Spencer Abraham

Mr. ABRAHAM

Mr. ABRAHAM. That is correct.

Mr. ABRAHAM. Mr. President, I wonder if the Chairman of the Banking Committee, Senator Gramm, would agree to a short colloquy with respect to the issues we are currently addressing in S. 761, the Millennium Digital Commerce Act.

Mr. ABRAHAM. I thank my colleague for explaining his thoughts on this bill. While I would note that the opportunities presented by electronic records go beyond banks, it is certainly not my intention to have this bill interfere in the jurisdiction of the Banking Committee. Therefore, I would ask the Chairman whether the portion of the language pertaining to records would best be removed from the bill and left for further work by the Banking Committee.

Mr. ABRAHAM

Mr. ABRAHAM. Mr. President, today I rise with my good friend and colleague, Senator Mack, to introduce the Measures to Encourage Results in Teaching Act, or as it is frequently and aptly called, the MERIT Act. Mr. President, there has been a great deal of discussion regarding our nation's schools and the state of elementary and secondary public school education. This country spends $740 billion per year on education. This is more than the Gross Domestic Products of Spain, Canada or Brazil. Yet the results of the Third International Mathematics and Science Study for Eighth Grade Students ranked American students 28th in science and 17th in math when compared to students in other countries. This situation worsens by the twelfth grade, when our advanced students performed at the bottom of international comparisons. Mr. President, 43 percent of our fourth graders cannot pass a basic reading test. Our children deserve the highest quality education possible and unfortunately, as just even these few statistics demonstrate, we are failing. Neither our children nor our nation can succeed unless we improve our educational system. Without a good education and the strong skills it provides, our young people will not be able to get good jobs at good wages. Without skilled, educated workers, our businesses will lose their competitive edge in the world marketplace. The prosperity of our entire nation demands that we do more to improve our children's education. The question then, Mr. President, is ``how can we improve our kids' education?'' There are a lot of fancy theories floating about on this topic. But one thing we know for certain: the most important educational tool in any classroom remains a qualified, highly trained teacher. Teachers play a special and indispensable role in our children's education. Nothing can replace the positive and long lasting impact a dedicated, knowledgeable teacher has on a child's learning process. And nothing can compensate for the weak teaching that, despite the best of intentions, can result from a teacher's lack of knowledge, preparation, skill and interest. The bulk of our teachers are working hard, under difficult circumstances, to educate our children. Unfortunately, Mr. President, too many of them have not gained the training they need to succeed in educating young people. Currently, the Department of Education reports that one-third of high school math teachers, nearly 25 percent of high school English teachers and 20 percent of science teachers are teaching without a college major or even a college minor in their subjects. The MERIT Act constitutes an important step toward providing better education. It will ensure that teachers have the training they need to succeed, and that teachers are rewarded for their successes. Common sense dictates that teachers should have subject-matter knowledge in the areas they teach. Common sense also dictates that teachers who motivate and inspire their students, and who put forth the extra effort to improve and expand upon their own skills and knowledge, should be rewarded. The MERIT Act puts common sense into action. It will provide incentives for states to establish teacher testing and merit pay policies. Specifically, this legislation would provide that 50 percent of the funds provided over the Fiscal Year 2000 appropriation level for the Eisenhower Professional Development Program will be made available to any state that has established periodic assessments of elementary and secondary school teachers, and implements a pay system to reward teachers based on merit and proven performance. Mr. President, I'd like to be particularly clear on one point: This bill will not result in any reductions in funding for the Eisenhower Professional Development Program. This is an incentive program, not another Washington-knows-best mandate. No state will be penalized for its decision not to participate in the MERIT Act program. In fact, should the appropriation level for the Eisenhower Program increase, so will the amount provided to each state. What this legislation will provide, Mr. President, is an important incentive for states to make certain that our kids are taught by committed teachers who have received the training they need to succeed. Day in and day out, teachers make a real difference for our kids. They inspire children to dream, and to work to make those dreams come true. They help our young people realize their full potential and work to achieve it. Their contributions are invaluable and their efforts demand commendation. The MERIT Act would reward these teachers for their commitment and ensure that our children will be taught by the most qualified and knowledgeable individuals available. I urge my colleagues to support this important legislation. I ask unanimous consent that a copy of the bill and a section by section analysis, be printed in the Record.

