Lynn Woolsey

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from New York [Mr. Owens].

Ms. WOOLSEY. I thank the gentlewoman for her contribution, and I yield to the gentlewoman from Missouri [Ms. McCarthy].

Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, over $5 billion in child support goes uncollected every year. This is a national disgrace that is punishing our children and bankrupting our welfare system. Tonight I am pleased to be joined by many of my Democratic colleagues to call attention to this tragedy and to call on the 104th Congress to make child support collection a top priority as we work to reform the welfare system. Democrats have long recognized that holding both parents responsible for their children is the most cost-effective way to reduce the welfare rolls. Why then, we ask, is there no mention of child support in the Republican's welfare reform bill? Why then did it take so much prodding to get the Republican leadership to even schedule a hearing on child support collection? Do they not know that getting family child support is one of the best ways to get them off welfare? Mr. Speaker, I have known for over 25 years just how important child support is in preventing the need for welfare, because in 1968 I was a single working mother with three small children, ages 1, 3, and 5. Although I had a court order, I never received a penny in child support. In order to provide my children with the health care and child care they needed, I was forced to go on welfare to supplement my wages. Today, Mr. Speaker, millions of families are forced to go on welfare for the same reason. In fact, 91 percent of first-time welfare recipients cite lack of financial support from a parent as the main reason they are on welfare. a year to help almost 1,500 State and local agencies collect child support. This piecemeal approach results in failing State collection rates, some as low as 9 percent. Even more alarming is the fact that once a parent who owes support crosses State lines, as approximately one-third of them do, it becomes all but impossible to enforce collection. Consequently, Mr. Speaker, less than $1 for every $10 owed in interstate child support is collected. When it comes to fixing our child support system, however, the Republican leadership seems content on sticking with the status quo, which means the taxpayers get stuck once again with a billion dollar bill for a system that barely works. Democrats know that our families can no longer afford business as usual. We know that the failure to collect child support is not a State-by-State problem; it is a national crisis demanding a national solution. It is time to revolutionize child support; it is time to revolutionize child support payment collection in order to make sure all of our children receive the support they need and deserve. That means strengthening paternity establishment laws, that means tough new penalties for parents who refuse to pay support, that means establishing a national registry of child support orders so we can track parents across State lines, and that means taking a serious look at proposals to increase interstate collection, including legislation to federalize the child support system. Mr. Speaker, I welcome the Republican leadership's late arrival to the child support reform debate. Child support collection after all should not be an issue along party lines. Democrats, however, do not want minor changes to the system or tinkering around the edges; we want fundamental changes. Mr. Speaker, in the United States if we had had a child support system in place like the ones Democrats have proposed, I might not have needed to go on welfare in the first place. Now we have the opportunity to make sure all families in situations like mine are not forced to go on welfare because they do not receive the support they need and deserve. Mr. Speaker, I yield to gentlewoman from Florida [Mrs. Thurman].

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, each year, over $5 billion in child support goes uncollected. This is a national disgrace that is punishing our children and bankrupting our welfare system. Mr. Speaker, I know personally just how important child support is because, in 1968, I was a single, working mother who never received a penny in child support. In order to provide my children with the health care and child care they needed, even though I was employed, I was forced to go on welfare to supplement my wages. Today, millions of American families rely on welfare for exactly the same reason. Mr. Speaker, currently, almost 1,500 State and local agencies are charged with collecting child support. Consequently, less than $1 for every $10 owed in interstate child support is collected. A comprehensive welfare reform plan must recognize that the failure to collect child support is not a State-by-State problem, it is a national crisis demanding a national solution. Mr. Speaker, let us make sure that families--families like mine--are not forced to go on welfare because they have not been given the child support they need and deserve. We must insist that child support be front and center in the welfare reform debate.

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Chairman, due to a delay in my flight from California, I missed the quorum call and the motion to limit debate on the Unfunded Mandate Reform Act of 1995. Had this flight delay not prevented me from being here, I would have voted ``no'' on the motion to limit debate.

