Mac Collins

Mr. COLLINS of Georgia

Mr. COLLINS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise to support this health care bill that will make health care more available and affordable for millions of Americans. This is a health care bill the American people have wanted for years. And this Congress was able to accomplish this without a Government takeover of health care. Two key provisions of this reform bill will eliminate health coverage exclusions based on pre-existing conditions and expand the portability of health care insurance plans for workers. American workers will no longer have to fear losing their health care coverage if they change jobs. And, people can change jobs without losing their health insurance even if they have a pre-existing condition. These are major breakthroughs in health care. We created Medical Savings Accounts to allow small business employees and the self-employed to make tax deductible contributions to a savings account if they choose to purchase a high deductible health plan. We increased to 80 percent the tax deduction self-employed individuals can claim for health insurance. We included tax deductions for nursing home and home health care insurance and approved accelerated death benefits which will provide Americans more access to health care. Finally, the legislation fights fraud and abuse in the health care industry by creating new criminal penalties and by increasing funding for prosecutions and investigations. I am pleased to learn that President Clinton announced he will sign this historic health reform legislation even though he had previously threatened to veto the measure. This legislation is good, sound health care policy. It provides a comprehensive approach to providing market-based health care reform that avoids the explosion of government bureaucracy.

Mr. COLLINS of Georgia

Mr. COLLINS of Georgia. Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.

Mr. COLLINS of Georgia. Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. COLLINS of Georgia. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Chairman, let me just sum this up by saying that there is not a Member of this Congress that I know of who is not strongly in favor of working prisoners, inmates. We feel like they should work. I probably am one of the strongest that there was in the State legislature of Georgia supporting work on behalf of those who have committed wrong. But also I am very interested and concerned about private sector small business jobs. The FPI has encroached considerably on a number of small businesses. They have violated what the intent of Congress was by lumping specific product numbers together so they could present a false impact statement as to how their new product or the product on the market they were entering was going to affect a particular small business. This is wrong. We should not be doing anything in this Congress that would harm the job or harm the business of small business and the private sector who are hiring employees, law-abiding citizens, taxpayers, breadwinners, people who go to work every day to support their families, even though we all support strong and hard ethic and work rules for prisoners. Mr. Chairman, I urge the amendment to support small business, support private sector jobs, and support this amendment.

Mr. COLLINS of Georgia. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chairman, I believe the gentleman who just spoke to the original amendment that was offered, because this amendment does not affect any existing jobs that are now held or that are used to produce products by FPI, he was referring to the previous amendment, not this one. I know he misspoke only because of not having knowledge of the current amendment. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Tennessee [Mr. Hilleary]. (Mr. HILLEARY asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. COLLINS of Georgia. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Michigan [Mr. Hoekstra].

Mr. COLLINS of Georgia. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself 3 of those 7\1/ 2\ minutes. Mr. Chairman, this amendment deals with the Federal prison industries. What is the Federal prison industries? The FPI, also known as UNICOR, is a Government-owned corporation with a board of directors created to provide employment and rehabilitation for convicts. The program, which had over $450 million in sales in 1995, projected by GAO to have sales of $1.2 billion by the year 2000, provides manufacturing jobs for convicts who in return are paid a wage for their work. In addition, the law guarantees this prison manufacturing corporation a captured consumer base because it requires all Government agencies to give first priority to FPI over all private sector manufacturers. What does the Collins-Hoekstra amendment do? This amendment simply states that in order for the FPI to use the $3 million for administrative expenses authorized, and I repeat authorized, in this appropriations bill, not appropriated since the corporation is self- sustaining, the agency must comply with the original intent of Congress. The original statute clearly required assurance that FPI not dominate more than a reasonable share of the market for a specific product. The FPI has failed to restrict a dominance to a reasonable share of markets. As a result the FPI is eliminating small business jobs all over the country for hard-working, law-abiding, taxpaying citizens. Has there been a hearing on this problem? Yes. The Committee on Small Business recently held a hearing on this very issue. The chief operating officer of the FPI testified that the agency has indeed violated the reasonable share and specific product provisions of the current law. The FPI is dominating many markets for manufactured goods by lumping together product identification numbers and establishing a false impact study which underreports FIP's true share of market and fails to reflect the resulting damage inflicted upon small business. This amendment will ensure that FPI does not dominate more than a reasonable share of the market for new products, new products. This amendment will clarify that the reasonable share is equal to 20 percent of the market share of a specific product as distinguished by an assigned identification number. This amendment grandfathers current contracts held by FPI. Therefore, not one contract, not one Federal job, not one convict job will be lost due to this amendment. By requiring FPI to comply with the original intent of Congress, we will save small business jobs for law-abiding, hard-working family breadwinners, at least for the next year, covered by this appropriations bill. In addition, we will continue to provide work and rehabilitation for convicts. This will provide the authorizing committee the opportunity to study the problem and will be a fair and generous solution for all.

