[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 111 (Thursday, July 31, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Pages S8406-S8410]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA REVITALIZATION ACT

  Mr. THOMPSON. Mr. President, I would like to comment on Title XI of 
this legislation, the District of Columbia Revitalization Act. This is 
a major piece of legislation, and in many ways a major accomplishment, 
given that it was hammered out by a broad group of interested parties, 
including members and staff from the Governmental Affairs Committee, 
over a relatively short period of time. Agreement on this package was 
preceded earlier this year by considerable work in the Governmental 
Affairs Subcommittee chaired by Senator Brownback. Similar efforts were 
undertaken by the House Subcommittee on the District of Columbia. This 
Revitalization package was put together quickly, in a combined effort 
by all concerned parties, because of a mutual recognition that the 
District of Columbia's problems had become untenable. The broad 
recognition of the magnitude of the problem plus the possibly unique 
opportunity to come to agreement and enact reforms was what led so many 
people to agree on a package that virtually everyone regards as less 
than their ideal.
  One significant concern I have about this package is the major 
financial responsibility the Federal taxpayer is undertaking in the 
years to come. Technically, the D.C. Revitalization package meets the 
scoring requirements of this Balanced Budget Act, but the out-year 
costs are enormous and have not been dealt with. We are still 
evaluating the full impact of this package, but Members should be aware 
that the $4.8 billion in pension liability the Federal Government will 
be assuming is actually closer to $48 billion over time. I do believe 
it may be possible for these potential out-year costs to be reduced. 
The Revitalization package includes a provision which I requested 
requiring the Secretary of the Treasury to conduct a study of the D.C. 
pension assets and report back within a year on how the Federal 
Government might put them to best use. The Governmental Affairs 
Committee will then have the opportunity to consider whether additional 
legislation in this area could improve the financial outlook. The 
Administration has indicated a willingness to work further on this 
issue with the Committee, and I certainly look forward to that. We 
should be working together to institute reforms that make the District 
work independently, not simply encouraging a Federal Government 
takeover of all of its problems. There are assets currently in the D.C. 
pension fund, and rather than simply spending down those assets, we 
should build upon the assets so the funds are available to make 
payments in the future.
  Another area in which I question estimates of future costs is with 
the transfer of D.C. Corrections to the Federal Bureau of Prisons. I 
know the pressure was intense to close the Lorton Correctional Complex 
in Virginia, but here again this bill makes the federal bureaucracy 
responsible for absorbing the District's prison population. While the 
bill incorporates provisions for privatization, I believe the record 
will show that the Bureau of Prisons has consistently stood in the way 
of increased privatization in the Federal prison system. I have no 
reason to believe they will have a different response with regard to 
the Lorton prisoners.
  Many may not know that the District of Columbia was already engaged 
in a program to privatize the corrections function and has already 
entered into private contracts for housing 2,400 prisoners. I know well 
from my experience in Tennessee that private corrections facilities are 
a cost-effective, efficient and safe alternative to publicly-operated 
facilities. I am disturbed that Congress has substituted its judgment 
for the District's in this instance without evaluating whether the 
District's privatization initiative for corrections would work.
  Privatization can save valuable taxpayer dollars. In this instance, 
it is conceivable that the Federal Government could save the entire 
$885 million estimated for construction of new facilities if the 
District were allowed to continue on its current course. Because I 
believe these cost savings are important--and because this agreement 
was reached without sufficient debate--I want my colleagues to be aware 
that I, and other of my colleagues, want to work on follow-up 
legislation in this area as well. I think we can do better and I want 
to work toward that end.
  In conclusion, while this D.C. Revitalization Act is the result of a 
major, almost unprecedented effort by many with the best interest of 
the citizens of the District in mind, the reforms will require some 
additional thought and work to make the package live up to its full 
potential.
  Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, how much time do we have on each side 
equally?
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from New Mexico has 10 minutes 
remaining, and the Senator from New Jersey has 12 minutes remaining.
  Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, I yield myself 5 of our 10 minutes.
  First, Mr. President, usually we thank a lot of people. There are so 
many staff people that I am not going to thank them all, but I will put 
all of their names in the Record. There are so many heroes.
  But I do want to pay tribute to a staff member from the House. His 
name is Rick May. He has been staff director of the Budget Committee in 
the House. He is a graduate of Ohio State. He works for Representative 
John Kasich. He has been their budget overseer for 10 years, working on 
budget issues since 1983. He helped put together the alternative that 
John Kasich offered in 1989. It started with just 30 votes. John 
Kasich's leadership has grown. And right at his right hand has been 
Rick May. He is going to join a firm here in town, and I wish him well, 
and want the Senate Record to reflect that we appreciate what he has 
done.
  Mr. President, before I begin my remarks, I would like to take a 
moment to thank all of my colleagues, on both sides of the aisle, who 
have seen me stand in this well time and time again, and have listened 
to me speak about a balanced Federal budget. I want to thank you all--
from the bottom of my heart--for your patience and your support.
  Mr. President, I would like to thank the ranking member of the Budget 
Committee, Senator Lautenberg. I turn to him and just say thank you.
  You have been an active member of the Senate Budget Committee for 
many years, but in your first year as ranking member you have 
represented the interests of your party and your constituents in an 
honest and forthright manner. I have enjoyed working with you.
  I would like to thank the chairman of the Finance Committee, Senator 
Roth. Few have worked harder or longer to ease the tax burden on 
American families. But the package that you helped fashion, Senator 
Roth, of lowering taxes is a significant step forward. It addressed a 
need that has been

