February 27, 1981 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-SENATE 3275 SENATE-Thursday, February 27, 1981 (Legislative day of Monday, February 16, 1981) The Senate met at 11 a.m., on the ex­ S. 598. A bill to amend the Internal Reve­ with the Senate and House Office piration of the recess, and was called to nue Code of 1954 to exempt from taxation Buildings. order by the President pro tempore <Mr. the earned income of certain individuals As of June 30 of last year, there were THURMOND). working outside the United States; to the Committee on Finance. 89 automatic elevator operators still em­ The PRESIDENT pro tempore. Under By Mr. HAYAKAWA (for himself and ployed in the Capitol and the various the previous order, the Senate stands in Mr. CRANSTON): congressional omce buildings. In my recess until 3 p.m. next Tuesday. S. 599. A bill to amend the Internal Reve­ opinion, this is 89 too many. nue Code of 1954 to provide for a definition On the average, these operators earn of the term "artificial bait"; to the Commit­ more than $10,000 per year: they work RECESS UNTIL TUESDAY, MARCH 3, tee on Finance. 6-hour shifts but are paid for 8 hours. 1981, AT 3 P.M. By Mr. HELMS: And their job is to push buttons for Thereupon, at 11:01 a.m., the Senate s. 600. A bill to provide procedures for Members of Congress, staff, and visitors. recessed until Tuesday, March 3, at 3 calling constitutional conventions for propos­ As you know, Mr. President, several p.m. ing amendments to the Constitution of the years ago the elevators in the Capitol United States, on application of the legisla­ complex were converted from manual to tures of two-thirds of the States, pursuant automatic. This was done at a cost of MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT to article V of the Constitution; to the Com­ more than $3 million. At the time, the RECEIVED DURING THE RECESS mittee on the Judiciary. projected savings was substantial. How­ Under the authority of the order of the ever, by continuing to pay salaries for Senate of February 26, 1981, the Secre­ elevator operators, any savings that tary of the Senate, on February 27, 1981, STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED might have been achieved is greatly received a message from the President of BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS diminished. As the Senate undertakes its effort to the United States, submitting a nomina­ By Mr. DECONCINI: tion; which was referred to the Commit­ cut the Federal budget, I cannot think of tee on the Judiciary. S. 592. A bill to amend the Act of a better place to start than in our own October 5, 1978, to extend the duration backyard. All too often Congress becomes <The nomination received today, is of the Select Commission on Immigra­ printed at the end of the Senate pro­ so concerned with pointing the finger at ceedings.) tion and Refugee Policy to the Com­ wasteful Government programs that we mittee on the Judiciary. forget we do a fair share of it here on SELECT COMMISSION ON IMMIGRATION AND Capitol Hill. REPORTS OF COMMITrEES REFUGEE POLICY Eliminating these positions will save e Mr. DECONCINI. Mr. President, to­ close to $1 million. While this may not The following reports of committees seem like a great deal in light of the $600 were submitted: day I am introducing a bill to extend the life of the select Commission on Im­ billion budget, it is a start. Furthermore, By Mr. GARN, from the Committee on it sends a clear signal to the American Banlring, Housing, and Urban Affairs, with migration and Refugee Policy for 90 an amendment: days after the report of its recommenda­ people that we heard the message they sent us in November and we are going S. 414. A bill to amend the Truth in Lend­ tions. This extension is to allow the Com­ ing Act to encourage cash discounts, and for mission to complete its business and to to do something about it. other purposes (together with additional allow the new administration to have a I urge my colleagues to join me in sup­ views) (Rept. No. 97-23). meaningful role in reviewing the Com­ porting this bill.e mission's recommendations. It has been my pleasure to serve on By Mr. JEPSEN: INTRODUCTION OF BlLLS AND this Commission. I would like to com­ S. 598. A bill to amend the Internal JOINT RESOLUTIONS mend the members for their dedication Revenue Code of 1954 to exempt from The following bUls and joint resolu­ and hard work. Special thanks are owed taxation the earned income of certain tions were introduced, read the first and to Father Hesburgh, who chaired the individuals working outside the United second time by unanimous consent, and commission. I look forward to additional States; to the Committee on Finance. referred as indicated: work on these issues with Senator SIMP­ ELIMINATION OF TAXATION ON THE FOREIGN By Mr. DECONCINI: SON and his Subcommittee on Immigra­ EARNED INCOME OF AMERICAN CITIZENS S. 592. A bill to amend the act of October tion.