[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 19 (Wednesday, February 3, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Page S1122]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     THE PRESIDENT'S FY 2000 BUDGET

  Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, I come here today to talk about our 
Nation's first investment in the next century: the budget for the year 
2000. I want to say how great it is that we are turning our attention 
to the issues that are important to America's families.
  When I first came to Washington, DC, the deficit was $290 billion. We 
had to make some very tough budget decisions to get the Nation's books 
back in balance. Now our economy is growing and it is strong. This 
year, the Office of Management and Budget projects a surplus to be $79 
billion. That is the biggest surplus in American history. It hasn't 
been easy to get to this point and we still have a lot of work to do.
  Now we have to use this opportunity to make critical investments in 
our Nation's senior citizens and in our children. We have an obligation 
to ensure the dignity of the previous generation and to prepare the 
next generation for a successful future. The budget we have before the 
Senate will help us do that.
  This budget keeps our commitment to save Social Security first. It 
will set aside more than 60 percent of the surplus to extend the 
solvency of the Social Security trust fund until 2055. And it takes 
important steps to protect older women who depend on Social Security, 
but must continue to work to supplement their incomes. This budget will 
increase their survivor's benefits after the deaths of their husbands 
and eliminate the earnings limitation.
  This budget will strengthen Medicare and provide more stability. It 
also gives assistance to the elderly and disabled who need long-term 
care in their families by providing a $1,000 tax credit.
  We have to also make education a top priority. This budget provides 
desperately needed funds to fix our Nation's worn out schools and our 
overcrowded classrooms. It provides tax credits to help States and 
local school districts build and renovate public schools, and it 
continues our commitment to hiring 100,000 new and well-trained 
teachers. In addition, it provides flexibility at the local level for 
schools to ensure all children receive a quality education, and it 
calls for tough new accountability measures to hold schools and 
teachers to high standards.

  This budget is by no means perfect. The funding for educating 
children with special needs is inadequate, and I will work to address 
this inequity. The Federal Government has made a commitment to meet 40 
percent of the cost of educating disabled children, but we have yet to 
come close. As we work to improve our schools and raise our academic 
standards, we must not leave disabled children behind.
  I know that as we go through the budget process we will have our 
disagreements, but I am looking forward to an open discussion of the 
issues and working together to accomplish a bipartisan agreement that 
serves the American people well.
  This budget provides a real framework for action. I applaud the 
President's pledge to save Social Security and prepare for the 
challenges of a new century. Now we must move forward. The clock is 
ticking. It is time for us to work on the issues and the priorities of 
America's families.
  Thank you, Mr. President. I yield the floor.
  Ms. COLLINS addressed the Chair.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Bunning). The Senator from Maine, Ms. 
Collins, is recognized.
  (The remarks of Ms. Collins and Mr. Levin pertaining to the 
introduction of S. 335 are located in today's Record under ``Statements 
on Introduced Bills and Joint Resolutions.'')
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Georgia.
  Mr. COVERDELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the next 
60 minutes of morning business be under my control.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

                          ____________________