[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 96 (Thursday, July 1, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Pages S8042-S8050]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
TREASURY AND GENERAL GOVERNMENT APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2000--continued
Mr. DORGAN addressed the Chair.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from North Dakota is recognized.
Mr. DORGAN. Mr. President, there are a number of amendments that
Senator Campbell and I have discussed, which we are prepared to accept.
He has a number of them he will mention.
Let me mention the amendments by number that we are prepared to
accept:
No. 1209, by Senator Harkin, and he will be modifying that in a
moment; amendment No. 1213, by Senator Torricelli; amendment No. 1212,
by Senator Wellstone; amendment No. 1198, by Senator Enzi.
My understanding is that the remaining amendments that are pending
will be withdrawn. My understanding, also, is that there is no request
at this point for a recorded vote on final passage.
I am happy to yield to the chairman, Senator Campbell.
Mr. CAMPBELL. Mr. President, the amendments Senator Dorgan mentioned
have been cleared with the majority, and we are prepared to accept
them.
Mr. DORGAN. Mr. President, I amend that to say that the Torricelli
amendment, No. 1213, will be accepted as modified, and it is the same
case with the Harkin amendment, No. 1209, as modified. That has been
cleared on both sides of the aisle.
My understanding, at the moment, is that Senator Schumer from New
York is not able to clear the Torricelli sense-of-the-Senate amendment
No. 1213.
So we have cleared all of the remaining amendments that Senator
Campbell and I have just described: No. 1209, a Harkin amendment, as
modified; No. 1212 by Senator Wellstone; and No. 1198 by Senator Enzi.
Amendments Nos. 1198, 1209, And 1212, En Bloc
Mr. DORGAN. Mr. President, I send three amendments to the desk, en
bloc.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.
The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:
The Senator from North Dakota [Mr. Dorgan] proposes
amendments numbered 1198, 1209, and 1212, en bloc.
The amendments are as follows:
amendment no. 1198
(Purpose: To include Campbell and Uinta Counties to the Rocky Mountain
High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas for the State of Wyoming)
On page 48, line 2, strike the period following ``HIDTA'',
insert a colon (:), and after the colon insert the following:
``Provided further, That Campbell County and Uinta County are
hereby designated as part of the Rocky Mountain High
Intensity Drug Trafficking Area for the State of Wyoming.''
____
amendment no. 1209
(Purpose: To provide additional funding to reduce methamphetamine usage
in High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas)
On page 47, strike lines 9 through 11 and insert in lieu
thereof the following: ``Area Program, $205,277,000 for drug
control activities consistent with the approve strategy for
each of the designed High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas,
of which $7,000,000 shall be used for methamphetamine
programs above the sums allocated in fiscal year 1999,
$5,000,000 shall be used for High Intensity Drug Trafficking
Areas that are designated after July 1, 1999 and $5,000,000
to be used at the discretion of the Office of National Drug
Control Policy with no less than half of the $7,000,000 going
to areas solely dedicated to fighting methamphetamine usage,
of which''.
Amend page 53, line 3 by reducing the dollar figure by
$17,000,000.
Amend page 51, line 15 by reducing the first dollar figure
by $17,000,000.
Amend page 55, line 2 by reducing the figure by
$17,000,000.
Mr. HARKIN. Mr. President, I am offering this amendment on behalf of
myself, Senator Daschle, Senator Graham, Senator Bingaman, Senator
Murray, and Senator Johnson. Our amendment is simple and I believe
makes common sense. It would give a needed shot in the arm to our war
against drugs by modestly increasing funding for the High Intensity
Drug Trafficking Areas--so-called HIDTAs--under the Office of National
Drug Control Policy.
The bill before us freezes funding for this important and successful
program. It provides no increases for the existing 31 HIDTAs across the
Nation and it provides no funding for new HIDTAs. Our amendment would
increase HIDTA funding by $17 million. It would provide $7 million to
combat the rising scourge of methamphetamine abuse. It would
[[Page S8043]]
provide $5 million to increase existing HIDTAs. And it would allot $5
million to allow the establishment and funding of new HIDTAs.
I fully recognize the challenges faced by the distinguished chair and
ranking member of this Subcommittee. They were dealt a bad check and
they have done a commendable job within the allocation they were given.
However, we believe that we have found a reasonable offset--one that
will not undermine the effective functioning of the government.
We would take $17 million--less then 2.5 percent from the General
Services Administration account dedicated to the repair and alterations
of federal government buildings. There is $624 million in this account
and over $300 million of its goes for unspecified projects. I have no
doubt that much of these funds are needed, but clearly $17 million
could be absorbed or a short deferral of a project could be made in
order to make room for a modest increase in our war on drugs.
The need for this increase in the HIDTA program could not be clearer,
particularly as it relates to combating methamphetamine abuse.
There is a plague sweeping across our Nation, ruining an untold
number of lives, and claiming countless numbers of our children.
On our streets as well as well as our classrooms, drugs have become
more abundant. But there is a new drug, one that is far more addictive
and readily available than heroin, cocaine, or any other illegal
narcotic. Methamphetamine is fast becoming the leading addictive drug
in this nation. From quiet suburbs, to city streets, to the corn rows
of Iowa, meth is destroying thousands of lives every year. A majority
of those lives, unfortunately, are our children.
Methamphetamine is commonly referred to as Iowa's drug of choice.
This drug is reaching epidemic proportions as its sweeps from the west
coast, ravages through the Midwest, and is now beginning to reach the
east. The trail of destruction of human life as a result of
methamphetamine addiction stretches across America from coast to coast.
To illustrate the violence meth elicits in people, methamphetamine is
cited as a contributing factor in 80 percent of domestic violence cases
in Iowa and a leading factor in a majority of violent crimes.
The $17 million we provide would be used for increased enforcement
and prosecution of drug dealers, additional undercover agents, and to
help pay for the tremendous cost of confiscation and clean up of
clandestine meth labs.
I believe that we have a window of opportunity as a nation to take a
stand right now to defeat the meth scourge plaguing our nation. Our
amendment will not solve all of these problems, but it will give law
enforcement the support that they vitally need in their efforts to
defeat this dangerous drug.
While we debate this modest proposal, another family is being
devastated, another community is fighting an uphill battle, and another
child is getting hooked by this deadly drug. The time is now to make a
stand to protect our communities and schools by passing this important
amendment. I ask my colleagues to support this amendment.
AMENDMENT NO. 1212
(Purpose: To require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to
provide bonus grants to high performance States based on certain
criteria and collect data to evaluate the outcome of welfare reform,
and for other purposes)
At the appropriate place, insert the following:
SEC. ____. EVALUATION OF OUTCOME OF WELFARE REFORM AND
FORMULA FOR BONUSES TO HIGH PERFORMANCE STATES.
(a) Additional Measures of State Performance.--Section
403(a)(4)(C) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C.
