[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 84 (Tuesday, June 15, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7026-S7028]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS

      By Mr. CONRAD (for himself, Mr. Grassley, Mr. Daschle, and Mr. 
        Baucus):
  S. 1222. A bill to amend the Trade Act of 1974 to provide trade 
adjustment assistance to farmers; to the Committee on Finance.


            the trade adjustment assistance for farmers act

 Mr. CONRAD. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce a bill 
that would amend the Trade Act of 1974 to make farmers eligible for 
Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) similar to that provided to workers 
in other industries who suffer when there is an increase in imported 
products. This bill would provide equitable treatment for farmers

[[Page S7027]]

when imports affect the prices of the commodities they grow.
  When imports cause layoffs in manufacturing industries, workers are 
eligible for TAA. However, when imports cause agricultural commodity 
prices to drop, farmers lose income but they don't lose their jobs. 
That means they generally don't get benefits from TAA. Let me explain 
why.
  Farmers typically do not earn a salary check. Farmers get paid for 
the crops or livestock that they grow. When commodity prices are low, 
the check the farmers get for all the hard work of growing crops or 
livestock for a whole year may be so low that they cannot cover family 
expenses. In some cases, the payment they get for selling their crops 
or livestock is so low that they cannot even cover the costs necessary 
to produce the commodity (such as feed, seed, fertilizer, etc.), so the 
farmers lose money for the year. Low prices resulting from imports 
directly reduce farmers' incomes, but because farmers do not actually 
lose their jobs, they do not qualify for the TAA benefit.
  For example, farmers in my state are experiencing record low prices 
that result, in part, from a flood of imports of wheat, barley and 
livestock from Canada. These imports cost North Dakota farmers hundreds 
of millions of dollars in lost income. But North Dakota farmers have 
not been able to take advantage of the TAA program. The bill that I am 
introducing today would provide some equity by ensuring that farmers 
whose income was affected by imports would be eligible for TAA benefits 
just like other workers.
  Most of us would agree that trade is extremely important to our 
overall economy. International trade allows Americans to sell U.S.-made 
products to world markets, rather than just to those who live in this 
country. Trade also allows American to buy products that the rest of 
the world produces. And trade is especially important to our 
agricultural economy. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, 
one-third of U.S. crop land produces for export.
  U.S. agricultural exports are a bright spot for our nation's balance 
of trade. In 1999, the United States is expected to export $49 billion 
worth of goods, compared to agricultural imports this year of $37.5 
billion. Thus, agricultural exports contribute $11.5 billion to our 
balance of trade with other nations.
  Nonetheless, many farmers and other citizens feel that they can be 
hurt by free trade. When we import commodities that compete with what 
Americans are producing, then some American producers--whether they are 
workers, firms, or farmers--can be hurt by falling prices for the goods 
they produce.
  As a result, the lack of trade adjustment assistance for farmers has 
undercut support for trade among many family farmers.
  By giving farmers some protection against precipitous income losses 
from imports, the Trade Adjustment Assistance for Farmers Act can help 
strengthen support for trade agreements that expand agricultural export 
opportunities.
  We need to be sure that we don't leave American farmers behind, and 
that we treat farmers fairly in comparison with other American workers 
and industries. That's why I am introducing this bill, the Trade 
Adjustment Assistance for Farmers Act.
  This bill would amend the Trade Act of 1974 to provide trade 
adjustment assistance to farmers by partially compensating them for 
income lost due to the effect of imports. Here's how it will work.
  Farmers would receive benefits that would be triggered when two 
conditions are met. First, the national average price for a specific 
commodity for the previous marketing year must have dropped more than 
20 percent below the average price in the previous 5-year period. 
Second, increased imports--or a high level of imports--must have 
contributed importantly to the commodity price reduction.
  A group of farmers who grow a particular commodity (or a commodity 
group representing them) would submit an application for trade 
adjustment assistance to the Labor Department. The Secretary of Labor 
(consulting with the Secretary of Agriculture) would determine whether 
the two triggers had been met.
  If the commodity is determined to be eligible, then individual 
producers could apply for benefits. Farmers who are eligible for 
benefits under the program would receive a cash assistance payment 
equal to half the difference between the national average price for the 
year (as determined by USDA) and 80 percent of the average price in the 
previous 5 years (the price trigger level), multiplied by the number of 
units the farmers had produced. The maximum cash benefits available to 
farmers under this program would be $10,000 per year.
  Training and employment benefits that are available to workers under 
TAA would also be available, on an optional basis, to farmers who are 
eligible for cash assistance benefits under the law. For example, a 
farm family that was suffering from low prices due to increased imports 
might consider retraining to learn skills in the high-tech computer 
industry, which they could use in an at-home business to supplement 
farm income.
  In most years, this program would likely have a modest cost because 
very few commodities, if any, would be eligible for assistance. 
However, in a year like the last we have just been through--when hog 
and wheat prices dropped precipitously--this program would be one tool 
to provide a modest amount of support to compensate farmers for the 
harmful effect of imports on their commodity prices and thus their 
incomes. Thus the bill would treat family farmers fairly, including 
them in the protections available to others in our economy who are hurt 
by the increased trade that, in the aggregate, benefits us all.
  Mr. President, I hope my colleagues will join me in supporting 
American family farmers as they compete in the global market 
place.
                                 ______
                                 
