[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 181 (Wednesday, November 15, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2189]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   OUTRAGE OVER CONTINUING RESOLUTION

                                 ______


                        HON. SHEILA JACKSON-LEE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, November 15, 1995

  Ms. JACKSON-LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my outrage over 
the continuing resolution shutdown of the Federal Government and the 
furlough of 800,000 Federal employees nationwide. No American is being 
left unaffected. The House leadership is holding the American people 
hostage to a radical philosophy that has little credibility. Some of 
the services that all Americans depend upon are now unavailable. An 
example of these services include the following:
  The Social Security Administration can no longer accept any new 
applications for benefits.
  The Veterans' Administration is unable to issue benefit payments for 
December 1, 1995.
  Individuals cannot receive passports.
  Federal Home Administration cannot make housing loans.
  National parks and the Smithsonian Institution are closed.
  In Houston, 2,200 Federal employees at Johnson Space Center have been 
furloughed.
  The House considered another continuing resolution today that 
eliminates some of the extraneous provisions such as the increase in 
Medicare part B premiums that caused the President to veto the second 
continuing resolution. I still have some concerns about this new 
continuing resolution because of some of the assumptions used in 
drafting the bill. It remains to be seen whether President Clinton will 
veto this resolution.
  The ironic aspect of this shutdown is that the Federal Government is 
not saving any money. When a budget impasse occurred in 1990 and the 
Government shutdown over the Columbus Day weekend, it cost $1.6 
million. According to White House Budget Director Alice Rivlin, the 
Government incurs expenses to secure vacant Federal buildings, pay 
penalties on contracts that cannot be honored and expenses to reimburse 
furloughed Federal employees since those employees that are usually 
paid for the time away from the office.

  I would like to remind my colleagues that Americans are closely 
watching these deliberations. A USA Today/CNN? gallup poll taken 
yesterday indicated that 49 percent of those individuals survey blame 
the Republican leadership for the shutdown.
  Moreover, 61 percent of those individuals are angry about the 
impasse. Forty-nine percent prefer the Democratic Party's approach to 
reducing the Federal deficit and maintaining critical Federal programs. 
Finally, 48 percent of the respondents approve of the President's 
handling of the budget negotiations whereas only 22 percent of the 
respondents agree with the manner in which the Speaker of the House has 
handled the negotiations.
  Therefore, we must end the political posturing and end the disruption 
of the lives of millions of Americans. Another issue is the impending 
default by the Federal Government on its debt obligations. A major 
interest payment on the Federal debt is due today. We like to boast 
that we are a superpower and that the world should look to us for 
leadership. We are a poor example for the rest of the world if we allow 
the Federal Government to be in default. This is unacceptable to the 
American people. It should be unacceptable to every Member of the House 
of Representatives. We must pass legislation to extend the debt ceiling 
without delay. And we should pass a streamlined continuing resolution 
to get America working again.

                          ____________________