Michael Bilirakis

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I wish to add my gratitude to the many staff members on the Committee on Commerce, particularly for their hard work on this legislation; as well as people on our personal staffs, Anne Esposito of my personal staff and others who have helped out.

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and to insert extraneous material on H.R. 2498.

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 2498, and I urge my colleagues to join me in voting to approve this very critical legislation. The bill before us today is comprised of a number of bipartisan, noncontroversial public health measures. It includes key provisions to respond to emerging health threats, save victims of cardiac arrest, promote clinical research, improve our research infrastructure, and fight prostate cancer and lupus. I would like to highlight a few of these provisions. First, H.R. 2498 includes the provisions of the 21st Century Research Laboratories Act, legislation which I introduced earlier this year. There is no doubt that America is the worldwide leader in medical research, both at the National Institutes of Health and at our research facilities throughout the Nation. However, while Congress has worked successfully to increase funding for medical research, monies for building construction and renovation have lagged. Mr. Speaker, my legislation responds to this problem by authorizing the director of the National Center for Research Resources at the NIH to make grants or enter into contracts to expand or renovate existing research facilities and construct new research facilities. It also authorizes grants for the purchase of state-of-the-art laboratory instrumentation. In addition, H.R. 2498 includes the provisions of the Lupus Research Act, which was originally introduced by the gentlewoman from Florida (Mrs. Meek). She has been a tireless advocate for this proposal, and it was overwhelmingly approved by the House earlier this month. Today, over 1.4 million Americans have lupus, a devastating disease that causes the immune system to attack the body's own cells and organs. Ninety percent of the victims of lupus are women, and the disease is more common among women of color. By the time some lupus patients are diagnosed, especially in poor or rural communities, irreversible damage to vital organs has already occurred. The bill before us expands Federal lupus research activities through the NIH, and it authorizes the Secretary of Health and Human Services to make project grants for the delivery of essential services. These projects will help identify innovative ways to respond to this terrible disease. H.R. 2498, Mr. Speaker, also includes the provisions of the Cardiac Arrest Survival Act, which was authored by the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Stearns). I want to truly commend him for his leadership in advancing this initiative, which passed the House in May with strong support. Each year, a quarter million Americans die due to cardiac arrest. Many of these victims could be saved if portable medical devices called automated external defibrillators, or AEDs, were used. AEDs can analyze heart rhythms for abnormalities, and if warranted, deliver a life- saving shock to the heart. An estimated 20,000 to 100,000 lives could be saved annually by greater access to AEDs. H.R. 2498 directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to issue regulations to provide for the placement of AEDs in Federal buildings. The bill also establishes protections from civil liability arising from the emergency use of these devices. Mr. Speaker, the proposals incorporated in this legislative package will literally save lives, and I am grateful to the many Members of both sides of the aisle who worked so hard to advance this cause. In that regard, I want to thank the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Bliley), chairman of the Committee on Commerce, the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Dingell), ranking member, and in particular the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Brown), a ranking member of the Subcommittee on Health and Environment. I also want to recognize and thank the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Greenwood) and the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Burr) for their contributions to this legislation. The bill before us is a critical public health measure worthy of bipartisan support. I urge every Member to support H.R. 2498. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 6 minutes to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Stearns), a gentleman about whom people many not now know this, but people in the future will be indebted to him for his persistence and his perseverance in offering and sticking with this defibrillator legislation.

