S2270 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE April 6, 2000 stand for liberty taken on April 6—al- amendments, Senators should not as- Mr. REID. The minority yields 20 most 700 years ago—in Arbroath, Scot- sume it is very likely that we finish to- minutes off the resolution to the Sen- land. A call for liberty which still night. I reported that to the leader ear- ator from Illinois. echoes through our history and the his- lier this morning. I do not know how The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- tory of many nations across the globe. many amendments are pending on the ator from Illinois is recognized for 20 It has been my hope that this annual other side. We are working with our minutes, with the time coming off the event will grow in prominence each people who have about 31 amendments, resolution. year, similar to St. Patrick’s Day and most of them sense-of-the-Senate Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, I thank Columbus Day, and the ceremonies and amendments. I will give my colleague Senator REID and Senator LAUTENBERG activities taking place today and over that list soon and see if he can help us. for yielding me this time. the next few days demonstrate that I will work at it and talk some Sen- The amendment I have offered is a these goals are coming to fruition. I be- ators into understanding they would straightforward opportunity for Mem- lieve April 6 can also serve as a day to not have to offer them; they could offer bers of the Senate to go on record in recognize those nations that have not them some other time when the Senate reference to the proposed tax cut by achieved the principles of freedom is considering another matter. George W. Bush, the nominal candidate which we hold dear. The example of the If you just look at 81⁄2 hours plus for President on the Republican side. Scotsmen at Arbroath—their courage— whatever it is going to take for half The reason I am offering this amend- their desire for freedom—serves as a those amendments in vote-arama, I as- ment is I believe it offers a clear choice beacon to countries still striving for sume we will be in tomorrow. to the Members of the Senate and cer- liberty today. Mr. LOTT. I have been urging Sen- tainly to the people of this Nation. f ators, and I know Senator DASCHLE has Every one of us understands we have also, to prepare to be in session on this been going through a period of unprece- SCHEDULE Friday, knowing the budget resolution dented prosperity in America. In fact, I Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, the Senate was headed for this date for at least a believe we have set records in terms of will resume consideration of S. Con. couple of weeks. So we should proceed the period of economic growth without Res. 101, the budget resolution. By a with that in mind. If we get a lot of co- recession. This is not an accident. It is previous order, there will be two back- operation and something could be by design of an administration that has to-back votes beginning at 10:30 a.m. worked out, that would be different, been determined to continue to bring The vote on the Byrd amendment will but I do not see how we can predict Federal spending under control, to be the first, to be followed by a vote on anything at this point but having votes keep interest rates manageable, and to the Roth amendment. Following the on Friday morning. encourage growth in the economy. This votes, the Durbin amendment regard- I yield the floor. policy of the administration is com- ing tax cuts will be the pending amend- f plemented by the policies of the Fed- ment. eral Reserve Board under Chairman For the information of all Senators, RESERVATION OF LEADERSHIP Alan Greenspan. the so-called vote-arama—and I hope it TIME We are now at an unusual point in will not rise to that level; maybe it The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under our history where we are considering will just be a few votes we will have to the previous order, the leadership time the possibility of surpluses. That is take one after the other—is expected to is reserved. something that would have been un- begin at some point this evening. I do f thinkable a few years ago in Wash- want to emphasize, though, unless we ington when we were drowning in red are successful, on both sides of the FISCAL YEAR 2001 BUDGET— ink with deficit after deficit piling on Resumed aisle—let me say, Senator REID has to our national debt. It reached such a been working very hard on the Demo- The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under point of desperation that a proposal cratic side of the aisle. They have a the previous order, the Senate will now was made in the Congress to amend the reasonably low number of amendments resume consideration of S. Con. Res. Constitution of the United States and still pending. We hope to reduce the 101, which the clerk will report. give to the Federal judiciary the power number on this side of the aisle, too. The bill clerk read as follows: to rein in the spending of Congress. We should be able to determine by late A concurrent resolution (S. Con. Res. 101) It was an unprecedented transfer of this afternoon whether we can finish setting forth the congressional budget for power to the judiciary away from the tonight or we will go over to tomorrow. the United States Government for fiscal legislative branch of Government. I think we need to go ahead and tell years 2001 through 2005 and revising the Some people were so despondent and so our colleagues they should plan on budgetary levels for fiscal year 2000. desperate, they were prepared to back being in and having votes in the morn- Pending: such a constitutional amendment for a ing because at this point, with some 60 Stevens amendment No. 2931, to strike cer- balanced budget. It is hard to imagine amendments pending, I do not see how tain provisions relating to emergency des- that was only about 4 years ago. we can finish it tonight by any kind of ignation spending point of order. Today in the course of debating the reasonable hour. Stevens amendment No. 2932, to strike cer- budget resolution, our focus is the use tain provisions to congressional firewall for of the surplus, the revenues we will I will stay in touch with Senator defense and nondefense spending. DOMENICI and Senator LAUTENBERG, the Byrd/Warner amendment No. 2943, to ex- generate from our economy far and floor managers, and Senator REID and press the sense of the Senate on the contin- above what is necessary for the needs Senator NICKLES on our side, to assess ued use of Federal fuel taxes for the con- of Government and current programs. the additional time that might be struction and rehabilitation of our Nation’s There is a difference of opinion about needed. Senators should adjust their highways, bridges, and transit systems. what to do with this surplus. schedules accordingly. Roth amendment No. 2955, to strike the On the Democratic side, we believe I know there is an event tonight, a revenue assumption for Arctic National the first priority should be the reduc- Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) receipts in fiscal tion of our national debt. We collect dinner. But we can finish tonight or we year 2005. can finish tomorrow, or whatever it Robb amendment No. 2965, to reduce rev- each day in America $1 billion in taxes takes. We have to complete our work. enue cuts by $5.9 billion over the next 5 years from individuals, businesses, and fami- There are only about 81⁄2 hours remain- to help fund school modernization projects. lies, and that money is used for the ing of time, so we should be able to fin- Durbin amendment No. 2953, to provide for sole purpose of paying interest on our ish that all right today. The remainder debt reduction and to protect the Social Se- national debt. That $1 billion does not of the time will be determined by how curity trust fund. educate a child; it does not build a many amendments we have remaining. AMENDMENT NO. 2953 road; it does not make America any I will be glad to yield to Senator The PRESIDING OFFICER. The safer. It pays interest on debt, a debt DOMENICI. pending amendment is the Durbin primarily held by foreign bond holders. Mr. DOMENICI. Let me just verify, amendment, amendment No. 2953. The We believe on the Democratic side as the one who is working with these Senator from Nevada. that our first priority should be to

VerDate Mar 15 2010 22:44 Dec 04, 2013 Jkt 081600 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\2000SENATE\S06AP0.REC S06AP0 mmaher on DSKCGSP4G1 with SOCIALSECURITY April 6, 2000 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S2271 bring down this debt and reduce these care, in many instances. Whether it is This is the first year of the George W. interest costs so we can say to our chil- in the nature of a visiting nurse or in Bush tax cut. Look what comes and dren: You are not going to inherit our a nursing home, this additional care follows. This tax cut grows in size and mortgage, a mortgage which we in- can be costly. We have proposed on the eventually, I believe, could endanger curred for our needs in our generation. Democratic side a targeted tax cut the economy and its growth. We are going to give you a better that will allow families to defray some My position on that is not unique nor chance to build your America in the vi- expenses of long-term care for a parent is it partisan. Chairman Alan Green- sion of your future instead of being or aging relative. We believe this is span has said: Tax cuts are not our saddled with our old debt. sensible and reflects what modern fam- highest priority in America. Our high- That is the highest priority on the ilies have to deal with and struggle est priority is debt reduction. That is Democratic side, and my colleagues with on a daily basis. So our targeted the Democratic alternative. I think will hear it expounded by the Demo- tax cuts come right behind our plan for Chairman Greenspan is right. I think cratic leader, Senator LAUTENBERG, debt reduction. George W. Bush is wrong. when he offers his Democratic alter- Finally, the last piece in our proposal The amendment which I offer is an native to the budget. on the Democratic side is our invest- up-or-down vote by the Members of the The way we reduce this debt is by in- ment in our future. We understand, and Senate about whether they want to fol- vesting money in Social Security so most historians will agree, the 20th low the course that has led to such eco- that system will be available for sen- century had a lot to do with education. nomic progress or whether they want iors and the disabled for decades to We want to make certain the 21st cen- to sign up for the George W. Bush tax come and also, of course, and by invest- tury is an American century as well, cut. ing in Medicare. Medicare is a word and that means investing in our chil- Let me tell you what this tax cut which many people in this Chamber dren to make certain they have the would cost America. It would cost us, fear to use. They are afraid on the very best education, the very best in the first 5 years, $483 billion; then, other side of the aisle to even make teachers, and the schools are modern- over a 10-year period of time, more reference to Medicare and its future. ized so they can accommodate the new than $1.2 trillion. It is a substantial in- But for 40 million-plus Americans, technology. Medicare is an important word in their Along with the President, we invest vestment in tax cuts. everyday life. That Medicare system money for education, as well as for an As I have said many times on the provides health insurance for the elder- important program I have found to be floor, every politician likes to stand up ly and disabled of America. It has been, immensely popular across Illinois and and call for a tax cut. It is one of the frankly, one of the most successful pro- around the Nation. That program is a most popular speeches we can make. grams in the modern era because it prescription drug benefit. The idea be- But it may not be the most responsible represents a commitment by the Fed- hind it, of course, is we will find a way thing to do. The American people are eral Government that no one, when under Medicare to provide a prescrip- thinking twice about this promise by they have reached a certain age, will tion drug benefit for the elderly and George W. Bush of a tax cut of this go wanting when it comes to quality disabled that will help them pay for magnitude because they understand health care, and it has worked. their drugs and also keep them in a po- that every proposal has its cost. In the 40 years since the institution sition, if they have an expensive phar- Let me show you a chart. of Medicare, our seniors have lived maceutical bill, of not having to The impact of the Bush tax plan is to longer; they have had a better life; choose between food or medicine. not only spend the surplus that we they are more independent; they are We also believe the cost element is have discussed but to reach beyond the healthier; they are stronger, and Medi- important in this debate on a prescrip- surplus, which we are generating in our care has a lot to do with it. We on the tion drug benefit. We believe prescrip- Government, and to call on spending Democratic side believe that part of tion drugs in America should be fairly the Social Security trust fund for the the surplus generated in this economy priced. Pharmaceutical companies are George Bush tax cut. should be dedicated to Medicare’s fu- entitled to a profit—they need it for fu- Those on the Senate floor who want ture to make sure this health insur- ture research—but when we hear sto- to vote in favor of the Bush tax plan ance is around for many years to come. ries about exactly the same drug made are really saying we should reach into We also believe we should target tax in America costing half as much in the Social Security trust fund surplus cuts. We think we can take an appro- Canada and costing less if one buys it and take the money out of Social Secu- priate amount of this surplus and con- for their dog than if they buy it for rity to fund this George W. Bush tax vert it into tax cuts which families their aunt, people are saying this is an plan. really need. I will give two specific ex- outrage. We ought to have prescription This chart shows that in the first 5 amples. We on the Democratic side be- drugs fairly priced so this benefit under years of the George Bush tax cut, we lieve that we should have a targeted Medicare will work. have a non-Social Security surplus of tax cut so families can deduct college That is a condensation of the Demo- $171 billion. George Bush would spend education expenses. How many families cratic approach to our surplus, our fu- not only that but another $312 billion do we know that have sent a son or ture, and our budget priorities. to fund this tax cut. Where does he find daughter off to college and then wor- On the other side, George W. Bush, the additional money? He has to take ried about how much debt that child the Governor of Texas running for it from the Social Security trust fund. incurred in the course of their higher President of the United States, has a In raiding the Social Security trust education? much different view of America. He be- By providing the deductibility of col- lieves we should change dramatically fund, I believe he breaks faith with a lege education expenses as a targeted and radically the path we have fol- promise made, on a bipartisan basis, by Congress that we would make certain tax cut on the Democratic side, we will lowed over the past 71⁄2 years. provide some relief to these families, He has proposed, instead of reducing the fund is protected. up to, say, $2,800, for example, each debt, investing in Social Security, in- Let’s take a closer look at what it year which will defray the cost of col- vesting in Medicare, targeted tax cuts, means in terms of the Republican lege education expenses. I hope it will education, and health care, that we budget resolution, as well. be more in the future, but that de- should have a massive tax cut, a tax Recalling again the $171 billion non- pends, of course, on the economy and cut primarily for the wealthiest people Social Security surplus, on the Repub- how it is moving and whether the sur- in America. lican side, in their budget resolution, pluses continue. Take a look at the first year of this they call for a tax cut in the neighbor- Secondly, the largest growing group tax cut and one can understand this hood of $168 billion to $223 billion over of Americans are those over the age of graphic. This graphic shows the Amer- a 5-year period. You will note, this is 85. People who have parents and grand- ican economy moving forward, steam- perilously close and in many instances parents who are now reaching their ing into the ocean. Look at this tiny exceeds, again, the non-Social Security golden years find they need additional little $168 billion cap of an iceberg. surplus.

VerDate Mar 15 2010 22:44 Dec 04, 2013 Jkt 081600 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\2000SENATE\S06AP0.REC S06AP0 mmaher on DSKCGSP4G1 with SOCIALSECURITY S2272 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE April 6, 2000 In order to fund this plan, they will This morning’s Roll Call newspaper Mr. DURBIN. On page 4 of this either have to reach deep into the So- spelled out that the George Bush tax amendment? I am sorry, I say to the cial Security trust fund or, as an alter- plan makes it virtually impossible for Senator, I do not see that reference. native, will have to make cuts in him to meet the needs of America’s fu- Mr. DOMENICI. On the bottom of the spending. ture—to fund the prescription drug first page of the amendment, it says: Cuts in spending may sound harmless benefit, to fund additional medical re- ‘‘On page 4, line 4, decrease the amount today, but when we put them on the search, things that Americans under- by $4,843,000,000.’’ Is that correct? spot and ask, ‘‘Where will you cut,’’ stand to be an important part of our Mr. DURBIN. That is correct. they refuse to point to it. Many of us future. Mr. DOMENICI. Could you tell me believe that investments in education, George W. Bush has made his choice. what year that is? in our infrastructure, and in our Na- He has decided this tax cut is more im- Mr. DURBIN. It begins in the year tion’s defense are too important to be portant than those other things. It is 2002. left in this uncertainty. time for the Senate to make its choice. Mr. DOMENICI. 2001? Looking again at the Bush tax cut— It is time for the Senate to stand up Mr. DURBIN. 2002. I am sorry, it is the original figure of $483 billion that and be counted. 2001. I stand corrected. he proposed, plus an additional $60 bil- I hope, unlike in the Senate Budget Mr. DOMENICI. Does the Senator lion in interest—it shows you the dis- Committee, my colleagues in the Sen- know there is no tax cut in 2001 in the parity between the non-Social Security ate—whether they are for or against Bush proposal? surplus and the Bush tax cut. This is this tax cut—will stand up and be Mr. DURBIN. Governor Bush has of- the tax cut I am asking my colleagues counted. If they believe, as I do, that fered two proposals. The first proposal in the Senate to vote on yes or no America is moving in the right direc- is the one that we have followed in of- today. I will be voting no. I will be vot- tion and that taking this risky strat- fering this amendment. He has come ing against a tax cut which threatens egy could imperil our future, I hope back to offer a second proposal starting the Social Security trust fund. I hope they will join me in voting no on this with 2002. We stuck with his original my colleagues will stand up and be tax cut. proposal, which is the period of time I yield back the remainder of my counted as to whether they believe the which this budget resolution we are time. Bush tax cut is good policy for the fu- considering on the floor addresses. ture of America. Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, par- liamentary inquiry: Are we scheduled Mr. DOMENICI. My next question Let’s take a closer look at what this was going to be, did you know that tax cut means to American families. to vote at 10:30? The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. BUN- Governor Bush’s tax plan covered 2002 Most families who I represent could through 2006? You have it starting in certainly use a tax cut. I think, in NING). The Senate is scheduled to have a 10-minute debate at 10:30 a.m., which 2001 with almost $5 billion, but you many instances, it would be helpful to have given an explanation for that. them to meet their expenses and to will be followed by a vote. Mr. DOMENICI. Is there a vote fol- There are two plans out there, and you provide for their future. chose one over the other. Take a close look at the Bush tax cut lowing that, also? The PRESIDING OFFICER. Fol- Mr. DURBIN. That is correct. I chose and the winners and the losers. Fami- lowing that vote, there will be a 2- the first one he offered, the one that lies making over $301,000 a year, under minute debate on the Roth amend- mirrors this budget resolution in terms the George Bush tax cut, would see an ment, which will be followed by a vote. of the period of time that we are ad- annual tax break of over $50,000. Think Mr. DOMENICI. I hope all Senators dressing. of it—a family already making $300,000 heard that. Let me repeat it. We will Mr. DOMENICI. Is it fair to assume a year, plus a $50,000 tax break under have a 10-minute debate starting at that a candidate for President is not the George Bush tax cut. Sixty percent 10:30 on the Byrd amendment, to be fol- bound by the economic assumptions of working families in America, with lowed by an up-or-down vote. When that we make in the Senate or that the incomes below $39,300, would see an an- that vote is completed, there will be 2 CBO makes or OMB makes? nual tax break, under the Bush tax cut, minutes to debate the next amend- Mr. DURBIN. I conclude that a Presi- of $249. ment. dential candidate can assume anything My colleagues in the Senate will What did the Chair say the second have their choice. Do they want to sup- he or she wants to assume. In fairness, amendment is? port the Bush tax cut, which threatens if somebody is going to make the cor- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Roth nerstone of their campaign a tax cut, it Social Security by raiding the Social amendment. Security trust fund, and provides vir- should make sense and should hold up Mr. DOMENICI. The Roth amend- when anyone analyzes it. With the fig- tually no tax relief to 60 percent of ment on ANWR. After 2 minutes of de- America’s working families, at the ures I brought to the floor today, I sug- bate, there will be a vote on or in rela- gest that Bush’s proposed tax cut same time providing a generous $50,000- tion to that. So Senators ought to plus tax cut for those making over would invade the Social Security sur- know that is going to occur. plus by virtually any estimation. $300,000 a year? I say to the Senator, I am at some Many on the Republican side have al- Mr. DOMENICI. Let me make a point point going to use some time. I could to the Senator, and I thank the Sen- ready appeared with George W. Bush, take 5 minutes now—or 10—and discuss put their arms around him and en- ator for yielding. Presidential can- it. didate George W. Bush had three of the dorsed him. If they endorse his tax cut, The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- best economists in America working they have a chance to vote for it today. ator from New Mexico is recognized. Twice in the Senate Budget Com- Mr. DOMENICI. First, Mr. President, with him on this tax proposal. Interest- mittee they ran away from this deci- let me see if I understand the amend- ingly enough, they made economic as- sion. They refused to face a vote, up or ment Senator DURBIN has offered, sumptions different from the Congres- down, on the Bush tax cut. Today they which he claims to be Governor Bush’s sional Budget Office, or the OMB, for will have another clear choice, a choice tax proposal. the next 5 years. as to whether or not they believe On page 4, line 4, what I note is that Interestingly enough, the assump- America is moving in the right direc- there is a reduction in revenues in the tions of the Congressional Budget Of- tion—whether we should take the resolution by $4.8 billion. I wonder if fice and the OMB have been wrong, and Democratic alternative of reducing the Senator would confirm that that is most of the time they have been wrong debt, investing in Social Security and correct. I am reading it off the Sen- by underestimating the performance of Medicare, with targeted tax cuts for ator’s amendment. the economy. They have underesti- families, with investments in edu- Mr. DURBIN. I do not have a copy. I mated the growth in the economy, un- cation—or whether they will take what sent my copy to the desk. I will have a derestimated the revenue stream, and I consider to be a risky and dangerous copy in a moment. each year, we have come along later on course and follow the suggestion of the Mr. DOMENICI. All right. On page 4, and had to make adjustments to it. He Presidential candidate of the Repub- line 4, revenues in the resolution are is entitled to use his economic assump- lican Party, George W. Bush. reduced by $4.8 billion. Is that correct? tions, which I have read and are very

VerDate Mar 15 2010 22:44 Dec 04, 2013 Jkt 081600 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\2000SENATE\S06AP0.REC S06AP0 mmaher on DSKCGSP4G1 with SOCIALSECURITY April 6, 2000 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S2273 realistic. And that makes a very big change the priorities of domestic Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Mr. President, I difference if one has slight economic spending in a significant way. When he rise today in support of the Amend- assumptions of a positive nature higher does that, I have no doubt that he will ment by the distinguished Senator than one would assume in our budget. be able to recommend to the Congress from West Virginia. In supporting this Mr. DURBIN. Will the Senator yield a very good tax plan. Amendment, however, I would like to for a question? Frankly, if we wanted to debate the make clear my views on the question of Mr. DOMENICI. Yes. value of a tax plan and its worth in so- the repeal of the federal gas tax. Mr. DURBIN. Which assumptions did ciety, its soundness, we could have a I do not think that, under present the Senator use in drawing up the debate on his precise plan. It is a pret- circumstances, repeal of the federal gas budget resolution he proposes today? ty good plan. Frankly, it does a lot of tax is necessary or warranted. Yes, gas Mr. DOMENICI. I am bound by the things that a huge majority of this prices have gone up precipitously over rules of the Senate to use the CBO. The Senate would like to see done to the the past several months—to more than President doesn’t, however. He uses Tax Code of the United States. $2 a gallon in California—but there is OMB. Frequently, we are different. As So we will have a vote on this amend- some evidence that prices may now be a matter of fact, over the last 3 years, ment. Everybody should understand easing. we have gone to the President’s num- that it is not really the Bush plan. Ev- More important, I have discussed this bers, and we have gone back to CBO’s erybody should understand that Bush issue with the chief executive officers numbers because we are trying to find will do his own plan. He will do his own of several major U.S. oil companies, out which is more apt to be right. So plan on taxes, and he told us what it and none could promise that any of there is nothing precise about this. One probably will be. He will do his own these savings would be passed on to is entitled—just as President Clinton budget. It is very important we under- consumers. Market forces—supply and did when he ran for office—to use his stand that. It won’t be this budget be- demand—dictate how much, if any, of a own economic experts as he puts his cause we have to work off a President’s fuel tax cut would be seen at the pump. plan together. budget with increases of the type I just For California, repealing more than 9 Mr. DURBIN. Is the Senator saying, explained to you. He will have his own cents of the federal gasoline tax merely then, that Presidential candidate budget to work off of. I believe he triggers an automatic increase in the George W. Bush is using assumptions didn’t start his tax cut until one year state gasoline tax. Under the California that come from neither the CBO or later because he wanted the oppor- tax code, if the federal gas tax drops OMB, but much more optimistic ones tunity to work on a budget and a fiscal below 9 cents per gallon and if Federal to justify his massive tax cut? plan for this Nation along with a tax Highway Trust Fund payments to Cali- Mr. DOMENICI. Absolutely, except plan. fornia are reduced accordingly, the they are not markedly different, but At some point in time, we will either state tax goes up. they are different. There is only one have a vote in relationship to the Dur- In other words, if all federal fuel Bush plan, as far as the Senator from bin amendment, or we will have a sec- taxes are eliminated and funding for New Mexico knows. It is December 1, ond-degree amendment to it. If he in- the highway trust fund is therefore re- 1999. I have a copy of it in front of me. sists later on, he can have a vote on duced, the overall tax will remain the What has been offered in the Senate is his. That is ultimately the way the same in California and Californians not the Bush plan. Nonetheless, I don’t rules work. want to argue that exclusively. I can With that, I yield the floor. hurt by high gasoline prices will not let everybody know that it isn’t the Mr. REID. Mr. President, I suggest benefit. Bush plan. the absence of a quorum. I am also concerned that repeal of I think what is more important is The PRESIDING OFFICER. The the federal fuel tax may endanger the that soon-to-be-President Bush is enti- clerk will call the roll. Highway Trust Fund and imperil im- tled to put a budget and a tax plan to- The assistant legislative clerk pro- portant highway projects. The highway gether, and he is entitled to use his ceeded to call the roll. trust fund, which is funded by the fed- best economic advisers. Let me suggest Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unan- eral fuel tax, provides about half a bil- something. I honestly believe that if imous consent that the order for the lion dollars a year for California, George W. Bush were the President in- quorum call be rescinded. money which is used to seismically ret- The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without stead of Bill Clinton being the Presi- rofit bridges to protect them against objection, it is so ordered. dent, there would be a couple of huge earthquakes; replace the I–80, which Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unan- changes this year that would make it a was destroyed by the 1992 earthquake; imous consent that the time charged to lot easier to achieve the Bush tax plan. repair potholes; and otherwise main- the quorum call I will soon initiate be First of all, we would not have a tain our roads and bridges. charged equally to both sides under President recommending that domestic The bottom line is that the current this amendment. spike in gas prices is due to a supply spending grow at 14 percent a year. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without That is what we are fighting with squeeze: There is simply not enough oil objection, it is so ordered. in the market to meet demand. Al- here—not with a President who is try- Mr. REID. Mr. President, I suggest though I was pleased that members of ing to have small Government so he the absence of a quorum. OPEC, as well as Norway, Mexico, and could give some relief to the taxpayers. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Venezuela, have agreed to increase pro- We are arguing with a President who clerk will call the roll. has the largest increase in discre- The senior assistant bill clerk pro- duction somewhat, it is still unclear if tionary spending since the Jimmy Car- ceeded to call the roll. these production increases will be suf- ter years. That is a lot, when you can Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unan- ficient to meet demand over the next beat one of those years with inflation imous consent that the order for the several months. in double digits. This year it is 14 per- quorum call be rescinded. For that reason, I think it is impor- cent. That is what he is asking for. We The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without tant to underscore that just as I do not have to compete with that in our budg- objection, it is so ordered. feel we should repeal the federal fuel ets. We can’t just do what a Republican Mr. REID. Mr. President, I yield all tax now, I do not believe we should pre- President, who isn’t elected yet, would of our time on the amendment. cipitously foreclose our options. recommend as to how we spend money. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Alongside initiatives to increase fuel As a matter of fact, I have already Chair would like to announce that efficiency and develop alternate said that I believe this budget resolu- there will be two minutes equally di- sources, suspension or repeal of a por- tion is kind of a holding budget resolu- vided on the Byrd-Warner amendment tion of the federal fuel tax in a way tion because I believe either man— at 10:30. that benefits the consumer and does Bush or Gore—when elected, will ask AMENDMENT NO. 2943 not harm highway spending may be us to dramatically change this budget. The PRESIDING OFFICER. There necessary later if this crisis does not I know George W. Bush will because he are 2 minutes equally divided on the ease, and I intend to continue keeping will find ways to consolidate and Byrd-Warner amendment. a close eye on this issue.

VerDate Mar 15 2010 22:44 Dec 04, 2013 Jkt 081600 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\2000SENATE\S06AP0.REC S06AP0 mmaher on DSKCGSP4G1 with SOCIALSECURITY S2274 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE April 6, 2000 Mr. BYRD. Mr. President, 2 years ago [Rollcall Vote No. 57 Leg.] than anyone the threat that is posed by Congress enacted landmark transpor- YEAS—65 reckless proposals to alter the funding tation legislation, the Transportation Akaka Edwards Levin stream to the Trust Fund. They know Equity Act for the 21st Century. In Allard Enzi Lieberman better than anyone that monkeying that legislation we restored the trust Ashcroft Feingold Lincoln around with the funding stream to the Baucus Feinstein Mikulski Trust Fund poses great danger to our to the highway trust fund and we set Bayh Frist Moynihan forth highway funding levels that Bennett Graham Murray ability to provide our states, counties State and local governments could ex- Bingaman Grassley Reed and cities with a consistent, predict- Bond Hagel Reid able and growing allocation of federal pect to receive over the 6-year life of Boxer Harkin Robb TEA–21. Breaux Helms dollars for the repair and expansion of Roberts There are efforts now to reduce the Bryan Hollings their highways and bridges. Burns Hutchinson Rockefeller During the debate over the Transpor- gas tax revenues going into the high- Sarbanes Byrd Inouye tation Equity Act for the 21st Century, way trust fund, thereby endangering Chafee, L. Jeffords Schumer Stevens Senator JOHN WARNER served as the the promises we have made regarding Cleland Johnson Conrad Kennedy Thomas Chairman of the Surface Transpor- funding levels for the Nation’s high- Thompson Daschle Kerrey tation Subcommittee. Senator MAX ways and bridges. DeWine Kerry Torricelli BAUCUS served as the Ranking Member This amendment puts the Senate on Dodd Kohl Voinovich Domenici Landrieu Warner of that subcommittee as well as the record in opposition to any efforts to Dorgan Lautenberg Wellstone full Environment and Public Works repeal or to reduce gas tax revenues, Durbin Leahy Wyden Committee. It would be impossible to either temporarily or permanently. In NAYS—35 overemphasize the contributions those adopting this amendment, the Senate Abraham Gramm Murkowski two Senators made to that landmark will confirm the position that it took Biden Grams Nickles legislation. Senator WARNER PER- in enacting TEA–21, that all gas tax Brownback Gregg Roth MANENTLY ALTERED THE LONG-STANDING revenues should go to the States for Bunning Hatch Santorum Campbell Hutchison DEBATE OVER SO-CALLED ‘‘DONOR’’ critical transportation infrastructure Sessions Cochran Inhofe Shelby STATES BY GUARANTEEING EACH STATE A needs and that we meant it when we Collins Kyl Smith (NH) FAIR RETURN ON ITS INVESTMENT TO THE said we were restoring the ‘‘trust’’ to Coverdell Lott Smith (OR) Craig Lugar TRUST FUND. SENATOR BAUCUS saw to it Snowe the highway trust fund. Crapo Mack that the legislation recognized the Specter I yield the floor. Fitzgerald McCain unique circumstances of the rural Gorton Thurmond The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- McConnell Western states, those states with rel- ator from Virginia. The amendment was agreed to. atively few citizens but a great many The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, again I miles of highway. When Senator ator from Idaho is recognized. commend the distinguished Senator GRAMM of Texas and I developed an from West Virginia for his leadership CHANGE OF VOTE amendment to assure that the 4.3 cent on this issue—not only this particular Mr. CRAPO. Mr. President, on roll- gas tax would be fully spent on high- measure before the Senate, but it goes call vote No. 57, I voted ‘‘aye.’’ It was way construction, we were just two all the way back to when I was privi- my intention to vote ‘‘nay.’’ Therefore, non-Committee members with a good leged to be bringing to the floor the I ask unanimous consent that I be re- idea. When Senators WARNER and BAU- ISTEA, TEA–21 legislation. Then, in corded as a ‘‘nay.’’ This would not af- CUS agreed to join as original cospon- the course of that deliberation, we fect the outcome of the vote. sors and lend their prestige and exper- took the 4.3 cents out of the general The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without tise to our amendment, our good idea revenue and put it in the highway trust objection, it is so ordered. became a genuine movement that gar- fund for the express purpose to improve (The foregoing tally has been nered 54 co-sponsors and would eventu- our Nation’s highways. changed to reflect the above order.) ally result in our adding close to $26 Mr. WARNER. I move to reconsider billion in guaranteed spending to the I commend the leadership. the vote. highway bill. I also express my gratitude to the Mr. DOMENICI. I move to lay that Senator VOINOVICH was not in the myriad organizations, from the Na- motion on the table. Senate during the debate over TEA–21. tional Governors’ Association, the The motion to lay on the table was He was, however, one of the most out- League of Cities and Communities, and agreed to. spoken governors on the importance of hundreds of others that have worked so Mr. BYRD. Mr. President, I want to adequate transportation funding. He hard to keep the Congress well in- take a moment to thank the 64 Sen- has been diligently attentive to trans- formed about the needs of our infra- ators who joined this morning in mak- portation issues since he assumed the structure, of transportation. ing an affirmative statement in opposi- Chairmanship of the Surface Transpor- I wish to add one word, and that is tion to any reduction in the gasoline tation Subcommittee from Senator ‘‘stability.’’ This Nation must have tax. The vote this morning on WARNER. I appreciate very much his stability in the funding to make this the Byrd-Warner-Baucus-Voinovich- leadership in this area. program successful. Lautenberg-Bond amendment rep- Senator LAUTENBERG, like Senator BOND, has the unique role of serving on The PRESIDING OFFICER. All time resented a defining victory for those both the Environment and Public has expired. Senators that want to keep the ‘‘trust’’ in the Highway Trust Fund and assure Works Committee and the Transpor- Mr. BYRD. Mr. President, I ask for that every penny of highway spending tation Appropriations Subcommittee. the yeas and nays. is backed up by fuel taxes deposited Indeed, Senator LAUTENBERG has The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there a into that Trust Fund. It was a defeat served either as the Chairman or the sufficient second? for any effort to reduce the gas tax or Ranking Member of that subcommittee There is a sufficient second. substitute gas tax revenues with gen- for more than a dozen years. As such, The question is on agreeing to eral revenues in the distribution of fed- his name is always at the center of amendment No. 2943. The clerk will eral highway funds. every transportation debate. He rep- call the roll. I especially want to thank the origi- resents the most congested state in the nal cosponsors of my amendment who nation and, as such, has been a na- The senior assistant bill clerk called joined with me to protect the Highway tional leader in protecting and expand- the roll. Trust Fund. It is no coincidence that ing our nation’s rail and transit sys- The PRESIDING OFFICER. Are there all of these original cosponsors are tems. Senator BOND should be credited any other Senators in the Chamber members of the Environment and Pub- for his longstanding efforts at stream- who desire to vote?–– lic Works Committee that has jurisdic- lining the environmental review proc- The result was announced—yeas 65, tion over the Trust Fund. They are the esses that govern our highway con- nays 35, as follows: experts in this area. They know better struction enterprise. As a Senator from

VerDate Mar 15 2010 22:44 Dec 04, 2013 Jkt 081600 PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\2000SENATE\S06AP0.REC S06AP0 mmaher on DSKCGSP4G1 with SOCIALSECURITY April 6, 2000 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S2275 a mountainous state that is sorely in vey estimates that 5.2 billion barrels of tion could take over the next year that need of improved highways, I applaud oil would be ‘‘economically recover- would go a long way toward curing our his efforts at ensuring that our high- able’’ from the refuge for the rest of its OPEC addiction. ways can be built more expeditiously life. Compared against projections of The solution, I would argue to my but in an environmentally friendly the potential for an aggressive program colleagues, is nurturing alternative en- manner. to produce biomass ethanol to displace ergy sources and improving our energy Mr. President, our victory this morn- oil—2.5 million barrels per day by 2030 efficiency. First, we should invest more ing was the result of the leadership of and over 3 million per day in 2035—the in exploring the power potential of these fine Senators as well as the ef- oil promise of the Refuge is minuscule. wind and geothermal energy, fuel cells, forts of our other cosponsors—Senators The Refuge would probably never meet and organic materials, and developing ROBB, BINGAMAN, REID, LINCOLN, and more than a negligible percentage of long-range strategies for harnessing others. It was a victory for every our Nation’s energy needs at any given these renewable energy sources. We American that drives on our nation’s time. have made a good start this year by highways. It was a victory for the in- In exchange for this minimal return, passing legislation sponsored by Sen- tegrity of the Highway Trust Fund. It we would threaten one of the most ator LUGAR to spur more research into was a defeat for any proposal to de-link unique animal and plant habitats in harvesting energy from common crops. our federal highway spending from the the world. Consider the fate of the Por- I hope we will build on that progress by level of gas tax revenues. cupine Caribou Herd, for which the adopting the President’s budget rec- ommendation of increased funding for AMENDMENT NO. 2955 Coastal Plain within the refuge is an The PRESIDING OFFICER. There important calving ground. An Environ- research, development, and deployment are now 2 minutes, equally divided be- mental Impact Statement issued by of renewable energy technologies by 30 tween the Senator from Delaware and the Interior Department in 1995 shows percent. Second, we should take stock the Senator from Alaska. that development of ANWR will likely of the domestic energy market and Mr. LIEBERMAN. Mr. President, I have significant negative effects on the evaluate national and individual con- rise today to join the distinguished PCH, displacing them to areas of high- sumer decisions affecting our own en- Senator from Delaware in voicing my er predator density, reducing the ergy supply and efficiency. In some strenuous objections to opening the amount and quality of forage species areas the results are encouraging. As Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil available during calving, and restrict- the President has noted, conservation exploration, and in urging our col- ing the animals’ access to areas where measures taken by U.S. businesses leagues not to sacrifice this natural they can get relief from insects. Ex- have significantly improved the effi- wonder at the altar of short-term eco- perts predict similar risks await polar ciency of the overall economy. During nomic expediency. bears, muskoxen, brown bears, snow the crisis of the 1970s, nearly nine per- cent of our GDP was spent on oil, com- I recognize that ANWR is once again geese, wolves, seals, and whales. a tempting target at this moment of That is if all goes well with the drill- pared with only three percent today. record high oil and gasoline prices and ing, which is not a safe assumption. But we can and should do better. The promise of this approach was low consumer patience. Proponents of Data from the Alaska Department of spelled out in detail by leading experts drilling, as they have many times be- Conservation show that the Trans- at a recent hearing held by the Senate fore, hold out the promise of a quick Alaska and Prudhoe Bay oil fields have Governmental Affairs Committee. To fix to this recent price spike and a caused an average of 427 spills annually cite just one example, Dr. John long-term solution to our dependence since 1996. The most common spills in- Holdren, the Director of the Program on foreign oil. They go so far as to por- volve crude and diesel oil, but more on Science, Technology, and Public tray the refuge as a kind of energy se- than 40 substances, from acid to waste Policy at Harvard University’s Ken- curity blanket that will protect us oil, could be released. What is more, nedy School of Government, and Chair- from the whims of foreign producers. current oil operations in Alaska’s man of the President’s Committee of But appealing as that sounds, the North Slope emits about 56,427 tons of Advisors on Science and Technology, truth remains that ANWR is not the nitrous oxides, which contribute to stated that if the U.S. increases its ef- answer to our current oil woes. Open- smog and acid rain, and about 24,000 ficiency by 2.2 percent per year, it ing this pristine place of wilderness to tons of methane, a greenhouse gas, per could reduce its dependence on oil by drilling will not bring down gas prices year. Drilling for more oil in ANWR more than 50 percent, approximately months or years from now, let alone in thus compounds the serious problem of 5.5 million barrels of oil per day. This the immediate future. And it will not global climate change, generating goal is more than realistic, for as Dr. yield anywhere near the amount of methane emissions in addition to the Holdren noted, the U.S. decreased its crude needed to successfully wean us carbon dioxide emissions that result energy intensity by 1.7 percent from from our addiction to OPEC in years to from increased dependence on oil re- 1972 to 1979 and by 3.2 percent from 1979 come. What it will do, we know from sources. to 1982. plenty of analysis and experience, is It is this lopsided tradeoff—uncertain In short, we don’t have to defile the immeasurable and irreversible damage dividends for likely devastation—that Alaskan wilderness to declare our en- to one of the last pure preserves of its has generated cries of outrage from ergy independence. Assaulting ANWR kind in the world and one of G-d’s most practically every environmental group is bad energy policy, it’s even worse en- awesome creations. That is the real every time Congress has attempted to vironmental policy, and it’s simply not price at issue here, and it is far too open ANWR to drilling, generated sev- necessary to help the American con- high to pay for the modest benefit it eral veto threats from President Clin- sumer and protect our economy. For will bring to our domestic oil supply ton, and prompted editorials in news- that reason, I implore my colleagues to and to those who produce it. papers from Seattle to Tampa to Des once again stand as firm as the tundra I would suggest to my colleagues Moines to Atlanta questioning the wis- and uphold the ban on drilling in the that ‘‘modest’’ is a generous character- dom of such a move. It was not right Arctic Refuge. ization. The fact is that we have no then, it’s not right now, and it won’t be Mr. GRAMS. Mr. President, I want to guarantees about the potential recov- right come the next price spike. take just a few minutes to address the ery of oil in ANWR. More than 20 dif- Nor is it right to mislead the public assumption in the budget of oil leasing ferent independent and federal studies into thinking a quick fix exists. The re- revenues from activities within the have been completed on the amount of ality is we don’t have any easy answers Section 1002 area of Alaska. oil in ANWR, and estimates vary wild- to our foreign oil addiction. There is no First, however, I think it’s important ly. One of those, completed during the untapped domestic oil oasis out there to understand just a few of the facts Reagan Administration, determined that will end our dependence on foreign surrounding the current state of the that there was only a one in five oil and minimize our vulnerability to Clinton energy policy. In 1977, the Car- chance of finding any commercially re- fluctuations of the global market. But ter Administration and Congress re- coverable oil at all. More recently, an that is not to say we are helpless. In sponded to the energy crisis by cre- assessment by the U.S. Geological Sur- fact, there are several steps we as a na- ating the Department of Energy and

VerDate Mar 15 2010 22:44 Dec 04, 2013 Jkt 081600 PO 00000 Frm 00007 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\2000SENATE\S06AP0.REC S06AP0 mmaher on DSKCGSP4G1 with SOCIALSECURITY S2276 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE April 6, 2000 charging it with increasing U.S. energy that tax credit to electricity generated velop domestic oil and gas reserves, or security and reducing our reliance on from poultry waste. I have written let- do we ask other nations to produce oil foreign oil. In the early 1970’s, our Na- ters in each of the past two years to for us without similar environmental tion relied upon foreign oil to meet Senate appropriators supporting sig- safeguards? Do we keep American jobs roughly 35 percent of our needs. Today, nificant increases in renewable energy and investments inside our borders, or after investing billions of dollars into programs, and I was one of 39 Senators do we ship our jobs and industries to the Department of Energy, our Nation to vote in support of a $75 million in- foreign nations? Do we increase our en- is now reliant upon foreign oil to meet crease for renewable energy programs ergy and national security while we almost 60 percent of our needs. That re- last year. I wrote to President Clinton have a chance to do so, or do we run liance will increase to 65 percent by this year asking him to include more around the world begging friend and 2020. money for renewable energy programs foe alike to ‘‘feel our pain’’ every time Those numbers are real, they’re tan- in his budget. However, I know that we have an oil supply disruption? For gible, and everyone has been able to see simply calling for increased funding for me, the answer is simple. it happening. The Clinton Administra- renewable energy can’t even approach This budget resolution assumes that tion has had seven years to respond to the loss of generation in hydropower, we’re going to move forward to develop our growing reliance on foreign oil and nuclear, coal, and other sources that oil and gas reserves in the Section 1002 to increase our domestic energy secu- this Administration has pursued area of Alaska—our nation’s most rity. So you might ask, what have they through its energy policies. promising deposit of recoverable oil done to improve the situation? I regret I think it’s clear that, since coming and gas. In 1998, the U.S. Geological to say they’ve done very little. Since to Washington in 1993, this Administra- Survey produced an assessment of esti- 1992, U.S. oil production has decreased tion has been asleep at the wheel in de- mated in-place oil resources reaffirm- ing previous studies that showed the by 17 percent while at the same time veloping a coherent energy policy. tremendous potential of the Section our energy consumption has increased They’re more interested in pursuing 1002 area. In fact, it showed that Sec- by 14 percent. In 1990, U.S. jobs in oil the limited agenda of a few interest tion 1002 contains as much as 16 billion and gas exploration and production groups than in planning for the energy were roughly 405,000 today those jobs barrels of recoverable oil—enough to needs of a growing economy. offset 30 years worth of Saudi Arabian have been reduced to roughly 290,000, a Instead of strapping on the same imports. Clearly, this area has great 27 percent decline. And in 1990, the U.S. blinders that narrowly guide the Clin- potential for easing the growing vul- was home to 657 working oil rigs. ton Administration, I believe Congress nerability we have to oil supply disrup- Today, there are only 153 working oil must put all of our options on the table tions abroad. rigs scattered across the Nation a 77 and begin to plan for the long-term en- I think it is important to note that percent decline. ergy needs of our nation’s consumers. we’re not talking about turning the Likewise, since coming to office, One of those options is clearly the Section 1002 area over to oil companies President Clinton has known that the topic we’re discussing today, our na- and then walking away forever. If we’re U.S. Department of Energy was obli- tion’s tremendous oil reserves in the going to allow oil and gas exploration gated by contract to pick up and re- Section 1002 area of Alaska. and production, it will be done in an move spent nuclear fuel from civilian Mr. President, history shows that for environmentally sound manner and nuclear reactors across the country. In two decades, Congress has placed spe- with due consideration to the needs of my home state of Minnesota, the De- cial consideration upon this area be- fish and wildlife populations. Senator partment’s failure to remove nuclear cause of its potential for significant oil MURKOWSKI has introduced legislation fuel could force the shutdown of two and gas reserves. In 1980, Congress that accomplishes those very goals. S. nuclear reactors and the loss of 20 per- passed the Alaska National Interest 2214—The Arctic Coastal Plain Domes- cent of Minnesota’s generation capac- Lands Conservation Act—or ANILCA. tic Energy Security Act—contains a ity. Again, not only has this Adminis- In addition to setting aside over 100 number of provisions to protect the en- tration failed to respond, I believe million acres of Alaska for National vironment. The bill directs the Sec- they’ve made the situation even worse Parks, Refuges, and Wilderness, the retary of Interior to issue regulations by rejecting legislation that has passed ANILCA legislation specifically left that protect fish and wildlife, their both Houses of Congress with over- open the future management of a 1.5 habitat, subsistence resources, and the whelming, bipartisan majorities. Those million-acre area on the coastal plain environment of the Coastal Plain of bills would have not only moved waste of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Alaska. The bill provides the Secretary from states, thereby fulfilling the De- The legislation also required the De- with the authority to close areas of the partment’s obligation, they would have partment of Interior to undertake geo- Coastal Plain, on a seasonal basis, to helped ensure the continued use of logical and biological studies of the protect caribou calving and other fish emissions-free nuclear power well into Section 1002 area and report back to and wildlife species. The bill would also the future. Congress. require those obtaining federal leases As if that weren’t enough, the Clin- After more than five years of con- to comply with federal and state envi- ton Administration has taken a very ducting these studies, the Department ronmental laws, reclaim leased lands hostile approach to coal-fired genera- of Interior, in 1987, recommended to to the condition in which they were tion, they’ve termed hydropower a non- Congress that the Section 1002 area be found, and ensure the protection of renewable resource and are now work- made available for oil and gas explo- fish, wildlife, and the environment. To ing to breach dams in the Northwest, ration and production, and that it be ensure these actions are done, the Sec- and they’ve closed vast areas of land to done in an environmentally sound retary will require bonds to any lands exploration for natural gas reserves. manner. and surface waters affected and con- When confronted with the truth Congress has responded to this rec- duct semi-annual inspections of every about high oil costs and increasing re- ommendation a number of times since facility to ensure compliance with all liance on foreign oil, the only thing receiving it from the Department of In- environmental regulations. this Administration can say is that terior. In fact, both Houses of Congress To my colleagues who oppose explo- they support renewable energy sources. passed an authorization for oil and gas ration of the Section 1002 area, do you Well, I too, am a strong supporter of leasing in the Section 1002 area as part think other nations on whom we rely renewable energy technologies. I’ve of the 1995 budget reconciliation legis- for our oil supplies are employing simi- been a strong proponent of the develop- lation, but it was eventually vetoed by lar protections? Do you think Iran, ment and promotion of ethanol and President Clinton. Libya, or Iraq are going the extra mile biodiesel as a means of reducing our re- Today, as a result of increasing to protect wildlife? Do you think the liance on foreign oil and improving the prices for oil and decreasing domestic OPEC nations are holding themselves environment. I was a cosponsor of leg- oil and gas production, we find our- to these stringent environmental islation signed into law last year ex- selves again debating some decades-old standards? We all know the answer is tending the tax credit for electricity questions. Do we move forward in an an emphatic NO. Yet this Administra- generated from wind and expanding environmentally sound manner to de- tion is opposing any exploration of the

VerDate Mar 15 2010 22:44 Dec 04, 2013 Jkt 081600 PO 00000 Frm 00008 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\2000SENATE\S06AP0.REC S06AP0 mmaher on DSKCGSP4G1 with SOCIALSECURITY April 6, 2000 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S2277 Section 1002 area for environmental it. Drilling in a refuge is not only un- at the end of April, at this time we do not reasons, while at the same time beg- necessary; it is destructive. have subsequent plans to export. ging Iran, Iraq, Libya and others to in- Please support the Roth-Boxer We applaud the Administration and the amendment. Congress for its wisdom to permit the mar- crease their production for us. I ask my ket to work and to remove an historical pen- colleagues, who are the real environ- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- alty imposed on Alaska North Slope oil. The mentalists here? Certainly not the ator from Alaska, Mr. STEVENS, is rec- West Coast is part of the global crude mar- Clinton Administration. It’s clear to ognized. ket. The ultimate destination of Alaskan me that this Administration’s policy Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I re- crude has no effect on either West Coast sup- against exploration in the Section 1002 gret to do this, but my colleague from ply or gasoline prices. Once our acquisition area, when compared against its policy Delaware is wrong. I was there. Presi- of ARCO is complete, we would expect to run of begging for increased oil production dent Eisenhower set aside an arctic all of our Alaska crude through ARCO’s ex- cellent West Coast refining and marketing abroad, is a net loss for American jobs, wildlife range that was open to oil and gas exploration. It was not until 1980 network. family checkbooks, domestic energy Sincerely, security, and the environment. that it was designated an area subject LARRY D. BURTON. to oil and gas exploration. An environ- Mr. President, I urge my colleagues The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- mental impact statement was provided to take a hard look at the intellectual ator’s time has expired. dishonesty of refusing to explore our by the Congress. It was not set aside by Mr. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, I domestic oil and gas reserves for envi- President Eisenhower or anybody as move to table the amendment and ask ronmental reasons, while asking other wilderness yet. for the yeas and nays. nations to find and produce more oil The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there a with significantly fewer environmental ator from Alaska, Mr. MURKOWSKI, is sufficient second? protections than we require. I support recognized. There is a sufficient second. the inclusion of this assumption in the Mr. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, we The question is on the motion to budget resolution and I hope we vote to have had this issue in the budget pack- table amendment No. 2955. The clerk maintain it. age before. Make no mistake, if the will call the roll. Thank you, Mr. President. amendment of the Senator from Dela- The legislative clerk called the roll. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- ware is adopted, the Senate will go on The PRESIDING OFFICER. Are there ator from New Mexico is recognized. record in support of a failed energy pol- any other Senators in the Chamber de- Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, there icy that rewards the price fixers in siring to vote? will be 2 minutes of debate, and then OPEC and the military ambitions of The result was announced—yeas 51, we will have another vote. Votes don’t Saddam Hussein. nays 49, as follows: count against this time. So if you take The Department of Commerce has in- [Rollcall Vote No. 58 Leg.] 20, 30 minutes on a vote, we just have dicated that our 56-percent reliance on YEAS—51 foreign oil threatens the national secu- to add that much more to the resolu- Abraham Enzi McCain tion because we are not counting vote rity. One out of two barrels is im- Akaka Frist McConnell time under the statute. I hope you will ported. Our growing dependence on im- Allard Gorton Moynihan stay around and vote shortly, after the ported oil will mean 30 giant super- Ashcroft Gramm Murkowski Bennett Grams Nickles debate is completed. tankers loaded with 500,000 barrels of Bond Grassley Roberts I yield the floor. crude oil will dock in this country Breaux Gregg Santorum The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- every single day of the year. That is Brownback Hagel Sessions ator from Delaware is recognized. more than 10,000 ships a year. That is Bunning Hatch Shelby Burns Helms Smith (OR) Mr. ROTH. Mr. President, my amend- surely an environmental disaster wait- Campbell Hutchinson Specter ment would simply protect the Arctic ing to happen. Cochran Hutchison Stevens National Wildlife Refuge from oil drill- America has the highest environ- Coverdell Inhofe Thomas ing. Following in the footsteps of con- mental standards and laws in the Craig Inouye Thompson Crapo Kyl Thurmond servationist President Theodore Roo- world. By increasing energy imports, DeWine Lott Voinovich sevelt, President Dwight Eisenhower we are simply exporting environmental Domenici Mack Warner set aside this Arctic wilderness area for problems to other countries. NAYS—49 Former Senator Mark Hatfield said, all time and all generations. Baucus Feinstein Lugar While my amendment protects a wil- ‘‘I would vote to open up that small Bayh Fitzgerald Mikulski derness, it also protects a legacy. It is sliver of ANWR any day, rather than Biden Graham Murray a legacy forged of foresight and con- send American boys overseas to risk Bingaman Harkin Reed Boxer Hollings servation that has been handed down their lives in a war over oil.’’ Reid Bryan Jeffords Robb from generation to generation. I hope Mr. President, yesterday the issue of Byrd Johnson Rockefeller we will pass this legacy on today to fu- exports of Alaskan oil came up on the Chafee, L. Kennedy Roth Cleland Kerrey floor. I indicated at that time that Sarbanes ture generations—just as we have re- Collins Kerry Schumer ceived it from past ones. My amend- when export contracts are completed Conrad Kohl Smith (NH) ment will insure that we do. this April, British Petroleum has as- Daschle Landrieu Snowe This is not a partisan debate. The sured me that it will cease exports of Dodd Lautenberg Dorgan Leahy Torricelli President I have named were both Re- Alaska crude. Durbin Levin Wellstone publicans. I am joined in support of my I have a letter dated March 23, 2000, Edwards Lieberman Wyden amendment by many Democrats. To- from BP’s Vice President for U.S. Gov- Feingold Lincoln gether, both parties have a stake in ernment Affairs, Larry Burton, reit- Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, I this wilderness area. I hope today that erating BP’s pledge on exports. I ask move to reconsider the vote. both parties will join hands in pro- unanimous consent that a copy of the Mr. MURKOWSKI. I move to lay that tecting it. I urge my colleagues to sup- letter be printed in the RECORD. motion on the table. port my amendment. There being no objection, the letter The motion to lay on the table was I yield the remainder of my time to was ordered to be printed in the agreed to. the Senator from California. RECORD, as follows: AMENDMENT NO. 2953 Mrs. BOXER. I thank my colleague. BP AMOCO CORP., The PRESIDING OFFICER. The This is truly a bipartisan effort. As Washington, DC, March 23, 2000. question is on agreeing to the Durbin this budget stands, it is the most Hon. FRANK H. MURKOWSKI, amendment. There are 32 minutes in antienvironmental budget in history Chairman, Committee on Energy and Natural opposition. because it is the first time any budget Resources, Dirksen Senate Office Building, Washington, DC. Mr. GRAMM addressed the Chair. resolution has called for drilling in a DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: I would like to re- Mr. DOMENICI. I yield to the Sen- wildlife refuge. We know that when spond to your inquiry regarding BP Amoco’s ator from Texas. President Eisenhower declared this a plans concerning Alaska North Slope oil ex- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- refuge, he never envisioned drilling in ports. Pending completion of contracts due ator from Texas.

VerDate Mar 15 2010 22:44 Dec 04, 2013 Jkt 081600 PO 00000 Frm 00009 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\2000SENATE\S06AP0.REC S06AP0 mmaher on DSKCGSP4G1 with SOCIALSECURITY S2278 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE April 6, 2000 Mr. GRAMM. Mr. President, I yield On page 26, line 15, increase the amount by tunity next year to vote on it. I look the remaining time on the Durbin $1. forward to having that opportunity. I amendment. On page 26, line 19, increase the amount by intend to vote for it when it is offered $1. by then-President George Bush. I hope AMENDMENT NO. 2973 TO AMENDMENT NO. 2953 On page 26, line 23, increase the amount by (Purpose: To express the sense of the Senate $1. and believe it will pass the Senate by on proposals ‘‘to accomplish the strategic NET INTEREST OUTLAYS an overwhelming margin. goal of completely eliminating the inter- On page 26, line 4, increase the amount by But let me try, if I might, to explain nal combustion engine over, say, a $0. the dilemma we have in terms of trying twenety-five year period’’) On page 26, line 8, increase the amount by to do the Bush tax cut now, as if this Mr. GRAMM. Mr. President, I send $1. were a serious proposal. Then I want to an amendment to the desk and ask for On page 26, line 12, increase the amount by discuss my substitute. its immediate consideration. $1. Quite aside from the fact the years The PRESIDING OFFICER. The On page 26, line 16, increase the amount by do not actually match up because if clerk will report. $1. George Bush is elected President, he The legislative clerk read as follows: On page 26, line 20, increase the amount by $1. will take the oath on January 20 of The Senator from Texas [Mr. GRAMM] pro- On page 26, line 24, increase the amount by next year, and therefore his tax cut poses an amendment numbered 2973 to $1. would begin in fiscal year 2002 in all amendment No. 2953. PUBLIC DEBT probability, but let me explain the Mr. GRAMM. Mr. President, I ask On page 5, line 22, increase the amount by problem. I am grateful for the oppor- unanimous consent that reading of the $0. tunity because it tells a story that mi- amendment be dispensed with. On page 5, line 22, increase the amount by raculously the general public does not The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without $1. appear to understand; that is, why objection, it is so ordered. On page 5, line 24, increase the amount by can’t we have Clinton’s budget and The amendment is as follows: $1. George Bush’s tax cut? On page 5, line 25, increase the amount by The reason we cannot—it is an old FEDERAL REVENUE TOTALS $1. On page 4, line 3, decrease the amount by On page 6, line 1, increase the amount by fact of life—you can’t have your cake $0. $1. and eat it too. President Clinton has On page 4, line 4, decrease the amount by On page 6, line 2, increase the amount by proposed a budget that, in the 5 years $1. $1. from 2002 through 2006, would spend, On page 4, line 5, decrease the amount by DEBT HELD BY THE PUBLIC relative to what we are spending now, $1. On page 6, line 5, increase the amount by an additional $494 billion. For the years On page 4, line 6, decrease the amount by $0. that this tax cut amendment would be $1. On page 6, line 6, increase the amount by in force, the President’s budget that On page 4, line 7, decrease the amount by $1. $1. was submitted this year, if enacted, On page 6, line 7, increase the amount by would raise spending by $494 billion. On page 4, line 8, decrease the amount by $1. $1. On page 6, line 8, increase the amount by During that same period, the Bush FEDERAL REVENUE CHANGES $1. tax cut, if adopted, would reduce taxes On page 4, line 12, increase the amount by On page 6, line 9, increase the amount by by $483 billion. That gives rise to two $0. $1. points. First of all, we cannot increase On page 4, line 13, increase the amount by On page 6, line 10, increase the amount by spending on some 80 new programs and $1. $1. program expansions which President On page 4, line 14, increase the amount by TAX CUT Clinton has proposed, increasing spend- $1. On page 29, line 3, increase the amount by ing by half a trillion dollars in 5 On page 4, line 15, increase the amount by $1. $1. years—we cannot have the Government On page 29, line 4, increase the amount by spend all that money and at the same On page 4, line 16, increase the amount by $1. $1. time give it back to working families On page 4, line 17, increase the amount by DEFICIT INCREASE so they can spend it. We cannot do $1. On page 5, line 14, increase the amount by $0. both. We are going to have to choose. NEW BUDGET AUTHORITY On page 5, line 15, increase the amount by The question we are all going to have On page 4, line 21, increase the amount by $1. to answer—and by ‘‘all’’ I do not mean $0. On page 5, line 16, increase the amount by just 100 Members of the Senate; I mean On page 4, line 22, increase the amount by $1. every voter in America—the question $1. On page 5, line 17, increase the amount by we are going to have to answer is: Do On page 4, line 23, increase the amount by $1. we want these 80 new programs and $1. On page 5, line 18, increase the amount by On page 4, line 24, increase the amount by program expansions so we can spend in $1. Washington another $500 billion over $1. On page 5, line 19, increase the amount by On page 4, line 25, increase the amount by $1; the first 5 years of the new Presidency, $1. or would we rather eliminate the mar- and insert the following: On page 5, line 1, increase the amount by riage penalty? $1. SEC. . SENSE OF THE SENATE ON THE INTER- NAL COMBUSTION ENGINE. Today, Americans meet, fall in love BUDGET OUTLAYS It is the sense of the Senate that the levels and get married and they discover they On page 5, line 6, increase the amount by in this resolution assume that the Senate end up paying about $1,200 of additional $0. will not, on behalf of Vice President Al Gore, taxes for the right to be married. Let On page 5, line 7, increase the amount by increase gasoline and diesel fuel taxes by $1. me make it clear. My wife is worth $1.50 per gallon effective July 1, 2000, and by On page 5, line 8, increase the amount by $1,200—a bargain at the price. But it an additional $1.50 per gallon effective fiscal $1. seems to me she ought to get the year 2005, as part of ‘‘a coordinated global On page 5, line 9, increase the amount by money and not the Federal Govern- program to accomplish the strategic goal of $1. completely eliminating the internal combus- ment. On page 5, line 10, increase the amount by tion engine over, say, a twenty-five year pe- How can it make sense in America, if $1. riod’’ since ‘‘their cumulative impact on the you have a janitor with three children On page 5, line 11, increase the amount by global environment is posing a mortal threat and a waitress with two children, they $1. to the security of every nation that is more meet, their dreams come true, they fall NET INTEREST BUDGET AUTHORITY deadly than that of any military enemy we in love—under the American Tax Code On page 26, line 3, increase the amount by are ever again likely to confront.’’ they both lose their earned-income tax $0. On page 26, line 7, increase the amount by Mr. GRAMM. Mr. President, I thank credit and they are suddenly in the 28- $1. Senator DURBIN for offering his version percent tax bracket? So they look at On page 26, line 11, increase the amount by of the tax cut proposed by Governor the dollars and cents and many of them $1. Bush. I believe he will get an oppor- decide not to get married.

