[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 110 (Wednesday, August 10, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: August 10, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
 SERVICE OF REAR ADM. MICHAEL W. CRAMER, DIRECTOR FOR INTELLIGENCE, J2

  Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I rise today to commend Adm. Michael W. 
Cramer for his service as the Joint Staff Director for Intelligence, 
J2. He served with distinction in this position from June 15, 1992, 
until August 5, 1994. His achievements to operational intelligence 
support resulted in significant improvements in this area. Admiral 
Cramer developed numerous initiatives which have advanced intelligence 
support and enhanced intelligence communications.
  Admiral Cramer has been approved for the Intelligence Community 
Distinguished Service Medal and the National Intelligence Distinguished 
Service Medal. These illustrious medals were awarded not only for his 
outstanding service as the Joint Staff Director for Intelligence, J2, 
but for extraordinary service to our Nation during his entire military 
career. Admiral Cramer will continue to serve the U.S. Navy as Director 
of Naval Intelligence. He will assume these responsibilities later this 
month.
  Mr. President, I would ask that a narrative of Admiral Cramer's 
military service along with citations for the above awards be included 
in the Record.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

                               Narrative

       Rear Admiral Michael W. Cramer, United States Navy, 
     demonstrated exceptionally distinguished service from 15 June 
     1992 to 5 August 1994 while assigned as The Joint Staff 
     Director for Intelligence, J2. Carrying out the 
     responsibilities of the office, Admiral Cramer set new 
     standards for the quality of current and crisis intelligence 
     support to the Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Secretary 
     of Defense, and the Joint Staff. He also initiated numerous 
     highly successful programs that have already resulted in 
     tangible improvements to operational intelligence support for 
     the warfighter in the field. His achievements as the Director 
     for Intelligence, J2 are broad in scope and long-lasting in 
     their impact.
       In his primary function as Intelligence Officer to The 
     Joint Staff, Admiral Cramer's legacy is his genius for 
     concise, graphically powerful presentations of complex 
     situations. His briefings on current and crisis intelligence 
     topics have become the national standard; they were requested 
     by and delivered to the President and the National Security 
     Advisor, the Secretary of Defense, several Committees of the 
     Congress, and numerous other policymakers. His impact was 
     equally as profound on the occasions when he represented the 
     Intelligence Community directly to the American people, 
     conducting televised, live press conferences during crisis 
     situations to explain the background of U.S. involvement by 
     military forces.
       Admiral Cramer's masterful crisis management was evident 
     throughout his assignment as J2. He took unprecedented 
     initiative in leading the Intelligence Community toward 
     improved, standardized, modern intelligence support to 
     tactical, national, and international consumers. Admiral 
     Cramer was the principal driver behind Intelligence Community 
     and operational acceptance of the Joint Deployable 
     Intelligence Support System (JDISS). JDISS is the common 
     intelligence workstation software recognized throughout the 
     Community, the Defense Department, and by Congress as the 
     standard intelligence dissemination system. The JDISS 
     initiative was a personal project of Admiral Cramer, aimed at 
     resolving the interoperability shortfalls recognized in the 
     aftermath of Operation DESERT STORM. Under his close 
     supervision, JDISS has become not only the U.S. national 
     intelligence standard, but has been embraced by NATO and the 
     United Nations for specialized intelligence support 
     requirements. In two short years, Admiral Cramer literally 
     changed the way the business of intelligence is done 
     worldwide, at all levels.
       Concurrent with the JDISS initiative, Admiral Cramer 
     carried the intelligence dissemination challenge to the next 
     level by directing that a broad-bandwidth, all-media 
     intelligence support system be developed and implemented to 
     provide comprehensive, worldwide command support. The Joint 
     Worldwide Intelligence Communications System (JWICS) was 
     swiftly fielded and became the ``core architecture'' for 
     joint worldwide intelligence communications. Centered in the 
     National Military Joint Intelligence Center, JWICS permits 
     video-teleconferencing and numerous other applications with 
     Unified Commands and subelements, down to the Joint Task 
     Forces deployed in the field or aboard ship. It is now in 
     continuous use by U.S. operational commanders worldwide and 
     is employed in very successful bilateral links with key 
     allies.
       Making significant headway in the arena of documenting 
     joint military operations, Joint Intelligence Doctrine was 
     written and approved under Admiral Cramer's leadership. 
     Before Admiral Cramer assumed direction of this task, 
     ``joint'' military intelligence doctrine was a disparate 
     collection of non-validated local practices and personal 
     opinion. In the past two years, Admiral Cramer has created a 
     structure for the joint intelligence process, has supervised 
     the drafting of a whole series of approved, community-wide 
     products and has, for the first time, breathed operational 
     and intelligence life into joint doctrine.
       Under the policy direction of the Director of Central 
     Intelligence and the Director of the Defense Intelligence 
     Agency, Admiral Cramer oversaw the implementation of an 
     unprecedented, history-making process for providing military 
     intelligence support to the United Nations and to its 
     peacemaking and peacekeeping forces deployed around the 
     world. He directly supervised the vast interagency 
     coordination involved in this herculean effort, personally 
     guided the dissemination architecture, and achieved on-line 
     intelligence support within months of the concept approval. 
     Drawing assets from within his own organization, he assumed 
     personal responsibility for ensuring that this historic 
     initiative succeeds.
       Admiral Cramer worked aggressively to resolve theater and 
     tactical intelligence collection capability shortfalls. He 
     brainstormed an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) concept and, by 
     force of will and professional determination, saw vehicles 
     flying operational missions in less than one year. Using 
     commercial off-the-shelf technology, high-quality sensors, 
     common ground stations and interoperable dissemination system 
     and then mustering community consensus, the UAV has achieved 
     all its goals due to its grounding in common sense and 
     Admiral Cramer's intense personal commitment.
       In sum, Admiral Cramer is the consummate intelligence 
     officer, and his service to the Joint Chiefs of Staff and to 
     the Nation, in peace and conflict, stands as the benchmark 
     against which all other military intelligence professionals 
     will measure their success. Admiral Cramer has achieved more 
     of lasting significance to military intelligence and the 
     Intelligence Community over a two year period than any 
     officer of his generation. Assuming the broad, national 
     intelligence community leadership responsibilities that come 
     with his position, he aggressively exercised his mandate with 
     creativity, determination, and skill and has made significant 
     and lasting contributions to the Department of Defense and to 
     the United States of America. Admiral Cramer's exemplary 
     professional competence, initiative, leadership, dedication 
     to duty, and sustained distinguished performance reflect 
     great credit upon himself, the Joint Staff and the Department 
     of Defense.
                                  ____


