E10 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD Ð Extensions of Remarks January 6, 1999 party send up a raucous cheer when the chief THE IMPORTANCE OF PRESCRIBED a 1994 report by the Commission on Social executive enters the chamber. Even people BURNS IN AREA NATIONAL FOR- Security Notch Issue. There are two workers who despise the president jostle to be cap- ESTS who retired at the same age with the same av- tured on camera smiling, clapping and cheer- erage career earnings. One was born on De- ing for him. HON. JAMES E. ROGAN cember 31, 1916 and the other was born on Throughout the address, the president's OF CALIFORNIA January 2, 1917. Both retired in 1982 at the supporters bounce up and down giving stand- age of 65. The retiree born in 1917 receives IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ing ovations in response to choreographed $110 a month less in Social Security benefits rhetorical flourishes. His opponents, also Wednesday, January 6, 1999 than did the retiree born just two days before playing to the cameras, signify displeasure in 1996. Also take into consideration that there with stony silence. Or they disproportion- Mr. ROGAN. Mr. Speaker, recent figures from the Department of the Interior indicate are currently more than 6 million seniors in our ately applaud such presidential lines as ``We Nation who are faced with this painfully obvi- must do better,'' when ``better'' refers to a that the cost of fighting severe wildfires has ous inequity in the Social Security benefit policy that the opponents support. risen from $100 million per year just two dec- ades ago, to well over $1 billion today. In ad- computation formula. The president tosses rhetorical bouquets to dition, wildfires every year destroy hundreds of By phasing in an improved benefit formula people seated in the House galleryÐhis fam- over five years, the Notch Baby Act of 1999 ily, disabled veterans, civilian heroes. acres of forest lands, threatening lives, home and air quality. will restore fairness and equality in the Social The State of the Union address has become In many remote regions of the country, for- Security benefit computation formula for the a long, shallow and predictable bit of politi- Notch Babies. For once and for all this legisla- cal theater. A reversion to Jeffersonian dis- estry officials use small, controlled fires known as ``prescribed burns'' to remove excess un- tion would put to rest the Notch issue, and it cretion, considering the current cir- would put an end to the constant barrage of derbrush that fuels severe wildfires. In so cumstances, wouldn't be a bad thing. mailings and fundraising attempts which target doing, they eliminate a major source of fuel of our Nation's seniors in the name of Notch re- wildfires, while also promoting healthier forest f form. Our seniors deserve fairness and equal- growth. ity in the Social Security system. They de- In metropolitan ares like Los Angeles, how- COMMENTS ON 1ST SWEARING INÐ serve an end to the repeated congressional THE 106TH CONGRESS ever, officials are prevented from expanding stalling on this issue. I urge my colleagues in this procedure due to air quality regulations the House to discuss this issue with the sen- that limit emissions from all sourcesÐwildfires, iors in their districts, and to join me in ensur- HON. JOHN E. SWEENEY burns, smog, and the like. Last year alone, ing that the Notch issue is addressed in the these officials wanted to burn more than 106th Congress. OF NEW YORK 20,000 acres to protect local residents from f IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES out-of-control wildfires. Bureaucratic regula- tions, however, permitted the burning of only INTRODUCING H.R. 218, THE Wednesday, January 6, 1999 2,000 acresÐwell below safety expert's rec- COMMUNITY PROTECTION ACT ommendations. Mr. SWEENEY. Mr. Speaker, thank you, Mr. Working with Representatives DREIER, HON. RANDY ``DUKE'' CUNNINGHAM Speaker, and thank you, my newly confirmed MCKEON and local forestry and air quality offi- OF CALIFORNIA colleagues of the 106th Congress. I am truly cials, I have introduced the Forest Protection IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES honored to be here today joining this distin- Act. This measure will ease current restrictions Wednesday, January 6, 1999 guished group of Americans from across our for ten years to allow officials to conduct an great nation. Standing shoulder-to-shoulder in expanded prescribed burn program. Over the Mr. CUNNINGHAM. Mr. Speaker, today I the U.S. Capitol today with these Members of time-year period, local officials will monitor for- am reintroducing my legislation to permit quali- fied current and former law enforcement offi- the 106th Congress is an honor exceeded est health and air quality to ensure that both cers to carry a concealed firearm in any juris- only by that of representing the wonderful peo- improve over time. diction. This measure is