Corrine Brown

Ms. BROWN of Florida

Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I believe that we should wholeheartedly support House Concurrent Resolution 42, a resolution to support the sense of Congress that the President is authorized to deploy U.S. troops as a part of a NATO peacekeeping operation to implement a peace agreement in Kosovo. I am very disappointed in Congress' reluctance to commit an American contingent of 4,000 troops to serve as peacekeepers in an attempt to stabilize the region. At the same time members of Congress are debating the U.S. position, American negotiators are in France struggling to negotiate a settlement palatable to both sides. Although I do believe that an open debate about troop deployment in Kosovo before the American public is necessary, now is not the appropriate time to carry on such debate, given the extreme fragility of the peace process. Indisputably, peace in the region is in the best interests of the United States. Noncompliance with our obligation to the organization and lack of support for our European allies, may in turn lead them to forgo the peace process as well, a move that will negatively affect our relationship with Europe, as well as future joint military endeavors. Although NATO was originally established for the purpose of deterring Soviet aggression in Europe, the Alliance is still a necessary vehicle to neutralize aggressors on the continent. This is especially true in the context of leaders such as Slobodan Milosevic, whose political ambitions have the potential to disrupt regional political, social, and economic harmony. Indeed, even though political changes brought about by the end of the cold war have altered NATO's original purpose, the organization still plays a meaningful role in the region by promoting political, social, and economic ties among European nations. Certainly, the United States, as a major participant in the organization, has a strategic and humanitarian interest in preventing the conflict from spinning out of control. Undeniably, there is ample evidence to demonstrate that if the situation is left untended, the conflict in Kosovo will draw in Albanians from four surrounding regions--Macedonia, Montenegro, northern Greece and Albania--further destabilizing the region, increasing the number of refugees, infecting Greek-Turkish relations, and souring relations between member countries of NATO. One cannot profess concern about the future of NATO and the stability of Southern Europe, while standing idly by, declining to react to this alarming state of affairs. If members of the KLA eventually accept the terms laid out by European and American negotiators, I believe without reserve that America should participate by contributing peacekeeping troops. Since the deal calls for the Europeans to commit 25,000 troops, and the U.S. only 4,000, it is they who are assuming the majority of the responsibility, which, in and of itself, is in the best interests of our country. The U.S. is, and must remain, an influential player in Europe, and therefore cannot remain entirely aloof from taking on a major role in the brokering of a deal between the warring parties. Unquestionably, the contribution of 4,000 troops is within the means and the interests of the United States.

Ms. BROWN of Florida

Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding to me. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take a few minutes today to talk about the budget for veterans services. Today, before the Committee on Veterans Affairs, the Disabled American Veterans expressed their disappointment with the dangerously low funding levels for veterans services. As the latest issue of DAV Magazine tells us, we are in a budget disaster. DAV is a member of the Independent Budget, which has helped us in finding the places in the proposed VA budget that are dreadfully underfunded. I agree that the flatline budget in a period of serious health cost inflation is a budget reduction, and a flatline budget with important new initiatives is also a budget reduction. We are all talking about giving away the budget surplus. Let us keep in mind that there is no surplus when all of the bills have not been paid. Let me repeat that. There is no surplus when all of the bills have not been paid, and we owe our veterans. This budget leaves $3 billion unpaid, and we in Congress bear the final responsibility for this. This past Monday, those of us on the committee who saw this need, spelled it out in detail in our ``Additional and Dissenting Views and Estimates.'' Just last week, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Evans), the ranking Democratic member of the Committee on Veterans Affairs, attempted to introduce a proposal calling for and adding $3 billion to the administration budget and was not allowed to do so by the committee majority. This is not a partisan effort. It is simply a statement of dollars and common sense, and we would welcome Republican support. We do need $3 billion more for our veterans who put their lives on the line for our freedom and only want what is rightfully theirs. A lot of us talk about how we support the veterans, but talk is cheap. It is important that we walk the walk for the veterans who have given to us in their prime their service to the country. It is time for us to stand up for the veterans.

Ms. BROWN of Florida

Ms. BROWN of Florida. Madam Chairman, as a member of the Subcommittee on Aviation, I rise today to urge my colleagues to support this bill and to work with us to make this, what we are calling on the committee, the year of aviation. Last year was one of the safest years in American aviation history and I think that this administration, as well as this Congress, should be commended for taking part in this. We have a lot of work to do this year, not only to maintain our safety record, but also in preparing our aviation system for the challenges of the 21st Century. In my home state of Florida, aviation is a key part of our economy, which is heavily based on trade and tourism. In the next decade, Miami will handle 35 million passengers, Orlando 30 million, and Jacksonville will continue to be a key intermodal location for aviation, rail and shipping traffic. The grants and programs authorized in this bill, including the airport improvement programs, are critical for the health and safety of aviation in this country. In addition to supporting this extension, I also support using aviation trust fund dollars for aviation purposes, and I look forward to making this the year of aviation.

