[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 167 (Friday, December 3, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2534]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


    CONFERENCE REPORT ON H.R. 3194, CONSOLIDATED APPROPRIATIONS AND 
             DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2000

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                               speech of

                          HON. DAVID D. PHELPS

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, November 18, 1999

  Mr. PHELPS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to H.R. 3194, the 
Omnibus Appropriations Bill of 1999. This is massive bill put together 
at the last minute with very little chance for Members to study its 
contents. It combines five appropriations bills as well as two very 
admirable but totally unrelated pieces of legislation. In addition, it 
contains countless budget gimmicks in order to label it ``balanced''. 
In short, it is dishonest.
  I cannot in good faith support this agreement which was completed 
outside the regular budget process, includes untold pork, relies on 
numerous budget gimmicks and raids the social security trust fund.
  The final bill relied on numerous budget gimmicks as offsets: a pay 
shift for all military and civilian employees by one day at the end of 
the fiscal year which will push such outlay into the next fiscal year; 
a transfer of reserves held by the Federal Reserve to on-budget 
accounts; and an across the board cut of .38 percent in budget 
authority. In addition, the Congressional Budget Office has estimated 
that the already passed appropriation bills will result in spending 
about $17 billion of the Social Security trust fund.
  Moreover, this bill exceeds all of the balanced budget caps passed in 
1997, but masks this action by declaring programs like Head Start, 
begun in 1964, and the census as emergency funding. We should forego 
such a charade and be honest with the American people about the federal 
budget.
  Since my first day here in Congress, I have fought for the protection 
of Social Security and honest budgeting. This final package, contrary 
to its supporters claims, raids the Social Security trust fund and 
threatens the future solvency of Social Security and Medicare. In 
addition the budgetary gimmicks utilized will only make next year's 
budget even more difficult.
  Congress could have chosen to keep their promise to pass all 
appropriations in regular order by September 30th. They could have 
worked with other Members to ensure the final product did not spend any 
of the Social Security trust fund. Instead, they chose to delay until 
the eve of Thanksgiving and force a massive and dishonest spending 
measure on the House. As such, I will oppose this bill and urge my 
colleagues to do likewise.

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