 Citation To Accompany the Award of the Defense Distinguished Service 
                       Medal to Michael W. Cramer

       Rear Admiral Michael W. Cramer, United States Navy, 
     distinguished by exceptional service during the period 15 
     June 1992 to 5 August 1994 as Joint Staff Director for 
     Intelligence, J2. During this period he set new standards for 
     the quality of current and crisis intelligence support to the 
     Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the national leadership. 
     Through his performance in peace and conflict, Admiral Cramer 
     has recast the mold and defines a new standard of excellence 
     in the Intelligence Community. As Director for Intelligence, 
     J2, Admiral Cramer initiated numerous highly successful 
     programs that have resulted in tangible improvements to 
     operational intelligence support for the warfighters in the 
     field. His unique vision and intense commitment led to the 
     unparalled success of the Joint Deployable Intelligence 
     Support System and the Joint Worldwide Intelligence 
     Communications System. Drawing upon his creativity, 
     determination, and skill, Admiral Cramer personally directed 
     the development of the history-making process for providing 
     intelligence support to the United Nations. The distinctive 
     accomplishments of Admiral Cramer reflect the highest credit 
     on himself, the United States Navy, the Joint Staff, and the 
     Department of Defense.
       Award nominated for: Distinguished Service Medal.
       Name: Rear Admiral Michael W. Cramer, USN.
       Organization: Joint Staff Director for Intelligence, J2.


