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So I come to the floor as a Member of this body not with any antipathy toward automobiles. I freely acknowledge both my dependence and my love of the American automobile. However, I must say there is something that
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For decades, the automobile industry resisted the introduction of airbags. It took my colleagues, Senator GORTON and I, a decade ago to get that language changed. Today, Americans have a choice in their safety. Many lives have been saved as a result of that. But the auto industry strenuously resisted that effort.
Indeed, when catalytic converter technology came online, even though the engineers acknowledged its significance, there was great resistance to requiring the introduction of catalytic converters. Our air is cleaner, our tailpipe emissions substantially less. Some of the major cities of America that still struggle with pollution now have perhaps twice as many vehicles on the road, but their air is cleaner than it would have been but for these technological advancements.
There must be something in the corporate culture of the automobile industry that resists this technology. These are remarkably able and talented engineers, the best and brightest. I wish they had more confidence in themselves.
We are placed in an anomalous situation wherein none of the technology that has been available for the past quarter of a century, 25 years, that might have enabled us to move forward and to improve fuel economy , to reduce our dependence on imported oil, has been used to help improve quality.
Since 1975, a rider has been added in the other body to this appropriations bill that prevents the Department of Transportation from even considering, even looking at any technological changes. In effect, it is a provision that requires us all to be deaf, dumb, and blind to any technology that has been developed in the last quarter century. I need not remind my colleagues and the American public that the last 25 years has been the most remarkable quarter of a century since human history was recorded in terms of technological advances; 25 years ago all but a handful of people would have been totally mystified if the term ``Internet'' was used. E-commerce was not a part of our conversation. Nobody discussed e-mail or m-commerce. Indeed, most Americans had never heard of cellular telephones. I just cite but two of the more obvious and more dramatic technological changes that have had a profound impact upon our economy .
Here are the facts that we confront today. Unfortunately, once again in America we are becoming increasingly dependent on foreign oil. Mr. President, 54 percent of the oil consumed in America is imported.
That leaves us vulnerable to the vicissitudes of foreign policy considerations, instabilities, and political crises in the other parts of the world. Our thirst for fuel continues. Now, even more timely, we are seeing the price of gasoline rise to record levels. Earlier in the year it achieved a high point, then dropped down, and now, with the onset of the heavy driving season in the summer, we are seeing those prices increase. So Americans are beginning to get hit in the pocketbook. About 40 percent of all the oil we consume in America is consumed by automobiles and light trucks or the sport utility vehicles.
So we have an opportunity to consider a number of public policy issues. No. 1, is it possible to achieve improved fuel economy , still leaving us a range of choice in selection of our vehicles? Would anyone argue that would be a bad result if it could be achieved? Fuel costs are responsible for roughly a third of the enormous trade deficit we generate each year in this country, the one economic indicator--in a field which otherwise has nothing but bright horizons in front of us--that is troubling to us economically. We cannot long sustain those kinds of trade imbalances, not for an indefinite period of time.
So we have the opportunity, by a policy initiative, to perhaps reduce at least the one-third of that trade deficit that is attributed to the foreign oil we import each year. Would anyone argue it would be a bad policy for us to be less dependent and, therefore, to reduce our trade deficit to an extent by improving fuel economy ? I think not.
I believe this past winter was the warmest on record in the Northeast. There is no question dramatic changes are occurring to our climate. Not everyone will agree those are attributable to global warming, but I think there is a growing consensus in the scientific sector that global warming is for real, that there is an impact that is occurring. One of the elements that contributes to that global warming is carbon dioxide emissions. With improved fuel economy , we reduce those emissions.
So there are three public policy initiatives that could all benefit if we could improve fuel economy . We would reduce the amount of fuel we consume in the automotive sector; we could reduce our trade imbalance; we could improve the quality of air; and as Americans are increasingly concerned about the price of filling up at the gas station, we could save Americans millions and millions of dollars each year.
Notwithstanding all those positive public policy potentials, we are left with a situation that the legislation before us will preclude the Department of Transportation from even looking at the possibility that an increase could occur. So the purpose of the motion to strike, which Senator GORTON and Senator FEINSTEIN and I and others will be offering tomorrow, is not to set a standard at a precise or numerical number--that was done in 1975--but simply permitting the Department of Transportation to examine the technology that has been developed in the last 25 years.
