Jesse Helms

Mr. HELMS

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

Mr. HELMS. Mr. President, have the yeas and nays been ordered?

Mr. HELMS. Mr. President, Americans should be disturbed that the U.S. Census Bureau obviously no longer regards marriage as having any importance. When the Census Bureau compiled its list of questions to be included in the 2000 decennial survey, the decision was obvious that it would be unnecessary and burdensome for the Bureau to include marital status in the census forms sent to the majority of American households. So the Census Bureau decided to delete the marital status question from the census ``short form'' which it is called--which goes to approximately 83 percent of the American population--but continue to use the question on the ``long form''--which goes only to approximately 17 percent of the American population. This will mark the first time since 1880 that the decennial census will not gather from the majority of the U.S. population, a count of those who are single, married, divorced, or widowed. This is especially disturbing, at least to this Senator, when one considers that the survival of the American culture is dependent upon the survival of the sacred institution of marriage. Moreover, marital status has heretofore regularly been viewed as vital information because there has always been great value placed in the institution of marriage. It is irresponsible for the U.S. Government to suggest or imply that marriage is no longer significant or important, but that is precisely the message that will go out if marital status is eliminated from the short form by the Census Bureau. However, Mr. President, the Census Bureau feels far differently when it comes to compiling statistics on various other things including race. The Census Bureau made it a top priority to learn the race of the majority of Americans; therefore the agency is asking, not one, but two questions relating to racial identity. One can only speculate the reasoning behind this bizarre maneuver removing marital status from the short form, while asking two questions about race. It's important to remember that every year, more than $100 billion in Federal funding is awarded based on the data collected by the Census Bureau. Considering that American people will foot the bill on the Census Bureau's strange inclinations, should not Congress remind the U.S. Census Bureau that its job is not to seek out information to promote a social agenda. For this reason, Mr. President, I am offering a sense-of-the-Senate amendment to the Transportation appropriations bill, expressing that the U.S. Census Bureau was wrong to eliminate marital status from the census short form. The U.S. Census Bureau should include marital status on the short form census questionnaire-- the one going out to the vast majority of Americans for the 2000 decennial census. Unfortunately, most of the census short form questionnaires have already been printed without the important marital status question being included. Notwithstanding that, does not Congress have a moral obligation, as caretaker of America's culture, to set the record straight in emphasizing that marriage is still at the forefront of America's national survey? I believe this sense-of-the-Senate resolution deserves careful consideration of all Senators, and I ask for the yeas and nays.

Mr. HELMS. I yield the floor. I thank the Chair.

Mr. HELMS

Mr. HELMS. Mr. President, at the close of business yesterday, Monday, September 13, 1999, the Federal debt stood at $5,654,837,966,230.82 (Five trillion, six hundred fifty-four billion, eight hundred thirty- seven million, nine hundred sixty-six thousand, two hundred thirty dollars and eighty-two cents). Five years ago, September 13, 1994, the Federal debt stood at $4,681,594,000,000 (Four trillion, six hundred eighty-one billion, five hundred ninety-four million). Ten years ago, September 13, 1989, the Federal debt stood at $2,853,357,000,000 (Two trillion, eight hundred fifty-three billion, three hundred fifty-seven million). Fifteen years ago, September 13, 1984, the Federal debt stood at $1,572,267,000,000 (One trillion, five hundred seventy-two billion, two hundred sixty-seven million). Twenty-five years ago, September 13, 1974, the Federal debt stood at $480,717,000,000 (Four hundred eighty billion, seven hundred seventeen million) which reflects a debt increase of more than $5 trillion-- $5,174,120,966,230.82 (Five trillion, one hundred seventy-four billion, one hundred twenty million, nine hundred sixty-six thousand, two hundred thirty dollars and eighty-two cents) during the past 25 years.

