Congressional Record: Proceedings and Debates of the 106th Congress, Second Session, Volume 146, Part 18 Page: 25,818
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CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-SENATE
November 1, 2000
believe OAS Secretary General Cesar
Gaviria should give serious consider-
ation to convening an emergency sum-
mit meeting of the region's leaders be-
fore this year's end. The purpose of this
summit would be to reach agreement
on additional regional steps to ensure
that the operations in Colombia do not
adversely impact others in the region,
either through increased refugee flows
or relocated illicit drug operations.
European governments, particularly
those that have expressed concerns
about the social and political fallout of
Plan Colombia and the ongoing civil
conflict, need to do far more than sim-
ply wring their hands. Civil society
needs to be strengthened in Colombia
in order to ensure that every Colom-
bian's rights are protected.
Additional judicial and military re-
forms must be implemented in order
for the rule of law to become the norm
and military impunity to cease once
and for all. Economic investments, es-
pecially in alternative development
programs, must be forthcoming if peas-
ants who currently depend on coca cul-
tivation to feed their families are to
have meaningful alternative employ-
ment. All of these areas are well within
the financial resources and expertise of
our European allies to undertake, if
they are truly concerned about the fu-
ture of Colombia.
For their part, Colombian authorities
must undertake a sustained and seri-
ous dialog with local mayors, church
officials, civic leaders, and affected
communities throughout Colombia to
hear from them their concerns and
fears about aspects of Plan Colombia
that may result in thousands more dis-
placed Colombians, particularly in the
rural areas of that nation.
While aerial eradication of cocoa
crops seems the most effective method
for attacking illicit production at the
source, authorities should also be open
to at least considering the possibility
of funding other methods of eradi-
cation, such as manual eradication uti-
lizing local farmer organizations.
Mr. President, to sum up, what I am
calling for is a major international
commitment to tackle the Colombian
crisis. President Clinton has deter-
mined that Plan Colombia is worthy of
U.S. support; that is in our national in-
terest to do so-and I believe it is-
given the impact we are feeling in our
own society as a result of the narco-
trafficking that occurs here.
A bipartisan Congress signed up to
that position when it voted to appro-
priate the $1.3 billion in emergency as-
sistance. Having said that, I do not be-
lieve Plan Colombia can ultimately be
successfully implemented if only the
U.S. and Colombian Governments are
participants. Unless U.S.-Colombian
authorities come to this view fairly
soon and begin a serious effort to re-
gionalize and internationalize this ef-
fort, Plan Colombia is going to die on
the vine for lack of political support.Time is running out for the people of
Colombia. Frankly, time is running
short for everyone committed to de-
mocracy and democratic values in that
country. We must not let international
reticence or inertia allow the drug
kingpins to win the day.
TRIBUTE TO SENATOR CONNIE
MACK
Mr. DODD. Mr. President, it is with
particular and personal regret that I
deliver these remarks today about the
Senator from Florida. In a number of
areas and on a range of issues, I, like
many of us, have come to rely on
CONNIE MACK'S knowledge and good
judgment-and his good humor. He has
been an outstanding Senator. More im-
portantly, I have come to cherish his
friendship and the friendship of his
wonderful wife and partner for four
decades, Priscilla.
CONNIE MACK is concluding his 12th
year of service in the Senate. In that
period of time, he has accomplished a
great deal for his State and for our
country. He has worked diligently and
effectively to protect the environment
of his State. He stood against drilling
off Florida's vast and majestic shore-
line. He has promoted the restoration
of the Florida Everglades, one of our
Nation's premier national treasures.
Time and time again, in ways large and
small, CONNIE MACK has acted to safe-
guard his State's rare and fragile nat-
ural beauty. For this generation, and
for generations to come, the name of
CONNIE MACK will mean a great deal-
to the citizens of Florida and people
throughout the country-if for no other
reason than for that contribution.
Perhaps the most profound contribu-
tion, however, of this very warm and
gracious colleague of ours is the con-
tribution he has made to our Nation in
the area of cancer awareness and med-
ical research. In these areas, it can be
said, I believe without any hesitation,
that no one has done a greater service
to his fellow Americans in these last
number of years than CONNIE and Pris-
cilla MACK.
CONNIE and Priscilla know through
hard personal experience the terrible
toll that cancer and disease can take
on individuals and families. They know
as well as anyone that early detection
of cancer is the first and best weapon
in the battle to save lives. That is why
they have made early detection of can-
cer not just a concern, but a cause.
By educating others about the impor-
tance of early detection, by spreading
awareness that it is an easy, fast, and
safe way to save lives, they have
played a very critical role in helping
countless Americans avoid the full dev-
astation of this disease. I daresay,
among those tens of thousands of
American men and women who every
year conquer cancer because they de-
tected it early, a great many of themowe a debt of thanks to CONNIE and
Priscilla MACK.
Together, they have received numer-
ous honors and awards, including: the
National Coalition for Cancer Research
Lifetime Achievement Award; the Na-
tional Coalition for Cancer Survivor-
ship Ribbon of Hope Award; the Amer-
ican Cancer Society's Courage Award;
and Susan Komen Breast Cancer Foun-
dation's Betty Ford Award.
But Senator MACK has not been satis-
fied just with promoting early detec-
tion. He has worked for a day when
early detection of cancer and other dis-
eases will no longer be necessary be-
cause they will no longer exist. He has
worked diligently and successfully to
increase our Nation's investment in
medical research. He understands that
research can provide answers and ulti-
mately cures for many of the ailments
that continue to plague humankind.
Maybe not today, but one day.
And years from now, when-we
hope-cures will be found, America and
the world will reflect with gratitude on
those who dared to envision a better
future by supporting the basic research
from which those cures derived. And
among those whom future generations
will thank, I believe that few will be
thanked more than the Senator from
Florida, CONNIE MACK.
In addition to witnessing his work on
the environment and health, I have had
the pleasure to serve with Senator
MACK on the Committee on Banking,
Housing, and Urban Affairs. There he
brought his vast experience as a com-
munity banker to bear on the critical
financial services issues of the day.
And today our Nation's policies in the
area of financial services bear the im-
print of his experience and judgment.
CONNIE and I also served together for
a time on the Foreign Relations Com-
mittee. There, too, he distinguished
himself by his thoughtful, courteous
manner. And while we did not always
agree-in fact, we used to have some
good, healthy arguments on American-
Cuban policies-I never faced a more
diligent or worthy opponent than
CONNIE MACK. I always respected his
positions and the people he represented
in those debates. He is a worthy ally
and opponent. I shall miss him.
For me, CONNIE MACK has been not
only a colleague. He has been a gifted,
accomplished leader. He has been a
gentleman. And he has been a friend.
He has graced this institution with ci-
vility and reason. He and Priscilla will
be sorely missed. I look forward to
many years of continued friendship.
TRIBUTE TO SENATOR MOYNIHAN
Mr. DODD. Mr. President, the last
colleague I want to spend a few min-
utes talking about is one we have all
come to know and appreciate for his
valued service in the Senate and his
valued service to this country over
many, many years.25818
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United States. Congress. Congressional Record: Proceedings and Debates of the 106th Congress, Second Session, Volume 146, Part 18, book, 2000; Washington D.C.. (https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc31035/m1/33/: accessed April 25, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, UNT Digital Library, https://digital.library.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.