Donna Christensen

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to an individual who, surrounded by culture in his formative years, had a vision to preserve an important aspect of the Virgin Islands quality of life. Mr. Bradley Christian, along with Norma Christian and Claudia Walker were the first officers of the St. Croix Heritage Dancer, founded by Enrique Santos. Mr. Christian has committed himself to preserving our cultural dances for future generations so that they may have an awareness of the rich culture to be found in the Virgin Islands, specifically on St. Croix. These dances are a combination of the influence of the seven flags that flew over our island and the ethnicities of the different people who have lived here. They have evolved into a performance that is second to none, incorporating the influences of the German and French quadrille. Mr. Christian and the St. Croix Heritage Dancers have performed all over the Caribbean and the United States, including being featured during the Smithsonian Folklife Festival in 1990. The St. Croix Heritage Dancers is celebrating their 23rd year anniversary with a Hibiscus Ball on Saturday, May 22nd. King Michael Dow and Queen Slyvia Stewart will rule over this year's celebration. The 2004 honorees are Eldred ``Edgie'' Christian, Jr. and Ernest ``Prince Galloway'' Galloway, Jr. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of my family, staff and the people of the United States Virgin Islands, it is an honor for me to enter this tribute to Mr. Bradley Christian into the Congressional Record.

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today as my beloved U.S. Virgin Islands celebrates the 87th anniversary of the transfer of sovereignty from Denmark to the United States of America. On March 31, 1917, our American journey began in earnest as we became an official part of the American family. While that journey was predated by a friendship with the United States that began during the Revolutionary War, we are told by our grandmothers that on that spring day long ago there were tears of joy and sadness as they said good-bye to the old and welcomed the new. Today, we are proud Americans serving in all of its wars, rejoicing at its accomplishments, and working with our brothers and sisters to meet its challenges in health care, education, and social justice. We have not forgotten, however, our shared history of over 250 years with Denmark as we welcome tourists seeking Caribbean roots, apprentice our children to learn of shared craftsmanship, and share the archival materials we have in common. Mr. Speaker, the uniqueness of the U.S. Virgin Islands can be found in its relationship to many nations, as it has been a cultural crossroads for people the world over. Today, on March 31, 2004, we celebrate the roots of our diversity as we celebrate yet another Transfer Day.

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time, and I want to applaud our chairman, the gentleman from Maryland (Chairman Cummings), and also the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Scott) for this budget. I join them and my colleagues in strong opposition to the Republican budget. On November 6 of last year, we introduced the Health Care Equality and Accountability Act of 2003 with the Democratic leadership in this House and the Senate. Today I am here to assure my colleagues that that was not just a message bill. The CBC budget seeks to meet the needs of people of color in this country, the health care needs, as well as other needs, who have been left behind for so long. Mr. Chairman, giving taxes breaks to the wealthy cannot be a priority of this country when our people are sick, disabled, and dying and do not have access to healing and lifesaving care. So our budget reauthorizes funds to the Office of Minority Health, the Indian Health Service, Health Professions and other programs that reach out to and bring wellness to our communities. It supports our teaching and safety net hospitals and other facilities, and fully funds Medicaid. This is not increasing taxes; this is stopping corporate giveaways, giveaways to the wealthy, and investing in the strength of this country: our people. Dr. Martin Luther King said, ``Of all forms of inequality, injustice in health care is the most shocking and inhumane.'' We agree. And with the CBC budget, we continue our work to correct that injustice, to restore health as a right, and to heal America. We urge our colleagues to vote ``yes'' on the Congressional Black Caucus budget.

