Denny Hastert

Mr. HASTERT

Mr. HASTERT. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself 1 minute. Mr. Chairman, I appreciate the comments of the gentleman from Wisconsin. I hope we can talk about orderly and logical reasons. I was in Switzerland. The heroin movement in Switzerland, the heroin giveaway programs in Switzerland did not start out with giveaway heroin programs. They started out with free needle exchanges, started out with free needle exchanges in heroin in places like Needle Park and downtown Zurich. My concern is that, yes, science says maybe there is a hedge on HIV. Others studies show that there is not. But I think that this is a place where we have to debate what we feel is right and wrong and what this country feels is right and wrong. I think the majority of my constituents and certainly the majority of people across this country feel that it is wrong to give free needles out to heroin users which really encourage the use of heroin among our youth and our children. Mr. Chairman, I yield 4 minutes and 15 seconds to the gentleman from Georgia [Mr. Barr].

Mr. HASTERT. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chairman, this amendment clearly states that the policy of this Congress is not to use Federal money to hand out free needles in free needle exchange programs. Mr. Chairman, one of the things that we have seen escalating among our youth is the increase in the use of heroin. In 1994, we had over 2,000 teenagers who, for the first time, used heroin. The way of using heroin and inducing it into the body primarily is through needles. Mr. Chairman, one of the things that I have looked at and tried to study in the last 2 years, in my responsibility in looking at drug use and the increase in drug usage among the youth of this country, was a visit to Zurich, Switzerland. I revisited Zurich for the first time in 20 years. I had remembered Zurich as a pristine city on a lake in the story book land of Switzerland. However, Mr. Chairman, when I revisited last year in April and walked the streets of Zurich, there was a look of devastation. Needle Park, heroin use, methamphetamine use, heroin clinics where people have increased the use of heroin in that country. As a matter of fact, Zurich has become a mecca for heroin users throughout Europe. Why? Because not only do they provide free heroin, but they provide free needles. Mr. Chairman, 15,000 needles a day are consumed in the streets of Zurich. Some are obtained by walking into the train station and depositing money into a machine and getting needles also at a very low price. Why? Because ostensibly if we give free needles away, we curb the increase of HIV. Mr. Chairman, what recent studies have shown, the Montreal and Vancouver studies have shown, is that intravenous drug users have a greater chance of becoming HIV positive than intravenous drug users who do not use the free needle programs. Intravenous drug users who participate in free needle exchange programs have a 33-percent chance of becoming HIV positive. Those who do not have a 13-percent chance of changing from HIV negative to HIV positive. So, basically, the studies, the statistics just do not prove that free needle exchanges, No. 1, stop HIV positive increases. But mostly, when we are spending $34 or $35 million to tell our youth in this country that we should not smoke, that smoking is bad, that it hurts your health, why then should we even think about beginning to give away free needles, free needles whose only purpose is to shoot an illegal drug, heroin, a free needle that leads to a child, a young person's path down a slippery slope that begins with drug use, illness and many, many times eventually death? Mr. Chairman, this amendment prohibits the use of Federal dollars to give away free needles for heroin addicts. I think it is self- explanatory. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. HASTERT. Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.

Mr. HASTERT. Mr. Chairman, I yield 6\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Oklahoma [Mr. Coburn], a distinguished doctor. (Mr. COBURN asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. HASTERT

Mr. HASTERT. Mr. Speaker, at this time we are having discussions within our conference. I am not prepared to answer that either yes or no. By early next week we should make a valid decision on that.

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

Mr. HASTERT. Mr. Speaker, if the gentleman will yield further, the agreement we have and that we will follow is we will do title I and hold over other titles until Tuesday.

Mr. HASTERT. I am not prepared at this time to tell the gentleman. We have no definite answer to that specific question.

Mr. HASTERT. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from California for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to announce we have concluded our legislative business for the week. The House will meet on Monday, September 8, at 12:30 p.m. for morning hour, and at 2 p.m. for legislative business. Members should note that no recorded votes will be held before 7 p.m. on Monday night. Just after 2 p.m. on Monday, the House will consider the following three suspensions: H.R. 976, the Mississippi Sioux Tribes Judgment Fund Distribution Act of 1997; H.R. 700, a bill regarding the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians; and we will take up the Senate amendment to H.R. 1866, Need-Based Educational Aid Antitrust Protection Act of 1997. In consultation with the minority, we have agreed to resume consideration of amendments to title I of the Labor-HHS appropriations bill on Monday evening. Debate will be between 6 and 10 that evening. As I mentioned earlier, we do not expect any votes until 7 p.m. on Monday, September 8. On Tuesday, September 9 and the remainder of the week, the House will consider the following bills, both of which will be subject to a rule: H.R. 2267, Commerce, Justice, State and the Judiciary Appropriations Act for fiscal year 1998; and H.R. 2378, Treasury, Postal Service Appropriations Act for fiscal year 1998. Mr. Speaker, meeting times for next week are as follows: On Tuesday, September 9, the House will meet at 9 a.m. for morning hour and 10 a.m. for legislative business; on Wednesday, September 10, and Thursday September 11, the House will meet at 10 a.m. There will be no legislative business and no votes on Friday, September 12. Mr. Speaker, next Wednesday, September 10, the White House will be hosting the annual congressional picnic. Members should be assured that we will have our last vote by approximately 6 p.m. that evening, so Members and their families can join the festivities.

