Bob Beauprez

Mr. BEAUPREZ

Mr. BEAUPREZ. I thank the gentleman, Mr. Speaker, and he is unnecessarily kind. The gentleman from Georgia is admired by every Member of this House for his tenacity and his dedication and his intelligence and understanding about this bill that we are going to consider on the floor here very shortly. And the gentleman is correct, I agree with him completely, that this is an historic moment. The gentleman knows full well the history of Medicare, founded with the greatest of intention and the greatest of purpose about 40 years ago. And for most of those 40 years, there has essentially been a very little change in modernization with the bill, with Medicare, with the program, to keep up with the rapidly changing nature of health care and medicine as we deliver it. And that is the dilemma we are in right now. I am proud that the gentleman is a Member of my class. I am proud he is a Member of this 108th Congress with me. And I am also proud that, as I take a little bit of pride in myself, in coming to this Chamber the gentleman has some real-world experience. I had some experience running businesses before, a family dairy farm, and later on a community bank. And as a community banker, I came in contact with a great number of individuals with a whole lot of different experience. And when I wanted some information about something in particular, I usually went to someone with that particular type experience. So for me it is especially valuable and important that at a time when we are really talking about making some important reform and modernization to something as personal as important to especially our senior population as their health care, that we have someone like yourself, a doctor, who has supplied that health care to individuals and that we can ask for counsel. For me, and I expect, for my colleague, because he just related a great story, a great testimony to how personal this issue is for him with his patients, I have two parents at home. And I am fortunate that I still have them. My dad is 85, and mom is 83. They both live in assisted living. I believe mom has eight prescriptions a day, dad is on nine, and both suffering with some of the things that come with getting a little bit older. But, again, I am grateful that I have them. But their health care, how it is delivered, their insurance coverage, Medicare, is critically important to them. Right now, they do not have a prescription drug plan for Medicare. They had to go get a supplemental plan. And they are at a point in life where any change in how they are doing things is difficult for them to comprehend and understand. I have a brother, hard to imagine, but I have a brother that is about eligible himself, and it is not going to be very long until some of the rest of us are going to be there too. So it becomes real personal real fast. And, certainly, as I talk to my constituents back home, as I asked them to give me this job of representing them here so that we could come back here and collectively give them what Medicare has denied them, a prescription drug coverage option, I came back here after listening to folks back in my district who said they wanted prescription drug coverage, yes, but they did not want to be forced into anything. They wanted to make sure it especially took care of the poorest among us. And I have to admire a lot of the seniors, at least in my district, who recognized that we probably cannot provide everything to everybody 100 percent of the time and pay 100 percent of the cost out of the government. They said, we will pay some of the cost of that, but we want to make sure that for the poorest it is there, and especially for those times in life, those last few weeks, months, maybe years when their health deteriorates and the costs really escalate that we as a Nation are there for them, for what I think most of us call the catastrophic coverage.

Mr. BEAUPREZ. I thank the gentleman, for emphasizing that, Mr. Speaker, and I am delighted to hear that, because that is consistently what I heard from our seniors. And not surprisingly, I think our seniors are some of our best citizens. They are the most experienced, and they have lived a full life. They know what it means to be a good citizen and a good American, and they are willing to do their share. But they also want to know that when necessary, if it becomes necessary, that this Nation will be there for them. When they do pass on, they want to be able to pass on in dignity, and they want that same thing for their fellow Americans. If the gentleman would be so inclined, because I do rely on his expertise, his experience and understanding, especially of this critical issue, which candidly is far too complicated for most of us in this Chamber to fully comprehend, so we have to rely, I think, on experts, and I consider the gentleman one.

Mr. BEAUPREZ. Well, I look forward to a few minutes of a colloquy here. And if I might begin, one of the issues I heard consistently, and especially from the doctor community, as well as from their patients, was this issue that surrounds the doctor reimbursement rates that we have been dealing with; and the fact that because of apparently low reimbursement rates, many doctors have literally been forced to not accept any more Medicare patients, against their own better wishes, their own training, the oath I think they took. They simply found themselves, I am told, in a position that they cannot take any more patients. I even had a constituent recently tell me that when her husband became Medicare eligible, he was told he would have to go find someone else to be his doctor. Now, is that the case? And if indeed it is the case, I ask the gentleman, are we addressing it in this legislation?

Mr. BEAUPREZ. Well, the gentleman has already acknowledged, Mr. Speaker, that I have been a community banker, and as a community banker, I, of course, see financial statements from various people, some of them doctors. And I know full well that while it may appear that they have significant revenue, so too do they have significant expense. My own personal physician back home told me, a very compassionate man, that, unfortunately, he could not take any more Medicare patients, and that grieved him greatly. Let me ask the gentleman very specifically, because this question has come up a lot. Cancer docs: A growing population and a growing need out there. They seem to be quite concerned about what this bill does to them or does not do to them. Have we addressed that critical issue in this legislation?

