Trent Lott

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the Record remain open until 3 p.m. today in order for Senators to introduce legislation and statements.

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. I ask unanimous consent the resolution be agreed, the preamble be agreed to, a motion to consider be laid upon the table, and a statement of explanation appear in the Record.

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of Senate Resolution 255, submitted earlier today by Senators Warner, Ford, Stevens, and Moynihan.

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I ask for a division vote on the resolutions of ratification.

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, these treaties are the Convention for the Protection of Plants, International Grains Agreement, Trademark Law Treaty with Regulations and Amendments to the Convention of the International Maritime Organization.

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the Senate proceed to executive session to consider the following treaties on today's Executive Calendar: Nos. 17, 18, 19, 20. I further ask unanimous consent the treaties be considered as having passed through their various parliamentary stages up to and including the presentation of the resolutions of ratification; all committee provisos, reservations, understandings, declarations be considered agreed to; that any statements be inserted in the Congressional Record as if read; and that the Senate take one vote on the resolutions of ratification to be considered as separate votes; further, when the resolutions of ratification are voted upon, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, the President be notified of the Senate's action, and that following the disposition of these treaties the Senate return to legislative session.

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. I ask unanimous consent that on Thursday, July 2, committees have from the hours of 11 to 1 p.m. in order to file legislative or executive reported items.

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. As in executive session, I ask unanimous consent the injunction of secrecy be removed from the following treaties transmitted to the Senate on June 26, 1998, by the President: Tax Convention with Estonia, Tax Convention with Lithuania, Tax Convention with Latvia. I further ask that the treaties, having been considered read the first time, be referred with accompanying papers to the Committee on Foreign Affairs be reported and the President's message be printed in the Record.

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the consideration of an amendment offered by Senators Leahy and Ashcroft, which is at the desk.

Mr. LOTT. I ask unanimous consent the amendment be considered as read and agreed to.

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I will go to the closing script now, unless there are any other issues pending. When I get to the close of this, we will have a final speaker today, Senator Gorton, and I appreciate his patience.

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate immediately proceed to executive session to consider the following nominations on the Executive Calendar: No. 634, which is Major General Jack Klimp to be lieutenant general; 655, through 661. That is a whole series of ambassadorial nominations reported by the Foreign Affairs Committee on June 23; 664-673; 698, which is William Massey, to be a member of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission; 699, Michael Copps to be an Assistant Secretary of Commerce; and 700, Awilda R. Marquez, to be Assistant Secretary of Commerce and Director General of the United States and Foreign Commercial Service, and the nomination on the Secretary's desk in the Foreign Service. I further ask unanimous consent the nominations be confirmed, the motion to consider be laid upon the table, the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action, and the Senate then return to legislative session.

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I thank the managers of the legislation for getting the agreement that has been entered into in an effort to get a vote at a reasonable time so we can conclude this matter before the night is out. I ask unanimous consent the remaining votes in this series be limited to 10 minutes in length. That is, votes on the Bumpers amendment, Senator Byrd's amendment, and final passage.

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I understand now that there is one other amendment that will be disposed of without a recorded vote, and then we would be prepared to go to final passage. But before we do that, I think it is appropriate that we pause just for a few minutes so that Senator Daschle, and I, on behalf of the entire Senate, can express our appreciation and our admiration for the distinguished chairman of the Armed Services Committee. All Senators who would like to express their appreciation and their affection for this distinguished Senator should feel free to do so after the vote on final passage, and put their remarks in the Record. I know that every Senator will want to do that. But I think it is appropriate that we name this bill the ``Strom Thurmond National Defense Authorization Act of 1999.'' Just think for a minute what this man has done. He is truly one of the legends of the last half century in this country. Certainly he has had a profound impact on the U.S. Senate, with his perserverance, his unfailing gentlemanliness, his respect for each one of us, the institution, and his strong feelings about the importance of national defense for our country. This is a man who has served in a way that probably would take six others of us to even come close to. He was a two-star major general. He was in the Army Reserve after he served in World War II, where he was a hero, having crashed behind enemy lines. He was a judge. He is an author, an attorney, a schoolteacher, Governor, Senator, and Presidential candidate. In short, in my opinion, he is ``Mr. Defense'' in the Senate. I think that after all he has done for us as individuals and for this country that it is appropriate tonight that we express our appreciation to him for his leadership, for the tremendous job that he does in getting these important bills through the Senate. They are never easy. The defense authorization bill always takes time and effort. But he is here ready to do battle for what he feels so strongly about--and that is the defense of our country. So, Senator Thurmond, we thank you for what you have done for this country. We thank you for what you have done in this Senate, and it is a great honor for me to join others in supporting the naming of this legislation in your honor. Thank you, sir. I yield the floor. (Applause, Senators rising.)