[[Page S8407]]

there for almost 16 years as far as middle-income America is concerned.
  The package that you helped fashion in the Finance Committee was not 
only a significant step in support of lower taxes, but also boldly 
addressed the need to reform Medicare and protect it for those who 
depend upon it today, and those who will need it in the future. 
Unfortunately, we were not able to hold those reforms in our conference 
but I believe your action has put us on the road to reform. Thank you 
and your staff for your support.
  In addition to that, we praise the Finance Committee and its leader 
Senator Roth for reforms in Medicare. The protection of that will 
depend upon whether these reforms work and whether we are successful in 
the future in a major reform package for Medicare.
  Finally, to our leader, Senator Trent Lott. In short, Mr. President, 
we would not be standing here today, about to pass this historic 
balanced budget package, if not for the leadership, the support, and 
the efforts of Trent Lott. As majority leader I don't believe a day has 
gone by when he didn't take some action aimed at producing a balanced 
budget for the American people. He has been direct, he has been 
focused, and he has done everything you could ask a leader to do to get 
us to this point. The American people should know, that this bipartisan 
budget and tax relief package is due, in no small part, to his 
determination, his drive, and his commitment. Mr. Leader, I thank you 
for your leadership and your support.
  I thank him for the support he has given me. I hope that I have been 
of support and help to him as we move down this course of very 
complicated negotiations as evidenced by the size of the bills we have 
and the scope of what we are accomplishing.
  Mr. President, I began this debate by quoting from a newspaper that 
this agreement is a big deal. And, I believe it is. Because while it 
has taken us 7 months to put this specific balanced budget and tax 
relief package together, the pathway to this point has been years in 
the making.
  This legislation is a big deal because we have followed through on 
our bipartisan commitment to implement the bipartisan budget agreement 
reached in May. It is a big deal because it will balance the Federal 
budget for the first time in 30 years. It is, in short, a great victory 
for the American people who are entitled to expect of their adult 
leaders that they work together in the best interests of our country.
  For the past 2 years, many of my colleagues and I have insisted that 
any budget passed through Congress be a balanced budget, one which is 
fiscally responsible, reduces the deficit, protects our children, 
provides much-needed tax relief for working American families, while 
preserving and strengthening Medicare and encouraging economic growth. 
The Balanced Budget Act of 1997 does just that.
  It covers hundreds of Government programs; it has taken thousands of 
man-hours to put together; it will help millions of our citizens; and 
save billions and billions of dollars.
  The budget we will vote on today is a big deal because it offers 
America hope. But not only is this package a big deal it is also a good 
deal.
  It is a good deal because it is a budget designed to help American 
families, to make them more secure--in their homes, in their 
communities, in their jobs.
  It offers them a more efficient government--one dedicated to economic 
growth and security, support for our children, and lower taxes on 
America's workers.
  This budget is a good deal because it recognizes the simple notion 
that our Government cannot simply go on borrowing and spending our 
children's money. It will finally drive a stake through the heart of 
the Deficit Dragon, and put an end to mounting Federal debt, a Medicare 
system that will go bankrupt and a crushing tax burden on those just 
starting out in life.
  The budget is a good deal because it will strengthen America. It will 
change the way our Government works--to make it more efficient, more 
responsive, and less expensive. And, most importantly, it will ensure a 
better future for our children and our Nation.
  This budget is a good deal because it reflects our commitment to 
fiscal responsibility, generating economic growth, creating good jobs 
with a future, and protecting the American dream for all our citizens--
young and old alike.
  This budget is a good deal because it will restore America's fiscal 
equilibrium. It will reverse the tide of 50 years of power flowing for 
the rest of the country to Washington. We want to provide more freedom 
and opportunity to people at the local level so they might have more 
control over the decisions on programs that effect their lives, their 
children, and their communities.
  This budget is a good deal because it recognizes the need to ease the 
tax burden on America's middle-class working parents, to give them a 
$500-per-child tax credit. This credit will help more than 50 million 
American children in nearly 30 million families. Under this plan a 
family with two children under age 17 would receive $1,000 in permanent 
tax relief.
  It's also a good deal for family farmers and small business men and 
women; for homeowners who will someday sell their home; and for all 
those who want to create incentives for economic growth and job 
creation.
  And, this budget is a good deal because while we are working toward  
balance and tax relief, we continue to support programs which provide 
needed services to our citizens and we have been painstakingly careful 
to preserve a safety net for those in need.

