19058 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS July 8, 1987 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS GAO REPORT COMPARES CATA­ dates as well. For me, the "acid test" for my tration CV A>. which provides care through STROPHIC HEALTH INSURANCE supporting any. Presidential candidate next its hospitals, outpatient clinics, and VA-op­ PROPOSALS year is whether or not that candidate is firmly erated and community nursing homes. In committed to protecting the 37 million Ameri­ 1984, Medicaid paid about 13 percent of the elderly's health care bills; VA paid about 3 HON. EDWARD R. ROYBAL cans who are uninsured and the 200 million percent. OF CALIFORNIA who are underinsured for long-term care. Even with government programs, the el­ IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES GAO's report "pours fuel on the fire" which derly face high out-of-pocket health care is building under the Congress and the admin­ costs. According to a December 1986 report Wednesday, July 8, 1987 istration to enact a full catastrophic health ini­ sponsored by the American Association of Mr. ROYBAL. Mr. Speaker, I want to take tiative with full protection for Americans who Retired Persons, 1 married couples over age this opportunity to make you aware of a new are poor and who need long term care. How­ 65 averaged about $3,000 in out-of-pocket General Accounting Office [GAO] report which ever, much work remains to be done before health care costs in 1986. I released this past Monday. This GAO report will enact such a full scale initiative. In November 1986, the Secretary of deserves your careful consideration because Based on this careful assessment by the Health and Human Services reported 2 to the President on cata­ it, for the first time, critically compares the cat­ nonpartisan GAO, few of the current congres­ strophic illness expenses. Subsequently, the astrophic health insurance proposals before sional proposals, with the notable exception of administration submitted a proposal to the the Congress. my U.S. health legislation (H.R. 200), provide Congress, and others have introduced bills At the same time, I also want to take this the full measure of protection and truly give to relieve the elderly from the burden of opportunity to declare my strong support for peace of mind to Americans of all ages. I be­ catastrophic health care expenses. the compromise catastrophic health insurance lieve the "Bipartisan Commission on Compre­ METHODOLOGY proposal which has been worked out among hensive Care," included in the House propos­ To determine the potential effect of the the Committees on Ways and Means, Energy al, will provide the impetus for next year's various legislative proposals on Medicare and Commerce, and Aging and the Speaker congressional action in this direction. beneficiaries' out-of-pocket health care ex­ and which will be coming before the House Again I encourage you to examine the GAO penses, we <1> reviewed GAO and other re­ shortly. report closely over the next few months with ports to identify the types and amounts of The insightful and timely report by the non­ an eye to the broader catastrophic problems out-of-pocket expenses incurred by elderly, <2> reviewed Medicare law and regulations partisan General Accounting Office points out of the under and uninsured. In addition, I to determine beneficiaries' out-of-pocket li­ the real catastrophic problems facing over 30 strongly encourage you to support the com­ ability for covered services, (3) reviewed million older and disabled Americans-the promise catastrophic health insurance bill minimum coverage requirements for Medi­ high costs of noncovered services including which will be coming before the House short­ gap policies to determine how they affect long-term care and prescription drugs. The ly. out-of-pocket costs, <4> analyzed 14 cata­ key finding is that virtually all of the current Mr. Speaker, I would like to enter into the strophic coverage bills introduced during House and Senate catastrophic health insur­ RECORD the transmittal letter from the GAO the lOOth Congress to determine how they ance bills have shortcomings when it comes briefing report, "Comparison of Catastrophic would address the major types of cata­ Health Insurance Proposals": strophic health care costs the elderly incur, to providing full catastrophic protection. and <5> compared the financing mechanisms However, nothing in GAO's report forces U.S. GENERAL ACCOUNTING OFFICE, HUMAN RESOURCES DIVISION, of those bills. me to pull back from the current House com­ RESULTS IN BRIEF promise which I strongly support and which I Washington, DC, June 19, 1987. B-226390. The catastrophic health insurance bills we will work hard to get approved by the House Hon. EDWARD R. ROYBAL, reviewed either place an upper limit on ben­ and Senate. By adding prescription drug and Chainnan, Select Committee on Aging, eficiary liability for Medicare deductibles respite coverage to Medicare, making other House of Representatives. and coinsurance or attempt to provide pro­ needed Medicare reforms and providing in­ DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: This briefing report tection against some of the costs of services creased protection to elderly Medicaid benefi­ responds to your January 22, 1987, request not currently covered by Medicare, such as ciaries, the House is prepared to take a criti­ concerning catastrophic health expenses long-term care and prescription drugs. The cal first step and has ensured the support of and their effect on American families. As major effect of the first