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me the time. I rise in strong support of H.R. 2993, the District of Columbia and U.S. Territories Circulating Quarter Dollar Program Act. It is a pleasure for me to be here as we again move closer toward rectifying the omission of the District of Columbia and the insular areas from the original 50 State Commemorative Coin Program Act. It has been more than 3 years; but with the vote today on H.R. 2993, my constituents as well as those of my colleagues from the Nation's capital and the other territories will finally get the opportunity to have our Nation commemorate and celebrate a significant event or fact about our respective homes. My district, the U.S. Virgin Islands, also known as America's Paradise, has many ecological, historical and cultural treasures which are worthy of commemoration. We also boast of having been the place where the first Secretary of the Treasury, Alexander Hamilton, grew up and honed the skills which served our fledgling nation so well. For the benefit of those who might not know this, the Virgin Islands have been a member of the American family since 1917 when Denmark sold the islands of the former Danish West Indies, St. Thomas, St. Croix and St. John, to the United States for just $25 million. We are located 1,000 miles southeast of Miami in the Caribbean Sea and are four main islands with numerous keys, with beaches that have consistently ranked among the best in the world. We also boast the only site where the members of Christopher Columbus' party are known to have set foot on what is today the U.S. The Salt River National Historical and Ecological Park was established in 1992 to, among other things, commemorate this important historical event. Mr. Speaker, the people of the Virgin Islands see it as only fitting that we, along with the residents and citizens of Guam, American Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia should also have the opportunity to educate our fellow Americans on whose side we have fought to defend and protect our Nation in every conflict from the Revolutionary War to the present day about our unique qualities, as well as promote our pride at being Americans. Mr. Speaker, I also want to thank the gentleman from Delaware (Mr. Castle), the champion of the original bill, and our ranking member, the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Frank), for including the District of Columbia and our territories, and I particularly want to also extend our gratitude to the gentlewoman from the District of Columbia because it was her leadership and dogged determination that made this day possible, and I ask my colleagues to support her in our effort and vote ``yes'' on H.R. 2993.

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to an individual that was not only a leader to the people of the Virgin Islands but a political role model for me and many of us who have chosen a life of public service to the people of the United States Virgin Islands. Former Lt. Governor Henry Allan Millin, one of our most revered public servants, passed on into eternity on February 4, 2004, on St. Thomas. Henry A. Millin was destined for a life of public service. The son of the pioneering woman senator, Lucinda A. Millin, Henry Millin's contributions to the 20th century modernization of the U.S. Virgin Islands have been significant. He lead the way in public housing development, having been appointed Assistant Executive Director of the newly established Virgin Islands Housing Authority in 1950. Mr. Millin later assumed the position of Executive Director. During his tenure at the Housing Authority, he oversaw the construction of the first public housing units in the Territory. He was commended by President John F. Kennedy for administering one of the outstanding housing operations under the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Henry Millin later assumed the distinguished position as a Senior Vice President for First Pennsylvania Bank N.A. This period of distinguished service in the private sector of our community was followed by an even more momentous four-year term (1978- 82) as the third elected Lt. Governor of the Virgin Islands during a tumultuous period for Virgin Islanders, following the death of Governor Cyril Emmanuel King. Mr. Speaker, I fondly remember Mr. Millin as being one of my first bosses, when I interned with the Virgin Islands Housing Authority as a high school student. He was also a close friend of my father, the former District Court Judge Almeric Christian. I consider myself fortunate to have had such a personal relationship with Mr. Millin. He was certainly an inspiration and a role model for me. Mr. Millin was also a dedicated husband and father. He was married to Graciela G. Millin and was the father of five children, six grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of my family, staff and the people of the U.S. Virgin Islands, it is an honor for me to immortalize the memory of Lt. Governor Henry A. Millin by entering this tribute into the Congressional Record. I want to close with a quote from this great leader and public that exemplifies the spirit with which he served: The people have the right to look forward to changes, not made hastily, nor on the basis of political spleen nor political favoritism. Rather, changes must be on the basis of careful planning, objective thinking, and the interests of the people being the main and determining factor. May his memory evoke the legacy of progress that he worked so tirelessly to establish for Virgin Islanders.

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of the Miller- Woolsey amendment to H.R. 3030 which ensures that Federal funds will not be used to support discrimination in hiring and I commend the authors for sponsoring it. Mr. Chairman, I support and have always supported faith based organizations. They have played a major role in the delivery of social services in our country, in particular those who have been a part of the Congressional Black Caucus's Minority AIDS Initiative. But what the White House and the Republicans are trying to do is relinquish government responsibility for the safety nets that millions of people rely on. More importantly, under cover of supporting the work of our faith-based institutions, they are attempting to unravel our civil rights by writing into the bill the right to discriminate. Mr. Chairman, we need to call this egregious hand that they are trying to deal to the American public and say no to weakening our safety nets and a big no to discrimination. Is there no shame?

