Trent Lott

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. Further, I ask unanimous consent that all votes following the first vote on Tuesday morning be limited to 10 minutes in length.

Mr. LOTT. I further ask unanimous consent that following debate on the defense conference report, it be temporarily set aside and the Senate then proceed to vote on adoption of the higher education conference report, to be followed immediately by a vote on the adoption of the defense conference report. And finally, I ask unanimous consent that the cloture vote on the motion to proceed to the Internet tax bill occur immediately following the aforementioned stacked votes.

Mr. LOTT. I further ask unanimous consent that following the debate on the education conference report, it be temporarily set aside and the Senate return to the consideration of the conference report to accompany H.R. 4013, the Department of Defense appropriations bill and there be 10 minutes of debate equally divided on that report.

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, September 29, and notwithstanding rule XXII, the Senate proceed to the consideration of a conference report to accompany H.R. 6, the Higher Education Act, and there be 30 minutes equally divided for debate on the report.

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I note that the time that we have designated here for Senators Jeffords and Wellstone is so that they can go over the final details of what is included in the higher education bill. This is a very important bill, a lot of good work has been done, and I commend all the Senators involved for completing that. I yield the floor.

Mr. LOTT. Finally, I ask unanimous consent that following the last vote in the stacked sequence Tuesday morning, there be a period of morning business until 12:30 p.m., with the time equally divided between Senators Wellstone and Jeffords, or their designees; further that when the Senate reconvenes at 2:15, there be an additional period for morning business until 3:15 p.m. equally divided between the two aforementioned Senators, or their designees.

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that there now be a period for the transaction of morning business with Senators permitted to speak for up to 10 minutes each until 7 p.m.

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I rise to recognize the importance of today's passage of the Federal Aviation Administration Reauthorization bill. Today is a great day for rural America's air passengers. This legislation, now known as the Wendell H. Ford National Air Transportation System Improvement Act of 1998, will bring much needed air service to underserved communities throughout the Nation. It will grant billions of dollars in Federal funds to our Nation's small airports for upgrades, through the Airport Improvements Program (AIP). Additionally, Senator McCain, chairman of the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, is to be commended for his superb leadership on this complex and contentious measure. Together with Senator Ford, their joint efforts moved this bill through the committee and to the Senate floor in such a manner that the amendment process went smoothly. It is only fitting that this must-pass legislation be named after such a worthy Senator. Wendell Ford has spent nearly 24 years as a Member of this body. For the last 10 years, I have enjoyed working with Senator Ford on a variety of issues within the jurisdiction of the Senate Commerce Committee. Through his leadership on this legislation, Senator Ford has proven himself as a champion of rural aviation issues. The Senate will certainly miss his guidance and insight. Likewise, the Senate will miss his wry, biting humor. Rural Americans are the biggest winners with the passage of the Ford Act. Citizens of underserved communities will no longer have to travel hundreds of miles and several hours to board a plane. This legislation gives incentives to domestic air carriers and its affiliates to reach out to these people and serve them conveniently near their homes. Many Americans will be able to travel a reasonable distance to gain access to our Nation's skies and, from there, anywhere they wish to go. Mr. President, I also applaud the hard work of Senator Bill Frist of Tennessee. He added provisions to the Ford Act to expand small community air service. His dedicated efforts ensured that underserved cities like Knoxville, Chattanooga, and Bristol/Johnson City are now in a position to receive additional or expanded air service. The major policy changes in the Ford Act led to hard fought but honest disagreements. I have enormous respect for the efforts of Senators John Warner, Jim Inhofe, and Kay Bailey Hutchison as they diligently advocated for their constituents and their respective States. This honest debate is what makes it exciting to serve in the United States Senate. I was very pleased by the efforts of Senators Slade Gorton and Arlen Specter to address a very sensitive issue, while resolving it in a true Senate fashion--a consensus which will prove to be beneficial to both sides of the debate. Throughout the last 12 months, my home State of Mississippi has received Federal support from the AIP to make needed physical improvements. A portion of these funds went to the Bobby L. Chain Municipal Airport in Hattiesburg to rehabilitate their existing runway pavement and lights. Other funds were allocated to the Jackson International Airport to construct a new taxiway and apron. These enhancements are needed. And this bill will ensure that the AIP will continue uninterrupted. AIP's reauthorization within the Ford Act will allow Mississippi to continue to receive funds for essential enhancements for the upcoming year. I look forward to working with the airport authorities in my home State to make sure that the right improvements are made at the right airports. This is about safety and about economic growth. No legislative initiation is ever possible without the dedicated efforts of staff, and I want to take a moment to identify those who worked hard to prepare the Ford Act for consideration by the full Senate. From the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Mark Buse; Ann Choiniere; Jim Drewry; Becky Kojm; John Raidt; Mike Reynolds; Ivan Schlager; Scott Verstandig; and Sam Whitehorn. The following staff also participated on behalf of their Senators: David Broome; Steve Browning; Jeanne Bumpus; Nat Grubbs; Brett Hale; Katrina Hardin; Dan Renberg; Pam Sellars; Ellen Stein; Ben Thompson; and Clay Williams. Mr. President, these individuals worked very hard on the Wendell H. Ford National Air Transportation System Improvement Act of 1998 and the Senate owes them a debt of gratitude for their dedicated service to this legislation. Mr. President, our Nation's small communities are a step closer to receiving long-sought air service. Also, America's smaller, yet important air strips and airports will be enhanced. This is good for all Americans.