called the Community ple of the 22nd District of New York. Local forestry officials are not the only ex- Protection Act, and I have requested that it be perts to recognize the importance of this pro- Mr. Speaker, I am truly humbled by the assigned the same bill number as in previous cedure. Both Interior Secretary Babbit and En- awesome responsibility and I am invigorated CongressesÐH.R. 218. by the challenge before meÐto carry on the vironmental Protection Agency chief Carol The Community Protection Act provides tradition of my esteemed predecessor, Jerry Browner have publicly supported prescribed three benefits to our police and to our country. Solomon, and to advance policies beneficial to burns as a means to promote forest health First, it effectively provides thousands more the 600,000 people I now represent. and prevent severe wildfires. trained cops on the beatÐat zero taxpayer The Forest Health and Wildfire Prevention cost. Today is a day dominated by idealistic vi- Act will give forestry officials the ability to use Second, it enables current and former law sions and profound rhetoric. While I bring with this time-tested technique to protect area resi- enforcement officers to protect themselves me today the ideals of freedom and oppor- dents and air quality while supporting the deli- and their families from criminals. When a tunity, I am riveted in the reality that these no- cate ecological balance in our forests. criminal completes his or her sentence, that tions must be translated into concrete results f criminal can find where their arresting officer in people's everyday life. Bringing tax relief to lives, where their corrections officer travels, NOTCH BABY ACT OF 1999 hard working families, promoting economic de- and other information about our brave law en- velopment to create new job opportunities, forcement personnel and their families. taking significant steps to ensure a safe and HON. JO ANN EMERSON And, third, it helps keep our communities drug-free environment in our schoolsÐAll OF MISSOURI safer from criminals. these examples make a difference in the IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES This measure is very similar to the H.R. 218 homes of the people of the Hudson Valley and Wednesday, January 6, 1999 reported by the Judiciary Committee in the Adirondack Mountains of New York and all will 105th Congress, with one exception: this ver- be my priorities as I take the oath of office Mrs. EMERSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today sion for the 106th Congress does not address today. to introduce the Notch Baby Act of 1999 which the matter of interstate reciprocity for holders would create a new alternative transition com- of civilian concealed carry licenses. This Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my family, putation formula for Social Security benefits measure affects police only. those that are here today and those that could for those seniors born between 1917 and In the interest of providing Members and the not make the trip, for all their love and support 1921. These seniors, who are generally re- public additional background information on as we begin this new endeavor. I would like to ferred to as ``Notch Babies,'' have been re- the Community Protection Act, I have attached thank Congressman Solomon a truly great ceiving lower monthly Social Security benefits below some excerpts from the Committee re- American, for his two decades of dedicated than seniors born in the years just prior to or port accompanying H.R. 218 from the 105th and tireless service to the citizens of the 22nd after this five year period. Congress (H. Rept. 105±819), and my testi- District of New York. And thank you to those There are those who dispute the existence mony before the House Judiciary Subcommit- same citizens that have entrusted me to ad- of a Notch problem. However, take into con- tee on Crime, the details of which remain ap- vance their views here in the U.S. Capitol. sideration the following example presented in plicable to the legislation I introduce today: CONGRESSIONAL RECORD Ð Extensions of Remarks E11 THE COMMUNITY PROTECTION ACT SELECTED Oplinger ended up capturing a suspected in complying with the Patient Bill of Rights. EXCERPTS FROM H. REPT. 105±819 bank robber at gunpoint on her day off yes- The VA determined it needed legislation to re- PURPOSE AND SUMMARY terday. imburse veterans for emergency care it didn't She happened to be in the area of Home H.R. 218, the ``Community Protection Act provide. Wile being encouraged to view VA as of 1998,'' establishes federal regulations and Savings Of America on Fifth Avenue near Washington Street about 12:30 p.m. when she their managed care provider, veterans could procedures which may allow active-duty and risks financial ruin if VA failed to comply with retired law enforcement officers * * * to saw a man running from the bank, a trail of travel interstate with a firearm * * *.