Patty Murray

Mrs. MURRAY

Mrs. MURRAY. I thank the Senator. I appreciate his assistance in this matter. coastal protection and restoration projects

Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, methamphetamine production and use has had a devastating effect on many communities across our country, and tackling this problem has been very challenging to law enforcement. Meth has a particularly large impact on my state. We rank number two in the nation in meth production and use. Last year, local law enforcement raided five times the number of meth labs than they did the year before in Washington. The impact on our health and the environment are extensive. The byproducts of meth production are highly toxic and hazardous and pose serious threats to the public at large. Meth is produced with toxic chemicals and generates dangerous byproducts. Because manufacturing can take place in the basements of homes and other populated areas, innocent neighbors are often placed in danger by meth production. There are also serious safety issues due to the risk of fire and explosion associated with the chemicals involved. Furthermore, the toxins that are used and discarded as a part of meth production have serious and long term impacts on the environment, and the clean-up cost are substantial. The use of this drug can also have a severe impact on families and children. People who use and make meth put children and their families at risk of hazardous contamination and often live in unsanitary conditions. Meth uses also tend to emotionally and physically abuse those around them. With that, I yield to my colleague from the state of Washington, a member of the Judiciary Committee, Senator Cantwell.

Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, I ask Senator Hollings, am I correct in my understanding that the Manager's Amendment to the Departments of Commerce, Justice, and State, the Judiciary, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill for Fiscal Year 2002 includes an additional $4,000,000 for Washington State's share under the Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund, raising the total for Washington State to $24,150,000 and the total for this account to $74,000,000?

Mrs. MURRAY. The Commerce, Justice, State and Judiciary Appropriation Subcommittee, of which Senator Hollings is Chairman and I am a member, has responded to this problem by providing money under the Community Oriented Policing Services Program to help local communities and law enforcement combat meth production and use. In this year's bill, we have provided a good number of resources to deal with the meth problem, including an earmark for the Washington State Methamphetamine Program. Is it the intent of the Appropriations Committee that the money provided for the Washington State Methamphetamine Program be spread among the participating counties in Washington State, which include the counties of King, Benton, Snohomish, Kitsap, Spokane, Thurston, Pierce, Lewis, Grays Harbor, Mason, Cowlitz, Clark, Grant, Chelan, and Yakima?

Mrs. MURRAY

Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, yesterday I was in a meeting here in the Capitol, when I looked out the window and I saw something that I will never forget. I saw black clouds of smoke filling the sky over the Pentagon. Yesterday, terrorists attacked our country, our financial center, our military headquarters, and our sense of security. Yesterday's horrific pictures are fixed in our minds forever. But today, we see something else. We see a country that's come together. We see a government that speaks with one voice to denounce terrorism. And we see people who have volunteered--to search the rubble, to help the injured, and to donate blood. These acts of terror were meant to divide us. But the truth is they've brought us all closer together. This afternoon, I want to extend my prayers to all the victims, their families and friends. I want to thank all of the emergency personnel who responded with such courage: including the brave men and women of our armed forces, police, firefighters and medical personnel. And I want everyone to know that our country is unified behind the President. We will help the injured. We will protect our citizens. And will punish those who committed these cowardly acts. Every resource we have will be made available to support the recovery effort. Yesterday we were attacked, but today, we stand united. As our work resumes, we will work together to plug the security holes that this attack has uncovered. I want all of my colleagues to know that, as chair of the Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee, my top priority is the safety of the traveling public. We will do what it takes to ensure the safety of our Nation's transportation system. In the coming days and weeks, we must evaluate our security system, our intelligence abilities and the safety of our transportation network. Out citizens have a right to feel secure at home, at work, at school, and on our Nation's transportation system. We are going to make sure Americans have the safety and security they deserve. Ours is a great Nation. We have withstood many challenges. We will learn the lessons of this challenge, and together, we will build a stronger country. So as we take stock of this unspeakable tragedy, as we learn the names of the victims, as we hear stories of the heroism and compassion in the wake of this attack, we are standing together we are speaking with one voice and will do everything we can to ensure our safety and to answer this evil act with justice.

