Kit Bond

Mr. BOND

Mr. BOND. I ask that the Senator from Florida be recognized for----

Mr. BOND. Two minutes equally divided, followed by the Senator from Colorado to be recognized for 10 minutes, followed by the Senator from Minnesota for 40 minutes.

Mr. BOND. No objection.

Mr. BOND. I thank my colleagues for their recommendations. This will be an important issue to address when we go to conference with the House. Lyons VA Medical Center

Mr. BOND. As the Senator from New Jersey is aware, the outcome of the conference cannot be forecast. However, I will give strong consideration to the funding for the Lyons VA Medical Center ambulatory care addition in conference.

Mr. BOND. Mr. President, I bring to the attention of my colleagues a provision in this measure which directs $40 million to begin the new plant genome initiative to help keep U.S. agriculture on top in the 21st century. The United States currently has a robust Federal investment in biotechnology in the human health field. While this remains a national priority, I think it is critical that we begin building on the common foundation in basic science to bring the power of biotechnology to bear in agriculture. We cannot sit idly and expect to remain the world's leader in agriculture production. U.S. agriculture currently exports a record $60 billion in agricultural products with a net trade surplus of $30 billion. This is about the long-term sustainability and competitiveness of U.S. agriculture which means that it is about meeting the world's growing nutritional needs, protecting U.S. jobs, and preserving the environment. The future of corn and other plant species is written in the genetic code and genome mapping will give us the precise locations of genes that control important traits that can be manipulated to make corn and other vital commodities more drought tolerant; freeze tolerant; tolerant to certain chemicals, weeds, or bugs; disease resistant; less toxic and more digestible which is critical because it could lower phosphorous and nitrogen levels in animal waste. This action incorporates the initial recommendations of the interagency working group on plant genomes [IWG] which was formed recently at my request to develop a scientific and administrative consensus on how best to accomplish this ambitious new effort to address the needs of 21st Century. The world population wants more food, less expensive food, more nutritious food, and they want it produced on less land in a more environment-friendly way. In this half century, we have seen U.S. agriculture double production by utilizing new technologies. Biotechnology will be the key in the next century to meet the needs of a world population which is expected to double in the next 30 years while protecting the world's natural resources. According to scientists, today, biotechnology makes it possible to enter the genetic world of plants to gain a greater degree of control over the selection of genes than was possible with traditional breeding. It is now possible to locate the genes for certain traits, cut them from one organism, and paste them into another, even if the target organism is of another species. In order to accomplish a genetic transfer between organisms using biotechnology, scientists have to be able to find the location of the genes that control a given characteristic, such as size, color, or resistance to disease. This new initiative seeks to provide a map of these locations so that scientists and producers can capitalize on this vast potential to benefit humankind and the environment. The original idea was introduced to me by the Missouri Corngrowers Association who presented a comprehensive business plan to map the corn genome devised by the National Corngrowers Association working in conjunction with private and public scientific experts. With this additional money provided in this legislation the initiative can be expanded beyond corn to include other economically significant crops such as rice, soybeans, and wheat. After consulting with a number of scientists in Missouri and elsewhere, I have concluded that this is the kind of research that will unlock the information which holds the promise of addressing dramatically the challenges facing the world in the coming century. My hat is off to those who argued convincingly that this blockbuster initiative is vital to address the economic, nutritional, and environmental needs of the next century and worthy of blockbuster support from the Federal Government. I also applaud the administration's IWG for their strong support in beginning to formate the most scientifically and administratively feasible way to proceed so that we can maximize the return on the taxpayers' investment. The IWG on plant genomes which was empaneled at my request to make recommendations on the plant genome initiative, consists of representatives from the Department of Agriculture, National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health, Department of Energy, Office of Science and Technology Policy and the Office of Management and Budget. In its recently-released report, while funding sources were not identified, the value of this initiative was validated and recommendations were advanced to provide for international cooperation, private-public partnerships, and open public access to all the information discovered. The money awarded under this act will be done so by the National Science Foundation on a competitive basis with peer review. Finally, I note that it is imperative that work continue to be done to integrate this initiative into the inter-agency effort that the IWG recommends. This means that the U.S. Department of Agriculture will have to work with us on coordinating their efforts with NSF and other agencies and they will have to provide recommendations on additional sources of funds for the effort within their budget. plant genome research