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce legislation to create the position of Chief Financial Officer for the Government of the Virgin Islands. It is my hope and intention that by temporarily placing the reins of fiscal management of the Virgin Islands government outside of the political arena we will be able to end years of crisis management and place the islands on sound financial footing for the long term. Mr. Speaker, my beloved community, has been plagued over the years and several administrations, by one economic or fiscal crisis after another. If allowed to continue or recur, they have the potential of forcing us into total fiscal collapse. The factors which have caused these crises are numerous and include among other things: the decline in our tourism sector due to the demographic shift from cities of the Eastern Seaboard to areas in the West and Midwest; being hit by as many as 6 catastrophic hurricanes since 1989; and the fact that the territory's geography mandates a large government workforce and necessitates the replication of many basic services. When the current administration of Governor Charles W. Turnbull took office in January of 1999, the territory was in a fiscal state of enormous and alarming proportions. While Governor Turnbull is to be commended for his response to that crisis and the succeeding ones he has faced, because of the special and unique burdens we face, history informs that the necessary political resolve to put measures in place to address these problems, some of which will call for public sacrifice, is best found and sustained outside of the political process. It is for this reason that I am introducing the Virgin Islands CFO Act today. The CFO will be empowered to oversee and approve all spending of the government of the Virgin Islands and be authorized by law to disapprove items of spending which would send the government into financial deficit. The CFO position would sunset after five years and while he or she would be appointed by the Governor of the Virgin Islands from a list of names selected by a search commission, and confirmed by the Legislature, he or she will not be an ``at-will'' employee of the government and could only be removed for cause. Mr. Speaker, this is not an easy bill for me to introduce, but it is a necessary one at this time. It is an action that I feel is in the best interest of all of my constituents and the responsible course of action for me to take. I ask for my colleagues support.

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, on March 20, 2002, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) released a landmark report entitled: Unequal Treatment: Confronting Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Health Care. Among other key findings, the report documented that minorities in the United States receive fewer life-prolonging cardiac medications and surgeries, are less likely to receive dialysis and kidney transplants, and are less likely to receive adequate treatment for pain. Its first and most telling finding States that ``racial and ethnic disparities in healthcare exist and, because they are associated with worse outcomes in many cases, are unacceptable.'' The reasons for these disparities in treatment are wide and varied, and include, but are not limited to: healthcare provider prejudice or bias, the implicit nature of stereotypes, and broader historic and contemporary social and economic inequality. The report included a series of recommendations and interventions for policy changes to eliminate these unacceptable disparities. Whether it is the recently released IOM report on Unequal Treatment: Confronting Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Health Care, the Commonwealth Fund's report Diverse Communities, Common Concerns: Assessing Health Care Quality for Minority Americans or a recent report by Physicians for Human Rights (2003) found that many minority groups receive lower quality evaluation and treatment than white Americans for a wide range of medical conditions, even when each has health insurance. We are continually reminded that throughout the history of our great Nation, our people have been denied access to the best that medical science has had to offer--often relegated to hospitals with outdated equipment and served by African-American health care providers who, although as capable, intelligent, and gifted as their white counterparts, often could not obtain equivalent training because of racist practices such as segregation. This segregated health system was largely responsible for the health inequities that existed during the early and middle part of this century. Indeed, in 1951 Dr. W. Montague Cobb, editor of the Journal of the National Medical Association, stated ``For nearly fifty years the retarded health status of our Negro population has been common knowledge and the object of sporadic corrective effort''. With the Civil Rights came an acknowledgment came greater equality in many aspects of life for African-Americans, including greater access to quality health care. As an effort to extend such acknowledgment I am proud to introduce the Health Empowerment Zone Act of 2003. This act directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services with the Administrator of the Health Resources and Services administration and the Directors of the Office of Minority Health, of the Office of Community Services and National Center for Minority Health and Health Disparities to establish health empowerment zone programs in communities that disproportionately experience disparities in health status and health care, and for other purposes. To be eligible the communities must demonstrate that they experience disproportionate disparities in health status and health care, set forth a strategic plan and create a partnership, with individuals, businesses, schools, minority health associations, nonprofit organizations, community-based organizations, hospitals, health care clinics, and foundations. The health empowerment zone designation would provide communities the ability to effectively access Federal programs (namely in the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Education, the Department of Labor, the Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Small Business Administration) to improve the health or environment of minority individuals in the community and to coordinate the efforts regarding the elimination of racial and ethnic disparities in health status and health care. Special consideration is given to community that have demonstrated expertise in providing culturally appropriate and linguistically responsive services. The bill directs communities to establish a health empowerment zone coordinating committee that will provide technical assistance and evidence-based strategies to the zone, including providing guidance on research, strategies, health outcomes, program goals, management, implementation, monitoring, assessment, and evaluation processes. This bill recognizes that disparities in health and health care found among minority Americans have multiple causes. Lower socioeconomic status and a higher rate of uninsurance are major contributors to the health disparities experienced by minority Americans but non-health factors also play an important role. The bill codifies legislatively the framework needed to implement sound public health practices such as: Primary health promotion and disease prevention: Identifying and strengthening protective ecological conditions conducive to health; and identifying and reducing various health risks. Secondary health promotion and disease prevention: Identifying, adopting, and reinforcing specific protective behaviors; and early detection and reduction of existing health problems. Tertiary health promotion and disease prevention: Improving the quality of life of community members affected by health problems; and avoiding deterioration, reducing complications from specific disorders, and preventing relapse of risky behaviors. This bill is a start to a new paradigm for health and I urge my colleagues to support this bill, so that we do what is so clearly needed to improve the health and health care for millions of minority Americans.

