[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 71 (Tuesday, June 4, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4932-S4933]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2002--Continued
Mr. BYRD. Mr. President, yesterday I made a statement on the floor
concerning the contents of the supplemental appropriations bill.
The bill is a good bill. It was reported out of the Senate
Appropriations Committee by a vote of 29 to 0. That unanimous vote
could not have been possible without the cooperation, the support, and
the leadership of the distinguished Senator from Alaska, the ranking
member of the Appropriations Committee, Mr. Ted Stevens.
As I indicated yesterday, the Appropriations Committee held extensive
hearings on the President's supplemental request and on the needs for
homeland defense. The able Senator from Alaska, Mr. Stevens, and I
joined in issuing the request for witnesses for these hearings.
Every witness that came before the committee had been agreed upon
jointly by the Senator from Alaska and myself. We heard from terrorism
experts about the continuing threat to our Nation. We heard from
Governors. We heard from mayors. We heard from the first responders:
Our police, fire, and medical personnel. They all testified to a
continuing need for resources to expand our capacity to prevent,
detect, and respond to terrorist attacks.
We took testimony from seven Cabinet members and the head of the
Federal Emergency Management Agency. Our former colleagues in this
body, Sam Nunn and Warren Rudman, testified to the very real threat
that this Nation faces. Those hearings were important, productive, and
they brought forth exceedingly valuable information to the members of
the committee. That information is reflected in the makeup of this
appropriations bill.
The principal components of this supplemental bill are $14 billion
for the Department of Defense; $1.9 billion for international
emergencies; $8.3 billion for homeland defense, including $4.4 billion
for the newly established Transportation Security Administration; $5.5
billion for New York in response to the events of September 11; $1
billion for the Pell grant shortfall; and $417 million for VA medical
care.
Mr. President, Senator Stevens and I will join, hopefully, in
opposing amendments that require offsets. Senator Stevens is in the
Chamber. He will speak for himself and I look forward to his remarks.
I yield the floor.
The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Senator from Alaska is
recognized.
Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I have come to the Senate floor this
morning to join our distinguished chairman of the Appropriations
Committee in recommending the committee substitute to H.R. 4775.
This bill reflects the priorities requested by the President which
were to fight the war on terrorism, protect our
[[Page S4933]]
Nation from future attack, and support the recovery of New York.
The bill provides slightly more money than requested by the House
bill, as our committee utilized the time available to conduct a series
of hearings that addressed many challenges in our homeland defense
efforts, and that is one of the reasons for the differences between the
Senate bill and the House bill.
In addition, hearings that begin today by the Intelligence Committees
may generate additional requirements for moneys in this bill to ensure
the effective cooperation by our intelligence and law enforcement
agencies in our homeland defense.
Most importantly, the bill provides funds vital to sustain military
operations in the war against terrorism.
Our bill meets the commitment made by the President and the Congress
to the victims of the September 11 attacks.
This bill enables the Transportation Safety Agency and the Coast
Guard to perform and expand their mission to ensure the safety of
American travelers and trade.
I endorse the increases provided in this bill for the Transportation
Security Agency, the Coast Guard, FBI, INS, FEMA, and several other
categories.
While these amounts exceed the level requested by the President, we
believe the funds are needed by those who undertake these difficult and
dangerous jobs. These are people who deserve our support.
In addition, the bill responds to the serious needs overseas as we
try to support the President's efforts in the war on terrorism and to
work for peace in the Middle East.
The $250 million for the Middle East peace effort matches the House-
reported level and sends a very important signal to our ally, Israel.
The $100 million included in this bill for the fight against AIDS in
Africa is very deserving. We are informed that some Members may
advocate an even higher level for this item.
Finally, I personally appreciate that the full $16 million sought by
the President for Indonesia is included in this bill. Senator Inouye
and I have recently returned from a trip to Indonesia, and we know
firsthand the needs of that country.
