quite simply, this has to do with getting and keeping methamphetamine production out of public housing. Many of my colleagues do not have the misfortune of understanding why the amendment is so important. Methamphetamine is a raging crisis…

I thought we tried to emphasize, we are willing to do anything we can the next opportunity we have. We have already stated on the floor that we would urge the assistant administrator to come out. He has talked in his letter about…

It is a sense-of-the-Senate resolution that it should be the goal of the Veterans' Administration to serve all veterans at health care facilities within 250 miles of their home. It sounds like a very reasonable proposal. I urge its…

I urge my colleagues, when the vote is held on this very important amendment tomorrow morning, that they oppose this amendment. I believe the time has come to provide this modest increase in the loan limits, and I hope our colleagues will…

this amendment will assist homeless veterans by requiring the federally funded homeless shelters report to the Veterans' Administration the number of homeless veterans they serve, and it seeks to ensure that these homeless veterans be…

this amendment would provide, within the $17.2 billion medical care appropriation, $20 million for VA's homeless grant and per diem program. The amendment would make these funds available for vocational training, outreach, shelter, and…

Yes, Senator you are correct in your understanding. Further, I appreciate the position of the Senator from Florida and do commend the City of Gainesville for its initiative. I would like to work with you to further explore ways to assist…

I understand your concerns, and the reasons for you support of this project. This project would appear to warrant support as a special demonstration project through the Environmental Protection Agency. Do I understand that the City of…

The total spending includes--total spending is about $93 billion-- includes $22 billion in mandatory spending for veterans administration categories. That is about a $4 billion increase over fiscal year 1998. The increase is attributable…

This measure is very important for the citizens of this country, all across the Nation. We have not only seen and heard of the abuses that were brought out before the Finance Committee, but I think each one of us in our home States has…

I thank Senator Mack for raising these concerns. I completely agree that it is critical that the PAEs be in place by October if the program is to be able to operate at that time. I also add that the consequences of not implementing…

we have heard much discussion today about the cost of the space station. We have seen from independent analysis by leading scientists that there are truly significant scientific advances which can come from the International Space Station…

The committee is aware of NASA's partnership with JASON and we encourage NASA to continue and to expand this work during the next fiscal year.

I appreciate the Senator's strong interest in the Midwest Proton Radiation Institute. I believe this project will create economic growth in Indiana and contribute to improving our nation's cancer treatment activities. As we move to…

I concur with the Chairman of the Housing Subcommittee that the five percent waiver is a national limit. This provision was included in mark-to-market to ensure that properties, especially those that serve elderly persons in rural areas…

It was not the Committee's intention to imply, encourage or require States to use the 2 percent set aside authorized in Section 1452(g)(2) for the so called ``circuit rider'' program. The Committee is aware that Section 1452(g)(2) gives…

Yes, I share the Senator's view that the MPRI project is a meritorious one that should receive serious consideration for funding by HUD in FY 1999. I am pleased to know of your support for this MPRI initiative, and that you join with Sen…

I had offered to offer a separate amendment naming the space station after Senator Bumpers.

Based on their demonstrated performance as the Senator from Florida has pointed out and my own knowledge of the Missouri Housing Finance Agency, I would also expect HUD to approve many HFAs as PAEs. I also agree that HUD should not require…

this amendment responds to the critical requirement of enhancing antiterrorist activities at the Federal Emergency Management Agency. In our budget hearings with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Senator Mikulski and I raised the…

this amendment includes clarifying provisions which have been cleared on both sides and are without controversy. First, on behalf of Senator Shelby, the amendment would allow the transfer of land from the Department of Veterans…

we are getting into the tobacco wars again today. I know we have made some progress. I have seen in the last week several amendments adopted which I think are very important. As a long-time advocate of assuring full deductibility for…

as we speak, there is work going on on redrafting the Gramm-Roth amendment to add what I think is a vitally important provision to provide tax relief through full deductibility of health insurance for the self-employed. To me that is…

today I introduce a measure on behalf of myself, Mr. Baucus, Mr. Grassley, and others which sends a strong message to the Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA) that the United States Senate disapproves of the agency's recent rule…

He talks about the purpose of this bill being to deter teenage smoking. And I believe that we must keep our focus on that as the principal goal. Personally, I believe that raising the price of cigarettes alone is not going to be enough. I…