John Boehner

Mr. BOEHNER

Mr. BOEHNER. Mr. Speaker, I make a point of order that the gentleman is not speaking to the relevant issue at head. I make a point of order that the gentleman in the well, the minority whip, is not talking to the relevant issue at hand that is in the debate today. The issue is the seating of the gentleman from Texas [Mr. Laughlin] on the Committee on Ways and Means. The gentleman proceeded, as others before him have, to talk about the issue of Medicare, which is not the subject of debate. As I understand the rules of the [[Page H 6719]] House, the gentleman should be required to speak to the issue that is on the floor.

Mr. BOEHNER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to make a point of order.

Mr. BOEHNER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Iowa [Mr. Nussle]. (Mr. NUSSLE asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. BOEHNER. Mr. Speaker, is it my understanding that the debate on this issue should be confined to the resolution that is on the floor of the House?

Mr. BOEHNER. Mr. Speaker, I have a parliamentary inquiry.

Mr. BOEHNER. Mr. Speaker, for the purpose of debate only, I yield 15 minutes to the gentleman from Missouri [Mr. Gephardt], the minority leader. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, as chairman of the Republican Conference, I am pleased to welcome the gentleman from Texas, Mr. Greg Laughlin, to our party. Mr. Laughlin saw fit several weeks ago to change parties here in the House of Representatives, and we are glad to have him on our side of the aisle. As a result, about a week and a half ago, the Republican conference did in fact vote by unanimous vote to place the gentleman from Texas [Mr. Laughlin] on the Committee on Ways and Means. To my colleagues on the other side of the aisle who appear to have some chagrin over the fact we are placing Mr. Laughlin on the Committee on Ways and Means, I would point out that today Republicans hold about 58 percent of the seats on the Committee on Ways and Means. It has been since 1923 that the majority party has had less than 60 percent of the votes on the Committee on Ways and Means. Historically, that percentage has been a 60 to 40 split between the majority and minority on the Committee on Ways and Means. Even after we add Mr. Laughlin to the committee, we will still be slightly less than the 60 percent that has been the historical average over the last 70 years. As a matter of fact, in 1955 when the Democrat Party took control of this House, and they happened to have 232 Members, the same amount that Republicans have today, they had a 60-40 majority on the Committee on Ways and Means. I would further point out that in December of this year, when the Republicans took control of the House, it was the decision of the Republican leadership that there should in fact be a 60 to 40 split on the Committee on Ways and Means again. After that decision was made, the minority leader, in consultation with the Speaker and the majority leader, and, frankly, after much whining about it, we decided that to ease their pain in terms of the number of Democrat members who were going to lose their position on the Committee on Ways and Means, that we would change from the 60 to 40 split that we had decided on, in order to add just a Democrat member to their side of the aisle on the Committee on Ways and Means, dropping that percentage down to well less than 60 percent. So I would remind all Members that it has been a longstanding tradition and precedent of the House that each party respects the rights of the other in appointing its own Members to standing committees of the House. What has gone on tonight in the politicization of this process by the minority party I think makes a sad day for this institution. While the minority party may think they are scoring political points or are somehow engaged in some highly principled moralistic action, I think the facts speak otherwise. Perhaps the saddest part of the charade tonight is that the minority party seems to have no concern that their dilatory tactics hurt not us in the majority, but instead grind to a halt the consideration of the people's business here in the people's House. To my colleagues on the other side of the aisle, let me be perfectly clear. We will not see this institution or this Nation's business grind to a halt because of the childish temper tantrum by some Members on the other side of the aisle. We will do what is necessary to assure an orderly consideration of the people's business here in the people's House. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BOEHNER. Mr. Speaker. I move to table the motion to reconsider.

Mr. BOEHNER. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. BOEHNER. Mr. Speaker, I move to lay on the table the motion to reconsider the vote whereby the question of consideration was decided.

