BOTH OF WHICH LEFT OUR STATE. THERE IS A GOOD POSSIBILITY WE
           WILL BE THE HOME OF THE NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS IN THE
           NOT-TOO-DISTANT FUTURE, BUT IN THE MEANTIME, IT'S BEEN OUR MEN
           AND WOMEN BASKETBALL TEAMS AT THE UNIVERSITY LEVEL WHICH HAVE
           CAPTURED THE ATTENTION OF EVERYONE IN OUR STATE AND I MIGHT SAY
           AS WELL BEYOND THE BORDERS OF OUR STATE AS I THINK A GOOD PART
           OF THE NATION WAS ROUTING FOR THIS NINE AND A HALF POINT
           UNDERDOG ON THE NIGHT OF MARCH 29 AS THEY PREVAILED IN THIS
           GREAT VICTORY. I WANT TO JUST MENTION A COUPLE OF PEOPLE, IF I

           CAN. FIRST OF ALL, JIM CALHOUN, THE COACH OF THE YUKON MEN'S
           BASKETBALL TEAM. HAS A WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL RECORD. HAS
           CAPTURED N.I.T. TITLES, BEEN IN SWEET-16'S AND THE FINAL EIGHT,
           IF YOU WILL AND NOW TO THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP. NOT ONLY A
           WONDERFUL KOVERNINGSE A WONDERFUL HUMAN BEING WITH GREAT
           DEDICATION TO HIS TEAM, HIS PLAYERS, HIS STATE. AS WELL AS HIS
           COACHING STAFF, A WONDERFUL GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE ALSO
           DEDICATED SO MUCH ENERGY AND TIME TO MAKING THIS A TEAM -- THIS

           TEAM THE SUCCESS THAT IT HAS BEEN. I WANT TO ALSO MENTION SOME
           OF OUR PLAYERS HERE AGAIN. I LIST ALL OF THEM NEAR THIS
           RESOLUTION, BUT I'D LIKE TO BEGINGY JUST MENTION AGO COUPLE OF
           PLAYERS WHO MADE SUCH A SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTION. OUR SOPHOMORE
           GUARD KHFMT ALEED ALAMEIN, A NATIVE OF MINNESOTA, DECIDED TO
           MAKE THE UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT HIS HOME STATE FOR
           BASKETBALL PURPOSES AND HAS BEEN A SPARKPLUG FOR OUR TEAM, DONE

           A TREMENDOUS JOB AND, AS MANY RECALL, HE MADE TWO FREE-THROWS
           IN THAT FINAL GAME WITH 5.2 SECONDS LEFT, WHICH ABSOLUTELY ICED
           THE VICTORY FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT. RICHARD HAM I
           WILLTON HAS BECOME ONE OF THE GREAT PLAYERS IN COLLEGIATE
           HISTORY, THE MOST VALUABLE PLAYER OF THE NCAA TOURNAMENT, THE
           MOST VALUABLE PLAYER IN THE BIG EAST TOURNAMENT THIS YEAR,
           TRULY ONE OF THE GREAT, GREAT PLAIRX NOT ONLY AT THE UNIVERSITY
           OF CONNECTICUT IN THE BIG EAST BUT ALSO THROUGHOUT THE NATION.

           OTHER PLAYERS -- RICKY MOORE, KEVIN FREEMAN, JAKE VOSCAL, ALL
           CONTRIBUTING SIGNIFICANTLY. RICKIE MOORE AND KEFEN FREEMAN
           PROVED THAT DEFENSE IS VALUABLE, NOT JUST WHO CAN SCORE THE
           MOST POINTS BUT WHO CAN BE GREAT DEFENSIVE PLAYERS. BOTH OF
           THESE PLAYERS DID A TERRIFIC JOB IN PROVING THE VALUE OF THAT
           ELEMENT TO THIS WONDERFUL, UNIQUE GAME THAT'S NOW PLAYED
           WORLDWIDE. IT BEGAN IN SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS, SOMETHING
           THAT WE IN AMERICA TAKE PRIDE IN AS A SPORT THAT IS HOMEGROWN

