[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 122 (Wednesday, September 19, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Pages S9491-S9494]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
TREASURY AND GENERAL GOVERNMENT APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2002--Continued
Amendments Nos. 1577 and 1578, En Bloc
Mr. DORGAN. Mr. President, on behalf of Senator Campbell and myself,
I send two amendments to the desk and ask they be agreed to en bloc.
They are a Campbell amendment for Senators Feingold, Grassley, and
Harkin regarding shipments of day-old poultry, and a Dorgan for Kohl
amendment regarding information on foreign animal disease. I send the
amendments to the desk.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.
The legislative clerk read as follows:
The Senator from North Dakota [Mr. Dorgan], for Mr.
Campbell, for himself, Mr. Feingold, Mr. Grassley, and Mr.
Harkin, proposes an amendment numbered 1577.
The Senator from North Dakota [Mr. Dorgan], for Mr. Kohl,
proposes an amendment numbered 1578.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, the amendments are agreed
to.
The amendments (Nos. 1577 and 1578) were agreed to, as follows:
amendment no. 1577
At the appropriate place, insert the following:
[[Page S9492]]
SECTION 1. AMENDMENT TO TITLE 39.
Section 5402(d) of title 39, United States Code, is amended
by--
(1) inserting ``(1)'' after ``(d)''; and
(2) inserting at the end the following:
``(2)(A) In the exercise of its authority under paragraph
(1), the Postal Service may require any air carrier to accept
as mail shipments of day-old poultry and such other live
animals as postal regulations allow to be transmitted as mail
matter. The authority of the Postal Service under this
subparagraph shall not apply in the case of any air carrier
who commonly and regularly refuses to accept any live animals
as cargo.
``(B) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the
Postal Service is authorized to assess, as postage to be paid
by the mailers of any shipments covered by subparagraph (A),
a reasonable surcharge that the Postal Service determines in
its discretion to be adequate to compensate air carriers for
any necessary additional expense incurred in handling such
shipments.
``(C) The authority of the Postal Service under
subparagraph (B) shall apply during the period beginning on
the date of enactment of this paragraph, and ending September
30, 2005.''.
____
amendment no. 1578
(Purpose: To improve the collection of information relating to the
introduction of foreign animal disease)
On page 26, after line 8 insert the following new section:
``Sec. . None of the funds appropriated or made available
by this Act may be used for the production of Customs
Declarations that do not inquire whether the passenger had
been in the proximity of livestock.''
Mr. DORGAN. Mr. President, I move to reconsider the vote, and I move
to lay that motion on the table.
The motion to lay on the table was agreed to.
amendment no. 1578
Mr. KOHL. Mr. President, I congratulate Senator Dorgan and Senator
Campbell, chairman and ranking member of the Appropriations
Subcommittee on Treasury and General Government, for their fine work in
crafting the bill now before the Senate. I also thank them for
accepting an amendment I have offered to help strengthen this country's
safeguards against the possible introduction of foreign animal disease.
I serve as chairman of the Appropriations Subcommittee on
Agriculture, Rural Development and Related Agencies, and we have given
substantial attention to the ongoing problems of exotic pests and
disease that have been introduced into this country over the years.
Attention and concern for this problem has been heightened this past
year with reports from the United Kingdom where outbreaks of foot and
mouth disease have severely harmed the British economy and, in
particular, rural areas in the British Isles. The U.S. livestock sector
quickly realized the danger that the spread of foot and mouth disease,
and similar infectious diseases, could reach our shores with equally
devastating effect.
When Secretary Veneman testified before our subcommittee this spring,
she told us that strong measures were in place to reduce the
possibility that foreign animal disease would come to America. The fact
that to date no such outbreaks have occurred here speaks to the
strength of those measures. However, such safeguards are only as strong
as their weakest part.
Currently, all passengers coming to the United States on aircraft or
by other means are required to complete Customs Declaration form 6059B
which poses a set of questions about that individual's activities
abroad. Included is a question which asks if the passenger is
``bringing fruits, plants, meats, food, soil, birds, snails, other live
animals, wildlife products, or have been on a farm or ranch outside the
U.S.'' If the passenger answers this question in the affirmative, he or
she is likely to be referred to USDA's Animal and Plant Health
Inspection Service, APHIS, for further inquiry. Clearly, this question
is designed to help provide the Customs Service with adequate
information to know if a referral to APHIS is warranted or not.
