Mike Crapo

Mr. CRAPO

Mr. CRAPO. Mr. President, I rise today in support of H.R. 5, the Senior Citizens' Freedom to Work Act. This bill, which unanimously passed the House of Representatives on March 1, would end the practice of withholding a portion of Social Security benefits simply because a beneficiary chooses to work beyond the statutory retirement age. The Social Security earnings test has always been one of the most illogical aspects of the Social Security system. Under current law, a beneficiary between the ages of 65 and 69 may only earn up to $17,000 without losing benefits. After that amount, $1 of Social Security benefit is lost for every $3 of earnings. Throughout my tenure in Congress, I have supported efforts to minimize the effect of the earnings test. For example, in 1998, I supported the Taxpayer Relief Act which would have raised the level of exempt income to $39,750 in 2008. Unfortunately, the 105th Congress adjourned before the Senate could consider this legislation. While raising the earnings limit would have been a step in the right direction, a total elimination of the earning test is clearly the right thing to do. The Social Security Administration estimates that 800,000 beneficiaries are affected by the earnings test. People spend a lifetime putting that money into their Social Security accounts and they ought to have full access to it without limiting their other opportunities for making an income. The present system is holding them down, it is holding the economy down, and it should be changed. It is wrong to withhold any portion of a benefit that was duly earned by years of work and contributions to the system. Social Security was not meant as a single source of retirement income. Why then does the government penalize those seniors who choose to earn additional income through work? This is especially confusing in a time of low unemployment when companies are desperately looking for skilled and experienced employees. Government should encourage self-sufficiency, not penalize it. I am pleased that H.R. 5 will be brought to a vote shortly. I am a cosponsor of a similar bill introduced by Senator Ashcroft. These bills would completely eliminate the earnings test for Social Security recipients who have reached retirement age, allowing them to earn outside income without a reduction in benefits. What we have now is a disincentive for people to work who want to continue to contribute to our growing economy. Any meaningful reform of Social Security should preserve the system and allow those who want to work to continue to do so. This measure is the right thing to do and is long overdue. I congratulate the House of Representatives on its unanimous passage of this bill and am encouraged that President Clinton has voiced his support for the bill. I would also like to thank Senator Ashcroft for his leadership on this issue. I urge my colleagues to join me in passing this bill and restoring a measure of fairness for senior citizens.

Mr. CRAPO

Mr. CRAPO. Mr. President, the Senate this morning will begin postcloture debate on the nominations of Marsha Berzon and Richard Paez. By previous order, back-to-back votes on the confirmation of the nominations will occur at 2 p.m. Following the votes, the Senate will resume morning business for the introduction of bills and statements. The Senate may also turn to any legislative or executive items cleared for action. I thank my colleagues for their attention.

Mr. CRAPO

Mr. CRAPO. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce the Medicare Wage-Index Reclassification Act of 2000. This bill will amend the Social Security Act to redirect additional Medicare reimbursements to rural hospitals. Currently, hospitals throughout the country are losing Medicare reimbursements, which results in severe implications for surrounding communities. As you know, in an attempt to keep Medicare from consuming its limited reserves, Congress enacted the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 (BBA), which made sweeping changes in the manner that health care providers are reimbursed for services rendered to Medicare beneficiaries. These were the most significant modifications in the history of the program. All of the problems with the BBA--whether hospitals, nursing facilities, home health agencies, or skilled nursing facilities--are especially acute in rural states, where Medicare payments are a bigger percentage of hospital revenues and profit margins are generally much lower. These facilities were already managed at a highly efficient level and had ``cut the fat out of the system.'' Therefore, the cuts implemented in the BBA hit the rural communities in Idaho and throughout the United States in a very significant and serious way. In the 1st session, the Senate Finance Committee did a tremendous job of bringing forth legislation that adjusted Medicare payments to health care providers hurt by cuts ordered in the BBA. While this was a meaningful step, the Senate must continue to address the inequities in the system. My bill would expand wage-index reclassification by requiring the Secretary of Health and Human Services to deem a hospital that has been reclassified for purposes of its inpatient wage-index to also reclassify for purposes of other services which are provider-based and for which payments are adjusted using a wage-index. In other words, this legislation would require the Secretary to use a hospital's reclassification wage-index to adjust payments for hospital outpatient, skilled nursing facility, home health, and other services, providing those entities are provider-based. This change should have been made in BBA when Congress required that prospective payment systems be established for these other services. As such, this change would address an issue that has been left unaddressed for several years. It makes sense that, if a hospital has been granted reclassification by the Medicare Geographic Classification Review Board for certain inpatient services, it also be granted wage-index reclassification for outpatient and other services. It is estimated that this provision would help approximately 400 hospitals, 90 percent which are rural. Furthermore, this provision would be budget neutral. I know my colleagues in the Senate share my commitment of promoting access to health care services in rural areas. Expanding wage-index geographic reclassification will allow hospitals to recoup lost funds and use those funds to address patients' needs in an appropriate, effective, and meaningful way. I encourage my colleagues to co-sponsor the Medicare Wage-Index Reclassification Act. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. CRAPO

