[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 30 (Thursday, March 7, 1996)]
[House]
[Pages H1972-H1973]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         IT IS THE ECONOMY THAT IS A PRIORITY TO MOST AMERICANS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentlewoman from North Carolina [Mrs. Clayton] is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Mrs. CLAYTON. Madam Speaker, after two Government shutdowns and a 
near default on our obligations, today this House has passed a short-
term bill to raise the debt ceiling and to pass a continuing resolution 
for the work we have not done on four major appropriation bills, bills 
that contain important funding for domestic programs.
  It is important that America pay its bills and meet its obligations. 
It is also important that we do all that we can to keep the Government 
running. We do not need a third Government shutdown, but we are now 
almost halfway through the fiscal year and we have done nothing to 
bring relief from the daily struggles to make ends meet for working 
families of America.
  today, once again, the continuing resolution cuts education funding. 
We want to lead the world in education, but we do not want to provide 
the resources to do so. Because of what Congress did today, there will 
be fewer teachers, more crowded classrooms, less money for equipment 
and supplies, and not as much help for those who need a healthy start 
or a head start.

  The answer Congress has been giving to the working families who are 
working just as hard as ever before is that inflation is low, economic 
indicators are good, the stock market is rallying, and jobs are on the 
rise. All of that means nothing to the unemployed father or to the 
single mother or to the family of four with children in college, or to 
senior citizens who are now being told their lifetime work has no 
value.
  The fact of the matter is that the quality of life for most Americans 
is not getting better. The fact of the matter is that most of our 
citizens have little confidence in the economy, and less confidence in 
government. The fact of the matter is that while Congress is fighting 
over balanced budgets and spending limits, the public is losing faith 
in the American dream. The reason the public is losing faith is because 
more people have less money, while less people have more money. The 
rich are getting richer and the working families are suffering more of 
the losses that we are suffering.
  It is by now widely known that the income gap between those with a 
lot of money and those without much money is growing faster, and is 
very troubling. This Congress must not ignore these harsh realities, 
and heed the cries for help coming from all quarters of working 
America.
  It should concern us that the industries that have led this Nation 
over the last 5 years in job production are temporary employment 
agencies. It should claim our immediate attention that bankruptcies are 
skyrocketing and bad credit is more and more common.
  What can we do to restore faith in our economy and our Government and 
recapture the American dream? What can we do to bring some relief to 
our citizens? We can start by passing the modest minimum wage increase 
bill that has been languishing in Congress for months and months now. 
We can go further by treating ordinary citizens with respect and the 
care with which we treat corporate America. We can do it best by 
passing a fair tax reform legislation aimed at working Americans and 
not always only at wealthy Americans. We can move America forward by 
ensuring quality health care, especially for our seniors, by protecting 
our environment and preserving education.
  According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, college graduates earn 
24 percent more than workers with high school degrees. Why, then, are 
we cutting education and claiming these cuts are necessary for 
progress?
  High-wage jobs are needed to close the income gap. High-wage jobs 
require more education, not less education. Why do we think China and 
Japan and other countries in Asia and other parts of the world are 
concentrating on sending their young people to America to get educated? 
They know what Congress seems to ignore, that the key to a better 
quality of life is through our schoolhouse doors.

[[Page H1973]]

  Madam Speaker, if Congress does not pass an acceptable continuing 
resolution, the Government will shut down a third time. If Congress 
does not raise the debt ceiling permanently by March 29, America will 
default on its debt. If Congress does not wake up and realize that 
working America needs this help now, the American dream will drift 
away.
  It is still the economy that means important things to America. It is 
the economy that is a priority to most Americans.

                          ____________________