March 6, 2002 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E275 more Americans will be denied their basic The heart or cancer patient, treated early PERSONAL EXPLANATION right to health care. The Catholic Health Asso- and with our best tools, can be offered a ciation represents facilities across this country much different prospect than the critical ´ care patient who arrives without benefit of HON. RUBEN HINOJOSA that provide a safety net for uninsured and early therapy. OF TEXAS underinsured citizens in need of medical care. During this congressional legislative ses- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Led by the Reverend Michael D. Place, its sion, it is increasingly important that we Tuesday, March 5, 2002 president and chief executive officer, CHA is tackle the health care needs of our nation’s working actively to increase awareness of this uninsured. When Congress failed to adopt an Mr. HINOJOSA. Mr. Speaker, I regret that I crisis. I urge all my colleagues to heed their economic stimulus package in February, the had to travel to my Congressional District for timely call to action. growing numbers of the recently unemployed an important event on February 28, 2002. Had and uninsured were dealt a dose of legisla- [From the Baltimore Sun, Feb. 19, 2002] I been present, I would have voted ‘‘yes’’ on tive paralysis. rollcall 46. RESCUE THE UNINSURED FROM SEA OF Added to the diminishing set-asides for the UNCERTAINTY f ‘‘permanent’’ uninsured, the health care out- (By Michael D. Place) look for our nation’s poor, uninsured, and HONORING ABRAHAM FROST WASHINGTON.—In Manchester, N.H., a 6- under-served population is truly bleak. year-old girl arrives at Catholic Medical We must and can do better. Center unable to eat for several days because HON. PETER DEUTSCH American society must ensure that each of medical complications from dental pain. OF FLORIDA person has access to affordable health care. Why the wait? The little girl’s family did IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES not have health insurance. At a crossroads moment, let us engage in a This child, and so many others across the new national conversation on systemic Tuesday, March 5, 2002 country, represent the crisis of vulnerability health care reform, a dialogue from Main Mr. DEUTSCH. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to Street to Pennsylvania Avenue. endured by 38 million Americans without honor the memory of Abraham Frost, who It is time for our nation’s public and pri- any health insurance. came to this country from Poland in 1912. Mr. While the girl in Manchester was fortunate vate leadership, health care providers and enough to live in proximity to a Catholic faith-based groups to come together and to Frost was an individual who was constantly in health facility with high quality emergency join all Americans in a search for real and awe of everything he saw in the United States. care, there are 22 million Americans who live meaningful solutions to this health care For his entire life, he had a deep appreciation in rural areas that the federal government challenge. for the opportunities this great nation provided calls ‘‘health profession shortage areas.’’ to him, and truly enjoyed his work and time Many of these citizens are without health f spent raising his family. Mr. Frost marveled at insurance and without access to medical care the development of modern conveniences of any kind. They are at the apex of this CONGRATULATING REVEREND such as automobiles and airplanes. He was health care crisis of vulnerability. As we struggle to cope with burgeoning BOBBY RAY MORRIS truly captivated with the possibility of realizing numbers of uninsured across the country, the American Dream. Abraham Frost died in rural areas highlight a disturbing trend of 1976 in Miami Beach, Florida. funding ‘‘drift’’—a drift away from sub- HON. SAM GRAVES Mr. Speaker, the accomplishments of Abra- sidized health care coverage for the poor, the OF MISSOURI ham Frost are a testament to his dedication unemployed and the disabled. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES and his passion for life. He leaves a lasting Rural hospitals were hit hard by the Bal- legacy for both his family and friends. anced Budget Act of 1997. It has been esti- Tuesday, March 5, 2002 mated that of the $118 billion that the law f Mr. GRAVES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to directed to be cut over five years, $16.8 bil- HUNTING MADE EASY lion was cut from Medicare funds intended congratulate Reverend Bobby Ray Morris of for rural areas. Legislation in the past two Lawson, Missouri. Reverend Morris has been years has restored only about $3.8 billion of the pastor of the Lawson Assembly of God HON. SAM FARR this money. Church for the