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, we fully support the goals of H.R. 1964. The purpose of this legislation is to facilitate conservation and preservation, ideals we fight for in this Congress on a regular basis. However, we must point out that the scope of H.R. 1964 is truly stunning. This legislation will create a new Federal conservation program covering 2 million acres and 1.4 million people in 4 States. The precise boundaries of this new Federally created area are only generally defined in the bill, and there are no references to a map to allow property owners to know if their property is included or not. Furthermore, the goals of this new conservation program are sweeping. The bill states that the Federal Government should work with States, units of local government and private property owners to ``protect, restore and preserve the water, forest, agricultural, wildlife, recreational and cultural resources'' contained in this new Federal area. It is difficult to imagine a broader conservation mandate. Given the ongoing and severe underfunding of the land and water conservation funds, we continue to have concerns regarding the impact of this new $100 million effort may have on other worthy conservation programs funded with LWCF dollars. However, we will support H.R. 1964 at this time. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. As stated, we did have some concerns about the expense of the bill and the funding for it, given the limitations of the land and water conservation fund, but we are supportive of the bill.

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pascrell), my good friend and classmate.

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Engel).

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I have listened to the debate tonight, and I think everyone agrees that some seniors and disabled would benefit by this bill. But if truth be told, many would lose, which is not what we set out to do--we need and promised a bill that provides a prescription drug benefit for all Medicare beneficiaries, not just a few. What is clear and why we should oppose this bill, is that if passed it would sound the death-knell for Medicare. We must insist that the Republicans provide funding to shore up our rural hospitals. We must insist that the Republican leadership not only increase the physician payments this fiscal year, but fix the formula, so that the payments won't be cut again next year. But what we must not do, is let this divide and conquer tactic make us pass a bill that would do more harm than good and physicians and hospitals should not allow themselves to be used to dismantle the very program they and the patients they are sworn to serve, depend on for the long run. With a few crumbs to seniors and the disabled, and playing on the dire need of hospitals and doctors, this bill is nothing more than another corporate give-away. We can afford to vote this bill down, start again, with an inclusive process--the benefit doesn't start for two years anyway. What we cannot afford to do and must not do is to kill Medicare; we must vote no on H.R. 1.

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. (Mrs. CHRISTENSEN asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Madam Speaker, as stated by the previous speaker, H.R. 2584 is noncontroversial legislation that would convey a decommissioned research vessel formerly operated by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to the local government of Utrok Atoll located in the Republic of the Marshall Islands. Congress should do whatever we can to help the residents of Utrok Atoll. It is imperative that they receive the critical medical testing and treatment necessary to address the increased rates of thyroid cancer and birth defects that have arisen as a result of the U.S. nuclear testing program we conducted in the Northern Marshall Islands between 1946 and 1958. The conveyance of this former NOAA vessel will allow more convenient and less expensive transportation for these residents who have to make a 265-mile trip to the neighboring islands of Majuro where the medical facilities are located. I commend the gentleman from American Samoa (Mr. Faleomavaega) for introducing this legislation to help the residents of this very remote atoll in the Pacific Ocean. This legislation also contains a very important amendment to address a problem regarding serious lapses in procedure affecting past appointments and promotions for NOAA's Uniformed Corps of Officers. It is important that the chain of command of the NOAA Corps not be disrupted. And while any future repeat of these procedural lapses may not be tolerated, this matter must be addressed expeditiously to prevent any operational or command dysfunction from arising. I urge all Members to support this legislation.

