Last year, the Senate ratified the Chemical Weapons Convention to protect our soldiers and citizens from poison gas.  Now we must act to prevent the use of disease as a weapon of war and terror.  The Biological Weapons Convention has been in effect for 23 years now.  The rules are good, but the enforcement is weak.  We must strengthen it with a new international inspection system to detect and deter cheating.  In the months ahead, I will pursue our security strategy with old allies in Asia and Europe, and new partners from Africa to India and Pakistan, from South America to China.  And from Belfast to Korea to the Middle East, America will continue to stand with those who stand for peace.

Finally, it’s long past time to make good on our debt to the United Nations.

More and more we are working with other nations to achieve common goals.  If we want America to lead, we’ve got to set a good example.  As we see—­as we see so clearly in Bosnia, allies who share our goals can also share our burdens.  In this new era, our freedom and independence are actually enriched, not weakened, by our increasing interdependence with other nations.  But we have to do our part.

Our founders set America on a permanent course toward a more perfect union.  To all of you, I say, it is a journey we can only make together, living as one community.

First, we have to continue to reform our government, the instrument of our national community.  Everyone knows elections have become too expensive, fueling a fund-raising arms race.

This year, by March the 6th, at long last the Senate will actually vote on bipartisan campaign finance reform proposed by senators McCain and Feingold.  Let’s be clear; a vote against McCain-Feingold is a vote for soft money and for the status quo.  I ask you to strengthen our democracy and pass campaign finance reform this year.

But at least equally important, we have to address the real reason for the explosion in campaign costs:  the high cost of media advertising.  I will—­ for the folks watching at home, those were the groans of pain in the audience—­I will formally request that the Federal Communications Commission act to provide free or reduced-cost television time—­for candidates who observe spending limits voluntarily.  The airwaves are a public trust, and broadcasters also have to help us in this effort to strengthen our democracy.

Under the leadership of Vice President Gore, we have reduced the federal payroll by 300,000 workers, cut 16,000 pages of regulation, eliminated hundreds of programs and improved the operations of virtually every government agency.  But we can do more.

Like every taxpayer, I’m outraged by the reports of abuses by the IRS.  We need some changes there:  new citizen advocacy panels, a stronger taxpayer advocate, phone lines open 24 hours a day, relief for innocent taxpayers.

Last year, by an overwhelming bipartisan margin, the House of Representatives passed sweeping IRS reforms.  This bill must not now languish in the Senate.  Tonight, I ask the Senate:  Follow the House; pass the bipartisan package as your first order of business.  I hope to goodness before I finish I can think of something to say ‘Follow the Senate’ on so I’ll be out of trouble!