[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 4 (Monday, January 8, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Pages S111-S112]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          BUDGET NEGOTIATIONS

  Mr. DOLE. Mr. President, we started our negotiations with the White 
House about 40 minutes ago. I will return to the White House. Again, I 
think everybody is acting in good faith. We have not reached any 
agreement. We may not; we may. I do not think anybody knows at this 
point. But I think as long as there is the spirit of cooperation and 
credible negotiation, the Speaker and I, and the majority leader in the 
House, Congressman Armey, feel that we should continue negotiating with 
the President. So we will be doing that for the rest of the afternoon.
  (Mr. JEFFORDS assumed the chair.)
  Mr. WARNER addressed the Chair.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Virginia is recognized.
  
[[Page S112]]


                COMMENDATION FOR LEADERSHIP AND SERVICE

  Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I rise just to acknowledge, speaking for 
myself and I think a great majority of Senators on both sides of the 
aisle, and commend our distinguished Republican leader for the 
leadership he has given this body and, indeed, for the leadership he 
has given the United States during this most unusual period of the 
budget. As I read the numerous columns, listen to the press throughout 
the Nation, I think due recognition is given to our distinguished 
leader for his role.
  Mr. President, I also wish to say that in my own State and in the 
adjoining areas of the greater metropolitan area of Washington, other 
chapters of leadership are being written by citizens who are pouring 
out to help others who might not be as fortunate as a consequence of 
this storm. The response to our local hospitals by people with 4-wheel 
drive vehicles has been very dramatic.
  Also, I know there are many stories about people helping others, in 
all types of extreme circumstances with this unusual storm.
  Also, Mr. President, I have maintained contact with this institution 
throughout this period of the storm as a consequence of my role as 
chairman of the Rules Committee, and I wish to commend the security 
staff here of the Senate and many others, notably the operators. They 
came in before the storm and have, frankly, stayed here throughout the 
storm, sleeping intermittently on couches, to provide the necessary 
communications between the Senate and its Members and to receive calls 
from many citizens.
  Mr. President, I will have more to say about this after I collect the 
stories later this week. I commend the Senator for his work.
  Mr. DOLE. I thank my colleague from Virginia for his kind remarks. I 
also would want to compliment the Architect's office and all those 
responsible for snow removal at the Capitol. All the streets around the 
Capitol have been cleared and most of the areas in and about the 
Capitol have been cleared. They have done an outstanding job. I 
certainly appreciate their efforts, as I said earlier.
  Now, maybe being from the Presiding Officer's home State, this is 
just another snowfall, because Vermont takes these things in stride, 
but for this area of the country it, I guess, is the fourth largest in 
history. So it will cause, as the Senator from Virginia said, some 
suffering in some cases where they are not able to deal with it. I hope 
that we will be able to get everybody back to work after the one 
Government shutdown. This Government shutdown is not one Congress or 
the President is responsible for.

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