[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 106 (Thursday, July 18, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Pages S8298-S8299]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         FISCAL YEAR 1997 LEGISLATIVE BRANCH APPROPRIATIONS ACT

  Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, I rise to discuss briefly the fiscal year 
1997 Legislative Branch Appropriations Act. This afternoon, the 
Committee on Appropriations reported the bill unanimously, and I expect 
it to reach the floor prior to the August recess.
  Mr. President, I would like to commend the chairman, Senator Mack, 
for putting together a solid bill. His leadership on legislative branch 
issues has been terrific, and I have been excited to work with him on a 
bipartisan basis to manage the operations of Congress in a responsive--
and responsible--way. He was bold last year, and it paid off. We have 
been able to reduce our spending by over $200 million--about 10 
percent--in the past year.
  This year, we continue the effort to streamline by reducing our 
internal budget by nearly $20 million in fiscal year 1997. We have 
taken testimony from legislative branch agencies affirming that they, 
under the funding levels in the bill, can maintain a high level of 
quality services to Members. Senators in turn should be able to provide 
responsive, high quality service to their constituents.
  I would like to highlight one provision in the bill for Members of 
the Senate. With the enthusiastic support of Chairman Mack, I have 
included language that will enable the Sergeant at Arms to transfer 
excess or surplus computer equipment to schools.
  In the past, the Senate sold its computers to employees at bargain 
prices. Fortunately, this practice has been terminated, and I commend 
the Sergeant at Arms for doing so. For the past couple years, our 
computers have simply been transferred to GSA for disposal through the 
normal surplus process.
  I think Senators should be aware that the Senate disposes of over 
1,500

[[Page S8299]]

computers every year. Over the past 3 years, nearly 5,000 computers 
have been let go. For the most part, these are IBM-compatible, 386, 16-
megahertz machines. They are a generation old, but they could be very 
useful to schools, especially in rural areas, that may not have a big 
budget to buy fancy new computers.
  I am fortunate to represent Washington State, which is very 
aggressive in trying to put computers in the classroom. Our companies 
have been generous in donating software and hardware, and people are 
excited about giving kids skills that will help them get an edge in 
life.
  But not every school district is moving aggressively on computers. 
Many don't even know how to go about it, and cannot afford it. I am 
certain that every Senator is aware of how fast technology is evolving 
in our economy. I really believe that, in the future, a child's ability 
to compete in the work force will be measured in part by his or her 
familiarity with computers. In my view, the earlier they start, the 
better.
  The Senate will debate the broad role of Government in education 
technology, and I look forward to having that debate. For now there is 
a small, and I think constructive, role for the Senate to play. We can 
use the bully pulpit. We can lead by example. We can help children by 
giving our computers to schools that want or need them. By doing this, 
we can help some kids, and we can show the country we think bringing 
technology to the classroom is a high priority.
  Here is how it will work: the Sergeant at Arms will make sure that 
any excess or surplus computers are in good working order. Then he will 
make them available to interested schools at the lowest possible cost 
to both the Senate and the schools. Most likely, he will transfer these 
computers to the General Services Administration. GSA, in turn, will 
provide information to schools through its regional offices about 
available inventory. The equipment eligible for transfer will include 
computers, keyboards, monitors, printers, modems, and other peripheral 
hardware as described in the bill.
  I envision schools being able to obtain this equipment on a first-
come, first-served basis, for the cost of shipping and handling from 
GSA regional offices. The language provides the Sergeant at Arms with 
flexibility to determine the best way to complete the transfers.
  Earlier this year, President Clinton issued an executive order 
stating that the GSA should document surplus computers in Federal 
agencies. And in May, I offered a sense-of-the-Senate resolution 
expressing the view that the Senate should also inventory its computers 
and create a process of getting Government computers into schools and 
other educational organizations. The language in the bill before us 
sets out a specific process so the Senate can play a role in this 
important effort.
  Mr. President, I think this is a useful change in policy. I am 
grateful the committee has acted today in a manner consistent with my 
amendment as adopted last May. And, I welcome the support of Senator 
Leahy, who has taken an active and enthusiastic interest in this issue. 
He has been a big help. Again, I appreciate the help of Chairman Mack 
on this, and I look forward to working with him and the Sergeant at 
Arms to make this work.
 Mr. LEAHY. I rise in strong support of Senator Murray's 
language in the legislative appropriations bill. This language would 
require the Senate to streamline the transfer of excess and surplus 
computer equipment to our Nation's classrooms. It would require the 
Senate to follow the same guidelines that the Federal agencies must 
follow in accordance with the President's Federal Executive Order.
  President Clinton has set forth an ambitious goal to bring computers 
to every school in America. Congress should lead the way. Thanks to 
Senator Murray's efforts, the Senate will be participating in this 
initiative.
  Recently, I wrote several letters to the Sergeant at Arms to find out 
what our official Senate policy is concerning disposal of excess 
surplus computer equipment. I was surprised to hear that the Senate 
does not have an official policy. In the past the Senate has sold 
excess computer equipment or transferred it over to GSA for later sale. 
Since 1993, the Senate disposed of 4,400 pieces of computer equipment. 
Of that total 2,600 have been sold, 1,400 have been transferred to GSA, 
and 400 have been retained for parts. These computers would have been a 
wonderful resource to our Nation's schools.
  I encourage my colleagues to join our efforts in creating a 
partnership with our nation's schools and bring computers to every 
classroom in America so that all students may have the benefits of our 
new educational technology.

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