Arlen Specter

Mr. SPECTER

Mr. SPECTER. Mr. President, I thank the Senator from North Dakota for his comments about what Senator Harkin and I are trying to do--and, really, it is the whole committee and the full Senate. We will, I think, accomplish what he is looking for--the $100 million--in the final analysis. I think the old saying that you don't want to see either sausage or legislation made may have some merit. I think when we deal with our national health, we are dealing with ``prime rib.'' We will make some tasty morsels here for the benefit of America, I think. Mr. President, in the absence of any other Senator in the Chamber, I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. SPECTER. Mr. President, I believe the amendment offered by the distinguished Senator from North Dakota is a meritorious amendment on institutional development within the National Institutes of Health. We have a figure of $60 million there as part of $2.7 billion. The subcommittee and the full committee have been very--aggressive, is the right word--to increase NIH funding. We did it at $2.7 billion in this bill. We had $2.2 billion last year, $2 billion the year before, a billion before that. I agree totally with the thrust of what the Senator wants to accomplish. When we sit down with the House in conference, there is always a lot of give-and-take with a bill that is at $104.5 billion. It would be my intention to do what we can to reach the figure of $100 million, which is what the Senator wants, because I think that is the right figure. What I suggest is that the Senator give Senator Harkin and me and the other conferees the flexibility to negotiate. There is a lot of give- and-take. For those watching on C-SPAN, the process is, after we pass our bill, we go to a conference with the House, which has passed a bill. Then we sit down with long sheets and go over all the points and try to reach a compromise. To have that flexibility would be helpful. I know there are a number of programs the Senator from North Dakota would like to stay at the Senate figure, as opposed to the House figure which may be lower. If we could reach that accommodation, I believe we would obtain the objectives which the Senator from North Dakota wants, to give the conferees that flexibility to assert the Senate position on other matters.

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 President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. SPECTER

