[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 207 (Friday, December 22, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Pages S19197-S19205]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     MAKING FURTHER CONTINUING APPROPRIATIONS FOR FISCAL YEAR 1996

  Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, as in legislative session, I ask unanimous 
consent that the Senate now turn to the consideration of House Joint 
Resolution 134, the continuing resolution with respect to the veterans, 
and that it be in order for me to amend the joint resolution to also 
include funding for AFDC, District of Columbia Government, foster care, 
adoption assistance, and Medicaid quarterly payments, all of which 
would expire January 3, 1996, that the amendment be agreed to, the 
joint resolution be read a third time and passed, and the motion to 
reconsider be laid upon the table.
  Mr. BROWN. Mr. President, reserving the right to object, I cannot go 
along with that without an opportunity to offer an amendment with 
regard to the Tea Tasting Board.
  So I object to the unanimous-consent request.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Objection is heard.
  Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, could I ask the Senator from Colorado to 
withhold his objection so we can at least discuss this a moment?
  Mr. BROWN. I am glad to reserve my right to object. That would allow 
discussion.
  Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, reserving the right to object.
  Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, if I could respond to his objection, first I 
want to commend the Senator from Colorado for the work he has done in 
this area, and Senator Reid from Nevada who has been working in this 
area. I am very sympathetic to what they are trying to do.
  I know they are looking for an opportunity to do this on any vehicle 
that might be available, and I certainly understand that. But let me 
again emphasize that we are in a particularly difficult spot here.
  The majority leader and the minority leader are now meeting with the 
President at the White House. They are working on the budget agreement. 
And it is very important that the UC be worked out with the House of 
Representatives, which is very anxiously waiting for this matter to 
come over to them.
  The former chairman of Veterans' Affairs Committee and some of the 
veterans committee members just came over and are very anxious for us 
to get this work done and sent back over. This agreement was worked out 
between the leaders, all of the interested staff, and Members on both 
sides of the aisle. It is very important that we get it done.
  I urge my colleagues who are working on this particular tea issue to 
withhold their objection so that we can move this continuing resolution 
through that the leaders are expecting us to get done.

  Mr. BROWN. Will the Senator yield?
  Mr. LOTT. If I have time, I would be glad to yield.
  Mr. BROWN. Mr. President, I appreciate what the distinguished Senator 
has said. All of his observations, which I agree with, are accurate.
  Mr. President, this is a little unusual circumstance for two reasons. 
First, the amendment originally eliminating the Tea Tasting Board 
passed without a dissent in the Senate.
  Second, it was dropped in conference because of misinformation 
provided by an administrative spokesman who simply was wrong. They had 
indicated that the Government did not have any way to stop poisonous 
tea from coming into the country, when in reality they did and do. So 
it was only dropped from the conference report on agriculture because 
of inaccurate information.
  It would be a tragedy to reward the conveyance of inaccurate 
information.
  Last, Mr. President, let me assure Senators that I do not seek to 
slow down this bill at all. All I want is an opportunity to offer this 
amendment. If the amendment loses, obviously Senator Reid and I are not 
going to interfere in any way with the passage of this continuing 
resolution. But we do think it is of sufficient importance to the 
integrity of the process that this be included.
  I have every reason to believe the House will go along with this, 
that there will not be any objection of any kind from the House.
  Mr. FORD addressed the Chair.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Kentucky.
  Mr. FORD. Reserving the right to object, I hope that the Senator from 
Colorado would not interfere with, hopefully, the funding of AFDC, 
foster care, adoption assistance, and, maybe if we can get to it, 
keeping the Government open, for a tea tasting question that seems to 
be paramount here to kids out there getting their AFDC checks.
  Now, if you want to stop the veterans from getting their checks, AFDC 
from getting their checks, our Government staying open, then you get 
your tea tasting amendment on this resolution or we just withdraw it, 
then we will let your tea tasting amendment bring it down.
  Mr. BROWN. Will the Senator yield?
  Mr. FORD. Yes, I will be glad to yield.
  Mr. BROWN. Let me simply observe, first of all, Senator Reid and I 
both wrote to Senator Daschle and to Senator Dole advising them of this 
problem early on and indicating some time ago we intended to offer this 
on a continuing resolution as a way of get it through, so this is not a 
surprise. This is something we have advised the leadership of a long 
time ago.
  Let me assure the Senator there is no intention on my part and I do 
not believe--I am sure there is no intention on Senator Reid's part to 
interfere with the fine things that are in this measure at all. All we 
want is an opportunity to have it voted on. If it is voted down, we 
simply are not going to interfere in any way.
  Mr. FORD. May I regain my time here?
  If the Senator wants to vote it down now, I think it can be done. I 
do not think he wants that because it would be a voice vote, and I do 
not believe he wants to ask for a rollcall vote. Then we would have to 
postpone it because the majority leader has already said there will be 
no more votes today.
  Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, will the Senator yield?
  Mr. FORD. Be glad to.
  Mr. LOTT. Will the Senator be willing to accept a voice vote on this 
issue at this time? If he would, we could have a vote and proceed.
  Mr. REID. Will the Senator yield?
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Nevada.
  Mr. REID. I ask that everyone in the Chamber stop and think about 
this for a little bit. I think everyone understands, for lack of a 
better word, how resentful Senator Brown and I feel. We agreed on the 
matter that came before the Senate this year not to have a vote on it. 
We had already won the thing on a previous occasion. But the 
bureaucrats, you see, always figure a way to resurrect things. And even 
though the funding has been stopped, there will still be two people 
paid for tea tasting.
  I have expressed my dismay to the senior Senator from Mississippi and 
the senior Senator from Arkansas, the chairman and ranking member of 
the subcommittee. We have in the Chamber now the minority whip and the 
majority whip. We have the President pro tempore of the Senate and a 
number of very distinguished Senators. I am wondering if--for this 
Senator, I would be happy to withdraw my objection if I would have the 
word of the Senators that are now in the Chamber that the first thing 
moving through here after we come back, that you would help Senator 
Brown and me affix this because in logic and good sense and good 
government, there is no reason that the Tea Tasting Board is still in 
existence.

  So I personally would withdraw whatever reservations I have if I 
could have the support of the people on this floor to get rid of the 
Tea Tasting Board.
  Mr. LOTT addressed the Chair.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Mississippi.
  Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I appreciate the remarks of the 
distinguished Senator from Nevada, and I have a lot of sympathy, 
frankly, for what he is trying to do. He has already referred to the 
fact that the senior Senator from my State may have some knowledge that 
I am not aware of, and I certainly want to be sensitive to that. But I 
believe there is a lot of sympathy in the direction of the Senator from 
Nevada 

[[Page S19198]]

and the Senator from Colorado, and in order to move this very, very 
important agreement forward, I would certainly make a commitment on my 
behalf to work with these two very fine Senators to see if we cannot 
find an early opportunity to resolve this problem. I could not say much 
more than that this morning. I really do not know the details of what 
is involved. But from what I have heard, I think I am in agreement with 
you, and I would certainly work with you to see if we could not find a 
way to move this initiative forward.
  Mr. FORD. Will the Senator yield?
  Mr. LOTT. I would be glad to yield.
  Mr. FORD. I personally do not want a voice vote because I have a 
strong indication it would not pass, and I think it would be a shame 
because this is, while not of great consequence as far as dollar sums, 
as a signal to the American public I think it would be a shame that the 
Senate voted to reject this amendment.
  Mr. LOTT. I think the Senate would rather not do that.
  Mr. REID. I am sure that is what would happen. My friend from 
Colorado and I worked very hard on this. I think he has the same 
disappointment, rejection, and all the statements that would go to tell 
how we feel we have been had, for lack of a better word, by the 
nameless, faceless bureaucrats that are someplace down there off the 
Hill. But that is how I feel about it.
  If I could have the commitment of the people in this Chamber, and I 
know who is here now, I would withdraw my objection.
  Mr. FORD addressed the Chair.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Kentucky.
  Mr. FORD. Let me also add my voice to this. I think my colleague on 
the other side of the aisle said he did not commit himself to a piece 
of legislation, but subject to consultation with his leadership, that 
at the best possible moment, first possible moment that would be an 
adequate or proper way to do it, that he would assist. I will do the 
same.
  I do not want to speak for my leader under the circumstances that I 
have not asked him nor has he told me about a letter and advice here. I 
am sure it has been done. I do not try to impugn anyone's integrity 
here. I understand what they are trying to do. I hope that this would 
be held over until sometime soon.
  I believe you could get a standing piece of legislation here that you 
could just go right through the order right quick and we could maybe 
get it done quicker than with an amendment to a continuing resolution. 
So you could offer a stand alone piece of legislation and we could go 
through the parliamentary procedures. I am sure the Parliamentarian 
would advise us how to do that. We may get it passed this afternoon or 
January 3 because we will back here doing something on the 3d because 
that is when this resolution expires.