Ms. WOOLSEY

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

Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word, and I rise in support of the amendment offered by the gentleman from Pennsylvania [Mr. Mascara]. Mr. Chairman, each year over $5 billion in child support goes uncollected. This is a national disgrace that is punishing our children and bankrupting our welfare system. If we are truly serious about taking care of our children and reducing dependence on welfare, collecting outstanding child support must be a top priority in the new Congress. That is why I believe child support collection should be exempted from the provisions of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act. Mr. Chairman, last year, the Federal Government paid out 16\1/2\ billion dollars in AFDC payments to devoted specifically to child support collection. This is an enormous Federal investment, and, we have every right to expect the States to be vigilant about collecting [child support] payments which, after all, will keep families off the welfare rolls in the first place. When the States are not doing an adequate job, Mr. Chairman, we cannot be hindered from passing laws that will help crack down on deadbeat parents who shortchange our children. I know first hand that child support does indeed make a big difference when it comes to welfare. Twenty-seven years ago, I was a single, working mother with three small children, and although the courts ordered my former husband to pay child support, we never received a penny. Even though I was employed, in order to provide my children with the health care and child care they needed, I was forced to go on welfare to supplement my wages. Today, millions of welfare families, like my own, would not need assistance if they received the child support payments they are owed. I am hopeful that this Congress will address the child support issue in a bipartisan way. In fact, Representative Hyde and I are working on a bill to reform the child support collection system. This bipartisan effort is proof that Members from both sides of the aisle want to engage in a meaningful effort to increase the amount of child support collected for families who need it so desperately. Members from both sides of the aisle realize that this approach will save Federal dollars in the long run. Indeed, Mr. Chairman, there should be no party lines when it comes to taking care of our children. So, Mr. Chairman, I urge House Members on both sides to pave the way for this important effort--to allow us to proceed unhindered in the struggle to provide much-needed, and owed, child support to desperate families. I urge the House to adopt the Mascara-Woolsey-Kennelly amendment to exempt child support collection laws from H.R. 5.

Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Chairman, if the gentleman will yield further, you said ``we are almost certain that it will not do this.'' I want to be certain.

Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Chairman, I would just like to point out that with the welfare reform debate we have before us there will be emphasis on child support collection in order to have welfare reform in the first place. It may put an additional burden on States beyond what they are expected to do right now. And our goal is that we protect that, so that there will be no unfunded mandate provisions that prevent us from going further with welfare reform and child support.

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, last night the President said that his budget ``protects against any cuts in education.'' But, the President's determination to preserve education funding is on a collision course with the Republican Contract on America. This contract promises to balance the budget, cut taxes, and increase military spending, all at the same time. Clearly this contract is a puzzle which is missing most of its pieces. Today on the House floor we will be debating one piece of this devious puzzle--the balanced budget amendment. Mr. Speaker, if Republicans stick to their contract, they will have to cut more than $1.3 trillion in nonmilitary programs in the next 7 years. I ask the Republicans--why won't you educate the American people about the cuts you plan to make in our children's education? Mr. Speaker, our children and their parents have a right to know the fine print of the contract. The Republicans say they want openness in government, that they want to shine some light on this institution. But in this week's debate on the balanced budget amendment, they are keeping America in the dark about the future of children.

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commend the residents of Sonoma and Marin Counties in California for their courageous response to the floods which ravaged our communities and much of California last week. Law enforcement, county workers, emergency and rescue crews, and the National Guard worked double duty. Businesses, like the Bank of America and Safeway, donated space, clothing, and food, and finally volunteers and neighbors came together in a breathtaking effort to protect homes, streets, stores, and farms, and, most importantly, to save lives. Mr. Speaker, nobody better exemplifies the spirit of the people of any district than John Alpin, a Red Cross volunteer and manager of the Sebastopol emergency shelter. John spent his first morning away from work after several 24-hour workdays setting up another shelter in Santa Rosa. Mr. Speaker, the floodwaters may have risen quickly in my district in northern California, but they could not outpace the rapid and generous response of the brave people of Sonoma and Marin Counties.

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, due to pressing business of responding to the floods in my district, I was unable to arrive in time to vote on S. 2, the Congressional Accountability Act. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye,'' as I did during House consideration of this bill, and I ask unanimous consent that my statement be included in the Record.

