September 18, 2000 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H7713 pointed out, this is a real problem. We to provide a prescription drug benefit lican proposal that the overwhelming are getting real people coming up to us under Medicare for our seniors. She majority of our seniors and of all on a regular basis saying that they are tells the story about her mother who Americans would be in favor of a pre- suffering. How cruel it is really for the died last November at the age of 87. As scription drug benefit under traditional Republican leadership in this House to she was going through her mother’s pa- Medicare as the Democrats propose in say, well, we are going to solve their pers, she knew, of course, her mother this country. problem by throwing a few bucks at had been on prescription medicines, I Mr. PALLONE. I want to thank the the insurance industry when the insur- think, for about 20 years, the last 20 gentleman. I think we are running out ance industry is telling us that they years of her life. She was going of time. The last point the gentleman are not going to provide the benefits, through all her bills, seeing what she made is so important. I really believe anyway. had spent on medicine. She came that one of the reasons why Governor I just wondered if I could for a across a credit card bill that had a bal- Bush has proposed this scaled-down minute go back to this article in the ance owed of $6,000, and she was just prescription drug plan that really only New York Times that talked about shocked. She could not believe her addresses some of the problems for low- what had happened in Nevada. Nevada mother, as frugal as she was, would income people is because he has pro- as I said in March of this year passed a have run up a $6,000 credit card bill and posed using so much of the surplus for piece of legislation that was very simi- not taken care of it. this grandiose tax cut plan, which pri- lar to what the House Republicans had So she wrote letters to Visa. She marily benefits the wealthy and cor- proposed in terms of providing sub- found out what were all these charges. porate interests, and so he does not sidies to seniors if they could go out It turned out all of them were for pre- have enough money left to pay for a and buy an insurance policy that cov- scription medicines. Her mother had Medicare prescription drug program ered prescription drugs. It has been a been spending about $300 a month on the way the Democrats have proposed. total failure. This is a reference here in prescription medicines, and her Social And so that has actually forced him in the article. This is from July 8, New Security check just was not enough for some ways to propose this more scaled- York Times, of this year. It quotes her to get by and take care of those down version that will only help some Barbara Buckley, a State medicines. The lady wrote me, she low-income people. That is unfortu- assemblywoman who is cochair of a says, I think my mother understood nate, because if we have a surplus, and task force that monitors this potential that when she died, her home could be you and I both I know are worried program. She says that the task force sold and I could pay off that $6,000 Visa about these estimates and whether the refused to authorize the release of any bill for her. But she said my mother level of surplus that is being talked money until it could see the details of was a very proud woman. about will ever materialize, but there a drug program that met the eligibility No senior in this country should have is certainly enough that we could pro- criteria in terms of premiums, to struggle like that to pay for their vide the prescription drug program deductibles, copayment, and benefit prescription medicines. We have sen- along the lines of what the Democrats limits. Most of those details would be iors who are breaking their pills in half have proposed. I would hate to see that decided by the successful bidder. trying to take their medicine and being not happen just because of Governor The problem was that no insurance able to afford it. I have seniors that Bush’s tax proposals and the tax pro- company wanted to offer a program told me at a meeting that they rou- posals that the Republicans have put that met the standards that the legis- tinely just take one every other day. A forward, which I think really do not lature set in terms of specifying what pharmacist was standing there. He help in any significant way the average the premium would be, what the copay- said, ‘‘For some medicines, that can be American. ment would be, what drugs would be extremely dangerous for you to do I just want to say we were here again proposed. It says in the article, asked that.’’ tonight as Democrats because we be- why insurers did not show any interest, I had seniors come up to me and tell lieve strongly that this is a major issue a retired Navy captain, a Mr. Fend, me that they actually have to make a that should be addressed in this Con- who serves on this task force, said, choice every month of whether to buy gress, that is, providing a prescription probably because they did not think groceries or to go fill those prescrip- drug program under Medicare. We are they could make any money. If they tions. In a country as prosperous as we going to continue to be here every thought they could make a reasonable are today and as compassionate as we week until this Congress adjourns de- amount of money, they would probably like to say we are, I believe we can do manding that this issue be addressed. buy into the program and bid on it. something about the problem of a pre- f The bottom line is, it is just a hoax. scription drug crisis for our senior citi- The Republicans here have talked zens. NIGHTSIDE CHAT about a prescription drug program that We talk about this big surplus that is The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. will not work. It is really awful to going to arrive here over the next 10 PETERSON of Pennsylvania). Under the think that they know it will not work, years. I hope it does. I am not sure it Speaker’s announced policy of January it has not worked in a State where it will, but I hope it does. Some as we 6, 1999, the gentleman from Colorado was proposed, yet they keep bringing it know on the other side of the aisle (Mr. MCINNIS) is recognized for 60 min- forth as if somehow they are trying to have proposed that we cut taxes to the utes. address the problem when they are not. tune, I believe Governor Bush says, of Mr. McINNIS. Until the end of Con- Mr. TURNER. The Medicare program $1.6 trillion when we only have an esti- gress, I am going to be here to rebut probably never would have been passed mated, hoped-for $2 trillion budget sur- the gentleman from New Jersey who in 1965 if the private insurance indus- plus. But I think if we are as compas- employs the doctrine of fear. He likes try could have taken care of the health sionate as we like to say we are that to get up here in front of the micro- care needs of our seniors. That is why surely we could set aside 10 percent phone and speak to all of you and give we passed Medicare, is because private over the next 10 years of that $2 tril- these misstatements, misleading state- insurance would not work. I had a let- lion surplus and provide our senior citi- ments, inaccurate statements. Less ter from a lady who had been in an in- zens with a meaningful prescription than 5 minutes ago, I just heard the surance business 19 years. In fact, I drug benefit. gentleman from New Jersey say, and I have it here with me. It was a letter I