approach, which is myself and the major aging organizations. My agreed with your office, this report focuses adopted in both the House Committee on on legislative proposals to provide cata­ Ways and Means and Senate Committee on immediate fear is that the Senate might fur­ strophic coverage to Medicare beneficiaries. Finance approved bills, would be to make ther water down the House catastrophic pro­ A future report will discuss the catastrophic unnecessary a number of the coverage items posal which is already a compromise position. health expenses of those under age 65. in existing Medigap policies purchased by As stated in the GAO report, most of the BACKGROUND the elderly from private insurers. Benefici­ catastrophic health insurance proposals Public programs financed two-thirds of aries, including lower income individuals "would leave the elderly at risk of high out-of­ the elderly's estimated $120 billion in per­ who may not be able to afford Medigap pre­ pocket costs because they- sonal health care expenditures in 1984. miums, would pay increased part B premi­ Provide only limited protection for nursing Medicare, which provides health insurance ums. Medicare beneficiaries' income taxes home and home health care for chronic condi­ benefits for most individuals age 65 and would also be increased to finance the new older, pays about half of the elderly's total coverage. According to the Congressional tions, the major source of out-of-pocket ex­ health care bill. Implemented in 1966 under Budget Office, both bills would be budget penses; title XVIII of the Social Security Act, Medi­ neutral, and benefit costs paid out would Exclude-coverage of-out-of-pocket ex­ care comprises the Hospital Insurance Pro­ range from $21.6 to $26.6 billion over the penditures for physician charges above the gram (part A> and Supplementary Medical next 5 years. The Budget Office has not es­ Medicare-approved payment; and Insurance Program (part B>. Medicare has a timated the additional costs of the other Exclude-coverage of-out-of-pocket ex­ uniform eligibility and benefit structure and bills that would expand services. penditures for services not covered by Medi­ makes protection available without regard to income or assets. care." Other major government sources of funds ' ICF Incorporated, Medicaid's Role in Financing As for the next step in providing full cata­ for the elderly's personal health care are the Health Care of Older Women, December 1986, p. strophic health insurance protection, GAO's 36. Medicaid, a federal/state program of medi­ 2 Department of Health and Human Services, report lays out a clear challenge-not only for cal assistance to certain categories of low­ Catastrophic lllness Expenses, Washington, D.C., the Congress but for the Presidential candi- income persons, and the Veterans Adminis- November 1986.

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. July 8, 1987 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS 19059 Most of the proposals would essentially taxpayers, and are intended to be budget than 100 years, the legislative branch has apply catastrophic dollar limits only to phy­ neutral. been invested with full and comprehensive sician services and hospital care, which ac­ As requested by your office, we did not legal authority over the conduct of Govern­ count for about 27 percent of the out-of­ obtain agency comments on this briefing pocket costs incurred by the elderly. report. Unless you publicly announce its ment Printing and, pursuant to that authority, Most of the proposals would leave the el­ contents earlier, we plan no further distri­ since 1919 the law has required that all Fed­ derly at risk of high out-of-pocket costs be­ bution until 30 days from the report's issue eral printing be performed by the Government cause they date. At that time, we will send copies to Printing Office unless the Joint Committee on Provide limited protection for nursing other congressional committees having ju­ Printing or an act of Congress specifically au­ home and home health care for chronic con­ risdiction over the matters discussed in the thorizes otherwise. The benefits of this re­ ditions, the major source of out-of-pocket report, the Secretary of Health and Human quirement as it has been implemented over expenses; Services, and other interested parties. the last 68 years have been invaluable: it has Exclude out-of-pocket expenditures for If you have any questions, please call me physician charges above the Medicare-ap­ on 275-6195. rid Government printing of the corruption with proved payment; and Sincerely yours, which it was once plagued, assured that print­ Exclude out-of-pocket expenditures for MICHAEL ZIMMERMAN, ing is carried out as economically and effi­ services not covered by Medicare. Senior Associate Director. ciently as possible, provided universal public Because Medicare provides only minimal access to Government publications through coverage of long-term care services for the the GPO-administered depository library chronically ill elderly, those needing such A NEW ATrACK ON THE RIGHT system, and given Congress the powerful care would continue to be at risk for poten­ TO KNOW oversight tool it needs to preserve the free tial annual out-of-pocket costs for nursing home care . OF NEW YORK gance, the administration has declared this Medigap policies primarily cover only the IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES longstanding legal requirement null and void in deductibles and coinsurance for Medicare­ Wednesday, July 8, 1987 its newly-issued Federal Acquisition Circular covered services