[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 98 (Thursday, June 15, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1249]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                     BUDGET CUTS AFFECT REAL PEOPLE

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                           HON. FRANK TEJEDA

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 14, 1995
  Mr. TEJEDA. Mr. Speaker, on June 6, the San Antonio Express-News 
published an editorial reminding all of us, particularly here in 
Congress, that budget cuts affect real people. The article 
appropriately points out that the seemingly abstract reductions being 
debated in Washington these days will have a concrete impact on the 
people back in our districts. The editorial painfully describes the 
impact of a $40,000 reduction in Federal money on the services provided 
by San Antonio's Sexual Assault Crisis and Resource Center.
  Mr. Speaker, as we begin consideration of the large budget reductions 
being proposed and the spending priorities of the Federal Government, 
we, as representatives of the people, must constantly remember the 
impact our actions will have on the hundreds of thousands of people in 
my district and the hundreds of millions in those of my colleagues. The 
text of the editorial is set forth below.
                    Budget Cutting Hits Real People

       ``A billion dollars here, a billion there--eventually it 
     adds up to real money,'' the late U.S. Senate Minority Leader 
     Everett Dirkson, R-Ill., used to grouse when freespending 
     Democrats forgot that they were doling out real dollars paid 
     by real taxpayers.
       His political heirs, now in the majority in both houses of 
     the 104th Congress, rightly understand that they are spending 
     real money. What they need also to recognize just as dearly 
     is that congressional spending--and cuts in it--affect real 
     people, too.
       A good example locally is the impact earlier federal 
     spending cuts already are having on San Antonio's Sexual 
     Assault Crisis and Resource Center.
       The center which also receives state, United Way and other 
     private funding, lost $40,000 in federal money for fiscal 
     year 1995, San Antonio Express-News Staff Writer Marina 
     Pisano recently reported.
       Those cuts came before the Republicans--committed to even 
     deeper cuts in the federal budget--took control of Congress.
       Unlike the billions of dollars Dirksen accused 
     congressional Democrats of mindlessly squandering, $40,000 
     may not seem like much money. But its impact on real people 
     is proving to be significant.
       As reported rapes increase dramatically in the Alamo City--
     during the first quarter of 1995, up 37.5 percent from a year 
     ago--the crisis center will be able to serve fewer clients 
     because of the cut in federal funding.
       The center will have to rely more heavily on private 
     funding.
       Unfortunately, though, donations from nongovernment 
     sources, particularly foundations, are significantly down, 
     said Rita Velasquez, the center's acting director.
       The private sector will be increasingly hard-pressed to 
     make up the difference caused by ever-deeper cuts in 
     government spending at all levels. Real people with real 
     needs and real problems--not just nameless, faceless 
     statistics--will suffer accordingly.
       Congressional budget writers should never forget this very 
     real impact that their decisions have on so many real 
     Americans.
     

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