603(a)(4)(C)) is amended--
(1) by striking ``Not later'' and inserting the following:
``(i) In general.--Not later'';
(2) by inserting ``The formula shall provide for the
awarding of grants under this paragraph based on criteria
contained in clause (ii) and in accordance with clauses
(iii), (iv), and (v).'' after the period; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
``(ii) Formula criteria.--The grants awarded under this
paragraph shall be based on--
``(I) employment-related measures, including work force
entries, job retention, and increases in household income of
current recipients of assistance under the State program
funded under this title;
``(II) the percentage of former recipients of such
assistance (who have ceased to receive such assistance for
not more than 6 months) who receive subsidized child care;
``(III) the improvement since 1995 in the proportion of
children in working poor families eligible for food stamps
that receive food stamps to the total number of children in
the State, and
``(IV) the percentage of members of families which are
former recipients of assistance under the State program
funded under this title (which have ceased to receive such
assistance for not more than 6 months) who currently receive
medical assistance under the State plan approved under title
XIX or the child health assistance under title XXI.
For purposes of subclause (III), the term `working poor
families' means families which receive earnings equal to at
least the comparable amount which would be received by an
individual working a half-time position for minimum wage.
``(iii) Employment related measures.--Not less than
$100,000,000 of the amount appropriated for a fiscal year
under subparagraph (F) shall be used to award grants to
States under this paragraph for that fiscal year based on
scores for the criteria described in clause (ii)(I) and the
criteria described in clause (ii)(II) with respect employed
former recipients.
``(iv) Food stamp measures.--Not less than $50,000,000 of
the amount appropriated for a fiscal year under subparagraph
(F) shall be used to award grants to States under this
paragraph for that fiscal year based on scores for the
criteria described in clause (ii)(III).
``(v) Medicaid and SCHIP criteria.--Not less than
$50,000,000 of the amount appropriated for a fiscal year
under subparagraph (F) shall be used to award grants to
States under this paragraph for that fiscal year based on
scores for the criteria described in clause (ii)(IV).''.
(b) Data Collection and Reporting.--Section 411(a) of the
Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 611(a)) is amended by adding
at the end the following:
``(8) Report on outcome of welfare reform for states not
participating in bonus grants under section 403(a)(4).--
``(A) In general.--In the case of a State which does not
participate in the procedure for awarding grants under
section 403(a)(4) pursuant to regulations prescribed by the
Secretary, the report required by paragraph (1) for a fiscal
quarter shall include data regarding the characteristics and
well-being of former recipients of assistance under the State
program funded under this title for an appropriate period of
time after such recipient has ceased receiving such
assistance.
``(B) Contents.--The data required under subparagraph (A)
shall consist of information regarding former recipients,
including--
``(i) employment status;
``(ii) job retention;
``(iii) poverty status;
``(iv) receipt of food stamps, medical assistance under the
State plan approved under title XIX or child health
assistance under title XXI, or subsidized child care;
``(v) accessibility of child care and child care cost; and
``(vi) measures of hardship, including lack of medical
insurance and difficulty purchasing food.
``(C) Sampling.--A State may comply with this paragraph by
using a scientifically acceptable sampling method approved by
the Secretary.
``(D) Regulations.--The Secretary shall prescribe such
regulations as may be necessary to ensure that--
``(i) data reported under this paragraph is in such a form
as to promote comparison of data among States; and
``(ii) a State reports, for each measure, changes in data
over time and comparisons in data between such former
recipients and comparable groups of current recipients.''.
(c) Report of Currently Collected Data.--Not later than
July 1, 2000, the Secretary of Health and Human Services
shall transmit to Congress a report regarding earnings and
employment characteristics of former recipients of assistance
under the State program funded under this part, based on
information currently being received from States. Such report
shall consist of a longitudinal record for a sample of
States, which represents at least 80 percent of the
population of each State, including a separate record for
each of fiscal years 1997 through 2000 for--
(1) earnings of a sample of former recipients using
unemployment insurance data;
(2) earnings of a sample of food stamp recipients using
unemployment insurance data, and
(3) earnings of a sample of current recipients of
assistance using unemployment insurance data.
(d) Effective Dates.--
(1) The amendment made by subsection (a) applies to each of
fiscal years 2000 through 2003.
(2) The amendment made by subsection (b) applies to reports
in fiscal years beginning in fiscal year 2000.
Mr. DORGAN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that these
amendments be agreed to.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, the amendments are agreed
to.
The amendments (Nos. 1198, 1209, and 1212) were agreed to.
[[Page S8044]]
Mr. DORGAN. Mr. President, I yield the floor.
Mr. CAMPBELL addressed the Chair.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Colorado.
Amendments Nos. 1205, 1196, 1194, 1199, 1204, 1217, and 1206
Mr. CAMPBELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to modify
amendment No. 1205 and ask for its immediate adoption.
I ask unanimous consent to withdraw amendment No. 1196 by Senator
Kyl.
I ask unanimous consent to withdraw amendment No. 1194 by Senator
Warner, amendment No. 1199 by Senator Grassley, amendment No. 1204 by
Senator Hutchison, amendment No. 1217 by Senator Cochran, and amendment
No. 1206 by Senator Baucus.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
Amendment No. 1205, as modified, is as follows:
On page 11, strike line 17, and insert the following:
``$39,320,000 may be used for the Youth Crime Gun
Interdiction Initiative, of which $1,120,000 shall be
provided for the purpose of expanding the program to include
Las Vegas, Nevada.
On page 11, line 18, strike ``diction Initiative.''
On page 62, line 9 strike through page 62 line 15.
The amendment (No. 1205), as modified, was agreed to.
Amendment No. 1210 Withdrawn
Mr. CAMPBELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to withdraw
amendment No. 1210 by Senator Schumer.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
Amendment No. 1198
Mr. CAMPBELL. Mr. President, amendment No. 1198 has been cleared by
both sides. I ask unanimous consent that it be agreed to.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
The amendment (No. 1198) was agreed to.
Amendment No. 1213 Withdrawn
Mr. DORGAN. Mr. President, I have visited with Senator Torricelli. He
is willing to withdraw the amendment, provided that he is offered 5
minutes to discuss it. Senator Schumer would like 5 minutes as well.
They are willing to do that when we finish the wrap-up.
I ask unanimous consent to withdraw amendment No. 1213 on behalf of
Senator Torricelli.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
Privilege Of The Floor
Mr. WELLSTONE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that Michelle
Vidovic be able to be on the floor of the Senate for the rest of our
proceedings tonight.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
Mr. DORGAN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that any remaining
amendments at the desk be withdrawn.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
Amendments Nos. 1208, as modified, 1218, 1219, AND 1220, En Bloc
Mr. CAMPBELL. Mr. President, I send to the desk a managers' package
of amendments, and I ask unanimous consent they be considered en bloc.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The clerk
will report.
The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:
The Senator from Colorado (Mr. Campbell) proposes
amendments numbered 1208, as modified, 1218, 1219, and 1220,
en bloc.
Mr. CAMPBELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that reading of
the amendment be dispensed with.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
The amendments are as follows:
amendmnt no. 1208 as modified
(Purpose: To ensure that health and safety concerns at the Federal
courthouse at 40 Centre Street in New York, New York, are alleviated)
Page 56, Line 6, after ``Missouri;'' insert and $1,250,000
shall be available for the repairs and alteration of the
Federal Courthouse at 40 Center Street, New York, NY.''
