Ben Campbell

Mr. CAMPBELL

Mr. CAMPBELL. Mr. President, I understand there are two bills at the desk due for a second reading.

Mr. CAMPBELL

Mr. CAMPBELL. Mr. President, I would like to announce that the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs will meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, March 22, 2000, at 9:30 a.m. to conduct a hearing on the nomination of Mr. Thomas N. Slonaker to be Special Trustee for American Indians. The hearing will be held in the committee room, 485 Russell Senate Building. The hearing will be preceded by a business meeting to mark up S. 1586, Indian Land Consolidation and S. 1315, Oil and Gas Leases on Navajo Allotted Lands. Those wishing additional information may contact committee staff at 202/224-2251. SUBCOMMITTEE ON FORESTRY, conservation, AND rural revitalization

Mr. CAMPBELL. Mr. President, I would like to announce that the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs will meet during the session of the Senate of Tuesday, March 21, 2000, at 10:30 a.m. to conduct a hearing on S. 2102, a bill to establish a permanent homeland for the Timbisha Shoshone. The hearing will be held in the committee room, 485 Russell Senate Building. Those wishing additional information may contact committee staff at 202/224-2251. committee on rules and administration

Mr. CAMPBELL. Mr. President, I would like to announce that the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs will meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, March 29, 2000, at 2:30 p.m. to mark up S. 1507, Native American Alcohol and Substance Abuse Program Consolidation Act of 1999, and S. 1509, Indian Employment, Training and Related Services Demonstration Act Amendments of 1999; followed by a hearing on S. 1967, to make technical corrections to the status of certain land held in trust for the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians. The hearing will be held in the Committee room, 485 Russell Senate Building. Committee on Energy and Natural Resources

Mr. CAMPBELL

Mr. CAMPBELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. CAMPBELL. Mr. President, today I am introducing the Federal Emergency Management Agency Buy American Compliance Act, legislation which would apply the requirements of the Buy American Act to non- emergency Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) assistance payments. The Buy American Act was designed to provide a preference to American businesses in the federal procurement process. Currently, when FEMA awards grants for non-emergency projects, the agency itself adheres to the requirements of the Buy American Act. However, when FEMA awards taxpayer money to state or local entities in the form grants, those entities are not similarly required to comply with the Buy American Act's standards. This disparity needs to be changed. Mr. President, the Buy American Act's requirements should be applied to all FEMA non-emergency grants. It should not make a difference whether FEMA is directly spending federal tax dollars or passing those same federal tax dollars on to states or local governments for them to spend. The Buy American Act's standards should apply to all federal dollars distributed by FEMA for non-emergency situations, no matter who is spending it. It is only right that we ensure that the American people's federal tax dollars are spent according to the Buy American Act. The Buy American Act is necessary to protect American firms from unfair competition from foreign corporations. Many of the nations we trade with have significantly lower labor costs than the United States. Without the safeguard provided by the Buy American Act foreign companies are able to underbid American companies on U.S. government contracts. It is important to understand the Buy American Act's criteria for determining whether a product is foreign or domestic. The nation where the corporation is headquartered is irrelevant--the Buy American Act is focused upon the origin of the materials used in the construction project. In order to be considered an American product, the product in question has to fulfill the following two criteria; first; the product must be manufactured in the United States, and second; the cost of the components manufactured in the United States must constitute over 50 percent of the cost of all the components used in the item. My proposed legislation would stipulate that federal funds distributed by FEMA as financial assistance could only be used for projects in which the manufactured products are American made, according to the criteria established by the Buy American Act. The House version of this legislation has been recently introduced by Congressman Michael Collins of Georgia. Mr. President, it does not make sense that the American people's hard earned tax dollars should be allowed to slip through a loophole that makes it possible for some entities to avoid the Buy American Act. The Buy American Act should apply to all who spend FEMA non-emergency funds. When these federal funds are passed down from FEMA to another government agency, those other government agencies should also be required to abide by the Buy America Act. Mr. President, I introduce this legislation in order to ensure there is consistency in the law, with regard to FEMA and the provisions of the Buy American Act. I hope my colleagues will join me in supporting passage of this pro-American measure. I ask unanimous consent that the bill I am introducing today be printed in the Record.

