April 23, 1997 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H1773 the door to the realization of the dreams which eration of Armenians to honor the memory of ed States, but represented I think by a we all hold for our children and for their chil- the innocent people who were slaughtered determination that was manifested in dren. simply because they were Armenian. They do one of those voting lines in the 1980’s, Let our statements today, remembering and a great service for the world by not only com- when one woman who had been ordered openly condemning the atrocity committed memorating their own ancestors, but by focus- by the FMLN Communists not to go to against the Armenians, help renew a commit- ing world attention on the terrible con- the polls that day was standing in a ment of the American people to oppose any sequences of allowing crimes like this to go voting line with a bullet wound in her and all instances of genocide. As we enter the unopposed and unnoticed. Remembering the shoulder and was asked by one of the new millennium let us commit ourselves to Armenian genocide is both an important trib- reporters if she was not going to leave finding new and peaceful paths for resolving ute to those who were slaughtered and one the line and she said ‘‘no’’. Essentially differences which inevitably arise. step in making sure that this does not happen she said ‘‘We fought for a long time to I thank you for the honor of sharing these again. get to this point, I’m going to vote.’’ thoughts and words with you today. GENERAL LEAVE And they had a great turnout that Mr. ACKERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today, Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I ask year. together with my colleagues, to commemorate unanimous consent that all Members Jose Duarte remained the leader of the Armenian Genocide of 1915±23. On this may have 5 legislative days within El Salvador and, because of the stead- day, in 1915, over 200 Armenian leaders were which to revise and extend their re- fastness of Ronald Reagan a lot of his systematically massacred by the Turkish Gov- marks on this special order on the Ar- supporters and guys like Bill ernment. Yet these horrific murders were only menian genocide. Blakemore of Texas, who was a real a precursor to the brutality and aggressive- The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there leader of the business community, we ness that would follow. In just 8 years, over objection to the request of the gen- have a chance for real democracy in 1.5 million Armenian men, women, and chil- tleman from New Jersey? our own hemisphere. dren were murdered and an entire population There was no objection. Let me say just a word, Mr. Speaker, was faced with annihilation. I stand today, not Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, if the about my great friend Bob Dornan. only to acknowledge and remember the hor- gentleman from California has nothing There will never be another one like rors of this tragic event but to denounce the else, I would thank him for participat- him. He was of great value to this government of Turkey for their denial of these ing with me. House, and I think there is a good historically documented truths. The official po- f chance he will be of great value to this sition of the Turkish Government is that, dur- House again. I am just reminded when ing World War I, a series of internal conflicts TWO GREAT AMERICANS: BOB they had the incident in Somalia and contributed to the unfortunate deaths of many DORNAN AND BILL BLAKEMORE those Americans were killed, Bob Dor- Armenians. This claim shamefully ignores the The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a nan was the only Member of the Na- premeditated murder of these people. As previous order of the House, the gen- tional Security Committee who went Members of Congress and as human beings, tleman from California [Mr. HUNTER] is over, flew that long distance, some 40 it is our responsibility to defend the memories recognized for 5 minutes. hours in the air, to Somalia, went over of those who needlessly suffered. We must Mr. HUNTER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the event in detail, and came back and preserve the dignity of lives destroyed by the my friend, the gentleman from Geor- contacted the family of every member cruelty of a government. Their plight deserves gia, JACK KINGSTON, for giving me some of that Ranger unit who were killed in remembrance and the world deserves the time here ahead of his 1 hour. that debacle. truth. The Turkish Government's refusal to ac- Mr. Speaker, I rise to say a few That was Bob Dornan. A heart as big knowledge the Armenian genocide is disgrace- things about two great Americans. One as all outdoors, a keen intellect, a ful and I find it to be an injustice, which should of them is my good friend Bob Dornan, great ability to speak. He has still got not be tolerated under any circumstances. It is who is no longer with us, but may be it. Obviously we have heard from him essential to recognize the devastation that back soon depending on the outcome of across the airwaves lately, but I just was incurred by ignoring the Armenian geno- the election challenge that he has of- wanted to say that Bob Dornan was a cide and allowing such horrors to reoccur fered; and the other one is Bill great, great asset to the National Secu- through the Holocaust. We remember the trau- Blakemore, a private American citizen rity Committee, flew all of the air- ma befallen upon the Jews and we must now who right now is in the hospital, the craft, knew all of the countries with stand up for the suffering forced upon millions Methodist Hospital in Houston, TX, whom we had treaty relations and of Armenians. The world can no longer refute who is in pretty serious condition, but knew what the treaty relations were history. Instead we must come together as Ar- who was very, very important to this and was a real expert in national secu- menians, as Jews and as human beings to country in the 1980’s when he helped to rity. God bless you, Bob. I hope to see guarantee that no person shall ever endure put together a group of Texas conserv- you back soon. such pain again. I thank my colleagues, Con- atives who rallied the country behind f gressman JOHN PORTER and Congressman the idea that Central America was MEDICARE FRANK PALLONE, for leading this effort in the worth saving, and particularly that we House of Representatives, and am proud to needed to support the Contras, the The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. be a member of the Armenian Issues Caucus freedom fighters who were fighting the SUNUNU). Under the Speaker’s an- in order to work on this issue of concern to all Communist-backed, Soviet-backed in- nounced policy of January 7, 1997, the human beings. surgents or Soviet backed Sandinistas gentleman from Georgia [Mr. KINGS- Mr. FRANK of Massachusetts. Mr. Speaker, in Nicaragua, and also that we needed TON] is recognized for 60 minutes as the I am appreciative of the efforts of my col- to protect the very fragile government designee of the majority leader. leagues in taking out this special order and of El Salvador, the government of Jose Mr. KINGSTON. Before he leaves the making it possible for us to reaffirm our abso- Duarte, which at that time was holding Chamber, I want to say to the gen- lute determination that the Armenian genocide off the Soviet-backed FMLN. tleman from California that many, will not go unnoticed. The world made a ter- many Members and in fact I am sure b 2015 rible mistake, with disastrous consequences, most Members of this Chamber agree when it ignored the terrible crime committed When Ronald Reagan came into of- with him in his comments about Rep- by Turkey against the Armenian people 80 fice in 1980, and I was lucky to be one resentative, the Honorable Bob Dor- years and more ago. I continue to be baffled of the people that came in with him as nan, because he was such a viable part by the unwillingness of the current Turkish one of the 54 Republican Congressmen of this body for many years. He is an Government to acknowledge this horrible who were elected that year, Honduras, extremely dedicated patriotic Amer- crime. I do not blame the current inhabitants Guatemala, El Salvador and Nicaragua ican of great intellect and energy, and of Turkey for the sins of their ancestors, but were all under some sort of a military I hope that the years are as good to me their refusal to acknowledge these terrible ac- dictatorship. Today all those nations as they have been to Bob Dornan in tions do them no credit. have fragile democracies, imperfect, terms of getting the job done. As do many of my colleagues, I greatly ad- certainly not totally cast in the image Mr. Speaker, tonight is the eve of the mire the fierce commitment of the current gen- of democracy that we have in the Unit- trustees report on Medicare. Each year H1774 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE April 23, 1997 the trustees who are appointed, three out. It changed in 1995 and all the re- very important obviously to my moth- of them by the President of the United serves will be totally exhausted by er. But it is very complicated. She has States, give a state of affairs on Medi- 2002. to have a part A program, she has to care, how it is doing, how much money The gentleman is right. My congres- have a part B program and she has to it is bringing in, how many people are sional district in Florida is a beautiful have a supplemental and it still does participating, what works and what