John Boehner

Mr. BOEHNER

Mr. BOEHNER. Madam Chairman, let me first begin by congratulating the Members from both the Committee on Banking and Financial Services and the Committee on Commerce from the Democrat and Republican side of the aisles for their outstanding work in bringing this piece of legislation to this floor today. Once again, I think that Congress is about to make history. Despite countless changes in our economy, there has been no significant reform of America's financial service laws since the Great Depression, but we have never been closer to making these changes than we are now. There is today a broad bipartisan consensus that the time to move forward has finally come. We have worked hard for a consensus bill that ensures that every American is a winner: consumers, bankers, insurers, brokers. American consumers deserve the freedom of one-stop shopping for inspection services which we believe will mean about $15 billion savings directly passed to themselves and to their families. But we should not forget that the financial sector of our economy is also the foundation of our country and the foundation of our economy today. Madam Chairman, America cannot meet the challenges of the 21st Century with financial service laws that are designed for the 1930s. Financial services reform is not about politics. It is about what is good for America. We are hopeful that the White House would join Chairman Greenspan, Republicans, Democrats together in this bipartisan reform of these financial service laws.

Mr. BOEHNER

Mr. BOEHNER. Mr. Speaker, unfortunately, I missed the vote on final passage of S. 1502, The District of Columbia Opportunity Scholarship Act. As a strong supporter of this much-needed legislation to improve the quality of education for thousands of school children in the District of Columbia, I would have voted ``yes'' on final passage.

Mr. BOEHNER

Mr. BOEHNER. Mr. Speaker, Washington has imprisoned the hopes and dreams of Americans in a cell known as the United States Tax Code. Last Wednesday, April 15, Americans got a harsh reminder that parole could still be a long way off. Instead of expanding freedom for its citizens, Washington has expanded power for the Government by raising taxes again, and again, and again. And four of the last five major Federal tax hikes passed with less than a two-thirds majority of Congress voting for them. Tax reform starts with the things like we are doing in Congress right now, like reforming IRS, having nationwide debates about the flat tax and national retail sales tax. But, most of all, Mr. Speaker, tax reform starts with not raising taxes. The tax limitation amendment is a weapon in our hands in the war for a fairer and flatter Federal Tax Code. This amendment will make it tougher to raise taxes, period. It is a bipartisan step toward the fairer, flatter, simpler Code Americans want and deserve. It deserves to pass.

Mr. BOEHNER

Mr. BOEHNER. Mr. Speaker, I offer a privileged resolution (H. Res. 386) electing the Honorable Richard K. Armey of Texas to act as Speaker pro tempore, and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. BOEHNER

