[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 179 (Monday, November 13, 1995)]
[House]
[Pages H16945-H16946]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    IN SEARCH OF LIBERTY AND JUSTICE

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the Speaker's announced policy of May 
12, 1995, the gentlewoman from North Carolina [Mrs. Clayton] is 
recognized during morning business for 5 minutes.
  Mrs. CLAYTON. Mr. Speaker, more than three decades ago, the 
Democratic Congress pushed through historic legislation, and the 
Medicare Program was created.
  At about the same time--more than three decades ago--the Republican 
nominee for President of the United States, uttered words that guided 
his party then and that seem to guide his party now.
  He said, ``Extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice. And 
moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue.''
  Barry Goldwater was as sincere then as Speaker Gingrich is now.
  The American people rejected the politics of extremism then, and the 
American people are rejecting the politics of extremism now.
  The American people demanded moderation then, and the American people 
are demanding moderation now.
  But, what is liberty? And, what is justice?
  Liberty is freedom from arbitrary or despotic control. Liberty is the 
positive enjoyment of various social, political, or economic rights and 
privileges. Liberty is the power of choice. Liberty is freedom.
  Justice, on the other hand, is the quality of being just, impartial, 
or fair. Justice is the principle or ideal of just dealing or right 
action. Justice is conformity to truth, fact, or reason. Justice is 
righteousness.
  There is no liberty in cutting school lunches for 2 million children, 
shutting off heating assistance for 2 million senior citizens, 
eliminating 100,000 scholarships and cutting loans for college 
students, eliminating summer jobs for 1.2 million high school students, 
and denying baby formula to thousands of infants.
  Those actions are extreme. There is vice in those deeds.
  There is no justice in cutting farm programs, and hurting small 
family farmers, in defunding pensions for which citizens have labored 
for life, and in taxing those who earn $28,000 a year or less to give 
big business a free tax ride. There is no justice when the wealthy get 
tax relief, while working Americans get no relief. There is no justice 
when Medicare is cut by $270 billion in order to give tax care of $245 
billion to the wealthy.

  Those actions are not moderate. There is no virtue in those deeds.
  In 1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson undertook a 100 day legislative 
agenda, that resulted in--passage of the Medicare bill--passage of the 
Elementary and Secondary Education Act--and, passage of the 1965 Voting 
Rights Act, which paved the way for many new voters to participate in 
record numbers.
  In 1995, the new thinkers have been determined to change the pattern 
that 

[[Page H 16946]]
Government has followed for more than a half century.
  But, what has changed as a result of the Contract With America? What 
has been done to reinforce families? What has been done to restore the 
American dream? What has been done to take back our streets? Who has 
been helped?
  In the first 100 days of 1995, they passed a bill that allows 
expatriate billionaires to avoid tax liability by renouncing their 
citizenship.
  But, they have not enacted most of the appropriation bills. They have 
not enacted a viable budget reconciliation bill, nor a viable debt 
extension bill.
  The Government is on the brink of closing down tonight. That is 
extreme. That is vice. There is no moderation in that possibility. 
There is no virtue in that position.
  Again, I pointed out to my colleagues, that as we do our work, we 
must remember that our first responsibility is not to the parties to 
which we belong, but to the people we represent.
  There are problems which we face that transcend party and politics. 
Teenage pregnancies stifle an entire community. Violence of any kind, 
whether driven by drugs or propelled by deep philosophical differences, 
can-not and must not be tolerated. Economic justice must ring true for 
everyone.
  Quality education is essential in every region of this great country.
  Family reinforcement and restoration of the American dream must 
include all families, not just those with lots of money. And, we must 
consider our young and our senior citizens. From the sunrise of life to 
its sunset, Americans should feel safe and secure and well served by 
this Congress.
  No party or person has an exclusive on such things as family values 
and personal responsibility. Those are standards we all absolutely hold 
dear.
  Mr. Speaker, on Saturday the Nation honored our veterans.
  Veterans perhaps more than any other Americans know of the defense of 
liberty, and the pursuit of justice.
  Just a few days ago, the life of a veteran from another nation was 
taken by some who are extreme, some who would not moderate their views.
  Unsuspecting Americans fell in Oklahoma because there were some who 
were extreme, some who would not moderate their views.
  Mr. Speaker, I say to my colleagues, let us continue to honor our 
veterans by seeking liberty and justice for all Americans.
  Let us lower our voices.
  Let us tone down our tempers.
  Let us do what is right.
  Let us pass a clean continuing resolution and a clean debt ceiling 
bill so that America moves forward.

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