Mr. HELMS

Mr. HELMS. Mr. President, at the close of business Friday, September 10, 1999, the Federal debt stood at $5,652,191,549,114.70 (Five trillion, six hundred fifty-two billion, one hundred ninety-one million, five hundred forty-nine thousand, one hundred fourteen dollars and seventy cents). One year ago, September 10, 1998, the Federal debt stood at $5,545,658,000,000 (Five trillion, five hundred forty-five billion, six hundred fifty-eight million). Fifteen years ago, September 10, 1984, the Federal debt stood at $1,572,266,000,000 (One trillion, five hundred seventy-two billion, two hundred sixty-six million). Twenty-five years ago, September 10, 1974, the Federal debt stood at $479,580,000,000 (Four hundred seventy-nine billion, five hundred eighty million) which reflects a debt increase of more than $5 trillion--$5,172,611,549,114.70 (Five trillion, one hundred seventy-two billion, six hundred eleven million, five hundred forty-nine thousand, one hundred fourteen dollars and seventy cents) during the past 25 years.

Mr. HELMS

Mr. HELMS. Mr. President, at the close of business yesterday, Thursday, September 9, 1999, the Federal debt stood at $5,654,163,509,903.96 (Five trillion, six hundred fifty-four billion, one hundred sixty-three million, five hundred and nine thousand, nine hundred and three dollars and ninety-six cents). One year ago, September 9, 1998, the Federal debt stood at $5,548,477,000,000 (Five trillion, five hundred forty-eight billion, four hundred seventy-seven million). Five years ago, September 9, 1994, the Federal debt stood at $4,679,665,000,000 (Four trillion, six hundred seventy-nine billion, six hundred sixty-five million). Twenty-five years ago, September 9, 1974, the Federal debt stood at $479,367,000,000 (Four hundred seventy-nine billion, three hundred sixty-seven million) which reflects a debt increase of more than $5 trillion--$5,174,796,509,938 (Five trillion, one hundred seventy-four billion, seven hundred ninety-six million, five hundred and nine thousand, nine hundred thirty-eight dollars) during the past 25 years.

Mr. HELMS

Mr. HELMS. Mr. President, at the close of business yesterday, Wednesday, September 8, 1999, the Federal debt stood at $5,656,209,987,935.17 (Five trillion, six hundred fifty-six billion, two hundred nine million, nine hundred eighty-seven thousand, nine hundred thirty-five dollars and seventeen cents). One year ago, September 8, 1998, the Federal debt stood at $5,548,700,000,000 (Five trillion, five hundred forty-eight billion, seven hundred million). Five years ago, September 8, 1994, the Federal debt stood at $4,679,340,000,000 (Four trillion, six hundred seventy-nine billion, three hundred forty million). Ten years ago, September 8, 1989, the Federal debt stood at $2,855,859,000,000 (Two trillion, eight hundred fifty-five billion, eight hundred fifty-nine million) which reflects a doubling of the debt--an increase of almost $3 trillion--$2,800,350,987,935.17 (Two trillion, eight hundred billion, three hundred fifty million, nine hundred eighty-seven thousand, nine hundred thirty-five dollars and seventeen cents) during the past 10 years.

Mr. HELMS

Mr. HELMS. Mr. President, at the close of business yesterday, Tuesday, September 7, 1999, the Federal debt stood at $5,654,526,718,244.87 (Five trillion, six hundred fifty-four billion, five hundred twenty-six million, seven hundred eighteen thousand, two hundred forty-four dollars and eighty-seven cents). Five years ago, September 7, 1994, the Federal debt stood at $4,683,504,000,000 (Four trillion, six hundred eighty-three billion, five hundred four million). Ten years ago, September 7, 1989, the Federal debt stood at $2,861,363,000,000 (Two trillion, eight hundred sixty-one billion, three hundred sixty-three million). Fifteen years ago, September 7, 1984, the Federal debt stood at $1,572,266,000,000 (One trillion, five hundred seventy-two billion, two hundred sixty-six million) which reflects a debt increase of more than $4 trillion--$4,082,260,718,244.87 (Four trillion, eighty-two billion, two hundred sixty million, seven hundred eighteen thousand, two hundred forty-four dollars and eighty-seven cents) during the past 15 years.

