[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 102 (Thursday, July 17, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7659-S7663]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        TREASURY AND GENERAL GOVERNMENT APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 1998

  The Senate continued with the consideration of the bill.
  Mr. McCAIN. Mr. President, I recognize and appreciate the hard work 
of the Appropriations Committee staff in putting together this detailed 
legislation. Members' attention to detail is easily apparent in the 
thoroughness with which they have presented the committee's 
recommendations.
  There are many good provisions in this bill, particularly the 
language which would continue the limitations on courthouse 
construction that are designed to ensure lower costs and standard 
designs. However, there are many aspects of this bill which cause me 
serious concern.
  First, this bill increases the funding for these agencies by $1.1 
billion over last year's level. Frankly, I believe it is ill-advised 
for the Senate to increase spending for these Federal agencies at a 
time when we are struggling to reach agreement on tax relief and 
spending bills and balancing the budget.
  I am sorry to say that this bill and report contain numerous earmarks 
of new funds for particular States, as well as language designed to 
ensure the continued flow of Federal funds into certain States.
  Let me just mention a few of those projects.
  The earmark of an additional $3 million for Rocky Mountain High 
Intensity Drug Trafficking Assessment Center.
  The earmark of $2.5 million for Globe Trade and Research Program at 
the Montana World Trade Center, which is described in the report as a 
one-time appropriation to support the center's research and information 
dissemination activities on ``issues designed to explore, define, and 
measure contributions to economic globalization.''
  Mr. President, let me run that by you again. That is $2.5 million--
2.5 million taxpayer dollars--to support the Montana World Trade 
Center's research and information dissemination activities on issues 
designed to explore, define, and measure contributions to economic 
globalization.
  A prohibition on IRS field support reorganization in Aberdeen, SD, 
until the IRS toll-free help line reaches an 80 percent service level.
  A prohibition on reducing the number of IRS criminal investigators in 
Wisconsin below the 1996 level.
  A requirement to establish the port of Kodiak, AK, as a port of entry 
and requiring U.S. Customs Service personnel in Anchorage to serve the 
Kodiak port of entry.
  The earmark of $4 million for repairs and restoration of the Truman 
Library in Independence, MO, and $3 million earmarked for repairs to 
the Lyndon Baines Johnson Presidential Library in Austin, TX, and, very 
disturbing, various protectionist Buy-America provisions, which are in 
sections 509, 510 and 511.

[[Page S7660]]

  In the report language, Mr. President, there is $750,000 earmarked 
for additional part-time and temporary positions in the Honolulu, HI, 
Customs District.
  There is language stating that the committee expects Customs to work 
with other agencies to successfully implement a dedicated commuter lane 
at the Stanton Street Bridge in El Paso, TX.
  There is language directing the Office of National Drug Control 
Policy to conduct pilot programs in Colorado and Wisconsin--Colorado 
and Wisconsin--to control methamphetamine trafficking.
  I note with interest that that directs the National Drug Control 
Policy to conduct those programs in Colorado and Wisconsin. It might be 
of some interest that it is a huge problem in the State of Arizona, 
larger than it is certainly in Wisconsin and I believe larger than 
Colorado. That is the view of the experts.
  There is language recommending that the National Archives consider 
providing $50,000 to their Alaska Region to prepare an interpretive 
exhibition on their Alaska Gold Rush collections for the 1998 
centennial celebration and a similar recommendation that the National 
Historical Publications and Records Commission consider a grant of 
$100,000 for the Alaska Gold Rush Centennial projects.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the entire list of 
earmarks and protective language be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

 Objectionable Provisions in S. 1023 fiscal year 1998 Treasury/Postal 
                          Appropriations Bill

       Overall funding is $1.1 billion higher than last year's 
     levels.