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I want to respond to one of my physician colleagues who was on the floor last evening and speak to others who think that they and we ought to support the conference report on Medicare reform. One of the most important tenets of the oath we take as physicians is that we must do no harm. This is to guide us in our practice and our interactions with both our patients and society. The Medicare bill that will be before us today will do much harm by threatening to take away retiree prescription drug coverage. By refusing to provide wraparound coverage for poor seniors and disabled on Medicare, it will exclude many poor, disabled, and elderly by means testing, and most of all it will begin to destroy this important program which so many depend on and need. Mr. Speaker, if this bill were to pass tomorrow, it would not help one senior next year. We have time to do it right and fulfill the promise we made to provide a comprehensive plan. Physicians, do not allow our profession to be used to pass a bad bill or hurt our patients. I urge physicians to call their representatives and tell them to vote ``no.'' I urge my colleagues to vote ``no.'' Whether physician or Member of Congress, above all we must do no harm.

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 135. This legislation would establish the 21st Century Water Policy Commission to study Federal, State, local, and private water management programs in an effort to develop recommendations for a comprehensive national water strategy. Mr. Speaker, the objectives of H.R. 135 are worthwhile, and I appreciate the cooperation we have received from the sponsor of this bill. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation. Mr. Speaker, I yield 10 minutes to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Costello) and ask unanimous consent that he be allowed to control said time.

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. (Mrs. CHRISTENSEN asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to revise and extend my remarks in strong opposition to the rule and the conference report, which helps HMOs and hurts poor women, minorities, and the disabled. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to the rule and the Medicare conference report. The process by which we come to this place has been ugly. The conference committee locked out the democratic leadership from the process, and is sending this bill down without the 3 days to review it that we were promised. But we should not be surprised. The bill itself is a more important broken promise--this one to the Senior citizens and disabled persons who have relied on Medicare to be there for them, and who have waited long for a comprehensive prescription drug benefit. They would be the real losers if we pass this bill and that is why I am asking my colleagues to vote ``no.'' Let us not take away the Medicare wrap around provision for those who need it, let us not jeopardize the good prescription drug benefit so many of our seniors and disabled now have, let us not put any more money in the already rich HMO's, let us take the means test and the mean out of this bill, and above all let us not destroy Medicare. Mr. Speaker, this bill stinks, and no amount of promises to fund rural hospitals or increase physician's reimbursement can make it smell any better. Besides, this is coming from the same Party leadership that has been cutting physician and hospital fees, and refusing to remedy them for years. If they are known for anything, it is for broken promises. We have no reason to rush and accept this defective piece of legislation that takes away more than it gives, and puts the first nail in the coffin the Republicans have been building for a long time for Medicare. Any prescription drug benefit won't take effect until more than two years from now, so if we really care about our seniors and disabled we should take the time to get it right. And if all of the tears I see shedding on the other side of the aisle for our suffering doctors, the struggling hospitals are any more than of the crocodile variety, we should do the right thing before we go home and pass those provisions now.

