[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 91 (Wednesday, June 19, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6512-S6513]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     REPUBLICANS STAND FOR CHILDREN

  Mr. PRESSLER. Mr. President, today I would like to address a subject 
that has received much attention during the last several weeks--the 
future of our children.
  As a father myself, I share the concerns of the many who recently 
marched on The Mall this month at the Stand for Children rally. 
Certainly, parents, families, teachers, and community leaders all agree 
that children should be protected and nurtured. This is a universal 
sentiment. We all stand for children. Every child deserves a safe and 
loving environment, adequate nutrition and a full education.
  Child poverty and its related problems, such as hunger, certainly 
deserve our attention. Child poverty is an especially pressing problem 
in South Dakota, where unemployment in some areas reaches as high as 85 
percent. According to the Annie E. Casey Foundation, 17 percent of all 
South Dakota children live in poverty, compared to 21 percent 
nationwide. Federal programs are designed to address these issues and 
many states like South Dakota are doing an admirable job. Child poverty 
has dropped 3 percent in my State since 1985.
  Looking out for the best interests of children is not a partisan 
issue. The budgets passed in Congress demonstrate that we are 
protecting children. Child nutrition programs received an increase in 
this fiscal year--

[[Page S6513]]

the National School Lunch program was increased by $173 million, the 
School Breakfast program by $107 million, the Women, Infants and 
Children program by $260 million. Head Start also was increased by $36 
million. These increases mean that hundreds of additional children in 
South Dakota will receive the sustenance they need. The increases in 
school-based nutrition programs are especially beneficial. They allow 
children to concentrate on what is really important--learning. Clearly, 
Congress is making good on its commitment to the youngest and most 
vulnerable in our society.
  The single greatest issue affecting our children's future though, is 
the Federal budget. Our $5 trillion debt threatens the quality of life 
of future generations on many fronts. Skyrocketing interest payments on 
our national debt will continue to squeeze out funding for other 
legitimate Federal programs, such as child care or foster care. We must 
take immediate action to control deficit spending to preserve our 
school lunch or Title I programs for future generations.
  Budget deficits darken our children's economic future as well. We 
need a balanced budget to lower interest rates, spur economic 
development and create jobs. Lower interest rates will make a college 
education and a first home more affordable.
  I was very disappointed that liberals in the Senate once again 
rejected the Balanced Budget Amendment. This is a moral issue. A 
balanced budget represents real hope and opportunity for all Americans. 
I continuously have supported a balanced budget, as well as a Balanced 
Budget Amendment to the Constitution. Our $5 trillion debt burden is an 
albatross that our children will be forced to carry. Having just 
celebrated Father's Day, I would like to give my daughter, and all 
other children, the gift of freedom from our national debt.
  Balancing the budget, preserving programs like school lunch and Head 
Start, providing real hope and opportunity for future generations--
that's how we can stand for children. All are not mutually exclusive 
goals. I look forward to working with my colleagues in the months ahead 
to ensure that we in Congress demonstrate a strong, bipartisan 
commitment to children.

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