Mr. BOEHNER. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. BOEHNER. Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Republican Conference, I offer a privileged resolution (H. Res. 183) and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. BOEHNER

Mr. BOEHNER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the following committees and their subcommittees be permitted to sit today while the House is meeting in the Committee of the Whole House under the 5-minute rule. Committee on Banking and Financial Services; Committee on Commerce; Committee on Economic and Educational Opportunities; Committee on Government Reform and Oversight; Committee on International Relations; Committee on Resources; Committee on Science; Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure; and Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. It is my understanding that the minority has been consulted and that there is no objection to these requests.

Mr. BOEHNER

Mr. BOEHNER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to take from the Speaker's table the Senate concurrent resolution (S. Con. Res. 18) authorizing the Architect of the Capitol to transfer the catafalque to the Supreme Court for a funeral service, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

Mr. BOEHNER

Mr. BOEHNER. Mr. Chairman, today is the proudest day of my career here in Congress. When I came here 4\1/2\ years ago, I came here to try to change the direction of this Government to ensure that my children and the Members' children have a better opportunity in the future than what we have today. Fourteen years ago when I first got myself involved in Government service, it was not for me that I got involved. It was because a Government that was out of control and out of touch with the American people needed to be reined in. Today truly is a historic day in not only my career, but the career of every Member that is here, and a historic day for the American people, because today we are taking the first step in our effort to balance the budget and to restore the American dream for my children and every child in America. I am also very proud of my colleagues, who today will cast their vote in favor of going down this path to not just balance the budget, but to renew the American dream; that the actions that we take today will decide the future for our children and theirs. we have the courage to change; do we have the courage to do the right thing for our children and yours; or are we going to shrink from the battle, shrink from the pressures of today, and sell our children and yours down the road as we have done for the last 25 years? Mr. Chairman, I know that I am proud of my colleagues who today will cast their vote to do the right thing for their children, the right thing for their grandchildren, the right thing for senior citizens in this country who are threatened from a Government that is near fiscal bankruptcy and a country that is near moral bankruptcy. Therefore, the votes we cast today are important. Again, they are not about us, they are about our children and yours.

Mr. BOEHNER

Mr. BOEHNER. Mr. Speaker, this January, Mexico was near bankruptcy, and the Clinton administration mounted a furious effort to save it. He might have been misguided or wrong. But at least he had the courage to be a leader. Where is the President now that Medicare is on the same path to bankruptcy as Mexico? He has made no proposals to save Medicare, even though his own Cabinet officials say it is going bankrupt. He is not even willing to negotiate with Republicans who are trying to save it. Mr. Speaker, the President is willing to save Mexico, but not the millions of senior citizens who rely on Medicare.

Mr. BOEHNER

Mr. BOEHNER. Mr. Speaker, today truly is a historic day in America. For the first time in anybody's memory, this Congress today will present to the American people a plan to balance the budget over the next 7 years, a plan that will save Medicare, will improve Medicare for our senior citizens. It has taken a new Congress to have the guts to bring this issue to the floor of the House because the American people want it. Eighty percent of the American people are demanding that we deal with the fiscal and moral crisis that is occurring in this country and so we have a plan. I find it interesting that, my colleagues on the other side of the aisle, the President of the United States has no plan. There is no plan from you. And so they are going to criticize. They are going to spread fear amongst the people about what our plan is. But I would urge the American people to ask the other side, the liberals, where is their plan to balance the budget? Where is their plan to save the future for our children and their children? Because the Republican plan to balance the budget is a contract with our children and theirs.

Mr. BOEHNER

Mr. BOEHNER. Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Republican Conference, I offer a privileged resolution (H. Res. 143) and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. BOEHNER

Mr. BOEHNER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the following committees and their subcommittees be permitted to sit today while the House is meeting in the Committee of the Whole House under the 5-minute rule: The Committee on Agriculture; the Committee on Banking and Financial Services; the Committee on Commerce; the Committee on Economic and Educational Opportunities; the Committee on House Oversight; the Committee on International Relations; and the Committee on Resources. It is my understanding that the minority has been consulted and that there is no objection to this request.

