Eva M. Clayton

Would not the Constitution be superior language to what the gentleman has codified? If the gentlewoman would yield further, it would not be superior in the sense--it is superior in any event to anything the court would do--but we have to…

the distance between low- and high-income families is growing. We must act now to close that gap. If we do not act, the cost of basic necessities--housing, food, and clothing--may be unaffordable for these families. Those costs are rising…

the gap in income is growing between those who have a lot of money and those who have a little money. That is unacceptable in a stable and strong economy. According to Business Week, the income gap ``hurts the economy.'' Almost half of the…

the President today proposed a modest increase in the minimum wage. We should support him. The President's proposal, combined with the earned income tax credit we passed last Congress, will go a long way in pushing millions of Americans…

I support welfare reform. Reform, however, does not mean change for the sake of change. Reform means change for the sake of improvement. As we move to reform the welfare system, let us make sure that we make a better system, not just a…

we should remind ourselves as we deliberate and pass policy: Who do we help and who do we hurt? How do we improve the quality of life? This week we are considering legislation to curb unfunded mandates. Last week we passed the balanced…

I would suggest that though that has happened, they also included very specific language, wherein my amendment is very broadly structured to include workplace safety. This is consistent with the language, that the gentleman has said that…

apart from the debate that has occurred on the floor of the House and the committee reports that have been filed, there is little or no legislative history on this bill. The reason there is little or no legislative history is because there…

If the gentleman could understand that this is not suggesting that this should replace any priority that we have. It is consistent with the priority I would have as a county commissioner or a Governor would have for his citizens. The…

The other point that I think needs to be made, this is not a very expensive program. We are not talking about big bucks. In many places, the State volunteers to put the money there. When they get Federal money, it is because the State asks…

this is not a matter that should be rushed through and rubber stamped because some Members believe it is more important to make a point in 100 days than it is to save hundreds of lives. And, if it is to be pushed forward on a fast track…

over a period of more than two centuries, we have amended the Constitution 27 times, 27 times in more than 200 years. Madam Speaker, the text of the 27th amendment was prepared September 25, 1789, and was not ratified until May 19, 1992…

there is much talk in this House about this being a family-friendly Congress. What constitutes a family-friendly Congress. Is it just that we are given a schedule which allows us time to spend with our families? This of course is very…

democracy means majority rule, but it also means government of, by, and for the people. In the context of democracy, there are two things that trouble me greatly about the Barton constitutional amendment for a balanced budget. First, the…

To avoid that result, I urge two changes: One, that we should not punish those who have given all of their lives--the aged; we should exempt Social Security from the balanced budget calculation. Social Security is, indeed, the contract…

throughout yesterday's debate, the sponsors of the unfunded mandates legislation told us one thing but in the bill they said something different. They told us that the bill continues to protect workplace safety, yet they do not say that in…

I speak as a former county chair of my board of supervisors and know the fact how unfunded mandates are indeed impacting the rural counties. But I think as we who may consider this bill need to raise some question, therefore we should not…

As we consider this matter, let us not be blind supporters of a bill that may threaten the well-being of Americans, a bill that seems to threaten to eliminate Federal standards for workplace safety. Mr. Speaker, safety in the workplace has…

I am also delighted to enter into this debate. It is said the measure of good government is not where we stand and what it does when times are good, the true measure of good government is where we stand and what it does when times are…

we worked from yesterday until early this morning. We now have nothing to do on the floor for the next couple of weeks. At the end of each day, I believe it is important to be honest and to ask the question: Who was helped and who was hurt…

I rise in support of congressional reform and in support of several parts of the proposed rules package. No Member in this Chamber has a premium on what's best for this Nation. We all have a contract with America. The contract to which…

over the years, this Congress has developed a package of policies and a set of laws designed to provide employee protection and to combat discrimination. Those laws have helped to make America better and more fair. This bill, H.R. 1, will…

I want to take this opportunity this morning to commend my colleagues in the House who are tirelessly working to ensure that all women will receive adequate health care coverage under health care reform. At a time when most everyone is…

I received some truly frightening news this week, news that threatens the very core of America's future. In my home State of North Carolina, it was revealed that the lives of our children have grown more and more treacherous over the last…

Welfare reform is of extreme importance to a great many people--14.2 million, and families--5.2 million, especially women and children--9.6 million, across this Nation. The reform of our current welfare system, the manner in which this…