[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 55 (Thursday, April 25, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4190-S4195]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS

      By Mr. BINGAMAN:
  S. 1702. A bill to require institutions of higher education to 
provide voter registration information and opportunities to students 
registering for class, and for other purposes; to the Committee on 
Rules and Administration.


               the student voter registration act of 1996

  Mr. BINGAMAN. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce legislation 
that I believe will effectively increase voter registration among 
college and university students and will positively change the voting 
patterns of this Nation.
  Mr. President, currently there are over 15 million college students 
across this country who are eligible to vote. This highly concentrated 
group of individuals, when allowed increased access to voter 
registration, can be a very powerful and influential political voice. 
The legislation I am introducing today provides colleges and 
universities the mechanisms and the opportunities to increase voter 
registration among college students so that they can be an active and 
visible political force within our country.
  College and university students are one of the most highly mobile 
constituent groups in this country and our voter registration systems 
have not been entirely effective in empowering our Nation's college 
students to register and to vote. It is estimated that college students 
in America move on

[[Page S4191]]

an average of twice a year. To continue to vote, college students must 
re-register to vote or change their address every year. No other 
constituent group in America faces such a significant barrier. My 
legislation will empower college and university students to overcome 
this barrier.
  Mr. President, this bill, which may be cited as the Student Voter 
Registration Act of 1996, will amend the National Voter Registration 
Act of 1993. It will require all colleges and universities that receive 
Federal funds, have 2-year or 4-year programs of instructions and 
confer associate, baccalaureate or graduate degrees, to provide voter 
registration opportunities and forms, including absentee ballots, to 
students at the time of class registration. Although the National Voter 
Registration Act of 1993 has made significant advances in the voter 
registration arena, this legislation will reach out and assist an 
additional constituency group.
  According to a recent study prepared by the Harwood Group for the 
Kettering Foundation, students feel alienated from the current 
political process and pessimistic about the prospects for change. This 
same study challenged America's students ``to be more aware of the 
power and possibility that lie(s) in their own innate capacity for 
common action.'' The legislation allows students to overcome the 
political barriers currently placed before them by a system that has 
not fully recognized their needs and their power.
  If you look at youth participation compared to all eligible voters in 
Presidential elections from 1972 to 1992, you can see the red column 
shows that 64 percent of eligible voters voted in the 1992 election, 
and 43 percent of those in the age group 18 to 24, went to the polls in 
1992 to express their political views.
  When you look at the same comparison of eligible voters to this age 
group 18 to 24 in midterm elections, from 1974 to 1994, the disparity 
is even greater. Among all eligible voters the percentage is 45 
percent. Among this age group it is 20 percent. We need to take action 
to deal with that.
  The legislation I am introducing today would amend the law to provide 
that voter registration opportunities exist in much larger numbers for 
this age group.
  I think it is important legislation for us to enact and to do so, 
hopefully, before we get too much further into this election year.
  As these charts behind me show, for the past 24 years, 18 to 24-year-
olds have had a significantly lower voter participation rate as 
compared to all eligible voters. For example, in the 1992 Presidential 
election, of young people in the 18 to 24-year-old age category 
eligible to vote, only 53 percent had registered to vote and only 43 
percent of eligible young people actually voted. During the last 
midterm election, 40 percent of young people age 18 to 24 were 
registered to vote and only half of them voted. That is less than 20 
percent Mr. President. These numbers are staggering when compared to 
the numbers of all eligible voters who turned out to vote. In 1994's 
midterm election, 45 percent of eligible voters went to the polls to 
express their political views. In the last Presidential election over 
60 percent of eligible voters went to the polls to vote. Mr. President, 
in 1992, youth participation reached its highest level--43 percent--
since 1972, the first year that 18 to 24-year-olds were eligible to 
vote. We need to continue this upward trend. The bill I am bringing to 
the Senate floor is a solid mechanism for this.
  Mr. President, this is not a partisan issue. I do not stand here in 
the Senate today in an effort to increase registration for my party, 
but instead I hope this legislation will increase registration and 
political involvement among students regardless of party affiliation.
  Mr. President, anyone who believes that this is a partisan issue 
needs to just look at this final chart that I have here. It is clear 
that when you look at this age group, in this case 18- to 29-year-olds, 
the numbers, in terms of party affiliation for Democrats versus 
Republicans is almost identical.
  Again, this is not a partisan issue. This is not a way to get more 
Democrats registered at the expense of the Republicans, or vice versa. 
It is a way to get more young Americans registered and to get them 
participating in our political system. What is important is that 
students have every opportunity to register--not what party they align 
themselves with and not how they chose to vote. This bill gives college 
and university students the opportunity to register and provides 
accessibility to registration forms.
  As the American people look ahead to the 1996 election, it is 
important that we began to establish the foundation for an effective 
dialogue regarding the electoral process. For many college students 
this may be the first general election they participate in and it is 
critical that they do participate. It is also critical, that we here in 
Congress accept the challenge of energizing America's college students 
and presenting them the opportunity to be an influential part of the 
development and the continuation of this great democracy.
  I commend this legislation to my colleagues, and I will file it with 
the clerk today and ask that it be appropriately referred.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be 
printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                S. 1702