                       SUMMARY OF ACCOMPLISHMENTS

       Rear Admiral Michael W. Cramer, USN, is nominated for the 
     award of the Intelligence Community Distinguished Service 
     Medal for extraordinary service to the nation throughout his 
     career, culminating in his assignment as Joint Staff Director 
     for Intelligence, J2. Carrying out the responsibilities of 
     the office he set new standards for the quality of current 
     intelligence support to the Secretary of Defense, the 
     Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the Joint Staff. He 
     initiated numerous highly successful programs that already 
     have broad Intelligence Community impact, including tangible 
     improvements to operational intelligence support in the 
     field. His achievements in the Intelligence Community have 
     been broad in scope and long-lasting in their impact.
       Admiral Cramer has served at the center of operations 
     throughout his career, providing intelligence support to 
     military operators and at the highest staff levels. His 
     career began with two combat cruises off Vietnam, and quickly 
     transitioned to management of targeting operations and later 
     of Operation HOMECOMING. He also served in the Soviet Union 
     as Assistant Naval Attache during the height of the Cold War, 
     setting new standards of performance in that key billet. 
     Returning to the Office of Naval Intelligence, he put his 
     fresh insights on the Soviet Union to use as Deputy Director 
     of the Directorate for Soviet Strategy, Policy, and Tactics, 
     participating in the comprehensive review of U.S. Navy 
     strategy that culminated in the ``Maritime Strategy.'' As his 
     seniority increased he has assumed the most responsible 
     positions available, including the top intelligence officer 
     positions for Commander Sixth Fleet (during combat 
     operations), Commander in Chief, U.S. Atlantic Fleet, 
     Commander in Chief, U.S. Atlantic Command, and the Joint 
     Staff.
       Admiral Cramer's legacy in his primary function as 
     Intelligence Officer to the Joint Staff will lie in his 
     genius for concise, graphically powerful presentations of 
     complex situations. His briefings on current intelligence 
     topics have become the national standard; they were requested 
     by and delivered to the President and the national Security 
     Advisor, the Secretary of Defense, several Committees of the 
     Congress, and numerous other policymakers. As importantly, he 
     represented the Intelligence Community directly to the 
     American people, conducting televised live press conferences 
     during crisis situations to explain the background of 
     involvement by U.S. military forces.
       Beyond his primary function as intelligence officer to the 
     Joint Staff, he took unprecedented initiative in leading the 
     Intelligence Community toward improved, standardized, modern 
     intelligence support to tactical, national, and international 
     intelligence consumers. The following are specific examples 
     of initiatives for which Admiral Cramer has been the creator 
     and prime mover within the Intelligence Community:


        the joint deployable intelligence support system (JDISS)

       JDISS is the common intelligence workstation and software 
     recognized throughout the Community, and by the Congress, as 
     the standard intelligence dissemination system. The JDISS 
     initiative was a personal project of Admiral Cramer, aimed at 
     resolving the interoperability shortfalls recognized in the 
     aftermath of operation DESERT STORM. Under his close 
     supervision, JDISS has become not only the national 
     intelligence standard, but has been embraced by NATO and by 
     the United Nations for specialized intelligence support 
     requirements. In two short years Admiral Cramer literally 
     changed the way the business of intelligence is done, 
     worldwide, at all levels.


     the joint worldwide intelligence communications system (JWICS)

       Carrying the intelligence dissemination challenge to the 
     next level, Admiral Cramer concurrently with the JDISS 
     initiative directed that a broad-bandwidth, all-media 
     intelligence support system be developed and implemented to 
     provide comprehensive, worldwide command support. SWICS, 
     swiftly fielded, because the ``core architecture'' for joint 
     worldwide intelligence communications. Centered in the 
     National Military Joint Intelligence Center, JWICS permits 
     videoteleconferencing with Unified Commands and subelements, 
     down to the JTF deployed in the field or aboard ship. It is 
     in continuous use now worldwide, and in very successful 
     bilateral links with key allies.


          military intelligence support to the united nations

       Under the policy direction of the Director of Central 
     Intelligence and the Director, Defense Intelligence Agency, 
     Admiral Cramer oversaw the implementation of an 
     unprecedented, history-making process for providing military 
     intelligence support to the United Nations. He directly 
     supervised the vast interagency coordination involved in the 
     effort, personally directed the dissemination architecture, 
     and achieved on-line intelligence support within months of 
     the concept approval. Drawing assets from within his own 
     organization, he has assumed personal responsibility for 
     ensuring that this historic initiative succeeds.


                     unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV)

       Responding to theater intelligence collection capability 
     shortfalls, Admiral Cramer personally brainstormed a UAV 
     concept, and by force of will and professional determination 
     saw vehicles flying operational missions in less than one 
     year. Using commercial off-the-shelf technology, high quality 
     sensors, common ground stations and an interoperable 
     dissemination system, the UAV has achieved all its goals due 
     to its grounding in common sense and Admiral Cramer's 
     personal commitment.
       Rear Admiral Cramer has achieved more of lasting 
     significance to the Intelligence Community over a two-year 
     period than any officer of his generation. Assuming the 
     broad, national intelligence community leadership 
     responsibilities that come with his position, he has 
     aggressively exercised his mandate with creativity, 
     determination and skill.
                                  ____


