Marion Berry

Mr. BERRY

Mr. BERRY. Mr. Speaker, unfortunately, I missed roll call votes number 87, 88, and 89 on Tuesday March 31, 1998, due to the memorial service that was held in Jonesboro, Arkansas for the victims and survivors of last week's tragic shooting. Had I been present, I would have voted: ``Yes'' on roll call vote number 87; I would have voted ``No'' on roll call vote number 88; and, I would have voted ``Present'' on roll call vote number 89. I request that this be included in the Record immediately following these votes.

Mr. BERRY

Mr. BERRY. Mr. Speaker, unfortunately because of the tragedy in the district that I represent, I missed rollcall votes numbers 79 and 80 on Friday, March 27, 1998. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no'' on rollcall vote number 79. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes'' on rollcall vote number 80.

Mr. BERRY

Mr. BERRY. Mr. Speaker, I rise with great reluctance to address this body today. I am honored every time that I step into this Chamber, but this afternoon to be here and to speak on a topic that I am about to address, is the last thing I want to do. Mr. Speaker, I rise tonight to eulogize the lives of the five people, one woman and four little girls, who lost their lives yesterday in the senseless and tragic ambush shooting in Craighead County, Arkansas. I rise to offer my condolences to the families of these victims and to those that were injured and to the entire community as they struggle to make sense of the violence that we never dreamed would be visited upon our State. As nearly everyone in the country knows from the media reports that we have been receiving, yesterday afternoon someone pulled a fire alarm at Westside Middle School in Craighead County, Arkansas. As teachers and students evacuated the building, they were greeted by a torrent of gunfire from nearby woods. Among the victims is Shannon Wright. Mrs. Wright was a 32-year-old teacher who was shot while trying to shield sixth grader Emma Pittman from the hail of bullets. Mrs. Wright died at 7:53 last night, following surgery. Eleven-year-old Amber Vanover told reporters what she saw: ``He was fixing to shoot her, and Mrs. Wright moved in front of her.'' Eleven-year-old Natalie Brooks also lost her life. Paige Ann Herring and Stephanie Johnson, age 12, and Brittany Varner, age 11, had their lives taken from them. A heartbreaking loss for their families and friends. Sara Lynette Thetford, who teaches social studies to Westside sixth graders, stepped in front of 13-year-old Brittney Lambie when the shooting began. Mrs. Thetford and Brittney remain in critical condition today. Eight more students were wounded in the shooting: Amanda Barnes, Jennifer Jacobs, Candace Porter, Ashley Betts, Tristan McGowan, Christina Amer, Jenna Brooks, and Whitney Irving. Inevitably, tragedies produce heroes and there was no shortage of heroes yesterday. In addition to teachers Shannon Wright and Sara Thetford, Sheriff Dale Haas and the Craighead County Sheriff's Department, as well as the Arkansas State Police, did a commendable job of containing the scene and securing the surrounding areas. The emergency medical response teams in Jonesboro and Craighead County, Emerson Ambulance Service, Patient Transfer Service, and Keller Ambulance Service, all showed great professionalism under difficult circumstances. The paramedics and medical technicians from those three agencies worked together as a team and did a tremendous job of administering care to the victims. The doctors and staff of St. Bernard's Regional Medical Center did an outstanding job of preparing themselves for the chaos that entered the emergency room yesterday afternoon. They have also done an outstanding job of keeping the community informed of the status of the survivors. I know that the families around Craighead County are thankful for the many counselors and ministers from Jonesboro and from around the State who have offered their services to help the children of Westside cope with this horrible tragedy. The people in the communities that make up Westside school district, Bono, Cash, and Egypt, will look to each and to the Lord in the wake of this tragedy. The fact that children were victimized in a place where they should be safe makes this ordeal even more difficult to comprehend. We are all asking ``Why?'' Why did these young lives have to be snuffed out so senselessly? That answer may never come, and as many have suggested, the answer may be beyond our comprehension. Craighead County is a wonderful place full of people who for many, many years have worked to strengthen their community. It is a place where traditional values, faith in God, love of fellow man, and commitment to family are the pillars upon which the community is built and the source of strength that they will have to rely on now. As is often the case when the world seems turned upside down, the Bible provides some solace. The 46th Psalm says, ``God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth be removed and the mountains be carried into the sea.'' If there is any place on earth that is capable of dealing with a tragedy of this magnitude, that place is Craighead County, Arkansas. Mr. Speaker, my wife Carolyn and I, and our children, send our heartfelt condolences and prayers to the families and to the community as a whole, as does the entire staff of the offices of the First Congressional District. We stand ready to assist in any way that we can and wish Godspeed to the people of Craighead County as we all continue to deal with this horrifying tragedy.

