John Boozman

Mr. BOOZMAN

Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Dr. Gregory Salamo for being named a 2009 United States Professor of the Year. Dr. Salamo, distinguished professor of physics and a Fellow of the Optical Society of America, joined the faculty at the University of Arkansas in 1975. Since then he has regularly demonstrated extraordinary leadership and commitment to his students and area of study. He continuously works to expand interdisciplinary research and education by establishing new degree programs and courses which have provided greater educational and career opportunities for students and faculty. His research is widely published, and his hard work makes him a model of success for students as well as for fellow educators. I commend Dr. Salamo for his passion for educating and wish him success in all future endeavors. I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring an educator whose accomplishments and devotion to the University of Arkansas have not gone unnoticed.

Mr. BOOZMAN

Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 3634, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 109 Main Street in Swifton, Arkansas, as the ``George Kell Post Office.'' I want to thank my friend and colleague and the senior member of the Arkansas delegation in the House for bringing this forward, and this is very, very important and certainly very well deserved. As has been noted, George Kell, as a professional baseball player, broadcaster, businessman, and family man from Swifton, Arkansas, made literally a household name for himself in Arkansas as one of the greatest third basemen in the 1940s and 1950s. In 1957, to be closer to his family, he retired. He then went on to become a Detroit Tigers broadcaster for nearly 40 years. In 1983, he joined the baseball greats when he was nominated for the National Baseball Hall of Fame by the Veterans Committee. During his career, George always kept Arkansas close to his heart. During his time in the majors, he bought farmland in Swifton, which he worked on in the off-seasons, and continued farming after he retired from playing baseball. Even when he was broadcasting for the Detroit Tigers, he still called Swifton home, commuting 1,000 miles from Arkansas for games. George remained committed to his home in Arkansas and helped his community. In 1962, he bought a car dealership in Newport, Arkansas, and later became sole owner of this budding business. After hearing Dale Bumpers speak in the city during his 1970 campaign, George jumped on the campaign trail helping the little-known candidate win the Governor's race. George was then appointed to the State Highway Commission where he served for 10 years, 4 of which as chairman. George was an Arkansan through and through and certainly a favorite son, so it couldn't be more fitting to honor him by naming the Swifton postal facility in his honor. He will be missed by family and friends. And again, I want to thank Congressman Berry for his work in bringing this recognition forward.

Mr. BOOZMAN

Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. Speaker, the Pelosi Health Care Bill is a bad bill disguised as health care reform. I have heard my constituents and the American people and they say they don't want this government takeover. They want the right to make their own health care choices. I agree that we need health care reform because the costs are too high. There is nothing more frustrating as a medical professional then when my patients can't afford the prescriptions I write for them. The Majority plan will put Washington between me and my patients and this is unacceptable. We all deserve access to quality and affordable health care. Unfortunately, a public option doesn't guarantee that we will accomplish this. This government takeover will increase taxes, take away health care choices Americans deserve to make and create more bureaucratic red tape. We don't want reforms that come with higher costs while the quality and access to health care suffers. The cost is a staggering $1.2 trillion and to think that won't impact our national deficit and state budgets is unrealistic. The increased price for greatly expanding Medicaid will be an unfunded mandate to Arkansas taxpayers that at the bare minimum will cost $205 million and could be as high as $596 million. This is an unfunded mandate that we cannot force Arkansans to pay. Health reform should not end up costing hardworking Americans. Our citizens deserve better

Mr. BOOZMAN

Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. Speaker, residents in Arkansas' Third District don't want a government takeover of health care. In a tele-town hall on Tuesday, I asked my constituents, are you supportive of a public option in health care reform? The overwhelming majority, 76 percent, said that they don't favor that plan. The reality is, this 1,990 page Pelosi health care bill includes a public option. My constituents don't want to federalize their health care. Like them, I believe this bill is a prescription for big government and an expense our country can't afford. Three weeks ago, my constituent, Andy Jacobs of Pottsville, Arkansas, sent me a letter, and he makes a great suggestion. ``Make a list of all the projects and programs the Federal Government operates and those that have seen the operating costs decrease.'' I urge my colleagues to write that list. It doesn't take long to see there are few, if any, government-run programs that are cost-effective. Arkansas' Third Congressional District sees this bill for what it is, a tax increase.

