Michael Bilirakis

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Madam Speaker, I have sat here and listened to all of this and I have no problem with giving these gentlemen their time to speak on this particular subject, but I would like to get this bill out of here so that we can go on to our business, and if they want to talk in some way, they can go ahead and do so. But it is a point of order. This harangue that we have had from the other side is certainly not germane to what we are talking about here, and I think it violates the rules of the House.

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from Nevada [Mrs. Vucanovich] to get back to the point here, and that is to the legislation to repeal the unnecessary regulatory burden of the cardiac pacemaker registry imposed by the Social Security Act.

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. (Mr. BILIRAKIS asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Very clearly, Mr. Chairman, we would expect the States to take such steps to ensure that such people receive expedited determinations of eligibility, and would be very disappointed if they did not take these steps.

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

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Chairman, we all want America to remain the strongest country in the world. We want our children to grow up healthy, well-educated, drug free, and prosperous. And we want to reduce the burgeoning Federal deficit. However, we on this side of the aisle recognize that we cannot achieve our first two goals without first addressing the deficit. We simply must get control of escalating Federal spending. Former Senator Paul Tsongas made this clear when, appearing before my Health and Environment Subcommittee earlier this year, he testified: The bipartisan commission on entitlement and tax reform shocked even cynical inside-the-beltway types by pointing out that, on the current path, entitlement programs plus interest will exceed all Federal revenues by the year 2012. Mr. Chairman, that is just 17 years away. We do not like having to say, over and over, that Federal Government spending must be contained, that waste must be eliminated, that the bloated bureaucracy must be deflated and that all programs must be examined with an eye toward cutting. We do not like to argue, over and over again, that we need a balanced budget amendment and a line-item veto. It would be much easier to just keep piling money on every program year after year. But it would not be responsible. Unwarranted scare tactics and false information to score cheap political points do not help. Mr. Chairman, we must pass this landmark budget reconciliation bill to balance our Federal budget and begin to honestly address our Nation's problems. Support this bill.

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, October 28, 1995, marks the 55th anniversary of a very historic day in Greek history, and for that matter world history. On October 28, 1940, the Italian Minister in Athens presented an ultimatum to the Prime Minister of Greece, demanding the unconditional surrender of Greece. His answer: ``Oxi,'' which means ``no'' in Greek. Military success for the Italians would have sealed off the Balkans from the south and helped Hitler's plan to invade Russia. Indeed, with an army that was fully equipped, well supplied, and backed by superior air and naval power, the Italians were expected to overrun Greece within a short time. However, despite their lack of equipment, the Greek Army proved to be well trained and resourceful. Within a week after the Italians first attacked, it was clear that their forces had suffered a serious setback in spite of having control of the air and fielding armored vehicles. On November 14th, the Greek Army launched a counteroffensive and quickly drove Italian forces back well into Albania. On December 6th, the Greeks captured Porto Edda and continued their advance along the seacoast toward Valona. By February 1, 1941, the Italians had launched strong counterattacks, however the determination of the Greek Army coupled with the severity of the winter weather, nullified the Italians' efforts. The Italians, in an effort to bring the war to a close before they would need the help of German intervention, launched another offensive on March 12, 1941. However, after 6 days of fighting, the Italians made only insignificant gains and it became clear that German intervention was necessary. On March 26th, Hitler shouted ``I will make a clean sweep of the Balkans.'' It took him 5 weeks, until the end of April, to subdue Greece. It turned out to be an important 5 weeks for the world. As a result of this campaign, Hitler's plan to invade Russia had to be delayed. Instead of launching the Russia invasion on May 15, 1941, as planned, Hitler had to set a new date of June 22, 1941. This delay proved catastrophic for the Germans and contributed to the failure of their Russian campaign. The victory of the Greek Army against the Italians and the repudiation of Mussolini astonished the world. Greece was attacked after the [[Page H 10695]] fall of France and at a time when the Axis powers were seemingly unbeatable. The heroic stance by the Greeks against insurmountable odds, was the first glimmer of hope for the Allies, and today we can take great pride in those who risked their lives to defend their country. They sought to defend their own land, but they helped to save Europe.

