Trent Lott

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. First, it was 14 amendments, and 16 amendments, and then it was 16 amendments and a substitute. Where does it end? Quite frankly, if it was directly related to education and a tax provision, I would be inclined to say, yes, let us debate and vote. I don't think we ought to vote on cows and welfare reform. Where will it end? I don't really think that you want us to be able to get a process that gets us some amendments and votes and gets to a conclusion. I yield to the Senator from Georgia.

Mr. LOTT. Madam President, if I could reclaim my time?

Mr. LOTT. It is very interesting here----

Mr. LOTT. In answer to that, as a matter of fact, from the beginning, we have suggested to the minority leader that he could offer a substitute, which could include that and a number of other very attractive things. We think, though, the emphasis should be on giving parents and grandparents more opportunities to save for their children and decide how their own money would be spent. Let me yield to the Senator from Georgia----

Mr. LOTT. I say to the Senator, we should do that--I wish the administration had done it--and we will have an opportunity to add funds to that when we vote on the budget resolution next week.

Mr. LOTT. How about helping out families by letting them make the choice on how to use that money at the local level?

Mr. LOTT. Yes, I will, since I was responding to his particular question about that amendment.

Mr. LOTT. Madam President, first of all, I want to respond to several questions that have been asked and comments that have been made. I would be glad to talk to the minority leader any time he would like about trying to work out a list. I was willing to do that Friday. I was willing to do that today. I hadn't really heard any suggestions or movement since we last talked on Thursday, and I thought it was important to come out here and show that we are willing to make movement. For instance, on the school construction issue that you just mentioned, I believe that one of the additional amendments that I listed here, the one by Senator Moseley-Braun, would deal with that issue. So we are not prepared to try to--we don't want to duck that issue or other education and taxes-for-education-related issues. I will tell you what we would like not to do. We would first like to stay on and talk about education and how to improve education in America. We would like the amendments to relate to improving the quality of education. What we would prefer not to do is debate amendments on this bill that have to do with the sale of livestock. That is one of the amendments that I understand somebody wants to offer--to amend the Internal Revenue Code to exclude gain or loss for the sale of livestock from computation of capital gain net income for the purposes of the earned income credit. That is something I might be for, but I don't think it relates to education and an education bill. You talk about let us have a good debate about education. Do we want to get off into cows? And there are several others. Senator Wellstone wants to debate welfare reform on an education bill, food stamps on an education bill. There will be other times where those amendments can be offered. But I think to agree to a reasonable list of education amendments or tax amendments related to education, to have that kind of debate is fine. I think we can work that out if they are education related. But I don't think getting into all these other issues serves the purposes of getting a focused debate on education and getting this bill to a conclusion so that we can go to other, even emergency, pieces of legislation. Let me take, for example, the bill Senator Dodd just mentioned. He is right. I have, over the years, worked to try to support the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, IDEA. But I note that the administration flat-lined that program. They did not provide the funds we promised, did not provide for increasing funds in that area. Yet, the Budget Committee this past week voted to add $2.5 billion over 5 years to get the funding up for that program. So you can be assured, as the year goes forward, that we are going to have a debate about how much more money is needed for IDEA. But what we don't think we should have is what the Senator from Connecticut is proposing, which is to turn that program into another entitlement program--mandated appropriations, which would be an entitlement program. We need to face up to the fact that this is an important education program that, quite frankly, is having real difficulties now because we have not provided the funding we said we were going to give. What it really has to do with is, we should not make it mandatory or an entitlement; we should live up to what we said we were going to do.

Mr. LOTT. Madam President, I would be glad to try to respond to that.

Mr. LOTT. Parliamentary inquiry, though. Is the minority leader speaking under leader time?

Mr. LOTT. We have been making Members aware of the agreement we were offering.

Mr. LOTT. I believe we would. And I certainly would be prepared to aggressively advocate it and pursue it. You never know until you go to the individual Senators and work with them and try to get their agreement to go forward with it. I would not want to be the Senator on either side of the aisle who stands in the way of this major piece of education legislation.

