T. Gorton

Mr. GORTON

Mr. GORTON. I yield the floor for your colloquy.

Mr. GORTON

Mr. GORTON. Mr. President, I thank the distinguished Senator from Pennsylvania. I am aware of the importance of the Allegheny National Forest to Pennsylvania and I believe that these three projects deserve thorough consideration by the U.S. Forest Service. Accordingly, I intend to work with the Senator from Pennsylvania to secure funding for these important rehabilitation projects in the Allegheny National Forest. recreation fee demonstration program

Mr. GORTON. I will be happy to discuss this matter with my colleagues.

Mr. GORTON. I am unfamiliar with the details of the proposed CO2 project, but I can assure my colleagues from North Dakota and Montana that I will work with you, Senator Byrd and the House conferees to include Statement of Managers language allowing the Department of Energy to make a loan to the owners of Great Plains for the CO2 project, provided the project is consistent with our country's overall energy and environmental policy objectives and is worthy of federal support.

Mr. GORTON. The ``jobs in the woods'' initiative is an important program for displaced timber workers in western Washington. The Wildstock Restoration Initiative is a key component of the overall initiative. I will support efforts in the Conference Committee to secure funding for the Wildstock Restoration Initiative.

Mr. GORTON. I recall the Senator from Utah raising these issues in a letter to me last March. I again say to him that the Committee remains concerned that the estimated savings provided by the Forest Service may well not be achieved. It would be an unfortunate waste of taxpayer dollars to have permitted this consolidation to go forward if the Forest Service fails to reach the savings promised. The Committee would be happy to revisit the consolidation issue next spring during the hearing process.

Mr. GORTON. Most certainly--The project the Senator describes appears to be a good example of the type of work intended to be funded with the additional funding provided by the Committee.

Mr. GORTON. Mr. President, I agree, the BIA should have the ability to restore funding for the Western Washington--Boldt Implementation and Pacific Salmon Treaty accounts from Tribal Priority Allocations. In addition, I suggest that the BIA and the Department of Interior modify their budget proposal for the next fiscal year to ensure that the trust account includes full funding for Western Washington--Boldt Implementation and Pacific Salmon Treaty.

Mr. GORTON. Mr. President, I thank the distinguished Senator from Pennsylvania. I agree that the blue pike study deserves thorough consideration by the U.S. Geological Survey. ensuring adequate law enforcement services on the yankton sioux reservation

Mr. GORTON. I appreciate my colleagues bringing this technology to my attention. It is indeed a promising technology that could produce substantial energy savings. Within the increase provided for electrochromic research, I hope the Department will consider supporting the PECVD project, provided this can be accomplished without a substantially adverse impact on ongoing projects in the electrochromic program. I further hope the Department will consider PECVD in formulating its FY 1999 budget request.

Mr. GORTON. I thank my colleagues for bringing this matter to the Committee's attention. In a letter to Regional Foresters on February 25, 1997, Forest Service Chief Dombeck clearly stated that the Fee Demonstration is not intended to displace concessionaires. That was clearly not the intent of this Committee when we passed the Fee Demonstration Program. I thank the gentleman for calling this to the attention of the Committee.

Mr. GORTON. I am happy to enter into a colloquy with the Senators from Idaho.

Mr. GORTON. Yes, that is correct.

Mr. GORTON. That is correct.

Mr. GORTON. It would appear that such a recommendation would be a reasonable approach to provide for the delivery of safe drinking water to the 1,500 people currently at risk.

Mr. GORTON. Mr. President, we have one amendment by the Senator from Alaska on the Presidio that can be accepted. Then I believe the Senator from Alaska is going to withdraw his second-degree amendment to the Stevens-McCain amendment. We can pass the Stevens-McCain amendment by voice vote. Then I would suggest that we have stacked votes on the Murkowski amendment that has just been debated, followed immediately by a vote on final passage of the bill. That is my suggestion, if we can get those other unanimous consents ahead of time. Mr. MURKOWSKI addressed the Chair.

Mr. GORTON. In light of the different technologies brought to my attention by the Senators from Alaska, I will indeed be inclined to favor the House funding level in conference if that level will facilitate investigation of alternative technologies while ensuring that the current project moves forward.

Mr. GORTON. I move to lay it on the table. The motion to lay on the table was agreed to.

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

Mr. GORTON. Mr. President, I send an amendment to the desk on behalf of Senators Abraham, Levin, and Hatch, and I ask unanimous consent any pending amendment be set aside and we consider this amendment.

Mr. GORTON

Mr. GORTON. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that further reading of the amendment be dispensed with.

Mr. GORTON. Mr. President, I send an amendment to the desk on behalf of myself and Senator Byrd and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. GORTON. I move to lay that motion on the table. The motion to lay on the table was agreed to. Amendment No. 1241

Mr. GORTON

Mr. GORTON. The Miccosukee Settlement Act of 1997 brings closure to disputes between the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida and the Florida Department of Transportation in connection with the construction of Interstate 75. It has been cleared on all sides.

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