RANCHERS AND FARMERS. FOR EXAMPLE, SHEEP RANCHERS LOST NEARLY
           $45 BILLION WORTH OF LIVESTOCK IN 1999. THE SHE INDUSTRY
           ESTIMATES THAT IF IT HAD ACCESS TO EFFECTIVE AND NECESSARY
           DRUGS, GROWERS REPRODUCTION COSTS FOR ANIMALS COULD BE CUT BY
           UP TO 15%. IN ADDITION, FEED LOT DEATHS FROM DISEASE WOULD BE
           REDUCED BY 1% TOO 2% ADDING APPROXIMATELY $8 MILLION TO THE

           REVENUE OF THE INDUSTRY. THE CATFISH INDUSTRY IS A NUMBER TWO
           AQUACULTURE INDUSTRY IN ALABAMA. THOUGH IT IS NOT THE STATE'S
           ONLY AQUACULTURE COMMODITY, CATFISH IS BY FAR ITS LARGEST THE
           CATFISH INDUSTRY GENERATES ENORMOUS ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY IN THE
           STATE, PARTICULARLY IN WEST ALABAMA. ONE OF THE POOREST REGIONS
           OF THE STATE WHERE I GREW UP. THE CATFISH INDUSTRY ESTIMATES

           ITS LOSSES AT $0 MILLION A YEAR A TRIB TAKL TO DISEASES FOR
           WHICH DRUGS ARE NOT AVAILABLE. IT IS NOT UNCOMMON FOR A CATFISH
           PROCEDUREER TO LOSE HALF HIS STOCK DUE TO DISEASE. THE INDUSTRY
           OVER ALL INCLUDING FISH, AND ORNAMENTAL FISH, PRODUCES OVER 800
           DIFFERENT SPECIES. UNFORTUNATELY THIS INDUSTRY HAS ONLY FIVE
           DRUGS THAT ARE APPROVED FOR TREATING THESE DISEASES. THIS
           RESULTS IN TREMENDOUS ECONOMIC HARDSHIP AND SUFFERING. BECAUSE

           OF LIMITED MARKET OPPORTUNITY, LOW PROFIT MARGINS AND THE
           ENORMOUS CAPITAL INVESTMENT REQUIRED, IT IS SELDOM ECONOMIC
           FEASIBLE FOR DRUG MANUFACTURERS TO PURSUE RESEARCH AND
           DEVELOPMENT AND THEN SEEK APPROVAL OF IT BY F.D.A. FOR DRUGS
           USED IN TREATING THESE MINOR SPECIES AND FOR INFREQUENT
           CONDITIONS AND DISEASES IN ALL ANIMALS. AS A RESULT, A GROUP OF
           PEOPLE HAVE COME TOGETHER. REALLY EFFECTIVE PROFESSIONAL FAIR

           COALITION TO DEAL WITH THIS PROBLEM. SO MR. PRESIDENT, I, ALONG
           WITH SENATOR BINGAMAN FROM NEW MEXICO WHO IS COSPONSOR, SENATOR
           ALLARD, SENATOR CRAPO, LINCOLN AND JOHNSON, RESOLVE -- EXCUSE
           ME. RESOLVE TO IMPROVE THE SITUATION BY INTRODUCING THE MINOR
           ANIMAL SPECIES HEALTH AND WELFARE ACT OF 2000. THIS LEGISLATION
           WILL ALLOW ANIMAL DRUG MANUFACTURERS THE OPPORTUNITY TO DREFL

           AND OBTAIN APPROVING FOR MINOR USE DRUGS WHICH ARE VITALLY
           NEEDED BY A WIDE VARIETY OF ANIMALS AND INDUSTRIES. OUR
           LEGISLATION INCORPORATES MAJOR PROPOSALS OF THE FOOD AND DRUG
           ADMINISTRATION CENTER FOR HAVE HAVE THENARY MEDICINE TO
           INCREASE THE NUMBER OF DRUGS FOR ANIMAL SPECIES AND RARE
           DISEASE IN ALL ANIMALS. THE ACT CREATES INCENTIVES FOR THOLE TO
           INVEST IN PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT AND OBTAIN F.D.A. MARKETING
           APPROVALS. THIS LEGISLATION CREATES A PROGRAM VERY VIM LAR TO