                                Citation

       Rear Adm. Michael W. Cramer, United States Navy is hereby 
     awarded the National Intelligence Distinguished Service Medal 
     in recognition of his extraordinary contribution to the 
     Intelligence Community's continuing efforts to improve 
     support to joint and combined military forces. Assuming a 
     primary role in devising and implementing critical 
     intelligence support initiatives, Admiral Cramer is 
     personally responsible for the success of programs and 
     systems that have become Community standards. He changed the 
     nature of intelligence dissemination for all time by 
     implementing the Joint Deployable Intelligence Support System 
     and the Joint Worldwide Intelligence Communications System. 
     These systems revolutionized intelligence dissemination 
     throughout the Community, and have been effective tools in 
     the unprecedented level of intelligence support Admiral 
     Cramer has pioneered with the United Nations and its 
     peacekeeping forces around the world. His creative and 
     aggressive approach to problem solving is exemplified by the 
     successful fielding, within months, of a successful aerial 
     collection vehicle to meet a recognized Intelligence 
     Community requirement. Admiral Cramer's brilliance as a 
     current intelligence officer, and his vision as an architect 
     of the future of intelligence support to operations, bring 
     credit upon himself, the United States Navy, the Defense 
     Intelligence Agency, the Department of Defense, and the 
     Intelligence Community.


       PASSAGE OF THE NATIONAL FLOOD INSURANCE REFORM ACT OF 1994

  Mr. KERRY. Mr. President. Yesterday with the Senate's agreement to 
the conference report on H.R. 3474, the Riegle Community Development 
and Regulatory Improvement Act of 1994, which includes, as Title V, The 
National Flood Insurance Reform Act, Congress passed the most sweeping 
reforms to the flood insurance program since its inception a quarter-
century ago. I can say confidently and with a sense of personal 
satisfaction that Congress has acted appropriately, wisely and with 
vision to correct the chronic flaws in the NFIP, and as a result has 
taken a significant step towards protecting the nation's taxpayers and 
floodplains.
  A new, sensible course for the flood insurance program has been 
charted, and with it a new era of more sound, cost-effective and 
environmentally benign floodplain management. Due to the late hour when 
the conference report was agreed to by voice vote, I was unable to 
comment on the passage of this important legislation at that time, but 
I now would like to discuss the significance of this legislation.
  In 1942, Dr. Gilbert White, one of the founding fathers of floodplain 
management in this country observed that floods may be an act of God, 
but flood damages are an act of man. Dr. White also might have observed 
that flood damages are just as much an act of Congress.
  Four years ago I began my efforts to reform the National Flood 
Insurance Program [NFIP], an important but beleaguered part of our 
Federal floodplain management and disaster assistance matrix, in order 
to save taxpayers millions of dollars in disaster assistance and to 
increase coastal and river floodplain environmental protection. I 
considered this a necessary task because we simply can no longer afford 
to abide by our costly past policies and practices which actually 
encourage, not discourage, risky development in areas we know through 
experience to be hazardous, dangerous and altogether unfit to occupy.
  Reform has not come easy. But then it is never easy to challenge the 
status quo and propose changes to a program which has evolved over 
years of mismanagement to the point that may perceive it to be an 
entitlement--another Federal giveaway shouldered by the taxpayer--that 
minimizes personal responsibility and public accountability.
  I have been concerned about the flood insurance program for years and 
have spoken out to my colleagues about the need for program reform on 
numerous occasions: after Hurricane Andrew and Iniki in 1992, after the 
1993 East Coast Winter Blizzard; and last summer after the Great 
Midwest Flood. And with each disaster, my concerns have grown.

