MEMBER OF THEIR COMMITTEES. TO OUR COMMERCE COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN
           JOHN MCCAIN, WHO HAS BEEN A GREAT FRIEND AND SUPPORTER AND
           THROUGH WHOSE HELP I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO PASS SIGNIFICANT
           LEGISLATION THAT CAME FROM OUR COMMERCE COMMITTEE AGENDA. I
           WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU ARE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN ORRIN
           HATCH WHO HELPED MEN TO GET ON HIS COMMITTEE MY VERY FIRST YEAR
           HERE, WHOSE SUPPORT ON THAT SUBCOMMITTEE HELPED ME TO ACHIEVE A
           NUMBER OF PERSONAL OBJECTIVES WITH RESPECT TO LEGISLATIVE GOALS
           AND WHO WORKED CLOSELY WITH MEN AND WHOSE STAFF WORKED CLOSELY

           WITH MY STAFF AS WE FOUGHT A NUMBER OF IMPORTANT BATTLES HERE
           IN THE SENATE. I WANT TO THANK MY GOOD FRIEND SENATOR MEET
           DOMENICI WHO CHAIRS THE BUDGET COMOLETE ON WHICH I SAT FOR SIX
           YEARS. WHEN I GOT HERE TO THE SENATE I MET WITH SENATOR
           DOMENICI AT THE TIME I WAS SELECTED FOR THE COMMIT WE TALKED
           ABOUT OUR GOALS AND HOPES WE MIGHT SOMEDAY ADVANCE A BALANCED
           BUDGET TO COMPLETION AND SEE THE NATION BALANCE IS BUDGET. MANY
           PEOPLE FELT WE WOULD NEVER ACHIEVE THAT IN OUR LIFETIMES AND
           YET THREE SHORT YEARS AFTER I ARRIVED ON THE ECONOMY UNDER PETE

           DOMENICI'S GREAT LEADERSHIP THAT OBJECTIVE WAS REALIZED. I WANT
           TO THANK THE CHAIRMAN OF OUR SMALL BUSINESS COMMITTEE, CHAIRMAN
           KILT BOND, WHOSE SUPPORT AND FRIENDSHIP HELPED ME IN THE
           LEGISLATIVE BATTLES OF THE RECENT YEARS. I HAVE BEEN ONLY BEEN
           ON THE COMMITTEE TWO YEARS BUT HIS LEADERSHIP ALSO HAS BEEN
           VERY IMPORTANT TO MY SUCCESS HERE IN THE CHAMBER. I ALSO WANT
           TO OF COURSE EXTEND THANKS TO ALL OF MY COLLEAGUES. THERE ARE
           MANY CLOSE FRIEND WHO ARE PART OF THIS CHAMBER. PEOPLE WHO MY
           FAMILY AND I HAVE BEEN BECOME CLOSE TO IN THE LAST SIX YEARS.

           OTHERS WHO HAVE ALREADY DEPARTED THE CHAMBER BUT WITH WHOM WE
           REMAIN CLOSE. SENATOR CHUCK HAGEL FROM NEBRASKA WHO IS WITH ME
           HERE TODAY I WANT TO ESPECIALLY THANK HIM FOR HIS GREAT
           FRIENDSHIP AND SUPPORT AN ALL THE ME OF MY FRESHMAN CLASS THE
           FOLKS I CAME IN WITH IN 18995. SENATORS SANTORUM, SENATOR
           INHOFE, SENATOR THOMPSON, SENATOR FRIST, THE OTHERS. AND I WANT
           TO REACH ACROSS THE AISLE AND THANK THE MANY COLLEAGUES ON THE
           DEMOCRATIC SIDE WITH WHOM I HAVE BEEN WORKED ON SO MANY
           BIPARTISAN ISSUES IN THE LAST SIX YEARS, TO CARL LEVIN OUR