area, southwest Florida, with lots of not pay that much. It does not pay any does not work. We all remember on senior citizens. It has more senior citi- drug coverage. April 3, 1995, when those Clinton-ap- zens than any congressional district in Mr. KINGSTON. Would the gen- pointed Medicare trustees gave us the the country. It is important for the tleman care to describe those briefly? very sad news that Medicare was going people in my district because of the Mr. MILLER of Florida. Of course broke and if we did not act and act seniors in the district. It is important Medicare part A is paid for by payroll quickly to protect and preserve Medi- as a jobs issue. My economy is very de- tax. That is the part that is going care, that it would not be there for our pendent on Medicare because I have got bankrupt. The part A program pays grandparents and for future genera- more hospitals and doctors and nursing hospitalization costs. When you go in tions. homes and home health agencies that the hospital, that is what it pays for is I think what the Republican Party employ people. That is the largest em- the doctor, the surgeon, the hospital has tried to do since April 1995 is work ployer in my district. So it is a jobs bills. There is some nursing home cov- to solve Medicare on a bipartisan basis, issue. It is not just for the senior citi- erage and a little bit of home health because, Mr. Speaker, my mother and zens. coverage there. Part B is outpatient dad depend on it. My great grand- Mr. KINGSTON. If the gentleman coverage. Part B pays for home health mother depends on it. My wife depends will yield, it is a jobs issue, but also as and doctor bills. But part B unlike part on it. My wife’s grandmother depends part of it, there are some inefficiencies A is paid mainly out of the Federal on it. It is something we believe deeply in there and one of the results of that treasury. Twenty-five percent of it is as Americans that we need to protect inefficiency is that Medicare inflation paid by the senior citizens, about $46 a and preserve. has been around 11 percent. Regular month. Whereas the other 75 percent I have tonight joining me in this spe- medical inflation has been in the 4 to 6 comes right out of our Federal treas- cial order the gentleman from Florida percent range, depending on the year ury. No one pays a penny into it. It is [Mr. MILLER], who has led that fight. and so forth. a pay-as-you-go type plan. The gentleman from Florida [Mr. MIL- Would the gentleman care to com- Supplemental, the senior citizens pay LER] has, and he may have the need to ment on that? the full costs of it. They have a choice correct me, more seniors in his district Mr. MILLER of Florida. What we find of about 10 plans. They pick the one than any other district in the United is that in the private sector, we found they want. If they want a Cadillac States of America. It is not only very health care costs really being very plan, they pay a very expensive bill. If personal with him, but it is certainly manageable the past several years. Ac- they want to take a lesser expensive political. So he has had to do every- tually for larger businesses with over version, they do not have to pay as thing he can to help it. 100 employees, health care costs have much. But it is very complicated. No I am going to yield the floor to the even been going down for some of these one in the private sector has to live gentleman from Florida [Mr. MILLER], companies. So what we should do is let with three insurance plans. Basically but before I do I want to also say that us look at what the private sector is you just only have one plan. When I I have the gentleman from Washington doing. That has been true in every- was in the private sector I had one [Mr. METCALF] with us, who is part of thing. Just look at what the private plan. As a Federal employee I have one the freshman class in the 104th Con- sector is doing and apply it to Medi- plan. That is the way it works. But not gress who also has worked very closely care. for senior citizens. We have created and very energetically to protect Medi- Mr. KINGSTON. Is the gentleman this very difficult plan. The benefits care. The gentleman from California meaning to tell me that Ford Motor are not even that great sometimes. As [Mr. HUNTER] is welcome to join us if Co. or IBM or Wal-Mart, their health I say, most of them do not get drug he chooses to. care has not been going up as much as coverage. They do not have all the Let me yield to the gentleman from Government-run health care? choices they want. It is a very paper- Florida [Mr. MILLER]. Tomorrow we get Mr. MILLER of Florida. In some work, bureaucratic type plan. Every- the report. What is it going to tell us? years it has been going down. That is body has been afraid to talk about Mr. MILLER of Florida. The Medi- how successful they have been to help Medicare. But the one thing right now care report is probably going to tell us control costs. Under the Medicare plan at stake, we brought up the issue 2 essentially the same thing we have that we are proposing, this is a biparti- years ago when the trustees’ report been hearing the past couple of years, san issue as the gentleman said. This is came out, is this is something we have that Medicare is going to be bankrupt something that we have got to work got to work together on. It is not sus- in 4 more years. This report coming together with the Democrats and Re- tainable continuing to grow at 10, 11, 12 out from the administration includes publicans, because the Democrats, de- percent a year. It is going bankrupt. people like the Secretary of HHS, spite what they said during the cam- Looking at the numbers, going further Donna Shalala, the Secretary of Treas- paign last year, are just as committed off into the future, it is even worse. ury, Robert Rubin, the Secretary of as we are to save this program. We We have a two-part problem here, a Labor, which we do not have one right have got to save it. We have got to short-term problem and a long-term now, and few other appointees. It is not work together. Actually I have to com- problem. The short-term problem is in dispute what the facts are going to mend the President. He has moved in bankrupt in 4 years, so we have got to be in the report. The report is going to our direction since the election, de- act now. We have got to act this year, say that Medicare is going to be bank- spite all the rhetoric last fall. Hope- with the President, with the Demo- rupt sometime probably in 2002. That is fully we are going to be able to work crats and Republicans, we have got to only 4 years away. It may be a couple out something together. It is some- have a plan that saves it at least to of months different from what it was thing that is absolutely essential to 2010. last year, but the bottom line is Medi- this country and we need to work to- Then we have a long-term problem, care part A is going to be totally out of gether. and that is what I call the 2010 prob- money, because we started back in 1995 But the gentleman is right. Big com- lem. 2010 is 65 years after the end of where the money flowing into the Med- panies have actually had their costs go World War II. That is when the baby icare part A fund is less than the down for some years. What they have boomers were born, right at the end of amount of money going out. Up until done is give people choices, instead of World War II, so starting in the late 1995, we had more money flowing in having one size fits all as we have in 1940’s. Those people are going to start from the payroll tax, that is how we Medicare. Medicare is not a great pro- retiring in 2010. The demographics real- fund the Medicare part A program, we gram. My mother is on Medicare. She ly explode starting then. That is, the had more money going in than going is 87 years old, in a nursing home. It is number of retirees is going to increase April 23, 1997 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H1775 very fast, from 2010 on. And the number tem, there are some absolutely amaz- morrow is a landmark report that I of people working to support them on ing stories. One of the stories, and ac- think the American public ought to Medicare is going to be going down. So tually this was covered, by the way. pay close attention to, and we expect we are going to have fewer people The Tom Brokaw news people had TV that we will mirror closely the last working, paying payroll taxes to sup- cameras at this town meeting. trustees’ report that was released, and port retirees after 2010. b 2030 this notion of the bipartisan aspect of Mr. KINGSTON. What the gentleman our concern about Medicare and our is saying is it is our jobs working with And a lady stood up. It was in a mo- need to save and preserve the Medicare the Medicare trustees on a bipartisan bile home park in Palmetto, Florida, program is a very real aspect of our de- basis to act like fiduciaries and protect and explained about, you know, this is liberation. And when you start with and preserve Medicare not just for the a classic one of waste and fraud. It is the very basis of the debate that exists next election, not just for the term of she got a bill from the hospital. She on Medicare, I think you see that. had been in the hospital, and she was our tenure in public office but for the This report is not a Republican re- billed for her own autopsy, and so she next generations, so that it will be port. In fact it is not really a Democrat calls up the hospital and said, ‘‘You there tomorrow. report, although the trustees, the Med- As I understand the gentleman, the know, you did not do an autopsy on icare trust fund, are appointees of our private sector health care inflation has me, I’m still alive,’’ and tried to ex- President, Bill Clinton, and please help been flat largely because the private plain to him that, you know, you can- me with some of these names, Robert sector has gotten out there and looked not do an autopsy, I am still alive, and Reich, the Labor Secretary; it includes at different types of delivery systems, they came back and the hospital: Donna Shalala as well. Maybe you can different alternatives. In our Medicare ‘‘Well, let me check the records help me. Who else? plan, we had some options for seniors. first’’; then came back and said ‘‘Oh, If you want to stay in traditional Medi- I’m sorry. That was a mistake. We did Mr. MILLER of Florida. Robert care, you may, it is no problem if you an EKG on you.’’ Rubin, Secretary of Treasury, and the want to just continue. In fact, if you do And she said, ‘‘You didn’t do one of head of the Social Security Adminis- not elect to take an option you are those either.’’ tration is on that. There is about 8 or automatically enrolled in traditional And so it is amazing the number of 9, I think, total. Medicare. But if you want a managed little mistakes like that. I mean that Mr. BOB SCHAFFER of Colorado. care plan, because as the gentleman was, might have been a billing-type You know, and if you think about how has pointed out, it could give you free mistake. many debates we have here where the prescription drugs as part of the Mr. KINGSTON. You know, though, I basis for the debate is often the subject monthly premium. If you want a medi- hear this in our town meetings on Med- of disagreement on this particular cal savings account, which is a deduct- icare with seniors all the time is that issue, there is no denying, from either ible type plan, you could take that. At the fraud and abuse, the sloppiness in party or anybody involved, that this one time I know we talked about en- billing is just unbelievable. Medicare program is undeniably going rolling in the Federal employee health My dad has diabetes, and he has to go bankrupt within 4 years. In fact, care plan or something like that, very macular degeneration, so he is legally it is a fact that the Medicare program close to it. Another option I remember blind. You know, diabetics have to spends approximately $40 million every was if you are, say, a retiree of General check their blood sugar level all the day. Every day; that is something that Motors and as part of your job descrip- time, and so in the condominium com- is very difficult for people to fathom, tion, your perk, if you will, was to be plex that he lives in Athens, GA the but I have to say, and I appreciate the covered under health care the rest of seniors all kind of help each other out. chance to participate in this discussion your life, you could just elect that and So one of his things is he gives advice tonight because when I, as a new Mem- not participate in any kind of Govern- to lots of his neighbors, and he says ber here in Washington, have been on ment-offered health care. In giving sen- over and over again somebody goes to the job for about 4 months and running iors these choices, which are the same the doctor, the hospital, on Medicare for Congress was an eye-opening expe- choices, Mr. Speaker, that everybody for a head cold, they are billed for x- rience for me. My grandmother, who has in America today and frankly I rays or whatever, it is just. And you do lives out in Colorado Springs, told me; think I would like to upgrade my not know. she said whatever you do back there in mother from a 1964 Blue Cross/Blue There is another story of a woman Washington, you have to save the Med- Shield plan. I do not expect her to just outside of Brunswick, GA, who in- icare program, and I assured her that drive the same 1964 Chevrolet Biscayne stead of going to have stitches removed we would, that that is our goal and our that we had, actually a Ford Falcon, so in Brunswick, the ambulance drove her objective and that we would do what- why should she be confined by the to Jacksonville because it is legal ever it takes to accomplish that. same health care policy? Let us let sen- under Medicare, and the Jacksonville And you mentioned a few minutes iors get the benefits of the 1990s. But trip allowed the ambulance company to earlier just about we certainly have by offering those things, we can bring charge $1,200 whereas, had they just the financial side of maintaining sol- down medical inflation as respects gone to Brunswick, it would have only vency of the fund. But there is also the Medicare and not cut Medicare one been $200 or $300. behavioral side of Medicare itself, and dime. In fact, I remember last year, So legally they can be very, very ag- what I mean by that is we have to and the gentleman can correct me, but gressive on their delivery service just change the system in a way that re- approximately the numbers were $190 to get the higher amount. You never stores the patient-physician relation- billion, increased to $270 billion, which see that in the private sector. That was ship that we once had; this whole no- is not a cut even if you do live at 1600 one of the reasons that health care in- tion of a government third-party payer Pennsylvania Avenue. flation skyrocketed in the 1980’s, but in that will pay the bills with little ques- Mr. MILLER of Florida. We are going the private sector, companies started tions asked, in many cases, causes, for to spend more money every year per getting aggressive about it and they a significant amount of fraud in many person on Medicare. Medicare spending brought that down. cases, for overtreatment and other ex- is going to go up every year. It is just Now the gentleman from Colorado amples of where questions that are just that we need to slow down the rate of [Mr. SCHAFFER] is here, and I know he not asked as a consumer would per- growth in spending, slow it down just a is a freshman. He has already expressed haps. And you know the Medicare Plus little bit but spend more money every interest in working on Medicare, and program that the Republicans had pro- year. As the gentleman said earlier, we he has been waiting for tomorrow and posed 2 years ago and was eventually need to look at this waste and fraud. the trustees’ report, too. thwarted here in Washington involved Because when you have a government Mr. BOB SCHAFFER of Colorado. those very opportunities for patients to bureaucracy, there is so much waste. Well, thank you very much for yield- have choice within the Medicare pro- When I have town meetings and I have ing. This is truly a critical issue for us, gram and to be treated like real cus- seniors talk about the waste in the sys- and this report that is coming out to- tomers, real consumers of health care H1776 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE April 23, 1997 to provide the consumer-driven ac- ing when I was there, and so now he For all the dermatologists in Florida, countability that you have in so many has brought us to great fame. only Florida, they came up with a new private aspects as well. But it was the frustration of the set of rules, and that, you know, says I So certainly we have to look at the deans of the medical school because mean maybe there is a problem there, financial side of increasing spending at Medicare had come up with a ruling but, you know, to come up with a blan- a responsible rate so that we do not that was a retroactive ruling of how ket rule is interfering with that pa- bankrupt the program as others have they are going to pay for medical tient-doctor relationship, and there is proposed to increase more than that; in school residents. a great deal of frustration, more frus- fact, drain the account and result in ul- Now I do not necessarily disagree tration with our doctors and my doc- timate bankruptcy, but we also have to with the details of what they are talk- tors in my area than I have seen in my look at the behavioral reforms to the ing about doing, but the problem is 4 years here in Congress talking about program that allow us to be treated they are going to go retroactive back that issue so. And it is the bureauc- like real customers, like real consum- to 1992 or so. That was it could bank- racy, and they say, oh well, we have ers, and to restore that relationship rupt our medical schools; it was unbe- got to save money, and so there is a which is so vital in the health care de- lievable. I hate anything retroactive. problem here. We will write some new livery system. We have retroactive death taxes here, a rules. Well, you know that is what we Mr. KINGSTON. Well, the gentleman couple of years ago President Clinton’s need to do is open up the marketplace. who has worked so hard on it, the gen- bill, but the thing is when you go ret- You know one of the options we have tleman from Florida [Mr. MILLER] do roactive, and they feel so helpless down talked about by the way in the bill last you believe you had mentioned that there, the deans of the medical schools; year, and hopefully it will be included the President is a lot closer now? It is we cannot afford these millions of dol- in it this time around, is something not an election year, we do not hear lars retroactively. We have got to pay called provider service organizations, the demagoguery. Are we in the United back. which is really a great opportunity for States Congress going to put our sen- If you are going to change the policy, local communities to provide their own iors first this year, get a bill passed