Lynn Woolsey

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the Kennedy-Kassebaum-Roukema health insurance reform bill. Of the more than 43 million Americans who still have no health insurance, 21 million lack coverage because of preexisting conditions. An additional 4 million must stay in their jobs because they fear losing coverage if they leave. The Roukema bill will expand the availability of health insurance by eliminating preexisting condition restrictions and guaranteeing portability. Americans who want to change jobs will no longer be locked into their current jobs because they fear they will lose their health insurance. Of course, we should continue our efforts to enact comprehensive health care reform legislation that will control costs and ensure universal coverage. While the Roukema bill is by no means the solution to our Nation's health care crisis, it is a good start. In his State of the Union Address, President Clinton said he would sign the Kennedy-Kassebaum-Roukema bill, and he urged Congress to take quick action on this legislation. The House of Representatives has an opportunity to move the Roukema health care reform bill one step closer to the President's desk by passing it as soon as possible. Unfortunately, some Members of this body want to delay enactment of these much-needed reforms by loading the Roukema bill down with controversial provisions. Mr. Speaker, we can't afford to let this modest, but essential health care reform plan fall by the wayside. The American people need this health care reform bill, and they need it now. I urge my colleagues to support the Roukema health care reform bill.

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague for yielding this time and for organizing this special order. She has done a wonderful job in supporting women internationally, and will continue to speak out around the globe and here in our own country. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague, Carolyn Maloney, for yielding time. Mr. Speaker, this Friday is ``International Women's Day.'' I come before you today to celebrate one-half of the world's population. I come to pay tribute to women of every nation who care for their families, contribute to their work places, and make their communities stronger. They are true heroes, and deserve our recognition. Mr. Speaker, it has been over 6 months since the U.N. Sixth World Conference on Women took place in Beijing. At this conference, leaders from around the globe laid out a plan of action for improving the economic, social, educational, health, and political status of women worldwide. A key plank of that document is ratification of the United Nations' Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, or CEDAW, as this treaty is commonly known. CEDAW, which was drafted at the first women's conference in Mexico City in 1975, holds governments responsible for working to eliminate all forms of discrimination against all women. To date, CEDAW has been ratified by 144 countries, with one notable exception--the United States. Can you believe it? The United States, the world's greatest superpower and staunchest defender of human rights, continues to represent the only industrialized democracy failing to take this important stand for women's rights. On behalf of all women around the world--in Africa, Europe, Asia, and in the Americas--I invite my colleagues to join over 60 other Members of the House in support of House Resolution 220, which urges the Senate to pass CEDAW this Congress. Let's make the 21st century the first century free from state sanctioned discrimination against women. Let's make International Women's Day meaningful. Let's pass CEDAW now.

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, this week the congressional caucus for women's issues is kicking off our program for National Women's History Month. We celebrate Women's History Month because, for too long, history has only meant his story. Women's contributions have to often gone unnoticed and unappreciated. Now is the time to get to know her story. Now is the time to talk about women's accomplishments; women's contributions; and what we need to do to make the future brighter for our daughters--as well as our sons. However, women can only make history when they have been educated, and America has a long way to go before educational equality is achieved. In honor of Women's History Month, please join me at a briefing on gender equity in education, this Thursday, March 7, at 1 p.m. in 311 Cannon. At this event, we will see how far we have come, and how far we need to go, to make America's schools the best in the world for both boys and girls. Women make history all year around, but March is Women's History Month. It deserves our attention.

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, that is right. Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask why the motion to adjourn is a privilege and the resolution to prevent adjournment is not a privilege. I would suggest that we be able to speak on either side of adjourning or not adjourning, equally. And I would hope that I could then have another Member of our caucus speak to this same issue.

Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise to address the question of privilege. Mr. Speaker, here we go again. The folks who brought two Government shutdowns are now threatening to bring our Nation to the brink of default one more time. They are doing this in one more attempt to force their extreme agenda on the American people. That is right, once again the Gingrich Republicans have the Nation teetering on the edge of crisis, and instead of working to avoid disaster, the Speaker and his gang want to leave town this weekend. My colleagues heard me. They want to leave the Nation's full faith and credit, as well as the fate of millions of Social Security and veterans' beneficiaries, hanging by a thread until Congress reconvenes 3 weeks from now.

Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask why, if the motion to adjourn is a privilege, that the motion not to adjourn is not the same privilege.

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor one of my district's more dedicated and caring individuals, Charles H. Curley. Chuck is being honored as Marin Citizen of the Year for 1995. I wish that I could be with his colleagues, friends, and family tonight as we celebrate his remarkable accomplishments. Chuck has been a devoted resident of Marin County since he moved here over 35 years ago. Chuck's work has come as both monetary support and as direct participation on task forces and focus groups. Serving as mayor of Larkspur, councilman, planning commissioner, president of the Police Commission, Chuck has spent countless hours working with community leaders in an effort to create a strong alliance throughout Marin. I wish to recognize Chuck for his commitment to the people of Marin County, and to thank him for his long record of public service. The enthusiasm that Chuck has for both the arts and the environment is seen through his participation in various activities throughout the county. In addition to serving as president of the Marin Arts Council, Chuck is also a patron of the Marin Society of Artists. His effort and dedication has opened the door for numerous artists and has introduced young children to the world of art. Chuck and his wife Nancy were honored in 1994 for their outstanding contribution to the Arts of Marin. Chuck is also committed to protecting our environment. He was vice- president of the Marin Conservation League, and is currently a member of the Pt. Reyes Bird Observatory and the Sierra Club. Mr. Speaker, it is my great pleasure to pay tribute to Charles H. Curley during this special evening at the Marin Civic Center. Marin County owes a great deal of gratitude for the tireless efforts of Chuck over the years. He has worked hard time and time again on behalf of many people and for many important causes. I extend my hearty congratulations and best wishes to Chuck and his wife Nancy for continued success in the years to come.

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 652, the Telecommunications Act of 1995, which represents the most comprehensive overall of our Nation's telecommunications law since 1934. This historic legislation seeks to provide consumers with more choices and lower rates by promoting competition among telecommunications providers. I opposed the House-passed version of this legislation because I did not believe it would have adequately protected American consumers from unwarranted cable and telephone rate increases. I was also very concerned that it would have allowed only a few large companies to control what Americans watch on television, listen to on the radio, or read in the newspapers. While I continue to have reservations about several provisions of this legislation, I would like to commend the members of the conference committee for making significant improvements in many areas of the bill. The conference report does much more than the original House bill to benefit consumers. It deregulates the cable industry more gradually, raises broadcast ownership limits in a way that will promote competition and preserve diversity, and seeks to improve phone service and lower phone rates by leveling the playing field for telephone service providers. I remain very concerned, however, about a provision in this bill that will criminalize the communication of information about abortion over the Internet. Under section 507 of this bill, individuals who provide family planning information over computer networks could be subject to a 5-year prison term. Even mentioning the word ``abortion'' could be considered a criminal act in some circumstances. Mr. Speaker, this is clearly unacceptable. That is why I voted against the rule under which this legislation is now being considered. This bill should be about giving consumers a choice among competing telecommunications providers, not about threatening a woman's right to reproductive choice. This Information Age gag rule, which is likely to be found unconstitutional, has no place in this important legislation and should be eliminated. I am, therefore, extremely pleased that Representative Henry Hyde, the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, and Representative Nita Lowey, chair of the Pro-Choice Task Force of the Congressional Caucus on Women's Issues, have engaged in a colloquy making it absolutely clear that this language was not intended by the drafters of the bill and will be removed from the act as soon as possible. While I am confident that this ban is unconstitutional, I am nevertheless eager to ensure that Congress acts quickly to permanently remove this language from the bill. I am also concerned that S. 652 could infringe upon Americans' constitutional right to free speech by allowing the Government to police the Internet for indecent material. Under this legislation, individuals who disseminate material that the Federal Government believes may violate contemporary community standards of decency could face prison terms. Thus, a librarian could be held liable for putting classic books such as ``Catcher in the Rye'' and ``Ulysses'' on line since they include profanity. While we all agree that children must not have access to indecent or pornographic materials, I do not believe that Government regulation of the information superhighway is the best way to solve the problem. That is why I voted for an amendment to the House-passed bill that would have allowed computer users and computer network providers to police the Internet, rather than the Federal Government. This amendment would have prohibited the Federal Communications Commission [FCC] from regulating the Internet and other interactive computer services, but would have encouraged computer network providers to voluntarily screen and prevent the distribution of obscene and other objectionable materials on computer networks. I sincerely hope that Congress will consider legislation later this year to institute this more reasonable approach to protecting children from indecent material. Mr. Speaker, the time has come to pass a comprehensive telecommunications reform bill. Despite several shortcomings, S. 652 is a balanced bill that will lead to technological advances and provide Americans with a telecommunications network for the 21st century. More importantly, the final bill makes dramatic advances over the earlier version in protecting consumers. I urge my colleagues to vote for this important legislation.

