Mac Collins

Mr. COLLINS

Mr. COLLINS. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Indiana (Ms. Carson).

Mr. COLLINS. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chairman, the gentleman is right, there is a lot of misinformation about this; and he just delivered some more. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Turner).

Mr. COLLINS. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Hall).

Mr. COLLINS. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Knollenberg).

Mr. COLLINS. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chairman, a lot has been said about gathering information. And information is important. It is important for our cities and our communities to know just exactly what kind of quality of air they have there for their citizenry. But this does not stop information gathering. What we are concerned about is the designation, the mark, the stigma, the scarlet letter that so many people will look at prior to entertaining that community as a place to locate a business or even to locate themselves. The amendment is just good common sense: wait until such time as the Supreme Court rules on this issue. Mr. Chairman, I know a lot of times common sense does not prevail that much here. But I hope it does today. Mr. Chairman, I yield the balance of my time to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Linder).

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

Mr. COLLINS

Mr. COLLINS. Mr. Speaker, when a lower court ruled in 1999 against new Federal air standards, reasonable persons expected the EPA to delay further implementation of the standards until the Supreme Court ruled on the agency's appeal. Instead, the EPA is pushing forward with rules that force State and local governments across the country to spend thousands of dollars to comply with new invalid standards. To stop this waste of taxpayer money, the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Linder) and I will offer an amendment to VA/HUD later today which will prevent the EPA from moving forward with the designation of new nonattainment areas until such time as the Supreme Court makes a decision. State and local governments could better use their resources to help their communities to comply with the rules that may never become legally enforceable. Our amendment is simple. It does not affect existing air quality standards, nor does it render judgment on the new standards. It only requires EPA to postpone further action until the Supreme Court issues a final ruling. It is common sense to postpone the designation process until we are certain that it will not be a huge waste of Federal, State and local resources.

Mr. COLLINS

Mr. COLLINS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Weldon) be removed as a cosponsor of H.R. 4006.

Mr. COLLINS

Mr. COLLINS. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the gentleman yielding me this time. Mr. Speaker, when Theodore Roosevelt issued the order to charge, he was referring to the Rough Riders and ordered them towards San Juan Hill. Well, evidently the Congress heard the order of charge at the same time, and they implemented this 3 percent luxury tax on those at that time who had a telephone. Well, that time in Congress and Theodore Roosevelt have passed, the Spanish American War is over, and it is time that we cease charging, charging the American people this ridiculous tax on their telephones. The charge was to pay for the war. The war had a cost of about $250 billion. Today, we are collecting better than 20 times the cost of that war each year. This is just another example of excessive taxation, but Congress too is responsible for the excessive taxation because of our excessive spending habits. But it is an excessive cost to families and to business. At a time that we have a savings rate that is negative in this country, at a time that we are trying to encourage investments, and at a time when we are trying to compete in a global market, it is time for us to repeal and/or change tax provisions that will assist families and business. Mr. Speaker, it is time to end this charge. The war is over. Let us sunset this tax.

Mr. COLLINS

Mr. COLLINS. Mr. Speaker, if you look in the gallery, you will see a number of students from Spalding County, Georgia. They are part of the Junior Deputy Program, which has brought students to Washington since the 1960s. Leading this delegation is Richard Cantrell, Sheriff of Spalding County. Sheriff Cantrell has not only worked hard to uphold the law in Spalding County, he has also worked to make the county a better place to live by working with the Boy Scouts, the Girl Scouts, Junior Deputy Program, and assisting handicapped youth through the American business club. Sheriff Cantrell's father was confined to a wheelchair because of wounds suffered in World War II. Nonetheless, his father played an active role in his son's life. Sheriff Cantrell calls him ``the most significant person in his life.'' Mr. Speaker, it is people like Sheriff Cantrell and his father who are true role models for our youth. Sheriff Cantrell is retiring at the end of this year after 30 years in law enforcement. The people of Spaulding County will miss the services of Richard Cantrell as Sheriff, but I am sure he will continue aiding those who need help and serving as a leader for our young people.

