[Congressional Record: October 21, 1998 (Senate)]
[Page S12962-S12968]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:cr21oc98-269]


                           EXECUTIVE SESSION

                                 ______


                           EXECUTIVE CALENDAR

  Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate now
go into executive session and that the Senate proceed, en bloc, to the
following nominations on the executive calendar: Nos. 597, 718, 733,
734, 735, 738, 783, 784, 785, 786, 787, 793, 797, 798, 799, 800, 801,
802, 805, 806, 807, 809, 811, 812, 813, 814, 815, 818, 819, 820, 821,
822, 823, 851, 852, 854, 855, 857, 861, 862, 865, 866, 867, 869, 870,
871, 886, 887, 888, 889, 890, 891, 892, 893, 895, 896, 897, 898, 899,
900, 901 through 914, 916 through 926.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The nominations considered en bloc are as follows:

                        state justice institute

       Arthur A. McGiverin, of Iowa, to be a Member of the Board
     of Directors of the State Justice Institute for a term
     expiring September 17, 2000.

                             the judiciary

       Jose de Jesus Rivera, of Arizona, to be United States
     Attorney for the District of Arizona for the term of four
     years.

                          department of state

       Bert T. Edwards, of Maryland, to be Chief Financial
     Officer, Department of State.
       David G. Carpenter, of Virginia, to be an Assistant
     Secretary of State.
       David G. Carpenter, of Virginia, to be Director of the
     Office of Foreign Missions, and to have the rank of
     Ambassador during his tenure of service.
       Mary Beth West, of the District of Columbia, a Career
     Member of the Senior Executive Service, for the rank of
     Ambassador during her tenure of service as Deputy Assistant
     Secretary of State for Oceans, Fisheries, and Space.

                   executive office of the president

       Rebecca M. Blank, of Illinois, to be a Member of the
     Council of Economic Advisers.

                             the judiciary

       Rebecca R. Pallmeyer, of Illinois, to be United States
     District Judge for the Northern District of Illinois.
       Nora M. Manella, of California, to be United States
     District Judge for the Central District of California.
       Jeanne E. Scott, of Illinois, to be United States District
     Judge for the Central District of Illinois.
       David R. Herndon, of Illinois, to be United States District
     Judge for the Southern District of Illinois.

                    environmental protection agency

       Nikki Rush Tinsely, of Maryland, to be Inspector General,
     Environmental Protection Agency.

                             the judiciary

       Alvin K. Hellerstein, of New York, to be United States
     District Judge for the Southern District of New York.
       Richard M. Berman, of New York, to be United States
     District Judge for the Southern District of New York.
       Donovan W. Frank, of Minnesota, to be United States
     District Judge for the District of Minnesota.
       Colleen McMahon, of New York, to be United States District
     Judge for the Southern District of New York.
       William H. Pauley III, of New York, to be United States
     District Judge for the Southern District of New York.
       Thomas J. Whelan, of California, to be United States
     District Judge for the Southern District of California.

                         department of justice

       Robert Bruce Green, of Oklahoma, to be United States
     Attorney for the Eastern District of Oklahoma for the term of
     four years.
       Scott Richard Lassar, of Illinois, to be United States
     Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois for the term
     of four years.
       James A. Tassone, of Florida, to be United States Marshal
     for the Southern District of Florida for the term of four
     years.

                          department of labor

       Henry L. Solano, of Colorado, to be Solicitor of the
     Department of Labor.

            occupational safety and health review commission

       Thomasina V. Rogers, of Maryland, to be a Member of the
     Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission for a term
     expiring April 27, 2003, vice Velma Montoya, term expired.

                 harry s truman scholarship foundation

       Joseph E. Stevens, Jr., of Missouri, to be a Member of the
     Board of Trustees of the Harry S Truman Scholarship
     foundation for a term expiring December 10, 2003.
     (Reappointment)

                equal employment opportunity commission

       Paul M. Igasaki, of California, to be a Member of the Equal
     Employment Opportunity Commission for a term expiring July 1,
     2002, (Reappointment), to which position he was appointed
     during the last recess of the Senate.
       Ida L. Catro, of New York, to be a Member of the Equal
     Employment Opportunity Commission for a term expiring July 1,
     2003.
       Paul Steven Miller, of California, to be a Member of the
     Equal Employment Opportunity Commission for the remainder of
     the term expiring July 1, 1999.

                    environmental protection agency

       Romulo L. Diaz, Jr., of the District of Columbia, to be an
     Assistant Administrator of the Environmental Protection
     Agency.
       J. Charles Fox, of Maryland, to be an Assistant
     Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.
       Norine E. Noonan, of Florida, to be an Assistant
     Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.

    morris k. udall sch. & excellence in natl env. policy foundation

       Terrence L. Bracy, of Virginia, to be a Member of the Board
     of Trustees of the Morris K. Udall Scholarship and Excellence
     in National Environmental Policy for a term expiring October
     6, 2004. (Reappointment)

                       department of the interior

       Charles G. Groat, of Texas, to be Director of the United
     States Geological Survey.

                         department of defense

       Bernard Daniel Rostker, of Virginia, to be Under Secretary
     of the Arm.

                             THE JUDICIARY

       Patricia A. Broderick, of the District of Columbia, to be
     an Associate Judge of the Superior Court of the District of
     Columbia for the term of fifteen years.

                         DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

       Kenneth Prewitt, of New York, to be Director of the Census.

                             THE JUDICIARY

       Natalia Combs Greene, of the District of Columbia, to be an
     Associate Judge of the Superior Court of the District of
     Columbia for the term of fifteen years.
       Neal E. Kravitz, of the District of Columbia, to be an
     Associate Judge of the Superior Court of the District of
     Columbia for the term of fifteen years.

                       FARM CREDIT ADMINISTRATION

       Michael M. Reyna, of California, to be a Member of the Farm
     Credit Administration Board, Farm Credit Administration, for
     a term expiring May 21, 2004.

                      DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

       Eugene A. Conti, Jr., of Maryland, to be an Assistant
     Secretary of Transportation.
       Peter J. Basso, Jr., of Maryland, to be an Assistant
     Secretary of Transportation.

                     NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

       Greta Joy Dicus, of Arkansas, to be a Member of the Nuclear
     Regulatory Commission for the term of five years expiring
     June 30, 2003. (Reappointment)
       Jeffrey S. Merrifield, of New Hampshire, to be a Member of
     the Nuclear Regulatory Commission for the term expiring June
     30, 2002.

