Barbara Mikulski

Ms. MIKULSKI

Ms. MIKULSKI. I move to lay that motion on the table. The motion to lay on the table was agreed to. Amendment No. 5189 (Purpose: To prohibit the use of amounts made available under the Act to investigate or prosecute under the Fair Housing Act any otherwise lawful activity engaged in by one or more persons solely for the purpose of achieving or preventing action by a government official or entity, or a court of competent jurisdiction)

Ms. MIKULSKI

Ms. MIKULSKI. I thank my colleagues for bringing this important issue to the Senate's attention. I look forward to working with them to help reach some meaningful resolution to the problem at hand.

Ms. MIKULSKI. I agree that this is an important initiative and one which Congress should support. Maryland schools are also trying very hard to ramp up to the information highway by providing Internet links and computer technology for students. I do think that producing such a report is an appropriate use of the funds provided in this bill and I join the Senator in urging OSTP to carry out the report by January 30, 1997. Corporation for National Service, AmeriCorps USA

Ms. MIKULSKI. I do agree. I especially agree with Dr. Lane's statement that ``Acting now on this procurement would be inconsistent with the responsible stewardship of taxpayer money.'' It is critical, both from an economic and national security perspective, that the United States maintain its leading role in supercomputing technology. Because the supercomputer industry survives on relatively few sales, each procurement project plays an important role in maintaining the supercomputer industrial and technology base. I therefore strongly concur with the NSF's recent action.

Ms. MIKULSKI. I am aware of the proposed procurement. NCAR initially selected NEC, but NSF announced last week that it is halting action on the proposed procurement until the completion of an investigation into illegal dumping.

Ms. MIKULSKI. In the opinion of the Senator, what would be the most effective means of addressing the issue?

Ms. MIKULSKI. We are certainly committed to protecting and improving our environment. I would like to thank the distinguished Senator for highlighting this issue. I know that his State experienced a serious leak at an aboveground storage tank farm in Fairfax County, VA. I am interested in knowing how serious is the problem nationwide?

Ms. MIKULSKI. The subcommittee is deeply concerned about the timetable and process which NASA intends to follow to achieve its stated goal of reducing the NASA work force from the current level to 17,500 by the year 2000. Notwithstanding its civil service goals, the subcommittee believes that NASA should maintain the institutional capability to accomplish our national aerospace objectives. In part due to the severe budget constraints the agency faces, various NASA initiatives have called for the following: One, shifting program management from headquarters to field centers; two, transitioning to a single prime contractor for space flight operations; and three, privatization initiatives such as the science institute concept. It is unclear how each of these proposals will contribute to the future FTE goals. Many employees at Goddard Space Flight Center, NASA's Wallops island facility and headquarters are my constituents, and have expressed concerns similar to those my friend from Ohio has heard from NASA Lewis. I will stand sentry to ensure that as many jobs as possible are protected. I have asked NASA headquarters to explain why their current approach is necessary.

Ms. MIKULSKI. I am aware of the work being done by the management conference, and that we have funded it each year since fiscal year 1990. I too hope we will be able to set aside funds for the operations of the conference.

Ms. MIKULSKI. I agree with the Senator from Ohio. In addition, the President has indicated the need for a national space summit to elucidate our national space goals. I have been calling for such a summit for several months, and am pleased to see the President take this necessary step. Clearly the results of the space summit should also be incorporated into this work force restructuring plan.

Ms. MIKULSKI. I would be pleased to do what I can to retain the House language in support of the Diabetes Institutes in the final conference report.

Ms. MIKULSKI. The Senator from Missouri and I would be pleased to enter into a colloquy with the Senator from Virginia.

Ms. MIKULSKI. That is my understanding as well. I am very pleased with the work accomplished by UMAC to date in making data from MTPE available to the public. This kind of practical application of scientific data is exactly the type of public private partnership that we should be encouraging. It has the potential for reaching thousands of our citizens, providing them with a broader base of understanding and support for the important work of Mission to Planet Earth.