I have every confidence that APHIS personnel who serve on the front
line of this country's inspection force have the expertise and
commitment to ask the right questions and take the right actions to
safeguard against foreign pests and disease, such as Foot and Mouth
Disease. However, current practice does not ensure that all overseas
travelers who have been in the vicinity of diseased livestock will have
received proper referral to the appropriate agencies. If a traveler did
not visit a farm or ranch, for example, the Customs Service would not
have the information necessary to make a proper referral to USDA. Still
travelers in rural areas of certain countries, such as the UK may come
in close contact with livestock either at county fairs, rural bed and
breakfasts, on back country trails, or other settings that may not
strike one as a ``farm or ranch,'' but may in fact pose the same level
of risk.
My amendment simply requires that any new Customs declaration forms
used for entry into the United States ask a question in a manner to
alert the traveler to the fact that simply being in the proximity of
livestock needs to be brought to the attention of Customs or USDA
personnel due to the high risk of foreign borne disease. My amendment
does not require the destruction of forms now in use. However, I
understand that these forms are now in the process of being redrafted
which, I believe, makes my amendment doubly timely. It is my further
expectation that until such time that this change is actually put in
place, Customs Service personnel will be provided guidance to sensitize
them to making further verbal inquiry of travelers who have traveled in
countries known to have infectious animal disease outbreaks to
determine if they may have been in areas where a likelihood of
infection was possible.
Again, my amendment is not lengthy, nor does it require much.
However, I believe it will help strengthen our Nation's defense against
invasion by foreign animal disease. If the asking of one question
prevents an outbreak of a devastating disease in America, it will
certainly be a question worth asking.
FUNDING FOR ADDITIONAL CUSTOMS INSPECTORS ON THE NORTHERN BORDER
Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, I rise to comment the managers of the
Treasury, Postal appropriation bill, Chairman Dorgan and Ranking Member
Campbell, for including in their bill funds to increase the number of
Customs officers stationed on our northern border. I particularly
commend their foresight, which was confirmed by the tragic events of
last week, and the suggestion that some of the terrorists may have
entered the United States through ports of entry in my home State of
Maine.
Mr. DORGAN. I thank the Senator from Maine for her kind words. The
bill before us does indeed include $25 million to fund a northern
border hiring initiative. These funds would be used to hire
approximately 285 additional Customs officers for our northern border.
Mr. CAMPBELL. Due to dramatic increases in land border traffic and
trade with Canada coupled with only token increase in staffing in
recent years, our ports of entry are woefully understaffed.
Ms. COLLINS. The situation in Maine is of particular concern to me.
Ninety-eight Customs inspectors are currently stationed in my home
State. Yet, according to a Customs Service resource allocation analysis
based on threat and workload assessments, Maine should have 253
inspectors, or two-and-one-half times more than are currently there.
Maine has 23 land border ports of entry, some of which are manned by a
single inspector at any given point in time. Our Customs and
Immigration and Naturalization Service inspectors work long and hard to
protect the integrity of our border. But they need reinforcements.
I understand that the lack of Customs officials in Maine would not be
ameliorated completely by this bill. But it, in conjunction with the
$25 million for additional Immigration and Naturalization Service
inspectors included in the Senate-passed Commerce, Justice, State
appropriations bill, would take a strong step in the right direction.
And I ask the distinguished chairman and ranking member to help ensure
that Maine receives its fair share of additional inspectors.
Mr. DORGAN. I assure the Senator from Maine that the Customs Service
will be instructed to pay particular attention to the needs of Maine
when assessing where to deploy these officers.
Mr. CAMPBELL. We appreciate the Senator bringing Maine's needs to our
attention and fully intend to see those needs met, to the extent
possible, through the funds appropriated by this bill.
[[Page S9493]]
Amendment No. 1574, As Modified
Mr. DORGAN. Mr. President, on behalf of Mr. Johnson, I ask unanimous
consent to modify his amendment, which I offered earlier today on his
behalf.
I ask unanimous consent that Senator Smith of Oregon be added as an
original cosponsor of the Johnson amendment.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
The amendment (No. 1574), as modified, is as follows:
At the end of title VI, insert the following:
Sec. . (a) From funds made available by this or any other
Act, the Secretary of the Treasury may provide for the
administrative costs for the issuance of bonds, to be known
as `Unity Bonds', under section 3102 of title 31, United
States Code, in response to the acts of terrorism perpetrated
against the United States on September 11, 2001.
