Dave Camp

Mr. CAMP

Mr. CAMP. Mr. Speaker, as Chairman of the Corrections Advisory Group, I rise today in full support of the legislation of the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Greenwood), H.R. 3096. This is truly a technical correction, and it is fitting for the bill to be considered on the Corrections Calendar. Mr. Speaker, our Nation's laws are complex and sometimes confusing, and when someone interprets the law, one word can make a difference. In this case, the inconsistent use of one word and the thousands of words that make up our laws called into question the law's application to certain individuals. The gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Greenwood) recognized this inconsistency and quickly acted to make a change. He contacted the Corrections Advisory Group, which moved to correct the problem. The bill ensures that no Federal employee can lie on a benefit application or any subsequent request for information and get away with it. The Corrections Calendar was created to fix small, technical corrections such as this, and I am pleased the bill has made its way to the House floor so quickly. I would like to thank the gentleman from Pennsylvania for introducing this bill and for utilizing the Corrections Advisory Group, and I urge my colleagues to support the bill.

Mr. CAMP

Mr. CAMP. Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present.

Mr. CAMP

Mr. CAMP. Madam Chairman, I thank the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Shaw) for yielding me this time, and for his leadership on this issue. I also want to thank the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Levin) for his efforts, as well. Madam Chairman, the bill before us today, the Child Support Performance and Incentive Act, is important to our Nation's children for two major reasons. First, our legislation says that Federal incentive payments to the States for child support should be based on good performance. The better a State does at collecting child support for our children, the more they will get in incentive payments. Regrettably, our current system does not base payments on how well the State actually performs at child support collection. It is time we changed this, and we are doing it in a bipartisan and careful manner, working with child advocates, with the administration and experts from the States and local communities. Second, our bill will help States develop better computer systems that can accurately and efficiently manage State child support programs. These computers play a vital role in helping States collect child support for children. Many States, 32, in fact, have not met the deadlines Congress set in 1988 and there are plenty of reasons why. Partly, in 1988 no one had any idea about how the world of computers would look a decade later. The personal computer on my desk today is as powerful as many statewide computer systems were back in 1988. These things have changed dramatically in the last 10 years, and States rightfully want some flexibility in how those requirements are enforced. Madam Chairman, we need to continue building a strong and effective child support system. Whether for families leaving welfare or single parents struggling to get by, our bill is crucial to America's children so they can start getting the support they need and deserve.

Mr. CAMP

Mr. CAMP. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Florida [Mr. Shaw], the chairman, for yielding time to me. Without his steadfast support, we would not be on the floor with this adoption bill today. He has been every bit a chairman, has been very much involved with this process, and I very much want to thank him for his efforts in bringing this to a reality. I also want to thank my coauthor, the gentlewoman from Connecticut, Mrs. Barbara Kennelly, who has also been there every step of the way, and I believe her testimony before the Senate, where she implored them to pass a bill to help children before we go home for the holidays to our own loving families, was a turning point in the negotiation; and also the ranking member, the gentleman from Michigan, Mr. Sander Levin, for his support and effort in this area as well. The administration, we worked with them as well, and this has been a bipartisan bill. I think that is one of the reasons why we are on the floor today. I think today is a great day for our Nation's foster and adoptive children. Today is the day that Congress improves our foster care laws and eases the pathway for adoption. Since 1980, foster care children have entered a system that has often worked against them, making foster care a permanent answer instead of a temporary solution to their problems. In 1980 Congress enacted the Adoption Assistance and Child Welfare Act, which sought to improve the foster care system. The 1980 law, while well-intended, has created a system where nearly half a million children currently reside in foster care. Many remain in the system for more than 2 years, which is a lifetime for a child. This legislation, however, is not about numbers and statistics, it is about children and families. For a child of any age, 2 years in foster care is far too long. It is 2 years of uncertainty, 2 years of not knowing where their next home will be, or not knowing the love of a parent. This legislation makes several changes that will ensure our children grow up in the sanctuary of a permanent, loving home instead of a temporary shelter. First, we make the health and safety of the child of paramount importance in any decision affecting our children. No child should be returned to a dangerous environment where they may face continued abuse or even death. Our bill makes sure the child's health and safety are taken into account in that decision. We also clarify the circumstances under which States are not required to pursue reasonable efforts. Under the bill, States would not be required to pursue reasonable efforts if a child had been abandoned, tortured, chronically or sexually abused, or if the parents had murdered a sibling. Second, we allow States to conduct what is known as concurrent planning, which allows the State to make permanency arrangements for adoption while attempts to reunite the family are made. Many children remain in foster care so long because States fail to make arrangements for the child should reunification efforts fail. Third, we provide incentive payments to States that quickly find permanent, loving homes. States will receive incentive payments of $4,000 for each adoption and $6,000 for special needs adoptions. From the beginning, Republicans and Democrats, both House and Senate, have worked together on behalf of our Nation's children. I have no doubt that the commitment to helping those children will continue until this bill is signed into law. We are on the brink of a significant accomplishment. It is our children who are the beneficiaries. This bill will ensure that a permanent, loving home is within the reach of every child. In the eyes of every child, we see the boundless possibilities for our future. No child should grow up without a loving home. But in those instances where changes must be made, we must have a system that works on behalf of the child, not against them. Again, I want to thank the chairman of the subcommittee for his efforts, and my coauthor, the gentlewoman from Connecticut, Mrs. Barbara Kennelly, for bringing this bill to the floor.