Ms. BROWN of Florida

Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, the Bible says, let he without sin cast the first stone. Let me tell you in this Chamber, it is full of sinners. I am here on behalf of my constituents who want me to tell the President that they love him and they are praying for him and the country. The Republicans say that their sin is different from the President's. They are hypocrites. What a shame that while the troops are fighting for us in the Persian Gulf, we are having this silly and stupid debate because of your hatred of the President. The President is like David from the Bible. He is the favorite one. He is the favorite one because he does the people's work. The Republicans hate him because he beat them on every single issue. Let me tell you what the real crime and high misdemeanor is, my fellow Americans. In 1994, the leaders announced their Contract on America. And today is the final agenda of that contract. They began their contract by attempting to cut school lunch, Head Start, food stamps, health care and Medicare for the elderly. These are the crimes that should be punished. This is a modern day coup d'etat, Mr. Speaker. It is the final piece of their contract. You can fool some of the people some of the time, but you cannot fool all of the people all of the time. And let me tell you, the American people are not fooled by your motives.

Ms. BROWN of Florida

Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the President's decision to take action in Iraq and in strong support of the troops who have once again shown that we have the finest military in the world. I want to recognize the units from my area of Jacksonville, Florida, including two bomber units from Cecil Field Naval Air Station; Viking, Shadow, and Seahawk units from Naval Air Station Jacksonville; and the missile cruisers U.S.S. Philippine Sea and U.S.S. Gettysburg based at Naval Station Mayport. I salute their service and offer a prayer of support for their families here and at home. Mr. Speaker, it is very important that we put political rhetoric and fighting aside as we once again face down the enemy of peace, stability and democracy. We must be a strong and unified nation during this time, and I urge my colleagues to support our President and support our troops.

Ms. BROWN of Florida

Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a remarkable woman who has recently departed this life. Frances Louise Jackson Baltimore (1918-1998) was a wonderful mother, wife, and friend to many. She was born to the late Cornelius Jackson and Fannie Burrells Jackson on June 18, 1918 in Linden, Virginia. She married at an early age to Bishop Eugene E. Baltimore, and gave birth to six children-- Anna, Florence, Barbara Jean, Eugene, Wilbert, and Darlene. She was preceded in death by Barbara Jean, Eugene, and Darlene. Frances attended the Cherry Hill Elementary School in Linden, Virginia. She married Bishop Eugene Baltimore in Front Royal, Virginia, and they relocated to Johnsontown, Jefferson County, West Virginia. She and Eugene raised five children, and ran a clean, tidy household of modest means. She had numerous skills, many of which she passed on to her children, including sewing, cooking, canning and preserving, and decorating. She worked very hard to raise a proper family during the depression era. After her children were grown, Frances moved to New York City where she received her GED and earned a Certificate of Completion in Geriatric Nursing. She lived and worked in New York for more than 20 years and was active in the lives of friends and family there. She later took up residence in Annapolis, Maryland, in 1982, and became a member of her son Wilbert's church, the Holy Temple Cathedral Church of God. Frances was the matriarch of a very talented family. Her offspring have gone on to become successful professionals, many of whom earned advanced degrees and served honorably in the military. On October 11, 1998, Frances succumbed to Alzheimer's Disease. She will be remembered as a stylish, dedicated woman, who always knew how to make a little go a long, long way.