Mr. LOTT. While we are lining up the next speaker, I urge my colleagues to help in bringing this to a conclusion. It is a quarter to 7. We haven't locked in an agreement to get a sequence of votes on amendments and final passage. If we don't get that done right away, we will be here past 10 o'clock. So it is time we cut our speeches short and get the vote scheduled and bring this to a conclusion. Otherwise, we will be here into the wee hours of the morning. I want to thank Senators Warner, McCain, Thurmond, and Levin for trying to put together an agreement. We need to get it done and quit talking and get to the final votes on this defense bill.

Mr. LOTT. I do not wish to speak on the Byrd amendment. I support it, and I urge my colleagues to vote for it.

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. Thank you, Mr. President.

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I am pleased to introduce today S.J. Res. 54 concerning Iraq's violations of the cease-fire agreement that ended Operation Desert Storm in 1991. Yesterday, the Chairman of the United Nations Special Commission (UNSCOM) presented clear and compelling evidence to the U.N. Security Council that Iraq has lied about a critical aspect of its weapons of mass destruction programs. UNSCOM has uncovered proof that Iraq has turned the deadly nerve agent known as VX into missile warheads. Iraq still denies the truth today, but no one should be fooled. The proof is certain. And no one should be surprised. Iraq has consistently lied to UNSCOM for 8 years. It denied having any biological weapons. Iraq concealed the number of missiles it possessed. Iraq has refused to account for its chemical weapons programs. Iraq has refused to provide access to sites or documents necessary for UNSCOM to complete its work. In the past, under both this administration and the previous administration, Iraq's violations led to action on the part of the U.S. Iraq has been found to be in material breach on many occasions which are spelled out in this resolution. Military action has been threatened and even employed to force compliance. But now there is a different tune from the Clinton Administration. Now the Clinton Administration is on the defensive. Just keeping U.N. sanctions on seems to be enough--even though a U.S. veto would keep sanctions in place regardless of Russian or French pressure. I cannot understand why the Administration has been so passive in the face of the smoking fun demonstrating Iraq's deception to the world. Earlier this year, President Clinton came close to using military force in response to Iraq's violations. Instead, U.N. Secretary General Annan went to Baghdad and made a deal with Saddam Hussein. Hussein promised to do what he has been obligated to do since 1991. In return, a new ``Special Envoy'' for Iraq was created. Special procedures of certain UNSCOM inspections were laid out. If the goal was to avoid the difficult decision to use force, the Clinton Administration was successful. If the goal was to achieve Iraqi compliance with its international obligations, the Clinton Administration has failed. In recent months there are a number of signs that the Clinton Administration is abandoning a serious policy toward Iraq. First, U.S. military deployments in the Persian Gulf have been reduced. There has been no change in Iraqi behavior. Congress fully funded the deployments through the fiscal year. Yet the force without which diplomacy is empty has been significantly and unilaterally reduced. Second, the Administration refuses to support effective opposition to Saddam Hussein. The Congress provided $5 million in support for the Iraqi democratic opposition and required the Administration to submit its plan to Congress for using the money in 30 days. Today, almost 60 days later, we have received no report. The Administration has refused to provide direct support to the Iraqi National Congress--the opposition group most effective in challenging Saddam Hussein in the past. Instead, they provided a list of dozens of so-called opposition groups that included fronts for Syrian intelligence, groups compromised by Iraq, groups linked to Iran, and a number of cultural and religious groups with no history in political opposition. This list--and the absence of a report--make it seem the Administration has no interest in an effective policy of supporting the Iraqi opposition. Third, the Administration is acting in a very bizarre way in the case of Iraqis detained by the Immigration and Naturalization Service in California. Six Iraqis involved in efforts to overthrow Saddam Hussein--part of more than 6,000 evacuated after Saddam invaded northern Iraq--are now subject to secret deportation proceedings. former CIA Director Woosley is representing them free of charge, but even he has been denied an opportunity to see the alleged ``evidence'' gathered by INS. Something very suspicious is going on here. The Congress will look at why the executive branch is trying to send Iraqis who supported our goals in Iraq back to certain death at the hands of Saddam Hussein. Fourth, the U.S. acquiesced in a dramatic expansion of Iraq's oil exports for the ostensible purpose of feeding Iraqis. The new program, approved just before Secretary General Annan left for Baghdad, allows Iraq to export more than $10 billion a year. This is not about feeding Iraqis--it is about repairing Iraq's oil infrastructure, building roads and otherwise helping Saddam Hussein provide the services he has been denied because of U.N. sanctions. It goes a long way to allowing Saddam Hussein to enjoy the benefits of ending sanctions while the U.S. has received no additional support for keeping sanctions on Iraq. It is a bad deal that seems to be getting worse--for our position. Finally, there is the mute response to evidence of the weaponization of VX by Saddam Hussein's regime. This is one of the most deadly substances know to man. A single drop can kill a person. Saddam Hussien had it in missile warheads. He denied it. UNSCOM caught him in his lies--again. The Administration needs to do more than simply hear the evidence and say the sanctions should remain. They need to develop and implement a coherent policy that addresses the threat posed by Saddam Hussien's regime. The need to respond--as the U.S. and even the U.N.--has responded before to material breaches by Iraq. Instead they are, in effect, looking the other way and hoping the French and Russians are not too offended by UNSCOM. This resolution is intended to put pressure on the Administration to act on the information uncovered by UNSCOM. This is a material and unacceptable breach of Iraq's obligations. If the Administration refuses to act, Congress will be forced to step into the vacuum. I would like to thank the cosponsors of the resolution: Senators Lieberman, Helms, Kyl, Shelby, Brownback, and McCain. I look forward to continuing to work with them in supporting an effective policy toward Iraq. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the joint resolution be printed in the Record.

