E PL UR UM IB N U U S Congressional Record United States th of America PROCEEDINGS AND DEBATES OF THE 107 CONGRESS, FIRST SESSION

Vol. 147 WASHINGTON, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 4, 2001 No. 48 Senate The Senate met at 9 a.m. and was appoint the Honorable GEORGE ALLEN, a Sen- of H. Con. Res. 83, which the clerk will called to order by the Honorable ator from the state of Virginia, to perform report. GEORGE ALLEN, a Senator from the the duties of the Chair. The legislative clerk read as follows: state of Virginia. STROM THURMOND, President pro tempore. A concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 83) establishing the congressional budget for the PRAYER Mr. ALLEN thereupon assumed the United States Government for fiscal year The Chaplain, Dr. Lloyd John chair as Acting President pro tempore. 2002, revising the congressional budget for Ogilvie, offered the following prayer: f the United States Government for fiscal year Almighty God, Sovereign of our Na- 2001, and setting forth appropriate budgetary tion and Lord of our lives, we don’t RESERVATION OF LEADER TIME levels for each of fiscal years 2003 through know all that the future holds, but we The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- 2011. do know You hold the future. pore. Under the previous order, leader- Pending: We press on with courage and con- ship time is reserved. Domenici amendment No. 170, in the na- fidence. Here are our minds: Think ture of a substitute. f Your thoughts through them. Here are Grassley amendment No. 174 (to amend- our imaginations; show us Your pur- RECOGNITION OF THE ACTING ment No. 170), to provide for additional agri- pose and plan. Here are our wills; guide MAJORITY LEADER culture assistance. us to do Your will. What You give us Conrad (for Johnson) amendment No. 176 The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- (to amendment No. 170), to provide emer- the vision to conceive and the daring pore. The Senator from Pennsylvania gency assistance to producers of agricultural to believe, You will give us the power is recognized. commodities in fiscal year 2001, and addi- to achieve. So go before us to show us tional funds for farm and conservation pro- f Your way, behind us to press us for- grams during fiscal years 2002 through 2011. ward toward Your goals, beside us to SCHEDULE The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- give us Your resiliency, above us to Mr. SPECTER. Mr. President, I have pore. The Senator from Pennsylvania. watch over us; and within us to give us been asked on behalf of the distin- Mr. SPECTER. Mr. President, I Your supernatural gifts of great leader- guished majority leader to announce would like to make a few comments on ship—wisdom, discernment, knowledge, that today the Senate will imme- the pending budget resolution. and vision. In Your all powerful name. diately resume consideration of the AMENDMENTS NOS. 174 AND 176 Amen. budget resolution with the time be- The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- f tween now and 10:30 a.m. equally di- pore. If the Senator will yield, under PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE vided for debate on the Grassley and the previous order, the Senate will now The Honorable GEORGE ALLEN led the Johnson amendments regarding agri- resume concurrent debate on the Pledge of Allegiance, as follows: culture. At 10:30 a.m. there will be two Grassley amendment No. 174 and the I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the back-to-back votes on these amend- Johnson amendment No. 176 with the United States of America, and to the Repub- ments. Senator HARKIN will be recog- time to be equally divided. lic for which it stands, one nation under God, nized to offer the next amendment on The Senator from Pennsylvania is indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. education. recognized. f Further amendments will be offered Mr. SPECTER. I thank the Chair. with votes to occur throughout the APPOINTMENT OF ACTING Mr. REID. Time will be off the Re- day. PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE publican side. Senators will be notified as votes are The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without The PRESIDING OFFICER. The scheduled. I thank my colleagues for objection, it is so ordered. clerk will please read a communication their attention. Mr. SPECTER. Mr. President, it is to the Senate from the President pro f my view that a $1.6 trillion tax cut is tempore (Mr. THURMOND). an appropriate figure considering the The legislative clerk read the fol- CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET FOR projected surplus of $5.6 trillion. But I lowing letter: THE UNITED STATES GOVERN- am concerned that projections over a U.S. SENATE, MENT FOR FISCAL YEARS 2001– 10-year period are risky. If there is a PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE, 2011 change of 1 percent in the inflation Washington, DC, April 4, 2001. To the Senate: The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- rate or a change of 1 percent in the un- Under the provisions of rule I, paragraph 3, pore. Under the previous order, the employment rate, the figures are very of the Standing Rules of the Senate, I hereby Senate will now resume consideration different.

∑ This ‘‘bullet’’ symbol identifies statements or insertions which are not spoken by a Member of the Senate on the floor.

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VerDate Mar 15 2010 03:09 Dec 20, 2013 Jkt 081600 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 J:\ODA425\1997-2008-FILES-4-SS-PROJECT\2001-SENATE-REC-FILES\RECFILES-NEW\S mmaher on DSKCGSP4G1 with SOCIALSECURITY S3362 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE April 4, 2001 I recall the projections in 1981, when But this is a body which is not a rub- discretionary accounts. Finally, the we considered the Kemp-Roth tax bill, ber stamp. Under the separation of figure arrived at was $600 billion. The that surpluses were expected and defi- powers—the Framers of the Constitu- result then was a lot of mirrors and cits turned out to be the fact. It is my tion drafted the most impressive docu- smoke on deferred expenditures. The view that there ought to be the condi- ment in the history of the world, sec- figure which was needed was $616 bil- tion that these surpluses do mate- ond to the Bible, and they made the lion. Had that figure been present, we rialize for the $1.6 trillion tax cut to Congress article I, they made the could have gotten agreement in this take effect. I personally do not like the President article II, and they made the body and in the House and then gotten concept of a trigger, which means some judiciary article III. If someone were to the bill signed. Ultimately, the figure recall action or some responsive ac- rewrite the Constitution, it would ap- was $640 billion. We spent at least $24 tion. It is my view that conceptually pear that the Supreme Court has re- billion more than we should have be- the proper approach is that we are to written the Constitution really to cause of the last minute rush and add- have the tax cut if the surplus holds make the judiciary article I. But we ons became the order of the day. up, and it is the event of the tax cut are not supposed to be a rubber stamp. It is different this year. We have a about which we are talking. But counsel and collaboration is appro- Republican President. Last year we I have discussed the matter with the priate. That is why I take this occasion had a President who was a Democrat. distinguished chairman of the Budget to express my views. There was pressure from the White Committee and with other Senators. With respect to the domestic spend- House for add-ons. This year it is my Senator DOMENICI has assured me he is ing, the 4-percent allocation, candidly, expectation that, while there may be working on language that will satisfy is tight. But I expect this body to work some flexibility from the White House, the concerns many of us have ex- its will on a number of appropriations the pressure will be reversed. pressed. My soundings in Pennsylvania, and on a number of matters which we The President still has the veto pen. and really around the country, are that will offer for amendments on education It is my hope that, as we move forward there is enormous concern that we not and health—and agriculture being dis- with the budget resolution, we will add to the national debt. When I have cussed this morning. adopt realistic figures with which polled my constituents—repeatedly in Last year, when the appropriations those of us on the Appropriations Com- the course of the past many years, up bill came to the floor for the sub- mittee can live and structure bills that to a decade—I have found that more committee which I chair on Labor, can be enacted. people are concerned that the national Health, Human Services, and Edu- I compliment Senator DOMENICI for debt be paid down—in fact, paid off— cation, we had established a mark of the extraordinary work he has done on than are concerned about a tax cut. $106 billion. That was then-President this budget and budgets in prior years. But as President Bush has projected Clinton’s figure. After a lot of discus- He has served as chairman or ranking a $5.6 trillion surplus, to repeat, there sion with him, the Republican caucus, on the Budget Committee since 1981. It is adequate room for a $1.6 trillion tax both in the Senate and the House—the is an extraordinarily difficult job. He cut, and there is adequate room to be Republican leadership—agreed to a fig- also sits on the Appropriations Com- sure that Social Security is sound, that ure of $106 billion—somewhat reluc- mittee where he is caught between a Medicare is reformed, and that we are tantly, I might say. But my experience rock and a hard place as he tries to ma- able to have the appropriations on the had been, in preceding years—without neuver through the requirements and domestic discretionary accounts which going into details—that if we tried to the wishes, sometimes the demands, of are appropriate for the important undercut the President’s budget, we the Budget Committee to try to struc- needs of health, education, and other ended up paying a lot more. ture a bill which will pass in Appro- discretionary domestic programs, and We then reallocated some of the pri- priations. He has done just an extraor- defense as well. orities on the bill presented on the dinary job, as has the chairman of the I have also expressed my concern in Senate floor. Then, during the course Appropriations Committee, Senator conversations with the leadership of of the amendment process, very sub- STEVENS, who has the unenviable job of the Senate, and with the administra- stantial funds were added to education trying to make ends meet with 13 sub- tion in discussions with Vice President and health care. Being a principal au- committees. CHENEY and Secretary of the Treasury thor of the budget presented along with I also compliment my colleague, Sen- O’Neill, that at least as I view it, the my distinguished colleague, Senator ator CONRAD, for the work he has done, tax cut ought to be a little more heav- HARKIN, I defended the budget. As I for his having come to see me on a cou- ily weighted for middle and lower in- said on the Senate floor, I cast more ple of occasions to go through the come Americans. bad votes in 3 days voting against edu- budget, as he sees it, in an effort to try I realize that in the budget resolu- cation and health care measures than I to find common ground for a budget tion we are not going to delineate all of had cast in my preceding 19 years in which can be approached on a bipar- the parameters of these considerations. the Senate. But that was my job, to de- tisan basis. What we are looking at technically in fend the budget, and I did. It is regrettable that we have not the budget resolution is the $1.6 tril- Some 13 Republicans joined the been able to work through a budget lion without a specification as to con- Democrats in the add-ons, which I resolution which could be accom- ditionality, without a specification as would not be surprised takes place at plished on a bipartisan basis. It is my to how the tax cut will be apportioned. least to some extent on this budget res- thought that if we work at it harder, But I think it is important for Sen- olution today. When the $106 billion that is something we can still do. Sen- ators, such as myself, to express them- budget for Labor, Health and Human ator HARKIN and I have had a very selves so there will be notice to those Services, and Education was not sub- close relationship; he earlier as chair- on the Finance Committee and the Re- mitted to the White House, because the man and I as ranking on our sub- publican leadership and the White Republican leadership never saw fit to committee and I now as chairman and House as to where, at least, this Sen- do that, the figure then ballooned to Senator HARKIN as ranking. I learned a ator stands when the bills are pre- $114 billion. At which point, I refused long time ago if you want to get some- sented. With the 50–50 Senate, it is im- to sign the conference report. Then the thing done in Washington and in this portant to be looking to take into ac- figure was ultimately lowered to $107.9 body, there has to be bipartisan co- count the condition of all Senators. billion. operation. It is my hope and expectation to be As we consider this budget resolu- I also compliment the ranking mem- able to support our new President. I tion, the lesson from that is, if we ber of the Appropriations Committee, think he is off to an outstanding start. don’t adopt a realistic figure at the Senator BYRD, who has performed in I had the opportunity to travel with outset, we are going to end up spending that capacity with great distinction, as him to Beaver County, PA, several more. he has as President pro tempore and weeks ago when he was talking about Last year when we took up the budg- majority leader and also, in prior his tax plan. I believe we are on the et, there were some on the Budget years, as chairman of the Appropria- right track. Committee who wanted $596 billion for tions Committee.

VerDate Mar 15 2010 03:09 Dec 20, 2013 Jkt 081600 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 J:\ODA425\1997-2008-FILES-4-SS-PROJECT\2001-SENATE-REC-FILES\RECFILES-NEW\S mmaher on DSKCGSP4G1 with SOCIALSECURITY April 4, 2001 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S3363 I thank the Chair and yield the floor. gressional Budget Office itself says could be of those moneys—and then, with what The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- off by trillions of dollars. In our view, it is left, divides it in the following ways: pore. The Senator from North Dakota. would be exceedingly unwise to rely on these a third for a tax cut; a third for the Mr. CONRAD. Mr. President, I yield projections to lock in a series of large, esca- high-priority domestic needs of pre- lating tax cuts, particularly before address- myself 10 minutes off the resolution. ing the implications of the future financing scription drug benefits, money to im- The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- requirements of Social Security and Medi- prove education, money to strengthen pore. Without objection, it is so or- care. our national defense; and then, with dered. Mr. President, how much time have I the final third, we do what is proposed Mr. CONRAD. I thank the Senator consumed? by our colleagues in this opinion piece from Pennsylvania for his kind words. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- this morning—set aside $750 billion to I have always enjoyed working with pore. The Senator has consumed 4 min- begin to deal with our long-term liabil- him. He is right. I hope it is not too utes. ity in Social Security and Medicare. late to have a bipartisan approach to Mr. CONRAD. If the Chair will in- That is a conservative approach. To this budget. We are rapidly running out form me when I have consumed 8 min- me, it is a wiser course than using all of time. Very soon we will be casting utes, I would appreciate it. of the non-trust-fund money for a tax the final votes that will set this budget This chart talks about the uncer- cut—a tax cut that is predicated on a in place. Nobody should doubt what tainty former Senators Nunn and Rud- 10-year projection that is highly uncer- that will mean for the rest of this year man have discussed. This is from the tain. and perhaps for the rest of the decade. Congressional Budget Office itself, the There has been a lot of talk about This morning in the Washington Post ones who did the forecast. They tell us what the differences are between our I noticed an opinion piece by former the projection of a $5.6 trillion surplus plan and the competing plan on the Republican Senator Warren Rudman, has only a 10-percent chance of coming other side. The fundamental difference former Democratic Senator Sam Nunn, true, a 45-percent chance there will be is right here—short-term and long- who are cochairmen of the Concord Co- more money, a 45-percent chance there term debt reduction. Our plan dedi- alition, and three former high officials will be less money. Of course, this fore- cates $3.65 trillion of the $5.6 trillion in the Federal Government: Robert cast was made weeks ago. In the inter- projected surplus for short- and long- Rubin, former Secretary of the Treas- val, the economy has weakened fur- term debt reduction. President Bush’s ury; Paul Volcker, former Federal Re- ther. plan dedicates $2 trillion for that pur- serve Chairman; and Pete Peterson, I will bet that the chances are we pose. who was Secretary of Commerce in the will probably have less money over this I suggest to my colleagues that the Nixon administration. I want to bring 10-year period than was previously plan we are offering is conservative; it to the attention of the Senate this forecast. Yet we are about to lock in a takes account of the uncertainty of opinion piece because they make a 10-year plan that leaves little margin this forecast; and it gives us maximum great deal of sense in how they have for error. paydown of both short-term and long- alerted us. It uses all of the non-trust-fund term debt. They say in part in this opinion piece money for the tax cut. That means if With that, I yield the floor and look that ‘‘great care must be taken to en- the forecast does not prove out, if there forward to our remaining 1 hour of de- sure that any tax cut medicine treats is less money, we will be into the trust bate on the amendment before us. the short-term economic symptoms funds of Medicare and Social Security, The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- without adversely affecting the long- and we will be into them at a critical pore. Who yields time? term prognosis.’’ They go on to say: time—right before the baby boomers Mr. GREGG. Mr. President, I yield We believe an immediate fiscal stimulus start to retire. And all of these surplus the Senator from Georgia such time as can be provided independently of the pro- numbers will turn to substantial defi- he may consume. posed 10-year tax cut. Any additional tax cut cits. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- should be limited to account for the enor- I hope very much that colleagues will pore. The Senator from Georgia is rec- mous uncertainty— take a look at this opinion piece by our ognized. Something the Senator from Penn- very respected former colleagues, Re- Mr. MILLER. Mr. President, I rise in sylvania mentioned in his remarks— publicans and Democrats, who are say- support of the amendment that I have of long-term budget projections and the huge ing: Enact the stimulus package now. introduced jointly with the Senators unfunded obligations of Social Security and That is something we should do and from Iowa and New Mexico. This Medicare. A compromise based on this then go to work on a 10-year plan that amendment to boost agricultural framework would help ensure passage of a takes account not only the uncertainty spending comes at a time of great dis- budget resolution with substantial bipar- of the projections but that also takes tress for our American farms. It will tisan support. account of the massive unfunded liabil- provide our struggling farmers with They are right. We could have sub- ity in Social Security and Medicare. the assistance they so desperately stantial bipartisan support on a plan to That would be the responsible thing to need, and we believe it will give Con- provide immediate fiscal stimulus. I do. That would be the wise thing to do. gress the ability to craft a solid farm wish we would halt work on the budget And I think we could come together on bill as these negotiations near. right now, go to work on a stimulus a bipartisan plan to do both of those This amendment will provide nearly package right now and pass it this things. $64 billion in increased agricultural week, get it into the hands of the Let me conclude on the question of spending over the next 11 years. More American people as quickly as possible, the uncertainty of the forecast by say- importantly, it addresses our current and then go to work on a 10-year pack- ing this chart shows that in the year problems by providing $5 billion for fis- age that would take account of both 2006 we can have anywhere from a $50 cal year 2001—a critical boost for later the uncertainty of this 10-year forecast billion deficit to more than a trillion in this crop year. and also, as former Senators Nunn and dollar surplus, and this is according to This amendment is also fiscally re- Rudman and their group have advised, the people who made the forecast. That sponsible, accounting for only a small ‘‘the huge unfunded obligations of So- is the uncertainty. It is just unwise to portion of our projected surplus; and it cial Security and Medicare.’’ come out here and support a plan that will not jeopardize support for other They go on: uses all of the non-trust-fund money priorities that Congress identifies. The first part of the compromise, passing for a tax cut. I think it virtually Crops are now going into the ground immediate tax relief, already has over- assures that we will be raiding the and farmers are extremely worried. whelming support. trust funds of Medicare and Social Se- The cost of fertilizer and fuel is ex- They are right. curity if the President’s plan passes. pected to hit near record amounts this The second part of the compromise in- Let me say that the plan we have of- summer, at the same time we watch volves an entirely separate issue—the extent fered on our side as a potential com- commodity prices continue to fall. to which policymakers should gamble on the promise protects the Social Security While this immediate funding is crit- accuracy of 10-year projections that the Con- and Medicare trust funds—every dollar ical, I say this: It may not prove to be

VerDate Mar 15 2010 03:09 Dec 20, 2013 Jkt 081600 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 J:\ODA425\1997-2008-FILES-4-SS-PROJECT\2001-SENATE-REC-FILES\RECFILES-NEW\S mmaher on DSKCGSP4G1 with SOCIALSECURITY S3364 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE April 4, 2001 enough. We will have to watch our ag- the agricultural amendments, the de- This year there is a new approach. ricultural situation very closely to de- bate on the IDEA amendments, the The approach is: Let’s not deal with termine if additional funds are needed drug proposals as a mandatory exer- these emergencies anymore; let’s just later this year. Nevertheless, I appre- cise, they would have serious concerns make all this mandatory, and then we ciate very much the leadership and co- and may not have written the op-ed will not have to do emergencies. We operation of my colleagues in pro- pieces they wrote. They would see that will just simply spend the money and viding funds for this fiscal year and ad- the contingency fund, or the fund for never have to account for it under any dressing this problem directly. the preservation of Social Security as scenario. That is not fiscal discipline. We all understand the importance of it is defined, or the reserve for Social We need to look at what is happening this effort, and we will have to work Security as defined by the Senator in the agricultural community to un- together to assist our producers from North Carolina, as defined by the derstand the extent of the spending, through these difficult times. Farmers President in his budget, is under seri- the largess that is occurring. are pleading for our help. They are sell- ous stress and duress because the dol- In the year 1999, the Government ing their crops at the same level today lars are being spent rather aggressively payments as a percentage of farm in- that they or their parents did 20 years in this Congress as we add more and come in the United States were essen- ago, while the cost of production con- more mandatory programs to the agen- tially half. In other words, if you take tinues to soar. da of the Congress. net farm income, half of the net farm Without our help, many farms in my Mandatory programs have an insid- income in this country came from the State and all around this country will ious way of spending Federal dollars Federal Government in tax payments continue to go out of business. Agri- without the Congress having to be re- raised from Americans and then paid culture provides one out of every six sponsible in voting for those Federal out to farmers. jobs in my State, and it has an eco- dollars once the initial vote has oc- That is a staggering change because, nomic impact of over $60 billion a year. curred. in the year 1990, only 20 percent of the Georgia farmers have a compelling Regrettably, in this exercise, we are payments that went to farmers were need for stability. The rural commu- on all sorts of levels adding new man- Federal payments, Federal tax dollars nities they support are under great dis- datory programs to the Federal ac- going to farmers. The top 1 percent of counts. In the end, that is going to tress as well. And those who know farmers received, on average, $660,000 drive up Federal spending dramatically rural America know this type of dis- each from the Government. The top 10 and, as a result, put pressure on the So- tress extends far beyond the farm. It percent received $308,000. The average cial Security trust funds, put pressure affects the car dealership; it affects the farm income exceeds the average on the ability to return to taxpayers in local restaurant and the downtown de- American household income by $1,000. the form of a tax cut the moneys which partment store. These pieces of rural These numbers are staggering. In they rightly deserve, moneys which economies are inextricably linked. some States, net farm income—in they are sending us which we do not I thank the chairman, the Senator other words, what farmers make in need to spend, and generally limit fis- from New Mexico, and the Senator profit, what they actually hold in their cal discipline. Mandatory programs es- from Iowa for recognizing this shortfall accounts to operate their day-to-day sentially are not subject to fiscal dis- in funding for agriculture and for their lives after their expenses—net farm in- cipline. come was exceeded by Government willingness to work with me on this I want to speak specifically to the amendment. As I mentioned, this is a mandatory programs now being pro- payments by over 100 percent. In the State of North Dakota, direct responsible approach, and while it may posed in the area of agriculture. Re- Government payments exceeded net not be the final solution, I think it will grettably, over the last few years, the farm income by 210 percent. In the go a long way and will be a good step agricultural accounts have been the State of Indiana, direct Government forward to ensuring that the needs of least disciplined accounts within the America’s hard-working farmers are Federal agenda. In fact, if we go back— payments exceeded net farm income by met. I hope my colleagues will support and this chart reflects my point—if we 192 percent. There are eight States in this important and timely amendment. go back over the last couple of years, this country where direct Government Mr. President, I yield the floor. we see the green lines are the Federal payments exceed net farm income. What does that mean? That means The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- caps. This is what we were supposed to pore. Who yields time? spend as a Federal Government. Begin- we pay more in tax dollars to the farm- Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, I ning in 1998, we went way beyond those ers in those States than the farmers yield 10 minutes to the Senator from Federal caps and exploded Federal take home in pay after expenses. That New Hampshire. spending. is an incredible figure. It essentially The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- That explosion of Federal spending, means that, for example, in the State pore. The Senator from New Hampshire above what we said we were going to do of Indiana, we could say to every farm- is recognized. as a Congress, was driven in large part er in that State: Stop farming, and we Mr. GREGG. Mr. President, I con- by emergency events. Those emergency are going to pay you twice what you gratulate the Senator from New Mex- events in large part were agricultural make now in taxes because that is ico for his efforts on this piece of legis- spending. In fact, agricultural spending what we are doing today. Yet that is lation which is so important to our over the last few years, as a result of not enough. country. I also congratulate the Sen- increases driven by the Congress, have Today we have amendments facing us ator from North Dakota for his fine ef- gone from $9 billion in 1996 up to $38 which are calling for an increase—an forts in presenting the other side of the billion in 2000. increase—over this staggering amount case in this matter. The majority of this increase—which which we have already seen in the last I wish to talk about a number of is a staggering percentage increase by 5 years rise to $38 billion. This amend- issues that have been raised today. the way, almost a 400-percent in- ment is calling for an increase over Specifically, however, I want to get crease—the majority of this increase that number. The Johnson-Conrad into the issue of spending in this bill has been done under the guise of emer- amendment is calling for an additional and the potential for driving a large gency spending. $97 billion over the next 10 years. That hole in the concept of controlling Last year there was $31.5 billion in is going to jump this number up radi- spending at the Federal level. The Sen- emergency spending in the agricultural cally and, over the next 10 years, obvi- ator from North Dakota cited a recent accounts. That is why this chart has ously have a huge impact on the budg- op-ed piece written by the cochairmen such a dramatic and regrettable line to et. of the Concord Coalition which has it—the actual spending in relation to It is going to be a mandatory pro- been a force for fiscal discipline in the what we were supposed to spend as a gram. Once we pass it, because of the Congress for many years. I think if the government because emergency spend- machinations and procedures of this cochairmen of the Concord Coalition ing in the agricultural accounts has place, that is going to be the end of the had followed the debate over the last been so out of control, for all intents game. It is over. A lot of times on these few days, and specifically the debate on and purposes. budget debates we are fighting with

