EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM. NOW, THE PUBLIC SCHOOL'S CLEANSE ACT
           RECOGNIZES AMERICA ABILITY TO ATTRACT AND RETAIN QUALIFIED
           TEACHERS IS KEY. S. 7, OF WHICH I AM A COSPONSOR, WOULD PROVIDE
           LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS WITH THE HELP THEY NEED, THE SUPPORT
           THEY NEED TORQUES RECRUIT EXCELLENT TEACHER CANDY CATS. L DALTS
           I AGREE THE STATES ARE THE LEADERS IN EDUCATION IMPROVEMENT.
           HAVE TO BE. I WAS A STATE OFFICIAL -- FOUR YEARS IN THE STATE
           SENATE AND 12 YEARS AS SECRETARY OF STATE. I HAVE SPENT MORE

           TIME AS A STATE OFFICIAL THAN I HAVE EVER AS A FEDERAL
           OFFICIAL. BUT IT IS OBVIOUS, A LOT OF OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM, A LOT
           OF OUR STATES CAN'T GET TO WHERE WE NEED THEM TO BE WITHOUT
           SOME FEDERAL HELP. AND WHO WOULD DENY THAT?
           WE NEED 100,000 NEW TEACHERS, TRAINED, QUALIFIED TEACHERS IN
           THIS COUNTRY. FOR ONE REASON -- TO REDUCE CLASS SIZE IN GRADES
           ONE THROUGH THREE. EVERY INDEX THAT I HAVE SEEN OF STUDENT
           PERFORMANCE AND PART OF THE KEY TO STUDENT EXCELLENCE AND

           ACHIEVEMENT IS THE REDUCTION OF THE PUPIL- PUPIL-TEACHER RAISH
           SHORX PARTICULARLY IN GRADES ONE THROUGH THREE. STPHO MATTER
           HOW YOU CUT IT A TEACHER WITH 10 TO 13 STUDENTS IN THE CLASS,
           REGARDLESS OF WHERE THOSE STUNTSDSS ARE, WHAT STATE, WHAT
           DISTRICT, WHAT COUNSEL TIRX THEY LEARN MORE AND DO BETTER THAN
           A TEACHER THAT HAS 30 OR 35 KIDS IN THE CLASS.
           
           WE HAVE ANOTHER PROBLEM: 14 MILLION CHILDREN IN THE U.S. ATTEND
           SCHOOLS IN NEED OF AEXTENSIVE REPAIR OR REPLACEMENT. I COME

           FROM A STATE THAT IS FAST GROWING AND IT IS HARD TO BUILD
           ENOUGH CLASSROOMS, PARTICULARLY IN METROPOLITAN ATLANTA. BUT IF
           YOU LOOK AROUND MY STATE STATE, THE MOST RECENT SURVEY HAS
           POINTED OUT THAT IN GEORGIA, SOME 62% OF OUR CLASSROOM
           BUILDINGS NEED REPAIR. NOW, WE'VE HAD LEGISLATION ON THE FLOOR
           OF THE SENATE TO DEAL WITH THIS. WE'VE NOT DEALT WITH IT.
           THERE'S ANOTHER ISSUE, TOO,
           

           MR. PRESIDENT: EVERY DAY FIVE MILLION CHILDREN ARE LEFT TO CARE
           FOR THEMSELVES IN THE HOURS BEFORE AND AFTER SCHOOL. WHEN I WAS
           GROWING UP, IN MY HOMETOWN OF LITHONI AFRPBLGTS I CAME HOME --
           MY MOTHER AND FATHER WERE WORKING, BUT I CAME HOPE AND MY
           GRANDMOTHER WAS THERE. I WAS NOT A LATCHKEY KID. IN THAT KEY
           TIME PERIOD FROM
           
           3:00 TO 8:00 P.M. AT NIGHT, HALF OF ALL THE JILETE -- VIOLENT
           JUVENILE CRIME IN THIS COUNTRY TAKES PLACE. THAT IS KEY PERIOD