VerDate Mar 15 2010 22:44 Dec 04, 2013 Jkt 081600 PO 00000 Frm 00010 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\2000SENATE\S06AP0.REC S06AP0 mmaher on DSKCGSP4G1 with SOCIALSECURITY April 6, 2000 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S2279 How does it make sense? If two peo- Governor Bush believes you can increase. I believe it was the Senator ple get out of college, meet, and fall in spend that money better than the Gov- who found that is the highest increase love and get married, forming the most ernment. So rather than giving the in domestic discretionary spending powerful bond for human happiness and Government another $494 billion to since the years of Jimmy Carter’s Pres- progress in world history, why is that a spend—we are not talking about Social idency when inflation was rampant. taxable event? Why is love and mar- Security; we are not talking about Mr. GRAMM. Exactly. riage taxed by the Federal Govern- Medicare; we are talking about spend- Mr. DOMENICI. How many years ment? ing basically on discretionary pro- does my colleague think it would take Governor Bush says it should not be grams. to eat up all the surplus and be right taxed. If he is elected President, he The President’s discretionary non- there ready to use the Social Security wants to repeal the marriage penalty defense budget goes up by a whopping surplus if we increased that spending 14 so love and marriage are not taxable 14 percent when one makes the adjust- percent a year for the next few years? events. ments for all the phony revenues and How many years? If you agree with Senator DURBIN, shifting when somebody is paying and Mr. GRAMM. It would take 3 years to and if you agree with the Vice Presi- when they are not paying. consume the entire surplus. Why is it dent, AL GORE, then you believe you If you believe President Clinton and less dangerous to let them spend the can spend that money in Washington Vice President GORE are right, that we whole thing in 3 years than giving a better than all of those married cou- would be better off spending the $494 tax cut and giving most of that surplus ples could spend it, and you do not billion in Washington on your behalf to back? The reason this amendment is so want to eliminate the marriage pen- help you and your family, then you important is that I do not think we are alty. You want all these new govern- ought to be for spending this money. ready to debate the Presidential cam- ment programs. But if you believe repealing the mar- paign on the floor of the Senate. Rather than starting a new spending riage penalty and repealing the death The point is, our colleague from Illi- spree, spending $494 billion on some 80 tax so your family can keep more nois has offered an amendment that he new and expanded programs, Governor money to spend on their children so claims will have us voting on the Bush Bush has proposed that he would rather you don’t have to sell your farm or sell tax cut. Here is the dilemma: We can- eliminate the death tax. your business—and 73 percent of small not have Clinton spending and the What does the death tax do? Death is businesses do not make it into the sec- Bush tax cut. We have to choose be- a taxable event under the American ond generation, in part because of tween the two. That is what the elec- Tax Code. Americans work their whole death taxes. If you believe you would tion is about. If you want this spend- lives, they build up a small business, be better off spending $483 billion, ing, you ought to vote for AL GORE, they build up a family farm, they pay along with every other family in Amer- and if you would rather repeal the mar- taxes on every dollar they earn in their ica, than having Washington spend $494 riage penalty so we do not charge lives. Yet when they die and leave their billion for you, then you are going to young couples $1,200 a year for the life’s work to their children, the people get to vote on it. This is going to be on right to be married, if you think we they built the life’s work for, too often the ballot in November, but it is going ought to repeal the death tax so that in America those children have to sell to have AL GORE’s name next to the you do not have to sell your daddy’s the farm or sell the business to give spending and it is going to have George and mama’s farm when they die on Government up to 55 cents out of every Bush’s name next to the tax reduc- which they spent a lifetime and paid dollar of their life’s work. They paid tions. taxes on every dollar they earned, taxes on every dollar they earned, but How people are being confused is that plowed money back into that farm, because they accumulated, because many of our colleagues and the Vice skimped for it, sacrificed for it—or if they saved, because they sacrificed, President and President say George you are a small business—if you think their children end up having to sell the Bush wants to give $483 billion in tax you should not have to sell it just be- business and sell the family farm in cuts, he wants to stop penalizing cou- cause they die, then you ought to vote order to give another tax to Govern- ples for getting married, he wants to for Governor Bush. ment. stop taking farms away from people We cannot adopt the Bush tax cut Senator DURBIN and Vice President when they die, and he wants to reduce now because we have the Clinton budg- GORE say: Don’t do that. Don’t repeal tax rates across the board, and that is et before us. We are going to get an op- the marriage penalty. Don’t repeal the dangerous. portunity next year to have a Bush death tax. Let us spend this money for I say to Senator DOMENICI, they say budget and the Bush tax cut. At that you in Washington. it is dangerous to give back $483 billion time, I hope we will get votes from You think that by keeping the farm in tax refunds to working people, but some of our Democrats. I predict today your daddy and mama worked a life- they do not say it is dangerous to that we will get at least 15 of them who time for that you would be better off, spend $494 billion. I ask the question: If will vote for it. but they say: You would not. Let us it is dangerous to give it back to the Mr. DURBIN. Will the Senator yield take your farm because we are going to American people and let them spend it, for a question? give you all these Government pro- how come it is not dangerous to spend Mr. GRAMM. I will be happy to yield. grams. it right here in Washington, DC? How Let me talk a little bit about my They say: Look, you think you know can it be irresponsible for Governor amendment, and then I will yield. how to spend an extra $1,200 on your Bush to be talking about $483 billion in Now that we are into Presidential children, but you are wrong. AL GORE tax reductions, letting working people politics, I have offered a substitute, and Senator DURBIN know better how keep more of what they earn, and how and that is, we ought to vote on the to spend that money than you do. come it is not irresponsible for Presi- Gore tax increase. As many of my col- This amendment is really about dent Clinton to be talking about spend- leagues know, because they probably choice. President Clinton gives us one ing $494 billion more in Washington? received a signed copy, our Vice Presi- choice, and George Bush gives us an- Mr. DOMENICI. Will the Senator dent has written a book, ‘‘Earth in the other. yield? Balance.’’ The principal proposal of President Clinton’s choice is, be- Mr. GRAMM. I will be happy to yield. this book is as follows: tween 2004 and 2006, some 80 new and Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, I He wants a coordinated program to expanded programs will get $494 billion. want to make an observation and see if accomplish the strategic goal of com- That is what he wants to do. He can my colleague agrees with me. As a pletely eliminating the internal com- spend this money and make everything matter of fact, if we took President bustion engine over, say, 25 years. That wonderful for you and your family, and Clinton’s budget and adopted it—and it means the pickup you have your um- if you believe that, you ought to elect has a 14-percent increase in nondefense brella and gun slung across the back of AL GORE as President because that is discretionary spending; that is, 13 ap- is going to be gone. That means this his program. In fact, he wants to spend propriations bills less defense and mili- new car you either have today or are far more than President Clinton does. tary construction. It has a 14-percent hoping to buy is going to be gone.

VerDate Mar 15 2010 22:44 Dec 04, 2013 Jkt 081600 PO 00000 Frm 00011 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\2000SENATE\S06AP0.REC S06AP0 mmaher on DSKCGSP4G1 with SOCIALSECURITY S2280 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE April 6, 2000 Eliminating the internal combustion stallment would be a $1.50 tax on gaso- I reserve the remainder of my time. engine is a pretty dramatic change, es- line today, then another $1.50 tax 4 The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. FITZ- pecially over a 25-year period. years from now. That would only start GERALD). The Senator from Nevada. He goes on to say the reason he it. We would have to go up from there. Mr. REID. I ask for the yeas and nays wants to do this is—talking again But I want to take a conservative ap- on the amendment offered by the Sen- about these cars and these trucks: proach, as I always do. ator from Texas. Their cumulative impact on the global en- Finally, for those who say, OK, the The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there a vironment is posing a mortal threat to the Vice President wrote this book, but he sufficient second? security of every nation that is more deadly did not mean it. This book was written There appears to be. than any military enemy we are ever again for environmentalists. He meant it for The yeas and nays were ordered. likely to face. them, but he did not mean it for people Mr. REID. Mr. President, the state- There is no way we can eliminate the in Texas or New Mexico—let me read ments of the Vice President that my internal combustion engine without his response when he was asked about good friend from Texas referred to are starting out over the next 5 years, it. certainly valid. He stands by those. maybe now with a $1.50-a-gallon tax, He said, ‘‘There is not a statement in I am wondering if the Senator from maybe in 4 years another $1.50, and to that book that I don’t endorse, not Texas stands by the statement he made get rid of the internal combustion en- one.’’ on August 5, 1993, when we were work- gine we would have to get gasoline up I do not endorse them. I am against ing on the budget Deficit Reduction $10, $20, $50 a gallon. raising gasoline taxes. I am against Act, which has set this economy on fire Since our colleague from Illinois de- taking away my pickup truck. I am op- doing great things for the economy. cided today was the day we ought to posed to it. My friend from Texas, speaking begin to debate the Presidential cam- I thought this was going to be saved about the President’s deficit reduction paign on the floor of the Senate, I for us to vote on in the election. But plan, said: thought we ought to have an oppor- since our colleague from Illinois de- This program is going to make the econ- tunity for Senators to go on record cided to debate the Presidential cam- omy weaker. Hundreds of thousands of peo- saying they do not agree with the Vice paign today, let’s debate it. ple are going to lose their jobs as a result of President; they are not quite ready to Let me conclude with this remark, this program. kiss the internal combustion engine and then I will reserve the remainder He also went on to say: goodbye. I am still hoping to get a of my time and let our colleague speak. I believe hundreds of thousands of people four-wheel-drive truck. I am not ready I am happy to say the man I support are going to lose their jobs as a result of this to let AL GORE come in and impose his for President wants to cut your taxes. program. I believe that Bill Clinton will be values that say it is OK for my people I am proud of it. I want the world to one of those people. who live in rural areas of my State and know it. I suspect our colleague from He further said: commute 40, 50 miles a day to work to Illinois is not going to be proud of the I want to predict here tonight that if we try another mode of transportation to fact that AL GORE wants to raise gaso- adopt this bill the American economy is get rid of their car or pickup. line taxes as part of a program for a going to get weaker and not stronger, the Mr. DURBIN. Will the Senator yield? ‘‘coordinated global program to accom- deficit 4 years from today will be higher than Mr. GRAMM. I am not ready to do plish the strategic goal of completely it is today and not lower. When all is said that. eliminating the internal combustion and done, people will pay more taxes, the Mr. DURBIN. Will the Senator yield engine.’’ economy will create fewer jobs, Government for a question? So we are offering a sense of the Sen- will spend more money, and the American Mr. GRAMM. The Senator will get ate today to say we are not for that. He people will be worse off. his 30 minutes. I have my 30 minutes, may be for it. AL GORE is for it. He I yield to the Senator, under the res- with all due respect. says he is for it. He wrote the book. He olution, 20 minutes. If the Senator What I have done is offer an amend- said he was for it as late as 4–26–99. The needs more time, it is available. ment that says it is the sense of the point is, not that he is not for it—he is Mr. DURBIN. I thank the Senator Senate we should not to be doing this; for it —but that we are against it. That from Nevada. we should not be raising gasoline taxes is the purpose of this amendment. Mr. GRAMM. Will the Senator yield so the Vice President can get rid of our Should we be debating the Presi- so I can respond? cars and our trucks. dential campaign on the floor of the Mr. DURBIN. The Senator from Since the Senator from Illinois de- Senate? I do not know whether we Texas would not yield for a question. cided today we ought to vote on the should or not. But since our colleague But I would like to ask him a question. two alternatives, his argument is that from Illinois decided to bring it up, I I hope I am not inviting a speech. It is it is OK for President Clinton in his thought we ought to give people an al- a very simple question. budget to spend a new $494 billion in ternative. It is the same choice they I am holding Vice President GORE’s taxes but it is not all right, it is risky, are going to have on election day, on book, ‘‘Earth in the Balance’’ in my I say to Senator DOMENICI, it is terribly the first Tuesday after the first Mon- hand. Can the Senator from Texas tell risky if, instead of us spending it, we day in November of this year. me which page he refers to when he let the taxpayers spend it. I do not get It is a profound choice. The lives of says that Vice President GORE has it. I do not understand how it is not every American family will be changed called for a $3 gasoline tax increase? I risky for us to spend it but somehow it if we repeal the death tax, if we repeal want to turn to that page immediately. is risky to repeal the marriage penalty the marriage penalty, if we cut tax Can the Senator give me the number of or the death tax. rates. The life of every American fam- the page? So what I have offered, since we can- ily will be changed if we have confis- Mr. GRAMM. I would be happy to re- not do the Bush tax cut until George catory taxes on gasoline to achieve spond by saying he calls for the elimi- Bush becomes President—and I would some extremist goal of eliminating the nation of the internal combustion en- like to hurry the day; if we could do internal combustion engine. gine over 25 years. Does anybody be- something today that could make it Improve it? Yes. Make it more effi- lieve that you could achieve that with- come sooner, God knows, I would sign cient? Yes. Make it more environ- out taxes driving up the price of gaso- on as a cosponsor. But I do not think mental friendly? Yes. But kiss it and line? I think—— we are going to be able to do it before modern civilization good-bye as part of Mr. DURBIN. I reclaim my time. the Constitution says we can. In any some extremist environmental agenda? Mr. GRAMM. He tells us what he case, what I have done, since we have I say, no. I say, no. I believe the Senate wants, but he does not tell us the bad started this debate, is I have taken the will say no today. They are going to news about how we get it. Vice President’s book, and I have put say no today. I would not be surprised Mr. DURBIN. I reclaim my time, Mr. in the first installments of what would if all 100 Senators said no. President. be required to get rid of all the internal The American people are going to say If you have been around politics for combustion engines, and the first in- no in November. about 5 minutes 30 seconds, you know

VerDate Mar 15 2010 22:44 Dec 04, 2013 Jkt 081600 PO 00000 Frm 00012 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\2000SENATE\S06AP0.REC S06AP0 mmaher on DSKCGSP4G1 with SOCIALSECURITY April 6, 2000 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S2281 that when you do not have an answer, Senator GRAMM was just quoted on deficit increasing, he said this: ‘‘This you answer a question with a question. the floor. He said it would be the end program’’—he meant the Clinton def- That is what has happened. of—I have forgotten his exact words— icit reduction plan—‘‘is going to make Vice President GORE does not propose but the end of civilization as we know the economy weaker. Hundreds of a $3 gasoline tax increase. He never it if the Clinton plan passed. Well, thousands of people are going to lose has. The Senator from Texas knows it. guess what. It did pass, and America their jobs as a result of this program.’’ He is coming to the floor trying to sug- got a lot better. American families Is the Senator from Illinois aware gest a tax increase that he has dreamed know we are moving in the right direc- that we have created 21 million jobs up of $3 a gallon because he does not tion. It is interesting to me that my since this statement was made that want to face the music when it comes Republican friend from Texas just hundreds of thousands of people would to the real tax increases and cuts pro- loves this Bush tax cut to pieces, but lose their jobs? posed by the Republican candidate for he can’t bring himself to go on record Mr. DURBIN. I even have it on good President, his Governor from the State to vote for it. He doesn’t want to have authority that they have created new of Texas, George W. Bush. to go back home and explain it—even jobs in Texas because of the prosperity That is for real. That is the corner- in Texas, Governor Bush’s own State. coming forth from this administration. stone of his campaign. You cannot I am offering the Bush tax cut as he I can’t believe the Senator from Texas, stand it, Senator, but it is a fact. You has proposed it in his own words. Sen- who is in close touch with his State, make up taxes and put it in the mouth ator GRAMM is offering a figment of his hasn’t noticed that, and that with the of AL GORE. We take the words spoken imagination about what Al Gore might Clinton-Gore approach on our econ- by George Bush. have said. When I ask him for a specific omy, with the help of the Federal Re- When I ask the Senate to vote on page in this book, where there is a $3 serve, America is moving in the right George W. Bush’s tax cut—the main- gas tax increase, I get a question back direction. Even Texas may be moving stay of his campaign—you would think to me. Well, if you have been through in the right direction. I don’t want to the Republicans would rally behind the first grade, you know how to open speak for that State. George W. Bush. This is their man. a book and go to the right page. That Mr. REID. Here is another statement This is the one they want to see elected is what the teacher teaches you. Sen- from August 6, 1993: ‘‘I believe that to the White House. But they run, in ator GRAMM can’t take us to the right hundreds of thousands of people are the words of our former Senator Dale page in Vice President Gore’s book re- going to lose their jobs as a result of Bumpers, like the devil runs from holy ferring to a $3 gas tax because it isn’t this program.’’ water, when it comes to a vote on the there. He is making it up. He is speaking of the Clinton deficit George W. Bush tax cut. They cannot Look at what the so-called fair Bush reduction plan. stand the thought of going on record tax cut means to American families. If Mr. DURBIN. Who said that? for what the Senator from Texas says you happen to have an income of Mr. REID. Senator PHIL GRAMM of he is so very proud of. He is so very $31,100 a year, it means a $500-per-year Texas. He further said, ‘‘I believe that proud of George W. Bush’s tax cut, he tax break under the Bush tax cut. But, Bill Clinton will be one of those people. has offered a substitute to it. He does boy, if you are in an income category We have a Presidential election coming not want to be on the record. He does over $300,000, there is a $50,000-a-year up soon.’’ not want to go back to Texas and try tax cut coming from the Bush proposal, Would the Senator comment on the to explain that tax cut. I do not blame the one for which I want the Senate to statements made about President Clin- him. It is a bad idea. It is bad policy. go on record. ton losing his job and hundreds of I make no apology for bringing to the Is this fair? It isn’t fair whether you thousands of people losing their jobs. floor of the Senate the major issues in drive a pickup truck or walk along the Mr. DURBIN. Well, of course, Presi- the Presidential campaign. For good- shoulder of the highway. It isn’t fair to dent Clinton was reelected in a rather ness sakes, what would the world think working families who have to drive decisive victory over former Senator if the Senate stopped talking to itself pickup trucks to survive. I think we Bob Dole. The American people like and talking about issues that are being ought to vote, and I think the Senator the way America is moving forward. I debated in America? This is the No. 1 from Texas ought to withdraw his am sure it has been painful for Senator issue in the campaign. I make no apol- amendment so we can vote up or down GRAMM and others who opposed the ogy for bringing it to the floor, asking on something of which he is so proud. President’s suggested policy to get Democrats on this side and Repub- Look at what happened to the defi- America back on track to realize they licans on the other, to go on record: Do cits under various Presidents. I think were wrong. The facts have shown you support it or don’t you? the record is clear. I am sure it hurts them to be wrong. In fact, we have had I make no apology for the progress my Republican colleagues to acknowl- the longest period of growth and pros- we have made in this Nation over the edge the obvious. We have seen the perity in America’s economic history. last 71⁄2 years under the Clinton-Gore deficits grow under Presidents Reagan They want to change that, I say to administration. I tell the Senator from and Bush. But look at what has hap- the Senator from Nevada. Their Presi- Texas and anyone following this de- pened under President Clinton. The dential candidate, George W. Bush, bate, I would gladly run on the record deficits have come down. doesn’t like the way things have been of this administration and our econ- Mr. REID. If the Senator will yield, I going. He thinks that instead of the omy. I would take it to every State in quoted the chairman of the Banking policies that have brought America for- the Union because we know what has Committee, PHIL GRAMM of Texas, ward, we ought to change it all—a dra- happened: Unemployment is down, where he says, verbatim, among other matic, radical, and risky tax cut that housing starts are up, business cre- things, on August 5 in the CONGRES- would go to the wealthiest people in ation is up, inflation is under control. SIONAL RECORD: America. We have seen America prosper in a way The deficit 4 years from today will be high- When I asked the Republicans in the that has never happened in our history. er than it is today and not lower. Senate to vote up or down on whether It bothers my Republican friends to Does the Senator’s chart indicate they want to stand by Governor Bush, acknowledge this fact. They think it that that statement is totally without they came in with a substitute. They dropped out of Heaven. They do not foundation and not true? want to change the subject and invent think the President had anything to do Mr. DURBIN. It indicates that when a tax that they cannot even identify with it. We know better. We know that you are asking the Senator from Texas, with Vice President AL GORE. Vice on the floor of this Senate, and in the Mr. GRAMM, for advice on where the President GORE has not called for a $3 House of Representatives, President economy is going, you ought to do just gas tax increase. Clinton’s budget plan, that started re- the opposite. He said the deficit is I think the Vice President is right to ducing the deficits and moving us in going up but the deficit went down. heighten our awareness of the need to the right direction, was passed without Mr. REID. I say to my friend from Il- do something to improve air quality in a single—not one—Republican vote in linois, on October 6, 1993, a few weeks America. I might say to the Senator support. It kills them. after he made the statement about the from Texas—he may not know this—

VerDate Mar 15 2010 22:44 Dec 04, 2013 Jkt 081600 PO 00000 Frm 00013 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\2000SENATE\S06AP0.REC S06AP0 mmaher on DSKCGSP4G1 with SOCIALSECURITY S2282 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE April 6, 2000 about 6 years ago, the Vice President, Americans pay the estate tax? I will the name of a $50,000-a-year tax cut along with President Clinton, went to answer this question. It is 1.3 percent that George W. Bush proposes for peo- the major automobile makers of the of the estates that pay the estate tax. ple making over $300,000 a year? United States and challenged them to Now, yesterday, I had a chance to The list goes on and on. come up with a more fuel-efficient en- meet a gentleman by the name of Bill Environmental toxic cleanup: The gine, and it is possible, even in my life- Gates, who runs Microsoft Corporation. President wants to spend more on that. time, that what we know as the inter- He has had a bad month. His net worth So do I. I don’t want those toxic chemi- nal combustion engine will be gone, went down from $70 billion to $52 bil- cals in the soil leeching into ground and we will have something that is lion. When he passes away, I don’t be- water and contaminating water sup- cheaper to operate and safer for the en- lieve it is unreasonable that he would plies across America. vironment. Whether you are from pay some taxes back to the America, The President is right, and the Amer- Texas or Illinois, that would be a good which has given him a chance to suc- ican people know it. change. ceed, to pay for education and opportu- In the area of agriculture, we had an When I listen to the critics of Vice nities for the next generation. effort to help our farmers across Amer- President GORE on the environment, I Obviously, the Senator from Texas ica struggling through the most dif- find it hard to believe. I can’t believe thinks that is unfair and unjust. I do ficult times. Yes. That is President that even in the State of Texas you not. I do concur with his belief that we Clinton’s proposal for spending. Is it a aren’t at least sensitive to air and ought to change the estate tax law so valid one? You bet it is. For 2 straight water quality. But to say that anybody that family farmers and family busi- years, we have passed emergency ap- who brings up the environment is some nesses can pass their enterprises on propriations for farmers. pinheaded professor that parks his bi- without penalty, under most cir- I take it the Senator from Texas cycle straight overstates the case. The cumstances. I already introduced a res- doesn’t believe we should do that; in- American people, particularly younger olution to that effect in the Senate last stead, we should take the George W. people in this country, want a cleaner year. I hope we can do that. But to Bush tax cut and give a $50,000-a-year nation, with air that is safe to breathe eliminate the estate tax on Bill Gates tax break to some of the wealthiest and water that is safe to drink. If the doesn’t strike me as the progressive people in this country. Vice President is heightening our thinking of the Senator from Texas. He The list goes on and on. awareness of environmental issues, so Investments in transportation: So is entitled to his point of view. about be it. All political leaders should that the FAA can have modern equip- Let me talk to you about his conjec- do that. ment; so that when we get on an air- ture that President Clinton in his Mr. REID. If the Senator will yield, plane with our family we have peace of budget is going to dramatically in- there has been a lot of discussion in the mind that the best technology is avail- last few weeks about the cost of fossil crease spending. The Senator from Texas will never able. fuel, gasoline, and diesel fuel being so Yes, President Clinton wants to tell you on what specifics President expensive. It has come to my attention spend money on that, and apparently Clinton wants to spend money. You that 56 percent of the fuel that we use the Senator from Texas thinks that is would think it is a wasteful expendi- in this country comes from foreign na- wasteful. tions. Does the Senator think the Vice ture here, there, and the other place. I don’t know how he gets back and President was concerned about that My guess is, if you take a close look at forth to Texas. When I travel to Illi- and was trying to do something so we the specific areas of spending, you will nois, it is on an airplane. I want it safe would be less dependent on the oil bar- find that most American families for me and my family and for all of the ons of the Middle East? agree. There are areas where we should other people who use it. Mr. DURBIN. I think the Senator spend more taxpayer dollars. In the education area, the President’s from Nevada is exactly right. It is Let me give you a couple of illustra- proposal would not only modernize our about time America gets serious about tions. classrooms but increase the number of an energy policy. I can recall that in Can we start with education? Is there teachers so we have smaller class sizes. previous administrations we had state- anyone who couldn’t believe we should A national literacy program that ments of fuel efficiency on vehicles and invest in education, hold the teachers both Presidential candidates agree on on appliances, and, frankly, some peo- and the establishment of education ac- so kids by the third grade can read and ple on the other side of the aisle countable for what comes out of the write: Is that a good proposal and a thought that was a heavyhanded move classroom but give them the resources goal for the 21st century? I think so. by the Government. They have been to do a good job; pay teachers a decent But the Senator from Texas, obviously, fighting off that information at a time salary; put the computers and tech- takes exception. He thinks that is an- when we should have it. We ought to be nology in the classroom so they can other wasteful Government expendi- looking to alternative sources, not teach adequately; and make sure ture. only alternative sources for fuel, re- schools are modernized for the 21st cen- He would rather give a tax cut to the sponsible sources in the United States, tury? wealthiest people in America. I think but also alternative fuels. This is not I think that is one of the ‘‘wasteful’’ that is wrong. That is what elections radical thinking. It is sensible that we programs the Senator from Texas are about. would look for alternatives to our de- would have us eliminate so we can give Mr. REID. Mr. President, will the pendence on foreign fuel. I think when a tax cut to the wealthiest people in Senator yield? Vice President GORE raises environ- American. Mr. DURBIN. I am happy to yield to mental concerns, those are concerns Look at some of the proposals by my colleague. most Americans share. President Clinton for spending. I guess Mr. REID. The Senator outlined very Let me go on to another point raised the Senator from Texas should have clearly the importance of certain by the Senator from Texas. He raised taken a look at this list. It appears he spending taking place in this country. the marriage tax penalty, which is im- wants to spend some more money on I would like the Senator to comment posed on people who, because their additional defense for America. I don’t on the fact that when President Bush combined incomes bring them to a think that is altogether a bad idea. I took office, the yearly deficits, not higher tax rate, pay more after they think that is part of the preamble of counting the Social Security surpluses are married than before. I say to the the Constitution—that the United which made the deficit look smaller, Senator from Texas—he probably States wants to provide for the com- were about $300 billion a year. knows this—the Democrats, the Repub- mon defense. And I am glad President In addition to the President request- licans, and the President agree that Clinton has shown leadership there. ing some spending that the Senator this should be changed. There is no When it comes to foreign assistance, outlined so clearly, what is the status controversy here. For him to raise it in he, for example, wants to invest money of the deficits of this country since the debate baffles me. to make America’s embassies overseas President Clinton became President? Second, when it comes to the estate safe from terrorism. Is that a wasteful Mr. DURBIN. I am glad the Senator tax, do you know what percentage of expenditure we should do away with in asked. As Senator BYRD carries the

VerDate Mar 15 2010 22:44 Dec 04, 2013 Jkt 081600 PO 00000 Frm 00014 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\2000SENATE\S06AP0.REC S06AP0 mmaher on DSKCGSP4G1 with SOCIALSECURITY April 6, 2000 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S2283 Constitution in his pocket, I carry with to college. They know it is a very ex- ple died in America; 31,000 out of 2.3 me a card which has a record of what is pensive undertaking. million ended up paying the Federal es- happening under the Clinton-Gore ad- We propose on the Democratic side tate tax, 1.37 percent. The vast major- ministration. Record budget deficits that you be able to deduct from your ity of our Nation’s citizens simply do have been erased. taxes college education expenses. This not leave estates valued at $600,000 or In 1992, the deficit was a record $292 gives a helping hand to middle-income more, which is the present annual tax billion. The Congressional Budget Of- families across America so that the threshold, which is going to increase to fice said it was going to grow to $455 kids will finish school with less debt, $1 million, which I support. billion by the year 2000, this year. In- and maybe no debt. The Senator from Texas would have stead, we have a projected $167 billion I think that is a targeted tax cut us believe everyone passing away has surplus, the third one in a row. That is that makes sense. It makes a lot more as their last act, before the undertaker $622 billion in savings not drained by sense than a $50,000-a-year tax cut for wheels them out, filing a Federal tax the Government in 1 year alone. And somebody making $300,000 a year. That form for the Federal estate tax. It we have had the largest paydown of is the George W. Bush tax cut. doesn’t happen. The vast majority, debt in the history of the United We also want to target the tax cut to over 98 percent of the American people, States—$297 billion. help pay for long-term care. Families don’t pay this tax. Some of the All the deficit hawks on the other know when their parents and grand- wealthiest people in this country do. side of the aisle hate to hear these parents are elderly that it is expensive He thinks we should wage this Presi- numbers, but they are the facts. to care for them. They want to give dential campaign over the 1.37 percent Under the Clinton-Gore administra- them the best. It takes a lot from their of the population. I think that is a mis- tion, we have addressed the deficit sit- savings. We give a tax cut for that pur- take. uation. We are no longer talking about pose—a targeted tax cut to help pay for I think, honestly, those who have a constitutional amendment to balance long-term care. That is a sensible ap- done well in America and prospered the budget but are moving in the right proach. and made millions of dollars and left We think the highest priority should direction. The American people want huge estates owe something back to be debt reduction. We are not the only us to continue doing that. America. That is part of the cost of liv- ones who suggest it. For anyone who We have people who visit this Capitol ing and prospering in this country, as believes this is a partisan proposal, at this time of year, usually class- far as I am concerned. We see that dif- take a look at this particular article rooms from across America. These ferently. that appeared in the Washington Post. young men and women who come to The Senator wants to preserve and This is from the business section. Alan watch this Senate and visit our offices protect those in the highest income Greenspan, not known to be a Demo- deserve an America with a reduced na- categories, give them the Bush tax cut, crat, the Chairman of the Federal Re- tional debt. That is the goal of the and turn his back on things such as serve Board: ‘‘Pay down the debt first.’’ President’s proposal and his budget. It That newspaper was obviously not education spending—which he thinks is is one not shared by George W. Bush. delivered in Texas because neither the wasteful government spending. I dis- He believes we should give a massive Senator who is speaking today on be- agree. and risky tax cut across the board. We half of his amendment nor the Presi- There are some radicals on his side of believe targeted tax cuts make more dential candidate on the Republican the aisle who want to eliminate the De- sense and deficit and debt reduction side heard the news. Greenspan said partment of Education. That is a seri- are absolute priorities. debt reduction should be the highest ous mistake. I am not going to put The PRESIDING OFFICER. The time priority—not in their book. From their those words in the mouth of any single of the Senator from Illinois has ex- point of view, the highest priority is Senator, but we have heard it over and pired. making sure the wealthiest people in over from the other side of the aisle. Mr. REID. I yield the Senator from this country pay less in taxes. That to They would take away the authority of Illinois an additional 15 minutes under me doesn’t make sense. Let us pay the Department of Education to pro- the resolution. down this awful debt that has been ac- vide for the 5, 6, or 7 percent of Federal The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- cumulated during the Reagan-Bush aid to education across America. I ator is recognized. years. think that is a mistake, too. Mr. REID. Historically, my friend Let us try to put this behind us so fu- The President understands, as most from Illinois talked about what has ture generations have more flexibility American families do, that education happened since Bush was no longer in their own lives; so that we have less is critical for our future. If the Senator President and how the deficit came demand for capital; and interest rates from Texas wants to walk away from down. From where did this huge na- coming down. this commitment to education, I think tional debt of $5 trillion come? So those who are following the de- he is walking away from a commit- Mr. DURBIN. I think the Senator bate understand where we are, I put ment which is important for our chil- from Nevada can remember that we ac- forward on the floor the Bush tax cut dren to make sure they have the skills cumulated more debt in the history of asking the Democrats and Republicans and education not only to prosper in the United States with the election in to go on the record one way or the this Nation but to be able to compete 1980 of President Reagan until Presi- other. The Senator from Texas says: in a global economy. He may think a dent Clinton, and about 1994 or 1995 No. Let’s try a substitute. He dreams tax cut for wealthy people is more im- started to turn the corner, than we had up a gas tax increase and cannot point portant than making certain that our accumulated in the entire history of to one page in Vice President GORE’s kids are well educated, but I disagree the United States, more debt than we book that enumerates that increase, with that. I think most American fami- had accumulated in our entire history. and he wants us to vote on that. lies understand they get one chance to We collect $1 billion in taxes every I encourage my friends on the floor educate their kids, and they want to do day to pay interest on the debt that we to turn down the Gramm gas tax in- it right. accumulated during the Reagan-Bush crease. We don’t need a $3 increase. No- Mr. REID. Will the Senator yield? era. President Clinton has finally body on this side of the aisle called for Mr. DURBIN. I am happy to yield to moved away from that. We are starting it. the Senator. to reduce that debt, and we think that I think Senator GRAMM should under- Mr. REID. We have talked about in- is the highest priority. But it isn’t the stand at this point in time it would be come taxes; that is what the Senator highest priority of Gov. George W. devastating. That is what he wants to from Texas talked about and that is Bush. He believes the highest priority vote on because he doesn’t want to what the Bush tax cut mainly talks is a tax cut—a tax cut for some of vote on the Bush tax cut, which is well about, the Federal income tax. wealthiest people in this country. documented. That is painful, I am sure, Is the Senator aware of the article We believe we should target the tax but I think it is important we do it. that ran in the Washington Post 8 or 9 cut to the families who need it. For ex- Back to the estate tax for a second. days ago, and then ran all over the ample, a lot of families send their kids In 1995, approximately 2.3 million peo- country, indicating that the Federal

VerDate Mar 15 2010 22:44 Dec 04, 2013 Jkt 081600 PO 00000 Frm 00015 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\2000SENATE\S06AP0.REC S06AP0 mmaher on DSKCGSP4G1 with SOCIALSECURITY S2284 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE April 6, 2000 income tax now is at a 40 to 50-year I yield back the time offered to me To the Democrats, anybody who low? by Senator REID under the resolution. works and makes money is rich. When- Mr. DURBIN. Yes, the Senator from Mr. REID. How much time did the ever we try to cut anybody’s taxes, Nevada is correct. Despite all the Senator have remaining? they are always rich. They have every statements to the contrary, Federal The PRESIDING OFFICER. He had 5 excuse in the world to do anything ex- taxes have been going down on Amer- minutes remaining. cept to give the American people a tax ican families and they have been held The Senator from Texas. cut. to the 1970 level. We have been making Mr. GRAMM. Mr. President after lis- Finally, let me say again the part of real progress in that regard. tening to that, I feel like a mosquito in the story that they are not telling is What we have tried to do when the a nudist colony. I don’t know quite the following: Their budget, which they Democrats had a voice in the process is where to hit. support, proposes that over the next 5 Let me start at the beginning. Bill make sure that tax cuts went to work- years we spend $494 billion on new and Clinton’s plan was not just the largest ing families. Those are the folks who expanded programs. That is the Clinton tax increase in American history; it need a helping hand. If there is an in- budget. creased tax burden in this country, it was a stimulation package of $16 bil- What Governor Bush is proposing is comes primarily from State and local lion where spending exploded before that rather than spend all this money sources and from payroll taxes associ- the tax increase ever went into effect. on these programs, we give part of it Republicans in the Senate killed that ated with the Medicare and Social Se- back to working families. Why is it not stimulation plan. curity programs which, quite honestly, risky for us to spend $494 billion on we have to sustain until we address Bill Clinton’s plan was to have the Government take over and run the new programs, which is the Clinton meaningful reform. budget that they support, and why is it On that subject, let me add, Presi- health care bill. I remember distinctly somebody standing up and saying the risky for Governor Bush to propose giv- dent Clinton and Vice President GORE ing less than that amount back to fam- are talking about investing this sur- Clinton health care bill will pass over my cold, dead, political body. That po- ilies to let them spend it? plus back into Social Security and I have 3 minutes remaining. I yield to back into Medicare to reduce their litical body is still alive and the Clin- ton health care bill is dead. Senator DOMENICI. debt and to make certain those pro- Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, we grams will be here for decades to come. Bill Clinton, when he sent Congress a budget in 1995, proposed a $200 billion have heard an interesting political dis- The Republican side of the aisle does cussion today. The idea we should be not want to address those issues, and deficit, and his budget had a $200 bil- lion deficit through this year. Who lost debating the Bush tax cut on the Sen- they should. Instead, they want the ate floor is totally political. It brought George W. Bush tax cut. Instead of put- their jobs? When we killed the Clinton health care bill and defeated the stim- a political answer. So we are now en- ting this money into debt reduction gaged in a Presidential election instead and strengthening Social Security and ulus package, they lost their jobs. We elected a Republican majority in both of a budget. Medicare, providing for prescription The truth of the matter is, we do not drug benefits under Medicare, they Houses of Congress. When we elected a Republican majority, we rejected the have before us a Bush budget. What we would give a tax cut to the wealthiest have before us is the budget of the people in our country. That is the clear Clinton budget and the deficit started to go away and we have a surplus President of the United States. For choice in the Presidential campaign. those on the Democrat side who are The Senator from Texas does not be- today. talking about Bush’s budget, let me lieve I should raise this issue on the In terms of a reasonable policy to say they have never offered the Presi- floor of the Senate. He says since I protect the environment, forgive me, dent’s budget. Nobody has dared offer have, it is open season for debate on it. but completely eliminating the inter- it because it is so bad that even they I welcome the debate. For goodness nal combustion engine is not a reason- know they would not get the votes for sakes, if we cannot come to this floor able policy to protect the environment. it. and debate the issues that are central It is an extremist policy that deserves That is not the kind of budget we are to the most important choice Ameri- to be rejected and it will be rejected. going to get next year, if George Bush cans will make in the year 2000 in the They are ashamed of it. is President. He is going to give us a Presidential election, then this great I ask the following question: How is budget that calls for less Government deliberative body has lost its way. I he going to eliminate the internal com- but priorities in Government. There is think it is important that all Members bustion engine? Maybe they are just going to be sufficient money left over come to the floor and be recorded on going to confiscate the cars or trucks. in his budget to have a tax cut, tax re- this vote. Maybe they are going to take us off to I invite the Senator from Texas to prison. lief for the American taxpayer, and withdraw his substitute amendment so If you don’t do it with taxes, how do take care of the Social Security trust he can have an up-or-down vote on the you do it? The point is, they don’t fund. There is no doubt in my mind he Bush tax cut. Surely GRAMM wants to know how you would do it—at least will present that kind of budget. go back to Texas and see your Gov- they don’t know before the election. We can argue all we want today ernor and say: I stood by you. I was The American people are going to want about what fits in this year’s budget. with you to the bitter end. I defended to know. We are operating against the competi- you against your critics. I am for the They are for eliminating the mar- tion of a budget from the President. We Bush tax cut. riage penalty—baloney. Where’s the are not working with a President who Certainly you don’t want to go back beef? Their tax cut actually raises wants to have tax relief. As a matter of and say to your Governor: I didn’t want taxes for 5 years. Middle-income Amer- fact, this President’s budget sets the to vote on your tax cut so I put up a icans would get virtually no tax relief way to increase taxes in the first year, substitute. I dreamed up an Al GORE under their policy. not decrease them, and to increase gas tax. I did my darnedest to avoid Finally, as to this ‘‘tax the wealthy,’’ them over the first 5 years, not de- being on the record. what a phony issue that is. In the crease them. As a matter of fact, it is I am certain Texas pride demands President’s first budget, they proposed a tax increase budget. We have to com- standing by your Governor, as many on raising taxes on people earning $25,000 pete with that and try to get our busi- your side of the aisle, I am sure, want a year who were drawing Social Secu- ness done, having to work with him in to do. In order to do that, you have to rity. That is what they call ‘‘rich.’’ the appropriations process. Now we take away the substitute amendment. They were able to take a family mak- have somebody coming down here tell- You have to face the music. You have ing $44,000 a year and under Clinton’s ing us Bush’s budget does not fit in to understand that if you are going to first budget make it $75,000 by saying: ‘‘your’’ budget. Of course, it doesn’t fit buy this tax cut from George W. Bush, To tax somebody, you count the rent in our budget because we have not yet you have to go on the record and do it value of the home they own; you count seen what President-elect Bush would and not just make speeches when you the value of their life insurance; you submit to us to do with all these dupli- are off the Senate floor. count the value of their parking place. cative programs. We heard there are

VerDate Mar 15 2010 22:44 Dec 04, 2013 Jkt 081600 PO 00000 Frm 00016 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\2000SENATE\S06AP0.REC S06AP0 mmaher on DSKCGSP4G1 with SOCIALSECURITY April 6, 2000 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S2285 342 programs in economic development. We think there should be an up-or- On page 4, line 14, increase the amount by He is not going to leave those around. down vote. We said all along we are $35,146,000,000. He is going to provide a completely dif- going to get an up-or-down vote, no On page 4, line 15, increase the amount by ferent tone, a different kind of budget matter how long it takes, whether the $65,248,000,000. On page 4, line 16, increase the amount by with high priorities in education and majority is going to approve their $99,450,000,000. the issues he has described. Presidential nominee’s tax cut; it is as On page 4, line 17, increase the amount by I want to close by saying it is some- simple as that. We asked for an up-or- $128,552,000,000. what of a lark to come down here and down vote for the last 24 hours. NEW BUDGET AUTHORITY talk about how big the deficit got fol- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- On page 4, line 21, increase the amount by lowing Jimmy Carter. Ronald Reagan ator from Virginia. $0. had to take over an America whose Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, par- On page 4, line 22, increase the amount by military had gone right down the liamentary inquiry. Is it an appro- $136,000,000. drain, an America that had an econ- priate time for a Senator to send an On page 4, line 23, increase the amount by amendment to the desk? Is it appro- $1,280,000,000. omy that was dead weak. He had to sit On page 4, line 24, increase the amount by there and let the inflation come out of priate for a Senator to send an amend- $4,186,000,000. that and then, yes, build back defense ment to the desk unrelated to the On page 4, line 25, increase the amount by and provide some tax relief for the pending amendment, the one that has $8,785,000,000. American people. That was a great just been debated, and ask it be placed On page 5, line 1, increase the amount by economy. He took over when it was a in the queue for consideration? $15,334,000,000. basket case. The PRESIDING OFFICER. It would BUDGET OUTLAYS If we want to debate things past, I take unanimous consent. On page 5, line 6, increase the amount by will conclude by saying: Does anybody Mr. WARNER. I ask unanimous con- $0. believe this robust economy of Amer- sent this amendment be placed in the On page 5, line 7, increase the amount by $136,000,000. ica was made robust because Bill Clin- queue for consideration. Mr. REID. Objection—just lining it On page 5, line 8, increase the amount by ton and the Democrats increased taxes $1,280,000,000. $293 billion? Does anybody really be- up for later on? OK. On page 5, line 9, increase the amount by lieve that? I am certain a majority of The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- $4,186,000,000. American economists would say it was ator from New Mexico. On page 5, line 10, increase the amount by coming back strong, we plunked this Mr. DOMENICI. I don’t know what $8,785,000,000. on top of it, and it didn’t break the the words ‘‘queue it up’’ mean. We On page 5, line 11, increase the amount by economy; it just let it go ahead. It ought to get it straight. I don’t object $15,334,000,000. probably would be stronger if we had to his sending an amendment to the NET INTEREST BUDGET AUTHORITY not adopted the $293 billion. That is my desk, but I do object to gaining any On page 26, line 3, increase the amount by $0. guess. kind of preferential treatment for that amendment. On page 26, line 7, increase the amount by I yield the floor. $136,000,000. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I have not requested any preferential treat- On page 26, line 11, increase the amount by ator from Nevada. $1,280,000,000. Mr. REID. Is there time remaining ment. I simply wish to send it to the On page 26, line 15, increase the amount by with the majority? desk. $4,186,000,000. The PRESIDING OFFICER. All their The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- On page 26, line 19, increase the amount by time has expired. ator has a right to submit an amend- $8,785. The Senator from Illinois. ment. The amendment is submitted. On page 26, line 23, increase the amount by Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, I yield The Senator from Nevada. $15,334,000,000. back my time. Mr. REID. Mr. President, I send an NET INTEREST OUTLAYS amendment to the desk. On page 26, line 4, increase the amount by AMENDMENT NO. 2985 TO AMENDMENT NO. 2953 The PRESIDING OFFICER. The $0. Mr. DURBIN. I send a perfecting clerk will report. On page 26, line 8, increase the amount by amendment to the desk. The assistant legislative clerk read $136,000,000. Mr. DOMENICI. Parliamentary in- as follows: On page 26, line 12, increase the amount by quiry. Is that amendment in order? $1,280,000,000. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- The Senator from Nevada [Mr. REID], for On page 26, line 16, increase the amount by himself and Mr. DURBIN, proposes an amend- $4,186,000,000. ator has a right to modify his amend- ment numbered 2985 to Amendment No. 2953. ment. Therefore, a second-degree On page 26, line 20, increase the amount by Mr. REID. I ask unanimous consent $8,785,000,000. amendment would not be in order. to waive the reading of the amend- On page 26, line 24, increase the amount by Mr. DOMENICI. I don’t understand. $15,334,000,000. We have a second-degree pending. What ment. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without PUBLIC DEBT kind of amendment is he sending? Is it objection, it is so ordered. On page 5, line 22, increase the amount by amending the second-degree amend- The amendment is as follows: $0. ment or the underlying amendment? On page 5, line 23, increase the amount by The PRESIDING OFFICER. It is a At the end of the amendment add the fol- lowing: $4,979,000,000. second-degree perfecting amendment, Notwithstanding any other provisions of On page 5, line 24, increase the amount by but it is an amendment to his own this resolution the following numbers shall $36,426,000,000. amendment which the Senator has the apply: On page 5, line 25, increase the amount by $69,434,000,000. right to modify. It can be accepted as a FEDERAL REVENUE TOTALS On page 6, line 1, increase the amount by On page 4, line 3, decrease the amount by modification. $108,235,000,000. Mr. DOMENICI. I say to my friend, I $0. On page 4, line 4, decrease the amount by On page 6, line 2, increase the amount by did not think we were going to be doing $143,886,000,000. this. That is what you kind of said to $4,843,000,000. On page 4, line 5, decrease the amount by DEBT HELD BY THE PUBLIC me. But that is all right. I thought we $35,146,000,000. On page 6, line 5, increase the amount by were going to vote on second degrees, On page 4, line 6, decrease the amount by $0. you would have another round of votes $65,248,000,000. On page 6, line 6, increase the amount by on your own, but it is OK if you want On page 4, line 7, decrease the amount by $4,979,000,000. to change that now. $99,450,000,000. On page 6, line 7, increase the amount by Mr. REID. I say to my friend from On page 4, line 8, decrease the amount by $36,426,000,000. $128,552,000,000. New Mexico, we are not changing any- On page 6, line 8, increase the amount by FEDERAL REVENUE CHANGES $69,434,000,000. thing. In all due respect, if their On page 4, line 12, increase the amount by On page 6, line 9, increase the amount by amendment had been prepared prop- $0. $108,235,000,000. erly, there wouldn’t have been an op- On page 4, line 13, increase the amount by On page 6, line 10, increase the amount by portunity for us to do our amendment. $4,843,000,000. $143,886,000,000.

VerDate Mar 15 2010 22:44 Dec 04, 2013 Jkt 081600 PO 00000 Frm 00017 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\2000SENATE\S06AP0.REC S06AP0 mmaher on DSKCGSP4G1 with SOCIALSECURITY S2286 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE April 6, 2000 TAX CUT essentially—is that correct, Senator?— On page 4, line 25, increase the amount by On page 29, line 3, increase the amount by and then Gramm amendment No. 2973— $2,800,000. $4,843,000,000. and Senator Gramm is here. it is the On page 5, line 1, increase the amount by On page 29, line 4, increase the amount by $2,000,000. $333,239,000,000. same amendment to which he has been On page 5, line 6, increase the amount by speaking—and then Durbin amendment DEFICIT INCREASE $2,500,000. On page 5, line 14, increase the amount by No. 2953, as amended, if amended. On page 5, line 7, increase the amount by $0. I also ask unanimous consent that $10,000,000. On page 5, line 15, increase the amount by following the allotted 1 hour of debate, On page 5, line 8, increase the amount by $4,979,000,000. the pending amendments be laid aside $6,000,000. On page 5, line 16, increase the amount by until the stacked votes. It may be that On page 5, line 9, increase the amount by $36,426,000,000. $4,200,000. there is no time. On page 5, line 10, increase the amount by On page 5, line 17, increase the amount by The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there $89,434,000,000. $2,800,000. On page 5, line 18, increase the amount by objection? On page 5, line 11, increase the amount by $108,235,000,000. Without objection, it is so ordered. $2,000,000. On page 5, line 19, increase the amount by Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, I un- On page 5, line 14, increase the amount by $143,886,000,000 derstand Senator MCCAIN has an $2,500,000. On page 5, line 15, increase the amount by Mr. DOMENICI. Parliamentary in- amendment. We have agreed heretofore on the floor—the minority and major- $10,000,000. quiry. On page 5, line 16, increase the amount by The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- ity—that he would proceed as the next $6,000,000. ator from New Mexico. amendment. To do that, we have to On page 5, line 17, increase the amount by Mr. DOMENICI. Before I relinquish yield back time that we have on the $4,200,000. the floor, might I ask what this amend- pending amendment. I yield back any On page 5, line 18, increase the amount by ment is? time I have. $2,800,000. The PRESIDING OFFICER. This is Mr. REID. As does the minority. On page 5, line 19, increase the amount by $2,000,000. the perfecting amendment to the un- The PRESIDING OFFICER. All time derlying Durbin amendment. is yielded back. Mr. MCCAIN. Mr. President, I thank Mr. DOMENICI. So Senators would The Senator from Arizona is recog- Senator DOMENICI and Senator REID for like a vote on the Durbin amendment? nized. allowing me to propose this amend- Is that what all this is about? Is that Mr. MCCAIN. I understand that the ment. I don’t intend to take a very it? pending amendment has been set aside. long time. I know there are many other Mr. REID. That is it. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- pending amendments. Mr. DOMENICI. Let’s just do it. ator is correct. Mr. President, I rise today to intro- Mr. REID. That will be perfect. We AMENDMENT NO. 2988 duce an amendment to the Congres- think that would be very appropriate. (Purpose: To end the ‘‘Food Stamp Army’’) sional budget resolution for fiscal years 2001 through 2005 that would pro- Mr. DOMENICI. Can we agree we are Mr. MCCAIN. Mr. President, I send an vide the funding necessary to end the going to vote on the Gramm amend- amendment to the desk and ask for its ‘‘food stamp army’’ once and for all. ment and then we will vote on the Dur- immediate consideration. This amendment increases the de- bin amendment, regardless of what The PRESIDING OFFICER. The fense budget by $28 million over five happens to the Gramm amendment? clerk will report. Mr. DURBIN. Will the Senator from The assistant legislative clerk read years—an average of less than $6 mil- New Mexico yield? as follows: lion per year—to pay for an additional allowance of $180 a month to military Mr. REID. I think the staff is pre- The Senator from Arizona [Mr. MCCAIN] paring an appropriate unanimous-con- proposes an amendment numbered 2988. families who are eligible for food sent agreement. I think we can work stamps. Additionally, the Congres- Mr. MCCAIN. Mr. President, I ask sional Budget Office estimates the this out. unanimous consent that reading of the Mr. DOMENICI. What we are going to amendment would save millions of dol- amendment be dispensed with. lars in the food stamp program by re- do is have a vote on Senator DURBIN’s The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without amendment, then have a vote on Sen- moving servicemembers from the food objection, it is so ordered. stamp rolls for good. ator GRAMM’s amendment? The amendment is as follows: Mr. REID. That is right. Last week, I introduced S. 2322, the Mr. DURBIN. I ask the Senator from On page 9, line 2, increase the amount by ‘‘Remove Servicemembers from Food $2,500,000. Stamps Act of 2000’’, that will provide New Mexico to yield for a moment. On page 9, line 3, increase the amount by Mr. REID. We yield time under the $2,500,000. junior enlisted servicemembers who resolution. On page 9, line 6, increase the amount by are eligible for food stamps in the Mr. DURBIN. Would the Senator $10,000,000. paygrade E–1 through E–5 an additional from New Mexico allow us, despite all On page 9, line 7, increase the amount by subsistence allowance of $180 a month. the debate this morning, to describe $10,000,000. A not-yet-published Department of De- our actual amendments before the ac- On page 9, line 10, increase the amount by fense report estimates that approxi- $6,000,000. mately 6,300 servicemembers receive tual vote? On page 9, line 11, increase the amount by Mr. REID. We usually have 2 min- $6,000,000. food stamps, while the General Ac- utes. On page 9, line 14, increase the amount by counting Office and Congressional Re- Mr. DURBIN. That will be fine. $4,200,000. search Service place this number at Thank you. On page 9, line 15, increase the amount by around 13,500. Regardless of this dis- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- $4,200,000. parity, the fact that just one service- ator from New Mexico. On page 9, line 18, increase the amount by member is on food stamps is a national Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, I ask $2,800,000. disgrace, and this situation cries out On page 9, line 19, increase the amount by unanimous consent that the votes rel- $2,800,000. for repair. ative to the following amendments be On page 9, line 22, increase the amount by In recent years, annual military pay scheduled to occur at 2 p.m. in the se- $2,000,000. increases have barely kept pace with quence listed, with no second-degree On page 9, line 23, increase the amount by inflation—lagging at least 8 percent be- amendments in order, where applica- $2,000,000. hind the pay increases in the private ble, prior to the votes, and there be 2 On page 4, line 21, increase the amount by sector during the same period. To put minutes prior to each vote for expla- $2,500,000. the impact of such trends in plain dol- nation, and all votes after the first On page 4, line 22, increase the amount by lar amounts, the lowest enlisted rank, $10,000,000. vote in the sequence be limited to 10 On page 4, line 23, increase the amount by an E–1, currently earns as little as minutes. The amendments are as fol- $6,000,000. $12,067 per year, plus $2,766 in allow- lows: Reid amendment No. 2985, which On page 4, line 24, increase the amount by ances, which is well below the poverty I understand is a Durbin amendment, $4,200,000. level for a family of four. In fact, the

