Walter Jones

Mr. JONES

Mr. JONES. I appreciate that, Mr. Chabot, and I am delighted to take just a couple of minutes to add to what the gentleman from Ohio, Mr. Chabot, said, and I am sure that the gentleman from the State of Washington, Mr. Tate, will also join in. I think the Contract With America set a new direction for campaigns in this country, because for the first time in memory we had a political party that said, we will put into writing what we are willing to do if you give us the privilege and the honor to become the majority in the U.S. House of Representatives. As the gentleman said, we promised the American people that we would get 10 major items to the floor of the House for debate and a vote. I want to remind those that are watching tonight that the 10 items came from extensive polling nationally by the Republican party to find out what issues were at the foremost on the American citizen's minds, and certainly there are more concerns than just these 10. The majority felt that these 10 items must be addressed, and I will just touch on 2 or 3 and let the gentleman from Washington [Mr. Tate] touch on a few others, and then the gentleman from Ohio [Mr. Chabot]. Mr. Speaker, obviously, balancing the budget and a line-item veto for the President were two of the issues that the majority of the people said we must deal with; especially balancing the budget. The budget today is about $4.9 trillion in debt. That is growing by the moment. We are talking about a child born this year in our country, the first breath he or she takes as a newborn, they owe $187,000 in taxes, and that is because the Congress has not been responsible in trying to balance the budget. So the Republican Party, the new majority promised in the Contract With America that, if elected, the majority would, by the year 2002, have a balanced budget. That means we would be the first Congress in about 23 or 24 years that would balance the budget. That does not mean we get to a zero debt. We need to balance the budget every year for the next 25 years after 2002 to get a zero debt, but that is the importance of having a balanced budget amendment. We passed a balanced budget amendment on the floor of the House, and we did have help from conservative Democrats that joined us, meaning the Republican majority, to pass the balanced budget amendment. Mr. Speaker, as you know, it is still over on the Senate side. They seem to be one vote short, and we certainly hope that they will come up with that one vote, because I think it is absolutely necessary, as do the American people, that we have a balanced budget amendment.

Mr. JONES. Mr. Speaker, the gentleman from Ohio [Mr. Chabot] will be joining us, and also the gentleman from Washington [Mr. Tate], and we look forward to an hour of trying to give accurate information to those that might be viewing this 1 hour. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Ohio [Mr. Chabot].

Mr. JONES. Would you clarify, you or Mr. Tate, for those that might be watching that the tax cuts that have been proposed, $245 billion in tax cuts for working families are more than offset by reductions in savings in Government spending over the next 7 years excluding, excluding Medicare and Medicaid?

Mr. JONES. Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask the gentleman from Washington because in this display of distortion by the other side, and again not talking about every individual, but talking about the--those of a very liberal nature that are not willing to address this every serious problem facing Medicare in the future. Congressman Tate, is it not true that the other side has been running some very distorted, unfair ads in your district pointed at you?

Mr. JONES

Mr. JONES. Mr. Speaker, for decades Medicare has been a vital program that has helped millions of Americans get the medical care they need. Now, the Republicans in Congress are working for an even stronger Medicare system. The Democrats, on the other hand, are only offering scare tactics. Here are the facts: Under the Republican plan, Medicare spending per beneficiary will increase from $4,800 today to $6,700 in the year 2002. Mr. Speaker, there are no cuts. We are working on a plan to save Medicare from bankruptcy, while increasing benefits for the seniors of America. Mr. Speaker, this is one of the most important issues that Congress will face this year. Where are the Democrats? The Republicans in Congress have recognized this fact and have chosen to tackle the problem head on. It is our goal that Medicare remains strong for today's seniors and for generations to come.

