Jim Jeffords

Mr. JEFFORDS

Mr. JEFFORDS. Mr. President, I rise today to discuss a bill that my colleague Senator Baucus and I are reintroducing titled the ``Post Office Community Partnership Act of 1999''. Aside from a few technical changes, the bill is similar to the one we introduced in the 105th Congress that was supported by so many of our colleagues in a 76-21 vote last July. Unfortunately our postal language was dropped from the underlying bill during conference with the House. However, I am hopeful that this year our bill will become law. I should add that this year we have coordinated our efforts with Representative Blumenauer of Oregon and an identical companion bill is being put forward in both the Senate and the House. Mr. President, I live in a small town in Vermont. I understand the importance downtowns and village centers play in the identity and longevity of communities. Downtowns are the social and economic hearts of small communities. They are where neighbors catch up on the news, shop, worship, and celebrate national holidays. Our bill will enable the residents of small villages and large towns to have a say when the Postal Service decides that their local post office will be closed, relocated, or consolidated. Local post offices are important tenants in any vibrant downtown. A recent article in USA Today cited a 1993 study that found that 80 percent of the people who shopped downtown planned their visit around a visit to the post office. There is much talk in the news today about revitalizing our downtowns and encouraging smart growth. I say to my colleagues, if you want to encourage smart growth, let's start by doing what we can do to keep federal facilities such as post offices in downtowns. Some of my colleagues may ask why this legislation is necessary. A story from my home state of Vermont will answer that question. A few years ago the general store on the green in Perkinsville, Vermont went bankrupt and the adjacent post office wanted to leave the small village center for a new building outside of town. By the time the community was aware of the relocation, plans were so far along--the new building had actually been constructed based on the promise of the post office as the anchor tenant--that there was no time to fully investigate in-town alternatives. One elderly resident wrote that in contrast to families now being able to walk to the post office, ``we certainly won't be walking along the busy Route 106 two miles or more to get postal services.'' Mr. President, post office closings and relocations are occurring all across the country and especially in small and rural communities. My colleagues will quickly discover similar examples in their own states where the removal of the post office has harmed the economic vitality of the downtown area, deprived citizens without cars of access, and contributed to sprawl. Mr. President, post offices in Vermont and across the nation are centers of social and business interaction. In communities where post offices are located on village greens or in downtowns, they become integral to these communities' identities. I believe that this legislation will strengthen the federal-local ties of the Postal Service, help preserve our downtowns, and combat the problem of sprawl. I urge my colleagues to join Senator Baucus and me in support of this important legislation.

Mr. JEFFORDS

Mr. JEFFORDS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Armed Services Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities be authorized to meet at 9:30 a.m. on Friday, March 5, 1999, in open session, to receive testimony on emerging threats to vital U.S. national security interests.

Mr. JEFFORDS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Special Committee on the Year 2000 Technology Problem be permitted to meet on March 5, 1999, at 9:30 a.m. for the purpose of conducting a hearing.

Mr. JEFFORDS

Mr. JEFFORDS. Mr. President, I now ask unanimous consent that, notwithstanding adjournment of the Senate, Members have until 1 p.m. to file first-degree amendments to amendment number 31 to the Ed-Flex bill.

Mr. JEFFORDS

Mr. JEFFORDS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it stand in adjournment until 12 noon on Monday, March 8. I further ask unanimous consent that on Monday, immediately following the prayer, the Journal of proceedings be approved to date, the morning hour deemed to have expired, the time for the two leaders be reserved, and there then be a period of morning business until 2 p.m. with the following limitations: 12 o'clock to 12:30 under the control of Senator Gramm, or his designee; 12:30 to 1 o'clock under the control of Senator Voinovich; and 60 minutes under the control of Senator Durbin or his designee.

Mr. JEFFORDS. Mr. President, I further ask unanimous consent that at the hour of 2 p.m. the Senate resume consideration of S. 280, the Ed- Flex legislation.