Mr. BOEHNER. Mr. Chairman, I want to congratulate both the chairman and the ranking member of the Committee on Commerce and the Subcommittee on Telecommunications for bringing this bill to the floor. As another Jesuit-educated Member of this institution, I take with great pride my colleagues in the institution who have had the honor of being so educated. Mr. Chairman, as we approach this new millennium, we are in the midst of a communications revolution that we have all come to call the information age. Just look around this Capitol complex. Virtually every Member and staffer is making use of new technology to keep them in closer contact with the people that they represent. It is not just here in the Capitol. Whether it is a cell phone attached to an ear, as we call home from the road, whether it is a pager that is buzzing on our hip to remind us of our next appointment or a vote here on the floor, or the laptop computers that we use, many at this very moment checking on their latest e-mail, more than 50 million Americans use some sort of mobile electronic communication service each and every day. Mr. Chairman, Americans are using the new technology of the information age to keep pace with the unbelievable demands of daily life in America today. And our privacy laws that allow them to do so freely and securely must keep pace as well. We have come to expect that the things we do in our homes and the calls that we make on our telephones will not be the subject of arbitrary eavesdropping or illegal snooping. And it is the responsibility of this Congress to ensure that this time-honored expectation prevails in America during this age of the information age. Current technology is outpacing the law, so we need to modernize Federal law in order to meet the people's expectation of privacy. There are technology pirates who cruise the information highway in search of other people's private thoughts and secrets. Some do it as voyeurs and profiteers. Others do it to destroy their enemies. The reason is unimportant. What is important, however, is that this Congress respond and do so quickly. The Wireless Privacy Enhancement Act that we are considering today will update the law to address the challenges of new technology and further strengthen penalties for those who choose to illegally intercept and divulge private conversations. We have a responsibility to periodically update these Federal laws to maintain public confidence in new technology. And gray areas in current law affecting such things as digital phones, fax machines, pagers and computers demand that we act now. In my mind there is no better example that exists for the need for protection against this kind of snooping than the illegal taping and distribution of a phone call, a cellular phone call between myself and some of my House colleagues last year. I made this call in December of 1996 using my wife's cell phone in her car during our Christmas vacation. While I spoke to several of my House colleagues, little did I know that my words and my expressions were being recorded and would end up as part of a public relations campaign to try to destroy the Speaker of this very House. The incident should prompt each of us to pause and to consider the importance of this legislation and this particular issue. What are the American people to expect from technology pirates who step into the breach for illegal or immoral purposes? Today I speak from personal experience about the outrage and sense of powerlessness one feels when they learn that their expectation of privacy has been destroyed. The stakes are high in the battle for the law to keep pace with this new technology. If we fail to protect the American people's sense of privacy, if we fail to keep the door open to the next wave, we are actually shutting the door to the next wave of technological advances. We have closed the door on a key component of a brighter, more secure American future, and I do not think that is what any of us want to do. The people's thirst for new gadgets and conveniences is tied to their belief that new technologies provide a basic level of security and privacy. If we stand by and allow the lawless and the obsessed to tape and reveal private words and comments, do we honestly expect the American people to trust and rely on this new wave of technology? Mr. Chairman, it is time to bring the privacy laws of this Nation into the 21st century. I urge all my colleagues today to support this legislation and to send a strong and unequivocal message to all of those who would deny the American people some expectation of privacy with their wireless devices. Our message should be plain and simple: If you violate someone's privacy, you are not creating idle mischief, you are breaking the law, and you will be brought to justice.

Mr. BOEHNER

Mr. BOEHNER. Mr. Speaker, I want to recognize Mrs. Patsy Watkins, who is retiring as Director of the Shelby County Board of Elections. Patsy Watkins has served the citizens of Shelby County on the Board of Elections for the past 17 years. In addition to her duties at the Board of Elections, Patsy has served on Congressman Mike Oxley's service academy review board and as chairperson of the Shelby County Republican Central Committee. On top of all this, she finds the time to be a loving, devoted wife, mother and friend. Patsy is a quiet leader and confidante to many. While representing Shelby County, I have appreciated her words of wisdom and her friendship. She has never been shy about telling it like it is. Abraham Lincoln said, ``A good leader avoids issuing orders, preferring to request, imply or make suggestions.'' Like Abe Lincoln, Patsy Watkins attained success, admiration and a positive image by practicing these principles. Patsy proved to be an effective leader; choosing a subtle, softer path rather than a heavy-handed approach. For this reason, among others, Patsy has become the backbone of the Republican Party in Shelby County. It is no coincidence Shelby County voters are energized. Through Patsy's leadership and hard work, Shelby County has enjoyed Republican success in recent years. She has worked to promote conservative values and elect those who share her vision for better government. Congressman Mike Oxley, who represented the citizens of Shelby County prior to 1992 said, ``Patsy epitomizes the Republican Party in Shelby County.'' Mr. Speaker, it is with great pride and admiration that I rise to recognize Patsy Watkins for her service to the citizens of Shelby County. For those of us who know her for service to her community, we are grateful. For those of us who are fortunate to call Patsy friend, may God bless her with a long and fruitful retirement.

Mr. BOEHNER

Mr. BOEHNER. Madam Speaker, I move to table the resolution.

