Richard Shelby

Mr. SHELBY

Mr. SHELBY. Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. SHELBY. I move to lay that motion on the table. The motion to lay on the table was agreed to.

Mr. SHELBY. Mr. President, this amendment has been cleared on both sides of the aisle. I think it makes sense and will allow us to move forward with the bill.

Mr. SHELBY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that reading of the amendment be dispensed with.

Mr. SHELBY. Mr. President, I send an amendment to the desk and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. SHELBY. Mr. President, first of all, I thank the distinguished Senator from New Jersey for his kind remarks, because we do work together on a lot of issues, not only in the Appropriations Committee but also we both serve on the Intelligence Committee and spend a lot of time generally behind closed doors. He is an active member of that committee, too. Amendment No. 3324 (Purpose: An amendment on the part of the managers.)

Mr. SHELBY. Mr. President, in putting together the Fiscal Year 1999 Transportation Appropriations bill, we were faced with the difficulty of trying to adhere to the spending levels in the new highway and transit authorization bill and still provide adequate levels of funding for other transportation priorities. We have done that in this bill, and I think it represents a balanced approach to meeting our nation's transportation needs. I want to thank the Chairman of the Committee on Appropriations Senator Stevens, for all his assistance and advice as we put this bill together and moved it through sub and full committee consideration. We have also worked diligently with the senior Senator from New Jersey, Senator Lautenberg, the ranking minority member of the subcommittee on transportation appropriations, and with the distinguished ranking member of the Committee on Appropriations, Senator Byrd, to try to accommodate the requests of every Member of the Senate. No one got everything they asked for, but I think as Members look at the details of the bill, they will see that we did our best, with the limited resources we had, to accommodate everyone's request. I want to outline just a few highlights of the bill, if I may. The Airport Improvement Program is set at $2.1 billion for 1999, the highest level ever. This funding will expand the capacity of our Nation's airports, reduce delays and congestion, and, most importantly, it will improve aviation safety in America. As the demand for air travel increases, we must ensure that our airports are able to efficiently handle traffic that will come with it. Highway spending is also at the highest level in history--more than $27 billion. This funding will help States clear out their backlog of overdue highway construction and improvement projects. With more than 40,000 American lives lost each year on our Nation's highways, we must do everything to make them as safe as possible. Highway spending not only improves safety but also will provide good jobs for thousands of Americans. I believe we have adequately funded both the Coast Guard and the Federal Aviation Administration operations accounts, and we have provided increased flexibility for the Secretary to manage both operations accounts to meet air traffic control and drug interdiction demands. I am pleased that we were able to fully appropriate the authorized levels for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. That agency's funding in this bill represents an 8 percent increase over last year and will aid in their efforts to conduct airbag research, develop automatic crash avoidance technologies, and increase seatbelt use, and also reduce drunk driving on our highways. The Federal Transit Administration will receive $5.365 billion, an 11 percent increase from 1998. These funds will be used to build new light rail transit systems, replace dilapidated public buses, and construct intermodal facilities to speed the transfer of people from one transportation mode to another. Regarding Amtrak, the bill provides an additional $555 million on top of the $1.1 billion Amtrak will receive from the Taxpayer Relief Act that we passed last year. My concerns about the level of Federal subsidies for Amtrak are well known in this body. Since the railroad was created in 1971, Amtrak has received $21 billion in Federal support. That is an average of $750 million a year. Mr. President, that is a disproportionately high level of subsidy for a railroad that only serves 20 million intercity passengers every year. Mr. President, by way of comparison, 600 million Americans fly every year. This means that more people fly in a 2-week period than ride Amtrak over the course of the year. The bill before you this evening contains a provision requiring Amtrak to print the per-passenger subsidy on each Amtrak ticket sold. According to the GAO, Amtrak loses an average of $47 per passenger. I think the American people have a right to know how their tax dollars are being spent. Finally, Mr. President, let me comment on the Project Labor agreement provision. At full committee consideration of the transportation appropriations bill, the chairman requested that we postpone the debate on this provision until the floor. I believe that the chairman's position to postpone this debate until the floor made sense. And I know that he has been working to resolve this issue in a fashion that will allow the transportation appropriations bill to move expeditiously through the Senate. I will continue to work with the chairman and with Members on both sides of this issue to see if we can craft--and I believe we will be able to craft--a solution that is workable for everyone involved. The intent of the original language in the bill was to prohibit discrimination against any worker in this country simply because he or she chooses not to join a union. Mr. President, I am proud of what we have been able to accomplish in this bill. I believe it will benefit all Americans by improving transportation services in this country. I look forward to working with the members of the committee and the Members of the Senate to move this bill through the Senate. Mr. LAUTENBERG addressed the Chair.

