[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 181 (Wednesday, November 15, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Pages S17063-S17064]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     CONGRESS DID NOT DO THEIR WORK

  Mr. LEAHY. Madam President, I think there are people watching this 
debate who should put one thing in perspective: The Government is not 
being shut down because there is somehow an inability of the White 
House and the congressional leadership to agree on a 7-year budget 
plan. The fact of the matter is, it is being shut down because we have 
not passed 13 appropriations bills.
  Now, it is the responsibility--when we talk about whose 
responsibility is involved, whether the President or the Congress --of 
the congressional leadership to pass 13 appropriations bills by the end 
of the fiscal year.
  These begin in the other body. I understand the Speaker of the House 
of Representatives has spoken with a great deal of accuracy of his 
control over the House. The Speaker of the House of Representatives has 
spoken about his ability to move what he wants to move through the 
House of Representatives.
  But the fact of the matter is there are only 3 of the 13 
appropriations bills that have been signed into law.
  We are shortly going to vote on a conference report as we already 
have on one of the remaining 10 appropriations bills.
  If the congressional leadership had passed and sent the President the 
13 appropriations bills as they are supposed to do, had they done that 
by the end of the fiscal year as they are supposed to do, and had the 
leadership done as they claimed they can with their new majority, to 
move their agenda through, had they just done the people's business, 
the business of all Americans--Republicans, Democrats, and 
independents--had they passed the 13 appropriations bills, we would 
have 

[[Page S17064]]
no shutdown at all. There would be nothing to shut down. We would have 
passed the legislation.
  Now, they have a majority of Republicans in the House. They have a 
majority of Republicans in the Senate. They could very easily have 
passed and sent to the President for signature 13 appropriations bills. 
Thirteen appropriations bills could have been signed into law, and 
there would be no Government shutdown today.
  Do not talk about this as being some kind of a case where our side 
and their side or the White House and the congressional leadership 
cannot meet agreement. If we, here in the Congress, had done the work 
we are paid to do, hired to do, elected to do--that is, pass our bills 
on time--everybody would be at work today. None of the stoppages would 
be occurring. There would be none of the inconvenience and the tourists 
here in the Capitol would be able to see something besides just us.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  Mrs. HUTCHISON. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
order for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Morning business has just expired.
  Mrs. HUTCHISON. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent morning 
business be extended for 5 minutes for the purpose of introducing 
legislation.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mrs. HUTCHISON. Madam President, I send a bill to the desk and ask it 
be appropriately referred.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The bill will be referred to the appropriate 
committee.
  The Senator from Texas is recognized.
  Mrs. HUTCHISON. I thank the Chair.
  (The remarks of Mrs. Hutchison and Mr. Simpson pertaining to the 
introduction of S. 1414 are located in today's Record under 
``Statements on Introduced Bills and Joint Resolutions.'')

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