{ NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT OF THE SENATE PROCEEDINGS.}
REGULATIONS, NO ASSESSMENT OF EXISTING STATE LAWS AND
REGULATIONS. SIMPLY PUT, THE EFFORT SO FAR FROM THE DEPARTMENT
OF INTERIOR IS NO DETERMINATION OF NEED WHATSOEVER HAS COME OUT
OF THIS PROCESS. GOVERNOR MILLER FROM NEVADA PERHAPS PUT IT
BEST WHAT HE SAID THAT THE "CURRENT DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR
MINING REGULATION EFFORT IS A SOLUTION LOOKING FOR A PROBLEM
PROBLEM." AND MY GOOD FRIEND FROM ARKANSAS IS HERE WITH HIS
{10:45:38} (MR. MURKOWSKI) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }
CONTINUATION OF HIS OBJECTION TO THIS PARTICULAR INDUSTRY.
DURING THE LAST APPROPRIATION CYCLE, WE ATTEMPTED TO TEMPER THE
SECRETARY'S DRIVING IMPULSE TO REGULATE WITH AN AMENDMENT WHICH
WOULD HAVE FORCED -- FORCED -- THE DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR TO AT
LEAST COORDINATE THEIR EFFORTS WITH THE GOVERNORS OF THE
AFFECTED STATES. NOW, MY FRIEND FROM ARKANSAS SAID THEY'D MET
THAT OBLIGATION OBLIGATION. THE ONLY DIFFERENCE IS THE
GOVERNORS OF THE AFFECTED STATES DIDN'T AGREE WITH THE
DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR. IT WAS OUR HOPE THROUGH THIS
COORDINATED EFFORT THE NEW REGULATIONS WOULD NOT DROP THE
{10:46:09} (MR. MURKOWSKI) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }
MONKEY WRENCH INTO THE EXISTING STATE-FEDERAL REGULATORY
NETWORK. ANYONE, MADAM PRESIDENT, WITH AN EVEN RUDIMENTARY
UNDERSTANDING OF HOW THE MINING INDUSTRY IS REGULATED
UNDERSTANDS THAT THE STATE GOVERNMENTS PLAY BY FAR THE LARGEST
ROLE IN OVERSIGHT, ENFORCEMENT -- AND ENFORCEMENT OF
ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATIONS IN THE INDUSTRY. WHAT'S WRONG WITH
THAT?
WHAT'S WRONG WITH THAT?
THE SENATOR FROM ARKANSAS SEEMS TO PUT LITTLE CREDENCE IN THE
OVERSIGHT CAPABILITY OF THE STATES. WHAT'S WRONG WITH THE
{10:46:44} (MR. MURKOWSKI) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }
STATES -- THE MOST CONCERNED GROUP WITH REGARD TO THEIR
RESPONSIBILITY CONCERNING ENVIRONMENTAL OVERSIGHT ON THE MINING INDUSTRY?
IS IT BETTER TO HAVE A FACELESS BUREAUCRAT IN WASHINGTON, D.C.,
DICTATING WHAT GOES ON IN NEVADA, CALIFORNIA, IDAHO, OR THE
PEOPLE OF IDAHO OR THE PEOPLE OF ALASKA THAT LIVE WITH THE
MINING INDUSTRY, THAT TAKE PRIDE IN THEIR STATE, THAT TAKE
PRIDE IN THE RECLAMATION PROCESS TO MEET THEIR OBLIGATIONS?
WELL, THE REASON FOR THIS IS SIMPLE. OVER THE TIME, THE STATES
{10:47:20} (MR. MURKOWSKI) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }
HAVE BEEN DELEGATED FEDERAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR WATER QUALITY,
AIR QUALITY, SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT, MINE RECLAMATION, WELL,
THESE LAWS ARE THE 800-POUND GORILLA WHEN IT COMES TO MINING.
