Mr. LIVINGSTON. Mr. Chairman, I’d like to yield 3 minutes to the distinguished physician from Texas, Dr. Paul, a member of the Committee on Banking.
Mr. Chairman. The gentleman from Texas, [Mr. PAUL] is recognized for 3 minutes.
1997 Ron Paul 4:1
Mr. PAUL.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman I ask unanimous consent to revise and extend my remarks.
1997 Ron Paul 4:3
Mr. PAUL.
I rise today in opposition to H.R. 36. It’s very clear to me that we should be doing nothing in the way of funding international birth control and family planning. If one were to look for the authority for this, it would be very difficult to find it written in the Constitution that that would be a proper function for U.S. taxpayers to be obligated to participate in such a program. So, very clearly, a “no” vote on H.R. 36 would be a correct and proper vote.
1997 Ron Paul 4:4
I have more problems with the second vote on H.R. 585 because if one is concerned about being a fiscal conservative and following the rules of the Constitution, one might ask how many more dollars of taxpayers’ money will be used if H.R. 581 passes? And the best answer I can come up with is that instead of the $215 billion spent, that the President would get if he has his way, we would add that and have $385 million. In contrast, if we did nothing, if we voted down both of these proposals, it is my opinion that then the spending would be limited to $92 million.
1997 Ron Paul 4:5
The question arises here, well, what is a couple of dollars doing in some program that is unconstitutional if we can get some language in there that might do some good? Being a strong right-to-life member of the right-to-life caucus, I am very much aware of that and very concerned about it.
1997 Ron Paul 4:6
But quite frankly, if we didn’t spend the money we would not be arguing over whether or not the prohibition will do any good. Quite frankly, I do not believe the prohibition language accomplishes what it really intends to accomplish.
1997 Ron Paul 4:7
For instance, it is in the message, in the wording there, that if those who receive the funds do not spend it until the next fiscal year, they would not have the restraints on it. And besides, these organizations so often are international, they are huge in scope, and if they don’t use the funds for abortion these funds get shifted around.
1997 Ron Paul 4:8
But basically, it’s very clear to me that the program shouldn’t exist. We should vote down the appropriation or keep the appropriation as low as possible. And quadrupling it, from where we are today, if we do nothing, we spend $92 million; if we pass the H.R. 581, with the attempt to try to curtail the abortions, we actually quadruple it.
1997 Ron Paul 4:9
But quite frankly, I do not believe the language is strong enough to really prevent any of this money getting into the hands of the abortionists.
1997 Ron Paul Chapter 4
The title of this chapter was editorially supplied by the webmaster.
1997 Ron Paul 4:3
Ron Paul misspeaks, saying H.R. 585 in the first instance, and in the second instance makes the same error but immediately corrects himself . See the C-Span video, at 11:46:25 local time.
Ron Paul misspeaks, saying $215 billion instead of $215 million. See the C-Span video at 11:46:51 local time. In the same sentence, he speaks of a total in millions.
