H 2802 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE March 7, 1995 America than at any time in the past. How- Has been watching TV from its beginning. elite group, we would buy cassettes to enter- ever, even though there are more women and In some ways it has deteriorated, giving tain us en route to work, hire someone else African-Americans in Congress than ever be- much time to sitcom after sitcom and shows to do those mindless chores, and pay the appealing to the uneducated, but there is al- fore, neither group is fully represented propor- heavy subscription rates required for cable ways public television to bring a breath of TV. tionately to their numbers in the general popu- fresh air and mental exercise and aesthetic lation. Blacks and women are still pleasure. What would our lives be without Public television viewers and public underrepresented even though we have begun the Nature Series, the National Geographic radio listeners are not just listening to to make progress. The voters of America features, and the great music—the Met, the entertainment; they are receiving pro- should be outraged that a few people are try- concerts by the great trio of men singers, the gramming that is enhancing the qual- Christmas Day program from the [Los Ange- ing to take away the representation blacks, ity of their lives and that of their com- les] Music Center, and the scientific pro- munities. Mrs. Shirley Freedland of Hispanics, women, and other minorities have grams. Need I go on? been struggling for over 127 years to achieve. Long Beach summed up this aspect She closes. Mr. LEWIS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, rather dramatically: ‘‘Without PBS our Or Mr. Harold Weir, a 68-year-old I ask unanimous consent that all Mem- brains will shrivel up and die.’’ Across from Downey, who wrote: bers may have 5 legislative days to ex- the country, public broadcasting is tend their remarks on the subject of I am retired and living on a very limited serving Americans. In Huntington income. I cannot afford cable TV. PBS is vir- Beach, CA, Channel 50, KOCE–TV offers my special order tonight. tually the only TV channel I watch, other The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there than for local news. teacher training workshops and tele- vision specials in both English and objection to the request of the gen- Mrs. Bernice Van Steenberg, another Spanish designed to promote parenting tleman from Georgia? Long Beach senior, says: There was no objection. skills such as helping with homework PBS is my favorite station and I am not an and drug abuse prevention. f elite, wealthy person. I’m a senior citizen on a limited income who doesn’t have cable TV Mr. Speaker, a decade ago, I recall offering the first TV course of ‘‘Con- WHICH WAY AMERICA? ONE DOL- and who relies on the good programs PBS presents. I’d be lost without PBS. gress: We the People’’ over Channel 50. LAR AND NINE CENTS A PERSON The public-spirited channel has a long FOR PUBLIC TV OR ZERO DOL- These voices are also experienced record of bringing first rate edu- LARS AND A WASTELAND? parents who know the value that pub- lic broadcasting has brought to their cational programming to Southern Los The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under children over the years. Mr. and Mrs. Angeles and Orange Counties. The com- the Speaker’s announced policy of Jan- Raymond Collins of Long Beach re- munity colleges of Orange County have uary 4, 1995, the gentleman from Cali- called: been pioneers in developing edu- fornia [Mr. HORN] is recognized for 60 Because of ‘‘Sesame Street,’’ the ‘‘Electric cational programming. minutes as the designee of the major- Company,’’ ‘‘Mr. Rogers,’’ and many other After the devastating Northridge ity leader. programs of the early to late 1970’s, our son earthquake last year, KCET–TV in Los Mr. HORN. Mr. Speaker, whenever a Philip—who is now 22—was able to read and Angeles—the region’s premier public measure that affects a broad spectrum count quite well before he began grade TV station—taped programs that reas- school. It was the only period since first hav- of America comes before the House, our sured children and helped them to deal offices are inundated with calls, let- ing a television set in our home that we were able to watch daytime TV—we’d watch with with the chaos around them. In ters, and telegrams. The proposed Philip—without becoming bored, agitated, Gainsville, FL, WUFT–FM radio pro- budget cuts to the Corporation for Pub- and having to turn the set off. I wonder how vides a 24-hour reading service for the lic Broadcasting [CPB], National Pub- we would survive without public television. blind. In Evansville, IN, WNIN in- lic Radio [NPR], and the Public Broad- And, an alumni viewer of such shows stalled public access terminals in low- casting System [PBS] have