  To provide health care for poor children who have none. To strengthen 
Medicare and provide more health care options for our seniors. To 
improve access to higher education and help parents and our young 
people pay for college.
  We support programs aimed at keeping Americans safe--in their home, 
schools, and neighborhoods--by funding needed crime programs.

       The question whether one generation has the right to bind 
     another by the deficit it imposes is a question of such 
     consequence as to place it among the fundamental principles 
     of government. We should consider ourselves unauthorized to 
     saddle posterity with our debts and morally bound to pay them 
     ourselves.

  Mr. President, we might wonder where that came from. Was that just a 
statement here lately when our deficit and debt grew? No, it wasn't. It 
was made by Thomas Jefferson. Thomas Jefferson was a wise man. He wrote 
the Constitution. And he understood that if you pass on to the next 
generation, and the next generation--as he calls it, posterity--the 
debts of your generation, you take the chance that their life being 
reasonable, good, prosperous, and successful is limited. It limits 
their freedom. That is why we have been so worried about the debt, and 
the annual deficit that contributes to it.
  Today we will cast a vote of great significance to the future of 
America. It is the vote so many of us have said we wanted--a vote to 
finally balance the Federal budget.
  One of freedoms great leaders Winston Churchill told us the ``price 
of greatness is responsibility.'' We in government shoulder that 
responsibility. We actively seek it by running for public office. I 
believe the time has come to shoulder our responsibility and enact a 
balanced Federal budget.
  In doing so, we are casting a vote in support of America's future. 
You may serve here for years and never cast a more important vote. 
Because you now have a chance to vote to protect America, to strengthen 
it, and improve it.
  Today we can begin writing a new chapter in American history. That is 
why this is a big deal and that is why it is a good deal.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that a compilation of 
extraneous provisions of the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 be printed in 
the Record.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

      EXTRANEOUS PROVISIONS--H.R. 2015--BALANCED BUDGET ACT OF 1997
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                               Conference
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Provision                       Comments/violation
------------------------------------------------------------------------
            Title III--Communications and Spectrum Allocation
 
Section 3002(a)(1)(C)(iii)............  Requires FCC to set a reserve
                                         price or minimum bid for
                                         auctions, unless not in public
                                         interest. Byrd rule(b)(1)(A):
                                         Produces no change in outlays
                                         or revenues.
Section 3004-adds ``Sec. 337(e)(2)''    Directs FCC to consider needs of
 and ``(f)(2)''.                         low-power television stations
                                         in conducting transition to
                                         digital TV, which the FCC is
                                         already doing under current
                                         law. Byrd rule(b)(1)(A):
                                         Produces no change in outlays
                                         or revenues.
 
