[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 128 (Tuesday, September 17, 1996)]
[House]
[Pages H10465-H10470]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
GEORGE BUSH SCHOOL OF GOVERNMENT AND PUBLIC SERVICE ACT
Mr. GOODLING. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 3803) to authorize funds for the George Bush School of
Government and Public Service, as amended.
The Clerk read as follows:
H.R. 3803
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``George Bush School of
Government and Public Service Act''.
SEC. 2. GRANT AUTHORIZED.
In recognition of the public service of President George
Bush, the Secretary of Education is authorized to make a
grant in accordance with the provisions of this Act to assist
in the establishment of the George Bush Fellowship Program,
located at the George Bush School of Government and Public
Service of the Texas A&M University.
SEC. 3. GRANT CONDITIONS.
No payment may be made under this Act except upon an
application at such time, in such manner, and containing or
accompanied by such information as the Secretary of Education
may require.
SEC. 4. APPROPRIATIONS AUTHORIZED.
There are authorized to be appropriated for fiscal year
1997 such sums, not to exceed $3,000,000, as may be necessary
to carry out the provisions of this Act.
SEC. 5. EFFECTIVE DATE.
This Act shall take effect on October 1, 1996.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Pennsylvania, Mr. Goodling, and the gentleman from Texas, Mr. Gene
Green, will each control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Pennsylvania [Mr. Goodling].
Mr. HOEKSTRA. Mr. Speaker, I am opposed to this bill, and I ask if
the gentleman from Texas is in true opposition?
Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I am not.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is the gentleman from Michigan [Mr.
Hoekstra] in opposition to the bill?
Mr. HOEKSTRA. Yes, Mr. Speaker, I am.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rules of the House, the
gentleman from Pennsylvania [Mr. Goodling] and the gentleman from
Michigan [Mr. Hoekstra] will each control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Pennsylvania [Mr. Goodling].
Mr. GOODLING. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that 10 minutes of
my 20 minutes be controlled by the gentleman from Texas, Mr. Gene
Green.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Pennsylvania?
There was no objection.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from
Pennsylvania [Mr. Goodling].
Mr. GOODLING. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself 45 seconds.
(Mr. GOODLING asked and was given permission to revise and extend his
remarks.)
Mr. GOODLING. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3803 is legislation that pays tribute
to a great President and a wonderful friend. The bill is entitled the
George Bush School of Government and Public Service Act.
Some of my colleagues may be opposed to the bill. Some of them are
Johnny-come-lately when it comes to trying to cut down the number of
programs that are here since I led the fight to do that, as far as the
Taft Institute is concerned, because they continued to fund it.
The beauty of this is it is a 1-year funding. The beauty of this is,
instead of spending a whole lot of money building some monument
someplace that the taxpayer has to buy or pay for or to spend a whole
lot of money to set up some park in memory of a wonderful President, a
great friend, this is done one time only because of an amendment that I
offered to the legislation. It must be spent, if appropriated, in 1997.
H.R. 3803 is legislation that pays tribute to a great President and
wonderful friend. The bill is titled the ``George Bush School of
Government and Public Service Act.''
The purpose of the bill is to authorize the Secretary of Education to
provide grant assistance to the Texas A&M University for the
establishment of the George Bush Fellowship Program. This one-time
authorization will ensure that the George Bush Fellowship Program gets
off to a solid start.
The George Bush School will be offering advanced degrees in public
administration and international affairs. Some very fortunate students
will have the opportunity to learn from someone with first hand
experience in both of those areas. President Bush has agreed to play an
active role in teaching these lucky students drawing from his years of
experience in the Congress and the Oval Office.
Some of my colleagues may be opposed to this bill since it authorizes
a new program at a time when this Congress is trying to limit programs.
That's why the manager's amendment I submitted limits the Federal
Government's involvement to a one time appropriation that must take
place in fiscal year 1997 if money is going to be appropriated by the
Appropriations Committee. The Federal Government is not authorized to
provide any additional funds for the program after fiscal year 1997.
The university will be on its own when it comes to funding the program.
In addition, any funds appropriated for this program may not be
released to Texas A&M University until the Secretary of Education
receives an application containing such information as the Secretary
determines necessary.
The Federal Government is not going to dictate the details of the
program. Instead we are going to provide seed money to start the
program. We are going to allow the Secretary of Education and the
University to determine the best way to use that seed money in starting
the program. Then, we are going to get the Federal Government out of
the way and let the private sector fund and operate the program.
