[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 58 (Wednesday, May 1, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E672-E673]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  CONFERENCE REPORT ON H.R. 3019, BALANCED BUDGET DOWN PAYMENT ACT, II

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                               speech of

                          HON. CARDISS COLLINS

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 25, 1996

  Mrs. COLLINS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this 
legislation, pleased that we finally have something a bit more 
palatable to the American people in terms of fiscal year 1996 funding 
levels for education, health, job training, and environmental 
protection but disappointed that it has taken months, two Government 
shutdowns, and undue hardship for the citizens of this Nation in order 
for the Republican leadership in this body to realize that their 
extreme ideological fervor and authoritarian agenda is not shared by 
the majority of the population across this country.
  Almost 6 months after the fiscal year 1996 appropriations process was 
to have been completed, the GOP is just now finishing their work. What 
the heck have the Republicans been doing all this time? Not a whole lot 
it seems.
  Mr. Speaker, the American people have resoundingly said ``no'' to the 
Gingrich gang's bloodthirsty budget axe, said ``no'' to drastic cuts in 
Federal support or elementary and secondary schools, college loans, 
summer youth jobs, Head Start, low-income energy assistance, and 
community policing, and said ``no'' to protecting polluters who violate 
our environmental.
  Because of these loud voices, the bill before us today restores $2.8 
billion in funding, up to the fiscal year 1995 level, for title I 
educational

[[Page E673]]

programs serving the needs of our most underserved and disadvantaged 
children. In addition, the conference report contains vital resources 
to combat drugs and violence in our schools through the safe and drug 
free schools initiative. This is another program the GOP sought to 
decimate.
  Also added back due to the pressure of the American public, the White 
House, and the Democratic leadership is $625 million to provide for 
positive job alternatives for our youth with the Summer Jobs Program. 
Again, the Republicans would have rather left these kids standing on a 
street corner with nothing to do than give them a chance to gain the 
skills, confidence, and guidance necessary to succeed and build a 
brighter future for themselves.
  From a $1.3 billion restoration of LIHEAP dollars fro heating and 
cooling assistance for low-income families and seniors to $1.4 billion 
injection of funds to fully phasein President Clinton's important 
100,000 cops on the beat in our local communities, this bill mirrors 
the foremost needs, and desires spoken by my hard-working constituents 
in the Chicago metropolitan area and not those of the monied interests 
so familiar to my friends on the other side of the aisle.
  Mr. Speaker, I will vote for this legislation because it protects the 
Democratic Party's principles and priorities and reflects a more 
rational and humanistic approach to bringing our Federal fiscal 
situation under control. I hope, with the final version of this bill 
serving as a prime example, the GOP finally takes notice of the fact 
that their so-called Contract With America has been declared null and 
void by the American people and the court of public opinion.

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