For all of these reasons, as I have stated, I recommend the Senate
advance this bill to a conference with the House as rapidly as
possible. There are several issues I hope the Senate, in the conference
with the House, will see fit to modify in the bill.
We have in the bill section 2002 that mandates that all nondefense
emergencies must be so designated by the President at the same time. I
don't believe that provision is necessary, but I am not going to oppose
it.
Section 1102 of the bill makes the Director of the Office of Homeland
Security subject to Senate confirmation. I have joined Senator Byrd in
seeking Governor Ridge's testimony before our committee. I further
believe that position would be strengthened by a structure and a
director with authorities defined in the law, as this amendment would
provide.
Hopefully, an acceptable agreement can be reached over time between
the Congress and the President on the issue of that office.
In the defense chapter, I regret that the authorities sought by the
Secretary to respond to unforeseen requirements in working with our
allies were not included, but the provision in the House bill, section
312, will be in conference and will be debated there quite heavily, I
am sure.
The bill doesn't include the $100 million sought by the Army and
included in the House bill for a new initiative to destroy our
stockpile of chemical weapons. This is another matter that we will have
to address in conference. It is just a matter of how we can find the
money to do all of these things at the same time.
I welcome the Senate proceeding to act on this bill today. It is my
hope that we will reach an agreement on all first-degree amendments
being filed today. There is no reason the Senate should not complete
its work on this bill as rapidly as possible and be able to go to
conference this week.
As soon as we complete this measure, we can turn to the fiscal year
2003 bills, and I remind colleagues that we have 13 separate bills to
enact before the end of September. I hope Senators will assist us as
members of this committee and reserve amendments that are more
appropriately addressed in the fiscal year 2003 appropriations bills
and not raise them on this supplemental.
As of today, we have only 117 days remaining in this fiscal year.
There are very few days to take the initiatives that would be required
to complete the 13 bills, and there are very few initiatives that can
be realistically accomplished in that time, other than proceeding with
our 13 bills.
Mr. President, I commend the chairman for bringing this bill to the
floor. I thank him for his cooperation and kindness to me and to our
staff in the consideration of this measure. It is a bipartisan measure.
I am pleased to be in the Chamber with Senator Byrd to urge the Senate
to complete action on it as rapidly as possible. I thank the Chair.
Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.
The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The clerk will call the roll.
The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
Mr. REID. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for
the quorum call be rescinded.
The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mrs. Carnahan). Without objection, it is so
ordered.
Mr. REID. Madam President, we have heard for weeks, if not months,
how important this legislation is. This is an emergency bill, an
emergency supplemental. It deals with terrorism. The title of the bill
is the supplemental appropriations act for further recovery from and
response to terrorist attacks on the United States.
In spite of its emergency nature, nothing is happening. There are no
amendments being offered. We are doing absolutely nothing on the floor.
I have spoken to the majority leader and I will confer with the two
managers of the bill. At 3 this afternoon, or thereabouts, when the
party conferences end, there should be Senators present, whether from
the majority or the minority. We are going to move to third reading. If
someone does not want us to move to third reading, they will have to
object.
This is an emergency bill, the supplemental appropriations act for
further recovery from and response to terrorist attacks on the United
States. If someone doesn't like something in this bill, try to get rid
of it. I heard speeches the day we recessed that Members didn't like
certain provisions in the House bill. Well, move to get rid of them.
Let's not sit around in the Senate doing nothing.
I hope the White House will call those Senators with whom they have a
line of communication and tell them what they don't like about the
bill. The President has indicated how important this bill is. Let's
move it. We are ready to move it. This afternoon we are going to move
to third reading. If Members do not want to go to third reading, come
and object.
I suggest the absence of a quorum.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
The assistant bill clerk proceeded to call the roll.
Mr. MILLER. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent the order for
the quorum call be rescinded.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
Mr. MILLER. I also ask unanimous consent that I may speak as in
morning business.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
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