Mark Hatfield

Mr. HATFIELD

Mr. HATFIELD. I thank the Senator. I yield the floor. As soon as this is completed, I will then move to table.

Mr. HATFIELD. Mr. President, I move to table the motion to strike this language, and I ask for the yeas and nays.

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 President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. HATFIELD. Mr. President, this is a simple, straightforward amendment that would allow formerly appropriated funds to be used in a backup on a bond matter. This has been cleared on both sides.

Mr. HATFIELD. Mr. President, I move to reconsider the vote by which the amendment was agreed to, and I move to lay that motion on the table. The motion to lay on the table was agreed to. Amendment No. 2343 (Purpose: To eliminate certain highway safety advisory committees)

Mr. HATFIELD. Mr. President, I send an amendment to the desk on behalf of Senator Abraham and Senator Inhofe and ask for its immediate consideration.

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

Mr. HATFIELD. Mr. President, this is a repeal of two existing committees within the Department of Transportation, and it has been cleared on both sides. These are two advisory committees.

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

Mr. HATFIELD. Mr. President, I would like to indicate precisely where we are on the list of amendments. One was reserved for Senator Gregg of New Hampshire. I am informed Senator Gregg has departed the Hill. So, obviously, he will not be offering his amendment. We had one for Senator Coverdell, and we now have a colloquy that will replace that slot for amendment. Therefore, we are waiting the arrival of Senator Warner, and on behalf of Senator Chafee and Senator Baucus, Senator Warner will offer an amendment. And then I say, from my list that I have, that completes all the amendments that were incorporated in the unanimous-consent agreement. If there is any information relating to Senator Gregg, I would be very happy to receive it. But if he is not here at the time we finish these other amendments and the amendment has not been offered, that closes the list.

Mr. HATFIELD. And Senator Burns. There is, I believe, a pending amendment by Senator Burns of Montana, which is being checked out on the Democratic side.

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

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

Mr. HATFIELD. Mr. President, I believe now that the last amendment we have before us is to be offered by Senator Warner on behalf of Senator Chafee and Senator Baucus.

Mr. HATFIELD. To what?

Mr. HATFIELD. Mr. President, I believe the Senator from South Dakota wishes to proceed.

Mr. HATFIELD. Yes, the committee believes this is a priority technology and encourages FHWA to fund this type of research which is important to the future of our Nation's infrastructure.

Mr. HATFIELD. I thank the Senator.

Mr. HATFIELD. The Senator is correct. The Sidney Lanier Bridge is a project of great importance to Georgia's growing ports industry not only for safety concerns, but also for commercial reasons.

Mr. HATFIELD. Under the circumstances as the Senator describes them as the Senator knows, I would have provided more AIP funds if the budget would have allowed, and not forced such difficult decisions in allocatting AIP funding. I would agree.

Mr. HATFIELD. The distinguished chairman of the Budget Committee is correct. The committee has capped the MAP program at $20 million for 1996. The committee has also capped another AIP set-aside program, the Reliever Airport Program, at $50 million. As the chairman of the Budget Committee knows, our committee was forced to make difficult decisions in order to fund our nation's top infrastructure needs for 1996. As Congress, under the direction of the budget resolution, moves to balance the Federal budget by 2002, our committee will be faced with even more difficult choices over the next few years. One of the most difficult choices our committee faced was setting the obligation limitation for the AIP program. In 1995, funding for AIP was set at $1.45 billion. The Senate-reported bill has set this figure at $1.25 billion. Because of this lower AIP level, the bill has capped both MAP and the Reliever Airport Program.

Mr. HATFIELD. At this point, without knowing our final 602(b) allocation for the Transportation Subcommittee, it is hard to predict a final AIP or MAP figure. However, I stand ready to work in conference with the distinguished Senator from New Mexico on achieving the highest funding possible for AIP and in turn, working for the highest possible level of funding for MAP. air traffic controller pay

Mr. HATFIELD. I thank the Senator for bringing his concerns to my attention. This action was only taken because of our difficult budget situation. As the Senator knows the House bill does not contain a similar provision and I am hopeful that in conference a satisfactory solution can be reached on this issue.

Mr. HATFIELD. I thank the Senator for focusing our attention on this issue. All of us are concerned about auto theft, and we recognize the problems the States face in trying to cope with it. I agree we will thoroughly review the merits of the House initiative during the conference.

Mr. HATFIELD

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