Conrad Burns: “I rise today to support this amendment offered by the distinguished chairman of the Senate Commerce, Science, and…”

“I rise today to support this amendment offered by the distinguished chairman of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee to S. 4, the National Competitiveness Act. Passage of this amendment allows this body to pass this important piece of legislation. This amendment is cosponsored by Senators Danforth, Rockefeller, and myself. The National Competitiveness Act is legislation I have cosponsored since it was introduced on the first day of this Congress, January 21, 1993. This bill is one of the top five priorities for Senate Democrats and I am the only Republican cosponsor. My support for this measure has not been overlooked by my colleagues on this side of the aisle. I worked closely with the distinguished chairman of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, Senator Hollings, to improve this bill as it moved through the committee. Senator Hollings indicated a willingness to work with all the members of the Commerce Committee both Democrats and Republicans on this bill. In fact, there were no Republicans on the Senate Commerce Committee who opposed the bill when it passed the committee. I am supporting this amendment because it cuts the authorization level in this bill by over $900 million over 2 years. From $2.8 to $1.9-billion for fiscal years 1995 and 1996.”