House Floor
House of Representatives in Session
Speaker of the House Tip O'Neill (D-MA) standing at the Speaker's platform, greets Rabbi and priest; predominately Caucasian, adult male House clerks stand along the rostrum. Speaker O'Neill calls the House to order and announces the honor of having a guest chaplain, Rabbi Barry Rosen, who will address the House. Rabbi Rosen addresses the House from the rostrum: "During these days of preparation for the Jewish high holy day season, we join in the theme of introspection and prayer. We shall read in the liturgy on these days of remembrance and judgement: 'It is decreed which countries are destined for the sword, and which for peace.' We pray that all peoples of the world will enter a permanent era of peace. Our thoughts turn to the Mid-East, to Israel and her Arab neighbors with a special prayer that shalom of peace can be realized that will bring security to all nations, and dignity and tranquility to every human being, each a creation of God. Bless all the leaders of America, that they may continue to lead and inspire all Americans, and all free peoples to attain shalom. Amen." Speaker O'Neill tries to get the House Journal approved with a voice vote. Rep. John Edward Porter (R-IL) rises to ask for an actual vote to approve the Speaker's approval of the Journal, which is eventually ordered by the Speaker, since there is not a quorum, and a vote is to be taken by electronic device. Speaker O'Neill sits down and talks to someone off screen; African American and Caucasian male clerks sit below him. Purple screen displays the electronic votes tallied. Speaker O'Neill reads the final vote tally, on approving the House Journal: 344 yeas to 20 nays, and 5 present.
House of Representatives in Session
Speaker of the House Tip O'Neill (D-MA) standing at the Speaker's platform, taps the handle of the gavel and says: "Chair, will be in receipt of a message. Will the members kindly clear the middle aisle? Will the members kindly clear the middle aisle? Including Mr. Rusillo." Two middle-aged Caucasian men with the message stand together. Speaker O'Neill stands at the Speaker's platform, adult African American and Caucasian male and female House Clerks seated below. One of the messengers announces: "Mr. Speaker, a message from the Senate." He bows and continues "Mr. Speaker, I've been directed by the Senate to inform the House, the Senate passed S.118, concurrent resolution, expressing the sense of the Congress commending the achievements of United States Special Negotiator Philip C. Habib, which concurrence by the House is requested."
House of Representatives in Session
Speaker of the House Tip O'Neill (D-MA) standing at the Speaker's platform, taps the handle of the gavel, calling the House to order and yields the floor to the Rep. Margaret Heckler (R-MA); adult Caucasian and African American male and female House clerks seated at the rostrum below. Rep. Heckler makes statement: "Mr. Speaker, wisdom is needed in this House each day, but particularly on days such as this when we face the possibility and the responsibility of dealing with Constitutional issues, which will be the subject of our Congressional agenda. It's therefore very, very fitting that our opening prayer today was offered by a man of great wisdom, Rabbi Barry Rosen of Sharon, Massachusetts. A graduate of the University of Cincinnati and the Jewish Theological Seminary of New York, Rabbi Rosen is the spiritual leader of six hundred families of Temple Israel in Sharon, in my Congressional District. His wife, the former Judy Ostrow, and their ten year old daughter, Rebecca Shira, accompanied the Rabbi here today. A son, a five year old, Ami Ben Chai, remained in Massachusetts. The Hebrew word 'Rabbi' means teacher. And the role of teacher is an important one for any rabbi and his relationship with the congregation. It is a role in which we, the members of the House of Representatives, can also learn from the Rabbi in his report of his recent trip to Lebanon and Israel. But it is only one of the many roles of the Rabbi. Rabbi Rosen has served his congregation as teacher, leader, and adviser for six years. Sensitivity and warmth characterize his dealings with people, his congregates and all others. Compassion guides him in his many decisions that he must make daily, that affect the lives of those within his congregation and beyond it. Wisdom is not only something he gleans from his congregation, but he returns to them in his daily contacts with them. In welcoming Rabbi Rosen to this House of Representatives and to Washington, I would also like to extend a welcome to the delegation from Temple Israel, who have joined the Rosens in their trip today, including temple president Joseph Walter and his oldest son Barry; Cantor Harold Lew; temple sisterhood Co-President Carol Brown; chairman of the board, Mr. Martin Raab; Past President Wol Wersted and his wife Evelyne, and also a past president, and their grandson, Jeremy Blumenthal; Aaron Kischil, director of the New England region, United Synagogues of America; Mr. Morris Burke; Mr. Ronald Shufrin; and Mr. Irving S. Krupsky, who is the educational director of the Temple Israel." Rep. Heckler hands her written remarks to an adult Caucasian male House Clerk.
House of Representatives in Session
Speaker of the House Tip O'Neill (D-MA) states, tapping the handle of the gavel: "The Chair will recognize the Majority Leader, Mr. Wright. Will the Republican leader, Mr. Michel --- the Majority leader is going to announce the program for the remainder of the week." Adult Caucasian and African American male and female clerks working at the rostrum below the Speaker's platform. U.S. House Representative Jim Wright (D-TX) begins: "Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that I might proceed out of order for the purpose of discussing the program for today and the remainder of the week, and, generally, the start of next week." Speaker O'Neill grants the consent without objection. Rep. Wright continues: "We plan, at the conclusion of the one minute period, to take up the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act, which is an open rule with one hour of general debate allowed. And we would hope that we might be able to conclude that piece of legislation before going to the vote on overriding the President's veto on the Supplemental Appropriation Bill. In order that members might understand the plan, and make their own plans accordingly, it is our expectations to begin the one hour of debate on the override at about 2:30 am. If we have not concluding the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act by that time, we would rise and go into the whole House to act on the Supplemental Appropriation veto, beginning about 2:30 pm. The one hour debate, given the general experience around here, usually takes about an hour and a half, so we expect that the vote on the override would occur at about 4 pm. Following that, there are some other things that we're going to try to do today so that tomorrow may be a pro forma session. Our late colleague's, Adam Benjamin, funeral will be held in Gary, Indiana tomorrow at 10 am central time. Buses for those who would like to attend the services, buses will leave the Capitol at 7:30 am to go to Andrews, and from there the plane will fly such members as counted at 10 am to Gary, Indiana, and will return tomorrow, probably arriving back here at mid-afternoon. Therefore, if there were any session tomorrow, we'd expect that it would be a pro forma session."
