Jim Jeffords

Mr. JEFFORDS

Mr. JEFFORDS. Mr. President, I ask the Chair lay before the Senate a message from the House of Representatives on the bill (S. 2375) to amend the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, to strengthen prohibitions on international bribery and other corrupt practices, and for other purposes. The PRESIDING OFFICER laid before the Senate the following message from the House of Representatives: Resolved, That the bill from the Senate (S. 2375) entitled ``An Act to amend the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, to strengthen prohibitions on international bribery and other corrupt practices, and for other purposes'', do pass with the following amendments: Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert:

Mr. JEFFORDS

Mr. JEFFORDS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, and 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. Res. 299, submitted earlier by Senators Lott and Daschle.

Mr. JEFFORDS

Mr. JEFFORDS. I ask unanimous consent that the amendment be considered read and agreed to, the bill be read a third time and passed, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table and any statements relating to the bill appear in the Record.

Mr. JEFFORDS. Mr. President, Senators Torricelli and Leahy have an amendment at the desk and ask for its consideration.

Mr. JEFFORDS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 608, S. 2253.

Mr. JEFFORDS

Mr. JEFFORDS. I ask unanimous consent that the bill be considered read a third time and passed, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, and that any statements relating to the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. JEFFORDS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of H.R. 4259, which was received from the House.

Mr. JEFFORDS

Mr. JEFFORDS. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Hospital and Regional Office Center of White River Junction, Vermont. October 16 marks this facility's sixtieth anniversary. For six decades it has provided compassionate, high-quality service to Vermont and New Hampshire Veterans. On October 16, 1938, an elaborate dedication ceremony was held in White River Junction at the newly completed VA hospital. The next day, the first patient was admitted. In an unusual move, the regional VA office relocated its offices from Burlington to the White River Junction location to better serve veterans in processing their claims for benefits. The facility gradually grew over the years. By the end of World War II, 26 ``Quonset'' huts had to be erected to provide space for the rapidly expanding veterans programs, increasing the hospital's capacity to 250 beds. In 1946, the VA hospital entered into an agreement with Dartmouth Medical School to become a teaching hospital, an arrangement that continues and thrives today. Recognizing the importance of research programs, in 1954, the VA, in partnership with Dartmouth Medical School, launched a medical research initiative. The research function was significantly expanded in 1992 with the completion of a research and education facility that enabled the hospital to perform medical and health services research, rehabilitation and cooperative studies. In addition to these critical fields of study, this facility is helping veterans make more informed choices about their medical treatment through cutting edge outcomes research. From 1971 through 1981, several construction projects were undertaken to modernize and expand the hospital. In 1989, the VA began its venture of providing community-based outreach centers (CBOCs) to meet veterans' primary care needs in locations closer to their homes. A outreach clinic was opened in Burlington, and based on the success of this project, a community clinic was opened in Bennington earlier this year. The White River Junction VA center has also done an exemplary job of meeting more than just the veterans' health care needs. Vermont veterans are also very fortunate to have, under the same roof, a very capable group of people to assist them with their benefit needs. The staff is small but mighty when its comes to their advocacy for veterans and I greatly appreciate the assistance they have provided Vermont veterans, for more than half a century, as well as to my office for the past 20 years. In closing, Mr. President, I want to publicly thank all of the unsung heroes associated with this tremendous facility. They know who they are--the director of this facility, Gary DeGasta; the dedicated staff at the hospital and regional office; the Veterans Service Organizations who donate so much time and money to help provide for veterans; and, of course, the veterans, who for 60 years have supported the mission of this fine facility with their continuous patronage. To my friends at the VA in White River Junction--Happy Anniversary. May you have many more.

Mr. JEFFORDS

Mr. JEFFORDS. I ask unanimous consent to proceed in morning business for 10 minutes.

