[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]


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

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                               speech of

                            HON. NICK SMITH

                              of michigan

                    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. SMITH of Michigan. Mr. Chairman, I will vote in opposition to the 
Solomon amendment. I wish to make clear that I do not support 
compulsory student fees for campus political groups whose views the 
student may not support. Rather, students should only be given an 
option to donate to a student group of their choosing if they wish 
through a positive checkoff system, which would allow students to 
choose which groups, if any, received their money. Perhaps, if I were a 
university trustee and the amendment were a resolution before me I 
would vote for it. But I am not. I am a Federal legislator. As a 
Republican in the Federalist tradition, I stand opposed to national 
control of local and State matters.
  Recently, we saw the Clinton administration try to coerce the 
University of California using the Federal spending power when it voted 
to end affirmative action. We should not similarly coerce colleges and 
universities to do what we Republicans wish. I did not come to 
Washington to replace one set of Federal rules, regulations and 
mandates with another.
  Although the Solomon amendment represents a good idea, that students 
should not be forced to pay for political activities with which they do 
not agree, it is not enough. A good idea, when forced on States and 
local entities by Federal mandate, is no longer a good idea. For this 
reason, I oppose this amendment.


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