Mr. BOOZMAN

Mr. BOOZMAN. Well, I will just say this----

Mr. BOOZMAN. Well, we have a situation where Medicare gets in big trouble and goes broke in 2017 without aid. I have many people call me, I know that you guys do too, that have moved to town, you know, that maybe their mom has moved in or something, they can't find a Medicare provider now because physicians, because we are not paying them what it takes to see some of these patients. They are starting to either not accept new Medicare patients, or they are limiting the Medicare patients that they already see. Again, we are already seeing a form of rationing. So to make 570 billion in cuts, with that going on, its just makes no sense at all. If anything, we need to be shoring up Medicare. The other thing, too, is that they add significant increased population, increased patients to the thing. We already have 10 percent-plus. I think everyone agrees it's at least 10 percent in fraud and abuse. Why increase the system? Why not take care of the problems that we have got now, shore it up so we don't have problems in 2017 before we just throw more money into it and just create even more problems?

Mr. BOOZMAN. Yes, very much.

Mr. BOOZMAN. Let me just say that, again, one of the concerns that I have are the unintended consequences that are going to be as a result of the bill, as you are talking about now. I had a gentleman call me, oh, a month or so ago, and he owns several fast food restaurants. Many of the people that he employs are part-time employees. They're high school kids going to school, working a little bit on the side, many, many college kids. He said that if this bill goes through and he's going to have to be responsible for providing coverage for all of those part-time employees--he provides the coverage now for the full-time employees--he simply can't do that. In this economy, that's so tough, you know. He's barely making it now. So the first thing he's going to do is start laying off those kids. So again, the unintended consequences of them not having a job, going to school and things like that, those are the things that we're going to see so much as a result of this. I will give you another example. This bill hits community hospitals very, very hard. The only way that you can save money is to consolidate. In Arkansas, and I know in Georgia where you gentlemen are from, there are many, many community hospitals. You start consolidating. You start ratcheting back on your community hospital. That's probably the best jobs in that community, you know, well paid and all of the ancillary things that they buy and things. It is a big part of the economy. You lose your hospital. It's not too long that you lose your physicians? You lose your doctors, you lose your providers. You lose your providers, and then at that point, you really start talking about losing these small communities. So again, there are so many things out there that this is such a huge deal. You can be for this or against it, but the reality is that it truly is a massive increase in government.

Mr. BOOZMAN. Very much so. The only other point I would make is that, from Washington, the important aspects of health care--who does what, who gets paid or whatever--are going to come out of Washington, D.C., versus from a myriad of places right now.

Mr. BOOZMAN. I appreciate the gentleman from Georgia yielding to me. I also want to thank you for your leadership on the Doctors Caucus as one of the co-Chairs. You've done an outstanding job. I think one of the reasons that's so important, I think the reason that we had so many thousands of people up here today--and I would just echo your sentiments about the importance of that. As I looked around, I saw all of these predominantly middle-aged and seniors that had made a trip, made a tough trip in many cases from all over the country. I think it's due to the fact that we've worked very, very hard as a conference. And under your leadership as one of the co-Chairs, I think the Doctors Caucus has done a good job of trying to get accurate information as to what this bill actually does. We did a town hall teleconference 2 days ago. And as you said, there are many people all over the country that would have loved to have been up here today, but they couldn't get up here. And we did a poll during the course of that teletown hall. We had 12 percent for, 75 percent against, 13 percent undecided. And I think if we had done that a few months ago, the numbers wouldn't have been that great. The more the American people learn about this bill, the unintended consequences that are going to occur, the more they don't like it. The gentleman talked earlier about somebody working in a place and was a part-time employed person. The reality is that under this bill, as you start taxing small business the way that it does for full- and part-time employees where you don't offer good enough insurance by government standards, many of those jobs are going to disappear, and this truly is a job killer. I'm going to go ahead and yield back because I really want us to talk about our alternative versus what's being presented. I want us to talk about the fact that we're not cutting Medicare. I have got 25,000 Advantage patients in my district. Our bill does not cut them in any way. That program goes ahead and continues on. Then I also want to talk about the effect on small business, our bill cutting the insurance rates versus taxing small business in the other plan.

Mr. BOOZMAN. Well, again, our first point that it is not government- run health care, and we have alluded to that earlier. We don't federalize 16 percent of the economy. We don't cut seniors to pay for health reform. Again, I have 25,000 Advantage members. The Advantage Program is so important to them. Also, the other Medicare cuts, you can't increase the population by 30 percent that you are going to serve, not give them any more resources. Something is going to give and the quality of care will suffer with the Pelosi plan. It doesn't raise the deficit. Your fourth point, health care choices, not government mandates. Then, again, this is a bipartisan compromise. The other thing I would add, I heard the discussion earlier, people from Arkansas, it just drives them crazy when they hear us talking about giving, allowing illegal immigrants to buy subsidized health care programs. I mean, that's something that they just don't understand. I am very much opposed to that. I know that you all are very much opposed to that. But, again, that's something that the majority of this country does not understand, why we would want to do that. Our country is struggling. We are barely--I get the phone calls, as an optometrist, a provider. I used to see people all the time that couldn't afford their health care. That's what we are trying to do to fix. But the idea, like I say, of giving illegal immigrants subsidies such that they can buy makes no sense at all to the average American. That's one of the reasons so many people are opposed to this is things like this in the bill.

