Extensions of Remarks E1 EXTENSIONS of REMARKS
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
January 7, 1997 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD Ð Extensions of Remarks E1 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS THE BALANCED BUDGET the neck down a mere half an hour after the work provides important lessons for us and for CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT man bought a $100 rifle at a K±Mart in our children. I'm sure my colleagues will join Tampa, FL. The man had consumed a case of me in paying tribute to Ms. Frey, and I join in HON. BILL ARCHER beer and nearly a fifth of whiskey before he applauding her numerous local and inter- OF TEXAS bought the gun. He was so incapacitated at national contributions. Her important work sig- the time of the purchase that the store clerk nifies a task well done on a subject that must IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES had to fill out the Federal firearm registration remain in our consciousness, both today and Tuesday, January 7, 1997 form. tomorrow. Mr. ARCHER. Mr. Speaker, today I am in- Ms. Kitchen successfully sued K±Mart for f troducing a joint resolution to amend the Con- negligence, but the retail chain has appealed, INTRODUCTION OF THE RECON- stitution in order to mandate the U.S. Con- denying any liability. K±Mart doesn't think it STRUCTIVE BREAST SURGERY gress to commit to balancing the Federal did anything wrong in selling the drunk the BENEFITS ACT OF 1997 budget and remove the burdens of large Fed- gun that paralyzed Ms. Kitchen. If gun sellers eral deficits off of the American people. This cannot act responsibly on their own, it is up to legislation is essential to the future of our Na- us to force them to act responsibly. No one HON. ANNA G. ESHOO tion as we stand on the threshold of the 21st should sell a gun to a drunk, period. My bill OF CALIFORNIA century. The costs of maintaining our national would make it a Federal crime to sell a gun to IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES debt have absorbed increasing proportions of a drunk in an effort to ensure that there won't Tuesday, January 7, 1997 national savings that would otherwise have be any more Deborah Kitchens in the future. Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to in- been available to finance investment, either f troduce the Reconstructive Breast Surgery public or private. Today, interest payments Benefits Act of 1997 to guarantee that insur- alone on the debt are the largest item in the RECOGNIZING THE CONTRIBU- TIONS OF MINNESOTAN HUMAN ance companies cover the cost of reconstruc- budget, comprising over 20 percent of all Fed- tive breast surgery that results from eral spending. RIGHTS ADVOCATE BARBARA FREY mastectomies for which coverage is already This type or irresponsible spending and provided. In addition, the legislation would se- management must end. Now the 105th Con- cure insurance coverage for all stages of re- gress has the opportunity to do just that. My HON. BRUCE F. VENTO constructive breast surgery performed on a balanced budget amendment is very similar to OF MINNESOTA nondiseased breast to establish symmetry with the language that passed the House of Rep- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES the diseased one when reconstructive surgery resentatives in 1995 by a vote of 300 to 132. Tuesday, January 7, 1997 on the diseased breast is performed. However, the most important distinction of my In 1995, an estimated 182,000 American amendment from the 1995 language is the Mr. VENTO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in women were diagnosed with breast cancer, provision specifying the vote margin needed to recognition of an extraordinary Minnesotan, and 85,000 of them underwent a mastectomy waive the balanced budget requirement. Barbara Frey. For 11 years as executive direc- as part of their treatment. Reconstructive Under the previously passed bill, three-fifths of tor of Minnesota Advocates, an internationally breast surgery often is an integral part of the the whole House and Senate were required to recognized human rights organization which mental and physical recovery of women who waive the balanced budget requirements. My has played an instrumental part in human undergo this traumatic, disfiguring procedure. amendment sets a more stringent and impera- rights work, Ms. Frey has poured her tireless Unfortunately, insurance companies don't al- tive requirement of two-thirds of those present energy and efforts into the establishment of ways see it that way. Even though many of and votingÐthe same margin necessary to the cause of fighting human rights abuses on them are willing to pay for mastectomies, they pass a constitutional amendment. a worldwide basis. While Barbara Frey will be sometimes balk at covering breast reconstruc- I