[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 163 (Wednesday, November 17, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Pages S14676-S14678]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       INTERIOR BILL NEGOTIATIONS

  Ms. LANDRIEU. Thank you, Mr. President.
  I know the underlying amendment we have just debated is quite 
important, and the bankruptcy bill we are debating is one of the things 
we have to reconcile in order to wrap up our business and do the work 
for the American people. But I come to the floor just for a few moments 
this afternoon to speak on another subject because I would like to do 
my part to help us bring this session to a positive close.
  I was one of the Senators who placed a hold on some of the business 
before the Senate. I felt compelled to do so because of some actions 
the administration was taking in the negotiations process on the 
Interior bill. I believe I had to try to stop, or reverse, or change 
it. With other things that have taken place, I believe we have been 
somewhat successful. I want to speak about that for a moment.
  As you are aware, Mr. President, about 2 years ago a great coalition 
of people came together from different perspectives in this country--
different parties, different areas of this Nation--to begin to speak 
about the great need in America and the great desire on the part of the 
American people, from Louisiana, California, New York, and all places 
in between, to try to find a permanent way to fund very important 
environmental projects--the purchase of land, the expansion of parks, 
the creation of green space, the preservation of green space, the 
restoration of wetlands, the commitment to historic preservation, the 
expansion of our urban parks, the ability of all families, not just 
families who can afford to fly in jets or take long automobile 
vacations, but for families who live in the U.S., to be able to enjoy 
the beauty of nature; for us as a Nation as we move into this next 
century to take this opportunity to try to find a permanent way to fund 
some of these programs so they won't be subject to the whims and wishes 
of Washington, something that is fiscally conservative in terms of our 
balanced budget.
  We tried to look for funding that would be appropriate to dedicate in 
this way. We found a source of funding. That is where the funding is--
offshore oil and gas revenues that were the subject of an earlier 
debate today. As the prices go up, it helps some parts of our Nation; 
it is a challenge for other parts. But it brings more tax revenues into 
the Federal coffers.
  For 50 years, we have been drilling off the shores of Louisiana, 
Texas, Mississippi, and the gulf coast. We have brought over $120 
billion to the Federal Treasury by depleting one important resource for 
our Nation. That money has gone to the general fund. It has been spent 
on a variety of projects--not reinvested but just spent in operating 
budgets.
  Many of us think a more fiscally conservative approach, and a more 
sound and responsible approach, would be to

[[Page S14677]]

take a portion of those revenues produced by basically the gulf coast 
States and reinvest a portion, if you will, or share a portion of those 
revenues, with States and counties and parishes, as in Louisiana and 
communities around the Nation, to help in all the ways I have just 
expressed in all of our land acquisition, land improvements, expansion 
of our parks, and wildlife conservation programs.
  Two years ago, a great coalition came together. On one  side, we had 
the National Chamber of Commerce; on the other side, we had a variety 
of environmental groups; we had elected officials, both at the Federal 
level and State level. As I said, it was a bipartisan coalition that 
came together to back a bill, which was introduced on the House side 
and in the Senate, known as CARA, the Conservation and Reinvestment 
Act, to do just that.

  This bill has picked up tremendous support in the last 2 years. It is 
pending before our Senate Energy Committee with Senator Murkowski and 
me as the lead sponsors, with many Members of this body. The great news 
is that just last week in the House, under the great leadership of Don 
Young from Alaska and George Miller from California, the ranking 
member, this bill passed out very similar to ours on a 37-12 vote to 
try to help bring us to a bipartisan consensus.
  I am hopeful, as we wrap up this session and as we begin to get ready 
for the next session of Congress, that we are now in a very good 
position to be able to take some final actions in moving that bill 
through committee, onto the floor, and into a conference where the 
final details can be worked out because if we are going to have any 
permanency of funding from this source, it is going to have to be 
something that is shared with the States that produce the money in the 
first place.
  Louisiana produces about 70 percent of our offshore oil and gas 
revenues. We have great needs as a coastal State, along with States 
such as New York that just got hit very hard by Hurricane Floyd, 
causing tremendous damage. There are great coastal needs in our States 
to fully fund the land and water conservation and wildlife conservation 
programs.
  I am very hopeful as we position ourselves for next year, that we are 
in a position to grab this opportunity supported by this grand 
coalition and do something very positive for America's environment.
  I am pleased to say I will be prepared to release my hold on the 
foreign operations bill in an attempt to do my part to move to 
reconciliation because we have effectively stopped the administration's 
efforts to permanently allocate funding but in a way that will not 
cover all of the things as I outlined. We want to make sure this 
investment in the Nation is not just about Federal land acquisition, 
although that is a very important piece of this. We want to make sure 
it is balanced, with the opportunity for Governors and local officials 
to purchase land at the local level. We want to make sure it is truly a 
partnership. We want to make sure the coastal impact assistance is 
there as well as funding for historical preservation, urban parks, and 
wildlife programs.
  While we didn't reach every goal we set out, we have raised this 
issue. We have built a strong coalition. We have raised this issue and 
we have stopped the permanent allocation of these funds until the whole 
package can be dealt with. We have made a very positive step.
  On behalf of the great coalition, I ask unanimous consent to have 
printed in the Record a letter to the President, signed by 14 Senators, 
along with a letter to Members of Congress from 865 organizations, 
business and government agencies, that are funding this effort.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:


