[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 69 (Thursday, May 22, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1019-E1020]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION ON THE BUDGET, FISCAL YEAR 1998

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                          HON. WALTER H. CAPPS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 20, 1997

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the concurrent resolution 
     (H. Con. Res. 84) establishing the Congressional budget for 
     the U.S. Government for the fiscal year 1998 and setting 
     forth appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 1999, 
     2000, and 2002.


  Mr. CAPPS. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of the budget 
resolution. Though I have strong doubts about some of its provisions 
and fully oppose others, I am confident that this budget is, on 
balance, in the best interest of my constituents and the country.
  This budget is a victory for fiscal responsibility. It offers 
sensible tax relief while increasing our commitment to education, 
health and environmental protection--all while achieving a balanced 
budget by 2002.
  The capital gains tax reductions will help small businesses, family 
farms and high-tech companies throughout this country. Lower interest 
rates will free up capital, allow greater expansion for growing sectors 
of our economy, and reward risk-taking entrepreneurs. The likely 
$500,000 exemption of profits from home sales will encourage home 
ownership and give many taxpayers flexibility with their largest 
financial asset.
  I am particularly pleased that the new budget proposal calls for the 
strongest Federal support of education in 30 years. It strengthens the 
Head Start program to include an additional 200,000 young children by 
2002 and provides for 1 million tutors for older students who need help 
catching up. The expansion of the Pell Grant programs and $35 billion 
in education tax credits will increase access for working families and 
their children to help them help themselves through the wonders of 
higher education.
  I believe in welfare reform, but I opposed the rank unfairness in 
last year's bill that sought to end all benefits to legal immigrants. 
The provisions to restore benefits to elderly disabled legal immigrants 
will help impart some fairness to welfare reform. I also support the 
tax incentives for businesses to help increase welfare-to-work 
opportunities.
  This budget also restores health insurance for half of our Nation's 
10 million uninsured children. While this is a good start, we must do 
more. No child in this country should be without health insurance. We 
should see this provision as a start in addressing this critical need 
throughout our country.
  As the Representatives of one of the most beautiful districts in the 
Nation, I am pleased that the agreement also provides funding to double 
the pace of cleanup at Superfund toxic waste sites; increases funding 
for community redevelopment of contaminated urban areas (so called 
``brown fields''); and increases funding for ensuring the beauty of our 
National Parks.
  But like many of my colleagues here today, I am concerned about the 
amount of savings--$155 billion--to the Medicare program. These cuts 
will force a rise in seniors' premiums of perhaps more than $5 per 
month by

[[Page E1020]]

the year 2002 and put additional financial burdens on physicians and 
hospitals. I fear that such deep cuts could do serious damage to the 
quality of health care provided to seniors and I hope that we can work 
together here in the House to ensure that these cuts are done as 
responsibly as possible.
  In addition, there are many wasteful Government programs that were 
not included in the agreement that could save billions of taxpayer 
dollars and lessen the cuts to important programs like Medicare.
  For example, mining laws are still governed by a law written in 1872, 
which gives away billions of dollars in mineral rights on taxpayer land 
for almost nothing. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that 
updating this law would save $1.5 billion over 5 years and protect the 
environment. We also continue to subsidize the building of roads in our 
national forests and to sell taxpayer-owned timber at below market 
rates, at a cost of $300 million annually. Subsidies for the cotton and 
sugar programs cost taxpayers billions each year.
  I also have questions about the Pentagon's budget. While I am a 
strong supporter of our armed services, we must subject the Pentagon's 
$263 billion annual budget to the same scrutiny at the rest of the 
Federal Government.
  As with any major piece of Federal legislation that covers such a 
broad range of issues, there is a lot to like and dislike about the 
proposed budget agreement. But we must not succumb to the temptation to 
abandon the process because there may be particular provisions with 
which we disagree.
  I believe that we must return a measure of civility to our public 
discourse. We mustn't fall into the abyss that the last Congress found 
itself in. Only by speaking with one another in a civil and honorable 
fashion can we hope to accomplish what the people of all our districts 
have sent us here to do.
  Republicans and Democrats will not work in a bipartisan fashion on 
every issue, nor do I believe that they should. While there are 
distinct differences between our two parties, these disagreements 
should be seen as an illustration of the strength of our democracy. But 
we cannot let these differences stand in the way of making compromises 
that move our country forward, and Congress should not return to the 
frustrating and unproductive days of the recent past.
  This budget resolution breaks the choke hold of partisan rancor that 
has been squeezing civility from our political life. This agreement is 
clear evidence that only by working together in a bipartisan fashion 
can we bring about solutions to very complex issues.
  I urge my colleagues to support this budget resolution.

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