[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 179 (Monday, November 13, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2171-E2172]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    REPORT ON RESOLUTION PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF HOUSE JOINT 
 RESOLUTION 115, FURTHER CONTINUING APPROPRIATIONS FOR FISCAL YEAR 1996

                                 ______


                               speech of

                           HON. LOUIS STOKES

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, November 7, 1995

  Mr. STOKES. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to House Joint 
Resolution 115, the second continuing resolution for fiscal year 1996. 
This measure is definitely not just a continuing resolution bill. Once 
you clear the smoke and mirrors you find that over 60 percent of the 
bill is devoted to provisions designed to generate funds for the 
Republicans' tax giveaway to the rich, and to silence the voice of 
those who speak out against injustices against the most vulnerable in 
our society.
  House Joint Resolution 115 increases the cost of health care for 
seniors by requiring Medicare beneficiaries to pay higher premiums. In 
fact, the Medicare premiums contained in the Republicans' continuing 
resolution measure are even higher than those contained in their 
reconciliation bill. Under current law, in 1996, seniors' Medicare 
premiums are $42.50 compared to $55.10 under House Joint Resolution 
115. This is a 30-percent increase in 1996 alone.
  Mr. Speaker, the average income of Medicare beneficiaries is less 
than $18,000 per year, this compares to an average income of between 
$8,000 and $9,000 for the 11 million widows and never-married women on 
Medicare. There is no way that these seniors can afford a 30-percent 
increase in their health care premiums. Seniors must not be forced to 
choose between medicine and food, or between a doctor's visit and heat. 
It is just wrong to force seniors to suffer such hardships in order to 
pay for a tax cut for the rich. This is an insult to their dignity, and 
strips them of their self-respect.
  Again, House Joint Resolution 115 is not just a continuing 
resolution. Contained within the Republicans' bill is a 22-page very 
controversial authorization bill for the Istook prohibition measure. 
The legislation is specifically designed to restrict the political 
advocacy rights of the American people. Keep in mind that no hearings 
have been held on this extreme, unprecedented, and unconstitutional 
measure. House Joint Resolution 115's restrictive political advocacy 
provisions threaten the ability of organizations to carry out their 
mission including the Red Cross, American Civil Liberties Union, 
National Minority Aids Council, National Caucus and Center for the 
Black Aged, Coalition for the Homeless, religious organizations--yes, 
the list goes on--and yes, it even includes the Girl Scouts.
  Mr. Speaker, perhaps the Republicans believe an extensive political 
advocacy gag law is just what it takes to force the American people to 
stomach the pain, and suffering that will result from their life 
threatening cuts in healthy start, meals for the elderly, energy 
assistance, education for the disadvantaged, employment training, safe 
and drug free schools, the list goes on and on.
  While the gag provisions are a blatant insult to the rights of the 
American people, it will take more than a legislative silencer to quiet 
the cry of children, the elderly, and families that would result from 
the Republicans' budget cuts in critical quality-of-life services.
  Mr. Speaker, the Republicans' assault on the rights of the American 
people, and their targeted assault on seniors must be stopped. I 
strongly urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' to all measures and 
provisions that attempt to gag the American people. Vote ``no'' 
increasing the cost of health care for seniors. Vote ``no'' on House 
Joint Resolution 115.

[[Page E 2172]]


                       SENATE COMMITTEE MEETINGS

  Title IV of Senate Resolution 4, agreed to by the Senate on February 
4, 1977, calls for establishment of a system for a computerized 
schedule of all meetings and hearings of Senate committees, 
subcommittees, joint committees, and committees of conference. This 
title requires all such committees to notify the Office of the Senate 
Daily Digest--designated by the Rules Committee--of the time, place, 
and purpose of the meetings, when scheduled, and any cancellations or 
changes in the meetings as they occur.
  As an additional procedure along with the computerization of this 
information, the Office of the Senate Daily Digest will prepare this 
information for printing in the Extensions of Remarks section of the 
Congressional Record on Monday and Wednesday of each week.
  Meetings scheduled for Tuesday, November 14, 1995, may be found in 
the Daily Digest of today's Record.