                             bill language

       Earmark of additional $3 million for Rocky Mountain High 
     Intensity Drug Trafficking Assessment Center.
       Earmark of $2.5 million for Globe Trade and Research 
     Program at the Montana World Trade Center, which is described 
     in the report as a one-time appropriation to support the 
     center's research and information dissemination activities on 
     ``issues designed to explore, define, and measure 
     contributions to economic globalization.''
       Prohibition on IRS field support reorganization in 
     Aberdeen, South Dakota, until the IRS toll-free help line 
     reaches an 80 percent service level.
       Prohibition on reducing the number of IRS criminal 
     investigators in Wisconsin below the 1996 level.
       Requirement to establish the port of Kodiak, Alaska, as a 
     port of entry and requiring U.S. Customs Service personnel in 
     Anchorage to serve the Kodiak port of entry.
       Earmark of $4 million for repairs and restoration of Truman 
     Library in Independence, Missouri, and $3 million earmarked 
     for repairs to Lyndon Baines Johnson Presidential Library in 
     Austin, Texas.
       Various protectionist ``Buy America'' provisions (Sections 
     509, 510, and 511).


                            report language

       Earmark of $4 million to allow Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, 
     and Firearms to comply with requests from states and local 
     law enforcement entities for technology under the CEASEFIRE/
     IBIS program; states specifically singled out for assistance 
     are: West Virginia, North Carolina, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, 
     Mississippi, Nevada, Georgia, Alabama, and Illinois.
       Language urging BATF to maintain staffing levels in rural 
     areas and small and medium-sized states, particularly 
     Wisconsin.
       Reiterates that funding in bill for Achilles Task Force 
     Program will continue operations at existing levels in 
     Albuquerque and Houston.
       Language stating that Committee expects Customs Service to 
     maintain current staffing and service levels at the 
     Charleston, West Virginia Customs office.
       $750,000 earmarked for additional part-time and temporary 
     positions in the Honolulu, Hawaii Customs District.
       Language stating that Committee expects Customs to assign 
     sufficient staff to operate the Santa Teresa, New Mexico 
     border facility.
       Language stating that Customs should give high priority to 
     funding inspection personnel at ports of entry in Florida.
       Language urging Customs to review and reconsider staffing 
     allocations in smaller states, particularly Montana and 
     Vermont.
       Language stating that Committee expects Customs to work 
     with other agencies to successfully implement a dedicated 
     commuter lane at the Stanton Street Bridge in El Paso, Texas.
       $500,000 earmarked for a feasibility study and 
     implementation plan to create an international freight 
     processing center in Kansas City.
       Language urging IRS to take steps to fill five vacant 
     positions at the Newport, Vermont office.
       Language stating the Committee believes IRS should maintain 
     certain specific tax assistance positions in both Alaska and 
     Hawaii.
       Language directing the Postal Service to work to ensure 
     plant and animal pests and diseases are not introduced into 
     Hawaii.
       Language directing Office of National Drug Control Policy 
     to conduct pilot programs in Colorado and Wisconsin to 
     control methamphetamine trafficking.
       Language directing the General Services Administration to 
     expeditiously move to consolidate the Food and Drug 
     Administration offices at the White Oak Naval Surface Warfare 
     Center in Maryland.
       Language urging GSA to give priority consideration to 
     construction of new Centers for Disease Control laboratory in 
     Atlanta, Georgia.
       Language urging GSA to work with CDC to develop a plan to 
     replace or upgrade the Division of Vector-Borne Infectious 
     Diseases laboratory in Fort Collins, Colorado.
       Language urging GSA to give priority consideration to two 
     Pennsylvania projects: $12.5 million in repairs at Byrne-
     Greene Federal complex in Philadelphia, and $3.6 million in 
     repairs at the Pittsburgh Post Office and Courthouse.
       Language directing GSA to give priority consideration to 
     security problems at the former Bureau of Mines property in 
     Avondale, Maryland.
       Language urging GSA to give priority consideration to the 
     request of the U.S. Olympic Committee to obtain title to the 
     Federal Building in Colorado Springs, Colorado, if the Air 
     Force Space Command vacates the building.
       Language recommending that the National Archives consider 
     providing $50,000 to their Alaska Region to prepare an 
     interpretive exhibition on their Alaska Gold Rush collections 
     for the 1998 centennial celebration; similar recommendation 
     that the National Historical Publications and Records 
     Commission consider a grant of $100,000 for Alaska Gold Rush 
     Centennial projects.
       Language stating that Committee expects Office of Personnel 
     Management to continue to use the expertise of the University 
     of Hawaii to support a $300,000 program to ensure that 
     federal employees and their families have ready access to 
     health promotion and disease prevention activities.