____
amendment no. 1218
On page 62, line 8 after ``building operations'' insert
``Provided, That the amounts provided above under this
heading for rental of space, building operations and in
aggregate amount for the Federal Buildings Fund, are reduced
accordingly''.
____
amendment no. 1219
At the appropriate place, at the end of the General
Services Administration, General Provisions insert the
following new sections:
``Sec. 411. Notwithstanding 31 U.S.C. 1346, funds made
available for fiscal year 2000 by this or any other Act to
any department or agency, which is a member of the Joint
Financial Management Improvement Program (JFMIP) shall be
available to finance an appropriate share of JFMIP salaries
and administrative costs.
``Sec. 412. The Administrator of General Services may
provide from government-wide credit card rebates, up to
$3,000,000 in support of the Joint Financial Management
Improvement Program as approved by the Chief Financial
Officers Council.''.
____
amendment no. 1220
(Purpose: To require the Secretary of the Treasury to develop an
Internet site where a taxpayer may generate a receipt for an income tax
payment which itemizes the portion of the payment which is allocable to
various Government spending categories)
On page 98, insert between lines 4 and 5 the following:
SEC. 636. ITEMIZED INCOME TAX RECEIPT.
(a) In General.--Not later than April 15, 2000, the
Secretary of the Treasury shall establish an interactive
program on an Internet website where any taxpayer may
generate an itemized receipt showing a proportionate
allocation (in money terms) of the taxpayer's total tax
payments among the major expenditure categories.
(b) Information Necessary To Generate Receipt.--For
purposes of generating an itemized receipt under subsection
(a), the interactive program--
(1) shall only require the input of the taxpayer's total
tax payments, and
(2) shall not require any identifying information relating
to the taxpayer.
(c) Total Tax Payments.--For purposes of this section,
total tax payments of an individual for any taxable year
are--
(1) the tax imposed by subtitle A of the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986 for such taxable year (as shown on his return),
and
(2) the tax imposed by section 3101 of such Code on wages
received during such taxable year.
(d) Content of Tax Receipt.--
(1) Major expenditure categories.--For purposes of
subsection (a), the major expenditure categories are:
(A) National defense.
(B) International affairs.
(C) Medicaid.
(D) Medicare.
(E) Means-tested entitlements.
(F) Domestic discretionary.
(G) Social Security.
(H) Interest payments.
(I) All other.
(2) Other items on receipt.--
(A) In general.--In addition, the tax receipt shall include
selected examples of more specific expenditure items,
including the items listed in subparagraph (B), either at the
budget function, subfunction, or program, project, or
activity levels, along with any other information deemed
appropriate by the Secretary of the Treasury and the Director
of the Office of Management and Budget to enhance taxpayer
understanding of the Federal budget.
(B) Listed items.--The expenditure items listed in this
subparagraph are as follows:
(i) Public schools funding programs.
(ii) Student loans and college aid.
(iii) Low-income housing programs.
(iv) Food stamp and welfare programs.
(v) Law enforcement, including the Federal Bureau of
Investigation, law enforcement grants to the States, and
other Federal law enforcement personnel.
(vi) Infrastructure, including roads, bridges, and mass
transit.
(vii) Farm subsidies.
(viii) Congressional Member and staff salaries.
(ix) Health research programs.
(x) Aid to the disabled.
(xi) Veterans health care and pension programs.
(xii) Space programs.
(xiii) Environmental cleanup programs.
(xiv) United States embassies.
(xv) Military salaries.
(xvi) Foreign aid.
(xvii) Contributions to the North Atlantic Treaty
Organization.
(xviii) Amtrak.
(xix) United States Postal Service.
(e) Cost.--No charge shall be imposed to cover any cost
associated with the production or distribution of the tax
receipt.
(f) Regulations.--The Secretary of the Treasury may
prescribe such regulations as may be necessary to carry out
this section.
Mr. CAMPBELL. Mr. President, the package of amendments I have sent to
the desk has been agreed to by both sides. This package includes the
following items:
One technical corrections in the GSA Federal Buildings Fund; addition
of language regarding the Joint Financial Management Improvement
Program; an amendment on itemized income tax receipts for Senator
Schumer; and modifications to amendment No. 1208 for Senator Moynihan.
I urge their adoption.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, the amendments are agreed
to.
[[Page S8045]]
The amendments (Nos. 1208, as modified, 1218, 1219, 1220, and 1221)
were agreed to.
Amendments Nos. 1215, 1216, 1189, and 1190 Withdrawn
Mr. CAMPBELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to withdraw
amendment No. 1215 by Senator Graham, No. 1216 by Senator Graham, No.
1189 by Senator Moynihan, and No. 1190 by Senator Moynihan.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
Amendment No. 1192
Mr. CAMPBELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate
now consider amendment No. 1192. I ask for its immediate consideration.
It has been accepted by both sides. I urge its adoption.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.
The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:
The Senator from Colorado (Mr. Campbell) proposes an
amendment numbered 1192.
amendment no. 1192
On page 51, line 15 and on page 57, line 14 strike
``5,140,000,000'' and insert in lieu thereof
``$5,261,478,000''.
On page 53, line 2 after ``are rescinded'' insert ``and
shall remain in the Fund''.
Mr. CAMPBELL. Mr. President, I repeat that this amendment has been
cleared by both sides. I urge its adoption.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, the amendment is agreed to.
The amendment (No. 1192) was agreed to.
Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, I rise in support of S. 1282, the
Treasury and General Government Appropriations bill for FY 2000, as
reported by the Senate Committee on Appropriations.
I commend the distinguished chairman and the ranking member for
bringing the Senate a carefully crafted spending bill within the
Subcommittee's 302(b) allocation and consistent with the discretionary
spending caps for FY 2000.
The pending bill provides $27.6 billion in budget authority and $24.7
billion in new outlays for FY 2000 to fund the programs of the
Department of the Treasury, including the Internal Revenue Service,
U.S. Customs Service, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms; the
Executive Office of the President; the Postal Service; and related
independent agencies. With outlays from prior-years and other completed
actions, the Senate bill totals $27.8 billion in budget authority and
$28.2 billion in outlays.
For discretionary spending, which represents just under half the
funding in the bill, the Senate bill is at the Subcommittee's 302(b)
allocation for budget authority, and it is $109 million in outlays
below the 302(b) allocation. The Senate bill is $0.5 billion in both BA
and outlays below the President's budget request.
Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that a table displaying the
Budget Committee scoring of the bill be printed in the Record.
