Jesse Helms

Mr. HELMS

Mr. HELMS. Mr. President, at the close of business yesterday, Wednesday, July 21, 1999, the Federal debt stood at $5,630,350,182,425.20 (Five trillion, six hundred thirty billion, three hundred fifty million, one hundred eighty-two thousand, four hundred twenty-five dollars and twenty cents). One year ago, July 21, 1998, the Federal debt stood at $5,535,209,000,000 (Five trillion, five hundred thirty-five billion, two hundred nine million). Five years ago, July 21, 1994, the Federal debt stood at $4,628,452,000,000 (Four trillion, six hundred twenty-eight billion, four hundred fifty-two million). Ten years ago, July 21, 1989, the Federal debt stood at $2,802,628,000,000 (Two trillion, eight hundred two billion, six hundred twenty-eight million) which reflects a debt increase of almost $3 trillion--$2,827,722,182,425.20 (Two trillion, eight hundred twenty- seven billion, seven hundred twenty-two million, one hundred eighty-two thousand, four hundred twenty-five dollars and twenty cents) during the past 10 years.

Mr. HELMS

Mr. HELMS. Mr. President, at the close of business yesterday, Tuesday, July 20, 1999, the Federal debt stood at $5,630,644,963,071.99 (Five trillion, six hundred thirty billion, six hundred forty-four million, nine hundred sixty-three thousand, seventy-one dollars and ninety-nine cents). One year ago, July 20, 1998, the Federal debt stood at $5,532,950,000,000 (Five trillion, five hundred thirty-two billion, nine hundred fifty million). Five years ago, July 20, 1994, the Federal debt stood at $4,626,395,000,000 (Four trillion, six hundred twenty-six billion, three hundred ninety-five million). Ten years ago, July 20, 1989, the Federal debt stood at $2,803,321,000,000 (Two trillion, eight hundred three billion, three hundred twenty-one million). Fifteen years ago, July 20, 1984, the Federal debt stood at $1,534,688,000,000 (One trillion, five hundred thirty-four billion, six hundred eighty-eight million) which reflects a debt increase of more than $4 trillion--$4,095,956,963,071.99 (Four trillion, ninety-five billion, nine hundred fifty-six million, nine hundred sixty-three thousand, seventy-one dollars and ninety-nine cents) during the past 15 years.

