[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 94 (Monday, July 9, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7312-S7313]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2001--Continued
Mr. BYRD. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the order for the
quorum call be dispensed with.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
Mr. BYRD. Mr. President, I wish to request--I understand my
colleague, Senator Stevens, has already done this with respect to his
cloakroom--that our cloakrooms send out a call to various Senators and
staffs who are in town to let Senator Stevens and me and the floor
staffs know by 3 p.m. today if they have amendments which they expect
to offer. If Senators expect to offer amendments and have not already
informed Senator Stevens and myself and our floor staffs, they should
do so by 3 p.m. today.
I suggest the absence of a quorum.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
The senior assistant bill clerk proceeded to call the roll.
Amendment No. 862
Mr. REID. Mr. President, on behalf of Senator Schumer and others, I
send an amendment to the desk.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.
The senior assistant bill clerk read as follows:
The Senator from Nevada [Mr. Reid], for Mr. Schumer, Mr.
Reed, Mr. Reid, Mr. Dodd, Mr. Lieberman, and Mr. Corzine,
proposes an amendment numbered 862.
Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that reading of the
amendment be dispensed with.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
The amendment is as follows:
(Purpose: To rescind $33,900,000 for the printing and postage costs of
the notices to be sent by the Internal Revenue Service before and after
the tax rebate, such amount to remain available for debt reduction)
On page 44, line 20, strike ``$66,200,000'' and insert
``$32,300,000''.
Mr. REID. Mr. President, this amendment has been sent to the desk on
behalf of Senators Schumer, Reed, Dodd, Lieberman, and Corzine that
would rescind $33.9 million in unnecessary spending from the
supplemental appropriations bill.
This money would finance an unnecessary and inappropriate notice to
taxpayers on the rebate they will receive as part of the Economic
Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001.
This amendment is offered to help uphold the standards of
professionalism and integrity that the Internal Revenue Service has
historically tried to maintain.
These standards are threatened by this partisan notification.
The letter reads:
We are pleased to inform you that the United States
Congress passed and President George W. Bush signed into law
the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of
2001, which provides long-term relief for all Americans who
pay income taxes. The new tax law provides immediate tax
relief in 2001 and long-term tax relief for the years to
come.
In 1975, a similar rebate was made available to taxpayers and it was
simply included in the refunds.
I look forward to working with my colleague on this amendment, as
does Senator Schumer, as debate on the supplemental appropriations
proceeds. I hope this amendment will be accepted.
Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the amendment be laid
aside.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection?
Without objection, it is so ordered.
Amendment No. 863
Mr. REID. Mr. President, on behalf of Senator Feingold, I send an
amendment to the desk.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.
The senior assistant bill clerk read as follows:
The Senator from Nevada [Mr. Reid] for Mr. Feingold,
proposes an amendment numbered 863.
Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that reading of the
amendment be dispensed with.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
The amendment is as follows:
(Purpose: To increase the amount provided to combat HIV/AIDS, malaria,
and tuberculosis, and to offset that increase by rescinding amounts
appropriated to the Navy for the V-22 Osprey aircraft program)
On page 28, beginning on line 9, strike ``$100,000,000''
and all that follows through line 13, and insert the
following: ``$693,000,000, to remain available until
expended: Provided, That this amount may be made available,
notwithstanding any other provision of law, for a United
States contribution to a global trust fund to combat HIV/
AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis: Provided, further, That the
entire amount made available under this heading is designated
by the Congress as an emergency requirement pursuant to
section 251(b)(2)(A) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency
Deficit Control Act of 1985, as amended: Provided, further,
That the entire amount under this heading shall be available
only to the extent that an official budget request for that
specific dollar amount that includes the designation of the
entire amount of the request as an emergency requirement as
defined in the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control
Act of 1985, as amended, is transmitted by the President to
the Congress: Provided, further, That the total amount of the
rescission for `Aircraft Procurement, Navy, 2001/2003' under
section 1204 is hereby increased by $594,000,000.''.
Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that amendment be
laid aside.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection?
Without objection, it is so ordered.
Mr. REID. Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
The senior assistant bill clerk proceeded to call the roll.
Mr. BYRD. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for
the quorum call be rescinded.
The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Graham). Without objection, it is so
ordered.
RECESS SUBJECT TO THE CALL OF THE CHAIR
Mr. BYRD. Mr. President, I am going to ask that the Senate recess
awaiting the call of the Chair. I will be available, and Senator
Stevens will be available anytime a Senator comes to the floor and
wishes to offer an amendment or to make a statement on any matter. This
will merely free the floor staff for a moment to have lunch, if
necessary.
Mr. President, seeing no Senator seeking recognition, I ask unanimous
consent that the Senate stand in recess awaiting the call of the Chair.
There being no objection, the Senate, at 3:24 p.m., recessed until
3:27 p.m. and reassembled when called to order by the Presiding Officer
(Mr. Graham).
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Idaho is recognized.
Amendment No. 864
Mr. CRAIG. Mr. President, I send an amendment to the desk.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.
The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:
The Senator from Idaho [Mr. Craig], for Mr. Roberts, for
himself, Mr. Cleland, Mr. Craig, Mr. Miller, Mr. Crapo, and
Mr. Brownback, proposes an amendment numbered 864.
Mr. CRAIG. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the reading of
the amendment be dispensed with.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
The amendment is as follows:
[[Page S7313]]
(Purpose: To prohibit the use of funds for reorganizing certain B-1
bomber forces)
At the appropriate place, insert the following:
Sec. . None of the funds available to the Department of
Defense for fiscal year 2001 may be obligated or expended for
retiring or dismantling, or for preparing to retire or
dismantle, any of the 93 B-1B Lancer bombers in service as of
June 1, 2001, or for transferring or reasigning any of those
aircraft from the unit, or the facility; to which assigned as
of that date.
