April 9, 1997 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — H1347 have refused to produce a budget, re- not only will increase take-home on both sides of the aisle have said over fused to hold hearings on campaign fi- wages, it will help us in our effort to the 1-minute period this morning, they nance reform, refused to schedule ac- decrease the deficit and deal with our want to see us begin moving ahead tion on kids’ health care, and refused national debt problem. with our work. We want to do that. We to schedule a vote on any of the Demo- Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues if want to take up these measures that cratic education initiatives: how to get they have not already joined in the co- could be considered under suspension of kids to school and have working fami- sponsorship of my measure, which in- the rules. lies be able to afford that. cludes my colleague, the gentlewoman Mr. Speaker, this rule itself is non- The Republican majority would like from Missouri, KAREN MCCARTHY, the controversial. It requires consultation to continue to do nothing. So be it. But gentleman from Virginia, Mr. MORAN, with the minority, so I hope very much get out of the way so others can talk the gentleman from Florida, and sev- that we can move as expeditiously as about an agenda that helps working eral other people who are involved in possible to pass this. families in this country. this in a bipartisan way, I urge Mem- Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of f bers to cosponsor it. my time. Ms. SLAUGHTER. Mr. Speaker, I f THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WANT yield myself such time as I may LOWER TAXES AND LESS INTRU- PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION consume. SION FROM WASHINGTON OF MOTIONS TO SUSPEND THE Mr. Speaker, I rise today to urge my (Mr. HERGER asked and was given RULES ON WEDNESDAY, APRIL 9, colleagues to defeat this rule and the permission to address the House for 1 1997, OR THURSDAY, APRIL 10, previous question. The rule under con- minute and to revise and extend his re- 1997 sideration serves no purpose, other marks.) Mr. DREIER. Mr. Speaker, by direc- than to allow the majority to require the Members of the body to return to Mr. HERGER. Mr. Speaker, I have tion of the Committee on Rules, I call the floor of this House day after day, discovered something very upsetting in up House Resolution 107 and ask for its all week long, to vote on measures the information; upsetting, that is, to immediate consideration. which are noncontroversial and the media and the elite who want to The Clerk read the resolution, as fol- undeserving of an entire week’s debate, run our lives. Mr. Speaker, it turns out lows: that the American people do want tax particularly when so many more valu- H. RES. 107 able and worthwhile bills languish un- relief. The latest USA Today CNN Gal- Resolved, That it shall be in order at any lup poll shows that 70 percent of Amer- attended. time on Wednesday, April 9, 1997, or on I can understand why the majority icans want a tax cut in any budget Thursday, April 10, 1997, for the Speaker to needs this rule, because it is a fig leaf. agreement this year. Seventy percent. entertain motions that the House suspend They are hoping if it passes they will Furthermore, a majority, 52 percent, the rules. The Speaker or his designee shall consult with the minority leader or his des- have coverage they need to conceal the say tax cuts and deficit reduction can utter lack of any legislative agenda so be accomplished at the same time. ignee on the designation of any matter for consideration pursuant to this resolution. they can drag out the consideration of Maybe the White House will find a a few minor bills and make this look way to these facts to mean the op- The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. GUTKNECHT). The gentleman from Cali- like a work week. This rule is down- posite of what they say. Maybe they right disrespectful, not just to the time think the American people are just fornia [Mr. DREIER] is recognized for 1 hour. of the honorable Members of the body, kidding. Maybe they think the Amer- but to the voters we represent and ican people did not actually mean to Mr. DREIER. Mr. Speaker, for pur- poses of debate only, I yield the cus- their tax dollars. elect a Republican Congress that ran It costs the taxpayers of this country tomary 30 minutes to my very good on a promise of tax cuts and tax re- $288,000 to bring all of us back to Wash- friend, the gentlewoman from Fairport, forms. ington this week, and for what? In the NY [Ms. SLAUGHTER] and pending that, On the other hand, maybe they 105th Congress, we have worked less I yield myself such time as I may should just accept the truth: The than 4 weeks’ work, that is about a consume. All time that I am yielding is American people support lower taxes, week a month, we are 4 months into smaller government, and less intrusion for debate purposes only. this session, and that, considering the from Washington. (Mr. DREIER asked and was given work week of the average American, is f permission to revise and extend his re- pretty disrespectful to them. marks and to include extraneous mate- URGING COSPONSORSHIP OF H.R. I am only one Member of this body, rial.) and a member of the minority at that, 14, THE CAPITAL GAINS TAX CUT Mr. DREIER. Mr. Speaker, this rule MEASURE but I have a better agenda myself than makes in order at any time on Wednes- the leadership of the House does. For (Mr. DREIER asked and was given day, April 9, 1997, or on Thursday, April example, one of the top priorities of permission to address the House for 1 10, 1997, today and tomorrow, for the the American people is campaign fi- minute and to revise and extend his re- Speaker to entertain motions that the nance reform. Where is the leadership marks.) House suspend the rules. The rule fur- on this issue? They do not have a bill, Mr. DREIER. Mr. Speaker, I am very ther requires the Speaker or his des- but I do. happy to inform the House that we now ignee to consult with the minority Last week the Federal Communica- have over 114 cosponsors on the most leader or his designee on the designa- tions Commission voted out a rule that important family tax cut measure that tion of any matter for consideration gives the new digital spectrum licenses we could possibly consider. What is pursuant to the rule. available to broadcast stations. It has that family tax cut measure? It is the Mr. Speaker, as my colleagues are been widely suggested by such leaders