Marion Berry

Mr. BERRY

Mr. BERRY. Mr. Speaker, I wish to insert into the Record testimony submitted by the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare to the Senate Finance Committee regarding the new Medicare discount card program. This statement correctly identifies some of the concerns Seniors have with discount cards and the Medicare Prescription Drug Law in general. Mr. Chairman, we believe the problems evident in the discount card program have provided Congress with a unique opportunity to correct the flaws in the new Medicare bill before it goes into effect.--Barbara B. Kennelly, President and CEO, National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare. Statement for the Record--Senate Finance Committee, Medicare Drug Card: Delivering Savings for Participating Beneficiaries, June 8, 2004 Mr. Chairman and Members of the Committee: On behalf of the 3.2 million members and supporters of the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare, we applaud Chairman Grassley and Senator Baucus for holding this hearing today. We have discovered through many meetings with seniors around the country that they remain confused and skeptical about the new discount card program. This is unfortunate, because there are some seniors--particularly those who qualify for the low- income benefit--who will clearly benefit from the new discount cards. In our written materials and many meetings, we have urged seniors everywhere to research the cards and determine whether they will benefit from them. We welcome hearings such as this, because we believe they can provide critical information to millions of seniors struggling to understand the new benefit. Unfortunately, we believe most of the problems with the new cards are inherent in the design of the program and cannot be corrected by the end of 2005. More importantly, we believe the discount cards are a metaphor for the entire new Medicare law. Unless the law is rewritten, the same fundamental flaws that have made the discount cards so frustrating to seniors today will make the new drug benefit equally disappointing when it becomes effective in 2006, and could undermine public support for the entire Medicare program. The National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare spent the last six years advocating for a comprehensive, affordable prescription drug benefit offered through the Medicare program, because that is what our seniors have been telling us they need and we believe they deserve. If Congress had worked directly through Medicare rather than a system of private providers to provide both the temporary discount card and the permanent drug benefit, it could have taken advantage of the universal, consistent, inexpensive delivery system that is already inherent in the Medicare program. The result would have been a simple, meaningful benefit to seniors. Unfortunately, that is not what has been implemented through P.L. 108-173. We understand that the wide variety of discount card providers was intended as a service to seniors, to give them the broadest array of card choices. But instead of providing a benefit to seniors, the multitude of options has proved to be extremely confusing, particularly with so few seniors comfortable using the Internet. Allowing sponsors of the cards to change both the drugs covered and the discounts on the drugs weekly was intended to encourage competition between providers, further lowering prices. But experience to date has shown the listed prices can go up as well as down, and even those seniors who research the cards carefully cannot be certain they will end up with the best deal. Meanwhile, because seniors are only allowed to have one Medicare-approved card at a time, and they are locked into their chosen card until the end of the year, they worry about being forced to stay with a plan that ultimately does not provide them with significant benefits. This worry can result in paralysis, with seniors preferring not to purchase a card at all rather than risk buying one that does not serve their needs. This problem will be exacerbated when the permanent benefit begins. We do not know today how many companies will opt to provide the permanent prescription drug benefit in 2006, so it is not clear whether seniors will be faced with a choice between as many providers. Even if the number of options is smaller, however, their choices will be even more complicated than with the discount card. Not only will they be confronted with a confusing array of multiple providers covering different drugs at a variety of prices, in some cases they will also be faced with choosing between managed care companies with completely different menus of standard health services as well. If they choose wrong in the case of the discount card, their only loss is the price of the card and whatever discounts they might have received with a different card. But if they pick a health care provider that does not serve their needs once the permanent benefit begins, the financial consequences could be catastrophic. And unlike the discount card, where taking time to make the right choice does not have adverse consequences, seniors delaying enrollment in the permanent benefit could pay increased premiums for the rest of their lives. But the most significant problem with the new Medicare law, Mr. Chairman, is the lack of cost containment. As you know, most seniors are on relatively fixed incomes, dependent upon Social Security for a significant portion of their income in retirement. They are extremely sensitive to price increases because they rarely have a cushion of disposable income to protect them from the ravages of inflation. They are well aware of the skyrocketing increases in prescription drug costs that have been confirmed in two recent studies. Families USA found prices of the 30 most popular drugs used by seniors increased at four times the rate of general inflation during 2003, and AARP found a 28% increase in a broader list of drugs from 2000 to 2003. Small wonder that seniors are less than impressed by a discount card program that offers reductions of 10 to 25 percent. CMS has said it intends to monitor the cards to make sure senior discounts are not based on artificially inflated prices, but without a clear definition of what is an acceptable price increase, and considering the issues of artificially inflated prices represented by Average Wholesale Prices, protecting seniors will not be easy. And we are not aware of any federal agency investigating the significant increases prescription drug prices have experienced in recent years, to determine whether those increases were warranted in the first place. If the new prescription drug benefit is offered through Medicare, the purchasing power of its 41 million seniors can be harnessed to negotiate for the lowest possible prices, with all the savings passed along directly to seniors. But without effective cost containment, the new prescription drug benefit could well turn out to be an illusion for many seniors, offering limited federal assistance in paying for drugs whose cost keeps skyrocketing unchecked, much as the discount card program appears to many seniors today. And unfortunately, the drug benefit that looks meager today will only become worse with time. According to Medicare's own Trustees, within a few short years seniors will need to have over $8,580 in covered drug costs to trigger the catastrophic coverage. At that point, seniors will be paying over $6,000 in out-of-pocket costs, in addition to an estimated $730 in annual premiums, and only $2,500 will be picked-up by Medicare. Many in Congress, including you, Mr. Chairman, have acknowledged the lack of cost containment in the new prescription drug program by advocating for reimportation of drugs from Canada and other countries. While the National Committee supports reimportation, we believe any relief it offers will be temporary. Mr. Chairman, we believe the problems evident in the discount card program have provided Congress with a unique opportunity to correct the flaws in the new Medicare bill before it goes into effect. We urge you to revisit the program while there is still time to make the fundamental changes that will be needed to provide seniors with the kind of access to affordable drugs that they truly require. We look forward to working with you toward this goal as the process continues.

