Marion Berry

Mr. BERRY

Mr. BERRY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Cardin). (Mr. CARDIN asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks)

Mr. BERRY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Dingell). (Mr. DINGELL asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. BERRY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, it has been 3 months since the House passed a bipartisan Patients' Bill of Rights legislation. The American people still do not have protections they want and deserve. Mr. Speaker, last night, I offered the motion to instruct conferees. The conferees deserve the opportunity to meet on this legislation. We need to get to work on finishing the job the American people sent us here to do. Last October, the House passed a strong bill. That is what I am asking the House to do now. Let the conferees meet. Let the Congress vote on a strong bill that will give the American people the patient protection they deserve and are asking for. While we delay, millions of American families needlessly suffer from the consequences of allowing HMO bureaucrats to make medical decisions. Let us allow medical decisions to be made by doctors and patients, not someone behind a desk. Americans want a bill that has a strong independent review of HMO decision. They want a bill that is going to address the unfortunate case when the HMO causes injury or wrongful death, that they will be held responsible like any other business in America. Congress needs to take action on passing the bipartisan legislation to provide the American people with basic protections and basic guarantees when it comes to managed care. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BERRY. Mr. Speaker, I offer a privileged motion to instruct conferees on the bill (H.R. 2990) to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow individuals greater access to health insurance through a health care tax deduction, a long-term care deduction, and other health-related tax incentives, to amend the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 to provide access to and choice in health care through association health plans, to amend the Public Health Service Act to create new pooling opportunities for small employers to obtain greater access to health coverage through HealthMarts; to amend title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, title XXVII of the Public Health Service Act, and the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to protect consumers in managed care plans and other health coverage; and for other purposes.

Mr. BERRY

Mr. BERRY. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to clause 7(c) of rule XXII, I hereby announce my intention to offer a motion to instruct conferees on H.R. 2990. The form of the motion is as follows: I move that the managers on the part of the House at the conference on the disagreeing votes of the two Houses on the Senate amendment to the bill H.R. 2990 be instructed (1) to take all necessary steps to begin meetings of the conference committee in order to report back expeditiously to the House; and (2) to insist on the provisions of the Bipartisan Consensus Managed Care Improvement Act of 1999 (Division B of H.R. 2990 as passed by the House), and within the scope of the conference to insist that such provisions be paid for.

Mr. BERRY

Mr. BERRY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a true friend and truly great Arkansan, Ralph ``Pop'' Stricklin. Pop, who celebrated his 80th birthday last month, has helped make Jonesboro, Arkansas, the great place that it is today. When he wasn't working in the electric and refrigeration business, a career he began in 1936, Pop served his country and his community in so many ways. He served his country in the U.S. Army from 1941-46. For 36 years, he served as the Alderman of Jonesboro, working under five mayors. He also worked with the Fair Board for 15 years and was a valued and faithful employee to Arkansas State University for 20 years. Pop is a VFW life member, DAV life member, a member of the American Legion; the Boy Scouts; Salvation Army Board; the Elks; Kiwanis, where he has had 36 years of perfect attendance; a board member of the First Methodist Church; and a member of the Jaycees ``Old Rooster, after 35 age group,'' to name a few. He has also served on several committees including the police, street, parks, fire, cemetery, animal control, planning and inspection, electrical examining board, and other committees where he made a difference and always contributed to the city of Jonesboro and the state of Arkansas. Pop has received the key to the city of Jonesboro and has a day named after him because of his work. He has also worked to improve the lives of young people as an active member of the male-youth organization Order of DeMolays, where he was ``State DeMolay Dad,'' or ``Pop'' as we now call him. Pop Stricklin exemplifies what it is to be a great citizen and a great American. He has always worked hard to make his community a better place to live, work, and raise a family. Our community is a better place because of his presence. He is someone you can always count on and I am proud to call Pop Stricklin my friend.