Our colleagues in the other body have indicated their support for
this tribute to President Bush by designating funds in the Labor/HHS/
Education Appropriations bill for the George Bush Fellowship Program
subject to passage of this authorizing legislation.
The George Bush Fellowship Program is an excellent tribute to an
outstanding public servant that also gives students the opportunity to
learn from a fine leader and a fine man.
I urge all of my colleagues to support this tribute to President
Bush.
{time} 1615
Mr. HOEKSTRA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I join my colleagues to honor former President George
Bush, but I choose to do so in a very different way, by limiting the
Federal Government and working toward a balanced budget, not by
creating a new fellowship program. Supporters of H.R. 3803 have good
intentions, but the goal of honoring former President George Bush can
better be accomplished by resisting the urge to create yet another
program and spending more Federal dollars.
The new Bush School at Texas A&M is certainly a fitting tribute to
former President Bush. President and Mrs. Bush are committed to teach
and live in the area. I applaud his dedication to students and to
working with this school and this Texas community to make a difference
in the education of our young people.
The enthusiasm for launching this new fellowship has caused very
generous Members of Congress, I believe, to live outside of their
means. Let us have a check on the Federal Government. Do we believe
government is too small? Do we believe we have too few Federal
education programs? By our count and by the count of the executive
branch we already have over 760. Do we need 761?
The most honorable thing that Congress can do for George Bush is to
review our current programs, figure out what works, what does not work,
and pursue creative ways to improve education. Creativity will not lead
us to
[[Page H10466]]
enacting yet another Federal education program and spending additional
funds. Until we have gained an adequate understanding of the
effectiveness of these 760 programs, we should not add another program
to that list.
President Bush was an advocate of 1,000 Points of Light. That
philosophy still lives in the hearts of all Americans, that we can do
so much more privately than with Federal funds.
We do not need this legislation to accomplish its goal. This bill,
though well-intentioned, perpetuates the myth that Washington can and
should create effective education programs in the place of the private
sector or State and local organizations. We are masters of buying
constituencies with other people's money, a program here, a program
there. It sounds good, it makes us feel important; it is what we do. We
spend money. This is one time where we should resist that urge.
It is a myth that this money we are spending today will help America.
It does not honor George Bush. It honors the Washington spending myth.
Citizens Against Government Waste, the National Taxpayers Union, and
Taxpayers for Common Sense all agree that this is unnecessary new
Federal spending.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I
may consume, and I thank the chairman of our committee for sharing this
time with me.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3803. This legislation is a
good example about how a one-time small investment by the Federal
Government can create a new and self-sufficient program that assists
young people at a very fine institution in Texas, Texas A&M, and also
recognizes the contributions of former President George Bush and the
Bush School of Public Affairs at Texas A&M. Public service. The school
is scheduled to be opened in the fall of 1997 in conjunction with
George Bush Presidential Library and Museum, and Texas A&M will
initiate a private fund drive that will raise much more than the $3
million that is authorized in an effort to endow the Bush Fellows and
programs in future years.
I support this legislation because it makes a difference in the lives
of these students, will help them learn how to work with our
government, and again it honors former President Bush, who served this
country not only as President, but in many other capacities.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. HOEKSTRA. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to my colleague the
gentleman from Wisconsin [Mr. Neumann].
Mr. NEUMANN. Mr. Speaker, I, too, have the greatest respect for
President Bush and his commitment to our great country and the many
efforts that he and his family have put in for the good of the future
of America. President Bush paid a huge price to do what he believed was
in the best interests of the future of our country, and paid that price
in order to move this Nation closer to a balanced budget.
Now we stand here today talking about spending money on his behalf,
and I could not agree with my colleague from Michigan more, that the
appropriate way to honor President Bush and his family today is by
defeating this particular bill and helping this Nation move closer to a
balanced budget.
We are currently $5.2 trillion in debt, $5.2 trillion, $20,000 for
every man, woman and child in the United States of America. This is a
wonderful program; it is a wonderful idea. The problem that we have
with it is we cannot afford it. There are many wonderful ideas out
there; the bottom line is we have got to ask ourselves whether or not
we can afford the ideas.
We currently have 760 educational programs federally funded. The U.S.
Federal Government has 760 different educational programs. Why would we
want to go today and add another program to that list?
The other thing is Citizens Against Government Waste, a well-
respected organization here in Washington, as well as National
Taxpayers Union, representing many citizens from across the United
States of America, are opposed to this, and they are opposed to it for
those very reasons, that we are in fact $5 trillion in debt and we need
to start doing what is right for the future of this country.
