Kit Bond

Mr. BOND

Mr. BOND. Mr. President, I wish to announce that the Committee on Small Business will hold a markup on the HUBZone Act of 1997 and the Small Business Reauthorization Act of 1997. The markup will be held on June 26, 1997, beginning at 9:30 a.m. in room 428A of the Russell Senate Office Building. For further information, please contact Paul Cooksey at 224-5175.

Mr. BOND

Mr. BOND. Mr. President, I wish to announce that the Committee on Small Business has cancelled the June 24, 1997, hearing entitled ``Small Business Reauthorization Act of 1997.'' For further information, please contact Paul Cooksey at 224-5175. committee on rules and administration

Mr. BOND

Mr. BOND. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce the Mothers and Infants Health Protection Act on behalf of myself and Senator Bumpers. First, I express my sincere thanks to my colleagues in the Senate last week for having passed the Birth Defects Prevention Act. That act was a tremendous step forward in protecting the health of our Nation's most vulnerable population and in saving families from the economic and emotional hardships associated with birth defects. However, we must keep moving forward. After having had numerous discussions with the Centers for Disease Control and child advocacy organizations about the adverse birth outcomes and infant health problems connected with smoking during and after pregnancy, I decided we would introduce this legislation here today to carry the next step in our battle against birth defects. The main purpose of the measure introduced today is to provide surveillance, research, and services aimed at the prevention and cessation of smoking, both during and after pregnancy. The CDC, along with the Association of Maternal and Child Health Programs, is meeting today here in Washington to highlight that although the overall smoking rate for pregnant women is slowly declining, the smoking rate for pregnant teens is increasing. That is bad news. For black teenagers specifically, the rate rose 6 percent, the first increase since this information first became available in 1989. And even with this increase, smoking rates for white teenagers are still four to five times the rate for black teenagers. Furthermore, the smoking rate for those between the ages of 15 and 24 is 23 percent higher than the smoking rate among all pregnant women. In my home State of Missouri, this public health program is even more dramatic: 20 percent of all pregnant women in Missouri admit to smoking. This is 44 percent higher than the national average. This, unfortunately, may be connected to the fact that our incidence of birth defects and infant mortality is 50 percent higher than the national average. The consequences of smoking during and after pregnancy are downright horrifying. Recent studies show that this activity is a problem. Increases in maternal and fetal risk causes 20 to 30 percent of low birth rates and 10 percent of fetal and infant deaths in the United States. Smoking triples the risk of sudden infant death syndrome. Smoking elevates the risk of a child being born with a birth defect. Smoking increases the risk of spontaneous abortion, premature rupture of membranes, and the delivery of a stillborn infant. Smoking may impede the growth of a fetus and increase the likelihood of mental retardation by 50 percent, and smoking increases the risk of respiratory illness in infants and children. Adding to this devastating problem, the proportion of women who quit smoking during pregnancy but then relapse at 6 months postpartum is nearly 63 percent, thereby exposing their infants to passive smoke and increasing their risk for SIDS and other health-related problems. These are just a few of the problems related to smoking during and after pregnancy. But in addition to the risks for the fetus and infant, smoking is associated with a wide variety of hazards for pregnant women, such as infertility and ectopic pregnancy. There is no question that smoking during and after pregnancy is a compelling public health problem. These facts clearly underscore the necessity for smoking prevention and cessation programs aimed specifically for pregnant women. This legislation aims to reverse these devastating outcomes on several fronts. First, the CDC is directed to foster coordination between all governmental levels, other public entities, and private voluntary organizations that conduct or support prenatal and postnatal smoking research, prevention, and surveillance. Second, the bill provides grants to state and local health departments, community health centers, other public entities, and non- profit organizations for the development of community-based public awareness campaigns aimed at the prevention and cessation of smoking during and after pregnancy. Third, monies would be made available to the groups just mentioned for the purpose of coordinating and conducting basic and applied research concerning prenatal and postnatal smoking and its effects on fetuses and newborns. Fourth, the bill calls for a procedure for the dissemination of effective prevention and cessation strategies and the diagnostic criteria for infants suffering the effects of exposure to intrauterine and passive tobacco smoke to health care professionals. Finally, this measure authorizes a modest appropriation of $10 million to achieve these goals. Similar to the Birth Defects Prevention Act, this is another stride in improving the health of our children and in reducing infant mortality and morbidity. Fetuses, newborns, and children are too vulnerable and cannot protect themselves. We must therefore have a coordinated effort among government, nonprofit groups and local communities to get the message out on the devastating outcomes associated with pre and post natal smoking as well as information on effective prevention and cessation opportunities. Again, it is important to note that overall, fewer pregnant women are smoking now that they know the health risks for themselves and for their babies. The bad news is that not everyone has gotten the message--in particular those between the ages of 15 and 24. They are moving directly against the trend. This is the generation coming up; and these women are likely to go on having more children. If they are smoking more, that does not bode well for their future health, or for that of their children. Many people still do not understand that there is a link between adverse birth outcomes and prenatal and postnatal smoking. Part of the reason is that not all women have adequate access to prenatal care. Thus, it is my firm belief that this legislation will ensure that all mothers will receive information on the potential tragedies of smoking during and after pregnancy and the much needed assistance in quitting their habit.