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. This morning the Senate will resume consideration of the Department of Defense authorization bill. Under the previous order, Senator Wellstone will immediately be recognized to offer an amendment regarding Department of Defense schools under a 30-minute time agreement. I see he is here, ready to go. At the expiration of that debate time, the Senate will proceed to vote on or in relation to the Wellstone amendment. Following that vote, there will be 10 minutes for closing remarks with respect to the Inhofe amendment, regarding the base closure issue, with a vote occurring following that debate. There will then be 10 minutes for closing remarks with respect to the Harkin amendment that was debated last night, which deals with the VA health care issue, followed by a vote in relation to that amendment. Therefore, three votes will occur beginning, I presume, shortly after 10 o'clock this morning. Following those votes, it is hoped that Members will come to the floor and offer and debate remaining amendments, with the understanding that the bill will be concluded during today's session. I believe that is possible. But once again, it takes cooperation and commitment to agree to reasonable time limits and get to a conclusion on this bill so we can move to a number of other very important issues that we are trying to get cleared, or appropriations bills. We will make an effort to get short time agreements with regard to the clean needles bill, the reading excellence bill, the drug czar reauthorization bill, perhaps the higher education bill, and any other appropriations bills that we may take up, plus some Executive Calendar items we would like to be able to get done before we go home for the Fourth of July recess, but they are all related to each other. If we get cooperation on the one side, there will be cooperation on the other; if we don't get cooperation and clearance on the bills, the Executive Calendar will have to wait for another week, month, or year. Also, the Senate can be expected to consider, prior to the Independence Day recess, as I mentioned, the higher education bill. I think we are very close to getting an agreement worked out on that. We can expect votes throughout the day, into the night, and on Friday. There will be at least two votes on Friday, and Senators need to be aware of that. I yield the floor.

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. I thank the Senator. I yield the floor, Mr. President.