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, in 1997, Congress courageously acted to save Medicare from bankruptcy as a part of the Balanced Budget Act. However, the real-life effects of that law were far greater than expected or intended. The legislation before us today will restore $28 billion in essential health care funding for providers and the patients they serve. It will also increase preventive health benefits for seniors, including screenings for glaucoma and colon cancer, medical nutrition therapy, and Pap smear screenings and pelvic exams. I was pleased to coauthor provisions of the original 1997 balanced budget law, which expanded Medicare coverage or preventive health services. By diagnosing conditions in a timely manner, we can improve the quality of life for beneficiaries and ultimately reduce the costs of treatment for many patients. The President has threatened to veto this critical measure that does so much to help America's seniors. He has expressed concern regarding the amount of funding provided for Medicare+Choice plans. But most of us have heard from an overwhelming number of seniors in our districts who support the Medicare+Choice plans, and who want Congress to make sure that they are adequately funded. This legislation does just that, and it spends approximately $6 billion for it, not $30 billion, not one-half of that, but 22 percent of the total of $28 billion. Last month, Members of my Committee on Commerce worked on a bipartisan basis, passed unanimously, I would remind everyone, to assemble a package of relief for both providers and Medicare beneficiaries. The measure before us incorporates many of those provisions to help beneficiaries, as well as hospitals, community health centers, skilled nursing facilities, academic health centers, home health providers, hospice providers, and Medicare+Choice plans to be sure to help save for seniors their option for a Medicare managed care plan. I look forward, Mr. Speaker, to passing this important legislation today, and I urge the President to sign it into law.

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, as Veterans' Day approaches, I wanted to share a poem which was written by one of my constituents, Charlie Reese, with my colleagues. Hail the Veteran--whose noble deeds, Nurtured Liberty's growing seeds, Soldier, Sailor, airman, grunt, Who held this Nation's battle fronts. These selfless people who paid the price, With years or life in sacrifice. In war or peace they joined the ranks. Hail the Veteran--and give them thanks. Hail the Veteran--whose heroic duty, Helped preserve this Nation's beauty, Who came to their great country's aid, With dedication that will never fade. In barracks or bulwarks, on sea or soil, Our freedom protected because of their toil. The campaigns and marches and endless drills-- Hail the Veteran--for their mighty will. Who through the years answered the call, Who soared and swam and stood and crawled. Who in our history shall ever stand tall, Hail the Veteran--they gave their all.

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, on October 24, 2000, I missed rollcall votes 541, 542 and 543. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye'' on all three votes.

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith).

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I urge a yes vote, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Maryland (Mrs. Morella), who is probably the largest proponent of women's issues in this House.

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I offer a motion.

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and insert extraneous material on H.R. 4386.

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4386, the Breast and Cervical Cancer Prevention and Treatment Act of 2000. I commend the gentlewoman from North Carolina (Mrs. Myrick) for her personal courage in the face of breast cancer and for her work in persuading the House leadership to bring this important bill to the floor today. I also wish to recognize one of the original cosponsors of H.R. 4386, the gentleman from New York (Mr. Lazio), for his many months of hard work on the Committee on Commerce persuading Members and forging alliances with the American Cancer Society, the National Women's Health Network, the National Cervical Cancer Coalition, the National Breast Cancer Coalition, the Cancer Research Foundation of America, and so many others, to make this day possible. His diligent work on H.R. 1070 laid the groundwork for this legislation. Mr. Speaker, I was joined on our Committee on Commerce by the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Eshoo), who persistently fought for progress on this bill. Like so many women I have met over the last few years advocating for this legislation, I understand the fears that families face when they first hear that word. I have worked in Congress to help find ways to help more women from falling victim to cancer. In the closing days of the last session, the Committee on Commerce reported out H.R. 1070, the Lazio-Eshoo Breast and Cervical Cancer Prevention and Treatment Act of 1999. I am very pleased that we are now on the floor debating a bill based on the committee's work, which addresses both breast cancer, the leading cause of cancer deaths among women, and cervical cancer, cancer caused by the HPV viral infection that kills more women in America than HIV, the cause of AIDS. I am deeply disappointed, as has been stated by others, that the other body stripped the House-passed amendments that would do so much to prevent cervical cancer. Perhaps this is a consequence of the outside lobbying groups that have been formed around breast cancer, leaving in the dust their sister organizations concerned about cervical cancer, and that is a shame. Mr. Speaker, we need to do more about cervical cancer than pass resolutions increasing awareness about it. We need to take positive steps to prevent its occurrence in the first place through our public health agencies. Cervical cancer is 100 percent preventable, and I fear that if the House is not successful in addressing prevention, the families of the 5,000 women who will die of this disease this year will judge us for not taking action when we had the opportunity. So, Mr. Speaker, while I am disappointed that the bill we consider today does not address prevention of cervical cancer, and I am not really sure why in the world we have refused to do that, but in any case I do believe that we should move forward on the underlying bill and address cervical cancer prevention in another piece of legislation. H.R. 4386 will close a gap left open when the screening program was first created, and it represents an important step forward in the battle against breast and cervical cancer. I urge my colleagues to support passage of this critical measure, which will give new hope to breast and cervical cancer patients in need as we continue the fight to find a cure for these terrible diseases. Again, I thank the gentlewoman from North Carolina (Mrs. Myrick), the gentlewoman from Missouri (Ms. Danner), the gentleman from New York (Mr. Lazio), the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Eshoo), my Committee on Commerce colleagues, and many others who have contributed to bring this legislation to the floor today. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 628, I call up the bill (H.R. 4386) to amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to provide medical assistance for certain women screened and found to have breast or cervical cancer under a federally funded screening program, to amend the Public Health Service Act and the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act with respect to surveillance and information concerning the relationship between cervical cancer and the human papillomavirus, and for other purposes.

