Wayne Allard

Mr. ALLARD

Mr. ALLARD. If I might just briefly before I yield the floor for Senator Harkin, I ask unanimous consent to add Senator Enzi as a cosponsor of the amendment.

Mr. ALLARD. 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.

Mr. ALLARD. Mr. President, first of all, I want to reiterate how important the Civil Air Patrol is to States such as Colorado, particularly in the mountainous regions. They have played such a vital role when we have had downed aircraft in the Mountain States. They have been a nonprofit civilian organization ever since 1946, and they have been designated since 2 years after that as an auxiliary. After all, it is the Civil Air Patrol, not the Defense Air Patrol or the Air Force Air Patrol. This is the Civil Air Patrol, and it is volunteers. That has been its focus. That is the strength of the organization. I think any effort at this point to put it under the control of the Air Force is premature. I am glad to hear that my colleague from Oklahoma has recognized the fact that we can do a GAO study to look at the budget aspects of some of the discrepancies that supposedly come out; and then if we can get the inspector general to go in and look at how the management side of it is handled and get concrete recommendations back to the Senate, then we can go ahead and have some hearings next year. That makes good sense to me. I hope we can accept that plan and move forward. So if they want to go with a voice vote, that is acceptable to me, with the idea that we have a GAO study and we have an inspector general study, and then we have some hearings and get the facts laid out. I think Senator Harkin, my colleague from Iowa, has made a good suggestion, that we need to get both of them in the same room to talk about these differences. I think there is all sorts of room to correct some misunderstandings between the Air Force and Civil Air Patrol. I think we can do it in an honest manner. So I think the Allard amendment is reasonable. I think it has a reasonable approach, and I urge my colleagues on the Armed Services Committee to work with us on the Allard amendment. I ask unanimous consent to add another cosponsor to the amendment, Senator Rod Grams of Minnesota.

Mr. ALLARD. Mr. President, this Amendment will give the Department of Defense the ability to significantly strengthen the dental benefits for over 270,000 of our nation's military retirees and their family members. The TRICARE retiree dental program began on February 1, 1998 and is an affordable plan paid for exclusively by retiree premiums. According to the Department, the enrollment in the program has exceeded all projections. While current law covers the most basic dental procedures, the Department of Defense does not have the flexibility to expand their benefits without a legislative change. Our nation's military retirees have expressed a desire to both the Department and the contractors for more services, and are willing to pay a reasonable price for these extra benefits. Currently, the retiree dental program is limited to an annual cleaning, filings, root canals, oral surgeries and the like. This amendment would change the law to allow, but not mandate, the Department the opportunity to offer an expanded list of benefits such as dentures, bridges and crowns, which are needs characteristic of our nation's retired military members. If the Department decided to offer these service, they would continue to be paid for by member premiums. In conclusion, I would ask the support of all my colleagues for this important amendment to allow the Department to give the needed dental services to our valued military retires. Thank you for the time. amendment no. 414 (Purpose: To provide $6,000,000 (in PE 604604F) for the Air Force for the 3-D advanced track acquisition and imaging system, and to provide an offset) On page 29, line 12, increase the amount by $6,000,000. On page 29, line 14, decrease the amount by $6,000,000.

Mr. ALLARD. Mr. President, I would like to summarize briefly before we go to a vote. I think the Allard amendment is a reasonable plan. It sets out the process in which we can gather our facts through a GAO report, and I am sure the report from the Inspector General, then hold some hearings and make some reasonable decisions. We all, I think, agree that we need to understand the problem before we can come to some satisfactory conclusion. I think the plan does that. I urge the Members to vote aye. I yield any remaining time.

Mr. ALLARD. I yield the floor.

Mr. ALLARD

Mr. ALLARD. Mr. President, I'd like to take a moment to honor an individual who, for so many years, has exemplified the notion of public service and civic duty and an individual the western slope of Colorado will find difficult to replace. Senator Tilman Bishop, a true Colorado native, represented Colorado's 7th District in the Colorado State Senate for 24 years and before that, 4 years in the Colorado House of Representatives. From 1993 to 1998 he also served as president pro tem of the senate. His years of service rank him 4th in the State's history for continuous years of service and he is the longest serving senator from the western slope of Colorado. Senator Bishop has, for decades, selflessly given of himself and has always placed the needs of his constituents before his own. I had the honor of serving with Senator Bishop in the Colorado State Senate from 1983 to 1990 and have always valued his advice and counsel. The numerous honors and distinction that Senator Bishop has earned during his years of outstanding service exemplify his dedication to the legislature and his constituents. Senator Bishop's wisdom and knowledge will be sorely missed. Senator Bishop's tenure in the State legislature ended in 1998. There are too few people in elected office today who are prepared to serve in the selfless and diligent manner of Tilman Bishop. His constituents owe him a debt of gratitude and I wish him and his wife Pat the best in their well-deserved retirement.

Mr. ALLARD

Mr. ALLARD. When we get it down in writing, that is when we will have an absolute answer. We made a vocal agreement. I think we are there. I do not want to sign off completely.

Mr. ALLARD. I would guess about 15 minutes is what I would need.

Mr. ALLARD. That is correct.

Mr. ALLARD. I yield for an inquiry.

Mr. ALLARD. Mr. President, the amendment I am offering with Senator Harkin and a number of other people is now before the Senate. I ask unanimous consent at the start that Senator Grassley be added as a cosponsor to the amendment.

Mr. ALLARD. I ask unanimous consent that my time be allocated to the Senator from Oklahoma.

Mr. ALLARD. I am not sure whether it is going to be scheduled for tonight or tomorrow. I haven't heard one comment from the floor manager in that regard.

Mr. ALLARD. Mr. President, I yield 3 minutes to the Senator.

Mr. ALLARD. Mr. President, how much time remains?

Mr. ALLARD

Mr. ALLARD. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that there be a period of morning business until 10:15 this morning with Senators to speak for up to 10 minutes each.

Mr. ALLARD

Mr. ALLARD. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that reading of the amendment be dispensed with.

Mr. ALLARD. That is correct.

Mr. ALLARD. The nature of the amendment is that it strikes a provision dealing with the Civil Air Patrol, brings them under the direct control of the Air Force. We want to strike out that provision and then set up a report and review of an incident that has occurred with CAP through GAO and the Inspector General. Real briefly, that is what the amendment is about.

Mr. ALLARD. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that we lay aside the following amendments for the purpose of introducing my amendment No. 396 and then we would go back to the regular order.

Mr. ALLARD. Maybe I don't need to have this special provision we talked about. I talked with the staff of the chairman, and they said all we had to do was file the amendment. I filed the amendment and I am happy. I think we are in good shape. It is there, where we can bring it up immediately.

Mr. ALLARD

Mr. ALLARD. Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. ALLARD. I object to further proceedings on this matter at this time.

Mr. ALLARD. I understand there is a joint resolution at the desk due for its second reading.