9698 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-HOUSE April 29, 1985 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES-Monday, April 29, 1985 The House met at 12 o'clock noon CRoll No. 761 Myers Schaefer Stangeland and was called to order by the Speaker Nielson Schroeder Strang YEAS-158 O'Brien Schuette Stump pro tempore [Mr. WRIGHT]. Ackerman Ford
D This symbol represents the time of day during the House proceedings, e.g., D 1407 is 2:07 p.m. e This "bullet" symbol identifies statements or insertions which are not spoken by the Member on the floor. April 29, 1985 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-HOUSE 9699 REQUEST FOR PERMISSION TO Boulter Hillis Pursell Whitten Wolpe Yates Broomfield Holt Regula Williams Wright Yatron SUBMIT A PRIVILEGED REPORT Brown I ~' April 29, 1985 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-HOUSE 9703 permission of the Republican Cam Mr. BENNETT. Mr. Speaker, I have member clearly who were the execu paign Committee. been very much concerned as a tioners and who the victims as clearly Mr. FRENZEL. Mr. Speaker, will the Member of Congress who comes from as they know the difference between gentleman yield further? an area where the Monroe Doctrine good and evil. Mr. ROSE. I yield to the gentleman had its beginnings that we are not It is truly ironic that in this sad from Minnesota. really doing what we should be doing season of remembrance, those careless, Mr. FRENZEL. Mr. Speaker, our with regard to that announcement and and unmindful of history would dimin rule, of course, applies to everything. what it implies in our day. Therefore, ish the slaughter of millions. Mr. ROSE. Absolutely. I have constructed a resolution on this I do not doubt that the President is Mr. FRENZEL. It does not apply matter and will be introducing it today genuinely anguished over the furor set just to this venture. But because the or tomorrow. owner was concerned in this case, I off by his scheduled visit to Bitburg thought it was appropriate to remind Cemetery. There is still time to ease the House of the general House rule McCLOSKEY-McINTYRE DISPUTE that anguish. Mr. President, for your with respect to the use of VCR. HINGES ON PHILOSOPHICAL sake and ours, cancel Bitburg. Mr. DORGAN of North Dakota. Will DIFFERENCES BETWEEN PO the gentleman yield? LITICAL PARTIES CAULDRON BUBBLE TO THE TOP Mr. ROSE. I yield to the gentleman April 29, 1985 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-HOUSE 9709 This President is very keenly aware Jewish ghetto in Warsaw. I saw the Belzec personal letter I wrote earlier this of the significance of symbols and death camp. I was an eyewitness. month. symbolism. He understood very well In London, I reported to the Polish gov The President's sincerity of inten the importance to the Chinese people ernment-in-exile as well as to four members of the British War Cabinet, Foreign Secre tions are above reproS\Ch. Neverthe of his visit to the Great Wall, a symbol tary Eden included. In the United States, I less, he is misguided in this matter. It of China's greatness and endurance as personally reported to the highest govern is as Elie Wiesel has said, "That place, a civilization throughout millenia. He ment and Catholic Church officials, includ Mr. President, is not your place." understood very well the symbolism of ing President Roosevelt, Apostolic Delegate Surely, the heads of state of these his visit to Normandy Beach as one of Cardinal Cicognani, Rabbis Wise and Gold two great democracies can reach ac the greatest monuments to Western man, and Justice Frankfurter. commodation so that American and civilization's determination to main The Jewish requests for help came to German soldiers can be dignified in a tain freedom, even at great human naught-the inactivity of the powerful Allied governments having been determined solemn ceremony away from a site cost. So also should he understand the by war priorities, self-controlled ignorance, that symbolizes such human tragedy symbolism-no, let me say the biting, self-imposed disbelief or soulless rationality. and bitterness. Mr. President, we must bitter irony of his proposed visit to a Thus, 6 million Jews, helpless and aban restore both dignity and peace of mind cemetery which includes the remains doned by humanity, perished in agony. for Americans and Germans alike. of SS soldiers, the perpetrators of Today, some 40 years later, as an old man Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, will the genocide and whose hated image moti coming to the end of his earthly Journey, I cannot but raise my voice. We must pursue gentleman yield? vated so many young Americans to Mr. BROOMFIELD. I yield to the make that ultimate sacrifice of their peace, cooperation, Justice and freedom. But our pursuit cannot be based on self-imposed gentleman from New York [Mr. own lives. forgetfullness of what happened to the Jews GILMAN], who is the ranking member A recent letter to the editor,. pub during World War II. of the European Subcommittee. lished in the Washington Post best JANKARsKI. Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I thank sums up the cruelty of the Nazi era Mr. BROOMFIELD. Mr. Speaker, I the gentleman for yielding. and the disservice our President does, yield myself such time as I may con Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support both to the history of the millions of sume. of the resolution introduced by the Jews who lost their lives at the hands Mr. RUDD. Mr. Speaker, will the distinguished chairman of the Foreign of the Nazis and the SS troopers, and gentleman yield? Affairs Committee, the gentleman to the memory of those allied forces Mr. BROOMFIELD. I am happy to from Florida [Mr. FASCELL]. This con who died trying to liberate western yield to the gentleman from Arizona. troversial issue has, unfortunately, Europe from the Nazi yoke. Mr. RUDD. Mr. Speaker, I thank grown worse rather than better as dis Jan Karski lived through that era; the gentleman for yielding. cussion has accelerated. The chair saw the brutal extermination of Mr. Speaker, I would like to say that men's resolution, of which I am Jewish lives; he was a sensitive, caring, I support this resolution. I intend to pleased to be a cosponsor, goes to the eyewitness to the atrocities, but also vote for it because I agree with the heart of the matter, expressing the one who tried to bring to the allied first three paragraphs, but I do not sense of Congress that the President governments the message of what was agree with paragraph 4, which would should reconsider his visit to Bitburg happening to Jews with a plea for tie the President's hands and make Cemetery in light of recent disclosures help. It tortured his soul then that the the decision of where he should go that members of the infamous Nazi SS help did not come and 40 years later it while he is in Europe. are buried there. I have personally ex still pains this noble and peace-loving I think that someday we are going to pressed my serious concern on several man, for whom I have such profound have to recognize that this generation occasions, and via several avenues, in admiration. of West Germans who are living are opposition to the President's proposed I know Jan Karski personally and not responsible nor should they be visit to the Bitburg Cemetery. well-he was my graduate school pro hung with the guilt of Adolf Hitler We were privileged just a few days fessor at Georgetown University. He and the SS and all the other horrible ago to hear the words of Elie Wiesel reminds us that we cannot succeed in people that involved themselves with during the national civic commemora our quest for peace, for integrity of Hitler in World War II. We should rec tion of the 40th anniversary of the lib nations or individuals unless we re ognize that now. eration of the concentration camps member past cruelties so as not to Mrs. ROUKEMA. Mr. Speaker, will held in the Capitol's rotunda. He very relive them. In his own gentle way, the gentleman yield? eloquently stated our innermost Jan Karski reminds us powerfully that Mr. BROOMFIELD. I am happy to thoughts. We have tried to convey to the Presidential visit to Bitburg in yield to the gentlewoman from New the President our opposition to this some sense exonerates what the SS Jersey. particular aspect of the President's and the Nazis did to Jews and to hu Mrs. ROUKEMA. Mr. Speaker, I rise trip by way of cosponsorship of resolu manity and in another sense it dimin in support of this resolution, and I tions similar to the one before us ishes the gallant fight for peace car commend our chairman and the rank today and through letters and by per ried by our Allied forces. ing member for bringing it forward. sonal appeals. Jan Karski has a brilliant command Mr. Speaker, today I join my col Our constituents have expressed of history, coupled with a personal un leagues in supporting House Concur their considerable anguish and dismay derstanding of its lessons. I hope our rent Resolution 130, expressing the about the President's proposed visit to generation will be as sensitive to those sense of Congress with respect to the the Bitburg Cemetery and the opposi lessons as he. I hope this President President's visit to the Federal Repub tion has come from many different will heed his voice of wisdom and lic of Germany. segments of our population. cancel Bitburg. As we prepare to mark the 40th an Mr. Speaker, not only are the survi I submit Dr. Karski's letter for my niversary of the end of World War II, vors of the death camps horrified at colleagues' review: I commend President Reagan for his the precedent-setting implications of a In November 1942-on my fourth secret sincere and noble effort to focus his visit of this type, but many veterans trip between the Polish Anti-Nazi Under visit as a symbol of reconciliation with and Jewish groups as well are pro ground and the Polish government-in exile-I brought information on the fate of our German ally. However, I share the claiming their deep and heartfelt con the Jews in Nazi-dominated Poland as well belief that the President's itinerary cern. The SS were not victims, Mr. as desperate requests for help from Jews, should be revised to exclude the pro Speaker, they were the personification addressed to the Allied governments, to save posed visit to the Bitburg Cemetery, of evil. They were the most hated and those who still could be saved. I saw the and I so indicated to the President in a feared of all the Nazis, because entry ' 9710 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-HOUSE April 29, 1985 into this corps was voluntary and most fallen who gave their lives in the I speak from the point of view of di stringent. Each member had to submit struggle against mindless nazism. plomacy, Mr. President. It is ironic the details of his family tree in order The Federal Republic of Germany that the decision to visit Bitburg is not to prove that there was no Jewish has made great strides in many areas bringing postwar Germany and Amer blood in the family. And not just for a since that terrible war. That demo ica closer together. It is pushing Amer few years, but going back to the cratic country is now a respected ica and postwar Germany further 1750's. It is apparent that anyone will friend of the United States, and rela apart. ing to go to those lengths to join that tions between our two great nations Finally, Mr. President, and most im group did not hate just one people, are f ourishing. portantly, I speak in the name of they hated all people. They fought To highlight the major strides that moral leadership. We love this country against our American soldiers who had Germany has made in building an because the United States has stood as committed themselves to the noblest open democratic society, the President a beacon of moral leadership. This principles of our Nation, among them should recognize progress in that area President is the President of the free freedom of word, deed and religion. by visiting an appropriate symbol of world, of the greatest country in the Many of us in this body believe that modern democratic Germany, rather our President should not represent the world, of a country that prides itself than visiting the cemetery, which is on being above others in terms of American people at a place which har replete with so many memories of the bors the remains of SS soldiers when what it must do, what it can do, and tragic past. what it will do. the remains of 6 million Jews are scat With these thoughts in mind, I urge tered ashes across Europe. As Elie my colleagues to join me in supporting By honoring the graves of SS sol Wiesel poignantly said of Bitburg, this resolution. diers, Mr. President, what you are "Mr. President, this place is not your Mr. FASCELL. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 doing is dimming that beacon of moral place." minutes to the gentleman from New leadership. You are leaving a perma Along with many others, I have sug York [Mr. SCHUMER]. nent blot on this country's history, a gested that a more appropriate site for Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. Speaker, I rise blot no matter what you say, no the President to visit in Germany in support of this resolution urging matter what you do at the cemetery or would be the Tomb of the Unknown the President not to visit Bitburg, afterward, that cannot be undone. Soldier. Indeed, press accounts this probably the worst blunder of his Mr. President, this resolution is a morning indictate that this option is Presidency. If the President goes, it last plea. Do not visit Bitburg. Please, supported by certain German leaders. will leave a permanent blot on history, in the name of the United States, in For example, Franz Josef Strauss is re on the United States of America. the name of diplomacy, in the name of ported as saying that "instead of going I beseech the President, please, do reconciliation and morality, do not to Bitburg, Mr. Reagan could lay a not go to Bitburg in the name of Holo visit Bitburg. wreath at the unknown soldier's caust survivors, an extremely large monument in Munich." Mr. BROOMFIELD. Mr. Speaker, I Others have suggested a cemetery in concentration of which reside in the yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Luxembourg where both American 10th District. These are people-we New York [Mr. GREEN]. servicemen and German armed forces have all seen the pictures-who came Mr. GREEN. Mr. Speaker, the Presi soldiers are buried. There are a to the United States with nothing. dent's plans for his upcoming trip to number of options available to the They love this country. This country West Germany and the comments he President to pay homage to all the has made them everything that they has made has caused me grave con are. They are fervent patriots. And cern. dead who fought with honor, but a now the President is going to honor visit to the Bitburg Cemetery should As one of the five Members of this not be one of them. Mr. President, I the very organization that brought House on the U.S. Holocaust Memorial join my concerned colleagues in urging them and their families death and de Council, I know that the President has you to revise your European agenda, struction. shown the utmost sympathies for the omitting any visit to the Bitburg Cem The idea of visiting a concentration victims of the Holocaust and their etery. camp, Bergen-Belsen, as an ameliora families, as well as for the American Accordingly, I urge my colleagues to tive gesture, is repugnant to them. and allied troops who died in World suspend the rules and pass House Con This is not an issue of equal time War II; but as the Chairman of the current Resolution 130. where the President first goes to a Council, Elie Wiesel, has said, Bitburg concentration camp and goes to honor D 1440 is not the place of the President. His the SS, giving each side its due. Has place is with the survivors. the moral relativism of our age so en Mr. BROOMFIELD. Mr. Speaker, as If the President's desire was to put a cosponsor of this resolution, I am gulfed everything that there is no pleased to join with the gentleman sense of proportion and no sense of the war behind us and improve person from Florida, Chairman FAscELL, in values? al and official ties to the West endorsing the resolution before us. I speak from the point of view of German Government, the visit to Bit This resolution expresses the sense American veterans who fought val burg Cemetery has now made that im of the Congress on this important iantly against Nazis. possible. One can and one must sepa matter, while respecting the constitu It was the Waffen SS, that shot rate Nazi war criminals from the tional prerogatives of the President of American POW's in cold blood and present West German leaders and citi the United States. then stood their bodies up and used zenry, but the SS are surely among While it is fitting that our Govern them as target practice. the war criminals; nor can one equate ment honor the memories of the mil Mr. President, is it appropriate to even the non-SS soldiers, even con lions of innocent civilians and Allied honor this organization? The specific scripts, to civilian victims of the Nazi soldiers who died in that great con unit of Waffen SS that is buried in war machine and the Holocaust. flict, the President should reconsider this cemetery took 659 French men, Germany has been a reliable NATO his visit to the Bitburg Cemetery. women, and children at Oradour ally during the last four decades; how As my colleagues well know, count locked them in a barn and burnt the ever, that in no way changes history. less American and Allied soliders lost barn. When a few, including a young If the President wants to commemo their lives at the hands of the Nazis. child, tried to escape, the Waffen SS rate 40 years of friendship with the In a gesture of reconciliation, it is ap of this unit brutally machinegunned present-day Government of West Ger propriate that President Reagan visit them down. It was this unit of the SS, many, I suggest that there are other West Germany to pay honor to the not another. more appropriate ways to show this. April 29, 1985 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-HOUSE 9711 I urge the President not to go to Bit D 1450 trip to West Germany. There are far burg and I urge the House to approve Ms. FIEDLER. Mr. Speaker, I rise in better ways to serve the memories of this resolution. support of this resolution. Listening to the victims of World War II. Mr. FASCELL. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 the debate which was taking place just Mr. FASCELL. Mr. Speaker, I yield minutes to the gentleman from New a few moments ago by my colleague such time as he may consume to the Jersey [Mr. TORRICELLI]. from Brooklyn, NY, I was reminded of gentleman from New York [Mr. Mr. TORRICELLI. Mr. Speaker, I a recent incident in history, an inci DOWNEY]. rise with no anger, only the best inter dent very similar to the one that he Mr. DOWNEY of New York. I rise in ests of our President and our country. described, where Jews were herded strong support of the resolution. I Mr. Speaker, this resolution is into a synagogue and it was set afire. might add the point that what Mr. needed. A mistake has been made. This incident took place in Nicaragua, Kissinger and Mr. Nixon practiced was There has been a serious error in judg where the Jewish community, while at realpolitik. What is necessary here is a ment. What we have always admired prayer, had the synagogue torched. clear, simple statement on morality. about this President is that when he I raise this issue as we discuss this Mr. FASCELL. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 felt strongly and when he felt he was important historic fact to make cer minutes to the gentleman from right, he let us know. tain that we remember that those ele Well, now what we seek to admire in Oregon [Mr. WYDEN]. ments that were responsible for what Mr. WYDEN. Mr. Speaker, I would this President is that when he has took place in Germany in the 1940's made a mistake, when he has commit like to thank the gentleman from continue to exist today. It is our re Florida, the chairman of the Foreign ted a wrong, that he admit it. This sponsibility as citizens and as Mem visit to Bitburg is a mistake of many Affairs Committee, for offering this bers of Congress to be ever watchful resolution and for his leadership on dimensions. and to make certain that not only does We do not contend that this Presi this important issue. the Holocaust never happen again, but If I could send just one simple mes dent and this Congress should not find that we in no way contribute to sup a symbol of reconciliation, a place of sage to the President regarding his port of a government that could be planned visit to the Bitburg Military friendship to visit, to build on a new supporting continued anti-Semitism. relationship with Germany. We I might add one further note. Today Cemetery it would be this: It's not too should, but Germany abounds with late to do the right thing and cancel in Nicaragua there is no Jewish com this trip. such symbols; the grave site of Ade munity as a result of continuing dis nauer; Dresden, the destroyed cities of crimination which takes place there. West German Chancellor Kohl has the Rhine, places where America and Mr. FASCELL. Mr. Speaker, I yield described the President's planned visit Germany together can see the destruc such time as she may consume to the to Bitburg as the "noble gesture of a tion, the hate of the Nazis. gentlewoman from Ohio [Ms. OAKARl. friend." With all due respect to the Bitburg is not such a symbol. It is Ms. OAKAR. Mr. Speaker, I rise in Chancellor, I fail to see anything not a symbol for several reasons. The support of the resolution. whatsoever that is noble about open first occurred on December 18, 1944, Mr. FASCELL. Mr. Speaker, I yield ing old wounds. when the soldiers buried at Bitburg, such time as he may consume to the Likewise, a number of people have these innocent conscripts which the gentleman from Georgia [Mr. suggested that it would be a sign of President would cite, led 86 American FOWLER]. weakness for the President to change soldiers to a field, machinegunned Mr. FOWLER. Mr. Speaker, as a his plans at this point. I couldn't dis them for 15 minutes and then walked U.S. veteran, I join with other veter agree more. To change one's mind in to each and emptied their pistols. ans in opposing the President's trip. the face of new evidence is, in my It is not a symbol because the SS, As we approach the 40th anniversary opinion, the mark of a strong man. not innocent conscripts which the of the end of World War II, it is alto Mr. Reagan has demonstrated such President would cite, soldiers who ac gether fitting that we remember the strength in the past. cording to the Nuremberg investiga terrible events of those days, mourn There are three major reasons why I tion belonged to a criminal associa those killed during the war, and re believe it is inappropriate for the tion. joice in the victory over Fascism. It is President to go to Bitburg: Third, it is not a symbol because this also appropriate that we celebrate the No. 1, the military cemetery at Bit above all else is an opportunity for the accomplishments of our friend and burg is not just any cemetery. It is a Soviet Union. The pictures of this ally, the Federal Republic of Germa cemetery where more than 40 mem President at Bitburg will be shown on ny, which arose from the ashes of bers of the Nazi elite-the SS-are all corners of this Earth, distorted and defeat to become a democratic and buried: and in a position of honor. Ac misused for the purposes of the Soviet valued member of the community of cording to an eyewitness who visited Union. nations. the cemetery at the request of the We know those who favor this visit. But it is neither fitting nor appropri highly respected Simon Wiesenthal Some have spoken of it. Secretary Kis ate for the President of the United Center, the SS members are buried in singer, President Nixon, they have States to honor the SS graves at Bit a semi-circle around the memorial found advantages in it, and we are not burg. As a veteran, I am outraged that which the President plans to visit. In surprised. We know their morality. We an American President should pay his other words, if the President lays a know their purposes. They are not respects at the graves of Nazi storm wreath at the memorial, he will in es I ours. troopers who executed American sence be laying a wreath at the feet of We ask this President not to make it POW's during the war. the SS! his, either. President Reagan has As a human being, I am appalled No. 2, the SS members buried at Bit stood for great good for our country that our Chief Executive is participat burg are not just young recruits draft and accomplished great good in the ing in ceremonies commemorating the ed against their will as some of the ad world; but this is a great wrong. graves of those who implemented the ministration's remarks have suggested. Mr. President, admit it, change it. Holocaust, one of the darkest events in According to an analysis of informa Do not offend the good name of our the history of hu~anity. tion supplied by the Wiesenthal country. There is no place for you at I join with my Democratic and Re Center, at least 14 of them were be the tomb of the unknown Nazi. Find a publican colleagues in support of tween the ages of 23 and 44 when they better site to visit, Mr. President. House Concurrent Resolution 130 died. One of these individuals, SS Mr. BROOMFIELD. Mr. Speaker, I which urges President Reagan to re Staff Sgt. Franz Otto Bengel, was yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman consider his trip to the Bitburg mili awarded Germany's second highest from California [Ms. FIEDLER]. tary cemetery during his upcoming medal, the German Cross in gold, for 9712 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-HOUSE April 29, 1985 killing 10 American soldiers, according Mr. COLEMAN of Texas. Mr. Speak- I think that illustrates how this to the Wiesenthal Center. ' _, 9714 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-HOUSE April 29, 1985 can veterans, and to Americans that I think that we should also look has 2 minutes remaining, and the gen throughout our country. at the purpose of this resolution. tleman from Michigan CMr. BROOM Surely, there must be a better means Mr. Speaker, no action that this FIELD] has 7 minutes remaining. of preserving a valued relationship President has taken during the 4 Y2 Mr. FASCELL. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 with an ally than to undertake a sym years of his Presidency has been more minutes to the gentleman from Flori bolic act that will be understood as an misguided on those two criteria, the da CMr. SMITH]. attempt to erase the horrors that were criterion of diplomacy, and the crite Mr. SMITH of Florida. Mr. Presi perpetrated at the hands of the SS. rion of foreign relations. dent, close your eyes. Let your mind Mr. F ASCELL. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 Our Soviet adversaries have been tum inward to your soul. What do you minute to the gentleman from New looking for an opportunity to embar see, Mr. President? The Second World York [Mr. RANGEL]. rass the United States in Eastern and War, the tragedy that befell all hu Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, no one in Western Europe on the occasion of mankind. The tragedy that befell con is saying that the President of the the 40th anniversary of V-E Day. We centration camp victims and survivors, United States is evil. I rise in support could not have given them a better op families and people in many countries of this resolution because we want the portunity than the symbolism of this in all of Europe, and in America, even President to represent the best inter trip. in the Soviet Union. We have tried with great success ests of the people in this country who Close your eyes and let your mind go are sensivtive to the atrocities that since World War II to be responsible leaders of the Western Alliance. Un to your soul. Whose name do you have been committed in the past. honor? Whose memory do you honor Many of our Jewish friends through fortunately, Mr. Speaker, this visit will do more to divide us from our allies by going to Bitburg? Those that perpe out the world have said, "We shall trated the very crimes that your soul never forget," and I think when you than anything that we have done during that time period. reels from in recalling them. walk through the halls of Dachau as I These are not the people to do did with the Speaker in the concentra 0 1510 tion camp or Yad Vashem in Jerusa honor to. You have been described lem that you cannot help but wonder Mr. BROOMFIELD. Mr. Speaker, I here as a patriot. What is a patriot? A how people could possibly have treat yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman patriot is a true lover of his country. If ed each other in this way, and we from Nevada. you truly love your country, Mr. Presi would like to believe it could not Mrs. VUCANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, I dent, then we believe, all of us, that happen again. rise in opposition to this resolution. I you do. My colleagues, when you see what is would like to associate my remarks You will honor the memory of those going on today in South Africa, you with the gentleman from South Caro Americans who fought and died, of wonder is there not a parallel in what lina [Mr. HARTNETT]. I think our Presi those concentration camp victims, and is going on between the way the Nazis dent is on a mission of trying to heal survivors, and families. You will honor treated the Jews in Germany and the the hurts that have happened in this the grief of Americans and people way the white minority are treating world of ours, and I think that we worldwide who suffered enormously, the blacks in Africa. make a mistake doing this resolution. who suffered grievously at the hands Mr. F.ASCELL. Mr. Speaker, I yield of the people who are buried in that Did they not use the same racist 30 seconds to the gentleman from cemetery. policies and does not the President of Michigan [Mr. LEvIN]. the United States still believe that a A true patriot, Mr. President, honors Mr. LEVIN of Michigan. Mr. Speak the memory of those in his country constructive engagement in South er, let me just say briefly in response Africa can stop the atrocities that are and those who fought for freedom and to the gentleman from South Carolina democracy. And as a true patriot, Mr. being committed against the blacks? CMr. HARTNETT] and those who agree It seems to me that when people say President, you do great disservice to with him, the ultimate test of our feel those people whom you should honor that "We shall never forget" that we ings is our actions, and the ultimate can understand today that it is a very by honoring those who visited on this test of our actions is their morality. century some of the most heinous thin threshold in what man can do If we cannot pass judgment on the against his fellow man. crimes ever committed in recorded his actions of Nazi Germany, we can pass tory. It seems to me that we should be re judgment on nothing. minded that we should not pay tribute Close your eyes, Mr. President. Tum Mr. FASCELL. Mr. Speaker, I yield your mind inward to your soul. If you to those who committed those acts no 30 seconds to the gentleman from matter how badly we want to make do that, you will make the right deci Connecticut [Mr. MORRISON]. sion, and you will not go to the Bit certain we are friends of the Germans, Mr. MORRISON of Connecticut. nor should we be friends to those Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support burg Cemetery, and then you will be people committing similar acts to of this resolution. ' doing justice not only to the Ameri those people in South Africa. The idea of reconciliation is a good cans and to those that died in Europe, Mr. FASCELL. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 one, but there are some things with but also to those true Germans whose minute to the gentleman from Califor postwar Germany represents the true which we cannot be reconciled. We Germany. nia [Mr. LEvINE]. cannot be reconciled with Nazism and Mr. LEVINE of California. I thank we cannot be reconciled with a holo •Mrs. LLOYD. Mr. Speaker, I want the gentleman for yielding. caust. to add a few words in support of Mr. Speaker, I think that most of We have reconciled with the Ger House Concurrent Resolution 130. the points with regard to the morality mans; we helped rebuild their country. Although I am pleased that Presi of the symbolism have been made and That is the strongest symbol of what dent Reagan will include a visit to a have been made very, very well and we have done; that is debased, that is Nazi concentration camp site on the very eloquently. affronted by what the President pro itinerary for his forthcoming visit to One thing that I would like to em poses to do. West Germany, I object to his planned phasize, Mr. Speaker, is in response to Mr. President, please do not go to visit to the Bitburg Cemetery. a prior speaker who spoke against this Bitburg. It is an insult to the veterans While I appreciate and support the resolution. He argued that our Presi who died for this country. It is an themes of reconciliation and mutual dent is making this trip with regard to insult to the Holocaust victims. It is an friendship which the President is at issues pertaining to diplomacy and insult to all Americans. tempting to stress during his visit, I with regard to issues pertaining to for The SPEAKER pro tempore. The believe that we should pay tribute to eign relations, and it is on that basis gentleman from Florida. CMr. FASCELL] symbols of the Federal Republic's cur- . April 29, 1985 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-HOUSE 9715 rent democracy rather than to sym us that protest the visit to Bitburg are I understand that you are contemplating a bols of its unfortunate past. not accusing the present Germany of visit to the Bitburg military cemetery in Considering that the majority of atrocities that were committed by Germany as part of your upcoming Europe those Germans buried at Bitburg Hitler. A Presidential visit to a concen an trip. I urge you to cancel this visit be fought against American servicemen cause it is both inappopriate and insensitive tration camp will not signify accusa to the Jewish community of our nation and at the Battle of the Bulge, in which tion, but simply acceptance of history the world, and to American veterans of 77 ,000 Americans died; considering as it really was. World War I and II. that it is likely that some