The best thing we can do is defeat this so we can keep moving toward
a balanced budget, to preserve this Nation for our children and
grandchildren while preserving and protecting Social Security and
Medicare for our senior citizens and working to reduce the tax burden
on our working families so they can keep more of their hard-earned
money.
Mr. GOODLING. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from
Texas [Mr. Barton], the author of the legislation.
(Mr. BARTON of Texas asked and was given permission to revise and
extend his remarks.)
Mr. BARTON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise in very strong support of
this very important legislation that has been endorsed and supported by
a bipartisan coalition of the House of Representatives. We have the
chairman, the subcommittee chairman, I believe, the ranking Democrat on
the authorizing committee, on the subcommittee and full Committee of
Appropriations; we have both the ranking members and the majority
members in support of it. We have both leadership groups in the House
in support of it. This is a living memorial to a former Member of the
House of Representatives, to a former Vice President and, obviously, to
a former President of the United States of America.
This money is very consistent with other memorials that have been
authorized by the Congress for other Presidents. President Kennedy; we
have a program that gives approximately $4 million a year to the
Kennedy Center here in Washington, DC. We have the Woodrow Wilson
School. We have the Eisenhower College, which received $5 million back
in 1968. We have the Hoover Institution, which received $7 million in
1975. We have the Harry S. Truman Scholarship Fund that has received
several million dollars from the Government.
President Bush is very supportive of this legislation. I have a
letter dated June 10 that I will put into the Record. I will read part
of it.
Your proposal for creating a George Bush Fellowships is
excellent. I am delighted to give you my enthusiastic
support. The concept of facilitating promising students
coming to our school is wholly consistent with the standards
for excellence that we have set.
I want to reiterate to my colleagues President Bush, who is going to
spend approximately 3 days a week at the school interacting with the
students, Mrs. Bush, who is also going to spend 3 days a week at the
school, did not want a post office named after the President, they did
not want a plaque somewhere, they did not want a monument. They wanted
money that would go to future generations of America, the best and the
brightest.
I hope that we will unanimously support this legislation.
Mr. Speaker, I include the letter referred to for the Record:
June 10, 1996.
Charles F. Hermann,
Director, George Bush School of Government and Public
Service, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas.
Dear Chuck, your proposal for creating a George Bush
Fellowships is excellent, and I am delighted to give you my
enthusiastic support. The concept of facilitating promising
students coming to our school is wholly consistent with the
standards for excellence we have set. I would be pleased to
have my name associated with future generations who intend to
pursue careers in public service.
In response to your query about my willingness to interact
with those who are awarded these fellowships, let me affirm
what I have said in the past: I very much want to be involved
on a continuing basis with the Bush School, its faculty, and
its students. Barbara and I would particularly enjoy the
chance to get acquainted with fellowship students in
appropriate ways that would underscore their outstanding
merit.
By all means, keep me posted on your progress.
Sincerely,
George Bush.
Mr. HOEKSTRA. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from
Minnesota [Mr. Luther].
Mr. LUTHER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this
time.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to H.R. 3803. Once again we are on
the floor of the House debating an expenditure by Government, this time
the issue being whether to spend yet another $3 million we do not have.
Like my colleagues, I recognize the good intentions of the sponsors
of this
[[Page H10467]]
legislation, and I respect President Bush's service to our country. But
that is not the issue before us today. I oppose this bill, like so many
others, for one reason. We simply do not have the money.
Passing this legislation would provide further credibility to the
phrase ``some things never change,'' and that, it seems to me, is
exactly what is worrying the American people today. They want Congress
to begin acting responsibly and not to be spending money we do not
have.
There has been a great deal of debate in this Congress about various
levels of education funding, and in the next Congress we have the major
task of reauthorizing the Higher Education Act.
Let us exercise some common sense today. In a time of fiscal
restraint let us first review the efficiency and effectiveness of
existing programs before we start funding new ones. Let us not lose our
focus as we near the end of the session. The people of America are
still waiting for a balanced budget. Let us get on with that task.
Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to my
colleague and good friend the gentleman from Mississippi [Mr.
Montgomery].
Mr. MONTGOMERY. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me
this time.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this legislation to provide funds
to the George Bush School of Government.
Mr. Speaker, we have helped other Presidents and we have helped
former Members of Congress and former Members and Presidents from those
who oppose this bill today. We have helped those individuals. I
certainly rise in support of these endowments for schools, in
appreciation for the service that these different individuals have
given.