Mr. ABRAHAM

Mr. ABRAHAM. Mr. President, today I rise with my good friend and colleague, Senator Mack, to introduce the Measures to Encourage Results in Teaching Act, or as it is frequently and aptly called, the MERIT Act. Mr. President, there has been a great deal of discussion regarding our nation's schools and the state of elementary and secondary public school education. This country spends $740 billion per year on education. This is more than the Gross Domestic Products of Spain, Canada or Brazil. Yet the results of the Third International Mathematics and Science Study for Eighth Grade Students ranked American students 28th in science and 17th in math when compared to students in other countries. This situation worsens by the twelfth grade, when our advanced students performed at the bottom of international comparisons. Mr. President, 43 percent of our fourth graders cannot pass a basic reading test. Our children deserve the highest quality education possible and unfortunately, as just even these few statistics demonstrate, we are failing. Neither our children nor our nation can succeed unless we improve our educational system. Without a good education and the strong skills it provides, our young people will not be able to get good jobs at good wages. Without skilled, educated workers, our businesses will lose their competitive edge in the world marketplace. The prosperity of our entire nation demands that we do more to improve our children's education. The question then, Mr. President, is ``how can we improve our kids' education?'' There are a lot of fancy theories floating about on this topic. But one thing we know for certain: the most important educational tool in any classroom remains a qualified, highly trained teacher. Teachers play a special and indispensable role in our children's education. Nothing can replace the positive and long lasting impact a dedicated, knowledgeable teacher has on a child's learning process. And nothing can compensate for the weak teaching that, despite the best of intentions, can result from a teacher's lack of knowledge, preparation, skill and interest. The bulk of our teachers are working hard, under difficult circumstances, to educate our children. Unfortunately, Mr. President, too many of them have not gained the training they need to succeed in educating young people. Currently, the Department of Education reports that one-third of high school math teachers, nearly 25 percent of high school English teachers and 20 percent of science teachers are teaching without a college major or even a college minor in their subjects. The MERIT Act constitutes an important step toward providing better education. It will ensure that teachers have the training they need to succeed, and that teachers are rewarded for their successes. Common sense dictates that teachers should have subject-matter knowledge in the areas they teach. Common sense also dictates that teachers who motivate and inspire their students, and who put forth the extra effort to improve and expand upon their own skills and knowledge, should be rewarded. The MERIT Act puts common sense into action. It will provide incentives for states to establish teacher testing and merit pay policies. Specifically, this legislation would provide that 50 percent of the funds provided over the Fiscal Year 2000 appropriation level for the Eisenhower Professional Development Program will be made available to any state that has established periodic assessments of elementary and secondary school teachers, and implements a pay system to reward teachers based on merit and proven performance. Mr. President, I'd like to be particularly clear on one point: This bill will not result in any reductions in funding for the Eisenhower Professional Development Program. This is an incentive program, not another Washington-knows-best mandate. No state will be penalized for its decision not to participate in the MERIT Act program. In fact, should the appropriation level for the Eisenhower Program increase, so will the amount provided to each state. What this legislation will provide, Mr. President, is an important incentive for states to make certain that our kids are taught by committed teachers who have received the training they need to succeed. Day in and day out, teachers make a real difference for our kids. They inspire children to dream, and to work to make those dreams come true. They help our young people realize their full potential and work to achieve it. Their contributions are invaluable and their efforts demand commendation. The MERIT Act would reward these teachers for their commitment and ensure that our children will be taught by the most qualified and knowledgeable individuals available. I urge my colleagues to support this important legislation. I ask unanimous consent that a copy of the bill and a section by section analysis, be printed in the Record.

