MR. MCCAIN: MR. PRESIDENT?
           
           

           THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE SENATOR FROM ARIZONA.
           

           MR. MCCAIN: I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT FURTHER PROCEEDINGS
           UNDER THE QUORUM CALL BE SUSPENDED.
           

           THE PRESIDING OFFICER: WITHOUT OBJECTION.
           

           MR. MCCAIN: MR. PRESIDENT, I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO
           ADDRESS THE SENATE ONCE AGAIN ON THE SUBJECT OF MILITARY
           CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS THAT WERE ADDED TO AN APPROPRIATIONS BILL
           NOT REQUESTED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE. THIS BILL CONTAINS
           ALMOST $900 MILLION IN UNREQUESTED MILITARY CONSTRUCTION
           PROJECTS. WHAT MAKES THIS LEGISLATION EVEN MORE OFFENSIVE THAN
           MOST PORK-LADEN MILITARY CONSTRUCTION BILLS IS THE FACT THAT
           WHILE THE SENATE IS WILLING TO ACT SWIFTLY TO APPROVE THESE

           PORK-BARREL PROJECTS, WE FAILED AGAIN TO END THE DISGRACEFUL
           SITUATION OF MORE THAN 12,000 MILITARY FAMILIES FORCED TO USE
           FOOD STAMPS TO MAKE ENDS MEET. FOR THE SECOND YEAR IN A ROW,
           CONGRESS IS ON THE VERGE OF SPENDING HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF
           DOLLARS FOR PURELY PAROCHIAL REASONS WHILE REJECTING A PROPOSAL
           THAT WOULD CUT JUST $6 MILLION -- THAT WOULD COST JUST $6
           MILLION OR MORE TO TAKE CARE OF THOSE MILITARY FAMILIES MOST IN
           NEED. MR. PRESIDENT, I'M APPALLED AT THE EXTRAORDINARY AND

           INEXPLICABLE RESISTANCE THAT WE'VE ENCOUNTERED ENACTING
           LEGISLATION TO GET THESE BRAVE YOUNG PEOPLE AND THEIR FAMILIES
           OFF FOOD STAMPS. I'M ASHAMED THAT THE SENATE SHOULD PUT
           HOMETOWN CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS AHEAD OF DESPERATELY-NEEDED
           RELIEF FOR OUR MOST JUNIOR LISTED PERSONNEL. I APPRECIATE THE
           SENATE'S UNANIMOUS EXPRESSION OF SUPPORT DURING CONSIDERATION
           OF THE BUDGET RESOLUTION FOR ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR FOOD STAMP
           RELIEF IN THE DEFENSE BUDGET. AND I HOPE MY COLLEAGUES WILL
           REITERATE THAT SUPPORT WHEN WE OFFER AMENDMENTS TO THE DEFENSE

           AUTHORIZATION BILL TO END THE FOOD STAMP ARMY ONCE AND FOR ALL.
           MR. PRESIDENT, I COME AGAIN THIS YEAR TO THE FLOOR OF THE
           SENATE FOR THE EXPRESS PURPOSE OF HIGHLIGHTING PROGRAMS AND
           PROJECTS ADDED TO SPENDING BILLS FOR PRIMARILY PAROCHIAL
           REASONS. WHILE I RECOGNIZE THAT MANY OF THE PROJECTS ADD TO
           THIS BILL MAY BE WORTHWHILE -- ADDED TO THIS BILL MAY BE
           WORTHWHILE, THE PROCESS BY WHICH THEY WERE SELECTED VIOLATES AT
           LEAST ONE IF NOT SEVERAL OF THE CRITERIA SET OUT SEVERAL YEARS
           AGO TO LIMIT JUST THIS SORT OF WASTEFUL SPENDING. I'LL ADDRESS

           THE KOSOVO LEGISLATION INCLUDED IN THIS BILL TOMORROW. SUFFICE
           IT TO SAY FOR NOW THAT THIS LANGUAGE, GROUNDED THOUGH IT MAY BE
           IN AN UNDERSTANDABLE FRUSTRATION WITH THE ADMINISTRATION AND
           OUR ALLIES' HANDLING OF THAT CONTINGENCY, IT REPRESENTS FOREIGN
           POLICY MAKING BY CONGRESS AT ITS WORST. THIS LANGUAGE, CERTAIN
           TO PROMPT A VETO OF THE BILL, CONSTITUTES A HIGHLY QUESTIONABLE
           APPROACH TO SOLVING THE PROBLEM OF BURDEN SHARING AND SETS A
           PRECEDENT THAT WILL DAMAGE OUR CREDIBILITY ABROAD FOR YEARS TO