Mr. BEAUPREZ. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for that comprehensive answer. Once again, that issue is very personal as cancer has touched members of my family, as it has probably touched members of almost every family in this great Nation. I would like to pursue one more issue regarding reimbursement rates and that is in regard to our hospitals, and even more specifically rural hospitals because it has become apparent to me that we do have a significant issue with the tens of thousands of usually small, more rural hospitals around this great land. And I believe in the gentleman's opening comments he made reference to an issue I am also aware of, and that is from the patient's side how Medicare up to now has treated extended hospital stays. I would like the gentleman to address that greater issue of hospitals, specifically rural hospitals, and then extended stay for patients and how Medicare does or does not take care of them currently and what this legislation would provide.

Mr. BEAUPREZ. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for that, and as I think about Colorado and the eastern plains and smaller mountain communities, that is good news for many folks back home because I am sure they will fit in that category. If I can shift gears a little bit and continue this probing of the gentleman's wealth of knowledge and personal experience, let us talk a little bit, a big evolution in the past 40 years in medicine has been the importance placed on preventive medicine. My doctor tells me get your physical, exercise and watch your nutrition; and it is my understanding that as we age, preventive medicine is even more important, and yet another glaring weakness in Medicare, at least at the moment, has been a lack of coverage for many preventive medicines that most of us think of as fairly routine. I believe the gentlewoman from Connecticut (Mrs. Johnson) who is an expert in this field as well has been a big proponent of incorporating preventive health care within Medicare. And my question is: Have we managed to accomplish that?

Mr. BEAUPREZ. I think the gentleman puts that very well. Not only does it make fiscal sense, as we have an obligation in this body to exercise, spending the taxpayers' money wisely, but we are providing better quality of life and better health care to our seniors, especially in this case, by allowing them to have access to preventive care which is less expensive earlier in life rather than taking care of the manifestation of disease later in life. Would that be a fair statement?

Mr. BEAUPREZ. Mr. Speaker, I am attempting to not overstate or overemphasize my enthusiasm for health savings accounts. But I honestly believe that this may be as revolutionary an action that this body has considered in a very long time. The concept is a fairly simple and straightforward one, but it is so revolutionary that I think it bears some very careful consideration, and I thank the gentleman for his question. This is simply a personal account whereby an individual can make a tax-free, before-tax, contribution to that account, year after year, skip if they like, but an account that can accrue over time. It is again tax free going in. The earnings, the interest that is accrued on that account is tax free, and the real key is on the back end as long as they spend it for health care, it is likewise tax free. What that means is that over time that account can grow, and I think we are all familiar with 401(k)s and IRAs and those incentive mechanisms that this great body in previous Congresses has enacted to encourage us to save for retirement. Likewise, this encourages us to save, but coming out the back end, it is still tax free. They never ever pay a dime of tax on the money going in, the earnings on that money over however extended a period of time it happens to be, nor on the money as it comes out to pay for long-term health care, for specialty surgery, for catastrophic care, for whatever that individual finds himself in a situation to want or need in their advanced years. What this really does in my mind is what has been lacking in much of our health care system, and I am talking about the larger system now, and that is the empowering of the individual to control their own destiny, their money, their choices, their decision. It puts the patient and the doctor, as we have said for years, ever closer together and the patient in control of their dollars. Further, it provides an enormous incentive, and I do not know how we provide a larger incentive, an enormous incentive for individuals to do this. Now, perhaps the biggest component of this is not only can individuals deposit into these accounts, so too can family members. So if I want to contribute to my parents in their advanced years as they certainly contributed to me in my younger years, that is not only allowed, it is incented and invited. Because I get to do that tax free as well. Further, if I wanted to downstream it, I have a grandson, a 3- year-old grandson, who is about to have a birthday next week. A nice birthday present might be to make a contribution to his health savings account which will grow and grow and grow over the young man's life.

Mr. BEAUPREZ. Mr. Speaker, that is exactly my understanding and exactly correct, and I think even more to the point, it gets at health care as it is provided today, the long-term care, the assisted living facilities, exactly what my parents are going through. Now, there is one additional item. Before I came to this body, I was an employer. The gentleman cited that. I had about 160 employees. And we provided not only the normal salary compensation, but benefits as well, health care being one of those. 401(k) matching contribution being one of those. And we were also looking for other ways to take care, if the gentleman will, to compensate, provide benefits to our employees. This health savings account allows an employer to make tax-free contributions as well to this health savings account. So what we have is the opportunity for funds from multiple directions incented, inspired to help out an individual, a particular individual, that will be there for them later in life when they most need it; and if it is unused, it can be passed on to their heirs tax free.