Mr. CAMP

Mr. CAMP. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to F. Dale Kuenzli, executive director of the Michigan Bean Commission since 1993, who has announced his intention to retire in December. As the third executive to lead the commission since its 1965 inception, Dale has led the Michigan Bean Commission in a professional and enthusiastic manner during the past 4 years. He has worked tirelessly with local, State, Federal, and international officials to open markets to Michigan bean growers. He is known around the world as a brilliant spokesperson for Michigan farmers, with a talent for deciphering the complex language of agribusiness and financial markets. Not just a ``beansmith,'' as he is often called, Dale is also a well-rounded agribusiness person with a keen political acumen and a dedication to our vision for the future of Michigan's farm families. Dale is also known for his loyalty to his family and to his other passion, the Michigan State Spartans. Dale is also to be honored for his contributions to the apple industry, given his avid consumption of what is estimated to be a pound and half of apples every day. On the occasion of his retirement, we bestow upon F. Dale Kuenzli our highest esteem for his accomplishments, and wish him success in his future endeavors.

Mr. CAMP

Mr. CAMP. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time. I just want to mention that I know this legislation is approved also by the gentleman from Illinois [Mr. Hyde], the chairman of the committee. I think this is critical. I am glad that we are acting, because the implementation date of September 30, 1998 could cause tremendous disruption in Michigan, not only to tourist traffic but to trade and to our economy. I think this new statutory requirement that this automated system will be delayed until 1999, and it will not disrupt trade, tourism or other legitimate cross border traffic is a good thing. I strongly support the bill.

Mr. CAMP

Mr. CAMP. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 2676, the Internal Revenue Service Restructuring and Reform Act of 1997. Our bill boils down to one simple fact--the taxpayer should be treated like a customer, not a criminal. Shouldn't a customer be able to expect an answer from a telephone hotline? Well, the General Accounting Office found that in 1996, only 21 percent of calls to the IRS were even answered. One-half of the 22 percent error rate on paper 1040 forms is due to IRS employee error--IRS employees inputting the wrong numbers and data. If the IRS were a private company, it would have gone bankrupt years ago. H.R. 2676 is an important first step in reforming our tax system. It focuses on three things: first, we shift the burden of proof to the IRS. In the United States, you're considered innocent until proven guilty. But not with the IRS--the taxpayer bears the burden of proving himself innocent. Our bill changes that. Second, we give taxpayers the right to sue the IRS for damages caused by negligence, and other important rights like protections for an innocent spouse whose ex-husband or ex-wife engaged in tax abuse. Finally, we bring new thinking and a more customer-oriented culture to the IRS, with a private board to give direction and leadership to the IRS. The bill we are debating today is the first step. The bigger problem is a tax code gone wild, full of complexity and ambiguity. That tax code, with over 17,000 pages of IRS laws and regulations, leads to many of the problems the IRS faces today. With 480 tax forms and 280 forms to explain the forms, its no wonder the taxpayer is often confused. Businesses spend on average each year 3.6 billion manhours filling out and complying with tax forms. American individuals spend 1.8 billion hours filling out tax forms. That is simply unacceptable. I look forward to continuing our work of reforming our tax system.

