[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 80 (Thursday, June 18, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6507-S6518]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         ENERGY AND WATER DEVELOPMENT APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 1999

  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under the previous order, the Chair now lays 
before the Senate S. 2138, which the clerk will report.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A bill (S. 2138) making appropriations for energy and water 
     development for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1999, 
     and for other purposes.

  The Senate resumed consideration of the bill.
  Mr. REID addressed the Chair.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Nevada.


                         Privilege Of The Floor

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that Bob Perret, a 
congressional fellow in my office, have floor privileges during the 
pendency of this bill.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. REID. Mr. President, yesterday the chairman of the Energy and 
Water Subcommittee and I came to the floor with this bill, the fiscal 
year 1999 appropriations bill, for the programs, projects, and 
activities of the Department of Energy, Corps of Engineers, the Bureau 
of Reclamation, and other independent agencies. I support this $21 
billion bill. It is not a perfect bill, but it is a very good bill. We 
worked under very extreme conditions in order to get the bill to the 
point that we have. This is a balanced bill. We did our best to 
accommodate everyone's priorities and projects.
  Mr. President, on the way back to my office yesterday evening I was 
with some of the staff, and I asked one of the staff, ``What is that 
you're carrying?'' And I am not exaggerating, it was a folder, a big 
looseleaf notebook. And he said they were the requests from Members for 
projects in this bill.
  We did our best. We did not make everyone happy. We tried to make 
sure that we had a balanced approach so that States could meet their 
needs.
  We did not get all the cooperation that I would like to have had from 
the administration. They cut $1.5 billion from water projects. This 
left us with projects unfinished, left us with projects that simply 
needed to go forward. So we had to rearrange this pot to the point we 
are now here.
  So I recommend this bill to my colleagues. This is a bill that 
includes

[[Page S6508]]

about $21 billion for essential services in the Department of Energy 
and the construction and maintenance of water projects around the 
Nation.
  I hope that, as my friend from Washington has said, Members will come 
forward and offer amendments. We have a limited amount of time. And I 
would suggest that if we do not get some amendments coming soon--this a 
very important appropriations bill--that we should move to third 
reading and move on to something else.
  Mr. GORTON addressed the Chair.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Washington.


                           Amendment No. 2713

  Mr. GORTON. Mr. President, on behalf of Senator Domenici, for Senator 
Inouye, I send an amendment to the desk.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       The Senator from Washington [Mr. Gorton] for Mr. Inouye, 
     proposes an amendment numbered 2713.

  Mr. GORTON. 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 page 18, add the following before the period:
       ``:Provided further, The Secretary of the Interior is 
     directed to use not to exceed $200,000 of funds appropriated 
     herein to provide technical assistance in a study of measures 
     to increase the efficiency of existing water systems 
     developed to serve sugar cane plantations and surrounding 
     communities in the State of Hawaii''.

  Mr. GORTON. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the amendment 
be set aside so that other Members may, if they wish, offer first-
degree amendments.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. REID addressed the Chair.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Nevada.


                         Privilege Of The Floor

  Mr. REID. I interrupt my friend from Washington and ask unanimous 
consent that a fellow from the office of Senator Jeffords of Vermont, 
Lisa Carter, be granted privileges of the floor during consideration of 
the energy and water appropriations bill.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. GORTON. Mr. President, our desires not yet having been met, 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. DASCHLE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.


                           Amendment No. 2714

 (Purpose: To add provisions of Amendment No. 2420 relating to tobacco 
                                policy)

  Mr. DASCHLE. 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 South Dakota [Mr. Daschle] proposes an 
     amendment numbered 2714.

  Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent reading of the 
amendment be dispensed with.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  (The text of the amendment is printed in today's Record under 
``Amendments Submitted.'')
  Mr. GORTON. Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, I have the floor; do I not?
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The minority leader has the floor.
  Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, I won't be long. I will accommodate the 
manager of the bill.
  Let me just say this is an amendment that reflects where we were 
yesterday on what we consider to be one of the most important issues 
facing our country. I am hopeful that we can come back to this 
legislation again, as we debated it yesterday. The tobacco bill may 
have died last night, but the tobacco issue is very much alive.
  We have noted that as legislation is presented to the Senate we have 
no recourse but to continue to press for final consideration, to get a 
vote, and ultimately to pass legislative changes that will allow us to 
confront the remarkable problems that we are facing in our country 
today. In South Dakota, 45 percent of teenagers now are addicted to 
smoking or are smoking--45 percent. Every day, thousands of children 
continue to light up for the first time.
  Many of us feel that even though we lost parliamentarily yesterday, 
that we have no choice but to continue to press this issue, to continue 
to force the Senate to consider ways with which to resolve this matter.
  As I said, there ought to be principles that unite us, principles 
that Republicans and Democrats can agree with, principles that would 
allow the FDA to regulate tobacco as a drug, principles that would 
allow us to come up with an orchestrated national effort to discourage 
smoking among teenagers, principles that recognize the importance of 
research as we continue to confront the myriad of health problems that 
are directly related to smoking and addiction. Those are principles 
that ought to unite us.
  I don't think anyone ought to come to any conclusion that somehow 
because the McCain bill died last night that we now can wash our hands 
of this issue, that we now are going to move that aside and think that 
everything is just fine with regard to the schedule or with regard to 
this particular issue. It isn't. We are not going to be fine until we 
have come to some conclusion about this. It doesn't really matter what 
legislation comes before the Senate. We are going to be compelled, 
either in the form of amendment or in a motion to proceed, to force the 
Senate, to whatever extent we can, to stay focused on this issue until 
we resolve it. We are open for suggestions on how we might break this 
impasse, how we might resolve this matter. We are certainly prepared to 
sit down with our colleagues and come up with a piece of legislation 
that will work.

  We will not let this issue die. We believe very strongly that it must 
continue. That is, in essence, what this amendment does. This 
amendment, for the information of all of my colleagues, simply takes us 
back to the McCain bill and the managers' amendment. The managers' 
amendment was added after a great deal of consultation with Members on 
both sides of the aisle. The managers' amendment and the McCain bill 
passed, I remind my colleagues, on a vote of 19-1 out of the Commerce 
Committee.
  So this is an opportunity, once again, to use a vehicle to start the 
negotiations to allow us to come to closure on this issue. I had hoped 
we could do it sooner rather than later. This is an important bill. I 
hope we can get on to energy and water. I hope we can deal with all of 
the appropriations bills. Those bills have to be dealt with, but at the 
same time, many of us believe that tobacco has to be dealt with as 
well. Our effort to deal with it will have to be in the form of 
amendments or in the form of our motions to proceed so long as we 
haven't found any closure on how we ultimately resolve this very, very 
important national issue.
  I hope we can have a good debate on this amendment. I hope we can 
have some good give-and-take about what we might do, as a Senate, 
Republicans and Democrats, to break this impasse and ultimately to pass 
meaningful tobacco legislation this month.
  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Washington.
  Mr. GORTON. Mr. President, as the Democratic leader said, what he has 
proposed now is that instead of dealing with the normal appropriations 
bills before the Senate, we should go back to a debate which has taken 
the last 4 weeks of the Senate's time and ignore everything else that 
is appropriate in the Senate business.
  Last evening, in the last vote, his position fell eight votes shy of 
getting a necessary budget waiver because of its immense cost to the 
people of the United States. This proposal, obviously, is equally 
subject to such a point of order, one that I expect that the majority 
leader is likely to interpose soon. The result will be identical. In 
other words, it is simply a frustrating waste of the Senate's time when 
the Senate ought to be engaged in the business that is before us, and 
that is the energy and water appropriations bill.
  I share one sentiment with the Democratic leader. I believe that the 
Senate should pass a bill relating to tobacco. I don't believe that it 
should be

[[Page S6509]]

