[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 43 (Thursday, March 18, 1999)]
[House]
[Page H1453]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY IN WASHINGTON, D.C., AND SECURITY FOR ALL 
                               AMERICANS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Fletcher) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. FLETCHER. Mr. Speaker, I want to talk to my colleagues tonight 
about our work to secure America's freedom.
  First, I am pleased to be part of the Committee on Budget that has 
finally delivered what the American people want, fiscal responsibility 
in Washington and security for all Americans. It is a budget that 
achieves one of the most important goals, one of my most important 
goals: Assuring that no one will be left behind as we enter the 21st 
century.
  Our priorities are very simple, yet they are very important: 
Preserving Social Security, paying down the debt, establishing farm 
security, increasing funding for education and defense, and providing 
tax relief for American families. These are issues that are important 
to the folks back home in Kentucky, as well as to the folks across 
America.
  Last light we passed a budget out of committee that locks away 100 
percent of the Social Security surplus, including every penny of the 
Social Security tax as well as the interest, to preserve and protect 
Social Security and Medicare. For the first time in over a generation, 
Social Security will be used for one thing and one thing only, our 
Nation's retirees.
  The President's plan would have only saved 62 percent while spending 
the rest on more Government programs. The difference, he would have 
locked up $1.3 trillion, but we are locking up $1.8 trillion and still 
providing $800 billion in tax cuts for all Americans.
  My health care amendment was also included in this budget. It 
addresses two key issues critical to central Kentucky and to America: 
The availability of home health care for Medicare recipients and 
addressing the need to provide accessible and affordable health care. I 
would encourage the President and my colleagues to work together for 
this important reform.
  The President has already blocked Medicare reform and proposed $9 
billion in Medicare cuts. Let us put people ahead of politics and 
provide the highest quality of health care for all Americans.
  We also focused on the needs of farm families in Kentucky. This 
budget includes $6 billion to address the critical issue of crop 
insurance. We are upholding our commitment by securing these important 
funds, while the President did not secure a dime of increases for our 
family farms and our tobacco farmers in Kentucky.
  Most importantly, we have achieved all of these important priorities 
and goals while living within the balanced budget agreement and paying 
down the national debt.
  Ultimately, this budget is about making sure the American dream is 
not gambled away here in Washington. I hope we can pass this historic 
budget next week in this House with bipartisan support. I will look 
forward to supporting the budget when it is considered in the full 
House. It is a budget that is about truth, priorities, fiscal 
restraint, and hope.
  Additionally, we moved to secure America's freedom. Economic, social, 
and educational security are all very important. However, what is a 
balanced budget, a strong economy, tax relief, or anything else for 
that matter without an adequate national defense?
  Unfortunately, missile attacks could threaten every security that we 
work so hard to protect and the freedom that we all have taken for 
granted. We need to be concerned about this and focused on the growing 
number of rogue nations who are working to acquire capabilities to 
strike at our cherished freedoms.
  We all know that, for the most part, times are good. That is why it 
is important and this is a perfect time to address this concern. I am 
pleased we have taken this important step today. It is a step toward 
establishing a national missile defense system for this great Nation. 
Most importantly, it is a step toward providing each and every American 
with a sense of security, a strong national defense, the best 
educational system possible, economic, health and retirement security. 
These are the securities that matter each and every day to this great 
country.
  Let us stay on course and deliver on each of these important issues. 
Our parents, children, and grandchildren deserve nothing less.

                          ____________________