           SENIOR SENATOR FROM MICHIGAN WHO BOMB ITCH WORKED VERY CLOSELY
           ON MANY, MANY ISSUES OF IMPORTANCE TO OUR STATE. TO TED KENNEDY
           MY RANKING MEMBER ON THE SENATE'S IMMIGRATION SUBCOMMITTEE
           WHICH I CHAIR. HE AND I AND OUR STAFFS I THINK HAVE BEEN VERY
           SUCCESSFUL IN PASSING A NUMBER OF PIECES OF LEGISLATION THROUGH
           THE BIPARTISAN COOPERATION WHICH WE HAVE ACHIEVED IN THAT
           SUBCOMMITTEE. TO JOE LIEBERMAN, LEAD COSPONSOR OF MY --
           AMERICAN CONSUMER ACT AND OTHER ISSUES AND RON WYDEN MY PARTNER

           IN HIGH TECHNOLOGY ISSUES. RON FEINGOLD AND BOB GRAHAM AND
           OTHERS WHO WORKED CLOSELY WITH ME. I ALSO WANT TO THANK THE
           MANY FRIENDS AND SUPPORTERS AND MENTORS WHO HAVE HELPED ME TO
           ARRIVE HERE IN THE SENATE IN A LENGTHY POLITICAL CAREER IN MY
           STATE OF MICHIGAN. THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE WHO ARE PART OF THAT
           SUCCESS. IT WOULD BE IMPOSSIBLE TO NAME ALL OF THEM. I WOULD
           LIKE TO SING -- SINGLE OUT FOUR PEOPLE WHO PLAYED PARTICULARLY
           IMPORTANT ROLES. FORMER MICHIGAN SENATOR BOB GRIFFIN, WHOSE

           CAMPAIGNS AND STAFF I WORKED ON, MANY YEARS AGO. SORT OF A ROLE
           MODEL FOR ME IN THAT HE WAS THE LAST REPUBLICAN SENATOR FROM MY
           STATE AND A MAN WHOSE INTEGRITY AND LEADERSHIP HERE IN THE
           SENATE WERE WELL RECOGNIZED. HE SERVED ULTIMATELY AS WHIP ON
           THE REPUBLICAN SIDE. HIS GUIDANCE AND FRIENDSHIP FROM THE TIME
           I WAS IN COLLEGE, HAS MEANT A GREAT DEAL TO MY POLITICAL
           SUCCESS AND MY PERSONAL SUCCESS AS WELL. TO OUR GREAT GOVERNOR
           JOHN ENGLER, WHO HAS BEEN A POLITICAL FRIEND AND COLLEAGUE IN

           MICHIGAN POLITICS SINCE 1971 AND WITHOUT WHOSE SUPPORT AND HELP
           I WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN MY CAMPAIGN FOR THE SENATE
           OR IN OTHER ROLES I PLAYED IN MICHIGAN POLITICS. TO FORMER
           CONGRESSMAN GUY VANERJACK WHOM I SERVED WITH AS CO-CHAIRMAN OF
           THE REPUBLICAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE IN 189911 AND 1929 WHEN I
           MADE MY FIRST A PREERNS E. PEERNS ON THE LEGISLATIVE SIDE OF
           WASHINGTON WORKING ON CAPITOL HILL FOR THE FIRST TIME.
           ESPECIALLY TO A GREAT FRIEND, FORMER VICE PRESIDENT DAN QUAYLE,

           ON WHOSE STAFF I SERVED AS DEPUTY CHIEF OF STAFF IN 1990 AND
           19911. MY FIRST ASSIGNMENT IN WASHINGTON IN GOVERNMENT SERVICE
           AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL. I WANT TO THANK ALL OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS
           AND THE OTHERS I HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE HERE TODAY TO NAME FOR
           HAVING HELPED ME TO GET TO THIS ROLE AND TO HAVE BEEN EFFECTIVE
           IN IT. WE HAVE HERE TODAY ON THE FLOOR A GREAT NUMBER OF PEOPLE
           WHO WORK ON MY SENATE STAFF AND I AM PROUD OF THEM. PROUD TO
           HAVE THEM WITH MEN. THEN ONLY REFLECT A PERCENTAGE OF THE MANY
           FOLKS WHO HAVE SERVED IN THE STATE OF MICHIGAN AND THEIR

