156 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-HOUSE January 26, 1994 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES-Wednesday, January 26, 1994 The House met at 12 noon. lie for which it stands, one Nation under THREE STRIKES AND YOU'RE OUT The Rev. Richard Gowty, St. David's God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. (Mr. VOLKMER asked and was given Episcopal Church, Austin, TX, offered permission to address the House for 1 the following prayer: minute and to revise and extend his re­ Almighty and everlasting God; we marks.) praise You for all that You have done SUNDRY MESSAGES FROM THE Mr. VOLKMER. Mr. Speaker, today I for this Nation, calling it to a position PRESIDENT introduced an anticrime bill that is of trust and responsibility among the Sundry messages in writing from the aimed at curbing the rising tide of nations of the world. On this day, the President of the United States were crime in this country by getting our National Day of Australia, we give communicated to the House by Mr. most violent criminals and drug deal­ thanks for the special relationship be­ Kalbough, one of his secretaries. ers off the streets for good. My legisla­ tween Australia and the United States. tion is a three strikes and you're out Strengthen that bond between us, bill that will put violent criminals and Lord, as we both strive to deepen our drug dealers away for life-no excep­ APPOINTMENT AS MEMBER OF national roots in Your everlasting tions-if they have three felony convic­ righteousness. TASK FORCE REGARDING MILI­ tions. Every law-abiding American is Guide with Your eternal wisdom all TARY BASES SCHEDULED FOR sick and tired of hearing horror stories who sit in this seat of Government. CLOSURE of convicted violent felons released on Give them wisdom and integrity, that The SPEAKER. Pursuant to the pro­ parole committing unspeakable acts of they may be equal to their high call­ visions of section 2923 of Public Law violence and drug dealers getting off ing. Make them respectful in the use of 101-510 and section 125(b)(2) of Public easy. Our inability to keep the most freedom, just in the exercise of power, Law 102-380, the Speaker and the ma­ violent felons and drug dealers in jail is and compassionate in the protection of jority leader of the Senate jointly ap­ a serious problem that we must address the weak. point Mr. Paul 0. Reimer to the task now. President Clinton strongly sup­ All this we ask in the name of our force to make findings and rec­ ports three strikes and you're out and God, the Ruler and Sovereign Lord of ommendations for environmental res­ so do many of our colleagues. Let us all nations. Amen. toration at military bases scheduled act now and send a strong message to for closure, effective January 26, 1994. murderers and drug dealers that we THE JOURNAL will not tolerate this any longer. Let's make three strikes and you're out the The SPEAKER. The Chair has exam­ law of the land. ined the journal of the last day's pro­ WELCOME TO THE REVEREND ceedings and announces to the House RICHARD GOWTY his approval thereof. (Mr. PICKLE asked and was given 0 1210 Pursuant to clause 1, rule I, the Jour­ permission to address the House for 1 nal stands approved. minute and to revise and extend his re­ THREE-TIME-LOSER LAWS Mr. TRAFICANT. Mr. Speaker, pur­ marks.) GAINING POPULARITY suant to clause 1, rule I, I demand a Mr. PICKLE. Mr. Speaker, I am (Mr. LIVINGSTON asked and was vote on agreeing to the Speaker's ap­ proud to welcome to the floor today given permission to address the House proval of the Journal. our guest chaplain, the Most Reverend for 1 minute and to revise and extend The SPEAKER. The question is on Richard Gowty, assistant rector of the his remarks.) the Chair's approval of the Journal. St. David's Episcopal Church in Austin, Mr. LIVINGSTON. Mr. Speaker, that The question was taken, and the TX. was a great idea, a great speech, and I Speaker announced that the ayes ap­ He refers to himself as the Australian . applaud the gentleman that just pre­ peared to have it. minister, temporarily in Austin. He is ceded me. Mr. TRAFICANT. Mr. Speaker, I ob­ joined today here by his lovely and lov­ On January 24, Mr. Speaker, the ject to the vote on the ground that a ing wife, Maggie. Washington Post front page story re­ quorum is not present and make the I am especially happy that Reverend ported on the popularity of the three­ point