Mr. CAMPBELL

Mr. CAMPBELL. Mr. President, today I am introducing the Federal Emergency Management Agency Buy American Compliance Act, legislation which would apply the requirements of the Buy American Act to non- emergency Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) assistance payments. The Buy American Act was designed to provide a preference to American businesses in the federal procurement process. Currently, when FEMA awards grants for non-emergency projects, the agency itself adheres to the requirements of the Buy American Act. However, when FEMA awards taxpayer money to state or local entities in the form grants, those entities are not similarly required to comply with the Buy American Act's standards. This disparity needs to be changed. Mr. President, the Buy American Act's requirements should be applied to all FEMA non-emergency grants. It should not make a difference whether FEMA is directly spending federal tax dollars or passing those same federal tax dollars on to states or local governments for them to spend. The Buy American Act's standards should apply to all federal dollars distributed by FEMA for non-emergency situations, no matter who is spending it. It is only right that we ensure that the American people's federal tax dollars are spent according to the Buy American Act. The Buy American Act is necessary to protect American firms from unfair competition from foreign corporations. Many of the nations we trade with have significantly lower labor costs than the United States. Without the safeguard provided by the Buy American Act foreign companies are able to underbid American companies on U.S. government contracts. It is important to understand the Buy American Act's criteria for determining whether a product is foreign or domestic. The nation where the corporation is headquartered is irrelevant--the Buy American Act is focused upon the origin of the materials used in the construction project. In order to be considered an American product, the product in question has to fulfill the following two criteria; first; the product must be manufactured in the United States, and second; the cost of the components manufactured in the United States must constitute over 50 percent of the cost of all the components used in the item. My proposed legislation would stipulate that federal funds distributed by FEMA as financial assistance could only be used for projects in which the manufactured products are American made, according to the criteria established by the Buy American Act. The House version of this legislation has been recently introduced by Congressman Michael Collins of Georgia. Mr. President, it does not make sense that the American people's hard earned tax dollars should be allowed to slip through a loophole that makes it possible for some entities to avoid the Buy American Act. The Buy American Act should apply to all who spend FEMA non-emergency funds. When these federal funds are passed down from FEMA to another government agency, those other government agencies should also be required to abide by the Buy America Act. Mr. President, I introduce this legislation in order to ensure there is consistency in the law, with regard to FEMA and the provisions of the Buy American Act. I hope my colleagues will join me in supporting passage of this pro-American measure. I ask unanimous consent that the bill I am introducing today be printed in the Record.

Mr. CAMPBELL

Mr. CAMPBELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. CAMPBELL

Mr. CAMPBELL. Mr. President, today I am introducing the ``American Transportation Recovery and Highway Trust Fund Protection Act of 2000.'' This is a new revised version of S. 2090 which I introduced on February 24, 2000, to address the escalating prices of fuel which supports our nation's truckers, farmers, public transportation, and other users. Based on discussions with my colleagues and testimony presented at this morning's Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing, I have drafted a new bill which would replace the lost revenues from the temporary suspension of the excise tax with monies from the budget surplus in the general fund to fully protect the Highway Trust Fund. Similar to the original bill, S. 2090, my new bill still would temporarily suspend the federal excise tax on diesel fuel for one year or until the price of crude oil is reduced to the December 31, 1999 level. Americans fought their war in the Persian Gulf, lives were lost out in the sand, some came home with undiagnosed illnesses, defended them from their cousins while the Kuwaiti ruling family relaxed, and this is how we get repaid, with soaring fuel costs, jeopardizing America's livelihood. While OPEC grows fat, Americans are growing thin, not because they want to, but because they have to choose between food or heating oil. Nice choice for some Americans, freeze or starve? The American people deserve better. This problem will continually revisit us as long as we are dependent on foreign oil. I have seen news reports that OPEC will not boost production at least until July, and that quote came from Iran's oil minister. Norway, who is not a member of OPEC and is the world's second largest oil exporter, made no promise to increase oil production either. It is unfortunate that we, a global super power, are reduced to begging. One of the things I have learned in my time in Congress is that too often we get bogged down in the details. The current fuel crisis an example where the discussion tends toward international price fixing and our foreign dependence, rather than focusing on the daily effect on American people. If we do not recognize the economic devastation the skyrocketing cost of fuel is already taking, wait until shipping by truck, rail, and ship starts to collapse. The total value of freight carried by truckers in 1996 was approximately $368 billion. This number would be higher today, but these were the most recent numbers that CRS could provide. If these current increases in oil prices do not stop, some trucks can not afford to run. If just 10 percent of the trucks on the road stop running, if you do the general math, it could amount to a $36.8 billion value decrease in freight. This is a hit to the economy I do not want to see. If the rigs stop rolling, this nation stops rolling. Also, if we do not recognize the national security component of being dependent on OPEC oil, I want to know how many more American lives we have to risk to recognize it? We should have to grovel in front of the altars of the almighty oil ministries. I urge my colleagues to support prompt passage of this bill to provide immediate relief for America's truckers, farmers, and other diesel fuel users. I ask unanimous consent that the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. CAMPBELL