  Mr. McCAIN. Mr. President, in just a few bills we have now managed to 
put in 5 billion dollars worth of earmarks and add-ons to the five 
appropriations bills that have come before the Senate. We have eight 
more appropriations still to be considered.
  The $5 billion is quite a bit of money, even here in Washington. And 
I urge my colleagues to recognize that the American people do not 
approve of these practices. Every time I ask any of them about it, they 
resoundingly reject these practices.
  I hope we can stop them. I do not know if we will or not, but I 
really am concerned about the continued practice of earmarking funds 
without any meritorious screening, without any requirements or any 
authorization process in many cases.
  Mr. President, I yield the floor.
  Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. CAMPBELL. I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum 
call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Sessions). Without objection, it is so 
ordered.


                           Amendment No. 926

  Mr. CAMPBELL. I send an amendment to the desk on behalf of Senator 
Mikulski and ask for its immediate consideration.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.
  The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       The Senator from Colorado [Mr. Campbell], for Ms. Mikulski, 
     proposes an amendment numbered 926:
       On page 71, line 16, strike ``or night differential''.
       On page 71, line 18, strike ``or differential''.

  Mr. CAMPBELL. Mr. President, this amendment has been cleared by the 
majority. I urge its adoption.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The question is on agreeing to the amendment.
  The amendment (No. 926) was agreed to.
  Mr. CAMPBELL. I move to reconsider the vote.
  Mr. KOHL. I move to lay it on the table.
  The motion to lay on the table was agreed to.
  Mr. CAMPBELL. I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call.

[[Page S7661]]

  Mr. CAMPBELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. CAMPBELL. Mr. President, I say to my colleagues time is running 
on. We have been here over 3 hours. We have about three or four 
amendments filed. Senators have not come to the floor to offer them. On 
behalf of Senator Kohl and myself, I urge Members to come down to the 
floor with their amendments so we can finish this bill. If we do not 
want to be here in the middle of the night working on this, we ought to 
move ahead.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call.
  Mrs. FEINSTEIN. 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. FEINSTEIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
pending amendment be set aside.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.


                           Amendment No. 927

 (Purpose: To allow postal patrons to contribute to funding for breast 
  cancer research through the voluntary purchase of certain specially 
                  issued United States Postage stamps)

  Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Mr. President, I send an amendment to the desk and 
ask for its immediate consideration.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       The Senator from California [Mrs. Feinstein], for herself, 
     Mr. Conrad, Mr. Harkin, Mr. Inouye, Mr. Faircloth, Mr. 
     Feingold, Mr. Johnson, Mr. Kerry, Mr. Mack, Mr. Reid, Mr. 
     Thurmond, and Mr. Torricelli, proposes an amendment numbered 
     927.

  Mrs. FEINSTEIN. 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 appropriate place, insert the following:
       Sec.   . (a) Special Postage Stamps.--In order to afford 
     the public a convenient way to contribute to funding for 
     breast-cancer research, the United States Postal Service 
     shall establish a special rate of postage for first-class 
     mail under this section.
       (b) Higher Rate.--The rate of postage established under 
     this section--
       (1) shall be 1 cent higher than the rate that would 
     otherwise apply;
       (2) may be established without regard to any procedures 
     under chapter 36 of title 39, United States Code, and 
     notwithstanding any other provision of law; and
       (3) shall be offered as an alternative to the rate that 
     would otherwise apply.