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor one of my district's most progressive elected officials, Marin County supervisor, Brady Bevis. Bevis was elected to represent the 5th Supervisorial District of Marin County in 1990. She has served the people of Novato and Marin County very well in this capacity for the past 4 years. Brady is mother of five children and has been a resident of Marin for over 15 years. As we celebrate Brady Bevis' years of service to this community, I wish to recognize Supervisor Bevis for her commitment to the people of Marin County, and to thank her for her long record of public service. I was pleased to have had the opportunity to work closely with Supervisor Bevis over the last several years on important issues such as the conversion of Hamilton Field in Novato, bringing communications technology and training to the College of Marin with the Digital Village program at Indian Valley campus, fighting for Novato's cable concerns, and working to protect open space at Brookside Meadow. It has been a pleasure to work hand-in-hand with Brady. I continue to be impressed by her vision and sincere concern for others. Brady Bevis has been a strong and vocal advocate for the city of Novato on the board of supervisors, and she has demonstrated support of the domestic partners ordinance and a smoking ban in public places. Brady has helped to keep Stafford Lake open, make the County Faire more accessible, and assisted in the completion of funding and approvals for the Waldo interchange upgrade for Marin City. She has assisted with successful school parcel tax efforts and the Pass program in Novato. In addition, she has been actively involved in open space purchases in the county. There is no doubt that Brady has made many significant contributions to our community by leading and becoming active in multiple county organizations. As an example of her commitment to the county, Brady was chair of Marin Sane/Freeze, a founding member of Marin Action, on the pro bono panel of Legal Aid, a member of the Peace Conversion Commission, a founding board member of Exodus, and a former board member of Marin Civic Light Opera. She is also an active participant in the MIDAS project for Marin County and was appointed to the board of directors for California Elected Women's Association for Education and Research. She is a member of the League of Women Voters, National Organization of Women, the Sierra Club, National Women's Political Caucus, Marin Women's Coalition, Marin Conservation League, Marin Agricultural Land Trust, and the Marin Democratic Club. Brady received the Peacemaker of the Year Award from the Marin Center for Peace and Justice. She is graduate of Leadership Novato, and a participant in the Master Plan to reduce alcohol and drug problems. Mr. Speaker, it is my great pleasure to pay tribute to Supervisor Brady Bevis. Marin County owes a great deal of gratitude for the tireless efforts of Supervisor Bevis over the years. Time and time again she has extended herself on behalf of so many people and for so many causes. As we gather to celebrate Brady Bevis' achievements I extend my hearty congratulations and best wishes to Brady for continued success now, and in the years to come.

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor one of my district's most dedicated elected officials, Marin County Superintendent of Schools, Byron W. Mauzy. Superintendent Mauzy was elected in 1983 and has served the people of Marin County well in this capacity. As we celebrate Byron's 41 years in public education, and his retirement as Marin County Superintendent of Schools, I wish to recognize Superintendent Mauzy for his commitment to improving the quality of education in Marin County, and the Nation, and to thank him for his long record of public service. Byron has been with the Marin County Office of Education since 1967 when he was director of business services. During the period between 1970 and 1982 Byron was deputy superintendent and served as interim superintendent of the Kentfield, Sausalito, and Mill Valley School Districts. He worked as assistant superintendent of instructional and business services for the Del Norte County Unified School District in Crescent City, CA. He was also a teacher and principal at Lower Lake Elementary School in California. Byron earned a B.A. at San Jose State College and a M.A. at Stanford University in California. He receive his Ed.D from Nova University in Fort Lauderdale, FL, and has the following life credentials: general elementary, general secondary, elementary administrative, secondary administrative, and general administrative. I was pleased to have had the opportunity to work closely with Byron over the last couple years on important education issues. We shared the same view that education must become our Nation's top priority, and Byron can be commended for his work to improve education at the local level. In fact, the outstanding work of our Marin County schools served as a model for my successful efforts to establish a coordinated services program nationally. Under Byron's leadership, Marin County schools effectively made health and social services available at or near school sites. I was also pleased to work with Byron when I brought both Secretary of Education Dick Riley and Health and Human Services Secretary Donna Shalala to the Sixth Congressional District to discuss education and other issues about youth. It was a pleasure to be working hand-in-hand with him, and I continue to be impressed by his dedication to quality education in Marin County and the Nation. As an example of Byron's commitment to the county, he is currently on the board of directors for the Beryl Buck Institute of Education, Marin Council Boy Scouts of America, Sons of the American Revolution, Salvation Army, California Health Research Foundation, Marin Suicide Prevention, San Rafael Thrift and Loan, and Wild Care. Byron also serves on the American Heart Association's Hypertension Council: Invest in America School Advisory Committee, the Community Advisory Council at the Golden Gate Seminary, the 14th District PTA, the Elizabeth Terwilliger Foundation, the Dominican College Citizens Advisory Committee, the Human Rights Resource Center, and the Ross Hospital Advisory Committees. In addition, Byron is a member of the Association of California School Administrators, Marin County School Administrators Association, the Marin Association of Superintendents, California Schoolmasters Club, Phi Delta Kappa, Marin Rod and Gun Club, Marin Coalition, Masonic Lodge, Elks Lodge No. 1108, Native Sons of the Golden West, Marvelous Marin Breakfast Club, Commonwealth Club of California, League of Women Voters, Marin Builders Exchange Scholarship Committee, Marin Council of Agencies, Marin Forum, Citizens League of Marin, and the San Rafael Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Speaker, it is my great pleasure to pay tribute to Superintendent Byron Mauzy. Marin County owes a great deal of gratitude for the tireless efforts of Byron Mauzy over the years. Time and time again he extended himself on behalf of so many people and for so many causes. I regret that I am not able to join Byron and his many friends and supporters at the Embassy Suites in San Rafael as we gather to celebrate his 48 years of service in public instruction, but I extend my hearty congratulations and best wishes to Byron and his wife, Win, for continued success now, and in the years to come.