VerDate Mar 15 2010 03:09 Dec 20, 2013 Jkt 081600 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 J:\ODA425\1997-2008-FILES-4-SS-PROJECT\2001-SENATE-REC-FILES\RECFILES-NEW\S mmaher on DSKCGSP4G1 with SOCIALSECURITY April 4, 2001 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S3365 rubber bullets. We shoot at each other, tion into the future by the Congres- peans are providing their producers but it does not hurt that much. These sional Budget Office, the very same versus what we are providing our pro- are not rubber bullets. These are real people who said prices would be rising ducers. These are not KENT CONRAD’s bullets. When we pass this one, it be- now, when prices have plummeted. numbers; these are the numbers from comes a mandatory program. When the Their record on forecasting farm prices the Organization for Economic Co- authorization committee acts, which is not very good. It is another indica- operation and Development. They are we absolutely know is going to happen tion of why there is great danger in the international scorekeepers on these because the authorization committee banking on any 10-year forecast. That questions. strongly supports increasing funding, is what the Senator from New Hamp- It isn’t just what they do for their it is over. We will have a mandatory shire was showing, a 10-year forecast producers directly; it is also what they program on the books which is going to for farm prices by people who in the are doing in terms of agricultural ex- cost the American taxpayers a huge past haven’t been able to forecast farm port support. Here is what the Euro- amount of money over the years. It prices worth a hoot and a holler. peans are doing. This chart shows makes no sense from the standpoint Here is what has happened. This is which countries are providing what that we are already paying two times what has really happened from 1991 to percentage of world agricultural export the cost of the net income in States now. The red line on this chart is the subsidy, according to the World Trade such as Indiana and North Dakota. prices farmers receive. The distribu- Organization. This is for the last full It also makes no sense because the tion of this line is quite clear. It is al- year for which there are records, 1998. price of farm products is going up, as most straight down. The green line is The blue pie on this chart is Europe’s this last chart shows. We have a sig- the prices farmers pay for their input. share of world agricultural export sub- nificant increase in farm prices occur- It is going up, up, up. It is the relation- sidies. It is 83.5 percent. The U.S. share ring in many commodities—rice, soy- ship between the prices farmers pay is 2.7 percent. That is 30 to 1 as a dif- beans, wheat, and corn. One has to and what they are paid that has cre- ferential. Is there any wonder our wonder, if the prices are going up—and ated this farm crisis. It is why there is farmers are getting killed in the inter- they are projected by CBO to go up. strong support on a bipartisan basis to national marketplace? Is there any For example, corn prices are projected respond. It is the reason so much of wonder our market share is going down to go up 30 percent over 10 years; soy- farm income is currently coming from and Europe’s is going up? Is there any beans, 43 percent; wheat, 40 percent; the Federal Government. If it weren’t, wonder Europe was poised to surpass us rice, 40 percent—if they are going to go we would have an absolute collapse oc- in world market share last year? up, why do we have to put the subsidies curring in farm country. Our friends in Europe have a strategy up? My State is a wheat State. When my and a plan. They are working it, and I do not know. I know every time we colleague from New Hampshire says they are working it very effectively. have a farm bill, the American tax- farm prices are rising—and I say I They have told me flatout: We think payers end up paying a huge amount of would love to have him come to my we are in a trade war with you in agri- money. State and address a farm crowd and ex- culture, and we think at some point The Senator from North Dakota is a plain to them how farm prices are ris- there will be a cease-fire in this trade strong supporter of this. This is his ing—this is why he wouldn’t get a very war. We believe it will be a cease-fire amendment. For those of us in the rest good reception. This chart shows what in place. We want to occupy the high of the country, we have to ask our- has happened to farm prices ever since ground. The high ground is world mar- selves: Why would we want to put on we passed the last farm bill which was ket share. We are going out and buy- the books a mandatory program that is a disaster in itself. Farm prices have ing. That is exactly what they are doing. going to cost us these types of dollars? plummeted. That is what has happened They are buying world market share. Let us at least have the ability to come to wheat prices. Here is the cost of pro- We are faced with a circumstance in back every year and check this number ducing. Here is what has happened to which we have a crisis in American ag- and see whether we really need it. prices. The prices are far below the riculture. It is deep. It is threatening. Mr. President, I suspect my time is cost of production. It is so serious that if it is left un- up. Therefore, I yield the floor. Mr. GREGG. Will the Senator yield? checked, it will force thousands of Mr. CONRAD. I will yield soon. I The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- farmers off the land—not because of want to first devastate the case the pore. Who yields time? anything they have done but because of Mr. CONRAD. Mr. President, I yield Senator made. our failure to respond to the European Mr. GREGG. You are not devastating myself 5 minutes. juggernaut. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- my case. You are trying to devastate The Senator from New Hampshire pore. The Senator is recognized for 5 CBO’s case. wanted to join in a colloquy, and I am Mr. CONRAD. No, the Senator was minutes. happy to entertain a question on his making the case that CBO made. When Mr. CONRAD. I listened to my col- time. league and my friend from New Hamp- you say farm prices are rising, they are Mr. GREGG. I am not sure I have any shire describe farm prices rising. I not. That is the simple reality. What time. would love for him to go to my home you have is the lowest prices in real Mr. DOMENICI. The problem is we State and tell the farmers that farm terms in 75 years, and it is a crisis all don’t have any time because of the cir- prices are rising. They are not rising. across rural America, all across agri- cumstance that occurred this morning. They have the lowest farm prices in cultural America, and every Senator That time was used up by a distin- real terms in 75 years. That is what is who represents a farm State, farm con- guished Senator who was speaking on a happening to farm prices. stituency, knows it. subject unrelated to this. He had au- Mr. GREGG. Will the Senator yield? Let’s talk about some of the under- thority to do that. He spoke for quite Mr. CONRAD. I will be happy to yield lying reasons we have this serious some time, so we ended up very short in a moment. I would love to have a di- problem. This is what our major com- in time. alog on this question. petitors are doing. We cannot talk My friend got some time this morn- I say to my friend from New Hamp- about agriculture in isolation. We have ing, and I wonder if the Senator would shire, I know agriculture is not a domi- to talk about what is happening with object to a request on my part that we nant industry in New Hampshire but it our major competitors. Our major com- be given an additional 15 minutes. is dominant in many States in the Na- petitors are the Europeans. This is Mr. CONRAD. I object unless we are tion. For those who represent farmers, what the Europeans are doing to sup- given an additional 15 minutes, and we can report to our colleague there is port their producers: $313 an acre on that extends the time of the vote. I a desperate crisis across farm country. average. This is for the period of 1996 to don’t think that is a wise course. This is about as serious a situation as 1999. This is what we are doing in the Mr. DOMENICI. How much time do I have ever seen. United States during the same period: they have remaining? When our colleague says farm prices $38 an acre. That is nearly a 10-to-1 ad- The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- are rising, he is talking about a projec- vantage in terms of what the Euro- pore. They have 33 minutes.

VerDate Mar 15 2010 03:09 Dec 20, 2013 Jkt 081600 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 J:\ODA425\1997-2008-FILES-4-SS-PROJECT\2001-SENATE-REC-FILES\RECFILES-NEW\S mmaher on DSKCGSP4G1 with SOCIALSECURITY S3366 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE April 4, 2001 Mr. DOMENICI. The Senator wants taking is a year in which there were agriculture—the implement dealers, our side to finish debate in 7 minutes, two emergency packages paid in the the seed stores, the bankers, or the and he has 33. same year: one for the previous year, farmers themselves. So this is a crit- Mr. CONRAD. The Senator has used one for the current year. So it is not an ical issue to my State and one we must his time. I didn’t use his time. He used accurate picture of what is occurring. address. his time. If you add time, the only fair The Senator is right that agricul- Because of low commodity prices, be- way to do it is for us to then add time, tural spending has increased. It has in- cause of increasingly high energy and then we extend the time for the creased in response to a crisis. It has costs, because of high fertilizer costs, vote, which I don’t think should be increased in response to the lowest because of the investments in machin- done. We wouldn’t accept that. farm prices, in real terms, in 75 years. ery that are required, all of this com- Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, I ask I put up the chart that shows what pounds to create a very serious situa- unanimous consent for 15 minutes off has happened to farm prices. They have tion in farm communities across Ar- the resolution and I give 3 minutes of gone straight down since the last farm kansas. that to the Senator. bill has passed and the prices that What we are seeing is the death of The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- farmers pay have escalated, escalated, American agriculture by attrition. We pore. Without objection, it is so or- escalated, creating a huge gap between may be able to point to a rising graph dered. the prices they pay and the prices they on spending, but we must acknowledge Mr. GREGG. I thank the Senator receive. If we do not respond, we will that what farmers are facing today is a from New Mexico. I wish to make a see tens of thousands of farmers forced grave crisis. The way we have handled couple of points in response to the Sen- off the land. that in recent years has only added to ator from North Dakota. Talking about a value question, this the uncertainty. This signal early in First, as to my original point—and is a value question. It has nothing to this budget debate will send the right the Senator makes this point with his do with our farmers doing something kind of message to the farmers of this representations as far as the unpredict- wrong or being somehow incapable of Nation that Congress is not going to ability of the pricing of the commod- competing. But they are up against the leave this issue unaddressed, and we ities—I cited a pricing list put forth by hard reality of what the Europeans are are going to address it early. My farm- CBO, and the Senator rejects CBO as a doing. The Europeans are outgunning ers want predictability that they can scorer on this event. Then we should be us 30 to 1 on export support for agri- take to the bank. I believe the Grassley coming back to the farm issue every culture—30 to 1. On support to indi- amendment will provide the funding year. We should not be making it a vidual producers they are outgunning levels that will lay the foundation for mandatory 10-year event where the au- us almost 10 to 1. That is the reality of greater certainty in the future. What is at stake is not just a safe, af- thorizing committee can essentially what we confront here. fordable and reliable food supply for create a cost to the taxpayers of this The Senator from New Hampshire the American people—something we country which will not be adjusted by can say ‘‘tough luck, you are all down have always taken for granted—it is a the actual events that occur in the the road here,’’ but I do not think that quality of life. What is at stake is, in marketplace. is the response of the American people. fact, a value system and whether or Second, the fundamental point I am I think the American people say if this not we believe that is worth an invest- making is that the gross increase in is what our competitors are doing, we ment on the part of the Federal Gov- farm spending has been uncontrolled ought to fight back. We ought to level ernment. I believe it is, and I strongly and that the amendment that is being the playing field. We ought to give our proposed of another $100 billion of new support the Grassley amendment. farmers a fair, fighting chance. I reserve the remainder of our time. spending on top of the Federal baseline I know there are other Senators The PRESIDING OFFICER. Who is a massive hole in the Federal budget. waiting for time. How much time does yields time? It is going to a program which makes the Senator from Iowa need? Mr. CONRAD. I yield 7 minutes to no sense any longer. In States such as Mr. HARKIN. May I have 5 or 7 min- the Senator from Iowa. North Dakota, the American taxpayer utes? The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- is presently paying, in tax subsidies to Mr. CONRAD. I yield 7 minutes to ator from Iowa is recognized. the average farmer in North Dakota, the Senator. Mr. HARKIN. Mr. President, I twice what the farmers make in take- Mr. DOMENICI. Senator HUTCHINSON watched the occupant of the chair in home pay. So it makes no sense. It is a has been waiting. Can I give him 3 min- his recent remarks on the state of agri- program that makes no sense. utes? culture in America. He had a chart pur- I agree with the Senator from North Mr. CONRAD. Certainly. portedly showing, if I remember his Dakota on that point. But I do not Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, I words correctly, that spending was out think the way you resolve it is by put- yield 3 minutes. of control on agriculture. Spending had ting more and more money into it. In The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. gone up. fact, the last Agriculture Secretary, GREGG) The Senator from Arkansas is I want to point out that in 1999, farm Secretary Glickman, said exactly that. recognized for 3 minutes. payments, Government payments to He said the incentive for farms to be ef- Mr. HUTCHINSON. Mr. President, as farmers in Iowa, equaled about 130 per- ficient any longer has been lost. Essen- a new member of the Agriculture Com- cent of their net farm income. Think tially, the Government role is requir- mittee, it will take only a moment to about that. If it were not for the Gov- ing the farmer to do something in re- give my perspective as the Senator ernment payments, Iowa farmers in the turn, which has been largely elimi- from Arkansas, and it is a little dif- aggregate not only would have had no nated by the Congress. There is essen- ferent perspective from what some net farm income, they would have been tially a program that is out of control have been speaking about on agricul- far into the red—negative income. and it is getting more and more out of tural spending. Certainly there are Think about it: Federal Government control. All we are doing is suggesting some big issues that have to be ad- payments amounted to 130 percent of we throw more and more money at it, dressed on farm policy. They will be Iowa’s net farm income. so now we have eight States where the addressed in the context of a new farm The Chair, in his comments, said Federal Government pays more in sub- bill. The reality is farmers are hurting spending is out of control. Was the sidy than the farmers take home in right now. They need a signal from this Senator from New Hampshire blaming pay. What type of program is that? It Senate and this Congress that we are the farmers for this? I surely hope not does not make any sense to me. going to address the crisis that agri- because what is happening in agri- The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- culture is experiencing. culture today—high Government pore. The Senator from North Dakota. In my home State of Arkansas, 25 spending, yet farmers still being driven Mr. CONRAD. Mr. President, in re- percent of our economy is agricultural out of business—is a reflection of the sponse to my colleague from New related, either directly or indirectly. In misguided, defective farm program Hampshire, when he uses the figure of east Arkansas, in the Delta of Arkan- that we have called Freedom to Farm. 200 percent in North Dakota, what he is sas, the entire economy is related to I am proud to say I did not vote for it.

VerDate Mar 15 2010 03:09 Dec 20, 2013 Jkt 081600 PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 J:\ODA425\1997-2008-FILES-4-SS-PROJECT\2001-SENATE-REC-FILES\RECFILES-NEW\S mmaher on DSKCGSP4G1 with SOCIALSECURITY April 4, 2001 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S3367 These large Government payments in The Grassley amendment fails to pro- to my constituents. It is critically im- agriculture are a reflection upon a vide the funding to permit us to do in portant. Yet the underlying amend- failed agricultural policy in America. the Agriculture Committee what I be- ment takes money away from Medicare We have to get our farm policy back on lieve most of us on both sides of the to help pay for agriculture. The last track again. But we cannot get it back aisle want to do; that is, to have more thing I want to do is to pit our elderly, on track by just pulling the rug out conservation; to reward farmers for who rely on Medicare, our rural hos- from underneath our family farmers being good stewards of the soil, water pitals and our rural providers that rely and blaming them for the failures of and resources; to tell our urban cousins on Medicare, against our farmers. But this Congress to pass a farm bill that that they are going to get more con- that is exactly what the Grassley provides for better incomes from the servation in return for farm spending— amendment does. It pits the interests marketplace. they will get cleaner water, cleaner air, of older Iowans against those of farm- As I see the Grassley amendment, it healthier land, and more wildlife. But ers. That is the last thing I want to see basically takes us down the same path- farmers cannot bear the whole burden happen. way as Freedom to Farm did. It says, of being good conservationists. It takes The Johnson amendment is much don’t worry; be happy; sometime in the time, it takes equipment, and it takes more forthright. It says we don’t need future the prices are going to go up, money to do that. Farmers are not to give all of these tax breaks to the the markets are going to be there, and making much if any money now. They superrich. We will take a little bit out everything is just going to be fine. The cannot really afford more expense for of the tax breaks that are given to the failure of Freedom to Farm was that it conservation. upper 1 percent in our country to help told farmers to plant fence row to fence I believe it is in our national interest meet our needs in agriculture. row for markets that did not mate- to shift the agricultural program to There are a lot of reasons to be op- rialize. Plant all you want. The con- put more money into conservation. posed to the Grassley amendment, but sumption will be there, the demand That will help farm income and while I submit to you that perhaps the single will be there, trade will be there, and delivering conservation and environ- most important reason is that we the foreign markets will be there; not mental benefits for all of us. The John- should not be taking away from Medi- to worry. Well, as we know, they were son amendment will allow us to do care to pay for agriculture and pit the not there. that. The Grassley amendment will elderly in my State against farmers. I was in China last year. Last year not. That I cannot support. There is enough China was exporting corn. We know Right now the Natural Resources money if we do not give tax breaks to what Brazil and Argentina are doing to Conservation Service of USDA esti- the wealthiest in our country—at least compete with us in soybeans. We are mates that at least five times as many not 43 percent of the tax reductions. awash in grain in the world markets farmers apply for funds under the Envi- We can give them a little bit. The Con- right now. Yet our policy says keep on ronmental Quality Incentives Program rad amendment provides for a lot of producing even more. I certainly hope than can be approved. Farmers want to tax reduction, but not the huge amount we are not going to punish U.S. farm- enhance their stewardship of land and of tax breaks in this budget proposed ers by saying, get out of business, and natural resources. We ought to be en- by President Bush which prevent us get off the land because we have a couraging them—not turning them from adequately funding agriculture failed farm policy that we have passed away. and other priorities. in the Congress. Again, the Grassley amendment does The Johnson amendment is one that What we need to do is improve that not provide the money we need to makes sense. It will help us get our ag- policy. We have to write a new farm strengthen our farm programs and help bill by next year. The so-called Free- ricultural house in order without going our farmers be good stewards of land, dom to Farm bill expires then—and we after Medicare. water and natural resources. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- have to make some changes. The amendment of my colleague The amendment doesn’t even provide ator from North Dakota. from Iowa will not permit us to make for the core funding that we are going Mr. CONRAD. Mr. President, maybe I the kind of changes that are necessary to need in agriculture over the next 10 can review the points the Senator from to improve our agricultural policy. For years. For 2002, the underlying amend- Iowa is making on the amendment that example, I believe there is almost uni- ment will only provide about $7 billion we will vote on very shortly. versal support for additional conserva- against a short fall in farm income of The Grassley amendment, while well tion spending and for rewarding farm- some $10 billion. It provides only $5 bil- intended, has a very unfortunate con- ers for being good stewards of our soil lion for 2001, which is far, far too low. sequence. We have gone back now and and other natural resources. The Grassley amendment makes the looked at the year-by-year numbers in With the support of both agriculture same fatal mistake as Freedom to the Republican budget resolution. and conservation groups, as well as Farm. It bets on the hope of expanding What we find is very clear. If the other members of Congress, I have a markets and rising prices for farm Grassley amendment for additional proposal for a conservation incentive commodities. support for agriculture passes, he is program to provide farmers and ranch- Again, as we transition in agri- going right into the Medicare trust ers the support they deserve for being culture, as we get off of the failed Free- fund in the years 2005, 2006, 2007, and good stewards of their land and at the dom to Farm bill, as we move into a 2008. same time keep them in business in ag- stronger conservation mode—which I believe strongly that we ought to ricultural production. will help farmers and ranchers not just increase support for agriculture. We But the amendment by my colleague in the Midwest, but in the Northeast, have an amendment to do that. It is from Iowa, the Grassley amendment, in the Northwest, the Southeast, and the Johnson amendment that will fol- provides only $350 million a year in ad- all over America—and meet the re- low the Grassley amendment. But we ditional conservation funding. Much quirements and needs we have for envi- do not raid Medicare trust funds to do more than that is needed if we are ronmental and environmental prac- it. That is a profound mistake, and it is going to have a sound, viable farm and tices and allow farmers to stay in busi- precisely what the Grassley amend- conservation and conservation pro- ness. The Grassley amendment simply ment does. gram. does not provide for that. If one looks at the budget we are con- The Johnson amendment, on the Lastly, let me say that especially in sidering this year and then the fol- other hand, provides a full $1 billion for Iowa—I am sure it is true in South Da- lowing 10 years, if you take out the added conservation spending. And it kota also and North Dakota—we have a Grassley amendment that previously provides enough funding overall so that very high proportion of elderly in our passed for prescription drugs and the the Agriculture Committee can use its State. I believe Iowa is No. 1 in the Na- funding in each year for that initiative, judgment to devote more than that to tion in proportion of people over age 85. then you take out the Grassley agricul- conservation if they need to do that. And we rank near the highest in the tural amendment and the funding it re- And I believe we are going to need to proportion of our citizens who are over quires in each of the years, you find do that. age 65. Medicare is critically important that you are raiding the Medicare trust

VerDate Mar 15 2010 03:09 Dec 20, 2013 Jkt 081600 PO 00000 Frm 00007 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 J:\ODA425\1997-2008-FILES-4-SS-PROJECT\2001-SENATE-REC-FILES\RECFILES-NEW\S mmaher on DSKCGSP4G1 with SOCIALSECURITY S3368 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE April 4, 2001 fund by $15 billion in the year 2005, by what I thought I heard. Yet the Grass- will have a tax cut. It will be huge. In $13 billion in the year 2006, by $10 bil- ley amendment would take money fact, we can do this and have a tax cut lion in the year 2007, and by $4 billion from the contingency fund to pay for at least as large as what President in the year 2008. So that is a total raid agriculture and take it out of Medi- Bush has proposed for middle class and on the Social Security trust fund of $42 care. Did I hear correctly that they working families. We could go even billion. It is just wrong. But it is what wanted to reserve the contingency fund larger and do this as well. the amendment of the Senator from for Medicare? So it is not a tradeoff in terms of a Iowa does, perhaps unwittingly. Mr. CONRAD. That is the description tax cut or no tax cut. It is a matter of Mr. HARKIN. If the Senator will they gave. But the problem is, their whether we are going to be fiscally re- yield? budget doesn’t work. When you break sponsible. It is a matter of whether we Mr. CONRAD. Yes. it down year by year, it doesn’t add up. are going to deal with the agricultural Mr. HARKIN. The Senator has really And that is the problem they have. and conservation needs of this country encapsulated this. The Grassley Maybe they were hoping nobody would and do it in a stable, consistent way amendment, first of all, does not meet notice or hoping nobody would bother without jeopardizing Medicare. the legitimate needs of agriculture. It to add it up and see they are raiding Our goal is to get away from these ad falls far short of what we need. The the trust fund. But they are. And it is hoc multibillion-dollar disaster pack- Johnson amendment meets that need. undeniable they are raiding the trust ages which are unreliable and which no Secondly, in terms of conservation, fund in 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2008. That is producer can take to his bank with the where we want to really move forward, the reality. assurance it is going to happen in the the Grassley amendment does not per- Does the Senator from South Dakota next year and, instead, have a stable, mit us to support the kind of conserva- seek time? set, and certain kind of level of funding tion work we need. The Johnson Mr. JOHNSON. Yes, I do, Mr. Presi- for agriculture for this coming farm amendment does. dent. bill and this year. It is our goal to do And lastly, as the Senator pointed Mr. CONRAD. How much time? this and to do it in a fiscally respon- out, the Grassley amendment is not Mr. JOHNSON. If I might have just 2 sible way without jeopardizing Medi- going to help us in agriculture, but it minutes. care, without setting up a fight over still raids Medicare. The Johnson Mr. CONRAD. I yield 3 minutes to whether it is going to be farm relief or amendment doesn’t. the Senator from South Dakota. whether it is going to be an increase in Again, I thank the Senator for point- Mr. JOHNSON. I thank the Senator defense spending but, instead, to set ing this out. His explanation really en- from North Dakota, the ranking mem- this funding assigned to do it, utilizing capsulates why the Johnson amend- ber of the Budget Committee, for his some of these projected surpluses over ment is best for rural America and does leadership, and thank him and my the coming decade as well as for this not go after the Medicare trust fund. friend from Iowa, Senator HARKIN, for year. Mr. CONRAD. It goes to the funda- their very able explanation of what the This is a responsible way to do it, to mental problem of the Bush budget and tradeoffs are as we engage in this budg- have some certainty, to not have fi- the fundamental problem of the Repub- et debate. nancing for the agricultural sector of lican budget which is trying to match There is broad-based agreement we our economy subject to the whims of the Bush budget. Of course, we don’t need a significant increase in the level the politics of any particular given even have the Bush budget before us. of funding necessary for agriculture. In year, and to not be utilizing what, in But with the kind of rudimentary out- fact, that agreement is bipartisan. my view, is a largely bogus contin- line he has provided us, it simply Forty-four Senators have written the gency fund. It simply doesn’t work doesn’t add up because the tax cut is so Budget leadership—including 19 of my that way. large. Republican colleagues—asking for ad- When you try to adjust the spending ditional resources for agriculture. Because we have bipartisan support provisions, as both Republicans and In addition, over 20 farm and com- for a significant ramping up of support Democrats now want to do—we saw modity organizations have been asking for agriculture and conservation, I am that yesterday; Republicans agreed for the resources roughly equivalent to hopeful that when the dust settles out that we need twice as much money for what we are doing in the Johnson of this debate we can have that kind of a prescription drug benefit. Today we amendment, ranging from the very across-the-aisle support for our efforts see the Republicans agree we need sub- conservative to liberal organizations in with this Johnson amendment. stantially more for agriculture. Unfor- the country, from the Farm Bureau to This is badly needed. We are going tunately, what they have proposed is the Farmers Union, and including corn, through a time of great crisis in Amer- inadequate. It provides $64 billion over wheat, dairy, soybean, cotton, rice, and ica. the 11 years. Our proposal would pro- sugar producers. You name it. We have The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- vide $97 billion. But the biggest prob- across-the-board support from agricul- ator’s time has expired. lem is the source of the funds. tural organizations. Mr. JOHNSON. I, again, applaud Sen- Mr. HARKIN. Yes. I think the sense is to do this in a ator CONRAD for his leadership in help- Mr. CONRAD. They are—as can be forthright manner rather than playing ing to integrate this into a more clearly seen with the combined effect games with this so-called contingency thoughtful, balanced budget strategy. of the amendment they adopted yester- fund which, in the first measure, is Mr. WELLSTONE. Mr. President, I day on prescription drugs and the largely composed of Medicare trust rise to speak in favor of Senator JOHN- amendment they seek to adopt today fund dollars and should not be used for SON’s amendment. This amendment in- —raiding the Medicare trust fund in these reasons anyway and also keeping cludes $9 billion for emergency farm the years 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2008. That in mind the tremendous demands that assistance in Fiscal Year 2001, and $88 just can’t be the way we do business. will more than envelop the contin- billion in additional agricultural as- The Johnson amendment, instead, gency fund out of defense, out of non- sistance above the Congressional Budg- provides that we take this money first agricultural disasters, out of additional et Office baseline over Fiscal Years out of the surplus for the year 2001, and tax cut proposals, and out of prescrip- 2002 through 2011. Of this amount $58 thereafter out of the oversized tax cut tion drugs. billion is provided over Fiscal Year which goes disproportionately to the The more forthright way to do this is 2003–2007, which will likely be the first wealthiest 1 percent. to simply recognize that we ought to five years of a new Farm Bill, and also Mr. HARKIN. If the Senator will utilize the surplus this year and the period when the need for additional yield for a question, I didn’t read the downsize very marginally the size of assistance will be greatest. Addition- CONGRESSIONAL RECORD of yesterday’s the overall tax cut over 10 years. We ally this increase includes a minimum debate, but I heard that the chairman can do that and still afford a very sig- of $9.4 billion for farm conservation of the Budget Committee had said that nificant tax cut. programs. This is approximately a 50 the contingency fund should be re- This is not a question of whether or percent increase over baseline funding served for Medicare. At least that is not we are going to have a tax cut. We for current conservation spending.

