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H 1560 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE February 10, 1995
lawlessness to rule our streets and poorer Americans, who bear the brunt INTRODUCTION OF LEGISLATION
thugs to terrorize our citizens. of violent crime, this is a life-and- TO PROVIDE A LIVABLE WAGE
Mr. Speaker, these are the reasons I death issue that affects them every (Mr. THOMPSON asked and was
support the Contract With America. It day. given permission to address the House
represents real change that most If nothing else, we owe the working for 1 minute.
Americans can support. men and women of our country, the Mr. THOMPSON. Mr. Speaker, I
I urge the defenders of the status quo ones who pay the bills, safe streets. stand in support of livable wage for all
to reflect on one thing: Can our chil- Americans by the year 2000. Congress-
dren afford to continue on the path you men CLYBURN and HILLIARD and I have
advocate? For most people, the answer introduced a bill, H.R. 768, that moves
is clearly no. REINING IN THE IRS
the debate from a minimum wage to a
(Mr. TRAFICANT asked and was livable wage. Many Americans who
given permission to address the House work in retail establishments such as
SOLVING THREE PROBLEMS AT for 1 minute and to revise and extend
ONE TIME McDonald’s already earn more than $5
his remarks.) per hour. The current minimum wage
(Mr. FLAKE asked and was given Mr. TRAFICANT. Mr. Speaker, the of $4.25 per hour amounts to approxi-
permission to address the House for 1 IRS is loading up. Individual dossiers mately $9,000 a year. No individual or
minute and to revise and extend his re- now on every taxpayer, not just your family can live at a decent level on
marks.) credit history and your wife’s back- this income. Contrary to popular be-
Mr. FLAKE. Mr. Speaker, during the ground, your speeding tickets, how lief, two-thirds of minimum wage
course of the last several months, as about news stories, how about inform- workers are adults and not teenagers.
we have been in the House there have ant’s tips and how about rumors, ladies The minimum wage has not been
been three issues that have been dis- and gentleman. raised since April 1, 1991, nearly 4 years
cussed in some manner, one of them ago. For the richest country in the
being capital gains breaks for the rich, 0910
world, this is a national disgrace. All of
one of them being adjusting the mini- Now, if that is not enough to pirate us know that the cost of goods and
mum wage, trying to adjust the wage your software, check this out: It is not services have risen over this time pe-
by which we increase the payments to even confidential. Last year they riod. By supporting a liveable wage, we
those who are the working poor, as slapped on the wrist 300 agents for send a clear signal to the Nation of our
well as welfare reform. snooping through tax returns. Unbe- support for the working poor.
I come today offering a solution to lievable, ladies and gentleman. Let us vote for a livable wage and
all of it. Let us give capital gains re- And the Congress of the United index future increases so that all
ductions, let us target it so we give States has allowed this to happen. I American families can keep up with
minimum wage to the working poor, say it is time for Congress to act. What the rising cost of living. My constitu-
while at the same time as we move per- makes it even worse, when the IRS ents in Mississippi deserve it. Your
sons off of welfare give them an oppor- comes to the door with their Gestapo constituents deserve it. We must de-
tunity to work at a job that pays a de- file and looks you in the eye, you are mand it.
cent wage. guilty and have to prove yourself inno-
We can solve all three problems if we cent.
can work together. Let us remove all Do yourself a favor, do your constitu-
the partisanship, let us not look at ents a service, and cosponsor H.R. 390 CONGRATULATIONS TO THE SAN
these issues as being disjointed, let us and let us put the IRS where they FRANCISCO 49ERS
hook them up together, capital gains, should be. They work for the American (Mr. CUNNINGHAM asked and was
minimum wage increase while at the people. given permission to address the House
same time changing welfare. We can for 1 minute and to revise and extend
solve the problem for everybody. his remarks.)
Win, win, win. Mr. CUNNINGHAM. Mr. Speaker, the
APPROVAL RATING FOR San Diego Chargers were picked in
CONGRESS HAS DOUBLED their division, but then the season
SAFE STREETS FOR AMERICA (Mr. GANSKE asked and was given started; our Bolts pursued a vision.
(Mr. HEFLEY asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 Often they would fall behind. They
permission to address the House for 1 minute.) bested the toughest teams in the AFC.
minute and to revise and extend his re- Mr. GANSKE. Mr. Speaker, there is a In the playoffs they beat Pittsburgh
marks.) new-found respect for Congress in the and Miami.