VerDate Mar 15 2010 22:44 Dec 04, 2013 Jkt 081600 PO 00000 Frm 00018 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\2000SENATE\S06AP0.REC S06AP0 mmaher on DSKCGSP4G1 with SOCIALSECURITY April 6, 2000 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S2287 number of men and women in the mili- Military/Veterans Alliance. Associa- VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS tary earning less than $20,000 per year tions include the Non Commissioned OF THE UNITED STATES, constitutes 45 percent of the Army, 46 Officers Association, the Retired En- Washington, DC, March 29, 2000. percent of the Marine Corps, 26 percent listed Association, the Fleet Reserve Hon. JOHN MCCAIN, U.S. Senate, Washington, DC. of the Navy, and 18 percent of the Air Association, the Air Force Sergeants DEAR SENATOR MCCAIN: On behalf of the 2 Force. Of these servicemembers, 111,600 Association, the U.S. Coast Guard million members of the Veterans of Foreign have families and 6,515 are single par- Chief Petty Officers Association, the Wars of the United States (VFW) I thank you ents. Enlisted Association of the National for taking the initiative to introduce your Because of this serious disparity in Guard of the U.S., and the Naval En- bill titled ‘‘Remove Servicemembers from military versus civilian pay, the Con- listed Reserve Association. I ask unani- Food Stamps Act of 2000.’’ We certainly gress took action last year to signifi- mous consent to include their letters of share your concern that today, regretfully, cantly increase military pay across the several thousand enlisted members of our ac- support in the RECORD following my re- tive duty force participate in the food stamp board. The Senate-passed military pay marks. program. They do this out of necessity rath- bill, S. 4, included the same food stamp I urge my colleagues to support this er than opportunism. relief plan in S. 2322, and it was also amendment to the budget resolution In our collective judgment the $180 per approved by the Senate as part of the that provides the funding for the food month Special Subsistence Allowance (SSA) National Defense Authorization bill. stamp relief in S. 2322. It is a step in you propose is an equitable amount of money in addition to the presently authorized Basic However, I was greatly disappointed the right direction toward meeting our when the Senate-approved food stamp Allowance for Subsistence (BAS) paid to responsibilities to our servicemembers those servicemembers with dependents in the relief provision was rejected by con- and their families. rank of E–1 through E–5. We also strongly ferees from the House of Representa- Mr. President, we must end the days agree with your proposed termination of tives despite the strong support of Ad- of a ‘‘food stamp Army’’ once and for date for SSA being after September 30, 2005. miral Jay Johnson, the Chief of Naval In closing, and based on the above facts, all. Our military personnel and their Operations, and General Jim Jones, the the VFW will support all efforts to have your families deserve better. Commandant of the Marine Corps. proposed piece of legislation enacted imme- With thousands of military families on Mr. President, I ask unanimous con- diately in law. It is a national disgrace to re- food stamps, and possibly thousands sent that letters from various service quire even a few military families today to need food stamps as part of their lifestyle. more eligible for the program, I cannot organizations in support of this amend- ment be printed in the RECORD. Thank you again for having the courage and understand the Congress’ refusal to the time to address this unconscionable situ- rectify this problem in last year’s Na- There being no objection, the mate- ation. tional Defense Authorization Act. rial was ordered to be printed in the Sincerely, It is outrageous that Admirals and RECORD, as follows: JOHN W. SMART, Generals received a 17 percent pay THE AMERICAN LEGION, Commander-in-Chief. raise last year, while enlisted families Washington, DC, April 5, 2000. continue to line up for free food and Hon. JOHN MCCAIN, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR UNIFORMED SERVICES, furniture. Last year, we poured hun- U.S. Senate, Russell Senate Office Building, Washington, DC. Springfield, VA, March 30, 2000. dreds of millions of dollars into pro- Hon. JOHN MCCAIN, DEAR SENATOR MCCAIN: On behalf of more grams the military did not request and U.S. Senate, then 4 million members of The American Le- that were not identified by the Joint Washington, DC. gion family we want to thank you for intro- Chiefs as a priority item. It is difficult DEAR SENATOR MCCAIN: This letter is being ducing S. 2322, the ‘‘Remove Servicemembers provided to you on behalf of the National As- to reconcile how Congress could waste from Food Stamps Act of 2000.’’ This critical $7.4 billion on pork-barrel spending in sociation for Uniformed Services to express legislation provides junior enlisted our strong support for your bill to establish the defense budget last year alone, yet servicemembers in the pay grade E–1, a special subsistence allowance for members refuse to provide a few million dollars through E–5, who are eligible for food of the Uniformed Services eligible for food to get military families off food stamps, an additional subsistence allowance stamps. stamps. of $180 a month. It is disgraceful that the level of com- It is unconscionable that the men The American Legion continues to support pensation of any of the nation’s warriors is and women who are willing to sacrifice quality of life features for members of the so low that they qualify for food stamps. their lives for their country have to Armed Forces and their dependents as well This legislation would help those with the as military retirees. People are the founda- rely on food stamps to make ends most serious problems and is a necessary and tion of the Nation’s fighting forces. welcome step toward correcting the inequi- meet, and it is an abrogation of our re- Military pay must be reasonably com- table compensation provided to members of sponsibility as Senators to let this dis- parable to compensation in the private sec- the Uniformed Services. grace go on. Sadly, politics, not mili- tor if the Armed Forces aspire to compete We appreciate your long-standing concerns tary necessity, remains the rule, not for quality volunteers and retain an experi- for our men and women in uniform and the exception. enced military force for the long term. strongly support the ‘‘Remove I will not stand by and watch as our With military families on food stamps, Servicemembers from Food Stamps Act of military is permitted to erode to the passage of relief legislation to compensate 2000.’’ breaking point due to the President’s junior enlisted servicemembers with an addi- Sincerely, lack of foresight and the Congress’ lack tional subsistence allowance is critical to RICHARD D. MURRAY, President. of compassion. These military men and maintaining adequate morale and ensuring women on food stamps—our soldiers, retention of America’s military families in the Armed Forces. DISABLED AMERICAN VETERANS, sailors, airmen, and Marines—are the Washington, DC, March 30, 2000. American Legion National Commander very same Americans that the Presi- Hon. JOHN MCCAIN, Alan Lance’s first hand observations after dent and Congress have sent into U.S. Senate, Russell Senate Office Building, meeting with soldiers, sailors and airmen in Washington, DC. harm’s way in recent years in Somalia, Kosovo, Bosnia, and aboard the aircraft car- Bosnia, Haiti, Kosovo, and East Timor. DEAR SENATOR MCCAIN: On behalf of the rier, USS George Washington serves to reaf- Disabled American Veterans (DAV), I com- They deserve our continuing respect, firm your resolve in assisting America’s en- mend you for introducing the ‘‘Remove our unwavering support, and a living listed sons and daughters in uniform. Servicemembers from Food Stamps Act of wage. Thank you again for recognizing the sac- 2000.’’ Your efforts on behalf of the men and S. 2322 is supported by The American rifice of America’s men and women in uni- women who serve our nation in its Armed Legion, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, form. America’s servicemembers stand in Forces is greatly appreciated. the National Association for Uniformed harm’s way in Somalla, Bosnia, Haiti, It is indeed unconscionable that the men Services, the Disabled American Vet- Kosovo, and East Timor. They deserve con- and women who are willing to sacrifice their erans, The Retired Officer’s Associa- tinuing respect, unwavering support, and a lives in defense of our nation and its ideals living wage from a grateful nation. are forced to depend on food stamps to feed tion and every enlisted association or Sincerely, their families. It also effects the nation’s organization that specifically supports STEVE A. ROBERTSON, state of military readiness when our enlisted servicemember issues in the Director, National servicemembers deployed around the world Military Coalition and in the National Legislative Commission. must worry about their loved ones at home,

VerDate Mar 15 2010 22:44 Dec 04, 2013 Jkt 081600 PO 00000 Frm 00019 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\2000SENATE\S06AP0.REC S06AP0 mmaher on DSKCGSP4G1 with SOCIALSECURITY S2288 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE April 6, 2000 and whether their needs are being met. This tive, compassionate step in the right direc- committed to improving their pay and bene- is not conducive to a strong national de- tion. This legislation demands the full sup- fits. fense. port of all of your Senate colleagues—it is FRA salutes you for your strong commit- These military men and women, who are the right thing to do. ment to the men and women serving in our continually put in harm’s way by the Presi- The Association extends its sincere appre- Nation’s uniformed services. dent and the Congress, should never have to ciation for your leadership and support for Sincerely, rely on charity to make ends meet. We must the enlisted men and women of the U.S. CHARLES L. CALKINS, never let our defenders of freedom down, es- Armed Forces. Count on NCOA’s support to National Executive Secretary. pecially when they are deployed in protec- get this legislation enacted. tion of world freedoms. Sincerely, The delegates to our last National Conven- LARRY D. RHEA, AIR FORCE SERGEANTS ASSOCIATION, tion, held August 21–25, 1999, in Orlando, Director of Legislative Affairs. Temple Hills, MD, March 29, 2000. Florida, passed Resolution No. 052, which Hon. JOHN MCCAIN, calls for adequate funding for the defense of THE RETIRED U.S. Senate, Russell Senate Office Building, our nation, both at home and abroad. I have ENLISTED ASSOCIATION, Washington, DC enclosed a copy of this resolution for your Alexandria, VA. DEAR SENATOR MCCAIN: On behalf of the information. Hon. JOHN MCCAIN, 150,000 members of the Air Force Sergeants Thank you again for your efforts on behalf U.S. Senate, Russell Senate Office Building, Association, I thank you for introducing leg- of our nation’s military members and for Washington, DC. islation important to the enlisted men and your support of veterans’ issues. DEAR SENATOR MCCAIN: On behalf of the women of all components of the Air Force. Sincerely, 110,000 members and auxiliary of The Retired This bill would provide $180 dollars a month JOSEPH A. VIOLANTE, Enlisted Association (TREA), TREA Na- to any military member who meets the food National Legislative Director. tional President Fred Athans and TREA Na- stamp income qualification threshold. As tional Auxiliary President Kay Claman, I you indicated, it is unconscionable that our THE RETIRED OFFICERS ASSOCIATION, would like to express our support for your ef- nation allows these brave men and women to Alexandria, VA, April 4, 2000. forts on behalf of these members of the subsist below the poverty level. As such, Hon. JOHN MCCAIN, Armed Forces currently receiving food your legislation would provide some much- U.S. Senate, stamps. needed monetary relief to this group until Washington, DC. As we enter into the 21st Century, it is un- such time as our national leaders correct the DEAR SENATOR MCCAIN: On behalf of the conscionable that individuals who are serv- situation. nearly 400,000 members of The Retired Offi- ing this great nation are forced to rely on Indeed, the lowest ranking members of our cers Association (TROA), I am writing to ex- government assistance in order to properly Armed Forces often express their dismay as press TROA’s support for your bill, S. 2322, support their families. As you are certainly they observe this country’s spending prior- the ‘‘Remove Service Members from Food aware, today’s military is ‘‘doing more with ities. In so many different ways, we fail to Stamps Act of 2000.’’ less’’ than any time in the recent past. Those thank them for their sacrifice. In so many All Americans are concerned when thou- in uniform are spending more hours on the ways, we communicate to them (by the sands of younger families serving their Na- job with an ever increasing operational things we do and don’t support) that they are tion in uniform have become eligible for pub- tempo, yet many of these soldiers, sailors, just not very important to this nation. lic assistance. TROA believes strongly that airmen and Marines cannot properly feed the ultimate answer is to increase military their children. the time has come to address Again, Senator, thank you for introducing pay sufficiently to restore pay comparability this issue once and for all. this legislation to provide those who meet with the private sector and wipe out the dou- TREA strongly supports your amendment the food stamp program threshold with an ble-digit military pay raise gap that has ac- to the budget resolution which will provide additional monthly stipend. The message cumulated over almost two decades. In addi- for the Department of Defense to ensure to- this legislation sends is, ‘‘We are proud of tion, housing allowances must be increased day’s military personnel, particularly the you, we honor you, we depend on you, and we to fully offset the cost of adequate housing junior enlisted force—the future non-com- will support you and your families.’ As al- for each pay grade. missioned officers, can take care of their ways, this association is ready to support Until the Executive and Legislative families without relying on food stamps. you on this legislation and other matters of Branches are prepared to allocate the fund- In closing, I would again like to thank you mutual concern. ing required to accomplish these goals, the for your leadership and attention to this Sincerly, only way to resolve the food stamp issue is very important issue. If TREA can be of any JAMES E. STATON, a special allowance such as provided for in S. further assistance please do not hesitate to Executive Director. 2322. contact me. TROA applauds your concern for the well- Sincerely, EANGUS, being of our men and women in uniform, and MARK H. OLANOFF, Alexandria, VA, March 29, 2000. particularly for those in lower grades for Legislative Director. Hon. JOHN MCCAIN, whom past pay constraints pose the most Senate Russell Building, significant impacts on their standard of liv- FLEET RESERVE ASSOCIATION, Washington, DC. ing. Alexandria, VA, March 29, 2000. DEAR SENATOR MCCAIN: The Enlisted Asso- Sincerely, Hon. JOHN MCCAIN, ciation of the National Guard of the United PAUL W. ARCARI, U.S. Senator, Russell Senate Building, Wash- States applauds your efforts to assist our Colonel, USAF (Ret), ington, DC. Junior Enlisted members within the mili- Director, Government Relations. DEAR SENATOR MCCAIN: Please be advised tary. that the Fleet Reserve Association (FRA) en- NCOA, dorses your proposed bill, the ‘‘Remove Serv- Although we ask these young men and Alexandria, VA, March 29, 2000. ice Members from Food Stamps Act of 2000.’’ women to endanger themselves for their Hon. JOHN MCCAIN, The bill will certainly alleviate the unfavor- country, their country does not provide ade- U.S. Senate, Russell Senate Office Building, able publicity concerning junior enlisted quate pay and allowances to provide support Washington, DC. members of the Armed Forces who must de- for their families. DEAR SENATOR MCCAIN: The Non Commis- pend upon food stamps to supplement their In the FY 00 Authorization Bill, Congress sioned Officers Association of the USA meager pay. In addition, the Association un- authorized a mid-year increase for sup- (NCOA) is writing to state its strong support derstands that the Chief of Naval Operations posedly mid-grade service members. How- for the ‘‘Remove Servicemembers from Food and the Commandant of the Marine Corps ever, in some cases, high-ranking officers Stamps Act of 2000,’’ legislation that you are support the proposal. making tens of thousands of dollars received preparing to introduce in the very near fu- The unfortunate fact that junior enlisted upwards of a 17% salary increase, while jun- ture. In these times of unprecedented pros- members are forced to rely on food stamps ior grades received a 5.2% increase overall. perity in America, it is impossible to rec- reflects the inadequacy of military com- We spend millions of dollars yearly re- oncile how even one U.S. Armed Forces pensation. Although there was progress to- cruiting individuals to join the military. member should be in the position of quali- ward closing the significant pay gap between Why can’t we find enough monies to enable fying for food stamps. military and civilian pay levels last year, those who serve in the military to feed their The fact that this legislation is needed is a more must be done and this measure helps families? further statement on how Congress and the address this reality. Administration have allowed military basic Petty Officers and Non-commissioned Offi- Senator McCain, we wholeheartedly en- pay and other components of the total com- cers are the backbone of the military serv- dorse your legislation to help our Junior En- pensation package to seriously erode. While ices and deserve fair and equitable com- listed members. the Remove Servicemembers from Food pensation for their great service to our Na- Working for America’s Best! Stamps Act of 2000 will not solve the under- tion. Retaining these essential personnel MSG MICHAEL P. CLINE (RET), lying problems, NCOA believes it is a posi- must be a high priority and FRA remains Executive Director.

VerDate Mar 15 2010 22:44 Dec 04, 2013 Jkt 081600 PO 00000 Frm 00020 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\2000SENATE\S06AP0.REC S06AP0 mmaher on DSKCGSP4G1 with SOCIALSECURITY April 6, 2000 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S2289 NAVAL ENLISTED have a lot of retention problems in the them the benefits they deserve. Be- RESERVE ASSOCIATION, military and we have a lot of recruit- cause they have that many children, Falls Church VA, April 3, 2000. ing problems. These, I know, are going we ought not to cause them to be on Re Remove Servicemembers from Food to be well ventilated by the Armed food stamps. That is the basic problem Stamps Act of 2000. Services Committee as time goes on. In we have. Hon. JOHN MCCAIN, my earlier years, it would have been I want to put in the RECORD letters I U.S. Senate, wrote in 1996, the response I received Washington, DC. hard for me to comprehend these kinds DEAR SENATOR MCCAIN: Enlisted Sailors, of conditions prevailing among the from Edwin Dorn and from Secretary Marines and Coasties who are constituents of men and women in the military, par- of Defense Bill Cohen. the Naval Enlisted Reserve Associated ticularly in the All Volunteer Force. I ask unanimous consent that they be (NERA) are again in your debt for cham- Mr. President, I ask for a recorded printed in the RECORD. pioning their causes. vote on this amendment, and ask for There being no objection, the letters Your proposed ‘‘Remove Servicemembers the yeas and nays. were ordered to be printed in the from Food Stamps Act of 2000’’ addresses The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there a RECORD, as follows: both squarely and collaterally several issues U.S. SENATE, near and dear to the hearts of our members, sufficient second? COMMITTEE ON THE BUDGET, among them the respect and dignity that There is a sufficient second. Washington, DC, May 15, 1996. must accrue to those who answer the call to The yeas and nays were ordered. Hon. EDWIN DORN, service, and pay parity, which detracts from Mr. MCCAIN. I thank the managers, Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and virtually all the services’ efforts to attract Senator DOMENICI and Senator REID. Readiness, Department of Defense, Wash- talent in the junior enlisted ranks, and re- I yield the floor. ington, DC. tain that talent at mid-career. Mr. DOMENICI. Will the Senator DEAR UNDER SECRETARY DORN: I am writ- Our support for your bill is wholehearted yield off his time? ing to express my very strong concern about and affirmative. Mr. MCCAIN. I yield the remainder of an issue involving the fundamental quality Thanks again for being there for us. my time after Senator DOMENICI of life of many U.S. military personnel. I am DENNIS F. PIERMAN, also requesting that as the defense Depart- Executive Director. speaks, or after anyone else who wants to speak on this amendment. ment official with purview over the 8th Mr. MCCAIN. Mr. President, I want Mr. DOMENICI. I thank the Senator. Quadrennial Review of Military Compensa- to provide a couple of brief anecdotes tion you look into the matter and consider We will try to stack this vote, if it is which are sometimes disturbing. In a solutions as the Review Commission pre- all right with the Senator. We are July 20, 1999, piece in the Washington pares to make its recommendations on the going to have the three votes. Post entitled ‘‘Feeling the Pinch of A military compensation system to Congress I commend Senator MCCAIN. I hope Military Salary; For Some Families this summer. what he is suggesting on the floor hap- The issue that troubles me is the fact that Pay Doesn’t Cover The Basics,’’ it pens, because the truth is, the U.S. De- according to Department of Defense (DoD) starts out by describing: partment of Defense is making it very estimates, there are currently almost 12,000 On a muggy Saturday at Quantico Marine difficult for this to happen. We have active duty military personnel whose fami- Corps Base, about two dozen Marines and lies qualify for and receive food stamps. I family members quietly poked through piles worked with them on a number of occa- further understand from DoD research that of discarded furniture, clothing, and house- sions. You would actually be shocked while pay for single enlisted personnel is suf- hold goods in what has become a weekly rit- at some of the correspondence I have ficiently high such that none qualify for food ual at the big Northern Virginia installation. received. stamps or other forms of welfare, married At 8 a.m., the patch of lawn was covered with I want to quote one piece of cor- personnel with families with as few as one beds, tables, dressers, and desks. Within 45 respondence. When I said, why don’t dependent, for an E–1, do in some cases qual- minutes, almost all the furniture was gone. you tell us how to take care of the food ify. I also understand that even sergeants The price was right—Everything was free. stamp problem, this is what the Sec- and some junior officers can qualify, depend- The items had been gathered by volunteers ing on their number of dependents and pay who go ‘‘trashin’’ every Tuesday, scouring retary of Defense for Personnel and allotments. Furthermore, many of these garbage left at curbs on the base. Every Sat- Readiness, Edwin Dorn, wrote to me: It military personnel live off base and receive urday, they give away what they collect to would be a mistake to give higher pay an additional housing allowance in their needy, eager Marine families. to military personnel who had ‘‘a larg- paycheck and yet their pay remains suffi- ‘‘We’re talking about the basics of life er family than he or she can afford.’’ ciently low that they still qualify for food here, and they don’t have it,’’ said Lisa You can see why that becomes part stamps. Joles, a Marine wife who created the Volun- of the issue, as the Senator from Ari- Frankly, I do not believe it is acceptable that the men and women who serve in our teer Network 2 years ago. ‘‘Sometimes, they zona understands. We have an all-vol- don’t have a thing. I didn’t know how large Armed Forces and who experience all the rig- the problem was until I got to Quantico.’’ unteer military that we have asked to ors of prolonged overseas deployments, fam- One result is that members of the military stay on for long periods of time. It is ily separations, other sacrifices the Nation routinely work second jobs, often without not like draftees who spend 2 years in asks of them should have pay so low that permission from superiors, military officials uniform. They have families. They they must accept food stamps, or any other acknowledged. Enlisted men and women sell have children. In fact, we have not form of welfare. This situation reflects ex- goods at Potomac Mills, flip hamburgers at quite figured it out. Maybe the Senator tremely poorly on the ‘‘Quality of Life’’ for fast food restaurants, do construction work, from Arizona can figure it out in his Armed Forces personnel that is described to be the primary point of emphasis in The and deliver packages for UPS. ‘‘It seems like committee. With this targeting of everybody who has been here a while has a President’s defense budget. This situation part-time job,’’ said Marine Lance Corporal money today—not a lot of money—we not only fails to reward U.S. military per- Robert Hayes, who has a second job as a will start solving the problem with sonnel at an appropriate level, it will also mover. ‘‘You really don’t have enough those who are not earning much. That exacerbate recruiting and retention prob- money to make it to the next paycheck oth- is the intent of the proposal of the Sen- lems for the military services, especially as erwise.’’ ator from Arizona. the pool of available quality recruits shrinks Several evenings each week, as soon as he But essentially it is very difficult for and as downsizing in the services has finally finishes duty at Quantico, Lance Corporal the military to come up with a conclu- ended. According to DoD calculations, under the Harry Schein darts off base, picks up his 14- sion that we have to make sure we month-old son from day care and drops him existing military compensation system, a off with the boy’s mother. Then he drives up don’t penalize big families in the mili- supplemental allowance by family based on I–95 to Arlington and joins a group of Ma- tary. I never heard of any implication grade and number of dependents could put rines who moonlight moving office furniture that we had an all-volunteer military the pay of virtually all current military food until about 11 p.m. On Saturdays and Sun- and we were going to start by saying to stamp recipients above the gross income eli- days, he works from 4 p.m. until midnight as them: Don’t have too many children. gibility criteria for food stamps and would a security guard in Alexandria. I believe the Senator from Arizona cost $72.6 million. This is, of course, only one The stories go on and on. About a would join me in saying that is an ab- possible solution to this problem. Because I know, you and the 8th Quadrennial Review of year ago, there was a piece on 20/20 surd policy. What if they have five chil- Military Compensation are considering the shown out at Camp Pendleton. Enlisted dren? I think that is all right. If they entire compensation of that complex system, men and women and their families want to serve 30 years in the military I do not want to presume the optimal solu- were lining up for cartons of food. We with five children, we ought to give tion. I do, however, want to impress on you

VerDate Mar 15 2010 22:44 Dec 04, 2013 Jkt 081600 PO 00000 Frm 00021 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\2000SENATE\S06AP0.REC S06AP0 mmaher on DSKCGSP4G1 with SOCIALSECURITY S2290 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE April 6, 2000 the need to address the problem and to seek and General Shalikashvili’s responses to this Mr. REID. If the Senator will with- a level of compensation for Armed Forces question were, for me, very welcome news; hold the unanimous consent request, I personnel that precludes overall compensa- that so many military families qualify for want to consult with our leader. I am tion so low that their families qualify for foodstamps does not indicate that the Ad- pretty sure it is OK. I want to food stamps or any other form of welfare. ministration is serious about ‘‘quality of I very much appreciate your taking my life’’ for our Armed Forces; it indicates the doublecheck. concerns into consideration. I look forward opposite. We have so many amendments to be to working with you on this important issue Last year, I had an exchange of cor- offered, and we know the other side is after the 8th Quadrennial Review of Military respondence on this subject with under Sec- next in line to offer the next amend- Compensation makes its report to Congress retary Dorn, urging him to address the prob- ment. Until their Member shows up, we this summer. lem. Unfortunately, he chose not to review would like Senator REED to speak off Sincerely, this matter during last year’s Quadrennial the resolution about an amendment PETER V. DOMENICI, Review of Military Compensation. Under which he will offer at a subsequent U.S. Senator. Secretary Dorn also seemed to argue that time. family size is purely a matter of choice to Mr. President, the minority yields UNDER SECRETARY OF DEFENSE, service men and women and that he ‘‘did not Washington, DC, July 22, 1996. believe it would be prudent to . . . accommo- the time on the McCain amendment. Hon. PETE V. DOMENICI, date a [service] member’s decision to have a The PRESIDING OFFICER. All time U.S. Senate, larger family than he/she can afford.’’ A copy is yielded. Washington, DC. of this exchange of correspondence is en- Mr. REID. Mr. President, we yield DEAR SENATOR DOMENICI: Thank you for closed. time to the Senator from Rhode Island your May 15 letter about military families I hope that you will agree with me that the off the resolution. on food stamps. I share your concern for this time has come to take action on this matter The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- problem and have given a lot of thought to and to adjust compensation for those en- ator from Rhode Island is recognized. it. For those reasons. I am especially apolo- listed personnel who you judge to be truly in Mr. REED. Thank you, Mr. Presi- getic about the slowness of my response to need. I am in complete agreement with you dent. I thank the Senator from Nevada you. that the current situation is not acceptable, The Department has studied this issue for yielding time. I am going to take a and I would be very happy to work with you moment to discuss an amendment that twice recently, in 1991 and in 1995, and thus to resolve it. I elected not to include it in the Quadrennial With best regards, I will propose later today. Review of Military Compensation. Their PETE V. DOMENICI, On May 20 of last year, this Senate studies confirm an insight contained in your U.S. Senator. passed effective, commonsense gun letter; the number of military families eligi- safety legislation as part of the juve- ble for food stamps is largely an artifact of THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE, nile justice bill. The vote was over- a system that does not count the value of Washington, DC, March 19, 1997. whelming—73–25. It was in response to military housing when computing food Hon. PETE V. DOMENICI, the tragedy at Columbine High school, stamp eligibility. If we were to control for U.S. Senate, value of housing and for family size (another a tragedy that shook the very founda- Washington, DC. tion of America’s sense of security, criterion), the number of military families in DEAR PETE: Thank you for your letter of this category in 1995 would drop from 12,000 February 11, expressing your concern about their sense of the well-being for their to fewer than 5,000. military members who receive food stamp children. In response to that great This computation does not dispose of the benefits. You are correct. I did say that it tragedy, this Senate acted. It passed a problem. I remain concerned that thousands was unacceptable to have members of the commonsense gun control provision of military families are eligible for food military on food stamps during the January that would close loopholes in our Na- stamps, and that they are regarded by some 31, 1997 press conference. However, both Gen- tion’s gun laws—not only to help pre- as impoverished. However, my concern is eral Shalikashvili and I believe that this is a tempered by the realization that the mili- vent future Columbines but to try to very complex issue, which not only involves stop this pervasive wave of gun vio- tary member and his/her spouse have made a the Department’s compensation system, but decision to increase the size of his/her fam- also the structure of government food stamp lence that is sweeping America and ily. The Department does a number of things programs. claiming 12 children each and every to accommodate servicemembers’ personal I will continue to closely monitor this day. choices. As the number of dependents in- issue, as I am committed to ensuring that Yet here we are, almost 1 year from creases, for example, the member become eli- our service men and women enjoy the qual- the day of the Columbine tragedy, and gible for larger family quarters. And, there is ity of life they have earned and deserve. we still have not brought to this floor no limit on the number of minor dependents Sincerely, the conference report so that we can eligible for the Defense health program. BILL. This is a difficult issue because it requires vote upon it and send it to the Presi- us to weigh our concern for military family Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, I say dent for his signature. members against the military member’s ob- to the Senator from Arizona that this Leadership, both the House and the ligation to exercise judgment. I do not be- is not a lot of money he is asking for Senate, has stood idly by while all of lieve it would be prudent to adapt the mili- here. I guess technically you can’t di- America asked us for a very simple re- tary compensation system further to accom- rect it in a budget resolution. But I quest to get on with the business we modate a member’s decision to have a larger think when we vote for this this after- started last May to bring the juvenile family that he/she can afford. noon—I hope everyone will vote for it— justice bill to the floor for a vote, for I appreciate and share your concern for the quality of life of military families. If thee is we will be saying: Let’s begin to solve passage we hope, and for the signature additional information I can provide, I shall this problem. Let’s not sit around and of the President. be happy to do so. say families within the military are What happened in the intervening Sincerely, too big. Let’s fix it. year is that this conference committee EDWIN DORN. Am I kind of speaking for what the met only once last August. In effect, Senator from Arizona is worried about? the message that I think is being com- U.S. SENATE, Am I on the right track? municated is there is a hope and an ex- COMMITTEE ON THE BUDGET, Mr. MCCAIN. If the Senator will pectation by the Republican leadership Washington, DC, February 11, 1997. yield, yes, he is doing exactly what I in the House and Senate that this prob- Hon. WILLIAM S. COHEN, Secretary of Defense, Department of Defense, had in mind. I appreciate very much lem will go away, that people will for- Washington, DC. his long-term commitment on this get about Columbine, and that people DEAR SECRETARY COHEN: During your inau- issue. It is long overdue. We should fix will forget about this tragedy. We can- gural press conference on January 31, you it. I share his dissatisfaction with the not forget. We have to take active were asked a question about the 12,000 Department of Defense in its responsi- steps to ensure that the measure we Armed Forces personnel who are currently bility towards these young men and pass will at least come back for a clear using foodstamps. You responded to the women. vote and, hopefully, come back so we question by stating that it is ‘‘not accept- able’’ for service men and women to be I thank the Senator from New Mex- can incorporate it in real legislation. foodstamp recipients. Responding to the ico. It is very unusual that a conference same question, General Shalikashvili stated Mr. DOMENICI. I believe all time has would take this long. I can recall being that he believed that the condition of these been yielded on our side. Are we ready part of a financial service moderniza- military families should be changed. Your for another amendment? tion bill—very contentious legislation;

VerDate Mar 15 2010 22:44 Dec 04, 2013 Jkt 081600 PO 00000 Frm 00022 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\2000SENATE\S06AP0.REC S06AP0 mmaher on DSKCGSP4G1 with SOCIALSECURITY April 6, 2000 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S2291 legislation that involved numerous in- Let me briefly review what is at issue lines across the country as the tragic terest groups; legislation that effec- in the juvenile justice bill so we can be death of that 6-year-old did, but they tively failed at the very last moment clear about the nature of this legisla- suggest what is happening day in and in the last Congress; and, again, in this tion. First, in the juvenile justice bill day out—the 12 children in America Congress—that was subject to a tumul- we passed an amendment requiring killed each day. tuous series of legislative maneuvers that a secure storage or safety device I will recite some of the stories in on both sides of Congress. Yet it only be sold with all handguns. Unlike vir- which youngsters were killed by fire- took us 3 months to rationalize, to tually every other product in the arms. A woman in Carroll County, MD, compromise, and to ultimately pass United States, firearms produced in 18 years old, died of an accidental gun- this bill in the conference. this country are not subject to regula- shot wound to the head after she and We just spent 1 month dealing with tion by the Consumer Product Safety her friends were admiring her father’s the issues of transportation in the Commission. .22-caliber revolver. Her parents were Transportation Act, a $209 billion legis- Again, one of the great ironies of out of the country. They were doing lative initiative. present-day America is that a toy gun missionary work in Costa Rica. My suggestion is pretty clear, that is subject to safety provisions of the A simple safety lock on that weapon this is not routine business as usual by Consumer Product Safety Commission; perhaps could have saved that young taking this long for a conference. It a real gun that can cause real harm woman’s life. This is one of those clas- represents a deliberate decision not to and real damage—death in many sic accidents the gun lobby doesn’t act, a deliberate decision to try by cases—is not subject to such regula- want to talk about because it can be ef- stalling, by delay, by tying this up tion. As a result, manufacturers of fire- fective and should be passed by our leg- with the approaching elections so that arms produce weapons lacking, in some islation which will put trigger locks on effectively what we will do is end pre- cases, even the most rudimentary safe- the weapons. It is not a question of ir- maturely the important steps we began ty features designed to prevent the ac- responsible, reckless parents whose last May 20 by adopting commonsense cidental or intentional shooting of moral or ethical values contribute to gun control legislation. children or by children. the death of a child. These parents are This is something the American peo- The tragic consequences are undeni- missionaries, literally doing the Lord’s ple clearly want. It is something that, able. Each year, suicides and acci- work, in Costa Rica, when their child when they are asked, they will over- dental shootings make up more than accidentally shoots herself. whelmingly say are commonsense half of the tens of thousands of gun A 6-year-old boy and a friend in Shopiere, WI, were horsing around with measures. deaths in the United States. Kids are a .22-caliber pistol his mother kept for A poll was recently conducted in frequently the victims. This is an im- protection and usually stored in her which over 90 percent of Americans re- portant point. The gun lobby tries to dresser. After posing with the gun for a sponded by saying they wanted child suggest that the victims of shootings photograph, the boy pointed the gun at safety locks. In this group, 85 percent are being waylaid by armed desperados his head. It went off, killing him. As of the gun owners responded saying who are law breakers who will never his grandmother said: It was kid’s play, they, too, wanted child safety locks. follow laws. In fact, the reason they They also want us to close the loop- total kid’s play. are on the streets is that the laws are Again, would a trigger lock have holes on the gun shows by an over- ineffectual for putting them behind helped? Perhaps. whelming majority. Yet despite over- bars. More than half the shootings are How about the 15-year-old boy in San whelming public support, despite our accidents, with no criminal intent, or Bernardino, CA, who found his step- already accomplished legislation in suicide, in which the individual is so father’s handgun while his pregnant this party the bill languishes in con- depressed and despondent, they are mother slept, and he used it to shoot ference. seizing a weapon to destroy them- himself. In this debate, there is a great hue selves. A 16-year-old girl in Altoona, PA, ar- and cry that we don’t need more laws, We have been shocked recently by gued with her father, a gun collector, just enforce the ones on the books. In the tragic death of Kayla Rowland, a 6- about her curfew, and then took a .22- this debate, law enforcement is on our year-old shot by another 6-year-old in caliber handgun from under his mat- side. They recognize that in addition to Mount Morris Township, MI. I believe tress while he was out and shot herself enforcing the laws, we need other com- if a Member came to this floor last in the head. monsense laws that will give them ad- May 20 and predicted that a 6-year-old All of these young lives were lost in ditional tools, that will go to the heart child would be shot by another 6-year- just 1 week in America. We could cata- of many issues that have to be ad- old child in a schoolroom in the United log such deaths every week in America. dressed if we want a sane and peaceful States, we would have been hooted The gun lobby says we don’t need gun society. down as hysterical demagogs. Sadly locks; we don’t need gun laws; we just This chart indicates the number of and tragically, that has happened. have to do a better job enforcing those associations of law enforcement offi- Mr. DOMENICI. Will the Senator already on the books. How is law en- cials that are strongly supportive of yield? forcement going to save the lives of our initiative, including the Inter- Mr. REID. I am happy to yield to the kids such as those I have talked about? national Association of Chiefs of Police Senator. They are not hardened criminals. They and the International Brotherhood of Mr. DOMENICI. I don’t want my re- are not in bad families. They are not Police Officers. Police are on our side. marks to interrupt his statement. I ask out robbing banks or terrorizing in They stand with us to demand we take unanimous consent a vote in relation gangs. effective, prompt action to send this to the pending McCain amendment, No. The only way they can be helped is juvenile justice legislation to the 2988, occur in the stacked sequence through prevention—not enforcement President for his signature. under the same terms as outlined in but prevention. That is what will save In addition to that, I was this morn- the previous consent agreement. these kids. Prevention is the key—not ing with a group of police officers from The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without to the exclusion of enforcement; we my home State of Rhode Island and objection, it is so ordered. have to enforce our laws and be tough. others from Maryland. They were quite Mr. DOMENICI. In light of this Later today, Senator DURBIN will in- clear; they want to see prompt action. agreement, there will now be three re- troduce a resolution that will amend it When we have the American people corded votes at 2 o’clock. and ask us to put more resources into overwhelmingly supporting this provi- Mr. REED. Mr. President, as I point- enforcement. I strongly support that. sion, when we have law enforcement, ed out, we were all shocked by the But we need prevention and enforce- those men and women who stand most death of Kayla Rowland. That week, ment. We require safety caps on bottles in the line of fire, demanding this leg- People magazine conducted a review of of aspirin and bottles of prescription islation be passed, it is indeed puzzling other deaths of children which are drugs. It makes no sense that we don’t we are not taking effective steps to symptomatic of what is happening in require the same types of safety de- pass this legislation. America. They don’t capture the head- vices on handguns.

VerDate Mar 15 2010 22:44 Dec 04, 2013 Jkt 081600 PO 00000 Frm 00023 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\2000SENATE\S06AP0.REC S06AP0 mmaher on DSKCGSP4G1 with SOCIALSECURITY S2292 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE April 6, 2000 We have to do it. It is included in our date 45 rounds. People who need these The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- juvenile justice bill. If we maintain it types of magazines are folks who ator from Vermont. in conference and bring it to the floor, should not have them, in a sense, be- Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, I thank we can save many children in this cause the potential for violence, the the Senator from Rhode Island, and I country. potential for criminal activity is much thank the other Senator from Rhode Regarding gun shows—and I see my more enhanced, I believe, when you Island, and I thank the Senator from colleague from New Jersey, Senator have a magazine that has 40 or 50 Nevada and the Senator from New Jer- LAUTENBERG, who was the leader in rounds rather than those old-fashioned sey. I am proud to cosponsor the this effort—with the help of Vice Presi- hunting rifles which are part and par- amendment to report the juvenile jus- dent GORE, by one vote we were able to cel of the American story. tice conference by April 20. I think the pass sensible rules to close the gun In addition to these provisions, the distinguished senior Senator from show loophole to require that back- underlying legislation would increase Rhode Island does the whole Senate ground checks would always be con- the enforcement capacity of Federal and the country a service by his ducted for all the thousands of gun agents and local agents by expanding amendment. the successful youth crime gun inter- shows around the country. Congress has kept the country wait- Currently at most gun shows, one- diction initiative to 250 cities by the year 2003, enhancing the efforts to ing too long for action on juvenile jus- fourth or more of the dealers are unli- tice legislation. It kept the country censed. Therefore, they do not have to trace guns used in crime and identify and arrest adults who sell guns to chil- waiting too long for action on sensible perform a Brady law background gun laws. In fact, we are almost up to check. This is a serious loophole. If dren. All of these other worthy provi- sions are there; also, increased pen- the first-year anniversary of the shoot- someone is a felon, if someone has a ing in Columbine High School in shady background, if someone is irra- alties on so-called straw purchases— those individuals who buy guns know- Littleton, CO. tional and looking for a gun, he or she This morning I was watching the would go to a gun show, go to a li- ing the ultimate recipient is unable to have the gun either because of a crimi- news, seeing some of these young peo- censed dealer, and then the dealer ple talking about what they went would explain they have to do a gun nal record or because of age. It would keep guns out of the hands of violent through, and the memories all came check. Then what would happen? That back about what had happened there person would certainly keep looking offenders. It would also allow the Fed- eral Trade Commission and Attorney when 14 students and a teacher lost around until he found an unlicensed their lives, nearly 12 months ago, on dealer who had a whole cache of guns General to study the extent to which the gun industry markets and distrib- April 20, 1999. and say, Do I have to do a background I mention that date, April 20, 1999, check? utes its products to juveniles. They are all reasonable measures. All because it has been 11 months since No, no, not at all. then that the Senate passed the Hatch- We can see in that supermarket, that should be done. But what has been Leahy juvenile justice bill. This bill bazaar of guns, that is where, likely, done? Because of the inaction, and de- was not a close call. The vote was 73– those people who do not want a check liberate inaction, of the leadership, 25. It was a bipartisan bill. It included can go and today they will be able to nothing has been done. The American people have waited too long. Later some very modest but, I believe, effec- get a handgun. tive gun safety measures. Ten months It is just common sense to effectively today, I will be offering, along with 22 ago, the House passed its own juvenile enforce the Brady law, to make sure of my colleagues, a sense-of-the-Senate crime bill. this gun show loophole is closed, and resolution calling on the juvenile jus- closed in a way that allows for check- tice conferees to complete and submit Then we did not meet or have a con- the conference report before April 20, ing those people who should be ference; we did not meet to talk about the first anniversary of the Columbine checked, the ones for whom you might it until about 8 months ago. Then we shooting, and to include in the con- have to find State records that are not met only briefly. We did nothing and ference report the amendments I have available on a weekend; for whom you recessed for a 4- or 5-week vacation. just discussed, that were passed by this might need indeed more than 72 hours Now it is very easy to see what has Senate, seeking to limit access to fire- to conduct a background check. happened. By delaying and delaying arms by juveniles, convicted felons, Another is the ban on juvenile pos- and delaying, some might have the best and other persons prohibited by law session of assault weapons. There is ab- of all possible worlds. They could say: from purchasing or possessing fire- solutely no reason a youngster should Yes, I stood up and voted for some arms. have an assault weapon. These weapons modest gun safety laws; and at the Will the passage of this amendment same time they could say to the power- were designed to kill people. stop every gun crime in this country? I served in the Army at the point ful gun lobby: Don’t worry, it is not No, but it will save lives, the lives of going anywhere. We have that bottled where the transition was made between those children I talked about, the lives the old M–14 weapon, which was a rifle up somewhere in a committee, a com- of children shot accidentally, the lives, mittee of conference that never meets. that had great accuracy, that was part perhaps, of people who, if they do not of what some people derided as the old Nobody even knows where it is. I doubt have easy access to firearms, may if there are 10 people in the House or musket Army of aimed fire, and the think a moment before taking their tactics of the strategists back in the the Senate who could even name the lives. members of it. 1960s who said: We do not need aimed If we do these things: Close the gun fire; we just need a weapon that, in show loophole, require safety locks to The majority in Congress convened close quarters, can deliver massive be sold with handguns, if we ban the this conference on August 5, 1999, less rates of fire, high rates of cyclical fire. importation of large-capacity clips and than 24 hours before the Congress ad- The whole purpose being not hunting, juvenile possession of assault weapons, journed for its long August recess. not target shooting, but destroying we will bring some sense to our gun You do not have to be a cynic to rec- other people, which is the nature of laws and we will provide a meaningful ognize this for what it was: a trans- warfare. That is where the assault memorial to those children who died at parent ploy to deflect criticism for weapon comes. No child needs to have Columbine and those children who die delays while ensuring the conference those. each day by gun violence. did not have enough time to prepare A ban on the importation of large-ca- I notice my colleagues from New comprehensive juvenile justice legisla- pacity clips is another provision. It is Mexico and from Vermont are here. I tion to send to the President before illegal for these clips to be produced by suspect they would like to speak also. school began in September, 1999. American manufacturers, but through As a result, I yield the floor. This is a serious matter. The Senate another loophole they can be imported Mr. REID. I yield 5 minutes to the Democrats and the House Democrats into the country. Once again, if you are Senator, the ranking member of the have been ready for months to recon- a sportsman out hunting, you do not Judiciary Committee, off the resolu- vene the juvenile justice conference need a magazine that can accommo- tion. and work with Republicans to have an

VerDate Mar 15 2010 22:44 Dec 04, 2013 Jkt 081600 PO 00000 Frm 00024 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\2000SENATE\S06AP0.REC S06AP0 mmaher on DSKCGSP4G1 with SOCIALSECURITY April 6, 2000 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S2293 effective juvenile justice conference re- the Senator from New Jersey. Those men and looking at the pictures on tel- port, one that has reasonable gun safe- are people who commit acts of domes- evision and seeing a young man reach- ty provisions, something along the tic violence and are convicted of ing out for help, fearful for his life, and lines of what we passed 3–1 here in the crimes dealing with domestic violence. young people running frantically from Senate. Unfortunately, the Republican Those people can no longer have per- the school to get out of the way of the leadership would not act. mits to carry weapons. They can no bullets. The consequences were disas- I know they are facing fierce opposi- longer have handguns. trous: 12 classmates were killed, the 2 tion from the gun lobby. One only has One of the few pioneers in the Senate killers, and a teacher. Twenty-three to turn on the television set to see an on the Brady bill was the Senator from other students and teachers wounded. I aging actor telling us why we should New Jersey, Mr. LAUTENBERG. He was shutter when I recall that bloody car- not be protecting our young children. I the person who initially started the nage. wish instead of listening to somebody work in the Senate and in the Congress No parent or grandparent can avoid who is acting a role and playing a role on the Brady bill. What does that thanking the Lord for the safety of and has made their livelihood acting mean? It means that over 400,000 felons their own families when they see the out other people’s fantasies, they who have attempted to purchase weap- horror of those moments. Yet that as- would listen to the Nation’s law en- ons have been prevented from buying sault was not only an assault on Col- forcement officers. These are the men those guns. umbine High School, it was an assault and women whom we ask every single In addition to that, of course, he on the sensibilities of our country—the day to put their lives on the line for us. sponsored a law eliminating funding of innocent young people scared, des- These are the people who die pro- an ATF program that allowed con- perate, running away from gunmen. tecting us. These are the people most victed felons with weapons violations Frankly, I thought that would be the concerned about effective gun laws. to apply for and waive probation. In ultimate outrage; that would be the ul- Ten national law enforcement orga- short, it is very good that we have so timate insult to the lawfulness of our nizations, representing thousands of much attention focused on guns and society, to our respect for law, to our law enforcement officers, have en- gun violence and legislation dealing respect for life; that this would be it dorsed the Senate-passed gun safety with guns. and people would stand up and say: amendments, and they support loop- Before yielding time to the Senator Enough; we have had enough; we want hole-free firearms laws, from the Inter- from New Jersey, I want the record to to make a change. The cries of people, national Association of Chiefs of Po- reflect that we are dealing with gun the tearful students who lost friends lice, International Brotherhood of Po- legislation more easily today than we and those who lost relatives, sons and lice Officers, Major Cities Chiefs, Na- were when this man had the vision to daughters, sent an image across this tional Sheriffs Association, and on and act on some of these laws. Jim Brady country which I thought would shake on. depended on FRANK LAUTENBERG to through the halls of this Congress I spent 8 years in law enforcement. I pass the Brady bill. which says: Hey, listen, it’s time. know how much they care. They be- I commend and applaud the Senator Poll after poll was done at that time. lieve in keeping guns out of the hands from New Jersey for the work he has The numbers were that 80 to 90 percent of people who should not have them. I done, and I yield to him such time as of the people said they wanted the gun am not talking about people who use he may consume, off the resolution. show loophole closed. There are over guns for sports and hunting. I am talk- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- 4,000 gun shows a year where anyone— ing about criminals and unsupervised ator from New Jersey. any thief, any felon, anyone who is children. Mr. LAUTENBERG. Mr. President, I listed on the 10 most wanted list of the These thousands of law enforcement thank the Senator from Nevada for his FBI—can walk up, take the money out officers are asking us to do our duty. courtesy and kind remarks. of their pocket, put it down on the Instead of taking all these recesses and We have done a lot of work. I com- table, and nobody asks: What is your vacations, we should stay here a couple mend Senator REED from Rhode Island name? Where do you live? From what of days and pass juvenile justice legis- for his leadership. He had a career in town do you come? lation. the military before he came to the Con- That is not what the American peo- Every parent, every teacher, every gress. He used that background to un- ple want. I do not understand the NRA student in this country is concerned derstand the problem and to put it into and other members of the gun lobby about school violence. We know there perspective. I commend him for his who say this is somehow an intrusion is not any one thing that will stop leadership on gun violence issues. on their personal rights. Where are the school violence, but we do know that in I was pleased to hear from our friend personal rights of the family to know the Hatch-Leahy juvenile justice bill from Vermont, the ranking member on that when their children go to school there are provisions that help bring the Judiciary Committee. Vermont is each and every day, they will return about safety in our schools. Don’t we known to have a lot of hunters. home in the same healthy condition as owe it to the parents, don’t we owe it Vermont is known as a place where when they went to school? to the students, don’t we owe it to the there are a lot of guns. As I heard Sen- Everyone here has to be aware that teachers to make this a safer country? ator LEAHY say, a lot of these hunters on May 14 we are going to have the We do not owe or should not owe any- were disappointed at the unwillingness Million Mom March. I met with people thing to any powerful lobby, left or of the gun lobby, personified by the Na- from New Jersey who are participating. right. We owe our privilege of serving tional Rifle Association, in their orga- I will tell you something. If you talk to here to the people who sent us here, nization’s unwillingness to step for- women’s groups, talk to individual and the vast majority of people who ward and make some commonsense ad- women across this country about what sent us here, Republicans and Demo- justments to the law, getting legisla- really counts with them, what is the crats, want us to move forward on this tion on the books that says guns most important thing on their agenda: sensible piece of legislation. should not be available willy-nilly to Is it equal opportunity for jobs? Is it to Mr. REID. Mr. President, as a matter people who want to buy a lethal weap- make sure that pay scales are the same of formality, I will yield time off the on. for men and women? What is it that is resolution to the manager of this bill. I hope we will soon deal with an the most important thing? I will tell I do it for a specific reason. There has amendment that will codify our inter- you what the most important thing is: been a lot of attention focused in re- est in controlling gun violence. We are To know their children are safe when cent months on gun violence in Amer- soon coming upon a very important an- they go to school. The Million Mom ica. The Senator from New Jersey, who niversary. April 20 is the 1-year anni- March is organized around that precept has decided to retire from the Senate, versary of the awful tragedy at Col- that children should be safe, that this has been the leader on this issue for umbine High School. Few can forget society of ours has had enough of guns many years. For example, 33,000 people that awful day, the shock we all felt and the havoc it wreaks in our Nation. have been prevented from having guns when we heard about young people in That tragic day, almost a year ago, as a result of the initial work done by the high school being assaulted by gun- was enough to offend women across the

VerDate Mar 15 2010 22:44 Dec 04, 2013 Jkt 081600 PO 00000 Frm 00025 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\2000SENATE\S06AP0.REC S06AP0 mmaher on DSKCGSP4G1 with SOCIALSECURITY S2294 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE April 6, 2000 country to organize a million person of her children, and a man threatens to with the administration that will in- march in State after State where it blow her brains out. There is no visible corporate many of the measures stalled will be taking place. wound, but I guarantee you, there are in the conference committee: Back- But what has the Congress done to wounds that carry through life. The ground checks at gun shows, child safe- answer the anguished cries of people children never forget. But we cannot ty locks, and preventing the use of am- who have lost a child? Anybody who act on it. munition clips with more than 10 knows a family who has lost a child, We are now waiting for something to rounds. particularly to violence—I guess it happen. We are waiting for the juvenile Congress ought not be trailing behind does not matter how you lose a child; justice bill, which passed overwhelm- gun manufacturers when it comes to once you lose a child, it is a terrible ingly and went to the House, with our gun safety. The conference committee thing. The family never recovers. The gun-loophole-show closer, and it died. ought to complete its job. I support circumstances never change. Col- The conference committee has been ap- Senator REED’s resolution. When it is umbine High School will never be the pointed, but nothing has happened presented, I hope that all of my col- same, even though they had yet an- since that time. leagues will vote for it. other crazy incident there. We have had support in the past from I yield the floor. What happens to those cries? What Senators on the other side of the aisle AMENDMENT NO. 2985 happens to those pleas? They fall on on the gun show amendment. Senators The PRESIDING OFFICER. There deaf ears. That is what happens. Not DEWINE, FITZGERALD, LUGAR, VOINO- are 2 minutes available, evenly divided, enough people listen, to say: You know VICH, WARNER, and Senator Chafee— on the Reid amendment. what. Yes, we understand there is some who is no longer with us—voted for my Who yields time? debate about the possession of a weap- amendment at that time. Mr. REID. Senator REID yields to on. But there is nothing in the Con- The final juvenile justice bill, as we Senator DURBIN. stitution—no matter how hard the pro- heard from Senator LEAHY, passed by a The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- ponents of guns try—that says you can- vote of 73–25. So there was strong bi- ator from Illinois. not wait a few days while we check to partisan support for moving forward on Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, I offer see who you are before we give you a juvenile crime and trying to reduce this amendment and urge the Senate to gun. Before we give you an automobile, gun violence. go on record opposing the George W. we check out who you are. But that was back on May 20—11 Bush tax cut. It is a risky proposal. It What is it that prevents us from say- months ago. What has happened since threatens our economy. It raids the So- ing, look, come on; get together, gun then? Shootings have not stopped. We cial Security trust fund. It provides no lovers, NRA and the others? What is it saw a 6-year-old murder another 6- funding protection for Social Security that says we have to permit gun pur- year-old in Michigan. or Medicare. It eliminates needed in- chases by anonymous buyers? There From Mount Morris, MI, to Los An- vestments in education. Sadly, the tax isn’t anything in the Constitution that geles, CA; from Fort Worth, TX, as cuts go primarily to the wealthiest says that. There isn’t anything in the youngsters in a prayer session were people in America. The Bush tax cut is Constitution that says you should not violated by a gun-wielding assaulter, to a $50,000 tax cut if you make over have to have a license, that you should Conyers, GA; no community is safe $300,000 a year. For 60 percent of Amer- not have to be trained before you buy a from gun violence. ican families, it is a tax cut of $249. gun. But while the vast majority of Amer- Some of my Republican colleagues The Senator from Rhode Island, who icans want Congress to act, some spe- who say they have endorsed George W. is going to propose this amendment, as cial interests—the National Rifle Asso- Bush and his plan have a chance to fol- I indicated, was in the Army as an offi- ciation, the gun lobby—have worked low the admonition of that noted polit- cer. He is a West Point graduate. He with their few allies in Congress, where ical philosopher, Tammy Wynette, who served in Vietnam. He knows what it is less than 3 million members of the said: ‘‘Stand by your man.’’ But for to be in war. He served during the pe- NRA determine what actions we take those who want this economy to con- riod of the Vietnam conflict. I served on behalf of 260 million Americans. tinue to prosper, and America to con- in Europe during World War II when It is not right. Sooner or later, the tinue to be strong, vote ‘‘no’’ on the the shooting was going on. I know what voters are going to rebel and say: If George W. Bush tax cut. the purpose of a gun is. I learned how you do not vote to put common sense (Mr. VOINOVICH assumed the chair.) to use it. I have never owned one since into gun possession in this country, we Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, even I got my discharge, I can tell you. are going to vote you out of office. though Senators REID and DURBIN have But what is it that prevents us from That is what ought to happen. Boy, if been talking about it for a couple of taking up the simplest, commonsense one time that happens in an area where hours, and Senator GRAMM and I spoke legislation? It is the gun lobby. The re- this is the dominant subject, that on it for about a half hour, essentially, sponse to the cries of the people who would be the end of the gun lobby. the tax plan George W. Bush has is not want their kids to be able to go to It is the same old reaction. Every part of the President’s proposal, but it school safely and return is: No, we have time Congress wants to pass gun safety will be part of President-elect George a greater allegiance to the NRA and laws, the NRA works hard to prevent W. Bush’s budget. So we wait for him the gun lobby than we have to families its passage. Lately, we heard a lot of to deliver his budget, which will indeed across America. What an outrage. But criticism about the enforcement of gun accommodate his tax cut. All this is a it does not get anything done. laws. But this is kind of a joke because political scuffle here today in advance I am hoping, with Senator REED’s the rhetoric ignores the facts. The of his budget. He hasn’t even had a leadership, we are going to get some- number of Federal firearms cases pros- chance to give us one and tell us what thing done today. ecuted by the U.S. attorneys increased kind of Government he wants. Congress has done nothing since that 16 percent from 1992 to 1999—4,754 in They want us to adopt this while we time to protect families from gun vio- 1992 to 5,500 in 1999. are fighting over a Clinton budget that lence. When I wrote the law to prohibit So the suggestion that law enforce- increases spending beyond anything domestic abusers from getting guns, it ment is not fighting gun crimes is just President George W. Bush would do. I was said that it was an unnecessary wrong. But more importantly, this commend soon-to-be-President-elect thing, it was an imposition of law on rhetoric suggests a false choice be- Bush for suggesting a major tax re- our citizens. But 33,000—I thank the tween enforcement or stronger laws. form. When the American people actu- Senator from Nevada for mentioning What we need is both. ally see it, they are going to think it is it—33,000 domestic abusers have been Mr. President, I yield the floor, but good for America. It will fit in his prevented from owning a gun. We know not without making mention of the budget. That is an important time. something else. fact that Smith & Wesson, a prominent I move to table the Reid amendment We know the statistics show that gun manufacturer, has agreed that and ask for the yeas and nays. about 150,000 times a year a gun is put they need to do more on gun safety. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there a to the head of a woman, often in front The company reached an agreement sufficient second?