Mr. BOND

Mr. BOND. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. BOND. Mr. President, I thank the Chair. (The remarks of Mr. Bond pertaining to the introduction of S. 938 are located in today's Record under ``Statements on Introduced Bills and Joint Resolutions.'')

Mr. BOND

Mr. BOND. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce the Mothers and Infants Health Protection Act on behalf of myself and Senator Bumpers. First, I express my sincere thanks to my colleagues in the Senate last week for having passed the Birth Defects Prevention Act. That act was a tremendous step forward in protecting the health of our Nation's most vulnerable population and in saving families from the economic and emotional hardships associated with birth defects. However, we must keep moving forward. After having had numerous discussions with the Centers for Disease Control and child advocacy organizations about the adverse birth outcomes and infant health problems connected with smoking during and after pregnancy, I decided we would introduce this legislation here today to carry the next step in our battle against birth defects. The main purpose of the measure introduced today is to provide surveillance, research, and services aimed at the prevention and cessation of smoking, both during and after pregnancy. The CDC, along with the Association of Maternal and Child Health Programs, is meeting today here in Washington to highlight that although the overall smoking rate for pregnant women is slowly declining, the smoking rate for pregnant teens is increasing. That is bad news. For black teenagers specifically, the rate rose 6 percent, the first increase since this information first became available in 1989. And even with this increase, smoking rates for white teenagers are still four to five times the rate for black teenagers. Furthermore, the smoking rate for those between the ages of 15 and 24 is 23 percent higher than the smoking rate among all pregnant women. In my home State of Missouri, this public health program is even more dramatic: 20 percent of all pregnant women in Missouri admit to smoking. This is 44 percent higher than the national average. This, unfortunately, may be connected to the fact that our incidence of birth defects and infant mortality is 50 percent higher than the national average. The consequences of smoking during and after pregnancy are downright horrifying. Recent studies show that this activity is a problem. Increases in maternal and fetal risk causes 20 to 30 percent of low birth rates and 10 percent of fetal and infant deaths in the United States. Smoking triples the risk of sudden infant death syndrome. Smoking elevates the risk of a child being born with a birth defect. Smoking increases the risk of spontaneous abortion, premature rupture of membranes, and the delivery of a stillborn infant. Smoking may impede the growth of a fetus and increase the likelihood of mental retardation by 50 percent, and smoking increases the risk of respiratory illness in infants and children. Adding to this devastating problem, the proportion of women who quit smoking during pregnancy but then relapse at 6 months postpartum is nearly 63 percent, thereby exposing their infants to passive smoke and increasing their risk for SIDS and other health-related problems. These are just a few of the problems related to smoking during and after pregnancy. But in addition to the risks for the fetus and infant, smoking is associated with a wide variety of hazards for pregnant women, such as infertility and ectopic pregnancy. There is no question that smoking during and after pregnancy is a compelling public health problem. These facts clearly underscore the necessity for smoking prevention and cessation programs aimed specifically for pregnant women. This legislation aims to reverse these devastating outcomes on several fronts. First, the CDC is directed to foster coordination between all governmental levels, other public entities, and private voluntary organizations that conduct or support prenatal and postnatal smoking research, prevention, and surveillance. Second, the bill provides grants to state and local health departments, community health centers, other public entities, and non- profit organizations for the development of community-based public awareness campaigns aimed at the prevention and cessation of smoking during and after pregnancy. Third, monies would be made available to the groups just mentioned for the purpose of coordinating and conducting basic and applied research concerning prenatal and postnatal smoking and its effects on fetuses and newborns. Fourth, the bill calls for a procedure for the dissemination of effective prevention and cessation strategies and the diagnostic criteria for infants suffering the effects of exposure to intrauterine and passive tobacco smoke to health care professionals. Finally, this measure authorizes a modest appropriation of $10 million to achieve these goals. Similar to the Birth Defects Prevention Act, this is another stride in improving the health of our children and in reducing infant mortality and morbidity. Fetuses, newborns, and children are too vulnerable and cannot protect themselves. We must therefore have a coordinated effort among government, nonprofit groups and local communities to get the message out on the devastating outcomes associated with pre and post natal smoking as well as information on effective prevention and cessation opportunities. Again, it is important to note that overall, fewer pregnant women are smoking now that they know the health risks for themselves and for their babies. The bad news is that not everyone has gotten the message--in particular those between the ages of 15 and 24. They are moving directly against the trend. This is the generation coming up; and these women are likely to go on having more children. If they are smoking more, that does not bode well for their future health, or for that of their children. Many people still do not understand that there is a link between adverse birth outcomes and prenatal and postnatal smoking. Part of the reason is that not all women have adequate access to prenatal care. Thus, it is my firm belief that this legislation will ensure that all mothers will receive information on the potential tragedies of smoking during and after pregnancy and the much needed assistance in quitting their habit.

