Nancy Kassebaum

Mrs. KASSEBAUM

Mrs. KASSEBAUM. I move to reconsider the vote.

Mrs. KASSEBAUM. Mr. President, I would like to discuss the important issue of encouraging competition between the private and public sectors in the delivery of training and employment services at the State and local levels. As you know, the Workforce Development Act consolidates nearly 100 separate education and job training programs into a single, universal work force development system through block grants to the States. I want to commend the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the National Association of Manufacturers, the National Federation of Independent Business, the National Alliance of Business, and other business groups for their efforts to help shape legislation to restructure the Nation's education and training system. These representatives of the business community are advocating a comprehensive work force development system that is market-based, customer-driven, and that gets results. Would the Senate majority leader, my colleague from Kansas, please comment on the role of business in restructuring Federal training programs?

Mrs. KASSEBAUM. Mr. President, the bill I introduced enables both local chambers and small businesses to compete with the public sector in the course of restructuring the Federal training system. I believe local chambers of commerce--in addition to small businesses--are uniquely positioned to operate one-stop centers and to serve as training providers. Today, local chambers are leading the way in many of the Nation's most innovative and effective work force development initiatives. I understand the U.S. Chamber of Commerce has undertaken a major initiative to mobilize local chambers of commerce to be in the vanguard in this effort to revolutionize training for America's private sector. Similarly, regional and local affiliates of the National Association of Manufacturers serve as a strong intermediary source in bringing business, education and government leaders together at the State and community level to form meaningful and sustained work force development programs.

Mrs. KASSEBAUM. I appreciate the comments from the Senate majority leader on this important issue and I ask unanimous consent to have printed in the Record a letter from the chamber of commerce with an accompanying statement.

Mrs. KASSEBAUM. Mr. President, I do not believe there is an objection on either side of the aisle regarding this amendment.

Mrs. KASSEBAUM. I urge the adoption.

Mrs. KASSEBAUM. Mr. President, I move to reconsider the vote.

Mrs. KASSEBAUM. Yes, I support the McKinney Act program for homeless children, and I appreciate the effort of the Senator from New Mexico in bringing this matter to the attention of the Senate. I assure the Senator and the Senate that I will work in conference to protect this program for homeless children by accepting language to ensure its continuation. I thank the Senator on behalf of homeless children and their families. They [[Page S 14983]] know the full benefits of this McKinney Act program for school placement and support and should have every assurance of its continuation.

Mrs. KASSEBAUM. Mr. President, this is an amendment that bears technical and conforming amendments that I believe has been cleared on both sides of the aisle. Mr. KENNEDY addressed the Chair.

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

Mrs. KASSEBAUM. Mr. President, I send an amendment to the desk.

Mrs. KASSEBAUM. Yes, of course. The States could elect to provide these services through such organizations or other organizations in the private sector. Amendment No. 2896 (Purpose: To make amendments with respect to museums and libraries)

Mrs. KASSEBAUM. I would be prepared to yield back time.

Mrs. KASSEBAUM

Mrs. KASSEBAUM. I thank the Senators for their comments. I wish to associate myself with Senator McCain's remarks in this regard. In a cooperative effort of our two committees, Senator McCain and I developed these provisions with the intention that funding be authorized among the various tribal schools in proportion to the Federal allocations that they have received in prior years.

Mrs. KASSEBAUM. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent Senator Abraham be added as a cosponsor to S. 143.

Mrs. KASSEBAUM. Mr. President, I believe there are no further amendments.

Mrs. KASSEBAUM. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the committee be immediately discharged from further consideration of H.R. 1617, the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration, that all after the enacting clause be stricken and the text of S. 143, as amended, be inserted in lieu thereof; further, that H.R. 1617 then be read for a third time and the Senate immediately proceed to vote on passage of the bill. I further ask consent that following passage of H.R. 1617, the Senate insist on its amendment and request a conference with the House, and the Chair be authorized to appoint conferees on the part of the Senate, and S. 143 be placed back on the calendar.

Mrs. KASSEBAUM. Mr. President, I ask for the yeas and nays on final passage.

Mrs. KASSEBAUM. Mr. President, I move to reconsider the vote.

Mrs. KASSEBAUM. Mr. President, I send an amendment to the title to the desk and ask unanimous consent that it be considered and agreed to.