           COUNTRY IN CONTEXT -- IN THE CONTEXT OF WORKING ON MY STAFF.
           THERE ARE SO MANY I AM GOING TO TRY TO NAME THE ONES THAT I
           HAVE LISTED HERE BUT I WILL SUBMIT THE NAMES OF EVERYBODY FOR
           THE RECORD. THE PEOPLE WHO SCHED ON MY SENIOR STAFF, TONY AN
           TONE, CAESAR CON DA. INDICATE HINT, JILL MCMONDAY GEMAYEL,
           INDICATE I PACKER, JIM PITS, LOWRY BINGE PURR PERMANENT, SUE
           WAY DELL THE FOLKS THAT SERVED OVER THE YEARS ON PRESS AND
           COMMUNICATIONS STAFF, JOE DAVIS, MARGARET MURPHY, JEW LIR TEAR,

           JESSICA MORRIS AND DAN SENIOR. TO A TERRIFIC LEGISLATIVE STAFF
           AND PEOPLE THAT WORKED ON SCOMEEPTS, STEWART ANDERSON, RAPE
           ALLEY BOPE LINGER, BONKERRY, TRACE HUDDLE, ELISABETH KESSLER,
           KEVIN CUM VER, BRANDY HE PERRIER, BRIAN RIORDAN AND BRIAN WILL
           HAUL. TO MY ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF, PAUL EAR HEART, JIM NEEM,
           LILLIAN SMITH, AND TO THE MANY PEOPLE WHO WORKED FOR US IN OUR
           MICHIGAN STAFF AND IN PARTICULAR I WOULD NOTE TODAY GREGG

           ANDREWS, JOE IS HE L.A., LAYER DICKERSON, TOM FRASER, PHIL
           HEDGES, USE NIS SMILES JEFFRIES, STEWART LARKIN, RENE MEYERS,
           HE WILL ROY SAILOR LO, LIL SIMON AND MANY OTHERS WHO SERVED AND
           WHOSE NAMES I ASK CONSENT TO INCLUDE IN THE RECORD AT THIS
           TIME.
           

           THE PRESIDING OFFICER: WITHOUT OBJECTION.
           

           MR. ABRAHAM: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. PRESIDENT. I ALSO WOULD
           LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT YOU KNOW IN ADDITION TO THIS GREAT
           STAFF, AND I DO WANT TO THANK THEM HERE ON THE FLOOR PUBLICLY
           FOR THEIR GREAT PERFORMANCE ON MY BEHALF AND THE MANY
           ACHIEVEMENTS I WILL TALK ABOUT IN A MINUTE THAT WE HAVE BEEN
           ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH, I THE ALSO NOTE NONE OF US WOULD HAVE BEEN
           ABLE TO GET AS MUCH DONE AS WE DID WITHOUT THE HELP OF A
           TREMENDOUS STAFF THAT SERVES US IN THE SENATE AS A CHAIRMAN
           BETTER. THE PEOPLE WHO WORK THE FLOOR. OUR PAGES, THE FOLKS WHO

           WORK AT THE FRONT HERE WHO HANDLE THE CLERK ROLES AND
           PARLIAMENTARY ROLES AND SO ON. I WANT TO THANK THEM. I WANT TO
           THANK THE PEOPLE WHO SERVE ON LEADERSHIP STAFFS OF BOTH PARTIES
           WHO HAVE BEEN GREAT FRIENDS AND HELPED US TO CHART THE VERY
           COMPLICATED PARLIAMENTARY WATERS THAT WE HAVE TO SO OFTEN
           NAVIGATE. THE FOLKS WHO WORKED ON THE STAFFS OF THE COMMITTEES
           THAT I SERVED ON THAT HELPED US TO PASS LEGISLATION, AND TO THE
           OTHER PEOPLE WHO WORK HERE IN THE SENATE, FROM THE CAPITOL
           POLICE WHO HELP US IN SO MANY WAYS THAT GO UNNOTED TO THE FOLKS