Mr. BERRY

Mr. BERRY. Mr. Speaker, in the 1st Congressional District of Arkansas, the greatest health care problem we have is the fact that this government, this Congress, this majority, this President has made it possible and even more able for the drug companies to steal and rob from our senior citizens. It is an incredible act, the Medicare reform that was passed. That is the only thing it accomplished, was make it possible so that the drug companies could continue to rob and steal from the American people. In Arkansas, we usually think of thieves as coming in the dark of night or committing a violent act to steal your property, but now, because of the Medicare Reform Act and these Medicare cards, we have made it possible for the drug companies to steal, cheat and rob our senior citizens without hardly putting out any effort, and we have created so much confusion that it is an easily accomplished act. It is time to put an end to this.

Mr. BERRY

Mr. BERRY. Mr. Speaker, as I listen to the retorts from the other side, I think they must have adopted that great Republican philosophy that has kind of come back here recently, ``Do not worry about the mule going blind, just load the wagon.'' And that sure is what we are doing right now: loading the wagon for our children and grandchildren. I hear them talking about drug cards. You just call that 800 number and see what happens. Nothing. It is just like the drug card. You get nothing. It is another way to trick people. We are going to be asked this week to raise the debt ceiling again, by $700 billion, and to put our children again deeper and deeper and deeper in debt. It is insane to continue to do this to the next generations. If we are doing so frazzling good, then how come we are broke? I just do not understand that. I hear them get up here every day and talk about how good things are. It is time to do the right thing.

Mr. BERRY

Mr. BERRY. Mr. Speaker, every American should be confident that whether they lose their job, change jobs, get sick or just grow old, they should be able to find affordable, reliable health care. We know how to do this. I agree with the gentleman on the other side of the aisle. We have the ultimate association health plan available. We could make every American eligible for the Federal Employees Benefit Plan at their own expense. That would be the ultimate in the association health care plan. We can also make people over 55 eligible for Medicare. We can make low-income working families eligible for Medicaid. We know how to provide health care coverage for the American people. If we are going to do this, we also know that we have to provide a fair, reasonably priced pharmaceutical product to these same people. We cannot continue to allow the drug manufacturers to rob the American people.

Mr. BERRY

Mr. BERRY. Mr. Speaker, to die for one's country, while tragic, is the ultimate honor. To die for the freedom of others may not carry with it an adequate expression to illustrate the debt it generates. Today, I rise to honor Staff Sergeant Billy Joe Orton who was killed during his tour of duty in Taji, Iraq. He was 41 years old. Staff Sergeant Orton dedicated his life to serving our Nation bravely. He served in Panama from November 1993 to November 1996; Egypt from October 2001 to August 2002, and was ordered to active duty for ``Iraqi Freedom'' on Oct. 12, 2003, with the 39th Infantry Brigade in Arkansas. His dedication to his country was surpassed only by his love for his family, friends and community. The lives he touched were evident as more than 150 people recently gathered outside the Orton home where Staff Sergeant Orton lived with his wife, Margarita, and their three children. The crowd gathered carrying lit candles and a heavy heart as the community came together to share the grief with the Orton family. Arkansans have always been proud of their tight-knit communities, but to see such an outpouring of support is proof of the magnetic personality Orton possessed. Staff Sergeant Billy Orton fought honorably to establish freedom and democracy, and we are all struck by the enormity of this tragedy. We will remember Staff Sergeant Orton for his honor, his mettle and his bravery. On behalf of the Congress, I extend the utmost respect for- a fine American, a loving father, husband and son, and the perfect model of a patriot.

Mr. BERRY

Mr. BERRY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a true American hero. Specialist Kenneth Alan ``Kenny'' Melton was killed when the convoy he was riding in was hit by a roadside bomb and small fire by insurgents near Baghdad. Specialist Melton was 30 years old. Specialist Melton joined the Army in 1992 and served in Iraq as a member of the Arkansas National Guard's 39th Infantry Brigade. He was following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather, who also served their country in the Army. His service is a testament to his dedication to the spirit of this nation and should be admired and respected. Despite his notable dedication to his country, he was a husband and a father first. A son, a brother and a friend to the community, Specialist Melton was a very positive young man with an overwhelming sense of patriotism. We can ask nothing greater from a human being than to anonymously fight to help people they may have never met. To die for the freedom of others may not carry with it an adequate expression to illustrate the debt it generates. Specialist Melton has the respect of those whose lives he touched, and, now, grieving family and friends who I offer my deepest sympathies. Specialist Melton will be remembered for his honor, his mettle, his bravery and his commitment to his family, his God and his country. On behalf of the Congress, I extend my utmost respect for a fine American, a loving father, husband and son, and the perfect model of a patriot.