Ms. BROWN of Florida

Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Dr. James D. Beck, a friend and former college professor of mine. He was a brilliant and outstanding educator who devoted his extraordinary career to creating new frontiers in counselor education as a psychologist while serving his community and being dedicated to his wife and family. Dr. Beck was a giant in his field and one of the most distinguished professors in the history of Florida A&M University. Dr. Beck was born in McCarley, Mississippi on May 25, 1925. He departed this life August 13, 1998, at the age of 73, leaving behind a legacy of precedents to be remembered. Dr. Beck began his educational experiences in the Carroll County public schools of Mississippi and completed high school in Grenada, Mississippi. He then attended Jackson State University in Jackson, Mississippi, but received his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Philosophy and Religion from Fisk University, Nashville, Tennessee in 1950. In 1951, he received his Master's Degree in Guidance and in 1959 a Doctorate in Education from Indiana University. During the time between his master's and doctorate degrees, he served our country in the Korean War as a soldier in the Army Signal Corps, receiving an Honorable Discharge in 1954. After fulfilling his duty to his country, he returned to the field of education as the Dean of Men at Jackson State University. Following a short period at Jackson State University, he moved on and propelled his career becoming Professor of Counselor Education and Chairman of the Department of Educational Leadership and Human Services at Florida A&M University. From 1966 to 1968, he served as the Director of the Desegregation Center and Professor of Counselor Education at the Western Kentucky University. After his service to Western Kentucky, he returned to Florida A&M University in 1968 to serve as professor of Counselor Education and once again became Chair of the department. Until his health required him to withdraw from administrative duties, Dr. Beck chaired his department for 30 years. He served as Professor of Counselor education until his death. He will be remembered by thousands of students who recall his traveling throughout the state teaching extension courses long before the interstates and turnpikes were a part of our lives. He traveled roads up and down the state spreading goodwill for Florida A&M University, emphasizing ``Excellence With Caring'' for our present and new educators. Moreover, The Heart Transplant Support Group, his favorite among many affiliations, will remember his diligent support to them after he became a heart transplant recipient in 1988. His family will recall the moments they spent together growing flowers and vegetables, feeding ducks, and attending football games near and far. Dr. Beck will also be remembered for being considerate and compassionate, and for always having a positive word about others. He leaves to us his wife Jacqueline Bolden Beck, who shared 41 years of marriage, his daughter Juanda Beck-Jones, and granddaughter Elizabeth Anne Jones who I am sure are very proud of him and his accomplishments as a family man and professional. As a former student of his, I am proud to pay tribute to the life and legacy of this great man.

Ms. BROWN of Florida

Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise against this pre-Halloween witch-hunt. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong opposition to this impeachment inquiry resolution. We have lost our senses in this Congress! This proposed inquiry is the result of a well-planned witch hunt. For years the nation has been forced to live with daily news articles aimed at discrediting the President and the First Lady. The nation is weary and the world is in crisis! We must end this insanity now! Our Constitution is at stake; our democratic system is at stake. Will the Congress overturn the will of the people in electing our President? The report to the Congress on this matter is not about high crimes or misdemeanors against the United States of America--the only grounds for impeachment. We do not need to waste more time on this issue. Every year 1 million more people lose health care and our education system is collapsing. This leadership refuses to address the important issues of working people, children, and the nation's oppressed. I urge my colleagues to end this nightmare now! (Mr. MENENDEZ asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Ms. BROWN of Florida

Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, this year during the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation proceedings, I along with my colleague on the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, Congressman Sanford Bishop, hosted the 10th annual Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Veterans Braintrust. For the past 10 years the Braintrust has been the premiere forum for discussion and policy debate between African-American veterans and leaders in government. It is important because so many African- Americans have served, or have family members who served honorably in the U.S. military. Consequently, what happens in terms of veterans' well-being is significantly interrelated to the African-American community as a whole. Congressman Rangel, Ranking Democratic Member on the Committee on Ways and Means and a decorated Korean War veteran, established the Braintrust 10 years ago, and Congressman Bishop and I are proud to continue his work and legacy on behalf of African-American veterans. Congressman Rangel was honored during the proceedings for his work and legacy in this area. Overall, the proceedings were very well received, with a standing room only audience in attendance. This year's Braintrust entitled ``The Future of Veterans Education and Entrepreneurship,'' gave us a national forum to discuss ways to improve access to education and small business, two key elements essential for success and prosperity in our communities, particularly among veterans. The moderator for the Braintrust, Dr. Reginald Wilson, led a very distinguished panel of experts, government officials, military sociologist, academicians, advocates and veteran business owners including Dr. Joshua Angrist, Mr. Dennis Douglass, Mr. Steven Pappas, Dr. David Segal, Dr. Gantz, Dr. Dorothy Simpson-Taylor, Mr. Duane Jackson, Mr. Ralph Thomas III, Mr. Ramsey Alexander, Mr. Bruce Bolling, and Col. Anita McMiller, USA, Ret. These professionals were selected because of their everyday work with veterans issues and expertise in the veterans affairs and public policy arena. The Braintrust was designed to bring their work, insights, research findings, and historical background to the attention of the general public and leaders in government. During the Braintrust, Congressman Bishop reminded African Americans that September 18 marked yet another important day, National MIA/POW Recognition Day. He stated that a number of military bases are located within middle and southern Georgia, and that the new National POW/MIA Museum, dedicated this past spring within Andersonville National Historic Site near Americus, lies within his Congressional district. The MIA/POW issue is indeed an emotional one for him and veterans' families because for them there is never closure, just never ending grief and uncertainty. Like many of us, Congressman Bishop said he was committed to doing everything possible to locate each and every American missing in action and to repatriate their remains. Our keynote speaker was Secretary of Veterans Affairs, Togo D. West, Jr., who eloquently addressed the Braintrust about this being an important opportunity to think about the issues that affect veterans in this country from the African-American perspective. He also said that the Braintrust provides an excellent forum to discuss what we all can bring to challenging issues affecting veterans, and because these issues affect veterans, they affect all of us. In addressing the ``Two E's: Education and Entrepreneurship,'' he asked why are fewer African Americans participating in Montgomery GI Bill benefits than in previous eras? Why was this happening after decades of African Americans pursuing civil rights, better housing, a higher standard of living, and opportunities for themselves and their children, particularly when this benefit is something earned through military service? Secretary West also stated that entrepreneurship is a key to unlocking opportunity for veterans to be able to participate in the American dream. He indicated that last year, VA addressed the question of minority entrepreneurship, and he said that VA leads all other Federal agencies, in terms of percentages, in making grants to small and disadvantaged business. Secretary West agreed that VA would undertake a new partnership with the Braintrust as a way to digest information and put it to use. Secretary West urged persistence and determination in addressing these pressing issues, saying that for like the ``Field of Dreams,'' if we have the determination, the resources will be found. Secretary West urged participants of the Braintrust to examine all of these issues and questions, and he expressed thanks for the role the Braintrust plays in this discussion. At the conclusion of Secretary West's speech, Mr. Wayne Smith, President and CEO of the Black Revolutionary War Patriots Foundation presented him with the first Black Revolutionary War Patriots Commemorative Coin, legislated by Congress to commemorate Black Patriotism, and the 275th anniversary of the birth of Crispus Attucks, the first African American killed during the American Revolution. Following this very moving moment, Mr. Michael Handy, Director of the New York City Major's Office of Veterans Affairs and Mr. Morocco Coleman, Assistant Director for the Office of Veterans Programs for the Georgia Department of Labor, presided over a special awards presentation to Mr. Ron Armstead, Executive Coordinator for the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Veterans Braintrust, and Mr. Anthony Hawkins, Associate Director of the Center for Minority Veterans at the Department of Veterans Affairs. These awards were given on behalf of the entire Veterans Braintrust Executive Committee in appreciation of their outstanding leadership, commitment, and service to the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, Congressional Black Caucus, and other Members of Congress over the past 10 years. Other 10th anniversary awards were presented to 30 exemplary veterans for their national and equally important community service: Dr. Doris ``Lucki'' Allen, Dr. Irving Allen, M.D.; Mr. Ramsey Alexander, Jr.; Mr. Kent Amos; Mr. Charles Ballard; Mr. Lafayette Barnes; Dr. Anne Bell, M.D.; Mr. Bruce Bolling; Col. Mary Boyd; Dr. Howard Brabson; Ms. Thelma Branch, USNA; Ms. Sheila Chamberlain; Brig. Gen. Robert Cocroft, USAR; Ms. Nora Dunn, RN; Mr. Calvin Gross; Mr. Roger ``Kevvy'' Harris; Mr. Duane Jackson; Ms. Dorothy Johnson; Mr. John Johnson; Mrs. Norma King- Joiner; Mr. Alvin Jones; Mr. William Leftwich, III; Mr. Leonard Long; Dr. Shirley Marks, M.D., M.P.H.; Col. Anita McMiller, USA, Ret.; Mr. Michael Neely; Col. Felix ``Pete'' Peterson, Jr., USA, Ret.; Mr. Harold Raymond; Ms. Lizette Rhones; Mr. Michael Robbins; Lt. Col. Jordan Simmons, III, USA, Ret.; Mr. William Sims; Mr. Peters Spears; Mr. Ralph Thomas III; Mr. Charles Tompkins; Assemblyman Darryl Towns; Mr. Larry Williams; Mr. Carmen Wilson II; Dr. Reginald Wilson; Mr. Jacob ``J.J.'' Chestnut, USAF, Ret. (Posthumous); Black Patriots Foundation; Troops to Teachers Program, Department of Defense, Defense Activity for Non- Traditional Education Support; and the Veterans Education Project. The Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Veterans Braintrust activities closed with a tenth anniversary reception co-hosted by the Black Patriots Foundation, the Veterans Benefits Clearinghouse, Inc., the Gatehouse Group, Inc. and Amistad Associates. More than 100 veterans, family members and friends gathered to celebrate the accomplishments of the past 10 years and to renew old friendships. Veterans will always hold a very special place in my heart and I look forward to working together with African American veterans representatives and advocates in order to present a strong national voice for veterans. I thank Dr. Elizabeth Allen, Mr. Arthur Barham, Mr. Harold ``Lightbulb'' Bryant, Mr. Ralph Cooper, Mr. Morocco Coleman, Mr. Michael Handy, Mr. Thomas Harris, Ms. Lane Knox, Mr. Reginald Lawrence, Mr. Job Mashariki, Dr. Erwin Parson, Mr. Clyde Poag, Mr. Wayne Smith, Ms. Arlene Williams, Ms. Joann Williams, Dr. James Woodard, Mr. Arthur Wright, and Mr. Thomas Wynn, Sr. for their commitment, dedication, and perseverance. I also want to thank the Congressional staff members Mr. Nick Martinelli, Ms. Brittley Wise, volunteer Mr. Ron Armstead, Rev. Rosita Mathews, and forum evaluators Dr. Brenda Moore, Dr. Brenda ``BJ'' Jarmon, Dr. Lorraine Blackman, and Dr. Phillip Schervish, for their hard work and dedication.

