| 00:00:00 | SUGGEST POSSIBLY BACK TO THE 1930' S. |
| 00:00:03 | SO IT IS A VERY WEIGHTY DAY. |
| 00:00:06 | WE ARE MAKING MONUMENTAL DECISIONS HERE THAT ARE GOING TO AFFECT MILLIONS OF PEOPLE. |
| 00:00:10 | AND I UNDERSTAND THE PASSIONS THAT RUN VERY HIGH ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE ON HOW DESPERATELY WE NEED THESE CHANGES, SOME SUGGEST, AND HOW ERRONEOUS THESE DECISIONS ARE BY OTHERS WHO OPPOSE THE BILL. |
| 00:00:28 | IF I CAN FOR A MOMENT, BECAUSE I KNOW THERE' S BEEN A LOT OF DEBATE ABOUT WHY WE NEED TO MAKE THESE CHANGES AND WHAT THE BILL DOES OR DOESN' T DO OR SHOULD OR SHOULDN' T DO, LET ME TALK FOR A MINUTE AS TO HOW THIS BILL GOT HERE. |
| 00:00:44 | I THINK IF YOU LOOK BACK AT THE GENESIS OF THIS PROPOSAL, YOU HAVE TO GO BACK TO THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND A TASK FORCE PUT TOGETHER BY NEWT GINGRICH, A TASK FORCE ON WELFARE REFORM, WHEN WE WERE IN THE MINORITY OVER IN THE HOUSE BACK IN 1993. |
| 00:01:03 | HE ASKED ME AS THE RANKING MEMBER ON THE WAYS AND MEANS SUBCOMMITTEE OF HUMAN RESOURCES TO CHAIR A TASK FORCE OF MEMBERS OF THE SUBCOMMITTEE AND OTHER PEOPLE, INCLUDING FORMER GOVERNOR OF DELAWARE, MIKE CASTLE AND JIM TALON FROM MISSOURI AND A FEW OTHERS TO SIT DOWN AND TRY TO PUT TOGETHER A BILL THAT WOULD FOLLOW THROUGH WITH ENDING WELFARE AS WE KNOW IT. |
| 00:01:26 | AND WE GOT ALL SORTS OF TESTIMONY FROM PEOPLE. |
| 00:01:28 | WE TALKED TO LITERALLY HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE ALL OVER THE COUNTRY ABOUT THE PROBLEMS IN THE WELFARE SYSTEM, LISTENED TO ALL THE EXPERTS AND PSEUDO EXPERTS ON THE ISSUE OF WELFARE. |
| 00:01:39 | FRANKLY, NOT JUST FROM CONSERVATIVES BUT FROM ACROSS THE SPECTRUM AS TO THE PITFALLS THAT WE MIGHT ENCOUNTER. |
| 00:01:45 | LET ME FIRST STATE THAT THIS WAS AN EXTRAORDINARY THING TO DO. |
| 00:01:50 | WE ACTUALLY TOOK THIS VERY SERIOUSLY. |
| 00:01:52 | YOU KNOW, IN THE MINORITY WHEN YOU WORK ON A MAJOR ISSUE LIKE THIS, MOST PEOPLE DON' T PAY MUCH ATTENTION TO WHAT YOU DO. |
| 00:01:57 | YOU' RE IN THE MINORITY. |
| 00:01:58 | YOU' RE NOT GOING TO PASS THIS BILL. |
| 00:02:01 | IT' S NOT GOING TO BECOME LAW. |
| 00:02:03 | SO THERE' S SOMETIMES A FEELING, WELL, LET' S JUST SORT OF PUT TOGETHER WHAT WE CAN, SORT OF PATCH TOGETHER SOME POPULAR IDEAS AND THROW IT OUT AND, YOU KNOW, IT WILL GET A STORY FOR ONE DAY AND NO ONE WILL PAY MUCH ATTENTION TO IT AFTER THAT. |
| 00:02:17 | WELL, I CAN TELL YOU THAT MYSELF, NANCY JOHNSON, CLAY SHAW, FRED GRANDY, DAVE CAMP, MIKE CASTLE, A WHOLE LOT OF OTHER FOLKS WHO WERE IN THE HOUSE LAST TERM TOOK THIS AS A REAL SERIOUS RESPONSIBILITY. |
| 00:02:34 | WE MET LITERALLY FOR, I THINK, SIX OR SEVEN MONTHS EVERY WEEK, HOURS UPON HOURS EACH WEEK, JUST HASSLING OVER EVERY SINGLE ITEM IN THE LEGISLATION. |
| 00:02:44 | IT WAS A WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE FOR ME, BUT I THINK IT WAS A GREAT EXPERIENCE FOR ALL OF US TO SEE THE REAL COMPLEXITIES IN WHAT WE WERE DEALING WITH. |
| 00:02:52 | AND I THINK WE GOT A REAL UNDERSTANDING OF SOME OF THE CONCERNS THAT MEMBERS EXPRESSED HERE. |
| 00:02:55 | AND WE CAME OUT WITH A BILL IN NOVEMBER OF 1993, AND IT ADDRESSED FOR THE FIRST TIME ISSUES LIKE PATERNITY ESTABLISHMENT, WHICH ARE IN THIS BILL. |
| 00:03:03 | THE PROVISIONS WE WROTE IN THAT BILL ALMOST THREE YEARS AGO ARE ALMOST IDENTICAL. |
| 00:03:09 | IN FACT, I WOULD SUGGEST THEY MAYBE ARE IDENTICAL TO THE PROVISIONS THAT ARE IN THE BILL TODAY. |
| 00:03:13 | THAT WE ADDRESSED THE ISSUE FOR THE FIRST TIME OF IMMIGRATION AND BENEFITS TO LEGAL ALIENS. |
| 00:03:18 | FIRST TIME A BILL HAD COME UP AND ADDRESSED THAT ISSUE. |
| 00:03:21 | AND THOSE PROVISIONS ARE IN THIS BILL TODAY. |
| 00:03:25 | WE ADDRESSED THE ISSUE OF ILLEGITIMACY. |
| 00:03:27 | AGAIN, THAT WAS A WORD THAT, FRANKLY, YOU WEREN' T EVEN SUPPOSED TO USE ANYMORE. |
| 00:03:32 | IT WAS A POLITICALLY INCORRECT WORD. |
| 00:03:34 | YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO USE THE WORD " OUT- OF- WEDLOCK BIRTHS. |
| 00:03:39 | " BUT WE ADDRESSED THE ISSUE FOR THE FIRST TIME AND BROUGHT THE ATTENTION OF THE WELFARE DEBATE ON THIS SCOURGE IN OUR NATION. |
| 00:03:46 | AND I KNOW IT' S BEEN CITED HERE BEFORE. |
| 00:03:49 | BUT IN 1965 THE ILLEGITIMACY RATE IN THIS COUNTRY WAS ABOUT 5% OR 6%. |
| 00:03:53 | TODAY A THIRD OF THE CHILDREN IN THIS COUNTRY ARE BORN OUT OF WEDLOCK. |
| 00:03:56 | I' M NOT SAYING THAT WELFARE IS THE SOLE CAUSE OF THAT. |
| 00:03:59 | IT CERTAINLY IS NOT. |
| 00:04:00 | BUT IT CERTAINLY IS A CONTRIBUTING FACT, IN MY MIND, AND I THINK IN OTHER PEOPLE' S MIND. |
| 00:04:06 | AND WE WERE BOLD ENOUGH TO COME UP WITH IDEAS, SOME OF WHICH ARE INCLUDED AND FRANKLY A LOT ARE NOT. |
| 00:04:11 | BUT WE PUSHED THE ENVELOPE FOR THE FIRST TIME. |
| 00:04:13 | WE PUT THIS IN THE FOREFRONT AND MADE IT AN ISSUE OF DEBATE. |
| 00:04:18 | YES, WE HAD TIME LIMITS ON WELFARE. |
| 00:04:20 | YES, WE HAD WORK REQUIREMENTS. |
| 00:04:22 | REAL WORK REQUIREMENTS. |
| 00:04:23 | AND THOSE TIME LIMITS OF TWO YEARS WITHOUT HAVING TO WORK AND FIVE YEARS TOTAL ON WELFARE ARE IN THIS BILL TODAY. |
| 00:04:29 | IF YOU GO BACK AND LOOK AT THAT ORIGINAL DRAFT, I THINK YOU' RE GOING TO SEE A LOT OF SIMILARITIES IN CHILD SUPPORT ENFORCEMENT, IN A WHOLE HOST OF OTHER AREAS THAT ARE IN THE BILL TODAY. |
| 00:04:44 | AND I THINK IT' S A REMARKABLE COMPLIMENT TO THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO WORKED ON THAT -- IN THAT GROUP THAT THEIR HARD WORK SEEMINGLY FRUITLESS AT THE TIME BECAUSE WE WERE A MINORITY, HAD ABSOLUTELY NO HOPE THAT WE WOULD EVER BE IN THE MAJORITY, BUT CARED ENOUGH ENOUGH. |
| 00:05:02 | I THINK THAT' S THE POINT I' M TRYING TO MAKE. |
| 00:05:05 | WE CARED ENOUGH ABOUT THIS SYSTEM AND THE DESTRUCTION THAT THE SYSTEM WAS CAUSING, WE CARED ENOUGH TO SPEND HOURS AND HOURS OF TIME TO PUT TOGETHER A BILL THAT WE FELT TRULY WOULD CHANGE WELFARE AND END THE DESPAIR AND THE DEPENDENCY THAT THE SYSTEM HAS CREATED. |
| 00:05:25 | AND SO I WANT TO CONGRATULATE MY FRIENDS IN THE HOUSE, FRED GRANDY, WHO IS NO LONGER IN THE HOUSE, WHO HAD A TREMENDOUS CONTRIBUTION TO THE ORIGINAL BILL. |
| 00:05:33 | AND I WANT TO CONGRATULATE THE SUCCESSOR BILLS, THE BILLS THAT WERE INTRODUCED HERE IN THE SENATE BY SENATOR PACKWOOD AND IN THE HOUSE SUBSEQUENTLY BY CLAY SHAW, WHO IS A MEMBER OF THAT ORIGINAL WORKING GROUP. |
| 00:05:46 | AND THEY TOOK THE NEXT LOGICAL STEP AND MOVED THE BALL FORWARD ON A FEW ISSUES, FELL BACK A LITTLE BIT ON OTHERS. |
| 00:05:54 | BUT THAT' S HOW THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS WORKS. |
| 00:05:58 | WE TRIED TO MEET THE CONCERNS OF, FRANKLY, BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE. |
| 00:06:03 | AND I KNOW WHEN SENATOR PACKWOOD AND THEN SUBSEQUENTLY SENATOR ROTH TOOK OVER IN THE FINANCE COMMITTEE, WE ACTUALLY CRAFTED A BILL HERE ON THE SENATE FLOOR LAST YEAR THAT GOT 87 VOTES. |
| 00:06:13 | AND THEN RECRAFTED ANOTHER BILL, VERY, VERY SIMILAR TO THE BILL THAT PASSED LAST YEAR AND GOT 74 VOTES. |
| 00:06:19 | AND I SUSPECT WE' LL GET MAYBE EVEN A FEW MORE THAN THAT THIS TIME AROUND. |
| 00:06:24 | THEY DID THE SAME THING IN THE HOUSE AND CONTINUED TO GET MORE BIPARTISAN SUPPORT, AS WE WORKED THROUGH SOME OF THE DIFFICULT ISSUES OF WELFARE REFORM. |
| 00:06:33 | BUT THE CORE OF THOSE BILLS REMAINS THE SAME. |
| 00:06:38 | AND THAT IS THAT WE ARE GOING TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT ILLEGITIMACY. |
| 00:06:42 | THERE' S AN INCENTIVE NOW SPONSORED BY SENATOR ABRAHAM, ONE OF THE IMPROVEMENTS TO THE BILL, FOR STATES TO REDUCE THEIR ILLEGITIMACY RATES. |
| 00:06:50 | AND THERE' S A BONUS, A CASH BONUS FOR STATES THAT ARE ABLE TO REDUCE THAT STATISTIC, THAT CRUEL STATISTIC TO CHILDREN. |
| 00:07:00 | AND I SAY CRUEL BECAUSE GO THROUGH ALL OF THE EVALUATION CRITERIA. |
| 00:07:05 | CHILDREN WHO ARE BORN TO SINGLE- PARENT HOUSEHOLDS ARE MORE LIKELY TO BE POOR, MORE LIKELY TO BE ON WELFARE, MORE LIKELY TO DO POORER IN SCHOOL, MORE LIKELY TO BE VICTIMS OF CRIME. |
| 00:07:15 | YOU CAN GO ON DOWN THE LIST. |
| 00:07:17 | WE' RE DOING NO FAVORS TO CHILDREN WHEN FATHERS ARE TOLD THAT THEY ARE EXPENDABLE. |
| 00:07:22 | WELL, IN THE WELFARE SYSTEM THAT WE' RE BUILDING HERE TODAY, THAT WE' RE CREATING HERE TODAY, FATHERS ARE NO LONGER EXPENDABLE. |
| 00:07:29 | FATHERS ARE GOING TO BE REQUIRED TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CHILDREN. |
| 00:07:32 | MOTHERS ARE GOING TO BE REQUIRED TO COOPERATE WITH THE GOVERNMENT IN ESTABLISHING PATERNITY. |
| 00:07:40 | TWO THINGS THAT WERE IN THE ORIGINAL BILL THAT WE DRAFTED THREE YEARS AGO THAT HAVE STOOD THE TEST OF TIME AND SCRUTINY IN BOTH HOUSES OF CONGRESS, BECAUSE IT' S THE RIGHT THING TO DO. |
| 00:07:50 | WE' VE STOOD UP AND SAID, FAMILIES ARE IMPORTANT UNDER THIS BILL. |
| 00:07:55 | WE STOOD UP AND SAID COMMUNITIES ARE IMPORTANT. |
| 00:07:57 | SENATOR ASHCROFT, ANOTHER GOOD ADDITION TO THIS BILL, SAID RELIGIOUS, CIVIC, NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS IN THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES ARE GOING TO BE MUCH MORE ABLE TO BE PART OF THIS SYSTEM OF WELFARE, OF SUPPORT OF THE POOR THAN THEY ARE TODAY, ARE GOING TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR MORE FUNDS AND MORE OPPORTUNITIES TO HELP THE POOR, WHICH THEY DO MUCH BETTER, MUCH MORE EFFICIENTLY, BUT FRANKLY, EVEN IF THEY DIDN' T DO MORE EFFICIENTLY, THEY DO IT MORE COMPASSIONATELY. |
| 00:08:26 | THEY DO IT WITH LOVE FOR THEIR NEIGHBORS AND THE PEOPLE IN THEIR COMMUNITY, NOT OUT OF SOME SENSE OF DUTY BECAUSE IT' S THEIR JOB. |
| 00:08:36 | WE HAVE CHANGED WELFARE IN THIS BILL. |
| 00:08:39 | AND WE' VE DONE IT OVER A LONG PROCESS. |
| 00:08:41 | THOSE WHO WOULD SUGGEST THAT THIS IS JUST SOMETHING THAT WAS THROWN TOGETHER AT THE LAST MINUTE BEFORE AN ELECTION DON' T KNOW THE WORK OR EITHER CHOOSE NOT TO RECOGNIZE THE WORK THAT HAS BEEN PUT IN THIS BILL, THE TIME AND THE DEBATE, THE HOURS OF THE DEBATE HERE ON THE FLOOR AND OVER IN THE HOUSE, IN THE CONFERENCE COMMITTEES TO TRY TO COME UP WITH A CAREFULLY CRAFTED BILL THAT IS TRULY COMPASSIONATE. |
| 00:09:08 | AND NOT COMPASSIONATE IN THE SENSE THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS GOING TO GO OUT AND TAKE CARE OF EVERY PERSON' S NEED WHO IS POOR. |
| 00:09:15 | I THINK WE' VE SHOWN THAT THAT SYSTEM IS TRULY NOT COMPASSIONATE. |
| 00:09:19 | BECAUSE WHEN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT COMES IN AND TAKES CARE OF EVERY ASPECT OR EVERY NEED THAT EVEN A CHILD HAS, THEN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IN FACT BECOMES THE REPLACEMENT FOR THE OTHERS WHOSE RESPONSIBILITY IT TRULY SHOULD BE TO TAKE CARE OF THAT CHILD. |
| 00:09:34 | WE' VE SAID TO THE FATHER, AGAIN, YOU' RE NOT NECESSARY. |
| 00:09:37 | WE' VE SAID TO MOTHERS, YOU DON' T HAVE TO WORK. |
| 00:09:40 | WE' LL PROVIDE. |
| 00:09:43 | SOME DISTANT BUREAUCRAT WILL SEND A CHECK TO PROVIDE FOR YOU. |
| 00:09:49 | THAT' S NOT COMPASSION. |
| 00:09:50 | COMPASSION IS HAVING A SYSTEM THAT BUILDS FAMILIES SO THERE' S AN ENVIRONMENT THERE FOR CHILDREN TO FLOURISH. |
| 00:09:57 | COMPASSION IS A SYSTEM THAT SUPPORTS NEIGHBORHOODS AND CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS, MEDIATING INSTITUTIONS THAT DAN COACH TALKS ABOUT -- DAN COATS TALKS ABOUT SO OFTEN THAT PROVIDE THE VALUES AND COMMUNITY SUPPORT THAT THEY NEED TO HELP TAKE CARE OF CHILDREN, TO CREATE THE NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE CHILDREN ARE NO LONGER AFRAID TO GO OUT AND PLAY IN THE PLAYGROUND BECAUSE THEY CAN STEP ON SOME DRUG- INFECTED NEEDLE. |
| 00:10:23 | NO, THIS BILL IS ALL ABOUT CREATING A COMMUNITY, CREATING A SUPPORT NETWORK AND ENVIRONMENT AT THE LEVEL MOST IMPORTANT TO THAT CHILD AS OPPOSED TO THAT BUREAUCRAT SITTING BEHIND THE BULLET- PROOF WINDOW PASSING OUT THE CHECK EVERY MONTH, SAYING TO THAT PERSON ON THE OTHER END RECEIVING THAT CHECK THAT YOU, BECAUSE OF YOUR POVERTY, ARE UNABLE TO PROVIDE FOR YOURSELF AND YOUR CHILDREN, AND YOU NEED TO BE DEPENDENT UPON US FOR YOUR LIFE. |
| 00:10:50 | THE SENATOR FROM ARKANSAS SAID IT' S A TRAGEDY THAT 1 IN 5 CHILDREN IN THIS COUNTRY ARE IN POVERTY. |
| 00:10:57 | AND I AGREE, IT IS A TRAGEDY. |
| 00:10:59 | AND HE SAID IT' S GOING TO GET WORSE. |
| 00:11:01 | I WOULD SUGGEST HE' S WRONG. |
| 00:11:04 | I WOULD SUGGEST THE TRAGEDY IS IS AS BAD AS IT' S GOING TO GET. |
| 00:11:10 | AND THAT THERE ARE PLENTY OF ORGANIZATIONS AS A RESULT OF THIS BILL WHO ARE GOING TO GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO STEP FORWARD, INCLUDING THE FAMILY. |
| 00:11:18 | I FEEL VERY GOOD ABOUT WHAT WE' RE DOING HERE. |
| 00:11:20 | AND I WOULD SAY, AS MY FRIEND AND COLLEAGUE IN THE HOUSE, CLAY SHAW, SAID MANY TIMES, I' M NOT SUGGESTING THIS BILL IS PERFECT. |
| 00:11:27 | I WILL GUARANTEE YOU THIS BILL IS NOT PERFECT. |
| 00:11:30 | NO BILL IS PERFECT. |
| 00:11:31 | BUT I CAN GUARANTEE YOU THAT THIS IS A DRAMATIC STEP FORWARD THAT THIS COUNTRY HAS ASKED FOR AND IS GETTING FROM A CONGRESS THAT HAS LISTENED. |
| 00:11:42 | AND, YES, WE WILL MAKE MISTAKES. |
| 00:11:45 | AND UNLIKE THOSE WHO CRAFTED THE CURRENT SYSTEM IN THE 1930' S AND IN THE 1960' S, WE' RE GOING TO BE WILLING TO COME BACK HERE AND LOOK AT THOSE MISTAKES. |
| 00:11:53 | WE' RE GOING TO BE WILLING TO COME BACK AND FACE THOSE PROBLEMS BECAUSE WE UNDERSTAND UNLIKE THOSE WHO CRAFTED THE LAST SYSTEM, THAT WE DON' T HAVE ALL THE ANSWERS HERE, THAT WE DON' T HAVE THE OMNIPOTENCE HERE TO DECIDE WHAT' S BEST FOR EVERYBODY. |
| 00:12:09 | THIS IS A GRAND EXPERIMENT, ONE THAT WE MUST TAKE IF WE' RE GOING TO SAVE CHILDREN IN THIS COUNTRY. |
| 00:12:16 | AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, TO SAVE THE FABRIC OF AMERICA FOR NEXT -- FOR THE NEXT AND FUTURE GENERATIONS. |
| 00:12:23 | MR. PRESIDENT, I YIELD THE FLOOR. |
| 00:12:25 | MR. |
| 00:12:26 | EXON: MR. PRESIDENT? THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE SENATOR FROM NEBRASKA. |
| 00:12:28 | MR. |
| 00:12:30 | EXON: MR. PRESIDENT, I WOULD ADVISE THE SENATORS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE THAT WE HAVE 11 MINUTES REMAINING. |
| 00:12:36 | I' M ABOUT TO YIELD 7 MINUTES TO THE SENATOR FROM FLORIDA. |
| 00:12:39 | THERE WILL BE 2 MINUTES TO SENATOR HEFLIN AND 2 MINUTES TO SENATOR FORD. |
| 00:12:43 | I YIELD 7 MINUTES TO THE SENATOR FROM FLORIDA. |
| 00:12:46 | THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE SENATOR FROM FLORIDA. |
| 00:12:48 | MR. |
| 00:12:49 | GRAHAM: MR. PRESIDENT? |
| 00:12:50 | MR. PRESIDENT, WHEN WE VOTED ON THIS MATTER A FEW DAYS AGO, I VOTED " NO. |
| 00:12:55 | " TODAY I AM GOING TO VOTE FOR THE CONFERENCE REPORT, AND I WISH TO EXPLAIN WHY I AM TAKING THAT POSITION. |
| 00:13:05 | AS I ASSESSED THE CONFERENCE REPORT, IT SEEMED TO ME THAT WE HAD BASICALLY TWO OPTIONS. |
| 00:13:12 | ONE OPTION WAS TO WAIT UNTIL THERE WAS A BETTER POINT AT WHICH TO COMMENCE AND CONTINUE OUR EFFORT AT WELFARE REFORM. |
| 00:13:24 | AND BE PREPARED TO ACCEPT THE STATUS QUO UNTIL THAT SECOND OPPORTUNITY PRESENTED ITSELF. |
| 00:13:34 | I FELT THAT WAS LIKELY TO BE A LONG, LONG TIME FROM TONIGHT. |
| 00:13:42 | THE SECOND OPTION IS TO ACCEPT A CLEARLY LESS THAN PERFECT BILL. |
| 00:13:48 | I WOULD SAY ACCEPT A FLAWED BILL BUT WHICH REPRESENTS A STEP IN A MULTISTEP PROCESS LEADING TOWARDS A FUNDAMENTAL TRANSITION FROM A WELFARE SYSTEM THAT HAS FOCUSED ON PROVIDING FOR THE NEEDS OF A DEPENDENT POPULATION TO A WELFARE SYSTEM THAT PROVIDES THE LADDER BY WHICH PEOPLE CAN MOVE FROM DEPENDENCE TO INDEPENDENCE. |
| 00:14:19 | I BELIEVE THAT IT IS MORE APPROPRIATE TO TAKE THAT SECOND ROAD. |
| 00:14:24 | AND I BELIEVE, MR. |
| 00:14:27 | PRESIDENT, THAT THIS IS THE TIME TO TAKE THAT LEAP OF FAITH. |
| 00:14:33 | TO USE SOME STATISTICS FROM MY STATE OF FLORIDA, THREE YEARS AGO IN 1993, WE HAD AN UNEMPLOYMENT RATE OF 7%. |
| 00:14:45 | WE HAD 254, 000 PERSONS WHO WERE ON THE AFDC CASELOAD. |
