Jesse Helms

Mr. HELMS

Mr. HELMS. Mr. President, before contemplating today's bad news about the Federal debt, let us do that little pop quiz again: How many million dollars are in $1 trillion? When you arrive at an answer, bear in mind that it was Congress that ran up a debt now exceeding $4.8 trillion. To be exact, as of the close of business Monday, April 3, the total Federal debt--down to the penny--stood at $4,873,480,746,464.74-- meaning that every man, woman, and child in America now owes $18,499.82 computed on a per capita basis. Mr. President, again to answer the pop quiz question, How many million in a trillion? There are a million million in a trillion; and you can thank the U.S. Congress for the existing Federal debt exceeding $4.8 trillion.

Mr. HELMS

Mr. HELMS. Mr. President, I thank the Senator from Massachusetts. I have the honor of presenting to the Senate, after I ask unanimous consent that we stand in recess for 5 minutes so the Senators may greet him, the distinguished President of Egypt, President Mubarak.

Mr. HELMS

Mr. HELMS. Mr. President, a popular trend among the liberal elements of the news media today is their assertions that efforts to rid the current welfare system of waste and inefficiency are heartless and cruel. Aside from being untrue, such statements ignore the extraordinary things that are going on in America today. For example, the story of Mrs. Carol Porter, cofounder of Kid-Care, Inc., a nonprofit organization that feeds needy children in Houston, TX. I was reminded of Mrs. Porter and her family's efforts on behalf of Houston's hungry children when I read a March 20 People magazine article, headed ``Mother of Them All.'' Mr. President, I have met with the remarkable Carol Porter on several occasions, the first of which was in October 1993 when she visited Washington to receive an award for the very work detailed in the People magazine article. Senators and staff members would be impressed, as I am, if they could spend just a few brief minutes with this wonderful lady and her husband. Why? Two reasons come to mind: The first is her totally unselfish attitude which puts the needs of others before her own. It began when Carol Porter was driving through Houston during the Christmas season of 1989. By chance she happened upon a group of youngsters eating out of a fast-food dumpster. It was then that she and her husband decided to operate a feeding program from their three-bedroom home. Today, Porter and the volunteers at Kid-Care deliver 500 free meals to Houston's poor neighborhoods. Plans are underway to move into a facility enabling them to produce 4,000 meals a day, without 1 cent of support or subsidy from the U.S. Government. My second thought: As the U.S. Senate prepares to debate various facets of the House-passed welfare-reform proposal, Senators should keep in mind Mrs. Porter's admonition when she was asked about Government assistance. Mrs. Porter said, ``I'm against people saying, `Let the Government do it.' I say it's time for Americans to feed Americans.'' Mrs. Porter's message to all of us is both needed and refreshingly clear: The Government cannot do it all, nor can it afford to. But the needs of others can be met if each of us does our part. Mr. President, I do hope my colleagues will have time to read the article describing an extraordinary lady doing an extraordinary work. I ask unanimous consent that the March 20, 1995, People magazine article, ``Mother of Them All,'' be printed in the Record.

Mr. HELMS

Mr. HELMS. Mr. President, for 3 years I have made daily reports to the Senate regarding the exact Federal debt as of the previous day. We must pray that this year, Federal spending will begin to be reduced--it hasn't yet. Indeed, if we care about America's future, Congress must face up to its responsibility to balance the Federal budget. As of the close of business Friday, March 31, the exact Federal debt stood at $4,864,115,841,256.92, meaning that on a per capita basis, every man, woman, and child in America owes $18,464.61 as his or her share of the Federal debt. It's important to note, Mr. President, that the United States had an opportunity to begin controlling the Federal debt by implementing a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution. Unfortunately, the Senate did not seize their first opportunity to control this debt--but rest assured they will have another chance during the 104th Congress. If the Senate does not concentrate on getting a handle on this enormous debt, their constituents are not likely to overlook it 2 years hence.