in fine, change it, give us the right notice. health care. Most people get their the House and Senate and signed by We will work under whatever rules health care in the local community, the President? Washington’s bureaucracy decides. And and what we want to do is give the op- Mr. MILLER of Florida. Well, I cer- that is the problem. One size fits all, portunity for the local hospital and tainly hope so. We have to. I mean 4 whether it is my local. The dermatolo- doctors to go together and offer a pack- years is not very long. I mean when we gists in the State of Florida have had a age or plan to the seniors. started this, it was 7 years before bank- certain procedure on treating skin can- Now insurance companies are not too ruptcy. Now it is just 4 years. So we cer. Well, maybe there is an abuse of it keen on this, admittedly, but the hos- have to do something, the President re- by Medicare, but only in the State of pitals and doctors say, hey, we can alizes it. And you know what we are Florida. So the State of Florida Blue compete with them because they feel hearing is that he wants to work out Cross in effect banned it for all the doc- frustrated that the Blue Cross or Trav- an agreement. tors, and the dermatologists are saying elers are going to beat up on them. You know, one thing has been inter- wait a minute; you know, you could do What we want to do is, hey, if Sarasota esting in the past few weeks back in it in Arizona, you can do it in Georgia, Hospital and their doctors want to do my district and even up here: some of but the dermatologists now across the one, if Savannah Memorial Hospital or the frustrations with the bureaucracy. board, all of them, cannot use this pro- whatever the name of the hospital is in Let me tell you a couple of the situa- cedure unless you have got great docu- Savannah, wants to get together with tions, and that is what people get mad mentation. I mean it is unbelievable. their doctors and offer one, if they about with Medicare because it is, you You know, there was an abuse, but want to get together in Denver or know, the big bureaucracy in Washing- when you have a government-run sys- whatever city and let the doctor and ton makes the decisions, and these doc- tem, one size fits all, you set it up to hospital work together to compete tors are just saying they have never try to figure a way around the system. with a Blue Cross plan or a Travelers had it worse in Medicare. I mean they Mr. KINGSTON. Well, it is interest- plan or the traditional Medicare, are getting more letters saying denied, ing. You mentioned that a friend of which, you know, should continue, that denied, denied, and then the doctor just mine sells bandages to Medicare suppli- is the type of pressures that will give has to spend all this effort document- ers, and it is kind of a cross between flexibility to a system, market pres- ing why he did this procedure. And the regular bandage and a gauze ban- sures, just what is happening in the they said, ‘‘I’m all ready to give up on dage, and it is more sophisticated than private sector can really slow down the the whole thing.’’ I mean there are an ordinary bandage but is no big deal. rate of growth in spending because we some doctors that are more senior. He says that they can be made for $3. are going to spend more money in the They are saying, ‘‘Hey, I’m not ready Under Medicare you can legally bill up system as long as the amount of money to quit the whole practice of medicine. to $29 on there. is still growing. I think we can pre- I cannot tolerate it any more.’’ So he comes to a town meeting, and serve and protect it and save it for our Give you one other illustration. I had he and I make a big deal about this seniors and strengthen it at the same the deans of the medical schools in the bandage, and I show it up, and, you time, because we need to strengthen State of Florida. We have, I think, four know, of course it is the kind of poster Medicare not just for the long term. or five medical schools in the State all child you look for; you know, public of- Mr. BOB SCHAFFER of Colorado. If came to see me one day; the dean of ficials and so forth. And so I showed it. the gentleman will yield, you know the the University of Florida, the Univer- The only time he has ever been audited strengthening is precisely how we pay sity of South Florida, University of by the Federal Government was after for our program to maintain the sol- Miami and Nova actually. he put this, after he basically blew the vency of the Medicare trust fund, and Mr. KINGSTON. Were their any whistle on this crazy bandage. the programming, the $30 bandage ex- Gators in the room? I am a Georgia And it is the same thing, only the ample, is one that I hear a lot, not ban- Bulldog. government would come up with such dages per se in my town meetings, but Mr. MILLER of Florida. I am a Gator weird rules and regulations and then I hear a lot of examples just like that. now. appear to be a little bit punitive when And what I hope people will realize is Mr. KINGSTON. And the Seminoles, somebody blows the whistle on it, and that those kinds of occasions that but the Gators, you are really pushing I hope that it works out. occur every day in America in fact rob it even in the name of grandma. Mr. MILLER of Florida. I mean, as and steal medical opportunities for the Mr. MILLER of Florida. When I was you were saying, the gentleman from millions of Americans who receive in Florida the guy named Dooley that Colorado, somebody, you got to be con- health care and benefits through the was there coaching, and we were not cerned about the patient-doctor rela- Medicare Program. And without a too fond of him, but now we like our tionship, and I mean just kind of like doubt, these different options and ex- plan. You know, Super Steve was play- the dermatologist situation in Florida. amples that you mention of various April 23, 1997 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H1777 service delivery systems and networks have become the majority of Congress ideas and creative suggestions to im- that we would hope recipients would be is bring common sense, Republican, plement and expand homeownership, able to choose among and be a part American ideas to the streets of Amer- especially for first-time home buyers. would end the example of the $30 ban- ica. Common sense is at a premium in Housing is not just a roof over your dage, will put an end to the example of Washington. It is just such a scarcity. head but a place you can call home, a the $200 splinter removal, as I had But the gentleman from Washington place you own. Thus far, over 30 of my heard out in Colorado, examples like [Mr. JACK METCALF] is one of the Mem- colleagues have joined this caucus. We this that you just routinely hear, and bers who has been working very, very remain committed to expanding home- it is just remarkable. hard in the Housing Opportunity Cau- ownership and opportunities for every- I would like you, though, to speak to cus to make homeownership and that one, and protecting Medicare so sen- just one more time. I do not think we part of the American dream real to iors, like me, can stay in their homes can say it often enough that our plan millions of more Americans than have as long as possible. actually envisions spending more houses right now. So I am proud to I personally invite Members to join money per recipient over the next 5 to yield to the gentleman from Washing- the caucus and look forward to work- 6 years than certainly what we are ton [Mr. METCALF]. ing together to find solutions that will spending today. Many people think Mr. METCALF. I thank the gen- expand homeownership and fulfill the that the only way you can save Medi- tleman for yielding. homeownership American dream. care is to somehow cut spending or cut Mr. Speaker, it is absolutely critical Mr. KINGSTON. I thank the gen- funding for the program. We are not to protect and preserve Medicare. We tleman for discussing what he is up to talking about that at all. In fact, we cannot allow it to continue toward in the homeownership conference, be- are talking about increasing the per- bankruptcy. It will be very difficult, cause another thing that will bring capita benefit to somewhere around but I will tell you, we will succeed in about homeownership, as much as any- $6,700 per recipient. Today I think we keeping Medicare so people can stay in thing else, is balancing the budget, and we are going to be talking about that, are around $5,000 per recipient, some- their own homes. because, as the gentleman knows, Alan where around that neighborhood. Homeownership is something I am But by increasing the spending at a critically interested in. I will briefly Greenspan has said that balancing the budget could reduce interest rates on responsible rate and at the same time comment on this as related to Medi- home mortgages as much as 2 percent, putting the patients and giving them care. Very important, really critical, and that would be significant towards some real incentive in the accountabil- and that is homeownership. everybody participating in the Amer- ity side of this delivery system, that is As chairman of the Republican Op- portunity Caucus, I can sincerely speak ican dream. how we are going to save the program, There are a lot of quirky things that that is how we are going to maintain on one of the most important issues facing our Nation, the ability of our we are trying to bring common sense solvency, and hopefully that is what is policy to. One of them is in the subject people to realize the American dream going to ultimately