Mr. COLLINS of Georgia

Mr. COLLINS of Georgia. Madam Chairman, I thank the chairman for yielding the time to me. Madam Chairman, we have previously debated and passed legislative proposals that will change the welfare system. And although President Clinton vetoed those measures, he has proposed welfare legislation of his own. So today, we have two different approaches to welfare reform. We must clearly understand that the real debate is about whether we are going to just piecemeal reform the broken welfare system, or if we are going to entirely change welfare as we know it. We all agree the welfare system is a failure. It is an open-ended Federal entitlement that encourages people to believe that receiving a welfare check, free health care, and other free services without working is their right. By the end of the decade, American workers will have spent over $6 trillion on welfare programs. After 30 years under the current system, our poverty rate remains unchanged and we have millions of people trapped, dependent upon broken welfare programs. Americans are tired of paying for a welfare system that just doesn't work. And although Presidential candidate Clinton once stated that he intended to change welfare as we know it, his proposal will only make limited reforms to a system that fails those who receive welfare and those working people who pay the bill. In sharp contrast to the President's patchwork plan, the Republican majority's proposal changes the welfare system as we know it. The Republican plan will remove the one-size-fits-all entitlement system. This measure will transfer the management authority from the bureaucratic Federal level to the States. Local authorities will finally have the ability to design a welfare program that best meets the needs of the poor in their region. Welfare programs will be administered on a local level through a State/Federal financial partnership. The responsibility for administering welfare programs will be where it needs to be: closer to those who know what works, closer to those who need the assistance, and closer to the workers who pay the bill. Working Americans support the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Act because it will comprehensively change the welfare system as we know it.