VerDate Mar 15 2010 03:09 Dec 20, 2013 Jkt 081600 PO 00000 Frm 00008 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 J:\ODA425\1997-2008-FILES-4-SS-PROJECT\2001-SENATE-REC-FILES\RECFILES-NEW\S mmaher on DSKCGSP4G1 with SOCIALSECURITY April 4, 2001 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S3369 First, this amendment includes $9 Congress to write a new Farm Bill this tory commodity credit corporation billion in emergency economic assist- year that meets the needs of farmers price supports, related programs and ance for this crop year. This is the sec- and ensures the future of our rural conservation. Adding $63.5 billion to ond year we have been forced to in- communities. If we cherish the values the existing $94.2 billion already as- clude emergency farm assistance in the of family farming and rural commu- sumed in the baseline would total $157 budget resolution. The reason is failed nities, we must pass the Johnson billion of support. federal farm policy. The 1996 Freedom amendment. The amendment would stabilize net to Farm Bill, which I call the Freedom Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, the cash farm income, provide enough to Fail Bill, promised to bring the Treasury Department has provided us funding to greatly strengthen a coun- ‘‘free market’’ to agriculture, by reduc- with data showing the number of farms tercyclical program, provide additional ing government assistance to producers and small businesses, on a state-by- money for regulatory relief, enhance over the life of the legislation. Unfor- state basis, that would benefit from the conservation efforts, and be fiscally re- tunately that legislation has failed to President’s tax relief plan. This data is sponsible. provide an adequate safety net during reflected in the two charts that I have From fiscal year 2002 through fiscal years of low commodity prices and placed here on the floor. year 2011 the Johnson/Conrad amend- weather related disasters. Over the last So now, let’s go to our charts and ex- ment is funded out of the tax cut. Our three years Congress has spent over $25 amine the number of small businesses amendment is funded out of the contin- billion in emergency payments. The and farms operating in each of our gency surplus. In plain language, they very largest farming operations have states. take $88 billion out of tax cuts, we received a majority of these payments, And let’s ask ourselves whether the don’t. while smaller family farms actually re- life’s work reflected on these charts de- The major criticism raised last night ceived less under Freedom to Farm. serves to be honored by relieving these was that it doesn’t spend enough Freedom to Farm did not get the Gov- people of an excessive tax burden. money. This is seemingly always the ernment out of agriculture, but it sure We continue to hear our Democrat Democratic philosophy: If a little is has been successful in getting family colleagues claim that other provisions good, a boat load is better. Well, let me farmers out of agriculture. in the budget should be increased at tell you, that’s bunk. Unfortunately, economic forecasts the expense of the tax cut. The USDA’s Economic Research for agriculture remain bleak for the Well, let’s get one thing very clear. Service has forecast that on-farm in- 2001 growing season. According to Any reduction in the amount of the tax come will drop $5.7 billion between 2000 USDA, net farm income is forecast to cut means that the benefits of the tax and 2001. But starting in 2002, both the decline approx 20 percent again this cut proposal are reduced. Food and Agricultural Policy Research year, in the absence of additional as- We do know what the other side of Institute widely held to be the best sistance. While commodity prices con- the aisle intends to take in order to source of non-partisan ag-economic in- tinue to be depressed, input costs, most pay for politically motivated expendi- formation available, and the Congres- notably fuel and fertilizer, are sky- tures—they intend to take away Amer- sional Budget Office have forecast that rocketing. It is my hope that we will ica’s tax cut! So let’s take a look at almost all major commodities will re- not squander the opportunity this what this would mean to the American alize improved prices. There will not be amendment presents, as Congress did taxpayer. dramatic growth, but there will be im- last year, to deal with the current This means that for families with provement. price crisis, and write a new farm bill children, the $1,000 child care credit We have funded our proposal at $7.35 that works for family farmers, rural would be reduced for each child in billion in fiscal years 2003, 2004, and communities and the environment. America. And that will occur for every 2005. This far exceeds estimated short- In order to ensure that family farm- year of the $1,000 credit. comings of on farm net income and ers remain a part of this country’s It means that for four-person fami- provides enough flexibility to help with landscape, a new farm bill must be en- lies earning $45,000 a year will not have the cost imposed by new environmental acted this year. We simply cannot wait their taxes cut in half, as called for in regulations through EPA. until re-authorization in 2002 for Con- the President’s plan. But if your goal is to hurt the family gress to act. Congress should act now It means that a four-person family farmer, we should pass a boat load of to address the impact of plummeting earning $35,000 a year could be sub- money here today, then we can stand farm incomes and the ripple effect it is jected to income taxes. The President back and watch cash rent shoot having throughout rural communities would take those families off the tax through the roof. Ask any farmer who and their economic base. We must de- rolls. rents ground how much their rent has velop a farm bill which will address the It means that expansion of the edu- increased in the last three years. It’s immediate price crisis situation, we cation savings accounts could be scaled sure not due to inherent value in the need a bill that provides a reliable tar- back. land because our commodities have ex- geted, counter-cyclical safety net to It means that the marriage penalty perienced record low prices, yet rent family farmers. For my part, I believe will continue because there won’t be has increased dramatically. lifting the loan rate would provide re- enough funds left to fix it. I am not saying we shouldn’t help lief to farmers who need it and increase It means that small business owners farmers. I have been one of the strong- stability over the long term. Addition- and farmers will see an increase in est supporters of increased agriculture ally I believe we must also make a their tax rates above the levels pro- spending for additional payments in strong commitment to rural develop- posed by the President. They are al- the Senate. I have also always tried to ment initiatives this year. We must ready paying the highest levels of tax find bipartisan ground, and I know focus on ways to bring the economic since World War II. Senator CONRAD knows this because I boom of the last decade to rural com- So remember. Every time there is a have often reached out to Senator CON- munities who have been left behind. Fi- politically motivated amendment to RAD and Senator Kerrey from Ne- nally a new farm bill must work for the reduce the size of the tax cut, someone braska, when he was in the Senate, to environment. We must work to include is going to pay a price for that. reach that bi-partisan position. conservation incentives to reward So who pays the price of this polit- The Grassley-Miller amendment al- farmers who carry out conservation ical posturing? lows us to accomplish the same things measures on their land. Families, small business owners and we have done for agriculture in the This amendment is about priorities. farmers, of course, because their well- past three years, and also gives us the The Senate will go on record. Do we deserved tax relief will have to be flexibility to write an outstanding favor a large tax cut that primarily scaled back. farm bill that fits the need of our fam- benefits the wealthiest one percent of The bipartisan amendment would add ily farmers. taxpayers, and fails to address the key $5 billion in fiscal year 2001 and $58.5 Now I want to mention one last priorities of the nation? Or do we pro- billion between fiscal year 2002 and fis- point. Remember the crop insurance vide a level of funding adequate for cal year 2011 to agriculture’s manda- legislation that we passed last year?

VerDate Mar 15 2010 03:09 Dec 20, 2013 Jkt 081600 PO 00000 Frm 00009 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 J:\ODA425\1997-2008-FILES-4-SS-PROJECT\2001-SENATE-REC-FILES\RECFILES-NEW\S mmaher on DSKCGSP4G1 with SOCIALSECURITY S3370 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE April 4, 2001 Two years ago we provided budget au- foreclosures across rural America. We bound, our farmers experience a good thority for crop insurance and the Ag- would have witnessed greater economic year, and our the Agriculture Com- riculture Committee couldn’t pass a tragedy in a rural economy that has al- mittee completes a farm bill that ade- bill out. The next year Senator ROB- ready suffered too much loss. quately supports rural America with ERTS and Senator Bob Kerrey found The Johnson amendment would have the limited resources provided in this middle-ground and developed a bipar- provided $9 billion this year, and simi- budget. I look forward to working to- tisan, broadly supported crop insurance lar levels of funding in future years, to ward that end, and hoping for that end, bill. The problem was it didn’t fit the continue to meet the real needs of a with Chairman LUGAR and Ranking number that we had provided in the struggling agricultural sector. Unfor- Member HARKIN on the Senate Agri- Budget. When the Agriculture Com- tunately, a slim majority of the Senate culture Committee and Chairman mittee came back to the Budget Com- rejected the amendment choosing to COCHRAN and our other Agriculture Ap- mittee and explained the dilemma, protect a massive $1.6 trillion tax rath- propriations Subcommittee members. Chairman DOMENICI, Senator CONRAD, er than provide adequate assistance for Mrs. LINCOLN. Mr. President, as we and myself provided flexibility in the rural America. consider the budget resolution for fis- budget to accommodate the legisla- I have heard from producers through- cal year 2002, I am offering an amend- tion. out Wisconsin on the difficulties facing ment to provide security for our Na- Let me offer this thought: If the Ag- the agriculture industry, and more spe- tion’s farmers and rural communities. riculture Committee finds a bipartisan cifically the dairy industry. In dairy, I was disappointed earlier today position that widely accepted as the milk prices have hovered around record when we considered the amendments right thing to do, in a similar fashion low levels, as we continue to lose our on Agriculture spending. to the crop insurance legislation, we producers at an alarming rate. We also Those of us from rural areas have al- will work on providing more flexi- continue to see dramatic increases in ways been able to put partisanship bility, but for now let’s start here. imports of the milk protein con- aside for one fundamental reason an Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, I sup- centrates that displace milk produced overriding concern about family farms port the Grassley amendment. This by American farmers. Last year, Con- and rural America. Yet, this institu- amendment will provide an additional gress approved $667 million in emer- tion approved an amendment that pro- $63.5 billion to the baseline for Com- gency, direct payments to dairy pro- vides less than half of the assistance modity Credit Corporation mandatory ducers to help them remain in busi- that was delivered to our farmers last payments to farmers. This will allow ness. And a similar amount, or more, year. Half! the authorizing committee to write a will be needed this year to counter I can’t believe that my colleagues comprehensive farm bill that will cover what the U.S. Department of Agri- would kick the farmer when he’s down, major commodities in addition to live- culture predicts will be another year of but that is exactly what they have stock and specialty crops, rural devel- low prices. done by approving this amendment. opment, trade, and conservation initia- I agree with those in this body who Crop prices are still at record lows tives. complain that year after year of ad hoc while input costs, such as fertilizer and Conditions in agriculture are not im- emergency agriculture spending is irre- energy prices, are skyrocketing. proving. In fact, according to the U.S. sponsible and wasteful. I agree with the I don’t understand how they can jus- Department of Agriculture, the agri- dairy farmers who would rather have a tify offering less assistance this year. culture community will be facing per- fair chance to compete than a govern- We have got to address the needs of our sistently low prices and depressed farm ment handout. We need to re-write the farmers today or we will be importing income this year, and possibly the farm bill in a manner that provides our food from foreign countries tomor- next. This amendment provides an ad- adequate and market-oriented support row. ditional $5 billion in fiscal year 2001 for to our farmers and ranchers who con- Twenty farm and commodity groups, supplemental support that is needed by tinue to produce the safest and most as well as 32 conservation, religious farmers. abundant supply of food and fiber in and environmental groups, have writ- Should farmers need additional as- the world. And in the context of that ten to the Senate Budget Committee sistance in the fall, this amendment re-write, the Agriculture Committee asking for additional spending for agri- also provides for $7.35 billion in fiscal must enact a national dairy assistance culture programs. The amount they re- year 2002 that could be used for this program, a program that allows the quest is the amount that I am seeking crop year. competitive family farms of the Mid- today, $9 billion for emergency funds in Again, I support this amendment be- west to continue to produce and sell 2001 and $12 billion per year for long cause it provides additional funding their quality product and to support term assistance. needed by farmers this crop year. It their families, farms and communities These groups include the American also provides a significant level of agri- with the proceeds. Farm Bureau, the National Cotton cultural funding in the out years to The levels of spending for agriculture Council, Defenders of Wildlife, The Na- provide effective and predictable finan- allowed in this budget, as amended by tional Cattlemen’s Beef Association, cial support. Senator GRASSLEY, are better than the National Milk Producers Federa- Mr. KOHL. Mr. President, I rise where we started: with no provision for tion, and the National Farmers Union, today to express my deep disappoint- responding to the farm crisis this year. among many, many more. ment at the failure of Senator JOHN- However, I am concerned that even the This country needs a wake-up call! SON’s amendment to H. Con. Res 83, the increases now called for in the budget Americans believe that their bacon, fiscal year 2002 budget resolution. On will not be enough to meet the con- lettuce and tomatoes are raised some- behalf of the farmers in my State and tinuing and real needs of the farm where in the back of the local grocery throughout the country I supported economy. And I am equally concerned store. this amendment which would have pro- that, if the Appropriations Committee As the daughter of a seventh genera- vided additional economic assistance responds to this shortfall with emer- tion farm family in Helena, AR, I know to producers who continue to face de- gency spending, the White House will where our food supply is produced. It’s pressed commodity prices and in- not agree. In other words, the Agri- grown in rural communities by fami- creased fuel and energy costs. Last culture Appropriations Subcommittee, lies working from dawn until dusk to year, Congress provided a total of ap- of which I am the ranking member, and make ends meet. proximately $30 billion in total farm of which my good friend from Mis- I would like to share with my col- spending. Nearly $11 billion of the $30 sissippi, Senator COCHRAN is the chair- leagues a letter that I received re- billion total either carried an emer- man, may not be able to keep the cently from one of my constituents. gency designation or was in addition to struggling agricultural sector from see- The letter reads: the spending set forth in the 1996 Free- ing a real cut in federal funds this My husband and I have one child. We farm dom to Farm Act. Without these addi- year. 600 acres of rice and soybeans. Three people, tional funds, we would have witnessed I hope that my concerns are mis- 600 acres—that should translate into a very greater numbers of bankruptcies and placed. I hope commodity prices re- lucrative living, but it doesn’t. For us, it

VerDate Mar 15 2010 03:09 Dec 20, 2013 Jkt 081600 PO 00000 Frm 00010 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 J:\ODA425\1997-2008-FILES-4-SS-PROJECT\2001-SENATE-REC-FILES\RECFILES-NEW\S mmaher on DSKCGSP4G1 with SOCIALSECURITY April 4, 2001 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S3371 translates into a financial struggle year This amendment will provide the se- Congress should approve $9 billion in emer- after year. It translates into a husband, the curity and certainty farmers need for gency economic assistance for FY2001 as family provider, who has become so frus- the future. soon as possible. Delaying this work only trated and discouraged that he needs coun- The Agriculture Committee needs harms those producers who are unable to ob- seling and medication for depression. It tain production financing without at least translates into a wife who holds her breath this authority if we are going to ade- some signal that Congress will approve addi- every time the tractor breaks down for fear quately develop both a multi-year and tional assistance. there won’t be enough money for repairs. It multi-title farm bill. In addition, we want to stress the impor- translates into a child who is disappointed Forcing Agriculture to compete with tance of including additional agricultural she can’t participate in after-school sports defense and other needs out of a catch budget authority for each of the years re- because extra trips to school means extra all ‘‘contingency fund’’ does not do our maining in the Budget Resolution (FY2003– high-priced gasoline for the car! farm families justice. FY2011) to avoid continued requests for ad We, the American farm family, once felt They are the backbone of this Nation hoc assistance packages. pride in our occupation. We had a sense of and they deserve better than that. We believe that Congress needs to consider at least $12 billion per year in additional independence and self-sufficiency. Each What is it going to take to get Amer- spring brought renewed hope for a productive funding needs for each of the remaining season and a bountiful harvest. ica’s attention on the plight of agri- years of the Budget Resolution. Such a com- Now our hope lies with the bankers who culture? mitment would provide the necessary funds make crop loans and the government who If we don’t keep our domestic indus- to cover the options currently being evalu- issues supplemental income payments. And try viable and in business, who will ated by the Senate and House Agriculture there is no pride in having to ask for either grow our food? Committees as essential elements of the new one. But for the sake of the families, the Does this institution really want to Farm Bill. These include: very foundation of the agricultural industry, rely on other countries for its food sup- A fixed payment for program commodities I ask that you give immediate, deliberate at- ply? I, for one, do not. (such as the current AMTA and oilseed pay- tention to our crisis. ments); What in the world would we do if we Rebalancing in the Marketing Assistance Unfortunately this letter is not were relying on Europe for our beef? Or Loan program; unique. I have a stack of letters in my China for our rice? How about South A counter-cyclical assistance program; office right now from hundreds of Ar- America for those vegetables in your Export programs; kansas farm families and they all share baby’s food? Conservation incentive programs; the same message—help us, please. If we can agree that domestic energy Assistance to livestock and crop producers Unfortunately, too many in Wash- production is one key to our economic for compliance with environmental and regu- latory requirements; ington continue to pay lip-service to independence and national security, Research; and our Nation’s agricultural producers then isn’t domestic agricultural pro- Assistance for non-program crop commod- without actually providing them the duction at least as important? ities. tools and assistance they need to sus- This country needs to wake up and We understand that this request en- tain their way of life. realize that we are producing the tails a significant increase in spending Our agricultural communities are safest, most affordable, and most abun- on agricultural programs. However, we hurting. Commodity prices are at dant food supply in the world. strongly believe that this level of in- record lows, and input costs including The question for everyone here is, are vestment in agriculture is critical to fertilizer, energy, and fuel are at record we going to do what it takes to keep both the short-term and long-term highs. this industry alive? I certainly hope so. health of American agriculture. No corporation in the world could I encourage you to demonstrate your Sincerely, make it today receiving the same support for rural America by voting Alabama Farmers Federation, American prices it received during the Great De- with me to ensure that adequate fund- Farm Bureau Federation, American pression, yet, we are asking our farm- ing will be available to write the next Soybean Association, American Sugar farm bill. Alliance, National Association of ers to do just that. Wheat Growers, National Barley Grow- The American farmer is the most ef- I ask unanimous consent that two ers Association, National Cattlemen’s ficient in the world. Yet they are letters be printed in the RECORD. Beef Association, National Corn Grow- forced to compete with farmers whose There being no objection, the letters ers Association, National Cotton Coun- countries subsidize their cost of pro- were ordered to be printed in the cil, National Farmers Union, National duction. RECORD, as follows: Milk Producers Federation, National The family I referenced earlier is not FEBRUARY 21, 2001. Pork Producers Council, National Sun- competing with their neighbors, or Hon. PETE DOMENICI, flower Association, National Turkey Chairman, Senate Budget Committee, Wash- Federation, Southern Peanut Farmers with farmers from across the river. ington, DC. Federation, US Canola Association, US They are competing with farmers from Hon. JIM NUSSLE, Rice Producers Association, USA Dry the European Union, Japan, and Brazil, Chairman, House Budget Committee, Wash- Pea & Lentil Council, USA Rice Fed- among others, who annually prop their ington, DC. eration, Wheat Export Trade Education farmers up with subsidies that make Hon. KENT CONRAD, Committee. the United State’s support look like Ranking Member, Senate Budget Committee, pocket change. Washington, DC. AMERICAN FARM BUREAU FEDERATION, In recent years Congress has recog- Hon. JOHN SPRATT, Jr., Washington, DC, April 4, 2001. Ranking Member, House Budget Committee, Hon. BLANCHE LINCOLN, nized that farmers are suffering and de- Washington, DC. U.S. Senate, Dirksen Senate Office Building, livered emergency assistance to our DEAR GENTLEMEN: Recently, you received a Washington, DC. struggling ag community. copy of a letter we sent to the Chairmen of DEAR SENATOR LINCOLN: Thank you for of- Arkansas’ farmers could not have the Senate and House Agriculture Commit- fering an amendment to the FY ’02 Budget survived without this help. Nearly 40 tees requesting their help in providing sig- Resolution securing $9 billion for emergency percent of net farm income came from nificant additional funding for agriculture economic assistance for farmers and ranch- direct Government payments during over the next ten years. Since that time, we ers this year, and providing for an additional have continued to monitor and evaluate the $12 billion in each year 2002–2011. The Amer- the 2000 crop year. pressing needs facing agriculture and write ican Farm Bureau Federation supports your The trouble with this type of ad hoc today to share our further considerations proposal as a stand-alone amendment to approach is that farmers and creditors and conclusions with you. Chairman Domenici’s budget resolution. across the country never really know We wish to reiterate our strong belief that The current financial stress in U.S. agri- how or when the government is going agriculture will again need additional emer- culture is extraordinary and conditions are to step in and help. gency assistance in FY2001. While we seek not expected to appreciably improve in the Many of my farmers are scared to passage of a new Farm Bill at the earliest near future. The level of additional funding death that the assistance they have re- opportunity, it appears unlikely that a bill provided by your amendment is the same could be in place in time to impact producer level of additional assistance the American ceived in the past will be absent this decision-making for the 2002 crop year. If Farm Bureau Federation Board of Directors year because the tax cut and other that is indeed the case, farmers and ranchers concluded would be adequate to allow the spending programs have a higher pri- will likely need emergency assistance in Agriculture Committee to write multi-year, ority. FY2002 as well. comprehensive farm policy. Such additional

VerDate Mar 15 2010 03:09 Dec 20, 2013 Jkt 081600 PO 00000 Frm 00011 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 J:\ODA425\1997-2008-FILES-4-SS-PROJECT\2001-SENATE-REC-FILES\RECFILES-NEW\S mmaher on DSKCGSP4G1 with SOCIALSECURITY S3372 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE April 4, 2001 funding is needed for future farm policy ini- Mr. CONRAD. I ask the Senator from pass the Johnson amendment so we tiatives to provide more certainty for farm- Michigan if she would like time. clearly state that agriculture is a part ers and ranchers rather than year-by-year Ms. STABENOW. I would. of the budget vision for the next 10 emergency ad hoc assistance. Mr. CONRAD. How much time would Farmers and ranchers clearly prefer re- years. ceiving their income from the market. How- the Senator like? My concern about the Grassley ever, federal assistance will likely be nec- Ms. STABENOW. Five minutes. amendment, while I am sure it is well essary until such time as market conditions Mr. CONRAD. I yield 5 minutes to intended, is as we discussed last improve. the Senator from Michigan. evening: By choosing to go again to the Again, we appreciate your efforts, to se- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- contingency fund for any dollars being cure additional funding for agriculture. ator from Michigan. proposed, what we are doing is effec- Sincerely, Ms. STABENOW. Mr. President, I ap- tively raiding the Medicare trust fund. BOB STALLMAN, preciate the diligence of my distin- One of the priorities of the country, in President. guished colleague from North Dakota addition to a tax cut, would be to make The PRESIDING OFFICER. Who and his effective advocacy and hard sure there is a small amount of dollars yields time? work on the budget resolution. We there, critical dollars, for our farmers, If neither side yields time, time will have people on both sides of the aisle our agricultural producers, our ranch- be charged equally. who are working hard to put together a ers across the country. The Johnson Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, how vision and a framework for the next amendment will place agriculture as a much time do I have remaining? year and beyond, up to 10 years, for our priority. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- Unfortunately, the Grassley amend- ator has 5 minutes 27 seconds on the country—what are our values, what are our priorities. ment says we are going to dip into the amendments. contingency fund. We heard about that Mr. DOMENICI. Five minutes. How Again, we have a discussion about yesterday, and we will hear about it much time do they have? our priorities for the country, and we until this budget resolution passes. We The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- are focused on a very important part of will hear: Don’t worry about it; the ator from North Dakota has 9 minutes our economy, an important part of the contingency fund will take care of it. 36 seconds on the amendments. economy of Michigan. With my great Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, I won- State of Michigan, everyone thinks of Don’t worry about it; the contingency der if the Senator is going to use up automobiles. In fact, we have, in addi- fund is there, rather than specifically some of his time. I would like to make tion to a vibrant manufacturing econ- laying out the priorities of the coun- try. When we look at what that contin- a few remarks at the end. omy, one of the strongest agricultural Mr. CONRAD. Mr. President, while economies in the United States and, in gency fund is, it is the Medicare trust we are waiting—we had a Senator call fact, in the world. Next to California, fund. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The time and request time, so we will wait for we produce more diverse crops than of the Senator from Michigan has ex- that Senator. I hope to give her time. any other State in the Union. We are very proud of that. pired. I see her entering the Chamber now. Ms. STABENOW. I urge adoption of Let me go back to the point I was My concern is that in Michigan, as in the Johnson amendment and a ‘‘no’’ making earlier because I think it is all of our States, we are seeing farmers in great trouble. As I have been here vote on the Grassley amendment. critically important for our colleagues The PRESIDING OFFICER. Who only 4 years in the House of Represent- to understand. I think everybody yields time? Time will be charged atives on the Agriculture Committee knows that this Senator is strongly equally against both sides. supportive of additional resources for and now in the Senate on the Agri- The Senator from New Mexico. agriculture. We have an amendment culture Committee, I hear from my Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, I that does that in a straightforward way family farmers, my producers, about apologize for the time that we didn’t without taking money from trust how they are working harder, they are get into a quorum and were not doing funds, the Johnson amendment. producing more, and their paycheck is any business. How much time do I have The problem is the Grassley amend- less; their prices go down. Every year I remaining? ment we will vote on first, which pro- have been here, we have, in fact, passed The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- vides less of an increase in agriculture an emergency supplemental to help our ator has 4 minutes 18 seconds. and does it in a way that invades the farmers. Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, I will trust fund of Medicare in the years My concern about this budget resolu- wrap up. 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2008. I don’t believe tion is that we do not guarantee we I thank Senator GRASSLEY for taking that is the way we want to fund addi- will build in the resources for the farm the lead on this issue. Clearly, I thank tional resources for agriculture. That bill we are now working on in the Agri- Senator ZELL MILLER for being the would be a serious mistake. culture Committee and the needs of ag- prime cosponsor. For all those in the It is very clear. If one looks at the riculture over the next 10 years. Senate who want a practical, respon- Republican budget and the Grassley We have two approaches in front of sible addition to the farm surplus, the prescription drug amendment that us this morning. I am sure they are farm program moneys over the next 10 passed yesterday, and then the Grass- sincere approaches by colleagues. One I years, this is the right amendment. ley agricultural amendment that is believe is the right direction; one I be- Let me make sure everybody under- pending, and looks at the year-by-year lieve is the wrong direction. stands right off the bat there is one totals, one sees they are raiding and in- The right direction is the Johnson very big distinction, and that is, once vading the Medicare trust fund in the amendment that will guarantee we are again, in order to spend more on a pro- year 2005 by $15 billion, they are raid- putting aside dollars, $9 billion this gram, the other side of the aisle would ing the Medicare trust fund in the year year, in order to have an emergency re- take it out of the $1.6 trillion tax cut 2006 by $13 billion, they are raiding the sponse if we need it before the farm bill that is planned in this budget resolu- Medicare trust fund in the year 2007 by is in place, and then $8 billion a year to tion. If we start down that road for $10 billion, they are raiding the Medi- guarantee we are addressing a wide va- each major amendment, the way we care trust fund in the year 2008 by $4 riety of needs, whether it is conserva- fund it is to take money out of what billion. That is a total of $42 billion tion, our crop insurance system, the the people were going to get in tax taken out of the Medicare trust fund. I specialty crops in Michigan that are so cuts, then Katie bar the door. Where do don’t think that is the way to fund ag- important, that we need to address in we end up? Enough said about that. riculture or anything else. Colleagues the farm bill. All the areas that need to That is a very big difference. We do not should be aware of what they are vot- be addressed in the farm bill—rural de- take this money to pay for this pro- ing on and what the effect would be. velopment, research extension—are im- gram, the Grassley-Miller amendment, Mr. President, what is the time re- portant priorities for the country. out of the tax cuts that are going to maining on our side? We have a stake in making sure that the American people. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The time agriculture is strong in our country. Essentially this program will cost $59 remaining is 6 minutes 57 seconds. The only way to guarantee that is to billion over the decade, with about $5

