Conrad Burns

Mr. BURNS

Mr. BURNS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that reading of the amendment be dispensed with.

Mr. BURNS. We have to understand that in this fiscal year we are about $700 million under what we allocated and appropriated for military construction a year ago. Compared to 2 years ago, this expenditure is down $2 billion. And I think this committee has done a good job in trying to seek out those projects that are necessary. We have done it, and we have cut some of the fat out of this appropriations and put the money where we really think it is needed and did it in a way that stays within our budget and our allocation. So we are $2 billion less in expenditures than we were 2 years ago. So I think this committee has done a commendable job. I yield the floor.

Mr. BURNS. Mr. President, this calls for an additional 27 quality-of- life military construction projects throughout the Department of Defense. These projects are located in 22 States, and some overseas. And it is focused entirely on quality of life. If we have learned anything from our visitations to military installations, it is that we have not focused on such as health care centers, child care centers, recreation, and also housing for our enlisted, and barracks for our enlisted. It encompasses projects such as child care, dining facilities, modernization, replacement of barracks, and family housing. We did not focus on any particular State, geographic region or committee membership, but rather we tried to find worthy and meritorious projects that the services wanted and requested but we could not afford in the near term. The majority of these projects were not asked for by Members of the Senate. Rather, they are projects requested by the Army, the Navy, the Air Force and the Marine Corps. Every single one of these projects is contained in the Department of Defense Future Year Defense Plan or FYDP. Further, over half are in the early years of that plan. Mr. President, we offer this amendment, and I yield the floor to my colleague from Washington, Senator Murray. Mrs. MURRAY addressed the Chair.

Mr. BURNS. Mr. President, we offered this amendment earlier in the evening, and we gave our points as to why this addition of 22 new projects is being put on the defense authorization. These are quality-of-life projects. All of them stood the criteria of being added and requested by the Defense Department, and so we added them, because if there is one thing that we are noticing as we visit our bases around this country and around the world, it is a deteriorating quality of life and also the retention--keeping some of our most skilled military people in place. So in this bill, all these projects have passed the criteria. They are for child care centers and health care centers, living quarters, and dining facilities and recreation facilities that have been requested by our military. I thank the managers for accepting this, and I yield the floor. Mr. McCAIN addressed the Chair.

Mr. BURNS. Mr. President, I thank the ranking member of the committee and manager of this bill. If he hadn't developed those criteria, we could not have done what we have done in the last 2 years in taking $2 billion out of this and still provide for the needs of our military people on base. We could not have done that. So, there are a lot of people to thank for developing those criteria, for working with us, and for having the discipline to stay within those criteria, whenever we recommend these projects. So I thank my good friend from Michigan. Mr. WARNER addressed the Chair.

Mr. BURNS

Mr. BURNS. Mr. President, for the information of all Senators, when the Senate reconvenes tomorrow at 9:30 a.m., there will be a period for morning business until 10:10 a.m. Following morning business, the Senate will proceed to executive session to consider judicial nominations. It is, therefore, expected that up to two votes will occur on nominations at approximately 10:15 a.m. tomorrow. Following those votes, the Senate may consider any of the following items: the drug czar reauthorization bill, the clean needles bill, the reading excellence legislation, legislative branch appropriations bill, and any other legislative or executive items that may be cleared for action. Once again, Members are reminded there will be rollcall votes during Friday's session of the Senate, with the first vote expected approximately 10:15 a.m.

Mr. BURNS

Mr. BURNS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Energy Committee be discharged from further consideration of H.R. 1635, a bill to establish the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Program; further, that the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration, the bill be considered read the third time, passed, and the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table. I further ask that any statements related to the bill appear at this point in the Record.

Mr. BURNS

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

Mr. BURNS

Mr. BURNS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today it stand in adjournment until 9:30 a.m. on Friday, June 26. I further ask that on Friday, immediately following the prayer, the routine requests through the morning hour be granted, and that the Senate then begin a period of morning business until 10:10 a.m. with Senators permitted to speak for up to 5 minutes each with the following exceptions: Senator DeWine, for 10 minutes; Senator Hatch for 10 minutes; Senator Grams of Minnesota for 10 minutes; and, Senator Dorgan, or designee, for 10 minutes.

Mr. BURNS

Mr. BURNS. Mr. President, I send a bill to the desk and ask that it be read for the first time.

Mr. BURNS. I now ask for its second reading and will object to my own request.

Mr. BURNS

Mr. BURNS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of S. Con. Res. 106, submitted earlier by Senators Warner and Ford.

Mr. BURNS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the concurrent resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, and any statements relating to the resolution appear at this point in the Record.

Mr. BURNS

Mr. BURNS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that there be a period for the transaction of routine morning business until 11:30, with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each.

Mr. BURNS

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

Mr. BURNS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. BURNS

Mr. BURNS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate now turn to calendar No. 422, H.R. 4059, that all after the enacting clause be stricken, and the text of S. 2160 be inserted in lieu thereof, and the bill be amended by two conforming amendments at the desk. Amendments Nos. 3045 and 3046

