Steve Chabot

Mr. CHABOT

Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this important resolution that honors the contributions of Catholic schools in the United States. I am a product of that school system, I have been privileged to teach in a Catholic school, and my two children currently attend Catholic schools in our hometown of Cincinnati, Ohio. In Cincinnati, we're very proud of our Catholic school system--one of the largest in the United States with 77 elementary and 16 secondary schools. Students in the system routinely score in the top one-third on nationally standardized tests. 98% graduate from high school. And 96% go on to pursue higher education. Representatives from Catholic schools from all across the United States are in Washington this week to celebrate National Catholic Schools Week. We welcome them. And we thank them for building an exemplary education system that is based on academic achievement, community involvement, and strong values. Our Catholic schools have set a standard we can all be proud of. Mr. Speaker, I strongly support this resolution.

Mr. CHABOT

Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Speaker, we learned a painful lesson in the not so distant past; that when the big spenders in Washington get their way, the taxpayers get the shaft. When the budget is drained to fund all sorts of pork barrel projects and special interest boondoggles, there is nothing left for those who pay the freight: Working American families. Not only do our working folks fail to get a long overdue and well- deserved tax break, we now learn that the Federal Reserve Board is watching Congress very closely to see if it intends to engage in more reckless spending. If it does, the Fed is apparently ready to raise interest rates to head off any inflation that excessive government spending may bring about. So who is the big loser? Again, my colleagues may have guessed it, the American taxpayer. Not only is the taxpayer denied a tax reduction, because there is no money left in the bank, but he or she will also pay higher interest rates on mortgages, on car payments, on education loans, on credits cards, et cetera. Mr. Speaker, this year let us tell the President and his free- spending friends in this body that enough is enough. We are not going to let them pick the taxpayers' pockets any more.

Mr. CHABOT

Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Speaker, in 1992, then Governor Bill Clinton, in his campaign treatise, putting people first, said that we need to, and I quote, ``grant expanded decision-making powers at the school level, empowering principals, teachers and parents with increased flexibility in educating our children.'' That was back in 1992. In 1999, President Clinton has drastically changed his tune. When asked just last week about State governors wanting more freedom from Washington education bureaucrats, he expressed irritation. I will again quote: ``because it is not their money,'' he said. If they don't want the money, they don't have to take it. With that response, President Clinton summed up the utter arrogance of Washington's liberal elite who really do believe that big government knows what is best for the hard-working Americans who earn those tax dollars. Mr. Speaker, it is their money. Let us send it back to those who earned it and know best how to spend it.

Mr. CHABOT

Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Speaker, as usual, the gentleman from Ohio is absolutely right. I address my comments to another topic, however. In the coming days, the President is going to have to do some critical things and make some critical decisions. He can choose to support a Republican program that balances the budget and saves social security, or he can succumb to the pressure of the liberal Democrat leadership here in the House and bust the budget and loot the social security trust fund once again. To the average hard-working American taxpayer, this should not really be a dilemma, but this is Washington, and silly things happen here. When liberals get together to discuss spending issues, it is awfully hard to keep their hands off of the taxpayers' money. The President talks about his legacy. He can assure his place in history if he stands up to his free-spending friends and says no to budget-busting and no to more increases and raids on the social security trust fund. Let us hope that just this once, the President does the right thing.

Mr. CHABOT

Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong support of H.R. 2260, the Pain Relief Promotion Act, 1999. Like many of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle who have spoken here, I have a very profound respect for the sanctity of human life. I also believe that every individual has the right to live and ultimately die with dignity. The Pain Relief Promotion Act goes a long way to ensure that terminally-ill patients receive the palliative care necessary to alleviate chronic pain. In doing so it allows these individuals to die with dignity. This bill prohibits the use of CSA-controlled drugs for assisted suicide and euthanasia, but it gives doctors greater leeway to aggressively treat pain. In 1997 Congress passed the Assisted Suicide Funding Restriction Act with the support of the current administration. The act forbids the use of Federal funds for assisted suicide whether or not States legalize the practice. The vote in the House on that bill was 398 to 16, and it was unanimous in the Senate. However, since that time we have been confronted with a tragic ruling by the Attorney General, that physician-assisted suicide does not fall under the jurisdiction of the Controlled Substances Act. We, as a body, must now take this opportunity to further clarify our message, and that message is: Congress does not sanction assisted suicide, and federally controlled substances cannot be prescribed for that purpose. Sadly, we will probably all at one time or another be confronted with a tragedy of personal illness or suffering, and this bill is a good bill, and I would urge its passage.

