Congressional Record United States Th of America PROCEEDINGS and DEBATES of the 104 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 104 CONGRESS, FIRST SESSION Vol. 141 WASHINGTON, TUESDAY, JUNE 13, 1995 No. 96 House of Representatives The House met at 10:30 a.m. and was read the few articles regarding these days the week before lastÐa cynic called to order by the Speaker pro tem- visits, you get the impression that the might say for the benefit of those high pore [Mr. FRISA]. elections are on line for June 25, and level delegationsÐwe found that most f that come February 1996, there is no stations closed in April due to lack of question that Haiti will be a self-sus- materials. This has left many Haitian DESIGNATION OF SPEAKER PRO taining, self-policing democracy under voters unregistered, disgruntled, and TEMPORE the direction of a new Haitian Presi- disenchanted with the electoral proc- The SPEAKER pro tempore laid be- dent. ess. fore the House the following commu- I think we all hope that that will be It should surprise no one that the nication from the Speaker: the case. Especially since much of all single most important issue for most WASHINGTON, DC, this activity has been paid for by U.S. Haitians of all types is security. Any- June 13, 1995. taxpayers. However, I want to urge my one who has followed elections in Haiti I hereby designate the Honorable DAN colleagues to take a closer lookÐto un- knows that potential Haitian voters FRISA to act as Speaker pro tempore on this derstand that, although some progress carry the memory of 1987 when voters day. has been made, there is still a long, were massacred as they went to the NEWT GINGRICH, long way to go. Foremost on my long polls. For candidates across the spec- Speaker of the House of Representatives. list of concerns is the question of trum from left to right, campaigning is f whether or not the upcoming par- done mostly by posters, rather than in MORNING BUSINESS liamentary elections will be fully free person. Why? According to most of the and fair and held in a stable environ- candidates we have been in contact The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- ment where Haitian voters and can- with, they are worried about personal ant to the order of the House of May 12, didates alike feel free to exercise their security. The problem is that the com- 1995, the Chair will now recognize political prerogatives. Judging from bined impact of the dissolution of the Members from lists submitted by the the reports I have received, there are Haitian military and the inability of majority and minority leaders for some serious problems. With elections the interim public security force to morning hour debates. The Chair will less than 3 weeks away, the candidates command the respect and trust of the alternate recognition between the par- list has yet to be finalized. This means Haitian people has left an authority ties, with each party limited to not to that not only are voters and candidates vacuum. In fact, the IPSF continues to exceed 30 minutes, and each Member confused about who will be on the bal- be afraid to patrol alone. except the majority and minority lead- lot, but also that the ballots cannot go Despite the presence of the United er limited to not to exceed 5 minutes. to print. The California printing com- Nations missions in towns and villages The Chair recognizes the gentleman pany doing them has said they need 3.5 in all nine departments, if you ask from Florida [Mr. GOSS] for 5 minutes. weeks to do that jobÐas it stands them, most Haitians will tell you that f today they will be scrambling to get having the troops there has made little them printed in time for distribution difference in their security situation. A LONG, LONG WAY TO GO to the 9,000 voting stations in Haiti be- Whether they are actually safer or not, Mr. GOSS. Mr. Speaker, in the past 2 fore the June 25 election. Of course, be- they do not feel as if they are and that weeks Haiti has paid host to an impres- cause so many of the facilities used for the new Haitian police force of 6,000 sive list of high-level visitors. The OAS voter registration have been damaged will not be ready to take over until journeyed there for its 25th annual by frustrated crowds, the question of early next year at the earliest. It also meeting. A U.S. Presidential delega- where these 9,000 voting stations will bears remembering that the parliamen- tion traveled there for a look around. be remains open. tary elections are only the first stepÐ And, Secretary of State Warren Chris- There are also signs of some serious they will set the tenor for the Presi- topher joined the celebration for the problems with the voter registration dential elections later this year. first 370 graduates from the Civilian process. A recent inventory found that Mr. Speaker, it is way too soon to de- Police Training Center the United nearly 1 million voter registration clare a victory in Haiti. In fact, I will States created last December. These cards were missing. To date, the elec- not be ready to do that until Haiti has groups saw highway refurbishment toral council has only been able to lo- a new President, a new parliament, a projects, met with an optimistic elec- cate 60,000 of them. In addition, despite working jurisprudence system, and an toral council, and some even stayed in the reopening of several registration investment climate that invites invest- the newly refurbished Club Med. If you centers in Port-au-Prince for a few ment, and is no longer a country under 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. H 5759 H 5760 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD Ð HOUSE June 13, 1995 United Nations control with a national just $2,000 more per year than white AMTRAK budget largely financed by the inter- men with high school diplomas. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under national community and especially the Hispanic women with college degrees the Speaker's announced policy of May American taxpayers. We are far from a actually earn less than white males 12, 1995, the gentleman from Colorado with only high school diplomas, and Haiti that is once again a Haitian re- [Mr. HEFLEY] is recognized during sponsibility. earn less than 65 percent of what col- morning business for 5 minutes. American taxpayers may wonder why lege-educated white males earn. Mr. HEFLEY. Mr. Speaker, Congress this matters to them. It is an impor- In my State of New Mexico, a profes- is a master at creating Federal pro- tant country, a country that is strug- sional woman can expect to make grams based on good intentions rather $12,000 less per year than a professional gling with democracy. It is nearby to than sound economic sense and for male, in sales, men earn more than us. We want them to succeed. It is also which the tax becomes their lifeline for twice the salaries of their female coun- important because it is costing us survival. somewhere between $1, $2 to $3 million terparts and 30 percent more in certain AmtrakÐthe ideaÐwas a good one. every day to support our activities clerical positions. Amtrak was created in 1970 with a one- What can we conclude from these there. time grant of $40 million. It was a 2- facts? I think it is plain to see that the year, Government-assisted program f effects of past discrimination persist, that would become an independent and AFFIRMATIVE ACTION and that the practice of discrimination continues. Affirmative action is still self-sufficient operation. The reality, however, tells a different The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under necessary. the Speaker's announced policy of May There are many misconceptions story. Amtrak has cost taxpayers over 12, 1995, the gentleman from New Mex- about what affirmative action is. First $15 billion since 1970. Although Amtrak ico [Mr. RICHARDSON] is recognized dur- of all, affirmative action applies only carries only 0.3 percent of all intercity ing morning business for 5 minutes. to qualified applicants. We have all travelers, it is the most highly sub- Mr. RICHARDSON. Mr. Speaker, the heard the disturbing cases where posi- sidized form of intercity transpor- Supreme Court is wrong on affirmative tions are given to a woman or minority tation. GAO figures indicate Amtrak action and has now created another na- who lacks all experience and education could need as much as $10 billion over tional wedge issue, alongside crime, required for a slot, while scores of ca- the next 5 years to maintain its cur- welfare, and immigration. With this pable white males are turned away. rent level of service. ruling, the Court has undercut and may These cases are rare, and they are not Since 1990 the Amtrak situation has kill many affirmative action programs. legal. gotten even worse. Between 1989 and The Court read the polls and raised its Legal affirmative action plans must 1993 Amtrak lost an average of $706 finger to test the political wind and set goals, not quotas, they must pro- million per year, and it's not going to found a sudden chill on doing the right vide reasonable timetables for reaching get any better.