S6466 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE May 10, 1995

to repay outstanding bonds that were issued

specifically for the construction of solid

waste management facilities to which the

political subdivision’s waste is to be delivered.

‘‘(5) the authority under this subsection

shall be exercised in accordance with Section

401z(b)(4)’’.

AMENDMENT NO. 753

On page 65, line 10, strike ‘‘or (d)’’ and insert ‘‘(d), or (e)’’.

On page 65, line 3, strike ‘‘or (d)’’ and insert ‘‘(d), or (e)’’.

SPECTER (AND OTHERS)

AMENDMENT NO. 754

Mr. SPECTER (for himself, Mr.

CRAIG, Mr. GRASSLEY, Mr.

KEMPTHORNE, and Mr. BROWN) proposed

an amendment to the bill, S. 534, supra;

as follows:

At the appropriate place, insert the following new section:

SEC. . SENSE OF THE SENATE.

(a) FINDINGS.—The Senate finds that—

(1) There has been enormous public concern, worry and fear in the U.S. over international terrorism for many years;

(2) There has been enormous public concern, worry and fear in the U.S. over the

threat of domestic terrorism after the bombing of the New York World Trade Center on

February 26, 1993;

(3) There is even more public concern,

worry and fear since the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City on April 19, 1995;

(4) Public concern, worry and fear has been

aggravated by the fact that it appears that

the terrorist bombing at the Federal building in Oklahoma City was perpetrated by

Americans;

(5) The United States Senate should take

all action within its power to understand and

respond in all possible ways to threats of domestic as well as international terrorism;

(6) Serious questions of public concern

have been raised about the actions of federal

law enforcement officials including agents

from the Federal Bureau of Investigation

and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and

Firearms relating to the arrest of Mr. Randy

Weaver and others in Ruby Ridge, Idaho, in

August, 1992 and Mr. David Koresh and others associated with the Branch Davidian sect

in Waco, Texas, between February 28, 1993,

and April 19, 1993;

(7) Inquiries by the Executive Branch have

left serious unanswered questions on these

incidents;

(8) The United States Senate has not conducted any hearings on these incidents;

(9) There is public concern about allowing

federal agencies to investigate allegations of

impropriety within their own ranks without

congressional oversight to assure accountability at the highest levels of government;

(10) Notwithstanding an official censure of

FBI Agent Larry Potts on January 6, 1994,

relating to his participation in the Idaho incident, the Attorney General of the United

States on May 2, 1995, appointed Agent Potts

to be Deputy Director of the FBI;

(11) It is universally acknowledged that

there can be no possible justification for the

Oklahoma City bombing regardless of what

happened at Ruby Ridge, Idaho, or Waco,

Texas;

(12) Ranking federal officials have supported hearings by the U.S. Senate to dispel

public rumors that the Oklahoma City bombing was planned and carried out by federal

law enforcement officials;

(13) It has been represented, or at least

widely rumored, that the motivation for the

Oklahoma City bombing may have been related to the Waco incident, the dates falling

exactly two years apart; and

(14) A U.S. Senate hearing, or at least setting the date for such a hearing, on Waco

and Ruby Ridge would help to restore public

confidence that there will be full disclosure

of what happened, appropriate congressional

oversight and accountability at the highest

levels of the federal government.

(b) SENSE OF THE SENATE.—It is the sense

of the Senate that hearings should be held

before the Senate Judiciary Committee on

countering domestic terrorism in all possible

ways with a hearing on or before June 30,

1995, on actions taken by federal law enforcement agencies in Ruby Ridge, Idaho, and

Waco, Texas.

HATCH AMENDMENT NO. 755

Mr. HATCH proposed an amendment

to amendment No. 754 proposed by Mr.

SPECTER to the bill S. 534, supra; as follows:

Strike all after the first word and insert

the following:

SEC. . SENSE OF THE SENATE.