Mr. COLLINS of Georgia

Mr. COLLINS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to salute Capt. Joe Tucker who is the Chief Naval Instructor at the Henry County High School in Georgia's Third District. This retired U.S. Coast Guard officer recently demonstrated a level of courage, compassion, and heroism for which we all can be proud. Captain Tucker is the kind of role model that our children need and deserve. Today, I am submitting for inclusion in the Congressional Record an account of events that occurred, appropriately enough, on Memorial Day at the High Falls State Park. This account, from the front page of the Henry Herald on June 19, 1996, is in the words of 11-year-old Andrew Tucker who can better relate the full meaning of the events of that day than any newspaper writer or I could possibly hope. This story pays tribute to a fine uniformed officer, teacher, role model, and father-- Captain Joe Tucker. My Daddy's a Hero (The Henry Herald, 6/19/96) I'm Andrew Tucker. I'm reporting about my dad. It all started when my mom and dad and me were coming back from Indian Springs. We decided to go to High Falls Park to go swimming. We had never been there before. Lots of people were swimming in the river and walking on the rocks. Millions of signs around High Falls said not to go on the rocks. We were walking near the waterfall when we heard a lady say ``Can anybody swim?'' My dad looked kind of strange because we all thought someone was drowning, but the lady didn't sound very excited. Then we saw a boy in the water, trying to come up for air and waving his arms real slowly, but then went under the water and didn't come back up. Then the lady said, ``there is another one in the water.'' My dad just took off his hat and glasses and his shoes, and he went in with all of his clothes on. It looked like the water was six feet deep, but my dad later said that it was about 12 feet. My dad dove in, but it was too deep. So he had to go down feet first and feel around the bottom. He found something soft so he dove under, and it was a little girl! The current was pushing her down between rocks. She had been under there for five minutes. After six minutes you are a goner if you are under water. She was under for about five minutes when my dad brought her up. He did mouth-to-mouth (resuscitation), or CPR. She was a little black girl. But then a man named Sam Jordan that we had talked to before came to help with the boy. They brought the girl up the hill where I was. By that time my mom was yelling, ``Has anyone got a cellular phone?'' The people were just sitting there. I don't know why. She ran up the hill to the pool to get a lifeguard to call 911. The lifeguard came running down like a rocket with no shoes on. They carried the girl up the river bank. When I saw the little girl, I thought she was dead. She looked dead. She wasn't moving and her eyes were closed. I felt sad when I saw her. They laid her down on the ground. There were lots of people sitting on blankets, watching, and lots of people crowding around. Then I saw her arms move, and then she opened her eyes. It seemed like a long time before she could sit up. Then I knew she was going to be fine. She talked, but I don't think she knew where she was. I was really glad that she was alive. My dad stuck with that little girl. I think he was worried that she might not make it. I'll bet the girl may not go swimming for a long time! By that time the boy started to get up and walk. They took both children and put them in an ambulance and drove away. We talked to Sam Jordan about the girl. They thanked my dad and said he was there at the right time. I looked back at the river where before there were lots of people swimming and playing. Now there was just water and rocks. Right there, where the two kids were drowning * * * was a sign that said, ``DO NOT GO ON THE ROCKS! GO IN THE WATER AT YOUR OWN RISK!'' I don't know why people don't obey the signs; then they would be okay. We went to a place where Dad could put on dry clothes. I found a flat rock. I decided to write ``HIGH FALLS, 1996'' on it and give it to Dad so he could remember what he did on that day. When we got home, I told everybody at school that my dad saved a little girl's life.

Mr. COLLINS of Georgia

Mr. COLLINS of Georgia. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of the amendment offered by the gentleman from Kentucky. Mr. Chairman, American workers are mandated to pay into the Social Security trust fund throughout their working lives. They do so with the understanding the Federal Government will responsibly manage those assets on providing Social Security benefits to retired and disabled Americans. Mr. Chairman, under the new authority given to government unions by the current administration, the Social Security Administration spent 12.6 million taxpayer-dollars on union-related activities in 1995. That's right Mr. Chairman, the Clinton administration spent $12.6 million, on expenses that had absolutely nothing to do with ensuring our Nation's retirees and disabled receive the benefits they have earned. In addition, $12.6 million in 1995 represents a 100 percent increase over the $6 million the Social Security Administration spent on union activities in 1993. Recently, the Commissioner of the Social Security Administration testified about the increases in trust fund assets that are spent on union activities. Commissioner Chater could not provide the members of the subcommittee with any specifics about how the $12.6 million spent on union activities improved the processing or administration of Social Security benefit claims. Most alarmingly, she was unable to provide the committee with any detailed assurances that union-related expenditures will not continue to double in the next 2 years. This amendment will bring a halt to the wasteful expenditure of Social Security funds and ensure that we are managing these vital assets responsibly.