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that no call for the regular order be in order prior to the conclusion of the FAA reauthorization bill.

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I yield the floor. Mr. McCAIN addressed the Chair.

Mr. LOTT. Certainly, I do. We have tried to get that cleared a couple times and there have been objections. I know there is a lot of interest in it. I am receiving calls, and I know there is support for it on both sides of the aisle. So we will continue to try to work that out, and we will try to get an agreement to go forward on it later today.

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I now ask unanimous consent that the Senate resume consideration of the FAA reauthorization bill.

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, for the information of all Senators, this cloture vote will occur Monday, September 28. I now ask unanimous consent that, notwithstanding rule XXII, the cloture vote occur at 5:30 p.m. on Monday and the mandatory quorum under rule XXII be waived. I further ask that at 3:30 p.m. on Monday, the Senate resume the bill for debate only, with no action occurring, and that there be 2 hours of debate equally divided between the two leaders, or their designees.

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I send a cloture motion to the desk.

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. For the information, then, of all Senators, another vote will occur in approximately 10 minutes relative to the Inhofe amendment which is pending to the FAA reauthorization bill, and after that vote we will announce what the process will be thereafter.

Mr. LOTT. I ask unanimous consent that notwithstanding rule XXII, the Senate immediately proceed to the order with respect to the Inhofe amendment.

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. I move to lay that motion on the table. The motion to lay on the table was agreed to.

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. I know of no further debate.

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, what is the pending business?

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, this morning, the Senate will immediately resume consideration of S. 1301, the Consumer Bankruptcy Protection Act. At long last, I think we are going to be able to complete action on this legislation and get it into conference and give us a good opportunity then to get this work completed by the session's end. It is expected that several amendments will be offered and debated this morning, with a stacked series of rollcall votes occurring at approximately 11:45 a.m. It looks like there will be two votes, probably, in that sequence, at 11:45. Those votes will hopefully include passage of bankruptcy legislation. Following disposition of that bill, the Senate may consider any other legislative or executive items cleared for action. At this time, I believe we will probably go to the Internet taxation bill. Although we have had discussions with the Democratic leadership, no further agreements have been reached on other bills. I wanted to put the managers of that legislation, Internet taxation, on notice that we may very well go to that, which would be shortly in the afternoon. From 10 until 11 o'clock, there will be a ceremony in the Rotunda where the Hon. Nelson Mandela will receive the Congressional Gold Medal. A number of Senators will be involved in that ceremony. We will continue to work on this bill, but we will defer votes until after that ceremony is over. I yield the floor.

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I have the pleasure to announce that Senator Chuck Hagel is the latest recipient of the Senate's golden gavel award, marking his 100th hour of presiding over the U.S. Senate. The golden gavel award has long-served as a symbol of appreciation for the time that Senators contribute to presiding over the U.S. Senate--a privileged and important duty. Since the 1960's, Senators who preside for 100 hours have been recognized with this coveted award. On behalf of the Senate, I extend our sincere appreciation to Senator Hagel and his diligent staff for their efforts and commitment to presiding duties during the 105th Congress.

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, this resolution concerns a criminal prosecution brought against former Secretary of Agriculture Mike Espy, alleging acceptance of illegal gratuities and related charges. The Independent Counsel, who is bringing this prosecution, seeks testimony at trial from two present and one former employee of the Senate about communications with meat and poultry processing industry representatives and Executive Branch officials about a labeling rule promulgated by the Agriculture Department in 1993. The trial is scheduled to begin on October 1. In keeping with the Senate's practice regarding similar matters, this resolution would authorize testimony by employees of the Senate, except where a privilege should be asserted, with representation by the Senate Legal Counsel.

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. Thank you, Mr. President. I yield the floor.

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I object to further consideration of the resolution at this time.

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, during this vote, I would like to urge Members of the Senate to go to the back of the Chamber and visit with our special guests we have here--the Prime Minister of the Republic of Singapore, Goh Chok Tong, the Foreign Minister, and their Ambassador to the United States. We welcome them to the United States and to the Senate Chamber. [Applause.]