Ben Campbell

Mr. CAMPBELL

Mr. CAMPBELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that reading of the amendment be dispensed with.

Mr. CAMPBELL. Mr. President, under a prior unanimous consent, all Members were advised that there would be debates tonight on the amendments that many of them had said they wanted to pursue. Several Senators have said they were going to be here this evening to do that. Unfortunately, we cannot find them. We don't know where they are. We called their offices. They are not down here to debate their amendments. So, with consultation with Senator Kohl, we are prepared to just close us down tonight. Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. CAMPBELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the amendments be set aside.

Mr. CAMPBELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that reading of the amendments be dispensed with.

Mr. CAMPBELL. Mr. President, I send two amendments to the desk on behalf of Senator Coverdell.

Mr. CAMPBELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. CAMPBELL. Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. CAMPBELL. Mr. President, I move to reconsider the vote.

Mr. CAMPBELL. This amendment has been cleared by both sides. I urge its immediate adoption.

Mr. CAMPBELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that reading of the amendment be dispensed with.

Mr. CAMPBELL. Mr. President, I send an amendment to the desk and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. CAMPBELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. CAMPBELL. Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. CAMPBELL. Mr. President, I move to reconsider the vote.

Mr. CAMPBELL. Mr. President, this amendment has been cleared on both sides of the aisle. I urge its immediate adoption.

Mr. CAMPBELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that reading of the amendment be dispensed with.

Mr. CAMPBELL. I send an amendment to the desk on behalf of Senator Abraham and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. CAMPBELL. Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. CAMPBELL. Mr. President, I move to reconsider the vote.

Mr. CAMPBELL. Mr. President, the majority has no objection to this amendment.

Mr. CAMPBELL

Mr. CAMPBELL. Mr. President, I am pleased today to introduce legislation to extend and improve the native American veteran direct loan pilot program. I am pleased to add Senators Johnson, Domenici, and Hatch as cosponsors of this legislation. America's most important resource has always been the individuals willing to lay down their lives for their country. Throughout our history we have been blessed with men and women willing to put themselves at risk for the greater good. Native Americans have been proud to be a part of this Nation's defense. From the revolutionary era to our ongoing peacekeeping missions around the globe, native Americans have served and continue to serve the United States honorably. It may surprise some members to know that native Americans served, suffered, and died in service to this Nation even though they were not allowed to be citizens until 1924. As a veteran I feel a special kinship with all those men and women who served this Nation in peacetime and in war. As an Indian veteran I am keenly aware of the dedicated service Indians, Alaskans, and Hawaiians have given--often without recognition of their sacrifice. How can we compensate these men and women for making the greatest sacrifice they could? There is no dollar value we can place on a life. At the very least, we must provide the basic benefits of health care, housing, and education to those that laid down their lives for America. Since 1992, the Department of Veterans Affairs has operated a direct housing loan program to help native America veterans build decent homes. I was amazed to find out that in the last 5 years, that program had provided eight Indian veterans with loans. That is not an indication that all Indian veterans have no housing needs. During a hearing on veterans issues, members of the Indian Affairs Committee saw videotape of the houses used by Navajo veterans. They looked like something you would see in a Third World nation, not America. Houses had holes in their roofs and walls and plastic sheets for windows. Many houses do not have working plumbing and water has to be carried from miles away. This is certainly not the appreciation and respect war veterans deserve. Native Americans seeking home loans face many obstacles unique to Indian country, including poor economic conditions and the fact that the land cannot be used as collateral. But the most surprising revelation at the committee's hearing was that the majority of Indian veterans seem to have little or no knowledge that the VA's direct loan program exists. If they do, many do not know how or where to apply. The Government has no problem finding these men and women when it is time to draft them to fight in a war. But when it is time to pay them back for their sacrifice, the effort just is not there. That is why the bill I introduce today does more than extend the direct loan program for 3 years. It includes measures to boost the Department of Veterans Affairs' efforts to implement the direct loan program for native American veterans. The bill places new requirements on the Department to consult with tribal organizations, native veterans organizations, and other groups prior to making decisions under the act. It also expresses Congress's desire that the Department carry out vigorous outreach and education efforts to inform potential beneficiaries of the housing assistance benefits under the act. The bill requires the Department to submit annual reports to the Committee on Indian Affairs, the House Resources Committee, and the Veterans' Committees of both Chambers containing a description of the outreach activities undertaken by the VA on a regional basis, with a second mandate that the VA conduct an assessment of how effective these efforts have been in encouraging greater use of the loan program. We must honor the service and sacrifice of our warriors. We must recognize the sacrifice they have made for all of us. The direct loan program is an ambitious idea designed to help our veterans with the most basic human need: a roof over their heads. It should not sit unused because of bureaucratic complacency. It is my hope that this reauthorization, with the appropriate changes, will jumpstart the Department's efforts to make the program available to native veterans and help them use it. I believe it is the least we can do. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this critical legislation. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill and a section-by-section analysis be printed in the Record.

Mr. CAMPBELL

Mr. CAMPBELL. Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. CAMPBELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that this amendment be set aside.

Mr. CAMPBELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the reading of the amendment be dispensed with.

Mr. CAMPBELL. Mr. President, I send an amendment to the desk on behalf of Senator Hatch and ask for its immediate consideration.