Mr. JEFFORDS

Mr. JEFFORDS. Mr. President, for the information of all Senators, at 2 p.m. on Monday the Senate will resume consideration of the Ed-Flex legislation. Under the order, a cloture vote will occur at 5 p.m. on Monday on the pending substitute amendment to the Ed-Flex bill. If necessary, a second cloture vote will occur on Tuesday. In accordance with rule XXII, Members will have until 4 p.m. on Monday to file second-degree amendments to the substitute. With regard to the second cloture vote, Senators will have until 1 p.m. on Monday to file timely first-degree amendments. The majority leader has stated that it is hoped that the Senate will be able to complete action on this important education bill as soon as possible. I thank all Senators for their attention, and I remind everyone that the next vote will occur on Monday beginning at 5 p.m.

Mr. JEFFORDS

Mr. JEFFORDS. Mr. President, if there is no further business to come before the Senate, I now ask unanimous consent that the Senate stand in adjournment under the previous order.

Mr. JEFFORDS

Mr. JEFFORDS. Mr. President, I believe at this time we have no further business that is immediately available. I suggest we ask unanimous consent to set the vote for 2:15 and that the Senate be in morning business until such time.

Mr. JEFFORDS

Mr. JEFFORDS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the resolution be agreed to; that the preamble be agreed to; that the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table; and that any statements relating to the resolution appear at the appropriate place in the Record.

Mr. JEFFORDS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of S. Res. 58, submitted earlier today by Senators Lott and Daschle.

Mr. JEFFORDS

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

Mr. JEFFORDS. Mr. President, if there is no further business to come before the Senate, I now ask unanimous consent that the Senate stand in adjournment under the previous order, following the remarks of Senator Daschle.

Mr. JEFFORDS

Mr. JEFFORDS. Mr. President, for the information of all Senators, the Senate will reconvene on Friday at 9:30 a.m. and resume consideration of S. 280, the Ed-Flex bill. Amendments are expected to be offered and debated during Friday's session. Therefore, Members should expect at least one rollcall vote prior to noon. The leader would like to remind Members that a cloture motion was filed this evening to the Jeffords substitute amendment, and that vote will occur at 5 p.m. on Monday, March 8. Also, under rule XXII, all Senators have until 1 p.m. on Friday in order to file timely first-degree amendments to the substitute.

Mr. JEFFORDS

Mr. JEFFORDS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it stand in adjournment until 9:30 a.m. on Friday, March 5. I further ask unanimous consent that on Friday, immediately following the prayer, the Journal of proceedings be approved to date, the morning hour be deemed to have expired, the time for the two leaders be reserved and the Senate then resume consideration of S. 280, the Education Flexibility Partnership Act.

Mr. JEFFORDS

Mr. JEFFORDS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the resolution be agreed to; that the preamble be agreed to; that the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table; and that any statements relating to the resolution be printed in the Record.

Mr. JEFFORDS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of S. Con. Res. 15, submitted earlier today by Senators McCain, Kennedy and others.

Mr. JEFFORDS

Mr. JEFFORDS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Subcommittee on International Operations of the Committee on Foreign Relations be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Thursday, March 4, 1999, at 2 p.m., to hold a hearing.

Mr. JEFFORDS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to allow the Joint Economic Committee to meet on the issue of economic growth through tax cuts on March 4, 1999, at 9:30 a.m.

Mr. JEFFORDS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Select Committee on Intelligence be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Thursday, March 4, 1999, at 3 p.m., to hold a closed business meeting.

Mr. JEFFORDS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on the Judiciary be authorized to hold an executive business meeting during the session of the Senate on Thursday, March 4, 1999, at 10 a.m. in room 226 of the Senate Dirksen Office Building.

Mr. JEFFORDS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, Subcommittee on Employment, Safety, and Training be authorized to meet for a hearing on the New SAFE Act during the session of the Senate on Thursday, March 4, 1999, at 9:30 a.m.

Mr. JEFFORDS. Mr President, I ask unanimous consent on behalf of the Governmental Affairs Committee to meet on Thursday, March 4, 1999, at 10 a.m. to mark up legislation at a business meeting.

Mr. JEFFORDS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Finance be permitted to meet Thursday, March 4, 1999 beginning at 10 a.m. in room SH-215, to conduct a markup.

Mr. JEFFORDS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Environmental and Public Works be granted permission to conduct a hearing Thursday, March 4, 9 a.m., to receive testimony from Gary S. Guzy, nominated by the President to be General Counsel for the Environmental Protection Agency and Ann Jeanette Udall, nominated by the President to be a member of the board of trustees of the Morris K. Udall Scholarship and Excellence in National Environmental Policy Foundation.