Mr. BERRY

Mr. BERRY. Mr. Speaker, the Thompson report released last week has confirmed what we all know, that the integrity of our political system has been undermined by the influence of soft money. The soft money loophole is the primary culprit for the abuses that Congress has spent millions of dollars to investigate. Through the soft money loophole, a single donor can give unlimited amounts of money to influence Federal elections. Soft money circumvents nearly a century of campaign finance law. It has effectively deregulated our campaign finance system with disastrous results. The freshmen wanted to fix the main abuses of the current system. We put differences aside and created a fair, bipartisan campaign finance reform bill, H.R. 2183, the Bipartisan Campaign Integrity Act. H.R. 2183 closes the soft money loophole. It gets elected officials out of the business of raising $1 million special interest contributions. H.R. 2183 is fair. It is bipartisan. The bill has strong bipartisan support from both sides of the aisle. Mr. Speaker, the freshmen bill must be allowed to come to the House floor without any poison pills. Mr. Speaker, the freshmen deserve a vote. We have worked hard to create a fair and honest bill. Your decision now to allow a clean vote on the freshman bill will prove to the American people that Congress does care about restoring integrity to the political process.

Mr. BERRY

Mr. BERRY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to one of my staff members who has denied to return to his family business. Mr. Dirk Owens has served on my staff since the beginning--if not before--since he was a valued volunteer in my campaign for the House. Dirk has always displayed the qualities that are essential to have as a congressional employee: dedication, hard work, and a desire to serve the people of his community. It seems that in the short time that he has been with me Dirk has served in almost every capacity ranging from field representative to scheduler, caseworker to surrogate speaker, and the all-important position of Agricultural Liaison. It is in this capacity that he has done his best work. Mr. Speaker, as I've told this body several times, the district that I represent is one of the largest agricultural districts in the nation. I myself am a farmer and thus know how important it is to stay in touch with and communicate to the agricultural community. It's not a job that everyone can do--but Dirk did. Because he is from farm country he understands the pressures facing the American farmer, he knows the frustration of paperwork and regulations, he knows the joy of bringing in a good crop. On several occasions Dirk has represented me to the farmers of the 1st District and done an outstanding job. Our agricultural community owes him a debt of gratitude. In this business, staff members come and go, often stopping by to serve their communities before moving down the road to different careers. Dirk has come to that point and has made the decision to return to his family farm to continue the work of generations. He will be missed but his contribution will always be appreciated. Dirk I wish you Godspeed and good luck.

Mr. BERRY

Mr. BERRY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to urge my colleagues' support for legislation I will introduce this afternoon to increase fairness in international trade. As my record shows, I am a strong supporter of fair trade and expanding markets for American products. Regardless of whether we vote to use more American money to replenish the IMF accounts, we already are the largest contributor to the fund. As such, it is our obligation to speak up for what is right. My bill is focused on what the Asians should do to help themselves by upholding their trade reform commitments and ensuring fair trade. We need to take responsibility as world leader in trade and democracy. This bill would use our voice and vote in the international finance institutions to insist that promised market opening reforms are carried out in Asia. I urge my colleagues to support the Asian Trade Reform and Implementation Act, it would send a strong message to Asia: Open your doors to U.S. products.

