Richard Shelby

Mr. SHELBY

Mr. SHELBY. Mr. President, I move to reconsider the vote by which the amendments were agreed to.

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

Mr. SHELBY. Kansas.

Mr. SHELBY. Will the distinguished Senator from Massachusetts yield for an inquiry as to a possible time agreement?

Mr. SHELBY. What about an hour equally divided?

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 President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. SHELBY

Mr. SHELBY. Mr. President, I would like to inquire of the Senator from Wisconsin how much time does he think he will debate this?

Mr. SHELBY. How about the Senator from Ohio?

Mr. SHELBY. Mr. President, I yield the floor.

Mr. SHELBY

Mr. SHELBY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Subcommittee on Personnel of the Committee on Armed Services be authorized to meet at 2 p.m. on Thursday, September 12, 1996, in open session, to receive testimony regarding the practices and procedures of the investigative services of the Department of Defense and the military departments concerning investigations into the deaths of military personnel which may have resulted from self-inflicted causes.

Mr. SHELBY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Subcommittee on Parks, Historic Preservation, and Recreation of the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources be granted permission to meet during the session of the Senate on Thursday, September 12, 1996, for purposes of conducting a subcommittee hearing which is scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m. The purpose of this hearing is to consider S. 1695, a bill to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to assess up to $2 per person visiting the Grand Canyon or other national parks to secure bonds for capital improvements to the park.

Mr. SHELBY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Subcommittee on East Asia/Pacific Affairs of the Committee on Foreign Relations to authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Thursday, September 12, 1996, at 10 a.m. (agenda attached).

Mr. SHELBY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent on behalf of the Governmental Affairs Committee to meet on Thursday, September 12, 1996, at 10 a.m., for a hearing on S. 1794, Congressional, Presidential, and Judiciary Pension Forfeiture Act.

Mr. SHELBY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Armed Services be authorized to met at 10 a.m. on Thursday, September 12, 1996, in open session, to receive testimony on the situation in Iraq.

Mr. SHELBY

Mr. SHELBY. Mr. President, it should be noted that the report accompanying the Treasury appropriations bill contains language directing the release of the solicitation for the Post-FTS2000 Program by the Government no earlier than May of 1997. I want to make clear that we do not seek to delay the transition to the Post-FTS2000 Program in delaying the release of the solicitation. As many of us know, the Telecommunications Act of 1996 was designed to open the entire telecommunications industry to competitive market forces. This landmark legislation will put local exchange carriers, cable companies and utilities in fierce competition in their respective markets. With proper implementation by the Federal Communications Commission [FCC] and State public service commission, the long-term impact of telecommunications reform undoubtedly will be new technology, better services, and new market entrants available to our citizens. By calling for a release date for the Post-FTS2000 solicitation in the Spring of 1997, we are manifesting our view that the Federal Government customers and American taxpayers will be best served if the Post-FTS2000 Program were designed to take advantage of the benefits of increased competition which is intended to result from the 1996 Telecommunications Act and which we believe most certainly will take place. Currently, the FCC and State public service commissions are in the process of implementing the act's provisions, and thus, it seems wasteful and premature for the Government to initiate the Post-FTS2000 enterprise sooner than next May. We owe it to our constituents to ensure the GSA pursues a Post- FTS2000 strategy that can guarantee the best quality service at a price that makes sense. However, as chairman of the subcommittee responsible for funding the GSA's activities, I have asked GSA a series of detailed questions that are intended to ensure that the Post-FTS2000 Program is the best possible strategy for meeting the Government's communications needs well into the next millennium. However, the GSA cannot address the issues I raised, and I do not believe GSA can begin its solutions with the original schedule of October, 1996. For instance, I envision some of the largest savings in the Post- FTS2000 contract from integrating local services acquisition as that market faces competition. Yet, the current reported scope of the Post-FTS2000 contract does not provide for local services competition, or a comparison of end-to-end service cost versus a piecemeal acquisition of telecommunication services. Instead, GSA seeks competition in only a few cities under a separate acquisition. This strategy fails to address the disparity between urban and rural government locations with respect to end-to-end communications and fails to bring the benefit of competition for all telecommunications services to the Federal Government. We also want to see a business plan and requirements that reflect the Telecommunications Act, as well as the Government's plan for addressing security and interoperability. I also point out, Mr. President, that I have consulted with my friend and colleague, Senator Stevens, the chairman of the Governmental Affairs Committee, which has oversight jurisdiction over this program, and he agrees with our approach. In addition, my friend and colleague, the ranking minority member, Senator Kerrey, is intimately aware and knowledgeable in this matter and also endorses the direction set forth today.

Mr. SHELBY. If the Senator from Florida will yield, we have a Member who is on his way who wants to look at this amendment, perhaps talk on it. Whether we can accept it might be premature right now. If the Senator will just withhold that request.

Mr. SHELBY. Mr. President, I would like to tell all the Members that have been conferring with the majority leader that he wants us to be out of here at 9 o'clock. There are a number of amendments. We have made a lot of progress. People have come over here. I know Senator McCain is ready to move. He has been detained somewhere else. In just a few minutes he will get moving. There are others who have been called to the floor. If we are not through at 9 o'clock--which is in 2 hours and 20 minutes--the majority leader has informed me and asked me to share with everybody that we will be in session tomorrow on this bill. Mr. KERREY addressed the Chair.

Mr. SHELBY. At this point we cannot.

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

Mr. SHELBY

Mr. SHELBY. Mr. President, on behalf of the leader, I have some information here. For the information of all Senators, this morning the Senate will immediately resume consideration of the Treasury-postal appropriations bill. There will be 15 minutes of debate time, followed by two consecutive rollcall votes starting at 9:45 a.m. The first vote will be on the Hatch amendment regarding the White House Travel Office, to be immediately followed by a vote on or in relation to the Reid amendment on the same subject. Following these votes, the Senate will consider the remaining amendments in order to the Treasury-postal appropriations bill, according to a unanimous-consent agreement reached last evening. It is hoped that the Senate can complete action on that bill by early afternoon. Following disposition of the Treasury-postal bill, the Senate is expected to turn to consideration of the Chemical Weapons Convention under the parameters of a previous consent agreement. It is possible that the Senate could complete action on that matter today, if debate time is yielded back. If the Senate cannot complete action on the Chemical Weapons Convention today, then votes on that matter can be expected to take place on Friday, before noon. There will be no votes after noon on Friday, in order that the religious holiday can be observed. I yield the floor.

Mr. SHELBY

Mr. SHELBY. As the Senator from Nebraska said, we made a lot of progress. We are getting down to what we hope is the beginning of the end tonight. If people who have some amendments pending come over here and try to work with us, we might work some of them out. If we cannot work them out, maybe they can offer them and keep the process moving. It is 10 minutes to 6 now. We could be out of here in a couple of hours, maybe less, if people would cooperate. I know the Senator from Nebraska has been pushing it all day, and so have I. This is our third day on this bill. I yield the floor and suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. SHELBY. Mr. President, I have several managers' amendments. I send two amendments to the desk which have been cleared on each side. I ask unanimous consent these amendments be considered and approved en bloc and that any statements be placed at the appropriate place in the Record.

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

Mr. SHELBY. The clerk will call the roll. 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.