Mr. JONES

Mr. JONES. Mr. Speaker, investment of pension funds into economically targeted investments, or ETI's, is another questionable plan advocated by the Clinton administration to get its hands on more of the citizens' hard-earned money. This policy would divert pension funds away from financially sound investments into politically correct investments. The Democrats have absolutely no plan to save Medicare from bankruptcy and now the administration wants to jeopardize the hard- earned pensions of millions of American seniors and at the American people's financial expense, $1 [[Page H 8731]] million for the clearinghouse to promote these risky, low-return investments. Mr. Speaker, it seems the administration is more interested in putting high-priced programs first and the welfare of America's retirees second. We must stop the Clinton pension grab by passing the Pension Protection Act of 1995.

Mr. JONES

Mr. JONES. If the gentleman will yield for one moment, I used a chart that showed that each year there was an estimate, that each year fraud, waste and abuse amounted to $44 billion a year charged to the Medicare Trust Fund, and that is exactly the example of what you just gave. I did find my seniors, quite frankly, they had examples that applied to them as individuals or friends or family members. So there definitely is waste, fraud and abuse that we as the new Republican majority, we are going to deal with that problem and try to reduce and eliminate. So I appreciate your sharing that with us.

Mr. JONES. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to tell the viewers that the gentleman from Arizona was originally from North Carolina. We are delighted to see him in the United States Congress. Just to point on a point that you made, and many fine points that you made, is that the concern about welfare is a concern by all Americans, no matter what race the individual is. Because they fully understand, and I heard this back to the gentleman from Ohio during my travels in my district, from all good Americans that we have a system that, again, needs serious reform for the future of this country. I think you and the gentleman from Illinois and the gentleman from Arizona remember Bill Bennett appearing before our Republican Conference prior to the vote on welfare reform. He made a very passionate speech and told the conference that he was Catholic, he was pro-life, he was pro-family, but if [[Page H 8680]] we did not deal with a very strong welfare reform bill, that our society was in deep, deep trouble. So, again, I am pleased to add to my good friend from Arizona that we, the House, the Republican majority, join with many conservative Democrats, have passed a very, very fine, tough welfare reform bill.

Mr. JONES. The gentleman from Illinois is absolutely right, both you gentlemen and the gentleman from Ohio and that is what the last election was all about. The American people said enough government is enough. Enough taxation is enough. The gentleman from Arizona mentioned while ago, and I want to reiterate this because I do not think it can be said enough. The average working family in America will spend more on paying taxes than that same average American working family will spend on clothing, housing, and food combined. How can you hope [[Page H 8681]] to achieve the American dream for your family when you have got a government that overregulates, with excessive taxation and does not give the family the opportunity to work hard and to grow and to become part of the American dream? Everything you are saying, I agree with. The nice thing about our frustration is that the American people last November showed their frustration by changing the U.S. House of Representatives, and we have a chance to bring a brighter future and to build a better American.

Mr. JONES. If the gentleman will yield, you talked about the balanced budget, talking about the President and the budget we are going to submit. Is it not true, and please correct me if I am wrong, obviously we are working toward balancing the budget for the year 2002. But to get to a zero debt, a zero debt, we must balance the budget every year for the next 25 years from the year 2002 and forward for 25 years, is that not correct?

Mr. JONES. We are getting close to the end. I just want to make this statement. What I was pleased with, I have been saying this and many of you here tonight, that this whole Congress is about the next generation, not the next election. I can honestly tell you that the people in my district, the Third District of North Carolina, are pleased to know that they have men and women that are committed to doing what is right to get this Nation straight for our next generation. I am proud to be part of the ladies and gentlemen that serve in this House.

