Michael Bilirakis

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 605, a resolution that recognizes the importance of increasing awareness of autism, supporting programs for increased research and improved treatment of autism, and improving training and support for individuals with autism and those who care for individuals with autism. Autism is a developmental disability that usually appears, unfortunately, in very young children. We all have friends who are experiencing the tragedy, and God knows it is a tragedy, of having a child diagnosed that is autistic. What that does to a family we can only try to imagine. The least that we can do is to encourage more research and awareness and education among all families. The disease impacts the normal development of the brain that controls social interaction and communication skills. Autism is four times more prevalent in boys and knows no racial, ethnic, or social boundaries. More than 500,000 people in the United States today have some form of autism, making it the third most common developmental disability. Many people are surprised to learn that autism is more common than Downs Syndrome. While we are finding better ways to understand and work with autistic individuals, the disease is still greatly misunderstood. The majority of individuals, including health care professionals, are still unaware of how autism affects people and how to effectively work with the individuals with the disease. However, some progress has been made. A few years ago, most people with autism were eventually placed in institutions. Today, even the most severely autistic disabled can be taught skills to assist their development due to the development of individualized services and programs. We are all extremely concerned about this disease. This resolution stresses that early diagnosis and treatment are essential to ensuring a better quality of life for individuals with autism. However, early diagnosis and treatment can only occur with increased awareness, and that is much of what we try to do with this resolution; and that is why, Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support this good bipartisan legislation. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Terry), a member of the Committee on Energy and Commerce.

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Burton), who, along with the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Tierney), is the author of this legislation.

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen).

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3\1/4\ minutes to the gentleman from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (Mr. Murphy) where I grew up.

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

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Dr. Daniel Bertoch, a dentist in my congressional district who routinely provides free dental services to those in his community who cannot afford them. I met Dr. Bertoch and his staff several years ago while visiting businesses in my congressional district. Dr. Bertoch's office, located in Citrus Park, serves many of my constituents in Northwest Hillsborough County. He told me then that he believed in the importance of civic responsibility and helping those in need. I am pleased to say Dr. Bertoch has acted on that belief. He recently invited a group of less fortunate children from the community to his office for free dental services. He and his staff (Dr. Maria Egir, Mary Anne Futch, Valera Senden, Janice Jonasson, Leigh Allen, and Maria Goetz) treated 17 children over the course of an entire day. They provided comprehensive exams to the children, gave them fluoride treatments, filled their cavities, and provided each child with a full dental treatment plan and copies of their x-rays. They also served breakfast and lunch to the group with the help of local businesses and hired someone to paint faces and make balloon animals for the children. As Dr. Bertoch said, ``a great time was had by all.'' Dr. Bertoch told me that he realizes that charity is not a health care solution. He added, however, that along with proper funding, communities can find ways to help underserved children who need basic health and dental care. Mr. Speaker, Dr. Bertoch and his staff of caring professionals exemplify the spirit of generosity and compassion which forms our country's foundation. I am proud to know them and commend their work to our colleagues as we continue our efforts to make health care more accessible and affordable.

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, for all of my 22 years in Congress, I have constantly and loudly proclaimed the need for a peaceful reunification of the Republic of Cyprus. That unification must be just and balanced. Thus I rise here today to voice my serious concerns with the Annan plan for the reunification of Cyprus. I believe that the final version of the plan which was submitted on March 31, 2004, is unbalanced and biased against the Greek-Cypriots. There are a number of provisions in the Annan plan that do not alleviate the basic fears of the Greek-Cypriot community. These concerns were not appropriately resolved and may very well lead the Greek-Cypriots to reject the Annan plan. Security issues regarding the number of troops that will remain on the island and clarifying the Treaty of Guarantee to exclude military intervention are two major concerns for the Greek-Cypriots because Turkey insists that it will continue to have the right to intervene militarily in Cyprus. This Turkish arrogance increases the Greek-Cypriot fear of a repetition of the 1974 invasion and its tragic consequences. The plan also would permit the vast majority of approximately 115,000 Turkish settlers who are now illegally in Cyprus to stay in Cyprus. At the same time, the plan sets complicated and restrictive provisions regarding the right of Greek-Cypriot refugees to return to their homes in the north. Additionally, the Annan plan makes the eventual return of territories from the northern part of the island to the Greek-Cypriot constituent state dependent upon the goodwill of Turkey and Turkish- Cypriots. On the issue of property rights, the Annan plan allows for one-third restitution and two-thirds compensation for property owned in the north by Greek-Cypriots who will be losing the use of their properties. The funds for the restitution and compensation will be guaranteed by the Federal State and the Constituent State. Since nine-tenths of the Federal State's resources and 100 percent of the Constituent State's resources will be derived from Greek-Cypriots, they will be paying for, to a large extent, their own loss of property. Mr. Speaker, in closing I would like to state that the Greek-Cypriots are asked to trust, to trust the Turkish Government and to have faith that the Turkish-Cypriot leaders will keep their promises. The problem is that since 1974, neither the leaders of the Government of Turkey nor Mr. Denktash has ever given the Greek-Cypriots any reason to trust them. Each side will decide whether the plan would be beneficial for them and for the future of their children. Even though both sides knew they were not going to get everything they wanted, each side was guaranteed a fair plan and one that would be immediately functional. Unfortunately, I do not believe the Annan plan is balanced, and we should not be surprised if the Greek-Cypriot people do not support it. The Cypriot people hold the future in their hands. During this difficult time, it would be inexcusable, Mr. Speaker, for foreign governments or organizational heads to exert excessive pressure or to issue ultimatums to the people and President of Cyprus to vote one way or the other. They must be free of pressure and free to vote with their conscience. If the plan is voted down, it would be an indication that the Greek-Cypriots, whose country suffered an illegal invasion in 1974, and a community which has for three decades advocated for a settlement, felt that they would be giving up far more than they would be gaining, and that cost, Mr. Speaker, is just too high.