     Title IV--Medicare, Medicaid, and Children's Health Provisions
 
Sec. 4021.............................  Medicare Commission. Byrd
                                         rule(b)(1)(A): Produces no
                                         change in outlays or revenues.

[[Page S8408]]

 
Sec. 4022.............................  Authorization of the Medicare
                                         Payment Advisory Commission.
                                         Byrd rule(b)(1)(A): Produces no
                                         change in outlays or revenues.
Sec...................................  Study on Definition of
                                         Homebound. Byrd rule(b)(1)(A):
                                         Produces no change in outlays
                                         or revenues.
Sec...................................  Study and Report on the Boren
                                         Amendment. Byrd rule(b)(1)(A):
                                         Produces no change in outlays
                                         or revenues.
 
                 Title V--Welfare and Related Provision
 
Sec. 5001(f)..........................  Evaluations. Byrd rule(b)(1)(A):
                                         Produces no change in outlays
                                         or revenues.
Sec. 5001(h)..........................  Clarification that sanctions
                                         against recipients under TANF
                                         Program are not wage
                                         reductions. Byrd rule(b)(1)(A):
                                         Produces no change in outlays
                                         or revenues.
Sec. 5001(i)..........................  GAO Study of effect of Family
                                         Violence on Need for Public
                                         Assistance. Byrd rule(b)(1)(A):
                                         Produces no change in outlays
                                         or revenues.
Sec. 5002.............................  Limitation on amount of Federal
                                         Funds transferable to title XX
                                         programs. Byrd rule(b)(1)(A):
                                         Produces no change in outlays
                                         or revenues.
Sec. 5003.............................  Limitation on number of persons
                                         who may be engaged in work by
                                         reason of participation. Byrd
                                         rule(b)(1)(A): Produces no
                                         change in outlays or revenues.
Sec. 5201.............................  Clarification of authority to
                                         permit certain redisclosures of
                                         wage and claim information.
                                         Byrd rule(b)(1)(A): Produces no
                                         change in outlays or revenues.
Sec. 5408.............................  State Program Integrity
                                         Activities for Unemployment
                                         Compensation. Byrd
                                         rule(b)(1)(A): Produces no
                                         change in outlays or revenues.
Sec. 5702.............................  Authorization of appropriations
                                         for enforcement initiatives
                                         related to the earned income
                                         credit. Byrd rule(b)(1)(A):
                                         Produces no change in outlays
                                         or revenues.
 
               Title VIII--Veterans and Related Provisions
 
Sec. 8023(a) 1729A(e).................  Report to Congress. Byrd
                                         rule(b)(1)(A): Produces no
                                         change in outlays or revenues.
 
           Title X--Budget Enforcement and Process Provisions
 
Title X...............................  Budget Enforcement and Process
                                         Provisions. Byrd rule(b)(1)(A):
                                         Produces no change in outlays
                                         or revenues.
 