Mr. CRAPO. I thank the Senator from California for allowing me to take a few moments to address the Senate.

Mr. CRAPO. I ask unanimous consent to speak for up to 10 minutes in morning business.

Mr. CRAPO

Mr. CRAPO. Mr. President, I would like to make a statement in recognition of one of my very close friends out in Idaho who has just had a wonderful accomplishment in his life. He is a neighbor, a friend, and a member of my staff from Idaho, Don Dixon. On March 24, Don will be given the distinct honor of induction into the Eastern Idaho Agriculture Hall of Fame. The honor reflects his commitment to farming in Idaho and the respect and esteem in which he is held in our community. I know you join eastern Idaho and myself in extending to Don congratulations on this achievement. Don is a lifelong farmer and resident of Idaho Falls, ID. He owns and tends the farm his grandfather purchased in 1900 and, thereafter, was owned by his father. Apparently, the farming bug hit Don hard because he took over the Dixon operation with his brother soon after college and his military service. A measure of his success is reflected by his continued expansion of the farm and livestock and the handover of a solid operation to his son. For years, Don's work has produced some of the region's best potatoes, in a State that has the world's finest spuds, cattle, hay, and grain. In this time of agriculture distress and low prices, Don has demonstrated himself to be a model farmer by taking steps to protect the environment by undertaking the best management practices and water conservation through improved irrigation techniques. We can all be proud of his work to be a productive member of the agriculture community and a good steward of the land. Although his induction into the Hall of Fame is a special accomplishment, Don has long been chosen as a representative of his community. He has been an active member of eastern Idaho's business and agriculture organizations for as long as I can remember. Don has served on the board of the Eastern Idaho State Fair and, for 6 years, served on the Idaho Potato Commission, a post nominated by our Governor. His recognition at the national level is evident from Don's successes as Director of the National Potato Promotion Board. In 1995, Don joined my staff and served with distinction through the balance of my House tenure, working on agriculture and natural resources issues. He was instrumental in my work with farmers and ranchers throughout the State during the debate on the 1996 farm bill. When I was elected to the Senate in 1998, Don agreed to continue our partnership by becoming my State Director of Agriculture, a position he has fulfilled with distinction and widely-held respect. Don has served the people of Idaho above and beyond the call of duty, meeting more farmers and community leaders than any of his peers and probably has logged enough miles on his pickup truck to circumnavigate the world several times. The patience and understanding of his wife Georgia, his four children, and extended family for his work is a testament to Don's commitment to service and leadership in eastern Idaho's agriculture community. Don's generosity and good-natured approach to life and work is also reflected in his induction into the Eastern Idaho Agriculture Hall of Fame. He is a valued counselor and friend of my entire family. I salute him on the accomplishment of this high honor. I know you and my colleagues in the Senate join me in offering our congratulations to Don Dixon. I yield the floor.

