U.S. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist told the Cleveland Rotary Club on Tuesday that his mission is to move America forward with goals of a more prosperous, healthier, and safer country. However, Sen. Frist addressed “three major overarching problems” that are constantly discussed and have no clear solutions. He listed the problems as the “China Problem, healthcare cost, and the War on Terror.”

Sen. Frist said global competitiveness is what he calls the “China Problem.” While the United States economy is growing about three percent each year, China is growing three to four times mores, he said. He said currently China is training four times more engineers and people with Ph.D’s in math and science. He said many fear that there will be a job crisis.

However, Sen. Frist said bills are being passed that will help “sharpen America’s competitive skills.” He said he hopes that when he returns to Washington, Congress will “kill the death tax for good.” Furthermore, he said both the Energy Bill and Highway Bill will help to create new jobs in the U.S.

Sen. Frist also emphasized the necessity of an educated workforce to stay globally competitive. Education must start early, he said. No Child Left Behind works to improve “accountability and standards,” he said.

Soaring healthcare costs is also a major problem because it “eats people’s paychecks,” he told the club. “The U.S. has the best healthcare in the world, but we do have gaps that result in inefficiency and drive up costs.” He said about 45 million people are uninsured. Sen. Frist said he believes “things can be done.” The Healthy America Act will keep costs down and give people more benefits, he said.

The last problem Sen. Frist addressed was the “War on Terror.” He said radical Islam is the “fastest growing religion,” especially in Europe. Consequently, “it jeopardizes our freedom here,” he said. Sen. Frist said, “Any withdrawal will be a radical expansion of terror. We have to take the battle to the terrorists or they will bring it here.”

Previous to his visit to Cleveland, Sen. Frist said he stopped at a hospital in Cincinnati where surgeons had just completed a vital heart operation on a girl from Iraq. Through the generosity of the Rotary Club and the hospital, the girl was able to have the operation she needed, he said. Sen. Frist said he met her mother and she told him, “Tell the American people thank you. I know they have a spirit of compassion. Thank you for giving my daughter a chance to live.” Later she expressed her gratitude for getting to vote in the recent election in Iraq. Sen. Frist said she told him that the election gave her “hope for Iraq.”

Leadership is required for these big problems, Sen. Frist said. From his experience as a doctor, he said he supports “non-career politicians.” He said he is grateful that he has been able to take his experiences as a doctor and use them in Washington.

Sen. Frist said America needs leaders who will perpetuate values. He said, "We all need to be equipped with basic values as we look toward a future of uncertain times.” Furthermore, leaders must have a “bold vision for this country.” He said citizens need to “ask leaders to stick with what they say they’ll do.”

At the end of the speech, Sen. Frist offered to take questions. He briefly addressed the issue of stem cell research. He said embryos should be “given moral significance.” Embryos should not be created for experimentation or destroyed, he said. However, he said about five embryos are made for one life to be created. He said this leaves about 400,000 embryos that are “surplus.” Embryos that are going to be thrown away should be used for research, he said. He said using discarded embryos is similar to using the heart of a deceased person for a transplant.

Sen. Frist said he recognizes that stem cell research is a tough issue. “I ask for understanding. I don’t know if I’m right,” he said.

Sen. Frist said the last time he spoke in Bradley County was 11 years ago. “I was a doctor who had no political experience but thought I could make a difference and you took a chance with me,” he told the Rotary Club. He ended his speech by saying, “Thank you for taking a chance on me 11 years ago.”

Senate majority leader
- Photo2 by Suzanne Walker