Mr. SPECTER. Mr. President, the Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education bill before the Senate today contains a program level of $104.5 billion, an increase of $7.9 billion or 8.2 percent over the fiscal year 2000 program level. This program level was achieved by savings in the following areas: The temporary assistance to needy families, supplemental security income, and the State children's health insurance programs. Further, savings were also achieved by advance funding an additional $2.3 billion of education dollars into fiscal year 2002, while keeping the same overall level of advances as last year. The actual budget authority in the bill is $97.35 billion, the full amount of the subcommittee's allocation under section 302(b) of the Budget Act. Given the subcommittee's allocation there were inadequate resources to sufficiently fund important health, education and training programs. Therefore savings needed to be found in order to expand these high priority discretionary programs. For example, savings were achieved by shifting $1.9 billion in unspent fiscal year 1998 State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) funds into fiscal year 2003. Currently 38 States and the District of Columbia have not spent their SCHIP funds which are due to expire on September 30, 2000. By reappropriating funds, these 38 States and the District of Columbia will have an opportunity to spend these dollars in future years. The recommendations made in the bill both keeps faith with the budget agreement and addresses the health, education, employment and training priorities of the Senate. While consistent with the budget agreement, many tough choices had to be made. Senator Harkin and I received over 1,800 requests from Members for expanded funding for programs within the subcommittee's jurisdiction. In order to stay within the allocation and balance the priorities established in the budget agreement and expressed in Member requests, we had to take a critical look at all of the programs within the bill. I want to take this opportunity to thank the distinguished Senator from Iowa, Mr. Harkin, for his hard work and support in bringing this bill through the committee and on to the floor for full consideration by all Senators. The programs funded within the subcommittee's jurisdiction provide resources to improve the public health and strengthen biomedical research, assure a quality education for America's children, and offer opportunities for individuals seeking to improve job skills. I'd like to mention several important accomplishments of this bill. Nothing is more important than a persons health and few things are feared more than ill health. Medical research into understanding, preventing, and treating the disorders that afflict men and women in our society is the best means we have for protecting our health and combating disease. Since January of 2000, the Labor-HHS Subcommittee has held nine hearings on medical research issues. We have heard testimony from NIH Institute Directors, medical experts from across the United States, patients, family members, and advocates asking for increased biomedical research funding to find the causes and cures for diseases Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease, ALS, AIDS, cancer, diabetes, heart disease, and many other serious health disorders. We have also heard from advocates on both sides of the stem cell debate. The bill before the Senate contains $20.5 billion for the National Institutes of Health, the crown jewel of the Federal government. The $2.7 billion increase over the fiscal year 2000 appropriation will support medical research that is being conducted at institutions throughout the country. This increase will continue the effort to double NIH by fiscal year 2003. These funds will be critical in catalyzing scientific discoveries that will lead to new treatments and cures for a whole host of diseases. Head Start: To enable all children to develop and function at their highest potential, the bill includes $6.2 billion for the Head Start program, an increase of $1 billion over last year's appropriation. This increase will provide services to an additional 60,000 children bringing the total amount of kids served in fiscal year 2001 to 936,000. This increase will put us on track to enroll one million children in Head Start by the year 2002. Community health centers: To help provide primary health care services to the medically indigent and underserved populations in rural and urban areas, the bill contains $1.1 billion for community health centers. This amount represents an increase of $100 million over the fiscal year 2000 appropriation. These centers will provide health care to nearly 11 million low-income patients, 4.5 million of whom are uninsured. Youth Violence Initiative: The bill includes $1.2 billion for programs to assist communities in preventing youth violence. This initiative, begun in fiscal year 2000, will continue to address youth violence in a comprehensive way by coordinating programs throughout the Federal government to improve research, prevention, education and treatment strategies to identify and combat youth violence. Drug demand initiative: To curb the effects of drug abuse, the bill includes $3.7 billion for programs to help reduce the demand for drugs in this country. Funds have been increased for drug education in this Nation's schools; youth offender drug counseling, education and employment programs; and substance abuse research and prevention. Women's health: Again this year, the committee has placed a very high priority on women's health. The bill before the Senate provides $4.1 billion for programs specifically addressing the health needs of women. Included in this amount is $27.4 million for the Public Health Service, Office of Women's Health, an increase of $6.1 million over last year's funding level to continue and expand programs to develop model health care services for women, provide monies for a comprehensive review of the impact of heart disease on women, and to launch an osteoporosis public education campaign aimed at teenagers. Also included is $253.9 million for family planning programs; $169 million to support the programs that provide assistance to women who have been victims of abuse and to initiate and expand domestic violence prevention programs to begin; $149.9 million for sexually transmitted diseases; $177.5 million for breast and cervical cancer screening; and $2.7 billion for research directed at women at the National Institutes of Health. Medical error reduction: The Labor-HHS Subcommittee held several hearings to explore the factors leading to medical errors and received testimony from family members and patients detailing their experiences with medical mistakes. The Institute of Medicine also gave testimony and outlined findings from their recent report which indicated that 98,000 deaths occur each year because of medical errors. The bill before the Senate contains $50 million to determine ways