Mr. CRAPO

Mr. CRAPO. Mr. President, I rise to introduce the Amateur Radio Spectrum Protection Act of 2000. This bill would help preserve the amount of radio spectrum allocated to the Amateur Radio Service during this era of dramatic change in our telecommunications system. I am pleased to introduce this bipartisan measure with my colleagues, Senator Collins, Senator Akaka, Senator Bob Smith, Senator Snowe, and Senator Lincoln. Organized radio amateurs, more commonly known as ``ham'' operators, through formal agreements with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the National Weather Service, the Red Cross, the Salvation Army, and other government and private relief services, provide emergency communication when regular channels are disrupted by disaster. In Idaho, these trained volunteers have performed tasks as various as helping to rescue stranded back-country hikers, organizing cleanup efforts after the Payette River flooded, and helping the Forest Service communicate during major forest fires. In other communities, they may be found monitoring tornado touchdowns in the Midwest, helping authorities reestablish communication after a hurricane in the Gulf or sending ``health and welfare'' messages following an earthquake on the West Coast. Not only do they provide these services using their own equipment and without compensation, but they also give their personal time to participate in regular organized training exercises. In addition to emergency communication, amateur radio enthusiasts use their spectrum allocations to experiment with and develop new circuitry and techniques for increasing the effectiveness of the precious natural resource of radio spectrum for all Americans. Much of the electronic technology we now take for granted is rooted in amateur radio experimentation. Moreover, amateur radio has long provided the first technical training for youngsters who grow up to be America's scientists and engineers. The Balanced Budget Act of 1997 requires the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to conduct spectrum auctions to raise revenues. Some of that revenue may come from the auction of current amateur radio spectrum. This bill simply requires the FCC to provide the Amateur Radio Service with equivalent replacement spectrum if it reallocates and auctions any of the Service's current spectrum. The Amateur Radio Spectrum Protection Act of 2000 will protect these vital functions while also maintaining the flexibility of the FCC to manage the nation's telecommunications infrastructure effectively. It will not interfere with the ability of commercial telecommunications services to seek the spectrum allocations they require. I ask my colleagues to join the more than 670,000 U.S. licensed radio amateurs in supporting this measure and welcome their co-sponsorship.

Mr. CRAPO

Mr. CRAPO. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce legislation that will help our domestic semiconductor industry continue to thrive. The proposal that I am introducing today, along with my colleague from Idaho, Senator Larry Craig, merely extends an existing temporary duty suspension for certain semi-manufactured forms of gold. Specifically, the bill amends the U.S. Harmonized Tariff Schedule to extend, until December 31, 2005, the duty-free treatment of gold bonding wire. This product is critical to the manufacture of semiconductors and integrated circuits. The Miscellaneous Trade and Technical Corrections Act of 1996 suspended the 4.9 percent duty given to gold bond wiring classified under Harmonized Tariff Number 7108.13.7000. This temporary duty suspension expires on December 31, 2000 and should be renewed. This is particularly true given that the duty on most other products used in the manufacture of semiconductors were removed during the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade Uruguay Round of multilateral trade negotiations which concluded in 1994. Members of the U.S. semiconductor industry believe the failure to include gold bonding wire in the list of duty eliminations was more of an oversight than anything else. This legislation helps rectify this situation. The gold bonding wire essential to the manufacture of semiconductors and integrated circuits is unique in its fineness, purity and application. The nearly 100 percent pure gold wire whose diameter measures 0.05 millimeters or less has no other known purposes or uses other than those associated with the assembly of semiconductors. U.S. semiconductor manufacturers that assemble their products domestically rather than abroad will be adversely impacted if this duty suspension lapses. A duty of almost five percent on gold bond wiring would increase the cost of doing business for American companies that choose to assemble their goods in this country. We should support, not hinder, efforts like this one that are a win-win for the American labor force and our nation's economy. More hardworking Americans are employed when the assembly process occurs domestically. Furthermore, lower costs encourage more U.S. companies to conduct these activities at home. In the end, this provides a boost to the overall economic well-being of the United States. This duty suspension proposal lacks domestic opposition and its passage has only a de minimis revenue impact. I hope my colleagues will join me in supporting this measure. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. CRAPO

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

Mr. CRAPO

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

Mr. CRAPO. I thank the Chair and suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. CRAPO

