March 11, 1999 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H1253 hit the playing fields with the same passion plate and give the other man his 1, the first day of this month, 1999, the that has motivated children and lovers of the chance. That is why baseball is the Federal national debt was $5.62 trillion. game for years. greatest game of them all, and now we That debt is increasing. In fact, it in- So too will the youth of Cuba. are going to be able to have a good will creased in 1999 by $95 billion in all of Their determination and effort will be di- game, two good will games between the our trust funds. The total interest that rected to the game. Cuban national team and the Balti- we paid last year on the national debt They will be absorbed in the pitching and more Orioles. was almost 15 percent of the total power hitters of their opponents not their poli- Mr. Speaker, let the games begin. budget, about $243 billion. tics. I am thrilled at the likelihood of an historic Mr. Speaker, now is the optimum The Baltimore Orioles exhibition in Havana sports exchange with Cuba in the very near time to take the steps necessary to re- will allow the people of both countries to share future duce the national debt. Our economy, their passions for the game and perhaps high- I am sure many of you have heard the news although not necessarily the Kansas light what the people of our nations have in of a goodwill game between the Cuban na- economy, is strong and Federal reve- common and not the differences that divide tional team and Maryland's beloved Baltimore nues stand ready for debt reduction. On them. Orioles. I commend Orioles owner Peter the very near horizon, however, we face It comes as no surprise to me that Peter Angelos for his hard work to make this dream a challenge of financing the retirement Angelos and the Baltimore Orioles have led a reality. of the baby boom generation. If we can the effort to see this game become a reality I am here tonight to express my strong sup- get our fiscal house in order now, we and on behalf of the State of Maryland I want port for this initiative and to urge the U.S. can meet this challenge. But if we to thank Peter Angelos for his vision for base- Congress to join all of us here tonight in sup- delay, our children will face the dual ball. porting this worthy endeavor. burden of servicing a large national A vision broader than the game itself which I want to say from the outset that any pro- debt, along with facing the liabilities removes the barriers for all who share a love ceeds from this exchange will not go to the to Social Security and Medicare. We do for the great game of baseball. Cuban Government. The proceeds will go to not have surpluses as far out as we can f support baseball and other activities related to see. sports in our two countries. Mr. Speaker, as the chart indicates, The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a Indeed, supporting this initiative has nothing the national debt grows, and by the previous order of the House, the gen- to do with politics. That may seem strange year 2040, because of that generation of tleman from North Carolina (Mr. here in Washington where it is our job in many retirees, the national debt increases to JONES) is recognized for 5 minutes. respects to see the world through a political 200 percent of the gross domestic prod- (Mr. JONES of North Carolina ad- prism. uct. We need to take advantage of this dressed the House. His remarks will ap- But this is one time, thankfully, when it is to opportunity to begin the process of pear hereafter in the Extensions of Re- our advantage to see an exchange between paying down our national debt. Paying marks.) two countries, not as a political event, but sim- down the debt can lower interest rates. f ply as a gameÐAmerica's game and Cuba's Student loans, car loans, home mort- BALTIMORE ORIOLES-CUBA game. These are two countries whose identity gages and farm debts can all be less EXHIBITION BASEBALL GAMES is deeply rooted to their national pastime. burdensome with lower interest rates I think a fan quoted in the Miami Herald re- that the borrowing from the Federal The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a cently had the right outlook for this game Government would generate. previous order of the House, the gen- when he said, ``They should just play. It's a Last week, the gentleman from Mis- tleman from Maryland (Mr. CARDIN) is game after all.'' sissippi (Mr. PICKERING) and I intro- recognized for 5 minutes. It is indeed a game after all. A bat and a duced H.R. 948, the Debt Down Pay- Mr. CARDIN. Mr. Speaker, I want to ball, two teams, a field and the undivided at- ment Act, and I spent some time on the follow the comments of the gentleman tention of two nations. That is all, Mr. Speaker, floor, an extended amount of time on from Maryland (Mr. HOYER) and the and that should be enough for now. the floor, explaining this legislative at- gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Perhaps we should heed the diplomatic tempt to my colleagues. This bill es- CUMMINGS) in really congratulating the words of one of the world's great EarlsÐthe tablishes a 10-year plan for reducing Baltimore Orioles and Peter Angelos Earl of Baltimore. Earl Weaver's famous com- the debt held by the public. It would for arranging for a game between the ment about America's pastime is the reason reduce it by $2.4 trillion; an average Baltimore Orioles and the Cuban na- why this game is such a wonderful idea and annual payment on the debt of $240 bil- tional team. opportunity for both