Corrine Brown

Ms. BROWN of Florida

Ms. BROWN of Florida. It just always amazes me how when people parade through black churches in September, October, and November, they see no relationship to what they do in January once they are sworn in.

Ms. BROWN of Florida. All of the people.

Ms. BROWN of Florida. Excuse me, is this the same district that Barbara Jordan represented for over 20 years?

Ms. BROWN of Florida. If that is Ms. Johnson from Texas I think she has a very compact district, although compactness should not be the only criteria to decide how to district.

Ms. BROWN of Florida. That is exactly what I am saying. That is exactly what I am saying. For the courts, this is the sad indictment to come up with rulings to ignore the history of this country; you know, it would have been nice to think that America has always been color- blind and that women and minorities have always had the opportunity to participate. But they have not. As I told you earlier, women for the first 150 years of this country could not vote in this country.

Ms. BROWN of Florida. A black woman.

Ms. BROWN of Florida

Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I stand in strong support of Mr. Ganske's amendment; and reaffirm the traditional policy of the Congress toward accreditation of medical schools and teaching hospitals. I believe that the medical profession, itself, should establish responsible standards for the recognition and approval of graduate medical education programs. Further, I strongly oppose attempts by this Congress to interfere with the content of medical education and training standards of a private accrediting board. The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education [ACGME] requirement, as currently written, allows individual medical residents--as well as institutions with religious or moral objections--to opt out of abortion training, so government intervention to protect individual conscience is not needed. To prevent abortion training altogether because of the religious convictions of some, is ridiculous. Surely, this Congress will not be allowed to stand in the way of medical science and return us to an era of superstition and of strict religious control.

Ms. BROWN of Florida

Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I stand in strong support of Ms. Lowey's amendment. Medicaid funds must pay for abortion in the case of rape or incest. Surely, our society is not so mean and brutal that it would force poor women to give birth against their will--especially in the case of rape or incest. Abortion is not a crime in this country. The law is clear on this matter. But you would not know this by the extremist, radical, right-wing proposals being attached to appropriations bills. Unfortunately, the radical religious right has driven terror in the hearts of this country over the issue of abortion. [[Page E 1643]] Poor women, like all women, have a right to decide whether or not to terminate a pregnancy--certainly in the case of rape or inces. Let's not turn the clock backward. Support the Lowey amendment.

Ms. BROWN of Florida

Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Chairman, behind me are pictures of three of my constituents who are participants in senior volunteer programs in Orlando, FL. The first, largest, and best in the State of Florida. These successful programs, such as the Foster-Grandparents and RSVP programs, will be cut by $21 million in this shameful bill. Not only do these programs provide opportunities to older people of all backgrounds and income levels to contribute to our communities, they also allow seniors to make a difference in the lives of so many of our children by providing the structure and guidance that would otherwise be missing from these children's lives. This prevention program is often the only thing preventing these kids from a life of crime. Mr. Chairman, these programs work. It is disgraceful and downright shameful to cut these programs which provide so much to our communities, to be cut. I strongly urge my colleagues to oppose the Labor-HHS appropriations bill. Shame, shame, shame.

Ms. BROWN of Florida

Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I rise today on behalf of the college students in Florida, and against the Solomon amendment. This amendment would deprive our students, our future citizens, of the ability to exercise their democratic rights to free speech. This amendment is a gag rule--pure and simple. It would prevent students from deciding to use their own fees for causes they determine are important. It interferes with student and university decision making. Ironically, this amendment would interfere with students rights to protest against the $4.5 billion cuts for education in this very bill. Don't the decisions about which groups and activities students choose to fund with their own fees belong to the students--not the Federal Government? Don't a majority of students vote or petition for these fees in the first place? Isn't that the lesson of democracy we should be teaching our students? We do not need to interfere with the decisions of student bodies about how their fees should be spent--especially if they choose to enter debated of public policy of our democracy. We should be encouraging them to participate in our democracy--not curb their participation.

