[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 52 (Thursday, April 15, 1999)]
[House]
[Pages H2116-H2117]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      RESPONSIBLE BUDGETING AND THE BEST USE OF THE BUDGET SURPLUS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Shimkus). Under a previous order of the 
House, the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Holt) is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Mr. HOLT. Mr. Speaker, last year the House budget resolution was so 
controversial that House and Senate Republicans never even convened a 
conference. This year the budget resolution, as passed by the House, is 
as unrealistic as last year's plan, and even more irresponsible. Some 
in Congress, because of their fixation on exploding tax cuts, have 
presented unworkable appropriations bills, and they do nothing to 
extend the solvency of social security and Medicare.
  As opposed to the fiscal responsibility demonstrated by Democrats, 
the budget passed by the majority party returns us to the unrealistic 
fiscal policies of the 1980s. Although it claims to shore up social 
security, to finance a large tax cut, to dramatically increase defense 
spending and keep government spending down, the truth is much 
different. The majority's budget, as in the resolution, simply cannot 
keep all the promises made.
  Democrats, on the other hand, have aimed to produce future economic

[[Page H2117]]

growth through debt reduction and investments, exactly the mix of 
priorities that a successful business would adopt in good times.
  Republicans have voted to reserve virtually the entire bounty of 
economic growth and fiscal discipline for tax cuts that will likely 
benefit only those who are already doing very well in the current 
economy. It is simple. The majority budget resolution may well burden 
future generations because of tax cuts and spending obligations made 
today, and they rely on surplus projections well into the future.
  What does this mean for the people we represent? Little will be left 
for our urgent needs. Our national need to invest in social security 
and Medicare solvency, in education, in research and development, and 
in the environment will remain unmet.
  The budget resolution that was passed by the House yesterday does not 
do enough for Americans when it comes to investing in education. It 
will not help hire more teachers, it will not help districts modernize 
their schools. It takes money away from higher education.
  If we are going to prepare our children for the future, we have to do 
better. We have to make education a priority.
  The problems go beyond education. Consider, for a moment, the 
implications of our budget resolution on the environment. America's 
public lands, wildlife, fish, and plants are assets that belong not 
just to us but to our children. We must allow for an increase in 
funding for protecting the environment and improving our communities. 
What will our children say if priceless resources disappear to suburban 
sprawl? Will future generations have the opportunity to see ancient 
forests or wildlife in their natural habitat?
  Furthermore, we need to do more to support and encourage research and 
development. As a scientist, I understand the importance of increasing 
funding for both the National Science Foundation and for the National 
Institutes of Health. Today's research is at the threshold of major 
scientific advancement, which can dramatically improve the quality of 
life for the American people.
  All of us have seen the benefits, the actual benefits and the 
potential benefits of research. Whether it is new discoveries to help 
fight AIDS and breast cancer, initiatives to improve our understanding 
of how ecosystems interact, or investing in teacher training to help 
students get the mathematics and science skills they need to succeed in 
today's and tomorrow's society, each action leads us to the doorstep of 
breakthroughs in improving the quality of life.
  We need to make a stronger commitment to the future, and increasing 
funding for research and development should be part of that commitment. 
We simply need to make an investment now. It will benefit all of us and 
future generations. Waiting until later only delays the improvements in 
quality of life.
  The President has proposed that we use the surplus to strengthen 
social security and Medicare, and to extend the lives of those 
programs. I will continue to work with other Members of Congress to use 
the surplus to pay down our national debt, to strengthen social 
security and Medicare, to encourage investments in education, and to 
meet our other long-term needs for environmental protection and 
research and development.

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