February 13, 1997 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS 2315 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS HONOR THE FLAG AND THE This legislation will ensure that Federal police been shown again and again world-wide. In CONSTITUTION grants will result in a real increase in the num­ addition, as I am sure all of my colleagues are ber of street officers on the street fighting well-aware, the 1973 Helms amendment of the HON. DAVID E. SKAGGS crime. Foreign Assistance Act prohibits the use of OF COLORADO My bill is identical to an amendment I suc­ any U.S. funds for abortion, or to motivate or IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES cessfully attached to legislation in the 104th coerce any person to practice abortion. There­ Congress, H.R. 728, the "Local Government fore, this resolution is about the reduction of Thursday, February 13, 1997 Law Enforcement Block Grants Act," which abortion, not its funding. Mr. SKAGGS. Mr. Speaker, as a veteran was passed by the House in February 1995, Most importantly, however, this resolution is and an American, I am proud to introduce on and the fiscal year 1996 Commerce, Justice, about saving the lives of women and children behalf of myself and the gentleman from Ari­ and State appropriations bill. Unfortunately, through-out the developing world. According to zona [Mr. KOLBE], a resolution expressing the both bills were vetoed by the President. By re­ CARE, family planning is as essential to sav­ strong support of the Members of Congress introducing that amendment in bill form, an im­ ing the lives of infants as their programs in im­ and the American people for what the flag rep­ portant crime-fighting measure can be debated munization, respiratory disease, diarrheal dis­ resents: freedom, tolerance, and the right to without the politics associated with an all-en­ ease, and nutrition. They have also found the dissent. compassing bill. scientific evidence to be overwhelming that a Mr. Speaker, the overwhelming majority of Mr. Speaker, lefs help give our communities woman's ability to space births and avoid our fellow citizens agree that the American a fighting chance against crime by putting births at the extremes of the reproductive flag, as the symbol of our Nation's values and more police officers on the street than more years is critical to ensuring child survival. In ideals, commands the deepest respect from all clerks behind desks. I ask that all members fact, in many countries, birth spacing alone Americans. The flag commands that respect take a look at my bill and give it their full sup­ could prevent one in five infant deaths. because it stands for a people and a Govern­ port. Nearly 600,000 women die each year from ment strong enough to tolerate diversity and to pregnancy-related causes---teaving thousand protect the rights even of those expressing un­ of motherless children behind. Another 18 mil­ popular views. Our strong commitment to SUPPORT HOUSE JOINT RESOLU­ lion women suffer long-term reproductive these values, not the colors and design of our TION 36: PROTECT THE LIVES health complications that are excruciatingly flag, is what makes our country unique and an AND WOMEN AND CHILDREN painful and often result in life-long disabilities. international model for freedom. WORLD-WIDE According to UNICEF, just meeting the exist­ Mr. Speaker, this resolution reaffirms the ing demand for family planning in the devel­ place of honor the American flag rightly holds HON. JOHN CONYERS, JR. oping world would reduce unintended · preg­ in our country and states that respect for the OF MICHIGAN nancies by one-fifth, which would be expected flag should not be mandated, especially at the IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES to prevent at least 100,000 of the 600,000 an­ expense of the first amendment guarantee of Thursday, February 13, 1997 nual maternal deaths. Put simply, family plan­ free speech. ning saves lives. Therefore, I urge my col­ Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join Mr. CONYERS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in leagues to be on the side of life and vote in me in honoring our flag and the Constitution support of House Joint Resolution 36, The favor of House Joint Resolution 36. I can not by cosponsoring this resolution. International Family Planning Funds Release. imagine a better use of this institution's time. This Resolution will right a wrong which Con­ Thank you. gress created in the high-politics of the fiscal INTRODUCTION OF LEGISLATION year 1997 Omnibus Appropriations Act. It will also unquestionably help to save the lives of IS THE INS MAKING CRIMINALS HON. JAMES A. TRAHCANT, JR. countless women and children world-wide. We OUT OF BOATERS ON THE OF OHIO have no choice but to support it. This resolu­ GREAT LAKES? IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES tion does nothing more than move forward the release date of international family planning Thursday, February 