Fritz Hollings

Mr. HOLLINGS

Mr. HOLLINGS. In order to combat that problem, we are including $1,100,000 in Fiscal Year 2002 funding for the Missouri Drug Eradication Initiative.

Mr. HOLLINGS. I would appreciate if you would come, and I would appreciate it if you will help this afternoon, getting rid of this other bill.

Mr. HOLLINGS. I move to reconsider the vote.

Mr. HOLLINGS. Mr. President, we have been very patient and very understanding. I am ready for the amendment or amendments that the distinguished Senator from Arizona has. But it has to be forthcoming or we will just move to third reading. If they don't want a vote for third reading, then we will move on to something else. This situation has really gotten totally out of hand with respect to the system for bills being considered on the floor of the Senate. That is the work of the Senate. That is front and center. From time to time there are amendments, and they are held up. It takes actually less time to work them out. So I am not all antsy that we have to be moving and voting every second. In fact, that is what we have been doing all afternoon. We have had a good afternoon working them out. But the Senator from Arizona has been put on notice. I understand that he is still trying to reconcile an amendment that some would agree to and then some would not agree to; and others are saying: Look, wait a minute. This is authorization on an appropriations bill; it covers the jurisdiction of several committees; it deserves to be heard before voted upon. I do not know that the point of order would be made of legislation on an appropriations bill. But I say this publicly so everybody is on notice. I do not want to say that we just abruptly moved for it. I do not have to get third reading. I have other work to do. I yield to the distinguished Senator.

Mr. HOLLINGS. It isn't the case, Mr. President, of us not being considerate, deliberate, and patient. The two amendments that could be--or one, perhaps--that could be offered, they have been put on notice publicly here twice by our distinguished leader, Senator Reid, myself, and others. And they have been contacted. I hope they get to this Chamber in the next few minutes because we just can't wait all afternoon and hear that they are getting together an amendment. This bill has been under consideration for 2 days.

Mr. HOLLINGS. If the distinguished Senator will yield, the Senator from Iowa wants to ask for the yeas and nays on his amendment. Can we do that?

Mr. HOLLINGS

Mr. HOLLINGS. Will the Senator yield?

Mr. HOLLINGS

Mr. HOLLINGS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Subcommittee on Technology and Space of the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation be authorized to meet on Thursday, September 13, 2001, at 2:00 p.m. on Digital Divide.

Mr. HOLLINGS

Mr. HOLLINGS. Mr. President, much has been said on the Senate floor about the events of the last 24 hours. I, too, want to express deep sadness and remorse for those that lost family and loved ones. We, as a Nation, share your loss. The free world shares your grief. This was an attack on liberty, an attack on freedom, we are all victims. As a veteran of the last World War, I know personally the horrors of war. Pearl Harbor woke us from the dream that we would not be dragged into World War II. Many commentators have made the parallel between yesterday's attack and the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941. We were compelled to act to defend our country from an unprovoked attack. The events of yesterday, like those during Pearl Harbor, shattered our innocence and exposed our vulnerabilities as a Nation. In my view, yesterday's attack was worse than an act of war because, unlike Pearl Harbor, the enemy preyed upon unsuspecting, defenseless civilians to maximize the loss of innocent human life and spread terror. Our freedom and the openness of our society, essential virtues that define us as a Nation, were exploited to inflict terror upon our society. These were coordinated, well-organized attacks on our Nation. Unlike the wars of the past, today we face an enemy we cannot immediately identify and whose exact location is unknown. The President and his national security team have committed all the resources possible to find those who are responsible. I stand with the President and the American people, we must seek those who are responsible and respond with overwhelming force. While this is still an emotionally charged time, we must begin the process of looking forward and addressing our security vulnerabilities exposed by yesterday's attacks. It is important to note that as the events were unfolding, the Senate was debating the appropriations bill for the Departments of Commerce, Justice and State, the funding legislation that directly addresses counter-terrorism. And while it may not provide immediate relief for the situation that we're faced with today, it is one of the legislative vehicles through which we can impact the Nation's ability to address counter-terrorism. We must have better organization and coordination of our counter- terrorism efforts. Sen. Judd Gregg and I have worked to organize an Office of Counter-terrorism under the Attorney General and provide adequate funding for the Department of Justice. As we have argued, we must redouble our national commitment and sustained effort to address counter-terrorism. It begins with a coordinated effort organized in the Department of Justice, it is enhanced by improved security standards, and it is sustained through adequate funding. This attack has highlighted the need for a new national security paradigm. It has showed us that the tools of our economic strength, such as civilian aircraft, can be used as instruments of destruction. Therefore, we must analyze the security threats associated with all modes of commerce. Obviously, we must take immediate action to review and enhance the security at our Nation's airports. Moreover, we know that current, inadequate security at our nation's ports makes us vulnerable to future attacks. With this knowledge, Senator Graham and I introduced a bill to address security at our ports. The legislation seeks to enhance security at U.S. seaports through better interagency coordination and more sufficient resources. Seaports are international borders that currently are not subject to any security guidelines enforced by the federal government. Drug smuggling, immigrant smuggling and trade fraud are prevalent crimes along the Nation's seaports, and the lax security measures make terrorist activity an imminent threat as well. Terrorism affects us all. We as a nation must stand together and state resolutely that we will not tolerate terrorism, in the United States or abroad. We will work in Congress to put in place the protections necessary to defend our country from future terrorist activity and uphold the liberties and freedom we hold dear. As stated by the Commander-in-Chief, the United States and its allies will stand firm and take decisive action.