Mr. HASTERT. There is a hearing today, but they have not made a final decision on that bill. We expect them to take final action either Monday or Tuesday.

Mr. HASTERT

Mr. HASTERT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of this landmark piece of legislation to reduce the taxes of hard-working Americans. Just as yesterday, I was proud to vote for a balanced budget and a program to save Medicare, today we continue to fulfill our promise to the American people. Congressional Republicans have kept their word. For the first time in a generation, the Congress has passed and will have signed into law a balanced Federal budget. More important, this historic agreement extends well beyond the Washington beltway; it truly will benefit our Nation's children, working families, and senior citizens. It provides middle-class tax relief and saves Medicare while giving seniors choice. The American people are the real winners in this budget accord. We've saved Medicare through the early part of the 21st Century. As one of the budget negotiators on Medicare, I'm particularly pleased that we've been able to preserve the health care system relied upon by nearly 40 million older Americans. We do so without raising the retirement age or cutting benefits. Instead, our plan increased services and benefits so seniors can choose the best health care plan to fit their own personal needs. No more one-size-fits-all Washington approach. And, this is just one of the positive changes in this budget agreement. We've following through on our commitment of tax relief for hard- working Americans. Not sine 1981 has the Congress passed and the President signed into law tax relief for working families. And, why not? Families can decide how to spend their money better than Uncle Sam. By standing up to the tax man, we're standing up for hard-working American families. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to take a few moments to point out the particular features of this comprehensive tax relief package which will help all folks get ahead in their pursuit of the American dream. Families will benefit through the child tax credit--the cornerstone of our tax relief package. This helps young folks like the working mother in Dixon who called my office this week. She explained how she desperately needs the child tax credit to help pay for food, clothing, and health insurance for her four kids. With a $400 child tax credit in the first year, she'll be able to write off $1,600 from the family tax bill. In the second year, the kid credit bumps up to $500 per child which means her family can then write off a whopping $2,000 from their tax bill. Now that's much-needed and much-deserved tax relief as the conservative Congress continues to change Washington. Farmers and small businesses also will benefit from this balanced budget. By reducing the death tax and providing capital gains relief, we'll end triple taxation, expand economic opportunities, and bring new jobs and stable prosperity to working folks around the country. Finally, I simply want to point out how far we've come in a few short years. Since Republicans took the majority in 1994, we've been able to cut Federal spending by $100 billion in 3 short years. We've also reformed the Nation's welfare system by giving a handup as opposed to a handout to our neediest citizens. We've also encouraged personal responsibility on the able-bodied by placing time limitations and work requirements on any future benefits. Now, we take another giant leap for smarter government and conservative, common sense solutions. Instead of talking about balancing the budget, saving Medicare, and providing tax relief, we've turned the discussion into how to do it. This is a significant development and conservative achievement, but there's still a long way to go. We must continue to ensure the long-term solvency of Medicare and Social Security. We must ensure continued tax relief for America's families and employers. We must continue to ensure that the budget stays balanced and that we begin to pay off our enormous national debt. I look forward to continuing my commitment to get the job done right as I was elected to do because this is the people's agenda and much work remains. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the majority leader of the House, the gentleman from Texas [Mr. Armey].

Mr. HASTERT. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Georgia [Mr. Collins] for yielding me the time. What a wonderful victory for the American people, the working American family, people who have children, people who have to try to move around this country and find the best job and the best way they can provide for their families. They get to take a $400 tax credit next year. They begin to take the deductions next January on that tax credit per child. My colleagues, they also can start to say, ``If I have to move and I have to sell my house, I do not have to calculate not to carry forward until I am 55 years of age, but I can take that capital gains now.'' What a wonderful opportunity for people to find the best job, the best venue to raise their children. What this really means is that American families can start to make the decisions how they can spend extra dollars in their pocket. That $500 tax credit per child is in their pocket now. They will decide how to spend that instead of some Federal bureaucrat. What does that mean? Well, when we spend our own money, we get to grow the economy, we do not have to decide on some Federal executive or Federal bureaucrat on how they are going to grow government, bigger government, bigger cost, bigger spending. This is a double win for the American family. Is this bill perfect? Oh, I do not think it is perfect. But is it good? Yes, it is a good bill. And does it mean that we are not going to be back here next year with another bill and try to improve the climate, the economic climate for our American families and American workers? I think we can do that. But my colleagues, I have to commend the chairman of the Committee on Ways and Means, I have to commend the people who worked in the leadership in this body, and the President. This is a wonderful first step.