• • Mr. JEPSEN. Mr. President, today I 5, 1978, to extend the duration of the Select am introducing legislation to eliminate Commission on Immigration and Refugee taxation on the foreign earned income of Policy; to the Committee on the Judiciary. By Mr. JEPSEN: S. 597. A bill to eliminate the position American citizens. The taxation of so­ By Mr. SASSER: called unearned income-interest and S. 593. A bill for the relief of Rosita N. of elevator Operator in the Senate Office dividends-remains unaffected by the Pacto; to the Committee on the Judiciary. Buildings; to the Committee on Rules bill. S. 594. A bill for the relief of Juan Aris­ and Administration. The proposed change in present law torenas, doctor of medicine; to the Commit­ ELIMINATION OF ELEVATOR OPERATOR JOBS IN is necessary for reasons both of equity tee on the Judiciary. THE SENATE OFFICE BUILDINGS and efficiency. S. 595. A bill for the relief of Celemente • Mr. JEPSEN. Mr. President, on No­ The United States is the only indus­ Diaz Ibarra; to the Committee on the Judi­ vember 4 the American people sent a ciary. trialized nation in the world which taxes message to Washington: They are fed up the foreign earned income of its citizens, S. 596. A bill for the relief of Dennis L. with extravagant Federal spending and Dalton and James Edward Dalton; to the regardless of where they reside. Canada, they are tired of enduring multibillion­ Japan, South Korea, Germany, and Committee on the Judiciary. dollar deficits. By Mr. JEPSEN: Sweden, to name just a few examples, S. 5q7. A bill to eUmi11ate the nosition of In recognition of that message, I am offer substantial tax relief to their citi­ elevator operator in the Senate Office Build­ introducing a bill which would eliminate zens working overseas. It is not coinci­ ings; to the Committee on Rules and Admin­ the elevator operator jobs in the Capitol dental that these countries are the ones istration. complex. This includes the Capitol, along leading the erosion of America's share e This .. bullet" symbol idenillies statements or insertions which are not spoken by the Member on the floor. 3276 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-SENATE February 27, 1981 of international commerce. The Foreign In other words, Green Construction can There being no objection, the article Earned Income Act of 1978 places hire three foreign engineers for the price was ordered to be printed in the RECORD, American exporters at a severe competi­ of one American. a~ follows: tive disadvantage vis-a-vis the rest of the Of the $80,000, $50,000 of it goes for COSTLY FALL IN EXPATRIATE JOBS world. Our ability to engage in foreign increased living expenses and to compen­ (By Robert D. Hershey, Jr.) trade has been hampered. sate for the unfavorable tax status. In LoNDoN, February 18.-Tax penalties, a The intent of the current law was to the absence of the law, American engi­ weak dollar and soaring inflation have made insure that Americans working overseas neers would be competitively priced. it so expensive to employ Americans overseas bore a fair share of their responsibilities However, the inability of American firms that large numbers o! them are being re­ as citizens of the United States. The to subsidize their own personnel over­ placed by other nationalities at what ap­ "citizenship basis" for taxation on seas is not principally an employment pear to be major economic and political costs to the United States. foreign earned income is, in theory, a problem. It is the secondary effects which American executives say the problem powerful argument. In practice, it turns produce the most critical economic dif­ which has been building !or many years, out to be punitive. American citizens ficulties. Because of the familiarity with now jeopardizes billions o! dollars o! exports abroad suffer hardships and inconven­ American equipment demanded for a and hundreds o! thousands o! job at home ience that place them in an inferior construction project, foreign employees and abroad. position to their colleagues at home. are ill-equipped to bll substituted in A recent report issued by the President's The equity argument loses credibility American contracts. Often, the contract Export Council, an advisory group headed by is lost as a result. If it is won, foreign Reginald H. Jones, chairman o! the General when confronted with fact. Living in Electric Company, echoed that view. The the Middle East, the Orient, and South equipment is frequently used. The Amer­ council declared that the trend o! Ameri­ America is not the paradise supporters ican economy loses either way, since it is cans being taxed out of competing in foreign of the 1978 law would have us believe.