of the sol But I am wary of what a Presidential When you chose not to visit the concen diers buried at Bitburg participated in visit to Bitburg would achieve or what tration camp at Dachau, as part of this the massacre of American prisoners at it will come to symbolize. At the very same trip, you expressed concern that it Malmedy, Belgium; and considering least, it may symbolize making peace might rekindle fears and anguish of this that many of those buried at Bitburg with the Nazi legacy, which would be horrible era in world history. I contend that were members of the Waffen SS, an unacceptable, and at the worst, it a visit to a cemetery where only German elite Nazi unit which is an internation soldiers and civilians are buried presents a could symbolize some sort of absolu greater opportunity to reopen wounds in ally recognized symbol of the crime of tion for Nazi war criminals, which the Jewish community. It is impossible not genocide perpetrated by the Nazis would be unspeakable. to assume that among those in Bitburg cem against the Jewish people and human At the end of World War II, I believe etery would be German soldiers responsible ity; I find it totally inappropriate that we made a promise not only to those for the murder of innocent Jewish men, a President of the United States who died a brutal death in the concen women and children in the Nazi reign of should pay tribute to German soldiers tration camps, but also to posterity, terror. The very possibility of this should buried at Bitburg Cemetery. indeed, to humanity. Never again, we cause you to want to cancel this visit. In light of the aforementioned con promised, never again will we let such Further the absence of any U.S. siderations I was an original cosponsor a holocaust take place. We promised military personnel in the Bitburg of House Concurrent Resolution 125 that we would never forget the atroc Cemetery lends further justification introduced by Congressman TORRI ities of Hitler, lest the world repeat for canceling this visit. If we are to CELLI, and I am in strong support of such horror again. If President pay honor to the 40th anniversary of this House Concurrent Resolution 130 Reagan goes to Bitburg, we will be on the end of World War II, our primary calling upon President Reagan to re the road to breaking that promise. We tribute should be paid to the brave consider the inclusion of the Bitburg would be signifying that we are willing American soldiers who gave up their Cemetery on the itinerary for his up to forget and forgive acts that cannot lives in defense of freedom. coming visit to West Germany.e ever be forgotten or forgiven. -to a network of organizations openly sympathetic to guerrilla movements these dilatory tactics, they do them in is that there is no God, and who use in Latin America. ways that does not jeopardize the lives force to suppress religious freedom. "So many left activists are linked up with and safety of Americans living abroad. Today I want to include the last part church groups that it's hard to know what Mr. Speaker, last week's parliamen of the "network" series entitled is a real church group," mo spokesman tary shenanigans by the Republican "Church Groups Bless Sandinista Penn Kemble said in the Congressional side should send a clear message to the Cause" and appeal to every member of Quarterly story. President that the disarray in his own every congregation in America to read Few of the religious/political connections party now threatens his legislative and find out the truth about our ef are overt but, in many cases, they are program. forts to promote freedom and democ strong. And though some liberal churches racy in Central America. maintain their own agenda, it bears strong Because of the planned confusion in resemblances to that pursued by many of flicted by the Republicans last Thurs The material follows: their political counterparts. day, we were unable to begin consider "COERCIVE UTOPIANS": CHURCH GROUPS One example of the tie-in between the ation of legislation-requested by the BLESS SANDINISTA CAUSE church and political groups is the link be administration-to continue the oper 51-059 0-86-38 (pt. 7) 9724 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-HOUSE April 29, 1985 tleman from New York CMr. KEMP] is Second, our new bill relates the max age domestic energy and mineral recognized for 15 minutes. imum earned income tax credit for the supply. They are especially important •Mr. KEMP. Mr. Speaker, today I am first time to the size of a family. because the mineral industry is severe introducing, along with Mr. LOTT, a Under current law, the credit is the ly depressed, becoming dangerously slightly amended version of the Kemp same for a single parent with one child dependent on foreign sources thus Kasten-Lott "Fair and Simple Tax" as for a family of three, four, five. Our threating our security. More than 60 TABLE 1.-KEMP-KASTEN AND THE WORKING POOR (COMPARISON WITH 1986 CURRENT LAW, FEDERAL INCOME TAX) 1 parent, 1 child 1 parent, 2 children 2 parents, 1 child 1 parent, 3 children 2 parents, 2 children Current Kemp- Current Kemp- Current Kemp- Current Kemp- Current Kemp- law Kasten Change law Kasten Change law Kasten Change law Kasten Change law Kasten Change Income: $1 ,000 ...... - $110 - $143 - $33 - $ll0 -$143 - $33 - $110 -$143 -$33 - $110 - $143 - $33 -$110 -$143 - $33 $2,000 ...... - 220 - 286 - 66 -220 -286 - 66 - 220 -286 -66 - 220 - 286 -66 - 220 -286 -66 $3,000 ...... - 330 - 429 - 99 -330 - 429 - 99 - 330 -429 - 99 - 330 -429 -99 -330 -429 - 99 $4,000 ...... - 440 -572 - 132 - 440 -572 - 132 - 440 -572 -132 -440 - 572 - 132 - 440 -572 -132 $5,000 ...... -510 - 569 -59 -550 - 715 - 165 - 550 -715 -165 - 550 - 715 -165 -550 -715 - 165 $6,000 ...... - 400 - 419 - 19 -519 -565 - 46 - 550 - 565 -15 - 550 - 630 - 80 -550 -630 -80 $7,000 ...... - 228 - 269 - 41 -348 - 415 - 67 - 479 -415 64 -467 -480 -13 -489 -480 9 $8,000 ...... 14 - 119 -133 - 115 -265 - 150 -247 -265 -18 - 234 -330 -96 -366 -330 36 $9,000 ...... 256 0 - 256 127 -115 - 242 - 15 -115 -100 2 - 180 -182 -133 -180 -47 $10,000 ...... 515 192 - 323 369 0 - 369 226 0 -226 240 - 30 -270 99 - 30 -129 $11 ,000 ...... 778 384 - 394 627 0 - 627 468 0 -468 482 0 -482 339 0 -339 $12,000 ...... 931 576 - 355 767 96 - 671 600 72 -528 616 0 -616 459 0 - 459 $13,000 ...... 1,101 768 - 333 917 288 - 629 740 264 -476 756 0 -756 588 0 -588 $14,000 ...... 1,271 960 - 311 1,087 480 - 607 880 456 -424 904 144 -760 728 0 -728 $15,000 ...... 1,441 1,152 - 289 1,257 672 - 585 1,020 648 -372 1,074 192 - 882 868 168 -700 Note: Estimates for indexing based on CBO economic assumptions. Examples assume all earned income.e scanning the headlines that rather this very tragic and unfortunate deci PRESIDENT REAGAN URGED TO than improve our relations with our sion. FIND ANOTHER WAY TO COM Western European allies, this decision It was Nazi SS officers who carried MEMORATE 40TH ANNIVERSA has done more to raise questions and out the worst atrocity against Ameri RY OF THE END OF WORLD create strains between the United can Armed Forces in the European WAR II States and our close friends through theater in what became known as the out Western Europe than any decision Malmedy Massacre. Some 100 Ameri The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under that has been taken in some time. can soldiers were murdered in cold a previous order of the House the gen In the German military cemetery in blood by the SS at Malmedy. Accord tleman from California [Mr. LEvINEl is Bitburg where the President plans to ing to former West German Chancel recognized for 60 minutes. lay a wreath are the graves of 49 mem lor Willie Brandt, it is well known in Mr. LEVINE of California. Mr. bers of the Nazi SS. The SS played a Bitburg that the cemetery graves of Speaker, thank you for scheduling this central role in the most hideous atroc Nazi SS men include those who massa special · order on the President's deci ities of the Third Reich. James Dick cred U.S. prisoners of war. ·The Presi sion to visit a cemetery in Bitburg, enson, writing in the April 28, 1985, dent has been urged by Mr. Brandt to Germany. Washington Post described the SS in reconsider his decision. A majority of As we all know, from having just this fashion: both the House and the Senate have participated in a debate on a resolu With their black uniforms, death's head, a asked German Chancellor Helmut tion on this very subject, the Presi symbol of their willingness to die for Adolf Kohl to release President Reagan dent's decision to make this cemetery Hitler on their caps, and the runic double S from his commitment to visit the cem visit has become extremely controver flashes on their collars, the SS men were etery, but unfortunately, as of this sial. It has not only opened the the most fanatical of Hitler's followers and time, these messages have fallen on wounds of thousands of Holocaust sur the terror of the entire European Conti vivors both in this country and in nent. Whatever the actual roles of the deaf ears. other parts of the world, it has out young men buried at Bitburg, the SS .is one Mr. Speaker, President Reagan's raged American veterans throughout of the most potent symbols of the evil and planned visit to Bitburg has rubbed the land. cruelty in history. salt in the wounds of thousands of Perhaps most importantly, however, In April 1941, Heinrich Himmler, the Holocaust survivors who know all too as I tried to indicate in the brief head of the SS and the Gestapo, di well the unspeakably horrible deeds minute that I had on the debate on rected that all concentration camp carried out by the Nazi SS. There is the resolution just finished, this deci guard units be part of the Waffen SS. simply no way for them to forget, no sion raises serious questions about the At its peak there were 1 million men way for them to escape the memories competence of this administration to in the SS. An SS artillery regiment of their torment and of their suffer conduct a responsible, viable foreign committed the first Nazi military ing. policy. It has given potential ammuni atrocity of the war in the early days of We must not forget. The world must tion to the Soviet leadership and to the invasion of Poland when it shot to not forget. And, unfortunately, the other adversaries to use against this death some 50 Polish Jews who had visit to this cemetery suggests that administration and to use against this been ordered to repair a bridge. Other somehow these actions should be Nation. It raises serious questions members of this notorious elite arm of placed in some form of relative per about this administration's judgment the Nazis were responsible for carry spective. and its sense of right and wrong. This ing out the unspeakably barbarous When President Reagan said that decision has opened old wounds at task of exterminating some 6 million the German soldiers of World War II home and abroad and raised serious Jews, 1 million of whom were children, were victims just as surely as the vic questions about our leadership not and some 5 million non-Jewish civil tims of concentration camps, unfortu just among our adversaries but among ians. Think of it. A total of 11 million nately, Mr. Speaker, either he, or his our friends throughout Western men, women, and children murdered staff, or some combination have fallen Europe. Anybody who watched any of at the hands of the Nazi SS. This is a into a terrible trap. It is a trap that the television shows over the weekend, story that every American, every can all too often infect the body poli anybody who opened any of the news Western European, and most citizens tic when it is so involved in the efforts papers in this country, anybody who of the world understand and under to weigh and analyze various forms of opened any of the newspapers in stand quite clearly, and it is a story decisions, various forms of compro Western Europe could simply see by whose wounds are opened anew by mise. Mr. Speaker, there are some ' 9726 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-HOUSE April 29, 1985 acts, there have been some historical cial, its President, how it reflects on And we recognize that those crimes lessons, that are too barbarous, too and states to the world our opinions; were the most heinous in the history evil to fall into this form of relativism. our feelings. of mankind. For the President of the The Nazi SS was just that. New Symbols become important in that United States, the leader of the free ·' York Times columnist Anthony Lewis regard, and as the controversy over world, to appear to sanction those has written that the Nazi SS were part the President's ill-advised visit grows, crimes in any way is unconscionable. of a world of absolute evil. That the this whole matter takes on that much Many have said during this debate President should call them victims re more significance. For if we fail in our that the time has come to forgive and veals a great insensitivity to what the attempt to persuade the President to forget. Certainly, we bear no ill will SS and the Nazis were all about. cancel his visit to Bitburg, we will have toward the people of Germany today Indeed, Mr. Speaker, I think the been seen as failing to come to grips they have been our friends and allies comment made by our colleague, the with this important choice for our for many, many years. gentleman from Michigan [Mr. country. But how can we forget? How can we LEv1Nl, several minutes ago during the That is why it is ever the more im forget when at every Holocaust memo course of the debate with regard to portant that the President be strong; rial ceremony there are dozens of men the resolution sums up the message not weak. It seems to me it is a sign of and women who still wear the num _,. that those of us on both sides of the weakness to go forward with some bers that were burned into their arms, aisle are trying to provide to the Presi thing that so many, that such a broad and still bear even deeper scars inter dent when he is asked to reconsider consensus, the Representatives of this nally? How can we forget the murder his trip. That message is that relativ country, have stated to him. Do not go of 6 million Jews? How can we forget ism should not have reached the level to Bitburg; in doing so, you are not the torture and the gas chambers? where we cannot condemn the moral promoting reconciliation, but you are We cannot forget, and we must not. outrages of the Nazi empire and where debasing the memory of our own vet For many Americans whose lives were we should allow those old wounds to erans who have fallen. You are sug touched by the Nazi atrocities, this is be reopened. gesting that somehow those fallen in an intensely personal wound that will Mr. Speaker, we do not believe in combat suffered the same fate as the not heal. They believe, as I do, that to collective guilt nor do we impugn the Holocaust victims who the Nazis forget debases the memory of those good will of the German people. We sought to exterminate. who suffered and died. are proud of the relationship between This is the time for the strength of a More importantly, they understand the United States and Germany today. leader who says, I understand my that to forget would be dangerous. It is an important relationship and country; I understand that if I have Our sense of history and our sense of one that, starting with the Marshall taken a step, which I believe the Presi decency are the only assurances we plan, throughout the past 40 years has dent has, to do something that does have that this senseless tragedy will carefully and appropriately been re not properly promote future reconcili never be repeated. To honor the Nazis, built on both sides of the Atlantic. But ation, but the risk that we will not Mr. President, is an affront to both. that does not change the past. It have learned the lessons of the Holo cannot be buried and forgotten with caust, or the lessons of the Nazis, it is I applaud your moves toward recon the bodies of those 49 Nazi SS mem so important that the President use ciliation, but caution you that we must bers. his leadership skills at this time to not pay too high a price. We must not Elie Wiesel, perhaps the most elo change direction. I think he will be sacrifice our remembrance. You have quent chronicler and witness to the commended by all Americans when he spoken often of the great good and Holocaust, and perhaps its most \vell does so. The healing that is needed is collective wisdom of the American ' known survivor today, has impiored needed here on this issue at this time. people and the people have spoken the President to find another way to Mr. LEVINE of California. I thank clearly on this matter. This Nation commemorate the 40th anniversary of the gentleman for his extremely im looks to you for moral leadership. I the allied victory of Nazi Germany in portant and perceptive remarks. ask that you display the courage World War II. There are so many I yield to the gentleman from Texas needed to provide that leadership. other appropriate ways in which this [Mr. FROST]. Admit that a terrible mistake has been reconciliation can be pursued. Out of Mr. FROST. I thank the gentleman made, accept responsibility for that respect for the memory of those who for yielding to me. mistake, and cancel your visit to the died and for those who carry their Mr. Speaker, I join with my col