Jim Gibbons

Mr. GIBBONS

Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, yesterday a judicial oversight council ordered an investigation be conducted into the special assignment of criminal cases involving the friends of President Clinton to favorable judges appointed by President Clinton. Yes, indeed, these were ``special'' cases. So special, in fact, that the assignment of these cases intentionally bypassed the computer system which normally and randomly assigns criminal cases of all other accused individuals; well, all other accused individuals that are not the personal friends or associates of the President it seems. Our judicial system must maintain complete impartiality, no matter ``who you know'' in politics. Whether the judicial system was abused to grant preferential treatment to presidential allies, that will be determined. However, we need to remain vigilant over our justice system to ensure that our laws are applied equally to everyone. Justice is supposed to be blind. That includes being blind to who your friends are too.

Mr. GIBBONS

Mr. GIBBONS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to join with my colleagues to express my serious concern with the President's budget proposal that was released earlier this week. With the surpluses that this Congress has created, the President now seeks to renew the era of big government by expanding the size and the scope of the Federal bureaucracy, including the creation of $350 billion of new government spending. Madam Speaker, furthermore, the President failed to provide hard- working Americans with meaningful tax cuts and instead included a $181 billion tax increase. I am seriously concerned that the President's budget proposal will actually raid Social Security, rather than safeguarding it for future generations. Madam Speaker, we need to pass a responsible budget, not one laden with irresponsible spending increases and pointless tax increases, a responsible budget like the budget supported by my Republican colleagues here today that will fund essential government programs, provide necessary tax relief, and protect Social Security while paying down our national debt. I yield back the President's big budget government proposals which rob Peter to pay Paul.

Mr. GIBBONS

Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, nearly a half century ago, Albert Einstein said that the hardest thing to understand in the world is the income tax. Since then, our income tax system has not gotten better; it has gotten worse. Today, American taxpayers, including myself, just cannot understand why married couples must pay more in taxes simply because they are married. Mr. Speaker, in my home State the marriage tax penalty robs over 290,000 Nevadans every April 15. While I welcome the President's support for marriage penalty relief, his proposal simply does not go to the heart of the problem. His proposal fails to help all of America's hard-working couples. The Republican plan will provide over the next decade $180 billion in marriage penalty relief to 25 million couples, including millions of middle-class Americans hit hardest by this unfair tax burden. Mr. Speaker, one thing is clear to me: it is time that we right this wrong and provide real marriage penalty relief for America. Mr. Speaker, I yield back this corrupt burden of our Internal Revenue Code.

Mr. GIBBONS

Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, next week, the gentlewoman from Washington (Ms. Dunn) and I will introduce legislation to award the Congressional Gold Medal to former President and First Lady, Ronald and Nancy Reagan, in recognition of their distinguished record of service to the United States. I encourage my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to join us in commemorating the Reagans and their service to our great Nation. Under President Reagan's leadership, the United States experienced unprecedented economic growth and gained a renewed sense of national pride. Known as the Great Communicator, Ronald Reagan maintained his unique poise and uncanny wit during his tenure in office and throughout his life. His wife, Nancy, served as gracious First Lady and as the tireless leader of the well-known anti-drug ``Just Say No'' campaign. She held her own. Together, the Reagans have been dedicated to promoting national pride and improving the quality of life in America. Ronald Reagan will celebrate his 89th birthday this weekend. Awarding the Congressional Gold Medal to the Reagans would certainly make a wonderful birthday gift; but more importantly, the award would be a fitting tribute for their contributions to our country.

Mr. GIBBONS

Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, ensuring that our children have the best possible education should be a priority for all of us. However, we need to ensure that our education dollars fund programs that are actually and truly educating our children. Awhile back I read an article detailing programs endorsed by the U.S. Department of Education which encouraged teaching middle school students to play with blocks and use calculators, rather than teach them basic math skills. These useless programs have prompted over 200 scholars recently to take out a full page ad in the Washington Post denouncing the programs and calling for Secretary Riley to stop endorsing them. But yet programs like these still exist and are still funded with the tax dollars of hard-working Americans. Our children deserve more. They deserve educational programs that will actually prepare them for the 21st century. This year, let us make a commitment to our children. Let us raise test scores, but let us do it by supporting real education, not by lowering our standards. Mr. Speaker, I yield back all the dumbed-down education programs that have failed to teach our children.