                          DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

       David Michaels, of New York, to be an Assistant Secretary
     of Energy (Environment, Safety and Health).

                     department of veterans affairs

       Eligah Dane Clark, of Alabama, to be Chairman of the Board
     of Veterans' Appeals for a term of six years.
       Edward A. Powell, Jr., of Virginia, to be an Assistant
     Secretary of Veterans Affairs (Management).
       Leigh A. Bradley, of Virginia, to be General Counsel,
     Department of Veterans Affairs.

                             the judiciary

       Lawrence Baskir, of Maryland, to be a Judge of the United
     States Court of Federal Claims for a term of fifteen years.
       Robert S. Lasnik, of Washington, to be a United States
     District Judge for the Western District of Washington.
       Yvette Kane, of Pennsylvania, to be United States District
     Judge for the Middle District of Pennsylvania.
       James M. Munley, of Pennsylvania, to be United States
     District Judge for the Middle District of Pennsylvania.
       Lynn Jeanne Bush, of the District of Columbia, to be a
     Judge of the United States Court of Federal Claims for a term
     of fifteen years.
       David O. Carter, of California, to be United States
     District Judge for the Central District of California.
       Francis M. Allegra, of Virginia, to be Judge of the United
     States Court of Federal Claims for a term of fifteen years.
       Margaret B. Seymour, of South Carolina, to be United States
     District Judge for the District of South Carolina.
       Aleta A. Trauger, of Tennessee, to be United States
     District Judge for the Middle District of Tennessee.

[[Page S12963]]

       Alex R. Munson, of the Northern Mariana Islands, to be
     Judge for the District Court for the Northern Mariana Islands
     for a term of ten years (Reappointment)
       Edward J. Damich, of Virginia, to be Judge of the United
     States Court of Federal Claims for a term of fifteen years.
       Nancy B. Firestone, of Virginia, to be a Judge of the
     United States Court of Federal Claims for a term of fifteen
     years.
       Emily Clark Hewitt, of Massachusetts, to be a Judge of the
     United States Court of Federal Claims for a term of fifteen
     years.
       Norman A. Mordue, of New York, to be United States District
     Judge for the Northern District of New York.

                         department of justice

       Donnie R. Marshall, of Texas, to be Deputy Administrator of
     Drug Enforcement.
       Harry Litman, of Pennsylvania, to be United States Attorney
     for the Western District of Pennsylvania for the term of four
     years.
       Denise E. O'Donnell, of New York, to be United States
     Attorney for the Western District of New York for the term of
     four years.
       Margaret Ellen Curran, of Rhode Island, to be United States
     Attorney for the District of Rhode Island for the term of
     four years.
       Byron Todd Jones, of Minnesota, to be United States
     Attorney for the District of Minnesota for the term of four
     years.

                    environmental protection agency

       Robert W. Perciasepe, of Maryland, to be an Assistant
     Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.
     (Reappointment)

                      mississippi river commission

       William Clifford Smith, of Louisiana, to be a Member of the
     Mississippi River Commission for a term expiring October 21,
     2005.

             chemical safety and hazard investigation board

       Isadore Rosenthal, of Pennsylvania, to be a Member of the
     Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board for a term of
     five years. (New Position)
       Andrea Kidd Taylor, of Michigan, to be a Member of the
     Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board for a term of
     five years. (New Position)

              department of housing and urban development

       Ira G. Peppercorn, of Indiana, to be Director of the Office
     of Multifamily Housing Assistance Restructuring. (New
     Position)
       William C. Apgar, Jr., of Massachusetts, to be an Assistant
     Secretary of Housing and Urban Development.
       Saul N. Ramirez, Jr., of Texas, to be Deputy Secretary of
     Housing and Urban Development.
       Cardell Cooper, of New Jersey, to be an Assistant Secretary
     of Housing and Urban Development.
       Harold Lucas, of New Jersey, to be an Assistant Secretary
     of Housing and Urban Development.

                department of health and human services

       Patricia T. Montoya, of New Mexico, to be Commissioner on
     Children, Youth, and Families, Department of Health and Human
     Services.

                       department of the treasury

       David C. Williams, of Maryland, to be Inspector General,
     Department of the Treasury.

                   executive office of the president

       Sylvia M. Mathews, of West Virginia, to be Deputy Director
     of the Office of Management and Budget.

                          department of energy

       Gregory H. Friedman, of Colorado, to be Inspector General
     of the Department of Energy.

                     office of personnel management

       John U. Sepulveda, of New York, to be Deputy Director of
     the Office of Personnel Management.

                   federal labor relations authority

       Joseph Swerdzewski, of Colorado, to be General Counsel of
     the Federal Labor Relations Authority for a term of five
     years. (Reappointment)

                       department of the interior

       Eljay B. Bowron, of Michigan, to be Inspector General,
     Department of the Interior.

                         postal rate commission

       Dana Bruce Covington, Sr., of Mississippi, to be a
     Commissioner of the Postal Rate Commission for a term
     expiring October 14, 2004.
       Edward Jay Gleiman, of Maryland, to be a Commissioner of
     the Postal Rate Commission for a term expiring October 14,
     2004.

                       general accounting office

       David M. Walker, of Georgia, to be Comptroller General of
     the United States for a term of fifteen years.

      inst. of american indian & alaska native culture & arts dev.

       D. Bambi Kraus, of the District of Columbia, to be a Member
     of the Board of Trustees of the Institute of American Indian
     and Alaska Native Culture and Arts Development for a term
     expiring May 19, 2004.