     The use of the rate of postage established under this section 
     shall be voluntary on the part of postal patrons.
       (c) Use of Funds.--
       (1) In General.--
       (A) Payments.--The amounts attributable to the 1-cent 
     differential established under this section shall be paid by 
     the United States Postal Service to the Department of Health 
     and Human Services.
       (B) Use.--Amounts paid under subparagraph (A) shall be used 
     for breast-cancer research and related activities to carry 
     out the purposes of this section.
       (C) Frequency of payments.--Payments under subparagraph (A) 
     shall be paid to the Department of Health and Human Services 
     no less than twice in each calendar year.
       (2) Amounts attributable to the 1-cent differential.--For 
     purposes of this subsection, the term ``amounts attributable 
     to the 1-cent differential established under this section'' 
     means, as determined by the United States Postal Service 
     under regulations that it shall prescribe--
       (A) the total amount of revenues received by the United 
     States Postal Service that it would not have received but for 
     the enactment of this section, reduced by
       (B) an amount sufficient to cover reasonable administrative 
     and other costs of the United States Postal Service 
     attributable to carrying out this section.
       (d) Special Postage Stamps.--The United States Postal 
     Service may provide for the design and sale of special 
     postage stamps to carry out this section.
       (e) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of the Congress 
     that--
       (1) nothing in this section should directly or indirectly 
     cause a net decrease in total funds received by the 
     Department of Health and Human Services or any other agency 
     or instrumentality of the Government (or any component or 
     other aspect thereof) below the level that would otherwise 
     have been anticipated absent this section; and
       (2) nothing in this section should affect regular first-
     class rates or any other regular rate of postage.
       (f) Annual Reports.--The Postmaster General shall include 
     in each annual report rendered under section 2402 of title 
     39, United States Code, information concerning the operation 
     of this section.

  Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Mr. President, I am prepared to yield to the Senator 
from Colorado for a unanimous-consent request, and I would appreciate 
regaining the floor.
  Mr. CAMPBELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that there be 1 
hour of debate regarding the Feinstein amendment regarding breast 
cancer stamps, equally divided in the usual fashion, without any 
second-degree amendments.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The Senator from California is recognized.
  Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Mr. President, I thank the Senator from Colorado. I'm 
delighted to see the Senator from New York on the floor. I am hopeful 
that Senator Faircloth will join us here, since the Senator moved this 
as an amendment to the appropriations bill in committee. I very much 
appreciate that and have enjoyed working with him on this matter.
  Mr. President, I want to talk for a moment about breast cancer. I 
think every Member of this body was aware that we unanimously passed a 
sense-of-the-Senate not too long ago urging that more money be devoted 
to research for cancer. Also, in the women's community, and, really, I 
think still the majority population of this country, there is rising 
and enormous concern about breast cancer.
  The amendment I am making today on behalf of myself and a number of 
others. I want to mention that just before the recess, in this very 
Chamber, 51 Senators said they would cosponsor the breast cancer 
research stamp bill (S. 726) which creates a breast cancer research 
stamp with 1 cent above the rate of first-class postage. Members 
thought it was a good idea. Well, I need to move this because I very 
much fear it will not happen if I don't take the opportunity that we 
have today to bring this matter forward.
  Let me begin by saying that this is a wellspring from the breast 
cancer community. This measure is supported by the American Cancer 
Society, the American Medical Association, the American Hospital 
Association, Association of Operating Room Nurses, California Health 
Collaborative, the YWCA, and I could go on and on.
  Representative Fazio in the House has introduced the same legislation 
with 100 cosponsors in January of this year. It is my understanding 
that Representative Molinari talked to the Speaker and is putting it on 
a calendar which will move it rapidly in the House.
  The idea for this legislation came from a physician in Sacramento, 
CA, an oncologist; and Representative Fazio brought it to the attention 
of the House as the original sponsor. This oncologist has treated some 
1,000 women for breast cancer. And he, like physicians all over this 
country in the health community, has seen a really startling rise in 
breast cancer. In the 1950's, 1 in 20 women developed breast cancer. 
Today, the incidence is one in eight, and growing. It kills 46,000 
women a year. Every 12 minutes an American woman dies of breast cancer. 
It is the leading cause of cancer death for women between the ages of 
35 and 52, and it is the second leading cause of death in all women.
  So, today, 1.8 million women in America are diagnosed with breast 
cancer, and 1 million women, in addition to that, don't know they have 
breast cancer. This year, 184,300 new breast cancer cases will be 
diagnosed, and 17,100 of those in California.
  One of the interesting things is that the breast cancer rates differ 
throughout the United States. The San Francisco Bay Area has one of the 
highest breast cancer rates in the world. Rates in the Northeastern 
United States are substantially higher than in the South. Some believe 
in the medical community that environmental factors may contribute as 
much as 90 percent to breast cancer. The rates vary among countries. 
Women in Japan have about five times less breast cancer than women in 
the United States. And when people migrate they tend to acquire the 
cancer rates closer to those of the newly adopted countries within a 
generation. So within a generation, we find that reduced tendency for 
cancer increases.

