Congressional Record, Volume 146 Issue 60 (Tuesday, May 16, 2000)

[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 60 (Tuesday, May 16, 2000)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3981-S3983]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

MILITARY CONSTRUCTION APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2001--Continued

Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, this weekend an estimated 750,000
mothers, fathers, and children united for the Million Mom March here in
the District. These women and men took the first step toward ending the
epidemic of gun violence in our country.
Certainly, Congress needs to take the next step. It is intolerable
that commonsense gun safety legislation is stalled in a conference
committee that has not met since August 5 of 1999. Twelve kids die a
day from gun violence and we do nothing. We have more safety
regulations for toy guns than for real guns, and we do nothing. We have
watched children shot in schools and day-care centers, but still we do
nothing.
Yesterday, the Democratic Policy Committee held a hearing with
mothers from the Million Mom March. At the hearing, I heard stories
that I must say will haunt me for a long time. I listened to a
kindergarten schoolteacher talk about her horror when one of her
seemingly innocent students, a kindergartner, brought a gun to school
to kill a classmate. She remains afraid to teach and afraid for her
students.
I listened to the mother of an aspiring high school graduate who was
gunned down in front of his girlfriend's home while unloading
groceries. As she talked about her loss, and demanded Congress act, she
said simply:

I don't want this to happen to any other mother, father,
sister or brother. I don't want anyone else to suffer like
this.

I listened to a mother whose oldest son was shot and killed by a
neighbor in a sleepy town in California. She told us:

I came to the District to protect my son, Brandon, from gun
violence because he is the only child that I have left.

I ask my colleagues, what else will it take for us to act to stem
this domestic war of violence that is infecting every city and county
in our beloved country? We cannot wait any longer for the juvenile
justice conference to meet and act.
I was disappointed by comments made by the National Rifle Association
when asked whether all of this effort, 750,000 people coming to
Washington as peacefully as any group I have ever seen come, organized
in a respectful way, telling their stories, as tragic as they are, with
the courage that I don't think I personally could muster, the personal
stories of lost sons and daughters, mothers and fathers--the NRA was
asked the question, Will this translate to political power? Their
answer:

It's one thing to say it. It's another thing to do it.

They understand political power. They have it. But I do think that is
changing. The landscape is changing, and it is changing dramatically.
As a South Dakotan who has been raised with guns all my life, who is
proud to be a hunter--I have many guns myself--I will say without
equivocation that it, too, is even changing in my home State.
Given the fact it has now been more than a year, given the fact that
we have not yet acted, given the fact that we ought to respond to all
those people who came to Washington with their courage and with what
few pennies they had to pay for their trips, I ask unanimous consent
that no rule XVI point of order lie against any gun-related amendment
to the military construction appropriations. This would apply to
Republican or Democratic amendments.
Mr. BURNS. Objection.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Objection is heard.

amendment no. 3148

Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, I, therefore, send an amendment to the
desk.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.
The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

The Senator from South Dakota [Mr. Daschle] proposes an
amendment numbered 3148.
At the appropriate place add the following:
Since Mother's Day, May 14, 2000, an estimated 750,000
mothers, fathers, and children united for the Million Mom
March on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. and were
joined by tens of thousands of others, in 70 cities across
America, in a call for meaningful, common-sense gun policy;
Since 4,223 young people ages 19 and under were killed by
gunfire--one every two hours, nearly 12 young people every
day--in the United States in 1977;
Since American children under the age of 15 are 12 times
more likely to die from gunfire than children in 25 other
industrialized countries combined;

[[Page S3982]]

Since gun safety education programs are inadequate to
protect children from gun violence;
Since a majority of the Senate resolved that the House-
Senate Juvenile Justice Conference should meet, consider and
pass by April 20, 2000, a conference report to accompany H.R.
1501, the Juvenile Justice Act, and that the conference
report should retain the Senate-passed gun safety provisions
to limit access to firearms by juveniles, felons, and other
prohibited persons;
Since the one year Anniversary of the Columbine High School
tragedy passed on April 20, 2000, without any action by the
Juvenile Justice Conference Committee on the reasonable gun
safety measures that were passed by the Senate almost one
year ago;
Since continued inaction on this critical threat to public
safety undermines confidence in the ability of the Senate to
protect our children and raises concerns about the influence
of special interests opposed to even the most basic gun
safety provisions;
Since this lack of action on the part of the Juvenile
Justice Conference Committee and this Congress to stem the
flood of gun violence is irresponsible and further delay is
unacceptable; and
Since protecting our children from gun violence is a top
priority for our families, communities, and nation: Now,
therefore, be it
Determined, That it is the sense of the Senate that--
(1) the organizers, sponsors, and participants of the
Million Mom March should be commended for rallying to demand
sensible gun safety legislation; and
(2) Congress should immediately pass a conference report to
accompany H.R. 1501, the Violent and Repeat Juvenile Offender
Accountability and Rehabilitation Act, before the Memorial
Day Recess, and include the Lautenberg-Kerrey gun show
loophole amendment and the other Senate-passed provisions
designed to limit access to firearms by juveniles, convicted
felons, and other persons prohibited by law from purchasing
or possessing firearms.