                          judicial nominations

  Mr. HATCH. Mr. President, this Congress has taken steps to
significantly reduce the Federal judicial vacancy rate to its lowest
level in almost a decade. As Chairman of the Judiciary Committee, I am
proud to boast about some of the successes that have been achieved this
Congress by the Committee and Republican Senate. I also feel compelled
to set the record straight that the Committee and Republican Senate
this Congress have been dedicated and productive.
  One could speculate that if the Democrats controlled the Senate, more
Clinton nominees would have been confirmed. But then again, maybe not.
This Congress, the Committee held hearings for 111 out of 127 judicial
nominees. Of the 16 nominees that did not have hearings, 3 withdrew
from consideration. The Committee held 23 judicial, and an additional 8
non-judicial, nominations hearings for a total of 31 nominations
hearings. In all, this Congress the Republican Senate confirmed 101
judicial nominees, which is well above the average confirmed over the
last five Congresses, which is 96. Indeed, notwithstanding the rhetoric
we often heard from the other side of the aisle, according to the
Alliance for Justice, a liberal judicial watch group, almost 50% of the
judges confirmed by the Republican Senate have been women and/or
members of a minority group.
  The Republican Senate, by working in a fair and orderly manner, also
reduced the vacancy rate of the Federal Judiciary to 5.9%--the lowest
vacancy rate since the Judiciary was expanded in 1990. While
considering this rate, keep in mind two things: first, that the Clinton
Administration is on record as having stated that a vacancy rate just
over 7% is virtual full-employment of the judiciary, and second, that
the Clinton Administration did not get around to nominating anyone for
29 of the 50 vacant judgeships. To put it another way, this
Administration failed to nominate anyone for almost 60% of the current
judicial vacancies. Thus, the Republican Senate would have been
precluded from filling every single judicial vacancy because it cannot
confirm judges whose nominations it has not received.
  The accusation that the Republican Senate delays consideration of
certain nominees is simply a ploy to divert attention away from the
fact that qualified, non-controversial nominees, which constitutes the
overwhelming majority of nominees, were confirmed promptly, usually by
unanimous consent. Indeed, one need go no further than the high number
of Clinton Administration nominees that were confirmed by this year's
Republican Senate to determine whether their motives were anything but
altruistic.
  Yes, there were some controversial nominees that did not move, and in
fact, some of these nominees were forced to withdraw. But the
confirmation process is not a numbers game, and I will not compromise
the Senate's advice and consent function simply because the White House
has sent us nominees that are either not qualified or controversial.
There are a range of factors which make a nominee controversial or
difficult to confirm, such as lack of experience or questionable
information contained in materials not in the public domain or in their
past records that may be at variance with the proper role of judges in
society. But I assure you that gender, ethnicity, and race are not
included in the determination.
  For me, the touchstones in evaluating the qualifications of a nominee
are whether they are committed to upholding the rule of law and
properly understand the limitations of the judicial role. The Senate
has an obligation to the American people to review thoroughly the
records of the nominees it receives to ensure that they are capable and
qualified to serve as Federal judges and will not spend a lifetime
career rendering politically motivated decisions. I would not, in good
conscience, vote for the confirmation of any nominee whom I believed
would abdicate his or her duty to interpret and enforce, and instead
make, the laws of this Nation.
  As Committee Chairman, I take my role in the confirmation of judges
very seriously, and would not allow irrelevant criteria to be analyzed
in determining a nominee's fitness to sit on the Federal bench,
practically speaking, for what amounts to life tenure. As a Senator, I
take my role of advice and consent equally as serious and would not
tolerate the disingenuous consideration of any nominee.
  The demagogues and naysayers can continue to impugn the purported
secret motives of the Republicans and

[[Page S12964]]

continue to malign those who exercise their Constitutional duty to
thoroughly evaluate and review the complete record and background of
each nominee before casting a vote in favor or in opposition thereto.
And the Republican Senate will continue to plow ahead in the next
Congress honorably and fairly discharging its Constitutional duties
without wavering. However, I could not leave this Congress without
congratulating my fellow Republican Senators, Senator Lott in
particular, for all of their hard work and accomplishments in what, at
times, has been a contentious atmosphere. Senator Lott has done his
best and has acted in a fair and principled manner in processing these
nominees. He is to be commended.
  Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, as the Senate concludes this second session
of the 105th Congress, I want to take a moment to thank Senator Hatch,
the Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, for working with us to
confirm judges desperately needed around the country. He pressed
forward with three confirmation hearings in October, which resulted in
sending another nine judicial nominees to the Senate calendar. He
supported each of the nominees confirmed by the Senate this year and
worked hard to clear judicial nominees reported by the Committee for
action by the Senate. I also thank the Majority Leader for proceeding
to consider the judicial nominations confirmed in these last days of
the session.
  For the year, the Senate confirmed 65 federal judges to the District
Courts and Courts of Appeals around the country and to the Court of
International Trade. In addition, we confirmed a number of judges to
the United States Court of Claims and to the court for the Northern
Mariana Islands.
  Senator Hatch is fond of saying that the Senate could do better. I
agree with him and hope that we will continue to do better next year. I
began this year challenging the Senate to maintain that pace it
established in the last nine months of last year. Had we done so, we
could have confirmed 90 judges. Instead, the Senate has acted to
confirm only 65 of the 91 nominations received for the 115 vacancies
the federal judiciary experienced this year.
  Together with the 36 judges confirmed last year, the total number of
article III federal judges confirmed during this Congress to a 2-year
total of 101--the same total that was confirmed in one year when
Democrats made up the majority of the Senate in 1994. The 104th
Congress (1995-96) resulted in a 2-year total of only 75 judges being
confirmed. By way of contrast, I note that during the last two years of
the Bush Administration, even including the presidential election year
of 1992, a Democratic Senate confirmed 124 federal judges.
  Meanwhile 50 judicial vacancies remain. This is one of the largest
number of vacancies left unfilled at the end of a Congress. In 1983
vacancies numbered only 16. Even after the creation of 85 new
judgeships in 1984, the number of vacancies had been reduced to only 33
by the end of the 99th Congress in 1986. At the end of the 100th
Congress in 1988, which had a Democratic majority and a Republican
president, judicial vacancies numbered only 23. In 1996 the Republican
Senate adjourned leaving 64 judicial vacancies. This year the Senate is
adjourning leaving 50 judicial vacancies and the number is likely to
increase during the recess.
  Moreover, the Republican Congress has refused to consider the
authorization of the additional judges needed by the federal judiciary
to deal with their ever increasing workload. In 1984 and in 1990,
Congress did respond to requests for needed judicial resources by the
Judicial Conference. Indeed, in 1990, a Democratic majority in the
Congress created judgeships during a Republican presidential
administration. Last year the Judicial Conference of the United States
requested that an additional 53 judgeships be authorized around the
country. If Congress had passed the Federal Judgeship Act of 1997,
S.678, as it should have, the federal judiciary would have 103
vacancies today. That is the more accurate measure of the needs of the
federal judiciary that have been ignored by the Congress over the past
several years.
  In order to understand why a judicial vacancy crisis is plaguing so
many federal courts, we need only recall how unproductive the
Republican Senate has been over the last three years. More and more of
the vacancies are judicial emergencies that have been left vacant for
longer periods of time. The President has sent the Senate qualified
nominees for 23 of the current judicial emergency vacancies, 15 of
those nominations that are still pending as the Senate prepares to
adjourn.
  In his 1997 Year-End Report, Chief Justice Rehnquist focussed on the
problem of ``too few judges and too much work.'' He noted the vacancy
crisis and the persistence of scores of judicial emergency vacancies
and observed: ``Some current nominees have been waiting a considerable
time for a Senate Judiciary Committee vote or a final floor vote.'' He
went on to note: ``The Senate is surely under no obligation to confirm
any particular nominee, but after the necessary time for inquiry it
should vote him up or vote him down.''
  During the entire 4 years of the Bush administration there were only
three judicial nominations that were pending before the Senate for as
long as 9 months before being confirmed and none took as long as a
year. In 1997 alone there were 10 judicial nominations that took more
than 9 months before a final favorably vote and 9 of those 10 extended
over a year to a year and one-half. Of the judges confirmed this year,
Professor Fletcher's confirmation took 41 months--the longest-pending
judicial nomination in the history of the United States--Hilda Tagle's
confirmation took 32 months, Susan Oki Mollway's confirmation took 30
months, Ann Aiken's confirmation took 26 months, Margaret McKeown's
confirmation took 24 months, Margaret Morrow's confirmation took 21
months, Judge Sonia Sotomayor's confirmation took 15 months, Rebecca
Pallmeyer's confirmation took 14 months, Dan Polster's confirmation
took 12 months, and Victoria Roberts' confirmation took 11 months.

