[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 4]
[Senate]
[Page 5795]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                      ORGAN TRANSPLANT LEGISLATION

  Mr. SPECTER. Mr. President, I have a very brief colloquy with the 
distinguished Senator from Vermont from the Committee on Labor, Health, 
Education and Pensions. It had been anticipated there would be a 
unanimous consent request to move forward on legislation on organ 
transplants which came out of the Labor Committee yesterday on a 
unanimous vote. I had been deeply involved in that matter when the 
issue came before the conference on the appropriations bill for Labor, 
Health and Human Services, and Education. We had crafted, after a great 
deal of controversy, a resolution where the Secretary of Health and 
Human Services came especially to an evening session and we worked out 
what I thought were the final details on the settlement.
  But as I think George Shultz said, nothing is ever settled in 
Washington and the matter has seen a new birth. The issue came before 
the Labor Committee and they have crafted a new proposal. I had 
intended to object. It now appears that others will object and the 
matter will not come forward.
  I thought it useful to have a colloquy with Senator Jeffords where I 
would not raise an objection on his assurance that out of the 
conference the bill of the Labor Committee would not be watered down 
any more. That is a minimal consideration for fairness in organ 
transplants. In my judgment, no bill would be better than any bill 
which is less than the one which is out of committee.
  My own personal view is that the compromise crafted in my 
subcommittee on appropriations on that bill is a superior approach, but 
I did see the wave moving toward what happened in the Labor Committee 
yesterday. Therefore, I will not raise an objection on the assurance 
from the chairman that that bill will not be reduced, modified, or 
weakened in any way in conference.
  Mr. JEFFORDS. I thank the Senator for his statement. We had an 
incredibly good breakthrough in negotiations, which is why I can 
reassure the Senator of my belief that we don't have to worry about it 
being changed, with the administration about 3 o'clock the morning 
before last, after long negotiations, and we came to a resolution which 
at least I know my critics in Vermont and everyone I know has agreed is 
a wonderful resolution of the problem. I am hopeful we will also be 
able to get the holds from the other side of the aisle removed 
expeditiously so this can be passed.
  I thank the Senator because he was a leader in this field, and the 
bill he brought out of the appropriations process was certainly one 
which was taken into consideration and utilized in the final 
resolution.
  With Senator Kennedy and Senator Frist agreeing to it, with the 
administration, I think we have, for the first time, a real hope this 
very difficult area of organ transplants and how they will be utilized 
may have a permanent solution--at least a solution for a foreseeable 
length of time. A lot of it is due to the efforts of the Senator, and I 
appreciate it.
  Mr. SPECTER. I thank my colleague from Vermont for that statement. I 
want to be sure I have his commitment he will not bring back a 
conference report to this floor which would water down in any way the 
bill which came out of his committee yesterday.
  Mr. JEFFORDS. I give the Senator those assurances.
  Mr. SPECTER. I thank my friend from Vermont, and I thank my colleague 
from West Virginia, and I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from West Virginia.

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