COURSE. IF WE REMAIN ONE PEOPLE UNDER AN EFFICIENT GOVERNMENT,
           THE PERIOD IS NOT FAR OFF WHEN WE MAY DEFY MATERIAL INJURY FROM
           EXTERNAL ANNOYANCE; WHEN WE MAY TAKE SUCH AN ATTITUDE AS WILL
           CAUSE THE NEUTRALITY WE MAY AT ANY TIME RESOLVE UPON TO BE
           SCRUPULOUSLY RESPECTED; WHEN BELLIGERENT NATIONS, UNDER THE
           IMPOSSIBILITY OF MAKING ACQUISITIONS UPON US, WILL NOT LIGHTLY

           HAZARD THE GIVING US PROVOCATION; WHEN WE MAY CHOOSE PEACE OR
           WAR, AS OUR INTEREST, GUIDED BY JUSTICE, SHALL COUNSEL. WHY
           FOREGO THE ADVANTAGES OF SO PECULIAR A SITUATION?
           WHY QUIT OUR OWN TO STAND UPON FOREIGN GROUND?
           WHY, BY INTERWEAVING OUR DESTINY WITH THAT OF ANY PART OF
           EUROPE, ENTANGLE OUR PEACE AND PROSPERITY IN THE TOILS OF
           EUROPEAN AMBITION, RIVALSHIP, INTEREST, HUMOR, OR CAPRICE?

           IT IS OUR TRUE POLICY TO STEER CLEAR OF PERMANENT ALLIANCES
           WITH ANY PORTION OF THE FOREIGN WORLD, SO FAR, I MEAN, AS WE
           ARE NOW AT LIBERTY TO DO IT; FOR LET ME NOT BE UNDERSTOOD AS
           CAPABLE OF PATRONIZING INFIDELITY TO EXISTING ENGAGEMENTS. I
           HOLD THE MAXIM NO LESS APPLICABLE TO PUBLIC THAN TO PRIVATE
           AFFAIRS THAT HONESTY IS ALWAYS THE BEST POLICY. I REPEAT,
           THEREFORE, LET THOSE ENGAGEMENTS BE OBSERVED IN THEIR GENUINE

           SENSE. BUT, IN MY OPINION, IT IS UNNECESSARY AND WOULD BE
           UNWISE TO EXTEND THEM. TAKING CARE ALWAYS TO KEEP OURSELVES BY
           SUITABLE ESTABLISHMENTS ON A RESPECTABLE DEFENSIVE POSTURE, WE
           MAY SAFELY TRUST TO TEMPORARY ALLIANCES FOR EXTRAORDINARY
           EMERGENCIES. HARMONY AND A LIBERAL INTERCOURSE WITH ALL NATIONS

           ARE RECOMMENDED BY POLICY, HUMANITY, AND INTEREST. BUT EVEN OUR
           COMMERCIAL POLICY SHOULD HOLD AN EQUAL AND IMPARTIAL HAND;
           NEITHER SEEKING NOR GRANTING EXCLUSIVE FAVORS OR PREFERENCES;
           CONSULTING THE NATURAL COURSE OF THINGS; DIFFUSING AND
           DIVERSIFYING BY GENTLE MEANS THE STREAMS OF COMMERCE, BUT
           FORCING NOTHING; ESTABLISHING WITH POWERS SO DISPOSED, IN ORDER
           TO GIVE TRADE A STABLE COURSE, TO DEFINE THE RIGHTS OF OUR
           MERCHANTS, AND TO ENABLE THE GOVERNMENT TO SUPPORT THEM,

           CONVENTIONAL RULES OF INTERCOURSE, THE BEST THAT PRESENT
           CIRCUMSTANCES AND MUTUAL OPINION WILL PERMIT BUT TEMPORARY AND
           LIABLE TO BE, FROM TIME TO TIME, ABANDONED OR VARIED AS
           EXPERIENCE AND CIRCUMSTANCES SHALL DICTATE; CONSTANTLY KEEPING
           IN VIEW THAT IT IS FOLLY IN ONE NATION TO LOOK FOR
           DISINTERESTED FAVORS FROM ANOTHER; THAT IT MUST PAY WITH A
           PORTION OF ITS INDEPENDENCE FOR WHATEVER IT MAY ACCEPT UNDER

           THAT CHARACTER; THAT, BY SUCH ACCEPTANCE, IT MAY PLACE ITSELF
           IN THE CONDITION OF HAVING GIVEN EQUIVALENTS FOR NOMINAL FAVORS
           AND YET OF BEING REPROACHED WITH INGRATITUDE FOR NOT GIVING
           MORE. THERE CAN BE NO GREATER ERROR THAN TO EXPECT OR CALCULATE
           UPON REAL FAVORS FROM NATION TO NATION. IT IS AN ILLUSION WHICH
           EXPERIENCE MUST CURE, WHICH A JUST PRIDE OUGHT TO DISCARD. IN
           OFFERING TO YOU, MY COUNTRYMEN, THESE COUNSELS OF AN OLD AND