bill, H.R. 14, to take the top rate on aware, clause 1 of House rule 27 allows as Senators MCCAIN and FEINGOLD, capital gains from 28 percent to 14 per- the Speaker to entertain motions to journalists like Walter Cronkite and cent. suspend the rules on Mondays and David Broder, industry leaders like Ru- I call it the most important family Tuesdays. The majority attempted to pert Murdoch and Barry Diller, and tax cut measure, Mr. Speaker, because work with the minority to reach a none other than President Clinton, this will in fact, based on two studies unanimous-consent agreement to allow that in exchange for the new spectrum that have been conducted, increase the suspensions today and tomorrow. How- rights the broadcasters should be re- take-home wages of the average Amer- ever, there was, unfortunately, an ob- quired to provide free television time ican family by $1,500. jection to that request. Absent a unan- to political candidates. The argument we have heard in years imous-consent agreement, a rule is Coincidentally, I have a bill, the past is that a capital gains tax rate re- necessary to allow suspensions on Fairness in Political Advertising Act, duction is nothing but a tax cut for the these days. that would condition station licensing rich. Nothing could be further from the Mr. Speaker, this is a totally non- on making available free broadcast truth. We need to bring this about. It controversial rule. As many Members time for political advertising. H1348 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE April 9, 1997 My bill also includes a requirement drift through our communities, cir- in a bipartisan way to see us move that candidates who accept free time cumventing local penal codes that vary ahead with the Veterans Employment must use that time themselves speak- widely by State. Opportunities Act of 1997, and the ing directly into the camera, and I be- Congress has a responsibility to ad- other suspension which we are hoping lieve it makes them directly account- dress the issue by passing a bill that to bring up today, if we can move able for the statements that are made would put an end to the cycle of vio- ahead with this rule, is the American in their campaigns. I hope it will cut lence. The Sexual Predators Act is a Samoan Development Act of 1997. down on the negative campaigning that measure I wrote that would do just I know committees are working, and has become the norm. that. It allows for the Federal prosecu- they are trying to deal with many of I challenge any of my colleagues to tion of rapes and serial sexual assaults the very important issues that my tell me why my bill continues to lan- committed by repeat offenders, re- friend raised. It is my hope we will be guish in the committee while we have quires that repeat offenders automati- able to just as quickly as possible get no business on the floor and we could cally be sentenced to life in prison to those items, as well as campaign fi- be considering legislation. The fund- without parole. nance reform. I authored this bill to give local law raising scandals currently splashed b 1145 across the Nation’s newspapers have enforcement the option of pursuing forced campaign finance reform to the Federal prosecution to ensure that I have introduced my own campaign top of the political agenda, but we have these predators, who often cross State finance reform bill, which I think is no action here. It is a shame that we lines, remain in jail, since many States very worthy of consideration. Actually, are missing this opportunity to enact have far less punishment available I have not introduced it yet. I am worthwhile and viable reform, particu- under their own laws. Instead of letting crafting it now and will be introducing larly on such an important and timely sexual predators out on the street to it in the not too distant future. I hope issue. prey again, tough and certain punish- we will be able to consider it. But we On another front, we are fast ap- ment is required at the national level. should look at a wide range of areas. proaching the anniversary of the Okla- No man, woman, or child in America Mr. FRANK of Massachusetts. Mr. homa City bombing, but 2 years later should have to live in fear of a serial Speaker, will the gentleman yield? domestic terrorism thrives. Criminal rapist or habitual child molester. Mr. DREIER. I yield to the gen- bombings have doubled since 1988. We Enacting legislation is our business tleman from Massachusetts. have a duty in Congress to keep explo- here. I know one of the previous speak- Mr. FRANK of Massachusetts. Mr. sive materials out of the wrong hands. ers this morning had said better we Speaker, I thank the gentleman for I have a bill that would do just that. It should all be home having town meet- yielding to me. would require Federal permits for all ings. But my people in my district, the I do not think anyone on our side explosive purchases, mandate a nation- 28th District of New York, expect me wants to denigrate the importance of wide background check for these per- to be down here working for my pay- the veterans bill or the Samoan devel- mits. It would increase penalties for check. They are aware of the fact that opment bill. My question is, why did those who violate the Federal explosive it costs $288,000 to bring us back to we not do them yesterday? We are not law. We cannot afford not to pass this Congress every week because I have objecting to doing those bills, but Mon- legislation as we approach this tragic told them that. They wonder where in day and Tuesday are the regular sus- anniversary, but it languishes out the world the legislation is. pension days. We hardly worked our- there somewhere while we do nothing. The things that are on their mind are selves into a lather yesterday. Another pressing issue that Congress what are we going to do, how are we Our question is, given these impor- should be considering is making sure going to keep our health insurance? tant bills, why did we not do them on our laws keep pace with the astounding What is happening to health care? the regular suspension day rather than pace of scientific discovery in genetics. What about my child? Is it going to have to do an extraordinary procedure Time and again my constituents tell have the child care it needs? What are to take them up today? me they are worried about losing their you doing down there to make sure Mr. DREIER. Mr. Speaker, as my health insurance. They are particularly education stays strong? friend knows, we have just returned worried that new technologies, like