[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 90 (Thursday, July 13, 2000)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6598-S6600]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      THE STATUS OF APPROPRIATIONS

  Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, today, we believe the President will sign 
the first of the 13 appropriations bills we must pass, the military 
construction bill. I can report to the Senate that we are in conference 
now on Defense, and we expect to report that bill this evening from 
conference, or no later than Monday. That could be easily taken up next 
week sometime.
  The legislative appropriations bill is waiting for third reading now. 
It is held up by one amendment, and we are trying to work out an 
arrangement where we might be able to have that voted on. We are 
waiting for the House to appoint conferees on the foreign operations 
bill; the Labor, Health and Human Services Committee; and the 
Transportation Committee. Those are all the subject of negotiations 
with the various Departments and the President's advisers, to see if we 
might find a way to accommodate the desires of the administration 
regarding those matters.
  The Interior bill is still on the floor and has a great many 
amendments. I believe, however, that can be finished easily next week. 
We have reported to the floor the Agriculture bill, which is a very 
important bill for us to consider, I believe, before we have the August 
recess. We have scheduled meetings now with the Appropriations 
Committee here in the Senate on Tuesday, July 18, for the Commerce-
State-Justice bill and the energy and water bill. We believe those 
bills will be reported to the floor on that day, Tuesday, and could be 
scheduled sometime before the August recess. We believe we will be able 
to make the same statement regarding the Treasury and general 
government bill sometime next week. Hopefully, we will be able to get 
to that by at least Thursday.
  What we are saying is that these bills can be acted upon if the 
Senate decides and commits to getting these bills to conference and, if 
possible, to the President, before the August recess. I have been 
speaking out now about the PNTR. I am a firm supporter of the goal 
there. Maybe there are some amendments that should be considered. But I 
believe we should get these bills done so that when we come back in 
September, we can take them from conference and pass them.
  I call to the attention of the Senate the fact that we will finish 
our work for September on September 28. September 29 is a holiday, and 
September 30 comes on the weekend. We have a very short time when we 
come back to deal with appropriations bills and get them all to the 
President before the end of the fiscal year. It is my hope that, in the 
last year of this Presidency, we will avoid the kind of conflicts we 
have had in the past and try to work together with the President to 
finish up this term in the spirit of comity, particularly on 
appropriations bills. That is possible if we can get them up in August. 
It is not going to be possible if we have to wait until September and 
try to jam them all in for 2\1/2\ weeks in September.

  I am taking the floor now with great respect for our leader and for 
our minority leader. I hope they will help us find the time on the 
floor between now and the August recess to consider these bills and ask 
for the commitment of the Senators to help us work to get this job 
done.
  I think there is a way that we can wind up this period of 8 years of 
the Clinton administration without the rancor that we have had in the 
past, but it can only be done if we make up our minds now that we are 
going to work--and work some long nights, in fact--to get these bills 
considered and properly reported. I believe we are making progress.
  It is my hope that at least the Defense bill and the Labor-Health and

[[Page S6599]]