(a) FINDINGS.—The Senate finds that—

(1) The American public is entitled to a

full, comprehensive, and open hearing on the

circumstances surrounding the efforts of federal law enforcement officers, including

agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and

Firearms, to investigate and effectuate (or

seek to effectuate) the arrest of Mr. David

Koresch and others associated with the

Branch Davidian sect in Waco, Texas;

(2) The American public is entitled to a

full, comprehensive, and open hearing on the

circumstances surrounding the efforts of federal law enforcement officers, including

agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Marshals Service, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, to

investigate, and effectuate (or seek to effectuate) the arrest of Mr. Randy Weaver and

others associated with Mr. Weaver, in Ruby

Ridge, Idaho;

(3) The Senate has not yet conducted comprehensive hearings on either of these incidents;

(4) The public interest requires full disclosure of these incidents through hearings to

promote public confidence in government;

and

(5) The public’s confidence in government

would be further promoted if the timing of

the hearings takes into consideration the

need for such hearings to be conducted in an

atmosphere of reflection and calm deliberation.

(b) SENSE OF THE SENATE.—It is the sense

of the Senate that hearings should be held in

the near future, before the Senate Judiciary

Committee, at a time and under such circumstances as determined by the Chairman,

regarding the actions taken by federal law

enforcement agencies and their representatives in the aforementioned Ruby Ridge and

Waco incidents.

AUTHORITY FOR COMMITTEES TO

fMEET

COMMITTEE ON ENERGY AND NATURAL

RESOURCES

Mr. GORTON. Mr. President, I ask

unanimous consent that the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources

be granted permission to meet during

the session of the Senate on Wednesday, May 10, 1995, for purposes of conducting a full committee hearing

which is scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m.

The purpose of this hearing is to consider the nomination of James J.

Hoecker to be a member of the Federal

Energy Regulatory Commission.

The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without

objection, it is so ordered.

COMMITTEE ON ENERGY AND NATURAL

RESOURCES

Mr. GORTON. Mr. President, I ask

unanimous consent that the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources

be granted permission to meet during

the session of the Senate on Wednesday, May 10, 1995, for purposes of conducting a full committee hearing

which is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m.

The purpose of this hearing is to receive testimony on the Federal Energy

Regulatory Commission’s notice of proposed rulemaking and supplemental

notice of proposed rulemaking, ‘‘Promoting Wholesale Competition

Through Open-Access Non-discriminatory Transmission Services by Public

Utilities’’ (Docket No. RM95–8–000), and

‘‘Recovery Stranded Costs by Public

Utilities and Transmitting Utilities’’

(Docket No. RM94–7–001).

The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without

objection, it is so ordered.

COMMITTEE ON FINANCE

Mr. GORTON. Mr. President, I ask

unanimous consent that the Committee on Finance be permitted to meet

Wednesday, May 10, 1995, beginning at

9:30 a.m. in room SD–215, to conduct a

hearing on the World Trade Organization Dispute Settlement Review Commission Act and on the nomination of

Jeffrey Lang to be Deputy U.S. Trade

Representative.

The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without

objection, it is so ordered.

COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN RELATIONS

Mr. GORTON. Mr. President, I ask

unanimous consent that the Committee on Foreign Relations be authorized

to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, May 10, 1995, at 10

a.m.

The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without

objection, it is so ordered.

COMMITTEE ON THE JUDICIARY

Mr. GORTON. Mr. President, I ask

unanimous consent that the Committee on the Judiciary be authorized to

meet during the session of the Senate

on Wednesday, May 10, 1995, at 2:30

p.m., to hold a hearing on ‘‘The Role of

the Military in Combating Terrorism.’’

The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without

objection, it is so ordered.

SELECT COMMITTEE ON INTELLIGENCE

Mr. GORTON. Mr. President, I ask

unanimous consent that the Select

Committee on Intelligence be authorized to meet during the session of the

Senate on Wednesday, May 10, 1995, at

2 p.m., to hold a closed hearing on intelligence matters.

The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without

objection, it is so ordered.

