[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 93 (Thursday, June 8, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1189-E1190]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                        AN AGENDA FOR THE NATION

                                 ______


                          HON. LEE H. HAMILTON

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 7, 1995
  Mr. HAMILTON. Mr. Speaker, I would like to insert my Washington 
Report for Wednesday, June 7, 1995, into the Congressional Record.
                        An Agenda for the Nation

       Hoosiers continue to express to me their widespread 
     discontent in the country, their unease with government, and 
     anger at those who conduct its business. They understand 
     changes are being made in government-- that federal jobs are 
     being eliminated, budgets are being trimmed, agencies are 
     being eliminated--but believe more can and should be done to 
     make government more responsive to the needs and demands of 
     the average American.
       The challenge facing Congress and the President is to make 
     the changes that will restore the public's faith and 
     confidence in government. Hoosiers mention the following 
     reforms most often in my recent public meetings, and I think 
     their views reflect the concerns of most Americans.
       Deficit reduction: Deficit reduction should be a top 
     priority. Congress acted last session to cut $600 billion 
     from the projected deficits. The House and Senate recently 
     approved budget plans to eliminate the deficit over the next 
     seven years, but the budget resolution only provides a rough 
     outline for how deficit reduction will be achieved. The tough 
     decisions on specific spending cuts lie ahead. I agree that 
     the deficit must be reduced.
       Investment: Americans favor steps to reduce the budget 
     deficit that are fair and balanced. It makes no sense to try 
     to balance the budget by slashing federal investment 
     programs. The private sector is the engine for economic 
     growth, but government can play a role by supporting training 
     and education of our workers as well as investing in our 
     infrastructure and our technology. Such investments are 
     critical to economic growth, and without growth, balancing 
     the budget becomes immensely more difficult. Most of the 
     investment trends over the past several years have been in 
     the wrong direction. We need a shift in federal priorities 
     away from consumption and toward investment, and we need to 
     emphasize both public and private investment.
       Reinventing government: The federal government is bloated 
     and should be downsized. Congress and the Executive Branch 
     adopted significant measures last session to make government 
     work better and cost less, from streamlining Pentagon 
     procurement policies to eliminating outdated government 
     agencies. These efforts can and should be expanded this year. 
     Americans want bold changes in government today, and Congress 
     and the President should support that. [[Page E1190]] 
       Tax reform: Tax reform and simplification should be 
     priorities again. Several proposals are pending in Congress 
     to significantly simplify the tax code. Those proposals 
     include replacing the income tax with a consumption tax or a 
     flat tax; or reducing the rates in the current system in 
     exchange for fewer exemptions and deductions.
       Congressional reform: Real government reform means cleaning 
     up our system of campaign finance, restricting special 
     interest PACs, and ending lobbyists' gifts to members of 
     Congress. Voters are deeply suspicious that organized 
     interest groups have become too powerful and that they have 
     multiplied to the point that they now are clogging the 
     arteries of the democratic system.
       Health care: Americans are concerned about the rise of 
     health care costs and the risk of losing coverage if they 
     leave their jobs. In almost every public meeting now, a 
     constituent will pull out a hospital bill that has delivered 
     a knock-out blow to family finances. They favor incremental 
     reforms to our health care system, such as barring insurance 
     companies from denying coverage to people with pre-existing 
     medical conditions, or cutting administrative costs in the 
     system. They do not want to see drastic cuts in Medicare 
     services.
       National defense: Our military strength should be 
     preeminent. Americans are proud of our military forces, and 
     recognize that in a dangerous world those forces will be 
     called upon to perform difficult missions. They favor 
     improved readiness and strengthening our ability to meet 
     realistic threats to our national security, but not wasteful 
     spending to meet threats long since gone with the end of the 
     Cold War. They know that defense dollars can be more 
     prudently spent, and money can be saved by cutting waste, 
     fraud and abuse.
       Foreign policy: Americans are wary of our commitments 
     overseas, but they do not support a compete withdrawal from 
     foreign affairs. They recognize that his country must be 
     engaged in the world--not because it feels good, but because 
     it's in the national interest to do so. They believe that the 
     world is a better, more secure place because of American 
     leadership. They think the overriding consideration in any 
     challenge should be to act to protect the American national 
     interest. They support trade policies that open foreign 
     markets to U.S. businesses and farmers; arms control efforts 
     that make the world a safer place; and use of force, when 
     necessary, to defend key interests.
       Values: I am impressed by the number of constituents who 
     talk about the importance of values, religion, and faith. 
     They understand that not all our problems are fiscal, and 
     they are concerned about the coarsening of our culture, the 
     breakup of the family, and a decline in civility. Voters are 
     rightly concerned about where as a society we are headed. 
     They believe federal programs should strengthen families and 
     traditional values and not in any way undermine them. At the 
     same time most Americans say that the federal government 
     should not be excessively entangled in people's religious 
     lives.
       Conclusion: This is not meant to be an exhaustive list, but 
     it is a good start. What underlies the public's demand for 
     change is a deep anxiety about the future. Many working 
     families have watched their income stagnate or fall for a 
     decade and are worried about the future. Government must help 
     working people confront the uncertainties caused by a 
     changing global economy. It should try to give them more 
     security and confidence about the future. The demand from 
     ordinary Americans is for greater economic and personal 
     security. They want the good life in a stable community. They 
     want a chance to send their kids to college, to live in safe 
     communities, and to enjoy a rising standard of living.
       Our fundamental task is still to put the nation back on the 
     track--now and in the future--toward broad prosperity for all 
     Americans.
     

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