Human Services bill will be sent to the President for signature prior 
to the August recess.
  I am happy to yield to my good friend from West Virginia. Our 
committee works on a totally bipartisan basis. I have not done anything 
without consulting my good friend from West Virginia, the former 
chairman. I want the Senate to know he has given me good advice all 
along.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from West Virginia.
  Mr. BYRD. Mr. President, this is my 42nd year on the Appropriations 
Committee. I think I have served longer than any Member, past or 
present. The Appropriations Committee was first created in 1867. I 
don't have any doubt that I have served with the greatest chairmen who 
have served on that committee since its inception in 1867. That was 133 
years ago. I have served with Senators such as Carl Hayden of Arizona, 
Dick Russell, John Stennis, John McClellan, Allen Ellender, and Senator 
Hatfield. These were great chairmen. They had long service in the 
Senate. I served with all of them. But I have never served with a 
better chairman on the Appropriations Committee than the current 
chairman, Ted Stevens. I think he is a better chairman than I was. I 
don't say that idly. He works at the job all the time. He works hard. I 
support him in this request to the leaders.
  I don't happen to be a great fan of the treaty with China. I will 
have more to say about that later. But I am a great fan of getting 
these appropriations bills down to the President on time. When I was 
chairman, we were able to get all the appropriations bills passed 
before the beginning of the new fiscal year.
  I join my chairman in pleading with the leadership--and the 
leadership has been most cooperative on both sides--to help get these 
bills moved and into conference and down to the President.
  The chairman, Mr. Stevens, hit the nail right on the head when he 
said we don't need to have another wrangle with the President over 
appropriations bills right at the end of the session. That plays into 
the President's hands. I think all Senators are aware of the fact that 
I believe the legislative branch is the predominant branch, and was 
meant to be the predominant branch among the three equal and coordinate 
branches. I think it has the upper hand, if Members of the Congress 
will but will stand up for the Senate and its constitutional powers.
  I think it is important that we finish these bills because, when we 
wait until the end of the session, and we are left with an omnibus 
bill, the President wins every time. You may think you can beat the 
President in that deal. You can't do it. The President wins because he 
then has the upper hand. He has your back to the wall. Senators and 
House Members want to get out of here and go home. They have schedules 
to fill back in their districts and in their States. It plays into his 
hands if appropriation bills only reach him at the last minute. I don't 
like to play into any President's hands.
  I think most Members are very aware that we need to work with the 
President. But it is highly important we get these bills passed. Let 
the PNTR wait. Why be in such a hurry on that treaty? Why be in such a 
hurry? It would be better if we were to take a little more time and 
examine that treaty more carefully and consider what the ramifications 
of its approval may be.
  Last night we were able to get legislation adopted to create a 
national security commission. It will be a congressional commission. We 
will not have to depend upon the administration to tell us what impact 
that trade with China may have on our national security. We will have 
our own commission. It will be appointed by the joint leadership of 
both Houses. That commission will report to the Congress.
  I have a somewhat jaundiced eye when it comes to moving in such a big 
hurry to take up the China treaty. As far as I am concerned, it ought 
to go over until next year. Let's take another look at it. That is just 
one Senator's opinion.
  I plead with the leader--I say to this also to my own leader--to help 
us get these appropriations bills passed, to get them to conference, 
and then downtown. We can talk and wrangle and debate about the China 
treaty afterwards.
  I thank my chairman.
  Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, if the Senator from Alaska will yield 
briefly, first of all, I listened carefully to the comments of the two 
distinguished Senators who are the ranking member and the chairman of 
the Appropriations Committee. The service of these two Members 
surpasses all the rest of us, with the possible exception of the 
President pro tempore, Senator Thurmond. But beyond that, the wisdom 
and the sage advice they give all of us is greatly appreciated.
  I certainly believe and will continue to believe that we should give 
the highest possible priority to these appropriations bills. We have an 
agreement now that will lead us to the conclusion of the Interior 
appropriations bill, I believe next Monday. I believe the votes could 
possibly be on Tuesday morning. I hope before we go out for the August 
recess that we do at least four more or all five of the remaining 
bills. I know clearly we could do four of the remaining bills: 
Agriculture, Energy and Water, Treasury-Postal Service, and Commerce-
State-Justice. There may be some difficulty with HUD-VA that would 
cause it to go over until September.
  But I appreciate their comments and their good advice. I will 
certainly weigh that very carefully. I appreciate the fact that they 
are willing to take to the floor and ask for this help in getting their 
work done. In fact, it is our work. It is the people's business.
  I appreciate their comments.
  I commend and thank the chairman of the Armed Services Committee, and 
also the ranking member, Senator Levin, for the work they did on the 
Department of Defense authorization bill. We got it finished. 
Hallelujah. The Senate has produced the final vote on one of the most 
important bills we will do all year, the Department of Defense 
authorization bill. There is a lot of important language in there. It 
is not only about the ships, the planes, and housing; It is also about 
health care. It is a big, important bill. Without the patience and the 
tenacity of the chairman, the Senator from Virginia, and the help he 
received from the Senator from Michigan, we wouldn't have it done.
  I commend them; and, again, the senior leadership of the two Senators 
on the Appropriations Committee who spoke is admirable. I appreciate it 
very much. As a leader, you have to rely on the senior leaders, and the 
managers, the chairmen. In this case, I did, and they did it.
  I thank Senator Stevens for his comments and for yielding me this 
time.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Alaska has the floor.
  Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, if I could have 1 minute to thank the 
distinguished leader.
  I wish to acknowledge my deep appreciation to our distinguished 
majority leader, and, indeed, to Senator Daschle, Senator Harry Reid, 
Senator Nickles, and all. Yes, chairmen work hard and this posed some 
problems, but never once did I have any feeling that leadership was not 
determined on behalf of the whole Senate and this country to see that 
this bill was passed. There was never a flicker of doubt in my mind 
from the date we started some 3\1/2\ weeks ago. I thank this body for 
the leadership that we have to get these difficult tasks performed.