rather than expand cover­ 84-25. No longer are Federal agencies re­ age to other services; therefore, neither Mr. OWENS of New York. Mr. Speaker, as quired to use GPO for their printing; it can they nor most of the catastrophic proposals the Iran-Contra hearings have proceeded over now be done anywhere by anyone. And no would relieve the elderly from out-of-pocket the last several weeks, they have painted a costs for services not covered by Medicare. longer does the Joint Committee on Printing dark portrait of an administration poisoned by have any supervisory authority over the con­ In addition, the elderly who incur such costs imperial pretensions, obsessed with working for noncovered services cannot apply them duct of Government printing. Its role in the de­ toward the catastrophic limits under the its will over the objections of the Congress cisionmaking process has been obliterated, its propo8ed bills. and the American people. And while Presiden­ power and authority usurped by-who else?­ According to the Bowen report, of the es­ tial partisans have sought to represent Contra­ OMB. timated 7 million beneficiaries who incurred gate and the mindset which spawned it as an The serious and far-reaching implications of from $2,000 to $4,999 in out-of-pocket costs aberration, it is not; it is the norm. The II Duce these regulations must be viewed with not for Medicare-covered services in 1983, 32.4 mentality which created this scandal infects merely concern but alarm by all Americans percent of those costs were for physician not merely the administration's foreign policy, charges above the Medicare-approved rate. who value the right to know. The organization but its handling of many other realms of public OMB Watch has prepared an insightful analy­ Similarly, of the estimated 1 million benefi­ policy as well. ciaries incurring $5,000 or more in out-of­ sis of the FAR amendments and what they pocket costs for Medicare-covered services, A typical but little-noticed example of the will mean if they are permitted to stand. I urge 21.9 percent of those costs were for physi­ Reagan administration's discomfort with de­ my colleagues to review the OMB Watch cian charges above the Medicare-approved mocracy is the war it has been waging­ report and join me in opposing this latest ad­ rate. Most of the catastrophic proposals mostly successfully-on the American peo­ ministration assault on the right to know: would not relieve Medicare beneficiaries of ple's right to know. Under the false guise of these out-of-pocket costs. Although the ma­ promoting greater efficiency, control over the NEW RULES 'THREATEN GOVERNMENT jority of Medicare beneficiaries have Medi­ flow of information in and out of Government PuBLICATIONS gap policies to pay the coinsurance for part has been centralized to an unprecedented [Prepared June 12, 19871 B services, Medigap policies generally will New government-wide procurement regu­ not pay for charges above the Medicare-ap­ and dangerous degree at a single agency­ the Office of Management and Budget [OMB]. lations to be implemented July 1 will dra­ proved rate. matically alter government printing oper­ Of the 14 proposals we reviewed, 9 would Apparently taking to heart James Madison's ations. They will: establish a catastrophic limit above which maxim that "knowledge will forever govern ig­ Undermine congressional oversight of ex­ the beneficiary would no longer be liable for norance," OMB has used its sweeping powers ecutive branch printing; Medicare deductibles and coinsurance. This to dramatically scale back access by the Reduce the role of the Government Print­ is the standard method of providing cata­ public to information by and about their Gov­ ing Office; strophic coverage in health insurance pro­ ernment-information which their tax dollars Increase OMB control of government in­ grams. Of course, having a fixed dollar cata­ paid for in the first place. Fully one-quarter of formation activities; strophic limit affects beneficiaries in differ­ Facilitate further privatization of execu­ ent ways; that is, lower income beneficiaries the Government's publications have been eliminated. Much of the information which re­ tive branch printing; and would have to spend a higher percentage of Restrict public access to government in­ their income on health care before they mains is now only available for exorbitant formation. reached the limit than would higher income fees. And in every Federal agency, at OMB's It is imperative that the regulations be beneficiaries. Both of the legislative propos­ insistence, vital information is increasingly not withdrawn. However, stopping the regula­ als approved by the House and Senate com­ being collected and produced at all. In shap­ tions is like putting a finger in the dike. mittees have financing mechanisms that Much more is needed. Congress must recog­ relate the amount beneficiaries pay for cat­ ing the Nation's information policy, OMB has adopted as its guiding principle the motto of nize the outmoded structure of the printing astrophic coverage to their incomes. laws in title 44 of the U.S. Code. Congress These bills, if enacted, would represent an Mark Twain's swaggering Hank Morgan: "Un­ limited power is the ideal thing when it is in should clarify its interest in effective over­ important step in increasing the health in­ sight of government printing and other in­ surance coverage available to the elderly, safe hands." formation dissemination activities and the but as discussed above, significant gaps will OMB's latest salvo against the right to know need to safeguard