           THE VERY SINCERE FULL HUMOR FAN DRUG PROGRAM THAT HAS
           DRAMATICALLY INCREASED THE AVAILABILITY OF DRUGS TO TREATMENT
           RARE HUMAN GUESS DISEASES OFF THE PAST 20 YEARS. BESIDES
           PROVIDING BENEFITS TO LIVESTOCK PRODUCERS AND ANIMAL OWNERS,
           THIS MEASURE WILL DEVELOP INCENTIVES AND SANCTIONS PROGRAMS NOR
           THE PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRY WHILE MINUTE ENTERTAIN AND ENSURE
           PUBLIC HEALTH. THE ACT WILL NOT ALTER N.D.A. DRUG APPROVAL

           RESPONSIBILITIES THAT ENSURE THE SAFETY OF ANIMAL DRUGS TO THE
           PUBLIC. MR. PRESIDENT, I WOULD ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT I BE GIVEN
           TWO ADDITIONAL MINUTES.
           

           THE PRESIDING OFFICER: WITHOUT OBJECTION. SESSION EGGS THE
           F.D.A. CENTER NOR VETERINARY MEDICINE CURRENTLY EVALUATES NEW
           ANIMAL DRUG PRODUCTS PRIOR TO APPROVAL AND USE. THIS RIGOROUS
           TESTING AND REVIEW PROCESS PROVIDES KURMERS WITH THE CONFIDENCE
           THAT ANIMAL DRUGS ARE SAFE FOR ANIMALS AND CONSUMERS OF
           PRODUCTS DERIVED FROM TREATED ANIMALS. CURRENT F.D.A.
           REQUIREMENTS INCLUDE GUIDE THRINS TO PREVENT HARMFUL RESIDUES
           AND EVALUATION TOSS EXAMINE THE POTENTIAL FOR THE SELECTION OF

           RESISTANT PATHOGENS. ANY FOOD ANIMAL MEDICINE OR DRUG
           CONSIDERED FOR APPROVAL UNDER THIS BILL WOULD BE SUBJECT TO
           THESE SAME ASSESSMENTS. THE MINOR ANIMAL SPECIES HEALTH AND
           WELFARE ACT IS SUPPORTED BY 25 ORGANIZATIONS INCLUDING THE
           AMERICAN FARM BUREAU FEDERATION, THE AMERICAN HEALTH INSTITUTE,
           THE VELTNARY MEDICAL ASSOCIATION AND THE NATIONAL AQUACULTURE
           ASSOCIATION. IT IS VITAL LEGISLATION. MR. PRESIDENT, THIS ACT
           WILL REDUCE THE ECONOMIC RISKS AND HARDSHIPS WHICH FALL UPON

           RANCHERS AND FARMERS. AS A RESULT OF DISEASES IT WILL BENEFIT
           PETS AND THEIR OWNERS AND BENEFIT VARIOUS ENDANGERED SPECIES OF
           AQUATIC ANIMALS. THE ACT WILL PROMOTE THE HEALTH OF ALL ANIMAL
           ME SINCE WHILE PROTECTING HUMAN HEALTH BE WILL ALLEVIATE
           UNNECESSARY ANIMAL SUFFERING. THIS IS A COMMON SENSE
           LEGISLATION. WHICH WILL BENEFIT MILLIONS OF AMERICAN PELT
           OPENERS, FARMERS AND RANCHERS. IT IS THE RESULT OF A TREMENDOUS

           COOPERATIVE EVIDENT BY VIRTUALLY EVERY ENTITY CONCERNED ABOUT
           THIS PROBLEM. THEY HAVE REACHED AN AGREEMENT AND ARE WORKING
           NOW WITH THE FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION TO DO SOME OF THE
           FINAL TOUCH UPS THAT WILL GET VIRTUAL SUPPORT FOR IT. I BELIEVE
           WE ARE ON THE VERGE OF TAKING A BIG STEP TO ALLOWING THE
           INTRODUCTION OF MORE DRUGS TO HELP TREAT ANIMALS IN OUR COUNTRY
           AND I THANK THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE ALL WORKED TO MAKE THIS

           REALITY. AND WOULD TUCKLY KHAFRN, THANK, MARY ALICE TYSON WHO
           WORKED SO HARD ON THIS PROJECT. I WOULD YIELD THE FLOOR.
           

           THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE SENATOR FROM ILLINOIS.
           