  I calculate that the average number of days for those few lucky
nominees who are finally confirmed is continuing to escalate. In 1996,
the Republican Senate shattered the record for the average number of
days from nomination to confirmation for judicial confirmation. The
average rose to a record 183 days. Last year, the average number of
days from nomination to confirmation rose dramatically yet again, and
that was during the first year of a presidential term. From initial
nomination to confirmation, the average time it took for Senate action
on the 36 judges confirmed in 1997 broke the 200-day barrier for the
first time in our history. It was 212 days. Unfortunately, that time is
still growing and the average is still rising to the detriment of the
administration of justice. This year the Senate will break last year's
record. The average time from nomination to confirmation for the 65
judges confirmed this year was over 230 days.
  In addition, nominations are being forced to sit on the Senate
Executive Calendar for longer and longer periods of time. Unlike
earlier days in the Senate when nominees were not made to wait for
weeks and months on the Senate calendar before they could be
considered, that is now becoming the rule. Margaret Morrow, Sonia
Sotomayor, Richard Paez, Ronnie White, Patrick Murphy and Michael
McCuskey each spent more than four months on the Senate Executive
Calendar awaiting action.
  Further, this Congress is concluding with four judicial nominations
that have been favorably reported by the Judiciary Committee still
pending on the Senate Executive Calendar. Two were reported without
objection by unanimous consent. I do not know why Justice Ronnie L.
White and Judge William J. Hibbler, two outstanding African-American
nominees are being held on the Senate calendar without a vote. I regret
that the Majority Leader was unable to call up for a vote the
nomination of Judge Richard Paez to the Ninth Circuit or the nomination
of Timothy Dyk to the Federal Circuit.
  Most Congresses end without any judicial nominations left on the
Senate Executive Calendar. Indeed the 99th, 101st, 102nd, and 103rd
Congresses all ended without a single judicial nomination left on the
Senate calendar. The Democratic Senate majority in the two Congresses
of the Bush Administration ended both those Congresses, the 101st and
102nd, without a single judicial

[[Page S12965]]

nomination on the calendar. By contrast, the Republican Senate majority
in the last Congress, the 104th, left an unprecedented seven judicial
nominations on the Senate Executive Calendar at adjournment without
Senate action. The 105th Congress is concluding with four qualified
judicial nominees being denied action by the Senate.
  At each step of the process, judicial nominations are being delayed
and stalled. Judge Richard Paez, Justice Ronnie L. White, Judge William
J. Hibbler and Timothy Dyk are being denied consideration by the
Senate. Marsha Berzon, Anabelle Rodriquez, Clarence Sundram, and
Matthew Kennelly were each denied a vote before the Judiciary Committee
following a hearing. Judge James A. Beatty, Jr., Helene N. White, Jorge
C. Rangel, Ronald M. Gould, Robert S. Raymar, Barry P. Goode, among a
total of 13 judicial nominees, end this Congress without ever having
received a hearing before the Judiciary Committee.
  At the conclusion of the debate on the nomination of Merrick Garland
to the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia, as
23 Republicans were preparing to vote against that exceptionally well-
qualified nominee whose confirmation had been delayed 18 months,
Senator Hatch said ``playing politics with judges is unfair, and I am
sick of it.'' I agree with him. I look forward to a return to the days
when judicial nominations are treated with the respect and attention
that they deserve.

                     Nomination of Edward J. Damich

  Mr. HATCH. Mr. President, today the Senate will confirm the
nomination of Edward J. Damich to be a judge on the Court of Federal
Claims. Mr. Damich has been the Chief Intellectual Property Counsel to
the Judiciary Committee since 1995. He has already had a distinguished
career and is highly qualified to fill this challenging position. He
received an A.B. degree from St. Stephen's College in 1970, a J.D.
degree from the School of Law of Catholic University in 1976, and LL.M.
and J.S.D. degrees from Columbia University School of Law. Upon his
graduation from law school, he joined the faculty of the Delaware Law
School of Widener University as a Professor of Law where he remained
until 1984. From 1984-95, he was a Professor of Law at the George Mason
University School of Law. During 1992-1993, Mr. Damich also served as a
Commissioner of the Copyright Royalty Tribunal.
  Mr. Damich also has numerous accomplishments outside his professional
career. He was named Outstanding Faculty Member in 1980 and 1984, and
is listed in Who's Who in American Law. He has served as President of
the National Federation of Croatian Americans and as a Board Member of
the Washington Area Lawyers for the Arts. He is also widely published
in both the acadmic and professional forums.
  His hard work and intellect has made him a true asset to the
Committee, and his presence will be missed. I am confident that he will
make a terrific judge, and I wish him all the luck in this very
important stage of his career.
  Mr. THURMOND. Mr. President, I wish to express my support for the
nomination of Edward Damich to the U.S. Court of Federal Claims. I
believe he is a fine choice for this important position.
  Before joining the staff of the Senate Judiciary Committee in 1995 as
Chief Intellectual Property Counsel, Mr. Damich served as a
Commissioner of the Copyright Arbitration Royalty Panel. In that
capacity, he was involved in numerous copyright issues, including the
proper distribution of millions of dollars in copyright licensing fees.
Further, for many years, he served as a Professor of Law in the area of
intellectual property, first at Delaware Law School and later at the
George Mason University School of Law in Virginia.
  Mr. Damich has been an asset to the Senate Judiciary Committee in
recent Congresses. He is a strong supporter of property rights and has
brought a wealth of knowledge of intellectual property law to his work.
He has played an important supporting role on many important pieces of
legislation in this area, including most recently the Digital
Millennium Copyright Act.
  Mr. Damich is well qualified to serve on the Court of Claims, and I
am pleased to support his nomination.

