[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 14 (Thursday, February 1, 1996)]
[House]
[Page H1200]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          PERSONAL EXPLANATION

  Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, due to a hearing on future energy policy by 
the House Resources Committee, which I served as chairman, I was 
unavoidably detained, and thus unable to vote for final passage of H.R. 
2924.
  Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on the Social Security 
Guarantee Act--H.R. 2924. I feel it is absolutely imperative to express 
Congress' intention to pass legislation increasing the public debt 
limit before March 1, 1996, and ensure that March Social Security 
benefits will be paid on time.
  Senior citizens should not be held hostage on account of the budget 
deliberations we are holding today. I will continue to fight for a 
balanced budget by the turn of the century, and at the same time, 
protect America's obligations to its seniors.

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