Mr. BOEHNER

Mr. BOEHNER. Mr. Speaker, I inadvertently voted ``no'' on rollcall No. 570, the United States-Caribbean Trade Partnership Act (H.R. 2644). I want the record to reflect that I strongly support this legislation and should have voted ``yes.''

Mr. BOEHNER

Mr. BOEHNER. Mr. Speaker, earlier this year a Treasury Department official described Americans who wanted further tax relief as ``selfish.'' Two weeks ago the minority leader in the other body said, and I quote, that he did not think most Americans were overtaxed. So perhaps it should not come as any surprise when I picked up the paper this morning to learn that the President described the people of Virginia as selfish for supporting a tax cut. According to the Washington Times this morning, the President is miffed that voters still want tax cuts, even though the economy has improved. I have news for the President, the economy has improved because of the hard work and ingenuity of the American people. They work hard to feed their children's appetites, not Washington's appetite to spend money. The Tax Foundation recently released their latest study showing that government at all levels is taking the biggest bite out of the Americans paychecks in the history of our country. What we need to do is what Washington should do. That is to only take that amount of money that we need to officially run this Government, and not one penny more.

Mr. BOEHNER

Mr. BOEHNER. Mr. Speaker, I have enjoyed listening to the debate this evening. I find it ironic that the debate is centering around whether this is for public schools, against public schools, whether it is for private schools. This has nothing to do with support for one school system or another. What this HELP scholarship will do is to empower parents, parents and local communities, to take greater control over the education of their children. We spend far too much time in this body worrying about systems and worrying about a process instead of worrying about how we can help parents ensure that their child gets a better education. This bill tonight will do that for some people in America who do not have choice. If you have got money, you have all the school choice you would want, but if you are poor and you are locked into an inner city school, you have no choice. How long is it going to be before those of us in this body begin to take seriously the problems that we have in inner city schools in this country? How can we look one day longer at the system we have created that is denying those children a shot at the American dream? This helps them out of it.

Mr. BOEHNER

Mr. BOEHNER. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from Iowa for yielding me this time. My colleagues, Republicans here in the House, have begun a bold campaign to strengthen and reform our Nation's education system. We are attempting to send more dollars directly to the classrooms, trying to return control of education to parents, teachers, and local communities, and giving working class parents and poor parents new educational choices. I think that is exactly what the Education Savings Act for Public and Private Schools does. The bill that we have today simply extends the popular and successful college education savings accounts to parents with kids in kindergarten through grade 12. All over the country, and certainly in my district, there are lower and middle-income families who struggle every day to make ends meet. These are exactly the type of families that these accounts are intended to help. The rich, as those on the other side of the aisle like to talk about, do not have to save to pay for a tutor if their kids are not doing well in math or reading. The rich, as they describe them, do not have to save to buy a new computer. They do not have to save in order to pay for SAT prep classes or summer education camps. These things are already available to them because they have the cash to do it. What we are trying to do is to help lower middle income and poor folks in America save the money that they can to help their children get a better education. Now, what is wrong with allowing American parents to keep more of what they earn so that they can help their children get the educational aids they need that will help them have a shot at the American dream? That is what we are trying to do today. We provide Pell grants for students in college. Private college, public college, it makes no difference. We provide student loans for college. Private, public, it makes no difference. But as soon as we try to do something to give parents greater control over the education of their children that are in grades 12 and under, there is a big stone wall. That is because the education bureaucracy in America rises up and says no, we are in charge of that. This bill today gives parents more choices.