There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in
the Record, as follows:
S. 1282 TREASURY-POSTAL APPROPRIATIONS, 2000--SPENDING COMPARISONS--
SENATE-REPORTED BILL
[Fiscal year 2000, in millions of dollars]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
General Man-
purpose Crime datory Total
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Senate-Reported Bill:
Budget authority................ 13,204 194 14,385 27,783
Outlays......................... 13,708 128 14,394 28,230
Senate 302(b) allocation:
Budget authority................ 13,204 194 14,385 27,783
Outlays......................... 13,817 128 14,394 28,339
1999 level:
Budget authority................ 13,889 132 13,439 27,460
Outlays......................... 12,762 131 13,439 26,332
President's request:
Budget authority................ 13,792 132 14,385 28,309
Outlays......................... 14,247 127 14,394 28,768
House-passed bill:
Budget authority................ ........ ....... ....... ........
Outlays......................... ........ ....... ....... ........
SENATE-REPORTED BILL COMPARED TO:
Senate 302(b) allocation:
Budget authority................ ........ ....... ....... ........
Outlays......................... (109) ....... ....... (109)
1999 level:
Budget authority................ (685) 62 946 323
Outlays......................... 946 (3) 955 1,898
President's request:
Budget authority................ (588) 62 ....... (526)
Outlays......................... (539) 1 ....... (538)
House-passed bill:
Budget authority................ 13,204 194 14,385 27,783
Outlays......................... 13,708 128 14,394 28,230
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note: Details may not add to totals due to rounding. Totals adjusted for
consistency with scorekeeping conventions.
Mr. McCAIN. Mr. President, I want to thank the managers of this bill
for their hard work in putting forth this legislation which provides
federal funding for numerous vital programs. However, I am sad to say,
once again, I find myself in the unpleasant position of speaking about
unacceptable levels of parochial projects in another appropriations
bill.
I have asked rhetorically on the floor of the Senate many times when
we are going to stop this destructive and irresponsible practice of
earmarking special-interest pork-barrel projects in appropriations
bills primarily for parochial reasons. I have yet to receive an answer
and this practice has neither stopped nor slowed. Last year's Treasury
Postal Appropriations bill contained well over $826 million in
specifically earmarked pork-barrel spending. This year's bill is a
drastic improvement over last year's bill in that it only contains a
little over $293.6 million in wasteful, pork-barrel spending. $293.6
million of waste is much better than $826 million of waste, but waste
is still waste.
Where does all this pork go? Well, as usual, this bill contains
millions on top of millions for court house construction and repairs.
We have $11,606,000 earmarked for repairs and alterations to the Frank
M. Johnson, Jr. Federal Building--U.S. Courthouse in Montgomery,
Alabama, and $21,098,000 for repairs and alterations to the Federal
Building--U.S. Courthouse Annex in Anchorage, Alaska. I know that these
court houses may be in dire need of repair and modernization. But are
these particular projects more important than the litany of other court
houses competing for funding? The process by which these two earmarks
were added makes it impossible to assess the relative merit of these
programs against all other priority needs.
In addition to earmarks for court houses, this bill contains the
usual earmarks of money for locality-specific projects such as:
$500,000 for the State Patrol Digital Distance Learning project to help
the Nebraska State Patrol create computer-based training programs, and
$250,000 to the Fort Buford reconstruction project for planning and
design of the reconstruction of this Fort--a Lewis and Clark ``Corps of
Discovery'' site.
Then there are the many sections of the report which have language
strongly urging various Departments of the Federal Government to
recognize or participate in a joint-venture with a particular project
in a state. While these objectionable provisions have no direct
monetary effect on the bill, this not-so-subtle ``urging'' is sure to
have some financial benefit for someone or some enterprise in a
member's home state. For example: Report language urging the
continuation and expansion of the collaboration between the University
of North Dakota and the Customs Service for rotorcraft training, and
report language urging GSA to strongly consider the U.S. Olympic
Committee's need for additional space and to give priority to the
USOC's request to gain title or acquire the property located at 1520
Willamette Avenue in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
This bill also selects particular sites across the country for which
the report language either provides additional spending for extra staff
and personnel, or ``urges'' the Agency not to reduce its staff. For
example: $750,000 for part-time and temporary positions in the Honolulu
Customs District, Report language designating the Hector International
Airport as an International Port of Entry, to be adequately staffed and
equipped so that the users of the facility are provided efficient
services, and report language directing the Customs Service to ensure
that staffing levels are sufficient to staff and operate all New Mexico
border facilities.
Why are these facilities protected at a time when each agency is
required to abide by the Government Program Reduction Act which
mandates that they operate more efficiently with less bureaucracy? Even
if these positions are critical, why are they not prioritized in the
normal administrative process?
Everyone knows that we are very close to breaking the spending caps.
We have not done so as of yet. I hope my colleagues understand that
just because we can fund these programs of questionable merit within
the spending caps, that does not mean we have the right to spend tax
payers' hard-earned dollars in such an irresponsible fashion.
I am constantly amazed by the arbitrary fashion by which the
Appropriations Committee chooses to allocate the dollars that should be
spent only
[[Page S8046]]
for important and necessary federal programs.
The examples of wasteful spending that I have highlighted in this
floor statement is just the tip of the iceberg. There are many more
low-priority, wasteful, and unnecessary projects on the extensive list
I have compiled, and I ask unanimous consent that the list be printed
in the Record.
There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in
the Record, as follows:
Objectionable Provisions Contained in S. 1282 the Treasury Department,
the United States Postal Service, the Executive Office of the
President, and Certain Independent Agencies Appropriations Bill.
bill language
Department of the Treasury
$9,200,000 for the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center
for construction of two firearms ranges at the Artesia Center
in NM.
$900,000 is earmarked for a land grant university in North
and/or South Dakota to conduct a research program on the
United States/Canadian bilateral trade of agricultural
commodities and products.
$150,000 for official reception and representation expenses
associated with hosting the Inter-American Center of Tax
Administration (CIAT) 2000 Conference.
Independent agencies
An earmark of $35,000,000 in Montgomery County, Maryland,
for FDA Consolidation.
$8,263,000 is earmarked for new construction of a border
station in Sault Sainte Marie, Michigan.
$753,000 for new construction of a border station in
Roosville, Montana.
An $11,480,000 earmark for new construction of a border
station in Sweetgrass, Montana.
$277,000 for new construction of a border station in Fort
Hancock, Texas.
$11,206,000 for new construction of a border station in
Oroville, Washington.
$11,606,000 is earmarked for repairs and alterations to the
Frank M. Johnson, Jr. Federal Building--U.S. Courthouse in
Montgomery, Alabama.
$21,098,000 for repairs and alterations to the Federal
Building--U.S. Courthouse Annex in Anchorage, Alaska.
A $6,831,000 earmark for repairs and alterations to the
USGB Building 1 in Menlo Park, California.
$5,284,000 for repairs and alterations to the USGS Building
2 in Menlo Park, California.
A $7,948,000 earmark for repairs and alterations to the
Moss Federal Building--U.S. Courthouse in Sacramento,
California.
$1,100,000 for repairs and alterations in the Interior
Building (Phase 1) in the District of Columbia.
$47,226,000 for repairs and alterations in the Main Justice
Building (Phase 2) in the District of Columbia.
$10,511,000 is earmarked for repairs and alterations to the
State Department Building (Phase 2) in the District of
Columbia.
$36,705,000 for repairs and alterations to the Metro West
Building in Baltimore, Maryland.
