[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1205-E1206]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

CONTRACT FROM AMERICANS

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HON. RANDY ``DUKE'' CUNNINGHAM

of california

in the house of representatives

Thursday, June 8, 1995
Mr. CUNNINGHAM. Mr. Speaker, last week my constituents sent me a
Contract from Americans. The first line of this contract says
[[Page E1206]] it all. ``We the undersigned citizens are concerned
about the future that awaits us,'' they say. They are worried about the
growing size of government. They are angry about the cruel Federal
welfare state. And, above all, they call on us to get to work and
balance the Federal budget.
I take their concern to heart. Not just because I agree with them,
but because the people that sent me this contract are very important to
me. It was written by a group of students from Escondido High School in
my district.
Students like these are standing up to the people that say they don't
care. They know how important it is that we balance and change the way
government does business. It is their future that is at stake, not
ours.
If we fail, these students know that they will have to live with the
debt. In their contract, they note that, ``the interest alone on our
national debt is more than our entire national budget was when America
was a better place to call home.''
These young adults are taking the initiative to make a difference,
and to make us change our ways. I am proud of them for making their
voice heard.
Mr. Speaker, this contract represents the voice coming from the
future of our country. I ask unanimous consent that it be included in
the record so that every Member of this body can read it. We must hear
their voice. We must make the future better for these children.
Contract From Americans

We the undersigned citizens are concerned about the future
that awaits us. We feel the role of Government is to ensure
the safety of the citizens, and prolong the sovereignty of
the nation. unfortunately, the nation that awaits us is not
safe and is not sovereign. The continual waste of tax dollars
on entitlement programs such as unending welfare, food
stamps, special aid for drug addicts, paying farmers to not
plant, and ensuring farmers profits must stop. In a true
democracy everyone would vote on such spending. But as we
live in a representative republic, you were selected to
represent our wishes. With this in mind, we ask that you
ensure the stability of our futures by enacting the following
legislation:
1. The spending on welfare, food stamps, AFDC, and others
must decrease. These programs have increased to 54% of the
total federal budget with no end in sight. If this spending
continues on the same course, you will authorize spending of
all our tax dollars on programs that are designed to help
only a fraction of our nation's population. We believe some
people deserve help, but only for limited periods of time.
These programs were designed to make life better. In reality
they have not made people's lives better, and in many
instances' people have been so harmed by the continual give
away of money they have lost the will to ``get off welfare.''
The welfare program is so full of waste, fraud and
redundancy, that it can only be repaired with a major
overhaul. We feel if the social programs continue, they
should be managed by the states where the recipients reside.
2. The furnishing of money to drug addicts must stop. Under
your current rules, if someone is a drug addict, you
authorize additional welfare (SSI) income over and above
their ``normal'' welfare entitlement. Drugs cost money. If
you give someone, who is addicted to drugs more money, that
means they will only buy more drugs. This program was created
to get people off drugs, an idea with good intentions.
Unfortunately it has not worked. There are no indications
that drug addiction is on the decrease. In fact, drug
addiction is on the increase, with the addict's drug of
choice being once again, heroin.
3. Farm subsidies in all forms must stop or be reduced. You
are authorizing farmers to receive income by not planting
crops, at the same time people are going hungry, and food
prices are going up. It is difficult to understand the
concept of paying people to ensure they do not do their job,
especially when others that need jobs cannot get a job.
Additionally, if farmers grow certain crops, such as sugar,
and do not make enough profit, you authorize payments to them
to ensure they make what has been predetermined as a
reasonable profit.
4. Balance the Federal Budget. Every American and every
American business can spend only what they earn. The Federal
Government should be held to the same standard. We are deeply
in debt, yet the overspending continues. The interest alone
on our debt is more than our entire national budget
when America was a better place to call home.
The discussion in vogue these days, according to U.S. News
and World Report, and the New York Times is ``how little
Generation X wants to contribute to the world, how they only
play video games, buy CD's and watch television.'' We are
members of Generation X, and very much want to contribute to
the world. That is why we are so concerned about its current
condition. Most of us work while going to high school.
Hopefully, we will all be working soon. We want to contribute
our fair share.
People of all ages need role models. We expect you to be a
role model. But continually giving away our tax dollars on
frivolous programs that pay people not to contribute sends a
clear message that it is acceptable not to contribute. That
is not acceptable to us. You were elected to be a leader. We
expect you to lead the way for all of us for a better
tomorrow.
Sincerely,
Iriceyda Baza; Ryan Bezenek; Maria Borbolla; Juan
Broderick; Amy Brooks; Chris Cabrera; Fernando
Carranza; Elizabeth Cervantes; Toeey Chov; Abe
Copeland; Michelle Dalope; Lorena Delatorre; Matthew
Dewall; April Dillard; Elva Duron; Mainardo Flores;
Karin Giron; Christi Henderson; Saul Hidalgo; Jennylind
Johnson; Crystal Lara; Tessa Larsen; Jose Morales;
Elizabeth Nunez; Josh Pippins; Art Reyes; Araceli
Rodriguez; Alfonso Rosas; Ana Salas; Adriana Sanchez;
Marty Sanchez; Kimmy Sitaket; Karen Stivers; J'nesse
Thompson; Valerie Torres; and Damion Voss.

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