H5766 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE June 4, 1996 year in order to defeat the amendment. FIGHT THE ATTACK ON We should think very seriously about They are the sole obstacle to delivering AGRICULTURE the warning by Dr. Billy Graham. a balanced budget to the American peo- (Mr. BARRETT of Nebraska asked f ple. and was given permission to address We call on the President to show ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE SPEAKER the House for 1 minute.) PRO TEMPORE leadership and do the right thing for Mr. BARRETT of Nebraska. Mr. our children and grandchildren. If the Speaker, the House Agriculture Appro- The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- President really believes that big Gov- priations Subcommittee’s bill is a slap ant to the provisions of clause 5 of rule ernment and wasteful Washington in the face to rural America. Last week I, the Chair announces that he will spending are a thing of the past, he the subcommittee approved a bill that postpone further proceedings today on shouldn’t be afraid to legally require a would provide $581 million less in budg- each motion to suspend the rules on balanced Washington budget. et authority for agriculture programs which a recorded vote or the yeas and f for fiscal year 1997. nays are ordered, or on which the vote CHILDREN DID NOT RUN UP THE The subcommittee’s bill dem- is objected to under clause 4 of rule DEBT onstrates the blatant lack of under- XV. standing many in Congress have for the Such rollcall votes, if postponed, will (Mrs. SCHROEDER asked and was 1996 farm bill and for America’s farm- be taken on Wednesday, June 5, 1996. given permission to address the House ers. f for 1 minute and to revise and extend The Agriculture Committee worked her remarks.) for more than a year on a farm bill AUTHORIZATION OF MAJOR FACIL- Mrs. SCHROEDER. Mr. Speaker, I that would meet the needs of farmers, ITY PROJECTS AND MAJOR MED- rally thank the wonderful citizens and our obligations in balancing the ICAL FACILITY LEASES FOR DE- around America who came this week- budget. We created a program of fixed, PARTMENT OF VETERANS AF- end to stand for children. We have but declining payments to transition FAIRS, FISCAL YEAR 1997 heard some speeches this morning farmers from dependence on the gov- Mr. STUMP. Mr. Speaker, I move to about how the best thing we can do for ernment, to market-based production. suspend the rules and pass the bill children is not run up a debt. That is The subcommittee’s bill invalidates (H.R. 3376) to authorize major medical absolutely right. We should not run up the farm bill and these contracts. facility projects and major medical fa- a debt. But let us also remind people Today, I’m speaking especially to all cility leases for the Department of Vet- that children did not run up the debt of my colleagues from rural districts. erans Affairs for fiscal year 1997, and that is already there. Let’s drop this partisanship. As aggies for other purposes, as amended. Mr. Speaker, we should not try to we must work together to fight, once The Clerk read as follows: balance the debt on the backs of chil- again, this attack on agriculture. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Rep- dren, because children are going to be f resentatives of the United States of America in the ones that inherit this debt and are Congress assembled, THE WARNING BY DR. BILLY going to have to pay it off. The things TITLE I—CONSTRUCTION that we desperately need for children GRAHAM AUTHORIZATION are to make sure that they have the (Mr. DUNCAN asked and was given SEC. 101. AUTHORIZATION OF MAJOR MEDICAL educational skills that they can get permission to address the House for 1 FACILITY PROJECTS. out and compete globally in the 21st minute and to revise and extend his re- (a) AMBULATORY CARE ADDITION century and make enough money so marks.) PROJECTS.—The Secretary of Veterans Af- they can pay this off and get this coun- Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Speaker, a few fairs may carry out the following ambula- try going the right way. weeks ago, Dr. Billy Graham received a tory care addition major medical facility So to cut student loans, to cut aid to well-deserved Congressional Medal of projects, with each project to be carried out education, to cut after-school programs in the amount specified for that project: Honor here in the Capitol. (1) Addition of ambulatory care facilities and summer programs, to cut math and In his acceptance speech, he said that science programs are all terribly short- for mental health enhancements at the De- our Nation had ‘‘confused liberty with partment of Veterans Affairs medical center sighted. Those who cause the debt license’’ and that we are now ‘‘a soci- in Dallas, Texas, $19,900,000. should pay for the debt, not the chil- ety poised on the brink of self-destruc- (2) Addition of ambulatory care facilities dren. tion.’’ at the Department of Veterans Affairs medi- f I am a little more optimistic than cal center in Brockton, Massachusetts, $13,500,000. FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE Dr. Graham, but unfortunately, almost no one would say that he had no reason (3) Addition of ambulatory care facilities FUNDS AND REGULATORY RE- for outpatient improvements at the Depart- LIEF ACT OF 1996 or justification for his statements. Let me quickly note three recent in- ment of Veterans Affairs medical center in Shreveport, Louisiana, $25,000,000. (Mr. BEREUTER asked and was cidents which would cause Dr. Graham given permission to address the House (4) Addition of ambulatory care facilities further concern. at the Department of Veterans Affairs medi- for 1 minute.) First, a Federal judge ruled yester- cal center in Lyons, New Jersey, $21,100,000. Mr. BEREUTER. Mr. Speaker, earlier day that a rural Mississippi school had (5) Addition of ambulatory care facilities today, this Member introduced the violated the Constitution by allowing at the Department of Veterans Affairs medi- Federal Deposit Insurance Funds and prayers over the intercom and classes cal center in Tomah, Wisconsin, $12,700,000. Regulatory Relief Act of 1996, which about the Bible. (6) Addition of ambulatory care facilities constitutes a comprehensive plan to: Second, the top legal adviser for the at the Department of Veterans Affairs medi- First, fully capitalize the Savings As- Governor of Florida said a school pray- cal center in Asheville, North Carolina, in the amount of $28,800,000. sociation insurance fund; second, guar- er bill was illegal because ‘‘we are offi- antee payment of interest on Financ- (7) Addition of ambulatory care facilities cially now mandated to be a country at the Department of Veterans Affairs medi- ing Corporation bonds; third, merge with no formal recognition of God.’’ cal center in Temple, Texas, in the amount the bank and thrift charters; fourth, Third, a Maryland school super- of $9,800,000. merge the bank insurance fund and the intendent revoked an invitation to U.S. (8) Addition of ambulatory care facilities Savings Association insurance fund Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thom- at the Department of Veterans Affairs medi- into a new deposit insurance fund; and as because he happens to be both black cal center in Tucson, Arizona, in the amount fifth, provide solid regulatory relief to and conservative. of $35,500,000. all financial institutions. Another high official in Prince (b) ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT Mr. Speaker, this Member will be cir- George’s County, where this occurred, PROJECTS.—The Secretary of Veterans Af- culating a ‘‘Dear Colleague’’ letter ex- fairs may carry out the following environ- called it ‘‘the epitome of intolerance mental improvement major medical facility plaining the provisions in the bill and and bigotry.’’ projects, with each project to be carried out he invites his colleagues to join in co- These things would not have hap- in the amount specified for that project: sponsoring this comprehensive legisla- pened in this country just a few years (1) Environmental improvements for the tion. ago. renovation of nursing home facilities at the June 4, 1996 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H5767

Department of Veterans Affairs medical cen- (b) LIMITATION.—The projects authorized in ‘‘(C) the population of veterans to be ter in Lebanon, Pennsylvania, in the amount section 101 may only be carried out using— served by the network and anticipated of $9,500,000. (1) funds appropriated for fiscal year 1997 changes over a five-year period and a ten- (2) Environmental improvements at the pursuant to the authorization of appropria- year period, respectively, in that population Department of Veterans Affairs medical cen- tions in subsection (a); and in the health-care needs of that popu- ter in Marion, Illinois, in the amount of (2) funds appropriated for Construction, lation; $11,500,000. Major Projects for a fiscal year before fiscal ‘‘(D) information relevant to assessing (3) Environmental improvements to mod- year 1997 that remain available for obliga- progress toward the goal of achieving rel- ernize patient wards at the Department of tion; and ative equivalency in the level of resources Veterans Affairs medical center in Atlanta, (3) funds appropriated for Construction, per patient distributed to each network, Georgia, $28,200,000. Major Projects for fiscal year 1997 for a cat- such information to include the plans for and (4) Environmental improvements for the egory of activity not specific to a project. progress toward lowering the cost of care-de- replacement of a psychiatric bed building at SEC. 104. REPORT ON HEALTH CARE NEEDS OF livery in the network (by means such as the Department of Veterans Affairs medical VETERANS IN EAST CENTRAL FLOR- changes in the mix in the network of physi- center in Battle Creek, Michigan, $22,900,000. IDA. cians, nurses, physician assistants, and ad- (5) Environmental improvements for ward (a) REPORT REQUIRED.