Ms. BROWN of Florida

Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak out against another case of reverse Robin Hood. But this time it is stealing from our seniors to give out tax breaks in an election year. When we talk about Social Security, we are talking about one of the most important programs in the history of the United States. This program ensures that our seniors and our disabled will be taken care of. The Social Security program is the result of hard work by working families across this Nation. By dipping into the Social Security cookie jar, we jeopardize the security of seniors who count on these monthly checks during their retirement. Let me close with a tribute today to the late Claude Pepper, one of the most important advocates for the elderly and for Social Security expansion in the United States Congress. Claude Pepper cared about seniors across this Nation and he fought to protect them so that they could enjoy their elderly years in life without being afraid of where their next check was coming from. As a Member of Congress from the State of Florida, Claude Pepper's legacy for fighting for the rights of seniors and the poor speaks for itself. He would not stand for election-year gimmicks that punished the working families who have contributed to the Social Security trust fund. In the name of decency and in the name of Claude Pepper, the leadership of this House should vote to save Social Security first. This is a mean-spirited attack on the needy. We have a responsibility to today's seniors and to tomorrow's seniors to protect this valuable program.

Ms. BROWN of Florida

Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I am very concerned about this Fast Track legislation. The way I see it, NAFTA has eroded 100 years of U.S. workers fighting for safety rights, worker protection, and fair wages and hours. There can be no serious global trade legislation without protection for workers and for the environment. For instance, we need to know that rain forests will not be destroyed or that women and children will not suffer from increased poverty and a violation of human rights. And I need to know that Florida farmers will not suffer. What has NAFTA done for Florida? No oranges from Florida have gone to Mexico; however Mexican tomatoes have flooded the U.S. market. We now have a history with NAFTA. We have lost good jobs. Corporations move and unemployed workers left behind get jobs paying less. The skilled jobs that once moved black workers into the middle class are gone and cities have lost an important tax base. At the same time, workers in rural America are suffering. This is wrong. All citizens must be lifted with the economic tide--we are all in the same boat. I will work to see that we all can do better in this new global economy. I am especially concerned about our working men and women. Our workers want answers to important questions: (1) How will American workers integrate into the global community? (2) Where will corporate investment be made? (3) How will global trade affect the balance of power between worker and management? (4) How will global trade affect our rural farmers and the global environment? Our workers deserve reasonable answers to these questions.

Ms. BROWN of Florida

Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, as the Chinese on Taiwan prepare to celebrate their 87th National Day on October 10, 1998, I wish them the best in their continuing efforts to sustain economic growth and to further political reform. My congratulations go to President Lee Teng-hui and Vice President Lien Chan and the people of the Republic of China on Taiwan. President Lee is to be especially saluted for having repeatedly urged the Chinese communists to hold meaningful exchanges on reunification issues. President Lee is committed to reunification. His dream is to see a reunified and democratic China. In the meantime, President Lee asks all nations to consider Taiwan's legitimate place in the world community. After all, Taiwan is the 19th largest economy and 14th largest trading nation in the world. Excluding Taiwan's participation in world affairs is a loss for the international community. May Taiwan have many many returns of their National Day and an early reunification with Mainland China under the principles of democracy, freedom, and individual human rights.