Mr. ABRAHAM

Mr. ABRAHAM. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the majority leader, after consultation with the Democratic leader, may proceed to the consideration of Calendar No. 243, S. 761, under the following limitations: There be 1 hour for debate equally divided in the usual form and the only amendment in order to the bill be a managers' substitute amendment to be offered by Senators Abraham and Leahy. I further ask consent that following the use or yielding back of time and the disposition of the substitute amendment, the committee substitute be agreed to, as amended, the bill be read a third time, and the Senate proceed to a vote on passage of S. 761, with no intervening action or debate.

Mr. ABRAHAM. Mr. President, if I may comment, I certainly appreciate Senators will differ on issues, and I have talked with the Senator from Minnesota. I understand his feelings on the issue he would like to include, either in the context of legislation I am talking about tonight or in some other context. But I point out for the benefit of all of our colleagues that the legislation that was the subject of this unanimous consent proposal, S. 761, is a very important piece of legislation but not one I believe should become tied up in a variety of nongermane amendments and debate. The bill that would have been proposed, S. 761, is essentially a bill which would seek to make it feasible for us to engage in electronic commercial activities and to provide validity to what we call digital signatures or the authentication of digital signatures to allow for the expansion and continuing development of commercial activities over the Internet. This legislation is needed, and it is my understanding, in efforts to secure unanimous consent to go to this, we have found as many as 99 Members in support of this bill. That is not surprising. The States are in desperate hope we will pass this legislation and pass it soon. It left the Senate Commerce Committee, as the Presiding Officer knows, being a member of the committee, with unanimous support on a bipartisan basis. I have been pleased to offer this legislation, along with my colleague, Senator Wyden of Oregon, and a number of cosponsors. It was basically to this point uncontroversial. We have worked closely with Senator Leahy to come forward with a substitute which we are prepared ultimately to offer that I think addresses some concerns that had been expressed. The administration has expressed its support for the legislation as well. So I hope that we can, if not in the context of today, then at a point very soon, find some manner or means to pass the legislation and move it forward. Every day, the expansion of those who have access to the Internet is increasing. Every day, the activities of a commercial sort that go on through the Internet are increasing. What the people who are engaging in those commercial activities need is a certainty that their contracts over the Internet will be, in fact, authenticated and given full faith and credit. The absence of this legislation makes that issue somewhat in doubt. So while 42 States, I believe, have now passed their own digital signature laws, no 2 of these are alike. States are working hard at this time to come up with a uniform system and, in fact, a uniform code for digital signatures, and authentication has been developed but it has not yet been passed. In the interim, until that happens, in my judgment, we need to have a system in place. This legislation would provide it. It is strongly backed by the high-tech industries of our country. I know they will be contacting Members in the hope that we can move this forward because there are so many, as I have said already, increases in the use of the Internet for commercial activity going on every single day. So I deeply regret we could not move to this legislation tonight. I hope that as Senators with other agenda items consider ways to bring their items to the floor, they will find germane, as opposed to nongermane, vehicles to which to offer their amendments, or at least, at a minimum, they will not seek to stall this legislation any further. I think it is an important bill. I do not think it is controversial. But I think every day we go without its passage, we will create the potential for greater problems in regard to the expansion of commercial activity that takes place in this country through the Internet and through electronic means. So, Mr. President, I yield the floor. Hopefully, at a date very soon, I will be back so we can successfully move forward on this legislation. Mr. ASHCROFT addressed the Chair.

Mr. ABRAHAM. Mr. President, at this time I cannot agree to such a modification.

