[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 132 (Monday, October 4, 1999)]
[House]
[Page H9246]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           UNDERSTAND THE FACTS ABOUT THE OLDER AMERICANS ACT

  (Mr. GOODLING asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. GOODLING. First of all, Mr. Speaker, I would tell the gentleman 
that I just read in the newspaper last week where the minority leader 
said that the Democrats are determining what the legislation is on the 
floor of the House, so that is kind of interesting. But that is not why 
I wanted to speak.
  I have heard a lot of people, many, talking about the Older Americans 
Act, and unfortunately they do not know what they are talking about. 
The Older Americans Act, which we worked on for 6 months, the gentleman 
from California (Mr. McKeon) and the gentleman from California (Mr. 
Martinez) and the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Barrett), as a matter of 
fact does more than it has ever done before in an authorization as far 
as employment programs are concerned, as far as States are concerned. 
If my colleagues only understood the way the legislation is now and has 
been for years, says that 45 percent of all of the money will stay in 
Washington, 55 percent will go back to the State. That is not the way 
it has been appropriated. It has been appropriate 78 and 22. But that 
is not the way it is authorized. We improved that, and we said just 
reverse, 55 percent will stay here, 45 percent will go back.
  So be sure to understand the facts about what it was we wanted to 
present which we will not present during this session of Congress 
again.

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