OVER TIME, THE FEDERAL AGENCIES HAVE BEEN FULLY INTEGRATED INTO
STATE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION LAWS. THOSE INTERWE HAVEN LAWS
FORM A -- INTERWOVEN LAWS FORM A COMPLETE AND BALLED NET OF
ENVIRONMENTALLY TUNED REGULATIONS THAT COVER ALMOST EVERY
ASPECT OF MINING ACTIVITY. AND IF THEY DON'T -- AND DON'T COVER
SOME -- THEY WILL. WITHOUT SO MUCH AS A THOUGHT GIVEN TO THE
{10:47:54} (MR. MURKOWSKI) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }
IMPACT, THEIR RULE-MAKING EFFORTS WOULD HAVE UPON EXISTING
FEDERAL AND STATE PROGRAMS, THE DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR TOOK
UPON ITSELF TO LAUNCH INTO A MAJOR REWRITE EFFORT. WHAT'S THEIR AGENDA?
IS IT TO RUN THE DOMESTIC MINING INDUSTRY OFF-SHORE?
WE'VE LEARNED FROM WHAT HAPPENED IN MEXICO AND CANADA WHEN THE
INDUSTRY BASICALLY CEASED TO EXIST AT ITS PREVIOUSLY LEVEL
BECAUSE OF RESTRICTIONS. AND, REMEMBER, UNLIKE THE POULTRY
INDUSTRY, WHICH IS A DOMESTIC INDUSTRY -- AND MY COLLEAGUE FROM
ARKANSAS IS FAMILIAR WITH -- THE MINING INDUSTRY HAS TO OPERATE
{10:48:25} (MR. MURKOWSKI) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }
INTERNATIONALLY. IT EITHER COMPETES ON AN INTERNATIONAL BASIS
OR IT DOESN'T. MUCH MORE COMPLEX. LAST YEAR, AT THE REQUEST OF
GOVERNOR MILLER OF NEVADA, SENATOR REID PUT AN AMENDMENT TO THE
INTERIOR APPROPRIATIONS BILL WHICH WOULD HAVE MADE IT MANDATORY
THAT THE INTERIOR DEPARTMENT AT LEAST COORDINATE THE EFFORTS
WITH THE STATES -- AT LEAST COORDINATE THEM. HE DID THIS ONLY
AFTER THE GOVERNOR MADE IT CLEAR THAT COORDINATION WAS NOT
TAKING PLACE. SO I WOULD TAKE ISSUE WITH THE GENERAL STATEMENT
{10:48:58} (MR. MURKOWSKI) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }
OF MY FRIEND FROM ARKANSAS. WE WERE PREPARED LAST YEAR TO MAKE
INTERIOR DEPARTMENT COORDINATION WITH THE STATUS MANDATORY.
SENATOR BUMPERS, HOWEVER, SAW FIT TO INTERCEDE ON BEHALF OF THE
INTERIOR WITH AN AMENDMENT WHICH REMOVED MANDATORY COORDINATION
WITH STATES AND PUT IN PLACE A REQUIREMENT THAT THE SECRETARY
CERTIFY TO THE CONGRESS THAT THE COORDINATION HAD OCCURRED. AND
THE SECRETARY HAS DONE THAT. BUT THE STATES DIDN'T AGREE. THEY
{10:49:31} (MR. MURKOWSKI) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }
DIDN'T AGREE, MADAM PRESIDENT. WELL, WHILE I HAVE HAD DOUBTS
ABOUT THIS, I SUPPORTED THE APPROACH. I WAS HOPEFUL THAT THE
AMENDMENT WOULD BE RECEIVED IN GOOD FAITH BY THE INTERIOR
DEPARTMENT AND THAT THEY WOULD MAKE SURE THAT THE STATES
INTERESTED WERE FACTORED INTO THEIR MINING REGULATION EFFORT.
WHAT FOLLOWED WAS THE MOST, WELL, I THINK DISRESPECTFUL,
IN-YOUR-FACE RESPONSE I HAVE EVER SEEN FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF
INTERIOR AND ANY OTHER AGENCY OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. IN THE
INTERIOR APPROPRIATIONS BILL, WHEN IT WAS SIGNED BY THE
PRESIDENT NOVEMBER 11, 1997, A LETTER CERTIFYING THAT
{10:50:03} (MR. MURKOWSKI) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }
COORDINATION WITH THE GOVERNORS HAD TAKEN PLACE WAS SIGNED ON
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 14. WELL, THEY DIDN'T AGREE. THE CAVALIER
ATTITUDE OF THE INTERIOR DEPARTMENT IS THE SOLE REASON WE ARE
BACK HERE AGAIN THIS YEAR, BUT THIS TIME I WOULD URGE MY
COLLEAGUES NOT TO BE TAKEN IN BY THE RHETORIC RHETORIC. FOOL ME
ONCE, SHAME ON YOU. FOOL ME TWICE, WHILE -- WHY, SHAME ON ME.