VerDate Mar 15 2010 03:09 Dec 20, 2013 Jkt 081600 PO 00000 Frm 00012 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 J:\ODA425\1997-2008-FILES-4-SS-PROJECT\2001-SENATE-REC-FILES\RECFILES-NEW\S mmaher on DSKCGSP4G1 with SOCIALSECURITY April 4, 2001 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S3373 billion of it going into this year and U.S. SENATE, ment for the 1996 Farm Bill can be enacted. the balance going into the remaining 10 Washington, DC, March 30, 2001. Specifically, since conditions are not appre- years. It sends the money to the func- Hon. PETE V. DOMENICI, ciably improved for 2001, we support making tion called agriculture, wherein it Chairman, Committee on the Budget, U.S. Sen- market loss assistance available so that the ate, Washington, DC. awaits a farm bill that has that much total amount of assistance available through Hon. KENT CONRAD, the 2001 Agricultural Market Transition Act latitude without taking money from Ranking Member, Committee on the Budget, payment and the Market Loss Assistance any other parts of the budget or be- Washington, DC. payments will be the same as was available coming subject to a point of order. DEAR CHAIRMAN DOMENICI AND SENATOR for the 2000 crop. We understand it is unusual Is that enough? According to the ex- CONRAD: We request that at least $10 billion to ask that funds to be made available in the perts we have who put this together, in emergency economic assistance for agri- current fiscal year be provided in a budget clearly if you are going to put together culture for the 2001 crop year be included in resolution covering the next fiscal year, but something practical, pragmatic, not the fiscal year 2002 budget resolution. We the financial stress in U.S. agriculture is ex- trying to get more than you need, not also ask that the budget resolution contain traordinary. an increase in the annual baseline spending trying to push other things out but, for agriculture for subsequent crop years by According to USDA and other prominent rather, recognizing agriculture’s appro- at least $12 billion over fiscal years 2002–2011. agriculture economists, the U.S. agricultural priate place among myriad very impor- Economic forecasts for agriculture remain economy continues to face persistent low tant programs, then this is a good bleak for the 2001 growing season and beyond prices and depressed farm income. According amendment. due to the continuation of collapsed com- to testimony presented by USDA on Feb- Clearly, the $63.5 billion that is in modity prices, while input costs—most nota- ruary 14, 2001, ‘‘a strong rebound in farm this bill, including the first year—the bly fuel and fertilizer—skyrocket. We believe prices and income from the market place for that Congress must continue to support agri- major crops appears unlikely . . . assum- year we are in—you add it to the base ing no supplemental assistance, net cash in this budget and the supports for ag- culture in order to prevent massive farm failures, which would cripple rural America’s farm income in 2001 is projected to be the riculture amount to—let me repeat economy and could further dampen the gen- lowest level since 1994and about $4 billion this number—$157 billion. That is the eral economy. We cannot allow this to hap- below the average of the 1990’s.’’ The USDA kind of support that comes from distin- pen, especially during this time of national statement also said . . . ‘‘(a) national farm guished Senators who know agri- economic uncertainty. financial crisis has not occurred in large part culture, such as Senator GRASSLEY and As you know, the funds devoted to agri- due to record government payments and Senator MILLER. culture in the fiscal year 1997 budget were greater off-farm income.’’ You know, enough is enough. The cut substantially to help reduce our nation’s In addition to sluggish demand and chron- other side would have us spend $97 bil- ballooning deficits. The farm bill enacted in ically low prices, U.S. farmers and ranchers lion over that same period of time. I 1996 was therefore insufficient to fully ad- are experiencing rapidly increasing input dress the last three years of collapsed com- costs including fuel, fertilizer and interest submit for all Senators to consider, modity prices and weather disasters. Con- that is just more than enough. That is rates. According to USDA, ‘‘increases in pe- sequently, Congress has been forced to pro- troleum prices and interest rates along with sort of asking all the rest of the Amer- vide approximately $25 billion in emergency higher prices for other inputs, including ican taxpayers and all of those expect- aid to Agriculture since 1998. hired labor increased farmers’ production ex- ing to get a tax cut—that is saying to We believe the budget resolution must al- penses by 4 percent of $7.6 billion in 2000, and them, all of your claims are second locate a level of funding adequate for Con- for 2001 cash production expenses are fore- rate to an exorbitant agricultural bill. gress to write a new farm bill that meets the cast to increase further. At the same time, I say that because I depend upon people needs of farmers and insures the future of major crop prices for the 2000–01 season are our rural communities. Producers should not expected to register only modest improve- such as CHUCK GRASSLEY, from an agri- be held hostage to the unpredictability of cultural State, still a farmer, who un- ment from last year’s 15–25 year lows, re- politics and annual ad hoc payments. flecting another year of large global produc- derstands all of these issues inti- Finally, we wish to go on record as sup- tion of major crops and ample stocks.’’ mately. He submits this measure to the porting the position already taken by our Senate as rational, reasonable, and colleagues—Senators Cochran, Hutchinson, During the last 3 years, Congress has pro- Breaux, Landrieu, Bond, Sessions, Lincoln, vided significant levels of emergency eco- enough money to be sent to the Agri- nomic assistance through so-called Market culture Committee upon which a new Shelby, Bunning, Helms, McConnell, Craig, Cleland, Inhofe, Thurmond, Fitzgerald, Mil- Loss Assistance payments and disaster as- agricultural bill can be drawn. ler, Frist, Thomas, Hutchison and Hagel—on sistance for weather related losses. During I reserve the remainder of my time. this issue in their letter dated March 13, 2001. the last three years, the Commodity Credit The PRESIDING OFFICER. Who We thank you for your attention to this Corporation has provided about $72 billion in yields time? issue. economic and weather related loss assistance Mr. CONRAD. Mr. President, how Sincerely, and conservation payments. The Congres- much time do I have? Byron Dorgan, Conrad Burns, Tom sional Budget Office and USDA project that The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- Daschle, Mike Enzi, Tom Harkin, E. expenditures for 2001 will be $14–17 billion ator has 1 minute 37 seconds. Ben Nelson, John Edwards, Dick Dur- without additional market or weather loss Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, I ask bin, Mark Dayton, Max Baucus, Jay assistance. With projections that farm in- unanimous consent that Senators Rockefeller IV, Tim Johnson, Carl come will not improve in the near future, we believe it is vitally important to provide at HAGEL and HUTCHINSON be added as co- Levin, Patty Murray, Patrick Leahy, Debbie Stabenow, Maria Cantwell, Ron least as much total economic assistance for sponsors. 2001 and 2002 as was provided for the 2000 The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without Wyden, Herb Kohl, Jean Carnahan, Evan Bayh. crop. objection, it is so ordered. Mr. CONRAD. Mr. President, I ask Mr. CONRAD. I also ask unanimous Congress has begun to evaluate replace- ment farm policy. In order to provide effec- unanimous consent that Senator BAU- consent that this letter be printed in the RECORD. It is a request to Senator tive, predictable financial support which also CUS and Senator DAYTON be shown as allows farmers and ranchers to be competi- DOMENICI from Southern Senators, Re- cosponsors of the Johnson amendment. tive, sufficient funding will be needed to The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without publicans and Democrats, for an allow the Agriculture Committee to ulti- objection, it is so ordered. amount of money that is actually in mately develop a comprehensive package Mr. CONRAD. Mr. President, I want the Johnson amendment. covering major commodities in addition to to enter into the RECORD letters from There being no objection, the letter livestock and specialty crops, rural develop- Senators requesting approximately $10 was ordered to be printed in the ment, trade, and conservation initiatives. billion a year to be added over this 10- RECORD, as follows: Until new legislation can be enacted, it is es- sential that Congress provide emergency year period to the support for agri- U.S. SENATE, economic assistance necessary to alleviate Washington, DC, March 13, 2001. culture. This is a letter from 44 Sen- the current financial crisis. ators, including 19 Republicans, asking Hon. PETE V. DOMENICI, for an amount of money—actually ask- Chairman, Committee on the Budget, U.S. Sen- We realize these recommendations add sig- ate, Washington, DC. nificantly to projected outlays for farm pro- ing for somewhat more than is in the DEAR PETE: We are writing to request your grams. Our farmers and ranchers clearly pre- Johnson amendment. assistance in including appropriate language fer receiving their income from the market. There being no objection, the letter in the FY02 budget resolution so that emer- However, while they strive to further reduce was ordered to be printed in the gency economic loss assistance can be made costs and expand markets, federal assistance RECORD, as follows: available for 2001 and 2002 or until a replace- will be necessary until conditions improve.

VerDate Mar 15 2010 03:09 Dec 20, 2013 Jkt 081600 PO 00000 Frm 00013 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 J:\ODA425\1997-2008-FILES-4-SS-PROJECT\2001-SENATE-REC-FILES\RECFILES-NEW\S mmaher on DSKCGSP4G1 with SOCIALSECURITY S3374 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE April 4, 2001 We appreciate your consideration of our research is vital to maintaining and building The alternative that is presented by views. upon efficiencies, improving profitability, Senators Johnson and Conrad would Sincerely, protecting the environment, developing new simply create a $97 billion entitlement, Thad Cochran, John Breaux, Tim Hutch- markets and uses, and addressing emerging put on automatic pilot, massive gov- inson, Mary Landrieu, Kit Bond, Jeff issues. Sessions, Blanche Lincoln, Richard The rural development programs adminis- ernment spending, when we haven’t Shelby, Jim Bunning, Jesse Helms, tered through the U.S. Department of Agri- even written a new farm bill. No logic Mitch MCConnell, Larry Craig, Max culture are also important. Rural economic whatsoever exists to support such an Cleland, James Inhofe, Strom Thur- development programs are increasingly val- amendment. mond, Peter Fitzgerald, Zell Miller, ued in rural America. In light of a distressed The only purpose of the amendment Bill Frist, Craig Thomas, Kay Bailey agricultural economy and declining resource is to take $97 billion away from the tax Hutchison, Chuck Hagel. industries, these programs are urgently cut. So what this amendment really Mr. CONRAD. Mr. President, I ask needed. Additionally, infrastructure needs in rural areas are high and increasing federal does is reduce the tax cut, which means unanimous consent to have printed in mandates add to these costs. Rural develop- either we aren’t going to repeal the the RECORD a letter from Senator ment programs are helpful to rural commu- death tax, or we are not going to repeal CRAPO asking for an amount of money nities trying to comply with the dispropor- the marriage penalty, or we are not actually somewhat more than is in the tionate costs of federal mandates. going to double the child credit exemp- Johnson amendment. Adequate steps should be taken to ensure tion, or we are not going to reduce There being no objection, the letter these essential programs are funded. I am rates. Instead, this amendment takes was ordered to be printed in the confident that the budget resolution can pro- vide flexibility for emergency economic as- $97 billion away from the tax cut and RECORD, as follows: sistance and increase baselines in a fiscally- creates an entitlement before we have U.S. SENATE, responsible manner. Please rest assured that even written a farm bill. Washington, DC, March 28, 2001. I remain committed to a balanced budget So this may be disguised as an agri- Hon. KENT CONRAD, and will work with the Committee to cultural amendment, but this is really Ranking Member, Committee on the Budget, prioritize competing needs. an amendment to reduce the tax cut. Washington, DC. Thank you for your consideration of this I hope my colleagues will vote for the DEAR SENATOR CONRAD: I write to request request. your assistance in including flexibility in Grassley-Miller amendment. It sets out Sincerely, funding for this year, to address real the Fiscal Year 2002 budget resolution to ad- MIKE CRAPO, dress the needs of America’s agricultural U.S. Senator. problems in agriculture, it provides a projected level of funding for the next community. The budget resolution should Mr. CONRAD. Mr. President, the provide for emergency economic assistance 10 years, and it allows us to write a question of the amount of money is for agricultural producers until the next new farm bill. guided by what our competitors are farm bill can be enacted. Additionally, ade- How are we going to write a rational doing. The Europeans, who are our quate baseline funding for agriculture needs farm bill if we have already committed major competitors, are outspending us is vital. to an entitlement of almost $100 bil- The U.S. agricultural economy continues by a very wide margin. The amount of lion? Does that make any sense what- to face persistent low prices and low farm in- money in the Johnson amendment is soever? The answer is no. The Johnson- come. A rebound is unlikely in the near fu- intended to approach what our major Conrad amendment should be rejected. ture. In fact, U.S. net farm income is ex- competitors are doing. It doesn’t equal pected to drop 9 percent in 2001. Recognizing I urge my colleagues, especially the importance of a safe, affordable, and them, but it is to at least give our those who are inclined to vote against abundant domestic food supply. Congress has farmers a fair, fighting chance. both amendments to support the Grass- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- provided producers with supplemental farm ley-Miller amendment—life is about ator’s time has expired. assistance for the last three years. This as- choices, and we have a very big evil sistance has been vital to operator viability. Who yields time? Although our farmers and ranchers would Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, I here in the Johnson-Conrad amend- prefer to receive their income from the mar- yield 5 minutes of the remaining time ment. I suggest we go with the Grass- ket, they are facing desperate times. While to Senator GRAMM. ley-Miller alternative in order to pro- they work to reduce costs and expand mar- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- vide funding that we know we are kets, we must do what we can to assist them. ator from Texas is recognized for 5 going to need this year to address cur- Supplemental support should continue until minutes. rent problems in agriculture—it would Congress enacts a new farm bill and flexi- Mr. GRAMM. Mr. President, I thank be better to do it through the normal bility to provide this funding should be in- process under an emergency designa- cluded in the budget resolution. Senator DOMENICI for yielding. As a new farm bill is developed, it is also Let me first say to my colleagues tion, but that is not the choice. Then important that we increase the baseline for that I have concerns with both of these we can write a farm bill, and, having a agriculture related budget functions. In addi- amendments. We should wait until the farm bill before us, we can make a ra- tion to the demands of the commodity pro- new farm bill is written before budg- tional decision about how much money grams, current funding levels do not reflect eting money to spend on agricultural we need for the future. It may be less the growing need for increased market ac- programs over the next 10 years. than $97 billion; it may be more than cess, conservation, research, and rural devel- Our colleague from North Dakota $97 billion. But the idea of committing opment funding. talks about how much the Europeans In a global economy, agricultural profit- money in the year 2001 in an entitle- ability is tied to foreign markets. Trade is spend subsidizing production and ex- ment, when we have not even written a critical to the future of agriculture. It must ports and then holds that out as a farm bill, really insults our intel- be free and fair, unfortunately, at this time standard for something we should be ligence. we have neither. Increases in the budget will doing. His argument basically is to I urge my colleagues to vote for the allow for additional funding for market ac- imitate the worst, most inefficient Grassley-Miller amendment and to cess programs, while barriers are reduced farm program in the history of the vote against the Johnson-Conrad and inequities addressed. world—a program that would make a amendment. I think this is an impor- America’s farmers are working to meet in- tant issue. If we adopt the Johnson- creasing environmental regulations and commissar from the old Soviet Union reach their own stewardship goals. It is im- have an uneasy stomach. Conrad amendment, we are going to set portant that we provide them with funding I am going to vote for the Grassley- a precedent that indicates we are not to meet the demand for clean air and water, Miller amendment for a very simple necessarily interested in farm policy, wildlife habitat, and open spaces. Increasing reason; that is, it provides funds in the we are just interested in a bid to re- the natural resources and environment base- budget for this year and sets out an ex- duce the tax cut in order to fund a pro- line will provide producers the technical and pectation of funding over the next ten gram which has yet to be devised. financial assistance necessary to allow them years, while allowing us to write a So I want everybody to remember, if to succeed and remain good stewards of the farm bill and determine what is really you vote for the Johnson amendment, environment. Increasing the agricultural baseline will needed in order for rural America to you are taking money out of repealing also allow us to support important research prosper. Of the two approaches, the the marriage penalty, or doubling the efforts. America’s farmers and ranchers are Grassley-Miller amendment is by far dependent exemption for children, or the most efficient in the world. Agricultural the more rational option. repealing the death tax, or reducing

VerDate Mar 15 2010 03:09 Dec 20, 2013 Jkt 081600 PO 00000 Frm 00014 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 J:\ODA425\1997-2008-FILES-4-SS-PROJECT\2001-SENATE-REC-FILES\RECFILES-NEW\S mmaher on DSKCGSP4G1 with SOCIALSECURITY April 4, 2001 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S3375 rates. It has to come from somewhere. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there a touch the Medicare trust fund. It funds I urge my colleagues to support the sufficient second? the money out of the tax cut. Grassley-Miller amendment. There is a sufficient second. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- I yield the floor. The question is on agreeing to ator from New Mexico. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under amendment No. 174. The clerk will call Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, I the previous order, there are 2 minutes the roll. thank all Senators who supported the evenly divided before vote on the The legislative clerk called the roll. Grassley amendment. Grassley amendment. The result was announced—yeas 51, Now we consider another amend- Who yields time? nays 49, as follows: ment. For those who are worried about The Senator from North Dakota is [Rollcall Vote No. 67 Leg.] how much we are going to spend on ag- recognized. YEAS—51 riculture, this amendment would in- Mr. CONRAD. Mr. President, the Allard Fitzgerald Miller crease the spending on agriculture to a Senator from Texas makes a very in- Allen Frist Murkowski total of $98 billion, all of which will teresting proposition. He said write a Bennett Gramm Nickles come out of the taxes we intend to give new farm bill and then decide on the Bond Grassley Roberts Brownback Gregg Santorum back to the American people. budget. Bunning Hagel Sessions We have done the numbers. We don’t That has it exactly backwards. That Burns Hatch Shelby touch the Medicare trust fund. I will is not how we do business. We decide on Campbell Helms Smith (NH) Chafee Hutchinson Smith (OR) give Senators the numbers. The total a budget; then we write a farm pro- Cochran Hutchison Snowe contingency fund is 845. Take off the gram. Collins Inhofe Specter Medicare trust fund, you have 453 left. I also remind my colleagues that the Craig Jeffords Stevens Of that, the Grassley amendment uses amount of money being sought in the Crapo Kyl Thomas DeWine Lott Thompson $59 billion. We don’t touch Medicare in Johnson amendment is the amount of Domenici Lugar Thurmond any year, nor do we touch it over the 10 money we have had each of the last 3 Ensign McCain Voinovich years. Actually, I believe we have done years to cope with this farm crisis—the Enzi McConnell Warner the right thing. lowest prices in 75 years. That is the NAYS—49 We ought to turn this amendment basis of the calculation of the need. Akaka Dodd Lieberman down. We have had a good vote. We The amendment of the Senator from Baucus Dorgan Lincoln ought to leave it as a good vote and Iowa restricts us to far less than we Bayh Durbin Mikulski make sure that what is passed is what have had each of the last 3 years to Biden Edwards Murray Bingaman Feingold Nelson (FL) we do for agriculture. Mr. GRASSLEY, meet this farm crisis. It is also true Boxer Feinstein Nelson (NE) who knows more than the average Sen- that our major competitors are out- Breaux Graham Reed ator, put this together with the distin- spending us 10 to 1 in support for their Byrd Harkin Reid Cantwell Hollings guished Senator from Georgia. They Rockefeller producers and are outspending us 30 to Carnahan Inouye worked hard on it. It is a good amend- Sarbanes 1 in export assistance. It is no wonder Carper Johnson Schumer ment. Thanks for adopting it. our farmers do not have a level playing Cleland Kennedy Clinton Kerry Stabenow Don’t undo what you did by voting field. Conrad Kohl Torricelli for the pending amendment. Finally, the Grassley amendment Corzine Landrieu Wellstone The PRESIDING OFFICER. The raids the Medicare trust fund to sup- Daschle Leahy Wyden question is on agreeing to amendment Dayton Levin port the additional resources for agri- No. 176. culture. That is a mistake. The amendment (No. 174) was agreed Mr. GREGG. Mr. President, I ask for The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- to. the yeas and nays. ator from New Mexico. Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, I The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there a Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, I have move to reconsider the vote. sufficient second? 1 minute? Mr. CRAIG. I move to lay that mo- There seems to be a sufficient second. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Yes, 1 tion on the table. The clerk will call the roll. minute. The motion to lay on the table was The assistant legislative clerk called Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, frank- agreed to. the roll. ly, I do not have a lot more to say. It AMENDMENT NO. 176 The result was announced—yeas 47, seems as if we are adopting a policy of, The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. BUN- nays 53, as follows: if we have any time, we ought to use it, NING). Under the previous order, there [Rollcall Vote No. 68 Leg.] so I am going to use it. will now be 2 minutes of debate prior to YEAS—47 I remind everyone, if they want a the vote on or in relation to the John- farm bill that adds substantial money son amendment. Akaka Dodd Levin Baucus Dorgan Lieberman to the program over the next decade, it Mr. CONRAD. Mr. President, a par- Bayh Durbin Lincoln is my recommendation they vote for liamentary inquiry. Biden Edwards Mikulski the first amendment, the one Senator The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- Bingaman Feingold Murray Boxer Feinstein GRASSLEY has put together with ZELL Nelson (FL) ator will state his inquiry. Breaux Graham MILLER. If my colleagues do not, we Mr. CONRAD. How much time was Nelson (NE) Byrd Harkin Reed Cantwell Hollings will have no agricultural bill, it seems consumed on the last vote? Reid Carnahan Inouye to me, looking at how things are. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Fifty Rockefeller Cleland Johnson Sarbanes For those who do not want to vote minutes. Clinton Kennedy for the Grassley-Miller amendment and Mr. CONRAD. Fifty minutes. I thank Conrad Kerry Schumer hold out, just remember: You may get the Chair. Corzine Kohl Stabenow Wellstone no agricultural bill if you do that. The Mr. President, we have just passed, Daschle Landrieu Dayton Leahy Wyden better approach is in the Grassley after a 50-minute vote, a measure that amendment. I believe it is fair; it is raids the Medicare trust fund in the NAYS—53 reasonable; it is rational. And clearly a years 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2008 to the Allard DeWine Inhofe new farm bill built around these num- tune of $42 billion. That is what the Allen Domenici Jeffords Bennett Ensign Kyl bers might, indeed, pass the Congress. amendment just passed does. It raids Bond Enzi Lott If my colleagues think they are going the Medicare trust fund in each and Brownback Fitzgerald Lugar to pass one with much more than that, every one of those years to supply Bunning Frist McCain Burns Gramm McConnell they are just dreaming. I yield the more resources to agriculture. Campbell Grassley Miller floor. This amendment provides additional Carper Gregg Murkowski The PRESIDING OFFICER. The yeas resources to agriculture, but it does it Chafee Hagel Nickles and nays have not been ordered. the right way. It doesn’t touch any of Cochran Hatch Roberts Collins Helms Santorum Mr. CONRAD. I ask for the yeas and the trust funds. It doesn’t touch the Craig Hutchinson Sessions nays. Social Security trust fund. It does not Crapo Hutchison Shelby