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Student Voter Registration 
     Act of 1996''.

     SEC. 2. PURPOSE.

       The purpose of this Act is--
       (1) to increase voter registration accessibility to 
     students; and
       (2) to increase voter participation among college and 
     university students.

     SEC. 3. AMENDMENT OF NATIONAL VOTER REGISTRATION ACT OF 1993.

       Section 7(a) of the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 
     (42 U.S.C. 1973gg-5(a)) is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (2)--
       (A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``and'';
       (B) in subparagraph (B), by striking the period at the end 
     and inserting ``; and''; and
       (C) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
       ``(C) each institution of higher education (as defined in 
     section 1201(a)) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 
     U.S.C. 1141(a)) in that State that--
       ``(i) receives Federal funds; and
       ``(ii) provides a 2-year or 4-year program of instruction 
     for which the institution awards an associate, baccalaureate, 
     or graduate degree.''; and
       (2) in paragraph (6)(A), by inserting ``or, in the case of 
     an institution of higher education, with each registration of 
     a student for enrollment in a course of study,'' after 
     ``assistance,''.

     SEC. 4. IMPLEMENTATION.

       Institutions of higher education shall implement the 
     requirements of the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 
     (42 U.S.C. 1973gg et seq.) as amended by this Act--
       (1) in the case of an institution with enrollment of not 
     less than 10,000 students on the date of enactment of this 
     Act, by 1997;
       (2) in the case of an institution with enrollment of not 
     less than 5,000 and not more than 9,999 students on the date 
     of enactment of this Act, by January 1, 1998;
       (3) in the case of an institution with enrollment of not 
     less than 2,000 and not more than 4,999 students on the date 
     of enactment of this Act, by January 1, 1999; and
       (4) in the case of an institution with enrollment of less 
     than 2,000 students on the date of enactment of this Act, by 
     January 1, 2000.
                                 ______

      By Mr. MURKOWSKI (for himself, Mr. Johnston, Mr. Bennett, and Mr. 
        Kempthorne):
  S. 1703. A bill to amend the act establishing the National Park 
Foundation; to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.


         the national park foundation act amendment act of 1996

  Mr. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, I rise today and along with my 
colleagues, Senators Johnston, Bennett, and Kempthorne to introduce a 
bill which, when enacted, will generate as much as $100 million 
annually from the private sector in support of our national parks.
  This legislation contains a number of amendments to the National Park 
Foundation Act, which I am pleased to say will revitalize and expand 
the scope of operations of the Foundation.
  An act of Congress created the National Park Foundation in 1967 as 
the official nonprofit partner of the National Park Service. The 
Foundation provides a vehicle for donors who want to contribute to 
national parks with the assurance that gifts will be carefully managed 
and used wholly and exclusively for the purpose specified by the donor.

[[Page S4192]]

  The Foundation provides a simple and direct way for individuals, 
corporations, and private foundations to help conserve and preserve the 
natural, cultural, and historical value of the national parks for the 
enjoyment of future generations.
  Mr. President, there are a number of organizations who claim to 
support our national parks, and to some extent they do. Unfortunately, 
there is little evidence that the parks ever receive any monetary or 
tangible benefits from these organizations.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to have three pages of the 
National Park Foundation's annual report printed in the Record which 
will show some of the benefits the Foundation provides.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