Mr. BOEHNER

Mr. BOEHNER. Mr. Speaker, here we go, once again, down the path of spreading fear, fear that we are going to slash this and slash that. government cannot continue to spend money that it does not have. Only one time in the last 50 years has Congress actually balanced the budget. We, as Republicans, believe that balancing the budget is our contract with our children, because we cannot continue to spend money that we do not have, giving our children and theirs the bill. When it comes to Medicare, we are going to protect, preserve, and improve Medicare. We are going to spend hundreds of billions of dollars more over the next 7 years as we balance the budget. Medicare spending is going to increase from $4,700 per enrollee to $6,400 at the end of 7 years. So when you hear people talking about cutting Medicare, they are wrong. We are going to increase spending for Medicare and protect this program that is so vital to our seniors.

Mr. BOEHNER

Mr. BOEHNER. Mr. Speaker, Republicans in the House continue to make good on their campaign promises outlined in our Contract With America. We outlined eight major reforms that we would bring to the House on the opening day and we have accomplished those reforms and many more. Over these last 86 days, Republicans in the House have brought forward 9 of our 10 bills, meeting our commitment in the contract. Next week we will bring forward the 10th bill, and that bill will be a tax bill to reduce taxes on working families, will cut spending, and help reduce the budget deficit. Republicans are continuing to work hard, we are keeping our promises, and working hard for the American people who sent us here to change the way Washington does its business. We are attempting to do that. Next week's bill will reduce taxes on middle-income families, it will reduce taxes on senior citizens and raise the earnings limit on them so those senior citizens can work above the limits that are imposed on them today. Furthermore, we will reduce capital gains taxes in America to free up capital so that people in America will have a better opportunity at better high-paying jobs. This is our Contract With America; we are proud to bring it to you, and thank you for your support in helping us move the significant legislation through this new Congress.

Mr. BOEHNER

Mr. BOEHNER. Mr. Speaker, for years the American people have demanded that Washington reform welfare. For years politicians have talked about reforming welfare. But for years liberal politicians blocked consideration of an overhaul of our welfare system. What a difference an election makes. Before the Republicans were even elected, we promised America that we would reform the welfare state if we were elected to the majority. Today we are keeping our word. We are replacing a system that abuses children, ensnares generations in dependency, and subsidizes illegitimacy and destructive behavior with billions of taxpayer dollars. The Republican plan will put millions of people now on welfare back on payrolls. Our bill encourages families and stops paying kids to have kids. We will give power to the States so they can develop local solutions to local poverty problems. The President may speak about ending welfare as we know it, but it took Republicans to actually turn those words into real and responsible legislative action. Remember today, actions speak louder than words.

Mr. BOEHNER

Mr. BOEHNER. Mr. Speaker, our Contract With America states the following: On the first day of Congress, a Republican House will require Congress to live under the same laws as everyone else; cut committee staffs by one-third; and cut the congressional budget. We kept our promise. It continues that in the first 100 days, we will vote on the following items: A balanced budget amendment--we kept our word; unfunded mandates legislation--which will be signed in the Rose Garden by the President today; line-item veto--we kept our promise; a new crime package to stop violent criminals--we kept our promise again; national security restoration to protect our freedoms, which we passed; Government regulatory reform--we kept our promise; commonsense legal reform to end frivolous lawsuits--we kept our promise; welfare reform to encourage work, not dependence--we are working on this today and tomorrow; family reinforcement to crack down on deadbeat dads and protect our children; tax cuts for middle-income families; Senior Citizens' Equity Act to allow our seniors to work without Government penalty; and congressional term limits to make Congress a citizen legislature. Mr. Speaker, this is our Contract With America.