Mr. COLLINS

Mr. COLLINS. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time. It has been said that the vote last year in the Congress, in the House, was not heard. I assure my colleagues it was heard. It was heard by the President of the United States and the Secretary of Defense. That is the reason they sent up these new legislative procedures so that we could make some changes at the School of the Americas. But it also has been said that no good deed goes unpunished, and the gentleman's amendment seems to bear that out. In response to concerns raised by the gentleman and other Members of this body and their constituents, and I respect their constituents, the United States Army School of the Americas has undergone extensive changes, extensive reform in the interest of meeting the changes needed by U.S. foreign policy in the post-Cold War era. This Defense Authorization Act includes major reform provisions, ensuring that course work at the new training facility will fully comply with U.S. law, doctrine and policy. Unfortunately, Members are still seeking to close the School of the Americas. I ask all to oppose the amendment of the gentleman from Massachusetts.

Mr. COLLINS

Mr. COLLINS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a friend and colleague, one of the most outstanding transportation leaders in the Nation, Wayne Shackelford, Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Transportation. Commissioner Shackelford is retiring from the Georgia DOT in June, though he is a man of much energy and many talents who clearly will not retire from his involvement with the transportation community. Wayne Shackelford has served as Commissioner of the Georgia DOT since 1991. During this time, he has guided the State, the region and the Nation through a decade which has experienced immense growth with massive demands on transportation and infrastructure requiring new and innovative solutions. Commissioner Shackelford met the challenges head- on. He is a man who chose to personally be involved in developing solutions for congestion and gridlock and exploring transportation alternatives. Under the leadership of Commissioner Shackelford, Georgia has repeatedly been cited as having one of the most outstanding highway systems in the Nation. And as the State experienced explosive growth, the Commissioner worked to develop plans for commuter rail, light rail, increased intercity rail and improved bus service. With Georgia being one of the first States to have construction plans halted due to nonconformity with the Clean Air Act, Commissioner Shackelford worked with Federal, State and local officials to determine how best to meet both transportation and environmental demands. As if these challenges were not enough, during his tenure the Centennial Olympic Games were held in Atlanta and under Commissioner Shackelford's leadership, the most comprehensive traffic and incident management system in the world was developed for the event. Commissioner Shackelford also has been a leader in aviation. Well before Hartsfield Atlanta International Airport became the busiest airport in the world, he was an outspoken and vigorous supporter of the airport, recognizing its contribution to jobs and the economy of the State and entire Southeast. He has been an active supporter of general aviation and regional airport development and was involved in the development and implementation of the 1998 governors regional airport enhancement program to bolster small airports across the State of Georgia. From Georgia to the Nation's capital and all across the country, Wayne Shackelford's involvement in transportation activities has earned him the admiration and respect of transportation officials at every level. Georgians were proud that one of their own was selected as President of the prestigious American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials. Heading this national association, whose membership is composed of highway and transportation officials from each State, Commissioner Shackelford worked closely with his peers and colleagues, administration officials and Members of Congress to shape transportation policies for the 21st century, benefiting all States and particularly Georgia. He also served as Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Transportation Research Board, perhaps the foremost national organization involved in transportation research, renowned for its professional and balanced approach to the issues. Commissioner Shackelford also served as National President of the Southeastern Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials as well as Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Intelligent Transportation Society of America. As one can imagine, Commissioner Shackelford has also received innumerable citations and awards for his contributions to the transportation arena through the years. The record is clear that Commissioner Shackelford is one of the most outstanding officials in his field. However, it is the person of Wayne Shackelford that causes so many of us to hold him in such high esteem. He has always taken the time to listen and to answer. Though we have served in opposite political parties, he has always done everything possible he could to help. He is known for a forceful voice that booms above most others, yet his attitude is just the opposite. He is known for treating others with the highest respect and regard. He has reached out to those representing every viewpoint, to bring about cooperation and coordination in the best interests of the citizens of Georgia and beyond. So, Mr. Speaker, today it is my great pleasure to pay tribute to Wayne Shackelford, for the outstanding job that he has done, and for the awards, the citations and the offices which he has held. But, Mr. Speaker, more importantly, I pay tribute not to just his professionalism, but to Wayne Shackelford, the person. I am proud to have worked with him on behalf of the citizens of Georgia, and I am proud to consider him a friend.