Mr. BOOZMAN. Right. Well first one, no $570 billion in Medicare cuts, which again is such a concern to seniors and why they are very much, I think, as a group, opposed to this bill, at least in the Third District of Arkansas. No 700 billion in taxes on employers and citizens. Again, small business is very, very concerned about the impact that this is going to have on their businesses. No taxing States. The Medicaid increases, Dr. Broun alluded to that earlier. That's going to be a huge impact on our States, and the States have to either raise taxes or cut services in order to provide that service. Again, that's a real problem.

Mr. BOOZMAN. No, not at all. In fact, I think an unintended consequence that we might see that people need to look at is many of our State county employees, city employees, our teachers, I don't think that they will meet the mandate that is pushed forward in the Pelosi plan. I think that will up their costs greatly at the State level. Again, that's going to have to be taken through increased property taxes and things like that to pay that bill. So many unintended consequences.

Mr. BOOZMAN

Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. Speaker, as a strong believer in the dignity of all human life, I have worked to defend the rights of the unborn, but the Pelosi health care bill does not protect those rights. The newly created public option will be authorized to fund elective abortions. The Pelosi health care bill does not include the pro-life language, which was offered and rejected in committee, to prohibit the Federal funding of abortion and of plans that include abortion. As the bill is written, Federal funds will pay for elective abortions. This goes against a longstanding rule that government insurance programs, such as Medicaid or the Federal Employees Health Benefits, cannot cover elective abortions. Health care reform should be about improving the quality of life, not about taking it. The National Right to Life Committee has expressed its concerns with this legislation as have thousands of residents from the Third District of Arkansas. The respect for life needs to be a core value of our Nation, and it needs to be reflected in our national policies and health care reform.

Mr. BOOZMAN

Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. Speaker, again I would like to thank Mr. Peterson, the gentleman from Minnesota, for bringing this forward. We very strongly support this bill. It's great that we honor a true American hero, not only for his service connection and how he served in the military, but how he led his life. Again, we urge all of our colleagues to support this bill. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time. General Leave

Mr. BOOZMAN. I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3157, a bill to name the Department of Veterans Affairs Outpatient Clinic in Alexandria, Minnesota, as the Max J. Beilke Department of Veterans Affairs Outpatient Clinic. I also want to thank the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Peterson) for bringing this very important legislation forward. Master Sergeant Max J. Beilke, United States Army, served 22 years' active duty and was stationed overseas in Germany, Korea, and Vietnam. Master Sergeant Beilke was officially listed as the last U.S. combat soldier to leave Vietnam on March 29, 1973. Following his retirement from active duty in 1974, Master Sergeant Beilke continued his commitment to U.S. servicemembers and veterans by working with Congress to pass the TRICARE For Life program for military retirees. For his services, Master Sergeant Beilke was named a TRICARE Hero and continued his efforts by working on legislation to create a veterans survivors benefit program. It was while working on this bill at the Pentagon on September 11, 2001, that Master Sergeant Beilke was killed in the terrorist attack that struck that day. For his dedicated services to the United States military and veteran populations, Master Sergeant Beilke was awarded the Defense of Freedom Medal from the Department of Defense and Meritorious Civilian Service Award from the Department of the Army, both posthumously. Mr. Speaker, I strongly support H.R. 3157 in recognition of the service and sacrifice made by Master Sergeant Max Beilke for his country. I encourage all of my colleagues to support this very important bill. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BOOZMAN

Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 89, a resolution supporting and encouraging greater support for Veterans Day each year. Our Nation's veterans have sacrificed so much for the freedoms that we enjoy on a daily basis. Our Nation has an obligation to ensure that those who have served, and especially those who were injured while serving, have the necessary benefits and services available to allow them to lead productive and fulfilling lives. Today, a new generation of heroes returns home, too often draped in the Nation's flag. Their comrades in arms stand guard and honor their memories as they themselves become the living symbols of the cost of freedom. It is right that today, almost 1 week before our commemoration of Veterans Day, that we consider this resolution encouraging and supporting the observance of this important day for our Nation. This resolution encourages Americans to demonstrate their support for veterans on Veterans Day each year by treating that day as a special day of reflection, encourages schools and teachers to educate students on the great contributions our veterans have made to our country, and requests that the President issue a proclamation each year in connection with the observance of Veterans Day. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleague, Mr. Baca of California, for introducing this legislation, as well as Chairman Filner and Ranking Member Buyer for moving the bill so quickly to the floor for consideration. I urge my colleagues to support H. Res. 89. Mr. Speaker, having no further speakers, I just again want to say how important this resolution is. Mr. Walz said it so eloquently, especially coming from somebody like himself who did many years in the military and rose to a place of such prominence. We appreciate his service. Again, this resolution basically just says that we need to slow down and do more to recognize the sacrifice of our veterans on this very, very important day. I think it is certainly very fitting. With that, I urge all of my colleagues to support the resolution. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time. General Leave

Mr. BOOZMAN

Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 174, which would direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to construct a new national cemetery in southern Colorado. Providing our veterans with a place of honor and repose is one of the most sacred missions of the Veterans' Affairs Committee, and we have given this mission our unstinting support over the years. The National Cemetery Administration's record of high satisfaction among the families of its beneficiaries is the envy of the Federal Government and is a reflection of sound administration and strong congressional support, free of political influence. The Department of Veterans Affairs has a well-established and proven method that uses distance and demographics to select new cemetery sites. While I believe that the VA process has its flaws and could use revision, it is the established process. Congress has long deferred to this process, which is essentially free from political pressure. Since 1999, Congress has authorized 12 new national cemeteries, all of which went through this process. A recent program evaluation of this policy revealed that there are some weaknesses in this policy and made several recommendations on how to better serve veterans and their families. One such recommendation was to reduce the population threshold so that each cemetery would serve a population to as little as 120,000 veterans. The current population level is 170,000 veterans. VA is continuing to review the evaluation. It is because of this process that Mr. Stearns of Florida offered an amendment that was accepted for H.R. 1660, which is the predecessor of H.R. 174 from the 110th Congress. The amendment was intended to ensure that any new cemetery authorized by this bill would not displace cemetery projects in areas previously identified as priorities. This language preserves the integrity of the cemetery planning process. I thank the original sponsors of the bill, Mr. Salazar and Mr. Lamborn, for including this language in this year's bill, and I am very pleased to support it. Having no further speakers, again, I just want to echo what Mr. Walz said earlier, that this is one of the most important functions that the Veterans' Affairs Committee does and has done it very, very well through the years. This is a very bipartisan bill. I urge all of our Members to support this very, very important bill as it goes forward. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time. General Leave

Mr. BOOZMAN

Mr. BOOZMAN. I just want to thank, Mr. Speaker, the gentleman from Oregon for sharing with us and for showing us that this is not only bipartisan but that it is also a tri-State effort to get this done. So I think that further illustrates the importance. I would like to thank our committee chairman, Bob Filner, and Ranking Member Steve Buyer for moving the bill forward for consideration. I urge all of my colleagues to support S. 509. With that, I yield back the balance of my time. General Leave

Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he might consume to the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Walden).

Mr. BOOZMAN. I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 509, a bill to authorize a major medical facility project at the Department of Veterans Affairs' medical center in Walla Walla, Washington. S. 509 would facilitate the construction of a new outpatient clinic building, consolidating the administrative and support functions that are currently spread across Walla Walla's 88-acre campus. This new outpatient clinic building will allow for the integration of primary and specialty care as well as for mental health and ancillary services into a single state-of-the-art facility. S. 509 has the full support of the Washington delegation. It is important to note that funding for this bill has already been appropriated. The funding must now be authorized so that we can move forward with the proposed improvements to the Walla Walla facility. Mr. Speaker, I strongly support S. 509 and the improvements it will provide to veteran's medical care, and I encourage all of my colleagues to support the bill. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BOOZMAN

Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise in support of H. Res. 461, a resolution honoring the Sentinels of Freedom and commending the dedication, commitment, and extraordinary work of the organization. The bills we have passed this year will make enormous strides in helping our Nation's veterans improve their lives. However, the Federal Government cannot do this job alone. It is through the work of organizations like the Sentinels of Freedom that our injured veterans can get back on the road to self-sufficiency. Started by the father of three Army Rangers after one of his sons was wounded in Iraq in 2003, this 2- to 4-year life scholarship program is meant to assist veterans with severe service-related injuries who have the aptitude, attitude, and drive to become independent and successful members of society. The scholarship recipients are called ``sentinels'' in honor of their sacrifice and commitment to guarding America's freedoms. Over 32 servicemembers have joined the Sentinels of Freedom program. These sentinels are flourishing because of the help and assistance they have received from volunteers in their communities. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague and fellow committee member Mr. McNerney of California for introducing this legislation to honor the work and dedication of the Sentinels of Freedom, as well as to thank the many volunteers working with this organization all across the country to help our injured servicemembers move back into society. I would also like to thank Chairman Filner and Ranking Member Buyer for moving the bill so quickly to the floor for consideration. I urge all of my colleagues to support H. Res. 461. Mr. Speaker, having no further speakers, again, I urge the passage of this very important resolution; and I yield back the balance of my time. General Leave

