[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 204 (Tuesday, December 19, 1995)]
[House]
[Page H15101]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               NOT A SEASON OF JOY FOR FURLOUGHED WORKERS

  (Mrs. CLAYTON asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Mrs. CLAYTON. Mr. Speaker, this is the Christmas season. This is the 
observation of Hanukkah. Both of those religious communities now 
celebrate what should be a joyful season. It is the season of Advent. 
It is the season where we have certain words that come to mind, like 
sharing of family values and those things that are essential. It is the 
season where we learn to give within our means. I hope it is the season 
that is instructive to us as we are debating the balanced budget.
  It certainly is not a season for joy for those workers who have been 
furloughed. There does not seem to be a sense of fairness when the poor 
must suffer while the rich are given big tax breaks. It is certainly 
not the season for living within your means when indeed we find the 
deficit will go up at the end of 7 years rather than go down.
  Yes, this is the season where we should be reasonable people. I would 
expect that reasonable people will learn how to compromise. Shame on us 
in this season of joy, this season of Advent, when we bring such 
discord, such dis-joy and such pain on the most vulnerable. We should 
be sharing our wealth not taking away health care for the vulnerable 
people of this country.

                          ____________________