Mr. ABRAHAM

Mr. ABRAHAM. Mr. President, I rise to introduce the Alien Smuggling Prevention and Enforcement Act. This legislation, which I am introducing with my colleagues, Senator Schumer and Senator Feinstein, will give law enforcement new tools and resources in the continuing fight against the smuggling of illegal aliens. Despite continued efforts, Mr. President, alien smuggling remains a serious problem in America. Smugglers have responded to increases in the efforts of our border patrol by adopting more daring methods to smuggle individuals illegally into the United States. In many cases, these methods entail little or no concern for the safety of the individuals being smuggled. Moreover, these attempts increasingly involve organized criminal gangs. As recently as 1996, in the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act, Congress has acted to combat this dangerous form of smuggling. But it is clear that more needs to be done. I would like to quote from a story appearing in the August 15, 1999 edition of the Detroit News. This story sums up well our current situation, demonstrating that we face a problem of national importance: ``Illegal alien smuggling is a growing yet largely hidden business along the U.S.-Canadian border. Smugglers are getting as much as $50,000 per person to bring in aliens desperate to reach the United States. Yet immigration authorities, short of personnel and detention facilities, can do little to slow the activity.'' The story goes on to quote Carl L. McClafferty, chief of the Detroit sector of the Border Patrol, who notes ``We get spurts of drug smuggling, but we have a constant drone of alien smuggling. For us, alien smuggling is steady work.'' My state of Michigan has been hit particularly hard by alien smugglers. Crackdowns in other areas of the country have made Detroit in particular a target for illegal entry. We simply do not have the staff on hand with the tools and resources needed to successfully combat this problem. This means more illegal aliens in our country. It also produces an added boost to criminal gang activities and all the problems these activities bring with them. And that, Mr. President, is why I am introducing this legislation. The Alien Smuggling Prevention and Enforcement Act would do the following. First, it would double the personnel devoted to combating alien smuggling. Today, Mr. President, approximately 260 people are employed by the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) to investigate and fight alien smuggling. This figure has not risen in the past three years. This legislation would require the INS to add 50 more investigators and other enforcement personnel each year over the next 5 years, each of them devoted to combating alien smuggling. Second, this legislation would double criminal sentences for alien smugglers. Under U.S. Sentencing Commission guidelines, the current minimum sentence for smuggling one to five aliens is 10 months; for smuggling 6-24 aliens the minimum sentence is 18 months; for 25-100 aliens it's 27 months; and for more than 100 aliens it's 37 months. Simply put, those sentences are not high enough to deter this heinous conduct. Nor are they severe enough, in moral terms, as punishment for acts involving intentional breaking of American law and the serious risk of injury and death to innocent parties and those being smuggled. This legislation would direct the U.S. Sentencing Commission to double the relevant sentences to 20 months, 36 months 54 months, and 74 months, respectively. Third, this legislation would increase fines for those convicted of alien smuggling to twice the amount an alien smuggler received, or expected to receive, for his or her this illegal activity. Under U.S. Sentencing Commission guidelines, currently the minimum fine is $3,000 for smuggling one to five aliens; for smuggling 6-24 aliens the fine is $4,000; for 25-100 aliens it's $6,000; and for more than 100 aliens it's $7,500. Again, that is simply not strict enough, particularly given the profits to be made from this illegal activity. This legislation would direct the U.S. Sentencing Commission to impose a fine above these minimum levels equal to twice the amount an alien smuggler received, or expected to receive, for his or her illegal activity. This legislation also would authorize additional operating expense money to conduct undercover operations and prosecute alien smuggling and require an annual report to Congress by the Commissioner of the INS on the agency's strategy to deal wit alien smuggling. Taken together, Mr. President, these measures will deter alien smuggling. By giving law enforcement personnel the tools they need to catch alien smugglers and seeing to it that they are punished as harshly as is called for by their crime, this legislation will help deter illegal immigration and deal a very real blow to criminal gang activity. I urge my colleagues to support this important legislation and ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. ABRAHAM