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Chairman, I rise today to express my support for the Isakson amendment because it attempts to maintain the status quo for all the donor States by including earmarks and Projects of National and Regional Significance in the SCOPE of programs covered in the Minimum Guarantee program. In TEA-21, 93 percent of the programs were included in the Minimum Guarantee, including the High Priority Projects. In TEA-LU, as written, the SCOPE is reduced to 84 percent of the programs. For Florida, that means $860 million in lost guaranteed funds over 6 years. This would be a huge step backwards. Mr. Chairman, it's simple math. H.R. 3550 keeps the equity guarantee at 90.5 percent, but reduces the coverage of the guarantee to a smaller piece of the total pie. This will cause Florida and other States to lose hundreds of millions of dollars. The Isakson amendment requires no additional funding. This amendment simply asks that we keep things the way they were in TEA-21. I urge my donor States colleagues to support this amendment, for the sake of their State. Mr. NORWOOD. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in strong support of the amendments offered by my good friend Mr. Isakson to address the backwards slide in minimum guarantee that this transportation reauthorization bill would impose on a number of States--including my home State of Georgia. Simply put, previous transportation bills have asked the hard- working folks in Northeast Georgia's 9th District to send more money to Washington . . . and see less money find its way back. But this bill (H.R. 3550, TEA-LU), asks those same hard-working folks to send even more money to Washington . . . and see even fewer of their tax dollars make their way back to Northeast Georgia to improve the roads and conduct essential transportation improvements . . . and that's just as wrong as the day is long. Consider the numbers. Under current law, every State is guaranteed a 90.5 percent return on each dollar of gas taxes it submits to the Federal government. And when the 1998 TEA-21 language became the law of the land, 93 percent of programs were included in the minimum guarantee, including high priority projects and projects of national and regional significance that are important to Georgians and others from States who pay so much more than ever comes back. But under this bill, under TEA-LU, States' core funding programs would be decreased from a 90.5 percent share to only 84 percent of the programs. Don't forget, this includes ``High Priority Projects and Projects of Regional Significance.'' For the average State, this reduction in scope will result in the loss of $300 million over the lifespan of the six-year legislation. In fact, the State of Georgia could stand to lose between $500 and $600 million. Mr. Chairman, I have stood on this floor time and time again to preach the need for this Congress, and this Federal government, to exercise fiscal responsibility and live within our means--much like Georgians and all Americans do every single day. I also clearly recognize the need to meet this Nation's critical transportation infrastructure funding needs. Taking money from Peter to pay Paul, accomplishes neither objective . . . and in fact, only seriously jeopardizes the future infrastructure needs for millions of Americans. Mr. Chairman, it is absolutely imperative to include high priority projects as well as projects of regional and national significance in the Scope formula for H.R. 3550. Make no mistake, we can do better . . . but by at least returning to a 90.5 percent minimum guarantee on 93 percent of the programs addressed in the Transportation Reauthorization Act, this Congress rights a major wrong contained in TEA-LU. I urge my colleagues to do just that by supporting the Isakson amendment.