Mr. BOOZMAN

Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise in support of H. Res. 866, a resolution expressing support for the designation of a National Veterans History Project Week to encourage public participation in a nationwide project that collects and preserves the stories of the men and women who served our Nation at times of war and conflict. The National Veterans History Project was created by P.L. 106-380, which was signed into law by President Clinton on October 27, 2000. It is housed in the American Folklife Center of the Library of Congress and contains firsthand accounts of veterans from every armed service conflict since World War I. The online database contains records of over 70,000 veterans and will continue to be a wonderful resource to inform and inspire all Americans for generations to come. In reviewing this collection of information on veterans, you can find the stories in the collection of our only remaining American veteran of World War I, Frank Buckles. His digital collection contains both video and audio records of his time serving as a corporal in World War I. We also have stories from the most current conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan in the collection. To have this personal record is so important to the history and nature of our country as it provides our Nation with the unique perspective of what it's like serving on the ground, a point of view often lost in the history books. Mr. Speaker, it is by preserving these stories and records that the past is shared with the future and lessons can be learned. I highly encourage all veterans to participate in the Veterans History Project and support this resolution for the designation of National Veterans History Project Week to encourage public participation in this nationwide collection of stories. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleagues, Mr. Kind of Wisconsin and Mr. Wamp of Tennessee, for introducing this bipartisan legislation, and Chairman Filner and Ranking Member Buyer for moving the bill so quickly to the floor for consideration. I urge all of my colleagues to support H. Res. 866. I yield back the balance of my time. General Leave

Mr. BOOZMAN

Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 291, a resolution recognizing the role of assistance dogs in helping wounded veterans live more independent lives, expressing gratitude to The Tower of Hope, and supporting the goals and ideals of creating a Tower of Hope Day. Founded in 2006, The Tower of Hope is one of many organizations across the Nation providing and training assistance dogs to help individuals with disabilities. Assistance dogs not only provide a specific service to their handlers, but also greatly enhance their lives with a new sense of freedom and independence. Training an assistance dog is fairly expensive. An individual dog trained for placement can cost upwards of around $25,000 in care and training costs, and training takes around 18 months to complete. With so many veterans in need of this type of help, it is important for us to focus on this need and provide encouragement to organizations such as The Tower of Hope working toward helping these veterans. Individual citizens can check to see if there is an organization in their State providing training to assistance dogs and whether these dogs are being provided to servicemembers by checking the Assistance Dogs International North America Web site. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague, Mr. Hastings of Florida, for introducing this legislation and bringing to our attention the importance of these service dogs to our wounded warriors. I would also like to thank Chairman Filner and Ranking Member Buyer for moving the bill so quickly to the floor for consideration. I urge all my colleagues to support H. Res. 291. I yield back the balance of my time. General Leave

Mr. BOOZMAN

Mr. BOOZMAN. I thank Mr. Stearns for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I too rise in support of H.R. 3949, several provisions of which originated in the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity. I want to especially thank Chairwoman Herseth Sandlin for her leadership in moving these provisions, as well as Chairman Filner and Ranking Member Buyer for bringing the bill to the floor. I did have one major disappointment, and Mr. Stearns alluded to it earlier, in the effort to get the ``may'' to ``shall'' provisions, business provisions, that merely would have put disabled veteran-owned small businesses on an equal footing with 8(a) firms when competing for sole-source contracts at the Department of Veterans Affairs. I guess that was removed at the request of the Small Business Committee. And I know Mr. Walz is concerned and the rest of the committee are all concerned about that. Hopefully, we can all work together to reach a solution to that problem. This is something that literally we have all been working on for years, the ``mays'' to ``shalls'' and things. So, again, like I said, hopefully we can resolve that problem. This is a very, very good bill. I think it's something that all of the committee can be very, very proud of. This is the kind of work that we want coming out of the Veterans' Affairs Committee, and so I very much support it. Again, special thanks to Ms. Herseth Sandlin, Chairman Filner, and Ranking Member Buyer.