The PRESIDING OFFICER. The majority leader.
Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I have not had a chance to review this
language, so I suggest the absence of a quorum in order to have the
opportunity to do that.
The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Crapo). The clerk will call the roll.
The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for
the quorum call be rescinded.
Mrs. MURRAY. I object.
The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Gorton). The objection is heard.
The clerk will call the roll.
The assistant legislative clerk resumed the call of the roll and the
following Senators entered the Chamber and answered to their names:

[Quorum No. 2]

Coverdell
Enzi
Gorton
Lott
Murray
Reid
The PRESIDING OFFICER. A quorum is not present. The clerk will call
the names of absent Senators.
The assistant legislative clerk resumed the call of the roll.
Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I move to instruct the Sergeant at Arms to
request the presence of absent Senators, and I ask for the yeas and
nays.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there a sufficient second?
There is a sufficient second.
The question is on agreeing to the motion of the Senator from
Mississippi. The yeas and nays have been ordered, and the clerk will
call the roll.
The assistant legislative clerk called the roll.
Mr. NICKLES. I announce that the Senator from Oregon (Mr. Smith), is
necessarily absent.
Mr. REID. I announce that the Senator from Delaware (Mr. Biden), the
Senator from New York (Mr. Moynihan), and the Senator from New York
(Mr. Schumer), are necessarily absent.
The result was announced--yeas 94, nays 2, as follows:

[Rollcall Vote No. 99 Leg.]

YEAS--94

Abraham
Akaka
Allard
Ashcroft
Baucus
Bayh
Bennett
Bingaman
Bond
Boxer
Brownback
Bryan
Bunning
Burns
Byrd
Campbell
Chafee, Lincoln
Cleland
Cochran
Collins
Conrad
Coverdell
Craig
Crapo
Daschle
DeWine
Dodd
Domenici
Dorgan
Durbin
Edwards
Enzi
Feingold
Feinstein
Fitzgerald
Frist
Gorton
Graham
Gramm
Grams
Grassley
Gregg
Hagel
Harkin
Hatch
Helms
Hollings
Hutchinson
Hutchison
Inhofe
Inouye
Jeffords
Johnson
Kennedy
Kerrey
Kerry
Kohl
Kyl
Landrieu
Lautenberg
Leahy
Levin
Lieberman
Lincoln
Lott
Lugar
Mack
McCain
McConnell
Mikulski
Murkowski
Murray
Nickles
Reed
Reid
Robb
Roberts
Rockefeller
Roth
Santorum
Sarbanes
Sessions
Shelby
Smith (NH)
Snowe
Specter
Stevens
Thompson
Thurmond
Torricelli
Voinovich
Warner
Wellstone
Wyden

NAYS--2

Breaux
Thomas

NOT VOTING--4

Biden
Moynihan
Schumer
Smith, Oregon
The motion was agreed to.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. With the addition of Senators who did not
answer the quorum call, a quorum is now present.
Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I raise a point of order that the pending
Daschle amendment is not germane to the Military Construction
Appropriations bill and ask for the yeas and nays on the question put
before the Senate.
The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Stevens). Is there a sufficient second?
There is a sufficient second.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
The legislative clerk called the roll, and the following Senators
answered to their names:--

[Quorum No. 3]