  I yield the floor.
  Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I yield to the Senator from Montana.
  Mr. BAUCUS. Mr. President, I ask the majority leader, I heard him 
speak about the desire to get the appropriations bills passed, which I 
am in favor of, but did I hear the majority leader say not only is it 
his intention to bring up appropriations bills this month, but did I 
hear him include PNTR?
  I think in the same spirit of compromise which we just passed the 
Defense authorization bill, as it has been referred to, we can work to 
get PNTR up this month and passed, along with the appropriations 
bills--as many as we can.
  I say to the majority leader, I will do my part in helping with the 
estate tax reform bill to try to limit the amount of time on that bill 
and also work on other appropriations bills. I think it is necessary 
that PNTR also be included in the list of measures that we will bring 
up and pass this month.
  Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I have the floor and I am happy to have 
that

[[Page S6600]]

conversation somewhere else, but I understand what the Senator is 
saying.
  Mr. President, I want to finish my comments. I think we have almost 
used our 10 minutes. I thank my good friend for his comments. I could 
never claim to be the chairman that Senator Byrd was, but in any event, 
I do hope the Members are listening to what we are saying. We have had 
over 100 amendments on the last two appropriations bills. If that 
continues, we will be on appropriations bills until the day we go off 
on recess for the conventions. There will be no time for PNTR. Let's 
get the bills up. I urge the Members to be considerate of what we are 
doing. If we can finish them, then we take up PNTR. I think we can't 
keep breaking up the concept of these bills. The synergy of getting a 
bill working and getting it to pass in the appropriations process is 
necessary to get these done by the time we go off on August recess.
  I have every confidence we will get to the PNTR. The Senator from 
West Virginia is right; despite my support of PNTR, it is not our 
constitutional duty to finish it by the end of the fiscal year. The 
appropriations bills are. That is our point. We want to do our job on 
time. We urge the Senate to work with us to get that done.
  I think our time has expired.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The time has expired.
  The Senator from Montana.
  Mr. BAUCUS. Mr. President, I ask consent to speak for 2 minutes so I 
can ask the majority leader a question.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. BAUCUS. Essentially, I am trying to move this ball along. It is a 
pretty large bill and includes lots of different items. Not only is it 
PNTR but appropriations bills.
  I wonder if I could ask the majority leader if PNTR is included in 
the list of ``must-pass'' measures for July? We are all working 
together, particularly with the good meeting we had last evening in the 
majority leader's office with Senator Thompson and others, working out 
provisions of the Thompson amendment. There is a good chance we can 
move things along.

  I ask the Senator his views on the subject.
  Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I certainly want to move this along. I want 
to have a vote on the Moynihan substitute on the death tax, and then 
have a vote on our alternative. That would be the best way to proceed. 
We would have two votes and Senators could cast their votes 
accordingly, and we would move on.
  Instead, we have an agreement that will take all day and into the 
night. Instead of taking 2 or 3 hours, it will wind up taking probably 
10 or 12 hours. I hope on the marriage penalty tax we could vote on the 
alternative. Senator Moynihan has a reasonable alternative. We could 
vote on that, vote on our alternative, and be through with the marriage 
penalty tax and move on to the appropriations bills.
  We do have a matter we are working through on both sides to try to 
deal with the question of nonproliferation of nuclear weapons, the 
language suggested by Senator Thompson. We are trying to find a way to 
get an agreement on the language and a way to consider that.
  We must do the people's business. We have to do these appropriations 
bills. We have to do at least four appropriations bills beyond the 
Interior appropriations bill. When we get that done, I don't see any 
problem then in moving to China PNTR. I can't make days out of whole 
cloth, and I can't make commitments until we get our work done. But we 
are all working on that, I think, in good faith.
  Senator Reid worked assiduously on these appropriations bills. Energy 
and water we may be able to do in a day or two. Agriculture, I will be 
surprised if we don't have 80 or 100 amendments pop up. That bill could 
take a week. It is very important to our country. We all want the 
Agriculture appropriations bill completed. Commerce, State, and 
Justice--no matter what Members might think about Commerce or State or 
Justice, we need to get that bill done very badly. That bill quite 
often is like fly paper, it draws a lot of amendments. If we made a 
commitment, if we made up our minds on both sides of the aisle we will 
complete Interior and do three more appropriations or four more 
appropriations bills next week, we could do it. But it would take an 
extraordinary amount of heavy lifting to get that done.
  I will work with Senator Stevens and Senator Byrd. It is rare for 
these two Senators to take the floor and say what they have said today. 
I have to weigh that carefully.
  Mr. BAUCUS. Thirty seconds. I very much appreciate the situation we 
are in, with very few days left and lots of business to conduct. As far 
as I am concerned, I will do my part. I know others on this side will 
try to help maintain that schedule. For example, on the estate tax 
bill, I think there are a couple of amendments on your side that will 
be accepted by voice vote or agreed to by voice vote to help move this 
along. In that spirit, I remind the leader it is critical that PNTR 
come up and be disposed of this month.
  I thank the leader for his hard work.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Nevada.
  Mr. REID. Mr. President, if I could bring everyone back to reality, 
the problem of the day--not next week or the week after--is that we 
have about 12\1/2\ hours of debate time, excluding voting, and the 
leader indicated he wants to do that today. So that means about 2:30 or 
3 o'clock this morning unless something is done carrying this matter 
over or shortening the time.

  I think it is great to talk about the future. That is important. But 
my concern is what we have here today and it is a tremendous burden. As 
I indicated, I think we have over 12 hours of debate time in the 
unanimous consent request alone.

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