earn the bipartisan of sugar, and, Mr. Speaker, we are not and participate in one of our greatest support here in the House and the Sen- going to get back to the Hershey’s bi- opportunities, homeownership, and the ate and over at the President’s office as partisan hugs and kisses dialogue when right of the Medicare recipients to stay well to sign Medicare reform in a pro- we talk about sugar. But the gen- as long as possible in their own homes. gram that will save the program. tleman from Florida [Mr. MILLER] has While there is no magic silver bullet Mr. KINGSTON. It is too bad that in a program that eliminates the sugar in finding ways to increase homeowner- Washington you can always demagog program. So I wanted to yield to him ship, we can find solutions by working out of fear and you can get reelected and ask him what is the sugar program together. In some cases, Federal pro- through race-baiting or scaring seniors and why should we eliminate it? or saying that children are going to be grams such as the low income housing Mr. MILLER of Florida. I thank the starved on the streets. It is an old tac- tax credit, FHA, HUD or the Federal gentleman. tic. Home Loan Bank have been the cata- Last year we worked very hard, and Last year, before the gentleman was lyst for developing homeownership. the gentleman worked very closely here, Haley Barbour, the chairman of Clearly, Mr. Speaker, these impor- with me and with the gentleman from the Republican Committee, offered $1 tant programs I have mentioned, and New York [Mr. SCHUMER], a Democrat, million to any Democrat or any person important ownership encouragements, to do away with the sugar program. We who could show where Medicare was such as maintaining the home mort- are going to try to have a 5-year phase- being cut in the bill. Now do you not gage deduction, have brought people out. know the pressure that partisans were from renting to owning, fulfilling the I look at the sugar program as one of under to try to prove that the Repub- dream of so many Americans. the most egregious examples of cor- licans were, in fact, cutting Medicare? Not only does homeownership benefit porate welfare that we have here in I mean they would have loved to col- the individual home buyer, but the Washington. Anybody who believes in lect that million dollars because in ad- spin-off of the home building industry reducing the size and scope of govern- dition to being millionaires, they could is the catalyst for our national econ- ment has to believe in getting rid of have been heroes, huge heroes. omy. Rightly so, new housing starts this program, phasing out this pro- Not one person was able to do that. are always one of the first indicators gram, because the sugar program is big Medicare was not cut. Yet unfortu- we look for in an ever-growing and ex- government at its worst. nately, in Washington we have a few panding economy. What the sugar program does is it is demagogs who like to scare seniors and Mr. Speaker, the Republican Housing a cartel. I think the gentleman from so forth, but the gentleman has raised Opportunity Caucus is committed to Texas [Mr. ARMEY] says it is the worst a good point. Per recipient, it went identifying models that work for hous- cartel we have had since OPEC. It is from approximately 5,200 to about ing and homeownership. It is often the the cartel that controls the amount of 7,100, and we are going to continue to case that partnerships fostered be- sugar available in the United States, work, and the doors are wide open in tween nonprofit organizations, lenders, and it does this by restricting imports the discussions and the dialogs and the government and builders are needed to in such that the price of sugar is kept committee rooms. Democrats and Re- solve the ownership problem. This is almost at twice the world price. If the publicans, come on in, let us do what is the goal of our caucus. world price is 12 or 13 cents, in the responsible. Tomorrow we will get the The mission of this caucus is to give United States we pay 22 or 23 cents a report, and we are going to have to Members of Congress, who are inter- pound for sugar. It costs the American continue addressing this. ested in housing policies, an oppor- consumer $1.4 billion a year. tunity to discuss their concerns and co- Mr. KINGSTON. Let me ask the gen- b 2045 ordinate a response. A symposium that tleman, it costs the American consum- One of the things we need in Medi- we will soon sponsor will bring in peo- ers the difference in the world price care policy is common sense. One of ple with hands-on experience in provid- versus the domestic price, but does it the things that we have tried since we ing affordable housing. We want their cost you in taxes? H1778 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE April 23, 1997 Mr. MILLER of Florida. It costs in produce there in my area goes outside in the United States when they could several areas in taxes. Because, first of the United States. Fifty percent of the shift the production to Canada, all, the American consumer is the fresh grapefruits in the State of Flor- produce the candy there and send it American taxpayer. So I am not sure of ida are shipped outside the United back to the United States? And that is the distinction. When the American States. exactly what is happening. consumer pays $1.4 billion more for So we have to export some products Mr. KINGSTON. In fact, there is a sugar than they need to, it costs the and some products we have to import. candy cane company in Georgia who American taxpayer, too. I mean, that is just a fact. Sugar, we tells me that the biggest competitor is But it costs the taxpayer in other just do not have the land. not in the candy cane business, the big- ways we don’t realize. For example the Mr. KINGSTON. Let me ask my col- gest competitor is the U.S. Govern- sugar program is bad for the environ- league on the subject of imports, so not ment, who makes it so that they have ment. It really is bad for the Ever- only are we subsidizing large, cor- to buy sugar at an inflated price, and glades. There was an editorial in the porate American sugar growers, but we because of that, Canadian candy cane New York Times on Sunday talking are also, if I hear the gentleman cor- manufacturers can come in there. And about the Everglades problem and sug- rect, subsidizing foreign sugar growers; he can beat the Canadian candy cane ar’s contribution to it. is that correct? manufacturer any day of the week on a Now sugar is not the only problem to Mr. MILLER of Florida. That is one-on-one basis, but when the Govern- the Everglades. It is a major contribu- right. ment is also on the team of the Cana- Mr. KINGSTON. And then let me ask tor to the destruction of the Ever- dian folks, the American guy loses. glades and the Florida Bay. The prob- the gentleman this question, are there Mr. MILLER of Florida. Right. It is non-American citizens participating in lem with it, for example, is to solve the just not fair. We should be proud of a the sugar program, and are they get- Everglades problem, part of the solu- lot we did with this farm bill last year. ting paid to do that? tion is to buy 100,000 acres of land in Mr. MILLER of Florida. The gen- We made some historic changes with the Everglades’ agricultural area. Last tleman asked a couple questions. One farm programs that went back all the year, we put $2 million in the farm bill is, one reason we call it corporate wel- way to the 1930s. It was a really his- to help buy that land. fare is that there are at least 33 farms toric change. We are going to buy 100,000 acres, that benefit by a million dollars a year. Unfortunately, the only program most of it in sugar, but because of the Most of the benefits go to big sugar that was not changed, basically, was sugar program, we are going to pay an farmers, sugar plantations in the State sugar. All the other products, whether inflated price for the land. It is going of Florida. The largest one, as a matter it is peanuts or dairy, had some really to cost us probably $100 million more of fact, is controlled by a family who major changes. But not sugar. And it to buy this land from the sugar farmers are not U.S. citizens. was unfortunate. because of the sugar program. It is But the interesting point on this, and So, hopefully, we are going to con- crazy. it really makes me bothered by this tinue to address that issue in this Con- Mr. KINGSTON. Because the Govern- whole thing about importing sugar, gress and see some results, maybe. ment is the reason that land is higher, Australia has a free market for sugar. Mr. KINGSTON. The interesting and yet the Government is going to We should be able to compete with thing about the sugar program is that pay the higher cost, which it costs. Australia. They sell sugar to anybody changes in compromises transitioning Mr. MILLER of Florida. Right. That in the world 12 or 13 cents a pound, but the sugar program to a free market is what makes it so crazy is that we not to the United States. We do not program and protecting whatever very are, in effect, subsidizing sugar again; want to pay 12 or 13 cents. We insist on small farmers are out there. But as was we are buying that land. paying the full price; the United States said, most of the bulk of it, the bene- Another little interesting subsidy insists on 22 or 23 cents a pound. fits go to the large corporate farmers about the sugar program is we cannot Mr. KINGSTON. Even though we can anyhow, but giving the programs the grow enough sugar in the United States get it for about half that price. benefit of the