Michael Bilirakis

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chairman, my amendment No. 14 would create a specific line item of funding for the Office of the National Hazardous Waste and Superfund Ombudsman within the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. I am offering this amendment with the intent of asking for unanimous consent to withdraw it after Members who wish to be heard on this issue have had an opportunity to do so. I appreciate the willingness of the gentleman from New York (Chairman Walsh) and members of the Committee to work with me as this legislation moves forward to ensure adequate funding within the EPA budget for the Office of the National Hazardous Waste and Superfund Ombudsman. I have experienced, Mr. Chairman, firsthand the Ombudsman's important work in connection with the Stauffer Superfund site located in my congressional district and my hometown, I might add, in Tarpon Springs, Florida. I invited the Ombudsman to conduct an independent review of the Stauffer site when it became apparent to me that many of my constituents felt that they were shut out of the process by the EPA. For example, EPA initially failed to address local residents' concerns about the appropriate cleanup standard for arsenic. In addition, EPA has not conducted any sinkhole studies to determine if the proposed remedy, which includes consolidating the waste on-site into a capped mound, will remain intact should sinkholes develop. Sinkholes are common in the area, and should the proposed remedy fail due to sinkhole development, the waste could contaminate the drinking water of the local community. The Ombudsman highlighted these concerns in town meetings I sponsored to discuss the proposed clean-up plan for the Stauffer site. Because of his actions, the EPA has amended the consent decree for the clean-up plan and has required additional studies. However, something is clearly wrong at the EPA. While I have been assured publicly and privately by high-level EPA officials that they fully support the activities of the Ombudsman, their actions suggest a different attitude. For instance, after I planned a June 5 public hearing with the Ombudsman, EPA officials threatened to withhold the necessary funding to continue his investigation in Tarpon Springs. With the help of the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Oxley) and the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Tauzin), I was able to exact a guarantee from Administrator Browner that adequate funds would be provided for the Ombudsman's important work. During that June 5 meeting, however, it became clear that EPA did not intend to cooperate with the Ombudsman's investigation. EPA Region IV representatives stated at the outset that they would make a brief presentation and take only 10 minutes of questions, and then they would leave, denying my constituents and the Ombudsman a chance to ask some very important questions about the revised consent decree. In the middle of a question, Mr. Chairman, they stood and walked out without saying a word. I was outraged by the contempt displayed by these public servants toward the taxpaying public. My amendment seeks to ensure that the Ombudsman has the adequate funding to continue his independent investigations. The amendment creates a specific line item of funding for the Office of the National Hazardous Waste and Superfund Ombudsman. Currently, funding for that office is not specifically designated within the VA-HUD appropriations act. That line item will ensure sufficient resources are made available within the EPA's budget to allow the Ombudsman to continue to advocate on behalf of local communities afflicted with the Superfund sites. The other amendment No. 13 that I intended to offer would establish a $2 million line item of funding while also expanding the statutory authorities of the Ombudsman to make them consistent with model standards for ombudsmen promulgated by the American Bar Association and other national organizations. These provisions are necessary to preserve the integrity and independence of their investigations and prevent interference by EPA officials for political purposes. Because this amendment would be subject to a point of order as legislating on an appropriations bill, and because I do not want to waste the time of the assembly, I have decided not to offer it today. However, I want to reiterate how important it is that Superfund ombudsmen be allowed to continue to operate independently, underlined independently, of the very agency they often investigate. Mr. Chairman, our constituents benefit enormously from these advocacy efforts. As we have learned in Tarpon Springs, Florida, it can be very difficult to overcome EPA intransigence. The ombudsmen are critical to give local communities a voice in the clean-up process. I urge all of my colleagues to protect the interests of their constituents in the Superfund clean-up process by supporting necessary funding for that office.

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Chairman, I ask unanimous consent to withdraw the amendment.

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Chairman, I make a point of order that the language beginning with the words ``except that'' appearing at page 63, line 4, and following through the words ``drinking water contaminants'' on line 9 violates clause 2 of rule XXI of the Rules of the House of Representatives prohibiting legislation on an appropriations bill. The language in question countermands the directive given to the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency in section 1452(n) of the Safe Drinking Water Act that she reserve $10 million of funds appropriated to the drinking water State revolving funds for health effects studies on drinking water contaminants. As such, Mr. Chairman, it changes current law and constitutes a violation, as I have said earlier, of clause 2 of rule XXI. I must regrettably insist on my point of order.

