February 1, 1996 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H 1207 By March 1, this country will default veterans payments, it keeps payments the Congressional Black Caucus, who on its debt, that is right, for the first to veterans, honors its obligations to during his tenure, elevated the Black time in 209 years, this country runs the contractors. What happened to the Caucus to a position of national promi- risk of defaulting on the national debt. country’s metal box? Why cannot that nence. Now, I might express, Mr. Speaker, be protected? KWEISI MFUME now takes on a new this is not debt, this is not voting to This Congress voted by a narrow challenge—to rebuild the NAACP and extend the debt ceiling so that you can margin to go home instead of making elevate its prominence. With this is borrow more for future spending. This sure that metal box was secure. The mind, I cannot be saddened by is depar- is simply acknowledging and paying fact of the matter is that failing to ture—there is too much to look for- the debts you have already incurred. If deal with the deficit or failing to deal ward to. you do not like future spending then with the debt ceiling, Mr. Speaker, f you do it the old-fashioned way, you failure to keep this country from going A HISTORICAL DATE legislate it so you do not have any into default now can only worsen the more. You cut the programs. This is deficit, because this country will have The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under honoring the country’s debt that it to pay more for the inevitable borrow- the Speaker’s announced policy of May owes. ing that is going to take place. 12, 1995, the gentleman from California The previous gentlemen talked about I voted against adjourning, Mr. [Mr. DORNAN] is recognized for 60 min- the farm bill. Yes, that is also in crisis, Speaker. This Congress needs to stay utes as the designee of the majority and, yes, the Congress ought to be here here until it gets this problem worked leader. working on it. out, until it gets the farm bill worked Mr. DORNAN. Mr. Speaker, I am sure But why is it not being brought up out we have got to preserve the credit glad that there is an outstanding mem- tonight? They provided the answers rating for the United States. ber of the freshman class and a friend themselves. It came out of committee The first time in 209 years it has real- and compadre in the chair. I like to on Tuesday. There are many of us, such ly gotten to this point. Does anyone feel good vibrations coming down on as myself, who are not on the Commit- really want to push the country to this the back of my neck from that lofty tee on Agriculture. The rules of the edge? high perch up there. House provide for a 3-day layover so Mr. Speaker, in preserving the credit Today is a historical day for me per- you can study these bills, and yet this rating of the United States, this Con- sonally, Mr. Speaker. Today is the first Republican leadership is not willing for gress could preserve a lot of credit for day that when we adjourn here, that I this House to be in session tomorrow, itself. We should not be going local this will be a full-time candidate for the Monday, Saturday, whatever it takes week. Presidency of the United States. My to get this bill done. eight worthy men of high character You know, Mr. Speaker, everyone f who are all out there competing have knows about credit ratings. America’s FAREWELL TO REPRESENTATIVE been full-time candidates for an entire families worry a great deal about keep- MFUME year. ing their credit ratings solvent. Why is The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a I declared in this well at this lectern not this congressional leadership wor- previous order of the House, the gen- on February 7 last year, which was the rying as much about keeping the Fed- tleman from Virginia [Mr. SCOTT] is 40th anniversary of my receiving my eral Government’s credit rating? I was thinking about this the other recognized for 5 minutes. Air Force wings of silver. It was the day, Mr. Speaker, as I wanted to look Mr. SCOTT. Mr. Speaker, I rise to 25th anniversary of the POW–MIA at our mortgage. We have an adjust- pay tribute to a great American, a bracelet I still wear, No. 1, for a master able rate mortgage, and so we keep our great humanitarian, a great represent- sergeant, Jimmy Holt, from Hope, AK, mortgage and we keep a lot of our im- ative of the people, a great friend— one of the heroes from Hope who went portant papers like a lot of Americans KWEISI MFUME, whose letter of resigna- missing on February 7 of 1968, right at keep their important papers in a metal tion from this body was read earlier to- the end of the infamous Tet offensive, box under the bed. We do that, we keep night. The event of the 104th Congress and in the whole year, the leader of the it in a metal box because if there is a brought with it many changes. Many of other Chamber set the schedule so he fire, they will be protected, or a flood, these changes do not bode well for Afri- was a full-time candidate whenever he those important papers like a mort- can-Americans, other minorities, the felt like it. He has 100 percent attend- gage will be protected, perhaps even elderly, the poor, students, and work- ance record last year and this year, from prying hands. ing class Americans. Knowing this, I never missed a vote. When there were But you know, Mr. Speaker, there is cannot be totally saddened by the de- three Senators in, when my friend Mr. one danger, one crisis that a metal box parture of my distinguished colleague SPECTER of Pennsylvania was in, all he cannot protect, metal, concrete, steel, from this body, because I know that had to do was watch the leader. When Teflon, you name it, cannot protect this leaving Congress is truly for the he left, they left. He went to New against, and that is from a default. greater good of all these groups and the Hampshire, they followed him, or he That is from interest rates going up on American community at large. Rep- went to Iowa or somewhere else. The variable rate loans. That metal box resentative KWEISI MFUME’s leadership other five are all literally full-time. cannot protect our variable rate mort- is needed elsewhere at this time, and I My friends Allen Keyes and Pat Bu- gage from the $1,200 that the average look forward to supporting his efforts chanan gave up their broadcasting and family will pay additional if this coun- in his new role as President and CEO of writing careers, to their credit, and try goes into default. That metal box the NAACP. have been full-time candidates for a cannot protect future car payments The NAACP is gaining the experience year. from being 2 to 3 percent higher. That and leadership of a man who recognizes The two millionaires, multi million- metal box cannot protect us against the importance of coalition building— aires, make $15 million a year, Morry these credit rates, Visa credit rates, he has shown his ability to move coali- Taylor, and Steve Forbes, Malcolm Visa, MasterCharge, and so on, from tions towards their goals without sac- Forbes, Jr., worth $500 million or so, going up. That metal box cannot pro- rificing principle. The NAACP is gain- they have been full-time candidates, tect us from the higher rates we will ing the knowledge of a man who recog- turning their corporations over to chief have to pay for our children to go to nizes the importance of economic de- operating officers, and Lamar Alexan- school. That metal box cannot protect velopment and empowerment, and one der on ‘‘Meet the Press’’ this Sunday us. Just as that metal box cannot pro- who has used his legislative experience said he draws almost $300,000 a year tect this family, and a lot of us are to advance the causes of small and mi- from his law firm in Nashville, from families, guess what happens if this nority-owned businesses and to encour- Howard Baker’s law firm. He has been country goes into default, that metal age banks to invest in economic devel- a full-time candidate for 3 years. They box cannot protect the country. opment opportunities within inner city have all raised among them tens, The country has a metal box, and in communities. The NAACP is gaining twenties of millions of dollars. It is al- it it keeps Social Security, it keeps the expertise of the former chairman of most all gone, and the only one with H 1208 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE February 1, 1996 the bottomless purse, kind of like Ross men in, then they pluralize it, ‘‘support here in the House. I am sorry you do Perot this go-around, is Steve Forbes, our troops.’’ not take my recommendation, but God- and the media is just rocketing him to b 2115 speed. I guess you are showing a lot of stardom, because he spent about $18 courage of your conviction. million on commercials. You cannot exercise your constitu- Now he has a bad conduct discharge. So now I get in the fray full time tional right to control the armies and He is appealing, so he remains on the starting tonight, and obviously there is the navies that you raise. It is totally payroll until then. I just sent a letter not much you can do in 3 weeks. I have the prerogative of the President. over to the Army asking them to delin- been a chairman of two subcommittees. I carry around my Constitution. Here eate every single thing he can do and Here is the difference: Which has voted it is right here. Article 2, section 2, what course they expect us to take for the 30th time, Mr. Speaker? The ‘‘The President shall be commander-in- when there is, I think, soon to be a ma- Senate has voted once this year. Last chief of the Army and Navy and of the jority in this body and in the U.S. Sen- year we were in session 30 to 40 days United States.’’ That is only 16 words. ate, that feels that they only raise more than they were. Are you aware we Take the action words. ‘‘President,’’ their hand to swear to uphold the Con- voted 272 times, each vote taking be- ‘‘commander.’’ That is all. It does not stitution of the United States. tween 15 to 20 minutes, 272 more votes say anything else. It is followed by 18 Here before me, sent to me by a in this House. This is the House of the words, ‘‘and of the militia of the sev- young enlisted man who just took this Contract With America, the revolu- eral states,’’ thirteen at that time, oath of office, and his name is a tionary House, and even in a normal ‘‘when they are called into the actual mouthfull, he took this oath to sign up year, it is the appropriations House. service of the United States.’’ They had in the Army for 4 years on 28 Novem- All taxing bills and all money spending no National Guard or full-time militia. ber, 1995. His first name is Allen, I am bills originate in this Chamber. Every Minute Man went back to his going to spell his last name. C-H-E-R- So I have no regrets. It has been the plow. So that is it. It says nothing. N-O-M-A-S-H-E-N-T-S-E-V. most successful year of my life. I have But for the Congress of the United He sent this to me to show what they go so much DNA invested in the de- States it, it delineates we shall have sign. It has not changed from the time fense authorization and appropriation the power to raise armies and build na- I took it at 19 years of age to go in the bills that my staff kiddingly called one vies, and that means what they will be Air Force, took it less than 2 years the ‘‘Dornan Authorization Bill,’’ and paid, what they will wear, their colors, later to become an aviation cadet, took in a shootout with Clinton on three their numbers, where they will be post- it again as a Second Lieutenant on major items he stripped out of the au- ed or bivouacked or stationed through- February 7, 1955, as I mentioned at the thorization bill, which is on his desk as out the world, what they will fly, what top of my remarks, and then I took it I speak, and he will either veto it, they will shoot, how many ships they again after a break to go back on ac- which nobody predicts, or pass it after will have, how fast they will go, how tive duty in the reserves, and I have having ripped out of it the language on much we will spend on intelligence, on taken it in this Chamber nine times, no U.S. troops under foreign command; research and development. Every single the first time holding the hand of our I wrote that language for the Contract weapon system, from the Beretta pis- youngest daughter, kind of snuck on With America. It went into the bill, tol, the Sig Saur for the Special the floor as a teenager, and then I held went through a tougher conference Forces, or up to the new F–22 or the the hand of several grandchildren the with the Senate. He demanded it come joint advanced tactical fighter we are last two or three Congresses. So I have out. He wants U.S. troops under U.N. developing. All of that is determined taken it 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 times. Here is and foreign command. by this Congress. the oath for enlisted men. No. 2, no missile defense. I do not Where did Clinton or the leader of I, ROBERT K. DORNAN, (I did this Jan- care whether you call it Strategic De- the Senate think that these two words, uary 30, 1953, wow, 42 years and 2 days fense Initiative, as took place under ‘‘President,’’ ‘‘commander,’’ embodied ago.) I, ROBERT K. DORNAN, do solemnly Reagan in his third year, with Dr. Tell- in 16 baffled words there, where did this swear that I will support and defend er’s guidance and that of an absolute give him the right to send Americans the ‘‘Constitution of the United American Paul Revere hero, three star into the minefields of Bosnia? Of States’’ against all enemies, foreign general, Gen. Danny Graham who is course, it did not, and every scholar and domestic; that I will bear true buried with full military honors, 15- worth his salt across this country, and faith and allegiance to the same; and cannon salute at Arlington, the son of particularly the scholarly people over that I will obey the orders of the Presi- an Army sergeant, honored West Point at the Library of Congress, say he does dent of the United States and the or- graduate. Danny Graham brought me not have that constitutional right. ders of the officers appointed over me into his organization High Frontier. I Now, what about Michael New, Spe- according to the regulations and the ran the American Space Frontier PAC cialist Michael New, the outstanding uniform code of military justice, so for him the 2 years I was gerry- paramedic specialist in the 3d Division help me God. mandered out of the Congress between in Germany, court-martialed a little Now, therein lies the problem of the being sworn in in 1977, where I had 2 over a week ago, a bad conduct dis- court martial of Specialist Michael years, 1983 and 1984, out. That was the charge. New. He wanted to defend the Constitu- year of the nuclear freeze nonsense, Amazing. I spoke with Michael. Only tion and its laws, and he said he was and I traveled all over. I think I hit all one other Congressman, no, one Sen- torn by the verbal orders he was get- 50 States for Danny Graham on defend- ator, has ever spoken to him, and did ting from his officers through the ing the American homeland. not give him much time. But I advised President of the United States. So he Clinton demanded that national mis- Michael to go to Macedonia; that I was torn, and the court martial came sile defense on line by 2003 by ripped agreed with him it was illegal to order down on the side of the following the out of the defense authorization bill. our men to wear a blue beret or put on direct orders of his commanders. That Out. a blue U.N. arm band, but I told him is why I advised him to go on to Mac- No. 3, the unconstitutional right that that was our battle here in the Con- edonia and let us fight the battle here. he claims and mysteriously the leader gress, and I would win it for him; to Here is an officer’s oath, and this for of the Senate subscribes to, that he has bite his lip, go down there, take that warrant officers too. I, ROBERT K. DOR- the constitutional right to send Amer- order. NAN, (I first took this February 7, 1955, ican troops at his whim to Somalia, to He said no, sir, I respectfully am not having been appointed an officer in the Bosnia, to Haiti, back to Somalia, to going to do it. My parents are behind Air Force of the United States in the Rwanda, Chechnya, Tibet, anywhere in me. I asked if he was married. He said grade of Second Lieutenant,) do sol- the world, and all he has to do is to say no. I said all right, if your parents are emnly swear that I will support and de- to this Chamber ‘‘ah, ah, ah, ah, I just in your corner, you are walking in a fend the Constitution of the United bailed out a radioman into Tibet, we minefield. You are liable to get a dis- States against all enemies, foreign and must support our trooper on the charge you will not like, but I am still domestic; that I will bear true faith ground.’’ The next day, if he gets two going to continue to fight the battle and allegiance to the same, that is the February 1, 1996 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H 1209 Constitution, and that I take this obli- ican heroes, including two Medal of Now, this reporter, an excellent re- gation freely, without any mental res- Honor winners.) And are confident in porter, I might add, told me that the ervation or purpose of evasion, and our abilities to work together in their men ride around in their Humvees sit- that I will well and faithfully discharge missions. ting on one leg. They pull one leg up the duties of the office upon which I It goes on to say, you will not re- under them so if they have the misfor- am about to enter, so help me God. spond ‘‘no comment.’’ It says you may tune to hit a land mine, they will at Now, did you notice the difference not discuss future plans and oper- least salvage one leg. Guess what? there, Mr. Speaker? There is no men- ations, of course, foreign policy mat- John Martin Begosh, who is now tion of the President and no mention of ters, operational capabilities, or give recuperating at home with part of his the orders of officers appointed over opinions or hypothesized situations. foot torn away, severe injuries to his me. If Michael New were a brand new ‘‘Stay in your lane, soldier!’’ lower leg, I understand from this re- Second Lieutenant, would he have had If a reporter comes to your unit and porter was sitting on his foot when his a stronger case in that court martial is unescorted by a public affairs officer Humvee hit that land mine, and it that he was bearing true faith and alle- or escort, well, how do you handle saved the leg that he was keeping giance to the Constitution that he Ernie Pyle in these circumstances? under him on top of a piece of armor swore to support and defend? And the Refer them to the joint information plating to protect his body from a land Constitution does not talk about wear- bureaus. If they are escorted you may mine. ing the regalia of any foreign power or answer their questions, but inform The three British soldiers and the of serving anything but your United your chain of command immediately Swedish soldier were not so lucky. States Constitution. Certainly not a about their presence in your area. They all died a few days ago. We are all UN charter! Do not make off the record state- holding our breath, hoping that will Now, what is happening from Bosnia? ments. Assume that a reporter’s re- not happen to one of our Americans. People in my cloakroom, and I will bet corder is always on. Anything you say Now, we had a Conference today, in the other, were shocked at this front to the reporters will be used. with the 236 Republicans, I think just page article on the great Washington And the thing that just blows me about everybody was there, and this Times last Monday, the 29th, four days away is that they are not supposed to issue of Michael New, what Clinton de- ago. ‘‘Put on a happy face, troops in say ‘‘no comment.’’ I thought that was manded be stripped out of the defense Bosnia told.’’ ‘‘Praise Clinton if press pretty standard. authorization bill, and I left out some- asks,’’ an Army written guide says. Now, this reporter, who was embed- thing I had worked very hard on, and Tusar Air Force Base, Hungary, this is ded with the troops, continues with that was this whole Bosnia operation, by Bill Gertz, a great reporter who some fascinating observations. Listen no U.S. troops under foreign command. You will recall I brought an amend- spent three weeks to a month embed- to this: Some soldiers said they were ment up the hard way, all the way ded with the troops over there. offended by the attempt to guide their U.S. troops are grumbling about a responses. The guidelines include that through conference, battling all the pamphlet that advises them to tell any list of do’s and don’ts I just went way, without help from the leadership from either House in the majority inquiring reporter they have full con- through. Be positive in your answers. This is party, brought it to the Floor, and fidence in their commanders from your opportunity to tell the public shocked the leadership here by almost President Clinton on down. The pam- what a great job you are doing. cutting off the funds to Bosnia. My phlet entitled ‘‘answers you can use’’ In Bosnia? amendment got 210 votes to 218. I had was prepared by the Army’s 5th Corps We are trained, ready and fully pre- some of my best conservative friends in and has been distributed to all Army pared to conduct peace operations. this House take orders beyond what troops in Bosnia to help them deal with Now here is where it starts to sound they wanted to do and voted against pesky press inquiries. One suggested like we want our soldiers to be autom- me. I would have only needed 4 votes to answer is U.S. forces are competent, atons, maybe ‘‘Coneheads from the tie that and the Speaker to vote with are trained and competent leaders. We planet Remulac.’’ ‘‘We are trained, me to win 215 to 214. have pride in our leadership from the ready and fully prepared to conduct b President on down and full trust in peace operations.’’ 2130 their decision. Here is another good one. We are not Mr. Speaker, 13 lieutenants went the The problem is, not all of the soldiers here to fight, but we have the capabil- other way, lieutenants of the leader- feel that way. ‘‘That one answer par- ity when required to enforce the treaty ship. So there were things that maybe ticularly got me,’’ said a colonel, who and to protect ourselves. I was not aware of on deals that had asked not to be named. A female ser- Another: We are disciplined and been made to soften the budget deal geant with the 4th Aviation Brigade trained force. We understand our mis- when it fell apart anyway, that this passed at Koperzar Airfield, that is also sion and the rulings of engagement. House would not stand in the way of in Hungary, last stop before Bosnia, Another: U.S. forces have a long tra- Mr. Clinton’s unconstitutional preroga- also took issue. It says she voted for dition of working with the United Na- tive to send our troops anyway. He Clinton, but never again. The story tions and NATO. We are confident in wanted it. His win. gets more interesting as you get into our abilities to work together in this This whole thing started by an off- it. mission. handed comment 2 years ago that he So I called up the Pentagon and said Many soldiers privately expressed said he would give 25,000 troops to the I want that 5th Corps pamphlet. No re- dislike of Mr. Clinton, who avoided U.N. to help extract the U.N. forces sults to this day. But, Mr. Speaker, as service in the military during the Viet- that were there, the way we used 15,000 you well know, I have my ways, and I nam War. One soldier said he lost all to extract in a fighting withdrawal. We got hold of the pamphlet, a reasonable respect for President after he learned did not have to shoot, our forces from fax copy thereof. 5th Corps emblem. about Mr. Clinton’s efforts to avoid the failed U.N. mission in Somalia. Fifth Corps media reference card. being drafted. One Lt. Colonel confided So today at the conference it came Guidelines for dealing with civilian that he disliked the President, and was up. Some of the freshmen said, what news media. careful not to express his opinions actually did Clinton write to Colonel I find this extremely offensive. Lis- when enlisted personnel were around. Holmes, the Bataan Death March sur- ten to this, Mr. Speaker. Good. Do not, colonel. vivor, head of the ROTC in Arkansas? I I just read that line, U.S. forces are Another captain, I think I will not told the conference that I would put it competent and have trained and com- use his name, a spokesman for the in the RECORD again tonight for the petent leaders. We have pride in our Army in Hungary, referred questions twelfth time, and I would also put in leadership, from the President on about the pamphlet to another captain, Colonel Holmes’s letter 23 years later down, and full trust in their decisions. he is in a world of hurt, so I will not to the American people. And I think U.S. forces have a long tradition of mention his name either, who took this time I will reverse the order. working with the United Nations. (Yes, part in writing the guidelines. He This is a letter from Colonel Eugene like in Somalia. Nineteen dead Amer- would not return a telephone call. Holmes. I had dinner with him a year H 1210 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE February 1, 1996 ago this month on the 24th, and his An aside here: that was not true. The office was putting pressure on the draft lovely wife Irene. He still is as tall at lady head of the draft board said that board, and they needed my help. I then 6-foot-4 and distinguished looking as he he told her that ‘‘I am too educated to made the necessary arrangements to ever was as an Army officer when he serve as an enlisted man.’’ enroll Mr. Clinton in the ROTC pro- was captured on Bataan. Survived the Colonel Holmes continues: Since I gram in the University of Arkansas. Bataan Death March. Ditched an order may be the only living person, he did Remember Clinton had already grad- to join the infamous prison ships that not know he was not the only one, who uated a year out of the Jesuit Catholic we inadvertently bombed killing al- can give a firsthand account of what Georgetown University. He had already most 5,000 of the men who had survived actually transpired, I am obliged by had a year in England ditching class. 21⁄2 years of torturous captivity by the love for my country and my sense of And so he was going to have to go back Japanese. He did not go. His friends duty to divulge actually what hap- and take ROTC classes with under- died and he survived. pened and make it a matter of record. graduates, go to one summer camp, and Here is what he wrote September 7, Keep in mind, Mr. Speaker, about 20 on a short abbreviated program be- 1992. It was published in the aforemen- Americans died in his arms or in his in- cause he would have been training for a tioned great newspaper, The Washing- 1 fluence those 3 ⁄2 years of Japanese bru- lawyer there and would join the JAG ton Times. No other outlet in the coun- tal captivity. ‘‘Mr. Clinton came to see Corps. It was a special program that try would publish this letter. I have me in my home in 1969 to discuss his the Colonel told BOB DORNAN had just never heard of it being published in a desire to enroll in the ROTC program single newspaper anywhere in our won- been created in the nick of time for at the University of Arkansas.’’ Clinton. derful 50 States except The Washington Another important footnote: I asked Holmes continues: I was not saving, Times: Colonel Holmes why he remembered he is quoting from Clinton’s letter, I September 7, 1992, memorandum for this one student over all those years was not saving him from serving his the record. Subject, Bill Clinton and because he also commanded the ROTC country, as he erroneously thanked me the University of Arkansas ROTC pro- at the University of San Francisco. He for in his letter from England, dated gram. Each page is signed. The news said this was the only student that media circulated rumors that he was December 3, 1969. I was making it pos- ever came to see him in 10 years in all near death. He is healthy, as my dinner sible for a Rhodes scholar to serve in those years. He said he did not let him attested to a year ago. And he just did the military as an officer. Lawyer, in his home but spoke to him in the not want to hassle with sharper media eventually. In retrospect I see that Mr. back and front yard back and forth as types. He put the truth out as he saw Clinton had no intention of following the Colonel continued gardening. We it. They claimed his daughter wrote through with this agreement to join engaged in an extensive, approximately this. She did not. He wrote it. And if the Army ROTC program at the Uni- 2-hour interview. At no time during this man had more witnesses he would versity of Arkansas or to attend the this long conversation about his desire have won the Medal of Honor. He holds University of Arkansas law school to join the program did he inform me the second highest honor in the United ever. I had explained to him the neces- of his involvement, participation, and States, the Distinguished Service sity of enrolling at the University of actual organizating of protests against Cross. Arkansas as a student in order to be el- the United States’ involvement in To the American people, but nobody igible to take the ROTC program as an Southeast Asia. He was shrewd enough knew it, there have been many unan- undergraduate at the university. He to realize, had I been aware of his ac- swered question as to the cir- never enrolled at the University of Ar- tivities, he would not have been accept- cumstances surrounding Bill Clinton’s kansas, but instead enrolled at Yale ed in the ROTC program as a potential involvement with the ROTC depart- after going back to Oxford. officer in the United States Army. ment at the University of Arkansas. I believe that he purposely deceived Prior to this time, I have not felt the What Colonel Holmes did not know, and I informed him of it, was that Clin- me using the possibility of joining the necessity for discussing the details. ROTC as a ploy to work with the draft The reason I have not done so before is ton has already flunked his naval offi- cer’s test and then in England at board to delay his induction to get a my poor physical health, a consequence new draft classification. Actually, he of participation in the Bataan Death Lakenheath Air Force Base he flunked his Air Force officer’s test and then de- destroyed and suppressed his induction. March and subsequent three-and-a-half I never heard of that in my entire life. year interment in Japanese POW cided no way was he so educated. Even though he was not going to classes at The December 3 letter written to me by camps has precluded me from getting Mr. Clinton was subsequently taken into what I felt was unnecessary in- Oxford, but ditching them to dem- onstrate against our policy in all of from the file by Lieutenant Colonel volvement. Clint Jones, my executive officer, and However, present polls show, Septem- Southeast Asia, that included Laos and was placed into the ROTC files so that ber 1992, that there is imminent danger Cambodia, he decided he was not going a record would be available in case the to our country of a draft dodger becom- to serve as an enlisted man. applicant should again petition to ing the Commander in Chief of the The next day I began to receive armed forces of the United States. phone calls regarding Bill Clinton’s enter the ROTC program. Never. While it is true, as Mr. Clinton has draft status. I was informed by the Important footnote, Mr. Speaker: stated, that there were many others draft board that it was of interest to Colonel Holmes never kept this letter who avoided serving their country in Senator Fulbright’s office that Bill over 23 years. Lieutenant Colonel Clint the Vietnam war, they are not aspiring Clinton, a Rhodes scholar—that should Jones, as much to hurt Colonel Holmes to be President of the United States. read Rhodes candidate scholar—only as to hurt Clinton, kept the letter. The tremendous implications of the three people in the class failed to com- Clinton had some confederates break possibility of his becoming Commander plete the program. He was one of the into the ROTC building, steal all of his in Chief of the United States armed three. Another was a Mississippi stu- records when he was getting ready to forces compels me now to comment on dent who has since died of AIDS who run for Congress in 1974, 4 years later. the facts concerning Mr. Clinton’s eva- Clinton brags that the greatest thing