Mr. HEFLEY. Mr. Speaker, we have country. Republicans have only been in Then on Super Bowl Sunday, the
all heard the saying, ‘‘If you can’t do charge for 1 month, and the approval 49ers won. I picked the Chargers. The
the time, don’t do the crime.’’ rating for Congress has already dou- gentlewoman from California, I had a
Unfortunately, the sad fact is that if bled. 19 point advantage on her. I thought I
you commit a violent felony there is The reason is obvious. Under Repub- had an advantage. Well, us males have
only a 3- to 4-percent chance you will lican leadership we are working hard to thought that for thousands of years,
do any jail time. Looking at that an- keep our promises to bring big change and I guess we will never learn, because
other way, 96 to 97 percent of the time to America. here I am to pay off my Super Bowl bet
a violent criminal never sees the inside Nowhere is that more apparent than to the gentlewoman from California,
of a jail. in the crime package we are now debat- the most prized possession that I could
No wonder Americans have said that ing. We are making tremendous possibly own, El Indio chips and Mexi-
they have had enough and want their progress in ensuring that the criminal can food, salsa and homemade
streets back. justice system will be more concerned guacamole, fresh from San Diego.
When people are afraid to step out- with the rights of victims and society The 49ers are champs, and they will
side their doors at night something is than the rights of criminals. have our respect. But all the NFL will
wrong. When people are afraid to sit on And who will benefit most from our seek the trophy they protect. Should
their porch, something is wrong. When rough crime package? The middle and the San Francisco team return next
fear of crime prevents many Americans lower income classes, who live with year, I will still bet on my Chargers.
in our inner-city areas from taking a violent crime every day. They know Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Speaker, will the
night job or going to night school, it what we need to do: catch, convict, and gentleman yield?
hurts all of us. confine violent criminals. Mr. CUNNINGHAM. I am happy to
Even the wealthy who live in guard- That is what our crime package is all yield to the gentlewoman from Califor-
ed, gated communities feel an imme- about. And that is why we will con- nia.
diate need to do something about vio- tinue working hard to see that it is en- Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Speaker, I con-
lent crime. But for middle class and acted. gratulate the gentleman for the great,
February 10, 1995 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H 1561
valiant effort of the Chargers. Califor- VIOLENT CRIMINAL AMENDMENT OFFERED BY MR. WATT OF NORTH
nia sent two great teams to the Super INCARCERATION ACT OF 1995 CAROLINA
Bowl, and I thank the gentleman for Mr. WATT of North Carolina. Mr.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. SAM
his salsa, chips, and guacamole, and Chairman, I offer my new amendment.
JOHNSON of Texas). Pursuant to House
give him a T-shirt. The CHAIRMAN pro tempore. The
Resolution 63 and rule XXIII, the Chair Clerk will report the amendment.
declares the House in the Committee of The Clerk read as follows:
the Whole House on the State of the
CONGRATULATING TWO GREAT Amendment offered by Mr. WATT of North
Union for the further consideration of Carolina: Page 16, strike lines 10–20.
FOOTBALL TEAMS FROM CALI- the bill, H.R. 667.
FORNIA The CHAIRMAN pro tempore. The
(Ms. PELOSI asked and was given 0917 gentleman from North Carolina [Mr.
permission to address the House for 1 WATT] will be recognized for 10 min-
minute.) IN THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE utes.
Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Speaker, I want to Accordingly the House resolved itself The Chair recognizes the gentleman
congratulate the Chargers and my col- into the Committee of the Whole House from North Carolina [Mr. WATT].
league, all of my colleagues, from San on the State of the Union for the fur- 0920
Diego. ther consideration of the bill (H.R. 667)
to control crime by incarcerating vio- Mr. WATT of North Carolina. Mr.
We are very proud in California of
lent criminals, with Mr. BARRETT of Chairman, I yield myself such time as
two great teams.
Nebraska, Chairman pro tempore, in I may consume.
The gentleman from California [Mr.
the chair. Mr. Chairman, this amendment actu-
CUNNINGHAM] is a good sport. I waited
ally relates to the procedure by which
awhile for him to pay off on this debt. The Clerk read the title of the bill.
an appeal is taken from an order in
His ‘‘the chips are on their way’’ be- The CHAIRMAN pro tempore. When
which relief has been granted in a pris-
came like ‘‘the check is in the mail.’’ the Committee of the Whole rose on
on lawsuit.