doubt, compromises were to satisfy demands, so there is no Mr. MILLER of Florida. Not just half offered. They were all rejected. choice about the fact whether we do price, but, no, we insist we will pay our The Miller-Schumer bill, which the not import or not. We have to import price for it whether it is coming from gentleman has introduced, actually sugar. the Dominican Republic or what have eliminates the programs and takes the Mr. KINGSTON. Is it not true that you. American consumer out from the we import 100 percent or 99 percent of This is a bad jobs issue, too. The shackles of a Government cartel. our tea, which is true, we do not grow sugar program is killing jobs in the Mr. MILLER of Florida. It was actu- tea domestically? Many people have United States. Let me give a couple of ally the Miller-Schumer-Kingston bill said we have to preserve the American illustrations. last year. Right. It was a 5-year phase- supplier because we cannot be depend- First of all, we have sugar refineries out. So it was not something that was ent. But I think the reality is the de- that are going out of business. We have going to happen immediately. I am a pendency is overseas to those markets closed 40 percent of the sugar refinery big believer that we need to phase to make sure that America continues production in the United States since these programs out so we do not really to buy their sugar. this sugar program came into existence punish people unfairly on this. So to say that there is going to be a in 1981, 40 percent. These are good-pay- We have to be fair to the American sugar shortage because of the change ing jobs. consumer, who is the American tax- in the sugar domestic policy is ridicu- I had a press conference last week, payer. We are losing these jobs. It is lous because we never had a tea short- and I had these members of the AFL– just not the right way of having a big age, or at least none in recent memory CIO surrounding me coming down from government program. It no longer that I can recall. New York City and Baltimore saying, needs to continue to exist in this coun- Mr. MILLER of Florida. We have to ‘‘Hey, we are going to lose our jobs, try. be proud of American agriculture. It is this is my career, and we are going to Mr. KINGSTON. It is interesting as the most efficient and productive in have to shut down because there is not we look at these things. I want to talk the world. We are the major exporter of enough sugar in the United States to to the gentleman about the budget. agriculture products. I do not know the keep these mills open.’’ When he says the taxpayers are paying, number, but that is one of our largest But the other issue why we are losing one of the things that they have to pay trade surpluses we have. jobs is, because of the high price of for is the administration of this ridicu- I have a lot of citrus in the State of sugar, we are driving jobs outside the lous program. Florida, of course. We cannot consume United States. Canada. Canada, you Another thing taxpayers are paying all of the citrus we grow in the State of can buy sugar for about half the price for is AmeriCorps. AmeriCorps takes Florida. We have to export. Tropicana that we do here. kids who are volunteering and pays is my largest employer in my district. Why would a candy company that them. Now it is interesting. The Presi- Twenty-eight percent of the juice they uses a lot of sugar continue producing dent has this volunteer summit going April 23, 1997 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H1779 on this week in Washington. And in the road, got caught in a pothole in backbone of a great community where Americans are great volunteers. I be- the road. People in Florida have all of we live now. lieve the statistic that I read, 90 mil- these sink holes, so they can identify So I am a big believer in volunteer lion Americans volunteer 4 hours a with this. The frog gets caught, his work. But when you get paid, that is a week each and every week, and that in- buddy frog comes over there and tries job. So let us stop calling AmeriCorps cludes people who make and bill out $4 to pull him out. He pulls and pulls and a volunteer program. It is a jobs pro- or $5 an hour to people would bill out pulls and cannot get the frog out of the gram. $300 or $400 an hour. pothole. Why do we need a new jobs program? Everyone likes to volunteer in Amer- So his buddy says: I will try to come We want to have college kids; well, let ica and participate, and it is one of the back to get you tomorrow. Just hang us help work study. That is a good pro- great things about our country. Yet, in there. So he goes back home and has gram. It helps kids work for the uni- the President’s main program has been dinner, a couple of flies and grub versity or do different jobs and get paid to take young children and start pay- worms with the family. The next thing for it. But it is a jobs program. So it ing them to do what their older broth- you know, the frog that was in the road really bothers me when you say it is ers and sisters and parents have been caught in the pothole comes through volunteer. Oh, well, we have a volun- volunteering to do. the door. He said, how did you get out teer army. It is volunteer to get in, but Now the cost for that and the Presi- of the pothole? We tried and tried and one is a paid soldier, and it is a career dent’s justification is that it is an idea tried and we could not get you out of when one gets in. So we have to dif- to get them interested in participating; the pothole. How did you get out? He ferentiate. But we can go program it helps them with student loans and so said: When you were trying I just want- after program; and sitting on the Com- forth. And yet, the cost per student is ed to get out because I knew I needed mittee on Appropriations as we both $26,000, Mr. Speaker, for volunteers; to get out. But after you left a truck do, we have to make these tough and the student only gets $1,500 of that. was coming, and I had to get out. choices. They are not always bad pro- Where is the difference? The bureauc- Now, that is the position of the U.S. grams, someone is always there to de- racy. Congress right now. We are stuck in fend them. the pothole. We would like to balance b 2100 But I am more optimistic now. We the budget, but in reality, we can go start with the ideas, the rhetoric is Once again, we have a program that home and tell everybody it is somebody is doing nothing but growing the bu- very different. When we first came here else’s problem. We can portray our- in 1993, talking about balancing the reaucracy. So the Congress goes Repub- selves as a solution and say that we lican, the Republicans go in there and budget was not talked about. We were really cannot do it now, but we are try- the only ones talking about it. We were say, let us audit AmeriCorps and see ing, and we can talk this good game. how it is that the program that pays just talking on this side of the aisle. At The fact is, we cannot defy gravity least now, everybody is talking about volunteers $1,500 costs $26,000 per vol- much longer, Mr. Speaker. It is time to unteer. We found, after ordering this it, assuming we are going to balance admit a truck is coming down the road the budget in the year 2002. So at least audit, that the books were in such bad to smash all of us politically, nation- shape that they could not be audited. we are starting with the premise that ally, economically. It is time to bal- we are going to reach a goal. That was Our budget is full of ridiculous and ar- ance the budget, and it is time to quit chaic things like that. As the President not true 4 years ago, so we have come fooling around about it. a long way. Unfortunately, I am not stands in the well of the House of Rep- I know the gentleman from Florida sure the facts will back up the rhet- resentatives and says, the era of big has worked very hard as a member of oric. The rhetoric is there, but at least government is over with, in fact, his the Committee on the Budget to try to we have accomplished the rhetoric. budget insists on increasing the size of come up with some programs that the big government. Clinton administration will agree to Mr. Speaker, the negotiations are Let me show the gentleman this eliminate and that we can move toward going on, as the gentleman said, be- chart, Mr. Speaker. This is the Clinton balancing the budget. I know the gen- tween Senator DOMENICI and the gen- tleman from Ohio, Mr. KASICH, from budget which he says will reduce tleman from Ohio [Mr. KASICH] has spending and balance the budget by the worked very hard with the White the House Committee on the Budget. year 2002. In fact, in the year 2002, the House since January trying to nego- We are at a critical juncture right now Clinton budget proposal has a $69 bil- tiate. Are my colleagues getting any- because, if we cannot get something to lion deficit. where? work with the administration on, we Now, if we say an increase in Medi- Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, are going to have to proceed on our care is a cut, maybe we can call a $69 balancing the budget is very, very hard own to present a budget. We are pre- billion deficit an even budget, I don’t work. It is not easy, because a lot of pared to move very quickly, because know, a zero balance. But it is not the programs are good programs in the time is running out. I mean our fiscal true. government. The problem is whether year ends on September 30, so we have Here is what is even worse than that, the Federal Government should really to have a budget and get moving