Mr. CAMP

Mr. CAMP. Mr. Speaker, I would like to pay tribute to a tremendous hero from Michigan's Fourth Congressional District. This hero is a high school student from Merrill, MI who has served as a role model for many other students. This outstanding young man is in line to be valedictorian of his graduating class and has maintained a 4.1 grade point average on a 4.0 scale while participating on the school's basketball and track teams. While these are striking accomplishments, they pale in comparison to another. On the evening of August 3, 1997, Joseph D. Peterson accomplished an extraordinary feat by rescuing the life of a mother of three on a desolate road. Joseph was driving down a winding road in northern Michigan when the car in front of him went out of control and spun off the road into a thicket of trees. With selfless disregard for his personal safety, he swiftly pulled the driver, Marie S. Craig, from the car just moments before it burst into flames. Joseph then drove Marie to safety and stayed with her until emergency crews transported her to the hospital. Because of Joseph's valiant actions, Marie suffered only a broken leg and a gash on her head, rather than a possible fatal injury. On behalf of Ms. Craig, her family, and the people of the Fourth District I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to Joseph Peterson for his brave and heroic action. Mr. Speaker, it takes a true champion to accept the challenge which Joseph did in rescuing Marie. Please join me in commending his heroism.

Mr. CAMP

Mr. CAMP. Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize a group of individuals which exemplifies the meaning of the word ``altruistic.'' Bob Carriveau and the Honeybee Stingers are a group of seniors who have joined together to contribute more than just time to the people of Michigan's fourth Congressional District; they have dedicated their talents and their passion for music for everyone's enjoyment. On September 18, 1997, they will conduct their 1,600th performance for a charitable cause. Appropriately, this performance will take place on the Ellipse of the White House, which is viewed by many as a symbol of benevolence and leadership for our country. Bob Carriveau and the Honeybee Stingers have set their own standards of benevolence and leadership for all music groups to follow. Formed in 1980, the band has created its own rich musical focus. They have been on the public airwaves for 7\1/2\ years and performed various times on live television. Six members of the band are in the Michigan Country Music Hall of Fame. The founders of the band, Bob and Wilma Carriveau, are the first couple ever to be inducted into this prominent society of musicians. Bob Carriveau and the Honeybee Stingers have their own lofty standards of conduct. Through highs and lows, this band has remained a symbol of humble sincerity and selfless commitment to helping others. The current 13 performers are: Bob and Wilma Carriveau, Phil and Joyce Leonard, Dale Haffer, Lonie Rummer, ``Singing'' Bill Winter, Howard Clark, Dilbert Collins, Paul Averill, Mike Hopkins, Jerry Mawhorter, and Jim Vickers. I would like to rise today to pay tribute to this outstanding group and thank them for their tremendous efforts to spread their love of music and desire to help others. Their selfless commitment and integrity has brought happiness and smiles to thousands of people. Mr. Speaker, please join me in thanking the outstanding entertainers, Bob Carriveau and the Honeybee Stingers.

Mr. CAMP

Mr. CAMP. I yield to the gentleman from Illinois.

Mr. CAMP. Mr. Chairman, reclaiming my time, I appreciate the chairman's remarks.

Mr. CAMP. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word. Mr. Chairman, I want to enter into a colloquy with the gentleman from Illinois [Mr. Porter], the chairman of the Labor, Health and Human Services Subcommittee. As the chairman may know, more than 3,000 people die each year waiting for an organ donation that never comes. That equals one death every 3 hours, eight people every day. Every 18 minutes another name is added to the list of 50,000 people awaiting transplants. Last year, then Representative Durbin and I cosponsored the Organ Donor Insert Card Act, which put an organ donor signup card in the tax return checks of nearly 70 million households. It is my hope that this effort will result in more organs available for transplant. As my colleagues may know, this year the Senate has added a provision under the leadership of now Senator Durbin and Senator Frist in its version of the Labor, Health and Human Services appropriations bill, which calls upon the Department of Health and Human Services, in coordination with the General Accounting Office, to survey 5 percent of the hospitals participating in the Medicare and Medicaid Programs in order to ascertain how their organ donation programs are working. I would ask the chairman to work with the chairman of the Committee on Commerce and the ranking member of the Committee on Commerce, as well as our colleagues, to address this issue when we go to conference with the Senate.

