Kit Bond

Mr. BOND

Mr. BOND. The Senator can be assured we will give the project our full consideration in conference.

Mr. BOND. Mr. President, I very much appreciate the Senator bringing this to the Senate's attention. I agree that this matter should be resolved swiftly. I would encourage and expect the EPA to, over the next several months, find a way that is fair to all sides. In addition, I would expect that any remedy would ensure that the States maintain control and input in addressing air pollution problems through the SIP process. I would be happy to work with the Senator from Alabama to ensure that EPA is fully responsive to these legitimate problems.

Mr. BOND. I am happy to yield to the Senator from West Virginia.

Mr. BOND. The Senator from Alabama raises a good point. In order for the EPA to protect people and the environment, the agency must have access to good scientific data.

Mr. BOND. Yes, this Subcommittee has occasionally directed the EPA to gather additional scientific data relevant to their regulatory duties.

Mr. BOND. In my own State of Missouri, production of coal bed methane has recently been started at several sites. I understand that hydraulic fracturing has been used at each of these sites to stimulate the flow of methane. I agree with the Senator from Alabama that the EPA should seek out the best scientific data and should seek to provide assistance to the Geological Survey of Alabama to study the impact this procedure could have on underground sources of drinking water. atlanta va construction

Mr. BOND. I am grateful to my colleagues from Maine and to my good friend, Senator Mikulski, for their input on the Surface Acoustic Wave sensor proposal, which could be a real step forward in protecting our environment. I will be glad to continue working with my colleagues on identifying potential areas for funding as we proceed to Conference. The Atlanta Watershed Project

Mr. BOND. The Senior Senator from Georgia is correct.

Mr. BOND. I understand the difficulties the Atlanta Region faces due to an aging infrastructure and a rapidly growing population, and I commend Senator Coverdell's advocacy and commitment on its behalf.

Mr. BOND. I am glad to discuss this matter with Senator Cleland.

Mr. BOND. I appreciate the Senator's cooperation and understand his concern about this project. Rest assured that when we reach conference with the House, we will give this project strong consideration for funding.

Mr. BOND. The Senior Senator from Georgia is correct.

Mr. BOND. Strong community support, the creation of public/private partnerships and a financial commitment by the local entities are criteria that I believe illustrate a project's importance and vialbility.

Mr. BOND. I agree that the Department of Veterans Affairs should never put the State veterans homes in a fiscally vulnerable position and, therefore, possibly compromise the quality of care for our veterans. I have several veterans nursing homes in my State in Missouri, and I believe that they deserve prompt per diem payments. However, I also do not wish to hinder the VA from enforcing applicable standards for care in these state veterans homes. Does the Senator from Utah agree?

Mr. BOND. The Senior Senator from Georgia is correct.

Mr. BOND. That is correct.

Mr. BOND. I appreciate Senator Coverdell's dedication and efforts on behalf of the Tubman African American Museum and look forward to working with him on this project.

Mr. BOND

Mr. BOND. I thank the two Senators for their insight and comments on EPA's HPV chemical testing program. We are in agreement that EPA should seek to uncover all existing data in preparation for determining what data gaps exist and test plans need to be developed. EPA should also pursue the validation and incorporation of non-animal testing as soon as practicable. In the meantime, I hope negotiations between the various stakeholder groups bring about some consensus on how best to proceed with this program.

Mr. BOND. Mr. President, we know how strongly the Senator from Minnesota feels about this. He has been a very forceful and persuasive advocate. We do recognize that because of the rule under which the Senator is proceeding, this is a sense-of-the-Senate amendment. We have turned back to the authorizing committees the job of authorizing. It seems rather traditional to do it that way. I know the Senator wants to make this point. We thank him very much for putting it in the form of a sense-of-the-Senate amendment.

Mr. BOND. I thank the majority leader. Amendment No. 1789 (Purpose: To express the sense of the Senate that lung cancer, colon cancer, and brain and central nervous system cancer should be presumed to be service-connected disabilities as radiogenic diseases)

Mr. BOND. Mr. President, may I ask the majority leader, was that a unanimous consent order that the only amendments in order are the ones that were read off?

Mr. BOND. Mr. President, I thank my colleague for his work on the recently passed legislation, S. 880, dealing with EPA's Risk Management Plan program. I understand that there might be some problems with EPA's implementation of the law with respect to the funding of the program.

Mr. BOND

Mr. BOND. Mr. President, if there is no further business to come before the Senate, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate stand in adjournment under the previous order.

Mr. BOND

Mr. BOND. Mr. President, for the information of all Senators, the Senate will convene at 9:30 a.m. Then following 2 minutes of debate, a vote on the Wellstone amendment regarding atomic veterans will take place. Therefore, Senators can expect the first vote to take place at approximately 9:35 a.m. There are a few more amendments on the list that must be disposed of prior to final passage. Senators can expect votes throughout the morning. We will attempt to finish the bill by 11 o'clock in the morning.

Mr. BOND

Mr. BOND. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that following the vote on the Wellstone amendment Senator Kerry of Massachusetts be recognized to offer his amendment which is on the list.