Mr. JONES of North Carolina

Mr. JONES of North Carolina. Well, pretty much the same thing Ron was talking about. As you know, I am delighted to be reminded that your wonderful mother is from Charlotte, NC, a great city in our [[Page H 8677]] State of North Carolina. I happen to have the eastern part of the State which actually I have the coastal areas. I have 19 counties, and I had the privilege to be in 15 of the 19 counties. I actually worked all but 3 days during the recess, so it gave me an opportunity to do numerous radio shows and speak in the civic clubs, speak in the senior citizens groups, church groups, and really getting out among the people to listen to the people, and, pretty much what the gentleman from Kentucky said, I found the majority of people are relatively positive about what the new Congress is doing because, as my colleague said, we are following through on our promise to the American people during the campaign, and it is a promise that we kept with the American people starting with the first 100 days in the Contract With America. As my colleague said, the majority of comments I heard about the major issues that we are dealing with is first to balance the budget. During my presentation, it always started with what a $4.9 trillion debt does for our children and the fact that a child born in 1995, he or she, if they live to be 75, owes $187,000; that is their tax responsibility just to pay the interest on the debt if we do not balance the budget. So, I was very pleased to start the discussion off with the fact that we are talking about the future of our children, or maybe the lack of a future, and then I closed by talking about Medicare, wanting the people to know that we have a serious problem which was acknowledged by the Medicare trustees and that by the year 2002 the Medicare trust fund would be bankrupt. The other side, primarily the liberals, keep saying that we keep attacking the Republicans' side, and yet I am pleased to tell you, my colleagues, tonight that the majority of people that I spoke to sincerely understand that we, the new Republican majority, are committed to preserving and protecting the Medicare trust fund for our senior citizens. So, I can honestly tell you that, like my colleague, I was very pleased and very humbled by the confidence that the majority of people in my district feel toward this new majority that we will do what is necessary to tackle some of the most serious problems facing our Nation, trying to find a solution to those problems. So I can honestly tell you that I was well received, not just me, but this new Republican majority, and the people, we are helping to rebuild the trust that I think so many thought America had lost in elected officials because, as my colleague said, we are keeping our promise to the American people, and they know that we are very serious about trying to find solutions to very difficult problems. So I am pleased to tell you tonight that right now I believe that the American people have more confidence in this new Republican majority than they have had in a Congress in a long time.

Mr. JONES

Mr. JONES. If the gentleman will yield for a moment, I am glad you brought that subject up, because in addition to balanced budget and Medicare and tax reform, and I want to touch on that in a few minutes, welfare reform, I heard that consistently in the radio shows and speaking to different groups and town meetings, that people were pleased with what the U.S. House of Representatives, led by the Republican Party, did to come out with a tough welfare reform bill, and they hoped that the other side will follow suit. You are absolutely right that it is a tremendous problem. It has been a system that has perpetuated people being dependent on the system, instead of a system to help people get off the system and become productive citizens. I appreciate the gentleman bringing that up.

Mr. JONES

Mr. JONES. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of the Markey-Burton amendment. Mr. Chairman, during my campaign for the U.S. Congress many parents shared their concerns and disgust with the high level of sex and violence on TV. These parents are frustrated because producers of TV shows do not seem to care about what our children watch. Last fall, when the new TV shows were announced, a town in my district held a church parent ralley because of the sex and violence in the fall shows. Five hundred men and women marched that day. I ask my colleagues, ``Don't you think it is time that we give parents the authority they need to say what and when their children watch TV and what type of programs?'' The Markey-Burton amendment meets all the constitutional questions, and, most important, it is pro-family. Let us give the choice to the parents.

Mr. JONES

Mr. JONES. Mr. Speaker, day after day, the Democrats continue to play games. They are denying the underlining factor that our senior citizens need a helping hand. While seniors fear the bankruptcy of Medicare. The Democrats are threatening to ruin the pensions of hardworking Americans. We will not use these political games and scare tactics. Instead, we will protect, preserve and improve Medicare for the American people. Our goal is to ensure Medicare for another 30 years and beyond. We will streamline and weed out the waste and abuse of this bloated system. In doing so, spending for Medicare will increase. Let me rephrase that--Medicare will not be cut! It will continue to be the fastest growing program. Spending per senior will increase from $4,800 today to more than $6,700 in 2002. Let us solve the matters at hand instead of making excuses. We must work for the people who made this country great.

