Haley Stevens: “the fiscal year 2001 Labor/HHS Appropriations Conference Report is now before the Senate. This conference report serves…”

“the fiscal year 2001 Labor/HHS Appropriations Conference Report is now before the Senate. This conference report serves to wrap up work on all fiscal year 2001 appropriations bills, as it includes the Treasury-General Government and legislative branch bills. Those two bills were previously passed by the Congress, but were vetoed by the President. The only significant change to the bills previously passed by Congress is the deletion of the telephone tax provision in the Treasury bill. The conference report includes other appropriations matters, which emerged subsequent to the completion of the other fiscal year 2001 bills. Significant items include $150 million for repair of the U.S.S. Cole, $100 million for intelligence activities requested by the White House, $110 million for the new markets initiative, $100 million for volunteer firefighter grants sought by our colleague from Delaware, Senator Roth, and $100 million for the Library of Congress to enhance the National Digital Library. I want to also thank all my colleagues for their patience as I worked with the White House for a compromise on the Alaskan Fishery/Sea Lion protection issue. Through the hard work of many here in Congress and at the White House, OMB and the Department of Commerce, we achieved a compromise that meets the priorities of all parties--who share the goal of protecting the sea lion population, and the economic well being and viability of the commercial fishing industry in my State.…”