Mr. HOLLINGS

Mr. HOLLINGS. I think so. We are ready to make that request, but I want to say a word in debate.

Mr. HOLLINGS. You mean 3:15.

Mr. HOLLINGS. Let me ask--my distinguished colleague from New Hampshire, I am sure, will say a word to extend the time. My understanding in the agreement was that it was 3:15. I just say that the distinguished Senator's amendment is clear. It says, look, Mr. Secretary of State, Mr. Attorney General of the Justice Department, you shall not defend the U.S. position. Now, come on. If there is a dispute--and there obviously is--with the Senator's amendment with respect to the right of these veterans, then let it be determined with a comprehensive review, with all the documents and everything else in a court of law. This doesn't prevent the veterans from moving forward, but it certainly prevents the United States of America, through its Department of Justice and Department of State, from defending the position of the United States under this particular treaty. The distinguished Senator from New Hampshire could well say, wait a minute, here is this information that has come to light 50 years later. Whether that has an effect or not is to be determined. No rights have been taken away from my veteran friend here who might stand at my side and say, Hollings, I want you to bring the case. Nothing prevents the case from being brought. But this amendment says no one defends this particular treaty. The Senate, which ratified the treaty, doesn't want to take the position that its ratification cannot even be commented on by this particular amendment because all funds are removed, no motion can be made, no defense can be made. On that basis alone, I will support the Senator from Hawaii in his opposition and commend him again for his courage, and I commend my friend from New Hampshire for raising this particular question because it is a serious one, but it ought to be discussed in a court of law and both sides heard fully, without saying one particular side can't be defended at all. I yield the floor.

Mr. HOLLINGS. Hopefully it will not hit New Hampshire.

Mr. HOLLINGS. I send to the desk a managers' package of technical amendments.

Mr. HOLLINGS. Mr. President, I send an amendment to the desk and ask the clerk to report it.

Mr. HOLLINGS. I ask unanimous consent reading of the amendment be dispensed with.