President Bush had a very productive 4 years. He helped bring about
the end of the cold war with Russia and other Communist nations in
Europe. His actions reduced the threat of nuclear war and started the
movement to destroy and reduce the number of nuclear weapons. His
handling of the Persian Gulf, Mr. Speaker, was outstanding and brought
great pride to our Nation and to our military forces.
President Bush worked hard toward being the education President, and
Barbara Bush continues to work in the field of literacy. I feel very
strongly that these funds will help others to achieve goals that they
have dreamed about and prayed about.
In almost 30 years of public service George Bush has never
embarrassed this country, and he has tried in every way to help and not
hurt President Clinton in his foreign policies, especially in Iraq and
Bosnia.
I hope all Members will vote for this legislation. It makes sense, it
is not a big cost, costs less than one missile we are shooting now to
help out a great President.
Mr. HOEKSTRA. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to my colleague, the
gentleman from Minnesota [Mr. Minge].
Mr. MINGE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding time to
me.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to make it clear that this is not
legislation which is in any way concerning President Bush's
distinguished service to this country. The controversy, instead, is
over whether or not we create yet another special fellowship program in
addition to the 760 that we already have on the books. The question is
whether or not we are going to consolidate and somehow streamline some
of our activities or if we are going to continue to have this sort of
unravel into a series of programs that are almost impossible for us to
oversee in Congress.
I certainly would join and associate myself with the remarks of my
colleagues from Pennsylvania and Mississippi about the distinguished
career of President Bush, but I think that there is no more
distinguishing tribute to his service in this body and as the President
than to say that we are going to practice the type of austerity and
fiscal responsibility that he so well preached himself. I am sure that
both President Bush and Barbara Bush would still be happy to contribute
their services to this great university and teaching students without
having a special appropriation or program that is passed by this
Congress that is in violation of the very principles that President
Bush stood for.
{time} 1630
I would urge my colleagues to join with me and others in opposing
this special authorization, and, instead, vote for the fiscal austerity
and responsibility that we are all so deeply committed to.
Mr. GOODLING. Mr. Speaker, worrying that Hubert Humphrey may be
uncomfortable in his grave, I yield 30 seconds to the gentleman from
Ohio [Mr. Regula].
(Mr. REGULA asked and was given permission to revise and extend his
remarks.)
Mr. REGULA. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this
legislation. Each year on the Interior appropriations bill we spend
millions and millions of dollars on memorials that are visited by
people. How far better to spend the money on a living memorial where
young leaders, potential leaders, will have an opportunity to learn and
share insights with President Bush and First Lady Barbara Bush who have
both served this Nation so well.
George Bush stands for all that is good in America: A patriot,
military service for his country with valor, a man of compassion and
courage. As a matter of fact, as a young Congressman, he had the
courage to vote for fair housing when it was not popular. I urge every
one of my colleagues to vote for this bill.
Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to my
colleague, the gentleman from Texas [Mr. de la Garza], dean of the
Texas delegation.
Mr. de la GARZA. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the legislation.
Let me say at the outset that I cannot understand the praise and then
the meat-ax approach.
I challenge anyone to deny my commitment to a balanced budget. I
introduced a balanced budget amendment 30 years ago, so I do not want
anyone that has been here one or two terms saying that we who try and
do something constructive, that we have to go after a balanced budget
with a meat-ax. I am offended that anyone in honesty would say that
this is a bust-the-budget type situation.
There is no need for me to discuss what George Bush did in his
lifetime, his contribution, that of his wife, his family. Members are
fixing, under the guise of balancing the budget, to embarrass a former
President of the United States, the father of the Governor of Texas,
saying we are going to balance the budget no matter what; when I
daresay many are asking for a canal here and a building there, just go
to the Committee on Appropriations, just go to the committees that
fund, and many of those that might vote against it are looking for
something in their area.
Mr. Speaker, this is an investment in the future, that is what it is,
working with the young people at a great institution Texas A&M so, that
we might recognize what George Bush contributed to this country; let me
repeat again, not because he is my friend, not because he was my
colleague, not because he was the President, not because he was a Vice
President, but because there are right things to do and this is one of
them.
Sometimes we get misdirected. This balance the budget with a meat-ax
approach just will not do it. I will support the legislation in honor
of this great man, and ask all of my colleagues to do so.