I believe it is almost impossible to argue that in a quarter of a century there is not new technology that could be applied to automobile efficiency that would not enable us to improve fuel economy . To resist that argument is akin to saying, as some did in the early part of the 19th century, we ought to lock up the U.S. Patent Office and close it down because everything that can be invented has already been invented; there are no new inventions. That is utter folly. We know the technology of the last 25 years has been remarkable,
extensive, and pervasive in its impact.
So our plea tomorrow as we go to the floor will be: Unmuzzle, unshackle, allow us to remove the blindfold and look at the technology in a way we can improve fuel economy , in a way that will produce real benefits for consumers, reducing the amount they have to pay, helping clean up the environment, reducing the trade deficit, and reducing our dependence on foreign oil.
These are public policy issues that we ought to be able to examine without the restrictive riders that have been added each year since 1995. I look forward, as part of a bipartisan effort, to continuing this discussion and argument tomorrow as we further process this legislation. My purpose today is simply to alert my colleagues that this debate will occur sometime tomorrow and ask them--indeed, plead with them--to simply allow us to look at the technology.
We are not mandating anything. We are not setting any standards . We are not making any policy judgments or pronouncements other than let's take a look at what the technology of the last quarter of a century might make possible and see if we cannot get better fuel economy , particularly on the sport utility vehicles and light trucks that today make up such a substantial part of the product mix that Americans are purchasing for their personal transportation.
I yield the floor.
I do not believe any of my colleagues seek recognition. I suggest the absence of a quorum.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.
The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. VOINOVICH). Without objection, it is so ordered.
Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I now ask unanimous consent that the following amendments be the only first-degree amendments in order to the pending Transportation bill and subject to relevant second-degree amendments only.
They include:
Three amendments by Senator MCCAIN: One on Big Dig, one on airport revenue, and one relevant;
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One amendment by Senator GORTON on CAFE;
One amendment by Senator ALLARD on debt repayment;
Two amendments by Senator COCHRAN: One technical amendment and one relevant;
One amendment by Senator COLLINS on SOS on high gas prices;
One relevant amendment by Senator WARNER;
One amendment by Senator VOINOVICH on passenger rail flexibility;
The managers' package by Senator SHELBY, and two relevant amendments;
One amendment by Senator NICKLES on BAC;
One relevant amendment by Senator GRAMM;
One amendment by Senator DOMENICI on rural air service;
One amendment by Senator BAUCUS on the Beartooth Highway;
Two relevant amendments by Senator BYRD;
One amendment by Senator BOXER on proposed rule on trucking;
One relevant amendment by Senator CONRAD;
Two relevant amendments by Senator DASCHLE;
One relevant amendment by Senator FEINGOLD;
One amendment by Senator FEINSTEIN on farm worker safety;
One sense-of-the-Senate amendment by Senator KOHL on Coast Guard funding;
Two relevant amendments by Senator LAUTENBERG;
Two amendments by Senator LEAHY: One on nonpublic personal disclosure, and one which is relevant;
Three relevant amendments by Senator LEVIN;
Two relevant amendments by Senator REED;
Two amendments by Senator ROBB: One on the Bristol Rail, and one on the Coal Fields Expressway;
Two relevant amendments by Senator TORRICELLI;
One relevant amendment by Senator WELLSTONE;
And, two relevant amendments by Senator WYDEN.
Mr. President, Senator DOMENICI wants to be added as one amendment to that list. It is described as rural air services.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I hope in the morning or early afternoon we can obtain consent on a time for these amendments to be filed so we can determine what we can work out, what we can accept, and what will have to be debated and voted on.
I also am anxious to deal with the problem of adoption of the basic bill that has come to the Senate from the Appropriations Committee. I would like to also have that resolved tomorrow early in the afternoon, if possible.
I am constrained to say as chairman of the committee that this year is passing very quickly. We are now well into June. We have to have all of these bills finished by July before we go to the recess and the conventions during the August recess.
I urge Members to help us define the amendments that they wish to offer and enter into time agreements once we are certain they are going to offer them.