Mr. BERRY

Mr. BERRY. Mr. Speaker, to die for one's country, while tragic, is the ultimate honor. To die for the freedom of others may not carry with it an adequate expression to illustrate the debt it generates. Today, I rise to honor Staff Sergeant Stacey Brandon who was killed during his tour of duty in Taji, Iraq. He was 35 years-old. Staff Sergeant Brandon joined the National Guard in 1990 and when he was called to active duty for ``Iraqi Freedom'' on October 12, 2003, he answered the call and served his country with honor. His ability, intelligence and dedication quickly earned him a promotion to the rank of Staff Sergeant in February 2004. Despite his notable dedication to his country, he was a husband and a father first. A son, a brother, a friend, an athlete and a light of optimism others were drawn to always. Along with the many lives he touched, Staff Sergeant Brandon carried God in his heart. He was a passionate singer of gospel music and he and his wife, April, joined the Hazen First Baptist Church upon their move to Hazen, Arkansas. We can ask nothing greater from a human being than to anonymously fight to the end to help people they may have never met. Unfortunately for those left behind, this soldier has a name. He has the respect of those whose lives he touched, and, now, grieving family and friends who I offer my deepest sympathies and utmost respect. Staff Sergeant Brandon will be remembered for his honor, his mettle, his bravery and his commitment to his family, his God and his country. On behalf of the Congress, I extend the utmost respect for a fine American, a loving father, husband and son, and the perfect model of a patriot.

Mr. BERRY

Mr. BERRY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor an Arkansan who loves this country as much as any person I've ever met. Forrest L. Wood is an entrepreneur who has proved Americans can get as far in life as their talents will take them. It was his own fortitude that made Ranger Boat Company what it is today. The company was founded in 1968 and almost as quickly was destroyed by fire in 1971. With no insurance and armed only with 60 salvaged boat orders, the Wood family nailed a telephone to a scorched tree, cleaned off the blackened site and began rebuilding. Within 40 days the company was back in operation building boats. Mr. Wood's simple business philosophy continues to drive the Ranger Boat Company today, ``You must build a good product--price it fairly-- let folks know you have it, and treat your customers right.'' In addition to his many business achievements, all leading to revolutionizing the Bass Fishing Boat industry, Mr. Wood is an aggressive conservationist. His efforts to save the environment for sportsmen are as legendary as the equipment he provides them to enjoy those lands. As a result, in 1998, he was named to the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. Mr. Wood, his wife, Nina Kirkland, and their four daughters work together, simultaneously running a cattle ranch, construction company, and fishing guide operation. Unlike so many other business success stories, Mr. Wood's drive is based on a true desire to further his community and this country. On behalf of the Congress, I extend gratitude for all the Wood family does to make the world a better place.

Mr. BERRY

Mr. BERRY. Mr. Speaker, today more than ever, we must recognize commitments made by Americans who realize the best way to grow an economy is through continued investment infrastructure. I rise today to pay tribute to a great business and civic leader and a great Arkansan; I am honored to recognize Doyle Rogers in the Congress. In a day and age when the presiding belief is in order to grow up and succeed you must escape Rural America, Doyle Rogers and his family lived in Batesville, Arkansas for more than 50 years, proving success comes with hard work, not a change of zip code. His commitment to local business development is unparalleled. Mr. Rogers has started many businesses in Batesville--including the one which bares his name, the Doyle Rogers Company, a commercial real estate development firm. It was with that company in 1982 he developed and opened the Excelsior Hotel, now the Peabody Hotel, and the adjoining Statehouse Convention Center in Little Rock. The opening of the Peabody--one of the finest hotels in the country-- would suffice as anyone's crowning achievement, but Mr. Rogers did so much more. He bought Metropolitan National Bank, headquartered in Little Rock, in 1983. Today, it is Central Arkansas' largest independently-owned bank employing more than 350 people. In 1985, he developed the 25-story Rogers Building, now the Stephens Building, in downtown Little Rock. He holds honorary doctorates from Lyon College in Batesville and Philander Smith College in Little Rock. He is a former member of the Board of Trustees of Hendrix College and has served on the Advisory Board of the School of Business at the University of Arkansas. He has served as the President of the Batesville Chamber of Commerce. In 2001, he was named Business and Professional Person of the Year by the Rotary Club in Little Rock and was presented the William F. Rector Memorial Award by Fifty For the Future, a group of business and professional leaders in Greater Little Rock. Doyle Rogers and his wife Josephine Raye Rogers have proved like- minded people tend to attract each other. In 2001, the White River Medical Center in Batesville received a unique Valentine's Day gift when Doyle Rogers and his wife Raye announced a gift of $1 million to the hospital. It is the largest gift in the hospital's 25-year history. The gift was used as seed money for the Josephine Raye Rogers Center for Women and Imaging. Raye, as she's known to her friends, complements Doyle well, proving her commitment to the community is as strong as her love for her husband. The Rogers' are truly a perfect match--and a shining example of the compassion our country occasionally lacks. Mr. Rogers knows the people of Rural America will move this country ahead. He is a great business man, an impassioned community leader and a devoted family man. On behalf of the Congress, I extend a deep sense of appreciation for all he did to drive Arkansas and this nation forward.

