Arlen Specter

Mr. SPECTER

Mr. SPECTER. The Labor/HHS/Education Subcommittee made a particular effort within the constraints of this bill to increase funding for the consolidated health centers account. The Subcommittee strongly supports the provision of comprehensive health services to persons without health insurance through these important providers. I am pleased that we were able to increase funding for these critical services, and I encourage HHS to consider the proposal from the Indian-Chicano Health Center.

Mr. SPECTER. There certainly is a need for additional leaders in public service. I appreciate the opportunity to learn about the work at the University of Washington and will take a close look at this worthwhile project during the conference with the House.

Mr. SPECTER. Mr. President, that's right. Dr. Fischbach testified that he sincerely believes that we are close to solving Parkinson's. The scientific research community believes that it is realistic to think that we will conquer Parkinson's in 5 to 10 years. Dr. William Langston, President of the Parkinson's Institute told the Subcommittee at the hearing that we have an historic opportunity with Parkinson's because the research is at a point where a focused, adequately funded effort will produce a cure. He also testified that once we understand and unravel Parkinson's, we will have answers to many other neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Lou Gehrig's disease.

Mr. SPECTER. The Senators have correctly described the Committee's intent. These savings would be realized as a result of a change in direction by HCFA for a managed care related project, and is not at all related to fee- for-service Medicare. I understand the Senators' concerns and want to assure them Medicare contractor services will not be harmed. These savings of $30 million for HCFA's managed care project will not result in any related funding cut to the Medicare contractor budget. I understand the issues both Senators are raising and the importance of adequately funding the Medicare contractor program. Let me assure my colleagues that the savings reflected in this bill will not hamper Medicare contractors' ability to fulfill their responsibilities as Medicare administrators. parkinson's research

Mr. SPECTER. Mr. President, as I said at the hearing, I think the scientific community can find a cure in even less time, as few as 2 to 4 years, if they have the resources. With the overall $2 billion increase in NIH funding provided in this bill, those institutes will have sufficient funds to provide the increases to Parkinson's focused research.

Mr. SPECTER. I thank my distinguished colleague for his kind remarks and for his strong statement in support of the Youth Leadership Initiative. The Youth Leadership Initiative is certainly an innovative program designed to enhance public participation in our democracy. I share the goal of enhancing participation in our democracy, and I recognize that this is a priority for the senior senator from Virginia. As we conference with the House, I will keep in mind that this project helps us achieve our mutual goal of increasing voter participation in our democracy.

Mr. SPECTER. It was my intent to include enough funding in this bill to continue grants that have been awarded if at all possible. I believe the amount recommended by the Senate will provide the means to do so. While I do not know what the conference committee's final recommendation will be for Star Schools, it is my desire that there be enough dollars allocated to fund ongoing grants as planned.

Mr. SPECTER. I understand the Finance Committee will be working on a Medicare BBA repair bill and will review this amendment for possible inclusion in any such legislation and I believe he will give you such assurance directly.

Mr. SPECTER. I thank my colleague from New Mexico for raising this important public health matter. Prevention is a high priority for our subcommittee as we have invested significant amounts of resources in bolstering the agencies of the U.S. Public Health Service. The amount the Senator suggests is reasonable for a demonstration project and I concur that the Maternal Child Health Bureau of the Health Resources and Services Administration is an appropriate agency to conduct a quality demonstration program.

Mr. SPECTER. Yes, that is correct. The Office of the Director currently funds the Pediatric Research Initiative at NIH, and we are encouraging the Director to expand extramural pediatric research. Mr. DeWine. The Committee Report also currently states that the Committee also encourages the Institute to provide additional support for institutional and individual research training grants for medical schools' departments of pediatrics. It is my sense that the Report should state that the Committee encourages the NICHD to provide additional support for institutional and individual research training grants for medical schools' departments of pediatrics. Is that correct?

Mr. SPECTER. Yes, my colleague is correct. The NICHD supports such pediatric research training grants, and the Committee is encouraging NICHD to expand its support for such pediatric research training grants. I will work to ensure that the Conference Report for this bill accurately reflects these clarifications, which my colleague from Ohio and I have just discussed.