Mr. BOEHNER

Mr. BOEHNER. Madam Speaker, we have spent the past several years knocking down the status quo barriers to our children's future, but nowhere is the status quo still more evident than in the Federal education establishment, a bureaucracy built on empty promises to our young people. Not long ago an Education Department official bragged that the direct loan program, and I will quote, ``provides a simpler, more automated, and more accountable system,'' to its student customers. But last month American students learned the harsh truth: That the Government cannot handle the job. If you're looking for proof that the education bureaucracy hurts our kids' future, the consolidation meltdown offers some good examples--84,000 examples, to be exact. That's the number of students left in the lurch while the education bureaucracy tries to get its act together. That's the number of students being told to put their financial futures on hold until their government figures out how to deliver its promises. The Education Department has made students an offer that sounds too good to be true, and it is. The truth is, for students hoping to consolidate their direct loans, their government has sold them a lemon. For many who grew up in the era of big Government, it is just the latest empty promise from Washington. I have two daughters, a 19-year-old and a 17-year-old. People have labeled that generation Generation X, implying that they are disillusioned or unsure of who or what they can believe in. Madam Speaker, if this is the way their government treats their hopes for the future, who can blame them for being disillusioned? Today, the House will take action to help give students caught up in this bureaucratic nightmare a way out by allowing the consolidation of the direct loans to occur through private lenders. The hard work of my colleagues on the committee, the gentleman from Pennsylvania [Mr. Goodling], the gentleman from California [Mr. McKeon], certainly the gentleman from Michigan [Mr. Kildee], and the gentleman from Missouri [Mr. Clay] should be commended. I urge all my colleagues to vote for this bill today.

Mr. BOEHNER

Mr. BOEHNER. Mr. Speaker, the week of September 22-27, 1997, has been recognized in my home State as Ohio Lawsuit Abuse Awareness Week. Ohio Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse [OCALA] has worked tirelessly over the last few years to help reform our legal system. Citizens across the State of Ohio have organized behind OCALA to fight the problems of lawsuit abuse. Almost everyone agrees that America has become an overly litigious society. In the Federal courts alone, the number of lawsuits filed each year has tripled in the last 30 years to more than 260,000 cases per year. This dramatic growth in litigation carries high costs for the U.S. economy: manufacturers raise their prices, withdraw products from the market, discontinue product research, and reduce their work force. The total cost of litigation in the United States is estimated to be approximately $150 billion per year, substantially higher than any other country and 2\1/2\ times the international average. While it is important to protect those who are truly victims, we must reform our system to prevent frivolous lawsuits. Republicans in the 104th Congress worked hard for meaningful reform of our Nation's legal system, and over the President's veto we enacted legislation protecting employers from abusive strike suits brought by the securities bar. Unfortunately, our efforts with broader-based legislation intended to end lawsuit-abuse, restore fairness to the legal system, and ensure that real victims--not greedy lawyers--are fairly compensated was vetoed by President Clinton at the urging of trial lawyers. Despite this setback, I will continue to work hard with my colleagues in Congress and with organizations like OCALA to pass bipartisan, commonsense legislation that will end lawsuit abuse and protect American consumers and workers. While OCALA has thousands of supporters in the State of Ohio, I would like to take the opportunity to recognize some individuals who have given countless hours to advance the need for ending lawsuit abuse. They are Dana Smith, executive director of OCALA, Jackie Fox, chairwomen, Dr Claire Wolfe, Dr. David Rummel, Gerald Miller, Ken Blair, Jr., James Martin, Oron Elliott, Jack Koester, and Peter Beck, each directors and supporters of the continual efforts of OCALA. Mr. Speaker, I would like to commend all of the individuals who are involved in Ohio Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse for their dedication to this important endeavor. Ohio and the country as a whole need organizations like OCALA which will continue to fight against lawsuit abuse and for legal reform that is fair to all American citizens.

Mr. BOEHNER

Mr. BOEHNER. I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from California [Mr. Fazio], my colleague and the chairman of the Democrat Caucus and former ranking member on the Committee on House Oversight.

Mr. BOEHNER. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Pennsylvania [Mr. Goodling], the chairman of the Committee on Education and the Workforce and the current employer of our soon-to-be chief administrative officer.

Mr. BOEHNER. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from California [Mr. Thomas], chairman of the Committee on House Oversight.

Mr. BOEHNER. Mr. Speaker, I offer a privileged resolution (H. Res. 207) and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. BOEHNER. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume once again to my colleague from California, Mr. Thomas, the chairman of the Committee on House Oversight.