Mr. COLLINS of Georgia

Mr. COLLINS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, last month the American Optometric Association convened its 99th annual Congress in Portland, OR. I am pleased to report that during the Congress, Dr. T. Joel Byars of McDonough, GA, was sworn in as the association's 75th president. I would like to take a few moments to congratulate Dr. Byars on this achievement and to offer my best wishes to him for a successful term. Dr. Byars is a native of Griffin, GA, and is a graduate of the Southern College of Optometry in Memphis, TN. During his career, Dr. Byars has built a record of achievement in his profession at the local, State, and national levels, He is past president of the Georgia Optometric Association, the Georgia State Board of Examiners in Optometry, and is former trustee of the Southern Council of Optometrists. He was elected to the board of trustees of the American Optometric Association in 1989 and has served as an officer for the past 4 years. The American Optometric Association is the professional society for our Nation's 31,000 optometrists. In his role as president, Dr. Byars will guide the association as it deals with the challenges and opportunities of providing eye and vision care to millions of Americans. In addition to his professional achievements, Dr. Byars has been active in civic affairs. He has been a board member of the Dekalb Council on Aging and the North Central Georgia Health Systems Agency. Dr. Byars has also been involved in the Stone Mountain Rotary Club, and he has chaired the optometric division in the Dekalb Cancer Crusade and Heart Fund. Dr. Byars also served his Nation in the U.S. Army Medical Service Corps. Dr. T. Joel Byars has distinguished himself as an outstanding leader in his profession and in his community, and I am confident that he will have a successful term as president of the AOA. I join his many friends and colleagues in offering congratulations and best wishes.

Mr. COLLINS of Georgia

Mr. COLLINS of Georgia. Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. COLLINS of Georgia. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Texas, [Mr. Coleman].

Mr. COLLINS of Georgia. Mr. Chairman, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Minnesota [Mr. Oberstar].

Mr. COLLINS of Georgia. I remind the gentleman, this is not the FAA. This is the NTSB. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Wisconsin [Mr. Obey].

Mr. COLLINS of Georgia. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chairman, the report accompanying the Department of Transportation Appropriations Act contains language directing the National Transportation Safety Board to review and issue a report on the Federal Aviation Administration's ``age 60 rule'' which requires pilots to retire upon reaching the age of 60. The amendment offered by the gentleman from Minnesota [Mr. Oberstar] and myself prohibits funding of this study based upon several reasons. First, the NTSB is not the appropriate agency to undertake such a study. The chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board responded to an inquiry from the gentleman from Wisconsin [Mr. Obey] just yesterday. The National Transportation Safety Board letter stated that the basic scientific research required by such a study is currently beyond the mission and capability of the Safety Board. In addition, the letter stated that such a study would require about 1-\1/ 2\ years of professional staff effort, and could replace or delay other safety studies already scheduled. Mr. Chairman, I strongly believe that taxpayer dollars should be targeted to the mission of the National Transportation Safety Board, which is investigating accidents and helping to prevent their reoccurrences, and not diverted for projects for which the agency is not suited. Second, the age 60 rule has been studied and restudied for decades by experts in the field. Congress ordered a major study in 1979. The National Institutes of Health, National Institutes of Aging, and National Academy of Sciences undertook an exhaustive study and concluded that while there may be individuals capable of flying after age 60, there was no way to make such a determination without constant examinations, which are completely impractical. During the 1980's the issue was revisited in various forums without change, and in 1995 the Federal Aviation Administration, which has a medical component, undertook another extensive review, receiving thousands of comments. Not only did the agency conclude that a change in the retirement age was not warranted, but it applied the age 60 rule to commuter airlines which had been allowed to have pilots over the age of 60. I reiterate, this was just last year. I believe that requiring the National Transportation Safety Board to do yet another study is not only unwarranted, it is not a wise use of taxpayers' dollars, and certainly not a wise use of the National Transportation Safety Board's already strained resources. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. COLLINS of Georgia. Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.

Mr. COLLINS of Georgia. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding. Was it not true within the hearings, irregardless of what the IG insinuated or what others may have insinuated, the preliminary report by the National Transportation Safety Board clearly states that they do not think it was the fault of ValuJet for the accident that happened in the Everglades, but that of a mistake of an out source contractor?

Mr. COLLINS of Georgia. Mr. Chairman, will the gentleman yield?

Mr. COLLINS of Georgia. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Tennessee [Mr. Duncan].