           MR. DURBIN: THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. MR. PRESIDENT, BEFORE I
           ADDRESS THE ARE ISSUE I WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK TO THIS EVENING, I
           WOULD FIRST LIKE TO AGO NOOJ A PRESS CONFERENCE WHICH WAS HELD
           TODAY AND ONE WHICH I BELIEVE COULD HAVE SOME SIGNIFICANCE
           ACROSS THE UNITED STATES. IT WAS A PRESS CONFERENCE HERE ON THE
           LAWN OF THE UNITED STATES CAPITOL, AND IN ATTENDANCE WERE
           SENATORS BILL FRIST AND SENATOR DEWINE OF OHIO AND TENNESSEE,
           REPUBLICAN SENATORS, AS WELL AS MY DEMOCRATIC COLLEAGUE SENATOR

           CARL LEVIN. WHAT WOULD BRING TOGETHER TWO DEMOCRATS AND TWO
           REPUBLICANS IN RARE AGREEMENT HERE IN THE CLOSE OF THE SESSION?
           WELL IT IS AN ISSUE WHICH FRANKLY TRANSCENDS PARTY AND
           TRANSCENDS REGION. IT IS THE ISSUE OF ORGAN DONATION IN
           AMERICA. 72,000 OF OUR FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS ARE SITTING BY A
           TELEPHONE ACROSS AMERICA AT THIS VERY MOMENT WAITING FOR THE
           PHONE TO RING TO BE TOLD THAT THERE IS AN ORGAN AVAILABLE TO BE
           DONATED TO THEM WHICH COULD SAVE THEIR LIVES. 72,000. MY HOME

           STATE OF ILLINOIS THERE ARE 4,500 SUCH PEOPLE. SADLY, 300 OF
           THEM WILL DIE BEFORE THEY RECEIVE THE PHONE CALL THAT AN ORGAN
           IS AVAILABLE. SO LAST YEAR I JOINED WITH SENATOR FRIST AND
           SENATOR DEWINE AND LEVIN AND KENNEDY AND A HALF DOZEN OTHER
           SENATORS FROM BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE TO TRY TO ADDRESS THIS ON
           A NATIONAL BASIS AND WE CAME UP WITH THE CONCEPT THAT THIS
           THANKSGIVING IN THE YEAR 2000, WILL BE DESIGNATED AS GIVE
           THANKS, GIVE LIFE WEEK WHERE WE WILL TRY TO ALERT FAMILIES
           ACROSS AMERICA AS THEY COME TOGETHER FOR THANKSGIVING THAT THEY

           SHOULD TAKE A FEW MOMENTS OF TIME IN THAT FESTIVITY AND JUST
           PERHAPS TALK TO ONE ANOTHER PRIVATELY ABOUT THEIR FEELINGS
           ABOUT ORGAN DONATION. AND WE WERE LUCKY TO HAVE THE ENDORSEMENT
           OF THIS EFFORT BY THE NATIONAL INTO THE BALL LEAGUE. 17
           DIFFERENT NFL GAMES ON THANKSGIVING WEEK, THEY WILL HAVE GIVE
           THANKS GIVE LIFE ACTIVITIES. TODAY WE HAD AT THIS GATHERING ON
           THE CAPITAL LAWN, CONNIE PAYTON, WIDOW OF THE GREAT CHICAGO
           BEAR RUNNING BACK WALTER PAYTON. OF COURSE HE DIED IN NOVEMBER

           OF LAST YEAR FROM LIVER DISEASE. HE MIGHT HAVE BEEN SAVED WITH
           A LIVER TRANSPLANT. SHE HAS DEDICATED HER LIFE SINCE TO TRYING
           TO WORK FOR CHILDREN AND/OR BEGAN DONATION IN HIS MEMORY.
           CONNIE IS A WONDERFUL LADY WHO HAS BEEN ON TELEVISION WITH
           PUBLIC SERVICE SPOTS ACROSS ILLINOIS WITH OUR SECRETARY OF
           STATE JESSE WHITE FOR THE PAST SIX OR SEVEN MONTHS, SHE REALLY
           IS WELL-REPRESENTED FOR HER EFFORTS. JOINING HER WITH
           REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE FROM THE
           NATIONAL REDSKINS, FROM THE TENNESSEE TITANS. IT IS GOING TO BE
           A GREAT OPPORTUNITY ACROSS AMERICA TO USE WHAT IS IS GREAT

           FAMILY GET TOGETHER TO REMEMBER THE VERY BASIC. THAT IF YOU
           WANT TO GIVE THANKS, YOU CAN GIVE LIFE WITH AN ORGAN DONATION.
           I HOPE A LOT OF MY COLLEAGUES IN THE OTHER NFL CITIES THAT WILL
           BE PART OF THIS WILL PARTICIPATE. IN CHICAGO WE WILL SET UP
           TABLES AT SOLDIERS FIELD, AT HALF TIME WE WILL BRING OUT KIDS
           AND OLDER FOLKS THAT RECEIVED TRANSPLANTS SUCCESSFULLY. AT THIS
           MEETING WE A YOUNG BOY FROM VIRGINIA, FIVE YEARS OLD, JOHN HOKE

