Jim Jeffords

Mr. JEFFORDS

Mr. JEFFORDS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the bill 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. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate now proceed to the consideration of Calendar No. 658, H.R. 700.

Mr. JEFFORDS

Mr. JEFFORDS. I want to take just a couple seconds to join in the accolades which Senator Kennedy has made for the various staff members, and also to recognize all the tremendous work that Senator Kennedy himself has done not only today but throughout the years on these very valuable programs. Mr. President, I yield the floor.

Mr. JEFFORDS

Mr. JEFFORDS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate now proceed to the consideration of H.R. 4309, which is at the desk.

Mr. JEFFORDS. Mr. President, I send an amendment to the desk and ask for its immediate consideration.

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

Mr. JEFFORDS

Mr. JEFFORDS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate now proceed to the consideration of calendar No. 697, S. 2217.

Mr. JEFFORDS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the committee substitute be agreed to, the bill be considered read the third time and passed, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, and that any statements relating to the bill be printed at this point in the Record.

Mr. JEFFORDS

Mr. JEFFORDS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Energy Committee be discharged from further consideration of H.R. 4284, and that the Senate then proceed to its immediate consideration.

Mr. JEFFORDS

Mr. JEFFORDS. Senator Coats has a substitute amendment at the desk, and I ask for its consideration.

Mr. JEFFORDS

Mr. JEFFORDS. I ask unanimous consent that the Senate now turn to the consideration of Calendar No. 523, S. 2131.

Mr. JEFFORDS

Mr. JEFFORDS. I ask unanimous consent that the Senate now proceed to the consideration of Calendar No. 519, S. 361.

Mr. JEFFORDS

Mr. JEFFORDS. Mr. President, I submit a report of the committee of conference on the bill (H.R. 1853) to amend the Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Applied Technology Education Act, and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. JEFFORDS. Mr. President, I will make a few comments on the vocational education bill at this time. Today we are considering the reauthorization of the Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Applied Technology Education Act. This is one of the most important proposals we will consider in the 105th Congress. In July, we passed the Workforce Investment Act. The reauthorization of vocational education is an important partner to the Workforce Investment Act. There are presently between 200,000 and 300,000 unfilled positions in the technology field. The reason for the difficulty in filling these positions is not because of low unemployment numbers, but because of the lack of skilled workers. Many of these jobs do not require four years and plus of postsecondary education. They do require an excellent vocational education system and the ability to pursue further technical education following high school education. One of the most fascinating facts to come out of the Senate Labor Committee's hearings on vocational education, was that Malaysia has replicated our Tech Prep model. Tech Prep was created in this country and we have many model Tech Prep programs, but not as many as we should have. Malaysia realized Tech Prep was a key answer to improving their skilled workforce and they have put the resources behind it to make it very successful. The 1998 vocational education reauthorization strengthens the Tech Prep program by emphasizing the importance of the business community as a partner with the education sector. The United States is the most productive country in the world, but we are losing our edge to other industrialized nations such as Japan and Germany as well as other rapidly developing countries such as Taiwan, Korea, and China. Over the past 25 years, the standard of living for those Americans without at least a four year postsecondary degree has plunged. In the next decade, we are in danger of being surpassed as the world's foremost economic power if we don't begin to redefine our priorities at the national, state, and local levels. Our international competitors have been leaders in making the important connection between education and work. Last year, a report released by the National Center for Research in Vocational Education, a report which I requested as part of the 1990 vocational education reauthorization, highlighted the importance of a cohesive partnership between educators and employers. Employers are active participants in the governance of work-related education and training in Australia, Great Britain, France, and Germany. Another significant finding of the report was that European nations, such as the Netherlands and Denmark, are attempting to develop a technical education system that can serve as either a bridge to additional vocational training or pursuing college level courses. This reauthorization package emphasizes the important balance between a strong academic background and a vocational and technical education system that reflects today's global economy. The 1998 reauthorization also requires the states and local communities to set-up an accountability system which will give us a visual picture of how states and local communities are implementing vocational and technical education programs. Most importantly, how these programs are impacting vocational and technical education students. I would like to thank my colleagues on the Senate Labor Committee and the staff, especially the Congressional Research Staff and the legislative counsel staff who have all put in countless hours on this bill which is an excellent foundation for the 21st century workforce. I thank my colleagues on the Senate Labor Committee and the staff, especially the Congressional Research staff and the legislative counsel staff who all put in countless hours on this bill which is an excellent foundation for the 21st century workforce. I also commend the members of my committee, certainly, but also the Members of the House. We are bringing this to a close just at the end of the session. For a long period of time, it looked like we would not be here, but we are. I thank Chairman Goodling, in particular, and Congressman Buck McKeon for their tremendous help in bringing this to fruition.

Mr. JEFFORDS

Mr. JEFFORDS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the committee amendments be agreed to, the bill be read the third time and passed, the amendment to the title and the title, as amended, be agreed to, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, and that any statements relating to the bill appear at this point in the Record.

Mr. JEFFORDS

Mr. JEFFORDS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Commerce Committee be discharged from further consideration of H.R. 3332, and the Senate then proceeded to its immediate consideration.

Mr. JEFFORDS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the bill be read the third time and passed, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, and that any statements relating to the bill appear at this point in the Record.

Mr. JEFFORDS

Mr. JEFFORDS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of calendar 705, S. 2238.

Mr. JEFFORDS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the committee substitute be agreed to, the bill be read the 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 appropriate place in the Record.

Mr. JEFFORDS

Mr. JEFFORDS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate now proceed to the consideration of calendar No. 681, H.R. 3809.

Mr. JEFFORDS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the substitute amendment be agreed to, the bill be read the third time and passed, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, the title amendment to be agreed to, the title, as amended, be agreed to, and that any statements relating to the bill appear in the Record. The committee amendment was agreed to. The bill (H.R. 3809), as amended, was read the third time, and passed. The title amendment was agreed to. The title was amended so as to read: ``An Act to authorize appropriations for the United States Customs Service for fiscal years 2000 and 2001.''

Mr. JEFFORDS

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

Mr. JEFFORDS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the consideration of H.R. 4658, which is at the desk.

Mr. JEFFORDS

Mr. JEFFORDS. Mr. President, I ask the Chair lay before the Senate message from the House of Representatives on the bill (S. 417) to extend energy conservation programs under the Energy Policy and Conservation Act through September 30, 2002. The PRESIDING OFFICER laid before the Senate the following message from the House of Representatives: Resolved, That the bill from the Senate (S. 417) entitled ``An Act to extend energy conservation programs under the Energy Policy and Conservation Act through September 30, 2002'', do pass with the following amendments: Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert:

Mr. JEFFORDS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate concur in the House amendments, with a further amendment which is at the desk.