A $25,890,000 earmark for repairs and alterations to the
Social Security Administration Annex in Woodlawn, Maryland.
$10,989,000 for repairs and alterations to the Bishop H.
Whipple Federal Building in Ft. Snelling, Minnesota.
$8,537,000 for repairs and alterations to the Federal
Building at 500 Gold Avenue in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
$7,234,000 for repairs and alterations to the Celebrezze
Federal Building in Cleveland, Ohio.
An earmark of $1,600,000 for the repairs and alterations of
the Kansas City Federal Courthouse at 811 Grand Avenue,
Kansas City, Missouri.
$2,750,000 for GSA to enter into a memorandum of
understanding with the North Dakota State University to
establish a Virtual Archive Storage Terminal.
General provisions
Language indicating that no funds appropriated pursuant to
this Act may be expended by an entity unless the entity
agrees that in expending the assistance, the entity will
comply with sections 2 through 4 of the Act of March 3, 1993,
popularly known as the ``Buy American Act.''
Language indicating that entities receiving assistance
should, in expending the assistance purchase only American-
made equipment and products.
report language
Report language directing the Director of Federal Law
Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) to provide up to $300,000
to a graduate level criminal justice program in a Northern
Plains State which can provide causal research on the link
between youth and criminal activity in rural locations.
Report language requesting that FLETC give special
consideration to the training facilities at the Odegard
School for Aerospace Sciences, at the University of North
Dakota and at law enforcement training facilities in North
Dakota.
$1,290,000 for the counter-terrorism facility at Glynco,
Georgia.
Report language that the ``Acquisition, construction,
improvements, and related expenses'' account covers major
maintenance and facility improvements, construction,
renovation, capital improvements, and related equipment at
FLETC facilities in Glynco, GA, and Artesia, NM.
Report language urging that strong consideration be given
to an application from Greenville, South Carolina for the
Gang Resistance Education and Training [GREAT] Program.
Report language requesting that the Bureau of Alcohol,
Tobacco, and Firearms give strong consideration to
designating South Carolina and Las Vegas, Nevada as Youth
Crime Gun Interdiction Initiative [YCGII] locations.
Report language designating the Hector International
Airport in Fargo, North Dakota as an International Port of
Entry, to be adequately staffed and equipped so that the
users of the facility are provided efficient services.
Report language encouraging the Customs Service to pay
close attention to the border facilities in Pembina and
Minot, North Dakota.
Report language instructing Customs to maintain current
staffing levels in Arizona in fiscal year 2000 and to report
on what resources are necessary to reduce wait times along
the Southwest border to twenty minutes.
Report language directing the Customs Service to maintain
the level of services provided in fiscal year 1996 through
fiscal year 2000 at the Charleston, West Virginia, Customs
office.
$750,000 for part-time and temporary positions in the
Honolulu Customs District.
Report language directing the Customs Service to ensure
that staffing levels are sufficient to staff and operate all
New Mexico border facilities.
Report language urging the Customs Service to give high
priority to funding sufficient inspection personnel at ports
of entry in Florida for fiscal year 2000.
Report language urging the Customs Service to consider
allocation to smaller States and rural areas with particular
emphasis on Vermont when reviewing its staffing requirements.
Report language expressing the Committee's concerns about
the adequacy of staffing levels at the Great Falls, Montana
port.
Report language urging the continuation and expansion of
the collaboration between the University of North Dakota and
the Customs Service for rotorcraft training.
Report language indicating the Committee's continued
support of adequate staffing levels for tax administration
and its support of the staffing plans for the Internal
Revenue Service facilities in the communities of Martinsburg
and Beckley, West Virginia.
Report language indicating that Section 105, an
administrative provision of the Internal Revenue Service,
continues a provision which provides that no reorganization
of the field office structure of the Internal Revenue Service
Criminal Investigation Division will result in a reduction of
criminal investigators in Wisconsin and South Dakota from the
1996 level.
Report language directing the Postal Service to work with
the State of Alaska and the Alaska Federation of Natives to
develop an inspection program to stop the criminal use of the
mail where the U.S. Postal Service is being used to transport
drugs to remote villages in Alaska.
Report language indicating the Committee's awareness that
the U.S. Postal Service has announced that it will purchase
and deploy ethanol flexible fuel vehicles over the next two
years.
Report language encouraging the Director to consider
convening a national conference on rural drug crime to
include regional conferences in rural areas, such as those in
South Carolina and Vermont, in order to assess the needs of
rural law enforcement and the impact of drug related crimes.
Report language encouraging the Office of National Drug
Control Policy [ONDCP] to work with the State of North
Carolina to develop and implement a plan to designate North
Carolina as a High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area with a
focus on intensified interdiction along its interstate and
national highways.
Report language requesting that GSA review the District
Court of Vermont's proposal to relocate to a new facility,
and that the GSA work with the Courts to determine how to
address logistical, safety and space concerns at the
Burlington Courthouse and Federal Building.
Report language urging the General Services Administration
to work with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms to
provide the necessary expanded facilities to meet the chronic
space needs at the National Tracing Center in Martinsburg,
West Virginia.
Report language urging GSA to strongly consider the U.S.
Olympic Committee's [USOC] need for additional space and to
give priority to the USOC's request to gain title or acquire
the property located at 1520 Willamette Avenue in Colorado
Springs, Colorado.
Report language encouraging the GSA to assist the Salt Lake
Organizing Committee for the Winter and Paralympic Games in
2002 as well as the 2001 World Police and Fire Games in
Indiana.
Report language stating that a study of the causes, the
impact, the effect, and the options for reversing de-
population shall be undertaken by the universities of the
following four states: Montana, Iowa, Colorado, and North
Dakota.
$500,000 for the State Patrol Digital Distance Learning
project to help the Nebraska State Patrol create computer-
based training programs.
An $800,000,000 earmark for the repair, alteration, and
improvements of the Ronald
[[Page S8047]]
Reagan Presidential Library and Museum in Simi Valley,
California.
$250,000 to the Fort Buford reconstruction project for
planning and design of the reconstruction of this Fort--a
Lewis and Clark ``Corps of Discovery'' site.
Mr. McCAIN. In closing, I urge my colleagues on both sides of the
Capitol and on both sides of the aisle to develop a better standard
which curbs our habit of funneling hard-earned taxpayer dollars to
locality-specific special interests.
Mr. SANTORUM. Mr. President, I have sought recognition to express my
support for Courthouse Construction funding for the U.S. federal
courthouse in Erie, Pennsylvania. This courthouse is in dire need of
repair, and the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts has placed the
Erie Federal Courthouse on its priority list, and the General Services
Administration is in the final stages of completing the design for the
refurbished complex, which will be ready for construction in FY2000.
Specifically, this project involves the alteration of the existing Erie
Federal Building, the acquisition, repair and alteration of the
adjacent Erie County Library building for the bankruptcy court and
court of appeals; and the construction of a new courthouse annex for
the district court. The current courthouse provides inadequate space
and is not consolidated in a single location, presenting logistical and
security concerns for jurors, judges, attorneys, and the public. The
project, which will be a major step in the revitalization of downtown
Erie, will rely substantially on the rehabilitation of existing
structures as opposed to more costly, new construction.