anything like the bill that was before us yesterday, by any stretch of 
the imagination. But if we are to pass legislation on the subject, it 
is going to require more understanding and more tolerance of one side 
to the other than evidenced in the course of the last 3 or 4 weeks. It 
clearly is not going to be accomplished by the kind of amendment that 
was placed before the Senate at this point.
  Awaiting further instructions from the majority leader, 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. NICKLES. 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. NICKLES. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to proceed as in 
morning business for 2 minutes.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  (The remarks of Mr. Nickles pertaining to the introduction of S. 2187 
are located in today's Record under ``Statements on Introduced Bills 
and Joint Resolutions.'')
  Mr. FAIRCLOTH. Mr. President, I rise in strong opposition to the 
McCain bill, and I urge my colleagues not to revive this job-busting 
and budget-busting bill in committee. Like the wicked witch, it is 
dead, and I am delighted that its tortured life is over. I would like 
to reflect on this past month of debate on the tobacco bill, Mr. 
President, and I want to say a few words about this bill and its 
effects.
  Mr. President, tobacco has a long and proud heritage in North 
Carolina. Since Colonial times, hard-working men and women have 
supported their families on tobacco, whether by coaxing tobacco from 
the ground or by processing it into the products used by consumers 
across the country.
  On that note, Mr. President, I want to say a few words in defense of 
the people we have heard least about during this endless debate. I'm 
talking about the hard-working men and women of the tobacco 
manufacturing facilities. We hear all about Big Tobacco, Mr. President, 
but they're the folks who will suffer if this bill is not stopped. Many 
thousands of North Carolinians earn their livings in tobacco 
manufacturing and distribution. They work in the plants and in the 
warehouses, in the factories and on the loading docks, and on the 
interstates transporting the product.
  These are good jobs, Mr. President, good jobs with good wages and 
good benefits. This bill puts those working people in its cross hairs. 
It is no secret to the people of my State that, in their declaration of 
war on tobacco, President Clinton and Vice President Gore assaulted the 
heart of our agricultural heritage. The anti-tobacco armies and the 
trial lawyers created the most serious threat to face the tobacco 
family in many years.
  Just look at the line-up in Congress. Just look at the overwhelming 
support in the Democratic caucus for this bill. Democratic Senator Dick 
Durbin wails that tobacco is the only government-supported crop ``with 
a body count.'' Democratic Senator Ted Kennedy decries tobacco with 
characteristic bluster and charges the industry with ``the insidious 
and shameful poisoning of generations of children.'' If we defeat this 
bill, Mr. President, it will be with the help of just a couple of 
Democrats. Where are the defenders of the working folks?
  This is not about Big Tobacco, Mr. President, it's about hard-working 
men and women. The unions and I don't always agree, Mr. President, but 
I want to insert into the Record a statement from the North Carolina 
A.F.L.-C.I.O. They hit the nail on the head--this is about saving our 
jobs and saving our communities--and I stand with the working folks 
against the liberals, the trial lawyers, and the other special 
interests bent on destroying jobs.
  Phillip Morris and R.J. Reynolds major employers in North Carolina. 
I'm proud of the working men and women at these factories. They're not 
the most popular folks on Capitol Hill these days, but that fact just 
speaks volumes about the confused values up in Washington, because we 
should honor their hard work not try to throw them out of their jobs. 
And they're not the only ones who will lose their jobs. These taxes 
will cripple countless businesses.
  The McCain bill seeks to increase retail cigarette prices as much as 
$4.98 in real terms by 2004, tapering off to $3.80 by the year 2007. I 
am informed that this could lead to a reduction of nearly 50 percent in 
retail cigarette sales, along with large-scale increases in illegal 
smuggling activities, and that will cost American jobs.
  By 2004, the year in which the payments under the McCain proposal 
peak, the loss in cigarette sales will lead to devastating economic 
consequences, and it will be the working men and women who will feel 
this pain. The economic models show that the price increases--and the 
effects of increased foreign smuggling--could lead to job losses 
approaching 1,152,974 workers nationally. That is a mind-boggling 
number, just think of 1,152,974 disrupted lives, all those hopes and 
dreams thrown into doubt and chaos. These are real people, supporting 
real families, working in diverse businesses. They are not just tobacco 
manufacturing workers, but also convenience store clerks, line workers 
in paper mills, long distance truckers, and graphic artists in 
advertising agencies.
  For example, in North Carolina, it is estimated that the impact of 
this proposal will lead to a total loss of 48,691 direct jobs. The 
effect would be similar to a lay-off of this magnitude from a single 
employer, Mr. President, with the total impact on the community 
approaching 161,953 jobs. The implications of the McCain bill would be 
similar to laying off all of the 40,100 employees of both Burlington 
Industries in Greensboro and Family Dollar Stores of Charlotte.
  However, most of these jobs are in communities that do not have any 
other industries of comparable size, so it is highly doubtful whether 
displaced workers would be able to find new jobs near home. Some 
supporters of the tobacco bill have questioned whether this matters. 
They claim that displaced workers can just move to where the jobs are. 
Well, that's not good enough. People have roots in their communities. 
Any farmer will tell you that you risk killing a plant when you pull 
out its roots and move it. People are no different.
  And even if displaced workers can find new jobs without displacing 
their families and abandoning their communities, they are not likely to 
be able to match their current salaries and benefits. These are not 
wealthy people. These are working people. They simply cannot afford to 
lose a significant portion of their income.
  We can reduce underage tobacco use. But we won't do it by punishing 
the innocent and honorable men and women who work in the tobacco 
industry. And we won't do it by destroying the economic engine that has 
supported their communities for generations. Mr. President, the men and 
women who work in the tobacco industry and the people who depend upon 
them deserve our respect and support. They have earned it. Please join 
with me in giving it to them.
  I ask unanimous consent that the statement from the North Carolina 
AFL-CIO be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the statement was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

  North Carolina Unions Stand Up for Tobacco Jobs: Urge Political and 
  Business Leaders To Save State's Economy by Joining Fight for Fair 
                               Settlement

       Raleigh.--``Save Our Jobs, Save Our Communities,'' was the 
     rally call of the state AFL-CIO and its unions representing 
     workers in the tobacco and related industries. They're 
     gravely concerned with the negative impact on North Carolina 
     jobs and the economy if current tobacco legislation pending 
     in the U.S. Congress becomes law.
       The unions want political and business leaders to stand up 
     for workers in tobacco and related industry, who will lose 
     their jobs if the right tobacco deal is not passed in 
     Washington.
       ``I'm here today to speak up for the thousands of hard-
     working North Carolina men and women whose jobs are 
     threatened by tobacco proposals coming out of Washington, 
     D.C.,'' said James Andrews, president of the North Carolina 
     AFL-CIO. ``These workers have been forgotten by the elected 
     officials who are more concerned about politics then stopping 
     underage smoking and keeping good jobs in our communities.''
       ``The nation needs an end to the tobacco wars,'' he added. 
     ``Like everyone in this country, we want to stop kids from 
     smoking. The unions in the industry have consistently

[[Page S6510]]

     supported strong, effective controls on youth access to 
     tobacco. However, we also want to make sure any proposal 
     protects our jobs.''
       Pending legislation in the U.S. Senate would devastate many 
     communities in the state, the union leaders charge. ``The 
     McCain bill now before the Senate would destroy jobs, 
     bankrupt the industry and create a black market in which its 
     impossible to protect our children,'' said T.J. Warren of the 
     Bakery Confectionery and Tobacco Workers Union.
       Last June when the State Attorneys General worked out a 
     settlement with the tobacco industry, the unions had high 
     hopes of ending the tobacco wars with legislation that helped 
     national health goals but at the same time preserved jobs.
       ``I am tired of hearing about proposals that destroy jobs 
     and increase taxes in the name of tobacco reform 
     legislation,'' said Warren. ``Many members of Congress want 
     to punish the tobacco companies. But, multinational tobacco 
     firms aren't going to be punished. They'll switch production 
     to low-wage countries and thrive. No one gets punished except 
     the U.S. grower and worker and the communities in which we 
     live, work and spend our consumer dollars.''
       ``If tobacco moves overseas our plant will close. It cannot 
     be converted to produce other products. More than 90% of what 
     Acusta Corporation makes in Brevard is sold to cigarette 
     companies. We make cigarette papers, foil, package and 
     cellophane,'' said Jerry Stuart, president of Paperworkers 
     local union 1971. ``In the western part of North Carolina 
     good jobs are scarce. If our plant closed it would be an 
     economic disaster area. Not only would Paperworkers be out of 
     work but many small businesses and even small towns would 
     close up.''
       ``Our members do not want their children to smoke, but they 
     don't want to lose their jobs. These drivers who have 
     established a middle class way of life would be forced into 
     the working poor,'' said Chip Roth of the Teamsters Union. 
     ``The Attorneys General came to a reasonable settlement that 
     will crack down on teen age smoking while allowing the 
     industry to continue.''
       ``I'm convinced a nation as resourceful as ours can devise 
     national legislation that ends the tobacco wars and fulfills 
     our national public health goals without destroying quality 
     U.S. jobs and devastating the communities in which we live 
     and work,'' said Andrews. ``I refuse to believe that a nation 
     built on freedom and fairness through compromise cannot give 
     the nation what it needs--an end to the tobacco wars and a 
     clear, predictable future for our jobs and families.''
       The unions would support a legislative solution that:
       Gives Americans a clear, predictable future where kids 
     don't smoke, public health goals are met and smokers and non-
     smokers alike have their rights respected.
       Maintains the U.S. manufacture and export of a product that 
     both domestic and foreign consumers want, thereby preserving 
     U.S. jobs and communities.
       Avoids unfair and regressive taxes that single our some 
     individuals to bear the burden while making possible an 
     immensely profitable black market in which we cannot control 
     cigarette sales.
       Ends the uncertainty of unpredictable litigation and 
     relentless regulatory battles and brings stability to the 
     industry and its jobs.

  Mr. NICKLES. 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. Mr. President, I raise a point of order that the 
pending Daschle amendment violates section 302(f) of the Budget Act and 
that it would cause the Energy and Water Subcommittee to exceed its 
302(b) allocation.
  Mr. REID addressed the Chair.


                     motion to waive the budget act

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I move to waive the Budget Act to permit 
consideration of the amendment.
  Mr. GORTON. 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.
  Mr. GORTON. Mr. President, for the information of all Members, they 
should understand that this amendment on the part of the Democratic 
leader does not take us back to where we were yesterday. This is a bill 
that might best be called Commerce 2. It does not include any of the 
drug provisions; it does not include a repeal of the marriage penalty; 
it does not even include the Gregg amendments or the Durbin amendments. 
It does not include the amendment that was one of mine that was passed 
to limit attorneys' fees. In effect, this doesn't take us back to 
yesterday afternoon, it takes us back to 4 weeks ago. I hope that 
Members will overwhelmingly deny this.
  Mr. DOMENICI. Have the yeas and nays been ordered?
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The yeas and nays have been ordered on the 
motion to waive.


                              Quorum Call

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, a number of people on this side want to 
speak on this matter now before the Senate. Therefore, 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.
  Mr. DORGAN. I object.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Objection is heard.
  The legislative clerk resumed the call of the roll.
  Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  Mr. DORGAN. Mr. President, I object.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Objection is heard.
  The clerk will call the roll.
  The assistant legislative clerk resumed the call of the roll and the 
following Senators entered the Chamber and answered to their names.

