[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 4 (Tuesday, January 21, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Pages S149-S151]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

[[Page S149]]

                         WINTER IN NORTH DAKOTA

  Mr. DORGAN. Mr. President, I rise to introduce a piece of legislation 
and also to discuss an issue that is very important to residents of my 
home State of North Dakota and residents of a good many States, 
particularly in the northern Great Plains. Let me begin by talking 
about some of the hardships and some of the challenges faced by 
Dakotans and by others in our part of the country as a result of an 
extraordinarily severe winter.
  North Dakota has had six blizzards, which others might already know 
about, having heard the reports of these blizzards on television, news 
reports, and elsewhere, six blizzards from November 17 to January 15. 
The blizzards have been about as tough as any I have seen in North 
Dakota in my years in that wonderful State. It has been a tough, hard 
winter--lots of snow, lots of wind, conditions that are dangerous to 
people and to livestock.
  I want to talk just a little about the challenges that these winters 
blizzards portray for our citizens and what the response has been. I 
want to tell you first about a young boy named Wyett Magike who lived 
about 20 miles from the nearest medical center near Mandan, ND, or 
Bismarck, ND. Steve Conmy, who is the coordinator of emergency services 
for Morton County, during the middle of a blizzard about a week and a 
half ago told me about some of his plow and truck operators and what 
they were facing. I went out in a big plow with Mr. Conmy and we drove 
on the north edge of Mandan, ND, where snow covered the trailer houses 
altogether. In other words, the snow was to the roof of a trailer house 
so you could not see the trailer house. Getting there, you could not 
see anything in front of you because it was almost total white-out 
conditions--high wind, snow, a lot of snow pack, with blowing snow. 
Those are the kind of conditions that road crews all across North 
Dakota have faced for some long while.
  November 17, a very large blizzard and storm in North Dakota in the 
northeastern part of the State; December 16, 17, and 18, a winter 
blizzard through most all of North Dakota; December 20, 21, and 22, 
again, a big winter blizzard in the northeastern part of the State; 
January 4 and 5, a very severe winter blizzard throughout the State; 
January 15, another severe winter blizzard throughout the State. That 
is what our citizens have faced.
  Now Wyett Magike was 2 years old, and on a recent morning, at 10 
o'clock in the morning a call was received by the Morton County 
emergency management group regarding a medical emergency down near 
Flasher, ND. This young child was very, very ill and he needed to be 
transported to the bismark hospital immediately. He was dehydrated, 
severely vomiting blood. Everyone was very concerned about him and knew 
that he had to get medical attention immediately or he might die. Due 
to the road conditions and the weather reports, travel was impossible. 
The roads were completely blocked and the conditions were near white-
out conditions. For people who do not know because they are not from 
our part of the country, a white out is when snow and blowing snow make 
it impossible to see anything in front of you. All the roads, including 
the main highways, were blocked with snowdrifts and there was zero 
visibility that morning.
  What the emergency group did was coordinate two snowplows dispatched 
from Flasher, ND, to escort and ambulance crew from Flasher, ND. And 
then two snowplows were dispatched from Mandan, ND, also with an 
ambulance. They met at a major snow block on the highway east of 
Flasher, ND, and it took 45 minutes just for all that equipment to 
punch a hole through the snow that was blocking that road. This journey 
took some 6 hours by these road crews, again at zero visibility, with 
snowblock virtually everywhere.
  James Gerhardt and Gerald Friesy ran the plow and the truck from 
Flasher; Leland Gross and Robert Jochinm ran the snowplow and the truck 
from Mandan. And Steve Conmy said when he asked the folks to go out and 
do this, they did not wring their hands and say. ``Gee, there is a risk 
out here.'' They said, ``What equipment shall we take.'' They hit the 
road, and 6 hours later the young boy was in the hospital at Bismarck. 
The doctor said he would have died except for the heroic efforts by 
these folks.
  Now, James, Gerald, Leland, and Robert are not well known by their 
deeds. They are just a road crew. When I say ``just a road crew,'' they 
are heroes. There are road crews all over North Dakota working 8-hour 
after 8-hour shifts and risking their lives doing things that save 
other people's lives.
  I mentioned this story only because a lot people do not understand 
the severity of the winter storms we have had. Lives have been lost in 
the Dakotas. We are now doing an assessment to find out how much 
livestock has been lost. Undoubtedly, a substantial amount of livestock 
loss has occurred. People have not been able to get through roads to 
feed the livestock. If they did, feed was not available. The result has 
been a very, very serious problem for people and for livestock in our 
State.
  In the November 16 and 17 storm, we had 13 inches of snow fall in 
North Dakota; November 20, 6 inches; the 16th, 8 inches; December 20, 8 
inches; 10 inches; 7 inches; on it goes. In each case, we had winds of 
30, 40 and 50 miles an hour. In December and January there have been 10 
days where the wind chill has been recorded at or below 50 below zero--
10 days at or below 50 below zero. The other evening the wind chill was 
80 below zero.