WELL, MADAM PRESIDENT, IT'S OBVIOUS TO ME THAT WE'VE SEEN
{10:50:38} (MR. MURKOWSKI) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }
EXAMPLES THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR IS SIMPLY UNWILLING,
INCAPABLE OF FOLLOWING GOOD GOVERNMENT PRACTICE WHEN IT COMES
TO REGULATING THE INDUSTRY. THEY HAVE SO COMPLETELY LOST THEIR
OBJECTIVITY AND HAVE BECOME SO BIASED AGAINST THIS INDUSTRY
THAT THEY APPEAR COMPLETELY INCAPABLE OF MAKING OBJECTIVE AND
FAIR DECISIONS. AND IT'S JUST NOT THE MINING INDUSTRY, MADAM
PRESIDENT. GRAZING ON PUBLIC LANDS FALL INTO THE SAME CATEGORY.
OIL AND GAS EXPLORATION -- SAME CATEGORY. ACCESS TO PUBLIC
{10:51:09} (MR. MURKOWSKI) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }
LANDS. THE ADMINISTRATION TALKS ABOUT GLOBAL WARMING. THEY TALK
ABOUT GAS IS THE ANSWER. WHERE ARE YOU GOING TO GET THE GAS?
THEY WON'T ALLOW EXPLORATION ON PUBLIC LAND. TIMBERING --
FOREST SERVICE LANDS. AND, OF COURSE, MINING ON WESTERN PUBLIC
LAND. WELL, OUR AMENDMENT DOES NOT MAKE A FINDING ONE WAY OR
ANOTHER, MADAM PRESIDENT, REGARDING THE ULTIMATE NEED FOR NEW
REGULATION. IT DOES DIRECT IN AN UNCOMBISEED -- AN UNCOMBISEED
{10:51:43} (MR. MURKOWSKI) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }
A -- UNBIASED ASESSIONMENT BE COMPLETED BEFORE -- BEFORE -- AND
THAT'S THE WHOLE PURPOSE OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES --
BEFORE THE INTERIOR DEPARTMENT CAN FINALIZE REGULATIONS. WITH
DIMINISHED BUDGETS, INCREASED NEED AND THE GROWING STATUS OF
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION LAWS, WHY ON EARTH WOULD ANY
RESPONSIBLE GOVERNMENT MANAGER PROPOSE A LARGE-SCALE
RULE-MAKING EFFORT WITHOUT FIRST ESTABLISHING A SOLID AND
SPECIFIC NEED?