Ms. BROWN of Florida

Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Chairman, will the gentleman yield?

Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I rise today on behalf of veterans throughout this Nation and especially in Florida. The Weldon- Brown amendment will restore $154,700,000 for a VA Medical Center in Brevard County, FL. This authorized project, included in President Clinton's budget for fiscal year 1996, has been planned for over 10 years. Right now we have a disaster in Florida because Congress has not lived up to its commitment to veterans. The funds for this project will come from the Federal Emergency Agency Disaster Relief which has more than $7 billion and currently has $700,000 in discretionary funds. Perhaps it was an oversight that the House Appropriations subcommittee decided to cut this funding. The 470 bed VA hospital will provide 240 acute care beds and 230 beds for Florida's mentally ill veterans. Here are some of the shocking facts about Florida veterans: First, one in every two veterans who moved last year, moved to Florida. Second, Florida ranks second in the Nation in veterans population, but 46th in medical care funding by the VA. Third, Florida has more than twice the national average of veterans per hospital. Fourth, Florida VA facilities do not have long term beds for the mentally ill. The Brevard VA Medical Center will greatly assist in caring for veterans, especially mentally ill veterans--many of whom are fragile and aging World War II and Korean conflict veterans. These, and all, veterans should expect and receive good care. If we cannot protect veterans in their time of need, how can we ask them to stand in harms way to protect us? We all know that American men and women--in the prime of their lives--willingly go to remote parts of the world to defend this country. Sometimes they do not return. Sometimes they return wounded. Sometimes they return with wounds that do not surface until years later. War is never without human cost. There can be no backing down on this matter. A vote to keep this veterans' project is a vote to keep a promise to our veterans. This project is critically necessary to Florida veterans. We must fund this project. We owe this to our veterans. I have in my hand a copy of a letter from the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, Mr. Jesse Brown, to Chairman Jerry Lewis. The letter is dated May 10, 1995. A part of the letter reads: The need for additional VA hospital beds in Florida has been documented since December 1982, when VA completed the congressionally mandated ``Thirty-Year Study of the Needs of Veterans in Florida.'' This and subsequent analyses support the need for the Brevard facility and identify a significant population of veterans with inadequate access to care. The nearest inpatient facilities are approximately 120 miles from the Brevard County population center. The Brevard hospital will provide primary and secondary medical and surgical services and [[Page H 8041]] help fill a great need as a statewide referral center for chronically mentally ill veterans. The administration included in our fiscal year 1966 budget $154.7 million, which represents full funding to complete construction of the Brevard County VA Medical Center, because of the unique need for a new hospital in this area and our desire to avoid the need for repeated, partial requests in the future. We have been moving forward with the advance planning for the project I believe we have demonstrated the value and need for this project. It is the right thing to do, and it is particularly appropriate that this project be allowed to move forward at a time when a grateful Nation is commemorating the 50th Anniversary of the end of World War II. I have a letter from Major General Earl Peck, Executive Director, Department of Florida Veterans' Affairs, dated July 27, 1995, which reads in part: ``The veterans of Florida deeply appreciate the extraordinary efforts you and Dave Weldon are making to save the Brevard VA Medical Center. It would be patently unfair for the Congress to terminate all VA construction and, thus, freeze Florida veterans in a permanently disadvantaged status.'' Mr. Chairman, I submit for the Record the letter from the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, as well as the letter from General Earl Peck, Executive Director, Department of Florida Veterans Affairs, dated July 27, 1995, and the Department of Veterans Affairs fiscal year 1995 budget submission, ``Construction Appropriations and Authorization,'' pages 2-6, 2-7, 2-8, 2-9, the Department of Veterans Affairs fiscal year 1996 Budget Submission, ``Construction Appropriation and Authorization'', page 2-11, 2-12, 2-13, and the Public Law referred to previously.

Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I also want to go on record as saying this Brevard County project is more in order than other back- door projects that have been allowed by the chairman and that are not authorized. I submit these projects for the Record. I know they are all worthwhile. However, they have not been authorized for this year. I am submitting those 5 projects. Further, I quote from the joint statement of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs which appears in the Record on October 7, 1994, regarding Public Law 103-452 title II, construction authorization: ``The committee notes that some major medical facility projects in the VA fiscal year 1995 budget submission were authorized or partially funded in a prior year and therefore do not require authorization under section 8014 (a)(2) of title 38.'' Mr. Chairman, it is a known fact that the hospital at Brevard County was partially funded in prior years. Therefore, based upon these facts, there should be no further need for authorization. I also submit a letter from General Earl Peck and a letter from Secretary Jesse Brown to Chairman Lewis stressing the need for this project.

Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I would like to be heard on the point of order.

Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Chairman, the gentleman is from Florida, and he knows we already have a disaster in Florida as far as the veterans and our lack of health care facilities in Florida. In the FEMA funds there is over $7 billion and an additional $700 million in discretionary funds.

Ms. BROWN of Florida

Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of the Hastings amendment. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of the Hastings amendment to provide funds to the EEOC. The EEOC has a backlog of 97,000 cases of alleged discrimination. These are hard charges of discrimination in the workplace that need to be investigated. The Hastings amendment would provide funds for the EEOC to handle these discriminatory claims. The facts speak for themselves. Over 95 percent of the top jobs in America go to white males, according to the ``Glass Ceiling Report.'' It seems to me that some people want a guarantee of 100 percent of those jobs by eliminating affirmative action programs. It's like my grandmother's sweet-potato pie. Some folks, white males, have pretty much had the whole pie to themselves for a very long time. Affirmative action has helped minorities get a small slice of that pie. Full enforcement of equal employment laws is critical. I urge my colleagues to support the Hastings amendment so the EEOC can fully pursue discrimination charges.

Ms. BROWN of Florida

Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, Medicare is a social contract between the Federal Government and the American people. Nearly 20 million older women, many of them in Florida, have come to rely on quality health care under this program. However, the sad fact is that women age 65 and over already spend an average of $2,827 for acute health care alone--33 percent of the median annual income of older women. We must support and strengthen Medicare so that it can do more--not less--especially toward paying for prescription drugs and long-term care. Until there is comprehensive health care reform, the Medicare Program must be protected from cuts that will jeopardize older women.

Ms. BROWN of Florida

Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Chairman, here we go again, another Republican attack against the working people. That's why I rise in support of the Coleman amendment to maintain workers' bargaining rights under section 13(c). Current language in the bill threatens the collective bargaining rights of more than 200,000 transit workers across the country. Many Members on both sides of the aisle support sensible reforms of this program, but do not support repeal. They recognize that efforts to address the legitimate concerns by industry and by Members are ongoing. The Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, of which I am a member, has jurisdiction over section 13(c). Our committee is reviewing the 13(c) program as well as the Department of Labor's recently released reform proposals. DOL's proposed regulations would significantly reform the mechanism used for the administration of 13(c), thereby directly addressing the principal concern of the industry: the timely release of Federal transit grants. In short, the DOL regulations would ensure the certification of all transit grants in 60 days or less while preserving collective bargaining rights and longstanding protective provisions agreed upon by labor and management. Efforts by the authorizing committee as well as the Labor Department to reform section 13(c) are far more sensible than using an appropriations bill to gut major labor legislation that for much of its history has enjoyed bipartisan support. This bipartisan support is best illustrated by a recent letter sent to the Speaker by 25 of our Republican colleagues opposing repeal of section 13(c). I urge my colleagues to support the Coleman amendment and give the authorizing committee an opportunity to reform the 13(c) program. Let's preserve the collective bargaining rights of thousands of hard-working transit workers nationwide. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. BROWN of Florida

Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to the Smith amendment. One of the many transit projects that would be affected by this amendment is Jacksonville, FL's Automated Skyway Express--home of the new NFL team, Jacksonville Jaguars. The bill includes $12.5 million which will complete the last segment of this mass transit system and allow easy, convenient access into our downtown area. This project began in 1984, before I was elected to this office, when the Federal Government asked the city of Jacksonville to participate in a transit demonstration project along with the cities of Miami and Detroit. During the last 11 years, the city of Jacksonville and State of Florida has invested $76,700,000, or 49 percent, in funding, while the Federal Government has invested $81,644,911, or 51 percent, in this project. The significant local overmatch by the city of Jacksonville and the State of Florida indicates our high level of commitment to the completion of the system. The $12.5 million from the Federal Government will fulfill its commitment to my constituents. These funds are significant because we will be able to link the Southbank and the Northbank business districts, giving access to employment centers and Skyway parking facilities on either side of the St. Johns River. The duPont station, which is the terminal station on this segment, will accommodate a parking facility for almost 3,000 vehicles giving us a total of almost 5,000 peripheral parking spaces for Skyway patrons. The total economic short-term impact, including the construction of both segments, north leg and river crossing, is significant. They will result in 4,693 new project-related jobs with a payroll of $91.3 million, a local economic impact of $274.8 million, a regional economic impact of $284.3 million, and a national economic impact of $429.8 million. I would urge my colleagues to reject this amendment.

Ms. BROWN of Florida

Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to the Republican's budget conference report which will have a devastating effect on my constituents and all America. Last Monday, I held a townhall meeting on the budget cuts in Jacksonville, FL. Mr. Speaker, I had so many people show up that I had to turn busloads away. The people are very concerned about how these severe budget cuts will affect themselves, their parents, and their children. Our seniors, who rely so heavily on Medicare and Medicaid will be especially hard hit. Medicare and Medicaid will be reduced to second- rate health care systems so the Republicans can pay for the crown jewel of the Republican Contract on America, a multibillion-dollar tax cut for the wealthy. In my State of Florida alone, Medicare will be cut by $29 billion by the year 2002, and Medicaid will be slashed by $9.2 billion. By the year 2002, seniors will pay $1,060 more in out-of-pocket expenses for second-rate Medicare. In addition to cuts in Medicare and Medicaid, this mean-spirited budget cuts education $10 billion. It also cuts veterans' programs by $32 billion over the next 7 years. This is truly a case of the haves taking from the have-nots. Mr. Speaker, we have not only let the fox guard the hen house--we have let the fox take charge.

Ms. BROWN of Florida

Ms. BROWN of Florida. I yield to the gentleman from Florida.

Ms. BROWN of Florida. I will provide that for the gentleman. I am looking at the Washington Post story, and they indicated that this particular group was a very partisan group. I just want to close by saying this: I support my colleagues from Florida and other Members today that have spoken for the Haitian people. I, from Florida, have lived through what has gone on in Haiti for a number of years, the double standards. I support what President Clinton has done, what President Aristide has done, working with the Haitian people. Yes, Haiti is not what we want. I have been over there several times. But I am a part of what we can do to make that country work and work for the people. They are very grateful for everything that we have done; but they, as I told you earlier, are not a colony of the United States of America. They appreciate everything that we have done for them, but they need to govern themselves.

Ms. BROWN of Florida. I yield to the gentleman from New Jersey.

Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the requisite number of words. The gentleman from New Jersey, I want to ask the gentleman a question. I want to ask a question about the group that was down there, because I received today a call from Bishop Cousin who is the presiding bishop of the African Methodist Church in the State of Florida and the Bahamas. He indicated that he was intimidated by some group, the International Republican Institute. In fact, he indicated to them that he did not work for the Government and he would not be intimidated.

Ms. BROWN of Florida. I yield to the gentlewoman from Florida. parliamentary inquiry