Mr. BOEHNER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I have known and worked with Jay since I came to Congress in 1990 and have grown to admire and respect his professionalism and his work product. I am honored today to be able to stand on the floor and introduce this resolution to make him the chief administrative officer of the House of Representatives. Jay has worked on the Hill since 1982. He started out in Congressman Steve Gunderson's office and moved over to work for the gentleman from Pennsylvania [Mr. Goodling] in 1985. He then went to work for the Committee on Education and the Workforce in 1991 as the Republican chief of staff and is currently in that same position. I know Jay to be an excellent leader, a meticulous organizer, a fabulous administrator and a well-respected manager. I also know Jay on a personal level and know of his deep commitment to his work and to this institution. He will be a wonderful chief administrative officer to this House and I cannot think of anyone else I would rather recommend for this job than Jay Egan.

Mr. BOEHNER. Reclaiming my time, Mr. Speaker, let me close this discussion by also congratulating the Acting CAO, Jeff Trandahl. Jeff is a valued employee of the House, and he worked for Pat Roberts for many years, and he worked for the Committee on Agriculture and then worked in the Clerk's office over the last 2 years before taking over this temporary assignment. And I think the best tribute to Jeff over the last 6 months, 7 months or so, is that we have not heard one word about the Acting CAO for this period of time that he has been there, and he has done, I think, a marvelous job running the organization, and with that I look forward to the dawning of our new CAO, Jay Eagen. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time, and I move the previous question on the resolution. The previous question was ordered.

Mr. BOEHNER

Mr. BOEHNER. Mr. Speaker, it is really happening: the first time in 30 years we are actually going to balance the Federal budget. The first time in a few years we are going to save Medicare and extend the life of the trust fund for 10 years. We took those votes yesterday. Today we are going to provide tax relief for the American people, the first tax cut from Washington in 16 years. We all know that reducing taxes is going to mean lower interest rates for the American people, it is going to mean more jobs for the American people and, most importantly, it is going to mean higher wages for American families. These are the kind of values that we have been fighting for for years, trying to bring real relief to middle class American families. When we talk about lower interest rates, more jobs, higher wages, sometimes people think these are terms that economists use. Let us think for a moment about what these bills that we passed yesterday and today really mean. A balanced budget and tax cuts mean that it is going to be easier for families to go out and buy a home. It is going to be easier for families to send their kids on to college. A balanced budget and tax cuts mean that it is going to be easier for people to go out, who want to start a new business, to get that first start. It is going to be easier for every American to have a shot at the American dream. That is really what we are trying to do here today and over the last couple of years, is to renew the American dream for our kids and theirs. Over these last 2\1/2\ years, it is not what we have done just yesterday and today, balancing the budget, cutting taxes, saving Medicare, it has been issues like ending entitlements for farmers and allowing the market to take place, allowing farmers to decide what they are going to plant on their land. It is welfare reform, allowing the States to help those at the bottom of the economic ladder to become productive members of our society. It is illegal immigration reform. It has been health care reform. It has been eliminating 300 wasteful Washington programs, saving $53 billion. And, Mr. Speaker, this is just a good start.

Mr. BOEHNER

Mr. BOEHNER. Madam Speaker, and my colleagues, it is really going to happen, the first balanced budget in a generation, the first tax cut from Washington in 16 years, and a program to strengthen and preserve Medicare. Members from both sides of the political aisle worked together; the White House worked with us honestly to bring about these achievements. So there are a lot of people going to be claiming credit today and a lot of people claiming who the winners really are. The real winners in this agreement are the American people, the American people who sent us here to do their bidding and to do their work. Over the last 2\1/2\ years, it has not just been this balanced budget and this tax cut and this preservation of Medicare that we have accomplished, it has been welfare reform, a generation of politicians trying to come to grips with this issue, illegal immigration reform, health care reform, elimination of over 300 Federal Government programs, saving over $50 billion. This Congress continues to do what the American people are demanding, a smaller, less costly, less intrusive government here in Washington, moving power back home so Americans can make more decisions about their own lives.