13, 1997 HON. STEVE C. LaTOURETIE funds from July 1, 1997 to March 1 , 1997. OF OHIO Mr. TRAFICANT. Mr. Speaker, today I am This resolution does nothing less than save IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES reintroducing legislation to ensure that Federal lives. grants for the hiring of local police officers ac­ Unfortunately, there are some among us Thursday, February 13, 1997 tually result in a net increase in the number of who have chosen to tum this humble proposal Mr. LATOURETTE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today "cops on the beat." I invite all of my col­ into a battle-ground for one of the most con­ to introduce legislation to correct what are well leagues to become a cosponsor of this impor­ troversial of all policy issues-abortion. It is intentioned, but misguided efforts by the tant legislation. true that abortion has a role in this resolution. United States Immigration Service to protect As a former sheriff, I know that in too many That role can be found in the fact that family our northern border against United States citi­ instances Federal law enforcement grants re­ planning unequivocally reduces the use of zens who seek to reenter their own country sult in the hiring of numerous generals but not abortion world-wide. The use of abortion is after a recreational boating trip to Canada. enough foot soldiers at the local level. In other closely associated with the unmet need for In what appears to be a federally sanctioned words, policing grant funds are often spent hir­ contraception and with reliance on less effec­ game of waterway robbery, the Immigration ing clerks and dispatchers instead of hiring tive methods. Therefore, abortion rates are Service is willing to forego its legal obligation uniformed officers to patrol the streets. Specifi­ lower in countries where more effective mod­ to inspect all vessels returning to a United cally, my bill amends the Omnibus Crime Con­ em methods of contraception are used than in States port from Canada, if boaters are willing trol and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to ensure countries where less effective methods pre­ to pay a $16 per-person per-year fee to pur­ that Federal funds made available to hire or dominate. International family planning funds chase what is known as the 1-68 Canadian rehire law enforcement officers are used to are used to provide women with access to border boat landing permit. The 1-68 permit produce a net gain in the number of law en­ these much needed alternatives. When program was established in 1963 but was not forcement officers who perform nonadministra­ women are provided with alternatives to abor­ implemented nationally until a few years ago tive public safety services-i.e. street cops. tion, they use abortion less. This fact has when Congress directed Federal agencies to e This "bullet" symbol identifies statements or insertions which are not spoken by a Member of the Senate on the floor. Matter set in this typeface indicates words inserted or appended, rather than spoken, by a Member of the House on the floor. 2316 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS February 13, 1997 begin charging a fee for some Federal pro­ between two friendly countries should also be joint commission, for example, it is deemed to grams. I have no problem with the fee-for­ afforded this option. meet Medicare's conditions of participation. service approach, but where is the service? I would like to thank Representative STUPAK When facilities are wrongly accredited, The 1-68 program would have the boating and my colleague from Ohio, Representative Medicare beneficiaries suffer. A 1988 Wall public paying the INS for the convenience of TRAFICANT for being original cosponsors of this Street Journal investigation found that "ac­ not inspecting their boats. Its difficult to see simple yet important piece of legislation. I look creditation masks serious failings in possibly how this approach would stem the tide of ille­ forward to enthusiastic support from all Mem­ hundreds of the 5, 100 hospitals in America gal immigration from Canada on recreational bers of Congress bordering the Great Lakes. that are inspected and approved by the joint boats, a problem that is not well documented commission." The Journal also reported that by the INS-if it exists at all. We do know, many patients died as a result of receiving however, that the number of United States JAMES GILMORE NAMED 1997 PER­ substandard care in hospitals that were con­ boaters visiting Canada from the Great Lakes SON OF THE YEAR BY THE sidered "marginal" and that "many accredited Region fell 15 percent in the 1996 boating COUNCIL OF SOUTH SIDE AD­ hospitals had actually failed inspections but re­ season to just under 40,000. This translates to VANCEMENT ASSOCIATIONS mained accredited for months, even years, as a loss of over $2 million in destination spend­ they sought to correct their problems." ing on the Canadian side and it can be as­ HON.