[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 70 (Wednesday, June 8, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: June 8, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                    RECESS EXTENDED UNTIL 2:30 P.M.

  Mr. GLENN. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the recess 
scheduled for the party conferences today be extended until 2:30 p.m.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. GLENN. Madam President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The absence of a quorum has been suggested. 
The clerk will call the roll.
  The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. GLENN. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Ms. Moseley-Braun). Without objection, it is 
so ordered.
  Mr. GLENN. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
amendment by Senator Grassley that was pending be again set aside for 
consideration this afternoon so we can consider other amendments now.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. GLENN. I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The bill clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Ms. MOSELEY-BRAUN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
order for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Glenn). Without objection, it is so 
ordered.


                           Amendment No. 1756

(Purpose: To encourage contracting and subcontracting with women-owned 
                        small business concerns)

  Ms. MOSELEY-BRAUN. Mr. President, I send an amendment to the desk and 
ask for its immediate consideration.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.
  The bill clerk read as follows:

       The Senator from Illinois [Ms. Moseley-Braun], for herself, 
     Mr. Lautenberg, Mr. Kerry and Mr. Wellstone, proposes an 
     amendment numbered 1756.

  Ms. MOSELEY-BRAUN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
reading of the amendment be dispensed with.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The amendment is as follows:
       On page 518, between line 13 and 14, insert the following 
     section:

     SEC. 4105. CONTRACTING AND SUBCONTRACTING WITH WOMEN-OWNED 
                   SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS.

       (a) Establishing Goals for Contracting With Women-Owned 
     Small Business Concerns.--Section 15(g) of the Small Business 
     Act (15 U.S.C. 637(g)) is amended--
       (1) by inserting ``, small business concerns owned and 
     controlled by women,'' in paragraph (1) after ``small 
     business concern'' each time it appears;
       (2) by inserting the following after the second sentence of 
     paragraph (1): ``The Government-wide goal for participation 
     by small business concerns owned by women shall be 
     established at not less than 5 percent of the combined total 
     value of all prime contracts and subcontracts awarded for 
     each fiscal year, provided that higher goals otherwise 
     established by law shall not be reduced or limited by the 
     foregoing.''
       (3) by inserting ``, small business concerns owned and 
     controlled by women,'' in paragraph (2) after ``small 
     business concern'' each time it appears.
       (b) Reports.--Section 15(h) of the Small Business Act (15 
     U.S.C. 637(h) is amended--
       (1) by inserting ``, small business concern owned and 
     controlled by women,'' after ``small business concern'' in 
     paragraph (1), (2)(A), and (2)(D); and
       (2) by adding a new paragraph (3) to read as follows:
       ``(3) Five years after the date of enactment of the Federal 
     Acquisition Streamlining Act of 1994, the President shall 
     include in the report required by paragraph (2) an assessment 
     of the progress made in increasing the extent of 
     participation by small business concerns owned and controlled 
     by women in procurement contracts and subcontracts of Federal 
     agencies and appropriate recommendations for action based on 
     such assessment.''
       (b) Subcontracting With Women-Owned Small Business.--
     Section 8(d) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 637(d)) is 
     amended--
       (1) by inserting ``, small business concerns owned and 
     controlled by women,'' in paragraph (1) after ``small 
     business concern'' each time it appears;
       (2) by deleting ``small purchase threshold'' in paragraph 
     (2) and substituting ``simplified acquisition threshold'';
       (3) by inserting ``, small business concerns owned and 
     controlled by women,'' in paragraph (3) (A) and (D) after 
     ``small business concern'' each time it appears;
       (4) by inserting the following at the end of the first 
     sentence of subparagraph (3)(C): ``The term `small business 
     concern owned and controlled by women' shall mean a small 
     business concern which is at least 51 percentum owned by one 
     or more women; or in the case of a publicly owned business, 
     at least 51 percentum of the stock is owned by one or more 
     women; and whose management and daily business operations are 
     controlled by one or more of such women.''
       (5) by inserting ``, small business concerns owned and 
     controlled by women,'' in paragraph (4) (D) and (E) after 
     ``small business concern'' each time it appears; and

       (6) by inserting ``, small business concern owned and 
     controlled by women,'' in paragraph (6) (A), (C) and (F) 
     after ``small business concern'' each time it appears.