SINCE IT'S BECOME OBVIOUS THAT THE INTERIOR DEPARTMENT IS
EITHER UNWILLING OR INCAPABLE OF ACCOMPLISHING THIS ASSESSMENT,
{10:52:18} (MR. MURKOWSKI) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }
THEN IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT THE CONGRESS NOW STEP IN, ASSUME THE
RESPONSIBILITY. THEY LEAVE US WITH NO OTHER CHOICE. ONCE THE
NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCE IS -- COMPLETES ITS ASSESSMENT, THE
INTERIOR DEPARTMENT WILL BE FREE TO PROCEED WITH ITS REGULATORY
EFFORT. AT THAT POINT, HOWEVER, THEY WILL HAVE THE INFORMATION
THEY NEED TO REWRITE THE REGULATIONS IN A WAY THAT FIXES
PROBLEMS, IF THERE ARE ANY, BUT NOT CREATE PROBLEMS. THE
CITIZENS OF THIS NATION ARE ENTITLED TO A DEPARTMENT OF
{10:52:48} (MR. MURKOWSKI) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }
INTERIOR THAT DETERMINES NEED BEFORE IT ACTS, THAT DOESN'T
WASTE MONEY, THAT IT SORRILY NEEDS IN OTHER PLACES. A
DEPARTMENT THAT DOESN'T UNNECESSARILY DISRUPT A SYSTEM OF STATE
AND FEDERAL REGULATIONS LABOROUSLY CONSTRUCTED OVER DECADES TO
COMPLIMENT AND ENHANCE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AT THE LOWEST
POSSIBLE COST. MADAM PRESIDENT, THE TIME HAS COME TO DRAW A
LINE IN THE SAND WITH THIS ADMINISTRATION THAT HAS SIMPLY NOT
-- IT IS SIMPLY NOT IN THEIR PURVIEW TO REGULATE AN INDUSTRY
OUT OF EXISTENCE WITHOUT FIRST ESTABLISHING A NEED FOR THE
REGULATION. THEY CANNOT SIMPLY DISMISS INPUT FROM THE AFFECTED
{10:53:23} (MR. MURKOWSKI) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }
STATES, WHICH THEY HAVE. THESE STATES TRULY ARE OUR PARTNERS,
NOT OUR ENEMIES. I HAVE ON HAND, COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE
GOVERNORS OF NEVADA, ARIZONA, IDAHO, UTAH, WYOMING, NEW MEXICO
ASKING CONGRESS TO PROTECT THEIR INTERESTS. ASKING US TO
SUPPORT RETENTION OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF OF -- ACADEMY OF
SCIENCE OBJECTIVE STUDY. LIKE US, THEY SIMPLY WANT THE INTERIOR
DEPARTMENT TO DEMONSTRATE A NEED FOR REGULATIONS BEFORE THEY
STEP OFF ON THE EFFORT. BY VOTING TO TABLE SENATOR BUMPERS'
AMENDMENT -- AND IT'S GOING TO BE A MOTION TO STRIKE -- WE WILL
{10:53:56} (MR. MURKOWSKI) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }
CERTAINLY SET IN MOTION -- IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING IT WILL BE
SENATOR BUMPERS' MOTION TO STRIKE. NOW, I'M SURE ALL OF YOU ARE
GOING TO HEAR A GREAT DEAL OF VERBIAGE ABOUT THIS ISSUE. BUT
WHEN THE DUST SETTLES AND THE SMOKE IS BLOWN AWAY, YOU'LL ONLY
HAVE TO ASK
YOURSELF ONE QUESTION: DO WE WANT TO START A MASSIVE,
POTENTIALLY DISRUPTIVE RULE-MAKING EFFORT BEFORE THE NEED FOR
THE EFFORT IS ESTABLISHED?
THERE YOU HAVE IT -- IT'S SHORT AND SIMPLE AND TO THE POINT. SO
I WOULD URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO JOIN ME IN A VOTE AGAINST SENATOR
BUMPERS' AMENDMENT AND IN SO DOING, WE WILL BE SENDING A CLEAR
{10:54:32} (MR. MURKOWSKI) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }
MESSAGE TO THE ADMINISTRATION THAT GOOD GOVERNMENT IS STILL
IMPORTANT GOVERNMENT, AND THE GOVERNMENT THAT'S BEST IS A
GOVERNMENT THAT'S CLOSEST TO THE PEOPLE. AND THE STATES' VOICE
SHOULD BE HEARD. THE STATES PLAY A CRITICAL ROLE IN
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND THEIR PARTNERSHIP AND INPUT IS
IMPORTANT. LET'S HAVE A FAIR, OBJECTIVE, QUALIFIED SCIENTIFIC
GROUP, THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCE, MAKE THE CALL. MADAM
PRESIDENT, COULD I HAVE HOW MUCH TIME IS REMAINING ON EACH SIDE?
{10:55:06 NSP} (THE PRESIDING OFFICER) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }
THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE SENATOR FROM ALASKA HAS 57 MINUTES.
THE SENATOR FROM ARKANSAS HAS 38.
