January 24, 1980
Page 666
Mr. BELLMON. Mr. President, I appreciate the opportunity to respond to the point raised by the distinguished chairman of the Veterans Committee. The fact is that when the Senator from California speaks of something being unrealistic, that is sort of a subjective term. What may be unrealistic in the mind of the Senator from California may seem to be totally realistic to the Senator from Oklahoma. So I am not sure that we could agree that any further discussion of the programs he alluded to is unrealistic, and whether or not it is achievable to eliminate those is also a matter of some judgment. We never know until we have a vote whether we can or not.
The fact is that when the amendment I had printed was withdrawn, we were of the opinion that the recommendation, which the Budget Committee had been making so far as aviation training was concerned had not been dealt with a, satisfactorily as we felt they could be.
On closer examination of the bill that the committee has developed, I would like to compliment the chairman because he has gone a long way in the direction we recommended. He tightened down the aviation training so it has to be career oriented and it is not now, as it has been in the past, likely to be subject to as much abuse as we feel has occurred in this program in the past.
Also, the changes the committee has made will substantially reduce the cost of the program, I think there may still be room for additional savings, though not terribly significant.
We felt in light of the good faith effort that the committee made to tighten this program down it was the better course not to offer the amendment and to give the program a chance to operate for a time under the new rules before we undertake to see whether further tightening is in order.
I would not want to stand here on the floor and make a commitment that we will not take a look at this when we have a markup, but at the same time I would again compliment the chairman for the very real progress which has been made and to say if the program shapes up under the new rules the way it very well might, perhaps the matter will not come up again. But I believe we have to wait and see.
Mr. CRANSTON. I appreciate that statement by the Senator from Oklahoma very much. I would express the hope that in the markup of the fiscal year 1981 budget resolution that is to begin shortly after March 15 there would not be a presumption of additional savings to be made in flight and correspondence training benefits.
Mr. BELLMON. I would say there is not room for great savings, but a few million here and a few million there will all add up.
Mr. CRANSTON. Would the Senator agree that the Senate has resolved this issue at least for this Congress?
Mr. BELLMON. Yes, I would. Again, I compliment the chairman.
Mr. CRANSTON. I thank the Senator very much.
I yield to the distinguished Senator from Maine.
Mr. MUSKIE. I appreciate the opportunity to comment on the proposition that the Senator from Maine and the Senator from Oklahoma somehow control the issues raised in the Budget Committee or have such authority that we may or may not declare that issues are settled.
I join with my colleague from Oklahoma in complimenting the distinguished floor manager on the progress which has been made here. It could well be, after we have examined — if we do examine, and I am not sure we will — the results of the studies and inquiries that the Senator's committee has made in this area that we will concur with the result as a final result. Up to this point, we regarded it as commendable progress, and it may be sufficient to satisfy all members of the Budget Committee.
I would think that the odds are that this issue is not going to create great waves in this upcoming budget markup. I simply at this point cannot say more than that. We are not inclined, as the Senator knows, to do anything about it on the floor at this time. I would think for the time being, until we have an opportunity to see the result of what the Senator has done in his committee, that I would not expect this issue to rise very strongly. I cannot speak for the Appropriations Committee, of course.
Mr. MAGNUSON. I understand that the total bill, with its amendments, is an entitlement bill and is not subject to appropriations.
Mr. CRANSTON. That is correct.
Mr. MAGNUSON. It is an entitlement. Appropriations will have nothing to do with it except as we process things through the Budget Committee. That is the way I look at the bill. It is purely entitlement. I am referring to the increases involved being entitlements.
Mr. MUSKIE. The Senator is correct.
Mr. CRANSTON. Mr. President, the Senator from Pennsylvania has assured me that he does not intend to bring up his remaining amendment, so I now ask that we go to third reading. I take the responsibility for making this statement on his behalf.
Mr. SIMPSON. Mr. President, as co-manager of the bill, I want to be absolutely certain that Senator HEINZ position is protected. I have complete faith in what Senator CRANSTON has said.
Mr. President, I have now been advised by the minority that Senator HEINZ has agreed just as Senator CRANSTON indicated, and has apparently withdrawn that amendment.