—Not later than 60 vance practice nurses); renovation for patient privacy at the Depart- days after the date of the enactment of this ‘‘(E) the capacity of non-Federal facilities ment of Veterans Affairs medical center in Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall in the network to provide acute, long-term, Omaha, Nebraska, $7,700,000. submit to the Committees on Veterans’ Af- and specialized treatment and rehabilitative (6) Environmental improvements at the fairs of the Senate and House of Representa- services (described in section 7305 of this Department of Veterans Affairs medical cen- tives a report on the health care needs of title), and determinations regarding the ex- ter in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, $17,400,000. veterans in east central Florida. In preparing tent to which services to be provided in each (7) Environmental improvements for the the report, the Secretary shall consider the service-delivery area and each facility in renovation of various buildings at the De- needs of such veterans for psychiatric and such area should be provided directly partment of Veterans Affairs medical center long-term care. The Secretary shall include through facilities of the Department or in Waco, Texas, $26,000,000. in the report the Secretary’s views, based on through contract or other arrangements, in- (8) Environmental improvements for the the Secretary’s determination of such needs, cluding arrangements authorized under sec- replacement of psychiatric beds at the De- as to the best means of meeting such needs tions 8111 and 8153 of this title; and partment of Veterans Affairs medical center using the amounts appropriated pursuant to ‘‘(F) a five-year plan for construction, re- in Marion, Indiana, in the amount of the authorization of appropriations in this placement, or alteration projects in support $17,300,000. Act and Public Law 103–452 for projects to of the approved mission of each facility in (9) Environmental improvements for the meet the health care needs of such veterans. the network and a description of how those renovation of psychiatric wards at the De- The Secretary may, subject to the availabil- projects will improve access to care, or qual- partment of Veterans Affairs medical center ity of appropriations for such purpose, use an ity of care, for patients served in the net- in Perry Point, Maryland, in the amount of independent contractor to assist in the de- work. $15,100,000. termination of such health care needs. ‘‘(4) A status report for each facility on (10) Environmental enhancement at the (b) LIMITATION.—The Secretary may not progress toward— Department of Veterans Affairs medical cen- obligate any funds, other than for design ‘‘(A) instituting planned mission changes ter in Salisbury, North Carolina, in the work, for the conversion of the former Or- identified under paragraph (3)(B); amount of $18,200,000. lando Naval Training Center Hospital in Or- ‘‘(B) implementing principles of managed (c) SEISMIC CORRECTION PROJECTS.—The lando, Florida (now under the jurisdiction of care of eligible veterans; and Secretary of Veterans Affairs may carry out the Secretary of Veterans Affairs), to a nurs- ‘‘(C) developing and instituting cost-effec- the following seismic correction major medi- ing home care unit until 45 days after the tive alternatives to provision of institutional cal facility projects, with each project to be date on which the report required by sub- carried out in the amount specified for that care.’’; and section (a) is submitted. project: (3) by adding at the end the following new (1) Seismic corrections at the Department TITLE II—STRATEGIC PLANNING FOR subsection: ‘‘(d)(1) The Secretary shall submit to each of Veterans Affairs medical center in Palo HEALTH CARE RESOURCES committee, not later than January 31 of each Alto, California, in the amount of $36,000,000. SEC. 201. STRATEGIC PLANNING. year, a report showing the current priorities (2) Seismic corrections at the Department Section 8107 of title 38, United States Code, of the Department for proposed major medi- of Veterans Affairs medical center in Long is amended— cal construction projects. Each such report Beach, California, in the amount of (1) by redesignating subsection (b) as sub- shall identify the 20 projects, from within all $20,200,000. section (c); the projects in the Department’s inventory (3) Seismic corrections at the Department (2) by striking out subsection (a) and in- of proposed projects, that have the highest serting in lieu thereof the following new sub- of Veterans Affairs medical center in San priority and, for those 20 projects, the rel- sections: Francisco, California, $26,000,000. ative priority and rank scoring of each such ‘‘(a) In order to promote effective planning SEC. 102. AUTHORIZATION OF MAJOR MEDICAL project. The 20 projects shall be compiled, for the efficient provision of care to eligible FACILITY LEASES. and their relative rankings shall be shown, The Secretary of Veterans Affairs may veterans, the Secretary, based on the analy- by category of project (including the cat- enter into leases for medical facilities as fol- sis and recommendations of the Under Sec- egories of ambulatory care projects, nursing lows: retary for Health, shall submit to each com- home care projects, and such other cat- (1) Lease of a satellite outpatient clinic in mittee, not later than January 31 of each egories as the Secretary determines). Allentown, Pennsylvania, in an amount not year, a report regarding long-range health ‘‘(2) The Secretary shall include in each re- to exceed $2,159,000. planning of the Department. port, for each project listed, a description of (2) Lease of a satellite outpatient clinic in ‘‘(b) Each report under subsection (a) shall the specific factors that account for the rel- Beaumont, Texas, in an amount not to ex- include the following: ative ranking of that project in relation to ceed $1,940,000. ‘‘(1) A five-year strategic plan for the pro- other projects within the same category. (3) Lease of a satellite outpatient clinic in vision of care under chapter 17 of this title to ‘‘(3) In a case in which the relative ranking Boston, Massachusetts, in an amount not to eligible veterans through coordinated net- of a proposed project has changed since the exceed $2,358,000. works of medical facilities operating within last report under this subsection was submit- (4) Lease of a parking facility in Cleveland, prescribed geographic service-delivery areas, ted, the Secretary shall also include in the Ohio, in an amount not to exceed $1,300,000. such plan to include provision of services for report a description of the reasons for the (5) Lease of a satellite outpatient clinic the specialized treatment and rehabilitative change in the ranking, including an expla- and Veterans Benefits Administration field needs of disabled veterans (including veter- nation of any change in the scoring of the office in San Antonio, Texas, in an amount ans with spinal cord dysfunction, blindness, project under the Department’s scoring sys- not to exceed $2,256,000. amputations, and mental illness) through tem for proposed major medical construction (6) Lease of a satellite outpatient clinic in distinct programs or facilities of the Depart- projects.’’. Toledo, Ohio, in an amount not to exceed ment dedicated to the specialized needs of SEC. 202. REVISION TO PROSPECTUS REQUIRE- $2,223,000. those veterans. MENTS. SEC. 103. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. ‘‘(2) A description of how planning for the (a) ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.—Section (a) IN GENERAL.—There are authorized to networks will be coordinated. 8104(b) of title 38, United States Code, is be appropriated to the Secretary of Veterans ‘‘(3) A profile regarding each such network amended— Affairs for fiscal year 1997— of medical facilities which identifies— (1) by striking out ‘‘shall include—’’ and (1) for the Construction, Major Projects, ‘‘(A) the mission of each existing or pro- inserting in lieu thereof ‘‘shall include the account, $422,300,000 for the projects author- posed medical facility in the network; following:’’; ized in section 101; and ‘‘(B) any planned change in the mission for (2) in paragraph (1)— (2) for the Medical Care account, $12,236,000 any such facility and the rationale for such (A) by striking out ‘‘a detailed’’ and insert- for the leases authorized in section 102. planned change; ing in lieu thereof ‘‘A detailed’’; and H5768 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE June 4, 1996

(B) by striking out the semicolon at the (b) PARKING FACILITIES.—Section first day on which James H. Quillen other- end and inserting in lieu thereof a period; 8109(h)(3)(B) of such title is amended by wise ceases to be a Member of the House of (3) in paragraph (2)— striking out ‘‘working drawings’’ and insert- Representatives. (A) by striking out ‘‘an estimate’’ and in- ing in lieu thereof ‘‘construction docu- SEC. 303. NAME OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS serting in lieu thereof ‘‘An estimate’’; and ments’’. AFFAIRS NURSING CARE CENTER, (B) by striking out ‘‘; and’’ and inserting in SEC. 205. VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION ASPINWALL, PENNSYLVANIA. lieu thereof a period; HEADQUARTERS. The Department of Veterans Affairs nurs- (4) in paragraph (3), by striking out ‘‘an es- (a) REPEAL OF STATUTORY SPECIFICATION OF ing care center at the Department of Veter- timate’’ and inserting in lieu thereof ‘‘An es- ORGANIZATIONAL SERVICES.—The text of sec- ans Affairs medical center in Aspinwall, timate’’; and tion 7305 of title 38, United States Code, is Pennsylvania, shall after the date of the en- (5) by adding at the end the following new amended to read as follows: actment of this Act be known and designated paragraphs: ‘‘(a) The Veterans Health Administration as the ‘‘H. John Heinz, III Department of ‘‘(4) Demographic data applicable to the shall include the Office of the Under Sec- Veterans Affairs Nursing Care Center’’. Any project, including information on projected retary for Health and such professional and reference to such nursing care center in any changes in the population of veterans to be auxiliary services as the Secretary may find law, regulation, map, document, record, or served by the project over a five-year period to be necessary to carry out the functions of other paper of the United States shall be and a ten-year period. the Administration. considered to be a reference to the H. John ‘‘(5) Current and projected workload and ‘‘(b) In organizing, and appointing persons Heinz, III Department of Veterans Affairs utilization data. to positions in, the Office, the Under Sec- Nursing Care Center. ‘‘(6) Current and projected operating costs retary shall ensure that the Office is staffed SEC. 304. RESTORATION OF AUTHORITY FOR ES- of the facility, to include both recurring and so as to provide the Under Secretary with TABLISHMENT OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS RESEARCH COR- non-recurring costs. appropriate expertise, including expertise PORATIONS. ‘‘(7) The priority score assigned to the in— Section 7368 of title 38, United States Code, project under the Department’s ‘‘(1) unique programs operated by the Ad- is amended by striking out ‘‘December 31, prioritization methodology and, if the ministration to provide for the specialized 1992’’ and inserting in lieu thereof ‘‘Decem- project is being proposed for funding ahead treatment and rehabilitation of disabled vet- ber 31, 2000’’. of a project with a higher score, a specific ex- erans (including blind rehabilitation, spinal The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- planation of the factors other than the prior- cord dysfunction, mental illness, and geri- ity that were considered and the basis on atrics and long-term care); and ant to the rule, the gentleman from Ar- which the project is proposed for funding ‘‘(2) appropriate clinical care disciplines.’’