Congressional Record United States Th of America PROCEEDINGS and DEBATES of the 106 CONGRESS, FIRST SESSION
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E PL UR UM IB N U U S Congressional Record United States th of America PROCEEDINGS AND DEBATES OF THE 106 CONGRESS, FIRST SESSION Vol. 145 WASHINGTON, THURSDAY, MARCH 11, 1999 No. 39 House of Representatives The House met at 10 a.m. VOTE NO ON H.R. 45 Medicare, as we know, is projected to The Chaplain, Rev. James David (Mr. GIBBONS asked and was given become insolvent in 2008. Ford, D.D., offered the following pray- permission to address the House for 1 Democrats call for strengthening and er: minute and to revise and extend his re- improving Medicare by locking in 15 We pray, gracious God, that we are marks.) percent of the projected budget surplus not judged by our attempts to do the Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 45 over the next 15 years in the Medicare works of justice or by our failures to be is the nuclear waste lottery. We bet trust fund. Democrats would add at least a decade to the life of the Medi- the people You would have us be, but our homes, our property, the safety of care Trust Fund while we work to rather by Your mercy and forgiveness our family, and then if one of these nu- enact long-term reforms to extend the and grace. We seek to do the right, but clear carnivals passes by our property, life of the plan. Republicans, on the we also miss the mark; we wish to re- bingo, we get big bucks. other hand, are pursuing broad-based member others with appreciation, but This is a lawyer's dream. Thousands tax cuts instead of saving Medicare, we can become too filled with pride to of innocent people will get a large pay- and they want short-term giveaways show gratitude; we can talk about the ment of taxpayer money because the instead of long-term investments in need for respect in our communities, transportation of this deadly radio- but we can also speak words without the future. active waste will devalue and endanger The Democrats have the only plan any change in our deeds. May the their property. Mr. Speaker, let me ex- that extends the life span of both words we say with our lips find mean- plain. Social Security and Medicare and ing with what we believe in our hearts, Recently the New Mexico State Su- strengthens retirement security for and all that we believe in our hearts preme Court ruled that Mr. John middle class families well into the 21st may we practice in our daily lives. In Komis of Santa Fe will be awarded century. Your name we pray. Amen. more than $884,000 in damages result- f f ing from the devaluation of his prop- erty simply due to the transportation MIAMI-DADE COUNTY'S WOMEN'S THE JOURNAL of nuclear waste past his property. PARK The SPEAKER. The Chair has exam- If H.R. 45 were to pass, almost 80,000 (Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN asked and was ined the Journal of the last day's pro- tons of nuclear garbage will be shipped given permission to address the House ceedings and announces to the House across our Nation's highways, destroy- for 1 minute and to revise and extend his approval thereof. ing property values across this country her remarks.) Pursuant to clause 1, rule I, the Jour- like a string of dominos falling in its Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Madam Speak- nal stands approved. path, and who will pay for this devalu- er, I would like to tell my colleagues ation of private property? The Amer- and the visitors here today about a f ican taxpayer will foot the bill to sup- very special place in south Florida, the PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE port a radical, extremely costly policy Women's Park. This is the very first mandated by H.R. 45. park of its kind anywhere in the entire The SPEAKER. Will the gentleman Mr. Speaker, this is a risk America country that is devoted solely to the from New Jersey (Mr. PALLONE) come cannot afford. contributions that women have made forward and lead the House in the f to our community, our history, to our Pledge of Allegiance. society and our lives. It is hoped that Mr. PALLONE led the Pledge of Alle- STRENGTHENING RETIREMENT SE- the many achievements made by giance as follows: CURITY FOR MIDDLE CLASS women will be recognized throughout I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the FAMILIES INTO THE 21ST CEN- the entire year and not just now during United States of America, and to the Repub- TURY the month of March, which is des- lic for which it stands, one nation under God, (Mr. PALLONE asked and was given ignated as Women's History Month. indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. permission to address the House for 1 When the Women's Park opened in f minute.) Miami in 1992, it was dedicated to all Mr. PALLONE. Madam Speaker, the the women of the community in rec- ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE SPEAKER Republicans have failed to make a ognition of their diverse contributions The SPEAKER. The Chair announces commitment to use any of the Federal to our quality of life. that there will be 10 1-minutes on each surplus to shore up the Medicare Trust Madam Speaker, I hope that the side. Fund. Women's Park in Miami will serve as b This symbol represents the time of day during the House proceedings, e.g., b 1407 is 2:07 p.m. Matter set in this typeface indicates words inserted or appended, rather than spoken, by a Member of the House on the floor. H1173 . H1174 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD Ð HOUSE March 11, 1999 an inspiration to celebrate the many our genuine interests are, in fact, pro- help our people, to help our families, to achievements of women throughout tected, because Madam Speaker, if the help our loved ones and to ensure that our country, and if any of my congres- administration is more susceptible to this senseless loss of life does not hap- sional colleagues would like to start Chinese campaign cash, then this pen again? I assure Alex that we are such a women's park in their commu- House must protect the American peo- going to look at those laws at the nities, I will be glad to work with them ple. local, State and Federal level and do so we can all celebrate the many f everything we possibly can to use you achievements of women. as well as others as an example that WE PLEDGED AN OATH TO UP- f the time has come that we have got to HOLD THE CONSTITUTION, NOT get these drunk drivers off the road. URGING SPEAKER NOT TO ALLOW THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZA- God bless you, Alex. VOTE ON TROOPS IN KOSOVO TION f TODAY (Mr. TRAFICANT asked and was (Mr. MCDERMOTT asked and was given permission to address the House INTRODUCTION OF THE FAMILY given permission to address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend FARM PROTECTION ACT for 1 minute.) his remarks.) (Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin asked and Mr. MCDERMOTT. Madam Speaker, Mr. TRAFICANT. Madam Speaker, was given permission to address the the House of Representatives has be- even though Article 21 of GATT clearly House for 1 minute and to revise and come like a scene from Alice in Won- states any Nation can take action extend his remarks.) derland. Yesterday in the Committee when their military security is threat- Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin. Madam on Ways and Means we were asked to ened, the White House has vowed to Speaker, on Monday I was back in bring out a bill by the Speaker with a veto any bill on steel imports. northeastern Wisconsin unveiling what recommendation that it do not pass be- Beam me up. will be my first bill before this House, cause the Speaker wants it brought to We cannot defend America with plas- a proposal that I call the Family Farm the floor but does not intend to vote tic and Styrofoam. It seems the White Protection Act. for it. Today, even more amazingly, we House is more concerned with violating Now this simple plan exempts farm- have a foreign policy issue where the the World Trade Organization than ers from a Federal capital gains tax President of the United States and the they are in violating America's steel when they sell their farm to a family Secretary of State have asked that it workers. member when they try to keep their not be voted on now while the peace Let me remind Members of Congress family farm within the family. negotiations in Kosovo are proceeding. we pledged an oath to the Constitution Now, while the U.S. economy is Yet the Speaker brings it to the floor of the United States of America, not booming, our family members, some of intending not to vote for it, and he is the World Trade Organization. the hardest working people in America, third in succession in the United I yield back all the bankruptcy, de- face a tragic crisis. Traditionally, when States Government. It is the President, spair, downsizing, layoffs and fore- a farm crisis comes along, we in the the Vice President and the Speaker of closure of America's steel workers. Congress look at ways to create more the House; the third most important f programs, to build more government man in the country is running foreign WE MUST STOP DRUNK DRIVERS help.