Mr. HELMS

Mr. HELMS. Mr. President, at the close of business yesterday, Wednesday, August 4, 1999, the Federal debt stood at $5,615,253,056,263.06 (Five trillion, six hundred fifteen billion, two hundred fifty-three million, fifty-six thousand, two hundred sixty- three dollars and six cents). One year ago, August 4, 1998, the Federal debt stood at $5,511,741,000,000 (Five trillion, five hundred eleven billion, seven hundred forty-one million). Five years ago, August 4, 1994, the Federal debt stood at $4,643,455,000,000 (Four trillion, six hundred forty-three billion, four hundred fifty-five million). Ten years ago, August 4, 1989, the Federal debt stood at $2,811,629,000,000 (Two trillion, eight hundred eleven billion, six hundred twenty-nine million) which reflects a doubling of the debt--an increase of almost $3 trillion--$2,803,624,056,263.06 (Two trillion, eight hundred three billion, six hundred twenty-four million, fifty-six thousand, two hundred sixty-three dollars and six cents) during the past 10 years.

Mr. HELMS

Mr. HELMS. Mr. President, at the close of business yesterday, Tuesday, August 3, 1999, the Federal debt stood at $5,613,220,970,175.47 (Five trillion, six hundred thirteen billion, two hundred twenty million, nine hundred seventy thousand, one hundred seventy-five dollars and forty-seven cents). One year ago, August 3, 1998, the Federal debt stood at $5,505,964,000,000 (Five trillion, five hundred five billion, nine hundred sixty-four million). Five years ago, August 3, 1994, the Federal debt stood at $4,640,190,000,000 (Four trillion, six hundred forty billion, one hundred ninety million). Ten years ago, August 3, 1989, the Federal debt stood at $2,811,435,000,000 (Two trillion, eight hundred eleven billion, four hundred thirty-five million). Fifteen years ago, August 3, 1984, the Federal debt stood at $1,557,032,000,000 (One trillion, five hundred fifty-seven billion, thirty-two million) which reflects a debt increase of more than $4 trillion--$4,056,188,970,175.47 (Four trillion, fifty-six billion, one hundred eighty-eight million, nine hundred seventy thousand, one hundred seventy-five dollars and forty-seven cents) during the past 15 years.

Mr. HELMS

Mr. HELMS. Mr. President, inasmuch as the amendment of the Senator from Missouri, however well intentioned, would have the effect of lifting restrictions on trade with terrorist states or governments and would allow trade with the coercive elements of these repressive, hostile, regimes, I move to table the amendment and I ask for the yeas and nays.

Mr. HELMS

Mr. HELMS. Mr. President, at the close of business yesterday, Monday, August 2, 1999, the Federal debt stood at $5,626,552,692,300.04 (Five trillion, six hundred twenty-six billion, five hundred fifty-two million, six hundred ninety-two thousand, three hundred dollars and four cents). Five years ago, August 2, 1994, the Federal debt stood at $4,648,620,000,000 (Four trillion, six hundred forty-eight billion, six hundred twenty million). Ten years ago, August 2, 1989, the Federal debt stood at $2,815,326,000,000 (Two trillion, eight hundred fifteen billion, three hundred twenty-six million). Fifteen years ago, August 2, 1984, the Federal debt stood at $1,555,562,000,000 (One trillion, five hundred fifty-five billion, five hundred sixty-two million). Twenty-five years ago, August 2, 1974, the Federal debt stood at $475,930,000,000 (Four hundred seventy-five billion, nine hundred thirty million) which reflects a debt increase of more than $5 trillion--$5,150,622,692,300.04 (Five trillion, one hundred fifty billion, six hundred twenty-two million, six hundred ninety-two thousand, three hundred dollars and four cents) during the past 25 years.

Mr. HELMS

Mr. HELMS. Mr. President, at the close of business yesterday, Thursday, July 29, 1999, the Federal debt stood at $5,640,577,276,840.14 (Five trillion, six hundred forty billion, five hundred seventy-seven million, two hundred seventy-six thousand, eight hundred forty dollars and fourteen cents). One year ago, July 29, 1998, the Federal debt stood at $5,543,291,000,000 (Five trillion, five hundred forty-three billion, two hundred ninety-one million). Five years ago, July 29, 1994, the Federal debt stood at $4,636,362,000,000 (Four trillion, six hundred thirty-six billion, three hundred sixty-two million). Twenty-five years ago, July 29, 1974, the Federal debt stood at $476,155,000,000 (Four hundred seventy-six billion, one hundred fifty- five million) which reflects a debt increase of more than $5 trillion-- $5,164,422,276,840.14 (Five trillion, one hundred sixty-four billion, four hundred twenty-two million, two hundred seventy-six thousand, eight hundred forty dollars and fourteen cents) during the past 25 years.