know everybody wants tax cuts. I quote, The Republican leadership, that was actually handed to me at a know everybody enjoys getting their speaking of the gentleman from Illi- town meeting I had in Shelby County taxes lower. But the truth is there is a nois (Mr. HASTERT), the Speaker of the in my district. The lady asked me if I basic need here that should not be ig- House, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. would read this letter on the way to nored. And I think the vast majority of ARMEY), the majority leader, they used my next stop. the American people agree with that. the word ‘‘cruel,’’ they throw a few This lady writes very eloquently to That is why I think on close examina- bucks at the insurance companies. And say she had been in the insurance busi- tion of the Democratic prescription then these Democrats talk about the ness 19 years and her letter calls for us drug plan as compared to the Repub- dream team, about how everybody is H7714 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE September 18, 2000 going to be caught in this wonderful I do not know why the Democrat from enough of us on both sides of the aisle net, and all of your needs, your pre- New Jersey, instead of up here bashing are saying wait a minute, what are we scription needs, your medical needs and misleading all of you by saying doing, what are the consequences. will all be met by this Democratic Con- that the Republicans, the leadership, Clearly, we all agree on the problem. gress and by this Democratic Gore have planned this cruel hoax on the Despite what the gentleman from plan. Have you ever heard of the propo- Americans. Really, honestly, is there New Jersey says, nobody is patting the sition, You don’t get nothing for free? anybody you have ever met in elective pharmaceutical companies on the back Somewhere somebody has got to pay office that wants to go out and play a and saying be proud of yourself. They for it. You better figure out what the cruel hoax on the constituents they have not done a good job in some re- problem is. I think we can agree on the represent? Is that an exaggeration? Of gards with medicine, but frankly it ap- problem. The Democrats that were up course it is an exaggeration. pears that there is some gouging going here, they would like you to believe But the fact that we come back to is on out there. that they are the only ones that under- this: What do we do to bring the phar- But before my colleagues address stand that there are prescription serv- maceutical prices into line without that problem, take a very careful look ice problems out there in our society bringing in nationalized health care? at what the Democrat, the liberal Dem- and that they are the ones with the so- The Democrats are very easy to stand ocrat approach is, because I can assure lution and their solution is very sim- up here in front of you, ladies and gen- my colleagues in the long run, first of ple. tlemen, and stand in front of my col- all, they promise it will only be 10 per- It tracks the Canadian health care leagues and promise you the Moon, the cent of the surplus and a much, much plan. It is nationalized health care. It magic cure, greener fields on the other smaller percent of the budget and noth- is socialized health care. The Repub- side of the fence. All I am saying is be- ing will grow and grow and grow; and it licans and frankly some conservative fore you jump on the other side of the is the open door for socialized medicine Democrats are saying, Wait a minute. fence, take a look at the consequences in this country, for a national health Wait a minute. Before we jump into of the plan that they are proposing. care, and there are a lot of people who, in my opinion, will suffer under a na- this pool of nationalized medicine, Where do you think AL GORE, the what you tried to do with Hillary Clin- Vice President, is going to get his tional health care plan. Nobody should be forgotten and no- ton about 6 or 7 years ago, 7 or 8 years money from this? It comes out of that body should be left behind, but there ago, let’s take a look at what the rami- surplus. Remember, this is the first are ways to address that without going fications are; let’s study other nations time in 30 years we have had that sur- into a Hillary Clinton-type of health that have jumped into the same pool plus. As I say, clearly there is a prob- care plan. So my discussion here to- that you want us to jump into, for ex- lem out there. We need to address that ample, Canada, and take a look at night was not intended to be on health problem. But the Gore approach and care, but there is nobody else that what the Canadian system has that is the Democratic Congress approach or stands here to rebut these gentlemen, better than our system. at least the liberal side of it, I have got That is what I propose you do. Before as they speak here unrebutted for 1 to say, I have got to restrain myself be- hour about the so-called quote cruel you jump into the pool, take a look at cause we have several conservative what the unintended consequences are. hoaxes by the Republican leadership. Democrats who do not agree with the Those words ought to be stricken Maybe there are some things in the Ca- liberal approach as just espoused by from the RECORD. They are inaccurate. nadian health care system that are bet- the gentleman from New Jersey. But They are misleading. The gentleman ter than the American health care sys- the liberal Democratic approach is the from New Jersey and some of his col- tem. But I would tell you this, that in Hillary Clinton approach, nationalized leagues, they know that the cruel hoax America you still get the best health health care, socialized health care. I by the leadership. I did not say there is care of anywhere in the world. When can tell a lot of you right now, 64 per- a cruel hoax by the Democratic leader- they like to come up here and talk cent of the people in America, as I un- ship. Come on, we have more protocol about the uninsured Americans, re- derstand, have some kind of prescrip- on this floor. We can be more ladies member that there are different cat- tion care service. and gentlemen in talking about the egories. You may have somebody that You better figure out what the gen- problem. is uninsured; but no matter where you tleman from New Jersey is proposing The people that suffer while this par- are in America, you can never be de- to do with the service of those of you tisan bickering goes on back here are nied emergency care at a hospital if that have prescription care in moving the senior citizens that do not have that hospital receives government that to the people that do not have pre- prescription care or, by the way, any- funds. And I do not know any hospital, scription care service. There are lots of body that does not have the ability to I am sure there are a couple of them consequences to what the Democrats, care for themselves. But do not address out there but not very many more that the liberal Democrats, are proposing it by waving the magic wand and say- do not operate on government funds. when they offer you something for ing look, citizens, we have got some- The fact is, the prescription drugs in nothing. thing for nothing. We are going to take this country, the prices that are being b 2130 care of all of your health care needs. charged for them are in my opinion We are going to take away your per- outrageous. There is no question that There is a price to be paid, and I sonal responsibility and the govern- the angel here is not the pharma- think it is incumbent upon the gen- ment is