. izona [Mr. STUMP] and the gentleman ahead of projects with higher priority scores. (b) OFFICE OF THE UNDER SECRETARY.—Sec- from Mississippi [Mr. MONTGOMERY] ‘‘(8) A listing of each alternative to con- tion 7306 of such title is amended— will each be recognized for 20 minutes. struction of the facility that has been con- (1) in subsection (a)— The Chair recognizes the gentleman sidered.’’. (A) by striking out ‘‘and who shall be a from Arizona [Mr. STUMP]. (b) APPLICABILITY.—The amendments made qualified doctor of medicine’’ in paragraph GENERAL LEAVE by subsection (a) shall apply with respect to (2); Mr. STUMP. Mr. Speaker, I ask any prospectus submitted by the Secretary (B) by striking out paragraphs (5), (6), and unanimous consent that all Members of Veterans Affairs after the date of the en- (7); and actment of this Act. (C) by redesignating the succeeding two may have 5 legislative days within SEC. 203. CONSTRUCTION AUTHORIZATION RE- paragraphs as paragraphs (5) and (6), respec- which to revise and extend their re- QUIREMENTS. tively; and marks on H.R. 3376, as amended. (a) DEFINITION OF MAJOR MEDICAL FACILITY (2) in subsection (b)— The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there PROJECT.—Paragraph (3)(A) of section 8104(a) (A) by striking out ‘‘subsection (a)(3)’’ and objection to the request of the gen- of title 38, United States Code, is amended by all that follows through ‘‘two may be’’ and tleman from Arizona? striking out ‘‘$3,000,000’’ and inserting inserting in lieu thereof ‘‘subsection (a)(3), There was no objection. ‘‘$5,000,000’’. not more than two may be’’; Mr. STUMP. Mr. Speaker, I yield my- (b) APPLICABILITY OF CONSTRUCTION AU- (B) by striking out the semicolon after self such time as I may consume. THORIZATION REQUIREMENT.—(1) Subsection ‘‘dental medicines’’ and inserting in lieu (Mr. STUMP asked and was given (b) of section 301 of the Veterans’ Medical thereof a period; and permission to revise and extend his re- Programs Amendments of 1992 (Public Law (C) by striking out paragraphs (2) and (3). marks.) 102–405; 106 Stat. 1984) is repealed. TITLE III—OTHER MATTERS (2) The amendments made by subsection Mr. STUMP. Mr. Speaker, this bill SEC. 301. NAME OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS authorizes $422 million in VA major (a) of such section shall apply with respect AFFAIRS MEDICAL CENTER, JACK- to any major medical facility project or any SON, MISSISSIPPI. medical facility construction for fiscal major medical facility lease of the Depart- (a) NAME.—The Department of Veterans year 1997. ment of Veterans Affairs, regardless of when Affairs medical center in Jackson, Mis- I want to thank the ranking member funds are first appropriated for that project sissippi, shall be known and designated as of the committee, my good friend, or lease, except that in the case of a project the ‘‘G. V. Sonny Montgomery Department SONNY MONTGOMERY, for his work on for which funds were first appropriated be- of Veterans Affairs Medical Center’’. Any this measure. I also want to thank TIM fore October 9, 1992, such amendments shall reference to such medical center in any law, HUTCHINSON, chairman of the Hospitals not apply with respect to amounts appro- regulation, map, document, record, or other and Health Care Subcommittee, and priated for that project for a fiscal year be- paper of the United States shall be consid- CHET EDWARDS, the subcommittee’s fore fiscal year 1998. ered to be a reference to the G. V. Sonny (c) LIMITATION ON OBLIGATIONS FOR AD- Montgomery Department of Veterans Affairs ranking member, for their bipartisan VANCE PLANNING.—Section 8104 of title 38, Medical Center. approach to this bill. United States Code, is amended by adding at (b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—Subsection (a) shall Last year, a separate VA construc- the end the following new subsection: take effect at noon on January 3, 1997, or the tion authorization bill was not acted ‘‘(f) The Secretary may not obligate funds first day on which G. V. Sonny Montgomery on by the House. The final omnibus ap- in an amount in excess of $500,000 from the otherwise ceases to be a Member of the propriations bill for fiscal year 1996 Advance Planning Fund of the Department House of Representatives. toward design or development of a major only partially funded the projects ap- SEC 302. NAME OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS proved by the Committee on Veterans’ medical facility project until— AFFAIRS MEDICAL CENTER, JOHN- ‘‘(1) the Secretary submits to the commit- SON CITY, TENNESSEE. Affairs. Approximately, $200 million re- tees a report on the proposed obligation; and (a) NAME.—The Mountain Home Depart- mained unauthorized and unappropri- ‘‘(2) a period of 30 days has passed after the ment of Veterans Affairs medical center in ated after final action on the fiscal date on which the report is received by the Johnson City, Tennessee, shall after the date year 1996 legislation. H.R. 3376 includes committees.’’. of the enactment of this Act be known and that $200 million project list and adds SEC. 204. TERMINOLOGY CHANGES. designated as the ‘‘James H. Quillen Depart- further projects to combine the re- (a) DEFINITION OF ‘‘CONSTRUCT’’.—Section ment of Veterans Affairs Medical Center’’. maining portion of last year’s bill into 8101(2) of title 38, United States Code, is Any reference to such medical center in any a fiscal year 1997 construction bill. amended— law, regulation, map, document, record, or I want to point out to Members that (1) by striking out ‘‘working drawings’’ and other paper of the United States shall be inserting in lieu thereof ‘‘construction docu- considered to be a reference to the James H. this bill does not construct new hos- ments’’; and Quillen Department of Veterans Affairs Med- pitals, or additional new inpatient bed (2) by striking out ‘‘preliminary plans’’ and ical Center. capacity. inserting in lieu thereof ‘‘design develop- (b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—Subsection (a) shall The projects in this bill fall into ment’’. take effect at noon on January 3, 1997, or the three main categories, ambulatory June 4, 1996 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H5769 care additions, patient environment half, and was proud to introduce H.R. 54,000 beds to adjust to the changes in improvements, and seismic correc- 3320, which is incorporated in the bill health care and this legislation seeks tions. These 21 projects come from the before us today. H.R. 3320 was cospon- to assist the VA in its continued tran- top of VA’s priority list in each cat- sored on a bipartisan basis by the en- sition from a hospital-based system egory. Over 200 projects were scored tire Tennessee delegation and by every into a health care system. and evaluated by the VA for the 1997 Member of the House Veterans’ Affairs I would like to highlight a very sig- budget cycle. Committee. I want to express my per- nificant provision in this bill which re- The ambulatory care additions will sonal thanks to another Member of the quires the VA to develop a 5-year stra- help the VA shift more rapidly to out- Tennessee delegation, JOHN DUNCAN, tegic plan for its health care system. patient care as the private sector has. for his assistance and hard work on Within the development of the plan, The patient environment improvement this bill. the VA is required to address such fac- projects renovate and replace existing, Mr. Speaker, the third naming provi- tors as veteran population trends, re- but substandard, inpatient capacity. sion in the bill honors the late Senator source distribution, cost of patient And, the seismic correction projects from Pennsylvania, the Honorable care, the capacity of non-Federal pro- will help VA facilities better withstand John Heinz. Senator Heinz served the viders within their geographic planning earthquakes in areas most prone to ex- people of his State for 20 years in out- networks, the missions of each facility perience them. standing fashion. His tragic death in a within the network, and specifically, The bill also makes important im- plane crash in 1991, prematurely ended the distribution of the important spe- provements in the VA’s strategic plan- the congressional service of this Air cialized services on both the network ning process for future evaluation of Force veteran. and national levels. Effective planning construction priorities. TIM HUTCHIN- His long time support for our Na- will make the VA a more effective and SON will say more about the bill in his tion’s veterans warrants the action we efficient provider of quality health explanation; however, I want to point take today, which will change the services able to better serve veterans out another very important part of the name of the Aspinwall VA Nursing by placing services where veterans bill. Title 3 of H.R. 3376 renames three Care Center, to the H. John Heinz, III need them. VA facilities after very deserving indi- Department of Veterans Affairs Nurs- Over the years, many of my col- viduals, the Honorable G.V. SONNY ing Care Center. I want to thank Rep- leagues and their veteran constituents have voiced concerns about the un- MONTGOMERY, the Honorable JAMES H. resentative MIKE DOYLE, a Member of QUILLEN, and the Honorable H. John the Veterans’ Affairs Committee for in- equal distribution of VA resources. Heinz III. troducing the original bill, H.R. 2760, This bill represents a significant step I would like to take the time to lead which was sponsored by the entire in