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Cummings) for yielding, and I thank him for hosting this Special Order today. I would have come here to primarily discuss H.R. 3459, the Healthcare Equality and Accountability Act of 2003, which is a very important piece of legislation that the four caucuses that we have heard have introduced with our Democratic leadership in both this and the other body. The bill, which I call the Heal America Act, would do just that: heal America, because the health of people of color is inextricably linked to that of all Americans. So the provisions that are included, which would expand Medicaid to include pregnant women, young people to the age of 20, and legal immigrants, which provides that Federal program set standards and pay for translation services; that includes programs for young people of color to enter the health professions at all levels, and even for older ones to enter the health professions by changing their profession as long as they practice in underserved communities; which would strengthen the safety net facilities like our hospitals and our community health centers; fully funds and strengthens the Office of Civil Rights within the Department of Health and Human Services, as well as the Office of Minority Health which creates empowerment zones so the communities themselves, which face high disparities, will get the resources and technical assistance that they need to address their health care challenges. This bill would finally bring this country to the top of the list of nations in the world for our health, reverse the global statistics that we have heard from our chairman and, instead of being the thirty-ninth of all of the nations of the world, it would reduce the premature deaths and disabilities that exist in the people of color here; would begin to reduce the skyrocketing health care costs, and also to restore the greatness of this country, which has indeed been tarnished by our recent history here and in the world. But tonight I want to focus more on an imminent threat to the equality and accountability in health care for millions of Americans. After years of promising a prescription drug benefit, and my knowing from experience as a family physician how badly it is needed, it is a painful task to come to this floor this evening to oppose what we understand is going to be brought to the floor as a Medicare reform bill, perhaps tomorrow. I, like many of my physician colleagues, was tempted to support it, just so we could get something done to alleviate the burden of health care for our patients. But the lives, the health, and the needs of our seniors and the disabled people in this country are too important to just take anything, no matter how defective it might be, just to do something. It would not be fulfilling our promise of a comprehensive prescription drug benefit; it would be reneging on that promise. We who are here tonight have too much respect for our constituents. We know that we have to continually earn the trust that they have placed in us with their vote. So we are here tonight to oppose the Medicare conference agreement, and to tell our colleagues why. Despite all of the carrots; for example, the rural provisions which themselves seem to be little more than smoke and mirrors, and the increased payments for physicians which, if the leadership believes, as I do, that it needs to be done, we can do that separately. The bottom line for me is that this bill begins to destroy a program that has provided real health security, that has kept many seniors and disabled persons out of poverty, and which has provided access to health care for them for over 30 years. I cannot in good conscience be a part of dismantling this important safety net program. Yes, I know that some provisions, like premium support, are just demonstration programs, but that is opening a door that should just remain shut. This conference report goes against what we have been working towards in our caucus: the elimination of disparities in health care for African Americans and other people of color. African Americans are 8 percent of Medicare recipients, and 32 percent of African Americans who have some insurance, have Medicare. While 40 percent of all Medicare beneficiaries are below 200 percent of poverty, 65 percent of African American beneficiaries are. Thirty-three percent are below the poverty level period. We are then disproportionately among the very poor, and this bill will increase cost-sharing for people who fall in that category. While it may start out relatively low in the first year, it can be counted on to increase with increasing drug prices which average 10 percent an increase a year. I am also very concerned that there is a very strict means test that will be applied to even these poor beneficiaries: $6,000 for individuals and $9,000 for a couple, which means that many seniors and disabled who need this benefit will be left out. All of this will mean that even the little that the bill does to provide for low-income Medicare beneficiaries will not be available for as many as up to 2.8 million individuals. This is not, Mr. Speaker, what we promised. Let us look at what happens to beneficiaries who have prescription drug coverage. Not only will this bill jeopardize the retiree prescription drug benefit, and 22 percent of African Americans with Medicare have a retiree prescription drug benefit, as well as 17 percent of Latino beneficiaries, but how could we, in good conscience, also worsen the already bad situation this report would create for the very poor dual-eligible who would also lose benefits that they have under Medicaid because this bill would eliminate the wrap-around provisions. Lastly, let me mention the potential cap on Medicaid, the potential cap on this Medicare prescription drug benefit if we pass the conference report. It goes to cost containment. We all know what cost containment has done for us thus far. It has filled the coffers of managed care corporations and, for the most part, has done so by reducing access to needed medical care for those who are enrolled and, virtually, it has left out the sicker, many of whom are poor, who are people of color, or who live in our rural areas. And has the cost of health care gone down in this country because of that cost containment? No, it has not. Have insurance premiums gone down or even stayed steady? No. They are increasing in double digits. So what we would be likely to see would be the rationing of care where we have just begun to see some minor changes. Cost containment would just expand the 2- and 3-tiered health care system where the sickest get the least care. This is not what we promised. I want to take this opportunity to answer one of my constituents, Rosalee Dance from Saint Thomas. She asked the question, because she is confused like many seniors are in this country. She asks me two questions. She asks, is it true that the bill creates a situation where people either pay sharply increased premiums to stay in traditional Medicare where they can choose their doctors, or be forced out into an HMO? Ms. Dance, the answer is yes, that is what the conference report would do. The second question she asks: is it true that it would require that people who want the prescription drug coverage that it is advertised to provide to buy such coverage that they would have to buy it from private insurance plans? Again, the answer is yes. This is not Medicare as it needs to be. All of these aspects reduce access of poor and minority seniors more than others to needed medication, which would otherwise maintain good health, prevent complications, prevent disabilities, and also prevent excess and preventable deaths. What we are doing, or what the Republican leadership is attempting to have us do is continue the same wrong-headed policies that have created the health care crisis that we are now in, through denying good prevention and health maintenance to all of the seniors and the disabled who are most in need and to most of the 16 percent of Medicare beneficiaries of racial and ethnic minority backgrounds. We would diminish the quality of services if we do this and increase the cost, continue to increase the cost of care for all. Mr. Speaker, it is time that we actually do what H.R. 3459 says, which is begin to heal our country, to heal America, and we can begin to do that by voting no on the Medicare proposal that will be coming before this House tomorrow.

