Trent Lott

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the quorum call be dispensed with. I believe we have established a quorum and can proceed.

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

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, if I could respond to the distinguished Democratic leader, if he wishes to make a statement at this time that would be fine, but we need to establish a quorum so we can notify the President that the Senate is ready to work. The Senator can make his statement now or we can establish a quorum.

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, if Senators have statements they would like to make or legislation they would like to introduce, we will have a time for doing that today. I have talked to a number of Senators this morning, including my counterpart on the Democratic side, Senator Daschle, and everybody seems to be in good spirits and ready to go to work. We do have a lot of legislation that is pending, that has been reported out of committees and we hope to move to very quickly. We have a number of bills in conference that we hope to have started right away to move toward getting a conference report. I believe the Federal Aviation Administration conferees will meet, in fact, on Thursday to begin to do some work there. This week we have scheduled action on the bankruptcy reform bill. We spent a lot of time at the end of the session last year on that bill--in fact, I think it was over a week. We went through over 100 amendments. We have narrowed the list down to a relatively small number. I visited with Senator Daschle about this legislation, and we will have some decision, some announcements we will make later on today about exactly how to proceed on bankruptcy reform. In addition to that, we will have legislation that will be pending after today under rule XIV with regard to the situation of Elian Gonzalez, the young boy from Cuba. The legislation advocated by Senator Mack, Senator Torricelli, Senator Graham, and others would grant citizenship to this young boy and therefore have the matter of his situation determined by a custody court proceeding rather than Immigration. When that would come up will depend on a number of other things, but it could be available as early as Wednesday or it could be acted on instead next week. I remind my colleagues that there will be no rollcall votes during today's session. I am sure many Senators will be in the Chamber to make statements and introduce bills. We will be taking legislative action on Tuesday and Wednesday, with the potential of a number of votes occurring Tuesday afternoon and/or Wednesday. On Thursday, we will have a conference retreat for Republicans at the Library of Congress so we will not be in session during the day. As a reminder, the State of the Union Address will be that night, Thursday, January 27, at 9 p.m., and therefore the Senate will convene at 8:40 p.m. in order to proceed to the House of Representatives for that Address. Finally, for the remainder of this week, I hope we will look at exactly when we will take up the nuclear waste legislation. I presume that some action will be taken either late this week or early next week which will guarantee a vote. I appreciate my colleagues' attention and say again I look forward to working with Senators on both sides of the aisle. In order to confirm that the Senate is prepared to begin business in the second session of the 106th Congress, I now suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. I thank the Chair.

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent there be a period for the transaction of morning business until 6 p.m., with Members permitted to speak for up to 10 minutes each.

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the resolution be agreed to and the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table.

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I send a resolution to the desk notifying the President of the United States that the Senate is now ready to proceed to business, and I ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I send a resolution to the desk notifying the House that the Senate is now ready to proceed to business, and I ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the resolution be agreed to and the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table.

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I am reminded each time I look to the sky of the reach Americans have made to the heavens. I am extremely proud that every manned spaceflight since the Apollo program has been powered by engines tested at a facility in my home State of Mississippi, the John C. Stennis Space Center. There, a dedicated group of professionals labors largely unheralded to ensure the performance and safety of the engines that propel our astronauts into space. Although I have known many of these outstanding Mississippians in my years in Congress, I only recently had the opportunity to work closely with one of these professionals. The leadership at NASA decided to offer a legislative fellowship to Congress to one of NASA Stennis' rising stars, Mr. Patrick Scheuermann. Patrick arrived on Capitol Hill in January, 1999, at the beginning of a very busy opening session of the 106th Congress. Although many thought other proceedings that opened the 106th would supercede a legislative agenda, the Senate professional and personal staffs ensured that, in the background, the business of Congress stayed in motion. Patrick cut his teeth in the difficult staff preparations for the legislative cycle that would take place around the issues that dominated the Senate floor. An effort was underway at NASA to reinvigorate manned space flight and to reduce the cost of getting to space. Patrick was assigned to research and report on these initiatives and to keep my legislative staff briefed on their status through the Authorization and Appropriations process. Patrick approached his assignment with the interest of someone who not only enjoys what he does, but with the infectious enthusiasm that brings others onboard as well. My staff quickly became knowledgeable of the many NASA programs that together form our Nation's efforts to reach space. I found more and more space related meetings on the calendar. As the Session progressed, the Senate led the charge to complete the first NASA Authorization Bill in many years. One hundred million dollars was added to the NASA budget to develop third generation reusable launch vehicle technology, a program known as Spaceliner 100. Patrick's ability to explain the facets of NASA's programs to legislative staffers and his vigilance as changes developed ensured the ultimate success of these endeavors. His detailed understanding of Stennis Space Center's capabilities and assets also proved to be of great value in assessing the facility's potential for commercial activities. Patrick has a long history with the Space Program. After earning his Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of New Orleans, he made his first foray into the world of Rocket Science as a contract test engineer, testing Space Shuttle Main Engines at the Stennis Space Center. This brought him across the ``Great Divide'' that is the Pearl River and firmly onto Mississippi soil where the NASA hierarchy recognized and recruited the talented young engineer. Although our neighbors across the Pearl claim Patrick as a native son, Mississippians have adopted him for his hard work and strength of character. He also made the grade through his success in attracting one of Greater Picayune's finest, Miss Sarah Melissa Lee to be his bride. Together they have added to Mississippi's fame through their beautiful children, Chandler and Christina. Although I am sorry to lose the talent and expertise that Patrick brought to my staff, I am pleased that his return to the Stennis Space Center foretells many more years of innovation and success at this vital national treasure.

