[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 87 (Thursday, June 13, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6191-S6192]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  BUDGET RESOLUTION CONFERENCE REPORT

  Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, I cannot support the budget resolution 
which the majority has presented to us. First, it reduces funding for 
Medicare and Medicaid more than is necessary in order to provide 
dollars for tax cuts which are likely to benefit most of the wealthiest 
among us.
  The budget also reduces discretionary funding for education from 
current levels--and I emphasize that--the funding for education is 
being reduced in this budget from current levels for 5 of the next 6 
years. It does that at the same time that it increases the funding for 
defense each and every year during that period, including $11 billion 
more for next year than the Pentagon requested.
  Those are not the right priorities. Last year we fought long and hard 
before succeeding in restoring funding for education, such as Head 
Start, vocational education, the title I reading, writing and math 
skills program, Perkins loans and the State student incentive grants 
for college students. I believe it would be shortsighted to now retreat 
from a firm commitment to the best investment in our future, and that 
is education.
  We have now reduced the deficit for three straight years, and we are 
on the verge of a fourth. We are doing that--reducing the deficit for 
three straight years--for the first time since World War II. During 
those same years, the deficit has been cut by more than half, from $290 
billion in 1992 to less than $145 billion in 1996.
  We should build on that progress, and we should continue that 
progress. That

[[Page S6192]]

is why I supported two alternative budget resolutions, each of which 
would have balanced the Federal budget within 7 years.
  Those budgets would do so, however, without providing large tax cuts 
to the wealthiest among us at the expense of children, seniors and 
students. We can balance the budget without damaging cuts to health 
care for the elderly, education funding and environmental protection, 
and those are among the top priorities of American working families.
  Mr. President, I yield the floor and suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Ms. MOSELEY-BRAUN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
proceedings under the quorum call be dispensed with.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Ms. MOSELEY-BRAUN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that I be 
allowed to speak as in morning business.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  (The remarks of Ms. Moseley-Braun and Mrs. Murray pertaining to the 
submission of Senate Resolution 263 are located in today's Record under 
``Submission of Concurrent and Senate Resolutions.'')
  Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to proceed as in 
morning business.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Gorton). Without objection, it is so 
ordered.

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