                             [Quorum No. 2]

     Craig
     Domenici
     Dorgan
     Gorton
     Lott
     Reid
     Smith (NH)
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. A quorum is not present. The clerk will call 
the names of absent Senators.
  The legislative clerk resumed the call of the roll.
  Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I move that the Sergeant at Arms be 
instructed to request the attendance of absent Senators, and 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 agreeing to the motion of 
the Senator from Mississippi. On this question, the yeas and nays have 
been ordered, and the clerk will call the roll.
  The assistant legislative clerk called the roll.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Frist). Are there any other Senators in 
the Chamber who desire to vote?
  Mr. NICKLES. I announce that the Senator from North Carolina (Mr. 
Faircloth is necessarily absent.
  I also announce that the Senator from Pennsylvania (Mr. Specter) is 
absent because of illness.
  The result was announced--yeas 96, nays 2, as follows:

                      [Rollcall Vote No. 163 Leg.]

                                YEAS--96

     Abraham
     Akaka
     Allard
     Ashcroft
     Baucus
     Bennett
     Biden
     Bingaman
     Boxer
     Brownback
     Bryan
     Bumpers
     Burns
     Byrd
     Campbell
     Chafee
     Cleland
     Coats
     Cochran
     Collins
     Conrad
     Coverdell
     Craig
     D'Amato
     Daschle
     DeWine
     Dodd
     Domenici
     Dorgan
     Durbin
     Enzi
     Feingold
     Feinstein
     Ford
     Frist
     Glenn
     Gorton
     Graham
     Gramm
     Grams
     Grassley
     Gregg
     Hagel
     Harkin
     Hatch
     Helms
     Hollings
     Hutchinson
     Hutchison
     Inhofe
     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
     Sessions
     Shelby
     Smith (NH)
     Smith (OR)
     Snowe
     Stevens
     Thomas
     Thompson
     Thurmond
     Torricelli
     Warner
     Wellstone
     Wyden

                                NAYS--2

     Bond
     Breaux
       

                             NOT VOTING--2

     Faircloth
     Specter
       
  The motion was agreed to.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. A quorum is present.
  Mr. LOTT addressed the Chair.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The majority leader.
  Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I yield to Senator McCain for 2 minutes.

[[Page S6511]]

  Mr. McCAIN. Mr. President, I intend to vote with the majority leader 
because I believe that it is not going to serve any useful purpose for 
us to continue in this parliamentary dilemma. I am hoping that 
negotiations and discussions are beginning, that perhaps we can reach 
some agreement and move this issue forward in the future. But right now 
I think we need to move forward with legislation.
  Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I now move to table the pending motion to 
waive, and 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 agreeing to the motion to 
table the motion to waive. The yeas and nays have been ordered. The 
clerk will call the roll.
  The assistant legislative clerk called the roll.
  Mr. NICKLES. I announce that the Senator from North Carolina (Mr. 
Faircloth) is necessarily absent.
  I also announce that the Senator from Pennsylvania (Mr. Specter) is 
absent because of illness.
  The result was announced--yeas 54, nays 44, as follows:

                      [Rollcall Vote No. 164 Leg.]

                                YEAS--54

     Abraham
     Allard
     Ashcroft
     Bennett
     Bond
     Brownback
     Burns
     Byrd
     Campbell
     Chafee
     Coats
     Cochran
     Collins
     Coverdell
     Craig
     D'Amato
     DeWine
     Domenici
     Enzi
     Frist
     Gorton
     Gramm
     Grams
     Grassley
     Gregg
     Hagel
     Hatch
     Helms
     Hutchinson
     Hutchison
     Inhofe
     Jeffords
     Kempthorne
     Kyl
     Lott
     Lugar
     Mack
     McCain
     McConnell
     Murkowski
     Nickles
     Roberts
     Roth
     Santorum
     Sessions
     Shelby
     Smith (NH)
     Smith (OR)
     Snowe
     Stevens
     Thomas
     Thompson
     Thurmond
     Warner

                                NAYS--44

     Akaka
     Baucus
     Biden
     Bingaman
     Boxer
     Breaux
     Bryan
     Bumpers
     Cleland
     Conrad
     Daschle
     Dodd
     Dorgan
     Durbin
     Feingold
     Feinstein
     Ford
     Glenn
     Graham
     Harkin
     Hollings
     Inouye
     Johnson
     Kennedy
     Kerrey
     Kerry
     Kohl
     Landrieu
     Lautenberg
     Leahy
     Levin
     Lieberman
     Mikulski
     Moseley-Braun
     Moynihan
     Murray
     Reed
     Reid
     Robb
     Rockefeller
     Sarbanes
     Torricelli
     Wellstone
     Wyden

                             NOT VOTING--2

     Faircloth
     Specter
       
  The motion to table the motion to waive the Congressional Budget Act 
with respect to amendment No. 2138 was agreed to.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The point of order is sustained and the 
amendment falls.
  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I move to reconsider the vote.
  Mr. THOMAS. I move to lay that motion on the table.
  The motion to lay on the table was agreed to.
  Mr. THOMAS. Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  Mr. KENNEDY. Will the Senator withhold that for 2 minutes so I can 
make a comment?
  Mr. THOMAS. Mr. President, I will withhold for some debate, but not 
for the offering of an amendment.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Smith of Oregon). The Senator from 
Massachusetts.
  Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. President, we have just seen an opportunity for the 
Senate to address the issue of public health for the children of this 
country once again, with the introduction of the legislation by Senator 
Daschle.
  This is going to be the first of many attempts to try to ensure that 
the Senate is going to take action to try to protect the young people 
of this country. That is what this issue is all about. What we have 
just seen as a result of the vote is that the Republican Party is 
stonewalling action here in the U.S. Senate and, evidently, still 
kowtowing to the power of big tobacco and their campaign contributions.
  We are not going to be silent on this issue, and we are going to 
continue to raise it. We believe that it is the most important public 
health issue, certainly for the children of this Nation, and it is an 
issue that is not going to go away.
  So maybe today there is one more opportunity, by a narrow margin, to 
defeat those forces and for a reasonable and responsible approach on 
this issue. This issue is not going to go away. Our Republican friends 
had better get used to addressing it because they are going to have the 
opportunity to do it many more times until we get responsible action 
here, where the Senate is responding to the people's needs, the 
families' needs, not the interest of big tobacco.
  This amendment by Senator Daschle would have given the Senate a 
second chance--an opportunity to reconsider its ill advised action of 
last night. A minority of Republicans used a transparent parliamentary 
ploy to frustrate the will of a majority of the Senate. The two votes 
last night proved that a bipartisan majority of the Senate supports 
tough antismoking legislation. It also proved that an obstructionist 
group of Republicans will stop at nothing to prevent fair consideration 
of the McCain bill. Those Republicans put the interest of the tobacco 
industry above the health of America's children. For the last four 
weeks, they have parroted the messages being broadcast in cigarette 
company advertisements. Last night, they gave their votes as well as 
their voices to Big Tobacco.
  This issue will not go away. It will haunt the Republicans until they 
allow the bipartisan majority which exists to pass strong antismoking 
legislation to do so. Just as the Democratic leader brought the issue 
back to the floor today, we will bring it back again and again. This 
willful band of Republican obstructionists may have killed a bill last 
night and blocked consideration of the Daschle amendment today, but 
they cannot kill an idea whose time has come. Make no mistake, the time 
has come to protect our children from the evil influence of the tobacco 
industry.
  The times has come to stop 3,000 children a day from beginning to 
smoke.
  The time has come to save those children from a lifetime of addiction 
and premature death caused by smoking-induced illness.
  The time has come to raise the price of cigarettes so they will not 
be easily affordable to children.
  The time has come to stop the tobacco industry's targeting of 
children with billions of dollars of seductive and misleading 
advertising.
  The time has come to protect millions of nonsmokers from the health 
hazards of secondhand smoke.
  The time has come to prevent the 400,000 deaths caused each year by 
tobacco use.
  No power on Earth--not even the Republican leadership of the Senate--
can stop an idea whose time has come. The time has come for the Senate 
to reject the perverse influence of Big Tobacco, and to do what is 
right for America's children.
  Mr. THOMAS addressed the Chair.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Wyoming.
  Mr. THOMAS. Mr. President, first I just have to say to the Senator 
from Massachusetts that I am always sort of offended with the idea that 
if someone doesn't agree with him, they are suddenly a captive of 
special interests. I think that is very unfair. There are people who 
have different views, legitimate views, and I think they should be free 
to express those.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to 
debate only until 12 noon.
  Mr. KERRY. Reserving the right to object, and I will not object, I 
wanted to ask for a few minutes before we enter into that debate.
  I am not submitting an amendment. I just wanted to have the right to 
make a comment for 2 minutes.
  Mr. THOMAS. I absolutely have no objection to that. We are simply 
asking that the Senate proceed to debate until 12 o'clock.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The Senator from Massachusetts.
  Mr. KERRY. Mr. President, I want to join my colleague, Senator 
Kennedy, in expressing what just happened here in the Senate. We just 
lost an opportunity to, in effect, begin with a clean bill. The 
complaint yesterday was that the bill had been too loaded down. The 
complaint yesterday was that the process had gotten away from us. In 
effect, what Senator Daschle did was put us back in the place where we 
began, to a committee piece of legislation that came to the floor by a 
vote of 19 to 1. And it was a piece of legislation, before the Lugar 
amendment was put in, before the liability amendment of Senator Gregg 
had passed, before the marriage penalty, before the Coverdell