Mr. CRAIG. Mr. President, recently the Air Force revealed as part of
its programmed budget decision its plan to cut the B-1B force structure
by more than one-third. This has a substantial impact on a variety of
Air Force bases that currently have a B-1B mission, and actually
eliminates the B-1B entirely from Mountain Home Air Force Base in my
State, from McConnell Air Force Base in Kansas, and from Robbins Air
Force Base in Georgia.
Such a drawdown in the B-1B fleet has the same national impact as
would BRAC. Clearly, decisions of this magnitude should not be made
without consultation with Congress. There was no opportunity for advice
and consent on the part of the Air Force or the Office of the Secretary
of Defense.
Therefore, I offer this amendment on behalf of myself and Senator
Roberts to preempt any precipitous action by the Department of Defense
that could circumvent the right of Congress to review such a
significant change in our Air Force defense structure.
This amendment will prevent any 2001 funds from being used for the
preparation of retiring, dismantling, or reassigning any portion of the
B-1B fleet. This would allow Congress the necessary time to consider
the significance of the Air Force's decision and its impact with regard
to the fiscal year 2002 defense budget.
The B-1B satisfies a very specific warfighting requirement as our
fastest long-range strategic bomber capable of flying intercontinental
missions without refueling. With its flexible weapons payloads and a
high carrying capacity, it is extremely effective against time-
sensitive and mobile targets.
While cutting the force structure is advocated as a means of cost
savings and weapons upgrade, it comes at a significant national
security cost. Removal of the B-1B from Mountain Home Air Force Base
calls into question DOD's support of the composite wing which is the
basis for the air expeditionary wing concept and raises other long-term
strategic and mission questions.
The composite wing is our Nation's ``911 call'' in times of conflict
that require rapid reaction and deployment over long distances. Do we
want to eliminate our nation's 911 call, particularly in light of a
future defense strategy that requires the increase capabilities that
the B-1B offers as a long-range, low-altitude, fast-penetration bomber?
Mountain Home Air Force Base is unique.
At Mountain Home, we train our men and women in uniform as they are
expected to fight by bringing together the composite wing and an
adjacent premier training range with significant results that will
ensure that we are the next generation air power leader. We have
composite wing training twice a month, premier night low-altitude
training, dissimilar air combat training, and the current composite
wing configuration fulfills the air expeditionary wing requirement 100
percent. Without the B1-B in the composite wing, our target load
capability is reduced by 60 percent.
Removal of the B1-B from the three bases will actually increase costs
while reducing operational readiness: The B1 missions for the National
Guard at McConnell and Robbins Air Force bases have a 15 percent higher
mission capable rate than active duty units at Dyess Air Force Base in
Texas and Ellsworth Air Force Base in South Dakota, with 25 percent
less cost per flying hour, due to decreased wear and tear on the
aircraft. Also, the National Guard repairs B-1 engines for the whole
fleet at 60 percent of the depot cost. As a result of the high costs
associated with traveling to others bases for training, other B1-B
wings from Dyess Air Force Base and Ellsworth Air Force Base take part
only once a year in composite wing training, whereas the B1-B wing at
Mountain Home Air Force Base conducts this type of training twenty four
times per year. The result is that aviators from Mountain Home are
rated higher in operational inspections and training because of the
enhanced training opportunities which they receive at reduced cost to
the government.
The Department of Defense shouldn't make budget decisions which
change major national security objectives without congressional review.
Military budget decision should be made for the right reasons and not
be based on playing political favors, especially when it impacts our
operational capability and readiness, and will cost the government more
money in the long run. Therefore, I urge my colleagues to support this
amendment which will provide Congress with time to review the Air
Force's decision and its effects on our national defense structure.
I have another amendment for proposal that is to be drafted and that
I believe the ranking member will offer before the 6 o'clock deadline.
I will speak briefly to that amendment. It deals with grain and
commodity sales to Israel.
Israel, as we all know, began to receive cash transfer assistance in
1979 which replaced, in part, commodity import program assistance. In
lieu of assistance specifically for commodity purchases, Israel agreed
to continue to purchase United States grain, of which it has purchased
1.6 million metric tons every year since, or until this year, 2001, and
ship half of it in privately owned United States-flagged commercial
vessels. That, in essence, was the agreement in 1979.
Despite a level of United States aid in every year since 1984 that
has been higher than the 1979-1983 level, Israel never increased its
grain imports. That was kind of the quid pro quo: As our rates
increased, support would go up, and so would their purchases of
commodities. Had proportionality been the test, Israel would have
reached the 2.45 million tons at least at one point. It never has.
However, Israel has consistently cited proportionality in reference to
the 2001 Foreign Operations appropriation act in stating its intent to
cut purchases of approximately 1.2 million metric tons in this fiscal
year. This cut is disproportionately greater than the reduction of the
U.S. aid from the 2000-2001 fiscal period and is not consistent with
congressional intent.
My amendment, which will be proposed later this afternoon, reshapes
this, ensuring that a side letter agreement, with the terms of at least
as favorable treatment as those in the year 2001, would be more
consistent with past congressional intent and previous bilateral
relations. Proportionality is something that I don't think can be or
should be effectively argued whereas they did not respond when our aid
increases went up.
We will be bringing a letter to the floor insisting that Israel stay
consistent with what was agreed to following 1979 as it related to
turning, if you will, commodity import programs into cash transfer
assistance. We think we have honored our agreement with Israel. The
amendment simply requires them to honor their agreement with us.
I yield the floor.
Mr. HELMS. Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
Mr. CONRAD. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the order for the
quorum call be dispensed with.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
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