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to voice my fierce opposition to the sale of 145 Bell-Textron attack helicopters to Turkey, as planned by the administration. First and foremost, there is simply no need to proceed with this sale. Turkey is already the most militarized state in that region, and it has the second largest army in NATO after the United States. Despite these facts, Turkey plans to spend $150 billion over the next 25 to 30 years on military weapons; and it plans to implement the first $31 billion phase in the next 10 years. This money could be better used to build schools, hospitals, or housing for the victims of last year's destructive earthquake. Mr. Speaker, the list is endless. Previous experience leaves no room for any optimism regarding legitimate use of such weaponry by Turkey. Quite the contrary, the record shows that the Turkish military has consistently failed to distinguish between civilian and military targets. For the last 16 years, the Turkish military has been using American weaponry, most notably attack helicopters, to kill more than 30,000 civilians, destroy over 2,000 ethnic Kurdish villages and displace more than 2\1/2\ million ethnic Kurds. The Turkish military has misused its equipment even though its government has signed numerous international agreements guaranteeing freedom of religion and human rights. Recently, Turkey used an American COBRA attack helicopter in its campaign against the Kurds in southeast Turkey, in direct violation of the Arms Export Control Act and the Foreign Military Sales Agreement which Turkey signed with the United States. Despite its repeated pledges and promises to make improvements, Turkey's record of human rights violations remains dismal. In a December 1997 meeting with U.S. officials, Turkish diplomats pledged to meet certain benchmarks for improving human rights in Turkey. In subsequent meetings, U.S. officials pledged to oppose the sale of U.S. attack helicopters or other military equipment to Turkey unless the Turkish government met these standards. And to what degree did Turkey honor its promises? According to the State Department's 1999 Country Report on Human Rights, Turkey has failed to meet any of the benchmarks set forth by the administration. How can we allow this sale to proceed when Turkey has repeatedly failed to live up to its promises? Our Nation risks a loss of credibility in permitting this sale while repeatedly proclaiming our commitment to respect and promote human rights and our opposition to Turkey's violations. Other countries have refused to sell Turkey weapons because of its human rights records. According to a report by Reuters on September 8, 2000, Germany's ruling Social Democrats said their government would veto a $7.1 billion order to supply Turkey with 1,000 tanks because of Turkey's human rights violations. If Germany is willing to forego a lucrative arms deal based on these concerns, why should we feel any differently? Is our Nation any less committed to protecting human rights? Are our principles more ``flexible'' when a significant dollar amount is involved? I would hope not. Mr. Speaker, some values transcend geopolitical barriers, and respect for human rights is one of them. People around the world look to the United States for leadership and guidance precisely because of our strict adherence to such principles. The proposed arms sale to Turkey, viewed in the light of its past record on human rights, is contrary to the values we espouse, harmful to our imagine abroad, and threatens the security of a strategically important region. For these reasons, Mr. Speaker, I urge Members to join me in opposing this arms deal and in calling for its immediate cancellation.

