[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 177 (Thursday, November 9, 1995)]
[House]
[Page H12068]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  CONTINUING RESOLUTION AND DEBT LIMIT

  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, sometimes it is hard to follow a moving 
tribute, and certainly one would want to recognize the great service of 
a very fine individual.
  This day, however, brings a great deal of concern to me. It has been 
a hard day and a long day. Particularly it relates to the 
responsibilities of the U.S. Congress in making sure that we are 
responsible to the American people. We are charged now, having not been 
able to pass under the leadership of the Republican majority, the 
appropriations bills, we are now faced with the desire and the 
responsibility to promote and pass a continuing resolution that would, 
one, lift the debt ceiling but allow, most of all, the proper 
negotiation in order to provide the correct funding for projects and 
programs and Government responsibilities.
  I am willing to stay here tomorrow on Veterans Day in order to be 
able to ensure that the documents sent to the U.S. Senate but as well 
the document that ultimately will go to the President will be one that 
can be signed. I am well aware, as we are on the eve of Veterans Day, 
that, if that does not occur, we may have some time around Christmas 
the biggest nongift to the American public, for we may deny our senior 
citizens their Medicare benefits. We may deny children who are recently 
immunized their Medicaid benefits. Veterans, whom we celebrate 
tomorrow, may not receive their veterans benefits. Hard-working Federal 
employees throughout this Nation will find the doors locked and the 
services that they render no more.
  Interestingly enough, in terms of the discussion on the debt ceiling, 
this Republican Congress has raised it many times. Now there is some 
big debate about how, where, and why and a refusal to extend this 
process for 30 days after it gets on the President's desk, a motion to 
recommit that was presented on this floor today, not so much partisan 
or to get one upsmanship, but simply to allow us in a reasoned but 
rushed manner, because it is rushed, it is 30 days after the President 
gets it, to look at these issues of do we really want, as has been 
proposed by the Republicans, to increase the premiums on Medicare and 
part B.
  Do we want to do that rather than leaving it at the 25-percent 
portion versus the 31.5-percent portion that is now being proposed in 
this bill that is not streamlined to deal with the issue at hand but 
baggaged, if you will, with increasing the premium, with a regulatory 
bill that is 122 pages tacked on.
  Reasoned portions of that bill could be addressed in a bipartisan way 
by this House. Yet, we have tacked onto this particular legislation 
dealing with the crisis at hand a bill that the Senate has not even 
dealt with, never passed a regulatory reform bill. And we have grabbed 
bits and pieces from that bill, unpassed by the Senate, and tacked it 
on this legislation now dealing with the crisis that we face, 122 
pages, obviously not reviewed in a bipartisan manner by this Congress.
  Then we wanted to deal with the habeas corpus matter. Rather than 
addressing that where it could be heard in a fair presentation of the 
issue, for no one knows and hopes that they are never incarcerated and 
never finds themselves in that capacity, but I do believe that 
Americans applaud the right to seek a redress of grievances. It is 
important that, if we have the opportunity to seek a redress of 
grievances, that hasty and frivolous legislation attached to this bill 
dealing with the debt ceiling and as well the opportunity to continue 
to pay the Government's bills so that we can do our jobs. How wrong we 
are to not be focused on the main issue.
  I would hope, Mr. Speaker, that we will ultimately get a streamlined 
bill to the President, sit down at the table of reason and confront 
ourselves on behalf of the American people to fund appropriately this 
Government on behalf of all Americans.

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