Mrs. MURRAY

Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, I rise to express my extreme disappointment with the agriculture supplemental assistance package the Senate passed today. This week, the Bush administration did a great disservice to our nation's farmers, to rural communities, and to agricultural conservation programs around this nation. The administration's veto threats forced the Senate to pass a bill that does not meet the needs of farmers in my State. In fact, this bill is completely inadequate to meet the needs of our farmers and rural America. The bill abandons our apple producers. It abandons our pea and lentil producers. And it rejects a fair emergency payment to our wheat producers. It didn't have to be this way. Senator Harkin worked with many of our colleagues to draft a balanced $7.4 billion emergency economic package. I fought hard to include $150 million in emergency payments for apple producers. I worked to include $20 million in assistance for dry pea and lentil producers. And many Senators worked together to ensure that wheat and other program crop producers received an emergency payment equal to what they received last year. The Harkin bill was balanced, fair, and fiscally responsible. It deserved to become law. Yet, throughout this debate, the Bush administration steadfastly threatened to veto any bill larger than $5.5 billion. Today, President Bush won, and our farmers lost. Instead of the Harkin bill, the Senate passed the House agriculture supplemental bill. We passed it because the President will sign it. We passed it because further delay threatened the availability of $5.5 billion in emergency relief. We did not pass it because it's the best bill possible. The President's veto threats have cost Washington state producers $103 million. Let me repeat that: According to the Senate Agriculture Committee, President Bush's veto threats will cost Washington State producers an estimated $103 million in assistance. That includes the $50.3 million in assistance our apple growers would have received under the apple aid package. I would like to thank Senator Harkin for his support for specialty crop producers. Senator Harkin worked tirelessly to help all regions and all producers. In my opinion, he could not have put together a more balanced and fair package. I would also like to thank Senator Daschle. Senator Daschle is committed to working with us to address the shortfalls in the House bill. I look forward to working with him to complete the unfinished business we began this week. This fight is not over. I would urge my colleagues to return from the August recess ready to pass an agriculture aid package that is balanced and fair to America's farmers.

Mrs. MURRAY

Mrs. MURRAY. Madam Presdent, I rise today to recognize a very distinguished father and son duo from the State of Washington, Dr. James Bianco and his father, Anthony Bianco. Jim Bianco is the CEO of Cell Therapeutics Inc., a Seattle-based company that develops cancer therapies. Recently, Jim was honored by the National Organization of Rare Diseases, NORD, for his distinguished work. Jim's father, Anthony Bianco, also just received some long-overdue recognition for his military service to our Nation. During World War II, Tony Bianco was a pilot with the 32nd bomb squadron. Our Christmas Day, 1944, Tony was not required to fly. But he choose to fly that day in service to his country. On that mission over Czechoslovakia, his squadron was attacked. Shrapnel came through the floor of his B-17, entered his lower leg, and exited through his knee. It was a serious injury, yet Tony managed to land his plane safety. He spent the next nine months in a hospital in Italy before being sent back to the United States. Because of the recovery time for his injury and the coinciding of the end of the War, Tony was never given his 2nd Lieutenant bars. Tony's son Jim just recently discovered this oversight, and has worked diligently to get his father the recognition he deserves. Recently, Jim was able to present his father Tony with his 2nd Lieutenant bars in recognition of his correct status after his bravery in World War II. I, too, would like to recognize Anthony Bianco and thank him for his brave service to our country. Congratulations should go to both of these men, and a heartfelt thanks to both of them for serving our country.

