I FANCY MYSELF GROWING THESE BEAUTIFUL VEGETABLES. I AM SURE
           THAT OTHERS HAVE SHARED THAT PLEASE ANTRY WITH ME MANY TIMES --
           PLEASANTRY MANY TIMES. A FEW TOMATO PLANTS ARE ALL I HAVE TIME
           FOR, BUT TO ME THOSE HOMME BELL PLANTS WITH THEIR SPICY SCENT,

           SOFT LEAVES AND GLOSSY FRUITS, BUTTERBOY, BIG BOY, BEEFSTEAK,
           EARLY GIRL, A FEW TOMATO PLANTS ARE ALL THAT I REALLY HAVE THE
           TIME FOR BUT FOR ME THOSE HUM PELL PLANTS WERE THEIR SPICY
           PLANTS, GLOSSY FRUITS SERVE EACH YEAR TO RECONNECT ME WITH THE

           CYCLES OF NATURE. AND IN MY VIEW TOMATO PLANTS I SHARE WITH
           FARMERS THROUGHOUT THE NATION WORRIES ABOUT COLD SPELLS, EARLY
           FROSTS, OUGHT, EXCESSIVE RAINFALL, FUNGUS AND INSECT
           INFESTATION. BUT LIKE THOSE FARMERS THROUGHOUT THE NATION, I
           GLORY IN THE SUCCESS OF MY EFFORTS AND MY FAMILY AND NEIGHBORS

           -- MOSTLY MY FAMILY -- SHARE IN THE BOUND TIS OF THOSE TOMATO
           -- BOUND TIS OF THOSE TOMATO PLANTS. NOW, HOW CAN ONE EVEN DARE
           TO BELIEVE THAT THERE IS NO GOD?
           NO CREATOR?
           WHY DO I PUT THOSE TOMATO PLANTS IN THE GROUND?
           WHY?
           I HAVE CONFIDENCE THAT THE CREATOR OF MAN AND THE CREATOR OF
           THE UNIVERSE IS GOING TO MAKE THOSE TOMATO PLANTS BEAR SOME

           FRUIT. AND THIS YEAR I WILL DELIGHT IN INTRODUCING THE NEWEST
           MEMBER OF MY FAMILY, MAY I SAY TO OUR DISTINGUISHED LEADER
           HERE, THERE IS A NEW MEMBER OF MY FAMILY, TOO, A DANE AT THIS
           GREAT GRANDDAUGHTER. -- DAINTY GRANDDAUGHTER, CAROLINE BYRD
           FETAIMY. WAIT UNTIL I INTRODUCE HER TO MY GARDEN. SHE WAS BORN
           JUST TWO WEEKS AGO YESTERDAY. SO SMALL AND PRECIOUS NOW. SHE

           WILL GROW STRONG AND HAPPY IN THE SUNSHINE AND PERHAPS SOMEDAY
           SHE, TOO, WILL GROW SOME TOMATOES. I DO LOVE THE PROMISE OF THE
           SPRING. WILLIAM JENNINGS BRYAN SPOKE. FATHER, THE CREE DAY TORE
           "IF THE FATHER DANES TO TOUCH WITH POWER THE COLD AND HEARTLESS
           HEART OF THE BRAID A CONCERN, WILL HE MAKE IT BURST FORTH AGAIN

           THE MIGHTY OAK. WILL HE LEAVE NEGLECTED IN THE COLD AND SILENT
           EARTH MAN, CREATED IN HIS OWN IMAGE?
           AND IF HE STOOPS TO GIVE TO THE ROSE BUSH WHOSE WITHERED
           BLOSSOMS FLOAT UPON THE AUTUMN BREEZE THE SWEET ASSURANCE OF
           YET ANOTHER SPRINGTIME, WILL HE REFUSE THE WORDS OF HOPE TO THE
           SONS OF MEN WHEN THE FROSTS OF WINTER COME?" WELL I LOVE THAT
           PROMISE OF THE SPRING. EVERY PLACE IS BETTER FOR SPRINGTIME'S

