Trent Lott

Mr. LOTT

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

Mr. LOTT

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

Mr. LOTT. I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the consideration of H. Con. Res. 352 which was received from the House.

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. I now ask unanimous consent that the Foreign Relations Committee be discharged and the Senate proceed en bloc to consider the following resolutions: S. Res. 285, S. Res. 293, S. Res. 294, S. Res. 298, S. Con. Res. 122, H. Con. Res. 185, H. Con. Res. 224, H. Con. Res. 254 and H. Con. 277. I ask unanimous consent that the Lugar amendment numbered 3834 to S. Res. 285 and the Abraham amendment No. 3835 to S. Res. 298 be agreed to, the resolutions and preambles be agreed to en bloc. I further ask that the Foreign Relations Committee be discharged from further consideration of H.R. 4083, the bill be read a third time and passed, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, and that any statements relating to the measures be printed in the Record.

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, this morning the Senate will immediately proceed to a rollcall vote on adoption of the omnibus appropriations conference report. Following that vote, several Senators will be recognized to speak on or in relation to the omnibus spending measure, or to make any other concluding remarks they would like to offer today. After those remarks have been made, the Senate may consider any legislative or executive matters that can be cleared by unanimous consent.

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, if there is no objection, I would like to engage in a colloquy with the distinguished Chairman of the Appropriations Committee, the senior Senator from Alaska.

Mr. LOTT. I understand that this bill contains a provision which prohibits the FBI from charging a user fee or gun tax on all firearms purchases that take place once the national instant criminal background check system takes effect on November 30 of this year--Is that correct?

Mr. LOTT. I am pleased to hear that, since I supported the establishment and the creation of a national instant check program. It was certainly my understanding that this program was meant to facilitate gun purchases by law abiding Americans and not cause a chilling effect on our rights. We have provided millions of dollars-- including $42 million in this bill--for the FBI to implement NICS pursuant to the law. As I also remember, NICS is specifically prohibited from becoming a repository of approved firearms transfer records and firearms owners? Is that correct?

Mr. LOTT. I thank the Senator for making that point clear. Is it not also the case that the Brady law itself includes a prohibition on the centralization and creation of a federal gun registration system?

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. I thank my colleagues. I agree that we have no idea at this point what sort of system would be implemented at land borders and seaports or how much it would cost. Under the compromise worked out with the House and included in the omnibus legislation, there will be no implementation at the land borders or seaports for 2\1/2\ years. I hope that will give us enough time to figure out what to do with this. Let me assure my colleagues that if it becomes clear that such a system will not be able to be implemented without adverse effects on our border communities, on trade, or on tourism, I will work with them on authorizing legislation to remedy any problems and will work with them to ensure that no appropriations go toward implementing any system that will not be acceptable to them and supported in their States.

Mr. LOTT. I agree.

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I would like to take this opportunity to recognize the Greenwood Business and Professional Club of Greenwood, Mississippi, and the working women who comprise its membership. The club was established on November 20, 1931, and will be holding its annual Women of Achievement Banquet on Thursday, October 22, 1998. It is my privilege to note that my daughter, Tyler Lott, a working woman in her own right, will provide the banquet's keynote address. For nearly 67 years, the Greenwood Business and Professional Club has been a shining example of women helping women through countless programs and projects. More importantly, the members of this club are representative of working women across America who make invaluable sacrifices every day to strengthen the economy and fiber of our families, communities, states and nation. Working women are found in virtually every profession, trade and vocation, and constitute well over 62 million members of the United States workforce. In fact, women-owned businesses account for approximately one-third of domestic firms and employ over 13 million people. Moreover, we should always remember that, in addition to women working in traditional businesses, women may be found working in homes throughout America making significant contributions each day through their occupation as homemakers. As working women continue their service to America through professional, civic and cultural endeavors, it is fitting that we recognize their growing numbers, and congratulate these women who labor so tirelessly and effectively both inside and outside the home. Whether in business, industry, a profession, or as a homemaker, today's working women are vital role models for young women coast-to-coast who will help mold the future of this country. I am honored to have this opportunity to commend our nation's working women, and to extend my most sincere thanks to the members of the Greenwood Business and Professional Club for its 67 years of achievement and service.

