Kit Bond

Mr. BOND

Mr. BOND. Madam President, the Burns amendment is very important. There was a question whether it was going to be included in the NASA reauthorization. If the NASA reauthorization does move, if that can move, then we would drop the amendment in conference to allow it to be included in the overall NASA reauthorization, but we think it is vitally important for the development of the X-33 that the indemnification be included. Senator Mikulski.

Mr. BOND. We are ready to vote.

Mr. BOND. Madam President, I recall the effort of my colleague on behalf of his constituents in Lorain, and am happy that we were able to be of some assistance.

Mr. BOND. Mr. President, as already indicated, we support NASA very strongly. We have added $150 million over that which the people who run the program have requested. We risk disrupting the compromise that has been made on this bill. In order to pass this bill and to get it signed, we have reached, I think, a good accommodation with the limited dollars. If this tabling motion does not succeed, I will have to raise the Budget Act point of order because the money that is spent out under this will be above our outlay ceiling. Therefore, I urge my colleagues to join me in voting to table the amendment.

Mr. BOND. Mr. President, I yield 30 seconds to my colleague from Maryland.

Mr. BOND. The bill allows HUD to direct 25% of the funds allocated for the HUD Section 811 toward tenant-based rental assistance for people with disabilities--$48.5 million. Congress has allowed HUD to transfer these funds for ``mainstream'' vouchers and certificates in both FY 1997 and FY 1998. In addition, the bill grants HUD specific waiver authority with respect to existing programmatic requirements under Section 811. This limited waiver authority is intended to assist HUD in furthering the overall goals of the 811 program by increasing housing opportunities for persons with the most severe disabilities.

Mr. BOND. I agree. As my colleague knows, non-profit organizations that traditionally serve persons with severe mental and physical disabilities are a critical part of the success of the section 811 program. Any federal programs intended to meet the housing needs of people with mental and physical disabilities should draw in the expertise of organizations that have experience in providing supports and services to adults with severe disabilities. By contrast, the current ``mainstream'' voucher and certificate program does not currently consider this very important issue in the allocation of certificates and vouchers. Housing authorities should be encouraged to increase their coordination with non-profit organizations and the awarding of the vouchers and certificates should be based, in part, on that factor.

Mr. BOND. Madam President--I would like to take some time to talk about the Clean Water and Safe Drinking Water Revolving Loan Funds. First, let me say that the Clean Water Act has been one of our most successful environmental statues. Our success is measurable and indisputable. We must ensure that the progress made continues. Enacted in 1972--we have seen impressive gains in our water quality protection. Most of us are familiar with the Cuyahoga River fires. We are all familiar with rivers and streams that we couldn't let our kids swim or fish in. Here in Washington, Lyndon Johnson called the Potomac River a ``national disgrace''. The Clean Water Act, and more importantly, with the cooperation and dedication of the American people and industry, the majority of our rivers, lakes, and streams are fishable and swimmable. But, we still have a ways to go. Why? One reason is that statistics show that beaches, rivers, and lakes are the number one vocation choice for Americans. Whether people go to swim, boat, or one of my favorite past-times--fish, keeping our rivers, lakes, beaches, and streams clean is imperative for public health, the environment and the economy. In addition, it has already been ``shown'' that improving the water quality of the Potomac, or the Lehigh in Pennsylvania, or the Shenandoah in West Virginia is not just an environmental and public health success, but an economic one as well. According to EPA's 1999 Annual Plan Request, ``Safe drinking water is the first line of defense in protecting human health.'' In addition, ``Safe drinking water is essential to human health and contaminated drinking water can cause illness and even death, and exposure to contaminated drinking water poses a special risk to such populations as children and the elderly.'' Today, we have close to 58,000 community water systems that are providing drinking water for 80 million households. According to statistics this country has over 3.5 million miles of rivers and streams, 41 million acres of lakes, and 58,000 miles of ocean shoreline. Cleaning up our nation's wastewater and assuring safe drinking water should be, must be, at the top of our environmental priority list. Putting our resources to work where the risks are known and the benefits--both environmental and public health--are real and tangible! Setting priorities and making progress. Protecting public health and the environment. Investing our taxpayer dollars the right way. That is what investing in our water infrastructure is about. Mr. President, despite the fact that the Administration has claimed clean water as a top priority, the President proposed a reduction of $275 million in the Clean Water and Drinking Water Revolving Loan Funds for fiscal year 1999. As Chairman of this Subcommittee, I have made a priority of state revolving funds for water infrastructure financing--providing over $6 billion for SRFs since becoming chairman. I know. Senator Mikulski knows. More importantly, this Congress has ``shown'' that the state revolving funds are critical for ensuring the nation's water is protected and safe drinking water is provided to commities across the country. The state revolving funds stretch the federal dollar significantly through leveraging and cost-sharing features, helping to meet the very large need for water infrastructure financing. The $14.3 billion federal investment into the clean water SRF has generated an additional $11.4 billion for wastewater projects, including $8.7 billion in net leveraged bond proceeds. This loan pool of $25 billion has resulted in almost 6,000 project loans! This is a very substantial and gratifying return on the federal investment. According to EPA, the SRF program buys up to 4 times more environmental protection for the federal dollar than traditional one- time grants over a 20-year period. EPA has identified the national need for infrastructure financing at over $130 billion just in the wastewater area alone. EPA has identified over $135 billion in drinking water infrastructure needs. Mr. President--there are two glaring reasons of why investment in our water infrastructure is imperative. First are tuberculated drinking water pipes. Let me give you the definition of ``tubercle.'' Tubercle is a ``small, rounded prominence or process, such as a wartlike excrescence on the roots of some leguminous plants.'' In other words, there is something growing. Too many drinking water pipes providing water to communities--water that comes out of your faucet in your kitchen sink and bathtub--are tuberculated. But it is rare that anyone ever thinks about it. Too often no thought is given to the pipes until we become sick or there is an outbreak in the community. The second reason is a sanitary sewer overflow. A sanitary sewer overflow is a release of raw sewage often into lakes, rivers, and streams. We still have instances of raw sewerage overflowing into our lakes. As I mentioned earlier, EPA has estimated over $130 billion in wastewater needs. Continued improvements to our wastewater infrastructure will help us conquer the problem. For example, according to the EPA, improved sewage treatment is recognized as the single biggest factor in the Potomac River's restoration. Our wastewater infrastructure, like our drinking water infrastructure, is out of sight. We forget that in some cases we have century-old facilities. All too often, we have facilities that have not been able to keep in step with the population growth and treatment needs. Like our nation's highways, in many areas our water infrastructure has well exceeded its design life. Add to the expired design life, increased capacity and increased federal and state regulatory requirements and we have a potentially disastrous situation. I was reading a brochure about clean water given to me by the National Utility Contractors and came across the following: Before you build homes, establish businesses, or pave the streets, a dependable wastewater treatment system must be in place. Way too often we tend to forget this basic fact. Mr. President, I have made, and will continue to make, a commitment in protecting our nation's water. I look forward to continuing to work with my colleagues in the House and Senate to ensure that our progress continues in protecting public health and that real environmental gains and progress are made. kyoto protocol