Mr. COLLINS of Georgia

Mr. COLLINS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to salute my constituent, Mary Ann Roberts of Jonesboro. Mary Ann, who is the owner and operator of Roberts Little Ones Day Care Center in Jonesboro, has been selected the 1996 Small Business Person of the Year for the State of Georgia by the U.S. Small Business Administration. Her selection as the Georgia Small Business Person of the Year is well deserved. She is a testament to the can-do, entrepreneurial spirit of America where everyone has the opportunity to turn their dreams into reality. In 1974, Mary Ann and her husband, Jack, borrowed $25,000 on their home to make a downpayment on a small day care center in Forest Park, GA. At that time, there were 57 children and 5 teachers. Over the years, Mary Ann and Jack expanded their business venture to where today the Roberts have 5 day care facilities with over 175 employees. And her experience and expertise in owning and operating day care facilities have opened new business ventures for her. As a consultant, Mary Ann has helped 14 clients obtain over $10 million in SBA-backed loans to establish day care centers that employ over 525 full-time workers. The success of Mary Ann Roberts Little Ones Day Care Centers stand as an outstanding example of what can be achieved through hard work, determination, dedication, and commitment. I join with the people of the Third Congressional District and the State of Georgia in congratulating Mary Ann as she is honored as the 1996 Georgia Small Business Person of the Year in national ceremonies this week in Washington. I wish her every success in the years to come.

Mr. COLLINS of Georgia

Mr. COLLINS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize a friend from Eunice, LA, Karl DeRouen. Karl DeRouen, better known as King Karl in Eunice for his long standing career in radio broadcasting, was recently inducted into the Louisiana Hall of Fame [LHOF]. The LHOF is a relatively new organization which salutes men and women in the music and entertainment industry who are originally from Louisiana. Mr. Speaker, King Karl exceeds all the criteria for this honor. Karl was born in Eunice in 1934 and grew up on the same block as the present location of KJJB and KEUN radio stations. Back then though, there were no stations on the block. Throughout his high school years he would listen to sportcaster Bill Stern and had dreams of some day becoming a sportcaster. That dream has become a reality as Karl is the broadcaster for the Indian Creek bass tournament and voice of the Eunice High Bobcats and Saint Edmund High Bluejays for over 25 years--both well known athletic teams and followed by the locals of Eunice. Karl began his career in radio at the age of 18, signing on each morning at 6 a.m. He became the early morning wake up voice for the people of Eunice. He was the entertainment during breakfast and the local voice delivering the local news. It was his voice of kindness who would recognize someone's birthday, mention a person by name who suffered an illness, or praised a local person who had rendered a good deed. As Karl puts it, ``We can please people'' and he realized his road to success would be determined by those whom he pleased. Karl DeRouen's life-long ambition was to be a radio personality. He recently said, ``I would like to be remembered 50 years from now as someone who has made someone's life a little brighter and a little better''. Mr. Speaker, Karl DeRouen, now the owner of KJJB and KEUN, not only has fulfilled a dream but has generated a legacy for his family which will be remembered by the people of Eunice, LA for decades to come. King Karl is the father of my scheduler, Mrs. Anne Jasien.

