September 27, 1999 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD—HOUSE 22869 b 1915 once in 1920 by a friendly Chicago jury FILIPINO WORLD WAR II VET- SPECIAL ORDERS and once in 1924 by an impartial jury in ERANS DESERVE OUR RESPECT Milwaukee. In fact, the jurors in Mil- AND OUR THANKS The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. waukee were asked in a special inter- The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a GREEN of Wisconsin). Under the Speak- rogatory whether con- previous order of the House, the gen- er’s announced policy of January 6, spired or participated to fix a Series. tleman from California (Mr. FILNER) is 1999, and under a previous order of the The jury answered with an emphatic recognized for 5 minutes. House, the following Members will be no. Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, in April of recognized for 5 minutes each. I am also not going to debate if Jack- 1999 I was proud to join the distin- f son was given money. According to the guished chairman of the House Com- ‘‘SHOELESS’’ JOE JACKSON story, Shoeless Joe’s roommate Lefty mittee on International Relations, the gentleman from New York (Mr. GIL- The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a Williams left $5,000 for Jackson on his bed. Whatever the debate, there are MAN), in introducing H.R. 1594, the Fili- previous order of the House, the gen- pino Veterans’ Benefit Improvement tleman from (Mr. four things that are very clear. First, Shoeless Joe tried to give the money Act. DEMINT) is recognized for 5 minutes. I rise today to urge my colleagues to Mr. DEMINT. Mr. Speaker, as my col- back before the Series started, but was rebuffed. support this legislation. Preliminary leagues know, I have introduced a reso- steps have already been taken toward lution in the House honoring Second, Shoeless Joe tried to inform restoring fairness to the veterans of ‘‘Shoeless’’ Joe Jackson for his base- the owners of the White Sox of , World War II who are of Filipino de- ball accomplishments. I know most but the owner refused to see him. scent. In 1996, Members of this House baseball fans are familiar with his Third, Shoeless Joe offered to sit out and our colleagues in the Senate passed story. It has been portrayed in recent the Series but was again rebuffed. concurrent resolutions to recognize movies, including and Fourth, and most notably, Shoeless these brave veterans for their service . Most sporting shows and contribution toward the successful and magazines, including Sports Illus- Joe played to win. He led all players by hitting .375, and he had the only home outcome of World War II. trated, ESPN and Fox News, have done In October of 1996, President Clinton run of the Series. His fielding was flaw- stories on it. issued a presidential proclamation re- less, throwing out five men at home The people of my district are very fa- calling the courage, the sacrifice, and plate. He set a record miliar with Shoeless Joe, since he grew the loyalty of the Filipino veterans of with 12 hits and combined with Buck up playing baseball in the mill leagues World War II and honoring them for Weaver, the other player who was un- of Greenville, South Carolina, and he their contribution to our freedom. fairly punished, for 23 hits, a record spent the last years of his life there as Hearings have been held in both the which has stood for 60 years. well. House and the Senate on the issue of Throughout his life, he never tired of I have no doubt of Shoeless Joe’s in- benefits for Filipino World War II vet- teaching kids to play the game he nocence. While it is to his discredit erans; and the President included a line loved. There is even a baseball park that he took the money, he did nothing item in both FY 1999 and FY 2000 presi- named after him in Greenville, where for the money. In the end, he came dential budgets for Filipino World War kids play today. clean the only way he could, with his II veterans. For those unfamiliar with Shoeless bat and glove. Then just 3 months ago, the Filipino Joe, let me briefly outline his leg- In July, , Tommy Veterans’ SSI Extension Act, H.R. 26, endary accomplishments. Of his - LaSorda, and filed a peti- was incorporated into H.R. 1802, which ting, once said, ‘‘I decided tion with Commissioner Selig. That pe- passed this House. This bill will allow to pick out the greatest hitter to tition does not ask major league base- Filipino World War II veterans who are watch and study and Jackson was good ball to exonerate Shoeless Joe or to en- currently on SSI and living in the enough for me.’’ Joe Jackson batted dorse his candidacy. To quote, United States to return to the Phil- .408 in his rookie year, a feat which has ippines if they wish to do so, taking a never been equaled. He has the third Those issues are moot at this point as he portion of their SSI with them. Many highest of all time, be- served a very difficult sentence over a long are currently living alone and in pov- period of time. The hind only and Roger Hornsby. erty, financially unable to bring their Over a 10-year period, he never hit is merely asked to acknowledge that Shoeless Joe has fully paid his debt to soci- families to the United States, nor to below .300. His fielding skills in the ety and the game, that he satisfied the sen- return to their homeland. outfield were legendary. His glove was tence of the first commissioner with dignity Most importantly, H.R. 1802 will named ‘‘the place where triples go to and humility and without rancor. Because he allow those who wish to return to the die.’’ has fulfilled his sentence, baseball has no Philippines to be with their loved ones My colleagues probably also know further call or jurisdiction over Shoeless in their final days, but it also saves the that Shoeless Joe Jackson is famous, Joe. U.S. Government money, money that or infamous, for allegedly taking part I rise in strong support of this peti- could be used to balance the costs of in the fix of the . In tion. It provides the bill that the gentleman from New that series, a group of New York gam- with a graceful and dignified way to fi- York (Mr. GILMAN) and I have intro- blers bribed a number of players on the nally let the issue rest and let Shoeless duced, the Filipino Veterans’ Benefits team to throw the Joe receive the honor he has long de- Improvement Act. series to Cincinnati. When the news served. These actions are important first came out in 1920, the new commis- steps in our quest for justice and eq- sioner of baseball, Commissioner Lan- In closing, Mr. Speaker, on his death uity. Now is the time to build upon dis, acted swiftly. In a summary judg- bed, Shoeless Joe said, ‘‘I am about to these steps and restore the benefits ment, without an investigation, the meet the biggest umpire of them all that Filipino World War II veterans commissioner banned eight players on and He knows I am innocent.’’ were promised when they were drafted the White Sox team from ever playing Fifty years after his death, it is time into military service by President baseball again. Shoeless Joe was in- for baseball to restore the honor of this Franklin D. Roosevelt. With their vital cluded in the ban. good man. I invite all of my colleagues participation so crucial to the success- I am not going to debate whether or to join me in cosponsoring House Reso- ful outcome of this war, one would as- not the commissioner’s verdict was the lution 269 honoring Shoeless Joe for his sume that the United States would be right thing to do. Jackson was acquit- outstanding accomplishments in base- grateful to their Filipino comrades. So ted of participating in the fix twice, ball. Let us do our part. it is hard to believe that soon after the

VerDate jul 14 2003 14:22 May 26, 2004 Jkt 029102 PO 00000 Frm 00163 Fmt 0688 Sfmt 0634 E:\BR99\H27SE9.003 H27SE9 22870 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD—HOUSE September 27, 1999 war ended, the 79th Congress voted to Internet to buy products that can keep lic with safe and effective, lower-cost take away the benefits and recognition them healthy. The food and pharma- and lower-risk nutraceutical products. of Filipino World War II veterans in ceutical industries took notice hoping Mr. Speaker, I want to stress to my what was called the Rescissions Act of to realize the profits gained by entry colleagues that my legislation does not 1946. into this growing market. The food in- supplant the Dietary Supplement The gentleman from New York (Mr. dustry responded by developing novel Health and Education Act. That legis- GILMAN) and I, along with 209 cospon- food products called functional foods. lation was a watershed for the natural sors of last year’s Veterans Equity Act, Pharmaceutical and dietary supple- products industry. It protects access to are now asking our colleagues to cor- ment companies have begun calling products and permits some claims to be rect this injustice that these veterans some of their products nutraceuticals, made. My legislation just takes us a have endured for over 50 years. reflecting their claims for nutrients step further down the road to encour- Because the Filipino World War II with targeted health and medical bene- age clinical research and the truthful veterans are in their seventies and fits. dissemination of the results of that re- eighties, their most urgent need is for Despite this impressive growth, the search to provide the American people health care. Our bill that we have in- true health benefits of dietary supple- access to these products. troduced will provide access to VA ments and functional foods have not Until there is a structure in place to medical facilities for these veterans, been fully explored. investigate and develop dietary supple- both in the United States and in the Congress must, Mr. Speaker, in my ment and functional food products and Philippines. We have designed the bill opinion, as a matter of public policy, prove their worth, the majority of so that it will also provide greater ac- encourage the scientific and clinical health professionals will not rec- cess to VA medical facilities in the study of dietary supplements and func- ommend them, but patients will con- Philippines for U.S. veterans who are tional foods. Towards this objective we tinue to take them. The NREA will living abroad. In addition, the bill will have created the National Center for make available a mechanism whereby also increase the service-connected dis- Complementary and Alternative Medi- these products are tested for quality ability compensation from what is cine at the NIH and the Office of Die- and safety to give the people access to called the peso