Mr. CAMP

Mr. CAMP. Mr. Speaker, the poet T.S. Eliot wrote that ``water and fire shall rot the marred foundations we forgot, of sanctuary and choir; this is the death of water and fire.'' For 50 years, the foundations and sanctuaries of Jerome Township were not forgotten, and because of one man's work, far fewer have suffered the death of water and fire. Today we honor a man who has not only protected our sanctuaries, but our homes and hearths as well; who stood by the foundations of his community and in doing so, fortified its stones. Fire Chief Allen Cole built the Jerome Township Fire Department stone by stone, starting 50 years ago with little more than a converted fire truck Cole kept as his wrecker service he'd opened in 1935. With his wife, Lydia, acting as a dispatcher, citizens reporting a fire could call Cole's garage and know that help was on the way. In an era when fire was a community's greatest enemy, and was ravaging America's towns and cities, Allen Cole stood watch over Jerome Township, protecting property and citizens from an enemy known for launching deadly, surprise attacks under cover of darkness. Allen Cole was no stranger to the surprise attacks of fire. Once, while fighting a house fire in Homer Township, he fell through the roof of a burning home, only to slide down the hose--still battling the flames--and emerge through the front door unscathed. Allen Cole today enters retirement, but his commitment and heroism will remain. He also bestows to the community a fire department that has grown and nourished generations of firefighters to carry on his legacy. For protecting the families of Jerome Township from the destructive power of fire for a half-century, we thank Chief Allen Cole for his service and dedication, and bestow upon him our highest esteem.

Mr. CAMP

Mr. CAMP. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to have my name removed as a cosponsor of H.R. 674.

Mr. CAMP

Mr. CAMP. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a trio of brave young men who acted selflessly and heroically to save the life of 13- year-old Jessica Doherty of Gladwin County, MI, as she suffered a near- fatal asthma attack. As reported by the Gladwin County Record, 15-year-old Travis Lieu and 12-year-old Josh Garvie had just left Beaverton, Michigan's Gem Theater August 19 when Jessica Doherty began to suffer a serious asthma attack. The boys alerted the girl's mother, who drove them to the hospital. On the way, however, young Jessica began gasping for air and lost consciousness. As they stopped the car, Tom Garvie, Jessica's other cousin, rushed into a local business to call 911. Travis Lieu and Josh Garvie began to administer mouth-to-mouth resuscitation and other emergency procedures. While they waited for an ambulance to arrive, the boys successfully brought Jessica back to consciousness. I am pleased to report that after a 2-day stay at Mid-Michigan Regional Medical Center in Gladwin, Jessica Doherty was released from the hospital and has resumed a normal life. Both Travis and Josh had just learned CPR in health classes during the previous school year. Mr. Speaker, no amount of training can prepare a person for the moment when they face a real, life-or-death situation, but Travis Lieu, Tom and Josh Garvie were given the fundamental tools by learning lifesaving skills at school. By using these skills, staying calm and taking control of the situation, they were able to give Jessica Doherty a second chance at life. Congratulations to Travis Lieu, Tom and Josh Garvie for a job well done.