[[Page S7662]]

  We have invested as a country, about $2 million in breast cancer 
research. The funding has quadrupled since 1990. There is still no 
cure. The national commitment to cancer research has been stagnant 
since 1980. Today, NIH can fund only 23 percent of their applications. 
The NIH budget is less than 1 percent of the Federal budget. And I 
believe the latest polls show that 80 percent of the people of this 
country believe that cancer research and medical research is an 
appropriate cause of action for the Federal Government.
  The National Cancer Institute in 1996 could fund 26 percent of their 
applications. That is a drop from 32 percent in 1992.
  So the idea came from Sacramento, from the oncologist who treated 
1,000 women with breast cancer. What if we had a unique trial project, 
an optional stamp of 1 cent above whatever the first class rate was, 
where breast cancer groups and women all across this Nation who care 
have the option to buy that stamp, and 1 cent would go for breast 
cancer research? The administration costs incurred by the post office 
would be absorbed by that additional 1 cent.
  I have had an occasion to discuss this with the Postmaster General. 
He is not in favor of it. He is not in favor of it because it has not 
been done before. And it has not been done because there are those that 
say, ``If we do it for this, why don't we do it for that? If we do it 
for women, we should to it for men.''
  Well, we are in an era of diminishing resources. We all know that. 
Everybody has looked at cuts. This is not a cut. This is a unique 
thing. It is a trial project. If it works, we learn something from it. 
If it doesn't work, no money is lost from the Federal Treasury, or from 
the post office.
  One of the things I believe every Member of this body has seen, 
whether it is in ``The Race for the Cure'' or the women that come into 
our offices, is a very unusual resilience in the breast cancer survivor 
community. They are climbing mountains, they are showing they can 
survive. They have banded together in support groups. It is a 
wonderfully unusual thing. They would like this to be done. They are in 
these Halls lobbying for it. They are in my office. I know they are in 
Senator Faircloth's office, and they have been in other offices saying, 
``Give us a chance. We will use this as fundraisers. We will go out and 
buy first-class stamps for a cent above the rate. We will sell them to 
our members. We will get our members to do this.''
  I think it is a worthy trial. It is a worthy project. Whether it 
works, I don't know. They tell me that if 10 percent of the first-class 
stamps were bought through this option it would produce $60 million. I 
don't know whether it will or not. I know that there is an enthused, 
energized community out there. You may see them wearing one design for 
a breast cancer stamp on their lapels, walking around the Capitol. I 
know that they care and care very deeply.
  When I first introduced the bill earlier this year, I had some 
sponsors on the bill. They came to me, and said, ``You know, you 
haven't been working very hard. You only have 6 or 7 co-sponsors.'' So 
because we were on the floor for 3 hours before the Fourth of July 
break, I went around to each member, and 51 Senators said, ``Yes.'' 
They would vote for it. ``Put my name down.'' And I did. They are on 
this piece of paper in front of me.