Mrs. MURRAY

Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, in every part of our country, Americans are frustrated by the transportation problems we face every day. We sit in traffic on overcrowded roads. We wait through delays in congested airports. We have rural areas trapped in the past--without the roads and infrastructure they need to survive. We have many Americans who rely on a Coast Guard that doesn't have the resources to fully protect us. We have many families who live near oil and gas pipelines and who want us to ensure their safety. Our transportation problems frustrate us as individuals, and they frustrate our Nation's economy--slowing down our productivity and putting the brakes on our progress. It is time to help Americans on our highways, railways, airways, and waterways, and we can, by passing the Transportation appropriations bill. For months, Senator Shelby and I have worked in a bipartisan way-- with almost every Member of the Senate--to meet the transportation needs in all 50 States. You told us your priorities--and we found a way to accommodate them. We have come up with a balanced, bipartisan bill that will make our highways safer, our roads less crowded, and our country more productive. And now is our chance to put this progress to work for the people we represent. Our bill has broad support from both parties. It passed the subcommittee and the full committee unanimously. Now it is before the full Senate--ready for a vote--ready to go to work to help Americans who are fed up with traffic congestion and airport delays. Today, I hope the Senate will again vote to invoke cloture so we can begin working on the many solutions across the country that will improve our lives, our travel, and our productivity. This vote is about two things: fixing the transportation problems we face; and ensuring the safety of our transportation infrastructure. If you vote for cloture, you are voting to give your communities the resources they need to escape from crippling traffic and overcrowded roads. If you vote for cloture, you are saying that our highways must be safe--that trucks coming from Mexico must meet our safety standards--if they are going to share our roads. But if you vote against cloture, you are telling the people in your State that they will have to keep waiting in traffic and keep wasting time in congestion. And if you vote against cloture, you are voting against the safety standards in this bill. A ``no'' vote would open our borders to trucks that we know are unsafe--without the inspections and safety standards we deserve. This is not about partisanship or protectionism. It is about productivity and public safety. I want to highlight how this bill will improve highway travel, airline safety, pipeline safety, and Coast Guard protection. First and foremost, this bill will address the chronic traffic problems facing our communities. In fact, under this bill, every State will receive more highway construction funding than they would under either the President's request or the levels assumed in TEA-21. Our bill improves America's highways. Let's vote for cloture so we can begin sending that help to your State. Second, this bill will improve air transportation. It will make air travel more safe by providing funding to hire 221 more FAA inspectors. Let's vote for cloture so we can begin putting those new inspectors on the job for our safety. Third, our bill boosts funding for the Office of Pipeline Safety by more than $11 million above current levels. Let's vote for cloture so we can begin making America's pipelines safer before another tragedy claims more innocent lives. Fourth, this bill will give the Coast Guard the funding it needs to protect us and our environment. Let's vote for cloture so we can begin making our waterways safer. These examples show how this bill will help address the transportation problems we face. This vote is also about making sure our highways are safe--so I would like to turn to the issue of Mexican trucks. And I want to clear up a few things. Some Members have suggested that Senator Shelby and I have refused to negotiate on this bill. That is just not the case. As I have said several times here on the floor, we are here, we are ready, and we are listening. And we have also had extensive meetings bringing both sides together. Last week, our staffs met several nights until well after midnight. One day our staffs met from 2 o'clock in the afternoon until 3 a.m. in the morning. We have worked with all sides to move this bill forward. But I want to point something else out to those who say we must compromise, compromise, compromise. The Murray-Shelby bill itself is a compromise. It is a balanced, moderate compromise between the extreme positions taken by the administration and the House of Representatives. On one hand, we have the administration--which took a hands-off approach to let all Mexican trucks across our border--and then inspect them later--up to a year and half later. Even though we know these trucks are much less safe than American or Canadian trucks, the administration thinks it is fine for us to share the road with