      By Mr. SCHUMER:
  S. 1223. A bill to provide for public library construction and 
technology enhancement; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, 
and Pensions.


          andrew carnegie libraries for lifelong learning act

  Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce legislation 
that will prepare our nation's public libraries for the twenty-first 
century: the Andrew Carnegie Libraries for Lifelong Learning Act. Mr. 
President our nation's libraries are in crisis. Eighty-five percent of 
America's nearly 16,000 libraries require expansion or renovation. In 
New York State alone, 1.3 million citizens do not have access to free 
basic library services and nearly one-half of the state's libraries 
cannot accommodate users with disabilities.
  The Andrew Carnegie Libraries for Life-Long Learning Act is designed 
to prepare America's libraries for the twenty-first century by 
providing grants of one billion dollars over five years for 
construction, renovation, and rehabilitation of public library 
facilities. The bill will also permit libraries to use grants to 
purchase high-tech hardware and information technology so that all 
citizens can take advantage of the tools of the information age. Since 
the funds provided through this legislation must be matched dollar for 
dollar by states, cities, or private sources, billions of additional 
dollars will be leveraged. Moreover, since the grants will be awarded 
competitively, areas most in need will receive much needed assistance.
  At the turn of the twentieth century, steel magnate Andrew Carnegie 
created nearly 3,000 libraries. His impact is still being felt in 
places like Astoria, Queens, Harlem, and Port Richmond Staten Island, 
where libraries endowed by Carnegie remain in service today. Imagine 
how different America would be without this gift. Now, the information 
age is upon us and libraries must play an integral role in providing 
citizens the resources they need to succeed in a knowledge intensive 
economy. The future of America depends less on the minerals in our soil 
than our intellectual capital. Strong public libraries can serve as 
anchors in communities so that young people can receive a strong 
education and so that life-long learning can become a reality for every 
citizen. Mr. President I ask unanimous consent that the text of the 
bill be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

[[Page S7028]]

                                S. 1223

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Andrew Carnegie Libraries 
     for Lifelong Learning Act''.

     SEC. 2. PUBLIC LIBRARY CONSTRUCTION AND TECHNOLOGY 
                   ENHANCEMENT.

       The Library Services and Technology Act (20 U.S.C. 9121 et 
     seq.) is amended--
       (1) by redesignating chapter 3 as chapter 4; and
       (2) by inserting after chapter 2 the following:

  ``CHAPTER 3--PUBLIC LIBRARY CONSTRUCTION AND TECHNOLOGY ENHANCEMENT

     ``SEC. 241. GRANTS TO STATES FOR PUBLIC LIBRARY CONSTRUCTION 
                   AND TECHNOLOGY ENHANCEMENT.