(b) If bonds described in subsection (a) are issued, such
bonds shall be in such form and denominations, and shall be
subject to such terms and conditions of issue, conversion,
redemption, maturation, payment, and rate of interest as the
Secretary of the Treasury may prescribe.
Mr. JOHNSON. Mr. President, I rise today to offer an amendment that
authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to issue Unity Bonds in
support of recovery and response efforts relating to the September 11,
2001, hijackings and attacks on the Pentagon and the World Trade
Center. This amendment is similar to legislation that I introduced last
week, S. 1430. I was pleased that several of my Republican colleagues
introduced similar bills because this is an initiative that should and
must be bipartisan.
Unity Bonds will allow Americans who want to show their support for
this great country to participate in a meaningful way. This amendment
deserves full bipartisan support, and I look forward to working in a
consensus fashion to make Unity Bonds available to all Americans.
Mr. DORGAN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that Senator
Hutchinson of Arkansas be added as a cosponsor to the McConnell
amendment.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
Mr. DORGAN. Mr. President, the ranking member, Senator Campbell, and
I have discussed the issue of the McConnell and Johnson amendments,
both of which were offered this afternoon. We suggest the Senate
approve both the Johnson and McConnell amendments. I ask unanimous
consent that the Johnson amendment and the McConnell amendment be
agreed to at this time. Let me be clear, I am asking consent that the
McConnell amendment be agreed to as offered earlier today and that the
Johnson amendment be agreed to as modified by the modification I sent
to the desk a few moments ago.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection?
Mr. CAMPBELL. Mr. President, we have no objection. We support the
amendments.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, the amendments are agreed
to.
The amendments (Nos. 1573 and 1574, as modified) were agreed to.
Mr. DORGAN. I move to reconsider the vote.
Mr. CAMPBELL. I move to lay that motion on the table.
The motion to lay on the table was agreed to.
Mr. DORGAN. Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
Mr. DORGAN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for
the quorum call be rescinded.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
Amendment No. 1579
Mr. DORGAN. Mr. President, on behalf of our colleague, Senator
Hollings, I send an amendment to the desk, and I ask for its immediate
consideration.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.
The legislative clerk read as follows:
The Senator from North Dakota (Mr. Dorgan) for Mr. Hollings
proposes an amendment numbered 1579.
Mr. DORGAN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the reading
of the amendment be dispensed with.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
The amendment is as follows:
At the appropriate place, insert:
DESIGNATION OF G. ROSS ANDERSON, JR. FEDERAL BUILDING AND UNITED STATES
COURTHOUSE
(a) The Federal building and courthouse located at 315 S.
McDuffie Street, Anderson, South Carolina, shall be known and
designated as the ``G. Ross Anderson, Jr. Federal Building
and United States Courthouse.''
(b) Any reference in a law, map, regulation, document,
paper, or other record of the United States to the Federal
building and courthouse referred to in section 1 shall be
deemed to be a reference to the G. Ross Anderson, Jr. Federal
Building and United States Courthouse.
Mr. DORGAN. Mr. President, we have cleared the amendment. I believe
my colleague from Colorado has cleared the amendment as well.
Mr. CAMPBELL. That is correct, Mr. President. We concur.
Mr. DORGAN. I urge its adoption.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there further debate on the amendment? If
not, the question is on agreeing to amendment No. 1579.
The amendment (No. 1579) was agreed to.
Mr. DORGAN. I move to reconsider the vote.
Mr. CAMPBELL. I move to lay that motion on the table.
The motion to lay on the table was agreed to.
Mr. DORGAN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the list I
will send to the desk be the only first-degree amendments remaining in
order to H.R. 2590, the Treasury-Postal appropriations bill; that these
amendments be subject to relevant second-degree amendments; that upon
disposition of all amendments, the bill be read a third time, and the
Senate vote on passage of the bill; that upon passage the Senate insist
on its amendment, request a conference with the House on the
disagreeing votes of the Houses, and that the Chair be authorized to
appoint conferees on the part of the Senate, with the above occurring
with no intervening action or debate.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
The list is as follows:
Bingaman: 1 GSA.
Byrd: 2 Relevant.
Byrd: Relevant to the list.
Clinton: September 11 Heroes Stamp Act.
Daschle: 2 Relevant.