{10:55:12 NSP} (MR. MURKOWSKI) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }
MR. MURKOWSKI: MADAM PRESIDENT, I WOULD YIELD --
{10:55:15 NSP} (MR. REID) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }
MR. REID: MR. PRESIDENT, IF I COULD SAY --
{10:55:18 NSP} (MR. MURKOWSKI) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }
MR. MURKOWSKI: -- TIME TO MY FRIEND FROM THE STATE OF NEVADA UP
TO 15 MINUTES.
{10:55:26 NSP} (MR. REID) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }
MR. REID: MR. PRESIDENT, THROUGH YOU TO THE MANAGER OF THIS
AMENDMENT, THE SENATOR FROM NEVADA WOULD LIKE 20 MINUTES. THE
JUNIOR SENATOR FROM NEVADA, 10 MINUTES.
{10:55:35 NSP} (MR. MURKOWSKI) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }
MR. MURKOWSKI: THAT IS QUITE SATISFACTORY.
{10:55:39 NSP} (THE PRESIDING OFFICER) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }
THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE SENATOR FROM NEVADA IS RECOGNIZED.
{10:55:43 NSP} (MR. REID) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }
MR. REID: MADAM PRESIDENT, LET'S PUT THIS IN PROPER
PERSPECTIVE. GOLD PRICES ARE AT THE LOWEST LEVEL IN 19 YEARS
JUST LAST WEEK. THE MINING INDUSTRY HAS SEEN LAYOFFS. SOME OF
THE COMPANIES HAVE FILED BANKRUPTCY. THIS SEEMS LIKE A VERY
INTUNE TIME TO COME IN -- INOPPORTUNE TIME TO COME IN AND
ATTACK THE MINING INDUSTRY. IT'S AN INDUSTRY THAT CREATES THE
BEST BLUE-COLLAR JOBS IN AMERICA. I REPEAT, THE BEST
BLUE-COLLAR JOBS IN AMERICA COME FROM MINING. HERE IS THE
SENATOR FROM ARKANSAS AGAIN, AS HE DOES EVERY YEAR, ATTACKING
{10:56:14} (MR. REID) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }
THE MINING INDUSTRY. THIS YEAR AT TACK IS AT A VERY INOPPORTUNE
TIME. I REPEAT, THE MINING INDUSTRY IS GOING THROUGH SOME VERY
DIFFICULT TIMES. I WOULD ALSO SAY, THAT IN SPITE OF PAYING THE
HIGHEST WAGES IN BLUE-COLLAR INDUSTRY IN AMERICA, THE MINING
INDUSTRY IN AMERICA IS THE BEST IN THE WORLD. THE COSTS OF
PRODUCTION ARE EXTREMELY LOW. THEY'RE LOWER THAN AUSTRALIA. ANY
OTHER COUNTRY, WE'RE COMPETITIVE. BUT IT'S BEEN VERY DIFFICULT.
NOW, HAVING SAID THAT, WE ALSO HAVE TO RECOGNIZE THAT THE GOLD
{10:56:49} (MR. REID) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }
INDUSTRY IS A VERY IMPORTANT INDUSTRY FOR THE UNITED STATES.
WE'RE A NET EXPORTER OF GOLD. IT'S ONE OF THE FEW THINGS THAT
WE DO THAT CREATES A FAVORABLE LANCE OF TRADE IN AMERICA. SO
WITH THAT AS THE SETTING FOR THIS AMENDMENT, LET ME SAY THAT
WHAT THIS AMENDMENT IS ATTEMPTING TO DO IS STRIKE FROM THE BILL
LANGUAGE THAT IS VERY, VERY REASONABLE. MADAM PRESIDENT, THE
SECRETARY OF INTERIOR IS ATTEMPTING TO DO BY REGULATION WHAT HE
{10:57:24} (MR. REID) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }
CAN'T DO BY LEGISLATION. WHAT RIGHT DOES HE HAVE TO OVERRULE
WHAT THE WILL OF THE CONGRESS IS?