           ARTISTRY. THERE EXISTS NO IMPOSING MONUMENT OF GRANITE OR
           MARBLE THAT IS NOT IMPROVED BY A SOFTENING VARIETY OF
           SPRINGTIME GREEN HIGHLIGHTED BY BRIGHT BLOOMS. WASHINGTON IS AT
           ITS BEST IN APRIL. AND MAY, UNDER BRIGHT SKIES AND TOSSING
           CHERRY BLOSSOMS, WITH ALL ITS GOVERNMENTAL MASS LEVEL END BY
           LEAVES. SPRING TRAVELS A LITTLE SLOWER TO THE HILLSIDES OF WEST

           VIRGINIA, BUT IT IS PERHAPS ALL THE MORE CHERISHED FOR BLOOMING
           LATER. THERE IN THE DEEP SHADOWS OF THE HILLS WHERE RHODENDRON
           THICKETS OUTLINE QUIET KHA PELS AMONG THE TREES, GREENING
           COINCIDES WITH HARMONY WITH GOD'S EASTER PROMISE OF
           RESURRECTION. I ENCOURAGE MY COLLEAGUES AND EVERYONE ELSE,

           ALSO, TO SHAKE OFF THE LAST OF THE WINTER BLAHS, AND GO
           OUTSIDE. GOERLY IN THE MORNING WHEN THE BIRDS SING IN GRAND
           CHORUS OR IN THE BLINDING BRIGHTNESS OF NOON OR IN THE LILAC
           SERENITY OF EVENING, BUT GO OUTSIDE. GO OUTSIDE AND BREATHE THE
           SCENT OF HYACINTHS AND FRESH-TURNED EARTH. PLANT A GARDEN.
           PLANT A SINGLE TOMATO SEEDLING AND JOIN IN THE GREAT COMMUNITY

           OF GUARD NERS AND FARMERS AND LOVERS OF THE EARTH, BUT DO ENJOY
           THE SPRINGTIME. IT RESSURECTS THE SPIRIT. I ASK THE ROBIN AS HE
           SPRANG FROM BRANCH TO BRANCH AND SWEETLY SAYING WHAT MADE HIS
           BREATH BREAST SOOUND AND RED, IT WAS LOOKING AT THE SUN, HE
           SAID. AND I ASKED THE VIOLETS, SWEET AND BLUE, SPARKLING IN THE
           MORNING DEW, WHENCE CAME THEIR COLORS AND THEN SO SHY THEY

           ANSWERED LOOKING TO THE SKY. I SAW THE ROSE AS ONE BY ONE
           UNFOLD THEIR PE TALLS TO THE SUN AND I ASKED THEM WHAT MADE
           THEIR TENT SO BRIGHT, AND THEY ANSWERED LOOKING TO THE LIGHT. I
           ASKED THE THRUSH WHOSE SILVER NOTE CAME LIKE A SONG FROM
           ANGEL'S THROAT WHY HE SANG IN THE TIE LIT DIM, HE ANSWERED

           LOOKING UP AT HIM. MR. PRESIDENT, I YIELD THE FLOOR. A SENATOR: MR. PRESIDENT?
           
           

           THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE SENATOR FROM GEORGIA. MR. LOTT: MR.
           PRESIDENT?
           WOULD THE SENATOR FROM GEORGIA ALLOW ME A PREVIOUS ACTION
           BEFORE HE MAKES HIS STATEMENT DEALING WITH THE SCHEDULE?
           
           

           MR. CLELAND: I GLADLY YIELD.
           

           THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE SENATOR FROM MISSISSIPPI IS
           RECOGNIZED.
           

           MR. LOTT: I WANT TO EXPRESS MY HAPPINESS AND MY CONGRATULATION
           TO THE DISTINGUISHED SENATOR FROM WEST VIRGINIA ON THE BIRTH OF
           HIS GREAT GRANDDAUGHTER, ONE OF THE MOVEMENT MEMORABLE
           EXPERIENCES I HAVE HAD IN MY LIFE IN THE SENATE WAS HIS
           BEAUTIFUL AND ELOQUENT STATEMENT ON THE FLOOR IN RECOGNITION OF
           JUNE 20, 1998, THE DATE OF THE BIRTH OF THAT FINE YOUNG
           AMERICAN, MY GRANDSON, CHESTER TRENT LOTT THE III, SO I KNOW
           HOW MUCH IT MEANS TO SENATOR BYRD AS HIS FAMILY CONTINUES TO