[[Page S6512]]

drug plan, before all of those things that were accused of loading it 
up. So, in effect, we had an opportunity to really start from scratch 
learning the lessons that the Senate had learned over the course of the 
last 3 weeks. But once again that was rejected.
  As the Senator from Massachusetts said, this will be revisited. This 
issue is not one that will go away. As I said previously, you can run 
but there is no way to hide with respect to the responsibility that is 
expected for our children in the efforts to reduce teenage smoking. 
That will be revisited.
  I yield the floor.
  Mr. FAIRCLOTH. Mr. President, the McCain bill is dead, and I say good 
riddance. It was nothing more than a massive tax increase on working 
Americans to fund an expansion of the Federal government. However, I 
suspect that we will revisit the tobacco issue, and I want to ensure 
that my colleagues remain aware of a critical issue to the people of my 
State. I'm talking about thousands of tobacco farm families. These are 
people who depend on tobacco farming for their livelihood and who share 
a long and proud heritage.
  Mr. President, my farmers are hurting, and we're losing more and more 
of them every year. The tobacco quota continues to drop, but not their 
credit payments, so they're getting squeezed to the limits. Some of 
them are well past their limits and were forced off their farms.
  I believe that we will face the tobacco issue again next year. 
Certainly, whether or not we do a small and far less expensive youth 
access bill without a tax increase at the end of this year, we will 
return to the so-called tobacco settlement next year. If we return to 
this bill next year--not in a politically charged atmosphere just five 
months from Election Day--it will be far easier to manage this process 
and to come up with a reasonable bill that addresses the needs of all 
parties. That means farmers, and that is a critical point, because they 
are the folks on the front line and under fire in this war on tobacco.
  We need to address this issue in a calm and reasonable atmosphere, 
not this hysteria, and I look forward to that debate. The men and women 
of the tobacco family need some certainty. If the Democrats want to 
continue their war against tobacco--and I want to point out that just 
two Democrats voted to kill the McCain bill--I say ``protect the 
farmers'' because they are the innocent victims of this unfair assault. 
This is indeed an unparalleled assault on their crop.
  The farmers need help--and a settlement bill must include this help--
in order to restructure their debt to a manageable level. A long-term 
payment scheme will not service their debt because tobacco production 
will continue to drop. These farmers fear that the creditors will call 
the loans and the fire sales that follow will depress land and 
equipment prices. They can't sustain this assault by their own 
government.
  I want to be sure that the next generation of farmers have 
opportunities to grow tobacco, and I will fight to make sure that they 
have those tools, because they are the future of our nation. They grow 
our food. In Sampson County, North Carolina, where I live, you see the 
slogan ``Support agriculture or try used food,'' and that sums it up. 
We cannot let our farmers suffer. We will not let our farmers suffer.
  I look forward to this debate--I hope it will be a reasonable one 
rather than a tax-and-spend bonanza--and I look forward to the effort 
to prepare our farmers for the future.
  Mr. JEFFORDS addressed the Chair.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Vermont.
  Mr. JEFFORDS. Mr. President, I intend to offer an amendment at an 
appropriate time, probably around noon. What I want to talk about is 
national policy with respect to renewable energy.
  I started on this issue back when I first came to Congress, which was 
in 1975, when this Nation woke up and realized that we were very 
vulnerable to the supply of oil. At that time, you may remember, we had 
lines of cars waiting for gasoline. We had terrible shortages. We 
realized that this Nation, in order to make sure that it had a future, 
had to do something about it. Working with my friends in the House, at 
that time we established a wind energy program, which is still going 
strong. We also increased the funding in research into solar energy and 
the advantages that it gives to our society to recognize that the Sun 
is a tremendous source of energy and that it can be harnessed. We also 
looked at biomass options as well.
  Subsequent to that, when I came to the Senate, I also worked with the 
committee that handles it on the authorizing side. We developed a 
national policy. I had hoped that national policy would have mandated 
the course of action necessary to get this Nation to have 30 percent of 
its energy supplied by renewable sources. However, every word of my 
amendment was adopted except one, and that one was, instead of 
``shall,'' it said ``may.'' That kind of switched things around as far 
as its importance. But the importance to continue to move forward to 
shift our dependence on foreign oil is something that has not gone 
away.
  At that time, we established a chart of where we ought to be. Right 
now, under that chart of going towards 30 percent of our energy to come 
from renewable, it is at 10 percent. That is where we are supposed to 
be on course. We are not. We are at 8 percent.
  What has happened now in this bill is that we have seen that 
renewables are cut and whereas, although things are perhaps more 
popular, or whatever items are increased, renewables are cut. Last year 
we got an additional $20 million approved, but when it got to 
conference, it disappeared. We are not making the kind of progress that 
this Nation needs in order to be able to become less dependent and, 
hopefully, someday independent of foreign sources.
  If we look at the world situation now, we should understand that the 
largest amount of oil right now to take out of the ground, so to speak, 
is not available. The Crimean, which is one of the most volatile areas 
in the world, has the most oil that has to be looked to for the future. 
I think it is about 70 percent of what is available at the world level. 
The second area is the Persian Gulf. Obviously, neither of those is 
very close to us. So our dependency is increasing.
  If you want to take a volatile area, you ought to take Crimea, right 
in the middle of one of the most volatile situations right now, 
including the areas of Pakistan all the way up through to Russia at the 
other end. And you have Iran and Iraq in the area. Those are areas that 
the pipelines would have to go through. Incredibly, also with expanding 
availability of nuclear weapons, these are very fragile areas. To think 
that we would have to rely upon them is very difficult. The same is 
true also, of course, with the Persian Gulf. Everyone is familiar with 
the problems we had in the Persian Gulf and the nonreliability at 
certain times of the availability of that oil.

  The question is, What should we do? We decided years ago that we 
could get to 30 percent, really, with utilization and to a large extent 
of biomass, as well as wind and solar energy, and that we could do it 
with little or no increase in the cost of availability of the fuel, but 
it could give us the kind of utility we need. As I pointed out, we have 
not made any progress in recent years. In fact, we are sliding back 
from where we ought to be.
  So the amendment that Senator Roth and I will offer today is about 
priorities. I think we all agree that increased domestic energy 
production should be a priority. We would agree that a lower balance of 
payments should be a priority. We would stand up to U.S. companies 
selling U.S. manufactured energy technologies in overseas markets. We 
would cheer the increased jobs, which would mean for every State in the 
Nation. We would support the small companies across this Nation working 
to capture the booming global energy market. We would make it a 
priority to increase domestic energy production and promote clean air. 
But that is not what has happened here. The bill before us further 
whittles away at our Nation's efforts to wean itself from foreign oil.
  The priorities in the bill for our Nation's energy policy go back 
years. This legislation will erode our efforts to develop technologies 
that increase domestic energy production. This bill ends commitments 
made to small energy companies that depend on Federal

[[Page S6513]]

assistance to enter the giant global energy market. The funding levels 
contained here reduce our Nation's efforts to make major advancements 
in energy development, energy that is affordable, that is a clean, and, 
most importantly, made in America.
  Today, Senator Roth and I offer an amendment to increase our Nation's 
investment in clean domestic production. The amendment would restore 
funding to the Department of Energy's renewable research and 
development budget.
  Mr. President, the fiscal year 1999 energy and water appropriations 
bill cuts funding for solar, cuts funding for wind, cuts funding for 
biomass, cuts funding for hydrogen, cuts funding for geothermal, and 
cuts funding for hydropower research and development by $120 million, 
or 33 percent below the administration's request, and $20 million from 
the fiscal year 1998 level. This $380 million account takes a $120 
million cut. The amendment we offer today simply attempts to add back 
half this level, or $70 million, to the renewables budget.

  A vote for this amendment is a vote to reduce our country's 
dependence on foreign oil from rogue nations like Iraq. A vote for this 
amendment is a vote to support small businesses all across the United 
States that produce clean renewable energy products. A vote for this 
amendment is a vote to help the same small businesses grab onto a chunk 
of that rapidly growing export market for renewable products. A vote 
for this amendment is a vote for cleaner air for our children.
  Mr. President, I am going to address each of these reasons of why my 
colleagues should support this bill in turn.
  Nearly half of all of our Nation's oil is imported today. These 
imports account for almost $60 billion, or 36 percent; 36 percent of 
the trade deficit is in this one area. These are U.S. dollars being 
shipped overseas to the Middle East which could be put to better use 
here at home.
  Consider the following chart, chart No. 1. This chart shows that the 
U.S. Energy Information Administration predicts that we will import 
even more of our oil, two-thirds of all oil we consume, by the year 
2020. That means we will continue to be held hostage by oil-producing 
nations, including rogue nations like Iraq.
  This chart, as you can see way out here, shows we are just going to 
have increased prices in oil and all sorts of difficulty as we get out 
to 2020. U.S. petroleum imports are expected to reach two-thirds of 
consumption in the year 2020.
  Our second chart, Mr. President, shows that we are not alone in our 
increasing dependence on foreign sources of oil. The Energy Information 
Administration also predicts that by the year 2020 the Persian Gulf 
will supply one-half of the world's oil exports--one-half. Why would we 
continue to increase our addiction to that very volatile area of the 
world?
  We can reduce our dependence on Persian oil by continuing our 
investment in a clean domestic energy. I believe that these charts 
demonstrate very clearly that action must be taken. The goals that we 
set a few years ago to say that we should be at 30 percent of 
renewables must be adhered to.
  Chart No. 3 shows that the United States currently obtains 8 percent 
of our energy from renewable sources. That is OK, but we can do better. 
We should do better. We must do better. In fact, in 1991, during 
consideration of the Policy Act, the Congress agreed to an amendment to 
boost our percentage of renewable power to 20 percent by the year 2000 
and 30 percent by the year 2010. How will we ever get there if we keep 
cutting our commitment to the small businesses across the Nation that 
are moving forward with these technologies?
  Chart No. 3, as you can see, indicates what we had in 1996. We had 
petroleum, 38.1 percent; nuclear, 7.6; renewables, 7.9; coal, 22.4; 
natural gas, 24 percent.
  This percentage--7.9--if we were on target, if we were doing what we 
agreed to do when the act was passed, would now be 10 percent. It is 
not approaching the goal that we have agreed upon as a national 
priority.
  Chart No. 4 shows that renewable energy is produced in every State in 
the United States. I think all Senators ought to take that into 
consideration. What you are doing is hurting the small businesses 
located in every State in the United States. Every Senator in the 
United States is a stakeholder in the debate we are having on the floor 
today.