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Madam Speaker, first I would say that I am very pleased to be doing this special order in conjunction with the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Maloney), who has been very stellar, a great friend of both republics, Greece and Cyprus, all through the years. And today I too proudly rise to celebrate Greek Independence Day and the strong ties that bind the nation of Greece and the United States. One hundred and eighty-three years ago, the people of Greece began a journey that would mark a symbolic rebirth of democracy in the land, in the land where those principles of human dignity were first espoused. They rebelled against more than 400 years of Turkish oppression. The revolution of 1821 brought independence to Greece and emboldened those who still sought freedom across the world. I commemorate Greek Independence Day each year for the same reasons that we celebrate our July 4. It proved that a united people through sheer will and perseverance, can prevail against tyranny. Men such as Aristotle, Socrates, Plato, and Euripides developed a then-unique notion that men could, if left to their own devices, lead themselves rather than be subject to the will of a sovereign. It was Aristotle who said, ``We make war that we may live in peace.'' On March 25, 1821, Archbishop Germanos of Patras embodied the spirit of those words when he raised the flag of freedom and was the first to declare Greece free. Revolutions embody a sense of heroism, bringing forth the greatness of the American spirit. 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.'' Quoting Jefferson on the anniversary of Greek Independence is particularly appropriate. Jefferson and the rest of the Founding Fathers looked back to the teachings of ancient Greek philosophers for inspiration as they sought to craft a strong democratic state. In 1821, the Greeks looked to our Founding Fathers for inspiration when they began their journey toward freedom. Although many lives were sacrificed at the altar of freedom, the Greek people rallied around the battle cry, ``Eleftheria I Thanatos,'' ``liberty or death,'' mirroring of course the words of American Patriot Patrick Henry who said ``Give me liberty or give me death.'' These words personified the Greek patriots' unmitigated desire to be free. We all know that the price of liberty can be very high. History is replete with the names of the millions who have sacrificed for it. Many great scholars throughout history warned that we maintain democracy only at great cost. The freedom we enjoy today is due to a large degree to the sacrifices made by men and women in the past, in Greece, in America, and all over the world. Freedom is America's heart. It is central to our being, and from the beginning we have recognized that freedom is not just an American right, it is a God-given right to every citizen of the world. We must never forget that freedom must be constantly guarded. It is a noble but fragile thing that can be stolen or snuffed out if not protected. We cannot take for granted that we are endowed by our Creator with certain inalienable rights. We enjoy our freedom only because we have been willing to fight and die for it just like our forefathers and the valiant Greeks in 1821. Mr. Speaker, on this 183rd birthday of Greek Independence, when we celebrate the restoration of democracy to its conception, we also celebrate the triumph of the human spirit and the strength of man's will. The goals and values that the people of Greece share with the people of the United States reaffirm our common democratic heritage. This occasion also serves to remind us that we must never take for granted the right to determine our own fate. Madam Speaker, today I proudly rise to celebrate Greek Independence Day and the strong ties that bind the nation of Greece and the United States. One hundred and eighty-three years ago, the people of Greece began a journey that would mark the symbolic rebirth of democracy in the land where those principles to human dignity were first espoused. They rebelled against more than 400 years of Turkish oppression. The revolution of 1821 brought independence to Greece and emboldened those who still sought freedom across the world. I commemorate Greek Independence Day each year for the same reasons we celebrate our Fourth of July. It proved that a united people, through sheer will and perseverance, can prevail against tyranny. The lessons the Greeks and our colonial forefathers taught us provide hope and inspiration to victims of persecution throughout the world today. Men such as Aristotle, Socrates, Plato, and Euripides developed the then-unique notion that men could, if left to their own devices, lead themselves rather than be subject to the will of a sovereign. It was Aristotle who said: ``We make war that we may live in peace.'' On March 25, 1821, Archbishop Germanos of Patras embodied the spirit of those words when he raised the flag of freedom and was the first to declare Greece free. Revolutions embody a sense of heroism, bringing forth the greatness of the human spirit. It was Thomas Jefferson who said that, ``One man with courage is a majority.'' Quoting Jefferson on the anniversary of Greek independence is particularly appropriate. Jefferson, and the rest of the Founding Fathers, looked back to the teachings of ancient Greek philosophers for inspiration as they sought to craft a strong democratic state. And in 1821, the Greeks looked to our Founding Fathers for inspiration when they began their journey toward freedom. The history of Greek independence, like that of the American Revolution, is filled with many stories of courage and heroism. There are many parallels between the American and Greek Revolutions. Encouraged by the American Revolution, the Greeks began their rebellion after four centuries of Turkish oppression, facing what appeared to be insurmountable odds. Both nations faced the prospect of having to defeat an empire to obtain liberty. And if Samuel Adams, the American revolutionary leader who lit the first spark of rebellion by leading the Boston Tea Party, had a Greek counterpart, that man would be Alexander Ypsilantis. Ypsilantis was born in Istanbul, and his family was later exiled to Russia. Ypsilantis served in the Russian army, and it was there, during his military service, that he became involved with a secret society called the ``Philike Hetairia,'' which translated means ``friendly society.'' The ``friendly society'' was made up of merchants and other Greek leaders, but the intent of the society was to seek freedom for Greece and her people. The group planned a secret uprising for 1821 to be led by Ypsilantis. He and 4,500 volunteers assembled near the Russian border to launch an insurrection against the Turks. The Turkish army massacred the ill- prepared Greek volunteers, and Ypsilantis was caught and placed in prison, where he subsequently died. However, the first bells of liberty had been rung, and Greek independence would not be stopped. When news of Greek uprisings spread, the Turks killed Greek clergymen, clerics, and laity in a frightening display of force. In a vicious act of vengeance, the Turks invaded the island of Chios and slaughtered 25,000 of the local residents. The invaders enslaved half the island's population of 100,000. Although many lives were sacrificed at the altar of freedom, the Greek people rallied around the battle cry ``Eleftheria I Thanatos'' ``liberty or death,'' mirroring the words of American Patriot Patrick Henry who said: ``Give me liberty or give me death.'' These words personified the Greek patriots' unmitigated desire to be free. Another heroic Greek whom many believe was the most important figure in the revolution was Theodoros Kolokotronis. He was the leader of the Klephts, a group of rebellious and resilient Greeks who refused to submit to Turkish subjugation. Kolokotronis used military strategy he learned while in the service of the English Army to organize a force of over 7,000 men. The Klephts swooped down on the Turks from their mountain strongholds, battering their oppressors into submission. One battle in particular, where Kolokotronis led his vastly outnumbered forces against the Turks, stands out. The Turks had invaded the Peloponnese with 30,000 men. Kolokotronis led his force, which was outnumbered by a ration of 4 to 1, against the Turkish army. A fierce battle ensued and many lives were lost, but after a few weeks, the Turks were forced to retreat. Kolokotronis is a revered Greek leader, because he embodied the hopes and dreams of the common man, while displaying extraordinary courage and moral fiber in the face of overwhelming odds. Athanasios Diakos was another legendary hero, a priest, a patriot, and a soldier. He led 500 of his men in a noble stand against 8,000 Ottoman soldiers. Diakos' men were wiped out and he fell into the enemy's hands, where he was severely tortured before his death. He is the image of a Greek who gave all for love of faith and homeland. While individual acts of bravery and leadership are often noted, the Greek Revolution was remarkable for the bravery and fortitude displayed by the typical Greek citizen. This heroic ideal of sacrifice and service is best demonstrated through the story of the Suliotes, villagers who took refuge from Turkish authorities in the mountains of Epiros. The fiercely patriotic Suliotes bravely fought the Turks in several battles. News of their victories spread throughout the region and encouraged other villages to revolt. The Turkish Army acted swiftly and with overwhelming force to quell the Suliote uprising. The Suliote women were alone as their husbands battled the Turks at the front. When they learned that Turkish troops were fast approaching their village, they began to dance the Syrtos, a patriotic Greek dance. One by one, rather than face torture or enslavement at the hands of the Turks, they committed suicide by throwing themselves and their children off Mount Zalongo. They chose to die rather than surrender their freedom. The sacrifice of the Suliotes was repeated in the Arkadi Monastery of Crete. Hundreds of noncombatants, mainly the families of the Cretan freedom fighters, had taken refuge in the monastery to escape Turkish reprisals. The Turkish army was informed that the Monastery was used by the Cretan freedom fighters as an arsenal for their war material, and they set out to seize it. As the Turkish troops were closing in, the priest gathered all the refugees in the cellar around him. With their consent, he set fire to the gunpowder kegs stored there, killing all but a few. The ruins of the Arkadi Monastery, like the ruins of our Alamo, still stand as a monument to liberty. News of the Greek revolution met with widespread feelings of compassion in the United States. The Founding Fathers eagerly expressed sentiments of support for the fledgling uprising. Several American Presidents, including James Monroe and John Quincy Adams, conveyed their support for the revolution through their annual messages to Congress. William Harrison, our ninth president, expressed his belief in freedom for Greece, saying: ``We must send our free will offering. `The Star-spangled Banner' must wave in the Aegean . . . a messenger of fraternity and friendship to Greece.'' Various Members of Congress also showed a keen interest in the Greeks' struggle for autonomy. Henry Clay, who in 1825 became Secretary of State, was a champion of Greece's fight for independence. Among the most vocal was Daniel Webster from Massachusetts, who frequently roused the sympathetic interest of his colleagues and other Americans in the Greek revolution. It should not surprise us that our Founding Fathers would express such keen support for Greek independence, for they themselves had been inspired by the ancient Greeks in their own struggle for freedom. 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.'' Our two nations share a brotherhood bonded by the common blood of democracy, birthed by Lady Liberty, and committed to the ideal that each individual deserves the right of self- determination. We all know that the price of liberty can be very high--history is replete with the names of the millions who have sacrificed for it. Many great scholars throughout history warned that we maintain democracy only at great cost. The freedom we enjoy today is due to a large degree to the sacrifices made by men and women in the past--in Greece, in America, and all over the world. I recount these stories because they pay homage to Greece's absolute commitment to freedom and liberty and the common bonds which we share. Unfortunately, our devotion to the principle of freedom is not shared by many people whose interests are better served by applying oppression to their own people and spreading terrors elsewhere. Freedom is America's heart. It is central to our being, and from the beginning we have recognized that freedom is not just an American right. It is a God-given right to every citizen of the world. We must not overlook those who are still fighting for their independence in other parts of the world, such as in the Republic of Cyprus. Turkey still illegally occupies Cyprus, as it has since its invasion in 1974. Finding a fair resolution for Cyprus will help stabilize a region marked more often by conflict than accord. As with so many international issues, U.S. leadership is essential to urge Turkish and Turkish Cypriot leaders toward peace. One year after United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan proposed his plan as a basis for negotiations between the Greek-Cypriots and Turkish-Cypriots, the Turkish Cypriot leadership finally agreed to restart the negotiations. The proposed plan aims at reuniting the island under a government of shared power and having the united island admitted to the European Union on May 1, 2004. This is a vision worthy of our attention and full support because it has the potential to end the illegitimate division of Cyprus, improve the relations between Turkey and Greece and promote stability in the sensitive region of Eastern Mediterranean. We must never forget that freedom must be constantly guarded. It is a noble but fragile thing that can be stolen or snuffed out if not protected. We cannot take for granted that we are endowed by our Creator with certain inalienable rights. We enjoy our freedom only because we have been willing to fight and die for it, just like our forefathers and the valiant Greeks in 1821. Mr. Speaker, on this 183rd birthday of Greek Independence, when we celebrate the restoration of democracy to the lands of its conception, we also celebrate the triumph of the human spirit and the strength of man's will. The goals and values that people of Greece share with the people of the United States reaffirm our common democratic heritage. This occasion also serves to remind us that we must never take for granted the right to determine our own fate.