Mr. BERRY

Mr. BERRY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to urge my colleagues' support for legislation I introduced to increase fairness in international trade. As my record shows, I am a strong advocate of fair trade and expanding markets for American products. Our sound economy is due largely to our commitment to open trade. This open trade has led to global competition, which, in turn, has improved our productivity and our efficiency. We are all painfully aware of the economic crisis in Asia. We will likely have a spirited debate on what the United States should do to help out our troubled allies and trading partners in that region. Regardless of whether we vote to use more American money to replenish IMF accounts, we are already the largest contributor to the fund. As such, it is our obligation to speak up for what is right. My bill does not focus on what role the United States should have in the Asian recovery. My bill is focused on what the Asians should do to help themselves by upholding their trade reform commitments and ensuring fair trade. Many of the so-called Asian tigers have enjoyed dramatic growth by focusing on exports. They have insulated their markets from foreign competition and often subsidized their exports to undercut the world price. This lack of real competition has weakened their domestic economies to the breaking point. As the world struggles to deal with the Asian crisis, we ought to take responsibility as the world leader in trade and democracy. The bill I have introduced would use our voice and vote as the IMF, the World Bank, and the Asian Development Bank to insist that promised marketing-opening reforms are carried out in Asia. For too long we have been shut out of these growing markets. For too long we have faced Asian goods unfairly dumped into our markets, hurting our factories and our workers. Now is the time to make the changes that will help. We can help our workers and businesses by requiring that the Asians allow fair trade, and fair markets, for U.S. goods. I urge my colleagues to support the Asian Trade Reform Implementation Act. It will send a strong and firm message to Asia: Open up your doors to U.S. products.

Mr. BERRY

Mr. BERRY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a wonderful man. The kind of man that made this country the great nation it is today. I honor James Carroll Place as he should be honored. Mr. Jim was one of those pillars of the community that worked hard every day, played by the rules and did what ever was necessary to make himself and his community successful. At the same time he always upheld the highest standards of conduct and integrity. His tireless work for the community to build the wonderful event that we celebrate annually in my hometown, The Coon Supper, will be long remembered. We should all hope that his example of high standards and good conduct will be followed by the generations to come. It made no difference if it was for the church, the town, the Farmers and Businessmen's Club, friends, neighbors, or his own family, he gave his all and his best and expected no less from us all. He was a friend and mentor to me and was a business associate for many years. We never had a dispute. His sense of fairness and honesty was exceeded only by his great good humor. He was a friend, role model, farmer, leader, father, and Christian. Some say that the measure of success of a man is his children. If so, then Mr. Jim was successful by all standards. He will be long remembered as the standard for, as we say in my hometown of Gillett, Arkansas, a good man. Let us today honor this good man and the standard he set for us all.

Mr. BERRY

Mr. BERRY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to urge my colleagues' support for legislation I am introducing with Senator Dorgan to eliminate the regulatory and financial burdens placed on America's family pharmacies by the Balanced Budget Act of 1997. The Balanced Budget Act contained a provision that required all dealers of durable medical equipment for Medicare to obtain a $50,000 surety bond. Unfortunately, pharmacists were inadvertently included in the surety bond requirement, because some of them do sell small amounts of durable medical equipment such as crutches and other items. My bill will exempt any licensed pharmacist who owns his or her own business from the bond requirement. It is an unnecessary and costly burden for these professionals, who are already struggling to keep their businesses afloat, particularly in rural areas. America's family pharmacist is already under siege by drug companies who set prices on pharmaceutical prices. These companies offer reduced or rock-bottom prices to HMOs and other purchasing groups, but do not offer the same discounts to a family pharmacist. Even if the terms of a recent court settlement are met by the pharmaceutical companies, the family pharmacist in rural areas will likely still not have full access to these discounts. Who is hurt most by high drug prices? Our pharmacists, increasing numbers of whom are forced to shut down their family-owned businesses in rural areas, and, most important, their patients. It is indeed a crime that here in the world's richest Nation, our seniors must choose between buying groceries and buying prescription drugs. This legislation will eliminate the costly burden placed upon pharmacies by the Balanced Budget Act, but it will not eliminate the costly burden of the high drug prices that continue to grow by leaps and bounds. I intend to address that issue at a later date.