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1189, to increase the waiver requirement for certain local matching requirements for grants to American Samoa, Guam, the Virgin Islands or the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. I want to commend my colleagues Eni Faleomavaega and Madeleine Bordallo for introducing the bill, which would increase the matching waiver requirement for the first time in twenty years. Last year the Resources Committee unanimously passed a similar bill jointly sponsored by our former colleague from Guam Robert Underwood, Eni Faleomavaega and myself and I'm pleased that we are once again taking this action. Mr. Speaker, as I indicated, it has been nearly twenty years since this law has been revisited. While territorial economies have improved each government, particularly my own, the government of the U.S. Virgin Islands continues to be challenged with rising unemployment, decreased government revenues, and attracting new capital for diversification. H.R. 1189 will help broaden U.S. territories' access to Federal grants by increasing the amount Federal agencies shall waive to $500,000. The bill also seeks to end the inconsistent manner in which 48 U.S.C. section 1469(a) is applied by clarifying that the matching waiver applies to all federal agencies and departments making grants to the U.S. territories, not just the Department of Interior (DOI). The bill also requires DOI to provide a report to Congress on the effect of the updated waiver requirement. It is my hope also Mr. Speaker, that Federal agencies will apply the waiver not just to grants awarded to the territorial governments, but also to non-profit organizations and other eligible non-governmental entities in the territories. Non-profit organizations in the territories fulfill a significant role in our communities. Groups such as Lutheran Social Services, the St. Croix Community Foundation and the V.I. Resource Center help meet the needs of the homeless, the disadvantaged, and those whose lives are buffeted by tough economic times. Their work is often supported by federal grants. Without such Federal assistance, the non-profit organizations in the territories would struggle to meet their missions and most would not be able to maintain the current level of assistance to our communities. In conclusion, Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Chairman Pombo and Ranking Member Rahall for their willingness to support and shepherd this bill through the legislative process. I also want to particularly thank our former colleague Bob Underwood, who for most of his tenure in the House, made increasing the matching waiver for the territories one of his highest priorities. I urge my colleagues to support passage of this bill.

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 280, legislation to create the National Aviation Heritage Area and urge my colleagues to support its passage. H.R. 280 includes as one of its sections, my bill, H.R. 1594, to provide for a suitability and feasibility study of establishing a St. Croix National Heritage Area in the United States Virgin Islands. The island of St. Croix has a long, distinguished, and varied history, including being the site where Christopher Columbus first stepped onto what is now American soil. There is significant interest in preserving and enhancing the natural, historical and cultural resources of the island on a cooperative basis and such a study would provide guidance on how we can best achieve those purposes. National Heritage areas are places where natural, cultural, historical and recreational resources combine to form a nationally distinctive landscape arising from patterns of human activity shaped by geography. While each island can make a good case for designation, the island of St. Croix with its two historic towns--Christiansted built in 1734 and Frederiksted built in 1752--is richly blessed with all of the attributes that would justify this designation. The town's historic architecture matured over a 100-year period. The town of Christiansted is one of the finest examples of Danish architectural designs in this hemisphere. Its history can be traced back some 4,000 years to 2500 BC. In 1493 Columbus arrived at what is now the Salt River National Historic Park and Ecological Preserve, making it the only site under the American flag where his men went ashore, as well as the first recorded hostile encounter between Europeans and Native Americans. Frederiksted has the distinction of having been the first jurisdiction to have raised its flag in salute of the new republic of the United States of America, and indeed the first designed flag was done by a resident of that island. Among the many strong ties of great national significance between St. Croix and the United States, perhaps the most significant one is that this island was the boyhood home of Alexander Hamilton, and where he began to develop the skills employed as the first Secretary of the Treasury of this country. I want to thank Full Committee Chairman Pombo, Ranking Member Rahall as well as Subcommittee Chairman Radanovich for their support is getting H.R. 1594 and H.R. 280 to the floor of the House today. My colleagues, H.R. 1549 is a good bill, which could serve as a catalyst for reinvigorating the lagging tourism sector on St. Croix. I urge its adoption.