to reduce medical errors and also recommends that guidelines be developed to collect data related to patient safety, best practices to reduce error rates and ways to improve provider training. LIHEAP: The bill maintains $1.1 billion for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). The bill also provides an additional $300 million in emergency appropriations. LIHEAP is a key program for low income families in Pennsylvania and cold weather states throughout the nation. Funding supports grants to states to deliver critical assistance to low income households to help meet higher energy costs. Aging programs; For programs serving the elderly, the bill before the Senate recommends $2.4 billion, an increase of $133 million over the fiscal year 2000 appropriation. Included is: $440.2 million for the community service employment program which provides part-time employment opportunities for low-income elderly; $325.1 million for supportive services and senior centers; $521.4 million for congregate and home-delivered nutrition services; and $187.3 million for the National Senior Volunteer Corps. Also, the bill provides increased funds for research into the causes and cures of Alzheimer's disease and other aging related disorders; funds to continue geriatric education centers; and the Medicare insurance counseling program. AIDS: The bill includes $2.5 billion for AIDS research, prevention and services. Included in this amount is $1.6 billion for Ryan White programs, an increase of $55.4 million; $762.1 million for AIDS prevention programs at the Centers for Disease Control; $60 million for global and minority AIDS activities within the Public Health and Social Services Funds; and $85 million for benefit payments authorized by the Ricky Ray Hemophilia Trust Fund Act. Education: To enhance this Nation's investment in education, the bill before the Senate contains $40.2 billion in discretionary education funds, an increase of $4.6 billion over last year's funding level, and $100 million more than the President's budget request. Education for disadvantaged children: For programs to educate disadvantaged children, the bill recommends $8.9 billion, an increase of $177.8 million over last year's level. These funds will provide services to approximately 13 million school children. The bill also includes $185 million for the Even Start program, an increase of $35 million over the 2000 appropriation. Even Start provides education services to low-income children and their families. Title VI block grant: For the Innovative education program strategies State grant program, the bill contains $3.1 billion, an increase of $2.7 billion over fiscal year 2000. Within this amount, $2.7 billion is to be used to assist local educational agencies, as part of their locally developed strategies, to improve academic achievement of students. Funds may be used to address the shortage of highly qualified teachers, reduce class size, particularly in the early grades, or for renovation and construction of school facilities. How the funds shall be spent is at the sole discretion of the local educational agency. Impact aid: For impact aid programs, the bill includes $1.030 billion, an increase of $123.5 million over the 2000 appropriation. Included in the recommendation is: $50 million for payments for children with disabilities; $818 million for basic support payments, an increase of $80.8 million; $82 million for heavily impacted districts; $25 million for construction and $47 million for payments for Federal property. Bilingual education: The bill provides $443 million to assist in the education of immigrant and limited-English proficient students. This recommendation is an increase of $37 million over the 2000 appropriation and will provide instructional services to approximately 1.3 million children. Special education: One of the largest increases recommended in this bill is the $1.3 billion for special education programs. The $7.1 billion provided will help local educational agencies meet the requirement that all children with disabilities have access to a free, appropriate public education, and all infants and toddlers with disabilities have access to early intervention services. These funds will serve an estimated 6.4 million children age 3-21, at a cost of $984 per child. While also supporting 580,500 preschoolers at a cost of $672 per child. TRIO: To improve post-secondary education opportunities for low- income first-generation college students, the committee recommendation provides $736.5 million for the TRIO program, a $91.5 million increase over the 2000 appropriation. These additional funds will assist in more intensive outreach and support services for low income youth. Student aid: For student aid programs, the bill provides $10.6 billion, an increase of $1.3 billion over last year's amount. Pell grants, the cornerstone of student financial aid, have been increased by $350 for a maximum grant of $3,650. The supplemental educational opportunity grants program has also been increased by $70 million, the work study program was increased by $77 million and the Perkins loans programs is increased by $30 million. 21st Century Community Learning Centers: For the 21st Century After School program, the bill provides $600 million, an increase of $146.6 million over last year's level. This program supports rural and inner- city public elementary and secondary schools that provide extended learning opportunities and offer recreational, health, and other social services programs. The bill also includes language to permit funds to be provided to community-based organizations. Job training: In this Nation, we know all too well that unemployment wastes valuable human talent and potential, and ultimately weakens our economy. The bill before us today provides $5.4 billion for job training programs, $16.7 million over the 2000 level. Also included is $652.4 million, an increase of $19.2 million for Job Corps operations; $950 million for Adult training; and $1.6 billion for retraining dislocated workers. Also includes is $20 million for a new program to upgrade worker skills. These funds will help improve job skills and readjustment services for disadvantaged youth and adults. Workplace safety: The bill provides $1.3 billion for worker protection programs, an increase of $90 million above the 2000 appropriation. While progress has been made in this area, there are still far too many work-related injuries and illnesses. The funds provided will continue the programs that inspect business and industry, assist employers in weeding out occupational hazards and protect workers' pay and pensions. There are many other notable accomplishments in this bill, but for the sake of time, I mentioned just several of the key highlights, so that the Nation may grasp the scope and importance of this bill. In closing, Mr. President, I again want to thank Senator Harkin and his staff and the other Senators on the subcommittee for their cooperation in a very tough budget year.