sparked as ‘‘Sesame Street’ and ‘‘Mr. Roger’s income housing areas so users could ac- just such an outpouring. While we are Neighborhood’’—Dr. Gregory K. Hong cess local public libraries, and news- all familiar with the various letter- of Bellflower—noted: papers, and use Internet e-mail. Town writing campaigns that produce mail * * * those are the programs that I halls and State legislature sessions are bags full of mass-produced—usually watched to learn English when our family broadcast over public radio and tele- computerized here in Washington—let- immigrated to America twenty some years vision stations in Alaska, Illinois, and ters and cards, this has not been my ex- ago. Florida. Prairie Public Radio in North perience with those who write to tell of These voices are typical of the mil- Dakota is planning a native American their support for funding public tele- lions of people who enjoy and benefit language program to promote the con- vision and public radio. What I have re- from public broadcasting. With na- tinued use and study of native Amer- ceived is letter after letter—personally tional public radio, for instance, al- ican languages. It is patterned after a conceived and written—each telling most 16 million people listen over the similar public broadcasting program in how the proposed budget cuts would af- course of a week—that is 1 in every 10 Hawaii which has regularly scheduled fect them. As we all know, these are adults in America. This audience has Hawaiian language shows. the ones that touch our heart and our almost doubled in the last 10 years to conscience. include people from all walks of life. b 2200 What these letters demonstrate is Many radio listeners work in a profes- that public broadcasting opens the sional or managerial occupation; one Karen Johnson, a disabled Long world to its listeners and viewers in a out of every four works in a clerical, Beach resident, is at home all day. She way that commercial radio and tele- technical, or sales position. subscribes to three southern California vision have never been able to do. The Some say that shows elitism. What public radio stations: KLON–FM88, letters show that funding for the Cor- nonsense. More than half of public KUSC, and KCRW. She can hear poration for Public Broadcasting is not radio listeners are not college grad- ‘‘MacNeil-Lehrer’’ and a local show an arts issue, nor one of entertainment uates, and 48 percent live in households ‘‘Which Way L.A.?’’ which is carried by or communications. It is far broader. with combined annual incomes below KCRW, a radio station based at Santa The letters I have received tell me that $40,000 per year. My letters confirm Monica College. Hosted by Warren funding for public television and radio this. Grandparent R.M. Dunbar of Long Olney, this program has had a major is a seniors issue—an education issue— Beach wrote me to say that: impact as it daily brings together peo- a children’s issue—a community issue. I’m not one of the elite that someone said ple across age, race, and ethnic lines to Most important, these letters are the all public television watchers are—I’m just a talk about the key problems facing voices of public broadcasting’s viewers person who became full to the brim with America’s second largest city and one and listeners. They are the voices of soap operas and lousy sitcoms. of the major metropolitan regions in America. Long Beach residents Jim and Pat the world. Karen sums it up well: As for seniors, let’s start with Mrs. Bliss agree: ‘‘Daytime broadcasting (commercial) is Alta Valiton, 81 years of age, a resident We have heard public broadcasting’s fans a wasteland. And commercial news’ of Long Beach, who observes that she: described as an elite. Not so; if we were an broadcasts lack any analytic depth.’’ March 7, 1995 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H 2803 In rural America, public broadcasting acters on that show. Friends with would not commence until after Lyons plays a special role in linking listeners young children tell me that it is no dif- Group had recouped its initial $2 mil- to their communities and the world at ferent with Barney, the purple dino- lion investment, as well as costs it in- large—particularly in areas where the saur. And the popularity of these two curred in making sales in the home local newspaper is published just once programs over the years has created a video and foreign markets. a week and where the economic base great market for products which are When PBS and CPB became involved, cannot support locally generated com- related to the shows. it was agreed that half of CPTV’s in- mercial broadcasting. Without Na- When ‘‘Sesame Street’ went on the come share would be split between PBS tional Public Radio, for instance, air in 1969, the financial arrangements and CPB. Payments to PBS and CPB