              Title XI--District of Columbia Revitalization
 
                                        Under Review.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

  Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, I note the presence of our distinguished 
majority leader. I wanted to reserve the remainder of the time for him.
  I yield the floor.
  I understand the minority party has about 10 minutes and we have 
about 5 minutes for you, Mr. Leader.
  Mr. President, 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. DOMENICI. 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. DOMENICI. Senator Lautenberg, is it your desire to yield the 
remaining time to the majority leader?
  Mr. LAUTENBERG. I will in just a couple minutes because I want us to 
be able to hear from the leadership. I did not know whether or not 
Senator Daschle had some remarks that he wanted to make, but I would 
certainly be delighted to yield the time so that we apportion it with 
the time remaining on the majority side, so that the distinguished 
majority leader has the time that he needs to make his remarks. For the 
moment, I would just say that we are not done yet, in the words of the 
distinguished New Jersey philosopher Yogi Berra, who said, ``It's not 
over `til it's over.'' We are getting ever closer. I don't yet feel the 
attention that comes with championship bouts or things of that nature; 
we have another 10 hours' worth of debate on the second part of the 
reconciliation bill.
  At this point, I would be happy to yield the time back that we have, 
if the Parliamentarian could tell us how much time is remaining on our 
side.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator has 8 minutes remaining.
  Mr. LAUTENBERG. Eight minutes. If I were to give up 5 minutes of that 
time, how much combined time would the majority leader have?
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. A total of 8 minutes. The majority has 5 
minutes.
  Mr. LAUTENBERG. We will yield 5 and you have 5 so that the majority 
leader can have 10 minutes.
  Senator Daschle is on his way, and I know he would like to have a 
couple words, so we can extend the time if we need for just a couple of 
minutes.
  I yield the floor.
  Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I indicated last Saturday on a radio show 
that if we could get this answer to the American people's prayers this 
week, I would whistle ``Hail to the Chief'' in the Senate.
  Well, the rules do not allow that. I am afraid that Senator Byrd 
would come down and chastise me if I whistle, but let me tell you I am 
humming ``Hail to the Chief'' to the American people today because we 
have accomplished an awful lot in reaching the agreement on these two 
major bills.
  I was reading an article last night entitled, ``O Ye of Little 
Faith,'' and it made me think about what we have gone through the last 
few weeks. I just have to ask the Senate this morning, how many of us 
really, really thought we were going to get this done and that we were 
going to get it done this week? Even 1 week ago there were those who 
were saying, ``Oh, no, you can't get that done before we go out for the 
August recess. Wait until September; we will do it then.''
  But we persisted. We just kept saying we can get through this. We can 
do this together. We can do the right thing for the American people, 
and we can do it now, because it has been a long time coming.
  I think it is appropriate that on both sides of the aisle and both 
ends of Pennsylvania Avenue, Republicans and Democrats, House and 
Senate, and, yes, the President, all are saying this is good for 
America.
  It is not utopia. It does not solve all the problems. There are some 
things in here I do not like. There are some things in here that the 
Senator from New Jersey does not like. But it is a major step forward--
maybe not a leap but a major step forward. We are doing some things we 
promised the American people, things that really matter. It matters 
that we are going to get to a balanced budget, and this time it is with 
honest numbers. We are really going to do it. And for a lot of reasons 
we may do it before the year 2002. This is the type of commitment that 
I have not seen in the Congress in a bipartisan way in the 25 years 
that I have had the honor of serving the people of Mississippi. So I 
think we should declare this is a very important step forward. It is 
worth having.
  I was doing an interview yesterday and somebody said: Well, not 
enough in the tax bill, not enough tax relief. Why wasn't there more? 
Why didn't you insist on this? Why didn't you insist on that?
  I have a simple question. Is some tax relief better than no tax 
relief? There are those who would rather have nothing if they cannot 
get everything. Ladies and gentlemen, my colleagues in the Senate, 
these bills are worth having. I am proud to say that I worked on it for 
8 months of my life. This past Saturday night and Sunday morning, I 
thought we had lost it. I was boiling inside. I was disturbed. I was 
hurt that we were going to let this moment get away from us. But I 
guess maybe after a Sunday morning of reflection and prayer, we said, 
no, we are going to do this. And so we did. The President made a 
commitment. He wanted to get it done. The leadership in the Congress, 
House and Senate, Republican and Democrat, wanted to get it done, and 
that is why we just did it. We went ahead and did it.

