The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
“THE BUDGET” mentioning the U.S. Dept. of Justice was published in the Senate section on pages S5641-S5642 on May 24, 1996.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
THE BUDGET
Mr. PRESSLER. Mr. President, I rise to say a few words about the budget that this body enacted last evening. I voted with pride for the Domenici-Dole budget because it places our budget in balance by the year 2002.
This budget is the first real budget, with real numbers in it that will lead us to a balanced budget, that has been passed since I came to the Congress in 1974. We finally have passed a real budget with real numbers in it that will lead us to a balanced budget.
Also, this budget contains welfare reform, real welfare reform, that will lead us to workfare following the Wisconsin plan. We passed the same thing last year. It was vetoed twice by the President. But even he now says he has endorsed most parts of the Wisconsin plan. So even though our budget last year was not enacted, it has had some dramatic results. Even the liberal Democrats are now talking about a balanced budget for the first time. They are at least pretending to be interested. The President gave his radio address on the need for welfare reform following the Wisconsin plan which, under Republican Gov. Tommy Thompson, has become a model to get people onto workfare.
So this is very, very important for our country. In fact, a balanced budget is the most important thing we can do because it will provide for low interest rates and a stable dollar, and that will help us export more. A balanced budget will help college students who have student loans because it keeps interest rates down and the payments can be less. It helps homeowners who have home mortgages in terms of their interest. It helps small business people because of lower interest rates and a stable dollar for exports. It helps agriculture. In fact, it may be the most important farm bill.
I supported the freedom-to-farm bill with pride, and I was a part of the leadership team that brought us the freedom to farm bill. But if we can export, commodity prices will take care of themselves. In fact, we have some of the highest commodity prices in history.
Mr. President, we have a serious problem with cattle prices at this time. I just finished a conversation about the need for the Clinton administration to enforce the antitrust actions and the price-fixing actions if American consumers are not getting the advantages of lower beef prices--and they are not. Some people say we need more investigations and studies. We do not need more investigations and studies. We need action by the Clinton administration and the Justice Department to enforce the antitrust laws and the price-fixing laws that we have in this country. That will help beef prices. That will help our cattle.
Mr. President, I grew up on a farm, and I used to raise cattle. We would go out to western South Dakota and buy 400-pound feeder calves and bring them back to eastern South Dakota, feed them for a year, and sell them. I kept records on my 4-H beef cattle, and I know how tough it is to make a profit on feeder cattle. I know that a lot of our cattlemen today are losing money and are losing their farms because of low cattle prices. There have been a number of steps taken. But they have all been on the edge.
The real issue is price. I feel strongly that the great packer concentration is causing price-fixing, and we need antitrust action by the Clinton administration. They have the authority. The law is on the books. We should do it now.
So, Mr. President, in conclusion, let me say that I voted with pride for the Dole budget that passed the Senate because it has welfare reform in it that will lead to workfare.
It will fundamentally change the welfare system in our country to workfare. It will save taxpayers' money. It will mean that actual welfare recipients will do even better. This is a good budget that will lead us to $1 billion in 2002. I hope the House of Representatives and the White House accept the budget this year.
I thank the Chair, and I yield back my time.
Mr. President, I note the absence of a quorum.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
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