[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 133 (Wednesday, September 21, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: September 21, 1994]



                          CONGRESSIONAL AGENDA

                          HON. LEE H. HAMILTON

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 21, 1994

  Mr. HAMILTON. Mr. Speaker, I would like to insert my Washington 
Report for Wednesday, September 21, 1994 into the Congressional Record.

                          Congressional Agenda

       The 103rd Congress faces a crowded legislative agenda 
     before its scheduled adjournment in mid-October. This 
     Congress has had several accomplishments to date, including 
     passage of a $430 billion deficit reduction measure; the 
     North American Free Trade Agreement; and the most 
     comprehensive crime bill in six years. Health care reform has 
     preoccupied this Congress, pushing aside many other bills, 
     especially welfare reform.
       The overall legislative record for the 103rd Congress still 
     hangs in the balance. The unfinished business is staggering. 
     I do not agree with those who argue that this Congress should 
     close down and get out of town. There is still important work 
     to do. What follows is my ``wish list'' for the remainder of 
     the session. If Congress can enact these measures, or even 
     most of them, the 103rd Congress would post a solid record of 
     achievement.


                           health care reform

       The health care debate has shifted in the last month away 
     from the idea of comprehensive reform (which would involve 
     widespread changes to the health care system) towards 
     incremental reform (which would make fewer changes). I have 
     consistently supported such an incremental approach. An 
     incremental bill might include some of the following 
     elements: requiring insurers to take all comers; limiting 
     insurance exclusions based on pre-existing conditions; 
     allowing workers to take insurance with them when they change 
     jobs; providing some subsidies to lower-income working 
     families to help them buy insurance; and instituting 
     malpractice reforms.


                        campaign finance reform

       Political campaigns cost too much, and allow special 
     interest groups to exert too much influence. The House and 
     Senate have each passed bills to overhaul the campaign 
     finance laws. The House bill provides for voluntary spending 
     caps and a reduction in how much Political Action Committees 
     (PACs) and individual contributors can give to a candidate. 
     The Senate bill contains different expenditure controls, and 
     would ban PAC contributions outright. A House-Senate 
     conference committee is working to reconcile the differences 
     in the two measures.


                            lobbying reform

       People have a right to know who lobbies, and for what. We 
     should sharply curb, if not eliminate, all gifts from 
     lobbyists to members of Congress, including free golf, tennis 
     and skiing weekends. The House and Senate have passed bills 
     that would tighten the laws on registration and disclosure by 
     lobbyists and restrict the gifts and meals members of 
     Congress can accept from lobbyists. The Senate bill would ban 
     gifts from almost everyone but family members and close 
     friends. The House bill would abolish all gifts costing more 
     than $20 from lobbyists, but meals and entertainment would be 
     allowed if unsolicited and provided by a non-lobbyist. This 
     measure is in a House-Senate conference committee.


                          Congressional reform

       The House has begun consideration of reform recommendations 
     of the Joint Committee on the Organization of Congress, which 
     I co-chaired. Earlier this summer, the House approved a bill 
     to apply to itself the health, safety and labor requirements 
     imposed on other employers. The Senate is expected to take up 
     a similar measure shortly. The House will also consider a 
     reform bill that would include private citizens in the House 
     ethics process, make floor procedures fairer, cut 
     congressional staff, streamline the committee system and 
     budget process, and open Congress up to more public scrutiny.


                           Procurement reform

       Congress will soon complete action on a bill to streamline 
     federal procurement. A bill, recently approved by the Senate 
     and soon to be considered by the House, would encourage 
     federal agencies, including the Defense Department, to buy 
     more items off the shelf in routine, commercial transactions. 
     The reforms, which I support, would make government 
     acquisition simpler, less costly, and more efficient.


                       Telecommunications reform

       The House, with my support, approved a bill in June that 
     would spur more competition in the communications field. The 
     measure would allow cable television and telephone companies 
     to enter each other's markets and make it easier for the 
     regional Bell companies to compete in the long-distance 
     telephone business. The Senate is expected to consider a 
     similar bill later this month.


                                 Trade

       A House-Senate conference committee will soon complete 
     action on a measure to implement last year's GATT agreement. 
     The trade agreement, negotiated by more than 100 countries, 
     would cut tariffs around the world by a third and expand the 
     free-trade rules of the GATT to cover new industries ranging 
     from farming to accounting. Congress may take up the bill 
     before adjournment. I see no reason to delay action on trade. 
     We should approve the implementing legislation as quickly as 
     possible so that U.S. companies can take advantage of new 
     market opportunities overseas.


                               Superfund

       The Superfund law, which requires polluters to pay to clean 
     up toxic waste, expires at the end of this month. The House 
     will soon consider a measure that would extend and improve 
     the program to avoid the protracted litigation that has 
     limited the number of cleanups. A similar bill is under 
     review in the Senate. I support an overhaul of the Superfund 
     law that results in more cleanups and fewer lawsuits and 
     administrative delays.


                           Interstate banking

       Congress has approved a final version of a bill that would 
     permit banks to open branches across state lines. This 
     measure will make the banking industry more efficient and 
     more competitive, and better able to meet the needs of our 
     people and our economy.


                             Other measures

       Congress may take up bills to impose fees for mining 
     hardrock minerals like gold and cooper on federal land; allow 
     state and local governments to ban or restrict interstate 
     shipment of municipal solid waste; and give state and local 
     governments more flexibility in meeting safe drinking water 
     standards. In addition, a House-Senate conference committee 
     will meet this month on a bill to reauthorize elementary and 
     secondary education programs.


                               Conclusion

       This list leaves many important bills unaddressed, 
     including an overhaul of the nation's welfare system. But 
     with only a short time remaining in the session, only 
     measures far along in the pipeline stand a chance of 
     enactment. If the 103rd Congress is to be successful, it must 
     move quickly and effectively on its agenda.

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