cemetery. Whatever the consequences memories and suffering to this day, we leagues today to express my fervent of that action might be, you must re respectfully urge the President to hope that the President will change member that this is a moral, not a po heed this call and to find another way. his mind and cancel his participation litical question. Mr. MORRISON of Connecticut. in a memorial ceremony at the Bit Again, Mr. President, I urge you to Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield? burg Cemetery. A cemetery which heed the words of Elie Wiesel who Mr. LEVINE of California. I yield to houses the graves of some of Hitler's spoke for so many of us when he im infamous SS guard-his concentration plored you to "find another way." I the gentleman from Connecticut. ' r' camp executioners, and slaughterers Mr. LEVINE of California. I thank 0 1530 r>f American POW's. Mr. President, the gentleman from Texas for his very Mr. MORRISON of Connecticut. this visit is an insult to the survivors insightful remarks. First, I would like to commend the of the Nazi Holocaust, to the Ameri I yield to the gentlewoman from gentleman and thank him for request can soldiers who fought to rid the California [Mrs. BURTON]. ing this time, this special order, on world of the Nazi plague, and to the Mrs. BURTON of California. Mr. this most troubling of subjects. memories of all those who perished in Speaker, for me, this is particularly a Unfortunately, some of the debate the death camps and on the battle very difficult moment. If I did not about this subject has been treated as fields. come to this country before Hitler in if what we are dealing with is some I don't need to recount the atrocities vaded Poland, I would not be standing kind of personal criticism of the Presi committed by Hitler and the SS. We here and talking. dent, or the President's attitude on have all seen pictures of the infamous I cannot understand, for the life of one or another subjects. I think it is death camps and been moved by the me, ·why the President is going to pay most important that we underscore testimony of those few who survived homage to those people in the ceme that the debate here is what this the horror. We know that the crimes tery, the Waffen SS people, which Nation stands for and how it ex committed there were crimes not just were the worst of the lot. The worst. presses, through its top, elected offi- against Jews, but against humanity. That he is going to pay homage at the £ April 29, 1985 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-HOUSE 9727 cemetery in Bitburg. It is difficult for that does not move him, then he has judgment of people in the White me to speak, because I will really some deep-felt reason himself that House who set this up, I am trusting break out crying. somehow or other 40 years of reconcil my President, I am trusting his heart, Mr. Speaker, you are looking at a iation has come down to this point on the compliments that Mrs. BURTON woman who does not have an uncle or the head of a needle. just paid him of how far back his sup an aunt or a cousin left. They all per port goes for all the survivors of the ished either in Auschwitz or Treb 0 1540 Holocaust, that he will take this hurt linka. The President of the United I do not understand it. My col that so many people are feeling and ,,. States, our President, is going to pay leagues on the other side of the aisle turn it into a shining moment in the homage to the SS people buried in Bit do not understand it. However, I Sun when he will make the world burg. I cannot understand it. I cannot would say that all of this focus that is again remember the horror so it can understand it; it troubles me; it both so negative at this point is released by never happen again. ers me. the world hearing carefully what the Mr. LEVINE of California. I thank I know that Mr. Reagan is not a bad President says when he visits Bergen the gentleman for participating in this man; I know he served in the Second Belsen, that the world listens far more special order and for his thoughtful World War. I myself saw him in uni closely than it would have otherwise comments. I do appreciate his, and so form once in California. I know that to what the President says when he many colleagues of his on the other he does not mean to do any harm to visits this cemetery, and I am still side of the aisle, having participated in our people, whether they are Jews or hoping against hope that he will not, this bipartisan effort to encourage the non-Jews. I think it is just a misguided but I think the President then has an President to reconsider his unfortu thing that happened to him. He was opportunity to take these moments in nate decision. ,. misguided by the people who went out the brilliant sunlight to heal the The one area in which I have some there to see where the President is wounds of that war a little bit more. disagreement with the specific com going to lay a wreath. If the world feels, through the heart ments of the gentleman is that I find Now, we can have reconciliation with and the mind and the emotion of the it extremely difficult to understand, the German people; with the West President of the United States, the particularly in light of the unfortu German people. We have had it for horror once again of the Holocaust, nate, complicating comments that the last-what is it-30, 40 years? We then some good will have come out of have already been made in terms of have had it, and I think that the this. I think it is significant that the comparing some of the people who United States has been a great friend German Congress, their Bundestag, were buried at the cemetery with some to the Germans, who, after this terri has already made it illegal to say in of the victims of the concentration ble Holocaust, did not have anything. Germany that the Holocaust did not camps. I find it very difficult to see They were bombed out; they did not happen, that that alone is something how these words can heal and how have any money; they were starving. significant to come out of Germany. It this issue can be placed on the footing Who came in to help? The Americans. is something that we would never that I understand the gentleman The Americans built up the German allow in this country. Our civil rights would like to see it placed on by any economy. allow people to say the most outra action short of actually deciding not to To say that we need this deed to geous and obnoxious things up and have a reconciliation with the West and almost including yelling, "Fire" in visit the specific cemetery at issue. German people, that is really untrue, a theater, so we have to acknowledge There are so many other places in unfair, and unjust. Be just, my heart that this is something that could Germany which would be appropriate really cries -'out to the President. Do never be passed in this Congress, but focuses for healing, for reconciliation, not do this thing, Mr. President. Be there are opportunities, if they are and for a symbolic statement. But I do strong; be just; be fair; please, Mr. handled correctly, to make something very much apppreciate the thoughtful President, do not go to Bitburg, please. good come out of all the hurt here. and helpful comments of the gentle Mr. LEVINE of California. I thank I know that when I went with the man. the gentlewoman for her very elo gentleman from California CMr. Mr. Speaker, I now yield to my dis quent remarks. LEvINE] to the Holocaust ceremony in tinguished colleague from Michigan I yield to the gentleman from Cali our rotunda a few weeks ago that the [Mr. LEvIN]. fornia CMr. DORNAN]. high moment, when I saw most of the Mr. LEVIN of Michigan. I thank the Mr. DORNAN of California. I thank people crying, was when the American gentleman for yielding. the gentleman for yielding to me. flags came into the room, not that we Mr. Speaker, I would like to express Mr. Speaker, my heart goes out to needed an American identification. my personal appreciation to the gen all of those who feel that deep hurt of What brought me to tears was the tleman for taking out this special severe wounds from the worst inhu thought that those flags arrived too order. manity of man to man ever perpetrat late, particularly at Bergen-Belsen. As you say, there may be a silver ed on this planet; that the symbolism Twenty thousand people died in lining in the President's trip, but I has so built up that now some people March because we could not figure out think no matter what is said by him think the President is actually paying how to win that war sooner than we that there will be more threads of mis homage to SS killers. did. Another 7,000 or 8,000 died in the understanding and of misperception. I have tracked this very closely; I first 2 weeks of April, and 9,000 died Over the weekend, like everybody else, have called the White House over 2 within 2 weeks of being liberated, I read and I listened intently to the weeks ago when this thing first broke, their only solace being that they died various comments from both sides of to implore them to take fast, correc free men and women and children, al the Atlantic on the trip to Germany tive action. I think the blame will, in though their bodies were so emaciated by the President, and I heard it urged the end, be on those who are leaving they could never know the fruits of in various ways in defense of his trip, White House service at the end of this freedom beyond a few days. Another especially to the cemetery, that it is month; actually they should have left 4,000 died in May. Almost 85 percent time to focus on the future and not on on the 15th of this month. I think of the total of the 50,000 people who the past, and that the West Germans I • that if there is no turning the agenda died in Bergen-Belsen died in the last feel that the protest against the visit around; if Chancellor Kohl, for some few weeks of the war and the few represents an effort to impose collec ' reason unknown to me is not moved by weeks to come. tive guilt on the German people. a unanimous voice vote of the U.S. I am sure the President will be ap Let me express my feeling, and that Senate and a letter from 245 of our prised of all of that, and I am just is that some important distinctions are colleagues on both sides of the aisle, if trusting, if I cannot trust on the good being blurred or forgotten altogether 9728 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-HOUSE April 29, 1985 by those who defend in that way or I had occasion a few years ago to with hearts. Or the President could any way the President's decision. One travel to Israel and to visit the Holo honor a symbol of the new Germany, distinction is between collective guilt caust Museum in Jerusalem with my the generation that was born after the and community responsibility. If what little daughter who had never wit war. is meant by collective guilt is that all nessed some of the film that she saw Mr. President, do not go to Bitburg. in Germany by citizenship alone bear there, some of the horrible, grotesque By insisting on visiting Bitburg, Mr. a common guilt, I do not believe in atrocities pictured there that were in President, you are saying that there is that concept at all. flicted upon human beings. She was not another site in Germany that is But there is a real difference be horrified, as I was reminded of the untainted. We have heard not from tween collective guilt and community horrors of the Nazis which were in the President but from some of his ad responsibility. I do believe in commu flicted upon the Jewish people in visers that Helmut Kohl has asked nity responsibility if by that is meant World War II. him to visit. Helmut Kohl is an ally of that a society collectively must ac I felt, when the flak occurred an the President's, as West Germany is knowledge the evils that grew within nouncing the President's visit to the an ally of the United States, an ally that society and their debt to its vic cemetery, that it was a very insensitive that we need and deeply appreciate. tims. Nazism, after all, did grow within act on the part of any official of the But there are times in diplomacy and a particular society, with millions par U.S. Government, much less the Presi politics when a friend comes to you ticipating, with millions of others ac dent of our great country, to bestow and says, "Please do me this favor," quiescing, and with millions losing the honor of visiting a cemetery where and you say to that friend, "I would do their lives as a result. It was not im these monsters are buried. The only almost anything you ask, but I must posed Nazism by an invading army good that I can think that could possi draw the line. I cannot do this. Let me from another land. bly come of this visit is that it may do the favor in another way, at an A second distinction is between com possibly heighten the visibility of the other time, in another place." pliance with orders and exertion of in atrocities of World War II so that Morality does enter into politics dividual will. We did not punish every little children who were not born every so often. There has never been a individual within German society, during that era may be reminded of more appropriate time that morality whether members of the general the indelible horrors that occurred should enter into politics than today. I public or rank and file military person before their birth so they might learn find it somewhat ironic that Richard nel for compliance with orders of their of these terrible inhumanities to man. Nixon and Henry Kissinger, the prime national government. But at the same As I was made aware of the fact that practitioners of real politics, hard time, it is not necessary that those na 40 percent of the American people nosed, brasstacks politics, are being tions who fought Germany pay equal were revealed in a poll today as not cited as a reason, as a bolster, for the honor to the vast majority who com knowing which side the United States President going to Bitburg when it is plied with the national orders and to fought on during the Vietnam War, it not the type of diplomacy that they the minority within Germany who is possible that some value may occur practiced, necessary as it often is, that bravely pursued against the Nazis from the President's visit to this ceme is needed now. their own individual conscience, often tery and his presence there will give Mr. President, I know you do not to their death at the hands of their those of us who are sensitive to those intend this, but you are sending a own countrymen. atrocities a forum to mind others that signal. You are sending a signal to A third distinction that is important civilized humanity shall never allow thousands of people in Germany and is the proper one between facing the those atrocities to occur again. France and England and Italy, and future and forgetting the past. There Mr. LEVINE of California. I thank yes, in this country and in many other is no contradiction necessarily be the gentleman from Arkansas. countries, to the small minority who tween the two and, indeed, in this case Madam Speaker, I am very pleased are fanatics, who are neo-Nazis. You there is an absolute congruity because to yield to the distinguished gentle are sending a signal to them that their unless we do in fact weep over the in man from New York CMr. SCHUMER]. hatred is OK. You are not saying that calculable spilling of innocent blood, Mr. SCHUMER. I thank the gentle it is OK, but in their warped minds, the future can go dangerously awry. man for yielding, and congratulate when you visit that cemetery, they I thank the gentleman from Califor him for reserving time for this very will believe it is OK. And lest you important special order. think, Mr. President, that this hatred nia very much for giving me this op Madam Speaker, let me say that this portunity to speak. is insignificant and far away, let me trip of the President's has pained me read to you some lines from the very Mr. LEVINE of California. I thank greatly. One cannot understand why the gentleman from Michigan. popular German magazine, Quick. The the President is actually going. One lines, quoted in the New York Times, Madam Speaker, may I inquire as to hears so many different explanations, how much time I have remaining? are from an article entitled, "Reagan but none of them make any sense. visit in Germany: The Power of the The SPEAKER pro tempore . ;. April 29, 1985 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-HOUSE 9731 posing to do something wrong is the e Mr. DELLUMS. Madam Speaker, he feared "leftist, anti-American" pro right thing to do." the President's persistent and wrong tests. It is the right thing for the Presi headed determination to visit a West How sad-and how shallow a series dent. I hope the President changes his German military cemetery at Bitburg of excuses by the leaders of both coun mind. that contains the graves of at least 47 tries. I urge the President to rescind I thank the gentleman for taking Waffen SS members, while canceling a his personal decision to visit the mili this special order. similar visit to the original "model" tary cemetery at Bitburg and to focus Mr. LEVINE of California. Madam Nazi concentration camp at Dachau, his full attention on honoring the vic Speaker, I thank the gentleman. will leave a scar of shame on the na tims of Nazism, not its perpetrators. In closing, let me thank all of those tional memory for generations to To do any less in our name is to dis who have participated in this special come. honor us au.