Judd Gregg

Mr. GREGG

Mr. GREGG. Mr. President, I would like to direct a question to the majority manager of the Defense Appropriations bill, the distinguished Senator from Alaska. I note that the Committee on Appropriations directs the Department of Defense to make available, from existing funds, up to $8,000,000 for a community retraining, reinvestment, and manufacturing initiative to be conducted by an academic consortia with existing programs in manufacturing and retraining. It is my understanding that the consortia referred to is the New Hampshire Network for Science, Technology and Communication, and further, that the funds should be provided to that organization to create a state wide higher education network among small independent colleges to improve and expand research and training opportunities in science, technology, and communication for undergraduate students and for community, business, and K-12 schools. Am I correct, is that not the intent of the committee?

Mr. GREGG

Mr. GREGG. I would concur with the Senator from Wisconsin that it is important to improve the state of understanding about the potential human health risks of pathogens that enter U.S. waters via ballast water, and that the Sea Grant College Program is an appropriate agency to conduct and facilitate such research.

Mr. GREGG. While I can make no promises with regard to the final outcome of the conference, I will work with the Senator to address these concerns in the conference report. safe schools initiative

Mr. GREGG. I thank the senior Senator from Colorado for raising this important issue and for his work on the Commerce, Justice, State subcommittee to make DEA funding a main priority. I can appreciate his concern for the tragic ways methamphetamines can ravage communities, and commit to working with him in urging the DEA to establish a field office on the Western Slope of Colorado.

Mr. GREGG. Yes.

Mr. GREGG. With the information provided, I believe the Senator's understanding is correct.

Mr. GREGG. I wish to enter into a colloquy with Senator Faircloth in order to address his concerns about the conservation of swordfish. The National Marine Fisheries Service is in the process of implementing several management measures to ensure sustainable use of the Atlantic swordfish resource. The rampant importation of undersized Atlantic swordfish harvested by foreign fishing vessels is one of the most serious problems facing domestic and international management of this highly migratory species. The Congress recognizes the significance of this effort and, through the leadership of Senator Faircloth, this appropriations subcommittee provided $500,000 in this fiscal year for NMFS to fully address this specific concern. The Committee intends that NMFS will utilize this particular appropriation to implement changes in our current system in order to prevent importation of Atlantic swordfish not harvested in a manner that is consistent with recommendations under the International Convention for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT). I ask my colleague from North Carolina to elaborate upon the intent of the Committee in its initiative to address Atlantic swordfish importation problems.

Mr. GREGG. I appreciate and understand the remarks of the Senator from Texas in support of the OECD Development Center and the important role it performs. broadcasting activities

Mr. GREGG. That is correct.

Mr. GREGG. I will say to the Senator from Delaware that I will do my best, within the allocation, to provide additional resources to this account.

Mr. GREGG. Mr. President, I agree with Senator Snowe on this point. Teel Cove is the intended recipient and I will make sure that this matter is clarified before the conference on this legislation is completed.

Mr. GREGG. Mr. President, this bill does provide the Administration's requested level of funding for the Maine Atlantic salmon recovery plan.

Mr. GREGG. Yes, the Senator's understanding is correct.

Mr. GREGG. I have no objection to the Senator from Nebraska withdrawing the amendment.

Mr. GREGG. I will yield back our time. Amendment No. 3275 Withdrawn

Mr. GREGG. As I would like to be of assistance to my colleagues from New York, I do encourage the EDA to consider such an application from Shea's Performing Arts Center within all applicable procedures and guidelines, and to fund it if warranted.

Mr. GREGG. Has all time expired?

Mr. GREGG. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the amendments be agreed to.

Mr. GREGG. I concur with my colleague from Pennsylvania as to my understanding of the agency's intentions. The bill before us provides sufficient funds to reopen the Erie office for six months on an around- the-clock staffing basis as part of the effort to mitigate any degradation of service since the Erie office was closed in 1996. I was pleased to be able to provide at least some of the funds he requested and look forward to working with him on this issue as this bill moves to conference with the House of Representatives. essential fish habitat

Mr. GREGG. The intent of the original provision was to establish procedures to gather information on essential fish habitat, wherever possible encouraging interagency coordination when other administration programs complemented the EFH goal.

Mr. GREGG. I appreciate the concerns of the Senator. The report accompanying this bill raises issues about the essential fish habitat program.

Mr. GREGG

Mr. GREGG. Mr. President, I rise in support of the amendment. I think it is an excellent amendment. It is an issue that we have raised a number of times at the subcommittee level with the judges. We are not only concerned about the reimbursement schedules being skewed, but we are especially concerned about the fact that in capital crimes we are spending an extraordinary amount of money on defense counsel--over a million dollars in many instances. That comes right out of the taxpayers' pockets. It is very difficult and it skews the entire ability to do other defense work because of how much money is pouring into the capital crime area. This specific amendment is right on target. I strongly support it. I hope we will not have to go to a vote on it, but if we do, I hope we can agree to this.

Mr. GREGG. Mr. President, we are waiting for one or two Senators to come down. I simply advise my colleagues that progress is being made. We now have two votes ordered. We have a number of amendments still pending under the unanimous consent agreement, and we are trying to work out a number of them. Hopefully, we will soon have the next amendment in order to be offered. While we are waiting for that, though, I would like to speak on another subject. I ask unanimous consent to speak as if in morning business for 5 minutes.

Mr. GREGG

Mr. GREGG. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Armed Services be authorized to meet on Thursday, July 23, 1998, at 3:00 p.m. in open session, to consider the nominations of Patrick T. Henry, to be Assistant Secretary of the Army for Manpower, Reserve Affairs; Carolyn H. Becraft, to be Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Manpower & Reserve Affairs; and Ruby Butler Demesme to be Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Manpower, Reserve Affairs, Installations & Environment.

Mr. GREGG. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation be authorized to meet on Thursday, July 23, 1998, at 9:30 am on S. 2238--Mohammad Ali Boxing Reform Act.