Mr. BEAUPREZ. Mr. Speaker, I think that the doctor says it very well. This addresses a good conservative principle. We as the Federal Government are willing to forego some tax revenue from individuals, but believing in individuals to manage their own funds and then make their own choices, rather than have choices made for them by government. I think that is good conservative principle. I think it will help us hold down eventually the cost of health care. But it is such a powerful incentive for folks all over the age spectrum from again, my grandson, who is going to be 3 years old next week, to my parents, who are in their 80s. Mr. Speaker, might I pursue at least one or two more questions with the gentleman, if he has time.

Mr. BEAUPREZ. Mr. Speaker, the question of prescription drugs, if I can return to it, the question exists of choice and whether it is voluntary or not voluntary. I will cite my parents again. They, obviously, do not have prescription drug coverage in Medicare now, so they have gone out and purchased their own policy. Frankly, I do not think they would like it very much if I told them, well, the policy you have now does not exist any more because you have to take Medicare. Are we forcing anybody to take this prescription drug plan, or do they have a choice?

Mr. BEAUPREZ. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for this opportunity for this colloquy and certainly for his expertise. I am certainly comfortable with this bill. The gentleman said it earlier. It may not be perfect; only history will determine whether or not it is perfect. But I certainly think it is good enough. I think we have made huge strides in the direction that my seniors and my own intuition tell me we need to step, and I will be comfortable in supporting the passage of this bill.

Mr. BEAUPREZ

Mr. BEAUPREZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to add my strong support for the passage of H. Res. 300. I commend the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Hoekstra) for bringing this important legislation to the floor, and I thank him. As a cosponsor of H. Res. 300, I share my colleague's commitment to recognizing the great contributions to education and society as a whole that our country's Christian colleges and universities provide. While the United States has benefited greatly as a result of over 1,000 Christian colleges since our Nation's first Christian college was founded in 1636, I would like to recognize one such university specifically, Colorado Christian University, located in Lakewood, Colorado, or CCU. CCU is the only member of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities in the Rocky Mountain region. A private, nondenominational institution, CCU provides a distinctive education that integrates Biblical teachings with academic scholarship. CCU offers more than 20 undergraduate and graduate programs designed to equip students to become knowledgeable leaders in their field. Outside the classroom, CCU students participate in mission trips to over 15 countries and serve the local Denver community through a variety of student-led ministries. Approximately 1,000 students are enrolled in traditional undergraduate programs. Another 1,000 students are enrolled in graduate and adult programs throughout Colorado. On a daily basis, many of these students are providing invaluable leadership and service throughout the State. Mr. Speaker, I want to say how glad I am that the House of Representatives has seen fit to recognize the vital contributions of our Nation's Christian colleges and universities, and especially the contributions of my constituents at CCU. I join all my colleagues today in congratulating all these institutions of higher learning, their students, their faculty and staff across the Nation for their ongoing contributions to education and for the key role they play in promoting and ensuring a brighter and stronger future for this Nation.

Mr. BEAUPREZ

Mr. BEAUPREZ. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me time. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2677, which I introduced on July 17 of this year in order to help my constituents in Golden, Colorado with their efforts to increase their water supply system. I would also like to extend my thanks to the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Udall), who joins me in the Chamber, and the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Tancredo) for cosponsoring this important legislation with me. Mr. Speaker, as many Members of this House are aware, the State of Colorado has recently suffered through what many scientists believe is the worst drought cycle to hit our State in the past 300 to 500 years. As a result, many communities' usage ran up against or exceeded their ability to store water. While the drought has abated in northern and central Colorado, it is still severe in parts of central and eastern Colorado, and both State and local government entities are urgently searching for ways to prepare for future drought and emergency situations. To that end, the city of Golden, which I represent, is currently completing a new water storage facility, called the Guanella Reservoir near Empire, Colorado. When the construction is finished later this year, Guanella Reservoir will increase Golden's water storage capability by about 400 percent, which should be adequate to guard against any water shortage problems for the near future. While the new Guanella Reservoir and the headgate to withdraw water from the nearby West Fork of Clear Creek are located entirely on private land, a small portion of the water pipeline needed to connect the reservoir with the water withdrawal site must cross a narrow finger of National Forest land. In addition, the city needs to begin filling this reservoir this coming winter, so they need authorization to construct the water pipeline across the National Forest land this fall. To achieve the above mentioned goals, H.R. 2766 does two things. First, it authorizes and directs a small land exchange between the Forest Service and the city of Golden to give the city the Forest Service land it needs to complete the pipeline construction. If the land exchange cannot be completed for any reason, the Forest Service is directed to sell the land to the city. Second, H.R. 2766 authorizes the city to complete the water pipeline across the National Forest land as soon as this bill is enacted into law. That provision is critical to the city's plans, as the pipeline is already completed up to the National Forest boundary, and the remaining small stretch of the pipeline must be completed as soon as possible in order for the city to begin filling the reservoir this coming winter. Unfortunately, there is not adequate time for the city to obtain an administrative permit from the Forest Service to meet the schedule, and thus, this Congressional action is required. Mr. Speaker, in preparing this legislation, I have worked closely with my colleagues, the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Udall) and the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Tancredo), as this land exchange directly involves lands in their congressional districts. In particular, while the proposed exchange will assist the city of Golden, it will also bring two valuable particles of land into Forest Service ownership. The first parcel is located in the Cub Creek drainage near Evergreen, Colorado. It is sought for acquisition by the Forest Service to eliminate a private land inholding in an area that is becoming increasingly popular for public recreation. The second parcel is a 55-acre parcel which straddles the Continental Divide near Argentine Pass and is traversed by the route of the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail. It will be donated to the Forest Service by the city as part of the exchange transaction. I want to commend the city of Golden for making the donation of the Argentine Pass lands to the Forest Service. Donating the land to the Forest Service will mean that scarce trail acquisition dollars can be used on other parts of the Trail. So that is a real win-win for all concerned. In closing, Mr. Speaker, allow me to note that H.R. 2766 has been endorsed by all three counties where the exchange lands are located, that is Clear Creek, Park and Summit Counties, the nonprofit Continental Divide Trail Association, the city of Black Hawk Public Works Department, the Georgetown Loop Railroad, and the U.S. Forest service. This bill is truly a bipartisan consensus proposal in every respect. I hope it will be passed by our body today and by our colleagues in the Senate shortly and signed into law by the President at the earliest possible date.

