[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 17 (Thursday, February 24, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: February 24, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                          PERSONAL EXPLANATION

                                 ______


                         HON. CHARLES H. TAYLOR

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, February 24, 1994

  Mr. TAYLOR of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably detained 
during roll no. 27, the vote on the conference report accompanying H.R. 
3759, providing earthquake relief appropriations. Had I been present on 
February 11, I would have voted ``nay.''
  This is consistent with my vote on H.R. 3759 when it originally came 
before the House on February 3. My opposition to the legislation stems 
from the inclusion in the bill of funds for operations not related to 
earthquake relief efforts. For instance, $340.5 million was included 
for the Agriculture Department's Soil Conservation Service. Arkansas, 
West Virginia, Alaska, Connecticut, Florida, Hawaii, and Mississippi 
are among the States that will receive projects. If that isn't bad 
enough, the conference rejected the ``drop dead'' language the House 
passed, allowing the funds to be available until expended. Some $25 
million was included to provide additional cost-share assistance by the 
Agriculture Department's Stabilization and Conservation Service--$70 
million was allocated for the Army Corps of Engineers for non-Federal 
flood control levees. This is in addition to the $180 million 
appropriated for the same purpose in H.R. 2667, the emergency 
supplemental for the Midwest floods.
  The conference report also included $1.2 billion for various military 
operations having nothing to do with earthquake relief: $424 million 
for Somalia; $339 million for southern Iraq; $277 for Bosnia; $110 
million for the Kurds in Northern Iraq; $48 million for Haiti.
  Most of the emergency supplemental funding for various agencies, 
departments, and offices will go straight to the deficit. The 
additional funding should have received full congressional scrutiny by 
going through the hearing process rather than being tacked on to an 
emergency relief bill where the money was essential. This irresponsible 
ploy was the prime reason for my opposition to the earthquake relief 
bill.
  I feel strongly that these and other items included in H.R. 3759 were 
inappropraite, given that this legislation was motivated by the 
earthquakes in California and designed to help people who are going 
through a terrible ordeal. We should have supported legitimate 
earthquake relief. It's unfortunate that some Members used this bill as 
a vehicle for allocating money to their special projects.

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