I understand that the President's budget did not include funding for
courthouse construction for the third consecutive year. This failure to
provide funding for the needs of our judicial system is a serious
oversight that should not stand in the way of the safety and security
of my constituents in Erie.
I look forward to working with the Chairman of the Treasury and
General Government Subcommittee, Senator Campbell, and my colleague
from Pennsylvania, Senator Specter, to ensure that this project
receives funding as soon as possible. In the meantime, I urge the
General Services Administration to take any necessary actions to
rectify safety concerns or logistical problems that may result from
this lapse in funding.
Mr. CAMPBELL. I welcome the comments by the Senator from Pennsylvania
and look forward to continuing to work with him on this request. I am
well aware of the importance he places on the proposed improvements to
the Erie Federal Courthouse and recognize the significance of timely
action on this request.
fy2000 appropriations for the hidta program
Mr. GRAMS. Mr. President, I rise today to express my support for S.
1282, the Fiscal Year 2000 Treasury, Postal Service, and General
Government Appropriations bill. In particular, I commend the Senate
Appropriations Committee for its support of the High Intensity Drug
Trafficking Area program within this legislation.
The High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area program was established in
1988 to assist state and local governments to investigate, prosecute
and prevent illegal drug production and trafficking. Since 1990, the
Office of National Drug Control Policy has designated twenty-six
regions of the nation as High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas. Most
recently, the States of Ohio, Oregon, and Hawaii were among those areas
granted HIDTA status to help improve coordination of drug control
efforts.
Unfortunately, communities in my home state of Minnesota continue to
be threatened by drug abuse and illegal drug trafficking, particularly
methamphetamine. In recent years, methamphetamine has become the drug
of choice throughout Minnesota, and is closely associated with
increased violent crime. In my recent meeting with Office of National
Drug Control Policy Director General Barry McCaffrey, he referred to
methamphetamine as ``the worst drug that ever hit America.''
The alarming rate of meth production and trafficking has been caused
by small, independent organizations that run clandestine laboratories
in apartment complexes, farms, motel rooms and residences with
inexpensive, over-the-counter-materials. The secretive nature of the
manufacturing process involves toxic chemicals, and frequently results
in fires, damaging explosions, and destruction to our environment. A
constituent from Benson, Minnesota underscored the devastating effects
of illegal meth production when he wrote, ``The resultant crime and
addition problems are destroying small and mid-sized rural
communities.''
The high volume of meth trafficking in Minnesota has also placed
enormous strain on the resources of those federal and state law
enforcement agencies investigating abuse of this deadly substance. In
1998, for example, task forces from Freeborn County, Hennepin County,
and Washington County seized a total of fourteen meth labs, an increase
from five seizures in 1997. In 1998, the Minneapolis-St. Paul Resident
Office of the Drug Enforcement Agency seized more than 200 pounds of
meth, compared to 67 pounds seized in 1997.
Mr. President, Minnesota's local law enforcement community has begun
to strengthen its strategy for combating illegal drug use. By September
1, a committee that includes representatives from the U.S. Attorney's
Office, the Minnesota Sheriffs Association, the Minnesota Attorney
General's Office, and the Minnesota Department of Public Safety will
submit its proposed HIDTA initiative to the Office of National Drug
Control Policy.
When this designation is granted, Minnesota will receive federal
assistance to improve antidrug efforts currently underway by local
prosecutors, sheriffs, police chiefs and state law enforcement
officials. I ask unanimous consent that following my remarks, a
complete list of the federal and state agencies developing this
proposal be printed in the Record.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection it is so ordered.
(See exhibit 1.)
Mr. GRAMS. Mr. President, over the last several months, I have also
worked to focus attention on the value of the HIDTA program to
communities throughout Minnesota. This past Spring, I presented the
need for a ``Minnesota HIDTA'' to Office of National Drug Control
Policy Director Barry McCaffrey during the May edition of my monthly
cable television program. As the administrator of the HIDTA program,
General McCaffrey clearly understands that although law enforcement is
primarily a local responsibility, the federal government can support
the ability of local law enforcement to investigate and prosecute
serious drug offenders.
I am pleased to have included a provision within S. 899, ``The 21st
Century Justice Act'' that underscores the need for additional federal
antidrug resources in Minnesota. This provision directs the Office of
National Drug Control Policy to establish a ``Northern Border High
Intensity Drug Trafficking Area'' that would include the State of
Minnesota. It also authorizes $2.7 million in Fiscal Year 2000 to
improving coordination of antidrug efforts currently underway by local
prosecutors, sheriffs, police chiefs, and state law enforcement
officials.
Again, I commend the Senate for its support for the High Intensity
Drug Trafficking Area program. I will continue to work with law
enforcement officials, my colleagues in the Senate, and the Office of
National Drug Control Policy to ensure that localities have the
assistance they need to protect our communities from crime and drug
abuse.
Exhibit No. 1
United States Attorney's Office-District of Minnesota
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms
Drug Enforcement Administration
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Hennepin County Sheriffs Office
Internal Revenue Service/CID
Minnesota Department of Criminal Apprehension
Minnesota Attorney General's Office
Minnesota Chiefs of Police Association
Minnesota Department of Public Safety
Minnesota Sheriffs Association
Minnesota State Patrol
St. Paul Police Department
United States Customs, Office of Enforcement
United States Immigration and Naturalization Service.
Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, I am concerned about a $257,000,000
decrease in appropriated funding for the United States Customs Service.
Last year, Congress aided this agency through the Omnibus and Emergency
Supplemental
[[Page S8048]]
Appropriations, that devotes a large percentage of its aggregate budget
to preventing the smuggling of Narcotics into the United States, with
an additional $265,000,000. The Appropriations committee, this year,
also recognizing the need of the Customs Service to react to changing
smuggling modes and complex money laundering schemes increased the
Customs Service total funding by $315,000,000. This is $315,000,000
over the President's budget estimate and Congress needs to maintain
this effort. Drug trafficking is a never-ending battle. The demand for
illegal drugs in the United States remains strong. The U.S. Customs
Service is one of our front line drug enforcement agencies that
protects America's borders every day from professional drug traffickers
and money launders. Congress needs to fully and adequately fund the
salaries and expenses and needed modernization for one of our major
first line counter-drug agencies.
I am aware of the hard choices the Committee had to make in coming up
with the current funding level for Customs. But I strongly feel that we
must do more. Not only has legal trade expanded dramatically but so has
illegal drug trafficking and alien smuggling. We have not supported the
modernization or expansion of Customs to keep pace. We cannot maintain
our commitment to fighting the smuggling of illegal drugs without more
and better.
professional liability insurance coverage for senior federal employees
Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I have offered an amendment to the
Treasury, Postal and General Government Appropriations bill to ensure
that federal managers and law enforcement officials in all federal
departments and agencies receive the same benefits concerning
professional liability insurance. Today, several federal departments
contribute to the costs of professional liability insurance for federal
managers and law enforcement officials. Other large federal departments
do not contribute to assisting federal managers obtain this insurance.