public access to govern­ remain. Providing further relief to those el­ comes in the form of new regulations issued ment information. derly who incur high out-of-pocket health without public comment by the Federal Acqui­ THE REGULATIONS care costs would obviously increase Medi­ sitions Secretariat on March 20, 1987, which care payments. The bills that would offer The new regulations are amendments to the Fed­ pose a variety of financing mechanisms to Joint Committee on Printing and the Govern­ eral Acquisition Regulation . They spread the costs of catastrophic illnesses ment Printing Office in decisionmaking con­ were published as a final rule in the Federal over either all Medicare beneficiaries or all cerning Government publications. For more Register on March 20, 1987 ; Among the various topics covered in the review of "commercial activities" that could Make government publications available final rule are sections governing "Acquisi­ be converted to the private sector, primarily for public sale (44 U.S.C. 1701, et seq.). tion of Printing and Related Supplies" on the basis of its Circular No. A-76. While Unfortunately, this does not bode well for Specificially required amples of both JCP and OMB actions illus­ cluded that the regulations would have a by law; or Cb> Necessary for the proper per­ trate what is at stake; significant impact on government printing formance of agency functions, provided that In the last fifteen or so years the Depart­ and "have no foundation in law." the latter do not duplicate similar products ment of Education, without JCP approval, The new regulations remove the require­ or services that are or would otherwise be gave over $7 million to a private company to ment that executive branch agencies obtain provided by other government or private publish approximately 1,800 agency manu­ approval of the congressional Joint Commit­ sector organizations; OMB Circular No. A- scripts. The company only published a few tee on Printing before conducting 130, "Management of Federal Information hundred. Because the company was given printing operations other than at the Gov­ Resources," section 8.a(9), December 12, copyrights to the manuscripts they are un­ ernment Printing Office . This regu­ 1985 <50 FR 52730, 12/24/85>, emphasis available to the public, even under the Free­ latory revision is based on a 1984 Depart­ added. 1 dom of Information Act. ment of Justice opinion that JCP approval Absent the JCP, there is no governmental In 1985 intervention of the JCP was neces­ is unconstitutional under the 1983 Supreme force to restrain the application of OMB's sary to ensure the legally required distribu­ Court decision in Immigration and Natural­ privatization imperative to government tion to the depository library system of ization Seroice v. Chaclha. printing operations. The issue, however, is appeal decisions of the U.S. Equal Employ­ not solely privatization. GPO has a track THE PROBLEMS WITH THE REGULATIONS ment Opportunity Commission, which were record of contracting work out to the pri­ to be printed by a private company; The JCP approval requirement is not just vate sector. The critical factor is OMB's ide­ Since 1981 OMB has directed federal a regulatory requirement. It is a statutory ological drive to privatize government activi­ agencies to review and eliminate unneces­ requirement set forth at 44 U.S.C. 501. It is ties regardless of its effect on government sary publications. While OMB claims this also part of the JCP's comprehensive over­ responsibilities. has saved millions of dollars, it has meant sight authority, which originated in the OMB's wholesale approach to privatiza­ the elimination, reduced distribution, and/ middle of the 19th century when Congress tion will virtually dismantle the government or increased sales cost of many public serv­ sought to protect government printing from information infrastructure. GPO will be ice publications, such as: the fraud, waste, and abuse that was ramp­ unable to plan its printing operations . Your Housing Rights; mandate has remained virtually unchanged And the ·reduction in operations will mean personnel lay-offs and less revenue to sup­ Health Resources Statistics; since 1919 when Congress required that it Housing and Urban Development Trends; approve all printing activities outside of port printing and distribution of congres­ sional and public service documents. Unemployment Rates for State and Local GPO. Governments; and The new regulations, if implemented, LOSS OF CONGRESSIONAL AND PUBLIC ACCESS TO Weekly Petroleum Status Report. would instruct executive branch agencies to INFORMATION In August 1986, OMB objected to a draft ignore those statutory requirements. The Privatization is an important issue be­ GAO report, which was critical of reduc­ JCP would lose its role in cause of its immediate impact on internal tions in agency program evaluation activi­ making decisions about executive branch government operations. Its proponents have ties and the reduced availability of evalua­ printing. Regardless of whether this is ulti­ argued that government needs to be scaled tive information for Congress and the mately necessary under Chaclha, it elimi­ back, particularly in this era of budget con­ public. Among other things, OMB said: nates the only functional mechanism for straints. Privatization, they argue, will save "The role of program evaluation, its uses, Congress to monitor executive branch print­ us money and help lower the deficit. target populations, and dissemination, is ing and related information dissemination These proponents, however, fail