Ms. BROWN of Florida

Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, first of all let me thank the full committee chairman, the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Shuster); the ranking member, the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Oberstar); the subcommittee chairman, the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Duncan); and the ranking member, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Lipinski), for their work in crafting this legislation and including elements that will be beneficial to all of our Nation's airports, including the ones in my home State of Florida. I am pleased with the funding level in this bill. The capital improvement and safety costs associated with air service are enormous, especially for smaller regional airports. And the Federal Government, as well as State and local government, must be partners to ensure the safest, most efficient air service. The aviation industry is critical to the economic well-being of Florida. Orlando will soon be hailing 30 million passengers a year, and 35 million passengers and 2.9 tons of cargo will be coming through Miami's International Airport, which is known as the ``Hub of the Americas.'' Jacksonville is a key intermodal location for air service, shipping, and rail; and these all directly and indirectly support the military presence in north Florida. We on the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure all know the importance of the role aviation plays in our community and for our economy. This is a good bill which will expand the military airport program and includes whistle blower protection for airline employees who provide information on safety violations. Yesterday, I spoke to the Florida Airport Manager's Association, more than 700 people present in Miami at their annual conference, and they strongly support the AIP program and this bill. I thank the committee's leadership for getting this bill to the floor and I urge my colleagues to support it.

Ms. BROWN of Florida

Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the requisite number of words. Mr. Chairman, as a Member of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, I know that VERA was developed as a way for the VA to be more efficient in providing health care for our veterans. VERA is not simply taking money from one region to another, it is a well-thought-out system, supported by our own General Accounting Office and the VA Under Secretary for Health. It recognizes that health care costs vary from region to region, and it also accounts for veterans who move to warmer climates and therefore are using Sunbelt facilities more. In my State of Florida, the demand for veterans' health care continues to rise. Many constituents in the States of my colleagues who oppose this system have moved to Florida and very much want this system to stay in place. I support VERA, veterans' service organizations support VERA, the GAO supports VERA, the VA supports VERA. I urge my colleagues to support VERA. If there is a problem with one hospital, if there is a problem with the system, it is better to address them, than to eliminate a program that will affect veterans across the entire country. I urge my colleagues to support our veterans and not vote for any amendment to strike VERA.

Ms. BROWN of Florida

Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, with profound sadness and great pride, I remember Special Agent John Gibson and Officer Jacob Chestnut. To the families of these two heroes, we are incredibly grateful and fortunate to have had your fathers and your husbands protecting the people's House. While at home this weekend, constituents expressed to me time and time again the trauma of these events and their profound respect for those two men and all of the men and women protecting the people's House. I offer my prayers to these two families from thousands of families throughout Florida, and, Mr. Speaker, I would like to close by reading one of my favorite scriptures: ``Let not your heart be troubled, ye believe in God, believe also in me. ``In my Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. ``And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may also be.''

Ms. BROWN of Florida

Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I represent the 3rd District of Florida. And, senior citizens in my district which ranges from Jacksonville to Orlando have suffered at the hands of HMO providers day-after-day. They are urged to sign up for health coverage plans, and these HMOs only give them cheap gifts and inadequate health coverage. Because I have hosted numerous town hall meetings on health care for senior citizens, I have been able to hear their stories and provide assistance when their insurance providers have failed to deliver. An 81-year-old man, who after his HMO was sold had to replace his regular hypertension drug with a lower-cost one. Within days his blood pressure skyrocketed. He switched to an HMO that covered his drug, but then the new plan changed its coverage too. Unable to pay for the drug, he went on TV as a cry for help and a local physician with compassion gave him the medication for free. Health care is such a crucial part of our lives, I believe every effort should be made to protect senior citizens and the working poor. It is our responsibility to protect and pass legislation that will protect the rights of our constituents. More importantly, we are charged with ensuring that our nation has access to quality health care at an affordable cost. There is nothing more heart wrenching, than talking with someone who desperately needs medical care and their insurance company will not cover the life-saving medical treatment or reimburse patients for much needed medicine. In another case, a baby girl was diagnosed with a hole in her heart. Chances were good that she would need surgery to fix the defect if it did not close on its own. Her mother switched HMOs for better coverage; however, the new insurance company would not cover the procedure because her daughter's heart defect was a pre-existing condition. The HMO had a 2 year limit on pre-existing conditions and would not pay for the little girl's operation. Thanks to a special state program in Florida the little girl was able to receive care. We need to hold HMOs accountable for their actions and how they treat people. That is why, I urge my colleagues to oppose the Patient Protection Act (H.R. 4250) and support the Patient Bill of Rights (H.R. 3605). H.R. 3605 is the right choice, it puts patients before profits and medical decisions are given back to doctors and nurses. This bill also holds HMOs responsible for decisions when they withhold or limit care to patients. The challenges of quality health care will require our nation to overcome the barriers of ever-increasing medical cost and recognize the needs of our nation. In a society where technology is progressing at the speed of light, why is it so difficult for us to make the right decision for the American people? We need to treat quality health care as a right versus a luxury for a privileged few.