  Let me say to my colleagues here today, there are so many I want to 
thank and congratulate for this step forward, but I have to begin with 
the distinguished Senator from New Mexico. None of us has worked 
longer, none of us has contributed more, none of us knows more about 
what is in this bill than Senator Pete Domenici of New Mexico. He has 
been my confidante. He has been my trusted ally. He has done this when, 
in his own personal life, he has had problems to worry about. And so I 
know that the President, the Democrats and Republicans on both sides of 
the aisle, want to say thanks a lot, Pete. You did a great job for your 
country.
  His colleague on the other side of the aisle, Senator Lautenberg, 
could have walked away from this. Even at the last moment, something he 
cares about tremendously, guaranteeing we get the Amtrak funds--it is 
in there, but with a condition--he could have said, if I can't get what 
I want, I am not going to do this.
  He is not going to do that. He is going to do what is right for his 
State and the country.
  My colleague, Tom Daschle, from South Dakota, yesterday said some 
very nice things about my efforts, and I have to say the same about 
him. He was reliable. He was honest with me. He stayed the course. He 
came to the meetings. There were some meetings he didn't get to come 
to. A lot of people had an opportunity to get their egos hurt, but 
everybody rose above it.

[[Page S8409]]

  Pat Moynihan, Finance Committee, bipartisan effort. We reported one 
of these bills, I think it was 18 to 2, the other one 20 to nothing, 
out of the Finance Committee, but it began with Bill Roth, the chairman 
of the Finance Committee, and the Senator from New York. They made up 
their minds they were going to get it done, and they were going to do 
it together, and the rest of us could come along if we wanted. Our 
scholar Senator helped lead the way.
  I have to say again about Bill Roth, patience, tenacity, he was not 
going to relent on getting this job done. And the Finance Committee had 
both of these bills. No other committee in Congress had to do it that 
way. In the House, it was Ways and Means and Commerce Committee as well 
as Budget. Over here, it was just Budget and Finance. He did a great 
job. We would not have what we have in the tax bill on IRA's; we would 
not have what we have on Amtrak; we would not have what we were able to 
get on a myriad of issues in this legislation. He did a fantastic job.
  I could go on down the list, but it truly is a bipartisan effort, and 
I am proud of that. Some people say, ``Why don't you draw the line and 
fight?'' I have done that. Sometimes it is fun, but it doesn't produce 
anything but a fight most of the time.
  So there will be another day to differentiate between the parties, 
but today we are going to do what is right for the country. This bill 
is rightly called the Balanced Budget Act of 1997. It contains 
literally hundreds of positions that will get us to that balanced 
budget. But the bottom line is, it is something the American people 
have been waiting to hear for many years. We will have a balanced 
budget by the year 2002 and thereafter.
  How is that accomplished? Well, it does have spending reductions of 
approximately $270 billion over 5 years. It has $140 billion in 
restraint on appropriated accounts. It has $132 billion in entitlements 
and net interest savings. It does provide help for children's health, 
and that is a bipartisan effort.
  Most of us are parents. Most of us have children in our States who 
are not covered. We disagree about how much we should pay for it, how 
much should be done, but it is something we care about and we should 
do. And we get it done in this bill.
  Now, we give as much flexibility as we can to the States, and that is 
the way it should be. I have faith in my own Governor and my own 
legislature. I want these decisions to be made as close to the people 
that need this help, as close to the children as possible. What they 
need in West Virginia may be different from what they need in Arizona. 
Give that flexibility so that the decisions are close to the people and 
so it is provided in a way that will really provide the help it should.
  I want to make this important point about Medicare. We are going to 
improve Medicare. We are going to save Medicare from going insolvent 
for another several years at way out to, I believe, close to the year 
2007 probably, and we are going to do it with flexibility. We are going 
to give the seniors a chance to choose. They can go with the old 
system; they can go with an HMO; they can go with a professional 
services organization; they can have medical savings accounts.
  We have done what we have been arguing about for 4 years. We are 
actually doing it. We are doing what we said we were going to do in 
Medicare and that alone, what we are doing in Medicare alone is worth 
