Larry Pressler

Mr. PRESSLER

Mr. PRESSLER. Mr. President, I thank everybody involved. I thank the majority leader and minority leader. I have already thanked the staff. I am feeling like this Chamber was almost a funeral parlor this afternoon, we had so many good words said about everybody. I yield the floor.

Mr. PRESSLER

Mr. PRESSLER. Mr. President, today I am introducing legislation that authorizes construction of the Lewis and Clark Rural Water System. This system, when complete, will provide much needed, safe drinking water for hundreds of communities in southeastern South Dakota, northwestern Iowa, and southwestern Minnesota. Joining me in introducing this legislation are Senators Daschle, Grassley, Harkin, and Wellstone. Mr. President, this is the second year I have introduced legislation to authorize this water project. I am proud of the citizens of South Dakota who have worked extremely hard on this project. They are to be commended. Nothing is more important to the health of the South Dakota ranchers, farmers, and people living in towns and cities than the availability of safe drinking water. The bill I am introducing today will achieve that goal. Since first coming to Congress, I have continually fought for the development of South Dakota water projects. In return for the sacrifices South Dakota made for the construction of the dams and reservoirs along the Missouri River, the Federal Government made a commitment to South Dakota. That commitment was to support water development in my State. This water project, in part, helps to meet that commitment. In this day of fiscal austerity, only projects of the greatest public benefit can be brought forward. The Lewis and Clark Rural Water System is the only feasible means of ensuring that future supplies of good quality water will be available well into the next century. The Lewis and Clark Rural Water System will provide a supplemental supply of drinking water that is expected to serve over 180,500 people. Mr. President, water development is a health issue, economic development issue, and a rural development issue. The ability of rural America to survive and grow is intrinsically related to its ability to provide adequate supplies of safe drinking water. Without a reliable supply of water, these areas cannot attract new businesses and cannot create jobs. The creation of jobs is a paramount issue to a rural State such as South Dakota. The Lewis and Clark Rural Water System will help assure job growth in the areas to be served. It is extremely difficult for rural communities and residents to maintain a healthy standard of living if they do not have access to good quality drinking water. I urge my colleagues to take a close look at this legislation. We would greatly appreciate their support for it.

Mr. PRESSLER

Mr. PRESSLER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Armed Services be authorized to meet at 10 a.m. on Thursday, June 15, 1995, in open session, to receive testimony on the current situation and policy options in Bosnia.

Mr. PRESSLER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Labor and Human Resources be authorized to meet for a hearing on affirmative action in employment, during the session of the Senate on Thursday, June 15, 1995 at 2 p.m.

Mr. PRESSLER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Rules and Administration be permitted to meet on Thursday, June 15, 1995 for a hearing on the Election Commission's budget authorization request for fiscal year 1996.

Mr. PRESSLER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Subcommittee on Housing Opportunity and Community Development, of the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Thursday, June 15, 1995, to conduct a hearing on the administration's proposal to restore section 8 rents to market rates on multifamily properties insured by FHA.

Mr. PRESSLER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, Subcommittee on Production and Price Competitiveness be allowed to meet during the session of the Senate on Thursday, June 15, 1995 at 9 a.m., in SR-332, to discuss commodity policy.

Mr. PRESSLER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Subcommittee on Terrorism, Technology, and Government Information for the Committee on the Judiciary be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Thursday, June 15, 1995, at 9:30 a.m. to hold a hearing on the militia movement in the United States.

Mr. PRESSLER

Mr. PRESSLER. It should read ``payment of civil penalties, damages or interest,'' and then no civil penalties?

Mr. PRESSLER. Mr. President, I move to table the amendment, and I ask for the yeas and nays.

Mr. PRESSLER. We are prepared to endorse this, to accept this amendment. Let me say to our friends that our bill has been endorsed by the White House Conference on Small Business--by small businessmen across the country--and consumers are interested in this bill. I have predicted that consumer prices will drop dramatically for telephone calls and cable television, just as they dropped when we deregulated natural gas, just as they dropped when cellular phones were deregulated. In any event, we are prepared to accept this amendment. Mr. President, I urge the adoption of the Kerrey amendment.

Mr. PRESSLER. Mr. President, now the Senate is open for business. Do we have Senators who wish to offer amendments? I thank all Senators for their cooperation. Senator Kerrey has another one? Great. I have been waiting eagerly for his amendment.

Mr. PRESSLER. If my friend would be willing, perhaps he can begin to state them now and if he were in the proper mood, then when an amendment came to the floor we could set the speech aside and hear the amendment?

Mr. PRESSLER. ``Damages or interest, no civil penalties;'' and then does ``damages or interest'' occur again? We have damages and interest written again.

Mr. PRESSLER. Even the modification, I cannot tell----

Mr. PRESSLER. I think we need a clean copy.

Mr. PRESSLER. I think the bill is moving very nicely. But we do have a number of amendments filed, I think particularly in certain areas. We are eager for Senators to bring their amendments. I do not see any Senator on the floor. We are open for business and are going to try to stack votes at 2 o'clock, now. Any Senator having an amendment, please bring it. Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.

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

Mr. PRESSLER. Mr. President, if I may ask the author of the amendment a couple of questions about the amendment, as I understand it, ``Pricing flexibility implemented pursuant to this section shall be for the purpose of allowing a regulated telecommunications provider to respond fairly to competition by repricing services subject to competition but shall not have the effect of shifting revenues from competitive services to non-competitive services.'' Why would the Senator want to prevent a company from shifting from competitive services to noncompetitive? First of all, what does the Senator mean?

Mr. PRESSLER. What does the Senator consider competitive services to be?

Mr. PRESSLER. What would be an example of a problem with a company shifting revenues from competitive services to noncompetitive services? Give me an example.

Mr. PRESSLER. I do not think we have an objection to the basic idea. Are damages and interest different from civil penalties?

Mr. PRESSLER. Is the Senator taking ``civil penalties'' out and putting ``damages or interest'' in?

Mr. PRESSLER. Let me say, generally speaking, I agree with the thrust of the amendment. But if we could get a clean copy of the amendment, this is a very confusing, the way it is written. It is confusing to me at least.

Mr. PRESSLER

Mr. PRESSLER. I move to lay that motion on the table. Amendments Nos. 1284, as modified, and 1282, as modified, en bloc (Purpose: To require audits to ensure that the Bell operating companies meet the separate subsidiary requirements and safeguards) (Purpose: To recognize the National Education Technology Funding Corporation as a nonprofit corporation operating under the laws of the District of Columbia, to provide authority for Federal departments and agencies to provide assistance to such corporation, and for other purposes)