Mr. CRAPO. Mr. President, I rise today in support of the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) and am pleased to be introducing five bills that will benefit teachers and students all across this Nation. Collectively, these measures create a package of fundamental reform to the ESEA bill. These pieces of legislation complement existing programs that have proven to work successfully in schools and they provide assistance and support in areas where educators have expressed the greatest need. And these measures represent my commitment to improving the quality of education so that all of our children can achieve their greatest potential. First, I am introducing a measure to strengthen the Federal Impact Aid program. Specifically, my bill, which is supported by the National Association of Federally Impacted Schools, recommends increasing the weighted Federal student units for off-base military children and for civilian dependent children. Knowing that Impact Aid funds help 1.6 million federally-connected children, as well as 1,600 school districts serving over 17 million students, I am confident that my colleagues in the Senate support increases in funding for the Impact Aid program. But some of them may not be familiar with the formulas by which these funds are distributed to schools. Changing the computation of repayment will assure that funds will be distributed in a more equitable manner, reflecting the composition of local education agencies. The simple changes, which I am proposing, will benefit children in schools where the loss of local property taxes due to a large Federal presence has placed an extra burden on local taxpayers. We must make up the difference for all the children in the Impact Aid program, not just a select few. The second bill that I am proposing would build on the strong educational technology infrastructure already in place in school districts in nearly every state. As you know, education technology can significantly improve student achievement. Congress has recognized this fact by continually voting to dramatically increase funding for education technology. In fact, in just the programs under ESEA, federal support has grown from $52.6 million in Fiscal Year 1995, to $698 million just four years later. But we need to do more than simply place computers in classrooms. We need to provide our educators with the skills they need to incorporate evolving educational technology in the classroom. My bill does exactly that. It will encourage states to develop and implement professional development programs that train teachers in the use of technology in the classroom. Effective teaching strategies must incorporate educational technology if we are to ensure that all children have the skills they need to compete in a high-tech workplace. An investment in professional development for our teachers is an investment in our children and our future. Third, continuing on the lines of professional development, I am introducing a bill that outlines the essential components of mentoring programs that would improve the experience of new teachers and reduce the high turn-over currently seen among beginning teachers. My legislation will ensure program quality and accountability by providing that teachers mentor their peers who teach the same subject. The mentoring programs that are created in this legislation must comply with state standards. Additionally, the bill will provide incentives, and grant states the flexibility to create alternative teacher certification and licensure programs, to recruit well-educated and talented people into the teacher profession. The recruitment and retention of good teachers is paramount to improving our national education system. Mentor programs provide teachers with the support of a senior colleague. And under the supervision and guidance of a colleague, teachers are able to develop skills and achieve a higher level of proficiency. The confidence and experience gained during this time will improve the quality of instruction, which in turn will improve overall student achievement. Fourth, attracting and retaining quality teachers is a difficult task, especially in rural impoverished areas. As a result, teacher shortages and high turnover are commonplace in rural communities in almost every state in the nation. The fourth education bill I am introducing today would allow the Secretary of Education to direct a portion of the general funds in ESEA to rural impoverished areas. Under this proposal, a needy rural school district could prevent the exodus of qualified teachers by first creating incentive programs to retain teachers; second, improve the quality of the teacher through enhanced professional development; and, third, hire new teachers. This bill recognizes the unique challenges facing rural school districts and allows them the option of addressing these challenges. The final bill, is the only one being introduced today with an authorization for appropriation. It makes Federal grant programs more flexible in order to help school districts in rural communities. Under this provision, districts would be able to combine the funds from specified programs and use the money to support local or statewide education reform efforts intended to improve the achievement of elementary school and secondary school students and the quality of instruction provided. This measure asks for an authorization of $125 million for small rural and poor rural schools--a small price that could produce large results. The goal of these bills, which I have briefly outlined, are threehold: 1) to provide teachers with the tools to grow as professionals; 2) to assist rural school districts so that they may compete competitively with other school districts that oftentimes have more money and resources; and, (3) to provide every child with unsurpassed education opportunities. Together, these are the keys to our children's success. In reauthorizing ESEA, Congress has an extraordinary opportunity to change the course of education. We must embrace this opportunity by supporting creative and innovative reform proposals, like the ones that I have introduced here today. I am committed to working in the best interest of our children to develop an education system that is the best in the world. These bills move us in the right direction and I hope my colleagues will join me in supporting these measures. I urge the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee to incorporate these provisions into the upcoming ESEA bill.