Mr. BOND. I congratulate Senator Mack for his work in developing a workable solution to the section 8 contract renewal problem, and also Secretary Cuomo for his willingness to work with the Senate. Needless to say, it is my hope that this issue still can be resolved in budget reconciliation or through the regular authorization process. However, if it becomes necessary, we will pursue this issue through the appropriations process. I look forward to working with the Banking Committee as we move forward and I will endeavor to include any changes that are based on agreements between your committee and HUD. It is likely that those agreements would be incorporated during the conference with the House. As a member of the Banking Committee during the last Congress and as a cosponsor of the bill, I appreciate the work that the authorizing committee has done on this legislation. Multifamily portfolio restructuring is an urgent priority. I look forward to continuing our work together in resolving the contract renewal crisis.

Mr. BOND. Thank you for your remarks. It is my full intention to work with you to improve the LIHPRHA program. It is this subcommittee's desire to ensure that a cost-effective approach to preserving our much needed housing is adequately funded. I am especially concerned about the detrimental effects of the loss of stock on areas of the country with low vacancy rates.

Mr. BOND. I thank the Senator from Ohio for his statement. I have listened very carefully to his remarks and I recognize his concern for the two programs he mentioned. As the Senator is aware, the VA-HUD Appropriations Subcommittee had to respond to a vast number of requests with a limited pool of resources to do it. The Senator from Ohio has raised very compelling arguments and I will carefully consider his request during the conference committee deliberations.

Mr. BOND. Mr. President, 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. All the same, I am impressed by the overall project, ranging from job training to child care to community service activities. 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. Mr. President, both Senators from New York have raised some important concerns regarding veterans health care in their State. Clearly, the new resource allocation system has forced some tough decisions in some networks. I believe this system is a vast improvement over previous allocation methodologies, and there are some encouraging signs that more veterans are being served in an appropriate manner. It may require some fine-tuning. That is why this committee has asked the General Accounting Office to undertake a review of the new allocation system, as I think the Senators from New York want, including what aspects of VERA may need improvement to accomplish equity and efficiency goals while maintaining quality. The GAO report is due to be completed, I tell the Senator from New York, by September 30. As of today, they seem to be on track toward that deadline. We will work to ensure that they meet it. I think the Veterans Administration should take GAO's analysis and recommendations into consideration in making its allocations in fiscal year 1998. In addition, a subsequent GAO report has been requested, which would look at quality of care in specific networks, including New York. Upon completion of this review, VA should incorporate any recommendations into the allocation methodology.

Mr. BOND. Madam President, I thank the distinguished Senator from Utah. To the notes he added from history, we might add that he, Christopher Columbus, was a very modern traveler. He did it all with borrowed money. I think that is one element that should be added. We are awaiting the arrival of Senator Gramm of Texas, who is, I think, going to be the last speaker on this side. For the information of my colleagues, how many minutes are remaining for debate on this measure?

Mr. BOND. I expect perhaps within 10 minutes we would be ready, or as soon as Senator Gramm has had the opportunity to speak, we would be ready to yield back the remainder of our time. I so inform the Senate.

Mr. BOND. I am delighted to yield 3 minutes for historical allusions from the Senator from Utah.

Mr. BOND. Mr. President, I think this should take care of the amendments for tonight. In the managers' amendment, the first item is a technical correction to EPA language related to cross-collateralization of State revolving funds. The language has been requested by the Environment and Public Works Committee. The second item, requested by Senators Mack and Graham, is to enable the State of Florida to use funds obligated and available to the State of Florida under title II of the Clean Water Act to make a grant to Monroe County, FL. This is budget neutral, and similar to other amendments on VA-HUD bills. Third, this would ensure that the Council on Environmental Quality use only those resources provided to its direct appropriations to support its activity. The fourth item deletes the prohibition on FEMA disaster relief expenditures relative to beaches. It is expected that the authorizing committee will be addressing this shortly. There is another amendment, a very important amendment, on page 16, which readjusts the section 8 contract renewal account from $9.2 billion to $8.666 billion, as provided by the Budget Committee, to put the bill in compliance with the budget resolution and the 602(b) allocation. The sixth amendment limits locality pay increases for VA employees found guilty of sexual harassment. The seventh amendment makes $1 million available in transition funds for the Neutral Buoyancy Simulator Program. The eighth amendment authorizes HUD to bar persons violating the Indian block grant housing program from participating in the program in the future. The other eight amendments are truly technical amendments. The HOPE Six account, the preservation account, McKinney homeless account, PHA account, account structure, demolition grants as part of HUD multifamily disposition authority, and grandfathering all existing home jurisdictions for home funding allocations. Mr. President, I ask my ranking member if there are any further items that she has.