  This is an opportunity to cast that vote. This is an opportunity to 
try something new.
  People will come before us and say, ``Oh, my goodness. If we do this 
for breast cancer, we should do it for prostate cancer.'' Well, maybe 
we should. I don't know. But the proposal out there is this one, and it 
is all throughout the United States now.
  People will say, ``Oh. Why don't we do it for AIDS?'' Well, the 
breast cancer community has made this proposal. They are united about 
it. They want to try it.
  I have agreed to sponsor it in the Senate. Senator Faircloth has 
agreed to be a cosponsor, along with Senator D'Amato, Senator Kent 
Conrad, Senator Tom Harkin, Senator Feingold, Senator Johnson, Senator 
Kerry, Senator Mack, Senator Reid, Senator Thurmond, and Senator 
Torricelli. I can't put all of the 51 names on this because I didn't 
specifically say it would be an amendment. I said, a bill.
  So I am told I should call everybody again. But I believe there is 
the opportunity. I think the case has been made, if you see what 
happens to women afflicted with breast cancer. And you see this amazing 
surviver community and what they are willing to do. In a way, this 
stamp is a tribute to that kind of resolute spirit that can conquer 
what for many has been a mortal disease.
  So I am hopeful, Mr. President, despite those who I know on the 
Appropriations Committee that do not want to see this happen. They 
don't want to do it on this bill. But if it doesn't happen here, 
perhaps it won't, and we will send out a message to the breast cancer 
survival community that we will not try anything new.
  If you have a disease, you will try anything to get rid of it. I 
think this body should try one new thing, and let's see if it works, 
and let's see if we can produce 60, 70, 80, or 90 million new dollars 
for breast cancer research.
  I thank the Chair. I yield the floor.
  Mr. CAMPBELL addressed the Chair.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Colorado.
  Mr. CAMPBELL. Mr. President, before the Senator leaves for her next 
appointment, I would like to make a couple of comments and ask her some 
questions.
  First of all, as I am sure she knows, I have always been a big 
supporter of increased money going into breast cancer research, as she 
has. And I commend her for the leadership she has taken on this issue. 
In fact, many of our colleagues have not only supported additional 
research money but have participated on our own time on Saturdays and 
Sundays in raising private funds for breast cancer research. The most 
common that we are aware of is the Susan Komen Foundation and The Run 
for the Cure, which is done all over the United States.
  Just a few weeks ago here in Washington, DC, we had something like 
45,000 or 50,000 people that contributed money to run through the 
streets of Washington to help raise money for that very, very badly 
needed program.
  But I am a little concerned. She mentioned a few of the concerns 
already. But I am told that the chairman of the authorizing 
subcommittee, Senator Cochran, has some concerns about this proposal, 
as does Senator Stevens who will be here in about 25 minutes to make 
some comments on it, too.
  First, one of my concerns is certainly the administrative costs to 
the Postal Service. I think they would be significant, as I understand 
it.
  I would like to ask the Senator. Is there a provision that allows 
them to recoup their costs? Or does the whole profit of this additional 
cost of stamps just go to the program, and do they have to absorb the 
administrative costs for doing it?
  Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Yes. The administrative costs are absorbed under the 
one additional cent.
  Mr. CAMPBELL. A portion of 1 cent will go back to recover the cost.
  Mrs. FEINSTEIN. The cost of collecting the money is absorbed in that 
1 cent. Yes.

  Mr. CAMPBELL. Mr. President, I might also just comment that, as I 
understand it, if this 1-cent increase had been for the single best-
selling stamp of all time--which was the Elvis Presley stamp that went 
on sale a couple of years ago, that stamp sold $500 million individual 
stamps--but if this 1-cent additional had been on that stamp, it would 
have raised only $5 million. Certainly that is an important amount but 
not as much as we need. As I also understand, only about 1.6 million 
breast cancer stamps have been sold so far.
  So the amount, I would tell my friend from California, that she would 
hope to realize from what I have heard and seen is probably going to be 
quite a bit less than she would hope to get into this account.
  The Senator already mentioned that there are some concerns by some of 
the Members that there are many, many programs that are equally 
important--muscular dystrophy, prostate cancer is important, 
Alzheimer's disease, heart disease--many things that we need to address 
some more. And I think, as some of my colleagues think, that we may be 
opening an avenue for all kinds of new groups to ask for the same kind 
of consideration.
  If that happens, then I think, No. 1, we are going to confuse the 
public and

[[Page S7663]]