                            Financial Report

       The National Park Foundation continued to generate solid 
     financial results in fiscal year 1995, which ended June 30, 
     1995.
       Total revenue from all sources increased for the fifth 
     consecutive year, rising from $6.7 million in 1994 to $9.9 
     million in 1995. The major revenue item, contributions to the 
     Foundation, increased from $5.9 million to $6.3 million. 
     These contributions from individuals, corporations, 
     foundations, and through marketing programs and the Combined 
     Federal Campaign, play an important role in supporting the 
     Foundation's mission this year and in the future.
       Unrestricted revenue is used to support the Foundation's 
     discretionary grantmaking to the National Parks and to 
     support operations. Restricted revenue is used to benefit 
     specific parks or projects. The donor's designation is 
     honored through the years.
       Total grants made by the Foundation to the National Parks 
     increased 13 percent, from $2.3 million in 1994 to $2.6 
     million in 1995. Grants made from unrestricted funds totalled 
     $1 million and grants made from restricted funds totalled 
     $1.6 million. The Foundation has made grants totalling $10.4 
     million during the past five years.
       The Foundation's total expenditures for 1995 were $4.3 
     million. Grants to the National Parks and program related 
     expenditures accounted for 83 percent of that spending.
       The balance sheet remains in healthy condition. Assets are 
     $27.1 million at June 30, 1995, compared to $20.7 million a 
     year ago.
       Total fund balances increased 29 percent, from $19.9 
     million to $25.6 million. These fund balances, which will 
     benefit the National Parks in future years, have grown from 
     $9.6 million to the current $25.6 million during the past 
     five years.
       The management of restricted funds and programs is a major 
     activity of the Foundation. Restricted fund balances 
     increased from $8.3 million in 1994 to $12.5 million in 1995.
       The Permanent Fund balance, which acts as the Foundation's 
     endowment for resources so designated by the Board, increased 
     from $10.4 million to $11.9 million. The increase resulted 
     mainly from market appreciation in investments of $1.4 
     million. The increase in the Permanent Fund balance provides 
     the Foundation with the resources to meet the current and 
     future needs of the National Parks.
       The Foundation has successfully managed all funds received. 
     Total market value appreciation on invested funds was $2.4 
     million in 1995.
       The National Park Foundation is extremely grateful to the 
     many individual, philanthropic and corporate supporters who 
     have given generously of themselves to strengthen our 
     efforts.

                                            NATIONAL PARK FOUNDATION                                            
                      [Financial summary for the fiscal years ended June 30, 1995 and 1994]                     
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                          Unrestricted                Donor                                     
     Statements of activity     --------------------------------   Restricted    1995 Total All   1994 Total All
                                  General Fund   Permanent Fund       Funds           Funds           Funds     
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Support and revenue:                                                                                            
    Contributions and gifts....     $1,633,963   ..............      $4,452,651      $6,086,614      $5,926,776 
    Contributed goods and                                                                                       
     services..................         23,458   ..............         171,804         195,262  ...............
    Investment income..........        594,248   ..............         465,714       1,059,962         854,605 
    Publication sales..........        145,273   ..............          13,021         158,294         215,999 
    Management and other income         16,629   ..............  ..............          16,629         532,921 
    Realized and unrealized                                                                                     
     gains (losses) or                                                                                          
     investments...............        106,040       $1,396,977         874,285       2,377,302        (791,412)
                                --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Total support and revenue      2,519,611        1,396,977       5,977,475       9,894,063       6,738,889 
                                ================================================================================
Expenses:                                                                                                       
  Program grants--                                                                                              
    Outreach and education                                                                                      
     projects..................        598,557   ..............         559,164       1,157,721       1,351,930 
    Interpretive projects......        156,375   ..............         571,566         727,941         733,765 
    Resource conservation                                                                                       
     projects..................        200,600   ..............         300,520         501,120  ...............
    Volunteer projects.........          5,000   ..............  ..............           5,000          82,540 
    NPS staff projects.........         53,117   ..............          86,479         139,596         109,839 
    Other projects.............  ..............  ..............          62,184          62,184          29,766 
                                --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Total program grants.....      1,013,649   ..............       1,579,913       2,593,562       2,307,840 
                                ================================================================================
    Program support............        601,411   ..............         256,899         858,310         663,135 
    Cost of publications sold..         92,012   ..............  ..............          92,012         178,503 
    Yosemite management........  ..............  ..............  ..............  ..............           6,413 
                                --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Total program expenses...      1,707,072   ..............       1,836,812       3,543,884       3,155,891 
                                ================================================================================
General and administrative.....        564,802   ..............  ..............         564,802         319,599 
Fundraising....................        151,503   ..............  ..............         151,503         136,857 
                                --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Total expenses...........      2,423,377   ..............       1,836,812       4,260,189       3,612,347 
                                ================================================================================
Support and revenue in excess                                                                                   
 of expenses...................         96,234        1,396,977       4,140,663       5,633,874       3,126,542 
Fund Transfers.................       (138,189)         100,000          38,189  ..............  ...............
Net change in fund balances....        (41,955)       1,496,977       4,178,852       5,633,874       3,126,542 
Fund balances, beginning of                                                                                     
 year..........................      1,253,990       10,410,068       8,271,029      19,935,087      16,808,545 
Fund balances, end of year.....      1,212,035       11,907,045      12,449,881      25,568,961      19,935,087 
                                                                                                                
