Kit Bond

Mr. BOND

Mr. BOND. I move to reconsider the vote.

Mr. BOND. I object.

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

Mr. BOND. Although the Appropriations Subcommittee on VA, HUD, and Independent Agencies was able to increase the drinking water SRF for fiscal year 1999 to $800 million, it is impossible to expect the DWSRF to fund new projects where there is not a public health threat. The purpose of the DWSRF is to fund drinking water systems that are having difficulties complying with the Act, it is not intended to finance new drinking water systems for communities that are having difficulties distributing drinking water. fort harrison vamc sewer line

Mr. BOND. Yes, Senator you are correct in your understanding. Further, I appreciate the position of the Senator from Florida and do commend the City of Gainesville for its initiative. I would like to work with you to further explore ways to assist Gainesville in moving this partnership forward, an to address this further in final FY'99 legislation.

Mr. BOND. It is my understanding, now that the Line-item veto has been declared unconstitutional, that the VA can go ahead and spend the $900,000 that was appropriated in the FY 1998 VA/HUD Appropriations bill, and I strongly encourage the VA to do so, as expeditiously as is possible.

Mr. BOND. I appreciate the question from the Senator from Minnesota. I agree that there are greater housing needs in this country than can be met by this bill, though I believe the Committee has done a good job of trying to reconcile a lot of conflicting priorities. Naturally it would be the intent of this senator to maximize the number of Americans who are able to avail themselves of federal housing assistance.

Mr. BOND. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that this letter from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency be printed in the Record.

Mr. BOND. Will the Senator yield so that I may have a letter printed in the Record?

Mr. BOND. I ask this amendment be set aside and the Senator from Rhode Island be recognized to offer his amendment.

Mr. BOND. Mr. President, I do not see any other Senators wishing to speak on this amendment. Mr. President, I ask for the yeas and nays.

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

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

Mr. BOND. Mr. President, on behalf of Senator McCain, I send an amendment to the desk and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. BOND. I move to reconsider the vote.

Mr. BOND. No objection.

Mr. BOND. Thank you. Mr. President, I believe Senator Nickles was prepared to go, and I know that Senator Wellstone wants to go right after that. But I believe before we move forward, I need to yield to the distinguished minority leader who has to deal with this. It was our understanding from the discussions that Senator Nickles would move forward on a major amendment he has, and then I would hope we would be able to turn to Senator Wellstone. With that, let me yield to the minority leader. Mr. DASCHLE addressed the Chair.

Mr. BOND. I thank my colleague from Maryland.

Mr. BOND. I thank the Senator for bringing this to the attention of the Committee. I would hope EPA would carefully evaluate the situation and keep the Committee informed of its progress. senior citizens housing

Mr. BOND. Mr. President, I agree with the comments of my friend, Senator D'Amato, the Chairman of the Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs, which has jurisdiction over federal housing programs. In an effort to ensure that HUD's elderly housing programs are operating in an effective manner, the Subcommittee included a provision in the legislation to require a report on the unmet housing needs of the elderly and the condition of the existing elderly housing stock. In addition, HUD will report on new and innovative approaches to providing additional housing opportunities while reducing costs and increasing efficiency. It is the intent of the authors of this legislation that HUD's report on elderly housing shall be developed with meaningful input from a wide variety of interested parties, including government entities and housing organizations. In particular, the authors fully intend HUD to develop this study in partnership with housing and service providers. Furthermore, the Subcommittee is fully cognizant of the invaluable work of the Council of Senior Centers and Services in meeting the housing and service needs of the elderly in New York City. The Subcommittee strongly encourages HUD to solicit the input and advice of the Council in the development of this study. I thank Senator D'Amato for his clarifying remarks and I look forward to receiving this much-anticipated HUD report on elderly housing. Tornado Preparedness Pilot Program in South Dakota

Mr. BOND. Again, I agree with my friend from Oklahoma. I am of the opinion that the VA can and should spend the $900,000 for the national veterans cemetery in Oklahoma. I do want to say to my friend and colleague from Oklahoma, that it is my understanding that the Administration is still debating how to move forward on this issue--the line item veto being declared unconstitutional. If for some reason, the Administration determines that the money is not available to be spent in FY 1998, or does not reach a decision regarding the final disposition of these funds by the time this bill goes to Conference I, as Chairman of this subcommittee will do everything I can to make sure that the $900,000 for the final planning and design stage of the new national veterans cemetery is included in the FY 99 Conference Report so that this important project can move forward in FY 1999.