  We have known for years that the flood insurance program was a huge 
financial liability and that Federal costs for flood disaster 
assistance have continued to skyrocket despite the NFIP. We have 
documented that participation by individuals in the NFIP has lagged far 
behind reasonable expectations and left the program chronically under-
capitalized, and that the program has suffered from adverse selection 
and costly repetitive losses. Mr. President, under these circumstances 
a private sector insurer surely would fail.
  It also has become clear to me and to many of my colleagues on the 
Banking Committee that the floodplain management requirements and 
incentives of the NFIP simply were not doing enough to encourage sound 
community floodplain management--consisting of sensible, prudent and 
environmentally conscious land-use and development practices envisioned 
by Congress when it created the NFIP in 1968.
  Most importantly, we have been reminded painfully that low 
participation in the NFIP has meant that thousands of individuals in 
hazardous floodplains go uninsured and exposed to risk--a reality made 
so tragically clear during the Great Midwest Flood of 1993, and once 
again this summer during the destructive flooding in the Southeast.
  Fortunately, Congress in the form of this legislation has chosen to 
move in a direction which should reduce over time the magnitude of 
human misery following flood disasters. Title V of the conference 
agreement on H.R. 3474 closely resembles the compromise flood insurance 
reform legislation that passed the Senate on March 17, 1993. It 
provides a sensible, fair and balanced schedule of reforms that 
establishes a workable framework for program improvement without 
jeopardizing those communities or individuals with an interest in the 
flood insurance program.
  Increasing the number of people participating in the flood insurance 
program has long been regarded as a key element of any effort to 
improve the financial soundness of the flood insurance fund, control 
disaster assistance costs, and get the federal taxpayer off the hook. 
Greater participation should better spread the risk, generate greater 
premium income and bring the program closer to an actuarially sound 
condition.
  Subtitle B of this legislation cracks down reasonably on compliance 
violations and will ensure that those required to purchase flood 
insurance actually buy it and maintain coverage. The compliance 
subtitle also should ensure that those individuals and institutions who 
try to free-ride off the system and not pay for their assumed risk are 
identified and required to comply with the law.

  Improved hazard notification procedures and standard flood hazard 
determination forms will provide convenient methods to track compliance 
with flood insurance purchase requirements. Other compliance measures 
such as the establishment of escrow accounts for flood insurance 
premiums, and the allowance for lenders to force place the purchase of 
flood insurance for uninsured mortgages when coverage is required, 
provide common sense tools that work within existing lending practice 
and will boost participation.
  I would not be surprised to see a sharp increase in the number of 
insurance policies once these and other provisions in the legislation 
take hold.
  Yet, greater participation will not by itself ensure financial 
soundness of the NFIP. Greater emphasis on loss reduction activities to 
reduce the amount of risk insured under the NFIP also vital and 
included in this legislation.
  James Lee Witt, the Director of the Federal Emergency Management 
Agency (FEMA), has testified that mitigation is essential to improving 
our national floodplain management strategy. This bill gives Mr. Witt 
and his agency new incentives and strategies to encourage communities 
and individuals at risk to adopt more responsible and environmentally 
sound floodplain management measures to avoid or lessen future damages.
  Subtitle C of this legislation creates a Community Rating System 
(CRS) as a new incentive to encourage communities to adopt floodplain 
management measures beyond NFIP minimum requirements in exchange for 
premium rate reductions. Significantly, communities that adopt measures 
that protect against flood and erosion hazards, and measures that 
preserve and protect natural and beneficial floodplain functions, are 
to be rewarded with credits that result in lower premiums for their 
residents who participate in the NFIP. Communities that have 
participated in CRS on a trial basis such as Tulsa, Oklahoma have seen 
premium rates go down nearly 40 percent and I hope that FEMA now will 
promote CRS aggressively nationwide.
  This legislation also creates in Subtitle D--for the first time--a 
flexible and comprehensive mitigation strategy as an additional 
incentive for communities to reduce risk. Under this program $20 
million will be available to states and communities to develop flood 
and erosion hazard mitigation plans and for mitigation grants to 
implement cost-saving mitigation activities for flood-prone structures 
such as relocation, elevation, floodproofing and acquisition, if cost-
effective. Importantly, NFIP loss leaders such as repetitive loss 
communities and substantially damaged structures are given priority 
consideration for mitigation grants.