     BALANCE SHEET SUMMARY                                                                                      
                                                                                                                
Assets:                                                                                                         
  Cash and cash equivalents....        253,024   ..............         157,340         410,364         487,513 
  Marketable securities, at                                                                                     
   market......................        923,925       11,869,268      12,210,183      25,003,376      19,246,431 
  Total assets.................      2,697,729       11,907,045      12,483,118      27,087,892      20,741,868 
Liabilities....................      1,485,694   ..............          33,237       1,518,931         806,781 
Fund Balances..................      1,212,035       11,907,045      12,449,881      25,568,961      19,935,087 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note: The information shown herein has been summarized by the National Park Foundation from its Fiscal Year 1995
  audited statements. To obtain a copy of the Foundation's complete audited financial statements, write to:     
  National Park Foundation, 1101 17th Street, NW, Suite 1102, Washington, DC 20036-4704.                        


                                                                NATIONAL PARK FOUNDATION                                                                
                                      [Schedule of donor restricted funds for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1995]                                      
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                             Contributions                                                                              
          Donor Restricted Funds             Balance June      and other    Fund Transfers    Investment    Net Investment   Expenditures   Balance June
                                               30, 1994         Income                          Income       Gain (Losses)                    30, 1995  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Endowment Funds:                                                                                                                                        
    Albright Wirth Employee Development                                                                                                                 
     Fund.................................      $2,028,140         $10,000  ..............         $91,459        $260,979         $94,341   $2,296,237 
    Francis B. Crownshield................           3,634  ..............  ..............             185             434              80        4,173 
    Charles C. Glover.....................           8,934  ..............  ..............             456           1,065             197       10,258 
    Lyndon Baines Johnson Memorial Grove                                                                                                                
     Fund.................................       1,374,049  ..............  ..............          68,295         170,736          25,135    1,587,945 
    Kahlil Gibran-Memorial Endowment Fund.           3,987  ..............  ..............             229             535              99        4,652 
    Marguerite M. Root Parkland Purchase                                                                                                                
     Fund.................................          88,477  ..............  ..............           4,513          10,551           1,946      101,595 

[[Page S4193]]