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Chairman, I will use the word ``shame.'' Shame on those politicians who over the years, not just now, use scare tactics and misinformation to frighten our senior citizens all in the interests of getting votes through fear. These actions are unconscionable. Only the most affluent retirees are having their part B premiums raised substantially. We are not raising Medicare copayments or deductibles. We will not be reducing services or benefits--our legislation ensures that the core services in the current Medicare Program will be retained and must be offered to all beneficiaries. I also want to make it clear that no one will be forced into HMO's. If Medicare beneficiaries wish to keep the current fee-for-service benefit where they have complete choice of their doctor, they will be permitted to do so. If beneficiaries want to enroll in an HMO which might include additional health benefits, or some other Medicare-plus plan, they can do so. It will be their choice. Under our proposal, coverage will be assured to all senior citizens, regardless of prior health history or age. From the beginning of this effort, I have insisted that protecting beneficiaries was an essential part of any Medicare report effort. I represent a congressional district that has one of the highest percentages of senior citizens in the country. I also worked for years as an attorney and a community volunteer with many retirees. Recently, I myself, reached Medicare age. This bill is the product of listening and learning. It is a product of many discussions with people who had real life, day to day experiences with the Medicare Program. It protects our current beneficiaries while ensuring that Medicare will exist for future beneficiaries. In a recent Washington Post article, Robert Samuelson said it well when he stated that ``Republicans occupy the high moral ground and the low political ground. They have raised critical questions at the risk of political suicide.'' And, knowing that, Republicans still believe it is our responsibility to show pure guts and courage to save Medicare for our seniors, their children, and grandchildren. We have taken on the task of protecting and preserving Medicare because it is our moral responsibility, not because of political necessity. We have taken the higher ground and this is ground that I am proud to stand on.

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Ohio [Mr. Gillmor].

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and congratulate J.P. Griffin, Inc. and Griffin Service Corp. on the occasion of their 50th anniversary in business. Their story is a vivid illustration of the promise of opportunity which is inherent to freedom. It began with a handshake. That's when Lester Olson became a one-third partner in J.P. Griffin, Inc., an appliance repair company he had joined a year earlier when the firm was launched. Leaving a secure position with a shipyard where he made $840 per month, he began his new job making the grand sum of $30 per week. But Lester and his wife Yetive knew how to combine opportunity with hard work and sacrifice. As the company took on more and more jobs involving the installation of commercial refrigerated display cases and walk-in coolers, it became a natural transition to move into work with refrigerated shipping vessels, and finally, air conditioning. By the early 1950's, Floridians were turning off their fans, closing their windows, and installing central air conditioning in their homes and businesses. J.P. Griffin, Inc. was one of the leaders during this breakthrough period. In the early 1960's, the service department was separated from the construction department, and Griffin Service Corp. was set up under the management of Ted Wade. Today, Bryan Lingerfelt manages Griffin, Inc., just as his father did for over 20 years. No history of the development of modern Tampa would be complete without mentioning the impact of companies like J.P. Griffin, Inc and the Griffin Service Corp. Equally as important, their community contributions have been significant throughout the years. For these reasons, Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to congratulate Griffin Inc. and Griffin Service for 50 years of excellence.

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Chairman, as a long-time supporter of programs designed to assist displaced homemakers, I rise today to urge my colleagues to vote in favor of the Mink amendment. I also want to commend my colleague from Hawaii for offering this important provision. The Mink amendment will require States to include in their workforce development and literacy plan a description of how the State will maintain job training and education programs for displaced homemakers. It will not require States to earmark funds for these programs, nor will it add any cost to the underlying bill. Mr. Chairman, displaced homemakers are primarily women who have been full-time homemakers for a number of years, but who have lost their source of economic support due to divorce, separation, abandonment, or the death or disability of a spouse. Many displaced homemakers are living at or near the poverty level, are younger than 35 and have children. One out of every six American women is a displaced homemaker. In 1990, there were 17.8 million displaced homemakers in the United States. In my own State of Florida, there were over 1.1 million displaced homemakers in 1990--a 55 percent increase since 1980. For many years, I have sponsored legislation to assist displaced homemakers by providing a tax credit to employers who hire and train them. In the present Congress, I have reintroduced this legislation as H.R. 110. Specifically, my bill would allow employers a tax credit for hiring displaced homemakers by establishing them as a targeted group under the Targeted Jobs Tax Credit [TJTC] program. The TJTC program, which expired at the end of 1994, is intended to combat and lessen the problem of structural unemployment among certain hard-to-employ individuals. My bill would reauthorize the TJTC program and extend it solely to displaced homemakers. Under the proposal, employers could apply for a tax credit if they hire and train these individuals who are having difficulty reentering the job market. I see this approach as cost-effective. By providing prospective employers with the incentive to hire and train displaced homemakers, we avoid the much more costly alternative of publicly supporting these homemakers and their families. Mr. Chairman, these are persons who are in financial need and want to work. The Mink amendment is designed to help them stand on their own and reduce dependency on public assistance. I hope my colleagues will join me in supporting this important provision. Amendment offered by Mr. GOODLING to the Amendment Offered by Mrs. MINK of Hawaii