Mr. BOEHNER

Mr. BOEHNER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to announce to all of my colleagues that I intend to support our term limits section of our Contract With America. This is a decision that did not come easily nor have I taken it lightly. Many of my colleagues know I have long believed that term limits were not necessary, that the voters of our districts every 2 years could make that decision about whether they should send us back here or not. But the fact is that some 22 States now have enacted term limits, not by polls, not by letters, but by actually going to the ballot box and casting their votes in favor of it. In 1992 my district voted overwhelmingly by 70 percent to support term limits. I believe that I have to respect the judgment of those in my district. But when all of this became crystal clear to me was watching the Senate debate over the balanced budget amendment and watching the arrogance of six Democrat Senators who have voted for a balanced budget amendment 1 year ago, the identical language, thumb their nose at the American people. We, ladies and gentlemen, do not have the right to thumb our nose at our constituents. We have a responsibility to respect their opinions, and I am proud to stand here as a new supporter of the term limit movement in this country.

Mr. BOEHNER

Mr. BOEHNER. Mr. Speaker, in my hand is the most expensive credit card in the history of the world, a credit card that has piled up 4.7 trillion dollars' worth of debt and $247 billion in budget deficits for as far as the eye can see. This credit card is a voting card for Members of Congress. We are continuing to imprison our children and theirs by this runaway spending. Today on this floor House Republicans are going to begin the effort to stop this runaway spending with a $17 billion rescission package, and in May we are going to lay out a 7-year plan to balance our budget. And we believe that this year we need to make a significant downpayment on that effort. We are going to be hearing from the left how we are hurting this and stopping this, all of the pain today. And I will say this: There will be pain today, there will be discomfort, but our effort is to make the courageous decisions to protect our children and their children.

Mr. BOEHNER

Mr. BOEHNER. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman from California [Mr. Thomas] for allowing me to speak on this very important resolution. Mr. Speaker, this is a very important day here in the U.S. House of Representatives because today we are going to reduce spending on committee staff by 30 percent, saving $67 million over the next 2 years on behalf of our constituents and the taxpayers around this country. Over the last 4 years, Mr. Speaker, many of us have come to the floor during the debate on this resolution in past Congresses calling for smaller committee staffs, calling for smaller committee budgets, and in most cases we were rebuffed, and last summer, Mr. Speaker, House Republicans decided that we would include in our Contract With America the fact that we would reduce committee staff by one-third, and on January 4 we kept our promise. We reduced the staff by one-third. In 1994, Mr. Speaker, the average number of employees working for committees was 1,854. The 1995 ceiling for employees for committees in this House will be 1,233, a reduction of just slightly over one-third. In order to really bring home the savings, Mr. Speaker, the committee in a bipartisan way worked with our committees to come up with a 30- percent reduction in terms of the cost of running those committees because most of the costs of the committees is staff. We, in fact, were able to achieve the 30-percent reduction which is going to result in a $67 million savings on behalf of the American taxpayers. As my colleagues know, the American people sent a very loud and clear message on November 8 that they wanted a smaller, less costly, less intrusive Government. I think they also said that they wanted a more open, more accountable, more responsible Congress. Mr. Speaker, the effort here today is a bipartisan effort because there has been a great deal of help from Members on both sides of the aisle in order to come up with these savings. But Congress is more accountable, it is more responsible, it is more open to the American people, and that is important if we in this Congress are to deliver on our much longer term vision of downsizing and reducing the size and scope of the Federal Government. We are beginning to change the way this Federal Government works, but these efforts would not happen unless necessary reforms in this Congress. They have been done in a bipartisan way, as has almost everything in the Contract With America thus far this year. It has virtually all passed in broad bipartisan support. Mr. Speaker, I want to congratulate the gentleman from California [Mr. Thomas], I want to congratulate our committee chairmen, the ranking members on all the committees, and certainly I want to thank my colleagues on the Committee on House Oversight for their help in bringing this resolution to the floor today.