[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 130 (Saturday, August 5, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1687]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


  DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, AND EDUCATION, AND 
               RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 1996

                                 ______


                               speech of

                         HON. WILLIAM P. LUTHER

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, August 2, 1995

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 2127) making 
     appropriations for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human 
     Services, and Education, and related agencies, for the fiscal 
     year ending September 30, 1996, and for other purposes:

  Mr. LUTHER. Mr. Chairman, I believe that deficit reduction is 
critical to our Nation's future. I have supported the balanced budget 
amendment, the line-item veto, the rescissions bill, and dozens of 
amendments to appropriations bills to cut spending. And I will continue 
to support across-the-board cuts in unnecessary spending because that 
is what is needed to restore our country's financial health.
  I am however, particularly troubled by the priorities established in 
the pending Labor/HHS/Education and Related Agencies appropriations 
bill. This bill severely cuts investments in human capital which, in my 
view, will likely create long-term problems of a more severe and 
complex nature than the challenges we face today.
  An example of this is the complete elimination of funding for Summer 
Youth Jobs. The Summer Youth Jobs initiative encourages at-risk young 
people to choose and value work over dependency. Summer Youth Jobs keep 
kids off the streets and out of trouble. In fact, do you know who are 
among the strongest supporters of Summer Youth Jobs? Well its local law 
enforcement, the people who we rely on to be on the front line in 
dealing with kids, drugs, gangs, and crime. By eliminating Summer Youth 
Jobs, this bill eliminates what law enforcement knows is the best 
approach to crime prevention in this country.
  In my district, over 1,200 young people are taking advantage of this 
work opportunity. It is often their first opportunity to participate in 
the workforce. For many, it is their first exposure to a positive adult 
role model. How tragic that we in Congress would even consider 
eliminating a successful initiative like this when the net effect will 
predictably be more crime. How tragic that Congress would not value the 
work ethic and self-reliance--principles we all, Democrats and 
Republicans share.
  There are many other misplaced priorities in this bill which require 
a vote against final passage. Cuts in Head Start, cuts in initiatives 
to keep our schools safe and free from crime and drugs, and cuts in 
post-secondary grant and loan programs which give millions of Americans 
the opportunity to go to college.
  Mr. Chairman, my concern is not with taking the difficult steps to 
balance the budget. I have shown my willingness to make spending cuts 
across the board. My concern is with our priorities. I cannot believe 
that in this Congress, we would be proposing the cuts proposed in this 
bill when we continue to spend billions of dollars on senseless 
programs that are outdated or that the experts say are not needed. We 
can't afford this mistake if we are to be competitive as a nation in 
the next century. Our children and our Nation deserve better.
  I strongly urge a no vote on this legislation.
  

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