                         judge norman a. mordue

  Mr. MOYNIHAN. Mr. President, I am very pleased that the Senate has
confirmed Norman A. Mordue to the bench of the United States District
Court for the Northern District of New York.
  Norman Mordue is a distinguished and competent jurist, having
previously served as an assistant district attorney and county judge.
He is now a New York Supreme Court justice. He is also a war hero. He
earned this country's second highest military honor, the Distinguished
Service Cross for Extraordinary Heroism, while serving as an infantry
platoon leader with the 1st Air Cavalry Division in Vietnam.
  Judge Mordue has been active in many New York State Bar activities--
he is a presiding officer in the Bar's judicial section and a
continuing legal education lecturer--and he has been elected by his
peers to head the Supreme Court Justices' Association. I have every
confidence that he will make an excellent addition to the federal
judiciary.

                     nomination of margaret seymour

  Mr. THURMOND. Mr. President, I wish to express my strong support for
Judge Margaret Seymour, President Clinton's nominee to be a United
States District Judge for the District of South Carolina. Judge Seymour
will replace Judge William Traxler, an excellent jurist who I
recommended to the President for the District Court and who has just
been elevated to the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals.
  Judge Seymour had a varied legal career in the private sector and in
government service before becoming an Assistant United States Attorney
in South Carolina in 1990. During four of her six years in the U.S.
Attorney's office, she was Chief of the Civil Division. Also, she twice
served as Interim United States Attorney, once in 1993 and again in
1996.
  She was appointed a United States Magistrate Judge for the District
of South Carolina in 1996, where she serves today. In that capacity,
she is known as a diligent and fair jurist. She is also a person of
character and integrity.
  I am very pleased to support her, and I am confident she will be a
very able addition to the District Court.

                     nomination of denise o'donnell

  Mr. MOYNIHAN. Mr. President, I am delighted that the Senate will
confirm Denise O'Donnell to be the United States Attorney for the
Western District of New York. She now becomes the first woman in the
history of the 17-county Western District to be chief federal
prosecutor. No woman before has ever had a presidential appointment in
the district to one of the top three justice posts: judge, prosecutor
or federal marshall.
  Ms. O'Donnell is a career Assistant U.S. Attorney. She came to the
Western District in 1985 as an Assistant U.S. Attorney and was named
First Assistant in 1993. She has served as Interim U.S. Attorney since
September 1997. In addition, she was a part-time instructor in the the
Trial Technique Program at her alma mater, the State University of New
York at Buffalo Law School. She graduated summa cum laude from that
institution and was the senior editor of its law review.
  During her distinguished career as a prosecutor, Ms. O'Donnell has
handled a host of complex criminal matters, including cases involving
RICO, tax fraud, narcotics, and violent crimes. She is also an active
participant in her local and state bar organizations and, last year was
the Women Lawyers Association Lawyer of the Year.
  I am confident that Ms. O'Donnell will serve with the highest
distinction.

                    nomination of margaret e. curran

  Mr. CHAFEE. Mr. President, today the Senate will consider the
nomination of Margaret E. Curran as U.S. Attorney for the District of
Rhode Island. I wholeheartedly support Ms. Curran's nomination and
appreciate its speedy consideration by the Judiciary Committee. It
certainly is noteworthy that Ms. Curran will be the first woman to
serve as U.S. Attorney for Rhode Island in the more than two hundred
years that this position has existed.
  Ms. Curran has served as Interim U.S. Attorney since May. She has
proven herself to be a thoughtful, competent, and qualified federal
prosecutor. I have every confidence that she will continue to do a fine
job as the chief federal law enforcement office in Rhode Island. An
editorial in the Providence Journal said of Ms. Curran:

[[Page S12966]]

