J. Thurmond

Mr. THURMOND

Mr. THURMOND. Mr. President, NATO has been the foundation of European security for 45 years, possibly the most successful defensive alliance in history. However, the world has changed dramatically in the past few years, and will continue to change. The end of the cold war has forced us to take a look at NATO's continued relevance. Members of Congress believe in a strong NATO, and support the enlargement of NATO's membership. Our NATO allies also favor enlargement. I support a renewed and enlarged NATO because it guarantees a U.S. presence on the European continent, and a seat at the table in the world's most vital, productive region. Quite simply, the United States has clear, abiding, and vital interests in Europe. A free and stable Europe is essential to the United States. I do not believe Europe can remain stable and prosperous, to the mutual benefit of the United States and our European allies, if its post-cold war boundary is drawn along the borders of Germany and Austria. I do not believe a new European security framework will hold up unless it reflects the realities of the political upheaval that marked the end of the Soviet Union and the Warsaw Pact. That new reality includes a reorienting of former East Bloc states toward the West. Mr. President, I support the amendment, as modified. I yield the floor.

Mr. THURMOND

Mr. THURMOND. I appreciate the commitment that the able Senator from New Mexico has expressed for these programs. I look forward to working with my colleagues to ensure that these programs are fully implemented. amendment No. 4382

Mr. THURMOND. I appreciate the distinguished Senator's support of these programs. In addition to those environmental missions, the Savannah River Site also has very important national security missions. The committee required the Department of Energy to accelerate its phased approach to restring tritium production. Tritium is a critical element in ensuring the credibility of our nuclear deterrent and it is essential that the Department of Energy move forward as rapidly as possible to select a production technology. In addition, the committee restored $45 million to the Department of Energy production plants and provided additional funds for manufacturing modernization, both at the National Laboratories and production plants. These programs will ensure that the Department can maintain the skills and capabilities to meet its national security missions well into the future.

Mr. THURMOND. The Savannah River Site is currently the only site in the DOE weapons complex with the capability to process high-level radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel rods in such a way that these wastes will be acceptable for permanent, geologic disposal.

Mr. THURMOND. Mr. President, the programs carried out at Savannah River are among the most important in the Nation. From nuclear waste processing to defense production, the Savannah River Site hosts a unique mix of skills and capabilities that are critical to our national interest. Many of these capabilities do not exist anywhere else in the DOE weapons complex.

Mr. THURMOND. I rise to discuss the important national security and environmental missions that are carried out at the Department of Energy's Savannah River Site and invite the distinguished Senator from New Mexico to engage me in a colloquy on this matter.

Mr. THURMOND

Mr. THURMOND. I wish to thank the majority leader for the statement he has made, and I am in accord with him.

Mr. THURMOND. Mr. President, once again, I congratulate the Senators from Georgia, New Mexico, and Indiana, on their efforts to craft an amendment to authorize the establishment of an emergency assistance program to train and equip State and local authorities to respond to domestic terrorist use of weapons of mass destruction. I want to reiterate my concerns with parts of the amendment that would increase funding and expand authorities for the Cooperative Threat Reduction Program, both in DOD and in DOE. I trust that the sponsors will provide us with information on the justification for these new activities and the impact on the DOD future years defense plan and DOE as soon as possible. The sponsors submitted letters from the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Energy in support of this new initiative last night. I assume that the sponsors will provide us with copies of these two letters as well. Mr. President, I have urged the sponsors of this amendment to consider a few recommendations that would enlist the assistance of the National Academy of Sciences in developing the emergency assistance program; that would specifically authorize a chemical-biologial emergency response team; and, that would specifically authorize funding for a regional NBC emergency stockpile from which the State and local authorities could draw in an emergency. Lastly, I want to mention just a few other concerns I have with this amendment. There are no appropriations for these new initiatives. The amendment contains a broad transfer authority that would allow funds to be transferred from accounts within the defense budget, as well as from within the defense activities portion of the energy budget, for the two CTR programs. I am also concerned with language in the amendment that would promote the import of foreign weapons-grade material to the United States for storage. Currently, the Department of Energy is not prepared, nor does it have the ability to accept more weapons-grade material. Mr. President, once again, the efforts of the sponsors of this amendment are laudable. However, we are not merely talking about increasing funding for the two cooperative threat reduction programs. We are expanding the scope of activities within those two programs. I would ask the sponsors of the amendment to provide the committee with information on how much money Russia is contributing for these efforts? The amendment broadens the authority of the program to include all the independent states of the former Soviet Union. However, the bulk of the funding in this amendment is specifically going toward activities with Russia. I support the efforts of the sponsors of this amendment to combat terrorism. We need to provide assistance to our State and local authorities so that they are prepared to respond to terrorist incidents where weapons of mass destruction are used. We will work together in the conference to enlist the support of the National Academy of Sciences, increase the funding for the emergency assistance program, and provide the regional NBC emergency stockpile.