VerDate Mar 15 2010 03:09 Dec 20, 2013 Jkt 081600 PO 00000 Frm 00015 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 J:\ODA425\1997-2008-FILES-4-SS-PROJECT\2001-SENATE-REC-FILES\RECFILES-NEW\S mmaher on DSKCGSP4G1 with SOCIALSECURITY S3376 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE April 4, 2001 Smith (NH) Stevens Torricelli will hold the schools accountable but lion we have in our plan is still about Smith (OR) Thomas Voinovich then you will not give them the re- one-third as much as the President Snowe Thompson Warner Specter Thurmond sources. As my colleague and my chief wants to give to the wealthiest 1 per- The amendment (No. 176) was re- cosponsor, Senator WELLSTONE, has cent of Americans. So our priorities jected. said many times, you are setting them are to put the money in education and Mr. HARKIN. I move to reconsider up for failure when you do that. If you not in tax breaks for the wealthiest. the vote by which the amendment was want schools to be accountable—and This amendment will put the re- agreed to. we all do—we have to get them the re- sources in place so we truly can hold Mr. WELLSTONE. I move to lay that sources they need. schools and teachers accountable. We motion on the table. We need to use our budget surpluses meet the following five goals by the The motion to lay on the table was to prepare for the future by paying end of this decade. The first goal is all agreed to. down the debt and investing in edu- children will start school ready to Mr. HARKIN. Mr. President, I will cation. That is why, along with the learn. If that sounds familiar, that is shortly send an amendment to the desk many other Senators, I am proposing a because that was the first goal set up that deals with education, which I plan to truly leave no child behind. Co- by the Governors Commission which think should be the No. 1 priority of sponsors of this amendment are Sen- was headed by a Republican Governor, this Congress. Quite frankly, the Presi- ators WELLSTONE, KENNEDY, MURRAY, I might say, 11 years ago. So that dent has said it should be our No. 1 pri- BINGAMAN, CLINTON, DAYTON, ROCKE- ought to be the first national goal in ority. The American people think it FELLER, CORZINE, MIKULSKI, REED of education, to have all children ready should be our No. 1 priority. Yet in the Rhode Island, REID of Nevada, SAR- and able to learn. budget before the Senate, education is BANES, KERRY, LANDRIEU, and DASCHLE. We know that a child who partici- somewhere down towards the bottom. We have heard a lot of talk about the pates in Head Start is more likely to This amendment I will shortly send to importance of education. We have graduate from high school and less the desk will move it up to the top tier. heard it from our President, President likely to end up in jail or on welfare. Mr. BYRD. Will the Senator yield? Bush. He said: ‘‘My administration has However, less than 70 percent of chil- Mr. HARKIN. I am happy to yield. no greater priority than education.’’ dren eligible for Head Start are receiv- Mr. BYRD. Does not the Senator be- That was during the swearing-in cere- ing it. Our amendment would fully lieve that the administration’s fore- mony for Dr. Paige as the new Sec- fund the Head Start Program so every most priority is a $1.6 billion tax cut? retary of Education. I was there. I eligible 3- and 4-year-old child will get Mr. HARKIN. I will show that shortly heard him say that. He also said: ‘‘It’s the services they need so they can on my charts. important for us to have the national start school ready to learn. Mr. BYRD. Very well. goal of every child being educated in No. 2, all students will be educated Mr. HARKIN. I will absolutely show the best public school system possible by a highly qualified teacher in a class- that is their top priority. on the face of Earth.’’ That was Presi- room that is not overcrowded. Project Mr. BYRD. I am waiting with bated dent Bush on CNN Columbus, OH, Feb- STAR studied 7,000 students in 80 breath. ruary 20. schools in Tennessee. They found stu- Mr. HARKIN. I appreciate Senator The President said there is no great- dents in smaller classes performed bet- BYRD bringing that up. er priority than education. Let’s check ter. We know that. But now we have Our country was founded on an ideal the facts and look at the President’s the data to show it. These students that no matter who you are or the cir- budget priorities about which Senator were less likely to drop out of high cumstances of your birth, no matter BYRD just spoke. Now we see reality schools, more likely to graduate in the how much money your parents have or versus rhetoric. The President said he top 25 percent of their classes. Our don’t have, if you are willing to work wants to leave no child behind; he amendment increases our investment hard, study, and get a good education, wants education to be the No. 1 pri- in the Class Size Reduction Program to you can be a success. This is the Amer- ority; he wants our kids educated in meet our goal of hiring 100,000 extra ican dream. the best public school system possible teachers in 2005, and to reduce class Unfortunately, the dream is slipping on the face of the Earth. away. It is slipping because our class- And here is the budget. The Bush tax sizes in grades 1 through 3 to no more rooms are overcrowded, our schools are cut for the wealthiest 1 percent, over 10 than 18 children. crumbling, and our students don’t have years, is $697 billion. Keep in mind this Our amendment would also provide a the educational tools from preschool to is for the wealthiest 1 percent. Bush’s fourfold increase in professional devel- college they need to learn. For years education plan is $21.3 billion over 10 opment to provide our teachers with we have been nibbling around the edges years. What are the priorities? A tax the opportunity to acquire the knowl- for a solution; we tweak a program cut for the wealthiest, $697 billion; edu- edge and skills they need. We hear a lot here, tweak another program there, cation, $21.3 billion. The President’s of talk about improving reading skills. but we have not made a real dent in entire budget devotes $1.6 trillion of If you want to improve reading skills, education reform. the surplus to tax cuts. Only $21.3 bil- get smaller class sizes so the teachers The fact is, now only 2 cents of every lion is for education. The tax cut that can work with the students. $1 is invested in education. That is not the President is proposing is 76 times I yield what time he may want to the enough. Ask the constituents in Mon- greater than the investments he would Senator from Minnesota. tana or Iowa, in any town meeting: Of provide for education. These are the The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- every Federal dollar we spend, how wrong priorities. It is time to put the ator from Minnesota. much goes for education? Ask your priorities right. Mr. WELLSTONE. Mr. President, I constituents. I have gotten answers Our amendment will truly leave no thank the Senator from Iowa for his from 25 cents to 10 cents to 12 cents to child behind. The education plan we courtesy. I appreciate it. 8 cents. I have never gotten the right are sending to the desk in this amend- The Senator from Iowa has laid out answer, which is 2 cents. Two cents out ment provides $250 billion in education some figures. I am going to try to do of every Federal dollar that we spend over the next 10 years; the President’s this a different way. goes to education. That just is not plan is $21.3 billion. Our investment is This is called the leave-no-child-be- enough. It shows that education is not 12 times that proposed by the President hind amendment. I had a chance to a top priority. but about one-third of what he wants visit with some students from St. In this new century, we need a new to give in tax breaks to the wealthiest Cloud, MN. Right now there are not plan for American education, a bold, 1 percent of Americans. Let me repeat many Senators in the Chamber, so we daring plan to demand true account- that: Our investment in this plan is are just laying out the amendment. ability from our schools but also to about 12 times what the President There will be plenty of debate about provide the resources they need to wants to put in education over the next this because there comes a point in meet the standards and to be held ac- 10 years: $250 billion in our plan, $21.3 time where you have to back up your countable. It is one thing to say you billion in the Bush plan. The $250 bil- words with the resources.

VerDate Mar 15 2010 03:09 Dec 20, 2013 Jkt 081600 PO 00000 Frm 00016 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 J:\ODA425\1997-2008-FILES-4-SS-PROJECT\2001-SENATE-REC-FILES\RECFILES-NEW\S mmaher on DSKCGSP4G1 with SOCIALSECURITY April 4, 2001 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S3377 I say to the Senator from Iowa, I am bate this is going to be the litmus test there are entirely too many teachers very proud to introduce this amend- vote. I said it before. I will say it again who are working under really difficult ment with him and to be a chief co- on the floor. When President Bush, in circumstances who do not have up-to- sponsor of this amendment. For me, his inaugural speech, talked about date textbooks, do not have the tech- this is what this debate is all about. leaving no child behind, I was moved. nology we need, are underpaid; and This is a values question. This is my passion: children, young without the resources, many men and I have said it on the floor before, and people, education. I thought those were women aren’t going into teaching any I am going to say it one more time. beautiful words. longer. When the Senator from Iowa talked The fact is, look at these tax cuts. When are we going to get real? about Head Start, making sure that Let me repeat this one more time. One- I like this amendment because this children are kindergarten ready, he third of the children in America live in leave-no-child-behind amendment de- made the point that kids who are kin- homes that do not get one penny from fines education, not K through 12, but dergarten ready are less likely to be these tax cuts; one-half of African prekindergarten all the way through behind and less likely to fall behind in American children live in homes that age 65. school and are also less likely to get in do not get one cent from these tax Right now, the report on most of the trouble. cuts; and 57 percent of Hispanic chil- kids who are in child care is that it is I enjoy saying this. The truth is we dren live in homes that will not receive inadequate and too dangerous. We are should help these little kids—not just one cent from these tax cuts. talking about a real investment here. because if we help them when they are When are we going to make the in- We have had all of these studies, all little, they are more likely to do well vestment in education? In children? of these books, and all of these con- in school or less likely to be in trouble When are we going to make sure we ferences about the development of the or more likely to go on to college—we live up to our words? brain. When are we going to get serious about investing in early childhood de- should help these little kids at the I am looking at this budget in a velopment? Head Start level because they are all broad outline. Next week we are going The taconite workers on the iron to see the specifics. When we see the under 4 feet tall and they are all beau- range, and a whole lot of other people specifics, let me tell you people in Min- tiful and we should be nice to them. from farm country in Minnesota where nesota and people around the country Nothing else needs to be said. we have a price crisis, and family farm- My God, what are we going to do? are going to hold all of us accountable. ers who don’t get a decent price—many Are we going to put our resources into We already know this much. We now of them are being driven off their Robin-Hood-in-reverse tax cuts? Paul know that there are going to be cuts— farms. Many of them will have to go Krugman had a piece today in the New cuts in child care programs, the back to work. Many of them will not York Times where he said, actually, CCDBG program, when only 12 percent go back to work but are going to have when you figure this out, over 50 per- of low-income families, much less mid- to go back to school. Many of them are cent of these tax cut benefits are going dle-income families, can afford child going to go to our community colleges. to go to the top 1 percent of the popu- care and get any assistance. Where is the Pell grant assistance? lation. There are going to be cuts in pro- Can’t we expand the Pell Grant Pro- Senators, do you want to vote for a grams for prevention of child abuse. gram? Can’t we expand the Head Start tax cut heavily weighted to the top 1 There are going to be cuts in the train- Program? Can’t we make the commit- percent of the population or do you ing for doctors in our children’s hos- ment to school modernization? Can’t want to vote for this amendment which pitals where there are some of the most we try to reduce class size? Can’t we do really is about making sure we leave sick and vulnerable children. better for teacher training? no child behind? What do we do? We are I ask you, President of the United Any day of the year, I say to my good talking about $200 billion that goes to States of America, President Bush: friend, including the Senator from New debt reduction and $250 billion that How do you realize the goal of leaving Mexico, I want to say to people in Min- goes to education, as we look over the no child behind when you cut these nesota in any coffee shop anywhere, next 10 years, which means what? It programs? You cannot realize the goal that I would far prefer to put much means we get to the point of fully fund- of leaving no child behind on a tin-cup more money into children and edu- ing the IDEA program for kids with education budget: $23 billion versus cation—the IDEA program, title I, the special needs. $250 billion that Senator HARKIN and I afterschool program, Head Start—than At every school I visit in Minnesota, have brought to the floor of the Sen- Robin-Hood-in-reverse tax cuts where everybody I meet tells me: Listen, if ate. everyone here knows that the vast per- you would just provide the funding for I want to make another point be- centage of the benefits go to the very the IDEA program, it would help us out cause I think this is the vote. This is top 1 percent, the wealthiest and high- so much in our own finances. the vote when it comes to what our pri- est income citizens. This is all a mat- I offered an amendment with Senator orities are. As we do the speaking on ter of priorities and values. HARKIN last year to fully fund the the floor of the Senate, as we do the It is time to step up to the plate, and IDEA program. We got 40 votes. Now is talking, there are entirely too many it is time to cast a vote. This amend- the time to step up to the plate. Make children who are not able to get the ment Senator HARKIN has brought to sure the kids are kindergarten ready, help they need when they are little and the floor and on which other Senators fully fund the Head Start Program—al- they come to kindergarten way behind. will be speaking—and if I had to be a though, I say to my colleagues, really There are many college students I primary cosponsor of one amendment in the best of all worlds I would like for meet in Minnesota who are struggling. in this budget debate, this would be the us to consider not just the 3- and 4- Many of them are at the community amendment. Basically, it says it is year-olds; I would like for us to con- colleges. Many of them are in their for- time to get beyond symbolic politics, it sider the 1-year-olds and the 2-year- ties and fifties. They have gone back to is time to get beyond the speeches, and olds and the Early Head Start Pro- school. Many of them are women. They if we say that we all love the children, gram. have children. They have jobs, and and we are all for education, and young We are talking about afterschool pro- they are going to school. people are our future, then we ought to grams. We are talking about teacher Do you want to know something? We be making the investment in their training. We are talking about how to are not going to be expanding the Pell skills, in their intellect, and in their recruit the best people into teaching. Grant Program anywhere near enough health and character. That is what this We are talking about how to make sure to make sure they can get higher edu- leave-no-child-behind amendment is all higher education is more affordable. cation. That is the best bang for the about. We are talking about dramatically ex- buck. But instead we are giving tax With all due respect, one more time, panding the funding for the Pell Grant cuts to the top 1 percent of the popu- you cannot realize the goal of leaving Program. lation. no child behind on a tin-cup budget. Senators, Democrats and Repub- As we speak on the floor of the Sen- Our amendment which calls for an in- licans alike, I think in this budget de- ate, and as we debate this amendment, vestment of $250 billion is one-third of

VerDate Mar 15 2010 03:09 Dec 20, 2013 Jkt 081600 PO 00000 Frm 00017 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 J:\ODA425\1997-2008-FILES-4-SS-PROJECT\2001-SENATE-REC-FILES\RECFILES-NEW\S mmaher on DSKCGSP4G1 with SOCIALSECURITY S3378 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE April 4, 2001 what goes in these tax cuts to the top Mr. CONRAD. I yield 10 minutes to step in ensuring every child learns the 1 percent of the population. the Senator from Washington. We will basics in a disciplined environment. Our amendment, which calls for a take that off the resolution since the This Republican budget freezes our dramatic investment in the health, amendment is not yet pending. Is that class size progress. Teachers are asking skills, character, and education of chil- correct? for more help mastering the best ways dren—of young people, and, for that The PRESIDING OFFICER. That is to teach our children. They know they matter, older people—who are going correct. cannot rely on skills they learned 10, back to school, is one-third of the tax Mr. CONRAD. So we will take 10 min- 20, or 30 years ago. This Republican cuts of the Bush plan that go to the top utes off the resolution for the Senator budget freezes our progress in improv- 1 percent of the population. In the from Washington. ing teacher quality. President’s plan, it is $23 billion. In The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- Students are asking for schools this plan, it is $250 billion. ator from Washington is recognized for where they can feel safe and secure. I say on the floor of the Senate di- 10 minutes. Certainly we have an obligation to pro- rectly to the people of Minnesota that Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, I come vide that. But this Republican budget I am up for reelection, and to me this to the floor today to talk about the freezes our school safety progress. is what the election is all about. This Harkin-Kennedy-Murray amendment Parents are asking for afterschool is what the election is all about. I am which I understand will be offered programs so their children won’t get for tax cuts that leave some standard shortly. That amendment is going to into trouble or become victims of vio- of tax fairness. I am for making sure provide the kind of investment that we lence after the school bell rings. This that working people and that low- and need to make if we truly want to leave Republican budget freezes afterschool moderate-income people get some as- no child behind. It is a noble goal, and programs. sistance and benefits. I am for making it is one that all of us should endorse. Teachers and students are asking for sure they get that. They will spend it, I am glad President Bush has focused school buildings that are modern, are and it will serve as an economic stim- on it. up to code, and provide a safe and ulus. Lots of families will also benefit Unfortunately, President Bush’s healthy learning environment. This if you make the tax cut refundable. budget that is before us today squan- Republican budget freezes our ability But I also believe that far more im- ders this opportunity to ensure no to help communities modernize their portant than Robin-Hood-in-reverse child is left behind in favor of an irre- aging schools. tax cuts, with most all of them going sponsible tax cut. Putting America’s The American people are asking for a to the top 1 percent of the population, future first means putting our children stronger commitment to the things would be to make this investment in first. But the sad truth is, this budget that make a difference in children’s children and make this investment in shortchanges America’s students. This education, and the Republicans are so education. budget focuses on tax cuts for the few, busy trying to fund an irresponsible It is a question of priorities. I come at the expense of our children’s edu- tax cut that they aren’t listening. down on the side of education. I come cation. We cannot ask America’s stu- This budget freezes our progress. down on the side of children. I come dents to wait in line behind a few That is why we will offer this amend- down on the side of hard-working peo- wealthy Americans for the support ment later. It will provide the re- ple who are going back to school and they need to succeed. sources parents, teachers, and students trying to rebuild their lives. I come I have come to the floor to support are asking for. down on the side of taconite workers the amendment that will be offered It will ensure more children start on the iron range. I come down on the today to ensure that all students get school ready to learn, that we continue side of family farmers. I come down on the educational resources they deserve. our bipartisan initiative to improve the side of ordinary people. I come The Republicans are claiming that student achievement and teaching by down on the side of people who believe they provide a significant increase for hiring 100,000 fully qualified teachers to that education is the foundation of op- education funding. I have to tell you, reduce the average size of classes in the portunity in America. I come down on in looking at this budget, I am unable early grades. It will provide critical as- the side of this amendment. We should to find that ‘‘significant’’ increase. In- sistance for emergency school repairs get 100 votes. stead, it is clear to me that this budget and renovation, and will help our local I yield the floor. jeopardizes our ability to maintain districts ensure there is a high quality Mr. CONRAD. Mr. President, how critical priorities like education. teacher in every classroom. It will much time is remaining on the amend- Under this budget, the actual amount meet our obligations to children with ment and on the resolution? of funds available for schools, colleges, disabilities and disadvantaged stu- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The and students will only increase by dents, and will allow communities to amendment has not yet been offered. about $2.5 billion, which is 5.9 percent. offer more afterschool programs to On the resolution, there are approxi- That is less than half of the average keep our children safe and learning. It mately 16 hours for each side. yearly increase Congress has provided will also help more Americans afford Mr. CONRAD. I thank the Presiding in each of the last 5 years. college. Officer. At a time when we are—and should To justify an irresponsible tax cut, I suggest the absence of a quorum be—demanding more than ever from the President keeps talking about an and ask unanimous consent that it be our schools, we must now slow down enormous surplus. But when people charged to both sides. the Federal investment in our schools, from my home State come to see me, The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without we must not go back on our commit- they ask an important question: How objection, it is so ordered. ment to help reduce class sizes, we can there be a surplus when we still The clerk will call the roll. The senior assistant bill clerk pro- must not do away with support for haven’t paid our bills on full funding ceeded to call the roll. emergency repairs and renovations, for IDEA, title I, impact aid, or 100,000 Mr. CONRAD. Mr. President, I ask and we must not continue to shirk our new teachers? I agree with them. I am unanimous consent the order for the responsibility to disadvantaged stu- glad that the amendment we will offer quorum call be rescinded. dents and to students with disabilities. will help to ensure that we pay those The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without Setting a high bar is important, but bills. objection, it is so ordered. setting a high bar and failing to give With the projected surplus, our coun- Mr. CONRAD. I ask the Senator from kids the resources to succeed is just try has the opportunity to make im- Washington if she is seeking time. setting them up for failure. I want to portant choices as we begin this new Mrs. MURRAY. I am. How much time take a moment to highlight some of century. Are we going to make the in- may I have? the ways I believe this budget fails our vestment in education that all our Mr. CONRAD. How much time would country. children deserve? Or are we going to the Senator like? Across our country, parents are ask- give deep tax cuts to just a few? Mrs. MURRAY. Between 3 and 10 ing us to reduce overcrowding in class- Are we going to let our children con- minutes, whatever you can give me. rooms. They know this is a critical tinue to go to school in overcrowded

VerDate Mar 15 2010 03:09 Dec 20, 2013 Jkt 081600 PO 00000 Frm 00018 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 J:\ODA425\1997-2008-FILES-4-SS-PROJECT\2001-SENATE-REC-FILES\RECFILES-NEW\S mmaher on DSKCGSP4G1 with SOCIALSECURITY April 4, 2001 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S3379 classrooms, in crumbling school build- We think that would be a wise policy morning in the Washington Post. In an ings, with underpaid, inadequately pre- to pursue. Then we can deal with the article entitled ‘‘On Taxes, One Step at pared teachers? Or will we rise to the longer 10-year plan. But let’s put in a Time,’’ former Senator Warren Rud- occasion and make the choice to invest place right now a fiscal stimulus that man, Republican Senator from New in our children’s future? would give lift to this economy. Hampshire, one of our most distin- We know what the needs are out Fourth, we provide for significant tax guished colleagues, former Senator there. We know what works to help our relief for all Americans, including rate Sam Nunn, Democrat of Georgia, children succeed. We just need the will reduction, marriage penalty relief, and again, one of our most distinguished of the Members of this Congress to estate tax reform. former colleagues, who are now co- stand up and put the money where We also reserve resources for the chairmen of the Concord Coalition, and their mouths are. high-priority areas we have previously three fellow officials of that organiza- Parents, teachers, students, and com- identified: improving education, tion, including former Secretary of the munity leaders are saying: Don’t just strengthening our national defense, Treasury Robert Rubin, former Federal talk about the importance of funding providing a meaningful prescription Reserve Chairman Paul Volcker, and education. Make the tough choices to drug benefit, and funding for agri- former Secretary of Commerce in the show the American public that edu- culture because of the crisis facing our Nixon administration, Pete Peterson, cation is truly a priority of their elect- farmers. said: ed officials. Finally, we provide $750 billion to . . .great care must be taken to ensure That means giving our local school strengthen Social Security and address that any tax cut medicine treats the short- districts the resources they need to the long-term debt problem America term economic symptoms without adversely provide a first rate education to every sees just over the horizon. When this affecting the long-term prognosis. We believe student in this country by supporting 10-year period ends, we all know that an immediate fiscal stimulus can be provided the Harkin-Kennedy-Murray amend- the baby boom generation starts to re- independently of the proposed 10-year tax ment. tire, and then we face real financial cut. I urge my colleagues, when this problems. We have, as I think all of us That is exactly what we have pro- amendment is proposed, to vote yes for know, a circumstance in which we will posed on this side. Let’s take imme- our children and our grandchildren and face massive deficits as we look ahead. diate action on fiscal stimulus and for their future. We have tried to be mindful of the then independently address the 10-year Mr. President, I thank my colleague fact that all of these budgets are based plan. When we address it, they advise for yielding me time. on a forecast, a 10-year forecast, a fore- us: Mr. CONRAD addressed the Chair. Any additional tax cuts should be limited The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- cast that is highly uncertain. In fact, it is so uncertain that the forecasting to account for the enormous uncertainty of ator from North Dakota. long-term budget projections and the huge Mr. CONRAD. Mr. President, I yield agency warned us that it is very likely to be wrong. Our friends on the other unfunded obligations of Social Security and myself 10 minutes off the resolution. Medicare. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without side are betting that this entire projec- They are exactly right. We ought to objection, it is so ordered. tion over 10 years comes true, all $5.6 be very cautious when we talk about Mr. CONRAD. Mr. President, we are trillion of it. not only the 10-year numbers but when in the midst of a debate on the budget Let’s reflect back on what the Con- we talk about what is going to happen resolution for the year. Contained in gressional Budget Office told us. They right when we get past this 10-year pe- that is a proposal for 10 years because are the ones that made the forecast, riod. that is what the rules require of us. and they provided us with this chart, On our side, we have tried to lay out this analysis. They went back and This chart shows Social Security and a series of principles that would form looked over the variants in their pre- Medicare trust funds face cash deficits the basis of our budget proposal. Per- vious forecasts. They said: If we apply as the baby boomers retire. What this haps this is a useful time to review the difference between what we pro- shows is that we are in surplus going those fundamental principles that we jected and what actually occurred and out until the year 2016. Then Social Se- have used to form a budget rec- we applied it to this forecast, this is curity and Medicare start running cash ommendation to our colleagues. what we see. deficits in that year. In other words, First, we have said we should protect In the fifth year of this 10-year fore- these surpluses we enjoy now are going Social Security and Medicare trust cast, they are telling us there could be to turn to deficits. They aren’t just funds in every year so those funds are anywhere from a $50 billion deficit to going to be piddly deficits. They are not raided for another purpose. more than a $1 trillion surplus. That is not going to be little itty-bitty defi- Second, we have adopted the policy in the fifth year alone. They say this cits. They are going to be huge deficits. of paying down the maximum amount notion that there is a $5.6 trillion pot Because when the baby boomers start of the publicly held debt. The publicly of money at the end of 10 years has to retire, the number of people eligible held debt, as we stand here today, is only a 10-percent chance of coming for Medicare and Social Security dou- $3.4 trillion. We believe $2.9 trillion of true, a 45-percent chance there will be ble very quickly. Then we can see what that can be paid down without paying less money, and a 45-percent chance happens. We see this surplus picture any premiums, without having any dif- there will be more money. That fore- change dramatically. We start running ficulty. cast was made weeks ago. massive deficits. That is why we have Third, we provide for an immediate Look at what has happened in the in- said on our side, having a tax cut as fiscal stimulus of $60 billion. Our pro- terval. The economy has continued to large as the President proposes, that posal has been: Let’s put in place that weaken. We have more announcements uses up all of the non-trust-fund money fiscal stimulus now. of job layoffs and further erosion in the in this period, digs the hole deeper be- Let’s not wait. Let’s not delay. Let’s financial markets. fore we start filling it in. not hold it hostage to the larger 10- What would a prudent person bet? I will show what I mean by that. This year budget because this would be Would a prudent person bet we are is our analysis of the Bush budget pro- available in fiscal year 2001. We already going to have more money or would a posal. We have the $5.6 trillion of fore- have a budget for 2001. We know we prudent person bet maybe we are going casted surplus. But $2.6 trillion of that, have the money available to provide a to have less money in that forecast, according to the President’s calcula- fiscal stimulus now. We know we have that 10-year projection? tions, are Social Security trust fund $96 billion of surplus outside of the A prudent person would say it is un- money; $500 billion is Medicare trust trust funds available this year in the likely that all of this is going to come fund money. That leaves an available budget that has already been passed to true and that we ought to fashion a fis- surplus of $2.5 trillion. That doesn’t provide fiscal stimulus, to provide a cal policy that takes account of that count a third set of trust funds we little boost to this economy in the uncertainty. have. That is another $500 billion. midst of the downturn we see occur- That is precisely what a number of Those are the trust funds of civil serv- ring. very distinguished Americans said this ice retirement, military retirement,