Mr. BOND. Mr. President, I gather we are ready to move to adoption of the amendments.

Mr. BOND. I thank my colleague from Kansas for his comments. In a memorandum from the President to the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency that accompanied this rule, the President committed that no new controls on businesses would be imposed until the science behind this rulemaking is reviewed 5 years from now. The results of this research will help in that decision. This is why the bill almost doubles funding for particulate matter research over last year's level.

Mr. BOND. Mr. President, I appreciate my friend Senator D'Amato's kind words in support of the VA-HUD appropriations bill. The subcommittee is aware of the extensive community oriented programs of Long Island university. The University is to be commended to HUD as a model for successful involvement within the surrounding community and is worthy of consideration for funding under the Community Outreach Partnerships Center Program.

Mr. BOND. I thank Senator Alfonse D'Amato for his support of this VA- HUD Appropriations legislation and for our joint efforts to bring the benefits of homeownership to as many American families as possible. The subcommittee recognizes the local efforts of the Riverhead Corp. Revitalization and Preservation to increase access to homeownership on Long Island, where I know housing and development costs can often be prohibitive. I urge the Department of Housing and Urban Development to seriously consider any application for assistance on the part of the Riverhead Corp. under the Capacity Building program initiative. I too commend the Riverhead Corp. for its successful and innovative efforts to improve communities and enhance home-ownership opportunities. veterans programs

Mr. BOND. Mr. President, I thank my friend Senator Alfonse D'Amato for his support of our efforts to fund and improve the operation of existing HUD programs. The subcommittee is fully aware of the Bedford- Stuyvesant Restoration Corp. and its 30-year legacy of economic and cultural development in New York. I am confident that the Career Path initiative will receive a full and fair consideration from HUD in any future competition under the Youthbuild program. economic development initiative

Mr. BOND. Mr. President, let me very briefly express my sincere appreciation to my ranking member for her great cooperation. The expeditious way in which this measure was handled is something that is rather unusual for the VA-HUD bill. When she indicated she thought we could wrap this up today, I said I am a skeptic; I am from Missouri; I have to be shown. And thanks to the cooperation of all Senators we have been able to do it. I really appreciate the cooperation of Senators on both sides. Senator Mikulski has been very effective. I would like to add my thanks to Andy Givens, to Stacy Closson and David Bowers, and particular thanks to my staff. This is the first time that Jon Kamarck has gone through this as the chief clerk. It is quite an experience. We appreciate the work he has done. We are delighted to have the steady hand of Carrie Apostolou guiding us on EPA, veterans, FEMA matters with great skill, and Sarah Horrigan has been a great addition on the NASA and science accounts, and I very much appreciate all of that assistance. Mr. President, since I think many Members are anxious to get started on the vote, and I do not expect anyone will be disadvantaged, I will now ask unanimous consent that we begin the vote and I ask for the yeas and nays.

Mr. BOND

Mr. BOND. Mr. President, I now ask unanimous consent that there be a period for the transaction of morning business, with Senators permitted to speak for up to 5 minutes each.

Mr. BOND

Mr. BOND. Mr. President, I do not see any other Members seeking recognition. Therefore, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it stand in adjournment until the hour of 9 a.m. on Wednesday, July 23. I further ask that on Wednesday, immediately following the prayer, the routine requests through the morning hour be granted, the Senate proceed to a period of morning business until the hour of 11 a.m. with Senators permitted to speak for up to 5 minutes with the following exceptions: Senator Daschle or his designee, 60 minutes from 9 to 10 a.m., Senator Coverdell or his designee, 30 minutes from 10 to 10:30 a.m., Senator Thomas or Senator Mack, 30 minutes from 10:30 to 11 a.m.

Mr. BOND. I also ask consent that at 11 a.m. the Senate begin consideration of S. 1033, the Agriculture appropriations bill.

Mr. BOND

Mr. BOND. I now ask for its second reading and object to my own request on behalf of the other side of the aisle.