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Chairman, I would merely say that Congress enacted VERA for a very simple reason: equity. No matter where they live or what circumstances they face, all veterans deserve to have equal access to quality health care. The author of this amendment argues that the veterans in New York are not being treated equitably. VERA takes all of that into consideration, and under VERA, veterans in the metropolitan New York area will receive an average of $5,339 per veteran patient. That is 16 percent-plus higher than the national average. The Florida VISN will receive $4,485 per patient under VERA, an average payment that is 2.5 percent below the national average. Certainly we should ask ourselves how is this unfair to New York veterans. Mr. Chairman, I urge that we oppose this amendment. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong opposition to the Hinchey amendment which would prohibit the use of VA funds to further implement the Veterans' Equitable Resource Allocation system. VERA, as it is called, corrects historic geographic imbalances in funding for VA health care services and ensures equitable access to care for all veterans. Florida has the second largest veterans population in the country with 1.7 million veterans. Approximately 100 veterans move to Florida every day. Since coming to Congress, I have heard from veterans who were denied care at Florida VA medical facilities. In many instances, these veterans had been receiving care at their local VA medical center. However, once they moved to Florida, the VA was forced to turn them away because the facilities in our state simply did not have the resources to meet the high demand for care. This lack of adequate resources is further compounded in the winter months when Florida veterans are literally crowded out of the system by individuals who travel south to enjoy our warm weather. It is hard for my veterans to understand how they can lose their VA health care simply by moving to another part of the country or because a veteran from a different state is using our VA facilities. Congress enacted VERA for a very simple reason: equity. No matter where they live or what circumstances they face, all veterans deserve to have equal access to quality health care. Since VERA's implementation, the Florida Veterans' Integrated Service Network (VISN) has experienced a forty percent increase in its workload. The Florida network estimates that it will treat a total of 300,000 veterans by the end of Fiscal Year 2000. The Florida network has also opened 18 new community based outpatient clinics since VERA's implementation. It plans to open additional clinics in the near future. None of this could have happened without VERA. The author of this amendment argues that veterans in New York are not being treated equitably. The VERA system already takes regional differences into account by making adjustments for labor costs, differences in patient mix and differing levels of support for research and education. According to the Department of Veterans' Affairs, VA facilities in the metropolitan New York area will receive an average of $5,339 per veteran patient. This means that these facilities will receive an average payment for each patient that is 16.07 percent higher than the national average. On the other hand, the Florida VISN will receive $4,485 per patient--an average payment that is 2.5 percent below the national average. How is this unfair to New York veterans? VERA ensures that veterans across the country have equal access to VA health care and that tax dollars are spent wisely. If the Hinchey amendment passes, continued funding imbalances will result in unequal access to VA health care for veterans in different parts of the country. I urge my colleagues to vote against the Hinchey amendment.

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, on this Memorial Day, as on similar days in years past, we remember the contributions of the millions of men and women who served in our Armed Forces. It is also a day to instill in younger Americans the tradition of honoring those who died in service to their country. This year we commemorate two important events--the 50th anniversary of the Korean war and the 25th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam war. These anniversaries remind us of how important it is to remember our history and to honor those who died to protect our future. Memorial Day is a time for new generations to learn about the price America has paid to preserve freedom and lead other nations to democracy. Those of us who lived through the cold war have a responsibility to educate our children and grandchildren about the dangers still present in the world--and the need to maintain defenses strong enough to deter potential adversaries. The words ``freedom'' and ``democracy'' are most often used to explain why members of our Armed Forces gave their lives to defend our country. And in far-off places such as Bosnia and South Korea, American men and women are still fighting for these principles. There are no words to adequately describe the supreme sacrifice made by brave Americans who died in service to this Nation. But we can demonstrate our deep respect for them--and their families--by remembering their struggle. Each of us has an obligation to honor the sacrifices of those who have worn the uniform of our Armed Forces. On Memorial Day, take time to remember that our freedom was paid for in blood on battlefields around the world.

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2498, the Cardiac Arrest Survival Act of 2000. This bipartisan bill was authorized by my Florida colleague, Congressman Cliff Stearns. It was unanimously approved by the Health and Environment Subcommittee on May 9, and it was reported favorably by the Commerce Committee on May 17. Mr. Speaker, a quarter million Americans die each year 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. Experts estimate that 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 the devices. During committee consideration of the bill, it was amended to give the Secretary of Health and Human Services greater flexibility to update the guidelines over time and greater guidance as to what types of assistance and involvement Congress intends. The amendments also clarified the liability provisions and incorporated standards for AED use and training. The bill before us enjoys the strong support of the American Red Cross and the American Heart Association, as well as many Members on both sides of the aisle. It is rare that a solution to a problem so readily presents itself. We must seize this opportunity to reduce the number of lives tragically lost to cardiac arrest. I urge all Members to join me today in supporting this important legislation.

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, my return flight to Washington was delayed due to bad weather and mechanical problems. Consequently, I was not able to vote on H.R. 3852, S. 1236 or H. Con. Res. 302. However, had I been present, I would have voted in favor of all three bills.