Mr. BERRY

Mr. BERRY. Mr. Speaker, the kidnapping of a child is a terrible crime that should not be tolerated. However, it is something that happens all too often with the perpetrator actually being rewarded in some cases. There are hundreds of unresolved cases in which children have been abducted by a noncustodial parent and taken to a foreign country. Some of these countries are allowing the kidnappers to illegally keep the children without fear of prosecution or ever having to face extradition. Our legal system makes decisions involving the custody of children based on what is in the best interest of the child. Once such arrangements are made, no one should ever be rewarded for the illegal abduction of a child from our country by being able to keep the child and thumb their nose at authority. Such crime imposes horrible grief and suffering upon the parent from whom the child is taken. Tomorrow I will be introducing a resolution expressing the sense of the Congress that the international community must work together to resolve cases where kidnapped children are taken abroad. Mr. Speaker, this is a serious problem that should be treated as a high priority issue by the United States Government in its relations with other countries. By giving this resolution our full consideration and support, we will be sending a strong signal of our support for the rights of children.

Mr. BERRY

Mr. BERRY. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to three Arkansans who have made a difference in their community: Arkansas State Representative Joe Harris, Jr., Mr. Terry Woodard, and Mr. Fredrick Freeman. They are three African Americans who have worked to make a difference in their communities and in our State and in my congressional district. They are people who have risen to the challenges handed them. They grew up in the Arkansas Mississippi River delta, one of the poorest regions in the country. Not only did they withstand adversity, but they have decided to remain in the delta to make it a better place to live and work and raise a family. State Representative Joe Harris is a lifelong resident of Mississippi County, Arkansas, which he now represents in the State legislature. He is also the founder and owner of a successful business, Joe Harris Jr. Trucking and Demolition Company. He has worked for the community by serving on boards and commissions, by chairing the Board of Deacons of the Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church, and participating in Chamber of Commerce work. Terry Woodard is another African-American leader in Arkansas' First Congressional District who is a successful businessman and makes significant contributions to his community. He is a tireless worker for the betterment of the community in which he lives. He is the president of Woodard Brothers Funeral Services in Wynne, Arkansas, and currently serves as chairman of the Arkansas Funeral Directors Association. Fredrick Freeman is a native of Forrest City, Arkansas, where he still resides. Since graduating from North Carolina A&T State University with a degree in business and finance management in 1981 and returning to Arkansas, he has started and successfully managed two family owned businesses. He focuses much of his time on community and business development. He serves as a member of the State of Arkansas Aviation and Aerospace Commission, as chairman of the St. Francis County Workforce Alliance, president of the Arkansas Democratic Black Caucus, and is active in his local NAACP chapter. These are the kinds of community leaders the First District of Arkansas and communities across the Nation should feel very fortunate to have. They are people who grew up economically deprived in economically deprived areas. They got the education they needed, and they have worked hard and played by the rules. Mr. Speaker, the African-American businessmen I have mentioned deserve to be commended for the service they have given to their communities. It is important that as this Congress addresses the needs of public education and community assistance we make decisions to empower a new generation of leaders for all constituencies. It is a privilege for me today to pay honor to these leaders in the First Congressional District of Arkansas and say thanks to them for the great contribution they have made.