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, this morning the Senate will resume consideration of the Coverdell education conference report. Under the previous order, after the expiration or yielding back of debate time, the Senate will proceed to vote on the adoption of the conference report. That vote is expected to occur at approximately 11:30 a.m. Following that vote, the Senate will immediately resume consideration of the defense authorization bill. It is my hope that the defense bill can be concluded soon, hopefully today, certainly tomorrow. In that vein, I want Senators to be on notice that we will plan on working into the night. I have tried very hard all year, and since I have been majority leader, to be sensitive to night sessions so that Members can be with their families, but we must get more work done. We must get this bill done. So Senators can expect a vote around 8 o'clock tonight. That may be moved a little bit one way or the other depending on how the debate is going, but we will have a vote on the defense authorization bill, an amendment, or on a judicial nomination tonight. So just make your plans to be here around 8 o'clock. If the committee wants to continue to work after that, they should do that also. So Senators should be on notice that we could very well be in session late Thursday night, and they should be prepared to have votes Friday afternoon at around 2 o'clock. So if you have flights out of here Thursday night, cancel them unless you want to miss some votes. If you plan on leaving Friday morning, cancel it, unless you want to miss some votes. We will be voting as it now stands Friday afternoon. It may be on DOD, if we haven't completed it; it may be on a conference report. It could be on IRS reform and restructuring. I don't think any Senator would want to miss a vote on that conference report. If we could get some more cooperation around here, which we have not been getting, we could maybe not have to do that. But we are going to act on this authorization bill, we are going to move toward appropriations bills, we are going to do conference reports, and we are going to do nominations. I asked the Senate to help me. The Senate has not been doing that. And so we will be voting tonight, Thursday night, and Friday afternoon. In fact, I don't have to leave until Saturday afternoon late so I would be delighted to stay here. This sword can be pointed both ways. But we have to go to work, and we have to cooperate with each other on behalf of the country. We are talking about defense authorization. Is there a more important bill we will do this year? We are developing a hollow military. We are not funding defense adequately, and yet we have military men and women steaming all over the world, stretched to the limit. It is ridiculous that we are here arguing over details when we ought to be acting on this very important bill. If you have amendments, what are you waiting on? Get over here and offer them, because I have already heard, ``Well, I haven't had my chance yet.'' This is the sixth day, I believe, we have been on this bill. If you have an amendment, come offer it. Otherwise, I would like to move to third reading and just let the chips fall where they will because enough is enough. If you have an amendment that is important, you should be over here at 11:30 to offer it as soon as we go back to that bill. Rollcall votes should be expected throughout the day. We are still working to try to get an agreement on the Higher Education Act. There is a great deal of irresponsibility on that act; Senators are saying, oh, I have two, three, six amendments. This bill expires, the authorization expires July 1, and we are not going to have it passed in the Senate. I think that is a real problem also. I mentioned the IRS reform conference report. We have at least four appropriations bills that are ready, and we would like to work with both sides to see if we could not clear some Executive Calendar nominations. For instance, the Amtrak board, if we don't approve the board by July 1, the Amtrak authorization expires. Now, anybody who wants their Amtrak efforts last year to be for naught better be thinking about it, because if we don't get the authorization, we don't get the reforms, we are not going to get the money in the future. I have been a supporter of Amtrak, but I said last year it is the last time. We are going to do it right or we are not going to get the money we need in the future. In conclusion, Mr. President, I again thank Senator Coverdell and his colleagues on both sides of the aisle who have worked on this very important education bill. I am excited, honestly excited, that we are about to pass one of the most important education bills that the Senate has acted on in years to encourage more savings for our children's education, for their needs. That is certainly worthwhile. I particularly note that in addition to Senator Coverdell, Senator Torricelli has been very helpful, sticking to his guns against a lot of opposition. It would encourage prepaid tuition. Twenty-one States have that program. My State has that program. It will be very helpful to get tax benefits of prepaid college tuition. Also, we should encourage employers to give employees benefits for pursuing higher education. This is a really great bill. I believe it will pass with a wide bipartisan margin, and I believe that education will benefit and children in America will be better off because of it. So I thank those who have been involved. I think it will be one of the most important things that we have done this year. I hope the President will find it in his heart to sign this legislation. I yield the floor, Mr. President. (Mr. ALLARD assumed the Chair.)

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I would be glad to yield to the distinguished President pro tempore.

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. I thank the Chair.

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I express my appreciation, and I believe the appreciation of the Senate, to our Chaplain for his wonderful prayers for the Senators, for the Senate, and for the country.

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. Wednesday of this week, or Thursday at the latest, because we do have a lot of other work to do. I realize there are some, I don't know, 150 amendments pending. Who are we kidding? That is not only not serious, that is totally laughable. This is the Department of Defense authorization bill which we need to do for our country. This is a bill that the Armed Services Committee has already done the bulk of the work on. While I realize there are a lot of policy issues, a lot of amendments that Senators would like to offer, I hope they will cooperate and we can get this bill completed in a reasonable period of time. This is the fifth day that we have been on the DOD authorization bill. Tomorrow will be the sixth day. So we need to get it concluded. I do now put the Senate on notice that I intend to call up H.R. 2358, relative to the China human rights issue, sometime after July 6, 1998. I will notify all Members when the date has been finalized so all Members will have time to prepare for it. This is an important issue for our country. Senators on the Democratic side have said we should not debate this while the President is going to China. I think, as a matter of fact, that the reverse is the case--that we should make our point, express the Senate's concern on these very important issues before the President goes, but not necessarily while he is there. It is an issue that we need to address further, and we are going to do that sometime after July 6. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that, following a brief statement by Senator Hutchinson, the motion to recommit be automatically withdrawn.