An Extension of Remarks insert by US Congressman Henry A. Waxman sharing a 1981 speech delivered by US Congressman Les AuCoin at the Oregon Committee for Israel Bonds. Referencing George Orwell's 1984 in his speech, Congressman AuCoin criticized the Reagan Administration's proposal to sell offensive arms to Saudi Arabia (the US–Saudi Arabia AWACS Sale), a country in which the US had a history of oil pricing disputes with, instead describing Israel as the true "dependable friend in the Middle East." Congressman Waxman states in the introduction of the extension of remarks: "Mr. Speaker, as the gentleman for Oregon points out, Israel is an island of stability surrounded by precarious and capricious enemies. Let us, for a moment, appreciate the benefits of our friendship with Israel as we consider Mr. AuCoin's remarks."
A speech by US Congressman Les AuCoin delivered at the Oregon Human Development Corporation, a farmworker-serving non-profit organization, on May 15, 1982. In his speech, Congressman AuCoin discussed the Hispanic community in Washington County; the increase in Hispanics in business management, colleges, and government service; his past visit to the Virginia Garcia Center; and the federal budget, arms control, the B-1 bomber, and describing how "The $4.2 billion going into bomb shelters could be better spent on the Virginia Garcia Centers and in the farm workers housing and in all the housing for all Americans then in that category."
A speech by US Congressman Les AuCoin advocating for arms control and building a peace admist national discussions of nuclear weaponry and building up arsenals in the defense budget. Delivered in the early years of the Reagan administration, Congressman AuCoin referenced the 1969 book "War by Timetables" by J. P. Taylor and states that "This member of congress has not voted for a single defense appropriations bill since he was elected to office eight years ago-- not a single one. And there's a very simple reason for that -- because it's not longer a defense budget anymore, it is a military provocation budget."
A Wall Street Journal newspaper article titled "Can Congress Staunch Red-Ink Flow?" by US Congressman Les AuCoin published on March 18, 1982. In his article, Congressman AuCoin discussed the $91.5 billion deficit proposed by President Reagan and criticized a previous editorial published on March 8 of that year titled "Deficit Hypocrisy."
The remarks of US Congressman Les AuCoin announcing his candidacy for a fifth term in Congress at a press conference at the Hilton Hotel in Portland, Oregon on March 8, 1982.
The remarks of US Congressman Les AuCoin at the Small Business Hearings in Oregon sometime in the early years of the Ronald Reagan administration. In his remarks, Congressman AuCoin discussed the notable economic debates of the era and their impacts on both the national level and the local level. Criticizing what is now known as Reaganomics, AuCoin questioned and stated "Is it fair or workable to have an economic policy which exempts oil companies from windfall profits taxes and allows the largest corporations to sell their paper tax losses -- while offering no relief to small business from history's largest peacetime tax increase, the 1977 payroll tax hike? Is it fair or workable to have an economic strategy that abandons the 1984 goal of a balanced budget, produces projected deficits of $300 billion in three years and, with that, the continuation of high interest rates? I believe it clearly is not workable -- the collapse of the housing timber, automobile, and thrift industries is clear evidence."
A speech titled "The Middle East -- What Next?" delivered by US Congressman Les AuCoin before the International Forum of the World Affairs Council and American Jewish Committee on January 14, 1982. In his speech, Congressman AuCoin discussed the US–Saudi Arabia AWACS Sale, "the status of American relations with Israel, the recent controversy over the Golan Heights, and ... the likely events after Israel returns the Sinai to Egypt this April."
A Business Week magazine article titled "Reaganomics," as placed in the Extension of Remarks section of the Congressional record by US Congressman Les AuCoin on December 4, 1981. The article discussed President Ronald Reagan's supply-side economic plan to cut taxes and increase military spending, an economic school of thought that was then famously coined "Reaganomics."
The House floor remarks of US Congressman Les AuCoin on the Renewable Resources Recovery Act of 1981 and his emergency legislation to save declining lumber mills admist bankruptcies and high interest rates by granting the Secretary of Agriculture new powers.
The House floor remarks of US Congressman Les AuCoin expressing his opposition to an arms sale to Saudia Arabia, delivered on October 14, 1981. Representative AuCoin and several other members of Congress had criticized the Reagan Administration's proposal to sell offensive arms to Saudi Arabia (the US–Saudi Arabia AWACS Sale), with Congressman AuCoin stating "...these are our most sophisticated intelligence-gathering and surveillance aircraft. AWACS are so sensitive, so advanced, we do not even allow our NATO allies in Europe the exclusive control over the places that Saudi Arabia seeks!...This sale jeopardizes the peace."
The House floor remarks of US Congressman Les AuCoin regarding a "Call to Conscience" vigil on behalf of Solomon Alber, delivered on October 1, 1981. Solomon Alber and his family were among thousands of "refuseniks," or Soviet Jews of the era who were denied visas to emigrate by the Soviet government. The vigil was organized by Congressman Barnes to demonstrate the congressional concern for those oppressed by the Soviet Union.
A speech by US Congressman Les AuCoin, as recorded in the Extension of Remarks, advocating for Congress to exercise oversight authority over the Postal Service following the increase in postal rates, expressing how he and his constituents were skeptical that such an inflationary rate change was necessary.
The remarks of US Congressman Les AuCoin delivered at the Oregon AFL-CIO State Labor Convention on September 17, 1981. In his speech, Congressman AuCoin advocated for organized labor and the working class, and discussed his dissatisfaction with the union busting movement and overall federal budget cuts proposed by the Reagan Administration.