House of Representatives in Session
U.S House Representative Robert Michel (R-IL) asks if the Majority Leader Jim Wright (D-TX) will yield, which he does so that Rep. Michel can ask: "I've forgotten what time was set for the funeral tomorrow. There may be members that would like to go to the funeral, and then make connections to go beyond that, rather than returning to Washington." Rep. Wright states: "The funeral will be held beginning at ten central standard time in Gary, Indiana tomorrow morning. As I understand it, connections, members seeking to return home to their districts directly from there, they might have to go to O'Hare, or perhaps Midway in Chicago to make flights if they want to check that out." Returning to other business, Rep. Wright continues: "Next week, we have primaries in twelve states on Tuesday. Therefore, it would be our expectation that we would take the suspensions on Monday and Tuesday, and devoting those days to debating the suspensions, and passing those that can be passed by voice vote. But in deference to those members whose states have these primaries, we would hope not to have votes. We would put the votes off until Wednesday of next week. I should think members might also want to be alerted to the fact that the Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Bill will be considered next week. The Yom Kipper, the high holy day of the Jewish faith occurs on Monday, September 27th, and I would like to ask unanimous consent that when the House adjourns Friday, September 24th, it stand adjourned until Tuesday, September 28th." Speaker of the House Tip O'Neill seated on the Speaker's platform states: "Without objection." Rep. Wright concludes: "That's all I had to announce at this particular time, Mr. Speaker. If there were any questions about the program, we could discuss them later in the day unless the distinguished gentleman from Illinois..." Rep. Robert Michel (R-IL) jumps in: "I wondered if the distinguished Majority Leader could look in his crystal ball, and if may be unfair to ask at this juncture, but are we talking about getting out of here on October 2nd or 9th? In a conversation that I had yesterday, the Majority Leader in the other body was talking in terms of the 2nd, but in conversations I've had with the Speaker on occasion, it's been more like the 8th or 9th. Has that been crystallized yet, or can we begin shooting for a particular date? I think members all have that problem with scheduling."
House of Representatives in Session
U.S. House Representative and Majority Leader Jim Wright (D-TX) responds to Rep. Robert Michel's (R-IL) question regarding House adjournment in October: "Well, as the gentlemen so very well understands, the very best plans of mice and men go astray. We have tried from year to year to give a specific date. Our early target date was October 8th. I was told also yesterday by the Minority Leader in the Senate, Senator Byrd, that he and Senator Baker both were hopeful that we could adjourn on October the 2nd. There are relatively few things that absolutely have to be done. As we did last year, the House, undoubtedly, will pass a great many regular departmental appropriations bills. But as has happened last year, they may languish in the other body, and it may become necessary for us to have a continuing resolution. I would like to hope that if that were the case, the President would resist the temptation to play politics with a continuing resolution. Let us pass it and get on outta here, if that becomes necessary, instead of bringing us back like little errant schoolboys by the ear, you know, and thrashing us along the cheek and jowls, and calling us big spenders, and things like that, especially since our continuing would be under the budget. That's just the expression of a hope, and if that hope were fulfilled, we could get outta here October 2nd." Rep. Michel responds: "I thank the gentleman. And, of course, if we don't act like errant schoolboys and do some of the right things rather than the wrong things, I don't think we'll have that kind of confrontation either."
House of Representatives in Session
House Speaker Tip O'Neill (D-TX) seated at Speaker's platform; adult Caucasian and African American male and female House clerks seated at rostrum below. U.S. Representative Robert Walker (R-PA) asks off-camera if Majority Leader Jim Wright (D-TX) will yield, which he does. Rep. Walker: "Thank you, gentleman, for yielding. If I understand what was just done here by unanimous consent, we have eliminated now the date of September 27th as terms of a House session, is that correct?" Rep. Wright responds, "Yes, and there will be no schedule of serious legislative business late on the 17th because that day, at sundown, being a Friday, begins the holy day of Rosh Hashanah. So that, I think members might understand that any votes on legislation, we would really try very hard to make them occur early on the 17th, in order that members might return to their homes, members of the Jewish faith, by sundown on that day. So we would try to protect both that holiday and Yom Kipper which occurs on the 27th of September." Rep. Walker: "Thank you, gentleman. If you would yield further, my concern about the 27th is that that is one of the last days of the session where it was possible to have a discharge day. As the gentleman is well aware, there is a building momentum in terms of getting enough signatures on the discharge petition for the Balanced Budget Amendment. Could the gentleman give us some assurance, since we are now eliminating that discharge day, that if we got 218 signatures on the discharge petition for a balanced budget that we would have another discharge day scheduled in order to have action in the House? Could we have some kind of assurance on this?" Rep. Wright: "Well, the rules of House will be complied with, I'll assure the gentleman, and whatever those rules provide, we will certainly extend to all members the protection of..." Rep. Walker interjects: "If the gentleman would yield further. Is the gentleman assuring me that, under the rules of the House, that he would ask unanimous consent, for instance, to have the 28th declared a discharge day? Because the rules of the House would preclude us taking up the Balanced Budget Amendment if the gentleman proceeds under the course we have now scheduled. I know the gentleman doesn't want to prevent the Balanced Budget Amendment from coming to the floor." Rep. Wright: "I'd be glad to discuss that with the gentleman, with the leadership on his side of the aisle. I don't think I could make any commitment at this moment about a unanimous consent request of that type. I don't know, it might be objected to, but let's give me an opportunity to discuss that with the leadership on the other side of the aisle. I don't want to make any commitments at this moment, spur of the moment."