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on the subject of my special order.

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, the conference report contains a provision on an issue that I have been working on for over 15 years, the concurrent receipt of military retired pay and VA disability compensation. A law enacted in 1891 requires a disabled career military veteran to waive the amount of his retired pay equal to his VA disability compensation. Military retirees are the only group, only group of Federal retirees who must waive retirement pay in order to receive VA disability compensation. My legislation, H.R. 303, which has 321 cosponsors, would eliminate the offset entirely. The Senate provision drafted by Senator Harry Reid would do the same. Some Members are concerned that complete elimination is too expensive. But in my opinion, Mr. Speaker, no amount of money can equal the sacrifice our military men and women have made in service to their country. Last year's authorization act included a provision to authorize a monthly allowance to military retirees with severe service-connected disabilities rated by the Department of Veterans Affairs at 70 percent or greater. Only individuals retired for longevity qualify for monthly benefit. This conference report expands the eligibility for these special payments to those individuals retired for disability by their service. This is not enough, but it is some progress. I want to thank my colleagues, the gentleman from South Carolina (Chairman Spence), the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Buyer), especially the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Buyer), the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Skelton), the gentleman from Hawaii (Mr. Abercrombie), and the gentleman from California (Mr. Hunter) for their assistance in including this provision in the conference report. We must all work together towards complete elimination of the offset in the next Congress. The original law, Mr. Speaker, is 109 years old and discriminates against service members who decide to make the military their careers. We must encourage personnel to remain on active duty. The old offset statute discourages them from doing so, and it is time to change it. I urge my colleagues to support the conference report for H.R. 4205.

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I rise today in support of H.R. 762, the Lupus Research and Care Amendments. This important measure addresses the devastating, devastating, I underline devastating, disease of lupus. It was introduced by my colleague, the gentlewoman from Florida (Mrs. Meek), who lost her sister to complications from the illness. Lupus is a disease which causes the body's immune system to attack its own cells, resulting in progressive damage to all organs. It affects more than 1.5 million Americans. The vast majority of patients who suffer from lupus are women, and a disproportionate number are minorities. Most women are afflicted in their childbearing years, making it difficult for them to work and care for their families. H.R. 762 expands lupus-related activities of the National Institutes of Health in the areas of basic research, epidemiology, treatment, diagnosis, and public and health care provider education. It also authorizes project grants for the delivery of essential services to individuals with lupus to be administered through local governments, community hospitals, and other nonprofit health care facilities. By enhancing research on lupus, the bill before us will speed the day when a cure is found for this terrible disease. H.R. 762 will provide early diagnosis and disease management services for lupus patients. It will also increase outreach and expand patient care among low- income populations. Further, the initiatives authorized under this measure will provide a road map for other private and public programs to help victims of lupus. H.R. 762, Mr. Speaker, has the support of 245 cosponsors in the House; and it was unanimously approved by the Committee on Commerce last month. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting passage of this very important legislation. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H. Res. 163, the legislation now under consideration.

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume, and I rise today in support of H. Res. 163, a resolution expressing the sense of the House of Representatives regarding postpartum depression, legislation introduced by our colleague, the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Kingston). This year, as many as 20 percent of American mothers will suffer from postpartum depression. The resolution before us recognizes that this condition is the result of a chemical imbalance triggered by a sudden dramatic drop in hormonal production after the birth of a baby. H. Res. 163 is designed to increase public awareness and understanding so that thousands of women will no longer be forced to suffer in silence. Among its provisions, the resolution encourages all obstetricians to screen new mothers for postpartum depression symptoms prior to discharge from the hospital and again when they bring in their babies for early checkups. It also recommends that appropriate health care professionals be trained specifically in screening women for signs of postpartum depression in order to improve chances of early detection. Mr. Speaker, H. Res. 163 emphasizes our commitment to increased access to information about postpartum depression, its symptoms and treatment resources. I ask every Member to join me in supporting passage of this important resolution by the House today. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.