Mr. HELMS

Mr. HELMS. Mr. President, as of the close of business yesterday, Thursday, March 30, the Federal debt stood at $4,852,914,736,954.80. On a per capita basis, every man, woman, and child in America owes $18,421.75 as his or her share of that debt.

Mr. HELMS

Mr. HELMS. Before the Senator objects, I was going to say if, as, and when an agreement is reached, the Helms amendment could be laid aside.

Mr. HELMS. Under the quorum call rule, rolling on like Tennyson's brook.

Mr. HELMS. If the Senator would yield, let me suggest we do something, just not sit here----

Mr. HELMS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. HELMS. As the saying goes, you probably will not love me in the morning. Mr. D'AMATO addressed the Chair.

Mr. HELMS. Mr. President, I will say to the Senator, I think maybe we ought to do something around here except sit around in quorum call with the threat of being here all night. I have two or three amendments I would like to offer. So I would go ahead with my amendment if the Senator from Connecticut and others on his side will permit me to do so.

Mr. HELMS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the D'Amato amendment be laid aside temporarily.

Mr. HELMS

Mr. HELMS. Mr. President, anyone even remotely familiar with the U.S. Constitution knows that no President can spend a dime of Federal tax money that has not first been authorized and appropriated by Congress-- both the House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate. So when you hear a politician or an editor or a commentator declare that ``Reagan ran up the Federal debt'' or that ``Bush ran it up,'' bear in mind that the Founding Fathers, two centuries before the Reagan and Bush Presidencies, made it very clear that it is the constitutional duty of Congress to control Federal spending. The fiscal irresponsibility of Congress has created a Federal debt which stood at $4,851,857,494,143.63 as of the close of business Wednesday, March 29. Averaged out, every man, woman, and child in America owes a share of this massive debt, and that per capita share is $18,417.06.

Mr. HELMS

Mr. HELMS. Mr. President, before contemplating today's bad news about the Federal debt, let's do that little pop quiz again: How many million dollars are in $1 trillion? When you arrive at an answer, bear in mind that it was Congress that ran up a debt now exceeding $4.8 trillion. To be exact, as of the close of business Tuesday, March 28, the total Federal debt--down to the penny--stood at $4,849,995,857,343.69-- meaning that every man, woman, and child in America now owes $18,410.67 computed on a per capita basis. Mr. President, again to answer the pop quiz question, How many million in a trillion? There are a million million in a trillion; and you can thank the U.S. Congress for the existing Federal debt exceeding $4.8 trillion.

