Debbie Stabenow

Ms. STABENOW

Ms. STABENOW. It is not fair, and one of the reasons I am proud to support the Democrat plan is that we fulfill the commitment of giving over $35 billion; I believe it is over $40 billion, to education- related tax relief so anyone going to school can further their education to get a good job, and that graduate student will not actually see a tax increase. It is amazing to me that as we are talking about tax cuts today that for too many of my constituents they are going to see an actual tax increase, and I am not going to support a tax increase on those folks.

Ms. STABENOW. Mr. Chairman, I appreciate my friend from California yielding to me regarding the issue of graduate students because there is an important difference between the Democratic and Republican plan. As we know, in the Republican plan they take away what is now tuition tax relief. If someone is a graduate student, and I received a number of letters from Michigan State University graduate students in my district indicating that they are receiving right now about $15,000 in salary for teaching graduate courses, and that is in addition to some relief that they get by being given tuition, free tuition, in order to be able to go to school, the Republican plan would now tax that tuition that they are given as part of their salaries. And so my $15,000 graduate student that is working their way through school will add $1,000 to their tax bill. That is a huge tax cut, $1,000 on a $15,000 salary. The other piece that is so important about the Democratic plan----

Ms. STABENOW. Mr. Chairman, will the gentleman yield?

Ms. STABENOW

Ms. STABENOW. Mr. Speaker, I think it is important for people that are watching today, it gets very confusing when we are talking about a lot of different statistics about where the tax relief goes. The reality is that in this, in the Republican proposal, we are talking about the top 5 percent of Americans who make $250,000 or more. That is what we are talking about in terms of where the bulk of the tax relief goes.

Ms. STABENOW. Not only that, he probably is investing in a home. Most middle class Americans are investing in savings through equity in their homes, and we want to make sure they are getting the tax breaks; that when you talk about capital gains tax cuts, that he is going to get protected when he sells his home; if he wants to send his kids to college, he is going to get the maximum tax break, and that if he goes on to invest in a small business at some point, he is again going to get a maximum tax break.

Ms. STABENOW. Mr. Speaker, I find it humorous, as a new Member coming in in January from Michigan, to hear the word ``liberal'' thrown around all the time. I want Members to know that for someone coming from Michigan who was in the State Senate, I sponsored the State's largest property tax cut as a Democrat. I understand what middle-class tax cuts look like and feel like. This is not it. As the gentleman knows, we are talking about what we want to see happen for average folks, to put money in their pocket, to send their kids to school, pay for child care, be able to get a tax break when they sell their home, be able to get a tax break on their small business, if someone passes away, be able to get a tax break on their family-owned business and their family-owned farm. What we are talking about here is how we make sure that the majority of the dollars that keep this country going, to create jobs, go directly into the pockets of middle class Americans. Is that not what we are talking about?

Ms. STABENOW. Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield?

Ms. STABENOW. Mr. Speaker, if I might just continue in talking about fairness, when we each do our taxes, we use tax deductions. What the Republican plan is saying is if one gets one tax deduction, one cannot get the $500 children's tax credit; but yet if one makes three times that salary and one gets a lot of different tax deductions, one gets the $500. That makes absolutely no sense. For those on the upper end who get lots of tax deductions, they ought to be treated the same, or the folks at the low end who ought to get a couple breaks ought to get the same benefit of the $500.

Ms. STABENOW. Mr. Speaker, will the gentlewoman yield?

Ms. STABENOW. Mr. Speaker, if I could just add to that, that police officer making $23,000 is getting a tax benefit through something called earned income tax credit. The Republican plan is saying, if one is getting one tax deduction, one cannot get a second, meaning the $500 children's tax credit as we see it.

Ms. STABENOW. Mr. Speaker, will the gentlewoman yield?