Mr. CAMPBELL. Mr. President, I would like to announce that the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs will conduct an oversight hearing on Wednesday, March 1, 2000 on the Report prepared by the National Academy of Public Administration entitled ``A Study of Management and Administration: The Bureau of Indian Affairs.'' The hearing will be held in the Committee room, 485 Russell Senate Building and will begin at 9:30 a.m. committee on indian affairs

Mr. CAMPBELL. Mr. President, I would like to announce that the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs will meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, March 8, 2000 at 9:30 a.m. to conduct a hearing on draft legislation to reauthorize the Indian Health Care Improvement Act of 1976. The hearing will be held in the Committee room, 485 Russell Senate Building. committee on rules and administration

Mr. CAMPBELL

Mr. CAMPBELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate Committee on Finance be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Thursday, February 24, 2000 at 10 a.m. to hear testimony regarding Medicare Reform: Issues and Options.

Mr. CAMPBELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on the Judiciary be authorized to meet to conduct a markup on Thursday, February 24, 2000, at 10 a.m., in SD226.

Mr. CAMPBELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Small Business be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Thursday, February 24, 2000, beginning at 9 a.m. in room 428A of the Russell Senate Office Building to hold a hearing entitled ``The President's Fiscal Year 2000 Budget Request for the Small Business Administration.''

Mr. CAMPBELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Thursday, February 24 at 9:30 a.m. to conduct an oversight hearing regarding energy supply issues relating to crude oil, heating oil, and transportation fuels. The hearing will examine such issues as the recent price spikes in the Northeast Region as well as predicted gasoline prices during the peak summer months. The committee will examine the short and long term causes as well as the potential fixes.

Mr. CAMPBELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Armed Services be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Thursday, February 24, 2000 at 10 a.m., in open session to receive testimony on the National Security Implications on export controls and to examine S. 1712, the Export Administration Act of 1999.

Mr. CAMPBELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, be allowed to meet during the session of the Senate on Thursday, February 24, 2000. The purpose of this meeting will be to discuss risk management/crop insurance and possibly other issues before the Agriculture Committee.

Mr. CAMPBELL. Mr. President. I ask unanimous consent that the Subcommittee on Transportation and Infrastructure be authorized to conduct a hearing on the Army Corps of Engineers FY 2001 budget on Thursday, February 24, at 10 a.m.

Mr. CAMPBELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Subcommittee on Housing and Transportation of the Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Thursday, February 24, 2000, to conduct a hearing on ``HUD's community Builders Program.''

Mr. CAMPBELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Subcommittee on Forests and Public Lands of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Thursday, February 24, at 2:30 p.m. to conduct a hearing. The subcommittee will receive testimony on S. 1722, a bill to amend the Mineral Leasing Act to increase the maximum acreage of Federal leases for sodium that may be held by an entity in any one State, and for other purposes; and its companion bill, H.R. 3063, a bill to amend the Mineral Leasing Act to increase the maximum acreage of Federal leases for sodium that may be held by an entity in any one State, and for other purposes; and S. 1950, a bill to amend the Mineral Leasing Act of 1920 to ensure the orderly development of coal, coalbed methane, natural gas, and oil in the Power River Basin, Wyoming and Montana, and for other purposes.

Mr. CAMPBELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Subcommittee on Personnel of the Committee on Armed Services be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Thursday, February 24, 2000 at 2:30 p.m. in open session to receive testimony on Department of Defense Policies pertaining to recruiting and retention in review of the defense authorization request for fiscal year 2001 and the future years defense program.

Mr. CAMPBELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Subcommittee on African Affairs of the Committee on Foreign Relations be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Thursday, February 24, 2000, at 2:30 p.m. to hold a hearing.

Mr. CAMPBELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Select Committee on Intelligence be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Thursday, February 24, 2000 at 2 p.m. to hold a closed hearing on intelligence matters.