Mr. BOND

Mr. BOND. Mr. President, I wish to announce that the Committee on Small Business will hold a hearing entitled ``Small Business Reauthorization Act of 1997.'' The hearing will be held on June 24, 1997, beginning at 9:30 a.m. in room 428A of the Russell Senate Office Building. For further information, please contact Paul Cooksey at 224-5175.

Mr. BOND

Mr. BOND. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce a measure that would provide for certain military retirees a special Medicare part B enrollment period during which the late enrollment penalty is waived. Major changes in the Department of Defense's [DOD] health care delivery system, including the introduction of a managed care program called TRICARE and the closing or downsizing of many military medical facilities, have hindered access to health care services for older military retirees, or those aged 65 and over. It is important to note that the TRICARE Program was designed for active duty and CHAMPUS eligible beneficiaries and the overall intent is for those aged 65 and older to receive their health care through the Medicare Program. Many of our country's military retirees moved close to bases in order to receive care from these facilities. Due to the fact that they had medical services available on base, before the implementation of TRICARE and base closures, many of these retirees did not sign up for medicare part B. Once their access was restricted, many elected to choose part B after the enrollment period expired and were therefore slapped with a penalty for signing up late. Others chose not to sign up at all because they were unable to afford the late enrollment penalty. Thus, waiving the part B penalty for those retirees who dedicated their lives to serving our country is a matter of justice. There was no way that military retirees could have anticipated the changes that have occurred within the DOD's health care delivery system. Further, these changes were completely out of their control. Mr. President, the Senate must act now. This measure rectifies the unfairness inherent in the Medicare part B penalty on certain military retirees and honors our Nation's commitment to those individuals who selflessly served our country through many years of military service. I look forward to the Senate's consideration of this proposal.