       ``(a) In General.--From amounts appropriated under section 
     244 the Director shall carry out a program of awarding grants 
     to States that have a State plan approved under section 224 
     for the construction or technology enhancement of public 
     libraries.
       ``(b) Definitions.--In this chapter:
       ``(1) Construction.--
       ``(A) In general.--The term `construction' means--
       ``(i) construction of new buildings;
       ``(ii) the acquisition, expansion, remodeling, and 
     alteration of existing buildings;
       ``(iii) the purchase, lease, and installation of equipment 
     for any new or existing buildings; or
       ``(iv) any combination of the activities described in 
     clauses (i) through (iii), including architects' fees and the 
     cost of acquisition of land.
       ``(B) Special rule.--Such term includes remodeling to meet 
     standards under the Act entitled `An Act to insure that 
     certain buildings financed with Federal funds are so designed 
     and constructed as to be accessible to the physically 
     handicapped', approved August 12, 1968 (42 U.S.C. 4151 et 
     seq.), commonly known as the `Architectural Barriers Act of 
     1968', remodeling designed to ensure safe working 
     environments and to conserve energy, renovation or remodeling 
     to accommodate new technologies, and the purchase of historic 
     buildings for conversion to public libraries.
       ``(2) Equipment.--The term `equipment' means--
       ``(A) information and building technologies, video and 
     telecommunications equipment, machinery, utilities, built-in 
     equipment, and any necessary enclosures or structures to 
     house the technologies, equipment, machinery or utilities; 
     and
       ``(B) all other items necessary for the functioning of a 
     particular facility as a facility for the provision of 
     library services.
       ``(3) Public library.--The term `public library' means a 
     library that serves free of charge all residents of a 
     community, district, or region, and receives its financial 
     support in whole or in part from public funds. Such term also 
     includes a research library, which, for the purposes of this 
     sentence, means a library, which--
       ``(A) makes its services available to the public free of 
     charge;
       ``(B) has extensive collections of books, manuscripts, and 
     other materials suitable for scholarly research which are not 
     available to the public through public libraries;
       ``(C) engages in the dissemination of humanistic knowledge 
     through services to readers, fellowships, educational and 
     cultural programs, publication of significant research, and 
     other activities; and
       ``(D) is not an integral part of an institution of higher 
     education.
       ``(4) Technology enhancement.--The term `technology 
     enhancement' means the acquisition, installation, 
     maintenance, or replacement, of substantial technological 
     equipment (including library bibliographic automation 
     equipment) necessary to provide access to information in 
     electronic and other formats made possible by new information 
     and communications technologies.
       ``(c) Applicability.--Except as provided in section 243, 
     the provisions of this subtitle (other than this chapter) 
     shall not apply to this chapter.

     ``SEC. 242. USES OF FEDERAL FUNDS.

       ``(a) In General.--A State shall use funds appropriated 
     under section 244 to pay the Federal share of the cost of 
     construction or technology enhancement of public libraries.
       ``(b) Federal Share.--
       ``(1) In general.--For the purposes of subsection (a), the 
     Federal share of the cost of construction or technology 
     enhancement of any project assisted under this chapter shall 
     not exceed one-half of the total cost of the project.
       ``(2) Non-federal share.--The non-Federal share of the cost 
     of construction or technology enhancement of any project 
     assisted under this chapter may be provided from State, local 
     or private sources, including for-profit and nonprofit 
     organizations.
       ``(c) Special Rule.--If, within 20 years after completion 
     of construction of any public library facility that has been 
     constructed in part with grant funds made available under 
     this chapter--
       ``(1) the recipient of the grant funds (or its successor in 
     title or possession) ceases or fails to be a public or 
     nonprofit institution, or
       ``(2) the facility ceases to be used as a library facility, 
     unless the Director determines that there is good cause for 
     releasing the institution from its obligation,

     the United States shall be entitled to recover from such 
     recipient (or successor) an amount which bears the same ratio 
     to the value of the facility at that time (or part thereof 
     constituting an approved project or projects) as the amount 
     of the Federal grant bore to the cost of such facility (or 
     part thereof). The value shall be determined by the parties 
     or by action brought in the United States district court for 
     the district in which the facility is located.

     ``SEC. 243. DESCRIPTION INCLUDED IN STATE PLAN.

       ``Any State desiring to receive a grant under this chapter 
     for any fiscal year shall submit, as a part of the State plan 
     under section 224, a description of the public library 
     construction or technology enhancement activities to be 
     assisted under this chapter.

     ``SEC. 244. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

       ``There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this 
     chapter $200,000,000 for fiscal year 2000 and each of the 4 
     succeeding fiscal years.''.

                          ____________________