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor one of my district's more dedicated and caring individuals, Michael S. Wiens St. John. I wish that I could be with his colleagues, friends, and family tonight as we celebrate his remarkable accomplishments. Michael is particularly recognized for serving the people of Marin County in his capacity as search and rescue operations coordinator and he has earned the reputation for saving lives. He has been working for many years to improve and coordinate our emergency response system in Marin County. I wish to recognize Michael for his commitment to the people of Marin County, and to thank him for his long record of public service. He has been a role model for young men and women and he has devoted the better part of his life to helping others. Michael Wiens St. John has been instrumental in planning and implementing changes that improve the quality of Marin County emergency response, and, for developing interagency collaboration. He is largely responsible for taking what was a search and rescue program with less than a dozen members and making it into what it is today--a very well organized and recognized unit of 60 trained individuals. I continue to be impressed by his dedication and vision. Mr. Speaker, it is my great pleasure to pay tribute to Michael S. Wiens St. John during this special evening at the Alta Mira. Marin County owes a great deal of gratitude for the tireless efforts of Michael Wiens St. John over the years. Time and time again he has extended himself on behalf of many people and for many causes. I extend my hearty congratulations and best wishes to Michael and to his wife Nancy for continued success in the years to come.

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, last night I spoke on the House floor about the devastating cuts House Republicans are making to education. After I left the floor, a Member on the other side of the aisle challenged the accuracy of my remarks--forcing me to repeat the facts to my colleagues and the American people today. Fact: According to the Department of Education, the Labor-HHS appropriations bill passed by the House last year cuts education programs by 13 percent in 1 year alone. In fact, almost one-half of the bill's cuts come from education. Fact: According to the Department of Education, if the Gingrich Republicans continue to fund education at the level in the current continuing resolution, education will be cut by a total of $3.1 billion below last year--resulting in the largest cut to education in the history of this country. The facts are clear, but if my colleagues on the other side of the aisle can't do the math, I'd suggest that they go back to school for a little math refresher course. Then, maybe they'll learn that their cuts to education are both real and dangerous.