  So I look forward to working with them. If you want to go ahead with 
it, that is fine. If you want to take a voice vote on this, fine. Then 
we will voice vote some other things I am going to suggest here this 
afternoon. That might change your mind a little bit. But we will offer 
some voice votes on other amendments to this resolution.
  Mr. BROWN addressed the Chair.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Colorado.
  Mr. BROWN. Mr. President, I have enormous confidence in the integrity 
of the fine Senator from Kentucky and the fine Senator from 
Mississippi, and I appreciate their consideration of this matter, and 
in light of that I will withdraw my objection.
  Mr. WARNER addressed the Chair.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Virginia.
  Mr. WARNER. Reserving the right to object, Mr. President, if I 
understand it, the distinguished Senator from Kentucky, the whip of the 
minority, has raised a question about an amendment that would reopen 
the entire Government. Is that a question now pending before us?
  Mr. FORD. No, it is not. I have not had a chance to reserve the right 
to object. Others quicker than I have on that side of the aisle.
  Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I shall await the colloquy between the 
distinguished Senator from Kentucky and the Senator from Mississippi 
and renew my objection.
  Mr. FORD addressed the Chair.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Kentucky.
  Mr. FORD. Reserving the right to object to the motion that has been 
made by the distinguished majority whip, I ask him this. The cost of 
Government being shut down I understand is somewhere around $40 million 
a day, with the statements of the Speaker of the House and the majority 
leader of the Senate saying all those who have been furloughed would be 
paid. I do not think that includes the inconvenience to a lot of folks 
as it relates to the services of Government. Let me give you a couple 
of--well, just one. We have a band from Lexington, KY, that is going to 
participate in the Fiesta Bowl. They have worked their fingers to the 
bone and worked their little hearts out to raise enough money to go to 
the Fiesta Bowl. There will be about 400 of them, members of the band, 
parents, chaperones, et cetera, and they have reservations in national 
parks next week, and the parks have notified them they are closed.
  They cannot get in. So you have a large group of high school 
students, bands, their parents, chaperones, a real coup, by being 
invited to where they will decide the national championship as it 
relates to football, collegiate football in this country, and we are 
saying to them, ``You can't get in because the Government's closed 
because we didn't get a balanced budget, or are even close to an 
agreement.''
  So I ask my friend, would it be possible to have an amendment that 
would open the entire Government?
  Mr. LOTT addressed the Chair.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Mississippi.
  Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, this side of the aisle would not be in a 
position to clear that amendment at this time. I would like to say and 
remind my colleagues that our leaders are, in fact, meeting with the 
President at this hour, and with the Vice President, I believe, and 
others. They are working very seriously to try to reach an agreement on 
a balanced budget over the next 7 years.
  I think that they are acting in good faith. There have been 
preliminary meetings occurring with the chief of staff and our budget 
chairman, both yesterday and I believe earlier this morning, and the 
process is underway and we should allow that process to go forward.
  What we are talking about is trying to get an agreement to control 
the rate of Government spending, to reduce the tax burden on the 
workers of America, and we perhaps are at the point where some progress 
will be made in that area. I have talked to the chairman of the Budget 
Committee, Senator Domenici, and he said, ``We're not going to get an 
agreement until the end.'' The question is, how do you get to the end?
  I think maybe we are approaching that. And so while our leaders are 
down there working to try to get an agreement to really come to a 
balanced budget agreement, I think we should not be undermining that by 
moving forward legislation at this point, particularly since, when the 
leaders discussed this issue, they understood what the unanimous-
consent request would be.
  I am sympathetic to what the distinguished Senator from Kentucky said 
about the band from Kentucky. I bet they are great. I wish their 
football team was going from the SEC to the Fiesta Bowl. If the 
President had in fact signed the Interior appropriations bill instead 
of vetoing it on the 18th, we would not have this problem.
  So now it is a part of the overall budget negotiations. We need to 
hope for the best and wish them well, but we should not at this point 
change the agreement. We are not able to agree to that amendment at 
this point.
  Mr. FORD addressed the Chair.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Kentucky.
  Mr. FORD. I just hate to see all these crocodile tears-- they are 
just dripping down everybody's cheeks and off their chin--that we 
cannot get a balanced budget. We have agreed to 7 years. We have agreed 
to CBO. You cannot put CBO to it until you have a final agreement.
  What we are doing is costing taxpayers $40 million a day. Our 
employees get half a check. They cannot make the payment on their 
mortgage and 

[[Page S19199]]
cannot make their payment on their car. The contractors are laying 
people off in droves. They are laying them off in droves because you 
are saying, ``We're going to shut the Government down until we get what 
we want.''
  You have the right to do that. You are in the majority. But I will 
say one thing: I believe you will rue the day that you shut the 
Government down. I believe that you will rue the day that that widow 
with two children could not make her mortgage payments. You cannot do 
these things. I think that is a mistake.
  But if that is the position of the majority, then I will further 
reserve the right to object and ask the Senator, would it be possible 
to have an amendment reinstating the military COLA that is included in 
the DOD authorization bill which is going to go into effect in January?
  Mr. LOTT. I would say to the Senator, this side of the aisle would 
not be able to clear that amendment either at this time. Let me comment 
on that, if I could.
  First of all, I am concerned about $40 million a day, but I am more 
concerned about $600 billion of the taxpayers' money being spent over 
the next 7 years that is not necessary, that can be saved, that could 
be used to reduce the deficit, could be used to allow the people to 
keep a little bit of their money at home.
  We did not shut down the State-Justice-Commerce, Interior, HUD, or 
VA. The President vetoed the legislation. He shut it down. And I am 
crying alligator tears about the shipyard worker in my hometown that 
gets up every morning at 5 o'clock to be in that shipyard at 7 o'clock, 
trying to make ends meet, while the Government is putting burdens on 
him with regulations and taxes. That is who I really care about. That 
is the human face on this. We are worried about that shipyard worker 
and the tobacco farmer in Kentucky and the future of their children. 
That is what our tears are about.
  Mr. FORD. Mr. President.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Kentucky.
  Mr. FORD. The Senator says it is all the President's fault.
  Mr. LOTT. No.
  Mr. FORD. Yes, the Senator did. And the Senator said the President 
would not sign it, would not sign it, would not sign it. That is fine. 
But when I give you something you do not want, you are not going to 
swallow it. So you have given him something he does not want, and he 
vetoed it. That is No. 1.
  No. 2, the strategy has been, and if you go back and read all the 
statements that have been made, is to come to this point where the 
Congress would be equal to the President with shutting the Government 
down versus the veto power. Now, quote after quote after quote.
  So this is a premeditated shutdown. This is a premeditated shutdown. 
So whatever you say, $40 million a day, people not being able to get 
their checks, not being able to pay their mortgages, and we could stop 
all this by a clean CR. And we cannot get a clean CR. You object to it. 
You object to it.
  Mr. President, I believe the Senator from Virginia wants to reserve 
the right to object, and I will be glad to yield the floor at the 
moment.
  Mr. LOTT addressed the Chair.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Mississippi.
  Mr. LOTT. If I could respond, the way to resolve all these problems 
is to get a budget agreement. Our leaders are trying to do that right 
now, and we should give them that opportunity. When that budget 
agreement is reached, then there will be a continuing resolution and 
debt ceiling. It will all come together. But it is at the supreme 
level, the President and the Vice President, the leaders of the 
Congress are there meeting. I wish them the very best.