[[Page S150]]

  I am not trying to diminish our tourism efforts in North Dakota, 
although I expect there was precious little tourism in early January 
with forecasts of blizzards in our State, but it has been a very 
difficult circumstance. January 9, 83 below zero wind chill in Minot, 
ND. For 11 days in November to January it did not get above zero.
  What to make of all of this and the challenge that it poses for North 
Dakotans. Clearly, North Dakotans who were isolated and stuck out in 
the country with roads impassable, often in need of medical help or in 
need of food or in need of feeding the cattle who also were at risk, 
needed some assistance.
  I mentioned the emergency crews that were available, and all over the 
State in unknown ways by unknown people, they have committed heroic 
acts. But North Dakotans needed more help than that. They needed low-
income energy assistance, especially for some areas on Indian 
reservations and elsewhere. They needed emergency feed assistance. 
Cities and counties and townships and others who have not been able to 
clear the roads, have not had enough equipment, needed assistance.
  I am pleased to say that the Federal Emergency Management Agency and 
others are now in North Dakota at the President's direction. The State 
of North Dakota, the counties, the townships and the Federal Government 
are working together to respond to an extraordinarily difficult 
circumstance. We are not nearly through this. Winter is only about a 
third over. We do not know what the next couple of months will be for 
our State. but we know that North Dakotans have endured a very 
difficult winter so far. We hope for better conditions. Whatever 
happens, North Dakota will be prepared to deal with it and respond to 
it.
  I do want the President to know and my colleagues to know that just 
as when a tornado comes along and wreaks havoc in and area, or where a 
raging flood gathers homes and runs the homes down a river, just as 
those emergencies such as an earthquake, for example, that causes 
chaos, just as they need to be responded to and always are responded to 
by the Federal Government, so, too, must this snow emergency and the 
storms and the deadly blizzards that have crossed our States in the 
northern Great Plains in recent weeks, so, too, must they be responded 
to in an appropriate way.
  We are continuing to work on snow clearing, on low-income energy 
assistance issues, on feed assistance for livestock, and on many other 
approaches to try to help people and respond to the needs that exist as 
a result of this very severe winter.
  Today, I wanted to at least tell my colleagues of the circumstances 
that we face and thank the President, thank the administration and 
others who have joined to help. I also wanted to described the people 
who assisted the 2-year-old boy. That has gone on across our State 
every day and in every way. To those who work in public service, those 
who man those graders and trucks and keep the roads open, punch through 
snowdrifts with zero visibility to protect life in North Dakota, I say: 
You are the real heroes, and North Dakotans and all of America owe you 
a debt of gratitude.
  Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, today is the first day in which the 
Senate will entertain legislation for the 105th Congress. I rise today 
to compliment various tax bills introduced by my colleagues for myself. 
Some of this legislation is in the leadership package. Other 
legislation has been introduced separately by other Senators. All of 
this legislation will reduce taxes on Americans trying to live the 
American Dream. I applaud these efforts. In fact, I have had a hand in 
writing or cosponsoring much of it in the 104th Congress. With this new 
Congress, we must break down the barriers that stand in the way of the 
next generation's shot at the American Dream. Our future depends on it.
  The initiatives I support include, reinstating the income tax 
deduction for interest on student loans, reducing the capital gains 
tax, expanding individual retirement accounts, extending the employer 
provided education assistance programs, and finally, reducing the 
estate taxes. Collectively, these tax bills will provide necessary 
relief for all taxpayers. Hard working families and individuals deserve 
nothing less from their Federal Government.