Mr. BOND

Mr. BOND. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce a measure that would provide for certain military retirees a special Medicare part B enrollment period during which the late enrollment penalty is waived. Major changes in the Department of Defense's [DOD] health care delivery system, including the introduction of a managed care program called TRICARE and the closing or downsizing of many military medical facilities, have hindered access to health care services for older military retirees, or those aged 65 and over. It is important to note that the TRICARE Program was designed for active duty and CHAMPUS eligible beneficiaries and the overall intent is for those aged 65 and older to receive their health care through the Medicare Program. Many of our country's military retirees moved close to bases in order to receive care from these facilities. Due to the fact that they had medical services available on base, before the implementation of TRICARE and base closures, many of these retirees did not sign up for medicare part B. Once their access was restricted, many elected to choose part B after the enrollment period expired and were therefore slapped with a penalty for signing up late. Others chose not to sign up at all because they were unable to afford the late enrollment penalty. Thus, waiving the part B penalty for those retirees who dedicated their lives to serving our country is a matter of justice. There was no way that military retirees could have anticipated the changes that have occurred within the DOD's health care delivery system. Further, these changes were completely out of their control. Mr. President, the Senate must act now. This measure rectifies the unfairness inherent in the Medicare part B penalty on certain military retirees and honors our Nation's commitment to those individuals who selflessly served our country through many years of military service. I look forward to the Senate's consideration of this proposal.

Mr. BOND

Mr. BOND. Mr. President, today I pay tribute to an extremely important and successful medical facility, Truman Medical Center East-- Truman East--Kansas City, MO. On Friday, June 20, 1997, a special dedication will be held in honor of the new Truman East Care Center and ambulatory/emergency services renovation/expansion project. Truman East has been serving residents of eastern Jackson County since the mid-1800's and continues to meet the challenges of this growing area. Truman East is primarily a teaching institution for the University of Missouri--Kansas City School of Health Sciences. It contains the department of family and community medicine along with the large family practice residency program which provides primary care. In addition, Truman East manages the Jackson County Health Department in Independence, MO. It has an extensive gerontology fellowship which provides excellent opportunities for the elderly to enhance the quality of daily life. One of the biggest improvements to the facility is the replacement of a 212-room long term care residency with a state-of-the-art facility. The older buildings, from 1908 and 1930, have been converted into offices in order to keep the renovations cost effective. Students and health care professionals alike will benefit from these expansions and improvements of the Truman East facility. It is a great privilege to honor this high caliber medical facility. I know that Truman East will continue to improve and grow for years to come. The State of Missouri is lucky to have such a facility and I want to express my sincere appreciation to everyone who makes Truman East excel.

Mr. BOND

Mr. BOND. Mr. President, I move to reconsider the vote.

Mr. BOND. That brings it to 34. I hope that will make the point that we are serious about it. That this is the fifth year, Mr. President, this has got to be passed is an outrage; this is a bill that nobody objects to. I think anybody would think it is common sense. But it just gets crowded off the agenda. I do not intend to let it get crowded off. I thank the Senator from Massachusetts, the distinguished chairman of the committee, the Senator from Vermont, and their staffs. We included as a substitute the measure as originally passed last year, and I know that we can count on the committee to insist upon it. I cannot believe we will fail this year once again to pass a measure which can do so much to reduce hardship and suffering and needless heartbreak throughout America. Mr. President, I am prepared to yield back my time. Is there anyone else seeking time? Mr. President, I yield back my remaining time and would not ask for the yeas and nays per the previous agreement. I ask it be adopted by voice vote.

Mr. BOND. Mr. President, unless someone else wishes to speak, I think the distinguished Senator from Massachusetts and I are prepared to yield back. I express my sincere thanks to Senator Kennedy, who has long been a champion in this area. His very excellent statement does indicate the tremendous and compelling nature of this problem. This is a problem, unfortunately, that affects 150,000 children a year, but it never seems to get up on the radar screen. Now, the fact that we are going to pass this on a voice vote--we had 33 sponsors. Actually, I ask unanimous consent that Senator Hutchison be added as a cosponsor.