Mr. BERRY

Mr. BERRY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to two people who I am proud to call my friends, Billy and Alice Nix, on the celebration of their 50th wedding anniversary. I have had the pleasure of knowing Billy and Alice Nix for 4 years. When I'm in Sidney or Ash Flat for parades, Billy drives me in one of his antique cars. Billy and Alice are always ready to do their part for the community, school, church or business. The Nixes have been active members of the community of Ash Flat, Arkansas for over 40 years, where they own and run the Ash Flat Livestock Auction. Billy has served on the Sharp County Fair Board and the Northeast Arkansas District Fair Board. Alice gives her time at the Ash Flat Historical Society where she helped the organization publish a book about the history of Ash Flat. The Nix family is also involved in the Church of Christ. The Nixes cherish their family including their three wonderful children Mike, Jan, and Beverly; and their 10 grandchildren and five great grand-children. They are perfect examples of good neighbors, friends, parents and grandparents. The integrity and dedication of the Nixes is a living example to all that know them, especially to institutions like marriage. Our community is a better place to live and work and raise a family because of their efforts and the care and the dedication of Billy and Alice Nix.

Mr. BERRY

Mr. BERRY. Mr. Speaker, as we honor today the Little Rock Nine with the Congressional Medal of Honor, I would also like to pay tribute to Daisy Bates, who passed from this Earth last week. Ms. Bates was a mentor to the Little Rock Nine during the Central High School desegregation crisis in 1957. She was a true leader of our time. Daisy Bates was a participant in a movement that changed history forever. Those young people and Daisy Bates became symbols to all of us of what it means to be courageous, honorable and exceptionally brave. Daisy Bates was a great mentor who had the courage to stand up for what she believed in. Mrs. Bates was a courageous woman under all circumstances and she will be greatly missed.

Mr. BERRY

Mr. BERRY. Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably detained for rollcall vote 578. Had I been present, I would had voted ``yes'' on rollcall vote number 578. Stated against:

Mr. BERRY

Mr. BERRY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the millions of Americans who served and sacrificed for our country in wars all over the world. This week we celebrate Veterans' Day in thousands of ceremonies across America, including several in the 1st Congressional District of Arkansas which I was so proud to represent. November 11 was originally the day commemorating the 1918 armistice that ended World War I. The original Armistice Day celebrated the signing of the armistice between the Allies and the Central Powers at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month. The first commemorative ceremony was held when an American soldier was buried in the Arlington National Cemetery at the same time as a British soldier was buried in Westminster Abbey and a French soldier was buried at the Arc de Triomphe. In 1954, following World War II and the Korean Conflict, Armistice Day became known as Veterans Day. Realizing that peace was equally preserved by veterans of WW II and Korea, Congress was requested to make this day an occasion to honor those who have served America in all wars. Many times we have asked our veterans to put their lives on hold, to leave their families to serve their country and protect our freedoms. Because of their strength and courage, all Americans enjoy the ideals of democracy. On Veterans Day, it is important to remember that our Nation owes a commitment to our veterans every day of the year. We salute the millions of Americans who, because of their courage, have given us the freedom that we all enjoy. These heroes sacrificed for love of country, not only answering the call of our flag, but also honoring its meaning. Veterans' Day is a time for all Americans to remember their extraordinary commitment that has made our country the greatest nation that has ever been. On this Veterans Day, we should all express our sincere thanks to our fellow Americans who valiantly served abroad in the U.S. Armed Forces. We should all reflect on the pride we share in the men and women who have kept our Nation free and strong.

Mr. BERRY

Mr. BERRY. Mr. Speaker, it would have been amusing the last few weeks if it had not been so sad listening to our Republican colleagues swearing to protect social security. This charade continues, despite the fact that the Congressional Budget Office has confirmed that the Republicans have already spent $17 billion of the social security surplus. Remember, that $17 billion loan does not include the Republicans' $1 trillion tax cut. It does, however, include Senator Trent Lott's ship that the Navy does not need, does not want, and does not have the people to man if they had it. It does include over $1 million to study the spruce bark beetle. In fact, according to the CBO, if the President had not vetoed the tax bill, we would have already raided the social security trust fund by at least $70 billion, without counting any of the other billions and billions and billions that my spendthrift Republican colleagues have passed this year. With all this spending and all this borrowing, how can my Republican colleagues get up here with a straight face and say they are saving social security? The American people know better.