| 00:14:52 | THAT' S 254, 000 FAMILIES WERE ON AFDC. |
| 00:14:59 | TODAY, IN 1996, WE HAVE 200, 000 AFDC CASELOAD, A REDUCTION OF 54, 000 IN THREE YEARS. |
| 00:15:07 | THAT SAYS THAT WE ARE IN A PERIOD OF A STRONG ECONOMY, CREATING JOBS, PROVIDING PEOPLE WITH THE OPPORTUNITY WITHIN THE CURRENT SYSTEM TO GET OFF WELFARE AND TO GET A JOB. |
| 00:15:20 | I THINK THAT IS THE IDEAL ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH NOW TO HAVE THIS NEW SYSTEM, WHICH WILL BE GIVING TO THE 200, 000 WHO ARE STILL ON WELFARE THE MEANS BY WHICH THEY CAN GET A JOB AND INTO INDEPENDENCE. |
| 00:15:39 | IF WE CANNOT MAKE THIS TRANSITION WORK UNDER THE ECONOMIC CONDITIONS THAT EXIST IN MY STATE AND MOST OF THE STATES OF AMERICA IN THE SUMMER OF 1996, THEN I DOUBT THAT WE WILL SEE A TIME IN THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE WHEN WE COULD MAKE THIS SYSTEM WORK. |
| 00:16:00 | IT IS FOR THAT REASON, MR. |
| 00:16:02 | PRESIDENT, THAT OUR GOVERNOR HAS ANNOUNCED HIS SUPPORT FOR THIS PROGRAM. |
| 00:16:06 | IT IS FOR THAT REASON THAT OUR LEGISLATURE HAS PASSED ITS OWN VERSION OF WELFARE REFORM, BUILDING ON IMPORTANT DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS IN OUR STATE WHICH HAVE TESTED OUT WHAT IS GOING TO BE REQUIRED IN ORDER TO MAKE THIS NEW SYSTEM ACHIEVE ITS OBJECTIVES. |
| 00:16:25 | MR. |
| 00:16:27 | PRESIDENT, I STATED CANDIDLY THAT THIS IS A BILL WHICH IS FAR FROM PERFECT AND WHICH HAS SOME FLAWS. |
| 00:16:32 | THAT PRESENTS, AS I BELIEVE THE SENATOR FROM PENNSYLVANIA JUST STATED, THE AGENDA FOR OUR ACTION IN THE FUTURE. |
| 00:16:43 | I WOULD LIKE TO SUGGEST TWO AREAS IN WHICH I THINK THAT ATTENTION SHOULD BE FOCUSED. |
| 00:16:50 | ONE OF THOSE IS ON THE BASIC FINANCIAL ARRANGEMENT BETWEEN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND THE STATES. |
| 00:16:59 | WE START THIS IN A PERIOD OF PROSPERITY. |
| 00:17:02 | WE KNOW THAT THE BUSINESS CYCLE HAS NOT YET BEEN REPEALED REPEALED. |
| 00:17:07 | THERE WILL BE TIMES WHEN WE WILL RETURN TO THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE EARLY 1990' S WHEN WE HAD UNEMPLOYMENT RATES RANGING FROM 7. |
| 00:17:19 | 4% TO 8. |
| 00:17:22 | 3%. WE NEED TO RELOOK AT OUR FINANCIAL RELATIONSHIPS TO ASSURE THAT WE HAVE THE FLEXIBILITY, THE ELASTICITY IN ORDER TO PROTECT STATES DURING THOSE DOWNTURNS. |
| 00:17:34 | WE NEED TO ALSO LOOK AT THE ISSUE OF FAIRNESS OF ALLOCATION. |
| 00:17:40 | I CONTINUE TO BE DISTRESSED AT THE FACT THAT WE ARE USING THE OLD METHOD OFLY ON INDICATING FEDERAL FUNDS, THE FORMULA THAT WE DEVELOPED FOR THE SYSTEM THAT WE ARE NOW REJECTING, AS WE MOVE INTO THE NEW SYSTEM. |
| 00:17:56 | I SUGGEST THAT THAT IS AN INAPPROPRIATE BIT OF BAGGAGE THAT WE ARE CARRYING WITH US AND THAT IT IS GOING TO BE A HEAVY PIECE OF BAGGAGE IN TERMS OF ACHIEVING THE OBJECTIVES OF MOVING PEOPLE FROM WELFARE TO WORK, PARTICULARLY IN STATES SUCH AS ARKANSAS, WHICH START THIS PROCESS AS VERY LOW- BENEFICIARY STATES AND THEREFORE RESTRICTED IN THE AMOUNT OF FUNDS THAT THEY WILL HAVE AVAILABLE. |
| 00:18:24 | A SECOND AREA IN WHICH I BELIEVE THAT WE NEED TO FOCUS OUR ATTENTION IS ON THE ISSUE OF LEGAL ALIENS. |
| 00:18:35 | IT CONFOUNDS ME AS TO WHY LEGAL ALIENS WERE BROUGHT INTO THIS BILL WHICH HAS AS ITS TITLE " WELFARE REFORM. |
| 00:18:43 | " VERY LITTLE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE SEVERE CUTBACKS IN BENEFITS FOR LEGAL ALIENS. |
| 00:18:51 | THESE, MR. |
| 00:18:52 | PRESIDENT, ARE OUR PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS OF JUST A GENERATION OR TWO AGO WHO CAME TO THIS COUNTRY SEEKING THE FREEDOM OF AMERICA AMERICA. |
| 00:19:03 | NOW THOSE WHO HAVE FOLLOWED THEM IN THAT 200- YEAR QUEST FOR THOSE VALUES OF AMERICA, WE ARE NOW PUTTING INTO A SECOND- CLASS STATUS. |
| 00:19:14 | NO RELATIONSHIP TO THE GOALS THAT WE' RE TRYING TO ACHIEVE IN WELFARE REFORM; HAS A LOCALITY TO DO WITH THE FACT THAT THIS IS -- HAS A LOT TO DO WITH THE FACT THAT THIS IS A VOICELESS, VULNERABLE POPULATION IN WHICH WE CAN SEEK SOME ADDITIONAL RESOURCES IN ORDER TO MEET OUR BUDGETARY GOALS. |
| 00:19:33 | LET US BE CLEAR -- THIS IS A BUDGET ISSUE, NOT A WELFARE REFORM ISSUE AS WE SPEAK TO LEGAL ALIENS. |
| 00:19:40 | AND IT IS GOING TO BE A MAJOR BUDGET ISSUE FOR THOSE COMMUNITIES WHICH HAVE SIZABLE NUMBERS OF LEGAL ALIENS WHO WILL NOW BECOME AN UNPAID CHARGE TO LOCAL PUBLIC HOSPITALS. |
| 00:19:52 | SO THAT AREA WILL ALSO REQUIRE OUR ATTENTION. |
| 00:19:54 | THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE SENATOR' S TIME HAS EXPIRED. |
| 00:19:56 | MR. |
| 00:19:57 | GRAHAM: MR. |
| 00:19:58 | PRESIDENT, I CONCLUDE BY SAYING THAT IT IS WITH A LEAP OF FAITH THAT WE UNDERTAKE THIS INITIATIVE BUT I THINK WE ARE DOING IT AT A TIME WHICH GIVES US THE GREATEST HOPE AND EXPECTATION THAT THAT FAITH WILL BE JUSTIFIED. |
| 00:20:16 | THANK YOU. |
| 00:20:17 | MR. |
| 00:20:18 | DOMENICI: MR. |
| 00:20:19 | PRESIDENT, SENATOR SIMPSON IS NEXT AND I BELIEVE HE' S ASKED US FOR -- HOW MUCH TIME DID YOU WANT, SENATOR? |
| 00:20:23 | MR. |
| 00:20:25 | SIMPSON: SIX MINUTES. MR. |
| 00:20:26 | DOMENICI: 10 MINUTES? MR. |
| 00:20:27 | SIMPSON: I' LL YIELD BACK PROBABLY. |
| 00:20:28 | MR. DOMENICI: ALL RIGHT. |
| 00:20:29 | UP TO 10 MINUTES. THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE SENATOR FROM WYOMING. |
| 00:20:31 | MR. |
| 00:20:32 | SIMPSON: MR. PRESIDENT, I WANT TO THANK SENATOR DOMENICI ALWAYS FOR HIS COURTESY AND HIS KINDNESS, GENEROSITY IN WHAT HE DOES FOR ALL OF US AND TO RECOGNIZE ONCE AGAIN HOW HARD HE WORKS. |
| 00:20:44 | AND ALSO SENATOR EXON, WHO CAME HERE TO THIS BODY WHEN I DID. |
| 00:20:49 | I DON' T THINK ANYONE REALIZES THE TASK OF THE CHAIRMAN AND RANKING MEMBER OF THE BUDGET COMMITTEE AND WHAT THEY DO. |
| 00:20:57 | AND THROUGH THE YEARS, I HAVE WATCHED WITH AWE AS THEY DEAL WITH EVERY SINGLE ISSUE THAT CONFRONTS US AND DO IT WITH A STEADINESS AND SKILL THAT IS INVEEABLE. |
| 00:21:10 | I DO MEAN THAT. |
| 00:21:16 | I THINK WE HAVE GOOD MEASURE HERE. |
| 00:21:18 | IT HAS CERTAINLY BEEN THROUGH THE GRINDER. |
| 00:21:22 | WE' VE ALL LOOKED AT IT CAREFULLY. |
| 00:21:23 | IT' S NOTHING NEW IN IT. |
| 00:21:25 | I' M GOING TO SUPPORT IT. |
| 00:21:28 | I SERVED ON THE FINANCE COMMITTEE. |
| 00:21:30 | I LISTENED TO THE HEARINGS. |
| 00:21:33 | I TRIED TO -- TO ADD MY OWN DIMENSION OF ACTIVITY AND SUPPORT TO IT IN ITS PASSAGE. |
| 00:21:41 | AND SO I COMMEND THOSE WHO HAVE WORKED SO HARD ON THIS ISSUE AND I COMMEND THE PRESIDENT, WHO HAS INDICATED HE WILL SIGN THE ISSUE. |
| 00:21:50 | THERE IS -- THERE ARE SOME TROUBLING THINGS IN THERE FOR ME AND ONE ESPECIALLY BECAUSE I DID NOT HAVE ANY REAL ACTIVE PARTICIPATION IN IT AND THAT IS WITH REGARD TO THE BENEFITS TO LEGAL IMMIGRANTS OF THE UNITED STATES. |
| 00:22:10 | THERE IS A GREAT DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AN ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT AND A PERMANENT RESIDENT ALIEN AND WE SHOULD NOT BE MAKING DISTINCTIONS ON PERMANENT RESIDENTS -- RESIDENT ALIENS IN MY MIND TO THE DEGREE HERE AND I DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN ANY ASPECT OF THAT BECAUSE I FELT IT WOULD DETRACT FROM WHAT I WAS TRYING TO DO WITH LEGAL AND ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION, WHICH WE HAVE DEALT WITH AND WHICH LEGAL IMMIGRATION WHICH WE DID NOT DEAL WITH. |
| 00:22:40 | AND NEXT YEAR WHEN LEGAL IMMIGRATION GOES UP 900, 000 TO ONE MILLION, THE PEOPLE OF AMERICA WILL WONDER WHAT WE DID IN THIS CONGRESS. |
| 00:22:51 | I THINK WE WILL DEAL WITH THE ISSUE OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION. |
| 00:22:55 | WE DO NOT SEEM TO BE FAR FROM RESOLVEMENT OF THAT. |
| 00:23:01 | BUT LET ME JUST SAY THAT I AM DEEPLY TROUBLED THAT THE CONFEREES FOR THE HEALTH INSURANCE BILL HAVE APPARENTLY DECIDED TO NOT INCLUDE ANY FORM OF MENTAL HEALTH PARITY ON THE FINAL BILL. |
| 00:23:14 | IN APRIL, 68 SENATORS VOTED AYE ON AN AMENDMENT BY SENATORS DOMENICI AND WELLSTONE THAT WOULD PROHIBIT HEALTH PLANS FROM DISCRIMINATING AGAINST PEOPLE WHO HAVE MENTAL ILLNESS. |
| 00:23:24 | THIS AMENDMENT WAS NOT A SENSE OF THE SENATE PROPOSAL OR SOME MEANINGLESS RESOLUTION. |
| 00:23:29 | WE DO PLENTY OF THOSE IN THIS PLACE. |
| 00:23:33 | THEY ALWAYS COME BACK TO HAUNT US BUT WE DO THEM ALL THE TIME. |
| 00:23:37 | SENSE OF SENATE THIS. |
| 00:23:38 | SENSE OF THE SENATE THAT. |
| 00:23:40 | THAT' S NOT WHAT THIS WAS. |
| 00:23:41 | IT WAS A REAL PIECE OF LEGISLATION THAT EXPRESSLY PROHIBITED HEALTH PLANS FROM IMPOSING TREATMENT LIMITS AND FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS ON SERVICES FOR MENTAL ILLNESS THAT ARE NOT ALSO IMPOSED WITH RESPECT TO PHYSICAL AILMENTS. |
| 00:23:54 | IT WAS DEEPLY GRATIFYING FOR ME PERSONALLY TO SEE SO MANY SENATORS CAST A ROLL CALL VOTE CLEARLY ON THE RECORD IN BIPARTISAN SUPPORT OF ENDING THIS TERRIBLY UNFAIR DISCRIMINATION. |
| 00:24:06 | IT IS DISCRIMINATION. |
| 00:24:07 | THAT' S WHAT IT IS. |
| 00:24:09 | WE TALK ABOUT THAT ALL DAY IN HERE -- DISCRIMINATION. |
| 00:24:13 | IF THERE' S EVER A MORE BLATANT FORM OF DISCRIMINATION, I DO NOT KNOW WHAT IT IS. |
| 00:24:17 | TO THINK THAT WE STILL CARRY THE STIGMA IN SOCIETY OF MENTAL ILLNESS IS -- IS DARK- AGES STUFF. |
| 00:24:25 | AND SO THREE MONTHS LATER I' M ABSOLUTELY STUNNED THAT WE ARE UNABLE TO GAIN SUPPORT FOR THE DOMENICI- WELLSTONE COMPROMISE WHICH REPRESENTS A VERY MERE SLICE, A MINUSCULE SLICE OF THE ORIGINAL AMENDMENT THAT RECEIVED THE 68 VOTES. |
| 00:24:41 | ALL THIS COMPROMISE WOULD REQUIRE IS THAT MENTAL HEALTH PARITY BE ACHIEVED WITH RESPECT TO ANNUAL LIMIT CAPS AND LIFETIME CAPS. |
| 00:24:49 | I THINK IT' S RATHER CURIOUS THAT THE CONFEREES REJECTED THIS COMPROMISE. |
| 00:24:55 | IT HELD TOUGH FOR SO LONG AND AT THE SAME TIME THEY ACCEPTED ANOTHER COMPROMISE ON MEDICAL SAVINGS ACCOUNTS, WHICH RECEIVED ONLY 46 VOTES ON THE SENATE FLOOR. |
| 00:25:04 | AND I' M ONE OF THE 46 WHO VOTED FOR MEDICAL SAVINGS ACCOUNTS, SO I' M PLEASED WE WERE ABLE TO WORK OUT AN AGREEMENT ON THAT ASPECT OF THE BILL. |
| 00:25:13 | BUT I CERTAINLY MUST QUESTION WHY THE SAME SPIRIT OF COOPERATION WAS NOWHERE TO BE FOUND WHEN THE ISSUE OF MENTAL HEALTH WAS CONSIDERED. |
| 00:25:21 | AND I' M ESPECIALLY TROUBLED THAT SOME OF THE INTEREST GROUPS -- AND, BOY, ARE THEY SHARPENING THEIR FANGS IN THIS SESSION OF THE LEGISLATURE. |
| 00:25:31 | I' VE FELT A LITTLE BIT OF IT -- BEEN SO AGGRESSIVE IN LOBBYING AGAINST THIS COMPROMISE. |
| 00:25:36 | TO SAY THAT THIS SMALL MEASURE OF PARITY IS TOO COSTLY IS ABSOLUTELY, UTTERLY ABSURD. |
| 00:25:43 | AND AS SENATOR DOMENICI HAS POINTED OUT, THIS ENTIRE BILL IS A MANDATE. |
| 00:25:51 | TO SINGLE OUT THIS ONE LONE -- LONELY METAL HEALTH PROVISION AND THRBAIL AS A COSTLY MANDATE WHEN THE WHOLE THING IS A MANDATE IS A CLASSIC EXAMPLE OF ABSURDITY AND DISCRIMINATION, AND I' LL USE THE TERM ONE MORE TIME. |
| 00:26:03 | SADLY, THAT IS WHAT THIS DEBATE IS NOW ALL ABOUT. |
| 00:26:08 | DISCRIMINATION IS SURELY NOT SOMETHING NEW TO THOSE WHO SUFFER FROM MENTAL ILLNESS, MY COLLEAGUES. |
| 00:26:14 | THEY' VE HAD IT FOR A LIFETIME. |
| 00:26:17 | AND THE STIGMA HANGS, AND IT IS DEMEANING AND IT IS WRONG. |
| 00:26:22 | AND IT IS NOT SOMETHING WE SHOULD ACCEPT WITHOUT A GOOD FIGHT. |
| 00:26:26 | BUT I HAVE THE DEEPEST ADMIRATION AND RESPECT FOR MY FRIEND, SENATOR KASSEBAUM, AND SHE CAME HERE WHEN I DID ALSO. |
| 00:26:34 | AND I WOULD CERTAINLY HATE TO SEE HER WORK PRODUCT INJURED OR DISRUPTED, BUT I RESPECTFULLY URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO CONSIDER WELL WHAT WE ARE DOING AND WOULD HOPE THAT SENATORS DOMENICI AND WELLSTONE WILL WORK TOWARDS SOME OTHER RESULT RESULT. |
| 00:26:52 | AND I WILL WORK WITH THEM IN THAT OBJECTIVE. |
| 00:26:57 | BUT IT IS TIME TO -- TO RID OURSELVES OF THIS -- OF THIS TRAGEDY OF STIGMA AND DISCRIMINATION AND TO SEE THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY DO WHAT THEY HAVE DONE WITH REGARD TO THIS DESERVES A CLOSER ATTENTION FROM ALL OF US. |
| 00:27:16 | AND OTHER ISSUES OF THE DAY WHERE THEY HAVE APPARENTLY FELT GREAT STRENGTH SURGING THROUGH THEIR MUSCLES AND DO THINGS THAT THEY NEVER DID BEFORE. |
| 00:27:26 | BUT WE WILL ADDRESS THAT AT SOME FUTURE TIME, TOO. |
| 00:27:28 | AND I CERTAINLY RESPECT THOSE WHO HAVE WORKED SO HARD TO BRING THIS ABOUT AND WILL CERTAINLY GIVE MY FULL ENERGIES TO SEEING IF WE CAN' T GET A RESULT. |
| 00:27:39 | AND I THANK THE CHAIR. |
| 00:27:40 | MR. |
| 00:27:41 | DOMENICI: MR. PRESIDENT? |
| 00:27:42 | THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE SENATOR FROM NEW MEXICO. |
| 00:27:43 | MR. |
| 00:27:44 | DOMENICI: MR. PRESIDENT, I WANT TO THANK SENATOR SIMPSON, AND I WANT TO SAY, SENATOR SIMPSON, I THINK YOU WOULD JOIN ME IN SAYING, AS BOTH OF US TALKED TO THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY ABOUT WHAT THEY HAVE DONE HERE, WE WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT SOME VERY GOOD BUSINESSES IN AMERICA ALREADY HAVE DECIDED TO COVER MENTAL ILLNESS. |
| 00:28:02 | AND NONE OF OUR REMARKS ARE DIRECTED AT THEM. |
| 00:28:05 | THERE ARE MANY SELF- INSURED AND OTHERWISE WHO ARE DOING A GOOD JOB OF CONSIDERING THIS DISCRIMINATION. |
| 00:28:10 | I THANK YOU FOR YOUR REMARKS, SENATOR SIMPSON. |
| 00:28:14 | MR. |
| 00:28:15 | EXON: MR. PRESIDENT? THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE SENATOR FROM NEBRASKA. |
| 00:28:18 | MR. EXON: I YIELD TO THE SENATOR FROM ALABAMA. |
| 00:28:20 | THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE SENATOR FROM ALABAMA. |
| 00:28:29 | MR. |
| 00:28:30 | HEFLIN: MR. PRESIDENT, I VOTED FOR A WELFARE REFORM BILL IN THE REAGAN ADMINISTRATION. |
| 00:28:41 | I VOTED FOR A WELFARE REFORM IN THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION. |
| 00:28:47 | AND I HOPE THAT WE ARE NOW GETTING TO THE EXTENT OF TRYING TO CORRECT THE WELFARE SYSTEM. |
| 00:28:55 | ONE THING IS CERTAIN -- REGARDLESS OF ITS SHORT SHORTCOMINGS, THIS BILL IS A PRODUCT OF SINCERE EFFORTS TO END THE HARMFUL DEPENDENCY AND OTHER SEVERE SHORTCOMINGS THAT CURRENTLY EXIST IN OUR WELFARE SYSTEM. |
| 00:29:14 | HOWEVER, THE BILL THAT WE PASSED IN THE SENATE BEFORE, WHICH OVERHAULED THE WELFARE SYSTEM IN AN ADMIRABLE WAY, IN MY JUDGMENT, DID SO WITHOUT THE HARSHNESS OF PREVIOUS BILLS THAT WE HAD VOTED ON IN THIS SESSION WHICH HAD BEEN VETOED. |
| 00:29:35 | THE TWO VETOES, ALONG WITH THE THREAT OF A THIRD VETO, SERVED THE PURPOSE OF ELIMINATING THE EXTREME MEASURES WHICH MADE THE PREVIOUS BILL UNACCEPTABLE, EVEN HARMFUL. |
| 00:29:49 | AMONG ITS VAST IMPROVEMENTS IS THE FACT THAT THE FOOD STAMP PROVISIONS ARE NOT BLOCK GRANTED, AND ALSO THE CHILD NUTRITION PROGRAM, SUCH AS THE SCHOOL LUNCH PROGRAM, ARE NOT BLOCK GRANTED. |
| 00:30:04 | I HAVE GRAVE FEARS THAT THE BLOCK GRANTING OF THESE KIND OF NUTRITION PROGRAMS WOULD IMPOSE TREMENDOUS BURDENS ON STATES LIKE MINE, OF ALABAMA, WHICH OVER THE YEARS HAVE SUFFERED FROM SEVERE PERIODS OF BUDGE PRORATION AND ECONOMIC RECESSIONS. |
| 00:30:23 | PROGRAMS LIKE THESE AIMED AT HELPING CHILDREN AND THE POOR WOULD HAVE FACED DRASTIC CUTS IF THEY HAD BEEN BLOCK GRANTED. |
| 00:30:37 | THIS REFORM WELFARE LEGISLATION, WHILE NOT AS SOUND AS THE SENATE- PASSED PLAN, IS STILL A VAST IMPROVEMENT OVER THE REPUBLICAN BILLS WHICH WERE VETOED. |
| 00:30:46 | AND AS I STATED, I STILL HAVE SOME RESERVATIONS CONCERNING CERTAIN PROVISIONS CONTAINED IN THIS MEASURE, BUT I BELIEVE THAT OVERALL THE POSITIVE OUT OUTWEIGHS THE NEGATIVE AND I BELIEVE THAT THE COMPROMISE WE' VE STRUCK IS A MAJOR STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. |
| 00:31:03 | I ASK THAT MY PREPARED STATEMENT BE -- APPEAR IN THE RECORD IN FULL RATHER THAN MY EXTEMPORANEOUS REMARKS. |
| 00:31:11 | THE PRESIDING OFFICER: WITHOUT OBJECTION. |
| 00:31:17 | MR. |
| 00:31:18 | DOMENICI: MR. PRESIDENT? |
| 00:31:19 | THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE SENATOR FROM NEW MEXICO. |