Mr. BOND. The amendment has been cleared on both sides. It is a sense-of-the-Senate resolution that it should be the goal of the Veterans' Administration to serve all veterans at health care facilities within 250 miles of their home. It sounds like a very reasonable proposal. I urge its adoption.

Mr. BOND

Mr. BOND. Mr. President, I rise to commend the chairman and ranking member for the excellent job that has been done on the Internal Revenue Service Restructuring and Reform Act. The conferees have taken very good ideas and have made the strongest possible bill.

Mr. BOND. I thank the Chair. Mr. President, I have a loud voice, but not that loud, and I appreciate the chance to share my thoughts with my colleagues. As I was saying, this measure is very important for the citizens of this country, all across the Nation. We have not only seen and heard of the abuses that were brought out before the Finance Committee, but I think each one of us in our home States has heard the concerns expressed. This is the time now for us to move forward, for the Senate to add its voice and pass this bill for America's taxpayers. This is a historic opportunity to make some far-reaching changes in the operation of the Internal Revenue Service to strengthen taxpayers' rights. I believe the conferees have delivered, and it is now up to us to deliver. For too long, taxpayers have had to put up with poor service from the IRS, often to the tune of larger tax bills because of interest and penalties that accrue during the lengthy delays caused by the IRS in settling the disputes. For my part, I have asked people across Missouri for their suggestions on how to fix the IRS and protect taxpayers' rights. And as chairman of the Committee on Small Business, I have also asked small businesses to give me their ideas. We have had hundreds of people who have taken the time and made the effort to share their views with us. I introduced a measure, called Putting Taxpayers First, in February. In that measure, we proposed things that are included in this conference report: No. 1, a requirement that the IRS restructure its operations to serve specific groups of taxpayers with similar needs, like individuals, small businesses, the self-employed, and corporations; No. 2, greater due process protections for taxpayers to guard against unreasonable seizures by the IRS; No. 3, expansion of the current attorney-client privilege of confidentiality to cover accountants and other tax practitioners who provide tax advice; No. 4, reform of the penalty and interest rules so they do not stand in the way of taxpayers who try to settle their accounts and get on with their lives; No. 5, clarification that a taxpayer may recover attorney's fees and costs when the IRS discloses information about the taxpayer without permission and when an IRS employee improperly browses a taxpayer's records. In addition, I am delighted to see: A requirement that the IRS establish an independent appeals process for taxpayers; a prohibition against the IRS contacting third parties, such as a business's customers or suppliers, without notifying the taxpayer first; improvements to the offer-in-compromise program; and prohibition on communications between an appeals officer and the IRS auditor or collection agent handling the case without permitting the taxpayer to be present. These are some of the abuses that we can and we will deal with in this bill. During the floor consideration in the Senate, I worked with Senator Moseley-Braun on an amendment which would provide clear direction that the IRS expansion of electronic filing of tax and information returns will be voluntary and not another Government mandate on the taxpayers of America. I am sorry that the conference agreement omitted this important provision, but rest assured that we will be keeping a careful eye on the IRS to ensure that Americans use electronic filing because it is simple, convenient, and easy to do so, not because they are forced to do so. While our ultimate goal must be simpler and less burdensome tax law, taxpayers need help today when dealing with the IRS. Like the bill introduced earlier this year, the IRS Restructuring and Reform Act provides that help by putting America's taxpayers first. Mr. President, I appreciate the good work and the effort that has gone into this, the many people who have taken a lead in sponsorship of this, and the work that has been done in the committees. I know that the big challenge will lie ahead of us in the next couple years to embark upon a full-fledged reform of the IRS Code. That is the next step. But today we are taking the very first step. When I first argued for this bill, and pointed out that common criminals had more rights than taxpayers, my colleague from Texas asked if we really wanted to treat taxpayers like common criminals. And the answer is, we certainly do not want to treat them worse. This at least gives the American taxpayers the rights that all citizens should have in the United States. And we believe that it will end abuses in the IRS without curtailing the IRS' ability--an important responsibility--to collect the taxes that are owed. I commend the measure, and I thank the leaders on both sides. I hope that we can adopt the measure and send it to the President without further delay or distraction. I yield the floor and thank the Chair. Mr. CRAIG addressed the Chair.

Mr. BOND

Mr. BOND. Mr. President, I wish to announce that the Committee on Small Business will hold a hearing entitled ``Home Health Care: Can Small Agencies Survive New Regulations?'' The hearing will be held on Wednesday, July 15, 1998, beginning at 10:00 a.m. in room 428A of the Russell Senate Office Building. For further information, please contact Suey Howe at 224-5175. committee on energy and natural resources