Mr. SPECTER. Mr. President, I compliment our distinguished colleague from Missouri for offering this amendment and for his steadfast support over the years. I compliment my distinguished colleague, Senator Bond, for his continued support for community health centers. This has been a matter he has taken a special interest in and he has organized enormous support, with a letter having 67 signatories, 58 cosponsors, and reflecting a very broad consensus as to the importance of this program. The program would add in the current fiscal year $1.187 billion for community health centers. The Appropriations Committee has increased funding by $100 million over fiscal year 2000. Senator Bond now wants an additional $50 million, with an offset from administrative expenses pro rata among the three Departments. We are prepared to accept Senator Bond's amendment. This is always a matter of finding enough money and adjusting the priorities. There is no one among the 100 Senators who knows that better than Senator Bond, because he chairs the Appropriations Subcommittee on VA, HUD, and Independent Agencies. I think his subcommittee and this subcommittee have the toughest job in funding matters. But we agree there ought to be more money in community health centers to serve people in both rural and urban areas who are disadvantaged and do not have access to primary health care. There is nothing more important than health, so we are going to accept the amendment. When we come to conference, we may have to modify the offset as to the administrative cost, but we will do our very best to maintain the funding in this important item. One other comment. I commented yesterday that the President had issued a veto threat after the subcommittee reported out a bill, and Senator Harkin had some words for the President, which I thought came better from the ranking member in the same party as the President. I made the point yesterday--and I think it is worth repeating today-- about the priorities established by Members of Congress. We have contacts that the President does not have. There are 535 of us who fan out across America. Most of the Senators have fanned out already today, going back to their States to assess local needs. The Constitution gives the Senate the authority for appropriations. Bills have to be signed by the President. But what Senator Bond has done is a good illustration of getting a broad consensus. That makes an impact upon the subcommittee when we look at our priorities. If 67 Senators sign a letter and 58 sign on as cosponsors, you wonder what happened to the other 9 in the interim. That is a very strong showing, and we intend to make that point when we do our best to honor the full $150 million increase and as we move down to have an assessment of our priorities versus the President's priorities. Speaking for the majority, we are prepared to accept the amendment.