HE HAS NO RIGHT TO DO THAT, AND HE'S TRIED VERY HARD. I'M NOT
MAKING THIS UP. HE SAID IN 1994, WHEN HIS LEGISLATIVE EFFORTS
FAILED -- AND I QUOTE -- "WE WILL EXPLORE THE FULL RANGE OF
REGULATORY AUTHORITY WE NOW POSSESS." SINCE THAT COMMENT WITH A
VENGEANCE, THE SECRETARY HAS GOTTEN BUSY ON THE REGULATORY SIDE
WHILE MAKING NO ATTEMPT TO WORK WITH CONGRESS TO REFORM THE
{10:57:56} (MR. REID) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }
MINING LAW BILL. IF WE HAD HAD SUPPORT FROM THE SECRETARY'S
OFFICE IN THE PAST TWO MONTHS, WE MAY BE HERE TODAY TALKING
ABOUT MINING LAW REFORM RATHER THAN HACKING AWAY AT THIS
INTERIOR BILL. MADAM PRESIDENT, THE GOVERNORS HAVE STATED AT
THEIR MEETING IN MADORA, NORTH DAKOTA, IN JUNE OF 1997, THEY
POINTED OUT IN A RESOLUTION THAT THE CURRENT STATE PROGRAMS, AS
FAR AS THEY'RE CONCERNED, ARE WORKING WELL AND ATTEMPTS TO
DUPLICATE THEM SHOULD BE AVOIDED. I WOULD SAY, MADAM PRESIDENT,
{10:58:29} (MR. REID) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }
THAT WHAT WE HAVE HERE IS, AGAIN, SOMETHING WE LIKE TO TALK
ABOUT BUT NOT DO MUCH ABOUT, AND THAT IS TALK ABOUT STATES'
RIGHTS. STATES' RIGHTS ARE VERY IMPORTANT TO OUR FRAME OF
GOVERNMENT, OUR FRAMEWORK OF GOVERNMENT. AND WE HAVE HERE A
NUMBER OF STATES WHO ARE SAYING WE'RE WORKING, WE'RE WILLING TO
WORK WITH THE -- WITHIN THE FEDERAL CONCEPT, AND ALL THE LAWS
THAT WE PASS HERE IN WASHINGTON THAT AFFECT MINING, BUT LET US
REGULATE FROM THE STATE LEVEL. AND THIS ATTEMPT IS ATTEMPTING
TO TAKE THAT AWAY. THE SECRETARY OF INTERIOR HAS PROCEEDED
{10:59:03} (MR. REID) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }
UNDAUNTED WITH HIS RULE MAKING DESPITE HOW THE GOVERNORS FEEL.
THIS LED TO LANGUAGE BEING INCLUDED IN LAST YEAR'S INTERIOR
BILL THAT PRECLUDED THE SECRETARY FROM EXPENDING FUNDS TO
REWRITE 309. AS THE CHAIRMAN OF THE FULL COMMITTEE HAS SAID
RECENTLY, A FEW MINUTES AGO, TO SHOW THE ABSOLUTE DISRESPECT
FOR CONGRESS, THE SECRETARY THREE DAYS AFTER THE PRESIDENT
SIGNED THENTERIOR BILL -- WE STUCK LANGUAGE IN THE BILL SAYING
THAT HE TO CONFER WITH THE GOVERNORS -- THREE DAYS AFTER
{10:59:35} (MR. REID) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }
SIGNING THAT BILL, HE SENT A LETTER SAYING THAT THEY HAD
CONFERRED AND COMPLIED WITH THE REQUIREMENT TO CONSULT WITH THE
GOVERNORS. NOW, LET'S BE REALISTIC -- WITHIN THREE DAYS?
OF COURSE NOT. THIS WAS, AS THE CHAIRMAN OF THE FULL COMMITTEE
SAID, AN IN-YOUR-FACE REMARK TO CONGRESS FROM THE SECRETARY OF
INTERIOR'S OFFICE SAYING WE DON'T HAVE TO CONSULT WITH YOU YOU.
WELL, AFTER NUMEROUS GOVERNORS HAD BOTH INDIVIDUALLY AND
COLLECT I HAVELY PLEADED WITH THE -- COLLECTIVELY PLEADED
{END: 1998/09/15 TIME: 11-00 , Tue. 105TH SENATE, SECOND SESSION}
{ NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT OF THE SENATE PROCEEDINGS.}