House of Representatives in Session
House Speaker Tip O'Neill (D-MA) seated on Speaker's platform, tapping gavel handle, asks the gentleman from New York to rise; adult Caucasian and African American male and female House clerks working at rostrum. Gentleman from New York makes request (off mic), Speaker agrees without objection. U.S. House Representative Peter Peyser (D-NY) begins his remarks: "Mr. Speaker, the President has said, 'That we should shoulder our responsibilities in the House and sustain the veto on the Supplemental Appropriation.' I also hope that we're going to shoulder our responsibilities, Mr. Speaker, and we will vote to override this really unbelievable veto. With the election seven weeks away, I am confident that many of my colleagues will recognize that senior citizens, college students, the handicapped, and those who are concerned about getting America back to work will also be asking us to shoulder our responsibilities, and to veto this. You know, Mr. Speaker, the truth is that the Congress helped the President hit a home-run on his tax bill. And in appreciation, he has thrown us and the American people a real foul ball in this veto. Let's show him what we think about it, and override it this afternoon. I yield back the balance of my time."
House of Representatives in Session
House Speaker Tip O'Neill (D-MA) leaving Speaker's platform, being replaced by Speaker Pro Tempore George Brown (D-CA) ; adult Caucasian and African American male and female House clerks working at rostrum. U.S. Representative Joe Moakley (D-MA): "I rise today on a matter of grave importance to thousands of low-income senior citizens in our Nation, who rely heavily on the continued funding of the Title V program. The necessary funding to continue this very valuable program is contained in the Supplemental Appropriations Bill which was vetoed by President, that we will later today, attempt to override. I cannot stress enough the value of the Title V program. Over 54,000 poverty level elderly nationwide are able to supplement their income while providing critically needed community service tasks. In my state of Massachusetts, over 1,300 senior citizens benefited from Title V this year. And 911 of these workers, Mr. Speaker, provided very needed services to the elderly. Without the funding contained in the Supplemental Bill, Title V will not continue past the September 30th deadline. Should this misfortune occur, not only will these elderly workers lose this critically needed income they will also lose the self -esteem and sense of worth that these jobs provide. And, Mr. Speaker, we will lose the benefit of these citizens' years of experience and knowledge that they give so generously to these public service jobs." Speaker Pro Tempore bangs gavel, noting that time has expired; Rep. Moakley gives remarks to adult Caucasian female House clerk.
House of Representatives in Session
Speaker Pro Tempore George Brown (D-CA) seated at Speaker's platform, introducing the gentleman from North Dakota and grants request asked off-mic; adult Caucasian and African American male and female House clerks working at rostrum. U.S. House Representative Byron Dorgan (D-ND): "Mr. Speaker, I intend to cast a vote to override the President's veto today. When the President came to town he said you can't solve problems by throwing money at them, and he was right, but what he wants to do in the defense area is throw money at the defense system and believe that'll solve our defense problems. And the result is waste that is absolutely staggering. That's what this veto override's all about. We're within the budget. This isn't a budget buster. The fact is the President is upset because he wants more money for defense. Now, let's look at some numbers. There's a $147 billion carry-over in defense funds that's unspent. $147 billion. That's not enough for the President. He wants to spend, spend, spend by throwing money at defense. You don't solve problems by throwing money at them, and you don't solve defense by throwing money at them. That doesn't give you a strong military. That gives you a weak economy. We should not take money from senior citizens, job programs, student aid, education for the handicapped, in exchange for throwing more and more money at the defense establishment in this country. That's not clear thinking, Mr. Speaker, and I intend to vote to override the President's veto today." Speaker Pro Tempore bangs gavel, noting time has expired.
House of Representatives in Session
Speaker Pro Tempore George Brown (D-CA) seated at Speaker's platform, grants request from the gentleman from Connecticut, asked off mic; adult Caucasian and African American male and female House clerks working at rostrum. U.S. Representative William Ratchford (D-CT): "Mr. Speaker, I'd like to talk about three things today: jobs, older Americans, and fairness. All three of these issues, in fact, are there when we consider the veto that we will take up this afternoon. In talking about the first, jobs, there are 54,000 older Americans affected by this veto. In fact, in my state alone, in Connecticut, there are 649 older workers who will be put out of work. Older workers with jobs in a tough economy. Older workers in work in senior centers. Older workers who work at nutrition sites. Secondly, we're talking about the older workers, and that older worker's dignity, respect, and ability to stay off welfare. And finally, we're talking about the whole issue of fairness. In fairness, Mr. Speaker, we shouldn't cut these jobs. In fairness, Mr. Speaker and members, we shouldn't cut older Americans. And in fairness, Mr. Speaker, we should not blame this good program for all the ailments of America's economy. In fairness, Mr. Speaker, there's only one thing to do; vote and vote to override that unfair veto." Speaker Pro Tempore bangs gavel, noting time has expired.
House of Representatives in Session
Speaker Pro Tempore George Brown (D-CA) seated at Speaker's platform, granting request from the gentle-lady of Ohio, asked off mic; adult Caucasian and African American male and female House clerks working at rostrum. U.S. Representative Mary Rose Oaker (D-OH): "Mr. Speaker, everyone knows that this critical supplemental bill is almost $2 billion less than the President requested. So what is the issue? The issue is priority -- whether a few more pieces of military hardware and the cost overrun of a submarine are more important than immunizing our children from disease; whether a few pieces of military hardware and the cost overrun of a submarine are more important than the education of handicapped children; whether the employment of our older Americans who, among other things, deliver meals to our frail elderly who otherwise would not, in many cases, eat that day, are more important than a few more pieces of military hardware or the cost overrun of a submarine. Members have a very clear choice today between choosing military cost overruns or people. It is that simple. It is a matter of national conscience. It is a matter of priority. Let us all vote to override the President's veto and show that we are a country of morality and care about the people of this country." Speaker Pro Tempore bangs gavel, noting time has expired.
