[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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