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President I would like to make a few brief comments about the IDeA program within this bill, a program that I think is imperative to our nation's biomedical research capability. I would also like to engage in a brief dialog with the Minority Leader, Senator Daschle, on this important issue. The National Institutes of Health Institutional Development Award program--known as the IDeA program--builds additional research capacity and is an important part of our effort to better treat, cure and prevent disease by addressing the undue geographic concentration of research funds. IDeA works to increase our nation's biomedical research capability by broadening our country's research base. IDeA funds biomedical research in states that have not participated substantially in NIH research programs. Mr. President, many scientists are concerned about the extreme geographic concentration of NIH research funds. In Fiscal Year 1995, for example, the NIH made $9.3 billion in extramural awards. Mr. President, the 24 states that participate in the IDeA program received just 5.2 percent of those funds. Let me repeat: in FY95, the last year for which we have complete figures, the NIH awarded funds across this nation totaling $9.3 billion. But all the researchers in the 24 IDeA states combined received only $487 million of that. On the other hand, one state alone received nearly three times the total amount of those 24 states combined. The top 5 states received nearly one-half the NIH funds. Let me be clear, Mr. President, that the concern here is not one of a parochial nature. Nobody is saying that the NIH ought to distribute funding evenly by states. But at a time when we are seeing substantial increases in the NIH research budget, we need to increase the capacity of every region of the country--not just of a handful of states. IDeA has potential to be an important part of our efforts to build our biomedical research capacity, but it has not received the level of funding it needs to truly be effective. The FY99 NIH budget request was $14.76 billion. Of that amount--well over $14 billion--the NIH requested just $5.2 million for the IDeA program. The bill before us includes $10 million for IDeA, which is a start--but in my view not enough to accomplish the goal for which the program was intended. I thank the Chairman of the Subcommittee, Senator Specter, for the support he has given IDeA thus far, but I believe we can and should do more next year. Mr. President, I would ask the Minority Leader, Senator Daschle, if he would like to add anything to what I have said.

Mr. LOTT. I thank the Minority Leader for his remarks, and I look forward continuing to work with him to significantly increase IDeA funding next year.

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, Rule XXXIX is with regard to foreign travel by Members. Senator Bumpers will be going with a Codel and we had to have special permission for that to occur. I am very anxious to advise Senator Byrd regarding Rule XXXIII. The purpose is to provide for a video presentation of Senator Byrd on the operation of the Senate during orientation. We think it would be very useful for our Members who may not be able to attend orientation, for review later. We think it would also be useful for students of this institution.

Mr. LOTT. I ask unanimous consent that the Senate now proceed to Senate Resolution 302, introduced earlier today.

Mr. LOTT

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

Mr. LOTT. I ask unanimous consent that the Senate now proceed to Senate Resolution 301, introduced earlier today.

Mr. LOTT

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

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I want to add one note. I have never seen a more diligent Senator than Senator Thurmond has been in opening the Senate. He and Senator Byrd are living institutions. They have reverence for this institution. Many times, Senator Thurmond had been up late, had committee hearings, had been involved in moving the Thurmond bill, which was the armed services authorization bill, and had worked well into the night for a year. But when the Senate would open at 8:30, 9 o'clock, or 9:30, he was in the Chair and always very kind to our Chaplain. That exemplifies what the Senate should really be like. So I add my special appreciation to the President pro tempore. Mr. President, I yield the floor.

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

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. I thank the Chaplain again for his prayer. Over the past few days, as we have tried to negotiate in good faith, it has been so important we try to maintain respect for each other. Yesterday morning I had reached the point where I had lost that. But I referred to the Chaplain's book ``One Quiet Moment,'' and there was a passage in there, I believe from Proverbs, that said you must respect your fellow human beings. And I thought about that, and I thought from the unborn child in late term, they have a right to respect for human life, or a young man in Wyoming who is killed, for whatever horrible motives, they have a right to respect, and also for strong action against those who caused this problem. So the admonition to negotiate in good faith and have respect for each other has certainly been a source of strength to me during the last 48 hours.

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. Thank you very much, Mr. President.

Mr. LOTT

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