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 3926, the Organ Donation and Recovery Improvement Act. I recently introduced this legislation, which reflects a bipartisan, bicameral agreement that was reached with the Senate late last year. I am urging all of my colleagues to join me in supporting this timely legislation. Most of us are well aware of the great need for donated organs and tissue. According to the United Network for Organ Sharing, there are 84,138 people currently waiting for a transplant. Only 23,387 individuals had received a transplant between January and November of 2003. Additionally, 12,133 individuals had donated their organs within that same timeframe. Tragically, 6,187 individuals died in 2002 while on the waiting list. It is our duty to do everything in our power to prevent these oftentimes needless deaths from occurring. That's why H.R. 3926 is so important. This legislation targets federal dollars into areas that we feel will have a substantial impact in increasing organ donation rates in this country. For example, living donors represented over half of all donors in the first nine months of 2003. That is why H.R. 3926 authorizes the Secretary of Health and Human Services to award grants for the purpose of covering travel and subsistence expenses incurred by living organ donors. While the decision to become a living organ donor is an intensely personal one, I feel that it is our responsibility to remove any financial barriers that might prevent someone from making the ``gift of life.'' H.R. 3926 also provides the Secretary with $15 million in new grant authority to assist state governments and public and nonprofit private entities in developing innovative initiatives designed to increase organ donation rates, including living donation. I am hopeful we will learn some valuable lessons from these demonstration projects that we will be able to apply on a national scale. I also want to point out for my colleagues that this bill contains important evaluation mechanisms, so we can ensure that our targeted federal assistance makes a demonstrable impact on increasing organ and tissue donation rates. I think these provisions are critically important and will help us monitor the effectiveness of these new programs. I would like to take a moment to note that section 4 of this legislation is modeled after the Floyd D. Spence Organ Coordination Improvement Act, which Congressman Joe Wilson introduced in the 107th Congress. I know he's worked very hard with Congressman Jay Inslee in this area, and I'm pleased we were able to include this important provision in our broader bill. H.R. 3926 is widely supported by the transplant community and takes a positive step forward in our effort to ensure that every American has access to a donated organ or tissue when they need it.

