The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
“UNANIMOUS CONSENT REQUEST--S. 739” mentioning the U.S. Dept of Labor was published in the Senate section on pages S11317-S11318 on Nov. 1, 2001.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
UNANIMOUS CONSENT REQUEST--S. 739
Mr. WELLSTONE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to Calendar No. 191, S. 739, the Homeless Veterans Program Improvement Act; that the committee-reported substitute amendment be agreed to, the bill, as amended, be read three times, passed, and the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, with no intervening action or debate.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection?
Mr. REID. Reserving the right to object, I could not hear the request.
Mr. WELLSTONE. I say to my colleague from West Virginia, I am trying to move matters along as well.
The VA reported that there were 345,000 homeless veterans in 1999. That was 34 percent higher than in 1998. The bill has been reported out of committee by Democrats and Republicans alike with unanimous support, I say to all my colleagues.
It is an annual authorization of $50 million for the Department of Labor program called HVRP, which does provide money to nonprofits to help train homeless veterans.
The second part supports community-based organizations which provide needed social service programs for veterans.
The last piece sets up comprehensive homeless centers in the country's major metropolitan areas. That can be substance abuse counseling, job counseling, and assisted housing.
This is the same bill that is moving in the House. This is my third or fourth time, colleagues, that I have come to this Chamber to ask unanimous consent to pass this bill.
Veterans Day is in the next week or so. We have men and women in harm's way. It is hardly any way to say thanks to veterans not to pass this piece of legislation.
My guess is that over a third of the adult males who are homeless in this country are veterans; many of them are Vietnam veterans. I do not know why in the world this bill is being blocked. I do not know who has put on an anonymous hold. This is my third or fourth time requesting that we pass this bill.
Therefore, one more time, Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to Calendar No. 191, S. 739, the Homeless Veterans Program Improvement Act, with the support of Secretary Principi as well; that the committee-reported substitute amendment be agreed to, the bill, as amended, be read three times, passed, and the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, with no intervening action or debate.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection?
Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, reserving the right to object, the Senator from Minnesota is a good friend of mine, and I happen to be the only Republican in the Chamber. There is a Republican objection. I do not know who that Republican is, and I can maybe find out for the Senator. But I have to object for a Senator on my side, as long as I am in this position of being the only Republican Senator in this Chamber. So I object.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Objection is heard.
Mr. WELLSTONE. Mr. President, just one more minute.
I say to my colleague from Iowa, I absolutely understand why he has to object. He is not speaking for himself. I know he is objecting on behalf of someone who is anonymous. I am positive the Senator from Iowa would be the first to support this legislation.
Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that a letter, which is signed by AMVETS, the Disabled American Veterans, the Paralyzed Veterans of America, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, which basically was addressed to Senator Lott, saying, move this bill, take objections off, be printed in the Record.
There being no objection, the letter was ordered to be printed in the Record, as follows:
October 25, 2001.Hon. Trent Lott,U.S. Senate,Washington, DC.
Dear Senator Lott: On behalf of the co-authors of The Independent Budget, AMVETS, Disabled American Veterans, Paralyzed Veterans of America, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars, we are writing to you, as Minority Leader, to urge you to work with your colleagues to remove holds that have been placed on two pieces of legislation that are important to our Nation's veterans.
These two measures, S. 1188, the ``Department of Veterans Affairs Nurse Recruitment and Retention Enhancement Act of 2001'' and S. 739, the ``Heather French Henry Homeless Veterans Assistance Act,'' are vital pieces of legislation to the men and women who have served in our Armed Forces. With American servicemen and women on guard at home and abroad, we find it difficult to believe that some Senators are placing roadblocks and resorting to delaying tactics on passage of legislation of such great benefit to seriously disabled veterans who have also served their country with distinction. These measures have almost universal support. It is time that they be brought up, and voted upon.
We thank you, in advance, for your assistance in this matter.
Sincerely,Joseph A. Violante,
National Legislative Director, Disabled American Veterans.Richard B. Fuller, National Legislative Director, Paralyzed Veterans of America.Rick Jones,
National Legislative Director, AMVETS.Dennis Cullinan,
National Legislative Director, Veterans of Foreign War.
Mr. WELLSTONE. Let me also say to my colleague from Iowa--and this is not aimed at him--as I have said, this is the third or fourth time I have come to the floor asking unanimous consent that we pass this legislation. I would appreciate it if whoever has an anonymous hold on this bill would be willing to step forward. But I want to make it crystal clear to the minority leader, and other colleagues, that I have a hold on every piece of legislation from the other side of the aisle that is not emergency legislation. I have a standing hold on all of your legislation.
Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, before I speak on another subject, I say to the Senator from Minnesota, I hope he knows my practice; when I put a hold on a piece of legislation or an individual, I put a statement in the Record as to why I have put on that hold, so you know that it is Senator Grassley who has a hold on that item. I do not approve of Senators putting holds on legislation and not doing it that way. But, on the other hand, I am doing it for whoever that anonymous person is.
Mr. WELLSTONE. I thank the Senator for his courtesy. I know that about him. And I say to the Senator from Iowa, with a twinkle in my eye, I am not putting any anonymous holds on any other legislation he is trying to move. I made it clear on the floor of the Senate, I am putting a hold on all of it unless it is absolutely an emergency.
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