Mr. THURMOND

Mr. THURMOND. Madam President, I am concerned that the amendment offered by the Senator from New Jersey is based on assertions and conclusions that do not appear to be based in fact. I am also concerned that adoption of this amendment would require the Department of Defense to divert millions of dollars from the training and maintenance of our Armed Forces. Congress developed an approach to transition the Civilian Marksmanship Program from a semifunded Federal program that had required an annual appropriation of approximately $2.5 million to a private, nonprofit Corporation. The transition plan was contained in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1996, which the President signed into law. The plan was completed in full partnership with the Department of the Army. According to police officers in the State of New Jersey, who are in charge of Police Athletic League clubs, the program is strongly supported by parents, the local schools, and the community. It is highly effective in teaching young people about safety, respect for firearms, competition, and teamwork. There are no incidents of crime or violence associated with club members. The firsthand experience and judgment of police officers and others who understand this program are significantly different from the opinions of the sponsor of this amendment. The program serves as a primary feeder for the U.S. Olympic Team and international competitors. More than 1,100 organizations in all 50 States use this program to develop responsibility, discipline, and sportsmanship in our youth. These organizations include Police Athletic Leagues, schools, and churches, and numerous youth groups such as the Future Farmers of America, 4-H, the Boy Scouts, and Law Enforcement Explorers. It is also an effective recruiting mechanism for the Armed Forces. The Corporation is a self-financing program. It will be used by almost half a million citizens, at no cost to taxpayers. The amendment appears to require that the program be self-financing, but its language actually terminates the program. Since the program will be self- financing, the amendment is unnecessary. The enacted legislation states that the ``Corporation shall not be considered to be a department, agency, or instrumentality of the Federal Government.'' Rather than expend public funds, the program will save the Government millions of dollars that would have to be spent to store and demilitarize obsolete firearms. The assertion that these firearms represent a $76 million asset is not correct. In fact, they are a liability to the taxpayers, because they are obsolete, surplus, and have no current military value. This program is about rifles, not handguns. A citizen who satisfies all the provisions of current law for purchasing a firearm, completes a background check, and undergoes a formal training program may purchase an obsolete M-1 rifle through the Corporation. The requirements to purchase an M-1 rifle are the most rigid in the United States. They are set out in legislation. The waiting time for a purchaser to receive an M-1, after paying for the rifle and meeting all the program requirements, is between 10 and 15 months. The inventory of surplus firearms is not transferred to the Corporation. No firearm will be transferred to the Corporation unless an affiliated club or individual has met the criteria for transfer. There is no record of any crime ever having been committed with a firearm purchased through the program. The legislation explicitly prohibits both participation in the program and the sale of firearms to convicted felons and individuals who advocate the overthrow of the Government. There is no evidence of any subversive or so-called militia group ever having acquired these firearms. They are hardly state of the art; they are basically suitable for marksmanship training, competitive sport marksmanship, and as collector items. The National Rifle Association has no role in the Corporation. The legislation to which the Senator now objects was not slipped into the Defense authorization. Both the House and Senate bills contained provisions that transitioned the program. The provisions are clearly labeled in a separate title of the act. The Senator raised no objection when this matter was considered last year. The Committee on Armed Services has not had the opportunity to consider the Senator's amendment because it was submitted as a freestanding bill after the committee had completed its markup. Our initial analysis indicates that the Government would incur millions of dollars in additional costs if the amendment were adopted.

Mr. THURMOND. Mr. President, I want to thank the able Senator from New Hampshire for the kind words that he said about me as chairman of the Armed Services Committee. The Senator from New Hampshire is a member of the Armed Services Committee and renders a valuable service to our Nation. He stands for a strong defense, which is essential to the survival of this Nation. I just wish we had more citizens in this Nation that feel as he does about the importance of maintaining a strong defense. I compliment him not only for his integrity and dedication, but his vision in realizing the importance of a strong national defense. We are very proud to have him as a member of the Armed Services Committee. Mr. GREGG addressed the Chair.

Mr. THURMOND

Mr. THURMOND. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent for 4 minutes to make final remarks on this amendment.