Mr. BOND. First, I thank my colleague from Alaska for bringing this issue to the attention of this body. I agree that this is an issue of concern. There are no funds currently provided to EPA, nor any funds to be provided in this bill for fiscal year 1999 for the issuance of federal regulations designed solely for the purpose of Kyoto Protocol implementation.

Mr. BOND. No, not at all. I would say to my friend from West Virginia that all we are asking here is for a more comprehensive explanation by the EPA of the components of its energy and environment programs, any justifications for funding increases, and a clear definition of how these programs are justified by the EPA's goals and objectives independent of the implementation of the Kyoto Protocol.

Mr. BOND. The Senator is correct. The language in the report requires full compliance with the Government Performance and Results Act.

Mr. BOND. I appreciate the remarks of my colleagues from Illinois, and I understand the longtime importance of this pollution control project to you and your constituents. You can be sure I will work to include the funding for this project during conference of the VA-HUD Appropriations bill. Mercury Emissions

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

Mr. BOND. I appreciate the Senator's continuing efforts to keep me apprised of developments on the St. Joseph's conversion effort. I regret that our difficult funding problems prevented the subcommittee from allocating funding for this initiative, and I assure my friend that I will do all that I can to accommodate his request in the upcoming conference.

Mr. BOND. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize Ozanam in Kansas City, Missouri for its service to the community. For fifty years, Ozanam has been helping children and families in turmoil. Ozanam facility and staff help children reach their full potential and become productive members of society. Ozanam began in the home of Mr. Al Allen, a Catholic Welfare Staff member, who after noticing the lack of help for emotionally disturbed adolescents, took it upon himself to being six boys into his own home to give them long-term care, education and guidance. However, in just a year's short time, the need for a larger facility became apparent. Presently, the agency occupies 95 acres including two dormitories, a campus group home, a special education center that contains vocational training classrooms, indoor and outdoor recreation facilities and a spiritual life center. During its existence, Ozanam has had some outstanding staff and administration to help the more than 4,000 children who have stayed there. Paul Gemeinhardt, President, Judith Hart, Senior Vice President of Development and Doug Zimmerman, Senior Vice President of Agency Operations, deserve special recognition for their undying commitment and service to Ozanam. I commend the staff of Ozanam for their untiring dedication to helping children and their families in their time of need. I join the many in Missouri who thank Ozanam for its good work and continuing efforts to better the community. Congratulations for fifty years of service.

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

Mr. BOND. Madam President, there are only two amendments remaining. I believe we have worked out accommodations on the two----

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

Mr. BOND. I understand the Senator from Ohio's concerns, and commend him for his efforts to seek a positive solution. As I am sure he well knows, this has been a difficult year for community development projects, such as the one he has discussed. Nonetheless, I am impressed by the overall project and their commitment to continuing research. I will give the Senator's request all due consideration as we go to conference on this bill. Is that satisfactory to the Senator?

Mr. BOND. Madam President, I express appreciation to the leadership on both sides--the majority leader and the minority leader--for enabling us to get back on this bill and move it through. I thank all Senators for their accommodations and for working with us to get a very challenging and interesting bill finished. I express particular appreciation to Senator Mikulski. She has been an absolutely invaluable ally in making accommodations and working out reasonable agreements on this bill. Last night she said her clear, cogent, and charismatic comments, which helped us move the bill forward in an expeditious fashion. I express thanks to her very able staff, Andy Givens, David Bowers, and Bertha Lopez. I thank my staff, John Kamarck and Carolyn Apostolou, as well as members of my personal staff who helped on the bill. We look forward to taking this measure to conference and working on it in the most efficient and effective way possible. I appreciate the assistance of all those who stayed with us last night. Their sense of humor continued into the small hours of the morning, and I am most grateful for that. Ms. MIKULSKI addressed the Chair.

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

Mr. BOND. Madam President, I now yield to the Senator from Alaska. Amendment No. 3200

Mr. BOND. Mr. President, in order to facilitate the discussions on two of the remaining amendments, I ask unanimous consent that the vote to follow the vote on the Nickles amendment be the Sessions amendment.

Mr. BOND. Mr. President, I move to table the amendment, and I ask for the yeas and nays.

Mr. BOND. Yes, Senator Burns, I do share your concern on this issue.