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I believe the Democratic leader will be here momentarily. Senator Daschle had started to make a speech earlier when we first started the quorum call. I believe he will be here momentarily to deliver his remarks. I call on other Senators who have been prepared to make remarks. I believe Senator Mack and perhaps several others would like to make remarks before the Senate concludes business today. I am glad we have established a quorum and are now ready to proceed. I again remind Senators we will be in session on Tuesday and Wednesday of this week. They should expect votes possibly during the day on Tuesday and possibly several votes on Wednesday. It is our hope at this time that we can reach an agreement on how to proceed on the bankruptcy bill and we will be able to get an agreement on that and complete that bill which was carried over from the first session of this 106th Congress, and hopefully we could finish it by Wednesday night. There has been an indication, I believe on both sides of the aisle, we hope we could do that. So that would be our desire. With regard to the matter of the young boy from Cuba, Elian Gonzalez, again what happens there will depend on events. Senator Mack will surely speak to that when he arrives in the Chamber. Then at some point next week we will initiate proceedings on the nuclear waste bill also. Those would be the first three issues we have pending before us. We will confer with the Democratic leadership and work on the bills that will be considered after that. Mr. President, since Senator Daschle has not arrived just yet, I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I thank you for your presence today and for being ready to go at the appointed hour. Also, I express appreciation on behalf of the Senate for our Chaplain and for his wonderfully beautiful opening prayer. It is an inspiration to us.

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I take this opportunity to recognize and say farewell to an outstanding Naval Officer, Lieutenant Commander John Di Mento, upon his departure from my staff. Lieutenant Commander Di Mento was selected as a Navy Fellow to work in my office because of his professional reputation and his knowledge of the Navy Oceanography program and the military presence in my home state. Not a Mississippian by birth, he earned the respect of Mississippians during his long service in the state from 1990 through 1996, and through his impressive display of good judgement when he married the former Chenaey Bourgeois of Bay Saint Louis. Together they have added to Mississippi's fame through their beautiful daughter, Colby. Lieutenant Commander Di Mento entered the United States Naval Academy in 1983 and was commissioned as an Ensign upon graduation in 1987. He earned a Master's Degree in Oceanography and began his career as a Naval Oceanographer as the Executive Officer of Oceanographic Unit Three, surveying over 100,000 miles of the ocean floor in a year deployed. He returned from sea and reported to the Naval Oceanographic Office in Bay Saint Louis, Mississippi. He worked extensively in ocean modeling and remote sensing, and flew aerial oceanographic surveys with Oceanographic Development Squadron Eight, in the process earning his Naval Aviation Observer wings. Later assigned as Oceanographer on USS Kearsarge, Lieutenant Commander Di Mento qualified as a Surface Warfare Officer. He was commended for his performance during Operation Noble Obelisk, where he was responsible for the processing, care, and movement of over 2,500 refugees rescued by Kearsarge from the civil war in Sierra Leone from embarkation through debarkation. Ashore, Lieutenant Commander Di Mento served briefly on the staff of the Oceanographer of the Navy at the U.S. Naval Observatory. He later served two years as Flag Aide and Executive Assistant for Rear Admiral Paul Gaffney, II, Commander, Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command following a year as Flag Aide to his predecessor, Rear Admiral John Chubb. His only other tour ashore found him navigating the sometimes treacherous waters here on Capitol Hill. Lieutenant Commander Di Mento quickly became a valued member of my staff where he led several legislative initiatives that enormously benefitted the Department of Defense, the Navy, and the State of Mississippi. He provided a great deal of research and analysis while the Senate initiated broad reform of military pay and benefits. His work led to the most significant piece of legislation for service members since 1981. The leadership, integrity, and limitless energy that defined his naval career served him well in his term as a Legislative Fellow. Lieutenant Commander Di Mento's many awards and decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Commendation Medal, Navy Achievement Medal, and various unit and service awards. Lieutenant Commander Di Mento will be missed on the staff, but his return to the Naval Service is a benefit to our great Nation. He has great things ahead of him. On behalf of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle, I wish Lieutenant Commander Di Mento, ``Fair Winds and Following Seas.''