                                                  U.S. Senate,

                                Washington, DC, November 15, 1999.
     The President,
     The White House, Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. President: With your leadership we have a historic 
     opportunity to pass legislation in this Congress that will 
     permanently reinvest a portion of offshore oil and gas 
     revenues in coastal conservation and impact assistance 
     programs, the Land and Water Conservation Fund, wildlife 
     conservation, historic treasures and outdoor recreation. 
     Recently, forty of the nation's governors sent a letter to 
     Congress encouraging us to seize this historic opportunity. 
     This effort has been endorsed by almost every environmental 
     organization in the country as well as a broad array of 
     business interests including the United States Chamber of 
     Commerce.
       There is strong bi-partisan support now for a proposal 
     that: will provide a fair share of funding to all coastal 
     states, including producing states; is free of harmful 
     environmental impacts to coastal and ocean resources; does 
     not unduly hinder land acquisition but acknowledges Congress' 
     role in making these decisions and reflects a true 
     partnership among federal, state and local governments.
       There is also strong support for using these OCS revenues 
     to reinvest in the renewable resource of wildlife 
     conservation through the currently authorized Pittman-
     Robertson program. This new influx of funding will nearly 
     double the Federal funds available for wildlife conservation 
     and education programs. We would like to ensure that wildlife 
     programs are kept among the priorities when negotiating for 
     monies from OCS revenues.
       A historic conservation initiative is within our grasp. 
     With budget negotiations currently underway, we urge you to 
     push forward for a compromise which reflects the points 
     outlined above. It will be an accomplishment we can all 
     celebrate and a real legacy for future generations.
           Sincerely,
         Mary L. Landrieu, Max Cleland, Blanche L. Lincoln, Evan 
           Bayh, John F. Kerry, Tim Johnson, Charles Robb, John 
           Breaux, Robert J. Kerrey, Barbara A. Mikulski, Ron 
           Wyden, Herb Kohl, Ernest F. Hollings, Judd Gregg.
                                  ____

                                                 November 1, 1999.
     U.S. Congress,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Member of Congress: As the twentieth century draws to 
     a close, Congress has a rare opportunity to pass landmark 
     legislation that would establish a permanent and significant 
     source of conservation funding. A number of promising 
     legislative proposals would take revenues from non-renewable 
     offshore oil and gas resources and reinvest them in the 
     protection of renewable resources such as our wildlife, 
     public lands, coasts, oceans, historic and cultural 
     treasures, and recreation. Securing this funding would allow 
     us to build upon the pioneering conservation tradition that 
     Teddy Roosevelt initiated at the beginning of the century.
       The vast majority of Americans recognize the duty we have 
     to protect and conserve our rich cultural and natural 
     legacies for future generations. A diverse array of interest, 
     including sportsmen and women, conservationists, historic 
     preservationists, park and recreation enthusiasts, urban 
     advocates, the faith community, business interests, state and 
     local governments, and others, support conservation funding 
     legislation because they recognize it is essential to fulfill 
     this obligation.
       We call upon you and your colleagues to seize this 
     unprecedented opportunity. Pass legislation that would make a 
     substantial and reliable investment in the conservation of 
     our nation's wildlife; public lands; coastal and marine 
     resources; historic and cultural treasures; state, local and 
     urban parks and recreation programs; and open space. Design a 
     bill that provides significant conservation benefits, is free 
     of harmful environmental impacts to our coastal and ocean 
     resources, and does not unduly hinder land acquisition 
     programs.
       An historic conservation funding bill is within our grasp. 
     It will be an accomplishment that all can celebrate. We look 
     to Congress to make this legislation a reality.
           Sincerely,

  Ms. LANDRIEU. I will read one paragraph from this petition. Let us 
grab the opportunity now, to:

       Pass legislation that would make a substantial and reliable 
     investment in the conservation of our Nation's wildlife; 
     public lands; coastal and marine resources; historic and 
     cultural treasures; State, local and urban parks, and 
     recreation programs; and open spaces. [Let us] design a bill 
     that provides significant conservation benefits, is free of 
     harmful environmental impacts to our coastal and ocean 
     resources and does not unduly hinder land acquisition 
     programs.

  I believe we can meet these goals as we negotiate the detail and 
compromise in the next session.
  The Presiding Officer, being from the State of Alabama, has been a 
great leader in this effort. I look forward to working with the Senator 
next year. I am pleased to tell our leader I will be removing my hold 
on foreign ops because we have made some progress on this, and I look 
forward to working harder to make this a reality for the people of 
America the next time we meet.
  I yield my remaining time.
  Mr. REID. Before the Senator from Louisiana leaves the floor, I want 
to express to her the appreciation of the entire minority caucus. There 
is no Member of the Senate who is more astute, works harder, and has a 
better understanding of the issues that face the Senate, which was well 
demonstrated by her work on this issue about which she feels fervently. 
We are grateful at this late date the Senator

[[Page S14678]]

has been willing to work with members to release the hold.

                          ____________________