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, there's more than meets the eye when we hear the Republicans talking about their plans to keep the Government running through the rest of the year. Their latest plan is to introduce a new temporary spending bill each month to keep the Government running. That plan might not appear too bad at first to the public but when the American people take a closer look they'll quickly see that this month-by-month approach will leave our schools and teachers with the two main ingredients for disaster--too little time and too little money! Right now is the time of year when schools--elementary schools, high schools, and colleges--begin to plan for the next school year which, in case my friends on the other side of the aisle have forgotten, begins in September. Schools can't wait until the new fiscal year to hire teachers, buy books and computers, and repair damaged buildings. If we don't pass a year-long appropriation, elementary and secondary schools won't know how many teachers they can afford to hire. They won't be able to plan special programs. Students at postsecondary schools could be hurt even more by the Republican strategy. If Congress does not set the maximum amount for Pell grants, colleges and universities won't be able to figure how much financial aid their eligible students will get. Even worse, students won't know if they will receive the financial aid they need to go to college. That's not how we should be treating our Nation's students. But, on top of robbing our schools and students of crucial planning time, the new majority month-to-month approach to governing is going to rob them of crucial funding. Let me make it clear. If the Gingrich Republicans continue to fund education at the level in the continuing resolution that is set to expire this week, education will be cut by a total of $3.1 billion below last year. And that, my friends, will be the largest cut to education in the history of this country. You have to wonder what they are thinking on the other side of the aisle. At a time when numerous polls show that improving the quality of public education is the top priority for Americans, the Gingrich Republicans are planning to cut funding for education more than it has ever been cut before. The Gingrich Republicans' sneaky assault on education, however, shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone because the new majority has already passed some of the most antieducation legislation I have ever seen. Just take a look at the education budget for 1996 which the House has already approved. This terrible bill cuts: Head Start, Chapter One, Safe and Drug-free Schools, School-to-Work, and vocational and adult education. In all, it cuts education by 13 percent in 1 year alone--13 percent. But that's nothing compared to what they want to do to our education system over the next 7 years. The new majority's 7-year budget plan would deny Head Start to 180,000 children by 2002. It eliminates Goals 2000, which helps schools meet higher national standards and increase parental involvement. It kills Americorps, which has provided thousands of Americans with college tuition assistance in exchange for community service. And, it cuts in half the President's program aimed at helping schools bring technology into the classroom. Under their budget, my State of California alone will lose, among other things, $1 billion for the School Lunch Program, and over 181,000 Californians will be denied participation in the cost-effective Direct Student Loan Program. My friends, that's the wrong direction, and that's not the way we are supposed to be taking care of our children. Mr. Speaker, we can balance the budget, but it does not have to be on the back of our children and their education. As the President talked about in his speech last night, we can continue to move this Nation forward without leaving those who depend on Government the most--our children and their education--behind. Let's stop playing politics with our Nation's schools and students. They need time to plan, and they need adequate funding to meet the growing needs of our students. I urge my colleagues to pass a clean continuing resolution immediately that ensures that our schools can do their jobs, so that our children are prepared for the challenges of the next century.

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise to say, don't be fooled, taxpayers don't be fooled. The Gingrich shutdown is still alive and well. The list of unmet needs goes on and on. And, to add insult to injury, the Gingrich Republicans now want to skip town and leave the American people with the bill. Mr. Speaker, 198 House Democrats want to keep working to end this shutdown. The other body wants to keep working. For Pete's sake, even Bob Dole wants to keep working. There can be no doubt in anyone's mind that it's the Gingrich Republicans who would rather go home than get this Government up and running again. Mr. Speaker, for the people of this country and for the honor of this institution, don't even think about sending us home. Our No. 1 job right now is to end this shutdown as soon as possible. I urge my colleagues to oppose this foolish resolution.

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, it's to the Democratic credit that the Gingrich Republicans finally realized that their shutdown is hurting Americans. But, by no means, is the Gingrich shutdown over. Although I would like to be voting on legislation that puts the entire Government back to work, I will support this plan because it puts Federal workers back to work and provides for some crucial services like our national parks, passport, veterans benefits, and AFDC. The American people must know, however, that while this legislation puts Federal employees back on the payroll, it does not provide the operating funds for many of them to do their job. For instance, there are still no operating funds for many services including Medicare claims processing, toxic waste cleanup, home purchase loans and refinancing, and small business loans. Mr. Speaker, House Democrats want to fully reopen the Government. The other body wants to fully reopen the Government. Let's not be fooled by the Gingrich Republicans. This legislation is nothing more than a band- aid. The job of getting this entire Government up and running again still lies ahead of us.