Mr. HELMS

Mr. HELMS. Mr. President, a little more than a month from now, on April 30, 1995, in Willow Grove, PA, a gallant American will formally retire from the Army after nearly 31 years of extraordinary service to his country. His name is Walter Joseph Marm, but everyone knows him as Joe. For my part, I know and respect him for his willingness to lay down his life for his country. Many times, he almost did. Joe Marm is a part of the Helms Senate family due to his having had the good fortune to be married to the former Deborah Yelverton of North Carolina who served in our Washington office for 9 years. We were sad for us but glad for Debbie when she departed in 1987 to become the bride of Colonel Marm and move to Pennsylvania to be with him. Mr. President, Colonel Marm has earned so many medals and awards that it takes awhile to identify all of them. I'll start with the Congressional Medal of Honor and then return to it after I have identified some of the others in the chronological order in which Joe was awarded them: The Army Commendation Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster; the National Defense Service Medal, the Presidential Unit Citation, the Air Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, the Meritorious Service Medal with four Oak Leaf Clusters, the Purple Heart, the Bronze Star, the Ranger Tab, the Parachute Badge, the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Department of the Army Staff Officers Badge, the Cross of Gallantry with Palm, the Cross of Gallantry with Palm Unit Citation, the Republic of Vietnam Ground Campaign Unit Citation, the Vietnam Campaign Medal, the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Unit Citation, the Army Service Ribbon and the Vietnam Service Medal. And then, Mr. President, on December 19, 1966, Joe Marm was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor. Needless to say, Mr. President, all of us are proud of Col. Walter Joseph Marm. And I am personally delighted that he and Debbie may shortly move to North Carolina. His present responsibility with the Army is in Willow Grove, PA, where he serves as the Senior Army Adviser for the 79th Army Reserve Command. Mr. President, in honor of our friend, Col. Joe Marm, and as a matter of interest to all who peruse the Congressional Record, let me now read into the Record the text of the Congressional Medal of Honor awarded to Joe: The President of the United States in the name of the Congress takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to MARM, Walter Joseph, Jr. Rank and organization: First Lieutenant (then 2d Lt.), U.S. Army, Company A, 1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile). Place and date: Vicinity of Ia Drang Valley, Republic of Vietnam, 14 November 1965. Entered service at: Pittsburgh, Pa. Born: 20 November 1941, Washington, Pa. G.O. No.: 7, 15 February 1967. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty. As a platoon leader in the 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile), 1st Lt. Marm demonstrated indomitable courage during a combat operation. His company was moving through the valley to relieve a friendly unit surrounded by an enemy force of estimated regimental size. 1st Lt. Marm led his platoon through withering fire until they were finally forced to take cover. Realizing that his platoon could not hold very long, and seeing four enemy soldiers moving into his position, he moved quickly under heavy fire and annihilated all 4. Then, seeing that his platoon was receiving intense fire from a concealed machinegun, he deliberately exposed himself to draw its fire. Thus locating its position, he attempted to destroy it with an antitank weapon. Although he inflicted casualties, the weapon did not silence the enemy fire. Quickly, disregarding the intense fire directed on him and his platoon, he charged 30 meters across open ground, and hurled grenades into the enemy position, killing some of the 8 insurgents manning it. Although severely wounded, when his grenades were expended, armed with only a rifle, he continued the momentum of his assault on the position and killed the remainder of the enemy. 1st Lt. Marm's selfless actions reduced the fire on his platoon, broke the enemy assault, and rallied his unit to continue toward the accomplishment of this mission. 1st Lt. Marm's gallantry on the battlefield and his extraordinary intrepidity at the risk of his life are in the highest traditions of the U.S. Army and reflect great credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of his country.

Mr. HELMS

Mr. HELMS. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that we stand in recess so that Senators may greet our guests after which time we resume.

Mr. HELMS. Madam President, we have in the Chamber two distinguished guests, one a native of the United States, the Honorable King of Jordan, King Hussein, and his bride, Queen Noor. Recess

Mr. HELMS

Mr. HELMS. Mr. President, the enormous Federal debt, which has already soared into the stratosphere, is in about the same category as the weather: Everybody talks about it but almost nobody had undertaken to do anything about it--until, that is, immediately following the November elections. When the 104th Congress convened in January, the U.S. House of Representatives promptly approved a balanced budget amendment to the U.S. Constitution. And in the Senate, while all but one of the 54 Republicans supported the balanced budget amendment, only 13 Democrats supported it. Thus, the balanced budget amendment failed by one vote-- but there'll be another vote on it later this year or next year. This episode--the one-vote loss in the Senate--emphasizes the fact that too many politicians talk a good game, when they are back home, about bringing Federal deficits and the Federal debt under control. But then they come back to Washington and vote in support of bloated spending bills rolling through the Senate. As of the close of business yesterday, Monday, March 27, the Federal debt stood, down to the penny, at exactly $4,847,680,358,682.01. This debt, remember, was run up by the Congress of the United States. The Founding Fathers decreed that the big-spending bureaucrats in the executive branch of the U.S. Government must never be able to spend even a dime unless and until authorized and appropriated by the U.S. Congress. The U.S. Constitution is quite specific about that, as every schoolboy is supposed to know. So, don't be misled by politicians who falsely declare that the Federal debt was run up by some previous President. These passing-the- buck declarations are false because, as I said earlier, the Congress of the United States is the culprit. The Senate and the House of Representatives have been the big spenders for the better part of 50 years. Mr. President, most citizens cannot conceive of a billion of anything, let alone a trillion. It may provide a bit of perspective to bear in mind that a billion seconds ago, the Cuban missile crisis was in progress. A billion minutes ago, the crucifixion of Jesus Christ had occurred a few years previously. Which sort of puts it in perspective--does it not?--that it was Congress that ran up this incredible Federal debt totaling 4,847 of those billions--of dollars. In other words, the Federal debt, as I said earlier, stood this morning at 4 trillion, 847 billion, 680 million, 358 thousand, 682 dollars, and 1 cent. It'll be even greater at closing time today.