  With regard to the particular point of the military, once again the 
Congress passed a good Department of Defense authorization bill with 
military retirees' pay, COLA's for our military personnel, the 
procurement we need for our military.
  Our troops are going into Bosnia right now. How are they getting 
there? They are getting there by airlift, sealift, because we have good 
equipment across the board for all our military branches. We want to 
keep that. So we would urge the President to sign the authorization 
bill.
  This military COLA is not needed now. All we need is for the 
President to sign the Department of Defense authorization bill that has 
already passed the Congress and the problem is taken care of, and for 
us to presuppose that he is going to veto this bill, making this action 
necessary, I do not think is the proper thing to do. The President is 
considering the arguments that are being made by our distinguished 
President pro tempore and others for this legislation. I know the 
Secretary of Defense supports many, many of the features we have in 
this Defense authorization bill.
  Mr. FORD. Not all.
  Mr. LOTT. So let us wait until we know what has happened, and then we 
will work together, I am sure, in a bipartisan way, to make sure that 
our military personnel are taken care of with their COLA's.
  With that, I would be glad to yield.
  Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, reserving the right to object, I shall not 
object because I prepared a draft of this very important measure on the 
matter pending in the unanimous consent.
  I wish to first associate myself with the remarks from the 
distinguished acting majority leader, the Senator from Mississippi. I 
think he has very carefully and accurately stated the case. I certainly 
join with him in saying it is not the Congress that shut the Government 
down, it is simply the veto of these bills, Mr. President.
  Further, it is my fervent hope that the authorization bill will be 
signed because it does cover the pay raises outlined in addition to 
many other very important and badly needed--badly needed--legislative 
additions to our armed forces.
  Mr. President, at this point I ask unanimous consent that 
correspondence between myself and the distinguished majority leader, 
Mr. Dole, relating to the guarantee of the Federal employees being paid 
be printed in the Record along with a correspondence between myself and 
the majority leader, Mr. Dole, and the Speaker of the House, Mr. 
Gingrich.
  There being no objection, the correspondence was ordered to be 
printed in the Record, as follows:

                                                   U.S.Senate,

                                                December 19, 1995.
     Hon. Robert Dole,
     Senate Majority Leader, U.S. Capitol, Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. Leader: Thank you for the strong words of support 
     for the federal employee community in your Sunday, December 
     17 appearance on NBC's Meet the Press.
       On behalf of the 280 thousand federal employees affected by 
     the shutdown in Virginia and across the nation, it was 
     gratifying to hear your commitment that they indeed will get 
     back pay.
       As you said, Mr. Leader, ``. . . it's not their fault.'' 
     And you reiterated, ``Federal employees shouldn't be punished 
     because the Congress and the President are at odds.'' I 
     couldn't agree more.
       I would also like to commend you for leading by example in 
     the donation of your own salary to the Department of the 
     Treasury for reducing the federal debt. A significant portion 
     of the government is in a state of budgetary emergency. The 
     Congress should be the first to share in the sacrifices which 
     have been required of our dedicated federal employees through 
     no fault of their own. I am doing likewise.
       With best wishes, I am
           Sincerely,
                                                   John W. Warner.
       Enclosures.
                                                                    ____



                                Congress of the United States,

                                Washington, DC, December 20, 1995.
     Hon. John Warner,
     U.S. Senate.
     Hon. Frank R. Wolf,
     Hon. Constance A. Morella,
     Hon. Tom Davis,
     House of Representatives.
       Dear Colleagues: Because of your interest in the ongoing 
     budget negotiations and your strong support for federal 
     employees, we wanted to take this opportunity to reaffirm our 
     letter of November 10, 1995, in which we made clear that 
     employees furloughed through no fault of their own should not 
     be punished.
       It is unfortunate that President Clinton has chosen to veto 
     appropriations bills that would have funded the salaries of 
     federal employees at the Departments of Justice, State, 
     Commerce, Veterans Affairs, and Housing and Urban 
     Development, as well as independent agencies such as the 
     Environmental Protection Agency. Similarly, procedural 
     objections by Democrats have prevented the funding of 
     salaries at the Department of Labor, HHS and Education.
       The direct result of those actions is that furloughed 
     federal employees at those particular agencies cannot be 
     paid. However, we would like to reaffirm our commitment to 

[[Page S19200]]
     restoring any lost wages for federal employees in a subsequent funding 
     bill.
       Thank you for your continued and strong leadership on 
     behalf of federal workers.
     Newt Gingrich,
       Speaker of the House.
     Bob Dole,
       Senate Majority
         Leader.

  Mr. WARNER. I too am very concerned about the $40 million a day, but 
it is not the fault of these innocent people. And every day I shall try 
and work, as I did during the last closure, to assure that they are 
justly compensated at the proper time.
  Mr. President, I withdraw any objections I had.
  Mr. President, I wish to associate myself with the remarks of the 
distinguished Senator from Texas because together we have worked into 
this particular CR at this time certain protections for the veterans. I 
again commend my colleague from Texas.
  Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, if I could respond to the distinguished 
Senator from Virginia.
  I appreciated his comments and all of his good work on the defense 
authorization bill and all of his efforts to make sure that our 
veterans are taken care of and that they do receive their checks, but 
also his continuing to urge that the leaders of Congress and the 
President come to an agreement on a balanced budget so, as a matter of 
fact, all of the Government can go back into operation.
  We certainly are hoping for that. Our leader has stood in this very 
spot and said he wants that to be achieved. I believe that that is what 
he is trying to do right now, and that will solve our problem.
  Mr. WARNER. I thank my distinguished colleague. Senator Dole and I 
and the Senator did stand here not more than an hour and a half ago, 
and the majority leader reiterated his desire to put the Government 
back to work.
  Mr. BUMPERS addressed the Chair.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Arkansas.
  Mr. BUMPERS. Mr. President, just for my own information, is there a 
parliamentary situation here that a limited CR is about to be voted on 
by voice vote?
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. That is correct.
  Mr. BUMPERS. Before doing that, Mr. President, I ask unanimous 
consent that a list of examples of reduced Government services that 
exist during this shutdown be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

