Pete Domenici

Mr. DOMENICI

Mr. DOMENICI. I don't want any misunderstanding. I don't want the Senator withdrawing that based upon a unilateral statement that he has made. I think I must make my statement in the Record.

Mr. DOMENICI

Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, S. 2138, the Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act, 1999, complies with the Budget Act's section 302(b) allocation of budget authority and outlays. The reported bill provides $20.9 billion in budget authority and $13.1 billion in new outlays to fund the civil programs of the Army Corps of Engineers, the Bureau of Reclamation, certain independent agencies, and most of the activities of the Department of Energy. When outlays from prior year budget authority and other actions are taken into account, this bill provides a total of $20.7 billion in outlays. For defense discretionary programs, the bill is at its allocation for budget authority and below its allocation for outlays by $2 million. The Senate- reported bill also is below its nondefense discretionary allocation by $38 million in budget authority and $1 million under its allocation for outlays. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that a table displaying the Budget Committee scoring of this bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. DOMENICI. I have reviewed the current situation and have been in contact with senior officials in the Department of Energy who have provided me with assurances that, while unusual, this contract has been subject to rigorous review and, on balance, is worthwhile because of the value that could be derived from demonstrating the use of solar energy on this scale. For this reason, and subject to the continued review of the Department, I am willing to recommend that the Department proceed with its negotiations on this contract.

Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, the amendments are as follows: Senator Daschle, flood damage claims; Senators Levin and Glenn, a section 1135 project; Senators Biden and Domenici, an IPP and nuclear cities amendment; Senator Levin, Michigan continuing authorities projects; Senator Reid, trace element isotopes; Senator Cleland, Atlanta watershed project; Senator Levin, contaminated sediment task force; and Senators Domenici-Reid on science. Are these cleared on your side, I ask the Senator?

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

Mr. DOMENICI. No objection on your side?

Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, I send to the desk nine amendments and ask that they be considered en bloc.

Mr. DOMENICI. Illinois.

Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, I ask Senator Coats what is his pleasure.

Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, parliamentary inquiry. Is it correct that the Coats amendment is now the pending business?

Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the reading of the amendments be dispensed with.

Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, I move to reconsider the vote by which the amendment was agreed to.

Mr. DOMENICI. We have no objection to Senator Inouye's amendment No. 2713.

Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, I call for the regular order. Amendment No. 2713

Mr. DOMENICI

Mr. DOMENICI. I agree that we need to make cleanup a priority and seek to apply these funds toward cleanup--they were collected for that purpose and should be used for such. I will work with the Senator to achieve this end. Amendment No. 2726

Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, I send an amendment to the desk on behalf of Senator Murray and Senator Gorton, the occupant of the Chair.

Mr. DOMENICI. I send to the desk an amendment on behalf of Mr. Dorgan and Mr. Conrad and I ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. DOMENICI. I thank the Chair.

Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate receives from the House of Representatives the companion bill to S. 2138, the Senate immediately proceed to its consideration; that all after the enacting clause be stricken; that the text of S. 2138 as passed be inserted in lieu thereof; that the House bill, as amended, be read for a third time and passed; that the Senate insist on its amendments and request a conference with the House on the disagreeing votes of the two Houses thereon, and the Chair be authorized to appoint the following conferees on the part of the Senate: Senators Domenici, Cochran, Gorton, McConnell, Bennett, Burns, Craig, Stevens, Reid, Byrd, Hollings, Murray, Kohl, Dorgan, and Inouye; and that the foregoing occur without any intervening action or debate. I further ask unanimous consent that the bill, S. 2138, not be engrossed and it remain at the desk pending receipt of the House-passed companion bill; that upon passage of the House companion bill by the Senate, the passage of S. 2138 be vitiated, and the bill be indefinitely postponed.

Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent reading of the amendment be dispensed with.

Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, we have no objection to the amendment.

Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent reading of the amendment be dispensed with.

Mr. DOMENICI. I thank Senator Murray for her attention.

Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, I ask for the yeas and nays.

Mr. DOMENICI

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