H2104 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE March 19, 2003 group of Members and others back BLACKBURN) is recognized for 5 min- fits that were promised upon retire- every year. utes. ment to the lack of strong laws in this So when he speaks about peace, he Mrs. BLACKBURN. Mr. Speaker, area. The retirees lived up to their end knows from which he speaks. I believe today I rise to honor a true Tennessee of the bargain, Mr. Speaker, and now it might be well for this Congress to legend and a national treasure. Eddy the companies must live up to their pause and this Nation to pause for a Arnold is the most successful country end. moment just to think about the issues music singer of the 20th century. His To renege on these promises jeopard- of nonviolence and whether or not it body of work, including 28 number one izes the life savings of people who are shames us or diminishes us to find an- singles, spent more weeks at the top of forced to absorb the precipitous decline other option to the option now posed of the country music charts than any in their standard of living and dip into a war against Iraq. other artist in the field. their savings in order to make up for a Mr. Speaker, I frankly believe that This March, the Country Music Hall cut or a cancellation in health benefits. we have not consented to a war against of Fame and Museum in Nashville hon- Even worse, retirees with preexisting Iraq; and I believe this Congress has ored the Ambassador of Country Music medical conditions may not be able to yet to fully debate this question, a sim- for donating his personal effects and obtain or afford any new health cov- ple question of declaring war against memorabilia. This selfless donation erage at all. As a result, their health Iraq under article I, section 8. I am constituted the largest collection dedi- declines rapidly and, in some cases, asking the Speaker to bring this legis- cated to a single individual ever re- needlessly. lation up. ceived by the museum. The ‘‘Tennessee A recent study by the Employment I believe that we have another op- Plowboy’’ generously offered more Benefit Research Institute found that a tion, Mr. Speaker; and it does not than 2,000 photographs, 5,000 radio re- 65-year-old retiree without employ- again diminish our respect and admira- cordings, tuxedos, guitars, and his cov- ment-based insurance may require up tion and acknowledgment of the hun- eted Entertainer of the Year Award to nearly $1.5 million to fund lifetime dreds of thousands of young men and from 1967. medical expenses. That is assuming women already deployed, willing to In a brilliant career that spans 7 dec- death at the age of 100 and medical in- offer their lives so that we might live ades as a guitarist, songwriter and flation of 14 percent annually. free. It respects their choices. It also singer, Eddy Arnold has made immeas- All of this is happening against a pre- acknowledges the different strains, urable contributions to the popularity cipitous drop in personal savings. Ac- stresses, and tribulations that these of country music with such hits as ‘‘I cording to the AARP, which published young people are under. The story of Hold You in My Heart’’ and, my favor- ‘‘How Americans Save,’’ the United two Marines, male and female, parents ite, ‘‘Make the World Go Away.’’ Now States savings rate has been steadily of a 2-year-old son who have to leave he has made an immeasurable con- declining over the last 25 years. The now, one already gone, one about to tribution to the Country Music Hall of Economic Policy Institute reports that leave and writing their will to deter- Fame and Museum. For that, Ten- in September and October of 1998, per- mine where that child might go. nesseans and, no doubt, country music sonal savings rates for Americans con- I believe we have another option be- fans across the country, are deeply sisting of contributions to individual cause we are united around the fact grateful. savings accounts, as well as employer that Saddam Hussein is a bad actor, a Eddy Arnold, a living country music and personal contributions to 401(k)s bad leader, a horrific and a heinous legend and my constituent, has en- and IRAs and similar pension plans, actor upon people. So I believe we can hanced his genre and the culture of dipped below zero for the first time find a way to win this effort against America. I want to thank him for his since the Great Depression. The United the acts that he has perpetrated by dedication to the arts and for his in- States Department of Commerce re- using international law. We can, valuable gifts to the Country Music ports that at the beginning of the 1990s, through the United Nations Security Hall of Fame and Museum. households saved on average about 8 Council, convene an international war f percent of their disposable income. By crimes tribunal and indict him so that 2001, the proportion of income set aside the credibility of his government and H.R. 1322, A BILL TO PROTECT for savings had fallen below 2 percent. Mr. Saddam Hussein is diminished. We RETIREE HEALTH BENEFITS Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1322, the Emer- can leave a coalition of 50,000 troops on The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a gency Retiree Health Benefits Protec- the border to ensure that the U.N. in- previous order of the House, the gen- tion Act, would reverse these recent spection process goes forward. We can tleman from Massachusetts (Mr. trends and bring common sense and begin humanitarian aid. We can as well TIERNEY) is recognized for 5 minutes. fairness back to retiree health. With regain or rebegin, regain the promi- Mr. TIERNEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise certain limited exceptions, the bill nence of fighting the war against ter- today in the face of mounting evidence would prohibit employers from making rorism, and we can reignite the Mid- of a national crisis in retiree health post-retirement cancellations or reduc- east peace process. care, and I want to announce the re- Mr. Speaker, there are options other introduction yesterday of the Emer- tions of health benefits that retirees than war. I would ask this Congress to gency Retiree Health Benefits Protec- were entitled to when they retired. do its job and not be silenced, debate tion Act, known as H.R. 1322. In addition, the bill would obligate this question; but I ask the President Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1322 will stem the employers to restore benefits taken to review the options in light of the tide of post-retirement cutbacks or away after retirement, unless the em- courage of our young men and women elimination of health care benefits ployer can demonstrate substantial and the United States military. We sa- that have victimized millions of Amer- business hardship if compelled to re- lute them; we praise them. That is why ican retirees. store the benefits. we are owed the duty to render the Now, Mr. Speaker, one would think Boosting a profitable bottom line right decision on their behalf and the that businesses and business values and would not qualify as a substantial people of the United States of America. basic fairness and, in fact, the law hardship. While many employers are There is another option. I argue for would ensure that retirees could rely crying hardship today, Mr. Speaker, peace over war. Listen to the words of on health benefits promised to them by the hard truth is that many were ag- the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. JOHN employers. But the case is that in- gressively cutting employee benefits in LEWIS.) He knows from whence he creasingly, large profitable employers, the midst of the economic boom of the speaks. even those who enticed employees into 1990s when profits were high. f early retirement, have now changed Basic fairness dictates that we en- and are reneging on their commitment. sure that the promises that have been HONORING EDDY ARNOLD These corporate cutbacks in retiree made to those whose life’s efforts have The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a health care have reached intolerable contributed to the great economic previous order of the House, the gentle- proportions. For too long, working peo- prosperity of our Nation are kept. We woman from Tennessee (Mrs. ple have been denied health care bene- can ill afford the collapse of private

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