Larry Craig

Mr. CRAIG

Mr. CRAIG. It creates an obligation to repay because it is taken out in the form of Treasury notes and interest paid, and certainly there is an obligation to pay back. Whether it is an obligation to pay back or a debt, then that is a game of semantics, but it is an obligation. If I had an obligation to pay, as the Government does, to the trust funds of Social Security, I would consider that a debt burden and something I would have to pay. And I am quite sure my accountant would want me to put that in the ``debt'' column of ``bills outstanding'' or ``money to be paid'' or ``owed to'' a particular payment scheme. I call that debt.

Mr. CRAIG. The Government doesn't need to do it, the law requires it to do it. I did not write the law; it was written in 1935 before the Senator from South Carolina and I ever got here.

Mr. CRAIG. They have borrowed it by law, as was prescribed in 1935, from the trust funds. That is the only way the money can be held in the trust funds to generate interest on the account. That is correct.

Mr. CRAIG. No, the law requires it.

Mr. CRAIG. The Senator from South Carolina and I both know exactly what we are talking about. We are talking about the same thing. The law is very specific.

Mr. CRAIG. Loaned to the Government.

Mr. CRAIG. And done what with it, invested in the stock market to gain money?

Mr. CRAIG

Mr. CRAIG. Mr. President, I ask the Senate recess for no longer than 10 minutes and at the end of that recess period the senior Senator from West Virginia be recognized.

Mr. CRAIG

Mr. CRAIG. 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 Tuesday, April 20, 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 receive testimony on S. 25, the Conservation and Reinvestment Act of 1999; S. 446, the Resources 2000 Act; S. 532, the Public Land and Recreation Investment Act of 1999; and the Administration's Lands Legacy proposal.

Mr. CRAIG. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Foreign Relations be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on April 20, 1999, at 2:30 p.m., to hold a hearing.

Mr. CRAIG. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent on behalf of the Governmental Affairs Committee to meet on April 20, 1999, at 10:30 a.m., for a hearing on the nominations of Stephen Glickman to be associate judge of the D.C. Court of Appeals, Judge Eric Washington to be associate judge of the D.C. Court of Appeals, and Hiram Puig-Lugo to be associate judge of the D.C. Superior Court.

Mr. CRAIG. Mr. President, the Committee on Veterans' Affairs would like to request unanimous consent to hold a hearing on the Department of Veterans Affairs contingency plans for year 2000. The hearing will be held on Tuesday, April 20, 1999, at 2:30 p.m., in room 418 of the Russell Senate Office Building.

Mr. CRAIG. I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on the Judiciary be authorized to meet for a hearing regarding Senate Joint Resolution 14, proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States, authorizing Congress to prohibit the physical desecration of the flag of the United States, during the session of the Senate on Tuesday, April 20, 1999, at 10 a.m.

Mr. CRAIG. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Armed Services be authorized to meet on Tuesday, April 20, 1999, at 9:30 a.m., in closed session, to receive a briefing on current military operations.

Mr. CRAIG. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Armed Services Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities be authorized to meet at 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 20, 1999, in open session, to receive testimony on the science and technology program, in review of the defense authorization request for fiscal year 2000 and the future years defense program.

Mr. CRAIG. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Foreign Relations be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on April 20, 1999, at 9:30 a.m., to hold a hearing.

Mr. CRAIG

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

Mr. CRAIG

Mr. CRAIG. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it stand in adjournment until 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, April 20. I further ask that on Tuesday, immediately following the prayer, the Journal of proceedings be approved to date, the morning hour be deemed to have expired, the time for the two leaders be reserved, the Senate then be in a period of morning business until 11:30 a.m. with Senators permitted to speak for up to 10 minutes each, with the following exceptions: Senator Hutchinson for 15 minutes; Senator McCain for 15 minutes. I ask consent that at 12:30 p.m. the Senate then stand in recess until 2:15 p.m. for the weekly party caucus luncheons.

Mr. CRAIG

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

Mr. CRAIG

Mr. CRAIG. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the amendment be considered as read and agreed to, the committee substitute be agreed to, as amended, the bill be read a third time and passed, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, and that any statements relating to the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. CRAIG. Mr. President, there is a managers' amendment at the desk. I ask for its consideration.

Mr. CRAIG. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate now proceed to the consideration of Calendar No. 72, S. 507.

Mr. CRAIG

Mr. CRAIG. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate now proceed to the consideration en bloc of the following measures reported by the Energy Committee: S. 361, Calendar No. 67; S. 426, Calendar No. 68; S. 430, Calendar No. 69; S. 449, Calendar No. 70; S. 330, Calendar No. 71.

Mr. CRAIG

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

Mr. CRAIG

Mr. CRAIG. For the information of all Senators, the Senate will reconvene on Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. and be in a period of morning business until 11:30 a.m. At 2:15, the Senate will begin consideration of the budget reform legislation, with votes possible throughout the day on this bill or any other legislation or executive items cleared for action. Later this week, a vote on adoption of the education flexibility conference report is expected.