This professional liability insurance is essential as many federal
managers are personally absorbing the significant costs of obtaining
legal representation in cases where complaints have been brought
against. Often, allegations have been made by citizens, against whom
federal officials were enforcing the law and by employees who had
performance or conduct problems.
I have been working with Chairman Cochran of the Government Affairs
Subcommittee on International Security, Proliferation and Federal
Services to address this important issue and I welcome his views on
this matter.
Mr. COCHRAN. I agree with Senator Warner that this is an issue that
must be addressed. In prior action, the Congress provided the authority
for federal departments and agencies to contribute one-half of the
costs of obtaining professional liability insurance for federal
managers and law enforcement officials. Unfortunately, this benefit has
not been offered by all federal departments. I am committed to working
with Senator Warner to address this issue and to ensure that all
federal managers and law enforcement officials are treated fairly.
Mr. WARNER. I thank Chairman Cochran for his attention to this issue.
This is an important matter that is critical to ensuring that the
federal government can attract and retain qualified professionals in
federal service.
At this time I will withdraw my amendment and look forward to working
with Chairman Cochran, Chairman Thompson and other members of the
Government Affairs Committee.
Federal Law Enforcement Training Center
Mr. CLELAND. Mr. President, I want to clarify with the ranking member
of the Treasury Appropriations Subcommittee the intent of this bill
regarding its appropriation of $80.1 million for salaries and expenses
at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) located in
Glynco, GA. This appropriation is $6 million less than the $86 million
for salaries initially requested by FLETC. It is my understanding that
the lion's share of this reduction is simply the result of a
readjustment based on what the Subcommittee and Committee believe will
be the actual workload at FLETC and not an indication of the
Committee's intent that there be any reduction in FLETC's ability to
fulfill its mission. Does the Senator care to comment?
Mr. DORGAN. The Senator is correct. The $6 million reduction is the
result of the Subcommittee's re-estimation of the likely workload at
FLETC combined with a small across-the-board cut on all salaries
covered by the Treasury Department appropriations bill.
Mr. CLELAND. I thank the Senator. Should the actual workload at FLETC
result in an appropriations need beyond what is provided for in this
bill, does the Senator believe that the committee would consider
alternative funding sources to ensure FLETC could fulfill its mission?
Mr. DORGAN. The committee recognizes FLETC's important role in
providing quality training to the nation's law enforcement personnel,
and it is fully supportive of providing the funding necessary for the
center to effectively carry out the mission for which it was created.
Mr. COVERDELL. I thank the Senators for their comments and the
ranking member for his commitment to FLETC. It is important that
Congress preserve FLETC's intent and function and I am glad to know
that this bill continues Congressional support for, and commitment to,
this important training center. I ask Chairman Campbell if he cares to
comment on this matter.
Mr. CAMPBELL. Yes, and I echo the sentiments of the ranking member.
The amount appropriated by the Committee for salaries and expenses does
not indicate a lower level of support for FLETC. The Senators are
correct in their understanding of this matter and the Committee will
continue efforts to preserve consolidated federal law enforcement
training at FLETC.
Mr. COVERDELL. Mr. President, I would like to clarify with the
chairman the intent of this bill regarding the Federal Law Enforcement
Training Center and its facilities in Glynco, GA. Is it the Chairman's
belief that the appropriations bill now before this body, S. 1282,
preserves the intent and function of FLETC and takes the appropriate
steps to move forward with FLETC's five year modernization plan?
Mr. CAMPBELL. I thank the Senator for his question. Yes, I do believe
that this bill preserves the intent and function of FLETC. FLETC serves
an important role for federal law enforcement training and through this
bill I have taken steps to help it toward completion of its five year
plan.
Mr. COVERDELL. I thank the chairman. I understand that $4.6 million
has been funded in FLETC's base construction account and the Committee
is directing the Treasury Department to use the money for a chilled
water system expansion at FLETC's facility in Glynco, GA even though it
was not specifically mentioned in the bill or report language.
Mr. CAMPBELL. The Senator is correct. These funds along with $900,000
for the completion of a new classroom in Artesia, NM will complete
FLETC's fiscal year 2000 5-year plan funding requirements and will keep
the effort to expand FLETC's capacity moving forward and on time.
Mr. COVERDELL. I thank the chairman for his support of this important
program and for his commitment to FLETC's modernization effort.
Mr. CLELAND. I thank the two Senators for their statement. I am very
pleased that this bill continues the commitment of the Committee, and
the Subcommittee, to the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center. FLETC
is a model state-of-the-art facility which is critical to the training
of our Nation's law enforcement personnel.
Mr. COVERDELL. Mr. President, I would like to engage the esteemed
chairman on a matter important to out Nation's Federal law enforcement
training and the Glynco, GA site at which this training is conducted.
As the chairman knows, the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center was
developed to consolidate federal law enforcement training. This was
done to ensure efficiency, prevent redundancy, and save taxpayer
dollars. The Chairman is also aware that FLETC has a five year plan for
its sites in Artesia, NM and Glynco, GA to modernize the facilities and
address a training overflow issue. I understand that the Chairman's
bill preserves FLETC's intent and keeps the five-year plan moving
[[Page S8049]]
into the next fiscal year. Understanding the Chairman's work continues
FLETC's viability, will he be willing to communicate to the Treasury
Department not only his commitment to this program but his desire to
see that Treasury take steps towards funding design money for two
dormitories at Glynco during this fiscal year?
Mr. CAMPBELL. I thank the Senator for his question and for his
comments about FLETC's role and the Committee's work on behalf of
FLETC. I believe in the intent for which FLETC was created and believe
this bill reflects that belief. I also understand the need to take
further steps to continue FLETC's 5-year plan. I say to the Senator
from Georgia that I am willing to communicate with the Treasury
Secretary Robert Rubin my hope that the Treasury Department provide
design money for the two dormitories.
Mr. COVERDELL. The chairman's remarks are appreciated. As the Senator
from Colorado knows this design money will assist with the dormitories
scheduled for full funding in fiscal year 2001. Funding for design
money will provide important continuation of and commitment to FLETC's
5-year plan. I thank the chairman.
Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, I would like to engage the distinguished
Senator from Colorado, the Chairman of the Subcommittee, in a colloquy.
Mr. President, I want to begin by applauding the Chairman and Ranking
Member of the Treasury-General Government Appropriations Subcommittee
for what they have done under difficult budgetary circumstances. The
Administration's fiscal year 2000 budget request for Customs included a
controversial $312.4 million user fee to fund 5,000 existing Customs
personnel. That budget gimmick essentially forced the Committee to
either reduce Customs staffing levels or reduce or deny many needed
projects and new initiatives. Under those difficult circumstances. I
believe that Committee made the right choice.
The Customs Service has added to the problem by failing to include
comprehensive air interdiction and marine enforcement fleet
modernization plans requested by Congress in its Fiscal Year 2000
budget request. Has the subcommittee received either of these plans?