Ms. MIKULSKI. I join Chairman Bond in encouraging FEMA to reach a resolution in which FEMA ensures that the county of Kauai and the State of Hawaii are reimbursed for all eligible costs resulting from Hurricane Iniki. I also support the chairman's effort in directing FEMA to provide its policy justifications and recommendations on this matter.

Ms. MIKULSKI. Mr. President, I want to comment before the Senator from Wyoming leaves the floor. I thank him for withdrawing the amendment rather than embroiling us in controversy. I want to acknowledge the concerns that he has raised, and I respect them. As we move toward conference, perhaps there is report language or something that prods EPA in the direction to be more responsive to Members' inquiries and that the focus of the agency is to review environmental legislation and comment on it from that perspective and not be a propaganda machine. I acknowledge the validity of that.

Ms. MIKULSKI. I move to lay that motion on the table. The motion to lay on the table was agreed to. Amendment No. 5179 (Purpose: To amend provision appropriating monies to the Council on Environmental Quality to the level approved by the House)

Ms. MIKULSKI. This is a very straightforward amendment, Mr. President. What it does is preclude that no Federal funds be spent in consolidating NASA aeronautics facilities at Dryden Air Force Base. We feel NASA's proposal to do this is premature. Questions have been raised about the NASA proposal by the inspector general. We have been consulting with NASA about this and have lacked clarity from NASA in terms of what its future intent is. It is one thing, I think, to talk about consolidation, but the IG raises many yellow flashing lights. So for now we wish to prohibit the consolidation until NASA comes forward with justification that then meets the requirements established by Senator Sarbanes, myself, Senator Warner, and Senator Feinstein. We hope this can be resolved before conference. In the meantime, we support the fact that none of the funds be used by the Administrator to relocate aircraft of NASA to Dryden.

Ms. MIKULSKI. Mr. President, I send an amendment to the desk on behalf of Senator Sarbanes, Senator Warner, Senator Feinstein and myself.

Ms. MIKULSKI. I move to lay that motion on the table. The motion to lay on the table was agreed to. Amendment No. 5185 (Purpose: To prohibit the consolidation of NASA aircraft at Dryden Flight Research Center, California)

Ms. MIKULSKI. Mr. President, I support the amendment as offered by the Senator from Utah. He raised this very important issue during our hearings and was concerned very much about mission creep in this Office of Federal Housing and Enterprise Oversight. It was his intent, as it is ours, that it focus on ensuring that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have fiscal safety and soundness. It was not meant to take foreign trips and see how the world is doing this. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have been around. It is our job to make sure that they are not only around, but are safe and sound and ready to do the job. We want to make sure they are fit for duty. I support the Bennett amendment as offered by Senator Bond.

Ms. MIKULSKI. I move to lay that motion on the table. The motion to lay on the table was agreed to.

Ms. MIKULSKI. Mr. President, I concur with Senator Bond's amendment and urge its adoption.

Ms. MIKULSKI. I move to lay that motion on the table. The motion to lay on the table was agreed to. Amendment No. 5183 (Purpose: Deletes EPA language relating to funds appropriated for drinking water state revolving funds. This language is no longer necessary given the enactment of drinking water state revolving fund legislation)

Ms. MIKULSKI. First of all, Mr. President, the modification was made at my request. As the Senator knows, marinas in many instances are small businesses and are the equivalent in my State of family farms or small ranches. So we thank Senator McCain for his courtesy in modifying it. We do support the amendment because it is based on an IG report. We think it really brings an important discipline to the FEMA program. We can fund disasters but we cannot create a budget disaster for ourselves. Therefore, I urge the adoption of the McCain amendment as modified.

Ms. MIKULSKI. Mr. President, we consulted with the Veterans' Administration, and they have advised us they also concur with the amendment. I do so and therefore urge that the amendment be adopted.