Barbara Mikulski

Ms. MIKULSKI

Ms. MIKULSKI. I thank Senator Cleland for his cooperation and assure him that during conference with the House, this project will be given every consideration for funding.

Ms. MIKULSKI. The Senator from North Dakota is absolutely correct in his observation about the need for NASA to share the value of its data and its expertise with all Americans. The states represented in UMAC are the most distant from any existing NASA Center, so the idea of strengthening this organization for long-term service to this region is justified, and I pledge to work to achieve this goal during Conference.

Ms. MIKULSKI. I also pledge to work to seek funding for this critical project during conference with the House.

Ms. MIKULSKI. I strongly agree with my colleague. I was also startled by the graphic nature of the state of this building. Not only does this building present severe health concerns to local residents, but what makes this building even more disconcerting is the fact that it is located right beside U.S. highway 319, which, as I understand, is the main thoroughfare running directly into the center of Moultrie.

Ms. MIKULSKI. I, too, welcome this discussion with my colleague.

Ms. MIKULSKI. I appreciate the work done by my colleagues from Maine on this mercury sensor proposal, which would utilize the tremendous research tools of the University of Maryland at College Park. While we are laboring under difficult budget constraints, I remain hopeful that we will be able to jumpstart this valuable scientific evaluation process. I look forward to working with Chairman Bond on this issue in Conference.

Ms. MIKULSKI. I thank my colleague from Minnesota, Senator Wellstone, for his continued vigorous support for these projects. First let me say that I appreciate his acknowledgment of the difficult funding constraints under which the committee was working this year. I agree with my colleague that these two projects will serve a valuable role in their communities, both Indian Country, and Northeastern Minnesota. For that reason, I will give the Minnesota Indian Primary Residential Treatment Center and the Northeast Ventures Corporation every consideration during the conference deliberations.

Ms. MIKULSKI. Certainly, should the funding be available, they could be used for future cemetery construction projects.

Ms. MIKULSKI. I am certainly aware of my colleague's work on this important issue and applaud the Senator's efforts.

Ms. MIKULSKI. I thank the Senator for his kind words of support. I am fully aware of the critical need for cemeteries to accommodate our veterans population. I am aware of the Senator from Georgia's dedicated efforts to construct a cemetery which dates back to his tenure as head of the Veterans Administration.

Ms. MIKULSKI. The VA/HUD Appropriations Committee will give every consideration to funding the completion of the Atlanta VA renovation project in the FY 2001 budget process.

Ms. MIKULSKI. I understand the Senator's concerns and push his to obtain this needed renovation for VA patient care. I also want to thank the Senator for his responsible approach to phasing in this project in light of serious budget concerns. While serious budget constraints prevent the acceptance of this request in the FY 2000 appropriations bill, it is the Appropriations Committee's hope and expectation that this worthy project will be fully funded in the President's FY 2001 budget submission.

Ms. MIKULSKI. I appreciate knowing of the Senator from New Mexico's interest in the Bayard project.

Ms. MIKULSKI. I commend the Mayor and citizens of Bayard for their efforts to seek funding from all available sources.

Ms. MIKULSKI. I thank the Senators from Florida for bringing this issue to my attention. I will be pleased to review the proposed project at $1.5 million and will give it every consideration during conference deliberations.

Ms. MIKULSKI. If I could just briefly add my thoughts. The East Asian Science, Engineering, and Technology program does indeed sound like something NSF should get started on this coming fiscal year, provided they're ready, and then include it in the President's request for FY 2001.

Ms. MIKULSKI. I would have no objection to shifting funds between the Milwaukee projects if the Senator from Wisconsin, on behalf of his constituents from Milwaukee, makes such a request during our work in the conference.

Ms. MIKULSKI. Mr. President, I have noted the importance of these projects and I will do my best to include these projects when the conference committee meets on this bill, if adequate funding is available.

Ms. MIKULSKI. I know that you have worked hard on a number of projects, and I would appreciate it if you could describe your requests in greater detail?

Ms. MIKULSKI. I too will remember the request from my colleague from New York when the bill gets to conference. national center for science literacy education and technology

Ms. MIKULSKI. Mr. President, we concur with the managers' amendment as presented by the Senator from Alaska and are prepared to accept it.

Ms. MIKULSKI. I think the comments by both Senators from Virginia are, indeed, meritorious. I think our side is prepared to accept the amendment.

Ms. MIKULSKI. Mr. President, I am proud to support Senator Daschle's amendment on education. We were forced to forage for funds for the VA-HUD bill. The spending caps have put us in a terrible position, we have had to pit one group against another, and one of the biggest losers in this battle has been education. There are three important things we need to do to get behind our kids, our teachers and our parents: 100,000 new teachers and counselors; technology in the classroom; and afterschool programs. One of the best things we can do for our kids is to get 100,000 new teachers in the classroom. Smaller classes means that kids will get better supervision. This is important for all kids, not just the ones that get into trouble; all children need help, some children just need extra help. We want to make schools safe places without making them Fortress America. We need to support our teachers by hiring 100,000 new nurses and by hiring social workers and counselors. 100,000 new nurses in schools will promote early detection of warning signs. I just visited a school where 75 percent of the children there were on medication. The nurse is oftentimes the first line of defense for when kids need extra help. Some of the frustration from kids stems from medical problems. Without nurses in the schools, these unnoticed medical conditions can lead to truancy and trouble. We need the experts in the schools who can deal with conflict resolution. We also need structured after-school activities for kids that involves community based programs. We need to support our parents and make sure parents have the flexibility in the workplace to spend time with their children after school. They need leave time. By the way, they also need a patients bill of rights that provides access to medical insurance for people that don't have it. And we also need technology in the classrooms; computers in the schools, training for our teachers and our students so they are prepared to cross the digital divide and are ready for the 21st century. I look forward to fighting for you and getting behind our kids, our parents and our schools.

Ms. MIKULSKI. I am glad to discuss this matter with my colleague.

Ms. MIKULSKI

Ms. MIKULSKI. Mr. President, I thank all of my colleagues for their kind words about the Senator from Missouri and myself. Speaking on the amendment of Senator Kerry of Massachusetts, I want to reiterate the fact that there is very keen interest on the part of the subcommittee to continue to expand the voucher program. What we lack is really the wallet. We hope that as we move to conference, working very closely with the administration, we can find an offset to pay for new vouchers, and an offset that will not only take care of this year's appropriation but will be sustainable and reliable. I am pleased to report to my colleagues in the Senate that I have had extensive conversations with the head of OMB, who is working on this, along with our Secretary of HUD, Andrew Cuomo. I do not believe the eloquent statements by my colleagues on the compelling human need to be reiterated by me. I do want to reiterate my support for increasing the voucher program in conference. I know that the President is deeply concerned about this, and should we not be able to proceed with an expansion, his senior advisers are already advising a veto. We are not there yet. I say to my colleagues that this is a work in progress. They have outlined the compelling human need. I could give the same kinds of examples from my own State of Maryland, where, though we are enjoying a prosperous economy, there are still very significant ZIP Codes of poverty. So working together, we will be able to do that. With that, I want to convey, first, my support, and, second, I believe we can move forward and listen to the Senator from Massachusetts in relation to the bill. Mr. DURBIN addressed the Chair.