VerDate Mar 15 2010 03:09 Dec 20, 2013 Jkt 081600 PO 00000 Frm 00019 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 J:\ODA425\1997-2008-FILES-4-SS-PROJECT\2001-SENATE-REC-FILES\RECFILES-NEW\S mmaher on DSKCGSP4G1 with SOCIALSECURITY S3380 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE April 4, 2001 airport trust funds, highway trust money is not being used to pay down the values of the American people. I fund. debt. So the interest cost is higher hope very much before this debate con- I yield myself an additional 10 min- than it would be otherwise. That is an- cludes that we will somehow manage to utes. other $500 billion. Then we have the find a way to change this plan so that The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without Bush spending proposals over the base- it does add up; so that it doesn’t raid objection, it is so ordered. line that forms the foundation for this the trust funds; so that we can provide Mr. CONRAD. If the Chair would in- 10-year forecast. That is another $200 significant tax relief to the American form me when I have used 8 minutes, I billion, for a total of $2.7 trillion. people but do it in the context of pay- would appreciate that. I appreciate the Remember, if we safeguard the Social ing down the publicly held debt as courtesy of the Presiding Officer. Security trust fund and the Medicare quickly as possible and also funding As I have indicated, if we just take trust fund, we only have $2.5 trillion the priorities of the American people, out the Social Security trust fund and available. We will have $2.5 trillion including improving education and pro- the Medicare trust fund, we are down available if we subtract out the Social viding a prescription drug benefit. to $2.5 trillion. That doesn’t count the Security and Medicare trust funds. Of (Ms. CANTWELL assumed the chair.) other trust funds. That doesn’t count course, as I indicated, if we take out Mr. CONRAD. Madam President, we the airport trust fund, the highway the other trust funds of the Federal have a circumstance in which we fund trust fund, the military retirement Government, that is another $500 bil- those priorities of improving edu- trust fund, or the civil service retire- lion. So one can readily see that the cation, providing a meaningful pre- ment trust fund. That is another $500 cost of the Bush budget plan far ex- scription drug benefit, strengthening billion. If we counted that, we would be ceeds the available resources outside of our national defense, and also set aside down $2 trillion. the trust funds. some money to deal with this longer Then let’s look at the President’s tax What does that mean? That means term problem. plan. He has a tax cut advertised at $1.6 very simply that we are going to be in- Our friends on the other side of the trillion—not billion, not million, tril- vading the trust funds of Medicare and aisle haven’t provided a nickel to deal lion, $1.6 trillion—a huge amount of Social Security under the Bush plan, with this long-term debt crisis that is money. We know from the reestimates and they won’t say it, but the numbers coming our way. They haven’t provided that have been done on just part of his don’t lie: There is no other way to add a dime for that purpose. We have set plan that it costs more than $1.6 tril- this up and make it work. aside $750 billion to deal with this long- lion. We already see what is happening out term budget circumstance, this long- We know from the reestimates that here on the floor of the Senate day term budget challenge of the baby have been done on just part of the plan after day, as they present amendments boomers starting to retire and, when with the House of Representatives, it is to try to fix what is wrong in the Bush they do, us not having sufficient re- at least $1.7 trillion. Then, of course, budget plan. sources to keep the promise that has you have other costs—things that will Yesterday, Senator GRASSLEY of Iowa been made. be necessary to fix because of the offered an amendment to add $150 bil- Madam President, I will end on this President’s plan. The alternative min- lion for prescription drugs because the note as I notice other colleagues have imum tax is perhaps the most signifi- President’s plan is insufficient. It arrived. The fundamental difference be- cant. doesn’t have enough money to provide tween the Democrat budget plan and The alternative minimum tax now af- a prescription drug benefit to the the Republican budget plan can be fects about 2 million American tax- American people. So they offered an summed up on this chart of short- and payers. But we have been advised by amendment to put back $150 billion. long-term debt reduction. Of the pro- the Joint Committee on Taxation that Today, Senator GRASSLEY offered an- jected $5.6 trillion that is available if if the Bush plan passes, more than 30 other amendment to more fully fund this budget forecast comes through, we million taxpayers will be caught up in agriculture, and they add back another reserve $3.65 trillion for short- and the alternative minimum tax. That is $100 billion. long-term debt reduction. President almost one in every four taxpayers in If you go out and look, year by year, Bush’s plan reserves $2 trillion. So America. Boy, are they in for a big sur- at their budget and you look at the re- while he has a bigger tax cut—about prise. They thought they were getting sults of these amendments they have twice as big as what we propose—we a tax cut. Instead, they are going to passed and you look at the money that have about twice as much money for find they are caught up in the alter- is available, what you find is, sure short-term and long-term debt reduc- native minimum tax. That was some- enough, they are raiding Medicare al- tion. That is the fundamental dif- thing designed years ago to prevent ready. ference between these two plans. wealthy people from paying no taxes. In the year 2005, they are going to It is up to people to decide what they We are going to find a quarter of the take $15 billion from the Medicare think is the wiser course. We believe, American people caught up in it be- trust fund. In the year 2006, they are given the uncertainty of these finan- cause of the changes the Bush tax cut going to take $13 billion. In the year cial projections, given the magnitude plan makes that are going to push 2007, they are going to take $10 billion. of our current debt and the debt that is more and more Americans into the al- In the year 2008, they are going to take coming our way when the baby ternative minimum tax. $4 billion more, for a total of $42 billion boomers start to retire, it is much These aren’t wealthy people. Some from the Medicare trust fund. wiser to put more of this money aside will be, but many will be middle-class Some may be watching and won- for short- and long-term debt reduction people. Tens of millions of people will dering: well, what difference does that than to put it aside for a big tax cut. be pushed into the alternative min- make? The difference it makes is that Those are the differences. Our tax cut imum tax. That was never the inten- it means Medicare goes broke faster. would still permit rate reductions. Our tion of anyone, but that is what is That means Medicare is out of money tax cut would permit reforming the es- going to happen under the Bush plan. more quickly. And already Medicare is tate tax, and addressing the marriage And it costs $300 billion to fix, accord- the most endangered of the Federal penalty, and an immediate fiscal stim- ing to the Joint Committee on Tax- programs. We all know Social Security ulus of $60 billion. But beyond that, we ation. is in trouble. Medicare is in even more think the money is better put to pay- So you have the Bush tax cut at $1.7 trouble. If you start tapping it to fund ing down the short-term and long-term trillion. You have $300 billion to fix the other things, guess what. It is in trou- debt. alternative minimum tax, which is ble even more quickly. Madam President, I yield the floor. made more necessary by the Bush plan. Mr. President, those are just some of The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- You have the interest costs associated the things I think need to be known be- ator from Iowa seeks recognition. with the first two of $500 billion. You fore people vote on this budget. It is Mr. CONRAD. Is Senator HARKIN spend money and provide tax cuts. critically important that we make wise seeking time? That includes the interest costs to the choices, that we make choices that add Mr. HARKIN. I inquire; I had to leave Federal Government because the up, that we make choices that reflect the floor momentarily when we were

VerDate Mar 15 2010 03:09 Dec 20, 2013 Jkt 081600 PO 00000 Frm 00020 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 J:\ODA425\1997-2008-FILES-4-SS-PROJECT\2001-SENATE-REC-FILES\RECFILES-NEW\S mmaher on DSKCGSP4G1 with SOCIALSECURITY April 4, 2001 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S3381 on the education provision. I am ready jority. It is not fair. I agree with the tion and construction. This is a tre- to send my amendment to the desk. ranking member of the Budget Com- mendous burden. This includes about Mr. CONRAD. The Senator from Ne- mittee, Senator CONRAD. He has done $400 million for technology needs. vada wants 15 minutes off the resolu- such a remarkably good job of describ- I talked about the new schools we tion. ing the real problems facing this coun- need to build. And we do need to build The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- try and that the Democrats want tax new schools in Nevada. The biggest ator from Nevada is recognized. cuts. Fourth of July celebration in Nevada is Mr. REID. Madam President, in the I had the good fortune a few weeks in Boulder City. They have a big pa- State of Nevada we have a unique situ- ago to respond to President Bush’s Sat- rade and all kinds of celebrations that ation. We have rural communities. Las urday radio address. I said in the first go with the Fourth of July. I was asked Vegas, Clark County, has one of the sentence of my response: Democrats by people at the parade to visit Boulder most unusual situations ever to have believe in tax cuts, and we want them City High School: We want to show you occurred in the history of our country. now. what is wrong with this school. Clark County School District must Everyone within the sound of my I said to myself: What is wrong with build one school each month to keep up voice should understand, we are not the school? When I was in high school, with the growth. We hold the record. saying there should not be tax cuts. We Boulder City was one of the best One year, we dedicated 18 new schools. believe there should be tax cuts, but we schools, if not the top school. They had It is a tremendous burden on the people believe there should be tax cuts that more merit scholars and great athletic of the State of Nevada to keep up with we can afford and that go to the people teams. It was a beautiful place in this tremendous growth. We need help. who need them the most. southern Nevada. They had a lot of I have had lots of meetings with con- The one-third, one-third, one-third grass. We do not have a lot of green stituents. That is one of our respon- program we have suggested is a good things in southern Nevada. sibilities. It is something I enjoy, program. We would take the surplus I said: I will go to this school that I whether it is here in Washington with and spend a third of it on tax cuts, a thought was always so nice. It has not people coming from the State or when third of it reducing this huge debt we received the largess of the Clark Coun- I go home, as we are going to do for 2 have, and a third we should save for ty School District. It was run down. weeks beginning next week. We will programs such as helping the people of They had no hot water in the showers talk about things they believe are im- the State of Nevada build schools. for the athletes. Parts of the track portant. Nothing is more important to Nevada’s were gone. Students could not run in Every time someone talks to me future and the future of any State in some of the outside lanes. about an issue, I think: What are we the Union than educating our young They could not put computers in that doing? For example, a man by the people. school because it was not wired. It was name of Larry Carter came to visit me Around most of America, schools are a mess. This wonderful school that I re- one day this week. Larry Carter is a overcrowded and underfunded. We have member was a mess. State employee. His responsibility is some schools that do not have the Since I went there, the school dis- making sure that grants and other same problems as Nevada. The average trict has put a little more money in it moneys that come from the Federal school in America is 40 years old. These to modernize that school. Government for programs dealing with areas have crumbling schools. In Ne- That is an example of what is hap- children are distributed fairly. vada we do not have enough schools; pening all over America. We need new In effect, he was telling me they do we need new schools. schools built, and we need to modernize not need less money; they need more Nevada has the fifth largest student/ our schools. That is what the amend- money, and that the money we put into teacher ratio in the Nation. Our ment of the Senator from Iowa is programs for children is working. Vio- schools in Nevada are now facing near- about. lent crime among children, for exam- ly $300 million in deferred maintenance Madam President, I have had a lot of ple, has dropped the last 3 years since costs. Seventy percent of the state’s dealings with my friend from Iowa Congress got serious about this issue population live in Las Vegas in the since I have been in Washington. He is and recognized that violent crime Clark County School District. Another someone for whom I have great respect. among adults was going down because 15 percent live in the metropolitan He has for many years been on the Ap- we had 100,000 new police officers, on Reno area. The rest of the State needs propriations Committee. I have served the streets and it has helped a great help. They have no tax base. They lit- with him on the Appropriations Com- deal. Violent crime for juveniles was erally are without the ability to even mittee. He and Senator SPECTER are accelerating. So we decided to do some- repair their schools. We need to help the leading Democrat and Republican thing about it, and it has made a tre- these crumbling schools in Nevada and on the very important committee that mendous difference. These preventive other places. deals with Health and Human Services programs are like preventive medicine: In Nevada, we have about 450 schools. and Education. There is no one in the An ounce of prevention is worth a As I have indicated, in southern Ne- Senate who has a bigger part than the pound of cure. If we support juvenile vada schools are being built at the rate Senator from Iowa. justice programs up front when they of at least one new school a month. I attended a hearing yesterday deal- are the most effective, we save tax- The sixth largest school district in the ing with Alzheimer’s disease. This is a payers’ dollars from going to after-the- nation is in Clark County. In that terrible, devastating disease. This Con- fact programs. There is some debate school district, there are over 230,000 gress is putting huge amounts of about how much it would cost to keep children. Eighty-three percent of money into it as a result of the leader- a young person in a reformatory or in- schools in Nevada report a need to up- ship of the Senator from Iowa and the stitution, but it is about $40,000 a year. grade or repair a building to good over- Senator from Pennsylvania, Mr. SPEC- A lot of prevention programs are a lot all condition. TER. cheaper than that. We spend so much The last year it was reported, 1999, Also, in addition to the work he has money building jails to house youth of- Nevada paid over $100 million in inter- done in our search to find the cure for fenders who, sadly, become adult of- est on school bonds, school debt. That devastating diseases in America, he has fenders when they are caught up in the is what this school construction legis- also been a leader on education. He not cycle of violence. lation addresses. It will not give away only fought to work on improving edu- The programs Larry Carter talked money to school districts. It alleviates cation for what some refer to as the with me about are good programs. the burden placed on the schools be- regular kids; he has spent months and They are not giveaways. A grant of cause of the interest costs on this debt, months of his legislative career dealing $11,000 makes a tremendous difference, this bonded indebtedness that school with disadvantaged children. I greatly according to Larry Carter, in parts of districts all over America are using to admire and respect him. Senator HAR- rural Nevada. construct schools. KIN has done many things in this Cap- I am very concerned about the budg- It is estimated that Nevada faces an- itol to make sure that hearing-im- et that has been put forth by the ma- other $6 billion for school moderniza- paired people can witness and view the

VerDate Mar 15 2010 03:09 Dec 20, 2013 Jkt 081600 PO 00000 Frm 00021 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 J:\ODA425\1997-2008-FILES-4-SS-PROJECT\2001-SENATE-REC-FILES\RECFILES-NEW\S mmaher on DSKCGSP4G1 with SOCIALSECURITY S3382 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE April 4, 2001 proceedings in the Capitol. He has done than 18 students, triple Federal funding On page 3, line 1, increase the amount by a lot for American children, disadvan- for school repairs and construction, $24,700,000,000. taged and otherwise. fully fund the Federal share of the In- On page 3, line 2, increase the amount by This amendment he will offer is in dividuals with Disabilities Education $34,100,000,000. On page 3, line 3, increase the amount by keeping with the Harkin tradition, put- Act, and double spending for after- $43,200,000,000. ting money where it is needed. I can’t school programs. On page 3, line 4, increase the amount by say enough about my support of this It is not fair what has happened to $51,100,000,000. legislation. school districts in Nevada and around On page 3, line 5, increase the amount by I have talked about some of the the country. It is estimated that it $59,100,000,000. things that will be helpful to the State costs an extra 40 cents for every stu- On page 3, line 6, increase the amount by of Nevada. There is no question this dent that is disadvantaged, disabled— $66,500,000,000. will be helpful to the State of Nevada, physically, emotionally handicapped. On page 3, line 7, increase the amount by $73,000,000,000. but it will help everyone in America What are we paying? Less than a dime On page 3, line 8, increase the amount by because if we help educate our young of that. The Federal Government $80,200,000,000. people, we benefit also. should pay the extra 40 cents for every On page 3, line 14, increase the amount by A tax cut of the magnitude some are student. If we did that, think of the $15,600,000,000. talking about will eliminate any in- extra money it would give school dis- On page 3, line 15, decrease the amount by crease in funding for the education of tricts to do some of the things I have $24,700,000,000. our children. I am gravely concerned spoken of today. On page 3, line 16, decrease the amount by This amendment of Senator HARKIN $34,100,000,000. we will not have the resources that will On page 3, line 17, decrease the amount by be needed to properly fund our obliga- is good for the heart; it is good for the $43,200,000,000. tion to education and in effect give head. It is the right thing to do. On page 3, line 18, decrease the amount by back to the American family what they After-school programs, we know they $51,100,000,000. deserve. work. School districts spend millions On page 3, line 19, decrease the amount by We talk about this money, this sur- of dollars to build schools. These are $59,100,000,000. plus. Let’s remind everyone from where programs say: Why not use it after On page 3, line 20, decrease the amount by it came. No one more than the Pre- school for some programs for kids who $66,500,000,000. may be latch-key children who go On page 3, line 21, decrease the amount by siding Officer appreciates that in 1993 $73,000,000,000. we had a budget deficit reduction act. home with no parent home. We would On page 3, line 22, decrease the amount by On that occasion in the House, without have programs there so they would do $80,200,000,000. a single Republican vote, it was passed; better in school and in effect keep On page 4, line 3, increase the amount by in the Senate, without a single Repub- them occupied. After-school programs $12,200,000,000. lican vote, it was passed. As a result of are great. They work well. On page 4, line 4, increase the amount by that very dramatic vote, we stopped I support a tax cut. However, we have $16,300,000,000. spending in the deficits and started to have a fiscally responsible tax cut On page 4, line 5, increase the amount by $20,300,000,000. having surpluses. We first cut down the that allows us to fund education and continue to pay down the debt. I know On page 4, line 6, increase the amount by deficits and then we got into a surplus $23,800,000,000. situation. We cut down the size of the the people of Nevada want a strong On page 4, line 7, increase the amount by Federal Government. We had 300,000 educational system. We should not $27,300,000,000. fewer Federal employees than in the leave any child behind—not a child On page 4, line 8, increase the amount by past. We had record-breaking employ- from Iowa, not a child from Nevada, or $30,900,000,000. ment, with unemployment being low. anywhere else across this Nation. We On page 4, line 9, increase the amount by must not shortchange our children. $34,000,000,000. Inflation was low. It was remarkable On page 4, line 10, increase the amount by what happened to the economy as a re- I urge everyone to support the Har- kin amendment when it is offered. It is $37,200,000,000. sult of that vote. On page 4, line 11, increase the amount by We now have that money, that sur- what this country needs. It would im- $40,000,000,000. plus. That surplus, we are told by the prove everyone’s life to better educate On page 4, line 17, increase the amount by other side, is the people’s money; give our children. $7,800,000,000. it back. That is absolutely true; it is The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- On page 4, line 18, increase the amount by the people’s money. But it is also the ator from Iowa is recognized. $12,300,000,000. On page 4, line 19, increase the amount by people’s debt. We have to do something AMENDMENT NO. 185 TO AMENDMENT NO. 170 Mr. HARKIN. I send an amendment $17,000,000,000. about the debt. That is why when we On page 4, line 20, increase the amount by talk about what Democrats should do, to the desk. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The $21,600,000,000. there is a third in tax cuts, a third to On page 4, line 21, increase the amount by continue to pay down that debt, and of clerk will report. $25,500,000,000. The legislative clerk read as follows: course, a third left over to do some On page 4, line 22, increase the amount by things in education that this amend- The Senator from Iowa [Mr. HARKIN], for $29,500,000,000. himself, Mr. WELLSTONE, Mr. KENNEDY, Mrs. ment offered by my friend from Iowa On page 4, line 23, increase the amount by MURRAY, Mr. BINGAMAN, Mrs. CLINTON, Mr. $33,300,000,000. will do. DAYTON, Mr. ROCKEFELLER, Mr. CORZINE, Ms. On page 5, line 1, increase the amount by I agree with Senator HARKIN; we MIKULSKI, Mr. REED, Mr. REID, Mr. SAR- $36,500,000,000. should not leave a single child behind. BANES, Ms. LANDRIEU, Mr. KERRY, Mr. On page 5, line 2, increase the amount by Part of not leaving a child behind is en- DASCHLE, and Mr. SCHUMER, proposes an $40,100,000,000. suring that our teachers are trained, amendment numbered 185. On page 5, line 8, increase the amount by our children have access to Head Start, Mr. HARKIN. Mr. President, I ask $7,800,000,000. and our children are in safe, well- unanimous consent reading of the On page 5, line 9, increase the amount by equipped classrooms. We must invest in amendment be dispensed. $12,300,000,000. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without On page 5, line 10, increase the amount by higher education for our children $17,000,000,000. through Pell grant programs, loan for- objection, it is so ordered. On page 5, line 11, increase the amount by giveness programs for teachers, the The amendment is as follows: $21,600,000,000. TRIO program, and the Federal Per- (Purpose: To make certain that no child is On page 5, line 12, increase the amount by kins loan programs. left behind and to maintain fiscal dis- $25,500,000,000. Senator HARKIN’s amendment invests cipline by making a major investment in On page 5, line 13, increase the amount by an additional $250 billion over 10 years education, including a new mandatory in- $29,500,000,000. vestment in the Individual with Disabil- to improve education. With that in- On page 5, line 14, increase the amount by ities Education Act, and a commensurate $33,300,000,000. vestment, we can greatly expand child reduction in the share of tax relief given to On page 5, line 15, increase the amount by development programs, make Head the wealthiest on percent of Americans) $36,500,000,000. Start available to all eligible 3- and 4- On page 2, line 18, increase the amount by On page 5, line 16, increase the amount by year-olds, reduce class size to no more $15,600,000,000. $40,100,000,000.

VerDate Mar 15 2010 03:09 Dec 20, 2013 Jkt 081600 PO 00000 Frm 00022 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 J:\ODA425\1997-2008-FILES-4-SS-PROJECT\2001-SENATE-REC-FILES\RECFILES-NEW\S mmaher on DSKCGSP4G1 with SOCIALSECURITY April 4, 2001 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S3383 On page 5, line 21, decrease the amount by Mr. REID. Off the resolution, I yield National Council of Jewish Women. $7,800,000,000. 15 minutes to the Senator from Iowa. National Education Association. On page 5, line 22, decrease the amount by The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- National Education Knowledge Industry Association. $20,100,000,000. ator from Iowa is recognized. On page 5, line 23, decrease the amount by National Job Corps Association. $37,200,000,000. Mr. HARKIN. I thank my friend from National PTA. On page 5, line 24, decrease the amount by Nevada. National School Board Association. $58,800,000,000. Having been to his State and having New York State Department of Education. On page 5, line 25, decrease the amount by visited a couple of cities in Nevada and School Social Work Association of Amer- $84,300,000,000. seeing how the increase in population ica. On page 6, line 1, decrease the amount by Tulare Youth Service Bureau, Inc. is there, I know Senator REID under- U.S. Conference of Mayors. $113,800,000,000. stands full well the necessity to invest On page 6, line 2, decrease the amount by U.S. Public Interest Research Group. in education. It is a terrible burden Urban Corps San Diego. $147,100,000,000. University of California. On page 6, line 3, decrease the amount by they have in the State of Nevada now Workforce Alliance. $183,600,000,000. in terms of building facilities and get- On page 6, line 4, decrease the amount by ting teachers in classrooms they need Mr. HARKIN. Madam President, our $223,700,000,000. to meet the requirements of their rap- amendment ‘‘Leave No Child Behind,’’ On page 6, line 9, decrease the amount by idly growing population in that State. the third one says that all students, in- $7,800,000,000. I appreciate the kind remarks of Sen- cluding special needs students, will On page 6, line 10, decrease the amount by ator REID about me, but I want to re- master challenging subject matter and $20,100,000,000. Federal education programs will be On page 6, line 11, decrease the amount by turn it in kind by saying teachers and $37,200,000,000. students, not just in Nevada but all held accountable and focus on practices On page 6, line 12, decrease the amount by over the country, have no greater proven to work. The title I program $58,800,000,000. friend than Senator REID. I do appre- provides children who have fallen be- On page 6, line 13, decrease the amount by ciate his strong support of this amend- hind in reading and math with the $84,300,000,000. ment. extra help they need to catch up. How- On page 6, line 14, decrease the amount by I also want to mention the cospon- ever, only one-third of the students $113,800,000,000. sors of this amendment: Senators who need this extra help are aided. On page 6, line 15, decrease the amount by In addition, the Federal commitment $147,100,000,000. WELLSTONE, KENNEDY, MURRAY, BINGA- On page 6, line 16, decrease the amount by MAN, CLINTON, DAYTON, ROCKEFELLER, to help educate students with disabil- $183,600,000,000. CORZINE, MIKULSKI, REED of Rhode Is- ities has lagged behind our goal to pro- On page 6, line 17, decrease the amount by land, REID of Nevada, SARBANES, vide what we in Congress said 26 years $223,700,000,000. KERRY, LANDRIEU, DASCHLE, and SCHU- ago, that we would endeavor to provide On page 27, line 3, increase the amount by MER. to the States and local communities at $8,300,000,000. I ask unanimous consent to have least 40 percent of the average per- On page 27, line 4, increase the amount by printed in the RECORD a list of the pupil expenditure to support the Indi- $1,000,000,000. viduals with Disabilities Education On page 27, line 7, increase the amount by groups supporting this amendment. It $12,200,000,000. is a lengthy list. Act. On page 27, line 8, increase the amount by There being no objection, the list was In our amendment, we have increased $7,800,000,000. ordered to be printed in the RECORD, as investments in title I and in IDEA to On page 27, line 11, increase the amount by follows: help schools meet the tough new ac- $16,300,000,000. GROUPS SUPPORTING LEAVE NO CHILD BEHIND countability standards. I might add, it On page 27, line 12, increase the amount by will also provide much needed relief to $12,300,000,000. American Association of Community Col- leges. local property taxpayers who are strug- On page 27, line 15, increase the amount by gling to finance their schools. $20,300,000,000. American Association of School Adminis- On page 27, line 16, increase the amount by trators. This amendment we have sent to the $17,000,000,000. American Association of State Colleges desk will fully fund the Individuals On page 27, line 19, increase the amount by and Universities. with Disabilities Education Act to that $23,800,000,000. American Council on Education. level we stated 26 years ago that we On page 27, line 20, increase the amount by American Federation of Teachers. wanted to do; that is, provide at least American Library Association. $21,600,000,000. a minimum of 40 percent of the average On page 27, line 23, increase the amount by Association of Jesuit Colleges and Univer- sities. per-pupil expenditures. $27,300,000,000. A fourth part of our amendment ad- On page 27, line 24, increase the amount by Board of Education of the City of New $25,500,000,000. York. dresses that all students will attend On page 28, line 2, increase the amount by Children’s Defense Fund. classes in a school building that is safe, $30,900,000,000. The Children’s Foundation. in good repair, and equipped with the On page 28, line 3, increase the amount by Coalition for Higher Education Assistance latest technology. Fourteen million $29,500,000,000. Organizations. children attend classes in buildings Committee for Education Funding. On page 28, line 6, increase the amount by that are unsafe or inadequate. $34,000,000,000. Council for Exceptional Children. Council for Opportunity in Education. Last month, the American Society of On page 28, line 7, increase the amount by Civil Engineers issued a report card on $33,300,000,000. Council of Chief State School Officers. On page 28, line 10, increase the amount by Council of the Great City Schools. the Nation’s infrastructure, on every- $37,200,000,000. Fight Crime Invest in Kids. thing from roads and bridges to waste- On page 28, line 11, increase the amount by Higher Education Consortium for Special water treatment, dams, everything—all $36,500,000,000. Education. of the physical infrastructure of Amer- On page 28, line 14, increase the amount by International Reading Association. ica. The one item that got the lowest National Association of Counties. $40,000,000,000. grade was our public schools, a D- On page 28, line 15, increase the amount by National Association of Independent Col- leges and Universities. minus. It is a national disgrace that $40,100,000,000. the nicest places our kids see are shop- On page 43, line 15, decrease the amount by National Association of Secondary School $8,300,000,000. Principals. ping malls, sports arenas, and movie On page 43, line 16, decrease the amount by National Association of State Directors of theaters, and the most run down places $1,000,000,000. Special Education, Inc. they see are the public schools. What On page 48, line 8, increase the amount by National Association for Bilingual Edu- signal are we sending to them about $8,300,000,000. cation. the value we place on their education National Association for the Education of On page 48, line 9, increase the amount by and their future? $1,000,000,000. Young Children. National Alliance of Black School Edu- This amendment triples funding for Mr. REID. How much time does the cators. the school repair and renovation pro- Senator desire? National Association of Student Financial gram that we began in last year’s ap- Mr. HARKIN. I will need 15 minutes. Aid Administrators. propriations bill.

