J. Thurmond

Mr. THURMOND

Mr. THURMOND. I move to lay that motion on the table. The motion to lay on the table was agreed to.

Mr. THURMOND

Mr. THURMOND. Under rule XXII, it is 1 hour after we convene.

Mr. THURMOND. That is correct, Mr. President.

Mr. THURMOND. Mr. President, for the information of all Senators, this cloture vote will occur on Friday, if necessary. Mr. President, I now ask unanimous consent that the Senate resume the transportation appropriations bill.

Mr. THURMOND. Mr. President, I send a cloture motion to the desk.

Mr. THURMOND

Mr. THURMOND. Mr. President, one of the unique aspects of the American business community is the concept of the ``corporate neighbor''. The belief that business leaders and heads of companies need to be involved in their communities and give something back to the cities, States, and Nation which have allowed their enterprises to prosper. Some of the leading philanthropic and charitable organizations in the Nation were started by the men who made their fortunes in business. Ford, Carnegie, and Rockefeller--among many others--are familiar names gracing endowments and foundations that support the arts and other noble causes. I rise today to pay tribute to a man, who in my home State of South Carolina, was a person who excelled in business and gave generously back to the city and State that he loved--Mr. Arthur Magill. Born in Philadelphia, Arthur Magill moved to South Carolina in 1954 after inheriting the textile business his father started, Her Majesty Industries. Three of the company's mills were located in South Carolina and Arthur chose to settle in the upstate city of Greenville, a historic community that was at the heart of much of the South's textile manufacturing. In the 41 years between Arthur's arrival in South Carolina and his death earlier this week, he became known as a gifted businessman, a civically concerned individual, and a supporter and pioneer of culture in South Carolina. Many organizations benefitted from the generosity of Arthur Magill and the foundation he and his wife started, including the Greenville County Library, the Greenville Little Theater, the Greenville Symphony, and the South Carolina State Museum. Perhaps Arthur's most well known contribution to the arts community was his purchase of a large collection of Andrew Wyeth paintings and drawings, which he placed on loan to the Greenville Museum. Though he eventually sold this collection, the display of these items not only brought recognition and acclaim both to the museum and to Mr. Magill, but they served as an impetus to involve others in the arts community. A man of many talents and much energy, Arthur Magill pursued many interests outside of his company. He was instrumental in starting a Furman University summer program geared toward high school students called ``School of the Arts,'' even serving as its director; he was the author of four books; served as the director of the Friends of the American Art in Religion; and, he was an adjunct professor of economics at Furman University. Truly an impressive set of accomplishments for any one person, let alone a man who had to shoulder the considerable pressures and responsibilities of running a corporation. Mr. Magill's charitable efforts were not limited to the art world. Through a substantial donation to the Medical University of South Carolina, the Arthur and Holly Magill Refractive and Laser Center was established at the Storm Eye Institute. These facilities greatly enhance the research, treatment, and instruction that is conducted at MUSC and they help to ensure that South Carolinians are able to see to enjoy all that life has to offer, including art. Mr. President, Arthur Magill passed away this past Sunday at the age of 88, after enduring a lengthy illness. While he will be greatly missed by those who knew him and those who benefitted from his endeavors, his lifelong commitment to improving the quality of life in our State and Nation ensures that his memory and legacy shall live on for generations to come. His wife, Holly, and daughter Holly Melosi, have my deepest sympathies on the occasion of the death of their husband and father.

Mr. THURMOND

Mr. THURMOND. Mr. President, I call for the regular order with respect to the DOD authorization bill.

Mr. THURMOND

Mr. THURMOND. Mr. President, I move to lay that motion on the table. The motion to lay on the table was agreed to. Amendment No. 2254 (Purpose: To require a report on the effect of the closure of Fitzsimons Army Medical Center on the capability of the Department of Defense to provide appropriate health care to veterans of the Persian Gulf War and their families suffering from illnesses associated with their service during that conflict)

Mr. THURMOND. I move to lay that motion on the table. The motion to lay on the table was agreed to. Amendment No. 2253 (Purpose: To require a cost-benefit analysis of various options for reorganization of the Army ROTC program and to delay reorganization pending submission of a report on the results of the analysis to Congress)

Mr. THURMOND. Mr. President, on behalf of Senator Smith, I offer an amendment which perfects section 120(h)(3) by clarifying that section 120(h)(3) of the Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Act of 1980 does not apply to long-term leases at military bases undergoing hazardous waste remedial action. Mr. President, I believe this amendment has been cleared by the other side.

Mr. THURMOND. Mr. President, I urge the Senate adopt this amendment.

Mr. THURMOND. Mr. President, it was cleared on this side.

