[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 2 (Thursday, January 4, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Page S48]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    THE CPI AND BLOCKING THE LABOR, HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, AND 
                             EDUCATION BILL

  Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I just wish to say to my colleague from 
Massachusetts, I listened very carefully. This question of the CPI is 
open for debate. Thus far, consideration has been given in a bipartisan 
manner by Members on both sides of this aisle, and as yet there has 
been no resolution. I think, indeed, there is some consideration at the 
level of the President and his senior advisers on this issue.
  But, Mr. President, what disturbs me so much is that the Senator from 
Massachusetts sought to come here this morning and talk about that 
issue, yet he fails to address one of the most burning issues indeed on 
both sides of the aisle here in the U.S. Senate, and that is the 
inability of the majority leader, the inability of the chairman of the 
Appropriations Committee, to bring up the Labor and Human Resources 
appropriations bill. It is stopped, blocked, such that this body 
cannot--cannot--act upon that very important piece of legislation. The 
distinguished Senator from Massachusetts is the ranking member of that 
committee, and as such he is in a position to see that this piece of 
legislation could be brought forward.
  This Senator is receiving reports this morning--and I called in as 
early as an hour ago to the CDC, the Centers for Disease Control, and 
to the facilities here in Maryland--as to what the impact is of this 
shutdown on those very important, ongoing health advisory services to 
all of our citizens, and I shall later in the day perhaps be able to 
advise the Senate. I heard that the CDC is not able to monitor the flu 
epidemic that is now in the United States.
  So, Mr. President, I would hope that at some point, if the Senator 
from Massachusetts desires to return to the floor, that he might 
address this important issue. I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Mississippi.
  Mr. KENNEDY. Could I have a minute to respond to the Senator from 
Virginia?
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Will the Senator from Mississippi yield?
  Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, if I could get clarification, I would be 
glad to withhold so long as the Senator does not use a minute of my own 
time. Could we agree he have a minute, and then I have the time 
allocated to me?
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. There is no time assignment to the Senator 
from Mississippi.
  Mr. LOTT. I withhold until the Senator responds.
  Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. President, it is so interesting to listen to my good 
friend and colleague cry crocodile tears for the Centers for Disease 
Control because in the very appropriations bill the Senator has talked 
about he would cut the Centers for Disease Control by a third and 
diminish its effectiveness to deal with these communicable diseases.
  That is an issue we ought to be debating out here. The Senator knows 
we could pass that bill if it had not come with the unwarranted and 
unjustified positions that have been assumed by the majority in 
undermining a woman's right to choose and including striker 
replacement. Drop those, and it passes by a voice vote this afternoon, 
I say to the Senator.
  I thank the Chair.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Mississippi.

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