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, Mr. John Rigas, of Coudersport, Pennsylvania, recently celebrated his 75th birthday and 48th year in the cable business. I have come to know him well over the years-- unfortunately not seeing enough of him. The son of Greek immigrants, he was born in an apartment above his parents' restaurant in a small town in rural western New York. After receiving a degree in management engineering, he returned home to help out with the family business. However, John Rigas had other aspirations and he accepted a position as a Sylvania plant engineer in Emporium, Pennsylvania. After borrowing from family and friends, he purchased the local movie theater in nearby Coudersport. To protect his movie theater business, he invested $100 in a cable television franchise to provide signals to a rural community with little or no off-air reception. Flash forward several decades. This fledgling enterprise became Adelphia, the Greek word for brother, which John Rigas and his family have turned into one of the nation's largest telecommunications providers, serving more than 5 million customers in 30 states, including a significant presence in Florida. John kept the company headquarters in Coudersport, a community of about 2,500 where he purchased the old high school on Main Street and converted it into Adelphia's corporate headquarters. John's love of Coudersport and its residents transcends almost everything in his life except for his family. That's why he has chosen to remain in that community. Now, they have added Adelphia Business Solutions, a telephone subsidiary and the company provides high speed cable modem connections to the Internet, digital programming tiers, and long distance telephone service. This year marks the fourth anniversary of the 1996 Telecommunications Act. It is fitting that the exciting new services made possible by this act are being developed and delivered by the entrepreneurship of people like John Rigas. Happy birthday, John, and thanks for fulfilling the American dream in a way that provides exciting new telecommunications services throughout our country.

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Maryland (Mrs. Morella).

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Stearns). (Mr. STEARNS asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. DeMint).

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from New Jersey (Mrs. Roukema). (Mrs. ROUKEMA asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Watkins).

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Ohio (Ms. Pryce).

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.R. 4365.

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4365) to amend the Public Health Service Act with respect to children's health, as amended.

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Greenwood).

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Speaker, an awful lot of blood, sweat and tears has gone into trying to secure a better future for our children by helping to reduce the incidence of disease and illness. I thank my Committee on Commerce colleagues, particularly the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Brown) and I applaud all the Members for having the good sense to set aside some of our partisan agendas in order to improve the lives of our children and all of their families throughout this country. I ask all of the Members to support this legislation.

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to bring H.R. 4365, the Children's Health Act of 2000, to the floor of the House today. Every mother knows that America's children are its future. On Sunday, we will celebrate Mother's Day to honor millions of women for the loving care they provide. I can think of no better gift to them than passage of this legislation to protect children from the threat of disease. My subcommittee has examined some of the difficult barriers we face in working to improve children's health. Witnesses have testified about a number of serious childhood afflictions, including autism, childhood asthma and juvenile diabetes. We also discussed measures to promote adoption of children with special health needs. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 4365 is an extended version of the original children's health bill, H.R. 3301. I was pleased to introduce both bills with the ranking member of the Subcommittee on Health and Environment, the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Brown). Together we have worked on a bipartisan basis and overcome significant, significant obstacles to bring this bill to the floor, and towards that end, I would like to personally thank the two members of our staffs, Anne Esposito of my staff, and Eleanor Dehoney from the staff of the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Brown), and Mr. Jason Lee and Marc Wheat of the majority staff for all of their efforts in this regard. The bill before us, like its predecessor, authorizes and reauthorizes children's disease research and prevention activities conducted under the Public Health Service Act. Among its key provisions, the bill establishes a new pediatric research initiative within the National Institutes of Health to enhance opportunities for research and improve coordination of efforts to prevent or cure diseases affecting children. The bill also addresses a number of specific concerns, including autism, fragile X, birth defects, early hearing loss, epilepsy, asthma, juvenile arthritis, skeletal malignancies, juvenile diabetes, adoption awareness, traumatic brain injury, injury prevention, Healthy Start, oral health, vaccine injury compensation, hepatitis C, autoimmune diseases, graduate medical education in children's hospitals, organ transplantation needs of children and rare diseases in children. Equally important, it does not include specific funding earmarks or other controversial provisions. This legislation incorporates a number of separate legislative proposals. I would like to acknowledge the efforts of those Members who worked to develop provisions that were included in the bill. I also want to acknowledge all of the patient advocates and cosponsors of the original children's health bill who lent their strong support to this initiative. Their dedication helped keep this legislation alive. We can never estimate the human toll of childhood diseases. However, they also have an enormous financial impact through billions of dollars in increased health care costs. Every dollar spent by the Federal Government on disease research and prevention is an extremely wise investment. Any parent can tell you that nothing is more heart wrenching than watching your own child suffer with an illness. As a father and grandfather myself, I know how terrible that can be. Today, however, we have a rare opportunity to do something that will give hope to families devastated by childhood disease. It is my hope that Members will put aside their personal agendas and political disagreements to support passage of this consensus-based measure. Childhood diseases inflict pain and disruption on countless American children and their families. For the patients, families, caregivers and friends whose lives have been touched by childhood diseases, we should demonstrate our shared commitment to ending these terrible afflictions by approving H.R. 4365. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith).

