Kit Bond

Mr. BOND

Mr. BOND. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the amendment be considered as read and agreed to, the bill be deemed read a third time, the Senate then immediately proceed to Calendar No. 445, H.R. 3060; further, that all after the enacting clause be stricken and the text of S. 1645 be inserted in lieu thereof, the bill then be deemed read a third time and passed, as amended, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, and that any statements relating to the bill be placed at the appropriate place in the Record.

Mr. BOND. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that S. 1645 be placed back on the calendar.

Mr. BOND

Mr. BOND. The Senator from Alaska can count on any assistance I may be able to provide as he seeks a solution of this problem for his affected constituents.

Mr. BOND. I assure the Senator from Wisconsin that I will certainly give this project every consideration in conference. Further, there are many additional options available for funding important projects such as this. For example, it is not unusual for EPA to fund projects through the reprogramming of funds from other programs or lower priority projects.

Mr. BOND. I thank the Senator from Oklahoma for raising the importance of this research facility. The legislation under consideration does not specifically reference the Kerr laboratory although the importance of its research is fundamental to many of the programs at the Environmental Protection Agency. It is my understanding that the purpose of the Kerr Laboratory is to develop the knowledge and technology needed to protect the United States' ground water supplies and conduct research to develop better ways to clean up existing ground water contamination. This research is important for the recently reauthorized Safe Drinking Water Act and the Superfund Program.

Mr. BOND. I thank the Senator from Wisconsin for raising the ongoing concerns of the Sokaogon Chippewa community, and I concur with the Senator that their efforts to be proactive in assessing the potential efforts of mining on their lands are worthwhile and laudable.

Mr. BOND. I appreciate the remarks of the Senator from Florida and commend him and others working on this to responsibly plan for our Nation's future water supply needs. I share his concerns and look forward to working with him. I would note that the VA/HUD bill provides $1.275 billion for drinking water State revolving funds, providing much needed assistance to every State for such meritorious projects as those raised by the Senator from Florida. upper midwest aeronautics consortium

Mr. BOND. We would be happy to engage in a colloquy with the Senator on this matter.

Mr. BOND. The Senator from North Dakota is correct. UMAC can seek funding from any available sources within NASA, and is not limited to the grant solicitation program mentioned in the Committee report.

Mr. BOND. I have no objection to the House report language.

Mr. BOND. I thank the Senator from Idaho for raising this important point. The EPA has indicated to our committee that it is highly concerned about the health effects of particulates. We have met the EPA's request for funding for this program, and included $18.8 million. These funds are for health effects research, exposure research, improving monitoring technologies, modeling studies, and other key requirements.

Mr. BOND. I agree that we should try to identify funds to keep the management conference in operation. sarasota bay national estuary program

Mr. BOND. I thank the Senator from Florida for bringing this important issue to the subcommittee's attention and appreciate his kind words. We are glad to be able to help with this in cooperation with Senator Chafee and the Committee on Environment and Public Works. I concur that EPA should provide adequate support to the NEP, and request a reprogramming if necessary.

Mr. BOND. It is my understanding that the court order only requires the agency to make a final decision on whether to revise the current ambient air standard for particulates, but the order does not require the agency to promulgate a new standard.

Mr. BOND. Yes; the agency has informed me that it will be using the 1997 appropriation for both increased health effects research and, in addition, more than $2 million will be for initiating an emissions monitoring program. In addition, it is my understanding EPA will be requesting additional funds for monitoring in its fiscal year 1998 budget submission. It is my expectation that the agency will request the funds necessary to establish a thorough and scientifically defensible monitoring program. I concur that EPA should send us a description of their proposed comprehensive monitoring program and a budget proposal. I thank my colleagues, and I agree with my colleagues that EPA should seriously consider a no change option as part of its proposed decision due by November 29. However, I would add that in view of the potential for harm to the public from particulates, a prudent option for the November deadline would be to reaffirm the current ambient air standard--and thus not disrupt ongoing programs--while moving expeditiously to implement a sound research agenda upon which to base future decisions. Mr. President, I am also concerned that EPA must pay closer attention to the potential adverse impacts of changes to the particulates standard on small businesses. I am aware that EPA is taking the position that changes to the particulates standard do not impact small business in terms of implicating the Regulatory Flexibility Act, because the EPA's standards do not create burdens on small business, it is the State implementation plan. As a primary author of the 1996 amendments to the Regulatory Flexibility Act, I strongly disagree with the agency's interpretation, and believe that EPA agency should fully comply with the requirements imposed on Federal agencies by that act. nasa work force restructuring report

Mr. BOND. I would add my recommendation that NASA develop a work force restructuring plan to be submitted with the agency's fiscal year 1998 budget. This document should provide NASA's current plan for reaching the fiscal year 2000 FTE figure. In developing this plan, the Administrator shall consult with the Secretary of Labor, appropriate representatives of local and national collective bargaining units of individuals employed at NASA, appropriate representatives of agencies of State and local government, appropriate representatives of State and local institutions of higher education, and appropriate representatives of community groups affected by the restructuring plan.

Mr. BOND. Mr. President, I believe that concludes the work on the VA- HUD bill for the evening.

Mr. BOND

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

Mr. BOND

Mr. BOND. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources be granted permission to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, September 4, 1996, for purposes of conducting a full committee hearing which is scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m. The purpose of this hearing is to consider S. 1678, to abolish the Department of Energy, and for other purposes.

Mr. BOND. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on the Judiciary be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, September 4, 1996, at 11:30 a.m., to hold an executive business meeting.

Mr. BOND

Mr. BOND. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of H.R. 740.

Mr. BOND

Mr. BOND. Mr. President, for the information of all Members, tomorrow morning following the 30 minutes of debate there will be two consecutive rollcall votes beginning at approximately 10 a.m. with the first vote on the military construction appropriations conference report to be followed by a vote on the District of Columbia appropriations conference report. Following those votes the Senate will resume the VA-HUD appropriations bill. All Senators can expect additional votes on Thursday as we attempt to and I hope actually complete action on the bill.

Mr. BOND

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

Mr. BOND

Mr. BOND. Mr. President, I understand that S. 2053 introduced today by Senator Grassley is at the desk and I ask for its first reading.

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