John Sununu

Mr. SUNUNU

Mr. SUNUNU. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself 15 seconds to note that of the budgets mentioned in the last presentation, the coalition budget meets the criteria placed for it here. The budget put forward by this Congress 2 years ago meets the criteria in this resolution. The Black Caucus budget discussed meets the criteria in this resolution. This resolution simply calls for Congress and the President both to fall into the criteria outlined here. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Pennsylvania [Mr. Pitts] who has put forward a great amount of work in supporting this resolution and working toward a balanced budget. (Mr. PITTS asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. SUNUNU. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself 15 seconds to note that with regard to the triggers that have been discussed, there is a fair amount of accuracy. There are triggers in the President's budget, and here is what the triggers do: Head Start cut $400 million over 2 years; special education cut $370 million over 2 years; Pell grants cut $680 million over 2 years; veterans' hospitals cut $1.4 billion over 2 years. That is what a trigger is all about. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Arizona [Mr. Shadegg].

Mr. SUNUNU. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Minnesota [Mr. Gutknecht].

Mr. SUNUNU. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Ohio, Mr. Kasich, the distinguished chairman of the Committee on the Budget.

Mr. SUNUNU. Mr. Speaker, I yield 6 minutes to the gentlewoman from Texas [Ms. Granger], who is a member of the Committee on the Budget and has put in a great deal of effort and time in her commitment to making sure that this country balances its Federal budget.

Mr. SUNUNU. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself 15 seconds to draw attention to the fact that since 1993 there have been 20 deficit projections by OMB and CBO, and in 16 of those 20 projections CBO was more accurate than OMB in predicting the deficit. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes and 30 seconds to the gentleman from Mississippi [Mr. Pickering]. (Mr. PICKERING asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. SUNUNU. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Ohio [Mr. Hobson].

Mr. SUNUNU. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, we are here today with what we feel is an open hand to the President of the United States. Yesterday the Washington Post ran a story stating that 75 percent of the American people feel that it is incumbent on the Congress and the President to work together to balance the budget. They know that a balanced budget will bring them economic benefits in the form of lower interest rates, more jobs and higher wages. Here in Washington it is our job to hammer out an agreement that will balance the budget. Both Congress and the President agree that we must accomplish this goal. In fact, in his State of the Union Address the President spoke clearly. He affirmed his commitment to balancing the budget, and he affirmed his commitment and his agreement to use the estimates of the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office. In a departure from common practice the Congress agreed not to declare the President's budget dead on arrival and to try to use that budget as the basis for our negotiations. Unfortunately, when the President finally submitted his 5-year plan we found that it was inadequate. That is why we are here this afternoon. If we are going to heed America's call for a balanced budget, we must get to work today. This resolution moves us forward by sending an important message to this House. To this House and to the President and to the people of America, we send a message that we must take seriously and deal honestly with the commitment we have made to balance our Nation's books. This resolution calls quite simply for the President to work with this House toward a balanced budget agreement. We ask that the President submit a budget that meets a set of basic criteria, and in the spirit of bipartisanship we call on this Congress to abide by the exact same standards. This resolution is fair, it is clear, and it is intended to provide an opportunity to work together with the President from a platform that he provides. Just what are these standards that we ask the President to meet in his 5-year budget plan? First, we ask that the budget proposal balance in the year 2002, using estimates of the Congressional Budget Office. We feel it is essential that we work from a common set of assumptions. We need to work from a common set of assumptions in a dialogue as important as this. The administration's current plan shows a deficit of $69 billion in the year 2002. Second, we ask that the budget proposal not rely on sunsetted tax relief for automatic across-the-board cuts in order to achieve balance. The administration's current plan uses such accounting provisions that are triggered in its final years. Third, we ask that the budget proposal achieve a substantial amount of its deficit savings during the next 3 years. Unfortunately, the President's current plan defers over 98 percent of the deficit savings to the last 2 years of his budget after he leaves office. Finally, we ask that the budget proposal preserve and protect Medicare for our children and for future generations. The administration's current plan simply postpones the bankruptcy of the Medicare trust fund for another 2 years. By asking both Congress and the President to meet these four basic requirements in the submission of their budget plans we will establish a credible platform from which we can move forward together. A budget that increases spending by 200 billion over the next 3 years, it leaves a deficit of $69 billion in the year 2002, will not put money back in the pockets of working Americans, will not put money back in the pockets of American families. The results of this kind of overspending will be higher interest rates, higher costs to our families and stagnating wages. We owe the American people more than that. Some people have argued that this resolution is a waste of time. I am sorry that they feel that way, but I believe that the substance of this debate and its impact on America's families is too important to just ignore or dismiss. Honest and reasoned debate of our differences is essential to the strength and substance of this institution. Others have argued that it is inappropriate somehow to ask the President to submit a new budget when we have yet to complete work on our own. The fact is that Congress is moving forward on its own budget. We will propose a budget to the President, and this country, in compliance with budget law. Two years ago critics claimed the Congress prepared its budget too quickly and did not take the President's import, did not take his concern into regard. Today these same critics argue that the pace is too deliberate and too slow. Many of us were not here in the last Congress, but I do know the debate over the budget deteriorated to what a lot of American people thought was petty bickering. This year we want to change that mode of operation. We want to make things work, with the administration's cooperation, and fashion a solid budget agreement that balances in the year 2002. But to do this we need the President to provide a realistic platform for budget discussions. I am determined to keep my faith, to keep the commitments I made to the constituents of the State of New Hampshire to fight for an honest balanced budget. I urge your support for this resolution that will enable Congress and the President to wage this fight together. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. SUNUNU. I yield to the gentleman from South Carolina.