Mr. COLLINS of Georgia

Mr. COLLINS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, the Georgia State Senate recently adopted a resolution that urges the Congress of the United States to reject the proposal to sell the facilities used to generate electric power marketed by the Southeastern Power Administration. For the Record I submit a copy of the resolution adopted by the Georgia State Senate on February 13, 1996. A Resolution Urging the United States Congress to reject the proposal to sell the facilities used to generate electric power marketed by the Southeastern Power Administration; and for other purposes. Whereas, a proposal has been made to the United States Congress to sell facilities used by the Southeastern Power Administration (SEPA) which is headquartered in Elbert County, Georgia; and Whereas, these facilities, which include nine hydroelectric dams, provide electric power and reservoirs for Georgia; and Whereas, all of these facilities, operated by the United States Army Corps of Engineers, also provide the public with needed fish and wildlife resources, municipal, industrial, and agricultural water supplies, flood control, reservoir, and downstream recreational uses, and river water level regulation; and Whereas, such proposed sale would give too little assurance that these assets will be administered with due consideration to the purposes of the facilities not related to power production, such as water supply, flood control, navigation, recreation, and environmental protection; and Whereas, the revenue from the electricity generated by the hydroelectric dams exceeds the retirement obligations of the construction bonds and costs of operation and maintenance for these facilities; and Whereas, many Georgians served by these facilities could likely experience significant rate increases in electricity and water as a result of this sale. Now, therefore, be it resolved by the Senate that the members of this body urge the United States Congress to reevaluate the negative impacts of this proposal and avoid any transfer of federal dams, resources, turbines, generators, transmission lines, and related power marketing association facilities. Be it further resolved that the Secretary of the Senate is authorized and directed to transmit an appropriate copy of this resolution to the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, the presiding officer of the United States Senate, and members of the Georgia congressional delegation.

Mr. COLLINS of Georgia

Mr. COLLINS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, the Georgia State Senate recently adopted a resolution that encourages the Congress of the United States to enact health care reform measures that include Medical Savings Accounts [MSA's]. State legislators realize that MSA's will eliminate barriers to health insurance and increase access for millions of Americans. For the record I submit a copy of the resolution adopted by the Georgia State Senate on March 5, 1996. A Resolution Encouraging the Congress of the United States to enact legislation to provide for medical savings accounts; and for other purposes. Whereas, it is estimated 37 million Americans are without health insurance, many while between jobs, and more are underinsured because of the effects of rising health care costs and spending. The costs of health care are escalating, forcing employers to trim the level and availability of health care benefits to their employees; and Whereas, overutilization of health care services for relatively small claims is one of the most significant causes of health care cost and spending increases. Currently, more than two-thirds of all insurance claims for medical spending are less than $3,000.00 per family per year in this country; and Whereas, in response to the runaway cost increases on health care spending in this country, the private sector has developed the concept of medical savings accounts. This initiative is designed to ensure health insurance availability for Americans. It is predicated on providing incentives to eliminate unnecessary medical treatment and encourage competition in seeking health care; and Whereas, through employer-funded medical savings account arrangements and reduced cost qualified higher deductible insurance policies, millions of Americans could insure themselves for both routine and major medical services. Under the concept of medical savings accounts, an employer currently providing employee health care benefits would purchase instead a low cost, high deductible major medical policy on each employee. The employer may then set aside the saved premium differential in a medical savings account arrangement. The participating employees would use the money in the account to pay their medical care expenses up to the deductible. However, any account money unspent by the participating employees in a plan year would then belong to the employees to save, spend on medical care, or use otherwise. This would be a strong incentive for people not to abuse health expenditures and to institute ``cost-shopping'' for medical care services; and Whereas, by setting aside money for employees to spend on health care, employees could change jobs and use the money they had so far earned to buy interim health insurance or to cover health care expenses, thereby eliminating the problems of uninsureds between jobs and helping to reduce ``job- lock''; and Whereas, by making medical care decisions the employee's prerogative, individual policyholders have a strong stake in reducing costs. This simple financial mechanism will expand health insurance options to others who presently have no insurance. Most importantly, this move to decrease health care cost burdens in this country would require no new federal bureaucracy and would be revenue neutral to employers. Now, Therefore, be it Resolved by the Senate that the members of this body encourage the Congress of the United States to enact legislation swiftly and in good faith to enable Americans to establish medical savings accounts. Be it further Resolved that the Secretary of the Senate is authorized and directed to transmit an appropriate copy of this resolution to the President of the United States, the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, and all members of the Georgia congressional delegation.

Mr. COLLINS of Georgia

Mr. COLLINS of Georgia. Mr. Chairman, I further inquire, too, about the qualifications for the person being considered for the nomination. Does the gentleman have any idea or suggestion or comments on the age or any type of retirement age or entry level age?