[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 151 (Monday, November 1, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2233]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  CONFERENCE REPORT ON H.R. 2064, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA APPROPRIATIONS 
                               ACT, 2000

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                               speech of

                           HON. PATSY T. MINK

                               of hawaii

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 28, 1999

  Mrs. MINK of Hawaii. Mr. Speaker, today we are considering the 
conference report on the so-called Labor-HHS FY2000 appropriation 
measure, even though this measure has not even been voted on by the 
House. Instead, this Republican leadership decided to pre-conference 
the Senate measure and attach it to the conference report of the DC 
Appropriations legislation.
  This Labor-HHS appropriations measure is one of the largest and most 
important measures we take up in each year. It is a massive piece of 
legislation. The committee report itself numbers hundreds of pages. It 
covers some of the most important programs that this Government funds--
our public education system, the National Institutes of Health, the 
Food and Drug Administration, and the Occupational Safety and Health 
Administration. Yet, the Republican leaders decided this measure is too 
contentious for proper floor debate. So, they opted to pre-conference 
this measure with the Senate passed bill.
  This process is deplorable. It flies in the face of the Constitution. 
Article I, Section 7 states that ``all bills for raising revenue shall 
originate in the House of Representatives.''
  Mr. Speaker, the Constitution is not a rough draft. We cannot decide 
to ignore it because the bill will be too controversial for the floor 
and we are running out of precious time.
  The bill must originate in the House of Representatives. We must be 
given the opportunity to debate and amend this measure. Only then can 
the Senate offer its amendments to this legislation.
  All too often in recent years, we have faced similar situations where 
Congress has failed to enact its 13 separate annual appropriation bills 
in a timely manner. However, this does not mean we can fly in the face 
of the Constitution.
  Today, we voted on a continuing resolution to keep the government 
running. Although adopting these bills through a series of continuing 
resolutions is very costly to the taxpayers, it provides us with time 
to debate and amend these measures properly and constitutionally.
  We have now had three continuing resolutions in relation to the 
fiscal year 2000 appropriation bills. Three continuing resolutions! 
Yet, the Republican leaders have prevented this measure from being 
taken up by this House.
  The Republican leadership has provided us with no opportunity to 
amend this measure. We are being denied the opportunity to offer an 
amendment on behalf of our constituencies.
  I don't fault the Appropriations Committee. They have worked hard and 
reported the appropriations bills. We could long ago have acted upon 
these bills. The Appropriations Committee didn't hold up the bills. The 
Republican leadership held up this bill because they knew the cuts 
reported out of the House Appropriations Committee would not help their 
public image. So, they decided to bypass the House of Representatives!
  Only now, are we getting to debate this measure. But what exactly are 
we debating? This conference report was only filed last night. We have 
not had an opportunity to review it and see what is really in this 
report.
  What I know is bad enough. It includes an across-the-board cut of 
0.97%, and it undermines the Administration's class-size reduction 
initiative by giving districts the option to use the money on any other 
use that improves academic achievement. I can only imagine what has 
been sneaked in behind closed doors.
  But the worst part about this charade is the way that we have 
flaunted the Constitution.

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