Mr. HELMS

Mr. HELMS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. HELMS

Mr. HELMS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate stand in recess for 5 minutes for the Members to come to the floor and pay their respects to the distinguished Prime Minister of New Zealand, Mr. James Bolger.

Mr. HELMS

Mr. HELMS. Mr. President, the impression simply will not go away; the enormous Federal debt greatly resembles the energizer bunny on television. The Federal debt keeps going and going and going--always at the expense, of course, of the American taxpayers. A lot of politicians talk a good game, when they go home to campaign about bringing Federal deficits and the Federal debt under control. But so many of these same politicians regularly voted for one bloated spending bill after another during the 103d Congress, which could have been a primary factor in the new configuration of U.S. Senators as a result of last November's elections. In any event, Mr. President, as of Friday, March 24, at the close of business, the total Federal debt stood--down to the penny--at exactly $4,846,988,457,046.59 or $18,399.25 per person. The lawyers have a Latin expression which they use frequently--``res ipra loquitur''--``the thing speaks for itself.'' Indeed it does.

Mr. HELMS

Mr. HELMS. Mr. President, as of the close of business yesterday, Thursday, March 23, the Federal debt stood at $4,845,959,175,160.98. On a per capita basis, every man, woman, and child in America owes $18,395.34 as his or her share of that debt.

Mr. HELMS

Mr. HELMS. Mr. President, anyone even remotely familiar with the U.S. Constitution knows that no President can spend a dime of Federal tax money that has not first been authorized and appropriated by both the House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate. So when you hear politicians or editors or commentators declare that ``Reagan ran up the Federal debt'' or that ``Bush ran it up,'' bear in mind that the Founding Fathers made it very clear that it is the constitutional duty of Congress to control Federal spending. The fiscal irresponsibility of Congress has created a Federal debt which stood at $4,844,512,611,537.49 as of the every man, woman, and child in America owes a share of this massive debt, and that per capita share is $18,389.85.

Mr. HELMS

Mr. HELMS. Mr. President, before contemplating today's bad news about the Federal debt, let's do that little pop quiz again. Today's question, again, is: How many million dollars are in $1 trillion? When you arrive at an answer, bear in mind that it was Congress that ran up a debt now exceeding $4.8 trillion. Now then, to be exact, as of the close of business yesterday, Tuesday, March 21, the total federal debt--down to the penny--stood at $4,843,694,087,008.02--meaning that every man, woman and child in America now owes $18,386.75 computed on a per capita basis. Mr. President, back to that pop quiz question, How many million in a trillion? There are a million million in a trillion; and you can thank the U.S. Congress for the monstrous Federal debt exceeding $4.8 trillion.

