I recently learned of a dispute between the Department of Defense and a number of contractors regarding the allowability of cost of employee stock ownership plans, known as ESOP's. According to the contractors, DOD has retroactively…

I am pleased to join the other five Senators who are the original cosponsors of this particular amendment/sense-of-the-Senate resolution. I join in the gravity that they have already expressed and underlined about the situation that exists…

I did not display my own MARC card here, but it is my hope that in the not-too-distant future not only will all members of the Armed Services, but all members who interact or interface with our Federal Government will have one of these and…

I rise today to discuss S. 947, the Balanced Budget Act of 1997. I'm pleased that we've come together in a bipartisan way--both sides of the aisle, both sides of the Capitol, and both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue--to craft a plan that…

we generally assume that there are no prospects for savings in readiness. The reality is that we maintain most of our active force units at very high levels of readiness at considerable expense, when, in fact, we could relax readiness…

Mr. President, it's hard to argue with the spirit of Senator Lugar's amendment. And indeed I don't argue with its spirit. We owe the United Nations hundreds of millions of dollars. Our deadbeat status is an embarrassment for the country…

nearly 7 years ago President Bush invoked emergency economic sanctions against Iraq for its invasion of Kuwait. Freezing Iraqi financial assets made sense at the time because it prevented Saddam Hussein from funding his war campaign. Now…

I want to mention another group of Americans who are suffering as Members of Congress continue to hold up the disaster relief supplemental appropriations bill and prevent us from passing a funding measure that the President can sign. That…

I supported this budget resolution, notwithstanding some major disappointments with both the process and the result. I qualify my support for the final agreement because I believe it falls well short of the goals that we should have for a…

I will take a minute to commend my two colleagues from Nebraska for introducing this particular resolution today. I was pleased to join with them a few weeks ago over at the Vietnam Memorial. It was my privilege 15 years ago to participate…

Mr. President, I have been committed to ratification for some time, but I know some of our colleagues have had reservations. There is no question that respected opponents of ratification have raised important and legitimate questions. But…

leadership often involves seizing the moment. And right now the moment is a realbut rapidly fleeting chance to actually balance the Federal budget. For those of us who have long been dedicated to stopping the Federal Government from…

I submit a concurrent resolution expressing the sense of the Congress that all Federal annuitants should receive their cost-of-living adjustments at the same time. This resolution is very similar to one submitted by my colleague from…

I must confess that I am not particularly comfortable as a proponent of adding a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution, and I never have been. Many of those with whom I am frequently aligned on issues that don't enjoy much popular…

in my 8 years of service in the Senate, and in particular during my time on the Armed Services Committee and the Intelligence Committee, I have had the privilege and honor of working with Bill Cohen. His expertise and thoughtfulness, as…

the argument I'm about to make is not directed toward those who consistently vote what they believe to be the pro-life position on issues affecting reproductive rights. This is an easy vote for them--even though it might not be if they…

I rise in support of ratification of the International Natural Rubber Agreement [INRA III]. For the last 16 years, INRA has provided the consuming nations of the world with a reliable supply of natural rubber at stable prices. The United…

I understand the difficulty many Members may have with the prospect of same-sex marriages, and so I understand why the vote completed just a few minutes ago was so tough for many Senators. But this one shouldn't be. Those of us who support…

as one who represents a traditionally conservative State, it's not easy to take on this issue. In fact, many of my friends and supporters have urged me to sit this one out because of the potential political fallout, but I can't do that. I…

First, a commonsense approach is necessary. We can improve the Federal program so that it complements industry's efforts to improve voluntary AST standards. Some say that industry and environmental groups cannot work together to improve…

I thank my colleague and I say to my friends, we have in Norfolk, Virginia, a medical center--the Diabetes Institutes at the Eastern Virginia Medical School--which is distinguished for its work in diabetes research, education, and clinical…

as the Senate considers fiscal year 1997 appropriations for the Environmental Protection Agency, it is only fitting that we highlight the need for reform in the manner in which EPA, in conjunction with the Department of Transportation and…

In addition to the confusion created by the patchwork of laws regulating these aboveground petroleum tanks, a far graver problem exists with respect to the frequency with which these tanks and their pipes are currently leaking, releasing…

I want to add that the underground storage tank program at EPA has enjoyed a wide measure of success. It is both comprehensive and understandable. Certainly, the regulation of above-ground petroleum tanks warrants similar consideration…

I rise to support the welfare reform legislation pending before this body. I do so with both reluctance and hope. My reluctance stems from some very real concerns I have with this bill. First, I am concerned that we fail to give States the…