[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 181 (Wednesday, November 15, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2186]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     REQUEST TO DISCHARGE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS FROM FURTHER 
    CONSIDERATION OF HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION 119, FURTHER CONTINUING 
                  APPROPRIATIONS FOR FISCAL YEAR 1996

                                 ______


                               speech of

                           HON. LOUIS STOKES

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, November 14, 1995

  Mr. STOKES, Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to H.R. 2621, 
the bill which the Republicans say is to enforce the public debt limit 
and to protect the Social Security Trust Fund, and other Federal Trust 
fund accounts invested in public debt obligation. Once again, more 
Republican smoke and mirrors. Make no mistake about it, H.R. 2621 is 
the Republicans' measure to force the Government to default on its 
obligations.
  It is appalling for the Republicans to hold the country, and the 
American people hostage to their politically contrived and premeditated 
train wreck. Is there no limit to the extreme tactics that the 
Republicans will use to force a tax cut for the wealthy. The 
Republicans have forced the Federal Government to shut down; are 
striving to force the Government to renege on its debts; are bent on 
forcing seniors to pay more for less health care; are set of forcing 
poor children and pregnant women to go without critical health care 
services; and are set on forcing college students to pay more for their 
college education. Despite the fact the Republicans' budget defies 
logic and common sense, they want to force the President to agree to 
their life threatening budget provisions.
  Now, they have introduced H.R. 2621 a measure strictly designed to 
back the country into a corner, and to force the Government to 
default--all this destruction, just to give a tax cut to the rich. The 
Republicans' tantrum tactics must end.
  Mr. Speaker, a family would not pay off its mortgage in 7 years it if 
meant that they had to take food out of the mouths of their children. 
Both food and shelter are a necessity, it is not a one, or the other 
situation. The Republicans need to take a lesson from families. 
Families sensibly balance their responsibilities. Families sensibly 
spread their debt--and their payments for services over time.
  The Republican budget measure is not a balanced budget mechanism--it 
is a measure that is specifically designed to destroy the quality of 
life for the most vulnerable in our society--children and the elderly. 
Those who have entrusted us with their future, and who are most 
vulnerable to the Republicans' assault.
  I applaud the President for this strong leadership, and 
wholeheartedly support his veto of the Republicans' front-loaded 
continuing resolution, and debt limit measures.
  Day after day, we have heard our Republican colleagues refer to 
Medicaid and Medicare as ``socialized programs.'' We have heard them 
use phrases like ``we have to get on with it,'' ``the pain is not so 
severe,'' and ``we have to hold the President's feet to the fire.'' We 
have also continuously heard the Republicans speak with concern for the 
unborn children of the future, while showing no compassion for the 
children who walk among us today--despite the fact that the Republican 
budget takes food out of mouths of poor children; takes the roof from 
over the heads of door seniors; and takes away health care services 
from pregnant women. These senior's and children's future will be 
crippled and their very survival jeopardized.

  Mr. Speaker, the Republicans have never had any intention of sending 
the President a clean continuing resolution measure, or a clean debt 
limit bill. The Republican touted crown jewel in their contract--the 
tax cut give away for the rich--knows no bounds. As early as April, 
House Speaker Newt Gingrich vowed to create a titanic legislative 
standoff with the President by adding vetoed bills to must pass debt 
ceiling legislation. As recently as July, the GOP admitted that default 
was a major political weapon in their arsenal. The Republicans' 
escalating mean spirited attack is firm evidence that they think that 
no child's cry is too harsh, and no senior's pain is too bitter to 
forgo their tax cut give away to the rich.
  Over the past 11 months, the Nation has witnessed the unfolding of 
the Republicans' premeditated assault on the most vulnerable in our 
society--children and the elderly. Nearly 6 weeks into the new fiscal 
year, work on 10 of the 13 appropriations bills is still pending. The 
Republicans are dragging their feet. If Speaker Gingrich and his 
cohorts performed their responsibilities in a timely and responsible 
manner, there would be no need to bring the Federal Government to a 
halt.
  With each day of the Republican-forced shut down of the Federal 
Government, 20 thousand new Social Security claims will not be 
processed. With each day of the Republican-forced shut down of the 
Federal Government, 2,500 to 3,000 veterans' benefits claims will not 
be processed. The American people must not be held hostage to the GOP's 
tax cut for the rich.
  Again, I applaud President Clinton for vetoing the Republicans' life 
threatening budget and debt ceiling measures. I commend him for his 
principled stand to protect the American people. And, I join President 
Clinton in condemning the Republican leadership for its shameful 
attempt to blackmail the oval office by holding seniors, children, 
veterans, and our Nation's economy hostage.
  Mr. Speaker, I strongly believe that it is the height of 
irresponsibility for the Republicans in Congress to force American 
citizens to suffer inconvenience and hardship simply because they are 
trying to score political points. I strongly urge my colleagues to vote 
``no'' on H.R. 2621.

                          ____________________