Kit Bond

Mr. BOND

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

Mr. BOND. Mr. President, this amendment has been cleared on both sides. There had been great concern in the Chicago area about the realignment of the VA facilities. This measure simply assures appropriate procedures are followed so all parties involved have an opportunity to express themselves. This has been a longstanding concern with the VA. We do believe they should continue to move forward, as we said before, in closing unneeded facilities. But in doing so, it is vitally important they go through the proper processes which allow those affected to have a say and a stake in the process.

Mr. BOND. Mr. President, I move to reconsider the vote.

Mr. BOND. Mr. President, we thank the Senators from Illinois for working with us on what we think is a very positive step forward that will allow the VA to perhaps shift resources to serve veterans better. We are very pleased we could fashion an appropriate format for developing criteria to make sure the process is done in a fair and equitable manner. I see the Senator from Ohio. I believe he has two amendments to offer.

Mr. BOND. Mr. President, I commend the Senator from Ohio on his staunch support and advocacy of the programs at the Glenn Space Center. Because of his very strong advocacy, we included funds for the future launch program and other things that we think are vital to the long- term interests of NASA. We expect those programs will go forward. My view is, I am willing to accept this amendment and the additional amendment he proposes to ensure that NASA preserves the integrity of the mission of the Glenn Space Center. Having said that, I have some problems. The amendment, if finally adopted into law, would be too constraining and might result in unintended consequences. We need to call NASA's attention to these problems but also give them needed flexibility that might not be there. That said, I expect NASA to operate in good faith in maintaining the programs at the Glenn Space Center. This is critical. I expect NASA can resolve the concerns of Senator DeWine so these provisions can be dropped in conference. I might note for my colleagues, the Senate report for NASA already states that ``each NASA center be vested with specific responsibilities and activities.'' I think we are all moving in the same direction. I believe the Senator's admonitions included in this amendment that will be accepted here should suffice. So I urge we accept the amendment. I will urge we accept the second amendment as well.

Mr. BOND. I think we are ready to vote on the amendment.

Mr. BOND. Mr. President, I move to reconsider the vote.

Mr. BOND. With the same caveat added on the first amendment, this side is willing to accept the amendment. I commend the Senator for dealing with this very real concern, and I trust this will send the appropriate message to NASA. THE PRESIDING OFFICER. If there be no further debate, the question is on agreeing to the amendment.

Mr. BOND. Mr. President, I move to reconsider the vote.

Mr. BOND. Mr. President, I thank the Senator from New York for his very moving comments. I agree with him that we need more housing. I stated earlier my concerns that section 8 is not providing more housing. This is a long-term problem on which we must work. There are many challenges in the section 8 program, not the least of which is, as I said earlier, being able to continue the section 8 assistance for those who have it. So I will not pursue this discussion any longer. We will have an opportunity to do so tomorrow. I believe we are winding up. Mr. President, I do have one other amendment I would like to offer which simply calls on the GAO to conduct a study of possible revisions to the capital structure of the Federal Home Loan Bank System and report to the Congress not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this act. I am sure everybody is looking forward to having another study from GAO. Amendment No. 1786 I send this amendment to the desk and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. BOND. It is a simple amendment. I urge the adoption of the amendment.

Mr. BOND. I thank the Senator. I ask unanimous consent the amendment be agreed to.

Mr. BOND. I move to reconsider the vote.

Mr. BOND. Mr. President, I share the Senator's hope. It does appear there will not be any further business on this bill tonight. We are awaiting the final OK from the leadership. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. BOND. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. BOND. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that all remaining first-degree amendments, other than one for each leader and a manager's package and a measure relating to Y2K by Senators Dodd and Bennett, to the HUD-VA appropriations bill be relevant or sense-of-the-Senate language. I further ask unanimous consent that all second-degree amendments be relevant to the first-degree amendment they propose to amend.

Mr. BOND. Mr. President, I thank my good friend from Hawaii for his perceptive comments. We will be happy to discuss those issues. We appreciate the insights and look forward to working with him to attempt to deal with the specific problems he finds in his beautiful State. I do appreciate his coming to share with us his views.

Mr. BOND. The Senator is correct. The language cited by the Senator reflects the agreement reached on this issue during the conference last year. Previously funded, ongoing projects and voluntary initiatives can go forward. We expect the agency to spend the money in an effective and appropriate manner.

Mr. BOND. Mr. President, I thank my friends from Florida for their comments and I appreciate their support for the facility. Should this matter come before the conference, you can be assured I will give it due consideration. I thank my friends for bringing this matter to my attention.

Mr. BOND. Mr. President, I appreciate the comments of my friend from Florida and understand the importance of this project to his State. I will do all I can with my colleagues in the House to secure funding for this project during the conference.

Mr. BOND. Mr. President, I thank my friend from Florida for his comments and understand the merits of this project. I would like to assure both my colleagues that I will do my best to work with the other members of the conference to provide funding for this project.

Mr. BOND. Mr. President, I thank my friends from Florida for their comments and I am familiar with this project from previous years. If an opportunity arises in the conference to fund it, I will work with my colleagues from the House to do so. I thank my friends for bringing this matter to my attention.

Mr. BOND. I recognize that we have provided NESCAUM this support for many years. The same can be said for several entities that do not receive line-item funding in this year's legislation. However, recognizing the broad support for NESCAUM's activities from a number of states, I concur in supporting encouraging EPA that it seek to provide NESCAUM with $300,000 of general support consistent with previous years.

Mr. BOND

Mr. BOND. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate now proceed to a period of morning business, with Senators permitted to speak for up to 10 minutes each.

Mr. BOND

Mr. BOND. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Rules and Administration be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, September 22, 1999 at 9:00 a.m. to mark up S. Res. 172, a resolution to establish a special committee of the Senate to address the cultural crisis facing America.