Mr. SHELBY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the Senate now proceed to the consideration of S. 2307, the transportation appropriations bill.

Mr. SHELBY. Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. SHELBY

Mr. SHELBY. I yield to the distinguished Senator from Oklahoma.

Mr. SHELBY

Mr. SHELBY. Mr. President, on behalf of Senator Gregg, I send amendment No. 3278 to the desk. I ask unanimous consent it be so modified.

Mr. SHELBY

Mr. SHELBY. In light of this agreement, there will be no further votes tonight. The next vote is scheduled for 9:15 a.m. Friday morning. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes action on S. 2307, the fiscal year 1999 transportation appropriations bill, that the bill not be engrossed and be held at the desk. I further ask that when the Senate receives the House of Representatives companion measure, the Senate immediately proceed to its consideration; that all after the enacting clause be stricken and the text of S. 2307, as passed, be inserted in lieu thereof; that the House bill, as amended, be read for a third time and passed, the motion to reconsider the vote be laid upon the table, that the Senate insist on its amendments, request a conference with the House on the disagreeing votes of the two Houses thereon, and that the Chair be authorized to appoint conferees on the part of the Senate, and that the foregoing occur without any intervening action or debate.

Mr. SHELBY. I ask unanimous consent that the vote occur on passage at 9:15 a.m. on Friday, and that paragraph 4 of rule XXII be waived.

Mr. SHELBY. I further ask unanimous consent that when the Senate passes the House companion measure, as amended, the passage of S. 2307 be vitiated and the bill be indefinitely postponed.

Mr. SHELBY. Mr. President, I move to reconsider the vote by which the amendment was agreed to.

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

Mr. SHELBY

Mr. SHELBY. I further ask consent that following disposition of the transportation bill, the Senate proceed to the consideration of H.R. 1151, the credit union bill.

Mr. SHELBY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it stand in adjournment until 9:15 a.m. on Friday, July 24. I further ask that when the Senate reconvenes on Friday, immediately following the prayer, the routine requests through the morning hour be granted and the Senate immediately proceed to the vote on passage of the transportation appropriations bill as previously ordered.

Mr. SHELBY

Mr. SHELBY. Mr. President, if there is no further business to come before the Senate, I now ask the Senate stand in adjournment under the previous order.

Mr. SHELBY

Mr. SHELBY. For the information of all Senators, tomorrow, at 9:15 a.m., the Senate will vote on passage of the transportation appropriations bill. Following that vote, the Senate will begin consideration of the credit union legislation. The leader has announced that any votes ordered with respect to the credit union bill or any other legislative or executive items will be postponed, to occur on Monday, July 27, at a time to be determined by the two leaders.

Mr. SHELBY

Mr. SHELBY. Mr. President, on behalf of Senator Hollings, I ask unanimous consent that amendment No. 3294, previously agreed to, be modified with the language now at the desk.

Mr. SHELBY

Mr. SHELBY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that there now be a period for the transaction of routine morning business, with Senators permitted to speak for up to 10 minutes each.

