment for the training of judges…

As a Member of the Senate high-tech task force, I believe that the R&D tax credit is essential to the technology community, and also to the pharmaceutical community. This credit encourages investment in basic research that, over the long…

I want to see us do it as quickly as we can for the simple reason that businesses need to make planning and expenditures that last an awful long time. This is not unrelated to medicine and patients' health. Part of the technological…

I am looking at a situation in the Klamath Basin of Oregon and California that is in a drought condition. Drought is typical in the western United States. It is regular. You can count on it. Unlike past droughts, the people of Klamath…

one of the important tasks we have in Congress is to ensure that our laws effectively deter violence and provide protection to those whose careers are dedicated to protecting our families and also our communities. With this in mind, today…

I stand here as an Eagle Scout. I stand here as an Oregon Senator. I stand here as one who believes that gays and lesbians are due equal rights. I have tried to demonstrate that in the way I have conducted my service in the Senate, by…

I am here standing for the proposition that tolerance is a two-way street; that we should tolerate the gays and lesbians in our community, but we should also tolerate the Boy Scouts in our community. Clearly, there are some groups that…

I rise today to note the 20th anniversary of the passing of a constituent of mine . . . one of the five original deaths sited by a CDC report published 20 years ago today. Though the 553-word article only outlined a rare type of…

It is time to vote on this tax cut so we can get to education and deal with some of the issues Senators have identified. For the sake of the American people, it is time to vote.

on Monday, May 7, I traveled once again to Klamath Falls, OR, to address a rally of more than 15,000 people. They came to show their support for the farmers, farm workers, small business owners and local officials in the Upper Klamath…

I rejoice that we have a budget agreement, and that we are working on education reform that puts serious resources behind serious reform in our educational system. I am here as well to thank the leaders of the conference committee on the…

We believe that expanding health insurance to millions of hard working low-income Americans will relieve the uncertainty and fear many people face, knowing that they are one illness away from losing their life savings or their home. It is…

We would like to give more resources to education. We would like more accountability for that. We would like better results for that. If we can keep the focus on educating children, there are all kinds of things that become possible in…

I rise today to speak about hate crimes legislation I introduced with Senator Kennedy last month. The Local Law Enforcement Act of 2001 would add new categories to current hate crimes legislation sending a signal that violence of any kind…

the Senate has just completed a long week debating a budget that I believe will help the American people in many ways, and I am proud of that work. But there are thousands of people in southern Oregon who are today getting some very bad…

when I go home to Oregon I am often asked what is the biggest surprise I have had as a Senator. I often and without any hesitation answer that my biggest surprise is that one of my closest friendships in the Senate, and one of the most…

I rise to make a statement on a matter that troubles me deeply. I do so with considerable reluctance. It concerns a good friend of the United States, a country that for twenty years has been one of the bedrocks upon which the search of…

my second-degree amendment is very similar to that of my colleague, Senator Wyden's. I have changed only the date of the applicability for bankruptcy filings to those that occur on or after March 7, 2001, and I have further clarified that…

I thank my colleague. I send a second-degree amendment to the desk and ask for its immediate consideration. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report. The assistant legislative clerk read as follows: The Senator from Oregon [Mr. Smith]…