11424 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-HOUSE May 1, 1995 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES-Monday, May 1, 1995 The House met at 12:30 p.m. and was who lost loved ones who were killed in clear. It said: "Today's tax system is called to order by the Speaker pro tem­ the blast. We certainly applaud the ef­ unfair and needs to be changed.'' This pore [Mrs. WALDHOLTZ]. forts of the President, Federal and particular citizen urged my support for local law enforcement, and Members of a flat tax, an option that is gaining in this Congress in coming together to popularity and deserves our close at­ DESIGNATION OF SPEAKER PRO bring the perpetrators to justice and tention. There are, in fact, many possi­ TEMPORE explore the challenge of preventing bilities for tax overhaul, including not The SPEAKER pro tempore laid be­ such a tragedy from recurring again. just the flat tax, or some version of it, fore the House the following commu­ Madam Speaker, I spent a good part but the national sales tax and other nication from the Speaker: of the break meeting with citizens in variations on those themes. I am WASHINGTON, DC, Florida, from small business owners pleased that the chairman of the House May l, 1995. and operators to students, to rep­ Committee on Ways and Means and the I hereby designate the Honorable ENID G. resentatives of the media, a broad cross House majority leader have committed WALDHOLTZ to act as Speaker pro tempore on section of the people who make things to beginning the dialog of tax reform this day. tick in our small corner of America. It this year, with the poe.sibility of real NEWT GINGRICH, was an extremely valuable period of di­ change by next year. That would cer­ Speaker of the House of Representatives. alog for me, a time to share ideas and tainly be a welcome relief by the time reflect on where we as a nation need to April 15 came around. MORNING BUSINESS be headed. The timing of the recess­ This is a discussion that affects every which we all know included the tax fil­ American, and I hope the national dia­ The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu­ ing deadline of April 17-helped focus log will help to educate us all about ant to the order of the House of Janu­ people's attention on the functions of the pros and cons of the options out ary 4, 1995, the Chair will now recog­ their Federal Government and the need there. nize Members from lists submitted by for change in the way we conduct the We understand the problem. We just the majority and minority leaders for Nation's business. Just about every­ do not know what the best solution is morning hour debates. The Chair will where I went in my travels throughout yet, and I think that that ought to be alternate recognition between the par­ the district and beyond the district as at the top of our agenda. I think it is ties, with each party limited to not to well, people were encouraged by the clear from those of us who went home exceed 30 minutes, and each Member changes that are taking place up here and took the pulse that America is except the majority and minority lead­ in Congress in terms of increased effi­ ready for bold change. It is time to ers limited to not to exceed 5 minutes. ciency, streamlined operations, less stop fooling around at the edges of Government interference in their daily some of these systems and start con­ life, and maybe even achieving a better structing new systems that are fairer RECESS IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA return to citizens for their hard-earned and more efficient. Everybody I talked The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under tax dollars in the way we spend them. to one way our the other, when we got the Speaker's announced policy of Jan­ But there was also growing interest in on the subject of taxation, said, "How uary 4, 1995, the gentleman from Flor­ tackling the challenge of reforming our about a better deal with our taxes? ida [Mr. Goss] is recognized for 5 min­ tax system in a comprehensive way, How about a system that we can under­ utes. and I suspect that may have had some­ stand?" Mr. GOSS. Madam Speaker, the thing to do with the fact that people Well, Madam Speaker, how about it? House has just completed a district were trying to understand those very As we tackle the budget process, can work period, as Members know. Mem­ difficult instruction forms at the last we include tax reform? I think the peo­ bers are returning to Washington as we minute on April 15 when they were ple we work for have asked us to do speak. The district work period is a rushing to get in even before the ex­ that, and I can see no reason at all why time we all go home and listen to what tended deadline of April 17 this year. I we should not. So how about it? Let us the people we work for have to say. We think most people recognize that our take on tax reform. reflect on what has been accomplished current tax structure is inefficient, it here in Washington. We report back to is unfair, and it is largely incompre­ them. We get a little bit of a report hensive certainly to the average Amer­ card on how things should be done and ican if they try and read the instruc­ RECESS instructions about what it is that the tions. The paperwork alone is enough The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu­ people that we work for would like us to ruin anyone's day, and the feeling is ant to clause 12 of rule I, the Chair de­ to try and achieve as we go forward pervasive that many filers are paying clares the House in recess until 2 p.m. with the congressional agenda. too much and do not see a fair return Accordingly (at 12 o'clock and 37 This year's spring break tragically, on the investment they are required to minutes p.m.), the House stood in re­ as we all know, was overshadowed by make, and I think many agree that cess until 2 p.m. the terrible bomb blast that occurred taxes are not moneys that are always April 19 in Oklahoma City. Our hearts well spent by Washington. and our prayers go out to the victims, In fact, it was while I was home over their families, the entire Oklahoma this break that I received a note from community, and all the extraordinary our UPS delivery person who brought a 0 1400 Americans who have rallied together in package to my house. He scribbled his this time of crisis. So many people message right on the little yellow de­ AFTER RECESS were touched by this tragedy. Even in livery ticket one gets right over the The recess having expired, the House remote southwest Florida that I rep­ printed instructions so I could not read was called to order by the Speaker at 2 resent the grief was felt in families it exactly, but the sentiment was very p.m. DThis symbol represents the time of day during the House proceedings, e.g., 01407 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. May 1, 1995 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-HOUSE 11425 PRAYER the purchase of common. stock of Cook Inlet States Senate Caucus on International The Chaplain, Rev. James David Region, and for other purposes; and Narcotics Control. H.R. 517. An act to amend title V of Public The message also announced, that in Ford, D.D., offered the following Law 96-550, designating the Chaco Culture prayer: Archeological Protection Sites, and for other accordance with Public Law 99--498, sec­ 0 loving God, we come together on purposes. tion 1505(a)(l)(B)(ii), the Chair, on be­ this day and we recount with thanks­ The message also announced that the half of the President pro tempore, ap­ giving all the blessings You have be­ points Mr. INOUYE to the Board of Senate had passed with an amendment Trustees of the Institute of American stowed upon Your people. Yet, we are in which the concurrence of the House painfully aware of the suffering of peo­ is requested, a bill of the House of the Indian and Alaska Native culture and ple whose lives have been devastated following title: Arts Development. and whose families have been de­ The message also announced that H.R. 1158. An act making emergency sup­ pursuant to Public Law 96--388, as stroyed. We especially remember with plemental appropriations for additional dis­ our thoughts and prayers the people of aster assistance and making rescissions for amended by Public Law 97-84, the Oklahoma City who have suffered such the fiscal year ending September 30, 1995, and Chair, on behalf of the President pro distress and misery. We pray that Your for other purposes. tempore appoints Mr. GRASSLEY, to the good spirit that supports and gives ·The message also announced that the United States Holocaust Memorial hope even in tragedy will be with them Senate insists upon its amendment to Council, vice Mr. METZENBAUM. the bill (H.R. 1158) "An act making The message also announced that in their grief and give healing to their pursuant to Public Law 94-304, as souls.