[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 57 (Tuesday, May 6, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3979-S3981]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS AND RESCISSIONS ACT OF 1997

  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Santorum). The Senate will resume 
consideration of S. 672, which the clerk will report.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A bill (S. 672) making supplemental appropriations and 
     rescissions for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1997, 
     and for other purposes.

  The Senate resumed consideration of the bill.

       Pending:
       Grams-Johnson amendment No. 54, to facilitate recovery from 
     the recent flooding across North Dakota, South Dakota, and 
     Minnesota by providing greater flexibility for depository 
     institutions and their regulators.


                         Privilege of the Floor

  Mr. WELLSTONE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that a member 
of my staff, Sarah Neimeyer, be granted the privilege of the floor 
during consideration of the votes relating to S. 672.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. WELLSTONE. Mr. President, I say to my colleague from Alaska that 
I have several amendments that I am ready to proceed with. I don't know 
exactly what his plan is, so I yield the floor.
  Mr. STEVENS addressed the Chair.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Alaska is recognized.
  Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I thank the Senator.
  I would be prepared to discuss the amendments that Senator Wellstone 
has shown to the committee. We are awaiting the arrival of the 
distinguished Senator from West Virginia. But I believe that it would 
be in order, if the Senator wishes, to lay down the amendment and 
discuss the one pertaining to low-income home energy assistance. And I 
would be pleased to discuss that with the Senator--pending the arrival 
of the Senator from West Virginia with regard to accepting it, however.
  Mr. WELLSTONE. Mr. President, I have several amendments that I would 
like to offer and I would be more than willing to wait for the Senator 
from West Virginia, Senator Byrd, to come to the floor, if the Senator 
from Alaska so desires.
  Mr. STEVENS. He sent word to go ahead with regard to amendments that 
we have seen so far.


                            Amendment No. 57

                    (Purpose: To strike section 304)

  Mr. WELLSTONE. I send an amendment to the desk.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       The Senator from Minnesota (Mr. Wellstone) proposes an 
     amendment numbered 57.

  Mr. WELLSTONE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that reading of 
the amendment be dispensed with.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The amendment is as follows:

       Beginning on page 47, strike line 19 and all that follows 
     through page 48, line 12.

  Mr. WELLSTONE. Mr. President, I am going to lay this amendment aside 
and get to an amendment we may agree on. But I want to briefly mention 
the first two amendments that I have discussed with my colleagues.
  Mr. STEVENS. Will the Senator yield?
  Mr. WELLSTONE. Please.
  Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, we have only seen two of the Senator's 
amendments. We would like an opportunity to review them, if he would be 
so kind.
  Mr. WELLSTONE. I would be pleased to. This is an amendment that has 
to do with brand name drugs for adults. I was going to simply offer it, 
lay it aside, and then go to the energy assistance amendment.
  Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, that is agreeable with the managers of 
the bill. I would like to have it laid aside and not be the pending 
amendment, if the Senator wishes. But we don't want to see a roadblock 
and have to get consent to move on to the other amendments.
  Mr. WELLSTONE. I would be pleased to do that.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that this amendment be laid 
aside.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.


                            Amendment No. 58

 (Purpose: to make certain funds available, under the Low-Income Home 
Energy Assistance Act of 1981, to victims of flooding and other natural 
                               disasters)

  Mr. WELLSTONE. I send an amendment to the desk
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       The Senator from Minnesota (Mr. Wellstone) proposes an 
     amendment numbered 58.

  Mr. WELLSTONE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that reading of 
the amendment be dispensed with.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The amendment is as follows:

       At the end of title III, add the following:
       Sec. 326. The Secretary of Health and Human Services 
     shall--
       (1) make available under section 2604(g) of the Low-Income 
     Home Energy Assistance Act of 1981 (42 U.S.C. 8623(g)), 
     $45,000,000 in assistance described in such Act to victims of 
     flooding and other natural disasters in Minnesota, North 
     Dakota, and South Dakota, for fiscal year 1997; and
       (2) make the assistance available from funds appropriated 
     to carry out such Act prior to the date of enactment of this 
     section.

  Mr. WELLSTONE. Mr. President, let me, first of all, say to my 
colleague from Alaska that I hope we will be able to eventually 
negotiate this out. We have been in contact with the Department of 
Health and Human Services to find out exactly what the need is in other 
States and see how we can make the best use of low-income energy 
assistance money to help people who have been the victims of floods.
  So I thought, that while I know that my colleague is willing to 
perhaps take this, that I might start by explaining this amendment, 
unless my colleague has remarks which he wants to make at the moment.
  Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, if the Senator will yield, it would be my 
position that, if the Senator would delete the references to specific 
States, we would have no objection to the amendment. It is my 
understanding that the money is available and this would earmark $45 
million for assistance under section 2604(g) of the Low-Income Home 
Energy Assistance Act. But there are other disaster areas that are 
covered by this bill. We see no reason why there should not be similar 
assistance in those areas.
  There are some disasters from 1996 and some from the spring of 1997 
covered by this bill. They are all within the assistance for fiscal 
year 1997. Being limited to the assistance that is in this bill for 
1997, we would have no objection if it is not earmarked to specific 
States.
  I don't know the extent of assistance that would be available outside 
of the three States mentioned, but I do believe there are circumstances 
that would warrant them because of the type of flooding that took place 
in the fall of 1996.
  Mr. WELLSTONE. Mr. President, I say to my colleague, perhaps I will 
then lay out the rationale for this. The reason I hesitate is that 
perhaps we might need, in the agreement, to work on another number. In 
other words, the $45 million was based upon the very best advice that I 
received from Governors of our States about what we needed. It may be 
that we are going to talk about other States as well, which I am 
pleased to do, however, I just want to have some understanding of what 
the need is and whether or not this is enough funding. Altogether I 
think there is a contingency fund of