households in western North Dakota between the show’s products—the non- would not begin until after CPTV had would be without radio news. Through- profit Children’s Television Work- recouped its initial $700,000 investment. out Alaska’s Prince William Sound, lis- shop—and PBS were not commercial. PBS tried to secure a share of the an- teners—who frequently do not have They continue that way today. In 1973, cillary income with the Lyons Group, telephone or television—would lose the matter of income-sharing was dis- but Lyons refused, citing the $2 million their messaging service, their only way cussed, and PBS agreed to allow the it had invested in producing ‘‘Barney to communicate to the outside world. Children’s Television Workshop to re- and Friends.’’ At a reservation in rural Wisconsin, tain all of its income because the work- CPTV continues to share in the Bar- they would lose the service that shop agreed that all income from mer- ney program sales and shares this records and broadcasts tribal meetings, chandising would be reinvested in money with PBS. To date, public tele- the Head Start Program, and health ‘‘Sesame Street’’ and other of its pro- vision has received approximately and environment conferences. In the ductions and educational activities. $600,000 from the Lyons Group. PBS, Chico area—80 miles north of Sac- This has allowed the workship to CPTV, and Lyons have reached an ramento in northern California, there produce four additional major chil- agreement on future book and audio- are no large cities—listeners would no dren’s series: ‘‘The Electric Company,’’ tape sales. PBS estimates that future longer be able to earn college credits ‘‘Square One TV,’’ ‘‘3–2–1 Contact’’ and revenues—based on the latest contract by taking courses through the radio. ‘‘Ghostwriter.’’ Last year, the work- with Lyons—will be at least $2.4 mil- Without public broadcasting in remote shop received approximately $27 mil- lion next year. Pine Hill, NM, the area’s farmers and lion from its merchandising. From this The Corporation for Public Broad- ranchers would simply no longer have a amount, $7 million paid the expenses casting is very aware of the growing radio station to connect them with the associated with managing the limitations on the availability of Fed- outside world. it would be very, very workship’s merchandising business, eral funds. Its staff members are work- tough—if not impossible—for these $13.5 million was reinvested into the ing hard to increase other sources of communities to replace the services production of ‘‘Sesame Street.’’ And, funding so that it can better support provided to them by public broadcast- the remainder went to other workship the stations for which it is responsible. ing. educational activities. But PBS is not a media investment The services provided by public In the 1980’s, PBS and CPB had an in- company. Its mission is to maximize broadcasting come cheap—a Federal come-sharing policy for all public tele- service to the public and to provide investment of just $1.09 in Federal vision programs that brought them a high-quality programs based on sound funds per year for each American; let share of revenues. However, until the educational principles to benefit Amer- us repeat that, $1.09 for each American. ‘‘Barney and Friends’’ show, this was ica’s children. If the mission of public That’s 80 cents for public television not a significant source of revenue for television were strictly to maximize and 29 cents for public radio. And this either PBS or CPB. With the advent of commercial return, the program selec- money is a good investment. In public Barney’s merchandising success, PBS tion criteria would be quite different. broadcasting, every dollar in Federal and CPB took steps to obtain a share of Selection criteria would be based not funding leverages $5 in other funding. the revenues. However, because the on program nor educational value, but Where do these Federal funds go? Barney show was developed and is pro- rather on retail market potential. Put Twenty-five percent of the Federal duced by a for-profit organization—the simply, public broadcasting would funds received by the Corporation for Lyons Groups—the negotiations and cease to be the national treasure that Public Broadcasting are designated for agreements are much more com- it is today. public radio. Almost all of that plicated than those with the nonprofit There have been many myths float- money—93 percent—goes directly to Children’s Television Workshop. ing around about public broadcasting. local public radio stations. At these In 1991, the Public Broadcasting Sys- Misstatements and incorrect percep- local stations, the Federal funds equal tem made a commitment to increasing tions have clouded up the real picture. about 16 percent of the average public its children’s programming. Because of I