  Let us take a look now at the next chart that we have. I think 
pictures make points better than words. I want to share with you 
pictures of a variety of renewable energy projects across the country.
  This is chart No. 5. It shows the Kotzebue Electric Association 
village power project. It is in Alaska. It is a wind project coming 
about from the bill that was put into effect at the end of the 1970s.
  This project will reduce emissions from diesel power and will reduce 
fuel transport costs to villagers. It is in existence. It is one that 
is easily replicated. It should be available, but we need to have more 
assistance, and we cannot cut back on that assistance which has been so 
productive in getting us the improvements we have had.
  Chart No. 6, this shows you the geographic distribution throughout 
our Nation. It shows that in the State of Oklahoma we have taxpayer 
dollars employing a geothermal heat pump in the State capitol building. 
This is geothermal, which obviously is another available energy supply, 
but we still need to have the research and the ability to replicate and 
duplicate and to find out better ways to be able to tap and utilize 
geothermal.
  Chart No. 7 gets to another--this one is where we have the most 
availability in this Nation and where we can proceed without in any way 
hampering the present energy sources. We have the ability in this 
Nation with all its agricultural resources to produce biomass energy 
which would allow us to go forward to get to the targeted goals. But 
that is cut back.
  This is the Bioten Biomass Plant, Red Boiling Springs, TN. This 
project produces energy from sawdust and will test other biomass fuels 
including wood residues and agricultural wastes.
  The next one we have is chart No. 8, which is the Stirling Dish 
Concentration Engine at Sandia National Laboratory in Albuquerque, NM--
a great State, New Mexico. This system, created through a public/
private partnership, uses heat generated by the Sun's rays to produce 
utility grade electric power.
  The next is a solar-powered school speed limit sign. This is an 
interesting use of solar energy--reducing dependence on electric power 
and ensuring that it works anytime the Sun is up, whether there are 
clouds or not.
  Chart No. 10 is entitled ``Waterfront Office Buildings.'' Mr. 
President, not only do these projects currently help, but they will not 
be moving forward as fast as they could if we don't at least put some 
of the money back that is used to fund it. Waterfront office buildings, 
these are located in Louisville, KY. These buildings are heated and 
cooled by geothermal heat pumps, saving the hotel $25,000 per month in 
utility costs.
  Mr. President, these are the types of things we are looking at.
  I see my good friend and cosponsor is here. If he would like to take 
some time, I am happy to yield the floor to him.
  Mr. ROTH. I thank the Senator. I appreciate his offer as I am in a 
conference on IRS and it is important that I get back there as promptly 
as possible.
  I appreciate the opportunity to speak briefly on this most important 
amendment.
  Mr. President, as you know, Senator Jeffords and I are offering an 
amendment today that will restore funding for renewable energy programs 
in the fiscal year 1999 energy and water appropriation's bill. The 
renewable energy program has been cut by 33 percent below the 
administration request and $27 million below fiscal year 1998 levels. 
This amendment would add $70 million back to the renewable budget 
restoring all programs to fiscal year 1998 levels and boosting some 
programs 10-20 percent more. Even with these increases, America's 
investment in wind, solar, biomass, and other clean energy technologies 
will be well below the funding levels of 3 years ago.
  Mr. President, renewable energy technologies represent our best hopes 
for reducing air pollution, creating jobs and decreasing our reliance 
on imported oil and finite supplies of fossil fuels. Whatever one's 
position on the

[[Page S6514]]

issue of climate change--these programs promise to supply economically 
competitive and commercially viable exports. I believe that the nation 
should be looking toward alternative forms of energy, not taking a step 
backward by cutting funding for these important programs.
  My own state of Delaware has a long tradition in solar energy. In 
1972, the University of Delaware established one of the first 
photovoltaic laboratories in the nation. The university has been 
instrumental in developing photovoltaic cells, the same type of 
technology that powers solar watches and calculators.
  Delaware has a major solar energy manufacturer, Astro Power, which is 
now the fastest growing manufacturer of photovoltaic cells in the 
world. In collaboration with the University of Delaware and Astro 
Power, Delaware's major utility--Delmarva Power & Light--has installed 
an innovative solar energy system that has successfully demonstrated 
the use of solar power to satisfy peak electrical demand. Through this 
collaboration, my State has demonstrated that solar energy technology 
can be an economically competitive and commercially viable energy 
alternative for the utility industry.
  It is vital that we continue to manufacture these solar cell products 
with the high performance, high quality, and low costs required to 
successfully compete worldwide.
  Investment in Department of Energy solar and renewable energy 
programs has put us on the threshold of explosive growth. Continuation 
of the present renewable energy programs is required to achieve the 
goal of a healthy photovoltaic industry in the United States.
  While the solar energy industries might have evolved in some form on 
their own Federal investment has accelerated the transition from the 
laboratory bench to commercial markets in a way that has already 
accrued valuable economic benefits to the nation. Solar energy 
companies--like Astro Power--have already created thousands of jobs and 
helped to reduce our trade deficit through exports of solar energy 
systems overseas, mostly to developing nations, where 2 billion people 
are still without access to electricity.
  International markets for solar energy systems are virtually 
exploding, due to several key market trends. Most notably, solar energy 
is already one of the lowest cost options available to developing 
countries that cannot afford to build large, expensive centralized 
power generation facilities with elaborate distribution systems.
  The governments of Japan, Germany, and Australia are investing 
heavily in aggressive technology and market development in partnership 
with their own solar energy industries. Until recently, Japan and 
Germany held the lead in world market share for photovoltaics; the 
United States has only recently recaptured international market 
dominance.
  Cutting funding for commercializing these technologies would have a 
chilling effect on the U.S. industry's ability to compete on an 
international scale in these billion-dollar markets of today and 
tomorrow. The employment potential of renewables represents a minimum 
of 15,000 new jobs this decade with nearly 120,000 the next decade.
  Mr. President, I might also add biomass is another form of renewable 
energy with great potential. While traditionally biomass includes the 
use of wood chips and trash to create electricity, Maryland and 
Delaware are exploring the opportunities to use poultry manure as a 
biomass fuel. Manure used in this manner would not be spread on fields, 
a practice implicated by some as a cause of the recent outbreaks of 
pfiesteria.
  The electricity generated by the plant could then be sold to electric 
companies, the ash from the burning manure could be marketed as an 
environmentally sensitive fertilizer. In England the poultry litter 
fueled electric plants produce over 38.5 megawatts of power and burn 
440,000 tons of chicken manure a year.
  The Jeffords/Roth amendment will restore the renewable energy 
accounts so that poultry manure fired plants and other renewable 
opportunities may become a real possibility in the future.
  It is imperative that this Senate support renewable energy 
technologies and be a partner to an energy future that addresses our 
economic needs in an environmentally acceptable manner. My State has 
done and will continue to do its part. I hope my colleagues in the 
Senate will look to the future and do their part in securing a safe and 
reliable energy future by supporting this amendment.
  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Enzi). The Chair recognizes the Senator 
from Vermont.
  Mr. JEFFORDS. Mr. President, I thank the Senator from Delaware for 
his very eloquent statement and for his dedication to trying to get 
this Nation on the course it needs to be, to get off its dependency on 
oil. It has been a pleasure working with him over the years, and I look 
forward to continuing to do so.
  I also would like to add two other Senators as cosponsors of this 
amendment: Senator Moynihan of New York, and also Senator Allard from 
Colorado.
  Mr. President, when I turned over the discussion to Senator Roth, we 
were in the middle of going through charts which demonstrate right now 
the tremendous effort that is going on, and what needs assistance to 
make it even better, because we are sliding behind the results at this 
point of where we ought to be from these charts.
  The last one I showed, to start over again, is the Waterfront Office 
Building in Louisville, KY, where they are using geothermal--which, 
incidentally, can use heat to cool, which is sometimes a little 
confusing. But the way it uses its geothermal, it saves this hotel 
$25,000 a month.
  Now, let us take a look at some of these other charts so everyone 
here has a better opportunity to understand the depth of interest and 
the depth of participation in this Nation by private enterprises which 
are trying to reduce the Nation's dependence upon oil. That enthusiasm 
is out there, but it needs to be assisted. It needs to be demonstrated 
that we can even do better than we are doing, and we are nowheres doing 
as much as we used to be.
  The next chart, chart 11, indicates several States have greater wind 
potential than California, where the vast majority of wind development 
has occurred to date. The top 20 States for wind energy potential 
include North Dakota, Texas, Kansas, South Dakota, Montana, Nebraska, 
Wyoming, Oklahoma, Minnesota, Iowa, Colorado, New Mexico, Idaho, 
Michigan, New York, Illinois, California, Wisconsin, Maine and 
Missouri. That just gives you an idea. We should add Vermont to that. 
Recently, we have opened our own wind production in the southern part 
of the State. But this shows the States right now, the top 20 States, 
as measured by their energy projections for wind. Obviously, wind is 
pretty free and there is a lot of it in this country. In fact, there is 
a lot of it right here in this Chamber, but we do need to better 
utilize it for a more effective presentation of our efforts to be able 
to save energy.
  Now, let's look at the next chart we have, chart 12. Consider the two 
quotes on this chart. The first quote reads:

       In 1995, worldwide wind-power generation capacity was 4,900 
     megawatts. . . .