ge- Mr. Speaker, if the previous question from the Easter work period, and we netic testing, will open up new avenues is defeated today, and I hope it is, and usually have a travel day there follow- for discrimination in health insurance I certainly urge my colleagues to vote ing. and enable insurers to determine who for its defeat, if it is defeated, I will Mr. FRANK of Massachusetts. Mr. is predisposed to a particular disorder offer an amendment that would require Speaker, yesterday we were voting. and use that information to deny or the House to consider campaign fi- Mr. DREIER. After 5, it was after 5 so raise the rates on their health insur- nance reform before Memorial Day re- the Members could travel on Tuesday. ance. cess, May 31, so a final campaign fi- That was the reason that we proceeded I have sponsored legislation that nance reform bill can be sent to Presi- with the suspensions. would prevent that being used against dent Clinton before July 4. I think that Mr. FRANK of Massachusetts. Mr. the person. It simply prevents the com- is the least we can do. Speaker, if the gentleman will con- panies from using the information to Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of tinue to yield, we had two debates on cancel, deny, refuse to renew, change my time. substantive issues. We did have one the premiums, terms or conditions of Mr. DREIER. Mr. Speaker, I yield very substantive bill yesterday, but health insurance. This is so important myself such time as I may consume. some people in the industry affected to people in America now. We are con- Mr. Speaker, let me first say to my complained, the private mortgage in- cerned that people do not want to friend, the gentlewoman from New surance bill, so that got pulled lest know the information vital to their York, that I very much appreciate her their feelings be hurt, much less their lives because of the fear they have of enlightening the House on her legisla- profits. We were through voting by losing their health insurance. Indeed, tive agenda for the year, and to say about 20 after 5. Another two votes it might even bring a stop to research. there are many very interesting pro- would have added 10 minutes. If we do not pass legislation to protect posals that she offers. Frankly, there I understand we had 2 weeks off. Is Americans against this kind of dis- are some solutions that I think are there some implicit notion that we crimination, there will be dire con- worthy of consideration as we move have to have a decompression chamber, sequences. through the committee process. that after 2 weeks off the Members will There are other considerations as Let me say, as far as where we are get the legislative bends if they have to well. Our constituents are asking what today, I believe that we need to recog- deal with three or four bills in 1 day? has gone wrong with our judicial sys- nize that there are measures that we Mr. DREIER. Mr. Speaker, I do not tem that allows repeat sexual offenders hope to bring up under suspension of feel that way. Frankly, everyone can- to revolve in and out of prison. Sexual the rules that deal with the veterans of not handle it quite as well as my friend predators and serial rapists continue to this country. There is a great interest from Massachusetts. April 9, 1997 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H1349 Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he Veterans Employment Opportunities minutes ago whom I had the privilege may consume to gentleman from Glens Act. Mr. Speaker, I am going to tell my of visiting last Thursday and witness- Falls, NY [Mr. SOLOMON], chairman of colleagues there are some disturbing ing the very tremendous job that they the Committee on Rules. trends in this country and in this very are doing under very, very difficult cir- Mr. SOLOMON. Well, as Ronald Government of ours with regard to vet- cumstances today. They have commit- Reagan used to say, let me just say to erans employment. It is hard for me to ted themselves to serving their country my good friend from Claremont, CA, believe and impossible to understand, overseas, many of them reservists who one would think he is the State De- but American veterans are actually put their civilian lives on hold. This partment, he is being so diplomatic. discriminated against when it comes to bill includes my own personal bill, H.R. Unfortunately, I do not have that kind finding jobs in this country but espe- 665, that makes all of those service of attribute myself, so I will be a little cially in our Government. If my col- men and women in Bosnia eligible for more blunt. I really am concerned leagues do not believe it, just go out veterans preferences when it comes to about people standing up here and and ask any number of them like I do finding Government jobs. When they talking about campaign finance re- at the hockey I was just refer- come back out of Bosnia, they are form. When I go home and I go to a ring to. going to be full qualified veterans hav- hockey game and there are 6,000 people That is why this bill is so terribly ing served in a combat situation and in the stands, not once over this winter important, in order to impress upon therefore they get veterans pref- has anybody mentioned campaign fi- the private sector the importance of erences. nance reform. hiring our Nation’s service men and Mr. Speaker, I want to commend the What they did mention is that we women. It is critical that we start with good work of the gentleman from Flor- ought to be enforcing the laws down this very Federal Government and our ida [Mr. MICA], the chairman, who will there and what are all these illegal own House, that means the employees be here in a few minutes in moving this contributions that are coming in from of this Congress. This bill does that by bill to the floor today and urge all the the Chinese and from other places. I putting some real teeth to the veterans Members to support it. Let us send an hear a lot about that. preference laws already on the books so overwhelming message to the Senate, I also hear a lot about people that that when it comes to hiring, pro- the American people and, most impor- are concerned about their jobs, and motions and reductions in force, man- tantly, our military personnel that we some of them are former members of agers and supervisors are going to treasure what they do and we take very the armed services. They are veterans think twice before they try to get rid seriously the commitments we have now. They are concerned about a bill of the veterans, the