VerDate Mar 15 2010 22:44 Dec 04, 2013 Jkt 081600 PO 00000 Frm 00026 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\2000SENATE\S06AP0.REC S06AP0 mmaher on DSKCGSP4G1 with SOCIALSECURITY April 6, 2000 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S2295 There is a sufficient second. I believe the Vice President saying wants a rollcall vote. I believe the yeas The question is on the motion to we should have a policy to completely and nays have been ordered. table amendment No. 2985. The clerk eliminate the internal combustion en- The PRESIDING OFFICER. Who will call the roll. gine in 25 years is irresponsible policy. yields time in opposition? The bill clerk called the roll. It ought to be rejected. The only way Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, I am not Mr. NICKLES. I announce that the to achieve it would be astronomical sure who controls time in opposition. I Senator from Delaware (Mr. ROTH) is taxes, rationing, and confiscating peo- do not oppose it, but I would like 30 necessarily absent. ple’s cars or trucks. I want the world to seconds. I ask unanimous consent that The PRESIDING OFFICER. Are there know and the Vice President to know I have 30 seconds. any other Senators in the Chamber de- we are against it. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without siring to vote? The PRESIDING OFFICER. The objection, it is so ordered. The Senator The result was announced—yeas 99, question is on agreeing to amendment from Michigan is recognized. nays 0, as follows: No. 2973. The yeas and nays have been Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, I am [Rollcall Vote No. 59 Leg.] ordered. The clerk will call the roll. going to vote for the amendment—I be- YEAS—99 The legislative clerk called the roll. lieve most Members will—but we want Abraham Enzi Lott Mr. NICKLES. I announce that the to make sure we do not create an in- Akaka Feingold Lugar Senator from Delaware (Mr. ROTH) is equity, an unfairness in the process. Allard Feinstein Mack necessarily absent. Ashcroft Fitzgerald McCain We will be paying different amounts of The PRESIDING OFFICER. Are there Baucus Frist McConnell money to the same people, same rank, any other Senators in the Chamber de- Bayh Gorton Mikulski and we may actually be giving the Bennett Graham Moynihan siring to vote? Biden Gramm Murkowski The result was announced—yeas 99, extra money to the wrong people. Bingaman Grams Murray nays 0, as follows: Senator MCCAIN’s amendment, it Bond Grassley Nickles seems to me, has exactly the right pur- Boxer Gregg Reed [Rollcall Vote No. 60 Leg.] pose: to get rid of food stamps going to Breaux Hagel Reid YEAS—99 Brownback Harkin Robb some members. But we have to do it Abraham Enzi Lott Bryan Hatch Roberts right. Senator WARNER is going to be Bunning Helms Rockefeller Akaka Feingold Lugar Burns Hollings Santorum Allard Feinstein Mack holding hearings in our committee on Byrd Hutchinson Sarbanes Ashcroft Fitzgerald McCain this whole food stamp situation. We, Campbell Hutchison Schumer Baucus Frist McConnell hopefully, can accomplish this goal in Bayh Gorton Mikulski Chafee, L. Inhofe Sessions a way which does not create a discrimi- Cleland Inouye Shelby Bennett Graham Moynihan Cochran Jeffords Smith (NH) Biden Gramm Murkowski natory situation. Collins Johnson Smith (OR) Bingaman Grams Murray I have one last fact. We all should be Conrad Kennedy Snowe Bond Grassley Nickles glad to know the number of our service Coverdell Kerrey Specter Boxer Gregg Reed Craig Kerry Stevens Breaux Hagel Reid members on food stamps has gone Crapo Kohl Thomas Brownback Harkin Robb down, from 19,400 in 1991 to 11,900 in Daschle Kyl Thompson Bryan Hatch Roberts 1995, to 6,300 in 1999. The number of Bunning Helms Rockefeller DeWine Landrieu Thurmond people on food stamps has been going Dodd Lautenberg Torricelli Burns Hollings Santorum Domenici Leahy Voinovich Byrd Hutchinson Sarbanes down dramatically, not only numeri- Dorgan Levin Warner Campbell Hutchison Schumer cally but also as a percentage of the Durbin Lieberman Wellstone Chafee, L. Inhofe Sessions force. Edwards Lincoln Wyden Cleland Inouye Shelby Cochran Jeffords Smith (NH) The PRESIDING OFFICER. The NOT VOTING—1 Collins Johnson Smith (OR) question is on agreeing to amendment Roth Conrad Kennedy Snowe No. 2988. The yeas and nays have been Coverdell Kerrey Specter The motion was agreed to. Craig Kerry Stevens ordered. The clerk will call the roll. AMENDMENT NO. 2973 Crapo Kohl Thomas The assistant legislative clerk called Daschle Kyl Thompson the roll. The PRESIDING OFFICER. There DeWine Landrieu Thurmond are 2 minutes of debate. Who yields Dodd Lautenberg Torricelli Mr. NICKLES. I announce that the time? Domenici Leahy Voinovich Senator from Delaware (Mr. ROTH) is Mr. GRAMM. Mr. President, I want Dorgan Levin Warner necessarily absent. Durbin Lieberman Wellstone The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. FITZ- to close the debate. Edwards Lincoln Wyden Mr. DURBIN. I am happy to make my GERALD). Are there any other Senators statement. NOT VOTING—1 in the Chamber desiring to vote? Senator GRAMM came to the floor and Roth The result was announced—yeas 99, waved Vice President GORE’s book, say- The amendment (No. 2973) was agreed nays 0, as follows: ing it calls for a $3 tax increase but to. [Rollcall Vote No. 61 Leg.] could not point out the page. It is not VOTE ON AMENDMENT NO. 2953, AS AMENDED YEAS—99 in there, nor is there a statement made The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Abraham DeWine Johnson by the Vice President to that effect. question is on agreeing to amendment Akaka Dodd Kennedy Because of the political pain my Re- No. 2953, as amended. Allard Domenici Kerrey publican colleagues have experienced The amendment (No. 2953), as amend- Ashcroft Dorgan Kerry in just voting against the tax program Baucus Durbin Kohl ed, was agreed to. Bayh Edwards Kyl which Governor George W. Bush pro- AMENDMENT NO. 2988 Bennett Enzi Landrieu posed, they are asking Members to vote The PRESIDING OFFICER. Who Biden Feingold Lautenberg against a tax program which Vice yields time on the McCain amendment? Bingaman Feinstein Leahy Bond Fitzgerald Levin President GORE has never proposed. Mr. DOMENICI. I will take the time. Boxer Frist Lieberman This is easy. Vote yes; save a copy of The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- Breaux Gorton Lincoln the last roll call. ator from New Mexico. Brownback Graham Lott Mr. GRAMM. Mr. President, in his Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, I do Bryan Gramm Lugar Bunning Grams Mack book ‘‘Earth in the Balance,’’ the Vice not think anybody objects to this Burns Grassley McCain President calls for the complete elimi- amendment. This is an effort to say to Byrd Gregg McConnell nation of the internal combustion en- the Department of Defense we want Campbell Hagel Mikulski gine. them to fix the problem of food stamps Chafee, L. Harkin Moynihan Cleland Hatch Murkowski I have a sense-of-the-Senate resolu- in the military. It adds a small amount Cochran Helms Murray tion that says we should not undertake of money over the years to target the Collins Hollings Nickles that activity, that raising the price of solving of the food stamp problem in Conrad Hutchinson Reed gasoline to the degree that would be re- Coverdell Hutchison Reid the military. Craig Inhofe Robb quired to achieve that goal would be That is essentially the McCain Crapo Inouye Roberts devastating to the American economy. amendment. We should adopt it. He Daschle Jeffords Rockefeller

VerDate Mar 15 2010 22:44 Dec 04, 2013 Jkt 081600 PO 00000 Frm 00027 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\2000SENATE\S06AP0.REC S06AP0 mmaher on DSKCGSP4G1 with SOCIALSECURITY S2296 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE April 6, 2000 Santorum Smith (OR) Thurmond billion over the next 5 years. It doesn’t All of these issues will be discussed Sarbanes Snowe Torricelli Schumer Specter Voinovich call for the passage of any specific and debated in the ESEA reauthoriza- Sessions Stevens Warner school construction or renovation pro- tion coming up in May. The spending Shelby Thomas Wellstone posal that has been discussed. It simply increase in this amendment is unneces- Smith (NH) Thompson Wyden sets aside the money to pay for them. sary. NOT VOTING—1 Five years ago, the unmet needs in our In addition, if the Federal Govern- Roth schools nationally totaled about $185 ment is going to become a major and direct party in the issue of school con- The amendment (No. 2988) was agreed billion. Today, those unmet needs total struction, along with it will come the to. over $306 billion. We hear a lot about State surpluses. same kind of intervention that the last Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I move If we used all of the fiscal year 1999 sur- two Congresses have been endeavoring to reconsider the vote. pluses from all of the States, we would to undo. They have been trying to Mr. LAUTENBERG. I move to lay still only address about 10 percent of make it more flexible, not less. that motion on the table. the unmet backlog in terms of school It is my personal opinion, given the The motion to lay on the table was construction and school modernization. way school construction has been man- agreed to. I showed this picture last night. I aged, that any Federal program of this Mr. REID. Mr. President, if the Sen- will show this one again. This is a pic- nature will by necessity have the tend- ator from Alaska will withhold, I yield ture of Loudon County High School, ency to pick winners and losers be- 3 minutes to the Senator from New just outside the beltway. This is a cause as everybody acknowledges, it York for a request involving another trailer being put in place in the park- doesn’t get to the total requirement Senator. ing lot. There are a number of trailers and it will also have the effect of re- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- in the parking lot. There are over 3,000 warding local jurisdictions that have ator from New York is recognized. trailers currently in use in Virginia been less attentive to the work that (The remarks of Mr. SCHUMER per- alone. Loudon County needs 22 new taining to the introduction of S. 2370 they are responsible for or for which schools at an average cost of $18 mil- they are responsible. are located in today’s RECORD under lion each. That is over $400 million for Invariably, districts that have gotten ‘‘Statements on Introduced Bills and one county alone. the job done or are in the business of Joint Resolutions.’’) School enrollment is at record levels. doing it will be second-class citizens to The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- Currently, there are 53.2 million stu- those jurisdictions that have over- ator from Alaska. dents in the United States. In the next looked or not been attentive to the na- Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, reg- 10 years, it will increase by another 1 ture of their responsibility of school ular order. million students. The average school construction. AMENDMENT NO. 2931 today is 42 years old. The last major in- How much time remains? The PRESIDING OFFICER. The vestment in schools was made back in The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- clerk will report the amendment pre- the Eisenhower administration. It was ator from Georgia has 1 minute 40 sec- viously proposed. a $1 billion investment then. The same onds and the Senator from Virginia has The legislative clerk read as follows: amount of money today, in current 2 minutes 14 seconds. The Senator from Alaska (Mr. STEVENS) terms, would be $5.4 billion. This Mr. COVERDELL. I yield the floor to for himself, and Mr. BYRD, Mr. INOUYE, Mr. amendment simply sets aside $5.9 bil- the Senator from Virginia. LEAHY, Mr. SHELBY, Mr. CAMPBELL, and Mr. lion over the next 5 years to accom- Mr. ROBB. Mr. President, I respond COCHRAN proposes an amendment numbered plish at least a portion of the pressing to my distinguished colleague from 2931: Georgia by saying, first of all, this is Strike Section 208. unmet school construction needs in this country today. I hope it will be the not an amendment to raise taxes. This Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I have wisdom of my colleagues to agree to is simply an amendment to give up $5.9 at the desk another amendment, the this particular amendment and vote for billion of the tax cut that is in the res- third one I mentioned previously. I ask schools. olution. unanimous consent that it be put in I think I adequately covered the Second, there are no Federal strings line after the second one. amendment last night. I yield to my attached. One of the benefits of this The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without distinguished colleague from Georgia particular approach is we are not deal- objection, it is so ordered. or others who may wish to address this ing with school policy, which can be Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, be- particular amendment. very sensitive. We are dealing with cause of time circumstances, I ask The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- bricks and mortar. For the most part, unanimous consent that this amend- ator from Georgia. we are doing this through a tax credit ment be temporarily laid aside so that Mr. COVERDELL. Mr. President, the that leverages the money so they can Senator ROBB may offer his amend- Senator from Virginia has been debat- get a whole lot more bang for the buck. ment. ing this for an extended period of time. It is a way to keep us from being in- I understand arrangement has al- School construction and renovation is volved in local school policy. It pro- ready been made on that and that we traditionally the responsibility of local vides maximum flexibility in the way will proceed. It is my understanding and State governments. It tradition- the funds are used. that my amendment would be pending ally has been and it still is. Finally, with all due respect to my when the Robb amendment has been The Robb amendment, in effect, has distinguished colleague, he talked disposed of. Is that correct? the effect of raising taxes by $4.2 bil- about less attentive. You can translate The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- lion over 5 years to have the Federal ‘‘less attentive’’ into ‘‘less resourced.’’ ator is correct. Government take over part of this re- Most of the Federal programs designed Mr. STEVENS. I ask unanimous con- sponsibility. Even under the Presi- to help are for those localities and in- sent that be the procedure. dent’s proposal, which would cost even stitutions that simply don’t have the The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without more, we would only be able to cover resources to meet the critical needs of objection, it is so ordered. about one-fourth of the total cost of their students. This is designed to help AMENDMENT NO. 2965 improving schools, according to the some of those localities, including lo- The PRESIDING OFFICER. There General Accounting Office. calities with very old schools that have are 10 minutes equally divided. The As we have said repeatedly over the leaking roofs and simply don’t have Senator from Virginia. last couple of days, this budget resolu- modern heating, air conditioning, ven- Mr. ROBB. Thank you, Mr. President. tion includes more money for edu- tilation, and other accommodations We had an opportunity to discuss and cation than the President—$600 million that are part of the modern school sys- debate this particular amendment last more in 2001 and $2.2 billion more over tem or could not have the modern tech- night to accommodate Senators. Very 5 years. We have made plenty of room nology. simply, this is an amendment to reduce for different options on education pol- This gives them a chance to compete the amendment for the tax cut by $5.9 icy in this budget resolution. on a more equal footing. I hope it will

VerDate Mar 15 2010 22:44 Dec 04, 2013 Jkt 081600 PO 00000 Frm 00028 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\2000SENATE\S06AP0.REC S06AP0 mmaher on DSKCGSP4G1 with SOCIALSECURITY April 6, 2000 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S2297 be the pleasure of our colleagues to set cut, or do we want to provide to mod- On page 4, line 17, increase the amount by aside this part of the tax cut for the ernize our schools. This amendment $1. very important purpose of investing ul- would allow the federal government to On page 4, line 22, increase the amount by $1. timately in our children, by investing take a roll as a partner in helping our On page 4, line 23, increase the amount by in a nonintervention, nonintrusive way districts meet the pressing need of $1. in school policy, in the bricks and mor- modernizing our school buildings. On page 4, line 24, increase the amount by tar that will provide the kind of envi- The amendment would provide $1.3 $1. ronment where they can learn. billion in grants and loans to help On page 4, line 25, increase the amount by I yield the floor. schools address urgent facilities issues, $1. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- and provide tax credit bonds to help On page 5, line 1, increase the amount by ator from Georgia. communities finance the cost of new $1. Mr. COVERDELL. Mr. President, the On page 5, line 7, increase the amount by construction and major repairs for $1. bottom line, whether you call it a tax schools. On page 5, line 8, increase the amount by increase or reduction of a tax relief This Congress has made a commit- $1. proposal, the net effect is between $4 ment over the past two years to reduc- On page 5, line 9, increase the amount by billion and $6 billion is not going to be ing class size. This program is truly $1. in the checking accounts of American making a difference in our schools. I On page 5, line 10, increase the amount by citizens if this amendment is adopted believe we have the opportunity this $1. that could theoretically otherwise be On page 5, line 11, increase the amount by year to continue the efforts to reducing $1. there. Taxpayers will have less if the class size, and providing funds for On page 18, line 7, increase the amount by amendment is adopted. school to make sure they have the fa- $1. The second point the Senator from cilities to provide for these smaller On page 18, line 8, increase the amount by Virginia makes about underresourced classes. $1. has merit. But so does mine. Yes, there A decent sized class in an adequate On page 18, line 11, increase the amount by are some school districts that are facility is not too much for our chil- $1. underresourced; those are the responsi- On page 18, line 12, increase the amount by dren. I hope you are all able to make $1. bility of those States, not the Federal this choice and support this amend- On page 18, line 15, increase the amount by Government. ment. $1. It is equally true that many of these Mr. ROBB. How much time remains On page 18, line 16, increase the amount by jurisdictions do have the resources and on this side? $1. for whatever reason have not made The PRESIDING OFFICER. Nine sec- On page 18, line 19, increase the amount by that the priority it maybe ought to onds. $1. On page 18, line 20, increase the amount by have been. There is no doubt about it. Mr. ROBB. I yield the entire 9 sec- We can name any number of jurisdic- $1. onds to the distinguished Senator from On page 18, line 23, increase the amount by tions that have underequipped schools Iowa. $1. that sit in municipalities or counties Mr. HARKIN. Mr. President, I whole- On page 18, line 24, increase the amount by that have innumerable resources. heartedly support the amendment of $1. Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, I take the Senator from Virginia. It is what is On page 29, line 3, decrease the amount by a moment to commend my colleagues— needed for this country. It is a national $1. On page 29, line 4, decrease the amount by Senator ROBB, Senator HARKIN, Sen- obligation. We ought to be rebuilding ator LAUTENBERG, and Senator DOR- $1. and modernizing our schools. The Sen- On page 29, after line 5, insert the fol- GAN, for bringing this important ator from Virginia has it right. lowing: amendment to the floor. AMENDMENT NO. 3010 TO AMENDMENT NO. 2965 In lieu of the language proposed to be in- I commend the work they have done serted, insert the following: and their commitment to school mod- (Purpose: To reduce revenue cuts by $5.9 billion over the next 5 years) SEC. . (a) The Senate finds that on March ernization which means so much to our 2, 2000, the Senate passed S. 1134, by a vote of Mr. COVERDELL. I send the sub- communities and the children who at- 61–37, the Affordable Education Act of 2000, stitute to the Robb amendment No. tend the public schools in this country. which— I have heard the other side say 2965 to the desk. (1) authorizes up to 2.5 billion dollars a throughout this debate they have made The PRESIDING OFFICER. The year in new bond authority to allow public- clerk will report. private partnerships to build new schools; a commitment to education. But I am (2) allows small school districts to build concerned, as I look at their budget, The assistant legislative clerk read as follows: more schools by providing them greater that a real commitment is missing. I flexibility in dealing with complex IRS regu- believe that part of making a real com- The Senator from Georgia [Mr. COVERDELL] lations; mitment to education requires pro- proposes an amendment numbered 3010 to (3) allows 14,000,000 families or 20,000,000 amendment 2965. viding resources to our schools. Today, children to benefit from Education Savings my colleagues are offering an amend- Mr. COVERDELL. I ask unanimous Accounts, which would generate ment as a way to offer this choice. consent the reading of the amendment $12,000,000,000 in new resources for kinder- garten through college education; Today, a record 53.2 million children be dispensed with. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without (4) allows 1,000,000 college students in State are enrolled in elementary and sec- pre-paid tuition plans to receive tax relief to ondary schools. By 2009, this number objection, it is so ordered. make college more affordable; will reach 54.2 million. As a result, The amendment is as follows: (5) allows 1,000,000 workers studying part- local communities need to build or On page 4, line 4, increase the amount by time to receive education assistance through modernize 6,000 public schools, and re- $1. their employers; pair an additional 8,300 public schools. On page 4, line 5, increase the amount by (6) guarantees that every college student $1. In addition, the average public school and recent college graduate in America will On page 4, line 6, increase the amount by receive a tax break on the interest on their building in this country is 42 years old. $1. student loans; These schools need improvements. On page 4, line 7, increase the amount by (7) gives all of our Nation’s elementary and What kind of message do we send to $1. secondary school teachers needed tax relief our children when they can go to shop- On page 4, line 8, increase the amount by for their professional development expenses; ping malls, movies theaters, and base- $1. (8) gives America’s teachers needed tax re- ball stadiums that are significantly On page 4, line 13, increase the amount by lief by providing them a deduction for their nicer than their schools? What kind of $1. out-of-pocket classroom expenses; message does that send about our pri- On page 4, line 14, increase the amount by (9) allows America’s classrooms to benefit $1. from new technology by encouraging the orities? On page 4, line 15, increase the amount by charitable donation of computers to the This amendment would once again $1. classroom; provide us with a clear choice on the On page 4, line 16, increase the amount by (b) Therefore, it is the Sense of the Senate issue of education. Do we want a tax $1. that this budget resolution assumes that

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Parliamentary in- The proposal extends employer-pro- recognize how many winners are gen- quiry: It is my understanding that with vided educational assistance for under- erated by the Senate’s idea on the Af- the second-degree amendment before graduate studies; in other words, it fordable School Act: 14 million families the Senate, there is now an hour equal- helps make it possible for employers to will benefit, 20 million schoolchildren; ly divided on this measure; is that cor- assist employees in their continuing there will be $12 billion in new savings rect? education. It is estimated that some without the Federal Government in- The PRESIDING OFFICER. On the million employees will be the bene- vesting a dime; 1 million college stu- second-degree amendment, that is cor- ficiaries of this proposal that has now dents in State prepaid tuition plans; 1 rect. passed the Senate. million workers receiving education Mr. COVERDELL. Mr. President, the I failed to mention that it is esti- assistance; countless schools will be bipartisan education savings account mated those who would open education built across the country; and countless which was passed in March and had savings accounts, such as those we are Americans will receive a break on the been threatened by a veto from the enumerating here, are 14 million fami- interest they pay on their student President makes education more af- lies who are the custodians, those who loans. fordable for millions of Americans. I are taking care of 20 million children. Reserving the remainder of my time, might say, during that debate of our That is about 40 percent of the entire I yield the floor so we might hear from proposal to empower parents, to em- population in school in the United the Senator from Virginia. power local school districts and com- States. Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask for munities, there was a similar debate The proposal repeals the 60-month the yeas and nays on the Coverdell with the Senator from Virginia on a rule on student loan interest deduc- amendment. similar subject. We prevailed at that tions and allows many individuals to The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there a time. claim tax deductions on interest they sufficient second? At that time, the Senator from Vir- pay on their student loans without the There is a sufficient second. ginia basically was attempting to fund imposition of a time limit. Currently, The yeas and nays were ordered. this idea of his by removing the loss of you have an exemption on that kind of Mr. REID. Under the resolution, I tax revenue that occurs in the edu- benefit, but it runs out after a certain yield 5 minutes to the Senator from cation savings account. As I under- number of years. This removes the Virginia. stand the amendment now, it would re- time limit. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- duce the tax relief in the budget resolu- With regard to school construction, ator from Virginia. tion. So it is a very similar debate that the Affordable Education Act contains Mr. ROBB. Mr. President, I thank my is occurring between the Senator from a provision originally offered by Sen- distinguished colleague from Georgia. I Virginia and our side. ator GRAHAM of Florida to create a new did not see the movie ‘‘Groundhog I want to refresh the Senate on what category of exempt bonds for privately Day,’’ but this reminds me of ‘‘Ground- has passed the Senate and will soon owned, publicly operated K–12 schools. hog Day.’’ We have been here before. find its way to the President’s desk. As So we do not obviate or ignore the We wasted an entire week of the Sen- I said a little earlier, the President has issue of construction problems in the ate’s valuable time on the precise bill at least given an indication that he country. This provision would make that the distinguished Senator from would veto it, so I think it is entirely available up to $2.5 billion each year in Georgia is now presenting to us as an appropriate that we reassert our posi- school construction bonds, enough to alternative. tion in the budget resolution. build hundreds of new schools in Amer- I listened as the clerk read the lan- The education savings account starts ica every year. But it would be totally guage of the initial part of the bill, with the current law, which allows controlled locally. It would not be the taking all the amounts that would be families to save up to $500 per year Federal Government picking which put aside to help schools and reducing while the interest in an account is ex- schools, it would be the districts them- them to a single dollar. In Virginia, we empt from taxes as long as the savings selves deciding whether they wanted to call that the shad treatment: You leave are used for college education. We have use this new provision in order to deal the skeleton but you surgically remove taken the same proposal and expanded with school construction needs in their the entire skeletal structure so there is it to $2,000 per year instead of $500, and district. nothing remaining. Then you sub- we have said a family can use the sav- The bill would allow school districts stitute a piece of legislation that has ings in that account anywhere in the to issue more tax-exempt bonds for already passed this body, notwith- education of the child, from kinder- school construction without having to standing the fact that the authors and garten through college—even after col- comply with complex IRS arbitrage re- proponents of the legislation knew lege if the student is a dependent. bate rules. This would lower the cost of from the very beginning this particular We have taken what everybody on school construction for many small bill would not be signed by the Presi- both sides of the aisle has said is a and rural school districts. dent. grand idea and expanded it. Everybody The billions of dollars in Federal as- With all due respect to my distin- is a winner: Public education, private sistance are on top of what State and guished colleague from Georgia, he education, home schooling education, local governments are already doing to knew and they knew from the begin- kindergarten through college. It re- build schools without, as I said a mo- ning we were wasting a week on that mains puzzling to me that this bipar- ment ago, Federal interference from particular legislation. To suggest this tisan proposal, supported by Members Washington or any selection being is a possible new development or a sur- on both sides of the aisle, is now made by Federal bureaucrats. Accord- prise now, with all due respect, is a bit threatened by the President. ing to the U.S. Census Bureau, State disingenuous. On State prepaid tuition relief, the and local governments spent $13 billion We have the same problem as before. legislation makes interest earned on in 1999 on public school and university We are trying to do an end run to bring qualified public and private school facilities. An American school and uni- about vouchers. With this legislation, higher education tuition plans tax free. versity survey shows, between 1990 and this Senate would be finding a way to Some 41 States today—I think soon it 1999, public school construction ex- put a disproportionate amount of will be all—offer a State prepaid tui- penditures increased by 60 percent— money—if I recall the figures; I do not tion plan to help parents prepare their that is without the Federal Govern- have them in front of me—about $37 or students for the cost of college. The ment; they have done that on their so per family for those students who, problem is, when those benefits come own, making their own decisions— for the most part, are already sending

VerDate Mar 15 2010 22:44 Dec 04, 2013 Jkt 081600 PO 00000 Frm 00030 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\2000SENATE\S06AP0.REC S06AP0 mmaher on DSKCGSP4G1 with SOCIALSECURITY April 6, 2000 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S2299 their children to private schools or pa- those who supported his position now to renovate existing schools. rochial schools and about, if I recall, $7 passed last time around. School construction and modernization for those in public schools. Let’s not support vouchers in another is necessary for our kids in the 21st form to find a way to make it impos- This is designed to get around the century. sible for the Federal Government, The average school in America right difficulty the distinguished Senator without strings attached, to provide now, as Senator ROBB said, is 42 years found in incorporating a voucher provi- support for bricks and mortar in local old. Technology is placing new de- sion. Vouchers address 10 percent of school districts and divisions that need mands on our schools. As a result of in- the population. Our responsibility is to the assistance. We want to move away creased use of technology, many the 90 percent of the children who are from a situation where we have trailers schools must install new wiring, tele- in schools in America who do not have instead of classrooms. If colleagues access to them. Even if we were to support the underlying amendment, phone lines, and electrical assistance. make vouchers available to every they will be supporting school con- The demand for the Internet is at an schoolchild in America, we only have struction and renovation. If they sup- all-time high, but in the Nation’s poor- infrastructure that can support a little port the substitute, they will be sup- est schools only 39 percent of class- over 10 percent of the population. This porting school vouchers. I hope it will rooms have Internet access. takes money that would otherwise be be the pleasure of this body to reject In 1998, the American Society of Civil available, in this case, for much needed the substitute and support the under- Engineers issued a report on our Na- school construction which the States lying amendment. I yield the floor. tion’s infrastructure. The report found cannot afford and which, by his own The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- many problems with a lot of our infra- admission, would help disproportion- ator from Nevada. structure, but the most startling find- ately those school districts that do not Mr. REID. Mr. President, I yield 5 ing was with respect to our Nation’s have the resources, that do not get a minutes to the Senator from Iowa, Mr. public schools. chance to play on a level playing field. HARKIN, off the resolution. The American Society of Civil Engi- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- neers reported that public schools are It would take the money we could ator from Iowa. use to leverage to build even more Mr. HARKIN. Mr. President, I thank in worst condition than any other sec- schools and renovate even more schools our minority whip for yielding me this tor of our national infrastructure. This to run the voucher route, again, in a time. I do speak strongly in favor of is an alarming fact. I ask unanimous bill that will not even go to the Presi- the underlying Robb amendment of consent that a copy of the American dent. This particular resolution does which I am a cosponsor. Society of Civil Engineers report card not go to the President for signature. Senator ROBB has it right when he be printed in the RECORD. It will have no impact on whatever the tries to invest in rebuilding and mod- There being no objection, the mate- President chooses to do about the par- ernizing our public schools. States and rial was ordered to be printed in the ticular legislation the Senator and local communities are struggling right RECORD, as follows: AMERICAN SOCIETY OF CIVIL ENGINEERS—1998 REPORT CARD FOR AMERICA’S INFRASTRUCTURE

Subject Grade Comments

Roads ...... D¥ More than half (59 percent) of our roadways are in poor, mediocre or fair condition. More than 70 percent of peak-hour traffic occurs in congested conditions. It will cost $263 billion to elimi- nate the backlog of needs and maintain repair levels, Another $94 billion is needed for modest improvement—a $357 billion total. Bridges ...... C¥ Nearly one of every three bridges (314 percent) is rated structurally deficient or functionally obsolete. It will require $80 billion to eliminate the current backlog of bridge deficiencies and main- tain repair levels. Mass Transit ...... C Twenty percent of buses, 23 percent of rail vehicles, and 38 percent of rural and specialized vehicles are in deficient condition. Twenty-one percent of rail track requires improvement. Forty- eight percent of rail maintenance buildings, 65 percent of rail yards and 46 percent of signals and communication equipment are in fair or poor condition. The investment needed to main- tain conditions is $39 billion. It would take up to $72 billion to improve conditions. Aviation ...... C¥ There are 22 airports that are seriously congested. Passenger enplanements are expected to climb 3.9 percent annually to 827.1 million in 2008. At current capacity, this growth will lead to gridlock by 2004 or 2005. Estimates for capital investment needs range from $40-60 billion in the next five years to meet design requirements and expand capacity to meet demand. Schools ...... F One-third of all schools need extensive repair or replacement. Nearly 60 percent of schools have at least one major building problem, and more than half have inadequate environmental condi- tions. Forty-six percent lack basic wiring to support computer systems. It will cost about $112 billion to repair, renovate and modernize our schools. Another $60 billion in new construction is needed to accommodate the 3 million new students expected in the next decade. Drinking Water ...... D More than 16,000 community water systems (29 percent) did not comply with the Safe Drinking Water Act standards in 1993. The total infrastructure need remains large—$138.4 billion. More than $76.8 billion of that is needed right now to protect public health. Wastewater ...... D+ Today, 60 percent of our rivers and lakes are fishable and swimmable. There remain an estimated 300,000 to 400,000 contaminated groundwater sites. America needs to invest roughly $140 billion over the next 20 years in its wastewater treatment systems. An additional 2,000 plants may be necessary by the year 2016. Dams ...... D There are 2,100 regulated dams that are considered unsafe. Every state has at least one high-hazard dam, which upon failure would cause significant loss of life and property. There were more than 200 documented dam failures across the nation in the past few years. It would cost about $1 billion to rehabilitate documented unsafe dams. Solid Waste ...... C¥ Total non-hazardous municipal solid waste will increase from 208 to 218 million tons annually by the year 2000, even though the per capita waste generation rate will decrease from 1,606 to 1,570 pounds per person per year. Total expenditures for managing non-hazardous municipal solid waste in 1991 were $18 billion and are expected to reach $75 billion by the year 2000. Hazardous Waste ...... D¥ More than 500 million tons of municipal and industrial hazardous waste is generated in the U.S. each year. Since 1980, only 423 (32 percent) of the 1,200 Superfund sites on the National Pri- orities List have been cleaned up. The NPL is expected to grow to 2,000 in the next several years. The price tag for Superfund and related clean up programs is an estimated $750 billion and could rise to $1 trillion over the next 30 years. America’s Infrastructure G.P.A. = D. Total Investment Needs = $1.3 Trillion (estimated five-year need). Each category was evaluated on the basis of condition and performance, capacity vs. need, and funding vs. need. A = Exceptional; B = Good; C = Mediocre; D = Poor; F = Inadequate.

Mr. HARKIN. Mr. President, because ping malls, sports arenas, and movie tion projects to modernize public of increasing enrollments and aging theaters, and some of the most run- schools. buildings, local and State expenditures down places they see are their public Last year, six Iowa school districts for school construction have increased schools. What kind of a signal does received grants to underwrite the cost dramatically by 39 percent in the last that send about the value we place on of building new school facilities. Over several years. However, this increase them, their education, and their fu- and over, school officials said the has not been enough to address the ture? How can we prepare our kids for availability of the Federal grant was needs. the 21st century in schools that did not responsible for convincing local citi- The National Education Association even make the grade in the 20th cen- zens to support a school bond issue to recently surveyed States about their tury? finance the bulk of the project. Mod- need to modernize public schools and ern, up-to-date school buildings are es- This amendment by Senator ROBB upgrade education technologies. Ac- sential for student achievement. provides a comprehensive two-pronged cording to their preliminary report, Studies show students in over- $254 billion is needed to modernize response: $1.3 billion each year to make crowded schools, or schools in poor fis- school facilities; $54 billion is needed to grants and no-interest loans for emer- cal condition, scored significantly upgrade education technology. In my gency repairs to schools. lower on math and reading than their State of Iowa, for example, $3.4 billion The second part of this strategy is to peers in less crowded conditions. is needed for school facilities and $540 underwrite the cost of building nearly This is a very serious national prob- million for education technology. $25 billion of new school facilities. This lem. In Iowa alone during the 1990s, It is a national disgrace that the amendment provides the tax credits to there were 100 fires in Iowa public nicest places our children see are shop- subsidize the interest on new construc- schools. During the previous decade,

VerDate Mar 15 2010 22:44 Dec 04, 2013 Jkt 081600 PO 00000 Frm 00031 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\2000SENATE\S06AP0.REC S06AP0 mmaher on DSKCGSP4G1 with SOCIALSECURITY S2300 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE April 6, 2000 there were only 20. The wiring is get- lic schools. I venture to say that 10 supporting private education. It is as ting old, schools are catching on fire, years from now, 90 percent-plus of our simple as that. I ask our colleagues to water pipes are bursting, and they do students are still going to be in public reject the substitute and support the not have the new technology our stu- schools. underlying amendment. dents need. The proposal is not designed to be a With that, I yield to the distin- If there is one thing that cries out for disguise for vouchers. It never has guished Senator from Nevada. our intervention on a national level, it been. As I said, 70 percent of the people The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- is this issue: to upgrade and modernize who open these accounts are estimated ator from Nevada. our schools and to build new schools to have children in public schools and Mr. REID. The ranking member of where needed. All one has to do is read 30 percent are in some other school. the Budget Committee, who has been Jonathan Kozol’s book ‘‘Savage In- Of the $12 billion that will be saved working today with his staff to resolve equalities: Children in America’s and used for schools, it is divided about our vote-athon later, to get rid of a lot Schools’’ to understand in this system 50–50. In my view, that is because those of these amendments that are around, of ours in America where schools are fi- families who have the child in the pri- is yielded 5 minutes off the resolution. nanced by local bond issues, that if you vate school know they have a higher The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- have an area with high-income resi- hurdle, that they have to pay the local ator from New Jersey. dents, high property values, you get school taxes and the tuition, so they Mr. LAUTENBERG. I thank my pretty darn good schools. But go to tend to save more. friend from Nevada. areas where there are low-income peo- It may not be persuasive to the Sen- I commend the Senator from Virginia ple and low property values; that is ator from Virginia, but I did want to for his very thoughtful amendment. I where we find the poor schools. make the point that I never viewed listened carefully to what he had to Yet a child educated in one of those this, and I think generally speaking it say. Senator ROBB has the respect of poor schools does not stay in that local has never been viewed, as a voucher. all of us, regardless on which side of school district. That child moves to I yield the floor. When the Senator the aisle your political initiation or in- Iowa, California, Virginia, Georgia, or from Virginia concludes his remarks, I terests fall. anywhere else and becomes a burden on think we are both prepared to yield As he said, if it looks like and sounds all of society. That is why this cries back time on this substitute amend- like and talks like it, then we kind of out for a national solution. ment. know what it is. I think that is a prop- To hear my friends on the other side, The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- er characterization, in all fairness to they say leave it up to the local school ator from Virginia. the distinguished Senator from Geor- districts and let them handle it. Sure, Mr. ROBB. I request, from the Sen- gia. If it is a tax-saving device that if you live in a rich school district, you ator from Nevada, 2 minutes from the later can be used for contributions to are fine. resolution. private schools, it obviously is. If it is But if you live in a poor area of Mr. REID. The Senator from Virginia not a voucher, it sure enough resem- America—rural or urban—you do not is given 2 minutes from the resolution. bles one so much that the disguise is have the wherewithal to build those The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- more than penetrable. new schools and to get the wiring and ator from Virginia. But I wish to talk about the Robb the upgrading that you need. Mr. ROBB. Mr. President, I will be amendment. Senator ROBB talks about That is why it is a national problem. very brief. the need to modernize our Nation’s It requires a national solution. That is I thank my colleague from Georgia schools. Boy, I salute that. I am the why I hope the Coverdell amendment for the clarification. I did not suggest product of public education. In fact, will be defeated and that we could get that this was a voucher. I suggested it my parents barely could afford to send to the underlying Robb amendment was an end run around the difficulty in me to a free school. and let the kids of this country and establishing vouchers. The fact is that I have taken an interest in the com- their parents and their families know three-quarters of the benefits under the munity from which I came, Paterson, that this national effort is going to go education IRA that the distinguished NJ. It is industrialized, one of the poor- forward to rebuild our schools. Senator from Georgia was able to pass est cities in the State of New Jersey— I compliment the Senator from Vir- through this body, which will be vetoed in fact, one of the poorest cities in ginia for his amendment. by the President of the United States, America in ranking. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- would go to people who are already en- I looked at the situation with the ator’s time has expired. rolled in private schools. So it may not schools there, schools that I attended. Who yields time? be a duck, but it certainly looks, talks, In particular, I looked at one school, a The Senator from Georgia. and walks like a duck. school that we called school No. 6, that Mr. COVERDELL. Mr. President, I With respect to the need, I suggest to I attended where they are barely able will be very brief. the Senator from Georgia—and I do to keep plaster on the walls and keep The Senator from Virginia and I have this in a friendly spirit—looking at all the place in fit condition. I also went an honorable disagreement about how of the schools and the current esti- to high school in the same city for a the Federal Government ought to re- mates, Georgia faces an $8.5 billion while. Knowing my age, one recognizes spond to being a better partner in edu- shortfall for school modernization, how old those schools might be. The cation. But the one issue that I would which includes $7.1 billion for infra- fact is, we both weathered storms, the take some exception to and would like structure and $1.5 billion for tech- schools and I, over a lot of years. But to clarify is the question of whether nology needs. There is projected a 26.5- wear and tear shows. this is designed to be a voucher. It is percent increase in this shortfall in the We look at these schools and see how not a voucher. The good Senator from decade ahead. Georgia would be among inadequately prepared they are for con- New Jersey, Mr. TORRICELLI, who vehe- the States to benefit from this par- temporary times. We question what we mently does not support vouchers, is a ticular provision. ought to do there. Since I come out of coauthor because he does not view this But the bottom line is that we have the computer business, those are my as a voucher. a choice between a plan that we know roots. I am a member of something I would not say that of the 70 percent the President would support and sign, that probably is not noticeable on of the families who would open an ac- which would provide some 6,000 schools everybody’s calendar, but I am a mem- count who are in public schools, some built or modernized and some 25,000 ber of the Information Processing Hall family somewhere with that savings schools repaired, as opposed to the al- of Fame, which is in Dallas, TX. My account might not make a change. But ternative, where we would have 198 former colleague, Bill Bradley, was a it would be statistically insignificant. schools built or modernized and none Hall of Famer, but of a much more rec- If they did, I think it is a right that repaired. ognizable Hall of Fame, also a much they should have. At the same time, we would be trans- more recognizable participant. As the Senator from Virginia said, 90 ferring funds that could be used to sup- But what I know is that unless we go percent-plus of our students are in pub- port public education that would be to the Patersons of the country, unless

VerDate Mar 15 2010 22:44 Dec 04, 2013 Jkt 081600 PO 00000 Frm 00032 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\2000SENATE\S06AP0.REC S06AP0 mmaher on DSKCGSP4G1 with SOCIALSECURITY April 6, 2000 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S2301 we go to the cities of the country that AMENDMENT NO. 3013 TO AMENDMENT NO. 2965 do. It should move this matter along. are in desperate need of improvements (Purpose: To express the sense of the Senate The Senator from Maryland—when she in the physical structure of their regarding the need to reduce gun violence gets here—will speak. schools, we are going to find ourselves in America.) Mr. STEVENS. Will the Senator leaving out a significant portion of our Mr. REID. Mr. President, I send an yield for a minute? I want to make population—whether rural or urban. amendment to the desk and ask for its sure I haven’t inadvertently lost the I do not mean to boast, but I person- immediate consideration. floor. Mr. REID. Without losing my right ally made a contribution to a school in The PRESIDING OFFICER. The to the floor, I say to the chairman of Paterson and stood there and pulled clerk will report. The assistant legislative clerk read the Appropriations Committee, what wires with people from the telephone as follows: we have here now is we have filed a sec- company, who, on a voluntary basis, ond-degree amendment to the pending all pulled wires. And I paid for some The Senator from Nevada [Mr. REID], for Mr. REED, for himself, Mr. DASCHLE, Mrs. amendment. We have an hour of de- small part of the installation of cable FEINSTEIN, Mr. LEAHY, Mr. LAUTENBERG, Mr. bate, which the Senator from Maryland that would enable this school, if they SCHUMER, Mr. DURBIN, Mrs. MURRAY, Mr. is going to use at this time. ever got the equipment, to at least KOHL, Mr. TORRICELLI, Mr. LEVIN, Mrs. Mr. STEVENS. A second degree to hook up to the Internet and the world BOXER, Mr. ROBB, Mr. KENNEDY, Mr. BIDEN, my pending amendment? outside their physical building. Mr. BYRD, Mr. KERRY, Mr. REID, Mr. INOUYE, Mr. REID. No, the Robb amendment. That is necessary. It is not that we Mr. BRYAN, Mr. HARKIN, Mr. WYDEN, Ms. MI- Mr. STEVENS. I appreciate that. KULSKI, and Mr. L. CHAFEE, proposes an Mr. DOMENICI. I have a question. are being good to these kids. We are amendment numbered 3013 to Amendment being good to America. We have to Did Senator COVERDELL not offer a sub- No. 2965. stitute to the Robb amendment? have people who can learn, and we Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unan- don’t care what their background is. If Mr. COVERDELL. Mr. President, we imous consent that reading of the have offered a substitute and we yield- they have the capacity to learn, we amendment be dispensed with. ought to give them the tools, as the ed back time. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without Mr. REID. The same problem of this most advanced country, the largest objection, it is so ordered. morning. power in the world that has students The amendment is as follows: I yield to the Senator from Mary- who can learn but who don’t always get At the end of the amendment add the fol- land. the benefits of the proper tools for an lowing: The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- education. That includes the simplest SEC. ll. SENSE OF THE SENATE REGARDING ator from Maryland is recognized. thing, not just pulling cable to hook THE NEED TO REDUCE GUN VIO- Ms. MIKULSKI. Parliamentary in- them up to the Internet, but to make LENCE IN AMERICA. quiry to my Democratic whip: Am I of- sure the buildings are sound enough to (a) FINDINGS.—The Senate finds the fol- fering my amendment now or only lowing: provide reasonable temperatures in the speaking on it? summer and the winter. (1) On average, 12 children die from gun fire everyday in America. Mr. REID. We offered it. Nothing is more discouraging to the (2) On May 20, 1999, the Senate passed the Ms. MIKULSKI. I am ready to do it learning process than to expect some- Violent and Repeat Offender Accountability anyway. Thanks to you and the Demo- one to function in a school that doesn’t and Rehabilitation Act, by a vote of 73 to 25, cratic leadership, President Bill Clin- have the basic comforts. We have all in part, to stem gun-related violence in the ton, and AL GORE, we are talking about heard the horror stories about sanitary United States. a plan to cross the digital divide. A few facilities located floors away from (b) SENSE OF THE SENATE.—It is the sense minutes earlier, Senator CHUCK ROBB of the Senate that the levels in function 750 where the classrooms are, where win- of Virginia spoke eloquently and per- of this resolution assume that Congress suasively about how we needed to deal dows are broken, kids can be injured by should— falling plaster or, worse, even today, (1) pass the conference report to accom- with the problem of wiring schools in asbestos still used in the construction. pany H.R. 1501, the Violent and Repeat Juve- the United States. I absolutely support that Robb amendment because we have I commend the Senator from Virginia nile Offender Accountability and Rehabilita- schools that are deteriorating, and for standing up for what is right. It is tion Act, including Senate-passed provisions, with the purpose of limiting access to fire- they are in such bad shape we can’t a small cost, when you think about it, arms by juveniles, convicted felons, and wire them for the Internet. as to what we might get in return on other persons prohibited by law from pur- While we are creating a new physical investment. Those of us who are in the chasing or possessing firearms; and infrastructure for our schools, we also business world do look at return on in- (2) consider H.R. 1501 not later than April need to look to the future. We want to vestment, and this is one really good 20, 2000. help our children by making sure that Mr. REID. Mr. President, I will take one. public education gets them ready for time now on the resolution to say this I hope we are going to get by the par- the new future and a new economy. to the acting manager of the bill so the tisan divide. We are worried about the This is why I believe very strongly that majority knows what we are doing. digital divide, but we also have to no child in the United States of Amer- This matter has already been debated. worry about the partisan divide as we ica should ever face the digital divide. discuss the budget and its require- The Senator from Rhode Island came What is the digital divide? The divide ments. We have to kick this football. earlier today and debated this amend- is between those who have access to This is where the game starts, right ment. Therefore, what we are going to technology and who have access to here in the budget resolution. What we do to use our half hour of time allotted learning and how to use the tech- ought to do is have a good clean kick- under the second-degree amendment is nology. If you are on the right side and off and make sure we do it right. I hope time will be yielded to the Senator have access to technology, and access when the roll is taken, we defeat the from Maryland, Ms. MIKULSKI, who also to those who will teach you how to use Coverdell amendment and support the is going to, at a subsequent time, offer it, both as a person and a community, ROBB amendment. an amendment on the digital divide. you will feel very empowered and have Her half hour will be on the digital di- The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. GOR- a bright future. But if you are on the vide, not on the Reed amendment. You, TON). Who yields time on the pending wrong side of the divide, where you of course, would have your half hour to amendment? If neither side yields time don’t have access to technology—Mr. speak about anything the majority on the amendment, it will be deducted President, the Senate is not in order. cares to. I wanted to explain that to equally from both sides. Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I am the majority. still disturbed, if the Senator will yield Mr. COVERDELL. Mr. President, on Mr. COVERDELL. You are essen- about the procedure. the Coverdell substitute, we are pre- tially using your half hour to deal with Ms. MIKULSKI. Mr. President, I have pared to yield back our time. It is the the Senator from Maryland. the floor. understanding that the other side will Mr. REID. On another amendment, Mr. STEVENS. Point of order: I call do the same. that’s right. Mr. President, under the for regular order. The regular order is Mr. REID. I yield back our time. resolution, that is what we are going to my amendment.

VerDate Mar 15 2010 22:44 Dec 04, 2013 Jkt 081600 PO 00000 Frm 00033 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\2000SENATE\S06AP0.REC S06AP0 mmaher on DSKCGSP4G1 with SOCIALSECURITY S2302 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE April 6, 2000 Mr. REID. Mr. President, this was an order to do that, we have to put our re- Please, in the United States of Amer- amendment in the second-degree. sources with our national commit- ica, with all the money we are going to The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- ment. spend in this budget, let’s put $400 mil- ator from Maryland has the floor. As First of all, I truly believe that the lion to be sure our schools and our li- long as she has the floor, no one else Government cannot do this alone. That braries do have the hardware and soft- can call for regular order with respect is why an amendment I will be offering ware where they need it. to amendments. later on will put aside $200 million in Our children don’t only learn in Ms. MIKULSKI. Mr. President, I have tax incentives to encourage public-pri- schools and in libraries, though those the floor. I in no way mean to have vate partnership. are crucial places. Many of them learn sharp elbows with the Senator from Why is this important? Because the out in the community. This is why our Alaska. I was only trying to get order Government can’t do it alone. The pri- amendment will provide $100 million to to continue my presentation. vate sector is already doing important, create 1,000 community technology The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- exciting work, and improving access to centers. Community leaders have told ator is entitled to be heard. technology. But technology empower- me that we need to bring technology to Ms. MIKULSKI. If people want to ment can’t be limited to a few ZIP where the children learn. They don’t argue about who has the floor, they can Codes, or recycled factories, where learn only in schools; they learn in go off the floor and continue those ar- great work is being done in my own communities. guments. Mr. President, I would like, if hometown. We need to encourage pri- I saw for myself what technology we are going to have exchanges—— vate sector donations of high-quality meant to a community center at a pub- The PRESIDING OFFICER. Will technology, sponsorship of community lic housing project. The adults learned those who are having discussions in the centers, and the sponsorship of train- technology during the day and the chil- right side of the well take their con- ing. I have seen many examples in my dren learned technology through struc- versations off the floor. own hometown. tured afterschool activities sponsored Ms. MIKULSKI. Thank you, Mr. While we look forward to providing by the Boys and Girls Clubs in the President. technology, one of the most important afternoon. What I was talking about was that if things is to make sure our teachers are In my own town of Baltimore, I you have access to technology and ac- trained. If our teachers are not trained, spoke to the Urban League to see what cess to those who can teach you tech- our technology could end up in closets they were doing to help get our chil- nology, your future as a person, a com- and our children could be left not dren ready for the future. They told me munity, and even our country, is learning what they need to learn. The they had to forage for funds, and there bright. But if you are on the wrong side budget amendment calls for $600 mil- was not one Federal dollar available to of the divide and don’t have access to lion for teacher training. help the Urban League help those chil- technology, and will never know how Everywhere I go, teachers tell me dren get ready for the future. to learn to use technology, your future they want to help their students cross Certainly, if we can spend $18,000 a is quite dismal and, as a person, you the digital divide. But they need the year on one person in prison, we can could end up functionally obsolete in training to do this. Technology with- spend the money to create 1,000 com- the United States of America. out training is a hollow opportunity. munity centers to keep our children in The Presiding Officer comes from the In my own home State of Maryland, school and get ready for the new econ- State of Washington, which is one of the superintendent of public education omy. the most robust, high-tech States in established what we call a ‘‘tech acad- Mr. President, in addition to that, the United States of America. He emy’’ so that public schoolteachers speaking of the Boys and Girls Clubs, knows from his conversations with could come from across the State to we are including in our amendment those tech tycoons that what we are learn how to use this. Guess what. Six Senator BIDEN’s excellent proposal to facing in the United States of America hundred teachers came and 400 had to provide $20 million to place computers is a workforce shortage of people who be turned away. We now have an in- and trained personnel in those Boys know how to use technology. Also, not credible waiting list. and Girls Clubs. What a tremendous op- only in the new ‘‘dot-coms’’ or the new No teacher should have to stand in portunity. ‘‘dot-commers,’’ what we also face is a line to learn how to use technology so In April we are celebrating Boys and skill shortage, even in the old econ- they can teach children how to use Girls Clubs Month. There are great omy. technology. This is why we want to alumni from the Boys and Girls Club. In my own hometown of Baltimore, make sure that young people coming Michael Jordan is one; President Bill where they make steel or build auto- up in our teacher schools learn tech- Clinton went to one when his mother mobiles, we have gone from smoke- nology. Those teachers who are the worked as a nurse and the Boys and stacks to ‘‘cyberstacks.’’ Walk with me fourth grade reading specialists should Girls Clubs was one of his afterschool along the minivan plant in Baltimore know as much about technology as activities. Boys and Girls Clubs have or come with me in the steaming some computer whiz. been training and helping young people steelmills of Baltimore, and you will In addition to that, our amendment stay on the right track for a number of see steelworkers and automobile work- provides access—$400 million—for years. We not only want to teach them ers are now tech workers. school technology and school libraries, about hoop dreams; we want to team I want to be sure that every person in for hardware and software technology them about technology. This is why the United States of America is ready everywhere. We want to make sure our this is so crucial. for that new economy. That is why we school libraries are high-tech media We will also provide $25 million to want to emphasize K through 12. We centers. create an e-Corps within AmeriCorps. will practice the basics from K through Why is this important? This will provide funds for 2,000 volun- 12. We are going to ensure that no child In my own community, in some teers to teach technology in their is left out or left behind in this new schools we have a ratio of one com- schools and community centers. economy. We want to practice in the puter per five children. In addition, we want to make sure we budget the ABCs. We want to make To the Senator from Georgia, I would provide private sector deployment of sure there is universal access to tech- note that in some of our private broadband networks in underserved nology in schools, libraries, and com- schools it will be mandated that every urban and rural communities. We need munity centers. We want to practice child come with a laptop. these funds to build the super informa- the ‘‘B’’ which is the ‘‘best’’ trained But I say to my colleague and others tion highway with on and off ramps for teachers. We also want to practice a who are listening, if you are a poor all. ‘‘C’’ called ‘‘computer’’ literacy for child, it is more likely you live in a I have in my State the Mountain every child by the time they finish the poor neighborhood. The poor neighbor- Counties, a nice tourism word for Ap- eighth grade. hood has poorer schools. They do not palachia. With the old economy fading Those are our national goals. That is have technology in their classroom or in coal mining and without the rail- what I hope we are able to do. But in a media center in their library. road jobs and so on, we are trying to

VerDate Mar 15 2010 22:44 Dec 04, 2013 Jkt 081600 PO 00000 Frm 00034 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\2000SENATE\S06AP0.REC S06AP0 mmaher on DSKCGSP4G1 with SOCIALSECURITY April 6, 2000 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S2303 create a super information highway thanks to Senator MIKULSKI for her process, if that is the desire of the Sen- there. Guess what. If you are a con- leadership in the Senate in crafting ate. We will get to my amendment stituent in Cumberland, your on and this initiative. And I should mention when this amendment is disposed of. off ramp is in Pittsburgh. This makes that she has not only worked with her Mr. REID. I say to my friend from service slow and unreliable. It slows Senate colleagues on this, but has Alaska, and the manager of the bill, we down e-commerce and prevents new reached across to the House of Rep- are still on the Robb amendment. We jobs from coming to an area that badly resentatives, joining with the members have whatever time is left on our side. needs them. These funds will be used to of the Congressional Black and His- We have one more speaker on our help the private sector bring the super panic Caucuses, to ensure that it ad- side. information highway to every corner. dresses the digital divide in a com- Ms. MIKULSKI. I understand there We need to test new ways to bring prehensive and extensive way. She has was confusion. I was yielded 30 min- technology into the home, with innova- also sought out the opinions of parents, utes, and I have consumed 16 minutes. tive applications. We need to look out teachers, children, business people and I yield my 14 minutes back to the for Native Americans. We are living in working people all across our State and Democratic whip to use such time as a very exciting time. The opportunities the Nation to ensure that every com- he deems appropriate. are tremendous to use technology to munity can reap the benefits of tech- Mr. REID. We have no more amend- improve our lives, to use technology to nology. ments to offer on this particular meas- remove the barriers caused by income, Moreover, I am pleased that members ure. Does the majority wish to spend race, ethnicity, or geography. If we can of the technology sector of our econ- more time on this amendment? help every one of our children and omy are participating so fully and have Mr. COVERDELL. We have 30 min- make sure they cross this digital di- played such a key role in helping to de- utes allotted on the amendment. vide, this will be the most important velop this initiative. With the techno- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- legislation this United States can pass. logical giants joining us in this effort, ator is correct. It will be as important as the Civil we are off to a great start in helping to Mr. COVERDELL. In answer to the Rights Act of 1964. Technology is the ensure that every man, woman and question of the Senator from Nevada, tool, but empowerment is the outcome. child in our country will have the op- yes, we have several speakers on the It could mean, through the work we portunity to access the Internet. amendment and will probably use the do here, the death of distance as a bar- I believe we have a tremendous op- majority of the 30 minutes on our side. rier for economic development. But it portunity right now, with our eco- Mr. REID. We don’t appear to have also could mean the death of discrimi- nomic prosperity, to begin closing this any speakers. nation because poor children and chil- digital divide. We have the lowest un- There was no attempt—and I ex- dren of color would be able to leapfrog employment rate and the lowest infla- plained this in detail to the Senator into the future. tion rate in our country in more than from New Mexico—to do anything My amendment takes the Federal 30 years. In our African-American and other than complete the work on the dollars and makes public investments Hispanic communities, unemployment Robb amendment. in our schools, our community-based has fallen to some of the lowest levels There are a lot of people I might try organizations, our libraries, our teach- in history. to take advantage of, but one of them ers, and, most of all, our children. At And to help sustain this economic re- is not the Senator from Alaska. the right time, I will be offering my covery, we must provide the tools to Mr. STEVENS. I appreciate the Sen- amendment. That is, indeed, a brief enable our people to obtain the skills ator’s comments. I was misinformed. I summary of this amendment. necessary to compete in a global econ- apologize to the Senator. Obviously, this isn’t the most com- omy—an economy that is growing by I want to make certain when the pelling thing on Senators’ minds, and leaps and bounds in part due to the time comes, we get to the floor as in- it is disappointing I have had to speak technology sector and the opportuni- tended. in an environment where everybody ties it presents. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Who else’s conversation was more impor- We are the world’s leader of this yields time on the Reed amendment? tant than the person speaking. That is technological revolution and our chil- Mr. COVERDELL. I suggest the ab- OK because deep down I know America dren are on the cusp of enjoying the sence of a quorum. is listening. Deep down, I know this is full benefits of what it has to offer. In The PRESIDING OFFICER. The a very important coalition issue. It order to assist them in this endeavor, clerk will call the roll. brings people together of all different we must move forward to empowering The legislative clerk proceeded to geographies, rural and urban, whether each and every community with the call the roll. poor white or a child from a family of technological skills and resources it re- Mr. COVERDELL. I ask unanimous African, Latino, or Native American quires. We can take a major step in consent that the order for the quorum background. It also means if you are this regard by passing this legisla- call be rescinded. disabled, you will be able to learn the tion—America’s future deserves no The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without tools needed to ensure, though you less. So I lend my strong support to objection, it is so ordered. might have a physical disability, you this amendment and I urge my col- Mr. REID. Parliamentary inquiry. will not have barriers. leagues to do the same. Under this circumstance, the time is This amendment is about hope. This Mr. STEVENS. What is the par- being equally divided? amendment is about opportunity. This liamentary situation? The PRESIDING OFFICER. If no one amendment is about one more rung on The PRESIDING OFFICER. We are yields time, it is equally divided. the opportunity ladder of the United on amendment No. 3013 of the Senator Mr. REID. Mr. President, unless the States of America. I think it has broad- from Rhode Island, Mr. REID. It is a majority is ready to proceed, we have a based appeal on a bipartisan basis. I second-degree perfecting amendment Senator to speak, and I can yield him hope when the time comes to offer my to the Robb amendment. some time off the resolution. But if the amendment and when we have a roll- Mr. STEVENS. It was my intention Senator from Idaho is ready to pro- call vote, the men and women of the to delay debate on my amendment ceed? Senate will vote to ensure that our until the Robb amendment and the sec- Mr. COVERDELL. We are. Mr. Presi- children can have a future and many ond-degree amendment were finished. dent, I yield up to 10 minutes of our children can leapfrog into the future, As I understand it, a substitute was time to the Senator from Idaho. leaving behind the legacies of poverty. filed rather than a second-degree. I am Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, might I yield the floor. not sure that process is over. I want to I ask a question of the Senator who has Mr. SARBANES. Mr. President, I rise keep our commitment. I apologize to been managing? How much time does in support of the National Digital Em- the Senator from Maryland; I thought he have on his amendment? powerment Amendment to be offered that was over when I came to the floor. Mr. COVERDELL. The full 30 min- by my colleague, Senator MIKULSKI. I am prepared to allow my good utes, well, minus—what is it, 25 min- Let me begin by expressing my deep friend from Georgia to complete this utes?