       Examples of Reduced Government Services During a shutdown

       A. National Park Services facilities are closed.
       1. On an average December day, 383,000 people visit 
     National Park Services facilities.
       2. Potential per day losses for businesses in communities 
     adjacent to National Parks could reach $14 million, due to 
     reduced recreational tourism.
       B. The Smithsonian Museums, Kennedy Center, National Zoo, 
     and National Gallery of Art are closed.
       1. On an average day, 80,000 people visit the Smithsonian 
     Museums on the Mall and the National Zoo.
       2. On an average day, 12,400 people visit the National 
     Gallery of Art.
       3. On an average day, 6,900 people visit the JFK Center for 
     Performing Arts. (This does not include individuals who pay 
     to attend performances, for which the Kennedy Center will 
     continue to be open.)
       C. FHA mortgages are halted.
       1. On an average day, the Federal Housing Administration 
     processes 2500 home purchase loans and refinancings totaling 
     $200 million worth of mortgage loans for moderate-and low-
     income working families nationwide.
       D. Applications for passports are not being processed and 
     foreign visitors are unable to obtain visas.
       1. On an average day, the State Department receives 23,000 
     applications for passports.
       2. On an average day, the State Department issues 20,000 
     visas to visitors who spend on average of $3,000 on their 
     trips for a total of $60 million.
       E. Veterans will suffer because while claims applications 
     are being accepted and questions answered, processing of 
     claims and payment of benefits has ceased. In addition:
       1. 3.3 million veterans and survivors will not receive 
     their January 1 benefit checks on time if an appropriation is 
     not available by next Thursday, December 21.
       F. The most vulnerable in our country will lose vital 
     income support through AFDC. Specifically:
       1. AFDC grants necessary for January 1 benefit checks will 
     delayed to 4.7 million families representing over 13 million 
     recipients if an appropriation is not available by December 
     22.
       G. ``Deadbeat Dads'' are getting a holiday through the 
     shutdown.
       1. The Federal Parent Locator Service, to which 20,000 
     cases per day on average are referred, is closed.
       H. Assistance to Small Businesses is interrupted.
       1. On an average day, over 260 small businesses are not 
     receiving SBA guaranteed financing totaling over $40 million 
     of loans.
       2. On an average day, over 90 small businesses are 
     prevented from bidding on government contracts because they 
     are unable to receive SBA guaranteed bid bonds which allow 
     them to bid on those contracts.
       3. On an average day, 1,200 small business owners are not 
     receiving SBA-sponsored training and counseling normally 
     available to them.
       4. Banks issuing federally-guaranteed loans from SBS, VA, 
     and HUD have stopped receiving default claim payments. In 
     addition to potential cashflow shortages to participating 
     banks, this will result in higher costs to the Government, 
     because the claims will accrue additional interest during the 
     furlough period.
       5. No outyear payments for Advanced Technology Program 
     awards made in prior years to over 100 innovative, high-tech 
     companies are being made totalling $68 million.
       I. Many protections for American workers are suspended due 
     to the shutdown of much of Labor Department. For each day of 
     the shutdown:
       1. 1. 95 percent of workplace safety complaints are going 
     unanswered.
       2. 170 workplace safety and health inspections are not 
     being performed.
       3. 190 worker complaints of minimum wage and overtime 
     violations remain unresolved.
       4. 500 requests for information and assistance from 
     pensioners participating in plans with $3 trillion in assets 
     are going unanswered.
       J. Important environmental protections are curtailed due to 
     the shutdown. For each day of shutdown, on average:
       1. All EPA non-Superfund civil environmental enforcement 
     actions have stopped. On an average day, $3 million of fines 
     or injunctive relief against polluters will be lost and 8 
     Federal environmental compliance inspections of polluters' 
     facilities will not be conducted.
       2. About 240 calls each day to EPA's ``hotline'' for 
     drinking water contamination outbreaks are going unanswered. 
     Five other ``hotlines'' receiving thousands of calls each 
     month are shut down, depriving the public of potentially 
     critical information on pesticides and toxic substances, 
     asbestos in schools, and other public health information.
       3. EPA-issued permits for air, land, and water pollution 
     limits nationwide cannot be approved and necessary EPA 
     technical assistance to States for State-issued permits 
     cannot be provided. Approvals of some companies' activities 
     will be put on hold while their competitors with approved 
     permits are allowed to operate.
       4. All emergency exemptions for farmers to use restricted 
     pesticides to fight pest outbreaks have stopped, potentially 
     resulting in severe crop damage and loss of income.
       K. Vital Education programs are shutdown.
       1. Middle and low income parents and students cannot get 
     Federal college aid. On an average day at this time of year, 
     20,000 students and parents apply for Federal Pell grants or 
     student loans. These applications cannot be processed because 
     verifications of Social Security numbers (at SSA) and 
     immigrant status (at INS) cannot be carried out. Without this 
     application processing, these students and families are 
     denied the aid without which they may not be able to pay for 
     college.
       2. Civil rights violations in schools cannot be 
     investigated. In an average week, the Education Department's 
     Office for Civil Rights receives about 100 new complaints of 
     discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, 
     sex, age or disability. These complaints cannot be 
     investigated or remedies sought. Buildup of backlogs delays 
     justice for individuals.
       3. Criminal investigations in education programs have been 
     suspended.
       4. Help cannot be given to parents and teachers. During an 
     average week, the Department of Education answers 8,000 
     inquiries from teachers, school administrators and concerned 
     parents, seeking help with education problems that cannot be 
     answered during the shutdown.
       L. American exporting businesses are being disadvantaged 
     during a shutdown.
       1. On an average day, over 30 export licenses with a value 
     of $30.5 million that would otherwise have been approved by 
     the Bureau of Export Administration will not be acted upon.
       2. On an average day, over 2500 telephone calls and faxes 
     from U.S. businesses seeking export advice, information and 
     counseling are not being responded to by the Bureau of Export 
     Administration or the International Trade Administration due 
     to the shutdown.
       M. Vital legal and law enforcement functions are shutdown 
     or will be delayed.
       1. FBI training of state and local law enforcement officers 
     has ceased.
       2. Investigations of employment discrimination on the basis 
     of race, sex, religion, or national origin are suspended.
       3. Processing of prison grant applications has slowed down. 
     Appropriated funds to assist states in constructing and 
     bringing on line new prison facilities will be delayed. 
     
[[Page S19201]]

       4. Collection activities by Justice's Civil Division has 
     ceased. The cessation of collection activities means that the 
     Treasury receives less income and thus the deficit actually 
     grows. In addition, individuals who owe the government money 
     can withhold payment without any particular penalty.
       N. Key statistical data are not being collected and 
     disseminated.
       1. Important statistical releases will be delayed-most 
     importantly the Bureau of Economic Analysis' Gross Domestic 
     Product and Corporate Profits for the 3rd Quarter of 1995, 
     the October 1995 U.S. International Trade in Goods and 
     Services, and Personal Income and Outlays for October and 
     November.
       2. On an average day, 2,000 people call the Census Bureau 
     and 4,000 people call the Bureau of Labor Statistics request 
     information on economic and demographic statistics. These 
     calls are going unanswered.
       O. After expending carryover balances in one day, the 
     National Institute of Standards & Technology would shut down.
       1. Companies, universities, hospitals, and defense and law 
     enforcement agencies depend upon NIST's laboratory-based 
     research and services. For example, NIST provides in excess 
     of 20,000 measurement samples and performs thousands of 
     calibration tests each year for more than 3,000 large and 
     small companies.
       2. U.S. firms will be denied critical support in their 
     efforts to deal with international standards and testing 
     requirement that limit the sale of U.S. goods overseas.

  Mrs. HUTCHISON addressed the Chair.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Texas.
  Mr. FORD. Are you going to reserve the right to object?
  Mrs. HUTCHISON. Mr. President, I reserve the right to object, but I 
will be happy to yield to the Senator from Kentucky.
  Mr. FORD. I will be glad to yield to the Senator.
  Mrs. HUTCHISON. Reserving the right to object, and I will not object, 
but I did want to clarify with the distinguished majority whip to ask 
if this does, in fact, pass in the next few minutes, can the veterans 
of this country and those receiving AFDC, people who work for the 
District of Columbia Government, people who are receiving foster care 
and adoption assistance and Medicaid be assured that they are going to, 
in fact, get their payments? Is that what this means?
  Mr. LOTT. If the Senator will yield, that is absolutely what it 
means. I personally do not think it is absolutely necessary. I believe 
the authority exists for this to occur, but we do not want to leave any 
doubt. We want to make sure the authorization is there for our veterans 
and those dependent on funding of AFDC, D.C. Government, those 
dependent on the funds for foster care and adoption and Medicaid 
quarterly payments. Without question, they are authorized and will get 
those checks.
  Let me also say to the Senator from Texas, I am satisfied that if it 
had not been for her persistence and efforts in support of the 
veterans, this legislation would not be here this minute. I commend her 
for that.
  Mrs. HUTCHISON. Mr. President, I want to thank the majority whip for 
those comments and just say that Senator Warner, Senator Simpson, and 
I, and many others, have been very concerned about many aspects of 
this. Those veterans who have served our country cannot be left at the 
gate. We could not go through Christmas without making sure that these 
people know they are covered, that they are not worried about it.
  Let me just say that tonight, leaving from Fort Hood is a reserve 
unit on its way to Bosnia. For those people and the many others who are 
going to be veterans very quickly by serving in Bosnia, it is very 
important that they know that this body will always act responsibly 
when it comes to them.
  Thank you, Mr. President. I thank the distinguished majority whip.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection to the request of the 
Senator from Mississippi?
  Mr. FORD. Continuing reserving the right to object.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Kentucky.
  Mr. FORD. Mr. President, it is hard for me to understand how we can 
tell the people out there how concerned we are about them when the 
Government is shut down and there is no reason for it except to force 
the President into signing a budget with which he does not agree.
  I do not agree with it. We have 10 Republicans and 9 Democrats who 
have gotten together on a budget that does not agree with the budget 
that the Republican majority has sent to the President. So you have 10 
of your membership that do not like it, and we are trying to get 
together.
  As we worked through--I have the papers, I wish I had them with me--
where we had the first budget and then the second budget and then there 
was a first agreement and a second agreement, we moved a little toward 
the Republicans and they moved a little toward us. I thought that is 
what negotiation is all about. But it is just like ``If you don't play 
by my rules, Sam, I'm going to take the ball and go home,'' and that is 
exactly where we are left.

