Tom Daschle

Mr. DASCHLE

Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, let me just confirm the agreement that was anticipated, I think, by the majority leader's comments. He and I have been talking throughout the day in attempts to find some resolution to the problems we are facing with regard to finalizing the list on amendments to the HUD-VA bill. I have committed to the majority leader that it would be our hope that we could come up with a finite list tonight. I think we are pretty close to having that finite list available. I will share that with the majority leader later on. It is my expectation the majority leader, as he has indicated, will work with us to finalize the language on the resolution relating to Iraq. The meeting, as he indicated, will be in his office tomorrow at 10. It will be my hope we could have the vote tomorrow on that resolution, and find a way in which to resolve the outstanding issues on the HUD-VA bill. It is not our desire to preclude a vote, or to hold up a vote on the Defense of Marriage Act. Obviously, we had hoped we could come up with an agreement that would allow us a couple of amendments. As the majority leader indicated, there was concern on both sides and that was not possible. We want to work with the majority leader in finding a way to schedule that legislation and I am sure we can work through that as well. So we hope we can get everyone's cooperation. As it relates to the pending bill, I have committed our best effort to see if we can come to closure on it. I know there are a number of amendments that will be offered. Hopefully, if we have the list, at least we can confine ourselves to that list and I pledge our best efforts to make that happen. I yield the floor.

Mr. DASCHLE

Mr. DASCHLE. Reserving the right to object, I obviously failed to list as one of our amendments the amendment relating to spina bifida. That was supposed to have been listed. It was left off. I think everybody just understood it was going to be here.

Mr. DASCHLE. I would also like to emphasize one final point about our AST bill. We are more than aware of the frustration felt by many over the development and enforcement of Federal regulations and the lack of sensitivity exhibited by Federal agencies, particularly in regard to environmental statutes. The bill does not exacerbate this problem. Rather, Senator Robb, Senator Simpson, and I have worked together to ensure that our bill creates workable and streamlined regulations to ensure proper precautions are taken to prevent AST leakage and spills. This bill's simplicity is its elegance. I thank the Senator for her attention to this matter.

Mr. DASCHLE. Certainly, but first I want to take a moment to thank the Senator from Virginia for his long-standing dedication and leadership on this issue. We have worked together on AST legislation since the 102d Congress, and again I appreciate this opportunity to work with him. Senator Mikulski may remember that 6 years ago Sioux Falls suffered an AST leak of great magnitude. I can tell my colleague from personal observation that the environmental and public health effects of the spill were devastating, not to mention the costly cleanup expenses incurred. We now have the means to prevent similar incidents in my State and throughout the Nation. My colleague from Virginia indicated the two GAO reports confirm that AST leakage is a prevalent problem across the country.

Mr. DASCHLE

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

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

Mr. DASCHLE

Mr. DASCHLE. This morning, the President of the United States ordered the use of cruise missiles against key strategic targets in Iraq. President Clinton noted in his address that despite clear warnings from the United States and the international community, Iraqi forces attacked and seized the Kurdish-controlled city of Irbil. Iraq's latest attack repeats a pattern the civilized world has seen before. Saddam Hussein is prepared to use force at any time to achieve his end, to threaten his neighbors, to terrorize his own people, and to undermine the stability of the entire Middle East. This act of naked aggression violates the spirit if not the letter of the United Nations' resolution adopted shortly after Saddam's earlier misguided attempts at transforming the balance of power in the Middle East. President Clinton correctly stated that if we did not respond firmly and decisively at this time, Saddam would conclude he could act with impunity. The purpose of the U.S. military action is twofold: First, Saddam must pay a price for his attack on the Kurds; second, by extending the no-fly zone and eliminating certain air defense assets, we have reduced the threat he poses to others. To our allies and to others overseas, President Clinton and the United States will continue to do all that is necessary to protect our national and our international interests. And the President will continue to consult closely with our allies as he did before taking this action. Finally, I am optimistic that all Americans will set aside partisan political differences and stand behind the administration at this important time. Senator Dole's latest comments indicate that he supports the United States strikes, and I am pleased to know that others in his party have had similar reactions. I expect strong, if not unanimous, bipartisan support for the President's decision to launch a United States strike against Iraq this morning. As I indicated earlier today, it will be my intention to work with the majority leader to propose a resolution of support for the President's actions later today, to be voted upon tomorrow. Mr. President, I hope Saddam Hussein and those who are in control of the Iraqi Government clearly understand the resolve and the determination of this administration and this country. This may be a political year, and we may now be in the most contentious time of the entire Presidential campaign, but on this issue there can be no disunity. There can be no lack of cohesion. We stand united, Republicans and Democrats, determined to send as clear a message with as clear a resolve as we can articulate: Saddam Hussein's actions will not be tolerated. His willingness to brutally attack Kurds in northern Iraq and abrogate U.N. resolutions is simply unacceptable. We intend to make that point clear with the use of force, with the use of legislative language, and with the use of other actions that the President and the Congress have at their disposal. We stand united in support of the President's commitment to stand up against Iraq's aggression, and we should continue to demonstrate our support for the administration's response in the weeks and months ahead, regardless of the actions taken by Saddam Hussein. I yield the floor and suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. DASCHLE

Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, let me welcome back the distinguished majority leader and the Presiding Officer and indicate how pleased I am to have the opportunity, once again, to be working with him as we consider the many issues that we must confront in the short time that we have available to us. I trust, as well, that his month was productive and restful and successful in many respects. I look forward to working with him on a number of the issues he mentioned. The one omission I cite, and I am sure it was an oversight, but I look forward to working with him on that as well, is the Executive Calendar, which was a matter that was unresolved prior to the time we left, and of great concern to colleagues on this side of the aisle. I also indicate to the majority leader that it would be my hope that he and I could sponsor a joint resolution or a resolution which would indicate our support for the actions taken in Iraq. I hope there would be broad bipartisan, virtually unanimous, support for the actions taken. I intend to talk with the distinguished majority leader about that throughout the day. Mr. President, we have a lot of work to do. I must say I am very hopeful that in the short time that we have available to us we can make it a productive time. Obviously, appropriations bills will deserve, as they should, the highest priority. As we were able to do in the remaining days of the session prior to the recess, Democrats and Republicans came together on a number of bills, and I hope that would set a very important precedent and a standard by which we will judge our progress and our ability to work together in the remaining weeks of this session. I will have much more to say about the President's actions in Iraq, as well as the convention, in the time allotted to Democrats prior to 2 o'clock this afternoon. I yield the floor.

Mr. DASCHLE

Mr. DASCHLE. To one other possibility, one other possibility would be to have the votes and people who care to talk about these things talk after the votes.

Mr. DASCHLE. If the majority leader will yield, I think we need to check with our colleagues for a brief period of time to determine the length of time that may be required to talk on this bill. I know of little opposition, if any, but I do know of a number of Senators who have expressed a desire to speak for the legislation. And so we would not be prepared to enter into a time agreement, but I do not think it will be that long.

Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, as I understand it, our staffs are just now combing through the language, and I think within a few moments we will be prepared to enter into the agreement. I did not hear all of the explanation from the distinguished majority leader.

Mr. DASCHLE. If the majority leader will yield----

Mr. DASCHLE. We ought to be able to work something out maybe during the course of this vote.

Mr. DASCHLE. Perhaps we could get a unanimous-consent agreement right after that vote.

Mr. DASCHLE

Mr. DASCHLE. Madam President, let me just say that while I did not hear all of the discussion this morning, I heard about it. I only say that we are prepared this afternoon to work with the majority leader to pass the conference report on minimum wage, to pass the conference report on health care, with the understanding that the last-minute, nonauthorized addition of a provision dealing with a certain drug patent would be removed from the conference report, and to pass the conference report on safe drinking water. We would be prepared to do that, along with the CFTC nominations, and the item on the Executive Calendar dealing with the nominee for the district judgeship in Minnesota. So that is a good deal of work this afternoon. I see that the majority leader is here. We had the opportunity to discuss this matter earlier, and I look forward to resolving the matters I have just mentioned with him. We are prepared to enter into a colloquy at this time. I yield the floor for that purpose. Mr. LOTT addressed the Chair.

Mr. DASCHLE. If the distinguished majority leader will yield, as I understand it, our staffs have discussed the matter and the way in which it would come up. There would be a correcting resolution that would be offered, and we would consider that, and it is my understanding that we would then hold the bill until the House has passed the correcting resolution. But in that time we could take up the other legislation as well.