| 00:31:21 | MR. |
| 00:31:22 | DOMENICI: I BELIEVE OUR LAST SENATOR OTHER THAN THE LEADER AND MYSELF, SENATOR THURMOND, AND HE' D LIKE EIGHT MINUTES. |
| 00:31:28 | AND WE HAVE PLENTY OF TIME, SO I GIVE HIM EIGHT MINUTES. |
| 00:31:31 | MR. |
| 00:31:32 | THURMOND: MR. PRESIDENT? THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE SENATOR FROM SOUTH CAROLINA. |
| 00:31:35 | MR. |
| 00:31:36 | THURMOND: MR. |
| 00:31:38 | PRESIDENT, I RISE IN SUPPORT OF THE CONFERENCE REPORT TO H. |
| 00:31:44 | R. 3734 3734, THE PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY AND WORK OPPORTUNITY RECONCILIATION ACT OF 1996. |
| 00:31:50 | THIS LEGISLATION REFORMS WELFARE, EMPHASIZES FUNDAMENTAL AMERICAN VALUES. |
| 00:31:57 | IT AWARDS WORK AND SELF- RELIANCE, PROMOTES PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY, AND RENEWS A SENSE OF HOPE IN THE FUTURE. |
| 00:32:04 | ADDITIONALLY, THE BILL SLOWS THE GROWTH OF FEDERAL WELFARE SPENDING, THUS REDUCING THE FEDERAL BUDGET DEFICIT BY $ 55 BILLION OVER SIX YEARS. |
| 00:32:15 | THE MEASURE DOES PROVIDE SUFFICIENT INCREASES IN SPENDING TO PROTECT VULNERABLE POPULATIONS. |
| 00:32:21 | MR. |
| 00:32:22 | PRESIDENT, THIS CONGRESS PREVIOUSLY PASSED TWO WELFARE REFORM BILLS. |
| 00:32:25 | THE PRESIDENT SUBSEQUENTLY VETOED THOSE BILLS DESPITE HIS 1992 CAMPAIGN PLEDGE TO END WELFARE AS WE KNOW IT. |
| 00:32:35 | I HOPE AS WE SEND HIM ANOTHER BILL THAT THE PRESIDENT WILL FINALLY KEEP HIS PLEDGE ON THIS ISSUE AND SIGN THE BILL. |
| 00:32:41 | MR. |
| 00:32:42 | PRESIDENT, MORE THAN 30 YEARS AGO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DECLARED ITS WAR ON POVERTY. |
| 00:32:46 | SINCE THEN, THE NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS RECEIVING AID TO FAMILIES WITH DEPENDENT CHILDREN HAS MORE THAN TRIPLED TRIPLED. |
| 00:32:54 | OVER TWO- THIRDS OF THESE RECIPIENTS ARE CHILDREN. |
| 00:32:56 | THE INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN RECEIVING PUBLIC ASSISTANCE IS CLOSELY RELATED TO THE DRAMATIC INCREASE IN BIRTHS TO UNMARRIED WOMEN, PARTICULARLY TO TEENAGE YOUNG WOMEN. |
| 00:33:08 | MR. |
| 00:33:09 | PRESIDENT, THE WAR ON POVERTY HAS INFLICTED MANY CASUALTIES, MULTIPLE GENERATIONS OF CHILDREN HAVE GROWN TO ADULTHOOD CONTINUING WELFARE AS A WAY OF LIFE. |
| 00:33:21 | MOTHERS AND CHILDREN HAVE BEEN ABANDONED. |
| 00:33:24 | FAMILIES HAVE BEEN DESTROYED BY LONG- TERM DEPENDENCE ON GOVERNMENT. |
| 00:33:28 | THE WAR ON POVERTY HAS BEEN COSTLY, BOTH IN TERMS OF HUMAN SUFFERING AND TAXPAYER DOLLARS SPENT. |
| 00:33:35 | IN CONTRAST, THIS REFORM MEASURE TAKES STEPS TO PROMOTE STABLE FAMILIES AND DISCOURAGE ILLEGITIMACY. |
| 00:33:42 | WE RECOGNIZE MANY CHILDREN IN AMERICA ARE VULNERABLE. |
| 00:33:46 | IN RESPONSE TO THIS NEED, THE BILL GUARANTEES THEY WILL CONTINUE TO RECEIVE THE SUPPORT THEY NEED. |
| 00:33:53 | IN DOING SO, THE PROSPECTS OF CHILDREN IN WELFARE FAMILIES ARE GREATLY IMPROVED. |
| 00:33:58 | MR. |
| 00:34:01 | PRESIDENT, THE MEASURE BEFORE US IS BUILT ON FIVE MAIN PRINCIPLES WHICH I BELIEVE ARE SUPPORTED BY RESIDENTS OF SOUTH CAROLINA AND BY THE AMERICAN PEOPLE IN GENERAL. |
| 00:34:09 | I WOULD LIKE TO BRIEFLY SUMMARIZE THESE PILLARS OF WELFARE REFORM. |
| 00:34:14 | FIRST, WELFARE SHOULD NOT BE A WAY OF LIFE. |
| 00:34:21 | BY FACING -- PLACING LIFETIME LIMITS ON BENEFITS, THIS BILL ASSURES THAT WELFARE WILL BE TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE TO THOSE WHO ARE IN NEED. |
| 00:34:28 | THE SECOND PRINCIPLE IS WORK, NOT WELFARE. |
| 00:34:32 | ABLE- BODIED BENEFICIARIES WILL FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER BE REQUIRED TO WORK FOR THEIR BENEFITS. |
| 00:34:38 | THIS PRINCIPLE IS DESIGNED TO RESTORE DIGNITY TO THE INDIVIDUAL AND FAIRNESS TO THE SYSTEM. |
| 00:34:45 | THIRD, WELFARE FOR NONCITIZENS AND FELONS WILL BE LIMITED. |
| 00:34:50 | THE BILL PROVIDES ADEQUATE EXCEPTIONS FOR EMERGENCY BENEFITS FOR REFUGEES AND FOR THOSE WHO HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THIS NATION BY PAYING TAXES FOR 10 YEARS OR THROUGH MILITARY SERVICE. |
| 00:35:02 | FOURTH, THE BILL ENCOURAGES PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY TO HALT RISING ILLEGITIMACY RATES RATES. |
| 00:35:10 | THIS LEGISLATION SEEKS TO COUNTER THAT TREND BY INCREASING EFFORTS TO ESTABLISH PATERNITY AND ENFORCE CHILD SUPPORT ORDERS. |
| 00:35:18 | FURTHERMORE, THE BILL ENCOURAGES THE FORMATION AND MAINTENANCE OF TWO- PARENT FAMILIES. |
| 00:35:24 | FINALLY, THIS LEGISLATION TURNS RESPONSIBILITY AND FLEXIBILITY TO THE -- RETURNS RESPONSIBILITY AND FLEXIBILITY TO THE STATES. |
| 00:35:32 | THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT HAS AN OBLIGATION TO PROMOTE THE GENERAL WELFARE OF THE UNITED STATES. |
| 00:35:36 | AT THE SAME TIME, WE KNOW THAT THOSE WHO ARE CLOSEST TO THE PROBLEM ARE BETTER ABLE TO PROVIDE FOR THE SPECIFIC WELFARE NEEDY INDIVIDUALS. |
| 00:35:47 | THIS BILL ESTABLISHES GENERAL GUIDELINES AND PROVIDES BROAD CASH WELFARE AND CHILD- CARE BLOCK GRANTS. |
| 00:35:55 | WITH THIS FLEXIBILITY, STATES CAN DESIGN PROGRAMS THAT MEET LOCAL CONDITIONS AND PARTICULAR NEEDS. |
| 00:36:02 | MR. |
| 00:36:03 | PRESIDENT, LIKE THE TWO VETOED BILLS THAT PRECEDED IT, THIS BILL HAS MANY PROVISIONS THAT WILL ENCOURAGE WORK AND EDUCATION. |
| 00:36:11 | LESSEN DEPENDENCY ON THE GOVERNMENT AND FOSTER AN ENVIRONMENT TO REDUCE UNWED AND TEEN PREGNANCY. |
| 00:36:19 | THE LEGISLATION ALSO ENSURES THAT NEEDY AMERICANS WILL RECEIVE A WIDE RANGE OF SERVICES, INCLUDING CASH ASSISTANCE, CHILD CARE, FOOD STAMPS, MEDICARE, CHILD NUTRITION, AND DISABILITY PAYMENTS. |
| 00:36:32 | THE BILL ALSO CONTAINS STRONG PROVISIONS RELATED TO CHILD SUPPORT ENFORCEMENT, CHILD PROTECTION, FOSTER CARE, AND ADOPTION ASSISTANCE. |
| 00:36:42 | I COMPLIMENT THE MANAGERS OF THE BILL WHO HAVE BROUGHT HISTORIC REFORM TO OUR WELFARE SYSTEM. |
| 00:36:50 | THIS BILL DESERVES OUR SUPPORT SUPPORT. |
| 00:36:52 | MR. |
| 00:36:53 | PRESIDENT, I THANK YOU AND I YIELD THE FLOOR. |
| 00:36:57 | MR. |
| 00:36:58 | DOMENICI: MR. |
| 00:36:59 | PRESIDENT? THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE SENATOR FROM NEW MEXICO. |
| 00:37:01 | MR. DOMENICI: MR. PRESIDENT, I YIELD TWO MINUTES OFF OUR SIDE TO SENATOR FORD TO GO ALONG WITH WHATEVER HE HAS. |
| 00:37:05 | THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE SENATOR FROM KENTUCKY. |
| 00:37:11 | MR. |
| 00:37:12 | EXON: I YIELD TWO MINUTES ON OUR SIDE TO THE SENATOR FROM KENTUCKY. |
| 00:37:16 | MR. |
| 00:37:17 | FORD: MR. PRESIDENT? |
| 00:37:18 | MR. PRESIDENT, I THANK MY FRIEND FROM NEW MEXICO FOR ALLOWING ME TO HAVE A COUPLE OF MINUTES. |
| 00:37:22 | MR. |
| 00:37:23 | PRESIDENT, I THINK WE NEED TO BE VERY CAREFUL TO PUT THIS BILL IN PERSPECTIVE. |
| 00:37:28 | YES, IT WILL MODIFY A SYSTEM THAT HAS NO ONE -- THAT NO ONE DEFENDS. |
| 00:37:34 | YES, IT WILL GIVE STATES MORE FLEXIBILITY TO DEAL WITH THEIR POOREST CITIZENS, YET IT WILL PROVIDE MORE FOR CHILD CARE THAN H. |
| 00:37:42 | R. 4, EASING ONE OF THE GREATEST BARRIERS FOR THOSE ON WELFARE WHO WANT TO WORK. |
| 00:37:46 | ALL THESE THINGS ARE GOOD REASONS FOR SUPPORTING THIS BILL. |
| 00:37:51 | BUT I FIND SOME OF THE PREDICTIONS WHAT THIS BILL WOULD DO TO BE A BIT OF THE STRETCH. |
| 00:37:55 | IT IS BEING SUGGESTED BY SOME THAT THE BILL WILL REDUCE POVERTY RATE, THE ILLEGITIMACY RATE, THE TEEN PREGNANCY RATE, CRIME RATE -- JUST ABOUT EVERY OTHER KIND OF RATE YOU CAN IMAGINE. |
| 00:38:07 | WE HEAR THAT THIS BILL PROVIDES DYNAMIC OPPORTUNITIES FOR EDUCATION AND TRAINING AND IS THE OPPORTUNITY THAT PEOPLE WHO ARE POOR IN THIS COUNTRY HAVE BEEN ASKING FOR. |
| 00:38:17 | WELL, I HOPE THE STRONGEST SUPPORTERS OF THIS BILL ARE RIGHT. |
| 00:38:20 | SOMETIMES I WONDER WHEN I LISTEN TO SOME OF THESE SPEECHES JUST HOW MANY POOR PEOPLE SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES HAVE EVER MET. |
| 00:38:26 | MAYBE THEY COULD COME TO EASTERN KENTUCKY. |
| 00:38:28 | MAYBE THEY COULD UNDERSTAND HOW DIFFICULT IT IS TO DETERMINE WHETHER A LACK OF PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY OR A LACK OF OPPORTUNITY IS THE GREATEST CAUSE OF POVERTY. |
| 00:38:40 | FOR THOSE OF US IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS POLITICAL SPECTRUM, THIS IS A TOUGH VOTE. |
| 00:38:44 | WHEN I HEAR SOME OF THE PREDICTIONS ABOUT WHAT THIS BILL WILL AUTO -- WILL DO, I AM SEPTEMBER CAL. |
| 00:38:49 | I HAVE A HARD TIME FIGURING OUT HOW IT WILL AFFECT MY STATE. |
| 00:38:53 | WE' VE BEEN DOING SOME INNOVATIVE THINGS IN KENTUCKY WITH WELFARE REFORM. |
| 00:38:57 | WE ARE ONE OF THE TEN STATES LEFT THAT HAS NOT OBTAINED A FEDERAL WAIVER FROM WELFARE LAWS. |
| 00:39:02 | SOMETHING YOU HEAR SO MUCH ABOUT IN WASHINGTON TODAY. |
| 00:39:06 | YET WE ARE ONE OF THE TOP TEN STATES IN REDUCING WELFARE ROLLS. |
| 00:39:11 | REDUCING WELFARE ROLLS WITHOUT A WAIVER. |
| 00:39:14 | 23% REDUCTION SINCE JANUARY OF 1993. |
| 00:39:17 | WE HAVE TRIED A LOT OF THINGS TO PUT OUR PEOPLE TO WORK. |
| 00:39:20 | OUR CURRENT GOVERNOR IS LOOKING AT EVEN BROADER CHANGES CHANGES. |
| 00:39:24 | MAYBE THIS BILL WILL ALLOW THEM TO DO MOST THINGS WITHOUT HAVING TO WORRY ABOUT A WAIVER REQUEST, AND THAT IS A GOOD THING. |
| 00:39:32 | BUT WHEN I TALK TO THOSE IN MY STATE AND ASK THEM WHY OUR WELFARE ROLLS HAVE COME DOWN, THE MOST IMPORTANT REASON I HEAR ABOUT IS THE IMPROVEMENT IN THE ECONOMY. |
| 00:39:42 | I REMEMBER HOW TOUGH THE VOTE WAS IN 1993 ON THE DEFICIT- REDUCTION PACKAGE. |
| 00:39:48 | I BELIEVE THAT VOTE HAD A LOT TO DO WITH THE STRENGTH OF OUR ECONOMY TODAY. |
| 00:39:53 | IN MANY WAYS THAT BILL MAY HAVE BEEN MUCH MORE IMPORTANT IN REDUCING WELFARE ROLLS AND PUTTING PEOPLE TO WORK THAN THE WELFARE BILL BEFORE US TODAY. |
| 00:40:03 | AND SPEAKING OF PREDICTIONS, I REMEMBER THE PREDICTIONS THAT OPPONENTS OF DEFICIT REDUCTION MADE IN 1993. |
| 00:40:10 | THEY SAID THAT THE 1993 DEFICIT- REDUCTION PACKAGE WOULD CAUSE A RECESSION, COST JOBS, INCREASE INFLATION, CAUSE INTEREST RATES TO RISE, FAIL TO REDUCE THE DEFICIT BELOW $ 200 BILLION AND SHAKE UP THE STOCK MARKET. |
| 00:40:24 | GUESS WHAT, MR. |
| 00:40:27 | PRESIDENT? OUR FRIENDS WHO MADE THOSE PREDICTIONS ARE ZERO FOR SIX. |
| 00:40:31 | THAT KIND OF BATTING AVERAGE WON' T EVEN GET YOU IN THE MINOR LEAGUES. |
| 00:40:34 | JUST THIS MORNING WE LEARNED THAT THE ECONOMY GREW IN THE SECOND QUARTER AN EXTREMELY STRONG ANNUAL RATE OF 4. |
| 00:40:43 | 2%. WE HAVE A HEALTHY, GROWING ECONOMY. |
| 00:40:45 | THE DEFICIT' S BEEN CUT FROM $ 290 BILLION TO $ 117 BILLION AND MAY GO BELOW THAT. |
| 00:40:52 | THESE ARE IMPORTANT REASONS WHY THE WELFARE ROLLS ARE DOWN IN MY STATE BY 23%. |
| 00:40:57 | SOME OF OUR COLLEAGUES WHO MADE THOSE WRONG PREDICTIONS ABOUT THE 1993 DEFICIT- REDUCTION PACKAGE ARE THE SAME ONES MAKING THE BOLDEST PREDICTIONS ABOUT WHAT THIS WELFARE BILL WILL DO. |
| 00:41:09 | SO I AM SKEPTICAL. |
| 00:41:10 | I' M WILLING TO SUPPORT AND WILL SUPPORT THIS CONFERENCE REPORT FOR THE STEPS IT TAKES IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, BUT WE NEED TO MONITOR THE IMPACT OF THIS BILL VERY CAREFULLY. |
| 00:41:22 | ABOUT THE ONLY THING WE KNOW FOR SURE IS THAT IT WILL REDUCE THE GROWTH IN WELFARE SPENDING BY ABOUT $ 55 BILLION OVER THE NEXT SIX YEARS. |
| 00:41:32 | WE HOPE IT WILL ACHIEVE SOME OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT ARE BEING PREDICTED TODAY AND AT LEAST GIVE OUR GOVERNORS AND STATE LEGISLATURES MORE FLEXIBILITY IN EXPERIMENTING AND DESIGNING PROGRAMS WHICH ADDRESS POVERTY. |
| 00:41:45 | I HOPE THAT WE WILL SEE MORE SUCCESS AT THE STATE LEVEL. |
| 00:41:50 | BUT SOMEHOW I AM ALSO QUITE CERTAIN THAT AS WE MONITOR THE IMPACT OF THIS BILL, WE WILL QUICKLY FIND OUT THAT THIS IS NOT THE END OF THE WELFARE REFORM DEBATE AND THAT THE FUTURE CONGRESSES WILL FIND THERE' S MUCH MORE WORK TO BE DONE. |
| 00:42:05 | I THANK THE CHAIR AND YIELD THE FLOOR. |
| 00:42:09 | MR. |
| 00:42:10 | DOMENICI: MR. |
| 00:42:11 | PRESIDENT? THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE SENATOR FROM NEW MEXICO. |
| 00:42:12 | MR. |
| 00:42:13 | DOMENICI: SENATOR ROTH STARTED OFF THE DAY FOLLOWING ME. |
| 00:42:15 | SINCE HE' S THE CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMITTEE THAT WROTE MOST OF THIS, WE THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE APPROPRIATE THAT HE GIVE A CLOSING ARGUMENT AND WE' VE SAVED TIME FOR HIM. |
| 00:42:23 | I YIELD FIVE MINUTES TO SENATOR ROTH. |
| 00:42:25 | MR. |
| 00:42:26 | ROTH: MR. |
| 00:42:27 | PRESIDENT, IN THESE LAST FEW MINUTES BEFORE WE PUT AUGUST 1, 1996, INTO THE HISTORY BOOKS, AS THE DAY WE END THE WELFARE SYSTEM AS WE KNOW IT, I WILL CLOSE WITH A FEW OBSERVATIONS AND SOME IMPORTANT ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. |
| 00:42:46 | LAST FEBRUARY, AFTER WELFARE REFORM HAD BEEN VETOED TWICE, THE NATION' S GOVERNORS RESTARTED TODAY' S LEGISLATION BY REACHING A UNANIMOUS AGREEMENT TO REFORM WELFARE. |
| 00:43:01 | GOVERNORS JOHN ENGLER TESTIFIED BEFORE THE -- OF MICHIGAN TESTIFIED BEFORE THE FINANCE COMMITTEE LATER THAT MONTH AND PUT THIS ENTIRE DEBATE INTO ITS PROPER PERSPECTIVE. |
| 00:43:17 | HE SAID, " JUST CONSIDER THE '" WASHINGTON POST"' HEADLINE DESCRIBING WHAT THE GOVERNOR' S POLICY ADOPTED NATIONAL WITH THE -- UNANIMOUSLY WITH THE SUPPORT OUR MOST CONSERVATIVE AND MOST LIBERAL GOVERNOR AND EVERYBODY IN BETWEEN MEANT. |
| 00:43:34 | AND THE ' POST' HEADLINE READ -- I QUOTE -- ' GOVERNOR' S REFORM PLAN WOULD BREAK WITH 60 YEARS OF POLICY. |
| 00:43:42 | '" AND GOVERNOR ENGLER WENT ON TO SAY, REMEMBER WHEN THE GOVERNORS' PURPOSE IN CHANGING A LAW THAT HAS BEEN THE BASIS OF FEDERAL POLICY FOR 60 YEARS AND REMEMBER HOW COUNTERPRODUCTIVE THESE POLICIES HAVE BEEN. |
| 00:44:02 | THEY PUNISH PARENTS WHO WORK TOO MUCH. |
| 00:44:04 | THEY PUNISH MOTHERS AND FATHERS WHO WANT TO STAY TOGETHER. |
| 00:44:07 | THEY PUNISH WORKING FAMILIES WHO SAVE MONEY. |
| 00:44:11 | AND THEY REWARD TEENAGERS WHO HAVE BAY BUSINESS OUT OF WEDLOCK, AND THE LIS -- BABIES OUT OF WEDLOCK, AND LTS LIST IS LONGER. |
| 00:44:22 | " MR. |
| 00:44:24 | PRESIDENT, THIS 60 YEAR- OLD WELFARE SYSTEM REWARDS THE BEHAVIOR THAT LEADS TO POVERTY, AND PUFFING SHE IS THE BEHAVIOR THAT PUN SHESZ LTS PAVER R BEHAVE THAT LEADS OUT OF POVERTY. |
| 00:44:37 | YES, IT IS TIME TO ENDS THIS SYSTEM. |
| 00:44:39 | MR. PRESIDENT, THIS LEGISLATION IS ABOUT PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY AND WORK OPPORTUNITY. |
| 00:44:47 | WORK IS NOT ONLY ABOUT EARNING OUR DAILY BREAD, WORK IS AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE HUMAN CONDITION. |
| 00:44:56 | A PARENT' S WORK ALSO TEECHSZ THE VALUES NECESSARY TO PREPARE THE NEXT GENERATION FOR ITS RESPONSIBILITIES. |
| 00:45:06 | WE CAN ALL BE PROWLED OF OUR WORK TODAY, BECAUSE IT WILL -- PROUD OF OUR WORK TODAY, BECAUSE IT WILL MAKE A PROPOSE FOUND DIFFERENCE IN THE LIFEBESTEZE OF MILLIONS OF AMERICANS. |
| 00:45:16 | IT WILL GO DOWN AS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT LEGISLATION ACTIVE ACHIEVEMENTS, NOT ONLY IN THIS CONGRESS, BUT IN MANY, MANY YEARS. |
| 00:45:25 | THIS IS AN HISTORIC WEEK FOR AN HISTORIC CONGRESS. |
| 00:45:29 | IN A MATTER OF WEEKS WE HAVE MOVED FROM GRIDLOCK TO WINNING GOLD MEDALS, WELFARE REFORM IS CERTAINLY ONE OF OUR SGOLD MEDAL ACHIEVEMENTS. |
| 00:45:41 | AND I WILL END BY AGAIN THANKING SENATOR DOMENICI FOR HIS LEADERSHIP IN ORCHESTRATEING THIS LEGISLATION THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS. |
| 00:45:49 | AND I WANT TO EXTEND MY THANKS TO THE FINANCE COMMITTEE CONFEREES, SENATOR CHAFEE, GRASSLEY, HATCH, AND SIMPSON, FOR THEIR EXTRAORDINARY ASSISTANCE AND COOPERATION. |
| 00:46:00 | THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF SENATOR STPHIK ELSE AND SENATOR GRAMM AND SENATOR -- NICKLES AND SENATOR GRAMM AND SENATOR SANTORUM AS WE MOVED THROUGH THE CONFERENCE CANNOT BE OVERSTATED. |