Mr. ABRAHAM. Mr. President, I rise to introduce the Alien Smuggling Prevention and Enforcement Act. This legislation, which I am introducing with my colleagues, Senator Schumer and Senator Feinstein, will give law enforcement new tools and resources in the continuing fight against the smuggling of illegal aliens. Despite continued efforts, Mr. President, alien smuggling remains a serious problem in America. Smugglers have responded to increases in the efforts of our border patrol by adopting more daring methods to smuggle individuals illegally into the United States. In many cases, these methods entail little or no concern for the safety of the individuals being smuggled. Moreover, these attempts increasingly involve organized criminal gangs. As recently as 1996, in the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act, Congress has acted to combat this dangerous form of smuggling. But it is clear that more needs to be done. I would like to quote from a story appearing in the August 15, 1999 edition of the Detroit News. This story sums up well our current situation, demonstrating that we face a problem of national importance: ``Illegal alien smuggling is a growing yet largely hidden business along the U.S.-Canadian border. Smugglers are getting as much as $50,000 per person to bring in aliens desperate to reach the United States. Yet immigration authorities, short of personnel and detention facilities, can do little to slow the activity.'' The story goes on to quote Carl L. McClafferty, chief of the Detroit sector of the Border Patrol, who notes ``We get spurts of drug smuggling, but we have a constant drone of alien smuggling. For us, alien smuggling is steady work.'' My state of Michigan has been hit particularly hard by alien smugglers. Crackdowns in other areas of the country have made Detroit in particular a target for illegal entry. We simply do not have the staff on hand with the tools and resources needed to successfully combat this problem. This means more illegal aliens in our country. It also produces an added boost to criminal gang activities and all the problems these activities bring with them. And that, Mr. President, is why I am introducing this legislation. The Alien Smuggling Prevention and Enforcement Act would do the following. First, it would double the personnel devoted to combating alien smuggling. Today, Mr. President, approximately 260 people are employed by the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) to investigate and fight alien smuggling. This figure has not risen in the past three years. This legislation would require the INS to add 50 more investigators and other enforcement personnel each year over the next 5 years, each of them devoted to combating alien smuggling. Second, this legislation would double criminal sentences for alien smugglers. Under U.S. Sentencing Commission guidelines, the current minimum sentence for smuggling one to five aliens is 10 months; for smuggling 6-24 aliens the minimum sentence is 18 months; for 25-100 aliens it's 27 months; and for more than 100 aliens it's 37 months. Simply put, those sentences are not high enough to deter this heinous conduct. Nor are they severe enough, in moral terms, as punishment for acts involving intentional breaking of American law and the serious risk of injury and death to innocent parties and those being smuggled. This legislation would direct the U.S. Sentencing Commission to double the relevant sentences to 20 months, 36 months 54 months, and 74 months, respectively. Third, this legislation would increase fines for those convicted of alien smuggling to twice the amount an alien smuggler received, or expected to receive, for his or her this illegal activity. Under U.S. Sentencing Commission guidelines, currently the minimum fine is $3,000 for smuggling one to five aliens; for smuggling 6-24 aliens the fine is $4,000; for 25-100 aliens it's $6,000; and for more than 100 aliens it's $7,500. Again, that is simply not strict enough, particularly given the profits to be made from this illegal activity. This legislation would direct the U.S. Sentencing Commission to impose a fine above these minimum levels equal to twice the amount an alien smuggler received, or expected to receive, for his or her illegal activity. This legislation also would authorize additional operating expense money to conduct undercover operations and prosecute alien smuggling and require an annual report to Congress by the Commissioner of the INS on the agency's strategy to deal wit alien smuggling. Taken together, Mr. President, these measures will deter alien smuggling. By giving law enforcement personnel the tools they need to catch alien smugglers and seeing to it that they are punished as harshly as is called for by their crime, this legislation will help deter illegal immigration and deal a very real blow to criminal gang activity. I urge my colleagues to support this important legislation and ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. ABRAHAM

Mr. ABRAHAM. Mr. President, I rise today to acknowledge and congratulate the Ingham County Women's Commission, as they celebrate their 25th Anniversary. The Ingham County Women's Commission has taken great strides to meet the needs of women since it was founded in 1974. The commission, originally established to serve as a study and research center focusing on the issues concerning women in the county, was restructured in 1976 and took on an advisory role to the Board of Commissioners. They now focus on issues that impact the women of the county. They have continued their efforts in researching better ways to meet the needs of women through county resources. What is truly remarkable about this select group is their dedication to helping enrich the lives of women. They work closely with the Equal Opportunity Commission to overcome discrimination against women. The commission also provides many important and beneficial services to women. Their greatest accomplishments include involvement with the New Way In and Rural Emergency Outreach and the provision of acquaintance rape education for high school students. Additionally, they have experienced vast success in helping raise awareness of women's issues by developing a sexual harassment policy for county employees, sponsoring the Ingham County Sexual Assault Task Force and the Michigan Council of Domestic Violence. This important group of women are to be commended for their accomplishments over the last 25 years. Their hard work and dedication to conveying the importance of women's issues will benefit many women for years to come.