Mr. BERRY

Mr. BERRY. Mr. Speaker, public officials are held to a higher standard. We are held to a higher standard because we have been selected by our neighbors and our communities to serve their interests. Claud Cash was an elected official who exceeded the high standards his constituents laid before him. His death took a pillar of the community from us; he was a leader in the state of Arkansas and an example of how to serve those we represent. Mr. Cash served as past presidents of the Trumann Lions Club and the MidSouth Farm Equipment Dealers Association and on the Boards of Directors for Liberty Bank and St. Bernard's Foundation Board. He was a member of the First Baptist Church in Jonesboro, AR, the University Heights Lions Club and Trumann Masonic Lodge #693. As a public servant, Mr. Cash served two terms in the Arkansas House of Representatives where he became the first freshman representative to be elected to the Joint Budget Committee. He later served one term in the Arkansas Senate. Throughout his public service, Mr. Cash had a reputation for bipartisan leadership, an unwavering dedication to his constituents and a sharp, legislative mind. His business dealings were honorable and he was trusted by friends and competitors alike. His word was his bond as was the golden rule. As we recall Mr. Cash's exceptional career, we find his accomplishments as an elected official pale only in comparison to his strong devotion to his family and his community. On behalf of the Congress, I extend sympathies to his family, and gratitude for all he did to make the world a better place.

Mr. BERRY

Mr. BERRY. Mr. Speaker, our county courts are a key component of the example America sets for the rest of the world; but it is only as admirable as the men and women who serve within it. I am honored to rise today to pay tribute to a proud servant of the Monroe County Court, Tom Catlett, for the positive mark he has left on Monroe County and the courthouse he has dedicated his life to serving. Mr. Catlett has served Monroe County for nearly 40 years, making him the longest serving county judge in Arkansas. Unfortunately for us, he has recently announced his intent to retire at the end of this year. This will end a journey which began on July 26, 1966 when Judge Catlett won the Democratic primary and was sworn in later the same year--he was 40 years old. Since then, Judge Catlett has served 19 terms as county judge and has always called Monroe County home. He has shown the courthouse unmatched respect, specifically through a major renovation which raised the standard for beautifying county courthouses in Arkansas and across this country. It cannot be debated: Tom Catlett was a citizen who worked tirelessly for the growth and prosperity of Monroe County. Perhaps his service is best summarized by a statement he recently made when he announced his retirement, ``I am sure that when I look back on my life, I will see the last 38 years as the happiest times of all.'' Judge Catlett is a man who took pride in his work and is honored to be in a position to help his county excel. Judge Catlett's thirst for improving his community remains unquenched and I expect even after his retirement this year, the name Tom Catlett will permeate the accomplishments of Monroe County for years to come. On behalf of the Congress, I extend the utmost respect and deference for a man befitting such titles as county judge, community leader and example to us all. Tom Catlett is a roll model and I am honored to recognize him in this Congress.

Mr. BERRY

Mr. BERRY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor an American hero. Donald Dunn, chief of Engineering and Construction Division with the Army Corps of Engineer in Little Rock, is currently in Iraq where he is helping bring oil production systems back online for the people of Iraq. Mr. Dunn is currently serving as the Deputy for Program Management for Task Force Restore Iraqi Oil (RIO). Established in May 2003, RIO was staffed with personnel originally targeted for other positions in engineering and most had little or no background as project managers. Mr. Dunn is responsible for establishing, training and leading the Programs and Project Management team and developing a group of motivated men and women who are now getting the job done. His dedication to this task, attention to the training and developmental needs of his staff, and his leadership have been exceptional. In addition, he gave considerable time and attention to locating and selecting the replacement program and project management personnel for future rotations. Further, Mr. Dunn displayed ample flexibility and imagination when he retooled his staff to respond to unforeseen challenges, such as the requirement to provide approximately 400 megawatts of stand-alone power to critical oil infrastructure locations throughout Iraq. He worked tirelessly to build and improve vital relationships with contractor partners including the Coalition Provisional Authority. Perhaps most significantly, Mr. Dunn has nurtured new relationships with Iraqi Ministry of Oil officials and local oil and gas company engineers and technicians. He has helped the people of Iraq in all his endeavors and contributed significantly to our ability to build lasting and effective relationships in the Middle East. Recently, Mr. Dunn won an award from the Federal Executive Association for his hard work and dedication to service. His response was, ``I believe that no one exists in a vacuum, and that it takes the contributions of everyone to have a successful team.'' On behalf of the Congress, I commend Mr. Dunn for his commitment, for his intelligence and for his unwavering dedication to seeing our efforts in Iraq end in success.

Mr. BERRY

Mr. BERRY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to an outstanding citizen; I am proud to recognize Larry Allen McCool in the Congress. His recent death was a great loss to his community, his family, his state and this nation. Larry McCool was born in Kosciusko, Mississippi. He earned an education degree and taught history in a Jackson, MS, high school. When he wasn't teaching, he traveled around the country buying and selling unusual antiques and collectibles. Mr. McCool ended his teaching career in the early 1970s to pursue his own dreams and opened a shop in Jackson where he realized his potential in appraising antiques. A four-time president of the Mississippi Auctioneers Association and president of the National Auctioneer's Association (NAA), Mr. McCool was a self-taught auctioneer who became one of the industry's foremost authorities on the appraisal and sale of antiques, fine arts and antebellum real estate. He continually pushed NAA to improve educational programs, increase its membership and revenues, and, most importantly, widen the charities NAA supported. Despite his drive and dedication to auctioneering, Mr. McCool will be most remembered for his passion for charity auctions. On the day of his passing, he had planned to conduct an auction for a children's cancer fund, one of the many charities for which he raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for more than 25 years. Mr. McCool was named honorary chairman for the Hinds County chapter of the American Cancer Society, worked for the American Heart Association and volunteered his time to numerous charitable groups over the years. On behalf of Congress, I extend my deepest sympathies to Mr. McCool's family and gratitude for the countless hours he spent serving others. He leaves a legacy of accomplishment in the industry as well as inspiring memories for those who knew him.