           FOR OUR YOUNGSTERS IN AMERICA AND WHY CAN'T WE HELP OUT?
           TODAY ONLY A VIRTUAL HANDFUL OF CHILDREN PARTICIPATE IN GOOD
           AFTER-SCHOOL CARE. MR. PRESIDENT, LET'S NOT CUT EDUCATIONAL
           FUNDG FROM WHAT IT WAS LAST YEAR BY 17%. LET US NOT LET THIS
           SUBCOMMITTEE BEHIND OUR BACK CUT THE FEET OUT FROM UNDER US AS
           WE MAKE GREAT SPEECHES HERE ON THE FLOOR OF HOW MANY OF US

           SUPPORT EDUCATION. LET US ACTUALLY TAKE A LESSON FROM BILL
           GATES. LET US HELP OUR COMMUNITIES REDUCE JUVENILE CRIME BY
           INVESTING OUR DOLLARS IN AFTER-SCHOOL CARE. THAT IS ONE OF OUR
           CHALLENGES BEFORE US, AND ONE OF THE PROGRAMS THAT WAS CUT BY
           THE SUBCOMMITTEE. LET ME JUST SAY THAT I THINK WE OUGHT TO TAKE
           ADDITIONALLY THE WORDS OF BENJAMIN DISRAILIS WE ENTER THIS
           DEBATE NEXT WEEK. IT IS A TRUISM. AN INVESTMENT IN EDUCATION IS

           AN INVESTMENT IN THE FUTURE OF AMERICA. THANK YOU VERY MUCH,

           MR. PRESIDENT. I YIELD THE FLOOR. MR. ROTH: MR. PRESIDENT?
           
           

           THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE SENATOR FROM
           DELAWARE.
           

           MR. ROTH: MR. PRESIDENT, I RISE TODAY TO DISCUSS AN IMPORTANT
           AND HISTORICALLY IMPORTANT VOTE -- AN HISTORICALLY IMPORTANT
           VOTE TAKEN IN THE COURSE OF OUR RECENT DELIBERATIONS ON DEFENSE
           POLICY. AND I'M SPEAKING OF THE ROLL CALL VOTE IN CHAMBER TOOK
           ON MAY 25 REQUESTING THE LONG-OVERDUE POS TOMBOUS ADVANCEMENT
           OF TWO FINE WORLD WAR II OFFICERS, ADMIRAL KIMMEL AND GENERAL

           WALTER SHORT. THE SENATE VOTED IN SUPPORT OF THE KIMMEL-SHORT
           RESOLUTION AND I WISH TO TAKE A MOMENT TO UNDERSCORE THE
           HISTORIC IMPORT OF THAT VOTE. AS YOU MAY RECALL, ADMIRAL KIMMEL
           AND GENERAL SHORT WERE PUBLICLY AND WRONGLY ACCUSED OF
           DERELICTION OF DUTY AND UNFAIRLY SCAPEGOATED WITH SINGULAR
           RESPONSIBILITY WHEN THE SUCCESS OF THE FATEFUL DECEMBER 1941

           ATTACK ON PEARL HARBOR. AND AFTER THE END OF WORLD WAR II, THIS
           SCAPEGOATING WAS GIVEN A PAINFUL, UNJUST AND ENDURING VENEER
           WHEN ADMIRAL KIMMEL AND GENERAL SHORT WERE NOT ADVANCED ON THE
           RETIRED LIST TO THEIR HIGHEST RANK OF RTIME COMMAND. AN HONOR
           THAT WAS GIVEN TO EVERY OTHER SENIOR COMMANDER WHO SERVED IN
           WARTIME POSITIONS ABOVE THEIR REGULAR GRADE. AND AFTER OVER 50

           YEARS, THIS INJUSTICE REMAINS A PROMINENT, PAINFUL SPUR IN THE
           INTEGRITY OF OUR NATION'S MILITARY HONOR HONOR. AND AFTER
           NUMEROUS OFFICIAL INVESTIGATIONS TOTALLY WELL OVER 30 VOLUMES
           OF THICK TEXT ABSOLVED THESE OFFICERS OF DERELICTION OF DUTY
           AND HIGHLIGHTED GROSS NEGLIGENCE AND INAPTITUDE ON THE PART OF
           THEIR SUPERIORS AS PREDOMINANT FACTORS IN THE PEARL HARBOR
           FACTOR, THESE OFFICERS STILL REMAIN ON UNFAIRLY TREATED. FOR

           THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE INTERESTED, I SEND TO THE DESK RE-- FOR
           PLACEMENT IN THE "CONGRESSIONAL RECORD" A SET OF EXCERPTS FROM
           THESE INVESTIGATIONS. THIS IS A SHORT DOCUMENT, BUT IT
           POIGNANTLY HIGHLIGHTS HOW UNJUST TREATMENT ENDURED BY KIM AND
           SHORT JUST DOES NOT CORRELATE WITH THE OFFICIAL HISTORY, THE
           OFFICIAL DOCUMENTED HISTORY OF THE PEARL HARBOR DISASTER.
           ANYONE WHO LOOKS OVER THESE FEW PAGES CANNOT BUT FEEL
           UNCOMFORTABLE WITH HOW OUR NATION HAS SO UNFAIRLY TURNED ITS

           BACK ON THESE TWO OFFICERS WHO DEDICATED THEIR LIVES TO OUR OWN
           FREEDOM. MR. PRESIDENT, A GREAT STEP -- INDEED, AN HISTORIC
           STEP -- WAS TAKEN TOWARDS THE CORRECTION OF THIS INJUSTICE LAST
           MAY, ON MAY 25 TO BE EXACT. THE KHAIL, THE UTS SENATE, A
           LEGISLATIVE BODY, OUR CONSTITUTION DEEMS RESPONSIBLE FOR
           PROVIDING ADVICE AND CONSENT IN THE PROMOTION OF MILITARY
           OFFICERS, VOTED AND PASSED AN AMENDMENTO THE SENATE DEFENSE

           AUTHORIZATION BILL THAT STATED -- AND I QUOTE -- "THIS SINGULAR
           EXCLUSION FROM ADVANCEMENT OF REAR ADMIRAL RETIRED KIMMEL AND
           MAJOR GENERAL RETIRED SHORT FROM THE NAVY RETIRED LIST AND THE
           ARMY RETIRED LIST LIST, RESPECTIVELY, SERVES ONLY TO PERPETUATE
           THE MYTH THAT THE SENIOR COMMANDERS IN HAWAII WERE DERELICT IN
           THEIR DUTY AND RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SUCCESS OF THE ATTACK ON
           PEARL HARBOR AND IS A DISTINCT AND UNACCEPTABLE EXPRESSION OF

           DISHONOR TOWARDS TWO OF THE FINEST OFFICERS WHO HAVE SERVED IN
           THE ARMED FORCES OF THE UNITED STATES." "THIS RESOLUTION THEN
           REQUESTED THE PRESIDENT TO ADVANCE THE LATE-REAR ADMIRAL
           HUSBAND KIMMEL TO ADMIRAL ON THE LIST AND THE LATE-GENERAL
           ADMIRAL SHORT TO THE RETIRED LIST OF THE ARMY. MR. PRESIDENT,
           THE INJUSTICE SERVED BY ADMIRAL KIMMEL AND GENERAL SHORT
           REMAINS A FLAW IN THE INTEGRITY OF OUR NATION'S CHAIN OF

           COMMAND AND IS UNPARALLELED MILITARY HONOR. IN THIS REMARKS THE
           SENATE'S VOTE ON THE KIMMEL-SHORT RESOLUTION WAS OF GREAT
           HISTORIC IMPORTANCE. THE SENATE HAS EVERY RIGHT TO BE PROUD OF
           THIS VOTE. THE CHAMBER WHICH UNDER THE CONSTITUTION IS
           RESPONSIBLE FOR PROMOTION OF MILITARY OFFICERS OF OUR ARMED
           FORCES DEEMED THE TREATMENT OF KIMMEL AND SHORT TO BE UNFAIR
           AND UNJUST AND INCONSISTENT WITH OUR NATIONAL SENSE OF HONOR.
           THAT VOTE GAVE FORMAL AND OFFICIAL RECOGNITION TO THIS