           COME. PARTICULARLY OBJECTIONABLE APART FROM THE OBVIOUS FUNDING
           ISSUES ALREADY ALLUDED TO IS THE ADDITION TO THIS BILL OF
           FUNDING PROVISIONS AND LEGISLATION HAVING NOTHING TO DO WITH
           MILITARY CONSTRUCTION AND CLEARLY NOT AN EMERGENCY REQUIRING
           IMMEDIATE REDRESS. IN THIS REGARD, NOTE MUST BE MADE OF SECTION
           2109 WHICH LEGISLATES A FUNDING PROFILE FOR A SHIP THAT HAS NOT
           BEEN REQUESTED BY THE NAVY, CANNOT BE BUILT UNDER THE EXPEDITED

           PROCESS, THE SHIP'S CONGRESSIONAL SPONSOR SEEKS TO IMPOSE. THE
           $MILLION ADDED BY THE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE -- $THE 8
           MILLION ADDED BY THE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE FOR THE OLYMPICS
           IN SALT LAKE CITY. THE FUNDS SHLD BE DESIGNATE AS AN EMERGENCY
           REQUIREMENT. MR. PRESIDENT, $8 MILLION FOR THE YEAR 2002
           OLYMPICS DEDS DESIGNATED AS AN EMERGENCY. YOU KNOW, IT
           CONTINUES TO STAGGER THE IMAGINATION. IT COMPELS A REFERENCE TO

           THE OLD YOGI BERRA SAYING ABOUT EXPERIENCING DEJA VU ALL OVER
           AGAIN. I'M ALSO AT A LOSS AS TO THE RATIONALE FOR INCLUDING IN
           THIS BILL CERTAIN SITE-SPECIFIC EARMARKS LIKE $3,000 TO
           TRANSFER EXCESS HOUSING TO INDIAN TRIBES OF NORTH AND SOUTH
           DAKOTA. MENTION SHOULD BE MADE OF THE USUAL "BUY AMERICA"
           RESTRICTIONS INCLUDED IN THE BILL WITH THE NOTABLE EXCEPTION
           WHEN IT IS IN THE IEREST OF IMPORTANT MEMBERS OF CONGRESS.
           SECTION 112, FOR EXAMPLE, PROHIBITS THE USE OF FUNDS IN THE

           BILL TO AWARD CONTRACTS MORE THAN $1 MILLION TO FOREIGN
           CONTRACTORS EXCEPT WHEN A MARTIALESE CONTRACTOR IS SEEKING
           CONTRACTS AT QUADULAIN. THE $7 MILLION IN THE BILL TO -- QUOTE
           -- "ENSURE THE AVAILABILITY OF BIOMETRIC TECHNOLOGIES OBVIOUSLY
           WILL REQUIRE MORE RESEARCH." IT WILL BE VERY INTERESTING AS TO
           WHAT WE UNCOVER THE MOTIVATION BEHIND THAT LITTLE PHRASE. MR.
           PRESIDENT, I'D LIKE TO POINT OUT THAT THE REPORT ON THIS BILL
           WAS FILED LATE AND, THUS, THE INFORMATION AVAILABLE TO SENATORS

           ABOUT SPECIFIC PROJECTS INCLUDED IN THIS BILL IS SOMEWHAT
           LIMITED. WE GET INTO AN INTERESTING HABIT OF TAKING UP
           LEGISLATION AROUND HERE WITHOUT A REPORT AVAILABLE FOR THE
           MEMBERS TO READ. IF HISTORY IS ANY GUIDE, HOWEVER, SKEPTICISM
           REGARDING MANY ITEMS ADD TO THIS BILL ARE -- ADDED TO THIS BILL
           ARE WARRANTED. ENOUGH IS KNOWN ABOUT THE PROCESS BY WHICH
           APPROPRIATIONS BILLS ARE PUT TOGETHER TO JUSTIFY CONTINUED
           OUTRAGE AT ABUSE OF THE SYSTEM TO SATISFY PAROCHIAL
           CONSIDERATIONS. MR. PRESIDENT, THE ABUSE OF THE FUTURE YEAR'S