Mr. ABRAHAM

Mr. ABRAHAM. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to Mr. Francis M. Wilson and his wonderful and admirable life. Mr. Wilson served as a tech-sergeant during World War II in Germany when he was only 18 years old. He was an engineer in the Detroit Public School District, a devoted family man, and an active citizen. The challenges he successfully faced in these capacities have distinguished him within his family, his town, his state, and his country. As a very young boy, he sold ``Liberty'' magazines to supplement his family's income during the Great Depression. Growing up during a time of financial strife led him to find solace in nature. Mr. Wilson was exposed to nature during his experience in the military and developed a love and knowledge of it. As a young adult he was able to identify a variety of birds, insects, trees, and flowers. He then went on to form and preside over a group of citizens that forced new construction to adhere to guidelines designed to protect nearby lakes. Once he reached adulthood, Mr. Wilson found his real love, Dolores. Together they found great joy in their children and grandchildren. Mr. Wilson wanted to ensure that they received all the advantages that he did not have. He inspired his children to put themselves through college. He provided them with the opportunity to grow up in a safe environment, allowing them to mature at a more deliberate pace than the one that was forced upon him. His wife, Dolores, expresses the best tribute to Mr. Wilson when she writes ``this brave, honest, dedicated, ordinary man was to his family and America `the staff of life' that fuels generations to come.'' Mr. Wilson expressed his passion for education through his involvement with children as an engineer of thirty years in the Detroit Public Schools. He gave and received respect from all he knew. He not only led by lecture but, more importantly and effectively, by example. He never left any doubt as to where he stood in a debate and firmly believed in right and wrong. Mr. Wilson offered little patience for individuals passing on responsibility as an excuse for negligent or bad behavior. Personifying Winston Churchill's statement, ``We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give,'' Mr. Francis M. Wilson left this world an honorable, loyal, selfless servant to his country and a loved and missed father, grandfather and husband.

Mr. ABRAHAM

Mr. ABRAHAM. Mr. President, I rise today to acknowledge and congratulate the Ingham County Women's Commission, as they celebrate their 25th Anniversary. The Ingham County Women's Commission has taken great strides to meet the needs of women since it was founded in 1974. The commission, originally established to serve as a study and research center focusing on the issues concerning women in the county, was restructured in 1976 and took on an advisory role to the Board of Commissioners. They now focus on issues that impact the women of the county. They have continued their efforts in researching better ways to meet the needs of women through county resources. What is truly remarkable about this select group is their dedication to helping enrich the lives of women. They work closely with the Equal Opportunity Commission to overcome discrimination against women. The commission also provides many important and beneficial services to women. Their greatest accomplishments include involvement with the New Way In and Rural Emergency Outreach and the provision of acquittance rape education for high school students. Additionally, they have experienced vast success in helping raise awareness of women's issues by developing a sexual harassment policy for county employees, sponsoring the Ingham County Sexual Assault Task Force and the Michigan Council of Domestic Violence. This important group of women are to be commended for their accomplishments over the last 25 years. Their hard work and dedication to conveying the importance of women's issues will benefit many women for years to come.

Mr. ABRAHAM

Mr. ABRAHAM. Mr. President, I thank the Chairman for his support of this project, and for his efforts to provide the necessary funds for our transportation infrastructure as we enter the 21st Century. I look forward to working with him on this program as the bill moves to Conference. pipeline safety

Mr. ABRAHAM. Mr. President, I understand the difficulty the distinguished Chairman has in opening up such a panoply of Coast Guard issues to resolve this one problem. However, I would like to bring his attention to page 21 of House Report 106-180 to accompany JR 2084, the House Transportation Appropriations Act for FY 2000 where it directs that the Muskegon seasonal air facility operations continue through FY 2000.