House of Representatives in Session
Speaker Pro Tempore George Brown (D-CA) seated at Speaker's platform, granting request asked off mic; adult Caucasian and African American male and female House clerks working at rostrum. U.S. Representative Martin Frost (D-TX): "Mr. Speaker, there are many good reasons for this body to override the President's veto of the Supplemental Appropriations Bill, but none is more clearly compelling than the need to restore funding it contains for the senior community service employment program. This is funding that originates with the Department of Labor and passes through eight national aging organizations and through the State aging agencies. It is money that could not be better spent, particularly at this juncture when the Federal Government is withdrawing from the social sector and when the percentage of senior citizens in our society is growing. The 54,000 senior citizens whose part-time jobs are funded by this program are primarily serving their peers. In my district in Dallas, Tex., 80 elderly citizens are working in this program. They are driving the Meals on Wheels vans, transporting other senior citizens who have no access to transportation. Some are working in elderly nutrition centers, and others are doing a variety of in-home services for their less fortunate friends. Because of the President's veto, these 80 elderly workers have received termination notices, effective September 30. And across the country, a total of 54,000 jobs are at stake, as are about 250 community service programs that directly serve the elderly. Mr. Speaker, the senior community service employment program is a double-purpose program that must not be eliminated because of the President's nickel-and-dime mentality." Speaker Pro Tempore bangs gavel, noting time has expired. Rep. Frost hands a copy of his remarks of to an adult Caucasian male House clerk while Rep. Leon Panetta approaches (D-CA).
House of Representatives in Session
Speaker Pro Tempore George Brown (D-CA) seated at Speaker's platform, granting request asked off mic; adult Caucasian and African American male and female House clerks working at rostrum. U.S. Representative Leon Panetta (D-CA): "Mr. Speaker, as my colleagues are pointing out, the vote on the override on the veto is clearly a referendum on several important issues. It is a referendum on Title V, the senior community services employment program and the 54,000 senior citizens, disadvantaged senior citizens, who are employed by that program. The administration calls it unwarranted. This House, in a vote of 407 to 4, committed itself to full funding for Title V. You cannot have it both ways, voting for a resolution that commits itself to full funding, and then turning around and voting to support a veto that is against this program and would gut it. Secondly, it is a referendum on the basic priorities of this country. The administration is taking the position that they want more for military at the sacrifice of the elderly, at the sacrifice of the students and the handicapped. The Congress on the other hand has committed itself to the right priorities by adopting this appropriations bill in the first instance. And lastly, it is a test of whether this Congress is truly going to be an independent branch of Government or simply a rubber-stamp. We ought to clearly stand with the President when he is right, as we did with regards to the tax bill. But we ought to certainly oppose him when he is wrong. And on this issue he is wrong." Speaker Pro Tempore bangs gavel, noting time has expired.
House of Representatives in Session
Speaker Pro Tempore George Brown (D-CA) seated at Speaker's platform, introducing and granting request asked off mic; adult Caucasian and African American male and female House clerks working at rostrum. U.S. Representative Norman Mineta (D-CA): "Mr. Speaker, President Reagan's recent statement that the Supplemental Appropriations Bill 'would bust the budget by nearly a billion dollars' is, in fact, incorrect. The bill is actually $1.5 billion below the President's request in budget authority and $1.3 billion below his request in outlays. Furthermore, the Congressional Budget Office estimates that the bill is $3.2 billion less in budget authority and $1.1 billion less in outlays than the budget ceilings established in the budget resolution for fiscal year 1982. The Supplemental Appropriations Bill funds some very critical programs including the senior community service employment program, student loans, education for the handicapped, and State extension of unemployment benefits. Congress funded only those programs which meet the criteria for supplemental funding, and that is to provide funds for mandatory costs incurred by the Government or other emergency or extraordinary circumstances. Even Defense Secretary Weinberger argued against the veto and urged the President to sign the supplemental. At a time when many people in our country are experiencing great hardships, Congress chose to spend money on programs which will allow people to just hang on to their standard of living. I urge our Congress to reaffirm those priorities." Speaker Pro Tempore bangs gavel, noting time has expired. Rep. Mineta hands his remarks to adult Caucasian female House clerk as Rep. David Bonior (D-MI) approaches.
House of Representatives in Session
Speaker Pro Tempore George Brown (D-CA) seated at Speaker's platform, introducing and granting request asked off mic; adult Caucasian and African American male and female House clerks working at rostrum. U.S. Representative David Bonior (D-MI): "Mr. Speaker, we are told aid to our most needy college students or education for handicapped youth is 'unwarranted,' yet $700 million the Secretary of Defense himself suggested be cut, is according to the White House 'urgently needed.' The Defense Department cannot wait until October for hundreds of millions in new hardware, yet senior citizens are told if they can wait for their jobs, they can wait for their dignity. A bill that costs less than the President requested cannot be called a 'budget buster' and the President's spending list cannot be called the priorities of the American people. Is this veto a determined search for 'waste'? Or is it a budget policy reduced to disdain for any program that puts the Government in service to its people?" Speaker Pro Tempore bangs gavel, noting time has expired.
House of Representatives in Session
Speaker Pro Tempore George Brown (D-CA) seated at Speaker's platform, introducing and granting request asked off mic; adult Caucasian and African American male and female House clerks working at rostrum. U.S. Representative James Florio (D-NJ): "Mr. Speaker, I have today introduced legislation to repeal the provision of the recently enacted $98.3 billion tax bill which allows multinational corporations to take tax deductions for bribes paid overseas. That the tax bill contained a provision allowing U.S. corporations to take tax deductions for so-called grease payments overseas is a further demonstration of its basic unfairness to average Americans. My amendment is based on the simple premise that bribery, no matter what we call it, should not be tax deductible. Not only does the tax bill condone the paying of bribes, it raises bribery to a new height of respectability by forcing average taxpayers to give it a special subsidy. If this provision is allowed to stand, corporations will get more tax breaks while the average person pays more taxes on a pack of cigarettes, for a telephone call, and for health care. People should be, and I suspect will be, outraged over this. The estimated loss to the Treasury over these bribery deductions is $30 million per year. My suspicion is that this is a very conservative estimate, particularly when foreign officials find out that U.S. corporations can actually limit their tax liabilities by passing out money, overseas, under the table." Speaker Pro Tempore bangs gavel, noting time has expired; Rep. Florio hands his remarks to adult Caucasian female House clerk.