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, today the West Marin Chamber of Commerce in Marin County, CA released a report showing that the communities around and near the Point Reyes National Seashore, which is in my district, have lost upward of $5 million in lost tourist revenues, to date, as a result of the Gingrich government shutdown. That is right. Due to the Gingrich shutdown, business in West Marin is down 45 percent from last year. As one of my constituents said just recently, last year was not a particularly good year. But it is not just the businesses in West Marin who are hurting, Mr. Speaker. Americans all over the country are being denied crucial services, services that include passports, home mortgages, child support, and small business loans. That is because of the new majority's shutdown. But that is not all either, Mr. Speaker. If the shutdown continues, if it continues much longer, 600,000 elderly Americans, many of them invalids, may not be able to participate in the popular and successful Meals on Wheels Program. Mr. Speaker, it is clear: We are already paying the price for the new majority's radical agenda. If you think this shutdown is bad now, believe me, we are really going to be paying the price if the Republicans get their way when their crown jewel, the special interest tax breaks, and their huge education and Medicare cuts are proposed or go through. To add insult to injury, the Gingrich Republicans are now talking about calling it quits and going home while people in my district and across this Nation continue to suffer the consequences of the shutdown. Mr. Speaker, 198 House Democrats want to keep working, working to end the shutdown. The other body wants to keep working; for Pete's sake, Bob Dole wants to keep working, and as he said just yesterday or earlier this week, enough is enough. But it is the Gingrich Republicans who would rather go home than get Government up and running again. It is the Gingrich Republicans who are willing to hang on to their radical agenda no matter what the impact is on American people, and it is the Gingrich Republicans who are willing to use Federal workers and Federal services, services, by the way, that have been paid for by taxpayers, to try to blackmail the budget process. Mr. Speaker, for the people of this country, for the families and businesses in my district and across the country, for the honor of this institution, I say to the other party across the aisle here, do not even think about sending us home. We belong here; we must continue working, and we must stop this shutdown and we must do it now.

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, it is truly difficult to balance the family budget when you do not know when the next check is coming in. I know, because 28 years ago I was a single working mother with three small children, and I never received the child support that I was owed. Yet, as we head into the 20th day of the Gingrich Government shutdown, that is the same situation that the new majority is forcing on thousands of American families. Each day the Gingrich shutdown drags on, approximately 20,000 deadbeat parents get off the hook from paying their child support. It is one thing being poor, Mr. Speaker, but not knowing when and if a check will come in severely compounds the problem. By continuing to insist on huge Medicare cuts and education cuts and massive special interest tax breaks, the Gingrich Republicans are leaving thousands of American families in limbo, not knowing when they will receive their next child support check. It is time to end the Gingrich shutdown.

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor one of my district's most dedicated and respected individuals, Karin Urquhart. The Marin Conservation League [MCL] and the community is conducting ``A Toast to Karin Urquhart'' to celebrate her visionary leadership. Since 1976, Karin has served the Marin Conservation League. First as a member of the board of directors, then president from 1977 to 1979, and later as the executive director, and is one of the most recognized leaders of Marin's environmental community. Karin Urquhart has improved the quality of life in Marin County through her enthusiasm and experience. Her professional and volunteer work is truly impressive. In addition to her MCL work, Karin has served the Marin County Board of Supervisors as an appointee to the Marin County Parks, Open Space, and Cultural Commission for a decade and, most recently, she was appointed trustee to the Marin Community Foundation. As an example of her commitment to the county, Karin currently is president of the Marconi Conference Center Board, and board member of Marin Conservation Corps, Environmental Forum, Marin Agricultural Land Trust, and Digital Village to name a few. She has been recognized by induction into the Marin Women's Hall of Fame, received the national Conservation Award from Daughters of the American Revolution, and named the Executive Director of the Year for Excellence in Developing Community Partnerships. It has been my please and privilege to work with Karin over the last several years on important issues such as protecting wetlands and preserving agriculture and open space. I particularly appreciated her coming to Washington, DC to testify in favor of my bill to expand the Pt. Reyes National Seashore. It's been a pleasure working with such a capable and compassionate person. I continue to be impressed by her dedication and vision. She is a role model for all. On the occasion of her retirement from Marin Conservation League, and as we celebrate Karin's years of service to this community, I wish to recognize Karin for her commitment to the people of Marin County, and to thank her for her outstanding record of public service. Marin County owes a great deal of gratitude for the tireless efforts of Karin over the years. Time and again she has extended herself on behalf of many people and for many causes. Mr. Speaker, it is my great pleasure to pay tribute to Karin Urquhart as her many friends and supporters celebrate and toast her at the Marin Rod & Gun Club in San Rafael. I extend my hearty congratulations and best wishes to Karin, and to her husband Don, for continued success now, and in the years to come, and I consider it an honor to be her friend.