to make a limited in the Executive agencies." activities. persuasive argument on two counts. There The primary responsibility of agency pro­ According to the Congressional Research is no documentation that privatization saves money over the long­ sion-making, not to produce program eval­ "The proposed revision of the FAR would run. It simply has not been shown to be uation information for the public and Con­ appear ... to go beyond simply conforming cost-effective. gress. the regulatory scheme to the constitutional Second, the true test of privatization is Of increased evaluation requirements strictures announced by the Chaclha Court. the ultimate impact on carrying out govern­ from Congress, OMB said, "The proposal Rather, the new FAR would not only elimi­ ment responsibilities. As applied to informa­ that this decision be imposed from without nate JCP's supervisory role and veto power, tion activities, the past few years have is objectionable• • •." it would also divest GPO of any role in shown that privatization has become little It is clear that without some kind of con­ printing decisionmaking, allowing the indi­ more than an euphemism for eliminating gressional oversight mechanism OMB's su­ vidual agency • • • to decide where and publications and controlling the dissemina­ pervision of executive branch information how printing shall be accomplished." tion of those that are published. activities will lead to less information for Of course, individual agencies do not con­ Without JCP supervision of executive Congress, as well as the public. trol their own printing. Agency information branch printing, Congress will be unable to activities are already supervised by the assure itself that in fact government infor­ White House Office of Management and mation is being disseminated as it intends. Budget COMB). Without a role for the JCP, A TRIBUTE TO FATHER HENRY Without the JCP, Congress and the public FABRIZIO OMB will be free to direct agencies as it will have to rely on OMB to ensure that wishes. agencies, whether they use GPO, their own OMB'S FREE HAND facilities, or private printers; HON. JAMES A. TRAFICANT, JR. The primary consequence of the new reg­ Disseminate specific information as may OF OHIO ulations and OMB's pre-eminence will be be required by law; further privatization of government print­ IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ing activities. While the federal government 1 OMB is considering integrating the review re­ Wednesday, July 8, 198 7 has long had a policy of avoiding unneces­ quirements of its Circular No. A-3, "Government Mr. TRAFICANT. Mr. Speaker, today I rise sary competition with the private sector, Publications," with Circular No. A-130. This would the presumption towards privatization has result in a more comprehensive policy and review in order to pay tribute to Father Henry Fabri­ only emerged as a priority of the Reagan scheme for information dissemination activities. zio, a very special resident of my 17th Con- July 8, 1987 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS 19061 gressional District. He will be honored by the bassy in Panama was attacked and badly day to protest the Panamanian govern­ people of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church damaged, and that parts of that facility are ment's involvement in demonstrations at in Youngstown, OH, on July 18, 1987, for his now closed. I am dismayed that an ally of the the embassy Tuesday. allowed its own officials to join State Department spokesman Charles E. numerous years of outstanding service as Redman said the United States protested their pastor and for his sponsorship of the first in that demonstration and failed to provide "in the strongest possible terms" demon­ Mount Carmel Feast Day Dinner. It is with adequate protection for that facility. I strongly strations by about 5,000 people, including deep humility and pride that I rise on the floor encourage the Department of State to protest high-ranking Panamanian officials and po­ of the U.S. House of Representatives to the unprovoked attack of the United States litical supporters of Noriega. salute this devout man of God. Embassy facilities in Panama which endan­ The incident "will have a significant and Father Fabrizo was born in Wilburton, OK, gered United States personnel. negative impact on relations between the in October 1921 to Samuel and Pepina (Mas­ Initial reports reveal that nearly 5,000 Pana­ United States and Panama," Redman said. saro) Fabrizio. He graduated from Ursuline manians, to include high-ranking Panamanian The protest was the latest in a sequence High School in Youngstown and studied at St. officials and supporters of President Noriega, of events this week that has pushed the ad­ Charles College in Maryland and St. Mary's ministration away from professions of neu­ stoned and severely damaged the United trality in the political crisis gripping Seminary in Cleveland. One of the proudest States Consulate and the United States Infor­ Panama. moments of his life occurred on April 29, mation Service Library in that city. The Pana­ Instead, the administration has started 1950, when he was ordained into the priest­ manian Government officials present at the making unmistakably clear its previously hood in Youngstown. After serving as an as­ demonstration reportedly included Panamani­ private view that the 20,000-member Pana­ sistant pastor in countless parishes, Father an legislators and three cabinet officials. Al­ manian Defense Forces should defuse the Fabrizio assumed the awesome duties of the though the police assigned to