Kent Conrad: “I offer today with my colleague from North Dakota, Senator Dorgan, an amendment that would prevent unintended…”

“I offer today with my colleague from North Dakota, Senator Dorgan, an amendment that would prevent unintended discrimination against Grand Forks AFB personnel as the Defense Department provides compensation for personal property losses incurred as a result of this spring's unprecedented flooding in the Red River Valley. This legislation has been requested by Air Force Secretary Sheila E. Widnall, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Ronald R. Fogleman, and the Commander in Chief of the U.S. Transportation Command, Gen. Walter Kross, with the support of Gen. Howell Estes, Commander in Chief of the U.S. Space Command. As my colleagues are aware, last week I offered this amendment to the fiscal year 1998 Defense authorization bill with Senators Dorgan, Wellstone, Johnson, and Daschle. It was accepted by the Armed Services Committee, but I look forward to its inclusion in the fiscal year 1998 Defense appropriations bill before us as well. This will ensure that both defense measures passed by the Senate this year are in agreement that disaster relief must be provided to personnel on an equitable basis. As I have discussed on the Senate floor on several occasions, Mr. President, this winter and spring were the most severe in my State's history, culminating in a 500-year flood. Damages to property stretched into the billions, and the disruption to families and the community was incalculable.”