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, the weather outside is frightful, but it is nothing compared to the welfare bill we are considering today. Just in time for Christmas, the new majority is putting the welfare reform package under the Christmas tree that will push at least 1.5 million children into poverty, and almost 4 million children into the ranks of the uninsured. I cannot help but think of this Dr. Seuss tale, ``How the Grinch Stole Christmas,'' when I think about this bill. But this Grinch-like welfare bill is not just stealing Christmas from our Nation's most vulnerable children; it is stealing their safety net. Basically it tells children, if you are poor, do not get sick, do not get hungry, do not get cold, because we do not think you are important. Mr. Speaker, as the only Member of this Congress who has actually been a mother on welfare, my ideas about welfare reform do not come from theories or books or movies like ``Boy's Town.'' I know it. I lived it, and as cochair of the House democratic task force on welfare, my experience was translated into legislation that 100 percent of the Democrats in the House voted for, legislation that gets parents into work and maintains the safety net for their children. Mr. Speaker, that is the type of reform for welfare that American people want, and that is why I am urging that we defeat this bill and prevent poor children from becoming even poorer. Mr. Speaker, let us make sure that the Grinch does not steal our children's Christmas. And, Mr. Speaker, in the words of Dr. Seuss, ``the Grinch hated Christmas, the whole Christmas season. Now please do not ask why. No one quite knows the reason. It could be his head was not screwed on just right. It could be perhaps that his shoes wee too tight. But I think that the most likely reason of all may have been that his heart was two sizes too small.''

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time. Mr. Speaker, here we are, a week before Christmas, and almost 3 months past the beginning of the fiscal year, and we have a Government that is shut down. We are nowhere close to passing a 7-year balanced budget plan that protects Medicare, Medicaid, education, the environment, and poor children. How come? How come? Well, Speaker Gingrich and the new majority just does not seem to be able to do their job. For sure, they have not done their job when it comes to passing the spending bills. In fact, 75 percent of nonmilitary domestic spending for this year has yet to be approved, 75 percent. And the new majority certainly has not done their job when it comes to living up to their side of the budget negotiations. They have yet to deliver a plan that protects Medicare, Medicaid, education, our environment, and poor children. Instead, the new majority is down here on the floor today fiddling, fiddling as the Nation burns. That is right. The new majority is fiddling today as crucial services for the elderly, veterans, and our national parks are cut off, and the stock market is drooping. This Nation cannot afford another day of Newt's dangerous games. It is time for the majority to stop fiddling, to stop fiddling around and wasting time. It is time to stop the political grandstanding. Let us reopen the Government today.