Mr. BERRY

Mr. BERRY. Mr. Speaker, I rise to request my colleagues' support for legislation I introduced yesterday to save the Medicare program almost half a billion dollars a year in unnecessary overpayments for prescription drugs. As the only pharmacist in the 105th Congress, let me first state that the price of these drugs is not due to the family pharmacist. The high price is set by the pharmaceutical manufacturers. Making the situation even worse, under current Medicare law, the program reimburses doctors who prescribe covered drugs for 95 percent of the ``sticker price'' quoted by pharmaceutical manufacturers, rather than the actual cost to the doctor of acquiring the drug. Furthermore, Medicare pays doctors for the cost of their expenses, overhead, consultation time, and for administering the drugs under the practice expense system, not to mention the close to $7 billion that Medicare spends each year to educate our Nation's doctors. A recent analysis by the Department of Health and Human Services Inspector General shows that Medicare is wasting millions each year under the current system, $447 million alone in 1996. Our patients deserve better. The Stop Medicare Overpayment Act, based on the President's fiscal year 1999 budget and included in a comprehensive antifraud proposal introduced by the gentleman from California (Mr. Stark) last year, will go a long way toward establishing a fair and adequate payment system. The Stop Medicare Overpayment Act is simple: Reimburse the doctors for what they paid for the drug. They already get paid for their office overhead, dispensation and ``professional services'' through the Medicare system. Why allow a small group of persons to reap a $447 million windfall benefit each year? Seventy-five percent of the cost of these overpayments are coming directly out of the taxpayers' wallet. Twenty-five percent come directly from senior citizens who are forced to pay a higher Part B premium. My legislation will go a long way toward ending these overpayments. Unfortunately, it will not do anything to address the root of this problem: the high cost of prescription drugs charged by pharmaceutical companies. It is indeed unfortunate that here in the world's richest nation our seniors should be forced to choose between buying food or buying prescription drugs and that our pharmacies should be discriminated against by drug manufacturers. As Congress considers ways in which to reduce the $23 billion in Medicare fraud and abuse, my legislation should be first on the list. It is a sensible, responsible, and prudent approach to rein in unnecessary Medicare costs. I urge my colleagues to join me in support of this important initiative.

Mr. BERRY

Mr. BERRY. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to join my colleagues, the gentlewoman from Florida and the gentleman from Pennsylvania in this effort. On March 28, 1966, Corpsman Robert Ingram accompanied his Marine platoon as it approached an outpost of the North Vietnamese aggressor. As they approached the tree line, suddenly and without any warning, there was an explosion of gunfire against the platoon. Approximately 100 North Vietnamese were attacking. Disregarding the danger and slaughter around him, Corpsman Ingram crawled through a hail of bullets to reach a downed marine. As he was administering aid, a bullet went through the palm of his hand. While he was treating other downed Marines and collecting magazines to return fire, he received three additional bullet wounds, including one penetrating his sinus cavity. His actions saved many lives that day. In 1995, former First Lieutenant Jim Fulkerson and others who served together in the war were working to set up a reunion for the platoon. They were shocked to learn in preparing for the reunion that Corpsman Ingram had never received the Medal of Honor. His companions all understood that a recommendation had been made and assumed that it was made. The Department of Defense agrees that Corpsman Ingram's actions qualify him for the Medal of Honor that day in March 1966. Now, over 30 years later, the House of Representatives has the opportunity to see appropriate recognition is given to Corpsman Ingram's display of valor. It is because of the efforts made by his platoon members that this has gotten where it is today. I also commend the gentlewoman from Florida for her work on this important matter. This is a fitting thing that the Congress will do.

Mr. BERRY

Mr. BERRY. Mr. Speaker, I rise tonight to honor the memory and service of my friend and colleague, the gentleman from California, the Honorable Walter Capps. His warm smile, kind words, great intellect and integrity made this a better place. His wisdom and courage made this country a better place. Even though he served only a short time, we were all honored by his having served as a man of the House. Our prayers go with Lois and Walter's family because they have lost the most.

Mr. BERRY

Mr. BERRY. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of H.R. 1270. Currently, a part of every electricity consumer's bill goes directly into the Nuclear Waste Fund. This fund was set up by the Congress in 1982 and requires the Department of Energy to set up a nuclear storage facility and begin accepting nuclear waste by 1998. However, out of the over $12 billion that have already been paid into the fund, only $4.8 billion have been spent on waste storage research and funding for storage facilities. Since the Department of Energy has not constructed a waste storage facility, the other $7 billion has been diverted into unrelated uses such as deficit reduction. This is the same type of problem we have with the Highway Trust Fund. Citizens constantly pay into this fund, but they see nothing in return. If the Department of Energy had performed its required actions, we would not be debating this bill. An interim storage facility would already be in place and a permanent facility would be in the near future. If the Department of Energy had performed its required actions, then this money would have been used for its intended purpose, for managing the efficient disposal of nuclear waste. Arkansans and other electricity consumers are already paying twice for nuclear waste, one payment into the Nuclear Waste Fund and another payment to maintain on-site storage facilities across the United States. This double payment can and will be halted with the passage of this bill. Mr. Chairman, on behalf of all electricity consumers, I urge my colleagues to vote for H.R. 1270.