Mr. HELMS

Mr. HELMS. Mr. President, the able Senator from New Hampshire is to be commended for bringing to the attention of the Senate the issue of normal trade relations with the communist regimes of China and Vietnam. Few Senators have so steadfastly opposed communism in East Asia as Senator Bob Smith. During this decade when it has been fashionable to declare the cold war over and just forget about the billion-plus people who continue to suffer under communist oppression, Senator Smith has remained firm in his commitment to freedom in East Asia and that is why he is bringing these motions before the Senate today. And on that score, I join Senator Smith in support of the policies that he is emphasizing here today--that of denying normal trade status to Communist China and Vietnam. The Senator is right on the mark. Neither of these illegitimate regimes merits this honor. Mr. President, too often, in our search for trade dollars, we neglect to ask ourselves: With whom are we doing business? Well, let's ask. We are dealing with a communist regime in China that has illegitimately held power for 50 years. The same regime, in fact, that killed so many U.S. soldiers in the Korean war. The same regime that has killed tens of millions of its own people since 1949. And the same regime that has consistently identified the United States as the number one obstacle to its strategic agenda. Supporters of the engagement theory dismiss all of this. They say that normal trade with China is in the U.S. interest and, in any event, will change China's behavior for the better. Reality has yet to catch up with the theory. Red China's behavior continues to be unacceptable and it is difficult to see which U.S. interests are being served by trade-as-usual with this regime. This year, as in the past, there is voluminous evidence to contradict the claims of the engagement theorists. Whether it be national security issues or human rights, the picture in China is even bleaker than it was a year ago, the exact opposite of what the engagement theorists have predicted. For starters, we have the Cox Committee's revelations of China's massive pilfering of our nuclear secrets. At a minimum, the Cox report has laid waste to the notion of China as a strategic partner. And the orchestration of anti-American riots by the Chinese government in May has reminded us that the true colors of the communist regime remain unchanged. Meanwhile, China continues its reckless foreign policies that engagement was supposed to help moderate. In March, ace reporter Bill Gertz revealed that despite its promises to the Clinton administration, China continues to proliferate weapons of mass destruction to fellow rogue regimes around the world. In February, the Pentagon reported that China is engaged in a massive buildup of missiles aimed at the democratic country of Taiwan. Similar to national security issues, human rights have also regressed after another year of normal trade with China. The State Department itself was forced to admit this in April in its annual Country Reports on Human Rights Practices. Even on the economic front, where one might expect some benefits to accrue to America from trade with China, the yield is minimal. In 1998, American exports to Communist China were just $14 billion, less than one-fifth of one percent of GNP and fifty percent less than we export to democratic Taiwan. The picture in Vietnam is similar. That country is still run by the same communist autocrats as when the U.S. trade relationship resumed in 1994. These, of course, were the same revolutionaries who killed 58,000 Americans in the Vietnam war. Meanwhile, the Vietnamese people today still don't enjoy any real freedoms of speech, assembly, religion or political activity. The Vietnamese government continues to put up roadblocks to emigration for Montagnards and other citizens who wish to escape the misery and tyranny of Communist Vietnam. The economy is still a socialist mess, riddled with bureaucracy and corruption. And yet again, Mr. President, we cannot stand here today and honestly claim that the Vietnamese government has provided a full accounting of our missing soldiers from the Vietnam war. The bottom line, Mr. President, is that granting normal trade relations to China and Vietnam has purchased precious little for the United States and we ought to revoke the status for both countries. But while I support Senator Smith from a policy point of view, I cannot agree with the method that is being used here today. I am concerned that utilizing a motion to discharge these resolutions infringes on the prerogatives of the committee of jurisdiction, in this case the Finance Committee. Thus, I cannot support these motions. However, given the gravity of the underlying policy issues, I would strongly encourage the Committee on Finance to report out Senate Joint Resolutions 27 and 28 so that the Senate can debate these important measures.

Mr. HELMS

Mr. HELMS. Mr. President, at the close of business yesterday, Monday, July 19, 1999, the Federal debt stood at $5,628,492,605,942.62 (Five trillion, six hundred twenty-eight billion, four hundred ninety-two million, six hundred five thousand, nine hundred forty-two dollars and sixty-two cents). Five years ago, July 19, 1994, the Federal debt stood at $4,625,472,000,000 (Four trillion, six hundred twenty-five billion, four hundred seventy-two million). Ten years ago, July 19, 1989, the Federal debt stood at $2,803,290,000,000 (Two trillion, eight hundred three billion, two hundred ninety million). Fifteen years ago, July 19, 1984, the Federal debt stood at $1,534,687,000,000 (One trillion, five hundred thirty-four billion, six hundred eighty-seven million). Twenty-five years ago, July 19, 1974, the Federal debt stood at $474,534,000,000 (Four hundred seventy-four billion, five hundred thirty-four million) which reflects a debt increase of more than $5 trillion--$5,153,958,605,942.62 (Five trillion, one hundred fifty-three billion, nine hundred fifty-eight million, six hundred five thousand, nine hundred forty-two dollars and sixty-two cents) during the past 25 years.