                           MEETINGS SCHEDULED

                              NOVEMBER 15
     9:30 a.m.
       Select on Intelligence
         To hold hearings to assess the damage to United States 
           intelligence activities resulting from the Adler Ames 
           case.
                                                            SD-G50
     10:00 a.m.
       Judiciary
         To hold joint hearings with the House Committee on the 
           Judiciary's Subcommittee on the Courts and Intellectual 
           Property on S. 1284, to amend title 17 to adapt the 
           copyright law to the digital, networked environment of 
           the National Information Infrastructure, and H.R. 2441, 
           to amend title 17, United States Code, to adapt the 
           copy-right law to the digital, networked environment of 
           the national information infrastructure.
                                             2237 Rayburn Building
       Judiciary
       Immigration Subcommittee
         Business meeting, to mark up S. 1394, to reform the legal 
           immigration of immigrants and nonimmigrants to the 
           United States.
                                                            SD-226
       Special Committee To Investigate Whitewater Development 
           Corporation and Related Matters
         To continue hearings to examine certain issues relative 
           to the Whitewater Development Corporation, focusing on 
           the handling of certain documents following the death 
           of Deputy White House Counsel Vincent Foster.
                                                            SH-216

                              NOVEMBER 16
     9:30 a.m.
       Foreign Relations
       African Affairs Subcommittee
         To hold hearings to examine the situation in Angola.
                                                            SD-419
     10:00 a.m.
       Judiciary
         Business meeting, to consider pending calendar business.
                                                            SD-226
       Special Committee To Investigate Whitewater Development 
           Corporation and Related Matters
         To continue hearings to examine certain issues relative 
           to the Whitewater Development Corporation, focusing on 
           the handling of certain documents following the death 
           of Deputy White House Counsel Vincent Foster.
                                                            SH-216
     10:30 a.m.
       Energy and Natural Resources
         To hold joint hearings with the Committee on Indian 
           Affairs with the House Committee on Resources to review 
           the Alaska Natives Commission's report to Congress 
           transmitted in May 1994 on the status of Alaska's 
           natives.
                                           1324 Longworth Building
       Indian Affairs
         To hold joint hearings with the Committee on Energy and 
           Natural Resources with the House Committee on Resources 
           to review the Alaska Natives Commission's report to 
           Congress transmitted in May 1994 on the status of 
           Alaska's natives.
                                           1324 Longworth Building
     2:00 p.m.
       Judiciary
       Immigration Subcommittee
         Business meeting, to mark up S. 1394, to reform the legal 
           immigration of immigrants and nonimmigrants to the 
           United States.
                                                            SD-226
     2:30 p.m.
       Governmental Affairs
       Oversight of Government Management and The District of 
           Columbia Subcommittee
         To hold hearings on S. 1224, to amend subchapter IV of 
           chapter 5 of title 5, United States Code, relating to 
           alternative means of dispute resolution in the 
           administrative process.
                                                            SD-342

                              NOVEMBER 17
     9:00 a.m.
       Judiciary
         To hold hearings on H.R. 1833, Partial-birth Abortion Ban 
           Act.
                                                            SR-325
     10:00 a.m.
       Special Committee To Investigate Whitewater Development 
           Corporation and Related Matters
         To continue hearings to examine certain issues relative 
           to the Whitewater Development Corporation, focusing on 
           the handling of certain documents following the death 
           of Deputy White House Counsel Vincent Foster.
                                                            SH-216
       Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe
         To hold a briefing on the biennial Implementation Review 
           Meeting on Human Dimension Issues held last month in 
           Warsaw, Poland.
                                                            SD-562

                              NOVEMBER 30
     2:00 p.m.
       Judiciary
         To hold hearings on pending nominations.
                                                            SD-226

                               DECEMBER 5
     10:00 a.m.
       Judiciary
       Administrative Oversight and the Courts Subcommittee
         To hold hearings on S. 984, to protect the fundamental 
           right of a parent to direct the upbringing of a child.
                                                            SD-226

                               DECEMBER 6
     9:30 a.m.
       Indian Affairs
         To hold oversight hearings on the implementation of the 
           Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act 
           (P.L. 101-601).
                                                            SR-485

                             CANCELLATIONS

                              NOVEMBER 15
     9:30 a.m.
       Governmental Affairs
         To hold hearings to examine Federal Government financial 
           management.
                                                            SD-342
     10:00 a.m.
       Judiciary
       Administrative Oversight and the Courts Subcommittee
         To hold hearings on S. 582, to amend United States Code 
           to provide that certain voluntary disclosures of 
           violations of Federal laws made pursuant to an 
           environmental audit shall not be subject to discovery 
           or admitted into evidence during a Federal judicial or 
           administrative proceeding.
                                                            SD-226