voting for this legislation. What other problems you may have with this 
bill--some of the changes in welfare, I think, go the wrong direction; 
we really want to get people from welfare to work. This bill has some 
problems, but just the Medicare provision makes it worthwhile.
  We have some savings in Medicaid. The States will have a greater 
ability to deliver health services more efficiently for poor persons. 
When you look through the list of things that we have done here, in 
instance after instance, I think we should be very proud.
  I am here today to tell you that I am going to vote for this 
legislation with pride, not with fear and trepidation, not with 
reservations or grumpiness because I didn't get everything I wanted, 
but because the process worked. Our system of Government worked here 
like I think our forefathers intended for it to work, and we are going 
to produce genuine results that will be of benefit. In this bill and in 
the other bill we will pass for our children our educational system in 
America, child health care, the guarantee of the important programs 
that we want for our seniors. From the day we are born to the day we 
die, there will be benefits coming out of this legislation.
  So I urge my colleagues, let us make this an overwhelming vote. I 
think we will have as near to a unanimous vote as you will ever get in 
the Senate on a bill of this magnitude, a bill of this size. I think 
when we vote on it, it is going to pass overwhelmingly. Then we are 
going to go to the tax relief package, which I am tremendously excited 
about.
  I am glad to have been a part of this effort. It has been worthwhile. 
It has been long. It has been tedious. It has tried my patience. I lost 
my temper a few times, along with others, and for those occasions I 
apologize. But we got it done, and we will have more decisions made by 
the people at the State level; we will have genuine tax relief; we will 
have security for our seniors, and now and then we can move on and 
address other problems that we need to take up for the future of our 
country.
  I thank the Chair and I thank all Senators for what you have done on 
this.
  Mr. DOMENICI. Will the Senator yield for 30 seconds?
  Mr. LOTT. I yield to the great senior Senator from New Mexico.
  Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, I believe we have an opportunity to 
write a new chapter in American history, and I am very proud to be part 
of it, and I thank the Senator for his kind words.
  Mr. LOTT. It would not have happened without the Senator from New 
Mexico, and I thank him once again for all of his long hours and great 
leadership.
  (Mr. SMITH of Oregon assumed the Chair.)
  Mr. MOYNIHAN. Will the leader yield for 30 seconds?
  Mr. LOTT. I will yield to the Senator from New York.
  Mr. MOYNIHAN. Might I thank him on behalf of Senator Roth, who is not 
present at the moment, for his very generous remarks about the Finance 
Committee, of which he is a member--not hardly the least of us. It is 
true that the overwhelming portion of both these measures fell to the 
Finance Committee, and we voted nearly, in one case, a unanimous 
measure, on one bill we are about to vote on, 18 to 2, the bill we are 
going to take up.
  I think that has contributed considerably to the momentum that has 
surrounded us and brought us to this moment. I thank the distinguished 
majority leader for his generous remarks.
  Mr. LOTT. I thank the Senator from New York.
  Mr. LAUTENBERG. Mr. President, do we have any time left here?
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator has 3 minutes.
  Mr. LAUTENBERG. If the majority leader will yield?
  Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I am glad to yield the floor to the Senator 
from New Jersey.
  Mr. LAUTENBERG. We will try to split the time. I want to say, also, 
to the majority leader, thank you for the accolades and for the 
encouragement that you gave Senator Domenici and me throughout the 
process and for the comments about our other colleagues, all of whom 
worked diligently, worked honestly on getting the mission accomplished. 
At times, I can tell you that Senator Domenici--it's no secret--would 
kind of lay down the book and say, ``We have to check this upstairs.'' 
I don't think he meant all the way up. I think he meant only as far as 
the majority leader's office. Or, ``We have to turn to the 
leadership.'' I would do the same thing.
  But persistence was the keynote, persistence and patience. I want to 
say this about the majority leader and about the way he has conducted 
things. Serving in the minority, it's easy to find fault with the 
majority leader. But one has to give credit where due. The fact is that 
this majority leader has, with diligence and persistence, moved 
legislation through this place. He has come up to me, and I am sure 
other colleagues, and said, ``Frank, let's try to make sense out of 
this. What is it that you are trying to accomplish? Can