           GROW AND EXPAND AND WHAT A LOVELY GIFT IT IS TO HAVE THAT GREAT
           GRANDCHILD. I THANK SENATOR BYRD FOR MAKING US ALL AWARE OF
           THIS, AND I AM SORRY THAT MY ELOQUENCE COULD NEVER RISE TO THE
           LEVEL OF HIS ON THE BIRTH OF MY GRANDSON. BUT I WILL CONTINUE

           TO WORK ON THAT I I SHALL SAY. MR. BYRD: MR. PRESIDENT?
           IF THE SENATOR WOULD YIELD. I DON'T KNOW ABOUT ELOQUENCE, BUT I
           CAN SAY THAT THE SENATOR FROM MISSISSIPPI ALWAYS CARES --
           CARRIES A WARM SMILE. NOW I'VE NOT BEEN NOTED FOR SMILING. I
           READ RA STORY ABOUT THAT THAN YELL HAWTHORNE ENTITLED "THE
           GREAT STONE FACE." AND SO I USUALLY THINK OF MYSELF AS IN THE

           CONTEXT OF THAT STORY AS THE "GREAT STONE FACE." BUT THE
           DISTINGUISHED SENATOR FROM MISSISSIPPI IS ALWAYS BUBBLING WITH
           ENERGY AND ALWAYS ON THE MOVE AND ALWAYS WEARING A SMILE, A
           TWINKLING EYES AND BRINGS A LIFT TO THE SPIRITS OF ALL OF US
           WHEN HE -- WHEN HE DOES THAT. AND I CGRATULATE HIM. I KNOW THAT
           GRANDCHILD OF HIS IS ALWAYS GOING TO CARRY THE PICTURE WITH HER

           IN HER -- OR HIS LITTLE MIND, OF THAT GRANDFATHER WITH THAT
           SPARKLING, RADIANT SMILE.
           

           MR. LOTT: THANK YOU, SENATOR BYRD. SENATOR BYRD BE I JUST CAME
           FROM AN EXTENDED MEETING WITH THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED
           STATES WHERE THE JOY OF OUR GRANDCHILDREN AND GREAT
           GRANDCHILDREN WAS ALSO UPPER MOST IN OUR MINDS BECAUSE WE ARE
           TALKING ABOUT ACTIONS BY OUR COUNTRY, OUR GOVERNMENT THAT COULD
           EFFECT THE YOUNG PEOPLE IN A MILITARY ACTION, AND WHILE I
           ALWAYS TRY TO HAVE THAT SMILE ON MY FACE, SOMETIMES IT'S VERY

           SERIOUS WHAT WE HAVE TO ATTEND TO. BUT I APPRECIATE SENATOR
           BYRD'S COMMENTS THIS MORNING TO THE PRESIDENT AND I APPRECIATE
           THE FACT THAT THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES WOULD BE
           MEETING WITH THE LEADERS OF CONGRESS AS WE TALK ABOUT THE
           SITUATION REGARDING SERBIA AND KOSOVO, AND I THOUGHT IT WAS A
           POSITIVE STEP. THE SENATE AND THE CONGRESS MUST BE INVOLVED AND
           CONSULTED CONSULTED. IF A DECISION IS MADE TO TAKE MILITARY
           ACTION, CERTAINLY IF IT IS AN ACTION THAT COULD LEAD TO BEING

           AN ACT OF WAR, AND WE WILL CONSIDER THIS VERY CAREFULLY, I
           THINK IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THIS AFTERNOON AND ON MONDAY THE
           SENATE BE HEARD ON THIS ISSUE. THAT WE HAVE THE TIME TO DISCUSS
           AND DEBATE, AS A MATTER OF FACT, THE MERITS AND DEMERITS, THE
           PLANS IN KOSOVO, WHAT RISKS ARE INVOLVED. I DON'T BELIEVE THE
           AMERICAN PEOPLE NOW ARE PROPERLY INFORMED ABOUT THE SITUATION

           AS IT NOW EXISTS. THE DYNAMICS HAVE CHANGED IN THE LAST DAYS.
           WE HAVE GONE FROM CONSIDERING WHETHER OR NOT GROUND TROOPS FROM
           THE UNITED STATES AS A PART OF A NATO MISSION WOULD BE PLACED
           IN A PEACEFUL SITUATION IN KOSOVO, TO A SITUATION WHERE IT
           APPEARS THAT AN AGREED SETTLEMENT IS NOT GOING TO BE ACHIEVED,
           AND THAT THE SERBIAN OFFICIALS WILL NOT AGREE TO HAVE A NATO
           FORCE COME IN, IN A PEACEFUL ARRANGEMENT, TO THE POSSIBILITY OF