And all of those records, including the sion of the draft. This account would he did was write a letter to help this original of the letter, disappeared, or a not have been imperative had Bill Clin- Mississippi student to dodge the draft, copy. The original had been purloined ton been completely honest to the that he should be admitted to the by Lieutenant Colonel Clint Jones to American public about this matter. ROTC program. hurt Colonel Holmes. But, as Mr. Clinton replied on a news I received several such calls from the Fascinating piece of investigative conference this evening, September 5, chief of staff of the governor’s office. work by yours truly that nobody in the 1992, after being asked another particu- His wife thought Fulbright had called media knows to this day. And why? Be- lar about his dodging the draft, quote, and he corrected her, that, no, the cause Colonel Holmes did not like the almost everyone concerned with these chief of staff had. The general message way Clint Jones was downgrading the incidents are dead. I have no more conveyed by the head of the draft board captains who were military, what do comments to make. to me was that the Senator Fulbright’s they call them, professors of military February 1, 1996 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H 1211 science. And he was mistreating a Ko- age of 23, about the age Bill Clinton Holmes and it is filled with inaccura- rean decorated veteran who was a mas- was when he was over in England pro- cies. ter sergeant making him sharpen pen- testing the war. He had the age exact. ‘‘I am sorry to be so long in writing, cils and carry out wastebaskets. And Another footnote Mr. Speaker, when Colonel. I know I promised to let you this ultimate statuesque Distinguished I went over for the 50th anniversary of hear from me at least once a month.’’ Service Cross colonel, Bataan Death Normandy, we went to a ceremony in Colonel Holmes does not remember March survivor said: Colonel Jones, I Cambridge, England. I looked for Bob that promise at all. He did not think he am taking the sergeant out from under Holmes’s grave and found it. He died on was going back to Oxford; he thought your control and also all of these board a B–17 coming over the English he was going back to Arkansas. young captains. I will rate them. You Channel. This wall of all the missing ‘‘And from now on you will.’’ are downgrading their efficiency re- hundreds and hundreds of men who Never wrote again. ports. The whole system has slid to the crashed into part of Europe and were ‘‘But I have to have some time to high side up in the Pentagon and you never found or died in the English think about this first letter. Almost are costing these people getting pro- channel. Bob’s remains are buried daily, since my return to England, I motions. So that is what caused this there. have thought about writing, about bad blood. I visited the grave, then went back to what I want to and ought to say.’’ Colonel Holmes continues: The infor- my seat with my wife. And then in Pause. mation in that letter, the infamous let- came the Clintons, waving at the On Lincoln’s birthday, Feb. 12, 1992, ter, alone would have restricted Bill crowd. A Spitfire, Mustang and B–17 with Clinton sitting there, having been Clinton from ever qualifying to be an flew over at a very low altitude, pushed given this letter after it popped up in officer in the United States military. the minimums. There was hardly a dry the press, having been given this letter To this day, do the men in Tuzla know eye in the place. All I could think of is by Rich Kaplan, one of Clinton’s Ren- that? To this day, he could never apply over there is Bob Holmes’s grave; died aissance, Hilton Head, SC friends, he to even get a secret clearance to serve at 23 for his country. And here is the gave this letter to Clinton, Rich in the CIA, the FBI, any police depart- first draft dodger to ever serve in the Kaplan. ment, most of them, and never the position of our Commander in Chief. Head of ABC Evening News to this Coast Guard Academy or any of our I go back to Colonel Eugene J. day, Peter Jennings, he had been Ted four military services ever. This letter Holmes’s concluding paragraph: I have Koppel’s producer for 14 years, he ended that forever. agonized over whether or not to submit called Ted and said, ‘‘Ted, put Clinton Only by getting elected to the House, this statement to the American people. on.’’ Clinton was running third in New the Senate, or the Presidency or to be But I realize that even though I served Hampshire and in free fall. And since I a governor or a ROTC program would my country by being in the military am running 5th, 6th, 7th, or 8th, I know he never in his whole life have access for over 32 years and having gone what that must have felt like. He had to top secret material. Even more sig- through the ordeal of months of com- spent the money that I do not have. nificant was Clinton’s lack of veracity bat under the worst of conditions fol- And Rich Kaplan gave the letter to in purposely defrauding the military by lowed by years of imprisonment by the Clinton to prepare for 3 days. Koppel deceiving me both in concealing his Japanese, it is not enough. I am writ- puts him on, the whole show, and goes antimilitary activities overseas and his ing these comments to let everyone into overtime as though it is Margaret counterfeit intentions for later mili- know that I love my country more Thatcher or some world leader. While tary service. These actions cause me to than I do my own personal security and Clinton sits there, biting his lower lip, question both his patriotism and his well-being. Koppel read the entire letter. That ate integrity. He was worried, Mr. Speaker, releas- up the whole first part of the show, Mr. Speaker, if that line had been ing this letter: I will go to my grave which I am going to do now. written about Ronald Reagan or loving these United States of America I will continue, second paragraph. George Bush, certainly Richard Nixon, and the liberty for which so many men ‘‘First, I want to thank you, not just it would have been on the evening news have fought and died. Because of my for saving me from the draft, but for over and over and over again. I read it poor physical condition this will be my being so kind and decent to me last again: These actions cause me to ques- final statement. summer,’’ 1969, ‘‘when I was as low as I tion both Mr. Clinton’s patriotism and He is actually in very good physical have ever been. One thing which made his integrity. This from a Bataan condition. He did not want to hassle the bond we struck,’’ 2 hours in his gar- Death March survivor. with the liberal dominant media cul- den, ‘‘in good faith somewhat palatable When I consider the caliber, the brav- ture, and I can understand that. to me was my high regard for you per- ery and the patriotism of the fine I will make no further comments to sonally. In retrospect, it seems that young soldiers whose deaths I have wit- any of the media regarding this letter. the admiration might not have been nessed and whose funerals I have at- He did not want to tell the Lt. Col. mutual had you known a little bit tended, when I reflect on not only the Clint Jones story. And he released this more about me, about my political be- willingness but the eagerness that so letter, and the media had already made liefs and activities.’’ many of them displayed in their ear- their choice between Bush and Clinton, Footnote: This was no Joan Baez nest desire to serve their country, and so they ignored it. peace-worker who said ‘‘A pox on both he told me story after story with their of your houses’’ and would quote St. b names that he and Irene recall to this 2145 Francis: ‘‘Where there is hatred, let me day it is untenable and incomprehen- So they ignored it. so love.’’ No, no, he was pro-Hanoi, pro- sible to me that a man who was not Now, here is the infamous letter, and Ho Chi Minh, the George Washington of merely unwilling to serve his country it gives new meaning to the word ‘‘in- his country. but actually protested against its mili- famous.’’ All of the freshmen and soph- We, the interventionists, the impe- tary should ever be in the position of omores wanted me to go put this in rialists. We know the whole routine of Commander in Chief of our armed again; they did not want me to go look these teachings that Clinton conducted forces. it up from 1991 or 1993, where I have put at the University of London, School of I write this declaration not only for it in about 10 times. Here is the letter Economics, after hours. That is the the living and future generations, but that Bill Clinton wrote to Col. Eugene school where JFK spent some time. for those who fought and died for this Holmes, Director of the ROTC pro- He says, ‘‘At least you might have country. If space and time permitted, I gram, University of Arkansas, on De- thought me more fit for the draft than would include the names of the ones I cember 3, 1969. for ROTC. Let me try to explain. As knew and fought with. And along with He drew a low lottery number, 319, I you know, I worked for 2 years in a them I would mention my younger believe, on the 1st; applied for Yale on very minor position on the Senate For- brother, Bob, who was killed during the 2d, still being mentored by all of eign Relations Committee. I did it for World War II and is buried in Cam- his political friends in Arkansas; and the experience and the salary, but also bridge, England. He was killed at the on the 3d he wrote this letter to for the opportunity, however small, of H 1212 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE February 1, 1996 working every day against a war I op- He has never been there. Some came back and back and back posed and despised, with a depth of ‘‘I have written and spoken and and made it, even with one eye, even feeling I have reserved solely for rac- marched against the war. One of the with curved spines. Those that really ism in America before Vietnam. I national organizers of the Vietnam wanted to serve in many cases got by. marched with Martin Luther King.’’ moratorium is a close friend of mine.’’ Roger Young won the Medal of Honor I can respect that, but he was just a I guess that would be David Mixner, on the island of New Georgia in the 16-year-old. who helped raise $4 million in the ho- Solomons, and he only had one eye. ‘‘I did not take the matter lightly, mosexual community. Took his eye test like that, both with but studied it carefully, and there was ‘‘After I left Arkansas last summer, I the same eye. a time when not many people had more went to Washington to work in the na- Now, he continues: ‘‘That individuals information about Vietnam at hand tional headquarters of the morato- had to fight, if the Nation was to sur- than I did.’’ rium,’’ right before he met with Colo- vive, for the lives of their countrymen Good grief. What a braggadocio, fool- nel Holmes and after, and then he went and their way of life. Vietnam is no ish statement. up to Martha’s Vineyard for another such case, nor was Korea an example ‘‘I have written and spoken and big organizing session. where, in my opinion, certain military marched against the war.’’ ‘‘Then to England to organize the action was justified, but the draft was He did not tell any of this to Colonel Americans here for demonstrations Oc- not, for the reasons stated above.’’ Holmes. tober 15 and November 16.’’ Do not think I did not think of that Mr. Speaker, before I continue my One demonstration was the new Mobe line, and why I left before he spoke at Special Order, let me add my words, committee; the other was the morato- my war where I was in pilot training that I too have enjoyed the friendship rium committee. I do not know which when it ended, mercifully, at the dedi- of Mr. KWEISI MFUME, and also can was which. cation of the Korean Memorial on its state emphatically that I have never ‘‘Interlocked with the war is the 43d anniversary last July 27, 1995, 42d met a harder-working Member of Con- draft issue, which I did not begin to anniversary of it ending. gress or a better gentleman, or just a consider separately until early 1968.’’ ‘‘Because of my opposition to the Yes, graduating from Georgetown more upbeat person that saw no chal- draft and the war, I am in great sym- when they had announced there would lenge in this life that he did not think pathy with those who are not willing to be no more deferments for graduate he could solve personally or that all of fight, kill, and maybe die for their studies. How he swung that, no one us could not solve together. country; i.e., the particular policy of a You have taken on a very tough job knows. particular government.’’ ‘‘For a law seminar at Georgetown, I with one of the oldest and most re- Thank heaven, Michael New had the wrote a paper on the legal arguments spected civil rights organizations in integrity not to use that line, Mr. for and against allowing within the Se- America, the NAACP, and I think that Speaker. lective Service System the classifica- you will bring it to its heights of new ‘‘Right or wrong. Two of my friends tion of Selective Conscientious Objec- at Oxford are conscientious objectors. I glory. I am going to miss you, KWEISI, tion for those opposed to participation and I am sorry that I was ahead of you. wrote a letter of recommendation for in a particular war, not simply to ‘par- I was going to let you have your Spe- one of them to his Mississippi draft ticipation in war in any form.’ ’’ board, a letter which I am more proud cial Order first, or course. Mr. Speaker, imagine if Specialist Mr. Speaker, I think I have 20 min- of than anything else I wrote at Oxford Michael New had quoted from this let- last year.’’ utes left. Let me speed this up. ter and used 23-year-old Bill Clinton, Here is Bill Clinton, writing from He did not write much; he never went who I believe is a year older than he is, somewhere in Yale. I think he was to class, Mr. Speaker. to use this as his rationale why he ‘‘One of my roommates is a draft re- sleeping on Strobe Talbott’s floor, 43 would serve honorably but not go to sister who is possibly under indict- Lechner Road; he did not even register Macedonia in that particular situation ment.’’ to live in a dormitory at Oxford, never wearing the U.N. powder-blue beret. This is the fellow that committed went to class; took his Rhodes scholar- Back to the Clinton letter. ‘‘From suicide whose picture is in Clinton’s ship money and never pursued it, never my work I came to believe that draft bedroom. tested and left for Yale in the spring of system itself is illegitimate. No gov- ‘‘And may never be able to go home 1970 after a curious trip to Moscow, ernment really rooted in limited par- again. He is one of the bravest, best Prague, Helsinki, Leningrad, and other liamentary democracy should have the men I know. His country needs men Scandinavian countries. power to make its citizens fight and like him more than they know. That he So here he is writing somewhere. kill and die in a war they may oppose, is considered a criminal is an obscen- Strobe Talbott, by the way, is number a war which even possibly may be ity.’’ 2 at the State Department; he had wrong, a war which in any case does The problem was he came home, he hoped to make him number 1. That is not involve immediately the peace and turned himself in. The FBI said, we why they put in Warren Christopher, freedom of the Nation.’’ have no more interest in you, the war but they did not plan on JESSE HELMS Mr. Speaker, does Bosnia involve im- is winding down. His family was not becoming chairman of the Foreign Re- mediately the peace and freedom of the happy with what he had done, they had lations Committee in the Senate. So Nation? Young people would quickly a military tradition, and that is when, everything is kind of dead in the water. say, I do not think so. let me see if I recall his name, Frank Clinton continues in the third para- Continuing the letter: ‘‘The draft was Aller, A–L–L–E–R, tragically commit- graph of the Dec. 3, 1969 letter: ‘‘Let me justified in World War II because the ted suicide two years after this in 1971 try to explain,’’ to Colonel Holmes. ‘‘As life of the people collectively was at when no one was looking for him. you know, I worked for 2 years in a stake. Individuals had to fight’’— Hardly a brave act when he could have very minor position on the Senate For- No, they did not. We had 6 million gone on with his life. eign Relations Committee. I did it for draft dodgers in World War II. ‘‘The decision not to be a resister and the experience and the salary, but also —‘‘if the Nation was to survive.’’ the related subsequent decisions were for the opportunity, however small, of No, that is wrong. We had about a the most difficult of my life. I decided working every day against a war I op- million and a half. We had 6 million to accept the draft in spite of my be- posed and despised with a depth of feel- people who were turned away. Out of liefs for one reason: To maintain my ing I had reserved solely for racism in the 18 million drafted, 6 million were political viability within the system.’’ America before Vietnam. I did not take told, you are not properly schooled or Those are the words that Ted Koppel the matter lightly, but studied it care- you are too heavy, you are too skinny, repeated: ‘‘To maintain my political fully, and there was a time when not or you cannot do enough pushups or viability within the system.’’ The fact many people’’—I have been over there chinups. You are too weak. Six million is, he never went back into the draft eight times as a journalist—‘‘had more were turned away of the 18 million that system. information about Vietnam than I were drafted, and then lots were turned ‘‘For years I have worked to prepare did.’’ away that tried to join. myself for a political life characterized February 1, 1996 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H 1213 by both practical, political ability and And preparing for the demonstra- That would be Lieutenant Colonel concern for rapid social progress. It is tions on October 15 and November 16 Clint Jones, who stole this letter out of a life I feel compelled to try to lead. I that he mentioned in the first para- the ROTC files to keep it and use it at do not think our system of government graph. some point against Colonel Holmes be- is by definition corrupt, however dan- ‘‘I sent a letter to the chairman of cause Holmes had disciplined Colonel gerous and inadequate it has been in my draft board saying basically what is Jones, and when the files were stolen recent years.’’ in the preceding paragraph, thanking from the ROTC building and de- The society may be corrupt, but that is not him for trying to help me in a case stroyed—and we are looking for a lot of the same thing. And if that is true, we are all where he really couldn’t and stating missing files this day, a quarter of a finished, anyway. When the draft came, de- that I couldn’t do the ROTC after century later—Colonel Jones gets a spite political convictions, I was having a all’’—I can’t do it—‘‘and would he good-bye and a Merry Christmas from hard time facing the prospect of fighting a please draft me as soon as possible. Bill Clinton. war I had been fighting against, and that is Mr. Speaker, one of the networks at- why I contacted you. Nobody has ever found that letter, I doubt it was ever written. So does tacked me tonight, I think unfairly, so b 2200 Colonel Holmes. Oh. I do not have to ask for a point of per- Law school and being a JAG, a Judge sonal privilege. I will fix it right now. I never mailed the letter. But I did carry it It is over an amendment that I have Advocate, is hardly being under fire. on me every day until I got on the plane to return to England. I didn’t mail the letter on the defense authorization bill to ROTC was the only way left in which I give an honorable discharge and 6 could possibly but not positively avoid both because I didn’t see in the end how my going Vietnam and resistance. in the Army and maybe going to Vietnam months to get their affairs in order to would achieve anything except the feeling everybody who has tragically con- In other words, he did not have the that I had punished myself and gotten what tracted the AIDS HIV virus. Surgeons courage to be identified as a resistance I had deserved. General and the Surgeon Admiral of person. And maybe given the integrity to tell the Navy, which handles the Marine Going on with my education, even coming young men to go die in Somalia, 19 of Corps, and the Air Force and the Army back to England, played no part in my deci- them, and to tell them to go drive over have all told me, sometimes on the sion to join ROTC. I am back here and would record, but always off the record, that have been at Arkansas Law School because land mines in Bosnia. there is nothing else I can do. In fact, I So I came back to England to try to make they do not think people who have the would liked to have been able to take a year something of the second year of my Rhodes HIV virus, who cannot contribute to out perhaps to teach in some small college or scholarship. the walking blood bank in the mili- work on some community action project and Footnote. And ditched every class tary, who have to be brought home in the process to decide whether to attend and flunked out and left. from every country in the world where law school or graduate school and how to they serve, taken out of their aircraft, begin putting what I have learned to use. ‘‘And that is where I am now, writing to you, because you have been good to me and their helicopters, off the ships, out of Well, Sergeant Jimmy Holt of Hope, have a right to know what I think and feel. the submarines, out of the Abrams Arkansas goes missing in Vietnam, not I am writing too in the hope that my telling tanks, the