Pat Roberts

Mr. ROBERTS

Mr. ROBERTS. On behalf of the majority of the committee, I object.

Mr. ROBERTS

Mr. ROBERTS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that a congressional fellow, an outstanding pilot in the U.S. Air Force, Maj. Scott Kindsvater, be allowed privileges of the floor.

Mr. ROBERTS

Mr. ROBERTS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Subcommittee on Water and Power of the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, April 12 at 2:30 p.m. to conduct an oversight hearing. The subcommittee will receive testimony on federal actions affecting hydropower operations on the Columbia River system.

Mr. ROBERTS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Rules and Administration be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, April 2, 2000, at 9:30 a.m., to receive testimony on compelled political speech.

Mr. ROBERTS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Subcommittee on European Affairs of the Committee on Foreign Relations be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, April 12, 2000 at 10:00 a.m. to hold a hearing.

Mr. ROBERTS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Subcommittee on International Economic Policy, Export and Trade Promotion of the Committee on Foreign Relations be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, April 12, 2000 at 2:00 p.m. to hold a hearing.

Mr. ROBERTS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Subcommittee on Securities of the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, April 12, 2000, to conduct a hearing on ``Multi-State Insurance Agent Licensing Reforms and the Creation of the National Association of Registered Agents and Brokers.''

Mr. ROBERTS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation be authorized to meet on Wednesday, April 12, 2000, at 9:30 a.m. on S. 2255--Internet Tax Freedom Act. The Presiding Officer. Without objection, it is so ordered. committee on governmental affairs

Mr. ROBERTS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on governmental Affairs be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, April 12, 2000 at 10:00 a.m. for a hearing regarding Wassenaar Arrangement and the Future of Multilateral Export Controls. The Presiding Officer. Without objection, it is so ordered. committee on health, education, labor, and pensions

Mr. ROBERTS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions be authorized to meet in executive session during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, April 12, 2000, at 11:00 a.m. The Presiding Officer. Without objection, it is so ordered.

Mr. ROBERTS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on the Judiciary be authorized to meet to conduct a markup on Wednesday, April 12, 2000, at 3:30 p.m. The markup will take place off the floor in The President's Room. The Presiding Officer. Without objection, it is so ordered. subcommittee on administrative oversight and the courts

Mr. ROBERTS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Subcommittee on Administrative Oversight and the Courts be authorized to meet to conduct a hearing on Wednesday, April 12, 2000, at 9:30 a.m., in Hart 216.

Mr. ROBERTS

Mr. ROBERTS. Mr. President, I will soon yield to the Senator from Texas. She has been a champion on behalf of our men and women in uniform. She is a former member of the Armed Services Committee, now a very valued and influential member of the Appropriations Committee. These are the folks who have the obligation and responsibility to pay for a military that I believe today is stressed, strained, and somewhat hollow, unfortunately. I think Senator Hutchison, probably more than any other Senator, has been very diligent expressing concern and alerting the Senate and the Congress and the American people as to our commitments abroad, what is in our vital national security interests, and the problems we have talked about regarding an overcommitment. The Senator has come to me on repeated occasions when proposing amendments. Sometimes she has withdrawn them, and other times she has proceeded but always prompting a debate on the Senate floor where there literally has been none in regard to our military policy and when we commit the use of force. She has pointed out, I think in excellent fashion, the paradox of the enormous irony that we have in Bosnia where we are supporting a partitioned kind of society among three ethnic groups, or nationalities; whereas, just to the south, in Kosovo, our goal is to somehow promote a multiethnic society where the divisions are at least equal to that in Bosnia. Senator Hutchison not only comes to the floor and expresses her opinion, but her opinion is based on facts and on actually being present in the area with which we are concerned. She has been a repeat visitor to Bosnia, Kosovo, and every troubled spot I can imagine, including Brussels and Russia. She does more than talk to officials. Senator Hutchison, when she goes on a co-del, not only talks to the briefing folks, but she actually goes out to the people involved and talks about their daily lives, their individual freedoms, their pocketbooks. She talks to these folks individually and gives us a healthy dose of common sense and reality when she is reporting on it. We are glad to welcome her to this debate. I yield the Senator 15 minutes.

Mr. ROBERTS. Senator Cleland and I thank the distinguished Senator from Texas for her contribution.

Mr. ROBERTS. Parliamentary inquiry: I believe I have 1 hour reserved in morning business and that the distinguished Senator from Georgia has 1 hour; is that correct?

Mr. ROBERTS. I inform my colleagues that Senator Hutchison of Texas and Senator Hagel will be taking part, and I think perhaps Senator Kerrey will be coming to the floor. Senator Hagel will be arriving in about 9 minutes. If my distinguished colleague wants to summarize any other comments or perhaps go over the Commission on America's National Interests, I think now is the time to do so, if he is prepared to do that.

Mr. ROBERTS. First, again, I thank my good friend, the distinguished Senator from Georgia, for this continued initiative and his leadership in what we think is a bipartisan foreign policy dialog. I hope it is successful. We said back in February during our first discussion that our objective was to try to achieve greater attention, focus, and mutual understanding--not to mention a healthy dose of responsibility--in this body in regard to our global role. I repeat again, in chapter 10 of the Senator's book that he has provided to every Senator, with a marvelous introduction by our Chaplain, the Senator stated that success is a team effort, that coming together is a beginning, keeping together is progress, and working together is success. That is a pretty good motto for our efforts today, as well as a recipe for our foreign policy goals. I am very privileged to yield 15 minutes to the distinguished Senator from Nebraska, Mr. Hagel. He is a recognized expert in the field of international affairs, and more especially, a strong backer of free trade. I seek his advice and counsel often on the very matters that we are talking about. I am delighted he has joined us. I yield 15 minutes to the distinguished Senator and my friend.

Mr. ROBERTS. Mr. President, I thank the distinguished Senator for his very valuable contribution and for taking part. How much time does the Senator from Texas need? We have approximately 25 minutes still remaining under morning business.

Mr. ROBERTS

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

Mr. ROBERTS. Mr. President, it is my understanding that Senator Cleland and I have 2 hours reserved under the previous order in morning business. Is that correct?

Mr. ROBERTS

Mr. ROBERTS. Mr. President, I understand H.R. 1838 is at the desk, and I ask for its first reading.

Mr. ROBERTS. Mr. President, I now ask for its second reading, and I object to my own request.

Mr. ROBERTS. I yield the floor.

Mr. ROBERTS

Mr. ROBERTS. A major purpose of this bill is to make crop insurance more available to our Nation's farmers. I understand the importance of the provision you cite to farmers in your State and will work hard to see that is retained.

Mr. ROBERTS. I agree that Maine appears to be an excellent candidate for such a pilot program. I thank the Senator for bringing this important matter to our attention.