  Ms. MOSELEY-BRAUN. Mr. President, this is an amendment presented on 
behalf of myself, Senator Lautenberg, Senator Wellstone, and Senator 
Kerry, which would establish voluntary goals in behalf of women-owned 
businesses.
  We are not doing as well as we should be in obtaining participation 
by women-owned businesses in Federal contracting. Last year 1.8 percent 
of the prime-level contracts were awarded to women; 2.4 percent at the 
subcontracting level.
  This amendment seeks to raise the visibility of this problem and 
encourages greater efforts to assure participation by women-owned 
businesses in Federal contracting.
  The amendment establishes for the first time a goal of participation 
by women-owned businesses in Government contracting. That goal will be 
5 percent for the combined value of contracts and subcontracts awarded 
by the Federal Government.
  The amendment also amends the requirements in the Small Business Act 
that prime contractors develop subcontracting plans for participation 
of small and small, disadvantaged business contracting under prime 
contracts.
  The amendment would require the subcontracting plans to include plans 
for the inclusion of women-owned business subcontractors over and above 
the existing requirement.
  The amendment requires no set aside or price preference programs, and 
so no one can object to it on those grounds. Certainly, it would seem 
to me, Mr. President, this would be consistent with the direction of 
this legislation, which is to open and include women-owned businesses 
in contracting and subcontracting activity by the Federal Government.
  With that, I am delighted to respond to any questions, if anyone has 
any. I want to thank Senator Lautenberg for his interest and leadership 
on this issue. And I point out for those who may be listening, that the 
National Women's Business Council has endorsed this initiative.
  So, Mr. President, I ask for the favorable consideration of this 
amendment.
  I yield the floor, and I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The bill clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  (Ms. MOSELEY-BRAUN assumed the chair.)
  Mr. ROTH. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. ROTH. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that we set aside 
the amendment before the Senate in order to propose another amendment.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.


                           Amendment No. 1757

(Purpose: To provide for cost savings for official travel and for other 
                               purposes)

  Mr. ROTH. Madam President, I send an amendment to the desk.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the amendment.
  The bill clerk read as follows:

       The Senator from Delaware [Mr. Roth], for Mr. McCain, for 
     himself, and Mr. Roth proposes an amendment numbered 1757.

  Mr. ROTH. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the reading 
of the amendment be dispensed with.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The amendment is as follows:

       At the appropriate place insert the following new section:
       Sec. (  )(a) The Administrator of the General Services 
     Administration, no later than 120 days after enactment of 
     this section, shall issue guidelines to ensure that Agencies 
     promote, encourage and facilitate the use of frequent 
     traveler programs offered by airlines, hotels and car rental 
     vendors by federal employees who engage in official air 
     travel, for the purpose of realizing to the maximum extent 
     practicable cost savings for official travel.
       (b) Any awards granted under such a frequent traveler 
     program accrued through official travel shall be used only 
     for official travel.
       (c) Within one year of enactment of this section, the 
     Administrator shall report to the Congress on efforts to 
     promote the use of frequent traveler programs by federal 
     employees.

  Mr. ROTH. Madam President, I offer this amendment on behalf of 
Senator McCain from Arizona. I wish the Record to duly note.
  I rise to offer the McCain amendment to help reduce the cost of 
official Government travel to the taxpayer. The measure would require 
the Administrator of the General Services Administration to promulgate 
regulations to ensure that agencies take maximum advantage of frequent-
traveler programs offered by airlines, hotels, and car rental vendors 
for employees who travel on official business.
  The Federal Government spends almost $2 billion a year for official 
air travel and an even greater amount in hotel and car rental expense. 
This is a shockingly enormous expenditure of taxpayer dollars. Congress 
has an obligation to ensure that such travel is for necessary purposes 
and that it is conducted as cost efficiently as possible.
  Many airlines, hotels, and car rental companies offer frequent-travel 
benefits that can reduce the cost of official travel significantly. 
Unfortunately, the Federal Government is not taking full advantage of 
these programs. As a result, taxpayers are losing millions of dollars 
per year by paying for tickets, lodging, and rental cars that could 
otherwise be obtained free of charge or at a discount if Federal 
employees would more fully participate in such programs.
  This amendment will ensure Federal participation to the maximum 
extent possible.
  I want to thank Senator Glenn and others for their assistance and 
support on this measure. Its adoption will help us to better meet our 
obligation to the taxpayer.
  Madam President, I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there further debate on the amendment?
  Mr. GLENN. Madam President, I want to congratulate Senator McCain, 
and also Senator Roth, for offering this piece of legislation. It is 
something we talked about I think as long as 2 or maybe 3 years ago. 
Somehow it fell by the wayside and nobody ever proposed it.
  About 3 years ago, I think it was, we heard stories about some of the 
people who had retired from Government service, people who had been 
doing a lot of traveling on Government business. They had collected a 
lot of the frequent-flier miles and, upon retirement, had taken 
extensive trips on frequent-flier miles that they had built up during 
their Government service.
  That is not what was intended. What was intended was that frequent-
flier miles or benefits to help people travel, accrued as part of 
Government travel, should be used for Government travel and nothing 
else. So this corrects that. I believe that is the purpose of it. I 
certainly support that and am happy to accept the amendment on this 
side.
  Mr. ROTH. I say to the distinguished chairman, it would apply to 
everyone--Federal employees, Members of Congress, employees of 
Congress, Cabinet Members. It is intended to apply to everybody.
  Mr. GLENN. Anybody who is being paid out of taxpayer funds and doing 
travel for the Government.
  Mr. ROTH. That is correct.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The question is on agreeing to amendment No. 
1757.
  The amendment (No. 1757) was agreed to.
  Mr. ROTH. Madam President, I move to reconsider the vote by which the 
amendment was agreed to.
  Mr. GLENN. I move to lay that motion on the table.
  The motion to lay on the table was agreed to.
  Mr. GLENN. Madam President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The bill clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. GLENN. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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