E504 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks March 27, 1998 provide for the collection of data with re- her daughter's most personal confidences, or sponse to the continuing health care problems spect to the number of nonimmigrations who go to jail herself. A child can be put on the wit- reported by these veterans, Congress enacted remain in the after the expira- ness stand and forced to reveal personal dis- legislation last year to require VA to develop tion of the period of stay authorized by the Attorney General: cussions with his Dad. It does not matter if innovative treatment programs for these veter- this testimony relates to the most private con- ans and to document the effectiveness of Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. , the issue be- fidences that parents and children often share these programs in treating veterans. I believe fore us today is not a question of illegal immi- in the course of seeking comfort, support, or the large number of veterans still suffering gration, there is no threat of an impending advice. demonstrates the need for continuing to pro- wave of illegal Greek or Portuguese immigra- The damage that such an experience can vide VA health care services for undiagnosed tion to the United States. cause parents, children, and familial relation- illnesses. The question before us is one of fairness. It ships is readily apparent, and worthy of our The Persian Gulf Veterans Health Care Ex- is a question of doing what is right by two concern. tension Act of 1998 follows my introduction of countries who are our allies, our friends and It is not at all clear that forcing parents and H.R. 3279, the Persian Gulf Veterans Act of our business partners. It is fair and right to ex- children to testify against each other provides 1998. H.R. 3279 establishes a permanent tend the same rights to Greece and Portugal great access to truth and justice. When a po- process for awarding compensation for condi- that we do to 25 other nationsÐthe right to tential witness is put into such a predicament, tions presumed to be service-connected by enter the U.S. freely for travel and business. they face what legal scholars refer to as the virtue of service. It also addresses Prior to the passage of the 1996 Illegal Im- cruel ``trilemma.'' The witness has three the need for research in many areas, including migration Reform Act, Greece and Portugal choices: they may testify truthfully, they may defining effective health care treatments for would have been admitted to the Visa Waiver testify and lie, or they may refuse to testify those who have vague or undiagnosed symp- Program because their visa refusal rates are and risk contempt charges and imprisonment. toms and investigating emerging technologies below three percent. Among these options, testifying falsely may Concern about illegal immigration is mis- to asses exposure to various hazards and often be the most appealing. The other placed and fails to recognize that the Greek agents. The legislation would also require VA choices certainly have serious societal reper- and Portuguese economies are strong and un- and DOD to develop information resources, cussions. employment rates are among the lowest in and mandate VA and DOD to document their Most jurisdictions recognize privileges for in- EuropeÐthere is little incentive for people to outreach programs for veterans and active dividuals in certain relationships (e.g., hus- leave their enchanting countries for ours. duty military members. Moreover, immigration to the United States band-wife, lawyer-client, psychiatrist-patient) to Our nation must continued to respond to from those countries is no greater than U.S. refrain from testifying. Surely, the confidences Persian Gulf veterans' need for a complete immigration to Greece and Portugal. shared between a mother and daughter de- range of benefits. Veterans still want to know Finally, both of these communities have serve at least as much respect as those be- why they are sick, but also need health care made enormous contributions to our country. tween psychiatrists and patients. I believe that that can alleviate their pain and compensation In my district, the Portuguese American com- the law should recognize the special nature of to ensure that the effects of their illnesses do munity has transformed part of New Jersey's the relationship between a parent and child, not impoverish them and their families. Con- great citiesÐNewark, Elizabeth, and Perth and that is the basis for this legislation. tinuing VA's authority to deliver health care Amboy. And the Greek community's influence I hope that my colleagues will join me in benefits for conditions resulting from has been equally remarkable. support of this important decision. undiagnosed illnesses is critical to ensuring We need to level the playing field and let f that Persian Gulf veterans get the services they still need. It is essential to continue to the Portuguese and Greek people know that PERSIAN GULF VETERANS the United States welcomes them as tourists provide health care treatment to veterans as HEALTH CARE EXTENSION ACT we continue to seek answers about the cause and business travelers, as we do their other OF 1998 H.R. 3571 European counterparts. of their conditions. f f HON. LANE EVANS CONFIDENCE IN THE FAMILY ACT OF FAIRNESS FOR SMALL BUSINESS IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND EMPLOYEES ACT OF 1998

HON. Friday, March 27, 1998 SPEECH OF OF Mr. EVANS. Mr. Speaker, today, I am intro- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES HON. ducing legislation to extend the period that Friday, March 27, 1998 OF CALIFORNIA Gulf War veterans with undiagnosed illnesses IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Ms. LOFGREN. Mr. Speaker, there now ex- will be able to receive Department of Veterans Thursday, , 1998 ists a serious defect in our Federal criminal Affairs (VA) health care. This measure will ex- and civil law and procedures that has unfortu- tend the authority for VA to provide treatment The House in Committee of the Whole nately been brought into focus by Independent from December 31, 1998 until December 31, House on the had under Counsel Kenneth Starr's investigation of the 2001. This extension makes the timeline for consideration the bill (H.R. 3246) to assist President. Under Federal law and the law of health care eligibility consistent with the pre- small businesses and labor organizations in most States, children can be compelled to tes- sumptive period the Secretary of Veterans Af- defending themselves against government fairs defined for compensation for disabilities bureaucracy; to ensure that employees enti- tify against their parents, and parents against tled to reinstatement get their jobs back their children. Although most prosecutors re- due to undiagnosed illnesses. quickly; to protect the right of employers to frain from subjecting a family to this terrible More than a year ago, I encouraged VA to have a hearing to present their case in cer- situation, it can and does occur. I have long extend the presumptive period for compensa- tain representation cases; and to prevent the believed that parents and their children should tion because no one could explain why so use of the National Labor Relations Act for be shielded from this trauma, and that doing many veterans had health care problems fol- the purpose of disrupting or inflicting eco- so would not do significant damage to the ad- lowing their military service in the Persian nomic harm on employers. ministration of justice. Gulf. Former VA Secretary Jesse Brown justi- Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposi- Therefore, today I am introducing a bill, the fied the extension of the presumptive period tion to this legislation, which attempts to si- Confidence in the Family Act, to ensure that by stating that no one knows why so many lence workers and diminish their ability to parents and children cannot be compelled to veterans are still sickÐseven years after serv- stand against in the workplace. testify against one another, and that confiden- ing in the Southwest Asian theater. Of the al- This bill prevents employees the opportunity tial communications between parents and chil- most 700,000 individuals who served in the to bargain or to protect their rights in the work- dren will be protected. These privileges would Persian Gulf, about 65,000 veterans have place. The bill subjects workers to an unrea- be similar to the privileges provided to signed onto the VA's Persian Gulf Registry sonable and unjust test of motivation in order spouses under current Federal law, and would and about 19,000 have registered for DOD's to gain employment, and will intimidate em- be developed by the Federal courts in light of Comprehensive Clinical Evaluation Program. ployees into giving up their right to join a the common law, reason, and experience. VA's latest Gulf War Veteran's Statistics indi- union. Under current law a mother can be given cate that, of those veterans on VA's registry, We currently have established laws to pro- the choice of providing testimony that reveals about 11% have undiagnosed illnesses. In re- tect employers from workers performing illegal