[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 49 (Thursday, March 16, 1995)]
[House]
[Page H3280]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       CHEAP TALK, EXPENSIVE FISH

  (Mr. HEFLEY asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. HEFLEY. Mr. Speaker, the Republican rescission package that we 
have been considering over the last couple of days includes emergency 
funding for earthquake disaster relief. To pay for this relief, the 
bill includes $17.2 billion in rescissions across the Federal 
Government.
  In light of the Democratic opposition to the bill, go with me for a 
moment to those thrilling days of yesteryear about 2 years ago. Bill 
Clinton was the newly elected President. He asked Congress to pass 
another emergency funding package. This time, however, the package was 
bigger. It was $16 billion in new spending. There were no offsets. The 
$16 billion went directly to the deficit.
  What national emergency was Bill Clinton confronting? He said we 
needed a national fish atlas, and to assess electronic fish habitat 
technology, and study the sickle fish chub populations. Mr. Speaker, 
Bill Clinton began his Federal diet by offering Uncle Sam $16 billion 
in pork. Today the new Republican majority is making real decisions and 
real cuts.


                          ____________________