Pete Domenici

Mr. DOMENICI

Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, I am very pleased today that we have set a time and we are going to vote on the so-called Feinstein amendment. I am also pleased we will hear from a very distinguished Senator whose thoughts and reputation in the Senate, from this Senator's standpoint, are becoming more valid, more looked upon, and listened to. The issue before us is a straightforward issue that is trying to be made complex. It is not the issue of building new nuclear weapons. Senator Chambliss and I can start off by saying there is nothing in this bill that permits us to build a single, solitary, new nuclear weapon. That requires an act of Congress that is not before us. Secondly, the Senator knows it provides for the testing ground in Nevada, which we had said since we put it in mothballs, it should be ready for testing at any time. Any time today means 3 years. Under this legislation, at the request of the administration, it will be modernized so it will only take 1\1/2\ years to get ready for a test, if a test is necessary. So far, those things I have said, it would seem to me, should pass this Senate 100 to 0. There are two other issues I am sure my friend from Georgia will explain, but none of them do anything to build a new line of nuclear weapons for this great Nation. That is not the issue, and I hope the Senator from Georgia will join me in convincing a few more Senators this is an issue to be defeated. Small funding, big ideas; little, tiny funding with great repercussions if we fail to do what we ought to do. I yield the floor and welcome the Senator's comments.

Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, I thank the distinguished Senator from Colorado for his comments and overall summary of this situation. It has been extremely helpful. I am very grateful that he found time to do it today. I understand that Senator Bayh desires to speak as if in morning business shortly with reference to the death of the Governor of his State. He is on his way. When he arrives, I will yield to him. He said he wanted 7 minutes.

Mr. DOMENICI. I indicate to the Senate that we will have a few minutes before the vote. I will summarize again and we will have handouts if anyone needs to know what this Senator thinks the issues we will vote on are. In summary, No. 1, there is no authorization to build any new nuclear weapons. We are building none now. We have not built any for a long period of time. No. 2, a portion of this bill says the Nevada Test Site will be made ready so it can be used in 18 months rather than 3 years. Almost everyone knowledgeable in the field thinks it is high time that happened. No. 3, there is a small amount of money to begin planning, designing and feasibility, for a pit manufacturing facility. We are the only nation with nuclear weapons which has no spare pits, plutonium pits, the essential ingredient. We have tried to make them in Los Alamos. It is makeshift and it has been very expensive. It is clearly indicated for the next 40 or 50 years we need to build a facility. This bill provides a start on that long-term effort. Not yet have I said anything about new weapons or America engaging in a new course of conduct with respect to nuclear energy. That is not happening. Next, the bill says, do not tie the hands of our great scientists with reference to the future. Let them study, let them think, let them design, but do not let anyone build any new weapons. Let them think about the future and what might be needed in light of the changed circumstances in the world. It is very prudent to do that. In all three regards, there are clear cases the Feinstein amendment should fail. I hope it does so we can proceed ahead with these things that are necessary. I yield whatever time the distinguished Senator from Indiana needs. I share my grave concern and condolences over the death of his esteemed Governor. I yield the floor.

Mr. DOMENICI

Mr. DOMENICI. I move to reconsider the vote.

Mr. DOMENICI. I yield my remaining time. I move to table the amendment, and I ask for the yeas and nays.

Mr. DOMENICI. I wonder if the Senator might offer that amendment so I could give him my concurrence.

Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, I wonder if the Senator will yield.

Mr. DOMENICI. Did the Senator conclude amendment No. 1659 regarding the Energy Department's research on nuclear weapons?

Mr. DOMENICI. I move to lay that motion on the table. The motion to lay on the table was agreed to.

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

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

Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, we have a package of amendments.

Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, we have cleared these amendments. We have worked on them on both sides. They are acceptable. I understand the distinguished minority leader is willing to accept them; is that correct?

Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, we have nothing further.

Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, I move to reconsider the vote.

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

Mr. DOMENICI. I move to lay that motion on the table. The motion to lay on the table was agreed to. amendment no. 1650, as modified

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

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

Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, I say to our fellow Senators, we are finished with the exception of a colloquy or two, which are going to be ready shortly. However, we have been informed that Senator John McCain of Arizona desires to offer an amendment relative to a provision in the bill. We are trying to contact him to let him know we are finished but for his amendment. If we can get him here--and we are going to try our best--we will ask him to offer his amendment. We will vote on it and then vote on final passage and we will be finished, which means that, on the request of our leader that we be finished by 7 o'clock tonight, we should do that easily, if we can find the Senator and start that process.

Mr. DOMENICI. I would be pleased to.

Mr. DOMENICI. I want to echo the comments of the Senator about the importance of these resources. We have provided an additional $1 million above the President's request for the O&M function for this specific economic mitigation commitment for the community. It is the committee's intent that the Corps should use these resources to help address the recreational needs of the Clearwater River Valley community resulting from the alterations of the water level in the reservoir. I believe the senior senator from Idaho, and a member of the subcommittee, also would like to be heard on this point.

Mr. DOMENICI. That is the committee's intention, and I appreciate your commitment to this important provision. I also appreciate Senator Crapo's desire in helping to clarify these issues so that the needs of the Clearwater River Valley communities can be effectively addressed. I yield back to Senator Crapo.

Mr. DOMENICI. I will also work with my colleagues to make the necessary changes, as I do not believe there is a substantive disagreement.

Mr. DOMENICI. I share the Senator's concerns and will inquire about GAO findings and will join you in urging the Department to give priority to developing technologies that are different from the baseline system and could provide an insurance policy.