[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 24 (Tuesday, February 7, 1995)]
[House]
[Pages H1289-H1290]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


     INTRODUCTION OF LEGISLATION CONCERNING MEXICAN RESCUE PACKAGE

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the Speaker's announced policy of 
January 4, 1995, the gentlewoman from Ohio [Ms. Kaptur] is recognized 
during morning business for 3 minutes.
  Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, in order for Congress to begin to fulfill 
our duty under our Constitution regarding the Mexican rescue package, 
my colleagues and I have introduced a privileged resolution, House 
Resolution 57. This resolution will be brought up today under special 
parliamentary procedure after the 1-minute session and the Journal vote 
this morning.
  [[Page H1290]] Our resolution does two things: It reasserts Congress 
constitutional authority in regard to the purse strings of this Nation, 
and it also asks the Comptroller General of the United States to report 
back to the Congress within 7 days on how our tax dollars are being 
used.
  Four men in this Congress and one in the White House do not a 
republic make. Our bipartisan resolution speaks on behalf of the vast 
majority of American taxpayers who have clearly said to us that they do 
not want their money put at risk to ensure a foreign nation nor its 
creditors.
  We were told NAFTA would not result in a great sucking sound. Well, 
it has not only resulted in a sucking sound of jobs, but now also our 
taxpayer dollars. To the unilateral actions of the administration in 
concert with four men here in the Congress, the American people have 
been denied their just voice on such a consequential matter.
  Our Government is not a monarchy. It is not a parliament. We are not 
here to approve what the Executive does. This legislative branch has 
equal powers in the law.
  Let me read you two sections of the U.S. Constitution which pertain 
to the powers of Congress in this regard; under article I, section 9, 
the Constitution states, ``No money shall be drawn from the Treasury 
but in consequence of appropriations made by law.'' And under article 
I, section 8, the Constitution states, ``Congress has the power,'' and 
I underline Congress, ``to pay the debts and provide for the general 
welfare of the United States, to borrow money on the credit of the 
United States, to regulate commerce with foreign nations, and to coin 
money, regulate the value thereof, and of foreign coin.''
  As is evident in this reading, the administration's recent decision 
to extend United States taxpayer funds to the Mexican Government and 
its Wall Street creditors without a vote of Congress is a direct 
violation of the spirit and letter of our United States Constitution. 
Where in the Constitution does it say that the executive branch has the 
sole power to create new money and use that money to fund a 
multibillion-dollar back door foreign aid program for Mexico without 
the approval of this Congress? Where in the Constitution does it give 
the executive power to make U.S. taxpayers liable for the mistakes and 
machinations of a foreign government and its rich U.S. speculators from 
the United States who went south in search of quick profits?
  Today vote for House Resolution 57. Reassert Congress' proper duty 
and obligation.


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