Mr. SPECTER. Yes it is. My friend from Massachusetts has identified a critically important need and this activity is intended to be an integral function of these centers of excellence.

Mr. SPECTER. I am aware of this report and also am very concerned about gender based differences in digestive diseases.

Mr. SPECTER. Mr. President. I concur with Senator Cleland's concerns and share in his support of the CDC and its vital role in research and public safety. The Senate Labor/HHS/Education Appropriations Subcommittee had one of its most challenging years developing the FY 2000 budget. The Subcommittee recommended a total of $60 million for CDC, $40 million in regular line item building and facilities construction and an additional $20 million in emergency funding. This represents a significant portion of the funding needed by the CDC.

Mr. SPECTER. The Senator is correct. I would hope that the FY 2001 Administration budget will appropriately address CDC's need for facilities expansion and renovation.

Mr. SPECTER. I recognize that funding for vocational education has not kept up with inflation or with funding for other education programs. I will work with Chairman Stevens, Senator Dorgan, Senator DeWine, and Senator Harkin to try to obtain additional funding for vocational education. The University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey's Child Health Institute

Mr. SPECTER. 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 its efforts toward enhancing its research and service capacity. In conference, we will keep in mind its request as well as those with similar meritorious characteristics and goals.

Mr. SPECTER. I understand the importance of the MIP program to the integrity of the Medicare Trust Fund, and I will work to ensure that MIP is funded at the Senate recommended level of $630 million. Prevention and Treatment of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and Fetal Alcohol Effects

Mr. SPECTER. Mr. President, I have worked closely with my colleagues to find creative ways to address FAS and FAE at the federal level while drafting the Fiscal Year 2000 Labor, Health and Human Services and Education Appropriations bill. I agree that it is critical to continue that effort during the conference with members from the House of Representatives in order to further improve the federal commitment to individuals with FAS and FAE and their families.

Mr. SPECTER

Mr. SPECTER. While the Senator from Minnesota and the Senator from Nevada are taking a look at it, Mr. President, this would be a good time for me to say that we hope that anyone who wishes to offer amendments will come to the floor promptly so that we can inventory the amendments and try to establish time agreements. We are going to have to move very expeditiously without quorum calls if we do have any realistic chance of finishing the bill today.

Mr. SPECTER. Mr. President, on behalf of the leader, I have been asked to announce that we will proceed now to the consideration of the bill on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education. The pending amendment is one offered by the distinguished Senator from Michigan, Mr. Abraham. We are culling the list, and we have it now in reasonable shape so that I do believe that if we are able to have a couple of very contentious amendments not acted upon and proceed promptly, we can complete action on this bill today. The leader has asked me to announce that following completion of the Labor-HHS appropriations bill, it is the intention of the leader to consider the Agriculture appropriations conference report, and the Senate may also consider any other conference reports available for action. When we move beyond Senator Abraham's amendment, the next amendment to be offered is by Senator Bingaman. It is hoped that we could get reasonably short time agreements. I would ask if we may proceed now, as we had on so many matters yesterday, with a 30-minute time agreement equally divided on this pending amendment.

Mr. SPECTER

Mr. SPECTER. Mr. President, I thank the Chair. I compliment the distinguished leader of the prayer, and I compliment the President pro tempore. I will be glad to yield to my distinguished colleague from North Carolina.

Mr. SPECTER

Mr. SPECTER. Mr. President, for the information of all Senators, it is not anticipated that this side of the aisle will use very much time. So Senators should be prepared to vote perhaps even in advance of 5 o'clock.

Mr. SPECTER

Mr. SPECTER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, be allowed to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, October 6, 1999. The purpose of this meeting will be to discuss the science of biotechnology and its potential applications to agriculture.

Mr. SPECTER

Mr. SPECTER. We are going to stack them later in the afternoon, but not in advance of 4:15, which was the point raised by Senator Kennedy.