Martin Frost

Mr. FROST

Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. (Mr. FROST asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks and to include extraneous material.)

Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, I urge a ``no'' vote on the previous question. If the previous question is defeated, I shall offer an amendment to the rule which will provide an open rule for consideration of a clean continuing resolution without the martial law provisions. These extraordinary procedures would allow the House to bring up a series of budget bills without the normal 1-day layover period required by the rules. It's time to return to the regular order and live by the rule which protects the rights of Members on both sides of the aisle. I include for the Record the text of the amendment I would offer if the previous question were defeated. Amendment to H. Res. 386 On page 2, strike all after line 9 through the end of the resolution. On page 1, strike lines 1 and 2 and insert: ``Resolved, That at any time after the adoption of this resolution the Speaker may, pursuant to clause 1(b) of rule XXIII, declare the House resolved into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union for consideration of the joint reso-'' On page 2, line 4, after the period add the following: ``After general debate the joint resolution shall be considered for amendment under the five-minute rule. At the conclusion of consideration of the joint resolution for amendment the Committee shall rise and report the joint resolution to the House with such amendments as many have been adopted. Any Member may demand a separate vote in the House on any amendment adopted in the Committee of the Whole to the joint resolution.'' Explanation: The amendment to the resolution strips out the martial law provisions of the rule and provides on open rule for consideration of the short-term continuing resolution. Mr. Speaker, every single rule the House has adopted this session has been a restrictive rule; yes, you heard that correctly, the Republican House has so far adopted 100 percent restrictive rules in this session. And if it is adopted, the rule before us will leave that 100 percent purely restrictive rules record intact. This is the 62d restrictive rule reported out of the Rules Committee this Congress. In addition more than 72 percent of the legislation considered this session has not been reported from committee--8 out of 11 measures brought up this session have been unreported. At this point I include the following information for the Record.

Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself 30 seconds. Mr. Speaker, what we have before us today is conclusive proof that the governing Republican majority in this Congress is both incompetent and does not care about democracy. The gentleman just mentioned that Democrats suspended the rules during the last Congress. We did that for 5 days on five different occasions, 1 day at a time. They have done it for 4 months now, and they want to do it even longer than that. There is a basic disagreement on democracy, on how we should function as a democratic institution. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New York [Mr. Nadler].

Mr. FROST

Mr. FROST. Madam Speaker, as part of Women's History Month, I am pleased to have the opportunity to select Mrs. Izean Davidson, of Fort Worth, TX, as Woman of the Year. Mrs. Izean Davidson, a life long Texan, has spent 42 years as an educator in the Texas public school system, serving as a classroom teacher and reading specialist. A leader in her community, Mrs. Davidson is a strong advocate for teaching the highest social and academic values to young adults. As a member of the Baker Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church, she has worked tirelessly to implement programs which build self esteem and inspire young Texans. In addition, Mrs. Davidson has participated in various organizations, boards and committees, including: the Fort Worth Mayor's Council, NAACP Board of Directors, Delegate to the National Democratic Convention for three successive terms, and Fort Worth Commission of the Status of Women. It is an honor and a privilege to know Mrs. Izean Davidson. Clearly, her hard work and dedication to public service have improved the lives of many people in Fort Worth as well as in the State of Texas. I am proud to recognize Mrs. Davidson's contribution to women's history during this special month.

Mr. FROST

Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, democracy and democratic governing is a style that is quickly being embraced by governments all over the world and it is an amazing spectacle. While the United States can take much credit for being the model of modern democracy, America is not its birthplace. Athens is the home of democracy. Greek sages like Aristotle were the architects of those democratic principles which set the foundations of our government and for many others around the world. It was the Greeks who began the battles to preserve the concept of ruling by the people, a concept for which we also fight. On March 25, 1996, Greece will celebrate its 175th anniversary, its dodrasquicentenial, of independence from the Ottoman Empire. It is in this celebration that those democratic principles will be reaffirmed. Because our nations are so ideologically intertwined, we also have reason to celebrate.

Mr. FROST

Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, we have been waiting a very long time for this bill. It has now been almost 1 year since that tragic day last April when the United States was forever changed by the madmen who blew up the Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City. We continue to witness senseless slaughter of innocent men, women, and children around the world because terrorists and extremists choose not to use legitimate political channels to register their dissent. Oklahoma City taught us we are not immune from internal threats to our safety and security. The December 1993 World Trade Center bombing made it very clear that external threats are a clear and present danger to us all. It was clear, however, that the original legislative response to these threats had substantial opposition from both conservative and liberal Members of the House. And, while the Judiciary Committee chairman, Mr. Hyde, has fashioned a substitute which addresses the concerns of a number of conservative Members, there are still other civil liberties concerns that have been raised by both liberals and conservatives. While the Committee on Rules has reported a rule which will allow many of these issues to be brought to the floor for the consideration of all Members, the committee majority did not provide for some amendments which might have significantly improved this vitally important legislative proposal. Mr. Speaker, I am not going to oppose this rule. But, I do believe that the Rules Committee Republicans, in their effort to craft what they call a delicate balance, have missed an opportunity to truly open the debate on these issues. The Committee on Rules majority has, in spite of its assurances at the beginning of this Congress, seen fit to limit debate in the House. This is one legislative proposal that deserves full and truly open debate. We are about to undertake consideration of legislation that seeks to afford us some measure of protection from nameless and faceless terrorists, but in so doing, the bill necessarily grants new powers to law enforcement authorities. These are matters which affect each and every one of us and we have a responsibility--a duty, really-- to make sure that what we do will protect both our safety and our civil liberties. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from New York [Ms. Slaughter].

Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, this is the 60th restrictive rule reported out of the Rules Committee this Congress. In fact, 89 percent of the rules this session have been restrictive. Mr. Speaker, for the Record I include a compilation of floor procedure in the 104th Congress as compiled by the Committee on Rules Democrats.

Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Texas [Ms. Jackson-Lee]. (Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)

Mr. FROST

Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to withdraw my name as a cosponsor of H.R. 1591.

Mr. FROST

Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Texas [Mr. Doggett].

Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I am going to support passage of this rule and this bill even though it provides only a temporary remedy to our current fiscal dilemma. Mr. Speaker, I support this proposal because it is the responsible thing to do. But, Mr. Speaker, I believe that the majority is teteering on the edge of irresponsibility by not living up to the promise made before we took a 3-week recess in February. And that promise was, of course, to pass an increase in the debt ceiling the week we returned from the break. The House has now been back in business since February 27 and all the majority leadership seems able to produce to avert financial crisis is a temporary measure that will only take us through March 29. Mr. Speaker, I urge the majority to do its job and get on with the people's business. While we are waiting for that to happen, it is incumbent upon us to support this proposal and ensure that the United States does not default on its obligations for the first time in its history. Mr. Speaker, I include for the Record the following information regarding floor procedure in the 104th Congress.

Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Connecticut, [Ms. DeLauro].

Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of this rule, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. FROST

Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, in honor of this year's theme of African- American women, I wish to recognize the passing of former Congresswomen Barbara Jordan, one of Texas' greatest political figures. She died at the age of 59 from pneumonia, one of the many illnesses which she suffered from in the last years of her life. But the life that she led was extraordinary, and she left a mark that few will ever match, and that none will ever forget. Mr. Speaker, Congresswoman Jordan distinguished herself from an early age. With her family's encouragement she worked hard to rise above the poverty of her childhood in Houston. She graduated magna cum laude from Texas Southern University. It was there that she first displayed her powerful oratorical skills as a member of the debate team. In 1959 she received her law degree from Boston University. Mr. Speaker, Barbara Jordan made history by setting a number of firsts. She was the first black State Senator in Texas history, elected in 1966. In 1972 she was accorded the high honor of being elected president pro tempore of the Texas Senate, another first for an African-American. Eight years later she recorded another first, becoming the first black from Texas to be elected to Congress. Although she only served for 6 years in the House of Representatives, her impact was monumental. It was as a freshman Congresswoman, Mr. Speaker, that the Nation first came to know Barbara Jordan. As a member of the House Judiciary Committee she made one of the defining speeches of the Richard Nixon impeachment hearings. Rising above the political rhetoric, she told the world, ``My faith in the Constitution is whole, it is complete, it is total, and I am not going to sit here and be an idle spectator to the diminution, the subversion, the destruction of the Constitution.'' Indeed, her statements reminded America of what was truly great about this country. On a more personal note, Mr. Speaker, Barbara Jordan served as one of my earliest political role models. I had a chance to see Congresswoman Jordan speak at the 1976 Democratic National Convention. Like everyone else that heard her speech I was moved not only by her eloquence, but by her definition of public service. ``More is required of public officials than slogans and handshakes and press releases,'' she said. ``We must hold ourselves strictly accountable. We must provide the people with a vision of the future.'' These words continue to guide and inspire me 20 years later. I wish in the coming days that all Texans would join me in reflecting upon the legacy of Barbara Jordan. She stood for honesty, integrity, and an unswerving commitment to the principles on which this country was founded. Her legacy will endure as we continue to honor these ideals.

Mr. FROST

Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, I insert extraneous material at this point in

Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present.

Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, again, I urge that we defeat the previous question. This is a very serious matter. It is the other side of the aisle that will not bring a debt ceiling vote to the floor this week. They bring only this little piece of it. It is an important piece, and we will want Social Security checks to go out, but they will not bring a debt ceiling increase. Mr. Speaker, they want to take this right to the brink. They want to walk us up to 2 or 3 days before the deadline, and hope that the perils of Pauline will somehow rescue the lady from the track, as the train heads to hear. If the people on the other side have miscalculated, and if the train in fact runs over that maiden on February 29, this country is in enormous, enormous trouble.

Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Speaker, I urge a no vote on the previous question. If the previous question is defeated, I shall offer an amendment to the rule which would make in order an amendment in the nature of a substitute to provide for a clean debt ceiling. This amendment consists of the text of H.R. 2409 and provides for a clean debt ceiling increase for a full year. This number is the same figure that was in the Republican budget resolution and reconciliation bill. Our country's economy is far too important to be used as a political pawn. We cannot risk the catastrophe that will occur should we default on our Nation's debts. Let us stop the game playing and pass a clean debt ceiling. I urge Members on both sides of the aisle to take the moral high ground and to vote down the previous question, so the substitute amendment can be considered by the full House. Mr. Speaker, I include for the Record a copy of the amendment:

Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New Jersey [Mr. Pallone].

Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New York [Mr. Schumer]. (Mr. SCHUMER asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Minnesota [Mr. Vento].