Ms. STABENOW

Ms. STABENOW. Mr. Speaker, I rise having voted for the balanced budget agreement and I intend to support a balanced budget agreement on spending and tax cuts that reflects that agreement. Unfortunately, that is not what we have in front of us today. There are good provisions, there has been good work done, and description has been made of bipartisan efforts in the area of Medicare and other important areas where work had been done and been done well. But this reminds me of the flood bill that was in front of us not long ago where we set down a road to solve a problem, to help people who had been afflicted by floods, and there was good work in the bill. Then piece after piece other things that were added that had nothing to do with the flood bill slowed down the process and almost stopped our ability to achieve the goal. We have today something in front of us that has all kinds of extra provisions in it that were not in the balanced budget agreement. They take away from our ability to step forward and meet that agreement, and they do not include those things that were promised in that agreement such as making sure that children of working families, 5 million children, have adequate health care. But they do include all kinds of other provisions that have been thrown in and all kinds of other subjects. So once again the public expects us to step up and solve the problem and to work together, and then one after another things get thrown in, and we are right back to where we started from without having the support needed to be able to solve the problem. In voting ``no'' today I am very hopeful that a message will be sent to those working in the conference committee to take out those things that were not part of the balanced budget agreement, make sure that the provisions that are in there make sense for families, and then let us in a bipartisan way do what it is the American people ask us to do.

Ms. STABENOW

Ms. STABENOW. Mr. Speaker, I rise also to strongly support the middle-class working families of my district in Michigan getting a tax cut at the end of this week. When all is said and done and we have debated fully the question of who should receive tax relief this week, my vote will be with the middle-class working families in my district. Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased as a new Member from Michigan to have been a part of this historic balanced budget agreement, and in that agreement we carved out a net $85 billion to be given in tax relief. The question now before us is where that goes. While we came together in a bipartisan way on the issue of balancing the budget, we now see great philosophical differences as to where to put tax relief. This is where the big split in terms of vision between the parties comes. The Republicans voted a bill out of committee that targets the relief, the majority of the relief, to those receiving more than $250,000 a year with the outdated notion that, if you give to the wealthy, it will trickle down to all of us. That happened in the 1980's and did not work. The policies of the 1990's under President Clinton have been to focus dollars directly into the pockets of middle-class workers and those who are working hard to get into the middle class, and I truly believe that is how we provide economic stimulus in the country and that is how we make sure that those who need tax relief receive it. Mr. Speaker, the people in my district would like some tax relief help in sending their children to college. They want to make sure once they are there, they are not penalized; that they can protect the equity in their home and, if they sell it, they will not be taxed. They are concerned about child care for their children, that they receive some help for child care; that if they have a small business that they have worked all their life for, that the capital gains relief will be targeted to small businesses; and, if they pass away, that the estate tax relief will be targeted to small businesses, family-owned businesses and family-owned farms. Mr. Speaker, I want very much to take that tax relief and put it directly in the pockets of people who are working hard to care for their families, working hard for a good quality of life and people who have worked hard all of their lives to contribute to create jobs in the community and to contribute to a business or a family-owned farm. That is the way we will keep this economy in America going. If we do not have a strong middle class, we will not have a strong economy. The people in my district are tired of seeing the majority of tax breaks go to those at the top. People working hard every day deserve tax relief, and I am going to be fighting all this week to help make sure that they are the ones that receive it.