``She has shown herself to have capacious qualities of leadership,
intellectual rigor, and good humor,'' qualities that will serve her
well as U.S. Attorney.
  Ms. Curran has twelve years of experience as a federal prosecutor.
She has earned wide regard from the legal community in Rhode Island.
And she enjoys resounding support from Governor Lincoln Almond, who,
for twenty years, held the position she will assume.
  Meg Curran is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania and
received a Master of Science Degree in anthropology from Purdue
University. In 1983, she received her Law Degree from the University of
Connecticut, where she served as editor-in-chief of the Connecticut Law
Review. Before serving in the U.S. Attorney's office, Ms. Curran was
clerk to the Honorable Bruce M. Selya, U.S. District Court for the
District of Rhode Island and for the Honorable Thomas J. Meskill, U.S.
Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. She is a member of the Rhode
Island Bar Association, serves on the Federal Branch-Bar Committee, as
well as the Roger Williams American Inn of Court, the First Circuit
Gender Bias Task Force, and the American Law Institute. Also, Ms.
Curran is professor of advanced criminal law at Roger Williams
University Law School in Rhode Island.
  I am delighted that the Senate is prepared to confirm Margaret Ellen
Curran as U.S. Attorney for the District of Rhode Island.
  Mr. REED. Mr. President, I rise today to commend the Senate's
confirmation of Margaret Ellen Curran as U.S. Attorney for the District
of Rhode Island. I am proud to have been involved in the historic
nomination of this outstanding career prosecutor. A native of
Providence, Meg is the first woman to serve as Rhode Island's federal
attorney. Her confirmation by the U.S. Senate today sends a clear
message to career federal attorneys that their work and service is
valued.
  Ms. Curran brings not only the necessary legal expertise and
technical skill to this position, but she has also demonstrated the
prosecutorial temperament necessary to carry out her significant
responsibilities in a fair and judicious manner. I am confident that
U.S. Attorney Curran will serve Rhode Island and its people extremely
well.
  Ms. Curran graduated from Pilgrim High School in Warwick. She
received a B.A. degree from the University of Pennsylvania, a Master of
Science from Purdue University, and her law degree from the University
of Connecticut School of Law, where she was Editor in Chief of the Law
Review. After graduation, Meg served as a law clerk to the Honorable
Bruce Selya, then a federal district judge in Rhode Island. She nexted
served a clerkship for the Honorable Thomas Meskill on the Second
Circuit Court of Appeals. After her second clerkship, in 1985, Meg
became an associate at the Providence law firm of Wistow & Barylick
pursuing general litigation matters.
  Since 1986, when she joined the U.S. Attorney's Office in Rhode
Island, Meg has distinguished herself as an outstanding prosecutor. As
a trail prosecutor, Meg tried a range of cases involving white-collar
criminals, organized crime, illegal weapons possession, and was
responsible for obtaining the largest monetary penalty, at the time,
for the illegal discharge of pollutants into Narragansett Bay.
  In 1990, Meg was appointed as the district's Principal Appellate
Attorney and Appellate Chief. In that position she has had primary
responsibility for all appeals. As Appellate Chief she has successfully
pursued precedent setting cases involving both mandatory sentencing for
career criminals as well as heightened penalties for dealers of
dangerous drugs.
  Meg has proven herself an accomplished trial and appellate attorney,
and, for this, she has been recognized. She has received the annual
Special Achievement Awards for Sustained Superior Performance of Duty
from the Department of Justice four times. In 1993, she was named the
Federal Employee of the Year by the Federal Executive Council of Rhode
Island. Today, the United States Senate has provided her with the
ultimate recognition of a career prosecutor by confirming her as U.S.
Attorney for the District of Rhode Island.
  In addition to her professional service, Meg has also found time to
serve her community. Since 1995, Meg has been an adjunct professor at
Roger Williams University School of Law, teaching advanced criminal
procedure. She is a member of the Rhode Island Bar Association and
serves on the Federal Bench/Bar Committee. Meg also serves on the First
Circuit Gender Bias Task Force and is a member of the Board of Trustees
of the Rode Island Zoological Society.
  Mr. President, I am proud to have been involved in the nomination of
U.S. Attorney Curran. I wish her, her husband Michael, and their
daughter Margee the very best.

                     confirmation of cardell cooper

  Mr. LAUTENBERG. Mr. President, I rise to express my strong support
for the confirmation of Cardell Cooper to be the Department of Housing
and Urban Development's (HUD) Assistant Secretary for Community
Planning and Development. I thank the members of the Banking Committee,
Chairman D'Amato, and Ranking Member Sarbanes for moving Mr. Cooper's
nomination swiftly through the Committee.
  Mr. Cooper served with distinction as mayor of East Orange, New
Jersey from 1990 to 1997. Prior to serving as mayor, from 1988 to 1990,
Mr. Cooper was County Administrator for Essex County, where he was
responsible for day-to-day management of the one of the largest and
most urban counties in New Jersey.
  As a mayor and county administrator, Mr. Cooper was on the front
lines. His practical experience, coupled with his passion for public
service, makes him an excellent choice for this post. He knows the
critical difference that development programs can make to communities
and their residents, and the importance of forging strong partnerships
between local, state and federal governments. His commitment to local
economic development programs serving our young people, such as
YouthBuild, and urban environmental initiatives, such as the
brownfields program, will fuel his efforts to help our urban leaders
succeed. Through his work with the Conference of Mayors, he has built
solid relationships with mayors across the country and enjoys
bipartisan support. His endorsement by the Conference of Mayors is a
testament to the leadership he has provided.
  Mr. President, while professional experience and particular skills
are important for effective service, Cardell Cooper has the personal
strengths and attributes the Senate looks for in nominees to high
posts. He is an energetic leader, with a strong work ethic and a deep
commitment to public service and the mission of the Department. I can
personally attest to his integrity and ability to work well within a
larger organization.
  Mr. President, I hope the full Senate will act expeditiously to
confirm Cardell Cooper as HUD's new Assistant Secretary for Community
Planning and Development.

                      confirmation of harold lucas

  Mr. LAUTENBERG. Mr. President, I rise today to convey to the full
Senate my overwhelming support for the confirmation of Harold Lucas to
be the Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD) new
Assistant Secretary for Public and Indian Housing. I especially want to
thank Chairman D'Amato and Ranking Member Sarbanes, and all the members
of the Senate Banking Committee, for moving Mr. Lucas' nomination so
quickly through the Committee.
  Mr. Lucas has first-hand knowledge of the challenges facing our
nation's public housing authorities. Prior to his nomination, Mr. Lucas
served as Executive Director of the Housing Authority of the City of
Newark, New Jersey. When Mr. Lucas took hold of the reins at the
Housing Authority in 1992, HUD considered it to be a ``troubled''
agency, and had given it failing grades since its creation in the
1970s. Within two years of taking over, Mr. Lucas turned things around.
Last year, the agency received a 94 percent rating--an A in anyone's
book--and is now considered one of the top performing housing agencies
in both New Jersey and the nation.
  During his tenure, Mr. Lucas tore down many dilapidated high-rise
buildings and replaced them with more attractive townhouse-style
housing that

[[Page S12967]]

provides a better quality of life for tenants and improves the
neighborhoods that surround it.
  Mr. Lucas' dedication to helping public housing residents achieve
self-sufficiency, and his strong commitment to ensuring the safety and
viability of our public housing stock, are testament to his
qualifications for this position. I am confident that our nation's
housing authorities will be well served by having someone as dynamic
and experienced as Mr. Lucas at the helm.
  Mr. President, I therefore urge the full Senate to conform, without
delay, Mr. Lucas to be HUD's new Assistant Secretary for Public and
Indian Housing.

                 Commerce Committee And Labor Committee

  Mr. LOTT. I further ask unanimous consent that the Commerce Committee
and the Labor Committee be immediately discharged from further
consideration of the following nominations, and further that the Senate
then proceed to their consideration: John Moran, Harold Creel, Ashish
Sen, Anita Jones, Pamela Ferguson, and nominations in the Public Health
Service.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The nominations considered en bloc are as follows:

                           commerce committee

       John A. Moran, of Virginia, to be a Federal Maritime
     Commissioner for the term expiring June 30, 2000.
       Harold J. Creel, Jr., of South Carolina, to be a Federal
     Maritime Commissioner for the term expiring June 30, 20004.
     (Reappointment)
       Ashish Sen, of Illinois, to be Director of the Bureau of
     Transportation Statistics, Department of Transportation, for
     the term of four years.