Mr. HELMS

Mr. HELMS. Mr. President, at the close of business Friday, July 30, 1999, the Federal debt stood at $5,638,655,711,931.60 (Five trillion, six hundred thirty-eight billion, six hundred fifty-five million, seven hundred eleven thousand, nine hundred thirty-one dollars and sixty cents). One year ago, July 30, 1998, the Federal debt stood at $5,544,483,000,000 (Five trillion, five hundred forty-four billion, four hundred eighty-three million). Fifteen years ago, July 30, 1984, the Federal debt stood at $1,535,192,000,000 (One trillion, five hundred thirty-five billion, one hundred ninety-two million). Twenty-five years ago, July 30, 1974, the Federal debt stood at $475,337,000,000 (Four hundred seventy-five billion, three hundred thirty-seven million) which reflects a debt increase of more than $5 trillion--$5,163,318,711,931.60 (Five trillion, one hundred sixty-three billion, three hundred eighteen million, seven hundred eleven thousand, nine hundred thirty-one dollars and sixty cents) during the past 25 years.

Mr. HELMS

Mr. HELMS. Mr. President, at the close of business yesterday, Thursday, July 29, 1999, the Federal debt stood at $5,640,577,276,840.14 (Five trillion, six hundred forty billion, five hundred seventy-seven million, two hundred seventy-six thousand, eight hundred forty dollars and fourteen cents). One year ago, July 29, 1998, the Federal debt stood at $5,543,291,000,000 (Five trillion, five hundred forty-three billion, two hundred ninety-one million). Five years ago, July 29, 1994, the Federal debt stood at $4,636,362,000,000 (Four trillion, six hundred thirty-six billion, three hundred sixty-two million). Twenty-five years ago, July 29, 1974, the Federal debt stood at $476,155,000,000 (Four hundred seventy-six billion, one hundred fifty- five million) which reflects a debt increase of more than $5 trillion-- $5,164,422,276,840.14 (Five trillion, one hundred sixty-four billion, four hundred twenty-two million, two hundred seventy-six thousand, eight hundred forty dollars and fourteen cents) during the past 25 years.

Mr. HELMS

Mr. HELMS. Mr. President, I genuinely appreciate the courtesy of the distinguished Chairman of the Finance Committee (Mr. Roth) for allowing me to discuss an innovative new technology more readily available to the dry cleaning industry. Dr. Joe DeSimone, an highly-respected professor on the faculties of both the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and N.C. State University in Raleigh has developed an environmentally safe way to dry clean clothes while eliminating the millions of pounds of toxic solvents currently now being used to clean clothes, and, at the same time, advancing more energy-efficient technology. This procedure would dramatically reduce the dry cleaning industry's reliance on hazardous chemicals as solvents. My amendment will allow for a 20 percent tax credit to new and existing dry cleaners who purchase the equipment which uses non-toxic solvents. The equipment includes both wet cleaning and liquid carbon dioxide cleaning systems which are now readily available. In fact, the EPA recently published a case study extolling the benefits of carbon dioxide technology. The Joint Tax Committee estimates the tax credit would decrease revenues by a little more than $500 million during the next 10 years. I find this a modest price to pay considering the amount Americans rely on dry cleaners and by the fact that so many of these Americans bring potentially hazardous chemicals into their homes when they dry clean their clothes. I believe that clarification of a Treasury regulation's application to an international tax treaty would provide an ample offset for this tax credit. Let me briefly explain the current situation: Just this month, a judge in New York overturned 19 years of tax treaty policy. The judge ruled that an existing regulation that permits the Treasury to allocate interest based on a company's worldwide operations did not comply with the 1980 treaty. I disagree. The regulations allowed the U.S. Treasury to disallow abusive tax strategies and make sure that these companies pay their fair share of taxes. Tax treaties are never intended to be a means to avoid taxes, simply a means to prohibit double taxation. This amendment will continue this policy and avoid a rush for billions of dollars in tax refunds by international corporations. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that an article from the July 9 edition of The New York Times entitled ``British Bank Wins Dispute With the IRS'' be printed in the Record at the conclusion of my remarks.