           INJUSTICE AND HIGHLIGHTED IT AS A PERNICIOUS INCONSISTENCY TO
           THE APPLICATION OF OUR NATIONAL UNDERSTANDING OF MILITARY
           ACCOUNTABILITY. IT DEMONSTRATED THAT NO WRONG, NO MATTER HOW
           DISTANT IN THE PAST, WILL BE IGNORED BY THIS CHAMBER AND IT
           CORRECTLY CALLED UPON THE PRESIDENT TO CORRECT THIS INJUSTICE
           BY ADVANCING THESE TWO OFFICERS ON THE RETIRED LIST. IT'S NOW
           UP TO THE PRESIDENT TO TAKE THIS CORRECTIVE ACTION. I HOPE THAT
           HE WILL NOT HEED THE CONTRARY CONCLUSIONS OF HIS VIRSZ ON THIS

           MATTER. WHILE THE PENTAGON OPPOSES THE ADVANCEMENT OF KIMMEL
           AND SHORT, THEY, NONETHELESS, RECOGNIZE THAT -- AND I QUOTE
           THEIR OWN 1995 REPORT -- "RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE PEARL HARBOR
           DISASTER SHOULD NOT FALL SOLELY ON THE SHOULDERS OF ADMIRAL
           KIMMEL AND LIEUTENANT GENERAL SHORT. IT SHOULD BE BROADLY
           SHARED." HOW THEY SQUARE THIS CONCLUSION WITH THE REALITY THAT
           TODAY KIMMEL AND SHORT ARE THE ONLY TWO OFFICERS TO SUFFER FROM
           OFFICIAL SANCTION IS BEYOND ME, AND I HOPE THAT THE PRESIDENT

           OF THE UNITED STATES WILL USE HIS WISDOM TO LISTEN BEYOND THIS
           CONTRADICTORY AND UNJUST ADVICE. I HOPE THAT HE WILL LOOK AT
           THE OFFICIAL RECORD FILED BY OVER EIGHT OFFICIAL
           INVESTIGATIONS. AND I HOPE THAT HE WILL LISTEN TO THE STUDIED
           VOICE OF THE SENATE AND TAKE THE FINAL STEP NECESSARY TO
           CORRECT THIS INJUSTICE BY ADVANCING THESE TWO FINE OFFICERS TO
           THE HIGHEST GRADE OF WORLD WAR II COMMAND ON THE RETIRED LIST.
           MR. PRESIDENT, THE SENATE HAS ONCE AGAIN ABLY DEMONSTRATED IT'S

           NEVER TOO LATE TO CORRECT AN INJUSTICE. AND I URGE THE
           PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES TO DO THE SAME AND ADVANCE
           KIMMEL AND SHORT TO THEIR HIGHEST GRADE OF COMMAND, AS WAS DONE
           FOR THEIR PEERS, WHO SERVED IN WORLD WARD II. MR. PRESIDENT, I
           HAVE AN ATTACHMENT THAT I ASK BE INCORPORATED IN THE RECORD AT
           THIS POINT.
           

           THE PRESIDING OFFICER: WITHOUT OBJECTION.
           

           MR. ROTH: MR. PRESIDENT, I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT THE
           SENATE IMMEDIATELY PROCEED TO EXECUTIVE SESSION TO CONSIDER THE
           FOLLOWING NOMINATIONS ON
           
           THE EXECUTIVE CALENDAR: NUMBER 231-233 AND THE NOMINATIONS ON
           THE SECRETARY'S DESK IN THE AIR FORCE, MARINE CORPS AND NAVY.
           AND I FURTHER ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT THE NOMINATIONS BE
           CONFIRMED, THE MOTIONS TO RECONSIDER BE LAID UPON THE TABLE,
           ANY STATEMENTS RELATING TO THE NOMINATIONS APPEAR AT THIS

           POINTN THE RECORD, AND THE PRESIDENT BE IMMEDIATELY NOTIFIED OF
           THE SENATE'S ACTION AND THE SENATE THEN RETURN TO LEGISLATIVE
           SESSION.
           

           THE PRESIDING OFFICER: WITHOUT OBJECTION. WITHOUT OBJECTION, SO
           ORDERED.
           