few that we have. made to them when they return from we have got on the calendar right here That is because this bill makes fail- civilian life. ure to comply with veterans preference today. It happens to be a heck of a lot Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman more important than campaign finance laws a prohibited personnel practice. for the time. I include for the RECORD reform. This bill is H.R. 240. It is the These managers will be putting their the articles to which I referred: Veterans Employment Opportunities own jobs at risk. What about our own House and the Congress? Well, this bill [From the National Security Report, April Act of 1997 that we have been trying to 1997] get through this House now for a num- finally expands veterans preferences to U.S. DEFENSE BUDGET: WALKING THE nonpolitical jobs in the Congress. But ber of years. TIGHTROPE WITHOUT A NET While I am talking about that, let me not only that, it expands it to the non- The Clinton administration’s defense budg- also refer to an article by the gen- political jobs at the White House and et request of $265.3 billion for Fiscal Year tleman from South Carolina [Mr. to certain jobs in the judiciary branch (FY) 1998 represents a 2 percent real decrease FLOYD SPENCE]. It is called the Na- as well. from current (FY 1997) spending. As such, it tional Security Report, U.S. Defense More and more so, this Government continues a 13-year-long trend of real defense Budget, Walking the Tightrope With- has been suffering without the invalu- spending decline and it marks a 38 percent out a Net. able experience and background of real reduction in spending from defense Attached to it is a story that was in American veterans and what they have budgets in the mid-1980s. the Washington Post on April 9. I do to offer. This bill will put an end to The FY 1998 defense budget request rep- not even know what day that is. I have resents 3.1 percent of the nation’s gross do- that by giving our men and women in mestic product, down more than 50 percent lost track of the time. But this one uniform a fighting chance when it from the 1985 level of 6.4 percent. The FY 1998 says: Military forces are near breaking comes to finding a Federal job. Can you defense budget request, when measured in point, GOP report charges. imagine that? They do not even have a constant dollars, represents the smallest de- Let me tell my colleagues I just got fighting chance today. fense budget since 1950. back from a place called Bosnia, and I That is necessary because every time Indeed, cuts from the defense budget have can say that we have some serious a young person enlists in the military, provided a substantial contribution to reduc- problems in this country today. We they are doing a service for the coun- tions in the federal deficit in the 1990s. In have got a problem with maintaining try that places them at a disadvantage fact, defense cuts account for the vast major- the commissioned officers in our mili- ity of deficit reduction to date that is attrib- on the pay scale relative to their peers. utable to the discretionary budget. Based on tary today. We have a problem in For instance, if a young 18-year-old boy the president’s FY 1998 budget, between FY maintaining the noncommissioned offi- or girl enlists in the military, and he 1990–2000, entitlements and domestic discre- cers in this military today because goes on to serve 3 or 4 years and then tionary outlays will increase substantially, they are afraid there is no more oppor- his peer goes to college and serves, and while outlays for defense will decrease 32 tunity out there for an honorable ca- finishes the same 3 or 4 years getting a percent. So the trend continues. reer in the military. Why not? degree, that young man or woman who From the standpoint of military capabil- I see the gentleman from Florida served in the military is always 4 years ity, the administration’s FY 1998 defense budget request perpetuates the mismatch be- [Mr. YOUNG] sitting back there, one of behind on the success scale of oppor- the finest Members of this body. He can tween defense strategy and resources—the tunity, of the ability to be promoted. widening gap between the forces and budgets stand up here and tell us the same When they leave the military, it is required by the national military strategy thing, we are letting our military critical that we follow through our and the forces actually paid for by the de- budget go back to what it was back in guarantees like veterans preferences in fense budget. In January 1997, the Congres- the 1970’s, when we were losing all of order to ensure that we continue to at- sional Budget Office (CBO) estimated the our military personnel, because they tract the best all-voluntary military in president’s defense budget to be underfunded could not afford to stay in the military the world. I emphasize all-voluntary by approximately $55 billion over the course because their families were on welfare. military. For the last 15 years or so, we of the next five years. However, many inde- Their families were on food stamps. do not have a draft. We depend on an pendent analyses, including that of the Gen- These are the kinds of things we ought eral Accounting Office, assess the shortfall all-voluntary military, attracting to be much greater. to be debating. I will include these ar- young men and women from all across The FY 1998 defense budget request also re- ticles for the RECORD. the spectrum to serve in our military. flects the administration’s continued pattern Let me get back to the bill that this Take our young men and women in of cutting long-term investment funding rule makes in order. Again, it is the Bosnia whom I just mentioned a few necessary for the modernization of aging H1350 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE April 9, 1997 equipment in order to pay for near-term than they were in 1994,’’ said the report is- Particularly, troubling, the report says, is readiness shortfalls. The FY 1998 procure- sued by Rep. Floyd Spence (R-S.C.), chair- an evident drop in the amount and quality of ment request of $42.6 billion is actually less man of the House National Security Com- training, caused by funding shortages and re- than current (FY 1997) procurement spending mittee, after a seven-month study by his duced opportunities to train because units levels and approximately 30 percent below staff. ‘‘Declining defense budgets, a smaller are on deployment or covering for units that the procurement spending level identified by force structure, fewer personnel and aging are. the Joint Chiefs of Staff as necessary to equipment, the context of an increase ‘‘The widespread belief of trainers inter- modernize even the smaller military of the in the pace of operations, are stretching U.S. viewed at the services’ premier high-inten- 1990s. Since 1995, the administration has military forces to the breaking point.’’ sity training sites—the National Training vowed to end the ‘‘procurement holiday,’’ Pentagon leaders, citing official readiness Center at Fort Irwin, the Marine Corps’ Air but its plan to increase modernization spend- indicators, have insisted that U.S. forces re- Ground Combat Center at Twentynine Palms ing is skewed heavily toward the later years main as prepared for battle as ever. and the Air Force’s Air Warfare Center at of the five-year defense program, with the For several years, the Clinton administra- Nellis Air Force Base—is that units are ar- bulk of the proposed increases projected to tion has listed readiness as its top priority in riving less prepared than they used to and occur beyond the end of the President’s sec- apportioning the defense budget, setting a are not as proficient when they complete ond term in office. historical high in operational and mainte- their training as in the past,’’ the report The inability to field new systems is high- nance spending per soldier. states. lighted by the administration’s lack of fund- Some defense experts have accused Repub- Although military retention rates remain ing for missile defenses. Six years after the lican legislators of fanning talk of a readi- relatively high, the report says these official Gulf War, which demonstrated both the stra- ness crisis for political ends—to justify in- statistics cloud the fact that the ‘‘best of the tegic and military importance of effective creases in defense spending, forestall more best’’ are getting out. According to an inter- ballistic missile defenses, the administration troop reductions and embarrass the Clinton nal Army survey quoted in the report: ‘‘Job continues to shortchange spending for such administration. They contend that any satisfaction is down and about two-thirds of programs, cutting the national missile de- strains in the force could be relieved simply leaders say organizations are working longer fense program to protect the American peo- by more selective and efficient management hours . . . The force is tired and concerned ple from the threat of ballistic missile at- of deployments. about the uncertainty of the future . . . Mo- tack by over $300 million from current (FY But the House report, which was drafted rale is low at both the individual and unit 1997) spending levels. without the participation of committee level.’’ One of the primary reasons modernization Democrats, describes a pervasive erosion of Ms. SLAUGHTER. Mr. Speaker, I spending continues to be reduced and used as operational conditions and combat training. yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from a ‘‘billpayer’’ for shortfalls elsewhere in the It says the quality of military life is deterio- Michigan [Mr. BONIOR]. defense budget is the administration’s per- rating ‘‘to the point where a growing number sistent underestimation of readiness and Mr. BONIOR. Mr. Speaker, I thank of talented and dedicated military personnel my colleague from New York for yield- operational requirements. The FY 1998 de- and their families are questioning the desir- fense budget request includes $2.9 billion less ing me the time. ability of a life in uniform.’’ And it says Once again today Democrats are for procurement and $5.2 billion more for op- military equipment is aging prematurely due erations and maintenance (O&M) spending to extended use and reduced maintenance. standing up for campaign finance re- than was projected for FY 1998 by the admin- The report faults the Pentagon’s system form. We will vote in a short while to istration just last year. This miscalculation for tracking readiness as flawed and incom- defeat the previous question on this results from the Pentagon’s underestimation plete. rule in order to bring up before this of its own infrastructure and overhead costs The system, which is being revised by De- body campaign finance reform so we as well as from the continuing high and cost- fense Department officials, has focused can have it on the floor of the House by ly pace of manpower-intensive peacekeeping mostly on whether units possess the required and humanitarian operations. Memorial Day. This will be the third resources and training for wartime missions vote we are taking on campaign fi- The diversion of troops, equipment, and re- and includes little provision for measuring sources from necessary day-to-day training such factors as morale or deployment rates. nance reform in this Congress. There in order to support these ongoing operations The official view of how troops are faring, was a vote on opening day of the Con- means that even those O&M funds being re- the report asserts, contrasts markedly with gress and another on March 13. quested are not purchasing the kind of readi- what committee staff members found in vis- I might add that not a single Member ness central to the execution of the national its to more than two dozen installations and from the other side of the aisle has military strategy. over 50 units in the United States and Eu- voted for reform yet. But I am hopeful Although the administration contends that rope. the post-Cold War defense drawdown—a that through this process of raising ‘‘Doing more with less may be the mili- this issue on the previous question on drawdown that has cut the nation’s military tary’s new motto,’’ says the report, ‘‘but it is by one-third since 1990—is nearly complete, certainly not a sustainable strategy, nor is it rules, we will slowly see Members of the FY 1998 defense budget request reduces conducive to ensuring the long-term viabil- the other side decide that we need to both the Navy and Air Force below the per- ity of an all-volunteer force.’’ have a public debate on this most im- sonnel levels mandated by law and below the With the Pentagon in a middle of a major portant issue. levels called for by the national military review of U.S. defense needs, the report cau- Our way of financing political cam- strategy. While military forces are shrinking tions that any attempt to shrink the force paigns in this country today is . to dangerously low levels, the pace and dura- further will ‘‘surely exacerbate the readiness I think the American people know it. tion of contingency operations are increas- problems that are identified in this report.’’ ing. These conflicting trends are hurting Although some have proposed spending Since the waning days of the Cold War, even more on campaigns, the American military readiness, are eroding quality of American forces have dropped from 2.1 mil- life, and are certainly not conductive to lion to 1.45 million service members, while people, I think, just think the opposite. maintaining a high quality, all-volunteer the number of deployments to such places as More than 9 out of 10 believe too much force in the long run. Bosnia, Haiti and Somalia has risen sharply. money is being spent on political cam- Although only a small percentage of all paigns. [From the Washington Post, Apr. 9, 1997] U.S. military forces is involved in these mis- So we need to fix the system and we MILITARY FORCES ARE NEAR ‘‘BREAKING sions at any given time, the extended dura- need to limit the amount of money in POINT,’’ GOP REPORT CHARGES tion and frequency of the deployments have these campaigns. We need to stop the (By Bradley Graham) magnified their impact. negative advertising. We need to get Increased demands on a reduced U.S. mili- The combination of lower troop numbers Americans voting again and believing and more numerous deployments has led to tary to engage in peace operations and other in the system. The vote today is not noncombat missions have stretched units to shortages particularly of mid-grade, non- ‘‘the breaking point,’’ according to a House commissioned officers, the report says. To about a particular bill. There are many Republican report on the condition of Amer- cover gaps, service members often are as- different vehicles out there, some of ican forces to be released today. signed to jobs for which they lack the req- them very good, or a solution. It is While congressional warnings about a uisite training and experience, the report about setting up a process to debate growing military readiness problem have adds. campaign finance reform, to make sure sounded for several years, the new study pro- Moreover, deployment times too often ex- it moves beyond the closed room, the vides the most extensive anecdotal evidence ceed the 120-days-per-year maximum set by back rooms, the locked doors, and out the services, the report says. To make ends so far about the toll on American forces of into the open where the American peo- frequent post-Cold War deployments, long meet, those units that do deploy frequently tours away from home, personnel shortages, scavenge parts and people from other units, ple can understand and learn and par- and inadequate pay and living conditions. creating ‘‘troughs of unreadiness’ in the ticipate in one of the great debates ‘‘Indicators of a long-term systemic readi- force that are ‘‘deeper and of longer dura- that I think we are engaged in this ness problem are far more prevalent today tion’’ than before, the report adds. year. April 9, 1997 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H1351 What we are really talking about is in fact we could have considered this publicans on campaign finance. Demo- reinvigorating the political process. vote yesterday when we adjourned at crats believe there is too much money Right now Americans do not think something like 10 after 5 or 5:15. We in the political process. Republicans their vote counts. They are sick and could have done this yesterday. believe there is too little. Let us have tired of what they see, what they see We are going to try to defeat the pre- a debate on the floor of the House of going on, and they feel a powerlessness vious question this morning in an ef- Representatives. to do anything about it. fort to be able to use our time in order Let the American people decide We need to change that. We need to to talk about campaign finance reform whether we need more or less money in make democracy in this country mean legislation so that we can vote on what politics. We should put our votes on something once again, and we need to is a pressing issue before the Memorial the board, let the American people see, give people hope that they can make a Day district work period. rather than bring us back to Washing- difference, that they can be a player, It is hard to open a paper these days ton week after week to vote on do- that they can feel that their Govern- without reading about the lack of ac- nothing legislation. ment is working for them. There are a complishments of this Congress, in fact Let us address the real problems con- lot of good ideas out there, and we are the do-nothing Congress. But the worst fronting our Nation. Let us fix our bro- simply asking a chance to debate them. of it is that the Congress is doing noth- ken campaign finance laws. Defeat the For 4 months we have done nothing ing when the issue of campaign finance previous question and let the real and in this Congress. Oh, we have named a reform cries out for action and early serious debate begin. few buildings after people. We have action at that. Maybe, just maybe, we should ad- journ or recess the Congress and go commended the Nicaraguans on their b 1200 election. We have expressed our respect home for the next few days and visit for the Ten Commandments. But we Yes, let us continue on with the in- our citizens, the people that sent us have done nothing to improve the lives vestigations, but what we in fact do here, like I did last week. Why come of American working families on know is that the system is broken and back here and vote on do-nothing legis- health care, on education, on jobs. Real that it needs to be fixed. Let us have lation? Now is the time to act. Defeat campaign finance reform will make a that discussion. the previous question. difference. It is another one of the is- The 1996 elections broke all records Ms. SLAUGHTER. Mr. Speaker, I sues that the public wants us to ad- for campaign spending: $2.7 billion. The yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from dress. Washington Post shows that 8 in 10 Texas [Mr. DOGGETT]. So I urge my colleagues, Mr. Speak- Americans agree that money has, Mr. DOGGETT. Mr. Speaker, at the er, to vote no on the previous question quote, too much influence on who wins outset of this Congress I was 1 of more in order to bring up campaign finance elections. The amount of money in pol- than 100 Members of this House to ask reform to the floor before the Memo- itics disenchants the American people that action occur during the first 100 rial Day recess. and tells citizens, ordinary citizens in days of this