Arlen Specter

Mr. SPECTER

Mr. SPECTER. Amendment No. 2269, the Lautenberg amendment, provides for a prohibition for the use of funds for abstinence education information that has proved medically inaccurate. Again, it has been cleared on both sides of the aisle.

Mr. SPECTER. Mr. President, I call up the Sununu amendment numbered 2214, as modified.

Mr. SPECTER

Mr. SPECTER. Mr. President, this amendment provides for an additional $75 million from the AIDS Drug Assistance Program. The bill currently contains $797,521,000. It has an increase of $10 million over last year. As is the case with so many of the items, it is a very good program. We would like to have more money, but we simply do not have an offset. If the sponsors of the amendment have some offset and want to talk about priorities, we will be glad to listen, but on this state of the record, we are constrained to oppose the amendment.

Mr. SPECTER. Mr. President, I now call up amendment No. 2262, as modified, proposed by Senator Bingaman.

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 President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. SPECTER. Mr. President, I now call up amendment No. 2250, as modified, proposed by Senator Landrieu.

Mr. SPECTER. Mr. President, I now call up amendment No. 2276, as modified, proposed by Senator Domenici.

Mr. SPECTER. Mr. President, I commend the Senator from California for offering this amendment on afterschool funding. I agree with her about the importance of the program. It is a line of community support which I have recognized for several decades since I was district attorney for Philadelphia, since I saw firsthand the high incidence of crime committed during the hours between the time students leave school and the time they see their parents. Senator Harkin and I have been very solicitous about this program and have made very substantial increases going back to 1998 when we added $39 million; in 1999, we added $160 million; in 2000, we added $253 million; in 2001, we added $392 million; in 2002, we added $154 million. We took a program which was funded at $40 million in 1998 and we brought it right up to the billion dollar mark. It is a tremendous program. One of the grave difficulties of managing this bill is to oppose so many amendments which are good. We had to oppose Senator Byrd's $5 billion for title II, Senator Kennedy's addition to Pell grants, Senator Dodd on daycare, Senator Clinton on special education, and so it goes. If you want to amass a terrible voting record, be chairman of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services and Education. It is a great place to do it. I wish we had more of an allocation. I know how sincere the Senator from California is about this program. I very much regret being constrained to oppose it.

Mr. SPECTER. Mr. President, I call up Senator Enzi's amendment No. 2295, as modified.

Mr. SPECTER. Mr. President, I now call up amendment No. 2327, proposed by the distinguished Senator from Minnesota, Mr. Coleman, and the distinguished Senator from New Mexico, Mr. Bingaman, and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. SPECTER. We have an amendment by the Senator from California, Mrs. Boxer, who is on the floor and ready to go with her amendment. My suggestion would be--we have culled the list, we have called everyone, we know of no other rollcall votes--that we move to third reading when we conclude the Boxer amendment. We have had continuous requests, multiple requests. Senators want to know when we are going to conclude. We are very close to concluding. Let us, if it is agreeable to my ranking member, take up the Boxer amendment, and then have an interlude for anybody else who has an amendment. Then we will go to third reading and final passage. As previously announced, Senator Boxer is next. Then we have the amendment of the Senator from Nevada, Mr. Ensign. We will have two back-to-back rollcall votes on Senator Boxer's amendment and Senator Ensign's amendment. Then we will be in a position to have some additional voice votes on about half a dozen amendments. Then we are in a position to go to final passage. Our colleagues can be informed that we are moving right along. That should conclude the bill.

Mr. SPECTER. I do.

Mr. SPECTER. Mr. President, I make a point of order under section 302(f) of the Congressional Budget Act that the amendment provides spending in excess of the subcommittee's 302(b) allocation under the fiscal year 2005 concurrent resolution on the budget.

Mr. SPECTER. We will keep a sharp eye on this program in conference. If there is any way to increase the funding to any extent, Senator Harkin and I will be very sympathetic.

Mr. SPECTER. Mr. President, I now call up amendment No. 2299, proposed by Senator Cochran, and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. SPECTER. Mr. President, I now call up Senator Feingold's amendment No. 2279, as modified.

Mr. SPECTER. Mr. President, I now call up amendment No. 2301, proposed by Senator Obama, and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. SPECTER. I move to reconsider the vote.

Mr. SPECTER

Mr. SPECTER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Subcommittee on Forestry, Conservation, and Rural Revitalization be authorized to conduct a hearing during the session of the Senate on Thursday, October 27, 2005, at 10 a.m. in room 328A, Senate Russell Office Building. The purpose of this subcommittee hearing will be to conduct oversight of the Forest and Rangeland Research Program of the USDA Forest Service.