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, thanks to Speaker Gingrich and the new majority, today is day No. 4 of Government shutdown No. 2. All in the last 2 months. As far as I'm concerned, that's 4 days and 2 shutdowns too many. Yes, my friends, we're at this point again because Speaker Gingrich and the new majority just can't seem to do their job. They haven't done their job when it comes to passing the spending bills needed to keep the Government running. And, they haven't done their job when it comes to living up to their side of the deal to deliver a budget that protects Medicare; Medicaid; education; the environment; and poor children. Unfortunately, for the Nation, when the new majority doesn't do its job, we all suffer--crucial services for the elderly; veterans and National Parks have, once again, been cut off, and the stock market is now dropping. This Nation can't afford another day of Speaker Gingrich's Government shutdown. It's time to stop the partisan bickering; pass a temporary funding bill; and get to work on a balanced budget that protects Medicare; Medicaid; Education; the environment; and poor children.

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding time to me. The Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to the Defense Authorization Act, conference report, H.R. 1530. My friends, I know that the defense appropriations bill has already been signed into law. I opposed this bill when it was considered on the floor of the House, and I strongly urged the President to veto it. It was a bad bill, and it is a bad law. Now, we are considering the defense authorization bill. Again, I say to my colleagues, this is a bad bill. It wastes too much money on hardware we don't need, and it prevents investing in our children which we do need. This agreement calls for $1.4 billion for the B-2 stealth bomber and $3.8 billion for a cold-war-style missile defense system. All told, this conference agreement calls for $7.1 billion more than the Pentagon asked for. While at the same time, I want to remind you that the new majority's budget cuts title I education funds by $1.1 billion. Meaning that over 1 million children in our Nation's poorest communities will lose their chance for a decent education. And, don't forget, that the new majority is cutting $182 billion in Medicaid funding. Meaning that over 4.4 million children had better not get sick, because, they won't have health care. And this new majority is shredding the safety net and ending the Federal guarantee of assistance for poor children. The Gingrich welfare reform bill will push at least 1.2 million more children into poverty. This tells children, if you're poor, don't get sick, don't get hungry, don't get cold, because we don't think you're important. But here in the Gingrich Congress, if you're a defense contractor, you are really important. This is an outrage. Where are our priorities? Vote ``no'' on the defense authorization conference report.

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, we have heard a great deal of inside-the- beltway talk during the welfare reform debate about family caps, block grants, and maintenance of effort. But I tell you, my friends, we have not heard much about the children. Let me lay out the facts plain and clear. By shredding the safety net--by ending for the first time in 60 years the Federal guarantee of assistance for poor children--The Gingrich welfare bill will push at least 1.2 million more children into poverty, 1.2 million more children into poverty. The bill tells children: If you're poor, don't get sick; don't get hungry; don't get cold because we don't think you're important. And, we don't want to guarantee that you have health care; food, and general assistance. Mr. Speaker, welfare reform is not supposed to be about punishing poor children. It should be about improving their lives by giving their parents the education, job training, and child care needed to get a job and get off welfare permanently.

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, when it comes to taking care of children, the Gingrich welfare reform bill says, if you are a poor kid, do not get sick. Because we learned today that the Speaker does not have any qualms about taking away children's health insurance. In fact, his welfare reform bill takes Medicaid from AFDC recipients. This hits home to me, because 28 years ago I was forced to go on welfare to provide my three children with the medical coverage and the health coverage they needed through Medicaid. I know what it is like to lie awake at night, worried to death that one of my children might get sick. Mr. Speaker, I will not stand by quietly as the Speaker of the House tries to force this agony on other mothers, other mothers who are trying so hard to do what is best for their children. Mr. Speaker, welfare reform is not supposed to be about punishing poor children. It is about improving their lives by giving their parents the education, the job training and the child care needed to get a job so that they can stay off welfare permanently.

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, when is Speaker Gingrich going to get it? His plan to abolish Medicaid is a bad idea. He is not listening to seniors, seniors who will lose their long-term nursing home care. He is not listening to the American Medical Association, who warned him this week not to end the Federal guaranty to health care coverage for low- income women and for children. Let us hope he listens to the participants at yesterday's White House conference on AIDS, participants who made it clear that his proposal will be devastating for people with AIDS. I wonder if my colleagues know, Mr. Speaker, that half of all people with HIV and AIDS in my home State of California rely on Medicaid for health coverage? Destroy the Medicaid safety net and people with AIDS will be denied treatment and care and will be forced into expensive hospital emergency rooms. Mr. Speaker, listen to persons with HIV and AIDS, listen to the American Medical Association, listen to seniors, women, and children. Do not pay for special interest taxes by taking away health care from the most vulnerable Americans.