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time, and I rise in support of H.R. 4386, this bipartisan bill, and I emphasize bipartisan bill, which was introduced by our colleagues the gentleman from New York (Mr. Lazio), the gentlewoman from North Carolina (Mrs. Myrick), and the gentlewoman from Missouri (Ms. Danner). This bill would allow States to expand coverage under the Medicaid program to breast and cervical cancer patients who have been screened through the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program. I was pleased to secure passage of similar legislation through my Subcommittee on Health and Environment last year, and that legislation was clearly ramrodded by the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Eshoo), and we must really credit her for starting the ball rolling in this regard. The screening program is administered by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. I had the opportunity to learn more about the agency's important work in this area during a trip which I took with the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Brown) to its Atlanta headquarters last year, and I was also proud to sponsor women's health legislation which was enacted into law in 1998 to reauthorize the screening program. H.R. 4386 will close the gap, as others have already said, 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, terrible diseases.

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I am in strong support of H.R. 3293, which authorizes the placement within the site of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial of a plaque to honor those Vietnam veterans who died after their service in the Vietnam War, but as a direct result of that service. Establishing a plaque to recognize the efforts of this group of Vietnam veterans is a fitting tribute to the men and women who have sacrificed for their country. Each year, the Department of Defense adds some names to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. However, the Department does not recognize many conditions as being service-related, such as Agent Orange exposure and post traumatic stress syndrome. The plaque authorized by H.R. 3293 would honor those whose deaths are not otherwise recognized by the monument. This year marks the 25th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War. A plaque honoring those who continued to suffer and die years after the war ended--and their families--is a proper way to mark this anniversary. I am proud to be an original cosponsor of H.R. 3293 and I urge my colleagues to support this important legislation.

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, the Government Performance Project (GPP) is aimed at expanding the public's understanding of management challenges facing the government. The GPP rates federal agencies on five areas: managing for results, financial management, human resources, information technology and, where appropriate, capital management. The grades are assigned by a team of scholars and journalists and are based on a survey and interviews with agency officials. The GPP issued its second annual report earlier this year, and twenty federal agencies received an average grade of B-minus. In the two years that the project has been underway, only two agencies have received A's for their performance: the Coast Guard and the Social Security Administration. I want to commend these agencies, particularly the Coast Guard, for their outstanding performance. No agency has more whole-heartedly committed itself to results-based government than has the Coast Guard. It has been working to improve its quality management for over ten years and has overhauled its strategic planning and capital asset management. Today, the Coast Guard represents one of the taxpayers' best investments, and as a result of its efforts, it has received numerous Hammer Awards. I want to take this opportunity to salute the hardworking men and women of the United States Coast Guard.

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise proudly to celebrate Greek Independence Day, an event which marks the symbolic rebirth of democracy. On March 25, 1821, Archbishop Germanos of Patras raised the flag of freedom and was the first to declare Greece free. We honor the valiant Greek freedom fighters who began an arduous struggle to win independence for Greece and its people 179 years ago. Although many Greeks died, they were undeterred from their ultimate goal. ``Eleftheria I Thanatos,'' liberty or death, became the Greek patriots' battle cry, a cry all too familiar to us because of the similar pronouncement of Patrick Henry, who said ``Give me liberty or give me death.'' One particular story best signifies the spirit which existed then. A significant wave of rebellion against Turkish oppression was ignited by the fiercely patriotic Suliotes villagers who took refuge from Turkish authorities in the mountains of Epiros. When the Suliotes women, left alone, learned that Turkish troops were fast approaching their village, they began to dance the ``Syrtos,'' a patriotic Greek dance. One by one they committed suicide by throwing themselves and their children off Mount Zalongo. They chose to die rather than surrender and face slavery. When news of the revolution arrived in the United States after the initial uprising, there were widespread feelings of compassion. This sentiment was shared by several American presidents, including James Monroe and John Quincy Adams. Each conveyed his support for the revolution through his annual messages to Congress. William Harrison, our ninth president, expressed his belief in freedom for Greece, saying, and I quote him, ``We must send our free will offering. The Star-Spangled Banner,'' he went on to say, ``must wave in the Aegean, a message of fraternity and friendship to Greece.'' So we should not overlook the fact that American leaders have always been drawn to Greece's democratic ideals. In drafting our constitution, American colonial leaders cited Greek and Roman sources. The very basis of our constitution derives from Aristotle and was put into practice in ancient Rome. As Thomas Jefferson once said, ``To the ancient Greeks we are all indebted for the light which led ourselves, American colonists, out of Gothic darkness.'' Mr. Speaker, I would now like to yield to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Gekas).