Mr. HELMS. Unfortunately, Mr. President, under the rules of the budget act, my amendment is subject to a point of order. However, I do appreciate the willingness of Chairman Roth to work with me to find a way to make this tax credit a reality. Exhibit 1 [From the New York Times, July 7, 1999] British Bank Wins Dispute With the I.R.S. Judge Rules Tax Treaty Supersedes Regulation (By David Cay Johnston) In a stunning defeat for the Internal Revenue Service's efforts to restrict strategies that foreign corporations employ to avoid taxes, a Federal judge ruled in favor of National Westminister Bank P.L.C. of Britain in its demand for a $180 million tax refund. Lawyers who specialize in international corporate tax said yesterday that the decision would prompt more foreign companies to challenge the I.R.S. in future cases and to press for favorable rulings on issues currently in dispute. Judge James T. Turner of the United States Court of Claims ruled Wednesday that the I.R.S had violated a 1980 tax treaty between the United States and Britain by refusing to allow NatWest to deduct interest on loans from its home office and Hong Kong operations to its American branches from 1981 to 1987. In effect NatWest was taking money from one pocket, in, say, Hong Kong, and lending it to another pocket in, say, New York. Doing this allowed the bank to reduce its profits, and thus its taxes, in the United States and to shift profits to places, like Hong Kong, where tax rates are lower. The 1980 tax treaty allowed NatWest and all other British banks to take such deductions. NatWest contended that under the tax treaty its American branch must be treated as a separate company and not just another pocket in its worldwide operations. But the Treasury Department, ever on the alert for abusive tax strategies, issued a regulation shortly after the treaty took effect allowing the I.R.S. to disregard any deductions deemed excessive. The regulation lets the I.R.S. apply a complicated formula to allocate interest based on a company's worldwide operations. But, Judge Turner wrote, the Treasury regulation is ``fundamentally incompatible'' with the tax treaty and must be ignored. In his 21-page decision, he also castigated the United States for its conduct, quoting in detail from written promises made during the treaty negotiations and other documents to show that NatWest was justified in relying on the tax treaty in preparing its corporate tax returns for the

Mr. HELMS

Mr. HELMS. Mr. President, at the close of business yesterday, Wednesday, July 28, 1999, the Federal debt stood at $5,640,294,174,290.65 (Five trillion, six hundred forty billion, two hundred ninety-four million, one hundred seventy-four thousand, two hundred ninety dollars and sixty-five cents). One year ago, July 28, 1998, the Federal debt stood at $5,541,906,000,000 (Five trillion, five hundred forty-one billion, nine hundred six million). Five years ago, July 28, 1994, the Federal debt stood at $4,638,859,000,000 (Four trillion, six hundred thirty-eight billion, eight hundred fifty-nine million). Ten years ago, July 28, 1989, the Federal debt stood at $2,802,619,000,000 (Two trillion, eight hundred two billion, six hundred nineteen million) which reflects a debt increase of almost $3 trillion--$2,837,675,174,290.65 (Two trillion, eight hundred thirty- seven billion, six hundred seventy-five million, one hundred seventy- four thousand, two hundred ninety dollars and sixty-five cents) during the past 10 years.

Mr. HELMS

Mr. HELMS. Mr. President, at the close of business yesterday, Tuesday, July 27, 1999, the Federal debt stood at $5,640,525,290,562.24 (Five trillion, six hundred forty billion, five hundred twenty-five million, two hundred ninety thousand, five hundred sixty-two dollars and twenty-four cents). One year ago, July 27, 1998, the Federal debt stood at $5,539,293,000,000 (Five trillion, five hundred thirty-nine billion, two hundred ninety-three million). Five years ago, July 27, 1994, the Federal debt stood at $4,634,715,000,000 (Four trillion, six hundred thirty-four billion, seven hundred fifteen million). Ten years ago, July 27, 1989, the Federal debt stood at $2,802,522,000,000 (Two trillion, eight hundred two billion, five hundred twenty-two million). Fifteen years ago, July 27, 1984, the Federal debt stood at $1,535,890,000,000 (One trillion, five hundred thirty-five billion, eight hundred ninety million) which reflects a debt increase of more than $4 trillion--$4,104,635,290,562.24 (Four trillion, one hundred four billion, six hundred thirty-five million, two hundred ninety thousand, five hundred sixty-two dollars and twenty-four cents) during the past 15 years.