creating parity for veterans by re- quiring VA to compare expenditures of off the comments about naming the VA Pennsylvania delegation. medical center in Jackson, MS after veterans by geographic networks and b 1415 my closest friend in the House, SONNY then shifting resources to follow the MONTGOMERY. To say that taking this Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he veteran. action enjoys unanimous support may consume to the gentleman from In strengthening strategic planning would actually be quite an understate- Arkansas [Mr. HUTCHINSON] for an ex- the bill also requires that as part of the ment. Not taking this action would be planation of his bill. annual authorization process the VA one of the gravest omissions the 104th Mr. HUTCHINSON. Mr. Speaker, I provide a report on the top 20 major Congress could possibly make. thank the chairman for yielding me medical construction projects, the rel- Naming this VA facility after SONNY this time. ative of each project by category, and a is fitting recognition to his commit- Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to description of the factors that account ment and devotion to our Nation’s vet- support H.R. 3376, bipartisan legisla- for the rank of each project. In this era erans during 30 years of service in the tion which authorizes major facility of public accountability, it is critical House of Representatives. His record of projects and major medical facility that each major expenditure speak to leadership and accomplishment as leases for the Department of Veterans the highest priority needs of veterans. The bill also raises the threshold for chairman of the House Committee on Affairs health care system, as well as a major construction projects from the Veterans’ Affairs, and as a senior mem- number of other important provisions current level of $3 to $5 million. It ber of the Armed Services, now Na- which ensure effective strategic plan- would also limit the scope of the so- tional Security Committee, are unpar- ning and management of the Veterans called grandfather clause and require Health Administration. alleled. He has rightfully been called that major projects be authorized an- I would like to thank Chairman Mr. Veteran, and I doubt his standing nually to ensure facility need and ac- STUMP, along with the ranking mem- among our Nation’s veterans will ever countability in the major construction ber, SONNY MONTGOMERY, and my sub- be eclipsed. I am proud to cosponsor program. this naming bill and to have the privi- committee colleague, CHET EDWARDS, The bill removes the requirement lege, as chairman of the Committee on for their efforts to meld this bill into that the Veterans Health Administra- Veterans’ Affairs, to bring this meas- an effective piece of legislation which tion be organized along certain clinical ure to the floor in honor of this great addresses the highest priority facility specialties and allows the Under Sec- American. construction needs within the VA sys- retary greater flexibility in the organi- Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3376 also renames tem. zation of the headquarters staff. the VA medical center in Johnson City, H.R. 3376 authorizes the appropria- Last and most importantly, this bill TN after another true friend of our Na- tion of $422.3 million for 21 projects honors three great Americans by nam- tion’s veterans, JIMMY QUILLEN. The which includes the construction of 8 ing VA facilities after them. They are distinguished gentleman from Ten- outpatient clinics, renovation of 10 pri- G.V. Sonny Montgomery Veterans Af- nessee is retiring after 34 years as a ority patient environment projects, fairs Medical Center, Jackson, MS; the member of this body, during which he and the correction of major seismic James H. Quillen Veterans Affairs Med- has dedicated himself to improving ac- problems at 3 California medical cen- ical Center, in Johnson City, TN and cess to health care for the citizens of ters. The legislation also authorizes the H. John Heinz III Veterans Affairs his district and State. Those efforts $12.2 million for six major medical fa- Nursing Care Center, Aspinwall, PA. have included the veterans of Ten- cility leases. I would like to strongly The rapidly changing health care en- nessee and all veterans throughout the reiterate that this legislation does not vironment, coupled with our joint re- country. His support for improving add one hospital bed to the system but sponsibility to the veteran and the tax- care and expanding the facilities at the instead puts the focus on needed im- payer, are satisfied by the provisions of Johnson City, VA medical center are provements for patient privacy, safety, this legislation. I strongly urge its pas- well known. and renovation of the valuable infra- sage. I strongly believe JIMMY QUILLEN’s structure of aging and often historic Mr. Speaker, I want to especially service to veterans warrants this ac- mental health facilities. Since 1969, the give my personal tribute to the gen- tion honoring his efforts on their be- VA health care system has closed over tleman from Mississippi, G.V. SONNY H5770 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE June 4, 1996 MONTGOMERY, a true friend of veterans existing hospital space so that the VA planning, to include its construction plans. It and no one more deserving of this rec- can provide care in a humane and safe would also require VA to provide the Commit- ognition and this honor. My prede- environment and increase the number tees on Veterans' Affairs with an annual report cessor, a long-time member of the of veterans that they can see on a daily identifying by category the construction Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, John basis. projects which represent its highest priorities Paul Hammerschmidt, regarded SONNY Now, Mr. Speaker, the Congress has a for funding. Such reporting would assist the as his dearest and closest friend in all record of being very responsive to vet- committees in developing construction author- of Congress, if not all the world. I share erans needs. From 1988 to 1995 the Con- ization legislation. In that regard, one section that same affection and am glad to pay gress appropriated an average of $436 of the bill, which would repeal a grandfather that honor to him today and to support million per year for VA major con- clause, exempting certain construction projects this legislation. struction, with most of this money from the authorization requirement, has Mr. MONTGOMERY. Mr. Speaker, I going for medical construction. With prompted a technical question. yield myself such time as I may these funds, the VA was able to re- My friend, VIC FAZIO, has asked me to clar- consume. place, to modernize a number of our 171 ify the impact that repeal would have on the I certainly want to begin by thank- hospitals that we have across the coun- proposed fiscal year 1997 funding of construc- ing the chairman of the committee, the try, and to open the state-of-the-art tion work on a replacement VA medical center gentleman from Arizona, the Honor- outpatient centers. at Travis Air Force Base. In adopting a con- able BOB STUMP, for bringing this bill However, last year, the VA only got struction authorization requirement, the Con- to the floor and for the very, very kind $136 million in medical construction gress in Public Law 102±405 grandfathered words that the chairman has given me funds. The amount recommended by construction projects for which funds had been and the gentleman from Tennessee, the appropriation subcommittee for appropriated before the law's enactment, in ef- JIMMY QUILLEN, and former Senator the coming fiscal year is more than fect providing that the construction authoriza- John Heinz. that, but it is still $200 million less tion requirement would not apply to those I want to point out, Mr. Speaker, than it should be. projects. It is my understanding that the VA's that under the leadership of BOB Last week the house appropriated general counsel has concluded, based on STUMP, our committee is bipartisan. over $300 million for construction for Congress having provided specific funding for We work together, we have no prob- military medical treatment facilities. the advance planning and design phases of a lems, and, naturally, I would say this And, Mr. Speaker, they do not have Martinez replacement hospital prior to the en- is a good bill being brought to the floor half, even a third, of the medical facili- actment of Public Law 102±504, that VA may, today. ties we have for the VA. We have just under the grandfather clause, obligate moneys I also want to thank the chairman of not provided enough money to keep appropriated for constructing a replacement the Subcommittee on Hospitals and these veterans’ facilities in decent hospital at Travis Air Force Base. Under H.R. Health Care, the gentleman from Ar- shape. 3376, the repeal of the grandfather clause kansas, the Honorable TIM HUTCHINSON, In addition, the veterans populations would first have application with respect to and I am certainly glad that he has is shifting, and we need to try to meet amounts appropriated for fiscal year 1998. Ac- considered running for the House again that increased demand, especially cordingly, should Congress appropriate fiscal and leaving the Senate alone. I think through opening more outpatients clin- year 1997 funds for the Travis project, nothing that was the right decision. ics. What we are trying to do is maybe in H.R. 3376 would bar VA from obligating Also thanks to the gentleman from get away from the big hospitals and those fiscal year 1997 funds. Texas, the Honorable CHET EDWARDS, have outpatient clinics where we can Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3376 does raise some for working together, as I mentioned, take care of more of the veterans. important issues, beyond the specific projects in a bipartisan manner for this legisla- VA had a backlog of high-priority it authorizes. VA is making needed reforms in tion. medical construction projects which its medical care system, but its physical plant The construction authorization bill, total out at about $3 billion. If we con- needs work too. In many places around the H.R. 3376, is very important in that tinue at the current pace of funding country, VA must provide care in aging facili- many VA hospitals were built more these projects, some of these hospitals ties that need major renovation. Veterans con- than 50 years ago, Mr. Speaker, and will be a pile of rubble before we get tinue to rely on VA care, so we can't just let they were not designed for the way around to finding the money to ren- VA hospitals deteriorate. We need to bring old health care is provided today. Too ovate them. I hope we can fund more buildings up to acceptable patient-care and many of these old patient care build- funds for the outpatient clinics and privacy standards, and strengthen inpatient fa- ings have never been upgraded. As a re- other projects that our committee is cilities that are vulnerable to earthquakes. We sult, it is difficult to care for some of recommending in this legislation. We also need to give VA the means to lower the the veterans with psychiatric prob- need to fund all of the projects in this cost of care by funding construction that would lems, the problems with infection con- bill if we are going to keep our word to allow VA to replace hospital wards with new trol, and situations really exist that the veterans. space in which to provide outpatient care. interfere with good treatment. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to These are high priority needs, and the VA has As many of my colleagues are aware, support this bill. a large backlog of such priority construction the VA is making many changes in its Mr. Speaker, I am pleased that a construc- projects totaling $3 billion. But veterans across health care system. And the gentleman tion authorization bill is at last being brought to the country wait, year after year, in hope that from Arizona, Chairman STUMP, and I the floor. This bill represents a good-faith, truly Congress will provide the funds needed to ad- think it is for the best in making these bipartisan approach to identifying the most dress such problems at their local VA hospital. changes. needed major medical construction work within Members need to know, however, that the Last week the Washington Post ran a the VA health care system. I commend BOB fiscal year 1997 VA-HUD appropriations bill very long article written by Bill STUMP, the chairman of the Veterans' Affairs marked up last week by the Subcommittee on McAllister about the VA’s increased Committee for his leadership in developing VA, HUD, and Independent Agencies will pro- emphasis on primary care and its and marking up this bill. I also want to thank vide funding for only a few of the projects struggle to update its facilities. Mil- the chairman of the Subcommittee on Hos- which H.R. 3376 would authorize. With only lions of veterans continue to rely on pitals and Health Care, the Honorable TIM $189 million targeted to major medical con- the VA care. So we need to authorize HUTCHINSON, and the ranking member, the struction projects under the marked up bill, the construction projects to fix these old Honorable CHET EDWARDS, for their work on level of funding is simply inadequate, both with buildings up and make our patient care this bill. respect to the volume of needed construction more convenient. In addition to authorizing major medical con- and in relation to funding levels in prior Con- The projects included in this bill are struction projects for fiscal year 1997, this bill gresses. From 1988 to 1995, for example, the at the very top of the VA priority list. would make statutory changes aimed at im- Congress appropriated an annual average of Rather than adding more hospital beds proving the construction planning process. $436 million for VA major construction, with or, as has been said earlier, building Among these, the bill would require VA to de- most of this money going for medical con- more hospitals, these projects expand velop a strategic planning process and to pro- struction. With the substantially reduced levels outpatient capacity and renovation of vide Congress annually a detailed report on its of VA construction funding in this Congress, June 4, 1996 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H5771 the upshot is that critically needed projects will Veterans will find this difficult to understand in has never lost an election, primarily face years of delay. light of the subcommittee's reversal on a because he served his people well, and It is particularly important, therefore, that project it rejected last year. The subcommittee he never got too big for his britches or those limited funds dedicated to major medical reported last year that it could not fund the let his position go to his head. construction for veterans are targeted to the proposed replacement hospital at Travis Air He has now achieved the record for most compelling of VA's needs. For that rea- Force Base ``because of the budgetary situa- the longest continuous service of any son, it is very disappointing to find moneys tionÐboth present and anticipated in the fu- Tennessean ever to serve in Congress. earmarked under the proposed fiscal year ture'', and instead fiscal year 1996 funds were Congressman QUILLEN is certainly a 1997 appropriation for projects which VA itself appropriated for an outpatient clinic at Travis. living legend. He came up the hard does not support or for which there is no com- The subcommittee has now reversed course way, 1 of 10 children, in what was con- pelling priority. and has proposed partial funding of the Travis sidered poverty even many years ago. With the very limited major medical con- hospital construction project. As he has said, he was poor, but did not struction funding proposed in the subcommit- If the gloomy budget situation which ap- know it, because he came from a good tee's bill, and apparent differences over what peared to have doomed the Travis project last and loving family. constitute construction priorities, there is little year has in fact brightened sufficiently to per- He has achieved great success, both prospect of making any significant dent in mit an about-face, then it surely must mean in business and in politics. At one time VA's huge construction backlog. It is illuminat- there is sufficient flexibility to fund some of the he was the youngest newspaper pub- ing, however, to examine the kinds of projects compelling projects I have cited above. lisher in the State of Tennessee, and he which the Veterans' Affairs Committee deter- Given the state of the infrastructure at many started one of the most successful in- mined to have the most compelling need for of VA's medical centers, veterans will be trou- surance agencies in our State. JIMMY funding and which will go unfunded for an- bled by appropriations' subcommittee's deci- QUILLEN served this Nation with honor other year. They include situations in which: sions to fund major construction for a second in the U.S. Navy. He has always had a Patients referred to a specialty VA psy- year at levels more than $200 million below special place in his heart for our coun- chiatric treatment center are hospitalized in prior-year funding. If the appropriations' sub- try’s veterans, and he has fought hard buildings constructed in the 1920's which lack committee's recommendations were to be to protect and support the Veterans’ adequate ventilation, air conditioning, handi- adopted, major medical construction funding Hospital in Johnson City. On a personal note, for almost 32 of capped facilities, and elevators, and which do for the two sessions of the 104th Congress the 34 years, JIMMY QUILLEN has been not provide a suitable environment for patients would total only $336 million, in contrast with in Congress, he has served alongside with acute psychiatric behavior. To be re- a total of $869 million appropriated for VA someone named Duncan, first my fa- placed with construction of a new psychiatric major medical construction during the 103d ther, and now me. He was one of my fa- care building at a cost of $24.3 millionÐBattle Congress. ther’s closest friends, and they worked Creek, MI. Veterans will rightly question the depths of Structural problems in the design of 50- together for almost 24 years. these cuts. It is not enough to increase VA I am now in my 8th year in the year-old patient care buildings, which also do medical care funding; veterans should not be House, and during that time, as several not meet fire, life-safety, and disabled-access asked to receive care in substandard half-cen- people have noticed, JIMMY QUILLEN requirements, at a major medical facility tury old VA facilities or to wait patiently as has treated me almost like a son. He render them especially vulnerable to an earth- needed renovations are deferred year after has been so kind and helpful to me, as quake. Requiring correction at cost of $20.2 year. There is clearly no Federal-wide plan to he has been to countless thousands in millionÐLong, Beach, CA. slash construction spending. The fiscal year his district and throughout this Na- VA treats veterans in a 1940-vintage build- 1997 military construction appropriations bill, tion. ing with such inadequate space that outpatient for example, provides more than $300 million I can think of no honor more well-de- care areas are congested, chaotic, lack a des- for military hospital and medical projects; yet served, no honor more fitting and ap- ignated emergency room, and provide inad- the number of DOD tertiary care treatment fa- propriate, than to name the Veterans’ equate patient privacy. Requiring construction cilities is far smaller than the number of VA Hospital at Johnson City after a truly of an ambulatory care addition at a cost of tertiary care facilities. Our commitment to great American, Congressman JAMES $12.7 millionÐTomah, WI. America's veterans requires that we treat them H. QUILLEN. Veterans are hospitalized for psychiatric with dignity. We fail in that duty when we toler- Mr. Speaker, while I am up, I would problems under cramped conditions in a ate their receiving care in facilities which no like to also commend the gentleman 1930's-vintage building constructed for tuber- longer meet safety codes, are overcrowded, or from Arizona, Chairman STUMP, as the culosis patients at a major VA center. Requir- deny them the degree of privacy we would chairman of the Committee on Veter- ing construction of a mental health addition at want for ourselves. ans’ Affairs, for naming the medical fa- a cost of $19.7 millionÐDallas, TX. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of cility in Jackson, MS, after another The space within which a 40-year-old major my time. great American Congressman, the gen- urban medical facility can provide ambulatory Mr. STUMP. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 tleman from Mississippi, SONNY MONT- care is 62 percent deficient of its real needs minutes to the gentleman from Ten- GOMERY, one of the finest and one of resulting in inadequate number of treatment nessee [Mr. DUNCAN]. the most popular Members in this Con- rooms, undue delays in scheduling appoint- Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Speaker, I thank gress. ments, treatment rooms scattered over three the gentleman for yielding to me. He has achieved a record that not floors, insufficient waiting areas, and critical Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to be the many people could match in his 30 shortage of storage space, in addition to non- original sponsor of the request to name years of service in this Congress. An- compliance with standards governing ventila- the Veterans’ Hospital in Johnson other close friend of our family, Con- tion and handicapped access. Requiring con- City, TN, after our colleague, the gen- gressman SONNY MONTGOMERY, is one struction of an ambulatory care addition and tleman from Tennessee [Mr. QUILLEN]. of the finest men that any of us could hospital renovations at a cost of $13.5 mil- I am very grateful to the outstanding ever meet, and I am pleased that that lionÐBrockton, MA. chairman of the Veterans’ Affairs Com- facility will be named after Congress- mittee for including this provision in Patient wards in a more than 30-year-old man MONTGOMERY. major metropolitan hospital suffer from severe his legislation which we are taking up space, functional and technical deficiencies in- today. It is primarily due to the gen- b 1430 cluding lack of sufficient fire sprinklers, infec- tleman from Arizona, Chairman Mr. STUMP. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 tion-control problems associated with lack of STUMP, that this action has moved minutes to the gentleman from Califor- private toilet and shower facilities, inadequate through the process so expeditiously. nia [Mr. HORN]. facilities for female patients, and lack of handi- Congressman JIMMY QUILLEN was Mr. HORN. Mr. Speaker, I commend capped accessibility. Requiring ward mod- first elected to the House in 1962. He particularly the gentleman from Ari- ernization at a cost of $29.5 millionÐAtlanta, served for 8 years prior to that in the zona, Chairman STUMP, and the gen- GA. Tennessee State house. tleman from Mississippi, former Chair- In my view, Mr. Speaker, these are compel- For 42 years, he has been elected, man MONTGOMERY, for this excellent ling needs, and it is distressing that sufficient every 2 years, to a legislative office by bill that they have encouraged their funds are not being allocated to meet them. the people of upper east Tennessee. He colleagues to report to the floor. H5772 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE June 4, 1996 Along with many other worthy fully we can reach a consensus on con- erans as a member of the House Veterans' projects in this legislation, over $20 struction as well as other areas of the Affairs Committee. Over the years it has al- million is authorized for seismic cor- appropriation bills that do not match ways been clear that a unique bipartisan spirit rections in the Long Beach Veterans up with the priorities on the Commit- has prevailed there. That spirit has arisen from Administration Medical Center. The tee on Veterans’ Affairs. the shared commitment of the vast majority of Long Beach VA Medical Center has Mr. Speaker, I urge passage of H.R. the members of the committee to honor our earned a well-deserved reputation for 3376. obligations to our veterans first. Mr. MONTGOM- providing a top-notch and first class di- Mr. MONTGOMERY. Mr. Speaker, I ERY, by his tireless service to the committee verse range of services not only to vet- yield myself 30 seconds. has nurtured that bipartisan spirit. Our success erans in Long Beach, but also to veter- Mr. Speaker, I rise to thank the gen- has been largely attributable to his fine service ans throughout southern California. tleman from Tennessee and the gen- and leadership here and we will miss him. One of the VA’s largest single divi- tleman from Pennsylvania for their Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in sion tertiary care medical centers, the very, very kind remarks about JIMMY support of H.R. 3376. In particular, I am Long Beach VA Medical Center has QUILLEN and John Heinz and myself. pleased that the bill authorizes $15.1 million achieved national prominence in the We think we did the best we could on for major renovations at the Perry Point Medi- field of spinal cord injury and the reha- this legislation, and I encourage my cal Center in Maryland. bilitation of paraplegics and colleagues to support it. The project will focus on renovating and re- quadriplegics. Long Beach’s VA Medi- The gentleman from Arkansas men- configuring the patient rooms in the psychiatric cal Center has also been a leader in tioned his predecessor John Paul Ham- nursing units in order to improve patient pri- health care innovation and in cost con- merschmidt, who is a good friend of vacy. Two of the buildings involved in the tainment. The entire VA medical sys- mine. Mr. Hammerschmidt and I served project were built in 1935 and this project will tem has benefited from a cost account- for a number of years together on the meet disability accessibility requirements and ing package developed at the Long Veterans’ Committee, including three upgrade and modernize the facility's utilities. Beach center. Congresses during which he served as Additionally, this legislation will instruct the The Center’s efforts to improve effi- the ranking minority member while I Veterans' Administration to meet space plan- ciency serve as an example to hospitals served as chairman. Mr. Hammer- ning criteria and standards set by the Joint throughout the United States. The schmidt was an outstanding member of Commission on Accreditation of Health Care seismic corrections funding authorized this committee and the House of Rep- Organizations. in H.R. 3376 will allow the Center to resentatives. All of the veterans’ orga- The Perry Point VA Medical Center provides continue its state-of-the-art research nizations admired him and praised his excellent extended and psychiatric care to vet- and the excellent care it provides to its service on behalf of veterans, and he erans throughout the State of Maryland as patients. gave me wise counsel on numerous oc- well as the mid-Atlantic region who have I urge all my colleagues to vote in casions during our service together on served our Nation so ably in the name of free- favor of the VA construction author- the Veterans’ Committee. dom and democracy. Perry Point, along with ization bill not because the Long Beach I also want to thank the gentleman the VA medical center at Baltimore and the VA Medical Center is in it, but for the from Tennessee [Mr. DUNCAN] for his other facilities included in the Chesapeake many other very worthy centers which remarks. As he said, his family and network, provide specialty services to tens of are being upgraded. mine are very close friends. thousands of veterans each year. Mr. STUMP. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I Mr. Speaker, it gives me great pleasure to minute to the gentleman from Penn- rise today in support of this bill. The Veterans rise with my colleagues in support of this sylvania [Mr. GEKAS]. Health Administration is a model of our na- measure which embodies a bipartisan commit- Mr. GEKAS. Mr. Speaker, I thank tional commitment to honor our debts. It must ment to providing the best services for our Na- the gentleman for yielding time to me. be preserved. For that to happen, it must be tion's veterans. Mr. Speaker, the tribute paid today allowed to change with the rest of the health Veterans from throughout the Fifth Congres- by the speakers thus far to our col- care industry. One of the most significant sional District and the State of Maryland will leagues JIMMY QUILLEN and SONNY changes in our Nation's health care delivery in be better served as a result of this legislation MONTGOMERY are well deserved and recent years has been the movement to in- and the ensuing improvements at the Perry ones in which I join because they, too, creased reliance on ambulatory care. For the Point VA Medical Center and I am pleased to have been personal friends and long- VHA to keep pace with this welcome change, rise with my colleagues today in support of standing servants of this House as well requires capital improvement. This bill today H.R. 3376. as their own constituencies. addresses some of those needs. Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in I want to rise now to add to their Specifically the Veterans' Affairs Committee strong support of H.R. 3376 VA Major Con- names one other hero who has been approved a $21.1 million grant for Lyons Medi- struction Authorization and Major Medical mentioned here today, John Heinz, cal Center in Lyons, NJ. The grant provides Leases Act. after whom one of the facilities con- funding for an ambulatory care unit. In recent years the health care industry has tained in this bill will be named. John This is great news for New Jersey vets. The been de-emphasizing hospitals in favor of out- Heinz at the very moment of his death Lyons' ambulatory care unit will take us into patient care facilities. Modern medicine has was literally killed in the line of duty, the next century as a state-of-the-art health successfully demonstrated that many medical was concerning himself on a trip to fur- care facility. It's an improvement that is long services are more efficiently performed on an ther the interests of his investigation overdue. outpatient basis. into Medicare fraud and other health In the past, the veterans' hospital would re- This legislation will help the VA adjust to care abuses, all in the genre of the is- quire overnight stays for minor surgery that these new dynamics as it encourages a trend sues in which he was involved from the would have been outpatient surgery else- toward more ambulatory care construction very first day he began to serve in this where. The ambulatory care unit will allow vet- projects. very House before he went to the U.S. erans to go in and out of the hospital in one With the recent opening of a clinic in Rock- Senate. He was a hero to many Penn- day, eliminating the added burden of overnight land County, my district has firsthand experi- sylvanians, to all Pennsylvanians and stays. ence in observing the benefits of outpatient to all those who remember