Nancy Kassebaum: “I think the package that has been put together by the Finance Committee under the distinguished leadership of both the…”

“I think the package that has been put together by the Finance Committee under the distinguished leadership of both the chairman and ranking member is an important package. I am particularly pleased that, for example, there has been provision for educational assistance and the orphan drug tax credit. These were expiring credits that have been extended that I think are very important. I am also pleased that the extension of the airway and airport trust fund has been acknowledged, and I would like to speak to the clarification of the application of ERISA to insurance company general accounts. This has also been included in the managers' package, and I am not sure that it is clearly understood. I am very appreciative of it being included, and I think it was important to do so. The Department of Labor has been working closely with all parties for nearly 3 years to address the complex issue raised by the Harris Trust decision of the Supreme Court in December 1993.”