E 932 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks May 3, 1995

wealthy—that would make it enormously

difficult, if not impossible, to balance the

budget.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

There have been several positive aspects to

the Contract with America. First, the House

leadership did what they said they would do.

They took on several major issues and

moved them through the legislative process

expeditiously. They deserve credit for that.

They have seized extraordinary control of

the political agenda and the terms of the debate.

Second, several Contract items represent

significant reforms. For example, the measures, that have been signed into law—congressional compliance and restrictions on

unfunded mandates—are important changes.

Third, the Contract has helped bring about

a serious reassessment of the role of government. The House leadership has focussed

greater attention on several very important

questions. How big should the federal government be? Should the functions of income

maintenance and regulation be permanent

features of our government? Can we pay for

whatever we decide the government ought to

do? Do states have sufficient resources and

capabilities to resume their full role under

the Constitution?

DRAWBACKS

There are also several drawbacks to the

Contract. First, the Contract has dealt to a

surprising degree with legislative and regulatory procedures rather than substantive

legislation. For example, the Contract has us

vote on sending to the states a Constitutional amendment to require Congress to

eventually balance the budget rather than

have us simply vote on a balanced budget. As

the Speaker said, ‘‘We cleverly picked popular things to do.

Second, the Contract failed to deal with

many of the real problems facing our nation.

As House consideration of the Contract was

coming to a close, I kept thinking to myself

that it is now time to get about the business

of the nation: doing something about jobs,

incomes, health care, and education. the real

test is not how many bills are passed or the

popular ratings score or the checklist on the

Contract’s progress. The real test is whether

we improve the lives of Americans and improve our prospects for the future.

Third, several of the Contract items went

too far. For example, a central part of the

Contract has been to cut back programs for

millions of struggling Americans while at

the same time providing tax cuts mainly for

the rich—tax cuts the Wall Street Journal

called ‘‘the biggest tax-saving bonanza in

years for upper-income Americans’’. I do not

find broad support for the proposals to cut

federal programs that benefit children, the

elderly, or the middle class.

Fourth, the tough budget decisions lie

ahead. The basic Contract promise, of

course, is to cut federal spending and balance

the budget. If the new leadership fails at

that, they will have failed altogether. The

Contract’s tax cuts were a major step in the

wrong direction. It will be impossible to both

reach a balanced federal budget and provide

big House-passed tax cuts without putting

the entire budget on the cutting table, including Medicare and Social Security. So far

the House leadership has spoken only in generalities about cutting spending. Sooner or

later, they will have to detail politically difficult spending cuts.

CONCLUSION

It is far too early in the process to say that

the Contract has been a success or a failure.

The House has certainly not finished its

heavy lifting, and in many respects the

tough decisions lie ahead. Still, a good start

has been made on certain items, and it is

quite possible that with the Senate serving

as a filter and a brake, the legislative results

will be pretty good.

FLOYD DAVIS TRIBUTE

fHON. BILL RICHARDSON OF NEW MEXICO

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Wednesday, May 3, 1995

Mr. RICHARDSON. Mr. Speaker, last week

New Mexico lost one of our great citizens. It

is with great sadness that I inform the House

of the death of Floyd Davis of Rio Rancho.

The 76-year-old Davis was the continuous,

energetic volunteer in the fight to preserve,

protect, and nurture African-American youth.

A long-time resident of Hempstead, NY, and

Rio Rancho, Mr. Davis became a singular institution in both locales for research, communication, and networking related to increasing

employment opportunities for the AfricanAmerican community as a whole but especially for its youth. A native of Norfolk, VA, Mr.

Davis retired from the U.S. Postal Service at

John F. Kennedy Airport in New York and relocated to Rio Rancho.

Mr. Davis served as a school volunteer with

troubled youth in Albuquerque, Rio Rancho,

and Springfield Gardens, NY, and was one of

the first to organize a directory of black businesses and professionals in Hempstead, NY.