rate to the full dollar tary Supplements. However, much still proven health remedies, to enable self- amount for Filipino World War II vet- needs to be done. Many individuals and care. Ultimately, Mr. Speaker, I believe erans living in the United States, as companies that would like to clinically the result will be cost effective, less called for in the President’s budget. research their products have encoun- sickness, more health, more produc- The rationale for a lower payment tered numerous barriers along the way; tivity and a healthier population and simply does not exist for the veterans and the market is such that if I tested industry. who are now U.S. citizens. All this can and developed a product, often a non- be achieved, Mr. Speaker, for $36 mil- patentable product or difficult-to-pat- f lion a year. This should be included in ent product, someone else who has not HURRICANE FLOYD our final budget negotiations. I would invested time and money in clinical re- The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a urge my colleagues to support this search can come in and develop an previous order of the House, the gentle- cost-effective humanitarian measure. equivalent or similar product to mine. woman from North Carolina (Mrs. Taken together, these acts are the The time has come for Congress to CLAYTON) is recognized for 5 minutes. steps we must take during this session step forward and encourage a research- Mrs. CLAYTON. Mr. Speaker, Hurri- of Congress on behalf of our brave col- based dietary supplement and func- cane Floyd took lives, in fact 47 lives leagues who serve side by side with the tional food industry. We must do this we know to date. It also took lifetimes forces from the United States. The to protect the people by ensuring these of family possessions and family his- House has passed the SSI Extension products are safe and effective. Con- tory. Lives cannot be recovered but, Act. Let us now join together in a bi- gress can help bring order to the mar- with effort, lifetimes can be restored. partisan effort to restore health bene- ketplace with the creation of the prop- At least 35,000 lifetimes, family posses- fits to the Filipino World War II bene- er incentives. The answer is a public- sions and family history, must be re- fits. private partnership to get these prod- stored. Let us pass H.R. 1594, the Filipino ucts researched. Infrastructure, built over lifetimes, Veterans’ Benefits Improvement Act. I propose, in introducing this bill, the was destroyed, leaving losses that are f Nutraceutical Research and Education currently reaching $80 million and the Act, to reward the individuals and numbers are growing. THE NUTRACEUTICAL RESEARCH companies doing the clinical research At least 10 bridges are severely dam- AND EDUCATION ACT on these products with an exclusive aged and many more, some still under- The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a marketing claim. In doing so, we will water, were structurally damaged. At previous order of the House, the gen- give the term ‘‘nutraceutical’’ a legal least 600 pipelines were damaged. Elec- tleman from New Jersey (Mr. PALLONE) definition and classification. tricity costs are $1 million and grow- is recognized for 5 minutes. Under the bill, anyone who chooses ing. In addition, some $30 million in Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, tomor- to engage in clinical research of a nat- revenue has been lost. 1.2 million per- row I am introducing the Nutraceutical ural product and determines that a sons lost power due to the storm and Research and Education Act which I health benefit exists and that that close to 10,000 remain today without am going to call the NREA. Many of product is safe and effective to achieve electricity. Drinking water and waste my colleagues may recall the debate this health benefit can apply to the water treatment systems sustained un- and vigorous campaign that led to the FDA for a ruling that their product told damage. Bacteria, nitrates, and passage of the Dietary Supplement does what they claim. The FDA would other pollutants have contaminated Health and Education Act of 1994. With then determine the merits of the appli- many wells. Many septic tanks are the passage of that legislation 5 years cation and decide whether the product nonfunctional and due to high water ago, the use of alternative medicines, does, in fact, offer a health benefit at a tables will not be functional for some dietary supplements, functional food low risk. If so, the person would be re- time. Agricultural losses, compounding products, and medical foods has ex- warded for doing the hard work with an previous losses from the drought and ploded. exclusive right to use the health claim economic downturn and other natural Since the Dietary Supplement Health they have proven for a period of 10 calamities, will reach $1 billion and and Education Act was enacted, con- years. that number is growing. sumers have flocked to their health In this way, we can redirect adver- Small farm life is seriously threat- food stores and most recently to their tising dollars into research, encourage ened in North Carolina. Significant drug stores, grocery stores and the private enterprise and provide the pub- beach erosion has occurred.

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