T. Gorton

Mr. GORTON

Mr. GORTON. I appreciate the Senator from Arkansas bringing his concerns to my attention, and they will have considerable weight with me when the House presents its position in Conference. Use of BIA Funds for Marty Indian School

Mr. GORTON. Certainly.

Mr. GORTON. Along with the other Federal agencies involved in the actual construction of the drinking water system, I would agree that the Indian Health Service clearly has a role in the education and advisement of the affected community, so long as the Service meets its priorities and other obligations.

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. Mr. President, this is what I would propose. First, I ask unanimous consent that Senator Domenici be added as a cosponsor on the Abraham amendment.

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. 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. Yes, that is correct.

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

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

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. President, this does make a correction in connection with bill payments to Alaska which I believe is appropriate and I believe has been cleared.

Mr. GORTON

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

Mr. GORTON. I move to reconsider the vote.

Mr. GORTON. Reserving the right to object, I did not hear the request of the Senator.

Mr. GORTON. Mr. President, the amendment is sponsored jointly by the two Senators from Florida, Senators Mack and Graham.

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.

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