him who are With the recent merger of Lyons and East care. now Members of this Congress. Orange VA Medical Centers, this is truly a Mr. Speaker, this legislation will benefit vet- Mr. STUMP. Mr. Speaker, I yield my- sign that Lyons is a well-respected and much- erans by providing care in a more efficient self such time as I may consume. needed facility. This grant ensures that Lyons manner which is also flexible enough to meet Mr. Speaker, last week the appro- will continue to offer state-of-the-art health their future needs. priations Subcommittee on VA, HUD care and will keep its important place in the Mr. EVERETT. Mr. Speaker, as a member and Independent Agencies marked up VA health care delivery system of New Jersey. of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs its bill for the coming fiscal year. Finally Mr. Speaker, I also rise to congratu- and chairman of the Compensation, Pension, There are substantial differences be- late Mr. MONTGOMERY, a true gentleman and Insurance and Memorial Affairs subcommittee, tween the spending priorities they ar- leader when it comes to fighting for veterans. I am happy to rise today in support of H.R. rived at and what is in this bill. Hope- It has always been a pleasure to work for vet- 3376 authorizing major medical facility projects June 4, 1996 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H5773 and major medical facility leases for the De- every member of the committee, regardless of ther received in combat, his life was made partment of Veterans Affairs for fiscal year party affiliation, has had an opportunity to help shorter than it should be. 1997. shape our legislative product. As a freshman My family and I are not unique. Throughout H.R. 3376 demonstrates strong bipartisan in the minority, I want to say that the House southwestern Pennsylvania, young men and support for carrying out this country's unfailing Veterans' Affairs Committee should serve as a women have served in our Nation's Armed commitment to our veterans. Recognizing the model to other chairmen as how to run a com- Forces at a greater rate than almost any- inevitable shift from expensive inpatient care mittee. where. They and their families have counted to more cost effective primary and outpatient Also, I want to express my most heartfelt on the VA to be there for them, and the VA care, this legislation authorizes spending for appreciation for the opportunity to work along- has almost always been there. As those who the VA's medical facilities construction side the man they call Mr. VeteranÐSONNY served in World War II and Korea grew older, projects. The committee's action continues to MONTGOMERY. I just want to say to SONNY that and their numbers were augmented by those stress the importance of providing services for it has been an honor to serve alongside you, who went to Vietnam, the needs for veterans veterans in an environment that is not only and I consider it an awesome privilege to have services, especially health care, grew consid- more convenient and more cost effective, but been your colleague on the Veterans' Affairs erably in western Pennsylvania. improves the quality of care through increased Committee. It was Senator Heinz, a native of Pittsburgh, access to routine outpatient treatment and In this bill, we are naming the VA medical who recognized that veterans in our area were preventative health services. center in Jackson, MI, after the former chair- being underserved, and that the situation I would especially like to recognize the fore- manÐand I just want to let the chairman know would only get worse without decisive action. sight of the committee for the inclusion of di- that while members might come and go from From his seat on the Senate Appropriations rective report language authorizing the Sec- this Chamber, that a good name lasts forever. Subcommittee on Veterans Affairs, Housing, retary to establish an ambulatory care access I think it is safe to say that the name of SONNY and Independent Agencies, he made the con- point in Dothan, AL. The days of large verti- MONTGOMERY is a good name. struction of the hospital in Aspinwall his No. 1 cally integrated hospitals as the primary mode There are many reasons to support this bill. priority. of health care delivery are gone. Rather, in Of all our commitments to those who served Today, throughout Pennsylvania, Ohio, order to provide more effective and quality in our Nation's armed forces, none is more im- Maryland, and West Virginia, countless veter- health care, the VA must be more flexible in portant than the guarantee of health care. For ans are having their health care needs met bringing VA services to the veteran. those Members who do not think there is a dif- thanks to the efforts of John Heinz. I think it Such projects, like the much-needed com- ference between the medical needs of veter- is only fitting that he receive this posthumous munity-based access point in Dothan, AL, are ans and those of the general public, I invite tribute to his good work. And I am not alone small in scale and do not require committee you to take a tour of a VA hospital with me. in this belief, as H.R. 2760 was cosponsored authorization or further appropriation of funds. I guarantee that you will come away with a by all of my 20 colleagues in the Pennsylvania However, the need for these small scaled much different view of veterans' medical care. delegation, including Congressmen MASCARA and FOX who serve with us on this committee. projects is compelling given the lack of access We must realize that private hospitals would This legislation is supported by the Penn- to veteran's health care in many rural areas never provide the type of patient care that is sylvania chapters of all the congressionally across the country. Currently, the more than provided by VA hospitals as they could never chartered Veterans Service Organizations. I 38,350 veterans reside within a 50-mile radius make it profitable. have letters here from each of them, which I of Dothan are forced to travel 100 miles or The underpinning of the VA health care sys- will include for the RECORD at the appropriate more to the nearest VA medical center. The tem is maintaining the physical facilities need- point. long and sometimes difficult trip back home ed to provide adequate service. Even in this I want to thank the American Legion of after treatment is often impossible and war- difficult budgetary climate, veterans medical Pennsylvania and, in particular, Department rants overnight lodging. facilities construction must remain a high prior- Adjutant Stanley Reinhardt for bringing this The establishment of a community-based ity. Thus, I urge members to support this bill, idea to my attention. access point in Dothan will provide routine, and to support appropriations in this area I also want to express my support for the preventative and emergency outpatient medi- when the VA±HUD bill comes to the floor later authorization for environmental improvements cal services to the veterans in the southeast this Spring. at the University Drive VA Hospital, located in region of Alabama without requiring the con- There are two parts of H.R. 3376 I want to the Oakland section of the city of Pittsburgh. struction of a large and costly inpatient facility. highlight. Mr. Speaker, I could describe in graphic de- The quality of care for veterans in my district First, this bill has incorporated H.R. 2760, tail the conditions that currently exist at these and in the surrounding areas of Alabama, my bill to name the nursing care facility at the wards at University Drive, but I do not believe Georgia, and Florida will improve significantly, VA hospital in Aspinwall, PA, after the late that it is appropriate subject matter for the while the cost for caring for these veterans Senator John Heinz. floor of the House of Representatives. I hope will, most likely, prove more effective. The Heinz family is one of the most notable it will suffice to say that this action is needed Mr. Speaker, in closing, because the other in Pennsylvania, and Senator Heinz' commit- to allow each nursing unit at University Drive body failed to take up the fiscal year 1996 ment to public service was a tremendous ex- to meet current VA standards for life-safety, construction authorization, it is incumbent ample to many of us in western Pennsylvania. patient privacy, and handicapped accessibility. upon the upper Chamber that they consider Unfortunately, he was taken from us too soon Also, there is a need to meet the needs result- this legislation so that our veterans are not de- when his plane crashed outside Philadelphia ing from the increasing number of female vet- prived of the care they deserve. 51¤2 years ago. erans requiring care. I thank my friend, Mr. HUTCHINSON, chair- During his time in Congress, John Heinz The main building of University Drive was man of the Hospitals and Health Care Sub- had many accomplishments, too many to try constructed in 1954, and has gone unchanged committee, and I thank my good friend, Chair- to list. However, as far as the people in and since. With the passage of time, this has pro- man STUMP, for fostering greater opportunities around Pittsburgh are concerned, one of his duced numerous space, functional, and tech- for veterans in many regions of the country greatest contributions to our community was nical deficiencies in meeting the specifications where it is prohibitive for veterans to travel to his leadership in the making the Aspinwall of today's health care standards. the nearest VA facility for care. Veterans Hospital a reality. The importance of University Drive goes I stand in acknowledgment of their leader- Some may think that it is hyperbole to say well beyond the boundaries of the City of ship on behalf of our nation's veterans and, I that the construction of a veterans hospital is Pittsburgh. It is the tertiary care, medical/sur- urge my colleagues to support this important a great event to a region as populous as Pitts- gical referral facility for the 65-county Western legislation. burgh. Those people obviously do not know a Pennsylvania Network, and is the National Mr. DOYLE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in favor of lot about Pittsburgh. DVA Referral Center for Liver Transplantation. H.R. 3376, a bill of great importance to our Ever since I can remember, my life has fo- This project is essential to maintaining this Nation's veterans. cused on veterans' issues, and their role in hospital's capability to meet the