                                                                                                                                                        
    Theodore Roosevelt Association,                                                                                                                     
     Principal............................         985,783  ..............       $(26,661)          47,261         122,110          19,478    1,109,015 
    Saint-Gaudens Memorial, Principal.....         193,533  ..............         (4,938)           9,312          24,019           4,215      217,711 
    Luis Sanjurjo Memorial Fund...........         271,155  ..............  ..............          13,429          32,401           5,922      311,063 
    Yosemite National Park Centennial                                                                                                                   
     Medal Fund...........................          33,149             740  ..............           1,889           4,418             812       39,384 
                                           -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Total Endowment Funds...............       4,990,841          10,740        (31,599)         237,028         627,248         152,225    5,682,033 
                                           =============================================================================================================
Other Funds:                                                                                                                                            
    American Scenic and Historic                                                                                                                        
     Preservation Society Fund............         128,648  ..............  ..............           6,027          13,791          15,975      132,491 
    Art Acquisition.......................           1,191           3,617  ..............              13              56           5,297         (420)
    Boston Properties Fund................          49,597  ..............  ..............           2,574           6,019           1,110       57,080 
    C&O Canal Fund........................  ..............           2,522  ..............              83             319              26        2,898 
    Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Fund........              70  ..............  ..............  ..............  ..............  ..............           70 
    Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Tidal Lock..         385,110  ..............  ..............          17,777          39,088         108,108      333,867 
    Civil War Sites Fund..................         100,147           1,000  ..............           5,707          12,983           2,270      117,567 
    George Rogers Clark Park Film Project                                                                                                               
     Fund.................................  ..............           6,000  ..............  ..............  ..............           3,655        2,345 
    Edison National Historic Site                                                                                                                       
     Development Fund.....................  ..............             440  ..............              22              54               7          509 
    Ellis Island Fund.....................          22,457  ..............  ..............           1,145           2,678             494       25,786 
    EPA/NPS Urban Integrated Pest Mgt.                                                                                                                  
     Fund.................................  ..............           9,608  ..............             207             656              73       10,398 
    Everglades National Park Freshwater                                                                                                                 
     Wetlands Mitigation Trust Fund.......         283,487         844,742  ..............          28,130          25,223          11,014    1,170,568 
    French Memorial at Yorktown Fund......           7,324  ..............  ..............             422             989             249        8,486 
    German-American Friendship Garden Fund          47,264  ..............  ..............           2,454           5,738           1,058       54,398 
    Gettysburg Cemetery Annex Fund........          24,799  ..............  ..............           1,421           3,322             613       28,929 
    Gettysburg Monument Preservation Fund.          30,431  ..............  ..............           1,552           3,629             669       34,943 
    Gettysburg Museum of the Civil War....           2,326  ..............  ..............             118             277              51        2,670 
    Richard V. Giamberdine Memorial Fund..  ..............             905  ..............              12              57               2          972 
    General Grant National Monument Fund..             541  ..............  ..............              30              71              13          629 
    Historic American Building Survey Fund           3,639  ..............  ..............             160             374              69        4,104 
    Labor National Historic Landmark Theme                                                                                                              
     Study Fund...........................           4,351  ..............  ..............              62              78           2,808        1,683 
    Lowell National Historical Park Fund..           4,579  ..............  ..............             184             436           1,085        4,114 
    Maryland State Monument at Gettysburg                                                                                                               
     Fund.................................  ..............          10,000  ..............             404           1,272             119       11,557 
    Andrew Mellon Foundation..............          19,774  ..............  ..............           1,008           2,358             435       22,705 
    Minute Man National Historical Park                                                                                                                 
     Fund.................................  ..............          27,314  ..............           1,407           2,863           5,531       26,053 
    National Capital Region Handicapped                                                                                                                 
     Access Fund..........................         130,059  ..............  ..............           6,633          15,510           2,861      149,341 
    National Historic Landmark Fund.......           9,419  ..............  ..............             485           1,135             209       10,830 
    National Park Enhancement Fund........         237,217  ..............  ..............          12,007          28,072           6,911      270,385 
    NPF/Robert Glenn Ketchum Publication                                                                                                                
     Fund.................................           2,836  ..............  ..............              27              62              12        2,913 
    National Park Service Advisory Board                                                                                                                
     Fund.................................           3,558  ..............  ..............             181             424              78        4,085 
    National Park Service Video Fund......          25,800             694  ..............           1,328           3,120             793       30,149 
    National Register of Historic Places                                                                                                                
     Fund.................................  ..............           2,130  ..............              26             145               4        2,297 
    Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial                                                                                                                  
     Fund.................................         793,744       2,176,387  ..............         114,464          38,375         135,728    2,987,242 
    Theodore Roosevelt Association Income.          83,899  ..............         26,661            4,571           1,502           2,438      114,195 
    Saint-Gaudens Memorial, income........          54,499  ..............          4,938            2,800             732           2,112       60,857 
    Salt River Bay National Historical                                                                                                                  
     Park Museum Fund.....................           1,163  ..............  ..............              60             141              26        1,338 
    LJ and MC Skaggs Foundation...........           1,942  ..............  ..............              99             232              43        2,230 
    Theodore Smith Memorial Fund..........         191,645  ..............  ..............           9,717          22,721           4,191      219,892 
    Tourism and Park Conference Fund......          24,520  ..............  ..............           1,172           2,720           1,876       26,536 
    Wirth Lecture Fund....................          55,042  ..............  ..............           2,807           6,564           1,210       63,203 
    Yellowstone Recovery Fund.............          25,250         155,000  ..............           1,263           2,954         155,545       28,922 
    Zion National Park Visitor Fund.......           2,487  ..............  ..............             127             297              55        2,856 
    Other projects........................         521,373       1,386,377         38,189   ..............  ..............       1,209,764      736,175 
                                           -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Total Other Funds...................       3,280,188       4,626,736         69,788          228,686         247,037       1,684,587    6,767,848 
                                           -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Subtotal............................       8,271,029       4,637,476         38,189          465,714         874,285       1,836,812   12,449,881 
                                           =============================================================================================================
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