Mr. SPECTER

Mr. SPECTER. Mr. President, on behalf of the distinguished majority leader, Senator Lott, I have been asked to announce that we will proceed with further consideration of the appropriations bill for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education. We have an amendment to be presented in a moment or two by the distinguished Senator from Missouri, Mr. Bond. We urge all Senators who have amendments to come to the floor to offer those amendments. Any rollcall votes will be considered sometime early next week under the schedule announced by the majority leader. We are trying to move ahead with this bill. There are quite a few Senators who have stated their intention to offer amendments. Staff and I have canvassed a good many of the Members in an effort to have them come to the floor to take up their amendments. That would help in the disposition of this bill. We are going to be in session until at least close to noon today. We do know that in the early stages of bills, there is time for discussion, for debate, and later the time becomes very crowded, time is limited, and Senators may be allotted only a few minutes under time agreements. So now is the time to come to take up the issues. The majority leader has also asked me to announce that the Senate may turn to the Department of Defense authorization bill on Monday.

Mr. SPECTER

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

Mr. SPECTER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that all after the enacting clause be stricken, and the text of the S. 2553, as reported by the Senate Appropriations Committee, be inserted in lieu thereof, the bill as amended be considered as original text for the purpose of further amendment, and no points of order be waived by virtue of this agreement.

Mr. SPECTER. Mr. President, the amendment has been offered dealing with ergonomics, and it is not an unexpected amendment. This has been a contentious issue on this bill for many years. We have had the matter before. I have conferred with Senator Harkin, and there is no doubt we ought to proceed with the debate and let people have their say and let us see how the debate progresses.