Mr. BERRY

Mr. BERRY. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to remove my name as a cosponsor of H.R. 2595.

Mr. BERRY

Mr. BERRY. Madam Speaker, it is fitting that we rise today to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Little Rock high school crisis. I remember that time well. I was in high school myself at that time. There was much unfairness, and there was much courage. I believe that the world has changed a lot since that terrible time. Today just about every student who would like to has the opportunity to get a college education. Because of recent actions of the Congress, we will be able to even help more of the young people that want to achieve their goals. But we look back on the year 1957 with much sadness. We also face the future with much hope. Today we celebrate how far we have come. We also recognize how far we yet have to go. Most of all, we remember the lesson that it has taught us. We all do better when we work together.

Mr. BERRY

Mr. BERRY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to an exceptional woman, Ms. Eva Dean, who will be honored for her outstanding community service on Friday, September 12, 1997, in Helena, AR. Ms Dean is being recognized for her many years as an advocate for the poor and needy of her community. At 76 years old, Ms. Dean continues to be active in political and social endeavors. She has exemplified the spirit of community that is so vital to the future of our country. I commend Ms. Eva Dean for her selfless dedication and service to the citizens of Helena and on behalf of her friends and family, I stand here today to say a heartfelt thank you.

Mr. BERRY

Mr. BERRY. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to remove my name from cosponsorship of H.R. 2003.

Mr. BERRY

Mr. BERRY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay personal tribute to a man who was a mentor to me in my formative years as a pharmacist and small businessman; and a true friend in the years thereafter. Mr. Don Rogers was the owner and operator of Don's West Markham Pharmacy in Little Rock, AR, the place where I worked as a pharmacist from 1965 to 1967. Don Rogers was one of the finest businessmen that I have ever known, and I can't imagine having had a better teacher on how to do business with honor, integrity, and Christian values. He treated his customers and employees as individuals and friends with different needs to be respected. He listened to their concerns as if their problems were the only ones in the world that mattered at that moment, and when they left his store they felt better not only due to the prescriptions that he administered with loving care, but also because of the fine treatment that they received. I was blessed to have him as an employer and friend at that age. He taught me the value of putting the customer first; of caring about their needs before and after they came to the store; and of the caring for the health of the community before short-term profit decisions. These are lessons that all of us in public service would do well to remember as we go about our responsibilities in this hallowed chamber. Indeed, the things that he taught me have stayed with me in all the days since I had the privilege of working with him. Don Rogers passed away January 28, 1994, but his spirit still lives on in those who knew and loved him, and in those who did business in that pharmacy in Little Rock.

