[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 2]
[Senate]
[Pages 1509-1510]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                      EXPLANATION OF MISSED VOTES

  Mr. BAUCUS. Mr. President, I regret I was unable to vote on the Iran 
Nonproliferation Act and two judicial nominations, but it was necessary 
for me to be in Montana today.
  I traveled back to Montana to join with Montana farmers, Montana 
business people, and Montana government officials, and Montana economic 
development experts in Great Falls and Helena to greet a high-level 
Chinese agriculture purchasing delegation. This group is led by the 
Chairman of COFCO, the China National Cereals, Oils, and Feedstuffs 
Import and Export Corporation, and includes senior Chinese government 
officials. We provided this Chinese delegation with information about 
the opportunities Montana presents and educated them about the high 
quality and competitive agricultural products and value-added food 
products in our state.
  I have been working for over 20 years to expand trade and open 
markets overseas for Montana and American agricultural commodities, 
value-added agricultural products, manufactured goods, and services. 
Increasing exports brings benefits to our farmers, our workers, and our 
communities in Montana.
  China, in particular, represents a market of almost unlimited 
potential. I have worked hard for the last 10 years to expand trading 
relations between the United States and China. This year, I am leading 
the fight to grant China Permanent Normal Trade Relations status, PNTR. 
The full implementation of this agricultural agreement is a vital part 
of this effort to bring China into the WTO. It will ensure that Montana 
and the rest of America will benefit from the unique opportunities in 
China. The delegation that I brought to Montana this week is only the 
first step along the road to increased exports to China.
  The outcome of today's vote on the Iran Nonproliferation Act would 
not have changed had I been present. This measure passed, 98-0, and I 
strongly support it. I do so for three reasons: it requires the 
President to report to Congress on foreign entities where there is 
``credible information'' that they have transferred certain goods, 
services or technologies to Iran; it authorizes the President to impose 
measures against these entities; and it prohibits ``extraordinary'' 
U.S. payments to the Russian Space Agency until certain conditions are 
met. I voted for a

[[Page 1510]]

similar bill in 1998, legislation which passed the Senate, 90-4, and 
was subsequently vetoed by the President.
  I also support the outcome of the other rollcall votes that occurred 
in the Senate today, for the confirmation of two Federal judges. Kermit 
Bye, nominated to be U.S. Circuit Judge for the 8th Circuit, and George 
Daniels, nominated for District Judge of the southern district of New 
York, are both highly qualified judges. Both were confirmed today, by 
votes of 98-0. In both cases, my vote would have made the outcome 99-0.
  Although I regret that I was unable to cast these three votes, I am 
pleased to have advanced the economic well-being of my state by 
continuing my fight to open markets for Montana agriculture.

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