VerDate Mar 15 2010 22:44 Dec 04, 2013 Jkt 081600 PO 00000 Frm 00035 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\2000SENATE\S06AP0.REC S06AP0 mmaher on DSKCGSP4G1 with SOCIALSECURITY S2304 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE April 6, 2000 The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- 2 percent of the American public are I heard a statistic the other day: 75 ator has 25 minutes remaining. willing to suggest that somehow the percent of all gun murders of children Mr. DOMENICI. Thank you. Congress can miraculously change the in the world occur in the United States Mr. CRAIG. Mr. President, I want to culture of our society or the violence of America, the land of the free and the be brief, but I think it is important to in America. The juvenile justice bill home of the brave. It does not matter respond for the record because we have itself, absent what was put on it by how brave a child is. Twelve a day are had a Senator stand up and suggest we this Senate, will go a great deal further killed. I say to my friend from Rhode ought to instruct the judiciary com- in curbing juvenile crime than any- Island, I appreciate him offering his mittees that are in conference now thing else. amendment. over juvenile justice—and he is doing it The Senate will vote its will on this Also, I say to the Senator from Mary- based on guns and guns alone. So for a issue, and it should. That is appro- land, Ms. MIKULSKI, I was honored to few moments let me talk about what is priate. But it will not be voting the offer a very similar amendment in the in the juvenile justice bill that has will of America, an America that is Budget Committee. The good news is been covered up by the debate that has saying to this Justice Department: Get that amendment was adopted unani- produced no results for this country busy and enforce the law; saying to the mously, and Chairman DOMENICI ac- and, most importantly, should not. parents of school-age children of Amer- cepted it. The difference between Sen- I know the Senator has not talked ica: Get involved in the lives of your ator MIKULSKI’s amendment, which I about the alcohol prevention for mi- children. Work with them in devel- cosponsor with her, and the one in the nors that is in the bill or the cultural oping self-control. Work with your committee is that this one has solid violence issues or the gangs or the ju- schools and your communities. That is numbers behind it. The amendment in venile Brady bill and the gun safety not passing a law. That is changing the committee was a general vow of provisions that were already in a bill your schedule as a parent. That is tak- support from the Budget Committee to before Columbine and before Senators ing time out of your busy lives to get bridge that digital divide. We offer in came to the floor and began to muck involved with your kids. this amendment a comprehensive ap- up the process of a very well thought That was the tragedy of Columbine proach to building human capital and out juvenile crime bill. There are pro- and that is the tragedy of America physical infrastructure that is needed visions for juvenile offenders to allow today. Somehow we have become so for sustained success in this century. the U.S. attorney to prosecute juve- busy we cannot give our children time. I want to make two points about the niles as adults for violent felonies and When violence erupts in America as a great need we face for our children. We serious drug offenses. It treats Federal result of a juvenile offender and a mis- have a public education system in this delinquency records for serious crimes directed child, we run to the Congress Nation that is essentially a great such as murder and rape and armed of the United States and say: Fix it. equalizer. It gives all children a chance robbery and assault similar to records We cannot fix these kinds of things, to grow up and be what they want to of adults and other offenders. and the American people innately be, in my case a Senator. I want to see Why are we stymied? Why has the know it. That is why they so clearly that occur for all of our children. It Congress not rushed to judgment on said to the Senator from California or will not occur if they do not have ac- gun laws? More gun laws—adding more to the Senator from Connecticut or to cess to computers and teachers who un- to the 35,000 gun laws that are already other Senators: Stacking up laws and derstand how to use the computers. on the books of America’s cities, coun- stacking up law books does not a safer I come from a State that boasts Sil- ties, State, and Federal Government. world make. That is why the Senate icon Valley. In Los Angeles, we have a Let me tell you why. has rejected it. That is why the House similar high-tech area. In San Diego, In a recent poll by Zogby, recognized has rejected it. That is why my col- we have a magnificent high-tech area, by most as a very creditable pollster, leagues on the other side of the aisle and it is moving all over our State. here was the question asked of the gain absolutely no value and political Those companies have to go to foreign American citizens: Which of the fol- traction on this issue—because the countries to get human capital. People lowing is the best way to solve the gun American people have it figured out. are being offered very high salaries to violence in America? Mr. President, 52 I am not surprised. The American come to America. Therefore, we must percent said prosecuting criminals who people are collectively much brighter train our young people or all those use a gun in the commission of a than most of us. I ask the Senate to re- good jobs will not go to Americans, and crime—well over a majority of the ject this amendment. that will be a very sad situation, in- American people are saying no more I yield the floor. deed. laws; Attorney General Janet Reno, go The PRESIDING OFFICER. Who The last point I will make is that if after the criminal who misuses his or yields time? The Senator from Nevada. you have young children or if you have her rights under the Constitution. Mr. REID. I yield to the Senator grandchildren—and I am fortunate to Then 15 percent said having parents from California for 5 minutes. have a grandchild—you can see that 2- and schools teach self-control. Now we The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- and 3-year-olds find their way on com- are up to 67 percent of the American ator from California. puters. A lasting memory I have of my people who, when asked the question, Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, I thank grandson is at the age of 21⁄2, with his are saying: Don’t pass more laws; en- the assistant Democratic leader for thumb stuck in his mouth, his blanket force the ones you have. Work on the this time. I came to talk about the MI- hanging down, and the other hand on cultural problems that America has. KULSKI amendment, which I was hon- the mouse figuring out how to use the Only 2 percent of the American people ored to carry for her in the Budget computer. Now he is 5. I hate to admit say Congress should legislate more gun Committee. But I also feel the need to it, but he understands computers prob- laws—only 2 percent. respond to my friend from Idaho, who ably as well as I do. At least when the So when the Senator from California is an eloquent voice for the status quo computer freezes up, he figures out a brought this amendment to the floor when it comes to gun violence. way to make it work. some time ago, and it was defeated, The Senate did act, the Senate did If children are gravitating in that di- that was the reason it was defeated. act on five sensible gun laws. The fact rection and they can understand at Now the Senator from Connecticut is, we should be pushing for them be- that age—because their brain capacity comes forward with the identical cause over his opposition we did pass is expanding at amazing rates at age 3, amendment and is going to ask the those laws and they are stuck in the 4, and 5—we have to make sure our Senate to repeat the action. A political conference committee. The Reid families can give them this oppor- ‘‘gotcha’’ is what they think it is. amendment would simply call on the tunity. It is the right thing to do for America is very aware of what we are conference committee to do its work them. It is the right thing to do for our doing here. It is not what we are not and report these laws out so we can education system. It is the right thing doing here. They know we are not pass- turn around the tragedy that is meet- to do for our Nation. ing more gun laws. They know the rea- ing too many families, too many chil- The Mikulski-Boxer amendment, son is because that does not work. Only dren. which is supported by many others too

VerDate Mar 15 2010 22:44 Dec 04, 2013 Jkt 081600 PO 00000 Frm 00036 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\2000SENATE\S06AP0.REC S06AP0 mmaher on DSKCGSP4G1 with SOCIALSECURITY April 6, 2000 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S2305 numerous to mention, is so important. astounding to me. I left office in 1992, A month or so later, the Attorney Since we can look back at the budget and under President Bush’s administra- General came before the committee on vote and see that a similar amendment tion, there were 7,048 prosecutions of another matter, and I asked her about was, in fact, adopted across the board criminals for illegal use of guns under it. She apparently had not done any- by the committee in a bipartisan vote, existing laws then, and we have more thing about it. I remember asking her: this is the logical next step—to put the laws today than we had then. Look How did she get the message from the numbers behind the idea that every what happened. They steadfastly set President? Did she have to turn on the single child in America should come on about to reduce those gun prosecutions radio or did he send it to her in writ- board this information age and do well to 3,807 in 1998. I find that astounding. ing? He said it on the radio: I am di- in school, do well in the family, and do I came to this body 3 years ago. I recting you to enhance these prosecu- well in a future career. know how to pull out the Department tions. He should; but it has not been I thank the Chair, and I thank my as- of Justice statistics book. I used it done. sistant minority leader. every day as a Federal prosecutor. I A lot of other laws have been passed The PRESIDING OFFICER. Who could see how my district was doing in recent years that are supposed to yields time? and other districts were doing. I looked work. I am telling you about the 7,000 Mr. COVERDELL. How much time at the numbers. It was stunning to me. prosecutions of felons who were in the remains on our side? In the last 3 years I have been here, possession of a gun during the commis- The PRESIDING OFFICER. Twenty- I do not believe I have missed one op- sion of a crime, the 7,000 prosecutions one minutes. portunity to call those numbers to the of felons, in the possession of auto- Mr. COVERDELL. I yield up to 10 attention of the Attorney General of matic weapons, lying on their forms minutes to the distinguished Senator the United States, the Deputy Attor- from Alabama. when they applied to buy one, and that ney General of the United States, the sort of thing. That is the bread and The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- Associate Attorney General of the ator from Alabama. butter of prosecuting gun cases. That United States, or the Chief of the is the meat and potatoes of it. We Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. President, I Criminal Division. It has been 10, 15, or thank the distinguished Senator from passed a lot of other laws. more times. Most of the time I have They want to pass another law to go Georgia and welcome the opportunity had this very chart with me. to share a few remarks about violence even further than what this Congress I said: I am astounded. has passed to restrict the sale of guns in America and what we can do to They said: The States are pros- at a gun show saying it is going to af- make our streets and communities ecuting more cases, and we are trying fect crime in America. That is abso- safer and, specifically, what we ought to go after big gun cases. to do about firearms in America. Fundamentally, the numbers went lutely bogus. That is baloney. That is Over half the homes in America have down. The intensity of the effort went politics. a gun. It is a traditional part of Amer- down. We tried to reach a reasonable agree- ican life, and it will always be. It is Then an experiment occurred. The ment, but I am not going to vote for protected by the second amendment to U.S. attorney in Richmond, VA, ap- some sort of restriction on gun shows the Constitution. It provides the right pointed by President Clinton, got with that says to people who have been to keep and bear arms. That is a tradi- the chief of police in Richmond, who is doing this for 50 years that they have tion and a legal right given to the a young, aggressive African American, to wait 3 days before they can sell a American people, unless it is taken to do something about gun violence in gun. By then the show is closed and has away by an amendment to the Con- Richmond. So they attempted to do gone back to a State somewhere far stitution of the United States. what we called Project Triggerlock. away. That is not necessary. However, even though we have fire- They called it Triggerlock with We have tried to reach an accord arms, firearms are dangerous and they Steroids. They prosecuted the types of with the White House on that. They do should not be in the hands of people cases we were doing, and they ran TV not want an accord. They think they who are dangerous. advertisements and announcements. can get a political issue. We have a string of laws that help us They thought the combination would Let me show you what I am talking deal with that, laws that I used to en- help. about, what is really important on force for 15 years as a Federal pros- They credited their efforts in Rich- guns. ecutor, and 12 years as U.S. attorney. mond, VA—President Clinton’s own ap- They passed a law called 922(q), title We had a project under President Bush pointee—with a 30-percent reduction in 18, involving the possession of firearms called Project Triggerlock, which he the number of deaths and murders in on school grounds. That was a few promoted and I promoted in my dis- Richmond, VA—40 percent. It may be years ago before I came to the Senate. trict. I sent out a newsletter to every more than that over 2 years, but 30 per- It was not too many years ago. sheriff and every chief of police telling cent was the number they testified to In 1997, they had five prosecutions in them that we were willing and able to in a hearing I held. the whole United States. In 1998, they use tough Federal firearms legislation Oddly enough, the day before the had eight prosecutions in the whole to help them crack down on crime hearing, which was going to be on a United States. They passed a law that where firearms were used; that we Monday, the President, the Depart- it is unlawful to transfer firearms to would prosecute people who had been ment of Justice, and Janet Reno tried juveniles. I support that law. I support convicted of a felony who possessed a their best to put off the hearing. They the one on the possession of firearms firearm; that we would, indeed, pros- did not want to go into these numbers. on school grounds, too. But, look, in ecute them aggressively if they wanted They did not want to talk about them. 1997, they prosecuted five of those to bring those cases to the Federal Finally we said: We are going to have cases; and in 1998, six of those cases. prosecutors. We increased those pros- this hearing; we have been talking Another law deals with the posses- ecutions substantially. I believe that about it for years. sion or transfer of a semiautomatic helped reduce crime. I believe it helped So we set it and went forward. Then weapon; that is, the assault weapons. make our communities safer. that Saturday before the hearing was You remember we had to have this as- Years went by and President Clinton to be held, President Clinton dedicated sault weapon ban. It was worthy of de- took office. I expected, since he talked his national radio address to Project bate. so much about illegal guns and stop- Exile in Richmond and bragged about An assault weapon looks like a mili- ping guns—they talk about this inani- how good it was. He said in that radio tary M–16, an AK–47, but it really is mate object, a metal firearm as if it is address: I am directing the Attorney not. The assault weapons are semiauto- an evil force, when, obviously, the per- General of the United States and the matic, not fully automatic as are the son behind it is the one who causes the Secretary of the Treasury—which has military weapons. If it is fully auto- trouble. I thought we would see a fur- the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and matic, if it is a machine gun, an auto- ther step-up of the prosecution of laws. Firearms that does most of the inves- matic weapon, it has been illegal since As one can see from the chart behind tigations—to step up their prosecution the days of Al Capone. I do not believe me, exactly the opposite occurred. It is of criminals with guns. I have ever failed to prosecute a case in

VerDate Mar 15 2010 22:44 Dec 04, 2013 Jkt 081600 PO 00000 Frm 00037 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\2000SENATE\S06AP0.REC S06AP0 mmaher on DSKCGSP4G1 with SOCIALSECURITY S2306 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE April 6, 2000 Alabama when a person had an auto- reduce crime in America. It has some handguns, including 85 percent of the matic weapon, a machine gun. gun amendments on it that restrict gun owners who were surveyed. In addi- We did not need these new laws to gun use in America. It makes it a fel- tion, 89 percent also favor background prosecute that. But if they had a weap- ony to sell one of these assault weap- checks on all sales at gun shows. This on that looked like an M–16, they ons to a young person. And there are is what the American people want. It is wanted to make it illegal, even though other offenses we added to that. But not what the gun lobby wants. That is it fired one shot. That was eventually they are not going to really affect why we have waited 1 year, not in prin- done. That was going to stop crime in crime in America, frankly. Certainly, ciples compromise and debate but es- America. Right? they will not if they do not get en- sentially trying to strangle this meas- In 1997, there were four prosecutions; forced. ure we passed so that it won’t come in 1998, there were four prosecutions. I suggest that what we need to do is back to the floor. Look, we want to reduce crime in to enforce the laws we have. I know There has been one meeting of the America. We want to reduce the inci- Mr. Wayne LaPierre, the executive di- conferees, which is just trying to kill it dence of illegal weapons. Children do rector of the National Rifle Associa- off by indifference, hoping we will for- not need to be playing with weapons. tion, made the comment that the get about Columbine, that we will for- Everybody who has a weapon in their President wanted violence in America, get about the violence that is plaguing home needs to keep that weapon locked and that is why he would not enforce the country. up. these laws. He got so mad about it, he Anyone who is suggesting that these The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. said he thought it was deliberate. I do measures are designed to end crime in SMITH of Oregon). The Senator’s time not agree with that. America is being slightly hyperbolic. has expired. But I will say to you right now what What it might do is prevent those hun- The Senator from Georgia. I said in the hearings before my com- dreds, perhaps thousands, of deaths a Mr. COVERDELL. I yield another 5 mittee: There have been good and de- year by handguns through accidents, minutes to the Senator from Alabama. cent people all over America who are through suicides, through the mis- Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. President, we dead today because this administration handling of weapons. That in itself will want to do the right thing. But there is will not enforce and carry out a proven be a great achievement. a constitutional right to keep and bear program such as Project Exile in Rich- I had the opportunity this morning arms in this country. How far do we mond, VA, to target criminals who are to talk about some of the incidents in- want to go? These laws that are not using guns to kill people. volving children, young people, who being enforced, does that suggest this They claim they have had a 30-per- might have been deterred, not from administration is guilty of hypocrisy? cent reduction in murder in Richmond. criminal activity but gun accidents, They said this was so important, that Think what would happen if every city gun violence. I was particularly we had to pass it, and we were going to in America could achieve that by car- shocked in my home community of enforce these laws. But their prosecu- rying out such a program. It could be Providence by a bunch of young people, done if the Attorney General would di- tions have plummeted under the ad- 16-, 17-year-olds, horsing around, get- rect it, if the President would insist on ministration. ting into a little bit of an ego contest. it, and we would get about that busi- I say to the people of America, and What happened? They were in a place ness—instead of just talking about the Members of this Senate, if we rep- where, when they turned around, some- guns, talking about some new esoteric licated, throughout this country, body in the crowd had a gun. Not the law, some wording in some transaction Project Exile in Richmond, and if it two young people wrestling but some- at a gun show, as if that is going to were carried out under existing laws, body had a gun. They got the weapon. that all these laws and those gun laws make a difference. Trust me. I have been there. I pros- One person, out of a sense of just total were enforced steadfastly—if criminals ecuted these cases. I care about this irrationality, fired, hitting the other who are using guns are given enhanced issue. I believe we need to quit playing young man in the head, critically sentences, as Federal law requires; if politics. We need to pass that juvenile wounding the young man, and was so you carry a firearm during a drug deal, crime bill. It is a good bill. It is being distraught by remorse for what he had you must receive 5 years without pa- held up because we will not go as far as done that he ran into a backyard and role consecutive to any sentence you the President wants to go on gun show killed himself. receive for the drug offense—the word legislation. The House voted it down That is what we are talking about in starts getting out. substantially, with some Democratic terms of gun violence. There is no law It did in Mobile, AL, where I pros- opposition. We need to get that legisla- that would prevent that. ecuted. Drug dealers quit carrying guns tion passed, quit playing politics with Mr. SESSIONS. Will the Senator because if they carried a gun, they this issue, and get on with the business yield? would be taken to Federal court, and of the Senate. Mr. REED. I would like to finish my when they were prosecuted, they would I thank the Chair and yield the floor. remarks. be sentenced and sent off, in exile, to Mr. REID. Mr. President, from the We can do much more, and we should some Federal prison way out of the resolution, I yield 5 minutes to the do much more. I have heard people say State. Senator from Rhode Island, the sponsor all weapons should be secured in the It does work. It worked in Richmond. of the legislation which is the subject home, if they are stored there. The That is what we need to do. We need to matter of this discussion. child safety lock will ensure that takes be skeptical of the news media that al- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- place. ways judges whether or not somebody ator from Rhode Island. On the gun show loophole, the GAO is against gun violence by whether Mr. REED. I thank the Senator from has done a report that suggested, under they vote for every bill the Clinton ad- Nevada. the Brady instant check, 73 percent of ministration proposes. If you do not My resolution is very clear. It asks these background checks are finished vote for every bill they propose, then that the conferees return the report almost immediately, conducted almost you are for gun violence. back to us on the juvenile justice bill simultaneously with the request, that I was a prosecutor. I prosecuted a lot so we can vote up or down on the meas- 95 percent of all checks are completed more cases, firearms cases, than the ures we passed on May 20 of last year, within 2 hours. It is only those checks Clinton administration did and my in response to Columbine, which pro- that raise serious questions that go be- brother U.S. attorneys did. So that of- vide for safety locks on handguns, ban yond 2 hours, which will in no way fends me. I do not believe it is right. large clips for automatic weapons, and interfere with the operation of a gun This amendment that has been pro- would also close the gun show loophole. show. It is in those checks where the posed, this sense of the Senate, is just All of these measures are supported by most likely violations occur in terms a political deal. I worked hard with an extraordinary majority of Ameri- of getting a weapon which you should Senator HATCH, and others on the Judi- cans. not have. In fact, those people are 20 ciary Committee, to pass a juvenile Nearly 90 percent of Americans favor times more likely to be unable to ac- crime bill that I believe will work to requiring child safety locks on all new quire a weapon.

VerDate Mar 15 2010 22:44 Dec 04, 2013 Jkt 081600 PO 00000 Frm 00038 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\2000SENATE\S06AP0.REC S06AP0 mmaher on DSKCGSP4G1 with SOCIALSECURITY April 6, 2000 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S2307 In the nature of a gun show, many of sequent time. The 25 minutes remain- legislation. I want to use the remain- the dealers at gun shows are licensed ing under this amendment are going to der of my time to talk about the issue gun dealers. They are subject to the be divided among them to speak on of accountability because, in my opin- Brady law. They have to do the back- this very important education amend- ion, that is a central and fundamental ground check. We can’t abandon reason ment. I yield 5 minutes to the Senator issue. It is a word that has many dif- when we come to the floor. If you are from Florida. ferent meanings. Some people define looking for a weapon and you know The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- accountability in the context of an ac- you are going to face a Brady check ator from Florida is recognized. countant—that accountability is to be when you go to a gun show, where are Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, I have certain you have properly accounted you going to go? You will go not to the a Senator who wants to speak on the for all of those things that were input licensed gun dealer but someone who is actual amendment itself, Mr. HATCH. into the education system; that you selling guns and doesn’t have to do a Mr. HATCH. I will be happy to wait have the appropriate number of books background check. Then you will hope, for 5 minutes. in the school library, as an example. if any check is done, it will be done so Mr. REID. We have other people to We believe those are important. arbitrarily that you won’t be caught. speak. We will hear from Senator GRA- We do not believe that is the ac- That is what the statistics show in the HAM and then go to you. How much countability the Federal Government GAO report. time do you wish to take? should be looking for from States and Mr. SESSIONS. Will the Senator Mr. HATCH. How much time do we local school districts. We also do not yield on one point? have left on this side? believe that accountability is account- Mr. REED. I would like to finish. My Mr. DOMENICI. Do we have 6 min- ability for student performance alone. colleagues want to speak on other mat- utes remaining on our side? We recognize that student performance ters. Let me say something about this The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- is heavily influenced by many factors, mantra about enforcement: You just ator is correct. particularly the socioeconomic cir- have to enforce the laws. Mr. DOMENICI. I will yield Senator cumstances of the family of the stu- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- HATCH 4 minutes of that. dent. The challenge, rather, is an ac- ator’s 5 minutes have expired. Mr. REID. Senator GRAHAM is going countability that focuses on those as- Mr. REED. I ask for 2 additional min- to speak for 5 minutes, and then Sen- pects of the experience in the school utes. ator HATCH is going to speak on the and the classroom that has contributed Mr. REID. Two minutes under the Reed amendment. Then we will go back to the students’ educational growth resolution. to the other individuals. and development. Mr. REED. The NRA, the gun lobby, The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- So we will be attempting to present talks about enforcement. They have ator from Florida. an accountability that is school based, persistently, over decades, frustrated Mr. GRAHAM. Mr. President, I will school focused, but is determined by real enforcement. For 10 years they re- be offering an amendment, which is de- how much educational value the school fused to support the Brady bill and told scribed as Graham amendment No. 1, in experience has added to the students’ their members it would effectively de- which I am joined by Senators LIEBER- progress. stroy the right to bear arms in Amer- MAN, BAYH, LANDRIEU, LINCOLN, I ask unanimous consent to have ica, resulting in total, strict gun con- BREAUX, ROBB, and EDWARDS, which re- printed in the RECORD an opinion arti- trol on all Americans. lates to a new approach to the Federal cle that appeared in the Tallahassee With respect to the operation of in- role in primary and secondary edu- Democrat entitled ‘‘Bush Plan Grades spections, in 1986 the McClure-Volkmer cation. Students Poverty Levels,’’ as illustra- Act was supported strongly by the This is the first major legislative ini- tion of these different approaches to NRA—$1.5 million of lobbying activity. tiative of the Senate New Democrats. the concept of accountability. That legislation limits ATF’s ability to We are a group of Democrats who feel There being no objection, the mate- conduct unannounced inspections. If passionately about the importance of a rial was ordered to be printed in the you want to enforce the law, that is partnership between the Federal Gov- RECORD, as follows: fine. Then why does the gun lobby go ernment and the State and local school [From the Tallahassee Democrat, Aug. 16, ahead and try to constrain the law so districts for the benefit of our children, 1999] that we can’t effectively enforce laws but we feel pragmatic as to the means BUSH PLAN GRADES STUDENTS POVERTY that are on the books already? If you by which we can achieve that appro- LEVELS look at the number of ATF agents, it priate partnership. (By Walter Tschinkel) has declined. Fortunately, they have We are going to advocate that that The Bush administration and the legisla- increased over the last year. As a re- partnership has several fundamental ture, after months of lobbying, wrangling, sult, we have more prosecutions, more principles. One of those is account- dealing and agonizing, has given us the referrals. ability for student results. A second is A+ Plan with its school accountability The Wall Street Journal suggests, additional resources. report (www.firn.edu/doe/schoolgrades/ac- count.htm). Upon analysis, it turns out to be based upon evidence from a Chicago in- If I could put it in a common form, we believe you will not make the cow merely an elaborate and expensive way to vestigation: grade schools on the poverty or affluence of While firearm-rights enthusiasts argue bigger by just weighing the cow every their students. that there are enough gun laws on the books, day; that you have to provide the re- The Bush/Brogan report assigns each and the problem is merely lax enforcement, sources in order to be able to achieve school a grade primarily on its raw, overall the Chicago case illustrates that in some the goals, the high goals, and to meet standardized test scores. Because standard- areas, the gun laws have holes and enforce- the accountability standards we be- ized test performance is reliably predicted by ment is harder than one might think. lieve are necessary to set for our chil- poverty, the poverty-level of a school is by That is the Wall Street Journal, not dren in order to achieve our national far the strongest predictor of that school’s some radical newspaper in this coun- objectives. grade from the governor. In fact, if you tell me the percent of a school’s students who try. We also are believers in the principle are on supported lunch (an indicator of low The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- of greater flexibility at the State and family income). I will tell you its Bush/Bro- ator’s time has expired. local levels; that our Federal programs gan grade with 80 percent accuracy. Mr. REID. Mr. President, I am going should be more focused and con- If you think I’m bluffing, let me show you to yield time now to Senator GRAHAM centrated. We believe the primary that it’s true. Let us simply classify schools of Florida. Senator GRAHAM and some focus of Federal programs should be on by their affluence/poverty makeup—very af- of his colleagues—Senator BAYH, Sen- the children in the greatest need, the fluent, moderately affluent, moderately poor, very poor—with the most affluent ator EDWARDS, Senator LANDRIEU— at-risk children, the children who too schools get an A, the next group getting a B, have a very important education often fall through the cracks of current and so on. The table shows how closely the amendment they have been waiting to American education. grades based on poverty correspond to those offer. They will not be able to offer it Individual members of our group will assigned by the Bush/Brogan School Ac- now, but they will offer it at some sub- speak to the various principles of this countability Report. Simply by considering

VerDate Mar 15 2010 22:44 Dec 04, 2013 Jkt 081600 PO 00000 Frm 00039 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\2000SENATE\S06AP0.REC S06AP0 mmaher on DSKCGSP4G1 with SOCIALSECURITY S2308 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE April 6, 2000 school/affluence/poverty, we are able to as- cent of long absences or suspensions was last year, the Clinton Justice Depart- sign the same grade as the Bush/Brogan ‘per- below state averages; (2) greater than 95 per- ment prosecuted only eight cases under formance-based’ system with 26 out of 33 cent of the student body was tested; (3) no the federal law against possessing fire- schools in Leon County. And we did this subgroup fell below minimum criterion; (4) arms on school grounds in 1998, and without looking at a single test score. reading scores improved without a decline in only five such cases in 1997. SCORES DON’T TELL US ABOUT PERFORMANCE math and writing over 1998. Only the last two can actually be consid- It is a federal law to transfer a fire- Is this a fair, or even a sensible, way to ered academic performance. The first two arm to a juvenile, yet the Clinton Jus- grade our schools? Only if you think poverty are bureaucratic tricks. It is a bit like re- tice Department prosecuted only six should be punished. Does the Bush/Brogan quiring that an athlete run the 100-yard dash grade tell us anything new about a schools’ cases in 1998, and only five in 1997. in 10 seconds, but you credit him with half a educational performance? Of course it does Similarly, for all its talk about the second if he wears the right color shorts, and not. It tells us what proportion of the stu- dangers of semiautomatic assault another half second if she pulls her socks up dent body comes from poor families. weapons, the Clinton Justice Depart- before starting. Neither has anything to do It is not my purpose to dwell on the pov- with performance, and both serve to obscure ment has an equally abysmal record for erty-performance link. But no school grading real performance. prosecuting cases under the current system that does not take this socio- INSIST ON BETTER GRADING SYSTEM laws governing those weapons. The economic factor into account is useful in Clinton administration brought only telling us how well our schools are really You may ask, ‘‘Well, how are we supposed doing. Would it not be much fairer to adjust to know how our schools are really doing?’’ four cases in 1998, and only four in 1997, school performance for poverty before grad- I suggest that we insist on a much more so- under the federal law criminalizing the ing them? phisticated analysis of school data by the transfer or possession of semiauto- I think it would, and hereby offer the Prof. state Department of Education, instead of matic assault weapons. Walter’s Level-Playing-Field School-Grading letting it just plunk it onto their web site or Now, Mr. President, you will not hear System as an alternative to the Bush/Brogan onto a newspaper page so the public can the Clinton administration or the gun School Accountability Report. worry about what it means. control advocates in Congress talk At the very least, school performance We begin with a so-called regression anal- about these statistics, even though it ysis of the school performance data (three needs to be adjusted for the nature of the standardized tests) against the poverty level student body. Better yet, let us not pretend is these statistics—not a wish-list of of the student body. This statistical method that a single number can adequately assess more laws and regulations—that reveal shows about 80 percent of the test scores are the performance of our schools. Performance the true story of gun misuse in Amer- predicted by the poverty level of the student must be measured, not by any single num- ica. Instead, the number that gun con- body. I detailed this relationship in a March ber, but by the relationship between what trol advocates talk about is the 500,000 14 My View column (also found on my goes into a school and what comes out. The felons and other prohibited purchasers website at www.fsu.edu/biology/faculty/ large and expensive bureaucracy at DOE can that the Brady background check pre- reasonably be expected to explain to the pub- wrt.html). For every percent that poverty vented from buying firearms since the increases, the school’s scores drop by an av- lic how the data are related to each other, erage of 1.6 points. The most affluent what they mean and how our schools are Brady law was enacted. schools, those with fewer than 15 percent really doing. This will allow us to discover Let me point out that with the origi- poor students, have scores higher than 230, what works and what doesn’t work, and thus nal Brady law this administration while the poorest, with more than 75 percent to spend money more effectively. wanted was a 7-day delay once you poor students, have scores below 120, less Mr. GRAHAM. Mr. President, this tried to buy a weapon. We reduced it to than about half those of the most affluent group of Senate Democrats appreciates 5 days. We knew that wasn’t going to schools. Next, we take the difference be- this opportunity and accepts the chal- work, so we instituted an instant tween each school’s actual test scores and lenge. We understand that education is check system so you can find out im- the test score predicted by the regression for mediately whether a person is capable a school of that socioeconomic condition. fundamental to the growth of America These differences tell us how much better or today and even more fundamental to of purchasing a weapon. It was our in- worse than average a school tested, given its our progress tomorrow. Our willingness stant check system that caught these, particular level of poverty. By doing this, we to invest intelligently in our children according to the President, 500,000 peo- have removed the effect of poverty on test is a test of our Nation’s intelligence ple. Actually, it was about 400,000 peo- scores. The result is that the maximum dif- about shaping its future. I am pleased ple. ference in test scores has shrunk from 175 to be joined by my colleagues in this But even this statistic points out the points to only about 70 (the lost 105 points effort and look forward to their illu- Clinton administration’s lack of com- are the effect of poverty). Differences less mination on these principles of our mitment to enforcing federal gun laws. than zero indicate that (with poverty effects Every one of those 500,000 people who removed) a school did less well than average; education proposal. above zero indicate that it did better than The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- were thwarted in their attempts to average. ator from Utah is recognized. purchase firearms violated 18 U.S.C. My scale assigns letter grades as follows: Mr. HATCH. Mr. President, I thank section 922(a)(6) by stating under oath above 25 gets an A; between 5 and 25 gets a Senator DOMENICI, chairman of the that they were not disqualified from B; between ¥20 and 5 gets a C; between ¥35 Budget Committee, for his outstanding purchasing a firearm. How many of ¥ ¥ and 20 gets a D; anything below 35 gets leadership on the budget resolution. those 500,000 were prosecuted between an F. The table below lists our elementary Mr. President, I feel compelled to 1996–1999? Only about 200 were even re- and middle schools in the order of the grades assigned by the Bush/Brogan Plan. make some short remarks today be- ferred for prosecution. When graded according to the Level-Field cause the topic has strayed away from Mr. President, the only thing worse system, we can recognize that schools like the budget and focused once again on than this poor enforcement record is Riley, Hartsfield, and Woodville are doing gun control. This topic—and many mis- the Clinton administration’s disingen- relatively well compared to other schools of leading statements about it—are pa- uous and concerted effort to blame the similar socioeconomic makeup. My system raded out year after year when the lack of federal gun prosecutions on a recognizes this and rewards them with A’s Senate considers the budget resolution. lack of resources. The facts dem- and B’s instead of the C’s and D’s assigned by This year, I hope we can see through onstrate that, during the period when the Bush/Brogan system. federal gun prosecutions decreased On the other hand, my system also shows the rhetoric and focus on what objec- that schools like Swift Creek, Buck Lake tive observers already know to be true: nearly 50 percent, the overall budget of and Griffin do not deserve their Bush/Brogan The statistics prove that the Clinton the Department of Justice has in- A’s because they are only average as com- administration has failed to enforce creased by 54 percent. pared to other schools of similar socio- federal gun laws. For example: The Clinton administration also tries economic makeup. Hence, the Level-Field Between 1992 and 1998, so-called to hide its failure to prosecute gun system assigns them a C, because the Level- Triggerlock prosecutions—prosecu- crimes behind its never-ending calls for Field system does not reward schools for tions of defendants who use a firearm more federal gun control laws. The being lucky enough to be teaching mostly af- in the commission of a felony—dropped irony of the administration’s position fluent students. The case of Griffin highlights another flaw nearly 50 percent, from 7,045 to ap- was evident at an oversight hearing of the Bush/Brogan plan. Giffin received an proximately 3,800. last year, when I questioned Attorney A, not because of its terrific performance on Despite over 6,000 incidents of chil- General Reno about the decline in fed- standardized tests, but because (1) the per- dren carrying guns into public schools eral firearms prosecutions. She replied

VerDate Mar 15 2010 22:44 Dec 04, 2013 Jkt 081600 PO 00000 Frm 00040 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\2000SENATE\S06AP0.REC S06AP0 mmaher on DSKCGSP4G1 with SOCIALSECURITY April 6, 2000 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S2309 that many firearms violations have tions on the National Instant Check speak on the education amendment been prosecuted in state court, and she System (NICS). It is a federal crime for that will be offered at a subsequent indicated that state court is the proper any person who has been adjudicated as time. forum for these cases. As chairman of a mental defective or who has been Mr. BAYH. Thank you, Mr. Presi- the board of the Federalist Society, I committed to a mental institution to dent. I thank my colleagues. I particu- agree that most firearms crimes can be possess or purchase a firearm. Despite larly express my appreciation to Sen- prosecuted in state court as well as fed- this commonsense federal law, mental ator GRAHAM, and my colleagues, Sen- eral court. Nevertheless, I find it ironic health adjudications are not placed on ators EDWARDS, LANDRIEU, LIEBERMAN, and hypocritical for the administration the NICS system. Consequently, men- LINCOLN, and others, who are also to argue that crimes involving firearms tally ill persons can buy firearms from speaking on the issue that has been should be prosecuted in state court at licensed dealers because the dealers are near and dear to my heart for many the same time they are calling for not notified by the NICS system of the years. It is the cause of improving the more federal gun control laws. If the mental disqualification. The NICS sys- public education system in this coun- administration really believes that its tem will never reach its potential until try and the opportunity that we give to dismal record on gun prosecutions is mental health adjudications are in- schoolchildren across the United because gun laws are a state issue, it cluded. These commonsense ideas States of America. should be consistent and stop pres- would go a lot further toward reducing Mr. President, for more than 100 suring Congress for even more federal the number of crimes committed with years, our Republic has been dedicated gun control laws that it does not in- firearms than the administration’s cur- to the proposition that every child tend to enforce. rent practice of ignoring federal viola- growing up in our country—every The relevance of all this to the budg- tions, asking for more gun restrictions, child, not just a few, not just the privi- et resolution is that there are several and blaming lack of funding for their leged and the elite—should have access actions the Justice Department could abysmal record of prosecutions. to a quality public education. take right now—with no additional It is pathetic that there are 2,000 In the 1960s, there was a growing rec- laws or resources—that would have a laws, rules, and regulations on the ognition, particularly for those chil- positive impact on reducing crime in books that aren’t being taken care of dren in our country who are less fortu- America. First, the Justice Depart- now, and now we have some who say nate, that the dream of a good edu- ment should use state law enforcement let’s have a political recitation here on cation was a promise unfulfilled, and grants to encourage States to enact this resolution to try to embarrass peo- the Elementary and Secondary Edu- mandatory minimum sentences for ple instead of standing up and doing cation Act was born. firearm offenses based on 18 U.S.C. something about the misuse of weapons We gather here today to say that for 924(c), and to prosecute such offenses in in our society. too many of our young people the state court. The key to Project Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, I dream of a good education is still a Triggerlock is the 5-year mandatory want to use my 2 minutes to express to promise unfulfilled, the status quo is minimum prison sentence for any per- the Senate—referring to no singular not good enough, that we must do bet- son who uses or carries a firearm in a Senator but all of us—this budget reso- ter, that we must have a significant re- crime of violence or serious drug traf- lution idea has become preposterous. thinking and rededication to the prin- ficking offense. This 5-year prison sen- Any kind of sense of the Senate is in ciple that a good education is essential tence is in addition to the prison term order, including one to instruct the for opportunity and for every child for the underlying crime. As I men- committee that is in conference. We growing up in our country. tioned earlier, most of these gun are going so far overboard that we are That is what the Graham amendment crimes can be prosecuted in state court making this floor much like a circus. is really all about. It begins with re- as well as federal court. By encour- Actually, I am hopeful it won’t be too sources in the recognition that if we aging States to enact stronger pen- long from now that the Parliamen- don’t give our public schools the tools alties for gun crimes, there will be less tarian will reverse himself. I don’t with which to get the job done, we need to prosecute these cases in federal know how we will do it. Maybe we will can’t possibly expect them to succeed. court. instruct him to do it himself. A Parlia- The Graham amendment calls for Mr. President, there is a precedent mentarian ruled that senses of the Sen- setting aside an additional $15 billion for the federal government encour- ate were in order on budget resolutions in resources for reform and improve- aging States to increase prison sen- even if they did nothing to the resolu- ment in public education over the next tences. The Truth-in-Sentencing Grant tion. 5 years. This is about one-tenth of the Program provides prison construction Now we are dreaming them up. We size of the tax cut included in the budg- funds to States that adopt truth-in- have a gun amendment on a budget res- et resolution before us. sentencing laws. Truth-in-sentencing olution. We have instructions to a com- While I favor cutting taxes, and in laws require violent criminals to serve mittee in conference on a Budget Com- fact have sponsored and supported sev- at least 85 percent of their sentences. mittee. I don’t know what kind of eral of the measures that would reduce Due to truth-in-sentencing grants, points people are making, but if any- taxes in our country, I believe invest- more than 70 percent of prison admis- body thinks they are effective just be- ing in education is just as important to sions last year occurred in states re- cause they win one of these sense of the future well-being of this Nation. quiring criminals to serve at least 85 the Senates, let me say, constituents I don’t think a Member of the Senate percent of their sentence. and politicians don’t believe they are can possibly say that cutting taxes is Another positive step the Justice De- effective because they do nothing. 10 times more important than putting partment should take is using the So if you want to run a TV ad that quality public school teachers in every funds provided in the budget resolution you got something passed in a sense of classroom in this country, or 10 times to designate at least one assistant the Senate, I hope the other guy is more important than ensuring that the United States attorney in each district smart enough to say that is baloney; it latest educational technology is avail- to prosecute federal firearms viola- did nothing. We would be out of here if able to our students, or 10 times more tions. As the U.S. attorney’s office in we didn’t have these—out of here as far important than ensuring that remedial Richmond, Virginia has shown, federal as substantive amendments. It is get- help is available to our young people prosecutors, in cooperation with state ting worse, not better, on both sides. who need to do better reading, writing, and local law enforcement, can help re- On our side, we have 20 sense-of-the- and basic science. duce violent crime. The U.S. attorney’s Senate resolutions. I am going to ask Making these investments is vitally offices should focus their efforts on fed- them to file them pretty soon and see important to the important challenge eral firearms violations until the how many have the courage to call of improving public education for every States enact stronger sentences for them up and have votes on those. child. But Senator GRAHAM’s approach state firearm offenses. I yield the floor. does not just throw money at the prob- Finally, the Justice Department Mr. REID. Mr. President, I yield 5 lem. It deals with fundamental reform should place mental health adjudica- minutes to the Senator from Indiana to and starts with accountability and a

VerDate Mar 15 2010 22:44 Dec 04, 2013 Jkt 081600 PO 00000 Frm 00041 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\2000SENATE\S06AP0.REC S06AP0 mmaher on DSKCGSP4G1 with SOCIALSECURITY S2310 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE April 6, 2000 recognition that we need to focus not Parts of the bill addressed our crisis demand greater attention to those who just upon how much money is spent of guns: a ban on juvenile possession of violate the Brady Law. I asked why so but, instead, how much our children assault weapons and high capacity am- few violators had been prosecuted, and learn. munition magazines; a provision to I was told that the resources just We need to focus on outcomes of the close the gun show loophole; a require- aren’t there. process, just as we add inputs nec- ment that safety locks be included That is why I support the President’s essary to achieving additional success. with every handgun sold in America; request to fund at least 500 additional We need to also focus on high academic and my provision to ban the importa- ATF agents and 1,000 new prosecutors standards that are important to the tion of large capacity ammunition to focus on guns. success of all of our children. This is magazines. But enforcing our current laws has important because there is a growing But the crisis in leadership remains. been made tougher by the concerted ef- gap between the haves and have-nots in Despite passage by both Houses of forts of the NRA to disparage and to our society, and there is just as much Congress almost one year ago, the con- destroy the very people tasked with en- gap in knowledge and learning as in ference committee on this bill has met forcing those laws. The NRA called anything else. only once—in early August of last AFT agents ‘‘jack-booted thugs,’’ in a We must ensure that every child gets year. No real issues have been dis- letter that was completely contradic- good access to education and is held to cussed. No progress has been made. The tory to what they are saying they want these high educational standards to en- bills sit in legislative purgatory, appar- now. sure that for the first time in the his- ently never to see the light of day In fact, every time the opportunity tory of our Nation we don’t experience again. arises to increase federal law enforce- the creation of an underclass charac- It now seems clear that these bills ment capabilities by increasing ATF terized by people who do not have will die a quiet death at the end of this investigatory ability, the NRA fights it enough knowledge and learning to par- short session. As a result, all of the im- ticipate in the opportunities of the 21st tooth and nail: portant issues we debated will remain The NRA fought the Brady bill for 10 century. un-addressed. Gang violence, juvenile Just briefly, this approach is tar- years. detention, firearm regulation reform, They successfully defeated all at- geted on things that are important, and a host of other problems will re- such as adding good teachers, the lat- tempts to allow the Consumer Prod- main unsolved. ucts Safety Commission to regulate est technology, and focusing upon stu- And nobody within the walls of this the safety of firearms. dents who are at greatest risk, which is Chamber or elsewhere has any doubt In 1986, the NRA got legislation at the heart of the challenge we face as why this stalemate persists. This bill passed which restricts ATF inspection a country. would have passed months ago were it In closing, let me say this: The cause of gun dealers to once per year. Even not for those four, simple, targeted gun of educating our children is, by defini- dealers who are the source for hundreds measures buried within the text of the tion, the cause of shaping our future. of crime guns cannot be routinely in- bill. But in doing so, we stay in touch with spected more than once a year without This, Mr. President, demonstrates the fullest wellsprings of our past. It a special court warrant. just how deeply this Congress is domi- was Thomas Jefferson, the third Presi- nated by just one special interest For years, the NRA has successfully dent of the United States, who, after group—these people who fervently re- blocked ATF computerization of gun his public career, founded the Univer- sist any regulations on firearms, no sale records from gun dealers that have sity of Virginia and dedicated his life matter how mild, no matter how tar- gone out of business. As a result, when to the cause of education, who once geted, and no matter how much the a gun is traced as part of a criminal in- said that, ‘‘a society that expects to be vestigation, the files must often be re- both ignorant and free is expecting American people want it. Some argue that we don’t need more trieved manually from warehouses something that never has been and where the old records are kept. This never shall be.’’ gun control laws—enforcing our cur- rent laws would be enough. But those can add days or even weeks to the time As we debate this amendment, I urge it takes to start tracking down the per- my colleagues to support it because, in arguments miss the point entirely. Of course we should be enforcing our petrators of gun violence. By the time doing so, we not only ensure the future the records are found, the trail may al- well-being of our economy, not only current laws. And we are. The evidence clearly shows that gun prosecutions ready be cold. what kind of society we will one day And most importantly, the NRA have, but the vitality of our democracy are up. In fact; since 1992, the total number of federal and state prosecu- fights against funding our law enforce- itself. ment agencies at levels adequate to en- I thank my colleagues for their for- tions has increased sharply—about 25 force our current laws. As former New bearance. percent more criminals are sent to I yield the floor. prison for state and federal weapons of- York City Police Commissioner Wil- Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Mr. President, last fenses now than in 1992 (from 20,681 to liam Bratton has said, ‘‘The NRA has May, in the wake of the Columbine 25,186). strenuously opposed increased financ- massacre, this Senate took action, The number of higher-level federal ing for the [ATF] and has successfully passing a comprehensive juvenile jus- firearms offenders sent to prison (those lobbied against giving it the authority tice bill that would begin the long sentenced to five or more years) has to quickly investigate the origins of process of addressing the problems that gone up more than 34 percent (from guns sales.’’ plague the youth in this country. 1049 to 1406) in six years. The ATF has been left underfunded, Parts of the bill addressed our crisis The number of inmates in federal understaffed, and unable to adequately of violence. prisons on firearm or arson charges enforce our current gun laws. These provisions included: A com- (the two are counted together) in- And the simple fact is that our cur- prehensive package of measures I au- creased 51 percent from 1993 to 1998, to rent laws—even if fully enforced—are thored with Senator HATCH to fight 8,979. just not enough. Those laws are riddled criminal gangs; increased penalties for And we are working to improve this with NRA-induced loopholes. Guns are adults who recruit children into crimi- situation. still too easy to get. And too many nal activity or provide them with fire- Just last week, my colleague Senator children die every day for us to ignore arms; the James Guelff Body Armor KOHL and I introduced legislation that the problem. The Columbine incident Act, an amendment I authored, which would expand Project Exile to 50 cities shocked this nation and this Congress contains reforms to take body armor and provide law enforcement with bal- to its core—as did the school shootings out of the hands of criminals and put it listics technology that will make it far in Jonesboro, Arkansas; West Paducah, into the hands of police; and other pro- easier to identify and to punish the Kentucky; Pearl, Mississippi; Spring- visions related to juvenile confine- perpetrators of gun violence. field, Oregon; and Edinboro, Pennsyl- ment, juvenile record-keeping, and Early last year, I wrote the Sec- vania. And in my own state of Cali- countless other important issues. retary of the Treasury several times to fornia, we saw a hateful bigot kill a

VerDate Mar 15 2010 22:44 Dec 04, 2013 Jkt 081600 PO 00000 Frm 00042 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\2000SENATE\S06AP0.REC S06AP0 mmaher on DSKCGSP4G1 with SOCIALSECURITY April 6, 2000 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S2311 postal worker and then wound five oth- at the Golden Dragon Restaurant in Let me give some specifics about ers at the North Valley Jewish Com- 1977. In those shooting, gang members gang-sponsored violent crime. munity Center in Granada Hills. killed five people, including two tour- Killings: Around the country, every Those incidents were tragic. But ists, and injured 11 others. year, gang members kill over 3,000 peo- countless incidents go relatively unre- For the last 4 years in the Senate, I ple. Last year in Los Angeles alone, ported, but with equally tragic results. have worked with Senator HATCH to there were 136 gang-related killings. Every day in this country, another craft national legislation giving law Drugs: A survey of law enforcement dozen children die of gunshot wounds. enforcement the tools they need to agencies suggests that about 75% of A new study published in the April fight gang crime and gang violence. gang members are involved in illegal issue of the American Journal of Pub- Criminal youth gangs have become a drug sales; that about one-third of lic Health found that over a third of national problem, extending their viru- gangs are organized specifically for the American children live in a home lent reach and bringing with them purpose of trafficking in drugs; and where there is also a gun—in 43% of murder, drive-by shootings, drug sales, that gangs make over 30% of crack co- those homes, the firearm is stored un- intimidation, and destruction of theft caine and marijuana sales. (Depart- locked. of property. ment of Justice) Who knows how may lives could be Gangs plague more than 4,700 cities Guns: Ninety percent of gang mem- bers report that their fellow gang saved if trigger locks were made avail- in all 50 states. members carry concealed weapons and able to gun owners? There are some 25,000 gangs with over 80% report that those members had The pictures of those young children 650,000 members, and the problem con- taken guns to school. Worse, the study in Granada Hills being led away from tinues to spread. In Los Angeles, for example, there showed that gang members favor pow- the scene of the tragedy were not only are currently 408 gangs with more than erful, lethal weapons over smaller cal- heart-wrenching but also clearly de- 64,000 members. This is 15,000 more iber handguns. (Ohio State University picted the trickle-down of gun crimes members than 10 years ago. study). in this country. The victims of gun vio- That means that there are currently The Senate-passed juvenile justice lence get younger, and younger. more gang members in L.A. alone than bill includes a number of key measures We must close the gun law loopholes there are people in most of America’s to address this complex problem. The for those children. cities and towns. For instance, the bill: We must pass the juvenile justice bill number of gang members in L.A. is al- Provides $100 million annually in fed- so that we can at least begin the proc- most double the population of the larg- eral aid for certain intense gang activ- ess of solving some of these problems. est city in Vermont. ity areas, so those communities can af- We must pass this bill for the fifth And these gang members do not stay ford to create joint task forces with grader from San Francisco who wrote in California. The state ‘‘exports’’ more federal and local law enforcement and me that ‘‘One day I saw a neighbor of gang members than any other state. to support community gang prevention mine get shot on her way to the candy For instance, two of the largest efforts; house. She got shot 4 times. She got gangs, the Bloods and Crips—with more Increases sentences for interstate shot 3 times in her side and once in her than 60,000 members—are based in drug gang activity; leg. Now she’s paralyzed for life. That Southern California, but operate in Makes it a Federal offense to recruit really hurt me and a lot of other peo- more than 119 cities in the West and youngsters into a gang; ple. She was only 12 years old and she Midwest. In fact, one recent survey Enables Federal law enforcement to was a nice little girl.’’ found gangs claiming affiliation with prosecute gangs who cross state lines We should pass this bill for the other the Bloods and/or Crips in 180 cities in to commit gang crimes such as drive- by shootings; and fifth grader who told me ‘‘every year I 42 states. (Department of Justice) Increases penalties for transferring hear at least 20 gunshots. I am scared The mere existence of gangs is a ter- at night because I think it’s going to handguns to minors. rible social problem. Gang members Since we passed the juvenile justice be a drive-by. I even sometimes can’t are far more likely to commit crimes go outside to recess because gunshots bill last May, an estimated 30,000 peo- than non-gang youths, even those who ple have died from gunshot wounds, in- are heard.’’ may have grown up under similar cir- We must pass this bill for the little cluding 3,700 children. cumstances. If history is any judge, millions of girl who wrote me that ‘‘I do not like This is especially true for homicides; large capacity ammunition feeding de- to be locked in my room just because drive-by shootings; using, selling, and vices have been approved for import— my mom feels I can’t be safe in my own stealing drugs; auto theft; carrying in the year preceding the juvenile jus- neighborhood and I think everybody concealed weapons in school; and in- tice bill, more than 11 million of those deserves to live just like human timidating or assaulting victims and clips were approved. beings.’’ witnesses. All of the commonsense gun, gang, We must pass this bill so that the In fact, the Los Angeles Police De- and other provisions in the juvenile next six year old child who decides to partment has told me that almost half justice bill are now at risk of dis- seek revenge on a classmate is not able of violent crime in the city is com- appearing without a trace, and I urge to find a gun so easily. mitted by gang members. the majority to proceed with the con- And so that the next kindergartner And the problem is just as acute in ference and come to a compromise. who gets a timeout from the teacher other cities, big and small. Just a few The compromise should preserve in- and tries to bring his grandfather’s gun months ago in my home city of San tact the Senate-passed gun control leg- to school the next day to get revenge is Francisco, for example, an innocent by- islation, which represents the bare likewise left without a weapon. stander was caught in the crossfire be- minimum we should do this year to I say, enough is enough. The least tween two warring gangs in the Mis- stem the gun violence that is increas- this Congress can do is turn to the ju- sion District. He was shot through both ingly common on our streets and in our venile justice bill and move forward legs and may be crippled for life. A schools. with the Senate-passed gun provisions. brave witness assisted police in appre- I also urge this body to pass the These provisions are no-brainers. And hending the perpetrators. But gang President’s gun enforcement initiative. there is no excuse for inaction. members later cornered the witness, That initiative, which will fund more Before I conclude, I want to talk held a automatic gun to his head and than 500 new ATF agents and 1,000 new briefly about the problem of gang vio- threatened to blow his head off if he prosecutors, is vital to the enforcement lence in this country. This is a problem continued to help the police. of our current gun laws. that I have taken seriously for many Also, recently in San Francisco, gang The crisis of leadership has come to a years—every since my days on the San members stuck an assault weapon in head. It is time for this Congress to Francisco County Board of Supervisors the face of a victim in an attempted take serious and bipartisan steps to and as Mayor for 9 years when I worked robbery. When the victim resisted, he stem the tide of youth and gun vio- to create the city’s first anti-gang task was shot 17 times. The victim survived lence that continues to plague this na- force after the infamous gang massacre but will never walk again. tion.

VerDate Mar 15 2010 22:44 Dec 04, 2013 Jkt 081600 PO 00000 Frm 00043 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\2000SENATE\S06AP0.REC S06AP0 mmaher on DSKCGSP4G1 with SOCIALSECURITY S2312 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE April 6, 2000 I thank the Chair and yield the floor. I said earlier today that we have a We may need a couple more laws. De- Mr. REID. Mr. President, I yield 10 Million Mom March headed for Wash- spite the fact there are some 20,000 on minutes off the resolution to the rank- ington on May 14 this year—a million the books, that hasn’t protected ap- ing member of the Budget Committee, women from across the country. What proximately 33,000 who lose their lives Senator LAUTENBERG, to speak on the are they saying to us? They are saying every year. There are 13,000 homicides, Reed amendment. to us, if you really want to protect a bunch to suicides, a bunch to acci- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- women’s rights, then tell us our chil- dents. ator from New Jersey. dren can go to school, enter the school I think the ultimate example of care- Mr. LAUTENBERG. Mr. President, I safely, and leave in the same condition lessness with guns in our society was will try to consolidate my remarks be- at the end of the day. when the 6-year-old killed the 6-year- cause I know everybody is anxious to These are hollow arguments. old in Michigan. The gun was left out complete work on the budget resolu- I hear that we don’t prosecute casually where the child could reach it. tion. enough. Shouldn’t we have laws that say a per- I am compelled, as I listen to the dis- In 1996, there were 22 percent more son who owns a gun is responsible for cussion here, to talk to the Reed criminals behind bars for weapons of- keeping it out of the hands of children? amendment and to talk to those who fenses than in 1992. Firearms crimes I certainly think so. would disparage our efforts to have put 25,000-plus in jail in 1996 compared We are finding the NRA has a broad sensible gun violence control in this so- to 20,681 in 1992. reach. It reaches into this Chamber. ciety. Prosecutions were up 16 percent in The hand of the NRA muffles sound. It I heard it said that what we need in 1996 compared to 1992. muffles the sound of tearful parents— law enforcement is more enforcement; In 1992, there were 4,754 Federal fire- not necessarily those who lost children that what we need is a more sincere ef- arm prosecutions; 1999, 5,500. but those who are afraid their children fort, as if to imply that President Clin- The argument misses the point when might get lost. Those are the sounds ton and his administration want to let it comes to talking about law enforce- we hear, the parents and the grand- criminals wander the streets. It is ment, when in some cases there is no parents who are saying, in poll after somewhat akin to the argument we law to enforce. Anybody can walk up at poll: For crying out loud, close that hear from those who are NRA spokes- a gun show, go to an unlicensed deal- persons who say President Clinton is loophole; close that gun show loophole. It is common sense. It doesn’t make looking for more killings to make his er—an unlicensed dealer can operate in sense to the gun lobby because they are political case. It is an outrageous most gun shows, and he is kind of the afraid one inch is a yard. It is ridicu- thing. We hear that all we have to do is piggy bank for those who want to es- lous when we are talking about human note how many laws are on the books. cape identity—put their money on the I ask the question: Is the deciding table, and he won’t ask them a ques- lives. factor how many laws we have on the tion. He just gives them as many guns I agree with the Senator from New books? as they can carry, or maybe more than Mexico that we are doing some silly I heard someone say today we have they can carry, in one trip if they want things. But the silliest is to defend 20,000 laws on the books related to to buy them. Whether you are on the against some sensible gun legislation. guns. But in this country we kill more Ten Most Wanted list or you are Osama Ask the people around the country. I than 20,000 a year with guns. We kill bin Laden, a terrorist who took refuge know what they want to see. They over 30,000. That is only a page per vic- in Afghanistan, it doesn’t matter; you want their kids protected, their house- tim, if you want to judge it on that can buy a gun. holds protected, their communities basis. It is outrageous. We are trying to defend in some pecu- protected. That is not the problem. The problem liar way the right of people to buy guns One thing we have yet to try in this is that people here don’t believe guns anonymously. We don’t know who they country is to know who owns guns and kill. People here don’t believe a gun is are; we don’t know where they are tak- where the guns will be. We had an in- a lethal weapon. People here don’t be- ing the guns. We do know in the Col- credible battle some years ago when we lieve we ought to know who it is who umbine killing, a young woman related tried to put the Brady law into place. buys a gun at a gun show. That is the to that killing testified before the Col- It is demonstrated on this placard: Gun problem. orado Legislature. Robyn Anderson show loophole goes right through the This morning, I had the privilege of testified she and the two boys, Eric Brady law. Under Brady, 400,000 people, standing with Senator REED and the Harris and Dylan Klebold who killed judged not fit to own a gun, were de- head of the State police department the other students, went to the Tanner nied gun permits. We still argue about from Maryland. What he was advo- gun show on a Saturday. She testified: whether or not there is enough time to cating was more law enforcement, I remember this as being November or De- check applicants’ backgrounds suffi- more laws to give them the tools to cember of 1998. When Eric and Dylan had ciently to make sure they are not unfit work with. gone the previous day, a dealer told them to own a gun. They want to reduce the We had police officers from the area they needed to bring someone back who was time from 3 business days to 24 hours. around Providence, RI. They were ask- 18. They were both 17 at the time. This was The FBI will tell you; they are out ing the same thing. They said, give us a private—not a licensed dealer. While we there hunting for 1,500 guns that were the tools. It is said, you have enough were walking around Eric and Dylan kept sold improperly because they didn’t asking sellers if they were private or li- tools, like the weight of the number of censed. They wanted to buy their guns from have time to check the information. the bills, the numbers of pieces of leg- someone who was private—and not licensed— As we near the close of this debate on islation that you have—again, as if because there would be no paperwork or a budget resolution, citizens across that were the yardstick by which we background check. this country should be aware not only measure the performance of the soci- They bought guns from three sellers. They did we work on the numbers, not only ety. were all private. They paid cash. There was did we work on the resources, not only Go tell the parents of the kids who no receipt. I was not asked any questions at did we work on the guns, we also were killed in Columbine or those who all. There was no background check. All I worked on protecting your children stood in prayer in Fort Worth, TX, or had to do was show my driver’s license to when they go to school. We know the prove I was 18. Dylan got a shotgun. Eric got the kids who attended the school in a shotgun and a black rifle that he bought costs that guns have exacted on our so- Los Angeles who ran away in fear of a clips for. ciety. Yet we cannot pass sensible gun gunman’s weapon or in Conyers, GA. The rest, unfortunately, is history. legislation. Tell those families we have enough I commend the Senator from Rhode She says: laws on the books. Tell them we don’t Island for his amendment. I sincerely enforce the laws sufficiently—that I don’t know if Eric and Dylan could have hope we can get past the partisan dis- been able to get guns from another source, they will accept that as OK. Well, then but I would not have helped them. It was too cussion and look into the faces of the I can understand the sacrifice that was easy. I wish it had been more difficult. I families, distant though they are, lis- made in my family, my home, and the wouldn’t have helped them to buy the guns if ten to the pleas of the mothers, the fa- school. I faced a background check. thers, the grandfathers, grandmothers,

VerDate Mar 15 2010 22:44 Dec 04, 2013 Jkt 081600 PO 00000 Frm 00044 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\2000SENATE\S06AP0.REC S06AP0 mmaher on DSKCGSP4G1 with SOCIALSECURITY April 6, 2000 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S2313 brothers, and sisters and say we have reasons the President vetoed that leg- school in mobile classrooms. Those re- done the right thing—we have tried to islation and we beat it back. We will sources are desperately needed. We reduce gun violence in our society. have this fight again. My friend is ab- need to show our commitment, and the I yield the floor. solutely right. It is the second time Graham amendment does that. Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, I that ANWR was put into a budget reso- No. 2, it provides for local control. thank the distinguished minority whip lution. He is correct. Those of us supporting this amendment for his tremendous cooperation. With- Mr. LAUTENBERG. Since we are believe very strongly that the school out his help and cooperation, we clarifying the record, could I ask the system should not be run from Wash- wouldn’t be where we are. We might, Senator from California whether or not ington, DC; that, instead, our schools indeed, get this budget resolution fin- she discussed the photograph that she should be run at the local level. It is ished. Many thanks for that go to Sen- displayed on the floor? local folks who know what is needed in ator REID. Mrs. BOXER. Yes, we have gotten the local schools. That is where the In the interest of orderliness, I ask confirmation. This has to do with Sen- control should be. That is what the consent that all first-degree amend- ator MURKOWSKI. We have gotten con- Graham amendment provides. That is ments to the pending budget resolution firmation from the biologist who took what the American people believe in be submitted at the desk by 7 p.m. this that photo, that that photo is in the and support. evening. proposed ruling area, and he has sent No. 3, accountability. Senator GRA- The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without us chapter and verse of exactly where HAM talked about accountability. We objection, it is so ordered. he was. cannot simply continue throwing Mr. DOMENICI. Members, for first- Senator DOMENICI is correct, this is money at our education system. We degree amendments, walk up and file the second time we had this in. We beat need to provide those systems with the them. You don’t have to stand on the it back the last time, and I hope we can resources they need for all the things floor. Just give them to the clerk so we beat it back this time. we have talked about: crumbling can have a list of all of them filed and Mr. REID. Senator EDWARDS, the schools, technology, afterschool pro- they will have a number and we can Senator from North Carolina, is to be grams, hiring more teachers, and re- work with them in an orderly fashion recognized for 10 minutes. ducing class size so the teachers can do to finish this task. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- their jobs. But we need to hold these schools ac- I also ask any subsequent second-de- ator from North Carolina. countable. We need to make sure they gree amendments offered from the Mr. EDWARDS. Mr. President, first I are performing; that schools that are floor must be relevant to the first-de- would like to speak on the Graham not doing well are improving; that kids gree amendment that they are amend- amendment. The single most impor- who are going to schools that are not ing. tant thing we do as a country is edu- performing well will be getting the Mr. REID. It would be tremendously cate our children. What we should be kind of education they need and de- helpful, especially to the staff, if after doing in this debate is talking about serve. Accountability is absolutely cru- the amendment is filed at the desk making this decade the education dec- cial to making our public education there be a copy left with both man- ade. We have great roads, great tech- system work. The Graham amendment agers. nology, great airports, a great econ- provides for accountability. It is a crit- The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without omy in this country. We should be ical component of what needs to be objection, it is so ordered. working toward making our schools done in our education system in this Mr. DOMENICI. I think that is an ex- the envy of the world. Instead, we have country. children who go to the local mall and cellent suggestion. We will understand No. 4, this amendment targets those where we are. go to beautiful, shiny buildings and kids who are most in need, the kids in On behalf of the leader, let me one stores and then the next morning go to this country who are having the most more time say any Member who has schools that are falling down, with problems in the poorest areas, in the not submitted their first-degree roofs leaking, with floors that are cov- rural areas, particularly in places such amendment at the desk must do so by ered over with patchwork carpet. We as rural North Carolina, rural eastern 7 p.m. in order for it to be available to have to do better. and western North Carolina—chron- We need to send a clear and unmis- be called up for consideration during ically economically disadvantaged takable signal to the American people the remainder of the budget resolution. areas where the kids are not on a level that we are committed and dedicated Mr. REID. Mr. President, under the playing field. They do not have a to doing what is necessary to improve time on the Reed amendment, I offer 10 chance. They do not have self-esteem. our public schools. I have filed a sense- minutes to the Senator from North They don’t feel as if they can compete of-the-Senate amendment that pro- Carolina to speak about his education with kids who go to school in richer, vides for two things: First, that the amendment or on whatever else he urban areas. chooses to speak. level of education spending will be We need to give these children a The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without maintained at the current level, taking chance. We need to put them on the objection, it is so ordered. inflation into account over the next 10 launching pad with all other children Mr. DOMENICI. Will the Senator years. Second, that we commit a min- so they can compete. That is what this yield? imum of 10 percent of the non-Social amendment does. It targets the money Mr. EDWARDS. I yield the floor. Security surplus to spending on edu- to those kids who most need the help. Mr. DOMENICI. I note the presence cation. Finally, it takes the resources that of the Senator from California, Mrs. It is a very simple resolution. It is in- we are providing them and focuses BOXER. tended to signal our commitment to do those resources in the places where During the debate on this ANWR what is necessary to support our public they will do the most good. amendment, the distinguished Senator schools. I also, though, want to speak So these five components are things stated this was the first budget resolu- about the Graham amendment which that all will go toward improving our tion that ever addressed ANWR, and in does some very important things that public school system: more resources; the meantime called it an anti- need to be done in our public schools. local control where we want the con- environment resolution. There are basically five components to trol to be; accountability, holding I clarify, and I think she agrees, that the Graham amendment. school systems responsible for per- in 1996 in the budget resolution we not No. 1, it invests the resources that forming; making sure the resources are only referred to ANWR but we rec- are so desperately needed in our edu- focused; and making sure they are tar- onciled the ANWR instruction to the cation system; resources that can be geted at those kids who are most in Energy and Natural Resources Com- used to rebuild crumbling schools; re- need. mittee. I wonder if the Senator would sources that can be used to modernize We need to show, in this body, that acknowledge that. schools where the roof is leaking, we are committed to the single most Mrs. BOXER. I absolutely acknowl- where kids have to go outside to get to important thing we do in this country, edge it and state that was one of the the restroom, where kids are going to which is educating our kids.