Mr. HOLLINGS. Mr. President, I am pleased to present to the Senate the fiscal year 2002 State, Justice, Commerce, the Judiciary, and related agencies appropriations bill. This bill was accepted unanimously by the full committee in July. As in past years, this has been an extremely bi-partisan effort on the part of the members and staff of this subcommittee. In particular, I would like to thank the ranking member, Senator Gregg, for his dedication to producing a fair and well rounded bill. He has chaired this subcommittee in a distinguished fashion during the past 4 years. He knows this bill through and through and his assistance during the change over has been greatly appreciated. Also, I want to recognize the hard work of my subcommittee staff; my majority clerk, Lila Helms, Jill Shapiro Long, Luke Nachbar, and Dereck Orr; as well as the minority clerk, Jim Morhard along with Kevin Linskey, Katherine Hennesey, and Nancy Perkins. This is my 31st year on the CJS Subcommittee, and this is the 25th annual appropriations bill for CJS that I have been privileged to present to the Senate either as chairman, or as ranking member of the subcommittee. I am still amazed at the range of important issues that this bill addresses. Funds appropriated under this bill directly affect the daily lives of all Americans. Under CJS, the Nation's primary and secondary schools are made safer by providing grants for the hiring of school resource officers to ensure that our children can grow and learn in a protected environment. This bill provides funds to protect all americans by increasing the number of police officers walking the Nation's streets, providing additional funds to fight the growing problem of illegal drug use, guarding consumers from fraud, guarding children from internet predators and protecting Americans from acts of terrorism here at home and abroad. People throughout this country benefit from weather forecasting services funded through this bill, whether they are farmers receiving information necessary to effectively manage their crops, or families receiving lifesaving emergency bulletins regarding tornadoes, floods, torrential rains, and hurricanes. Small communities benefit from the economic development programs funded in this bill. Nearly 1,500,000 small businesses benefit from the free SBA assistance provided in this bill. All American businesses and their employees benefit from the funding provided to enforce our trade laws and to prevent illegal, often dangerous products, from being dumped on our markets. This appropriations bill provides funds to improve technology in a host of areas; funding is provided for developing cutting edge environmental satellites, for developing cutting edge industrial technologies that keep us competitive, and for developing basic communications tools for State and local law enforcement so that they can do their jobs more safely and effectively. In all, the CJS bill totals $41.5 billion in budget authority, which is $719.9 million above the President's request. There are four specific accounts that benefit from the increased funding above the President's request. They are MARAD, COPS Universal Hiring Program, NIST's Advanced Technology Program, and the Small Business Administration. First, the President's budget proposed to move MARAD into the Department of Defense. The subcommittee received letters from over one- third of the senate indicating opposition to such a move. The committee bill reflects that request and provides $98.7 million for the Maritime Security Program and $100 million for the Title XI Loan Guarantee Program. Second, the President's budget proposed to fund only the school resource officer component of the COPS Program. The committee bill before the Senate today fully supports the School Resource Officers Program, but also restores the Universal Hiring Program. The committee bill provides $190 million for the Universal Hiring and Cops More Program. Third, the President's request proposed to zero out the Advanced Technology Program. The committee bill restores this program and provides the same level of funding, $60.7 million, for new awards as was provided last year. As a result, the bill includes $190 million above the President's request for the ATP Program. Finally, the President's request proposed to move SBA from a service agency to a fee for service agency. In order to correct this misguided understanding of the services SBA provides this country's more than 1,500,000 small businesses, the committee bill provides an additional $231 million above the President's request to restore funding for all the proposed taxes contained in the President's request. In addition to restoring the funding for Priority National Programs, the Commerce, Justice, State appropriations bill also focuses on replacing the aging information technology and other core infrastructure needs of the Departments of Justice, Commerce, and State. As I said before, this is a well rounded bill with a number of important accounts. I would like to take a few more minutes to go over some of the specific funding highlights from the CJS bill the committee is bringing before the Senate today. Once again, the FBI's Preliminary Annual Uniform Crime Report released this past May demonstrates how well these programs are working. According to the FBI's report, in 2000, serious crime has leveled to mark a decline of 7-percent from 1998, and marking 9 consecutive years of decline. This continues to be the longest running crime decline on record. Bipartisan efforts to fund DOJ's crime fighting initiatives have impacted this reduction in crime during the past 10 years. The bill provides $3.47 billion for the FBI, which is $216 million above last year's funding level. To meet the FBI's training, resources, and equipment needs, the bill provides $142 million for the FBI's Computer Modernization Program, trilogy; $6.8 million to improve intercept capabilities; $7 million for counter-encryption resources; $12 million for forensic research; $4 million for four mitochondrial DNA forensic labs; and $32 million for an annex for the engineering research facility, which develops and fields cutting edge technology in support of case agents. To highlight the changing mission of the FBI, the bill provides a new budget structure. Three old criminal divisions were combined into two, and new divisions for cybercrime and counterterrorism were created. The new structure provides the Bureau with more flexibility and should improve the Bureau's responsiveness to changing patterns of crime and headquarters' support of the field. The bill also directs the FBI to re-engineer its workforce by hiring and training specialists that are technically-trained agents and electronics