Mr. BEAUPREZ

Mr. BEAUPREZ. Mr. Speaker, I commend the gentleman for bringing this legislation to the floor, and also for his courage and fortitude in standing up over several weeks of sometimes personal attacks. In trying to bring this legislation to the floor, the gentleman has shown remarkable composure and leadership. As every member of the Subcommittee on Aviation knows, and I hope the Members in this Chamber appreciate, this conference report contains many provisions that will be helpful to the ailing aviation industry. Of particular interest in my district, and districts and airports all over this Nation, is a provision in this bill that sets up an airport security improvement grant program so that airports can replace baggage conveyer systems, reconfigure terminal baggage areas, pursue projects that will enable the TSA to deploy explosive detection systems, and fund other airport security capital improvement projects. This grant program allows the TSA to issues letters of intent, or LOIs, so that airports can pursue security projects quickly and efficiently. Denver International, my airport, recently received an LOI in the amount of $67.5 million. With this LOI, Denver International has aggressively pursued plans to install an in-line baggage screening system. These efforts will improve the safety and efficiency of the airport. This bill also decreases the LOI local match for Denver from 25 percent to 10 percent reflecting the will of Congress that national security projects should be paid for by the Federal Government. This change in the local share will help the Denver International Airport tremendously. Finally, with regard to the AIP authorization within this bill, Denver International also receives $5.3 million per year in AIP allotment. Reauthorizing AIP will allow the airport to address other safety and capacity needs. These are just a few of the reasons why I stand in strong support of the legislation and urge its passage.

