The Public Record
today I am filing an amendment to S. 287, bill to direct the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to impose cost-of-service based rates on sales by public utilities of electric energy at wholesale in the western energy market. My amendment…
as a co-sponsor of S. 235, the Pipeline Safety Improvement Act of 2001, I would like to urge my colleagues to support this balanced bipartisan bill. I am a new member of the Senate Commerce Committee, and have been privileged to be…
I want to point out, as Senator Craig has, that the fundamental flaw in these proposals of cost-plus, or caps, is that they leave in place California's retail cap. As we speak, California's consumption is going up. As California's…
I stand before you and the Senate today. As I do this, our Nation is relearning a fundamental lesson--that electricity does not come from hitting a light switch. Our urban areas are getting a painful lesson that the quality of life that we…
This bill, supported by the entire Oregon delegation, is a very unique piece of legislation to enhance the protection of Steens Mountain in Southeastern Oregon, while preserving the local ranching economy. As the sponsor of the Senate…
I am very pleased that the distinguished Senator from Utah has recognized the need to address the important issue of post-conviction DNA testing at the federal level and am proud to join his efforts. Senator Hatch's Criminal Justice…
I believe America needs to make up its mind whether we want the high-tech industry to remain an American industry. It is vital to our economic good, and we are all proud of it. We all want to encourage it. We need to help the high-tech…
I am pleased to speak to the Senate today in strong support of S. 1608, the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-determination Act of 2000. As an original co-sponsor of this legislation, I commend Senator Craig and Senator Wyden for…
I am a junior Member of this body, but the perception of what has gone on here with respect to education is utterly different than my observation. My observation is that this side of the aisle is anxious to talk about education, not just…
It seems fair to me, I say to the Senator. I will certainly encourage my leadership to accede to that. What I am afraid of is the comment I read in USA Today, where Senator Daschle said: We are not interested in getting anything done. We…
I say to the Senator, I do think we should debate it longer than we have. I grant you that. What I have observed, as a junior Member, however, is that every time we go to focus on amendments, we can't get time agreements. We can't get…
I tell them and anyone who is concerned that the wait has been worthwhile. This bill is the product of a bipartisan pair of Senators who I think tonight have shown what can happen if we work together. We respect one another. We work for…
I have said to them: I know it is frustrating. I know you do not like it. I know it sometimes isn't pleasant. But, frankly, rather than criticize it, we ought to celebrate it because this is the way we go about the business of government…
I continue to share his concern about blatant Federal Advisory Committee Act violations by this administration in the development of their Roadless Initiative. In any case, I don't believe "one-size-fits-all" proposals like the President's…
I want to encourage Oregonians to send in their comments and attend these meetings to make their voices heard. I am concerned that so many of my constituents will not take part in this comment period in part because they believe that this…
I wish to say what is in my heart and why I as a Republican stand here in support of a Kennedy amendment on hate crimes. On June 7, 1998, when James Byrd, Jr., was dragged to death on a dusty Texas road, something happened to me. I was…
I am a supporter of the death penalty. I believe there are some times when humankind can act in a manner so odious so heinous, and so depraved that the right to life is forfeited. Notwithstanding this belief--indeed, because of this…
I have come to talk to citizens of my State who have a rare privilege in the next few days: The two leading candidates for the highest office in our land will be in the State of Oregon. Vice President Gore will be there tomorrow, and…
I believe if we set in motion the wheels to leave Kosovo, we will set in motion the mechanism to decouple the United States and NATO with Europe. I think we need to be very thoughtful about that. I wish Mr. Putin and the new Russian…
For a state like Oregon, whose grass seed farmers are owned an estimated $40 million by AgriBioTech, the slow progress of bankruptcy proceedings threatens the very future of our grass seed industry, our third largest commodity. Many Oregon…
I thought I would take to the floor of the Senate today and speak about something I learned, something I experienced which I wanted to highlight. Right now, it is an issue that is sort of a low light in this body. Earlier in this Congress…
I rise with Senators Graham, Craig, Cleland, McConnell, Coverdell, Mack, Cochran, Helms, Grams, Crapo, Bunning, and Voinovich to encourage support of S. 1814, the Agricultural Job Opportunity Benefits and Security Act of 1999. Our bill…
last week I spoke in this Chamber of the damage that has been inflicted by this administration upon the people and communities of rural Oregon. I spoke specifically about communities such as John Day and Roseburg, communities where the…
I rise today to speak for a moment about the Regulatory Fairness and Openness Act that I am pleased to cosponsor with a number of my colleagues who are concerned about the state of agriculture today. I want to thank Senator Hagel and his…
I rise to oppose the McConnell second-degree to the Silk Road amendment. I rise as a cosponsor of the bill. We are constantly called upon in this country to pick sides among parties with ancient feuds. The area of the Silk Road, as defined…
Politicians like Robert Smith