Mr. BERRY

Mr. BERRY. Mr. Speaker, it is absolutely amazing that 275 Members of the House of Representatives voted for the worst bill. I rise in support of this motion to instruct conferees. I do agree with the gentleman from Oklahoma who referred to the distinguished gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Dingell) as a politician. But I would add to that that he is also a great statesman, along with the distinguished gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Norwood) and the distinguished gentleman from Iowa (Mr. Ganske). It is an unbelievable miscarriage of the will of this House that they would not be conferees on this conference committee. When my colleagues and I brought this legislation to the Committee on Rules, we brought it with a manager's amendment that would have allowed the bill to be paid for. We did so because all of us are concerned about the budgetary impacts of policies that are not paid for. Unfortunately, the Committee on Rules did not allow our bill to be paid for, and even worse added on a $48 billion tax package that was not paid for. This motion to instruct conferees requires the conference committee to find a way to pay for the compromised legislation. Given the fact that some in Congress voted just last week to borrow more from the Social Security Trust Fund, given the fact that the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office has certified that some in Congress have already dipped into the Social Security Trust Fund by 17 billion more dollars, given the fact that none of us want to spend what belongs to Social Security, I urge my colleagues to support this motion. Our job is to get the best deal we can for the American people. We should follow the will of this House. The gentleman from Iowa (Mr. Ganske) and the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Norwood) should be conferees. If my colleagues care about Social Security, and if my colleagues care about HMO reform, and if my colleagues care about the American people getting a good deal, being treated fairly, and having access to good health care under their HMOs, I urge my colleagues to support this motion.

Mr. BERRY

Mr. BERRY. Madam Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time, and I would first like to commend my colleagues, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Stenholm), the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Boyd), the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Deal), the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Goodlatte), the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Udall), and the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Turner) for their work on this bill. The purpose of this bill is to more adequately compensate counties for the losses that they sustain at the expense of the Forest Service or the Bureau of Land Management-owned lands. Schools, local roads and county budgets should not suffer because national forest lands lie in their county. This bill sets an important precedent that Congress must follow in the future. If the Federal Government owns land in a particular locality, we should see to it that these counties receive funds to make up the lost property tax base. My home county of Arkansas County in Southeast Arkansas receives a payment in lieu of taxes from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. While the structure of these payments is not affected by this bill, the bill makes the point that all counties containing Federal land should be sufficiently compensated. Parts of the St. Francis National Forest and the Ozark National Forest do lie in my district, and those counties will benefit from this bill. Madam Chairman, we should vote to pass this bill.

Mr. BERRY

Mr. BERRY. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of the Pain Relief Promotion Act. As a cosponsor of this bill, I know that the Pain Relief Promotion Act would not keep physicians, nurses, or health care workers from providing appropriate pain and symptom control to sick patients. The measure simply clarifies what is already established as case law and common practice. The use of drugs outside of established professional and legal parameters is forbidden, and this bill is very similar to a law already in place in my home State of Arkansas, a law that has proved to be effective and enforceable. Mr. Chairman, this legislation has been endorsed by a broad spectrum of organizations such as the National Hospice Organization, the American Medical Association, the former Surgeon General, C. Everett Koop. Let us pass this legislation and show that we know the value of human life.