Mr. CHABOT

Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Speaker, just so there is no misunderstanding about what is really going on here, let us review for a moment tax cuts. President Clinton and his liberal Democrat allies in the Congress has seen to it that working American families will not receive one red cent in tax reductions next year. Spending cuts. The President and his liberal friends here in the Congress have fought fiscal restraint at every turn. The President has vetoed spending bills because they spent too little, and the Democratic leadership here in the Congress has advocated even more pork barrel spending and more foreign aid spending, even at the expense of the Social Security Trust Fund. Mr. Speaker, it is time for the White House and the liberal Democratic minority in the Congress to put working Americans first for a change. It is time to put the brakes on runaway spending. It is time the President put the veto pen away and quit raiding the Social Security Trust Fund.

Mr. CHABOT

Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Speaker, Sunday the Democratic leader of the Congress, Richard Gephardt, showed his party's true colors. While the Republican majority has made a commitment to the American people to spend not a penny of the Social Security surplus, the Democratic leader feels differently. He said yesterday, ``We really ought to spend as little of it as possible.'' Is that not grand? ``As little as possible.'' We all know what that means. It means that the Democrats here in Congress want to spend more money on government and use what is left for Social Security. That is just not good enough. We can meet our commitment to our Nation's retirees by setting aside barely a penny, a penny, of every dollar that government spends. It is that simple. While the bureaucrats in Washington might be upset that they will have to eliminate some waste, fraud, and abuse in their agencies, the American people will be happy to know that their retirements are secure. Let us just do it.

Mr. CHABOT

Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Speaker, last night was a special night for Cincinnatians and for baseball fans across the country. For the first time in over 10 years, the Hit King himself, Cincinnati's own Pete Rose, was back on the baseball field to the ovation of thousands. He had the honor of being selected to baseball's All-Century team by the American people. Charlie Hustle, who graduated from Western Hills High School in my district, was always known for his hard work, his extra effort, and head-first slides. Pete Rose was one of the greatest ball players of all time, winning three batting titles, three world championships, and setting the all-time major league record for most hits. Although the night was tainted by the senseless inquisition of an overzealous reporter, it still belonged to baseball fans everywhere. So congratulations to the Cincinnati Reds' Pete Rose and Johnny Bench, as well as all the other members of the All-Century team. Their accomplishments will be remembered well into the next millennium.

Mr. CHABOT

Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Speaker, over the last several years, we have witnessed a drastic increase in the number of Federal Government proposals which erode personal privacy rights and other important civil liberties. These misguided proposals, such as the Federal banking regulators' so-called ``Know Your Customer'' scheme, clearly demonstrate that the Federal agencies continue to promulgate rules and dictate policy without consideration for the ultimate ramifications on the privacy of American families. To prevent such assaults in the future, I am introducing the Defense of Privacy Act. My legislation will require all Federal agencies to assess the privacy implications of proposed rules and regulations. Mr. Speaker, this commonsense reform will help agencies focus on important privacy issues while strengthening the privacy rights of every American. I urge my colleagues to cosponsor this important legislation. Let us do all we can to keep Big Brother at bay.

Mr. CHABOT

Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Speaker, we were told all along that the President would veto the foreign operations bill because he wanted to spend more money on foreign aid. And sure enough, he vetoed the bill. Then we were told that he really did not want to spend more money on foreign aid like we had been told all along, what he really wanted was more money in the bill so he could reduce foreign aid and spend the money elsewhere. Uh-huh. Look. Republicans in Congress have made a commitment to protect Social Security. We have stopped the 30-year raid on the Social Security trust fund. And we are not about to begin to renew that raid in order to satisfy the President's insatiable appetite for foreign aid spending. Mr. Speaker, thanks to the Republican Congress, those who receive Social Security benefits today and those who hope to benefit from the Social Security fund tomorrow finally have reason to believe that the trust fund is protected. Let us not return to the bad old days. Let us stop the foreign aid raid.