Mr. BEAUPREZ

Mr. BEAUPREZ. Mr. Speaker, I also am proud to speak today in strong support of H.R. 1720, the Veterans Health Care Facilities Capital Improvement Act. Many facilities in the VA health care system are run- down, decrepit buildings that are not conducive to providing quality health care to our veterans. The Denver Veterans Medical Center in Colorado was constructed approximately 50 years ago to provide fairly low-volume inpatient care to our veteran population. In Colorado today, as my distinguished colleague, the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Hefley) just outlined, we have an opportunity to provide health care in a much more efficient manner. The Denver Veterans Medical Center is in decaying state. It is faced with two main alternatives with regard to this facility. The first alternative is to invest in renovation of this facility and make it capable of handling the medical needs of our current veteran population and the changing needs of that population over the next 20 or so years. After such a renovation, not only would the VA still be left with a 50- year-old building, but as the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Hefley) pointed out, it would also be an orphaned medical center. The second alternative is to relocate the building to the new Fitzsimons campus. Such a relocation would allow for a modern facility to deliver modern health care on a state-of-the-art medical campus, one that we think will be a standard for the whole Nation. The VA would be able to take advantage of the University of Colorado partnership which will provide numerous operational efficiencies, as well as access to an extensive staff of doctors, technicians, and specialists. This legislation would also authorize this critical relocation. The cost to restore the Denver facility far outweighs the cost of constructing a new hospital. It is estimated that the savings in operational efficiencies at Fitzsimons itself will pay for construction of the new hospital. Regardless of where our veterans happen to live, they deserve the best care possible. Mr. Speaker, I want to compliment the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith), the gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Simmons), the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Hefley), my colleague, for bringing this important legislation to the floor. Again, Mr. Speaker, we believe that the Fitzsimons Veterans Hospital will become a standard for delivering better health care to our veterans for years and years to come. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to speak today in support of H.R. 1720, the Veterans Health Care Facilities Capital Improvement Act. During my time serving on the Veterans Affairs Committee I have learned first hand the difficulties and challenges the VA faces in order to provide healthcare to our nations veterans. It is my belief H.R. 1720 is one of many steps we in Congress can take to address the challenges of the VA by authorizing major medical construction for certain VA facilities. Many facilities in the VA healthcare system are run-down, decrepit buildings that are not conducive to providing quality healthcare to our veterans. It is inconceivable to think the VA system should be expected to handle an increased amount of patients without the proper medical facilities in which to do so. We must remember that before we place increased demands on the VA we must provide the system with the tools to succeed in their mission of quality, timely healthcare. As military operations continue to be carried out by the United States overseas, we will be creating a new generation of veterans in need of medical services from the VA. As medical costs continue to rise in the United States, many people, unable to afford private medical care will enroll for medical care with the VA. Also, as described by Deputy Secretary Leo Mackay, ``the VA's record of achievement in medical care has been so dramatic that we are now confronted with unprecedented demand for our services.'' The population dynamics that have been taking place in terms of VA enrollment are staggering. We have record levels of enrollment for VA Health Care today. In many parts of the country, those numbers will be leveling off, and slowly decreasing in the years to come. In my home state of Colorado, the enrollment numbers will only continue to rise. The history of the VA is a unique one, especially when it comes to the medical care of our Nation's veterans. The Denver Veterans Medical Center in Colorado was constructed primarily to provide low-volume inpatient care to our veteran population. Over time, the VA has worked to adapt this center to the ways of modern medicine, and to provide primarily high-volume outpatient care to our veterans. Unfortunately, the costs associated with the necessary renovations are extremely high, and this building is finding little potential for further renovation to address current medical needs with modern medical equipment. The issues faced by this center are not unique, and are exactly the types of issues that prompted the CARES process to be initiated. In 1999, the General Accounting Office reported that the ``VA could enhance veterans' health care benefits if it reduced the level of resources spent on underused or inefficient buildings, and used these resources instead. To provide health care more efficiently.'' In Colorado today, we have just such an opportunity to provide health care in a much more efficient manner. Since the construction of this medical center fifty years ago, the VA has established a partnership with the University of Colorado-Health Science Center to enhance the quality of care provided here. I am told that approximately 90 percent of the doctors providing care here are University doctors. Most research initiatives carried out in this hospital are carried out with the help of University researchers. Cutting edge medical procedures are carried out at this hospital through collaboration between the VA, and the University of Colorado. After the University's decision to relocate to Fitzsimons was made a few years ago, the 50-year partnership between CU and the VA has begun to erode. The VA is losing access to the fine medical staff from CU that they have relied upon for such a long time. The University saw the potential to create numerous operational efficiencies in their move to Fitzsimons, and they acted on it. Today, the VA has the potential to benefit from many of these same efficiencies by moving to Fitzsimons, and create other ones through an extended collaboration with the University and the Department of Defense. Congress, through H.R. 1720, should authorize the VA to act on this opportunity in much the same way the University did. This House has already begun the process of action by approving four million dollars in the DoD appropriation, and an additional nine million dollars in the VA/HUD appropriation this year. The Denver Veterans Medical Center is faced with two main alternatives with regard to their facility. The first alternative is to invest in the renovation of this facility to make it capable of handling the medical needs of our current veteran population, and the changing needs of that population over the next 20 years. After such a renovation, not only would the VA still be left with a 50-year old building, but it would also be an orphaned medical center. The second alternative is to relocate to the new Fitzsimons campus. Such relocation would allow for a modern facility to deliver modern health care in a preferred location. The VA would once again be able to take advantage of the University partnership, which will provide numerous operational efficiencies as well as access to an extensive staff of doctors, technicians, and specialists. It is my belief that the savings in operational efficiencies of Fitzsimons in itself will pay for the construction of the new hospital. Of greater importance, the quality of care that could be provided to our veterans will be much higher at Fitzsimons. Construction of a new hospital at Fitzsimons also allows for the ability to build a much needed Spinal Cord Injury center. Such a center is highly desired not only by the veterans in our district, but it would also be well suited for ideal research opportunities with the university. Currently, the closest Spinal Cord Injury center to our region is a great distance away in Albuquerque, New Mexico. One final reason construction of a new VA hospital at Fitzsimons is a better option, lies in the hospital's potential for cutting-edge enhancements in veteran health care through collaborative research with the university. As you know, the Department of Defense has recently expressed an interest in joining in the collaborative arrangement already espoused by the University and the VA. The benefits of this arrangement for our active duty and their families currently stationed at Buckley Air Force Base would be profound. Aside from having access to a full spectrum of medical services not available on base, these soldiers and their family will not have to worry about the potential loss in medical care caused by deployments of those who serve in the medical corps. The benefits to the base doctors will also increase significantly, allowing them to experience medical situations not typically found in a military community, while also having quick access to some of the greatest medical resources, references, and research in the country. Regardless of where our veterans happen to live, they deserve the best care possible. As the House votes on this measure today, I ask that we all keep in mind the long-term planning mission of the VA: ``to improve access to, and the quality and cost effectiveness of, veterans health care.'' This message cannot be forgotten when addressing the needs of our veterans living in rural and outlying network areas.