| 00:46:13 | THEY PLAYED KEY ROLES IN ASSURING THIS LEGISLATION WOULD MEET ALL OF OUR OBJECTIVES, ESPECIALLY WITH RESPECT TO TOUGH WORK REQUIREMENTS. |
| 00:46:24 | AND LET ME COMPLEMENT THE -- COMPLIMENT THE MAJORITY LEADER, SENATOR LOTT. |
| 00:46:30 | GETTING THIS CONFERENCE REPORT COMPLETED. |
| 00:46:33 | THIS IS A MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENT IN THE BRIEF TIME OF HIS LEADERSHIP MOTION. |
| 00:46:37 | OUR FORMER MAJORITY LEADER AND COLLEAGUE BOB DOLE DESERVES AS MUCH CREDIT AS ANYONE FOR THIS LEGISLATION. |
| 00:46:44 | WHEN THE TOUGH DECISIONS NEEDED TO BE MADE, AND THERE WERE PLENTY THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS, HE DEMONSTRATED THE LEADERSHIP WE ALL LOOKED TO. |
| 00:46:54 | AND I EXTEND MY CONGRATULATIONS AND THANKS TO THOSE MEMBERS IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES WHO HAVE WORKED SO HARD ON THIS ISSUE. |
| 00:47:03 | IT WAS A PRIVILEGE TO WORK WITH CHAIRMAN BILL ARCHER, CLAY SHAW, BILL GOOD LINK AND TOM BLILEY OVER THESE MANY MONTHS. |
| 00:47:12 | I EXTEND THE THANKS OF EVERYONE TO BOTH THE MAJORITY AND MINORITY STAFFS OF THE LEADERSHIP, THE FINANCE COMMITTEE, THE BUDGET COMMITTEE, AND THE AGRICULTURE COMMITTEE, FOR THEIR WORK. |
| 00:47:24 | THERE ARE TOO MANY TO NAME INDIVIDUALLY, AND I WOULD NOT WANT TO FAIL TO MENTION ANYONE. |
| 00:47:29 | I DO THANK EACH OF THEM. |
| 00:47:32 | AND I ALSO WANT TO GIVE MY THANKS TO TO THE RESPECTIVE STAFSZ IN THE HOUSE. |
| 00:47:37 | THOSE NAMES I WOULD ASK BE INCLUDED AS IF READ. |
| 00:47:39 | THE PRESIDING OFFICER: WITHOUT OBJECTION. |
| 00:47:43 | MR. |
| 00:47:45 | ROTH: MR. CHAIRMAN -- MR. |
| 00:47:46 | PRESIDENT, LET ME SAY IN CLOSING, THIS WILL INDEED BE A DAY TO REMEMBER. |
| 00:47:52 | THANK YOU AND CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL IN THE HOUSE AND SENATE WHO STUCK TO OUR PRINCIPLES AND STAYED TOGETHER TO MAKE THIS A REALITY TOGETHER WE HAVE MADE A DIFFERENCE. |
| 00:48:05 | I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY TIME. |
| 00:48:07 | MR. |
| 00:48:08 | DOMENICI: MR. PRESIDENT? THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE SENATOR FROM NEW MEXICO. |
| 00:48:10 | MR. |
| 00:48:11 | DOMENICI: I BELIEVE WE HAVE A FEW MOMENTS LEFT. |
| 00:48:12 | CAN YOU TELL ME HOW MANY? |
| 00:48:14 | THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE SENATOR HAS SEVEN MINUTES 15 SECONDS. |
| 00:48:19 | MR. DOMENICI: I HAVE FIVE MINUTES AND YIELD THE BALANCE TO OUR LEADER WHO WILL USE LEADER TIME FOR THE REMAINDER. |
| 00:48:25 | MR. |
| 00:48:26 | PRESIDENT, WHILE I HAVE DURING THE DAY GIVEN DEFERENCE TO THIS BEING A VERY BIPARTISAN EFFORT, AND WHILE I HAVE SFRMT DURING THE DAY SAID WE ARE GLAD -- FROM TIME TO TIME DURING THE DAY SAID WE ARE GLAD THE PRESIDENT WILL SIGN THIS, I GIVE MY CLOSING TIME TO THE THANK THE SENATORS FROM THE UNITED STATES SENATE AND THE REPUBLICANS IN THE UNITED STATES HOUSE. |
| 00:48:50 | IT IS OBVIOUS THE EMPTY CAME INTO OFFERS PROMISING THE END TO WELFARE AS WE KNOW IT, AND FOR TWO YEARS DURING HIS ADMINISTRATION HE HAD A HOUSE THAT WAS IN CONTROL. |
| 00:49:00 | DEMOCRATS IN THE SENATE, AND IN CONTROL. |
| 00:49:03 | DEMOCRATS IN THE HOUSE. |
| 00:49:06 | AND NO WELFARE REFORM WAS ACHIEVED. |
| 00:49:08 | NOW WHILE WE ARE GLAD TO HAVE THE PRESIDENT SAYING YES, I' M GOING TO SIGN THIS BILL, I DON' T THINK IT OUGHT TO ESCAPE ANYONE THAT THERE WOULD BE NO WELFARE REFORM IF THE REPUBLICANS HAD NOT TAKEN CONTROL. |
| 00:49:22 | U. |
| 00:49:24 | S. HOUSE AND THE U. S. SENATE. I BELIEVE I CAN SAY THAT WITH A DEGREE OF CERTAINTY, BECAUSE I HAVE WORKED ON RECONCILIATION BILLS AND BUDGET BILLS THAT CALLED FOR REFORM FOR AT LEAST TEN YEARS, AND NOTHING HAPPENS. |
| 00:49:36 | SO I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU. |
| 00:49:38 | THANK YOU TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WHO ELECTED REPUBLICAN MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE, AND REPUBLICAN MEMBERS OF THE SENATE, BECAUSE TONIGHT WE CELEBRATE A VERY, VERY SIGNIFICANT ACHIEVEMENT. |
| 00:49:49 | AS WE MOVE THROUGH THE CHAMBERS OF THE SENATE WITH OUR EFFORTS TO GET A BALANCED BUDGET, AND I SAY TO MOST REPUBLICANS, IT WAS TRULY A DIFFICULT JOB TO STAND HERE AND ASK YOU TO VOTE NOR ALL THOSE TOUGH ITEMS AS WE MOVED A BUDGET RESOLUTION TOWARD BALANCE AND A RECONCILIATION BILL, A BIG BILL CHANGING THE LAW, ONLY TO FIND THAT THE PRESIDENT DIDN' T AGREE. |
| 00:50:17 | BUT I BELIEVE TONIGHT THE FRUITS OF THAT EFFORT ARE GOING TO BE REFER LIESED, AND A PROGRAM THAT HAS NOT WORKED FOR MILLIONS OF AMERICANS WILL BEGIN TO WORK? |
| 00:50:30 | THEIR BEHALF AS IT WORKS FOR ALL AMERICANS WHO GET JOBS AND ASSUME PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY. |
| 00:50:38 | FOR TONIGHT WE HAVE SAY IF 60 YEARS AGO OR EVEN 30 YEARS AGO OR EVEN 10 YEARS AGO, WE WOULD HAVE LOOKED AT THIS PROGRAM AND SAID IT IS INCONSISTENT WITH EVERYTHING THAT' S GOOD ABOUT AMERICA, NOR IT LOCKS PEOPLE? |
| 00:50:57 | MOVER AT THIS, AND DENIES THEM THE INTEREST AND ENTHUSIASM -- LOCKS PEOPLE? |
| 00:51:03 | POVERTY, AND DENIES THEM THE INTEREST AND ENTHUSIASM IT FROM JOBS. |
| 00:51:09 | FOR MANY YEARS THE LAWS OF AMERICA WERE ADMINISTERED BY PEOPLE WORRIED ABOUT THE SEWS LOGICAL PROBLEMS OF THE POOR. |
| 00:51:15 | I AM HOPEFUL THAT ACROSS AMERICA THE OFFICES THAT ARE HELPING WELFARE PEOPLE WILL BE JOB TRAINING -- WILL BE JOBS ORIENTED. |
| 00:51:25 | WILL BE TALKING ABOUT TRAINING AND EDUCATION, AND HOW PEOPLE CAN GET OFF WELFARE INSTEAD OF FINDING WAY TOSS ASSURE THEM THAT THEY CAN STAY ON. |
| 00:51:35 | FOR THIS -- WAYS TO ASSURE THEM THAT THEY CAN STAY ON. |
| 00:51:38 | NOR THIS BILL SAYS MOST AMERICANS WORK, AND WE ARE GOING TO ASK THAT WELFARE RECIPIENTS WORK. |
| 00:51:44 | WE ARE GOING TO GIVE THEM TRAINING, WE ARE GOING TO GIVE THEM CHILD CARE, BUT WE ARE GOING TO SAY YOU OUGHT TO WORK, BECAUSE THROUGH WORK YOU GET RESPONSIBILITY, AND THROUGH RESPONSIBILITY YOU AND YOUR FAMILIES GET THE JOB OF LIVING. |
| 00:51:56 | SECOND, SIMPLE AS IT SOUNDS, WE ARE GOING TO Z PARENTS TO TAKE CARE OF THEIR CHILDREN. |
| 00:52:02 | WE STRESS PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY. |
| 00:52:05 | AND I CAN PREDICT THAT ACROSS THIS LAND AS MILLIONS OF WELFARE RECIPIENTS WHO ARE NOT WORKING AND HAVE CHILDREN GET JOBS, GUESS WHO IS GOING TO BE THE HAPPEN YET ABOUT IT? |
| 00:52:16 | THEIR CHILDREN. FOR THEY DON' T LIKE IT ANYMORE THAN ANYONE ELSE THAT THEY ARE LOCKED AND SO ARE THEIR PARENTS IN POVERTY. |
| 00:52:23 | THIRD, WE ARE GOING TO CHANGE THE CULTURE OF WELFARE, AND HOW OBVIOUS IT IS THAT HAD WE CHANGED THIS KUMCHUR A FEW DECADES AGO AND SAID THE PRINCE -- CULL SKHUR A FEW DECADES AGO AND SAIDED PRINCIPLE OF WELFARE IS SHORT TERM A SINCE FANS UNTIL YOU GET A JOB AND STAKE CARE OF YOURSELF, WE WOULDN' T HAVE THE WELFARE PROBLEM THAT WE HAVE IN AMERICA TODAY. |
| 00:52:46 | AND FOURGLT, WE ARE GOING TO END THE -- FOURGLT WE ARE GOING TO END THE NEW TILL AND CUMBERSOME REGULATIONS. |
| 00:52:55 | FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND ITS BUREAUCRATS WHO SET SUCH STRINGENT REQUIREMENTS THAT THEY ASSUME A DID HE GREW OF ARBITRARY NECESSARY THAT PEOPLE CANNOT EVEN MAKE SENSE OF GETSING ON AND OFF WELL NATURE AND THOSE RUNNING THEM IN THE STATE GOVERNMENTS ARE CONSTANTLY LOOKING THROUGH FIVE VOLUMES OF RELYING LEGISLATION TO SEE JUST WHAT THEY CAN DO. |
| 00:53:16 | AND FIFERLINGT AND FINALLY, AND THIS IS -- THIS SHOULD NOT GO IN ANY SHEEP I SHALL MANNER AS IF WE ARE EMBARRASS TODAY SAY IT, WE ARE GOING TO SAVE SOME MONEY. |
| 00:53:28 | AND WHAT' S WRONG WITH THAT? |
| 00:53:29 | THE TAXPAYERS OF AMERICA HAVE BEEN PAYING FOR A PROGRAM THAT DOESN' T WORK. |
| 00:53:34 | THEY ARE GOING TO BE PAYING NOW NOR A PROGRAM THAT AT LEAST HAS A CHANCE OF WORKING. |
| 00:53:39 | AND I AM VERY HOPEFUL THAT THOSE LEADERS, INCLUDING THE CATHOLIC HIERARCHY OF AMERICA, WHO I GENERALLY TALK TO AND SEEK ADVICE FROM, I AM HOPE FULL THAT THEY URNDS THAT THERE IS A LOT MORE TO WELFARE REFORM AND TO TRYING TO HELP THE POOR PEOPLE THAN TO ASSURE PROGRAMS THAT EXCHANGE MONEY AND GIVE THEM BENEFITS. |
| 00:54:02 | FOR THEY, TOO, MAY SHALL THRILLED TO FIND THEM MORE RESPONSIBLE AND MORE INDEPENDENT AND DOING FOR THEMSELVES. |
| 00:54:11 | I BELIEVE THIS HAS A CHANCE OF WORKING. |
| 00:54:13 | AND I THINK WHETHER WE ADOPT IT TONIGHT, IT IS GOING TO BE HISTORIC. |
| 00:54:17 | I ASK THAT HAS DETAILED ANALYSIS OF THE SAVINGS TO THE FEDERAL BUDGET IN ALL CATEGORIES MADE BY JUNE O' NEILL, DATED AUGUST 1, BE MADE A PART OF THE RECORD, AND SINCE IT EFIKS SEEDS THE REQUISITE NUMBERS OF MAJORS WITHOUT THE OTHER SIDE A AGREEING, THIS HAS BEEN APPROVED BY BOTH SIDES. |
| 00:54:37 | I ASK IT BE MADE A PART OF THE RECORD. |
| 00:54:39 | I YIELD THE FLOOR. |
| 00:54:40 | THE PRESIDING OFFICER: WITHOUT OBJECTION. |
| 00:54:45 | MR. |
| 00:54:46 | LOTT: MR. |
| 00:54:47 | PRESIDENT? THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE MAJORITY LEADER. |
| 00:54:48 | MR. |
| 00:54:49 | LOTT: THE DEMOCRATIC LEADER IS ON HIS WAY AND WILL BE PREPARED TO CLOSE ON THAT SIDE, AND THEN I WOULD GO IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THAT. |
| 00:54:56 | SO UNTIL HE ARRIVES, I OBSERVE THE ABSENCE OF A QUORUM. |
| 00:55:00 | I OBJECT SERVE THE ABSENCE OF A QUORUM, MR. |
| 00:55:02 | PRESIDENT. |
| 00:55:03 | THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE CLERK WILL CALL THE ROLL. |
| 00:58:25 | ' MR. |
| 00:58:27 | DASCHLE: MR. PRESIDENT? THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE DEMOCRATIC LEADER. |
| 00:58:30 | MR. DASCHLE: I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT THE QUORUM CALL BE DISPENSED WITH. |
| 00:58:33 | THE PRESIDING OFFICER: WITHOUT OBJECTION. |
| 00:58:35 | DASH MR. |
| 00:58:36 | PRESIDENT, AFTER 18 MONTHS WE ARE ABOUT TO PASS WELL NATURE REAR NORM. |
| 00:58:40 | IT HAS BEEN A LONG DIVISIVE DEBATE ABOUT THE ROLLED OUR NATION WILL KNOLL ON FUNDAMENTAL SOCIAL POLICY. |
| 00:58:47 | THE INITIAL BILL APPROVED BY THE HOUSE LAST YEAR I THINK NOW BY VIRTUALLY ANY STANDARD WAS AN EXTREME PIECE OF LEGISLATION. |
| 00:58:56 | AS A RESULT IT ENJOYED VERY LITTLE PUBLIC SUPPORT. |
| 00:59:00 | TWICE THE PRESIDENT VETOED THAT BILL, AND IS THAT RESULTED IN FAR MORE BIPARTISAN COOPERATION IN THE ENSUING MONTHS. |
| 00:59:11 | IT IS CLEAR THERE IS A CONSENSUS ON MANY CONCEPTS RELATING TO WELFARE REFORM. |
| 00:59:17 | MOST OF US BELIEVE THE CURRENT SYSTEM IS NOT WORKING. |
| 00:59:20 | THAT WELFARE MUST BE REFORMED. |
| 00:59:23 | THAT WELFARE IS A WAY OF LIFE MUST END. |
| 00:59:25 | THERE IS A CONSENSUS ABOUT THE NEED FOR WORK. |
| 00:59:29 | THAT ABLE- BODIED PEOPLE SHOULD WORK. |
| 00:59:31 | THAT THERE SHOULDN' T BE ROOM FOR SNOWS WHO ARE UNWILLING TO WORK. |
| 00:59:35 | THERE IS A CONSENSUS ABOUT FLEXIBILITY AND THE RECOGNITION THAT SOUTH DAKOTA IS DIFFERENT FROM SENATOR, IS DIFFERENT FROM CALIFORNIA. |
| 00:59:43 | THERE IS A CONSENSUS THAT THE LACK OF CHILD CARE IS A MAJOR BARRIER TO WORK. |
| 00:59:49 | THAT STATES NEED TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE FUNDS TO HELP PARENTS AFFORD IT. |
| 00:59:53 | THAT THE CURRENT LAW WITH REGARD TO HEALTH AND SAFETY STANDARDS MUST BE MAINTAINED AND EVEN IMPROVED. |
| 01:00:00 | AND THAT CHILD CARE NEEDS TO BECOME MORE AVAILABLE, AND SERGE MORE AFFORDABLE. |
| 01:00:06 | SO THERE ARE -- CERTAINLY MORE AFFORDABLE. |
| 01:00:08 | SO THERE ARE POINTS FOR WHICH THERE IS COMMON GROUND AND A GREAT DEAL OF AGREEMENT. |
| 01:00:12 | THE WELFARE DEBATE HAS COME A LONG WAY SINCE THOSE EARLY MONTHS WHEN THE PRESIDENT FELT COMPELLED TO VETO EXTREME LEGISLATION. |
| 01:00:21 | THERE HAVE BEEN MANY AREAS WHEREBY PARTISAN PROGRESS IN REDUCING THE BARRIERS THAT I HAVE JUST DISCUSSED HAVE BEEN MADE. |
| 01:00:29 | THE DEBATE BEGAN ON WELFARE REFORM WITH NOT ONE DOLLAR NOR CHILD CARE MONEY. |
| 01:00:35 | NOT ONE DOLLAR FOR CHILD CARE TO BE PROVIDED UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES. |
| 01:00:39 | NOW IN THIS LEGISLATION, THERE IS $ 14 BILLION TO ASSIST PARENTS. |
| 01:00:45 | THE DEBATE BEGAN WITH ABSOLUTELY NO MEDICAID COVERAGE FOR FAMILIES UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES. |
| 01:00:50 | NOW FAMILIES MOVING FROM WELFARE TO WORK WILL CONTINUE TO RECEIVE HEALTH CARE DURING THE TRANSITION PERIOD. |
| 01:00:57 | WE HAVE MADE BIPARTISAN PROGRESS IN OTHER AREAS, TOO. |
| 01:01:01 | THIS BILL IMPROVING THE NATION' S CHILD SUPPORT ENFORCEMENT SYSTEM. |
| 01:01:06 | IT I AM PROVES THE NATION' S SETTLEMENT SECURITY PROGRAM NOR THE DISABLED CHILDREN OF YOUR COUNTRY. |
| 01:01:13 | WE DROPPED PROPOSALS TO BLOCK GRANT FOOD STAMPS AND ELIMINATE THE SENATE NUTRITION SAFETY NET AND WE DROPPED PROPOSALS TO BLACK OF BLOCK GRANT CHILD ABUSE FUNDS WHICH WOULD HAVE UNDERMINED OUR NAILINGS' S CHILD PROTECTION SYSTEM. |
| 01:01:26 | SO MR. |
| 01:01:28 | PRESIDENT, THIS BILL DOES REPRESENT PROGRESS. |
| 01:01:30 | THESE AREAS AND IN OTHERS, I THINK IT IS NATURE TO SAY THAT WE HAVE COME A GOOD -- NATURE TO SAY THAT WE HAVE COME A SGHOOD CONDITIONS DISTANCE. |
| 01:01:42 | EVERYONE HAS TO MAKE THEIR OWN ASSESS: WOVE OUR OWN INTERNAL COME NORTH ZONE. |
| 01:01:46 | OUR OWN SENSE OF WHAT IS RIGHT. |
| 01:01:48 | FROM KNOWN CALLS I RECEIVE FROM MY STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA, THE LETTERS I RECEIVED FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRIES, THE VIEWS ARE AS DIVERSE OUTSIDE WASHINGTON AS THEY ARE HERE? |
| 01:01:57 | THE SENATE. |
| 01:01:59 | EVERY SENATOR, EVERY REPRESENTATIVE, THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, MUST MAKE HIS OR HER OWN JUDGMENT AND DRAWN THEIR OWN LINES. |
| 01:02:08 | IT IS BETTER THAN WE STARTED, WHERE WE BEGAN, AS HAVING A THRESHOLD NOR WHICH THERE COULD BE AGREEMENT ON A CONSENSUS HIGH THAMMES THAT I HAVE DISCUSSED, AND THOUGHT NULL PEOPLE WILL DISAGREE ABOUT WHERE WE GO FROM HERE, AND HOW WE CAN A SESZ THAT PROGRESS, AND YHORNT THIS MARKS ADEQUATE SNUFF PROGRESS TO STOP NOW. |
| 01:02:30 | AND FOR MANY, INCLUDING THIS SENATOR, IT IS A TOUGH CALL. |
| 01:02:34 | THERE IS NO CHRIS FALL BALM. |
| 01:02:35 | NO ONE CAN PREDICT WITH CERTAINTY THE SFECTL OF THIS BILL. |
| 01:02:39 | IT WILL IMPROVE IN SOME WAYS THE WELFARE SYSTEM THAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW. |
| 01:02:44 | I THINK THAT IS HAS GIVEN. |
| 01:02:46 | BUT WILL IT HELP MOVE WELFARE RECIPIENTS TO WORK FROM WE CAN ONLY HOPE THAT IT DOES. |
| 01:02:51 | WILL IT ENSURE THAT CHILDREN ARE PROTECTED? |
| 01:02:55 | WE CAN ONLY HOPE THAT IT DOES. |
| 01:02:56 | IS THERE A GUARANTEED SAFETY NET NOR CHILDREN IN THE FUTURE? |
| 01:03:01 | ON THAT ANSWER, IN MY VIEW, MR. |
| 01:03:03 | PRESIDENT, THE ANSWER IS NOT EVEN HOPEFUL. |
| 01:03:07 | THE ANSWER, IN MY VIEW, IS NO. |
| 01:03:10 | IS THIS THE LAST POINT? |
| 01:03:13 | IS THIS THE ONLY POINT? |
| 01:03:18 | THERE ARE OTHERS. BUT THE FACT THAT THIS ISSUE, THIS IMPORTANT ISSUE A SFECTLING 100% OF THE POPULATION OF OUR FUTURE, THAT ISSUE IS NOT RESOLVED. |
| 01:03:26 | ON THAT ISSUE WE CAN DO BETTER. |
| 01:03:28 | WE ALL WANT REKNOWLEDGE. |
| 01:03:31 | WE WANT TO REQUIRE PEOPLE TO WORK. |
| 01:03:33 | BUT WE ALSO WANT TO PROTECT KIDS WHO CAN' T PROTECT THEMSELVES. |
| 01:03:37 | AND WE HAVE GOT TO BE CAREFUL IN BALANCING THOSE GOALS. |
| 01:03:43 | THE NEED NOR A MEANINGFUL SAFETY NET NOR CHILDREN, THE GUARANTEE THAT THEY WON' T PAY FOR THE MISTAKES OR CIRCUMSTANCES OF THEIR PARENTS OUGHT TO BE PAPA RA MOUNT FOR EVERYONE OF US AS WE MAKE THE DECISION TONIGHT. |
| 01:03:57 | MR. |
| 01:03:58 | PRESIDENT, WE NEED VOUCHERS TO ENSURE THAT CHILDREN' S BASIC NEEDS WHEN THEIR PARENTS REACH THE TIME LIMIT, AND YOU CAN' T FIND VOUCH ERSZ IN THIS BILL, NOT TO ANY REAL EXTENT. |
| 01:04:09 | WE NEED A CONTINGENCY FOR EMERGENCIES. |
| 01:04:12 | YOU SNOW THAT WHEN WE WENT THROUGH THE LAST RECESSION, THIS COUNTRY DREW DOWN BY MORE THAN $ 12 BILLION IN AN 18- MONTH PERIOD OF TIME, THE RESOURCES NECESSARY TO PROVIDE THE SAFETY NET ESPECIALLY FOR CHILDREN WHO OTHERWISE HAD NOTHING. |