Mr. HELMS

Mr. HELMS. Mr. President, for the Committee on Foreign Relations, I also report favorably three nomination lists in the Foreign Service which were printed in full in the Congressional Record of January 11, 1995, and ask unanimous consent, to save the expense of reprinting on the Executive Calendar, that these nominations lie at the Secretary's desk for the information of Senators. The following-named persons of the agencies indicated for appointment as Foreign Service Officers of the classes stated, and also for the other appointments indicated herewith: For appointment as Foreign Service Officers of Class Two, Consular Officers and Secretaries in the Diplomatic Service of the United States of America: Department of State Luis E. Arreaga-Rodas, of Virginia For appointment as Foreign Service Officers of Class Three, Consular Officers and Secretaries in the Diplomatic Service of the United States of America: Department of Agriculture Jeanne F. Bailey, of the District of Columbia For appointment as Foreign Service Officers of Class Four, Consular Officers and Secretaries in the Diplomatic Service of the United States of America: Department of State Richard K. Bell, of Pennsylvania Robert Emilio Gianfranceschi, of Florida Steven Scott Giegerich, of New York Russell W. Jones, Jr., of Illinois Douglas David Jones, of Maryland Robert Pearce Kepner, of Pennsylvania Woo Chan Lee, of California Duke G. Lokka, of California Helen Osborne Lovejoy, of Virginia Marcus Robert John Micheli, of Connecticut Kimberly Haroz Murphy, of Texas Michael J. Murphy, of Virginia Christine M. Osage, of Virginia Thomas C. Pierce, of Oregon Debbie Lynn Potter, of Washington Christopher John Rowan, of Tennessee Leo Francis Voytko, Jr., of Virginia Robert B. Waldrop, of Illinois Amy P. Westling, of Wyoming Craig Michael White, of Virginia Elizabeth Moberly Wolfson, of Texas The following-named Members of the Foreign Service of the Departments of State and Commerce to be Consular Officers and/or Secretaries in the Diplomatic Service of the United States of America, as indicated: Consular Officers and Secretaries in the Diplomatic Service of the United States of America: John Lowell Armstrong, of Minnesota James L. Barnes, of the District of Columbia Sharon E. Betzner, of Virginia Deborah L. Bienstock, of Maryland David Mark Birdsey, of New Jersey Philip C. Bishop, of Virginia Robert Allan Blum, of Maryland Gary D. Brooks, of Virginia Darryl J. Carson, of Virginia Thomas Hartwell Carter, of New York Daniel L. Chase, of Virginia Ann Elizabeth Cody, of Virginia David L. Cornelius, of Maryland James M. Corr, of the District of Columbia Richard R. Craig, of Connecticut Glenda Cunningham, of Virginia Philippa L. DeRamus, of Virginia Eve M. Derrickson, of Maryland David J. Dolaher, Jr., of Virginia Katherine O'Brien Duffy, of South Carolina Kyle Mark Dunlap, of Virginia Joel Ehrendreich, of Wisconsin Silvia Eiriz, of New York Laura Evelyn Ewald, of Virginia Herbert Ford, of Virginia Thomas Fox, of Virginia Thomas P. Gallagher, of California Gregory Lawrence Garland, of Florida Nicholas Joseph Giacobbe, Jr., of Virginia Joseph Gionfriddo, of Virginia Gordon R. Goetz, of Virginia Christopher T. Griffin, of Virginia Ronald C. Hammond, Jr., of Virginia Keith A. Hansen, of Virginia Bonita G. Harris, of Texas Lawrence A. Hatch, of Virginia Patrick Michael Heffernan, of New Hampshire Kristi D. Hendricks, of Virginia Donald K. Hepburn, of Virginia G. Kathleen Hill, of Texas Alan Rand Holst, of Minnesota John W. Holton, Jr., of Virginia Howell Hoffman Howard III, of Washington Ty D. Hudson, of Virginia Clarence Edward Hunt, of Virginia Victor J. Huser, of Texas Marc C. Johnson, of the District of Columbia Joseph B. Kaesshaefer, of Florida Tina S. Kaidanow, of Virginia Thomas Alexander Kelsey, of Florida Peter Kiemel, of Virginia In Kuk Kim, of Virginia Jessica Erin Lapenn, of New York Dean LaRue, of Washington Timothy Kent Lattig, of Virginia Mark W. Libby, of Connecticut John David Lippeatt, of California Jennie S. Liston, of Virginia Bruce A. Lohof, of Montana Joe Bernard