Ms. BROWN of Florida

Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word. Mr. Chairman, I am glad that the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Stearns) did not offer this amendment. Let me say that the American Heritage Rivers Initiative has garnished more support in northeast and central Florida than any other issue in recent history. Why? Because this involves one of our Nation's most important resources, the St. Johns River. This initiative was announced by President Clinton in his 1997 State of the Union address. But it was pursued by local and State leaders. This is the only way a river can be a part of this program, through local efforts. So this initiative is a perfect example of the partnership that we should support, not eliminate. In Florida, we value our natural resources. The local elected officials throughout the Third Congressional District, both Republicans and Democrats, put all of their efforts into getting the American Heritage Rivers designated for the St. Johns. Our river has been recommended for the list of 10, and I stand here to let my colleagues know that the Stearns amendment or the comments of the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Stearns) do not reflect the sentiments of Florida. I am glad that he did not offer the amendment, and I urge all my colleagues to support the environment and support restoring our Nation's rivers, which we all treasure in our community.

Ms. BROWN of Florida

Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleagues and the great people they represent for supporting this resolution and the people of Florida. The State of Florida has been experiencing a terrible destruction due to wild land fires and drought. This terrible natural disaster has created an incredible hardship on the residents, businesses, and disaster relief agencies and personnel in Florida. My colleagues and I from the Florida delegation and the Task Force on Wildfires have introduced this House Concurrent Resolution to express our deepest condolences to the State and to the people of Florida who have experienced financial loss and emotional pain associated with the devastation of nearly a half million acres of land. This resolution also expresses sincere gratitude to the fire fighters, including the 7,000 fire fighters who came from 46 States from around this country to help manage and put out these fires. Just recently, the Emergency Support Transportation staff are scheduling the return of equipment and personnel from North Dakota, Virginia, Maryland, North Carolina, and Louisiana. I thank all of these people who have traveled from these and other places for their tremendous courage and spirit of patriotism. Mr. Speaker, in tragic situations like these it is wonderful to see the entire Nation mobilized in this way to help fellow Americans. This resolution also thanks the numerous Federal agencies, including FEMA, the Department of Defense, National Guard, the Department of Transportation, AmeriCorps, and other agencies such as the Red Cross who helped in these endeavors. The Department of Defense sent Marines from North Carolina and other support staff, and more than 1,500 Florida and Georgia Army National Guard troops were activated and deployed to support fire fighter operations. The Naval Air Station Jacksonville in my district was the base support for the Defense Coordinating Element provided by the Department of Defense. The U.S. Forest Service sent more than 1,400 fire fighters as support crew to help in this effort. The Civil Air Patrol has flown more than 23 missions in support of the fire fighting effort. And the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has provided 565,000 pounds of ice to the fire fighter crews. Mr. Speaker, these are a few of the many examples of support and great deeds that occurred in fighting these fires. In the face of crises, this response was very effective and helped to get these fires under control. On behalf of the people of Florida, I thank all of these great people and institutions for their hard work.

Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, again, I thank my colleagues and the great people they represent for supporting this resolution and the people of Florida. We in Florida will rebuild what has been destroyed and continue to make our way in life. I think that times like this bring people together from all walks of life, and it shows what a wonderful spirit America has. On behalf of the people of Florida, I thank America for their support.