Mr. GIBBONS

Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, today we face a new century in America and, as we begin the second session of the 106th Congress, much work lies ahead of us. Over the last few weeks I had the opportunity to tour my great State and meet many of the citizens of the State of Nevada, and during these meetings my constituents expressed what they expect from and need from their Federal Government. They want a federal commitment to empower local communities to make decisions on school construction and modernization projects, not the Federal Government. They want a health care package which assures access to medically necessary treatments while not eroding the quality of our health care system. They want a real tax cut for hard working Americans that includes the elimination of the marriage penalty tax and the death tax, but these are only a few of the concerns which we will need to address this session. Mr. Speaker, I am confident that we will rise to the challenge and pass responsible legislation which will meet the very needs of not just Nevadans but all Americans. So let us do as my friend Mills Lane says: let us get it on.

Mr. GIBBONS

Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, after the rhetoric of the last speaker, let us come back to reality for just a moment. This Congress has succeeded in passing many pieces of meaningful legislation this session. We have passed bills which have granted more local control over our education and funding decisions and we have sent that control and those decisions to our States and local school districts. We passed legislation which provided a much-needed pay raise for our military personnel, and we funded the replacement of old equipment, strengthening our armed forces. We made it a national policy to fund and deploy a national missile defense system. This Congress has succeeded in addressing these and other important issues to strengthen our country, including saving Social Security. Now, Mr. Speaker, we are faced with one final task, legislative task, that is, eliminating wasteful government spending. Let us build upon our success and pass bills which fund the necessary programs, but do not waste the hard-earned tax dollars of Americans. Mr. Speaker, this Republican-led Congress has successfully passed important and responsible legislation, and we can do it again.

Mr. GIBBONS

Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, recently Vice President Al Gore announced a scheme to impose a new $2 billion tax on the mining industry. At a time when America's mining industry has been crippled and forced to lay off thousands of employees, the Vice President now wants to impose a new $2 billion tax that will only serve as a death knell for this industry. It appears that Mr. Gore's motto is that when the good guy is down, let us pick his pocket. There is always a dollar or two left somewhere. Mr. Speaker, the U.S. mining industry provides America with the resources that allow us to enjoy the standard and quality of life we need and respect today. Now the Vice President wants to jeopardize the future of America, our economy, and this vital industry by oppressing it with a $2 billion tax in order to fund his political agenda. Mr. Speaker, this is the true mentality of the Vice President, to tax an industry until it is destroyed just so he can use the revenue for his own political gain. Mr. Speaker, let us put personal agendas aside. America needs the mining industry, but it does not need a $2 billion tax.

Mr. GIBBONS

Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to clause 1, rule I, I demand a vote on agreeing to the Speaker's approval of the Journal.

Mr. GIBBONS. 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. GIBBONS

Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, tomorrow is Veterans Day and I rise to take this opportunity to salute our Nation's veterans, especially those veterans from my home State of Nevada. The Second Congressional District in Nevada is one of the largest and fastest growing veteran populations in the United States. These are men and women who at one point or another put their personal lives and careers aside and oftentimes their families on hold for a much greater cause. It should be remembered that our veterans made America the leader of the Free World. While we celebrate their service, just one day each year, it is our responsibility to remember them every day. Mr. Speaker, we can thank our Nation's veterans each day in many different ways. In Congress here, we can make certain that our Nation's promises are kept to all of our veterans. In our neighborhoods we can take an extra moment and thank a veteran for their service. We can contact family members and friends who served our country to learn more about their experiences of service and courage. In our schools, we can teach our children about America's greatest moments, moments when freedom and democracy were upheld because of our veterans. America's veterans are the fabric of our Nation. We salute you and we thank you.