           IN THE LIBRARIES AND CONGRESSIONAL RESEARCH SERVICE AND IN THE
           CLOAKROOMS. TO ALL OF THOSE PEOPLE AND OTHERS I HAVE PROBABLY
           FORGOTTEN HERE I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU BECAUSE IT REALLY HAS
           BEEN A VERY ENJOYABLE PART OF THIS JOB TO HAVE WORKED WITH SUCH
           NICE PEOPLE. PEOPLE WHO GIVE 100% TO THIS CHAMBER AND TO
           AMERICA AND OFTEN WITHOUT ANY RECOGNITION AT ALL. I HOPE THAT
           WE WILL CONTINUE TO ALWAYS BE SERVED IN THIS BODY BY PEOPLE OF
           SUCH GREAT SKILL AND TALENT. AND FINALLY I WOULD LIKE TO THANK
           THE PEOPLE OF MICHIGAN. THEY GIVE ME AND MY FAMILY THE CHANCE

           TO COME TO WASHINGTON TO REPRESENT THEM HERE IN THE UNITED
           STATES SENATE. AND I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR WHAT I CONSIDER
           TO BE THE MOST TREMENDOUS HONOR ANY AMERICAN CAN HAVE WE STOWED
           UPON THEM BY THEIR FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS IN THEIR STATE AND FOR
           THEIR TREMENDOUS SUPPORT THROUGHOUT MY SIX YEARS IN THE UNITED
           STATES SENATE. I AM VERY PROUD OF THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS THAT I
           HAVE ACHIEVED, AND I HAVE WORKED VERY HARD AND I HOPE IN MOST
           CASES IN AN EFFECTIVE WAY TO HELP THE PEOPLE OF MICHIGAN TO
           MAKE SURE THAT MY CONSTITUENTS HAVE HAD THEIR VOICES HEARD IN

           THE UNITED STATES SENATE AND TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT THE FEDERAL
           GOVERNMENT WAS RESPONSIVE TO THEIR NEEDS. SPEAKING OF
           ACCOMPLISHMENTS, MR. PRESIDENT, ALTHOUGH YOU HAVE SPENT ONLY A
           RELATIVELY BRIEF TIME HERE IN THE SENATE I WANT TO SAY I AM
           PROUD OF WHAT OUR STAFF AND WHAT I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH
           FOR THE PEOPLE OF MICHIGAN AND FOR THE COUNTRY. IN 1994, A
           GROUP OF FRESHMEN WERE ELECTED HERE, 11 OF US CAME IN TO
           BASICALLY CREATE A NEW MAJORITY. IN 1995. A HISTORIC CLASS OF

           REPUBLICAN SENATORS, THE CLASS THAT GAVE REPUBLICANS CONTROL OF
           CONGRESS FOR THE FIRST TIME IN DECADES. I BELIEVE WE WERE SENT
           TO WASHINGTON TO ACCOMPLISH A VERY CLEAR AGENDA. TO BALANCE THE
           FEDERAL BUDGET. TO REDUCE THE TAX BURDEN. TO REFORM THE WELFARE
           SYSTEM. AND TO MAKE WASHINGTON MORE ACCOUNTABLE. I AM PROUD TO
           SAY, MR. PRESIDENT, AS I LOOK BACK ON OUR SIX YEARS THAT I
           BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE DELIVERED ON THOSE PROMISES. WE BALANCED
           THE BUDGET IN 199 AND WE HAVE KEPT IT BALANCED EVERY YEAR
           SINCE. AND WE HAVE DONE IT THIS PAST YEAR WITHOUT USING ONE

           PENNY OF SOCIAL SECURITY TRUST FUND SURPLUS TO GET THE JOB
           DONE. WEAPON REFORMED THE WELFARE SYSTEM, REDUCING THE WELFARE
           ROLLS BY OVER A THIRD. WE PROVIDED PARENTS WITH A $500 PER
           CHILD TAX CREDIT AND INVESTORS A CONSULT IN THE CAPITAL GAINS
           TAX. AND WE MADE CONGRESS MORE ACCOUNTABLE BY REQUIRING MEMBERS
           TO LIVE BY THE SAME RULES AND REGULATIONS AND MANDATES WE
           IMPOSED ON THE REST OF THE COUNTRY. MR. PRESIDENT, I AM PROUD
           OF THOSE ACHIEVEMENTS WHICH I THINK WHICH WERE ACHIEVEMENTS OF
           THIS BODY AS A WHOLE. I AM ALSO PROUD OF SOME OF THE THINGS