He personally circulated through the public

and private sector of Albuquerque in search of

employment opportunities for African-American

youth. Opportunities identified were disseminated through the civic and religious network

of the community. This was often followed by

any support required to achieve the goal of

getting more youth gainfully employed.

He had recently completed a self-funded

survey of African-American car sales persons

in the Albuquerque area which was designed

to increase patronization by the community

and help strengthen the presence of these

sales persons with potential customers.

Mr. Davis also served as a strong foot soldier across Albuquerque with the New Mexico

Democratic Party to help get out the vote for

many Democrats. He was a tireless volunteer

for the Democratic Party and made sure that

Democrats were elected to office.

Clearly, Mr. Davis touched a great many

lives during his many years with us. I am glad

I had the opportunity to know him. I urge my

colleagues to join me in paying special tribute

to this very special man, Mr. Floyd Davis of

Rio Rancho.

STATEMENT ON ORDER OF THE

EASTERN STAR

f

HON. MARGE ROUKEMA OF NEW JERSEY

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Wednesday, May 3, 1995

Mrs. ROUKEMA. Mr. Speaker, I rise to call

attention to the 125th anniversary of the Order

of the Eastern Star, which is being celebrated

at the organization’s annual convention in Atlantic City, NJ, today. This is an important organization that has done much for our Nation

and deserves our recognition.

The Order of the Eastern Star is associated

with the Order of Free and Accepted Masons

and membership is open to Master Masons,

their wives, daughters, mothers, widows and

sisters. The precise beginnings of the order

are not known, but records indicate that a

similar organization existed in France during

the 18th century. The order was introduced in

the United States by Robert Morris, a LaGrange, KY., Mason, teacher, poet, attorney,

and minister who wrote the first ritual in 1850

and published it in 1865 as The Rosary of the

Eastern Star. The General Grand Chapter,

which has jurisdiction over chapters in the

United States and Canada, was founded in

1876 and is headquartered here in Washington.

The order is dedicated to serving people in

need, to social enjoyment and promotion of

civic interests. Among other activities, it offers

scholarships to needy students, and maintains

homes both for aged members and orphaned

children of members, and aids in research into

diseases such as cancer, arthritis, and heart

disease.

The Order of the Eastern Star is no small

organization. There are 3 million members

worldwide; 2.5 million of them in the General

Grand Chapter. It is the largest women’s fraternal organization in the world. I feel a particularly close connection because my own

mother, Mrs. Margaret Scafati, has been a

member for 55 years and served as worthy

district deputy in 1978.

The Order of the Eastern Star has provided

spiritual guidance and tangible aid to millions

throughout its 125-year history. I congratulate

the Order of the Eastern Star on its first 125

years and wish it another 125 years of equal

success.

TRIBUTE TO SECOND BAPTIST

fCHURCH

HON. JULIAN C. DIXON OF CALIFORNIA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Wednesday, May 3, 1995

Mr. DIXON. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased that

Representatives MAXINE WATERS and WALTER

TUCKER have joined me to salute the Second

Baptist Church of Los Angeles on the occasion of its 110th anniversary of providing outstanding ministry and spiritual leadership to

Los Angeles’ African-American community. On

Friday, May 12 at the Westin Bonaventure

Hotel, Second Baptist Church will hold its anniversary banquet to recognize the distinguished contributions of some of Los Angeles’

most notable sons and daughters. In recognition of the empowering contributions that Second Baptist Church has made to our combined

communities however, we would like to use

this opportunity to share with our colleagues

the following historical retrospective of this

great church.

For African-Americans the black church traditionally has served as a beacon of light and

as a nurturing spiritual foundation. Clearly,

Second Baptist Church stands as a personification of that force. Organized in 1885, Second Baptist Church began its spiritual journey

with a small congregation of 22 members.

Today, its congregation has swelled to 1,350

active and participating members.