[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 194 (Thursday, December 7, 1995)]
[House]
[Pages H14206-H14207]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                             ON THE BUDGET

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentlewoman from Texas [Ms. Jackson-Lee] is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE. Mr. Speaker, many times during the vigorous debate 
on the House floor, much of what is spoken of is sometimes confusing 
and traveling in murky waters as the American people try to understand 
the direction that this Congress is taking. Interestingly enough, as we 
heard last evening, the President vetoing H.R. 2491, many might have 
thought that here we go again with an attempt at being an 
obstructionist and not pursuing the needs of the American people.
  But I think there needs to be a little explanation as to how we got 
to this 

[[Page H 14207]]
day, for many of us stayed here the weekend before Thanksgiving to make 
a commitment to the American people. That was that we would get a 
budget and, yes, we would agree on a 7-year budget. But as Democrats 
and the President pressed forward, we made certain points that must be 
reemphasized. We said we would do so, protecting Medicare, Medicaid, 
student loans, food stamps, not hurt the environment, raise taxes, not 
raise taxes on millions of working men and women and their families by 
slashing the earned income tax credit, and thereby providing a huge tax 
cut for beneficiaries making over $200,000. That, Mr. Speaker, was in 
the continuing resolution, no doubt. The language was as clear as black 
and white.
  Now we come to a point where we are making accusations about the 
President's veto. He made it clear. We will work with you on a 7-year 
budget. But we understand the needs of Americans, education, Medicare 
reform, but handling and responding to the needs of Americans with 
health care, Medicaid, the environment. How many Americans have sent 
the Republicans here to dismantle the Clean Water Act and the Clean Air 
Act?
  This is reflected in the VA-HUD bill that we saw today passed, even 
though it cuts VA facilities, veterans facilities by 62 percent. It 
cuts housing programs by 21 percent. It cuts the Environmental 
Protection Act by 21 percent. It cuts Superfund cleanups which in fact 
in my home communities in the 18th Congressional District, two 
neighborhoods now are facing the need to have environmental cleanup. 
That is cut by some 19 percent. Funds for elderly and disabled housing 
are each cut by 40 percent.
  But the real irony, Mr. Speaker, is that just 8 days or so ago, this 
VA-HUD bill was recommitted to the conference committee with 
instructions to restore dollars for veterans health. In the shadow of 
Bosnia and on this famous day, December 7, 1995, reflecting on December 
7, 1941, here we go again in rejecting the service that veterans have 
done. Just 8 days ago we recommitted it, but today we have the same 
Members who voted last time to recommit change their votes because they 
are more concerned with being in step with the majority than being in 
step with the American people.
  Then in my own district of Houston, we find in the VA-HUD bill 
extraneous material dealing with public housing. Let me set the record 
clear. For this project, Allen Parkway Village, I am for providing 
housing, public housing for the 13,000 who are on the waiting list in 
Houston. I am for providing housing for seniors, working parents, 
affordable housing and, yes, public housing for those who need it. I am 
particularly for getting a master plan that will include the Houston 
Housing Authority, the city of Houston, the residents and all parties 
that have been involved.
  A master plan sets the direction of how we should be able to compete 
and how we should be able to structure a housing development that will 
respond to all the needs of the people. Yes, I am for preservation that 
would preserve the concepts and the architectural design of an entity 
that has been noted as having historic value. But we have an extraneous 
language in the VA-HUD bill that does not relate to bringing people 
together in Houston. It relates to tearing us apart.
  I am going to stand my ground, and that ground is to work with all 
the parties to ensure that we do have good housing in Houston in the 
Allen Parkway Village. It is for the elderly. We have it for those 
needing public housing. We have it for working families. We have a 
concept, a campus style concept that provides educational training, 
recreational services, job training so that those citizens in public 
housing can get out of public housing and become independent and move 
into other styles of housing.
  It is important, Mr. Speaker, that just as the President has asked 
and the Democrats have committed to, we must work together on the 
budget, protecting the environment, protecting those who need Medicare 
and Medicaid, protecting those who need educational loans. And, yes, 
when we talk about public housing, we must work together because those 
of us who work together will get the right job done for all of America.

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