fighting vehicles, the found to this day. this one story will help you to understand Humvees, nobody in Bosnia, Somalia or But the particulars of my personal life are more clearly how so many fine people have Haiti carrying the HIV virus, that they not nearly as important to me as the prin- come to find themselves still loving their all have to be brought back stateside, ciples involved. After I signed the ROTC let- country but loathing the military. for the Marines and the Navy and only ter of intent to you, I began to wonder Loathing the military, two wonderful States with a high tour- whether the compromise I had made with To which you and other good mean have ist budget, California and Virginia, myself was not more objectionable then the devoted years, lifetimes to the best service have to be within 300 miles of a hos- draft would have been because I had no in- you could give.’’ pital for treatment, and then since tention in the ROTC program in itself and all I seem to have done was protect myself In Vietnam, people who went a few they have been taken out of a combat- from physical harm. steps further than Clinton were rolling ready job and brought home from over- seas, we fire, we pink slip with an hon- Mr. Speaker, in other words, he did grenades into the tents of what they orable discharge but not 6 months not want to be a lawyer and wear the call lifers, sergeants and officers from other people who are healthy, who are Army uniform. He wanted to go to Yale the academies who were giving their part of the walking blood bank, are Law School and not to Arkansas Law life to military service, and killed trainable for combat and can go be de- School. them, and the names are on the wall, ployed overseas any day of the week. ‘‘Also I began to think I had deceived only known to God how many, but I Those people are let out of the military you, not by lies, there were none’’— know of at least 10, men that were so that these people can be trained at that is not what Colonel Holmes murdered by the man under them be- our tax expense into their new job. wrote—‘‘but by failing to tell you all cause of both drugs and the poisonous atmosphere, some of which was devel- Mr. Speaker, I knew when I saw the the things I’m writing now. I doubt article in the Post yesterday that this then that I had the mental coherence oped in the other body and this body during this incredible war in Vietnam. woman—and I must take her at her to articulate them.’’ word and believe her, even though she The Colonel told me he was very ar- He says, Loathing the military to which you and is anonymous, using a false name, ticulate as a 23-year-old student, fol- Marie—was in the ‘‘Post’’ saying that lowing him from the front yard to the other men have devoted years, lifetimes to the best service you could give. To many of her husband contracted AIDS through back yard during two hours of garden- us, it is no longer clear what is service and unprotected sex, the implication is ing, back and forth. what is disservice, or if it is clear, the con- cheating on her, and that is a tragedy, Back to the letter. clusion is likely to be illegal. brought it home to her. At that time after we had made our agree- I debated men who had the guts to go Remember, this Congress has done ment and you had sent my 1–D deferment to to jail, and I respected them, like Joan nothing in a decade to force doctors to my draft board, the anguish and loss of my Baez’s husband David Harris, student call the roommate, the live-in self-respect and self-confidence really set in. body president, Stanford. It is the peo- girlfriend, the homosexual roommate, I bet, Mr. Speaker. ple who hid out like this and let others the fiancee or the wife of a person who I hardly slept for weeks and kept going by go in their place and then wanted to be has the HIV virus and tell them that eating compulsively. commander-in-chief some day that per- that person can kill them. I have read Does that sound familiar? What were plex me. that it takes about 700 normal inter- they doing in Vietnam? Sleeping, and Closing paragraph. course events to contract heterosexual kept going by eating compulsively? Forgive the length of this letter, Colonel. contact AIDS, and no doctor in this I read until exhaustion brought sleep. Fi- There was much to say. There is still a lot to country, and the chief doctor in the nally on September 12 I stayed up all night be said but it can wait. Please say hello to military, Dr. Joseph, who sent me a writing a letter to the chairman of my draft Colonel Jones for me. Merry Christmas. Sin- book that is frightening about his bat- board. cerely, Bill Clinton. tle with the New York health services, H 1214 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE February 1, 1996 not to win this battle, and that we still copter pilot, on a ship, a sub or in a policy governing HIV positive have not won it. tank or in an artillery unit or a para- servicemembers. So the husband came home, the doc- trooper or special forces. They are Navy and Marine Corps regulations require tor could not call the wife, he infected that discharge proceedings be initiated given a safe job in the States, never to through the disability evaluation system in her, and then he dies and widows her be deployed again. cases of HIV–1 positive servicemembers who with one child. Fortunately the child Mr. Speaker, I will put in my re- are found unfit for duty. Members who are was conceived, because breast milk is marks and several other articles that I found fit for duty are retained; however, one way you transmit the HIV virus, wrote about the Clinton letter compar- they must be assigned within the United and now she is a sergeant, 10 years, left ing it to the letter of Major Sullivan States to a unit that is not normally pro- alone. Ballew in the Civil War, and I will put grammed for deployment. Further, they All I could do was say that she must in my explanation of why this is fair, must be assigned within 300 miles of a Medi- be patriotic and accept this honorable and it has to do with readiness, only to cal Treatment Facility (MTF) designated by the Surgeon General that is capable of pro- discharge 6 months from now, and not give an honorable discharge and 6 viding the care required by HIV–1 positive expect us to keep 1,100 people on active months to prepare to go into civilian members. The MTF’s designated are the duty when the doctors in the military life and special health treatment that a Naval Hospitals at San Diego and Oakland, tell me that the largest group of the 3 car accident victim does not get if they California, Bethesda, Maryland, and Ports- is probably 500 or more people, young have a career-ending injury while serv- mouth, Virginia. people, who are conned by our deterio- ing in uniform in our military services. The costs associated with retaining HIV–1 rating culture into sticking a dirty Mr. Speaker, I submit for the RECORD positive Marines have not yet been analyzed. needle in their arm, and that to help a my news releases and some key letters It must be noted, though, that the total number of HIV–1 positive Marines currently woman in this tragic situation we have on this HIV-military controversy: on active duty represents an extremely small to keep 500 people who broke the Uni- DORNAN PROVISION ON HIV/COMBAT READI- percentage of our total force. form Code of Military Justice, who NESS PASSES AS PART OF FISCAL YEAR 1996 Marines who are HIV–1 positive are not as- played Russian roulette with a dirty DEFENSE CONFERENCE BILL signed to ship’s detachments or to extended drug needle and lost, that they get ‘‘The necessity of retaining personnel who deployments afloat, although HIV–1 positive cover because of this one tragic case? have been found to be HIV positive imposes officers are not precluded from embarking on There are no more tainted blood peo- significant problems for all the services, but ships for short durations for training exer- especially the Navy. .. . The immediate dis- ple left on active duty. The last one cises, or from participating in training de- charge of HIV infected members would in- ployments within the United States or its died 3 years ago. We have all learned on crease personnel readiness. .. .’’ commented territories. Federal Aviation Administration this floor, from the limited debate on Admiral Frank Kelso, former Chief of Naval regulations prohibit HIV–1 positive the worst plague in American history, Operations, in response to an inquiry by Con- servicemembers from flying aircraft or being almost going to pass the flu epidemic gressman Robert K. Dornan of California. certified as pilots. Navy instructions also re- in 1919 that killed millions of senior Dornan, Chairman of the House Subcommit- strict the assignment of HIV–1 positive avi- citizens, we are getting there. tee on Military Personnel, successfully ators to duty as both pilot and aircrew We have now lost more young men in passed a provision in the FY 1996 Defense aboard military aircraft. Further limitations their prime of life than were killed in Conference which would accomplish this on the assignment of HIV–1 positive Marines goal. to operational units or specific duties may combat in World War II. Three hundred Dornan’s legislation would require dis- be established based on the necessity to pro- twelve thousand in World War II, de- charge of HIV+ military personnel, who, be- tect the health and safety of the HIV–1 posi- pending on your encyclopedia or your cause of their condition, are unable to deploy tive member and of other military personnel. military records, 350,000 to AIDS if you overseas or participate in most other combat Current Department of Defense regulations put bisexuals and drug users, a mixed requirements such as flying aircraft, serving governing physical disability prohibit the category, in with homosexuals. And on board ship, or operating as a ground in- determination of unfitness based solely on a then we add about 10 or 20,000 cases, Dr. fantryman. A Pentagon quality-of-life task servicemember’s inability to perform his or force echoed Dornan’s concerns in a recent her duties worldwide, a provision that does Koop, the Surgeon General, told me, report which stated, ‘‘The Defense Depart- not apply exclusively to HIV–1 positive that were attributed to the primary ment should enforce non-deployable poli- servicemembers. The Marine Corps supports cause of death, pneumonia, dementia, cies.’’ Currently, HIV-infected members, a recent recommendation by the Director, heart failure, cancer, rather than put though permanently non-deployable, are al- Naval Counsel of Personnel Boards that this down that it was AIDS that broke lowed to remain on active duty until they prohibition be removed. down their immune system and caused develop full-blown aids. We consider this a manpower issue vice a the death. So they add another 10 or ‘‘This is an issue of readiness and fair- medical issue. The deployed time for certain 20,000 on there from 1980 through 1983 ness,’’ said Dornan. ‘‘In a time of increased Marine units currently exceeds the Navy’s defense downsizing, we cannot afford to keep guidelines, and the retention of non- when doctors mercifully, it is under- on active duty personnel who are not fully deployable Marines prevents us from filling standable, tried to help the family deployable worldwide. We also must be fair those billets with Marines who are worldwide keep some privacy on what killed their to those who are fully deployable. They deployable. This not only impacts readiness young loved male adult and some few should not have to spend additional time but also increases the deployment tempo of women. away from friends and family because they fully fit Marines. So here we are with the networks have to remain overseas in place of someone I trust this information will be of assist- structuring this thing as though, and who is not deployable.’’ ance to you. they keep saying this, the Army Times Dornan points to the statement of an ac- Very Respectfully, tive duty Marines Corps company com- C. E. MUNDY, JR., said it, the networks have said it, the mander, who wrote, ‘‘By not being able to ro- General, U.S. Marine Corps, Post said it and the New York Times tate from our non-deploying company, my Commandant of the Marine Corps. calling any of us who voted for this, one HIV Marine kept another Marine from which is a majority of the House and leaving a deploying unit. This may not seem CHIEF OF NAVAL OPERATIONS, Senate and the majority of conferees, like much to some Congressmen. . ., but I’m September 2, 1993. calling us anti-AIDS bigots. They keep sure it meant a lot to the guy and his family Hon. Robert K. Dornan, saying these men stay on the job and who had just spent 54% of their last three House of Representatives, that they are healthy. years separated due to normal deployment Washington, DC. patterns.’’ DEAR MR. DORNAN: Thank you for your let- No, by definition they are not The defense conference report will now be ter of July 1, 1993, concerning our HIV policy healthy, that is why they cannot give sent to the President and hopefully signed and the problems associated with caring for blood. By definition we in this Con- into law. HIV infected personnel. gress added them to the Americans The necessity of retaining personnel who with Disabilities Act. Every HIV per- DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY, HEAD- have been found to be HIV positive imposes son in this country is considered dis- QUARTERS, U.S. MARINE CORPS, significant problems for all the Services, but abled, so they are not healthy. Washington, DC, July 23, 1993. especially Navy. Assignment limitations OBERT ORNAN cause significant disruption in the sea/shore Then they stay on the job, and this is Hon. R K. D , House of Representatives, rotation for all our personnel. where I want to stay down and plead Washington, DC. The Department of Defense (DoD) requires with people to listen. They do not stay DEAR MR. DORNAN: Thank you for your let- assignment of HIV infected service members on the job if they are a pilot, a heli- ter of July 1, 1993, concerning Marine Corps only within the continental United States February 1, 1996 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H 1215 due to the high priority assigned to the con- If I may be of any further assistance, ‘‘That one [answer] particularly got me,’’ tinued medical evaluations; Alaska, Hawaii, please do not hesitate to contact me. said a colonel who asked not to be named. and Puerto Rico lack Navy medical treat- Sincerely, A female sergeant with the 4th Aviation ment facilities required by HIV infected FRANK B. KELSO II, Brigade, based at Kaposvar Air Field, also members. Admiral, U.S. Navy. took issue with the statement. ‘‘I voted for HIV infected members are not eligible for him [Mr. Clinton] last time, but not this service on ships, due to insufficient medical NON COMMISSIONED time,’’ said the sergeant, who also declined treatment facilities aboard; however, HIV in- OFFICERS ASSOCIATION to be named. fected members do continue to perform in OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Some soldiers said they were offended by their rating in shore duty billets in close Alexandria, VA, June 7, 1994 the attempt to guide their responses. proximity to adequate medical care. Mem- Hon. ROBERT K. DORNAN, The guidelines include a list of do’s and bers who normally are assigned to a flight House of Representatives, don’ts for speaking with reporters, including assignment are grounded when found to be Washington, DC. an admonition not to discuss ‘‘political or HIV infected. This is consistent with estab- DEAR MR. DORNAN: The Non Commissioned foreign policy matters . . . or give opinions lished procedures for other medical condi- Officers Association of the USA (NCOA) on hypothetical situations.’’ tions. Fifty-five percent of all Navy ratings strongly supports the proposal contained in They also contain commonsense sugges- serve the majority of their careers at sea. All the House version of the FY 1995 Defense Au- tions about not revealing classified informa- HIV infected members in sea duty intensive thorization Bill (H.R. 4301) that ensures that tion or details of future plans and operations ratings no longer take their turn for assign- all members of the military be physically or operational capabilities. ment to a ship, drastically altering an al- and medically worldwide deployable. Soldiers are advised not to say ‘‘no com- ready tight sea/shore rotation schedule. HIV During a time when manpower levels of the ment’’ but instead to answer difficult ques- infected Physicians, Nurses, Dentists, Hos- military services have been and continue to tions by saying ‘‘We don’t comment on fu- pital Corpsmen (HM), and Dental Techni- be reduced to minimum levels, NCOA be- ture operations’’ or ‘‘I’m not qualified to an- cians (DT) are not allowed to perform expo- lieves that the taxpayers of this country swer that question.’’ sure, invasive procedures. should reasonably expect that all The troops also are told never to lie to re- servicemembers serving in the military serv- HIV is an expensive disease to treat. Costs porters and not to interfere with news gath- ices be able to serve wherever and whenever are not limited solely to providing medical erings. needed. If necessary readiness capabilities care. The average length of time between di- ‘‘Be positive in your answers,’’ the guide are to be realized from a ‘‘boot-on-the- agnosis of an HIV infection and medical sep- says. ‘‘This is your opportunity to tell the ground’’ standpoint, everyone in uniform aration is approximately 4 years. Members public what a great job you and your unit must be eligible for deployment under field are not medically separated until they dis- are doing.’’ conditions. NCOA further believes that fail- play clinical illness symptoms. Other handy news bites suggested by the ure to adhere to such a policy presents false An asymptomatic active duty member’s guide include the following: strength indicators and will undoubtedly re- medical care consists of an initial hos- ∑ ‘‘We are trained, ready and fully pre- sult in unfair assignment practices and ra- pitalization for a thorough medical evalua- pared to conduct peace operations.’’ pidity for those who meet and maintain es- tion and staging, and periodic reevaluations ∑ ‘‘We area not here to fight but we have tablished deployability criteria. conducted semiannually. The cost of an ini- the capability, when required, to enforce the NCOA is opposed to any legislative effort treaty and to protect ourselves.’’ tial evaluation is approximately $4,000 and to reduce or lessen the deployability require- reevaluations cost $2,400. Medications such ∑ ‘‘We are a disciplined and trained force. ments of H.R. 4301. We understand our mission and the rules of as AZT cost approximately $2,200 per year. Sincerely, Total lifetime treatment adds up to approxi- engagement.’’ MICHAEL F. OUELLETTE, ∑ ‘‘U.S. forces have a long tradition of mately $208,000. This figure does not include Sergeant Major, U.S. time lost from their assigned duty station, working with the United Nations and NATO Army, (Retired), and are confident in our abilities to work to- psychological counseling, travel to and from Director of Legislative Affairs. the medical center or the costs of separation. gether in this mission.’’ The Navy has approximately 787 HIV in- Here is my ‘‘Dear Colleague’’ on this, Many soldiers privately expressed dislike fected active duty members, 35 officers and Mr. Speaker: of Mr. Clinton, who avoided service in the 752 enlisted. The average FY–93 cost in pay DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE OR MINISTRY OF military during the Vietnam War. One sol- and benefits to retain one officer is $71,436 PROPAGANDA? dier said he lost all respect for the president and $30,541 for each enlisted member on ac- DEAR COLLEAGUE: I’m sure you’ll share my after he learned about Mr. Clinton’s efforts tive duty. The total pay and benefits for the outrage after reading the following article to avoid being drafted. 787 personnel is $25,467,092 for this fiscal from the January 29, 1996 edition of the One lieutenant colonel confided that he year. Washington Times regarding a ‘‘Media Ref- disliked the president but was careful not to A member found medically unfit for duty erence Card’’ issued to our troops in Bosnia. express his opinions when enlisted personnel is transferred to the Temporary Disability This is another blatant attempt by this ad- were around. Retirement List (TDRL) and provided a 30 ministration to use our military for purposes Capt. Mark Darden, a spokesman for the percent minimum disability benefit and con- other than national security. In this case, Army in Hungary, referred questions about tinued Navy medical care. We place the U.S. troops—troops risking their lives the pamphlet to Capt. Robert Hastings, who member on the Permanent Disability Retire- against land mines and terrorists in the cold took part in writing the guidelines. Capt. ment List (PDRL) and provide a 100 percent of winter—are being directed to tell report- Hastings did not return a telephone call disability benefit and continued Navy medi- ers they have full faith in the President and seeking comment. cal care when the member’s condition dete- the United Nations! Besides the article, I’m riorates. The Navy has medically retired also including a copy of part of the card it- ANSWER YOU CAN USE—V CORPS MEDIA REF- 1,193 HIV infected members since the begin- self—Disgusting! ERENCE CARD—GUIDELINES FOR DEALING ning of the program in 1986. An estimated Sincerely, WITH CIVILIAN NEWS MEDIA lifetime treatment cost (not including pay ROBERT K. DORNAN, 1. Throughout this operation, there will be and benefits) for all the infected retirees is a