Mr. SHELBY

Mr. SHELBY. Mr. President, I rise because I have concerns about efforts to ease or remove export restrictions on certain hardware and software encryption products. Export controls on encryption and on other products serve a clearly defined purpose--to protect our nation's security. The Intelligence Committee believes that the effects on U.S. national security must be the paramount concern when considering any proposed change to encryption export policy, and the Committee will seek referral of any legislation regarding encryption export policy under its jurisdiction established under Senate Resolution 400. With our on-going investigation into the possible technology transfers to China, the Vice Chairman and I are also concerned that any effort to change U.S. export policy on encryption be consistent with the export policy review included in our investigation. Export restrictions on encryption products assist the Intelligence Community in its signals intelligence mission. By collecting and analyzing signals intelligence, U.S. intelligence agencies seek to understand the policies, intentions, and plans of foreign state and nonstate actors. Signals intelligence plays an important role in the formation of American foreign and defense policy. It is also a significant factor in the U.S. efforts to protect its citizens and armed forces against terrorism, the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, narcotics trafficking, international crime and other threats to our nation's security. While the Committee recognizes the commercial interest in easing or removing export restrictions, it believes the safety of our citizens and armed forces should be the predominant concern when considering U.S. policy towards the export of any product. The Committee supports the continued control of encryption products, and believes that a comprehensive strategy on encryption export policy can be developed that addresses national security concerns as well as the promotion of American commercial interests abroad. I look forward to working with Senator Lott and others as legislation moves through the Senate.

Mr. SHELBY

Mr. SHELBY. Mr. President, today the Senator from Arkansas takes his final shot at terminating funding for the International Space Station. For the eighth consecutive year, he argues that America should abandon its commitment as the leader of this historic endeavor. The Space Station is real and well on its way to orbit. Last year, NASA employees and contractors at the Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama finished construction of Node 1, the first significant piece of flight hardware. Since then, the Pressurized Mating Adapters, Integrated Electrical Assembly, Z1 Truss, Long Spacer, FGB Control Module are being prepared for integration tests and launch. Those who do not believe that America should maintain its leadership in space exploration speak only of the expense of building man's next great adventure of the space age. While I also am concerned about cost overruns and Russian participation, it is reasonable to expect some unforeseen costs given the complexity of the station. The critics also fail to mention that past funding for the space station now exceeds proposed future investment. More than 50 percent of the costs have been paid, and more than 80 percent of the development will be complete by the end of the current fiscal year. It does not make sense to abort this mission at this time. It goes without saying that termination of the International Space Station will undermine the credibility of the United States with its international partners who have already invested nearly $10 billion. The other nations participating in the development of the space station reaffirmed their commitment by signing partner agreements in January 1998. At the same time, the U.S. has taken the lead in developing the space station and have made commitments to the international community to see it through. Leadership requires resolve and character. It is not in the American nature to break our promises and abandon our friends and partners, especially when we are on the verge of launching the first elements of the space station. Continued development of the space station is the right course for the United States to take. The history of mankind, and especially of Americans, is one of curiosity and exploration. The same pioneer spirit that led past generations to explore the frontiers has manifest itself in our present journey to space. The United States is the undisputed leader in space technology development, and it would be arbitrary and reckless for the Senate to reject our destiny of discovery through the space station. I ask my colleagues to join me in reaffirming our country's commitment to our future by opposing this shortsighted attempt to strip funding from the space station.

Mr. SHELBY

Mr. SHELBY. Mr. President, this Amendment will add a section to the Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1999 that will designate the headquarters building of the Central Intelligence Agency as the ``George Herbert Walker Bush Center for Central Intelligence.'' I believe that this is a fitting tribute to a man that has had a remarkable and distinguished career in public service not only as President, but also as Vice President, Member of Congress, U.N. Ambassador, the Chief of the U.S. Liaison Office to the Peoples' Republic of China, and Director of Central Intelligence. President Bush, of course, is the only Director of Central Intelligence to become President of the United States. I know that he has always been particularly proud of his tenure as the Director of Central Intelligence. I also know that he guided the Agency through a difficult time and continues to be held in high regard by not only CIA employees, but also the Intelligence Community at large. Currently, the headquarters building at Langley does not have a formal name and this would be the only facility in the Washington, D.C. area named after President Bush. This amendment has been cleared on both sides and I urge its immediate adoption.