  That is 1 million watts. That was China alone.

  The second quote reads:

       In the past 10 years, PV sales worldwide have more than 
     quadrupled . . . In developing countries, demand has risen 
     significantly, fueled by the recognition that PV systems are 
     an attractive option to rural electrification in isolated, 
     inaccessible communities that are distant from the power--

  Sources. Those are photovoltaics. PV is photovoltaics, taking the Sun 
and converting it, through utilization usually of silicon, to 
electricity. It is a wonderful source. It is free. It comes from the 
Sun, and it is increasing worldwide.
  As it says here:

       In the past years, PV sales worldwide have more than 
     quadrupled . . . In developing countries, demand has risen 
     significantly, fueled by the recognition that photovoltaic 
     systems are an attractive option for rural electrification in 
     isolated, inaccessible communities that are distant from the 
     power grid and have small electric requirements.

  This is a tremendous source for exporting our technology and our 
systems around the world. In fact, when I was in the House, I did get 
an amendment attached which made demonstration projects at our 
embassies throughout the world to demonstrate how usable the Sun is to 
produce power and how effective it is.

[[Page S6515]]

  In the past 10 years alone, photovoltaic sales worldwide have more 
than doubled. That is chart No. 12. American renewable businesses are 
taking advantage of these markets.
  Consider this chart, chart No. 13. This chart shows a wind turbine 
produced by a small wind turbine manufacturer in my State. This turbine 
was built in Vermont and exported to Ontario, Canada. There is a large 
market for export of U.S. wind turbines to northern communities in 
Alaska, Canada and Russia. This is a picture of one. We have several of 
these in Vermont now. They are throughout the world, and they are not 
at all offensive. They are quiet. They make a lot of energy. This is a 
large market for companies in this country.
  Although America is still a leader in developing renewable energy 
technologies, this lead may slip if we lower our renewable research and 
development funding. Europe and Japan continue to subsidize their 
renewable industry, putting U.S.-based companies at severe 
disadvantage.
  For example, Japan, Germany and Denmark use tied aid, offer financing 
and provide export promotion for their domestic industries, and our 
industries have to compete with that. It is very difficult to do, but 
because of the success and the fact that we have advantages, they have 
been able to survive with great difficulty without having that 
assistance or loans. This is not the time to lose our lead or to cut 
funding out to this important industry.
  Mr. President, there is one final reason why my colleagues should 
overwhelmingly support this amendment. This amendment is a vote for the 
environment. Renewable energy is largely free of the pollutants 
regulated by the Clean Air Act.
  Chart No. 14 demonstrates this. Consider this geothermal power plant 
in Dixie Valley, NV. This plant, which produces electricity for 100,000 
people produces no NOX emissions and 5 percent as much 
SOX and CO2 as a coal-fired power plant of the 
same size. Five percent, that is 95 percent reduction in the production 
of those pollutants. We need more of these plants, like the one in 
Dixie Valley, NV.
  Renewable energy can have other environmental benefits as well. 
Consider the following projects, all of which turn waste products into 
energy.

  Chart No. 15: Westinghouse Power Connection. This one is a biomass 
gasification test facility in Paia, Island of Maui, HI. A pilot project 
demonstrates potential to convert agricultural waste--sugar cane--into 
electricity. Again, back to biomass which has incredible use available 
to us.
  The next chart shows Wheelabrator Shasta Energy Co., a biomass 
project in Shasta County, CA. This project converts wood wastes that 
would otherwise end up in landfills into 49 megawatts of electric 
power.
  The next chart--if I am right, we should have 50, one for every 
State. We will see how we turn out here. This is the BC International 
Corporation biomass ethanol plant in Jennings, LA. This plant will be 
retrofitted to produce ethanol from sugar cane, bagasse and rice waste.
  The next chart will also demonstrate the number of plants we have 
spread throughout the country. This is in Connecticut; a fuel cell 
power plant, Groton, CT. The fuel cell plant uses hydrogen from 
landfill gas that otherwise would be wasted to create electricity. It 
is another indication of the tremendous breadth of expertise we have in 
this Nation to produce. All we have to do is make sure we don't cut 
back in their planning and ability to create many of the experimental 
plants.
  Let me now conclude by, again, reminding everyone, we are proposing 
to add $70 million in our amendment to the Department of Energy's 
solar, wind and renewable budget. Federal support for renewable energy 
research and development has been a major success story in the United 
States. Costs have declined, reliability has improved, and a growing 
domestic industry has been born. More work still needs to be done in 
basic research at our national labs and applied development to bring 
down the costs of production even further. This is a tremendous 
opportunity for this Nation to develop industries which will help us 
reduce our trade deficits.
  This is not a vote which pits Senators from one region of the country 
against Senators from another region. I think I have shown that all 
regions of the country benefit from renewable energy. This is not a 
vote which pits probusiness Senators against proenvironmental Senators. 
I think I have shown that renewable energy is a clean, environmentally 
beneficial industry. This is not a vote which pits Democrats against 
Republicans.
  Chart No. 19: Consider this quote from former President Bush in 
September 1991. President Bush stated:

       We must encourage environmentally responsible development 
     of all U.S. energy resources, including renewable energy. 
     Renewable energy does reduce demand upon our other finite 
     natural resources. It enhances our energy security, and 
     clearly, it protects the environment.
  So just before I offer the amendment, I would like to thank my 
colleagues who are cosponsoring it with me and urge--urge--my 
colleagues to sincerely consider the tremendous advantages which this 
amendment will have and to remind you, at present, we are cutting 
back--while going forward on other less necessary projects--we are 
cutting back on that which is most critical to the future of this 
Nation in its ability to gain the semblance of energy independence. We 
are slipping behind the chart and the goals that we have established. 
We cannot cut back in the funding that will help us get there.
  I ask unanimous consent to have printed in the Record a table which 
sets forth the provisions in the amendment.
  There being no objection, the table was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                                  Plus 50
                                                  Fiscal year  Fiscal year    Mark to      Mark to     To get to       Plus      percent of
                                     Fiscal year      1999         1999         1999      President   fiscal year    specific       what      Total adds
                                         1998      President    Committee    (percent)    (percent)       1998         adds      President
                                                                   mark                                                          asked for
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Solar energy:
    Solar building technology              2,720        5,000        3,600          +32          -28  ...........  ...........          260          260
     research......................
    PV energy systems..............       66,511       78,800       57,100          -14          -27        9,411  ...........        6,445       15,856
    Solar thermal energy systems...       16,775       22,500       17,100           +2          -24  ...........        2,000      2,517.5     4,517.50
    Biomass--Biopower..............       28,600       42,900       22,800          -20          -47        5,800  ...........        7,150       12,950
    Biomass--Biofuels..............       31,150       46,891       36,213          +16          -44  ...........        2,000      2,870.5     4,870.50
    Wind energy systems............       33,030       43,500       33,200  ...........          -24  ...........  ...........        5,065        5,065
    REPI...........................        3,000        4,000        3,000  ...........          -25  ...........  ...........         1000        1,000
    Solar program support..........            0       14,000        4,000          n/a          -71  ...........  ...........        3,000        3,000
    International solar energy             1,375        8,800        3,400         +247          -61  ...........  ...........      1,687.5      1,687.5
     program.......................
    Solar technology transfer......            0        1,360            0  ...........         -100  ...........  ...........          680          680
    NREL...........................        1,000        5,000        1,000  ...........          -80  ...........  ...........        4,000        4,000
    Construction: 96 E-............        2,200            0            0         -100  ...........  ...........  ...........  ...........  ...........
Total, solar.......................      186,361      272,751      181,423           -1          -29  ...........  ...........  ...........  ...........
Geothermal.........................       29,500       33,000       18,000          -39          -45       11,500  ...........        1,750       13,250
Hydrogen research..................       16,250       24,000       29,000          +79          +21  ...........  ...........  ...........  ...........
Hydropower.........................          750        4,000        4,000         +533  ...........  ...........  ...........  ...........  ...........
Renewable Indian energy resources..        4,000            0        4,000  ...........          n/a  ...........  ...........  ...........  ...........
Electric energy systems and storage       44,450       38,500       42,500           -4          +11  ...........  ...........  ...........  ...........
Federal building/Remote power              5,000            0        3,000          -40          n/a        2,000  ...........  ...........        2,000
 initiative........................
Program direction..................       15,651       17,000       15,651  ...........           -8  ...........  ...........        674.5       674.50
      Subtotal.....................      301,652      389,251      297,574           -1          -24  ...........  ...........  ...........  ...........
Use of prior year balances.........  ...........  ...........            0  ...........  ...........  ...........  ...........  ...........  ...........
                                    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Total........................      301,962      389,251      297,574           -1          -24       28,711        4,000       37,100       69,811
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


[[Page S6516]]

                           Amendment No. 2715

    (Purpose: To increase funding for energy supply, research, and 
 development activities relating to renewable energy sources, with an 
                                offset)

  Mr. JEFFORDS. Mr. President, is my amendment at the desk?
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the amendment.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       The Senator from Vermont [Mr. Jeffords], for himself, Mr. 
     Harkin, Mr. Moynihan and Mr. Allard, proposes an amendment 
     numbered 2715.