Mr. BERRY

Mr. BERRY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a great Arkansan, an outstanding citizen, a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy and an accomplished businessman; I am proud to recognize Jackson T. Stephens in the Congress. Mr. Stephens, known as Jack to his many friends, created one of the most successful corporate finance practices in the country based on the principles his father passed down to him. At a young age, Mr. Stephens learned in order to do well, ``we must share opportunities for making money with other people.'' And as his firm grew, so did the hopes, dreams and nest-eggs of many Americans. Today, Stephens Inc. has become one of the Nation's largest investment banking firms. While many investors focus strictly on making money for their clients, Mr. Stephens focused on earning their trust--and repaying those who have helped him with incomparable altruism. Stephens graduated from the Naval Academy in 1947 and has continued to make a major impact on the Naval Academy community and in Annapolis. Mr. Stephens has contributed $10 million, the largest single donation in service academy history, toward the $175 million Naval Academy Foundation's Campaign: Leaders to Serve the Nation. He has held positions on the board of directors of several major corporations, including the Missouri Pacific Railroad, Burlington Northern, Inc., Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., and Dillards, Inc. In 1989, Jack was awarded the first J. William Fulbright Award for International Trade Development. He received a Distinguished Alumnus Citation in 1965 and was awarded an honorary Doctor of Law Degree from the University of Arkansas in 1985. In 1999, Stephens was inducted into the Arkansas Business Hall of Fame. Mr. Stephens' business acumen is only bettered by his generosity. He is a man who serves as an example of hard work, the success resulting from it and the appropriate way to thank the community from which you came. On behalf of the Congress, I extend my deepest regards for his efforts and gratitude for all he has done to make the world a better place.

Mr. BERRY

Mr. BERRY. Mr. Chairman, I thank the distinguished gentleman from Texas for yielding me this time, and I appreciate his leadership in this body and throughout the country on this issue. Mr. Chairman, I was down on the floor the other night. We were talking about this very same thing, the budget, the deficits, the debt, and what we are doing to our children and grandchildren. We had this little fellow down here who looked like Howdy Doody, and he had all the answers. One could just pull the string and get an answer. He knew all about it. We have repeatedly had folks come to the well and talk about how it is the Democrats' fault. I can tell the Members this: If it was not so serious, this would be hysterically funny. I can only imagine what the comedians that make their living that way would do and will do with this situation. But it is very serious business. We are doing something to our children and grandchildren that they cannot even protect themselves from. We would not consider doing something like this as far as their nutrition or their health care or their well-being would be concerned, but yet we are willing to put this monumental massive debt and this tax that they cannot repeal on them by borrowing money, money, and more money every day in this country and not being responsible. The Blue Dogs have proposed that if we cut taxes, fine, let us cut taxes, and at the same time let us cut spending to go with it. Let us be honest with the American people. Let us tell the truth. And that is what we are going to have to do when we finally decide to deal with this problem in a responsible way. Over and over again, we have asked the other side of the aisle, we have asked the administration, please come and let us work together; and we get those answers ``We do not need you.'' Well, they are right. They are having their way. I wonder if things are going so well, if the current plan that we have been under for 3 years is such a huge success, why are we broke? Why are there no jobs? Why are our children going deeper and deeper into debt?

Mr. BERRY

Mr. BERRY. Mr. Speaker, I am honored today to rise to ask for support of H.R. 3059, a bill to designate the Stuttgart, Arkansas, post office, as the Lloyd L. Burke Post Office. Mr. Burke was born in Tichnor, Arkansas, a small community in the south end of Arkansas County. He later graduated from Stuttgart High School in 1942 and served his country during World War II and the Korean War. Mr. Burke was a hero to this great Nation. His unselfish acts during times of conflict have already been recognized with the Congressional Medal of Honor for his outstanding courage while serving as a First Lieutenant in the United States Army during the Korean War. Over the past year, I have received numerous letters from citizens of Stuttgart citing undeniable reasons why they would be honored to name their postal facility after Mr. Burke. I would like to read to you a description of the incidents for which Mr. Burke received the Medal of Honor, as I feel this account best displays his courageous and selfless nature during his service in the Korean War. ``On October 28, 1951, intense enemy fire had pinned down leading elements of Mr. Burke's company committed to securing commanding ground when the First Lieutenant left the command post to rally and urge the men to follow him toward three bunkers, impending the advance. ``Dashing to an exposed vantage point, he threw several grenades at the bunkers, returned for an M-1 rifle and adaptor, and made a lone assault, wiping out the position and killing the crew. Closing on the center bunker, he lobbed grenades through the opening, and with his pistol, killed three of its occupants attempting to surround him. ``Ordering his men forward, he charged the third emplacement, catching several grenades in midair and hurling them back at the enemy. Inspired by his display of valor, his men stormed forward and overran the hostile position, but were again pinned down by increased fire. ``Securing a light machine gun and three boxes of ammunition, First Lieutenant Burke dashed through the impacted area to an open knoll, set up his gun and poured crippling fire into the ranks of the enemy, killing at least 75. Although wounded, he ordered more ammunition, reloaded and destroyed two mortar emplacements and a machine gun position with his accurate fire. Cradling the weapon in his arms, he then led his men forward, killing some 25 more of the retreating enemy and securing the objective. ``First Lieutenant Burke's heroic action and daring exploits inspired a small force of 35 troops, resulting in victory over the enemy. His unflinching courage and outstanding leadership reflect the highest credit upon himself, the infantry, and the United States Army.'' Mr. Speaker, I can think of no better tribute to Mr. Burke than to allow his name to live on in the City of Stuttgart. The heroism displayed on October 28, 1951, was an invaluable contribution to his city, the State of Arkansas, and this great Nation for which he served so admirably. I ask that Members please support H.R. 3059 in honor of Mr. Burke's patriotic achievements.