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

Mr. SPECTER. Mr. President, I am pleased to make the opening statement on the pending appropriations bill for the Departments of Labor, Health, Human Services and Education. The subcommittee, which the distinguished Senator from Iowa and I work on, has the responsibility for funding these three very important and major departments. We have come forward with a bill which has program level funding of $104.5 billion. While that seems like a lot of money--and is a lot of money--by the time you handle the priorities for the nation's health, by the time you handle the priorities for the nation's education--and the Federal Government is a relatively minor participant, 7 percent to 8 percent, but an important participant--and by the time you take care of the Department of Labor and very important items on worker safety, it is tough to find adequate funding. We have structured this bill in collaboration with requests from virtually all Members of the Senate who have had something to say about what the funding priorities should be based on their extensive experience across the 50 States of the United States. We have come forward on the Department of Education with a funding budget in excess of $40 billion, more than $4.6 billion more than last year, and some $100 million over the President's request. We have established the priorities which the Congress sees fit. We have increased the maximum Pell grants. We have increased special education by $1.3 billion, trying to do a share of the Federal Government on that important item. We have increased grants for the disadvantaged by almost $400 million. We have moved on the Department of Health and Human Services for a total budget of over $44 billion, which is an increase of almost $2.5 billion over last year. We have increased Head Start by some $1 billion, so it is now in excess of $6 billion. We have structured a new drug demand reduction initiative, taking the very substantial funds which are available within our subcommittee, and redirecting $3.7 billion to try to deal with the demand reduction issue. It is my view that demand reduction is the long-range answer--that and rehabilitation--to the drug problem in America. We may be spending in excess of $1 billion soon in aid to Colombia, and it is my view that there is an imbalance in the $18 billion which we now spend, with two- thirds--about $12 billion--going to so-called supply interdiction and fighting street crime. They are important. As district attorney of Philadelphia, my office was very active in fighting street crime against drug dealers. In the long run, unless we are able to reduce demand for drugs in the United States, suppliers from Latin America will find a way to grow drugs, and sellers on America's street corners will find ways to distribute it, which is why we have made this initiative to try to come to grips with the demand side. Last year, we structured a program to deal with youth violence prevention. We have increased the funding by some $280 million so that now it is being directed in a coordinated way against youth violence, and some substantial progress has been made in the almost intervening year since this program was initiated. A very substantial increase in funding has been provided in this bill for the National Institutes of Health. I would suggest that of all the items for program level funding in this $104.5 billion bill, the funding for the National Institutes of Health may well be the most important. I frequently say that the NIH is the crown jewel of the Federal Government, and add to that, in fact, it may be the only jewel of the Federal Government. Senator Harkin and I, in conjunction with Congressman Porter and Congressman Obey on the House side, have taken the lead on NIH. Four years ago, we added almost $1 billion; 3 years ago we added $2 billion; last year we added $2.3 billion, which was cut slightly in across-the-board cuts to about $2.2 billion; and this year we are adding $2.7 billion. There have been phenomenal achievements by NIH in a broad variety of maladies. There is nothing more important than health. Without health, none of us can function. It is so obvious and so fundamental. These maladies strike virtually all Americans. I will enumerate the diseases which NIH is combating and making enormous progress: Alzheimer's disease, AIDS, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, Parkinson's disease, spinal cord injury, cancers--leukemia, breast, prostate, pancreatic, lung, ovarian--heart disease, stroke, asthma, multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, autism, osteoporosis, hepatitis C, arthritis, cystic fibrosis, diabetes, kidney disease, and mental health. I daresay that there is not a family in America not touched directly by one of these ailments. For a country which has a gross national product of $8 trillion and a Federal budget of $1.85 trillion, this is not too much money to be spending on NIH. We are striving to fulfill the commitment that the Senate made to double NIH funding in the course of 5 years. We are doing a lot. We are not quite meeting that target, but we are determined to succeed at it. This bill also includes $11.6 billion for the Department of Labor, an increase for Job Corps, an increase for youth offenders, trying to deal with juvenile offenders to stop them from becoming recidivous. There is no doubt if one takes a functional illiterate without a trade or skill and releases that functional illiterate without a skill from prison, that illiterate, unable to cope in society, is likely to return to a life of crime. Focusing on youthful offenders, we think, is very important. We have met the President's figures on occupational safety and health, NLRB, mine safety, and for a specific problem we have topped the President's figure slightly by $2.5 million, seeing the ravages of black lung and mine safety-related programs that I have personally observed both in Pennsylvania's anthracite region in the northeastern part of my State and the bituminous area in the western part of my State. I was dismayed when the subcommittee came forward with its budget to have the President immediately articulate a veto message. I note my distinguished colleague from Iowa nodding in the affirmative. He did a little more during the Appropriations Committee markup and not in the affirmative. I left it to my colleague to have a comment or two about the President of his own party. I learned a long time ago, after coming to the Senate, that we have to cross party lines if we want to get anything done in this town. I am pleased and proud to say Senator Harkin and I have established a working partnership. When he chaired this subcommittee, I was the ranking member. I like it better when I chair and he is the ranking member. He spoke up in very forceful terms criticizing the President, the President's men, and the President's women for coming forward with that veto statement when we have strained to put together this total bill of $104.5 billion, and it has been tough going to get the allocations from the Appropriations Committee. I thank Senator Stevens, the chairman, and Senator Byrd, the ranking member, for coming up with this money. When the President asked for $1.3 billion for construction and $1.4 billion for additional teachers and class size, we put that money in the budget. We did add, however, that if the local boards make a determination, factually based, that the money is better used in some other line, the local school boards can spend the money in that line, giving priority to what the President has asked for, but recognizing that cookie cutters do not apply to all school districts in America. We have structured some different priorities in this bill. The last time I read the Constitution, it was Congress who had the principal authority on appropriations. It is true the President must sign the bill, but to issue a veto threat after the subcommittee reports out a bill, before the full committee acts on it, before the full Senate acts on it, before there is a conference seems to me to be untoward. Regrettably, in the past, this bill has not been finished until after the end of the fiscal year, so we have been unable to engage in a discussion with the President and a discussion with the American people about what are the priorities established by Congress. I emphasize that this is a bill which receives input from virtually all Members. We have hundreds of letters which pour into this subcommittee which we consider, and the same is true on the House side. This is no small matter as to who may be assessing the priorities for America. For the President to say his priorities are the only ones to be considered seems to me untoward. That is as noncritical a word as I can fashion at the moment. I thank the majority leader, Senator Lott, for scheduling this bill early. We intend to conference this bill promptly with the House and have a bill ready for final passage in July--hopefully in early July--and then let us see the President's reaction. We are prepared to take to the American people the basic concept that if school districts do not need additional buildings, they ought to be able to use their share of the $1.3 billion for something else. If some school districts do not have a problem with the number of teachers they have, they ought to be able to use their share of the $1.4 billion for something else. This is a very brief statement of a very complicated bill. At the outset, I thank my colleague, Senator Harkin, for his diligence and his close cooperation in bringing the bill to the floor.