Mr. HOEKSTRA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, as I have talked with my colleagues who are sponsors of
this bill, they have laid out a record of significant achievement by
Texas A&M on this project. Texas A&M has already raised significant
dollars, either at the State level or through private contributions,
for the work that will go on at this school. They have demonstrated
that they can move forward without our help.
Mr. Speaker, I think, as we move forward, the tribute here is not
about the work that George Bush has done, or did, as President or did
as a congressman in service to his country. It is about, at this point
in time, whether we go forward and appropriate another $3 million for
an institution that will celebrate the conservative principles and the
balanced budget for which he fought so hard.
The important thing is that we show fiscal restraint, that we do not
continue doing business as we have done business in the past. I have
taken a
[[Page H10468]]
look at the letter that George Bush wrote to Mr. Herman, who is the
director of the George Bush School of Government and Public Service.
The former President talked strongly in favor of the fellowship
program. In his letter, he does not talk or address the issue about
whether it should be federally funded.
I think that the best tribute to this program is to continue going
along in the direction that Texas A&M has done so admirably, which is
pushing for private funding and private donations to make sure that
this program gets off on the right foot.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. GOODLING. Mr. Speaker, I yield 45 seconds to the gentleman from
Pennsylvania [Mr. Clinger].
Mr. CLINGER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding time to
me.
I rise in very strong support of H.R. 3803. What a wonderful way to
recognize a wonderful man and an outstanding President, and his wife,
Barbara.
I think it is instructive to point out that this is the sort of thing
that George Bush would like to have as recognition of his service. He
did not want the equivalent, today's equivalent of an equestrian
statue, some sort of plaque or grandiose recognition of his service. He
wanted to have something that would really make a difference in young
people's lives.
This fellowship program is going to do just that with the incredible
leverage that this program is going to create with a $3 million
investment, and I look at it as an investment in the future of this
country, because it is investing in young people, versus the $25
million or more that the university is prepared to contribute. I think
that is so very, very significant.
The other important thing is that this President and his wife are
going to participate in this fellowship program. I urge strong support
for this bill.
Mr. HOEKSTRA. Mr. Speaker, I would ask, do I have the right to close?
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman from Pennsylvania [Mr.
Clinger], as chairman, has the right to close.
Mr. BARTON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, if the gentleman will yield, if he
will change his position and agree to the bill, I am sure the chairman
would give him the right to close.
Mr. HOEKSTRA. Mr. Speaker, that is an interesting idea, but I do not
think I will take the gentleman up on that.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the
gentleman from Texas [Mr. Hall].
Mr. HALL of Texas. Mr. Speaker, of course, I rise in support of the
bill. It is hard for me to understand how some people can complain
about a $3 million expenditure. It is matched immediately by a $25
million expenditure by the State of Texas and Texas A&M University. It
is not $3 million that invites other money in the future, it is a one-
time deal. They wanted $5 million for Hubert Humphrey not too long ago.
It is hard to see how they can complain about something like this for
education, that educates a lot of youngsters. Education is the answer
to petitions to Federal courts and mobs in the streets. If there is any
answer, it is education. I do not understand how they can stand here
and vote to send $16 billion to $17 billion overseas in foreign aid and
complain about $3 million to help some youngsters get educated.
Mr. Speaker, I think certainly for George Bush, a friend of mine, a
longtime friend, I am pleased to speak on behalf of this. He was a
leader in everything he did. He served as a carrier-based torpedo
bomber pilot in the Navy during World War II, was in many major
battles. Even, at one time, he was shot down, picked up by a PT boat.
He also served as congressman, ambassador, CIA director, Vice
President, and ultimately President.
Other than possibly Thomas Jefferson, he brought the greatest
portfolio into the Presidency of any of his predecessors, and probably
any since. He served his country for many years. I just think that
today, if we pass H.R. 3803, we in Congress say to our President, to
George Bush and his great family, we respect you, your leadership and
dedication to public service will never be forgotten, because it will
always be studied and taught at the George Bush School of Government
and Public Service.
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to speak today on behalf of H.R. 3803, the
George Bush School of Government and Public Service Act. This bill will
authorize one-time funding which will help establish the George Bush
fellowship program at the former President's School of Government and
Public Service.
Mr. Speaker, George Bush was a leader in everything he did. He served
as a carrier-based Torpedo Bomber pilot in the Navy during World War
II--was in many major battles and was even, at one time, shot down and
picked up by a PT boat. He also served our country as a Congressman,
Ambassador, CIA Director, Vice President and, ultimately, President.
