[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 15 (Wednesday, January 25, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E175]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


  AGREE TO DISAGREE IN BIPARTISAN EFFORT TO GET THE PEOPLE'S WORK DONE

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                        HON. SHEILA JACKSON-LEE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, January 25, 1995
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE. Mr. Speaker, when the President of the United States 
addressed this body last night during his annual remarks on the State 
of the Union, he expressed his desire to put partisan politics aside 
and to work with this new Congress in accomplishing the goals of the 
Nation. We should hasten to accept this challenge.
  The President's message was a forthright affirmation of America's 
working men and women. He acknowledges that despite economic recovery, 
too many families are still working harder for less. President Clinton 
outlined his strategy for preparing the American people to face the 
demands of today's economy by raising family incomes. In an effort to 
reach parity in wages, he proposed raising the minimum wage. He further 
outlined the proposals of his Middle-Class Bill of Rights--a proposal 
which will help middle-class families meet the costs of raising and 
educating their children, obtaining training for higher paying jobs, 
purchasing a first home, or for the care of an elderly parent. Let us 
use the President's words and ideas as a framework for legislative 
action. We cannot afford to allow his passionate directives to simply 
pass through these halls as wishful rhetoric. We must act now.
  President Clinton's new covenant of rights and responsibilities 
between the Federal Government and the American people is a 
prescription for new hope. I agree that the Government must help people 
obtain the necessary tools to improve the quality of their lives. But I 
further believe that people must play a role in building not only their 
own lives, but in building and strengthening their communities and 
their country. To do this, we need to reform our welfare state into a 
system that rewards work and responsibility; we must continue the fight 
against crime; and we should build upon the principles of the 
AmeriCorps national service program.
  We are a nation of people--united to work for many of the same 
causes. But when we disagree, it does not mean that we are 
fundamentally different creatures. We simply disagree. It's that 
simple. For this Nation to move forward, we must learn to agree to 
disagree and move beyond party lines to work toward the health and well 
being of all. Thank you, Mr. President, for your inspiring words of 
encouragement.


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