| 01:04:31 | $ 12 BILLION. YOU KNOW WHAT' S IN THIS BILL? |
| 01:04:33 | WE HAVE GOT ABOUT A BILLION DOLLARS IN CON CONTINUE GENERAL SI FUNDS. |
| 01:04:38 | WE MAY BE MORE THAN $ 11 BILLION UNDERFUNDED THE NEXT ENTITLEMENT WE HAVE A RECESSION IN THIS COUNTRY, AND THEN WHAT HAPPENS? |
| 01:04:44 | THE LEVEL OF NUTRITION CUTS CONTINUE TO CONCERN ME AS WELL. |
| 01:04:48 | I AM NOT COMFORTABLE REDUCING FOOD STAMP MUCH BENEFITS FOR FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN WHO PAY MORE THAN 350% OF THEIR INCOME IN RENT. |
| 01:04:55 | WE DON' T TREAT THE ELDERLY THAT WAY, AND WE SHOULDN' T. |
| 01:04:59 | NUTRITION CUTS HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH WORK. |
| 01:05:01 | NOTHING TO DO WITH REFORMING WELFARE. |
| 01:05:03 | IT IS AN ATTACK ON THE SAFETY STPHELT FOR FOOD A SINCE TANSZ IN THIS COUNTRY, AND WE OUGHT TO RECOGNIZE IT FOR THAT. |
| 01:05:12 | I SUPPORT STRONG WORK REQUIREMENTS. |
| 01:05:14 | WORK REQUIREMENTS INADEQUATELY FUNDED ARE SOMETHING IS THAT WE OUGHT TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT, AND THE C. |
| 01:05:19 | B. O. SAYS THAT MOST STATES, MOST STATES IN THE COUNTRY, WHEN THIS LEGISLATION PARSZS WILL FAIL TO MEET THE WORK REQUIREMENTS. |
| 01:05:27 | IT WON' T EVEN BE CLOSE. |
| 01:05:29 | WE ALL AGREE THAT LACK OF AFFORDABLE CHILD CARE IS A BARRIER TO WORK. |
| 01:05:34 | THE SENATE AN HOUSE BILLS SAID MOTHERS WITH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CHILDREN COULDN' T BE SANCTIONED OR TERMINATEED FROM A SISZ TANSZ IF THEY COULDN' T FIND CHILD CARE OR A IN ORDER IT, BUT THE CON SFRENSZ BILL PRECLUDES SANGSZS ONLY FOR MOTHERS WERE CHILDREN UNDER SIX AND THE DISTINGUISHED SENATOR FROM CONNECTICUT ADDRESSED THIS POINT EARLIER WHICH AFTERNOON. |
| 01:05:52 | I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS IS AN IMPOSSIBLE CHOICE FOR PLO THERS, MR. |
| 01:05:56 | PRESIDENT. A CHOICE IS TO GO TO WORK IN ORDER TO RECEIVE ASSISTANCE, LEAVING A CHILD SEVEN OR EIGHT ALONE AFTER SCHOOL. |
| 01:06:04 | OR DON' T GO TO WORK. |
| 01:06:06 | DON' T GO TO WORK AND LOSE HELP THAT CHEF NEEDS TO FEED AND CLOTHE HER CHILD. |
| 01:06:12 | WHAT A CHOICE. |
| 01:06:14 | MR. |
| 01:06:15 | PRESIDENT, THARS NOT A CHOICE THAT YOU AND I AND THE REST OF THIS BODY CAN BE PHENOMENON KOR TABLE WITH. |
| 01:06:23 | AND FRANKSLY, I AM VERY TROUBLED ABOUT THE TREATMENT OF LEGAL IMMIGRANTS. |
| 01:06:28 | THERE IS NO ASSISTANCE FOR ILT LEGAL I AM GRANLTS AND THAT PERHAPS IS APPROPRIATE, EXEMPT FOR CHILDREN. |
| 01:06:37 | BUT THIS BILL A TARKS A TAX -- ATTACKS LEGAL IMMIGRANTS. |
| 01:06:39 | I AM NOT THAUKL ABOUT THOSE WHO CROSS OUR BORDERS IN THE DEAD OF NIGHT. |
| 01:06:42 | INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE FOLLOWED THE ROUTES AND MAID TAKSL HE IS IN THIS COUNTRY AND GO NIGHT IN OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD FOR THIS COUNTRY, ARE NOW GOING TO BE TOLD THAT THERE IS NOTHING. |
| 01:06:54 | NO HEAVEN WHATSOEVER. |
| 01:06:56 | -- NO HEAVEN WHATSOEVER. |
| 01:06:58 | TWARS 100 YEARS AGO THAT MY GRANDPARENTS CAME TO THIS COUNTRY, THAT THE PROMPTS OF 160 ACRES OF SOIL. |
| 01:07:08 | THEY CAME WITH A LOT OF HOPES AND DREAMS ABOUT WHAT IS THIS COUNTRY COULD PROVIDE NOR THEM AND THEIR GRANDCHILDREN, AND FOR ALL. |
| 01:07:16 | DASCHLES TO FOLLOW. |
| 01:07:19 | THEN CAME HERE SENATOR FREE COME. |
| 01:07:20 | THEY CAME HERE? |
| 01:07:22 | THE BELIEVE E. |
| 01:07:24 | BELIEF THAT THIS WOULD BE A BETTER LIFE. |
| 01:07:28 | WE JOKE ABOUT THE GOVERNMENT BIDDING YOU 160 ACRES OF LAND THAT YOU COULDN' T SURVIVED ON IT FOR FIVE YEARS IN SOUTH DAKOTA. |
| 01:07:35 | IN YOU COULD SURVIVE SENATOR KNIVES YEARS, IT WAS DWROURS. |
| 01:07:38 | THEY GOT OFF THE RAILROAD, BUILT A SOD HOUSE, AND SURVIVED. |
| 01:07:45 | BUT THE GOVERNMENT GAVE THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO SURVIVE. |
| 01:07:50 | GAVE THEM THE LICENSES TO BE AMERICANS. |
| 01:07:53 | AND I AM HERE, 100 YEARS LATER BECAUSE THAT HAPPENED. |
| 01:07:57 | WE DON' T HAVE ANYMORE LAND TO GIVE. |
| 01:08:01 | BUT I SURE HOPE WE CAN STILL GIVE SCRTEEMS. |
| 01:08:04 | I STILL HOPE THAT THERE ARE MEAL OUT -- DREAMS, I STILL HOPE THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE OUT THERE WHO BELIEVE THEY CAN FIND THIS FREEDOM IN OUR COUNTRY OF OURS, FOR ALL THE THINGS THAT COUNTRY CAN PROVIDE, OUGHT TO BE AMPLE REASON TO COME TOE THIS COUNTRY AND GIVE IT THEIR BEST. |
| 01:08:19 | BUT PERFECT E. |
| 01:08:20 | WE ARE SAYING WE' RE NOT GOING TO HELP UP. |
| 01:08:22 | WE ARE GOING TO PUNISH YOU IF YOU EVEN TRY. |
| 01:08:25 | THAT' S NOT AMERICA, MR. |
| 01:08:27 | PRESIDENT. MY GRANDPARENTS COULDN' T HAVE COME WERE THIS LAW IN EFFECT 100 YEARS AGO. |
| 01:08:38 | SO MR. |
| 01:08:39 | PRESIDENT, IT IS WITH SOME SADNESS THAT WE HAVE COME TO THE KXT THAT WEIGH CAN' T DO BETTER THAN THIS. |
| 01:08:45 | -- CONCLUSION THAT WE CAN' T DO BETTER THAN THIS. |
| 01:08:48 | THAT WE ARE GOING TO PASS THIS LEGISLATION TONIGHT WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT THERE ARE SOME VERY SEVERE DEFICIENCIES. |
| 01:08:56 | IS IT AN IMPROVEMENT OVER WHAT WE PASS ADD JEER AGO? |
| 01:08:59 | YES. CAN WE DO BETTER FROM I THINK WE ALL SNOW IN OUR HEART OF HEARTS THE ANSWER TO THAT IS YES. |
| 01:09:07 | I WOULD HOPE -- I WOULD HOPE THAT WE COULD AGREE THAT WHEN IT IS SIGNED INTO LAW THAT WE GO BACK WITHOUT MUCH TIME TO WASTE AND ATTEMPT, AS BEST AS WE CAN TO SFIKS THOSE DEFICIENCIES SO WE DON' T PUNISH KIDS, SO WE DON' T SEND THE WRONG MESSAGE TO PEOPLE WHO WANT TO BE AMERICANS, SO THAT WE RECOGNIZE THAT THIS COUNTRY IS STILL ALL THAT IT CAN BE, AND WE WORK TOGETHER TO MAKE IT AN EVEN BETTER ONE. |
| 01:09:40 | I YIELD THE FLOOR. |
| 01:09:42 | THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE MAJORITY LEADER. |
| 01:09:51 | MR. |
| 01:09:52 | LOTT: MR. PRESIDENT, I BELIEVE WE HAVE SOME TWO AND A HALF MINUTES LEFT, AND BEYOND THAT I WOULD USE MY LEEREDER TIME. |
| 01:10:02 | MR. |
| 01:10:03 | PRESIDENT, OVER THE YEARS WE HAVE WATCHED A PROGRAM THAT WAS STARTED SOME 60 YEARS AGO WITH VERY GOOD INTENTIONS TO HELP THE WEAK AND THE GENERALLY POOR PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTRY BE ABLE TO GET SOME DEGREE OF TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE TO HEAVEN THEM TO EXIST. |
| 01:10:25 | WE WATCHED OVER THE YEARS AS THE TAXPAYERS OF THIS COUNTRY WORKED HARD, TRIED TO LOOK AFTER THEIR FAMILY, TRIED TO GET CLOTHES AND PUT THEIR CHILDREN IN SCHOOL, AND PAID THEIR TAXES, AND THEN THEY BEGAN TO WONDER, WHO WAS THINKING ABOUT THEM, BECAUSE THEY SAW THIS PROGRAM CONTINUE TO GROW AND BUILD, AND THEY SAW IT CONTINUE TO COST MORE AND MORE BILLIONS OF DOLLARS, AND THEY SAW ABUSES. |
| 01:10:50 | THEN THEY STARTED TO WORRY, WHAT ABOUT THE CHILDREN THAT ARE GETTING LOCKED INTO THIS SYSTEM OF WELL NATURE DEPENDENCE. |
| 01:11:00 | OVER THE YEARS IT MOVED IN THAT DIRECTION TO WHERE WE HAVE DISAFFECTION ON ALL SIDES. |
| 01:11:05 | THOSE THAT MAY THE BILLS FOR THE WELFARE PROGRAM, AND THOSE THAT ARE ON THE PROGRAM. |
| 01:11:12 | PEOPLE ASK, WHO IS IT REALLY HELPING? |
| 01:11:14 | IS IT REALLY GHIFG PEOPLE A LIFT OUT OF POVERTY, OR IS IT ACHILLE LAUROING THEM IN? |
| 01:11:20 | DOES IT REALLY HELP THE CHILDREN WHEN THE PARENTS AREN' T ABLE TO GET A JOB, THE TRAINING, THE EDUCATION, THE DAY CARE TO BE ABLE TO REALLY GET A JOB? |
| 01:11:32 | WHO IS THE REAL LOSER? |
| 01:11:34 | THE CHILDREN HAVE BECOME THE LOSERS OF THIS PROGRAM. |
| 01:11:39 | IT HAS BECOME A PROGRAM OF DEPEVEN SI WITHOUT A WAY OUT. |
| 01:11:45 | -- DEPENDENCY, WITHOUT A WAY OUT. |
| 01:11:47 | THAT' S WHAT THIS BILL IS ABOUT. |
| 01:11:48 | I AM HAPPY THAT THE SENATE IS ABOUT TO TAKE THIS FINAL ACTION ON THIS MONUMENTAL ACCOMPLISHMENT. |
| 01:11:56 | A BIPARTISAN ACCOMPLISHMENT. |
| 01:11:59 | ON A BILL THAT IS ENTITLED, " PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY AND WORK OPPORTUNITY ACT OF 1996. |
| 01:12:05 | " WE QUAUL IT WELL SNARE REFORM. |
| 01:12:08 | BUT THAT' S THE REAL TITLE. |
| 01:12:11 | THAT' S WHAT IT IS REALLY ABOUT. |
| 01:12:13 | PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY. |
| 01:12:14 | TAKING ADVANTAGE. |
| 01:12:15 | PROGRAM WHEN YOU REALLY NEED IT, ON A TEMPORARY BASIS, TO GIVE YOU AN OPPORTUNITY TO EKSZER SIGHS YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES AND GET OFF THE SYSTEM AND GET INTO A JOB. |
| 01:12:28 | WORK OPPORTUNITY. THAT IS THE AMERICAN WAY. |
| 01:12:30 | TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET WHAT YOU NEED TREARM, OR WITH TRAINING, TO GO OUT AND GET A JOB AND LOOK AFTER YOUR FAMILY. |
| 01:12:38 | NOW IT' S BEEN A LONG HAUL WITH MORE THAN HAS FEW DEAD ENDS. |
| 01:12:43 | BUT WE ARE STUCK WITH IT. |
| 01:12:45 | WE NORJDE THE KIND OF COME PROMISES THAT WERE KNEELED TODAY MOVE IT AHEAD. |
| 01:12:50 | AND AT LAST WE HAVE COME TO OUR DESTINATION. |
| 01:12:55 | ENDING THE DID HE STRUFIK ACTIVE WELFARE CYCLE. |
| 01:13:00 | THAT' S WHAT THIS IS ALL ABOUT. |
| 01:13:02 | NOW THERE IS MORE THAN SNUFF CREDIT TO GO AROUND, BUT I THINK SPECIAL TRIBUTE CLEARLY SHOULD BE GIVEN TO THE SENATOR FROM DELAWARE, SENATOR ROTH. |
| 01:13:13 | HE HAS PULLED OFF A SGOLD MEDAL PERFORMANCE THIS WEEK. |
| 01:13:17 | HE WAS THE LEAD CHAIRMAN IN THE WELFARE REFORM BILL. |
| 01:13:21 | HE WAS THE CHAIRMAN THAT STPHERGLTED THE AGREEMENT ON THE SMALL BUSINESS TAX RELIEF BILL. |
| 01:13:27 | AND HE WAS THE LEAD PARTICIPANT IN THE HEALTH SHOORNTS REAP NORM LEGISLATION. |
| 01:13:32 | A TREMENDOUS WEEK. |
| 01:13:33 | AND SENATOR ROLINGT, WE ARE ALL INDEBTED TO YOU FOR THAT GREAT WORK. |
| 01:13:36 | I SNOW IT HAS BEEN ERX HAUFLT BEING, BUT I KNOW YOU ARE EXTREMELY PROUD. |
| 01:13:40 | ACCOMPLISH. |
| 01:13:41 | THAT YOU HAVE IN THIS BILL AND OTHER BILLS. |
| 01:13:43 | AND OFF COURSE THE VENERABLE CHAIRMAN. |
| 01:13:45 | BUDGET COMMITTEE, SENATOR DOMENICI. |
| 01:13:48 | HE HANGSZ IN THERE. |
| 01:13:50 | HE WAS MAYBE GOING TO BE JUST FA FEW HOURS, THEN IT LOOKS LIKE ITS GOING TO BE THE FULL TEN HOURS. |
| 01:13:55 | HE HAS TO DO IT OVER AND OVER SGEVEN. |
| 01:13:57 | HE HAS BEEN A PARTNER WITH THE SENATOR FROM DELAWARE. |
| 01:14:00 | THEY HAVE DONE A GREAT JOB. |
| 01:14:01 | HE IS THE MOST KNOWLEDGEABLE MEMBER WE HAVE ON HOW WE DOLE WITH THESE BUDGET ISSUES. |
| 01:14:08 | SENATOR NICKLES AT MANY REQUEST WAS THE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE LEADERSHIP IN A LOT OF THE NEGOTIATIONS. |
| 01:14:13 | THAT YOUNG SENATOR FROM PENNSYLVANIA, SENATOR RICK SANTORUM, HE WAS GREAT. |
| 01:14:17 | HE CAME TO THE FLOOR ONE NIGHT NIGHT, HE DID HIS JOB, HE KNEW HIS SUBJECT MATTER. |
| 01:14:21 | HE' S BEEN WORKING ON IT FOR TWO YEARS. |
| 01:14:23 | ACTUALLY I THINK IT' S LONGER THAN THAT. |
| 01:14:25 | I GUESS ABOUT FOUR YEARS. |
| 01:14:27 | HE REALLY KNOWS THE INTRICACIES OF THIS BILL. |
| 01:14:29 | AND IT HAS BEEN BIPARTISAN. |
| 01:14:35 | HOUSE- SENATE. THE VOTE IN THE HOUSE -- 328- 1 328- 101. |
| 01:14:39 | I MEAN, THAT LOOKS MIGHTY BROAD TO ME IN ITS SUPPORT AND ITS BIPARTISANSHIP. |
| 01:14:43 | HERE IN THE SENATE, SENATOR BREAUX WAS INVOLVED AND HELPFUL AS WE WENT ALONG. |
| 01:14:47 | SENATOR LIEBERMAN WROTE AN ARTICLE I READ I BELIEVE IT WAS IN " THE NEW YORK TIMES," ONE OF THE NEWSPAPERS LAST WEEK, AN EXCELLENT ARTICLE. |
| 01:14:55 | SO I THINK WE TRULY HAVE MADE THIS BIPARTISAN. |
| 01:14:58 | IT IS AN EFFORT WE CAN TRULY BE PROUD OF. |
| 01:15:00 | ALSO, I HAVE TO SAY THIS. |
| 01:15:02 | A LOT OF CREDIT GOES TO THE MAN THAT I SUCCEEDED AS MAJORITY LEADER. |
| 01:15:08 | BOB DOLE WORKED ON THIS EFFORT, PUSHED THIS EFFORT, WOULD NOT LET IT END, HELPED GET IT THROUGH NOT ONCE BUT TWICE AND WAS COMMITTED TO GETTING IT DONE AGAIN THIS YEAR FOR THE THIRD TIME. |
| 01:15:24 | WITHOUT HIS LEADERSHIP, WITHOUT HIS DETERMINATION, WITHOUT HIS COMMITMENT, WE WOULD NOT BE HERE TONIGHT PASSING THIS WELFARE REFORM PACKAGE. |
| 01:15:31 | IN MY OPINION, IT SHOULD TRULY BE CALLED " THE DOLE WELFARE REFORM PACKAGE. |
| 01:15:36 | " AND THE LAST TIME I SPOKE ON THE SENATE FLOOR ABOUT WELFARE WELFARE, I EXPRESSED THE HOPE THEN THAT PRESIDENT CLINTON WOULD NOT AGAIN VETO THE REFORM BILL THAT WE HAD COME UP WITH ON WELFARE. |
| 01:15:46 | AND I DID HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY OVER THE PAST TWO WEEKS TO TALK WITH HIM ABOUT IT. |
| 01:15:50 | THERE WERE SOME CHANGES MADE THAT HE HAD HOPED FOR IN THE BILL. |
| 01:15:55 | AND SO I' M FRANKLY GREATLY SATISFIED THAT HE' S ANNOUNCED THAT HE' LL, INDEED, SIGN THIS BILL INTO LAW. |
| 01:16:01 | SO NOW OUR COUNTRY BEGINS A GREAT TRANSITION. |
| 01:16:03 | IT WILL BE COMPLICATED AND DIFFICULT AND PROBABLY WILL REQUIRE FINE- TUNING ON OUR PART IN THE FUTURE, BUT WE MADE A START. |
| 01:16:11 | WE' VE MADE THE COMMITMENT. |
| 01:16:13 | WE' VE SIGNED ON TO THE BLUEPRINT FOR THE MOST PROFOUND RESTRUCTURING OF PUBLIC ASSISTANCE NINS " THE NEW DEAL. |
| 01:16:19 | " THIS LEGISLATION WILL END THE FEDERAL ENTITLEMENT TO WELFARE AND REPLACE IT WITH BLOCK GRANTS TO THE STATE. |
| 01:16:24 | ALL BY ITSELF, THAT MAKES THIS LANDMARK LEGISLATION. |
| 01:16:27 | BUT THE FLEXIBILITY FOR THE STATES AND THE GOVERNORS I THINK WILL WORK WELL. |
| 01:16:33 | THEY ARE CLOSE TO THE PROBLEMS PROBLEMS. |
| 01:16:35 | THEY WILL BE ABLE TO USE THE MONEY WHERE IT' S NEEDED THE GRATEEST -- TO HELP THE PEOPLE THAT NEED IT THE MOST. |
| 01:16:39 | MORE THAN THAT, FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER, WE ARE LEGISLATIVELY IMPOSING TIME LIMITS ON THE RECEIPT OF WELFARE ON AN ENDLESS BASIS. |
| 01:16:47 | AND FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER WE ARE APPLYING A MEANINGFUL WORK REQUIREMENT THAT CAN HELP RECIPIENTS MAKE THE MOVE -- AND WE KNOW IT' S NOT ALWAYS AN EASY ONE -- FROM DEPENDENCE TO INDEPENDENCE. |
| 01:16:57 | THAT' S WHAT WE DESIRE AND WE HOPE FOR FOR ALL AMERICANS. |
| 01:17:01 | THIS BILL RESPONDS TO A CONSENSUS AMONG THE AMERICAN PEOPLE BY ENDING MOST WELFARE FOR NONCITIZENS. |
| 01:17:07 | IT STRENGTHENS OUR CHILD SUPPORT ENFORCEMENT AND PATERNITY ESTABLISHMENT REQUIREMENTS. |
| 01:17:13 | IT COMBATS FRAUD AND ABUSE OF WELFARE PROGRAMS AND WILL SAVE THE TAXPAYERS ABOUT $ 54. |
| 01:17:19 | 5 BILLION OVER THE NEXT SIX YEARS. |
| 01:17:22 | WE CAN BE PROUD OF THIS PACKAGE AND WE CAN BUILD ON IT IN THE MONTHS AHEAD AS WE SEEK TO IMPROVE MEDICAID AND OTHER PROGRAMS OF ASSISTANCE TO THE NEEDY. |
| 01:17:30 | WE' RE GOING TO BE WORKING WITH THE GOVERNORS TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS BILL SETS THE PATTERN FOR A NEW ERA OF COOPERATION BETWEEN THE STATES AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. |
| 01:17:39 | AGAIN I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE WHOSE DILIGENCE AND PATIENCE BROUGHT US THIS FAR. |
| 01:17:43 | THERE' S AN OLD SAYING: " WELL BEGUN IS ONLY HALF BEGUN. |
| 01:17:49 | AND ONLY HALF DONE. |
| 01:17:50 | " TODAY THE HERCULEAN TASK OF COMPREHENSIVE WELFARE REFORM IS, INDEED, WELL BEGUN. |
| 01:17:57 | AND MUCH MORE THAN HALF DONE. |
| 01:17:58 | WITH THE LESSONS WE HAVE LEARNED IN THIS EFFORT, WE CAN FINISH THE JOB FOR THE BENEFIT OF BOTH THE TAXPAYERS OF AMERICA AND THE POOR IN THE MONTHS AHEAD. |
| 01:18:08 | I YIELD THE FLOOR, MR. |
| 01:18:17 | PRESIDENT. MR. |
| 01:18:18 | PRESIDENT MR. PRESIDENT, I ASK FOR THE YEAS AND NAYS. |
| 01:18:20 | THE PRESIDING OFFICER: IS THERE A SUFFICIENT SECOND? |
| 01:18:22 | THERE IS A SUFFICIENT SECOND. |
| 01:18:23 | THE YEAS AND NAYS ARE ORDERED. |
| 01:18:24 | THE VOTE ON THE CONFERENCE ALL RIGHT TO ACCOMPANY H. |
| 01:18:27 | R. 3734, THE BUDGET RECONCILIATION ACT OF 1997. |
| 01:38:52 | THE CLERK WILL CALL THE ROLL. |
| 01:39:16 | ' THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE CHAIR WOULD LIKE TO ANNOUNCE THE VOTE SO MEMBERS CAN HEAR IT. |
| 01:39:21 | ARE THERE ANY OTHER SENATORS IN THE CHAMBER WISHING TO VOTE OR CHANGE THEIR VOTE? |