of order that a quorum is not Gowty has joined us today, since he is time-loser laws against violent repeat present. a native of Australia and today is their offender criminals. Thirty State legis­ The SPEAKER. Pursuant to clause 5 national holiday. It was on this date latures are considering the sensible of rule I, further proceedings on agree­ 206 years ago that the British fleet idea that a third-time violent felon ing to the Chair's approval of the Jour­ landed in Botany Bay, and the past two should be jailed for life, and Governors, nal will be postponed. The point of no centuries have seen Australia grow such as California's Pete Wilson and quorum is considered withdrawn. into one of the most stable and vibrant New York's Mario Cuomo agree. democracies on Earth and a great ally Yet, Mr. Speaker, that very same of the United States. paper on that same day reported that PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE So, I am pleased to welcome my con­ my three strikes and you're out lifer The SPEAKER. The Chair recognizes stituent, Reverend Gowty-he may hail bill, which has been in the House for the gentleman from Georgia [Mr. from the land down sou th down under, the last year-and-a-half to 2 years, LINDER] to lead the House in the but he and his Austin congregation faces a very difficult time in the House Pledge of Allegiance. today are on top of the world. of Representatives. Why? I do not Mr. LINDER led the Pledge of Alle­ Australians and Texans have a great know. giance as follows: deal in common. We understand each The President of the United States I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the other-even occasionally we can under­ just last night endorsed the concept. United States of America and to the Repub- stand their language as we do today. One hundred eighty-seven Members 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. January 26, 1994 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-HOUSE 157 have cosponsored my bill. I ask, "Don't Candidate Clinton promised health safe streets and sound health care by my other colleagues know that 6 per­ care reform, but President Clinton acting on them without delay. cent of violent criminals commit 70 wants to deliver a monstrous, govern­ percent of all violent crime? Doesn't it ment-run, bureaucratic nightmare that AMERICAN TAXPAYERS, REJOICE! make sense to lock up the worst of the is not reform. people in our society forever?" The President promises the American (Mr. HEFLEY asked and was given Mr. Speaker, I think it does make people the Moon but delivers higher permission to address the House for 1 sense. It is something we must do so taxes, more regulation, and less effec­ minute.) that our families can walk their neigh­ tive government. My constituents have Mr. HEFLEY. Mr. Speaker, it is a borhoods and their streets without told me they hope health care reform new year and we can rejoice! Rejoice fear. will not hurt them too much. Mr. that the taxpayers of America are rid Let us stop making excuses and pos­ President, take a page out of the Hip­ of Lawrence Walsh! He is no longer at turing politically. Let us pass a lifer pocratic Oath and create your own bu­ the public trough. bill, a meaningful lifer bill, now. Seven years he lived off the fat of the reaucratic oath: First do no harm. land. Keep the promises to the campaign Seven years of limousines, room serv­ OUR COUNTRY NEEDS JOBS trail and let us do no harm. Deliver no ice, the most expensive place to live in harm to hardworking Americans, who Washington, and posh office space. (Mr. TRAFICANT asked and was already pay 40 percent of their incomes given permission to address the House Seven years of trying to prove his in taxes; no harm to employers who are preconceived notion that Reagan and for 1 minute and to revise and extend in the best position to create new jobs; his remarks.) Bush were guilty of something-please Mr. TRAFICANT. Mr. Speaker, Presi­ and no harm to our health care system. anything. dent Clinton hit a home run last night. Seven years and 40 million of our tax That is exactly the way it is, and the TIME TO PUT THE EMPHASIS ON dollars-and for what? A 566-page re­ President must be given credit for plac- CRIME AND HEALTH CARE RE­ port costing $70,641 per page without 1.ng health care, welfare, and crime re­ FORM one shred of evidence of wrongdoing on the part of either Reagan or Bush and form on the agenda.