going to assume it. ceutical companies. But let me tell tleman from New Jersey and his col- Remember, every time, and I cannot you, there is also something to be said leagues when they stand up here and say this strong enough, every time the about the research that these pharma- trash and cut down more conservative government assumes one of your re- ceutical companies ought to be doing Democrats or the conservative Repub- sponsibilities, every time the govern- so that we have better medicines. licans. I think it is incumbent on them ment takes a burden of yours and You take a look at the kind of medi- to kind of have an openness require- makes it a burden of theirs, they take cines we have today, just in the last ment. Tell the people what the con- something with it. It comes with a few years. I can remember 3 years ago sequences are of nationalized health price. Somewhere we are losing a free- when you got diarrhea, you drank that care. Tell people what the con- dom. Somewhere we are going to lose junk, that pink junk, you drank it. You sequences are of a Canadian-type of the ability to have choice in the future. drank a whole thing of it to try to get system. Talk about it. Tell the people So in summary on this health care rid of the diarrhea. Today you buy a what the consequences are of research plan, let me say, I am discouraged by little packet about this big with little for better medicines. the comments that were made previous pills, you pop one pill and that is it. Know this is why this Congress just to my speaking here this evening. We Our country is the country that makes does not jump up and sign the blank do not get anywhere, and I direct my advancements. We have got to do some- check offered by the gentleman from remarks at the liberal Democrats. thing about these outrageous prices New Jersey. We are not going to jump Look, we are not going to get any- that have snuck in here. For example, up and sign a blank check, at least where with a nationalized health care September 18, 2000 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H7715 plan. We are not going to get anywhere tionary, and I looked up the word hero. of the Peachy, a B–29 piloted by with socialized medicine. Hero, a mythological or a legendary Puebloan Bill Haver that flew raids Why do you not sit down instead of figure often of divine descent endowed over Japan, will meet for its annual talking about how leadership has this with great strength or ability, an illus- get-together. Mr. Haver named the cruel conspiracy going on by throwing trious warrior, a man admired for his plane, a replica of which is at the air- a few bucks at insurance companies? noble qualities, one that shows great craft museum at the Memorial Airport Why do you not put the election-year courage, an object of extreme admira- in honor of his sister Peachy rhetoric aside and sit down with us and tion and devotion with courage. Wilcoxson, and I know Peachy. Today help us try and figure out what a solu- With that said, let me read an edi- is Constitution Day. All of these patri- tion is. torial from one of the leading news- ots spot for the ideals embodied in the Every day that we use that kind of papers in the State of Colorado, the United States Constitution, and many rhetoric, there are people out there Pueblo Chieftain. It is called Patriots of their comrades perished in that ef- who are suffering because my col- Week. What is Patriots Week about? fort. leagues are not willing to sit down and This is a celebration of heroes. So let each and every one of us re- put their heads together to come up This week, we anticipate more than flect on that remarkable document and with a solution. And there is a solu- 110 Americans, more than 110 Ameri- re-dedicate ourselves to the cause of tion. cans who have been decorated with the liberty and justice. Well, how exciting. I am optimistic that we can have a Medal of Honor, which is the highest In Pueblo alone, for example, I would solution. We do have a great country, honor our country can give out, 110 of like to just to kind of, for a moment, and we have made wonderful strides in them will be in Pueblo, Colorado, to be go over who are the four members who health care. But clearly we have got honored by a city which was recently are from Pueblo, Colorado. some problems in that system, but we designated as one of the four finest As I mentioned in my comments, un- can fix it without having our health communities to live in this country. fortunately, two of our members, two care provided by the United States of Pueblo, Colorado, picked out of hun- of our citizens of Pueblo, passed away America, which means they are going dreds of communities. It was picked in earlier this year. Mr. Crawford, who to oversee what doctors you see. They the top four. was in the Army, you can see right are going to oversee what kind of pre- This week Pueblo is hosting 110 here, and Mr. Sitter, right here, but we scriptions you get. They are going to medal of honor winners, and they are still have surviving Drew Dix, the gen- oversee what kind of treatments you calling their week Patriots’ Week. I am tleman right here with the red dot, and get. They are going to oversee how going to go through my poster here in Jerry Murphy, who was in the Marines often you are going to get to see this a few minutes with you and show you in Korea. doctor or that doctor. Socialized or na- some of the interesting things about This is the plaza that Pueblo, Colo- tional medicine is not the magic an- what this week is going to consist of. rado, has dedicated and put together swer it appears to be. First of all, let me read the editorial through contributions from the local Tonight it is very easy to buy into out of the Sunday Chieftain Star and community. Here is a community that this, very easy to buy into this, be- Journal, my good friend Bob Rawlings, came together, did not come to the cause the Democrats, the liberal side who is the publisher and editor, this is United States Congress and ask for over here, not all Democrats, I stand Patriots Week, the home of heroes in money, did not expect the government corrected, the liberal Democrats over Pueblo, Colorado. On Tuesday, the Na- to do it; they got together in their here, they think you are going to get tional Medal of Honor Society con- community of Pueblo, Colorado, to something for nothing. And they are venes here for its annual convention. honor all medal of honor recipients, saying, look, it is easy for us to afford Pueblo is home to four medal of honor but specifically to put something that it, no problem. Remember, you do not recipients, the most of any city at will be a long-lasting recognition of get something for nothing. least in modern times. the four medal of honor winners from Let me switch subjects and talk On Thursday, larger-than-life bronze Pueblo, Colorado. That is what that about something much, much more sculptures of the four Puebloans who little plaza is going to look like. The pertinent, I think, really because of the won this will be unveiled at the Pueblo statues, here is one of Jerry Murphy, Olympics. I hope some of you have are Convention Center. They are Carl Sit- 81⁄2 feet tall; that is the completed stat- having the opportunity to watch it. In ter, William Crawford, Drew Dix, and ute there honoring Jerry. fact, I was over at the office before I Jerry Murphy. Mr. Sitter and Mr. Here, so you have an idea, there is came over this evening watching the Crawford died this year, but not before Bill Crawford before he passed away as Olympics, how exciting that is, even if