VerDate Mar 15 2010 03:09 Dec 20, 2013 Jkt 081600 PO 00000 Frm 00023 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 J:\ODA425\1997-2008-FILES-4-SS-PROJECT\2001-SENATE-REC-FILES\RECFILES-NEW\S mmaher on DSKCGSP4G1 with SOCIALSECURITY S3384 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE April 4, 2001 Fifth, all students will be able to at- In fact, one was done by a polling firm Mr. HARKIN. I talked about helping tend college and get the skills they that tends to poll more for Republicans disadvantaged students with reading need to succeed in the global economy that joined with a polling firm that and math skills in the title I program. without incurring a mountain of debt. tends to poll more with Democrats. Mr. WELLSTONE. The Senator Over the past two decades, the pur- This is what they came up with. pointed out that right now that pro- chasing power of the Pell grants has The question was about promoting gram is funded about 30 percent. That fallen by 25 percent. Loans right now teaching as a career and raising teach- is about it. Is that correct? He talked are the principal source of aid for col- er pay to keep good teachers—91 per- about Head Start, but he is also talk- leges. In this amendment we increase cent favored that. ing about kids who are economically the maximum Pell grant by $600 next Make college more affordable by ex- disadvantaged getting that additional year. I think, again, if you talk to any panding loan and grant programs and help for reading or afterschool through of your constituents, your families out increasing student aid—91 percent ap- the title I program. We find that it is there who have kids in college, there is prove of that. funded at about a 30-percent level, but a new phenomenon happening in Amer- Reducing class sizes, using higher now we are going to double it with this ica. Kids are going to college. They pay to attract good teachers, expand- proposal. Is that right? want to have a better life. They want ing before- and after-school programs— Mr. HARKIN. This will get it to over to succeed. They are piling up moun- 87 percent approved. 60 percent of fully funding the title I tains of debt by borrowing money to go Providing funding to repair schools program. to school. This is unlike anything we in poor condition and building new Mr. WELLSTONE. In many of our have ever seen in the past. This ad- schools and wiring classrooms for com- schools in the State of Minnesota—St. dresses that by increasing that max- puters—87 percent approve. Paul, for example—where 65 percent or imum Pell grant. Providing full funding for Head less of the kids in the free and reduced We also increase investments in the Start, expanding day-care programs in priced lunch program, do not get a cent TRIO Program to make sure some of local schools, providing tax credits to from Title I. The state runs out of our most vulnerable students can suc- help families pay for kindergarten and money. ceed in college. We also expand loan preschool—85 percent approve. Again, whether it is about poor chil- forgiveness for teachers and increase Requiring the Federal Government to dren or kids with special needs, or re- our investment in Federal job training live up to its obligation of 40-percent ducing class size, this is the vote in programs so every adult will have the funding for special education—85 per- terms of our values. skills necessary to compete in a global cent approve. Mr. HARKIN. I thank the Senator economy. The way I see it, this is not even a from Minnesota for his strong support Again, we know there are a lot of our close call. I hate to say this since we of education. No one works quite as young people who will not go to col- are talking about education. This hard as Senator WELLSTONE for kids in lege, will not finish college. There are ought to be a no-brainer. The American this country, and especially for dis- a lot of people in our workforce today people are on this side. They are telling advantaged kids. He is right. We have who have not gone to college. They us in clear, unequivocal terms: Make to make sure that we invest both in need skills upgrading, job retraining, education your top priority. Invest in title I and also in the Individuals With because they are shifting in their jobs. these programs. Disabilities Education Act. We cannot forget about them either. So I have not seen the polls, but I chal- Again, on the top end of the Pell our amendment puts the necessary in- lenge anyone to tell me that they can grant, this is what enables those who vestments in job training programs. get these kind of approval ratings for a are going to college. Last, our amendment also maintains $697 billion tax break to the wealthiest The way I see it, this is the vote on our commitment to fiscal discipline by 1 percent of Americans. Yet that is the budget and whether or not we are devoting a commensurate amount to what the budget has before us. We are going to have the priority that the reducing the public debt. elected to represent the people of American people want us to have or Reaching all these goals will require America. We are all Senators. Yes, I whether we are going to go down the real investments amounting to $250 bil- represent Iowa, but I represent the peo- pathway of providing almost uncon- lion over the next 10 years. But dedi- ple in Minnesota and everywhere else, scionable tax benefits and relief for the cating these funds is simply a matter too. We are U.S. Senators. We rep- wealthiest 1 percent of Americans. Weigh it. This is the vote. We are not of priorities. Again I repeat, $250 bil- resent the country as a whole. What even talking about all of the tax cuts lion is about one-third as much as the the people of America are telling us is that go to wealthiest 1 percent. We are tax cut that President Bush wants to to invest in education. just taking about one-third of the give to the most wealthy 1 percent of Madam President, this amendment taxes the wealthiest 1 percent will fund Americans. provides the necessary funds. So over I will use this chart to show the the next 10 years we can fully fund for this education program. This is the President’s tax cut for the wealthiest 1 Head Start for all eligible 3 and 4 year vote. I yield the floor. percent is about $697 billion. The Presi- olds, double the title I funding for dis- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- dent’s education plan is $21.3 billion. advantaged children, and we can fully ator from New Mexico. The amendment before us provides $250 fund the Individuals With Disabilities Mr. DOMENICI. Madam President, I billion over 10 years, or slightly more Education Act. We can quadruple pro- was going to ask the distinguished than one-third—one-third of what the fessional development, teacher train- ranking member if he has somebody President wants to give in tax cuts, ing, and skills upgrades. We can reach now to continue, and then we will com- just to the wealthiest 1 percent of our goal of hiring 100,000 extra teachers plete it in about 15 or 20 minutes when Americans. to reduce class sizes all over America the Senator is finished. Then, when we consider we are look- so that no class has more than 18 stu- Mr. CONRAD. The Senator from Mas- ing at the baby boom generation com- dents in all grades 1 through 12. sachusetts would like 15 minutes. ing on retirement and the problems we We can triple the funding for mod- Mr. DOMENICI. We will wait for that are going to have in Medicare, looking ernization of school repair, and we can and follow after it. at our economic future, the best in- raise the maximum Pell grant by $600 Mr. CONRAD. We thank the chair- vestment we can make this decade is to next year. man very much for his courtesy. I yield invest in education and make it our Mr. WELLSTONE. Madam President, the Senator from Massachusetts 15 top priority. will the Senator yield for a question? minutes off the resolution. We are not alone in this. The Amer- Mr. HARKIN. Yes, I am delighted to The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- ican people understand this full well. yield. ator from Massachusetts. In poll after poll after poll, the Amer- Mr. WELLSTONE. Did the Senator Mr. KENNEDY. Madam President, I ican public supports education over- describe the title I program? Did he thank Senators HARKIN and WELLSTONE whelmingly. It is not even a close call. talk about what title I was? I know he for bringing forward this extremely im- These are some of the recent surveys. talked about IDEA. portant amendment. Over the period of

VerDate Mar 15 2010 03:09 Dec 20, 2013 Jkt 081600 PO 00000 Frm 00024 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 J:\ODA425\1997-2008-FILES-4-SS-PROJECT\2001-SENATE-REC-FILES\RECFILES-NEW\S mmaher on DSKCGSP4G1 with SOCIALSECURITY April 4, 2001 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S3385 this week we are going to cast some level. The Harkin amendment accu- they talking about? Are they talking votes here in the U.S. Senate, but I rately reflects the realities faced by about their books? Are they talking doubt if there is any particular amend- our nation’s schools and universities. about their studies or what is hap- ment that presents more clearly the Enrollment in higher education has pening in their lecture halls? No. They question of values and priorities than also significantly increased. Our col- are talking about their loans and how this amendment does. I doubt if there leges and universities are reaching they are going to repay their loans. is any amendment that we will con- record enrollments. This year, college Students are not talking about wheth- sider that is more about the future of enrollment numbered over 15 million er they are able to go into public serv- our country and that has a greater rel- students, and is expected to rise over ice, but instead about what they are evance to what kind of society we will the next 10 years to reach 17.5 million going to have to do when they get out become over the period of these next in 2010. of school. several years and into the future. The priority to educate all of our na- The Harkin amendment is a down- The numbers that the Senators from tion’s children must begin through an payment for putting this country back Iowa and Minnesota have talked about investment in educating children at an on the road, and ensuring that young are very large amounts of money. But early age. Various reports, including and talented Americans are not turn- when you look at this amount in the those produced by the Carnegie Com- ing their backs on the possibility of context of educational need, these fig- mission, have shown us what a dif- higher education because do not want ures are not out of the ordinary. As a ference is made through investment at to be in debt, nor put their families in matter of fact, they are very modest the earliest time in children’s lives. debt. This is wrong. It is clear that stu- given the number of children currently Early Start, which is now being funded dents cannot afford not to go to col- attending the nation’s schools, and in- at 4 or 5 percent of what it should be; lege. creases in the number of children that the Head Start program at about 40 We are all working together to en- are going to be attending our nation’s percent, or 45 percent of what it should sure that every child has access to a schools and colleges in the coming be; child care, 17 percent in terms of high quality education. But let’s also years. quality education. invest in our nation’s children. Let’s Senators HARKIN and WELLSTONE are And the list goes on. invest in making sure there will be suf- posing a question of priorities. That is, As I mentioned, the average annual ficient resources for children to benefit are we prepared to invest in the future investment in education has dropped from elementary and secondary edu- of this country and in its children, over the past years. Now we are faced, cation, and move on the furthering through reducing the tax breaks for in this budget, with an increase of only their education in colleges and univer- the wealthiest individuals by a third? I 5.7 percent. That is an inadequate sities. commend Senators WELLSTONE and amount when talking about the invest- We need a plan that makes increas- HARKIN for posing that question. ment needed for the children of this ing Head Start a priority over tax cuts I agree with those who say that country. for the wealthy. money does not solve all of our na- The Senator from Iowa went into We need a plan that makes full fund- tion’s problems. That point will be de- considerable detail on a number of fea- ing for IDEA a priority over tax cuts bated here this afternoon as this tures in this amendment, and I would for the wealthy. amendment is considered. That point is also like to highlight some important We need a plan that makes increas- both valid and worthy of debate. How- points. ing Title I a program that helps dis- ever, money is also a reflection of our I would like to briefly mention the advantaged students master basic Nation’s priorities. This is what the Pell Grant Program. We had a national skills a priority over tax cuts for the budget debate is all about. This is what debate in 1960 regarding aid to edu- wealthy. our votes are all about. cation programs. At that time Vice We need a plan that makes reducing The amendment brought forth by the President Nixon was opposed to any aid class size a priority. Senator from Iowa is about placing a to education, and President Kennedy We need a plan that makes improving priority on what the American family supported aid to education. The Presi- teacher quality a priority. has said is their first priority invest- dent believed—and this country went We need a plan that makes expanding ment in our nation’s children and in on record during that time—that any after-school learning opportunities a our future. student in this country who is able to priority. Since fiscal year 1980, the federal gain entrance into any college or uni- We need a plan that makes modern- share has decreased for education pro- versity on the basis of their academic izing and rebuilding the nation’s crum- grams. In elementary and secondary ability should be able to do so, despite bling and overcrowded school buildings education, the investment has dropped the size of their wallet or the size of a priority. from 11.9% to 8.3% in fiscal year 2000, their pocketbook. The President be- We need a plan that makes increas- and in higher education from 15.4% to lieved that students should have access ing the maximum level of Pell grants a 11%. But, the educational needs of to a range of grants, loans, and work- priority. schools and communities are rising. study programs, and also rely on their We need a strong investment in edu- This chart reflects the number of own individual efforts, to make up the cation that will ensure a bright future children who will be entering elemen- tuition. for the nation, not a tax cut that tary and secondary schools in the This commitment was reflected in leaves the nation’s children and stu- United States of America over the pe- the creation of Pell grants. Over the dents behind. riod of the next 90 years. The number last 25 years, federal student need has We know what needs to be done now of school-aged children will increase shifted from a grant-based system to a in terms of education in America. The from today’s enrollments of 53 million loan-based system. In 1980, 55% of total real question is, Do we have the will? students, up to 94 million students in federal aid for higher education was This particular amendment addresses 2100. awarded through grants, and 43% programs that invest in children, and This amendment is really about part- through loans. In 1998, this ratio shift- ensures that our future workers are nership—between federal, State, and ed to 58% through loans, and 40% going to have the skills to compete in local communities. The federal role through grants. a modern economy. It reflects the best should lead this partnership through A recent study has found that the values of the American people and the recognizing that the needs of our na- maximum award under the Pell grant best values of our party. That value is tion’s schools will continue to grow as program has fallen dramatically, from investment in children and their fu- the population in our nation’s schools providing 84% of total costs at a public, tures. That is what this amendment is grows. We must ask ourselves: Does 4-year university in 1975–1976, to pro- about. It ought to be adopted. this budget reflect the growing need to viding 39% of total costs in 1999–2000. Mr. REID. Will the Senator yield for invest in elementary and secondary Any Member of this body may visit a a question? education? Or is it business as usual— college or university in this country Mr. KENNEDY. I will be glad to a 5.7 percent over last year’s funding and listen to young people. What are yield.

VerDate Mar 15 2010 03:09 Dec 20, 2013 Jkt 081600 PO 00000 Frm 00025 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 J:\ODA425\1997-2008-FILES-4-SS-PROJECT\2001-SENATE-REC-FILES\RECFILES-NEW\S mmaher on DSKCGSP4G1 with SOCIALSECURITY S3386 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE April 4, 2001 Mr. REID. I have listened intently to they will have, indeed, the same chance port services at a young age. In Eu- what the Senator has said. I think the to achieve and do well on these tests? rope, for example, such services have Senator has clearly said that a child’s Don’t the two go together? had an important impact on a child’s ability to be educated should not be de- Mr. KENNEDY. The Senator is abso- learning ability. That is what the Sen- pendent on how much money their par- lutely correct. It will be a sham if we ator’s amendment is about and why it ents have. just have the test without having the is so compelling. Is that what the Senator has said? support services. We are working to en- Mr. HARKIN. I thank the Senator. Mr. KENNEDY. That is exactly what sure these important services that ac- Mr. KENNEDY. I yield the floor. I have said. celerate learning and academic Mr. CONRAD. The Senator from Mr. REID. Today, this week, is when achievement. Rhode Island is seeking time? students all over America are going to That is addressed in the Harkin Mr. REED. Yes. get notices in the mail as to where amendment. Mr. CONRAD. How much time would they are going to be able to go to Mr. HARKIN. Will the Senator yield the Senator like? school. again? Mr. REED. Fifteen minutes. Does the Senator agree that many Mr. KENNEDY. Yes. Mr. CONRAD. I yield 15 minutes to students who are admitted to some Mr. HARKIN. I thank the Senator the Senator from Rhode Island off the schools are not going to be able to go again for his very eloquent statement resolution. there because they cannot bear the and his comments. Certainly, there is The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- burden of the cost of going to a finer no one in either body on Capitol Hill ator from Rhode Island. school; they will have to go to some who has worked longer and harder and, Mr. REED. Madam President, I rise other school, is that correct? I might add, more successfully on the in strong support of the Harkin amend- Mr. KENNEDY. If I could answer the education of all our kids than has the ment. Senator’s question this way. 97 percent Senator from Massachusetts. Senator HARKIN understands that in of students in the highest achievement When I was listening to the Senator America education provides the best and socioeconomic quartile go on to 4 speak, I was thinking about the pros- opportunity for all of our citizens to year college. On the other hand, only 46 pect of kids who do not have a lot of achieve and that this country, at its percent of children achieving at the money who want to get an education, best moments, should always be about same academic level, but in the lowest who have achieved well in school, have opportunity. Senator HARKIN seeks to socioeconomic quartile, go on to a 4- studied hard. They have made their ensure that every child has an oppor- year college or university. grades. They have made good grades. tunity. He has appropriately titled this We, as a country and as a society, un- The Senator pointed that out in his re- amendment ‘‘Leave No Child Behind,’’ derstand that education is the great marks, that they would have the same because he believes sincerely, as do I, equalizer. When we are faced with desire to go to college as anyone else. that we have to reach out, not just rhe- these facts—— Was the Senator saying that because torically but with real resources, to The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mrs. LIN- of the financial barriers, these kids make sure every child can seize oppor- COLN). The Senator has 2 minutes re- who are high achievers—they are tunity, which is what America is all maining. bright, they have studied hard, they about. Mr. REID. I yield the Senator 5 more have gotten good grades—have some Unlike the Republican budget resolu- minutes. shield that keeps them from advancing tion before us, which contains only a Mr. KENNEDY. When we are faced on? paltry increase for education—in fact, with these facts, we have to ask our- Mr. KENNEDY. The Senator is cor- this increase is smaller than the an- selves, What should be our investment? rect. nual increases in education in the last The Harkin amendment is a com- Mr. HARKIN. And that shield is 4 out of 5 years—the Harkin Amend- prehensive amendment. It will ensure money. There are going to be other ment provides $250 billion over 10 years that children are well prepared, ready amendments that might focus on one for education, a funding level that to learn, and will benefit from the thing or another. would truly leave no child behind. changes and the improvements we have My second question for the Senator: All of our Nation’s students have to made in elementary, secondary, and Is it his belief, from all of his long ex- be given the tools and the opportunity higher education. perience involving education, that we to excel and be successful, in effect, to The question is, Are we going to take have to look at the whole? Each one of live out the American dream. The Har- the one-third of the tax program and these parts isn’t a whole. It is impor- kin amendment provides these tools do what the Harkin-Wellstone amend- tant to increase Pell grants, but that and the opportunity through high qual- ment has asked, or are we going to pro- alone won’t solve it. It is important to ity education that spans a lifetime— vide additional billions of dollars to increase title I, but that alone won’t from early childhood education, the wealthiest individuals? It is a clear solve it. It is important to increase through elementary and secondary choice. funding for individuals with disabil- education, through higher education, Mr. WELLSTONE. Will the Senator ities, but that alone won’t solve it. Is it and indeed beyond to postsecondary, from Massachusetts yield for one other the contention of the Senator that this lifelong learning. High quality edu- question? has to be put together? cation costs real dollars. The Harkin Mr. KENNEDY. I yield. Mr. KENNEDY. The Senator is abso- amendment puts those real dollars into Mr. WELLSTONE. There was one lutely correct. Over the last 15 years, this budget. comment the Senator made that I as the Senator is well familiar, we have President Bush and our Republican think is critically important. I want to learned that a child’s mind—almost colleagues claim that their proposal make sure I understand it well and from the time of birth—should have op- will leave no child behind, but simply that people understand it. portunities to develop. Research has adding accountability to our elemen- When we marked up the bill dealing shown us that we must take advantage tary and secondary schools without with the reauthorization of the Ele- of the new science in ways that are providing adequate resources will not mentary and Secondary Education Act going to enhance the academic oppor- do the job. in the HELP Committee, I think all of tunities for these children. I have had many opportunities to us went on record saying we were abso- The Senator’s amendment focuses talk with the Secretary of Education lutely committed to accountability not only on the early learning, but also and other leaders in this administra- and holding students to really high on Head Start, which serves 3- and 4- tion with respect to their education standards. But the Democrats on the year-olds. proposal. They talk a good game. They committee, did we not also say that we The Senator is familiar with the ex- talk about accountability. They talk have to make sure the students, the cellent hearing that was chaired by about standards. But then when you children, and the teachers of the Senator JEFFORDS, and during which ask them: Where are the resources? schools have the tools; in other words, we learned that 98 percent of young They say: Well, we really don’t need re- that we make the investment so that children are receiving important sup- sources.

VerDate Mar 15 2010 03:09 Dec 20, 2013 Jkt 081600 PO 00000 Frm 00026 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 J:\ODA425\1997-2008-FILES-4-SS-PROJECT\2001-SENATE-REC-FILES\RECFILES-NEW\S mmaher on DSKCGSP4G1 with SOCIALSECURITY April 4, 2001 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S3387 That is just not the case. Every giving every child the chance to learn; BEST Act will be about $4 million a American understands that education making them ready for school; giving year. That is a great deal of money in is worthwhile and that we must invest them good teachers and good facilities; the State of Rhode Island for edu- in education, not just with words but and then giving them the opportunity cation. That money could be used for with dollars, to make a high quality to go on to postsecondary education. other purposes in education. I believe if education a reality in the life of every I cannot think of a more important we are mandating these tests, we child. Indeed, today, the Federal budg- task, one that is more central to the should at least provide for these re- et only devotes only 2 cents of every concerns of all Americans, and one sources. Federal dollar to education. We have to that is more fully realized than this I know a few years ago it was quite in do more—not to dispossess the States amendment proposed by Senator HAR- vogue for Republican colleagues to and the localities of their responsibil- KIN. I support him strongly. talk about ‘‘unfunded mandates,’’ how ities, but to complement and supple- I will be offering two amendments the Federal Government was imposing ment what they are doing. with respect to education. The first I these restrictions and requirements Today we live in a challenging, inter- will offer, with my colleagues Senators and not giving the resources to do it. I national economic order, and students KENNEDY and BINGAMAN, would support can’t think of a more transparent and from Massachusetts are not just com- recent initiatives sponsored by the ad- obvious unfunded mandate than to re- peting with students from Mississippi; ministration and supported by the quire each State to test each child in they are all competing against the very Health, Education, Labor, and Pen- grades 3 through 8, which is a tradi- best and brightest around the globe. sions Committee, that involves testing tional province of the States in terms That requires investment. It requires of our students. The President has of curriculum, and not give them the raising our standards and giving every called for the testing of all students in Federal resources to carry out that child a chance to reach those standards grades 3 through 8. I understand, as so mandate. to ensure that we have the best-edu- many of my colleagues do, that testing So my amendment would, in fact, cated workforce so we can compete in is an important aspect of education, provide the downpayment on the costs this competitive global economy. That not the sole aspect of education, but an of these tests. I hope it will be agreed is what the Harkin amendment will do. important aspect of education. But, I to because, right now, this budget does Specifically, Senator HARKIN would have raised concerns, as have others, not put the dollars behind the rhetoric help all children start school ready to that these tests can dominate cur- when it comes to State testing. learn by funding Head Start to make it riculum so that essentially children I will offer another amendment along available to all eligible 3- and 4-year- are narrowly being taught the test. with Senator KENNEDY that would in- olds and to expand learning opportuni- And one graver concern is that these crease our commitment to opening the ties under the Early Learning Opportu- tests, because so much rides upon doors of higher education to our need- nities Act. Making children ready to them, would be dumbed down or other- iest students. Senator HARKIN has indi- learn has been a goal of the Federal wise compromised so that they are not cated in his amendment that he under- Government for more than a decade. really a valid tool to assess a school’s stands the need to increase Pell grants When President Bush organized the performance. They simply become a and to support need-based programs. Governor’s conference, they deter- routine way to secure Federal funding. My amendment also would do this. It mined that their first goal was to en- Nevertheless, I believe we should pro- would increase significantly those re- sure that every child should enter vide the States with the resources if we sources that are going to programs school ready to learn. We have failed to require them to test every child in that are designed to assist talented achieve that goal. With the resources reading and math in grades 3 through 8. Americans who are economically de- this amendment provides, we can strive The HELP Committee passed the prived. It would increase the maximum and, I hope, attain that goal. BEST Act under a unanimous vote, 20– Pell grant by $600 to $4,350, something We also want to ensure that every 0. The bill authorizes $510 million to Senator HARKIN also supports. It would child is taught by highly qualified help States meet this mandate—$400 increase the LEAP program, a partner- teachers in classrooms that are not million for the development and imple- ship between the Federal Government overcrowded or in ill-repair. The Har- mentation of annual State assessments and the States to provide income-based kin amendment quadruples funding for and $110 million for administering grants and aid to students going to col- professional development, includes State assessments under the National lege by $45 million to $100 million. It money for increasing our effort to re- Assessments of Educational Progress. duce class sizes, and increases the re- would increase the supplemental edu- The National Governors’ Association, sources going to school repair and mod- cational opportunity grants. It would however, has expressed concern that ernization. also increase the Federal Work-Study We all understand, too, that every this level of funding is likely not Program to provide students with more child, including those students with enough to cover the costs. In fact, with resources as they work their way disabilities, must be a part of the edu- an average testing cost of $50 per stu- through college. It would increase the cational experience in a meaningful dent, the real cost may be well over $1 TRIO program, designed to identify way. That means fully funding the In- billion. While the amount authorized talented young people, assist them to dividuals with Disabilities Education under the BEST Act is a start, it is get into school, and mentor them and Act. really only an initial downpayment on help them as they progress through We also understand that we have a the true cost of implementing these college. It would also increase the Per- special obligation at the Federal level tests. kins loans capital contribution to as- to provide the most disadvantaged From what I am hearing from col- sist universities and colleges as they American children with a real chance, leagues in Rhode Island, high quality reach out to individual students who and that is why Senator HARKIN will tests are very costly, and the State need help. It would also help on the increase title I funding substantially. will need money to implement and ad- loan cancellation part of the Perkins Then in order to complete the job, we minister these tests. It costs a great program for reimbursement to colleges have to ensure that all of our children deal of money to administer and score for loan forgiveness. with talent and ambition coming out of the tests, to prepare schools and teach- The amendment would also increase secondary schools have the resources ers to administer the tests, and to per- funding for the GEAR UP program, an- and the opportunity to go to college. form other tasks necessary to ensure other early intervention program. It So, Senator HARKIN is calling for an in- an appropriate testing regime that will would also address teacher quality and crease in the maximum Pell grant by adequately assess the progress of chil- recruitment through title II of the $600 to $4,350. He is also calling for a dren and will contribute to their edu- Higher Education Act by providing ad- significant increase in other need- cation, not distract them from their ditional resources to help teachers bet- based student aid programs, such as education. ter prepare themselves and help com- LEAP, TRIO, and GEAR UP. In Rhode Island, it has been esti- munities recruit better teachers. All of these proposals go to the heart mated that the cost of an annual test- All of these programs are designed to and soul of what we should be about: ing regime as contemplated by the be consistent with the theme that has