                            labor committee

       Anita K. Jones, of Virginia, to be a Member of the National
     Science Board, National Science Foundation, for a term
     expiring May 10, 2004.
       Pamela A. Ferguson, of Iowa, to be a Member of the National
     Science Board, National Science Foundation, for a term
     expiring May 10, 2004.

                         public health service

       Public Health Service nominations beginning Robert W.
     Amler, and ending Cheryl A. Wiseman, which nominations were
     received by the Senate and appeared in the Congressional
     Record on April 24, 1998.
       Public Health Service nominations beginning Marie A.
     Coffey, and ending Julia C. Watkins, which nominations were
     received by the Senate and appeared in the Congressional
     Record on July 7, 1998.

nominations of john a. moran and harold j. creel, jr., federal maritime
                             commissioners

  Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, today the Senate unanimously confirmed the
nominations of John A. Moran and Harold J. Creel, Jr. to serve as
Federal Maritime Commissioners. John Moran will be replacing Joseph
Scroggins on the Commission while Hal Creel will be serving a second
term as Chairman of the FMC. I applaud the selection of these two
highly qualified individuals for these important positions.
  John Moran brings more than a decade of congressional and legislative
experience in maritime transportation and policy to the FMC. During his
nine-year tenure as a staffer in the House and Senate, John focused on
a number of important maritime issues, including the Oil Pollution Act
of 1990. His work on the 1990 amendments to the Shipping Act of 1984
and the 1991-1992 Advisory Commission on Conferences in Ocean Shipping
(ACCOS) ensures that he is well prepared for his FMC assignment. The
ACCOS process crystallized the concerns of stakeholders regarding the
Shipping Act of 1984 and was a forerunner to S. 414, the Ocean Shipping
Reform Act of 1998. This experience will serve John well as he assumes
the shared responsibility for implementing that Act. I have great
confidence in John Moran's ability and integrity.
  Hal Creel has been the Chairman of the FMC for more than four years.
During that time, the agency has gone from being characterized as
``obsolete'' to being hailed as a champion of free and open access to
foreign trade markets. Hal deserves tremendous credit for this reversal
of fortune. Through Hal's leadership, the FMC has punished unfair
foreign shipping practices in Japan and is reviewing similar concerns
regarding shipping practices in China and Brazil. Hal has also
demonstrated the FMC's willingness to respond quickly to industry
complaints regarding violations of the Shipping Act of 1984. More than
90% of all U.S. international trade is transported by ships.
Maintaining a fair and open international ocean shipping system is
vital to this nation's economy. Hal is clearly deserving of another
term as Chairman of this crucial independent agency.
  Mr. President, I would also like to take this opportunity to express
my thanks to another FMC commissioner, Ming Hsu, for her long service
to this agency. Ming Hsu supplies a wealth of experience in Asia-U.S.
trade to the FMC. This has proven vital to addressing a number of ocean
shipping concerns in this increasingly important trade lane.
  With the President expected to sign the Ocean Shipping Reform Act of
1998 in the coming days, I am confident that the Federal Maritime
Commission, with Hal Creel, John Moran, Ming Hus, and Del Won, is more
than ready to implement this landmark legislation.
<bullet> Mr. HOLLINGS. Mr. President, I would like to take a moment to
congratulate two nominees, Mr. Hal Creel and Mr. John Moran, upon their
confirmation to be Federal Maritime Commissioners.
  Hal Creel, a native of South Carolina and my former Senior Counsel on
the Maritime Subcommittee, has been a Federal Maritime Commissioner for
four years. He has served the last two and a half years as the agency's
Chairman. As Chairman, he has demonstrated a wide-ranging knowledge of
the maritime industry and an outstanding ability to oversee industry
activities. Our Nation is extremely fortunate to have such a dedicated
individual at the helm of this important government body.
  Mr. Creel and the Federal Maritime Commission are responsible for
overseeing all international liner shipping in the U.S.--over $500
billion in trade. His efforts in the controversy surrounding Japan's
restrictive port practices come immediately to mind.
  The Government of Japan for many years has orchestrated a system that
impedes open trade, unjustly favors Japanese companies, and results in
tremendous inefficiencies for anyone serving Japan's ports. The FMC,
under Mr. Creel's guidance, met these problems head-on and he was
instrumental in bringing the two governments to the bargaining table.
The bilateral agreement that resulted paves the way for far-reaching
changes that can remove these unfair barriers to trade. The progress
made to date has occurred in large measure due to the Commission's
firm, results-oriented approach. I urge him to continue to keep the
Japanese honest, and to perform their agreed upon obligations.
  Hal Creel also has led the Commission in its efforts to resolve
unfavorable trading conditions with the Peoples Republic of China and
Brazil. These trades pose differing problems, but circumstances that
nonetheless restrict U.S. companies or render their business dealings
unnecessarily difficult or simply inefficient.
  Hal Creel is widely respected by all sectors of the industry as an
involved, knowledgeable Chairman who can be trusted to make impartial
decisions based on all relevant factors. This has been evidenced by the
objective, informed decisions he renders in formal proceedings, his
voting record on important agency matters, and the evenhanded
enforcement program administered by the Commission. As Chairman of the
FMC, Hal Creel has worked hard to curb harmful practices and create
equitable trading conditions for the entire industry. He takes a
personal stake in these matters and works hard to obtain industry
compliance with the laws passed by this Congress. But those who
willfully violate the law or intentionally disregard the Nation's ocean
shipping policies as contained in the Shipping Act are dealt with
appropriately.
  These are turbulent times in the liner shipping industry, times that
call for effective and respected leadership from our Nation's
regulatory body. Mr. Creel provides that leadership now, and I am
certain will continue to do so as the industry enters the new
environment that will result from the Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 1998
passed by this body last week.
  I am proud of the accomplishments and fine work Hal has done at the
FMC. I am also proud that he is a native South Carolinian. He certainly
has continued the fine tradition and excellence he established as a
staffer and