Mr. BOND. Mr. President, I reserve the remainder of my time. Mr. KENNEDY addressed the Chair.

Mr. BOND. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that reading of the amendment be dispensed with.

Mr. BOND. Mr. President, I send to the desk an amendment providing a complete substitute for S. 419.

Mr. BOND. Mr. President, I thank the majority leader. Amendment No. 371 (Purpose: To provide a complete substitute)

Mr. BOND. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that Senator Craig be added as a cosponsor to S. 419.

Mr. BOND. Mr. President, I am very pleased that the Senate has chosen finally to address this often overlooked but very compelling health care problem in the United States. We have been working with the March of Dimes and with colleagues on both sides of the aisle since 1992 to deal with one of the most serious and compelling health care problems in America today. Many people are not aware that birth defects affect over 3 percent of all births in America, and they are the leading cause of infant death. This year alone, approximately 150,000 babies will be born with a serious birth defect, resulting in 1 out of every 5 infant deaths. Among the babies who survive, birth defects are a leading cause of lifelong disability. Medical care, special education, and many other services are often required into adulthood, costing families thousands of dollars each year. Let me share with you an experience I had when I was Governor of Missouri. In the early 1970's, I appropriated dollars to fund the high- cost, but highly effective, neonatal care units at our hospitals. These remarkable institutions and the dedicated men and women who serve there do a tremendous job of saving low-birth-weight babies and babies with severe birth defects. But it is not enough. As I talked to the people and congratulated them on the great work they were doing, they said, ``Why don't we do something to reduce the incidence of birth defects and the problems that bring these tiniest of infants to these very high-tech specialized care units?'' And despite the large number of babies born with and dying from birth defects, we do not even know what causes most defects or where they are even occurring. An unfortunate situation in Texas a few years ago exemplifies how the lack of a birth defects prevention and surveillance strategy delayed the response to an outbreak of birth defects and may have needlessly cost innocent lives. At least 30 infants in south Texas were born without or with little brain tissue over a short period of time. Because Texas did not have a birth defects surveillance system, and because our country did not have a comprehensive birth defects prevention and surveillance strategy, the severity of the problem was not recognized until the incidence of birth defects was so high that it was difficult to miss. To avoid tragedies such as this from reoccurring, there is something that we can do here today. Passage of the Birth Defects Prevention Act will prioritize our efforts and make Congressional intent clear--more resources should be directed for the prevention of the leading killer of babies, birth defects. S. 419 is a two-pronged approach to tackling this devastating public health problem. First, the bill calls for a nationwide birth defects surveillance strategy. The legislation directs the Centers for Disease Control to serve as a national clearinghouse for the collection and storage of data on birth defects and to establish regional centers for the conduct of applied epidemiological research on such defects. The bill also provides funding to public