[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 153 (Wednesday, November 3, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2253]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  CONFERENCE REPORT ON H.R. 3064, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA APPROPRIATIONS 
                               ACT, 2000

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                          HON. MELVIN L. WATT

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 28, 1999

  Mr. WATT of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to the 
conference report on fiscal year 2000 appropriations bill for the 
District of Columbia and the Departments of Labor, Health and Human 
Services, and Education.
  Let me first say that the process by which this bill came to the 
floor is very troubling. We are here today voting on a conference 
report for fiscal year 2000 for Labor-HHS and Education when the bill 
was never considered or voted on by the House of Representatives. This 
unheard of procedure has not provided sufficient time for debate and 
consideration of amendments to allow us to participate in the process. 
Bypassing the normal procedures has shut Members out of having any 
opportunity to assist in crafting and improving this bill.
  I am also troubled by some of the funding levels included in this 
bill. This bill makes funding cuts to programs which are vital to the 
well being of many American families. The people most hurt by this bill 
are the very people who need our assistance and support the most. This 
bill would cut funding by over $1 billion to social service programs 
for the elderly and low-income Americans; would not provide funding to 
immunize over 300,000 children against childhood diseases; and would 
cut funding for over 5,000 teachers who provide educational assistance 
to disadvantaged children.
  Perhaps my biggest concern with this bill is that it does not include 
emergency assistance for those people in the eastern part of my state 
who are suffering from the floods of Hurricane Floyd. Thousands of 
people in North Carolina are still dealing with the aftermath of the 
floods. Entire towns have been destroyed, thousands have lost their 
homes, and many farmers have lost all of their crops and livestock. 
While this bill includes over $2 billion in emergency spending, it cuts 
out the $508 million in emergency assistance for agricultural damaged 
caused by Hurricane Floyd. This assistance would have been a start in 
providing people in North Carolina with the opportunity to begin to 
rebuild and recover. This bill represents an opportunity lost. I urge 
my colleagues to oppose the conference report.

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