Abraham
Akaka
Allard
Ashcroft
Baucus
Bayh
Bennett
Bingaman
Bond
Boxer
Breaux
Brownback
Bryan
Bunning
Burns
Byrd
Campbell
Chafee, L.
Cleland
Cochran
Collins
Conrad
Coverdell
Craig
Crapo
Daschle
DeWine
Dodd
Domenici
Dorgan
Durbin
Edwards
Enzi
Feingold
Feinstein
Fitzgerald
Frist
Gorton
Graham
Gramm
Grams
Grassley
Gregg
Hagel
Harkin
Hatch
Helms
Hollings
Hutchinson
Hutchison
Inhofe
Inouye
Jeffords
Johnson
Kennedy
Kerrey
Kerry
Kohl
Kyl
Landrieu
Lautenberg
Leahy
Levin
Lieberman
Lincoln
Lott
Lugar
Mack
McCain
McConnell
Mikulski
Murkowski
Murray
Nickles
Reed
Reid
Robb
Roberts
Rockefeller
Roth
Santorum
Sarbanes
Sessions
Shelby
Smith (NH)
Snowe
Specter
Stevens
Thomas
Thompson
Thurmond
Torricelli
Voinovich
Warner
Wellstone
Wyden
The PRESIDING OFFICER. A quorum is present.
The majority leader.
Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I believe there is a point of order that has
been made on germaneness, and the yeas and nays have been ordered. We
should proceed to vote.
Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, I move to table the point of order and
ask for the yeas and nays.
I note the absence of a quorum.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there a sufficient second?
The clerk will call the roll to ascertain the presence of a quorum.
The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll, and the following
Senators entered the Chamber and answered to their names:

[Quorum No. 4]

Abraham
Akaka
Allard
Ashcroft
Baucus
Bayh
Bennett
Bingaman
Bond
Boxer
Breaux
Brownback
Bryan
Bunning
Burns
Byrd
Campbell
Chafee, L.
Cleland
Cochran
Collins
Conrad
Coverdell
Craig
Crapo
Daschle
DeWine
Dodd
Domenici
Dorgan
Durbin
Edwards
Enzi
Feingold
Feinstein
Fitzgerald
Frist
Gorton
Graham
Gramm
Grams
Grassley
Gregg
Hagel
Harkin
Hatch
Helms
Hollings
Hutchinson
Hutchison
Inhofe
Inouye
Jeffords
Johnson
Kennedy
Kerrey
Kerry
Kohl
Kyl
Landrieu
Lautenberg
Leahy
Levin
Lieberman
Lincoln
Lott
Lugar
Mack
McCain
McConnell
Mikulski
Murkowski
Murray
Nickles
Reed
Reid
Robb
Roberts
Rockefeller
Roth
Santorum
Sarbanes
Sessions
Shelby
Smith (NH)
Snowe
Specter
Stevens
Thomas
Thompson
Thurmond
Torricelli
Voinovich
Warner
Wellstone
Wyden
The PRESIDING OFFICER. A quorum is now present.
The question is on agreeing to the motion to table.
Is there a sufficient second?
There is a sufficient second.
The clerk will call the roll.
The legislative clerk called the roll.

[[Page S3983]]

Mr. NICKLES. I announce that the Senator from Oregon (Mr. Smith) is
necessarily absent.
Mr. REID. I announce that the Senator from Delaware (Mr. Biden), the
Senator from New York (Mr. Moynihan), and the Senator from New York
(Mr. Schumer) are necessarily absent.
The result was announced--yeas 42, nays 54, as follows:

[Rollcall Vote No. 100 Leg.]

YEAS--42

Akaka
Bayh
Bingaman
Boxer
Breaux
Bryan
Byrd
Cleland
Conrad
Daschle
Dodd
Dorgan
Durbin
Edwards
Feingold
Feinstein
Fitzgerald
Graham
Harkin
Hollings
Inouye
Johnson
Kennedy
Kerrey
Kerry
Kohl
Landrieu
Lautenberg
Leahy
Levin
Lieberman
Lincoln
Mikulski
Murray
Reed
Reid
Robb
Rockefeller
Sarbanes
Torricelli
Wellstone
Wyden

NAYS--54

Abraham
Allard
Ashcroft
Baucus
Bennett
Bond
Brownback
Bunning
Burns
Campbell
Chafee L.
Cochran
Collins
Coverdell
Craig
Crapo
DeWine
Domenici
Enzi
Frist
Gorton
Gramm
Grams
Grassley
Gregg
Hagel
Hatch
Helms
Hutchinson
Hutchison
Inhofe
Jeffords
Kyl
Lott
Lugar
Mack
McCain
McConnell
Murkowski
Nickles
Roberts
Roth
Santorum
Sessions
Shelby
Smith (NH)
Snowe
Specter
Stevens
Thomas
Thompson
Thurmond
Voinovich
Warner

NOT VOTING--4

Biden
Moynihan
Schumer
Smith (OR)
The motion was rejected.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Democratic leader.
Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll to ascertain the
presence of a quorum.
The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll and the following
Senators entered the Chamber and answered to their names:

[Quorum No. 5]

____________________