Ms. STABENOW

Ms. STABENOW. Mr. Chairman, I would first like to commend those who are sponsoring this amendment on both sides of the aisle for their good work, and I rise to support the amendment and urge that this is just the first step of some very important efforts that we need to bring together in a bipartisan basis on behalf of those who served us in the gulf war and have come back and are now suffering as a result of what happened to them there. According to the Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs, more than 70,000 veterans out of the 697,000 who served in the gulf have reported persistent illnesses. Seventy-four percent of them were turned down for disability coverage because doctors say they either have no visible illness or cannot show their ailments are related to the gulf war. Thousands of veterans are suffering from illness as a result of chemical exposure during the Persian Gulf conflict and they cannot get the medical care that they need. They cannot even get recognition of their problem, recognition of a problem that they did not create, and it is incredibly important that this recognition be given to them. In my own Eighth District in Michigan, Tom and Nancy Burnett have been fighting to save their son Scott, who is a gulf war veteran. The Burnetts were proud when Scott decided to enlist in the Army in 1988. As a member of the 101st Airborne Division, he served for 6 months in Saudi Arabia. Since returning from the gulf, Scott has experienced intestinal problems, headaches, muscle and joint pains, shortness of breath, eye problems, night sweats, reoccurring illnesses, and congestive heart failure. And this was a healthy young man when he served our country. In October 1995, Scott was diagnosed with double pneumonia. While he was in the hospital, the doctors discovered that his heart was functioning at only 10 to 20 percent of its normal capacity and the doctors thought that a heart transplant was his only chance of survival. In their desperation to save their son's life, the Burnetts launched an intensive fact-finding mission. They contacted everyone they could think of to find out what Scott had been exposed to during his time in the gulf. They found one doctor at a private hospital who had been researching the illness of gulf war veterans, and he was able to evaluate Scott's case. This doctor thought that an antibiotic, doxycylene, could help heal Scott's heart. After a month of taking this drug, Scott Burnett's heart function had increased to 39 percent. He had been told that a heart transplant was his only hope, but, in truth, a simple antibiotic was the answer. As a gulf war veteran in the United States, if you get sick, your best and sometimes only hope is that you and your family can contact enough people and do enough research on your own to discover the best course of treatment. In testimony presented to the Presidential Advisory Committee on Gulf War Illness in 1996, Mr. Burnett said, ``If my son Scott had been aware of the problems that had been known to exist for several years, he would have sought more aggressive treatment prior to his pneumonia and he would not have had the problems that he has today.'' Scott's main health problems are idiopathic cardiomyopathy and congestive heart failure and problems with his immune system, which are incredibly serious. These problems are rare in the general population, and especially rare for someone his age. Scott Burnett went into the Army as a healthy young man, and left 4 years later as a seriously and chronically ill veteran. This amendment is long overdue. It is a first step in recognizing and treating the illnesses that our gulf war veterans are suffering. However, it is not enough. The National Commander of the American Legion says: Plans to create a new Gulf War illness czar will not help disabled Gulf War veterans one bit. They need medical care, not a running debate in Washington. We need to help these veterans and their families who are suffering. This amendment is a good first step, but it is only a first step. They need help now.

Ms. STABENOW. Mr. Chairman, I just want to associate myself with the comments that were just made. I understand that things are happening and that hearings have been held, but it has been 6 years, and for Tom and his son Scott, that has been 6 years of agony. I am concerned about having a sense of urgency that when the day is done we will have done something that touched their lives and has made it better.

Ms. STABENOW. Mr. Chairman, will the gentleman yield?

Ms. STABENOW. Mr. Chairman, reclaiming my time, this is what is so important about this issue. First, we have to acknowledge it happened and make sure people are being diagnosed and treated for what is actually occurring to them, because we cannot begin to help them get the treatment they need unless we own up to the fact it happened.

Ms. STABENOW. I yield to the gentleman from Washington.

Ms. STABENOW

Ms. STABENOW. Mr. Speaker, I first would indicate that I did not serve with Congressman Emerson. I have served with the gentlewoman from Missouri [Mrs. Emerson]. And if he is half as good as she, I missed serving with a wonderful man and appreciate the comments today. Mr. Speaker, I am rising to speak to the issue of tax cuts today. We have a bill in front of us that came from the Committee on Ways and Means that, unfortunately, does not do what constituents in my district in Michigan need to have done. When I supported the balanced budget agreement, I did so assuming we would take those precious tax cut dollars and focus them on the hard- working, middle-class families in my district and around the country. And instead, what we have is 80 percent of those tax cuts, when fully implemented, going to the top 5 percent of the public, once again, with the philosophy that somehow if the rich get richer, it will trickle down to each of us. The folks in my district, who work hard every day, want to be able to have help to send their children to college, work hard, be able to sell their homes. I would like very much to see that tax relief bill go to hard-working families.