Mr. THURMOND

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

Mr. THURMOND. Mr. President, I support the adoption of the amendment offered by the able Senator from Maine. The Department of Defense proposed this amendment allowing the President to waive recoupment charges on foreign military sales. This measure to repeal the recoupment provision is strongly supported by this administration, which feels that recoupment is an impediment to foreign military sales. Eliminating recoupment was also supported by President Bush's administration. So this is not a partisan issue. Because of its support by the executive branches under both Republicans and Democrats and because of the support on both sides of the aisle in Congress, this matter needs to be addressed. Some will no doubt contend that eliminating recoupment charges will encourage an arms race. Those against repealing recoupment argue that we are going to become an arms merchant, and that we are going to contribute to the escalation of arms sales all over the world if this recoupment provision is repealed. There is no basis for such claims. In fact, the decision as to whether or not to buy a particular weapons system is made primarily by countries and their particular defense needs. Elimination of recoupment is not an incentive to additional arms sales. However, its elimination will have the result of making the United States much more competitive in terms of being able to compete with those nations which are now both our allies in the world and also now our industrial competitors. The United States initially enacted laws requiring recoupment payments primarily for the benefit of our allies, especially to enable our NATO allies to have these weapons. Now that is no longer solely the case. Our friends are also competing internationally with U.S. businesses, and in many cases they are overtaking us on some of these arms sales. This ultimately affects U.S. jobs. Mr. President, recoupment payments were initially instituted in the early 1960's. The intent of recoupment was to enable our Government to recover part of the cost of developing the technology needed to fight at the side of our NATO allies and win the cold war. However, our allies--especially in Europe--have now also become our economic competitors. Now, when American corporations attempt to sell military goods, their products are burdened with a surcharge that makes American products less competitive. These exports create and protect thousands of American jobs and contribute billions of dollars to our national economy. Lowering barriers and expanding opportunities for American companies to trade abroad is critical to America's long term well-being and international competitiveness. If we encourage appropriate and responsible commercial foreign military sales, we do three things. Jobs is one. Second, we save the industrial base. The United States can use the advantage of a strong industrial base later as our own national security problems arise. Third, and this is very important in terms of saving money for the Government, we are able to manufacture more units of whatever is exported. Because of these exports, we lower the per-unit cost of whatever the item might be. This means that when the U.S. Government purchases that item in the future, it will cost the United States less. If, for instance, C-17's are sold abroad, the per-unit cost of is lower to the U.S. Government. We save the industrial base; we lower the cost of defense purchases for the U.S. Government. For all these reasons I think this proposed change in the law is a worthy idea. Mr. President, the question of recoupment is also a question of national security. If we can keep defense industry healthy doing business that is fully supported by our laws and U.S. foreign policy, then this same industry will be alive and healthy to produce weapons and defense assets for the future in the event the need arises in this increasingly unstable world. This is one strong measure in which we can help preserve our industrial base. If our industrial base shrinks, it would jeopardize us in the event we have hostilities elsewhere in the world. We must respect these long-range national security implications. The issue has jobs, economic, and security implications for our country. For these reasons, I support adoption of this amendment. (Mrs. HUTCHISON assumed the chair.)

Mr. THURMOND

Mr. THURMOND. Madam President, I yield the floor. Mr. BRYAN addressed the Chair.

Mr. THURMOND. Madam President, it is my understanding, this will give us enough time to finish this bill.

Mr. THURMOND

Mr. THURMOND. Let me assure my friend that I am aware of this issue and agree that a legislative solution is necessary. It is clear that the Navy's use of pulpers and shredders provides the best available means of balancing the competing interests associated with environmental protection, shipboard quality of life, operational capability, and cost effectiveness. As chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, I feel that compliance with U.S. and international laws must, as a matter of national security, take into consideration the impacts on mission effectiveness and operational flexibility. Navy ships are self-contained units with severe limits on space, weight, and the ability to power onboard equipment. In short, these ships are designed to maximize mission performance for the preservation of our national security. Based on an administration request and the Navy's expressed operational needs, I have included a provision in the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 1997 that is similar to S. 1728. I say to the Senator from Alaska, I would propose that we use the National Defense Authorization Act as a vehicle for this legislative provision.

Mr. THURMOND. I want to express my deep appreciation for the Senator's interest and support on this issue. It is my hope that we may continue to work together in such matters. telemedicine

Mr. THURMOND. I thank the Senator from Pennsylvania for his interest and dedication to this important breakthrough in military health care and I look forward to working with him and our counterparts on the Appropriations Committee on these efforts. amendment no. 4349

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

Mr. THURMOND

Mr. THURMOND. Mr. President, for the Committee on Armed Services, I report favorably the attached listing of nominations. Those identified with a double asterisk (**) are to lie on the Secretary's desk for the information of any Senator since these names have already appeared in the Congressional Record of June 18 and June 21, 1996, and ask unanimous consent, to save the expense of reprinting on the Executive Calendar, that these nominations lie at the Secretary's desk for the information of Senators.

Mr. THURMOND

Mr. THURMOND. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Finance be permitted to meet Thursday, June 27, 1996 beginning at 10 a.m. in room SH-215, to conduct a markup on S. 1795.

Mr. THURMOND. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on the Judiciary be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Thursday, June 27, 1996, at 9:30 a.m., to hold an executive business meeting.

Mr. THURMOND. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Subcommittee on Near Eastern and South Asian Affairs of the Committee on Foreign Relations be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, June 27, at 2 pm to hold hearing.

Mr. THURMOND. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Subcommittee on Housing Opportunity and Community Development of the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Thursday, June 27, 1996, to conduct a hearing on restructuring the Federal Housing Administration's Insured and Assisted Multifamily Housing Portfolio.

Mr. THURMOND

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