  I can hear we want all these people to have their money, but you do 
not want anybody else to have it. You do not want that family to have 
it. There is not a soul on this side that I know of who has any 
objections to the veterans getting their money, AFDC, D.C. Government, 
foster care, adoption assistance, particularly the Medicaid quarterly 
payments. States probably would not have enough money to take care of 
it if we did not do this.
  There is not a Senator on this side of the aisle that objects to 
anything that is in this continuing resolution. The only thing we say 
is that you ought to treat everybody else the same. That individual 
that is out there working every day, the honest worker, as you talked 
about, and he needs, or she needs, to have a full check.
  Second, if they do not get the money, then they are laid off. All you 
have to do is read the paper every day, and I am sure most of you do 
before you come to work. Dad always told me, ``Never go to work without 
drinking a cup of coffee and reading the newspaper.'' So I try to do 
that.
  I am very disappointed we are costing taxpayers--we want to try to 
protect the taxpayers--we are costing them $40 million a day, giving 
them half checks, they cannot meet their mortgage payments, contractors 
are laying off their employees. All we have to do is pass a clean CR. 
People are working around here and want to get it done, and you know 
you will get it done but you are creating hurt, harming people rather 
than trying to help them. So the harm is now greater than the help that 
they will ever get.
  So, Mr. President, I reluctantly remove my objections because I 
cannot get an agreement, and it has to be by unanimous consent. I 
reluctantly remove the objection from this side if we are not going to 
get help for the people in this country.
  Mr. THURMOND. Will the majority whip yield?
  Mr. LOTT. Yes, I yield.
  Mr. THURMOND. Mr. President, I rise to support the majority whip and 
the position he has taken and the remarks he has made. We must not let 
these veterans and others down. Now is the time to act. I commend the 
majority whip for the position he has taken.


                           Amendment No. 3110

  Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I send an amendment to the desk.
  Mr. BUMPERS addressed the Chair.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Will the Senator from Arkansas withhold for a 
moment?
  Mr. BUMPERS. If the majority whip wants to offer an amendment, I 
withhold.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.
  The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       The Senator from Mississippi [Mr. Lott], for Mr. Hatfield, 
     proposes an amendment numbered 3110.

  Mr. LOTT. 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:

       Strike all after the resolving clause and insert in lieu 
     thereof:

                                TITLE I

 AID TO FAMILIES WITH DEPENDENT CHILDREN AND FOSTER CARE AND ADOPTION 
                               ASSISTANCE

       That the following sums are hereby appropriated, out of any 
     money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, and out of 
     applicable corporate or other revenues, receipts, and funds, 
     for the several departments, agencies, corporations, and 
     other organizational units of Government for the fiscal year 
     1996, and for other purposes, namely:
       Sec. 101. (a) Such amounts as may be necessary under the 
     authority and conditions provided in the applicable 
     appropriations Act for the fiscal year 1995 for continuing 
     the following projects or activities including the 

[[Page S19202]]
     costs of direct loans and loan guarantees (not otherwise specifically 
     provided for in this joint resolution) which were conducted 
     in the fiscal year 1995:
       All projects and activities funded under the account 
     heading ``Family support payments to States'' under the 
     Administration For Children and Families in the Department of 
     Health and Human Services;
       All projects and activities funded under the account 
     heading ``Payments to States for foster care and adoption 
     assistance'' under the Administration For Children and 
     Families in the Department of Health and Human Services; and
       Such amounts as may be necessary for the Medicaid program 
     under title XIX of the Social Security Act for the second 
     quarter of fiscal year 1996;
       All administrative activities necessary to carry out the 
     projects and activities in the preceeding three paragraphs:

     Provided, That whenever the amount which would be made 
     available or the authority which would be granted under an 
     Act which included funding for fiscal year 1996 for the 
     projects and activities listed in this section is 
     greater than that which would be available or granted 
     under current operations, the pertinent project or 
     activity shall be continued at a rate for operations not 
     exceeding the current rate.
       (b) Whenever the amount which would be made available or 
     the authority which would be granted under the Act which 
     included funding for fiscal year 1996 for the projects and 
     activities listed in this section as passed by the House as 
     of the date of enactment of this joint resolution, is 
     different from that which would be available or granted under 
     such Act as passed by the Senate as of the date of enactment 
     of this joint resolution, the pertinent project or activity 
     shall be continued at a rate for operations not exceeding the 
     current rate or the rate permitted by the action of the House 
     or the Senate, whichever is lower, under the authority and 
     conditions provided in the applicable appropriations Act for 
     the fiscal year 1995.
       (c) Whenever an Act which included funding for fiscal year 
     1996 for the projects and activities listed in this section 
     has been passed by only the House or only the Senate as of 
     the date of enactment of this joint resolution, the pertinent 
     project or activity shall be continued under the 
     appropriation, fund, or authority granted by the one House at 
     a rate for operations not exceeding the current rate or the 
     rate permitted by the action of the one House, whichever is 
     lower, and under the authority and conditions provided in the 
     applicable appropriations Act for the fiscal year 1995.
       Sec. 102. Appropriations made by section 101 shall be 
     available to the extent and in the manner which would be 
     provided by the pertinent appropriations Act.
       Sec. 103. No appropriation or funds made available or 
     authority granted pursuant to section 101 shall be used to 
     initiate or resume any project or activity for which 
     appropriations, funds, or other authority were not available 
     during the fiscal year 1995.
       Sec. 104. No provision which is included in the 
     appropriations Act enumerated in section 101 but which was 
     not included in the applicable appropriations Act for fiscal 
     year 1995 and which by its terms is applicable to more than 
     one appropriation, fund, or authority shall be applicable to 
     any appropriation, fund, or authority provided in this joint 
     resolution.
       Sec. 105. Appropriations made and authority granted 
     pursuant to this title of this joint resolution shall cover 
     all obligations or expenditures incurred for any program, 
     project, or activity during the period for which funds or 
     authority for such project or activity are available under 
     this joint resolution.
       Sec. 106. Unless otherwise provided for in this title of 
     this joint resolution or in the applicable appropriations 
     Act, appropriations and funds made available and authority 
     granted pursuant to this title of this joint resolution shall 
     be available until (a) enactment into law of an appropriation 
     for any project or activity provided for in this title of 
     this joint resolution, or (b) the enactment into law of the 
     applicable appropriations Act by both Houses without any 
     provision for such project or activity, or (c) January 3, 
     1996, whichever first occurs.
       Sec. 107. Expenditures made pursuant to this title of this 
     joint resolution shall be charged to the applicable 
     appropriation, fund, or authorization whenever a bill in 
     which such applicable appropriation, fund, or authorization 
     is contained is enacted into law.
       Sec. 108. No provision in the appropriations Act for the 
     fiscal year 1996 referred to in section 101 of this joint 
     resolution that makes the availability of any appropriation 
     provided therein dependent upon the enactment of additional 
     authorizing or other legislation shall be effective before 
     the date set forth in section 106(c) of this joint 
     resolution.
       Sec. 109. Appropriations and funds made available by or 
     authority granted pursuant to this title of this joint 
     resolution may be used without regard to the time limitations 
     for submission and approval of apportionments set forth in 
     section 1513 of title 31, United States Code, but nothing 
     herein shall be construed to waive any other provision of law 
     governing the apportionment of funds.