Mr. JONES

Mr. JONES. I thank the gentleman from Illinois. I am delighted to be part of your program tonight. I also serve on the Ag task force. I am not on the Committee on Agriculture, even though in my third district of North Carolina agriculture is extremely important, from tobacco, which we grow more tobacco in my district than anywhere in the world, hog farming, turkey farming, corn, peanuts, not to the degree of the gentleman from Georgia. All of this is very important to my district. I appreciate having the opportunity as you know, with the Durbin amendment, I guess our colleague from Illinois, that I think took a shot, if you will, at tobacco farmers. I just wanted to give you tonight some brief information on my district and my State, because, as you said, so many people throughout America are just not as informed as I think they should be about the tobacco program as it is and also what it means to this Nation. Most of us from North Carolina feel very strongly that youth, people 18 years and younger, should not be smoking cigarettes, and there is a State law that prevents that from happening. But we do feel adults, those 18 years and older, it is their constitutional right to make a decision whether they want to smoke or not. I do not smoke cigarettes. I do not have any tobacco allotments. But my wife does smoke, and that is her privilege. But what we feel that this really is coming down to is a constitutional right, if you will, for an individual to make that decision whether he or she wants to smoke. Let me tell you just a few facts about my district and my State, and then after the gentleman from Georgia speaks, I will be glad to answer any questions from you. In my district alone, which are 19 counties, there are 11,500 tobacco farms in my district, in 19 counties. The average tobacco farmer in my district farms less than 4 acres, so hardly can he or she be considered a corporate entity, if you will. The small tobacco farmer also contributes more than $30 million annually in various assessments. Tobacco growing requires about 250 man-hours of labor per acre harvested. Let me repeat that real quickly, 250 man-hours of labor per acre harvested. By comparison, it takes about 3 man-hours to grow and harvest an acre of wheat. The local and State taxes levied on the tobacco farmer, which accounts for $250 million in North Carolina, is used to make improvements to infrastructure, schools, community projects, churches, that again we are just talking about my district alone. Again, remember, this is a freedom-of-choice issue with the individual that would like to smoke, the adult male or female. In the State of North Carolina, the tobacco industry is one of the most significant economic forces in our State. The State leads the Nation in growing tobacco, warehousing, manufacturing, wholesale, triad of tobacco and tobacco products. The State employs, these are tobacco workers now, to the gentleman from Illinois, 154,713 individuals that are employed that work in tobacco at an estimate of $1.6 billion. Also, in addition to the 154,000 people that work directly with tobacco, we have 260,000 people that have tobacco-related employment that earn a total of $5.8 billion. More specifically, one in 12 people are employed by the tobacco industry in the State of North Carolina. So if you look at what the FDA Director, Dr. Kessler, and I say loosely, and I will talk about that a little bit later, if you will, that wants to classify nicotine as a drug, which we think he is way out of bounds on that, in that position, when I share those numbers with the people that are employed and what it means in salaries and revenue, the tobacco industry in North Carolina alone contributes $2.7 billion annually to the Federal Government in tax revenue, an additional $582 million to the State of North Carolina. Just a couple of other points, then I will be glad to yield to the gentleman from Georgia. Let us talk about the Federal Government and what the tobacco industry and growers in my district in the South mean to the United States Government. In 1994 the Federal excise on cigarettes grossed a total tax of $5.7 billion. Federal, State, and local taxes on cigarettes in the year 1994 amounted to nearly $12.5 billion or $49 per man, woman, and child. That is a great deal of money. Every year, the Federal Government counts on $25.9 billion in tobacco-related revenues, compared to the approximately $16 billion it costs the USDA to administer the program. The reason I share those figures with you and the gentleman from Georgia, which you both know, to begin with is that so many times the citizens of this United States do not realize what the tobacco industry means to the Federal Government. Quite frankly, in this era of budget cutting, as we should be doing, and I am a new freshman Member, as you well know, and I support all the budget cuts, how in the world would we make up $25.9 billion in revenues that are generated by the tobacco industry? Would it go back to the taxpayer? I think the taxpayers would not like that at all. So, in closing, and I look forward to talking a little bit later about the FDA and their regulations and how they, Mr. Kessler and the Clinton administration, are turning on nicotine, trying to designate it or classify it as a drug, which we think it should not be, and how they are dropping the ball, meaning taking 14 years to approve a pharmaceutical company that is trying to develop a drug that is trying to save someone's life. I hope the gentleman from Illinois will pick this up a little bit later, but I am delighted to have a few minutes to share some of these facts with the individuals that might be watching us tonight to let them know that tobacco is a freedom-of-choice issue for the adult that would like to smoke, and what it does in generating revenues for the Federal Government, State and local governments.

