[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 93 (Thursday, June 8, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1205-E1206]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                        CONTRACT FROM AMERICANS

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                     HON. RANDY ``DUKE'' CUNNINGHAM

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, June 8, 1995
  Mr. CUNNINGHAM. Mr. Speaker, last week my constituents sent me a 
Contract from Americans. The first line of this contract says 
[[Page E1206]] it all. ``We the undersigned citizens are concerned 
about the future that awaits us,'' they say. They are worried about the 
growing size of government. They are angry about the cruel Federal 
welfare state. And, above all, they call on us to get to work and 
balance the Federal budget.
  I take their concern to heart. Not just because I agree with them, 
but because the people that sent me this contract are very important to 
me. It was written by a group of students from Escondido High School in 
my district.
  Students like these are standing up to the people that say they don't 
care. They know how important it is that we balance and change the way 
government does business. It is their future that is at stake, not 
ours.
  If we fail, these students know that they will have to live with the 
debt. In their contract, they note that, ``the interest alone on our 
national debt is more than our entire national budget was when America 
was a better place to call home.''
  These young adults are taking the initiative to make a difference, 
and to make us change our ways. I am proud of them for making their 
voice heard.
  Mr. Speaker, this contract represents the voice coming from the 
future of our country. I ask unanimous consent that it be included in 
the record so that every Member of this body can read it. We must hear 
their voice. We must make the future better for these children.
                        Contract From Americans

       We the undersigned citizens are concerned about the future 
     that awaits us. We feel the role of Government is to ensure 
     the safety of the citizens, and prolong the sovereignty of 
     the nation. unfortunately, the nation that awaits us is not 
     safe and is not sovereign. The continual waste of tax dollars 
     on entitlement programs such as unending welfare, food 
     stamps, special aid for drug addicts, paying farmers to not 
     plant, and ensuring farmers profits must stop. In a true 
     democracy everyone would vote on such spending. But as we 
     live in a representative republic, you were selected to 
     represent our wishes. With this in mind, we ask that you 
     ensure the stability of our futures by enacting the following 
     legislation:
       1. The spending on welfare, food stamps, AFDC, and others 
     must decrease. These programs have increased to 54% of the 
     total federal budget with no end in sight. If this spending 
     continues on the same course, you will authorize spending of 
     all our tax dollars on programs that are designed to help 
     only a fraction of our nation's population. We believe some 
     people deserve help, but only for limited periods of time. 
     These programs were designed to make life better. In reality 
     they have not made people's lives better, and in many 
     instances' people have been so harmed by the continual give 
     away of money they have lost the will to ``get off welfare.'' 
     The welfare program is so full of waste, fraud and 
     redundancy, that it can only be repaired with a major 
     overhaul. We feel if the social programs continue, they 
     should be managed by the states where the recipients reside.
       2. The furnishing of money to drug addicts must stop. Under 
     your current rules, if someone is a drug addict, you 
     authorize additional welfare (SSI) income over and above 
     their ``normal'' welfare entitlement. Drugs cost money. If 
     you give someone, who is addicted to drugs more money, that 
     means they will only buy more drugs. This program was created 
     to get people off drugs, an idea with good intentions. 
     Unfortunately it has not worked. There are no indications 
     that drug addiction is on the decrease. In fact, drug 
     addiction is on the increase, with the addict's drug of 
     choice being once again, heroin.
       3. Farm subsidies in all forms must stop or be reduced. You 
     are authorizing farmers to receive income by not planting 
     crops, at the same time people are going hungry, and food 
     prices are going up. It is difficult to understand the 
     concept of paying people to ensure they do not do their job, 
     especially when others that need jobs cannot get a job. 
     Additionally, if farmers grow certain crops, such as sugar, 
     and do not make enough profit, you authorize payments to them 
     to ensure they make what has been predetermined as a 
     reasonable profit.
       4. Balance the Federal Budget. Every American and every 
     American business can spend only what they earn. The Federal 
     Government should be held to the same standard. We are deeply 
     in debt, yet the overspending continues. The interest alone 
     on our debt is more than our entire national budget
      when America was a better place to call home.
       The discussion in vogue these days, according to U.S. News 
     and World Report, and the New York Times is ``how little 
     Generation X wants to contribute to the world, how they only 
     play video games, buy CD's and watch television.'' We are 
     members of Generation X, and very much want to contribute to 
     the world. That is why we are so concerned about its current 
     condition. Most of us work while going to high school. 
     Hopefully, we will all be working soon. We want to contribute 
     our fair share.
       People of all ages need role models. We expect you to be a 
     role model. But continually giving away our tax dollars on 
     frivolous programs that pay people not to contribute sends a 
     clear message that it is acceptable not to contribute. That 
     is not acceptable to us. You were elected to be a leader. We 
     expect you to lead the way for all of us for a better 
     tomorrow.
           Sincerely,
         Iriceyda Baza; Ryan Bezenek; Maria Borbolla; Juan 
           Broderick; Amy Brooks; Chris Cabrera; Fernando 
           Carranza; Elizabeth Cervantes; Toeey Chov; Abe 
           Copeland; Michelle Dalope; Lorena Delatorre; Matthew 
           Dewall; April Dillard; Elva Duron; Mainardo Flores; 
           Karin Giron; Christi Henderson; Saul Hidalgo; Jennylind 
           Johnson; Crystal Lara; Tessa Larsen; Jose Morales; 
           Elizabeth Nunez; Josh Pippins; Art Reyes; Araceli 
           Rodriguez; Alfonso Rosas; Ana Salas; Adriana Sanchez; 
           Marty Sanchez; Kimmy Sitaket; Karen Stivers; J'nesse 
           Thompson; Valerie Torres; and Damion Voss.
           

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