[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 98 (Friday, June 28, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7291-S7292]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                INAUGURAL SPEECH OF SENATOR SHEILA FRAHM

  Mrs. FRAHM. Mr. President, I am honored to be recognized by the 
distinguished Chair and to address the U.S. Senate. In the short 2 
weeks since I was sworn in as the 31st Senator from my State of Kansas 
and the 1,828th Senator to serve in the Senate, I have had the 
privilege of casting my first votes on issues that are very important 
to me, to Kansans, and to our Nation. These votes were on issues that I 
believe will help shape the future--the financial future of our 
children, and the future security of our Nation.
  My very first vote in the Senate may, in fact, be the most important 
vote I will cast this year--it was in support of the balanced budget 
resolution. I strongly believe that it is imperative that we control 
Federal spending, balance the budget, and have the courage to make the 
tough calls. As Lieutenant Governor of Kansas, Governor Graves and I 
made the tough calls, submitting the first balanced budget in a 
generation. We lowered taxes on Kansans by $1.3 billion over the next 5 
years. I cut my own Department of Administration budget for fiscal year 
1997 by 7 percent, and began a 5 percent personnel reduction over the 
next 2 years. I will work hard to put our national fiscal house in 
order, as I have already done in Kansas. A balanced budget represents 
hope for future generations, hope that they may be relieved of the 
crushing burden of a debt that was not of their making. I am committed 
to making that hope a reality. Chairman Domenici is to be commended for 
his skill and tenacity in shaping and managing the budget resolution 
through conference and the Senate.

  I am pleased to be serving with the distinguished chairman of the 
Armed Services Committee as we continue deliberations over the 1997 
Defense authorization bill. Maintaining a strong national defense is of 
vital interest to all Americans. I am, therefore, pleased and honored 
to have cast some of my first votes in support of a strong America.
  Further, I am delighted to join Chairman D'Amato and my colleagues on 
the Senate Banking Committee. I feel honored to serve with such a 
dedicated and distinguished committee. Maintaining the integrity of our 
financial institutions, achieving real regulatory reform, and 
preserving a strong and vibrant housing industry are top priorities for 
me and for Kansas. I look forward to working with the chairman on these 
important issues.
  On Tuesday, I cast the first of what I am sure will be a number of a 
very difficult votes. This was regarding cloture on the campaign 
finance reform bill. I believe we owe our best judgment to those we 
represent. And in my judgment, it is far better to have real and 
meaningful reform that will become law rather than cast politically 
expedient votes. I am not afraid of making the tough calls. I want to 
make it clear that I strongly support campaign finance reform--real 
reform. And while I know the sponsors of that bill feel they brought 
forward the best they could do under the circumstances, in my mind, bad 
reform is not better than no reform. I oppose Federal financing of our 
elections, which would in effect turn politicians into a new class of 
welfare dependents. I came here to reform welfare, not expand it. I 
question why the Congress should seek to pass a bill that is almost 
certainly unconstitutional in many of its key reforms, and puts an

[[Page S7292]]

unreasonable mandate of high costs on private business. There will be 
more tough votes ahead, but as I said, I am not afraid of making the 
difficult choices.

  In conclusion, let me just note that I do not intend nor will I 
pretend to fill the tremendous void left by my predecessor, Senator Bob 
Dole. He stood as a giant in the Senate and his departure is a great 
loss to the Senate and to Kansas. But, I do pledge my very best, which 
I have always given to Kansas. And I am looking forward to working with 
Bob Dole in his new position of national leadership.
   Mr. President, I thank my colleagues for the warm reception they 
have extended me. Their good wishes and assistance have been a great 
help during my first days in the Senate and I look forward to working 
with the leadership and my colleagues on both sides of the aisle as we 
work together to shape our Nation's future. Of course, we may not 
always agree, but I can assure you that my State of Kansas and the 
United States of America and the U.S. Senate will always receive my 
highest efforts and most careful judgment as we face the challenges 
ahead.
  Thank you Mr. President.

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