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. I welcome back staff members and our colleagues in the Senate. I hope you have all had a period of time with your families and rest and health and recuperation, and regeneration, and that you are ready to go. I see the Senator from California is ready and that other Senators are in the Chamber. I welcome you. We have several housekeeping matters to consider, but I do want to say again that we are glad to have you all back.

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. I know we have this very important legislation involving work incentives for our disabled citizens that--

Mr. LOTT. Thank you, Mr. President. And I thank the Senator from New York.

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I thank the Senator from Pennsylvania, and the Senator from New York, Mr. Schumer, for working with me on this and for their devotion to this important public health issue. It is one which is important to our country and to the people that need the organ transplants. We have to try to find the best and the fairest way to deal with this issue. I am happy to clarify this issue contained in the legislative measure.

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, the language will delay the rule for 90 days. That is what is required and that was my intent, from the date of enactment of H.R. 1180, in order to facilitate additional public review. It is not the intent of the legislation to cause any unreasonable delay in the formulation of necessary improvements in national organ transplant policies, but rather to permit constructive review of the information that will be available and for the Congress to review it. Furthermore, I make clear section 413 provides that the rule is not effective until the expiration of the 90-day rule beginning on the date of enactment of this act. During that 90-day period, the Secretary shall publish a notice eliciting public comments on the rule and shall conduct a full review of the comments. At the end of the period, section 413 allows, but does not require, the Secretary to make any revisions in the rule that she deems appropriate.

Mr. LOTT. I believe I have the time and I will yield.

Mr. LOTT. Yes, absolutely. I expect that and I believe she will do that.

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. Let me just say, Mr. President, if I might, Senator Daschle and I will work with Senator Kohl and Senator Reid and Senator Lugar and others and will be prepared to do our colloquy when the debate is concluded on this very important piece of legislation. Thank you for allowing us to interpret at this point. If you will complete your work, we will be ready to go.

Mr. LOTT. In light of this agreement, there will be three back-to- back votes that will occur a few minutes before 5 o'clock this afternoon, the first being the cloture vote relative to the appropriations conference report, the second being passage of the appropriations conference report, and the third being passage of the Work Incentives conference report. There are two very important colloquies we must have this afternoon before the votes, one with regard to understandings with regard to the Work Incentives bill and another colloquy we will have with the leadership on the Democratic side, and I will participate in, along with Senator Lugar and others, to discuss the overall dairy situation. We will fulfill that commitment. I thank Senator Daschle, Senator Kohl, Senator Feingold, and everybody who has been involved. I know how emotional and how strongly held these feelings are. I also share those feelings, and I will make that clear in a colloquy here in a few minutes. Senator Daschle, do you want to do that now or in a few minutes?

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the agreement relative to the Work Incentives conference report commence at 3 p.m. today and that the remaining parameters of the consent agreement remain in order. I further ask consent that the cloture vote relative to the appropriations conference report occur no later than 5 p.m. and that if cloture is invoked, adoption of the conference report immediately occur, without intervening action or debate.

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, if I may take a moment of my leader time to join Senator Daschle in those remarks. This is a very important committee. It is a committee that operates in the best tradition of total bipartisanship, nonpartisanship. Chairman Shelby has been doing an outstanding job. It really makes the leaders feel good when we see two Senators of two parties work together for our national interests and our intelligence community. Senator Kerrey certainly has been just outstanding, the way he has handled that job. He has been cooperative, nonpartisan. These two Senators, Senator Shelby and Senator Kerrey, have worked together the way it is supposed to be done. I hope your successors will only do as well. I thank you for your service.