Lovejoy, Jr., of Texas Michael Peter Macy, of Wisconsin Larry W. Magnuson, M.D., of Virginia Joseph L. Malpica, of Virginia William L. Marshak, of Washington Stephen P. McKeon, of Virginia Elizabeth J. Mirabile, of Virginia Robert A. Montgomery, of Virginia John S. Moore, of Maryland Michael K. Morris, of Virginia Gerald Nau, of Virginia Phillip Roderick Nelson, of Virginia Elisha Edward Nyman, of Massachusetts Peter B. Nyren, of Virginia Mary J. Osborne, of Virginia Joyce Ann Park, of Virginia Benjamin Perez, Jr., of Virginia Patricia Ellen Perrin, of California Lynne G. Platt, of the District of Columbia Michael F. Podratsky, of Virginia Teresa St. Cin Podratsky, of Virginia Jennifer Austrian Post, of Virginia Timothy Joel Pounds, of Virginia David Matthew Purl, of Alaska Michael E. Quigley, of Delaware Joel Richard Reifman, of Texas Susan Longino Reinert, of California Judith D. Russ, of Maryland Mark M. Schlachter, of Nebraska Jeffery D. Schoeneck, of Virginia Mary Drake Scholl, of Oklahoma Robert Kenneth Scott, of Maryland Eric A. Shimp, of Iowa Paul S. Silberstein, of Maryland Fredric W. Stern, of California Robin D. Stern, of California Nan Forsyth Stewart, of Oregon Thomas P. Teifke, of Virginia Carolyn E. Tholan, of Virginia Donn-Allan G. Titus, of Florida Lynne M. Tracy, of Georgia John C. Vance, of Montana Kurt Frederick van der Walde, of Virginia Elizabeth Walsh, of Virginia William James Weissman, of California Mark Lawrence Wenig, of Alaska Edward A. White, of Georgia Burke Alan Wiest, of Virginia Anita D. Wilson, of Virginia Scott R. Wright, of Virginia Jeffrey A. Wuchenich, of the District of Columbia The following-named Career Members of the Senior foreign Service of the United States Information Agency for promotion in the Senior Foreign Service to the classes indicated: Career Members of the Senior Foreign Service of the United States of America, Class of Minister--Counselor: John Thomas Burns, of Florida Carl D. Howard, of Maryland Thomas Neil Hull III, of New Hampshire William Henry Maurer, Jr., of Virginia Robert E. McCarthy, of Virginia Marjorie Ann Ransom, of the District of Columbia Stanley N. Schrager, of Virginia The following-named Career Members of the Foreign Service of the United States Information Agency for promotion into the Senior Foreign Service as indicated: Career Members of the Senior Foreign Service of the United States of America, Class of Counselor: Michael Hugh Anderson, of Minnesota William R. Barr, of Maryland James L. Bullock, of Texas Anne M. Chermak, of California Patrick J. Corcoran, of Virginia Donna Millons Culpepper, of Virginia Albert W. Dalgliesh, Jr., of Michigan Carol Doerflein, of Florida John Davis Hamill, of Ohio Hugh H. Hara, of Maryland Joe B. Johnson, of Texas Katherine Inez Lee, of California Jack Richard McCreary, of California Lois Winner Mervyn, of Arizona William M. Morgan, of California Eugene A. Nojek, of Virginia Helen B. Picard, of Virginia Stephen R. Rounds, of New Hampshire Craig Butler Springer, of Connecticut Louise Taylor, of Virginia Francis B. Ward III, of Virginia Van S. Wunder III, of Florida The following-named Career Members of the Senior Foreign Service of the Department of Agriculture for promotion in the Senior Foreign Service to the classes indicated: Career Member of the Senior Foreign Service of the United States of America, Class of Career Minister: Christopher E. Goldthwait, of New York Career Members of the Senior Foreign Service of the United States of America, Class of Minister-Counselor: Franklin D. Lee, of Virginia Richard T. McDonnell, of Virginia The following-named Career Member of the Foreign Service of the Department of Agriculture for promotion into the Senior Foreign Service to the class indicated: Career Member of the Senior Foreign Service of the United States of America, Class of Counselor: William L. Brant II, of Oklahoma (The above nominations were reported with the recommendation that they be confirmed, subject to the nominees' commitment to respond to requests to appear and testify before any duly constituted committee of the Senate.)