Mr. BERRY

Mr. BERRY. Mr. Speaker, that great country singer and philosopher Merle Haggard has this wonderful song called ``Rainbow Stew.'' And the words go something like this: ``When a President goes through the White House door and does what he says he will do, we will all be drinking that free Bubble Up and eating that rainbow stew.'' Now, there must be a barrel of Bubble Up in the Republican cloakroom tonight because, if I did not know better, the last two speakers on the Republican side, I would suspect that they might have gotten here by falling off a turnip truck on Independence Avenue. I have never heard such ridiculous goings on in all of my days. Now, I know that they have not been here very long, and I understand that. What we need is a little bit of sanity. This would be hysterically funny if it was not so painful for the next generation. What we need is a little credibility. What we need is a little honesty from the gentlemen on the other side of the aisle that just voted today to support a budget that will raise the debt ceiling over $8 trillion. And then they come down here and talk about some ridiculous deal that they do not even know what they are talking about and blame the Democrats for it. The Republicans have been in charge since 1995 in this place. And it is the Democrats' fault? Some of these fraud cases that they are talking about were contracts that were administered by the current administration. You have got to wonder when the turnip truck got through the barricades out here. When the President came in this January of 2001, the Blue Dogs went to him, we said, We want to work with you. We will work with you to cut taxes. That is all we ask. But if you are going to cut taxes, cut spending. Let us agree on that. Let us work together, and we will do it. And we will all be proud of our work when we get through. They sent Vice President Cheney down here in room 122, downstairs. I will never forget it. And he said this: ``We think you all are nice people, but we do not need you and we are going to do what we are going to do.'' And they can. Now, look what we got, a budget that was voted for by the gentleman from Texas this afternoon that is going to borrow another $700 billion from our children and grandchildren. Now, you talk about waste, fraud, and abuse, that is it. There is not any proposal in there to cut spending in a responsible way. The Blue Dog Coalition has worked and worked and worked to try to get the other side to sit down with us and let us do the responsible thing. We have proposed raising taxes. We have proposed balancing the budget in a responsible way. Then they sent Mitch Daniels, the head of the Office of Management and Budget, and he told us, ``Do not worry, we are going to have so much money after we cut taxes we are going to pay off all the debt. The biggest problem we are going to have is you will not be able to buy any U.S. Treasury bonds; they will not be a safe investment.'' They did just about fix it with the U.S. Treasury bonds: they are not a safe investment anymore. I just wonder what in the Sam Hill these people are thinking about. But I can tell you this: you can keep trying to fool the American people which will not be successful. You can keep doing what you are doing which is add to the debt load of our children and grandchildren in such an irresponsible way that it will be a horrendous day when the payday comes. And you will be the one that suffers, because I am so old I will probably be dead when it happens. But the young man from Texas over there that is sitting there smiling in such a cute way, he is going to still be around. And he is going to have to pay this tax. The one tax that you cannot repeal is the interest on the national debt. Now, they want to raise that one as much as they can. And, boy, they are doing it great. I just cannot imagine why. That is the great mystery to me. Why would you want to do such a ridiculous but, more importantly, irresponsible thing to our children and grandchildren.

Mr. BERRY

Mr. BERRY. Mr. Speaker, this is very serious business. If this was not so serious, I think it would be easy for us to make jokes about some of the things that have been said on this floor this evening. As I listened to the gentleman from Oklahoma describe this wonderful economy, I could not help but wonder where in the world he was coming up with this idea. We have lost over 2 million jobs in this country. We may have created some, but we have lost a lot more. It does not do any good to distort things or make these things up or make it look like something that it is not. Come to the First Congressional District of Arkansas and tell someone that does not have a job and does not have health care and their unemployment has run out that things are great in America and they are going to get better because we are going to cut taxes on the wealthiest people in this country some more. We may have to reduce Social Security and Medicare benefits to do that, but we are going to do it. Things are great in America. People that do not have a job just do not believe this. It is time for this country and the leaders of this country and this administration to develop some integrity and credibility. Back in January of 2001, the Blue Dog Coalition reached out to the new administration; and we said, if you want to cut taxes, we will work with you; we would love to do it. Let us work together and cut spending by an equal amount, and let us not get back in the deficit ditch. They sent Vice-President Cheney over to see us and he said this: we think you are nice people, but we do not need you. We are in the majority in both Houses, and we are going to do what we want to do, and they did. That very year they projected that the budget would have a $262 billion surplus in 2004. It has, in fact, a $521 billion deficit. In 2005, they said we will have a $269 billion surplus. Now they say we are going to have a $364 billion deficit. They said the Medicare bill will cost $400 billion, but now it is going to be $535 billion. They said the war is not going to cost that much; it is going to be real quick, and it is going to be over with. Now it is $50 billion now and $50 billion in a few months, and they do not include it in the budget. They do not even really acknowledge that it exists, but we are still borrowing these moneys from our children and grandchildren. It is time for some integrity. If we are doing so good, why are we broke? Why are we going in debt by the trillions of dollars? Why are we borrowing this money from our children and grandchildren when they face the perfect economic storm? Record budget deficits and a national debt exceeding $7 trillion, one more than one-third of our debt held by foreigners and growing every day; a trade deficit of $400 billion that contributes to the exporting of jobs; and the approaching retirement of the baby boomers. This is the perfect economic storm; and yet the administration continues to refuse to sit down in a realistic, rational way with both sides of the aisle and let us face this thing that has been created by the Bush administration. Let us face what has really happened to our country. Let us face what has really been put on our children and grandchildren. Let us not continue day after day to live in a fantasy land and make up an economy and make up the idea that everything's wonderful, when we know, in fact, there are nearly 9 million people that do not have a job in this country. There are 44 million that do not have health care, and that situation gets worse every day. Most of all, Mr. Speaker, we must be honest with the American people and tell them what is really happening and not continue to deceive our children and grandchildren and put them in a position where they are going to wake up and inherit this great Nation or what was once a great Nation, and it is going to be so far in debt they cannot even pay the interest; and not only that, but the infrastructure will have crumbled. The education system will have been underfunded so long that they cannot fix it, and then we are going to just dump that on them. What responsible person would do that to their own?

