Ted Stevens

Mr. STEVENS

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I send to the desk a joint resolution on behalf of Senators Thurmond and Heflin and ask for its first reading.

Mr. STEVENS

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

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I send an amendment to the desk and ask for its immediate consideration.

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

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I send an amendment to the desk and ask for its immediate consideration.

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

Mr. STEVENS

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate now proceed to the consideration of Senate Resolutions 293 and 294, and I ask unanimous consent they be considered en bloc.

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, Howard Greene traveled across the Chesapeake Bay from Lewes, DE, to the Senate in 1968, and he has been present in the Halls of the Capitol ever since. He developed a deep knowledge and understanding of the Senate as he rose through the ranks from Doorkeeper to Cloakroom assistant to Secretary for the Minority and Majority to Sergeant at Arms. His loyal service spans from Republican leaders Everett Dirksen, Howard Baker, Bob Dole, and Trent Lott. He served almost three decades. Members have come to rely on Howard's ability to help count noses. I know I did when I was whip in the Chamber here for 8 years. While sometimes it seemed that Howard had a crystal ball, it was his careful analysis, knowledge of the issues, understanding of the Members, and his hard work that provided information that usually made his forecasts correct. Vice Presidents, in their role as Presidents of the Senate, have relied on Howard's assistance and experience particularly during times when debates were intense and votes could be close. We have been able to count on Howard for almost 30 years, and he has been there when he was needed by the Senate. But better than that, he has been able to participate where he could be of help. He has not had to be asked. His colorful descriptions of everyday situations and sense of humor helped lighten the atmosphere during some of our longer and longest days and nights. He was here on some of the longest ones. Those of us who traveled with Howard over the years know what a fine traveling companion he really is. One of his sad tasks was to arrange for Senators to travel to funerals or memorial services for departed Senators. When Howard made those arrangements, the appearance of Members of the Senate was one of dignity, organization, and meaningful caring for those who survived one of our former colleagues. Mr. President, I believe Senators on both sides of the aisle know that Howard's allegiance to the Senate and his loyalty to its Members and his love of our country would be hard to match. Many Senators and staff members who have retired would echo my words of tribute to my friend. Today, as his service in the Senate is about to end, I have asked for permission to request the Senate to pay this special tribute to Howard Greene. He will be missed by many of us. I understand there will be time up to 15 minutes for Members of the Senate to add their comments, but let me first ask unanimous consent that the resolutions be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, the motions to reconsider be laid upon the table, and statements made to these resolutions appear at this point in the Record. The second resolution is comparable to that which was offered for several other Sergeants of Arms and recognizes their service by a provision for terminal leave compensation.

Mr. STEVENS. I ask that the clerk read the resolution which is the resolution pertaining to the former Sergeant at Arms.

Mr. STEVENS. I ask unanimous consent that all Senators have an opportunity through the remainder of the day to add their names as cosponsors, if they so desire.

Mr. STEVENS

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

Mr. STEVENS

Mr. STEVENS. I am pleased that this bill has made its way to the floor. Included in this important legislation is a provision I helped to craft which mandates an extensive review of the Federal Aviation Administration's financing needs. A private industry commission is established under this bill that will make recommendations on whether the FAA's financing system needs to be modified. I know that we all agree that the aviation industry and the traveling public need to have a fully funded, efficient, Federal Aviation Administration. What we disagree on, and what the industry disagrees on, is how to reach that goal. There is a bill on the calendar which mandates the implementation of user fees to fund the Agency. That bill has drawn so much opposition that it is stalled. The so-called big seven air carriers have visited many of our offices with a different user fee proposal--that concept also has not been adopted. An alliance has been formed of air carriers, general aviation, manufacturers, and others to block all user fee proposals. Rather than settling on a funding mechanism, the industry is battling amongst itself. Some players are urging a long-term reinstitution of the ticket tax. Others say they will fight to the death if the tax is extended beyond the end of this year. And meanwhile, uncertainty mounts about how the FAA will meet the challenges of the 21st century. Last year, when S. 1239 came before the Commerce Committee, I offered substitute legislation to remove the mandated user fee system contemplated by that legislation. My concept was that Congress needed more facts to cut through the issues raised by both sides--and frankly, I was concerned that S. 1239 preordained user fees as the only way to meet the FAA's needs. My belief then, and now, is that an independent authority must review the FAA's budgetary projections and determine whether they are sound. All of us must agree on the needs, before we mandate the solutions. The compromise before us today does that. An independent assessment of the FAA's financial requirements is conducted, and then an independent panel takes the financial information and proposes to us, and the administration, specific recommendations on how to fund the agency, and how to get the most efficient system for the dollars spent. I will be blunt. I believe the flat-tax concept of the excise taxes has worked. It is not perfect, but I fear there is no perfect funding mechanism in this area. But we will let the independent task force work its will--and we will act on the proposals it promulgates. I want to thank Senators McCain, Ford, Hollings, and Pressler for their hard work and leadership on this bill. We all care about the FAA and want to see it work efficiently and effectively. Many good people work at the FAA, and the agency is absolutely essential in my State where more than three-quarters of our communities are accessible only by air. Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. STEVENS