Mr. JONES. -I thank the gentleman from Illinois for yielding. Mr. Speaker, just very quickly, I wanted to repeat one figure I shared early on. The USDA spends $16 million to administer and oversee the tobacco program, which, again, is a no net cost program. That $16 million, I would mention to the gentleman from Illinois and Georgia, brings back in the way of revenues $25.9 billion. You gentlemen are very smart, good businessmen, Do not know anywhere where you can invest $16 million and you can bring back $29.9 million? I would buy that opportunity every day.

Mr. JONES. Mr. Speaker, I would relate to the gentlemen from Georgia and Illinois a little story. About 2 years ago a good friend of mine, who is the President of a community college in North Carolina, had a situation develop, because about 6 or 8 years ago the environmentalists come down and designated or said that there are cockaded readheaded woodpeckers in a group of pie trees on this community college campus. In 1992-93, obviously, again, I am going back six years ago when they told the President of the college that you have this cockaded readheaded woodpecker, and some of us have trouble saying that, in some of your trees, well, the college was growing and they had determined that they needed to clear some land to put up a new school building on campus. They cut down pine trees. This gentleman is a farmer by trade. Again, he is president of a community college. I do not know of anyone who cares more about family and land than this individual. It happened a nest of the cockaded readheaded woodpeckers in one tree was cut down, and I would advise the gentleman from Georgia and Illinois, that my friend was fined $100,000 because that one tree went down with that nest in it. Again, that is why the people, not only farmers, but the people are looking for some fairness and balance in these rules and regulations. That is just one example. I am sure you will have many more.

Mr. JONES. Would the gentleman from Georgia yield for a moment?

Mr. JONES. If the gentleman would yield a moment, I will be glad to share with you that 60 percent of my district, which again is the third district of North Carolina, is considered wetland, 60 percent. We held a congressional hearing about 4 months ago down in my district, Congressman Pombo from California and the members of the committee, and I also serve on that committee. We had a public hearing, and I will never forget the story of one farmer. There are many stories I would like to share with you, but because of time I will share this one with you. A young farmer who was probably in his late 30s had inherited farmland from his father and grandfather. He had been farming that property up until about 6 years ago. Then, all of a sudden, from the bureaucracy, they determined that part of that farmland was wetlands. So he does not farm any more. He cannot afford to. He made a very compelling presentation to the committee. You are absolutely right, the Endangered Species Act, the Wetlands Act, all of these regulations have gone too far, and all that this new majority is trying to do, which I am delighted, as you two gentlemen are, to be part of this new majority, is to find some middle ground, some balance. I do not know anyone in our party that is not concerned by what is truly, I use that word truly, an endangered species or wetland. But we have seen the extremists go too far and we are trying to bring it back to a balance, and I can assure the gentleman from Illinois and the gentleman from Georgia that the farmers in my district are extremely pleased to see this new majority deal with these issues and try to find some fairness.

Mr. JONES

Mr. JONES. Madam Speaker, because President Clinton knows that he will never have the support of the Republican Congress to raise taxes, in order to fund his social projects and handouts, he is dipping into the $3.5 trillion in private pension funds. The Clinton administration and his Department of Labor are encouraging pension fund managers all over the country to invest in economically targeted investments, or ETI's. ETI's are the administration's new scheme for harnessing private pension funds for social investment projects. The American people should be able to sleep at night knowing that their retirement money is invested to give them the safest and most lucrative return possible. Their retirement money should not be improperly risked in ETI's. Madam Speaker, we must keep the Clinton administration's hands off America's pensions.

