To get back to the Senator's prior question, I believe my answer was accurate. If you look at the definition, you will see, if the funding is available, the capacity is there to assess the fine. If the community decides it does not want to…

This whole issue of excessive attorney fees, and a great deal of lawyer activity today is a problem with the system. So I do not see that that is necessarily going to be impacted negatively by delaying the fine. Second, I would point out…

if we are going to get into the issue of hyperbole, because this appears to be the movement of this debate, let me simply point out all those folks who are listening in on Senators, everyone who has sponsored an unfunded mandates bill--and…

If funds are available and there is a contractual obligation, it seems to me the fine is assessed.

The Federal Government should not shift the costs of administering Federal programs to the States and local governments. I really do not think anything could be clearer as a statement of intent. It is a very appropriate statement of intent…

I must respond briefly to the Senator from California, because I believe it is a bit unusual for those who are not actually drinking the water to expect that they are going to have even a higher level of concern about the water than those…

I would presume--and we are getting into some hypotheticals, which I think is worth getting into, and I think the answers so far have reflected the fact this is a legitimate amendment that is not going to destroy the bill, but is just…

If the Senator from Rhode Island will yield, I think it would be unusual for someone to travel from Montana to New Hampshire and find that the water in New Hampshire was any less of a quality than it was in Montana. I believe the scenario…

I feel that is very irresponsible. In fact, I considered offering an amendment which would address the underlying question you are raising which is the much more fundamental question of the issue of unfunded mandates. This is not the core…

I am pleased at the favorable consideration that the Senate has given to provisions of the Comprehensive Child Immunization Act as reported by the Senate Committee on Labor and Human Resources and approved again today by the Senate as part…

I rise in support of the Lott amendment and to address briefly at this time the budget as presented by the President. If you look at the budget presented by the President, it is, regrettably, a budget that is really a stand-pat budget on…

first, I wish to congratulate the author of this amendment, the Presiding Officer in the chair for the moment, and Senator Craig from Idaho. I think it is an excellent proposal and has been already reflected in the discussion on this…

I wish to commend the Senator for his initiative, and I can understand the concern of the Senator from Hawaii about being familiar with the specifics. I acknowledge the fact that this has been publicly presented. I believe it was last…

So the appropriate manner in which this body functions requires us to bring it forth today. I certainly congratulate the Senator from Nebraska for his energy and initiative in putting this package together and bringing together a large…

this amendment addresses the issues which have been talked about at some length already today on this bill, which are the opportunity-to-learn standards. I think that issue should be reviewed a little bit so everybody understands what we…

first, let me express my respect, especially for the prior speakers and their commitment to and concern for education and improving education in our country. That is I believe a universal concern, of course. I do not think it is unique to…

If the Senator will yield to me for an answer, I hope I did not in any way imply that she is not committed to local control. As a former school board member, I am sure she is, but the practical impact of this bill--obviously, I disagree…

It is very specific. It says quality, availability of curriculum instruction, materials and technology. That is not designing math courses. That is saying whether or not you are going to teach Euclidean geometry or some other type of…

Nobody is satisfied with what is happening in education. That is unquestionably the case. We are all very concerned that as a Nation our children are not able to compete in the international economy or the global marketplace. But the way…

the remarks of the President in the State of the Union address last night were excellent remarks that summarized some of the concerns that many of us had relative to the issues raised last night by the President. The President, of course…