Date: 1981-05-21
Speaker: ROBERT C. BYRD (democrat)
Chamber: S

Mr. President. H.R. 3512. the supplemental appropriations and rescission bill for fiscal year 1981 affects virtually every Federal program. Defense. energy. health. and educationall are affected by this bill. As reported. the bill includes rescissions of $15.3 billion in budget authority and supplemental appropriations of $21 billion in BA. H.R. 3512 includes supplementals for some very important programsprograms which I support. For example. it includes $1.3 billion for strategic petroleum reserve purchases. which I believe are necessary to our efforts to achieve billion for veterans entitlement programs. $0391 million for student financial assistance. and $300 million to continue operation of Conrail. This bill represents a major step forward implementation of President Reagans program for economic recovery. I have said that I support the Presidents goal of brnging the Federal budget under control. I agree that reducing Federal expenditures if necessary if that goal is to be realized. However. while I believe that President Reagans economic recovery program should be given a chance. I am concerned. as I have stated before. about some of the specifics of his economic proposals. I am concerned about their impact on the Nation and on my own State of West Virginia. This bill seeks to implement some of those proposals about which I have serious reservations. It makes major rescissions in economic development assistance programs. in Appalachian i regional development programs. in EPA construction grants. in veterans medical I care. in elementary and secondary education. in education for the handicapped. and in many other programs - which are important to West Virginia - and which. in many cases. are vital to i its economy and growth. In energy. the rescissions are large and numerous. For example. $505 million is rescinded from biomass energy development. $173 million is rescinded from energy supply research and development. which includes such important programs as solar application for building. Industry. and power and geothermal R. & D. In fossil energy research and development. a $67 million rescission is proposed: in DOE alcohol fuel. biomass fuel. and urban waste loan guarantees. a $470 million rescission is proposed: and in HUD solar energy conservation. a $875 million rescission is proposed. There are numerous other energy programs for which rescissions are proposed. and I am very concerned about their impact on our energy future. It is absolutely necessary that we achieve energy independence. These programs are moving us in that direction. If we dismantle them. as these proposed rescissions appear to do. we risk continued dependence on foreign oil. While I intend to vote for this bill because it Includes necessary and Important supplementals and worthwhile rescissions which it would be irresponsible to oppose. I will continue to be concerned about some of the rescissions until their impact is assessed. I hope that my concerns will be proved unwarranted. If they are not. I hope that the Congress will reverse those decisions which cause serious problems for the Nations economy or which jeopardize its energy independence.