           DEFENSE PLAN AS A CRITERIA FOR ADDING PROJECTS TO MILITARY
           SPENDING IS SERIOUSLY OUT OF CONTROL. WITNESS, FOR EXAMPLE, THE
           NUMBER OF PROJECTS IN THIS BILL THAT ARE IN THE FOURTH OR FIFTH
           YEAR OF THE FUTURE YEARS DEFENSE PLAN AND THAT HAVE HAD NO
           DESIGN WORK DONE -- NO DESIGN WORK DONE. AT LEAST 17 SUCH
           PROJECTS WERE ADDED TO THE BILL. WHILE THEY ARE LISTED AS
           EXECUTABLE, SHOULD WE REALLY BE ADVANCING UNREQUESTED PROJECTS
           BY FOUR AND FIVE YEARS AT THE SAME TIME WE CONTINUE TO IGNORE

           THE DISGRACE OF 12,000 MILITARY FAMILIES ON FOOD STAMPS?
           IT WAS INTERESTING TO SEE, MR. PRESIDEN THAT THE AUTHORIZATION
           BILL FOR MILITARY CONSTRUCTION INCLUDES A PROVISION EQUATING
           THE TERM "READINESS CENTER" TO THE TERM "ARMORY." WE ALL ENJOY
           SEMENTAC GAMESMAN GAMESMANSHIP TIME AND AGAIN, BUT IF WE'RE
           GOING TO CONTINUE TO FUNNEL MONEY BACK HOME TO NATIONAL GUARD
           ARMORIES, WHY DON'T WE JUST SAY SO. LET'S NOT EXPLOIT THE
           LEGITIMATE ISSUE OF MILITARY READINESS THAT WE'RE FINALLY

           FOCUSED ON IN ORDER TO CONDUCT THE SAME, OLD PORK-BARREL
           SPENDING PRACTICES THAT ARE AS MUCH A PART OF THIS INSTITUTION
           AS THE COLLEGIAL CLOAK WALLISMS THAT CHARACTERIZE OUR DEMEANOR
           ON THIS FLOOR. THERE ARE 28 MEMBERS OF THE APPROPRIATIONS
           COMMITTEE. ONLY TWO DO NOT HAVE PROJECTS ADDED TO THE
           APPROPRIATIONS BILL. I WONDER WHAT HAPPENED TO THE OTHER TWO.
           PERHAPS THE MANAGER OF THE BILL CAN TELL US WHAT OCCURRED
           THERE. ONLY TWO DID NOT HAVE PROJECTS ADDED TO THE

           APPROPRIATIONS BILL. THOSE NUMBERS, NEEDLESS TO SAY, GO WELL
           BEYOND THE REALM OF MERE COINCIDENCE. OF 145 PROJECTS ADDED TO
           THIS BILL -- 145 PROJECTS ADDED TO THIS BILL -- 111 ARE IN
           STATES REPRESENTED BY SENATORS ON THE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE
           TOTALING OVER $700 MILLION THE $12 MILLION ADDED TO THE BILL
           FOR THE FIRST PHASE OF AN ACCESS ROAD IN HAWAII, THE $25
           MILLION ADDED FOR A JOINT MOBILITY COMPLEX IN ALASKA, THE $4

           MILLION ADDED FOR ARMY NATIONAL GUARD PARKING IN KENTUCKY, THE
           $14 MILLION ADDED FOR A FUEL CELL MAINTENANCE DOCK IN
           LOUISIANA, THE $4.5 MILLION ADDED FOR AN ARMY NATIONAL GUARD
           ADMINISTRATION BUILDING IN NEVADA, THE $10 MILLION ADDED FOR AN
           ARMY NATIONAL GUARD READINESS CENTER -- READ ARMORY -- IN NORTH
           DAKOTA, THE $10 MILLION ADDED FOR THE FIRST PHASE OF A BASE
           CIVIL ENGINEER COMPLEX IN SOUTH DAKOTA, THE $1.4 MILLION FOR