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I want to address the regulatory accounting provision in section 645 of the Treasury-postal appropriations bill, H.R. 3756. I believe the public has the right to know the benefits of Federal regulatory programs, as well as their costs, which have been estimated to be $600 billion per year. To address concerns raised by Senators Glenn and Levin, I made technical changes. First, subsection 645(a)(1) requires OMB to provide estimates of the total annual costs and benefits of Federal regulatory programs in the upcoming fiscal year. This includes impacts from rules issued before fiscal year 1997, not just new rules. But OMB need not assess costs and benefits realized in preceding years. I deleted the word ``cumulative'' to clarify that. OMB should use the valuable information already available, and supplement it where needed. Where agencies have, or can produce, detailed information on the costs and benefits of individual programs, they should use it. I expect a rule of reason will prevail: Where the agencies can produce detail that will be informative to the Congress and the public, they should do so. Where it is extremely burdensome to provide such detail, broader estimates should suffice. Subsection 645(a)(3) requires OMB to assess the direct and indirect impacts of Federal rules on the private sector, State and local government, and the Federal Government. Beyond compliance costs, regulation also creates a drag on real wages, economic growth, and productivity. OMB should use available information, where relevant, to assess the direct and indirect impacts of Federal rules. OMB also should discuss the serious problem of unfunded Federal mandates and inform Congress what it is doing about the problem. In the end, I expect OMB to produce a credible and reliable picture of the regulatory process--a picture that highlights the costs and benefits of regulatory programs and that allows Congress to determine which programs and program elements are working well, and which are not. erie federal courthouse project

Mr. STEVENS

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, today before the Senate is S. 1645, the Antarctica Science, Tourism, and Conservation Act of 1996. This bill was introduced on March 26, 1996, by Senator Kerry and Senator Hollings. House Science Committee Chairman Walker has sponsored similar legislation, H.R. 3060, which the House passed earlier this year, provides for the U.S. implementation of the Protocol on the Environmental Protection to the Antarctica Treaty. This legislation will help protect the natural resources of the Antarctica by establishing regulations to protect native species, prevent marine pollution, manage waste disposal, and extend specially protected areas. It will implement the Environmental Protocol to the Antarctica Treaty. I support S. 1645, and ask for unanimous consent that I be added as a cosponsor. In addition, I am offering an amendment that is equally important to the protection of the Arctic, an area very important to my State and for the entire Nation. My amendment would require the National Science Foundation to report to Congress on the status of its implementation of the Arctic environmental protection strategy. We are very concerned about delays and inadequate funding for this important environmental initiative. My amendment would also require the National Science Foundation to report to Congress on the use and amounts of funding provided for Federal polar research programs, and tell us why they have not followed some of the recommendations of the Arctic Research Commission. I have spoken to Chairman Walker in the House, and explained this amendment to him. I do not believe there is any opposition to it in the Senate.

Mr. STEVENS

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I now ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of Senate Concurrent Resolution 70 submitted earlier today by Senator Murkowski; further, that the resolution be agreed to and the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table.

Mr. STEVENS

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the amendment be considered read and agreed to, the bill be deemed read the third time, passed, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, and that any statements relating to the bill be placed at the appropriate place in the Record.

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I send an amendment to the desk and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. STEVENS

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the bill be deemed read the third time, and passed, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, and that any statements relating to the bill appear at this point in the Record.

Mr. STEVENS

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate now proceed to consideration of the House bill H.R. 3834, which was received from the House.

Mr. STEVENS. I ask unanimous consent that the bill be deemed read a third time and passed, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, and that any statements appear at this point in the Record.

Mr. STEVENS

Mr. STEVENS. Thank you very much. I am indebted to all the Senators involved. Mr. President, I do believe this will be one of the most significant acts passed by this Congress. It is a very significant thing as far as my State and all coastal States are concerned. I am grateful to all concerned who have labored so hard today to get this agreement so we can proceed with this in September. Mr. STEVENS addressed the Chair.

Mr. STEVENS

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of calendar No. 392, H.R. 3269.

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, there is a substitute amendment at the desk and I ask for its immediate consideration.

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

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the amendment be agreed to.