House of Representatives in Session
Speaker Pro Tempore George Brown (D-CA) seated at Speaker's platform, introducing and granting request asked off-mic; adult Caucasian and African American male and female House clerks working at rostrum. U.S. Representative Barney Frank (D-MA): "Mr. Speaker, the President's veto is an example of why the American public sometimes gets the Federal Government confused with the flat earth society. We are being told that a bill that spends a billion less than he wants to spend is bad because it spends too much. Clearly what is at stake here is the President's need to appease his right wing. A little common sense has broken out in the White House, and that's caused consternation amongst some of his supporters, so he has to engage in the sort of rhetoric. Unfortunately, what happens is that the elderly and the students of this country get sacrificed on that right wing political altar. Now, Mr. Speaker, perhaps in the spirit of compromise we can work something out. Maybe what we can do under the senior aide program is to arm the elderly. Perhaps if we gave each one of them an M-16 or if we assigned each one of them duty as a monitor under the nuclear evacuation plan, we might persuade the White House to go ahead with this program. Because something clearly has to be done to persuade the President and those who will support him in this body that a program which provides aid to older people to work on behalf of fellow older people is worthwhile. I would have thought that the merits of the program would have been self-evident even through the rigid ideological fog that envelops the White House. But if not-- if it takes enlisting them into the armed forces in some paramilitary way, if that's the only way we can provide that-- perhaps the time has come to arm the elderly and work out the compromise the President desires." Speaker Pro Tempore bangs gavel, noting time has expired.
House of Representatives in Session
Speaker Pro Tempore George Brown (D-CA) seated at Speaker's platform, introducing and granting request asked off-mic; adult Caucasian and African American male and female House clerks working at rostrum. U.S. Representative Jerry Patterson (D-CA): "Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to the President's veto and to support the veto override today. The President asked us for $15.7 billion in the supplemental appropriations. We gave him only $14.7 billion, and now he has vetoed that appropriations bill as a 'budget buster.' How does he logically explain that? He says we are spending $900 million too many on the elderly, the handicapped, and students, and we're spending not enough-- $2 billion too little-- for defense and foreign aid. He would rather take the money away from the elderly and the young and send it somewhere else, out of this country. I urge my conservative friends on the other side of the aisle to rise with the Democrats and override this. And I say to the President, 'Come on, Mr. President, give the American people a chance.'" Speaker Pro Tempore bangs gavel, noting time has expired.
House of Representatives in Session
Speaker Pro Tempore George Brown (D-CA) seated at Speaker's platform, introducing and granting request asked off-mic; adult Caucasian and African American male and female House clerks working at rostrum. U.S. Representative Bruce Vento (D-MN): "Mr. Speaker, today this House will consider and vote upon the override of a Presidential veto. This supplemental measure passed by a 7-to-1 margin, I think, reflecting good judgment, reflecting compromise on the part of this House and the other body. Any veto and override attempt is a most serious matter, but today's vote is all the more important because of what is at stake. The decision that the House and the other body make on the President's veto will have a profound effect on our Nation's students, the unemployed, the handicapped, and a special group of elderly Americans. That is what is at stake today. No matter how you try to frame the debate, the basic issues are the future of education for the disadvantaged, student financial assistance, education for the handicapped, unemployment compensation, and the continuation of life-sustaining jobs for other workers. The $3 billion we didn't fund in that particular supplemental was cut back from one of the biggest increases in defense spending in peacetime. I think that was a proper prioritization by this House and by the other body. President Reagan may rail about the defense and the budget, but what he is doing is cutting off essential programs at the expense of people we represent. With his veto, the President has laid off over 50,000 older Americans. Mr Speaker, President Reagan's veto is another grandstand play at his riverboat gamble. It is a losing gamble that has cost Americans over 10 million workers, and tremendous problems." Speaker Pro Tempore bangs gavel, noting time has expired.
House of Representatives in Session
Speaker Pro Tempore George Brown (D-CA) seated at Speaker's platform, introducing and granting request asked off-mic; adult Caucasian and African American male and female House clerks working at rostrum. U.S. Representative Pat Williams (D-MT) gives his remarks: "Mr. Speaker, my colleagues have spoken well about the various priorities of this bill which the President has vetoed. Let me speak about the use of one of those priorities. This bill cuts $100 million in cost overruns from the Trident submarine program and it uses that $100 million this way: It uses some of it for early education for handicapped children under the age of eight; it uses it for childhood immunization programs; it uses it to secure the unemployment trust fund so that America's jobless workers can be guaranteed some small financial assistance; and finally, it uses part of that $100 million cost overrun that we cut from the Trident submarine program, to develop mass transit in the United States to make the lives of our urban colleagues somewhat more comfortable. That's a proper use of priorities. I trust the House will join me and my other colleagues in overriding the President's veto."
House of Representatives in Session
Speaker Pro Tempore George Brown (D-CA) seated at Speaker's platform, introducing and granting request asked off-mic; adult Caucasian and African American male and female House clerks working at rostrum. U.S. Representative Edward Markey (D-MA) gives his remarks: "In the past 2 months, both the House and the Senate have reaffirmed their commitment to Title V, the senior community services employment program. The House overwhelmingly demonstrated its bipartisan support by a vote of 407 to 4 and the Senate by a vote of 89 to 6. The bill contains $210 million needed to keep this program in operation and to keep 54,000 low-income older people working on the rolls after September 30. It is time here for us to reaffirm our commitment to this program. If we do not do that, if we eliminate the program, then what will happen is we will force these people off of the work rolls and on to the welfare rolls. In addition, the cost of replacing these workers and providing the services which they do provide for the local community will be astronomical and probably twice the cost that we now provide through Federal funding. In sum, any savings that we now believe we are going to achieve by eliminating this program would have to be assumed by some other branch of Government. I think that is absolutely counterproductive. I hope we are able through this minimal funding to retain these elderly workers to provide jobs for 54,000 people and services for the hundreds of thousands of others that they work for." Speaker Pro Tempore bangs gavel, noting time has expired, then introducing the gentleman from California; Rep. Markey gives his notes to an adult Caucasian male House clerk.
