[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 47 (Tuesday, March 14, 1995)]
[House]
[Page H3088]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                       WHERE ARE OUR PRIORITIES?

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the Speaker's announced policy of 
January 4, 1995, the gentlewoman from Oregon [Ms. Furse] is recognized 
during morning business for 5 minutes.
  Ms. FURSE. Mr. Speaker, I believe that every American wants, and is 
demanding that Congress change the way it does business. I am committed 
to changing our spending priorities, and that is what I have been 
working on. We must cut unnecessary spending, cut waste, and eliminate 
programs that do not work--like star wars--and we must invest in our 
citizens and in our communities. That is true national security.
  Everyday the Republicans come here to the House floor to talk about 
their Contract on America and how they are living up to their promises.
  To clear up some confusion about exactly what is a contract, I 
consulted Webster's dictionary. It says that a contract is ``a binding 
agreement between two or more persons * * * a covenant.'' However, only 
Republican Members and candidates signed that contract. The American 
people did not sign that contract. And now the Republicans are not even 
keeping to their so-called contract.
  The promised a vote on term limits to be completed by today. But 
there was no vote. The majority leaders say ``they don't have the 
votes.'' That's interesting. For the past 2 months they have been 
voting in near perfect lock step on every issue that impacts the lives 
of women, children, and seniors. But when the issue affects themselves, 
they pull the vote.
  The American people want change, but they want a Government that's 
leaner, not meaner.
  After ducking the bill that would affect Members jobs, we are now 
confronted with a rescission bill where 63 percent of the cuts are in 
programs that help low-income children and seniors, and not one penny 
is cut from the Pentagon. Is this what the people said last November? 
Cut the funds that keep children and seniors out of poverty, but don't 
touch wasteful Pentagon spending? I don't think so.
  America signed a real contract with the men and women in our armed 
services. But this rescission will cut $206 million from veterans 
programs.
  Is that what the people asked for last November.
  I don't think so.
  Why is a phony, one-sided contract more important than a genuine 
contract signed with our veterans.
  To make matters worse, we are not even allowed a real debate on real 
choices. Is this what the American people said last November? Cut 
summer jobs, drug-free schools, and low-income heating for seniors, but 
don't let other choices even be discussed? Doesn't sound very 
democratic to me.
  And lastly, Mr. Speaker, if that wasn't enough, not one penny of 
these cuts to summer jobs, drug-free schools, and low-income heating 
for seniors will reduce the deficit. This money taken from seniors and 
children will go for tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans. Taking 
money out of the pockets of seniors and children, as well as for future 
generations and put it in the pockets of those making over $100,000. I 
ask again, is this really what the people said last November?
  At last, under the 1993 budget, we finally get the deficit going in 
the right direction--down. But now we are being asked to do voodoo 
economics all over again. Increase Pentagon spending. Cut taxes on the 
rich. Drive up the deficit.
  I believe that what the people said last November was they want new 
priorities. The want us to bring common sense to the decisions we make 
here.
  So I would like to remind my Republican colleagues that all of us 
have a real and binding contract with every citizen in this country. 
And that is to make our schools competitive, our streets safe and our 
communities strong. That is the real contract we have with our 
citizens. It is not a one-sided agreement.
  The people in my home State of Oregon overwhelmingly approved a term 
limits bill. On the first day of this session, I introduced a term 
limits bill that mirrors the one Oregonians approved. Numerous States 
have also overwhelmingly supported term limits. The American people 
have spoken. They want us to vote on term limits, and they don't want a 
phony excuse. It is time for the Republicans to honor their own 
contract and the real contract that we have with the American people.


                          ____________________