           AFFECTIONATE FRIEND, I DARE NOT HOPE THEY WILL MAKE THE STRONG
           AND LASTING IMPRESSION I COULD WISH -- THAT THEY WILL CONTROL
           THE USUAL CURRENT OF THE PASSIONS OR PREVENT OUR NATION FROM
           RUNNING THE COURSE WHICH HAS HITHERTO MARKED THE DESTINY OF
           NATIONS. BUT IF I MAY EVEN FLATTER MYSELF THAT THEY MAY BE
           PRODUCTIVE OF SOME PARTIAL BENEFIT, SOME OCCASIONAL GOOD --
           THAT THEY MAY NOW AND THEN RECUR TO MODERATE THE FURY OF PARTY
           SPIRIT, TO WARN AGAINST THE MISCHIEFS OF FOREIGN INTRIGUE, TO

           GUARD AGAINST THE IMPOSTURES OF PRETENDED PATRIOTISM -- THIS
           HOPE WILL BE A FULL RECOMPENSE FOR THE SOLICITUDE FOR YOUR
           WELFARE BY WHICH THEY HAVE BEEN DICTATED. HOW FAR, IN THE
           DISCHARGE OF MY OFFICIAL DUTIES, I HAVE BEEN GUIDED BY THE
           PRINCIPLES WHICH HAVE BEEN DELINEATED THE PUBLIC RECORDS AND
           OTHER EVIDENCES OF MY CONDUCT MUST WITNESS TO YOU AND TO THE
           WORLD. TO MYSELF, THE ASSURANCE OF MY OWN CONSCIENCE IS THAT I

           HAVE AT LEAST BELIEVED MYSELF TO BE GUIDED BY THEM. IN RELATION
           TO THE STILL-SUBSISTING WAR IN EUROPE, MY PROCLAMATION OF THE
           22ND OF APRIL, 1793, IS THE INDEX TO MY PLAN. SANCTIONED BY
           YOUR APPROVING VOICE AND BY THAT OF YOUR REPRESENTATIVES IN
           BOTH HOUSES OF CONGRESS, THE SPIRIT OF THAT MEASURE HAS
           CONTINUALLY GOVERNED ME, UNINFLUENCED BY ANY ATTEMPTS TO DETER
           OR DIVERT ME FROM IT. AFTER DELIBERATE EXAMINATION, WITH THE

           AID OF THE BEST LIGHTS I COULD OBTAIN, I WAS WELL SATISFIED
           THAT OUR COUNTRY, UNDER ALL THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE CASE, HAD
           A RIGHT TO TAKE, AND WAS BOUND IN DUTY AND INTEREST TO TAKE, A
           NEUTRAL POSITION. HAVING TAKEN IT, I DETERMINED, AS FAR AS
           SHOULD DEPEND UPON ME, TO MAINTAIN IT WITH MODERATION,
           PERSEVERANCE, AND FIRMNESS. THE CONSIDERATIONS WHICH RESPECT

           THE RIGHT TO HOLD THIS CONDUCT IT IS NOT NECESSARY ON THIS
           OCCASION TO DETAIL. I WILL ONLY OBSERVE THAT, ACCORDING TO MY
           UNDERSTANDING OF THE MATTER, THAT RIGHT, SO FAR FROM BEING
           DENIED BY ANY OF THE BELLIGERENT POWERS, HAS BEEN VIRTUALLY
           ADMITTED BY ALL. THE DUTY OF HOLDING A NEUTRAL CONDUCT MAY BE
           INFERRED, WITHOUT ANYTHING MORE, FROM THE OBLIGATION WHICH
           JUSTICE AND HUMANITY IMPOSE ON EVERY NATION, IN CASES IN WHICH

           IT IS FREE TO ACT, TO MAINTAIN INVIOLATE THE RELATIONS OF PEACE
           AND AMITY TOWARD OTHER NATIONS. THE INDUCEMENTS OF INTEREST FOR
           OBSERVING THAT CONDUCT WILL BEST BE REFERRED TO YOUR OWN
           REFLECTIONS AND EXPERIENCE. WITH ME, A PREDOMINANT MOTIVE HAS
           BEEN TO ENDEAVOR TO GAIN TIME TO OUR COUNTRY TO SETTLE AND
           MATURE ITS YET RECENT INSTITUTIONS AND TO PROGRESS, WITHOUT
           INTERRUPTION, TO THAT DEGREE OF STRENGTH AND CONSISTENCY WHICH
           IS NECESSARY TO GIVE IT, HUMANLY SPEAKING, THE COMMAND OF ITS

