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   Ms. LANDRIEU. Thank you, Mr. President.

   I know the underlying amendment we have just debated is quite important, and the bankruptcy bill we are debating is one of the things we have to reconcile in order to wrap up our business and do the work for the American people. But I come to the floor just for a few moments this afternoon to speak on another subject because I would like to do my part to help us bring this session to a positive close.

   I was one of the Senators who placed a hold on some of the business before the Senate. I felt compelled to do so because of some actions the administration was taking in the negotiations process on the Interior bill. I believe I had to try to stop, or reverse, or change it. With other things that have taken place, I believe we have been somewhat successful. I want to speak about that for a moment.

   As you are aware, Mr. President, about 2 years ago a great coalition of people came together from different perspectives in this country--different parties, different areas of this Nation--to begin to speak about the great need in America and the great desire on the part of the American people, from Louisiana, California, New York, and all places in between, to try to find a permanent way to fund very important environmental projects--the purchase of land, the expansion of parks, the creation of green space, the preservation of green space, the restoration of wetlands, the commitment to historic preservation, the expansion of our urban parks, the ability of all families, not just families who can afford to fly in jets or take long automobile vacations, but for families who live in the U.S., to be able to enjoy the beauty of nature; for us as a Nation as we move into this next century to take this opportunity to try to find a permanent way to fund some of these programs so they won't be subject to the whims and wishes of Washington, something that is fiscally conservative in terms of our balanced budget.

   We tried to look for funding that would be appropriate to dedicate in this way. We found a source of funding. That is where the funding is--offshore oil and gas revenues that were the subject of an earlier debate today. As the prices go up, it helps some parts of our Nation; it is a challenge for other parts. But it brings more tax revenues into the Federal coffers.

   For 50 years, we have been drilling off the shores of Louisiana, Texas, Mississippi, and the gulf coast. We have brought over $120 billion to the Federal Treasury by depleting one important resource for our Nation. That money has gone to the general fund. It has been spent on a variety of projects--not reinvested but just spent in operating budgets.

   Many of us think a more fiscally conservative approach, and a more sound and responsible approach, would be to

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   Two years ago, a great coalition came together. On one

    side, we had the National Chamber of Commerce; on the other side, we had a variety of environmental groups; we had elected officials, both at the Federal level and State level. As I said, it was a bipartisan coalition that came together to back a bill, which was introduced on the House side and in the Senate, known as CARA, the Conservation and Reinvestment Act, to do just that.

   This bill has picked up tremendous support in the last 2 years. It is pending before our Senate Energy Committee with Senator MURKOWSKI and me as the lead sponsors, with many Members of this body. The great news is that just last week in the House, under the great leadership of DON YOUNG from Alaska and GEORGE MILLER from California, the ranking member, this bill passed out very similar to ours on a 37-12 vote to try to help bring us to a bipartisan consensus.

   I am hopeful, as we wrap up this session and as we begin to get ready for the next session of Congress, that we are now in a very good position to be able to take some final actions in moving that bill through committee, onto the floor, and into a conference where the final details can be worked out because if we are going to have any permanency of funding from this source, it is going to have to be something that is shared with the States that produce the money in the first place.

   Louisiana produces about 70 percent of our offshore oil and gas revenues. We have great needs as a coastal State, along with States such as New York that just got hit very hard by Hurricane Floyd, causing tremendous damage. There are great coastal needs in our States to fully fund the land and water conservation and wildlife conservation programs.

   I am very hopeful as we position ourselves for next year, that we are in a position to grab this opportunity supported by this grand coalition and do something very positive for America's environment.

   I am pleased to say I will be prepared to release my hold on the foreign operations bill in an attempt to do my part to move to reconciliation because we have effectively stopped the administration's efforts to permanently allocate funding but in a way that will not cover all of the things as I outlined. We want to make sure this investment in the Nation is not just about Federal land acquisition, although that is a very important piece of this. We want to make sure it is balanced, with the opportunity for Governors and local officials to purchase land at the local level. We want to make sure it is truly a partnership. We want to make sure the coastal impact assistance is there as well as funding for historical preservation, urban parks, and wildlife programs.

   While we didn't reach every goal we set out, we have raised this issue. We have built a strong coalition. We have raised this issue and we have stopped the permanent allocation of these funds until the whole package can be dealt with. We have made a very positive step.

   On behalf of the great coalition, I ask unanimous consent to have printed in the RECORD a letter to the President, signed by 14 Senators, along with a letter to Members of Congress from 865 organizations, business and government agencies, that are funding this effort.

