[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 70 (Friday, May 23, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1059-E1060]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION ON THE BUDGET, FISCAL YEAR 1998

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                           HON. RALPH M. HALL

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 22, 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, 2001, and 2002.

  Mr. HALL of Texas. Mr. Chairman, I have had the privilege of serving 
in this body since 1981, and one of the first bills that I supported 16 
years ago was a balanced budget. This is a goal that I have worked for 
year after year--and it is a goal that has eluded us until now. So I am 
gratified that the Congress has taken a dramatic first step this week 
toward achieving that goal by passing the budget resolution.
  It has taken us years to come this far--and it is a testament to the 
hard work and dedication of many current and former Members of Congress 
that this goal is finally within our grasp. We have a chance to return 
fiscal accountability and responsibility to the Federal

[[Page E1060]]

Government and set a course that will ensure our Nation's well-being 
into the 21st century. We have a chance to preserve the American dream 
for our children and grandchildren and help ensure that their future is 
as bright with promise as was ours.
  I thank all my colleagues who have worked so hard to achieve this 
goal, and I command the coalition leadership which has played an 
important role in this endeavor in both the 104th and 105th Congresses. 
But we must be careful that what we do in the final analysis will be 
fair to all Americans, will be equitable, and will be enforceable. The 
tough choices lie ahead in the coming weeks, so we have much work yet 
to do. This week marks an important beginning--but a beginning that has 
an achievable end in sight.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to commend my colleagues for their commitment to 
balancing the budget and their work thus far, and I want to urge 
continued bipartisan support as we try to make the right choices in the 
coming weeks and choose the best means to accomplish that goal.

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