           OWN FORTUNES. THOUGH IN REVIEWING THE INCIDENTS OF MY
           ADMINISTRATION I AM UNCONSCIOUS OF INTENTIONAL ERROR, I AM
           NEVERTHELESS TOO SENSIBLE OF MY DEFECTS NOT TO THINK IT
           PROBABLE THAT I MAY HAVE COMMITTED MANY ERRORS. WHATEVER THEY
           MAY BE, I FERVENTLY BESEECH THE ALMIGHTY TO AVERT OR MITIGATE
           THE EVILS TO WHICH THEY MAY TEND. I SHALL ALSO CARRY WITH ME

           THE HOPE THAT MY COUNTRY WILL NEVER CEASE TO VIEW THEM WITH
           INDULGENCE AND THAT, AFTER 45 YEARS OF MY LIFE DEDICATED TO ITS
           SERVICE WITH AN UPRIGHT ZEAL, THE FAULTS OF INCOMPETENT
           ABILITIES WILL BE CONSIGNED TO OBLIVION, AS MYSELF MUST SOON BE
           TO THE MANSIONS OF REST. RELYING ON ITS KINDNESS IN THIS, AS IN
           OTHER THINGS, AND ACTUATED BY THAT FERVENT LOVE TOWARD IT,
           WHICH IS SO NATURAL TO A MAN WHO VIEWS IN IT THE NATIVE SOIL OF

           HIMSELF AND HIS PROGENITORS FOR SEVERAL GENERATIONS, I
           ANTICIPATE WITH PLEASING EXPECTATION THAT RETREAT IN WHICH I
           PROMISE MYSELF TO REALIZE, WITHOUT ALLOY, THE SWEET ENJOYMENT
           OF PARTAKING IN THE MIDST OF MY FELLOW CITIZENS THE BENIGN
           INFLUENCE OF GOOD LAWS UNDER A FREE GOVERNMENT -- THE
           EVER-FAVORITE OBJECT OF MY HEART, AND THE HAPPY REWARD, AS I

           TRUST, OF OUR MUTUAL CARES, LABORS, AND DANGERS.
           
           
           
           
           MR. PRESIDENT, THAT CONCLUDES THE READING OF GEORGE
           WASHINGTON'S REMARKS OF SEPTEMBER 19, 1796.
           

           THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE CHAIR THANKS THE GENTLEMAN FROM
           VIRGINIA.
           

           MR. BYRD: MR. PRESIDENT, I SUGGEST THE ABSENCE OF A QUORUM.
           

           THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE CLERK WILL CALL THE ROLL.
           

           MR. MURKOWSKI: MR. PRESIDENT, I'D ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT
           THE QUORUM CALL BE RESCINDED.
           

           THE PRESIDING OFFICER: IS THERE OBJECTION?
           WITHOUT OBJECTION, SO ORDERED.
           

           MR. MURKOWSKI: MR. PRESIDENT, LET ME CONGRATULATE MY COLLEAGUE
           FROM VIRGINIA ON THE READING OF THE GEORGE WASHINGTON ADDRESS.
           I LISTENED CAREFULLY. I THINK WE ALL SHARE THE THOUGHT AND
           VISION THAT WENT INTO THAT ADDRESS WHEN IT WAS MADE AND THINK
           THAT IT HAS BEEN EACH YEAR REPEATED, I THINK LEADS TO THE
           STATURE OF OUR NEW SENATOR FROM THE STATE OF VIRGINIA. I'M

           VERY, VERY PLEASED TO HAVE LISTENED ATTENTIVELY TO HIS
           STATEMENT.
           

           MR. BYRD: MR. PRESIDENT, WOULD THE SENATOR YIELD?
           
           

           MR. MURKOWSKI: I'D BE HAPPY TO YIELD.
           

           MR. BYRD: MR. PRESIDENT, I WISH TO ASSOCIATE MYSELF WITH THE
           REMARKS OF THE DISTINGUISHED JUNIOR SENATOR FROM ALASKA
           CONCERNING THE MEANING OF THE ADDRESS AND ITS ETERNAL AND
           CONTINUING TRUTHS. WE WOULD ALL DO WELL TO LISTEN ANNUALLY TO
           THE READING OF THIS ADDRESS. I THANK THE DISTINGUISHED JUNIOR

           SENATOR FROM VIRGINIA FOR HIS ELOQUENCE AND FOR HIS READING OF
           THE MESSAGE THIS MORNING. I'M ONLY SORRY THAT MORE SENATORS
           HAVE NOT ATTENDED THIS IMPORTANT OCCASION. THAT'S NOTHING NEW.
           I HAVE, I THINK, ATTENDED THE READING OF THE FAREWELL ADDRESS
           OF OUR FIRST AND FOREMOST AND GREATEST PRESIDENT, GEORGE