they got to see their sculptures taking he stands with the statue of him, which it is taped NBC or whoever does that. form. Also included is a display of all is also about 81⁄2 feet high. This is going The reality of it is look what we get to medal of honor recipients dating back to be an exciting week in Pueblo. see clear across the ocean in Sydney to the Civil War, when the Nation’s What I thought I would do is share and watch those Olympics, and I am highest honor was approved by the with my colleagues four of the stories very proud of those people. United States Congress. of these medal of honor winners. I can I want to tell you I heard an adver- A black tie patriot dinner on Friday tell you that I have had the occasion, tisement, I will not tell you the name will bring five greats from the world of and I consider it amongst the highest of the company the other day, but I sports to Pueblo. Golfer Arnold Palm- privileges of my congressional career, heard an advertisement about the er; gold glove baseball player Brooks if I were to kind of recapture my Olympics, and it said our young men Robinson; NBA center David, The Ad- memories of serving in the United and women that go over there to com- miral, Robinson; one-time boxing States Congress, where I felt the most pete in the Olympics, they will come champion Gene Fullmer; and the NHL fortunate to meet somebody or the home heroes. And I thought to myself, hockey star Pat LaFontaine will re- most privileged to be able to shake you know, they will come over celeb- ceive the Society’s Patriot Award for their hand, I would have to put it in rities. I would like to have their auto- the joy and support they have given to the order of, I am Catholic, the Pope, graphs. I am proud of them. our military forces. Also commentator and Mother Theresa, and right behind But I think using the word heroes is Paul Harvey and World War II car- them, our medal of honor winners. somewhat of a delusion. I think the toonist Bill Maudlin will receive spe- In fact, I was in a parade in Pueblo real word of heroes is used in a dif- cial awards from the Medal of Honor not very long ago, and I had the oppor- ferent type of setting. There are sports Society. tunity in that parade to shake the celebrities, and there are heroes. Two other veterans organizations are hands of two medal of honor winners I have a perfect example. I am not in Pueblo this in week in conjunction who were watching the parade. You just up here talking without giving you with the Society’s convention. Two feel so much pride, because these peo- an example. It is happening this week days ago, the 50th anniversary reunion ple are such heroes. They really are in Pueblo, Colorado. First of all, on my of the 578th Combat Engineering Bat- what heros are, the word. They do not way over I real quickly grabbed a dic- talion began. Later this year, the crew cause any delusion to the word hero. H7716 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE September 18, 2000 They embody hero in its fullest envi- it. Medal of Honor recipients, and I and small arms fire. Locating one of sions. stand corrected on that. these guns, which was dug in on a ter- Let me talk about Drew Dix. I will Raymond Jerry Murphy, United race on his immediate front, Private point out Drew here. Drew right here. States Marine Corps, Korea, citation Crawford, without orders, and on his By the way, a special hello to his for conspicuous gallantry at the risk of own initiative, moved over the hill mother, a very sweet person in Pueblo, his own life, above and beyond the call under enemy fire to a point within a Colorado. Let me talk a little about of duty as a platoon commander of few yards of the machine gun emplace- Drew, Drew D. Dix, U.S. Army Special Company A, an action against enemy ment and single-handedly destroyed Forces Vietnam, citation for con- aggressor forces. Although painfully the machine gun and killed three of the spicuous gallantry in the action at the wounded by fragments from an enemy crew with a hand grenade; thus ena- risk of his life above and beyond the mortar shell while leading his evacu- bling his platoon to continue its ad- call of duty. ation platoon in support of assault vance. Sergeant Dix distinguished himself units attacking a cleverly concealed When the platoon, after reaching the by exceptional heroism by serving as a and well-entrenched hostile force occu- crest, was once more delayed by enemy unit advisor to heavily armed Vietcong pying commanding ground, Second fire, Private Crawford again, in face of battalions attacked the providence Lieutenant Murphy steadfastly refused intense fire and on his own volition, capital of Chau Phu resulting in com- medical aid and continued to lead his advanced directly to the front midway plete breakdown and fragmentation of men up a hill through a withering bar- between two hostile, two this time, defenses of the city. rage of hostile mortar and small arms hostile machine gun nests located on a Sergeant Dix with a patrol of Viet- fire; skillfully maneuvering his force higher terrace and placed in a small ra- namese soldiers was recalled to assist from one position to the next and vine. Moving first to the left, with a in the defense of the city. Learning shouting words of encouragement. hand grenade he destroyed one gun em- that a nurse was trapped in a house Undeterred by the increasing intense placement and killed the crew. Then he near the center of the city, Sergeant enemy fire, he immediately located worked his way to the right and under Dix organized a relief force, success- casualties as they fell and made sev- continuous fire from the other machine fully rescued the nurse and returned eral trips up and down the fire swept gun emplacement, he used one hand her safely to the tackle operations cen- hill to direct evacuation teams to the grenade and the use of his rifle and he ter; but that is not all. wounded, personally carrying many of killed one enemy and blew out the ma- Being informed that now there were the stricken Marines to safety. chine gun nest and forced the remain- other trapped civilians within the city, When reinforcements were needed by der of the enemy to flee. Sergeant Dix voluntarily led another the assaulting elements, Second Lieu- force to rescue eight civilian employ- tenant Murphy employed part of his Seizing the enemy machine gun that ees located in a building which was unit as support and during the ensuing was left from the one emplacement, he under heavy mortar and small arms battle personally killed two of the fired on the withdrawing Germans and fire. Sergeant Dix then returned to the enemy with his own pistol. facilitating his company’s advance. center of the city. Upon approaching a With all of the wounded evacuated These are remarkable individuals. building, he was subjected to intense and the assaulting units beginning to Carl Sitter, United States Marine automatic rifle and machine gun fire disengage, he remained behind with a Corps Korea, for conspicuous gallantry from an unknown number of Vietcong. carbine to cover the movement of at the risk of his own life, above and He personally assaulted the building, friendly forces of the hill, and although beyond the call of duty as a com- killing six of the Vietcong and rescuing suffering intense pain from his pre- manding officer of Company G, in ac- two Philippinos. The following day, vious wounds he seized an automatic tion against enemy aggressor forces, Sergeant Dix, still on his own volition, rifle to provide more firepower when ordered to break through enemy in- assembled a 