[[Page S3980]]

over $200 million that Health and Human Services has in the LIHEAP 
program.
  So, if my colleague would not mind, I would like to explain why I 
have offered this amendment. First of all, I very much appreciate the 
offer from the Senator from Alaska.
  I also want to say at the very beginning that both Senator Stevens 
and Senator Byrd have--I want people in Minnesota to know this--really 
left no stone unturned when it comes to this effort to get the 
assistance to people. I thank them.
  Mr. STEVENS. Will the Senator yield further, Mr. President?
  The Senator's amendment mandates the Secretary to make this available 
from the moneys that the Senator has mentioned. The Secretary has 
current authority to do it. It is discretionary. The effect of his 
amendment is to mandate that, of the moneys that are there, at least 
$45 million shall be available immediately for the disaster victims. I 
believe that the fund itself is for general population assistance for 
LIHEAP projects. If the Senator will take out the reference to the 
specific States, what it means is that the $45 million is reserved for 
the purposes he seeks and, if there is additional money in there, for 
others. But we think this reserving money ought to be for victims of 
all disasters covered by the bill.
  Mr. WELLSTONE. Mr. President, I again appreciate the Senator from 
Alaska and his wisdom on this matter. The Senator is quite correct.
  A little bit of background about this: We have been working very hard 
with the administration over the last month to get them to release this 
contingency funding. I talked with the Office of Management and Budget 
and others about releasing some of this funding to the State of 
Minnesota. Under the best of all circumstances, you want to keep this 
contingency fund intact because you may need it for the summer cooling 
assistance. We don't normally think about that. But not too many 
summers ago we were faced with a tragic situation in our country where 
people actually died from the heat. I understand the need to keep some 
of that money in the contingency fund. It just so happens that this 
flooding and the extent of this devastation is unprecedented, and we 
are trying to take some of this fund to deal with an emergency--indeed, 
the emergency that confronts people in our States.

  Let me, first of all, explain the reason for this amendment. This 
money is in a contingency fund to provide assistance to people who 
really need that assistance, who are really faced with an emergency 
situation, and that is the case in Minnesota and the Dakotas. But what 
we are faced with in Minnesota is the situation where many people are 
now going back to their homes and they are trying to rebuild their 
lives. This money, which can be delivered expeditiously and will help 
people repair their furnaces so that they can begin the process of 
rebuilding their lives by cleaning up and moving back into their homes.
  If I could get both Senators' attention, if I could get the attention 
of the Senator from Alaska, I want to say to the Senator from Alaska 
and to the Senator from West Virginia that we will accept the very 
generous offer. We have now made some calls and this is fine with us.
  Maybe I could summarize this amendment and we will be done with it, 
if that is OK.
  Mr. President, in Minnesota alone, we have estimates of around $30 
million to help people with their emergency energy needs. Once this 
amendment is accepted, and it will be and hopefully be part of this 
disaster relief bill, we are in a position, out in Minnesota, to 
deliver this assistance to people within a couple of weeks. We are 
talking about, roughly speaking, in Minnesota alone, about 16,000 
households which will be eligible for this assistance.
  So, I say to my distinguished colleague from Alaska, and I say to my 
distinguished colleague from West Virginia as well: Thank you. I want 
this assistance to help people in, not just three States, but other 
States as well. It sounds like this additional funding will really make 
a difference. It sounds like a small amount. I thank my colleagues, all 
of my colleagues, because, while it may sound like a small amount, 
given the context of the overall disaster relief bill, this will be a 
huge help. I have been receiving a lot of calls from State officials 
and from families in Minnesota saying: Look, we are going home. We are 
trying to rebuild our homes, trying to rebuild our lives. If you could 
get just a little bit of assistance to us to repair our furnaces, for 
example, this would make all the difference in the world.
  I say to Senator Stevens and Senator Byrd, you have helped make all 
the difference in the world for some families in Minnesota. I thank you 
and I am very pleased to have this amendment accepted.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Alaska.
  Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, as Senator Wellstone has indicated, the 
effect of this amendment will be to dedicate a portion of the moneys 
that are available to the Secretary of Health and Human Services to 
make LIHEAP-type assistance available to victims of flooding and other 
natural disasters covered by the bill. It is moneys that are there and 
could be made available. This mandates making it available.
  We believe under the circumstances that that is a proper thing to do. 
For this side, I am willing to accept the amendment.
  Mr. President, I ask Senator Byrd if he is willing to accept the 
amendment.
  Mr. BYRD. Yes, if the Senator will yield, I am happy to associate 
myself with the remarks of the distinguished Senator from Alaska.
  Mr. STEVENS. I ask the Senator modify his amendment in accordance 
with our agreement by deleting the references to the States. Has he 
done that?
  Mr. WELLSTONE. Mr. President, I say to the Senator from Alaska, I 
will so modify it.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator has a right to modify his 
amendment at this time.
  Mr. STEVENS. As modified, it then reads ``natural disasters for the 
fiscal year 1997,'' is that correct?
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The amendment is so modified.
  The amendment (No. 58), as modified, is as follows:

       At the end of title III, add the following:
       Sec. 326. The Secretary of Health and Human Services 
     shall--
       (1) make available under section 2604(g) of the Low-Income 
     Home Energy Assistance Act of 1981 (42 U.S.C. 8623(g)), 
     $45,000,000 in assistance described in such Act to victims of 
     flooding and other natural disasters for the fiscal year 
     1997; and
       (2) make the assistance available from funds appropriated 
     to carry out such Act prior to the date of enactment of this 
     section.
  Mr. STEVENS. I am prepared to accept the amendment of the Senator and 
ask for a vote.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. If there be no further debate, the question is 
on agreeing to the amendment.
  The amendment (No. 58), as modified, was agreed to.
  Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I move to reconsider the vote.
  Mr. WELLSTONE. I move to lay that motion on the table.
  The motion to lay on the table was agreed to.
  Mr. STEVENS. Does the Senator wish to proceed to other amendments?
  Mr. WELLSTONE. I am ready, but in deference to both Senators, they 
had wanted me to lay aside the extension of the drug patent?
  Mr. STEVENS. Yes. I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The Senator from Alaska.


                            Amendment No. 60

 (Purpose: To make a technical amendment to language in the manager's 
                               amendment)

  Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, the Department of Transportation has 
provide us a technical correction to some language that is in the 
nonemergency title of the bill. The correction in no way changes the 
scope or intent of our committee action and it has been cleared, now, 
on both sides. I offer it, to bring about the technical correction that 
has been sought by the administration through the Department of 
Transportation.
  I send the amendment to the desk.

[[Page S3981]]

  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       The Senator from Alaska [Mr. Stevens] proposes an amendment 
     numbered 60.

  Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that reading of 
the amendment be dispensed with.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The amendment is as follows:

       On line 1, page 37 of the bill, after the colon, strike all 
     through ``1997'' on line 15 of page 37, and insert the 
     following:
       ``Provided further, That notwithstanding any other 
     provision of law, such additional authority shall be 
     distributed to ensure that States receive amounts that they 
     would have received had the Highway Trust Fund fiscal year 
     1994 income statement not been understated prior to the 
     revision on December 24, 1996; and that notwithstanding any 
     other provision of law, an amount of obligational authority 
     in addition to the amount distributed above, shall be made 
     available by this Act and shall be distributed to assure that 
     States receive obligational authority that they would have 
     received had the Highway Trust Fund fiscal year 1995 income 
     statement not been revised on December 24, 1996:
       Provided further, That such additional authority shall be 
     distributed to ensure that no State shall receive an amount 
     in fiscal year 1997 that is less than the amount a State 
     received in fiscal year 1996''

  Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I ask for immediate consideration of the 
amendment.
  Mr. BYRD. Mr. President, this side is in agreement with the 
distinguished Senator from Alaska with reference to this amendment. We 
are willing to accept it.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. If there be no further debate, the question is 
on agreeing to the amendment.
  The amendment (No. 60) was agreed to.
  Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I move to reconsider the vote.
  Mr. BYRD. I move to lay that motion on the table.
  The motion to lay on the table was agreed to.
  Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, so there is no misunderstanding, I ask 
unanimous consent that amendment No. 60 that I offered on behalf of the 
Treasury Department to make a technical correction to the bill be 
considered original text for the purpose of amendment.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, does the Senator from Minnesota wish to 
proceed now?
  Mr. WELLSTONE. Mr. President, I am ready to speak about the bill, the 
disaster relief bill, and how important it is to Minnesota. I am 
waiting on the amendment for Senator Hollings.
  Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, if the Senator wishes to address the bill 
in any way, it is his privilege.
  Mr. WELLSTONE. Mr. President, I thank the Chair. I will, just for a 
minute, suggest the absence of a quorum, and then I will be right back 
on the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. GRAMM. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Under the previous order, the Senator from Texas is recognized for 10 
minutes as in morning business.
  Mr. GRAMM. Mr. President, I thank the distinguished chairman of the 
Appropriations Committee for giving me this time.

                          ____________________