Mr. GIBBONS

Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the conference report for the intelligence authorization bill, and I want to thank my friend from Florida, somewhere east of the Mississippi, and the chairman of the committee for yielding me this time. This past year, Mr. Speaker, has been a challenging one for the intelligence community, particularly in the area of support for our military operations. The United States launched a heavy 4-day offensive against Iraq in the late time frame of December 1998 and fought a war over Kosovo and Serbia earlier this year, all this while our pilots are enforcing the no-fly zones over Iraq. Meanwhile, crises or potential crises in other parts of the world, like the Taiwan Strait, Korea, Indonesia, India and Pakistan, and the Caucasus keep our military on a high state of alert. Ten years today after the fall of the Berlin Wall I think it is safe to say, Mr. Speaker, that the post-Cold War honeymoon is over. With the men and women of our armed forces deployed across the world, it is especially important that we meet the pressing need for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, or ISR, to support their missions and provide for their protection. For several years, members of the intelligence community have recognized that American ISR resources and personnel are stretched thin, and we have searched for ways to address these shortfalls. This year, airborne ISR was one of the committee's very top priorities, and I believe this conference report reflects that. Mr. Speaker, while we have not solved all the ISR problems, this bill takes concrete steps toward providing the accurate, timely intelligence and warnings necessary to save American lives and win the battles on the ground and in the air. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this conference report.

Mr. GIBBONS

Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, 10 years ago, one of the most recognized symbols of the Cold War, the Berlin Wall, was leveled by the hammer of freedom. Today the entire free world commemorates the 10th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. On November 9, 1989, when President Ronald Reagan's belief of peace through strength prevailed as demonstrators from East Germany began to tear down the wall, thus signifying the beginning of the end of one of the most oppressive and vicious regimes in history. While the final collapse of Communism in the former Soviet Union occurred shortly after President Reagan left office, history shows that it was his bold vision and courageous actions that led to this historic event. Ten years later, the world can still hear the echoes of the cheers that erupted at the Brandenburg Gate when President Reagan called upon Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev to tear down this wall. Today we commemorate freedom and democracy throughout most of the world, and we also celebrate President Reagan's bold vision and courageous quest for freedom. Mr. Speaker, as we continue our work in Congress, I urge all my colleagues to help celebrate the freedom and democracy that helps keep America strong.

Mr. GIBBONS

Mr. GIBBONS. Madam Speaker, last week, the General Accounting Office announced the results of its voluntary survey of nine, just nine Federal agencies. That survey showed that the U.S. Government lost $19.1 billion due to fraud and clerical errors last year. Let me repeat that, $19.1 billion of taxpayer money was lost simply due to government errors. Yet, some of our colleagues on the other side of the aisle still maintain that our Federal Government cannot reduce wasteful government spending by 1 percent. Really? Well, based on these findings, common sense tells us that we can reduce wasteful spending by almost $20 billion and probably even more. We can reduce, even eliminate, the amount wasted on costly overpayments by simply addressing the fraud and minimizing clerical errors. Wasteful spending in Washington does exist, and it needs to be stopped. My question is this: Is it too much to expect efficiency and accountability in the Federal Government? Madam Speaker, I yield back the billions of wasted taxpayer dollars from the hard working Americans.

Mr. GIBBONS

Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, if one is an employer, what are the eight most dreaded words in the English language? ``I am from OSHA and I am here to help.'' Recently the Occupational Safety and Health Administration said, we know enough to act now. We want to issue sweeping new and punitive ergonomic standards. OSHA plans to finalize its standards in the coming weeks unless Congress intervenes. Mr. Speaker, it is time for Congress to intervene. OSHA refuses to wait for the results of the National Academy of Sciences study on the issue, a study which Congress recommended and funded in 1998. OSHA's regulations would impact nearly every industry, cost employers millions of dollars, and result in substantial increases in worker compensation costs due to the proposed 100 percent replacement of wages and benefits. These facts might very well have been uncovered by the National Academy of Sciences, but OSHA would not wait. Mr. Speaker, along with dreaded words come dreaded policies and arrogance. I yield back the balance of my time and any common sense left at OSHA.