Mr. HELMS

Mr. HELMS. Mr. President, today I'm introducing legislation to correct errors in the Coastal Barrier Resource System maps which have resulted in the denial of federal flood insurance to a large number of coastal North Carolinians in Dare County, insurance for which they unquestionably should have been eligible. I've received many complaints from property owners about this situation, and last year I and members of North Carolina's House delegation asked the Fish and Wildlife Service to determine whether the map of the ``otherwise protected area' overlaying the Cape Hatteras National Seashore was in fact accurate.'' (Property owners outside of the seashore were being denied flood insurance on the grounds that they were within the boundary of the ``otherwise protected area.'') Mr. President, the background regarding this Senate bill that I'm introducing today will explain the necessity of this bill's being offered: Congress enacted the Coastal Barrier Improvement Act of 1990 (P.L. 101-591; 104 Stat. 2931); within that act it established a classification in the System known as ``otherwise protected areas'' which consist of publicly or privately-owned lands on coastal barriers which were held for conservation purposes. While they were not made part of the Coastal Barrier Resources System, the Congress forbade the issuance of new flood insurance for structures within these areas. (Lands within the Coastal Barrier Resources System--undeveloped coastal barriers and associated areas--are denied any Federal development-related assistance.) All of the ``otherwise protected areas'' are depicted on maps adopted by the Congress in the Coastal Barrier Improvement Act. As needed, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which administers these maps, works with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, (FEMA) to determine precisely where the boundary of otherwise protected areas are located, so that FEMA may determine whether specific locations are eligible for flood insurance. After consulting extensively for more than a year with FEMA and the National Park Service, the Fish and Wildlife Service has now advised us that the maps of the ``otherwise protected area,'' known as NC03P, are indeed inaccurate. The errors in the maps deny flood insurance to property owners adjacent to the Cape Hatteras National Seashore in Dare County. The errors result from inaccurate depictions of the Cape Hatteras National Seashore boundary on the standardized maps upon which Congress designated this area, and in part because of the problems inherent in translating lines drawn on the large-scale maps used for designations into precise, on-the--ground property lines-a problem which neither the Congress nor the Interior Department appears to have considered when this was enacted in 1990. The fact that Congress designated the boundaries of coastal barrier units and ``otherwise protected areas'' by maps, the detection of an error in a depicted feature of the underlying map, or disparities between clear Congressional intent and the actual map, does not alter the enacted boundary of the unit or area. Only any act of Congress may revise such a boundary; the statute does not provide authority for an administrative correction of such an error. Although there is no statutory definition of, and little legislative history for, ``otherwise protected areas'', the areas so designated by Congress in 1990 were almost without exception depicted on maps transmitted by the Secretary in his January 1989 report to Congress pursuant to section 10 of the Coastal Barrier Resources Act of 1982. In developing the recommendations and maps for that Report, the Department utilized the following definition, which was published in the Federal Register (50 FR 8700): A coastal barrier or portion thereof is defined as ``otherwise protected'' if it has been withdrawn from the normal cycle of private development and dedicated for conservation, wildlife management, public recreation or scientific purposes. . . . This definition indicates that ``otherwise protected areas'' included only the conservation areas upon which they were based. In addition, the Administration has supported and Congress has enacted legislation in several instances where the stated purpose was to remove private property from the mapped outer boundary of an otherwise protected area. I am grateful for the cooperation of the Administration in this matter, I do regret that it look so long in this case. The fact remains that the mistakes which led to more than 230 properties in Dare County being placed within the outer boundary of the ``otherwise protected area'' was clearly not intended by Congress when the ``otherwise protected area'' was created. The bill I'm introducing today will correct these errors, Mr. President, and I urge the Senate to pass this legislation promptly. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. HELMS