Mr. HELMS

Mr. HELMS. Mr. President, for the Committee on Foreign Relations, I report favorably a nomination list which was printed in the Record of July 1, 1999, and ask unanimous consent, to save the expense of reprinting on the Executive Calendar, that these nominations lie at the Secretary's desk for information of Senators.

Mr. HELMS

Mr. HELMS. Mr. President, I have at hand several news reports indicating that Nicaragua's Sandinistas have finally confessed that they supplied weapons in the 1980s to communist guerrillas in El Salvador and, in fact, were themselves dependent on a flood of weapons from the Soviet Union during that period. An excellent series of articles, written by Glenn Garvin and published in the Miami Herald earlier this month, at long last makes the record clear on that score. I ask unanimous consent that Glenn Carvin's articles be printed in the Record at the conclusion of my remarks.

Mr. HELMS. Mr. President, Mr. Garvin conducted a series of interviews with current and former Sandinista officials who are now celebrating the 20th anniversary of their rise to power on July 19, 1979. What they celebrate is a revolution that brought nothing but poverty and heartache to millions of people. But in the midst of reciting war stories, they let the truth slip out: these Sandinista officials confirmed that they provided weapons to the Marxist Salvadoran guerrillas. They also acknowledged that the Soviet Union agreed to supply Nicaragua with high-performance MiG fighters, along with other military assistance. This is not news, but what is, indeed, news is that, for once, two Sandinistas told the truth. back in the 1980s, when President Ronald Reagan and good many Senators accused the Sandinistas of fomenting revolution in neighboring countries, they and their left-wing media apologists in the United States questioned our facts. When the Reagan Administration warned the Soviets not to provide MiGs to Nicaragua, the other side falsely accused President Reagan of hysteria. Now come Sandinista leaders--co-founder Tomas Borge and former president Daniel Ortega--admitting their role in a plot to escalate the crisis in Central America. Mr. President, neither of the two is famous for telling the truth, but in this case, I think they stumbled upon it, letting the cat out of the bag. Exhibit 1 [From the Miami Herald] We Shipped Weapons, Sandinistas Say (By Glenn Garvin) Managua.--When Ronald Reagan and Sandinista leaders slugged it out during the 1980s over events in Nicaragua, Reagan was right more often than they liked to admit, the Sandinistas now say. In a series of interviews with The Herald, several past and present Sandinista officials confirmed that they shipped weapons to Marxist guerrillas in neighboring El Salvador, a statement they once hotly denied. The Sandinistas also said that the Soviet Union agreed to supply them with MiG jet fighters and even arranged for Nicaraguan pilots to be trained on the planes in Bulgaria. but the Soviets reneged on the deal, sending the Sandinistas scurrying to make peace with the contras. domino theory ``The Sandinista leadership thought they could be Che Guevaras of all Latin America, from Mexico to Antarctica,'' former Sandinista leader Moises Hassan told the Herald. ``the domino theory wasn't so crazy.'' During their explosive battles with Congress over U.S. aid to anti-Sandinista rebels in Nicaragua, Reagan administration officials frequently justified helping the rebels on the grounds that the Sandinistas were shipping arms to the Salvadoran guerrillas. Reagan's deputies also accused the Sandinistas of planning to acquire the MiGs, a move that they warned that the United States ``would view with the utmost concern.'' In 1984, when American officials spotted large crates being unloaded from Soviet ships in Nicaraguan ports, there was widespread fear that the two countries would go to war. But the crates turned out to contain helicopters, and tensions eased. Sandinista leaders had denied supplying the Salvadoran guerrillas. ``We are not responsible for what is happening El Salvador,'' said Sandinista party cofounder Tomas Borge said in 1980. Earlier this month, Borge and former president Daniel Ortega both said the denials were false. they said the Sandinistas had shipped arms to Salvadoran guerrillas because the Salvadorans helped them in their successful insurrection against Anastasio Somoza, and also because they thought it would be more difficult for the United States to attack two revolutionary regimes instead of one. a matter of ethics' ``We wanted to broaden the territory of the revolution, to make it wider, so it would be harder for the Americans to come after us,'' Borge said. Ortega added that it was ``a matter of ethics'' to arm the Salvadorans. Neither man offered details on how many weapons were supplied. But Hassan a former Sandinista official who was a member of the revolutionary junta that governed Nicaragua in the early 1980s, said he believed about 50,000 weapons and a corresponding amount of ammunition were sent to El Salvador just in the first 16 months of the Sandinista government. ``Ortega and Borge didn't tell me about it, because they thought I was unreliable, but other people who just assumed I knew would casually bring it up,'' Hassan said. Hassan resigned from the Sandinista party in June 1985 but continued to work closely with his old colleagues as mayor of Managua until late 1988. He also confirmed that the Sandinistas had a commitment for MiGs from the Soviet Union. He said he learned of the plan for the MiGs during 1982, when he was minister of construction and Sandinistas began building a base for the jet fighters at Punta Huete, a remote site on the east side of Lake Managua. The site included a 10,000-foot concrete runway--the longest in Central America--capable of handling any military aircraft in the Soviet fleet. Code name: Panchito ``It was top secret--we even had a code name, Panchito, so we could talk about it without the CIA hearing,'' Hassan said. ``But somehow the Americans found out.'' Alejandro Bendena, who was secretary general of foreign affairs during the Sandinista government, said Nicaraguan pilots trained to fly the MiGs in Bulgaria. But in 1987, soon after the Punta Huete site was finished, the Soviets backed out, he said. The news that they weren't getting a weapon they had always considered security blanket, coupled with Soviet advice that it was ``time to achieve a regional settlement of security problems,'' made the Sandinistas realize that they could not longer depend on the USSR for help, Bendana said. Quickly, the Sandinistas signed onto a regional peace plan sponsored by Costa Rican President Oscar Arias, which required peace talks with the U.S.-backed contra army, Bendana said. Those talks led eventually to an agreement for internationally supervised elections that resulted in a Sandinista defeat in 1990. ``It wasn't the intellectual brilliance of Oscar Arias that did it,'' Bendana said. ``It was us grabbing frantically onto any framework that was there, trying to cut our losses.''