Mr. BERRY

Mr. BERRY. Mr. chairman, I rise today in regretful opposition to the Republican tax proposal. I am a strong supporter of tax relief for the American family and for our small business. Were I to craft the perfect tax package, I would devote over half of its tax relief to small business--reducing the estate tax so that families can pass on their business from generation to generation--establishing a better home office deduction--including provisions to allow for some independent contracting. In addition, I would provide relief for our families by including a $500 per-child tax credit--the President's tax credits for higher education--and deductibility of tuition and expenses. This proposal violates the bipartisan budget deal and results in an escalating deficit over the next 10 years. Not only does it not meet our objectives of balancing the budget, it worsens the deficit. My ideal proposal would not include the Republicans' costly reduction in tax cuts to large corporations that explode our Nation's deficit and make it impossible to balance the Federal budget. While I support and will continue to fight for the enactment of the small business proposals included in the Republican package, and would in fact have preferred a larger reduction in the estate tax, I cannot support a return to the so-called trickle down economics that resulted in the rapid expansion of our national deficit since 1981. I am old enough to remember the incredibly adverse impact of the Reagan plan on our national economy. In casting this vote today, I had to carefully consider what was best for those I represent--the citizens of the First District. I believe that the immediate, temporary political gain from supporting this Republican tax reform proposal is not worth the ultimate, long-term harm to America's economy that would result from the enactment of this tax package. The Republican tax proposal makes a lot of promises but does not contain any mechanism to ensure that the budget will continue to be balanced. It is fiscally irresponsible--phasing in the largest tax cuts over a 10-year period harms the budget and will destroy the deficit. The Blue Dog Democratic alternative that I am supporting today is better for the American taxpayer, and better for American small business, than the Republican proposal for the following reasons: Our bill eliminates the so-called back loading from the Republican plan, which harms the economy in the long term and will increase the federal deficit; it provides more estate tax relief than the Republican plan-- phasing it in immediately for our family farms and businesses; it eliminates the corporate welfare provisions in the Republic bill and dedicates that money to deficit reduction; and, it includes a $500 per- child tax credit; the President's Hope Scholarship, and deductibility of tuition for students. Mr. Speaker, today's vote is simply the first step in a long budget process. I am confident that Congress will be able to work in a bipartisan manner to provide meaningful tax relief to America's families and small businesses.

Mr. BERRY

Mr. BERRY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in reluctant opposition to this budget package. I truly respect and admire those who worked long and hard to prepare this carefully crafted compromise. Both sides--the White House and Republican leaders--put aside many of their differences to agree to a budget that goes a long way toward putting our nation on healthy economic footing. I am a strong believer in our need to balance the Federal budget. I am a co-sponsor of legislation that would require a constitutional amendment to balance the budget, and I supported the spending cuts contained in the original outline of this proposal. Mr. Speaker, three weeks ago I voted in favor of the numbers. However, today, I cannot support the policies that have been crafted to stand behind those numbers. I cannot, for example, support the package's Medicare legislation. While I believe that we all need to work together to ensure Medicare's solvency, this proposal increases beneficiary premiums by an amount that I cannot support. It cuts payments to the hospitals in my rural district at a rate that will be difficult to absorb. Rural hospitals already operate at much lower margins than their urban counterparts and will be disproportionally impacted by this proposal. Every single hospital administrator in my district has written me in opposition to this proposal. In addition, it does not provide an adequate cushion against premium increases for the lowest-income. We can ensure Medicare's solvency for the long term without harming our seniors, and I think we must put some more thought into how to do that. The bill also does not have an adequate enforcement mechanism, something that I believe is crucial if we really are committed to balancing the budget. It's one thing to tell America that we're going to put our fiscal checkbook in order, but it's another thing if we don't provide any incentive to do so. As this budget now stands, the federal budget will increase during the first 2 years, requiring that all cuts to Federal programs take place in the last 3 years. I don't believe that putting off until tomorrow what we rightly ought to have the political courage to do today will balance the budget. If anything, this package could make our federal deficit even worse. In addition, the bill's plan to auction the broadcast spectrum may be too much, too fast. Counting on the revenues from this sale, without adequate protections for rural broadcasters, may jeopardize service in rural areas. Likewise, the bill's children's health program, instead of being modeled after the successful initiatives being implemented in Arkansas and other States, is fiscally irresponsible, $16 billion no-strings- attached give-away that does not ensure that the funding will go to those who need it most--the children. In fact, the Congressional Budget Office estimates that this $16 billion will cover less than 520,000 children of the 10 million now without health insurance. The average children's health insurance policy today costs about $800 a year--spending $16 billion for only 520,000 policies is a waste of our taxpayer's hard earned money. This proposal, in effect, costs taxpayers $6,000 per policy, per year. More cost-effective children's health insurance legislation, such as a plan I developed as co-chairman of the House Democratic Caucus' Health Task Force, is needed. Our plan, with a more prudent and responsible use of the $16 billion in the budget agreement, would cover an estimated 5 million children. Also of note is the fact that this budget does not provide adequate safeguards to our senior citizens who rely on the Medicaid Program for their care. I will continue to oppose any budget, any legislation or any law that in any way endangers the health care of our senior citizens. I also oppose the bill's repeal of adequate payments to hospitals under the Medicaid Program and its repeal of important consumer protections, which could result in reduced services to those who rely on this important program in Arkansas. Lastly, this budget repeals important labor and civil rights protections for those seeking to move from welfare to work. Last year, Congress voted to end the entitlement status of public assistance and we all agree that the cycle of welfare dependency should be stopped and that our citizens should be given the opportunity to obtain economic self-sufficiency. However, in doing so, we cannot expect former welfare recipients to work without the guaranteed protection granted to every other employee under the Fair Labor Standards Act. While I support many of the concepts contained in this budget, I cannot in good conscience support it today. I believe, however, that other opportunities will exist in the near future to support a more reasonable and effective budget. The House's consideration of this proposal today is just the first step in what will be a long political process. The final version of the proposal, following a House-Senate conference committee, may be something I can support. But today, with great regret, I must vote with my conscience and vote against this proposal.