Mr. CAMP

Mr. CAMP. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding this time to me. Today we celebrate an important achievement by the Congress and the White House. But most importantly, we celebrate a victory for the American people. Yesterday in the spending bill we celebrated balancing the budget for the first time in 30 years, saving Medicare, which is so important for health care for our seniors. But today we celebrate with the American people receiving tax relief for the first time in 16 years. Working families in mid-Michigan and across America who are raising children and saving for their education will receive not only a $500-per-child credit, but also tax relief to help pay for the rising costs of tuition. I represent a primarily rural district in the middle part of Michigan, and for millions of farmers across the country and many farmers in my district this tax relief bill means a better chance of continuing to do what they love to do, and that is feed our Nation and the world. It also provides the opportunity to pass on the farm to the next generation, and many farmers in my district are second and third generation farmers. With this bill farmers will get tax relief from capital gains tax, and farming is heavily capital intensive, and also relief from death taxes that often force families to give up family farms in order to pay the IRS. We are providing family farmers with relief by providing income averaging to try to level the peaks and valleys that often come with unreliable weather and crop years, and that will help with their tax bills. Mr. Speaker, family farmers in mid-Michigan are tired of knowing the IRS is waiting to claim a huge share of their efforts. With this bill we deliver real tax relief that will lead to the opportunity for greater prosperity and a higher quality of life on the family farm and in the homes of all Americans.

Mr. CAMP

Mr. CAMP. Mr. Chairman, will the gentleman yield?

Mr. CAMP. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman from Indiana for yielding this time to me, and I thank him for his leadership on this issue and would associate myself with his remarks, and, Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of the Roemer-Camp amendment. We all know the Federal Government is drowning in a sea of red ink. The Roemer-Camp amendment would help in a very small way at least to stem that tide. It would allow unspent office funds to be used specifically for deficit reduction. As my fellow Members know, every office has provided funds to meet office expenses. The funds are not specific to each Member, but Members draw upon the account up to a certain level as needed. This amendment would reaffirm our commitment to eliminating the Federal debt and send a strong message to the American people that we, too, are willing to sacrifice and to put our fiscal house in order. If every Member saved only $50,000 a year, over $21 million would be returned to the Treasury to reduce the Federal debt. This amount obviously will not eliminate the Federal debt, but it will show the American people that Congress will do more with less in order to provide our children with a future that is free of debt and rich with opportunity. I urge a vote in favor of the Roemer-Camp amendment.

Mr. CAMP

Mr. CAMP. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding time to me. Our sugar policy was reformed in the 1996 farm bill, Mr. Chairman, which many speakers have mentioned. But I know our opponents also say that they rely on this discredited GAO report claiming that U.S. sugar is overpriced. They constantly cite this 1993 report. The authors of this flawed report based their entire analysis on a faulty assumption. They assumed that without a sugar policy, U.S. consumers could pay an outrageously low world price of 14 cents a pound for sugar. They failed to mention that the world price was a dump price, the price sugar-exporting countries get for dumping their highly-subsidized sugar on world markets. The world dump price for sugar is hopelessly flawed and cannot be used as a gauge for measuring sugar's cost. Even the USDA says the GAO report was ``* * * flawed in its estimates, and important data and market issues were not considered.'' The USDA also said, ``Using different world price estimates, it can be shown using GAO's methodology that there are no costs to domestic users and consumers.'' Oppose the Miller-Schumer amendment.

Mr. CAMP

Mr. CAMP. Mr. Speaker, the Treasury Department is not being straight with the American people. The Treasury Department is using misleading, bogus information about the bipartisan tax relief package. For example, they use something called family economic income. Now, people are probably wondering what is family economic income? That is the imputed rental value of a home, even though one does not plan to rent it; inside buildup on a pension or benefits one may receive at work. That is a definition of income that was dropped by the Joint Tax Committee, which is a bipartisan committee, Democrat and Republican, House and Senate, and they dropped that definition of income when the Democrats were in control of the Congress. I think those who are calling family economic income the correct definition will have a hard time explaining to the schoolteachers, truck drivers, waitresses, factory workers, farmers, and nurses in my district that they are rich. According to the Treasury Department's absurd calculation, family economic income would take someone earning $45,000 a year and, for purposes of that calculation, say they earned $75,000 a year. I guess anything to deny middle-class tax relief.