| 01:39:24 | IF NOT, ON THIS VOTE, THE AYES ARE 78, THE NAYS ARE 21. |
| 01:39:31 | THE BILL IS PASSED. |
| 01:39:41 | A SENATOR: MOVE TO TABLE. |
| 01:39:42 | THE PRESIDING OFFICER: WITHOUT OBJECTION, SO ORDERED. |
| 01:39:59 | THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE SENATE WILL COME TO ORDER. |
| 01:40:09 | THE SENATE WILL COME TO ORDER. |
| 01:40:12 | MEMBERS PLEASE CLEAR THE AISLE OF CONVERSATION SO THAT I CAN RECOGNIZE THE MAJORITY LEADER. |
| 01:40:17 | MR. WELLSTONE: MR. PRESIDENT, COULD WE HAVE ORDER IN THE CHAMBER. |
| 01:40:19 | THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THAT' S WHAT THE CHAIR IS TRYING TO DO, I WOULD SAY TO THE SENATOR FROM MINNESOTA. |
| 01:40:42 | THE SENATE WILL COME TO ORDER. |
| 01:40:43 | WILL SENATORS PLEASE TAKE THEIR CONVERSATIONS TO THE CLOAKROOM AND OUT OF THE AISLES. |
| 01:41:23 | THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE CLERK WILL NOW READ THREE BILLS FOR THE SECOND TIME. |
| 01:41:27 | THE CLERK: S. |
| 01:41:28 | 2006, A BILL TO CLARIFY THE INTENT OF CONGRESS WITH RESPECT TO THE FEDERAL CARJACKING PROHIBITION. |
| 01:41:35 | S. |
| 01:41:37 | 2007, A BILL TO CLARIFY THE INTENT OF CONGRESS WITH RESPECT TO THE FEDERAL CARJACKING PROHIBITION. |
| 01:41:43 | H. |
| 01:41:44 | R. 2391, AN ACT TO AMEND THE FAIR LABOR STANDARDS ACT OF 1938 TO PROVIDE COMPENSATORY TIME FOR ALL EMPLOYEES. |
| 01:41:50 | MR. |
| 01:41:51 | LOTT: MR. PRESIDENT, I OBJECT TO THE FURTHER CONSIDERATION OF THAT STACK. |
| 01:41:54 | THE PRESIDING OFFICER: OBJECTION IS HEARD. |
| 01:41:56 | THE BILL WILL BE PLACED ON THE CALENDAR. |
| 01:41:57 | MR. LOTT: MR. |
| 01:41:58 | PRESIDENT? THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE MAJORITY LEADER. |
| 01:42:00 | MR. |
| 01:42:01 | LOTT: I KNOW THAT SENATORS ARE WAITING TO SEE WHAT MIGHT BE THE SCHEDULE FOR THE BALANCE OF THE EVENING. |
| 01:42:07 | THERE ARE A NUMBER OF DISCUSSIONS UNDERWAY NOW ON A NUMBER OF ISSUES THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO GET COMPLETED BEFORE WE LEAVE THIS WEEKEND. |
| 01:42:16 | I WANT TO SAY AGAIN TONIGHT, AS I DID THIS MORNING, THAT I REALLY THINK THAT THE LAST TWO DAYS HAVE INVOLVED A LOT OF TREMENDOUS LEGISLATIVE GOOD WORK BY MEMBERS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE. |
| 01:42:28 | I DON' T EVER RECALL HAVING SEEN AS MANY CONFERENCES, BIPARTISAN CONFERENCES, GOING ON IN AS MANY PLACES AS ONE TIME AS YESTERDAY. |
| 01:42:36 | AND YESTERDAY MORNING I REALLY DIDN' T THINK IT WOULD BE POSSIBLE TO REACH AN AGREEMENT ON A CONFERENCE REPORT ON HEALTH INSURANCE REFORM, ON SAFE DRINKING WATER, AND, OF COURSE, WE' D ALREADY REACHED AGREEMENT ON WELFARE REFORM, AND THEN BEFORE THE NIGHT WAS OUT, EVEN THE SMALL BUSINESS TAX RELIEF PACKAGE AND MINIMUM WAGE. |
| 01:42:54 | AND THERE STILL -- IT LOOKS LIKE THERE WILL BE AN AGREEMENT ALSO ON ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION. |
| 01:43:00 | I DON' T KNOW EXACTLY WHEN ALL OF THOSE WILL MOVE BUT IT IS MY HOPE, MY FERVENT HOPE, THAT ALL THAT WORK WILL NOT BE FOR NAUGHT BEFORE WE LEAVE. |
| 01:43:10 | AND WE WOULD LIKE TO BE ABLE TO BRING UP SOME APPROPRIATIONS CONFERENCE REPORTS THAT HAVE BEEN COMPLETED, LEGISLATIVE APPROPRIATIONS CONFERENCE REPORT IS READY. |
| 01:43:21 | WE WOULD HOPE TO BE ABLE TO GET THE MILITARY CONSTRUCTION APPROPRIATIONS CONFERENCE REPORT IF NOT TONIGHT TOMORROW. |
| 01:43:26 | THAT ONE WOULD PROBABLY REQUIRE A VOTE SINCE WE DIDN' T VOTE ON IT WHEN IT WENT THROUGH EARLIER EARLIER. |
| 01:43:32 | AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA APPROPRIATIONS CONFERENCE REPORT WOULD ALSO PROBABLY REQUIRE A VOTE. |
| 01:43:37 | WE WOULD LIKE TO DO THOSE EITHER TONIGHT OR IN THE MORNING AND WE WOULD LIKE TO ALSO GET THE CONFERENCE REPORTS THAT HAVE BEEN AGREED TO, THE HEALTH INSURANCE CONFERENCE REPORT, THE SAFE DRINKING WATER CONFERENCE REPORT, THE SMALL BUSINESS TAX RELIEF PACKAGE WITH MINIMUM WAGE, AND IF THERE ARE OTHER CONFERENCE REPORTS THAT WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE LATER ON -- OH, THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION CONFERENCE REPORT' S ABLE, TOO. |
| 01:44:04 | SO WE HAVE SEVERAL CONFERENCES -- CONFERENCE REPORTS THAT WE CAN GET DONE TONIGHT OR TOMORROW, WITH JUST A LITTLE COOPERATION. |
| 01:44:14 | AND THERE ARE SOME NOMINATIONS THAT WE THINK WE COULD MOVE FORWARD. |
| 01:44:17 | WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THOSE TODAY. |
| 01:44:19 | I THINK THAT WE CAN GET SOME OF THOSE MOVED. |
| 01:44:22 | SO IT IS MY HOPE THAT WE COULD GET THOSE DONE. |
| 01:44:25 | I ALSO WOULD WANT TO MOVE TO THE H. |
| 01:44:28 | U. D. AND V. |
| 01:44:30 | A. HOPE PRAIGSS BILL. I KNOW THE CHAIRMAN IS HERE, SENATOR BOND, WHO HAS BEEN AWAITING HIS APPROPRIATIONS OPPORTUNITY. |
| 01:44:37 | THE SENATOR FROM MARYLAND IS HERE READY TO GO. |
| 01:44:40 | IF WE COULD HAVE A FEW UNANIMOUS CONSENT REQUESTS AND WORK THROUGH THOSE WE WOULD TRY TO GO TO THE H. |
| 01:44:46 | U. D. |
| 01:44:47 | V. A. APPROPRIATIONS BILL. I WANT TO MAKE THE MEMBERS AWARE OF THAT. |
| 01:44:51 | WE NEED TO HAVE SOME ADDITIONAL DISCUSSIONS HERE IN THE NEXT FEW MINUTES. |
| 01:44:55 | IF WE COULD COME TO SOME AGREEMENTS THEN WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO NOTIFY THE MEMBERS WITHIN 30 MINUTES WHETHER -- WHAT THEY CAN EXPECT FOR THE BALANCE OF THE EVENING AND WHETHER OR NOT THERE WOULD BE ANY RECORDED VOTES TONIGHT. |
| 01:45:08 | I WOULD BE PREPARED TO YIELD THE FLOOR, AND OBSERVE THE ABSENCE OF A QUORUM, MR. |
| 01:45:13 | PRESIDENT, WHERE WE COULD WORK ON A COUPLE OF ISSUES AND WE WOULD LET MEMBERS KNOW AS SOON AS POSSIBLE THEREAFTER. |
| 01:45:21 | I YIELD THE FLOOR, MR. |
| 01:45:22 | PRESIDENT. I OBSERVE THE ABSENCE OF A QUORUM. |
| 01:45:24 | THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE CLERK WILL CALL THE ROLL CALL. |
| 01:51:52 | MR. |
| 01:51:53 | LOTT: MR. |
| 01:51:55 | PRESIDENT? THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE MAJORITY LEADER. |
| 01:51:57 | MR. LOTT: I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT THE QUORUM CALL BE DISPENSED WITH. |
| 01:51:59 | THE PRESIDING OFFICER: WITHOUT OBJECTION, SO ORDERED. |
| 01:52:04 | MR. LOTT: MR. PRESIDENT -- THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE MAJORITY LEADER WOULD SURS PEND FOR A MOMENT. |
| 01:52:11 | THE MAJORITY LEADER. |
| 01:52:13 | MR. LOTT: I DON' T BELIEVE WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO COME TO A SATISFACTORY RESOLUTION OF SOME OF OUR CONCERNS THAT SENATORS HAVE ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE. |
| 01:52:21 | WE HAVE HAD A VERY PRODUCTIVE WEEK AND A GOOD DAY, AND IT IS ALREADY 20 UNTIL 9 AND I KNOW SEVERAL OTHER SENATORS FROM THINGS ON THEIR MINDS TODAY SO I DON' T SEE ANY SENSE IN PRESSING THE POINT TOO FAR TONIGHT. |
| 01:52:36 | I DO FEEL CONSTRAINED TO ASK FOR AT LEAST TWO UNANIMOUS CONSENT REQUESTS, AND WE WILL SEE WHAT HAPPENS AND THEN DEPENDING ON THAT THEN WE WOULD BE ABLE TO MAKE SOME FURTHER ANNOUNCEMENT. |
| 01:52:47 | WITH REGARD TO THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH APPROPRIATIONS CONFERENCE REPORT, I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT THE SENATE NOW TURN TO THE CONFERENCE REPORT TO ACCOMPANY H. |
| 01:52:55 | R. 3754 THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH APPROPRIATIONS BILL, THAT THE CONFERENCE REPORT BE CONSIDERED AS HAVING BEEN READ AN AGREED TO AND THE MOTION TO RECONSIDER BE LAID UPON THE TABLE. |
| 01:53:03 | MR. |
| 01:53:04 | WELLSTONE: MR. PRESIDENT, RESERVING THE RIGHT TO OBJECT, AND I DO OBJECT. |
| 01:53:09 | THE PRESIDING OFFICER: OBJECTION IS HEARD. |
| 01:53:13 | MR. |
| 01:53:15 | LOTT: YOU DID OBJECT. ALL RIGHT. MR. |
| 01:53:16 | PRESIDENT, WE HAVE BEEN HOPING TO GO TO THE H. |
| 01:53:20 | U. D. V. A. APPROPRIATIONS BILL FOR OVER A WEEK NOW BUT BECAUSE WE WERE ASSURED ON VARIOUS BILL THEY WOULD TAKE A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO MOVE THROUGH EIGHT APPROPRIATIONS BILLINGS AND I APPRECIATE THE SUCCESS WE HAVE HAD WITH THAT. |
| 01:53:32 | BUT THIS IS THE ONE THAT WE NEED TO GO TO, AND GET DONE SO THAT WE CANNOT HAVE TO HAVE A SATURDAY SESSION. |
| 01:53:40 | IT IS MY INTENT TO COMPLETE THIS BILL EVEN IF IT DOES INVOLVE GOING TO A SATURDAY SESSION. |
| 01:53:45 | IT WOULD BE NICE IF WE COULD PUT THAT DOWN TONIGHT SO THAT CHAIRMAN AND RANKING MEMBER COULD GET SOME WORK DONE, BUT WE CAN DO THAT TOMORROW AND THEN WE CAN FINISH UP OR WE CAN WORK ON THAT ON SATURDAY. |
| 01:53:59 | -- IT IS ALREADY IN MINE MIND THAT WE WILL BE HERE THE SATURDAY. |
| 01:54:03 | I HAVE BEEN FEELING ALL DAY THIS WAS WEDNESDAY. |
| 01:54:05 | SO TOMORROW IS ONLY THURSDAY ON MY BODY CLOCK. |
| 01:54:08 | BUT I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT THE SENATE NOW TURN TO THE CONSIDERATION OF THE H. |
| 01:54:13 | U. D. V. A. |
| 01:54:14 | APPROPRIATIONS BILL H. |
| 01:54:17 | R. 3666. MR. |
| 01:54:18 | WELLSTONE: MR. |
| 01:54:19 | PRESIDENT. THE PRESIDING OFFICER: IS THERE OBJECTION? |
| 01:54:20 | MR. WELLSTONE: RESERVING THE RIGHT TO OBJECT, AND I WOULD LIKE THE MAJORITY LEADER HAS BEEN WORKING IN VERY GOOD FAITH AND APPRECIATE IT, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO LET ME COLLEAGUES KNOW THAT THIS IS NOT MY FIRST CHOICE, BUT A MONTH AFTER MONTH AFTER MONTH I HAVE BEEN VERY PATIENT. |
| 01:54:35 | THE LAST SEVERAL WEEKS I HAVE BEEN VERY PAINT. |
| 01:54:37 | I THINK THE MAJORITY LEADER WOULD BE THE FIRST PERSON TO SAY THAT I HAVE WORKED THROUGH THE PROCESS. |
| 01:54:43 | WE HAVE A VERY GIFTED JUDGE, HEN PIN COUNTY JUDGE ANN MONTGOMERY I THOUGHT IT WAS A CLEAR AGREEMENT THAT SHE WOULD BE CLEARED LAST NIGHT, THAT DID NOT HAPPEN, IT IS NOT MY CHOICE THAT SOMEBODY OBJECTED. |
| 01:54:55 | I HAVE HEARD NO SUBSTANTIVE REASONS GIVEN FOR THAT OBJECTION, AND THAT IS WHY I OBJECT TO MOVING FORWARD, BECAUSE I AM GOING TO FIGHT VERY HARD FOR ANN MONTGOMERY BECAUSE SHE IS AN IMMENSELY TALENTED GIFTED JUDGE, WITH BROAD SUPPORT IN MINNESOTA, BROAD SUPPORT IN THE LEGAL COMMUNITY, AND WHAT HAS BEEN GOING ON HERE IS UNJUST AND UNFAIR TO HER AND THAT IS WHY I OBJECT. |
| 01:55:18 | MR. |
| 01:55:19 | LOTT: MR. |
| 01:55:20 | PRESIDENT, IN I COULD RESPOND -- FIRST LET ME ANNOUNCE THAT THAT WAS THE LAST VOTE OF TONIGHT. |
| 01:55:25 | THERE WILL BE NO FURTHER VOTES TONIGHT. |
| 01:55:30 | WE WILL BEGIN IN THE MORNING AT 10: 30. |
| 01:55:38 | 10: 30 ON FRIDAY MORNING. |
| 01:55:40 | I THINK ALL MEMBERS NOPE I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO WORK THROUGH THESE JUDGES. |
| 01:55:47 | WE HAVE, I THINK, CLEARED 16 JUDGES FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY, SOME OF THEM HAD SOME PROBLEMS. |
| 01:55:53 | WE WERE ABLE TO LOOK INTO THOSE PROBLEMS, AND SENATORS HAVE SPENT TIME WORKING THROUGH THOSE LISTS, AND THAT' S HOW WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO MOVE 16 OF THEM. |
| 01:56:04 | WE ARE WORKING ON ANOTHER ONE RIGHT NOW. |
| 01:56:09 | I THINK MAYBE IT WILL BE CLEARED, BUT LET ME EMPHASIZE THIS. |
| 01:56:15 | YOU KNOW JUDGES QUITE OFTEN ARE SOMEWHAT CONTROVERSIAL. |
| 01:56:18 | SENATORS HAVE DIFFERENT VIEWS ON THAT. |
| 01:56:22 | SENATORS HAVE A RIGHT TO EXPRESS THEMSELVES ON IT, AND THE TIME MAY COME WHEN WE VILLE TO TO MOVE TO SOME OF THESE JUDGES. |
| 01:56:31 | BUT MY APPROACH IS TO SEE WHAT THE PROBLEMS ARE, SEE IF WE CAN WORK THROUGH THEM, WE WILL KEEP WORKING ON THIS ONE, AND I AM HOPING THAT MAYBE TOMORROW WE CAN SATISFY CONCERNS. |
| 01:56:41 | AND SOMETIMES WHAT HAPPENS WITH THESE, IT IS NOT JUST THE JUDGE, IT GETS INVOLVED WITH OTHER ISSUES. |
| 01:56:48 | OTHER LEGISLATIVE ISSUES. |
| 01:56:49 | AND YOU HAVE TO DEAL WITH THOSE PROBLEMS BEFORE YOU CAN DEAL WITH THE NEXT PROBLEM. |
| 01:56:53 | SO WE WORKED ON THAT. |
| 01:56:56 | I THINK WE MADE REAL PROGRESS. |
| 01:56:58 | THE SENATE, I THINK WOULD HAVE TO ACKNOWLEDGE, I HAVE WORKED STEADILY AT IT, WE HAVE, I THINK WE WERE APPROVED AN AVERAGE OF ONE A DAY FOR THE LAST THREE WEEKS. |
| 01:57:08 | A SENATOR: MAJORITY LEADER YIELD? |
| 01:57:11 | MR. |
| 01:57:13 | LOTT: BE GLAD DO. MR. |
| 01:57:14 | NICKLES: I WILL MAKE A COMMENT. |
| 01:57:15 | I CAN' T REMEMBER ANYONE OBJECTING TO MOVING TO AN APPROPRIATIONS BILL BECAUSE THEY DIDN' T GET A JUDGE CONFIRMED. |
| 01:57:21 | I MIGHT MENTION A LOT OF TIMES, I WILL JUST GIVE YOU ONE EXAMPLE. |
| 01:57:25 | I REMEMBER WE HAD A JUDGE IN OKLAHOMA THAT I WAS TRYING TO GET CONFIRMED, AND I WILL TELL YOU WHEN IT WAS, IT WAS IN 19 -- 1992. |
| 01:57:41 | THE DEMOCRATS WERE IN CONTROL. |
| 01:57:44 | SENATE, AND GEORGE MITCHELL WAS MAJORITY LEADER, AND I TRIED TO GET THE JUDGE MOVED, THE NOMINATION MOVED. |
| 01:57:49 | THE NOMINEE IT WAS FRANK KEATING, THERE WAS NO OPPONENT, BUT WE KEPT HAVING A HOLD. |
| 01:57:55 | TO MAKE A STORY SHORT, THERE WAS -- WE NEVER COULD GET HIS NOMINATION PLACED BEFORE THE SENATE. |
| 01:58:03 | AND HE WOULD HAVE BEEN AN OUTSTANDING JUDGE. |
| 01:58:06 | AND THERE WAS KIND OF A ROVING HOLD ON IT, PRIMARILY INSPIRED BY MY GOOD FRIEND AND COLLEAGUE FROM OHIO, SENATOR METZENBAUM WHO IS NO LONGER WITH US. |
| 01:58:15 | THE POINT BEING, WE HAD AN OUTSTANDING PERSON, BUT WE DIDN' T HOLD- UP ANY APPROPRIATIONS BILLS. |
| 01:58:20 | WE DID FUSS ABOUT IT, AND WE GROANED ABOUT IT, AND MAYBE GRIPED ABOUT IT, BUT ALL IN ALL I WANTED TO THANK SENATOR METZENBAUM FOR PUTTING A HOLD ON FRANK KEATING BECAUSE HE IS NOW THE GOVERNOR OF OKLAHOMA, AND IF HE HAD BEEN CONFIRMED, I DOUBT THAT HE WOULD HAVE BEEN. |
| 01:58:37 | BUT I WILL JUST SAY THAT JUDGES HAVE BEEN HELD FOR DIFFERENT REASONS, MAYBE GOOD REASONS, MAYBE BAD REASONS, BUT A LOT OF TIMES IT HAPPENS. |
| 01:58:45 | I AM NOT FAMILIAR WITHHOLDING MAJOR PIECES OF LEGISLATION, PARTICULARLY APPROPRIATION BILLS HOSTAGE. |
| 01:58:50 | I HOPE THAT WE ARE ABLE TO WORK THROUGH THIS, AND DO OUR BILLS. |
| 01:58:54 | WE KNOW WE HAVE TO DO THE APPROPRIATION BILLS. |
| 01:58:57 | I AM HOPEFUL WE WILL BE ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD. |
| 01:59:00 | I CONGRATULATE THE MAJORITY LEADER AND MINORITY LEADER. |
| 01:59:02 | I THINK THIS WEEK HAS BEEN VERY CONSTRUCTIVE WEEK. |
| 01:59:05 | THE WELFARE BILL THAT JUST PASSED IS CERTAINLY HISTORIC, AND THE LEGISLATION THAT WE HAVE BEFORE US TOMORROW DEALING WITH HEALTH CARE, DEALING WITH SMALL BUSINESS TAX RELIEF, IS ALSO VERY MORN. |
| 01:59:15 | AND I HOPE THAT WE WILL BE ABLE TO COMPLETE THAT AS WELL. |
| 01:59:19 | MR. |
| 01:59:20 | LOTT: I JUST YIELD TO THE DISTINGUISHED CHAIRMAN. |
| 01:59:21 | H. |
| 01:59:23 | U. D. V. R. APPROPRIATIONS SUBCOMMITTEE, IF HE WOULD LIKE AT THAT MAKE A COMMENT AT THIS POINT. |
| 01:59:27 | MR. BOND: MR. |
| 01:59:28 | PRESIDENT? THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE SENATOR FROM MISSOURI. |
| 01:59:29 | MR. |
| 01:59:31 | BOND: I APPRECIATE VERY MUCH THE EFFORTS OF THE MAJORITY LEADER. |
| 01:59:33 | I ASSURE YOU THAT THE RANKING MEMBER, SENATOR MIKULSKI AND I HAVE WORKED LONG AND HARD WITH MANY MEMBERS TO ACCOMMODATE THE INTERESTS THAT THEY HAVE. |
| 01:59:46 | WE WERE PREPARED TO NEGOTIATE TIME AGREEMENTS SO WE COULD MOVE THIS EXPEDITIOUSLY. |
| 01:59:53 | THE MATTERS INVOLVED IN THIS BILL, IN APPROPRIATIONS BILL, THE FUNDING FOR THE VETERANS ADMINISTRATION, THE FUNDING FOR THE HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT, THE FUNDING FOR E. |
| 02:00:03 | P. A., THERE SEEMS TO BE A GREAT DEAL OF CONCERN ABOUT DRINKING WATER FACILITIES, THOSE FUNDS ARE PROPOSAL RATEED IN THIS BILL. |
| 02:00:12 | ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY, NASA, THE NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION. |
| 02:00:18 | AND IT HAD BEEN OUR HOPE THAT BY WORKING WITH AND BEING RESPONSIVE TO THE CONCERNS OF MEMBERS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE, WITH RESPECT TO WHAT IS FRANKLY A VERY COMPLICATED BILL, THAT WE COULD WRAP THIS UP SO THAT WE WOULD NOT HAVE TO I AM PINK UPON NIP SATURDAY OR SUNDAY OPEN " IMPINGE UPON ANY SATURDAY OR SUNDAY ACTIVITIES OUR COLLEAGUES MAY HAVE. |