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to take my special order at this time.

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Madam Speaker, some military retirees, individuals who are eligible for military retirement benefits as a result of a full- service career, are also eligible for disability compensation from the VA based on a medical problem they incurred while in the service. Due to a 19th Century law, these service-disabled retirees must surrender a portion of their retired pay if they want to receive the disability compensation to which they are entitled. Nationwide more than 550,000 disabled military retirees have been required to give up their retired pay in order to receive their VA disability compensation. For nearly 2 decades, Madam Speaker, I have introduced legislation to correct this longstanding problem, commonly known as concurrent receipt, in the House of Representatives. Last year our Republican Congress and President George W. Bush reached an historic agreement that changes the 100-year-old practice of having disabled veterans pay for their VA disability out of their military retirement. The new law greatly expands the Combat-Related Special Compensation Program, which we refer to as CRSC, by repealing the 60 percent minimum disability requirement which was set forth in the 2003 Defense Authorization Act. Effective January 1, 2004, earlier this year, CRSC is payable to any military retiree, including personnel who qualify for reserve retirement, who has at least 20 years of service, a Purple Heart and/or injuries sustained while performing military duty in a combat situation or with military equipment or during military training. Retirees must apply to their military service for CRSC payments, but there is no phase-in period for the CRSC benefit. The new law also phases in full concurrent receipt benefits over the next 10 years for those who have service-connected disabilities rated 50 percent or higher. In addition, the law extends concurrent receipt and CRSC coverage to Reserve and National Guard retirees who were inadvertently excluded from the CRSC program when it was originally enacted. I am pleased to report that on February 1 approximately 150,000 disabled retirees began receiving their new benefits. Unfortunately, Madam Speaker, the issue of concurrent receipt has become something of a ``political football.'' Some of my Democratic colleagues have been working hard to convince our Nation's veterans that they are truly dedicated to keeping America's promise to them. I find it highly ironic that these Members are now commending themselves for their recent leadership on an issue that I have been pursuing for 18 years and I have a simple question for them: ``Where have you been all of these years?'' For the 40 years that the Democrats had nearly exclusive control of Congress, they never sent a bill, never sent a bill, to end this unfair practice to either a Republican or Democratic President. Moreover, the House Democrats have never included one penny for concurrent receipt in any of their annual budget proposals. For the first 9 years that I worked on this issue, I was stymied at every turn by the party who controlled Congress. My 1993 Discharge Petition was signed by a small fraction of those who last year expressed a sudden interest in the issue by signing the Democrat Discharge Petition. Not a single disabled retiree, Madam Speaker, received any concurrent receipt benefits under the Democratically controlled Congress. However, Democrats are now shamelessly attempting to hijack this issue in an effort to portray themselves as friends of disabled military veterans. It was not until the Republican Party took control of Congress in 1995 that we have made significant progress, a step-by- step advance towards full concurrent receipt. The Republican-controlled Congress has acted on five separate occasions to address the concurrent receipt issue. Republicans also fulfilled the pledge given to millions of military retirees that they would receive lifetime medical coverage in exchange for their selfless military service to the Nation with the enactment of the TRICARE-for-Life program. Moreover, spending for veterans' health care programs has grown by 49 percent over the past 5 years, grown by 49 percent over the past 5 years. So I ask which political party has been the true, underline ``true,'' friend of our Nation's military retirees and veterans? Despite this breakthrough, full concurrent receipt does remain a priority goal for all of us who have been involved in the campaign to provide equity to America's disabled military retirees. In the interim, Madam Speaker, of reaching our ultimate goal, I would say that I am very proud of our accomplishments on behalf of the brave men and women who have sacrificed so much for our great Nation.