Ms. STABENOW

Ms. STABENOW. Mr. Chairman, to leaders who have worked so hard on this issue, congratulations to both sides and I appreciate the cooperation of the majority in yielding time for us today. This is such an important bill to the great State of Michigan, as has already been indicated by my colleague from Grand Rapids, MI, we have more Great Lakes, more wonderful waterways than any other State in the Union. It is incredibly important that the sea grant research project be continued and be strengthened in order to monitor the Great Lakes. The sea grant has contributed substantially to improving the use of Great Lakes resources and understanding them. For instance, in our State, there has been a great focus, as has been talked about already, on the issue of zebra mussels. There is a very important program that is called the inland lake monitoring program that has helped constituents in my district. We have monitored over 100 lakes and found 45 lakes in which there have been zebra mussels identified. The inland lakes program that is operated through this grant research project allows citizens to learn important information about how to prevent the spread of zebra mussels, how to identify zebra mussels early in their life. It greatly relates to the ability to swim, to boat, to enjoy the wonderful lakes that we have in Michigan as well as around the country, and it is important that we continue our research so that we can prevent zebra mussels in the long run. I want to share one other important success story about the Michigan Sea Grant Program that I have not heard discussed today, and that is the development of revival techniques for victims of cold water immersion, which is also a success story of the sea grant research project. With the help of the sea grant research project, people who have been underwater for periods of up to one-half hour are now being successfully revived whereas in the past these people had been given up as a drowning death. With the support of a successful sea grant research project and outreach program, the entire approach to cold water immersion has changed. We know that there is success story after success story in this research program. It is important for our quality of life; it is important for our ecosystem; it is important for the country that we maintain a vigilant research and outreach project through the national sea grant program. I am very pleased to rise with my colleagues in support of H.R. 437 and urge a strong bipartisan vote today.

Ms. STABENOW

Ms. STABENOW. Mr. Speaker, 10 years ago the Michigan Women's Studies Association opened the Michigan Women's Historical Center and Hall of Fame. During this landmark year, I commend the Michigan Women's Studies Association for their outstanding efforts. Through the years, the Michigan Women's Historical Center and Hall of Fame's publications, programs, and traveling exhibits, have enabled the people of Michigan to learn more about outstanding women leaders in our State. These leaders have made an enduring contribution to our State and our society. Without the MWSA, their work might not ever have been acknowledged. The Michigan Women's Studies Association and the Historical Center and Hall of Fame have been a catalyst in bringing the diverse roles of women to the forefront in Michigan. Through their work, the accomplishments of hundreds of women have now become an important part of the social fabric and collective memory of the State. Michigan's history is rich in the achievements and contributions of our State's women. I am proud that we have a way of honoring the women who have been shining examples to us all.

Ms. STABENOW

Ms. STABENOW. Mr. Speaker, 10 years ago J. Christopher Holman founded the Greater Lansing Business Monthly in hopes of publicizing and promoting local business within the community of Lansing. This week the Greater Lansing Business Monthly will celebrate its 10th anniversary. I wish to acknowledge the efforts of Chris Holman and his staff to promote the strengths of the Lansing business community. With readership of over 30,000, the Greater Lansing Business Monthly is distributed to all nonresident addresses in Lansing, Mason, Holt, Grand Ledge, East Lansing, Haslett, and Okemos. The monthly features local stocks, profiles products made in the Lansing area, and provides updates on the overall Michigan economy. The Greater Lansing Business Monthly serves as a base of local economic information to the community and its commitment to local small businesses is unmatched. It is much more than a periodical trumpeting Greater Lansing as a marvelous place to do business. It is also an integral part of the business community with the formation of CEO networks, directors luncheons, and the entrepreneurial awards. On behalf of all the citizens of Michigan's eighth district, I extend congratulations and best wishes to Chris Holman and his staff.

