[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 108 (Monday, August 8, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: August 8, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
  INTRODUCTION OF LEGISLATION APPLYING SPENDING CUTS APPROVED BY THE 
             HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TO DEFICIT REDUCTION

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                            HON. NATHAN DEAL

                               of georgia

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, August 8, 1994

  Mr. DEAL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today on behalf of myself and my fellow 
fiscal caucus members Eric Fingerhut, David Minge, and Martin Meehan to 
introduce legislation that will take a small but important step in our 
journey toward fiscal restraint by directing that all of the spending 
cuts that have been passed by the House go to deficit reduction.
  One of the greatest frustrations I have had as a freshman Member 
interested in deficit reduction is the fact that amendments cutting 
spending in appropriations bills do not reduce the deficit. Over the 
last 2 years I have offered and supported several successful amendments 
cutting low-priority spending in appropriations bills, only to see the 
savings get spent elsewhere.
  We will have an opportunity to correct this flaw in the budget 
process when we vote on lock box legislation that would make it 
possible to reduce the discretionary spending caps when spending is 
cut. I strongly support this common sense reform of the budget process. 
unfortunately, delays in the consideration of lockbox legislation means 
that it was not possible to place spending cuts approved in fiscal year 
1995 appropriations bills in the lockbox. That is why I am introducing 
legislation to reduce the discretionary caps by the amount of 
discretionary spending cuts approved by the House this year. the effect 
of this legislation would be to treat spending cuts the same way as if 
lockbox legislation had been in place when we considered appropriations 
bills earlier this year. This legislation is intended to compliment the 
lockbox bills that have received strong bipartisan support.
  The budget resolution conference report cut discretionary spending 
for fiscal year 1995 by $500 million. During consideration of 
appropriations bills, the House adopted 22 amendments cutting an 
additional $182 million in spending. The legislation I am introducing 
tonight would ensure that all of these savings that have been supported 
by a majority of the House will go to deficit reduction by lowering the 
caps by $682 million. This legislation will carry out the will of the 
House when we voted to cut spending earlier this year.
  I intend to modify this legislation based on the outcome of the 
conferences on appropriations bills and offer it as an amendment when 
the House considers lockbox legislation later this year. All members 
who support lockbox legislation should support this legislation to 
apply the lockbox concept to the spending cuts we have approved this 
year.

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