  Mr. JEFFORDS. 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 page 21, lines 2 and 3, strike ``$699,836,000, to remain 
     available until October 1, 2000, of which'' and insert 
     ``$758,854,000, to remain available until October 1, 2000, of 
     which not less than $3,860,000 shall be available for solar 
     building technology research, not less than $72,966,000 shall 
     be available for photovoltaic energy systems, not less than 
     $21,617,500 shall be available for solar thermal energy 
     systems (of which not less than $3,000,000 shall be available 
     for the dish/engine field verification initiative), not less 
     than $35,750,000 shall be available for power systems in 
     biomass/biofuels energy systems, not less than $41,083,500 
     shall be available for transportation in biomass/biofuels 
     energy systems (of which not less than $3,000,000 shall be 
     available to fund the Consortium for Plant Biotechnology 
     Research), not less than $38,265,000 shall be available for 
     wind energy systems, not less than $4,000,000 shall be 
     available for the renewable energy production incentive 
     program, not less than $7,000,000 shall be available for 
     solar program support, not less than $5,087,500 shall be 
     available for the international solar energy program, not 
     less than $680,000 shall be available for solar technology 
     transfer, not less than $5,000,000 shall be available for the 
     National Renewable Energy Laboratory, not less than 
     $31,250,000 shall be available for geothermal technology 
     development, not less than $5,000,000 shall be available for 
     the Federal building/Remote power initiative, not less than 
     $16,325,500 shall be available for program direction,''.
       On page 36, between lines 13 and 14, insert the following:

     SEC. 3.    OFFSETTING REDUCTIONS.

       Each amount made available under the headings ``non-defense 
     environmental management'', ``uranium enrichment 
     decontamination and decommissioning fund'', ``science'', and 
     ``departmental administration'' under the heading ``Energy 
     Programs'' and ``construction, rehabilitation, operation and 
     maintenance, western area power administration (including 
     transfer of funds)'' under the heading ``Power Marketing 
     Administrations'' is reduced by 1.586516988447 percent.
       Prior year balances may not be reduced if they are 
     obligated under an existing written agreement or contract to 
     laboratories, universities or industry.
       Appropriate use of funds to support meetings and technical 
     conferences are allowed consistent with DOE's mission.
       Funding increases for this amendment are for cost-shared 
     RD&D, deployment, and technology transfer via technical and 
     trade associations and allied non-governmental organizations.

  Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. President, I strongly support the Jeffords/Roth 
Amendment to the Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act, which 
will substantially increase funding for renewable energy programs.
  The Jeffords/Roth amendment is critical to an industry that will be 
at the forefront of energy production in the next century. Renewable 
energy will bring major economic benefits and major environmental 
benefits to the nation. This amendment provides us with the opportunity 
to become leaders in this booming global market.
  At the same time, increased renewable energy technology will decrease 
our dependence on foreign oil and reduce the trade deficit. We will 
have greater protection from harmful oil price shocks. Funding for 
renewable energy now will clearly strengthen our competitiveness in the 
worldwide energy market for the 21st century.
  Equally important, the Jeffords/Roth amendment reaffirms the nation's 
commitment to the environment. Renewable energy enables us to reduce 
the emissions from other energy sources that are polluting our air and 
water. It helps to curb the largest current source of pollution in the 
United States--energy production and energy use. Bringing innovative 
research from the laboratory to the market will also ensure the 
protection of our limited natural resources for a sustainable future.
  Currently, millions of Americans already obtain electricity from 
renewable energy sources. These advances are just a hint of the 
possibilities of cleaner, safer energy production in the years ahead. 
This amendment allows the U.S. to maintain its leading role in global 
clean energy technology. I support this amendment, and I commend 
Senators Jeffords and Roth for their leadership in protecting our 
environment and our economy.
  Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, I have the pleasure of joining Senator 
Jeffords to rise in support of the renewable energy programs within the 
Energy and Water Appropriations bill. First, I would like to thank 
Senator Domenici for accepting the Jeffords/Roth amendment to increase 
funding for these vital programs. With the dramatic changes taking 
place in the energy sector, our nation is faced with many opportunities 
to increase our consumption of renewable energy sources. There are two 
trends in the energy sector converging to make this change possible--
utility restructuring and decreasing costs for renewable energy.
  In my home State of Vermont, renewable technology companies are 
building wind turbines that are used in Europe, the Far East and South 
America. Unfortunately, the United States is behind much of the world 
in adopting wind and other renewable energy technology. Much more work 
needs to be done to spur the utilization of renewable energy. Although 
the cost of renewable energy has decreased significantly over the last 
decade, it still must compete against the artificially low cost of 
fossil energy. As we see the level of mercury and other heavy metals 
increase in our lakes while the views of our mountains are obscured by 
air pollutants--the need to find alternative sources of energy becomes 
all the more vivid.
  Recent articles have highlighted the public's interest in maintaining 
renewable power as an option for meeting their energy needs. The last 
two decades have witnessed a decline in the cost of renewable energy. 
Research by the Energy Department and the commitment of private energy 
companies has produced this decline. As a nation, we must build upon 
this partnership and encourage the private sector to continue to 
develop cost-reducing technology. Unfortunately, the recent trend in 
federal research funding has not supported this partnership.
  Wind Energy Research and development program has been extraordinarily 
successful in bringing down the cost of wind-generated electricity. To 
allow expansion of this large resource base, and to allow wind energy 
to be competitive in an era of utility restructuring that emphasizes 
low initial cost and independent power projects, significant 
improvements to the technology are still needed to reach the Program's 
goal of 2.5 cents per kilowatt by 2000. In addition, research and 
analysis relating to restructuring in the electric utility industry 
should be conducted on issues associated with integration of wind and 
other renewable energy systems into an increasingly competitive 
industry framework.
  Vermont is also leading the country in the deployment of biomass 
technology--both large and small. We are proud that the Department of 
Energy selected the McNeil Plant in Burlington to conduct a full scale 
demonstration of biomass gasification. In February, the project made 
history when the plant produced gas for fuel from wood chips. The 
effort at McNeil to demonstrate how our country can produce energy from 
renewable crops makes sense to Vermonters who have already embraced 
biomass as a renewable source of energy. Twenty State office buildings 
and eighteen schools use biomass for heat during the winter.
  By increasing funding for renewable energy by $65 million, the 
Jeffords/Roth amendment will help us make this leap. Mr. President, 
this amendment makes sense for our future and our children's future. 
Our children should be able to enjoy sustainable, clean and renewable 
energy.
  Mr. REID addressed the Chair.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Chair recognizes the Senator from Nevada.
  Mr. REID. I compliment and applaud the Senator from Vermont and those 
who have joined in this amendment. As we have said earlier, the 
administration recommended a higher level for this particular program--
solar and renewable. The movers of this amendment have also recommended 
that this

[[Page S6517]]

body move higher with solar and renewable. I think that their efforts 
are certainly to be congratulated.
  It is a very difficult bill, as we have explained on other occasions. 
There is a limited amount of money to do a number of different things. 
The Senator from Vermont has done a very good job of explaining the 
importance of renewable energy in this country. Of course, he mentioned 
a number of programs in Nevada that are important. We have geothermal. 
We have solar that we are working on. So we certainly look forward to 
working with him on this amendment.
  I am waiting for the manager to come back. I think there is a good 
chance we may accept this amendment. I know it is acceptable on this 
side.
  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. JEFFORDS. 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. JEFFORDS. Mr. President, after discussions with the chairman of 
the subcommittee and the ranking member, I understand that we are in a 
position where the amendment can be accepted with striking a certain 
provision. I am doing that and am going to accept that proposition with 
the understanding that there will be a strong effort to fight to 
maintain the amendment as best they can in the committee of conference, 
because the history has been that on these amendments, which have been 
accepted in the past, they kind of disappear in conference. But I have 
the good-faith-effort commitment of the Senator from New Mexico, and I 
accept that, as I know him and I know his character; and the same with 
the Senator from Nevada.
  So, Mr. President, I now move to amend my amendment by striking all 
after line 8 on page 3 of the amendment.
  Mr. DOMENICI. Would you not do that for a moment?
  Mr. JEFFORDS. I withdraw my request.
  Mr. DOMENICI. I don't want any misunderstanding. I don't want the 
Senator withdrawing that based upon a unilateral statement that he has 
made.
  I think I must make my statement in the Record.
  Mr. JEFFORDS. I appreciate that.
  Mr. DOMENICI. Then the Senator can do whatever he wants--leave it in 
and we have a fight or take it out and we accept it.
  Mr. President, I am not committing that I will return in the 
conference with this fully funded. I don't know that I can do that. 
What I am suggesting is I will do my dead-level best. I don't go there 
with the intention of throwing the amendment away. I go there intending 
to try to see if we can fund it. I have every confidence that we will 
find some money to exceed what is in the bill. Now, whether it can be 
exactly this amount or not, I have no idea at this point. That will be 
the dynamics, and a lot of things in the amendment that are very 
difficult that I am not agreeing to right now.
  I am agreeing to accept the amendment and we will take it to 
conference on those terms. The Senator can rely on what I have just 
said.
  With that, if he will remove the handwritten part that was added, 
that is fine. If he does not want to, then clearly I don't have any 
reluctance to having a full-blown debate on this amendment today. I 
have plenty of time. I don't want to do that if we can get it done the 
way we have just talked about, otherwise we will just proceed.
  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I have already said that I appreciate the 
offer of the amendment by the Senator from Vermont and the statement by 
the Senator from Delaware.
  I have indicated that Senator Domenici and I have had and will work 
to increase the number that we have in this bill. We have all been to 
conferences and we will do the very best we can. I believe in these 
programs. I think it would be to everyone's interest that we go ahead 
on that basis. I don't think it would serve anyone's interest, after we 
have agreed to accept this amendment, to now have a full debate on it. 
If, in fact, my friend from Vermont wants one, we can do that. There 
are things in the program we can all talk about that I think would be 
better left for a later time.
  But I will do my share with the chairman of the subcommittee, with 
those of us on this side of the aisle in the conference, to do 
everything we can to raise the number as high as we can.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Does the Senator wish to modify his amendment?
  Mr. JEFFORDS. I want to, first of all, make a comment or two. I thank 
both the leaders on this bill. I respect their comments. I also know 
that you cannot promise anything when you get into conference, but I 
will also be watching very carefully because in the past we have not 
had any success in holding these amendments.
  I understand, though, that the administration is strongly in favor of 
more funding. I understand there may be additional funding in the 
health provision, so I expect that we will be able to get a significant 
increase at this time.