Mr. HASTERT

Mr. HASTERT. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word. Mr. Chairman, I ask the gentleman from Alabama if he would join with me in a colloquy. Mr. Chairman, the gentleman from Indiana [Mr. Souder] had a proposal to earmark $50 million of INL moneys to purchase four Blackhawk utility helicopters for the Colombian National Police as well as provide a maintenance and support package in order to further the war against drugs, in this case specifically heroin. Without this added lift capacity the UH-60's will provide the Colombian National Police, they cannot eradicate opium at the high elevation of the Andes Mountains. Colombian heroin is killing our kids. It does not require precursor chemicals, it does not require big labs, and it is nearly impossible to interdict since it comes in deadly one- kilo packages, one at a time and one carrier at a time. Mr. Chairman, the Colombian National Police have been awarded the Human Rights Watch seal of approval for their respect for human rights and I would ask if the chairman would give me the assurance that he will work with me and others to ensure that this issue is raised in conference; and we are looking for an earmark of $50 million, if that is possible, made available for this purpose.

Mr. HASTERT. Mr. Chairman, reclaiming my time, I thank the gentlewoman for her comments, but I disagree with her. And, Mr. Chairman, I submit for the Record the endorsement of the Human Rights Watch for the Colombian National Police and the work that they do, and would just remind the gentlewoman from California that heroin, which these helicopters would be used to eradicate, is in the high Andes. There is no other way to get there. They cannot get in there with the Huey helicopters the Colombia police use today, and this, in fact, is their only egress to get into that area. I would certainly think that this is a credible thing, and appreciate the chairman engaging in this colloquy.

Mr. HASTERT. I yield to the gentlewoman from California.

Mr. HASTERT. I yield to the gentleman from Alabama.

Mr. HASTERT. I yield to the gentleman from New York.

Mr. HASTERT. Mr. Chairman, reclaiming my time, I would just remind the gentlewoman from California that this is the Colombian National Police.

Mr. HASTERT. I yield to the gentlewoman from California.

Mr. HASTERT. Mr. Chairman, the extraneous materials I referred to are submitted for the Record in support of this colloquy, as follows: Date: 07/16/97. Time: 02:28:07 pm To: International Relations, John Mackey. Fax No: 2022252035. Dear John: This is a statement we made today in Colombia regarding US military aid to fight drugs. In it, we state very clearly that we are not opposing aid to the Anti- Narcotics Police because of their good human rights record, but continue to oppose aid to the Army (point 7). Mark can probably parse out the Spanish for a quick read, but I'd be happy to give you the exact wording in English if you need it. You're fully welcome to refer to this as the HRW ``Seal of Approval'' for police aid, if you wish. Hang onto it--it doesn't come often! Best, Robin Kirk, Research Associate.

Mr. HASTERT

Mr. HASTERT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the recent recipients of the Illinois Law Enforcement Medal of Honor, for bravery and performance above and beyond the call of duty. I want to particularly commend one of the recipients of that honor from Illinois Governor, Jim Edgar, an officer from my district, Officer Kevin Bretz of the Batavia, IL, Police Department. Mr. Speaker, on February 3, 1996, Officer Bretz was involved in the pursuit of a suspect who was attempting to flee in his car. While on foot on the grounds of the Kane County Correctional Complex, Officer Bretz put himself in danger by pulling another officer, Officer Jeff Burton of the Geneva, IL, Police, to safety and out of the path of the oncoming suspect's vehicle. The suspect was arrested a short time later, and has since been sentenced to 12 years in prison, and has reportedly admitted that he would have struck Officer Burton with his car had Officer Bretz not been there to pull Burton to safety. For his heroic actions on that day, and for putting himself at risk to save a fellow officer, Officer Kevin Bretz deserves to be commended for his actions. I applaud Governor Edgar for his selection of Officer Bretz for the Illinois Law Enforcement Medal of Honor, and I thank him personally for his efforts on behalf of the American people and the citizens of my district.

Mr. HASTERT

Mr. HASTERT. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on H.R. 2014, the bill just passed.

Mr. HASTERT

Mr. HASTERT. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that notwithstanding any adjournment of the House until Tuesday, July 8, 1997, the Speaker, the majority leader, and minority leader will be authorized to accept resignations and to make appointments authorized by law or by the House.

Mr. HASTERT

Mr. HASTERT. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the business in order under the Calendar Wednesday rule be dispensed with on Wednesday, July 9, 1997.

Mr. HASTERT

Mr. HASTERT. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that for today all Members be permitted to extend their remarks and to include extraneous material in that section of the Record entitled ``Extension of Remarks.''