Kit Bond

Mr. BOND

Mr. BOND. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Subcommittee on Terrorism, Technology, and Government Information of the Senate Committee on the Judiciary, be authorized to meet during a session of the Senate on Tuesday, September 26, 1995, at 10 a.m., in Senate Dirksen room 106, on ``Ruby Ridge Incident''.

Mr. BOND. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Finance be permitted to meet Tuesday, September 26, 1995, beginning at 9 a.m. in room SH-216, to conduct a mark up of spending recommendations for the budget reconciliation legislation.

Mr. BOND

Mr. BOND. I ask for an additional 2 minutes on our side.

Mr. BOND. Madam President, I yield myself 2 minutes. Madam President, my good friend from Arkansas asked to know who, with any knowledge of research or interest in scientific exploration, would support this. I ask unanimous consent to include statements from the Planetary Society, Bristol Myers-Squibb Pharmaceutical Research Institute, the American Medical Association, Mount Sinai Medical Association, Schering-Plough Research Institute, American Medical Women's Association, Baylor College of Medicine, Hauptman-Woodward Medical Research Institute, and the Multiple Sclerosis Association of America in the Record to answer the concerns of my colleague from Arkansas.

Mr. BOND. I also note that our very distinguished physician Member is present. I yield to the Senator from Tennessee.

Mr. BOND. I conclude my remarks by just saying that this country must invest in its future. A research laboratory in space can provide unimaginable benefits to the American people. The space station is the only facility where research can be conducted for long durations in microgravity. The unique environment has only begun to be explored scientifically. American taxpayers are certain to benefit just as they have from other basic research, probably in ways we can never expect. With that, Madam President, I yield the remaining time to our very distinguished colleague from Ohio, the former astronaut.

Mr. BOND. Madam President, how much time remains on each side?

Mr. BOND. Mr. President, I echo the generous words of my good friend and colleague, the ranking member, the Senator from Maryland. I too appreciate the very strong advocacy of the very able senior Senator from Hawaii. He has met with us and talked from his very heartfelt commitment to the veterans of Hawaii, and he has talked about the difficult situation that the veterans there face. I know how long and hard he has worked on the project. We were unable to put construction funding in fiscal year 1996 for any major new construction. As the Senator from Maryland pointed out, we fear that the offset would have taken away vitally needed funds for handling claims of veterans. Second, the committee agreed to a moratorium on new medical construction projects, as recommended by the General Accounting Office and the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee. The committee's decision was driven by budgetary concerns, as well as based on the fact that the VA is on the verge of a major reorganization which may result in significant changes to its facilities' needs, and we hope a better direction of care. The Hawaii project would require an additional $60 million in construction costs in the future, and another $100 million to operate when it opens. Having said that, we look forward to the Veterans' Administration reorganization plan. It is intended to change the VA into a managed care operation. As part of this reorganization, the VA must develop a long-term strategic plan for medical care, recognizing the change in demographics of veterans population, and a shrinking budget. The General Accounting Office has found that there are additional unused facilities. In the 1993 report, the General Accounting Office found that the Tripler Army Hospital--with which the Veterans' Administration has a sharing arrangement--had capacity and ``Demand for VA-sponsored care at Tripler has consistently been well below the 69- bed constructed capacity'' at Tripler. As a result of these things, I think the VA should look to increasing its sharing arrangement with Tripler and community facilities in order to meet the needs of Hawaii's veterans. I fully understand and I am sensitive to the Senator's concern that the VA is sending veterans to the west coast for treatment at the Palo Alto VA Hospital. I agree with the Senator that this is an extraordinary inconvenience. VA has in the past sent cardiology patients to the west coast when services were not available to Tripler Army Hospital because VA says it is less expensive than treating the veterans in a community hospital. I assure the Senator from Hawaii that I will work with him to see that the VA discontinues the practice and treats veterans in community facilities when services at Tripler are not available. I pledge to work with the Senator from Hawaii to ensure that excess capacity at Tripler may be used by veterans. I have offered an amendment, which I would like my distinguished colleague from Maryland to review to see if we [[Page S 14228]] may be able to agree on that amendment, and to see if this will meet the needs of the Senator from Hawaii.

Mr. BOND

Mr. BOND. Mr. President, we are willing to accept the amendment on this side.

Mr. BOND. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senator from Maryland be recognized for 2 minutes.

Mr. BOND. Mr. President, again, I commend the Senator from Arizona. I believe we are ready to proceed to the amendment.

Mr. BOND. I move to reconsider the vote.

Mr. BOND. Mr. President, now I ask unanimous consent that added to the list of relevant amendments be an amendment by Senator Baucus entitled ``Relevant.''

Mr. BOND. I appreciate the comments. The subcommittee recognizes the importance of this partnership and the need to keep the United States at the forefront of this important scientific and technological area. We are confident NSF will continue to view this facility as one of its ``crown jewels,'' and support it appropriately. I thank the Senators for their views. permits program

Mr. BOND. This has been a helpful and clarifying discussion. I support the suggestion of requiring a joint report to the appropriate congressional committees from the EPA and the Department of Energy on their activities related to improving the energy efficiency of energy supply and use, including a discussion of the statutory authorities under which they are conducted. I will ask that report language to this effect be inserted in the conference report on this bill.

Mr. BOND. I would be pleased to assist my colleague, the senior Senator from Mississippi.

Mr. BOND

Mr. BOND. Mr. President, not seeing the proponent of the amendment on the floor, I suggest that the time be equally divided, and I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. BOND. I move to reconsider the vote.

Mr. BOND. I yield 1 minute to the distinguished ranking member.

Mr. BOND

Mr. BOND. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate disagree to the House amendments, agree to a request for a conference with the House, and that the Chair be authorized to appoint conferees on the part of the Senate.

Mr. BOND

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

Mr. BOND. Could I see a copy of that? Will the Senator provide me a copy, please.

Mr. BOND. I will be happy to.

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, on behalf of the leader, it is my pleasure to announce for the information of all Senators that the Senate will resume consideration of the VA-HUD appropriations bill tomorrow morning at 9:15. Under the previous order, there will be four rollcall votes at approximately 9:20 a.m., with a brief period of time between each vote. The leader has indicated the Senate will complete action on this appropriations bill hopefully by early afternoon. Therefore, additional rollcall votes can be expected throughout Wednesday's session in order to finish action on the VA-HUD appropriations bill and to make progress on the Labor-HHS appropriations bill. [[Page S 14334]]