  Mr. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, with the notable exception of the 
National Park Foundation, I am aware of no national conservation 
organizations whose actual cost of conducting business is less than 10 
percent of their entire operating program.
  In other words, Mr. President, donations made to the National Park 
Service through the Foundation are actually used to enhance the 
operation of programs conducted by the National Park Service. The 
Foundation is governed by a board of distinguished civic and business 
leaders committed to helping the national parks. By law, the Secretary 
of the Interior, Bruce Babbitt, serves as the chairman of the board, 
and the Director of the Park Service, Roger Kennedy, serves as the 
secretary of the board.
  The Foundation is a partnership between the public and private 
sectors. It provides direct support for park units through a 
competitive program that grants venture capital to seed creative 
efforts to conserve park resources.
  With the help of private partners, the National Park Foundation has 
made grants of over $10 million to support projects in our national 
parks in the last 5 years. I know of no other organization, Mr. 
President, which claims to support our National Park System that has a 
record that even comes close to this achievement.
  The National Park Foundation does not engage in activities normally 
associated with lobbying, and as a result it does not enjoy the 
notoriety or the vast fundraising programs that benefit other 
environmentally motivated organizations or environmental causes. 
Unfortunately, not many people even know about the existence of the 
National Park Foundation.
  Mr. President, administrative requests and congressional 
appropriations are simply not keeping pace with increased visitations 
and other demands placed on the National Park System. With the current 
demands on Congress to balance the budget and eliminate the Federal 
deficit, it would be more and more difficult for Congress to authorize 
sufficient funding for our national parks. As a result, there is a 
great need for additional support to protect, conserve and enhance our 
national parks.
  Mr. President, the National Park Foundation is well positioned to 
take on this important task.
  This bill contains amendments which will authorize the National Park 
Foundation to: First, engage in business relationships with appropriate 
private partners to raise revenue for the National Park System similar 
to the authority Congress has already granted the National Fish and 
Wildlife Foundation and the National Forest Foundation. Second, it 
would operate similarly to the U.S. Olympic Committee, where once a 
sponsor has been approved by the United States Olympic Committee, 
moneys are being generated from the private sector partners for the 
benefit of the Olympics.
  This bill, when enacted, will allow the Foundation to optimize and 
capture for our national parks the economic value of selective, 
appropriate sponsorships of national parks similar to, as I have said, 
the authority Congress has granted to the United States Olympic 
Committee.
  As commercial advertisers have long demonstrated, the national parks 
have great commercial value. Each year advertising, publishing, 
commercial broadcasts, moviemaking, merchandising and other commercial 
activity worth hundreds of millions of dollars is made on the 
intellectual property and other assets of the parks with virtually no 
return to the Park Service.
  A change is needed to enable the Park Service, through the National

[[Page S4194]]

Park Foundation, to capture some of that potential income through 
licensing and other marketing agreements.
  Mr. President, my bill provides safeguards which will negate any 
untoward, inappropriate commercialization of our parks; however, it 
will allow new revenue-generation opportunities outside the parks in 
partnership with private enterprise.
  It is private enterprise that will ultimately provide additional 
funding in the billions of dollars for resource management and 
infrastructure repair required for park facilities throughout our 
Nation.
  If we do not count the damage to the C&O canal, the current backlog 
in maintenance and facility repair for our parks is in excess of $4 
billion. It is going to take literally hundreds of millions of dollars 
to reestablish resource management and visitor service programs which 
have been deferred servicewide.
  According to the National Park Service, employee housing faces a 
backlog of $500 million. Mr. President, it is apparent that we cannot 
even afford to take care of the caretakers, much less properly address 
the needs of the National Park System.
  Enactment of this legislation will provide an economically cost-
efficient and accountable program by which the Foundation can begin the 
long quest to address the needs of our National Park System with the 
assistance of private sector resources.
  Mr. President, the concept is exciting. The results will surely 
contribute to the future financial stability of our Park System as well 
as the protection of those national treasures we described as our 
national parks.
  I urge my colleagues to support this important legislation. Together 
we can make it possible for the National Park Foundation to play the 
role originally intended by Congress back in 1967, making a significant 
contribution to preserving America's national parks through private 
partnerships between Government, private business, and individuals.
                                 ______

      By Mr. McCAIN:
  S. 1704. A bill to provide for the imposition of administrative fees 
for medicare overpayment collection, and to require automated 
prepayment screening of medicare claims, and for other purposes; to the 
Committee on Finance.