Mr. BOEHNER

Mr. BOEHNER. Mr. Speaker, as chairman of the Republican Conference it is my pleasure to announce that we have two new members of our Republican leadership team. At a conference of Republican Members this morning, we elected a new vice chairman of the Republican Conference, the gentlewoman from Washington, Ms. Jennifer Dunn. And we elected the gentlewoman from Ohio, Ms. Deborah Pryce as secretary to the Republican Conference. We have a unified Republican effort here with these new elections to bring about what the American people are expecting of us: to balance the Federal budget for the first time in 27 years, to reduce taxes for middle income American families, and to solve the impending crisis with Medicare. It is my pleasure today to bring this news to the House. I look forward to working with Members on both sides of the aisle to do what the American people sent us here to do, and that is their agenda.

Mr. BOEHNER

Mr. BOEHNER. Mr. Chairman, America has enjoyed many months of uninterrupted economic recovery. But the recovery is not enough. If we are to prevail in the long run, we must expand the long won strength of our economy. To achieve these greater gains, one step above all is essential, the enactment this year of a substantial reduction and revision in Federal income taxes. This will increase the purchasing power of American families and businesses in every tax bracket with the greatest increase going to our low income consumers. It will encourage the initiative and risk taking on which our free system depends and reinforce the American principle of additional reward for additional efforts. The enactment this year of tax relief overshadows all other domestic problems in this Congress, for we cannot leave the cause of peace and freedom if we cease to set the pace here at home. Mr. Chairman, these are not my words. These words were spoken three decades ago in 1963 during the State of the Union Address by our President at that time, John F. Kennedy. President Kennedy made this statement as a man ahead of his time with a bold vision for America's future. He showed the courage to look past the skeptics, to look past the pessimists and call Americans to action in defense of their freedom. Today we find ourselves at a similar crossroads, on the edge of a new century with new challenges to the freedoms of Americans and their families. Bold action again is needed to unshackle the American spirit. The question is whether our President will seek inspiration from his hero, John Kennedy, and join us in restoring freedom to overtaxed, overburdened and overwhelmed American families. Mr. Chairman, today's vote is really about that. It is about freedom, freedom for Americans to save, to spend, to invest and to contribute to their own communities instead of handing an ever increasing amount to our government, their hopes and dreams along with it. Passing this bill today, Washington takes a small step in the right direction.

Mr. BOEHNER

Mr. BOEHNER. Mr. Speaker, I think we need to take a deep breath and all calm down a little bit, because all we are talking about doing is allowing the American people to keep a little more of what they earn so they do not have to send it to Washington. I understand some of my friends on the other side of the aisle do not really want to do that because they want more Washington spending. I do not denigrate the position that they have taken for 60 years, that Washington has the answers and we have to get this money to Washington so Washington can do great things for us. Most of us in this Chamber, Democrats and Republicans, believe it is time to allow the American people to make more of those decisions on their own. So this package today that lowers taxes, the first tax cut from Washington in 16 years, is aimed at American middle-class taxpayers who are bearing the biggest burden today. What does this plan do? It provides an IRA for parents who pay taxes who want to send their children to college. It lets them save tax-free. It provides a tax credit for parents who are sending their children on to college or other postsecondary education. It provides a $500 per child tax credit to American families that make under, roughly, $100,000. Fourth, homeowners, it allows someone to sell their home, and 95 percent of the American people who own homes are going to be able to sell their homes and not pay any tax on the gain from the sale of their home. What we are trying to do here is to try to help every taxpayer in the country at every stage of their life. Whether they are parents with children, trying to raise them, parents with children trying to send them to college, whether it is people trying to save for their own retirement, with our cut in capital gains taxes and the cut in the taxes on the sale of their home, we are trying to help all taxpayers. This is good policy.