Mr. LOTT. I believe they were. And I believe they were advocated in the Finance Committee--at least one of them, if not both of them--by the Senator from New York, Senator Moynihan, because I remember in conference defending these programs. And they were objected to at that time by the House conferees. We didn't get them through. But they have been supported on a bipartisan basis. So I am really at a loss to understand the resistance to these, particularly since three of the four provisions have already been adopted by the Senate. I just wanted to have the Senator confirm for me my memory with regard to the strong vote that occurred. Should we have other amendments on education and tax provisions that would help education? Sure. Is this going to be the end of the debate this year on education? Probably not. I would imagine that Senators are going to have a number of provisions. Hopefully, we may even have another bill that would address the number of questions. I would like for us to consolidate some of the myriad of Federal programs that provide funds to education into a block grant. I understand there are some 750 Federal education programs of one sort or another, and almost 39, I think it was, different agencies, bureaus, or departments. Couldn't we consolidate some of those and send them back to the States without strings and let the States decide if they want to use that money for school construction or for a merit pay for star teachers? But let the people at the local level decide how that money would be spent without it being directed by some Washington bureaucrat saying that you have to spend it here, or you must spend it there. So I wanted today to take the floor. I ask my colleague, Senator Daschle, to encourage my Democratic colleagues to work with us on some sort of agreement for the consideration of the Coverdell education savings account bill. On Friday, March 13, I offered an agreement that would provide for a minority substitute to be debated, and voted on first, prior to a cloture vote occurring, if one was necessary. Late last week I offered a second agreement that would provide for nine education amendments to be offered by Members of the minority, I believe it was 5 by the majority, for a total of 14 education taxes that would benefit education amendments with 9 going to the minority side. Needless to say, now both agreements were rejected. I understand that it is difficult to get some limit on amendments so that we can debate the ones that really are critical and come to some conclusion on this issue so we can move on to other issues. But I take the floor again today to attempt to reach an agreement on the education bill prior to a second cloture vote on Tuesday at 5:30. The agreement would be as follows: That there be nine education amendments in order as listed in the previous agreement, plus one amendment to be offered by the minority leader in the form of a substitute, if he so desires; one additional amendment to be offered by Senator Moseley-Braun of Illinois, as was suggested by Senator Daschle, one that might be important to be included on the list; and one to be offered by Senator Boxer. I don't even know the details of all of these amendments, except that I think they generally are in the education, or tax benefits for education category; and that there be five education amendments to be offered by Members on the majority side of the aisle. Before the minority leader responds, I hope he could keep in mind once again that this bill includes a number of positions or provisions that were advocated by our colleagues on the Democratic side of the aisle--Senators Breaux, Moynihan, Graham, Feinstein. And, as I understand it, 80 percent of the cost of this bill actually goes into those three areas: the bond program, the prepaid tuition, and the employer-paid higher education provision. So, having said that, I hope that the minority leader would be able to agree to this agreement in some form in the next few hours, and, if he has some suggestion or some other idea of how we can proceed, I am open to hearing those, also. I would be glad to yield the floor for a response of Senator Daschle.

Mr. LOTT. Fifty-nine Senators voted for this provision in the 1st session of the 105th Congress. The other provisions--I believe the prepaid tuition and the employer- paid higher education provisions--were those both in the budget tax bill last year?

Mr. LOTT. Madam President, first, I want to congratulate the Senator from Georgia for the leadership he has provided on this issue and so many other issues, and for his persistence in coming to the floor and engaging in the discussion with the Senator from Minnesota and others. One of the things that comes to my mind is: What are you afraid of? What is it about this that causes you great concern? I am a product of public education from day one all the way through college all the way through law school. I really care about public education. I daresay a lot of our colleagues here in the Chamber can't say that. They went to one private school or another; one special school or another. Not me. I went to public schools in Mississippi from the first grade--in fact, even a little pre-first grade program right on through law school. When I was in elementary and in high school, my family didn't have a lot of income. My mother was a schoolteacher. My dad was a shipyard worker. They could have used an opportunity to maybe save a little money to help with our education--my education needs when I was in high school, or when I got ready to go to college. So look at what we are talking about here: an education savings account. Who is disadvantaged by this? Shouldn't we encourage parents and grandparents and scholarship groups to save for their children and their grandchildren's needs? Maybe that is something that they would need in high school, or maybe even elementary school, as has been pointed out, whether it is computers or uniforms. Some schools are going to need uniforms or tutors. That is something that I think really could be very helpful. But also in this package are some other things that would have been helpful to me and my family. And that is, prepaid tuition opportunities that would allow people to save a little to begin to invest for tuition costs when their children get ready to go to a trade school, or community college, or college, or a university. Then also there is the very attractive provision that would encourage employers to have, as a part of their agreement with their employees, paid higher education provisions. Shouldn't we encourage that? Isn't that something that would be good for employers to do for their employees? What is it that our colleagues here are afraid of on these programs? Also, on the bond program for private organizations to build public schools, I have had some reservations about it. But in a State such as California, or a State like Florida, if some private company wants to participate and be a part of this bond opportunity to build public schools to help school districts, shouldn't we encourage that? So I am really astounded at some of the opposition I hear about this legislation. I think it would help children to have options. Yes, it might allow parents and children to be able to escape a violent school, or a dangerous school, or a drug-infested school to go someplace else. Shouldn't there be some provision to try to help them do that? Remember this: Everything in this bill, except the school construction fees, has already been voted on and passed by the Senate. I address a question to the Senator from Georgia. As I recall last year, the Senate passed the Coverdell education savings account with a very substantial vote. What was it?