Mr. BEAUPREZ

Mr. BEAUPREZ. Mr. Speaker, I and many of my Republican colleagues calling ourselves the Washington Waste Watchers are concerned about out-of-control spending by the Federal Government. Especially concerning to us is waste, fraud, and abuse that is far too prevalent here in Washington. Allow me to highlight but a few examples. Duplication of programs wastes enormous human and financial resources. By government reports we know that there are 342 separate economic development programs, 130 programs serving the disabled, 130 different programs serving at-risk youth, 90 early childhood development programs, 72 separate Federal programs dedicated to assuring safe water, 50 homeless assistance programs, 12 food safety agencies, and 23 separate agencies providing aid to the former Soviet Union. Yet, Mr. Speaker, if ever we propose to consolidate or eliminate duplicitous programs to save taxpayers money, we are called heartless and insensitive rather than fiscally responsible. I call on my colleagues from both sides of the aisle to tone down the rhetoric of class warfare and pull together for the common good of the people who have entrusted us as their representatives in this great Chamber.

Mr. BEAUPREZ

Mr. BEAUPREZ. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time, and I congratulate him and the ranking member on bringing this important legislation to the floor. And I am rising in strong support of passage of H.R. 2535. I would like to share a very personal story. Sometimes we talk in grand pictures and sometimes abstract pictures about our impact of legislation. I want to cite for the Members of this body a very specific example. In 1995 with the BRAC closures, the Base Realignment and Closure Act, the Fitzsimmons Army Medical Hospital in Aurora, just on the edge of Denver, found itself on that list. And one can imagine the impact on a community when it finds out that about 4,500 jobs, both direct and indirect, are going to be lost from that community, a tremendous financial and economic impact to a relatively small neighborhood and a community. To make lemonade out of lemons, the EDA came in with some assistance, provided assistance in the form of an infrastructure grant to provide basic infrastructure needs, transportation needs for this old Army base. That Army base now is going to be home for a health sciences center, a collaborative health sciences center, involving the University of Colorado Health Sciences. We hope the Veterans Hospital will move there. We have an cancer center there, an eye center there. A bioethics clinic is locating there. A long story made short, 35,000 jobs, 35,000 jobs are expected to be on that site by the year 2010, 35,000 high-paying jobs. And indirectly we estimate 66,000 jobs will come to Colorado in large part because of the EDA's willingness to step up to the plate, be a partner with the community in redeveloping a site and creating a huge opportunity. Net gains in Colorado for a $5.1 million grant by the EDA to provide this basic infrastructure, as the ranking member just cited a minute ago, so as to attract private industry, it is estimated that by 2010, $3.1 billion will be generated for the Colorado economy and $6.3 billion once the site is fully developed in about another 10 years. So it is with great pride that I again compliment the chairman and the ranking member on bringing this legislation to the floor and with great comfort that I can strongly support this legislation.

Mr. BEAUPREZ

Mr. BEAUPREZ. Mr. Chairman, with some reluctance I rise in opposition to my friend the gentleman from Indiana's (Mr. Pence) amendment. The gentleman knows that. We spoke about this. I considered it very heavily, but here is where I come down in opposition. I think we have to go back to thinking about why we got here, how we got here. We got here for the sake of freedom, for the sake of the freedom of our own people. I go back to the morning of September 11 in my own memory, and we have to remind ourselves that we were attacked. This was an act of war, and we went to war for the sake of freedom. Those that attacked us are in multiple places around the world, certainly not the nation of Iraq, but the people in power in Iraq were part of those, as the President put it, supporting terror, you are either with us or you are against us. I used to be a banker. I was never able to walk up and down the streets of my communities and force people to sign loan documents: This is the amount that I force you to borrow, and these are the terms and conditions that I am going to force you to repay me on. It does not work that way. What we are about in this is about freedom, and in this very building that we have the privilege of serving in, there were people once that served here for the sake of freedom who said they would pledge their lives, their fortunes and their sacred honor for the sake of freedom. We have the same obligation. They did not say this is the price tag, these are the terms and I expect a check back. We cannot force this upon the people of Iraq. We have to be willing to stand up and pay the price, the price of freedom. I would love to go home for political reasons and say, oh, we loaned the money, we are going to get a check back. That is not the way it works when the obligation is freedom, an ideal that we pledge our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor for. So with great reluctance, I am in opposition to the gentleman from Indiana's (Mr. Pence) amendment, but I know that we are together in spirit in the overall objective to win this war on terror.