           WHICH I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH HERE DURING THE LAST SIX
           YEARS. I AM PROUD OF THE FACT THAT TO DATE, INCLUDING TODAY, I
           HAVE NEVER MISSED A SINGLE ROLL CALL VOTE ON THE FLOOR OF THE
           SENATE. I HAVE JUST CAST, I THINK, MY 2,202 ROLL CALL VOTE. IN
           MY VIEW VOTING IN THE SENATE IS THE SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT DUTY
           THAT WE AS UNITED STATES SENATORS CAN PERFORM ON BEHALF OF OUR
           CONSTITUENTS. IT IS WHAT THE PEOPLE OF OUR STATE ELECTED US TO
           DO. AND I AM GLAD THAT I HAVE BEEN HERE EVERY SINGLE DAY FOR
           THE PEOPLE OF MICHIGAN TO PERFORM THAT RESPONSIBILITY. I AM

           PROUD ALSO OF THE FACT THAT IN A FAIRLY SHORT PERIOD OF TIME, I
           HAVE BEEN ABLE TO AUTHOR 22 PIECES OF LEGISLATION THAT HAVE
           BEEN SIGNED INTO LAW. I AM PROUD OF THAT LEGISLATIVE RECORD AS
           A MEMBER OF THE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE I TOOK A SPECIAL INTEREST
           IN DRUG AND CRIME ISSUES. MY FIRST BILL TO BECOME LAW PREVENTED
           THE UNITED STATES SENATE -- UNITED STATES STEN E. SENTENCING
           COMMISSION FROM REDUCING SENTENCES FOR CRACK COCAINE OFFENDERS.
           HAD THAT NOT PASSED, SENTENCES WOULD HAVE BEEN AUTOMATICALLY
           REDUCED. LATER WITH MY STAFF WE WROTE THE PRISON LITIGATION

           REFORM ACT WHICH HELPED REDUCE PRISONER LAWSUITS AND RETURN
           CONTROL OF OUR PRISONS FROM JUDGES BACK TO LOCAL AUTHORITIES.
           AND JUST A FEW MONTHS AGO THE PRESIDENT SIGNED INTO LAW THE
           SAMANTHA REED DATE RAPE DRUG PROIB ACT. SHE WAS A ROCK WOOD
           MICHIGAN TRAIRM WHO DIED AFTER DRINKING A CAN OF MOUNTAIN DUE
           SHE DIDN'T KNOW HAD BEEN LACED WITH THE DEADLY DATE RAPE DRUG
           GHB. OUR LAW AMENDS IT BY ADDING GHB TO THE SCHEDULE OF

           SCHEDULE 1 CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE THAT IS INCLUDES HEROIN AND
           COCAINE. AS MEMBER OF BOTH JUDICIARY AND COMMERCE COMMITTEES I
           FOCUSED ON HIGH TECHNOLOGY ISSUES I BELIEVE ARE CRITICAL TO THE
           CONTINUED GROWTH AND PROSPERITY OF THIS COUNTRY. MY AMERICAN
           COMPETITIVENESS WORKFORCE IMPROVEMENT ACT INCREASED THE NUMBER
           OF VISAS TO HELP WITH CRITICAL LANE SHORTAGES ESPECIALLY IN THE
           ENTREPRENEURIAL SECTION. THE LAW FUNDED 10,000 NEW COLLEGE
           SCHOLARSHIPS, ANNUALLY, FOR LOW-INCOME STUDENT FOR STUDIES IN