Mr. SPECTER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Subcommittee on Trade be authorized to meet during the session on Thursday, October 27, 2005, at 2 p.m., to hear testimony on ``The Status of World Trade Organization Negotiations.''

Mr. SPECTER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Thursday, October 27 at 10 a.m. The purpose of this hearing is to receive testimony from the administration on hurricane recovery efforts related to energy and to discuss energy policy.

Mr. SPECTER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on October 27, 2005, at 10 a.m., to conduct a hearing on ``Issues Regarding the Sending of Remittances and the Role of Financial Institutions.''

Mr. SPECTER

Mr. SPECTER. Mr. President, I have sought recognition to introduce, along with Senators Biden and Brownback, the Second Chance Act of 2005: Community Safety through Recidivism Prevention. This legislation is designed to reduce recidivism among adult and juvenile ex-offenders. Never before in our history have so many individuals been released from prison and never before in our history have so many ex-offenders been is prepared to reenter their communities. Each year, more than 650,000 individuals are released, which roughly equates to about 1,700 individuals returning communities each day. This number is expected to grow in the near future as more inmates complete their prison terms. For most offenders, the transition back into their communities is difficult because many lack the necessary skill to ensure a successful reentry. Many suffer from serious substance abuse addictions and mental health issues. Many have difficulty securing a job or adequate housing and often find themselves lured back to a life of crime. A study conducted by the Bureau of Justice Statistics reported that over two- thirds of released prisoners were rearrested within three years and one-half of those rearrested were convicted and re-incarcerated. This high rate of recidivism devastates our towns and communities and puts an enormous strain on state and local budgets. The Second Chance Act reauthorizes the Adult and Juvenile Offender Reentry Demonstration projects, authorizing the Attorney General to make grants to States and local governments to establish offender reentry projects, with an enhanced focus on job training, housing, substance abuse and mental health treatment, and working with children and families. It also creates a new grant program available to nonprofit organizations for the purpose of providing mentoring and other transitional services essential to reintegrating ex-offenders. The Second Chance Act encourages new community partnerships to help educate, train, and employ these individuals who might otherwise return to a life of crime. Many ex-offenders are often stigmatized by their incarceration, and must face the reality that many employers are reluctant to hire them. A National Adult Literacy Study determined that a majority of prisoners are either illiterate or have marginal reading, writing, and math skills. Following the repeal of Pell Grant eligibility for incarcerated individuals, I worked to create the Grants to States for Workplace and Community Transition Training for Incarcerated Youth Offenders program. This program is aimed at providing post-secondary education, employment counseling, and workplace and community transition training for incarcerated youth offenders while in prison, which continue for up to one year after the individual is released. The current program limits expenditures per youth offender to $1,500 for tuition and books, and only allows an additional $300 for other related services. The Second Chance Act builds upon my earlier efforts by increasing State's flexibility and accountability within the grant program. It removes the cap and raises the allowable expenditure permitted for each youth offender to the maximum level of Pell Grants. One of the keys to preventing recidivism is access to education an in recognizing the impact that education an job training can have on incarcerated offenders. It is my sincere hope that this legislation will encourage incarcerated individuals to achieve their independence and to gain the necessary skills to become productive members of society. Another crisis that well face is the growing populations of prisoners who are parents. More than half of those currently incarcerated are parents of minor children. Female incarceration rates are increasing faster than those men, totaling 7 percent of the prison population. Of those incarcerated, 80 percent are mothers with, on average two dependent children. What is most troubling is that two-thirds of their children are younger the the age of 10. The incarceration of a parent can have a tremendous impact on childhood development. Prison presents a unique opportunity to improve a prisoner's ability to become a better part once they are released. Unfortunately, many of our prisons do not employ such programs, due to fiscal constraints as well as a shift in priorities. The Second Chance Act of 2005 encourages the creating of programs that facilitate visitation, if it is in the best interest of the child. It also directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish services to help preserve family units, with special attention paid to the impact on the child of an incarcerated parent. There is ample evident that well-designed reentry programs reduce recidivism. Programs such as aftercare for substance abusers and adult vocational education have shown to reduce recidivism up to 15 percent. These programs pay for themselves by reducing future correction costs associated with re-housing these individuals upon their return back into the institution. The revolving door of prisons not only hurts those who are caught up in the process, but hurts their families and our communities. If we fail to address this problem, 1e are burdening our communities not only with greater expenditures, but in the risk of increased crime and unsafe neighborhoods. The more we can do to prepare these individuals when they return home, the better off we will all be. I urge my colleagues to join me in cosponsoring this legislation, and urge its swift adoption.