Mr. CAMPBELL

Mr. CAMPBELL. Mr. President, today I am introducing America's Transportation Recovery Act of 2000 to address the skyrocketing prices of fuel which supports our Nation's truckers, farmers, public transportation, and other users. This bill would temporarily suspend the Federal excise tax on diesel fuel for 1 year, or until the price of crude oil is reduced to the December 31, 1999, price. I am pleased to be joined by many of my colleagues and add as original cosponsors to this bill both the majority leader, Senator Lott, and the minority leader, Senator Daschle, as well as Senators Craig, Feinstein, Conrad, Bunning, Landrieu, and Kerrey of Nebraska. The current fuel crisis is an example of how a discussion leans toward economic factors and international price fixing rather than focusing on the daily effect on American people. Early this week, as Members know, nearly 300 truck drivers drove from all over the east coast--in fact, some from as far away as Texas--to rally at the steps of the Capitol. Their cause was the increasing price of diesel fuel, which is increasing their costs to the point that many may go out of business. I know the trucking life. I put myself through college by driving an 18-wheeler. Just last December, I renewed my CDC driver's license. Although I don't drive commercially anymore, it does keep me in touch with the working men and women in the trucking industry. Since I own a small rig, I know firsthand how the fuel crisis impacts those who depend on it because my fuel bills have doubled in the last year alone, as have theirs. When private citizens give their time to come to Washington, the issue is not about profit margins, stock prices, or other abstract matters; it is because they are fighting for their lives. Long-distance drivers, as Members probably know, need between 200 and 400 gallons of diesel every 24 hours. Add that to truck payments, permits, insurance, upkeep, road fees, and the many other costs for independent trucking, and many are barely scraping by. It is no wonder the price increase is putting so many out of business. The only way they can survive is to pass it on to the consumer. Most of them cannot do that because the small independents are, more often than not, subcontracting to other firms. At Tuesday's rally, one driver told me he knew of two men who had gone bankrupt in the last week alone. Any person viewing the television coverage of the rally could not help but be moved by the young couple living in their truck with two small children, both under the age of 3, because they could not make house payments. Yet another driver told me he had only $8 to his name and made it here for the rally. Many people think this probably does not affect them. Think about this: About 95 percent or more of everything in America, everything we buy, comes by truck. It may also be on a train, airplane, or ship, but from the point of origin to the point of delivery is often by truck. These people don't want handouts; they don't want food stamps; they don't want to be on welfare; they want to work. If those rigs stop rolling, very simply, the Nation stops rolling, too. These trucks don't run on solar energy, as was mentioned this morning in our Energy Committee hearing by Senator Craig, and they don't run on wind power; they run on diesel fuel. This problem extends to our farmers and ranchers. The increased costs to our farmers and ranchers, coupled with declining commodity prices, makes it very difficult for them to run a farm. In past Congresses, we have had to pass emergency agriculture relief packages which have allowed the smaller producers to receive enough assistance to get by financially one more year. Now, along with the truckers in public transportation, farmers will probably see future diesel prices nearing $2 a gallon as they go into this year's planting season. We cannot let this Nation come to a standstill because we are captive to foreign oil cartels. Not too many years ago, we fought a war in the Middle East to protect oil-producing countries from the Iraqi invasion. Our young men and women make up the bulk of the military might for many nations today. They put their lives on the line to protect some of the Arab countries against their own cousins, and now we are being repaid for our generosity by the rising cost of fuel from OPEC. Certainly, if there is anyone who thinks there is not a national security component to being 55-percent dependent on foreign oil, they need to think again. The fact that we are too dependent on foreign oil and we currently have no national energy policy is a point of discussion for another day. Right now, we face a crisis we need to do something about. That is why I and my colleagues are introducing this bill. This bill will temporarily suspend the excise tax on diesel fuel for 1 year, which is 24.4 cents a gallon, in an effort to ease the burdens on so many Americans based on our lack of a national long-term energy policy. This will help primarily truckers, farmers, and public transportation but in the long run will help everybody. While it does not address the long- term problem of our insufficient domestic oil supply, it will provide emergency temporary relief. I believe it is a modest and yet essential step. At a time when our citizens are being shaken down by a foreign oil cartel and then again by rising taxes, it is somewhat offensive to go through the same kind of a shakedown twice. The Government is currently running a surplus, taking in more tax money than we are spending. We will have several years of surplus money, and I am sure we can afford to give a short-term break to the hard-working Americans who deliver our food and take our children to and from school as well as pick up our garbage. This particular tax, as I understand, was never supposed to be permanent. It was imposed as a deficit reduction measure, and we simply do not have a deficit nor will we have in years to come. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation with prompt passage, to provide immediate relief for America's truckers, farmers, and other diesel fuel users. I ask unanimous consent the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. CAMPBELL

Mr. CAMPBELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent I be allowed to speak for 8 minutes as in morning business for the introduction of a bill.