Mr. DASCHLE. Well, Mr. President, I would be happy to respond. We want very much to be able to clear the calendar of all nominations. We would like very much to deal with all of the military nominees and promotions. They are nonpolitical. The majority leader has pledged that for the entire month of July he would like to deal with the nonpolitical nominations on the judiciary as well. I am sure we can work out an arrangement whereby the military and judiciary--all the nonpolitical nominations--can be dealt with. I look forward to working with him and both of you to see that that happens this afternoon. It is also my hope that we can deal with a number of conference reports. Our desire is to try to accelerate these considerations. An hour would work very fine with us. If we can work out an arrangement where that can be done, I look forward to taking that up today.

Mr. DASCHLE. I agree.

Mr. DASCHLE. That is right. We want to keep it nonpartisan.

Mr. DASCHLE. I understand, and the chairman knows that better than anyone does. He has worked admirably to get to the point where consideration of the conference report could be taken up this afternoon in a nonpartisan way. Both the ranking member and the chairman have done an excellent job. But I must say we have worked together all month long on a whole range of bills. A lot of what we have done this month he has cooperated on. We have cooperated in a nonpartisan way in getting the defense bill to this point.

Mr. DASCHLE

Mr. DASCHLE. Madam President, I know the majority leader will be here shortly. I look forward to the opportunity to discuss the schedule for the remainder of the day with him when he comes. Let me just say that I apologize for not having the opportunity to have been here this morning. I know there have been a number of discussions underway with regard to the schedule and individual issues. The distinguished Senator from Texas, the Presiding Officer, made a number of points this morning regarding the stalking bill that she has made in the past. I am told she suggested that her stalking legislation, which passed the Senate last week after an amendment to the bill was worked out, is being held up in the House and that she referred to a commitment I made to her to try to help her get it passed. I am told she suggested that, because the bill has not cleared the House in the last week, that I have not lived up to that commitment. As several Senators pointed out earlier this morning, sometimes it takes more than a week for the other body to act. At any rate, I understand that the problem is not as dire as earlier suggested--and that the circumstances surrounding this stalking legislation certainly do not warrant objections to action on the Executive Calendar. I wanted to confirm this, but I can now say with authority--I have the references before me --that the entire language of the Senator's stalking bill, word-for-word, is currently in the defense authorization conference report that is in the Senate. This language was apparently accepted by the House and Senate conferees. She was one of those conferees, so I am sure she understood that. I am confused as to why that was not recognized this morning, yesterday, or at some point, because she made quite a point of saying that we had not worked in good faith. Well, clearly, the conferees were there and could have objected to the inclusion of that language, and they did not. So the language is in the defense authorization conference report, and I hope that she feels that that represents a fairly significant development in terms of getting her policy accomplished. I am very disappointed that the other half of the stalking legislation that passed last week--the amendment of the Senator from New Jersey that she praised so strongly and so appropriately the other night --was not included. The Senator from Texas has given me her word, as has the majority leader, that they would work with us to get that legislation enacted as well. I know that she will live up to that commitment, just as the majority leader and I have attempted to work in good faith to live up to ours. The reference, I might point out, to the Senator from Texas's stalking language is section 1069 of the defense authorization conference report. The page in the Congressional Record, dated July 30, 1996, was page 9055, in the House section. I ask unanimous consent that that section of the conference report be printed in the Record.

Mr. DASCHLE

Mr. DASCHLE. I thank the distinguished majority leader. This unanimous consent agreement is designed to try to accommodate all Senators. There are a number of Senators, as the distinguished Senator from New Mexico has indicated, who wish to be heard on both of these conference reports, but there are a lot of other Senators who would like to be able to plan their travel for early this evening. What this could do is provide us the opportunity, if we can do it, to have two stacked votes at 6 o'clock, one on the conference report on the minimum wage-small business package, the other on the health bill. I hope we can get cooperation on both sides to accommodate those two votes no later than 6 o'clock. I believe we can, and I applaud the majority leader for his effort in getting us to this point.

