Pete Domenici

Mr. DOMENICI

Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Finance be authorized to meet during the session on Tuesday, May 13, 2003, at 2 p.m., to hear testimony on Status of the Free Miami Ministerial.

Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Finance be authorized to meet in open Executive Session during the session on Tuesday, May 13, 2003, at 7 p.m., to mark up an original bill, the text of which was reported by the Committee on Finance on May 8, 2003, for the purpose of meeting Finance Committee reconciliation instructions.

Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on the Judiciary be authorized to meet to conduct a hearing on ``Project Safe Neighborhoods: America's Network Against Gun Violence'' on Tuesday, May 13, 2003, at 9:30 a.m., in the Dirksen Senate Office Building, Room 226. Panel I: The Honorable Paul M. Warner, United States Attorney for the District of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT; The Honorable Paul J. McNulty, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, Alexandria, VA; The Honorable Todd P. Graves, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, Kansas City, MO; The Honorable Patrick L. Meehan, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA. Panel II: Mr. Russell Edward Spann, Captain, West Valley Police Department, Utah, West Valley, UT; Mr. Dennis A. Mook, Chief of Police, Newport News Police Department, Newport News, VA; The Honorable Donald R. Totaro, District Attorney, Lancaster County, Lancaster, PA; Mr. Charles L. Curtis, President, Kansas City Metropolitan Crime Commission, Kansas City, MO; Professor Jens Ludwig, Georgetown Public Policy Institute, Georgetown University, Washington, DC; Professor Alfred Blumstein, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA.

Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Subcommittee on National Parks of the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Tuesday, May 13, at 10:00 a.m., to receive testimony regarding S. 452, to require that the Secretary of the Interior conduct a study to identify sites and resources, to recommend alternatives for commemorating and interpreting the Cold War, and for other purposes; S. 500, to direct the Secretary of the Interior to study certain sites in the Historic District of Beaufort, South Carolina, relating to the Reconstruction Era; S. 601, to authorize the Secretary to acquire the McLoughlin House National Historic Site in Oregon City, Oregon, for inclusion in the Fort Vancouver National Historic Site, and for other purposes; S. 612, and H.R. 788, to revise the boundary of the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area in the States of Utah and Arizona; and S. 630, and H.R. 519, to authorize the Secretary to conduct a study of the San Gabriel River Watershed and for other purposes.

Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Subcommittee on Water and Power of the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Tuesday, May 13, at 2:30 p.m., to receive testimony regarding S. 520, a bill to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to convey certain facilities to the Fremont-Madison Irrigation District in the State of Idaho; S. 625, a bill to authorize the Bureau of Reclamation to conduct certain feasibility studies in the Tualatin River Basin in Oregon, and for other purposes; S. 960, a bill to amend the Reclamation Wasterwater and Groundwater Study and Facilities Act to authorize certain projects in the State of Hawaii and to amend the Hawaii Water Resources Act of 2000 to modify the Water Resources Study; S. 649, a bill to amend the Reclamation Wastewater and Groundwater Study and Facilities Act to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to participate in projects within the San Diego Creek Watershed, California, and for other purposes; and S. 993, a bill to amend the Small Reclamation Projects Act of 1956, and for other purposes.

Mr. DOMENICI

Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, I rise to pay tribute to former U.S. Senator Russell Long, who is being laid to rest today in his home State of Louisiana. The U.S. Senate has a long history that is highlighted by public service careers of a few highly talented legislative geniuses. I consider Russell Long to be one of those Senators. I had the privilege of serving with Senator Long during my first terms in this Chamber. He was undoubtedly as formidable a Senator as any who have served here. For those freshmen Senators who paid attention, Russell Long provided us with example after example of how to serve as an effective public servant. His place in history is secure because he was so dynamic and productive. As a freshman Senator, I quickly learned to consider him one of the kindest and most considerate Senators. We were not of the same party or ideology on many issues. But on more than one occasion, he went out of his way to help me when I truly needed his help on the floor. He will never be forgotten, not only for his leadership skills as a Senator, but also for his kindness and generosity. I extend my condolences to his wife Carolyn and the rest of the Russell Long family. He was a wonderful man.