Mr. HELMS. Mr. President, today I'm introducing legislation to correct errors in the Coastal Barrier Resource System maps which have resulted in the denial of federal flood insurance to a large number of coastal North Carolinians in Dare County, insurance for which they unquestionably should have been eligible. I've received many complaints from property owners about this situation, and last year I and members of North Carolina's House delegation asked the Fish and Wildlife Service to determine whether the map of the ``otherwise protected area' overlaying the Cape Hatteras National Seashore was in fact accurate.'' (Property owners outside of the seashore were being denied flood insurance on the grounds that they were within the boundary of the ``otherwise protected area.'') Mr. President, the background regarding this Senate bill that I'm introducing today will explain the necessity of this bill's being offered: Congress enacted the Coastal Barrier Improvement Act of 1990 (P.L. 101-591; 104 Stat. 2931); within that act it established a classification in the System known as ``otherwise protected areas'' which consist of publicly or privately-owned lands on coastal barriers which were held for conservation purposes. While they were not made part of the Coastal Barrier Resources System, the Congress forbade the issuance of new flood insurance for structures within these areas. (Lands within the Coastal Barrier Resources System--undeveloped coastal barriers and associated areas--are denied any Federal development-related assistance.) All of the ``otherwise protected areas'' are depicted on maps adopted by the Congress in the Coastal Barrier Improvement Act. As needed, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which administers these maps, works with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, (FEMA) to determine precisely where the boundary of otherwise protected areas are located, so that FEMA may determine whether specific locations are eligible for flood insurance. After consulting extensively for more than a year with FEMA and the National Park Service, the Fish and Wildlife Service has now advised us that the maps of the ``otherwise protected area,'' known as NC03P, are indeed inaccurate. The errors in the maps deny flood insurance to property owners adjacent to the Cape Hatteras National Seashore in Dare County. The errors result from inaccurate depictions of the Cape Hatteras National Seashore boundary on the standardized maps upon which Congress designated this area, and in part because of the problems inherent in translating lines drawn on the large-scale maps used for designations into precise, on-the--ground property lines-a problem which neither the Congress nor the Interior Department appears to have considered when this was enacted in 1990. The fact that Congress designated the boundaries of coastal barrier units and ``otherwise protected areas'' by maps, the detection of an error in a depicted feature of the underlying map, or disparities between clear Congressional intent and the actual map, does not alter the enacted boundary of the unit or area. Only any act of Congress may revise such a boundary; the statute does not provide authority for an administrative correction of such an error. Although there is no statutory definition of, and little legislative history for, ``otherwise protected areas'', the areas so designated by Congress in 1990 were almost without exception depicted on maps transmitted by the Secretary in his January 1989 report to Congress pursuant to section 10 of the Coastal Barrier Resources Act of 1982. In developing the recommendations and maps for that Report, the Department utilized the following definition, which was published in the Federal Register (50 FR 8700): A coastal barrier or portion thereof is defined as ``otherwise protected'' if it has been withdrawn from the normal cycle of private development and dedicated for conservation, wildlife management, public recreation or scientific purposes. . . . This definition indicates that ``otherwise protected areas'' included only the conservation areas upon which they were based. In addition, the Administration has supported and Congress has enacted legislation in several instances where the stated purpose was to remove private property from the mapped outer boundary of an otherwise protected area. I am grateful for the cooperation of the Administration in this matter, I do regret that it look so long in this case. The fact remains that the mistakes which led to more than 230 properties in Dare County being placed within the outer boundary of the ``otherwise protected area'' was clearly not intended by Congress when the ``otherwise protected area'' was created. The bill I'm introducing today will correct these errors, Mr. President, and I urge the Senate to pass this legislation promptly. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. HELMS

Mr. HELMS. Mr. President, at the close of business Friday, July 16, 1999, the Federal debt stood at $5,626,175,786,965.76 (Five trillion, six hundred twenty-six billion, one hundred seventy-five million, seven hundred eighty-six thousand, nine hundred sixty-five dollars and seventy-six cents). One year ago, July 16, 1998, the Federal debt stood at $5,531,080,000,000 (Five trillion, five hundred thirty-one billion, eighty million). Fifteen years ago, July 16, 1984, the Federal debt stood at $1,532,716,000,000 (One trillion, five hundred thirty-two billion, seven hundred sixteen million). Twenty-five years ago, July 16, 1974, the Federal debt stood at $473,710,000,000 (Four hundred seventy-three billion, seven hundred ten million) which reflects a debt increase of more than $5 trillion-- $5,152,465,786,965.76 (Five trillion, one hundred fifty-two billion, four hundred sixty-five million, seven hundred eighty-six thousand, nine hundred sixty-five dollars and seventy-six cents) during the past 25 years.

Mr. HELMS

Mr. HELMS. Mr. President, at the close of business yesterday, Thursday, July 15, 1999, the Federal debt stood at $5,625,473,322,843.46 (Five trillion, six hundred twenty-five billion, four hundred seventy-three million, three hundred twenty-two thousand, eight hundred forty-three dollars and forty-six cents). One year ago, July 15, 1998, the Federal debt stood at $5,529,723,000,000 (Five trillion, five hundred twenty-nine billion, seven hundred twenty-three million). Five years ago, July 15, 1994, the Federal debt stood at $4,624,152,000,000 (Four trillion, six hundred twenty-four billion, one hundred fifty-two million). Twenty-five years ago, July 15, 1974, the Federal debt stood at $473,130,000,000 (Four hundred seventy-three billion, one hundred thirty million) which reflects a debt increase of more than $5 trillion--$5,152,343,322,843.46 (Five trillion, one hundred fifty-two billion, three hundred forty-three million, three hundred twenty-two thousand, eight hundred forty-three dollars and forty-six cents) during the past 25 years.

