[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 39 (Monday, April 3, 2000)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2029-S2030]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                                SCHEDULE

  Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, today the Senate will be in a period of 
morning business throughout the day with time under the control of 
Senator Bob Smith, Senator Brownback or his designee, Senator Craig or 
his designee, and Senator Durbin or his designee. As previously 
announced, no votes will occur during today's session of the Senate. 
However, the Senate will begin consideration of the budget resolution 
at 9:30 a.m. tomorrow, Tuesday morning, and votes can be expected 
during each day and evening throughout the week.
  The budget resolution is allowed up to 50 hours of debate, and quite 
often we have a series of votes at the end of that time. I hope we will 
not get into a long list of amendments that will require votes right at 
the very end. It is not a very good way to do business. Last year, 
after a lot of hard work by Senator Reid and others, we were able to 
reduce that list to at least a reasonable number. But Senators should 
be on notice that we will have to spend a good bit of time in session 
on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, probably going into the night at least 
Wednesday and Thursday, and that there is a very good chance we will be 
in on Friday with votes.
  If we can complete the budget resolution Thursday night, even if it 
means going late into the night, we will do that; otherwise, we will go 
into Friday. But we will complete the budget resolution this week so we 
can move forward with appropriations bills in the appropriations 
subcommittees beginning next week.
  Members should also be aware there are a number of important 
committee markups that will be occurring this week. So we are going to 
have a very busy time.


                          THE FIRST TARTAN DAY

  Mr. President, I should note this is also the first week in history 
that we will recognize those of us with Scottish heritage: Thursday, 
April 6, will be the first Tartan Day. I understand the head of the 
Church of Scotland will be here, as well as a number of visiting 
members of the Scottish Parliament.
  I look forward to the opportunity to wear my kilt and wear a bit of 
the tartan on Tartan Day. I ask all my colleagues to look through their 
Scottish ancestry and find their tartan tie or something with which 
they can mark their appreciation for the impact that Scotland has had 
on our history. In fact, about half, maybe a little more than half of 
the signers of the Declaration of Independence actually had Scottish 
ancestry. So I am glad we will have this day to recognize that, and I 
look forward to joining our Chaplain, Lloyd John Ogilvie, as we 
celebrate this occasion.


                        A NATIONAL ENERGY POLICY

  Mr. President, I hope the Senate will spend some time this week 
giving serious thought to how we should proceed on the development of a 
national energy policy and what we could do on a short-term basis to 
deal with the price of gasoline. We are not sure exactly what is going 
to happen. There is some indication there will be an increase of 
production by the OPEC countries. It is not clear exactly how much that 
will be or what impact it will have. If prices stay high or go higher, 
I think the American people are going to expect us to look at some 
alternatives, some short-term relief, and then also have a full debate 
about what we can do for the future, in terms of more production, 
alternative fuels, conservation--a whole package of things that are 
long overdue.
  I think we are being given a second warning. We were given a warning 
in the late 1970s and 1980s when we had high gasoline prices, a 
shortage of supply, and gasoline lines. We knew there was a problem and 
that we should do something about it. We made some efforts, but it has 
not produced the results that we need. We are now dependent on foreign 
oil for 55 percent of our

[[Page S2030]]

oil needs. I think that is totally unacceptable and a threat to our 
national security. During the week, I hope we can engage in some 
discussion and thought about this. We should be prepared to have some 
votes in this area next week, after the budget resolution is completed.


                        THE MARRIAGE PENALTY TAX

  Mr. President, the week of April 10, voting not later than April 14, 
the Senate will have a chance to indicate whether or not it believes we 
should eliminate the marriage penalty tax. The House has voted 
overwhelmingly to eliminate that tax. The President has indicated he 
thinks we should phase it out. Now the Senate Finance Committee has 
acted on a package that will be available and will be acted on in the 
Senate that week of April 10. Like the Social Security earnings test, 
are we finally going to do what we have been talking about for years? 
The Social Security earnings penalty was in place for 30 years but 
finally, last week, the Congress did something about it.
  We have been talking about how we were going to eliminate the 
marriage penalty tax for 10 years. Are we going to do it? Are we 
finally going to do something about it? Also, this one takes on 
particular significance to me because our daughter was married last 
May. She and her husband both work. She is a young professional woman. 
She has discovered this applies to her and that they are going to pay 
more taxes this year than they did last year, even though they make 
about the same amount of money. She says: Dad, you must do something. 
So we did something in the Finance Committee. Will we do it in the 
Senate? Will we rise to this challenge?
  Would anybody like to try to explain this tax to the married couples 
in America, particularly newly married couples who are first confronted 
with this marriage penalty tax? Would anybody like to defend it? Would 
anybody like to explain that it is fair and should be in place? No.
  I have asked that question in all kinds of groups with all kinds of 
backgrounds and philosophies, and not a single hand goes up to defend 
it. So the Senate has a chance to act affirmatively in this area the 
week of April 10. I look forward to that.


                          THE GONZALEZ MATTER

  Mr. President, finally, and not least, obviously there is a lot in 
the news media about the Gonzalez matter. I am not sure this is 
something that Congress should step into. I would like it to be handled 
in an appropriate forum, such as a family court, but the Government 
seems to be involved. The Government seems to be determined to send 
this young boy back to Cuba. I think that is a mistake, without full 
opportunity for appeals and an appropriate court consideration of what 
is best for the young boy.
  We may have some opportunity to consider this issue in the Senate. We 
will be careful about how we proceed. But I do not think we can stand 
by as if we did not know what was going on. So I hope my colleagues 
will join me in giving thought to an appropriate way to proceed on this 
matter.
  Mr. President, I yield the floor. If no Senator is seeking 
recognition at this point, I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Hagel). The clerk will call the roll.
  The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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