Mr. CAMP

Mr. CAMP. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding the time to me. Mr. Speaker, I also want to comment on the remarks of my colleague on the Committee on Ways and Means, who I have great respect for, and his eloquence in terms of having us control the spending side. But I rise to oppose this motion to instruct because the second provision, which says that they would like to provide the focused per child tax credit to people who are not paying taxes, that would make that credit a refundable credit. The only way we could do that is to make it a cash payment. I think people should understand that is a huge source of fraud and noncompliance. When I visit the middle part of Michigan and have town meetings, people are always talking to me about the fraud in these programs, and how can we get at that. In April of 1997 the IRS released a study that said the EITC, which is a refundable credit, had an error and fraud rate of 21 percent. So that meant of the $28 billion in 1998, nearly $6 billion was due to error and fraud, according to the Clinton administration's IRS. That is completely and totally unacceptable. We have heard a lot of rhetoric about how much help is enough. All EITC recipients already receive public assistance which is unavailable to middle-income taxpayers. For example, a family of four with one worker and two children who earns $18,000 a year receives an EITC of $2,555 and has a total income and FICA due of $199. A family, the same family of four that had an income of $24,000, would have an EITC of $1,292, a total income and FICA taxes due of $2,380. A middle-income family of $50,000 would receive no EIC, would have a total income tax of $11,505. Mr. Speaker, I would like to be able to help every taxpayer and every individual more, but we really need to bring some help to these middle- income taxpayers. And just as a note, under the Clinton administration proposal, at $60,000 of income a family of four would have a tax liability over $14,000 and they would see their $500 per child tax credit begin to be phased out or lost under that proposal. So I think we have no alternative but to oppose this motion to instruct, because what it does is make this $500 credit refundable. There is so much fraud in the refundable credit system we have seen already with the EIC, and Americans are saying, please, do something about the fraud; do not create another fraudulent program.

Mr. CAMP

Mr. CAMP. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding time to me. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I rise under the Corrections Calendar. The Corrections Advisory Group is responsible for identifying and eliminating outdated or unnecessary laws, rules, and regulations. With over 67,000 pages of regulations alone, we have a lot of work to do. The bill before us today is the third bill to be considered under the Corrections Calendar. It is the third bill to correct an outdated or unnecessary law. Today it will be the third bill passed by the House under this unique process. By working with my colleagues, and as a result of the efforts of the gentleman from California, Mr. Ron Packard, we were able to identify the problem and to quickly find a solution. It is the bipartisan nature of the Corrections Advisory Group that makes this targeted action possible. When the Congress enacted immigration reform last year, it spoke clearly: No Federal benefits would be paid to those who are illegally present in the United States. Unfortunately, an anomaly in the housing law allowed relocation benefits to be paid to an illegal alien to the tune of $12,000. My colleague, the gentleman from California, as I mentioned, brought this loophole to the Congress' attention, and through the bipartisan Corrections Day process we are able to correct this glaring error. The bill clarifies that, if an individual is here illegally, that status must be taken into account when paying Federal benefits under the Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisitions Policy Act. While the name may sound complicated, the goal of the bill is clear: Those individuals who enter the country illegally should not receive relocation benefits. As chairman of the Corrections Day Advisory Group, it was a pleasure to recommend this bill for action. I would like to thank the gentleman from Pennsylvania [Mr. Shuster], the chairman, and the gentleman from Wisconsin [Mr. Petri], the subcommittee chairman, and the ranking member, the gentleman from Minnesota [Mr. Oberstar], for quickly reporting this bill to the House. I would also like to commend the gentleman from California [Mr. Packard] for his diligence in seeing this bill through. I urge my colleagues to support the bill.

Mr. CAMP

Mr. CAMP. Mr. Chairman, I thank the chairman of the committee for yielding time to me. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong support of the tax relief bill before us today. This bill, the first tax relief in 16 years, represents a significant first step in our efforts to allow middle-income taxpayers to keep more of what they earn. Today the average American pays more in taxes than they do for food, clothing, and housing combined. This tax relief bill will help stem this tide. This bill provides a $500-per-child tax credit, which will help 41 million children. Some people want to stop the tax credit once a child reaches 13. Our bill realizes that the cost of raising a child does not get any cheaper; in fact, costs rise. This bill also eases the death tax, so our Nation's farmers and small business owners can pass their legacy on to their children. More than 60 percent of the family-owned businesses fold before reaching the second generation, not because of poor management, but because the Government taxes them at up to 50 percent. We also make it easier for children to realize the goal of a college education by including and improving the President's HOPE scholarship proposal. We are hearing a lot about distribution charts that show who benefits from tax relief, and by how much. In order to cook the numbers, the administration calculates how much you could earn if you rented your house and then adds this amount to your income. This is how they make you seem richer than you really are. In addition, they include your pension fund, your health benefits, and your life insurance to your income. The result is that the number of families with incomes between $50,000 and $75,000 rises by 25 percent under that plan. The nonpartisan Joint Committee on Taxation estimates that 76 percent of the tax relief in this bill goes to Americans earning under $75,000 a year. Lost in this debate is a fundamental idea that Washington has ignored for 16 years. It is the idea that it is your money. The Government is not entitled to it, you are. You earned it. You know how best to spend it, and you deserve to keep it.