VerDate Mar 15 2010 03:09 Dec 20, 2013 Jkt 081600 PO 00000 Frm 00027 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 J:\ODA425\1997-2008-FILES-4-SS-PROJECT\2001-SENATE-REC-FILES\RECFILES-NEW\S mmaher on DSKCGSP4G1 with SOCIALSECURITY S3388 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE April 4, 2001 been struck by Senator HARKIN in his partisan support, as I know from my would like to see us meet the goals amendment. If we believe in oppor- work on the Committee on Health, outlined by Senator HARKIN of pro- tunity, we really have to invest in edu- Education, Labor, and Pensions, where viding eligible 3- and 4-year-olds the cation. When you get down to the I serve with the distinguished Senator opportunity to participate in Head practicalities of school systems in this from New Hampshire, where the Ele- Start. country, the rhetoric doesn’t work. mentary and Secondary Education Act I also know that once our children When you get down to the notion that reauthorization—now called the BEST get to school, if the classrooms are so they will simply reorganize themselves Act—passed with unanimous bipartisan crowded, if the teacher cannot even get effectively and that will make up for support. to all of the children during the day, additional resources, that clashes with I think we need to put the resources then many children who come with a the reality of local education. behind the title of that act. If it is to disadvantage are never going to catch What is the reality of local edu- be the BEST Act, if it is, indeed, to up. I believe we should continue the ef- cation? Well, the school committees promote education and provide the forts we started of reducing class size strive for months to come up with a kind of opportunities that our children and putting dollars into getting more budget. They go ahead and they want need in the 21st century, then we have qualified teachers into our classrooms. increased professional development, to be sure it is not an empty program. With both Federal and State funding, and they want increased funds to im- Higher standards will mean abso- for example, New York City has been prove their facilities, to fix roofs. They lutely nothing unless we provide our able to reduce class size for approxi- have made political compromises and schools and our students—particularly mately 90,000 students in the early struggles to get there. They are just in underserved urban and rural areas— grades. That is nearly 30 percent of our about to announce it, and then they with the resources and support nec- entire K-through-3 population. We get a call—the superintendent gets a essary to meet those goals. We have to know from the research that we are call; it is their health insurance com- ask ourselves whether this budget, ab- getting better results because of it. pany. They have just announced that sent an amendment such as that of Also, what we claim to be our prior- premiums are going up 45 percent. So Senator HARKIN’s, will reflect and meet ities should be reflected in the school guess what happens to all that money those priorities. buildings for students to see. We talk for professional development, library When we talk about our children’s about how important education is, and books, and school construction; it is education, we know we have to start yet I know throughout New York and gone. early. Does this budget include funding throughout America, based on my own The virtue and the value that we for Head Start, Early Start, the Early visits, there are children going to offer is that we can provide these funds Learning Opportunities Act to the ex- schools in deplorable condition. We and fence them off, if you will, commit tent that our children and families have many school buildings that are them to libraries, school construction, need them? We don’t know the details very old that need to be upgraded. reducing class size; and by doing that, yet, but I am very concerned that what Modernization costs are soaring. This we can make real progress working we do know seems to indicate that im- administration’s budget wipes out the with local communities. portant programs such as Head Start $1.2 billion partnership with States and The Harkin amendment is the most and the Early Learning Opportunities localities for emergency school renova- important amendment in this whole Act may well be at risk. tion and repair. I do not believe this is budget because it would put us on In fact, according to the Congres- the time to be cutting funds that will record again as saying that we believe sional Budget Office, the administra- help us modernize our schools, equip in education, in opportunity, and we tion’s spending on education, training, them with the technologies that are will support it with dollars and not employment, and social services does needed—in fact, in some instances, just words. not actually include a real increase in make them safe enough for the chil- I yield the floor. spending. The numbers have only been dren and teachers who spend their days Mr. CONRAD. Is the Senator from adjusted for inflation, which is impor- in them. New York seeking time? tant and necessary to do, but that It is not enough, though, just to re- Mrs. CLINTON. I am, Madam Presi- means there hasn’t been money added duce class size and have modern, well- dent. to cover the additional children who equipped schools. We also have to have Mr. CONRAD. Would 7 minutes be all attend our public schools and rely on teachers in those classrooms. We are right? these important programs. In fact, I seeing shortages throughout America. Mr. GREGG. I ask the Senator from believe it is correct to say that we now For example, in Buffalo, 231 teachers North Dakota, are we going to go back have more children in school than we retired last year, compared with an av- and forth on the time? have ever had at any previous time in erage of 92 in each of the preceding 8 Mr. CONRAD. There has been no real our history. And in the absence of add- years. Most telling, Buffalo lost 50 formality here. If the Senator from ing real resources, we are going to find young teachers who moved on to other New Hampshire would like time at this ourselves, once we do get this budget, jobs or other school districts. point—— which I hope will be soon, having to Buffalo happens to have the oldest Mr. GREGG. Why don’t we have the take money away from programs such school stock in America. Some of the Senator from New York speak, and as Head Start in order to provide serv- schools were beautifully built, but then I will seek recognition after her. ices for the elderly, or vice versa. their walls are so thick that they can- Mr. CONRAD. That is very gracious. Those are not the kinds of Hobson’s not be wired. I have seen schools where I yield 7 minutes to the Senator from choices, at a time of surplus, we want the wires for computers come out the New York, and then we will go to the in order to make the best investments, window and down to be hooked up. other side. pay down the debt, and provide afford- For many teachers, these are impos- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- able tax cuts that I think are available sible circumstances. That is why I in- ator from New York. to us. troduced the National Teacher and Mrs. CLINTON. Madam President, I How do we expect children to enter Principal Recruitment Act which I be- rise in support of Senator HARKIN’s ef- school ready to learn if they don’t have lieve will bring up to 75,000 qualified fort to make sure that we as a nation the best of resources at home, which teachers into our highest needs school keep our word and that we do, indeed, many of our children don’t have, and districts. make education a national priority. we don’t help provide them through Later this week, I will offer an The Senator has called for investing partnerships in our communities? amendment to the budget resolution to $250 billion in education programs for It is obviously clear, as Senators reserve funds specifically for teacher our children over the next 10 years. I HARKIN, REED, and KENNEDY pointed recruitment. We have to ensure that think that is a smart investment. I out earlier, the research is absolutely all our teachers get the professional de- think that is a sound investment. I positive that a nurturing, stimulating velopment they need. think it is a prudent investment. I child care environment has enormous My friends tell me it is just harder know that improving education has bi- positive impacts on our children. I teaching these days. There are a lot of

VerDate Mar 15 2010 03:09 Dec 20, 2013 Jkt 081600 PO 00000 Frm 00028 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 J:\ODA425\1997-2008-FILES-4-SS-PROJECT\2001-SENATE-REC-FILES\RECFILES-NEW\S mmaher on DSKCGSP4G1 with SOCIALSECURITY April 4, 2001 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S3389 circumstances that make it harder, but lion. Those two numbers are important Mr. GREGG. I am happy to yield the fact is, if we are going to put our because President Bush reduces the when I finish my statement. money where our words are, then we retireable debt the maximum amount Mr. DOMENICI. When you finish, need to invest in our teachers, in their it can be reduced. In other words, he don’t yield to him. I want to be recog- professional development, in their re- reduces it down to the $1.158 trillion. nized. cruitment, and their retention. There is not any more debt that can Mr. GREGG. I will yield to the Sen- We also need to be sure the Federal be bought. We cannot go into the mar- ator from New Mexico. Government lives up to its responsi- ketplace and buy more debt unless we Let me complete this thought. It is bility to fully fund IDEA. Special edu- are willing to pay a very significant so important I have to complete it. cation students should be provided premium. The practical implication of The practical implication of the Har- with the assistance they need to meet the Harkin-Wellstone amendment is kin-Wellstone amendment is this: The the academic standards they are re- that they want to pay a higher pre- American taxpayers will have to be quired to meet. I support Senator HAR- mium to buy back debt than would taxed further to pay down debt which KIN’s amendment which will work to- have to be paid by the American tax- isn’t available to be bought back today ward the goal of fully funding the Fed- payers if it were purchased in the reg- because it is not retireable. So we end eral Government’s share of IDEA. ular order of events. To accomplish the up, instead of saving money, costing Finally, I do not think there is a goals of the Harkin-Wellstone amend- the taxpayers money by doing it this more important obligation than to ment, we would have to, as a Govern- way. make sure those doors to college are ment, take Federal tax dollars and say That half of the Wellstone-Harkin wide open to anyone who is willing to to people who own American debt: We amendment makes no sense on its face. work and study hard. I support increas- are going to pay you a premium to buy I yield to the chairman of the com- ing the maximum Pell grant. I support it back; we are not going to retire it in mittee. expanding programs that will help our the regular order of events; we are ac- Mr. DOMENICI. I thank the Senator low-income and minority students get tually going to require or we are going for coming to the floor and spending so the assistance they need while they are to ask you to pay it back to us, and be- much time while I could not be here. still in high school, and even junior cause you do not have to pay it back to The poor American taxpayer. Every high and middle school, so they are us and you may not want to pay it amendment from the other side wants ready to go on to college, by investing back to us, we are going to give you a to spend the surplus so they won’t have in programs such as TRIO and GEAR premium. We end up spending more it. Those on alert out here ought to be UP. It is imperative, especially in this money than is required to pay down the taxpayers. Every time we turn economic time, to increase job training that debt. That makes no sense at all. around, a huge amount of money that by nearly $1 billion a year. These are What the President has proposed is is scheduled under our President’s pro- the investments we should be making. that we pay down the maximum posal to go to the taxpayers of America I urge my colleagues to truly leave amount of debt that can be paid down is taken away from them for another no child behind and vote in favor of over this period. He has proposed buy- program, another activity. Another Senator HARKIN’s amendment. ing back more debt faster than at any Senator comes to the floor and talks I thank the Chair. other time in history. This is a very about how fixing up America will re- Mr. GREGG. Madam President, I significant point because there has quire us to do another 10 things. yield myself such time as I may con- been a lot of debate about this in this Where do you think all those new sume off the resolution. body over the last few months as to things come from? They come right out The amendment offered by Senator how much debt can be paid down. The of the surplus that was going to the HARKIN and Senator WELLSTONE has a problem is there does not seem to be an American taxpayers. number of facets to it. The first, of agreement on this point. On this particular one, listen up; the course, is it reduces the tax cut as pro- However, if we look at the numbers, President’s $1.6 trillion is diminished, posed by the President by $450 billion we can conclude pretty clearly that the not by a little bit but by $450 billion. over 10 years. That means it is taking President has chosen a reasonable fig- For those who expressed a desire to money out of the taxpayers’ pockets ure. Why is that? have a tax cut, if you had the slightest and putting that money somewhere in These are the types of debt, if we sympathy toward the President’s tax the Federal bureaucracy. were to buy them down today, on cut, understand that all of these One of the priorities that has been which we would have to pay a pre- goodies talked about don’t come free. set out is a desire to take from the tax- mium. The first is coupon issues, and They come from somewhere. In this payers money the Federal Government that is $670 billion. The second is infla- case, they come from the taxpayers of does not actually need because the tion-indexed issues, and that is $113 bil- the United States who were going to Federal Government is running a rath- lion. The third is savings bonds, and get a $1.6 trillion tax cut. er dramatic surplus, $5.6 trillion over that is $170 billion. Then comes State Who knows what would be in it? the next 10 years. and local government series; that is $86 Great Senators with more wisdom than The first priority the Senators laid billion; bonds backing up emerging I and more clairvoyance have told you out is education. The second priority is markets, the Brady bonds, $19 billion; how the tax cut will look. With this debt reduction. It takes $450 billion. It and bonds issued as part of the S&L surplus we are sending to the tax-writ- takes $225 billion of that and applies it cleanup is $30 billion, and other bonds ing committee, the $1.6 trillion that to what they claim to be debt reduc- that are nonretireable at $63 billion, the President is suggesting we send to tion as the first element. adding to $15 billion. This was not a the people of this country instead of We need to understand that under number the President picked out of the spending it, we have no idea what the the President’s proposal, all the debt air. It is tied to specific obligations of tax cuts will look like. No idea. That that can be paid down is being paid the Federal Government which have money goes to a Finance Committee down. President Clinton, before he left been determined to not be retireable. that is split even stephen with Demo- office, sent us a budget submission The practical effect is you cannot get crats and Republicans. They have to which told us how much the non- below that number when you are buy- get together and write a tax bill. How marketable debt was, debt which could ing back debt. The Harkin-Wellstone do we know how it will come out? It not be bought down by the Federal amendment has proposed we go below will require Democrats to vote with Government over the next 10 years. that number; that we take the Republicans for a tax bill. What will I have a chart that reflects that num- nonretireable debt number down to those people vote for? When the tax- ber. President Clinton said that num- about $900 billion. To do that will cost payers of America hear the debate, and ber was $1.2 trillion. That is debt that probably another $50 billion. We will there is this huge song, ‘‘don’t give the cannot be retired over the next 10 have to tax the American taxpayer rich a tax break,’’ maybe they won’t years. We are talking about public more in order to raise money to buy even give the rich a tax break. Maybe debt. President Bush has suggested back debt at a premium. they won’t even give the rich a tax that the nonretireable debt is $1.15 tril- Mr. CONRAD. Will the Senator yield? break. Who knows? They will be given

VerDate Mar 15 2010 03:09 Dec 20, 2013 Jkt 081600 PO 00000 Frm 00029 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 J:\ODA425\1997-2008-FILES-4-SS-PROJECT\2001-SENATE-REC-FILES\RECFILES-NEW\S mmaher on DSKCGSP4G1 with SOCIALSECURITY S3390 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE April 4, 2001 a $1.6 trillion cut, if you adopt these surprise. They don’t say, spend it, like that formula, they have to wait around budget numbers. Now they will be we are. They say, if you are finished for a couple of months and see what given $450 billion less. paying down the debt, cut the marginal that next group of Senators does with All the Senators who spoke of all the rate for Americans under the American the tax bill. good things we could do, they are all tax system. Why do they say it? Be- I repeat, the numbers are even Ste- good things, but remember, they are cause if you want prosperity and you phen in that committee: 11 Democrats, not free. In this instance, they come want growth and most of all what you 11 Republicans. out of a surplus that is $5.6 trillion. need in today’s economy is investment. Just follow down. The rest of these And we can’t give the taxpayer back Ask anyone. Ask some of your Sen- are pretty obvious: Available for other $1.6 trillion? We will collect $27 trillion ators, ask their friends, perhaps some- priorities, $1.5 billion: Medicare/pre- in all kinds of taxes during that period body they trust on Wall Street, ask scription drugs. Make sure you keep of time. Can we not give them back 6 them what is needed the most. They the surplus in the health insurance percent when we have this huge sur- will say investment. How do you get program. And then debt service, for plus? investment? By cutting the marginal $400 billion, and, lo and behold, there is I heard the other day that I have rates. $500 billion of contingency fund left been working on budgets when they So everybody has a stake in it no over. were mostly in deficits. I find it much matter what the other side chooses to Let me repeat. Whenever you have a easier to handle a budget that is in def- call it. It is the very best thing we can surplus and whenever you plan to give icit than I do one that is in surplus. do with the surplus. some of it back to the American peo- When we have one that is in surplus, Now, regarding the $1.6 trillion tax ple, rest assured, it will be a very hard everybody wants their hands on the cut, since there is a continual carping fiscal policy—it will be very hard to surplus. I am here, maybe the only one, about who gets the breaks, the average get the work done on the floor because saying $1.6 trillion of that should go across America is $1,400 in the hands of everybody wants a fistful of that sur- back to the taxpayer. I hope I have 51 the taxpayer to use for what they plus. Not for the taxpayers; it is for Senators agree that is what we ought would like, $1,400 on average. In my other things that they are certain the to do. State, it is $1,800 on average. I wonder Government will fix if we just have There are plenty of things that could what it is in the State of the occupant more money for the Government to be done by the tax-writing committees of the chair. I would guess it is some- spend. for the American taxpayer that would where between $1,400 and $1,800 because I will give one other example. You be very good. I will talk about one of the level of income. But anyway, might wonder, hearing the debate, how right now because it gets a lot of atten- that is speculative. The others I know. much more we need. Somebody out tion from the other side. The other side In any event, the issue is are they apt there watching might have said it of the aisle would not argue that the to use that money right or are we apt would be interesting to know how beneficiaries of a growing, prospering to use it more right by spending it the much you are spending. Since we are American economy are the people. In way that is being proposed in this talking about what you want to spend fact, the more growth for the longest amendment? in addition, it must be in addition to period of time, the more poor people I believe I do not have to answer that something. I thought we would just say get out of poverty, the more middle-in- question. I believe the American tax- what has happened to education na- come people climb to a higher middle payers will answer that question: You tionally and what is going to happen income because you have prosperity give us our $1,200, $1,400, $1,600, or under President Bush, so everybody and growth. When you have a surplus, whatever we get in a marginal rate cut. who has been hearing these debates what should you use it for so you can We will spend it better than the Gov- about all we want to do for education, be sure you are providing prosperity ernment is going to spend it on new remember, it all comes out of the tax- and growth, which every single Amer- programs or additions to programs payer’s hide. Here it is, starting in 1998, ican, rich or poor, certainly would that are already adequately funded. 29.9; 1999, 35; 36, 42, and then the Presi- like? Rich, poor, middle income, who- I want to look at this one more time dent’s request of 44.5. That is a 10.6-per- ever is sitting around their breakfast for anybody who has listened to those cent average increase. So education is table talking, whether they are fin- on the other side of the aisle. Here are getting a pretty good chunk of money ishing up right now for April 15 with a President Bush’s numbers. We have and the President has asked for $2.5 bil- $75,000 income or $150,000 income, what done it as well as we can to put it in lion more than we are spending this do they want? They want to keep on our budget. The first number in red, year. earning money and keep on getting $5.6 trillion, is the surplus, an incred- I could get up here and list 25 new more in their paycheck over the next ible surplus—in this Senator’s opinion, education programs and say we need decade. a credible surplus. If we argue which is more. But let me see the next chart How will that happen? It will happen most apt to happen, I would say that is and I will be finished. President Clin- if the American economy is growing so most apt to happen, $5.6 trillion, be- ton requested $34.7 for education. Con- everyone has a real interest in growth, cause there are others that might hap- gress gave him $35.6. In 2001, he re- in the innovation that has led to pro- pen. It might be $12 trillion—that is quested $40 billion; we gave him $42 bil- ductivity increases—everybody, rich what the economists say—or it might lion. In 2002, he asked for $40.1 billion— and poor. be $1 trillion or $800 billion. But if you interesting, no increase in President The average household in America is ask them what is it the most likely to Clinton’s budget—we increased it from going to participate in something be, they say use that number. 42.1 to 44.6. called marginal rate reduction. Every We take Social Security out of it and There was a whopping 25-percent in- level of taxation will get reduced, with that leaves a surplus for the rest of crease. If there is anybody who thinks the bottom level getting reduced twice Government of $3.1 trillion. The Bush- we are not helping education, from 2000 as much as the top level. As a can- Domenici budget said there was plenty to 2002, we will have increased it 25 per- didate for President and as President, of support for it. I could name every- cent. I am not standing here saying why would one ever have dreamed up body else on it; it is just I happened to education does not need more money, that in marginal rate cuts everybody put his budget into language in a reso- but I am wondering, when the Federal gets a tax rate cut. Would he dream it lution. Government is putting in the largest up to help one group of citizens over So the next thing we do is take off share each year in education, largest another? The very best advisers that the $1.6 trillion we want to give back. increase in decades, whether or not the we could put together were used, and Write the tax bill however you want. taxpayer ought to not be looked at to we heard testimony from one in com- We send an even number of Democrats get the next piece of money out of that mittee, Alan Greenspan. with an even number of Republicans to surplus, when we are already taking What kind of use of a surplus is rec- the Finance Committee and they will care of education quite well. ommended? Pay down the debt as much have to worry about how to spend that So everybody ought to know when as you can, they say. Then, surprise, $1.6. So anybody who thinks they have my friend Senator WELLSTONE gets up

VerDate Mar 15 2010 03:09 Dec 20, 2013 Jkt 081600 PO 00000 Frm 00030 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 J:\ODA425\1997-2008-FILES-4-SS-PROJECT\2001-SENATE-REC-FILES\RECFILES-NEW\S mmaher on DSKCGSP4G1 with SOCIALSECURITY April 4, 2001 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S3391 and talks about all the things he would lies move out of poverty, move off of sisted him in revising his resume and con- do, I say to Senator LOTT, he has 20, 30, welfare and into good paying jobs. ducting a job search using the career re- 40 things the Government ought to do And we funded that promise, last source room, job opening information and that he thinks would make life better. year in the amount of $6.1 billion. internet job search engines. After three Now, however, although it is some- months of participation in job search work- Let me remind everyone, you have to shops and interviewing, Timothy was hired get that from somewhere, and there are what difficult to tell because we have as an admissions counselor for an education only a couple of places to get it. One not seen the President’s budget, it ap- institution. place to get it is to reduce what the pears that this Administration wants And from Workforce Solutions in taxpayers are going to get; just take it to cut these funds by nearly $1 billion. Ramsey County, we hear this about as- That is totally unacceptable. We out of that pocket and decide we have sistance to dislocated workers: need an increase in funding for these something much better to do with it Our federal dislocated worker program is than do the taxpayers. important workforce training pro- funded to serve, in this current program We plan to give back to the American grams—not a decrease. We need to year, 277 individuals. One of those individ- people over a decade—not tomorrow, fully fund our promise to working fam- uals, Steven E. came to us having been laid not the next day—over 10 years, $1.6 ilies. We need to tell the working men off by a health care institution. He origi- trillion out of a surplus of $5.6 trillion. and women of this country, and the nally worked in the nursing field. When he This amendment, with all the things young people seeking to better their reached our counseling staff, not only was he that have been spoken about that we lives, that we believe in them, that we suffering from nearly 12 months of unem- will be able to do, takes $450 billion will support them. ployment but chemical dependency and the That’s what this amendment does. It impact of a recent divorce. Our staff, right out of the taxpayers. The tax- through intensive and support services, man- payers had a little pool of money they fully funds our promise to the working aged to get him into chemical dependency thought they were going to get back. It families of this country. In particular, treatment and worked to upgrade his nurs- amounted to $1.6 trillion. This will cut it 1. restores the nearly $1 billion that ing certificate and licensure. He also partici- it to $1.150 trillion—just like that. If we believe may be cut from workforce pated in grief and stress support groups to you do not think this is an important training programs in this resolution address his personal life issues. Because of amendment for the taxpayers, just and in the President’s proposed budget, the WIA funding, he successfully completed think about that. It is a pretty big and 2. adds an additional $900 million a his nursing licensure upgrade, and the chem- year for ten years to fund adult, youth, ical dependency treatment. Four months change in what they might have been ago, he was hired by the American Red Cross expecting, what the business commu- and dislocated worker training pro- working for their blood collection and dis- nity, through the lowering of marginal grams under the Workforce Investment tribution program. rates, might have expected to get the Act. And finally, from Central Minnesota These Workforce Investment Act pro- American economy going permanently. Jobs and Training Service in Monti- grams that we’re trying to protect, and That is going to be reduced by $450 bil- cello, I hear this about the need for expand funding for, make a huge dif- lion. funding of youth training programs: ference in people’s lives. Let me give Think carefully, Senators, when you [A] decrease in funding to the youth pro- vote on this. Have we increased edu- you just a few examples. grams has a significant effect on the number cation? Absolutely. Does the President Judy Lundquist from the Minnesota of youth that are able to be served and the intend to increase it? Absolutely. Does Workforce Center in Grand Rapids amount of services that are provided under he intend to increase special ed? Abso- shared this story with me: the WIA program. Offering long term serv- lutely, to the highest levels, percent- For less than $1,000 we were able to train ices, meeting performance standards, offer- ages in many, many years. Bridget as a Nursing Assistant, she had been ing at a minimum of 12 month follow-up and You have seen them up here. The a seasonal cabin cleaner earning less than retention services, and incorporating all of facts are the facts. The Senator from $2,000 a year, living in housing without elec- the new WIA youth elements, has increased tricity or running water. Her husband had the amount of staff time per participant and New Mexico is not saying you could injured himself while working for an em- has limited the number youth to be served not spend more on education, but I sug- ployer that did not carry worker’s compensa- compared to past practices. All of the new gest it is time to put the taxpayer tion and was unable to work in the logging initiatives are necessary to meet the needs right up there with any new program industry as he had been prior to his injury. of the youth and long term services is bene- add-ons and ask: Don’t they deserve to On the day she passed her Nursing Assistant ficial to their success. Without additional be considered up there with any pro- Certification Test she obtained full-time funds, there will be a limited amount of new gram? It is their money and they clear- work. I saw her just before Christmas at participants being enrolled into the program ly ought to have a chance to spend it. Wal-Mart with a shopping cart full of low in the coming years. The funds will be used With that, I yield the floor. cost Christmas Presents. They have moved to work with youth already enrolled in the to housing that is more appropriate and ac- Mr. WELLSTONE. Mr. President, program for many years and to offer com- tually has running water. Once they moved prehensive follow-up and retention services. this amendment includes provisions and were able to afford a telephone, Bridget’s that I believe, as the Ranking Member The State of Minnesota included the husband was also able to find appropriate need to increase funding for Workforce of the Senate Health, Education, work.. We have more than recovered the cost Labor, and Pension Committee’s Sub- of her training in taxes on her earnings. We Investment Act activities in their committee on Employment, Safety, also trained someone to help fill the urgent ‘‘Federal Priorities for 2001.’’ These and Training, are an essential part of need in our community for qualified Nursing programs are vital to meeting our fulfilling promises we have made to the Assistants. promises to the American people, American people. As part of changes we And from Hennepin County’s Train- promises to move families out of pov- made to the welfare laws, we said to ing and Employment Assistance office erty, off of welfare, and into good pay- families who were on welfare that if comes this account: ing jobs where they can earn a living they went out to look for a job, we’d Timothy, a 41 year old unemployed factory wage. We must honor those promises make funds available for training and worker, applied for WIA services hoping to by supporting this amendment. counseling to help them reach that obtain any type of work quickly. He had left f goal. We have said to workers who have his assembly job after ten years because he Mr. BAUCUS. Mr. President, today I was very discouraged about continuing this rise to express my strong support for lost their jobs through economic dis- type of work. Timothy had been unemployed location and down turns that we would for four months and was despondent about adequately funding federal education make funds available for training and his situation. initiatives. counseling to help them find a new job Through WIA counseling and assessment, ‘‘Education is,’’ as historian Henry or start a new career. We have said to it was determined that Timothy had skills Steele Commager said, ‘‘essential to the young people in our communities and aptitudes for a new career. Timothy had change, for education creates both new that we’ll make funding available to obtained a degree in Divinity 17 years ear- wants and the ability to satisfy them.’’ help them reach their full potential lier, but had never attained a position re- In this ever-changing world, it is vi- lated to this degree. He had, however, been tally important that we make sound and become productive members of active as a church member in many service their communities. activities. investments in education. The invest- This was our promise, training, coun- Timothy established a job goal of human ments we make today will count every seling, and other services to help fami- service counselor. His WIA counselor as- day in our kids’ lives.

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