Mr. SUNUNU. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 90, I call up the resolution (H. Res. 89) requesting the President to submit a budget for fiscal year 1998 that would balance the Federal budget by fiscal year 2002 without relying on budgetary contingencies, and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. SUNUNU. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself 1 minute to offer a closing note before yielding to the chairman of the Committee on the Budget. I want to make the point, Mr. Speaker, that we have attempted today to carry on a reasoned debate about an important subject matter, not a waste of time. Terms like ``political buffoonery'' were used, and I do not think that those are the most appropriate terms to discuss the important matter of balancing this Nation's budget, of putting money back in the pockets of working American families, and trying to move forward in a bipartisan way with the President. We have encouraged the President with this resolution to put forward a budget that can be used as a platform for bipartisan negotiations, and that is the intention of the resolution. The goal of the resolution is to apply to the President the exact same set of standards that we applied to this House of Representatives. By treating each other fairly, by trying to move forward together, by trying to work with a budget that the President submits, meeting some basic criteria of fairness and financial legitimacy, I think we will have that opportunity. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Ohio [Mr. Kasich], chairman of the Committee on the Budget.

Mr. SUNUNU. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself 15 seconds to note that this resolution is not about Government shutdowns. In fact, the three principal sponsors of this resolution are the three new members of the Republican Committee on the Budget. We were not here 2 years ago. Our interest is not in moving to the past, it is to move forward and it is to move forward in cooperation with this President. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentlewoman from Texas [Ms. Granger].

Mr. SUNUNU. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Michigan [Mr. Hoekstra].

Mr. SUNUNU. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2\1/2\ minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Arkansas [Mr. Hutchinson].

Mr. SUNUNU. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume to draw attention to the CBO report. In fact, to be clear, I will quote from it directly. ``The CBO estimates that there will be a deficit of $69 billion in 2002 under the President's basic policy proposals.'' Mr. Speaker, I yield 2\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Missouri, Mr. Blunt.

Mr. SUNUNU

Mr. SUNUNU. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and insert extraneous material on House Resolution 89, the resolution just passed.

Mr. SUNUNU

Mr. SUNUNU. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor and recognize those members of the Granite State Chapter No. 1, Pearl Harbor Survivors Association on the occasion of their 25th anniversary. December 7, 1941 will forever stand as one of the darkest days in our Nation's history--one of pain, one of sacrifice, and above all, one of loss. We cannot erase the terrifying images of bullets, bombs, and bloodshed from our memories, nor should we. Never before had our country experienced such an attack, not only on the territory within our borders, but on the spirit within our people. It is for these reasons, Mr. Speaker, that I am compelled to recognize those individuals who put forth their minds, bodies, and souls to fight and survive the onslaught of the overwhelming Japanese forces on that day. The members of the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association can stand proud knowing that their courage and character is duly remembered by all citizens of a grateful Nation, and will serve as a benchmark of honor for all Americans in the future. Although the destruction of our military machinery was vast during this horrific battle, the patriotism of these heroes remained unscathed. These individuals should rest assured knowing that their colossal efforts defending our country in such an adverse situation inspired our troops to a proud victory in the end. Mr. Speaker, it is with particular privilege that I take this opportunity to pay tribute to Granite State Chapter No. 1, Pearl Harbor Survivors Association and ask that they and those Americans who died during the invasion of Pearl Harbor be remembered on the year of the association's silver anniversary.