on the 98 percent of the deficit reduction in be doing them. appropriation process and all that. the Clinton budget comes within the My colleague mentioned AmeriCorps. The President said he presented a last 2 years. That is the equivalent of I am sure there is some good work balanced budget. And as the gentleman me saying I am going to lose 30 pounds being done by AmeriCorps ‘‘volun- said, it is smoke and mirrors, and the over the next 10 months, and not losing teers’’ in this country, and I am sure gentleman from Ohio [Mr. KASICH] uses anything for the first 9 months and they can show us some of the programs phrase, it gives smoke and mirrors a then that last month go on a starva- that they are helping with. And I think bad name because of the games they tion diet, like anybody thinks I am we could say, well, that is fine. played with the issue. going to make the goal. It does not The question is, first of all, it is not But there are serious negotiations even happen. a volunteer program. I mean, it is a going on. I think it is very difficult for Then, in the year 1998, which is a paid-work program. It is a make-work the President, Dick Morris’ theory, and year away, it increases the deficit by program. And for someone who is a big the triangulation is separating us from $24 billion compared to not even pass- believer in volunteer work, I never was the liberal wing of the Democratic ing his budget. Clearly, Mr. Speaker, in politics before and my background is Party. If he is willing to sacrifice the we cannot be playing games like this. volunteer work. I had my kids volun- liberal wing, the party who say they The time has come to balance the teer, my wife volunteers, we have done are for a balanced budget, but I do not budget. everything. In terms of helping with think really mean it, we have a chance My friend, Michael Quido, who is an arts organizations or mental health or- to get a deal. evangelist, I do not know if the gen- ganizations or day care programs, we Mr. KINGSTON. Let me ask the gen- tleman gets him in Florida or not, tells are strong supporters of helping the tleman, the gentleman from Ohio [Mr. the story about a frog that got caught community. That is what makes the KASICH] has been negotiating with the H1780 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE April 23, 1997 White House in good faith since Janu- tional debt issue and it gets Social Se- true. Some of their organizations that, ary. And his analogy is, it is like sell- curity on a sound basis. so called, represent them up here say ing a house to somebody. They say I We have talked about Medicare ear- that, but the seniors back home do not like your floor plan, I like your lier, we have to talk about Social Secu- always feel that way. shrubbery, I like your neighborhood, I rity. It does not go bankrupt for an- I had an interesting conversation on like your price, but they keep coming other 20 years, so we have a little bit of the phone last week with a constituent and coming with everything but a con- time. But the fact is it is hiding how who lives in a very, very large mobile tract. At this point, my colleague says bad the deficit is today; $75 billion of home park, these are not wealthy retir- it is time to fish or cut bait, and they our deficit, it should be higher by $75 ees. This lady was from Indianapolis. are not doing that. billion, because Social Security is He was in fact leaving this Saturday to So here is my question. Say the where that money is. go back to Indianapolis, 84 years old, White House is up to its usual tricks Mr. KINGSTON. Essentially, when lost her husband recently. She is get- and they will say one thing publicly we talk about Social Security, is what ting this extra money from Social Se- but behind the scenes not agree to a seniors are saying, is protect it from curity. I do not need it. This debt is budget. What do we do in the House? general highway appropriations, or bad. How can I get my check, give it Can we go ahead without a budget and AmeriCorps, or the NEA, or whatever back, and have it applied to the debt. I pass our appropriations bills and avoid the folks want to spend money on; just do not want to just give it to the gov- a government shutdown, or does Clin- use the Social Security money only for ernment to spend more money. ton want to have another government Social Security. That is what seniors She wanted to give it back to the shutdown? say. government to pay down its debt. I Mr. MILLER of Florida. Actually I What the younger folks say is, put thought that was very noble of her, and think the President really wants a bal- me in a private program; the existing I called and we chatted on the phone anced budget, but we will see. We are program is not going to be there when the other day. That makes me feel so at a critical juncture over the next I retire. So the great beauty of this good. They know there is a problem couple of weeks. We will know whether Neumann budget is he calls it a Social there. They know it is not right for we can work out an arrangement so Security preservation budget. I call it their grandchildren and this country that we can have a balanced budget the grandma and the grandbabies’ and future generations, they are will- with the President over the next couple budget, because it looks at both spec- ing to do their share. I do not need this of weeks. If we do not, we are going to trums of our population, the demo- COLA or this increase, I do not think find the Budget Committee moving graphics, which I think is extremely we should stop that at all. The seniors very fast forward and presenting the important. are willing to do their fair share, they budget that we will vote on here in the Let me read the gentleman some sta- just want to make sure that everybody House certainly before the Memorial tistics that were given to me by a man contributes to it, the farmers and the Day break. And then the Committee on named Pete Davies of Sun City, AZ. It military, everybody. Appropriations can move ahead with says, prior to 1929 it was a disgrace for Mr. KINGSTON. So are farmers, so all 13 of their appropriations bills. an administration to run a deficit. Out are veterans and so are business people. So we had a meeting in the Commit- of the 140 years between the year 1790 Somehow, Washington does not get the tee on the Budget this afternoon, and I and 1929, there were 87 years in the his- message. Sometimes they get beat do not want to be optimistic or pessi- tory of the United States when there around up here, as you do, people come mistic. We are at a very critical point to the office, you have to vote, and you was a surplus, and that resulted in a re- right now, and we just do not know are darned if you do and darned if you duction of whatever debt had been out what we are going to come forward do not on an issue. there. There were four periods, from with over the next few days. b Mr. KINGSTON. Mr. Speaker, here is 1801 to 1811, 1922 to 1934, 1879 to 1892, 2115 a budget that has been proposed from and 1919 to 1929 where the Nation oper- You go home and you realize that the the gentleman from Wisconsin [Mr. ated for a decade or more with a sur- guy in the morning who wakes up at NEUMANN], one of the members of the plus every year, and that was consid- the crack of dawn, who puts his lunch committee. His budget excludes Social ered a responsible government. The together and eats it out of a lunch pail, Security revenue and, as the gen- longest period prior to 1929 in which drives maybe 20 miles to work, and tleman knows, Mr. Speaker, Social Se- there was a deficit every year were the comes home late at night after putting curity is mixed in with the general 8 years of 1857 to 1864, which included in a full day, he is tired, his kids are budget. What his does is actually pro- the Civil War. So there was a reason, a there and his wife has had a full day at tect Social Security by putting it on a viable reason to have a deficit. her job, they are not disappointed in separate line and then, in addition to Mr. Speaker, the longest period with the vote that we may have cast be- balancing the budget by the year 2002, a deficit without a war was the 5 years cause they want a government that one thing the Neumann budget has of 1846 to 1850. Then of course there was works. They just want good, common- that I really think is very important, a deficit between 1930 and 1945, 16 sense policies, a balanced budget. They and I do not think this can be picked years, but that was right after World want an American dream they can pass up by a camera, Mr. Speaker, but this War I and during World War II. on to their children and grandchildren, is a schedule for balancing the budget But during this last period when we they want a good future that they can and zeroing out the national debt. And have had deficits since 1969, or actually retire with a health care program that in the Neumann budget, by the year since 1970, 1969 was the last time we is there and a neighborhood that is 2023, my children and grandchildren, had a balanced budget, we have not had safe. your children and grandchildren, can a major war, certainly a civil war or of If they can have that, that is what wake up and say the national debt is World War II proportions. So it is abso- they want. I think what they are ask- gone. The $6 trillion national debt, lutely time that we got this under con- ing from you and me as their rep- that generation of Americans, can live trol and do what is responsible. resentatives in Washington is just to without having that dark cloud hang- Mr. MILLER of