           STEEN AND HE HAD A HEART TRANSPLANT A YEAR 1/2 AGO. HE LOOKS
           LIKE HE IS READY TO PLAY IN THE FFL SOMEDAY. IT IS A GREAT
           MIRACLE. IT CAN'T HAPPEN WITHOUT IT OR GAP DOPE NORSE. THOSE OF
           US THAT MADE THAT COMMITMENT MADE IT KNOWN TO OUR FAMILIES
           STAND AT LEAST THE POSSIBILITY OF BRINGING REAL JOY TO A LOT OF
           PEOPLE.
           

           MR. REID: WOULD THE GENTLEMAN YIELD IN.
           

           MR. DURBIN: YES.
           

           MR. REID: THE SENATOR FROM ILLINOIS AND I CAME TO THE HOUSE OF
           REPRESENTATIVES TOGETHER 18 YEARS AGO. I WAS PLACED ON A
           COMMITTEE, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, AND THE FIRST SUBCOMMITTEE
           WAS CHAIRED BY REPRESENTATIVE ALBERT GORE. ONE OF THE FIRST
           HEARINGS THAT HE PUT TOGETHER AS CHERYL OF THAT SUBCOMMITTEE
           DEALT WITH ORGAN TRANSPLANTS. THAT WAS 18 YEARS AGO. MAYBE THE
           SENATOR CAN NOW REMEMBER THE VERY NOTED HEARING THAT HE HELD
           BEGINNING A DISCUSSION ON ORGAN TRANSPLANTS.
           

           MR. DURBIN: I WAS AT THE SAME HEARING.
           

           MR. REID: DO YOU REMEMBER LITTLE JAMIE FIFIK HE BROUGHT IN.
           

           MR. DURBIN: I DO.
           

           MR. REID: HE NEEDED A LIVER TRANSPLANT. AS A RESULT EVER THAT
           HEARING, JAMIE MISS BEING GOT A LIVER TRANSPLANT. AND IT --
           FIFIK GOT A LIVER TRANSPLANT. IT BEGAN A DISCUSSION THE SENATOR
           FROM ILLINOIS DEARD ON ALL THESE YEARS ABOUT WHY WE SHOULD BE
           AWARE OF THE NEED FOR ORGAN TRANSPLANTS. I WASN'T AWARE THE
           SENATOR WAS COMING TO THE FLOOR TODAY TO SPEAK ABOUT THIS
           SUBJECT BUT MY MIND RETURNS TO THAT VERY DRAMATIC HEARING THAT
           WENT ON FOR MANY, MANY HOURS. THE FIRST OF ITS KIND. I WOULD

           JUST SAY IN PASSING WHEN I ASK THE SENATOR IN HE AGREES WITH ME
           THAT THIS IS KIND OF LIKE AL GORE TO BEGIN SOMETHING. HE IS A
           VISIONARY. AND THIS GOES BACK LONG BEFORE ANYONE EVER
           ANTICIPATED AUTHOR THOUGHT AL BEST GHORE WORK A MEMBER OF
           UNITED STATES SENATE, CERTAINLY NOT VICE PRESIDENT AND NOW
           RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT.
           

           MR. DURBIN: I REMEMBER IT WELL. I WAS LUCKY TO SERVE ON THE
           SAME SUBCOMMITTEE. I REMEMBER THE TESTIMONY AS IF IT WERE
           YESTERDAY. IT WAS AMAZING THIS ISSUE WAS BROUGHT FORWARD. WE
           HAVE DONE STOCH. OUR REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUE WHO IS A MEDICAL
           DOCTOR, SENATOR BILL FRIST, WAS A FORMER HEART AND LUNG
           TRANSPLANT SOUTHERN. HE CAME DOWN HERE AND TALKED ABOUT HOW HE
           USED TO CARRY IN HIS POCKET THE NAMES OF 10 OR 12 PEOPLE WHO
           NEEDED ORGAN DOPE NATIONS AND HE WOULD GO THROUGH THE HOSPITAL
           AND SEE IF THERE WERE ANY FAMILIES WHERE THE LOVED ONE WAS
           ABOUT TO PASS AWAY WHO WOULD EVEN CONSIDER THAT. HE SAID SINCE