Mr. ABRAHAM. Mr. President, I rise today to engage the Chairman of the Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee in a colloquy regarding the Intelligent Transportation System program. Mr. President, I was very pleased that the report accompanying S. 1143, the Senate Transportation Appropriations bill for FY 2000, contained direction that Southeast Michigan receive no less than $4 million for ITS deployment projects. I was particularly pleased with that designation as I had requested the Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee provide $3.5 million for the Southeast Michigan Snow Information Management System, and wish to thank the distinguished Chairman of the Subcommittee for that designation. Does the Chairman believe such a further designation for this particular project would be in order?

Mr. ABRAHAM. I appreciate the Senator's support and clarification Mr. President, and join him in calling upon the FHWA to quickly provide this additional funding for the SEMSIM project as soon as the Appropriations Act is signed into law. Mr. President, I would also like to take this opportunity to discuss what should be done with the remaining $500,000 within that $4 million distribution to Southeast Michigan. Mr. President, I would like the Chairman of the Subcommittee to know that after he had marked up S. 1143, I received a request from Wayne County in Michigan to support a Roads Infrastructure Management System project that will use Global Positioning Satellite system technology and data to geocode the existing infrastructure inventory over the county's 1,400 miles of roads, such as signage, lighting, bridges, and existing utility runs, so as to better identify where road improvements will be most efficiently executed, and provide the greatest improvements. The ultimate goal is to implement a travel routing system that can be accessed over the Internet by commuters and freight carriers. Having this geocoded inventory will permit the county to quantitatively assess and schedule road improvement projects and improve traffic flow. The total cost of a comprehensive Geographic Information System is about $60 million, but Wayne County has already committed $14 million to building this base map, and to date, has completed all of it's digital ortho photography at the 6'' pixel resolution. The Roads Information Management System is one of the most costly applications within this project, and will cost the County $7.4 million. The County was originally seeking $5 million in federal funding, but I believe any portion thereof would further this worthy effort. Mr. President, I would like to ask the distinguished Chairman of the Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee if he could support this project within the existing $4 million designation?

Mr. ABRAHAM. Mr. President, I rise today with my colleague from Michigan to engage the Chairman of the Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee in a colloquy regarding the Coast Guard's proposal to close the seasonal air facility in Muskegon, MI. On July 13th, we wrote the distinguished Chairman to seek his assistance on this issue and attempted to explain the necessity to keep this facility open. Mr. President, in that letter, we described how on February 3rd of this year, we wrote the Commandant of the Coast Guard and the Secretary of Transportation asking for a detailed explanation of this proposal in light of what appeared to be a dramatic reversal on the Administration's part given its previous statements as to both the desirability of Muskegon and the overall need for a southern Lake Michigan seasonal facility. THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, so ordered.

Mr. ABRAHAM. These letters, Mr. President, closely follow the letters the entire Michigan delegation sent the Chairs of both the House and Senate Appropriations bills. Although we have been briefed by the Coast Guard regarding this proposal, we have not received a formal response from the Commandant or the Secretary.

Mr. ABRAHAM. I thank the Chairman for his considerable assistance on this matter, and look forward to working with him on this issue as it moves through to final passage. the incremental train control system (itcs)