Florida. Sun City, do what is right, to do what is good for ing over them. AZ. I have a Sun City in my district in America. If you do that, do not worry Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, Florida. about lobbyists and the big govern- the gentleman mentioned Social Secu- One thing I think for senior citizens, ment crowd, and then the day is a good rity. Social Security generates ap- and I meet with them all the time, day. proximately $75 billion more in reve- most senior citizens, they lived I go home and think about those nue a year than it pays out. So actu- through the Great Depression and folks, because often they do not write. ally, our deficit is worse than we real- World War II. They want to do what is Many times they do not have business ize, because Social Security is counted right for this country. In fact, a lot of cards, they do not have titles and so in there. them resent the fact that most Ameri- forth, but that is whose interests we What is really good about the Neu- cans think all seniors want is more, really have to look out for. That is who mann budget is it takes care of the na- more, more. That is not necessarily we have to make more of a priority. April 23, 1997 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H1781 Mr. MILLER of Florida. Exactly. As family members as they have had to America, and to help many families Ronald Reagan said, this is a great deal with the horrific tragedy visited within our districts and certainly with- country filled with good people. There upon them by some violent criminal. in our country. For many of us, it is are so many good people, it makes you We have held hands as we have waited obvious that if we do not pay some at- feel good to be in America. Especially for the verdict of 12 impartial people. tention to this, the future for many senior citizens, they want to do what is I have relived with those victims of people in our country is not going to be right in this country. They recognize violent crime some pretty horrific what it certainly should be. The young we have problems in this country. They tragedies, like the young father who people of our Nation are the future. are willing to make their contribution, was murdered in front of his two young They are the future doctors, teachers, but as the gentleman says, we have children. In one of the most selfless businessmen and businesswomen, and talked to veterans groups. It is not al- acts that I can think of, he was begging yes, even future Members of this Con- ways me, me, me, and that is too bad not for his life, not for his own safety, gress. that some organizations here advocate but for the lives of his two kids. Yet Juvenile crime for many people is the that. his pleas fell on the deaf ears of the result of substance abuse. In speaking We are moving in the right direction. murderer, who was ultimately con- to teachers, youth group leaders from The rudder is right, we are all talking victed. various religious institutions through- about balance the budget, balancing Or there were the two juveniles who out my State and district, that has the budget and getting fiscal respon- were on a crime spree, and chose to been confirmed for me. sibility back in Washington. Now is a murder the two security guards that I recently saw a study that had got- chance, the best chance ever in our came down to investigate this routine ten the opinion of police chiefs around lifetimes, to really bring that fiscal theft. The stories and tragedies across the country, and they believed, or 31 sanity back here and get a balanced this country are too many to mention. percent of them believe, that reducing budget by the year 2002. I am more op- I do not need to mention, Mr. Speaker, substance abuse, specifically narcotic timistic today, whether we deal with how strongly I feel for the victims of abuse, would be a very positive step in the administration or we just do it on violent crime. reducing the crime rate. For many of our own. Of course, last week we had the op- these police chiefs, reducing drug abuse Mr. KINGSTON. I am glad to hear portunity to visit back in our districts was three times as crucial as putting that. I thank the gentleman for being and promote National Victims’ Rights more police officers on the street. That with us tonight in this special order. Week. Fortunately, I think in the last that was certainly something that f Congress, in earlier Congresses, we raised my eyebrows. have done some things to begin making I know that many of our colleagues OUR RIGHT TO SAFETY AND some inroads, to make sure that vic- here probably saw an article in many FREEDOM FROM FEAR tims are equal partners in the criminal of the newspapers, even here in Wash- The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. justice system along with those who ington, DC, within the last couple of SUNUNU). Under the Speaker’s an- are accused of these heinous crimes. days, in which two teenagers from my nounced policy of January 7, 1997, the For instance, in the last Congress, State in Sussex County, the northern gentleman from Missouri [Mr. restitution for victims was required in part of New Jersey, lured and then HULSHOF] is recognized for 60 minutes. Federal courts. In fact, earlier in this killed two pizza delivery people. Mr. HULSHOF. Mr. Speaker, once Congress we passed a law to help pro- I just read an article today in one of again the 32 newly-elected Republican tect crime victims’ rights to attend the our major newspapers in our State, in Members of this body have sought a trial of their assailants and to provide the Star Ledger, that both suspects in special order of this House to focus on victim impact testimony, which passed this slaying had a history of drug issues that affect the lives of Ameri- this House by a large, overwhelming abuse, and perhaps this brutal crime cans all across this great land. number. In fact, I am told that the could have been prevented if these two We have, as Members know, in the President has signed that measure into people had not begun using drugs. past explored positive solutions to law, and it is now the current law of I would like to quote from the Star problems that affect American commu- this land. Ledger article. One of the alleged per- nities. We have addressed the issues We have much work to do, however. petrators’ grandmother was inter- and concerns of working men and What we hope to do, Mr. Speaker, is viewed, and she said, and I will quote women as they struggle to juggle fam- focus a few minutes this evening on in part, ‘‘This young man was trans- ily commitments along with their ca- this issue. Particularly, I know that formed in the past 2 months through reers. We have spoken, I think last there are members of the Republican drug use.’’ This change was radical, week it was, about enacting real tax freshman class who have been cham- and she was speaking of his demeanor, relief. pions in the area of victims’ rights. I how it changed, and that he had, Mr. Speaker, tonight we want to know there are others of us who wish among other things, tremendous mood train the spotlight of this House and to speak tonight about a specific prob- swings. Obviously she is very upset focus on an issue of concern to every lem dealing with drugs in our commu- about not just what took place to these man and every woman and every child nities, as well as violent juvenile of- two young people who were killed, but in this great land. What I am speaking fenders. also what drugs did in changing her about is the most basic civil right that In fact, I see that my friend, the gen- grandson. each of us possesses: the right to be tleman from New Jersey, joins me here In New Jersey, though, for several free from fear, the right to be able to in the well of the House. Mr. Speaker, years our Governor has established the drive to a convenience store in safety, I am happy to yield to the gentleman Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse, the right to take a leisurely stroll from New Jersey [Mr. PAPPAS]. and we have really seen it make a dif- through our neighborhoods, holding Mr. PAPPAS. Mr. Speaker, I thank ference. What it does is it establishes hands with our spouses, without con- the gentleman for yielding to me, and in each of our 21 counties in our State cern; the right to let our kids play out- I want to thank him once again for or- an alliance which is made up of people side in the front yard without having ganizing this special order that we are from county government, municipal to constantly keep watch over them. doing each week that we are in session, government, people from the religious Mr. Speaker, before joining this body to highlight an area of public policy community, youth organizations, edu- after the November election, I worked that is of concern to you and to many cation, labor, business, many non- for a little over 10 years as a criminal of us here, and to talk about some of profit, volunteer organizations. prosecutor in the State of Missouri. the experiences that we have had in What they have done, which is some- Along with many hardworking law en- our own respective districts and what unique even for New Jersey, is forcement officials from our great States. meet to determine what is their need State, I had the opportunity to work The debate here this evening, or the in their respective community, and on the front lines, dealing with crime discussion here this evening, is really how can that need best be addressed. and crime victims. I have cried with aimed at trying to create a better There is some government funding that