Trent Lott: “on the legislation we are fixing to take up, the State Department reorganization bill, this is the result of literally…”

“on the legislation we are fixing to take up, the State Department reorganization bill, this is the result of literally years of work, give and take, by Senator Helms, the chairman of the committee, and by the administration. I think credit has to go to Secretary of State Madeleine Albright. She worked with Senator Helms on this State Department reorganization, which is so long overdue, which would allow us to do a better job in our foreign policy apparatus. Senator Biden has been a good partner, I believe, with Senator Helms, as the ranking member on that committee that reported this legislation, in developing this State Department reorganization. So this is very important legislation which has been a long time coming. The second part of that bill does provide for the U.N. arrearages, something over $900 million, I believe. You can still argue about how much really the United States owes to the United Nations. You can still argue that the United Nations doesn't always make the right decision. You can argue back and forth. But it is an agreed-to compromise which will allow the United States to fulfill its commitment in a way that a majority of those directly involved, Republican and Democrat, conservative, moderate, and liberal, feel is a fair way to get this job done.”