have already discussed the so-called radio station’s operating budget. the long development process involved elitist listener issue, as well as the pro- This 16 percent may seem to be a in producing a children’s TV series—be- gram merchandising revenues situa- rather small amount over which to be tween 12 and 36 months—PBS sought to tion. But there are others that need to fighting—but let me relate an interest- acquire children’s TV shows which be cleared up. Let me review some of ing fact told to me by Judy Jankowski, were already being produced. At that them. general manager of KLON–FM 88—a time, Barney had appeared on Con- First myth: ‘‘Telecommunications public radio station that I brought to necticut Public Television [CPTV] and companies could step into the funding California State University, Long briefly on Disney. So, in 1991, PBS, role now played by the Federal govern- Beach, when I was president. According CPB, CPTV, and the Lyons Group en- ment.’’ to Judy, this relatively modest amount tered into an agreement to bring the Reality: The Corporation for Public of funding is what banks and other fi- show to public broadcasting. Under the Broadcasting is not a network. There nancial institutions use as a basis for terms of the agreement, PBS and CPB are no assets for a private company to loans to public stations. In other each committed $1,125,000. Connecticut acquire. Under statute, CPB is not al- words, without Federal funding, public Public Television agreed to commit al- lowed to own stations or sources of broadcasting stations would be se- most $700,000—mainly in-kind services programming. It is a funding mecha- verely hampered in their ability to bor- entailed in establishing the liaison be- nism to shield the station from direct row funds. tween Lyons and the public television Government control. National Public Some argue that public broadcasting stations airing Barney. Lyons and Con- Radio [NPR] and the Public Broadcast- provides a free, publicly subsidized necticut Public Television had already ing Service [PBS], which do have as- platform for the promotion of Barney worked out an income sharing arrange- sets, are private companies and are not and ‘‘Seasme Street’’-type products. As ment which called for CPTV to receive for sale. The local stations are individ- the parent of two former ‘‘Sesame 30 percent of the share of foreign broad- ually licensed by the FCC for non- Street’’ watchers, I can attest to the cast and audio and video sales royal- commercial service. Noncommercial li- fond memories related to the char- ties. However, payments to CPTV censes are available only to not-for- H 2804 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE March 7, 1995 profit entities which provide non- ble alternatives. Public broadcast serv- federally funded activities, let us make commercial educational services, such ices reach 99 percent of American sure that any cuts we make take into as KLON–FM 88. Its entity that is a households—for free. consideration the value of the activity nonprofit one is the California State In addition, there are no channels of to the American people. University Long Beach Foundation. this type for radio. There are virtually So, when we vote on any cuts to the If the critics are referring to possible no other radio sources with the kind of Corporation for Public Broadcasting, private donors, it is too bad that Amer- in-depth news, public affairs, informa- let us keep in mind Americans such as ican commercial television and com- tion, and cultural programming that Mrs. Ida May Bell of Long Beach who mercial radio have not stepped up to public radio provides. wrote, ‘‘I watch KCET–TV every day. I the plate and assured that public TV Fifth myth: ‘‘Direct Broadcast Sat- live on a small pension and can’t afford and public radio survive. The more ellite is now available everywhere in cable, but with KCET available, I am public-spirited cableowners stepped up the 48 contiguous states with over 150 able to enjoy excellent TV.’’ to the plate and funded C–SPAN—the channels of digital video and audio pro- Let us recall the comments of edu- Cable Satellite Public Affairs Network. gramming.’’ cators such as Barbara Mowers of Long If a Donald McGannon still headed Reality: This type of audio program- Beach who wrote about using public Westinghouse—Group W—and Dr. ming service is not yet widely avail- television as a classroom learning tool Frank Stanton still headed the Colum- able to the American public, nor will it to expand the horizons of her students. bia Broadcasting System, maybe that be for several years—unless one has Or the remarks of Lakewood resident would happen. It should. But it hasn’t. somewhere between $600 and $3000 for Donald Versaw who told me that he Second myth: ‘‘PBS and NPR pro- the equipment. It will be the late nine- ‘‘doesn’t think the country should grams already feature advertising— ties before the hardware and infra- make grants to individuals for inane known by the code word ‘underwrit- structure are in place to deliver the ‘art’—but, by and large, Public TV and ing.’ ’’ service. And, this will not be a free Radio is something this country Reality: Sec 399(b)(2) of the Commu- service. needs.’’ nications Act of 1934, which guides the Sixth myth: ‘‘If the 5.2 million PBS We must remember the words of CPB policy in American television and members were to contribute only $55 radio, public and private, states that more a year, it would equal the Federal supporters such as Long Beach resident ‘‘No public broadcast station may share for CPB. It is clear that those do- Glenn Skalland who wrote ‘‘Having re- make its facilities available to any per- nors are the very people who can afford cently suffered a back injury, I have son for the broadcasting of any adver- to contribute an additional $55 a year.’’ viewed more TV than I’m proud to tisement.’’ Public broadcasters are al- Reality: Not so. Not all public radio admit. I can attest to the desolation on lowed, under the statute, to make listeners can afford an additional $55 commercial television. Sex and vio- statements on the air for corporate per year. In fact, 41 percent of the 15 lence sell. Public TV needn’t sell any- sponsors in exchange for remuneration, million people who listen to public thing; consequently, their program- as long as the statement is in no way a radio earn less than $30,000 annually, ming needn’t appeal to our baser in- promotion of the sponsors’ products or and 48 percent live in households with stincts. Shows are informative and, on services. The comment at the begin- combined incomes of under $40,000 per the whole, family-oriented. Please ning or the end of a sponsored pro- year. don’t throw the baby out with the bath gram—‘‘Brought to you by the HPC Seventh myth: ‘‘Current public water. Keep public television free and Company’’—is all the touting a cor- broadcasting formulas favor large on the air.’’ porate sponsor gets. urban, elite stations. They get most of And, the words of Allen Robinson of Third myth: ‘‘75 cents out of every the Federal funds.’’ Long Beach will be hard to forget: dollar spent in public broadcasting Reality: Again, not so. In fiscal year ‘‘I’ve heard it charged that PBS is only goes to overhead.’’ 1994, more than $5.7 million in addi- watched by the cultural elite. Well, I Reality: This misstatement appears tional support funding was given to don’t have an elite bone in my whole to come from a report called ‘‘Quality unserved areas and underserved audi- body, but I do have half a brain which Time’’ which was issued by the Twenti- ences. From 1991 to 1993, CPB expan- is twice as much that’s required to eth Century Fund task force on public sion grants to markets with fewer than watch the drivel served up by the com- television. The report stated, ‘‘Of the 25,000 people, to stations that provide mercial stations. This must be a nation $1.2 billion spent in the public tele- the only full-power broadcast service of idiots judging from what ‘sells.’ vision system in 1992, approximately 75 to their communities, and to stations Good taste, decency, and integrity percent of the funds were used to cover in unserved markets helped 3.5 million can’t compete with sensationalism, the cost of station operations.’’ The people receive public radio signals for pornography, distortion, and push- term ‘‘station operations’’ meant every the first time. your-button politically correct slices activity a station undertakes besides Eighth myth: ‘‘Public broadcasting is of touchy-feely liberal humbug or a national programming—such things as the mouthpiece of the liberal elite.’’ race-baiting right-wing blowhard ego- administration, community service Reality: In response to Congressional maniac. No wonder the kids are so programs, delivery of services, and the concern in 1993, a joint, bipartisan screwed up. A democracy depends on a cost of producing or acquiring local project by two established research literate informed citizen. PBS is going programming, indeed, a lot of what a firms—Lauer, Lalley & Associates and its share.’’ station does. Community service and Public Opinion Strategies—conducted Most of us in the House want to see local programming are a vital part of a national survey to assess public per- a greater emphasis on personal respon- public broadcasting’s role in the com- ceptions of balance, objectivity, and sibility. Some of the proposals we are munity—a responsibility many com- bias in programming aired by public considering in the Contract With mercial stations ignore. broadcasting. They found that roughly America correctly focus on that. Wel- Fourth myth: ‘‘With so many tele- equal percentages agree that public fare reform is an example. President vision channels available—CNN, Dis- televisions is too slanted toward liberal and Congress claim to be of one mind covery, the Learning Channel, the His- positions—28 percent—and too slanted on creating a framework of law which tory Channel, Arts & Entertainment— toward conservative positions—28 per- will encourage personal responsibility. there are plenty of substitutes for pub- cent. In brief, most of us believe values are lic broadcasting.’’ The reality check to these myths important. Most Americans who sent Cable channels are available without shows us that America is getting quite us here believe the same as we do. government subsidy because they have a bargain for the modest support we in Hamid R. Rahai, a resident of my dis- two revenue streams—advertising and Congress give to public broadcasting. trict, put his finger on what all of us subscription fees averaging $40 per They do a lot with a little. We must do need to ask ourselves: He speaks ‘‘as a month. For the 40 percent of the Amer- all we can to help further their efforts. parent and an educator’’ and admits ican people who do not have cable pro- While we all know that cuts must be that he is ‘‘quite puzzled that at a time gramming, these programs are not via- made across the board in virtually all when Congress and its leadership March 7, 1995 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H 2805 champion teaching of values and per- to class and start the class day. At sult in the loss of $1.3 billion nation- sonal responsibilities, they plan to do lunch they had an opportunity, after ally and $78 million to Louisiana. That away with educational tools needed to staying in school for 4 hours, or so, to is how much money the State of Lou- educate the public and specially young go to lunch. isiana will lose as a result of this re- people.’’ He sees public TV as ‘‘an ex- But one student had asked a very sig- scission package. cellent educational tool. It offers a nificant question. He walked up to me Now, Louisiana has a very strong fresh alternative to the mundane (at after a briefing that we did at the reputation in the area of school best), useless or sometimes outright school, and he asked the question, he lunches. I am proud to stand on the destructive programming offered by said, ‘‘Congressman FIELDS, what is a floor of the House tonight and state commercial and cable networks that rescission?’’ And I explained to him that Louisiana is right at the very top are being offered as an alternative. It is that a rescission was something that as it relates to its nutrition program, free and accessible to all, particularly you rescind, something that you take and they should be commended for to the underprivileged who need it away, something that you grant and that. most, and could not afford the cost of then at a later time you take it away, Now, there is also the need to be cable networks.’’ and I guess I want to start tonight ex- some clarity as it relates to what type Mr. Rahai is absolutely correct. plaining what actually took place and of lunch programs we are talking We all know that for the last several what is taking place here in Congress about, because many people when you decades most Americans receive their and what took place in the subcommit- say school lunch, many people think it political information to decide presi- tee and the full committee as relates to is free lunch. There are actually three dential and statewide races from com- the rescissions that are taking place in tiers of the school lunch, many people mercial television—the occasional de- education. think it is free lunch. There are actu- bates, the ceaseless number of paid—by Last year we had an opportunity to ally three tiers of the school nutrition the candidates—misleading and shal- review the budget and review the prior- low advertisements, the horse-race program. First, there is the free-lunch ities of this country, and we granted students who can take advantage of focus of the national commentaries. different budget items, and now we find ‘‘Who’s up?’’ and ‘‘Who’s down?’’ The the free-lunch programs. Students can ourselves in this Congress rescinding take advantage of the reduced-price endless chatter leads many voters to many of the dollars that we were able lunch program, or they can take ad- ask: ‘‘Who cares?’’ Public radio and to allocate last year. Many local school vantage of just paying the regular cost. public television provide an island of boards, many local governments, and And the way this program is set up sanity by sponsoring debates and in- many people in many departments under the current law, if a family in- depth interviews of candidates at all across the country find themselves in a come is 130 percent of the poverty level levels of our system. very awkward position preparing for or less, they receive free lunch; 185 per- As Pat and Jim Bliss of Long Beach their fiscal year, relying on the con- cent of the poverty level or less, they wrote, ‘‘there is probably no dearer in- fidence of Washington, the Congress, as receive reduced lunches; and those stitution to the hearts of almost every- a result of them approving a budget in families that are more than 185 percent one who values education and the arts 1994, and now we find ourselves here re- of the poverty level, they receive a than public radio and television.’’ scinding the very dollars that we com- Mr. Speaker, we must, in some way, mitted to them. simple, regular lunch. preserve this great national treasure. Now, I rise tonight because I rep- If you look at the statistics, you find Margaret M. Langhans of Long Beach resent, Mr. Speaker, a very, very poor most schools cannot even maintain saw an analogy between our national district. Last year I represented the their school lunch program based on parks and public television and radio: poorest congressional district in the the revenues from free lunch or re- ‘‘To lessen access to public airwaves is entire country, but because of redis- duced lunch and, therefore, those indi- akin to lessening access to our na- tricting, now I represent the second viduals who come to school every day tional parks. We hold both in trust for poorest congressional district in the and are able to have the wherewithal the benefit of the Republic.’’ country. to pay the full price for lunch or break- I could not have said it better, Mar- It really amazes me, because accord- fast actually help sustain the lunch garet. ing to the Center on Budget and Policy program. Under this proposal, many of f Priority, 53 percent of all of the rescis- those individuals will be basically knocked away. b 2215 sions fall on the backs of poor people, low-income people in America, and I The other problem is 57 percent of all THE SCHOOL NUTRITION want to talk a little bit about how students actually participate in the PROGRAMS these rescissions will affect my own school lunch program. In Louisiana 76 The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. State, the State of Louisiana. percent of the people, of the students, DUNCAN). Under the Speaker’s an- Nationally, $5 billion will be cut from who attend public school, attend school nounced policy of January 4, 1995, the the school lunch program. How would in Louisiana, participate in the school gentleman from Louisiana [Mr. FIELDS] that affect Louisiana? one hundred lunch program. That is 622,000 students is recognized for 60 minutes. sixty four million dollars in the school in Louisiana that take advantage of Mr. FIELDS of Louisiana. Mr. Speak- lunch program, the nutrition program, the school lunch program. er, I want to advise the Speaker that at will be taken away from the State of Why do we have such a disproportion- some point in the discussion I will be Louisiana. ate number in Louisiana versus the na- yielding to my colleague, the gen- Now, many of my colleagues on the tional average? The national average is tleman from South Carolina [Mr. other side of the aisle argue that, ‘‘We 57 percent, Louisiana 76 percent. Well, CLYBURN], to enter into a colloquy. did not cut funding for school lunch because Louisiana is a poor State. That Mr. Speaker, on Monday of this week and school nutrition programs. We, in is one of the problems I have with this I had the opportunity to meet with fact, increase funding.’’ Increase is in school lunch program, the revised ver- young students at Kenilworth Middle the eye of the beholder. sion, the rescission package that School in Baton Rouge, LA. I had an Let us talk a little bit about the in- passed the committee. What is going to opportunity to meet with them for crease versus the decrease. I submit to happen is it is not going to award breakfast and talk with them about you today, Mr. Speaker, there was an States that have a very, very high pov- the school lunch program and the actual decrease, because last year we erty rate. It only awards States based breakfast program. At that breakfast committed a 5.2-percent increase for on their participation in the lunch pro- meeting, Mr. Speaker, I had an oppor- 1995. This year we rescind that, and we gram, based on the number of students tunity to see young students with real only give a 4-percent increase. So ac- who participate in the school lunch dreary eyes, and they were not Demo- cording to my mathematical knowl- program. crats, they were not Republicans. They edge, that is a 1.2-percent decrease in In my State, I am going to be judged were simply hungry. They wanted the the school lunch program. The dif- by other States that are very, very opportunity to have breakfast and go ference in the annual increase will re- wealthy States. They do not have the