Mr. HELMS

Mr. HELMS. Mr. President, at the close of business yesterday, Wednesday, July 14, 1999, the Federal debt stood at $5,624,306,987,432.02 (Five trillion, six hundred twenty-four billion, three hundred six million, nine hundred eighty-seven thousand, four hundred thirty-two dollars and two cents). One year ago, July 14, 1998, the Federal debt stood at $5,530,848,000,000 (Five trillion, five hundred thirty billion, eight hundred forty-eight million). Five years ago, July 14, 1994, the Federal debt stood at $4,624,996,000,000 (Four trillion, six hundred twenty-four billion, nine hundred ninety-six million). Ten years ago, July 14, 1989, the Federal debt stood at $2,800,265,000,000 (Two trillion, eight hundred billion, two hundred sixty-five million) which reflects a debt increase of more than $2 trillion--$2,824,041,987,432.02 (Two trillion, eight hundred twenty- four billion, forty-one million, nine hundred eighty-seven thousand, four hundred thirty-two dollars and two cents) during the past 10 years.

Mr. HELMS

Mr. HELMS. Mr. President, at the close of business yesterday, Tuesday, July 13, 1999, the Federal debt stood at $5,625,005,258,555.97 (Five trillion, six hundred twenty-five billion, five million, two hundred fifty-eight thousand, five hundred fifty-five dollars and ninety-seven cents). One year ago, July 13, 1998, the Federal debt stood at $5,528,489,000,000 (Five trillion, five hundred twenty-eight billion, four hundred eighty-nine million). Five years ago, July 13, 1994, the Federal debt stood at $4,624,337,000,000 (Four trillion, six hundred twenty-four billion, three hundred thirty-seven million). Ten years ago, July 13, 1989, the Federal debt stood at $2,800,206,000,000 (Two trillion, eight hundred billion, two hundred six million). Fifteen years ago, July 13, 1984, the Federal debt stood at $1,534,369,000,000 (One trillion, five hundred thirty-four billion, three hundred sixty-nine million) which reflects a debt increase of more than $4 trillion--$4,090,636,258,555.97 (Four trillion, ninety billion, six hundred thirty-six million, two hundred fifty-eight thousand, five hundred fifty-five dollars and ninety-seven cents) during the past 15 years.

Mr. HELMS

Mr. HELMS. Mr. President, at the close of business yesterday, Monday, July 12, 1999, the Federal debt stood at $5,621,471,104,821.73 (Five trillion, six hundred twenty-one billion, four hundred seventy-one million, one hundred four thousand, eight hundred twenty-one dollars and seventy-three cents). Five years ago, July 12, 1994, the Federal debt stood at $4,621,828,000,000 (Four trillion, six hundred twenty-one billion, eight hundred twenty-eight million). Ten years ago, July 12, 1989, the Federal debt stood at $2,800,467,000,000 (Two trillion, eight hundred billion, four hundred sixty-seven million). Fifteen years ago, July 12, 1984, the Federal debt stood at $1,534,664,000,000 (One trillion, five hundred thirty-four billion, six hundred sixty-four million). Twenty-five years ago, July 12, 1974, the Federal debt stood at $472,596,000,000 (Four hundred seventy-two billion, five hundred ninety-six million) which reflects a debt increase of more than $5 trillion--$5,148,875,104,821.73 (Five trillion, one hundred forty-eight billion, eight hundred seventy-five million, one hundred four thousand, eight hundred twenty-one dollars and seventy-three cents) during the past 25 years.

