S6470 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE May 10, 1995

needs of effected families. In fact, current law does not adequately address

issues that have emerged over the past

25 years regarding how missing persons

and their families are treated by Government officials. S. 256 would implement procedures which foster a sense

of trust and credibility between the

Government and families of missing

personnel, while attempting to ensure

fairness to all involved.

Considering the tremendous sacrifices our men and women make when

facing combat, maintaining credibility

and trust are crucial. Soldiers face the

terrible prospect of capture and, in

turn, their loved ones face the horrible

possibility of intense anguish and

heartache. We must assure our armed

services personnel and their civilian

counterparts that the United States

will do everything possible to return

them home safely in the event they

turn up missing in action. At the same

time, they must also be assured that

more open and fair procedures will be

established to determine their exact

status. S. 256 takes concrete steps to

achieve these objectives.

There are, however, some issues with

the bill that I think still need to be reviewed. For instance, S. 256 restricts

identification of recovered remains to

licensed practitioners of forensic medicine. Utilization of personnel in disciplines other than medicine which

may be appropriate are not permitted.

According to DOD, such a requirement

would be unreasonable during combat

operations or on the battlefield. Moreover, as this legislation would be retroactive to World War II, DOD may be required to review thousands of cases.

The Defense Department has indicated

that it does not have the personnel or

budget to handle such a workload.

These are some issues that I hope the

Senate Armed Services Committee will

look into when reviewing this legislation.

Overall, I believe that S. 256 is an important and noteworthy bill. The Government has been perceived as being

unresponsive to the needs of families

whose loved ones are classified as missing in action. This legislation would

safeguard the rights of missing armed

service members while addressing the

concerns of their effected families and

the Federal Government. I am pleased

to cosponsor the Missing Service Personnel Act.

ORDERS FOR THURSDAY, MAY 11,

∑

f1995

Mr. SPECTER. Mr. President, I ask

unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today it

stand in recess until 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, May 11, 1995; that following the

prayer, the Journal of proceedings be

deemed approved, the time for the two

leaders be reserved for their use later

in the day, and the Senate then immediately resume consideration of S. 534,

the Solid Waste Disposal Act.

The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without

objection, it is so ordered.

fPROGRAM

Mr. SPECTER. Mr. President, for the

information of all Senators, the Senate

will resume consideration of the Solid

Waste Disposal Act tomorrow. Further

amendments are expected to the bill,

therefore Senators should anticipate

rollcall votes throughout Thursday’s

session of the Senate, and a late night

session could occur with votes into the

evening. A cloture motion was filed on

the substitute this evening. It is the

hope of the leader, Senator DOLE, that

the Friday vote could be vitiated if an

agreement can be reached to conclude

the bill by Friday. Otherwise, a cloture

vote will occur Friday morning.

APPOINTMENT BY THE VICE

fPRESIDENT

The PRESIDING OFFICER. The

Chair, on behalf of the Vice President,

pursuant to 22 U.S.C. 276h–276k, as

amended, appoints the following Senators as members of the Senate delegation to the Mexico-United States

Interparliamentary Group during the

first session of the 104th Congress, to

be held in Tucson, AZ, May 12–14, 1995:

the Senator from Iowa [Mr. GRASSLEY];

the Senator from Alaska [Mr. MURKOWSKI]; and the Senator from Washington

[Mr. GORTON

RECESS UNTIL 9:30 A.M.

].

fTOMORROW

Mr. SPECTER. Mr. President, if

there is no further business to come before the Senate, I now ask unanimous

consent that the Senate stand in recess

under the previous order.

There being no objection, the Senate,

at 7:08 p.m., recessed until Thursday,

May 11, 1995, at 9:30 a.m.