Extensions of Remarks 20139 Extensions of Remarks
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August 5, 1994 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS 20139 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS DONATION OF PAY COLA A TRIBUTE TO JOHN L. KENNEDY ACCESS TO MEDICAL TREATMENT ACT HON. WIWAM F. GOODLING HON. EARL F. HIWARD HON. FRANK PALLONE, JR. OF PENNSYLVANIA OF ALABAMA OF NEW JERSEY IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Friday, August 5, 1994 Friday, August 5, 1994 Friday, August 5, ·1994 Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, during the coming weeks the health reform debate will Mr. GOODLING. Mr. Speaker, shortly after Mr. HILLIARD. Mr. Speaker, I submit the fol move on to the House floor and we will be the 103d Congress convened, I announced lowing statement in honor of the distinguished faced with decisions that will have resounding that I would not accept the cost-of-living-ad life and legal contributions of the late attorney consequences for all Americans. In this his justment [COLA] provided to Members of Con John L. Kennedy. gress elected to the 103d Congress that went toric process we cannot lose sight of who we John L. Kennedy was a 1964 graduate of into effect January 1, 1993. I state that instead came here to serve-the people. What I have heard loud and clear from my of accepting the pay raise, I would donate the Morehouse College and a 1969 graduate of constituents is that they want freedom of amount of that COLA to individual volunteers the Harvard University School of Law. He pur choice in health care. Mr. Speaker, whatever in my congressional district. sued an impressive legal career for 25 years in his native home of Atlanta, GA. reform we enact, must guarantee all Ameri In the past, I also gave away any increases cans the freedom to choose not only their doc Attorney Kennedy was one of the first Afri in salary effective during a sitting Congress. I tor but also the form of treatment they want to can-American attorneys hired as an associate believe salary increases should only take ef pursue. Hundreds of my constituents have by a large Atlanta firm, Alston, Miller & fect after an intervening election. I donated written to me, stopped me on the street, or Gaines. After having served 2 years with this those increases to local organizations in sup spoken to me at town meetings about their de firm, he established his own law firm in 1971, port of literacy programs, home heating assist sire to seek alternative health treatments. ance and for other charitable purposes. which was named Kennedy, Bussey & Samp Many of my constituents seek chiropractic son. Kennedy later became a founding partner Even though the 1993 COLA was an care or see a nutritional specialist and no re of Thomas, Kennedy, Sampson & Petterson, nounced before the 1992 election and took ef form that we enact should infringe on their which soon prospered and became one of fect afterward, I did not think the 102d Con right to pursue this type of care. That is why America's largest and most successful African gress, as a whole, earned a salary increase. I have cosponsored the Access to Medical American law firms. I contacted the House Sergeant at Arms and Treatment Act (H.R. 4696). The bill gives indi was informed, however, that I was required to Attorney Kennedy was the managing part viduals the right to obtain alternative treat accept the salary increase. I also explored the ner of 14 lawyers. He was "a lawyer's lawyer", ments that have not been approved by the option of returning the funds to the Depart and a pioneer in the legal profession for Afri FDA from licensed professionals, such as ment of the Treasury. There was no guarantee can-American attorneys. John Kennedy's spe medical doctors, chiropractors, osteopaths, or that it would be used to reduce the deficit and ciality was commercial and residential real es naturopaths. Currently, many practitioners who as long as we have a deficit, it certainly could tate closings and general corporate work. recommend or perform unapproved, non harmful therapies may face the loss of their li not be counted toward retirement of the na Kennedy's law firm of Thomas, Kennedy, censes or worse. tional debt. Therefore, any amount returned to Sampson & Patterson was recognized in Au H.R. 4696 is not intended to strip the FDA the Department of the Treasury would simply gust 1993 by Black Enterprise magazine as of its authority to regulate the safety and effi go into the general fund, and quite possibly one of the leading minority firms in the coun cacy of most drugs in the country. The bill's would be spent in another Member's congres try. Attorney John L. Kennedy shall long be re sional district. purpose is to allow increased opportunities for membered as a mentor to many minority law the trial of alternative, non-FDA approved Consequently, I decided to donate the yers in Atlanta, GA. treatments that may generate effective new COLA to people in my own congressional dis Kennedy was a former member of the Geor approaches to treating illness, and to increase trict. I chose to give the money to individual gia Board of Public Safety; a former deputy access to alternative, nonharmful therapies. volunteers who truly make a difference in the assistant State attorney general; a member of The FDA would remain solely responsible lives of those in need. I requested nominations the Board of Directors of the Federal Public for maintaining the safety and efficacy of for deserving individuals and was very heart Defender Program; and he also served on the drugs, and the bill would require full disclosure ened by the tremendous response I received. board of Mutual Federal Savings & Loan As to patients of the contents and possible side There are many fine individuals in the 19th sociation of Atlanta. He was named "Man of effects of treatments. Also, the strict claims district whose compassionate deeds often go the Year in Law" by Morehouse College in section of the bill mandates that patients are unnoticed and this was one way to provide a 1992. He served as president of the Gate City notified that the drug or treatment has not degree of recognition to these caring and Bar Association in 1975. been proven safe or efficacious by the Federal committed individuals. Government. The medical treatment also must John L. Kennedy is survived by his loving As of the end of July 1994, I had exceeded have no evidence of causing an adverse im wife and daughter, Brenda Kennedy and the amount I had pledged to give for the 103d pact on an individual's health. If a treatment is Carol, as well as by his brother, attorney Mel Congress. I have sent checks to 66 individ found to be harmful, it must be reported to the vin Kennedy of Oakland, CA. uals, charitable organizations or charitable Secretary of Health and Human Services and causes in the 19th Congressional District. I Had John lived, he would have celebrated it cannot be used again. greatly appreciate the interest and assistance his 30th year class reunion with fellow class Many in the traditional medical community in this endeavor by the citizens in south mates of Morehouse College on May 20, and in the FDA have peen slow to recognize central Pennsylvania and I hope it provided 1994. John will be greatly missed, however, the beneficial effects of some alternative treat some deserved recognition for dedicated vol the legacy he leaves behind shall preserve an ments, such as acupuncture, naturopathy, or unteers as well as some assistance for worthy indelible impression for all of us who came to nutrition therapy. Some have even gone as far causes and needy individuals. know him. as too characterize anything nontraditional as e This "bullet" symbol identifies statements or insertions which are not spoken by a Member of the Senate on the floor. Matter set in this typeface indicates words inserted or appended, rather than spoken, by a Member of the House on the floor. 20140 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS August 5, 1994 "quackery." I firmly believe that especially in physicians in the city of Boston, will officially such as transportation, power generation, and cases where traditional medicine has shown to form a union and merge. heating and cooling. It can be essentially envi be ineffective, patients should have access to Drs. Kanter and Sutton have recognized the ronmentally benign. alternative treatments. long-term strategic value of a fully integrated Fusion is a long-term development program As our country becomes more health con healthcare delivery system because it results which we hope will have its impact on com scious and more individuals take an active in lower costs from combined buying power mercial power production four or five decades role preserving their good health, we cannot and from the reduction in overhead due to the ahead. Part of the United States program for afford to deny people access to safe and ef sharing of services. fusion development will be an international fective health care. Mr. Speaker, I fully support Even though they are both highly trained collaborative effort, including Europe, Japan, this legislation and hope we do not take a step specialists, they recognize the need for engag and Russia, to make fusion power a reality. backward when it comes to using legitimate ing in family practices which by their nature The scientific and technical challenges are im treatments that have existed for thousands of tend to serve the community through the cre mense, and the road will be long and hard; years.