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I am pleased to offer this amendment providing $5 million for overt political support and $5 million for the establishment of ``Radio Free Iraq.'' This is a bipartisan amendment. I am joined by Senators Lieberman, Gregg, Hollings, Kyl, Stevens, Helms, and Brownback in support for this start to a political approach to changing the regime in Iraq. This emergency appropriations bill contains over $1.3 billion for U.S. military operations in Southwest Asia. Our military deployments to the Persian Gulf are very expensive. They are necessary to keep pressure on Iraq. But I believe that a new policy goal is necessary as well. I have publicly advocated an approach that has an explicit goal for the removal of Saddam Hussein from power. I expect to continue to examine how such a policy can be developed and implemented. I will continue to work with the Administration to explore ways we can develop a Iraq policy that is more effective and more sustainable. The amendment today is intended to be a first step in a policy reappraisal. It is drawn from a provision in the State Department Authorization Conference Report. Section 1814 authorizes $38 million for a number of purposes, including political support and creating ``Radio Free Iraq.'' The amendment today would appropriate the money. It would be non- offset--designated as an emergency. It seems reasonable to me to put a modest $10 million for political efforts when the underlying bill has more than $1.3 billion for military efforts. I would also like to note what the statement of managers on the State Department Authorization Conference Report says about the Iraqi opposition: ``The Committee further notes that disparate Kurdish, Shiite and Sunni groups have in the past been willing to set aside their differences and unite under the umbrella of the Iraqi National Congress (INC) to challenge Saddam Hussein.'' This amendment requires the Administration to submit their proposal to spend these funds within 30 days. Congress will review their proposal very carefully--especially what groups the Administration plans to work with. I understand there is some division within the Administration about the INC. I know you can always find reasons for not undertaking a difficult policy. In my view, the Iraqi National Congress should be front and center in any efforts to develop a strategy for a democratic Iraq. There may be other opposition groups deserving of support but I do not know of any that have been as effective as the INC was until the fall of 1996. Along with the other sponsors, I intend to keep pressing on various elements of this strategy during legislative action on fiscal year 1999 bills. I thank the co-sponsors for their support and look forward to the unanimous adoption of this amendment. THE PRESIDING OFFICER. If there be no further debate, the question is on agreeing to the amendments. The amendments (Nos. 2069 through 2076) were agreed to.

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, today the Senate will begin consideration of S. 1768, the emergency supplemental appropriations bill. As earlier announced, a vote will occur today at 5:30, hopefully with respect to an amendment to the supplemental appropriations bill, but if that cannot be arranged, or if there is not an amendment available at that time, then the Senate will be voting with respect to an Executive Calendar item. Therefore, Senators should be on notice that a vote will occur at 5:30. It is my hope the Senate can make good progress, if not complete action, on the supplemental appropriations bill, since it is an emergency. It is the funds for our activities in Bosnia and the Persian Gulf, as well as for natural disasters. I hope we can get it completed, certainly prior to an anticipated cloture vote at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday. That cloture vote would be on H.R. 2646, which is the Coverdell A+ Education Savings Account Act. Perhaps we will be able to work out a unanimous consent agreement on a limited number of amendments and how those amendments could be handled so that cloture would not be necessary, but if not, we will have cloture at 5:30. And I assume and hope that that cloture motion will be agreed to. So I ask all Members who must amend that important legislation to notify the managers of their intentions. Senator Stevens will be coming here later, and he will be looking for notification of any amendments that might be necessary. As announced earlier, consideration of the NATO treaty has been postponed, to occur at a later date, possibly even after the Easter recess. The Senate has several very important emergency items we have to consider prior to the recess, including, probably on Thursday of this week, the Mexico decertification issue. The rules require that we have to act on that before Saturday, and I believe the rules also provide for up to 10 hours of debate. So we have to do that Thursday, we have to complete the supplemental appropriations, and we have to complete the education bill. So we just do not have the time to have the necessary focused debate that we need to have on NATO enlargement. It may be after the Easter recess before we come back to that. A number of Senators have asked that we have the final debate and votes after the Easter recess, so we may have to do that. So we will have a vote at 5:30 this afternoon on the supplemental appropriations bill, an amendment perhaps, and then we will have the Coverdell education bill tomorrow. I hope that we can find a way to work together and not spend the whole week with filibusters and cloture votes, but if not, we will go with the cloture votes and take up the emergency issues we have to deal with. I hope we will get cooperation. I thank the Senators for that. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that there now be a period of morning business with Senators permitted to speak for up to 5 minutes each.

