[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 146 (Saturday, October 8, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


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

 
                           UNFUNDED MANDATES

  Mr. KEMPTHORNE. Mr. President, it seems very clear that S. 993, the 
bill to stop unfunded Federal mandates, will not see further action in 
this body, as we know the House has adjourned.
  That piece of legislation, which had 67 Senators that cosponsored it, 
is true reform that truly will help our partners in State and local 
government. It Had bipartisan support, strong support in this body and 
in the House, as well as tremendous support from the mayors, the county 
commissioners, the Governors, the city managers, the school board 
administrators, throughout the United States. It Literally has 
advocates in every community in America that want this legislation 
passed.
  We will be back next year. We will start early with legislation that 
will accomplish this, to stop these unfunded Federal mandates, and I 
know next session we will be successful.
  I would like to specifically, Mr. President, acknowledge the 
organizations that really played a key role in bringing us this far in 
trying to accomplish the stopping of unfunded Federal mandates:
  The National Governors Association, the U.S. Conference of Mayors, 
the National Association of Counties, the National League of Cities, 
the National Conference of State Legislatures, the ICMA --which is the 
city managers--the National School Boards Association, and the Council 
of State Governments.
  Also I wish to thank a true partner in this body who has helped us so 
much, and that is Senator John Glenn, the chairman of the Governmental 
Affairs Committee; and the ranking member, Senator Bill Roth, both of 
whom have helped us so much in getting this far.
  On the House side: Congressman Rob Portman, Congressman Bill Clinger, 
who helped so much, Congressman John Conyers, and Congressman Edolphus 
Towns, who all, in a bipartisan effort, helped forge together the 
pending bill in the House.
  I would like to also acknowledge the support from the administration.
  I think that we are laying the groundwork to see finally an end to 
these unfunded Federal mandates.
  I want to thank my colleagues on this side of the aisle who did clear 
the deck. When we said that we wanted to go forward with a clean bill 
without amendments, Republicans were willing to do that. Unfortunately, 
we saw that other amendments were attached, and that was unfortunate.
  But, again, we can feel very good that we have brought this issue 
forward.
  October 24, throughout the United States, will be the National 
Unfunded Mandates Week, when the mayors, the Governors, the county 
commissioners, and the school board administrators again talk to the 
people of America about the fact that we have to stop these unfunded 
Federal mandates and stop these hidden Federal taxes.
  Again, I look forward to the next session, when we will be back and 
we will be successful in correcting this problem. It is time that we 
end this encroachment of our 10th amendment rights. I think that this 
legislation will accomplish that.
  So, again, Mr. President, I thank you, and I want to thank the 
Senator from Iowa again for his courtesy in allowing me to make this 
statement.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Iowa is recognized.

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