Mr. DASCHLE

Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, I am delighted to cast my vote for this bill--it is an important first step in ensuring health security for working Americans. Health security has always been, and always will be, a Democratic priority. It is at the top of our agenda, and we won't give up until every American has access to meaningful, affordable coverage. Unfortunately, even this small step was controversial. Senator Dole promised 2 years ago that health reform would be the first thing Republicans would focus on if they controlled Congress. As it turns out, health reform was nearly the last thing they focused on. And only because we insisted they finally act. This bill was approved unanimously in the Senate Labor Committee exactly 1 year ago on August 2, 1995. But for 8 months, secret Republican ``holds'' delayed it. When the bill finally reached the Senate floor on April 18 1996, the Republican leadership tried to attach to the bill poison pills, like MSA's to kill it. Then, 4 more months passed as the Republican leadership tried to stack the conference committee to ensure that MSA's were included in the final bill. In the meantime, the Republican leadership tried to water down the bill's portability provisions to guarantee that health insurance can be carried from job to job. But they did not succeed. I am delighted and relieved these ``delay and destroy'' tactics were finally abandoned and that Republicans joined us in fixing the most badly broken parts of health system. Make no mistake--this bill is badly needed. One Republican Senator told the Washington Post last year that ``Health care is not very bright on anybody's radar screen, if it shows up at all.'' That's not what I hear in South Dakota and across the country. This issue is still very much on the minds of Americans. When health reform failed in 1994, Americans' problems securing coverage didn't go away. The problems fueling the health care and insurance crisis still exist today. Forty million people are without insurance, and insurance remains prohibitively expensive for far too many people. The public expects and wants us to tackle this issue. The bill before us breathed new life into health reform efforts. Still, it does not come close to solving all our health care problems-- it is a modest, incremental downpayment on reform. But this bill does deal with one of the most pressing problems in our system--portability. Indeed, GAO says this legislation could help up to 25 million Americans each year, at no cost to taxpayers. This bill gives workers dismissed from their jobs or looking for better jobs peace of mind. This bill means that never again will fear of losing their insurance trap people in their jobs. Still, passage of this bill is the beginning of the debate, not the end of it. Every single day in this country, 60,000 people lose their health insurance. Unfortunately, only a small fraction of that group will be helped by this legislation. We must do more to provide real health security to every American. As we celebrate this bill's passage, let us pledge to tackle even more difficult issues. We must ensure that every child has health coverage. We must eliminate barriers to pregnant women getting prenatal care. We must make coverage more affordable for small businesses. We must ensure every child is immunized appropriately. We must end cherry picking by insurance companies. We must ensure rural Americans have the same access to quality care their urban neighbors enjoy. In sum, we must guarantee every American access to affordable, quality coverage. This will be on the top of the Democrats' agenda in the next Congress. Despite its limitations, this is an important bill. It's a victory for the President, who put this issue on our collective radar screens. It's a victory for Senators Kennedy and Kassebaum, who worked so hard to make this happen. It's a victory for Democrats, who consider this a priority item. Most importantly, it's a victory for America's working families.

Mr. DASCHLE

Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, the Senator from Massachusetts has said it so well. I wish to associate myself with his remarks. This is a very important day for all of us. But I cannot think of anyone who deserves more credit and more commendation for the tremendous work that it has taken to get us to this point of passage of essential health reform than the senior Senator from Massachusetts, Senator Kennedy. It has been my great pleasure to work with him, not only on this legislation but on so many other matters. In the view of many of us, he is a professional's professional. His dedication, his intelligence, his integrity, his willingness to compromise and work with Senators from both sides of the aisle on both sides of the issues has been proven throughout this effort to pass this health bill. His persistence and perseverance to ensure that at some point in this session we would enact the Kennedy-Kassebaum bill is a tribute to him and to the extraordinary effort that he has put forth. So I want to commend him, commend his extraordinary staff and all of those responsible for bringing us to this point this afternoon. As the distinguished junior Senator from Massachusetts indicated, the Senator from Kansas also deserves our thanks and a great deal of credit for working so diligently with Senator Kennedy and all of us to bring about this very important accomplishment. This is a day that will affect many, many millions of Americans, Americans who care deeply about their health and the health of their families, Americans who deeply need help to find and afford adequate health insurance. We are going to be able to help families do that in large measure, thanks to the accomplishments and to the extraordinary leadership demonstrated today by Senators Kennedy and Kassebaum. I yield the floor. Mrs. BOXER addressed the Chair.

Mr. DASCHLE

Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, I object.