Sen. Bob Graham: “Thank you Mr. President. Mr. President, I rise in support of the amendment. First, I wish to state to my colleagues and…”

“Thank you Mr. President. Mr. President, I rise in support of the amendment. First, I wish to state to my colleagues and friends from California that it certainly is not my intention, by supporting the amendment, to add to the difficulty in passing the basic supplemental appropriation to fund the disaster relief in your State. I, as a Senator whose State was ravaged by Hurricane Andrew, am well aware of the serious distress of your people and of the urgent situation for quick congressional attention to your needs. I am pleased that we are here so early after the earthquake with the opportunity to provide for those needs. Rather, Mr. President, I am rising today because of a concern expressed, among others, in recent press accounts that the Nation's and the Congress' attention at deficit reduction has moved on; that that was 1993's fad, and we dealt with it in 1993 and now there are other matters which are dominating our attention. The fact that during these first few days of the 1994 session we are considering another step in the long road of deficit reduction, I hope will be seen as a clear signal that there is a strong commitment in the Congress to a continued recognition of the pernicious effects that constant increases in our national debt through annual deficits have on our Nation.”