| 02:00:43 | BUT MR. |
| 02:00:44 | PRESIDENT, THAT' S WHY I AM DEEPLY DISAPPOINTED. |
| 02:00:46 | THE RANKING MEMBER AND I HAVE BEEN READY SINCE LAST WEDNESDAY TO GO FORWARD ON THIS BILL. |
| 02:00:51 | IT IS A COMPLICATED BILL, AND I HAD HOPED WE WOULD BE ABLE TO GO TONIGHT. |
| 02:00:57 | SO I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED, PERSONALLY, AND FOR ALL OF THE AGENCIES BE PEOPLE WORKING WITH US. |
| 02:01:02 | LET ME SAY AT THIS POINT, THAT WE HAVE WORKED TOGETHER PRIOR TO THE BILL COMING TO THE FLOOR, WE HAVE THE RANKING MEMBER AND I HAVE AGREED THAT WE CAN ACCEPT A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF AMENDMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN PRESENTED TO OUR STAFF, IF THERE ARE OTHER AMENDMENTS WE WOULD ASK THAT YOU BRING THEM TO US, TO OUR STAFFS TONIGHT SO THAT WE MAY DETERMINE IF WE CAN ACCEPT THEM OR WORK WITH THE MEMBERS TO GAIN ACCOMMODATION ON THEM. |
| 02:01:41 | I HAVE APPROVED AND AS HAS MY COLLEAGUE, A NUMBER OF COLLOQUIES THAT WILL BE READY TO GO. |
| 02:01:48 | IF WE ARE ABLE TO MOVE TO THIS BILL TOMORROW, I THINK THERE ARE PERHAPS THREE OR FOUR ISSUES WHICH WOULD REQUIRE A VOTE, AND WE WOULD BE -- WE WOULD LIKE TO WORK WITH THE LEADERSHIP AND GET A SHORT TIME AGREEMENTS ON THESE BILLS, RESERVING THE RIGHT TO EVERYBODY TO SUBMIT ADDITIONAL COMMENTS FOR THE RECORD SO THAT WE COULD HANDLE THIS IN AN EXPEDITIOUS MANNER. |
| 02:02:13 | WE HAVE UNDERSTAND HOW CONTROVERSIAL THE ISSUES CAN BE. |
| 02:02:15 | WE THINK WE CAN DEAL WITH IT IN A TIMELY FASHION. |
| 02:02:18 | I WOULD ASK THAT PEOPLE WHO DO HAVE AMENDMENTS, QUESTIONS, COLLOQUIES, PLEASE CONTACT US TONIGHT, AND PERHAPS WE CAN MOVE EXPEDITIOUSLY TOMORROW. |
| 02:02:31 | I SHARE THE LEADER' S DISAPPOINTMENT THAT WE ARE NOT ABLE TO GO TONIGHT, BUT WITH COOPERATION AND BRINGING THE AMENDMENTS TO US TONIGHT, PERHAPS WE CAN DEAL WITH -- DEAL WITH THE ISSUES IN A TIMELY FASHION TOMORROW. |
| 02:02:45 | I THANK THE MAJORITY LEADER, I THANK THE CHAIR. |
| 02:02:47 | MR. |
| 02:02:48 | WELLSTONE: MR. PRESIDENT? |
| 02:02:49 | THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE SENATOR MR. |
| 02:02:50 | MINNESOTA. MR. |
| 02:02:51 | WELLSTONE: I WILL TAKE JUST ONE MINUTE. |
| 02:02:52 | I KNOW THE MINORITY LEADER WANTS TO SPEAK ON THIS. |
| 02:02:55 | LET ME JUST SAY I HEARD THE WORD CONTROVERSIAL USED. |
| 02:02:59 | JUDGE ANN MONTGOMERY HAS THE SUPPORT OF BOTH SENATORS FROM MINNESOTA. |
| 02:03:03 | SHE HAS THE BROADEST POSSIBLE SUPPORT THE LEGAL COMMUNITY, THE HIGHEST POSSIBLE MARKS FROM THE A. |
| 02:03:09 | B. A., SHE IS EMINENTLY QUALIFIED. |
| 02:03:11 | I SAY TO MY COLLEAGUE, I WOULD BE MORE THAN PLEASED FOR SOMEONE TO MOVE THIS. |
| 02:03:15 | I DON' T ASK FOR UNANIMOUS CONSENT, THOUGH I THINK THAT' S THE BEST WAY, I WOULD BE WILLING TO DEBATE THIS NOMINEE WITH ANYBODY. |
| 02:03:21 | AND JUST TO BE VERY CLEAR, AS FAR AS THE DELAY, I WAS NOT THE ONE THAT PUT THE HOLD ON JUDGE MONTGOMERY. |
| 02:03:28 | I' M NOT THE ONE THAT HAS OBJECTED TO MOVING FORWARD. |
| 02:03:31 | OTHER SENATORS INTEREST HAVE. |
| 02:03:33 | I' M JUST DOING WHAT ANY SENATOR WOULD DO FROM ANY STATE, WHICH I AM FIGHTING HARD FOR A WOMAN WHO RICHLY DESERVES TO BE FEDERAL DISTRICT JUDGE. |
| 02:03:41 | THERE IS NO REASON IN THE WORLD WHY ANYBODY SHOULD BE TRYING TO STOP THIS. |
| 02:03:47 | THIS WOMAN CAME OUT OF COMMITTEE BACK IN MARCH. |
| 02:03:49 | SHE HAS BEEN WAITING AND WAITING AND WAITING ACTION, AND I HAVE PATIENTLY WORKED THROUGH THE PROCESS. |
| 02:03:55 | I AM ABSOLUTELY CONVINCED THE MAJORITY LEADER IS WORKING IN GOOD FAITH, AND I LOOK FORD TO WORKING THIS OUT TOMORROW. |
| 02:04:01 | I APOLOGIZE TO MY COLLEAGUE FROM MISSOURI, WHO IS A FRIEND AND I RESPECT, BUT I AM NOT THE ONE WHO HAS DELAYED THIS. |
| 02:04:11 | MR. |
| 02:04:12 | DASCHLE: MR. PRESIDENT? THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE MINORITY LEADER IS RECOGNIZED. |
| 02:04:15 | MR. |
| 02:04:16 | DASCHLE: WE DON' T NEED TO REHASH THE HISTORY ON THIS. |
| 02:04:19 | I THINK IT IS FAIR TO SAY THERE HAS BEEN A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF COOPERATION THIS MONTH. |
| 02:04:24 | I PLEDGED MY EFFORTS TO THE NEW MAJORITY LEADER WHEN HE BECAME LEADER, AND INDICATED I WANTED TO WORK WITH HIM. |
| 02:04:34 | I THINK THAT FACT HAS NOW BEEN WELL- DOCUMENTED. |
| 02:04:37 | THE DISTINGUISHED SENATOR FROM NEW HAMPSHIRE WAS IN THE CHAIR LAST NIGHT, AND I APPLAUD HIM FOR HIS WILLINGNESS TO PRESIDE AT LATE HOURS. |
| 02:04:48 | BUT AS HE WAS PRESIDING LAST NIGHT, IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THE COOPERATION STOPPED. |
| 02:04:53 | WE HAD ANOTHER INDICATION OF THE DEGREE TO WHICH WE WERE GOING TO WORK ON BOTH SIDES TO MOVE THINGS ALONG WITH THE CLEAR UNDERSTANDING ON BOTH SIDES THAT WE HAD TO FINISH THE EXECUTIVE CALENDAR ON JUDGESHIPS THIS MONTH. |
| 02:05:11 | THE DISTINGUISHED MAJORITY LEADER SAID THAT HE WOULD TRY TO HEAVEN US GET THAT DONE. |
| 02:05:15 | I SAID, WELL, I WILL TRY TO WORK WITH YOU TO ACCOMMODATE ALL OF THE SPECIFIC PIECES OF LEGISLATION THAT HAVE TO BE ADDRESSED, SO LONG AS WE CAN CONTINUE TO WORK IN GOOD FAITH TO DO THAT. |
| 02:05:27 | WELL LAST NIGHT IT STOPPED. |
| 02:05:30 | AND SO MR. |
| 02:05:32 | PRESIDENT, WE HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO CONTINUE TO FIND A WAY WITH WHICH TO RESOLVE THIS IMPASSE. |
| 02:05:38 | WE NEED TO FINISH THE THREE CIRCUIT COURT JUDGES, PLUS THE OTHER DISTRICT JUDGES THAT REMAIN ON THE EXECUTIVE CALENDAR, THIS WEEK. |
| 02:05:46 | THE DISTINGUISHED SENATOR FROM OKLAHOMA MADE A GOOD POINT, THAT THERE HAVE BEEN HOLDS IN THE PAST ON INDIVIDUAL JUDGES, AND I WON' T DENY THAT, BUT I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE EMPHASIZE THAT IN 1992, UNDER SIMILAR CIRCUMSTANCES, THE MAJORITY AT THAT TIME, THE DEMOCRATIC MAJORITY CONFIRMED 66 DISTRICT AND CIRCUIT JUDGES. |
| 02:06:11 | 66. ON JULY 1, OF THIS YEAR, NOT ONE, ZERO BUJS HAD BEEN CONFIRMED. |
| 02:06:17 | NOW WE HAVE CONFIRMED, I -- JUDGES HAD BEEN CONFIRMED. |
| 02:06:20 | NOW WE HAVE CONFIRMED 15. |
| 02:06:21 | SO WE ARE MAKING PROGRESS. |
| 02:06:24 | BUT WE CAN' T BE EXPECTED TO ALLOW THE BALANCE THAT WE HAVE TO BE DISRUPTED. |
| 02:06:33 | IN WE CAN CONTINUE TO FIND WAYS WITH WHICH TO COOPERATE AND WORK TOGETHER, ALL OF THE PIECES OF LEGISLATION OF THE DISTINGUISHED MAJORITY LEADER MENTIONED, I THINK ARE MOB. |
| 02:06:43 | I DON' T THINK WE ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO DO THE H. |
| 02:06:47 | U. D. V. |
| 02:06:48 | A. BILL THIS WEEK, BUT I BELIEVE ALL THE CONFERENCE REPORTS AND THINGS THE MAJORITY LEADER MENTIONED ARE THINGS THAT WE OUGHT TO BE ABLE TO WORK ON. |
| 02:06:53 | BUT WE HAVE GOT TO GET THOSE JUDGES ON. |
| 02:06:56 | IN WE CAN DO THE JUDGES, WE CAN DO THE LEGISLATION. |
| 02:06:59 | THAT BALANCES SOMETHING THAT I THINK WE MADE VERY CLEAR FROM THE BEGINNING, AND I HOPE THAT WE CAN WORK TOGETHER TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN. |
| 02:07:06 | I YIELD THE FLOOR. |
| 02:07:07 | A SENATOR: MR. |
| 02:07:08 | PRESIDENT? THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE SENATOR FROM MICHIGAN IS RECOGNIZED. |
| 02:07:12 | MR. LEVIN: I WONDER IF THE MAJORITY LEADER WOULD HELP US OUT A BIT WITH THIS EQUIP. |
| 02:07:17 | IT WAS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT EARLIER IN -- EARLY IN JULY THAT THE MAJORITY LEADER HAD INDICATED AN INTENTION TO WORK THROUGH ALL OF THE JUDGES ON THE CALENDAR, AND THAT IF THERE WAS AN OBJECTION, THEN THE OBJECTION WOULD BE FOR IT WOULD BE REQUIRED TO BE STATED AND THEN THE MAJORITY LEADER WOULD ATTEMPT TO MOVE TO THE CONFIRMATION OF EACH OF THE JUDGES ON THIS CALENDAR. |
| 02:07:45 | I AM PARTICULARLY INTERESTED IN A COURT OF APPEALS JUDGE FROM MICHIGAN, ERIC CLAY, WHO ALSO HAS THE SUPPORT OF BOTH SENATORS FROM MICHIGAN. |
| 02:07:53 | AND I KNOW THE MAJORITY LEADER HAS SPOKEN TO BOTH MY COLLEAGUE SENATOR ABRAHAM AND ME ABOUT MR. |
| 02:08:01 | CLAY. I AM WONDERING, MY QUESTION IS THIS, WHETHER OR NOT IT IS STILL THE HOPE OF THE MAJORITY LEADER TO CALL EACH OF THE NAMES OF THE JUDGES THAT ARE ON THE CALENDAR, AND TO SEE IF THERE IS AN OBJECTION, AND IF THERE IS, TO MOVE TO THE CONFIRMATION OF EACH OF THE CIRCUIT COURT JUDGES AS WELL AS THE DISTRICT COURT JUDGES ON THIS CALENDAR. |
| 02:08:29 | IS THAT STILL THE INTENTION. |
| 02:08:31 | REPUBLICAN LEADER BEFORE WE RECESS? |
| 02:08:32 | MR. |
| 02:08:33 | LOTT: IT IS MY INTENT TO TRY TO CONTINUE TO WORK THROUGH THESE MATTERS. |
| 02:08:39 | I NEVER INDICATED IN ANY WAY THAT I COULD GUARANTEE THAT WE WOULD GET THEM ALL DONE. |
| 02:08:43 | THERE ARE OBJECTIONS TO SOME OF THEM, AND MULTIPLE OBJECTIONS TO SOME OF THEM. |
| 02:08:47 | BUT I CONTINUE TO WORK ON THEM, ONE AT A TIME, BECAUSE YOU CAN' T WORK SIX OSH SENSE OF THEM AT A TIME, AND IT HAS WORKED PRETTY WELL. |
| 02:08:55 | AND I AM WORKING ON THIS ONE, AND I HAVE TALKED TO THE SENATOR, THE OTHER SENATOR FROM MICHIGAN, SENATOR ABRAHAM ABOUT THIS JUDGE, AND WE ARE LOOKING INTO YOU KNOW WHAT MIGHT BE THE PROBLEMS AND WHAT MIGHT COULD BE DONE. |
| 02:09:09 | WE WILL KEEP WORKING ON THEM. |
| 02:09:11 | THE PROBLEM, LET ME SAY THIS, CIRCUIT JUDGES ARE VIEWED DIFFERENTLY THAN DISTRICT JUDGES FOR A LOT OF REASONS AND WE CAN GET INTO A DISCUSSION ON THAT SOME OTHER DAY, SOME OTHER NIGHT, BUT THAT' S NOT TO SAY WE WON' T IT CONTINUE TO WORK ON THEM. |
| 02:09:24 | MRS. BOXER: WILL THE SENATOR FROM MICHIGAN YIELD TO ME FOR A QUESTION. |
| 02:09:28 | MR. LEVIN: I YIELD THE FLOOR. |
| 02:09:29 | THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE SENATOR FROM CALIFORNIA IS RECOGNIZED. |
| 02:09:31 | MRS. |
| 02:09:32 | BOXER: I WANT TO THANK THE MAJORITY LEADER FOR DOING ALL HE CAN. |
| 02:09:34 | I WANT TO MAKE THE POINT FROM THE SENATOR OF TEXAS AND OTHERS WHO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THIS, THAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT REAL PEOPLE HERE. |
| 02:09:42 | YOU STAND HERE, YOU KNOW LATE AT NIGHT AND OBJECT, AND SOMETIMES WE FORGET, I THINK THE SENATOR, SENATOR WELLSTONE WAS VERY REAL LAST NIGHT WHEN HE CAME BACK AND HE WAS ON THE PHONE READY TO TELL THIS PARTICULAR NOMINEE THAT ALL WAS WELL. |
| 02:10:00 | AND I HAPPENED -- HAPPEN TO KNOW TWO JUDGES ON THAT LIST THE FROM CALIFORNIA, THEIR LIVES ARE ON HOLD. |
| 02:10:07 | THEY ARE HUMAN BEINGS JUST AS WE ARE. |
| 02:10:09 | MANY HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR MONTHS AND MONTHS. |
| 02:10:12 | AND I WOULD SAY TO THE MAJORITY LEADER, PLEASE DO ALL YOU CAN, BECAUSE PRETTY SOON WE ARE GOING TO COME DOWN HERE WITH PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE FAMILIES THAT ARE IN LIMBO, THEY DON' T KNOW, SOME OF THEM ARE CLOSING OTHER PRACTICES UP, IT IS A HARDSHIP ON THE FAMILIES, THESE ARE WONDERFUL PEOPLE. |
| 02:10:30 | THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO CAME OUT OF THOSE COMMITTEES, AND OF THEM, WITHOUT ONE OBJECTION. |
| 02:10:35 | THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO HAVE SUPPORT OF BOTH SENATORS IN MANY CASES, REPUBLICAN AND DEMOCRATIC ALIKE. |
| 02:10:44 | SO WE COME DOWN AT NIGHT AND WE REALLY CHANGE COURSE HERE WHEN MANY OF US UNDERSTOOD IT WAS GOING TO GO A CERTAIN WAY. |
| 02:10:54 | IT IS -- IT' S VERY HARD, I THINK, ON THE PEOPLE. |
| 02:10:57 | LIVES WHO ARE AFFECTED. |
| 02:10:58 | THEIR CHILDREN AND THEIR SPOUSES. |
| 02:11:00 | I HOPE WE CAN WORK TOGETHER FOR THE GOOD OF FRANKLY THESE PEOPLE AND THEIR FAMILIAR FAMILIES, AND THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. |
| 02:11:06 | I DON' T THINK ITS DOES ANY GOOD TO HAVE THESE JUDGESHIPS VACATE. |
| 02:11:12 | JUSTICE NEEDS TO BE DONE. |
| 02:11:13 | IT IS HARD TO SERVE IT WHEN YOU DON' T HAVE THESE JUDGESHIPS FILLED. |
| 02:11:17 | I YIELD THE FLOOR. |
| 02:11:18 | MR. |
| 02:11:19 | LOTT: MR. PRESIDENT FROM. |
| 02:11:22 | THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE MAJORITY LEADER. |
| 02:11:25 | MR. LOTT: I HAVE TO RESPOND. |
| 02:11:26 | THESE ARE REAL PEOPLE. |
| 02:11:28 | THESE ARE NOT ADMINISTRATION APPOINTEES THAT SERVE AT THE PLEASURE THE PRESIDENT FOR A YEAR OR TWO YEARS. |
| 02:11:34 | THESE ARE LIFETIME APPOINTMENTS TO THE FEDERAL JUDICIARY. |
| 02:11:37 | AND IT IS VERY IMPORTANT WHO THESE PEOPLE ARE. |
| 02:11:40 | MRS. BOXER: YES IT IS, MR. |
| 02:11:41 | LOTT: AND HOW THEY ARE GOING TO RULE. |
| 02:11:43 | WE SHOULD LOOK NOT ONLY AT THEIR EDUCATION, BACKGROUND AND QUALIFICATION, BUT ALSO PARTICULARLY WHEN IT COMES TO CIRCUIT JUDGES, YOU KNOW, WHAT IS THEIR PHILOSOPHY WITH REGARD TO THE JUDICIARY, AND HOW THEY MAY BE RULING. |
| 02:11:58 | WE HAVE A LEGITIMATE RESPONSIBILITY TO ASK THOSE QUESTIONS. |
| 02:12:01 | AND I HAVE TO TELL YOU, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE ALL BEEN THROUGH THIS, I MEAN I HAVE HAS A COUPLE OF JUDGES THAT I HAVE BEEN INTERESTED IN, ONE FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS, GREAT GUY, GREAT LAWYER, HARVARD EDUCATED, ALL. |
| 02:12:17 | CREDENTIALS, HE DIDN' T MAKE IT IN 1992. |
| 02:12:19 | THAT' S THE WAY IT GOES. |
| 02:12:21 | A LOT OF PEOPLE DIDN' T LIKE HIM BECAUSE HE HE WAS A VERY CONSERVATIVE LAWYER. |
| 02:12:27 | AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, THE PHILOSOPHY DOES MAKE A DIFFERENCE WHEN IT COMES TO THE CIRCUIT. |
| 02:12:32 | BUT I WANT TO EMPHASIZE HERE, WHEN WE START POINT PAINTING THIS MOSAIC ABOUT THIS PERSON AND THIS FAMILY THAT' S GOING TO BE AFFECTED WE HAVE A RIGHT TO TO THINK ABOUT ALL OF THE FAMILIES WHOSE LIVES WILL BE PAY AFFECTED BY SOME OF THE RIDICULOUS DECISIONS WE SEE IN THE FEDERAL JUDICIARY, AND FEDERAL AGO AT THIS VIFM WHERE THEY START WRITING LAWS, WHICH IS OUR JOB. |
| 02:12:56 | SO I THINK -- I NEVER INTEND TODAY INFER IN ANY WAY, OR IMPLY, THAT I COULD GUARANTEE THAT ALL THESE WOULD BE DONE, OR THAT I WOULD EVEN VOTE FOR ALL OF THEM. |
| 02:13:05 | ALL I SAID WAS I WOULD WORK THROUGH THIS LIST, AND I WOULD TRY, BECAUSE I DIDN' T KNOW ANY OF THEM. |
| 02:13:10 | I DIDN' T KNOW A SINGLE ONE OF THEM WHEN I STARTED OUT, AND I STARTED DOWN THE LIST, AND AT THE DIRECTION OF MY PREDECESSOR, I GOT TO KNOW SOME OF THEM, WORKED THROUGH THEM. |
| 02:13:21 | I TRIED TO MOVE FOUR IN A BLOCK ONE NIGHT, AND BECAUSE WE DIDN' T HAVE ALL OF THEM ON THE LIST IT WAS OBJECTED TO BY A SENATOR. |
| 02:13:28 | I THOUGHT WE HAD WORKED IT OUT. |
| 02:13:30 | LATER I TRIED TO MOVE THE SAME FOUR JUDGES AGAIN THAT NOBODY OBJECTED TO, EXCEPT WHEN I BROUGHT IT TO THE FLOOR, A DEMOCRATIC SENATOR OBJECTED BECAUSE HIS JUDGE WAS ONE OF THE ONES NOT ON THE LIST. |
| 02:13:40 | AND THEN WE, THE MAJORITY LEADER LEFT, AND I SAID WELL MAYBE I COULD WORK THROUGH MORE OF THEM, AND I GOT IT UP TO NINE JUDGES. |
| 02:13:47 | ONE NIGHT I CAME TO THE FLOOR WE HAD TEN THAT HAD CLEARED THE HOT LINE, EVERYBODY OKAYED, I EVEN TALKED TO A COUPLE OF SENATORS AS THEY HIT THE GROUND AT THE POIR I. |
| 02:13:55 | AIRPORT TRYING TO GET THEM DONE, AT THE LAST MINUTE ONE OF THEM DROPPED BY THE WAYSIDE. |
| 02:14:00 | BUT I TRIED NINE JUDGES. |
| 02:14:01 | AND I HAD AN OBJECTION FROM A DEMOCRAT. |
| 02:14:05 | WHEN I WAS TRYING TO CLEAR NINE JUDGES. |
| 02:14:07 | AND I THINK AT LEAST FIVE OR SIX OF THOSE WERE SUPPORTED BY DEMOCRATS. |
| 02:14:13 | SO I SAID, OKAY, WELL, THAT HASN' T WORKED. |
| 02:14:16 | AND IN AN EFFORT OF AN ABUNDANCE OF GOOD FAITH, I SAID, I WILL DO THEM ONE BY ONE. |
| 02:14:21 | I BROUGHT UP ONE. |
| 02:14:22 | IT WAS OBJECTED TO. |
| 02:14:25 | BUT THEN I STARTED WORKING IT WITH THE MINORITY LEADER, HE STARTED WORKING IT WITH YOUR PEOPLE AND THEN WE STARTED MOVING THE ONES THAT WERE REALLY NOT CONTROVERSIAL. |
| 02:14:35 | WE GOT FOUR DONE, WE GOT FIVE DONE, WE GOT FIVE MORE DONE, I THINK IT' S 15 OR 16 NOW -- 16 THAT WE WORKED THROUGH THE PROCESS. |