Mr. SPECTER

Mr. SPECTER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that floor privileges be granted to Mark Laisch, Jon Retzlaff, Lisa Bernhardt, and Cathy Wilson during the consideration of the Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations bill.

Mr. SPECTER

Mr. SPECTER. Mr. President, before making opening announcements on behalf of the leader, I yield to my distinguished colleague from Pennsylvania, Senator Santorum. Then I will have a few comments about the Reverend after Senator Santorum concludes.

Mr. SPECTER

Mr. SPECTER. That is correct. I certainly encourage AID to release the full funding as designated in the committee's report.

Mr. SPECTER. That is correct. It is the intention of the committee to support these two prestigious institutions in building upon the very important Temple University Masters of Law Program in Beijing, which is the first and only foreign law degree-granting program in China. After reviewing the case of Yongyi Song, a librarian at Dickinson College in Pennsylvania who was released in January after being held under dubious charges in China, I believe the U.S. Congress should support programs that advance the rule of law in China. At a time when the People's Republic of China is seeking permanent most-favored-nation status and seeking entry into the World Trade Organization, it is my hope that the government of the PRC will respect basic norms for due process such as an open public trial and the right to confer with counsel. International Rule of Programs such as the Temple University/NYU Program are important means to build understanding and respect for these basic norms in the Chinese legal community.

Mr. SPECTER. I am pleased to yield to my friend the Senator from New York.

Mr. SPECTER

Mr. SPECTER. Mr. President, before proceeding to the bill, I compliment my colleagues, the Senator from Tennessee and the Senator from Delaware, for their comments this morning, calling attention to the major international problems on nuclear proliferation. This body will soon be voting on legislation to have permanent normal trade relations with China. As noted by the Senator from Tennessee, the People's Republic of China happens to be a major violator in proliferating nuclear weapons. They sent the M-11 missiles to Pakistan, which have been the basis for the nuclear arms confrontation between India and Pakistan. They have helped to proliferate weapons in Iran and North Korea. It is my view that the best way to restrain the People's Republic of China from posing an enormous international threat is to continue to give them permanent trade relations on an annual basis. I have discussed this many times with my distinguished colleague from Tennessee. I hope he will join me in ultimately opposing normal trade relations as the best leverage to try to keep the people's Republic of China in line. We have seen, again and again, problems that the executive branch cannot be, candidly, relied upon, with waivers being granted. Separation of powers has been established. The Senate is here and the House is here in order to see that there is another view about what is happening with China. The most effective leverage is to have an annual checkup on them, and to have the normal trade relations as the leverage, which would be very, very important. I urge my colleague from Tennessee and others to consider that when that vote comes up. There is more involved in that issue than just the money; the future of civilization may be on the line if we do not contain the People's Republic of China from proliferating weapons of mass destruction.

Mr. SPECTER

Mr. SPECTER. Mr. President, today the Senate will be in a period of morning business until approximately 10 a.m., with Senators Akaka and Lott in control of the time. Following morning business, the Senate will begin consideration of H.R. 4577, the Labor-Health Human Services appropriations bill. Amendments are expected to be offered and debated during this morning's session. At 1:20 p.m. today, the Senate will resume consideration of the foreign operations appropriations bill to debate final amendments. Votes will begin at 2 p.m. on the remaining amendments and on final passage of foreign operations and on any votes ordered in relation to the Labor appropriations bill. Further votes are expected throughout this evening's session. I thank my colleagues for their cooperation.

Mr. SPECTER

Mr. SPECTER. Mr. President, I join my distinguished colleague, Senator Santorum, in words of praise for Rev. Gus Roman. As a fellow Philadelphian, I have had an opportunity to watch his work. He has an outstanding record and an outstanding reputation. It was very nice of him to come to Washington and lead the Senate in the opening prayer. When Senator Santorum makes comments about the work of Reverend Sullivan, that has been acclaimed nationally and internationally. I had my first opportunity to work with Reverend Sullivan many years ago when he took a deserted police station in north Philadelphia and turned it into the Opportunities Industrialization Corps, providing job training. It is worthy to note that Reverend Sullivan is in town today. There is an African American summit dinner tonight at the ballroom of the Washington Hilton--not to give too many advertisements in conjunction with the prayer. Reverend Sullivan's work, as Reverend Roman's work, is very distinguished and a great contribution to America.

Mr. SPECTER

Mr. SPECTER. We are prepared to begin our deliberations, but if the Senator from Delaware wants some time, I will defer to him.

Mr. SPECTER

Mr. SPECTER. Mr. President, I have an amendment which has been cleared on both sides. I send the amendment to the desk and ask for its immediate consideration.