engineers and technicians. The bill provides $1.5 billion for DEA, $8.8 million above the budget request. Increased funds are provided for technology and infrastructure improvements, including an additional $30 million for DEA's computer network, firebird, and an additional $13 million for DEA's laboratory operations for forensic support. To combat drugs that are reaching our streets and our children, the bill provides $52.8 million to fight methamphetamine and encourages the DEA to increase efforts to combat heroin and emerging drugs such as oxycontin and MDMA, also known as ecstacy. The bill also directs DEA to renew its efforts to work with Mexico to combat drug trafficking and corruption under the country's new President Vicente Fox. For the INS, the bill includes $5.5 billion, $2.1 billion of which is derived from fees. This funding provides the necessary resources to address border enforcement and benefits processing. For border enforcement, the bill provides $75 million for 570 additional Border Patrol Agents, $25 million for 348 additional land border inspectors, and $67.5 million for additional inspectors and support staff. To better equip and house these agents and inspectors, the bill provides $91 million for border vehicles, $22 million for border equipment, such as search lights, goggles and infrared scopes, $40.5 million to modernize inspection technology; and $205 million for Border patrol and detention facility construction and rehabilitation. For INS' other hat, benefits processing, the bill provides $67 million additional funds to address the backlog and accelerate the processing times. This bill includes $3.07 billion for the Office of Justice Programs, which is $259.8 above the amount requested by the President. This bill provides for the funding of a number of important law enforcement programs. The committee has provided $2.08 billion for State and Local Law Enforcement Assistance Grants. Within this amount; $400 million is for the Local Law Enforcement Block Grant Program; $390.5 million is for Violence Against Women Act--VAWA--programs, including programs to assist disabled female victims, programs to reduce violence against women on college campuses, and efforts to address domestic and child abuse in rural areas; and $265 million is provided for the State Criminal Alien Assistance Program which reimburses States for the incarceration costs of criminal aliens. Within the amount provided for the Office of Justice Programs, a total of $328.5 million has also been recommended for juvenile justice programs. These funds will go towards programs aimed at reducing delinquency among at-risk youth; assisting States in enforcing underage drinking laws; and enhancing school safety by providing youth with positive role models through structured mentoring programs, training for teachers and families so that they can recognize troubled youth, and training to students on conflict resolution and violence reduction. This bill includes $1.019 billion for the COPS office in new budget authority, which is $164.7 billion above the President's request. As in prior years, the Senate has provided $180 million for the Cops-in- Schools Program to fund up to 1,500 additional school resources officers in FY02, which will make a total of 6,100 school resource officers funded since Senator Gregg and I created this program in 1998. This committee also remains committed to providing grant funds for the hiring of local law enforcement officers through the COPS Universal Hiring Program. Although the President did not seek funding for this program in FY02, the committee has provided $190 million to continue to hire officers, as well as to provide much needed communications technology to the Nations law enforcement community. Within the COPS budget, the committee has also increased funding for programs authorized by the Crime Identification and Technology Act, CITA. In FY02, $150.9 million is provided for programs that will improve the retention of, and access to, criminal records nationwide, improve the forensic capabilities of State and local forensic labs, and reduce the backlog of crime scene and convicted offender DNA evidence. And finally, the committee has provided $48.3 million within COPS to continue the COPS methamphetamine initiative. These funds will provide for the clean-up of meth production sites which pose serious health risks to law enforcement and the surrounding public. Funds will also be provided to State and local law enforcement to acquire training and equipment to safely and effectively dismantle existing meth labs. For the Department of Commerce in fiscal year 2002, the committee has focused on the separate but equally important goals of improving departmental infrastructure and promoting the advancement of technology. The Nation is blessed with an outstanding group of individuals who go to work every day, across the Nation, for the Department of Commerce. Thirty-seven thousand people work in agencies as diverse as the Economic Development Administration, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the Bureau of the Census. They are highly-trained experts who are responsible for a huge array of critical programs. These people help minority businesses and small manufacturers flourish, run trade missions to open foreign markets to American goods, forecast hurricanes, estimate the Nation's gross domestic product, set standards and measurements recognized and used world-wide, fly satellites, manage the Nation's fisheries, conduct censuses, and process patents. These missions of the Department of Commerce are the glue that holds together the U.S. economy, both domestically and abroad. There is no doubt as to the importance of the missions under the purview of the Department of Commerce. There is, however, a crisis looming in terms of the infrastructure available to the employees who work there. In many cases, Mr. President, these people are going to work in World War II-era buildings that are literally crumbling around them. We saw this last year in Suitland where we had leaks in the roof, lead in the water, and asbestos in the air systems and we provided funding for new buildings. The average age of the NOAA fleet of research vessels is close to 30 years old. Employees in Department of Commerce bureaus are working with antiquated computer systems that often do not speak to the outside world. The bill we have before us begins to turn the tide on infrastructure needs. In all cases, the bill funds the President's request for capital upgrades. This includes new information technology systems at the Minority Business Development Agency, the Bureau of the Census, the Economic Development Agency, and the Office of Economic and Statistical