           MR. ROTH: MR. PRESIDENT, I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT THE
           SENATE NOW PROCEED TO THE IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION OF S. 1637
           INTRODUCED EARLIER TODAY BY SENATOR LOTT.
           

           THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE CLERK WILL REPORT.
           

           THE CLERK: S. 1637, A BILL TO EXTEND THROUGH THE END OF THE
           CURRENT FISCAL YEAR CERTAIN EXPIRING FEDERAL AVIATION
           ADMINISTRATION AUTHORIZATIONS.
           

           MR. ROTH: MR. PRESIDENT, I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT THIS BILL
           BE READ A THIRD TIME AND PASSED, THE MOTION TO RECONSIDER BE
           LAID UPON THE TABLE, AND ANY STATEMENTS RELATING TO THIS BILL
           APPEAR AT THIS POINT IN THE RECORD.
           

           THE PRESIDING OFFICER: WITHOUT OBJECTION, SO ORDERED.
           

           MR. ROTH: MR. PRESIDENT, I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT WHEN THE
           SENATE COMPLETES ITS BUSINESS TODAY, IT STANDS ADJOURNED UNTIL
           THE
           
           HOUR OF 12:00 NOON ON MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 27. AND I FURTHER ASK
           CONSENT THAT ON MONDAY IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE PRAYER, THE
           JOURNAL OF PROCEEDINGS BE APPROVED TO DATE, THE MORNING HOUR BE
           DEEMED EXPIRED, THE TIME FOR THE TWO LEADERS BE RESERVED FOR
           THEIR USE LATER IN THE DAY, AND THE SENATE THEN BEGIN A PERIOD
           OF MORNING
           

           BUSINESS UNTIL 3:30 P.M. WITH SENATORS SPEAKING FOR UP TO FIVE
           MINUTES EACH WITH THE
           
           FOLLOWING EXCEPTIONS: SENATOR THOMAS OR DESIGNEE, ONE HOUR;
           SENATOR DURBIN OR DESIGNEE, ONE HOUR.
           

           THE PRESIDING OFFICER: WITHOUT OBJECTION. WITHOUT OBJECTION, SO
           ORDERED.
           

           MR. ROTH: AND FOR THE INFORMATION OF ALL SENATORS, THE SENATE
           WILL CONVENE ON
           
           MONDAY AT 12:00 NOON, BE IF A PERIOD OF MORNING BUSINESS
           
           UNTIL 3:30 P.M.
           
           BY PREVIOUS ORDER, AT 3:30 P.M., THE SENATE WILL BEGIN
           CONSIDERATION OF TWO RESOLUTIONS THAT WERE INTRODUCED TODAY
           REGARDING EDUCATION. THE LOTT AND DASCHLE RESOLUTIONS WILL BE
           DEBATED CONCURRENTLY FOR TWO HOURS AND THE SENATE WILL THEN

           PROCEED TO TWO STACKED VOTES. THEREFORE, SENATORS CAN EXPECT
           THE FIRST VOTES ON MONDAY AT
           
           APPROXIMATELY 5:30 P.M. AND FOLLOWING THE VOTES, THE SENATE MAY
           BEGIN CONSIDERATION OF ANY CONFERENCE REPORTS, APPROPRIATIONS
           BILL, OR NOMINATIONS AVAILABLE FOR ACTION. MR. PRESIDENT, IF
           THERE'S NO FURTHER BUSINESS TO COME BEFORE THE SENATE, I NOW
           ASK THAT THE SENATE STAND IN ADJOURNMENT UNTIL THE PREVIOUS --
           UNDER THE PREVIOUS ORDER, FOLLOWING THE REMARKS OF SENATOR

           COVERDELL.
           

           THE PRESIDING OFFICER: WITHOUT OBJECTION, SO ORDERED.
           

           MR. ROTH: I MAKE A POINT OF ORDER THAT A QUORUM IS NOT PRESENT.
           

           THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE CLERK WILL CALL THE ROLL.
           
           
           
           
           QUORUM CALL:
           
{END: 1999/09/24 TIME: 13-45 , Fri.  106TH SENATE, FIRST SESSION}