Mrs. KASSEBAUM. Mr. President, in approving the Workforce Development Act, I believe the Senate has taken a great step forward in reforming Federal work force development efforts. It truly is a major and innovative approach that I think will serve both our education and job training arenas with great success. Arriving at this point has been a long and difficult endeavor. Wiping the slate clean, so to speak, has meant convincing those who have invested time in existing programs that there is a better way to accomplish their goals. Taking the next step in developing that better way has proven to be just as challenging. Mr. President, I am convinced that the time and effort put into this legislation has been worth it. We now have a blueprint for a system in which the needs of all who require a job, job training and job training-related education can be addressed. It is a system where the States will have flexibility to fit their needs while being accountable to the public for the use of Federal funds. It is a system which creates incentives for the involvement of a true partnership among job training advocates, educators, the business community, and State governments. It has taken a couple of years, if not more, to put this proposal together and many hearings and consultations and many individuals have made major contributions to this effort. It is not possible to name them all. However, I do want to acknowledge several of them. [[Page S 14992]] In particular, I express my appreciation to the members of my staff who have worked on this legislation: Ted Verheggen, Carla Widener, Wendy Cramer, Bob Stokes, and Susan Hattan. Other staff of committee members on both sides of the aisle have also made significant contributions to this legislation. From the Republican staff, I would include Sherry Kaiman and Reg Jones with Senator Jeffords, Pat Morrissey and Carol Fox with Senator Frist, Dwayne Sattler with Senator DeWine, Rick Murphy with Senator Gregg, Don Trigg with Senator Ashcroft, and Gregg Willhauck with Senator Abraham. On the Democratic side of the aisle, I would like to express appreciation particularly to Ellen Guiney, Libby Street, Sarah Fox, and Omer Waddles with Senator Kennedy; David Evans and Kevin Wilson with Senator Pell; Suzanne Day with Senator Dodd; Charlie Barrone with Senator Simon; Bobby Silverstein and Bev Schroeder with Senator Harkin. I also want to recognize the efforts of Liz Aldridge and Mark Sigurski, who produced the legislative language with many of the incarnations of this legislation. In some ways this perhaps is the most trying and difficult part of the bill. A special thanks also goes to Rick Appling and Ann Lordaman, of the Congressional Research Service. The staff of the General Accounting Office, the leadership of the Republican Governors Workforce Development Task Force, and many individuals in the business and education communities also lent valuable support to this effort. In closing, Mr. President, I would like to say a special word about Steve Spinner. Senator Kennedy gave an eloquent tribute to Steve Spinner in his opening remarks as we started the debate on the Workforce Development Act. As a member of Senator Kennedy's staff, he worked very closely with me and my staff in developing the work force training provisions of this bill. He cared very deeply about bringing about reform in this area and offered invaluable advice, assistance and suggestions based on his experience in the field. His dedication and professionalism earned him great respect on both sides of the aisle. Unfortunately, Steve died of cancer a few weeks ago. We deeply regret his loss and regret he was unable to see through an effort to which he had devoted so much time and talent. I yield the floor.

Mrs. KASSEBAUM

Mrs. KASSEBAUM. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Glenn amendment be set aside and that the vote occur after the previously scheduled votes on the Moynihan amendment and the Grams amendment, which will occur after 5:20, with 4 minutes of debate in between those amendments. I believe the Senator from Michigan wants to speak for a few moments on Senator Moynihan's amendment before Senator Dodd offers.

Mrs. KASSEBAUM. Mr. President, I yield 5 minutes to the Senator from Michigan. Amendment No. 2887

Mrs. KASSEBAUM

Mrs. KASSEBAUM. Mr. President, I think the Senator from Illinois had asked for 5 minutes.

Mrs. KASSEBAUM. Mr. President, my apologies. I was so anxious to jump in and express appreciation to the Senator from Nebraska, I did so before he finished speaking. Senator Kerrey had been a stalwart supporter in the last Congress for major job training reform and has provided the initiative for much of this effort. I value his support and his advice and his belief that this is a very important piece of legislation. As Senator Kennedy said, it is probably something that not a lot of people have thought about. It will not cause people to be sitting on the edge of their seats. But in many ways it could be the crux of a major change that could be of great value to a number of people. For that reason, I really very much support and appreciate Senator Kerrey's efforts in the early days to continue lending support in efforts to reform the system. I yield the floor.