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, now is not the time to terminate this successful COPS Program. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the COPS Program, and in opposition to H.R. 2076. The American people are demanding tough and effective solutions to our Nation's crime problem. That's why Congress passed the most sweeping crime bill in U.S. history last year. That important legislation created the COPS Program, which is already making our streets safer by putting more than 25,000 new police officers on American streets in its first year. In my district alone, the COPS Program has provided funding for almost two dozen new officers to patrol the streets of Marin and Sonoma Counties. These officers are helping to protect my constituents from violent criminals, and officers like them are sharply reducing crime rates throughout the country. Now, just as we are beginning to see a significant reduction in crime, the other side wants to take thousands of officers off our streets and leave local communities without adequate police protection. This legislation will put the American people at risk by eliminating the COPS Program and slashing funding for crucial crime prevention efforts. Now is not the time to be terminating successful anticrime initiatives like the COPS Program. I urge my colleagues to vote for the motion to recommit, and to vote against this misguided bill.

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. I compliment the gentleman from Texas, Mr. Gene Green, and the members of the Committee on Economic and Educational Opportunities for organizing this special order tonight. Mr. Speaker, it is hard to believe that it was just last year when I convinced this body to approve a landmark resolution, which put us on our way to making our schools the best in the world. Yes, it is true. Last year, the House approved my resolution which called on Congress to increase our investment in education by 1 percent a year, until the education budget accounts for 10 percent of the budget in 2002. At the time, I said that the resolution would send a clear message to those who decide how our Federal dollars are spent. The appropriators received the message that this Congress was serious about improving education. Well, guess what, folks? Times have changed. We have got a new majority [[Page H 13776]] in Congress. And, instead of going forward, we are going backward. Fast. The new majority in the House blatantly ignored the pledge we made last year to improve our children's education, and has passed some of the most antieducation legislation this Nation has ever seen. Just take a look at the education budget for 1996 which the House has approved. This terrible bill cuts: Head Start, chapter one, safe and drug-free schools, school-to-work, and vocational and adult education. In all, it cuts education by 13 percent in 1 year alone; 13 percent. But that is nothing compared to what they want to do to our education system over the next 7 years. The new majority's 7-year budget plan would deny Head Start to 180,000 children by 2002. It eliminates Goals 2000, which helps schools meet higher national standards and increases parental involvement. It kills AmeriCorps, which has provided thousands of Americans with college tuition assistance in exchange for community service. And, it cuts in half, the President's program aimed at helping schools bring technology into the classroom. Under their budget, my State of California alone will lose, among other things, $1 billion for the School Lunch Program, and over 181,000 Californians will be denied participation in the cost-effective direct Student Loan Program. My friends, that is the wrong direction, and that is not the way we are supposed to be taking care of our children and their education. You see, I believe, as do my colleagues here today, that our Nation's greatest responsibility is to provide a quality education for everybody in this country. We believe this because education is absolutely central to solving the problems facing our Nation. When we strengthen education, we prepare our children and workers for jobs that pay a livable wage; we get people off welfare and prevent people from having to go on welfare in the first place; we actually prevent crime and violence in our communities; and, we increase respect for our health, respect for our environment, and respect for each other. That is why, for the life of me, I cannot understand why the new majority is cutting and gutting our education system. You see, we can balance the budget, but it does not have to be on the backs of our children and their education. It is time to stop this assault of education. It is time to pass a budget that invests in education, and reduces the deficit by cutting wasteful military and Government spending; closing tax loopholes; and ending corporate welfare. It is time to make our Nation's No. 1 special interest our children, and not the fat cats and lobbyists in Washington.