[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 87 (Thursday, June 13, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1086]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     CONFERENCE REPORT ON HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 178, 
       CONCURRENT RESOLUTION ON THE BUDGET, FISCAL YEAR 1997

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                               speech of

                            HON. RON PACKARD

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 12, 1996

  Mr. PACKARD. Mr. Speaker, The Republican budget is the only honest 
plan that balances. It allows people to earn more, keep more, and do 
more with their families and communities.
  The budget that my Republican colleagues and I have crafted 
symbolizes the historic changes and continuous process of shifting 
power out of Washington and back where it belongs--in the hands of the 
people.
  The Clinton administration does not seem to realize that every dollar 
counts to working American families. If we had, right now, a budget 
that balanced, mortgage interest rates would be one point lower. That 
one point might only be $65, but that $65 means the difference between 
home ownership and renting for many families.
  The Republican proposal fulfills our commitment to balance the budget 
by 2002, with lower deficits than the President's proposal every year. 
It provides a $500-per-child tax credit for working families, reforms 
welfare, and protects Medicare, extending the solvency of the trust 
fund for 10 years. In short, this budget will improve the lives of 
every American. In addition, it enforces a hard freeze on nondefense 
discretionary spending in 1997 and achieves balance by reducing 
deficits every year from 1997 through 2002.
  Last year, the House-passed budget resolution projected a deficit of 
$173.5 billion in 1997. Today's budget resolution projects a deficit 
that is $20 billion lower. It would be even lower if the President were 
as committed to a balanced budget as he claims.
  Mr. Speaker, for far too long, American families have worked to 
provide for the Government. It is time they worked to provide for 
themselves.

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