nations: lion; no new spending; saves $729 billion As the gentleman from Maryland In baseball ``you can't sit on a lead and run in interest payments over 10 years. $729 (Mr. HOYER) indicated, baseball really a few plays into the line and just kill the billion. And it removes the Social Se- speaks an international language. This clock,'' Earl once said. ``You've got to throw curity trust fund from the revenues is going to be good for our Nation and the ball over the plate and give the other man that we calculate our surplus to pro- good for the people of Cuba. None of his chance. That's why baseball is the great- vide some honesty, not only to the the economic proceeds will go to the est game of them all.'' American people but especially to our- government of Cuba. Peter Angelos has Wherever it might be played, baseball is the selves. really, I think, done a favor for this best game around. So Mr. Speaker, let the This bill establishes a gradually re- Nation. I support this game. It has games begin. duced limit for public debt held over nothing to do about politics. It is a f the next 10 years, and by the year 2000, game. Two countries whose identity is this debt limit would be lowered to $3.5 deeply rooted in their national pas- THE DEBT DOWN PAYMENT ACT trillion, requiring a first year debt re- time. I think a fan who was quoted in The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a duction of $100 billion. the Miami Herald recently had the previous order of the House, the gen- Our Nation’s most respected econo- right outlook for this game when he tleman from Kansas (Mr. MORAN) is mists remind us of the importance of said, ‘‘They should play it. It’s a game recognized for 5 minutes. paying down the national debt and the after all.’’ Mr. MORAN of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, opportunity that provides to shore up I would also like to quote from one of I am pleased to be here this evening Social Security. the real great diplomats in baseball, and particularly with the distinguished In just 13 years, payment from the one of the great Earls, the Earl of Bal- gentleman from Ohio (Mr. KASICH), the Social Security trust fund will exceed timore, Earl Weaver, the famous man- chairman of the Committee on the the incoming revenue to the Social Se- ager of the Baltimore Orioles. I think Budget, in the Chamber this evening. I curity trust fund. By reducing debt he had the game of baseball right when would like to point out a few facts to today, we can do something that will he said, in baseball you can’t sit on a my colleagues. make it easier to meet the needs of the lead and run a few plays into the line I know that these are issues of im- next generation’s retirement, and by and just kill the clock. Earl once said, portance to all of us, and I think it is removing the Social Security trust you got to throw the ball over the useful to be reminded that as of March fund revenues from the annual surplus H1254 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE March 11, 1999 calculations, we will gain a more accu- RESOLUTION OF THE NAGORNO joined by 19 of my colleagues on a bi- rate understanding of where we stand KARABAGH CONFLICT partisan basis in writing to Deputy financially. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a Secretary of State Strobe Talbott ask- b 2215 previous order of the House, the gen- ing that in his capacity as the Amer- tleman from New Jersey (Mr. PALLONE) ican co-chair of the Minsk Group he I have been pleased by recent reports personally meet with Mr. Ghoukasian the Senate budget proposal may in- is recognized for 5 minutes. Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I want- during his visit to our Nation’s capital. clude a similar proposal toward reduc- ed to take this opportunity tonight to Unfortunately, Secretary Talbott was ing the debt. By establishing statutory welcome the visiting President of the not in Washington at the time of Presi- debt limits on publicly held debt we Nagorno Karabagh Republic, Mr. dent Ghoukasian’s visit, and President can hold our collective feet to the fire Arkady Ghoukasian. President Ghoukasian met instead with Donald by locking in gradual debt reduction. Ghoukasian is visiting our Nation’s Keyser who is special negotiator for Debt reduction should be a central capital this week as part of a trip that Nagorno Karabagh and the NIS re- component of our budget plans, and I also includes stops in California and gional conflicts. Mr. Keyser I should urge my colleagues in both chambers New York, and accompanying the say is doing a fine job in trying to win to insist that the 2000 budget proposal President on his first visit to the the confidence of the parties to the include a long-term plan to pay down United States is Ms. Naira conflict, but I believe it is important to our national debt. Let us agree today Melkoumian, the Foreign Minister of stress the need for the highest level to put an end to treating our national the Nagorno Karabagh Republic. contacts possible which are appropriate budget like a bad credit card spending. Yesterday I took part in a meeting and provide a sign of goodwill that Let us agree to pay more than the with President Ghoukasian and For- would help encourage progress in the monthly minimum and stop spending eign Minister Melkoumian that was at- negotiations. President Ghoukasian’s 15 percent of our budget on interest tended by several of my colleagues in status as the elected leader of one of payments. the House from both parties. The Presi- the parties to the conflict argues in of We are like