Mr. BERRY

Mr. BERRY. Madam Speaker, I thank my distinguished colleague, the gentleman from North Dakota, for those kind words. I can remember when I first came to the Congress. In the Blue Dog Caucus, my good friend, the gentleman from North Dakota (Mr. Pomeroy) came because we had had a terrible disaster in North Dakota. We had had a terrible flood. He came to the Blue Dog Caucus and he talked to us about how badly they needed the money to help repair the damage done by the flood. I remember how hard he fought and how hard he worked for the people of North Dakota. I appreciate what he is doing here this evening. Mr. Speaker, it shows us what a good man my colleague, the gentleman from North Dakota is, when he stands here on this floor this evening and gives credit to the Republicans for the work that they have done to help reduce the debt and help reduce deficit spending, and try to make this country better by being fiscally responsible. It shows us what a charitable man he is. I have seen those ads they are running against my friend, the gentleman from North Dakota. I was amazed the first time I saw them. I do not see how anyone could publicly accuse my good friend, the gentleman from North Dakota (Mr. Pomeroy) of being a thief. It is amazing to me that anyone would rise to that level or sink to that level. But I tell the Members that just to let them know what a good man this is who is working on this particular issue this evening. Saving social security is not complicated. First, we stop spending the social security trust fund. We preserve and invest it. But we cannot do that by just claiming to do it. Talk is one thing and action is another. The same people that we hear down here accusing the Democrats of spending the social security trust fund are the same people that said that the Census is an emergency. We have known for 200 years we were going to have to take a Census in the year 2000, but they were going to declare an emergency and use that as a budget gimmick, so we can say we are not spending the social security trust fund. They have done these things dozens of times in this budget year. It is amazing to me that they would want to do that. It is the responsibility of the majority party to give us a budget that does not do this. By definition, the minority party cannot pass legislation. Our Republican colleagues keep talking about spending the social security trust fund. They should know, they have been spending it. But they love to say, well, someone else is doing it. It is not my fault, someone else is doing it. It is almost childlike to hear this. Then they take money and run ads accusing someone of being a thief if they voted for any of these appropriations bills. Let us just blame it on someone else. Do not worry about the consequences. Do not worry about extending the life of the social security trust fund. Just imagine what would have happened if the President had not vetoed that irresponsible tax bill that they tried to pass. After we stop spending the social security trust funds, the second thing we have to do is pay off the debt, as my colleagues have also talked about here this evening. We take the on-budget surplus and pay off the debt, and we extend the life of the trust fund. As my colleague, the gentleman from North Dakota, and my colleague, the gentleman from Maine, have already mentioned, then we take this interest that is saved and we have some money to work with, and we can extend the lives of these trust funds. We can save social security and Medicare. It is not that we do not know how to do it, it is having the political will to do it. We also must not forget that we have got to continue to do the things that sustain this economy and let it continue to grow. If our economy goes in the tank, we are going to be in a lot more trouble with the social security trust fund and all other budget issues than we are right now, so we have to remember that we have to continue to expand our trading markets overseas and all the other things: Educate our children, continue to do research and development, and sustain this economy that has made us the greatest Nation in the history of the world. It is a pleasure to be on the floor this evening and to compliment my good friend, the gentleman from North Dakota, for the great work he does for the people of North Dakota, for the people of this great country, and the high quality that he brings to this Congress and to this House of Representatives.

Mr. BERRY

Mr. BERRY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to talk about the Youth Enterprise in Agriculture (YEA) program, that has worked so hard to teach young people in Arkansas about the importance of agriculture. Farming has been in my family for generations and I believe that it is one of the most noble professions on earth. I am proud that the YEA program works to teach young people about farming and encourages them to get involved in agricultural careers. The YEA program was established at the Arkansas Land and Farm Development Corporation in 1991. It was designed as an agricultural career and leadership development program for high school youth to help preserve the small family farm by enhancing youth interest toward farming as a business enterprise and agriculture-related careers. Through work experience, classroom education, leadership development training and career goal-setting, participants are encouraged to continue their education and pursue agriculture-related careers. YEA provides students, ages 16-19 from Arkansas, Illinois and Mississippi with career and leadership development activities. In the 2-year active training phase, students are offered paid internships with Arkansas family farmers who provide training, work experiences and exposure to agriculture as a lifestyle and business. The YEA program has played an important role in boosting the number of students that are exploring careers in agriculture-related fields. Through the program, many young people have become strong advocates for agriculture and its diversity and have a broad understanding and mind-set for becoming successful agri-business people and entrepreneurs. These youth represent the next generation of rural leaders and agriculture professionals. Though only in its ninth year of operation, YEA has been a remarkable success, and has played an important part in the agricultural arena and rural community development and I wish this program more continued success in the future.

Mr. BERRY

Mr. BERRY. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to this amendment and in support of the bipartisan Norwood-Dingell bill. Let me tell my colleagues one of the reasons why. Under the Coburn-Shadegg amendment non-economic damages are limited to the lesser of two times economic damages or $500,000. As was already mentioned, the Cocoran case that the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Shadegg) talked about, since the victim was a baby with no earnings, economic damages are minor, possibly only the cost of a funeral. Do my colleagues want to tell the Cocorans that the life of their baby is only worth a couple of thousand dollars? Under the Coburn-Shadegg amendment that is all that they would receive. That is one of the reasons I am opposed to this amendment. Unlike this substitute which creates a new Federal bureaucratic process, the Norwood-Dingell legislation would allow States to determine whether such liability should be expanded to self-insured plans. Let me say this again. The Norwood-Dingell bill allows States to determine whether HMOs should be held liable, and it allows States to determine which limits to set on damages. The gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Coburn) says that letting the States decide goes too far. I disagree. The State of Texas, which the Speaker just referred to, has only had three lawsuits in its experience with a very similar bill as we are about to pass. Only in States that allow such suits and only in cases where a person has gone through a competitive internal and external review process could a lawsuit be filed, and if a health insurer or HMO abided by the review process, it could not be sued for punitive damages. Most important, the Norwood-Dingell bill specifically prohibits lawsuits against employers, unless an employer makes a medical decision to deny a covered benefit and a patient is seriously harmed as a result. Norwood-Dingell specifically prohibits the suit to an employer. These safeguards virtually ensure costly trials. Unreasonable verdicts will not result. At the same time it will ensure insurance companies and HMOs provide the benefits that employers and employees have paid for.