A speech by US Congressman Les AuCoin, as recorded in the Extension of Remarks, advocating for the A-95 Circular Review procedure in the face of proposals to cut it by the Reagan Administration. In his speech, AuCoin explains how the "A-95 Circular Review procedure provides state and local officials the opportunity to participate in the review of proposed federal grants and projects. Through this intergovernmental communications process, A-95 has proven to be a valuable tool for assessing local needs, coordinating resources, and preventing waste or duplication of government services."
The testimony of US Congressman Les AuCoin before the Conservation Subcommittee of the Committee on Energy and Commerce expressing his support for "legislation to remove the Lake Oswego Dam and hydroelectric facility from jurisdiction of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission." AuCoin discusses his House companion bill to Senator Mark Hatfield's bill, S.1573, which eventually became law.
A speech by US Congressman Les AuCoin given at the national convention of IMAGE, an organization of Hispanic federal, state, and local government employees, on June 5, 1981. In his speech, Congressman AuCoin discussed the issue of the Reagan Administration proposing to cut several programs that benefited Hispanic Americans from the 1982 federal budget -- such as portions of the Occupational Safety and Health Adinistration (OSHA), bilingual education and migrant health, housing and social services -- all while increasing military spending. During his time in Congress, AuCoin had been a part of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus.
The testimony of US Congressman Les AuCoin before the Committee on House Administration discussing the problem of the early release of Presidential election results and advocating for his bill, HR3595 - A bill to amend the Voting Rights Act of 1965 to provide a uniform time for the closing of the polling places in all elections of the electors of the President and Vice President of the United States, to prevent the release of election results before polling places have closed, and for other purposes. The testimony was delivered on December 15, 1981, and the legislation was notably introduced following the 1980 presidential election, when Jimmy Carter conceded the election before polls closed on the West Coast.
House floor remarks by US Congressman Les AuCoin, as published in the Congressional Record, advocating for HR3595 - A bill to amend the Voting Rights Act of 1965 to provide a uniform time for the closing of the polling places in all elections of the electors of the President and Vice President of the United States, to prevent the release of election results before polling places have closed, and for other purposes. This legislation was notably introduced following the 1980 presidential election, when Jimmy Carter conceded the election before polls closed on the West Coast.
The shortened remarks of US Congressman Les AuCoin at the Oregon Committee for Israel Bonds on June 3, 1981. In his speech, Congressman AuCoin criticized the Reagan Administration's proposal to sell offensive arms to Saudi Arabia (the US–Saudi Arabia AWACS Sale), a country in which the US had a history of oil pricing disputes with, instead describing Israel as the true "dependable friend in the Middle East."
Remarks of US Congressman Les AuCoin at the Oregon Committee for Israel Bonds on June 3, 1981. In his speech, Congressman AuCoin criticized the Reagan Administration's proposal to sell offensive arms to Saudi Arabia (the US–Saudi Arabia AWACS Sale), a country in which the US had a history of oil pricing disputes with, instead describing Israel as the true "dependable friend in the Middle East."
A speech by US Congressman Les AuCoin delivered to the Western States Chiropractic College in Portland, Oregon on May 2, 1981. In his speech, Congressman AuCoin discussed the federal budget resolution for 1982 and his concerns about how Reaganomics would negatively affect higher education and the quality and quantity of health care, all while increasing funding for defense spending.
A speech titled "China Trade in the Reagan Years" by U.S. Congressman Les AuCoin, delievered before the Export Managers Association in Portland, Oregon on February 18, 1981. In his speech, Congressman AuCoin discussed U.S.-China foreign relations. He criticized the Raegan administration's questioning of the One-China policy in regards to Taiwan. Congressman AuCoin also described the benefits of trade between the countries, especially for the state of Oregon. This is one of a collection of digitized objects from the Les AuCoin Papers (MS.147) at the Pacific University Archives. AuCoin served in the Oregon House of Representatives (1971-1975) and in the United States House of Representatives from Oregon's 1st District (1975-1993).
A campaign speech by Bill Moshofsky delivered to the Oregon Education Association on March 31, 1984, and the following response of U.S. Congressman Les AuCoin. At the time, Moshofsky was running for Oregon's 1st Congressional District as a Republican, challenging the Democratic incumbent U.S. Congressman Les AuCoin. Moshofsky first ran for the position in 1982. In his speech, Moshofsky discussed the state of the economy and education system, highlighting his concerns with the federal $200 billion deficit. He described his track record of volunteer work in improving education on the community level, experience in the Oregon timber industry, and his career in business management and as an attorney. In Congressman's AuCoin's rebuttal of Moshofsky's speech, Congressman AuCoin stated his committment to education and public schools, and asserted that the $200 billion deficit debate was misleading, as the cause was military spending, not education programs. He also described Moshofsky's past in lobbying for cuts in higher education in Oregon. Attached at the end of each speech is the transcript of the respective question and answer sessions. This is one of a collection of digitized objects from the Les AuCoin Papers (MS.147) at the Pacific University Archives. AuCoin served in the Oregon House of Representatives (1971-1975) and in the United States House of Representatives from Oregon's 1st District (1975-1993).
A speech by U.S. Congressman Les AuCoin delivered to the Kiwanis Club of Tigard on February 12, 1985. In his speech, Congressman AuCoin applauded President Ronald Reagan's 1985 State of the Union Address with his emphasis on values such as growth, strength, and individual merit. Congressman AuCoin discussed the question of how these values could be achieved in regards to the post-depression and post-Vietnam political generation. He also addressed the federal balance the budget debate and how it would potentially affect education funds and the Oregon economy. This is one of a collection of digitized objects from the Les AuCoin Papers (MS.147) at the Pacific University Archives. AuCoin served in the Oregon House of Representatives (1971-1975) and in the United States House of Representatives from Oregon's 1st District (1975-1993).