  Another key element of the mitigation strategy is the creation of a 
new insurance coverage, ``mitigation insurance,'' in Subtitle F. Using 
the more convenient and timely insurance mechanism, this new coverage 
will pay up to $25,000 for the additional costs necessary to rebuild 
flood-damaged buildings to existing NFIP code requirements. Although 
FEMA will be allowed to add up to a $75 surcharge to policies to fund 
this additional coverage, FEMA advises that it estimates that the 
average surcharge for over 85 percent of NFIP policyholders will be $6. 
By any measure that I am aware, $6 for $25,000 of coverage is a great 
deal.
  This legislation stimulates loss reduction with three new incentives: 
CRS, mitigation grants and mitigation insurance. Cumulatively, these 
incentives will encourage better and more thoughtful community 
floodplain management, reduce risks and make structures more 
floodworthy before the next flood, and make sure that structures, once 
damaged by a flood, are rebuilt as lesser risks to the NFIP and the 
taxpayer.
  This legislation also provides numerous other provisions that will 
improve the flood insurance program, especially measures to increase 
the amounts of insurance coverage that people may purchase, improve 
flood insurance rate maps and enhance hazard identification. In 
addition, the act will stimulate FEMA to investigate and study some of 
the lingering questions that went unanswered for lack of data or 
appropriate analysis--the most important study being an evaluation of 
the extent and effect of erosion on the flood insurance program.
  The identification of erosion hazard areas has been an especially 
prickly issue. Evidence and experience in several states conclusively 
demonstrate that erosion is a hazard which no longer can remain an 
unidentified, subsidized benefit in the NFIP. Just as clearly, the 
identification of erosion hazards has stimulated legitimate concerns by 
coastal communities, property owners and development interests which 
could not be answered completely.
  The compromise contained in this legislation is to evaluate the 
effect of erosion, and not to direct FEMA to map erosion hazard areas 
as many coastal States already have done. We certainly can benefit from 
better data regarding the effects of erosion on the flood insurance 
fund and affected communities. Over the next two years, FEMA will begin 
the process of mapping erosion in a representative sample of 
communities where erosion risks are high, will assess the effects on 
the flood insurance fund, respective communities and the coastal 
environment, and will come back to Congress to make the case that 
erosion hazard mapping should, or should not, be implemented 
nationwide.

  I am confident that if FEMA properly conducts this study, Congress 
finally will have the information to make a fully informed judgment on 
how best to address this costly hazard.
  Is this legislation perfect? I am confident it is not, but then what 
legislation is? Certainly, during the give and take of the legislative 
process I agree to drop provisions that I considered quite important 
components of reform, and still contend that these provisions would 
have made beneficial contributions. But in the end, it is important for 
Congress to realize that with the passage of this legislation we set in 
motion a process to guarantee responsible reform today and purposeful 
refinement in the near future.
  Mr. President, several Members of Congress contributed significantly 
to this effort and before ending I would like to take a moment to thank 
my colleagues who worked long and hard to bring us to this successful 
conclusion. I want to thank the Chairman of the Banking Committee, 
Senator Riegle, for his dedication, support and steady hand throughout 
this process and particularly during the conference.
  I also want to acknowledge my Republican colleagues, the ranking 
member of the Banking Committee, Senator D'Amato, the Senator from 
Florida, Senator Mack, and the Senator from Missouri, Senator Bond, and 
their staffs for the tremendous amount of time and energy they have 
committed to this bipartisan effort. In particular, I want to thank 
Senator Mack for his personal, good-faith efforts to forge a workable 
compromise.
  I also want to commend our colleagues in the House, notably the 
distinguished Banking Committee Chairman, Mr. Gonzalez, for concluding 
a successful conference and his support for flood insurance reform. I 
want to commend especially my good friend and colleague from 
Massachusetts, Mr.. Kennedy, for taking up the fight for NFIP reform, 
and his colleague on the Banking Committee, Mr. Bereuter, who has 
brought so much expertise to this debate over the years.
  Congress now has acted to address the ills affecting the NFIP, an 
accomplishment that is something in which we can and should take great 
pride. Obviously, any change in a program such as the NFIP is 
contentious, perhaps even more so than in the past due to heightened 
sensitivities on the part of some interests towards private property 
rights. It will be vital for Congress to work closely with FEMA to 
ensure that these reforms are properly implemented. My sincere 
aspiration is that once implemented this legislation will restore 
common sense and responsibility when people decide where to build, and 
when government decides what to insure.
  In closing, Mr. President, I believe this legislation is fair, 
reasonable and balanced and will implement essential reforms. It should 
improve the financial soundness of the nation's flood insurance program 
by increasing participation and by lowering the potential for excessive 
flood damages through an incentive-based approach. I applaud my 
colleagues for recognizing the need to protect the Federal Treasury, 
protect the property at risk along the Nation's floodplains through 
encouragement of more environmentally aware floodplain management. I am 
delighted to send this measure to the President for his signature and 
hope he will sign it expeditiously.