Mr. HELMS

Mr. HELMS. Mr. President, at the close of business yesterday, Monday, July 26, 1999, the Federal debt stood at $5,636,525,745,471.93 (Five trillion, six hundred thirty-six billion, five hundred twenty-five million, seven hundred forty-five thousand, four hundred seventy-one dollars and ninety-three cents). Five years ago, July 26, 1994, the Federal debt stood at $4,632,297,000,000 (Four trillion, six hundred thirty-two billion, two hundred ninety-seven million). Ten years ago, July 26, 1989, the Federal debt stood at $2,802,473,000,000 (Two trillion, eight hundred two billion, four hundred seventy-three million). Fifteen years ago, July 26, 1984, the Federal debt stood at $1,536,607,000,000 (One trillion, five hundred thirty-six billion, six hundred seven million). Twenty-five years ago, July 26, 1974, the Federal debt stood at $475,807,000,000 (Four hundred seventy-five billion, eight hundred seven million) which reflects a debt increase of more than $5 trillion--$5,160,718,745,471.93 (Five trillion, one hundred sixty billion, seven hundred eighteen million, seven hundred forty-five thousand, four hundred seventy-one dollars and ninety-three cents) during the past 25 years.

Mr. HELMS

Mr. HELMS. Mr. President, at the close of business Friday, July 23, 1999, the Federal debt stood at $5,636,001,455,884.82 (Five trillion, six hundred thirty-six billion, one million, four hundred fifty-five thousand, eight hundred eighty-four dollars and eighty-two cents). One year ago, July 23, 1998, the Federal debt stood at $5,537,084,000,000 (Five trillion, five hundred thirty-seven billion, eighty-four million). Fifteen years ago, July 23, 1984, the Federal debt stood at $1,534,379,000,000 (One trillion, five hundred thirty-four billion, three hundred seventy-nine million). Twenty-five years ago, July 23, 1974, the Federal debt stood at $474,854,000,000 (Four hundred seventy-four billion, eight hundred fifty-four million) which reflects a debt increase of more than $5 trillion--$5,161,147,455,884.82 (Five trillion, one hundred sixty-one billion, one hundred forty-seven million, four hundred fifty-five thousand, eight hundred eighty-four dollars and eighty-two cents) during the past 25 years.