                                TITLE II

                          DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

       That the following sums are hereby appropriated, out of the 
     general fund and enterprise funds of the District of Columbia 
     for the District of Columbia for the fiscal year 1996, and 
     for other purposes, namely:
       Sec. 201. (a) Such amounts as may be necessary under the 
     authority and conditions provided in the applicable 
     appropriations Act for the fiscal year 1996 for continuing 
     projects or activities including the costs of direct loans 
     and loan guarantees (not otherwise specifically provided for 
     in this title of this joint resolution) which were conducted 
     in the fiscal year 1995 and for which appropriations, funds, 
     or other authority would be available in the following 
     appropriations Act:
       The District of Columbia Appropriations Act, 1996:

     Provided, That whenever the amount which would be made 
     available or the authority which would be granted in this Act 
     is greater than that which would be available or granted 
     under current operations, the pertinent project or 
     activity shall be continued at a rate for operations not 
     exceeding the current rate.
       (b) Whenever the amount which would be made available or 
     the authority which would be granted under the Act listed in 
     this section as passed by the House as of the date of 
     enactment of this joint resolution, is different from that 
     which would be available or granted under such Act as passed 
     by the Senate as of the date of enactment of this joint 
     resolution, the pertinent project or activity shall be 
     continued at a rate for operations not exceeding the current 
     rate or the rate permitted by the action of the House or the 
     Senate, whichever is lower, under the authority and 
     conditions provided in the applicable appropriations Act for 
     the fiscal year 1995: Provided, That were an items is not 
     included in either version or where an item is included in 
     only one version of the Act as passed by both Houses as of 
     the date of enactment of this joint resolution, the pertinent 
     project or activity shall not be continued except as provided 
     for in section 211 or 212 under the appropriation, fund, or 
     authority granted by the applicable appropriations Act for 
     the fiscal year 1995 and under the authority and conditions 
     provided in the applicable appropriations Act for the fiscal 
     year 1995.
       Sec. 202. Appropriations made by section 201 shall be 
     available to the extent and in the manner which would be 
     provided by the pertinent appropriations Act.
       Sec. 203. No appropriation or funds made available or 
     authority granted pursuant to section 201 shall be used to 
     initiate or resume any project or activity for which 
     appropriations, funds, or other authority were not available 
     during the fiscal year 1995.
       Sec. 204. No provision which is included in the 
     appropriations Act enumerated in section 201 but which was 
     not included in the applicable appropriations Act for fiscal 
     year 1995 and which by its terms is applicable to more than 
     one appropriation, fund, or authority shall be applicable to 
     any appropriation, fund, or authority provided in this title 
     of this joint resolution.
       Sec. 205. Appropriations made and authority granted 
     pursuant to this title of this joint resolution shall cover 
     all obligations or expenditures incurred for any program, 
     project, or activity during the period for which funds or 
     authority for such project or activity are available under 
     this title of this joint resolution.
       Sec. 206. Unless otherwise provided for in this title of 
     this joint resolution or in the applicable appropriations 
     Act, appropriations and funds made available and authority 
     granted pursuant to this title of this joint resolution shall 
     be available until (a) enactment into law of an 
     appropriation for any project or activity provided for in 
     this title of this joint resolution, or (b) the enactment 
     into law of the applicable appropriations Act by both 
     houses without any provision for such project or activity, 
     or (c) January 3, 1996, whichever first occurs.
       Sec. 207. Notwithstanding any other provision of this title 
     of this joint resolution, except section 206, none of the 
     funds appropriated under this title of this joint resolution 
     shall be expended for any abortion except where the life of 
     the mother would be endangered if the fetus were carried to 
     term or where the pregnancy is the result of an act of rape 
     or incest.
       Sec. 208. Expenditures made pursuant to this title of this 
     joint resolution shall be charged to the applicable 
     appropriation, fund, or authorization whenever a bill in 
     which such applicable appropriation, fund, or authorization 
     is contained is enacted into law.
       Sec. 209. No provision in the appropriations Act for the 
     fiscal year 1996 referred to in section 201 of this title of 
     this joint resolution that makes the availability of any 
     appropriation provided therein dependent upon the enactment 
     of additional authorizing or other legislation shall be 
     effective before the date set forth in section 206(c) of this 
     joint resolution.
       Sec. 210. Appropriations and funds made available by or 
     authority granted pursuant to this title of this joint 
     resolution may be used without regard to the time limitations 
     for submission and approval of apportionments set forth in 
     section 1513 of title 31, United States Code, but nothing 
     herein shall be construed to waive any other provision of law 
     governing the apportionment of funds.
       Sec. 211. Notwithstanding any other provision of this title 
     of this joint resolution, except section 206, whenever the 
     Act listed in 

[[Page S19203]]
     section 201 as passed by both the House and Senate as of the date of 
     enactment of this joint resolution, does not include funding 
     for an ongoing project or activity for which there is a 
     budget request, or whenever the rate for operations for an 
     ongoing project or activity provided by section 201 for which 
     there is a budget request would result in the project or 
     activity being significantly reduce, the pertinent project or 
     activity may be continued under the authority and conditions 
     provided in the applicable appropriations Act for the fiscal 
     year 1995 by increasing the rate for operations provided by 
     section 201 to a rate for operations not to exceed one that 
     provides the minimal level that would enable existing 
     activities to continue. No new contracts or grants shall be 
     awarded in excess of an amount that bears the same ration to 
     the rate for operations provided by this section as 
     the number of days covered by this resolution bears to 
     366. For the purposes of this title of this joint 
     resolution the minimal level means a rate for operations 
     that is reduced from the current rate by 25 percent.
       Sec. 212. Notwithstanding any other provision of this title 
     of this joint resolution, except section 206, whenever the 
     rate for operations for any continuing project or activity 
     provided by section 201 or section 211 for which there is a 
     budget request would result in a furlough of Government 
     employees, that rate for operations may be increased to the 
     minimum level that would enable the furlough to be avoided. 
     No new contracts or grants shall be awarded in excess of an 
     amount that bears the same ratio to the rate for operations 
     provided by this section as the number of days covered by 
     this resolution bears to 366.
       Sec. 213. Notwithstanding any other provision of this title 
     of this joint resolution, except sections 206, 211, and 212, 
     for those programs that had high initial rates of operation 
     or complete distribution of funding at the beginning of the 
     fiscal year in fiscal year 1995 because of distributions of 
     funding to States, foreign countries, grantees, or others, 
     similar distributions of funds for fiscal year 1996 shall not 
     be made and no grants shall be awarded for such programs 
     funded by this title of this resolution that would impinge on 
     final funding prerogatives.
       Sec. 214. This title of this joint resolution shall be 
     implemented so that only the most limited funding action of 
     that permitted in this title of this resolution shall be 
     taken in order to provide for continuation of projects and 
     activities.
       Sec. 215. The provisions of section 132 of the District of 
     Columbia Appropriations Act, 1988, Public Law 100-202, shall 
     not apply for this title of this joint resolution.
       Sec. 216. Notwithstanding any other provision of this title 
     of this joint resolution, except section 206, none of the 
     funds appropriated under this title of this joint resolution 
     shall be used to implement or enforce any system of 
     registration of unmarried, cohabiting couples whether they 
     are homosexual, lesbian, heterosexual, including but not 
     limited to registration for the purpose of extending 
     employment, health, or governmental benefits to such couples 
     on the same basis that such benefits are extended to legally 
     married couples; nor shall any funds made available pursuant 
     to any provision of this title of this joint resolution 
     otherwise be used to implement or enforce D.C. Act 9-188, 
     signed by the Major of the District of Columbia on April 15, 
     1992.

                               TITLE III

                           VETERANS' BENEFITS

       That the following sums are hereby appropriated, out of any 
     money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, and out of 
     applicable corporate or other revenues, receipts, and funds, 
     for the several departments, agencies, corporations and other 
     organizational units of Government for the fiscal year 1996, 
     and for other purposes, namely:

     SEC. 301. ENSURED PAYMENT DURING FISCAL YEAR 1996 OF 
                   VETERANS' BENEFITS IN EVENT OF LACK OF 
                   APPROPRIATIONS.

       (a) Payments Required.--In any case during fiscal year 1996 
     in which appropriations are not otherwise available for 
     programs, projects, and activities of the Department of 
     Veterans Affairs, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 
     nevertheless ensure that--
       (1) payments of existing veterans benefits are made in 
     accordance with regular procedures and schedules and in 
     accordance with eligibility requirements for such benefits; 
     and
       (2) payments to contractors of the Veterans Health 
     Administration of the Department of Veterans Affairs are made 
     when due in the case of services provided that directly 
     relate to patient health and safety.
       (b) Funding.--There is hereby appropriated such sums as may 
     be necessary for the payments pursuant to subsection (a), 
     including such amounts as may be necessary for the costs of 
     administration of such payments.
       (c) Charging of Accounts When Appropriations Made.--In any 
     case in which the Secretary uses the authority of subsection 
     (a) to make payments, applicable accounts shall be charged 
     for amounts so paid, and regular appropriations become 
     available for those purposes.
       (d) Existing Benefits Specified.--For purposes of this 
     section, existing veterans benefits are benefits under laws 
     administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs that have 
     been adjudicated and authorized for payment as of--
       (1) December 15, 1995; or
       (2) if appropriations for such benefits are available 
     (other than pursuant to subsection (b)) after December 15, 
     1995, the last day on which appropriations for payment of 
     such benefits are available (other than pursuant to 
     subsection (b)).
       Sec. 302. Section 301 shall expire on January 3, 1996.