                             milcon add-ons

  Mr. McCAIN. Mr. President, After I spoke on the fiscal year 1995 
military construction appropriations bill on August 9, 1994, I received 
a letter from another of America's well-known watchdog groups, the 
National Taxpayers Union. I feel their views are of great importance, 
and that my colleagues should be aware of them. Therefore, I request 
unanimous consent that this letter be entered into the Record.
  The National Taxpayers Union is another group which feels that 
unnecessary add-ons and earmarks squander funds that the National 
Taxpayers Union says should be directed to more pressing problems.
  As the National Taxpayers Union says,

       The pork-barrel spending contained in the Conference Report 
     is outrageous. At a time when our nation must streamline not 
     only its military, but also its budget, such a wasteful 
     spending shows a gross neglect for the American taxpayer.

  In addition, I ask unanimous consent that the two letters I cited in 
my speech yesterday--from Citizens Against Government Waste and 
Citizens for a Sound Economy--also be included in the Record.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

                                     Citizens for a Sound Economy,
                                   Washington, DC, August 4, 1994.
     Hon. John McCain,
     U.S. Senate,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Senator McCain: Citizens for a Sound Economy (CSE), a 
     250,000-member grassroots organization that promotes free 
     market economic policies, supports you in your opposition to 
     the pork-barrel spending contained in the FY 1995 Military 
     Construction Appropriations Conference Report (H.R. 4453 and 
     H. Rpt. 103-624).
       The conference report eliminated language in the Senate 
     bill that established criteria for making military spending 
     more fiscally responsible. Moreover, it added a slew of 
     unrequested and expensive new projects to the bill, most of 
     which would simply funnel money to specific states and 
     congressional districts. Although it purports to cut $137 
     million from the original bill, the report prohibits the 
     Department of Defense from eliminating any project--including 
     the new pork-barrel items--to make this cut.
       The unnecessary new spending items included in the 
     conference report constitute yet another burden on American 
     taxpayers. As an advocate of fiscal responsibility in all 
     areas of government, CSE urges the members of Congress not to 
     pass the conference report on the military appropriations 
     bill until all unnecessary spending programs have been 
     removed.
           Sincerely,
                                                     Paul Beckner,
                                                        President.
                                  ____

                                      Council for Citizens Against


                                             Government Waste,

                                   Washington, DC, August 8, 1994.
     Hon. John McCain,
     U.S. Senate,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Senator McCain: Coincidentally, at the moment we were 
     asked by your staff to review your amendment to delete nearly 
     $1 billion in pork-barrel spending from the FY95 Military 
     Construction Appropriations conference report, we were 
     finishing a letter to Senators concerning the pork-laden 
     crime bill conference report.
       The Council for Citizens Against Government Waste fully 
     endorses your effort to send the conference report back for 
     some serious liposuction, and our more than 600,000 members 
     across the nation appreciate and applaud your leadership.
       In only one respect would we disagree with you. In the 
     talking points prepared for the bill, you say that the add-
     ons and earmarks are ``an embarrassment for the Congress as a 
     whole.'' Senator, in the ten years since Peter Grace gave to 
     the American people his report on government waste, and 
     founded this organization, the one thing that is clear is 
     that Congress sadly seems to be beyond embarrassment when it 
     comes to pork-barrel spending.
       Your efforts will receive not only our gratitude but also a 
     salutary report in the next issue of Government Waste Watch, 
     due to arrive in our members' homes in October.
           Sincerely,
                                                   Joe Winkelmann,
                                      Government Affairs Director.
                                  ____



                                     National Taxpayers Union,

                                   Washington, DC, August 4, 1994.
     Hon. John McCain,
     U.S. Senate,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Senator McCain: The 250,000-member National Taxpayers 
     Union fully supports your efforts to defeat the FY 1995 
     Military Construction Appropriations Conference Report with 
     the intent of eliminating approximately $1 billion of add-ons 
     and earmarks from the Appropriations Committee.
       The pork-barrel spending contained in the Conference Report 
     is outrageous. At a time when our nation must streamline not 
     only its military, but also its budget, such wasteful 
     spending shows a gross neglect for the American taxpayer.
       The National Taxpayers Union commends you on your efforts 
     on behalf of taxpayers and applauds your dedication to 
     changing business as usual in Washington.
           Sincerely,
                                                        Pete Sepp,
     Director of Media Relations.

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