             the medicare overpayment reduction act of 1996

 Mr. McCAIN. Mr. President, today I am introducing an 
initiative to address Medicare overpayments--a serious problem which is 
depriving the trust fund of billions of dollars every year.
  I'd like to thank Martha McSteen, president of the National Committee 
to Preserve Social Security and Medicare, and her talented staff, for 
their invaluable efforts and continued support of this important 
crusade.
  Today, I introduce the Medicare Overpayment Reduction Act. This bill 
imposes an administrative fee on providers who submit inaccurate 
Medicare claims and are overpaid by the Health Care Financing 
Administration. The fee will be equal to 1 percent of the overpaid 
amount, and is intended to discourage overpayments and to offset the 
cost of recovering them.
  In addition, the bill will require the Health Care Financing 
Administration to screen claims for accuracy, before payment is made, 
for certain procedures and services where there is a high rate of mis-
billing.
  Hospitals, and other providers under Medicare Part A, are prepaid 
annually by HCFA for anticipated Medicare expenditures. Currently many 
hospitals grossly overestimate their Medicare funding needs and use the 
overpayment to subsidize their non-Medicare operations. This is an 
abuse and it must stop. The legislation will impose the administrative 
fee if a hospital overestimates its Medicare needs by more than 30 
percent, and does not repay the overage within 30 days.
  Doctors, on the other hand under part B, submit claims for services. 
Sometimes claims are submitted for services that were never provided, 
or that are incorrectly coded in order to receive greater payments. The 
fee will discourage this activity and help us recoup the cost of 
seeking reimbursement.
  Moreover, prepayment screening will help eliminate overpayments from 
occurring in the first place. Prescreening technology is readily 
available and used extensively in the private sector, and we should use 
prescreening to improve Medicare payment accuracy.
  It should come as no surprise to my colleagues, or to any interested 
citizen, that the Medicare system is in serious condition. It is 
estimated that Medicare funds will be exhausted by the year 2002. The 
Washington Post today reported that the trust fund is in worse shape 
than previously thought.
  We have an obligation to take every step we can to protect the trust 
funds and ensure their health and viability for this and future 
generations.
  While overpayments are not the only problem with Medicare, they are a 
significant problem. GAO reports that last year over $4.1 billion was 
overpaid from the trust funds. Had this bill been in effect last year, 
I would submit that a healthy portion of these mis-billings and 
overpayments might not have occurred and even if they had, we would 
have been able to recoup over $15 million from imposing the 
administration fee.
  While this bill is not a panacea, it is a step in the right direction 
in the effort to discourage overbilling, and to recoup recovery costs 
in every instance.
  Overpayments are costly, unnecessary and wasteful. They contribute to 
the Medicare solvency problem and they must be stopped. This bill will 
help.
  Again, I want to thank Martha McSteen, her staff and the membership 
for their continued support of the effort to help protect and preserve 
the future of the Medicare program, and for their leadership on this 
legislation.
                                 ______


                            By Mr. THURMOND:

  S. 1705. A bill to eliminate the duties on Tetraamino Biphenyl; to 
the Committee on Finance.


                      DUTY ELIMINATION LEGISLATION

  Mr. THURMOND. Mr. President, today I am introducing legislation to 
permanently suspend the duty on the chemical tetra amino biphenyl 
[TAB]. This chemical is imported to the United States from Germany. TAB 
is an essential raw material used in the production of a high 
performance fiber called ``PBI.''

  PBI is a unique heat and chemical resistant fiber that, in some uses, 
can be a suitable replacement for asbestos. PBI has a wide range of 
thermal protective applications including flight suits and garments for 
firefighters, boiler tenders, and refinery workers.
  Mr. President, in previous Congresses, I introduced similar 
legislation to apply duty-free treatment to TAB. These bills were 
ultimately incorporated into the Omnibus Tariff and Trade Act of 1984, 
the Omnibus Trade Act of 1988, and the Customs and Trade Act of 1990. 
The current duty suspension for this chemical expired December 31, 
1992.
  During the Uruguay Round negotiations, the Administration made a 
commitment to negotiate the elimination of duties on products covered 
by duty suspension legislation. However, TAB was inadvertently deleted 
from Tariff Schedule XX during talks on the GATT Agreement. This 
chemical has been on the duty suspension list for several years. It is 
a noncontroversial item and should have been included in the final 
Tariff Schedule XX approved at Marrakesh.
  Mr. President, it is my understanding that TAB was on the original 
Department of Commerce ``Consolidated Duty Suspension List'' of 
products to be incorporated into the U.S. offer and on subsequent 
offers until the final document was prepared in March. The February 
25th offer, which was the last list made available to the public, 
included TAB as ``free'' under the proposed HTS 2921.59.14. When the 
importing company asked why it was deleted, they were told that it was 
incorporated into either the pharmaceutical or intermediate chemicals 
for dyes lists.
  Recently, importers were surprised to discover that TAB was not 
covered under any duty suspension and would be assessed a 12.8 percent 
duty. According to the company, it is not covered under any tariff 
heading, no industry opposition has been found, and no instructions 
were issued which would have deleted TAB from the list. I hope the 
Senate will consider this measure expeditiously.
  I ask unanimous consent that the text of this bill be printed in the 
Record.