VerDate Mar 15 2010 22:44 Dec 04, 2013 Jkt 081600 PO 00000 Frm 00045 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\2000SENATE\S06AP0.REC S06AP0 mmaher on DSKCGSP4G1 with SOCIALSECURITY S2314 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE April 6, 2000 The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- I have joined with a group of my ity of States and localities to set high ator from Nevada. moderate Democratic colleagues in the student performance standards; (3) the Mr. REID. Mr. President, I yield to Senate to promote a ‘‘Third Way’’ on targeting of funds to the most impover- the Senator from Arkansas, Mrs. LIN- ESEA, one that synthesizes the best ished areas and schools most in need of COLN, 5 minutes off the resolution; and ideas of both sides into a whole new ap- improvement; and (4) the concentra- yield 5 minutes off of the amendment proach to federal education policy. tion of Federal resources on key na- to the Senator from Louisiana, Ms. Like our ‘‘Three Rs’’ bill, the addi- tional goals of compensatory education LANDRIEU. tional funding contained in this for disadvantaged children, teacher The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- amendment would allow schools to quality, innovative education strate- ator from Arkansas. raise student achievement, implement gies, serving limited English proficient Mrs. LINCOLN. Mr. President, I am effective professional development pro- students, student safety, and edu- proud to rise in strong support of the grams for teachers, improve English cational technology. amendment by my good friend, Senator language instruction and encourage in- During the upcoming debate on BOB GRAHAM. There are several of us in novation in the classroom. ESEA, I will join with several of my this body who have come together to This investment is especially impor- colleagues in offering a new approach build a consensus of a commonsense, tant to rural school districts, like that meets these qualifications. It is an result-oriented solution to educating many of those in Arkansas, that can- approach that would refocus our na- our children in this Nation. This not afford to meet all of their needs tional policy on helping States and amendment combines two concepts with limited local resources. local school districts raise academic that are essential to improving our We must do more than just throw achievement for all children, putting system of public education—greater in- more money at the problem of under- the priority for Federal programs on vestment and tough accountability achievement in the classroom. We also performance instead of process, and on standards. must demand results. delivering results instead of developing Now Mr. President, before I get into To qualify for additional funding rules. Our approach calls on States and the details of why this amendment is under this amendment, educational local districts to enter into a new com- so important, I think we have to take proposals authorized by the Elemen- pact with the Federal Government to a minute to consider the current state tary and Secondary Education Act work together to strengthen standards of education in this country. would have to contain greater account- and improve educational opportunities, I am not sure how the rest of my col- ability; incentives to set high student particularly for America’s poorest chil- leagues feel, but I think it is difficult achievement standards; an emphasis on dren. It would provide States and local to deny that the status quo in our edu- education for disadvantaged students; educators with significantly more Fed- cation system is simply not acceptable. and funding targeted to our neediest, eral funding and significantly more It is not working, and we are not doing most impoverished schools. flexibility in targeting aid to meet the a good enough job in educating our Congress must do all it can to help specific needs. In exchange; it would children. We are certainly not doing our schools meet the challenges they demand real accountability, and for the best job we could be doing. face today and will face in the future. the first time impose consequences on And if we think things are bad now, Our most important responsibility is schools that continually fail to show we should stop and look 10 or 15 years to help States and local school dis- progress. into the future. I continue to be tricts raise academic achievement and In order to implement effective edu- amazed at the pace of high-tech devel- deliver on the promise of equal oppor- cational policy, we have to first recog- opment in this country and the incred- tunity for all students. nize that there are serious problems ible advancements that take place I believe in the children of this coun- with the performance of many public every day. This progress is only going try. I believe that through this amend- schools, and that public confidence in to continue, and our children are the ment, we can truly make a difference public education will continue to erode ones who will be left behind in the by making a bigger investment and if we do not acknowledge and address global high-tech world. setting our children’s education as one those problems soon. While student If we do not do something to change of our top national priorities. I urge achievement is up, we must realize the the way we approach education, if we the support of this amendment, and I alarming achievement gap that sepa- do not increase our Federal investment thank my colleagues for their atten- rates minorities from whites and low- and demand more accountability from tion. I yield back any remaining time I income students from their more afflu- our system and our educators, then we may have to the Democratic leader. ent counterparts. According to the are only fooling ourselves, and we are The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. BEN- State-by-State reading scores of fourth cheating our children. NETT). Who yields time? graders on the National Assessment of Our children are our greatest na- Mr. REID. Mr. President, we still Educational Progress, the achievement tional resource, and their education is have time left under our amendment. gap between African American and worthy of a significant investment. Un- We have 8 more minutes before the white students grew in 16 States be- fortunately, the budget resolution be- other side can offer an amendment. I tween 1992 and 1998. The gap between fore us today once again falls short of yield 3 minutes to the Senator from Hispanic and white students grew in our responsibility to make quality edu- Connecticut to speak on the amend- nine States over the same period of cation a top priority in this Nation. ment. time. Most alarmingly, student data Under the budget resolution before The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- reveals that the average African-Amer- us, Arkansas would receive $6.6 million ator from Connecticut. ican and Latino 17-year-old has about less in title I funds than it would under Mr. LIEBERMAN. Mr. President, the same reading and math skills as the administration’s plan. That means with deference to my friend and col- the average white 13-year-old. more than 10,000 students in my home league from Louisiana, I am going to We must also question whether our State would be denied the critical sup- be brief. schools are adequately preparing our port this program provides. Mr. President, I rise today in support youth to enter the globally competi- In addition to the annual budget, we of the amendment offered by my col- tive market place when, as one report in the Senate have the difficult task league, Senator GRAHAM. This amend- states, ‘‘Students are being uncon- before us this year of passing legisla- ment would set aside and protect $15 sciously eliminated from the candidate tion that reauthorizes the Elementary billion over the next five years, holding pool of Information Technology (IT) and Secondary Education Act. funds in reserve so that resources are workers by the knowledge and atti- Quite frankly, we need a bold new ap- available once legislation tudes in their K-12 years. Many stu- proach that targets resources to the reuathorizing ESEA is enacted. The dents do not learn the basic skills of neediest areas, puts decisions in the amendment adds that to qualify for reasoning, mathematics and commu- hands of local educators, and main- funds, ESEA reauthorization must con- nication that provide the foundation tains national priorities like school tain a few fundamental elements: (1) for higher education or entry-level jobs safety and educational technology. increased accountability; (2) the abil- in IT work.’’

VerDate Mar 15 2010 22:44 Dec 04, 2013 Jkt 081600 PO 00000 Frm 00046 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\2000SENATE\S06AP0.REC S06AP0 mmaher on DSKCGSP4G1 with SOCIALSECURITY April 6, 2000 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S2315 We also have to acknowledge that we ated an exemplary multiracial program separate titles in those areas that we have done a very good job in recent in response to the challenge of Sheff v. think are critical to helping local dis- years in providing every child with a O’Neill to diminish racial isolation. tricts elevate the performance of their well-qualified teacher, a critical com- Side by Side is experimenting with a schools. ponent to higher student achievement. different approach to classroom assign- The first would enhance our long- We are failing to deliver teachers to ments, having students stay with standing commitment to providing the classroom who truly know their teachers for two consecutive years to extra help to disadvantaged children subject matter—one national survey take advantage of the relationships through the title I program, while bet- found that one-fourth of all secondary that develop, and by all indications it ter targeting $12 billion in aid—a 50 school teachers did not major in their is working quite well for those kids. percent increase in funding—to schools core area of instruction, and that in And there is the BEST program, with the highest concentrations of poor the school districts with the highest which, building on previous efforts to students. The second would combine concentration of minorities, students raise teacher skills and salaries, is now various teacher training and profes- have less than a 50 percent chance of targeting additional state aid, train- sional development programs into a getting a math or science teacher who ing, and mentoring support to help single teacher quality grant, increase has a license or a degree in their field. local districts nurture new teachers funding by 100 percent to $1.6 billion While more money alone will not and prepare them to excel. The result annually, and challenge each state to solve our problems, we cannot honestly is that Connecticut’s blueprint is tout- pursue the kind of bold, performance- expect to reinvent our schools without ed by some, including the National based reforms that my own state of it either. The reality is that there is a Commission on Teaching and Amer- Connecticut has undertaken with great tremendous need for additional invest- ica’s Future, as a national model for success. ment in our public schools, not just in others to follow. The third would reform the Federal urban areas but in every kind of com- A number of other States, led by bilingual education program and hope- munity. Not only are thousands of Texas and North Carolina, are moving fully defuse the ongoing controversy crumbling and overcrowded schools in in this same direction—refocusing surrounding it by making absolutely need of modernization, but a looming their education systems not on process clear that our national mission is to shortage of two million new teachers but on performance, not on prescrip- help immigrant children learn and to hire and train lurks on the horizon. tive rules and regulations but on re- master English, as well as achieve high Add to this, billions in spiraling special sults. More and more of them are in levels of achievement in all subjects. education costs to meet. fact adopting what might be called a We must be willing to back this com- We also have to recognize the basic ‘‘reinvest, reinvent, and responsibility’’ mitment with essential resources re- math of trying to raise standards at a strategy, by (1) infusing new resources quired to help ensure that all limited time of profound social turbulence that into their public education systems; (2) English proficient students are served. we will need to expend new sums to giving local districts more flexibility; Under our approach, funding for LEP reach and teach children who in the and (3) demanding new measures and programs would be more than doubled past we never asked to excel, and who mechanisms of accountability, to in- to $1 billion a year, and for the first in the present will have to overcome crease the chances that these invest- time be distributed to states and local enormous hurdles to do so. At the same ments will yield the intended return, districts through a reliable formula, time that schools are trying to cope meaning improved academic achieve- based on their LEP student population. with new and complex societal ment for all students. As a result, school districts serving changes, we are demanding that they To ensure that more States and lo- large LEP and high poverty student teach more than they ever have before. calities have the ability to build on populations would be guaranteed fed- Employers and parents alike what bet- these successes and prepare student to eral funding, and would not be penal- ter teachers, stronger standards, and succeed in the classroom, we must in- ized because of their inability to hire higher test scores for all students, as vest more resources. That is why we savvy proposal writers for competitive well as state-of-the-art technology and would boost ESEA funding by $35 bil- grants. skills to match. lion over the next five years. But we The fourth would respond to the pub- It is a tribute to the many dedicated also believe that the impact of this lic demands for greater choice within men and women who are responsible funding will be severely diluted if it is the public school framework, by pro- for teaching our children that the bulk not better targeted to the worst-per- viding additional resources for charter of our schools are as good as they are, forming schools and if it is not coupled school start-ups and new incentives for in light of these intensifying pressures. with a demand for results. That is why expanding local, intradistrict choice I believe any child can learn—any we not only increase Title I funding by programs. And the fifth would radi- child—and that has been proven over 50 percent, but use a more targeted for- cally restructure the remaining ESEA and over again in the best schools in mula for distributing these new dollars and ensure that funds are much better both my home state of Connecticut and to schools with the highest concentra- targeted while giving local districts in many of America’s cities. tions of poverty. And that is why we greater flexibility in addressing spe- There are, in fact, plenty of positives develop a new accountability system cific needs. We consolidate more than to highlight in public education today, that strips federal funding from states 20 different programs into a single High which is something else that we have that continually fail to meet their per- Performance Initiatives title, with a to acknowledge, yet too often do not. I formance goals. focus on supporting bold new ideas, ex- have made a concerted effort over the We also agree with those concerned panding access to summer school and last few years to visit a broad range of with the current system that federal after school programs, improving schools and programs in Connecticut, education programs are too numerous school safety, and building techno- and I can tell you that there is much and too bureaucratic. That is why we logical literacy. We increase overall happening in our public schools that eliminate dozens of federally microtar- funding by more than $200 million, and we can be heartened by, proud of, and geted, micromanaged programs that distribute this aid through a formula learn from. are redundant or incidental to our core that targets more resources to the There is the exemplary John Barry mission of raising academic achieve- highest poverty areas. Elementary School in Meriden, CT, ment. But we also believe that we have The boldest change we are proposing which has to contend with a high-pov- a great national interest in promoting is to create a new accountability title. erty, high-mobility student population, broad national educational goals, chief As of today, we have plenty of rules but through intervention programs has among them delivering on the promise and requirements on inputs, on how had real success improving the reading of equal opportunity. It is not only funding is to be allocated and who skills of many of its students. In addi- foolish, however, but irresponsible to must be served, but little if any atten- tion, there is the Side by Side Charter hand out federal dollars with no ques- tion to outcomes, on how schools ulti- School in Norwalk, one of 17 charter tions asked and no thought of national mately perform in educating children. schools in Connecticut, which has cre- priorities. That is why we carve out This bill would reverse that imbalance

VerDate Mar 15 2010 22:44 Dec 04, 2013 Jkt 081600 PO 00000 Frm 00047 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\2000SENATE\S06AP0.REC S06AP0 mmaher on DSKCGSP4G1 with SOCIALSECURITY S2316 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE April 6, 2000 by linking Federal funding to the try to harness our unique ability to set Our proposal will streamline more progress States and local districts the national agenda and recast the fed- than 40 current ESEA programs into make in raising academic achievement. eral government as an active catalyst five performance-based grants that will It would call on State and local leaders for success instead of a passive enabler support and expand these reform ef- to set specific performance standards of failure. forts that are occurring at the grass- and adopt rigorous assessments for I am pleased to support the Graham roots level in America. It is a common measuring how each district is faring amendment which will ensure we have sense proposal built upon the core prin- in meeting those goals. In turn, States the necessary resources in reserve to ciples of reinvestment, reinvention, that exceed those goals would be re- provide for the kind of education re- and responsibility that will finally pro- warded with additional funds, and form that I have outlined. Reauthoriza- vide the full, decent, and equal edu- those that fail repeatedly to show tion of the status quo is not the an- cation we want for all our children, and progress would be penalized. In other swer. We need real reform that con- the educational reform that our chil- words, for the first time, there would centrates resources around central na- dren need. be consequences for poor performance. tional goals, targets those resources to I thank my friend and colleague from In discussing how exactly to impose the most impoverished areas and Florida for offering this amendment. those consequences, we have run into schools in greatest need, and holds We have a very strong working group understandable concerns about wheth- States and localities to a new, higher in favor of reform. We hope this pro- er you can penalize failing schools standard of accountability for results posal not only represents innovation without also penalizing children. The in raising student academic achieve- and change that will be a catalyst for truth is that we are punishing many ment. broad-scale national education reform, children right now, especially the most I am pleased to support the Graham but that it will constitute a bridge on vulnerable of them, by forcing them to amendment which will ensure we have which Members of both parties can attend chronically troubled schools the necessary resources in reserve to meet in the Senate to accomplish the that are accountable to no one, a situa- provide for the kind of education re- most sweeping reform of the Elemen- tion that is just not acceptable any- form that I have outlined. Reauthoriza- tary and Secondary Education Act in more. This bill minimizes the potential tion of the status quo is not the an- its 35-year history. negative impact of these consequences swer. We need real reform that con- I thank the Chair and my friend from on students. It provides the States with centrates resources around central na- Nevada, and particularly my patient three years to set their performance- tional goals, targets those resources to and learned friend from Louisiana. I based goals and put in place a moni- the most impoverished areas and yield the floor. toring system for gauging how local schools in greatest need, and holds The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- districts are progressing, and also pro- States and localities to a new, higher ator from Louisiana. vides additional resources for States to standard of accountability for results Ms. LANDRIEU. Mr. President, I rise help school districts identify and im- in raising student academic achieve- in support of the Graham amendment. prove low-performing schools. If after ment. I acknowledge the very helpful com- those three years a State is still failing I am very grateful for the strong ments made by my colleague from Con- to meet its goals, the State would be statements that have been made by my necticut and others who have spoken penalized by cutting its administrative colleagues in support of this amend- about this amendment. funding by 50 percent. Only after 4 ment by Senator GRAHAM. This amend- I realize my time is short. I would years of under performance would dol- ment is, in a sense, our first statement like to begin by saying that in 1965, lars targeted for the classroom be put of support for a major reform of the El- when President Lyndon Johnson first in jeopardy. At that point, protecting ementary and Secondary Education signed the Elementary and Secondary kids by continuing to subsidize bad Act, which we intend to offer when Education Act, it was 32 pages long schools becomes more like punishing that act comes before the Senate in with 5 program titles. Today, the bill is them. May. over 1,000 pages and contains over 60 I must address another concern that There are two facts to state about programs. We need to get back to ba- may be raised that this is a block grant the Federal role in education and what sics, and that is what the Graham in sheep’s clothing. There are substan- is happening throughout the country. amendment is about. tial differences between a straight The first is that we have not If these 1,000 pages of rules, regula- block-grant approach and this stream- achieved what the ESEA was adopted tions were working. If micromanage- lined structure. First, in most block- to achieve in 1965, and that is to close ment of these 60 programs is the an- grant proposals the accountability the academic achievement gap between swer, then we should be satisfied with mechanisms are vague, weak and often advantaged and disadvantaged chil- the status quo. A few minutes ago, my non-existent, which is one reason why I dren. The proposal that I will offer, colleague from Arkansas spoke about have opposed them in the Senate. Our along with Senators BAYH, LANDRIEU, what the status quo means for our chil- bill would have tangible consequences, LINCOLN, KOHL, GRAHAM, ROBB, and dren. I rise to urge my colleagues, Re- pegged not just to raise test scores in BREAUX, is aimed at investing more publicans and Democrats, to say no to the more affluent suburban areas, but money in the education of disadvan- the status quo. to closing the troubling achievement taged children while giving local au- As the Senator from Connecticut, our gap between students in poor, largely thorities the flexibility to set achieve- leader on this issue, has acknowledged, minority districts and their better-off ment goals and decide what they think there are many wonderful schools and peers. is the best way to achieve them, and many wonderful teachers, and some It is a commonsense strategy—rein- then to hold them accountable for pro- wonderful superintendents and active vest in our public schools, reinvent the ducing measurable results. It will re- parents. The problem is they are be- way we administer them, and restore a ward those who succeed and, for the coming the exception rather than the sense of responsibility to the children first time ever, impose real con- rule. Let me just share just a few star- we are supposed to be serving. Hence sequences on those who do not. tling and disturbing statistics. the title of our bill: the Public Edu- The second reality in American edu- In many school districts, 40-, 50-, or cation Reinvention, Reinvestment, and cation today is that there are also 60-percent failure rates are the rule, Responsibility Act, or the Three Rs for cases of magnificent reform happening not the exception to the rule. short. Our approach is humble enough at the local and State level, which we Every day in America, 2,806 children to recognize there are no easy answers must recognize. These success stories drop out of the school system because to turning around low-performing include many of the same elements— it is not working for them. schools, to lifting teaching standards, more accountability, more innovation, According to the National Education to closing the debilitating achievement more public school choice, higher Goals Report, 80 percent of our fourth gap, and that most of those answers teaching standards, and superb work graders scored below proficient in math won’t be found here in Washington by great teachers and school adminis- and 70 percent scored below proficient anyway. But it is ambitious enough to trators. in reading.

VerDate Mar 15 2010 22:44 Dec 04, 2013 Jkt 081600 PO 00000 Frm 00048 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\2000SENATE\S06AP0.REC S06AP0 mmaher on DSKCGSP4G1 with SOCIALSECURITY April 6, 2000 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S2317 For every 100 children who start kin- I am proud to stand here and support ther behind their fellow students who dergarten each year, only 27 percent the Graham amendment because it is are more advantaged. eventually graduate from college. the only way for our Nation to build We believe this is a pragmatic ap- If you are happy with these statis- the kind of foundation we need for the proach to a passionately held goal of tics, then do not vote for the Graham future. improved American education. amendment. I, for one, cannot live with I yield back the remainder of my Mr. President, I urge the adoption of these numbers and am here to insist on time. this amendment. change for our kids. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- Let me say that although we are all ator from Nevada. ator from Nevada. talking about change, there is right Mr. REID. I yield to the Senator Mr. REID. Off the resolution, I yield change and there is wrong change. from Florida, Mr. GRAHAM, 3 minutes to the Senator from Minnesota 15 min- There is change that gets us on the off the resolution. utes. Also, I say the Senator from Min- right road, and there is change that The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- nesota and the Senator from South Da- takes us further away from where we ator from Florida. kota, Mr. JOHNSON, have an out- want to go. Mr. GRAHAM. Mr. President, I ex- standing amendment to be offered at a Some Republican leaders offer vouch- press my appreciation to my colleagues subsequent time. I applaud and com- ers as the solution to the dilemma I in the Senate, our new Democrats, for mend them for their diligence in allow- just outlined. Those same Republican having so eloquently outlined the goals ing us to hear the debate on this issue. leaders also talk about block grants, of our amendment and what those I yield Senator WELLSTONE 15 min- minimal accountability, and then wait- goals represent in our vision of Amer- utes. ing 5 years for results. I personally do ican public education. Mr. WELLSTONE. I thank my col- not think that is the solution. We believe American public edu- league from Nevada. On the Democratic side, unfortu- cation is fundamental to our Nation’s Mr. President, I hope Senator JOHN- nately, there are many leaders who progress. We are going to be faced with SON—I have contacted his office—will just want to talk about more pro- enormous economic challenges from be down here because I am really join- grams, more money, more strings, around the world. The only way Amer- ing Senator JOHNSON who has taken more pages, and more micromanage- ica will be able to maintain its current the lead on this amendment and has ment. But more money and more pro- standard of living and improve that been very involved, going back to his grams are not the answer. standard for the next generation is by work on the Budget Committee. The Graham amendment is about a an investment in our people, which Let me, first of all, give credit where clean break away from the old ways. means an investment in public edu- credit is due. Over the last several Away from sort of the ‘‘romance,’’ if cation. years, we have been fighting what is you will, of vouchers, which really are We believe passionately in the impor- called the flatline budget. an abandonment of our public schools tance of that. We recognize that the Last year, the administration pre- and the children who need them the States and local school districts have sented to the Congress a veterans budg- most. the primary responsibility, but we et that was woefully inadequate. This The Graham amendment says we think the Federal Government should year, they have really significantly in- need to talk about performance and be a meaningful and constructive part- creased their investment. It is an addi- outcomes. We need to minimize the pa- ner and that the principles in this tional $1.4 billion over where they perwork, the redtape, the regulations. amendment and the principles we will were. The Budget Committee has stuck We need to help our schools set high be offering when we debate the Ele- with that. That is a huge help. performance standards, reward them mentary and Secondary Education Act But Senator JOHNSON and I have had when they meet those performance are critical to achieving that construc- the honor and the opportunity to work standards, and make sure there are se- tive partnership. with a lot of veterans organizations— rious consequences when they fail to do The most obvious thing this amend- the VFW, the Paralyzed Veterans of so. ment will do—since we are talking America, the Disabled American Vet- We cannot have a system any longer about an amendment to a budget reso- erans—who have put together an inde- that fails a third of our children. It is lution—is to reserve an additional $15 pendent budget. They did this, starting important for us to break with the billion, over the next 5 years, for the last year, and did a lot of good grass- past. That is what this amendment at- purposes of the Federal Elementary roots organizing around the country. tempts to do. and Secondary Education Act. It went way beyond just veterans It does not do it all. There are many We do that because we believe that coming to Washington, DC, and testi- other steps we have to take. But it is additional amount of Federal contribu- fying because the message from the an important step. A bold step. It talks tion, particularly with the flexibility, Congress to the veterans was: We are about real accountability. It requires targeted at the most in-need students, not just interested in what you are op- that States and local districts set and with an accountability system that re- posed to or what you say you need meet targets for boosting student per- lates to student performance in the more money for. We want to see a care- formance. It will offer awards to those classroom, that that investment is ful outline. who meet their goals and withhold going to be a necessary part of lifting This independent veterans budget is funding from those who repeatedly fail the performance of our American stu- just such a budget proposal. What Sen- to do so. dents, especially those who are most in ator JOHNSON has done—and I am The amendment suggests greater need. pleased to join him—is called for an ad- flexibility. It acknowldedges that the If we fail to do that, if we fail, at the ditional $500 million above and beyond local level has the tools necessary to Federal level, to make that additional the $1.4 billion increase from the Sen- make these decisions and gives them commitment to their education, I am ate Budget Committee that would be the power to do so. While it does not afraid we are consigning the next dec- an investment, especially in veterans’ call for consolidation specifically, it ade of American public education to health care. does call for us to concentrate our re- the same critique we hear so much of We have a real challenge in veterans’ sources around broad titles, including today—that we are not doing an ade- health care. We talked about this in teacher quality, professional develop- quate job of preparing our children for our millennium bill. What we have au- ment, smaller classroom sizes the future, that we are contributing thorized is essentially decent care for a Finally—I know I am getting to the not just to a digital divide but to a so- veterans population that is an aging end of my time—it increases funding cioeconomic divide among our chil- population. We have many veterans because it is time that we truly invest dren, and that those children who do who are 75, 80 years old. What we have in our children’s future. Derek Bok, not have the kind of support we have said—and we should be looking at the Former President of Harvard once said, traditionally associated with the fam- whole population in this country in the ‘‘If you think Education is expensive ily’s contribution to child development same way—is this is a population . . . try ignorance.’’ will continue to fall further and fur- where there are some huge gaps, some

VerDate Mar 15 2010 22:44 Dec 04, 2013 Jkt 081600 PO 00000 Frm 00049 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\2000SENATE\S06AP0.REC S06AP0 mmaher on DSKCGSP4G1 with SOCIALSECURITY S2318 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE April 6, 2000 huge needs. We need to get serious the one who introduced the amend- the point where, again, we only use the about it. ment. I am proud to be on the floor dollars that are left over after other How can we pass legislation saying, with him in partnership pushing for things have been done? veterans, we are going to make a com- this. To me, this ought to be a first-pri- mitment to long-term care. We are es- Mr. STEVENS. Will the Senator ority item. We have an opportunity on pecially going to make a commitment yield for a parliamentary inquiry? the floor this evening to make it very to making sure you are not forced into Mr. JOHNSON. Yes. clear to our colleagues in the other nursing homes. We will make a com- Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I have body that, in fact, veterans’ health mitment to making sure that there is the right to call for regular order, but care is a first priority item and that we the support for you to stay at home how much more time is left on this will take care of that. When we are and live at home in as near a normal amendment? done with dealing with veterans’ circumstance as is possible with dig- Mr. WELLSTONE. I say to my col- health care issues, we will then move nity. league, I think about 7 minutes. on to whatever our other priorities I was in the VA medical center about The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- might be, whether they be tax cuts, a month ago. It was very poignant. ator from Minnesota has 6 minutes 7 education, health care, or other mat- Quite often the men are World War II seconds. ters facing the country. This ought to veterans. They have had a hip oper- Mr. STEVENS. I thank the Chair. be at the top or near the top of our ation, a knee operation. If you spend The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- agenda as we debate the look of the any time out there in the lounge and ator from South Dakota. Federal budget in this coming year. talk to their wives, they are scared to Mr. JOHNSON. Mr. President, I com- I applaud the constructive steps that death about when their husbands come mend my colleague, Senator have been taken on veterans’ health home because they can’t take care of WELLSTONE of Minnesota, for his ex- care. I certainly am appreciative of the them any longer without help. They traordinary work on this issue. He has work of Senator WELLSTONE in helping don’t know what they are going to do. long been a champion of veterans in to raise the visibility of this issue. At Whether it be respite care, whether it our Nation. I have enjoyed the oppor- this juncture, as we shape this budget be public health nurses within the VA tunity to work with him on this and resolution which creates a roadmap, health care system, we have to get se- many other issues. which creates the parameters for where rious about this. I am appreciative of Chairman the appropriations committees will go The $500 million doesn’t do the job, DOMENICI’s effort to secure a $1.4 bil- next, we need to send them this kind of but it goes in the direction of having a lion increase in outlays in the budget. message that, in fact, we want full veterans budget that is an honest-to- We have come a considerable distance funding for veterans’ health care. God response to the needs of veterans from a year ago, when I was offering on This is our opportunity to make that in this country. this floor a $3 billion increase in vet- statement. We should not let this op- In my State of Minnesota, I think erans’ health care appropriations portunity go by without making it the real heroes and heroines are the which was necessary at that time to clear that we are committed to this county veterans’ service officers. They catch up after 3 years of frozen VA reasonable level of funding, after those are not a part of the VA, but they are budgets. Of the $3 billion that was many years of frozen VA budgets, that on the front lines of veterans’ health passed, ultimately, by the time the Ap- the VA requires. care. They are on the front lines of propriations Committee was done, we Mr. President, I yield back my time. meeting the needs of veterans and their had about $1.7 billion. Even so, it was a AMENDMENT NO. 2931 families. I have had several meetings significant increase. It has done a lot The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- with these county veterans’ service of- to breathe additional viability into our ator from Alaska. Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, what ficers—lots of people come; a lot of vet- VA health care system. is the regular order. This year, Senator DOMENICI has pro- erans come—who are advocates for the The PRESIDING OFFICER. The reg- posed a $1.4 billion increase. That is en- veterans. In our State, the medical ular order is the Stevens amendment couraging. However, the Authoritative center in Minneapolis is really a flag- No. 2931. ship place, but veterans wait for up to Independent Budget produced by 40 dif- Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, this is 18 months for some of the specialized ferent veterans groups and medical so- the first of a series of three amend- care they need. That is too long a wait. cieties—including Amvets and Disabled ments that deals with points of order We have too long a waiting list. We American Vets, Paralyzed Veterans of in the budget resolution, as it was re- have staff that are overworked, some- America, and the VFW—reminds us ported to the Senate. times having to work one shift after that even then we still need an addi- I have the feeling that this is deja vu another. tional $500 million in outlays over the because every year we face the same We have an aging veterans popu- Budget Committee’s level to raise the kind of concept. In the current budget lation. We have made the commitment funding level to the point where it is resolution, for instance, that we are in the millennium bill, but we have not requested in the independent budget of operating on for this fiscal year, there backed it up with the investment of re- a $1.9 billion increase for fiscal 2000. is, in fact, a point of order against sources. We have too high a percentage This amendment pays for this. This emergency spending that requires 60 of the veterans population that is a amendment would get us to that need- votes for emergency spending of a non- part of the homeless population. Too ed level. defense character. The resolution that many of them are Vietnam vets, still We need to make a fundamental deci- was reported to the floor extends that struggling with posttraumatic stress sion in this body about where our pri- to cover defense spending also. syndrome. orities lie. We are talking now about It also has what we call a firewall If my colleagues have had any meet- multibillion-dollar surpluses in the that covers both budget authority and ings with these vets, they know they Federal budget over the coming years. outlays for defense and nondefense. are the most poignant meetings. Quite We ought to be cautious about whether And it has a series of two other points often, veterans will be sitting in a they materialize or not, but certainly of order that deal with delayed obliga- room with you. People will get up and we can be optimistic that we will be in tions and advance appropriations. leave and come back and get up and black ink in the coming years. Those make the management of the 13 leave. They are struggling; you can see The question then is, Are we going to bills our subcommittees work on annu- it. Quite often, you have substance fully fund the veterans’ health care ally and the supplemental and emer- abuse that occurs with this as well. We programs at the level the veterans or- gency bills that we face extremely dif- are not providing the treatment. ganizations themselves contend—I ficult. This amendment is a terribly impor- think rightfully so—is necessary? Are We have had a long series of con- tant amendment. I yield the rest of my we going to put them as a first priority versations. I told someone I sort of feel time to my colleague from South Da- honoring those people who put their like Houdini. Every year, I get a dif- kota, Senator JOHNSON, who took the lives on the line and made our liberties ferent set of chains and the configura- lead on the Budget Committee. He is possible or are we going to fall back to tion of the box I am put in before I am

VerDate Mar 15 2010 22:44 Dec 04, 2013 Jkt 081600 PO 00000 Frm 00050 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\2000SENATE\S06AP0.REC S06AP0 mmaher on DSKCGSP4G1 with SOCIALSECURITY April 6, 2000 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S2319 put in the water differs, but everybody The PRESIDING OFFICER. That is (1) The impending retirement of the baby expects me to get out of it. I must say correct. boom generation will greatly increase the to the Senate, before this year is over, Mr. REID. Mr. President, parliamen- demand and need for quality long-term care you might find some new approaches tary inquiry: It is my understanding and it is incumbent on Congress and the President to ensure that medicare and med- that help me get out of the chains. But that the Senator from Alaska offered icaid patients are protected from abuse, ne- these mechanisms, primarily for en- an amendment to which he has 1 hour, glect, and mistreatment. forcement, ought to apply to the Sen- is that correct? (2) Although the majority of long-term ate as a whole, not only to the Appro- The PRESIDING OFFICER. There care facilities do an excellent job in caring priations Committee. was not enough time for 1 hour, so it is for elderly and disabled patients, incidents of In fact, if you examine the rules, as I 54 minutes to each side. abuse and neglect and mistreatment do did early this morning when I got up Mr. REID. Who is in opposition to occur at an unacceptable rate and are not and started thinking about these the Stevens amendment other than the limited to nursing homes alone. Democrats? (3) Current Federal and State safeguards amendments, I think you will find it are inadequate because there is little or no very interesting. We have a series of Mr. DOMENICI. Nobody here is in op- information sharing between States about rules that govern the Senate, and if we position. known abusers and no common State proce- ever really followed them, we would The PRESIDING OFFICER. The mi- dures for tracking abusers from State to not have the trouble that we have once nority leader controls the time. State and facility to facility. in a while here on the floor. The inter- Mr. REID. So we have 54 minutes? (b) SENSE OF THE SENATE.—It is the sense esting thing is that those rules do not The PRESIDING OFFICER. That is of the Senate that the assumptions under- apply to the appropriations process in correct. lying the functional totals in this concurrent Mr. STEVENS. I will retain 4 min- resolution on the budget assume that a na- most instances because the framers of tional registry of abusive long-term care those rules understood the real com- utes of the time and yield the rest of the time to the Senator from New Mex- workers should be established by building plexities of the appropriations process upon existing infrastructures at the Federal and the fact that we do deal with emer- ico. He will yield time to my friend and State levels that would enable long-term gencies and with various extraordinary from Virginia, as well as the Senator care providers who participate in the medi- circumstances in the course of each from Texas. care and medicaid programs to conduct year’s consideration of these 13 bills. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- background checks on prospective employ- We were prepared to offer three ator from New Mexico has control of ees. amendments to delete these three sec- the 45 minutes. Mr. GORTON. Mr. President, this is tions: 208, 210, and 211. I have had long Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, I an amendment by Senator KOHL of Wis- discussions with my good friend, Sen- want to talk with Senator STEVENS for consin regarding the establishment of a a moment. First of all, let me say that ator DOMENICI, the manager of the bill, national background check system for chairman of the Budget Committee, there are a couple of Senators who long-term care workers. It has been and he has made an offer to us, which want to speak for 2 or 3 minutes on my agreed to, and I think we can take it I am reluctant to agree to, but I have side. Since I have almost an hour, I directly to a vote. no alternative because no committee will yield to them. We haven’t been The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without needs the budget resolution more than able to have any time because of the objection, the amendment is agreed to. the Appropriations Committee. The way things are. Senator GORTON wishes The amendment (No. 2942) was agreed points of order that are in the Budget to speak. How much time would Sen- to. ator GORTON take? Act apply to the Senate Appropriations AMENDMENT NO. 3011 Mr. GORTON. Two minutes. Committee. They don’t even apply to Mr. DOMENICI. I yield 2 minutes to (Purpose: To express the sense of the Senate the House bill because the House con- concerning the price of prescription drugs) Senator GORTON. trols its access to the floor and amend- Mr. GORTON. Mr. President, I ask Mr. GORTON. Mr. President, I send ments through the rules process. unanimous consent that the current an amendment to the desk and ask for We, therefore, have to negotiate with amendment be set aside and we call up, its immediate consideration. the Budget Committee to obtain the first, amendment No. 2942, and then The PRESIDING OFFICER. The best possible regime under which to 3011, both of which have been agreed to clerk will report. present the appropriations bills for the by both sides. The legislative clerk read as follows: fiscal year 2001. I am going to yield to The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without The Senator from Washington [Mr. my friend. It is my understanding that objection, it is so ordered. GORTON], for himself and Mr. JEFFORDS, pro- he will offer an amendment and that poses an amendment numbered 3011. AMENDMENT NO. 2942 the amendment will be debated here. It Mr. GORTON. Mr. President, I ask is my intention, if it is what I believe (Purpose: To express the sense of the Senate regarding the establishment of a national unanimous consent that reading of the it to be—as I said, I am reluctantly background check system for long-term amendment be dispensed with. going to agree to support it, primarily care workers) The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without because we need this budget resolution, Mr. GORTON. Mr. President, I send objection, it is so ordered. and also because I have great trust and an amendment to the desk and ask for The amendment is as follows: faith in the chairman of the Budget its immediate consideration. At the appropriate place, insert the fol- Committee. He is seeking to get his job The PRESIDING OFFICER. The lowing: done, and I am seeking to be able to do clerk will report. SEC. ll. SENSE OF THE SENATE CONCERNING the job that has been assigned to our The legislative clerk read as follows: THE PRICE OF PRESCRIPTION DRUGS IN THE UNITED STATES. committee. The Senator from Washington [Mr. GOR- (a) FINDINGS.—The Senate makes the fol- Mr. President, I yield to my friend to TON], for Mr. KOHL, for himself, Mr. REID, lowing findings: carry on the discussions. He will yield and Mr. GRASSLEY, proposes an amendment (1) Today, two-thirds of senior citizens in to the Senator from Texas and others. numbered 2942. the United States have access to prescription How much time do I have on this Mr. GORTON. Mr. President, I ask drugs through health insurance coverage. amendment? unanimous consent that reading of the (2) However, it is difficult for many Ameri- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- amendment be dispensed with. cans, including senior citizens, to afford the ator has 49 minutes. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without prescription drugs that they need to stay Mr. STEVENS. If I have 49 minutes, I objection, it is so ordered. healthy. yield 45 minutes to my friend, and I The amendment is as follows: (3) Many senior citizens in the United will reserve 4 minutes in case I have to At the appropriate place, insert the fol- States leave the country and go to Canada or come back into this discussion at some lowing: Mexico to buy prescription drugs that are de- veloped, manufactured, and approved in the point. It is my understanding that he SEC. . SENSE OF THE SENATE REGARDING THE United States in order to buy such drugs at has the authority, then, to yield to ESTABLISHMENT OF A NATIONAL BACKGROUND CHECK SYSTEM FOR lower prices than such drugs are sold for in other Members on this side who might LONG-TERM CARE WORKERS. the United States. wish to discuss the matter, is that cor- (a) FINDINGS.—The Senate makes the fol- (4) According to the General Accounting rect? lowing findings: Office, a consumer in the United States pays

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on average 1⁄3 more for a prescription drug have staff in my State offices who will Varney had left Columbine for lunch two than a consumer pays for the same drug in go home this very night in Littleton, minutes before a pair of fellow students ram- another country. CO. paged through the building, murdering 13 (5) The United States has made a strong This tragic event shocked the people people and wounding two dozen others before commitment to supporting the research and in that community, and to date I fail killing themselves. Tonight, Varney was one development of new drugs through taxpayer- of two dozen Columbine students and staff supported funding of the National Institutes to see any benefit to those in Littleton members who volunteered to sit on a stage of Health, through the research and develop- from the continued publicity and polar- for a town meeting to describe how the na- ment tax credit, and through other means. ization coming from this Chamber. tion’s deadliest school shooting has influ- (6) The development of new drugs is impor- I have with me two articles published enced their school and themselves. tant because the use of such drugs enables this week: Denver Rocky Mountain For nearly two hours, they talked of people to live longer and lead healthier, News editorial documenting the April friendships that have tightened. The soli- more productive lives. 12 visit of President Clinton to Little- darity of teachers willing to fill in for one (7) Citizens of other countries should pay a ton: another on a difficult day. The solace they portion of the research and development draw from faith and family and writing po- It would be utterly tasteless for any politi- costs for new drugs, or their fair share of etry. cian—from the President to local state rep- They talked too, of sadness that endures. such costs, rather than just reap the benefits resentative—to attempt to make political of such drugs. ‘‘Sometimes, I just want to shout out at hay over Columbine on the brink of its anni- night, ‘I don’t know why it was us,’ ’’ said (b) SENSE OF THE SENATE.—It is the sense versary. of the Senate that the budgetary levels in Sergio Gonzales, a senior. ‘‘It isn’t the reg- this resolution assume that the cost dis- Washington Post Article ‘‘Col- ular life of a teenager.’’ parity between identical prescription drugs umbine, Reflections of a Painful Past’’: The strains that linger, mental health and sold in the United States, Canada, and Mex- Students, parents and school officials here school officials say, are mounting in the ico should be reduced or eliminated. are viewing this anniversary with trepi- days leading to the first anniversary of the massacre. The community is responding with Mr. GORTON. Mr. President, this dation. They are apprehensive about the emotions it may rekindle—and about the a series of events intended to commemorate amendment relates to the discrimina- crush of journalists and curiosity seekers ex- the occasion and, at the same time, mini- tion in the price for prescription drugs pected to arrive. mize the disruption to a community still on the part of American companies be- A Columbine Senior said, ‘‘It is not the striving for equilibrium. tween drugs sold in the U.S. and drugs kind of thing that really falls away very Tonight’s town meeting was the opening sold for less overseas, and it expresses quickly. We’re healing. But it is always in event and the first time that the Jefferson the concern of the Senate about that people’s emotions. There is always a hint of County school district has convened students it in the background.’’ and staff to speak publicly about the shoot- discrimination and the desire that it be ing and its aftermath. ‘‘Columbine’’ suddenly reduced or eliminated. I am ashamed that part of back- ground noise that disturbs the healing became known worldwide as a synonym for Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask my school violence on a late Tuesday morning friend from Washington, Senator GOR- of these tender wounds in a Colorado when a pair of juniors, Eric Harris and Dylan TON, has this been approved by the ma- community is the increasing effort by Klebold, crossed a soccer field and entered jority and minority, signed off on; is some to make this event the driving the building with guns blazing, fatally shoot- that true? force behind their own policy goals. ing a dozen students and a science teacher Mr. GORTON. Yes. As the chairman of last year’s Juve- before turning their guns on themselves in nile Justice Task Force I worked close- the high school library. They had also laced The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without the building with bombs, most of which objection, the amendment is agreed to. ly with a number of members of this body to determine causes and solutions never went off. The amendment (No. 3011) was agreed Like other commemorative events that to. for America’s juvenile justice prob- will take place this month, tonight’s 90- Mr. DOMENICI. Now, Mr. President, lems. The causes are intricate and minute forum, ‘‘Conversations With Col- many. We made our recommendations Senator ALLARD wishes to speak. Can umbine,’’ was tightly controlled, with re- he do what he wanted to do in 3 and we contributed to the juvenile jus- porters allowed to request individual inter- tice bill currently in conference com- views with participants afterward only by minutes? handing their business cards to school sys- Mr. ALLARD. I can. mittee. We are here today to work on a budg- tem representatives. Reporters and tele- Mr. DOMENICI. I yield 3 minutes on et resolution for the coming fiscal vision crews who want a glimpse inside the the amendment. year. We have had, and will have again, school may have one—but only in small, Mr. ALLARD. Thank you. Mr. Presi- guided tours arranged for them early this policy debates on the many issues this dent, frankly, I had no intention to Sunday, when the building will otherwise be amendment addresses. We should have come to the floor today, as I received a vacant. those debates in the realm of sensible, generous amount of time yesterday to Students, parents and school officials here comprehensive policy. What we should are viewing this anniversary with trepi- debate my amendment concerning the not do is continue painful rhetoric that dation. They are apprehensive about the national debt. I appreciate the chair- inflames the wounds of the Littleton emotions it may rekindle—and about the man of the Budget Committee giving community. crush of journalists and curiosity-seekers ex- me some time to speak momentarily. I ask unanimous consent that the pected to arrive. After listening to the dialog today and Based on the crowd that thronged Okla- Denver Rocky Mountain News article homa City one year after the 1995 bombing of reading the content of the sense-of-the- and the Washington Post article men- Senate amendment by the Senator a federal office building there, and the prox- tioned in my statement be printed in imity of the Littleton anniversary to Easter from Rhode Island, I felt a sincere need the RECORD. vacations, school officials have predicted to come and speak to you all this There being no objection, the mate- that perhaps 100,000 people will arrive here evening. rial was ordered to be printed in the later this month. Community leaders also Since last April’s tragic events in my RECORD, as follows: have heard reports that members of the Na- tional Rifle Association may turn out in home State at Columbine High School, [From the Washington Post, Apr. 6, 2000] the town of Littleton, it seems as force to try to counteract welling support AT COLUMBINE, REFLECTIONS ON A PAINFUL though the students and community of here for tighter gun control measures being PAST debated in the Colorado legislature. the Columbine High School have been (By Amy Goldstein) ‘‘We don’t want the masses, but we have to mentioned almost on a daily basis on LITTLETON, COLO., April 5.—One of Matt be prepared for the masses,’’ Rick Kaufman, the floor of the Senate in Washington, Varney’s best friends is Pat Ireland, a Col- a school system spokesman, said this week. DC. This tragic event has become a umbine High School student who, last April Outwardly, Littleton has recovered a sense new flag to be waved by those in this 20, was captured on television tumbling, shot of normalcy. Adjacent to the Columbine body who seek to further politicize the and bleeding, out a school window. A year campus, the grass has grown back in Clem- issues of crime, law enforcement, and later, Varney said that his friend inspires ent Park, which last spring became a muddy the second amendment. I ask you, Mr. and sobers him still. encampment for dozens of television sat- ‘‘Watching him heal—his everlasting pur- ellite trucks and a makeshift shrine for stu- President, what has this politicking suit to get better—has healed me,’’ said dents bringing flowers and placards to me- done to help heal the wounds in my Varney, a Columbine senior. Yet, he said, ‘‘I morialize the dead. This week, the park was home State? I have staff from Little- have trouble seeing him, knowing these two filled with young boys playing lacrosse after ton. I have staff in Littleton, and I guys took away so much from him.’’ school in the spring sunshine.

VerDate Mar 15 2010 22:44 Dec 04, 2013 Jkt 081600 PO 00000 Frm 00052 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\2000SENATE\S06AP0.REC S06AP0 mmaher on DSKCGSP4G1 with SOCIALSECURITY April 6, 2000 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S2321 The police tape was removed long ago from comments last month by the executive vice Any analysis of our defense budget the school, a sprawling beige brick structure president of the National Rifle Association. should begin with an analysis of the near the entrance to a quiet residential Among other things, the NRA’s Wayne worldwide threat that our military LaPierre claimed that President Bill Clinton neighborhood. But there are reminders and faces—both now and in the future. The frailties, still. The student who walks into ‘‘needs a certain level of violence in this class and tells a teacher he had a flashback country. He’s willing to accept a certain world remains complex and dangerous, and ended up crashing a car. The unfailing level of killing to further his political agen- and the United States is continually shivers from the sound of a helicopter whir- da and his vice president’s, too.’’ called upon to provide the requisite ring overhead. The sight of a few students It is heartening to see, as the Columbine leadership to resolve the many con- still propelling themselves down the school’s anniversary approaches, so much evidence of flicts which continue to erupt in this maturity and mutual respect on both sides corridors in wheelchairs. rapidly changing world. The negative ‘‘It is not the kind of thing that really falls in the gun-control debate. Now you see why we’re so confident that the exploitation of impact that the large number of con- away very quickly,’’ said senior Peter tingency operations in which our mili- Forsberg, who hid last April 20 in the Columbine is the furthest thing from the school’s Spanish office for hours. ‘‘We’re minds of Clinton, those who arranged his tary is engaged worldwide is having on healing. But it is always in people’s emo- visit and those who will protest it. the readiness of our military forces After all, how could anyone possibly com- tions. There is always a hint of it in the concerns me. We have had troops in the plain about their behavior up till now? background.’’ Persian Gulf—engaged in active mili- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- tary operations against Iraq—for over [From the Denver Rocky Mountain News] ator from Virginia. a decade, in Bosnia for over four years, Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I thank THE TIMING OF CLINTON’S VISIT and now in Kosovo—with no end in the distinguished manager, Senator Would Bill Clinton politicize the anniver- sight for any of these operations. sary of Columbine? Perish the thought! Why, DOMENICI. Senator STEVENS and I have an The Joint Chiefs of Staff have testi- didn’t the president wait three whole days fied that they still have a shortfall in after the Columbine shootings last year be- amendment at the desk calling for a fore he publicly linked them to a lack of gun $4.1 billion increase in total defense funding of $9.0 billion for this fiscal control? And didn’t he cool his heels a full spending. year—fiscal year 2000; a requirement week before he introduced a package of gun We recognize that the House of Rep- for an additional $15.5 billion above the measures that the White House described as resentatives is taking similar action. budget request to meet shortfalls in ‘‘the most comprehensive gun legislation This would be parallel action. readiness and modernization for fiscal any administration has put forward in 30 At no time in contemporary history year 2001; and a requirement for an ad- years’’? There’s sensitivity for you. have there been more threats and more ditional $85.0 billion over the next five Yes, this president has been the very model years. These were requirements identi- of self-control in resisting the temptation to challenges affecting the security of exploit the Columbine tragedy to advance a this country. At the same time, at no fied by the Service Chiefs as their un- long-held political agenda. Most impressive time in my memory—I have been asso- funded, validated requirements—not a of all, he waited a whole month after Col- ciated with the military as far back as set of ‘‘wish lists.’’ umbine—think of the forbearance!—before he World War II—has there been really As the elected representatives of the called for a Federal Trade Commission probe less incentive for the young men and American people, we have no higher re- into the marketing of violent video games women of the Nation to join and proud- sponsibility than ensuring the safety and other products. ly wear the uniform and incentives for and security of our people by maintain- That’s why we are so shocked that anyone those in the middle grades of our mili- would suggest that Clinton might actually ing a strong and capable military. As try to politicize the anniversary of Col- tary to stay in after enormous ex- chairman of the Armed Services Com- umbine when he visits Colorado on April 12 penses for the taxpayers to train them. mittee, I cannot sit idly by—knowing to campaign for a state initiative that would When they finish their obligated period of the many shortfalls in defense fund- mandate background checks at gun shows. and first-term enlistments—the first ing that currently exist—without at What on Earth in the president’s record term for officers and oftentimes pilots least trying to address the many ur- raises that unworthy suspicion? is 6 to 8 years—they are highly sought gent needs of our military. It would be utterly tasteless for any politi- after by the private sector in our mag- cian—from the president to a local state rep- The Administration’s budget request nificent expanding economy. for fiscal year 2001 took some positive resentative—to attempt to make political We have this coincidence of pressures hay over Columbine on the brink of its anni- steps forward. The Budget Committee being put on the military today. versary. President Clinton, whose added an additional $500 million, but I urge my colleagues to vote favor- tastefulness in all matters is legendary, more needs to be done. ably on the current version of the Ste- would be just about the last person we’d ex- While the fiscal year 2001 defense pect to resort to such a crude maneuver. vens-Warner amendment of $4 billion So by all means, let the public accept the for extra defense spending to meet the budget request does reach the $60 bil- assurances of SAFE Colorado, the gun-con- threats worldwide and to provide the lion modernization goal set in fiscal trol group pushing the ballot initiative, that proper benefits and care for the men year 1995, this goal has not kept pace the timing of the president’s visit so close to and women of the Armed Forces and with requirements and has never been the Columbine anniversary of April 20 is a their families; to provide for the in- adjusted for inflation. Estimates from mere coincidence and meant to signify noth- crease in procurement for the mod- the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) ing. Of course that’s true. There are only 52 ernization they need with the addi- have more accurately placed the fund- weeks in a year, after all, and this paltry ing necessary to meet modernization number puts a terrific strain on the schedule tional dollars for training. of such a busy world leader. If you wonder This Nation has witnessed the de- requirements at $90.0 billion annually, why Clinton would come to Colorado barely ployment of the men and women of the with other organizations stating that a week before the Columbine anniversary to Armed Forces beyond our shores in the even larger increases are necessary. attend a political rally on gun control, last 6 or 8 years, more times than any We must continue the momentum we blame the burdens of the presidency if you other President has sent them out into started last year when the Congress must blame something, but please do not harm’s way. For too many years, the provided the personnel incentives nec- blame this man whose very career is a trib- size of our defense budget has been essary to reverse the negative trends in ute to discretion and respect for private grief. based on constrained funding, not on recruiting and retention. The Sec- As impressed as we are with Clinton’s sen- the threats facing our country or the retary of Defense, the Chairman of the sitivity, we are also pleased to see that his military strategy necessary to meet Joint Chiefs, and the Service Chiefs upcoming visit is evoking the usual carefully those threats. We began to make some have all said that fulfilling our com- reasoned rhetoric from gun-rights advocates. progress last year when, for the first mitment for healthcare to our military ‘‘I just think (Clinton’s) just doing what he time in 14 years, we had a real increase retirees will be among the highest pri- always does, wading through the blood of the in the authorized level of defense orities this year. I believe, there is victims to push his agenda,’’ said Bill spending. We must continue the mo- overwhelming support in the Senate to Dietrick, legislative director of the Colorado State Shooting Association. Dietrick’s mentum we started last year in an ef- correct many of the shortfalls in the thoughtful analysis is yet another enlight- fort to correct the most critical readi- military healthcare system for our ened contribution to the debate over guns, ness, modernization, and recruiting service members, their families, and and it follows a series of equally diplomatic and retention problems in our military. our military retirees. it is critical to

VerDate Mar 15 2010 22:44 Dec 04, 2013 Jkt 081600 PO 00000 Frm 00053 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\2000SENATE\S06AP0.REC S06AP0 mmaher on DSKCGSP4G1 with SOCIALSECURITY S2322 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE April 6, 2000 enact the important initiatives con- On page 27, line 7, decrease the amount by amendment, motion, or conference report tained in the bipartisan healthcare leg- $4,000,000,000. that exceeds any discretionary spending islation introduced by the Senate and On page 27, line 8, decrease the amount by limit set forth in this section. $2,000,000,000. the Armed Services Committee leader- (2) EXCEPTION.—This subsection shall not Strike page 41, line 5 and all that follows apply if a declaration of war by Congress is ship. Adding the funds in this amend- through page 45, line 22; and insert the in effect. ment makes it possible to fund this im- following: (c) WAIVER AND APPEAL.—This section may portant initiative for military retiree (g) EXCEPTION FOR DEFENSE SPENDING.— be waived or suspended in the Senate only by healthcare. Subsection (b) shall not apply against an an affirmative vote of three-fifths of the The increase of $4.0 billion contained emergency designation for a provision mak- Members, duly chosen and sworn. An affirm- in our amendment will allow us to ing discretionary appropriations in the ative vote of three-fifths of the Members of bring defense spending to a more ap- defense category. the Senate, duly chosen and sworn, shall be SEC. 209. RESERVE FUND PENDING INCREASE OF required in the Senate to sustain an appeal propriate level and address some of the FISCAL YEAR 2001 DISCRETIONARY urgent unfunded requirements of the of the ruling of the Chair on a point of order SPENDING LIMITS. raised under this section. military chiefs. By adding the funding (a) FINDINGS.—The Senate finds the fol- lowing: SEC. 211. MECHANISMS FOR STRENGTHENING in this amendment, we will not be BUDGETARY INTEGRITY. (1) The functional totals with respect to forced to fund needed increases for de- (a) DEFINITION.—For purposes of this sec- discretionary spending set forth in this con- fense using emergency spending. Add- tion, the term ‘‘budget year’’ means with re- current resolution, if implemented, would re- ing these funds now, allows the Senate spect to a session of Congress, the fiscal year sult in legislation which exceeds the limit on of the Government that starts on October 1 to follow the normal procedures of au- discretionary spending for fiscal year 2001 set of the calendar year in which that session thorization first, and not to forced to out in section 251(c) of the Balanced Budget begins. deal with added spending as an emer- and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985. (b) POINT OF ORDER WITH RESPECT TO AD- gency. Nonetheless, the allocation pursuant to sec- VANCED APPROPRIATIONS.— The challenges that this country will tion 302 of the Congressional Budget and Im- (1) IN GENERAL.—It shall not be in order in poundment Control Act of 1974 to the Com- face in the new millennium are di- the Senate to consider any bill, resolution, mittee on Appropriations is in compliance verse—new threats, new battlefields, amendment, motion or conference report with current law spending limits. and new weapons. It is important that that— (2) Consequently unless and until the dis- (A) provides an appropriation of new budg- we remain vigilant, forward thinking, cretionary spending limit for fiscal year 2001 et authority for any fiscal year after the and prepared to address these chal- is increased, aggregate appropriations which budget year that is in excess of the amounts lenges. exceed the current law limits would still be provided in paragraph (2); and Mr. Tenet, the Director of Central In- out of order in the Senate and subject to a (B) provides an appropriation of new budg- telligence, concluded his excellent supermajority vote. et authority for any fiscal year subsequent opening statement at a very sobering (3) The functional totals contained in this to the year after the budget year. concurrent resolution envision a level of dis- hearing before the Armed Services (2) LIMITATION ON AMOUNTS.—The total cretionary spending for fiscal year 2001 as Committee in January by saying: amount, provided in appropriations legisla- follows: The fact that we are arguably the world’s tion for the budget year, of appropriations (A) For the discretionary category: most powerful nation does not bestow invul- for the subsequent fiscal year shall not ex- $600,579,000,000 in new budget authority and nerability; in fact, it may make us a larger ceed $23,000,000,000. $592,326,000,000 in outlays. target for those who don’t share our interest, (c) POINT OF ORDER WITH RESPECT TO DE- (B) For the highway category: values, or beliefs. LAYED OBLIGATIONS.— $26,920,000,000 in outlays. (1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in We must ensure that our military (C) For the mass transit category: paragraph (2), it shall not be in order in the forces remain ready to meet present $4,639,000,000 in outlays. Senate to consider any bill, resolution, and future challenges. (4) To facilitate the Senate completing its amendment, motion, or conference report I want to express my appreciation legislative responsibilities for the 106th Con- that contains an appropriation of new budget gress in a timely fashion, it is imperative again to the distinguished chairman of authority for any fiscal year which does not that the Senate consider legislation which the Appropriations Committee and the become available upon enactment of such increases the discretionary spending limit chairman of the Budget Committee for legislation or on the first day of that fiscal assisting us on this amendment. I want for fiscal year 2001 as soon as possible. (b) ADJUSTMENT TO ALLOCATIONS.—When- year (whichever is later). to also thank the highly professional ever a bill or joint resolution becomes law (2) EXCEPTION.—Paragraph (1) shall not staff members of the Appropriations that increases the discretionary spending apply with respect to appropriations in the Committee and the Budget Committee limit for fiscal year 2001 set out in section defense category; nor shall it apply to appro- for their assistance for working out 251(c) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency priations reoccuring or customary or for the Deficit Control Act of 1985, the appropriate following programs provided that such ap- this amendment. propriation is not delayed beyond the speci- I also want to thank Senator DOMEN- chairman of the Committee on the Budget shall increase the allocation called for in fied date and does not exceed the specified ICI and his staff in assisting me last amount: evening in working out a solution section 302(a) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to the appropriate Committee on Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, will which will provide for the implementa- Appropriations. the Senator yield? tion of a Thrift Savings Plan for the (c) LIMITATION ON ADJUSTMENT.—An adjust- Mr. STEVENS. Yes. active and reserve components of our ment made pursuant to subsection (b) shall Mr. DOMENICI. Let me suggest that military. not result in an allocation under section this modification is supported by Sen- 302(a) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 I urge adoption of this amendment. ator STEVENS, Senator DOMENICI, Sen- I yield the floor. that exceeds the total budget authority and ator GRAMM, and Senator WARNER, and The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- outlays set forth in subsection (a)(3). I understand on the Democrat side Sen- ator from Alaska. SEC. 210. CONGRESSIONAL FIREWALL FOR DE- FENSE AND NON-DEFENSE SPEND- ator INOUYE has told Senator STEVENS AMENDMENT NO. 2931, AS MODIFIED ING. he supports it. Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I send (a) DEFINITION.—In this section, for fiscal We are obviously trying tonight to a modification to the desk. year 2001 the term ‘‘discretionary spending The PRESIDING OFFICER. The complete our work and get a budget limit’’ means— resolution that we can take to con- amendment is so modified. (1) for the defense category, $310,819,000,000 The amendment (No. 2931) as modi- in new budget authority and $297,050,000,000 ference with the House of which we are fied is as follows: in outlays; and proud. On page 4, line 22, increase the amount by (2) for the nondefense category, Frankly, we came out of committee $4,000,000,000. $289,760,000,000 in new budget authority and with $595.6 billion available in program On page 5, line 7, increase the amount by $327,583,000,000 in outlays. authority for defense and domestic $2,000,000,000. (b) POINT OF ORDER IN THE SENATE.— accounts. On page 5, line 15, decrease the amount by (1) IN GENERAL.—After the adjustment to In addition, we said in that budget the section 302(a) allocation to the Appro- $2,000,000,000. resolution that we were reinstating On page 9, line 6, increase the amount by priations Committee is made pursuant to $4,000,000,000. section 208 and except as provided in para- what we had used for 3 years: The first On page 9, line 7, increase the amount by graph (2), it shall not be in order in the Sen- 3 years of the balanced budget agree- $2,000,000,000. ate to consider any bill, joint resolution, ment between the President and the