SUBCOMMITTEE ON AIRLAND FORCES

Mr. GORTON. Mr. President, I ask

unanimous consent that the Subcommittee on Airland Forces of the
May 10, 1995 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S6467

Committee on Armed Services be authorized to meet at 3 p.m., on Wednesday, May 10, 1995, in open and closed

session, to receive testimony on tactical intelligence and related activities

in the Army and Air Force in review of

S. 727, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1996, and the

future years defense program.

The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without

objection, it is so ordered.

SUBCOMMITTEE ON IMMIGRATION

Mr. GORTON. Mr. President, I ask

unanimous consent that the Immigration Subcommittee of the Committee

on the Judiciary be authorized to meet

during the session of the Senate on

Wednesday, May 10, 1995, at 9:30 a.m.,

to hold a hearing on ‘‘Verification of

Applicant Identity for Purposes of Employment and Public Assistance.’’

The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without

objection, it is so ordered.

ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

fAN ETHICAL DILEMMA

∑ Mr. SIMON. Mr. President, there is a

lot of emotion and not much rationality to the question of whether we use

fetal tissue to assist people who have

problems, particularly with Parkinson’s disease.

It is interesting that in the U.S. Senate, many of those who support the use

of fetal tissue comprise those who are

totally opposed to abortions.

I believe their stand makes sense,

much more sense than those who emotionally oppose use of fetal tissue.

If for a reason of taste, or culture, or

religion, people are opposed to any

transplant, I understand it.

When I die, if my eyes or any part of

me can be used to be of assistance to

someone else, I want that done.

I would think most people who have

had an abortion would want the same.

The requirements are very strict.

You cannot make any money on it.

You cannot designate to whom the tissue would go. You cannot even know to

whom it is going.

Joan Beck has written a column in

the Chicago Tribune that outlines the

situation clearly, and I ask that it be

printed in the RECORD.

The column follows:

[From the Chicago Tribune, April 30, 1995]

AN ETHICAL DILEMMA—IN DEFENSE OF FETAL

TISSUE TRANSPLANTS TO TREAT NEUROLOGICAL DISORDERS

(By Joan Beck)

He was 59 years old and he had had Parkinson’s disease for eight years. His body was

becoming increasingly rigid and immobile.

He had trouble moving and talking clearly.

He had tremors he couldn’t stop and he had

to give up his job.

The medication that had helped early in

the onset of the illness could no longer give

him much relief, despite increasing doses. As

the disease inexorably progressed, he decided

to try a new, experimental treatment, despite the intense political and medical controversy that has marked its development.

Surgeons inserted several grafts of fetal

tissue into one side of his brain. A month

later, they repeated the procedure on the

other side. The transplants came from seven

donors, aborted babies from 61⁄2 to 9 weeks

old.

Within a few weeks after the surgery, the

man’s condition improved markedly, according to a report in the current issue of the

New England Journal of Medicine. He could

once again handle daily activities, even take

part in an active exercise program. He needed less medication, but now it was much

more effective.

A year and a half after the first transplant,

the patient had surgery on his ankle to repair damage from a fracture years earlier. As

he was recovering from the operation, he suffered a massive pulmonary embolism and

died.

Studying his brain after death, doctors

found conclusive evidence that the transplants had worked as hoped. The fetal neurons had survived, grown and were functioning, replacing the patient’s damaged brain

cells, just as the improvement in his symptoms had indicated.

An estimated 200 transplants of fetal tissue

into human brains have been done over the

past several years. Some have been performed in other countries, some under scientifically questionable circumstances. Results have been uneven and often discouraging.

The case reported this week is important

because it is the first to prove that fetal tissue transplants can survive and function and

that they can be linked to a patient’s improvement.

The long-range implications are medical,

political and ethical. The success story offers

eventual hope for hundreds of thousands of

patients, not only with Parkinson’s disease

but also with Huntington’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease and other disorders caused

by brain cell impairment and destruction for

which no good treatment or cure is now

available.