Mr. BURNS. Mr. President, I am pleased to bring before the Senate the military construction appropriation bill and report for fiscal year 1999. This bill reflects the bipartisan approach that the ranking Member, Senator Murray of Washington, and I have tried to maintain regarding military construction and this subcommittee. It has been a pleasure to work with Senator Murray, her staff and the members of the subcommittee throughout this process. I very much appreciate all of their support. Mr. President, this bill was reported out of the full Appropriations Committee on June 11, by a unanimous vote of 27 to 0. The bill recommended by the full Committee on Appropriations is for $8,480,574,000. This is $696.5 million over the budget request. However, this bill provides $702 million less than what was appropriated last year--a reduction of 8.2 percent overall spending authority for the committee from the amount appropriated in fiscal year 1998. Further, more importantly, the bill reflects a reduction of 23 percent since fiscal year 1997--almost $2 billion less from just two years ago. We have sought to recommend a balanced bill to the Senate, and we believe it addresses key, military construction requirements for readiness, family housing, barracks, quality of life and the Guard & Reserve components. This bill honors the commitment we have to our Armed Forces. It helps ensure that the housing and infrastructure needs of the military are given proper recognition. Also, I am pleased to report to the Senate that the bill is within the committee's 302(b) budget allocation for both budget authority and outlays. Mr. President, this bill has some points I want to mention. We added $98 million above the budget request to provide better and more modern family housing for our service personnel and their families. On another quality of life measure, we have added substantially to the budget request for medical and hospital facilities. We have provided $708 million for some 46 barracks construction projects to provide single service members a more favorable living environment. The committee also fully funds the budget request of $97 million for funding 15 class I violation environmental projects. We also addressed the shortfalls that continue to plague our Reserve components. The Department continues to walk away from the total force concept. Recognizing this, we have again lent support by adding $267 million to the Guard and Reserve accounts. In each case, the funds will help satisfy essential mission, quality of life or readiness requirements. 22 percent of the bill, or $1.731 billion, is for downsizing defense infrastructure, or better known as the Base Closure and Realignment Program. This includes funding for the last two rounds of BRAC. Almost a quarter of all military construction dollars goes toward the base closure and realignment process. All of the projects that we have recommended are included in the Senate-passed version of the defense authorization bill. We will work very closely with the Armed Services Committee, as we put together a conference package for military construction. We have tried to accommodate the sizeable administration request for overseas projects in such places as Korea, Germany and the Middle East. 18 percent of the administration's budget request for military construction projects is for overseas areas. We have funded only the essential of those projects. There are many other issues that I could speak about at this time. I urge the Members of the Senate to support this bill and move it forward expeditiously. I would like to yield to my ranking member, Senator Murray.

Mr. BURNS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that H.R. 4059, as amended, be considered read the third time, and passed, and the motion to reconsider be laid on the table, all without further action or debate.

Mr. BURNS. Mr. President, I move that the Senate insist on its amendment, request a conference with the House, and the Chair be authorized to appoint conferees on the part of the Senate, all without further action or debate.

Mr. BURNS

Mr. BURNS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the majority leader, after the notification of the Democratic leader may turn to calendar No. 354, S. 1882, the higher education bill, and upon the reporting by the clerk, the chairman be immediately recognized to modify the committee-reported substitute. I further ask that there be 7 relevant first degree higher education amendments in order for each leader, with relevant second-degree amendments, and following the disposition of these amendments, the substitute be agreed to and the bill be advanced to third reading and the Labor Committee be immediately discharged from the House companion bill, H.R. 6. I further ask that the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration and all after the enacting clause be stricken, the text of S. 1882, as amended, be inserted, H.R. 6 be advanced to third reading and a vote occur on passage, all without any intervening action or debate. Finally, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate bill, S. 1882, be returned to the calendar.

Mr. BURNS

Mr. BURNS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate now proceed to the consideration of the following bills en bloc: Calendar No. 185, S. 1158; Calendar No. 195, S. 1159; Calendar No. 216, S. 439; Calendar No. 217, S. 846; Calendar No. 239, S. 799; Calendar No. 240, S. 814; Calendar No. 241, H.R. 960; Calendar No. 246, S. 538; Calendar No. 252, H.R. 651; Calendar No. 253, H.R. 652; Calendar No. 254, H.R. 848; Calendar No. 255, H.R. 1184; and, Calendar No. 256, H.R. 1217. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that any committee amendments be agreed to, except those that are modified in the amendments that are to be adopted. I also ask unanimous consent that amendment No. 3042 to S. 1158, amendment No. 3043 to S. 1159, and amendment No. 3044 to S. 538 be considered as read and agreed to, en bloc, the bills be read for the third time and passed, as amended, if amended, the motions to reconsider be laid upon the table, that any statements relating to the bills appear in the Record, with the above occurring en bloc.

Mr. BURNS

Mr. BURNS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the majority leader, after consultation with the minority leader, may proceed to the consideration of Calendar No. 208, S. 660, regarding University of Alaska public lands. I ask unanimous consent that upon the consideration of the bill, the committee substitute be agreed to and considered as original text for the purpose of further amendment. I further ask unanimous consent that the total debate time be limited to 6 hours equally divided between the chairman and the ranking member. I further ask that the only amendments in order be the following: two relevant amendments offered by Senator Bumpers; one relevant amendment offered by Senator Murkowski. I further ask consent that no second-degree amendments be in order, and following the expiration of time, and the disposition of any pending amendments, the bill be read a third time, and the Senate proceed to the vote on passage of the bill with no intervening action or debate.

Mr. BURNS

Mr. BURNS. Mr. President, I ask the Chair lay before the Senate a message from the House of Representatives on the bill (S. 731) to extend the legislative authority for construction of the National Peace Garden memorial, and for other purposes. The PRESIDING OFFICER laid before the Senate the following message from the House of Representatives: Resolved, That the bill from the Senate (S. 731) entitled ``An Act to extend the legislative authority for construction of the National Peace Garden memorial, and for other purposes.'', do pass with the following amendment: Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert: That notwithstanding section 10(b) of Public Law 99-652 and section 1(a) of Public Law 103-321, the legislative authority for the National Peace Garden shall extend through June 30, 2002.

Mr. BURNS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate concur in the amendment of the House.