           IN OUR COUNTRY. LASTLY, MR. PRESIDENT, THE FANS, THE STUDENT
           BODY, THE ADMINISTRATION, THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES,
           THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND FAITHFUL ALUMNI -- I HAPPEN TO HAVE
           BEEN IN THAT STADIUM, MR. PRESIDENT, TO WATCH BOTH THE OHIO
           STATE GAME ON THAT THURSDAY OR FRIDAY AND THEN THE FINAL GAME
           ON SUNDAY. BOTH GREAT GAMES, I MIGHT ADD. I KNOW THE FORMER
           GOVERNOR OF THAT STATE WOULD TAKE GREAT PRIDE IN THE FACT THAT
           THE COACH OF YOUR TEAM WAS AN ASSISTANT COACH AT THE UNIVERSITY
           OF CONNECTICUT, JIM O'BRIEN, A GREAT FRIEND OF MINE WHEN I WAS

           UP THERE. I SPENT SOME TIME WHEN HE WAS IN FLORIDA. HE WAS
           ROUTING FOR CONNECTICUT, I CAN TELL YOU, ON THAT FINAL GAME. HE
           WOULD HAVE LIKED TO HAVE BEEN IN THAT FINAL GAME. BUT NOT
           HAVING BEEN THERE HIMSELF, GIVEN HIS FORMER RELATIONSHIP WITTHE
           UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT, IT IS UNDERSTANDABLE HOW HE FELT A
           SPECIAL AFFECTION FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT TEAM. BUT,
           AGAIN, MR. CHAIRMAN, AS I
           
           BEGAN, LET ME END: THIS WAS A GREAT MOMENT FOR OUR STATE.
           PEOPLE ARE VERY PROUD OF THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF THIS TEAM AND
           OUR UNIVERSITY. AND SENATOR LIEBERMAN AND I WANTED TO TAKE A
           MOMENT OUT OF SENATE BUSINESS TO RECOGNIZE THE ACCOMPLISHMENT

           OF THESE FINE YOUNG MEN, THE FINE YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN OF OUR
           UNIVERSITY AND THE PEOPLE OF OUR STATE TO WHO SO FAITHFULLY
           SUPPORTED THEM THROUGHOUT THESE MANY YEARS. WITH THAT I YIELD
           TO MY DISTINGUISHED COLLEAGUE AND EQUALLY FERVENT CHAMPION AND
           FAN OF THE YUKON HUSKIES.
           

           MR. LEIBERMAN: HERE, HERE. YOU THIS. MR. PRESIDENT?
           
           

           THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE SENATOR CONNECTICUT.
           

           MR. LEIBERMAN: I AM PROUD TO JOIN WITH MY COLLEAGUE IN
           INTRODUCING THIS RESOLUTION COMMEMORATING WHAT WAS TRULY ONE OF
           THE MOST THRILLING AND UPLIFTING MOMENTS IN THE MODERN HOFER
           OUR STATE. AND I DO NOT SAY THAT LIGHTLY. THE NATIONAL
           CHAMPIONSHIP BY THE UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT MEN'S BASKETBALL
           TEAM. I SYMPATHY TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THIS ACHIEVEMENT -- I THINK
           TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THIS ACHIEVEMENT MEANS TO OUR RELATIVELY
           SMALL STATE, MY COLLEAGUES HAVE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THIS YUKON
           TEAM HAS MEANT FOR THE LAST DECADE TO THE PEOPLE OF
           CONNECTICUT. I DON'T THINK THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE IN THE COUNTRY

           THAT HAVE A MORE RAB BID FOLLOWING THAN OUR HUSKIES, FROM THEIR
           HOME BASE IN STORIES CLEAR ACROSS THE STATE TO STANFORD, FROM
           STONINGTON IN THE EAST TO SALISBURY IN THE NORTH WERXFT EVERY
           BASKETBALL SEASON, THE PEOPLE OF CONNECTICUT ARE GRIPPED WITH A
           DELIRIUM KNOWN AFFECTIONATELY AS HUSKY MAIN YARX WHICH MAIRXFRY
           DAY OF THE SEASON SEEM LIKE MARCH MADNESS IN CONNECTICUT. THE
           INTEREST IS SO INTENSE THAT THE HUSKIES HAILING FROM THE

