[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 104 (Tuesday, August 2, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: August 2, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
  IN SUPPORT OF THE CRIME BILL AND H.R. 4050, THE REEMPLOYMENT ACT OF 
                                  1994

  (Mr. RICHARDSON asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. RICHARDSON. Mr. Speaker, the crime bill is coming up, and because 
of special interests, whether it be the gun issue or others, the 
outcome may be in doubt. If there is one issue that our constituents 
want us to act on, it is crime. Let us not let gridlock prevail. Let us 
make sure that we can govern. That is the question on the crime bill.
  Mr. Speaker, the President has a lot of initiatives that have been 
politicized: health care, welfare reform, Haiti policy. But when it 
comes to crime, let us ensure that we do not politicize this issue, and 
the vote on the rule and the vote on final passage in the next couple 
of days will determine whether Congress can govern.
  Another good initiative the President has is the Reemployment Act, a 
jobs bill that helps self-employed workers, makes them eligible for 
training. Ranchers and farmers in rural areas benefit.

  Mr. Speaker, the President has a lot of good initiatives out there. 
Let us act on them.
  Mr. Speaker, our country is the greatest nation in the world because 
the men and women of this country have a commitment to hard work. A 
healthy work force is the lifeline to maintaining the health of 
America.
  I am a cosponsor of the Reemployment Act because it is the medicine 
that small towns across America need to ensure their wellness into the 
21st century. In a fast paced, high turnover job market the 
Reemployment Act makes sure that hardworking Americans have the skills 
they need to be a part of the work force.
  A large part of the people that I represent live in small rural towns 
and villages. The Re-employment Act is good for my rural district 
because it helps farmers and ranchers. The Reemployment Act 
specifically identifies farmers and ranchers as self-employed workers 
and makes them eligible for income and training if they become 
unemployed as a result of general economic conditions. In addition, 
part-time and seasonal workers, who are a large part of the rural work 
force, will have access to the training that they need if they suffer 
permanent job loss.
  Small town economies can be devastated by one plant closing or 
layoff. Dislocated workers in these areas will have improved employment 
options by better access to labor market information on job openings, 
and the option of receiving unemployment insurance benefits while 
starting a new business, or training to upgrade their skills.
  Mr. Speaker, we owe the men and women of America the tools that they 
need to be a part of the greatest work force in the world and we can do 
that by supporting the Reemployment Act.

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