Analysis. The bill includes a $76 million increase for the next generation of polar-orbiting satellites. It also includes a new radio spectrum measurement system at the National Telecommunications and Information Administration. In other cases, this bill jump-starts capital projects that were not requested by the President when they should have been. For example, funding is included to begin work on upgrading the Boulder, CO, campus of the National Institute of Standards and Technology. We also encourage the United States Patent and Trademark Office to reflect on its infrastructure needs and to report back on what we can do to help in the future. In terms of NOAA, the bill includes funding for 2 new research vessels and funds to refurbish 6 others. In addition, funding is included for needed repairs at the Beaufort, Oxford, and Kasitsna Coastal Laboratories. Sufficient funding is provided to begin construction on regional National Marine Fisheries Service Buildings in Hawaii and in Alaska. The bill provides funding to start building visitor facilities at National Marine Sanctuaries. Mr. President, the funding provided in this bill for these purposes is a down-payment on the future of a robust Department of Commerce. I believe that the people at the Department are its greatest asset and that these targeted funds will allow those people to better do their jobs for decades to come. In terms of advancing technology, in addition to the satellite programs, research vessels, radio spectrum management systems and other programs that I mentioned earlier, the bill provides $696.5 million for the National Institute for Standards and Technology--NIST. This amount aggressively funds scientific and technical research and services that are carried out in the NIST Laboratories in Gaithersburg and in Boulder. The bill provides the current year funding level of $60.7 for new ATP awards. The ATP is an industry-led, competitive, and cost- shared program to help the U.S. develop the next generation of breakthrough technologies in advance of its foreign competitors. ATP contracts encourage companies to undertake initial high-risk research that promises significant widespread economic benefits. Over one-half of the ATP awards go to small companies. To date, Mr. President, 41 ATP competitions have been held; 4,435 proposals have been submitted involving 7,343 participants; 526 awards have been issued involving 1,167 participants, and 248 ATP projects have been completed. Of the 526 awards, 173 are joint ventures, and 353 are single applicants. Fify-nine percent of the projects are led by small businesses and 71 percent of the single applicant projects are led by small business. More than 150 different universities are involved in 280 ATP projects and over 100 new technologies have been commercialized as products or services. Companies have identified nearly 1,400 potential applications of ATP research. Is ATP a success? The answer clearly is ``yes.'' The Advanced Technology Program has been extensively reviewed. Since its inception, there have been 52 studies on the efficacy and merits of the program. These assessments reveal that the ATP does not fund projects that otherwise would have been financed in the private sector. Rather, the ATP facilitates so-called ``Valley of Death'' projects that private capital markets are unable to fund. In June 2001, the National Academy of Sciences' National Research Council completed its comprehensive review of the ATP. It found that the ATP is an effective Federal partnership that is funding new technologies that can contribute to important societal goals. They also found that ``the ATP could use more funding effectively and efficiently.'' A March 1999 study found that future returns from just 3 of the 50 completed ATP projects--improving automobile manufacturing processes, reducing the cost of blood and immune cell production, and using a new material for prosthesis devices--would pay for all projects funded to date by the ATP. Measurement and evaluation have been part of the ATP since its beginning. What the analysis shows time and time again is that the ATP is stimulating collaboration, accelerating the development of high-risk technologies, and paying off for the Nation. The bill includes a total of $7.6 billion for the Department of State and related agencies, an increase of $617 million above last year's funding level of $7.0 billion. Within the State Department account, $1.1 billion has been provided for worldwide security upgrades of State Department facilities. Additionally, the bill provides $773 million to continue our Nation's international peacekeeping activities. During the past several years, the worldwide security accounts and the peacekeeping account have accounted for the majority of increases in the Department's budget while the day-to-day operations have been neglected. As a result, many of the Department's quality of life initiatives and the Department's other infrastructure needs-- communications, transportation, office equipment--have suffered. The funding provided in this bill fully funds all current services for the Department of State. In addition, this bill funds all quality of life initiatives such as: additional language, security, leadership and management training; monetary incentives to attract employees to hardship posts; incentives to allow civil service employees to compete for 2-year overseas assignments; and replacement of obsolete furniture and motor vehicles. As with the other departments funded through this bill, full funding is provided for information technology upgrades. The worldwide web has become essential to the conduct of foreign policy. Yet, very few overseas posts have that capability. The funding provided in this bill fully supports Secretary Powell's decision to place information technology among the Department's top priorities and fully funds the Department's efforts to provide internet access to all State Department desktops by January 2003. Let me conclude by saying again this is a solid piece of legislation that addresses issues that affect the daily lives of all Americans. It is a good bill that balances the needs on many diverse missions, and the interests of members from both parties. Every year, we face difficulties with respect to limited funding and multiple, sometimes competing, priorities. This year was no different. And, as in past years, the CJS Subcommittee made those decisions in a bipartisan and judicious manner. This could not have happened without the assistance of Senator Gregg and the endless hours of work that both my and his staff put into drafting the bill before the Senate today. With the help of my colleagues, I look forward to swift passage of this vital legislation.

