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and voted on the first major legislation to come before it this year. Federal aid, the airport and a housing bill. Both were approved overwhelming English. I voted in favour of both measures, and I'd like to tell you why. Let's talk first about House in Florida. Home building is our second largest industry, second only to the tourist business.

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This child. We'll show you how important the housing industry is to Florida's economy. As you see in 1958 over 100,000 homes were built in our state, enriching our state by a billion $200 million. 525 million was spent for materials, lumber, cement, electrical supplies. All of the products made in Florida, which go into a house 475 million, was paid for wages, giving full time employment to some 88,000 building trade workers, carpenters, painters, bricklayers, plumbers and so forth, and giving another 80 Florida workers full time jobs in Allied trades, which depend on the housing industry.

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One out of seven job holders in Florida has a job directly connected to the home building industry. Three out of seven have jobs which indirectly depend on the building industry. Finally, Rand values business profits and sales expenses added another 200 million to the worth of our state's economy.

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Now, some who have not closely examined the figures have criticized the bill, which we passed is going beyond what the president asked for. But as a matter of fact, the impact of the 1960 budget will be no more than $135 million and I and it possibly could be as little as 35 million.

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I believe we can cut our budget in other places, particularly the water and the fact. For example, the foreign aid program, for a total of $3,000,000,900 million is proposed to be spent for the next fiscal year, actually a $630 million increase over the present rate of spending.

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I think we can make those cuts with no harm to our international position. It would be foolish to slam the door on our own economic growth. We can't put a check rain on the natural expansion of our state and our nation. Florida. It's workers, its builders, it's industry, it's people are all greatly dependent on home building.

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My view was at the time that these bills were passed, and it is now that the building program is far too important to be laughs. Older hog tied. Now I believe we should make the cuts in other areas less vital to the growth of Florida and the growth of the nation.

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Now that's for a moment. Talk about airports. The Senate also voted 63 to 22 in favor of continued federal aid to airport, providing $100 million a year for four years. To make our airports better, safer and adequate and ready for the jet age, all federal funds must be matched by those coming from the state or local agency.

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Now the present program in existence provides $63 million a year, and that's a recognition by this administration that need does exist in this field of airport developed. Everyone sees the necessity for vital improvements in our airport facilities, but longer runways for adequate terminals, for safety devices and so forth.

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In order to keep this phase of our basic transportation system efficient and growing, we must have this type of a bill. This chart shows the important help which Florida's cities are now receiving. Under the present law, these benefits will be continued and increased. However, if the airport bill, which the Senate passed, becomes law, Florida's whole tourist industry restaurants, hotels, motels and allied businesses will benefit, as will our state's entire economy.

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Contrary to reports, no monies will be authorized for any luxury installation. Ladies and gentlemen, we are faced with a serious battle to balance the budget. I think we can balance it, but we must discipline ourselves towards this end. But I believe the president's programs will have to be reviewed and revised, putting more emphasis on those programs vital to our national defense and economic growth rather than on foreign aid and thrills in the budget, the airport and housing bills or investments in America's future.

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They should not be cut. There will be places where cuts can be made in the coming year. The outcome of the Battle of the budget won't be known until the end of the session, when the total expenditures are then balanced against the total income. Thank you for tuning in