[[Page S4195]]

  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                S. 1705

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. ELIMINATION OF DUTIES ON 3,3'-DIAMINOBENZIDINE 
                   (TETRAAMINO BIPHENYL).

       (a) Elimination of Duties.--The President--
       (1) shall proclaim duty-free entry for 3,3'-
     diaminobenzidine (Tetraamino Biphenyl), to be effective with 
     respect to the entry of goods on or after January 1, 1995, 
     and
       (2) shall take such actions as are necessary to reflect 
     such tariff treatment in Schedule XX, as defined in section 
     2(5) of the Uruguay Round Agreements Act (19 U.S.C. 3501(5).
       (b) Liquidation or Reliquidation and Refund of Duty Paid on 
     Entries.--
       (1) Liquidation or reliquidation.--Notwithstanding section 
     514 of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. 1514) or any other 
     provision of law, and subject to paragraph (2), the Secretary 
     of the Treasury shall liquidate or reliquidate any entry of 
     goods described in subsection (a) that was made on or after 
     January 1, 1995, and before the proclamation is issued under 
     subsection (a), and refund any duty or excess duty that was 
     paid on such entry.
       (2) Requests.--Liquidation or reliquidation may be made 
     under paragraph (1) with respect to any entry only if a 
     request therefor is filed with the Customs Service, within 
     180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, that 
     contains sufficient information to enable the Customs 
     Service--
       (A) to locate the entry; or
       (B) to reconstruct the entry if it cannot be located.

     SEC. 2. DEFINITION.

       As used in this Act, the term ``entry'' includes a 
     withdrawal from warehouse for consumption.
                                 ______

      By Mr. CRAIG:
  S. 1709. A bill to amend the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to 
adjust the maximum hour exemption for agricultural employees, and for 
other purposes; to the Committee on Labor and Human Resources.


        the water delivery organization flexibility act of 1996

  Mr. CRAIG. Mr. President, I am introducing a bill today, which this 
body previously approved as an amendment to the first bill amending the 
Fair Labor Standards Act [FLSA] that the Senate passed in 1989. This 
bill would solve a problem with the interpretation of a provision of 
the FLSA, clarifying that the maximum hour exemption for agricultural 
employees applies to water delivery organizations that supply 75 
percent or more of their water for agricultural purposes.
  Representative Mike Crapo, of the Second District of Idaho, is today 
introducing an identical bill in the other body. Our bill would restore 
an exemption that was always intended by Congress.
  Companies that deliver water for agricultural purposes are exempt 
from the maximum-hour requirements of the FLSA. The Department of Labor 
has interpreted this to mean that no amount of this water, however 
minimal, can be used for other purposes. Therefore, if even a small 
portion of the water delivered winds up being used for road watering, 
lawn and garden irrigation, livestock consumption, or construction, for 
example, delivery organizations are assessed severe penalties.
  The exemption for overtime pay requirements was placed in the FLSA to 
protect the economies of rural areas. Irrigation has never been, and 
can not be, a 40-hour-per-week undertaking. During the summer, water 
must be managed and delivered continually. Later in the year, following 
the harvest, the work load is light, consisting mainly of maintenance 
duties.
  Our bill is better for employers, workers, and farmers. Winter 
compensation and time off traditionally have been the method of 
compensating for longer summer hours. Without this exemption, 
irrigators are forced to lay off their employees in the winter. 
Therefore, our bill would benefit employees, who would continue to earn 
a year-round income. It also would keep costs level, which would 
benefit suppliers and consumers.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be 
printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                S. 1709

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. AMENDMENT TO THE FAIR LABOR STANDARDS ACT OF 1938.

       Section 13(b)(12) of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 
     (29 U.S.C. 213(b)(12)) is amended by inserting after 
     ``water'' the following: ``, at least 75 percent of which is 
     ultimately delivered''.

                          ____________________