those people with the dent also held private meetings with according him high-level recognition, credit card who just keep spending. We several other Members of the House and indeed our two Minsk Group part- do not even hardly make the minimum and the Senate and representatives of ners, France and Russia, provide a payment. We pay the interest, but we the Armenian Assembly of America stronger degree of recognition for the have no plan to ever pay the principle, and the Armenian National Committee Karabagh government than the United and today we ought to take the steps of America also took part in those States does. toward establishing a plan to do just meetings. The President also had meet- Last month a bipartisan group of that. We are at a crossroads. Let us ings with the State Department and Members of Congress and our staffs make the legacy that we leave to the met with some of Washington’s leading met with Special Negotiator Keyser. next generation one of economic hope think tanks and the media. At that meeting and in our follow-up and prosperity. Mr. Speaker, Nagorno Karabagh is a letter to Secretary Talbott we urged f region in the Caucasus Mountains of that the United States stay the course The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a the former Soviet Union that has now in terms of the compromise Common- previous order of the House, the gen- and always has historically been popu- State approach, and, as I mentioned, tleman from Oregon (Mr. BLUMENAUER) lated by Armenians. Unfortunately, this approach has been accepted by Ar- is recognized for 5 minutes. Nagorno Karabagh’s independence has menian Nagorno Karabagh as a basis (Mr. BLUMENAUER addressed the not been given recognition by the for direct negotiations, but thus far House. His remarks will appear here- United States or the international Azerbaijan has rejected this approach. after in the Extensions of Remarks.) community. Neighboring Azerbaijan We hope that this rejection will not be f continues to claim Nagorno Karabagh’s the last word, and we urge the adminis- tration to take proactive steps to re- The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a territory. A bloody war was fought verse Azerbaijan’s rejection. previous order of the House, the gen- over this region, and the Karabagh Ar- menians successfully defended their Mr. Speaker, last week I testified be- tleman from South Carolina (Mr. fore the Subcommittee on Foreign Op- DEMINT) is recognized for 5 minutes. homeland. A cease-fire was declared in 1994, which has more or less held de- erations of the House Committee on (Mr. DEMINT addressed the House. spite ongoing violations by Azerbaijan, Appropriations on the fiscal year 2000 His remarks will appear hereafter in but a final resolution of the conflict legislation, and I called for assistance the Extensions of Remarks.) has been elusive. to both the Republic of Armenia and f Mr. Speaker, the United States is a the Republic of Nagorno Karabagh and The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a leader in the effort to help the parties to offer some proposals for how we can previous order of the House, the gen- to this conflict achieve a just and last- advance the peace process through this tleman from California (Mr. FILNER) is ing resolution of the conflict. The U.S. legislation. The subcommittee, I recognized for 5 minutes. is a co-chair along with France and should say, has been extremely atten- (Mr. FILNER addressed the House. Russia of the Minsk Group, of the Or- tive to the concerns of Armenia, His remarks will appear hereafter in ganization for Security and Coopera- Nagorno Karabagh and the entire the Extensions of Remarks.) tion in Europe established to resolve Caucasus region, and thanks to the f this dispute. subcommittee U.S. humanitarian as- The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a The United States and our Minsk sistance is flowing to Nagorno previous order of the House, the gen- Group partners last year put forward a Karabagh. I urged the Subcommittee on Foreign Operations to express its tleman from Washington (Mr. SMITH) is new plan known as the Common-State recognized for 5 minutes. proposal for resolving the conflict. Ar- strong support for the U.S. position in menia and Nagorno Karabagh have the Minsk Group negotiations on (Mr. SMITH of Washington addressed both agreed to accept the proposal as a Nagorno Karabagh, and I hope the sub- the House. His remarks will appear basis for negotiations despite serious committee will adopt language calling hereafter in the Extensions of Re- reservations, but Azerbaijan’s response on the State Department to stay the marks.) to the constructive proposal by the course and to press Azerbaijan to come f United States and our partners has back to the negotiating table. There The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a been a flat no. are strong indications that Azerbaijan previous order of the House, the gen- Mr. Speaker, the U.S. non-recogni- believes that it can maintain its tleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. tion of Nagorno Karabagh creates rejectionist policy by playing the oil HOEFFEL) is recognized for 5 minutes. issues about who in the State Depart- card given the interest in developing (Mr. HOEFFEL addressed the House. ment should meet with President petroleum resources in the Caspian Sea His remarks will appear hereafter in Ghoukasian or other representatives of although recent test drilling indicates the Extensions of Remarks.) Nagorno Karabagh, and last week I was less than expected quantities of oil are