Other than possible Thomas Jefferson, he brought the greatest portfolio
into the Presidency of all of his predecessors. He served our country
for many years, and in so doing, he served the world. He was a leader
for a greater America and through his leadership, he shaped for us and
for future generations a better world.
As we pass this bill, we will have the opportunity to honor President
Bush like we have no other former President. As a man who dedicated his
entire life to public service, I can think of no greater honor than to
help establish an educational program geared toward public service in
his name. Rather than constructing a building, a statue, or a park in
his honor, we will be investing in the future of our country. We will
be helping to produce leaders and public servants who will be proud
graduates of the George Bush School of Government and Public Service,
and who will go on to follow President Bush's noble example of selfless
leadership and public service.
President Bush is aware of this new fellowship initiative and has
committed to becoming personally involved with the educational program
of his school and, in particular, with the George Bush fellows. The
leadership opportunities for these fellows and the close, personal
interaction they will have will be unmatched in the world. These
students will be learning public policy and international affairs at
the arm of the master himself, George Bush.
Today, we pass H.R. 3803 and we in Congress say to President George
Bush and to his great family, we respect you. Your leadership and
dedication to public service will never be forgotten, because it will
always be studied and taught at the George Bush School of Government
and Public Service.
Mr. GOODLING. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from
Texas [Mr. Smith].
Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding
time to me.
Mr. Speaker, it is a pleasure to rise in support of the George Bush
School of Government and Public Service Act. Time and again, former
President Bush has served his country with distinction.
As a young man, he volunteered to fight for his country in World War
II as our Nation's youngest naval aviator. He dedicated his life to
national service, serving as a Congressman representing Texas, the
Director of the CIA, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, our
Ambassador to the Republic of China, and the chairman of the Republican
National Committee.
In 1980, he was elected Vice President with President Ronald Reagan,
and together they led America into the greatest peacetime expansion
since World War II. Presidents Reagan and Bush led the world to the end
of the cold war. As President, George Bush served with the
unquestionable honor and great dignity that is owed to the highest
office in our great Nation.
America, and indeed the world, was appreciative of his efforts during
the Gulf war. The unity that was demonstrated during that conflict--the
support of Congress, the support of the American public, and the
support of our allies--was a triumph of and a tribute to the steadfast
leadership of President Bush.
Just as important is George Bush's constant devotion to his family.
He and his wife, Barbara, have raised a wonderful family that continue
to pass on their shared values of faith, family, honor and service to
new generations.
As a Texan, I am particularly appreciative of President Bush passing
along these values to his children, because he has blessed our State
with a great Governor, his son, George W. Bush.
I urge my colleagues to support this legislation as a tribute to a
World War II aviator, a dedicated public servant, a great President and
a truly honorable man--President George Bush.
Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I
may consume.
Mr. Speaker, let me talk a little bit for the Members and colleagues
who
[[Page H10469]]
may have some confusion about this. Historically, there have been
Presidential fellowships for former officials, and this is not breaking
new ground. It was pointed out by the opposition that there are private
donations and private fundraising. This is really a one-time
appropriation of seed money of $3 million. There will be much more
raised. Again, it is an educational program that I am proud to support,
not only for President Bush, but also at a great university, Texas A&M.
One of the things I heard during some of the debate in opposition was
we had 760 education programs that the Federal Government administers.
Let me talk about some of those 760 that they list. Sixty of those are
scientific and medical research programs, including 48 here at the
National Institutes of Health. Sometimes some of these statistics are
thrown around up here and people may think, oh, we have 760
Presidential fellow programs. That is not true.
Some of these other programs they have, they are mentioning in those
760, include job training programs, include educational programs for
Lyme disease. Let us deal with apples and not compare them to oranges
or pineapples or anything else, and really talk about the effort that
we need to make in recognizing a great President.
Mr. Speaker, I have to admit, I did not vote for George Bush, but I
also recognize that he was a President of our country, and just like
now, we recognize the contributions of him, but during his tenure,
there was controversy. There were Members on the floor of the House who
disagreed with him, just like now with President Clinton.
I would hope that once someone serves their country like President
Bush has, we can recognize him with this fellows program in conjunction
with his presidential library at Texas A&M. Again, it is a great
university, and it is a great program to enhance the ability of young
students, students to learn about their Government through the George
Bush School of Public Service.
Mr. BARTON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield?
Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. I yield to the gentleman from Texas.
Mr. BARTON of Texas. Very briefly, I want to reinforce what the
gentleman said, Mr. Speaker. This $3 million one-time grant will help
start the permanently endowed scholarship fund. Texas A&M is going to
raise privately $25 million to permanently endow this scholarship fund.