  Mr. BUMPERS. Mr. President, can the majority whip tell us what this 
amendment is?
  Mr. LOTT. This is the amendment that the unanimous-consent agreement 
related to, and we are, I believe, ready to go to the vote on that.
  Mr. BUMPERS. I hate to keep beating to death a dead horse, but I just 
want to say to my friends and colleagues on the other side, this 
morning the Senate did exactly what it is supposed to do, exactly what 
the Constitution says we should do. It says that when the President 
disapproves a bill and returns it to the Congress, we will either 
attempt to override his veto with a two-thirds constitutional majority, 
or maybe it is two-thirds of those present and voting, or we will not.
  In this particular case, we were talking about securities 
legislation, which I thought generally was a good idea, but I thought 
it was flawed in some ways. The point is the Congress has done exactly 
what the Founding Fathers intended us to do, and that is, if the 
President disagrees with us, we will either muster the votes, as the 
Republicans did this morning with the help of some Democrats to 
override the President's veto, or we will try to get with the President 
and work out our differences.
  What we have seen here for too long, 3 or 4 weeks now, is we will 
override the veto when we have the votes and we will say to the 
President, ``Any other time you veto a bill and we don't have the votes 
to override, we will shut the Government down until you sign.''
  Mr. LOTT. Will the distinguished Senator yield?
  Mr. BUMPERS. Yes.
  Mr. LOTT. What I would like to inquire about is, what is regular 
order? I believe the Senator is speaking on another issue, and he is 
entitled to do that, but we need to complete action on the unanimous-
consent agreement and the amendment that has been worked out. So if we 
can get that done.
  Mr. KERRY. Parliamentary inquiry, Mr. President.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Massachusetts.
  Mr. KERRY. Am I not correct that this is an amendment and, therefore, 
it is subject to debate?
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. This is the unanimous-consent agreement. It is 
not debatable.
  Is there objection to the request of the Senator from Mississippi?
  Mr. KERRY. Reserving the right to object.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Massachusetts.
  Mr. KERRY. I may not object, but I want to ask the Senator from 
Mississippi a question.
  Is it true that it is the stated intention of the leadership that 
those people who are currently not working as a result of this shutdown 
are going to be paid?
  Mr. LOTT. If I could get the Senator to yield.
  Mr. KERRY. Yes.
  Mr. LOTT. It is my understanding from all the parties in key 
positions, including the leader and the Speaker and, I presume, the 
President, have indicated that is the case.
  Mr. KERRY. Reserving, again, the right to object, could the Senator 
tell me how one explains to Americans, at a time when we are supposedly 
trying to reduce the deficit and show common sense, that we are 
announcing to people that people are not going to work, but they are 
also going to be paid for not working? Now, what is the common sense in 
that?
  Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, first, I would like to note that the House 
of Representatives is awaiting, very anxiously, this legislation, which 
has been agreed to by our leadership on both sides, and I do see that 
we have Veterans' Affairs Committee members who are anxious for this to 
be done. I would like to respond at length to the Senator from 
Massachusetts, and I will be glad to engage him in discussion later on 
this. I have to say, very briefly, that it is very hard to explain 
that. But we can talk about that and engage in a dialog.
  I urge my colleagues here that we go ahead and complete this action 
and 

[[Page S19204]]
talk at a later point on the details of what he is asking about.
  Mr. KERRY. Reserving the right to object, Mr. President. I ask my 
colleague, then, if I may just answer the question myself and say a 
couple of words, and then I will not object.
  I know there are members of the Veterans' Affairs Committee and 
others waiting. I am a veteran and I am waiting. I am hearing from a 
lot of veterans, and they are not happy with the notion that some of 
their claims cannot be processed, but they are also not happy--some of 
these veterans I have talked to in the spinal cord injury division of 
the Brockton VA--that some of them are going to be thrown out after 18, 
20 years of living there with injuries suffered that they received 
serving their country.
  Speaking as a veteran, but much more just as a citizen, not even as a 
Senator, it is incomprehensible to me that we are going to claim common 
sense and rectitude with respect to the reduction of this deficit, 
while telling our workers of this country they are going to be paid for 
not working and not serving the country.
  If this is the price we pay, this hostage-taking of an entire budget 
and Government for simply one group of people getting their way, this 
is a sad day in the democracy of this country.
  Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I am trying my very best to restrain myself. 
I will be glad to discuss this with the Senator and debate him later 
on.
  Mr. KERRY. I would just like to finish. I know----
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Mississippi now has the floor 
and has made a unanimous-consent request. Is there objection?
  Mr. KERRY. Reserving the right to object.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Massachusetts.
  Mr. KERRY. I ask that I simply be permitted to say to the Senator 
from Mississippi that I share with the Senator what I know is his 
devotion to balancing this budget. We have offered, again and again, 7 
years, CBO figures, a good-faith offering of several different budgets 
by our side--two of them, as a matter of fact--a moderate so-called 
budget and another by the entire Democratic Caucus, both of which, by 
CBO figures, balance the budget.

  This is unnecessary. Shutting down of the Government is unnecessary. 
This hostage taking is unnecessary.
  I simply will close by saying it is very regrettable--regrettable for 
the country.
  I will not object.
  Mr. DORGAN. Mr. President, reserving the right to object.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection?
  Mr. DORGAN. Reserving the right to object. I want to ask the Senator 
a question or two, largely because of some comments he made a couple of 
minutes ago. I am trying to understand whether there is a way, later 
today, of having by unanimous consent, or whether there will be an 
opportunity later today by which we might consider a broader CR. The 
reason I ask the question is this: My understanding, at least at the 
start of today, was that the Senate would probably be able to do two 
CR's, one narrower, which the Senator from Mississippi is now asking 
unanimous consent about, and the second, a broader one that would 
essentially restore people back to their jobs, and I do not know what 
period we were talking about.
  My understanding was that it was a broader CR that would put people 
back to work. There are 270,000 Federal workers today who are not going 
to work but are going to be paid. That was true yesterday, the day 
before, and it is going to be true each day until we pass a broader CR. 
I would like to ask the Senator from Mississippi if he thinks or 
understands that there are conditions under which we might be able to 
entertain, later this afternoon, after the White House meeting, a 
broader CR so that we can put all these folks back to work.
  Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, if I could respond. Again, I am trying to 
restrain myself so that we can get this agreed to, this very important 
resolution. I will just say that I can conceive how that might happen. 
I know the leader has said he would like for us to get that done. I do 
not know what will happen at the White House meeting this afternoon 
where the majority leader and Senator Daschle presently are.
  I can envision maybe that they would meet and there would be some 
sort of immaculate conception, and out of these various bills that have 
been suggested, alternatives, they would come together and say, yes, 
here is an agreement in principle; we agree on the numbers and policy. 
We have an agreement in concept that is real, and we can rely on it. We 
would put it in law and, lo and behold, it would all come together 
tonight. I hope and I pray that that is what is going to happen.
  So I can write a scenario. In fact, I could write the numbers that we 
could agree on. I hope that happens. But unless that happens, I do not 
see how we can get it resolved this afternoon. I would like to leave it 
to the leaders. They are doing their best. I would rather not have the 
infantry back here shooting the guys up there that are trying to fly to 
a higher zone to get this done.
  Mr. DORGAN. Continuing my reservation. I am not saying anything that 
I think requires great restraint on the Senator's part. I am not 
alleging anything. I thought I heard him say that he expected there not 
to be a CR that would be clean or a broad CR until and unless there is 
an agreement. That suggests to some of us that we are talking about 
having these 270,000 Federal workers who are not working continue in 
that circumstance for a week or 2 weeks. That is a much different 
scenario than some of us thought might be possible this morning.

