Arlen Specter

Mr. SPECTER

Mr. SPECTER. I thank the Senator. I appreciate the Senator's sensitivity to changing authorizing language in this bill. I also share his concerns about the needs of individuals with disabilities in underserved areas, and I will address this issue as we proceed through the appropriations process.

Mr. SPECTER. I thank the Senator from New York for his effort on this issue and will do my best to resolve this situation in conference.

Mr. SPECTER. I appreciate the Senator bringing this to my attention, and am willing to hear the solution the Senator from Utah proposes.

Mr. SPECTER. I understand the concerns raised by the distinguished Senator from New Mexico in ensuring the Department of Labor properly funds the projects specified by this Committee. I would concur with my colleague from New Mexico in the importance of funding the program to train workers for the State's rapidly growing technology-based call center industry. In the event there are unobligated funds left over at the end of the Department's current program year, I would also urge the Secretary of Labor to consider allocating funding for the training program in New Mexico.

Mr. SPECTER. As you know, this is a very difficult year for appropriators. The budget caps are very tight, and this bill contains many valuable programs. I recognize and appreciate that the House- passed Labor-HHS bill provides $1.1 billion in FY2002 advance LIHEAP funding. I have been a strong supporter of the LIHEAP program, and will work in conference to attempt to include the House provision for advance LIHEAP funding in the final appropriation bill.

Mr. SPECTER. Mr. President, I will also work to see that language is included in the conference report encouraging the Department of Education to urge schools to adopt a least toxic pesticide policy and to provide the information and support necessary to do so.

Mr. SPECTER. That is correct.

Mr. SPECTER. I thank my colleague for his comments. We have received numerous requests for funding of health facilities. In the past, we have faced difficult choices in making a determination of funding priorities and this year promises to be no exception. We are aware of the request by the Child Health Institute and commend their efforts toward enhancing its research and service capacity. In Conference, we will keep in mind your request as well as those with similar meritorious characteristics and goals. antimicrobial resistance

Mr. SPECTER. I'd be happy to join my colleague from New Jersey in a colloquy.

Mr. SPECTER. I thank the Senator from New Mexico and the Senator from Nevada for highlighting this matter. Yes, the field of human factors research clearly is a field that can make an important contribution toward reducing medical errors. I am also aware that the National Academy of Sciences has developed an expertise in this field and I would urge the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality to call on the expertise of the National Academy of Sciences as it addresses the medical errors issue.

Mr. SPECTER. I would be pleased to look at this matter between now and the time of Conference.

Mr. SPECTER. I agree with my colleague and thank him for brining it to the attention of the Senate.

Mr. SPECTER. Ocular Albinism is one of the many diseases being researched by the NIH. This is why I have been pressing for a doubling of funding for NIH and have included a $2.7 billion increase in funding in this bill.

Mr. SPECTER. I would be happy to answer questions on this issue.

Mr. SPECTER. I will be pleased to yield to the Senator from Florida for a question.

Mr. SPECTER

Mr. SPECTER. Mr. President, on behalf of the majority leader, I have been asked to announce, as manager of the bill, that the Senate will immediately resume consideration of H.R. 4577, the Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education appropriations bill. Under the previous order, there are several votes remaining on amendments to the bill, including the Wellstone amendment regarding drug pricing, the Helms amendment regarding school facilities, the Harkin amendment regarding IDEA, and any amendment that is not cleared within the managers' package, and disposition of the point of order, along with a vote on final passage of the Labor-HHS appropriations bill, and possibly a vote on the adoption of the conference report to accompany the military construction appropriations bill. The leader has asked that I pass on his message to urge Senators to remain in the Chamber during votes in order to expedite the conclusion of the proceedings.

Mr. SPECTER

Mr. SPECTER. Did my colleague say 5 for Senator Dorgan?

Mr. SPECTER. The unanimous consent agreement provides that each amendment, the Conrad amendment and the Ashcroft amendment, be considered as amendments in the first degree; that the Conrad amendment be voted on first, that there be no points of order raised, that Senator Conrad will have 30 minutes, and Senator Ashcroft 20 minutes, and the time of the votes will be determined later in the day by agreement of the leaders.

Mr. SPECTER

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

Mr. SPECTER. Mr. President, I move to reconsider the vote. I move to lay that motion on the table. The motion to lay on the table was agreed to.

Mr. SPECTER. Mr. President, on behalf of the leader, I am announcing that there will be no further votes this evening after these two votes. I will shortly ask unanimous consent that the debate and votes in relation to the following remaining amendments be postponed to occur in a stacked sequence beginning at 9:15 a.m. on tomorrow, Friday, with 2 minutes prior to each vote for explanation. Also in the request is a consent that no second-degree amendments be in order to the amendments prior to the votes just outlined.

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

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

Mr. SPECTER. I make that addition.

Mr. SPECTER

Mr. SPECTER. Twenty minutes is requested.