Congress on the issue of Mr. DREIER. Mr. Speaker, I yield this country, that their votes are not campaign finance reform. myself such time as I may consume to as important as fundraising dollars. Well, that period will expire next simply say that it is very interesting The record amounts spent in 1996 are week. And what has happened during to listen to the hue and cry over cam- a powerful argument for meaningful those first 100 days on the issue of cam- paign finance reform that comes from limits on campaign spending. We need paign finance reform? The same thing my friends on the other side of the less money in politics, not more. And if that has happened on the hopes of re- aisle. I stated that I have a measure we are to achieve limits on campaign form for more health insurance for that I am going to be introducing in spending, we need to act immediately, children across this country, the same the not too distant future which would because every delay takes us closer to thing that has happened with regard to actually encourage greater voter par- the next election. the aspirations and needs of young peo- ticipation, an opportunity for them to I doubt the American people want ple across this country to get access to participate with campaign contribu- more money spent the way that the a college education. tions. Speaker would. Let us have the debate What has happened on campaign fi- The thing that troubles me, Mr. on campaign finance reform, and let us nance reform during the first 100 days Speaker, is the fact that we are in a po- just stop fooling around. of this Congress is zero, zip, nada. Not sition today where we do not have com- Ms. SLAUGHTER. Mr. Speaker, I a thing has occurred on that or most of pliance with existing law, and we as yield 21⁄2 minutes to the gentleman the other important issues that face Republicans are very proud to stand up from Georgia [Mr. LEWIS]. America today. for enforcement of the laws which have Mr. LEWIS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, Now, my distinguished colleague been flagrantly violated based on re- I rise to call upon my colleagues to de- from California [Mr. DREIER], says they ports that we have had in the media. feat the previous question and to bring have another approach. When it comes That is what we as Republicans are an amendment to this floor allowing a to campaign finance, they do not want doing from this side of the aisle. I hope debate on the important issue of cam- to legislate right now, they want to in- very much that we will be able to get paign finance reform. vestigate. Well, I agree that some in- to the bottom of these tremendous Every person in America realizes the vestigations are in order. The only abuses of present campaign finance importance and necessity to address problem with Mr. DREIER’s approach is, law. our broken system of financing the they want to investigate everybody ex- Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of election, and yet my colleagues on the cept this House. They want to look at my time. other side, the Republican majority, somebody else’s house down the street. Ms. SLAUGHTER. Mr. Speaker, I are planning no hearings on this issue, They do not want to look here at the yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman no debate on this floor, and no votes to issues of the peddling of campaign fi- from Connecticut [Ms. DELAURO]. change the way elections are paid for. nance checks that have occurred on Ms. DELAURO. Mr. Speaker, let me It is a shame, and it is a disgrace. this floor and issues that have arisen in just say that I intend to support veter- There is too much money in the po- connection with the raising of hun- ans preferences. Four hundred and thir- litical process. We need to recognize dreds of millions of dollars in funding ty-five Members of this body, all of the that there is too much money in the this Congress, of special interest Members who are here today, are going political process. Members of Congress money that dominates the elections in to vote for this bill. That is not the are forced to spend too much time this Congress on both sides of the aisle. issue. This is a noncontroversial item. chasing campaign funds. Special inter- No; they want to investigate someone It is under a suspension calendar. We ests and the wealthy interests have too else, get indignant, get upset, make will vote without any bit of con- much influence. These are the prob- some speeches, but not do a thing troversy. Suspensions are usually non- lems that need to be addressed. about it. controversial. They are considered on Mr. Speaker, there is a fundamental This rule sets priorities, and I would Mondays and Tuesdays in the House, so difference between Democrats and Re- say our veterans, who will have 435 H1352 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE April 9, 1997 votes in favor of their bill in a few min- revenues to the Treasury, going all the on on the floor of this House, trying to utes, have as big a stake as anybody way back to President Warren G. Har- cover up what could be potentially a else in seeing this system cleaned up. ding, who, in 1921, under his Treasury national security problem brought on It is time for this Congress to act. We Secretary, Andrew Mellon, cut the top by breaking the campaign finance laws waited in the last Gingrich Congress rate on capital. The flow of revenues to that were reformed by this majority, 11⁄2 years out of that 2 years before we the Treasury increased. by the majority Democrat party back ever even got a chance to vote on the In 1961, when President Kennedy did in the 1970’s, and trying to cover it up issue of campaign finance reform. That it, the same thing happened; and then by talking about campaign finance re- is why we are going to keep raising when Ronald Reagan did it with the form here, and they do not even have this issue day after day, because we Economic Recovery Tax Act of 1981, we their own bill. cannot wait another 11⁄2 years for ac- saw that increase. Mr. DREIER. Mr. Speaker, will the tion, and at that time it was some con- Unfortunately, when we increase the gentleman yield? voluted position that even the Repub- tax on capital, we decrease the flow of Mr. DELAY. I am delighted to yield licans could not support. It is time for revenues to the Treasury. In 1978, when to the distinguished gentleman from action and action by voting down this the capital gains tax rate was reduced, California. rule. we saw, from 1979 to 1987, a 500-percent Mr. DREIER. I thank my friend. Mr. DREIER. Mr. Speaker, I