           HE STOPPED THAT PRACTICE A FEW YEARS AGO, THE NUMBER OF ORGAN
           TRANSPLANTS HAS BEEN INCREASING EACH AND OVER E. EVERY YEAR BUT
           IT CAN'T CONTINUE UNLESS THERE ARE MORE DONORS. I HOPE THIS
           GIVE THANKS GIVE LIFE WEEK AROUND THANKSGIVING WILL BE AN
           ANNUAL EVENT. I WANT TO SALUTE THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE AND
           THE COMMISSIONER FOR AURAL THE SUPPORT THEY HAVE GIVEN US. THEY
           HAVE REALLY MADE THIS -- GIVEN IT THE KIND OF SEND OFF WE HAD
           HOPED TO ACHIEVE. AND NOR CONNIE PAY PHONE WHO IS HERE TODAY,
           MARK MOSTLY, FORMER MOST VALUABLE PLAYER IN THE NFL, BILL BRUN

           DAMAGE A LINE MAN FOR THE WASHINGTON REDSKINS ALL CAME OUTER TO
           ENDORSE THE CONCEPT OF MANY TIMES THE PEOPLE IN FORTING LIVE
           CAN SCHOOL FORWARD AND INSPIRE PEOPLE TO TAKE SERIOUSLY WHAT
           POLITICIANS MAY NOT BE ABLE TO IMPRESS THEM WITH. THE MEETING
           WAS A GOOD ONE. I WANTED TO TAKE THE FLOOR TO TALK ABOUT HAND
           ISSUE THAT DAME UP THE OTHER NIGHT. I DID A TELEVISION SHOW
           CALLED "CROSS-FIRE." SOME PEOPLE HAVE PROBLEDE SEEN IT. IT WAS
           A TYPICAL, KIND OF A SCROLLED SHOUT SHOUTING MATCH HON CROSS

           FIRE WITH REPUBLICS'S WITHIN ONE SIDE DEMOCRATS ON THE OTHER.
           MARY MATLY FROM ILLINOIS AND QUITE WELL-KNOWN -- MARY MATLIN,
           FROM ILLINOIS AND KNOWN FOR HER GAIN FOR GEORGE W. BUSH AS PAT,
           WAS THERE REPRESENTING THE REPUBLICAN SIDE. WE HAD BILL PRESS
           ON THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE AND WE TALKED ABOUT THE DEBATE. THE
           INTERESTING THING TO ME WAS THE ANALYSIS OF THE DEBATE BY THESE
           COMMENTATORS KIND OF CAME DOWN TO WHAT I CONSIDER TO BE FAIRLY
           SUPERNATION AL QUESTIONS. DID GEORGE W. BUSH SHOW DISRESPECT
           NOR AL GORE GO HE BROUGHT UP THE WHOLE QUESTION ABOUT
           FUND-RAISING?

           DID AL GORE SHOW DISRESPECT FOR GEORGE W. BUSH WHEN HE SLUGDS
           OR WAS GUILT OF AUDIBLE BREATHING. AND I THOUGHT TO MYSELF AT
           ONE POINT IS THAT AS FOOD AS IT GETS IN A PRESIDENTIAL GAIN IN
           AMERICA?
           WE CAN LISTEN TO 90 MINUTES OF DEBATE AND WONDER IF SOMEONE
           PERHAPS CLEARED THEIR THROAT AT THE BRON TIME TORE SHRUGGED
           THEIR SHOULDERS OR SOMEONE ELSE BROUGHT UP A WORD WORE OR TWO
           THAT MIGHT HAVE CROSSED THE LINE IN?
           I THINK THIS IS WORTH MORE NOR US TO HAVE THESE DISTANCE AND I
           THINK IT IS IMPORTANT THAT ALL OF US IN THIS BUSINESS
           REPUBLICANS OR DEMOCRATS TAKE IT AS SERIOUSLY AS THE AMERICAN

           PEOPLE WANT TO TAKE IT. WHAT I HEAR FROM PEOPLE ACROSS THE
           COUNTRY IS WE ARE LOOKING NOR POLITICAL CANDIDATES WHO SPEAK
           CANDIDLY, HONESTLY, OPENLY AND TRUTH FLIP. TELL US WHAT YOU
           BELIEVE SO WE CAN DRAW A CONCLUSION ABOUT YOU NOT JUST YOUR
           IDEAS BUT ABOUT U. YOU. THE ISSUE AL GORE CAME TO THE DEBATE TO
           TALK ABOUT IS ONE WHICH WAS ADDRESSED A FEW
{END: 2000/10/05 TIME: 17-00 , Thu.  106TH SENATE, SECOND SESSION}