Much research is still necessary, however.

More data are needed about optimal size of

the grafts, whether the tissue can be frozen

in advance, which patients are likely to benefit, how long improvement will last, whether the underlying disease will eventually destroy the new brain cells.

Fetal tissue is considered necessary for

transplants because it can survive and grow

where grafts of more mature cells do not. It

can take on new biological functions, unlike

other cells. And the recipient’s body is not so

likely to reject it.

But the research has been slowed in the

past for political and ethical reasons.

The problem is that such transplants almost always must come from abortions—and

that has raised fierce and intractable opposition from pro-life forces. They see the possibility that women will deliberately get pregnant and have an abortion to provide a graft

for a loved one—or even worse, sell the tissue

on some sort of medical black market.

Even with tight controls, abortion opponents argue, using tissue from aborted

fetuses will make it easier for women to decide to have an abortion because they can rationalize that some desperately ill person

could benefit and that might ease any guilt

feelings they may have.

Should fetal transplants eventually prove

to be of great medical benefit and become

widely used, it will be even harder to rally

the nation to oppose abortion—the source of

such grafts—pro-life leaders fear.

In response to anti-abortion fervor, the

Reagan administration prohibited the use of

federal funds for research using fetal tissue

for humans, a major setback because most

research grants are based on federal approval. Some experiments did continue, however, using private money, and in other

countries.

Under mounting pressure from Congress,

President Bush attempted a compromise. He

authorized a grant of more than $2 million to

study whether fetal tissue obtained as a result of miscarriages and ectopic pregnancies—not deliberate abortions—could be

used for transplants.

The answer turned out to be no. Out of

1,500 such fetuses tested, all but seven were

unsuitable because of chromosome errors (a

major cause of miscarriage) or problems

with bacteria and virus contamination.

In 1993, President Clinton finally lifted the

ban on federal funding for fetal tissue research. The use of such transplants is carefully governed by state and federal laws and

government and medical guidelines similar

to those that cover other transplants, including the Uniform Anatomical Gift Act

which has been adopted in all states.

The stark facts remain. Abortion is legal

in the United States. About 1.5 million abortions occur every year. Aborted tissue is now

discarded, even though it holds the potential

for successfully treating several terrible, intractable diseases.

Abortion is a tragedy, as is death from

gunshot wounds and traffic accidents. But

the success of fetal tissue grafts isn’t going

to encourage abortion any more than organ

transplants increase car crashes and murders.

Research is under way to find other means

to treat neurological disorders, some of it

building on findings from fetal tissue studies. But until these experiments are successful, surely it is more ethical and merciful to

try to use fetal tissue than simply destroy

it.∑

TRIBUTE TO THE GREEN

MOUNTAIN BOY SCOUTS

f∑ Mr. JEFFORDS. Mr. President, I rise

today to pay tribute to the Green

Mountain Boy Scouts and congratulate

the Boy Scouts of America on their

85th anniversary. It seems fitting, indeed, that the Green Mountain Boy

Scouts of America will hold its statewide camporee on the historic Rutland

fairgrounds. While 10,000 Vermont

scouts and 4,000 adult volunteer leaders

will be marking the 85th anniversary of

the Boy Scouts of America in June, the

Rutland Fairgrounds prepares to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Vermont State Fair.

To these fairgrounds in 1861 came

1,000 young men to form the First Vermont Regiment of infantry, the initial

unit sent from Vermont to fight in the

Civil War. It is my understanding that

the first night in camp, a chill wind

came down off Pico and Killington flattening many of their tents. It was a

strong omen, for hard times were ahead

for the Vermonters who went off to

fight in that war. Before it was over,

nearly 35,000 young men from Vermont

would serve, and more than 5,000 would

give their lives.

Those lads, every one of them volunteers, established a model of service

from which Vermont did not falter during four bloody years. It is a model

that we still find personified by the

young people, and their leaders, who

fill the ranks of scouting in Vermont.