[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 14 (Tuesday, January 24, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E168-E169]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


              H.R. 5, UNFUNDED MANDATES REFORM ACT OF 1995

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                           HON. BOBBY L. RUSH

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, January 24, 1995
  Mr. RUSH. Mr. Speaker, today we continue to debate H.R. 5, the 
Unfunded Mandates Reform Act. This measure comes at a time that is 
critical for State and local governments, which have been struggling 
over the past several years to balance their budgets while coping with 
ever-increasing costs. As a result, State and local governments have 
requested that we in the Congress establish a process to reexamine the 
fiscal implications of requirements that may be imposed on them by 
Federal initiatives.
  In my district, the mayors of several suburban municipalities have 
strongly urged me to consider the impact that Federal laws may have on 
the financial stability of their governments. That is why I was a 
cosponsor of a bill introduced by my colleague, Mr. Conyers, in 
[[Page E169]] the 103d Congress, H.R. 5128, which received broad, 
bipartisan support.
  Mr. Speaker, this legislation today seeks to answer some of these 
apprehensions. I would, however, point out how deeply concerned I am 
about the haste in which this legislation was brought to the House 
floor. While I recognize the importance of what we are to do today, I 
am very troubled that certain important issues were not fully 
considered in committee. In their rush to pass their so-called Contract 
With America, the Republican majority has run roughshod over the 
democratic, deliberative process which we have been sworn to uphold. My 
Democratic colleagues in the Government Operations Committee, which I 
proudly served on last Congress, can attest to the outlandish manner in 
which this bill was handled in markup. This calculated attempt by my 
friends on the other side of the aisle to stifle thoughtful debate 
cannot and will not be ignored.
  It was my hope that we in the House would debate the unfunded 
mandates issue in the normal manner in which legislation of this 
importance is considered. This debate today, however, is a culmination 
of a Republican-dominated legislative process that makes a mockery of 
this noble institution. Despite the modified open rule under which this 
bill is being considered, it is my understanding that my good friend, 
Chairman Clinger, is opposed to any amendments other than those that 
are clerical and technical in nature. This is in order to pass a bill 
quickly to the other body. This is most unfortunate; I was looking 
forward to supporting and passing amendments that would protect our 
health, labor, and safety laws; that would protect the Clean Air and 
Clean Water Acts; and that would ensure the protection and strength of 
our social contracts with the elderly and the needy in this country. 
This will not happen today if the Republican majority has their way.
  These and other critical concerns will not be addressed in this 
legislation because the majority party wishes to ram this into law just 
to say to their supporters that they can get things done in Washington. 
Well, Mr. Speaker, while I advocate the general intent of this 
legislation, I cannot support the manner in which the Republican 
majority has brought this bill to the floor. Therefore, Mr. Speaker, I 
urge my colleagues to stop our Republican friends from handcuffing our 
democratic institution, and I urge all my fellow Democrats to stop this 
Contract With America from undermining the democratic and deliberative 
principles that this institution has functioned under for the past 200 
years.


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