Mr. BEAUPREZ

Mr. BEAUPREZ. Mr. Speaker, it is an honor to rise today and deliver this Proclamation honoring Freedom Service Dogs, Inc. on the Occasion of its 16th Anniversary. Whereas, Freedom Service Dogs is celebrating its 16th year of exemplary service to people with mobility impairments by providing them with service dogs and, Whereas, Freedom Service Dogs was founded by Mike Roche, who served the people of Colorado as a paramedic, and P.J. Roche, a dog trainer, and Whereas, Freedom Service Dogs provides enhanced independence of Colorado citizens with mobility impairments by training dogs to open doors, turn on lights, pull wheelchairs, pick up dropped items, tug on and off clothing, and alert for help when needed and, Whereas, Freedom Service Dogs saves the lives of dozens of good dogs abandoned in animal shelters by training them for service to those with mobility impairments, and, Whereas, Freedom Service Dogs provides people with mobility impairments to more fully participate in their community, and enjoy increased confidence, self-esteem and social acceptance, and, Whereas, Freedom Service Dogs is a charitable organization that charges no fees for its service and relies on the support of our community to perform its good work, and, Whereas, Freedom Service Dogs serves as a model for improving our community by helping those who live in it. The Congressman of the 7th District of the State of Colorado, The Honorable Bob Beauprez issues this proclamation of congratulations and recognition to Freedom Service Dogs celebrating 16 years of service and commends this extraordinary organization to our fellow citizens.

Mr. BEAUPREZ

Mr. BEAUPREZ. Mr. Speaker, the occasion upon which I rise tonight is not one I looked forward to. The duties of our office can at times overwhelm us, but the privileges of this floor are also humbling. And it is with humility that I have the honor of submitting these words in memory of a dear lady, the mother of a good friend, for the Record. Recently, the Governor of Colorado lost his mother, June Keefe Owens, on July 16 following a tragic stroke. While she can never be replaced, the warmth of her smile will never be lost. Mrs. Owens was born in Fargo, ND, met her husband in Minneapolis, was married in New Jersey, raised her family in Texas, and spent her golden years in Colorado. She raised five wonderful children--Mike, Mary K, Bill, Betsy, and Kelly--and eleven grandchildren--Brad, Jennifer, Matthew, Patrick, Michael, Monica, Julie, Mark, Brett, Ellen, and Laura. She was an energetic volunteer, who spent her time in Colorado volunteering for the Cancer League, Porter Hospital, and the Cherry Creek Republican Women's Association. And while I never sat down with her for bridge, I understand she played a mean hand. Looking back, I can remember many engaging conversations with Mrs. Owens, but it was rare when the two of us spoke alone. Everywhere she went, June attracted a crowd with her pleasant smile, warm words, and genuine kindness. I remember well her words of hope and encouragement during my campaign last year. In politics, we see all too often when a person's kindness is but fleeting. People say ``good luck'' or ``I'm pulling for you,'' and you just know it's mostly out of obligation to say something. Her kindness was much deeper--in her soul, she really cared about the lives of those around her, and had the ability to touch and warm your heart as too few are able to do. They often say that a person's legacy is what you leave behind. June left behind a terrific family full of life and full of love. Today one child is in technology, one is a homemaker, another a diplomat, one an educator, and one a Governor. They are each an amazing story of success. She was so proud of them all. And that pride was well returned. Never did I see her children around her without genuine and fond admiration for their mother. She was also vigilant about serving God and saved a pew every Sunday for her family, just in case. She would often call the Governor just to make sure he had been to Mass during the week. Her faith went much further than Sunday mornings. It was part of her every moment. Mr. Speaker, I wish I had more words to describe this wonderful lady, but they seem to fall short. I thank my colleagues for this opportunity to pay my respects in this special way to June Keefe Owens--the wife of an army officer, the mother of a Governor, a smile that will be missed. May she rest in eternal peace, and may comfort and strength be granted to those who loved and admired her so dearly.

Mr. BEAUPREZ

Mr. BEAUPREZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the Lao- Hmong on the occasion of National Lao-Hmong Recognition Day. The Lao-Hmong fought alongside American soldiers in Vietnam in opposition to tyranny and Communist control. The Lao-Hmong have been recognized for their dedication and bravery displayed in defense of freedom. However, they deserve more than recognition. The Lao-Hmong are worthy of our most sincere gratitude and the deepest appreciation for all they have done. I am proud to say the first official recognition of the Lao-Hmong's courageous achievements took place in my district in Golden, Colorado, on July 22, 1995. Last year, Congress officially recognized, through legislation, July 22 of every year as a day to remember, reflect, and pay homage to the Lao-Hmong community in America. Mr. Speaker, it is an honor today to speak in celebration of National Lao-Hmong Recognition Day. I commend the Lao-Hmong community for their courage and join my fellow Americans in celebrating this day with a grateful heart.