Mr. JEFFORDS

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

Mr. JEFFORDS. Mr. President, we must pass the Work Incentives Improvement Act of 1998 in this Congress. It seems like so long ago that when we introduced bill, I remember Bob Dole, who has been a hero with disabilities over the years being a disabled man himself, coming forward to us with this legislation, or to help on this legislation, and told his life story, and how incredibly important it was for him as an individual to be able to get back into the workforce. As we all know, he did that so successfully. I am now watching carefully as we struggle to come to the end of this session, and know that one of the bills that is lying there waiting to be passed is the Work Incentives Improvement Act of 1998 on which the former Senator, Leader Dole, worked so hard. This legislation addresses the last remaining barrier to true independence for individuals with disabilities. We must act now. For years, both here and in Vermont, individuals with disabilities have said to me, ``Senator Jeffords, I want to work. But I cannot afford to.'' It took me a while to fully understand and appreciate what they were saying. Simply put, the current system of cash payments and health care coverage in the Social Security Act do not encourage individuals with disabilities to work, or to work to their full potential. Common sense is on our side with regard to Social Security reform. Our country has succeeded in providing Federal and State support for children and adults with disabilities through the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and recently the Work Investment Act of 1998. But although our Nation has shown its commitment to prepare children and adults with disabilities for work--in fact, in the work incentive bill I referred to, we have the Rehabilitation Act reauthorization there; we put it in the Workforce Act to bring closure, to bring together all of these bills that help people to work--we have conditions that, unfortunately, do not allow or encourage those individuals with disabilities to work. If someone told you, ``Look, you can work, but if you earn over $500 monthly, in 12 months''--that is $6,000 a year--``your health insurance will stop, unless you pay for it yourself,'' after a period of time would you work and exceed those thresholds? I doubt it. If someone told you, ``We will cover the cost of personal assistance services and prescription drugs that you need in order to work, but you cannot have more than $2,000 in assets, or accumulate more than $2,000 in assets,'' do these conditions appear to help individuals be self- sufficient? Clearly not. The facts are on the side of those of us who want to pass the Work Incentives Improvement Act of 1998. We want it included in the omnibus appropriations bill, and there is great effort going on to accomplish that. There are 7.5 million individuals with disabilities who receive cash payments from the Social Security Administration and receive health insurance coverage through Medicare or Medicaid. According to GAO, in 1996 cash payments were about $1.21 billion weekly. These payments do not include payments made under Medicare or Medicaid. If these payments are factored in, the costs exceed $70 billion annually. It has been estimated that the number of Social Security beneficiaries with disabilities increased 83 percent between 1989 and 1997, and this number will continue to grow by a rate of about 3 to 6 percent a year. If just 1 percent of these beneficiaries were to become successfully employed, savings in cash payments would total $3.5 billion over their lifetime for that 1 percent. The Work Incentives Improvement Act is a credible, viable solution in terms of both fiscal responsibility and personal responsibility. The Work Incentives Improvement Act gives States discretion to offer health care benefits to individuals with disabilities on the Social Security rolls when their earned income exceeds that now in the Social Security Act. As a result, more of these individuals will work and will work for more hours. The legislation allows States to impose cost-sharing obligations on these individuals. The legislation would cost $200 million a year over a 5-year period--a small price to pay when you consider this legislation has a potential to turn 8 million individuals into taxpayers. There ought to be a substantial gain--no cost. The legislation includes offsets to pay for it. The legislation includes Representative Bunning's ``Ticket to Work'' bill that will give people with disabilities more choices when they need job training before going to work. All major disabilities organizations support the Work Incentives Improvement Act but will not support the enactment of the ``Ticket to Work'' alone. They have to come together. Many of our colleagues in the administration support this legislation. I especially want to thank my friend Senator Grassley for his support in these important last weeks. The insurance industry fully supports the legislation. The Work Incentives Improvement Act will help reduce the $70 billion annual drain on the budget caused by 8 million individuals with disabilities, many of whom want to work but do not because of their fear of the loss of access to health care. At this point we cannot say, again, we will try to get something through next Congress. We cannot hide behind excuses. We must pass the Work Incentives Improvement Act now. This is a special time. The momentum is with us. People with disabilities expect us to deliver now. They want to be free to go to work. If we do, the lives of millions of Americans will be transformed, both disabled and nondisabled Americans. Individuals with disabilities will work and pay taxes. They will experience the true meaning of personal dignity, freedom, independence, and choices. Their family members and friends will be freed from caretaking responsibilities and reenter the workforce or expand their work hours. Decisions about the quality of life and living circumstances of an individual with disabilities will no longer be made for that individual but will be made by and with that individual. The only down side to the Work Incentives Improvement Act of 1998 is it has taken us so long to get to this precious moment. Let's make it count. Let us deliver, and let us deliver now. Mr. President, I yield whatever time I have and I am now ready to proceed. I make a point of order that a quorum is not present.

Mr. JEFFORDS

Mr. JEFFORDS. I further ask unanimous consent that there then be a period for the transaction of morning business until 1 p.m., with Senators permitted to speak for up to 5 minutes each.

Mr. JEFFORDS

Mr. JEFFORDS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of H.R. 2327, which is at the desk.

Mr. JEFFORDS

Mr. JEFFORDS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the agriculture committee be discharged from further consideration of S. 2116 and that the Senate then proceed to its immediate consideration.

Mr. JEFFORDS

Mr. JEFFORDS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the bill, as amended, be considered read a third time and passed; that the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table; and that any statements relating to the bill be printed at the appropriate place in the Record.

Mr. JEFFORDS

Mr. JEFFORDS. I ask unanimous consent that the substitute amendment be agreed to.

Mr. JEFFORDS

Mr. JEFFORDS. I ask unanimous consent the committee amendments be withdrawn.

Mr. JEFFORDS. I ask consent the Snowe amendment be agreed to, and the bill be considered read a third time.

Mr. JEFFORDS. I ask consent the Senate proceed to Calendar No. 221, H.R. 2204.

Mr. JEFFORDS

Mr. JEFFORDS. I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of H. Con. Res. 214, which is at the desk.

Mr. JEFFORDS

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

Mr. JEFFORDS. If there is no further business to come before the Senate, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate stand in recess, under the previous order, following the remarks of the Democratic leader, Senator Daschle.

Mr. JEFFORDS

Mr. JEFFORDS. I further ask unanimous consent that there be a period for the transaction of morning business until 12 noon with Senators permitted to speak for up to 5 minutes each, with the following exceptions: Senator Kennedy, 20 minutes; Senator Lott or his designee, 20 minutes.

Mr. JEFFORDS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it stand in recess until 11 a.m. on Tuesday, October 13, 1998. I further ask that the time for the two leaders be reserved.