[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 137 (Saturday, September 28, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Page S11697]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                COMMENDING LEADERSHIP FOR ITS HARD WORK

  Mr. PRESSLER. Mr. President, I commend the majority leader and others 
on the difficulty in bringing the Congress to a close and concluding 
all ongoing negotiations. I am very proud of the efforts that are being 
made on the Federal Aviation Administration authorization bill to get 
that vitally important legislation before the Senate for consideration. 
I am also very proud of the efforts to bring the Coast Guard bill to 
closure as well as efforts to agree to a continuing resolution.
  With so many constituent interests represented by Congress, sometimes 
it is quite difficult to reach consensus on legislation. I think this 
point is not well understood across the country. We have a vast 
country, and I know that Congress is much criticized for acting slowly 
or sometimes failing to act. On the other hand, what is the alternative 
to resolving disputes with such a huge country, with so many Members of 
Congress, so many citizens, so many different interests? All those come 
to a head, so-to-speak, at the close of a Congress, and it requires 
great compromise.
  It has been my pleasure to chair the House-Senate conference 
committee working on the critically important Federal Aviation 
authorization bill. The conference report accompanying that bill is 
ready for immediate consideration by this body. Unfortunately, several 
of my colleagues have objected to consideration of the conference 
report because they oppose a single section of that bill, an bipartisan 
amendment offered by the distinguished Senator from South Carolina, 
Senator Hollings, in conference. Every Senate conferee voted in favor 
of the Hollings amendment which makes a technical correction to the 
Railway Labor Act. An excellent bill is being held up over a difference 
of opinion relating to 5 lines in a 189 pages aviation safety and 
security bill.
  Mr. President, we cannot adjourn without passing the conference 
report to the Federal Aviation authorization bill. The House approved 
the conference report yesterday. If we do not approve the conference 
report, the Senate will have failed to meet its responsibility to the 
traveling public. Airports across the country will not receive much 
needed Airport Improvement Program [AIP] funds for safety-related 
repairs and other necessary improvements. Two years of tireless efforts 
to reach a compromise on FAA reform provisions will be lost. Vitally 
important aviation safety and security provisions will not be put in 
place. Family members of future aviation disaster victims would be 
denied the thoughtful, comprehensive protections this legislation would 
provide to them. Provisions to revitalize air service to small 
communities will not go into effect. It short, inaction by the Senate 
on this conference report would be a very serious mistake for which 
this body would be roundly criticized.
  Let me also comment a little bit on agriculture, because I know that 
at this time of the year, the payments regarding the Freedom to Farm 
Act are going out to some farmers. That was a controversial bill that 
was worked out in this Chamber. Let me say that I am proud to have been 
a part of the leadership team and proud to have voted for freedom to 
farm. But we need to expand our agricultural markets abroad. We have 
done that for our commodities, and under NAFTA and GATT, we have 
exported more agricultural products than ever in our history. There has 
been some dispute on transshipment of cattle, in terms of Mexico and 
Canada, under NAFTA. We hope that those issues are resolved and NAFTA 
is better enforced.
  Mr. President, I might also say that, in terms of our agriculture 
future, Alan Greenspan has said that one of the greatest agricultural 
farm bills is a balanced budget. I hope that we can continue to expand 
our agricultural exports, especially as they regard commodity prices.
  I yield the floor. I note the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, I ask that I be permitted to speak as if 
in morning business for 5 minutes.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mrs. BOXER. I thank the Chair.

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