[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 56 (Thursday, April 22, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4136-S4137]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   FISCAL YEAR 2000 BUDGET RESOLUTION

 Mr. JEFFORDS. Mr. President, first I must congratulate the 
Chairman of the Budget Committee, Senator Domenici, for producing an 
on-time budget for only the second time in the 24-plus-year history of 
the Budget Act.
  I rise today to support the fiscal year 2000 budget resolution now 
before the Senate. I am pleased that this budget will pay down the 
Federal debt, boost education spending, and increase veterans health 
care spending. I am disappointed that budget conferees could only fund 
$6 billion of the $10 billion proposed by myself and Senator Dodd in 
child care grants for low-income families and child care tax cuts. 
However, I appreciate the hard work Senator Domenici and others put 
into getting these funds.
  While I realize that our amendment would not have guaranteed an 
increase in child care spending, Congress needs to face up to the 
reality that low-income mothers need to work, and to make work pay they 
need child care assistance. As Chairman of the Health, Education, 
Labor, and Pensions Committee, I can assure supporters of child care 
subsidies that this will not be the last word on this issue during the 
106th Congress.
  On a more positive note, this budget adheres to the historic Balanced 
Budget Act of 1997, while at the same time, over the next ten years, 
pays down $1.8 trillion of the $3.6 trillion in publicly held debt and 
provides for modest tax cuts until larger on-budget surpluses emerge.
  Additionally the Republican budget will fence off the portion of the 
surplus generated through Social Security payroll taxes. I would like 
to reassure all Vermonters that not a dollar of these funds will be 
used to fund tax cuts. Instead, Social Security payroll taxes will go 
towards shoring up the program and possibly go toward providing capital 
for an overhaul plan. While this alone will not ensure the long-term 
financial health of the program, it will have the effect of reducing 
Federal debt and extending the solvency of the program.
  Mr. President, the budget before the Senate also protects Medicare 
for our nation's seniors. Funding for Medicare is increased 
significantly, but like Social Security, the long-term health of the 
program is dependent not on providing additional funds, but on enacting 
needed structural changes. As the resolution indicates, Medicare 
beneficiaries must have access to high-quality skilled nursing 
services, home health care services and inpatient and outpatient 
hospital services in rural areas. The availability of these services is 
at risk, especially for rural populations, and I will do all I can to 
ensure that they are addressed as a part of any Medicare legislation. I 
am particularly pleased that the resolution includes a Medicare drug 
benefit reserve fund. The availability of a drug benefit for seniors is 
one of my highest priorities, and I plan to work with other members of 
the Finance Committee to have it included as a part of any Medicare 
reform effort.
  Mr. President, I am very pleased that section 210 of the budget 
resolution sets forth a reserve fund ``to foster the employment and 
independence of individuals with disabilities.'' The language makes 
clear that, in the Senate, revenue and spending aggregates and other 
appropriate budgetary levels and limits may be adjusted and allocations 
may be revised for legislation that finances disability programs to 
promote employment. This direction will facilitate the consideration of 
S. 331, the Work Incentives Improvement Act of 1999, which now has 72 
cosponsors.
  I am also pleased that the resolution contains Senator Collins and my 
Sense of the Senate in support of increased funding for the Pell grant 
program, the campus based programs, LEAP and TRIO. These programs have 
helped make the dream of college a reality for many of our nation's 
neediest students. Providing an increase in

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funding for these tested and proven programs will open the doors of 
higher education to more academically motivated young people, 
specifically those who have the most financial need.
  Lastly, Mr. President, given world events and the ever increasing 
demands we place on our military, I am pleased that this budget calls 
for an increase in military pay. We need to do more to alleviate the 
quality of life concerns of our men and women in uniform. However, I am 
concerned that some of the military increases in this budget are not 
going to the things that the military needs most, as evidenced by the 
current crisis in Kosovo.
  This budget, like all budgets passed by Congress, is an expression of 
political intent and a starting point for bargaining. Much work remains 
to be done to pass the 13 appropriations bills that actually fund the 
government. In areas where I disagree with the budget resolution, I 
plan to work hard with appropriators to adjust spending levels and turn 
this budget into reality.

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