Mr. BEAUPREZ

Mr. BEAUPREZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to urge my colleagues to support House Concurrent Resolution 177, recognizing and commending people of freedom for having played such a crucial role in the ongoing success in the war on terror. Mr. Speaker, people of freedom come in all different shapes and sizes. They do not come from one nation, but from all nations. They do not go to the same house of worship, but they all have hearts filled with hope. They do not all carry a rifle, they do not all go into battle, but every single man or woman who believes in freedom also believes we can leave this world just a little better than we found it. Mr. Speaker, the success of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom is not just a plan, it is not just training, it is not just willpower or determination; it is all of that and much, much more. It is about young men and women who displayed heroism in the face of grave danger. It is about leaders who redefine the very nature of conflicts, it is about a disciplined military equipped with cutting- edge technology capable of delivering surgical strikes with razor-sharp precision. It is about a fighting force filled with compassion, a force capable of delivering the fist of justice and the outstretched hand of comfort at the same time. I have heard some disturbing things lately, Mr. Speaker. I have heard that the conflict in Iraq was unjustified. I have heard that uncovering mass graves is somehow not a good enough reason for freedom in Iraq. I have heard that mobile bioweapons labs do not count as real evidence of weapons of mass destruction. I have heard that life under one of the most brutal regimes in history really was not all that bad. That is nonsense, pure nonsense. Furthermore, it is an insult to the brave men and women now returning home. Mr. Speaker, I join my colleagues to commend not only our troops but the entire military community, for without the people in the background, the encouragement of a family, the expertise of a scientist, the commitment of a President, the situation in Iraq today and in the free world's war against terror might be very, very different. May God bless the men and women of our Armed Forces, and may he also bless those who give them aid and comfort. Mr. Speaker, I call on all people of freedom to join us in celebrating our brave troops returning home. I ask them to join us in celebrating the liberation of the Iraqi people. While there is much work to be done, and while we will continue to bring justice to those who perpetrate terror, it is wholly appropriate to take this opportunity to congratulate our soldiers whose sweat and blood has made freedom a reality for oppressed people around the world, as well as the communities who support them. And so, Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in sending a clear message of thanks by voting in favor of House Concurrent Resolution 177.

Mr. BEAUPREZ

Mr. BEAUPREZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian on his third anniversary in office. Three years ago, voters in Taiwan elected Mr. Chen Shui-bian, President of the Republic of China on Taiwan, which marks the first successful and peaceful transition of power in Taiwan's history. Now in the year 2003, President Chen continues to make strides towards ensuring a robust democracy by guaranteeing the Taiwanese people freedom of speech and fundamental human rights. Many events have transpired in Taiwan since President Chen Shui-bian has taken office. Over the last three years, President Chen has sought a meaningful dialogue and maintained a positive interaction with China. Unfortunately China has ignored President Chen's gestures of goodwill and has continued to deploy missiles along the coastal provinces aimed at Taiwan. It is my hope the leadership in China will realize that peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait is in everyone's best interest. Taiwan has also endured the outbreak of the alarming disease Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). I wish Taiwan's government and people every success in their endeavor to fight vigorously in order to control further spread of the SARS disease. As Secretary Powell said recently, SARS recognizes no international borders. Taiwan has made significant achievements in the field of healthcare and its medical experts have the potential to greatly contribute to the science of health. That said, Taiwan shouldn't be ruled out from the World Health Organization mainly due to political concern or obstruction. We in the U.S. Congress appreciate Taiwan's friendship and support over the years. Since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, Taiwan has offered assistance in helping the United States fight global terrorism. At the conclusion of Operation Iraqi Freedom, the Taiwan government issued a statement supporting the Coalition of the Willing's cause and pledging to offer humanitarian assistance to postwar Iraq, just as they graciously did in the case of Afghanistan. Taiwan's generosity is welcomed and I look forward to a strong relationship with Taiwan for many years to come. Mr. Speaker, on the eve of President Chen's third anniversary in office, I join my colleagues in wishing President Chen all the best.

Mr. BEAUPREZ

Mr. BEAUPREZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a great man, Chief Warrant Officer Jim Kelley. Jim is remembered as a loving husband, wonderful father and a lifelong friend to many. Jim was an example to us all leading his life with compassion and dedication in all that he did. A member of the 192nd Assault Helicopter Company, Jim served his tour in Vietnam 1969 through 1970. He gave thirty-three years of service in the Air National Guard at Buckley, in Aurora, Colorado. Upon his retirement from service Jim was awarded the Legion of Merit, the highest military honor given during peacetime. I am thankful for the bravery Jim displayed in his service to our nation and the state of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, it is an honor today to speak in memory of Jim Kelley, a noble cowboy that will be forever remembered for the dedication and bravery he displayed in his defense of America's freedom. He epitomizes the best of our country by demonstrating courage, selfless service and honor in abundance. He was a man of principle and courage; every life he touched is blessed for knowing this hero.