   There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in the RECORD, as follows:

   U.S. SENATE,

   Washington, DC, November 15, 1999.
The PRESIDENT,
The White House, Washington, DC.

   DEAR MR. PRESIDENT: With your leadership we have a historic opportunity to pass legislation in this Congress that will permanently reinvest a portion of offshore oil and gas revenues in coastal conservation and impact assistance programs, the Land and Water Conservation Fund, wildlife conservation, historic treasures and outdoor recreation. Recently, forty of the nation's governors sent a letter to Congress encouraging us to seize this historic opportunity. This effort has been endorsed by almost every environmental organization in the country as well as a broad array of business interests including the United States Chamber of Commerce.

   There is strong bi-partisan support now for a proposal that: will provide a fair share of funding to all coastal states, including producing states; is free of harmful environmental impacts to coastal and ocean resources; does not unduly hinder land acquisition but acknowledges Congress' role in making these decisions and reflects a true partnership among federal, state and local governments.

   There is also strong support for using these OCS revenues to reinvest in the renewable resource of wildlife conservation through the currently authorized Pittman-Robertson program. This new influx of funding will nearly double the Federal funds available for wildlife conservation and education programs. We would like to ensure that wildlife programs are kept among the priorities when negotiating for monies from OCS revenues.

   A historic conservation initiative is within our grasp. With budget negotiations currently underway, we urge you to push forward for a compromise which reflects the points outlined above. It will be an accomplishment we can all celebrate and a real legacy for future generations.

   Sincerely,
Mary L. Landrieu, Max Cleland, Blanche L. Lincoln, Evan Bayh, John F. Kerry, Tim Johnson, Charles Robb, John Breaux, Robert J. Kerrey, Barbara A. Mikulski, Ron Wyden, Herb Kohl, Ernest F. Hollings, Judd Gregg.

--

   NOVEMBER 1, 1999.
U.S. CONGRESS,
Washington, DC.

   DEAR MEMBER OF CONGRESS: As the twentieth century draws to a close, Congress has a rare opportunity to pass landmark legislation that would establish a permanent and significant source of conservation funding. A number of promising legislative proposals would take revenues from non-renewable offshore oil and gas resources and reinvest them in the protection of renewable resources such as our wildlife, public lands, coasts, oceans, historic and cultural treasures, and recreation. Securing this funding would allow us to build upon the pioneering conservation tradition that Teddy Roosevelt initiated at the beginning of the century.

   The vast majority of Americans recognize the duty we have to protect and conserve our rich cultural and natural legacies for future generations. A diverse array of interest, including sportsmen and women, conservationists, historic preservationists, park and recreation enthusiasts, urban advocates, the faith community, business interests, state and local governments, and others, support conservation funding legislation because they recognize it is essential to fulfill this obligation.

   We call upon you and your colleagues to seize this unprecedented opportunity. Pass legislation that would make a substantial and reliable investment in the conservation of our nation's wildlife; public lands; coastal and marine resources; historic and cultural treasures; state, local and urban parks and recreation programs; and open space. Design a bill that provides significant conservation benefits, is free of harmful environmental impacts to our coastal and ocean resources, and does not unduly hinder land acquisition programs.

   An historic conservation funding bill is within our grasp. It will be an accomplishment that all can celebrate. We look to Congress to make this legislation a reality.

   Sincerely,

   Ms. LANDRIEU. I will read one paragraph from this petition. Let us grab the opportunity now, to:

   Pass legislation that would make a substantial and reliable investment in the conservation of our Nation's wildlife; public lands; coastal and marine resources; historic and cultural treasures; State, local and urban parks, and recreation programs; and open spaces. [Let us] design a bill that provides significant conservation benefits, is free of harmful environmental impacts to our coastal and ocean resources and does not unduly hinder land acquisition programs.

   I believe we can meet these goals as we negotiate the detail and compromise in the next session.

   The Presiding Officer, being from the State of Alabama, has been a great leader in this effort. I look forward to working with the Senator next year. I am pleased to tell our leader I will be removing my hold on foreign ops because we have made some progress on this, and I look forward to working harder to make this a reality for the people of America the next time we meet.

   I yield my remaining time.

   Mr. REID. Before the Senator from Louisiana leaves the floor, I want to express to her the appreciation of the entire minority caucus. There is no Member of the Senate who is more astute, works harder, and has a better understanding of the issues that face the Senate, which was well demonstrated by her work on this issue about which she feels fervently. We are grateful at this late date the Senator

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