Mr. DOMENICI

Mr. DOMENICI. I ask unanimous consent that Mr. Kris Schafer, a fellow from the Army Corps of Engineers who was detailed to my personal office and worked on the relevant legislation, be allowed the privilege of the Senate floor that he already was allowed as we did discuss this, and during further discussion of this bill at any time during this Congress.

Mr. DOMENICI

Mr. DOMENICI. They are good for nothing.

Mr. DOMENICI. I thank the Senator for joining me.

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

Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce a piece of legislation that is of paramount importance to the State of New Mexico and many other Western States. This bill will address the mounting pressures brought on by the growing demands throughout the West of a diminishing water supply. A water crisis has ravaged the West for 4 years. Drought conditions are expected to expand into the upper Midwest this year. Last year snow packs were abnormally low, causing severe drought conditions. Snow pack conditions this year are still low, but marginally better in the Southwest. The rest of the West does not look any more promising. I know that the seriousness of the water situation in New Mexico becomes more acute every single day. This drought has affected every New Mexican and nearly everyone in the West in some way. Wells are running dry, farmers are being forced to sell livestock, many of our cities are in various stages of conservation and many, many acres have been charred by catastrophic wildfires. The drought conditions also have other consequences. For example, the lack of stream flow makes it very difficult for New Mexico to meet its compact delivery obligations to the State of Texas. The bill that I am introducing today deals more specifically with the issue of in-stream water flows. To compound the drought situation, New Mexico is home to a vast amount of salt cedar. Salt cedar is a water- thirsty non-native tree that continually strips massive amounts of water out of New Mexico's two predominant water supplies--the Pecos and the Rio Grande rivers. Estimates show that one mature salt cedar tree can consume as much as 200 gallons of water per day; over the growing season that's 7 acre feet of water for each acre of salt cedar. In addition to the excessive water consumption, salt cedars increase fire, increase river channelization and flood frequency, decrease water flow and increase water and soil salinity along the river. Studies indicate that eradication of the salt cedars could increase river flows. Increasing river flows could help alleviate mounting pressure to meet compact delivery obligations--both on the Pecos and the Rio Grande. The drought and the mounting legal requirements on both the Pecos and Rio Grande rivers are forcing us toward a severe water crisis. Every river in the intermountain West seems to be facing these same problems. Solving such water problems has become one of my top priorities. I ask unanimous consent that a copy of the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. DOMENICI. I am happy to yield.

Mr. DOMENICI. This map which we just showed indicates that your problem is not just yours, my problem is not just mine. All the States that are green on the chart have tamarisk or one of these foreign plants such as salt cedar, that have infested the area, sucking up their water for no good use. Estimates show that a mature salt cedar tree can consume as much as 200 gallons of water a day over the growing season or 7 acre feet of water for each acre of salt cedar. In addition to the excessive water consumption, the salt cedar increases fire, increases river channelization, flood frequency, decreases water flow, increases water and soil salinity over the various river basins.

Mr. DOMENICI

Mr. DOMENICI. They are good for nothing.

Mr. DOMENICI. I thank the Senator for joining me.

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

Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce a piece of legislation that is of paramount importance to the State of New Mexico and many other Western States. This bill will address the mounting pressures brought on by the growing demands throughout the West of a diminishing water supply. A water crisis has ravaged the West for 4 years. Drought conditions are expected to expand into the upper Midwest this year. Last year snow packs were abnormally low, causing severe drought conditions. Snow pack conditions this year are still low, but marginally better in the Southwest. The rest of the West does not look any more promising. I know that the seriousness of the water situation in New Mexico becomes more acute every single day. This drought has affected every New Mexican and nearly everyone in the West in some way. Wells are running dry, farmers are being forced to sell livestock, many of our cities are in various stages of conservation and many, many acres have been charred by catastrophic wildfires. The drought conditions also have other consequences. For example, the lack of stream flow makes it very difficult for New Mexico to meet its compact delivery obligations to the State of Texas. The bill that I am introducing today deals more specifically with the issue of in-stream water flows. To compound the drought situation, New Mexico is home to a vast amount of salt cedar. Salt cedar is a water- thirsty non-native tree that continually strips massive amounts of water out of New Mexico's two predominant water supplies--the Pecos and the Rio Grande rivers. Estimates show that one mature salt cedar tree can consume as much as 200 gallons of water per day; over the growing season that's 7 acre feet of water for each acre of salt cedar. In addition to the excessive water consumption, salt cedars increase fire, increase river channelization and flood frequency, decrease water flow and increase water and soil salinity along the river. Studies indicate that eradication of the salt cedars could increase river flows. Increasing river flows could help alleviate mounting pressure to meet compact delivery obligations--both on the Pecos and the Rio Grande. The drought and the mounting legal requirements on both the Pecos and Rio Grande rivers are forcing us toward a severe water crisis. Every river in the intermountain West seems to be facing these same problems. Solving such water problems has become one of my top priorities. I ask unanimous consent that a copy of the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. DOMENICI. I am happy to yield.