VerDate Mar 15 2010 22:44 Dec 04, 2013 Jkt 081600 PO 00000 Frm 00054 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\2000SENATE\S06AP0.REC S06AP0 mmaher on DSKCGSP4G1 with SOCIALSECURITY April 6, 2000 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S2323 Congress—to wit, a firewall—so the de- certain bill that was required by the vanced appropriations, I believe that is fense money couldn’t be used for do- Budget Act of 1997. the strongest enforcement mechanism mestic spending or vice versa. The distinguished chairman is com- we can have. In this amendment, we retain that, mitting to do everything in his power We have preserved our 60-vote point but we have added $4 billion in program to live within the budget resolution. of order for emergencies that are non- authority to defense. That is all anybody ever asked. He has defense in nature. Senator STEVENS There will be no mingling of that agreed not to violate the $23 billion in raised the point that in an emergency money with domestic and no mingling advanced funding. There would be no for defense, you could require a super- of domestic money with defense. reason to put it in the budget resolu- majority, and if you had a partisan That firewall stays in this modifica- tion if we weren’t going to do it. issue on defense, you could deny the tion offered by Senator STEVENS on be- I express my extreme gratitude to ability to meet the defense needs of the half of himself and other cosponsors. the distinguished Appropriations Com- Nation. A point well made and a point In addition, the budget resolution mittee chairman for working with me, well taken. had a 60-vote point of order for emer- working with Senator GRAMM, and But we have the enforcement mecha- gencies. working with Senator LOTT and others nism that prevents the piling of items With this amendment, we have re- on our side, and the distinguished Sen- of a nondefense nature into bills and turned to the law as it was before this ator WARNER who carved out this budg- designating them as emergencies when, budget resolution; that is, last year we et enforcement compromise. I think it in fact, they are not emergencies. had in the budget resolution that 60- is an excellent one. We kept the firewalls so when we get vote point of order which would apply I think we ought to adopt it. money for defense, it stays in defense. to domestic spending. That is retained, From what I can understand, all seg- We have adjusted the advanced appro- not modified, and it is not expanded to ments of the Republican Party that priation level to the level we had last include defense. had diverse views on this budget reso- year, the level that is in the House, In addition, the House of Representa- lution ought to be in concurrence on with a strong 60-vote point of order to tives adopted in the budget resolution this. I believe it does precisely what hold it in place. We prohibit non- a limitation on advanced appropria- most of us would like. defense delayed obligations, which is tions, a technicality often used but not I remind those who are thinking an important new power in the budget always used by Presidents and Con- about domestic spending that we have process. We have a unified Republican gress as they complete their appropria- increased the advanced appropriations commitment to live within a discre- tions work. It is a legitimate tool of amounts from $13 billion to $23 billion. tionary budget written here and to appropriating. The House, in their res- That is a pretty good one that will stay with that number through the olution, has $23 billion as the max- allow flexibility of management, which process. imum amount allowed in program au- is what the appropriators are looking This has been a long and difficult ne- thority to be advanced. for. But it is not too high because the gotiation. We are dealing with people Then there is a point of order, if you House has accepted it also as some- who have jobs to do. I think as a result do more. We are agreeing here to do thing they can live with based on this of this agreement we can move forward what the House did. year’s levels and the levels of last year. together to do that job. I thank Sen- Senator STEVENS has negotiated with I think overall it is a good com- ator DOMENICI. I thank Senator STE- us, and we are going to the House level promise. It is now the pending busi- VENS. I believe we have a good product. on that number. That means for those ness, as Senator STEVENS indicated in I believe it is worthy of support. I be- who are concerned, we are keeping his submission to the desk as a modi- lieve we have a fighting chance to hold some very rigid discipline, but we are fication of his original amendment. it through the appropriations process. going to the House number, and the We still have some additional time. If we do, the Nation will be the big ben- number that was very much discussed The distinguished Senator from Texas, eficiary. in the Budget Committee, we are back who is a valued Member of the Senate I reserve the remainder of my time. to that number. and of the Budget Committee, with Mr. THURMOND. Mr. President, as Senator GRAMM of Texas has agreed whom I worked very hard to carve the the Senate debates the Fiscal Year 2001 with their compromise, and he was one budget resolution, is here. I yield 7 Budget Resolution, I want to again who wanted to lower the number. minutes to the distinguished Senator bring to the attention of my colleagues We are beginning to develop a pack- from Texas. the testimony by General Shelton, the age that looks to have consensus on Mr. GRAMM. Mr. President, I would Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, our side. I wasn’t sure any Democrats hate to have to make a living negoti- before the Senate Armed Services Com- were going to vote for our budget reso- ating with Senator STEVENS. In the mittee on September 29, 1998. lution. I hope they do with these modi- dull moments when we sit here and lis- ‘‘It is the quality of the men and fications. We have Senator INOUYE ten to some droning speech and look at women who serve that sets the U.S. agreeing with these modifications. It the names written in our desk draw- military apart from all potential ad- doesn’t mean he is committed to the ers—many of which we do not even rec- versaries. These talented people are the budget resolution. ognize and never heard of—my guess is ones who won the Cold War and en- There are no nondefense delayed obli- that someday people will see Senator sured our victory in Operation Desert gations except for those listed in the STEVENS’ name in one of these drawers Storm. These dedicated professionals budget and those that are ordinary and and they will know who he was. make it possible for the United States historic. I believe we have a stronger budget to accomplish the many missions we Senator STEVENS made two commit- as a result of this agreement. I think are called on to perform around the ments to us. Frankly, I have com- we have a stronger enforcement proc- world every single day.’’ mitted to him. We worked together. He ess as a result of this agreement be- It has been glaringly evident to me, is going to make every effort to stay cause Senator DOMENICI and I had and I suspect to some of my colleagues, within the limitations in this budget. words written on paper, but we didn’t that there has been little or no men- That means there is $289 billion in have a consensus in the majority party tion of national security issues during budget authority, and $327.6 billion in to enforce those words. We have that this debate on the budget resolution. outlays for the nondefense part of this consensus today. Maybe it is because defense does not budget. I take the word of the distinguished rank very high in the polls which re- Depending on how you figure it, it is senior Senator from Alaska to be more flect the concerns of the American peo- anywhere from a 3.35-percent in- powerful and worth more than points ple. Or maybe it is because everyone crease—looking at it another way, it of order. When he says he will lead the assumes that the defense budget is ade- may be as much as 6, or 61⁄2, depending effort to the best of his ability to live quate and there is no reason to debate upon a couple of things such as a $4.3 within the nondefense discretionary it. I am here today, along with the billion budget authority that is going numbers of this budget and to stay Chairman of the Armed Services Com- to be made available when we pass a with the limit we have agreed to on ad- mittee, Senator WARNER, and members

VerDate Mar 15 2010 22:44 Dec 04, 2013 Jkt 081600 PO 00000 Frm 00055 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\2000SENATE\S06AP0.REC S06AP0 mmaher on DSKCGSP4G1 with SOCIALSECURITY S2324 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE April 6, 2000 of the Armed Services Committee, to The cost to the trust fund under gram for women diagnosed with breast tell you that the level of defense spend- Smith-Allard is zero; the cost to the or cervical cancer under the CDC ing proposed by the President and this trust fund under the Clinton proposal screening program. I truly believe this budget resolution is inadequate. is $203 billion over the next 20 years. is a corrective measure. To highlight the problem let me It is supported by Mr. King, the Yes, this program costs $315 million point out that despite the two percent former HCFA Administrator, in a let- over 5 years. However, the House in- increase in the President’s budget over ter. cluded funding for this program in its fiscal year 2000 and another $500 mil- Monthly premiums under the Clinton budget 2 weeks ago, and the House lion increase in the budget resolution, plan, $51; Smith-Allard, zero for drugs; leadership has committed to a vote on the Joint Chiefs of Staff have identi- Part B, $45.50, versus $45.50; Medigap, this bill by Mother’s Day, May 14. This fied a requirement for an additional $15 $134 versus $88. is not a permanent entitlement. billion to meet shortfalls in readiness The total is $230 versus $133. The Women would only be eligible for Med- and modernization for fiscal year 2001. Smith-Allard premium savings is $96.83 icaid during the duration of treatment. Mr. President, we have the best sol- a month. It works simply. The annual The coverage would continue only diers, sailors, airmen and Marines, deductible under Clinton is $876—$776 until the treatment and followup visits however, all their professionalism is plus $100. Under Smith-Allard, the are completed. Without Medicaid cov- for naught if they do not have the combined deductible is $675. And pre- erage, we are leaving these women to equipment, weapons and supplies to scription drugs are in part going to- an unreliable, fragile, and deterio- carry out their mission. Since the end ward the deductible. rating system of charity care where of Operation Desert Storm, which re- In conclusion, this is a very good ap- they are often unable to get the treat- flected both the professionalism and proach. It saves $40 billion out of this ment they need. Only about 6,200 material quality of our Armed Forces, budget resolution, with which we could women nationwide would be eligible for the defense budget has declined by $80 do a lot of things. It is revenue neutral. Medicaid under this legislation. This billion. Yet the pace of the military op- It takes effect as early as 2001. There is small investment stands to save lives erations has not declined, in fact the no premium increase for seniors. for low-income and uninsured women pace of operations exceeds that of the I encourage my colleagues to support with breast and cervical cancer all over Cold War era. Not only are the men and my amendment. I yield the floor. America. Since we have already made women of our military stretched to the Mr. DOMENICI. Senator CHAFEE has the commitment in Congress to diag- limits, but also their equipment. The $4 been asking for time. I yield 2 minutes nose these women, we owe it to them billion increase in the Defense Budget to Senator CHAFEE. to provide followup treatment. proposed by Chairman WARNER’s Mr. L. CHAFEE. Mr. President, I am I urge my colleagues to join me in amendment will not resolve the short- sending amendment No. 2944 to the supporting this amendment. We must fall identified by the Nation’s most desk for immediate consideration. finish the job we started in 1990 by fill- senior military commanders, it will The PRESIDING OFFICER. The ing this gap in a vital Federal program. however provide the necessary funding clerk will report. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The time to improve recruiting, retention, Mr. L. CHAFEE. I ask unanimous of the Senator has expired. health care, and most important readi- consent reading of the amendment be Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, I am ness. dispensed with. happy to join Senator CHAFEE in intro- Mr. President, I urge the adoption of Mr. REID. Mr. President, it is my un- ducing the sense-of-the-Senate amend- Senator WARNER’s amendment to en- derstanding this is not the time to ment to urge the Senate to pass S. 662, sure we meet the Nation’s security offer amendments. the Breast and Cervical Cancer Treat- needs. We must not leave the false im- The PRESIDING OFFICER. It would ment Act. pression that the increase in the Presi- require unanimous consent to offer the This bill was originally introduced by dent’s budget and the additional fund- amendment. the late Senator John Chafee, who ing proposed in the budget resolution Mr. REID. Objection. dedicated much time and energy to will result in increased security for our The PRESIDING OFFICER. The ob- this important legislation. It is with Nation. jection is heard. great honor that we carry with his ef- Mr. DOMENICI. How much time re- Mr. DOMENICI. The Senator from forts for passage of this critical legisla- mains on the amendment as modified? tion. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- Rhode Island understands the amend- ment is not in order unless agreed upon I would like to submit for the ator has 26 minutes. RECORD a letter I received from an on the other side, but I yield time for Mr. DOMENICI. I yield 4 minutes to Iowan. Her story illustrates the urgent him to speak. Senator SMITH from New Hampshire. need for passage of this bill. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- Mr. SMITH of New Hampshire. I Barbara Morrow of Evansdale, Iowa, ator from Rhode Island. thank my colleague for yielding this was diagnosed in January 1995 with Mr. L. CHAFEE. Mr. President, I am time. breast cancer after being screened by pleased to be joined by a bipartisan I have an amendment, No. 3031, called the CDC Early Detection Program. Be- prescription drug amendment, along group of cosponsors, including Sen- cause she had no insurance and no with my colleague, Senator ALLARD. ators MIKULSKI, SNOWE, and GRASSLEY, money, she had little hope of finding Three or four minutes does not give in offering this amendment. medical care to treat her disease. much time to explain a complicated In 1990, Congress passed legislation to After exhaustive efforts, she was able amendment, but I say to my colleagues authorize the Centers for Disease Con- to secure medical treatment from doc- on the other side of the aisle it meets trol to pay for screening tests to detect tors willing to perform charity care. the criteria of the Democrat plan with breast and cervical cancer on low-in- Unfortunately, in January 1999, she a couple of additions for improvement. come and uninsured women. Regret- learned that her breast cancer had It is revenue neutral. It eliminates tably, this legislation did not authorize spread to her lungs. She returned to the need to spend $40 billion in the the treatment for those screening tests the same doctor who treated her ear- budget. It takes effect as early as 2001, tragically indicating cancer. I cannot lier. For 14 months, she has been re- and there is no premium increase for believe any legislator would not want ceiving chemotherapy and is alive seniors. It is voluntary. It is accessible to correct this omission. today. to all Medicare beneficiaries. It is de- Diagnosis without treatment is leav- Ms. Morrow owes more than $70,000 signed to provide meaningful protec- ing women with the life-threatening for treatment she has received. She tion. It is affordable for all bene- disease nowhere to turn. Screening pays what she can each month to the ficiaries. It is administered using the must be coupled with treatment to re- hospital where she receives her care. private sector. It is consistent with duce mortality. Specifically, the sense The bills cause great worry and she broader Medicare reform. It is revenue of the Senate mirrors legislation intro- considers stopping treatment to stop neutral. It does not increase premiums. duced by Senator John Chafee which the bills. It provides full prescription drug bene- would give States the option to provide She is a mother and a grandmother fits as early as 2001. treatment through the Medicaid pro- and she wants to live.

VerDate Mar 15 2010 22:44 Dec 04, 2013 Jkt 081600 PO 00000 Frm 00056 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\2000SENATE\S06AP0.REC S06AP0 mmaher on DSKCGSP4G1 with SOCIALSECURITY April 6, 2000 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S2325 It is urgent that Congress pass S. 662 But, my grandson was diagnosed with can- For those who think our tax relief in to allow women to receive the treat- cer at age 9. He is now 16 and my daughter this budget is too much, let me remind ment they need to beat this disease. We and I continue to care for him. I must stay you: In the first year, if we accomplish alive to help my daughter and grandson. have an opportunity to make a real dif- Breast cancer and it’s treatment are over- them, they are $13 billion. That is $13 ference in the lives of thousands of whelming. Being unable to pay for treatment billion compared to $177 billion in debt women and mothers across the Nation. is devastating. Please pass S. 662 so that reduction. It is pretty good, Ameri- I urge your support for this amend- women who are diagnosed with breast cancer cans, pretty good. If we end up in that ment. through the CDCBCCEDP can receive treat- way for the next 7 or 8 years, we will I ask unanimous consent that the ment. indeed leave a stronger and better letter sent to me by Barbara Morrow Sincerely, America with more prosperity than we be printed in the RECORD. BARBARA MORROW. have today. In addition, if you take the There being no objection, the letter Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, using whole 5 years, we have eight times as was ordered to be printed in the my time, I would be honored if the Sen- much debt reduction, to wit, $1.1 tril- RECORD, as follows: ator would let me be a cosponsor of the lion debt reduction, $8 for every $1 in Hon. CHARLES GRASSLEY, amendment. tax relief. 444 N. Capitol Street, NW, Washington, DC. Mr. WARNER. Likewise, I ask the The tax relief we dream of, and we DEAR SENATOR GRASSLEY: I am writing to Senator if I might be a cosponsor. My hope the Finance Committee will urge you to pass S. 662, The Breast and Cer- father was a medical doctor and de- enact—and we can do nothing more vical Cancer Treatment Act. In January 1995 voted much of his career to the very than give them our best advice; they I was diagnosed with breast cancer after re- subject the Senator addressed in his will do what they want in the public ceiving a mammogram through the Center for Disease Control Breast and Cervical Can- amendment. interest, and it will be right—we have cer Early Detection Program (CDCBCCEDP). The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without the marriage tax penalty. Married cou- I had no insurance and no money to pay for objection, it is so ordered. ples, new ones and those who have been treatment. I have been struggling ever since. The Senator from New Mexico. married for a long time, will not have My struggles began when the results of my Mr. DOMENICI. I reserve 2 minutes an average penalty of $1,200 to $1,400 for CDC mammogram suggested breast cancer. of our time. How much time do we have having been married and working and Initially two doctors refused to perform a bi- left? filing one return as a husband and a opsy because I had no insurance. Finally, Dr. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- Gerrelts in Waterloo agreed to take me as a wife. They are now punished. We say ator from New Mexico has 18 minutes. reform the Tax Code now—not 10 years patient and perform a biopsy for free. The bi- The Senator from Alaska has 3 min- opsy was malignant and three to four days from now. We are putting plenty of later Dr. Gerrelts performed a lumpectomy. utes. money on the debt. We ought to put Dr. Gerrelts made an appointment for me Mr. DOMENICI. I yield myself 4 min- some money on reforming the Tax Code with Dr. Nadipuram, a Waterloo oncologist. utes. for the marriage penalty, for small Mr. President, I say to the Senate, I Dr. Nadipuram agreed to provide chemo- business changes, and a few other therapy treatment and a radiologist provided am not sure I will have a chance later things such as that. That is what this 8 weeks of radiation without charge. I needed tonight to summarize this budget reso- budget is going to provide for Ameri- a surgically implanted cath-a-port for ad- lution that I hope sometime tomorrow cans, so I am proud we have it here. ministration of the chemotherapy. Dr. we are going to adopt, with an amend- Gerrelts did this surgery for free. I received For the appropriated accounts, all six months of chemotherapy ending in Sep- ment that the distinguished Senator the rest of Government, when you take tember 1995. from Alaska, Mr. STEVENS, and others the fact that there were $9 billion last Even though my initial treatment for put together, that we have been dis- year in items that are not recurring, breast cancer was complete without a lot of cussing and of which I was a part. and you take the increase that we have bills, the expenses began to mount from then Let me first say this budget resolu- in this budget, and $4.1 billion they will on. I needed a cath-a-port flush every 6 tion has the right priorities. It in- weeks, check ups every six months, and a get when they pass another bill that we creases defense at the same time it in- ought to pass because it is in the bal- bone scan every time I had an ache. In Janu- creases spending for such things as ary 1999, Dr. Gerrelts sent me for an x-ray of anced budget amendment with ref- my lungs. It was found the breast cancer had education—at least the equivalent erence to Social Security and vet- spread to my lungs. amount of increase the President has. erans—it merely changes pay dates as Dr. Gerrelts once again sent me to Dr. We leave how the education program required by the balanced budget agree- Nadipuram. Dr. Nadipuram sent me to the is to be structured up to the appro- ment—they will have a rather signifi- University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in priate authorizing committees and the Iowa City for treatment. At the University cant increase that can be done in this appropriators, but we give them plenty very difficult political year. of Iowa I had many biopsies, scans, and tests. of resources to have an increase. With Recurring breast cancer was found in my I wrap my argument up by saying it brain also. University of Iowa told me I did some reform, we may be able to do bet- will be tough, appropriators and all of not fit the criteria for their stem cell trans- ter at education than we have done in us, because the President has sub- plant program and all they could offer me is the past. mitted a political budget. Why is it po- chemotherapy that would keep me alive for In addition, we have extra funding litical? Because it is a 14-percent in- six months. for the National Institutes of Health— crease in domestic spending. Really, I returned to my home in the Waterloo not as much as some people would nobody thinks you can do that big an area devastated, with no money, no insur- want but a very substantial increase— ance, and no hope. I once again asked Dr. increase. He put it in. It could only be Nadipuram to treat my recurring breast can- $1.1 billion. I know some would like for one reason—to present us with a po- cer. He has been treating me with chemo- more than that, but I remind everyone, litical budget. Then we are going to therapy ever since and I am still alive 14 for the last 3 years we have increased have to have to match our wits with months later. the National Institutes of Health more getting something done while he tells I applied for Social Security disability ben- than they have been increased in their the Americans he did more. efits after my diagnosis for recurring breast entire history, year over year. That is Of course you do more, but if you cancer. Over a year later, I will finally begin why they are doing such remarkable to receive benefits April 19, 2000. However, added 14 percent every year on this my medical bills have accumulated and things and that is why in a few more budget on only domestic spending, you these bills must still be paid by me. I owe years of increases we may find break- would consume all of the surpluses over $70,000. I send what I can each month to throughs in cancer and many other dis- that are accumulated and you would Allen Hospital, Covenant Hospital, Covenant eases that beset mankind. dip into the Social Security trust fund Clinic, a radiologist, and Dr. Nadipuram all In addition, we have reduced the debt to a huge extent, just by adding the of Waterloo. I also send money to the Uni- of the United States in this budget res- amount the President offered as an in- versity of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics and the olution by $177 billion. It was not too crease this year. So he clearly must doctors at the University of Iowa. In spite of many years ago, perhaps Lyndon John- this I continue to be hounded by all of these not have intended it to go on forever. institutions and doctors asking me to pay son’s budget, that the whole budget So what was it? It was a submission to more. My bills are so high I often wonder if was $177 billion. This year we are re- try to either embarrass us or make us I should quit treatment so I will not saddle ducing the deficit—the debt owed to spend precisely what he wants, which myself and my family with so much debt. the public—by $177 billion. is way too much.

VerDate Mar 15 2010 22:44 Dec 04, 2013 Jkt 081600 PO 00000 Frm 00057 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\2000SENATE\S06AP0.REC S06AP0 mmaher on DSKCGSP4G1 with SOCIALSECURITY S2326 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE April 6, 2000 So we will be busy doing that. It will budget resolution. That section would In the Senate for fiscal year 2000, if be tough. But if we can get out of here establish a 60-vote point of order in the any Senator wishes to raise a point of tomorrow, leave the Senate and say we Senate against the use of an emergency order against emergency spending in did some good work, we have a budget designation in any spending or revenue the nondefense area, it will take 60 resolution, let’s go to conference—we legislation. votes, or that emergency spending will are pretty close with the House—then Senators will recall that last year’s be deleted from any appropriations bill the appropriators can start their work. Senate budget resolution contained a or conference report thereon. My final comments go to Senator simple majority point of order against For example, if the Senator from Ha- STEVENS. Senator STEVENS and I have any emergency designations on all dis- waii, Mr. INOUYE, has a catastrophe, if become friends. I have been here a long cretionary spending—both defense and there is an act of God that is visited time. He has been here longer. I am nondefense. But, when the budget reso- upon his State, he may be perfectly chairman of the Budget Committee; he lution last year came out of the con- justified in asking for an emergency is chairman of Appropriations. I think ference with the House, the Senate pro- appropriation to deal with that catas- neither of us thought—at least he wait- vision had been changed. The con- trophe. But in the Senate, a 60-vote ed a long time for his chairmanship. ference agreement on last year’s budg- point of order will lie against that Might I say, I believe when we are fin- et resolution did away with the simple funding for the relief of his State, and ished today everybody will be thankful majority point of order and replaced it 41 Members of the Senate can deny him he was willing to sit down with us and with a 60-day point of order on non- and deny his people relief. God forbid work this out. defense discretionary spending only! that any catastrophe should hit his I thank the distinguished majority The conferees chose to eliminate the State, or the State of the Senator from point of order for defense emergency leader for his help, Senator LOTT, and I Nevada who is sitting before me. If his thank the Senator from Texas, Mr. spending altogether. When the con- State is suddenly hit by a catastrophe ference agreement on last year’s budg- GRAMM, and all Members who have par- and they need disaster relief, 41 Mem- ticipated in getting us this far. et resolution came back to the Senate, bers, a minority in the Senate, can say There are many more amendments, there was no way to attack that par- no, and the people of Nevada would be ticular provision. Budget resolution there is no doubt about that, in the denied that relief. vote-arama and otherwise, but I think conference reports are limited as to In other words, we can send our brave we will come out with a budget resolu- time and, therefore, filibuster proof. men and women in uniform around the The Budget Act sets a time limit on tion we can confer upon that will be world, whether it be to Bosnia or to their consideration, after which a final very close. Kosovo or to Iraq or anywhere else, and I reserve the remainder of my time. vote will occur. The majority had the provide emergency funding to pay for The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. L. votes to adopt that conference agree- those operations, regardless of the ment, and did so. That is why, for fis- CHAFEE). The assistant minority lead- costs, without facing a point of order cal year 2000, we have the ridiculous er. against such spending. But when it and totally unjustifiable requirements Mr. REID. I yield to the distin- comes to helping the people at home, guished Senator from West Virginia, on emergency spending. Let me say that again, Mr. President. the constituents who send us here, Mr. BYRD, 25 minutes. When the budget resolution last year when it comes to helping them in their The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without was acted upon by the Senate, it had a dire extremities that have been objection, it is so ordered. simple majority vote point of order, brought on by an act of God, no, a Mr. BYRD. Mr. President, let me point of order can be made against that preface my remarks by saying I had but when it went to conference with the Members of the other body, it came funding, and it would take 60 votes for joined with Senator STEVENS in two back to us with a 60-vote point of those people in that disaster-stricken amendments that were at the desk ear- order. The House conferees had a voice State to get relief. lier, one dealing with section 208, and in changing that point of order by That is preeminently unfair. One can one dealing with section 210. which the Senate has had to live in the say what one wants, but that is unfair. I understand both of those have been intervening time. I cannot understand why anyone would modified. I still want to speak, how- I think our Members ought to be want to insist on a point of order that ever, to the subject matter here. In fully aware of that. It did not leave the would require 60 votes when it comes doing so, may I say I have no closer Senate floor last year with a 60-vote to helping the people who send us here, friend in this body than Senator STE- point of order. It went to the con- the people who pay the taxes. VENS. It has been that way, and it is ference with the other body, and they We should not unduly hamstring going to continue to be that way. He is helped to change the rules, if I may use spending intended to cover either de- chairman of the Appropriations Com- that term, by which we have to live. fense or nondefense emergencies. While mittee, and I think I have supported They are not bound by the 60-vote we have discretionary spending caps in him throughout all the time he has point of order, but we are. It came back the law, provisions must be made to been chairman, and he has certainly to us in the conference report which we deal with the unexpected. And we been a great supporter of mine. He is could not change. should not encumber the flexibility to the chairman; I am not. He carries We ought to be aware of those things answer those emergency needs with some responsibilities that I do not when we send these resolutions to the parliamentary devices which make re- carry at this moment. So what I have other body. I do not blame the other sponding to them difficult. to say is not to be perceived as any body. I am not criticizing them. They I should point out, Mr. President, criticism of TED STEVENS. I hope no may actually have had nothing to do that, as chairman of the Appropria- one will perceive it as that, and I hope with it, but it was changed in con- tions Committee during the time of the he will not. I merely want to speak to ference. 1990 budget summit and as a partici- the subject matter of the two sections Here is the perfectly ridiculous as- pant in that summit, I worked very we were about to strike and to say why pect of this 60-vote point of order re- hard to include the exemption for I am opposed to those two sections. I quirement under which we have to live emergency spending that is now con- want to make that case for at least my here. If your constituents suffer from tained in section 251(b)(A) of the Bal- side of the aisle, and I want to make it any of the myriad natural disasters anced Budget and Emergency Deficit for the people out there who are watch- that can occur at any time, such as Control Act. That 1990 budget summit ing. I do not bear any rancor toward droughts, floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, between the Bush administration and anyone on the other side of the aisle, earthquakes, or any other catas- Congress was necessary in order to but I think these things ought to be trophe—maybe an act of God—emer- avoid huge across-the-board sequesters said. gency spending for the relief of those of Federal spending that would have I rise, Mr. President, to speak about constituents is subject to a 60-vote otherwise occurred under Gramm-Rud- the two amendments we would have of- point of order in the Senate. The House man. Those sequesters, or automatic fered. The first of our amendments has no such supermajority point of across-the-board cuts, were in the mag- would have stricken section 208 of the order. nitude of 40 percent, and could have

VerDate Mar 15 2010 22:44 Dec 04, 2013 Jkt 081600 PO 00000 Frm 00058 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\2000SENATE\S06AP0.REC S06AP0 mmaher on DSKCGSP4G1 with SOCIALSECURITY April 6, 2000 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S2327 devastated the Nation. And so, we had should have to meet those criteria. active measures to be pursued, the funda- no choice but to reach an agreement. What I object to is the creation of a 60- mental principle of free government would In the end, after months of negotia- vote point of order against all—against be reversed. tions both here in Congress and at An- all—emergency designations in any ap- He is talking about the requirement drews Air Force Base, an agreement propriations bill, whether they meet of supermajorities now. He is saying was finally reached and subsequently the criteria or not. In other words, Sec- that the fundamental principle of free enacted by Congress and signed by tion 208 of the budget resolution would government would be reversed. It President Bush. allow any Senator to make a point of would be no longer the majority that An important feature of the 1990 order against any emergency designa- would rule. The power would be trans- budget agreement was that, for the tion, even if it met the criteria set ferred to the minority. In this in- first time, statutory caps were placed forth in section 208. That point of order stance, in this legislation, the power to on discretionary spending. As a partici- could then be waived or suspended in rule is going to be transferred to a mi- pant in those negotiations, I was inti- the Senate only by an affirmative vote nority. This is a democratic republic. A lot mately involved in the setting of those of three-fifths of the Members duly discretionary spending caps and the of people say it is a democracy. It is chosen and sworn. not a democracy. It is a republic. All other budgetary enforcement provi- In other words, a minority of 41 could sions contained in the 1990 budget sum- legislative bodies that abide by demo- thwart the efforts of Senators or a Sen- cratic principles, all republics that mit agreement. In order to agree to ator to deal with a catastrophe that those caps, I felt that it was critical abide by democratic principles, have as had stricken his State. A minority, a the basis of those principles the prin- that the Appropriations Committees be minority of 41, could thwart the effort. held ‘‘harmless’’ for economic and ciple that the majority rules. That is It takes 60 votes, a supermajority. not the case here. If Senator INOUYE’s technical miscalculations that occur in Mr. President, this onerous section each year’s budget projections. In State needs help because of a typhoon, should be stricken from the budget res- the majority won’t necessarily rule. It other words, if discretionary appropria- olution. tions were to be held to a specific won’t in the State of New Mexico. It Mr. President, Alexander Hamilton won’t in the State of Senator REID. It spending cap each year, that discre- had something to say about super- won’t in my State. A minority can tionary spending should not be auto- majorities. Let’s see what he had to rule. Forty-one votes can come be- matically cut because of technical or say about supermajorities. tween justice and the people of our economic miscalculations by either the In the Federalist No. 75, here is what States. Office of Management and Budget or Hamilton said: I am against the 60-vote point of the Congressional Budget Office. . . . all provisions which require more than order when it comes to nondefense or Another critical exception was the the majority of any body to its resolutions defense spending. That is what we were allowance of emergency spending to be have a direct tendency to embarrass the op- trying to do in the amendments that included in annual appropriations acts, erations of the government and an indirect were originally sent to the desk. without having the cost of those emer- one to subject the sense of the majority to Madison again is speaking: gencies charged against the discre- that of the minority. It would be no longer the majority that tionary spending caps. No human being That is Alexander Hamilton speak- would rule: the power would be transferred can determine what nature has in store ing. to the minority. Were the defensive privilege for the Nation in terms of natural dis- What did Madison have to say about limited to particular cases, an interested mi- asters, such as, hurricanes, tornadoes, supermajorities? In the Federalist No. nority might take advantage of it to screen drought, floods, fire, or military emer- 58, here is what James Madison said themselves from equitable sacrifices to the gencies around the world. So, we had to about supermajorities: general weal, or, in particular emergencies, to extort unreasonable indulgences. have some way to address those needs It has been said that more than a majority outside of the very stringent budgetary ought to have been required for a quorum; Madison foresaw that in situations caps that were being placed on discre- and in particular cases, if not in all, more where supermajorities were required, tionary spending. The result was the than a majority of a quorum for a decision. there could be situations in which the enactment of section 251(b)(2)(A) of the That is what we are talking about minority would extort unreasonable in- Balanced Budget and Emergency Def- here. We are talking about the need for dulgences in return for their support. icit Control Act. That Section of the more than a majority—60 votes for a So much for Hamilton and Madison Budget Act has by and large worked decision. for today. They are certainly not going well since its enactment in 1990. How- That some advantages might have resulted to be listened to, I would anticipate. Its adoption would severely curtail ever, in recent years, without going from such a precaution cannot be denied. It into detail, there have been a number might have been an additional shield to some the ability of Congress to respond to the unforeseen urgent needs of the peo- of instances where such emergency des- particular interests, and another obstacle ple of this country who have suffered ignations might not have been fully generally to hasty and partial measures. But these considerations are outweighed by the devastation caused by floods, severe justified. Therefore, I would support inconveniences in the opposite scale. In all droughts, tornadoes, hurricanes, and the inclusion in the budget resolution, cases where justice or the general good earthquakes. criteria such as those set forth in sec- might require new laws to be passed, or ac- Under section 208, a minority of just tion 208(a)(2). Those criteria read as tive measures to be pursued, the funda- 41 Senators could prevent the enact- follows: mental principle of free government would ment of the spending to address all of be reversed. (A) In general, the criteria to be considered these needs. What would happen under in determining whether a proposed expendi- That is what we are talking about this provision in the case of regional ture or tax change is an emergency require- here. Let’s read that again. Madison emergencies which may only affect one ment are: said: (i) necessary, essential, or vital (not mere- State, such as an earthquake in Cali- ly useful or beneficial); In all cases where justice— fornia or a hurricane in North Carolina (ii) sudden, quickly coming into being, and Any Senator whose State has been or floods in North Dakota, or drought not building up over time; hit by a catastrophe would feel it is conditions in Texas? Funding for disas- (iii) an urgent, pressing, and compelling only justice—only justice—that his ters such as these, which affect only need requiring immediate action; State receive some disaster relief. one area of the country, could be in These are real emergencies. Madison said: danger. If a point of order is made by (iv) subject to subparagraph (B), unfore- In all cases where justice or the general any Senator who may have his nose out seen, unpredictable, and unanticipated; and good might require new laws to be passed, or (v) not permanent, temporary in nature. of joint for some reason—he may just active measures to be pursued— (B) UNFORESEEN.—An emergency that is not want to help another Senator to part of an aggregate level of anticipated We are talking about an active meas- help his people—those emergency fund- emergencies, particularly when normally es- ure here. That is what Madison had in ing provisions for particular States or timated in advance, is not unforeseen. mind. regions would need 60 votes or funding So, Mr. President, what I object to is In all cases where justice or the general for disaster assistance would not be not that any emergency requirement good might require new laws to be passed, or forthcoming.

VerDate Mar 15 2010 22:44 Dec 04, 2013 Jkt 081600 PO 00000 Frm 00059 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\2000SENATE\S06AP0.REC S06AP0 mmaher on DSKCGSP4G1 with SOCIALSECURITY S2328 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE April 6, 2000 The PRESIDING OFFICER. The time ing to do a good job and he does a hand when it comes to dealing with that has been yielded to the Senator splendid job. But a lot of these things, emergencies. Now we are going to have from West Virginia has expired. those who are in the driver’s seat at a a supermajority thrust upon us. We Mr. REID. How much time does the particular given moment have the have been laboring under that process. minority have on this, Mr. President? votes, and those who would do other- I had hoped that we could rid ourselves The PRESIDING OFFICER. Twenty- wise, such as Senator STEVENS, in of those shackles—not for ourselves nine minutes. other cases, or Senator DOMENICI, they but for our people. Well, Mr. President, Mr. REID. I yield the Senator 9 min- have to look at the votes. the wheel goes around and some day utes. I thought we had all learned our les- perhaps we will come to our senses and Mr. BYRD. I thank the distinguished son about substituting structural de- throw off these shackles and get back minority whip. vices for human judgment with the to where we are free agents and can act This point of order is an unwise and Gramm–Rudman experience. Setting in the best interests of our constitu- cumbersome device that could prevent up procedural barricades often creates ents, without having to overcome the committee from responding to the more problems than are solved when it supermajorities such as are being im- urgent needs of our Nation. Now, why comes to funding real priorities for a posed upon us here. do we want to do that? vast and complex nation. Autopilot The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- The second amendment, which I politics amounts to an abdication of ator from Nevada is recognized. joined in offering, would have stricken our responsibility to debate and weigh Mr. STEVENS. Will the Senator from section 210 from the budget resolution. reasonable alternatives, as we are ex- Nevada yield so I may make one com- That section would reinstitute a con- pected to do and as we are elected to do ment? I will use 1 minute of my time. gressional firewall on defense and non- by the people. Mr. REID. Yes. defense discretionary spending for fis- The distinguished chairman of the The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- ator from Alaska is recognized. cal year 2001. This section of the budg- Appropriations Committee, my good Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I want et resolution would set defense spend- friend, Senator STEVENS, is one of the ing for fiscal year 2001 at $306,819,000,000 the Senator from West Virginia to most knowledgeable experts in the his- know I appreciate the restraint that he in new budget authority and tory of the Senate when it comes to $295,050,000,000 in outlays. For the non- has used in coming out on the proce- the funding needs of the Department of dure we followed. In my judgment, defense category, the cap would be set Defense. Do we have to squander his at $289.7 billion in new budget author- there was no alternative. I agree with experience and the accumulated exper- much of what the Senator from West ity and $327.5 billion in outlays. tise of the members of the Appropria- In other words, this budget resolu- Virginia has said. But the necessity for tions Committee? Here sits one on my obtaining a budget resolution soon so tion would cap defense spending at a left, Senator INOUYE. He is on the De- level that is $9 billion above what it we can get on with our business on ap- fense Appropriations Subcommittee of propriations motivated me to join with would take to maintain this year’s the Senate. level of spending adjusted for inflation. my good friend from New Mexico. I Do we have to squander their experi- think the Senator understands that But the cap for nondefense spending ence, their accumulated expertise, by would be set at a level requiring a cut. problem, and I do thank him for his re- constructing these mindless, artificial straint in commenting upon my behav- The cap for nondefense spending—hear firewalls which attempt to game the ior here today. me now—the cap for nondefense spend- funding process before it is even begun? Mr. BYRD. Mr. President, if I may ing would be set at a level requiring a Well, these sections, I assure you, my retain a minute. I wasn’t commenting cut of $19 billion in budget authority fellow Senators, will greatly increase on the behavior of my distinguished below this year’s spending level. In the difficulty faced by the Appropria- friend. I understand his situation, and I other words, section 210 of the budget tions chairman in marking up and pre- have no quarrel with him, no com- resolution now before the Senate would senting to the Senate the 13 fiscal year plaint; I only have admiration for him. take away from the Appropriations 2001 appropriations bills. The speed and I am sorry for the circumstances with Committee the ability to determine, efficiency sought by all of us to get which he has to deal. I hope those cir- through their committee markups, this essential work done will not be cumstances will change. what the appropriate levels of defense aided by these unwise and irresponsible Mr. REID. Mr. President, I have spo- spending or domestic spending should budget barnacles. Let us scrape them ken to the staff of the minority leader, be. off before they do their damage. and we are going to be here forever to- Imagine that. How silly can we get? Mr. President, how much time do I morrow if we don’t get copies of the The Appropriations Committee is being have left of my 9 minutes? amendments. Both sides should make prevented from using the judgment of The PRESIDING OFFICER. One sure that the other side has copies of its members, their expertise, to decide minute. the amendments. We are now up to 153 even the most basic levels of defense Mr. BYRD. I thank the Chair. I know amendments that will be voted on or and domestic spending for this Nation. that my remarks tonight will result in disposed of in some manner. We hope Instead, this budget resolution sets no favorable action that will override they are disposed of. So I hope the ma- that figure. I have been on the Appro- the die that has already been cast. I am jority will do everything they can to priations Committee now going on 42 confident of that. And to that extent, make sure the minority staff has cop- years. That is longer than anybody has they were remarks made in futility. ies of the amendments so we can move ever served. The budget resolution sets But for the record they were not futile. on. that figure for the Appropriations I think that we should let the people At this time, I yield 5 minutes to the Committee prior to their even having know what is being done here. The peo- Senator from New York, who has been finished their hearings. The Budget ple out there want us to use our best so instrumental in all matters before Committee will have usurped all of judgment in the Appropriations Com- the Senate during his term. those decisions with the construction mittee and to have our hands free when Mr. DOMENICI. Will the Senator of these firewalls. it comes to appropriating funds for dis- from New York yield for a unanimous I believe this is unwarranted and un- aster. We can’t foresee those. They consent request first? acceptable micromanagement on the may strike my State next. They may Mr. SCHUMER. I am happy to yield. part of some Members. I don’t blame strike the State of any Senator who Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, I ask all of the members of the Budget Com- sits within the sound of my voice; they unanimous consent that votes relative mittee. I know they have their prob- may be the next. In all my years, I to the following amendments be sched- lems. I have great respect for the chair- have never voted against a dollar for uled to occur at the expiration of time man of the Budget Committee. He has any State that has been hit with a dis- on the budget resolution, they occur in always been very fair to me. He sits on aster, and I don’t expect to ever do the sequence listed, with no second-de- the Appropriations Committee like- that. gree amendments in order, and there be wise. He knows what this does to the I don’t think we ought to be hand- 2 minutes prior to each vote for expla- Appropriations Committee. He is try- cuffed and gagged and bound foot and nation, and all votes after the first

VerDate Mar 15 2010 22:44 Dec 04, 2013 Jkt 081600 PO 00000 Frm 00060 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\2000SENATE\S06AP0.REC S06AP0 mmaher on DSKCGSP4G1 with SOCIALSECURITY April 6, 2000 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S2329 vote in the sequence be limited to 10 person would go to a gun show and be The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- minutes. The amendments are as fol- able to buy the gun in 2 hours. That is ator from New Mexico. lows: the Stevens amendment, No. 2931; 19 of every 20 purchases. And only 5 Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, how the Robb amendment, No. 2965 and, if percent take more than 1 day to com- much time do I have? not tabled, then votes in relation to plete. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Eleven the Reed of Rhode Island amendment, Now, you say, what about those 5 minutes. No. 3013; and the Coverdell amendment, percent? Why should we hold them up? Mr. DOMENICI. I yield 4 minutes to No. 3010. Well, let me tell you why, my col- the distinguished Senator from Mr. REID. We have no objection. leagues. Those 5 percent are far and Vermont. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without away the most likely Brady checks to The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- objection, it is so ordered. turn up a felon. In fact, it is 20 times ator from Vermont. Mr. DOMENICI. Therefore, several more likely that the 5 percent of the Mr. JEFFORDS. Mr. President, I votes will occur beginning at approxi- checks that take more than 1 day will thank my colleague from New Mexico, mately 8:15, is that correct? show up a felon than in the 95 percent especially for his leadership on the Mr. REID. That is right. where the check takes 3 minutes or 2 Budget Committee and for his efforts Mr. DOMENICI. This evening, in a hours. in 1997 which greatly contributed to stacked sequence, as just agreed upon The background check won’t affect the fiscal policy that has led this coun- by the Senate. gun shows more than a pittance. Nine- try from an era of deficits to an era in I yield the floor. ty-five percent of all guns will be able which we anticipate budget surpluses Mr. REID. Mr. President, I yield 5 to be purchased by people who have the for the foreseeable future. minutes to the Senator from New right to purchase those guns having He has had a challenging job crafting York, hoping that next year he will be passed the Brady check within 2 hours. budget resolutions that balance the with the majority. My colleagues, there is no reason many real and competing needs of the Mr. SCHUMER. I thank the Senator why we can’t pass the Lautenberg Nation. He has been a strong advocate from Nevada. I would love to call him amendment, as the Reed amendment for education and an even stronger ad- majority whip, a job he would perform exhorts us to do, because very simply vocate for funding IDEA. In fact, last as admirably well as he does the job it is not going to close down gun shows. year, I joined him in calling for an in- minority whip. I thank him for his Will it stop a good number of felons crease in education funding of $40 bil- friendship and leadership. I also thank from receiving guns? By all means. lion over five years. Regrettably our my friend from West Virginia. It is al- That is the purpose. I don’t think any- colleagues on the House Budget Com- ways a pleasure to sit on the floor and body in this body would challenge the mittee did not share this commitment. listen to his words and his wisdom. fact that we don’t want felons to re- This year he has, once again, taken I rise in support of the amendment of ceive guns. up the challenge of balancing the com- Senator REED, my good friend from Second, perhaps tomorrow, probably peting needs. The budget resolution Rhode Island, who has done such a fab- in the vote-arama, the Senator from Il- that he has brought before us is a prod- ulous job with his leadership on this linois and I will offer an amendment on uct of difficult negotiations between budget, on closing the gun show loop- enforcement. I know he will address competing viewpoints. hole, the Lautenberg amendment, that at great length. But that amend- Because of my deep respect for him, I which passed this body a while back. I ment does just what many who dis- do not come to the floor with an will address one point. My colleagues agree with us on gun control have amendment lightly. I come to the floor laid out very well the many reasons to asked us to do. They said: Why don’t with an amendment only because of my be for the Reed amendment. I want to we enforce the present law? conviction that there is a Federal obli- add an additional reason. The fact is, that every time we try to gation that must now be met in full. The only argument that we have increase enforcement by adding ATF This amendment, which I will offer heard from the National Rifle Associa- agents and giving those agents more tomorrow, has been cosponsored by tion, and others, against closing the authority, we have been opposed by the Senators DODD, STEVENS, KENNEDY, gun show loophole is that allowing for very people who are asking us for en- COLLINS, FEINGOLD, SNOWE, CHAFEE, a 3-day waiting period would effec- forcement. HARKIN, LEAHY, KOHL, and MIKULSKI, tively shut down gun shows because But there is real hope. Something among others. they are weekend operations. They called Project Exile, supported by the I will begin my remarks with a ques- argue if somebody bought a gun on NRA and by CHUCK SCHUMER, has now tion to which I will time and time Saturday morning and it took 72 hours sprung up and has done well in three again return. In 1974 we made a com- to check, by then it would be Tuesday cities, including Rochester in my mitment to fully fund IDEA. If 25 years morning and the gun show, which pre- State. later we cannot meet this commitment dominates on the weekend—something Last year on this floor, when we de- in an era of unprecedented economic that I stipulate is true—would be bated the budget, we added some $50 prosperity and budgetary surpluses, closed. million to Project Exile. And now four when do we plan to keep this pledge. Fortunately, one of our colleagues— cities in my State of New York—Buf- The American people have a right to somebody with whom I disagree, Sen- falo, Rochester, Syracuse, and Albany ask us—If not now, then when? ator CRAIG THOMAS of Wyoming—asked —will get the advantage of Project In the early years, when we were run- the GAO to do a report on purchases at Exile. ning large budget deficits, it was un- gun shows. This is what the report The NRA and gun control advocates derstandable that we couldn’t meet said, and I urge my colleagues to read such as myself have agreed on this those commitments. it. It didn’t get much publicity, but I issue. Perhaps we can agree on more. I During those same years this body, think it is dispositive in this debate. hope we will get universal support for by almost unanimous votes, voted—99 The report debunks the myth that the the Durbin-Schumer amendment. Members sometimes—that ‘‘when fea- 3-day waiting period will shut down Getting back to the other Reed sible’’ we would fully fund our commit- gun shows. This is what the report amendment, I hope my colleagues will ment to our States and our school dis- showed, colleagues, and I hope people listen to the facts that I gave out. If we tricts. That time has come. We now will listen because I think it is impor- would agree to the Reed amendment, have large surpluses with more than tant: ‘‘Seventy-eight percent of all the we would ratify the Lautenberg amend- enough resources to meet our commit- instant checks are completed within 3 ment as passed out in the conference, ment now and well into the future. minutes.’’ That means 78 percent of and we would move forward on an issue I have behind me a chart which com- those guns checked at gun shows—be- that is so vital for the safety of Ameri- pares the funding levels in my amend- cause we believe they would be no dif- cans and for the future of our country. ment with the funding levels in this ferent than others—would be purchas- Mr. President, I thank the Senator budget resolution and with the levels able within 3 minutes. And 95 percent from Nevada for his generosity. that will be required to fully fund are completed within 2 hours. So the I yield the floor. IDEA. This shows where full funding is.

VerDate Mar 15 2010 22:44 Dec 04, 2013 Jkt 081600 PO 00000 Frm 00061 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\2000SENATE\S06AP0.REC S06AP0 mmaher on DSKCGSP4G1 with SOCIALSECURITY S2330 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE April 6, 2000 This shows the bipartisan amendment I anything else we can do. Our amend- Federal government will never fund will be offering and how it will take us ment will triple what they presently more than about 20% of the costs of to full funding. And this is where we receive. We promised. We should de- educating disabled students. One half will be if we do nothing but live within liver it. The time to make good on this of what we have promised over and this budget that is before us. Make no promise is now. over again. mistake. The budget resolution before Now some of you may think that be- If our amendment fails, adoption of us does not fully fund IDEA. Despite cause you were not here in 1975 that this budget resolution will state clear- the repeated pledges we have made to you were not party to a pledge to fully ly to the Nation that this Congress fully fund IDEA, this budget resolution fund IDEA. does not intend to fulfill its commit- sends a clear message that this body In 1997 Congress once again took up ment any time in the next five years. has no intention of fulfilling this com- this landmark legislation. This is a Our amendment is simple. It provides mitment anytime in the next five complex bill that has profound impact a path by which we will achieve full years. on classrooms across the Nation. With funding for IDEA in fiscal year 2005. It I was one of the few, now in this the strong leadership of Senator LOTT, sends a clear message to the Nation body, that were present at the time Senator FRIST, Senator GREGG, Sen- that we, as a body, make good on the that P.L. 94–142, The Education of all ator KENNEDY, Senator DODD, Senator commitments we make. Handicapped Act was passed. As a HARKIN, Senator COLLINS and others on I want to tell you that I am tired of freshman Member of Congress, I was my Committee, we passed the first re- being party to promises that this body proud to sponsor that legislation and authorization of IDEA in 22 years. It is hasn’t kept. The time is now. to be named as a member of the House an accomplishment that we are all I urge you to ask your people back in and Senate conference committee very proud of. your state. Ask parents, teachers, and education administrators. Ask your along with then Vermont Senator Bob At that time, we reaffirmed our com- governors. ‘‘What would you prefer— Stafford. mitment to pay 40% of the costs of edu- At that time, despite a clear Con- cating these children. We made this the possibility of a future tax cut, or stitutional obligation to educate all pledge to families, to school boards, fully funding IDEA so you can have children, regardless of disability, thou- and to the Governors of our States. more money for education, and pay less property taxes?’’ sands of disabled students were denied Over the past three years, with the Fulfill the pledge that you made to access to a public education. Passage of leadership of my colleague from New your people. I tell you that if you want Hampshire, Senator GREGG, we have the Education of All Handicapped Act a hero’s welcome, you will vote in made some progress. offered financial incentives to states to favor of this. If it wins, let me tell you But as he has pointed out several fulfill this existing obligation. Recog- that they will be out on the streets times over the past year, we are only nizing that the costs associated with marching to meet you when you come supporting 13 percent of these costs. In educating these children was more home. If you do not, I wouldn’t want to 1975, we made a pledge which we did than many school districts could bear go home. alone, we pledged to pay 40% of the not keep. In 1997 we made that same Tomorrow morning I will have a costs of educating these students. pledge once again when we reauthor- chance to drive this point home once We pledged to pay 40% of these costs ized IDEA. again. Tonight I want to close by but we never have. We have continu- I say to my colleagues on both sides thanking my cosponsors for their stal- ously claimed that we couldn’t afford of the aisle; If not now, then When? wart commitment to fully funding In the 105th Congress we felt it im- to. We started in 1976 with 12.5%. Then IDEA. Senator STEVENS, Chairman of we slipped to 6%. Those were tough portant to reaffirm our commitment to the Appropriations, has been a strong full funding for IDEA. We added lan- budget deficit times. Lately we have advocate for IDEA. Senator FEINGOLD come up to 13 percent—still less than 1⁄3 guage to the FY 1999 Budget that stat- has worked closely with me on this of our pledge. ed that IDEA should be fully funded as amendment and has been instrumental Today, however, instead of making soon as feasible. This language was to getting us to the place we are today. adopted unanimously by the Senate. At good on our promise now, those who Senator COLLINS has worked long and object to my amendment cry, that that time, we still faced budget deficits hard to persuade members of this body would be mandatory spending—that’s and it was argued that full funding was that we should fully fund IDEA. I also not feasible. Today, however, in an era bad. How can it be bad policy to fund want to thank Senators DODD and KEN- of unprecedented economic prosperity this vital program that we have guar- NEDY and HARKIN with whom I have anteed to fully fund—over and over and with budget surpluses projected far worked for many many years to im- again? It is now feasible. It is now into the future, full funding is within prove educational opportunities for painlessly possible and it must be done. our grasp. disabled students. Similarly, I am We must pay our share of educating If not now, then when? grateful for the efforts of Senator In the 106th Congress we continued to children with disabilities. No more ex- SNOWE and Senator CHAFEE. I feel con- press for full funding for IDEA. The FY cuses. The time is now. fident that with their efforts, our 2000 budget resolution made room for I know that there is some disagree- amendment will prevail. ment about whether or not a commit- about a $500,000,000 increase in funding Thank you. ment was made. I want to tell you as for IDEA. Once again, the Senate Mr. REID. Mr. President, I yield to someone that was there at the time adopted language that I advocated with the Senator from New Jersey 5 that we made a pledge to fully fund Senator GREGG calling for full funding minutes. this program. of IDEA as soon as feasible. The House The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- The time is now. of Representatives adopted a bipartisan ator from New Jersey. I didn’t have to ask my constituents free standing resolution that called for Mr. TORRICELLI. Mr. President, I in Vermont whether the Federal gov- full funding. thank Senator REID of Nevada for giv- ernment made a commitment. I will The budget resolution that is before ing me the time earlier in the debate. show you what I got when I was home. us assumes that funding for IDEA will My colleague from North Carolina, This is a petition from every school increase by $1 billion in FY 2001 and Mr. EDWARDS, rose to remind our col- district in the State of Vermont that $2.5 billion in FY 2002. If there is time leagues that while the flooding earlier says: Do what you promised to do; fund remaining, I will take time later on to in the year may be over and not in the IDEA; fund special education. The discuss my concerns about whether headlines of our newspapers, Hurricane chart behind me shows you what those these assumptions require cuts in other Floyd is still a reality for many com- petitions look like. programs that we will not have the will munities around our country. Vermonters know that we made that to make at the end of the day. What is Towns such as Bound Brook, NJ— commitment. Passing this amendment very clear, however, is that this budget and, as indeed Mr. EDWARDS pointed will do more to help our school dis- resolution does not claim to fulfill our out, Princeville, NC—Florida to Maine, tricts meet their obligation to improve obligation to fully fund IDEA. The Hurricane Floyd left a path of destruc- education in this country than nearly budget resolution assumes that the tion so large that FEMA declared it to

VerDate Mar 15 2010 22:44 Dec 04, 2013 Jkt 081600 PO 00000 Frm 00062 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\2000SENATE\S06AP0.REC S06AP0 mmaher on DSKCGSP4G1 with SOCIALSECURITY April 6, 2000 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S2331 be the eighth worst disaster of the dec- live in trailers that have been provided have been completely wiped out, with ade. In New Jersey by comparison, it by FEMA. We have many other people the help they so desperately need. was worse: who are living with families and They are not asking for a handout. Two-hundred and fifty-three munici- friends. We have roads and bridges that They are asking us to do what any re- palities in New Jersey, the populations were washed out by the flood that are sponsible Federal Government would of 4.2 million people, were stricken. still not repaired. We have, literally, do under these circumstances, which is More than 43,000 structures, includ- towns that have been wiped out, places to provide them with the resources to ing homes, schools, and businesses, suf- such as Princeville, Tarboro, all small- put themselves back on their feet. fered severe damage. er towns in eastern North Carolina, The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Over 20,000 residents of New Jersey that were devastated. Chair recognizes the Senator from New alone applied for Federal assistance, The people whose lives have been de- Mexico. and municipalities submitted over 2,000 stroyed in North Carolina as a result of Mr. REID. I yield 1 minute to the requests for public assistance to re- Hurricane Floyd are completely inno- Senator from Maine. move debris or to repair damages. cent. They are people who for genera- Mr. DOMENICI. I yield 2 minutes. While FEMA has led an effort of pro- tions have been law-abiding, taxpaying The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- viding assistance to homeowners, the citizens, and for the first time in their ator from Maine. greatest problem is how to rebuild lives, instead of writing tax checks to Ms. COLLINS. I thank the chairman their own economic infrastructure. go to Washington, they are asking for of the Budget Committee. He has done Bound Brook, NJ, alone, a commu- something in return. If our Govern- a terrific job. I thank Senator REID as nity that was entirely inundated by ment cannot respond to a crisis such as well for yielding me time so I can dis- this flooding, lost 7 percent of its an- Hurricane Floyd, we serve absolutely cuss this very important matter. nual revenue and 37 percent of its prop- no purpose. I am very pleased to be a cosponsor erty value. A month after Floyd, the Our people in North Carolina are of Senator JEFFORDS’ amendment to fi- New Jersey government appropriated hurting and they need help. This nally start on the path toward paying $80 million for disaster relief. amendment provides for $250 million the share of special education costs The reality is that the magnitude of for those programs that would best ad- that the Federal Government promised the loss is so overwhelming that, with- dress the needs of the people in 13 to pay when the legislation was passed out Federal aid, these communities States, not only North Carolina, that 25 years ago. will not simply suffer—some will actu- were devastated by Hurricane Floyd. During the last recess of the Senate, ally cease to exist. These are the components. First, $50 I met with more than 70 superintend- Main Streets were inundated, busi- million for economic development. ents and principals from northern and nesses lost, local governments lost rev- These communities that have been de- eastern Maine to discuss education enues. stroyed need long-term relief plans, issues. Originally, my thought was to They will close their doors and no and they need the resources to develop discuss the reauthorization of the Ele- longer be the communities where peo- and implement those plans. Places mentary and Secondary Education Act, ple live and work. such as Princeville and Tarboro that but the No. 1 issue on their minds was The amendment I have offered with were literally completely wiped out by the escalating costs of meeting the Mr. EDWARDS provides needed resources the hurricane have lost wastewater needs of children with special needs, by increasing funding for communities treatment plants, plants that have to the costs of special education. in a regional development by $250 mil- be replaced. We have to provide the re- If the U.S. Government kept the lion. It includes $150 million for com- sources for that. promise it made back in 1975, it would munity development block grants; $50 There is $150 million in community mean an additional $60 million to the million for the EDA; $50 million for block grants. North Carolina has immi- schools in the State of Maine. That is community facilities block grants. nent emergency housing needs. Our money that would free up other money This, my colleagues, is not an un- State has responded by providing mil- so that schools could meet their own usual approach. In 1997 the supple- lions and millions and millions of dol- needs—whether this is hiring more mental disaster bill provided flood aid lars in State money to help with these teachers, improving their libraries, up- for the upper Midwest of $500 million needs. These are people who were in grading their science labs or providing for communities in desperate need in rental housing who have no place to special professional development— North and South Dakota and live now. That rental housing will whatever the need of that particular Minnesota. never be replaced if we do not provide school and that particular community. In 1998, the disaster supplemental bill the resources to do it. It is going to If we take this step of starting to provided $250 million for community leave literally thousands of North meet our obligations under the special development block grants in Alabama, Carolinians with no place to live, with- education law, it will make a tremen- Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, Puerto out a home—families totally wiped out. dous difference not only to the schools Rico, and the Virgin Islands as they re- Finally, there is $50 million for com- in Maine but to schools throughout our covered from Hurricane George. munity facilities in a grant program country. The Jeffords-Collins amend- Now we return to those States dam- which is specifically designed to ad- ment would mean an additional $155 aged from Florida to Maine, particu- dress the needs of individual commu- million to the schools of Maine over larly in North Carolina, Delaware, nities. For example, Princeville lost its the next 5 years. Maryland, New York, and New Jersey. fire station; the town of Windsor lost I am very pleased to be an original Hurricane Floyd destroyed many of our its library. These are things that need cosponsor. This has been one of my pri- communities. We need this Congress to to be replaced, and these folks need orities since my election to the Senate. respond again. help. I know it is the No. 1 priority of the Tomorrow this amendment will be of- My people in North Carolina do not school districts in the State of Maine. fered. I hope in this budget resolution ask this Senate for a handout. They I thank my colleagues for making we can make room for this $250 million are doing everything they know how to the time available to me. If I have ad- to respond to the need of these commu- do. The people of North Carolina have ditional time, I yield it back to the nities. responded heroically to this tragedy. chairman of the Budget Committee. I I thank the Senator from Nevada for The State of North Carolina has re- yield the floor. yielding and I yield the floor. sponded by providing hundreds of mil- The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Mr. EDWARDS. Mr. President, I lions of dollars—unprecedented in the ENZI). The Senator from Alaska. would like to discuss very briefly the history of this country. All they are AMENDMENTS NOS. 2932 AND 3009 WITHDRAWN Torricelli-Edwards amendment on hur- saying now is that it is time for the Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I wish ricane relief. First of all, let me say Federal Government in Washington to to use the remaining time to withdraw what is happening in North Carolina, 7 respond in a responsible way, and to amendment 2932 and amendment 3009. I months after the hurricane hit. We provide these folks whose lives have ask unanimous consent they be with- still have more than 8,000 people who been devastated, whose communities drawn.