Mr. BERRY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in reluctant opposition to this budget package. I am a strong believer in the need to balance the Federal budget. I cosponsored legislation that would require a constitutional amendment to balance the budget. Three weeks ago I supported the spending goals laid out in the budget resolution. Today, however, I cannot support the policies that have been crafted to stand behind those numbers. One of the most troubling policies contained in this budget is the children's health reform package. Fiscally irresponsible, $16 billion, no strings attached, giveaway of the taxpayers' dollars. I am a strong supporter of ensuring that every child in America has access to affordable health care. However, this proposal does nothing to ensure that the $16 billion will go to those who need it most, the children. In fact, the Congressional Budget Office estimates that the $16 billion we are spending will cover only 520,000 children. Let us do the math. Mr. Speaker, 520,000 children, $16 billion, $31,000 per child, $6,000 per child per year. Surely our hardworking taxpayers deserve a more cost-effective approach than this. Our approach allows States to expand the Medicaid Program, outreach to the children, and do a better job with the $16 billion. Our plan is more prudent. I urge my colleagues to support this alternative.

Mr. BERRY

Mr. BERRY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of most-favored- nation status for China. Only last year, the U.S. Congress told the American farmer, we want you to compete in a free market situation. In the 1970's the American farmer was successfully doing that and the U.S. Government unilaterally embargoed its markets to the point that they destroyed those markets and precipitated the agriculture crisis of the 1980's. I beg my colleagues not to allow this to happen again. China has 25 percent of the world's population and 7 percent of the arable lands. We sell them 4 billion dollars' worth of agricultural products each year. Even Rev. Billy Graham says, this is a good idea to trade with China and it will improve their country and ours. We must have access to the international marketplace if we expect our farmers to succeed. I urge my colleagues to vote for MFN for China and against the resolution.

Mr. BERRY

Mr. BERRY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with a heavy heart to honor the memory of Buddy Cormier, who passed away last night after a long fight with cancer. Buddy Cormier was a lifelong resident of DeWitt, AR, a little town not far from my home in Gillett. Buddy ran a small rice mill that his father had founded many years ago and he epitomized the small businessman and community activist that has characterized so many small towns in Arkansas. When I ran my farming operation, there was no one that was more of a joy to do business with than Buddy Cormier. He was always fair in his dealings and was as concerned about my bottom line as he was about his own--a rare characteristic in today's business world. He was a leader in the rice industry in Arkansas and in the country because he cared about preserving our heritage. Buddy Cormier was a big man in every sense of the word. He had a limitless appetite for life and for the well-being of those around him. When we did business together, I often found myself with him a little longer than would be normal, simply because he so lifted my spirits. He had boundless energy and a good humor that was simply infectious. This is the way that I will remember my friend: As a man who embraced the world; who cared deeply about those around him; who worked to make his corner of the world a better place. His body may have succumbed to illness, but his spirit will always live on. Rest in peace my friend, we'll miss you.