Cass Ballenger

Upon assuming control of the entire nation of Vietnam, the Communist Government imprisoned many of its citizens in reeducation camps where they endured brutal conditions. Many died due to abuse and deprivation. Most of those placed in…

I rise to support President Bush's stellar leadership during these difficult times. His compassion, integrity, and sound judgment sound brightly as critical steps are taken to combat terrorism at home and abroad. This is a different kind…

I have a strange problem with the way we are talking about our present debate on the surplus. For 30 years, 40 years we never worried about the surplus. We never had a surplus and we spent it all. So, here now, we are about to have a…

today is another day that will live in infamy Americans are not used to attacks on our citizens, especially on our own soil. And America will not stand for it. Today's cowardly attacks were made by those who despise freedom. Well, I have…

I am fortunate to have many Montagnard tribesmen living in my district, so it is a pleasure today to be able to speak out in favor of this bill, H.R. 2833. Today, we have an opportunity to send a clear message to Hanoi that human rights…

On October 12, 2000, 10 men, including five Americans, were abducted from an Ecuadorean oil field. On January 31, 2001, Ron Sander of Sunrise Beach, Missouri, was brutally murdered by his captors. The hostages spent 141 days in captivity…

I have continually criticized the Norwood-Dingell-Ganske bill because of the liability language which threatens the employer-based system of health care. The Norwood amendment excludes employers from being held liable for selecting a…

Americans deserve to know when they need electricity that a steady supply will be ready and available. Unfortunately, California's consumers and business cannot count on steady electricity this summer. That is not right. It is time to…

The forthcoming World Conference Against Racism ought to represent an opportunity for the people and the governments of the world to look for ways to address the ongoing harm caused by continuing racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia…

headlines earlier this month credited widespread consumer conservation with the recent drop in gasoline prices. Those headlines told all of us how much power we really had to reduce the energy demand through conservation. The Republican…

It is very unfortunate that Californians have to go through these blackouts, and it is unfair to the people in California. But what is really unfair is that Californians have a Governor who refuses to take leadership and responsibility for…

I would like attention to be directed to one of many problems on the outdated Davis-Bacon Act of 1931. As my colleagues know, this law requires the State and local construction projects receiving over $2,000 in Federal aid must adhere to…

Mr. Chairman, many critics for the national endowments believe funding given to the NEA goes only to museums in big cities. As a former member of the National Council, I can assure the Members that rural communities receive more funding…

California's Governor has decided to hire high-priced Democrat spin-meisters instead of addressing the emergency crisis in his State. Taxpayers will subsidize Mark Fabiani and Chris Lehane at $30,000 per month to boost Governor Gray Davis…

Mr. Chairman, as a person who has been heavily involved in the drug war in Central and South America, I want to speak out in praise of the work of the Coast Guard. In their effort to reduce the drug flow into the United States, no one has…

When I look at H.R. 1, I see a bill which will truly reform the way Federal dollars are spent on education. This legislation puts the decision-making in the hands of local teachers and parents, not Washington bureaucrats. Often, we in…

the overarching goal of H.R. 1, the No Child Left Behind Act, is to narrow the achievement gap between disadvantaged students and their more affluent peers. The bill takes a two-track approach, expanding flexibility for States and local…

I would like to say that myself and the other two Members that have spoken on this side of the aisle all joined World War II when we were 17 years old. My wife and I have read on a daily basis the number of World War II veterans that are…

on April 20, 2001, a Peruvian fighter jet mistakenly shot down a small seaplane carrying Baptist missionaries from Muskegon, Michigan, over the jungles of Peru. Believing that the small plane was engaged in drug trafficking, the Peruvian…

performance bonuses and gainsharing programs are a way for employees to share in the success of a company that they work for. Whether exempt or nonexempt, all employees should have the same opportunity to receive bonuses for their hard…

President George W. Bush and the Republican Congress understand that we can achieve our budget objectives while providing this long overdue tax relief--while, simultaneously, protecting Social Security, Medicare and retiring the public…

I have opposed the costly and overreaching ergonomics standard that was finalized by the Clinton administration. I believe this ill-conceived regulation will have a detrimental effect on American business and its workers. This ergonomics…

our economy is good, interest rates are low and we have a record budget surplus. Due to the sound fiscal policies of Republicans, we have been able to pay off $354 billion in public debt and will completely eliminate it by 2012. That is…

just when we thought the Clinton-Gore administration could not sink any lower, they always figure out another way. I recently learned that OSHA paid for 35 posthearing comments for the record on its proposed ergonomics rule. In effect…

first let me give you a quick history of my company. I founded a company in Hickory North Carolina, in 1957 with a loan on my house. This company prints and converts polyethylene, polypropylene and cellophane for packaging for companies…