protect those situation by removing Noriega, whose politi­ pastorship of Our Lady of Mount Carmel American facilities were nearby, they quickly cal control of the country has been protest­ Church on September 29, 1961. left the scene when the demonstration began. ed violently by students and political dissi­ dents. Father Fabrizio's years at the helm saw That Government-backed demonstration is countless accomplishments and astounding The strongest U.S. signal was sent Tues­ a clear violation of the Vienna Convention on day night in a speech to the Washington improvements at Mount Carmel. Father Fabri­ Diplomatic Relations which requires that a World Affairs Council by Elliott Abrams, as­ zio vigorously shoved to completion the build­ host government provide adequate protection sistant secretary of state for inter-American ing of a stately rectory and enormous social to foreign diplomatic missions located in that affairs. After repeating the U.S. position of hall in 1963. He saw to it that the social hall country. It is clearly the obligation of the Pan­ neutrality and asserting that "Panama's so­ contained many classrooms so that his parish­ amanian Government to ensure that foreign lutions must be home-grown," Abrams ioners could increase their understanding of missions in that country receive adequate pro­ added: both their Roman Catholic faith and of their tection to avoid incidents of a violent nature "The old complacency inside and outside cultural heritage as Italian-Americans. In 1971, of Panama over the inevitable dominance of which might cause both property and bodily the Panamanian Defense Forces in the na­ Father Fabrizio added a beautiful and inspiring damage to diplomatic missions and their per­ shrine garden in honor of St. Anthony to me­ tion's politics is gone . . . . Military leaders sonnel. must remove their institution from politics, morialize the deceased members of Mount It is incomprehensible that the Panamanian end any appearance of corruption and mod­ Carmel. Government would allow its own officials to ernize their forces to carry out their large He has also devoted many exhaustive orchestrate and actually participate in a vio­ and important military tasks in defense of hours to ass.sting an array of community orga­ lent demonstration which caused such exten­ the [Panama] canal." nizations. Father Fabrizio has served as the sive damage. Fortunately, the consular staff Although Abrams mentioned no names, chaplain of both Post No. 3 Veterans and the and library personnel were not injured. his remark was certain to be interpreted in Panama as a reference to Noriega, dogged Mahoning County Sheriff's Department, and I urge the Department of State to demand serves as a judge on the Tribunal Court of the for years by persistent charges of involve­ reparations from the Panamanian Government ment in murder, drug activities, electoral Diocese of Youngstown. In addition, he has for the serious damages to official United been the moderator of the Mahoning County fraud and intelligence dealings with Cuban States property in that country. I commend President Fidel Castro that are inimical to of Catholic Nurses, the County Council of the Secretary of State for having called in the U.S. security interests. Catholic Women, and several youth groups. Panamanian Ambassador in order to present According to U.S. officials, Abrams' re­ Under Father Fabrizio's tireless leadership him with a firm diplomatic note of protest. marks were intended to suggest to the Pana­ and vitality, Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church While I have commended the Panamanian manian officer corps that Noriega's notorie­ became a central figure in the Mahoning Val­ Government in the past for its cooperation ty has become a liability threatening to un­ ley's religious life. Unfortunately, illness forced dermine the Defense Forces' authority and with the United States in the war against ability to control events within Panama. Father Fabrizio to retire from the active minis­ drugs, I am deeply disappointed by that Gov­ try soon after the completion of the St. Antho­ The aim, some U.S. officials said, is to per­ ernment's involvement in this unfortunate inci­ ny garden shrine. However, hundreds of suade the Defense Forces that their only dent. Violent attacks of this nature only further Mount Carmel parishioners have had their hope of retaining the image of a benign big heighten the tension between our two nations brother, which they have sought for years spiritual lives greatly enriched by Father Fabri­ and stand in the way of improving our relation­ to cultivate within Panama, depends on get­ zio, and all are impatiently looking forward to ship with that nearby ally. This sad incident re­ ting rid of Noriega, focus of violent demon­ honoring him on July 18, 1987. Thus, it is with inforces my belief that Panama should return strations that have rocked the country for thanks and special pleasure that I join with the three weeks. people of the 17th Congressional District in to true civilian government while the army re­ But, they acknowledged, it is unclear recognizing the amazing accomplishments turns to the barracks, and extracts itself from whether the situation will be seen in these and truly admirable character of Father Henry politics. Only then will true peace and tranquil­ terms by a military establishment loyal to ity return to Panama. Fabrizio. Noriega since he became its commander in With these comments in mind, I commend 1983. the following Washington Post article on the Since then, he has used his military clout THE PANAMANIAN GOVERN- embassy attack to my colleagues in the Con­ to exert undisguised control over the civil­ MENT MUST PROTECT, NOT gress. ian government, including President Eric ATTACK, THE AMERICAN EM­ CFrom the Washington Post, July 2, 19871 Arturo Delvalle, and gain considerable influ­ BASSY IN PANAMA ence in Panamanian political and media cir­ U.S. PARTIALLY CLOSES MISSION TO cles. Nicholas Ardito-Barletta, hand-picked PANAMA-GOVERNMENT'S ROLE IN UNREST in 1984 by the military to be Panama's civil­ HON. WM. S. BROOMFIELD PROTESTED ian elected president, was forced to resign OF MICHIGAN by Noriega in 1985. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES The Reagan administration, moving closer "There is a great danger that the beast, Wednesday, July 8, 1987 to open confrontation with Panama's mili­ when cornered, will try to fight its way out tary strongman, Gen. Manuel Antonio Nor­ with appeals to the strong leftist and anti­ Mr. BROOMFIELD. Mr. Speaker, I was iega, closed the consular section and library American sentiments in Panama," one offi­ shocked to learn that the United States Em- of the U.S. Embassy in Panama City yester- cial said. 19062 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS July 8, 1987 This official noted that Noriega sought, Voice of America broadcasts, a Soviet commitment to support this vital organiza­ almost at the start of the current unrest, to spokesman took the occasion to denounce tion, which is little appreciated in the West "play the leftist card" by falling back on his Radio Free Europe and Radio Liberty, for yet highly valued by millions in the East. close ties to Cuba and Nicaragua. which it has intensified Jamming efforts. The Cuban press strongly supported him, "They are relics of the cold war," he said, and Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega making it clear that would not stop TWO HUNDRED YEARS AGO AT visited Panama to praise "brave and decisive Jamming the stations. He thus admitted THE CONSTITUTIONAL CON­ actions" taken against anti-Noriega dissi­ that Moscow engages in acts that violate VENTION (JULY 5) dents. treaties Moscow has signed. There are increasing signs that Noriega At a time when the is in may be introducing the potentially potent flux; when glasnost is attracting attention HON. PHILIP R. SHARP weapon of anti-Americanism, seeking to worldwide and when tension between the OF INDIANA identify U.S. actions as a threat to the De­ superpowers remains high, it would be folly fense Forces and as a U.S. attempt to renege for us to retire from international debate. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES on Panama Canal treaties. The pacts call Fifty million listeners rely on Radio Free Wednesday, July 8, 1987 for Panama to take full control of the canal Europe and Radio Liberty as the major in the year 2000. source of news about their countries. Mr. SHARP. Mr. Speaker, on July 5, 1787, Abrams sought in his speech to head off Congress should resist attempts to cut the delegates gathered to hear the report of charges of U.S. duplicity over the canal by funding for the radios in order to reduce the the special committee which had been orga­ declaring that the treaties "are in no way Federal budget deficit. nized earlier in the week to break a deadlock affected" by current political events in Radio Free Europe and Radio Liberty over how States would be represented in the Panama. were established in the early 1950's to pro­ new Congress. He did not discuss concern expressed by vide the peoples of Eastern Europe and the some U.S. officials that Noriega might put The committee proposed that each State be Soviet Union with a source of detailed and allotted 1 Member of the House of Represent­ pressure on the U.S. Southern Command in balanced information about events in their Panama, whose bases there are used to help own countries, Radio Free Europe broad­ atives for every 40,000 free citizens plus support U.S. military activities against left­ casts to Eastern Europe and Radio Liberty three-fifths for each slave and that each State ist guerrillas elsewhere in Central America. to the Soviet Union. In 1972, the Munich­ be allocated an equal number of Members in This use contradicts restrictions stipulated based radio stations were merged and placed the Senate. by the Canal treaties. under the Board for International Broad­ Virginia's James Madison was among those Last Friday, the U.S. Senate, turning aside casting. still not satisfied: "I conceive that the Conven­ administration pleas for a low profile, called Unlike other Western broadcasters, these on the Panamanian government to oust tion is reduced to the alternative of either de­ two stations focus on internal events in parting from justice in order to conciliate the Noriega and investigate murder and elector­ Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union. They al fraud charges leveled against him. have the unique mission of providing surro­ smaller States and the minority of the people On Monday, Panama's National Assembly gate "home services" for the people of the or of displeasing them by justly gratifying the responded with a demand for expulsion of Soviet bloc. The Soviet leaders will grudg­ larger States and the majority of the people. I U.S. Ambassador Arthur H. Davis, Jr. Then ingly tolerate Western broadcasts on world cannot myself hesitate as to the option I came the demonstrations Tuesday that events or life in the West. But what they ought make." Redman said caused "significant damage to fear most-and have steadfastly refused to U.S. diplomatic property" and "put U.S. dip­ accept-is Radio Free Europe and Radio lomatic personnel at risk." Liberty providing their people with informa­ JAPAN'S "TECHNOPOLIS" PLAN Redman said the United States found "to­ tion about developments at home. tally unacceptable" the withdrawal of Pana­ For decades, the Soviet Union has con­ manian police protection from the embassy ducted an intense propaganda campaign HON. VIN WEBER before the rock-throwing demonstrations against these broadcasts. They have been OF MINNESOTA began with the participation of Panamanian denounced as "instruments of the C.I.A.," IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES cabinet officers and leaders of the ruling po­ "subversive radio stations" and as "a relic of litical party. the cold war." Soviet bitterness about the Wednesday, July 8, 1987 "stations" role has sometimes left the im­ Mr. WEBER. Mr. Speaker, many economic PROTECT RFE/RL pression in the West that the stations must observers have marveled at Japan's ability to be particularly strident and "propagandis­ achieve remarkable economic success tic." HON. ROBERT GARCIA In fact, they are among the most careful through careful and forward-looking planning. OF NEW YORK of Western radio stations, adhering to the One of Japan's latest efforts to prepare for IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES strictest standards of journalistic objectivity the future lies in their "technopolis" plan. This and balance. The stations have enormous is a plan begun in 1980 by the Ministry of Wednesday, July 8, 1987 appeal in Eastern Europe and the Soviet International Trade and Industry to build 20 Mr. GARCIA. Mr. Speaker, the July 5 edition Union. In many countries, Radio Free high-technology cities. Comparable to our Sili­ of the New York Times contained a fine essay Europe enjoys an influence and stature con Valley, these cities are being constructed by writer James Michener on the importance hard to comprehend in the media-saturated to maintain and expand Japan's position as a West. of Radio Free Europe and Radio Liberty as a testified that Radio Lib­ leader in high-technology research, develop­ source of information for the people of the erty gave hope to the dissident movement in ment, and production. Soviet Union and its Eastern bloc allies. the Soviet Union during its most desperate As we consider our own strategies for com­ As Chairman of the North Atlantic Assem­ hours. Jerzy Urban, the Polish Government peting effectively in the economy of the future, bly's Civilian Affairs Committee I have come to spokesman, has stated, "If you would close we need to study Japan's technopolis plan. appreciate the importance of the two radios down Radio Free Europe, the underground Consequently, I commend to my colleagues as lifeline between East and West. They are [Solidarity] would cease to exist." Zbigniew the following article by Otto Silha, who chairs not, as Mr. Michener so aptly points out, Brzezinski has called the broadcasts "the the Innovative City Project Steering Commit­ most important and perhaps least recog­ "relics from the cold war." They are, instead, nized service that America has rendered tee. He provides some background on this "mainstream instruments of American foreign over the years to the preservation of a Euro­ novel and far-reaching approach to economic policy." I believe we ought to support RFE/RL pean in Eastern Europe." development and identifies ways in which we with renewed enthusiasm, particularly in light Radio Free Europe and Radio Liberty are might profit from this Japanese initiative. of increased Soviet jamming, showing the no more a relic of the cold war than is the CFrom the Minneapolis Star and Tribune, East the true meaning of glasnost. Atlantic alliance. Both are important main­ Jan. 13, 19871 stream instruments of American foreign I am submitting Mr. Michener's article to the JAPAN'S "TECHNOPOLIS" PROGRAM MAY GIVE RECORD for my colleagues' perusal: policy. But the Soviet Government's monop­ oly on information, denial of a free press AMERICANS A MUCH-NEEDED HIGH-TECH JOLT KEEP THE RADIOS BROADCASTING TO THE EAST and total control of all media are relics of the Dark Ages. The most appropriate re­ Japan's Technopolis Concept-an ambi­ WASHINGTON.-When Moscow announced sponse to Moscow's increased Jamming of tious plan to build more than 20 new high­ recently th&.t it would stop its jamming of these broadcasts would be a clear national tech cities-may prove to have the same July 8, 1987 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS 19063 effect on United States urban growth and marketing subsidies of competitive products. and business programs. These should even­ development that the Soviet Sputnik had This kind of stimulation has helped to tually be expanded in Asian business librar­ on the U.S. space program. produce 11 major automobile manufacturers ies to include all Pacific Rim nations." The project was launched in 1980 under compared to only four in the United States. "Organize Pacific Rim networks in our the guidance of the Ministry of Internation­ But the Technopolis Concept seems likely companies, which have many engineers and al Trade and Industry

91-059 0-89-22 (Pt. 14) 19078 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS July 8, 1987 most concise, powerful and advanced scientif­ The bill reauthorizes the Federal Trade DISINCENTIVES ARE NEEDED To DISCOURAGE ic research instrument in the world. The bene­ Commission for 3 years. The bill also includes CORPORATE RAIDERS fits of an investment such as this will not a number of substantive changes-as well as