entities such as State governments to start up or improve existing surveillance programs. Today only about half of the states have some kind of birth defects surveillance system. The second focus of the Birth Defects Prevention Act is to broaden public and professional awareness of birth defects and prevention opportunities. Grants will be available to public entities and nonprofit organizations to develop and implement birth defect prevention strategies, such as programs using folic acid vitamin supplements to prevent neural tube defects and alcohol avoidance strategies to prevent fetal alcohol syndrome [FAS]. It is important to note that many birth defects are indeed preventable. For instance, we now know that if women of childbearing age took a simple 400 microgram dose of the B vitamin folic acid each day, 50 to 70 percent of all cases of spina bifida and anencephaly could be prevented--saving about $245 million each year and more importantly, saving some families the heart ache that many of us have witnessed friends and families go through. It was a deficiency of folic acid that caused the tragedy in south Texas based on the diet, and it was only when we had enough instances were the researchers able to identify what might be the problem. A survey released by the March of Dimes just this week highlights the need for an aggressive public awareness program on this issue. The survey indicates that only 32 percent of women ages 18 to 45 take a daily multivitamin containing folic acid. Dr. Jennifer Howse, president of the March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation, also stated that ``seven out of 10 women begin taking folic acid too late to reduce their risk of having a baby with a neural tube defect such as spina bifida or anencephaly. In order to be effective in preventing these defects, folic acid must be consumed before pregnancy and during the early months of pregnancy.'' Fetal alcohol syndrome, which increases the risk that babies will suffer from mental retardation, learning disorders and other problems, is also preventable. Although preventable, an April 25 Associated Press article noted that the number of pregnant women who say they frequently drink alcohol has increased. The survey, conducted by the Centers for Disease Control, found that 3.5 percent of the respondents admitted they had seven or more drinks per week or binged on five or more drinks within the previous month. Clearly, we must convey these crucial messages regarding birth defect prevention opportunities to the American people. Passage of the Birth Defects Prevention Act is a first step in this process. The time has come for the U.S. Senate to join with groups such as the March of Dimes, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Easter Seals Society, the National Association of Children's Hospitals, and many other organizations, in advocating the need for a national strategy to prevent these devastating defects. The bill also has broad bipartisan support. As of today, the Birth Defects Prevention Act has 33 cosponsors. Let me conclude by recognizing the hard work and dedication of the March of Dimes and their volunteers throughout America; and specifically, I want to single out Dr. Jennifer Howse, Jo Merrill, and Marina Weiss, for their daily involvement in trying to prevent the No. 1 cause of infant deaths, birth defects. Our country is forever indebted to the March of Dimes and its 3 million dedicated volunteers for their efforts. Mr. President, I send to the desk three articles to which I made reference, and I ask that they be printed in the Record.

