[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 69 (Thursday, May 16, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E828]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   FISCAL YEAR 1997 BUDGET RESOLUTION

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                           HON. EARL POMEROY

                            of north dakota

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 16, 1996

  Mr. POMEROY. Mr. Chairman, minutes ago I voted in favor of the 
coalition budget, a plan to balance the budget in 6 years with $137 
billion more in deficit reduction than the Republican proposal. Given 
that the coalition budget was not approved, the House is now faced with 
a choice between the President's budget plan and the Republican plan.
  I rise in support of the President's proposal and in opposition to 
the majority budget resolution. In several critical repects--from its 
support for the Federal health care programs that protect our Nation's 
seniors, poor children, and the disabled, to the agriculture programs 
that support the productivity of our farmers, to the investment it 
provides in the education of our children--the President's plan is 
vastly superior to the Republican budget.
  However, in the area of veterans programs, the President's plan is 
seriously deficient. The President should modify his budget to provide 
a funding commitment more like that contained in the coalition budget. 
The coalition budget provides $112 billion--$5 billion more than the 
Republican plan and $10 billion more than the President's plan--for 
discretionary veterans programs. These programs support the medical 
care, education, training, and rehabilitation services for those who 
served our Nation in times of war. I believe the coalition budget 
provides the appropriate level of funding for our veterans, and I urge 
both sides to adopt the coalition budget's funding commitment to the 
programs that serve our veterans.

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