Nancy Kassebaum: “the amendment that I send to the desk is a simple one. It changes the authorization of this bill from 8 years to 3…”

“the amendment that I send to the desk is a simple one. It changes the authorization of this bill from 8 years to 3 years. Senator Kennedy just addressed this very issue a few moments ago by saying why an 8-year authorization is important. It allows time to develop the program, to develop some continuity in the program and to be better able to weigh the merits and demerits of what is being done. I would argue that making this change from 8 years to 3 years is a critical one if we are truly serious about integrating programs and reforming the system. Seldom do we give an 8-year authorization. That is a long authorization. While I can understand some of the merits of the argument of the Senator from Massachusetts, I really believe that it will not allow us to be able to give the attention that we need to give to the integration of the various programs. If we have an 8-year authorization out there, we are not going to be forced to really review the success or failure of this program for a full 8 years, when the program is scheduled to end.”