[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 83 (Monday, June 16, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Page S5712]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               EMERGENCY SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS ACT

 Mr. ABRAHAM. Mr. President, last week the Senate adopted the 
emergency supplemental bill by a vote of 78 to 21. As one of the 
Members who voted against it, I wanted to take this opportunity to 
explain my vote.
  I reluctantly voted for the last disaster relief bill--even though I 
believed it contained too many nonemergency spending times and that it 
exacerbated an already inequitible transportation funding situation for 
Michigan. The reason I did so was the inclusion of the continuing 
resolution language that would have protected Americans from another 
Government shutdown and the loss of necessary Government services.
  The legislation adopted on Thursday did not contain this protection, 
and so left the American taxpayer and the Congress at the mercy of a 
President who has consistently demanded ever-higher levels of 
Government spending, and who is willing to shutdown the Federal 
Government to get it.
  Moreover, the legislation contained extraneous, nonemergency spending 
items as well as more money than the Congress was willing to spend just 
a few short weeks ago. As a final insult, this legislation fails to 
fully offset the additional spending it provides, and therefore will 
result in another increase to the deficit.
  Mr. President, I sympathize with the plight of the people living in 
the flooded States and I fully support providing the disaster 
assistance they need to rebuild their communities and their lives. 
However, for the Congress to adopt legislation which adds to the 
deficit, includes nonemergency extraneous matters, and that does not 
protect the taxpayers against another Government shutdown, was in my 
view wholly irresponsible and not deserving of my support. 

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