                    Amendment No. 2715, as Modified

  Mr. DOMENICI. Has the modification taken place?
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The modification has not taken place yet.
  Mr. JEFFORDS. Mr. President, I send a modification of my amendment to 
the desk.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The amendment is so modified.
  The amendment, (No. 2715) as modified, is as follows:

       On page 21, lines 2 and 3, strike ``$699,836,000, to remain 
     available until October 1, 2000, of which'' and insert 
     ``$758,854,000, to remain available until October 1, 2000, of 
     which not less than $3,860,000 shall be available for solar 
     building technology research, not less than $72,966,000 shall 
     be available for photovoltaic energy systems, not less than 
     $21,617,500 shall be available for solar thermal energy 
     systems (of which not less than $3,000,000 shall be available 
     for the dish/engine field verification initiative), not less 
     than $35,750,000 shall be available for power systems in 
     biomass/biofuels energy systems, not less than $41,083,500 
     shall be available for transportation in biomass/biofuels 
     energy systems (of which not less than $3,000,000 shall be 
     available to fund the Consortium for Plant Biotechnology 
     Research), not less than $38,265,000 shall be available for 
     wind energy systems, not less than $4,000,000 shall be 
     available for the renewable energy production incentive 
     program, not less than $7,000,000 shall be available for 
     solar program support, not less than $5,087,500 shall be 
     available for the international solar energy program, not 
     less than $680,000 shall be available for solar technology 
     transfer, not less than $5,000,000 shall be available for the 
     National Renewable Energy Laboratory, not less than 
     $31,250,000 shall be available for geothermal technology 
     development, not less than $5,000,000 shall be available for 
     the Federal building/Remote power initiative, not less than 
     $16,325,500 shall be available for program direction,''.
       On page 36, between lines 13 and 14, insert the following:

     SEC. 3__ OFFSETTING REDUCTIONS.

       Each amount made available under the headings ``non-defense 
     environmental management'', ``uranium enrichment 
     decontamination and decommissioning fund'', ``science'', and 
     ``departmental administration'' under the heading ``Energy 
     Programs'' and ``construction, rehabilitation, operation and 
     maintenance, western area power administration (including 
     transfer of funds)'' under the heading ``Power Marketing 
     Administrations'' is reduced by 1.586516988447 percent.

  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there further debate on the amendment?
  Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, we have no further debate on the 
amendment. We are going to accept it.
  I will make a little comment about what happened to the budget from 
the President of the United States as it pertains to this bill. First 
of all, the President of the United States, in the budget he submitted 
to the U.S. Congress, is responsible for the fact that we don't have 
enough money to do the renewables that the distinguished Senator from 
Vermont comes to the floor and adds money for. The President of the 
United States took the water projects of this country--and these are 
not pet projects, these are the ports that have to be dredged in our 
country, dams that have to be built for flood protection, just a whole 
litany of them everywhere--he cut them $1.3 billion.
  Frankly, all I can see in that kind of a cut is that he expected us 
to put the money back because we could not have kept the Corps of 
Engineers together with their projects out across our land. We could 
not have kept a viable program. Mr. President, $1.3 billion is a 
dramatic cut from what was needed for funding at the acceptable rate 
that the

[[Page S6518]]

projects were in last year--not new ones. That money makes up the same 
pot of money from whence comes all of the DOE's nondefense research 
projects and all the water projects.
  So we start off with that one pot of money, short $1.3 billion, and 
the President picked and chose what he would like to increase. As a 
matter of fact, he increased certain water projects that he has been 
for and forgot about the water projects that the rest of the Congress 
has been for, including very important projects.
  Now, in order to get around that, we had to find money from places 
that he had dramatically increased. Even at that, we only funded those 
projects at between 60 and 70 percent, meaning it will cost us more 
money in the long run, the projects will be delayed, and some of them 
are very big, important projects for commerce such as ports that are to 
be dredged, with facilities to be built.
  It wasn't, when we put this bill together, that with some kind of 
gusto we set about to dramatically reduce the programs that are the 
subject matter before the Senate right now. It was that we had an 
obligation to fund that fund at 60 or 70 percent. That is all we could 
do for the myriad of water projects across this land which have a 
tremendous economic impact and which save much property and save much 
life when they are completed.
  Now, that puts in the position we are when we come to the floor here. 
Everybody understands that we are not going to have it much easier in 
conference, although thanks to the chairman of the Appropriations 
Committee a little more money was allocated to this committee than the 
President's budget because of the water project dilemma that I have 
just described.
  Now, that is the essence of why this bill has difficulty. It is not 
even funded in many areas as high as it was last year. Certainly, the 
water projects don't have sufficient resources to stay on the course 
that was there. That was the best course, the optimum course, in terms 
of efficiency and getting the projects done so that we would save lives 
and save property at the earliest time.
  Having said that, with no objection from the ranking member on the 
other side, we will accept this amendment and do our very best in 
conference to see that solar energy and the items mentioned in the 
amendment, that the funding is increased from what we had in our bill.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The question is on agreeing to the amendment.
  The amendment (No. 2715), as modified, was agreed to.
  Mr. DOMENICI. I move to reconsider the vote.
  Mr. REID. I move to lay it on the table.
  The motion to lay on the table was agreed to.
  Mr. DOMENICI. I thank Senator Jeffords for his cooperation.
  Mr. JEFFORDS. I thank the chairman of the committee as well as the 
ranking member for their assistance in this. I am hopeful we are making 
an important step forward here in our energy self-reliance.
  I yield the floor.
  Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, in stark contrast to the last 3\1/2\ 
weeks, this bill is moving along very rapidly. I announce to the Senate 
that we can, indeed, finish this bill by midafternoon. The amendments 
that we are aware of that have come either through the minority, 
through my good friend, Senator Reid, or through our side, are being 
worked on and we don't think there is a rollcall vote necessary on any 
of those. There is one amendment that the distinguished Senator from 
Indiana, the junior Senator from Indiana, intends to offer. It is not 
related exactly, to this bill, but he indicates that he will be here 
about 2 o'clock.
  In the meantime, we are going to try to work on the amendments we 
have and see if we can put a package together and accept them. That 
will be all we will have until 2 o'clock, unless some Senator has some 
amendment of which we are unaware.
  I really want to make sure that everybody knows I have checked with 
the leader. He knows of no other business on this bill, and he wants to 
finish this afternoon. By 2 o'clock I hope we can have the Indiana 
Senator call up his amendment. Again, I indicate that is the last 
amendment we know about.
  Mr. REID. Mr. President, we would like to go to third reading early 
this afternoon. I say, also, to elaborate on what my friend from New 
Mexico says, there has been a lot of partisan rancor on this floor the 
last several weeks. But as I said when we introduced this bill 
yesterday, there are times on this Senate floor--a lot more often than 
people are led to believe--when things move along very well, in a 
bipartisan fashion. There is no better example of that than every year 
when we get to the appropriations bills. Sometimes we have partisan 
problems, but not often. I think the two leaders of this Appropriations 
Committee, the senior Senator from Alaska and the senior Senator from 
West Virginia, have set a very good tone as to how we should move on 
these bills. They work very well together, and they have for many 
years. The Senator from New Mexico and I have worked together for a 
number of years on this bill.

  This is a good bill, a very important bill for this country, not only 
for domestic purposes, water projects, but also for the security of 
this Nation. Much of what is in this $21 billion appropriations bill 
deals with security of this Nation, our nuclear arsenal--the safety and 
reliability of our nuclear arsenal.
  So I say to my friends in the Senate that not everything we do is 
partisan in nature. There are certain things that rise above that. This 
bill is one of those times when partisanship should have no bearing, as 
it hasn't in the last several years.
  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. Mr. President, I have already stated for the Record and 
for the Senators what the situation is on this bill.
  The managers' staffs are working on a managers' wrap-up amendment, 
which we think we can have done by 2 o'clock. Senator Coats will be 
here to offer an amendment. There will be nothing we can do until 2 
o'clock.

                          ____________________