[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 27 (Friday, February 10, 1995)]
[House]
[Pages H1559-H1560]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                            FOR THE CHILDREN

  (Mr. BARTLETT of Maryland asked and was given permission to address 
the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. BARTLETT of Maryland. Mr. Speaker, why are Republicans working to 
change the way Government works? Why are we working so hard to pass a 
balanced budget amendment, to enact real anticrime measures, to reform 
our welfare state? The answer is: for America's children.
  We want to get this country in the best possible shape for future 
generations.
  Our democracy must remain strong. We must clean our streets of crime, 
get our fiscal house in order, and provide every American the greatest 
opportunity to pursue happiness.
  To do these things, we must change direction. We cannot continue to 
spend and tax our way to financial ruin. We cannot continue a welfare 
state that destroys opportunity and ruins generations of Americans. We 
cannot allow 
[[Page H1560]] lawlessness to rule our streets and thugs to terrorize 
our citizens.
  Mr. Speaker, these are the reasons I support the Contract With 
America. It represents real change that most Americans can support.
  I urge the defenders of the status quo to reflect on one thing: Can 
our children afford to continue on the path you advocate? For most 
people, the answer is clearly no.

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