Mr. COLLINS

Mr. COLLINS. Mr. Speaker, today, during National Hospital Week, I honor accomplishments of the Community Healthcare Network. Earlier this week, the American Hospital Association presented its prestigious NOVA award to the Community Healthcare Network, which was established by Columbus Regional Healthcare System of Columbus, Georgia. This award recognizes hospitals' innovative and collaborative efforts to improve the health of their communities. I congratulate the dedicated health care workers of the Community Healthcare Network for achieving this important recognition. The Community Healthcare Network--a collaboration of public and private entities serving 19 counties in west Georgia and east Alabama-- exemplifies the dedication of health care workers, professionals, and volunteers who are there 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, curing and caring for their neighbors in need. Using the results of each county's baseline health status surveys, the Community Healthcare Network developed programs to meet each community's specific health needs. For example, primary health care centers were opened to serve children and adults in three rural counties. To increase accessibility, fees are based on the patients' abilities to pay. The Community Care Mobile Unit travels throughout the service area providing primary case services to the homeless and indigent. Once a week, the unit visits locations selected by teens to provide teen health services. In other collaborative projects, the network has led the way to establish a children's dental clinic, child health screenings at schools, and free transportation for prenatal visits. Mr. Speaker, the Community Healthcare Network embodies the theme of this year's National Hospital Week--``Touching the Future with Care.'' I congratulate the Columbus Regional Healthcare System for its award- winning program, and I look forward to its future contributions to the communities of Georgia and Alabama.

Mr. COLLINS

Mr. COLLINS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from California for yielding me this time. Mr. Speaker, the casualty list states that over 58,000 Americans lost their lives in the conflict we know as the Vietnam War. The lists contain the names of another 300,000 Americans sailors, soldiers, and airmen who were wounded. Half of these wounds were very serious. Many of our soldiers recovered fully while others were permanently wounded. But there is a third class of wounded soldiers whose wounds did not kill immediately but ultimately caused death. In some cases, posttraumatic stress syndrome or exposure to Agent Orange may have led to the death years, perhaps decades, after the wound was first suffered. Despite the delay, the veteran's death is linked with his or her service to this Nation by participating in the Vietnam War. H.R. 3293 seeks to honor these veterans with a plaque located within the 13 acres set aside for the Vietnam War Veterans Memorial. The plaque will be located near the Wall to preserve the memory of those veterans whose service on behalf of their fellow citizens, in the end, cost them their lives. Mr. Speaker, I urge our colleagues to support this bill.

Mr. COLLINS

Mr. COLLINS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today on behalf of the many Georgians who have contacted me to complain that this year's census questionnaire is too intrusive. Today, I am introducing legislation that will address these serious concerns--The Common Sense Census Enforcement Act of 2000. As every Member of the House of Representatives is acutely aware, the census is constitutionally mandated for the purpose of apportioning federal legislative districts, and the population information gathered is also used in drawing state legislative district lines. The Constitution requires the federal government to conduct the census, and federal law (13 U.S.C. Sec. 221) also requires that residents answer the census completely and truthfully. Failure to answer any questions can result in fines of up to $100. Furthermore, if one intentionally provides inaccurate information in response to the census, the law provides for fines up to $500. These penalties are understandable with regard to questions directly related to apportionment, in light of its central importance to our constitutional system. I do, however, question the appropriateness of imposing such penalties for refusal to answer questions unrelated to apportionment, and I am introducing legislation to remedy this situation. Today, I am introducing The Common Sense Census Enforcement Act of 2000, which would eliminate the fine for failure to answer Census 2000 questions unrelated to apportionment. By taking this action, Congress can limit the intrusive nature of the census while still providing the government with the basic information necessary to administer our republic. This legislation reflects the concerns many of my constituents have expressed with regard to the length and the content of this year's census. Most of the questions on the long form of the census clearly are not asked for purposes of apportionment, but rather to collect information necessary for the administration of any number of federal programs. Information gathered in the census is currently used for federal and state planning and funding of education and health care programs, transportation projects, etc. While it is true that federal law requires much of this information for program administration, the law does not require that this information be collected via the census or under any penalty at law. A great deal of information that was once collected through the census is already being gathered through surveys that do not bear the census' strict legal requirements. In closing, I share the belief of many Georgians who find it inappropriate for the federal government to coerce citizens to provide personal information by packaging non-apportionment-related questions with the constitutionally required and legally enforceable apportionment census questions. In the future, either the information should be collected separately, or it should be made clear that no penalty will be applied to those who refuse to answer questions unrelated to apportionment. I urge my colleagues to join me in support of The Common Sense Census Enforcement Act of 2000.