           CHANNEL DREDGING IN MISSISSIPPI. JUST A HANDFUL OF THE PROJECTS
           ADDED BY MEMBERS THAT WERE NOT IN THE BUDGET REQUEST. FORT
           RICHARDSON AND WAYNE WAYNEWRIGHT BOTH IN ALASKA FARED
           PARTICULARLY WELL. WHAT A SURPRISE. THE LATTER RECEIVING
           $300,000 FOR A TRAIL AND $900,000 FOR A BIATHALON LIVE-FIRE
           COURSE WHICH COULD ONLY BE CONSIDERED A CLOSE COWS TOIN THE
           PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED MONEY FOR THE UPCOMING WINTER OLYMPICS.
           YET MANY OF THE SENATORS WHOSE PROJECTS ARE INCLUDED IN THIS

           BILL CONTINUE TO OPPOSE SPENDING JUST $6 MILLION A YEAR TO
           REMOVE MILITARY FAMILIES FROM THE ROLLS OF THOSE ELIGIBLE FOR
           FOOD STAMPS. IF I SOUND REPETITIVE, MR. PRESIDENT, IT IS OUT OF
           FRUSTRATION. FRUSTRATION AT THE ABILITY OF MY COLLEAGUES TO
           CLOSE THEIR EYES TO THE DISGRACEFUL PLIGHT OF THOUSANDS OF OUR
           ENLISTED FAMILIES WHO DON'T MAKE ENOUGH MONEY TO FEED
           THEMSELVES AND THEIR FAMILIES. I BELIEVE I'VE MADE MY POINT. AS
           USUAL, I LABOR UNDER NO ILLUSIONS REGARDING THE IMPACT OF MY

           COMMENTS WILL HAVE ON THE WAY WE DO BUSINESS HERE. I HAVE IN
           THE PAST ATTEMPTED LEGISLATIVE RECOURSE TO PORK-BARREL
           SPENDING, AND I WILL DO SO AGAIN. BUT THE HISTORY OF VOTES ON
           SUCH EFFORTS CAUSES ME TO EXERCISE THAT RIGHT SPARINGLY. MY
           SELF-RESTRAINT IS SIMPLY AN ACKNOWLEDGMENT THAT I REPRESENT A
           SMALL MINORITY OF THIS BODY. WASTEFUL AND UNNECESSARY SPENDING
           CONTINUES BECAUSE MOST MEMBERS OF CONGRESS TRULY BELIEVE THAT
           IT IS ONE OF THEIR PRIMARY REASONS FOR BEING HERE. BUT I
           SUBMIT, MR. PRESIDENT, THAT A WIDE LINE EXISTS BETWEEN SERVING

           ONE'S CONSTITUENTS IN THE CONTEXT OF OUR NATION'S BEST
           INTERESTS AND SIMPLY FUNNELING MONEY BACK HOME BECAUSE THAT'S
           HOW WE REMIND OUR CONSTITUENTS TO VOTE FOR US AGAIN. MR.
           PRESIDENT, ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO, THERE WAS A STUDY CONCERNING
           THE DEPLORABLE STATE OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY. MORE CAPTAINS
           ARE LEAVING THE UNITED STATES ARMY THAN AT ANY TIME IN HISTORY.
           WE'LL SHORTLY HAVE A SENATE AUTHORIZATION BILL AS WELL AS THIS
           -- AS OTHER APPROPRIATIONS BILLS. THEY DON'T ADDRESS THIS

           PROBLEM PROBLEM. AND I CAN GUARANTEE YOU THAT THOSE CAPTAINS
           AREN'T LEAVING THE ARMY BECAUSE THEY NEED A $12 MILLION FOR THE
           FIRST PHASE OF AN ACCESS ROAD IN HAWAII OR $25 MILLION FOR A
           JOINT MOBILITY COMPLEX IN ALASKA OR $4 MILLION FOR AN ARMY
           NATIONAL GUARD PARKING IN KENTUCKY. MR. PRESIDENT, IF THE
           REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP AND THE CHAIRMAN OF THESE COMMITTEES --
           AND THE CHAIRMEN OF THESE COMMITTEES CONTINUE -- CONTINUE -- TO
           SPEND
{END: 2000/05/15 TIME: 15-45 , Mon.  106TH SENATE, SECOND SESSION}