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. With that, Mr. President, if there is no further business to come before the Senate, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate stand in adjournment under the previous order.

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, the Senate will lay aside the NATO treaty and begin consideration of the emergency supplemental appropriations bill on Monday. A vote will occur on Monday at 5:30, hopefully, with respect to an amendment on this supplemental appropriations bill, if some are available. If that cannot be arranged, then we will be voting with respect to the Executive Calendar item--at least one. Senators should be on notice that a vote will occur at 5:30 on Monday, March 23. I hope the Senate can make good progress, if not complete action on the supplemental appropriations bill, by the 5:30 cloture vote on Tuesday. I really believe that we should be able to finish that bill in just a few hours, actually. I urge all Members who must offer an amendment to restrain themselves and make sure that it is a very important amendment and that it relates to the subjects we have included in this supplemental appropriations. As Members can determine from the various agreements and announcements I have outlined here, the NATO treaty has been postponed to occur on a later date. Perhaps we can return to it next week. But it depends on what we can get done on the supplemental appropriations and on the education savings account. For instance, assuming we get cloture, there still could be 30 hours that could be eaten up after that. So rather than continue to go back and forth, I thought we had reached a point where we need to get focused on doing these two bills, and then we will go back to NATO enlargement at a later date. It could actually now not be back for a concentrated debate and amendments and votes even until after the Easter recess. I had hoped we could have gotten it done earlier. I had hoped we would have it done by now. But we have not received cooperation on any bill that has come up this year, and I can only do so much to try to get the Senate to focus and complete action. If they do not, then I have to turn to other emergency matters. So once a determination is made that we want to get this work completed, then we will go back to it. But until the Senate indicates a willingness to stay focused and we get a little cooperation and don't have a filibuster fight and a cloture vote on every bill, then it will just have to come up later because I do have Members on both sides of the aisle asking me to delay it. And yet I have tried to go forward with it because I thought it was the right thing to do, and I am willing always to try to do the right thing for our country but not if everybody else is going to be playing games. So we will just go with this schedule and hopefully next week with cooperation we can complete the Coverdell education savings account bill, the supplemental appropriations, NATO enlargement perhaps even, and then turn to the budget resolution next. Hope springs eternal. I hope it will apply to next week.

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, again perhaps we could come to some agreement, other than going straight to cloture. But if we have not, we will have this cloture vote at 5:30 on Tuesday. I remind all Senators that under rule XXII, if the cloture vote does occur on Tuesday, then all first-degree amendments will be filed by 1 p.m. on Monday, and second-degree amendments must be filed by 4:30 on Tuesday. I think Senators have to proceed under the assumption that this cloture vote will occur. I want to also emphasis that this is going to be the cloture vote that really determines whether or not we are going to be able to get this very important legislation completed or not.

Mr. LOTT. I emphasize on the supplemental that we have now just 2 weeks before the Easter recess period. I am under the impression that there is some increased urgency for this particular bill because of the impact it has on the Department of Defense. These funds would go to replenish the expenditures for the Bosnian operation, and for activities in the Persian Gulf, as well as the natural disasters. Recognizing that, I thought it would be important that we go ahead and try to get this legislation up, considered, and passed, or ready to be passed, so that when the House acts, they can go to conference immediately. This is at the request of Chairman Stevens. I know that he has been working very closely with the ranking member, Senator Byrd, on this legislation. I ask unanimous consent that at 5:30 on Tuesday the Senate proceed to the cloture vote with respect to the Coverdell education savings account bill. This will only be necessary if an agreement cannot be reached in the meantime for an orderly procedure for consideration of the education bill.

Mr. LOTT. I ask unanimous consent that immediately following the convening on Monday, the Senate proceed to Calendar No. 326, S. 1768, which is the emergency supplemental appropriations bill for defense and natural disasters.

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: Nos. 545 through 552, and all nominations on the Secretary's desk in the Air Force, Army, and Marine Corps. I further ask unanimous consent that the nominations be confirmed, the motions to reconsider be laid upon the table, the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action, and that the Senate then return to legislative session.