Mr. CRAPO

Mr. CRAPO. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate immediately proceed to executive session to consider the following armed services nominations on the Executive Calendar: 415, 416, 418 through 422, and all nominations on the Secretary's desk. I finally ask unanimous consent that the nominations be confirmed, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, any statements relating to the nominations appear at this point in the Record, the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action, and the Senate then return to legislative session.

Mr. CRAPO

Mr. CRAPO. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate now proceed to the consideration of Calendar No. 310, S. 935.

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

Mr. CRAPO. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the amendment be agreed to, the committee substitute, as amended, be agreed to, the bill be read the third time and passed, the amendment to the title be agreed to, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, and that any statements relating to the bill appear at this point in the Record.

Mr. CRAPO

Mr. CRAPO. Mr. President, for the information of all Senators, the Senate will resume consideration of the Robb amendment regarding school construction at 9:30 a.m. tomorrow. Following 30 minutes of debate, at approximately 10 a.m., the Senate will proceed to a vote on or in relation to the amendment. Senator Abraham's amendment regarding computers will be introduced following the Robb vote. Other amendments will be offered and debated during tomorrow's session and therefore Senators can expect votes throughout the day. Senators should be aware that an agreement to have all first-degree amendments offered by 5 p.m. tomorrow is being discussed in an effort to complete action on this legislation as early as possible this week.

Mr. CRAPO

Mr. CRAPO. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn until the hour of 9:30 a.m., Wednesday, March 1. I further ask consent that on Wednesday, immediately following the prayer, the Journal of the proceedings be approved to date, the morning hour be deemed to have expired, the time for the two leaders be reserved for their use later in the day, and the Senate resume debate on the pending Robb amendment to S. 1134, the education savings account bill.

Mr. CRAPO

Mr. CRAPO. Mr. President, if there is no further business to come before the Senate, I now ask that the Senate stand in adjournment under the previous order following the remarks of Senator Reed of Rhode Island.