them wihtout any assurance of their safety. At the other extreme, was the ``strict protectionist'' position of the House of Representatives. It said that no Mexican trucks can cross the border, and that not one penny could be spent to inspect them. Those are two extreme positions. The administration said; Let all the trucks in without ensuring their safety. The House of Representatives said; Don't let any trucks in because they are not safe. Senator Shelby and I worked hard, and we found a balanced, bipartisan, commonsense compromise. We listened to the safety experts, to the Department of Transportation's inspector general, to the GAO and to the industry. And we came up with a compromise that will allow Mexican trucks onto our highways and will ensure that those trucks and their drivers are safe. With this balanced bill, free trade and highway safety can move forward side-by-side. This bill doesn't punish Mexico--and that is not our intention. Mexico is an important neighbor, ally, and friend. Mexican drivers are working hard to put food on their family's tables. We want them to be safe--both for their families and for ours. NAFTA was passed to strengthen our partnerships, and to raise the standards of living of all three countries. We are continuing to move toward that goal, and the bipartisan Murray-Shelby compromise will help us get there. Because right now, Mexican trucks are not as safe as they should be. According to the Department of Transportation inspector general, Mexican trucks are significantly less safe than American trucks. Last year, nearly two in five Mexican trucks failed their safety inspections. That compares with one in four American trucks and only one in seven Canadian trucks. Even today, Mexican trucks have been routinely violating the current restrictions that limit their travel to the 20-mile commercial zone. We have a responsibility to insure the safety of America's highways. The Murray-Shelby compromise allows us to promote safety without violating NAFTA. During this debate we have heard some Senators and White House aides say that they think ensuring the safety of Mexican trucks would violate NAFTA. I appreciate their opinions. But with all due respect, there is only one authority, only one official body, that decides what violates NAFTA and what doesn't. It's the arbitral panel established under the NAFTA treaty itself. That official panel said: The United States may not be required to treat applications from Mexican trucking firms in exactly the same manner as applications from United States or Canadian firms . . . U.S. authorities are responsible for the safe operations of trucks within U.S. territory, whether ownership is United States, Canadian, or Mexican. It is that simple. We can ensure the safety of Mexican trucks and comply with NAFTA--and this bill shows us how with commonsense safety measures. Under our bill, when you are driving on the highway behind a Mexican truck, you can feel safe. The administration's plan is far too weak. Under the administration's plan, trucking companies would mail in a form saying that they are safe and begin driving on our highways. No inspections for up to a year and a half. The administration is telling American families that the safety check is in the mail. I don't know about you, but I wouldn't bet my family's safety on it. I want an actual inspector looking at that truck, checking that driver's record, making sure that truck won't threaten me or my family. The White House says: Take the trucking company at its word that its trucks and drivers are safe. Senator Shelby and I say: Trust an American safety inspector to make sure that truck and driver will be safe on our roads. This is a solid compromise. It will allow robust trade while ensuring the safety of our highways. The people of America need help in the transportation challenges they face every day on crowded roads. This bill provides real help and funds the projects that members have been asking for. Some Senators would hold every transportation project in the country hostage until they have weakened the safety standards in the Murray-Shelby compromise. That is the wrong thing to do. Let's keep the safety standards in place so that when you're driving down the highway next to a truck with Mexican license plates you will know that truck is safe. Let's vote for safety by voting for cloture on this bill. So in closing, this vote is about two things: Helping Americans who are frustrated every day by transportation problems and ensuring the safety of our transportation infrastructure. Voting for cloture means we can begin making our roads less crowded, our airports less congested, our waterways safer, our railways better, and our highways safer. Those who vote for cloture are voting to begin making progress across the country and to ensure the safety of our highways. Those who vote against cloture are voting to keep our roads and airports crowded and to expose Americans to new dangers on our highways. The choice is simple, and I urge my colleagues to vote for cloture so we can begin putting this good, balanced bill to work for the people we represent.

