[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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