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Tarpon Springs, Florida, High School girls' soccer team, which recently won the class 4A state soccer championship. I am especially proud of the Spongers, as they are known, because I am a resident of Tarpon Springs. I know how important athletics are to these young student-athletes and how their accomplishments reflect positively on our community. I am fortunate to have been able to attend many athletic events at Tarpon Springs High School over the years and always have been impressed with the spirit, determination, and skill of Sponger teams, both boys and girls. I also am heartened that these fine young women recognize and acknowledge the importance of faith in their lives. Team members prayed together regularly and wrote the words ``faith'' and ``believe'' on their shin guards so that they remembered the importance of their commitment to themselves, each other, and their faith. I want to congratulate Coach John Freiermuth, and assistant coaches Jaimie Adkins and John Freiermuth, Jr., on leading their charges to victory and teaching such a fine group of young women about competition, sportsmanship, and excellence. I also want to congratulate each of the team's members on their fine season: Kara Torasso, Brandi Bianco, Whitney Gause, Rebecca Smith, Giana Kase, Valerie Viggiano, Paige Beyer, Savannah Brum, Ashley Jeffris, Jordan Beyer, Katy Conrad, Maria Tagaropoulos, Kristen Freiermuth, Kaitlyn Dassat, Libby Gianeskis, Jessica Miller, Jessica Lukas, Brittany Gomez, Barbara Packard, Lindsey Davis, Alexia Berg, Megan Nowikowski, and Jamie Ouverson. Mr. Speaker, I hope our colleagues will join me in commending the Tarpon Springs High School girls' soccer team for winning the class 4A state girls' soccer championship and for the outstanding example they have set for us, their peers, and my community.

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Justin Gregorich, one of my young constituents who recently saved someone's life. Justin was walking home from football practice last week when he witnessed an elderly man lose control of his car, drive into a retention pond, and begin sinking in the snake and alligator-filled water. Justin instantly dove into the water, and with the help of two other passers by, pulled the man from his submerged car to safety. Justin's two helpers, Michael McBayer and Shawn Brady, live in Chairman Bill Young's congressional district, which borders mine. Justin credited Mr. McBayer and Mr. Brady for saving the car's driver, though he said his only thought when he saw the crash was that ``I gotta save that guy.'' I think that Justin's mother, Alice, must have taught her son to be humble and help others, which is exactly what he did that day. She certainly deserves credit for raising such an outstanding young man. Mr. Speaker, Justin, Michael, and Shawn are heroes in the truest sense of the word. They disregarded their own safety for that of another. Their selfless actions should remind us all of the fundamental goodness and humanity that so many of our countrymen exhibit everyday. I urge our colleagues to join me in thanking them for their actions and for reminding us of the spirit of compassion and courage which makes our country great.

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Jennifer Hunter, one of my remarkable young constituents who had an outstanding accomplishment. Jennifer is a 12 year-old little leaguer in my hometown of Tarpon Springs, Florida. In April of last year, she used her 60 mile per-hour fastball to throw a no-hitter against one of her team's opponents. She had a 6 and 3 record and a 2.10 Earned Run Average in 54 innings last season. Baseball fans know that these are tremendous accomplishments. They are especially impressive considering Jennifer is playing against boys. Jennifer, you see, loves baseball and wanted to test her skills against her peers, both male and female. Her teammates were unsure about having a girl on their team at first, until they saw her play. Jennifer recently told Sports Illustrated that ``they thought I wasn't going to be any good.'' However, she says, they became closer once they saw her play, particularly after her no-hitter. Jennifer wants to play in the Women's Professional Baseball League next year, and though the league has no players younger than 18, I am confident that she will give the older women all they can handle. Mr. Speaker, Jennifer Hunter has shown me, my friends, and neighbors that hard work, determination, and perseverance can help us achieve what many, if not most, thought impossible. I congratulate her and her family and urge our colleagues to wish her luck in her future endeavors.

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Lowell Stanberry, a good friend and great American who has dedicated his life to helping others and fighting for what he believes. Lowell is a legend in Dade City, Florida, which I formerly represented. He has worked hard his entire life and has been vitally important to the city's economic prosperity. He has volunteered in various capacities for numerous volunteer, civic, and philanthropic organizations which work to improve the lives of those who have lived in Lowell's community. Lowell also has been a lifelong conservative. He was a Republican long before it was politically-expedient. ``I think politics is kind of like religion,'' he says. ``If you were born a Republican, I think you die a Republican.'' He certainly has made his mark on local, state, and national politics. He helped make the Pasco County Republican Party what it is today. He has helped elect numerous public officials. I am unsure whether I would have won my first congressional election had it not been for Lowell's support. He also has been actively involved in other gubernatorial and presidential campaigns in Florida. The East Pasco Republican Club recently honored Lowell with its Lincoln Heritage Award, which the group gives to an outstanding individual who upholds the ideals of service and intelligent compassion. I cannot think of a more deserving recipient than Lowell Stanberry. Mr. Speaker, I am proud and honored to call Lowell a friend and fellow Republican. He has taught everyone with whom he has come into contact the importance of charity and of maintaining the courage of your convictions.

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Richard Silver, a public servant who has dedicated his life to caring for and comforting our country's veterans. Dick Silver has worked in various capacities for the U.S. Department of Veterans' Affairs for more than fifty years. During that time, he has served as the director, assistant director, administrator, and personnel services officer at VA hospitals in Massachusetts, Washington D.C., New Jersey, North Carolina, and eventually, in Florida. Dick was appointed Director of the James A. Haley VA Medical Center in Tampa, which is near my congressional district, in 1979. The hospital, and its associated outpatient clinics, nursing homes, and domiciliaries, serves many of my constituents and has grown dramatically during his tenure. He has guided the hospital through trying times with humor, grace, and an abiding respect for the men and women who seek care at his facilities. I worked closely with Dick over the past decade to build a spinal cord injury unit at the Tampa VA. Dick's guidance, wisdom, and knowledge were instrumental in helping me secure the necessary Federal funding for the project. He oversaw construction of the unit which, in the words of VA Secretary Principi, provides the best care in the country for veterans with spinal cord injuries and dysfunction. Mr. Speaker, I am honored to know and have worked closely with Richard Silver for so many years. His leadership, dedication, and professionalism have been an asset to me, our country, and those for whom he and his staff care.