Mr. BERRY

Mr. BERRY. Mr. Speaker, I rise to urge a vote against this fiscally irresponsible legislation. It does not make sense to enact legislation that would cost more than $48 billion without paying for it. The authors of this bill claim that it is paid for out of the non-Social Security surplus. They have been spending this surplus once a week for the last month and a half. We started out, as this chart shows, the first of July with $14 billion in surplus, and now we are down to something less than $25 billion that we have overspent. Here we go again. Although we are projected to begin running substantial on-budget surpluses in 2001, these are just projections. This is not real money. Enacting policies now that will result in a permanent revenue loss based on projected surpluses that may not materialize is irresponsible. Adding to the debt our children have to pay off is reckless and foolhardy. Why would we want to rob the Social Security trust fund again? This is a tax bill that is not paid for. Let us not do this to our precious children and to their future. Let us save the Social Security trust fund.

Mr. BERRY

Mr. BERRY. Mr. Speaker, throughout my district and throughout rural America, cooperatives are the lifeblood of communities. Cooperatives are made up of groups of people who work together to product results above and beyond what any one member could accomplish alone. Cooperatives embody the characteristics of hard work, economic liberty, interdependence, and togetherness that have defined American business and society throughout history. In the 1st District of Arkansas, cooperatives provide electricity, farm supplies, and other services and products to residents. These businesses generate economic activity that fuels local economies, while providing savings to local citizens. For years co-ops have provided great benefits to farms across Arkansas by selling fertilizer, marketing crops, and performing services that otherwise would be much more expensive. I am proud that cooperatives play such a vital part of the communities in my district. It is very fitting we celebrate co-ops' important contributions by recognizing October as National Cooperative Month.

Mr. BERRY

Mr. BERRY. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote against this unfair and unreasonable rule, a rule so cynical, so calculated that there is no question of its intent, which is to kill the bipartisan Norwood-Dingell managed care bill. When we went to the Committee on Rules this week, we presented an amendment version of our bill that included offsets to pay for it. That is right. We wanted to do the fiscally responsible thing and pay for what we proposed. The Committee on Rules refused to allow us to pay for our bill. What is even more impossible to understand is the Committee on Rules will, if our bill is passed, stick on to it a $48 billion so-called access bill that is also not paid for. This is a disgrace. Surely the gentleman from Texas (Mr. DeLay) and his colleagues cannot suppose that the American people will be fooled by this nonsense. Just this morning the gentleman from Texas is quoted in the Washington Post as saying, ``We are at a defining moment in the direction of this country. It is the classic battle of tax and spend versus balanced budget and fiscal restraint.'' Ironically, the gentleman from Texas indicated that his leadership was not one to tax and spend. I refuse to vote for this rule and this $48 billion sound bite. If my colleagues care about balancing the budget, vote no on the rule.

Mr. BERRY

Mr. BERRY. Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably detained for rollcall votes 474 and 475. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes'' on rollcall vote No. 474, and ``yes'' on rollcall vote No. 475.

Mr. BERRY

Mr. BERRY. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from Ohio (Ms. Kaptur) for yielding this time to me, and I appreciate her hard work along with the hard work of all the other people that have worked on this bill, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, our farmers need the assistance in this bill, and they need a lot more. The funding in this bill is just simply not enough. The other side of the aisle comes to the well over and over to criticize the lack of action on trade issues, yet when they have the opportunity, they fail to lift the sanctions on Cuba and other countries for food and medicine for only political reasons. Mr. Speaker, this is shameful. This bill is inadequate. I will vote for it, but once again we are forcing America's farmers to pay for the political and foreign policy failures. The majority leadership should be ashamed of this bill because they did not accomplish what they should have for America's farmers.