[[Page S12968]]

senior counsel for the Senate Commerce Committee. His reappointment is
well deserved.
  I also wish to convey my support for John Moran to become a
Commissioner at the FMC. John also is a former Commerce Committee
counsel who served all members of that Committee with distinction. John
and Hal worked together at the Committee on a bipartisan basis,
slugging through tough issues and serving all of the Members well.
  For my Senate colleagues who do not know Mr. Moran, his only fault is
that he is not from South Carolina. He has demonstrated his abilities
and intellect time and time again. He is well suited to be a Federal
Maritime Commissioner. Currently, John works representing the American
Waterways Operators, as their Vice President for legislative affairs.
John also has an outstanding reputation within the maritime and
transportation industry sectors.
  I congratulate these two deserving individuals, who have been
appointed to the agency which plays such a critical role in
international trade.<bullet>

                      Foreign Relations Committee

  Mr. LOTT. I also ask unanimous consent that the Foreign Relations
Committee be discharged from further consideration of the following
nominations which are currently at the desk, and agreed to by both
sides, and the Senate proceed to their consideration, en bloc.
  The nominations considered en bloc are as follows:
       Robert Patrick John Finn, of New York, a Career Member of
     the Senior Foreign Service, Class of Counselor, to be
     Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United
     States of American to the Republic of Tajikistan.
       C. Donald Johnson, Jr., of Georgia, for the Rank of
     Ambassador during his tenure of service as Chief Textile
     Negotiator.
       Harold Hongju Koh, of Connecticut, to be Assistant
     Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor.
       Michael J. Sullivan, of Wyoming, to be Ambassador
     Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of
     America to Ireland.
       William B. Bader, of New Jersey, to be an Assistant
     Director of the United States Information Agency.
       R. Rand Beers, of the District of Columbia, a Career Member
     of the Senior Executive Service, to be an Assistant Secretary
     of State.
       E. William Crotty, of Florida, to be Ambassador
     Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of
     America to Barbados, and to serve concurrently and without
     additional compensation as Ambassador Extraordinary and
     Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to Antigua
     and Barbuda, to the Commonwealth of Dominica, to Grenada, to
     St. Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, and to Saint Vincent and
     the Grenadines.
       Stuart E. Eizenstat, of Maryland, to be United States
     Alternate Governor of the International Bank for
     Reconstruction and Development for a term of five years;
     United States Alternate Governor of the Inter-American
     Development Bank for a term of five years; United States
     Alternate Governor of the African Development Bank for a term
     of five years; United States Alternate Governor of the
     African Development Fund; United States Alternate Governor of
     the Asian Development Bank; United States Alternate Governor
     of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.
       Robert C. Felder, of Florida, a Career Member of the Senior
     Foreign Service, Class of Minister-Counselor, to be
     Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United
     States of America to the Republic of Benin.
       Simon Ferro, of Florida, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and
     Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the
     Republic of Panama.
       Alan Greenspan, of New York, to be United States Alternate
     Governor of the International Monetary Fund for a term of
     five years. (Reappointment)
       Richard Henry Jones, of Nebraska, a Career Member of the
     Senior Foreign Service, Class of Minister-Counselor, to be
     Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United
     States of America to the Republic of Kazakhstan.
       James Vela Ledesma, of California, a Career Member of the
     Senior Foreign Service, Class of Counselor, to be Ambassador
     Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of
     America to the Gabonese Republic and to serve concurrently
     and without additional compensation as Ambassador
     Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of
     America to the Democratic Republic of Sao Tome and Principe.
       Frank E. Loy, of the District of Columbia, to be an Under
     Secretary of State.
       Joseph H. Melrose, Jr., of Pennsylvania, a Career Member of
     the Senior Foreign Service, Class of Minister-Counselor, to
     be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United
     States of America to the Republic of Sierra Leone.
       George Mu, of California, a Career Member of the Senior
     Foreign Service, Class of Minister-Counselor, to be
     Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United
     States of America to the Republic of Cote d'Ivoire.
       B. Lynn Pascoe, of Virginia, a Career Member of the Senior
     Foreign Service, Class of Minister-Counselor, to be
     Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United
     States of America to Malaysia.
       Robert Cephas Perry, of Virginia, a Career Member of the
     Senior Foreign Service, Class of Counselor, to be Ambassador
     Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of
     America to the Central African Republic.
       John J. Pikarski, Jr., of Illinois, to be a Member of the
     Board of Directors of the Overseas Private Investment
     Corporation for the remainder of the term expiring December
     17, 1998.
       John J. Pikarski, Jr., of Illinois, to be a Member of the
     Board of Directors of the Overseas Private Investment
     Corporation for a term expiring December 17, 2001.
     (Reappointment)
       Robert C. Randolph, of Washington, to be an Assistant
     Administrator of the Agency for International Development.
       Kathryn Dee Robinson, of Tennessee, a Career Member of the
     Senior Foreign Service, Class of Minister-Counselor, to be
     Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United
     States of America to the Republic of Ghana.
       John Shattuck, of Massachusetts, to be Ambassador
     Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of
     America to the Czech Republic.
       George McDade Staples, of Kentucky, a Career Member of the
     Senior Foreign Service, Class of Counselor, to be Ambassador
     Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of
     America to the Republic of Rwanda.
       Joseph Gerard Sullivan, of Virginia, a Career Member of the
     Senior Foreign Service, Class of Minister-Counselor, to be
     Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United
     States of America to the Republic of Angola.
       C. David Welch, of Virginia, a Career Member of the Senior
     Foreign Service, Class of Minister-Counselor, to be Assistant
     Secretary of State.
       John Melvin Yates, of Washington, a Career Member of the
     Senior Foreign Service, Class of Minister-Counselor, to be
     Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United
     States of America to the Republic of Cameroon.
       John Melvin Yates, of Washington, a Career Member of the
     Senior Foreign Service, Class of Minister-Counselor, to serve
     concurrently and without additional compensation as
     Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United
     States of America to the Republic of Equatorial Guinea.
       Eric David Newsom, of Virginia, to be an Assistant
     Secretary of State.

                            foreign service

       Foreign Service nominations beginning Richard M. Brown, and
     ending Thomas B. Anklewich, which nominations were received
     by the Senate and appeared in the Congressional Record on
     September 2, 1998.
       Foreign Service nominations beginning Aurelia E. Brazeal,
     and ending William L. Wuensch, which nominations were
     received by the Senate and appeared in the Congressional
     Record on September 2, 1998.
       Foreign Service nominations beginning Judy R. Ebner, and
     ending Allen S. Weiner, which nominations were received by
     the Senate and appeared in the Congressional Record on
     September 23, 1998.

  Mr. LOTT. I finally 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 the appropriate place
in the Record, and the President be immediately notified of the
Senate's action.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The nominations were confirmed en bloc.

                          ____________________