VerDate Mar 15 2010 22:44 Dec 04, 2013 Jkt 081600 PO 00000 Frm 00063 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\2000SENATE\S06AP0.REC S06AP0 mmaher on DSKCGSP4G1 with SOCIALSECURITY S2332 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE April 6, 2000 The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without shot, dragging himself out of a window, out of 80,000. What it tells us is the objection, it is so ordered. trying to escape the shooting taking overwhelming percentage of gun deal- The amendments (Nos. 2932 and 3009) place. ers across America are obeying the were withdrawn. America was stunned. Colorado was law. But there are bad people out there Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I stunned. This Congress was stunned. who are licensed gun dealers who are thank those who listened regarding the We responded by passing legislation, breaking the law and giving guns to appropriations process and the actions with the help of Vice President GORE, criminals who commit crimes with we have taken to try to assure we will which did three things to try to reduce those guns and harass us in our neigh- have the ability to meet the needs of gun violence in America. borhoods and our schools. My amend- the Nation. It is a very trying process. First, a background check at gun ment creates more enforcement au- I think the compromise we have shows so that the people who buy guns thority to keep those gun dealers from worked out will be enough for us to do at those shows would be subject to the breaking the law. our work. I am indebted to the chair- same questions and inquiries as those Next, more prosecutors. It is not man of the Budget Committee and all who go to gun dealers. We don’t want enough to arrest somebody. You need a who have worked on this matter. to sell guns to criminals. We don’t prosecuting attorney at the State, Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, I have want to sell them to kids. We certainly local, or Federal level, who is going to two observations. don’t want to see gun shows as a loop- put that person behind bars. I say to I wish Senator BYRD were on the hole for selling guns to those who the National Rifle Association and all floor. He spoke about the 60-vote point shouldn’t own them. the people who speak for them, if we of order in terms of history, and what Second, trigger locks so if guns are are going to have enforcement, vote for great Americans have said about super- going to be stored they are stored safe- the Durbin amendment so you have the majority being applicable in the year ly and securely so a young child can’t resources at ATF and across the Na- we are in, and the 60-vote point of pick it up and hurt himself or others. tion to make sure gun laws are en- order on emergencies. We have passed Third, the prohibition against those forced. very large emergency appropriations high capacity ammo clips that were It is a complementary approach: for agriculture. In fact, I think it being brought in from overseas that Close the loopholes, increase the en- might have been as much as $8 billion. turn an ordinary gun into a dangerous, forcement, and let us hope in the near Nobody raised a point of order. There murderous weapon. Three very sensible term, in the near future, we can say was no point of order voted upon. changes for gun safety in America. It this Congress responded in a way that We had hurricane assistance; we had only passed because Vice President answers to American families that we Y2K emergency assistance, all of which GORE showed up on the floor to break heard the cries of the parents and the fell within the purview of meeting 60 the tie. But we thought the Congress families at Columbine and we re- votes. Nobody raised it. Had they had learned a lesson from Columbine, sponded to them. We should not leave raised it, it would have gotten 60 votes. not just for the Members of Congress ourselves in a position where we back I don’t believe what is being pre- and families across America, but for off from our responsibility because of dicted will happen. I believe when the students who go to school across any special interest group. there are real emergencies, they will America and want to be in safe build- I yield the floor. get adopted on the floor of the Senate ings. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The time and nobody will even raise that 60 That bill passed the Senate, and it has expired. votes. If they do, they will get 60 votes. has been sitting over in the House of Mr. STEVENS. How much time do we My last observation is we have lots of Representatives in a conference com- have remaining? 60 vote points of order in the Budget mittee that refuses to call it for con- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- Act, some of which the distinguished sideration. My colleague, Senator JACK ator from Alaska has 1 minute. The Senator from West Virginia has sup- REED of Rhode Island, believes that on Senator from New Mexico has 3 min- ported in the past. We entered into a 5- the anniversary of Columbine we owe utes. The Senator from Nevada has 2 year agreement with the President, bi- it, not only to the families in Colorado minutes. partisan, both Houses, with a firewall but across the Nation, to consider this Mr. DOMENICI. I yield my time. Mr. REID. I yield the time of the mi- on defense for the first 3 of the 5 years. important legislation. I support him nority. We lived with it in exactly the way completely. Close the loopholes, keep that has served the distinguished Sen- guns out of the hands of criminals and VOTE ON AMENDMENT NO. 2931, AS MODIFIED ator tonight. But it succeeded. The cap kids. Mr. STEVENS. I yield back my time on defense was high enough for defense, Second, tomorrow I will be offering and ask for a vote on my amendment. The PRESIDING OFFICER. All time and none of the defense was used for an amendment which addresses the gun issue from a different perspective. has been yielded back. domestic for the first 3 years of the The question is on agreeing to There are some who say: Oh, you don’t agreement to balance the budget. amendment No. 2931, as modified. need to close the loopholes. I disagree I think it will work again, especially The amendment (No. 2931), as modi- with them. I think we need to close with the modifications we have added fied, was agreed to. tonight. them. They say, instead, we need more Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, I I yield whatever time I had remain- enforcement. Let’s have people who are move to reconsider the vote. ing. going to investigate and prosecute gun Mr. STEVENS. I move to lay that Mr. REID. I miscalculated the time criminals. Put them in jail. motion on the table. when I spoke earlier, and I still have 7 Do you know what? I agree with The motion to lay on the table was minutes. I yield 5 minutes to Senator them. But I think we need both. Close agreed to. DURBIN on the Reed amendment. the loopholes and make sure we have AMENDMENT NO. 2965 Mr. DOMENICI. I reserve the remain- the resources for enforcement of gun Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, par- der of my time. laws. The amendment I will offer to- liamentary inquiry. Is it not correct The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- morrow, with Senator SCHUMER of New that the Robb amendment, No. 2965, is ator from Illinois. York, my seatmate here on the floor of now pending for a vote? Mr. DURBIN. I thank the Senator the Senate, provides the President’s The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- from Nevada. April 20, 1999, is a day we initiative: 500 new ATF investigators ator is correct. will remember for a long time in Amer- to look after the gun dealers across Mr. DOMENICI. There are 2 minutes? ica. That was the day of the Columbine America, to make certain they are not I waive my minute if the minority will High School shooting. Remember when selling guns to the wrong people. waive its minute. you first heard about it? You remem- Are they? You bet they are. Out of Mr. REID. We waive our minute. ber the first time you saw the scenes 80,000 gun dealers across America, we Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, I on television, with the high school kids have traced gun crimes and found that move to table the Robb amendment. running away from the school? There the guns for 57 percent of the criminals Mr. President, I ask for the yeas and was one poor young man who had been in America come from 1,000 gun dealers nays.

VerDate Mar 15 2010 22:44 Dec 04, 2013 Jkt 081600 PO 00000 Frm 00064 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\2000SENATE\S06AP0.REC S06AP0 mmaher on DSKCGSP4G1 with SOCIALSECURITY April 6, 2000 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S2333 The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there a what the amendments are, in that brief minutes instead of having 1 or 2 per- sufficient second? period of time, there be 2 minutes sons cause the other 98 to be here? There is a sufficient second. equally divided prior to each vote for Mr. LOTT. We can do that. It re- The question is on agreeing to the explanation, and all votes in the vote- quires that Senators stay here and that motion to table amendment No. 2965. arama be limited to 10 minutes each we stay attentive and say ‘‘turn it in.’’ The clerk will call the roll. after the first vote. We are trying to be considerate of both The legislative clerk called the roll. Mr. DASCHLE. Reserving the right sides. Obviously, we need to stop. If we The PRESIDING OFFICER. Are there to object, I just suggest that we also get unanimous consent for it to be 10 any other Senators in the Chamber ensure that either side has at least a minutes, we will stop it. I amend the who desire to vote? block of five amendments that are UC so that we may have 2 minutes Mr. NICKLES. I announce that the going to be offered so we can look at equally divided on each amendment Senator from Alabama (Mr. SESSIONS) them ahead of time. Nobody knows, on and that this vote and the next vote be is necessarily absent. either side, what the amendments are. 10 minutes each. The result was announced, yeas 54, If we can at least take them five by The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there nays 45, as follows: five, we can analyze them and decide objection? [Rollcall Vote No. 62 Leg.] whether we will table them, second de- Without objection, it is so ordered. YEAS—54 gree them, or whatever. I think it is Mr. LOTT. With that, I yield the floor. Abraham Fitzgerald McCain very important to do that. I suggest Allard Frist McConnell that as well. AMENDMENT NO. 2913 Ashcroft Gorton Murkowski Mr. LOTT. I think that is obviously a (Purpose: To express the sense of Senate Bennett Gramm Nickles good suggestion. Let me add to this, if against the Federal funding of smoke shops) Bond Grams Roberts Brownback Grassley Roth I could, Mr. President, that we are Mr. BOND. Mr. President, I send an Bunning Gregg Santorum going to go forward with two more amendment to the desk and ask for its Burns Hagel Shelby amendments tonight, one on each immediate consideration. Campbell Hatch Smith (NH) side—the Bond amendment on our side Chafee, L. Helms Smith (OR) The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Cochran Hutchinson Snowe and the Reed amendment on their side. clerk will report. Collins Hutchison Specter After that, we are going to stop for to- The legislative clerk read as follows: Coverdell Inhofe Stevens night because we still have a large The Senator from Missouri [Mr. BOND] pro- Craig Jeffords Thomas Crapo Kyl Thompson number of amendments that have not poses an amendment numbered 2913. DeWine Lott Thurmond been able to be worked through. I am Mr. BOND. Mr. President, I ask unan- Domenici Lugar Voinovich going to ask the managers on both imous consent that reading of the Enzi Mack Warner sides to get all these amendments lined amendment be dispensed with. NAYS—45 up and to get the first five on each side The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without Akaka Edwards Levin ready for in the morning so we won’t objection, it is so ordered. Baucus Feingold Lieberman have to wait until we come in. Also, we The amendment is as follows: Bayh Feinstein Lincoln will come in at 9 o’clock so we can get At the end of title III, add the following: Biden Graham Mikulski Bingaman Harkin Moynihan an early as possible start. Some would SEC. ll. SENSE OF THE SENATE AGAINST FED- Boxer Hollings Murray like to be able to go home or do com- ERAL FUNDING OF SMOKE SHOPS. Breaux Inouye Reed mitments as early as possible. But as it (a) FINDINGS.—The Senate makes the fol- Bryan Johnson Reid now stands, because of the number of lowing findings: Byrd Kennedy Robb (1) Smoking begun by children during their Cleland Kerrey Rockefeller amendments and the fact that we teen years and even earlier turns the lives of Conrad Kerry Sarbanes haven’t had an opportunity to line up far too many Americans into nightmares Daschle Kohl Schumer all the amendments in order, the man- Dodd Landrieu Torricelli decades later, plagued by disease and pre- Dorgan Lautenberg Wellstone agers requested we do it this way. mature death. Durbin Leahy Wyden I emphasize that as soon as we finish (2) The Federal Government should leave a legacy of more healthy Americans and fewer NOT VOTING—1 the votes on amendments that are of- fered, and a vote is required, when we victims of tobacco-related illness. Sessions finish those, we will be through. So you (3) Efforts by the Federal Government should seek to protect young people from the The motion was agreed to. may want to take that into consider- Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I move to dangers of smoking. ation as to whether or not you insist (4) Discount tobacco stores, sometimes reconsider the vote and move to lay on your amendment tomorrow. We can known as smoke shops, operate to sell high that motion on the table. finish at 10 or 11 o’clock, or 12, but we volumes of cigarettes and other tobacco The motion to lay on the table was need to go ahead and complete that. products, often at significantly reduced agreed to. Having said that, I am looking that prices, with each tobacco outlet often selling Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, that was a way, but I could more easily be looking millions of discount cigarettes each year. 35-minute vote. I apologize for letting our way. A lot of amendments are still (5) Studies by the Surgeon General and the it go on that long. You can see how pending on both sides that really could Centers for Disease Control and Prevention hard it is going to be to get through a demonstrate that children are particularly be handled in some other way. I hope susceptible to price differentials in ciga- vote-arama if we do that. Our plan now Senators will consider doing that. I rettes, such as those available through is to have two more votes tonight. If thank the managers for the time they smoke shop discounts. Senators would stay in the Chamber or spent and the cooperation we have been (6) The Department of Housing and Urban close to the Chamber, we could do getting from Senator DASCHLE and Development is using Federal funds for those votes in no more than 15 or 20 Senator REID doing his usual good job. grants to construct not less than 6 smoke minutes. Maybe we could cut the sec- But our managers need this time to- shops or facilities that contain a smoke ond one down to 10. That would cer- night and early in the morning to start shop. tainly help. (b) SENSE OF THE SENATE.—It is the sense getting amendments racked up so we of the Senate that the budget levels in this We are now ready to go into the pe- can vote on the first five. resolution assume that no Federal funds may riod for the votes on the number of Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, I won- be used by the Department of Housing and amendments that are pending, the so- der if the majority leader might enter- Urban Development to provide any grant or called vote-arama. tain having a 10-minute vote on the other assistance to construct, operate, or Having said that, any Senator who first vote now. We have all come to otherwise benefit a smoke shop or other to- has timely filed their amendment at vote. It seems we can accelerate that bacco outlet. the desk can call it up for Senate con- process. Mr. BOND. Mr. President, this sideration. However, there is no allot- Mr. LOTT. I will accept that sugges- amendment simply says the Depart- ted time for debate. tion. ment of HUD should stop using com- Therefore, I ask unanimous consent Mr. LAUTENBERG. Mr. President, I munity development block grant funds that, as we did last year, in a way that would like to ask this. Can’t we limit to build discount cigarette stores I think is the fairest to try to explain the clock and keep the promise to 10 known as smoke shops.

VerDate Mar 15 2010 22:44 Dec 04, 2013 Jkt 081600 PO 00000 Frm 00065 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\2000SENATE\S06AP0.REC S06AP0 mmaher on DSKCGSP4G1 with SOCIALSECURITY S2334 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE April 6, 2000 A year ago, a doctor called up and of some in this chamber, many Indian Thomas Thurmond Voinovich said there was a new discount smoke tribes rely on selling tobacco, which is Thompson Torricelli Wyden shop in his neighborhood and it was a legal commodity, to generate reve- The motion was rejected. funded by Federal dollars. I didn’t nues. The question is on agreeing to the know what the sign said, so I sent staff The targeted nature of this resolu- amendment. out. Here it is: Smoke Shop, Discount tion as well as the economic hardships The amendment (No. 2913) was agreed Tobacco. Our policy is supposed to dis- created by it led me to support the to. Mr. BOND. I move to reconsider the courage cigarette smoking. Inside, we Vice Chairman of the Committee on In- vote. found wall-to-wall cigarettes, 25 per- dian Affairs, Senator INOUYE, and his Mr. STEVENS. I move to lay that cent or more off. These are your tax Motion to Table the Bond Amendment. motion on the table. dollars at work. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The The motion to lay on the table was Instead of funding what we could question is on agreeing to amendment agreed to. have funded, $4.2 million went to six of No. 2913. AMENDMENT NO. 2964 these in the last 3 years—instead of Mr. INOUYE. Mr. President, I move (Purpose: To express the sense of the Senate building a water tower or elders’ to table the amendment and ask for regarding the need to reduce gun violence wellness centers. the yeas and nays. in America) I wrote to HUD and said stop funding The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there a Mr. REED. Mr. President, I call up them. The letter I got back from the sufficient second? amendment No. 2964. assistant said: You haven’t proven that There is a sufficient second. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The discount cigarettes encourage smok- The question is on agreeing to clerk will report. ing. Well, it is about time we taught amendment No. 2913. The legislative clerk read as follows: HUD some common sense. The Sec- Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I suggest The Senator from Rhode Island (Mr. REED), retary of Housing now says: If you tell the absence of a quorum. for himself, Mr. DASCHLE, Mrs. FEINSTEIN, me to stop funding it, if you stop me Mr. LEAHY, Mr. LAUTENBERG, Mr. SCHUMER, The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Mr. DURBIN, Mrs. MURRAY, Mr. KOHL, Mr. from funding them, I will stop. clerk will call the roll. I urge colleagues to vote aye. TORRICELLI, Mr. LEVIN, Mrs. BOXER, Mr. The legislative clerk proceeded to ROBB, Mr. KENNEDY, Mr. BIDEN, Mr. BYRD, Mr. INOUYE. Mr. President, I am call the roll. Mr. KERRY, Mr. REID, Mr. INOUYE, Mr. against smoking, but this amendment Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I ask unan- BRYAN, Mr. HARKIN, Mr. WYDEN, Ms. MIKUL- picks on Indians. Why don’t we include imous consent that the order for the SKI, and Mr. L. CHAFEE, proposes an amend- all discount tobacco stores? Why don’t quorum call be rescinded. ment numbered 2964. we include Wal-Mart, Kmart, and all The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without Mr. REED. I ask unanimous consent these places that sell discount tobacco? objection, it is so ordered. reading of the amendment be dispensed Why just pick on Indians? Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I ask that with. Mr. BOND. Mr. President, the amend- The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without we proceed to the vote. ment says we should not fund any dis- objection, it is so ordered. count smoke shops. It doesn’t say The PRESIDING OFFICER. The The amendment is as follows: question is on agreeing to the motion Indians. At the end of title III, insert the following: to table amendment No. 2913. The yeas Mr. INOUYE. The Senator’s sense of SEC. ll. SENSE OF THE SENATE REGARDING the Senate mentions Indians, Indian and nays have been ordered. The clerk THE NEED TO REDUCE GUN VIO- smoke shops. will call the roll on the motion to LENCE IN AMERICA. table. (a) FINDINGS.—The Senate finds the fol- Mr. BOND. It does not. lowing: Mr. INOUYE. Mr. President, I am The assistant legislative clerk called the roll. (1) On average, 12 children die from gun against this sense-of-the-Senate resolu- fire everyday in America. tion, and I hope we will vote it down. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Are there (2) On May 20, 1999, the Senate passed the Mr. CAMPBELL. Mr. President, in any other Senators in the Chamber de- Violent and Repeat Offender Accountability 1997 this body considered wide-sweep- siring to vote? and Rehabilitation Act, by a vote of 73 to 25, ing tobacco legislation and the Indian The result was announced—yeas 19, in part, to stem gun-related violence in the Affairs Committee held several hear- nays 81, as follows: United States. (b) SENSE OF THE SENATE.—It is the sense ings on the issue and in fact reported a [Rollcall Vote No. 63 Leg.] of the Senate that the levels in function 750 bill to reduce smoking in Native com- YEAS—19 of this resolution assume that Congress munities. Akaka Hollings Robb should— The rate of smoking in Native com- Biden Inouye Rockefeller (1) pass the conference report to accom- munities is the highest in the country Campbell Levin Stevens pany H.R. 1501, the Violent and Repeat Juve- and Natives suffer emphysema, lung Cleland Moynihan Warner nile Offender Accountability and Rehabilita- Daschle Murkowski Wellstone tion Act, including Senate-passed provisions, cancer, and related problems as a re- Edwards Murray with the purpose of limiting access to fire- sult of that smoking. Helms Reid The resolution we are now consid- arms by juveniles, convicted felons, and NAYS—81 other persons prohibited by law from pur- ering would as a practical matter apply Abraham Durbin Lautenberg chasing or possessing firearms; and to smoke-shops that offer ‘‘discount to- Allard Enzi Leahy (2) consider H.R. 1501 not later than April bacco’’ products without defining that Ashcroft Feingold Lieberman 20, 2000. term. Baucus Feinstein Lincoln Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. President, sev- There are ‘‘discount cigarette’’ stores Bayh Fitzgerald Lott Bennett Frist eral weeks ago, the Treasury Depart- right across the river in Virginia, there Lugar ment and HUD made a significant an- Bingaman Gorton Mack are ‘‘discount tobacco’’ outlets in air- Bond Graham McCain nouncement on Smith and Wesson’s Boxer Gramm ports around the country, and there are McConnell willingness to make guns safer and Breaux Grams Mikulski ‘‘discount stores’’ on Indian lands. Brownback Grassley keep them out of the hands of crimi- Now, if this resolution were to apply Bryan Gregg Nickles nals. to all tobacco outlets, I would support Bunning Hagel Reed Momentum is building for Congress Roberts it. I am dismayed that Secretary Burns Harkin to break the stranglehold of the Na- Byrd Hatch Roth Cuomo would support the amendment Chafee, L. Hutchinson Santorum tional Rifle Association. It is appalling given that it would not affect Commu- Cochran Hutchison Sarbanes that this Republican Congress refuses nity Development Block Grant funds Collins Inhofe Schumer to respond to the urgent need for re- Conrad Jeffords Sessions for non-Indian tobacco outlets. Coverdell Johnson Shelby sponsible gun control. Our Republican As a practical matter only Indian Craig Kennedy Smith (NH) colleagues should stop listening to the outlets are affected and there are no Crapo Kerrey Smith (OR) National Rifle Association and start potential non-Indian tobacco sellers DeWine Kerry Snowe listening to the American people. The Dodd Kohl Specter that would be affected. Though it may Domenici Kyl American people and America’s chil- not be the preferred economic activity Dorgan Landrieu dren are calling on Congress to move

VerDate Mar 15 2010 22:44 Dec 04, 2013 Jkt 081600 PO 00000 Frm 00066 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\2000SENATE\S06AP0.REC S06AP0 mmaher on DSKCGSP4G1 with SOCIALSECURITY April 6, 2000 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S2335 forward on commonsense gun provi- We need to close the gun show loop- The best thing we can do is strip it sions. hole. out, fight that another day, and do it The National Rifle Association con- Above all, we need to require child this way. We cannot get a conference tinues to talk about Second Amend- safety locks on firearms, so that we report and call a conference when all ment rights. But we say what about can do all we can to prevent senseless we will do is polarize the situation and the right to live of the 12 children a shocking shootings like the first grade divide people even more. I think we day, every day, who die because of fire- gun killing that occurred a few weeks have to come to a conclusion and pass arms in this country? What about the ago in an elementary school in Michi- the juvenile justice bill, regardless of right of citizens to be free from crime, gan. what happens. I hope we can vote down when criminals can go to gun shows The Senate passed this needed legis- this amendment. It is not helping. and purchase weapons without a back- lation last year. It is time for House Mr. CRAIG. I ask for the yeas and ground check? What about the right of and Senate conferees to write the final nays on the amendment. law-abiding citizens to live peaceably bill and send it to the President, so The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there a in their neighborhoods? It is time for that effective legislation is in place as sufficient second? Congress to stop kowtowing to the soon as possible. There is a sufficient second. NRA. It is long past time for Congress The lack of action is appalling and The question is on agreeing to to act responsibly, and adopt sensible inexcusable. Each new tragedy is a amendment No. 2964. The clerk will measures to close the loopholes in our fresh indictment of our failure to act call the roll. current gun laws. responsibly. The legislative clerk called the roll. That means—closing the gun show We have a national crisis, and com- The PRESIDING OFFICER. Are there loophole—requiring the sale of child monsense approaches are urgently any other Senators in the Chamber de- safety locks with firearms—prohibiting needed. If we are serious about dealing siring to vote? juveniles from possessing semiauto- with youth violence, the time to act is The result was announced—yeas 53, matic assault weapons—banning im- now. There is no reason why this Con- nays 47, as follows: ports of large capacity ammunition gress cannot enact this needed legisla- [Rollcall Vote No. 64 Leg.] clips—expanding the number of cities tion now. The citizens of this country YEAS—53 that participate in gun tracing—giving deserve better than what this kow-tow- Abraham Feingold Lugar ATF and other federal law enforcement to-the-NRA Congress has given them so Akaka Feinstein McCain agencies the resources they need for far. Bayh Fitzgerald Mikulski Mr. REED. Mr. President, on April 20 Biden Graham Moynihan more effective enforcement of our gun Bingaman Harkin of last year, America and the world Murray laws. Boxer Hollings Reed Nothing we do will interfere with the was shocked by the gun violence and Breaux Inouye Reid rights of responsible gun owners. But, carnage at Columbine High School. Bryan Johnson Robb Byrd Kennedy Rockefeller it has everything to do with the rights Shortly thereafter, on May 20, this Chafee, L. Kerrey Roth of men, women, and children to live Senate passed legislation within the ju- Cleland Kerry Sarbanes Conrad Kohl peacefully in their communities. venile justice bill that provided for Schumer sensible gun control measures, includ- Daschle Landrieu Ninety percent of the American peo- DeWine Lautenberg Smith, (OR) ple support background checks at gun ing safety locks for handguns, back- Dodd Leahy Torricelli shows; 88% favor child-proofing guns. ground checks on all guns at gun shows Dorgan Levin Warner But every attempt we make to act is and the ban on the importation of large Durbin Lieberman Wellstone Edwards Lincoln Wyden met by a stonewall of resistance from clips for automatic weapons. Since our our Republican colleagues. And every vote on May 20, the measure has lan- NAYS—47 day, we learn of more tragedies of fam- guished in the conference committee Allard Frist McConnell ilies who lose loved ones to senseless that has met only once—last August. Ashcroft Gorton Murkowski My amendment is very straight- Baucus Gramm Nickles gun violence because we fail to act. Bennett Grams Roberts Congress must end its obstruction forward and simple. It asks that the Bond Grassley Santorum and enact critical reforms that have conferees send to the House this meas- Brownback Gregg Sessions been pending for too long. If this Con- ure so we can vote so we can do what Bunning Hagel Shelby Burns Hatch Smith (NH) gress won’t act, the American people the American people want. Over 90 per- Campbell Helms Snowe Cochran Hutchinson will elect a Congress in November that cent of the American people want gun Specter Collins Hutchison will act. locks on weapons. A large number of Stevens Coverdell Inhofe It has been almost a year since the them want to close all the loopholes in Craig Jeffords Thomas tragic shooting at Columbine High the gun shows. We must do that to re- Crapo Kyl Thompson School. In literally dozens of cases spond to America, not just with respect Domenici Lott Thurmond Voinovich since then, children have brought guns to Columbine, but for the 12 young Enzi Mack to schools, and there have been at least children each day that die in America The amendment (No. 2964) was agreed seven school shootings since Col- because of gunfires. to. umbine. I urge passage of this amendment. Mr. REED. I move to reconsider the According to the Department of Edu- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The vote. cation, over 6,000 students were ex- Chair recognizes the Senator from Mr. LAUTENBERG. I move to lay pelled in the 1996–1997 school year for Utah. that motion on the table. bringing guns to public schools. Ac- Mr. HATCH. The juvenile justice bill The motion to lay on the table was cording to a study by the Centers for provides $450 million in accountability agreed to. Disease Control, 8% of all students re- in block grants for all kinds of prob- MINERAL RECEIPT SHARING ADMINISTRATIVE ported bringing a gun to school in a 30- lems; $547.5 million in prevention COSTS day period. grants for juveniles, $75 million in Mr. BINGAMAN. Mr. President, I It is time for Congress to finish the grants to update felony records, et wish to engage in a colloquy with the job we began last year and pass the gun cetera, none of which basically will Chairman of the Budget Committee re- control provisions in the juvenile jus- pass as long as we stay in the gunfight. garding the reserve fund for stabiliza- tice legislation. Students, parents and A majority of Republicans and Demo- tion of payments to counties in support teachers across America are waiting crats in the House will not support the of education contained in section 203. for our answer. Lautenberg amendment. A majority of Mr. DOMENICI. I will be pleased to We need to help teachers and school the Republicans and Democrats in the speak with my colleague regarding this officials recognize the early warning Senate will not support the Dingell issue. This reserve fund will accommo- signals and act before violence occurs. amendment. So we are stuck with one date legislation recently reported by We need to assist law enforcement of- of the most important anticrime juve- the Energy and Natural Resources ficers in keeping guns away from nile justice bills in history because we Committee that will correct a very criminals and children. can’t resolve the gun process. large problem for counties across the

VerDate Mar 15 2010 22:44 Dec 04, 2013 Jkt 081600 PO 00000 Frm 00067 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\2000SENATE\S06AP0.REC S06AP0 mmaher on DSKCGSP4G1 with SOCIALSECURITY S2336 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE April 6, 2000 country which have historically shared This was an important part of the re- quest, but it is necessary to assist in receipts taken in by the Forest Service cruiting and retention package which retaining our military service per- and BLM. The decline in those receipts the Senate passed, and which was en- sonnel. We must correct this short- over the last ten years has had dev- acted into law last year. coming in the President’s budget. astating effects on many rural school Under that authority, provided in The Senate has supported extending districts, especially in the rural West, last year’s Defense Authorization Act, the Thrift Savings Plan to military and the Budget Committee has pro- service members would be eligible to personnel on three previous occasions. vided $1.1 billion over the next five deposit up to five percent of their basic It is time that we complete the process years to stabilize the flow of resources pay, before tax, each month. The gov- and provide the necessary funding that to these counties. ernment is not required to match the would permit military personnel to Mr. BINGAMAN. I know that Senator service member’s contributions. In ad- join the federal workforce in the Thrift DOMENICI is aware of another situation dition, service members would be per- Savings Plan. that has had a negative impact on mitted to directly deposit special pays Mr. DOMENICI. The Chairman of the States’ share of Federal mineral re- for enlistment, reenlistment and the Armed Services Committee has crafted ceipts. Subtitle C of Title X of the Om- lump-sum for electing to remain in the an important provision that can im- nibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993 ‘‘Redux’’ retirement program—pre- prove retention in our Armed Services. put in place a system for allocating tax—up to the extent allowable under The cost effectiveness of the provision mineral revenues between the States the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, into is particularly notable. It is regret- and the United States that is com- their Thrift Savings account. table that the Administration’s lack of plicated and difficult to administer. It Last year’s legislation required the compliance has caused the delay of an has resulted in confusion and conflict President to identify sufficient offsets entire year in the effective date of this between States and the Federal Gov- in order to implement this important provision of last year’s Department of program. Unfortunately and ernment, and the Inspector General of Defense Authorization bill. Servicemen inexplicably, the President failed to the Department of the Interior has and women have lost out because of the identify the offsets in the budget he noted that the agencies’ budgeting Administration’s failure to act. submitted to the Congress in February. processes and accounting systems were I understand that you also have a Mr. President, we must adjust the out- not designed to accumulating costs in problem with moving forward on legis- lays and revenues in the Budget Reso- the detail required for administering lation that permits military personnel lution to permit the Thrift Savings the system. The system is criticized by to participate in the Thrift Savings Plan to be extended to members of the Plan because deferred revenue or a both the States and the Federal agen- uniformed services. This Thrift Savings ‘‘revenue loss’’ is attributable to such cies charged with administering it, and Plan does not cause the loss of reve- legislation and this makes the legisla- it is time for it to be changed. nues, but defers the tax due until the tion potentially vulnerable to a Budget Mr. DOMENICI. Senator BINGAMAN is service member retires. This is an im- correct, and I understand he has intro- Act point of order. portant point—there are no lost reve- As my friend from Virginia knows, duced legislation to correct that provi- nues, and the cost of this initiative is our budget resolution, S. Con. Res. 101, sion. We now have a CBO preliminary cheaper than losing our most qualified as well as the budget resolution passed estimate of the budgetary impact of military personnel. by our colleagues in the House of Rep- that bill. Making the Thrift Savings Plan resentatives, H. Con. Res. 290, last Mr. BINGAMAN. In that regard, I ask available to military personnel would week, provides for up to $150 billion in the Chairman of the Budget Committee come at a critical time for the military revenue reductions over the next five if the amount available in the section services. Participating in a Thrift Sav- years. It is my understanding that the 203 reserve fund would accommodate ings account would encourage personal revenue loss in the form of deferred this legislation, and if it could be in- savings and enhance the retirement in- revenue associated with your TSP pro- cluded within the intent of this reserve come for service members, who cur- vision is $10 million in 2001 and $321 fund. rently do not have access to a 401k sav- Mr. DOMENICI. As we are consid- million over the next five years. ings plan. Under current Thrift Savings Let me assure my colleague, the ering this resolution, I cannot say for Plan regulations, participants may Chairman of the Armed Services Com- sure that the reserve fund would ac- borrow from Thrift Savings accounts mittee, that the revenue assumptions commodate Senator BINGAMAN’s bill, for such worthy purposes as college in the budget resolution can accommo- since the estimate of the budgetary im- tuition and purchasing a home. When date the revenue loss associated with pact of the recently reported legisla- implemented, military personnel would your TSP statute. Moreover, let me tion is not yet complete. It is my hope, be able to join federal workers in a sav- say that I will happily make it clear in however, that when we convene the ings program that would enhance the the statement of managers on the con- conference on this resolution, we will value of their retirement system and ference report on this year’s budget have estimates on the impacts of both permit them to improve their quality resolution that the revenue assump- bills. It is my intention to move in of life. tions will permit your TSP provision that conference that the House recede The Armed Services Committee con- to move forward and to be imple- to the Senate position with an amend- tinues to receive testimony strongly mented without the threat of a Budget ment to accommodate both the Forest supporting a Thrift Savings Plan for Act point of order. Service receipt stabilization legisla- military personnel as a strong incen- Mr. WARNER. I thank my friend for tion, and the mineral receipt sharing tive for both recruiting and retention. his commitment to correct this short- legislation. Testimony from the Joint Chiefs of coming in the President’s budget and Mr. BINGAMAN. I thank the Chair- Staff, Service Secretaries and the mili- his help in reducing the hemorrhage of man for taking the time to clarify this tary personnel chiefs confirm that the trained and experienced military per- point for us. I can assure you that this Thrift Savings Plan would be an impor- sonnel. I also want to express my ap- issue is very important to our States, tant incentive for recruiting military preciation to the highly professional and we look forward to working with personnel and retaining highly trained staff of the Budget Committee for their you and the rest of our colleagues to military personnel on active duty or in assistance in working out a solution to address this situation in the near fu- the Ready Reserve. The Service Chiefs this vital issue. ture. have indicated that this plan, com- Mr. L. CHAFEE. Mr. President, I THRIFT SAVINGS ACCOUNTS bined with the pay raise, the repeal of voted against the amendment offered Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, in the the Redux retirement system, and the by Senator ROBB, which would use the National Defense Authorization Act for increased bonuses in the FY 2000 bill, tax code to provide assistance to school Fiscal Year 2000, the Congress author- would alleviate the hemorrhage of districts to build and renovate school ized active and reserve members of the trained and experienced military per- facilities. There is no doubt that many uniformed services to participate in sonnel we are now experiencing. states and local school districts need the Thrift Savings Plan now available This critical initiative was not in- help to address the dilapidated condi- for federal civil service employees. cluded in the President’s budget re- tions of their schools. However, I do

VerDate Mar 15 2010 22:44 Dec 04, 2013 Jkt 081600 PO 00000 Frm 00068 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\2000SENATE\S06AP0.REC S06AP0 mmaher on DSKCGSP4G1 with SOCIALSECURITY April 6, 2000 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S2337 not believe that the approach pre- efforts to pass such legislation as that fornia needs $21 billion by 2003 or 7 new sented by Senator ROBB, which has process moves forward this year. classrooms per day. Two million Cali- been repeatedly defeated by the Sen- Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Mr. President, as fornia children go to school today in ate, is the best solution. we debate the priorities for spending in 86,000 portable classrooms. Earlier this year, I was pleased to co- the federal budget for the next fiscal California’s Head Start programs sponsor legislation known as BRICKS— year, I am pleased to have voted yes- serve only 13 percent of eligible chil- the Building, Renovating, and Con- terday for the Bingaman education dren. structing Schools Act—which Senator amendment. Unfortunately, the Senate For higher education, the University SNOWE introduced. Senator SNOWE’s tabled this amendment yesterday by a of California has the most diverse stu- bill authorizes the use of $20 billion for 54 to 46 vote. This amendment begins dent body in the US. Federal programs school construction and repairs. She to address some of the critical needs of provide nearly 55 percent of all student pays for her proposal by borrowing our schools. But more importantly, it financial aid funding that UC students from the Exchange Stabilization Fund says, ‘‘We think education is impor- received. Our colleges and universities (ESF). tant. We think education is a priority. are facing ‘‘Tidal Wave II,’’ the demo- According to the Snowe proposal, We think education should be nour- graphic bulge created by children of states would receive funds only at the ished, not starved.’’ the baby boomers who will inundate request of the Governor. They would be This amendment adds important re- California’s colleges and universities distributed in accordance with the for- sources in several ways: between 2000 and 2010 because the num- mula prescribed under Title I, which It supports the $4.5 billion or 12.6 per- ber of high school graduates will jump provides federal assistance to the low- cent increase for education that the 30 percent. est achieving, low income students. I President proposed for FY 2001 over the California’s schools are in crisis. The believe this is a far better approach previous year. needs of my state are huge. with potential for bipartisan support. It adds $1 billion for Title I, the pro- While these needs cry out for re- Mr. President, it will be regrettable gram that helps school districts edu- sources, the federal government is con- if the outcome of the vote on the Robb cate disadvantaged students. If Con- tributing only 6 percent of total edu- amendment prevents a vote on an gress follows through with FY 2001 ap- cation funding. Funds are so short in amendment by the senior Senator from propriations, this would bring total my state that California teachers are spending around $1,000 a year out of Rhode Island, Senator REED. I am an Title I funding next year to $9.9 billion, original cosponsor of the Reed amend- up from $8.5 billion in FY 2000. their own pockets to pay for books, ment which simply expresses the sense It adds $2 billion to train new teach- magic markers, scissors and other of the Senate that gun safety provi- ers and current teachers. school supplies, according to the San sions approved by the Senate last year It provides $1.75 billion to continue Diego Tribune, August 16, 1999. Why should we be increasing funds should be brought before the Senate for to reduce class sizes in the early for education? Let me answer that final action. As a cosponsor of the Reed grades. question by giving you an example of amendment and a strong supporter of It increases funds for afterschool pro- the state of our schools, as expressed gun safety laws, particularly those grams to give students extra help. It provides $1.3 billion to repair by a young student. I would like to which are intended to keep guns out of schools in high-need areas. read a letter from Hannah Wair, a 14- the hands of children, my vote against It adds $1 billion for special edu- year-old from Santa Rosa, California, the Robb amendment should in no way cation, programs to help disabled stu- who graphically describes her school: be considered a vote against the Reed dents. amendment. SANTA ROSA, CA, It raises the maximum Pell Grant, December 13, 1999. Mr. WELLSTONE. Mr. President, I aid for needy college students, from DIANE FEINSTEIN, rise to address a serious problem with $3,500 to $3,700. Hart Senate Office Building, one of the obscure assumptions both of This amendment is timely because Washington, DC. this budget resolution and the Presi- the federal share of elementary and DEAR MS. FEINSTEIN: My name is Hannah dent’s budget. Both the Administra- Wair, and I am 14 years old and I attend secondary education has declined from Rincon Valley Middle School in California. I tion’s submission and this budget reso- 14 percent in 1980 to 6 percent in 1999– lution contain an assumption that $350 am writing you this letter because I am con- 2000. Hopefully, this amendment will cerned about the amount of money that is million of anticipated Medical Care begin to reverse that decline. given to the Santa Rosa City Schools. It Cost Recovery Fund (MCCF) receipts The schools in my state face huge seems as though far too many kids attend will be remitted to the Treasury from challenges—low test scores, crowded these schools without enough supplies, com- the VA. I strongly oppose this assump- classrooms, teacher shortages, growing puters, books, and sports equipment. On top tion. It flies in the face of current pol- enrollments, decrepit buildings. In of that, most of the schools (with an excep- icy—and all logic—since it would result short, they are overwhelmed. tion of a few new ones) are in need of ex- in a $350 million decrease in VA health California has 5.8 million students, treme repairs. Many schools have trashy, care funding at the same time that dirty, bathrooms and locker rooms that have more students in school than 36 states not been repaired or updated in about 20 Congress proposes an increase. The have in total population and one of the years. The fields and tracks are invaded with budget resolution is essentially assum- highest projected enrollments in the weeds and rocks, and there have been many ing the VA is being given a ‘‘loan’’ country. injuries because of this. Many of the classes from Treasury which it must pay back. California will need 300,000 new are over-populated, with an average of 30 or The VA has historically had dif- teachers by 2010. Eleven percent or 35 students per class. This gives the students ficulty in meeting their projected third 30,000 of our 285,000 teachers are on less attention, which makes it harder to party collection goals as it is, using emergency credentials. learn. the projected collections as a means to Although there are many aspects that need California has 40 percent of the na- to be improved about our schools, they are pad the budget on paper. By substan- tion’s immigrants; we have 50 lan- all still great schools, and I’m sure that you tially reducing the incentive for ag- guages in some schools. Children from could change all of this in only a matter of gressive collections by the VA, the these families need special attention, time. Thank you so very much for your time. MCCF receipts are even less likely to not just in English language learning I hope to hear from you soon! reach projected levels—meaning fewer but in dealing with huge adjustments Sincerely, funds for veterans health care. of learning to live in a new country. HANNAH WAIR. This proposal is nothing more than California’s students lag behind stu- The Clinton-Gore Administration has an obscure, cynical maneuver to give dents from other states. Only about 40 proposed to increase education funding extra scoring room on the appropria- to 45 percent of the state’s students in FY 2001 by 12.6 percent, to $40.1 bil- tions bills later in this year at the ex- score at or above the national median, lion. Yet the budget before us does not pense of veterans. However, this provi- on the Stanford 9 reading and math add, it cuts the President’s education sion will require legislation to be put tests. request by $4.7 billion. I submit, Mr. into effect, and I want my colleagues For school construction, moderniza- Chairman, that this is no time to be to know that I will strongly oppose any tion and deferred maintenance, Cali- cutting education:

VerDate Mar 15 2010 22:44 Dec 04, 2013 Jkt 081600 PO 00000 Frm 00069 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\2000SENATE\S06AP0.REC S06AP0 mmaher on DSKCGSP4G1 with SOCIALSECURITY S2338 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE April 6, 2000 American students lag behind their geting should be to drive funds to This debate today is not just about international counterparts in many where the poor children are, not to raw numbers, this increase or that de- ways. American twelfth grade math where they were a decade ago.’’ While crease. This debate is about the future students were outperformed by stu- today’s amendment includes an as- of our nation. We must ask some fun- dents from 21 other countries, scoring sumption that Title I would go up $1 damental questions about our spending higher than students from only two billion and does not address the ‘‘hold priorities. Why it is important to in- countries, Cyprus and South Africa. harmless’’ one way or another, I want crease spending on education? Here are Three-quarters of our school children to make it clear that a ‘‘hold harm- some reasons: cannot compose a well-organized, co- less’’ should not be part of our final The economy of my state is herent essay, says the National Assess- funding bill. transitioning from manufacturing to- ment Governing Board in September. I am also pleased that the amend- ward a more higher-skilled, service and U.S. eighth graders score below the ment adds $2 billion for teacher train- technology jobs. Since 1980, jobs in the international average of 41 other coun- ing. What are the needs? For starters, ‘‘new economy’’ (services and trade) tries in math. U.S. twelfth graders my state has 30,000 teachers on emer- have jumped nearly 60 percent. score among the lowest of 21 countries gency credentials. That is 11 percent of Over the next 10 years, nationally, in both math and science general our 285,000 teachers. We have high computer systems analyst jobs will knowledge. teacher turnover. We face a severe grow by 94 percent; computer support Three-quarters of employers say that teacher shortage. California will need specialists, by 102 percent; computer recent high school graduates do not 300,000 new teachers by 2010. engineers, 108 percent. Jobs for the have the skills they need to succeed on Not only do we face a serious teacher non-college educated are stagnating. the job. Forty-six percent of college shortage, we need to beef up training of High tech employers say they cannot professors say entering students do not current teachers in order to improve find qualified people. They plead for have the skills to succeed in college, student learning. There is no sub- Congress to expand visas to bring in according to a February Public Agenda stitute for a good teacher. A good employees from abroad. poll. teacher can make a lifetime of dif- Low literacy levels are powerful pre- These statistics speak for them- ference in a student, especially a strug- dictors of welfare dependency and in- selves. Our schools are failing many of gling or low-performing student. carceration. More than half the adult our youngsters. It is not the students’ Teacher quality has more impact on prison population has literacy levels fault. It is our fault. We need to be student achievement than any other below those required by the labor mar- nourishing education, not starving it, single factor, including family income ket. especially at a time of budget surpluses and parent education, according to a Near 40 percent of adjudicated juve- when the needs of our children are so Texas study by Ronald Ferguson of nile delinquents have treatable learn- stark. Harvard University. Studies show that ing disabilities that went untreated in I am especially pleased that this the teacher’s qualifications account for school. amendment increases funds for Title I, more than 90 percent of the variation Seventeen years ago, the nation’s at- adding $1 billion to the program. in student achievement in reading and tention was jolted by a report titled A Title I provides grants to help dis- math. Nation at Risk. In April 1983, the advantaged children, grants designed Another disturbing statistic in my Reagan Administration’s Education by Congress in 1965 to provide supple- state is this: In California, the lowest- Secretary, Terrell Bell, told the nation mentary services to low-achieving chil- scoring students are five times more that we faced a fundamental crisis in dren in areas with high concentrations likely than high-scoring children to be the quality of American elementary of poverty. Title I reaches virtually placed in a classroom with under quali- and secondary education. The report every school district and is very impor- fied teachers, concluded a study by the said: tant in my state. Schools serving dis- Center for the Future of Teaching and Our nation is at risk. If an unfriendly for- advantaged populations of students re- Learning last December. ‘‘More than a eign power had attempted to impose on ceive fewer resources than other million children in California go to America the mediocre educational perform- schools, according to the Public Policy school where they have particularly ance that exists today, we might well have Institute of California in a new report. high concentrations of teachers who viewed it as an act of war. With 18 percent of the country’s Title are under prepared to teach them,’’ the The report cited declines in student I students, California only receives 11.4 study said. Similarly, the National achievement and called for strength- percent of Title I funds. At least, Commission on Teaching and Amer- ening graduation requirements, teach- 775,000 eligible Title I students are not ica’s Future noted, er preparation and establishing stand- getting services in my state. In the nation’s poorest schools, where hir- ards and accountability. It is my hope that when Congress ing is most lax and teacher turnover is con- Today, we still face mediocrity in our takes up the Elementary and Sec- stant, the results are disastrous. Thousands schools. While there are always excep- ondary Education Act reauthorization of children are taught throughout their tions and clearly there are many excel- and the FY 2001 appropriations bill, we school careers by a parade of teachers with- lent teachers and many outstanding will rectify the long-standing inequi- out preparation in the fields they teach, in- schools, we can do better. To those who experienced beginners with little preparation say we cannot afford to spend more ties in the funding formula to give fast- and no mentoring, and short-term sub- growing states like mine their fair stitutes trying to cope with constant staff money on education, I say we cannot share of Title I and other funds. disruptions. It is more surprising that some afford to fail our children. Our children In 1994, Congress included in the of these children manage to learn than that do not choose to be illiterate or Title I law a requirement to annually so many fail to do so. uneducated. It is our responsibility and update the number of poor children so Without strong teachers, our chil- we must face up to it. that the allocation of funds would dren suffer. We must enhance teacher I urge adoption of the education truly reflect the most up-to-date num- training. amendment. ber of poor children. This is a very im- The National Commission on Teach- Mr. JOHNSON. Mr. President, the portant provision to growing states ing and America’s Future found that Senate yesterday approved my amend- like mine. However, despite my opposi- teacher training has suffered for years ment to the fiscal year 2001 budget res- tion, a ‘‘hold harmless’’ provision has saying it has been ‘‘historically thin, olution that establishes a reserve fund been included in annual appropriations uneven and poorly financed.’’ That which creates room in the Senate budg- bills, effectively overriding the census commission has called for strength- et resolution for military retiree update requirement and locking in his- ening teacher training requirements health care improvements. I thank toric funding amounts for states de- and better rewarding teaching knowl- Budget Committee Chairman DOMENICI spite the change in the number of poor edge and skill. for working with me and supporters of children. I welcome the additional funds in my amendment. I also want to recog- As Secretary of Education Riley said this amendment to train more teachers nize the driving force behind this issue: last year, ‘‘a basic principle in tar- and to strengthen teacher training. the thousands of military retirees and

VerDate Mar 15 2010 22:44 Dec 04, 2013 Jkt 081600 PO 00000 Frm 00070 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\2000SENATE\S06AP0.REC S06AP0 mmaher on DSKCGSP4G1 with SOCIALSECURITY April 6, 2000 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S2339 their dependents across this country and it is impacting a young man or the tremendous talent we have in our who have established an impressive woman’s decision to make a career of country. For many of us, ‘‘maternal- grassroots effort. Their work, in con- the military. fetal medicine’’ may not be an every- junction with the efforts of the Retired The question is whether Members of day term. However, we all acknowledge Enlisted Association, the National As- Congress want to make military re- that mothers experiencing complicated sociation of Uniformed Services, the tiree health care a priority instead of pregnancies require and deserve the National Military and Veterans Asso- an afterthought. I am hopeful that, best care possible. Maternal-fetal spe- ciation, and the Retired Officers Asso- working on a bipartisan approach simi- cialists provide care or consultation ciation, have brought military health lar to that seen with my reserve fund during complicated pregnancies. In ad- care to the forefront. amendment, we in Congress can choose dition, they provide education and re- My amendment would allow the Sen- military retiree health care as a pri- search concerning the most recent ap- ate Armed Services Committee to in- ority this session. proaches to the diagnosis and treat- crease spending on military retiree The PRESIDING OFFICER. The ment of obstetrical problems. As a re- health care while considering the fiscal Chair recognizes the Senator from Ala- sult, these specialists promote aware- year 2001 Department of Defense Au- bama. ness of the diagnostic and therapeutic thorization bill. It is important to note Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. President, in techniques for optimal management of that my amendment must also be ap- order to make some logic out of this these complicated pregnancies. In addi- proved by the House and Senate con- vote-arama process, on behalf of the tion, it should be noted that maternal- ference committee on the budget reso- leader, I ask unanimous consent that fetal medicine specialists are com- lution in order for the Senate Armed the first 10 amendments to be voted on plementary to obstetricians in pro- Services Committee to use the reserve tomorrow be the following and that as viding consultations, co-management fund. stated earlier all votes after the first or direct care before and during preg- A promise of lifetime health care has vote be limited to 10 minutes, with 2 nancy. been broken. Testimony from military minutes for explanation prior to each Mr. President, I urge my colleagues recruiters themselves, along with cop- vote. The amendments are: the to join me in congratulating the mem- ies of recruitment literature dating Santorum amendment on military/vets bers of the Society of Maternal-Fetal back to World War II, show that health benefits; the Conrad amendment on Medicine for their outstanding work. I care was promised to active duty per- lockbox; the Abraham amendment on also want to acknowledge the fine sonnel and their families upon the per- SOS lockbox; the Johnson amendment work of Dr. Peter Van Dorsten, Presi- sonnel’s retirement. on veterans; the Ashcroft amendment dent of the SMFM, who resides in my However, the creation on June 7, 1956, on SOS Social Security investment; home state of South Carolina. There is of space-available care for military re- the Mikulski amendment on digital di- no doubt that Americans across the tirees at military hospitals has led to a vide; the Bob Smith amendment on country join me in thanking these broken promise of health care coverage RX; the Graham of Florida amendment unique individuals. for these men and women and their on education; the Voinovich amend- Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. President, seven families. Post-cold-war downsizing of ment on strike tax reconciliation; and months have elapsed since the House of military bases and their medical serv- the Kennedy amendment on Pell Representatives passed the bi-partisan ices have left many retirees out in the grants. Norwood-Dingell bill to end insurance cold. A final insult is the fact that The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without company and HMO abuses, and more military retirees and their dependents objection, it is so ordered. than six months have passed since are kicked off of the military’s health f House and Senate conferees were ap- care system, Tricare, upon turning age pointed to prepare the final version of 65. MORNING BUSINESS this important measure. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. President, on be- Today, I am releasing a new study by Gen. Henry Shelton, testified before half of the leader, I now ask unanimous the Minority Staff of the Health, Edu- the Senate Armed Services Committee consent that there be a period for the cation, Labor and Pensions Committee and said: ‘‘Sir, I think the first thing transaction of morning business, with that documents how devastating this we need to do is make sure that we ac- Senators permitted to speak for up to long delay has been for millions of knowledge our commitment to the re- 10 minutes each. Americans and their families, and how tirees for their years of service and for The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without urgent it is for the House-Senate con- what we basically committed to at the objection, it is so ordered. ference to complete its work as soon as time that they were recruited into the f possible. armed forces.’’ Drawing on data gathered by the Uni- Defense Secretary William Cohen HONORING THE GOOD WORKS OF versity of California School of Public testified before the Senate Armed THE SOCIETY FOR MATERNAL- Health and the Harvard School of Pub- Services Committee and said: ‘‘We FETAL MEDICINE lic Health, the report documents unac- have made a pledge, whether it’s legal Mr. THURMOND. Mr. President, I ceptably high numbers of patients who or not, it’s a moral obligation that we rise to recognize the vital work per- are denied needed care, who suffer in- will take care of all those who served, formed by a group of tireless and dedi- creased pain, or whose health has seri- retired veterans and their families, and cated professionals: The members of ously declined because too many HMOs we have not done so.’’ the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medi- and insurance companies put profits My oldest son, Brooks, served as a cine (SMFM). I congratulate the Soci- ahead of patients. peacekeeper with the United States ety for its outstanding achievements, According to the study, 59,000 pa- Army in Bosnia, and he was recently and note this year they celebrated tients each day—22 million patients a deployed to Kosovo. I know how impor- their 20th annual meeting. year—report added pain and suffering tant ‘‘quality of life’’ issues are to It is often said that the United as the result of the actions of their military personnel and their families. States is home to the finest pool of health plans. Large numbers of pa- Our country asks young men and health care professionals in the world. tients have specialty referrals delayed women to willingly work in combat I could not agree more. Each and every or denied. Others are forced to change zones and receive minimal pay com- day, these professionals provide cut- doctors. Still others are forced to take pared to the private sector. As com- ting edge care for millions across the prescription drugs that are different pensation, military personnel have country. Treatments that did not exist from the drugs their doctor prescribed. been promised that their health care just ten years ago are now saving lives In addition to patients’ reports of needs and those of their families will on a routine basis. I am hopeful that significant problems as the result of be taken care of now and upon retire- we never take this high level of care actions of their health plans, thou- ment. Despite the best efforts of many for granted. sands of physicians report seeing pa- talented health care providers in the The Society for Maternal-Fetal Medi- tients every day whose health has seri- military, this promise has been broken, cine is one group that demonstrates ously declined as the result of abuses

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