Mr. BERRY

Mr. BERRY. Mr. Speaker, I rise to express my deep appreciation for the contributions of Arkansas National Guardsmen currently training at Ft. Polk Louisiana preparing for deployment to Iraq and their families who await their safe return. Recently, I had the opportunity to visit these fine men and women and witness their training. Designed to mimic what the troops will face in the field, their exercises are impressive in scope and in our troops' ability to accomplish the monumental tasks regularly laid before them. More impressive than the accomplishments, however, were dedicated Arkansans; far from home and preparing to go farther. They did not complain about living in tents, carrying heavy gear or the long days of hard training. And when this country called them to service, they did not hesitate. As they prepare for their mission, it is imperative we consider more than their coming task, we must remember who they are. They are fathers, mothers, sons and daughters who will soon be in harm's way. In Arkansas--and elsewhere-- they have families who love them and communities that will miss them. We cannot thank these brave men and women enough for their sacrifice. We can only salute their commitment and do what we can to support them when they return. On behalf of Congress, I extend our deepest gratitude to our men and women in uniform.

Mr. BERRY

Mr. BERRY. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to claim the time of the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Tanner).

Mr. BERRY

Mr. BERRY. Mr. Speaker, it is a sad day when we have to come to the well of this House and talk about the credibility gap of the President of the United States. It is the most disappointing thing to have the President issue a budget that is just simply fantasy. He just simply made up numbers. Mr. Speaker, there is no funding in the budget for Iraq and Afghanistan, and we know that that is going to have to be done. It fails to address the repeal of the AMT, which we know is going to have to happen if there is going to be any fairness left in the Tax Code. Then, he puts out an economic report on this Nation and talks about how good it is to outsource jobs, to shift our jobs overseas. Where is the credibility? Over and over and over again, we are presented with a report or a request or a budget or appropriations bills that just simply do not have any credibility. Our Nation is facing the perfect economic storm in a very short period of time. We just saw the charts. The deficit is in a nose dive, and nobody knows what to do about it. The cost of the interest that each family will have to pay in this country in the next 10 years is going to reach over $10,000 per family, a tax that cannot be repealed. We have the President's own economists talking about what a good thing it is that we are outsourcing high-tech jobs from this country. Where is the credibility? None of this makes any sense. The President just the other day in New Hampshire made a speech and said the Federal Government's got plenty of money. We do not need any more money. We have got plenty of money. Where is the credibility? If we have got so much money, if the economy is doing so well, why are we broke? Why are we losing jobs? Why are the prospects for the next generation so dismal? When this generation came into office, the Blue Dog Coalition that I am a member of met with the Vice President first. And we said, Mr. Vice President, we want to work with you. If you want to cut taxes, let us talk about it. Let us figure out a way to cut spending so we can make this work and we do not get back in the deficit ditch, because many of the people in that room at that time had dealt with this before, and they knew how tough it was. And he said, You do not understand. We have the majority. We do not need you. We think you are nice people, but we just do not need you. And we are going to do what we want to do, and what we want to do is have massive tax cuts and let somebody else worry about the deficit. This is the same man that said in a meeting in the White House with the President, Deficits do not matter. Well, tell that to these families that are going to have to come up with $10,000 to pay the interest on the national debt as their part. But, again, where is the credibility? Over and over we see this. Then the Blue Dogs met with Mitch Daniels, the head of the Office of Management and Budget, and he explained it another way. Also, again, we did not understand. We had these massive surpluses. There was money flowing in the street, and he said this to us, You do not understand. We are going to have so much money, and after we cut taxes we are going to have even more. We are going to have so much money that we are going to pay off all of the national debt, and there will not be a safe place to invest your money. There will not be a U.S. Treasury bond anymore. I remember him saying that so well. I wish Mr. Daniels was here tonight to face this perfect economic storm that we are about to pass on to our children and grandchildren because I think it is a terrible, terrible thing; and I think it is time that there be some credibility introduced into the national debate, and it needs to be brought to the table by the President.