Mr. GIBBONS

Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, there is a Latin phrase that applies to those liberal Democrats who constantly believe that Washington always knows best: via ovicepitum dura est. For the engineers, ``The way of the egghead is hard.'' Mr. Speaker, it is time our liberal colleagues support the education opportunities that grant our local school districts the flexibility to decide how to spend their Federal education funding. We are all aware of the Administration's plan to hire 100,000 new teachers, and we can all agree that hiring more qualified teachers should be a priority. But what about books? What about computers? What about the basic things, like pencils and papers? What right do Washington bureaucrats have to deny school districts the option of using these funds for these necessities? Mr. Speaker, we can do more to improve the education of our children by giving local school districts the flexibility and tools needed to make those improvements. Let us give our children the best education opportunity we can. Let us cut the Federal purse strings. Mr. Speaker, I yield back all the egg-headed, cookie-cutter, liberal funding theories which cannot possibly meet the diverse needs and educational needs of our children.

Mr. GIBBONS

Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, no surprises, just some good news. Yesterday the U.S. Government announced that it paid off nearly $16 billion of the national debt. There is more. The Treasury Department also stated that it expected to retire another $12 billion in the first quarter of next year alone. We are beginning to pay off that $5.5 trillion national debt, and for the first time since Dwight D. Eisenhower was President, the U.S. can boast of back-to-back budget surpluses. How did we achieve those budget surpluses? Simple, a Republican Congress remained committed to reducing wasteful government spending. As we continue to debate the appropriation bills for next year, it is my hope that we can continue to build upon our successes. Americans want and deserve a Federal Government that spends their tax dollars wisely. Let us not disappoint them. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of any remaining government waste that continues to permeate this area.

Mr. GIBBONS

Mr. GIBBONS. Madam Speaker, more than half of this Nation's wild horse population and burro population roams free over the rangelands of Nevada. But the State of Nevada has little or no authority over the management of these herds because wild horse and burro management rests solely with the Bureau of Land Management, mostly here in Washington, D.C. Unfortunately, the BLM's management has proven to be highly ineffective and terribly destructive to both the rangeland and to these animals. Wild horses and burros are causing havoc and destruction on Nevada's rangelands through overgrazing and destruction of riparian areas. Many animals simply are starving to death because the land cannot physically sustain them. These horses and burros may not be the brightest animals on the farm, but neither is the bureaucracy here in Washington, D.C. The failure of this current management system is obvious to many Nevadans. Clearly, the current Federal bureaucracy is doing more harm than good, and a change needs to be made. Congress needs to act to pass H.R. 2874, the Wild Horse and Burro Preservation and Management Act. Madam Speaker, I yield back whatever common horse sense may remain in the BLM's management policy.

Mr. GIBBONS

Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, yesterday's edition of the Las Vegas Sun contained a story detailing disturbing increases in gang violence and gang membership in the Las Vegas metropolitan area. Although gang violence is not unique to Las Vegas, violent crime is a problem that plagues most communities across this Nation. As we continue to debate the appropriations bill for the Commerce, State, and Justice Departments, my hope is that we can all unite together to pass legislation that will improve the Federal response to combating violence in America. It is obvious to most Americans that putting more police on the street is just a beginning. We must encourage all segments of society to work together in implementing effective crime fighting strategies. Additionally, we need to remove the bureaucratic red tape which discourages local law enforcement agencies from seeking Federal funding for their crime fighting programs. I look forward to supporting an appropriations plan which will give State and local governments more control over how to best combat crime in their individual communities. We can win the battle against crime but we need to provide our communities with the power to fight crime.

Mr. GIBBONS

Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, for 30 years, the liberal Washington big spenders have mortgaged America's future. For 30 years they have raided Social Security to pay for more and bigger government programs. The Washington big spenders have put big government programs ahead of retirement security for hardworking Americans. Thankfully this Republican-led Congress has changed that. We have put the Social Security surplus in a lockbox and we are not spending a dime of it. I would ask our Democratic leadership colleagues on the other side to once and for all stop the raid on Social Security, stop throwing away taxpayers money on wasteful government programs. This country must move forward with a responsible and balanced fiscal budget. Republicans are holding a Federal Government spring cleaning today. We are getting rid of the unnecessary and redundant programs, we are peeling back the layers of bureaucracy and we are throwing out the President's request to raise taxes and spend more money on wasteful government programs. To the Democratic leadership, I ask for the sake of America's future that you join with Republicans and stop the raid on Social Security and protect our fiscal household.