Mr. BOND. Mr. President, I thank the distinguished Senator from Massachusetts. It is always a pleasure to work with him in the many, many areas in which we agree. It is not all of them, but when we do agree it is a real pleasure to work with a champion of children's health and well-being. I thank the Chair.

Mr. BOND. Mr. President, I will take only 1 minute and say a sincere thanks to Joe Pierle of my staff, who has worked on this measure and has had great cooperation with the Labor Committee. I also would thank previous staffers, Mark Hayes and Leanne Jerome, who have worked on this for 5 years now. And we hope this is the last time we have to do it. Again, as I mentioned in my remarks, we very much appreciate and thank the leadership of the March of Dimes and the 3 million dedicated volunteers across this Nation. I thank the Chair. I yield the floor. Mr. KENNEDY addressed the Chair.

Mr. BOND

Mr. BOND. Mr. President, it is with great pleasure that I rise today to join my distinguished colleague, Senator Domenici, in introducing the Women's Business Centers Act of 1997. I appreciate the kind words, but Senator Domenici has long been the leading proponent of women-owned businesses. He has worked hard to secure the additional funding for the centers. I am delighted to work with him on the bill. Also I am very pleased that my ranking member on the Small Business Committee, Senator Kerry, and many of our colleagues are working together with Senator Domenici and us as original cosponsors of the bill. I think once again this is an opportunity for Congress to demonstrate its strong support for effective programs serving current and future women entrepreneurs. It was just 1 year ago that many of my colleagues will remember that the administration sought to zero out the budget for women's business demonstration sites, and Congress stepped in to ensure full funding. Now we are reaching for new heights--making the program an ongoing effort to fund women's business centers through 5-year grants. The Committee on Small Business began its work in this session of Congress with the cooperation of my ranking member at a hearing on women-owned and home-based businesses. I will talk more about that in just a few moments. But the hearing we held then and others has provided the committee with extensive testimony and letters of endorsement on the important economic contribution being made by women entrepreneurs and the role played by women business centers. With nearly 8 million firms owned by women--a third of all firms--and 18.5 million people are employed by women-owned firms, which is 1 of 4 working men and women in the U.S., the contribution of women-owned businesses to the economy, which includes nearly $2.3 trillion in sales, deserves recognition and encouragement. In my home State of Missouri, there are approximately 120,000 women- owned businesses. And, in 1997, the recipient of the Avon Women of Enterprise Award is Georgia Buchanan, president and CEO of All Pro Construction in Grandview, MO. In 1995, Georgia's company was also recognized by the SBA as the National Minority Construction Firm of the Year. Last year, Missouri's entrepreneurs were recognized as well when Phyllis Hannan, owner of Laser Mark It and Laser Light Technologies, was named SBA's National Small Businessperson of the Year. We have other women business leaders, including Carol Jones, of Springfield, who operates a large and well-respected realty company, in addition to her civic work and service on the Federal Home Loan Bank Board, and Stella Olson, who is serving as a member of the Small Business Fairness Board for SBA region 7 and is the owner of STAT Enterprises, Inc., a transcription company. These women are all local success stories taking an active role in expanding their own businesses with management financing and market training necessary for its success. The Women's Business Centers Act of 1997 recognizes the important contributions made by the 53 women's business centers located in 28 States. The bill increases the level of funding authorized for establishing additional women's business centers to $8 million per year for 3 years, double when compared to the current authorization of $4 million per year. The Clinton administration's budget request for fiscal year 1998 is $4 million. Significantly, the additional funding is intended to ensure that women's business centers exist in all 50 States. Other important provisions of this bill include allowing Centers receiving funds on the day prior to enactment to apply to extend their eligibility for funding for 2 additional years. Also, for all women's business centers receiving funds under this bill, the private sector match is structured to facilitate a smoother transition to self- sufficiency. The program is designed to provide seed money for women's business centers that can then flourish with the financial support of the local community. Training and services are to be tailored to the local community, and the grantees running the centers must have the requisite experience and commitment to deliver the services suited to women in the area. The introduction of this bill coincides with the work of the Committee on Small Business to reauthorize the programs of the Small Business Administration, the SBA. The committee has supported the creation and expansion of business development centers dedicated to the unique needs of women who are either current or potential business owners. The women's business centers created under this bill will provide the tried and true ongoing training and assistance, offered by the current demonstration sites, to ensure that their clients have the skills and know-how to build and maintain successful businesses. This is a win-win bill. It provides women owning businesses or those women preparing to start new small businesses with the tools necessary to support their transition and the challenges faced when trying to expand. I look forward to working with my colleagues to advance this bill as part of the Small Business Reauthorization Act of 1997. The concepts endorsed today will be incorporated with other reforms so that the services delivered by SBA and its numerous resource partners are beneficial to men and women alike. The committee has important work to do in this regard, and we appreciate Senator Domenici and Representative Johnson's efforts in this regard.