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1872, as amended, exemplifies a true bipartisan effort which included Chairman Tom Bliley, Ranking Minority Member John Dingell, Subcommittee Ranking Minority Member Henry Waxman, and myself. The bill before us represents the bill as reported out of the Commerce Committee with technical and clarifying changes and an amendment negotiated by Congressmen Coburn and Waxman regarding HIV testing of newborns. The Ryan White Care Act was first enacted into law in 1990 to provide emergency relief to areas hardest hit by the AIDS epidemic and to provide essential health services to individuals afflicted by HIV and AIDS. This reauthorization has provided the first opportunity to evaluate how the program is working. Generally, I believe the program is working as intended. The bill before us makes modifications and clarifications to respond to the changes in the AIDS epidemic over the last 5 years. Some of the key provisions of H.R. 1872 include: Modifications to both the title I and title II formulas; conflict of interest provisions for title I planning councils; priority for supplemental grants to areas with greater prevalence of specified comorbidity factors; and limits on administrative costs. In addition, the bill includes a requirement that all four titles contribute 3 percent to the Projects of National Significance; clarification that the intent of title IV is to increase the number of women and children in clinical research projects; transfer of the dental reimbursement program from title 7 of the Public Health Service Act; and reauthorization of all programs at such sums through fiscal year 2000. Clearly, one of the most difficult issues we faced was the funding formulas for title I and II. Because of the spread of HIV across the country, some States were seeing significant increases in their number of HIV-AIDS cases but did not have any one area with enough cases to qualify as an eligible metropolitan area. Our goal was to provide these States with very needed additional funds without shifting large amounts of money from other States with a high percentage of AIDS cases. We tried to balance the need for additional money with our concern that services currently being provided to people with AIDS not be disrupted. The bill ensures that all States will receive at least the current dollar amount appropriated to them. And many States will receive increases over what they are currently receiving--no State will lose money. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 1872, but, before I reserve the balance of my time, at this point I would like to express my appreciation to the staffs, the staff of the majority of the subcommittee, Melody Harned, and also to the staff of the gentleman from California [Mr. Waxman] and other people who helped us to craft this very, very needed bill and to handle the controversy, if I can call it that, that involved the testing of newborns. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. (Mr. BILIRAKIS asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

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

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Florida [Mr. Foley].

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to take from the Speaker's table the Senate bill (S. 641) to reauthorize the Ryan White CARE Act of 1990, and for other purposes, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members [[Page H 9062]] may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on H.R. 1872, as amended.

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Wisconsin [Mr. Gunderson]. (Mr. GUNDERSON asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the distinguished gentleman from North Carolina [Mr. Burr].

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1872) to amend the Public Health Service Act to revise and extend programs established pursuant to the Ryan White Comprehensive AIDS Resources Emergency Act of 1990, as amended.