yield increase in the flow of revenues to the The gentleman makes a very impor- myself such time as I may consume to Treasury from $9 billion to $50 billion, tant point, that being, we are simply say that it is very interesting to listen and it began to drop after the 1986 Tax calling for compliance with the present to this debate as it proceeds on cam- Reform Act went in place. law that exists. And those on the other paign finance reform. We are actually So it seems to me we have a very im- side of the aisle are saying, well, let us offering a rule here that would allow us portant issue that I hope we can ad- change the law, let us reform campaign to consider suspensions today and to- dress here. finances, and that will address this hue morrow to deal with veterans, Amer- Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he and cry that we are hearing out there ican Samoa, assisted suicide, and yet may consume to the gentleman from from the American people; all they the campaign debate here, the debate Texas [Mr. DELAY], my dear friend. want us to do is, the American people has proceeded on the issue of campaign Mr. DELAY. Mr. Speaker, I thank the want us to comply with the laws that finance reform. gentleman for yielding me this time. exist today. Since that has happened, I want to And he is so right about the real im- Mr. DELAY. Mr. Speaker, reclaiming take a moment before I yield to my portant things that we intend to do in my time, I would also say that they friend from Texas, the majority whip, this 105th Congress, rather than play want us to do it before we look at to talk about legislation I mentioned these games that are being played whether laws have actually been bro- during the 1-minute period that I hope around here. ken. And we all know the reason for we will be able to have considered here. It is amazing to me, the lack of that; it is strictly politics, to cover up If we could get the President on board shame that is expressed on this floor, the fact that the national security of on it, it would be very helpful, and, that the minority party, that used to this country may have been com- frankly, it is much more important to be the grand majority party for so promised. the people whom I am honored to rep- many years, particularly since the last f resent here and others from around the major campaign finance reform was country than campaign finance reform. passed back in the late 1970’s, I think ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE SPEAKER It happens to be the single most im- 1976 or so, had the majority of this PRO TEMPORE portant family tax cut that we could House and the majority of the Senate The SPEAKER pro tempore. (Mr. offer, and that is a reduction of the top GUTKNECHT). The Chair would remind rate on capital gains from 28 percent to and yet did not bring any bills down. In all Members the matter before the 14 percent. As of right now, we have 118 fact, if they just passed this bill, they House is House Resolution Number 107. cosponsors. Democrats and Repub- could probably bring their campaign fi- Ms. SLAUGHTER. Mr. Speaker, I licans have joined, cosponsoring this. nance reform to the floor under suspen- I call it the most important family sion. yield myself such time as I may tax cut because it clearly will increase Oh, I forgot; they do not have a cam- consume to just comment on the ma- the take-home wages of working Amer- paign finance reform bill. They are cry- jority whip’s remarks about campaign icans, on average, by $1,500. Unlike ing for campaign finance reform to finance reform and lack of action on many of the family tax cuts, which are come to the floor, but they do not even the Democrat majority’s part when we temporary, some of those that the have a bill. were in charge, and remind him that President has proposed, this capital What is happening here is something we passed it twice out of the House. gains tax rate reduction would be per- that is really serious, because we want The first time, it was passed again manent, creating that boost for work- to hold hearings to look into what is through the Senate, vetoed by a Repub- ing Americans. I hope very much that serious. We have the potential of hav- lican President; the second time, it was we are going to be able to proceed with ing had in the last campaign our na- filibustered to death in the Senate. that measure, which also is critically tional security compromised by foreign And, by the way, I think I did mention, important to our quest of a balanced money being pushed into this country I do have a campaign finance reform budget. and trying to manipulate our cam- bill. We want to bring about a reduction paigns, and they are trying to change Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the in the national debt and get us on that the subject so that the American peo- gentleman from California [Mr. MIL- glidepath toward a balanced budget. ple will not focus on what is really hap- LER]. We know that unleashing the 7 to 8 pening and what really happened in the (Mr. MILLER of California asked and trillion dollars that is today, campaign last year by this President was given permission to revise and ex- people who do not want to sell their and by the Democratic National Com- tend his remarks.) family farm, their small business, their mittee. That is what is going on here. Mr. MILLER of California. Mr. home or other appreciated asset be- I just came back from 2 weeks in my Speaker, not only will the Republicans cause of the fact that that capital district and holding town meetings and not bring campaign finance reform to gains tax rate is so high, that capital meeting with my people. I did not trav- the floor, but their rhetoric today tells would be unleashed, if we could reduce el anywhere. I worked my district dur- us how far away they are from what is that rate from 28 to 14 percent, and ing the district work period, and I had happening in America. would go a long way toward increasing one person ask one question on cam- They want to suggest that the exist- the flow of revenues to the Treasury, paign finance reform. ing system is just fine, that it is a as it has done every single time Now, the American people out there transgression simply of the White throughout this century. know exactly what is going on here on House that we should only be con- Every shred of empirical evidence we the floor of the House, and, frankly, cerned about. And we should be very have is that it will increase the flow of they are ashamed as to what is going concerned about those.