           AIRSTRIKES INVOLVING SERBIAN TROOPS AND SERBIAN SITES. THIS IS
           A VERY SERIOUS STEP. BE I THINK THE SENATE SHOULD HAVE AN
           OPPORTUNITY TO BE BRIEFED, AS WE WERE ON THURSDAY, TO MEET WITH
           THE PRESIDENT AS WE DID TODAY, AND TO CONTINUE TO BE INVOLVED
           IN THE DIALOGUE. I BELIEVE THE PRESIDENT NEED TODAY HEAR SOME
           OF THE THINGS THAT HE HEARD TODAY. AND THAT'S WHY THESE
           MEETINGS ARE NOT ONE WAY. THEY ARE TWO-WAY STREETS TO MAKE SURE
           THAT WE AS PEOPLE'S REPRESENTATIVES ARE BEING HEARD, AND WE
           MADE THE POINT. THE SPEAKER AND OTHERS MADE THE POINT THAT THE
           PRESIDT NEEDS TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE WITH THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.
           EXPLAIN WHAT THE PRESENT CIRCUMSTANCES ARE. THE PRESIDENT WILL

           HAVE A PRESS CONFERENCE THIS AFTERNOON. I HOPE HE WILL ADDRESS
           IT AND I HOPE THERE WILL BE APPROPRIATE QUESTIONS ABOUT EXACTLY
           WHAT THE PLANS ARE FOR OUR MILITARY IN THE NEAR TERM. WOULD
           SENATOR BYRD WISH ME TO YIELD ON THAT POINT?
           
           

           MR. BYRD: YES, IF THE DISTINGUISHED MAJORITY LEADER WOULD. I AM
           GLAD THAT HE HAS SPOKEN AS HE HAS. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE
           AMERICAN PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT REALLY WHAT WE FACE. AND I'M NOT
           SURE I KNOW, BY ANY MEANS. I AM SURE THAT CONGRESS HAS CERTAIN

           CONSTITUTIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES AND THAT WHEN IT COMES TO
           SENDING AMERICAN MEN AND WOMEN INTO WAR, INTO CONFLICT, INTO
           DANGER, CONGRESS ALSO BEARS A PART OF THE RESPONSIBILITY. AND I
           AM FEARFUL THAT IN RECENT YEARS, ESPECIALLY, AMERICAN
           PRESIDENTS IN BOTH PARTIES HAVE NOT RECOGNIZED THAT -- THAT

           FACT, AND THEY HAVE GONE OFF, THEY HAVE SENT MEN AND WOMEN INTO
           AREAS OF PERIL WITHOUT TAKING THE CONGRESS ALONG WITH THEM. I
           THINK WE LEARNED IN VIETNAM THAT UNLESS THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE
           BEHIND AN EFFORT SUCH AS THAT, IT CANNOT SUCCEED. AND I BELIEVE
           THAT CONGRESS OUGHT TO FULFILL ITS DUTIES. BUT I ALSO BELIEVE
           THAT CONGRESS HAS TO TAKE A STAND AND DEMAND THAT IT'S

           CONSTITUTIONAL PREROGATIVES BE RECOGNIZED. NO PRESIDENT CAN
           CARRY ON A WAR WITHOUT THE SUPPORT OF CONGRESS, OR WITHOUT THE
           SUPPORT OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. AND I THINK THIS PRESIDENT --
           WE'RE, AS I LISTENED AND I AM SURE THE DISTINGUISHED MAJORITY
           LEADER FEELS THE SAME WAY ABOUT IT -- WE ARE ON THE EDGE OF A
           GREAT PRECIPICE HERE OF NATIONAL DANGER. AND WHAT'S HAPPENING

           IN THE BALKANS IS SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE OF GREAT CONCERN TO
           ALL OF US AND TO THE PEOPLE OF THE WORLD. IT WAS FROM THAT
           AREA, MAY I
{END: 1999/03/19 TIME: 13-30 , Fri.  106TH SENATE, FIRST SESSION}