20-man force, and though the enemy reappeared from the trench- fested territory to reinforce his bat- under intense enemy fire, cleared the es. talion the morning of 29 November. Vietcong out of the hotel, the theater After reaching the base of the hill, he Captain Sitter continuously exposed and other adjacent buildings within the organized a search party and again as- himself to enemy fire as he led his city. cended the slope for a final check on company forward, and despite 25 per- missing Marines, locating and carrying b 2145 cent casualties suffered in the furious the bodies of machine gun crew back action, he succeeded in driving the During this portion of the attack, down the hill. Wounded a second time, group to its objective. Army Republic of Vietnam soldiers, in- while conducting the entire force to spired by the heroism and success of the line of departure through a con- Assuming the responsibility of at- Sergeant Dix, rallied and commenced tinuing barrage of enemy small arms tempting to seize and occupy a stra- firing upon the Viet Cong. Sergeant artillery and mortar fire, he again re- tegic area, occupied by a hostile force Dix individually captured 20 prisoners, fused medical assistance until assured of regiment strength, deeply en- including a high ranking Viet Cong of- that every one of his men, including all trenched on a snow covered hill, com- ficial. He then attacked enemy troops of the casualties, had preceded him to manding the entire valley southeast of who had entered the residence of the the main lines. town, as well as the line of march of deputy providence chief and was suc- His resolute and inspiring leadership friendly troops withdrawing to the cessful in rescuing the official’s wife and exceptional fortitude and great south, he reorganized his depleted and children. personal valor reflect the highest cred- units the following morning and boldly Sergeant Dix’s personal heroic ac- it upon Second Lieutenant Murphy and led them up that steep frozen hillside tions resulted in 14 confirmed Viet enhance the finest traditions of the under blistering fire, encouraging and Cong killed in action and possibly 25 United States Marine Corps. redeploying his troops as casualties oc- more. The capture of 20 prisoners, 15 William Crawford, our third Pueblo curred, and directing forward platoons weapons and the rescue of 14 United citizen, United States Army, World as they continued the drive to the top States and free world civilians. The War II, for conspicuous gallantry at of the ridge. heroism of Sergeant Dix was in the the risk of life and above and beyond During the night when the vastly highest tradition and reflects great the call of duty in action, with the outnumbered enemy launched a sudden credit upon the United States Army. enemy in Italy, 13 September 1943, vicious counterattack, setting the hill Raymond Jerry Murphy, and if you when Company I attacked an enemy- ablaze with mortar, machinegun and ever go to Pueblo, Colorado, you will held position on hill 424, the third pla- automatic weapons fire and taking a see Murphy Boulevard. I mean, these toon in which Private Crawford was a heavy toll in troops, Captain Sitter vis- guys are real heroes. Their community squad scout attacked as a base platoon ited each foxhole and gun position, loves them. Our country has deep re- for the company. After reaching the coolly deploying and integrating rein- spect for Medal of Honor winners. Ex- crest of the hill, the platoon was forcing units consisting of service per- cuse me. Not winners they did not win pinned down by intense enemy machine sonnel unfamiliar with infantry tactics September 18, 2000 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H7717 into a coordinated combat team and in- in the last week and a half we all of a do not think we need that any more stilling in every man the will and de- sudden begin to hear about a problem than we need socialized medicine in termination to hold his position at all that, frankly, I addressed over a year this country. Our country prides itself costs. ago. Not that I knew that I could fore- on saying to the individuals, look, you With the enemy penetrating his see this problem, we had a lot of people have personal responsibility. The peo- lines, in repeated counterattacks which talking about it after the Columbine ple in America still exercise a great often required hand-to-hand combat, High School tragedy in Colorado, and deal of personal responsibility. So what and on one occasion infiltrating to the that is, what kind of violence are we can the government do about this? I command post with hand grenades, he educating our young people with? think we in the government have an fought gallantly with his men in re- We know that at tender ages, at obligation for an awareness, to put out pulsing and killing the fanatic younger ages, that is an opportunity, as much as we can about what we think attackers in each encounter. Painfully probably the maximum opportunity, to is going on out there so that we can wounded in the face, wounded in the mold a young person, to influence a communicate a message to the max- arms and wounded in the chest by young person, to set him upon a direc- imum amount of our constituents. bursting grenades, he staunchly re- tion in the life that they are beginning. For example, I had not been in a fused to be evacuated, and he contin- Unfortunately, for example, the to- video arcade in a long time before last ued to fight on until a successful de- bacco companies took full advantage of year. After Columbine, I was at the fense of the area was assured with a that. They marketed their products to Denver International Airport and I de- loss of the enemy by more than 50 per- very, very young individuals because cided to go into the video arcade, and I cent of their troops dead or wounded or they knew, frankly, that they could think out of the 27 games in that video captured. His valiant leadership, su- get them addicted. They knew what arcade in Denver, Colorado, well over perb tactics and great personal valor the disease was that they would cause. half of them were games of killing throughout 36 hours of bitter combat They knew the evils of tobacco, but somebody; violence; games of shooting reflect the highest credit upon Captain nonetheless they knew their customer each other. Sitter and the U.S. Naval service. base had to constantly be renewed and Now to the credit, Mayor Wellington These four gentlemen that I just de- the best way to renew it was to go into Webb of Denver, Colorado, I called the scribed as heroes who got the Medal of this fragile age, say 14, or maybe 12 to city and I said, hey, I have just become Honor are from Pueblo, Colorado, but I about 17, and get them hooked on the aware of this. We do not have anything want to remind all of my colleagues product that you wanted them to buy. in the government that prohibits the there is what we call the Medal of Well, we see the same kind of thing City of Denver from leasing this video Honor Society, and 110 members of happening today in the video game in- arcade to have this kind of merchan- that society will be in Pueblo, Colo- dustry. There is actually a market out dising of violence, but the mayor took rado, this week to be honored by our there not for what I would consider bad it upon himself and within I would say community and to be honored by our entertainment but what I would con- half a day those games were out of that Nation for what they have done. sider trash. Now, look, I am not up video arcade. Those four stories I told are but a here bashing