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. I would like to commend my colleagues--Mr. Engel of New York, the sponsor of House Concurrent Resolution 42, and Mr. Gilman, chairman of the International Relations Committee--for bringing this bill to the floor today. I rise in strong support of this important resolution, which calls for the demilitarization of Cyprus and insists that all parties [[Page H 9045]] to the dispute agree to seek a solution based upon relevant U.N. resolutions, including provisions of Security Council Resolution 939. Resolution 939 reaffirms that a solution of the Cyprus problem should be based upon a state of Cyprus with a single sovereignty, citizenship, and international personality. Demilitarization is crucial to a satisfactory resolution of the division of this island nation. In fact, this couldn't have been made more clear than in a recent report submitted to the U.N. Security Council regarding its resolution renewing the U.N. peacekeeping force in Cyprus. In that report, U.N. Secretary General Boutros Boutros-Ghali referred to occupied Cyprus as ``one of the most highly militarized areas in the world.'' Demilitarization would alleviate the security concerns of all parties and substantially enhance the prospects for a peaceful resolution of the problem. It is evident, Mr. Speaker, that a solution to the 21-year-old problem on Cyprus will not be found until tensions are lessened on the island and the Turkish side agrees to come to the table and negotiate. I am satisfied that the Government of Cyprus remains committed to seeking a peaceful, just, and viable solution. The acceptance by the Turkish side of U.N. Resolution 939 and of Cyprus President Glafcos Clerides' demilitarization proposal would substantially enhance the prospects of a negotiated settlement. Recently, in my home in Florida, a gentleman said to me that in all the history of the country of Turkey, voluntary negotiations and agreements based on those negotiations are absent. He said, ``They don't negotiate.'' Turkey has many internal problems. American taxpayer dollars are intended to help them with those problems, not to help them to wage invasions against their neighbors and to illegally occupy other lands. Common sense, a true caring for their own people, their domestic needs and world opinion all would seem to dictate that Turkey would want to work out a solution to a problem that they just do not need. I feel that we in the Congress have a responsibility to use our influence to see that Cyprus is made whole again, to rescue the thousands of Greek-Cypriots who have become refugees in the land of their birth. Like those faithful Cypriots in my district and elsewhere, we must do out utmost in this cause. Again, Mr. Speaker I commend the sponsor of this legislation and his colleagues on the International Relations Committee, and I strongly urge passage of the bill.

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, on September 4, 1995, in gatherings throughout our Nation, Americans paused to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the end of World War II. Sadly, September 4, 1995, also marked the passing of a veteran of that war--an American patriot who loved his family, his country, and his community. It is that man, a good friend, Donald Cressman, for whom I rise today to pay tribute. Last year I had the privilege of honoring Don for 50 years of membership in the American Legion--he had joined in 1944. Don's story, like that of so many of our fellow veterans, is the story of America's greatness. One of nine children, Don was raised by his grandfather on a farm at the foot of the Pennsylvania Poconos. From his grandfather he learned lessons of discipline and perseverance that would help him overcome great hardships [[Page E 1733]] throughout his life. Most important, he learned to walk despite having contracted polio at 5 years of age. In fact, he walked well enough to pass his entrance physical into the U.S. Army and into combat duty. Following the war, he had to learn how to walk again because of a war injury which had put him in a body cast. Don also learned to work hard, whether it was as a member of the Civilian Conservation Corps, which he joined at 17, or working on the hot beds of Bethlehem Steel, or going to night school on the GI bill following his tour of duty, or working as a realtor throughout his retirement years. He had also learned to give. Each thinking person comes to a point in life when they realize they owe a debt of gratitude to a nation that's provided them with the freedom and opportunity to succeed. But, since those freedoms were secured by our veterans, haven't they already done more than their share? So often, however, it is our veterans who continue to give generously of their lives to build and strengthen their community. Don was such a man. He was a founding member of the Dunedin American Legion in 1958 and served many years as a service officer. He was also an active member of the Dunedin VFW and the DAV. He was a charter member of the Dunedin Elks; served as the first president of the Knights of Columbus; was a past president of the Dunedin Board of Realtors and of the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce. Even in his church, Don was a pioneer and active member. So, today we salute a man who spent his lifetime overcoming the odds; of working hard and contributing to the betterment of his fellow man. To Betty, his beloved wife of over 49 years, and to his son, John, of whom he was immensely proud, Don leaves a rich legacy and a name associated with honor. We will miss you, Don.