                    student loan interest deduction

  The leadership package includes legislation that includes my 
provisions from the 104th Congress to reinstate the tax deduction for 
interest on student loans. It would allow an ``above the line'' 
deduction for up to $2,500 in qualified interest. This means that 
students or their families will not have to itemize their income tax 
deductions to benefit from the deduction.
  In 1986, the income tax deduction for interest on student loans was 
repealed. I believed then, as I believe now, that the repeal was a 
major mistake. Education is an investment both for students and the 
Nation. In exchange for hard work the student gets a tax deduction to 
make education affordable. In exchange for the student's commitment, 
the Nation gets a new taxpayer and sometimes a better citizen.
  I commend the leader for selecting this initiative, and I welcome the 
opportunity to work with him to expand it.


                      capital gains tax reduction

  Senator Hatch introduced legislation to reduce the income tax on 
capital gains. It is substantially similar to legislation passed by the 
last Congress but vetoed by the President. Since the President has 
since committed himself to capital gains relief, I am encouraged about 
the prospects for enactment of our provision authored by Senator Hatch. 
The President has suggested much more narrow relief targeted at 
residential real estate. However, our broad-based cut is better for the 
small businesses, family farms, and individual taxpayers.
  This morning, in testimony to the Senate Budget Committee, Federal 
Reserve Board Chairman Alan Greenspan said that the ideal capital gains 
tax rate is zero percent. Our bill would cut it in half. The President 
must consider our provision. Reducing the capital gains tax rate by 50% 
for taxpayers across the board, is essential to help grow the economy.


                              super ira's

  Senate Finance Committee Chairman Roth, has, once again introduced 
his legislation to expand the number of people who can invest in 
individual retirement accounts. This legislation is vital given the 
dismal rate of savings by Americans. Americans want to save money. The 
problem is that our current system of taxes does not allow it. The 
Super IRA provision will give taxpayers a better vehicle to save more 
for retirement. Since the miracle of compound interest means that 
saving sooner saves more, we must take up this bill as soon as 
possible.


                 employer provided education assistance

  Finance Chairman Roth was joined by Finance Ranking Minority Member 
Moynihan in legislation to make permanent the income tax exclusion for 
employer provided education assistance. I am a proud cosponsor of this 
bill. This provision is set to expire. Congress must step up to the 
plate and, finally, permanently extend it. Last time, over my 
objections, we failed to extend the provision for graduate assistance. 
All students must be eligible for this assistance program.


                          estate tax reduction

  The leadership package includes legislation to reduce the estate tax 
burden of all Americans. It is included as part of S. 2. Reducing, the 
estate tax is something that we almost accomplished in the last 
Congress. We need to take it up right away in this Congress. 
Historically, the estate tax was initiated as a temporary tax on the 
super wealthy during times of war. Later, it became a permanent part of 
the tax system, but still applied only to the rich. Over time, the 
effects of inflation have taken their toll. Now, we have middle income 
taxpayers hit with an estate tax burden intended for the wealthy. In my 
State of Iowa, we have a problem unique to us and other farm States. 
Some taxpayers have a double tax identity. They are cash poor because 
they have just enough cash-flow off of the farm to make ends meet. 
However, they are land rich because their family farm has appreciated 
during the period that they were family farmers. The estate tax ignores 
the fact that the farm is as much their family home as it is a 
business. The estate tax also ignores that they are middle income 
people at best, and were not intended to even pay the estate tax when 
it first came into being.

[[Page S151]]

  The leadership package is a good start. It cuts the estate tax for 
all taxpayers, including small businesses and farmers. Congress must 
find a way to improve the estate tax crisis in my State of Iowa, and 
other States. I look forward to continuing my work with the leader to 
accomplish an estate tax reduction.


          alterative minimum tax on farmer deferred contracts

  Finally, I want to make quick reference to tax repeal legislation 
that will be introducing tomorrow for myself and over 50 other original 
sponsors. Senators Dorgan, Gorton, Baucus, and I have campaigned to 
eliminate an IRS imposed tax on farmers and ranchers who sell crops or 
livestock on deferred contracts. Congress did not intend this tax. Only 
the IRS intends this tax. The broad bipartisan support that we have 
gathered tells me that Congress is going to repeal it. We will have 
more on this initiative tomorrow.

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