THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, January 29, 1996 TAG: 9601290099
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B5 EDITION: FINAL
LENGTH: Long : 121 lines
Budget: Voting 371 for and 42 against, the House sent the Senate a temporary funding measure (HR 2880) to keep the government fully in operation until March 15 and thus prevent a partial shutdown set to occur at midnight Jan. 26.
The Senate and President Clinton were expected to also approve what would become the third "continuing resolution" enacted since fiscal 1996 began four years ago.
Cabinet departments that needed the funding to avert mass layoffs were Justice, Education, Commerce, State, Veterans Affairs, Housing and Human Development, Health and Human Services, Labor and Interior. Many independent agencies, including the Federal Communications Commission, Securities and Exchange Commission and Environmental Protection Agency, also required stopgap funding to maintain full operations. The bill capped travel by Cabinet secretaries and allowed any necessary furloughs of federal employees.
David Obey, D-Wis., urged support of the bill to show the ``the American people that, if we disagree on some basics, we can also agree on some fundamentals. That is what we are supposed to be able to do in a legislative body.''
Bernard Sanders, I-Vt., questioned the bill's impact on the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program for the needy. ``It has been very cold in my part of the country, and . . . there have been disruptions in funding for this vital program,'' he said.
A yes vote was to approve the temporary budget bill.
Bateman Yes Pickett Yes
Scott Yes Sisisky Yes
Clayton Yes Jones Yes
Education: The House rejected, 193 to 222, a bid by Democrats to restore about $3 billion for education programs to a stopgap budget bill (HR 2880, above) that cut spending for the Department of Education and several other cabinet departments.
Sponsor David Bonior, D-Mich., called this ``one of the biggest education votes that you will have in this Congress. . . . Without this amendment, we will be placing an extra burden on local communities, local schools and I dare say local property taxes. . . . Republicans couldn't cut education through the front door, and we shouldn't let them do it through the back door.''
Bob Livingston, R-La., said Democrats ``never met an education program they didn't like. . . . There are roughly 256 separate education programs. . . . Congress over the last 60 years has done a great deal of good with the American people's money for the American people. The problem is that the process has gotten out of kilter. . . . the taxpayer is saying, enough is enough.''
A yes vote was to add $3.1 billion for education to the temporary budget bill.
Bateman No Pickett Yes
Scott Yes Sisisky Yes
Clayton Yes Jones No
Defense bill: By a vote of 287 for and 129 against, the House sent the Senate the conference report on a bill (S 1124) authorizing $264.7 billion for the Department of Defense in the current fiscal year.
The amount tops President Clinton's budget request by $7 billion.
Among disputed items, it funds the possible production of 20 more B-2 ``stealth'' bombers, retains presidential authority to put U.S. troops under United Nations command and requires the discharge of military personnel carrying the AIDS virus.
But it removes a committee-approved mandate that an expanded air- and land-based anti-missile system be deployed by 2003, a provision Clinton cited when he vetoed the bill last month. In addition to funding a 2.4 percent military pay raise, the bill advances the payment date for military retirees' cost-of-living-adjustments to match the date for civilian retirees' COLAs.
Martin Frost, D-Texas, said ``the B-2 is an important component of our overall defense system,'' adding that he liked the bill's ``high priority (on) quality-of-life projects for our armed forces and their families.''
Ronald Dellums, D-Calif., objected that ``almost $500 million is included for B-2 bombers that is not required by the administration. . . . this is a weapons system we cannot afford (and) for which there are alternatives.''
A yes vote was to approve the conference report.
Bateman Yes Pickett Yes
Scott Yes Sisisky Yes
Clayton Yes Jones Yes
Billy Graham: Voting 403 for and two against, the House sent the Senate a bill (HR 2657) commissioning a Congressional Gold Medal for the Rev. Billy Graham and his wife, Ruth, for their ``enduring contributions toward faith, morality and charity.'' The first such medal was presented to George Washington by the Continental Congress; other recipients have included Thomas Edison and Winston Churchill.
Sponsor Michael Castle, R-Del., said the Grahams ``are religious role models. Their commitment to each other and their marriage is something both rare and wonderful in today's society.''
The two members who voted no, Patricia Schroeder, D-Colo., and Louise Slaughter, D-N.Y., did not speak during debate.
A yes vote was to pass the bill.
Bateman Yes Pickett Yes
Scott Yes Sisisky Yes
Clayton Yes Jones Yes SENATE
Spending bill: By a vote of 82 for and eight against, the Senate sent the White House a bill (HR 2880) to temporarily fund government operations that do not yet have a regular 1996 budget as a result of the fiscal standoff between President Clinton and the Republican-controlled Congress. In addition to its spending provisions (see House issue above), it suspends U.S. support of international organizations that promote family planning. After July 1, the funding can go forward at up to 65 percent of 1995 levels.
A yes vote was to pass the bill.
Robb Yes Warner Yes
Helms No Faircloth No vote ILLUSTRATION: ROLL CALL: How area members of Congress voted for the week
ending Jan. 27.
[Photos, telephone numbers and addresses of senators and
representatives from Virginia and North Carolina.]
To reach any representative or senator on any issues that concern
you, call (202) 224-3121.
by CNB