Mr. CAMPBELL. We have not received either of the requested plans from
the Customs Service. In my view, the Administration clearly has missed
an opportunity. In the absence of these reports and in response to
concerns expressed by the Senator from New Mexico and others we have
urged the Customs Service to look at cost-effective force multiplying
technologies to improve border control and support other federal, state
and local law enforcement agencies.
Mr. DOMENICI. As the Chairman knows, I believe that the AS350 AStar
helicopter is a proven force-multiplier for Customs that has been used
along the Southwest border, and elsewhere in the country, to support
operations by the Border Patrol, and other federal, state, and local
law enforcement agencies. According to information provided by the
Customs Service, in the past year these Customs helicopters assisted in
the seizure of approximately $14 million 7,800 pounds of cocaine,
almost 25 tons of marijuana, 88 vehicles, 1 aircraft, 12 illegal
weapons, 5 vessels, and 210 arrests. In addition, the Executive
Director of the Customs Air Interdiction Division, has indicated that
AStar is the most cost-effective element of the Customs air fleet.
Based on this track record, the AS350 AStar has become the light
enforcement helicopter of choice for the U.S. Customs Service.
Mr. President, I understand the budget constraints facing the
Subcommittee. I would simply ask that as we proceed with this bill in
conference or later in the year, the Chairman and the distinguished
Ranking Member of the Subcommittee, Mr. Dorgan, consider making
investments in proven, cost-effective force multipliers--like the AStar
helicopters--that can help strengthen law enforcement and improve our
efforts to combat the inflow of drugs into this country a funding
priority.
Mr. CAMPBELL. Mr. President, I share the concern expressed by the
distinguished Senator from New Mexico about the inflow of drugs into
this country. In addition to urging the Customs Service to transmit the
requested air and marine modernization plans to the Committee, we
worked with the Senator from new Mexico and others to add report
language urging the Customs Service to consider additional investments
in proven counterdrug assets like the AS350 AStar helicopter and other
technologies in its current and future plans to try to maximize the
effectiveness of Customs counterdrug personnel and resources. If
additional resources become available to the Committee, cost-effective
force-multipliers like the AS350 AStars will be among our top
counterdrug priorities.
Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, I thank the distinguished Chairman.
hartsfield atlanta international airport
Mr. COVERDELL. Mr. President, I would like to bring to the attention
of the chairman the tremendous need for the speedy assignment of
additional Customs Inspectors for Hartsfield Atlanta International
Airport.
There has been a 100% increase in the number of international gates
at Hartsfield from 1994 to 1999 and yet only a 14% increase in Customs
Inspectors during the same period. In addition, there has been a 102%
increase in metric tons of cargo and no increase in inspectors to
handle that growth.
Hartsfield airport officials and the business community believe this
lack of Customs Inspectors to handle the rapid growth in both
passengers and cargo will soon place the airport at a serious
competitive disadvantage. It is my understanding that millions of
dollars a year will be lost by business travelers and industries in the
Atlanta region due to inefficient movement of passengers and goods if
this problem is not addressed soon.
Mr. CAMPBELL. Is it not true that the INS recently assigned 15 new
inspectors to Hartsfield to handle the airport's tremendous growth?
Mr. COVERDELL. Yes, the chairman is correct.
Mr. CLELAND. Mr. President, I would like to state my concern to the
chairman on this matter as well. Hartsfield recently surpassed O'Hare
as the busiest airport in the world. I, too, strongly urge the U.S.
Customs Service to address their lack of sufficient personnel at
Hartsfield and respond as the INS has done in assigning the proper
staff to this vital economic engine for the metro Atlanta region.
Mr. CAMPBELL. I thank my two colleagues for their comments on this
matter and I encourage the Customs Service to work to address these
issues.
Mr. President, I know of no further amendments to be offered. I
believe we are ready for third reading of the bill. Senator Dorgan is
prepared for that.
Mr. DORGAN. Mr. President, I think we are ready for third reading.
Let me, in 10 seconds, thank the staff on both sides who have worked
so hard on this legislation.
I think all of the amendments have been disposed of. We are ready for
final passage.
Mr. CAMPBELL. I also thank Senator Dorgan for all of his work. I ask
now for a voice vote on final passage.
Mr. WELLSTONE. Mr. President, will we have a recorded vote on the
conference report?
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Third reading.
Mr. CAMPBELL. Yes.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The question is on third reading of the bill.
The bill was read the third time.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The bill having been read the third time, the
question is, Shall the bill pass?
The bill (S. 1282), as amended, was passed.
(The bill will be printed in a future edition of the Record.)
Mr. CAMPBELL. Mr. President, I move to reconsider the vote.
Mr. LOTT. I move to lay that motion on the table.
The motion to lay on the table was agreed to.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The majority leader.
Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I know there may be some wrap-up statements.
I commend the managers of the Treasury-Postal Service appropriations
bill. They have worked together very well today. They have been able to
complete a bill in 1 day that ordinarily takes days, or as much as a
week. I commend them for that.
[[Page S8050]]
ORDER OF BUSINESS
Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, in light of the vote that just occurred on
the Treasury-Postal Service appropriations bill, and the agreement just
reached a few moments ago with respect to the District of Columbia
appropriations, the Senate has conducted its last vote for the week.
There will be no further votes tonight and no votes in the morning.
The next vote will occur on Tuesday, July 13. The Senate will
reconvene on Monday, July 12, at noon. However, no votes will occur
during Monday's session of the Senate.
Votes will occur during the session of the Senate beginning Tuesday,
July 13, through Friday, July 16. There will be votes on Friday, July
16. So be prepared for that. That was under a previously agreed to
cloture vote at 10:30 on Friday, the 16th, concerning the Social
Security lockbox issue.
We will be in session some tomorrow. But there will be no recorded
votes in the morning.
I thank all of our colleagues for their cooperation. Senator Daschle
and our whips have all worked to make it possible to complete not one
but two appropriations bills. I wish all of our colleagues a safe and
happy holiday. I look forward to seeing you back on the 12th.
Mr. CAMPBELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that when the
Senate receives from the House of Representatives the companion bill to
S. 1282, the Senate immediately proceed to the consideration of that
measure; that all after the enacting clause be stricken and the text of
Senate bill S. 1282, as passed, be inserted in lieu thereof; that the
House bill, as amended, be read for the third time and passed; that the
Senate insist on its amendment, request a conference with the House on
the disagreeing votes of the two Houses thereon, and that the Chair be
authorized to appoint conferees on the part of the Senate; and that the
foregoing occur without any intervening action or debate.
I further ask unanimous consent that the bill, S. 1282, not be
engrossed; that it remain at the desk pending receipt of the House
companion bill, and that upon passage by the Senate of the House bill,
as amended, the passage of S. 1282 be vitiated and the bill be
indefinitely postponed.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
Mr. CAMPBELL. Mr. President, we agreed to a statement, after passage
of the bill, of Senator Torricelli. I think that was the only one
agreed to.
I yield the floor.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from New Jersey.
Mr. TORRICELLI. Mr. President, I thank the Senator from Colorado for
his consideration.
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