Mr. GIBBONS

Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, like the dawn of a new day we should all be pleased that the President has finally come around to seeing the Republican point of view that we should not spend one penny on other government programs from our Social Security trust fund. At the beginning of this year, the President wanted to spend billions of Social Security tax dollars on some big government programs, and I think today is real progress. However, I am concerned that instead of helping us cut bloated Federal bureaucracies to balance the Federal budget, the President wants to increase taxes on working Americans. Mr. Speaker, we know that the American people are taxed enough. It has only been through our hard work that the Federal budget is now balanced. There is no reason for us to raise one penny on the backs of lower and middle income families to pay for bigger Federal Government. That would be wrong for our hardworking families and for America. I urge the Democratic leadership to drop their plans to raise taxes on working Americans and join us in a bipartisan effort to balance the budget without using Social Security. I yield back the balance of my time and the President's proposal to raise taxes on Americans.

Mr. GIBBONS

Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, for the first time in 30 years, we have an historic opportunity to do what is right for America. We have an opportunity to pass a budget that does not dip into the Social Security trust fund. Republicans are committed to protecting Social Security for future generations of Americans. However, the Democratic leadership seems to have other priorities. They seem to believe that spending the Social Security surplus would be a political victory for them. They would rather score political points than secure America's future. Today I rise to urge my friends on the other side of the aisle to put their partisan agenda aside and join with the Republicans in saving and preserving 100 percent of the Social Security trust fund. Help us pass a budget that would put an end to the 30-year raid on Social Security. Work with us to put partisanship aside and do the right thing for all Americans and their future. I yield back the balance of my time and 100 percent of the Social Security trust fund.

Mr. GIBBONS

Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, first of all, I would like to begin by thanking the gentlewoman from Wyoming (Mrs. Cubin) for her gracious yielding of time for me to speak, and her diligent work and commitment on this bill, as well as that of the gentleman from Guam (Mr. Underwood), and for seeing to it that this bill reaches the House floor. Mr. Speaker, this legislation becomes very important when we consider and address issues of safety in the environment. H.R. 1528 reauthorizes the geologic mapping Act of 1992, which was a legislative response to identified deficiencies in the National Academy of Sciences with their lack of basic geologic knowledge and structures in this country. Being a geologist myself, I can personally attest to the great importance of geologic mapping and its resultant impact on many aspects of our society. Geologic maps benefit safety and planning regulations, telling us where natural disasters may occur. For example, they identify and map earthquake fault lines and water flow patterns which are important to identifying disaster potentials when building infrastructure for our communities and transportation routes. Without a detailed geologic map of the United States, we will be forced to address issues such as safe drinking water and environmental systems, understanding in the same dangerous fashion that someone might drive a car at night without headlights. It is imperative for us to explore and understand what resources we have in this country and how best to use them before we carelessly make unscientific decisions without the full knowledge of our underlying environment. I also believe that detailed geologic maps provide the basic information for solving a broad range of regional and State problems. These include the protection of drinking water, the identification and mitigation of natural hazards such as earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, as well as many other land-use planning requirements. This legislation will assist State and local communities with land and water decisions, aid farmers and ranchers with crop decisions, advance habitat protection for endangered species, and aid the mining industry with site determination for mineral resources. Currently, Mr. Speaker, only about 20 percent or one-fifth of the Nation is adequately mapped. Congress, however, has finally begun to understand the importance and need of geologic mapping, and it is time that we use our dollars wisely to bring about the best science for this country. Geologic maps are the primary database for virtually all applied and basic earth science investigations. It is because of this continued need for core science that I urge all Members to support H.R. 1528. I believe that passage of this bill is in the best interest of science and the Nation as well. Once again, Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the gentlewoman from Wyoming (Mrs. Cubin) for her leadership in bringing this important legislation before us today. I urge all my colleagues to vote in favor of this bill.

Mr. GIBBONS

Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to clause 1, rule I, I demand a vote on agreeing to the Chair's approval of the Journal.

Mr. GIBBONS. 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.