• order on both sides of the aisle, and all This decision is a deliberate affront e Mr. RODINO. Madam Speaker, those who participated just before this to all people of conscience, regardless some have called the President's deci special order in the presentation of of national origin, ethnic or religious sion to go to the Bitburg Cemetery a the very important resolution that has background, because it honors the vic political error, a public relations gaffe. strong, bipartisan support urging the timizers at the expense of their vic Others have called it a diplomatic mis President to reconsider his trip. tims. The SS in all its perverse mani take, particularly with the damage it Let me thank all of those who con festations were the ultimate subver appears to have done to our relations stitute a clear majority of both this sion of the Judeo-Christian ideals that with our West German allies. But his House on a bipartisan basis and the have been the very foundation of decision is much more than a political other body on a bipartisan basis who Western civilization. or diplomatic mistake. It is a moral have urged Chancellor Kohl to recon The SS were the implementers of dagger that pierces the heart of so sider his invitation to our President Hitler's "final solution" who were di many Americans and Europeans who with regard to this ill-conceived plan. rectly responsible for the genocide of suffered under the iron fist of nazism. Let me in terms of recapturing some almost 6 million Jews. They were the And it is a psychological assault on the of what was said by so many people, mass murders who exterminated equal Holocaust survivors-and on the rela again on both sides of the aisle, sum numbers of non-Jews in the concentra tives on the many who didn't survive marize simply by saying that this is tion camps because of their opposition who must live with a memory haunted not designed to be a political issue. to, or lack of suitability for inclusion by the evil, grim specter of the Nazi This is an issue where Democrats and in the criminal madness that was the final solution. Republicans together have joined in a Third Reich. Imagine the inner tears of the survi very respectful fashion to urge the It was the Waffen SS that initiated vors who heard the President say that President of the United States to re a series of deliberate World War II the German World War II soldiers consider an ill-conceived decision. atrocities, beginning in Poland in 1939, "were victims, just as surely as the vic This, I might say on a personal note, and continuing with the murder of 101 tims in the concentration camps." is the first special order that I have British prisoners of war at Le Paradis Imagine the inner anguish of the sur ever taken out in my two terms in the in 1940 to the wanton massacre of at vivors who heard the President decline House. I believe that this time should least 71 uniformed U.S. military per a visit to Dachau, then agree to visit be reserved for issues on which one sonnel at Malmedy, Belgium, in 1944. Bitburg, and then, after the press re feels very deeply and in which there Some of the members from the SS vealed that the cemetery contained are very important concerns at stake. unit that conducted the Malmedy mas the graves of the SS troopers, decided sacre are buried in the cemetery at to visit Bergen Belsen to balance out I think we have seen from the his visits. We cannot balance out good people who have spoken here today Bitburg. What must the surviving American and evil. If everyone is a victim, then how deeply people do feel on this no one is a victim. issue. This is an issue on which people veterans of the Battle of the Bulge who helped to liberate Germany from Madam Speaker, I am concerned are speaking from the heart. You do about reports that the President's ad not see people reading elaborate the Nazi horrors think of a President who chooses to honor these murders visers counseled him not to "cave in" speeches from notes. You do not see on this decision. But who is he caving people using lines that have been while ignoring them? What must the veterans of other into, Holocaust survivors? American given to them by their staffs. This is veterans? an issue which is extremely clear on a Allied nations whose comrades were For 40 years the American and variety of levels, on a moral level, on a also massacred by the SS in virtually every country of Europe think of this German people have developed close foreign policy level, on a diplomatic ties because of a common faith in de level, and on all the levels that have decision which is historically ignorant and personally insensitive? mocracy. Our alliance is strong, and been discussed here today. It is one our shared goals are noble. Reconcilia that has beckoned forth deep senti What must those Germans who re tion between our two nations is a fact. ment from throughout this entire sisted Hitler and Nazism think when A ceremony at Bitburg is unnecessary. country and from citizens who are Wehrmacht military and Waffen SS There are many other ways to remem very good and close friends of our are publicly remembered-and implic ber-a visit at the grave of Konrad country from around the globe. itly honored-while their incredible Adenauer, a commemoration of the In the name of everything that is courage is deliberately ignored-all in German resistance, a recognition of good in America and in the name of the name of "reconciliation"? What a the allied dead. But why Bitburg? everything that we have stood for as a tragic revision of recent history! What Why the pain for the survivors and nation since the days of the Revolu an incredible inversion of moral im the Allied veterans? Why tread on his tion and particularly in the name of peratives.••• tory? reconciliation and healing with the At the same time the President is Madam Speaker, allow me to quote people of Germany, on behalf of the visiting the cemetery at Bitburg the from the moving remarks of Elie Republicans and the Democrats who SS will be having a public reunion in Wiesel: Bavaria, not far from the site of have spoken today, and on other days I, too, wish to attain true reconciliation on the floor of this House, and in the Dachau. The President is also sched with the German people. I do not believe in other body, and so many citizens from uled to meet with Franz Joseph collective guilt, nor in collective responsibil around the globe, I earnestly hope and Strauss, the West German political ity. Only the killers were guilty. Their sons sincerely urge the President to recon leader in Bavaria who first urged the and daughters are not. And I believe • • • sider this very unfortunate decision. President not to visit Dachau because that we can and we must work together .. .· 9732 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-HOUSE April 29, 1985 with them and with all people. And we must tery. Some assert that it would be a There is still time for the President to work to bring peace and understanding to a sign of weakness for the President to tormented world that • • • is still awaiting change his plans, to contribute to the redemption. cancel his visit. On the contrary, this healing of wounds. is an opportunity for the President to Let me close on a personal note. Vet Madam Speaker, Bitburg is not the present a lesson about the Holocaust erans and members of the Jewish com door to redemption. I implore the for current and future generations. If munity have been vocal in their oppo President: for the sake of history, and the President cancels his Bitburg visit, sition to the President's trip; some for the sake of the living, please don't the lesson will be an unambiguous one, have even said that this is a "Jewish go.e and all the more powerful. It would issue" or a "veterans issue." •Mr. WEISS. Madam Speaker, I rise certainly be a demonstration of per to urge the President to cancel his Jews and veterans should not be sonal, as well as our Nation's, resolve alone; I submit that this is an issue for plans to visit the Bitburg Cemetery, about human rights and freedom. This where, in addition to German soldiers, all Americans. As a Methodist minis is a strong message, not a weak one. ter, I believe that all of us-Christians he will be honoring Waffen SS mem "The issue here is not politics," said bers, who conducted the Nazi genocide and Jews, Republicans and Democrats, Elie Wiesel, "but good and evil." Un men and women-should speak out to against the Jewish people. fortunately, the President fails to see Mr. Reagan's trip to Germany-his insist that good triumphs, that healing the difference even when presented so triumphs. Working together, we can belated addition of a visit to a concen plainly. Madam Speaker, the Ameri tration camp, and his refusal to cancel can people can distinguish between pursue and achieve justice.e a stop at Bitburg-reflects a moral and right and wrong. •Mr. YATES. Madam Speaker, I par historical blindness to the suffering of I, too, believe that our friends in the ticipate in this special order today the victims of Hitler's Germany. No Federal Republic of Germany should with a sense of fundamental sadness dramatic speech by the President or not collectively suffer guilt for the that is rooted in disappointment and public relations extravaganza by his Nazi crimes, and on this 40th anniver disbelief. When I spoke to the House advancemen can heal the wounds sary of V-E day we should celebrate on April 15 about the serious mistake opened by President Reagan's insensi our friendship. However, I am afraid that the President was making with tivity. to think of what that day will symbol the scheduled visit to the Bitburg Scheduling for the trip has been ize to the world when the President of Cemetery, I, like many others be blighted by moral obtuseness and mis the United States lays a wreath at the lieved that the President would r~cog judgment. In February the President graves of SS troops. I urge the Presi nize this and the cemetery would be first indicated he would not visit a dent to cancel his trip to the Bitburg dropped from his itinerary. German concentration camp site, Cemetery.e This has not happened. A bad situa saying he wanted to avoid opening old •Mr. EDGAR. Madam Speaker, my tion has become much worse and there wounds while in Germany. Then, he colleagues, I'm sorry that we all have is now a very troubling, Kafka-like added the stop at the Bitburg Military to be here today. To you, to me, to quality to the whole event. It is as Cemetery. On April 18, he justified most Americans, it's obvious that the though the ability to alter the trip was this visit by explaining that German President should not lay a wreath beyond the reach or power of mortal soldiers who died defending nazism before the graves of the SS at Bitburg. man. But it is not too late, and the were "just as surely" victims as the 6 But today, after weeks of controversy, President should listen to reason. million Jews and millions of other na we're here making a last desperate Those SS graves in Bitburg are sym tionalities tortured and slaughtered in plea for President Reagan not to bolic. They represent the darkest Hitler's gas chambers. reopen the wounds of World War II. chapter in modem world history. To President Reagan now stubbornly I share the President's desire to go to that cemetery with the wreath, refuses to admit he made a mistake. achieve reconciliation. However, the the flags, and all implications that the After a direct plea not to visit Bitburg Bitburg ceremony is guaranteed to be visit carries with it is a mistake of tre from the Chairman of the U.S. Holo divisive, not unifying. It is guaranteed mendous proportions for this country, caust Memorial Council and Buchen to be a hurtful act, not an act of heal Germany, and the West as a whole. wald survivor, Elie Wiesel, the Presi ing. There can be no reconciliation with dent still resists altering his plans. I believe Elie Wiesel said it best the SS. As Elie Wiesel said to the Simon Wisenthal, a Holocaust survivor when he accepted his medal at the President: "That place, Mr. President, who searches for Nazi war criminals White House 11 days ago. He said: is not your place. Your place is with still at large, denounced the Bitburg I too wish to attain true reconciliation the victims of the SS."• stopover while declining the Presi with the German people. I do not believe in •Mr. DASCHLE. Madam Speaker, collective guilt, nor in collective responsibil even though President Reagan is leav dent's invitation to Bitburg. The U.S. ity.... we can and must work together Senate urged the President to reassess with them and with all people. And we must ing on his European trip tomorrow, his plans. And last week, 257 Members work to bring peace and understanding to a there is still time for him to cancel his of this body wrote Chancellor Helmut tormented world that, as you know, is still visit to Germany's military cemetery Kohl asking him to withdraw his invi awaiting redemption ... at Bitburg. tation to Reagan to lay a wreath at The issue, as Mr. Wiesel said, is not And he must cancel the event. Bitburg. one of politics, but one of good and The President of the United States Even with the added trip to Bergen evil. The President should not be at should salute today's Germany-the Belsen, the Bitburg visit is morally tempting to heal by honoring the Germany that is a model of Democra wrong. It prevents us from paying graves of SS soldiers, Hitler's elite cy, not honor a dark moment in proper tribute to the victims of nazism corps who ran the death camps and human history when thousands upon and the Americans who fought that participated in the massacre of Ameri thousands of Jewish men, women, and evil. It is an improper way to pay trib can prisoners of war. A ceremony rec children were murdered simply be ute to the free and democratic Federal ognizing even one individual who par cause of their heritage. Republic of Germany. And, it is an im ticipated in the Nazi war crimes deni The President of the United States proper way to pay tribute to heroic grates the purpose of the President's should pay tribute to 40 years of peace Germans that resisted Hitler's efforts trip and works against reconciliation. between the United States and Germa ' in World War II. There is still time for the President ny, not honor German soldiers who The President is now scrambling to to change his plans, to honor the were responsible for tens of thousands find a politically acceptable way to grave of a German member of the re of American casualties. visit Bitburg when there is no such al sistance, or Chancellor Adenauer, who The President of the United States ternative except not to visit the ceme- did so much for postwar reconciliation. should visit a cemetery. where Allied April 29, 1985 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-HOUSE 9733 forces are buried, not a cemetery that ments they have expressed which elites who brutally carried out Hitler's was once used as a staging area for the highlight the height of the despair plan to exterminate the Jews of bloody Battle of the Bulge where more and confusion they feel. Europe. Regardless of the intent of in than 70,000 American GI's were killed. I'm a veteran of World War II who lost cluding Bitburg on the President's The President of the United States many dear friends fighting for our country itinerary, or the addition of other should pay his respects to the victims • • • In decorating and honoring the graves events to the schedule, President of the Holocaust and its survivors, not of ex-Nazis we are doing a disservice to the Reagan should immediately cancel his lay a wreath at the gravesites of those cherished memories and the ideals of our plan to lay a wreath at Bitburg. American war dead.-Mr. Benjamin Feld who guarded the death camps from man, 5th District, New York. This month we have been commemo escape and outside interference. As a refugee from Nazi Germany who lost rating the 40th anniversary of the end The visit to Bitburg is a terrible mis his parents and innumerable dear ones in of World War II and the liberation of take. It reopens old wounds. It is an in the Holocaust, as a volunteer for the draft the Nazi death camps. Part of remem sensitive decision that minimizes the for the U.S. Army who entered service prior bering the dead and the other victims sacrifices of American veterans and to Pearl Harbor, as a participant of D-Day of nazism is never forgetting those re the suffering of Jews who were de invasions of both North Africa and Sicily, sponsible for the Holocaust. President clared enemies of the state. It drives a having been wounded in action in Norman dy, as a recipient of the purple heart, the Reagan's plan to lay a wreath at Bit wedge between the United States and bronze star, and the Belgian Croix de burg is far from a gesture of reconcili Germany. And it goes against all that Guerre Avec Palme, but above all as an ation with modem Germany. Rather this Nation stands for, and has fought American, I am sickened and offended by it is opening the wounds of thousands for, in its 200-year history.e the insensitivity displayed toward the of Holocaust survivors and Gold Star • Mr. GARCIA. Madam Speaker, the memory of the thousands of American serv mothers everywhere. Furthermore, it President's scheduled trip to the Bit icemen killed by those whose graves you is paying homage to the memory of 47 burg Cemetery has caused a great deal intend to visit on your upcoming trip to Nazi SS members, participants in the of furor both among his supporters Germany.