Mr. CAMP

Mr. CAMP. Mr. Speaker, as chairman of the Corrections Advisory Group, I am pleased to again appear before the House under the Corrections Calendar to correct an unintended consequence of current law. Passage of this bill will once again place the scissors of efficiency on the hunt for redtape. My distinguished colleague from Georgia, Mr. Collins, a fellow member of the Committee on Ways and Means, introduced H.R. 1316 on April 14, 1997, to correct what we all agree was an unintentional byproduct of Federal law affecting Federal employees. There is a law of physics that says for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. Unfortunately, there is no law that says these reactions must be beneficial. Currently when a Federal beneficiary dies, the Federal life insurance benefits are granted to the individual named as beneficiary. If, however, no beneficiary has been named, there may be uncertainty and turmoil that can result. So in these trying times, families are often faced with difficult decisions on benefits and are made to face court challenges from others who seek to take advantage of the Federal employee's inaction in naming a beneficiary. Unfortunately, under current law, State domestic relations orders such as divorce decrees or property settlements do not affect the life insurance payments of Federal employees if no beneficiary has been named. So the net effect of current law can punish children and family members because of the benefactor's failure to designate a new beneficiary. H.R. 1316 could require the Office of Personnel Management to pay the Federal employee's insurance proceeds in accordance with State domestic relations orders. This would make sure that, in the event that no beneficiary had been named, the life insurance benefits are granted to family members and children as based on State court orders. This small change will ensure that family and children are cared for. I want to thank the chairman and ranking member of the subcommittee and I want to thank my colleague, the gentleman from Georgia [Mr. Collins]. This is the second bill reported by the corrections committee to be considered on the House floor. The first, the nurse aide training bill, was introduced, passed by the House and Senate and signed into law in 2 months. It is the unique quality of the corrections committee that brings these bills to the floor in a streamlined way. The committee works in a bipartisan manner. We work with the committee chairs who handle these issues and we are able to forge a consensus among Members and bring needed improvements and changes to the House floor. This legislation before us today enjoys strong bipartisan support, and again I commend my colleagues for introducing this improvement to our Nation's laws. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to adopt this bill.

Mr. CAMP

Mr. CAMP. Mr. Speaker, the Detroit Red Wings were rewarded for their excellence last Saturday night by sweeping the Philadelphia Flyers and bringing home the Stanley Cup for the first time in 42 years. Several images from the Red Wings triumphant run for the Cup will forever be imbedded in the hearts and memories of Wings fans everywhere. The steel-jawed determination of head coach Scotty Bowman, who became the first coach to win the Stanley Cup with three different teams; the spectacular performance of playoff-MVP goaltender Mike Vernon, who turned away shot after opposing shot; or the gritty play of Brendan Shanahan, Darren MacCarty, the ``Grind Line''; and of course the international flair of the team, led by the likes of Sergei Fedorov and Igor Larionov. However no player demonstrated the unwavering intensity and unselfishness of the team more than the captain Steve Yzerman. After years of personal triumphs, Yzerman's leadership finally brought home the Stanley Cup to the great State of Michigan. His perseverance and unwavering dedication gave one of the classiest players in pro sports the recognition he has so long deserved. The Red Wings are an example of a team working together in the pursuit of excellence. Their play and accomplishments should be applauded, along with the integrity and commitment to overcome the many obstacles that stood before them. The State of Michigan is proud to salute the 1997 Stanley Cup Champions, the Detroit Red Wings.