Ms. STABENOW

Ms. STABENOW. Mr. Speaker, I wish to pay tribute to Rabbi Morton Hoffman upon his retirement from Temple Shaaraey Zedek. Rabbi Hoffman has served the people of East Lansing and the congregation of Temple Shaaraey Zedek since 1983. As a rabbi, he has served God and the families of East Lansing through his leadership in his temple, his knowledge of religion and history, and his commitment to his community and family. Along with his duties as rabbi, Rabbi Hoffman has served as education director for Temple Shaaraey Zedek's religious schools, and has served on the Governor's Committee for the Establishment of the Annual Martin Luther King Day of Observance and the Governor's Committee for the Annual State Observance of the Holocaust Memorial Day. He is a member of the East Lansing Clergy Coalition and, in May 1990, earned the doctor of Hebrew letter degree from the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion. Rabbi Morton Hoffman's commitment to his community is unparalleled and his leadership will be missed. I speak for all the people of the eighth district in thanking him for his service. I wish Rabbi Hoffman mazel tov in the future.

Ms. STABENOW

Ms. STABENOW. Mr. Speaker, first I would rise to once again to congratulate all parties on both sides of the aisle for putting together this balanced budget agreement, which I was very proud to support. It is not just about numbers, however, it is about protecting our values for our families. And that is the reason why I rise this evening to support the motion to instruct, which I think is incredibly important if we are to maintain the integrity in the outyears of balancing the budget and maintain our values that are outlined in the balanced budget agreement. I had an opportunity to spend time over the district workweek in my district, holding office hours in grocery stores and local restaurants, talking to my constituents about this balanced budget agreement. They told me they liked the fact that education was placed as No. 1 in the priorities for investment. They liked the fact that children's health and health care for working families that do not now have health care was important to the process, as well as protecting the environment and creating jobs. But they expressed one concern, and that was over and over again: Who will receive the tax cuts that are being proposed? Because in their minds, their history has been for the last 15 to 20 years that they, as working families, middle-class Americans, small businesses, family-owned farms, have not seen the benefits of the bulk of the tax cuts that have been instituted since the 1980's, and they are asking, whether it is a family-owned farmer who has put all of their hard work and sweat into their land, that they be protected in terms of the estate tax, and I very strongly support eliminating the estate tax for those family-owned farmers or family-owned small business, or whether it is a young couple, not so young couple, depending on your perspective, in their forties whose children just went off to college and they need to get a smaller home now but all of their investments are tied up in equity in their house. That is their savings, and they are saying, can we please have capital gains protection for us as working people. I would urge the committee to make sure that when we are done, tax cuts go to those who need it the most.

Ms. STABENOW

Ms. STABENOW. Mr. Speaker, I was pleased early Wednesday morning to join my colleagues in voting for the balanced budget agreement. The most important piece for me in that agreement is that we place education as number one both in terms of investment spending and, on the other side, in terms of tax breaks for families that are working hard to send their children to college. Now the real work begins. We have to make sure that we fulfill that promise to our families and our districts, and I would urge that as the Republican majority leads the efforts in the Committee on Appropriations and the Committee on Ways and Means that we keep our promise to focus on our children and on education. Mr. Speaker, our children need to be prepared to start school ready to learn. They need to be able to read. They need to have classrooms that have technology that prepare them for the future. They need to be able to go to college, be involved in apprenticeships and job training that allows them to be prepared for the future. Our challenge is to make sure that the promises that were in that agreement and the opportunities presented actually happen, and I would urge my colleagues to work hard to make education the top priority of this Congress.