Mr. HOLLINGS. I ask unanimous consent that the reading of the amendment be dispensed with.

Mr. HOLLINGS. I would certainly join with the Senator from New Hampshire in recognizing and supporting the Mountain View House project. I will work with my colleague during conference to include this project in the committee report. INS Inspectors at Port of Detroit

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

Mr. HOLLINGS

Mr. HOLLINGS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the following staff be granted floor privileges during the consideration of H.R. 2500, the Commerce, Justice, State, and the Judiciary appropriations bill: Lila Helms, Luke Nachbar, Dereck Orr, Jill Shaprio Long, Jim Morhard, Kevin Linskey, Katherine Hennessey, Nancy Perkins, and Ashley Cooper.

Mr. HOLLINGS

Mr. HOLLINGS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions be authorized to meet for a hearing on ``Improving Women's Health: Why Contraceptive Insurance Coverage Matters'' during the session of the Senate on Monday, September 10, 2001, at 3 p.m.

Mr. HOLLINGS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Environment and Public Works, Subcommittee on Transportation, Infrastructure, and Nuclear Safety be authorized to meet on Monday, September 10, 2001, at 3:30 p.m. to conduct a hearing on the Intelligent Transportation Systems Program. The hearing will be held in room SD-406.

Mr. HOLLINGS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Special Committee on Aging be authorized to meet on Monday, September 10, 2001, from 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. in Dirksen 215 for the purpose of conducting a hearing.

Mr. HOLLINGS

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