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Roy Parke, Jr., a friend, constituent, and pioneer in our country's strawberry industry. Roy Parke virtually founded our country's strawberry industry. He moved to my district in the 1950s and, with his father, founded Parkesdale Farms, which today is a multimillion-dollar operation which produces most of our country's winter strawberries. Roy was a farming pioneer. He oversaw the first successful shipment of berries to Europe in 1963. He was the first farmer to spray strawberries with water during the winter to protect them from freezing temperatures. He is considered one of our country's leading authorities on cutting-edge production techniques. I am pleased to say that Roy has dedicated his life to more than personal success. He has for years actively supported and promoted local volunteer and civic organizations, as well as helping area schools and students. He also helped make the Florida Strawberry Festival the country's premiere event for strawberry lovers. He helped make it such a success that presidents, movie stars, entertainers, and everyone in between have stopped to visit Roy and eat shortcake with him. Roy recently turned over the day-to-day operation of his company to his children and his wife of 60 years, Helen. Although he attributes all of his success to her, I know that his hard work, dedication, and perseverance also have helped him succeed in what anyone who knows farming will tell you is a very difficult way of life. Mr. Speaker, Roy Parke is an outstanding husband, father, farmer, and American. I am proud to call him, and his wonderful wife, friends and constituents. They are, without question, national treasures who should serve as examples to us all.

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I would say I wish I had $100 for every hour that I spent in the wee hours of the morning during the time that the gentleman's party was in charge of this House. Mr. Speaker, we have before us today an opportunity to finally provide our constituents with a meaningful prescription drug benefit that our Nation can afford. To finally do it; to finally do it, not to merely talk about it and to demagogue it. For four decades the other party controlled, and they did nothing. It seems every time we, since gaining the majority, attempt to meet a need, the Democrats finally awaken with nay comments. They do nothing. We attempt to do something, and they call our efforts a charade. We have not taken a pass, as one gentleman from the other side of the aisle said earlier. I would suggest the gentleman's party, which controlled for 40 years, took the pass. While the bill before us certainly is not perfect, and we have admitted that, it targets the $400 billion available under our budget resolution towards areas where it can do the most good. Our bill provides a great deal of assistance to our low-income seniors. In fact, seniors who earn under $13,470 as a single or $18,180 as a couple will only be responsible for nominal copayments and will not experience a coverage gap. This is very generous coverage for the population of seniors who need it the most. The conference report will also ensure that seniors will have the peace of mind of knowing that they will only be responsible for a very small amount of cost sharing once their out-of-pocket drug costs exceed $3,600 annually. It is a critical provision, and one I strongly support. This bill helps the poorest and sickest, and who can argue against that. The conference report makes many other improvements to the Medicare program; in fact, too many to list tonight. However, I want to point out that the bill contains two provisions that I have long advocated for: Improved reimbursements for our Nation's physicians, and Medicare coverage for a physical exam upon entering the program. I call that the Dr. William Hale, ``Welcome to Medicare Program.'' Dr. Hale of Dunedin, Florida, gave me the idea some time ago. I am confident that this new benefit will ultimately save the program billions of dollars in the long term. I would like to close by quickly dispelling a number of myths that we have heard on the House floor tonight, and over the past few months. The conference report does not privatize Medicare. It improves it, namely by adding a voluntary prescription drug benefit available to everyone, including those who do not wish to leave traditional fee-for- service Medicare. We are not pushing seniors into HMOs; I will not be a part of that. Or creating a voucher system. We are offering seniors voluntary choices other than traditional Medicare. And, finally, the conference report does not signal the end of Medicare. Instead, it marks the beginning of a new, better Medicare that will be available for generations to come. Mr. Speaker, I would like to close by thanking all of the staff members who have worked to help make this bill possible.

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 2297, the Veterans' Benefits Act of 2003. This bill addresses an issue that I have been working on for a number of years. Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) is the benefit accorded to the surviving dependents of those members of the Armed Forces who died while on active duty or of a service-connected cause. DIC is the only federal annuity program that does not allow a widow who is receiving compensation to remarry at an older age and retain her annuity. Earlier this year, I reintroduced legislation which provides that the remarriage of the surviving spouse of a veteran after age 55 shall not result in termination of Dependency and Indemnity Compensation. I was pleased that my legislation was incorporated into H.R. 2297 when it passed the House in October. The bill that we are considering today, which was worked out with the Senate, slightly modifies my original provision to provide that a surviving spouse upon remarriage after age 57 would retain DIC, home loan and educational benefits eligibility. Surviving spouses who remarried after attaining age 57 prior to enactment of the Compromise Agreement would have one year to apply for reinstatement of these benefits. I think it is a wonderful thing if an older person finds companionship, falls in love and decides to marry. I don't think we should be discouraging such marriages by making them financially burdensome. In these circumstances, it is often the case that both partners are living on fixed incomes. the prospect of one partner losing financial benefits as a result of the marriage is a real disincentive. Once again, I would like to thank Chairman Smith, Ranking Member Evans, Benefits Subcommittee Chairman Brown and Subcommittee Ranking Member Michaud for working with me to include a DIC remarriage provision in H.R. 2297. I urge my colleagues to support the bill before us today.