Mr. BERRY

Mr. BERRY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor one of Arkansas' finest citizens, Lon Mann. I am proud to recognize Lon in the Congress for his invaluable contributions and service to his profession, his family, his state and this nation. A third generation farmer, Mr. Mann returned from World War II to continue in the family tradition as a cotton producer and ginner as a partner at McClendon Mann & Felton Gin Company in Marianna, AR. He was a leader in the revitalization of the National Cotton Council of America and served as its president as he advocated for America's cotton farmers. He also served as president of the Mid-South Ginners Council and the Agricultural Council of Arkansas, as a trustee of the National Cotton Council's Cotton Foundation and was rightfully inducted into the Arkansas Agricultural Hall of Fame. Mr. Mann was the recipient of numerous awards including the University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service ``Cotton Achievement'' award, the Harry Baker Award from the National Cotton Council and the Horace Hayden Cotton Ginner of the Year Award in 2000. Mr. Mann's efforts extended beyond the cotton fields into the community as Chairman of the Board of Methodist Hospital and Health Systems in Memphis, TN, and president of the Marianna-Lee County School Board. Lon Mann was a faithful and dedicated husband to his wife, June, a loving father to daughters June, Louise and Burkley and son William, and the proud grandfather of six grandchildren. Throughout his life, he was dedicated to serving his fellow citizens as a leader in both his profession and his community, and he deserves our respect and gratitude for his priceless contributions. I will be forever honored by our friendship. On behalf of the Congress, I extend sympathies to Lon's family, and gratitude for all he did.

Mr. BERRY

Mr. BERRY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a great Arkansan and an outstanding citizen. I am proud to recognize Jay Lawhon in the Congress for his invaluable contributions and service to his community, his family, his state and this nation. Mr. Lawhon was born on a small farm near Harrison in northwest Arkansas in 1919. After serving in the Navy in World War II, Mr. Lawhon moved to southeast Arkansas to become a vocational agriculture teacher. He served as principal of McCrory High School before beginning his career in the seed industry. Mr. Lawhon opened Lawhon Farm Supply in the late 1950's, and passed the thriving business to his son, Noal, in 1975 in order to begin his work as a missionary. As lay leader in McCrory's Methodist Church and founder of the World Christian Relief Fund, Mr. Lawhon made several humanitarian trips to Bangladesh when floods and famine struck in the 1970's. He later traveled to Haiti to help build a hospital and continued to visit the country to teach Haitians to drill and repair wells for water and plant trees. Jay Lawhon was a faithful and dedicated husband to his wife, Lillian, a loving father to Noal and the proud grandfather of two grandchildren and one great- granddaughter. Throughout his life, he was dedicated to serving his fellow citizens as a leader in both his profession and his community, and he deserves our respect and gratitude for his priceless contributions. I will be forever honored by his friendship. On behalf of the Congress, I extend sympathies to Jay's family, and gratitude for all he did to make the world a better place.

Mr. BERRY

Mr. BERRY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a great Arkansan and an outstanding citizen; I am proud to recognize Samuel Konecny in the Congress. His recent death was a great loss to his community, his family, his state and this nation. As a third-generation farmer and a member of the Arkansas State Plant Board, he was proud of his efforts to preserve the Grand Prairie. His desire to conserve was highlighted when he allocated 53 acres of virgin prairie to the Department of Arkansas Heritage and received the Arkansas Conservationist of the Year award. Mr. Konecny served his country with distinction as a retired captain in the Arkansas National Guard and served as company commander for the local unit. He and his unit were deployed throughout the Central High School crisis and helped break the stranglehold of segregation when he escorted ``The Little Rock Nine'' safely to school. An avid churchgoer, Mr. Konecny was a member of Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Stuttgart. He was a 4th Degree Knights of Columbus and helped initiate the Slovak Oyster Supper. Maybe most importantly, Mr. Konecny was a man of great generosity both with his money and his time. He was instrumental in persuading Riceland Foods and Producers Rice Mill to encourage members to donate rice to the food program to feed the hungry. He spent many hours of his life helping people in need and performed many acts of charity throughout his church and community. A devout public servant, he served as a supporter and legislative liaison to former Governors Bill Clinton and Jim Guy Tucker and was a long-time sergeant at arms for the Arkansas State Senate. Sam Konecny was a man of honor, religion and compassion. On behalf of the Congress, I extend sympathies to his family, and gratitude for all he did to make the world a better place.

Mr. BERRY

Mr. BERRY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a great Arkansan, an outstanding citizen, an accomplished farmer and a World War II Veteran; I am proud to recognize Stewart E. Jessup in the Congress. Mr. Jessup was a third generation rice grower who, with his wife and sons, farmed approximately 3,000 acres of rice, soybeans, wheat and milo at their farm at Lodge's Corner, Arkansas. He also served his country with honor in World War II as a first lieutenant navigator aboard B-29's in the Pacific theater. When Mr. Jessup wasn't tending to his farm or serving his country, he spent his time restoring antique tractors and engines--a painstaking art that demonstrated his extreme focus and deep patience. He served his community loyally as a member of the Arkansas State Water Code Study Commission, Arkansas Soybean Promotion Board, Farmers Home Administration--Arkansas Advisory Board, Stuttgart Grain Drying Cooperative board of directors, Arkansas County ASCS Committee, president of the Arkansas County Farm Bureau, and chairman of the DeWitt School Board. Mr. Jessup was an Arkansan by choice, a veteran by duty and a farmer by nature. On behalf of the Congress, I extend sympathies to his family, and gratitude for all he did to make the world a better place.