Mr. SPECTER

Mr. SPECTER. Mr. President, I have sought recognition to introduce, along with Senators Biden and Brownback, the Second Chance Act of 2005: Community Safety through Recidivism Prevention. This legislation is designed to reduce recidivism among adult and juvenile ex-offenders. Never before in our history have so many individuals been released from prison and never before in our history have so many ex-offenders been is prepared to reenter their communities. Each year, more than 650,000 individuals are released, which roughly equates to about 1,700 individuals returning communities each day. This number is expected to grow in the near future as more inmates complete their prison terms. For most offenders, the transition back into their communities is difficult because many lack the necessary skill to ensure a successful reentry. Many suffer from serious substance abuse addictions and mental health issues. Many have difficulty securing a job or adequate housing and often find themselves lured back to a life of crime. A study conducted by the Bureau of Justice Statistics reported that over two- thirds of released prisoners were rearrested within three years and one-half of those rearrested were convicted and re-incarcerated. This high rate of recidivism devastates our towns and communities and puts an enormous strain on state and local budgets. The Second Chance Act reauthorizes the Adult and Juvenile Offender Reentry Demonstration projects, authorizing the Attorney General to make grants to States and local governments to establish offender reentry projects, with an enhanced focus on job training, housing, substance abuse and mental health treatment, and working with children and families. It also creates a new grant program available to nonprofit organizations for the purpose of providing mentoring and other transitional services essential to reintegrating ex-offenders. The Second Chance Act encourages new community partnerships to help educate, train, and employ these individuals who might otherwise return to a life of crime. Many ex-offenders are often stigmatized by their incarceration, and must face the reality that many employers are reluctant to hire them. A National Adult Literacy Study determined that a majority of prisoners are either illiterate or have marginal reading, writing, and math skills. Following the repeal of Pell Grant eligibility for incarcerated individuals, I worked to create the Grants to States for Workplace and Community Transition Training for Incarcerated Youth Offenders program. This program is aimed at providing post-secondary education, employment counseling, and workplace and community transition training for incarcerated youth offenders while in prison, which continue for up to one year after the individual is released. The current program limits expenditures per youth offender to $1,500 for tuition and books, and only allows an additional $300 for other related services. The Second Chance Act builds upon my earlier efforts by increasing State's flexibility and accountability within the grant program. It removes the cap and raises the allowable expenditure permitted for each youth offender to the maximum level of Pell Grants. One of the keys to preventing recidivism is access to education an in recognizing the impact that education an job training can have on incarcerated offenders. It is my sincere hope that this legislation will encourage incarcerated individuals to achieve their independence and to gain the necessary skills to become productive members of society. Another crisis that well face is the growing populations of prisoners who are parents. More than half of those currently incarcerated are parents of minor children. Female incarceration rates are increasing faster than those men, totaling 7 percent of the prison population. Of those incarcerated, 80 percent are mothers with, on average two dependent children. What is most troubling is that two-thirds of their children are younger the the age of 10. The incarceration of a parent can have a tremendous impact on childhood development. Prison presents a unique opportunity to improve a prisoner's ability to become a better part once they are released. Unfortunately, many of our prisons do not employ such programs, due to fiscal constraints as well as a shift in priorities. The Second Chance Act of 2005 encourages the creating of programs that facilitate visitation, if it is in the best interest of the child. It also directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish services to help preserve family units, with special attention paid to the impact on the child of an incarcerated parent. There is ample evident that well-designed reentry programs reduce recidivism. Programs such as aftercare for substance abusers and adult vocational education have shown to reduce recidivism up to 15 percent. These programs pay for themselves by reducing future correction costs associated with re-housing these individuals upon their return back into the institution. The revolving door of prisons not only hurts those who are caught up in the process, but hurts their families and our communities. If we fail to address this problem, 1e are burdening our communities not only with greater expenditures, but in the risk of increased crime and unsafe neighborhoods. The more we can do to prepare these individuals when they return home, the better off we will all be. I urge my colleagues to join me in cosponsoring this legislation, and urge its swift adoption.

Mr. SPECTER

Mr. SPECTER. I ask for the yeas and nays.