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. I rise in strong support of the landmark legislation which we are considering today, and I want to commend my colleagues on the committees of jurisdiction for their hard work on this bill. H.R. 1555 is the culmination of years of work to overhaul Federal telecommunications policy and position America as a world leader in the dawning information age. While this bill contains many important provisions, I want to address one area in particular--the issue of telemedicine. As Chairman of the Commerce Health Subcommittee, I have a special interest in this subject. Although it is subject to different interpretations, the term ``telemedicine'' generally refers to live, interactive audiovisual communication between physician and patient or between two physicians. Telemedicine can facilitate consultation between physicians and serve as a method of health care delivery in which physicians examine patients through the use of advanced telecommunications technology. One of the most important uses of telemedicine is to allow rural communities and other medically under-served areas to obtain access to highly trained medical specialists. It also provides a access to medical care in circumstances when possibilities for travel are limited or unavailable. Despite widespread support for telemedicine in concept, many critical policy questions remain unresolved. At the same time, the Federal Government is currently spending millions of dollars on telemedicine demonstration projects with little or no congressional oversight. In particular, the Departments of Commerce and Health and Human Services have provided sizable grants for projects in a number of States. Therefore, I drafted a provision which is included in the manager's amendment to require the Department of Commerce, in consultation with other appropriate agencies, to report annually to congress on the findings of any studies and Demonstrations on telemedicine which are funded by the Federal Government. My amendment is designed to provide greater information for federal policymakers in the areas of patient safety, quality of services, and other legal, medical and economic issues related to telemedicine. Through adoption of this provision, I am hopeful that we can shed light on the potential benefits of telemedicine, as well as existing roadblocks to its use.

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, war in Korea lasted 3 years. Yet, for most Americans, the Korean war remains a hazy event at best, lost between the magnitude of World War II and the upheaval of Vietnam. For many Americans, the conflict is best known because of the popular movie and television series ``M*A*S*H.'' The Korean war erupted on June 25, 1950, when 135,000 North Korea troops, spearheaded by 200 Russian-built tanks and planes, poured across the 38th parallel, crushing South Korean defenses. Three days later, President Truman ordered United States forces to defend South Korea. Prompted by the action of the United States, the United Nations condemned the act of aggression. For the first time in its history, the United Nations created a United Nations Command, with the United States as its acting executive agent, to repel the attack of communist North Korea. In addition to the United States and South Korea, 20 other nations provided military contingents which served under the United Nations banner. The fighting raged on for more than 3 years. Yet, the war received little attention back home. Active hostilities ended with an armistice on July 27, 1953. During the war, 54,000 Americans died, including more than 34,000 on the battlefield. In addition, more than 103,000 Americans were wounded and some 8,000 are still missing or unaccounted for. Despite their courage and sacrifice, the soldiers returning from Korea were not met with a hero's welcome. Instead, Korean veterans just blended back into the mainstream of American society. Their entitlement to national recognition is as valid today as ever. The time has come for the soldiers who stopped communist aggression in Northeast Asia to receive their proper place in history. More than 5.7 million American servicemen and women were involved-- directly or indirectly--in the Korean war. As a Korean era veteran, I am pleased that the Korean War Memorial is being dedicated on Thursday, July 27, 1995--the 42d anniversary of the armistice ending the war. I believe it is fitting that we pay special tribute to the men and women who served during the Korean war. When the time came for courage and sacrifice, their generation stepped forward to serve their country. They left a peaceful civilian life for an uncertain future in uniform; they gave up the comforts of home for the horrors of the battlefield. Regrettably, the 54,000 Americans who died in the cold of Korea fighting communism didn't live to see the fruits of their sacrifice, not only for Americans, but for hundreds of millions in Poland, Czechoslovakia, Hungary--even in the Republics of the former Soviet Union. If only these heroes could be with us today to see the changes that have swept the globe because of what they did. The Berlin all has been reduced to a chunk of concrete on display at the Ronald Reagan Library in California and Leningrad once again is St. Petersburg. Incredibly, if they could travel to Moscow, they would be amazed to see more people standing in line to get a hamburger at McDonald's than used to visit Lenin's tomb. Throughout history, America's veterans have served and served well. They saw democracy challenged and they defended it. They say civilization threatened and they rescued it. They say our rights endangered and they sought to restore them. America can never fully repay these veterans, and we will never be able to express our feelings to our fallen soldiers. But we must never forget how blessed we are in the modern world to live in a free society, nor forget the sacrifices of our friends, relatives, neighbors and countrymen who served us all when duty called.