           WASHINGTON, FOR MANY YEARS. I TRY ALWAYS TO ATTEND IF I'M IN
           THE CITY. AND IT GOES WITHOUT SAYING THAT I AM GENERALLY HERE
           AT THIS TIME. I ALWAYS GET SOMETHING NEW OUT OF LISTENING TO
           THIS ADDRESS. AND I ONLY HOPE THAT IN THE FUTURE OUR COLLEAGUES
           AND OUR JOINT LEADERSHIP ON BOTH SIDES WILL ATTEMPT TO ATTEND

           AND ENCOURAGE THE ATTENDANCE OF ALL SENATORS TO THE READING OF
           THIS ADDRESS. I CLOSE BY THANKING MY COLLEAGUE, MR. ALLEN,
           AGAIN. I THANK THE SENATOR FOR YIELDING.
           

           THE PRESIDING OFFICER: UNDER THE PREVIOUS ORDER THERE WILL NOW
           BE A PERIOD FOR THE TRANSACTION OF MORNING BUSINESS FOR NOT TO
           EXTEND
           
           BEYOND THE HOUR OF 4:00 P.M. UNDER THE PREVIOUS ORDER, THE
           
           TIME UNTIL 2:30 P.M. SHALL BE UNDER THE CONTROL OF THE SENATOR
           FROM ALASKA, MR. MURKOWSKI.
           

           MR. MURKOWSKI: MR. PRESIDENT, I THANK THE CHAIR.
           

           THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE SENATOR IS RECOGNIZED.
           

           MR. MURKOWSKI: LET ME ALSO COMMENT ON THIS STATEMENT BY THE
           SENIOR SENATOR FROM WEST VIRGINIA WHO CLEARLY LEADS THE WAY OF
           ALL SENATORS AS THE HISTORIAN OF THIS BODY, AND I THINK
           REMINDING US THAT EACH TIME YOU LEARN SOMETHING NEW AND TAKE AN
           APPRECIATION BACK WITH YOU, I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE
           CAN ALL REFLECT ON IN OUR OWN LIVES IF WE, THROUGH OUR OWN
           CONTRIBUTION, CAN MAKE THINGS JUST A LITTLE BIT BETTER FOR

           SOMEONE SOMEWHERE, EVEN OUR CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN. I THANK
           MY FRIEND. MR. PRESIDENT, ON BEHALF OF THE LEADERSHIP, I HAVE
           ONE UNANIMOUS CONSENT REQUEST FOR A COMMITTEE TO MEET TODAY.
           THIS REQUEST HAS THE APPROVAL, I UNDERSTAND, OF THE MAJORITY
           AND MINORITY LEADERS. I WOULD ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT THIS
           REQUEST BE AGREED TO AND THAT THIS REQUEST BE PRINTED IN THE
           RECORD.
           

           THE PRESIDING OFFICER: IS THERE OBJECTION?
           WITHOUT OBJECTION, SO ORDERED.
           

           MR. MURKOWSKI: MR. PRESIDENT, I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT THE
           SENATE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE, NUTRITION AND FORESTRY BE
           ALLOWED TO MEET DURING THE SESSION OF THE SENATE MONDAY,
           FEBRUARY 26, 2001. THE PURPOSE OF THIS HEARING WILL BE TO
           REVIEW THE FARM CREDIT ADMINISTRATION'S PROPOSED REGULATION ON
           NATIONAL CHARTERS.
           

           THE PRESIDING OFFICER: IS THERE OBJECTION?
           WITHOUT OBJECTION, SO ORDERED.
           

           MR. MURKOWSKI: I THANK THE CHAIR. MR. PRESIDENT, I'M GOING TO
           BE INTRODUCING TODAY LEGISLATION WHICH HAS BEEN FORTHCOMING FOR
           SOME TIME. THE TITLE OF THE LEGISLATION IS THE SPECIFIC ENERGY
           BILL THAT HAS BEEN WORKED ON BY A NUMBER OF MY COLLEAGUES AND
           THE PROFESSIONAL STAFF ON THE ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES
           COMMITTEE. AND AS A CONSEQUENCE, MR. PRESIDENT, WHAT WE HAVE

           HERE IS A COMPREHENSIVE BILL THAT IS IN TWO SPECIFIC SECTIONS
           BECAUSE ONE SECTION WILL GO TO THE ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCE
           COMMITTEE. AND THAT WILL BE SECTION 1 THROUGH 8, AND SECTIONS 1
{END: 2001/02/26 TIME: 13-00 , Mon.  107TH SENATE, FIRST SESSION}