[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 72 (Tuesday, May 18, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1010]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 REGARDING ROLLCALL VOTES ON H.R. 1664

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                    HON. JUANITA MILLENDER-McDONALD

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 18, 1999

  Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Speaker, we were elected to the 
``people's House,'' without question the most deliberative body in the 
world. As such, when legislation comes to the floor of this House, 
Members should have every opportunity to amend and perfect it before we 
pass it on to the Senate. It is our duty. It is our obligation.
  Last Thursday, the Republican Leadership in the House presented H.R. 
1664, the Kosovo and Southwest Asia Emergency Supplemental 
Appropriations Act of 1999. The measure provided $12.9 billion for 
emergency spending to support the ongoing military operations in 
Kosovo. The request was $6.9 billion above the President's request 
which by all accounts was more than adequate to fund our mission 
overseas. H.R. 1664 was presented to this body under a restrictive rule 
that limited the Minority's opportunities to perfect the bill. For this 
reason I opposed the rule.
  While the rule was passed, it did allow some Democratic amendments. 
One of those amendments was the Obey amendment which restored $1.5 
billion to the budget surplus that the Committee bill removed to fund 
the construction of military projects overseas. The Obey amendment made 
increases in military pay and effectively dealt with the issue of 
retirement by not making it subject to future legislation. The Obey 
measure also provided funds for disaster assistance for the victims of 
Hurricane Mitch.
  The Obey amendment was defeated along with other amendments that 
sought to restore funds to the budget surplus. Even though the Obey 
amendment failed, I voted for H.R. 1664 during final passage. When our 
troops, our sons and daughters, are engaged in military conflict 
overseas, we must lay aside our partisan differences and give them the 
financial and moral support they need. While the Majority failed to do 
this and used H.R. 1664 to fund pork projects abroad, I felt compelled 
to rise above Party and vote for my country by casting my vote in 
support of H.R. 1664. I voted for our troops--our sons and daughters 
who willingly lay their lives on the line for our national security and 
for freedom.

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