one of the pleasures and honors I have in this body is to serve as the chairman of the appropriations subcommittee that funds veterans' programs, housing, as well as environment, space, science, and emergency management. On the veterans…

St. Louis, MO, is the location of this country's first nuclear weapons site. Unfortunately, the wastes are in the midst of the St. Louis metropolitan area and are for the most part uncontrolled. The radioactive waste at these sites was…

there may not be many things in life on which there is a consensus but I think we all can agree on the vital importance of ensuring the safety of abused and neglected children and moving them out of the foster care system more rapidly and…

I have good news that an amendment that I had proposed to offer I will not have to offer on this bill. On behalf of the people of Seneca, MO, and really people all across southwest Missouri, I, along with my colleagues Senator Ashcroft and…

I thought, as children are going back to school across the country and in our States, we ought to take a few moments to think about the education they are receiving and how we as parents, not just in our role as legislators, can make a…

both Senators from New York have raised some important concerns regarding veterans health care in their State. Clearly, the new resource allocation system has forced some tough decisions in some networks. I believe this system is a vast…

I just appreciate the effort the Senator from Arkansas is making to ensure that the spending on this widely supported and strongly endorsed program is kept under control, but the space station is already operating under administrative…

First, in biotechnology, microgravity allows researchers to produce superior protein crystals for drug development and to grow three-dimensional tissues including cancer tumors for research and cartilage for possible transplant, and as a…

Thank you for your remarks. It is my full intention to work with you to improve the LIHPRHA program. It is this subcommittee's desire to ensure that a cost-effective approach to preserving our much needed housing is adequately funded. I am…

Mr. President, we have had a very eloquent statement by the Senator from Arkansas about questions that have been raised about the international space station. Needless to say, this question has been addressed time and time again on this…

I am delighted to be able to rise in support of the amendment and be a cosponsor with the Senator from Maryland and the Senator from South Dakota. As indicated, it has a modest amount of funding, $25 million, for HUD empowerment zones, $20…

I thank Senator Alfonse D'Amato for his support of this VA- HUD Appropriations legislation and for our joint efforts to bring the benefits of homeownership to as many American families as possible. The subcommittee recognizes the local…

I congratulate Senator Mack for his work in developing a workable solution to the section 8 contract renewal problem, and also Secretary Cuomo for his willingness to work with the Senate. Needless to say, it is my hope that this issue…

However, I will give strong consideration to the funding for the Lyons VA Medical Center ambulatory care addition in conference.

My colleagues from Kansas and Alabama are correct. these studies are critical to determining whether the EPA's rulemaking is appropriate. I concur with the Senators in the importance of this research and ensuring that the particular…

when major measures like this are considered on the floor, it is usually boilerplate for each side to say nice things about the counterpart. In the case of the VA-HUD bill--this is a very difficult bill--I say without reservation, and not…

I am very proud to join my cochair of the National Guard Caucus, the distinguished Senator from Kentucky, in support of a very long overdue and very important provision offered by the chairman of our Defense Appropriations Subcommittee and…

this bill I am introducing today is a bridge discretionary bill. We cannot forget in our reauthorization of the Nation's transportation policy the importance of maintaining our bridges. Missouri has approximately 23,000 bridges in total…

I want to emphasize that what we are talking about here is a bipartisan bill. My friend from Massachusetts characterized it as a Republican bill. I particularly appreciated the kind comments by the Senator from Montana. As I listened to…

I believe my experience in the State of Missouri is probably like the experience that most of us have had in our own States. As we travel around and talk to farmers, to people involved in small business, to truck drivers, day care…

That this is the fifth year, Mr. President, this has got to be passed is an outrage; this is a bill that nobody objects to. I think anybody would think it is common sense. But it just gets crowded off the agenda. I do not intend to let it…

It has been made clear to our colleagues and to the people viewing this that before major disaster relief can start flowing, there has to be damage assessments. I guess it is the understanding of the majority leader that they are at least…

I have the responsibility for the subcommittee that appropriates money for FEMA. I wonder--as has been made clear on the floor, the emergency money is now flowing. There is money --$2 billion in FEMA-- that is going for the immediate needs…

I very much appreciate his efforts to bring up the Birth Defects Prevention Act, which would deal with a very serious problem of 150,000 babies being born each year with birth defects in this country. There is no reason to filibuster or…

I commend him on the work he does in forestry, an area in which I have great interest. We have seen tremendous developments in this area. Agri- forestry and many related concepts are very important new ways in which we cannot only benefit…