needs of the I want to begin by thanking Chairman the Pittsburgh community. As I have often 380,000 veterans in Allegheny County, as well STUMP for the leadership he has shown. In mentioned in this committee, I would not be as those throughout Pennsylvania, Ohio, politics, there is never going to be an unanim- here today if it wasn't for the benefits my fam- Maryland, and West Virginia who rely on the ity, but he has done a great job in addressing ily received from the VA in return for my fa- services provided by University Drive. any issues that have arisen in our committee. ther's service. These benefits were not without As a supporter of the constitutional bal- He has gone out of his way to make sure that a steep price, because of the wounds my fa- anced budget amendment that passed the H5774 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE June 4, 1996 House last year, I understand that we need to efforts to make this option available to our vet- Specifically, the three buildings to be im- be extremely scrupulous in how we spend erans. As stated, our State has the highest proved house important operational and var- money. Even when there is a clear need that number of elderly veterans in the country. But ious support services critical to monitoring the could be funded, we must determine whether spending scarce health care dollars to effec- health and welfare of our veterans. or not something has to be funded. Keeping tively destroy a fully functional, state-of-the-art Without these repairs the buildings, all of that admonition in mind, I hasten to point out hospitalÐespecially when such facilities are which were built in 1943, are in grave danger. that in the DVA internal rating for major con- so needed in east central FloridaÐmakes ab- The facilities are very close to the Newport- struction projects, the University Drive project solutely no sense, especially when a com- Inglewood Fault Zone, which is considered ac- scored 19.8Ðout of a highest possible score pletely separate nursing home facility could be tive and capable of generating an earthquake of 19.8. For your consideration, I have at- built without sacrificing the hospital for almost of magnitude 7.0. tached a copy of this analysis. There is no the same amount of money. The VA has testified that there is no other way in which this project could have been The committee has directed that this report medical facility in Long Beach large enough to rated any higher of a priority. must examine the need to include acute inpa- meet the VA's needs, and it is expected that In conclusion, this bill is in the best interests tient services, such as those provided by the the major functions of this Medical Center will of the people of Pennsylvania and the Nation Orlando facility, as well as psychiatric and remain the same under the proposed Veterans as a whole, and I urge Members to support it. long-term services. It is my hope that the re- Integrated Service Network. Mr. MCCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, I rise in port required by this legislation will illustrate In short, this is an important facility to the strong support of H.R. 3376, and commend other options to best meet the health care veterans residing in the Long Beach area and Chairmen STUMP and HUTCHINSON for their ef- needs of veterans in east central Florida. it is therefore incumbent upon us to ensure forts to bring this bill to the floor. Last year, this Congress approved funding that it meets the basic safety codes of the This bill represents another step toward ad- to construct another badly needed outpatient area. dressing the disparity that has impacted many clinic in Brevard County. This means that after It is for this reason that these seismic re- of Florida's veterans. Although the overall vet- years of delay, Brevard County veterans will fi- pairs were included in the President's fiscal erans population is declining, Florida's in- nally be able to receive needed ambulatory year 1997 budget request and that the Depart- creases daily as more and more veterans care close to home. I commend this Congress' ment of Veterans' Affairs Undersecretary for move into the Sunshine State. Florida has the action, and specifically praise the efforts of my Health, Mr. Kenneth Kizer, testified in support highest concentration of elderly veterans of colleague, Congressman DAVE WELDON, for fi- of these repairs as recently as March. any State, the second highest number of vet- nally succeeding in bringing additional veter- Without these repairs, we are placing the erans of all ages, and the third highest con- ans health care facilities to east central Flor- lives of our Nation's veterans, as well as the centration of wartime veterans. Last fiscal ida. lives of those who serve them, in grave dan- year, despite the fact that Florida facilities re- Relief is on the way for veterans in Florida, ger. ceived the highest number of applications for and this legislation certainly moves us forward I would submit to my colleagues that our medical care by service-connected veterans in in that struggle. New facilities are being built, veterans deserve better than this, and I am the Nation, we continued to receive fewer older ones are being re-engineered to meet pleased to see that the committee agrees with funds than California, New York, and TexasÐ new needs, and wide gaps in service-areas this assessment. each with less demands on their systems. Despite our leading veterans population, may finally be filled as a result of this commit- I look forward to working with you, Con- Florida has continued to receive far less than tee's past efforts and future plans. I commend gressman MONTGOMERY, and with Chairman its fair share of funding for VA medical serv- the committee and this House for working to STUMP, to see that the wisdom of the commit- ices. As a result, veterans that can receive repay the debt of our Nation owes its veter- tee is followed and that the veterans who use care in other parts of the country that do not ans, and helping to correct some of the imbal- the Long Beach facilities are not placed in have such high veteran-to-facility ratios can ances that have left veterans in Florida in harm's way. find themselves turned away from more need of such greater attention. In closing, I would like to commend the crowded facilities in Florida. These disparities Ms. MILLENDER-MCDONALD. Mr. Speaker, committee for deciding to name the medical must end. I want to thank Mr. MONTGOMERY for the time center in Jackson, MS after our esteemed col- This House has taken steps to address to speak today and for your leadership, as league from Meridian, Mr. MONTGOMERY. Al- shortfalls in veterans medical care, by propos- well as that of Chairman STUMP, in seeing this though I have only had the honor of serving ing a 13 percent increase in funding for VA bill through the legislative process. with him for a little over a month, I appreciate medical care in fiscal year 1996, and moving Mr. Speaker, colleagues, this bill addresses the work that he has done for our veterans forward on our plan to spend $339 million some urgent needs among our Nation's veter- and share the committee's view that it is befit- more on veterans health care over 7 years ans' medical facilities and I rise in strong sup- ting to bestow such an honor in naming a vet- than the President has proposed. This con- port of the legislation and urge its swift ap- eran's medical center in his honor in his home struction bill represents the next step by the proval. State. new Republican Congress to honor our Na- The $434 million authorized by this legisla- So, once again, I rise in support of this im- tion's commitment to its veterans. tion is perhaps some of the most important portant legislation and I urge my colleagues to Most important to veterans in my commu- money that we will be discussing on this floor, do the same. nity, the bill directs the Secretary of Veterans for it will be spent ensuring that the men and Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance Affairs to study the best means of meeting the women who put their lives on the line for our of my time. health care needs of veterans in east central Nation will be adequately taken care of once Mr. STUMP. Mr. Speaker, I have no Florida. There has been considerable con- they have left service. further requests for time, and I yield troversy about what needs exist, and how to This money renovates, upgrades and, back the balance of my time. best meet them. One option may be to oper- where needed, expands current Department of The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. ate the former Orlando Naval Training Center Veterans Affairs medical facilities to ensure UPTON). The question is on the motion Hospital as a veterans medical facility. The that the needs of our former servicemen and offered by the gentleman from Arizona first floor of this five-story facility is already women are met. [Mr. STUMP] that the House suspend serving the 200,000 veterans in its service One project of particular importance to me the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 3376, as area as an outpatient clinic, drawing veterans and my constituents in the 37th Congressional amended. from across east central Florida. The addi- District is the seismic upgrading of the VA The question was taken; and (two- tional floors contain some of the most ad- medical center in Long Beach, CA. thirds having voted in favor thereof) vanced impatient care facilitiesÐincluding in- This bill provides $20.2 million to allow the the rules were suspended and the bill, tensive care units, critical operating rooms, in- Department of Veterans Affairs to bring three as amended, was passed. patient beds, and an efficient food delivery of the buildings at the Long Beach facility up A motion to reconsider was laid on serviceÐin any private, public, or veterans to code in terms of earthquake safety, fire the table. hospital in Florida. Incredibly, Secretary Brown safety, mechanical and electrical safety, and f has proposed to destroy these facilities, and compliance with the Americans with Disabil- MANDATORY FEDERAL PRISON spend money to fill the space with nursing ities Act. DRUG TREATMENT ACT OF 1996 home beds. The buildings receiving these improvements I do not dispute the need for additional long- are all over 50 years old and in serious need Mr. HEINEMAN. Mr. Speaker, I move term care in Florida, and will support various of repair. to suspend the rules and pass the bill