House of Representatives in Session
Speaker Pro Tempore George Brown (D-CA) seated at Speaker's platform, introducing and granting request asked off-mic; adult Caucasian and African American male and female House clerks working at rostrum. U.S. Representative Phillip Burton (D-CA) gives his remarks: "Mr. Speaker, I join with my colleagues in urging that we support an override of the President's veto. I don't think there's any one issue that puts in bolder belief, the two different views of the American society. The President's veto reflects a conviction that only by never-ending escalation of the arms race and increases in military spending is the path to domestic tranquility and world peace. There are those on the other hand that think spending priorities must be seriously re-ordered. There are those of us that believe in taking care of the American people, protecting our elderly, providing a helping hand to our young who need reading and education assistance is a path to make our country stronger; the path to deal with our economic plight. I urge my colleagues to join with me and others in opposing President Reagan's veto, and I hope that we override that very ill-advised action." Speaker Pro Tempore bangs gavel, noting time has expired and introduces the gentleman from Maryland.
House of Representatives in Session
Speaker Pro Tempore George Brown (D-CA) seated at Speaker's platform, introducing and granting request asked off-mic; adult Caucasian and African American male and female House clerks working at rostrum. U.S. Representative Parren Mitchell (D-MD) gives his remarks: "Mr. Speaker, this veto is the biggest scam, con job that has been attempted by the White House up to this point. There is no point in calling it anything else but that. It is a con-job. It is a scam. The President knows darn well that this is not any budget buster. He knows that. It is way below his figures. What he wants to do and does not apparently have the will and support to do is to eliminate all Federal programs. That is what he wants. Way back when we passed the Social Security Act, it was the Republicans who voted overwhelmingly to send it back to committee, and that would have killed the Social Security Act. A leopard does not change its spots. What we have here is a scam job and we have got to deal with it. We have to be honest with the people. I tell you, the President is afraid. He is afraid to say, I do not like housing; Government should not provide it. I do not like to help senior citizens; the Federal Government should not do that. I do not like to help students; the Federal Government should not do that. He does not have the guts to say that. What he is doing is nibbling away at these programs every chance he gets. Cut, cut, cut. Come on out. Be the true conservative that you are Mr. President, and say end all Federal programs. I would have a lot more respect for you." Speaker Pro Tempore bangs gavel, noting time has expired.
House of Representatives in Session
Speaker Pro Tempore George Brown (D-CA) seated at Speaker's platform, introducing and granting request asked off-mic; adult Caucasian and African American male and female House clerks working at rostrum. U.S. Representative Al Gore (D-TN) gives his remarks: "Mr. Speaker, the issue of the day is the supplemental veto and the override, but I rise to discuss another bill that has just been scheduled for debate next Monday and the vote will occur on Wednesday. Although it has been scheduled as a suspension, I rise to alert my colleagues that this measure is anything but noncontroversial. It is extremely controversial. And since a lot of members will be out of town on Monday and Tuesday for the primary elections, they will come back on Wednesday to face this vote without benefit of a lot of the debate. So, I just want to alert my colleagues. This is the patent term extension bill which is an extremely important measure that will raise the price of medicine by giving up to a 7 year extension on patent terms to pharmaceutical companies. It is based on false premises. The fact is that there has been no decline in innovation whatsoever by pharmaceutical companies. There have been huge increases in real dollar terms in research and development by pharmaceutical companies and enormous increases in profits, and we just gave them a 25% tax credit for research and development expenditures. Do not be hornswoggled on this bill. Consumer groups are strongly against it. Senior citizen groups are strongly against it, as well others. The pharmaceutical industry is trying to pull the wool over the eyes of this Congress. Vote 'no' next Wednesday." Speaker Pro Tempore bangs gavel, noting time has expired.
House of Representatives in Session
Speaker Pro Tempore George Brown (D-CA) seated at Speaker's platform, introducing and granting request asked off-mic; adult Caucasian and African American male and female House clerks working at rostrum. U.S. Representative Don Bonker (D-WA) gives his remarks: "Mr. Speaker, a number of my colleagues have already spoken to the possible elimination of Title V of the Older Americans Act, if the Congress today does not override the President's veto on the supplemental appropriations bill. Recently, the Select Committee on Aging conducted hearings in the Northwest on the impact of budget cuts on older women. Congressman Wyden and myself participated in those hearings and we heard from witnesses who reaffirmed the vital importance of the Title V Senior Employment Program, particularly for older women. Older women now represent 72% of the elderly poor and are truly dependent on many of these Federal programs. Despite the crucial need for Title V, President Reagan has vetoed the one piece of legislation that appropriated the $211 million in additional funds to keep Title V seniors employed through June of 1983. If the Congress cannot override this veto, over 54,000 elderly will be out of work after September 30. Of the 54,000 part time community services jobs provided for the low income elderly, two-thirds are those employed by women. I urge the Congress today to override the President's veto and sustain this important program." Speaker Pro Tempore bangs gavel, noting time has expired.
House of Representatives in Session
Speaker Pro Tempore George Brown (D-CA) seated at Speaker's platform, introducing and granting request asked off-mic; adult Caucasian and African American male and female House clerks working at rostrum. U.S. Representative Tom Daschle (D-SD) gives his remarks: "Mr. Speaker, I think that today we've been able to establish very clearly that this debate this afternoon and the vote today on the supplemental, is not one about budgets. Certainly, I think we've demonstrated very clearly that we are well below the budget. The question is where the money in that supplemental is to be spent, and in spite of the fact that we now have a $137 billion carry-over in defense, the President has argued again that it is not enough. That the strength of this country depends only on the amount of money we spend on defense. Well, I think he's wrong. And I think the vast majority of members, deep down, believe he's wrong as well. The strength of this country depends more than how much we spend on MX missiles. The strength of this country, through programs like Green Thumb, are vitally important, I think. And to perform the useful community services that seniors so desperately need to lead a life of dignity instead of dependency. It tried, this bill, to make sure that handicapped would have the opportunity to fully participate in the educational system. And that too, I think, is directly related to how strong this country is. If the President believes that education is expensive, he ought to find out what ignorance costs. And, I think if we continue in this direction, we're going to find out much sooner than we expected. I think there are programs fundamental to the strength in this bill; fundamental, I think, to the importance that we take in this direction and I hope that we can override the veto this afternoon." Speaker Pro Tempore bangs gavel, noting time has expired; introduces the gentleman from New York.