Mr. JONES

Mr. JONES. Mr. Chairman, I rise tonight in opposition to the Durbin amendment. The denial of extension services and Federal crop insurance will destroy the family farmer and the economy of rural America. In my State of North Carolina alone, the production of tobacco employs approximately 260,000 people; more specifically, one in 12 people have a tobacco-related job. Every year the Federal Government counts on $25.9 billion in tobacco- related revenues, compared to the approximately $16 million in costs to USDA to administer the program, quite a return for the Federal Government. Mr. Chairman, I would like to ask my fellow Members, who will shoulder the revenue loss? The taxpayer? I think not. In this time of budget cuts, we need to think twice before attacking the very heart of an industry that gives back so much to this country. Mr. Chairman, I ask Members to vote no on the Durbin amendment.

Mr. JONES

Mr. JONES. Mr. Speaker, we, the Republican majority, are committed to preserving, protecting, and improving the Medicare system. However, the other side continues to play the political games and ignores the writing on the wall. The Clinton Medicare trustees stated that the program will be bankrupt by the 2002. The fact that the system is going bankrupt makes our efforts more important than ever before. Our plan gives States the flexibility needed to design effective, innovative health programs tailored to meet the special needs of individual citizens. We will not cut the Medicare Program, instead our proposal includes a spending increase of $340 billion over the next 7 years--a 34-percent increase in Medicare spending per retiree. We will clean up the waste and inefficiency in the system and provide an improved system for current and future generations. Bottom line, we stand for change, the Democrats stand for the status quo.

Mr. JONES

Mr. JONES. Mr. Speaker, it is clear that Bill Clinton and Dr. Kessler at the FDA did not get the message of the November 8th elections. The American people do not want more regulations and more government in their lives. They want far less intrusion and far less regulation. This latest attempt by the administration to destroy the tobacco industry, through a regulatory power grab, is unprecedented and unwarranted. It is ironic to me, that the Clinton administration wants to classify nicotine as a drug. I think the administration should spend their time and money fighting the illegal drug trade, that is destroying this country instead of being so concerned about a legal product which has been used since the founding of this country. The Federal Government has consistently used tobacco as their whipping boy, first trying to finance their big government health care plan on the backs of tobacco and now by trying to regulate them to death. Let me make it clear, no tobacco farmer or tobacco company is encouraging young people to smoke. As a matter of fact the tobacco industry has established programs to encourage young people not to smoke. In many States, it is illegal to sell cigarettes to minors. The Clinton administration view is that they know what is best for the American people. They believe that Government has an obligation to be our big brother. This is big brother at its worst. What next, prohibition of alcohol, caffeine, chocolate? Ladies and gentlemen, adults over 18 make responsible decisions on caffeine, tobacco, and alcohol every day. The Government has no business in those decisions and the FDA and Commissioner have no authority to classify nicotine as a drug. The courts have consistently stated that the FDA has no authority to regulate cigarettes and it is time that Kessler end this witch hunt on the tobacco industry and the tobacco farmer. If Bill Clinton and Dr. Kessler had ever held a real job, they would understand the struggle that family farmers face. They would understand that the tobacco farmer has to fight the elements and that most farmers work within a small financial margin. Congress has already levied numerous taxes on tobacco making the farmers' life even more difficult and his ability to make a profit even slimmer. Again, I call on the administration to stop the witch hunt of the tobacco industry and tobacco farmers and get on with the business of downsizing Government, reducing the debt, and implementing the mandate of the November 8th elections.

Mr. JONES

Mr. JONES. Mr. Chairman, I would ask the gentleman, can he assure me that a vote for this bill will in no way undermine the position of those who are opposed to the exploration of the so-called Manteo Unit?