-Siegmund Spiegel, 5th District, torture and murder of millions of in and those who do not always agree New York. One doesn't have to be a World War II nocent people. with him. veteran or Jewish to resent the idea of the I have written personally to Presi Why is there so much controversy President of the United States honoring dent Reagan asking him to remove over this visit? Why is a symbolic trip Nazi war dead • • • Millions of mature 60 Bitburg from his itinerary. In my to a cemetery so important? Because plus and elderly 70 plus Americans, like us letter I also encouraged him to do ev symbolism is all the victims of the remember vividly Allied sacrifices in World erything possible to continue our Na Holocaust have left. It is the only War II-including American prisoners of tion's friendship with present-day Ger solace they can find from the horror War butchered by Nazi troops near that many. I do not believe in collective they experienced. We cannot ade cemetery • • •. Many living Germans were part of Hitler's efforts to build a Reich that guilt. But I must join with Elie Wiesel quately imagine that horror; we can would rule the world• • •.Honoring all war who said: "The issue here is not poli only pay respect through our remem dead is a meaningless blurring of the fact tics, but good and evil." The American brance. that many of those dead don't deserve President's place is with the victims, The words "never again" ring loudly honor.-Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Magnell, 5th not the perpetrators, of Nazi atroc from the survivors and the families of District, New York. ities. the survivors of the Holocaust. But to As a combat veteran of WW II, I feel de make certain that those words have based by President Reagan's decision to visit Our current friendship with Germa meaning, it is up to us to join with the German cemetery that holds the re ny does not make us forget the past. mains of so many of the Nazi criminals of Out of respect for those who died and them in their efforts to keep the that conflict • • •. We can never let the suffered, out of respect for the lessons memory of this tragedy alive. world forget what the Germans of that era of the Holocaust, I join with my col I think it is important that when we did to humanity. To honor those who par leagues and friends in the Jewish com ask the President not to go to Bitburg ticipated in that horror is an insult, not munity in calling for the President to we do so not as Democrats and Repub only to Americans, but to all people, all over licans, but as Americans who do not the world who value the right of every cancel his trip to Bitburg.e want our Nation to be in any way con human to be allowed to think and worship e Mr. LENT. Madam Speaker, I join nected with the evil of the SS. The according to his own beliefs.-Mr. Gil with my colleagues today in express memory of the excesses of that evil Malawista, 5th District, New York. ing my deep concern over the Presi must be preserved so that we can for I share the concern and opposition dent's plans to visit the Bitburg Ceme ever guard against this dark side of expressed by my constituents. Cur tery in West Germany. The Presi humanity. The President must not go rently, there are numerous groups dent's trip to Bitburg is intended to to Bitburg and betray the vigilance of trying to convince the world that the improve diplomatic relations with Ger this memory.e Holocaust never took place. This of many but it has had the opposite e Mr. McGRATH. Madam Speaker, fensive and preposterous assertion is effect here in the United States. The the message is clear. The American sure to gain some acceptance if the President's stated intention to visit ·a people are distraught over the memo President lays a wreath at a cemetery military cemetery in Bitburg has ries that the President's proposed trip where members of the elite SS guard opened old wounds and sharply divid reawakens. Pleas have come from all are buried. ed this Nation. segments of our society imploring the The fundamental lesson of the Holo Some would portray this visit as an President not to visit Bitburg's mili caust is never again. As elected repre issue of primary concern to the Jewish tary cemetery. sentatives of our Nation, our responsi community, but that is inaccurate. It I have never received such impas bility is to assure that this lesson is a Jewish issue, but it is also an issue sioned mail as that which this contro never fades. I commend the gentleman of concern to gentiles. Many of the versy has evoked. This outpouring re from California and New York for re major veterans organizations have affirms my belief that the President serving this time so that this very ex protested against the President's visit. must find another way to signal our pression may be relayed to the Presi They are disturbed because the Presi sincere reconciliation toward the dem dent.e, dent's visit would honor the murderers ocratic government that rose from the e Ms. MIKULSKI. Madam Speaker, I of their fallen comrades, as well as the ashes of Nazi Germany 40 years ago. rise today with a deep sense of outrage perpetrators of the most horrifying I have heard from veterans, Holo at President Reagan's proposed plan slaughter in the history of mankind. caust survivors, and many people who to visit the cemetery at Bitburg, Ger I had hoped that the eloquent do not fall into either category. I many. This cemetery contains the speech given by Elie Wiesel at the would like to share with you the senti- graves of German SS officers, the Nazi White House last week would change 'r '•'-' 9734 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-HOUSE April 29, 1985 the President's mind and show him Germany, perpetrated the most griev ing. Rather than celebrating the the folly of his plans. While I sincerely ous crimes against humanity ever re future, it has rekindled the horrors of believe the President was deeply corded in history. The Nazis distorted the past. moved by Mr. Wiesel's words, he ap the distinction between good and evil After observing the sense of outrage parently feels that he has made some through the very distortion and per from nearly all sectors of the Ameri personal commitment to Chancellor version of symbols: the ones who at can population, the President was Kohl as one head of government to the gate of the death camp inscribed quick to add a stop at the Bergen another. "Work makes Free"; the ones who Belsen Concentration Camp to his The administration should recognize called their mass deportations to itinerary; however, he continues to in that a decision that causes such con death camps "resettlement"; the ones clude the Bitburg ceremony on his troversy at home is worthless, no who sent their victims to the "show schedule. Visiting the site of a Nazi matter what its value abroad. They ers" to "disinfect" them; the ones concentration camp where tens of should be working with the West Ger whose "Final Solution" meant the thousands of Jews were brutally mur mans to develop an option that will total annihilation of a whole people. dered can not be considered a trade-off benefit both sides and alienate no one. Madam Speaker, how can we even to visiting Bitburg. I join with Elie Wiesel and the count symbolically reconcile ourselves with To voice my opposition to the Presi less others who believe that the Presi this past? dent's planned trip to Bitburg Ceme dent's place is not in Bitburg, his place As the leader of the free world, tery, I have cosigned several letters is with the victims.e President Reagan has the responsibil with many of my colleagues advising e Mr. ADDABBO. Madam Speaker, I ity to honor and uphold the values for the President of Congress' belief that rise to join my colleagues in urging which countless Americans fought and there is a more appropriate way to President Reagan to cancel his visit to died in their struggle to free Europe highlight the peace and friendship be Bitburg Cemetery. from the Nazi tyranny which almost tween West Germany and the United Certainly none of us has a problem engulfed the world. Americans fought States. In addition, I am an original with the President's stated desire to for the preservation o.f freedom in the cosponsor of House Concurrent Reso commemorate 40 years of peace and world; for the survival of democracy lution 125, a sense of the Congress res friendship with the people and Gov which affords its citizens equal protec olution that the President of the ernment of West Germany. But in tion under law. And many died for the United States should not honor the doing so, the President must not free Europe we have today; including memory of those responsible for the ignore the horrors and brutality of the democratic West Germany. Is it then deaths of millions by visiting Bitburg. Nazi regime and should scrupulously fitting for the beneficiaries of this avoid even the appearance of paying legacy of freedom to reconcile them We should not honor the guilty. We tribute to individuals who perpetrated selves with the very evil which would know the pain of remembering the crimes against humanity. undermine our hard-won liberties? Nazi genocide and feel the loss of each If the President warits to honor the Madam Speaker, I join my appeal life as if it were our own. Hitler's reign victims of World War II, he does not with those of my colleagues that ended 40 years ago, but for the many have to look very far. All of Europe he cancel his visit to the Bitburg Cem who survived the camps, the hiding, was a victim of the Nazi regime. The etery; a visit that only revives memo and the awful waiting, it happened millions who were murdered in the ries of Nazi atrocities and reopens yesterday. Therefore, we must remem death camps, the fallen soldiers of the bitter wounds. Mr. Reagan would dem ber, not honor, the Nazi barbarism, so Allied forces, the people and towns of onstrate true leadership if he were to that it may never happen again.e ' Europe that were overrun and occu cancel his proposed visit to the ceme •Mr. MICA. Madam Speaker, our pied by the Nazi war machine, the tery. President leaves tomorrow· on a 10-day fighters in the German resistance Madam Speaker, the reconciliation trip to Europe. Our President intends movement, all were victims and all de that has, in fact, existed for some time to visit a West German cemetery at serve to be honored by the President cannot be justified if it rests on the Bitburg where ·47 of the Third Reich's of the United States. scattered cinders of forgetfulness.• notorious Waffen i ' " '• April 29, 1985 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-HOUSE 9735 recall the news that during the battle, obligation too solemn ever to be set who are entitled to them to fund Gen a Waffen SS battle group gunned aside. eral Dynamics' abuses of taxpayers' down 71 American prisoners of war I think the President is keeping the money or for MX missiles that we do captured just north of Bitburg. After wrong promise. A commitment made not need or other waste elsewhere in ward, the SS soldiers used the bodies in a conversation to the head of an the budget. for target practice. other government when nothing has Mr. DORGAN of North Dakota. If The President's decision to lay a been bargained for over that does not you deny someone, whose purchasing wreath at Bitburg demonstrates a lack seem to me as important as the very power has been eroded because of in of sensitivity to those who suffered at solemn, very public pledge, made by flation, the opportunity to have that the hands of the Nazis. The President the President of the United States as a purchasing power rest9red through a should reconsider the inclusion of the candidate for reelection to the Ameri COLA, that denial of those funds does Bitburg Cemetery in his forthcoming can people, when he said, "I won't be not help the deficit. Social Security trip to West Germany. Instead, our cutting your Social Security benefits." funds are raised through a payroll tax Nation should pay honor to the memo D 1620 to be used only for Social Security. ries of the millions of innocent Jewish Some people around here are trying to victims and thousands of American Because the President has a propos play a game of using those Social Se and Allied soldiers who were victims of al now before the Congress to reduce curity revenues that they cannot use Nazi atrocities. We should honor the Social Security benefits by a substan to offset deficits they create by an new bonds that have developed be tial amount. In fact, a proposal came excess of military spending. That tween our Nation and West Germany forward from the other body to reduce breeds the most incredible waste we since World War II and in doing this Social Security benefits, and in the have ever seen in this Government's look forward to a promising and flour compromise that was worked out, the history. ishing relationship, not backward to President went them one better be Mr. FRANK. The gentleman is cor the horrors of the past.e cause the proposal that came forward rect. as part of a so-called compromise for a 3-year reduction in the cost-of-living You know, sometimes people forget GENERAL LEAVE what today is. But now the gentleman increase that Social Security recipi reminds me, and we can say, if people Mr. LEVINE of California. Madam ents would be entitled to get is a do not remember what the day is, Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that deeper cut over that 3-year period today is the first of never, apparently, all Members may have 5 legislative than what had initially come out. because we heard the President say he days in which to revise and extend Mr. DORGAN of North Dakota. Will their remarks on the subject of my the gentleman yield? would never cut Social Security bene Mr. FRANK. I yield to the gentle fits, and he is now proposing to cut special order today. ' them. So as of today, it is the first of The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is man from North Dakota. never. there objection to the request of the Mr. DORGAN of North Dakota. gentleman from California? Does the gentleman recall one of the I do not know what you do to your There was no objection. Presidential debates in which the clock, but what you do, if you are old, President said "Yoµ should never say to your bank account is watch it dwin never in politics, but I will say never"? dle. ORDER OF BUSINESS Mr. FRANK. I do recall that, and The gentleman is right. In 1983, the Mr. FRANK. Madam Speaker, I ask what he said never about, as the gen President signed into law, both Houses unanimous consent to take my special tleman points out, was cutting Social having passed an increase in Social Se order now, which was previously Security benefits. curity taxes and a reduction at that called. Mr. DORGAN of North Dakota. point in Social Security benefits. And The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is That is precisely what he said: "I will the argument was that that was neces there objection to the request of the never allow Social Security benefits to sary. gentleman from Massachusetts? be cut." That was just several months Some agreed; some disagreed. But There was no objection. ago. The paradox of this whole thing that was then argued to be necessary is that this President is participating to put Social Security on a sound foot in an effort that will lower Social Se ing so that the elderly would not have A BROKEN PROMISE curity checks from the present law's to worry. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under COLA in order to counter a buildup on What the President is now asking a previous order of the House, the gen the other side of the budget for the Congress to do is to take part of that tleman from Massachusetts CMr. military. And that is precisely what we increase in the regressive payroll tax FRANK] is recognized for 60 minutes. are talking about. We are talking of Social Security and use it to offset Mr. FRANK. Madam Speaker, the about taking money from senior citi the deficit that we are gettiiig because gentleman who preceded me, the gen zens, many of whom are at or near the of General Dynamics abusers and be tleman from California, said that spe poverty line, iri ·order to build more cause we are going to do the things in cial orders ought to be used when one submarines, jet fighters, tanks, or MX the-military that are far ~eyond what feels strongly, and that is precisely missiles. we have to do. what I want to do today. I feel strong The President's budget priorities are We ought to be very clear about ly for a couple reasons. misplaced, and I appreciate the gentle what the President has tried to sug The subject is the very solemn, oft man taking this special order to point gest. Let us be very clear. When you repeated promise, that President that out. have a law that now says elderly Reagan made during the 1984 cam Mr. FRANK. I thank my friend from people are supposed to get every Janu paign that he would not reduce Social North Dakota who has been a very ary-it used to be July but it has been Security benefits and the fact that he staunch advocate for sensible prior pushed back 6 months-a cost-of-living has subsequently broken that promise. ities in the budget. He reminds us we increase equal to inflation, and you Apparently when the initials S.S. are are not talking about increased overall take that away from them, you are re involved, the President has a some Federal ' spending. We are not talking ducing their benefits below what they what flexible attitude toward promise about trying to increase what the are now legally entitled to. keeping. When the S.S. stands for President sent us in the deficit. We are And then the President said, anyone Social Security, the promise is not talking about making those reductions who says I am reducing their benefits worth very much. When it stands for in a sensible way and not taking Social is lying in their teeth. I do not know Schutzstaffel, then apparently it is an Security benefits away from those how one lies in one's teeth and it 9736 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-HOUSE April 29, 1985 would seem to me that it would be a fy. And let us be very clear what the arate from the Federal budget, be very uncomfortable place to lie. But President has done. He made a prom cause we understood that these dollars the fact is that the President's own ise when he ran for election that he could not be used to fund other parts calculatfon means that, in this one in would never cut Social Security bene of the budget, they cannot be used for stance, he does understand what we fits. He has broken that promise. He the military budget, they cannot be are talking about. has asked the Congress to reduce the used for housing or for educational He is the one who tells us that if we cost of living below what it now legally loans, and as such this money is not only give the Pentagon a 3-percent in is supposed to be, not just for this really available. But in 1969, the budg crease over and above inflation, that is fiscal year but. for 2 additional fiscal ets were brought together and at that a 7-percent overall increase, that that years. For 3 full fiscal years, it would time the surplus in Social Security was is austerity. So, for the Pentagon, they cost billions of dollars and put an used to hide the fact that we were run get full inflationary compensation awful lot of older people who are now ning a deficit that we should not have plus 3 percent. barely above poverty back into been running then. But if you are 82 years old and living poverty. at about the poverty level, receiving Here is what Mr. Speakes said, ac 0 1630 about $500 a month or a little bit less, cording to Mr. Ball: And here again we have got the you get 2 percent. And the President When asked further on October 9 about same kind of a strategy. I wanted to says he has not cut you and we know the Social Security cost-of-living adjust underscore something that the gentle that that simply is not true. ment, White House spokesman Larry man from Massachusetts [Mr. FRANK] Mr. DORGAN of North Dakota. If Speakes, and a reporter had this exchange: mentioned, and that is in 1983 the the gentleman will yield one more "QUESTION. You say that benefits will not be reduced. The law includes a provision for people of this country were told that time-those who listen to the gentle increases in benefits based on cost of living. we had to compromise, which we man and others should not conclude Does this guarantee those increases as well? needed in Social Security, and that that we are not for trying to move this "Mr. SPEAKES. Yes. This is the law. people, workers, would have to pay fiscal policy into some sort of balance. "QUESTION. And you say it doesn't in higher taxes and employers would The mismatch between revenues this clude-that there will be no tampering and have to pay higher taxes during the Government has and expenditures delaying or trimming of the cost of living? 1980's to ensure that the cost of living that the President proposes, which is a "Mr. SPEAKES. No tampering, no nothing." increases could be paid, that senior $180 billion deficit mismatch, has But unfortunately no nothing more citizens would have to do without the nothing at all to do with Social Securi clearly explains the Reagan program cost-of-living increase for a 6-month ty COL.A's. We ought to adjust Social for Social Security recipients than no period, which is a permanent reduc Security COL.A's up or down based on tampering. There is a clearcut viola tion in people's benefits; but that was the economic health of that system, tion of a pledge and an effort to in order to secure the Social Security not based on whether or not the Presi reduce what, among the poorest system for 75 years. dent wants another 7, 9, or 13 percent people in this society, all older people Well, here we are already 2 years in military spending. living in poverty are going to get. later being told that this lead is off This does not have anything at ~ll to Mr. MORRISON of Connecticut. and, in fact, those tax increases which do with the general question of wheth Will the gentleman yield? the gentleman quite properly de er or not we ought to restrain spend Mr. FRANK. I yield to the gentle scribes as regressive, are to be used for ing. Of course we should. But we man from Connecticut. something else, for a deficit reduction. ought to do it in the right way. Mr. MORRISON of Connecticut. I Well, I think that those who are ad Mr. FRANK. I just want to make it thank the gentleman for yielding. I vocating this reduction in Social Secu clear. I thank the gentleman for his want to thank him for asking for this rity benefits better be advocating remarks. time in order that we might explore giving those tax increases back to the Larry Speakes, who is the official this issue on Social Security because I workers and the employers. I cannot White House spokesperson-and, think there has been a lot of misex imagine any Member of this House Madam Speaker, in the intermittent planation of what is going on. And a coming on the floor and saying that interest that some of the people on lot of people are being asked to think he had a tax program to deal with the the Republican side have about the that freezing Social Security benefits deficit and then saying the following: rules, I am going to ask unanimous or reducing the cost of living over a 3- This tax program is only going to be consent that I may be allowed to year period by at least 2 percent every on earned income, not on unearned quote. I would assure any Republicans year is somehow a form of deficit re income. You are only going to have to watching, I am going to quote Larry duction, and some kind of budget re pay on the first $39,600 that you earn. Speakes, so I am sure they would not straint, when it is nothing of the kind. If you earn more than that, that will have any objection. I think an important fact that I ask unanimous consent that I be should be emphasized is that the be tax-exempt. allowed to quote from some docu Social Security trust fund will take in And if you are an employer you will ments here, Madam Speaker. $9.2 billion more next year, in 1986, pay no matter whether you are losing The SPEAKER pro tempore [Mrs. than it is going to spend. So, if any money or making money, you will still BURTON of California]. Is there objec thing, the Social Security trust fund is have to pay this tax. And any Member tion to the request of the gentleman making the deficit look smaller than it who came here proposing that kind of from Massachusetts? actually is, not bigger. a tax increase to fight the budget defi There was no objection. Mr. FRANK. If I could just inter cit would not get one supporter. Mr. FRANK. I thank the Speaker. rupt the gentleman, I appreciate his Yet that is exactly what is being pro On October 9, and I am going to statistics. If I am correct, the $9.2 bil posed with the cuts in Social Security. insert some stuff in the RECORD, and lion is even if we pay out the currently Mr. FRANK. I thank the gentleman. one is a superb, thoughtful essay writ mandated cost of living? Let us drive this point home because ten by Robert Ball, a former Commis Mr. MORRISON of Connecticut. people have to understand what the sioner of Social Security, a man who Absolutely. And I think it is important President of the United States is participated in 1982 and 1983 in the to go back and understand why it is we doing. He is, by his own description, proposal to reduce benefits at that are in this fix where the dedicated Mr. Anti-Tax Increase. time and raise taxes because he funds in Social Security are made to You remember he made a couple of thought it was necessary, he has a look like they are reducing the deficit. promises last year. One promise he magnificent refutation of the logic by In fact, back in the 1960's and before made was no new increase in taxes, which the President is trying to justi- the Social Security fund was kept sep- and when someone even suggested it, . .' ... April 29, 1985 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-HOUSE 9737 somebody on his side or somebody on tees our ability to keep the compact owers or widows caring for children. the Democratic side, it came from we have made between generations, All of them are victimized. both places, his answer was, "Make my that that trust fund will be main CBO has said that the President's day." tained. This is the kind of step, once proposal to reduce the Social Security When someone talks about his taken, that could easily be repeated cost-of-living increase will do more to promise not to raise taxes, he is Clint time and time again. increase poverty than any other pro Eastwood. Of course, when someone I would emphasize that those who posal before us or any other economic says that they are going to violate his are supporting this 2-percent reduc event of recent times. And it will also campaign promise not to cut Social Se tion in the COLA, they were talking degrade those who are just above pov curity benefits, he is Woody Allen. I about this change long ago, long erty. mean he becomes a somewhat differ before this particular proposal. They Is there insistence that elderly ent character, or the Roadrunner, per are not talking about deficit reduction; people, having worked hard all their haps, getting as far away from his they are talking about Social Security lives in factories, in stores, in hospi promises as he can. reductions; CPI minus 2. We have tals, having raised children, that it is But let us look at the effect of what heard that around this Chamber for 2 somehow a crime for them to be a his own tax policy is. or 3 years now. This is a specific pro little bit above the poverty level? Be In 1983 his appointed commission posal. Those individuals nave the right cause that is what we are talking ers, along with others, recommended to advocate it, but they ought not hide about. We are not talking about a pro an increase in the Social Security tax. it as if it were a deficit reduction. posal aimed at denying Social Security That increase came from some people They want to reduce Social Security cost-of-living increases to a handful of that Ronald Reagan, among others, benefits. Let us debate that on its own wealthy people. President Reagan is the Speaker and the Senate majority terms. I think it will lose on its own asking that we deny half of the Social leader, appointed. terms. Security increase that elderly people He lobbied for and signed into law, Mr. FRANK. I thank the gentleman are now legally entitled to get for the Ronald Reagan, an increase in Social from Connecticut. He is absolutely next 3 years up and down the line. Security tax affecting every wage right. There are people who have the The poorest people in this country by eamer in this country and the self-em bizarre notion that on the whole, old the hundreds of thousands will be vic ployed small business people; Ronald people in America have too much timized by this breach of promise by Reagan's appointees recommended the money. I must say, as any Member of the President of the United States. tax; Ronald Reagan lobbied for the Congress, that I meet with a lot of el I yield to the gentleman from Con tax; Ronald Reagan signed the tax derly people. I know the gentleman necticut. into law, ostensibly to pay for Social from Connecticut does because he has Security benefits. Now he is asking been very active on behalf of the el Mr. MORRISON of Connecticut. I Congress to take that tax increase he derly. I want to know where they are thank the gentleman for yielding. signed into law ostensibly to pay for hiding all these rich old people, be I think those statistics are very tell Social Security benefits and to use it cause I would like to find them, be ing. for his military foreign assistance; friend them; maybe they will be nice Another CBO statistic that I think some will go to the Philippines, some to me. I have a lot of old people in my drives this point home is that the will go to build an airport in Grenada, district, most of whom are nice to me, Senate proposal, the Senate proposal some of it will go to fly General Dy but unfortunately I have not found all that the President has endoresd and namics people around and not have of these rich ones. agreed to, the reduction in the COLA them pay any taxes, some of it will go I just want to make some statistical for the next 3 years, would put 650,000 for the MX, some of it will go for some points here because it is true there are senior citizens who are now at or other purposes, some of it which a few people who are on Social Securi above the poverty line into poverty. might be useful purposes. But he has ty who are very wealthy. But the bulk We have already driven 250,000 taken that tax increase that was ex of the people on Social Security are senior citizens into that status by that plicitly to be used only for Social Secu average working people who in their 6-month cost-of-living delay in 1983. rity and ask us not to provide Social retirement years would be living in This is 650,000 more people. Security cost-of-living increases. As desperate poverty if we did not have a Now we will hear some people argue the gentleman from Connecticut CMr. decent Social Security program. that the problem is solved by a small MORRISON] pointed out, even if the Some of the people on Social Securi increase in the so-called SSI, the law, as it now stands is followed, and ty are still in poverty. What the Presi supplmentary security income pro you know people are not getting rich dent is asking us to do is to deny com gram and that that solves the prob off of Social Security. There is a small pensation for the cost of living for the lem. The fact is that it does nothing of number of wealthy people who get next 3 years to people who are living the kind. The SSI benefits are them Social Security. But the great bulk are in poverty or who are Just above pov selves below the poverty line. So not wealthy. Social Security continues erty. people who benefit from that will not to be the most effective, most broadly The Pentagon, remember, gets a full be raised to poverty, but will be al ranging antipoverty program in Amer cost-of-living increase plus a 3-percent lowed to sink even lower, lower below ica today in the sense that it keeps bonus under his plan. Elderly people the poverty line. And those who are in people from that poverty line. And get less than a third of that. such desperate straits that they need Ronald Reagan is going to deny them Let me read from a very useful to avail themselves of that program, the money even though there will be report which I am going to put into will have to give up everything they under current law a $9 billion surplus the RECORD from the Democratic saved in their lives. Virtually nothing generated by Social Security. I think Study Group, "Rose Garden II." CBO in terms of assets can be held by a he is trying to scoop some money from estimates that Social Security, along person who gets those kinds of bene the Social Security trust fund and use with railroad retirement, provides 82 fits. So these people not only will be it to cover up the deficit. percent of total income for elderly re kept below poverty but pushed into I yield to the gentleman from Con cipient families classified as poor; 79 even greater destitution by that plan necticut. percent of people classified as near that has been endorsed by the Presi Mr. MORRISON of Connecticut. I poor, income is less than 20 percent dent. . think that is exactly right. That above the poverty line. It is a very im Mr. FRANK. I thank the gentleman should be disturbing to everyone who portant source, in addition, for many because the increase in SSI does not believes that the Social Security trust low-income persons who are not elder begin to undo the misery that will be fund is a separate fund that guaran- ly, but who are disabled, who are wid- inflicted on hard-working older people .. 