[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 3 (Friday, January 5, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Page S78]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       THE CONTINUING RESOLUTION

  Mr. THURMOND. Mr. President, I rise today in support of H.R. 1643, 
which will return all Federal Government employees to the workplace, 
and restore their paychecks. This bill will also reopen many important 
Government services which were closed due to President Clinton's veto 
of various appropriation bills.
  It is regrettable that the President has permitted the budget 
situation to deteriorate. Let me remind my colleagues that this 
Congress enacted a balanced budget plan which the President also 
vetoed. At that point, he assumed an obligation to provide the Congress 
with his budget proposal. Yet despite his many promises to do so, and 
the statutory requirement of November 20, 1995, President Clinton has 
failed to submit a real balanced budget.
  Mr. President, for years I have made speeches in this great Chamber, 
and cast my vote in support of a balanced budget. I have introduced 
balanced budget amendments in numerous sessions of Congress, including 
the 104th Congress. On July 12, 1982, a balanced budget amendment was 
brought to the floor. As chairman of the Judiciary Committee, I was 
pleased to sponsor and guide that important measure to passage. On 
August 4, 1982, 69 Senators voted in favor of the resolution. While a 
majority supported it in the House, it failed to receive the necessary 
two-thirds vote. In March 1986, the Senate voted on another balanced 
budget amendment. It was unfortunate that the Resolution failed by one 
vote. Last session, the balanced budget amendment again failed by one 
vote. However, I am confident that we will yet pass the balanced budget 
amendment during the 104th Congress and call on the President to 
support that effort.
  With or without a constitutional amendment, this Congress will enact 
a budget which protects the security, health and safety of our Nation, 
provides quality Government services, and eliminates harmful deficits.
  Mr. President, this bill brings employees back to work with back pay. 
It also provides targeted appropriations, through the end of fiscal 
year 1996, for critical Government services. Enactment of this measure 
will remove the issue of the Federal Government shutdown and allow us 
to focus on the larger objective of the balanced budget agreement.
  Mr. President, in closing, I commend the majority leader, Senator 
Dole, and Senator Domenici, the chairman of the Budget Committee, for 
their leadership and continuing efforts to resolve this important 
issue. I call on the President to keep his promise, to stop the 
gimmicks, and do the right thing for the future of our great Nation.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Virginia.

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