Mr. BILIRAKIS

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

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume, and I rise in opposition to the motion to instruct offered by the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Inslee). Mr. Speaker, I would say at the outset, through the Chair, that the only air of omission is that the gentleman's party was in charge so very many years did not see fit to decide that prescription drugs were necessary for our poor seniors. Now, all of a sudden, when the Republicans are doing it, they are taking issue with it. This motion to instruct, Mr. Speaker, no longer serves any purpose, no longer serves any purpose, since a bipartisan group of Medicare conferees has already reached, as the gentleman knows, reached an agreement that will greatly improve the Medicare program, and most notably through the addition of a long-awaited prescription drug benefit. In fact, I can assure the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Inslee) that the provisions he seeks to strike in his motion to instruct were not included in the bipartisan Medicare conference agreement. Additionally, the three positions that the gentleman is advocating, insuring that all hospitals receive the large urban standardized rate, that there be a floor on the work component on the physician fee schedule, and that the conference report include increases in reimbursements to physicians, are all already in the conference report. I have led the opposition to a number of motions to instruct Medicare conferees over the past couple of months; and in doing so, I continually urge my colleagues to allow the bipartisan negotiations that I was a part of to play out. As Members know, these negotiations have run their course, and the result is a bipartisan agreement that is endorsed by a number of organizations, including the AARP. That is why this motion no longer has any meaning, Mr. Speaker. It seeks to strike provisions not included in the final agreement and direct these nonexistent funds towards provider-payment increases that are already included in a bipartisan Medicare conference agreement. In fact, the American Medical Association has strongly opposed previous motions to instruct that attempt to move money from patients to providers. In fact, the AMA forwarded me a statement earlier this week in response to a motion which took place, I believe, a couple of nights ago to instruct that said it strongly opposes the Berkley motion to instruct and urges Congress to pass the pending Medicare conference report before we adjourn. I support reimbursing physicians and hospitals fairly for the valuable services they provide. I have been particularly passionate about fixing the formula that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid use to annually update Medicare physician payments. In fact, I introduced a bill in late 2001, I believe it was jointly with the ranking member of my Subcommittee on Health, the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Brown), that would have prevented the 5.4 percent cut in physician reimbursements under Medicare that went into effect in 2002. Physicians were slated to receive another cut, this time a 4.4 percent, if not for congressional action that corrected flawed data in the update formula and provided physicians with a 1.6 percent update for 2003. However, persistent flaws in the update formula mean that physicians are looking at a 4.5 percent cut next year and further negative updates through 2007. It makes no sense, does it, that we would be cutting payments to our Nation's doctors at the same time their costs are rising. That is why the bipartisan Medicare conference agreement contains provisions that will ensure that physicians see their reimbursements under Medicare increased by 1.5 percent in fiscal years 2004 and 2005. Rather than the 4.5 percent cut, we are talking about a 1.5 percent increase, a 5.9 percent swing. This will provide Congress with the time that it needs to make long- term reforms to the Medicare physician payment update formula so that physicians can count on predictable, rational payments from Medicare; and it will also avoid a major physician access problem for Medicare beneficiaries. I would note that a number of organizations representing America's health care providers, including the American Medical Association, the American Osteopathic Organization, the American Hospital Association, and the Federation of American Hospitals, all strongly support the bipartisan Medicare conference agreement. Mr. Speaker, over the past few months, I have had to listen to an awful lot of rhetoric about how Congress was privatizing Medicare or implementing a voucher system or handing Medicare over to the HMOs. That was not true then, and it certainly is not true now. What the bipartisan Medicare conference agreement does do is improve the Medicare+Choice program and set up a new system that will encourage regional plans to offer seniors another choice besides traditional Medicare. It is a voluntary thing. Seniors can choose to retain traditional Medicare, something that they are accustomed to, something I would recommend to my parents if they were still alive, retain it and then go ahead and purchase a private drug prescription plan to add to it. It is my hope that this will extend new choices to folks in rural areas who have not had a choice in Medicare before. The bipartisan Medicare conference agreement also includes a limited pilot project that will test a new system that could help put Medicare on sound financial footing for future generations. It is a pilot program. I think conferees came to a solid compromise. It is bipartisan, and it will help us fulfill our promise to America's seniors, and that is why I am so pleased that AARP strongly endorsed this agreement. I can attest to the gentleman that a bipartisan group of conferees worked around the clock to reach this compromise. Soon Congress, I suppose tomorrow, will vote on a conference report that will add a new prescription drug benefit that will be available to all Medicare beneficiaries and that will provide seniors with new choices under Medicare and will reimburse our health care providers, including physicians, fairly so that beneficiaries will continue to have access to high-quality care; and I would also throw in at this point that under this bipartisan Medicare conference agreement, as under the original House-passed bill, seniors retain complete freedom to choose a private plan or to remain, as I have already said, in the traditional fee-for-service program. Medicare will continue to offer every beneficiary access to Medicare's defined benefit. I hope Members will join me in supporting the conference report tomorrow and rejecting this motion to instruct which is meaningless because the conference agreement has already taken place. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield?

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, every House Democratic Member who showed an interest in having a piece of legislation rather than an issue in November was invited into this coalition. It was bipartisan because there were two Democratic Senators who did have enough dedication who wanted to have a bill who were invited to participate, and I am here to tell Members that their comments and their recommendations probably took up 50 percent of the time over a period of months.