Mr. HELMS

Mr. HELMS. Mr. President, at the close of business Friday, July 9, 1999, the Federal debt stood at $5,623,337,708,599.03 (Five trillion, six hundred twenty-three billion, three hundred thirty-seven million, seven hundred eight thousand, five hundred ninety-nine dollars and three cents). One year ago, July 9, 1998, the Federal debt stood at $5,526,093,000,000 (Five trillion, five hundred twenty-six billion, ninety-three million). Fifteen years ago, July 9, 1984, the Federal debt stood at $1,535,474,000,000 (One trillion, five hundred thirty-five billion, four hundred seventy-four million). Twenty-five years ago, July 9, 1974, the Federal debt stood at $471,954,000,000 (Four hundred seventy-one billion, nine hundred fifty- four million) which reflects a debt increase of more than $5 trillion-- $5,151,383,708,599.03 (Five trillion, one hundred fifty-one billion, three hundred eighty-three million, seven hundred eight thousand, five hundred ninety-nine dollars and three cents) during the past 25 years.

Mr. HELMS

Mr. HELMS. Mr. President, at the close of business yesterday, Wednesday, June 30, 1999, the federal debt stood at $5,638,780,248,334.54 (Five trillion, six hundred thirty-eight billion, seven hundred eighty million, two hundred forty-eight thousand, three hundred thirty-four dollars and fifty-four cents). One year ago, June 30, 1998, the federal debt stood at $5,547,935,000,000 (Five trillion, five hundred forty-seven billion, nine hundred thirty-five million). Five years ago, June 30, 1994, the federal debt stood at $4,645,802,000,000 (Four trillion, six hundred forty-five billion, eight hundred two million). Ten years ago, June 30, 1989, the federal debt stood at $2,799,923,000,000 (Two trillion, seven hundred ninety-nine billion, nine hundred twenty-three million). Twenty-five years ago, June 30, 1974, the federal debt stood at $476,006,000,000 (Four hundred seventy-six billion, six million) which reflects a debt increase of more than $5 trillion-- $5,162,774,248,334.54 (Five trillion, one hundred sixty-two billion, seven hundred seventy-four million, two hundred forty-eight thousand, three hundred thirty-four dollars and fifty-four cents) during the past 25 years.

Mr. HELMS

Mr. HELMS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate stand in recess for six minutes so we can greet President Mubarak. I thank the Chair.

Mr. HELMS

Mr. HELMS. I thank the Chair. Mr. President, I have the honor and privilege of presenting to Members of the Senate and to the Pages the distinguished and very popular President of the Republic of Egypt, Mohammed Hosni Mubarak.

Mr. HELMS

Mr. HELMS. Mr. President, at the close of business yesterday, Tuesday, June 29, 1999, the federal debt stood at $5,602,716,451,360.35 (Five trillion, six hundred two billion, seven hundred sixteen million, four hundred fifty-one thousand, three hundred sixty dollars and thirty-five cents). One year ago, June 29, 1998, the federal debt stood at $5,502,438,000,000 (Five trillion, five hundred two billion, four hundred thirty-eight million). Five years ago, June 29, 1994, the federal debt stood at $4,604,970,000,000 (Four trillion, six hundred four billion, nine hundred seventy million) which reflects a debt increase of almost $1 trillion--$997,746,451,360.35 (Nine hundred ninety-seven billion, seven hundred forty-six million, four hundred fifty-one thousand, three hundred sixty dollars and thirty-five cents) during the past 5 years.

Mr. HELMS

Mr. HELMS. Mr. President, at the close of business yesterday, Monday, June 28, 1999, the federal debt stood at $5,600,865,929,234.63 (Five trillion, six hundred billion, eight hundred sixty-five million, nine hundred twenty-nine thousand, two hundred thirty-four dollars and sixty-three cents). Five years ago, June 28, 1994, the federal debt stood at $4,603,690,000,000 (Four trillion, six hundred three billion, six hundred ninety million). Ten years ago, June 28, 1989, the federal debt stood at $2,781,451,000,000 (Two trillion, seven hundred eighty-one billion, four hundred fifty-one million). Fifteen years ago, June 28, 1984, the federal debt stood at $1,506,943,000,000 (One trillion, five hundred six billion, nine hundred forty-three million) which reflects a debt increase of more than $4 trillion--$4,093,922,929,234.63 (Four trillion, ninety-three billion, nine hundred twenty-two million, nine hundred twenty-nine thousand, two hundred thirty-four dollars and sixty-three cents) during the past 15 years.