past 42 years, providing spir- OF CALIFORNIA For skeptics who believe that rural health IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES care may not be as vital as has been re- itual leadership to generations of Missourians. ported, a quick look at a sample state’s mor- In addition to caring for his congregation, Tuesday, March 5, 2002 tality statistics may be convincing. Reverend Morris is a positive influence on the Mr. FARR of California. Mr. Speaker, I en- In Illinois, rural death rates from all community of Lawson. During his distin- courage you to read the Time Magazine article causes from 1992 to 1996 were 1,106.7 deaths guished tenure, 25 individuals became pas- entitled ‘‘Hunting Made Easy’’ which describes for every 100,000 people. This figure compares tors, youth leaders, and missionaries. The with 853.8 deaths in Illinois’ urban areas. the ‘‘slaughter’’ of ‘‘captive animals to mount Sadly, the rural patient base tends to be dedication and guidance of Reverend Morris their heads on a wall.’’ older, poorer and less medically privileged. enabled these individuals to answer their calls It is a very disturbing article which also For such patients, the small rural hospital is to the ministry. raises the question, ‘‘Should Congress step indeed a lifeline in need of preservation. This well-loved and respected man of God in?’’ The answer is a resounding yes. You can Whether in rural or urban areas, our cities is retiring on March 16. Although the Rev- step in by cosponsoring H.R. 3464, the ‘‘Cap- have no shortage of uninsured and desperate erend will relinquish his role as leader of the families. In Des Moines, Iowa, a single tive Exotic Animal Protection Act of 2001’’, a Catholic hospital—Mercy Medical Center— Lawson Assembly of God Church, he will re- bill to combat the unfair and inhumane prac- operates a free clinic through its House of main a spiritual leader in the community and tice of ‘‘canned hunting.’’ Even hunters are ob- Mercy program. More than 600 people a continue to guide and inspire future genera- jecting to this gruesome practice. month come in without insurance, many tions. Please join me in honoring Reverend HUNTING MADE EASY with acute illness. Bobby Ray Morris for his life of service to the (By Jeffrey Kluger) In the South Bronx, the Dominican Sisters community of Lawson. Family Health Services is a safety net pro- The exotic Corsican ram trotting about the vider in what has been designated the na- 100-yard-long pen in central Pennsylvania tion’s poorest congressional district. Hos- f paid little mind to the men approaching across the field. People were always walking pital admission rates in that community for PERSONAL EXPLANATION children with asthma and pneumonia—condi- in and out of the pen, as often as not with tions that can be prevented with adequate food for the flock. So the ram didn’t resist primary care—are five to seven times the HON. HILDA L. SOLIS when the men drove all the animals toward rates in more affluent areas of New York one end of the enclosure. It was only when City. OF CALIFORNIA the first arrow—fired from just yards away— Emergency access to basic health care is a IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES struck it in the haunch that it realized stopgap. The emergency room or free clinic something was up. The ram hobbled off and is not a substitute for health insurance cov- Tuesday, March 5, 2002 was struck by a second arrow, then a third. erage for access to the same health-care It stood for a moment staring beyond the services enjoyed by the more privileged in Ms. SOLIS. Mr. Speaker, during rollcall vote fence line and then settled onto its our society. number 46 on H. Con. Res. 305 I was un- haunches, bleeding. A gunshot to the abdo- And such access is critical not only to en- avoidably detained. Had I been present, I men finished it off—preserving its head as a suring quality of life but also term of life. would have voted ‘‘yes’’. trophy. VerDate 11<MAY>2000 04:24 Mar 07, 2002 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00015 Fmt 0626 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A05MR8.057 pfrm04 PsN: E06PT1 E276 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks March 6, 2002 It has never been easy being an animal at Still, not all hunts on preserves provoke an working together to solve problems, break the business end of a hunt, but these days outcry. Many ranch owners keep exotic ani- down barriers and mistrust, and avoid the cul- it’s hard being the hunter too. Dwindling mals out of their collections or conduct tural misunderstandings that have plagued ranges and herds make the ancient business hunts on grounds that give prey a sporting their parents’ generation. My hope is that the of stalking prey an increasingly difficult chance.