{time} 1645
But this $3 million will be the first of the funds for the first
class of fellows that are going to begin next year. Of the $3 million,
less than $100,000 will be used over the life of the program for
administrative expenses. Over $2.9 million will go to fund as many as
200 scholarships. So this is truly, as the gentleman from Pennsylvania
[Mr. Clinger] said, a living memorial to a former President.
Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my
time.
parliamentary inquiry
Mr. de la GARZA. Mr. Speaker, I have a parliamentary inquiry.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Goodlatte). The gentleman will state it.
Mr. de la GARZA. Mr. Speaker, you have stated that Chairman Goodling
has the right to close on this matter. The gentleman from Michigan [Mr.
Hoekstra] says that he wants to be last, I assume before the gentleman
from Pennsylvania [Mr. Goodling].
My parliamentary inquiry is, does he have a right to that spot? Or
can the gentleman from Texas, Mr. Gene Green, be the one who speaks
next before the gentleman from Pennsylvania, Mr. Goodling?
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman from Pennsylvania has the
right to close. Those who are recognized prior to that are within the
discretion of the Chair.
Mr. de la GARZA. So, therefore, the gentleman from Michigan [Mr.
Hoekstra] does not have the right, the Chair has the right to
recognize?
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair has the right to determine who
will be recognized immediately prior to the right of the gentleman from
Pennsylvania to close.
Mr. de la GARZA. I thank the Chair.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman from Texas, Mr. Gene Green,
has 1 minute remaining, the gentleman from Pennsylvania, Mr. Goodling,
has 4 minutes remaining, and the gentleman from Michigan, Mr. Hoekstra,
has 9\1/2\ minutes remaining.
Mr. GOODLING. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from
Texas [Mr. Barton], the author of the legislation.
(Mr. BARTON of Texas asked and was given permission to revise and
extend his remarks.)
Mr. BARTON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I want to reinforce all that has
been said in favor of this legislation. Will Rogers, the great
philosopher from Oklahoma, once said that he never met a man that he
did not like. I think we could say about President Bush that there was
never a man or woman that met the former President that did not like
him. He is truly one of the most decent human beings that has ever been
in public service for this country.
Texas A&M and its private benefactors have raised, or are attempting
to raise, over $125 million to build, construct, or operate the Bush
Library and the George Bush School of Public Service. The funds that we
are offering today to help in that effort are maybe not something that
we absolutely have to do, but sometimes I think this Congress should do
things that we should do. We should do this to honor a great former
Member of the House, a great former Vice President, and a great former
President of the United States.
Mr. GOODLING. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from
Mississippi [Mr. Montgomery].
Mr. MONTGOMERY. Mr. Speaker, I think it should be pointed out that
Barbara Bush and George Bush are participating in the Texas A&M school
that honors President Bush, and that Barbara Bush is still working in
literacy, trying to improve people who did not have the opportunity to
get a total education.
I just think it would be right to give a strong vote today to George
Bush for the things he has done, for Barbara Bush, and as somebody had
mentioned, his outstanding family.
I would like to encourage my colleagues. We have done this before. We
have done it to Democrats, we have done it to Republicans, and this is
not whether you are a conservative, a liberal, or want to balance the
budget. I want to challenge my Democratic friends on this side of the
aisle who talked in opposition of saving this $3 million that I have a
much more conservative voting record than they do on trying to balance
the budget. So I certainly hope that we would support this legislation.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair would inquire of the gentleman
from Michigan if he has any other speakers other than himself?
Mr. HOEKSTRA. Mr. Speaker, I will be the only speaker.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. It is the determination of the Chair that
the gentleman from Michigan should have the opportunity to go next to
last, before the gentleman from Pennsylvania, and, therefore, the Chair
recognizes the gentleman from Texas, Mr. Gene Green, to yield the
additional 1 minute he has remaining.
Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I will use my last minute, I
guess, and talk about the importance of this bill.
Again H.R. 3803, the George Bush School of Government and Public
Service Act, is a one-time appropriation, in the tradition that we have
done in many other examples, including I believe I was told, in 1978,
Senator Hubert Humphrey that I would have supported in 1978 to my
colleagues who are here from Minnesota who opposed it.
The documentation that has been used, again, the 760 educational
programs, are just ludicrous, to talk about compare this with those.
Some of those include the educational programs, American Printing House
for the Blind. That is just ludicrous to have that used in opposition.