Ms. BROWN of Florida

Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong support of this Treasury Postal Appropriations bill. In this bill, there is funding for courthouse projects across the country, and I thank Chairman Kolbe and Ranking Member, Congressman Hoyer, for their great leadership in this issue. The situation of aging courthouses across this nation must not be tolerated any longer. We must ensure a safe and fair judicial process for all Americans. I am very familiar with older courthouses, particularly the ones in Jacksonville and Orlando, which I represent. In addition to not having the space to properly handle the increasing judicial caseload, these older courthouses have serious security risks for judges, juries, and litigants. Often times judges must pass through corridors with prisoners and defendants lined up along the walls. Additionally, these older courthouses do not have the necessary security measures that they should have in the this day and age. This is a very serious situation, and I am glad that we have the leadership here to recognize it and address it. We must keep the judicial branch of government viable, particularly, as we task it with more federal laws and caseloads. I thank my colleagues from Maryland and Arizona for their commitment to this issue, and urge all of my colleagues to support this legislation.

Ms. BROWN of Florida

Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, much has been written and said about the economic growth and political advances made by the Republic of China during the last few years. Taiwan's achievements are respected throughout the world. Much of the credit is due to Taiwan's political leadership. Taiwan is led by Cornell-educated Dr. Lee Teng-hui, who was elected Taiwan's ninth president and inaugurated on May 20, 1996. His running mate was Dr. Lien Chan. Other government leaders include Foreign Minister Jason Hu and Representative Stephen Chen. While Vice President Lien Chan has worked to maintain stability and respect for the law at home, Minister Hu wisely exerts Taiwan's presence abroad, having recently visited Africa and a number of southeast Asian countries seeking new friends for his country. In the meantime, Representative Stephen Chen has assiduously briefed us on the Hill of all the recent happenings in Taiwan. Representative Chen is a tireless diplomat. Together, Taiwan's leaders have continued to bring their people economic progress and an improved political climate. The Republic of China is a young dynamic nation and a model for the developing world. On the occasion of President Lee's second anniversary in office, I wish to extend my congratulations to President Lee and his people.

Ms. BROWN of Florida

Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong support of this amendment and would like to commend my colleagues, the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Watts) and the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Moran) for their leadership in this area. As a Member of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs and a representative from Florida, I am very concerned with the state of military health care, particularly since so many Floridians are being affected. I have received the letters and the personal visits by military retirees who are concerned about their health care options. The health care industry is in change and we in Congress need to take some leadership. I support this pilot program 100 percent, and I urge a ``yes'' on this amendment. As Memorial Day approaches, let us show our military personnel that we do care and that we as Members of the United States Congress do keep our promises to the veterans.

Ms. BROWN of Florida

Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I agree with my distinguished colleagues and support their groundbreaking initiative to offer legislation which will provide continued support for college and university students with learning disabilities and this includes students who are attending community colleges as well. The most recent survey of college freshmen with disabilities reported that the number of students with learning disabilities is increasing and the percentage is now at 32% for college freshmen. These non-traditional college students deserve a chance, and we have the legislative strength to make a difference in their lives today, tomorrow, and in the future. Support for this amendment will send a message to America, that Members of Congress care and believe education is key for our nation.

Ms. BROWN of Florida. Attack. Attack. Attack. Mr. Chairman, I rise before my colleagues today to express my opposition to this amendment. In fact, I am sick and tired of being sick and tired. Why is it that minorities in this country are constantly on attack? One year after the passage of Proposition 209, California's most select universities admit 50 percent fewer African Americans and Latin American applicants? Why is it that every time we talk about affirmative action in education we are talking about race? What about the football player who gets affirmative action or the alumnus because of the family's connection? How about the banker who has influence with the admissions board? This amendment is a blatant attempt to keep minorities out of our colleges and universities so that they will never have the opportunity to be successful. Affirmative action has never been about favoritism. It is merely one tool to make sure that everybody in this country has an opportunity for education.

Ms. BROWN of Florida

Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, each of us has a moral obligation to remember the past, to tell our children, to leave a written record, and to work towards a brighter future. A few days ago, the Prime Minister of the interim government that directed the 1994 slaughter of hundreds of thousands of ethnic Tutsis in Rwanda pleaded guilty to genocide and agreed to testify against others accused of planning the massacres. We have been told that the Rwanda genocide of 1994 was the worst massacre of human life since the World War II holocaust. Nearly 1 million people were killed in less than 100 days. The world knew the genocide was going to occur. Despite advanced warnings, the world community did not mobilize to stop the horror. Today, we must ask: What are we doing to help build Rwanda? As legislators, we need to share our expertise with new governments and young democracies in a sincere effort to build peaceful, civil societies. Today, the task at hand for Rwanda is to help Rwandans live together again. The country and its people are trying to endure after being cruelly torn apart. We must help Rwanda survive and build a democratic, free nation.