| 02:14:43 | SO I REALLY -- I MUST SAY TO THE MINORITY LEADER WAS FAIR IN HIS REMARKS OF HOW WE' VE TALKED ABOUT IT AND WE WORKED TOGETHER ON IT. |
| 02:14:49 | WE' LL JUST KEEP MOVING THROUGH THE PROCESS. |
| 02:14:55 | BUT, AGAIN, THIS -- THESE ARE NOT INSIGNIFICANT. |
| 02:14:59 | THESE ARE BIG- TIME, LIFETIME HIGH- PAID JOBS THAT ARE GOING TO AFFECT OUR LIVES. |
| 02:15:03 | AND IF WE DON' T KNOW WHO THEY ARE, IF WE DON' T ASK QUESTIONS, WE' LL BE SHIRKING OUR RESPONSIBILITIES. |
| 02:15:09 | BUT WE' LL CONTINUE WORKING ON THEM, JUST LIKE THE SENATOR THERE FROM MICHIGAN. |
| 02:15:13 | WE' LL -- WE' LL TALK MORE ABOUT THAT AND SEE IF WE CAN. |
| 02:15:15 | I' D BE GLAD TO YIELD. |
| 02:15:17 | MRS. |
| 02:15:18 | BOXER: AND I APPRECIATE WHAT YOU SAY AND YOU' RE SO RIGHT ABOUT THIS. |
| 02:15:21 | AND I HAVE TO SAY, HAVING HAD THE REAL GREAT PRIVILEGE TO GET A NUMBER OF JUDGES THROUGH THIS UNITED STATES SENATE -- AND LOTT: THERE WAS ONE FROM CALIFORNIA THAT WE MOVED. |
| 02:15:30 | MRS. |
| 02:15:31 | BOXER: ABSOLUTELY. I WANT TO SAY THAT THE COMMITTEE IS DOING ITS JOB. |
| 02:15:36 | THEY WERE VERY CLEAR WITH ALL OF US, THE REPUBLICAN SENATORS SAYING WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WHEN YOU BRING PEOPLE UP THEY HAVE REPUBLICAN SUPPORT AS WELL AS DEMOCRATIC SUPPORT IN THEIR COMMUNITIES. |
| 02:15:47 | AND IT' S BEEN, FRANKLY, A JOY FOR ME TO WORK TO BRING THESE TYPES OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE THAT TYPE OF BIPARTISAN SUPPORT. |
| 02:15:54 | BUT I GUESS THE ONE POINT I JUST WANT TO MAKE -- AND I' M NOT GOING TO BELABOR THIS ANY LONGER -- IS THAT I HEARD, YOU KNOW, THE SENATOR FROM MINNESOTA SAY HE' D BE DELIGHTED TO DEBATE THIS. |
| 02:16:05 | AND HE' S READY TO -- MR. |
| 02:16:07 | LOTT: LET ME SAY IN THIS CASE, I' VE ALREADY TOLD HIM -- IF I COULD RECLAIM MY TIME FOR A MOMENT, IT' S REL VEFMBIT IF WE CAN' T GET IT WORKED OUT, I INTEND TO MOVE IT AND WE' LL HAVE A DEBATE. |
| 02:16:16 | MRS. |
| 02:16:17 | BOXER: I' M PLEASED ABOUT THAT. |
| 02:16:18 | MR. |
| 02:16:19 | LOTT: HERE' S ONE OF MY PROBLEMS. |
| 02:16:20 | WE' VE GOT A FEW HOURS LEFT HERE. |
| 02:16:21 | WE' VE GOT A LOT OF WORK THAT WE NEED TO GET DONE THAT YOU WANT AND THAT WE WANT. |
| 02:16:26 | MRS. |
| 02:16:27 | BOXER: SURE. |
| 02:16:28 | MR. |
| 02:16:29 | LOTT: SO I PLEAD WITH EVERYBODY. |
| 02:16:31 | LET' S KEEP OUR HEADS COOL. |
| 02:16:32 | LET' S KEEP TALKING. |
| 02:16:34 | AND ALSO I AGAIN SAY I THINK IT WOULD BE A MAJOR MISTAKE -- MAJOR MISTAKE -- FOR SENATORS TO HOLD UP HEALTH INSURANCE REFORM, SAFE DRINKING WATER, SMALL BUSINESS TAX RELIEF AND MINIMUM WAGE IF WE CAN' T WORK THROUGH ALL THESE THINGS TOMORROW. |
| 02:16:55 | I WOULD PLEAD WITH YOU NOT TO DO THAT. |
| 02:16:57 | I WOULD URGE YOU NOT TO DO IT. |
| 02:16:59 | LET' S GET THESE CONFERENCES THAT WE HAVE WORKED TOGETHER ON IN A BIPARTISAN WAY. |
| 02:17:03 | AND I UNDERSTAND THERE' S SOME OBJECTIONS MAYBE TO THE ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION BILL. |
| 02:17:07 | I DON' T KNOW THE DETAILS OF THE NEGOTIATIONS THERE. |
| 02:17:10 | BUT THIS IS SOMETHING THE AMERICAN PEOPLE FEEL OUTRAGED ABOUT. |
| 02:17:15 | WE CAN' T CONTROL ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION IN THIS COUNTRY. |
| 02:17:19 | BUT, YOU KNOW, IF THERE ARE SOME PROBLEMS WITH THE WAY IT WAS HANDLED, WE' LL TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION. |
| 02:17:24 | BUT THERE ARE THREE OF THESE CONFERENCE REPORTS THAT EVERYBODY HAS PRETTY MUCH SIGNED ON TO. |
| 02:17:27 | I MEAN, THEY' VE GOT PROBLEMS WITH THEM -- I' D BE GLAD TO YIELD TO THE SENATOR FROM OKLAHOMA. |
| 02:17:32 | MR. |
| 02:17:33 | NICKLES: I WOULD JUST -- ONE, I APPRECIATE THE COMMENTS AND THIS HAS BEEN INFORMATIVE. |
| 02:17:40 | SINCE THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS MONTHS, THE MAJORITY LEADER, IF MY FIGURES ARE CORRECT, THERE' S BEEN 23 JUDGES ON THE EXECUTIVE CALENDAR READY FOR CONFIRMATION IN THE SENATE. |
| 02:17:50 | WE' VE CONFIRMED 16. |
| 02:17:52 | WE HAVE SEVEN STILL LEFT ON THE CALENDAR. |
| 02:17:56 | SO I' D TELL MY COLLEAGUES ON THE OTHER SIDE THAT MIGHT BE FRUSTRATED, THAT' S PRETTY GOOD BATTING AVERAGE. |
| 02:18:05 | THAT' S 16 OUT OF 23 IN THIS PERIOD OF TIME. |
| 02:18:08 | I WILL ADMIT, HARDLY -- I THINK MAYBE ONE JUDGE WAS CONFIRMED PRIOR TO THAT TIME. |
| 02:18:12 | ALSO JUST WHILE WE' RE LOOKING AT THIS, I MENTIONED FRANK KEATING, WHO WAS NOT CONFIRMED IN 1992. |
| 02:18:20 | AND MY COLLEAGUE, SENATOR DASCHLE, MENTIONED THAT WHILE WE CONFIRMED 66 JUDGES IN 1992, WHICH IS A LOT, AND THAT' S CORRECT BUT WE ALSO HAD 58 NOMINATIONS PENDING AT THE END OF 1992. |
| 02:18:36 | RIGHT NOW TOTAL NOMINATIONS -- JUDGES ON THE CALENDAR AND THAT HAVE BEEN NOMINATED -- THE TOTAL LIST IS 28. |
| 02:18:41 | AND SO IF YOU LOOK AT THE TOTAL PERCENTAGE OF THOSE AVAILABLE AND THE PERCENT -- MR. |
| 02:18:46 | LOTT: THOSE THAT ARE ON THE CALENDAR AND THOSE STILL PENDING IN THE JUDICIARY? |
| 02:18:49 | MR. |
| 02:18:50 | NICKLES: STILL PENDING BEFORE THE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE. |
| 02:18:52 | SO THE ONLY THING THAT YOU' VE HAD ON YOUR PLATE IS THAT THERE' S BEEN 23 JUDGES ON THE EXECUTIVE CALENDAR. |
| 02:18:59 | THE SENATE HAS NOW CONFIRMED 16 16. |
| 02:19:01 | THERE' S SEVEN REMAINING. |
| 02:19:02 | SO I WOULD SAY IN THE PAST MONTH, SENATOR -- THE MAJORITY LEADER HAS BEEN VERY COOPERATIVE AND, IN FACT, THAT YOU' VE MOVED 16 OUT OF 23 -- THAT' S 70% OF THE JUDGES. |
| 02:19:17 | AND SO I -- I THINK YOU' VE BEEN VERY COOPERATIVE IN WORKING WITH ALL SENATORS. |
| 02:19:23 | A SENATOR: MR. |
| 02:19:24 | PRESIDENT? THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE SENATOR FROM NEW JERSEY. |
| 02:19:26 | MR. LAUTENBERG: I THANK YOU, MR. |
| 02:19:29 | PRESIDENT. I WOULD JUST ASK THE MAJORITY LEADER TO EXTEND A COURTESY IF HE CAN. |
| 02:19:39 | HE' S -- I WANT TO ADD MY COMPLIMENTS TO THOSE THAT HE' S ALREADY RECEIVED. |
| 02:19:44 | HE' S GOT A TOUGH JOB AND I THINK IN THE MOST SERIOUS WAY HE' S TRIED -- MR. |
| 02:19:52 | LOTT: ONE OF THOSE WAS FROM NEW JERSEY, IF THE SENATOR WOULD YIELD. |
| 02:19:54 | MR. |
| 02:19:55 | LAUTENBERG: ABSOLUTELY. |
| 02:19:56 | AND I DON' T HAVE -- MR. |
| 02:19:57 | LOTT: AND IT RAN INTO A LITTLE PROBLEM AND WE WORKED IT OUT. |
| 02:19:59 | MR. |
| 02:20:00 | LAUTENBERG: TO USE THE EXPRESSION, I DON' T HAVE A JUDGE IN THIS FIGHT. |
| 02:20:04 | SO I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT. |
| 02:20:07 | AND I ENJOY NOT ONLY WORKING WITH BUT MY KIND OF FRIENDLY TET- A- TET IS WITH THE MAJORITY LEADER. |
| 02:20:18 | I WOULD ASK THE MAJORITY LEADER WLOO IN RELATE THESE -- REALITY WHETHER OR NOT THESE JUDGES DIDN' T MOVE TONIGHT HAD ANYTHING TO DO WITH ANYTHING ELSE? |
| 02:20:27 | IS THERE SOME LEGISLATIVE REDRESS THAT IS BEING SOUGHT HERE AND JUDGES BEING HELD HOSTAGE AND PEOPLE SEEKING JUSTICE, BEING HELD HOSTAGE BECAUSE WE' RE NOT PROCESSING THEIR CASES IN EXPEDITIOUS FASHION? |
| 02:20:42 | I WOULD ASK THE MAJORITY LEADER LEADER, BECAUSE IT WAS SUGGESTED TO ME THAT PERHAPS THERE WAS SOMETHING THAT I MIGHT DO TO HELP ALONG HERE. |
| 02:20:51 | AND I JUST WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHETHER OR NOT THERE' S SOME PARTICULAR PIECE OF LEGISLATION THAT MAY HAVE OFFENDED SOMEONE THAT HAS THEM OUT HERE SAYING, " NO, I' M GOING TO OBJECT TO JUDGES, I' M GOING TO OBJECT TO ANYTHING THAT GOES ON IN THIS PLACE AND I DON' T CARE WHAT THE CONSEQUENCES ARE. |
| 02:21:07 | I OBJECT TO THE LEGISLATION. |
| 02:21:09 | " COULD I BE -- COULD I POSSIBLY BE CORRECT IN MY ASSUMPTION, MR. |
| 02:21:14 | LEADER? MR. |
| 02:21:15 | LOTT: I DON' T THINK IT' S EVER HAPPENED IN THE SENATE FLOOR -- BEFORE THAT ONE MATTER WOULD BE IMPACTED BY AN UNRELATED MATTER IN ANOTHER AREA. |
| 02:21:23 | WHY, OF COURSE, EVERYTHING IN THE SENATE IS TANGLED UP IN RELATED -- AND RELATED TO SOMETHING ELSE. |
| 02:21:29 | I DON' T GUESS THERE' S ANY RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE JUDGE NOT MOVING TONIGHT AND THE OBJECTIONS TO TAKING UP THE H. |
| 02:21:37 | U. D. AND VETERANS APPROPRIATIONS BILL. |
| 02:21:39 | WHY, OF COURSE THEY' RE RELATED RELATED. |
| 02:21:43 | BUT I' VE FOUND THE WAY YOU DO THAT, THEY GET ALL TANGLED UP AND YOU WORK WITH THEM. |
| 02:21:49 | AND QUITE OFTEN THEY -- THEY MANAGE TO WORK THEMSELVES OUT AND WE GET THE JOB DONE. |
| 02:21:53 | BUT THEY ARE RELATED. |
| 02:21:54 | LOOK, YOU KNOW THAT SENATORS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE FEEL VERY STRONGLY, NOT ONLY ABOUT THE JUDGES BUT ABOUT LEGISLATION. |
| 02:22:03 | PEOPLE ARE WORRIED. |
| 02:22:07 | WHEN YOU HAVE A BILL THAT INVOLVES THE STALKING OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN THAT YOU REALLY CARE ABOUT AND YOU THINK THAT THERE IS A MISTAKE THERE AND IT' S A BILL THAT' S UNIVERSALLY SUPPORTED, WHEN THAT BILL GETS TANGLED UP IN WHATEVER COURSE OF EVENTS, A SENATOR GETS EXCITED ABOUT THAT, UPSET ABOUT THAT. |
| 02:22:24 | WHEN A SENATOR FEELS LIKE HIS OR HER RIGHTS ARE TRAMPLED ON, THEY MOVE IN AND THEY TAKE ADVANTAGE OF WHATEVER RIGHTS THEY HAVE. |
| 02:22:31 | I MEAN, I -- I' VE -- YOU KNOW, I' VE -- MY ATTITUDE WITH THE SENATOR FROM MINNESOTA WAS, LOOK, I UNDERSTAND. |
| 02:22:38 | YOU KNOW, YOU' RE DOING -- YOU KNOW, YOU' RE DOING WHAT YOU' VE GOT TO DO. |
| 02:22:42 | AND WE' LL SEE WHAT WE CAN DO WITH HIS PROBLEM THAT' S BEEN AFFECTED BY ANOTHER PROBLEM. |
| 02:22:47 | WE' LL WORK THEM ALL. |
| 02:22:48 | YEAH, THEY' RE ALL RELATED. |
| 02:22:49 | NOTHING NEW IN THAT. |
| 02:22:50 | MR. |
| 02:22:51 | LAUTENBERG: WELL, THE MAJORITY LEADER, LIKE MY NAME, IS FRANK AND I APPRECIATE THAT. |
| 02:22:59 | THAT CANDOR. |
| 02:23:02 | BECAUSE IF WE' RE TALKING ABOUT THE STALKING BILL HERE THAT PASSED THE SENATE, THAT' S OVER IN THE HOUSE, IT CARRIES AN AMENDMENT BY ME THAT SAYS, WIFE BEATERS, CHILD BEATERS, SPOUSE ABUSERS SHOULDN' T HAVE A GUN. |
| 02:23:21 | APPARENTLY THERE' S AN OBJECTION OR A CONCERN ABOUT THAT. |
| 02:23:25 | WE WANT TO GIVE THOSE GUYS GUNS. |
| 02:23:27 | WHAT DID THEY DO? |
| 02:23:28 | BEAT UP THEIR WIFE. |
| 02:23:30 | NO, THAT' S NOT A CRIME, ONE JUDGE SAID. |
| 02:23:33 | I HATE TO GIVE A NONCRIMINAL A CRIMINAL SENTENCE. |
| 02:23:35 | ONE GUY -- ONE JUDGE WAS SO TOUGH THAT HE GAVE A MAN WHO MURDERED HIS WIFE IN BALTIMORE COUNTY 18 MONTHS, THE TIME TO BE SERVED WEEKENDS. |
| 02:23:45 | HE MURDERED HIS WIFE. |
| 02:23:46 | THE JUDGE SAID, I DON' T LIKE TO REALLY PUNISH SOMEONE LIKE A CRIMINAL IF THEY' RE NOT REALLY A CRIMINAL. |
| 02:23:52 | ALL HE DID WAS -- HE DIDN' T SAY THIS, I' M SAYING IT -- ALL HE DID WAS MURDER HIS WIFE. |
| 02:23:57 | AND SO I' M ASKING FOR MY AMENDMENT IN THAT BILL TO BE CARRIED ALONG. |
| 02:24:02 | AND NOW SUDDENLY I HEAR THAT THAT HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE APPROVAL OF JUDGES, WHICH NOW HAS US TANGLED UP IN DELAYS ON APPROPRIATION BILLS. |
| 02:24:14 | I THINK IT' S PITIFUL THAT SOMEONE WOULD OBJECT, AS WE SAW HERE LAST NIGHT -- THE SENATOR OBJECTED TO AN ORDER THAT THE MINORITY LEADER REQUESTED AND REFUSED TO ANSWER A QUESTION -- REFUSED, TURNED AROUND AND WALKED OUT -- THIS PLACE IS DETERIORATING INTO A SORRY CONDITION. |
| 02:24:33 | BUT I KNOW THE MAJORITY LEADER IS WORKING ON IT. |
| 02:24:38 | BUT I THINK IT' S VERY IMPORTANT THAT PEOPLE ACROSS THE COUNTRY HEAR THAT EIGHT JUDGES ARE NOT BEING APPOINTED BECAUSE A PIECE OF LEGISLATION THAT WOULD PREVENT WIFE BEATERS, CHILD ABUSERS FROM GETTING GUNS IS THE REASON. |
| 02:25:02 | I THINK THAT' S PRETTY IMPORTANT AND I HOPE THE PUBLIC HEARS IT AND LISTENS TO IT AND I HOPE THE PRESS HEARS IT AND LISTENS TO IT. |
| 02:25:10 | THE MAJORITY LEADER, WITH MY APOLOGIES FOR THIS LITTLE TIRADE, BUT I HAD TO KIND OF GET IT OFF MY CHEST. |
| 02:25:19 | MR. |
| 02:25:20 | LOTT: MR. PRESIDENT? THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE MAJORITY LEADER. |
| 02:25:22 | MR. LOTT: I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT THERE NOW BE A PERIOD FOR THE TRANSACTION OF MORNING BUSINESS WITH SENATORS PERMITTED TO SPEAK FOR UP TO FIVE MINUTES EACH. |
| 02:25:28 | THE PRESIDING OFFICER: WITHOUT OBJECTION, SO ORDERED. |
| 02:25:30 | MR. LOTT: MR. |
| 02:25:33 | PRESIDENT, I HAVE A SERIES OF NONCROW VERNAL -- NONCONTROVERSIAL UNANIMOUS CONSENT REQUESTS THAT I THOUGHT MAYBE WE COULD GET THEM DONE. |
| 02:25:39 | ONE WOULD BE TO NAME A POST OFFICE IN CHICAGO FOR ROBERT P. |
| 02:25:47 | MACALIFF -- MCAULIFF. |
| 02:25:49 | MR. |
| 02:25:50 | FORD: COULD YOU DO THOSE TOMORROW NIGHT OR TOMORROW SOMETIME? |
| 02:25:53 | MR. |
| 02:25:54 | LOTT: WELL, I DIDN' T THINK THERE WAS ANY CONTROVERSY. |
| 02:25:55 | THERE WAS ONE HERE I THOUGHT SENATORS MIGHT REALLY BE INTERESTED IN. |
| 02:25:59 | IT' S S. |
| 02:26:00 | CON. RES. 554, RECOGNIZES AND ENCOURAGES THE CONVENING OF A NATIONAL SILVER- HAIRED CONGRESS. |
| 02:26:05 | MR. |
| 02:26:06 | FORD: WELL, I' D HAVE TO OBJECT TO THAT BECAUSE YOU COULDN' T ATTEND. |
| 02:26:09 | MR. |
| 02:26:10 | LOTT: YOU WOULD BE CONSTRAINED TO OBJECT TO THESE? |
| 02:26:12 | MR. |
| 02:26:13 | FORD: I WOULD BE CONSTRAINED. |
| 02:26:14 | THE PRESIDING OFFICER: OBJECTION IS HEARD. |
| 02:26:15 | MR. |
| 02:26:16 | FORD: NOT RESTRAINED BUT CONSTRAINED. |
| 02:26:17 | MR. |
| 02:26:18 | LOTT: MR. |
| 02:26:19 | PRESIDENT, I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT, THEN THAT, WHEN THE SENATE COMPLETES ITS BUSINESS TODAY, IT STAND IN ADJOURNMENT UNTIL THE HOUR OF 10: 30 A. |
| 02:26:24 | M. ON FRIDAY, AUGUST 2; FURTHER, THAT IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE PRAYER, THE JOURNAL OF PROCEEDINGS BE DEEMED APPROVED TO DAYLIGHT, THE MORNING HOUR BE DEEMED TO HAVE EXPIRED AND THE TIME FOR THE TWO LEADERS BE RESERVED FOR THEIR USE LATER IN THE DAY. |
| 02:26:32 | THE PRESIDING OFFICER: IS THERE OBJECTION? |
| 02:26:35 | MR. |
| 02:26:36 | LOTT: FOR THE INFORMATION OF ALL SENATORS, THERE ARE STILL A NUMBER OF IMPORTANT MATTERS THE SENATE WILL COMPLETE BEFORE THE AUGUST -- ACTION ON BEFORE THE AUGUST RECESS. |
| 02:26:43 | THE HEALTH INSURANCE REFORM PACKAGE, THE SAFE DRINKING WATER CONFERENCE REPORT, THE SMALL BUSINESS TAX RELIEF PACKAGE AND MINIMUM WAGE. |
| 02:26:51 | WE -- WE' RE HOPEFUL TO HAVE ALL THOSE PACKAGES OVER IN THE MORNING SO THAT WE CAN TAKE THEM UP EARLY ON FRIDAY OR FRIDAY AFTERNOON AS WELL AS THE APPROPRIATIONS CONFERENCE REPORTS THAT ARE COMPLETED. |
| 02:27:03 | SENATORS CAN EXPECT THE SENATE TO CONSIDER ANY OF THE FOLLOWING MATTERS AS THEY ARE READY FOR CONSIDERATION: APPROPRIATIONS CONFERENCE REPORTS, MILITARY CONSTRUCTION APPROPRIATIONS CONFERENCE REPORT, D. |
| 02:27:16 | C. APPROPRIATIONS CONFERENCE REPORT, THE ISSUES I ALREADY NAMED, AS WELL AS AN EFFORT TO GO BACK TO THE VETERANS AND HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT APPROPRIATIONS BILL. |
| 02:27:26 | OR ANY OTHER LEGISLATIVE OR EXECUTIVE CALENDAR ITEMS THAT CAN BE CLEARED FOR ACTION. |
| 02:27:30 | SENATORS CAN EXPECT A BUSY SESSION ON FRIDAY WITH ROLL CALL VOTES THROUGHOUT THE DAY AS WE ATTEMPT TO COMPLETE THE SENATORS' BUSINESS. |
| 02:27:37 | JUST ONE FURTHER NOTE. |
| 02:27:38 | I' VE BEEN REMINDING SENATORS AND URGING SENATORS -- I KNOW THAT THE WHIP HAS BEEN DOING IT ON THE OTHER SIDE -- THAT FRIDAY, AUGUST 2, IS A RED- LETTER DAY IN THAT WE SHOULD ALL PLAN ON BEING HERE AND BEING HERE UNTIL WE GET OUR WORK DONE. |
| 02:27:52 | SO I HOPE THAT THERE WON' T BE ANY PANTING AND HOPING TO LEAVE AT 4: 30 TOMORROW AFTERNOON UNLESS WE HAVE GOTTEN THESE CONFERENCE REPORTS DONE THAT WE' VE BEEN LISTED -- WE' VE LISTED HERE. |
| 02:28:02 | IF THERE' S FURTHER BUSINESS TO COME BEFORE THE SENATE TONIGHT, I NOW ASK THE SENATE STAND IN ADJOURNMENT UNDER THE PREVIOUS ORDER. |
| 02:28:07 | THE PRESIDING OFFICER: UNDER THE PREVIOUS ORDER, THE SENATE STANDS IN ADJOURNMENT UNTIL THE HOUR OF 10: 30 A. |
| 02:28:12 | M. |
| , |
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