U.S. Congressman. excessive media coverage of Army activities. total of $248,144,000. Only members who be- PUT ON A HAPPY FACE, TROOPS IN BOSNIA Reporters will be present everywhere in the come eligible for the Temporary or Perma- TOLD—PRAISE CLINTON IF PRESS ASKS, area of operations. They are allowed to nent Disability Retirement Lists are pro- GUIDE SAYS record your actions and activities. Politely vided continued treatment at a Navy medi- Taszar Air Base. Hungary—U.S. troops are ask them to stay out of your way, but you cal treatment facility. All members dis- grumbling about a pamphlet that advises should not interfere with their news gather- charged for other reasons are eligible for them to tell any inquiring reporter they ing activities. If there is time and it doesn’t Veterans Administration care upon separa- have full confidence in their commanders, interfere with your mission, you may answer tion. from President Clinton on down. their questions as long as you follow the The immediate discharge of HIV infected The pamphlet, titled ‘‘Answers You Can guidelines on this card. members would increase personnel readiness Use,’’ was prepared by the Army’s V Corps 2. Don’t make ‘‘off the record’’ statements during a time of significant downsizing. Ad- and has been distributed to all Army troops to reporters. Assume that a reporter’s re- ditionally, it would allow the Navy to re- in Bosnia to help them deal with pesky press corder is always on. Anything you say to re- place the 787 infected members with mem- inquiries. porters can be used in their reports. bers who are healthy and world-wide assign- One suggested answer is: ‘‘U.S. forces are 3. If a reporter comes to your unit and is able. Sea/shore rotation schedules would be confident in our trained and competent lead- not escorted by a Public Affairs Officer or readjusted, thereby increasing readiness. ers. We have pride in our leadership, from main escort, refer them to the Joint Infor- Discharging these members would place the the president on down, and full trust in their mation Bureau. If they are escorted, you responsibility of monitoring the physical decision.’’ may answer their questions, but inform your condition of HIV infected members on the ci- The problem is, not all of the soldiers feel chain of command about their presence im- vilian sector. that way. mediately. H 1216 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE February 1, 1996 4. You are not required to talk to the have had the privilege of serving here, gress, a unique class, I think, in many media. If you do, you have the responsibility and we have worked well together, and respects, but a class nonetheless that I to protect classified information and the se- I must say that I can say, as my grand- regret having to depart from as many curity and privacy of your fellow soldiers. Do father said about many of his acquaint- others have before me. not discuss anything outside your area of ex- pertise and do not speculate. ances, that the gentleman from Mary- b 2215 5. You may not discuss future plans and op- land is indeed, as my grandfather would have said, a gentleman, a schol- But those were different days, and in erations, political or foreign policy matters, many respects this was a different Con- operational capabilities, or give opinions on ar and a poor judge of good whiskey, hypothetical situations. ‘‘Stay in your and I thank you for having allowed me gress and, indeed, perhaps even this lane.’’ the privilege of being your friend in was a different Nation. I have fond memories of the years 6. Don’t say ‘‘no comment.’’ Simply state this body. that I have served in this capacity. I ‘‘we don’t comment on future operations,’’ or Mr. MFUME. Mr. Speaker, I thank ‘‘I’m not qualified to answer that question.’’ would be remiss if I did not thank the the distinguished gentleman very much 7. Never lie to the media. If you can’t an- people of Baltimore City and Baltimore for his kind remarks and for his friend- swer a question or don’t know the answer, County that comprise the Seventh Con- ship over the last decade as we have say so. Suggest where, or with whom the an- gressional District of Maryland for swer may be found. served together on a number of com- vesting in me year after year both in 8. Be brief and concise in answering ques- mittees, fought a number of battles, this capacity and previously in a local tions. Use simple language, not military jar- and at the end of the day recognized gon or acronyms. capacity their trust, their goodwill to that friendships really do matter and represent them here in elected office. 9. Think before you speak. When asked a the ability to work together and com- question, stop, think, and then answer. They have been good to me over the 10. If you accidentally say something inap- promise really is what this body is all years, returning me to office with 84 propriate, say so. Ask the reporter not to use about. I thank the gentleman for his percent of the vote in a day and in an your comment, and then report the incident kind remarks. age where there is a great deal of cyni- to your commander. Mr. ARMEY. Mr. Speaker, I thank cism, when totalities are considered 11. Don’t allow yourself to be badgered by the gentleman. landslides if they approach 65 percent. the media. If necessary, politely end the Mr. MFUME. Mr. Speaker, I with- So in that respect, I have been blessed. interview and contact your commander or draw my reservation of objection. the PAO. I have also been blessed in these 10 The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there years to have an opportunity to serve 12. If you observe a reporter recording or objection to the request of the gen- viewing something classified, take imme- with a number of distinguished Mem- diate steps to protect the information and tleman from Texas? bers of the House, many of whom are report the incident to your commander. There was no objection. still here, others who have gone on to Under no circumstances should you try to f other careers, and some of whom are no take notes, film or equipment from a re- FAREWELL ADDRESS BY KWEISI longer on this Earth. porter. Get the reporter’s name and organi- MFUME I remember the days of serving with zation for your report. Claude Pepper of Florida, a distin- 13. Be positive in your answers. This is The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. guished gentleman who had in his your opportunity to tell the public what a METCALF). Under the Speaker’s an- good job you and your unit are doing. heart of hearts one desire and one true nounced policy of May 12, 1995, the gen- commitment, to try to bring about f tleman from Maryland [Mr. MFUME] is change in this body with respect to recognized for 60 minutes as the des- CONTINGENT ADJOURNMENT OF how we viewed those in the twilight of ignee of the minority leader. their lives. I listened to Claude Pepper THE HOUSE FROM CALENDAR Mr. MFUME. Mr. Speaker, for those DAY OF FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 2, from this well as others did as he con- Members that are still in their offices tinued to talk about why we needed 1996 TO TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, and others who are watching, this is in 1996 catastrophic health care in this coun- fact probably the last time that I will try and why we ought to understand Mr. ARMEY. Mr. Speaker, I ask come into the well of the House of Rep- the treasure chest that we have and the unanimous consent that when the resentatives to address this Chamber repository that we have in our senior House adjourns on the calendar day of and to address the people of the United citizens, why we had to have a sensitiv- Friday, February 2, 1996 (legislative States in this capacity. ity toward them as we must have a day of Thursday, February 1, 1996), it As many of you know, on the 18th of sensitivity toward young people. stand adjourned until 8 p.m. on Tues- this month, I will conclude my service I remember Sil Conte of Massachu- day, February 6, 1996, unless the House here in the House of Representatives, setts, a Republican who understood sooner receives a message from the lay my resignation forward, and move partisan debate and partisan discourse, Senate transmitting its concurrence in from that point on on the 18th into a but, who at the end of the day, recog- House Concurrent Resolution 141, in new capacity, that being the President nized that we were all the same people which case the House shall stand ad- and CEO of the NAACP. cut in many respects from the same journed pursuant to that concurrent Mr. Speaker, I come to the well with cloth and given, if we were lucky, the resolution. mixed emotions but I come nonetheless same challenge in this institution to The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. because this has been for me a place of heal and bring us together. Sil Conte METCALF). Is there objection to the re- partisan wrangling and a place quite passed away many years ago also, but quest of the gentleman from Texas? frankly to make amends. This well is it is the memory of him and Claude Mr. MFUME. Mr. Speaker, reserving used by Members for a number of Pepper that reverberate in this Cham- the right to object, and I will not ob- things, most of which is to talk about ber, the memory of Mickey Leland ject, I do want to, for the RECORD, indi- their legislation, but it also, I think, coming from Houston, TX, with the de- cate that the minority has been con- ought to be a pulpit from which we sire to represent not only those in his sulted on the unanimous-consent re- seek to bridge a better understanding district but those around the country quest. We understand the merits of it of one another, from which we try to who were voiceless and, indeed, ulti- and the necessity of it, and we have no build coalitions and from which we try mately those around the world who had objections at this time. to understand not just the Members of no voice who in the end gave his life on Mr. ARMEY. Mr. Speaker, will the this Chamber but ourselves differently a mountaintop in Africa trying to feed gentleman yield? and also the millions upon millions of the hungry and to clothe the naked. Mr. MFUME. I yield to the gen- people throughout the United States So it has been an interesting 10 tleman from Texas. who watch on a daily basis our actions years. Having served as I have under Mr. ARMEY. Mr. Speaker, under the as Members of this august body. three Presidents, I have developed at gentleman’s reservation, I would like I came here, Mr. Speaker, 10 years least a different appreciation beyond to just take a moment to say farewell ago, in the class of 1986. We were 51 in what I learned in the classroom about to my good friend from Maryland, Mr. number and we were a part of what was the relationship between the legisla- MFUME. I have enjoyed my time that I known then as the historic 100th Con- tive branch and the executive branch of