hope that my colleagues, on both sides of relinquishing that role, I can safely predict as tion. This legislation would put an end to this the aisle, agree that actions speak louder than her Representative and friend that she will shortsighted practice and guarantee that words. We've talked about our commitment to continue to make a major contribution to our women with breast cancer are not victimized balancing the budget for long enough, it's time community and society. Ms. Frey's accom- twiceÐfirst by the disease, then by their insur- to do it. plishments will provide a sound basis and sta- ance companies. f tus for her future work in Minnesota and inter- According to the American Society of Plastic nationally. and Reconstructive Surgeons [ASPRS], a sig- INTRODUCTION OF GUNS AND Some people have one job; Barbara Frey nificant number of women with breast cancer DRUNKS LEGISLATION has several. In addition to her work at Min- must undergo mastectomy or amputation of a nesota Advocates, Ms. Frey may add to her breast in order to treat their disease appro- HON. JOHN CONYERS, JR. resume work as an adjunct professor of priately. The two most common types of re- OF MICHIGAN human rights at the University of Minnesota constructionÐtissue expansion followed by an IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Law School In addition, every Sunday she de- implant insertion and flap surgeryÐcan restore livers food-shelf donations to the needy from Tuesday, January 7, 1997 the breast mound to a natural shape. Most St. Francis Cabrini Catholic Church. She also breast reconstruction requires a series of pro- Mr. CONYERS. Mr. Speaker, I wouldn't coaches girls' basketball and teaches a week- cedures that may include an operation on the have thought it was necessary to introduce a ly course at St. Paul's Expo Magnet School, opposite breast for symmetry. bill prohibiting gun sellers from selling guns to where her daughter, Maddie, is a student. Ms. Even though studies show that fear of losing obviously intoxicated individuals, but it is. Frey recently paid a visit to the White House a breast is a leading reason why many women as the law stands, you can't sell alcohol to on International Human Rights Day to be hon- do not participate in early breast cancer detec- someone who is clearly drunk because that ored by President Clinton for her efforts to tion programs, many general surgeons don't person might hurt himself or others, but you promote women's rights. even present reconstruction as an option for can sell a drunk a dangerous firearm. Even Whether educating Minnesota's students or mastectomy candidates. Unfortunately, many without a law, common sense might dictate reprimanding military leaders about human women are unaware that reconstruction is an that you don't sell a gun to a drunk, but unfor- rights violations, Barbara Frey has approached option following mastectomy, and they put off tunately, not everyone uses their common her valuable work with the same passion of testing and/or treatment for breast cancer until sense. conviction, courage, and purpose of mission. it is too late. Deborah Kitchen, a mother of five, was shot St. Paul, MN, is fortunate to be home to this A recent ASPRS surveyÐwith an error by her ex-boyfriend and left paralyzed from most talented and dedicated individual, whose range of ±1.9 percentÐindicates that 84 · 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. E2 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD Ð Extensions of Remarks January 7, 1997 percent of respondents had up to 10 patients CONCERNING A CONGRESSIONAL We should see this failure to comply with who were denied insurance coverage for FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THE the Constitution as a serious and troubling breast reconstruction of the amputated breast. CONSTITUTION DURING THE matter. Of those surgeons who support State legisla- 104TH CONGRESS Because I understood that the breakdown tion to address this problem and reported de- had occurred on the other side of the Capitol, nied coverage, the top three procedures de- HON. DAVID E. SKAGGS I raised the matter with the majority leader of nied most often were symmetry surgery on a OF COLORADO the Senate in a telephone conversation and, nondiseased breast, revision of breast recon- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES subsequently, in a letter which I ask unani- struction, and nipple areola reconstruction. mous consent be included in the RECORD at The top five States of residence of those pa- Tuesday, January 7, 1997 the conclusion of my remarks. tients reporting denied coverage are Florida, Mr. SKAGGS. Mr. Speaker, I want to call to As I noted then, I can understand why, as California, Texas, Pennsylvania, and New the attention of the House what appears to be a practical matter, it might seem redundant to York.