House of Representatives in Session
Speaker Pro Tempore George Brown (D-CA) seated at Speaker's platform, introducing and granting request asked off-mic; adult Caucasian and African-American male and female House clerks working at rostrum. U.S. Representative Mario Biaggi (D-NY) remarks: "Mr. Speaker, there are more than ample reasons to justify the overriding of the veto of the Supplemental Appropriations Bill, but none are more compelling than to avert the profound trauma and tragedy which will occur if 54,200 older workers employed by Title V are fired. Pure and simple, that is exactly what will happen if we fail to override. Already in parts of this nation elderly workers, all of whom are low income, have been handed pink slips. In one case it resulted in a heart attack. All of these older workers will get these slips by the end of this month if the veto is sustained. Who are these workers? More than two-thirds are women, almost thirty percent are from minority groups. They are people working for others in their community. More than half work for other less fortunate elderly providing them with meals or taking them to doctors. What other federal program can boast of such a cost effective record? I am an original cosponsor of the Title V program. I know it works. A program exclusively providing jobs for the elderly is being singled out for extinction. Let us not be a party to this reversal of an enlightened and humane policy. Vote to override." Rep. Biaggi hands notes to adult Caucasian male House clerk. Speaker Pro Tempore bangs gavel, noting time has expired.
House of Representatives in Session
Speaker Pro Tempore George Brown (D-CA) seated at Speaker's platform in House of Representatives, introducing and granting request asked off-mic; adult Caucasian and African American male and female House clerks working at rostrum. U.S. Representative Dennis Hertel (D-MI) gives remarks: "Mr. Speaker, today many of my colleagues have spoken out against the President's veto. We have taken more time on one minutes than usual because we do not think there is enough time in the debate today to fully alert the American people to all the bad that is being done by that veto. I have to say that I notice there are very few Republican members here to speak on one minutes and I can understand why, since only eighteen Republicans in this House voted against this bill when it was originally before us. Why is that? Because it does many good things. There is $211 million in jobs for older Americans, $26 million for handicapped education, $217 million for student financial assistance. Those are just a few items, and all those items that are so vitally important equal the cost of only one B-1 bomber. Let me say that there was much talk last year about the President's mandate. There was no mandate to cut education, no mandate to cut funds for senior citizens. There was no mandate in the 1980 election to cut money for the disadvantaged. I think that we had better listen to the people. The polls are clear. Our mail is clear. We have the worst economic conditions in this nation's history since the Great Depression right now. It is time to reach out and to help the people. It is time to have a reordering of priorities across the board, including defense. It is time to have some commonsense and some compassion on the floor of this House." Speaker Pro Tempore bangs gavel, noting time has expired.
House of Representatives in Session
Speaker Pro Tempore George Brown (D-CA) seated at Speaker's platform in House of Representatives, introducing and granting request asked off-mic; adult Caucasian and African American male and female House clerks working at rostrum. U.S. Representative Bill Alexander (D-AR) gives remarks: "Mr. Speaker, just because Ronald Reagan said it, does not make it so. The vetoed appropriation bill is about $1.5 billion under the budget. The President said that he vetoed the bill because it is over budget. Farm exports would be established under this bill as a national priority. The American farmer needs help. Thefarm economy is facing the same conditions today as it did during the Great Depression, with net farm income about $1 billion less than it was in 1933. I urge every member of this body to vote to override the President's veto in order to set agricultural exports as a national priority." Speaker Pro Tempore bangs gavel, noting time has expired.
House of Representatives in Session
Speaker Pro Tempore George Brown (D-CA) seated at Speaker's platform in House of Representatives, granting off-mic request; adult Caucasian and African American male and female House clerks working at rostrum. U.S. Representative Wayne Dowdy (D-MS) remarks: "Mr. Speaker, today we have the opportunity to send a mes- sage of hope and encouragement to a special group of older Americans, those who have worked in our communities through Title V of the Older Americans Act. What we can tell them is that we value their talent and experience. We can tell these older citizens that we want them to continue to be contributing members of our work force. In my home state of Mississippi, we have three highly successful senior aide projects which employ hundreds of older Americans. These citizens feel that their work has not only provided them with a means of becoming self-supporting, but has also given them a renewed sense of purpose and involvement. Unemployment is a problem which has crippled our nation. In Mississippi, it has jumped to over 12 percent. By failing to fund the senior community service employment project, we will force, in my state, hundreds of older Americans into competition with younger workers. It has been estimated that for every dollar invested in Title V programs, $1.15 is saved because of increased tax revenues and reduced public assistance. I think we should continue this valuable investment in our older citizens by voting to override the veto." Rep. Dowdy hands notes to House clerk. Speaker Pro Tempore bangs gavel, noting time has expired.
House of Representatives in Session
Speaker Pro Tempore George Brown (D-CA) seated at Speaker's platform in House of Representatives, granting off-mic request; adult Caucasian and African American male and female House clerks working at rostrum. U.S. Representative Steny Hoyer (D-MD) remarks: "Mr. Speaker and ladies and gentlemen of the House, as a result of the Supplemental Appropriation veto, once again the federal worker was left dangling in the wind by the President and by the Congress; by the President by design, and the Congress did so by its failure to act in a timely fashion. It is tragic that this pattern is repeated year after year. Not only is it traumatic for federal employees and ludicrous to the taxpayer, it is also bad personnel policy, bad politics, and bad Government. It should be an unacceptable performance for us all. At the 11th hour on Tuesday we averted the unwarranted, unwanted, and unplanned layoff of 19,000 Internal Revenue Service employees, the individuals we rely upon to collect the revenues to which this Government is entitled and dependent upon. The reprieve came, however, only after employees were put through a closing down process devastating to morale and to the effective operations of certain offices for the last seven days. Mr. Speaker, this is unacceptable performance, as I suggested earlier, by the administration and by the Congress." Speaker Pro Tempore bangs gavel, noting time has expired.