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

Mr. CRAPO

Mr. CRAPO. Mr. President, I rise today in support of the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) and am pleased to be introducing five bills that will benefit teachers and students all across this Nation. Collectively, these measures create a package of fundamental reform to the ESEA bill. These pieces of legislation complement existing programs that have proven to work successfully in schools and they provide assistance and support in areas where educators have expressed the greatest need. And these measures represent my commitment to improving the quality of education so that all of our children can achieve their greatest potential. First, I am introducing a measure to strengthen the Federal Impact Aid program. Specifically, my bill, which is supported by the National Association of Federally Impacted Schools, recommends increasing the weighted Federal student units for off-base military children and for civilian dependent children. Knowing that Impact Aid funds help 1.6 million federally-connected children, as well as 1,600 school districts serving over 17 million students, I am confident that my colleagues in the Senate support increases in funding for the Impact Aid program. But some of them may not be familiar with the formulas by which these funds are distributed to schools. Changing the computation of repayment will assure that funds will be distributed in a more equitable manner, reflecting the composition of local education agencies. The simple changes, which I am proposing, will benefit children in schools where the loss of local property taxes due to a large Federal presence has placed an extra burden on local taxpayers. We must make up the difference for all the children in the Impact Aid program, not just a select few. The second bill that I am proposing would build on the strong educational technology infrastructure already in place in school districts in nearly every state. As you know, education technology can significantly improve student achievement. Congress has recognized this fact by continually voting to dramatically increase funding for education technology. In fact, in just the programs under ESEA, federal support has grown from $52.6 million in Fiscal Year 1995, to $698 million just four years later. But we need to do more than simply place computers in classrooms. We need to provide our educators with the skills they need to incorporate evolving educational technology in the classroom. My bill does exactly that. It will encourage states to develop and implement professional development programs that train teachers in the use of technology in the classroom. Effective teaching strategies must incorporate educational technology if we are to ensure that all children have the skills they need to compete in a high-tech workplace. An investment in professional development for our teachers is an investment in our children and our future. Third, continuing on the lines of professional development, I am introducing a bill that outlines the essential components of mentoring programs that would improve the experience of new teachers and reduce the high turn-over currently seen among beginning teachers. My legislation will ensure program quality and accountability by providing that teachers mentor their peers who teach the same subject. The mentoring programs that are created in this legislation must comply with state standards. Additionally, the bill will provide incentives, and grant states the flexibility to create alternative teacher certification and licensure programs, to recruit well-educated and talented people into the teacher profession. The recruitment and retention of good teachers is paramount to improving our national education system. Mentor programs provide teachers with the support of a senior colleague. And under the supervision and guidance of a colleague, teachers are able to develop skills and achieve a higher level of proficiency. The confidence and experience gained during this time will improve the quality of instruction, which in turn will improve overall student achievement. Fourth, attracting and retaining quality teachers is a difficult task, especially in rural impoverished areas. As a result, teacher shortages and high turnover are commonplace in rural communities in almost every state in the nation. The fourth education bill I am introducing today would allow the Secretary of Education to direct a portion of the general funds in ESEA to rural impoverished areas. Under this proposal, a needy rural school district could prevent the exodus of qualified teachers by first creating incentive programs to retain teachers; second, improve the quality of the teacher through enhanced professional development; and, third, hire new teachers. This bill recognizes the unique challenges facing rural school districts and allows them the option of addressing these challenges. The final bill, is the only one being introduced today with an authorization for appropriation. It makes Federal grant programs more flexible in order to help school districts in rural communities. Under this provision, districts would be able to combine the funds from specified programs and use the money to support local or statewide education reform efforts intended to improve the achievement of elementary school and secondary school students and the quality of instruction provided. This measure asks for an authorization of $125 million for small rural and poor rural schools--a small price that could produce large results. The goal of these bills, which I have briefly outlined, are threehold: 1) to provide teachers with the tools to grow as professionals; 2) to assist rural school districts so that they may compete competitively with other school districts that oftentimes have more money and resources; and, (3) to provide every child with unsurpassed education opportunities. Together, these are the keys to our children's success. In reauthorizing ESEA, Congress has an extraordinary opportunity to change the course of education. We must embrace this opportunity by supporting creative and innovative reform proposals, like the ones that I have introduced here today. I am committed to working in the best interest of our children to develop an education system that is the best in the world. These bills move us in the right direction and I hope my colleagues will join me in supporting these measures. I urge the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee to incorporate these provisions into the upcoming ESEA bill.

Mr. CRAPO

Mr. CRAPO. Following morning business, Mr. President, the Senate is expected to begin consideration of S. 1134, the education savings account legislation. However, the Senate may also begin consideration of any other Legislative or Executive Calendar items available for action. As a reminder, the vote on the Iran nonproliferation bill has been scheduled to occur on Thursday morning at 11:30, and, as previously announced, there will be no votes on Friday. I thank my colleagues for their attention. I note the absence of a quorum.

Mr. CRAPO

Mr. CRAPO. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the period of morning business be extended until the hour of 12:30 p.m. and between 11:30 and 12:30 Senators be limited to 10 minutes each.