Mr. THURMOND. Mr. President, as a Member representing a State that is experiencing the realities of base closure, I welcome any effort to expedite the closure process and protect the redevelopment plan developed by the communities. This is a good step in that direction. It strengthens the Secretary of Defense's authority to review the base reuse plan and whether or not it has given appropriate consideration to the needs of the homeless or other interested party. Mr. President, I especially support the provision of this amendment which allows the military departments to convey base closure property to local redevelopment authorities, if the property is still required by the department or another Federal agency, as long as the needed property will be leased back for a 50-year renewable lease at no cost. The change satisfies both the Department of Defense or other Federal need for available property, while at the same time providing the local community with certainty over future use of the property should the Federal agency leave. It also provides the local community with the ownership it often needs to redevelop the base to make needed infrastructure improvements. The permissive authority of this legislation is designed to be used infrequently and primarily for small parcels or individual buildings which are surrounded by property which will be conveyed to the local community. Mr. President, this legislation will be of great benefit to Charleston, SC, and other communities throughout the Nation. I support the amendment and urge its adoption.

Mr. THURMOND. Mr. President, this amendment clarifies how we will deal with three issues with which the Armed Services Committee shares an interest with the Veterans' Affairs Committee. Our bill includes three provisions which are of interest to the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans' Affairs. I am pleased that Senator Simpson, chairman of the Veterans' Affairs Committee, and I have been able to agree on how our two Committees will work together to ensure the needs of both Departments are accommodated. This amendment strikes section 1094, ``Extension of the Vietnam Era,'' and section 1075(b) which would eliminate a joint DOD-DVA report which the Veterans' Affairs Committee would like to retain. I have been assured that the Veterans Affairs' will work in their legislation to extend the Vietnam era as requested by the Army. As for the joint DOD-DVA report, the Armed Services Committee eliminated a large number of unneeded or outdated reporting requirements. It was not our intention to eliminate any report for which there is a valid requirement. I agree to retain this DOD-DVA health care sharing report. The Veterans Affairs' Committee also has an interest in section 644 which makes the maximum coverage under the servicemen's group life insurance plan automatic. The change in the amount of coverage automatically available to those who elect to participate in the servicemen's group life insurance plan is important to the Department of Defense and contributes to improved quality of life for service members and their families. I have worked closely with the distinguished chairman of the Veterans' Affairs Committee to develop this legislation. I am pleased that we have been able to make this change in a cooperative manner. I thank Senator Simpson, the chairman, and Senator Rockefeller, the ranking member, of the Veterans' Affairs Committee for their assistance as we addressed these issues of mutual interest. Together we have been able to move forward with legislation which is beneficial to active and reserve military personnel and veterans. I understand this amendment has been agreed to on both sides and I urge its adoption.

Mr. THURMOND. Mr. President, this is an amendment containing a series of clarifying changes to the Federal Acquisition Streamlining Act of 1994. These are part of a number of changes that the administration has asked us to make to the legislation in light of experience with implementation of the new law. The Members of the Senate will note that title 8 of the defense authorization bill contains a number of these relatively minor changes to title 10 of the United States Code to advance the streamlining of the acquisition process. The changes in my amendment would affect other parts of the United States Code that are not solely within our committee's jurisdiction. This amendment has been coordinated with the Committees on Governmental Affairs and Small Business. It has been cleared on both sides. I ask that the amendment be agreed to.

Mr. THURMOND. I want to compliment Senator McCain and Senator Glenn, the chairman and ranking member of the Readiness Subcommittee, for their work on this amendment and their continuing efforts to ensure that Federal property is properly screened for use by other Federal agencies before it is conveyed to the private sector. Mr. President, I understand that both these bomb scoring sites at Powell, WY, and Forsyth, MT, have been screened by the General Services Administration for potential use by other Federal agencies and that there is no interest. Therefore, I support the amendment and the transfer to the local government entities for use to improve housing, education, and recreation.

Mr. THURMOND. Mr. President, I have to go to the telephone. I am going to ask the able Senator from Idaho to take over in my place.

Mr. THURMOND. I move to lay that motion on the table. The motion to lay on the table was agreed to.

Mr. THURMOND. I move to lay that motion on the table. The motion to lay on the table was agreed to. Amendment No. 2255 (Purpose: To state the sense of the Senate on the Director of Operational Test and Evaluation)

Mr. THURMOND. Mr. President, I urge that the Senate adopt the amendment.

Mr. THURMOND. Mr. President, I congratulate Senator Campbell on his amendment to require the Department of Defense to provide a report on the impact the closure of the Fitzsimons Army Medical Center will have on the treatment of Persian Gulf veterans suffering from illness associated with service in that conflict. The amendment will ensure that the Department of Defense makes appropriate arrangements for care for these veterans and their families. I support the amendment and urge its adoption.

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

Mr. THURMOND. Mr. President, on behalf of Senator Campbell, I offer an amendment which will require a report on the effect of the closure of Fitzsimons Army Medical Center on the capability of the Department of Defense to provide appropriate health care to Persian Gulf war veterans suffering from illness associated with that conflict. Mr. President, I believe this amendment has been cleared by the other side.

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

Mr. THURMOND

Mr. THURMOND. It is certainly the intent of the committee that the DOD shall continue to exercise authority beyond October 1, 1995, to dispose of 1988 bases whose redevelopment authorities elected to proceed under the 1994 Act. The appropriate agencies are apparently on track to make sure that the authority is in place. However, if there is a snag, I assure my colleague from New Jersey that we will be prepared to correct the matter in conference. In the meantime, I appreciate my colleague's withholding his amendment at this time.