I thank the managers of the bill. I thank my friend, the chairman of the committee, and the ranking member for what they are doing. I am hopeful we can move this bill along. We have other bills that will be ready to go as soon as this one is finished.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from New Jersey.
Mr. LAUTENBERG. Mr. President, I salute the fact that the appropriations chairman is anxious to get this finished. The subcommittee chairman and I are also anxious.
But the one thing that concerns me--and I am not going to object to the request that was made--is this: Normally, there is a time lapse for filing the report during which there is time to review the report. Suddenly, we are at a pell-mell pace. I want to get it finished.
I think it is fair to Senator SHELBY, myself, and the Appropriations Committee chairman to make sure this doesn't trample on anybody's rights so that Senators have the opportunity to review. We are picking up the pace considerably. Thus far, we have had three bills: MILCON, legislative, and Defense. So we are not in the back of the pack by a long shot.
This is a bill in which lots of people have an interest. I want to ensure that our people have a chance to look at the report which was filed today. It won't even be seen until tomorrow. We may have to stretch our tolerance level a little bit to give folks a chance. I don't want to drag my feet. Certainly, the Senator from Alabama knows that. I want to be cooperative, and I want people to respond.
It is always a frustrating experience when we bring a bill to the floor when time goes by and people who want to offer amendments don't bring them down.
I hope someday there will be reform--it won't be during my tenure--that says if you have amendments, you have to bring them up but that you have every right to examine the documents that relate to a bill before you are crowded out in a stampede. I offer that as a suggestion.
Mr. SHELBY. Mr. President, is the unanimous consent request made by Senator STEVENS, the chairman of the full Committee on Appropriations, before the Senate right now?
The PRESIDING OFFICER. That has already been agreed to.
Mr. SHELBY. What is the pending business at the moment?
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The substitute amendment is the pending business.
Mr. SHELBY. Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
Mr. SHELBY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
AMENDMENT NO. 3428 TO AMENDMENT NO. 3426
Mr. SHELBY. Mr. President, I send an amendment to the desk, and I ask for its immediate consideration.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.
The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:
The Senator from Alabama [Mr. SHELBY] for Mr. HARKIN, for himself and Mr. GRASSLEY, proposes an amendment numbered 3428.
Mr. SHELBY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent reading of the amendment be dispensed with.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
The amendment is as follows:
At the appropriate place in title III, insert the following:
SEC. 3 . MODIFICATION OF HIGHWAY PROJECT IN POLK COUNTY, IOWA.
The table contained in section 1602 of the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century is amended in item 1006 (112 Stat. 294) by striking ``Extend NW 86th Street from NW 70th Street'' and inserting ``Construct a road from State Highway 141''.
Mr. SHELBY. Mr. President, I ask for the yeas and nays on the amendment.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there a sufficient second?
There is a sufficient second.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
Mr. SHELBY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent a vote occur in relation to the pending amendment at 5:40 p.m. and no second-degree amendments be in order prior to the vote.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
I suggest the absence of a quorum.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
Mr. LAUTENBERG. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
Mr. LAUTENBERG. Mr. President, what is the pending business?
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The pending business is amendment No. 3428. The question is on agreeing to amendment No. 3428. The yeas and nays have been ordered. The clerk will call the roll.
The assistant legislative clerk called the roll.
Mr. NICKLES. I announce that the Senator from New Mexico (Mr. DOMENICI) is necessarily absent.
Mr. REID. I announce that the Senator from New York (Mr. MOYNIHAN) and the Senator from West Virginia (Mr. ROCKEFELLER) are necessarily absent.
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The PRESIDING OFFICER. Are there any other Senators in the Chamber desiring to vote?
The result was announced--yeas 97, nays 0, as follows:
Abraham
Akaka
Allard
Ashcroft
Baucus
Bayh
Bennett
Biden
Bingaman
Bond
Boxer
Breaux
Brownback
Bryan
Bunning
Burns
Byrd
Campbell
Chafee, L.
Cleland
Cochran
Collins
Conrad
Coverdell
Craig
Crapo
Daschle
DeWine
Dodd
Dorgan
Durbin
Edwards
Enzi
Feingold
Feinstein
Fitzgerald
Frist
Gorton
Graham
Gramm
Grams
Grassley
Gregg
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