Daschle: Relevant to the list.
Dorgan: Managers' amendments.
Dorgan: Relevant.
Dorgan: Relevant to list.
Feinstein: 1 Breast Cancer Stamp.
Feinstein: 2 Relevant.
Johnson: 1 Unity Bonds.
Kerry: OMB study of the funding of SBA programs.
Kohl: Customs declarations and livestock.
Reid: Relevant.
Reid: Relevant to the list.
Schumer: 3 Relevant.
Hollings: SC facility.
Specter: 2 Relevant.
McConnell: War bonds.
Shelby: 1 Relevant.
Hatch: Drugs/Utah.
Hatch: 2 Relevant.
Lott: 2 Relevant.
Lott: 2 Relevant to list.
Campbell: Relevant.
Nickles: 2 Relevant to list.
Domenici: 2 Relevant to list.
Mr. DORGAN. I suggest the absence of a quorum.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
Mr. DORGAN. I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum
call be rescinded.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
Mr. DORGAN. Mr. President, we have a finite list of amendments that
would be offered to this bill, H.R. 2590, the Treasury-Postal
appropriations. As I look through the list, I see a fair number of
amendments that will not, in fact, be offered. There are a number we
will be accepting. I say, if there are Senators who have amendments on
this list, come to the floor to offer them. It would be our hope to
move to third reading this evening. My expectation is we do not have a
final vote on the bill today. We would likely do that Friday morning--
of course at the discretion of the leader.
In order to finish the amendments and get to third reading, we need
those who wish to offer their amendments to come to the floor and do
so. We have been on the floor since 10 this morning. We know there are
Members who have indicated to the respective Cloakrooms
[[Page S9494]]
they have amendments, and they are properly on the list we have asked
consent for, but in order to have amendments considered, Senators have
to come to the floor and actually offer them.
I ask Senators and their staffs who might be monitoring these
proceedings to call the Cloakroom if they can regarding their
amendments because we would like to go to third reading.
I suggest the absence of a quorum.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
Mr. DORGAN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for
the quorum call be rescinded.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
Mr. DORGAN. Mr. President, Senator Campbell and I have been talking
about the list we have presented that makes certain amendments in order
and available to be offered. It is a very small list. In fact, with the
exception of being able to approve a number of items on this list, I
believe there are only two Senators remaining who have yet to come to
the floor and offer amendments on which they are protected on the list.
We ask them to do that. It is now 10 minutes before 7 in the evening.
Those Senators would have had notice all day that we have been working
on this bill. And, frankly, the Senate has been in a quorum call much
of the day.
Senator Campbell and I encourage those Senators who still have
amendments they may wish to offer to either come and offer them or
perhaps call us and notify us that they will not be offering those
amendments, at which point we could go to third reading.
My understanding from leadership is that we will not be going to a
final vote tonight. Perhaps this will require a rollcall vote. It is
not certain at this moment. But, in any event, to get to third reading,
we need to clear these amendments. I believe there are only two
Senators for whom we are waiting. If they intend to offer the
amendments, we hope they are on their way to the floor or that their
staffs will find them and get them to the floor of the Senate so they
can do that. If they are deciding not to offer those amendments, please
notify us. We want to go to third reading.
Mr. CAMPBELL. Mr. President, to our knowledge, we have only two
Senators on our side who said they have an amendment they want to
offer. We are on the phone now to try to get them down here. But I
think if we can get them down here quickly, we will be able to finish
this bill by Friday.
Mr. DORGAN. Mr. President, if, in fact, there is a way to get to
third reading, and then do a voice vote on final passage, of course we
would prefer to do that as well. My expectation is we will have a
recorded vote on the conference report when it comes back from the
conference, but I do not know that that has yet been cleared. My
understanding was that a voice vote had not been cleared some while
ago.
In any event, if we can finish the amendments and get to third
reading, it will have represented, in my judgment, significant
progress. This is a fairly sizeable appropriations bill. The ability to
do this bill today on the floor of the Senate would, I think, signal to
the American people that this is a new seriousness of purpose in the
Senate. We want to obviously do our business, and do it the right way,
but we want to express to the American people that we are willing to
work together and get things done.
This country suffers from a pretty serious crisis as a result of the
terrorist acts. We want to demonstrate to the American people that we
can go back to work and we can get this work done in an expeditious
way.
Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the order for the
quorum call be rescinded.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
____________________