Hollywood. I go to the b 2200 drop in the bucket of the stories of movies like all the rest of you. I enjoy valor, the stories of courageous brave them. In fact, I watch Titanic any time It did not take government action; it men and women, who stepped out I get an opportunity to. I have lots of did not take a U.S. Congressman com- above the call of duty because they be- favorite movies. So do you. There are a ing back here with his colleagues and lieved in America. They believed in lot of neat things about Hollywood. In passing laws to get it out of the arcade. freedom and they were willing to lay fact, I think films in America really It took the responsibility, the personal their life down for it. speak freedom throughout the world. It responsibility of the people of Denver, This weekend I had a wonderful op- is amazing on my international travels led by their mayor and the mayor’s portunity to spend with my wife and what kind of influence America has be- staff, and they stood up to it and they my parents in Meeker, Colorado, and cause there is American music in these took it out in about a half a day. we were up at the cemetery, an old countries, in China, for example, or Well, I think we as congress people, cemetery, we were in the old section of when the American movie industry we have to take this message to our the cemetery, and I walked by a grave starts to creep into China, freedoms, constituents and say hey, go visit your and it was a young man, not much on people see what freedoms are about. So local video arcade, see what is going on the gravestone, had the gentlemen’s I think Hollywood has a very strong in your neighborhood. For example, I name, had his birth. He was 22 years place in our society, and I think that had one of my constituents give me the old, and all it said on the gravestone under our First Amendment they have magazine that his then 13-year-old boy was he died for his country. constitutional privilege, and 99 percent bought off the counter. I am going to As we know, we have thousands and of the product that comes out of there show my colleagues this magazine in a thousands and thousands of men and is good product, but unfortunately 1 few minutes and what it markets. This women in this country who have died percent of it is being ignored by the magazine right here. It markets terror, for their country, and we have hun- other 99 percent. it markets violence, it markets death, dreds of thousands of men and women Now I am not talking about enter- and it markets it in such a way that it who have fought bravely for what this tainment that I do not like. Look, knows that the typical 13-year-old or country stands for, for the freedom of there are movies out there that I would 14-year-old will grab this and begin to this country, for the benefit of all of not watch. There is music out there become influenced and molded by what us. that I am not entertained by. I can as- they are reading, and what they are We cannot acknowledge everybody sure you that my three children, who seeing, and pretty soon, what they are with a Medal of Honor, so we know are all now in college, are not exactly playing when they buy the video game. that there are brave and courageous in- entertained by the kind of music I lis- For example, on this chart here, this dividuals out there who should have re- ten to and they are not necessarily en- is a video game that is advertised in ceived the Medal of Honor, who earned tertained by the kind of movies I like this magazine. This magazine is called, the Medal of Honor but did not receive to go to. So I am not talking about Next Generation. This is the ad, a full, it, but we do know we still have a music that is not entertaining to my 2-page center-fold ad. The name of the group of individuals who did receive ears or to my sight. What I am talking game and the name of this ad is the Medal of Honor, and they truly about is violence that is being mar- ‘‘You’re Going to Die.’’ This is what is should own lock, stock and barrel the keted in a retail sense clear across being marketed out there: ‘‘You’re title of hero. America. Going to Die.’’ WHAT KIND OF VIOLENCE ARE WE EDUCATING Now some people have said, well, Now, in the last week, Hollywood has OUR CHILDREN WITH? what should government do about it? I gotten defensive, and I have heard Mr. MCINNIS. Mr. Speaker, I would do not think we need what is called a some artists say well, you cannot im- like to move on. It is election year so recreation or an entertainment czar. I pede on the right of free speech and an H7718 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE September 18, 2000 artist’s opportunity to have free not one of the executives of this com- to the community that they maybe thought. Come on. We have to have pany allows their own children to pos- ought to say no? I did not get any idea some peer enforcement. We have to ex- sess this game that they, in turn, are at all, I did not get any feeling that the ercise responsibility. marketing to every other American Imagine Publishing Corporation cared Mr. Speaker, I happen to agree with family that has children the same age at all about any kind of community re- Hollywood; I do not think the govern- they have, young children. Not one of sponsibility to the young people that ment ought to have an entertainment those executives puts that trash in picked up their magazine called Next czar. But I do think, and I would say to their own children’s hand. Do we know Generation right here and saw this ad my colleagues that if we have constitu- why? Because they know the impact of and went out to buy that kind of video ents in the entertainment industry, what this influence means. They know game. that we have to emphasize upon them what the result will be if we continue Now, of course I contacted Interplay, that, look, we all have a duty, a re- to allow these kids to play game after as I mentioned earlier in my remarks. sponsibility to our young people. This game after game where one can focus I contacted Interplay, and as I men- incident that occurred at Columbine in and see the damage of exit wounds, tioned earlier in my remarks, I said to High School, it did not occur because where they are encouraged to steal a them, do you let your own children do of this magazine, but let me tell my bike, where they tell you to go in and it? Why do you go out to America, why colleagues, there are some violent gang bang death and talk smack. do you go out to our communities and things out there, in my opinion, that When the tobacco companies first market this kind of crap? Why do you have occurred as a result of this kind came forward and said oh, this is not do it? Look at this garbage. Do you of game. addicting; when the tobacco companies think it is a distortion of reality? Do Let me show my colleagues. I have first came forward and said, kids have you think that you, in effect, are blown up the ad. This ad is available to the right to choice, this is not addict- brainwashing our young people, that our children and our constituents. Any ive to young kids, we are not targeting violence is the answer? And to think constituent out there that has chil- young kids, it was a lie, and it is the nothing of killing and to think nothing dren, they can go to the store and pick same thing here. Do not let this com- of being proud of the exit wounds the up this magazine, no problem. pany tell us they are not trying to grab size of the exit wound that you create Now, take a look at this ad. This is that young kid, that young boy or girl, in a body, and that if you want to get the video game that we can buy. the future leaders of our country, the around town you just steal a bike or a ‘‘You’re Going to Die.’’ You will see future citizens, the members of our train, and then if you have a gang right here to my left the individual, families, I say to my colleagues, we member you do not get along with, this is a person who has been shot, that know darn well what this company is waste him, you are going to do it any- red is obviously blood. Let me tell my trying to do with this videotape. Stuff way? I did not get any sense of respon- colleagues what the game offers. It of- cash in their pockets at the expense of sibility out of that corporation called fers its player to zoom in, to zoom in the right and wrong of our children. Interplay. on this game, right up here, one can I pulled up the web site tonight, I So my conclusion is this, I say to my zoom in on one’s computer, and one wanted to see if this company had colleagues. We have to shoulder a re- can target specific body parts and actu- changed anything since I had written sponsibility to go into our commu- ally see the damage done, including to them. They have not changed much. nities. We should go and look in our exit wounds. They do not have to show Let me tell my colleagues how they local arcades. Most of the video arcade a lot. All you have to be is a kid with describe that. I pulled it off the web, it dealers that I have talked to, and prior some money and you go in the video is called a story off their web site. to last year I had not gone into video store and you buy this game. You can ‘‘Somewhere in the past that never ex- arcades since my kids were that big steal a bike or hop a train just to get isted lies the world of kingpin’’, that is playing pinball machines, and they around town. Even the odds by recruit- the name of this game, ‘‘a landscape of have changed a lot. And my bet is most ing the gang members you want on burned out buildings and urban decay of my colleagues have not gone into your side. Talk to people the way you where local gangs rule the street. their own districts and stopped just at want, talk to them any way you want Begin your rise to the top, assembling a regular video arcade store to take a on the video game. Actual game play your own gang of thugs. If a new mem- look at the games that are being screens, built on top of the revolu- ber turns out to be a punk, waste him. played. But I have done that in the last tionary Quake 2 engine, includes multi- Waste him, and make room for new year, and I can tell my colleagues that player gang bang death match for up to blood. Moving up in the world is sure most of the video arcade owners that I 16 thugs. Life of crime. Unbelievable. to attract the attention of kingpin. have talked to responded much the I pulled it up tonight. I web to the Eventually, you are going to have to same way that the city of Denver re- web site. Needless to say, a year ago, take him down, but you knew that any- sponded saying, wow, we really were when my constituent came to me with way.’’ not paying attention to it. We will get this after we were discussing what had Mr. Speaker, that is awful. I pulled the game out of there. occurred at the Columbine High School that off the web site tonight before I Mr. Speaker, I can also tell my col- in Colorado, I was amazed. came over here to speak. This company leagues that I went to the advertisers. I contacted the executives of one of has not slowed down one bit. I figured I was not going to get this the magazines that advertises this type Mr. Speaker, I think it is unfortu- publisher to do anything, because he of advertising and then too, I contacted nate. I contacted Imagine Publishing, wanted the cash; and, by the way, there the producers of this game, and I asked and Imagine Publishing, by the way, is was a she too, a she executive, and those executives; in fact, I disclosed the magazine that puts this stuff out. I they wanted the cash in their pocket. their names on the House Floor, I asked Imagine, I talked to some of They could care less, in my opinion, asked those executives about their own their executives about a year ago, why about community responsibility to- children. Believe it or not, on the web do you put this kind of stuff in? Well, wards our youth and violence. sites, on their web sites they disclosed they start to give me the freedom of So I went to the advertisers, and I their background, or maybe on finan- speech and the First Amendment. I tried to encourage the advertisers not cial documents under public corpora- said, wait a second, wait a second. Why to buy advertising in this magazine. I tion disclosure, they described their do you put this stuff in there? Would set up meetings; it did not require Fed- families. you let your own children play with it? eral law, it did not require U.S. con- So I wrote them and I said, Mr. Exec- Well, no, but that is not the point, they gressional action. I set up meetings utive, Mr. Big Corporation Executive, said. The point is that really we do not with Target, with City Market, King do you allow your children to go buy censor. Supers Corporation, with Wal-Mart the product that you are trying to mar- Essentially, anybody that wants to Corporation, with J.C. Penney Corpora- ket intensely to every other child in put something in one of the Imagine tion. Every one of those retailers was America? I will bet any amount of publications, why, this is just fine. Do responsive and every one of those re- money, I say to my colleagues, that they have any sense of responsibility tailers has taken not large steps, but September 18, 2000 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H7719 small steps and, in some regards, some b 2215 grandkids to college. But they did not intend upon their death for 55 percent of their es- aggressive steps towards doing some- Although my own personal experience tate to be handed over to the government be- thing about making sure that this kind seemingly pales in comparison to the fami- cause death is a taxable event. It is abso- of stuff, this kind of true violence is lies in Colorado and Idaho who lost ranches lutely ludicrous and unconscionable to think and farms in order to pay estate taxes, I can taken off of those retail shelves, is not that this could happen in America, but it is still easily relate to the frustrations that being offered for sale by some of these a reality. those families are experiencing. I am just retailers. I was amused by your comments in which one of the growing number of middle-class you indicated that the current administra- Mr. Speaker, that is what I am Americans who feel that they have literally tion would most likely, once they left office, speaking here tonight about. I think been ‘‘screwed’’ by their own government, seek out the expertise of tax attorneys and we have an obligation. and I encourage you to continue in your ef- accountants to advise them how to best shel- forts to repeal our country’s death tax laws I know that in the last week Al Gore ter their assets on their estates to avoid pay- now to prevent more of us from having to ex- prided himself on taking on Hollywood. ing the death taxes. How true that is. But perience what my own family recently expe- I think we have to go to the grass- the irony is that many of these folks prob- rienced. ably are already sheltering their assets in roots. I think each one of us, each one My mother fought a valiant battle against various tax deferred plans so their heirs can of my colleagues, we need to go into breast cancer for a few years, but passed avoid