Mr. ABRAHAM. Mr. President, I rise to engage in a colloquy with the Manager of this Appropriations Bill regarding funding of specific projects under the Next Generation High Speed Rail Program. Mr. President, I see that the FY 2000 Transportation Appropriations Bill provides a total of $7.3 million for various positive train control projects, and of that amount, $5 million is designated for the Alaska Railroad and $1 million for the Transportation Safety Research Alliance. Now Mr. President, as the Chairman of the Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee is well aware, the Administration requested $3 million for the Incremental Train Control System (ITCS) along the Detroit to Chicago passenger rail corridor in its FY 2000 Budget Request. This project has previously received $6 million in federal funds, and I am very thankful for the designation the Chairman was able to convince the Conference Committee to provide this project last year even though my request came very late in the legislative process. The reason I believe this project is worthy of specific funding is that it is a key component in the efforts by Amtrak as well as the Midwest High Speed Rail Coalition to allow for passenger rail service of up to 125 miles per hour, not only along the Detroit to Chicago corridor, but elsewhere as the $3 million requested by the Administration would complete the research of this project, and allow the technology to be applied to other rail corridors across the country. Mr. President, I recognize the strict funding constraints the Subcommittee faced in drafting this appropriations bill, and the significant hurdles that had to be overcome in order to find this level of funding, but I wonder if the Chairman may be able to comment on the possibility that some level of funding could be found for the ITCS project.

Mr. ABRAHAM

Mr. ABRAHAM. Mr. President, I believe I have 5 minutes remaining?

Mr. ABRAHAM. There are other opponents on my side who wish to speak. Let me summarize with a few concluding remarks. I want to first reiterate what my colleague from Michigan, Senator Levin, has said. A chart that shows the correlation between increases in CAFE and decreases in fatalities is not based on a study that relates the two. The studies that do relate the two, particularly as he said, the outside study by the National Academy of Sciences, suggest a contrary finding. In fact, the implementation of CAFE standards has led to approximately 46,000 lost lives as a consequence of the lighter vehicles being in our fleets. The second point I make relates to the broader point that also was made earlier by my colleague from Michigan. Higher CAFE standards are going to affect American manufactured products, but not necessarily the products of our competitors from overseas. Hence, the same kind of vehicles, with virtually the same types of fuel efficiency levels, as well as the same types of emission levels, will be purchased by the same market that wants and craves these vehicles today. The only difference will be the kind of difference we saw back in the late 1970s and early 1980s and throughout much of the decade of the 1980s when we found the foreign imports' share of the American market continuing to go up, at the expense of American domestically manufactured products, and ultimately at the expense of American autoworker jobs. In summation, this is simple to me: Do we want to put at risk the safety of people who will be purchasing sports utility vehicles, light trucks, and others by making a change in CAFE standards? I hope the answer is no. Do we want to risk the jobs of American autoworkers? I speak not just for those autoworkers in Michigan, who tend to be on the front lines, but many other people in this country who are working in related industries and whose jobs are affected by the sale of domestically manufactured automobiles. Do we want to put at risk all of these jobs? I don't think so. Do we want to risk the investments made by the auto companies in new, more fuel-efficient vehicles, and the significant investments that we have made in the partnership for a new generation of vehicles? Do we want to derail those efforts as a result of this type of action? In my judgment, we should say yes to more safe vehicles; we should say yes to American autoworkers; we should say yes to the technological advances that have been and are continuing to be made. That is ultimately how we are going to have more fuel-efficient vehicles. If we say yes to all of those, then, in my judgment, we must say no to this amendment because to have a Washington bureaucracy made up of unelected individuals who impose upon this very significant sector of our economy these kinds of standards, the likely outcome will be exactly the opposite of what I have proposed today. I think it will hurt our economy and the American automobile industry, although it may help the automobile industries of other countries. I think it will make the vehicles that come about as a result of higher standards less safe, as the studies that we have cited here today demonstrate. So for those reasons, I urge my colleagues to vote against the Gorton-Bryan-Feinstein amendment. Before I conclude, I ask that a letter produced by the United Auto Workers be printed in the Record at this point as an expression of their views on this issue, which are consistent with those my colleagues and I on this side of the issue have been offering here today.

Mr. ABRAHAM. I will make some comments then. I wanted to clarify the amount of time we have, and we will see if other Members come down. Let me do the following: I will suggest the absence of a quorum and suggest the time be taken off my time while I prepare to make these comments.

Mr. ABRAHAM. My sense, reading the history of this, is that is where the starting point would be. I believe, in effect, if we do not have this, if this is not in place, that that would be the mandated effect.