You know, the Super Bowl has been Thursday, February 9, 1995, the amend-
Mr. CANADY of Florida. Mr. Chair-
over awhile, and I thought that as to ment offered by the gentleman from
man, will the gentleman yield?
this concession he was waiting for Mi- Virginia [Mr. SCOTT] had been disposed Mr. WATT of North Carolina. I yield
chael Huffington to concede before he of, and the bill was open for amend- to the gentleman from Florida.
conceded the Super Bowl loss. ment at any point. Mr. CANADY of Florida. I thank the
In any event, he is a great Califor- Four hours and ten minutes remain gentleman for yielding.
nian, a great sport. I thank him for for consideration of the bill under the Mr. Chairman, I am uncertain as to
that. 5-minute rule. what this amendment is. The amend-
I also will have to say how proud I Are there further amendments to the ment that was read does not seem to be
am of the San Francisco 49ers, owner bill? amendment No. 3 that was printed in
Eddie DeBartolo, president Carmen
AMENDMENT OFFERED BY MR. WATT OF NORTH the Journal. I would like to understand
Policy, you know, quarterback Steve
CAROLINA what amendment we are on at this
Young, Jerry Rice, Rickey Waters, and
Mr. WATT of North Carolina. Mr. point.
the list goes on and on.
Chairman, I offer an amendment, Mr. WATT of North Carolina. The
It was a great Super Bowl. We are
amendment No. 2, Watt No. 2. gentleman’s side has a copy of them.
very proud. Five trips to the Super
The Clerk read as follows: We redesignated the amendments be-
Bowl for the 49ers, five championships,
cause when the bill came out of com-
five world championships. Amendment offered by Mr. WATT of North
Carolina: Page 17, strike lines 16–23 and page mittee it came out in a different form
Go ’9ers.
18, strike lines 1–3. that the amendments that were printed
Page 18, line 4, strike the letter ‘‘g’’ and in- in the RECORD conform with. So we
sert instead the letter ‘‘f’’. have gone back and conformed the
INTRODUCTION OF RESOLUTION amendments to comply with the actual
OF INQUIRY CONCERNING TAX- The CHAIRMAN pro tempore. The
gentleman from North Carolina [Mr. printed bill.
PAYER-BACKED MEXICAN RES- Does that address the gentleman’s
CUE PACKAGE WATT] will be recognized for 10 min-
utes, and a Member opposed will be rec- concern?
(Ms. KAPTUR asked and was given ognized for 10 minutes. Mr. CANADY of Florida. It does. I
permission to address the House for 1 The Chair recognizes the gentleman thank the gentleman.
minute and to revise and extend her re- Mr. WATT of North Carolina. I had
from North Carolina [Mr. WATT].
marks.) given the gentleman’s side a copy of
Mr. WATT of North Carolina. Mr.
Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, today this amendment and the revised
Chairman, I yield myself such time as
with bipartisan cosponsorship, I am in- amendments yesterday afternoon.
I may consume. This should not take 5
troducing a resolution of inquiry con- Mr. Chairman, resuming my time,
minutes. I actually engaged in some
cerning the recent U.S. taxpayer- the bill provides that when an order
backed Mexican rescue package. degree of debate on this amendment has been entered by the court and the
Far too many questions regarding during the period of general debate. defendants in the case who have al-
the terms of the financing and the fi- This amendment simply would strike ready been found to have violated a
nancial risks to our people and our the provisions in the bill having to do constitutional right by prison over-
banking system remain unanswered. with the award of attorneys’ fees. crowding or in some other way violat-
The purpose of this resolution is to I now realize that I may have the ing a prisoner’s rights and an effort has
obtain factual information from the wrong amendment at the desk. been made to try to correct that, when
Clinton administration on a series of Mr. Chairman, I ask unanimous con- the motion to revise that order is
questions contained in the resolution, sent to substitute amendment No. 3, made, that order continues in effect
including the soundness of the collat- Watt No. 3, and have that one read in- during the pendency of the motion to
eral backing the agreement, the sol- stead. I ask unanimous consent that revise the court’s order. Well, that is
vency of PEMEX, the actual terms of the amendment that was originally exactly what happens in any lawsuit. If
the short-, medium-, and long-term read be withdrawn and that the Watt the court ever enters an order in a
loans, and the rate at which funds are amendment No. 3 be substituted. case, that order stays in effect until
being drawn down. The CHAIRMAN pro tempore. Is the court comes back and changes that
I ask my colleagues to cosponsor this there objection to the request of the order or until some higher court
resolution of inquiry and respectfully gentleman from North Carolina? changes that order.
request the Committee on Banking and There was no objection. The provisions of this bill would say
Financial Services report it favorably The CHAIRMAN pro tempore. The if the court has entered an order, the
within the 2 weeks required. amendment has been withdrawn. order is in effect, the defendant files a