Mr. CRAPO

Mr. CRAPO. Mr. President, I rise in support of S. 1287, a bill to provide for the storage of spent nuclear fuel, pending completion of the permanent nuclear waste repository. I also want to thank Senator Craig and Senator Murkowski for their tireless efforts to move forward on legislation to address the issue of disposing of spent nuclear fuel and high-level waste. The federal government made a commitment to the nation's nuclear utilities that it would build a permanent repository to dispose of commercial spent nuclear fuel. By law, the repository was supposed to be ready to accept nuclear waste by 1998. Six billion dollars later, the Department of Energy effort to build a repository is years behind schedule and mired in political warfare. As a result of these delays, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia ruled that the DOE had failed to meet its legal obligations and ordered the Department to pay contractual damages to the nuclear utilities. If the current situation is allowed to continue, the utilities will be paying twice. They have already contributed to the nuclear waste fund to build the repository. Without this legislation, they will continue to pay for the repository and on site storage for waste the federal government said it would take. As a result of national defense and research activities, the federal government itself has generated thousands of tons of spent nuclear fuel and high-level waste. This waste continues to be monitored and stored at federal sites across the country, including the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory, at significant cost. This waste is also waiting to be sent to a permanent repository. The financial resources that are necessary to continuously store, monitor, and maintain this fuel and waste are overwhelming and could be used for other constructive purposes by the government and utilities instead of watching and waiting as has been the past practice. This bill offers an option for relief to utilities where the Department of Energy could take title to the fuel and transport it to the repository site. Different from past legislation, this bill identifies that spent fuel storage at the repository site, in advance of fuel placement in a repository, cannot occur until construction of the repository has been authorized. This bill is particularly important to the State of Idaho because of the 1995 Settlement Agreement. This agreement was entered into in Federal court. It was agreed to by the Departments of Energy and Navy and the State of Idaho. One of the requirements is to remove all spent fuel from Idaho by 2035. A repository or interim storage site is essential for the parties to comply with the agreement. The logical location for the permanent repository is Yucca Mountain. It has been designated by Congress as the only site for study. It is located on dry Federal desert land. It is adjacent to the Nation's nuclear testing site where hundreds of nuclear weapons have been exploded. The bill establishes a schedule for decisions on the adequacy of Yucca Mountain as a repository which will allow the parties to comply with the Idaho Settlement Agreement. The bill also deletes the 70,000 metric ton uranium cap which had been imposed on the repository. Removal of this cap allows one geological repository to be capable of handling the nation's inventory of spent fuel and high-level waste instead of multiple repositories. The bill allows the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and National Academy of Sciences to give input on the scientific validity and protection of the public health and safety provided by the proposed Environmental Protection Agency radiation standard. The Environmental Protection Agency maintains standard setting authority, cannot set a standard until June 1, 2001, and is not bound to accept or even consider the Nuclear Regulatory Commission or National Academy of Sciences input. This compromise only delays the setting of a radiation standard by the Environmental Protection Agency and delays the date by when the Secretary of Energy will have an established radiation standard to work to. Although I dislike the compromise that was reached I understand that a compromise needed to be made to move this important legislation forward. Support of this bill is the right thing to do for the country. Idaho is one of several states where defense and DOE spent nuclear fuel and high level waste are stored; other major states include Washington, South Carolina, and New York. There are over 70 commercial nuclear utilities that are storing spent nuclear fuel because the federal government has not lived up to its contract. Storage facilities at these locations are filling up quickly, will not last forever, and will be expensive to monitor and maintain. The U.S. receives 20 percent of its electricity capacity from nuclear power. There are no other emission free alternative power generating technologies that could replace this capacity if opponents are successful in shutting down nuclear power. Many of the issues associated with spent nuclear fuel are political, not technical. Nuclear fuel has been moved safely across this country and around the world for nearly forty years. The ``mobile Chernobyl'' scare tactics are a myth. Movement needs to continue on a permanent repository and relief needs to be provided for nuclear utilities. This bill provides forward momentum and relief. I would have preferred to see the bill go further by establishing an interim storage facility at the Nevada Test Site and vesting standard setting authority with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Unfortunately, the Congress has been unable to enact this type of legislation because of the threat of a presidential veto. While I would have preferred to vote in support of a stronger bill, I understand why Senator Murkowski has made concessions to the other side to try to move this legislation forward. This is an important piece of legislation which will show the American people that we can address the issue of nuclear waste in a way that is technically and environmentally sound. I urge my colleagues to vote to support enactment of this important piece of legislation.

Mr. CRAPO

Mr. CRAPO. The Senate will be in a period of morning business until 12 noon to accommodate a number of Senators who desire to introduce bills and make statements. Following morning business, the Senate may resume consideration of the bankruptcy reform legislation. For the information of all Senators, progress has been made on the appropriations process, and it is hoped that the Senate will receive the remaining bills from the House today or early in the day on Wednesday. Rollcall votes are not anticipated today. However, they may occur, if necessary, to proceed to legislative or executive matters. Senators can expect votes to occur throughout tomorrow's session, possibly as early as 10 a.m., in an effort to complete the appropriations process. I thank my colleagues for their attention. I note the absence of a quorum.