9738 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-HOUSE April 29, 1985 by this. I want to stress that because somehow as a pot that can be used to MX missile and star wars, and they we are told that we have to be tough; reduce the deficit; that we will try to look at some of the pork barrel people are going to say, "Well, these build up the trust fund, but not to pay projects and they say "Gee, we better are tough times, so be tough," I do not our legal obligations; but rather to ac cut cost-of-living increases for Social mind people being tough in tough cumulate surpluses that can offset Security." times; I do not mind people being deficits elsewhere. I yield again to the gentleman from tough in tender times. People who like Let us talk about the elderly and Connecticut. being tough are entitled to be tough. Social Security. Some people have this Mr. MORRISON of Connecticut. I crazy notion that reducing poverty 0 1640 just want to say one more thing, and among the elderly was something we that is that I worry very much about But how do you prove your tough should be embarrassed about. Not just where this is bound, in the future, if ness by saying to an 83-year-old reducing poverty, reducing near-pover we start down this road. The President woman living in a major metropolitan ty. made his promise and it was, no more center, in an expensive, high cost-of I do not think older people ought to than 1 month ago that he was saying, living area where she has lived all her be living at the absolute margin, afraid "We're wasting a lot of time looking to life, and now she has no relatives left that an illness is going to wipe them Social Security to solve our deficit and no friends, and she is living entire out or any kind of unforeseen finan problem. It doesn't do anything for ly on Social Security and she is maybe cial exigency will wipe them out. our deficit problem." getting $500 a month. In 1972, Social Security was indexed. You prove your toughness by telling It was done a little bit too much. Since Just like he was right to promise not her that for the next 3 years she will that time, look what has happened: In to cut, and he was right to say that, get only half of the cost-of-living in 1977, the Notch Act and its accompa now he has reversed himself. We all crease? That as her food goes up, her niments reduced Social Security. Then know that in his budget proposal, he rent goes up and her light bill goes up, the Consumer Price Index was recalcu does not deal with the deficit; he does and her health care and her transpor lated, because people said old people not get it down to any reasonable level tation goes up, she will get half what are getting too much, because they are at any time in the near future. it needs to pay them? getting too compensated for housing That means that next year, if we I wish people with this need to show costs they do not have. So the CPI take this step, we will just be called on their macho would find someone other that they get is not as high as the one again to look at the same list of than these 83-year-old vulnerable that they used to get. sources of cuts. people on whom to demonstrate it. Then in 1983 their benefits were re I think the senior citizens of Amer There are plenty of areas in this duced further; the cost of living was ica deserve a strong, unequivocal state Federal budget. Let's look at the Pen cut in half by being put back for 6 ment from this Congress that it is not tagon. Let's look at the agricultural months. It is not as if nothing has going to be tampering with Social Se program, Let's look at almost any happened. curity in the future, and I am very other place you want. And it is com After all of these things have hap pleased that the gentleman from Mas pounded by the fact that the Presi pened, after three separate reductions sachusetts has scheduled this time so dent of the United States made this in the law indexing Social Security ·that we could lay before our col- solemn promise. benefits, after an increase in taxes to leagues how fallacious and erroneous We are being told-it is not simply a pay for Social Security benefits, with is the proposal that to show that we rhetorical ploy-we are being told by Social Security cost-of-living already are strong on reducing the deficit, our friends, "Well, yes, he shouldn't go having been reduced, with people born which I think we are committed to to the cemetery at Bitburg and he in the notch years suffering I think doing the job, that we somehow have shouldn't go and honor the SS, but he unjustly, with the Social Security to beat up on senior citizens, to beat promised." The promise he gave, over trust fund in surplus, Ronald Reagan up on Social se·curity recipients, in the phone or in person to Helmut says: order to justify doing what is right in Kohl, why is that so absolutely un I need to give a 7-percent increase to the asking fiscal prudence from other breakable when the election pledge he Pentagon, and therefore I have to cut in parts of our Federal budget. made-he said to people, in effect, and half the cost-of-living increase that Social Mr. FRANK. I am going to conclude, you do this when you are a candi Security recipients are entitled to. Madam Speaker. Let me just read date-"If you vote for me, I promise He breaks his promise, an explicit, from Mr. Robert Ball under the unani that I will not cut Social Security." He solemn promise. I think it is signifi mous consent that I was given earlier solicited people's votes. cant-as we know, our friends on the that allows me to read. Older people have been frightened. other side of the aisle have been very Let's make a couple points. The gen combative lately, and they are usually Mr. Ball says: tleman from Connecticut made an here to defend their President. I have There is a mistaken notion-that has re other excellent point that I want to never seen them as eloquent as I see cently gained some currency-that Social them now by their absolute and com Security, because it has no needs test, is just echo, when he talked about the somehow a middle-class program. Social Se intergenerational compact. plete silence, because they know curity is a universal program, and, of course, Because when taxes were increased some of them are pretty good law does cover the middle class- on Social Security in 1983, when yers-when they have got an unsella people who are now in their twenties ble case. They know that the Presi Although let me say as my aside, the and thirties and forties who are work dent of the United States made a middle class, having contributed to the ing, were asked to pay more in their promise; his press secretary said the program, I do not understand why taxes, they were told that was to go to promise includes not cutting benefits anyone ought to think it is wrong, and build up the trust fund so there would under cost of living, and it is being older retired middle class people, or to be no question that when they reach broken. It is being broken for no good benefit from them; of course they retirement age, there would be ade fiscal reason but because some people should- quate funds for them. have harbored this agenda-the gen but it is also our most effective antipoverty When the President starts cutting tleman from Connecticut has pointed program. If there were no Social Security, now-what he is asking in effect is out-they think old people have too there would be about 3.5 elderly poor per that we accept the principle that we much money, and we look at this sons for every 1 not below the poverty level. will not just look at those trust funds whole Federal budget, and they look Absent Social Security, 3.5 times as as means of paying for future cost-of at military assistance for Marcos in many elderly people would now be in living increases; we will consider them the Philippines, and they look at the poverty. ' April 29, 1985 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-HOUSE 9739 Social Security cuts the incidence of pov ise he made. That promise may not be merely maintains the purchasing power of erty among the elderly by over 70 percent. very important to him. the benefit. Nine to ten million people above 65 are kept I think campaign promises ought to 2. The separately and adequately financed above the rock-bottom poverty level by be treated as a very important obliga social security program is not contributing Social Security, and four to five million tion by all of us who go and say to to the deficit and should not be cut because other social security beneficiaries are kept taxes are 'too low to pay for other domestic above the poverty level by their benefits. people, "If you vote for me, if you give and military spending. Millions more would have income only me the most sacred thing you have got Social security is not contributing one slightly above if it were not for Social Secu in our democratic system, your cent to the deficit. On the contrary, the def rity. ballot-from the standpoint of that icit in the consolidated budget is being re Mr. Ball also points out, this is a per system, then I will honor any kind of duced because of social security. In order to manent cut, not a 3-year cut. Because obligation I undertake to you." build up reserves, social security will be taking in more than it pays out for several by reducing each year the amount 0 1650 decades. This, of course, helps overall gov people would get, you are reducing the ernment financing. Social security funds base on which future increases come. The President was not forced to make that promise. He volunteered it. that are not needed for the payment of ben This is a denial of billions of dollars. efits are lent to the government at interest. There are literally about $5. 7 billion He reached out to make it. There is no Thus other activities can be partially ft. now, and I think it is ultimately $12 economic justification for cutting the nanced by borrowing from social security billion over 3 years that the elderly cost of living increase that Social Se without the government going into the fi are entitled to. curity recipients are now legally enti nancial markets and competing with private tled to get. There is no moral justifica industry. People in the other body proposed, tion. There is no justification in terms 3. The overwhelming majority of social se in their budget proposal, reducing of the deficit. curity beneficiaries have low incomes. Social Security benefits for 1 year. Un The President is wrong to have made Social security supplies more than half derstand that in this case, the Presi that promise and to have so callously the income for two-thirds of its over-65 dent's compromise made it worse. beneficiaries. About one-third get more broken it, and I hope that the majori than 90 percent of their income from social Donald Regan says-the President's ty of the Members of this Chamber Chief of Staff-that he was the one, security. Yet the average benefit payment is will remember the older people have a less than $450 a month. An estimated on behalf of the President, who sug legitimate expectation not to get rich 500,000 people would be pushed below the gested that. when they retire, not to become government's rock-bottom measure of dire So let us just quickly summarize people who are living in luxury, but poverty if their purchasing power were cut where we are. Ronald Reagan, in his they have a legitimate expectation by a COLA freeze. If the increase in the campaign for reelection, in his de that there will not be on retirement a Consumer Price Index for next year is 4 per bates, through his press secretary, cent, the average monthly cut for benefici drastic reduction in their standard of aries would be $18, if 5 percent, $22.50 a made a solemn pledge to the voters living. To say to older people that they if month. These amounts may sound small to that they voted for him and reelect are going to get a 6-percent drop in some, but to people largely dependent on ed him President, he would not reduce their real standard of living over the social security, these cuts can mean choos cost-of-living increases to Social Secu next 3 years, with everything else that ing between food and medicine. rity recipients. He invited people to is going on in Ronald Reagan's budget, There is a mistaken notion-that has re break that promise. is wholly unjustified, and I hope the cently gained some currency-that social se He has now joined in breaking the House will not yield to it. curity, because it has no needs test, is some promise himself. The Pentagon will Madam Speaker, as previously men how a middle-class program. Social security get a 7-percent increase. The waste is a universal program, and, of course, does tioned, I ·am including in the RECORD cover the middle class, but it is also our will get an increase as well as what we at this point a letter from Robert M. most effective anti-poverty program. If need; the muscle as well as the fat. Ball, and other extraneous material: there were no social security, there would be Other areas of the program that he WASHINGTON DC, about 3.5 elderly poor persons for every 1 supports will get increases. The Social January 25, 1985. now below the poverty level. Social security Security tax increase that he signed Congressman BARNEY FRANK, cuts the incidence of poverty among the el into law 2 years ago will not go to the House of Representatives, Washington, DC. derly by over 70 percent. Nine to ten million purposes for which it was intended, if DEAR CONGRESSMAN FRANK: I thought the people over 65 are kept above the rock he has his way. It will not go to pay enclosure might be useful to you during the bottom poverty level by social security, and current congressional consideration of possi four to five million other social security the cost-of-living increase. If he has ble changes in the cost-of-living adjustment beneficiaries are also kept above the poverty his way, hundreds of thousands of el for social security beneficiaries. As you can level by their benefits. Millions more would derly people; 650,000 the gentleman see, I think it is a bad idea. have incomes only slightly above poverty if from Connecticut points out, who are Cordially, it were not for social security. Whittling now in poverty, will fall into poverty. ROBERT M. BALL, away at social security benefits will reverse Millions more will have a reduction fCommtaaioner of Social Securit71, the progress that has been made and plunge 1962-73). additional people into the poor and near in the cost of living and you can say, poor category. Well, it is only 2 percent this year. CStudy Group on Social Security, New York, 4. Cutting the COLA for even one year is a And 2 percent next year and 2 percent NYl permanent cut. the year after. So there is a 6-percent CUTTING OR SKIPPING THE COST-OF-LIVING Cutting the COLA is a cut in benefits that deterioration in their cost of living. ADJUSTMENT (COLA) FOR SOCIAL SECURITY continues year after year for all those who These are not people, on the whole, BENEFICIARIES Is UNWISE AND UNFAIR are on the benefit rolls at the time the who are living so high on the hog JANUARY 18, 1985 COLA is due to be paid. For them, in each and of course, the President would -·' - ' - ''·· April 29, 1985 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-HOUSE 9741 that would be received under current law. than those proposed by the Senate Budget can budget than under the budget plan This reduction would cost the average recip Committee. What's more, White House adopted last month by the Senate Budget ient $81 in fiscal year 1986, $198 in fiscal chief of staff Donald Regan has told the Committee. year 1987, and $314 in fiscal year 1988, ac press that it was he who suggested the The analysis is based on budget estimates cording to an analysis by the Center on three-year COLA cutback, and that he made from the Senate Budget Committee and the Budget and Policy Priorities. this proposal "on behalf of the President." Office of Management and Budget. By the time the three-year COLA reduc Incredibly, when asked by the press tion specified by the new budget compro whether the Democrats would "beat up on Social Security reductions mise is fully phased-in, it would cost benefi him" for breaking his campaign promises, The analysis reports that reductions in ciaries almost 50 percent more than the one the President responded, "Well, if they do Social Security benefits would, for 1988 and year COLA freeze originally approved by they'll be lying in their teeth." all succeeding years, be larger than those the Senate Budget Committee. By fiscal The following page contains examples of adopted in March by the Senate Budget year 1988, the one-year COLA freeze would some of the statements made last year by Committee. reduce benefits 3.9 percent below the levels President Reagan and )lis press secretary The Budget Committee proposal to freeze mandated by current law, compared to the pledging to preserve full Social Security Social Security cost-of-living adjustments 5. 7 percent benefit cut under the new Re benefits. for one year would reduce benefits by $8.1 publican plan. "I will never stand for a reduction of the billion in 1988 and subsequent years, the Impact on the poor Social Security benefits to the people that analysis notes. But while the new budget Of particular concern is the effect of the are now getting them ..."-President plan reduces benefits less than the Senate proposed COLA reduction on low-income Reagan, Presidential Debate, October 7, plan in 1986, by 1988 it represents a $12.1 beneficiaries, many of whom are heavily de 1984. billion a year reduction. pendent on income from Social Security and "The President will never stand for reduc "Over the course of time, beneficiaries related programs. For example, CBO esti tion of Social Security benefits for any would lose substantially more under this mates that Social Security