Mr. BOND

Mr. BOND. Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. BOND

Mr. BOND. Mr. President, it is with great pleasure that I rise today to join my distinguished colleague, Senator Domenici, in introducing the Women's Business Centers Act of 1997. I appreciate the kind words, but Senator Domenici has long been the leading proponent of women-owned businesses. He has worked hard to secure the additional funding for the centers. I am delighted to work with him on the bill. Also I am very pleased that my ranking member on the Small Business Committee, Senator Kerry, and many of our colleagues are working together with Senator Domenici and us as original cosponsors of the bill. I think once again this is an opportunity for Congress to demonstrate its strong support for effective programs serving current and future women entrepreneurs. It was just 1 year ago that many of my colleagues will remember that the administration sought to zero out the budget for women's business demonstration sites, and Congress stepped in to ensure full funding. Now we are reaching for new heights--making the program an ongoing effort to fund women's business centers through 5-year grants. The Committee on Small Business began its work in this session of Congress with the cooperation of my ranking member at a hearing on women-owned and home-based businesses. I will talk more about that in just a few moments. But the hearing we held then and others has provided the committee with extensive testimony and letters of endorsement on the important economic contribution being made by women entrepreneurs and the role played by women business centers. With nearly 8 million firms owned by women--a third of all firms--and 18.5 million people are employed by women-owned firms, which is 1 of 4 working men and women in the U.S., the contribution of women-owned businesses to the economy, which includes nearly $2.3 trillion in sales, deserves recognition and encouragement. In my home State of Missouri, there are approximately 120,000 women- owned businesses. And, in 1997, the recipient of the Avon Women of Enterprise Award is Georgia Buchanan, president and CEO of All Pro Construction in Grandview, MO. In 1995, Georgia's company was also recognized by the SBA as the National Minority Construction Firm of the Year. Last year, Missouri's entrepreneurs were recognized as well when Phyllis Hannan, owner of Laser Mark It and Laser Light Technologies, was named SBA's National Small Businessperson of the Year. We have other women business leaders, including Carol Jones, of Springfield, who operates a large and well-respected realty company, in addition to her civic work and service on the Federal Home Loan Bank Board, and Stella Olson, who is serving as a member of the Small Business Fairness Board for SBA region 7 and is the owner of STAT Enterprises, Inc., a transcription company. These women are all local success stories taking an active role in expanding their own businesses with management financing and market training necessary for its success. The Women's Business Centers Act of 1997 recognizes the important contributions made by the 53 women's business centers located in 28 States. The bill increases the level of funding authorized for establishing additional women's business centers to $8 million per year for 3 years, double when compared to the current authorization of $4 million per year. The Clinton administration's budget request for fiscal year 1998 is $4 million. Significantly, the additional funding is intended to ensure that women's business centers exist in all 50 States. Other important provisions of this bill include allowing Centers receiving funds on the day prior to enactment to apply to extend their eligibility for funding for 2 additional years. Also, for all women's business centers receiving funds under this bill, the private sector match is structured to facilitate a smoother transition to self- sufficiency. The program is designed to provide seed money for women's business centers that can then flourish with the financial support of the local community. Training and services are to be tailored to the local community, and the grantees running the centers must have the requisite experience and commitment to deliver the services suited to women in the area. The introduction of this bill coincides with the work of the Committee on Small Business to reauthorize the programs of the Small Business Administration, the SBA. The committee has supported the creation and expansion of business development centers dedicated to the unique needs of women who are either current or potential business owners. The women's business centers created under this bill will provide the tried and true ongoing training and assistance, offered by the current demonstration sites, to ensure that their clients have the skills and know-how to build and maintain successful businesses. This is a win-win bill. It provides women owning businesses or those women preparing to start new small businesses with the tools necessary to support their transition and the challenges faced when trying to expand. I look forward to working with my colleagues to advance this bill as part of the Small Business Reauthorization Act of 1997. The concepts endorsed today will be incorporated with other reforms so that the services delivered by SBA and its numerous resource partners are beneficial to men and women alike. The committee has important work to do in this regard, and we appreciate Senator Domenici and Representative Johnson's efforts in this regard.

Mr. BOND

Mr. BOND. Mr. President, I would like to take just a few minutes of the Senate's time to discuss an issue of great importance to the self- employed throughout the country, that of making health insurance more affordable. Nearly 1.4 million children who live in families headed by a mother or father who is self-employed do not have health insurance. If you work for yourself, typically health insurance is very expensive for both you and your family. Congress has an opportunity to make it more affordable for families who work for themselves by treating them fairly under the Tax Code. Currently, large corporations can deduct 100 percent of their share of the employee's health care costs, while the self-employed farmer, child care provider, or truck driver can only deduct 40 percent. That is totally unfair. It is time that Congress changed the law to allow the self-employed to deduct the full cost of health care premiums. Last year, we worked with Senator Kassebaum to move the deductibility up gradually to 80 percent of the premiums by the year 2006. That is a great start. Most families cannot afford to wait until the year 2006 to get sick. We want that health care deductibility. That is part of the Home Based Business Fairness Act that is also very important in small business. On Tuesday, Senator Durbin and I sent a letter to the Senate Finance Committee that was signed by 53 Senators, a majority of the Senate, urging them to set aside the money to provide 100-percent health care deductibility. And we truly hope that they will. We are confident that with this broad support we can make health insurance more affordable for the families who depend upon the earnings of a self-employed father or mother. I thank the Chair.