Chairmen Byrd and Young and the Conference Committee have served the nation well and I am pleased that the House has quickly passed the conference report. I strongly urge the Senate to immediately pass this critical spending bill. This measure is a legislative hat trick: it funds the Presidents priorities, stays within the spending caps, and resists unnecessary spending. This bill provides needed funding for our veterans, our men and women in the military and the Coast Guard, home energy assistance for low-income people, and funds for the distribution of tax rebate checks, among other things. The passage of this bill is tangible evidence that our collective efforts to bring about a more orderly appropriations process is bearing fruit. The collegiality that prevailed throughout this process should serve as the benchmark for the remainder of the FY 2002 appropriations process. This bill is proof that fiscal discipline can be exercised and enacted in a timely manner.