we will probably dilute the amount of money needed for any one of them.
  But I am not opposed to this amendment. I just wanted to make sure 
that my colleague understands that I am very supportive of her efforts. 
But I do have these concerns.
  I thank her, and I thank the Chair.
  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Who yields time?
  Mr. CAMPBELL. Mr. President, there is one Member seeking time. If the 
Senator from California is finished, I will suggest the absence of a 
quorum until Senator Stevens gets here.
  Mrs. FEINSTEIN. I thank the Senator. Yes. At this time, if I may be 
afforded a reaction and comment.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from California.
  Mrs. FEINSTEIN. I thank the Chair.
  As we know, with anything done the first time you never really quite 
know what it is going to do. I have had estimates. The group supporting 
this has done some research. I know what they have told me. I cannot 
make any guarantee to this body that it will produce a lot of money. I 
do know that it is worth a try, in my opinion. It is important to 
people. There is a movement behind it.
  The breast cancer stamp now exists as of now and it has no 
fundraising connected to it. It is simply a first-class stamp. This has 
the ability, for people that want to do so, to buy for the reason of 
raising an additional cent. I think every one of us know people 
immediately close to us that are suffering from breast cancer. I happen 
to believe the women of America are going to respond to this. I think 
young women are going to respond to it. I think you are going to see 
interesting ways that people are going to sell first-class stamps. I 
think that is good for the post office. It is good for the mail, and 
hopefully it will be good for breast cancer.
  I know I didn't buy an Elvis Presley stamp. What was the other stamp? 
I didn't buy the other breast cancer stamp. I will buy these. I think 
there are many others like me. I don't know how many. But I think it is 
worth a try.
  I thank the Senator for his comments.
  I yield the floor.
  Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, as Chairman of the Governmental Affairs 
Subcommittee on International Security, Proliferation, and Federal 
Services, which has jurisdiction over postal matters, I must point out 
that the Feinstein amendment would require the U.S. Postal Service to 
issue a special postage stamp.
  Such a special stamp--generally referred to as a semipostal--would 
sell for 1 cent above the basic first-class letter rate, with most of 
the differential going to fund breast cancer research. Though this is a 
well-intentioned amendment, and breast cancer research is a highly 
worthwhile cause, the idea of using the Postal Service as a fund-
raising tool is not a good one. The list of diseases that should be 
given added research funds is endless. Requiring the Postal Service to 
issue a semipostal stamp for breast cancer would place the Postal 
Service and Congress in the very difficult position of determining 
which worthy organizations or research programs should receive 
fundraising assistance from the Postal authorities and which should 
not.
  The concept of semipostals has been around for years. Some nations 
issue them, but most do not. The European experience with this kind of 
stamp has shown that they are rarely as beneficial to the designated 
organization as expected. Consider the example of Canada. In 1975, the 
Canadian Postal Corporation issued a series of semipostal stamps to 
provide supplementary revenue for the Canadian Olympic Committee. It 
was reported that while the program received exceptionally good 
promotional and advertising support, it fell short of its intended 
revenue objective. Demand for the semipostals throughout Canada was 
reportedly insubstantial. The program--viewed as a failure--concluded 
in 1976. More recently, the Canada Post issued a semipostal to support 
literacy. With a surcharge of 5 cents per stamp, it raised only 
$252,000. After raising only a modest amount of money, combined with a 
tremendous administrative expense, Canada Post says they will not issue 
another semipostal.
  There is a strong U.S. tradition of private fund-raising for 
charities. Such a stamp would effectively use the United States Postal 
Service as a fundraiser, a role it never has had. The Postal Service's 
job--and expertise--is mail delivery. Congress should be mindful that 
the postage stamp pays strictly for postal operations. It is not a fee 
for anything but delivering the mail and paying the cost of running the 
service. In fact, section 3622 of the Postal Reorganization Act of 1970 
precludes charging rates in excess of those required to offset the 
Postal Service's costs of providing a particular service. In other 
words, the Postal Service does not have the authority to put a 
surcharge on a postage rate that is cost and overhead driven. There is 
simply no legitimate connection between the desire to raise money for a 
cause, and maintenance of the postal service's mission of providing 
universal service at a universal rate.
  This is an effort to bypass the legislative process with an amendment 
on an appropriation bill and even though the Feinstein amendment's 
goals are laudatory, it should be rejected.
  Mr. CAMPBELL. I suggest the absence of a quorum, Mr. President.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. CAMPBELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. CAMPBELL. I would also ask unanimous consent that the remaining 
time be equally charged to both the proponents and the opponents of the 
Feinstein amendment.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. CAMPBELL. With that, I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Ms. MOSELEY-BRAUN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
order for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Ms. MOSELEY-BRAUN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to be 
allowed to speak as if in morning business for a period of 10 minutes.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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