E 1038 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks May 15, 1995

drive price and quality, Federal programs are

only accountable through the political process.

Moreover, historically, both Congress and the

executive branch have driven growth in Federal regulatory programs, creating layer upon

layer of bureaucracy at great cost and with diminishing returns for the American people. If

Congress and the executive branch do not

take concrete steps to reform these programs,

the United States will surely decline in the

world economy. Consequently, the quality of

life for our children will also decline.

The Regulatory Accounting Act of 1995 is

an important management tool to evaluate the

cumulative impacts of regulatory programs

through an accounting of national expenditures and statements of corresponding benefits for each regulatory program. The cumulative impact of regulatory costs must be debated at the same level that taxing and spending are debated; after all, they are all driven

from the same two sources—the private sector

and the American people. Rule-by-rule evaluations are insufficient to capture cumulative impacts or manage national expenditures. Moreover, a national debate that focuses solely on

the $1.5 trillion Federal budget without accounting for the additional $600 billion in annual regulatory costs is an incomplete and uninformed debate that leads to poor national

policy and management of resources.

What is needed is an accounting tool that

allows the Federal Government to fully understand the cumulative impact of Federal programs. The Regulatory Accounting Act would

provide such a tool. The bill requires the

President to provide an accounting statement

every 2 years respecting the costs of regulation to the private sector and State and local

governments, and Federal Government costs

by program or program element. The President would also provide quantitative or qualitative statements of corresponding benefits.

Such an accounting offers the opportunity for

comprehensive analyses of impacts on our

economy through an associated report. The

bill also provides for input from the public and

opportunities to identify areas for regulatory

reform.

The legislation changes no regulatory standard or program. It will, however, provide vital

information to Congress and the executive

branch so they may fulfill their obligation to

ensure wise expenditure of limited national

economic resources in all regulatory programs.

SALUTE TO THE UNIVERSITY OF

SOUTH DAKOTA’S DISASTER

fMENTAL HEALTH INSTITUTE

HON. TIM JOHNSON OF SOUTH DAKOTA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Monday, May 15, 1995

Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to commend the University of South Dakota for taking part in an effort to assist children with their

pain and fear over the horrible and cruel

bombing of the Oklahoma City Federal Building. This monstrous act, which killed and injured so many of our fellow citizens and

brought sadness to so many Americans, has

also scared and altered the innocent minds of

our children. In contrast to this heinous act of

cruelty, countless men and women all over our

country have unselfishly given their time and

prayers to those affected by bombing, and I

am particularly proud of the University of

South Dakota’s efforts to comfort and ease the

pain of children who feel unsafe as a result of

the Oklahoma City bombing.

The University’s Disaster Mental Health Institute has teamed up with the American Red

Cross, the American Psychological Association, AT&T, and other health professionals

from the region to operate the Children Heal

Hotline, a 5-day nationwide crisis telephone

line for children. I am extremely proud of

USD’s efforts to pull America together in order

to help our children and I think the establishment of the crisis line for children is an excellent example of how people and organizations

all over our country have come together to do

what ever possible to offer assistance to our

fellow citizens who are victims of the tragedy

which took place in Oklahoma City.

The Disaster Mental Health Institute at USD

has reached out and helped countless South

Dakotans deal with the floods and related difficulties associated with the floods of the past

years and I am pleased that other Americans

will benefits from the great work done at the

Institute. It is organizations like USD, and their

efforts, which give us hope for our future, and

restore our faith in mankind. I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing and saluting

the University of South Dakota for their outstanding service and devotion to our children.

TRIBUTE TO STANLEY G. TATE

AND THE FLORIDA PREPAID

fCOLLEGE PROGRAM: COLLEGE

EDUCATION FUNDING MODEL

FOR THE NATION

HON. CARRIE P. MEEK OF FLORIDA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Monday, May 15, 1995

Mrs. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker, in 1987,

the Florida Legislature created the Florida Prepaid Postsecondary Education Expense Program to allow families to prepay college tuition

and housing expenses for their children at a

lower rate than the projected costs at the time

of enrollment.

As a member of the Florida State Senate, I

strongly supported this innovative program to

help parents assure quality college educations

for their children.

A driving force behind the program, and a

key reason for its outstanding success, is the

chairman of the board of the Florida Prepaid

Postsecondary Education Expense Program,

Stanley G. Tate. Mr. Tate has worked tirelessly in the legislature, in our Dade County

community, and in our State to make this program the model for the Nation that it is today.

His guidance, expertise and energy has

helped make the program what it is today.

As of this year, the Florida Prepaid College

Program has a surplus of $106 million—which

continues to increase—with net assets in excess of $1 billion. Over 325,000 contracts

have been sold, assuring Florida youngsters

fully paid tuition when they are ready to go to

college. Once again, the program has been

declared actuarially sound by its auditors.

Of particular importance to me is the steps

that are being taken to increase awareness of

and participation in the program in minority

communities throughout the State. Advertising

in minority markets has been increased, and

minority participation is at its highest level

ever. In addition, the Florida Prepaid College

Foundation’s Project STARS [Scholarship Tuition for At-Risk Students] has received matching funding of $1 million from the State of Florida to provide college scholarships for economically disadvantaged students. The $1 million will be combined with $1 million in private

sector donations to provide 950 scholarships

for such students throughout the State.

Mr. Speaker, I salute the Florida Prepaid

Postsecondary Education Expense Board and

commend this excellent program to my colleagues for their consideration.

PERSONAL EXPLANATION

fHON. J.C. WATTS, JR. OF OKLAHOMA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Monday, May 15, 1995

Mr. WATTS of Oklahoma. Mr. Speaker, on

rollcall Nos. 324 and 328, I missed these

votes on May 12 due to some important business in the District. I would have voted ‘‘no’’

on rollcall vote No. 324 and ‘‘yes’’ on rollcall

vote No. 328.

AMENDMENTS ACT OF 1995

THE ANTITERRORISM

f

HON. RICHARD A GEPHARDT OF MISSOURI

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Monday, May 15, 1995

Mr. GEPHARDT. Mr. Speaker, today I am

pleased to introduce the President’s

antiterrorism legislation in the House, to help

ensure that America never endures the kind of

tragedy which shook Oklahoma City on April

19.

What happened in Oklahoma City was an

unforgivable act of cold-blooded cowardice.

There is no posture or principle which justifies

the ruthless killing of innocent children. There

is no cause or commitment which excuses

such random death and destruction.

We must do more than merely convicting

those responsible for this horrific act of violence, and bringing them to swift and certain

punishment. We must serve warning to all

who would use extremist means to advance

their extremist ideas: We will use the full force

of our laws to find them, to punish them, and

to rid our society of their hateful acts. And

when those laws aren’t enough, we’ll write

tough new laws to rein in their wanton bloodshed and terrorism.

That is why this legislation is so important.

It will help our law enforcement agencies root

out terrorism more quickly and effectively, to

help make the atrocities of Oklahoma City a

closed chapter in our Nation’s history.