[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 108 (Thursday, June 29, 1995)]
[House]
[Pages H6647-H6648]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        THE RESCISSIONS PACKAGE

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentlewoman from Texas [Ms. Jackson-Lee] is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE. Mr. Speaker, there has been a very long discussion, 
now I guess almost some six months, attempting to bring this House to 
focus on what has been partly the claim of the American people, 
discussion about a balanced budget, the idea that a deficit does exist, 
and we as the United States Congress, being representative of all 
Americans, should begin to strategize, to respond to building a better 
America as we move into the 21st Century.
  We have each struggled with this, and many would say there are many 
Democrat obstacles we have had to fight. And I thought that as we came 
into the 104th Congress, we could attempt to do this in a manner that 
would evidence our commitment to the best and the most fulfilling of 
what America has to offer, and that is of course, an opportunity to 
achieve and to be able to achieve the American dream.
  But I think it is important as we concluded the vote on the 
rescissions today to express my disappointment, that I do not believe 
we had reached that point. First of all, I think it is important to 
note for many Americans who listen to sound bites or read headlines, 
that in actuality, the deficit in 

[[Page H 6648]]
this Nation probably falls around 52 percent of its assets, and in 
comparison to our world's neighbors we probably have the lowest 
deficit-asset ratio of any nation today.
  So when we begin this issue of rescissions and as well the issue of 
deficit reduction and what we want this country to look like, I would 
have hoped we would have been more expansive in our viewpoint and 
focused possibly on the American dream. But in this rescissions package 
that passed today, we took $1.1 billion out of the safe drinking water 
proposal and plan. We took $16 million from the safe and drug free 
schools. We took $105 million from the National and Community Service 
Commission. We reduced the Goals 2000 emphasis on education by $31.5 
million. When adults lose their jobs and they need to be retrained, we 
have taken now some $58 million from adult job training. The school 
work program has lost $5 million. Many judges came and testified before 
the Committee on the Judiciary and indicated the value of the drug 
courts, and that program was cut by $17.1
 million, courts to try drug offenders and move them away from drug 
addiction to rehabilitation.

                              {time}  2245

  When the number of AIDS cases are increasing in this country, we saw 
fit to cut housing for people with AIDS, some 15 million. And then 
something that is certainly not part of the Constitution but is really 
part of the American dream and certainly should be part of the 
privilege of those who do not have, we cut some $1.3 billion out of 
section 8 housing. Finally, as we look toward the 21st century and we 
look toward technology, we proceeded to cut some $204 million out of 
NASA.
  I conclude, Mr. Speaker, by simply saying that we should be better 
than that. We owe it to the American people. We owe it to them to 
inform them truthfully what is our vision and our dream for America.
  Do we say to them that they have no longer access to the American 
dream and to be better than they were yesterday and better than what 
their parents were and certainly to wish for their children a better 
life? We have many months to go and many bills to look at and many 
issues to fund, and certainly few dollars, but if we do not come at it 
with a better spirit and a spirit that reflects all of America, I am 
concerned and experience great apprehension that we are not prepared to 
enter the 21st century with the American dream intact for all 
Americans.

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