[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 108 (Monday, July 22, 1996)]
[House]
[Pages H8033-H8034]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          TRAGEDY IN THE SKIES

  Mr. GEKAS. Mr. Speaker, everyone by now knows about the impact of the 
recent aircraft tragedy on a small community in Pennsylvania, 
Montoursville. This area is represented currently by our colleague, the 
gentleman from Pennsylvania [Mr. McDade], who very promptly and 
appropriately expressed his concern to the families of the high school 
students who were involved in that horrible incident.
  This community, Montoursville, is in Wyoming County. Prior to the 
current configuration of our legislative districts, I had the privilege 
of representing that area. I must tell my colleagues that this is an 
all-American community, which the news media has very accurately 
portrayed in all its coverages following that tragic air crash.
  This little community has spawned many, many different types of 
sports championships and academic championships. It seemed almost every 
other week I was attending a banquet for the girls' softball champions 
or the boys' baseball champions or the little league champions, not to 
mention high academic honors for individuals and classes, et cetera, 
that emerged from that high school. So I wanted to point that out to my 
colleagues that, indeed, for a change, the media's portrayal of that 
community was absolutely accurate as being one made up of neighbors and 
friends, all of whom knew each other, and in one way or another, always 
participated in community endeavors, and now they join hands to extend 
their persona, each and every one to the other, in that lovely little 
community.
  I did direct the communication to the mayor and to others in that 
area, and I simply wanted to enter my feelings into the Congressional 
Record.


                      no more government shutdowns

  On another matter, everyone knows by now that the Government shut 
down several times, not just this past cycle, not just this term of 
Congress, but in previous occasions, actually shut down. As a matter of 
fact, there was a time when during Desert Storm or Desert Shield, I 
guess the formation of our

[[Page H8034]]

troop contingents in Saudi Arabia before Desert Storm, while our young 
people were gathering there, weapon in hand, as it were, our Government 
shut down.
  What kind of a spectacle is that? This is in December 1990, the 
troops were already amassing in Saudi Arabia and were poised to launch 
the eventual Desert Storm activity, and our Government shut down.
  Is that not shameful, to have the Government, which is sponsoring the 
activities of our young members of the Armed Forces, to shut down? They 
were over in Saudi Arabia without a government back home. Now, that is 
disgraceful.
  Well, prior to that time even, when we sensed the urgency of what 
happens when the Government shuts down, I introduced a piece of 
legislation which I want to redescribe here today, which would end 
shutdowns forever. If we adopted my legislation, I repeat, never again 
would we witness or experience a Government shutdown. It is so simple 
in its aspect that the reason that people have told me that it has not 
passed up until now is because it makes too good sense. It makes common 
sense, and that is why it cannot get through Congress.

  Here is what happens: At the end of the fiscal year on September 30, 
if the Congress has not adopted a new budget which is due by midnight 
September 30 or October 1, then my bill, if enacted, would 
automatically cause an instant replay, as it were, everybody recognizes 
that, an instant replay of last year's budget.
  In its lowest denominator terms, last year's budget, or if the House 
has passed an appropriations bill that is lower than the last year's 
bill, or the Senate has, we take the lowest figure and instant replay 
what occurred the next day, October 1, and our budget would be in 
place, no shutdown could occur, the employees of the Federal Government 
would continue with their functions, our Armed Forces would continue in 
their duties to our people, and everything would go on normally, and 
the Congress would still have an opportunity with the White House to 
negotiate the next year's budget. In the meantime, we will have ongoing 
portions of last year's budget.
  Is that not simple? Should we not have that kind of resolution of 
this vexatious problem?
  The bill that I introduced again this cycle was one which became the 
subject of my entreaties before the Committee on Rules, and an amazing 
thing happened. In previous times when the Democrat Party controlled 
the Committee on Rules, I went before them and each time they slammed 
the door in my face. Only the Republicans supported me on that measure 
each time I appeared before the Committee on Rules.
  The reverse has now happened. It is time to end Government shutdowns 
forever. Support the Gekas bill.

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