Mr. HELMS

Mr. HELMS. Mr. President, at the close of business Friday, June 25, 1999, the federal debt stood at $5,599,474,776,223.74 (Five trillion, five hundred ninety-nine billion, four hundred seventy-four million, seven hundred seventy-six thousand, two hundred twenty-three dollars and seventy-four cents). One year ago, June 25, 1998, the federal debt stood at $5,504,168,000,000 (Five trillion, five hundred four billion, one hundred sixty-eight million). Twenty-five years ago, June 25, 1974, the federal debt stood at $469,234,000,000 (Four hundred sixty-nine billion, two hundred thirty- four million) which reflects a debt increase of more than $5 trillion-- $5,130,240,776,223.74 (Five trillion, one hundred thirty billion, two hundred forty million, seven hundred seventy-six thousand, two hundred twenty-three dollars and seventy-four cents) during the past 25 years.

Mr. HELMS

Mr. HELMS. Mr. President, at the close of business yesterday, Wednesday, June 23, 1999, the Federal debt stood at $5,594,431,506,414.50 (Five trillion, five hundred ninety-four billion, four hundred thirty-one million, five hundred six thousand, four hundred fourteen dollars and fifty cents). One year ago, June 23, 1998, the Federal debt stood at $5,500,927,000,000 (Five trillion, five hundred billion, nine hundred twenty-seven million). Five years ago, June 23, 1994, the Federal debt stood at $4,598,158,000,000 (Four trillion, five hundred ninety-eight billion, one hundred fifty-eight million). Ten years ago, June 23, 1989, the Federal debt stood at $2,780,957,000,000 (Two trillion, seven hundred eighty billion, nine hundred fifty-seven million) which reflects a debt increase of more than $2 trillion--$2,813,474,506,414.50 (Two trillion, eight hundred thirteen billion, four hundred seventy-four million, five hundred six thousand, four hundred fourteen dollars and fifty cents) during the past 10 years.

Mr. HELMS

Mr. HELMS. Mr. President, at the close of business yesterday, Tuesday, June 22, 1999, the Federal debt stood at $5,593,512,029,751.90 (Five trillion, five hundred ninety-three billion, five hundred twelve million, twenty-nine thousand, seven hundred fifty-one dollars and ninety cents). One year ago, June 22, 1998, the Federal debt stood at $5,496,660,000,000 (Five trillion, four hundred ninety-six billion, six hundred sixty million). Five years ago, June 22, 1994, the Federal debt stood at $4,597,075,000,000 (Four trillion, five hundred ninety-seven billion, seventy-five million). Ten years ago, June 22, 1989, the Federal debt stood at $2,781,401,000,000 (Two trillion, seven hundred eighty-one billion, four hundred one million) which reflects a debt increase of more than $2 trillion--$2,812,111,029,751.90 (Two trillion, eight hundred twelve billion, one hundred eleven million, twenty-nine thousand, seven hundred fifty-one dollars and ninety cents) during the past 10 years.

Mr. HELMS

Mr. HELMS. So there are 5 minutes remaining.

Mr. HELMS

Mr. HELMS. I thank the Chair. I see both Senators on the floor.

Mr. HELMS. Mr. President, we have an agreement on both sides for a managers' package of amendments, which I send to the desk, including amendments by Senator Biden and myself and Senators Abraham and Grams, Kennedy, Durbin, Leahy, Moynihan, Reid, Bingaman, Thomas, Biden and Roth, two amendments by Senator Lugar, Senators McCain, Schumer and Brownback, Mack and Lieberman, Grams and Wellstone, Dodd, Ashcroft, Harkin, Feingold, and Feinstein. This package of amendments has been agreed to under a previous order.

Mr. HELMS. Mr. President, I move to reconsider the vote.

Mr. HELMS

Mr. HELMS. Mr. President, I move to reconsider the vote.