           THIRD-SMALLEST STATE IN AMERICA TRAVEL WITH THE LARGEST
           CONCONTINUE GENERALS OF REPORTERS IN ALL OF COLLEGE BASKETBALL
           REFERRED TO SIMPLY AS "THE HORDE." NOW, MR. PRESIDENT, OVER THE
           LAST DECADE, HUSKY MANIA HAS BEEN HEIGHTENED BY THE ENORMOUS
           SUCCESS OF OUR GREAT COACH, JIM CALHOUN, AND ATHLETIC DIRECTOR
           LOU PERKINS. YUKON HAS COME TO NAITSED THE BIG EAST WINNING SIX
           REGULAR SEASON CHAMPIONSHIPS, DISTINGUISHING ITSELF IN NCAA

           TOURNAMENT PLAY, ADVANCEING TO THE ELITE THREE DIFFERENT TIMES.
           THE ONE THING THAT WAS MISSING WAS A TRIP TO THE FABLED FINAL
           FOUR AND A NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP AND THAT DREAM WAS REALIZED ON
           MARCH 29 WITH THE VICTORY OVER THE DUKE BLUE DEVILS IN WHAT HAS
           TO HAVE BEEN NOT JUST FOR CONNECTICUT FANS BUT FOR BASKETBALL
           FANS OVER THE COUNTRY, ONE OF THE GREAT GAMES IN THE RECENT
           HISTORY OF COLLEGE BASKETBALL. THE HUSKIES' THRILLING VICTORY

           TOUCHED OFF A JOYOUS CELEBRATION IN OUR STATE WHICH IS NORMALLY
           KNOWN AS THE LAND OF STEADY HABITS. AN EXHILARATION WHICH I
           EXPERIENCED LITERALLY FIRST FIRSTHAND THAT NIGHT, I COULDN'T GO
           TO FLORIDA TO SEE THE GAME, BUT I DID THE NEXT BEST THING -- I
           WENT TO COACH'S BAR AND GRILL IN HART HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT,
           WHICH IS PARTIAL OWNED BY COACH CALHOUN AND LET ME JUST SAY TO
           THE PRESIDENT AND MY COLLEAGUES ON THE FLOOR, I WAS BY FAR THE
           SENIOR CITIZEN IN THE BAR THAT NIGHT. IT SEEMED LIKE ABOUT HALF

           OF THE STATE'S UNDER-30 POPULATION WAS THERE AND THE FERVOR WAS
           INTENSE, THE JOY EXTREME WHEN THE GAME WAS OVER. LET ME SAY
           THAT WE ARE PROUD OF THIS VICTORY, BUT WE ARE PEA REALLY ALSO
           PROUD OF THE VALUES THAT ARE PART OF IT. THE TEAMWORK, THE
           SACRIFICE, THE SPORTSMANSHIP, THE DETERMINATION AND THE DIGNITY
           THIS TEAM AND ITS COACH SHOWED IN SCRAPPING AND HUSTLING THEIR
           WAY TO THE PINNACLE OF COLLEGE BASKETBALL. THE CHARACTER OF

           THIS YUKON TEAM IS AN APT REFLECTION OF THEIR GREAT COACH, JIM
           CALHOUN, WHO IS A GREAT COACH BECAUSE HE'S GREAT MAN, A MAN OF
           INDOMITABLE SPIRIT AND TREMENDOUS VALUES AND A GREAT PURSUIT OF
           EXCELLENCE. I'M THRILLED THAT COACH CALHOUN IS FINALLY GETTING
           HIS DUE AS ONE OF THE NATION'S GREAT COACHES. FOR NOW I'M
           GRATEFUL THAT -- FOR THE WONDERFUL GIFT THAT JIM AND HIS
           PLAYERS HAVE GIVEN THE PEOPLE OF CONNECTICUT, FOR THE WAY THEY