Mr. BERRY

Mr. BERRY. Mr. Chairman, I want to thank the gentleman from Texas (Chairman Combest) and the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Stenholm), the ranking member, for their leadership on this issue. I rise today in support of the Agriculture Risk Protection Act. This bill makes the Federal crop insurance program a better risk management tool for America's farmers. Farmers will pay less for crop insurance at every level as a result of this bill. By offering increased premium subsidies, this bill encourages farmers to purchase crop insurance and protect themselves against low yields and weather disasters. Crop insurance should be like automobile insurance. If one gets a discount on automobile insurance for having a good driving record, one should get a discount on crop insurance for having a good production history. This bill does this by establishing premium discounts for producers who have a good production history. This legislation also imposes different penalties on those who defraud the program. Anyone who intentionally submits false information will be disqualified from all farm programs for up to 5 years. This is an excellent step towards making sure a good crop insurance program is available for honest farmers. This legislation improves the way a farmer's actual production history is calculated to allow producers sufficient yields to provide adequate coverage. It enhances Farm Services Agency's roll in record keeping, yield estimates, and product approval by forming a new record-keeping system through cooperation between the Farmer Service Administration State committees and the Federal Commodity Insurance Corporation. This system will provide more accurate information for the crop insurance program. This legislation improves oversight of companies and the Risk Management Agency by establishing an office to oversee policy development and broadens membership and oversight authority of the board of directors of the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation. It increases coverage for fruits and vegetables by expanding and improving NAP program to benefit fruit and vegetable farmers. The bill allows producers who are prevented from planting a crop to receive the indemnity on that crop and still make use of the land by preventing an uninsured crop. This provision is especially important for cotton producers across the country who are often prevented from getting their crop in the ground. Mr. Chairman, this is a good bill. I urge my colleagues to vote for a better crop insurance program and pass the Agriculture Risk Protection Act.

Mr. BERRY

Mr. BERRY. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of the Tierney amendment and to talk, once again, about the affordability of prescription drugs. We have all gone back to our districts and have heard from our constituents, especially seniors, that they cannot afford the prescription drugs they need, often to stay alive. When I hold meetings in the 1st Congressional District of Arkansas, I hear about two issues and that's the agriculture crisis and the high cost of prescription drugs, especially for seniors. I also get letters from Arkansas seniors who tell me everyday they can't afford to pay for all their needs, specifically, all their medicine and their food. Seniors all over this country are not following their doctors' orders. Some of them have been given prescriptions which they cannot afford to fill. Others have filled prescriptions which they cannot afford to take as directed. Because they cannot pay the rent, pay the electrical bills, buy food and take very expensive prescription drugs, they either stop taking them, or they take less than what is prescribed by their doctor. They are doing things that in the long run are harmful to their health. I find it amazing that we tell our seniors they can live longer if they take this pill and that pill, but then if they can't afford their medication that keeps them alive, we don't do anything about it. Thousands of consumers, especially seniors have found themselves affected by the price of prescription drugs in this country. Seniors and other Americans go to Canada and Mexico because prescription drugs in these countries cost much less than in the United States. In my District in Arkansas, seniors paid 81% and 72% more, respectively, for the 10 prescription drugs they most commonly use than their elderly counterparts in Canada. I have introduced legislation, with Representatives Emerson and Sanders, the International Prescription Drug Parity Act, that amends the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to allow American distributors and pharmacists to reimport prescription drugs into the U.S. as long as the drugs meet strict safety standards. This will allow American pharmacies and distributors to benefit by purchasing their drugs at lower prices, which they can pass along to American consumers. Mr. Chairman, the bottom line is, consumers should not have to choose between food and medicine. I urge all members of this body to vote for the Tierney amendment.

Mr. BERRY. Mr. Chairman, I rise today as a licensed pharmacist, in support of the McGovern amendment. I always say that I am proud to have served in two of the most respected professions: as a farmer and a pharmacist. I have stood here many times to talk about the affordability of prescription drugs. Today, I am here to ask that we pass this amendment for the sake of consumers. Why? Because our nation's consumers, especially seniors, rely on pharmacists for their livelihood. In the 1st Congressional District of Arkansas, these shortages are in the smaller towns. The demand for full-time pharmacists has increased more than 25 percent in the past two years. We all know from traveling in our districts that one of the main concerns of seniors is the affordability of prescription drugs. But we also know that not enough pharmacists to fill those prescriptions, this is also a major problem. Let's pass the McGovern amendment.