[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 55 (Thursday, April 25, 1996)]
[House]
[Page H4103]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    THE END OF A LONG BUDGET PROCESS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentlewoman from Texas [Ms. Jackson-Lee] is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, it has been a very, very, 
very, very long journey. Last fall, in October 1995, this House was to 
have passed all of its appropriation bills so that the schools would be 
open, so that the environmental commitment we have made to the American 
people would be followed through, so that the homeless could be housed, 
and so, for example, this Government would not have closed during 
Thanksgiving and the Christmas holiday season of 1995.
  But there is something to persistence. And although I abhorred the 
closing of the Government and the hurting of American families, and 
asked to stay through the Thanksgiving holidays and Christmas holidays 
so we would not shut the Government down, unfortunately, there are 
others, my Republican colleagues, who saw fit not to agree, that the 
American people wanted a commitment to education, the environment, to 
safe and drug free schools, the 100,000 police officers, and the Summer 
Jobs Program.
  But, again, as I said, it has been a long journey, but there is 
something to persistence, and this debate that we have had on the 
omnibus appropriation bill should be chronicled in the appropriate 
manner, and that manner is to let you know that this was not an easy 
task. It was not an easy task to come from zero on the Summer Jobs 
Program, under allegations that all we were doing was just babysitting 
for youngsters who work and for the first time in their lives would 
have the opportunity to be exposed to good jobs, to understand what the 
working world is all about, and to develop the self-esteem and 
character building aspects of their lives so they would go into the 
work force. Just a few months ago that program was zeroed out.
  There are colleagues like myself and the Democratic Caucus who 
persisted that our young people do count, and the Senate heard us, and 
the President heard us. And from a zero funding for summer youth 
employment, that would have cost the city of Houston some 6,000 summer 
jobs for youngsters, who use those moneys to in fact pay the rent and 
provide clothing and substance for their families during the summer 
months, and encourage them to return back to their schools in the fall.
  I know that program, for I had a young lady work for me during the 
summer, a hot summer in Houston, who called the office first and said, 
``I can't take this job. I can't come in.'' When we inquired, she said, 
``I have no clothes to wear.'' We entreated her to say, ``If you have 
simply a paper bag to wear, it is important for you to come and 
understand what work is all about.''

  That is what America is about. And this appropriations bill that we 
have passed, with the good help of those who believe in our young 
people, now has $625 million for our summer jobs.
  Let me express the gratification for those conferees, those Democrats 
who persisted, the gentleman from Wisconsin [Mr. Obey] who persisted 
continuously to insist that education is an important aspect of the 
lives of Americans. That is why title I was funded. That is why 88 
percent of the education needs were funded. That is why the School to 
Work Program that has been applauded nationally by those individuals 
who applaud public schools and those who are detractors of public 
schools, every one of them believe in the School to Work Program, which 
allows young people to come out of high school and find an opportunity 
for work.
  You know, we are always hearing accusations that Americans do not 
want to work, that they are slow in working, that they are not 
productive. And everywhere I have gone in the 18th Congressional 
District, they have reinforced the desire to work. But if they cannot 
find jobs or opportunity, or if someone says you have to go to college, 
that is the only way you can get to work, to support a family, then 
what do you have? The School to Work Program, a vital aspect of 
connecting Americans, high school graduates, to an effective work 
situation so they can be supported and independent Americans. That 
program was funded under this appropriation bill, because the Democrats 
continued to hold out to invest in America.
  How grateful I am as a former city council member we continued to 
hold out, to see that 100,000 police officers get on our streets. You 
know, this is Victims Rights Week. It is tragic to be able to have to 
come and comfort the families of victims, families who have asked the 
question, why? Were they not in the right place? Were there not enough 
law enforcement, enough prisons?
  Even when you talk to those families, they begin to understand that 
prevention is 9/10ths of it, and the presence of law enforcement on our 
streets is the other aspect of ensuring that people are not subject to 
criminal activity. And yet that program was not funded by Republicans.

                              {time}  1714

  I will simply say, Mr. Speaker, that we have an omnibus 
appropriations bill that I wish could have been passed a couple months 
ago, but we now have police on the street, summer jobs, and education 
funding.

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