  Mr. LOTT. I do not know when that agreement might come or how you 
would define the agreement. I still think they can achieve it. I put my 
faith in them. That is all we can do. If we will let them meet and work 
and if we can spare ourselves some of our comments in press 
conferences, I think they can come together. I am just going to have to 
assume that the President wants to get this done, and I know the 
leaders do. I hope they get it done.
  Mr. DORGAN. Under my reservation, one final question. Is the 
objection to a clean CR at this moment an objection that persuades the 
Senator that that objection will continue to exist the rest of the day, 
or is it an objection that is based on a temporary situation because 
the leaders are at the White House? I am trying to understand the 
circumstances under which the Senator indicated there must be an 
agreement before we have a clean CR.
  Mr. LOTT. Typically, in the Senate, I do not have any idea what is 
going to come out of that agreement or when the schedule will be 
provided to us. The leaders are there. We are working in their stead on 
an agreement that they worked out. Let us let them do their job and 
come back and see what happens.
  Mr. DORGAN. I will not object. I hope that we will be able to 
propound a unanimous-consent request later this afternoon for a clean 
CR and that there would be no objection to it. I shall not object.
  Mr. BOND. Mr. President, I rise in strong support of House Joint 
Resolution 134. This legislation will enable the Department of Veterans 
Affairs to make disability and pension payments to approximately 3.3 
million veterans in the event a continuing resolution is not enacted 
soon. It ensures that any time this fiscal year in which there is no 
appropriation authority, VA will be able to make benefit payments to 
veterans, including compensation and pensions, education and training, 
and also pay vendors in the Veterans Health Administration. The House 
should be commended for their prompt action initially on this necessary 
legislation and I urge expeditious consideration and enactment of this 
measure in the House.
  This legislation is based on S. 1414, a bill introduced by Senators 
Simpson and Hutchison in November. Their concern over this vital matter 
and initiative in seeking prompt action has facilitated this 
legislation.
  In a recent letter to me, the Disabled American Veterans National 
Commander, Thomas McMasters III, said ``Many veterans rely on their VA 
disability compensation payments for the necessities of life and any 
delay, no matter how short, can have a devastating effect upon them and 
their families.'' This is precisely why House Joint Resolution 134 is 
so important, and I thank the DAV and other veterans service 
organizations for their advocacy of this critical legislation. 

[[Page S19205]]

  I ask that the full text of this letter from the DAV be inserted into 
the Record at the conclusion of my statement.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  (See exhibit 1.)
  Mr. BOND. In addition to being able to make benefits payments, the 
legislation ensures that the VA's 173 hospitals will be able to pay 
their vendors and continue to provide high quality medical care. This 
will prevent costly violations of the Federal Prompt Payment Act, and 
avoid potential disruptions in the delivery of contracted services, 
pharmaceuticals, or other necessary medical supplies in veterans 
hospitals, nursing homes, and outpatient clinics.
  Mr. President, none of us finds any merit or advantage in this second 
lapse of funding authority to continue the operations of the 
Government. I agree with the Republican Leader that this budget impasse 
does none of us any credit . . . indeed, it is time for some adult 
supervision to end this squabbling and finger-pointing. I can only hope 
we soon will hear clearly the American people express their growing 
disgust and contempt for all of this political posturing, and get on 
with the business of running the Government.
  I have been very critical of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, Jesse 
Brown. He and I have very different views of the responsibilities of 
the Secretary in charge of managing one of the largest Departments in 
the Federal Government. He clearly sees his role as an extension of his 
previous advocacy for more funding of veterans programs. By contrast, I 
believe he should be alarmed by the Federal deficit and aggressively 
looking within his Department to improve operations as a means of 
better serving our Nation's veterans, a task made all the more critical 
by the budgetary constraints necessary to bring the budget back into 
balance. But despite our differences, we do share a commitment to those 
served by this Department. Although he didn't even bother to pick up 
the phone to express his concern over the necessity of enacting this 
bill, there can be no doubt that he also supports this measure to 
prevent any disruption in the payment of veterans benefits.
  Mr. President, as we look for means of resolving the budgetary 
gridlock which has caused this latest shutdown of the Government, I 
hope that we can draw upon these points of agreement. The growing 
frustration and polarization still can be reversed if we build upon 
these shared concerns. Agreement on a framework for a mutually binding 
process to achieve a balanced budget must be achieved without further 
delay.
  The appropriations bill vetoed by the President earlier this week 
would have provided a $400 million increase for veterans medical care. 
Despite that veto, I am hopeful that this funding increase soon will be 
enacted into law. At that point, the full $37.7 billion proposed by the 
Congress for veteran services and benefits will be available to be 
administered by the Department. This is an enormous responsibility. I 
hope to be able to work with Secretary Brown to assure that this large 
commitment to our veterans will serve their needs in the most effective 
and beneficial manner possible. At some point he must turn his 
attention from politics to management. That massive task will provide 
ample opportunity for a moving beyond our current differences.
  Mr. President, we now have the responsibility for taking an important 
first step toward restoring a necessary governmental function. Let us 
not hold America's veterans hostage to this budget impasse. For 
veterans January benefits checks to be on time, this legislation must 
be enacted today. I strongly urge the adoption of this joint 
resolution.

                               Exhibit 1

                                       Disabled American Veterans,


                                          807 Maine Ave., SW.,

                                Washington, DC, December 19, 1995.
     Hon. Christopher (Kit) Bond,
     Chairman, VA, HUD, and Independent Agencies Subcommittee,
     Dirksen Senate Office Building, Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairman Bond: As National Commander of the more than 
     one million members of the Disabled American Veterans (DAV), 
     I request your support for S. 1414, introduced by Senator Kay 
     Bailey Hutchison. This measure would allow the Department of 
     Veterans Affairs (VA) to pay compensation or pension awards, 
     notwithstanding the fact that an appropriations bill or 
     continuing resolution has not been enacted.
       As you know Mr. Chairman, VA benefits payments will be 
     delayed if the impasse on the budget is not resolved by 
     December 21, 1995. Expeditious handling of S. 1414, which has 
     currently been referred to the Senate Veterans' Affairs 
     Committee, is necessary if veterans' benefits are to be paid 
     in a timely manner.
       Many veterans rely on their VA disability compensation 
     payments for the necessities of life and, any delay, no 
     matter how short, can have a devastating effect upon them and 
     their families. It is extremely important that the men and 
     women who served their country with honor in its time of need 
     are not forgotten in their time of need.
       Accordingly, I call upon you, Mr. Chairman, in your 
     position of leadership in the Senate, to take all action 
     necessary to expedite S. 1414.
       Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter, and I 
     look forward to your reply at your earliest possible 
     convenience.
           Sincerely,
                                          Thomas A. McMasters III,
                                               National Commander.

  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection?
  Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The amendment (No. 3110) was agreed to.
  The joint resolution (H.J. Res. 134), as amended, was deemed read a 
third time, and passed.
  Mr. LOTT. I yield the floor.
  Mr. BOND. Mr. President, I think it is very important to note that 
there is a lot of credit due to the managers, the whips, Senator Lott, 
Senator Ford for the passage of Hourse Joint Resolution 134. This 
legislation enables the Department of Veterans Affairs to make 
disability and pension payments to approximately 3.3 million veterans 
in the event a continuing resolution is not enacted. It ensures that 
any time this fiscal year in which there is no appropriations authority 
VA will be able to make benefits payments to veterans including 
compensation, pensions, education and training, and also to pay vendors 
in the veterans health administration.
  This measure was made necessary, let us be quite frank about it, 
because the President vetoed the VA-HUD bill. Last week, when we 
considered that bill, I pointed out that if the President vetoed it, we 
put all of these programs at risk.
  The reason given was that there was not enough money in the bill. Mr. 
President, the money in the bill we passed was all of the money that 
was allocated to us in the appropriations process under the budget. I 
suggested at that time that they sign the bill so they could continue 
these vital programs and if and when an agreement is reached more money 
could be added. Unfortunately, they did not choose that path. I commend 
Members on both sides for enabling us to go forward. I urge the House 
to move promptly. It is vitally important. We need to get on with the 
process, and I hope that we can continue to make progress in other 
areas.
  I thank the Chair.
  Mr. BUMPERS. I ask unanimous consent that I be permitted to speak for 
2 minutes as in morning business.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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