House of Representatives in Session
Speaker Pro Tempore George Brown (D-CA) seated at Speaker's platform in House of Representatives, introducing and granting request; Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-MD) writes something on his notes before giving it to adult Caucasian male House clerk. U.S. Representative Ed Weber (R-OH) remarks: "Mr. Speaker, the uniform joint fare system which exists for air travel and which we now enjoy in terms of convenience and lower fares will expire in January 1983 unless H.R. 5717, the Community Air Service Act of 1982 is passed; 5717 extends the uniform joint fare system beyond that time and continues to eliminate the need for separate reservations, separate ticketing, and separate baggage handling. Passengers from small and medium-size communities who must fly a combination of two or more air carriers will be severely affected if joint fares are allowed to lapse. Without joint fares, there will be substantially increased costs for constituents who have to fly on more than one airline because separate fares will be charged for each reservation, each ticketing, and each baggage handling. I urge my colleagues to think of the impact this would have on your own communities. H.R. 5717, the Community Air Service Act of 1982, introduced by Congressman Gene Snyder should be supported." Speaker Pro Tempore bangs gavel, noting time has expired.
House of Representatives in Session
Speaker Pro Tempore George Brown (D-CA) seated at Speaker's platform in House of Representatives, granting off-mic request; Rep. Ed Weber (R-OH) giving his notes to adult Caucasian female House clerk. U.S. Representative Robert Walker (R-PA) remarks: "Mr. Speaker, we have heard a string of arguments here this morning in favor of overriding the President's veto of the Supplemental Appropriations Bill. Those particular arguments have been emotional, but they've been phony. I'm going to argue the other side. I'm going to say that we should sustain this veto. The issue here, the whole issue, is a billion dollars of spending that we cannot afford. It's a billion dollars of deficit add-on. It's not a question of spending priorities. The administration has already agreed to take the defense cuts that the Congress has made and in addition wants the domestic cuts that they think are in order. In other words, any savings ought to be used to reduce the deficit, not to add on more spending programs. This is also not a question of whether or not you are for Title V of the Older Americans Act. We have written assurance this morning from the House Republican leadership that that program is going to be funded. So don't be misled by saying that you're voting for this because you're gonna protect Title V. So there are no real excuses here. You are either for reducing deficits or you are a big spender. This vote will tell America, as few votes before it have, who the big spenders in this Congress are. This debate this morning, with the Democrats supporting more deficits, has told us quite clearly that they continue to be the big spenders in Washington." Speaker Pro Tempore bangs gavel, noting time has expired.
House of Representatives in Session
Speaker Pro Tempore George Brown (D-CA) seated at Speaker's platform in House of Representatives, granting off-mic request; adult Caucasian and African American male and female House clerks working at rostrum. U.S. Representative Cleve Benedict (R-WV) remarks: "Mr. Speaker, next week, I, along with my good friend and colleague from Kentucky, Hal Rogers, will be sending a survey questionnaire to over a hundred electric utilities across the United States. The purpose of this survey is to understand more fully why so few utilities in the United States have converted to coal from oil or natural gas as a source of boiler fuel. Taking a closer look at the impediments to conversion makes sense now when oil prices in the world are relatively stable and consumption of oil has leveled off. Instead of waiting for the next energy crisis to remind us of the need to encourage the use of domestic coal, we should be exploring the means to encourage that use now, this year and next. Congress must continue to pursue workable incentives to encourage conversion to coal-fired power plants. Increasing the use of coal is a sound energy policy. Coal is available in abundant domestic supply and ensures a long-term, stable price. Increased use of coal means expanded job opportunities. With respect to the environment, coal is a cleaner burning fuel than residual fuel oil currently being used in many utility boilers in the East. This body has confronted the issue of encouraging the use of coal a number of times. In 1974 and again in 1978, laws were passed..." Speaker Pro Tempore bangs gavel, noting time has expired; Rep. Benedict hands notes to adult Caucasian female House clerk.
House of Representatives in Session
Speaker Pro Tempore George Brown (D-CA) seated at Speaker's platform in House of Representatives, introducing and granting request asked off-mic; adult Caucasian and African American male and female House clerks working at rostrum. U.S. Representative Thomas Bliley, Jr (R-VA) remarks: "Mr. Speaker, the Energy and Commerce Committee began last night to mark up automobile domestic content legislation. Governmental quotas are never the best way to accomplish any objective. In the economic area they may be the most damaging of all. Quotas lead to inefficiency. They lead to higher prices. Most people who buy foreign cars, especially Japanese cars, buy them because they are less expensive than American cars and often because they believe they are higher of quality. Now, I own three American cars myself, but I am not sure that I want to go home and tell my voters, who drive Datsuns and Toyotas, that they cannot buy those cars anymore, or that their prices are likely to be increased by a set of government quotas. I was somewhat shocked that at least one national consumer group endorsed this legislation as an apparent payoff to a union that is one of its members. Every credible economist who has examined the issue detailed the harmful effects of domestic content quotas on our own economy and on the public. Beyond its direct effects, this bill could have serious effects on our international trade relationships. We should not adopt this legislation." Speaker Pro Tempore bangs gavel, noting time has expired; Rep. Bliley Jr. gives notes to adult African-American male House clerk.
House of Representatives in Session
Speaker Pro Tempore George Brown (D-CA) seated at Speaker's platform at House of Representatives, granting off-mic request; adult Caucasian and African American male and female House clerks working at rostrum. U.S. Representative Pat Roberts (R-KS) remarks: "Mr. Speaker, it is my sad duty to officially inform this House of the death of a former colleague, Keith Sebelius, who, at the age of 65, passed away after a long illness last Sunday. Keith served this body and represented the First District of Kansas from 1969 until 1981. We had Keith's services yesterday in Norton, Kansas. It was attended by the entire Kansas congressional delegation, and it was a genuine outpouring of love and affection for not only for Keith but for his family. We expressed our deepest sympathies to his wife Bette, and his sons, Doug and Gary. I have asked for a special order, Mr. Speaker, on Wednesday at the close of business, on September 15, so that the members may make a personal statement to the memory of Keith, and his outstanding contributions to our state of Kansas and our nation." Speaker Pro Tempore bangs gavel.