[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 137 (Saturday, September 28, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Pages S11762-S11763]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    EXPLANATION OF VOTES ON THE SENATE ENERGY AND WATER DEVELOPMENT 
                           APPROPRIATIONS ACT

 Mr. ABRAHAM. Mr. President, recently, the Senate passed the 
conference report to the Energy and Water Development Appropriations 
Act. I would like to take a moment to comment on the amendments to the 
original bill that was passed out of this Chamber.
  The first vote during consideration of this act was on a McCain 
amendment to eliminate the advanced light water reactor [ALWR] program. 
Started in 1993, the ALWR represents a joint commitment by Government 
and industry to develop a new generation of standardized, advanced 
reactors. I opposed the McCain amendment for several reasons: First, 
1997 is the final year of a 5-year program that, once complete, will 
result in an estimated $1 billion in U.S. revenue. Congress originally 
agreed to fund this program for 5 years, and it was important that this 
commitment be upheld. Perhaps more importantly, the committee estimated 
that the cost to eliminate the program was actually greater than the 
1997 funding amount. Finally, once complete, a major portion of the DOE 
contributions to this project will be repaid as royalties from the sale 
of the powerplants. A bipartisan majority of Senators agreed with me 
and voted to fund the ALWR in its final year on a 53-to-45 vote.

[[Page S11763]]

  Following the consideration of the ALWR program, the Senate turned to 
a Bumpers proposal to cut $269 million from the nuclear weapons 
stewardship and maintenance accounts. This is an amendment which I 
resolutely opposed. I believe that continued cuts to this Nation's 
defense structure may endanger U.S. security at home and abroad. Due to 
the prohibition on nuclear weapon testing, the DOE is now forced to use 
noncritical--that is, nonexplosive or computer modeled--testing methods 
to guarantee the stability of nuclear weapons. As plutonium is only 50 
years old as a known element, it isn't known what will happen to it 
over time, and therefore, how it will change weapons performance or 
affect maintenance personnel during routine parts replacement. The 
necessary procurement of new computer and testing facilities requires 
this level of spending for at least the next 5 years. This shortsighted 
amendment was tabled 61 to 37.
  Immediately thereafter, Senator Rod Grams of Minnesota offered an 
amendment to limit funding for the Appalachian Regional Commission at 
the House-passed level and require the Commission be phased out in 5 
years. I believe that this regional commission is largely unnecessary 
and should face the same scrutiny which has been given to defense and 
entitlement funding. I supported similar efforts with regard to this 
Commission last year. Nonetheless, this amendment was defeated 69 to 
30.
  The final amendment to the energy and water appropriations bill was a 
Feingold amendment to eliminate funding for the Bureau of Reclamation's 
Animas-La Plata [A-LP] project in Colorado. The A-LP project would 
construct two reservoirs, seven pumping plants, and 200 miles of canals 
and pipes to pump water uphill to provide irrigation for local 
residents, most of them native American. And while I applaud Senator 
Feingold for his efforts to reduce Government spending, this program 
was agreed to by treaty between the local Indian tribes and the U.S. 
Government. In instances such as this, I believe treaty commitments 
must be honored by a compelling showing of necessity, and so I opposed 
Senator Feingold's amendment which was defeated 65 to 33.
  After consideration of all amendments, I was pleased to support final 
passage of this important funding legislation, and I voted in support 
of the Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act, and it passed 
the Senate 93 to 6.

                          ____________________