           BROUGHT SUCH A DIVERSE STATE TOGETHER, REAFFIRMED OUR SENSE OF
           COMMUNITY, FOR LIVING UP TO OUR HIGHEST IDEALS OF SPORT, AND,
           IF YOU WILL ALLOW ME A PUN IN THE NAME OF THE HUSKIES, FOR
           SHOWING THAT EVERY DOG DOES INDEED HAVE THEIR DAY. NOW, MR.
           PRESIDENT, IF I MAY CLOSE SOMEWHAT UNUSUALLY, AT COACH'S BAR
           AND GRILL, ON THE NIGHT OF THE GAME, ONE OF THE YOUNG MEN THERE
           AT A CRITICAL MOME IN THE FIRST HALF TURNED TO ME AND ASKED IF
           I WOULD LEAD THE YUKON CHEER AND I DID THAT. I WAS CRITICIZED

           THE FIRST TIME BECAUSE THEY SAID MY "N "N'S" WERE NOT TOO GOOD.
           BUT AS THE GAME WENT ON, I WAS CALLED ON REPEATEDLY TO LEAD
           THIS CHEER AND OF COURSE WE IN COACH'S BAR AND GRILL FEEL THAT
           THAT MADE THE MARGIN OF DIFFERENCE IN THE VICTORY THAT OCCURRED
           IN FLORIDA THAT NIGHT. SO IF YOU'LL ALLOW ME, MR. PRESIDENT,

           "Y-U-C-O-N-N- YUKON. I YIELD THE FLOOR.
           

           THE PRESIDING OFFICER: WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE RESOLUTION AND

           THE PREAMBLE ARE AGREED TO. A SENATOR: MR. PRESIDENT?
           
           

           THE PRESIDING OFFICER: YES, THE SENATOR FROM GEORGIA.
           

           MR. COVERDELL: I CONGRATULATE THE SENATORS FROM CONNECTICUT. I
           DID SEE THE GAME AND BOTH TEAMS -- MR. PRESIDENT, LET ME
           EXPLAIN FOR A MOMENT WHERE WE ARE HERE. WE HAVE, BY UNANIMOUS
           CONSENT, ONE HOUR EQUALLY DIVIDED ON S. 767. S. 767 IS
           COSPONSORED BY SENATORS LEVIN, ROTH, TORRICELLI, ABRAHAM,

           CLELAND, MCCAIN, ALLARD, HELMS, COLLINS, BROWNBACK, FRIST,
           JOHNSON, HAGEL, BRYAN, DEWINE, AND GRAMS. NOW, SENATE BILL 767
           IS IDENTICAL TO THE LEGISLATION THAT PASSED UNANIMOUSLY IN THE
           HOUSE WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE AND WHICH WILL BE HERE LATER
           

           THIS AFTERNOON AT ABOUT 4:00. WHEN THAT GETS HERE, WE WILL VOTE
           ON THE HOUSE VERSION RATHER THAN THE SUBSTITUTE THAT I'VE JUST
           DESCRIBED BECAUSE THERE'S BEEN AN OBJECTION ON THE OTHER SIDE.
           A BIT PERPLEXING, BUT WE'VE HAD AN OBJECTION. WE DON'T WANT
           INTERNAL DIFFERENCES TO IN ANY WAY FOR ONE MOMENT DELAY THE
           INTENT OF THIS BILL, AND I THINK EVERYBODY WILL UNDERSTAND THAT
           IN A MOMENT. SO, WE'LL JUST SIMPLY -- WE'RE JUST SIMPLY SETTING

           THE OBJECTION ASIDE AND WE'LL ACCEPT THE HOUSE VERSION. I'M
           SURE IT'LL BE AN OVERWHELMING VOTE. MR. PRESIDENT, AT THIS
           TIME, I WOULD ASK THE CLERK TO REPORT THE BILL BY TITLE.
           

           THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE CLERK WILL REPORT.
           