Mr. CHABOT

Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Speaker, my hometown, Cincinnati, is saying goodbye to one of its most respected public servants, and I am saying goodbye to a good friend. After a lengthy battle with cancer, Cincinnati Police Sergeant Steve Wong has passed away at the young age of 45. He will be sorely missed by his family, his wife, Christy, and his sons Jared and Bret, and his parents, Tom and Anna, and by his colleagues and his friends. Steve Wong was one of those individuals who earned the respect of everyone who knew him. Upon Steve's death, Cincinnati Police Lieutenant Colonel Richard Biehl said, ``I do not think I have ever known anyone who was so universally liked in the police division.'' So much so by his colleagues that the Cincinnati Police Department raised funds to help pay his medical bills and donated their sick leave in order to help Steve and his family through their long ordeal. That says something about the quality of the Cincinnati Police Department as well. Mr. Speaker, Cincinnati will miss Steve Wong. His commitments to his community were unparalleled. Even while battling cancer himself, Steve volunteered to assist other cancer patients and their families during their time of need. He was truly a great American. We all extend our condolences to his family. Steve is gone, but he will never be forgotten.

Mr. CHABOT

Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Speaker, President Clinton has vetoed a foreign aid bill because it does not send enough American tax dollars overseas. Outrageous. In order to satisfy the President's insatiable appetite for foreign aid, Congress would have to raid the Social Security Trust Fund. That would be unconscionable. Mr. Speaker, let us protect Social Security for those who receive benefits now and those who pay the taxes and those who want to receive benefits in the future. Let us stop the foreign aid raid.

Mr. CHABOT

Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield?

Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Speaker, H. Con. Res. 141 was introduced by my colleague, the distinguished gentleman, very distinguished gentleman from New York (Mr. Rangel). This resolution expresses the sense of Congress that all people in the United States should reach out across our differences and ethnicity, race and religion, to respect each other and to celebrate in friendship and unity one America. I would like to thank the gentleman from New York (Mr. Rangel) for introducing this commendable piece of legislation.

Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on the Judiciary be discharged from further consideration of the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 141), Celebrating One America, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

Mr. CHABOT

Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 1993, the bill just passed.

Mr. CHABOT

Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Speaker, notwithstanding the unwavering opposition of President Clinton and his free-spending allies in this Congress, American taxpayers are now enjoying a budget surplus for the first time in a generation. One might think that the President would be willing to share some of that surplus with working American families. After all, they created the surplus with their hard work and their tax dollars. Tax relief perhaps? Not a chance. Incredibly the White House instead proposes either, A, more taxes or, B, a raid on the Social Security Trust Fund to pay for yet more government spending programs. Mr. Speaker, this is one Member of Congress who is more than willing to stay here until Christmas if that is what it takes to stave off another tax grab by the Clinton administration or a raid on the Social Security Trust Fund. American families are taxed more than enough. Leave them alone, Mr. President, and keep your hands off their Social Security. Stop the raid.

Mr. CHABOT

Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that in the engrossment of the bill, H.R. 1993, the Clerk be authorized to correct section numbers, cross references, punctuation, and indentation, and to make any other technical and conforming change necessary to reflect the actions of the House.

Mr. CHABOT

Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 2130. One of the most pernicious recent developments in our Nation's battle against illegal drug use is the emergence of so-called date rape drugs. These drugs are being used by sexual predators to incapacitate their victims before they are sexually assaulted. Many of these drugs are odorless and tasteless as the gentleman from Illinois has already mentioned, and they dissolve quickly and easily in alcohol. Alcohol enhances the drug's intoxicating effect and leaves the victim utterly helpless. What makes the use of these drugs even more contemptible is that the victims are likely to suffer memory loss, and this makes it virtually impossible for them to recount to law enforcement officers the circumstances surrounding the assault. These victims suffer the knowledge that they have been sexually assaulted, but they just cannot remember the details or explain how it happened and that makes it virtually impossible to prosecute many of these cases, and that is why they are particularly heinous. H.R. 2130 builds on past efforts by the Committee on Commerce and the Committee on the Judiciary to address the problem of date rape drugs. In 1998, a bill I introduced, the Controlled Substances Trafficking Prohibition Act, passed both the House and the Senate and was signed into law by the President. H.R. 2366 closed a gaping loophole in U.S. drug policy, the so-called personal use exemption to the Controlled Substances Act that allowed American drug dealers to bring large quantities of prescription drugs, even the most notorious types of date rape drugs, into this country without a legitimate doctor's prescription or medical purpose. This exemption was so lax that studies along the Texas border found records of people bringing thousands of these pills into this country in one day; multiple drugs and thousands of pills in a single day supposedly for personal use. These date rape drugs ultimately found their way far too often to the streets and to college campuses, putting young women at risk. In October 1996, Congress also passed the Drug Induced Rape Prevention and Punishment Act of 1996. That law addressed the abuse of the drug flunitrazepam and established the precedent that H.R. 2130 now follows. Others have ably described the provisions of this legislation so I will only highlight a few of its key aspects. It places GHB in Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act; thereby providing the maximum penalties for those who clandestinely produce the drug at home and those who use GHB to commit date rape. It also establishes GBL, the precursor chemical used to make GHB, as a list one chemical, the most regulated chemical category. The legislation allows for the ongoing, promising clinical development of GHB for the treatment of narcolepsy and more specifically for the treatment of cataplexy. It does so by providing that if and when GHB is approved by the FDA for the treatment of cataplexy, it will then be placed in Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act. Such scheduling would facilitate use of the drug for such treatment. At the same time, however, the bill provides that the illegal use of GHB will receive Schedule I penalties. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2130 is another good example of how this Congress and recent Congresses are working both smarter and harder to combat the scourge of illegal drugs. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to yield the balance of my time to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Upton).

Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Bachus), who is a member of the Committee on the Judiciary.

Mr. CHABOT

Mr. CHABOT. Madam Speaker, we have heard a lot of talk about health care here this morning. And health care is very important. Education is pretty important, too. I think it is time for the President and his liberal Democratic friends here in the House to quit playing partisan politics with American schoolchildren and with their schools. They spend so much time distorting the Republican record on education spending that they fail to acknowledge that spending is not the only issue. We all believe that education funding is important. The difference lies in how we want that money to be spent. Liberal Democrats want it to be spent on more big government programs. It does not matter to them if the programs work or not as long as they can make themselves believe that they are helping kids. I would rather see education dollars go directly to the classroom where it can be spent by people who know other children's names. They could spend it on books or chalk or computer equipment or whatever else they need to teach their students. This is a whole lot better than spending it on reams of bureaucratic paperwork.

Mr. CHABOT

Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Speaker, Federal investigators are still sorting through the evidence in what may well be the biggest money laundering scandal in U.S. history. The United States has provided billions of dollars in direct foreign aid to Russia since the breakup of the foreign Soviet Union. Much of the money is missing, unaccounted for. The taxpayers have also underwritten billions more in International Monetary Fund commitments. What we are apparently seeing right now is a pretty good example of what happens when we throw good money after bad. Let us face it, someone has been asleep at the switch. This Congress is doing the right thing by reducing foreign aid spending, as we voted to do just last night, President Clinton's objections notwithstanding. But we need to do more. We need to make sure that the Clinton administration ensures that our tax dollars are not being diverted inappropriately or outright stolen. We need to ensure that somebody is looking out for the American taxpayers. We need some accountability, finally, at the White House.

Mr. CHABOT

Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Speaker, as we consider health care legislation in Congress today, it is essential that we find ways to make health care more affordable for American families. There are 44 million uninsured people in this country; and this number, unfortunately, is growing steadily. Comprehensive health insurance is rapidly becoming too expensive for the average working family, and many small businesses are unable to provide costly group plans. We need to help the millions of Americans that do not have health insurance, as well as those who are struggling to afford quality care. The Quality Care for the Uninsured Act will do just that by allowing taxpayers to deduct their health insurance premiums and giving small businesses and associations the freedom to provide their employees more comprehensive and flexible health care. Mr. Speaker, this proposal is a positive step forward. Earlier this year I introduced similar legislation that received bipartisan support. I would ask both sides of the aisle to support this.

Mr. CHABOT

Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Speaker, this was a special year for baseball in my hometown of Cincinnati, Ohio. The Cincinnati Reds with a handful of dedicated veterans, a lot of young talent, and one of the lowest payrolls in baseball captured the Nation's attention with their unbridled enthusiasm and passion for the game. Last night the Reds' incredible run ended earlier than we had hoped. And while it may be of little consolation to the players, their inspirational efforts have brought many fans, both young and old, back to baseball. Sadly, baseball's economics may not allow this same talented team to return to the field for another run at the pennant, but we will not soon forget the 1999 Cincinnati Reds. We will remember Barry Larkin and Pokey Reese turning spectacular double plays; Mike Cameron running down balls in the gap; Sean Casey and Greg Vaughn and many others driving pitches over the outfield walls; and the determined outings by the pitching staff. Every Member of the Reds and their fans should hold their heads up high today. They gave it their all day in and day out and reminded the country that our national pastime is alive and well in the home of baseball's first professional team: Cincinnati, Ohio.