[[Page S8410]]

it be done this time? Well, I don't think so. I think we can get 
halfway there, I think we can get three-quarters of the way.'' Or he'll 
say, ``That's not a bad idea and I do want to help you with that.'' And 
he made a commitment with me on trying to make sure our national 
passenger rail system keeps on functioning. He reaffirmed his 
commitment to help find a way to get that done.
  So I want to say, relatively, as we say around here--looking around 
here, looking at my white hair, I can say it comfortably--the new kid 
on the block, the majority leader, has done a good job. It's 
particularly evident when we look at the accomplishment of this piece 
of legislation, the one we are about to pass. And he is right; it's 
going to pass overwhelmingly. We want to have as many people on both 
sides say yes as we can, to indicate to the American people that we 
believe in this assignment that we took on.
  So, I thank the majority leader for his skill, his patience, and his 
persistence. I think he helped calm the waters a little bit. Because I 
don't remember, throughout the 7 or 8 months of discussion, often late 
at night, often without lunch, munchies, or otherwise, that the 
patience--the tempers never really got real hot. Am I right? Pete, once 
in a while, you know, would stamp on the floor or something like that, 
but he would come right back, bouncing up. We pushed our way through.
  So I thank everybody involved in the effort, and I am delighted to be 
here, to serve in this place and serve at a time like this when we have 
accomplished something.
  Mr. DOMENICI. Would the Senator yield for a minute?
  Mr. LAUTENBERG. Yes.
  Mr. DOMENICI. You know that little hideaway, the Domenici hideaway 
with that great view? I think when we are finished, we are going to put 
a plaque in there; right? It's not mine anymore. But it's going to say, 
``In this little room this budget agreement was hatched and 
completed.''
  Mr. LAUTENBERG. May I add a word of poetry?

       We stood and looked away,
       Hoping for some accomplishment at the end of this day.

  The PRESIDING OFFICER. All time has expired. The question is on the 
conference report.
  Mr. DOMENICI. We don't have the yeas and nays yet. Mr. President, I 
ask for the yeas and nays.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there a sufficient second?
  There is a sufficient second.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The question is on the conference report. The 
yeas and nays have been ordered. The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk called the roll.
  The result was announced, yeas 85, nays 15, as follows:

                      [Rollcall Vote No. 209 Leg.]

                                YEAS--85

     Abraham
     Akaka
     Baucus
     Bennett
     Biden
     Bingaman
     Bond
     Boxer
     Breaux
     Brownback
     Bryan
     Bumpers
     Burns
     Byrd
     Campbell
     Chafee
     Cleland
     Cochran
     Collins
     Conrad
     Coverdell
     Craig
     D'Amato
     Daschle
     DeWine
     Dodd
     Domenici
     Dorgan
     Durbin
     Feingold
     Feinstein
     Frist
     Glenn
     Gorton
     Graham
     Grassley
     Gregg
     Hagel
     Harkin
     Hatch
     Hutchinson
     Hutchison
     Inouye
     Jeffords
     Johnson
     Kempthorne
     Kennedy
     Kerrey
     Kerry
     Kohl
     Kyl
     Landrieu
     Lautenberg
     Leahy
     Levin
     Lieberman
     Lott
     Lugar
     Mack
     McCain
     McConnell
     Mikulski
     Moseley-Braun
     Moynihan
     Murkowski
     Murray
     Nickles
     Reed
     Reid
     Robb
     Roberts
     Rockefeller
     Roth
     Santorum
     Sarbanes
     Shelby
     Smith (OR)
     Snowe
     Specter
     Stevens
     Thomas
     Thurmond
     Torricelli
     Warner
     Wyden

                                NAYS--15

     Allard
     Ashcroft
     Coats
     Enzi
     Faircloth
     Ford
     Gramm
     Grams
     Helms
     Hollings
     Inhofe
     Sessions
     Smith (NH)
     Thompson
     Wellstone
  The conference report was agreed to.
  Mr. LAUTENBERG. I move to reconsider the vote.
  Mr. COATS. I move to lay that motion on the table.
  The motion to lay on the table was agreed to.
  Mr. BUMPERS addressed the Chair.
  The VICE PRESIDENT. The Senator from Arkansas is recognized.

                          ____________________