           THE CLERK: CALENDER NO. 90, S. 767, A COMBIL TO AMEND THE
           INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1996 TO PROVIDE A TWO-MONTH EXTENSION
           FOR THE FILING AFTER TAX RETURN FOR ANY MEMBER OF THE INN
           FORMED SERVICE ON A TOUR OFDUIT OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES FOR A
           PERIOD WHICH INCLUDES THE NORMAL DUE DATE.
           

           MR. COVERDELL: I'M GOING TO ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT THE
           REMARKS BY SENATOR LEVIN BE ADDED INTO THE RECORD.
           

           THE PRESIDING OFFICER: WITHOUT OBJECTION.
           

           MR. COVERDELL: MR. PRESIDENT, I RISE TODAY TO ASK MY COLLEAGUES
           TO SUPPORT LEGISLATION THAT WILL HELP OUR MEN AND WOMEN SERVING
           IN OPERATION ALLIED FORCE. AND I MIGHT POINT OUT, PART OF THE
           REASON WE'RE ACCEPTING THIS HOUSE VERSION DUE TO THIS SKIRMISH
           ON THE SENATE FLOOR YESTERDAY AFTERNOON, IS BECAUSE WE ONLY
           HAVE SOME 12 HOURS LEFT. THIS IS APRIL 15. AND THESE FAMILIES

           NEEDED TO GET THIS MESSAGE, FRANKLY, YESTERDAY, BUT TODAY I'M
           CONFIDENT THAT THIS RELIEF, THIS COMFORT THAT WE ARE OFFERING
           TO THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO ARE ON THE FRONT LINE TODAY IN KOSOVO,
           THIS WILL TO BE OF ENORMOUS COMFORT AND ASSISTANCE TO 0 THEIR
           SPOUSES AND TO THEIR FAMILIES. IN SHORT, THE LEGISLATION DOES
           THREE THINGS, AND I MIGHT POINT OUT THAT THE SENATE SUBSTITUTE
           WAS IDENTICAL IN LANGUAGE TO THE HOUSE VERSION THAT WILL BE

           SCOMG HERE LATER THIS AFTERNOON. ON WHICH WE WILL VOTE. THE
           LEGISLATION DOES THREE THINGS. FIRST, IT EXEMPTS ALL UNITED
           STATES TROOPS SERVING IN THE YUGOSLAV THEATRE OF OPERATIONS
           FROM BEING TAXED ON THEIR HAZARDOUS DUTY PAY. THAT'S THE PAY --
           THE ADDITIONAL PAY THEY RECEIVE OVER THEIR REGULAR PAY FOR
           BEING IN A HAZARDOUS OPERATION. THAT WILL NOT BE TAXED WHEN
           THIS PASSES. THE DANGER PAY THAT YOU RECEIVE ON THE PERIPHERAL

           OF THE COMBAT THEATRE WILL NOT BE TAXED. SECOND, IT GRANTS OUR
           TROOPS A 180-DAY FILING EXTENSION FOR THEIR 1998 INCOME TAX
           RETURN. THE 180 DAYS BEGINS WHEN THEY RETURN FROM DUTY IN THE
           COMBAT ZONE. THIRD, IT EXEMPTS OUR TROOPS FROM THE 3% EXCISE
           TAX LEVIED ON LONG-DISTANCE TELEPHONE CALLS TO REDUCE SOMEWHAT
           THE BURDEN OF THE LONG-DISTANCE CALLS HOME WHENEVER THEY HAVE A

           CHANCE TO DO THAT. SEVERAL DAYS AGO THE PRESIDENT SIGNED AN
           EXECUTIVE ORDER DECLARING YUGOSLAVIA AND CERTAIN AREAS
           SURROUNDING IT A COMBAT ZONE. THIS DECLARATION IN TURN PROVIDES
           TROOPS SERVING IN THE ZONE CERTAIN TAX BREAKS, WHICH THIS
           LEGISLATION WILL CODIFY,
{END: 1999/04/15 TIME: 14-45 , Thu.  106TH SENATE, FIRST SESSION}