Mr. DOMENICI. This map which we just showed indicates that your problem is not just yours, my problem is not just mine. All the States that are green on the chart have tamarisk or one of these foreign plants such as salt cedar, that have infested the area, sucking up their water for no good use. Estimates show that a mature salt cedar tree can consume as much as 200 gallons of water a day over the growing season or 7 acre feet of water for each acre of salt cedar. In addition to the excessive water consumption, the salt cedar increases fire, increases river channelization, flood frequency, decreases water flow, increases water and soil salinity over the various river basins.

Mr. DOMENICI

Mr. DOMENICI. No, I believe we will leave the amendment pending. The order is not that there will be no votes today but, rather, no votes until all Senators have returned. It could be this evening, but there is no order to do that or not to do it at this point, so it will remain the pending amendment.

Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, I think the Senate now knows that S. 14, a comprehensive energy policy, is before the Senate. Obviously, we are going to have to take some time in this calendar of ours to get it done. We always speak of a comprehensive energy bill and we tell the country we need one. We have one before us. There are many of us who think it is very good. We won't know how good the Senate thinks it is until we have had a chance to go through it and vote on it. I am very hopeful that those who have amendments will start thinking about coming down here to offer them. The pending amendment is a major one--the so-called ethanol amendment. That is the bill which establishes a national goal of 5 billion barrels by the year 2012. It is a very important contribution to America's independence and a component of the bill, if adopted, when adopted, that will create diversification. It will be moving toward independence rather than dependence. Obviously, it has fantastic side effects for rural America, agricultural America, which those who have been working on it for years have already spoken to, and many more will. Nonetheless, there are Senators who have concerns about the pending amendment. There are Senators who want to amend it. I urge and ask those Senators who have amendments to get them down here and let the Senate pass judgment on whether it wants the ethanol package that has been worked on for years, which is bipartisan and was introduced essentially by the majority and minority leaders, with cosponsors in ample numbers from both sides of the aisle as an indication of its support. I hope Senators who we understand have amendments will begin to bring them down so we can debate and vote on them. I understand that at this point the distinguished Senator from Ohio, Mr. Voinovich, desires to speak in favor of the amendment. As manager of the bill, even though we are operating under no time agreements, I yield the floor at this point, assuming he will give his 15-minute address.

Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, I ask the Senator from Ohio if he can remain in the Chamber for a few moments. An amendment is going to be offered to the bill, and I have to be elsewhere. Will the Senator do that for the Senator from New Mexico?

Mr. DOMENICI

Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, at the time Senate Report No. 108-43 was filed, the Congressional Budget Office report was not available. The report is now available on the CBO website at www.cbo.gov.

Mr. DOMENICI

Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate now resume consideration of the energy bill until 11:30 today. I further ask consent that at 11:30 the Senate proceed to the consideration of S. 113, the FISA bill; provided further, that the previously scheduled cloture votes occur at 1:45 today as under the previous order. Finally, I ask consent that at 12:45 today, Senator DeWine be recognized to speak for up to 15 minutes in morning business.

Mr. DOMENICI

Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, we are going to hear now from one of the early proponents of ethanol and of this bill and of this composite that ultimately got such broad bipartisan support. It is my privilege to have as a supporter of this amendment and of the energy bill the distinguished Senator from Nebraska, Mr. Hagel. I thank the Senator for all the work he has done in this area and for all the help he has given me by way of advice on the energy bill, which is pending before the Senate, of which this will become an integral and vital part. Thank you so much.