paying these taxes. our communities, take it by the grass- away in 1996. Sadly, she had just turned 65 roots, just like we are doing in our po- years old. She was a full-time mother and If my father would have lived for a couple more years and had gotten into the retire- litical campaigns in the next 5 or 6 also worked hard as a nurse for many years to pay college tuition for my sister and I. ment routine, he probably would have tried weeks and talk to our local video ar- to seek advice too. But he just never got cades, talk to our local parent-teacher Dad worked most of his life for a defense contractor as an aerospace engineer. You can around to it. My dad used to laugh, ‘‘don’t organizations, talk to our local church- see that both of my parents were not farmers worry, I won’t spend your inheritance on es and say, hey, here is somebody over or ranchers, but they worked at jobs that fancy sports cars and other expensive toys. here, we ought to ask them to take many ordinary Americans work at. Both of There will be something for you.’’ this stuff off of their shelves. We ought my parents were also raised in families that I am sure millions of Americans haven’t to go to the local Wal-Mart or local survived the Great Depression, and, as a re- gotten around to it either, and I know these folks would be equally distraught to know Target or local K-Mart, or the book- sult, they acquired a deep appreciation for the value of a dollar. They both worked hard how much that they would have passed on to store, and if they have this kind of their children instead automatically goes to stuff, we ought to ask them to take it and they were also great ‘‘savers.’’ They were wealthy in many ways, but they the Internal Revenue Service. off. I think we would get a pretty posi- certainly were not rich. When mom and dad My sister nor I never felt we were owed or tive response. Because most citizens were in their early thirties they purchased a entitled to an inheritance. Our parents pro- out there, unlike the executives of dream home in a typical middle-class track vided for us and we were raised to be inde- Interplay, and unlike the executives of neighborhood on Long Island for about pendent. We also knew that both of our par- Imagine, most people out there that $16,000. They resided there for 40 years, and ents fully intended to have what they are proprietors that have their own last year my sister and I had to sell the worked so hard for to be conveyed to their house, which we sold for many many times children, as was directed in their wills. My businesses and who are operating these parents were known for their generosity to businesses and have more community what my folks bought it for, and every penny we got from that House went to the Federal their family, their church and their commu- responsibility. After all, they are a Government to pay for the death tax. nity, but we never knew that they would part of the community. Dad passed away unexpectedly. We knew have contributed 55 percent of their entire So, Mr. Speaker, I think we can be that my folks had planned all their lives for estate to the Federal Government. successful, and I do not think we need retirement, but we didn’t have any idea how So, you know, I know there has been a lot to take the kind of action that requires they really had saved all those years. They made about the death tax and the President Federal oversight. did not have an extravagant lifestyle, but says and the vice president, well, it is a tax they lived comfortable, as many middle-class for the rich. This is middle-class America. As ELIMINATING THE DEATH TAX American families do. Upon retirement, dad I said earlier in my comments, few are a con- and mom wanted to ensure that they could Mr. MCINNIS. Mr. Speaker, let me tractor, all you have to do is own a dump continue to live the comfortable standard of move on to another subject very quick- truck, a pickup, a bulldozer and a backhoe, living they had come to enjoy as middle- and if you own it, you are subject to that ly. I am going to wrap up with a letter class Americans during their prime earning death tax. It has a very punitive way of that I got after our last discussion. In years. Unfortunately, neither one of my par- working against communities. And what our last night side chat, we talked ents got to reap a dime from their IRAs, bothers me the most is not, of course, the about the death tax. We talked about their pension account, their savings or from Kennedys and the Fords and the Carnagies the fact that the President at that the proceeds of the sale of their home. Rath- and all those people. They have lawyers to time was going to veto, and has subse- er, as I just mentioned, my sister and I were plan to save their estate. But what bothers quently vetoed; not only supports forced to sell the home soon after my dad’s me the most is the small communities, passing in order to pay the death taxes on death as a taxable event, but that the where somebody who has been successful in the estate that was left to us. that community and that money is working Clinton-Gore administration actually There aren’t as many farms anymore, for in that community, either through contribu- proposed this year in their budget a many reasons. Many baby-boomers, like my tions to charity or jobs or otherwise, and $9.5 billion increase in the death tax. sister and I, who are now just beginning to that money is taken by the Internal Revenue Now, it was amazing how much I inherit the wealth of a previous generation, Service and transferred to Washington, D.C. heard, the rhetoric, about how the were born and raised in suburban cities and for redeployment through government pro- subdivisions. Even here in Colorado Springs, grams. death tax only hits 2 percent of the my own kids are far removed from the rural community. It hits the entire commu- It simply can be summed up in a couple or farming communities that you had referred three words: It is not fair. nity. Because to summarize, what hap- to in Colorado and Idaho. But, nonetheless, pens with the death tax is we take the many city folks from previous generations f money out of a community and we also worked hard all of their lives. While transfer that money, regardless of they do not have farms or ranches to leave whose money it is, it is still money to their children, they do have other kinds of LEAVE OF ABSENCE that circulates within that commu- assets to bequeath. While the estates of middle-income Ameri- By unanimous consent, leave of ab- nity, and we move it from that commu- cans often will not qualify them to be in- sence was granted to: nity to Washington, D.C. to the bu- cluded among the rich and famous, these es- Mrs. CHENOWETH-HAGE (at the re- reaucracy and the U.S. Federal Govern- tates are, nonetheless, considered sizable to quest of Mr. ARMEY) for today on ac- ment for redistribution. I can assure most of us. Many suburban and city dwellers count of travel delays. my colleagues that not a fraction of save so they can retire comfortably, as my Mr. SAXTON (at the request of Mr. parents had planned, and many, like my par- what we send in goes back to our com- ARMEY) for today on account of per- munity. ents, many intended their estates to be passed to their own children and to their sonal reasons. I got a very interesting letter subse- grandchildren, estates that had already paid Mr. WAMP (at the request of Mr. quent to that and I would like to read the taxes on the property, and they wanted ARMEY) for today on account of flight just parts of it. to have enough money to send their cancellation.