[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 207 (Friday, December 22, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Pages S19235-S19236]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        GOVERNMENT ``SHUTDOWN''

  Mr. SIMPSON. Mr. President, as this unprecedented Government 
``shutdown'' continues, I trust we will not fail to consider its impact 
in terms of how it affects so many individuals.
  In my home State of Wyoming--a ``public lands'' State--the closure of 
national treasures such as Yellowstone National Park inflicts pain and 
frustration on many fronts. This closure, and the shutdown of related 
facilities and activities in my State, is a ``hammer blow'' to the 
recreation industry. It is an extreme disappointment to those who have 
long planned outdoor recreational vacations in that pristine winter 
environment. It also has a devastating economic impact on businesses 
and individuals throughout the region.
  All across America, people's lives are being harshly affected by this 
action and it is all too easy--in our effort to view this problem on a 
regional, national, or even philosophical scale--to forget the needs 
and desires of the many individuals who sent us here to Washington not 
to bicker things to death, but to try to resolve them.
  Let me cite here another example of the many affects of the shutdown 
of key services and facilities. I am deeply honored to serve as a 
Regent of the Smithsonian Institution. It is shut down. People from 
around our Nation--and from all around the world--as a part of this 
holiday season, have gathered their families to visit the Anacostia 
Museum, the Arts and Industries Building, the Cooper-Hewitt National 
Design Museum in New York, the Freer Gallery of Art, the Hirshorn 
Museum and Sculpture Garden, the National Air and Space Museum, the 
National Museum of African Art, and National Museum of American Art, 
the National Museum of American History, the National Museum of the 
American Indian, the National Museum of Natural History, the National 
Portrait Gallery, the National Postal Museum, the National Zoological 
Park, the Renwick Gallery, the Arthur Sackler Gallery, the Smithsonian 
``Castle,'' the National Zoo, and a host of research facilities. But 
they won't. They can't. These facilities are not open to the taxpaying 
public. Their treasures are not to be viewed. The people who so wish to 
visit them over the holidays must be wondering wide-eyed, ``What on 
earth is going on!?''
  The museums of the Smithsonian report more than 25 million visitors 
annually. This great treasure of an institution is about to celebrate 
its 150th anniversary. And yet it is closed.
  Last December more than 1 million people visited the Smithsonian 
museums and galleries.
  In past years, visitorship in the last week of December has been 
double the week before. This year, most likely, it will not be.
  The Smithsonian's retail shops and restaurants netted $2.6 million 
for the Institution last December--$440,000 in the final week alone, 
not counting restaurant proceeds. This is traditionally one of the most 
productive months for these operations of the Smithsonian. Until this 
year.
  Another beneficiary of the Smithsonian's ``draw'' is the District of 
Columbia--itself in the midst of a major financial crisis. The 
Smithsonian's closure will certainly result in a parallel reduction of 
income for the District, as people learn there is no reason--and no 
way-- to visit.

[[Page S19236]]

  In the case of Yellowstone Park, our three-member Wyoming delegation 
is working with our fine Governor, Jim Geringer, and with the 
Department of Interior in a sincere effort to craft an arrangement 
whereby Yellowstone can be reopened. It is not yet known whether that 
can yet happen, but if that is the case, the impact of this regrettable 
``shutdown'' can be, at least to that certain degree, minimized--1997 
will be Yellowstone's 125th anniversary.
  The Smithsonian will be celebrating a birthday too. I trust that 
later today we will be able to call up and pass H.R. 2627, the House 
passed legislation authorizing the minting of a commemorative coin 
celebrating the Smithsonian's 150 years of existence. This legislation 
is being presently held at the desk, has been ``cleared'' on our side 
of the aisle and, I believe, will soon be ``cleared'' on the other 
side.
  Swift passage of this legislation will be a clear and bright signal 
of our concern for this wonderful institution. Sales of this 
commemorative coin will help to minimize the financial damage of this 
unfortunate shutdown to the Smithsonian.
  And beyond all that, I trust that in this holiday season we might be 
especially mindful of our duties and responsibilities to our Nation, 
our States, and our dear friends, family and neighbors as we deal with 
the vexing issues that divide us. Perhaps those eternal concepts of 
integrity, common purpose, trust, fair compromise and statesmanship can 
again carry us through this difficulty, helping us to responsibly agree 
as to the path that should guide us and so many future generations of 
Americans.
  Mr. SIMPSON. Mr. President, I rise to speak about this crucial yet 
potentially devastating issue of raising the debt ceiling. It's 
certainly obvious why raising the debt ceiling is so crucial--the 
Government must meet its obligations.
  However, I do find this whole exercise a devastating testament to the 
continuing excesses of spending.
  Last year, I served on the bipartisan Commission on Entitlement and 
Tax Reform, which was guided through the deep swamps of entitlement 
spending by two remarkable and courageous men--Senator Bob Kerrey, who 
served as our able chairman, and our former colleague, Senator Jack 
Danforth, who served as vice chairman.
  From June through December, the Commission held a series of public 
meetings in which we looked for any and all ways to slow down the 
incredible pace at which entitlement spending is growing. Along the 
way, the Commission approved--by a vote of 30 to 1--an interim report 
which spelled out some highly sobering truths about Federal spending.
  Perhaps the single most important finding in the interim report was 
that entitlement spending and interest on the debt together accounted 
for almost 62 percent of all Federal expenditures in 1993. Furthermore, 
according to the Congressional Budget Office, this spending will 
consume fully 72 percent of the Federal budget by the year 2003 if the 
present trends continue. These are expenditures that occur 
automatically without Members of Congress casting so much as a single 
vote. This ought to serve as a ``wake-up call'' to all of us that we 
are headed on a course to disaster unless we act affirmatively to 
change course.
  By the year 2012--less than 20 years away--entitlements and interest 
on the mounting debt will together consume all tax revenues collected 
by the Federal Government. We stand to have no money left over for 
national defense, education, national parks--pick your program.
  Unfortunately, the Commission concluded its business in December 
without reaching an agreement on specific recommendations for bringing 
entitlement spending under control. That was most disappointing to me. 
I offered my own solution, as did the Co-Chairs, Senators Kerrey and 
Danforth, but the majority of the Commission would not endorse the 
necessary measures.
  However, 24 of the Commission's 32 members joined in writing a letter 
to President Clinton, emphasizing the need for ``immediate action'' and 
outlining various policy options--some of which Senator Kerrey and I 
have introduced in a retirement reform package to shore up the Social 
Security Program.
  Each of us has an obligation--not only to our constituents, but to 
ourselves and our children and grandchildren--to confront these issues 
head-on. Whatever outrage and hostility we may encounter from today's 
defenders of the ``status quo''--and there will be plenty of it, a 
world of it--it will pale in comparison to the richly deserved scorn we 
will receive from future generations if we fail to have the courage to 
act on the impending entitlements crisis.
  So as we act on the raising of the debt ceiling, let us remember what 
this means to our children and grandchildren who will be billed for 
this debt. That's why I supported the inclusion of a ``generational 
accounting'' chapter in the President's budget. We need to be reminded 
of what this debt means to future generations, and why defenders of the 
status quo who oppose our budget-balancing efforts should be called to 
account.

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