[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 104 (Friday, June 23, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Pages S9010-S9011]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      BUDGET RESOLUTION AGREEMENT

  Mr. DOLE. Mr. President, I was pleased to join last night with 
Speaker Gingrich and the chairmen of the Budget Committees, Senator 
Domenici and Congressman Kasich, in announcing an agreement between the 
Senate and House on the budget resolution--a monumental budget which 
will balance our Nation's books for the first time in more than a 
quarter of a century. As we said last night, this agreement is another 
historic step in bringing the Federal budget into balance in 7 years by 
slowing the growth of Government

[[Page S9011]]

spending, by making Government leaner, more efficient and more cost-
effective.
  This budget finally turns off the out-of-control big government 
spending machine, and puts us on a responsible path to prosperity 
America can rely on well into the next century.
  While we ratchet down the deficit to zero by the year 2002, we also 
provide for $245 billion in long overdue tax relief, putting more money 
in the pockets of American families and providing incentives for 
savings, economic growth and job creation. Importantly, this budget 
takes action to preserve, improve, and protect Medicare, while 
permitting Medicare and Medicaid spending to increase dramatically in 
the next 7 years. Furthermore, this budget does not touch Social 
Security, and it maintains our commitment to national security second 
to none.
  The American people have been drowning in a sea of red ink, and this 
budget provides the liferaft they have been waiting for. Now, I know 
our opponents will try to deflate that liferaft with their sharp 
partisan darts and routine scare tactics, but the American people will 
not be fooled. They know the status quo is no longer acceptable, and 
they know leadership means making tough decisions.
  Mr. President, this agreement reflects the product of countless hours 
of hard work, and on the Senate side, that effort has been led by my 
friend from New Mexico, Senator Domenici. The taxpayers of America are 
fortunate to have Senator Domenici on their side. He has done a 
remarkable job leading this historic effort, and I look forward to 
continuing to work with him to ensure enactment of the balanced budget. 
I would also like to commend our Senate Republican conferees for their 
crucial role in forging this agreement: Senators Lott, Brown, Grassley, 
Gorton, Gregg, and Nickles.
  I think the icing on the cake would be if the President of the United 
States would announce his public support for a constitutional amendment 
for a balanced budget.
  We are just one vote short in the Senate. I am certain the President 
of the United States could find that one vote with the six Senators who 
voted against the balanced budget this year, when they voted for it 
last year on the Democratic side.
  Mr. President, I look forward to bringing this balanced budget 
conference report to the floor next week. We hope it will be no later 
than Thursday, but it could be on Friday. By statute, there are 10 
hours of debate, and we will complete action on the budget resolution 
next week.

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