This is a great example of honoring a former President and also a
great institution in Texas A&M, and I would hope we would have a
resounding number of ``aye'' votes for H.R. 3803.
Mr. HOEKSTRA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
I have just a couple of points in closing.
We might have had a slightly different debate today if we had had the
[[Page H10470]]
opportunity to take this bill through the committee process so we could
have discussed it either at the subcommittee or at the full committee
level. This bill has not gone through that process.
The second thing that I would just like to say, in listening to the
debate I have heard the comment, It is only $3 million; $3 million is a
lot of money.
We also have to take a look, and I think rethink some of the myths
here in Washington. Is the granting of money, is the spending of more
money, is spending money and creating another program, and spending
money that we do not have, is that the highest tribute and the only
tribute that we can pay to Members or people who have given in
government service?
That is the myth in Washington. Any time we see a problem or we see
the need to recognize somebody, it is time to spend more money. I think
there are other ways to do that.
I think Texas A&M is setting a great example by how they have moved
forward with this program without any help from Washington. I do not
think at this point in time they need that additional help.
The greatest tribute perhaps to George Bush at this time is to
demonstrate that the school can start in a different way and that his
fellowships would be provided and funded through the private sector and
not here from Washington.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. GOODLING. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, I have a feeling that in some cases there is a little
preelection rhetoric going on on the floor of the House today. I say
that because we have two choices. We have this choice, of providing a
living monument, something that is going to benefit the living, and at
a 1-year expense only. It did not go through the committee process, but
it went through careful scrutiny by the chairman of the committee, and
because of the manager's amendment, it is a 1-year authorization. As I
indicated, it is a living monument.
The second choice that we have, of course, which will happen, there
is no question, you can talk about it now but when the election is
over, it will happen. We can have some expensive monument sitting out
there somewhere that will cost the taxpayer a fortune from now until
the end of time, or we can have some park development that will cost a
great deal of money, or we can have this living monument to two
wonderful people who are going to participate and give to the young
people of this country a great deal for many years to come.
So if I have my choice, and anybody who really sits down and analyzes
the choices, the choice certainly should be to have a living monument
that will benefit people and that will be honoring someone who wants to
be honored in that manner rather than some flowery tribute in
relationship to a monument or something of that nature.
I would call on my colleagues to think strictly in terms of what is
the best way to honor George and Barbara Bush, because they are going
to be honored. There is no question about it. So let us do it with a
living monument, with a one-time authorization only from the Treasury
of the United States in an appropriation.
Mr. PORTMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my strong support
for H.R. 3803, The George Bush School of Government and Public Service
Act. As former staff member in the Bush White House, I had the true
honor of learning first-hand the values and principles of public
service life that President Bush exemplified. He taught that honor,
integrity and responsibility are the most important code of conduct for
a public official, and he also taught the importance of public
officials teaching those values to others. Now, through this
legislation, Congress can help to instill these values in the new
generation of leaders.
As a former President, Vice President, Ambassador, Party Chairman,
CIA Director, and Member of Congress, George Bush saw many different
sides of public service during his long and distinguished career. By
creating the George H.W. Bush Fellowship Program today, we pass that
experience on to future leaders--and provide young scholars with access
to programs that develop the leadership skills they will need to guide
this Nation in the next century. In addition to learning directly from
President and Mrs. Bush, Fellows will have the chance to learn from
distinguished world leaders such as Margaret Thatcher and Brian
Mulroney--who have both agreed to participate in the program. Their
experience, knowledge and wisdom will be a tremendous gift for our
future generations.
I know there are some who are concerned about the $3 million
authorization provided by this bill--and that is a legitimate concern
that President Bush himself would have raised in his days as a Member.
But we have to remember that this is ``seed money'' that will lead to
many millions more being spent by the private sector and the State of
Texas to promote this worthy project. This is an authorization for a
one-time appropriation to ensure that this program gets up and running
for the first year. I would also note that it is very much in line with
what we have done to honor other former Presidents, and that private
funds will be used to endow the program in future years. It is, as Mr.
Goodling noted, a living monument that will benefit future generations
of American leaders.
I know that I would not be here in this Chamber today if it were not
for the tremendous learning opportunity that George Bush gave me. Let's
do a little to ensure that same opportunity for so many young people. I
urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support this measure.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Pennsylvania [Mr. Goodling] that the House suspend the
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 3803, as amended.
The question was taken.
Mr. HOEKSTRA. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 5 of rule I and the
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be
postponed.
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