John Chafee

Mr. CHAFEE

Mr. CHAFEE. I move to lay it on the table; The motion to lay on the table was agreed to. Amendment No. 1953 (Purpose: To authorize the Secretary of Transportation to implement hazardous material transportation pilot programs for certain farm service vehicles, and for other purposes)

Mr. CHAFEE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that this amendment, No. 1726, be laid aside and be in order at a later time, regardless of the outcome of the cloture vote.

Mr. CHAFEE. I move to lay that motion on the table. The motion to lay on the table was agreed to.

Mr. CHAFEE. This amendment is agreeable to this side.

Mr. CHAFEE. I move to lay it on the table. The motion to lay on the table was agreed to. Amendment No. 1726 (Purpose: To provide that demonstration projects shall be subject to any limitation on obligations established by law that applies to Federal-aid highways and highway safety construction programs)

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

Mr. CHAFEE. Mr. President, I am delighted to be a cosponsor of this amendment offered by the Senator from Missouri. Now we all recognize trucks are essential to the Nation's economic health. There is no argument to that. But we believe allowing increasing the number of the larger trucks to operate on our highway is a dangerous way to increase productivity. Triple-trailer trucks impose, I believe, a triple threat to safety, to the environment, and to the highway infrastructure. This amendment is a sense of the Senate that we will stay as we are. That is what the underlying legislation does. It does not change what the States allow, or roads they are permitted to operate under now, and does not increase the ability to operate where they are not operating now. I am for that. I thank the Senator for his amendment.

Mr. CHAFEE. Mr. President, the amendment that I have submitted would assist seven States--Arizona, Indiana, Michigan, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas, and Wisconsin. This assistance would be in addition to the increases already provided to these States in the Chafee amendment that the Senate adopted last week. The Chafee amendment provided allocations to the States in three categories--the Appalachian Regional Commission program, the density program, and the bonus program for donor States--to bring their minimum up to 91 cents on the dollar. Six of the seven States to be assisted by this proposal did not qualify for either the Appalachian Regional Commission program or the density program in the Chafee amendment. The other State--South Carolina--that would receive assistance under this proposal received only $1.4 million per year from the ARC program in the Chafee amendment. Thus, the proposal is to provide an additional amount to donor States that received no, or very little, money from the ARC and density programs in the Chafee amendment. The proposal is to take $70 million per year for 5 years--1999 through 2003--from the Federal research program and distribute that amount among the seven States. Thirty percent of the new funds would be distributed equally among the States--$3 million per State--and 70 percent would be distributed according to the share of payments to the trust fund in 1996. The States would be added to the density program, giving each State almost complete discretion in the use of the money. The research program is authorized at approximately $100 million per year in the underlying bill and would be reduced to approximately $30 million per year by the amendment. Mr. BAUCUS addressed the Chair.

Mr. CHAFEE. Mr. President, those remarks were well-phrased by the distinguished ranking member of the full committee. I also want to include in that ``pit bull'' category, Senator Abraham. He, also, was right there. They were a team. They dogged us every step of the way. So Senator Abraham and Senator Levin both did outstanding work in connection with this legislation. I look forward to a nice, friendly, telephone call from the Governor of Michigan saying what wonderful things we have done for Michigan.

Mr. CHAFEE. I thank the very distinguished senior Senator for the kind remarks about what we did for South Carolina.

Mr. CHAFEE. I move to reconsider the vote.

Mr. CHAFEE. Mr. President, I send an amendment to the desk and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. CHAFEE

Mr. CHAFEE. Madam President, I understand there is an amendment at the desk to the preamble.

Mr. CHAFEE. I ask unanimous consent that the reading of the amendment be dispensed with.

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

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

Mr. CHAFEE

Mr. CHAFEE. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to executive session to consider the following nominations on the Executive Calendar: Nos. 528, 531, 532 and 533. I further ask unanimous consent that the nominations be confirmed, the motions to reconsider be laid upon the table, the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action, and the Senate then return to legislative session.

Mr. CHAFEE

Mr. CHAFEE. I will be happy to be surprised. So that completes our business. I do want to say to those who will be listening, I really believe we can finish this bill rather quickly tomorrow, if people restrain themselves on further amendments. We have some here, and we worked out some. It seems to me we have had a pretty good--we have been on this bill now I think for something close to 2\1/ 2\ weeks, and everything is pretty well taken care of. I hope Members will show great restraint.

Mr. CHAFEE. Yes.

Mr. CHAFEE. Tomorrow, the Senate, Madam President, will be in a period of morning business from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. At 10:30 a.m., by a previous order, the Senate will proceed to a rollcall vote on the McCain amendment to S. 1173, the so-called ISTEA II legislation. Following that vote, the Senate will attempt to complete action on the bill. In addition, the Senate may begin the consideration of S. 414, the international shipping bill, and H.R. 2646, the A-plus education bill. Therefore, Members should anticipate a busy voting day with votes occurring into the early evening.

Mr. CHAFEE. I hope everybody does not feel----

Mr. CHAFEE. The requirement that they file an amendment. We have dealt with some 200 amendments. That, it seems to me, pretty well covers the field. So I would not have hurt feelings if there were no amendments filed by 10 a.m. tomorrow.

Mr. CHAFEE

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

Mr. CHAFEE

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

Mr. CHAFEE

Mr. CHAFEE. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it stand in adjournment until 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, March 12, 1998, and that immediately following the prayer, the routine requests through the morning hour be granted and the Senate begin a period for the transaction of morning business until the hour of 10:30 a.m. with Senators permitted to speak for up to 5 minutes each, with the following exceptions: Senator Dorgan, 15 minutes; Senator Leahy, 15 minutes.