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

Mr. SPECTER. Mr. President, the essence of this amendment is that up to $1 million shall be made available to the Secretary of Defense on behalf of the U.S. Coast Guard, the U.S. Customs Service, and other bodies to work with the appropriate authorities of the Cuban Government to provide for greater cooperation, coordination, and other mutual assistance in the interdiction of illegal drugs being transported over Cuban airspace and waters, provided that such assistance may be provided after the President determines and certifies to Congress that Cuba has appropriate procedures in place to protect against innocent loss of life in the air and that there is no evidence of the involvement of the Government of Cuba in drug trafficking. The Government of Cuba has been prepared for some time to provide further assistance to the United States through the use of their airspace and coastal waters on drug interdiction. In June of 1999, I had occasion to visit Cuba and I had a long meeting with their President, Fidel Castro. We covered a wide variety of subjects. One of them was the issue of drug interdiction. I believe this is a measure which our officials in all branches of the Federal Government favor to try to cut down on the flow of drugs. There is, obviously, a sharp disagreement as to what our policy should be toward Cuba with respect to the embargo. But whatever anybody may think about those subjects, it is my view that there is no doubt that we ought to take up the availability of assistance from Cuba on drug interdiction. That is what this amendment will do. There is a real issue about U.S. policy toward Cuba. I voted against the Dodd amendment, which would create a commission to make recommendations on that policy, because I think that the issue of policy really ought to be decided by the next President of the United States in conjunction with the Congress. The times have certainly changed, so that Castro no longer presents a threat to export communism to Latin America. I believe that the consideration of change in policy really ought not to be entrusted to a commission at the present time, which would report after January 20 of next year, when the issue really is for the President of the United States--whoever may be elected. I supported the Gorton amendment, which would strike the funds for Colombia, although I knew at the time that the funding for Colombia would pass by a large number. I have visited Colombia on a number of occasions over the past decade. I am very much in favor of assisting Colombia in restoring law and order to that nation, to try to avoid the destabilizing effect of the drug cartels. But I do not believe that it is appropriate to spend hundreds of millions of dollars--almost a billion dollars in the Senate appropriations and $1.4 billion in the House. I believe there is currently an imbalance in the $18 billion a year spent on drugs, with about two-thirds of that--or $12 billion-- going to the so-called supply side, and some $6 billion going to the so-called demand side. My view is that we would be doing better to spend money on rehabilitation and education to try to eliminate the demand for drugs. I was an original sponsor of legislation many years ago to bring in the military on interdiction, and I think that it is a good policy. But no matter how strong our interdiction is, drugs will come into the United States as long as there is a demand for drugs. My experience as district attorney of Philadelphia shows that a great deal can be done to prosecute drug dealers and street crime and move up the chain to drug kingpins. But, again, as long as there is a demand for drugs, there will be a supply. So it is my view that the wiser course of action is to spend more money on education and rehabilitation through the drug courts, which are now part of the crime bill of 1994. It is because of my view that funds are better spent on rehabilitation and education and the demand side that I supported the Wellstone amendment. I thank my many colleagues who have worked with me to clear this amendment. As with most Senators, I would like to have a rollcall vote. We are trying to bring this matter to a conclusion. Tomorrow, we are going to start on the appropriations bill of Labor, Health, Human Services, and Education, which comes from the subcommittee I chair. So I appreciate the acceptance of this amendment.

Mr. SPECTER. Mr. President, I move to reconsider the vote.

Mr. SPECTER

Mr. SPECTER. Mr. President, I support the amendment which will give jurisdiction to the Federal Government over hate crimes. Ordinarily, I support jurisdiction for the district attorney. Senator Hatch points out the National District Attorneys Association has taken on a position. I was a long-term member of that association as district attorney of Philadelphia. The fact is, prosecutors are county officials of the State system. There are great pressures against prosecutions where there is a matter of sexual orientation, or where there may be a matter of race, or where there may be a matter of religion or other hate-related crimes. That is why I believe this is a unique field where the Federal Government ought to be involved. Ordinarily, it should be up to the local prosecutor. That is a principle to which I subscribe. But here it ought to be a matter for the Federal Government.