           MATH, ENGINEERING AND COMPUTER SCIENCE AND JOB TRAINING FOR
           UNEMPLOYED AMERICANS THROUGH THE JOBS PARTNERSHIP ACT. IT WAS
           ALSO THE AUTHOR OF TWO NEW LAWS DEAL WITH ELECTRONIC COMMERCE.
           THE GOVERNMENT PAPERWORK RECOLLECTION ACT. AND THE ELECTRONIC
           SIGNATURES AND THE GLOBAL AND NATIONAL COMMERCE ACT. FIRST LAW
           SET FORTH A TIMETABLE FOR FEDERAL AGENCIES TO ACCEPT FRANCLY
           SIGNED AND TRANSMITTED RECORDS AND FORMS FROM BUSINESSES AND
           INDIVIDUALS. THE SECOND LAW INSURED CONTRACTS AGREED TO OVER
           THE INTERNET USING DIM TALL SIGNATURES WOULD HAVE THE SAME

           LEGAL VALIDITY AS CONTRACTS AGREED TO THE IN THE PAPER WORLD
           USING PEN AND INK SIGNATURES. BOTH LAWS LAID THE GROUND WORK
           FOR CONTINUED GROWTH AND EXPANSION OF ELECTRONIC COMMERCE IN
           YEARS TO COME. OTHER LAWS WHICH I HAVE BEEN INVOLVED WITH I AM
           ESPECIALLY PROUD OF ARE THE PASSAGE OF THIS YEAR THE KNEE
           TROPICAL MY DEPRA TORE BIRD CONSERVATION ACT, THE COLLEGE
           SCHOLARSHIP FRAUD PREPARE VEINS ACT AND THE PREVIOUS YEAR THE
           CHILD PASSENGER PROTECTION ACT. I AM HE SPECIALLY PROUD OF
           HAVING BEEN THE SENATE SPONSOR OF THE LEGISLATION THAT
           CONFERRED THE CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL ON ONE OF MY

           CONSTITUENTS, MRS. ROSE A PARKS. ONE AREA THAT I SPENT A GREAT
           DEAL OF TIME ON WORKING IN THIS CHAMBER AS MANY KNOW IS THE
           AREA OF IMMIGRATION. AS A GROOND SON OF IMMIGRANTS I AM
           ESPECIALLY PROUD OF THE ROLE I TRIED TO PLAY FROM CHANGING THE
           TONE OF THE DEBATE OVER IMMIGRATION IN THIS CHAMBER. IN THE
           MID-1990'S, MY PARTY, THE REPUBLICAN PARTY, IN MY JUDGMENT LOST
           ITS WAY ON IMMIGRATION. IT STRAYED FROM THE INCLUDE SIF
           PROIMMIGRATION PHILOSOPHY OF PRESIDENT RONALD REAGAN TO THE

           MOST PROTECTIONIST OF A MINORITY WITHIN REPUBLICAN RANCH. IN
           1997 I LED A BIPARTISAN GROUP OF SENATORS FROM PHIL GRAMM, MIKE
           DEWINE AND SAM BROWNBACK TO RUSS FEINGOLD, JOE LIEBERMAN, PAUL
           WELLSTONE AND OTHERS, TO DEFEAT A MISGUIDED EFFORT TO SLASH
           LEGAL IMMIGRATION TO THIS COUNTRY. I BELIEVE WITH ALL OF MY
           HEART, MR. PRESIDENT, THAT AMERICA SHOULD REMAIN HAS PRESIDENT
           REAGAN SAID THE SHINING CITY ON A HILL WELL OHMING -- WELCOMING
           THOSE WHO WILL PLAY BY THE RULES AN CONTRIBUTE TO SOLETE. I
           WOULD SAY DESPITE THE UGLY CAMPAIGN RUN IN MY STATE AGAINST ME

           BY SOME OF THESE ANTI-IMMIGRANT HATE GROUPS I AM ABSOLUTELY
           CONFIDENT THE BIPARTISAN COALITION OR LEGAL I AM GREG THAT WAS
           BUILT IN THIS CHAMBER WILL REMAIN STRONG LONG AFTER I HAVE LEFT
           THE SENATE. I AM ALSO PROUD TO HAVE WORKED ON AND FOR THE STATE
           OF MICHIGAN ON ISSUES IMPORTANT TO OUR STATE. MR. PRESIDENT I
           AM PROUD OF WHAT I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO WITH RESPECT TO
           INCREASING
{END: 2000/12/07 TIME: 17-00 , Thu.  106TH SENATE, SECOND SESSION}