Mrs. MURRAY

Mrs. MURRAY. I agree with the Senator from New York that FHWA should engage the state transportation departments to find some resolution that provides for a uniform national policy without, if possible, unnecessarily jeopardizing existing Adopt-A-Highway contracts. new starts transit program

Mrs. MURRAY. I will look to clarify this in the final language. section 315 (gp) and air traffic congestion in the chicago region

Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, the committee is aware of the Senator's strong interest in making sure that Indiana is a part of these important discussions, and the committee agrees that the Gary/Chicago Airport should be specifically included as part of federal deliberations concerning air traffic congestion in the Chicago region. san bernardino metrolink

Mrs. MURRAY. The Senator is correct, $33,331,000 is available for ALSIP.

Mrs. MURRAY. Metrolink has received appropriations in each of the past 2 fiscal years. A local match of 70 percent is already in place, representing a substantial local and state commitment to the project. I understand the Senator from California's concern over this project and I will continue to work with her to try to determine whether funding can be made available for this project.

Mrs. MURRAY. We are well aware of the importance of this project to the State of Maine and are pleased to provide support.

Mrs. MURRAY. I can assure you that I will keep your concerns in mind as we go to conference with the House.

Mrs. MURRAY. No, I agree with the Senator that the Department of Transportation would be free to cooperate.

Mrs. MURRAY. Senator Wyden has certainly been a leading and forceful voice for consumer protections in the airline industry. So I would be happy to hear his idea on this subject.

Mrs. MURRAY. I agree, the Department should give priority consideration to continuing the NTNAC project under the Transportation Planning, Research and Development Program.

Mrs. MURRAY. Yes, I agree that this ongoing effort could provide DOT an important tool to assess the consequences of transportation policies before they are implemented.

Mrs. MURRAY. Yes, I agree, the Department should give priority consideration to continuing of this important project.

Mrs. MURRAY. The Senator from New Mexico, is correct. The RoadLIFE program could be a valuable effort not only to New Mexico, but to all states that are interested in using innovative highway financing methods.

Mrs. MURRAY

Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on the Judiciary Subcommittee on Constitution, Federalism and Property Rights be authorized to meet to conduct a hearing on Wednesday, August 1, 2001, at 10 a.m., in Dirksen 226. Witness list on ``S. 989, the End Racial Profiling Act of 2001'': Panel I: Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, New York; Senator Jon S. Corzine, New Jersey; Representative John Conyers, Jr., Michigan; and Representative Chris Shays, Connecticut. Panel II: Mayor Dennis W. Archer, City of Detroit, President, The National League of Cities, Detroit, MI; Captain Ronald Davis, Oakland Police Department, National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives, Oakland, CA; Lorie Fridell, Ph.D., Director of Research, Police Executive Research Forum, Washington, DC; Chief Reuben M. Greenberg, Charleston Police Department, Charleston, SC; Professor David Harris, University of Toledo College of Law, Toledo, OH; Mrs. Raymond Kelly, former Commissioner, U.S. Customs Service, former Commissioner, New York City Police Department, New York, NY; and Mr. Steve Young, Vice President, Fraternal Order of Police, Washington, DC.

Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Subcommittee on Production and Price Competitiveness be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, August 1, 2001. The purpose of this hearing will be to consider the U.S. export market share.

Mrs. MURRAY

Mrs. MURRAY. Reserving the right to object, and I will not object, but if I could just have 2 minutes before we go to VA-HUD for some final cleanup on the Transportation bill?

Mrs. MURRAY

Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, I am very pleased that the Senate has now finally passed the Senate Transportation appropriations bill. It has been a long and arduous process, but we have done the right thing today. We have done the right thing for our constituents who have been sitting in traffic, for our constituents who are concerned about safety at our airports, for our constituents who daily travel in this country, who use our waterways and our highways and our air transportation system. We have moved this bill forward in a way that I think is very sound. We have tried to meet the needs, as I said, of all of the Senators, who I think have done a good job on this floor. But, most importantly, I am especially pleased that we have moved the Senate Transportation Appropriations bill out of the Senate without compromising one iota on the safety of our families on our highways in regard to the Mexican truck provision. I think that is absolutely the way to go. I commend my colleagues who stood with me on this issue as we have moved this bill through the Senate. I also take this opportunity to thank my staff: Peter Rogoff, Kate Hallahan, Denise Matthews, Cyndi Stowe, Angela Lee, and Dale Learn; as well as Senator Shelby's staff: Wally Burnett, Paul Doerrer, and Candice Rogers; and our Commerce Committee staff: Debbie Hersman. All of our staff members have spent countless hours in this Chamber, negotiating late into the night on many evenings over the past 10 days. I especially thank all of them for their tremendously good work and hard work and for being a part of getting this bill passed out today. Mr. President, I yield the floor.