Mr. COLLINS

Mr. COLLINS. Mr. Speaker, today I am introducing legislation to apply pressure to Dubai Investments, a very profitable joint stock public holding company in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), to pay its debts to American companies. The proposal is directed toward the government of the UAE, because both the government of Dubai and Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid al-Maktoum, the deputy ruler of Dubai, are founding investors and major stockholders in Dubai Investments--a rogue company that utilized unethical business practices left over 100 Georgians. The Dubai Investment/United Arab Emirates Debt Repayment Act of 2000 addresses the situation that brought this issue to my attention--Dubai Investments' refusal to fulfill the terms of its contract with Pascoe Building Systems, Inc. Pascoe was once a mid-sized manufacturer with over $20 million in annual sales. Today, Pascoe's doors are shut as a result of Dubai Investments' failure to fulfill its contractual compensation obligation. My legislation will prevent the pending sale of F-16 fighter aircraft to the UAE until the President certifies that Dubai Investments has fulfilled its obligations under its agreements with Pascoe Building Systems, Inc. It is time for Congress to defend American businesses against rogue foreign corporations that intend never to pay their bills. I encourage my colleagues to support The Dubai Investments/United Arab Emirates Debt Repayment Act of 2000.

Mr. COLLINS

Mr. COLLINS. Mr. Speaker, today, I am pleased to introduce The Certified Registered Nurse First Assistant (CRNFA) Direct Reimbursement Act of 2000, which will provide equity in reimbursement for certified registered nurse first assistants who provide surgical first assisting services to Medicare patients. Having received more advanced education and training in first assisting than any other non-physician provider, CRNFAs serve a vital role, directly assisting physicians with surgical procedures. Additionally, CRNFAs and RNFAs are the only providers--aside from the rare physician making house calls--who sometimes provide post-operative care by actually visiting patients at home following surgery. Thus, not only do CRNFAs have more clinical experience and education than other non-physician providers, but they also provide continuity of care to patients enabling higher quality and better patient outcomes. CRNFAs also provide the additional benefit of cost efficiency. Health claims data from the Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA) reveal that physicians file more than 90% of the first assistant at surgery claims for Medicare reimbursement. Physicians receive 16 percent of the surgeon's fee for serving as a surgical first assistant. Under this legislation, CRNFAs will receive only 13.6 percent of the surgeon's fee for providing first assistant services. Furthermore, CRNFAs are equally as cost-effective as other non-physician first assisting providers who currently are reimbursed at 13.6 percent of the surgeon's fee for first assisting. Use of CRNFAs would, therefore, be a high quality yet cost- effective alternative for the nation's health care delivery system, affording additional flexibility to surgeons, hospitals and ambulatory surgery centers. In closing, I would like to express my appreciation for the hard work of the Association of periOperative Registered Nurses (AORN) and its president, Patricia Seifert, RN, in bringing this issue forward. As a provider of health care, the CRNFA is a viable solution for controlling rising health care costs. Working in collaborative practice with surgeons, CRNFAs are cost-effective to the patient and to the health care delivery system. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting equity for certified registered nurse first assistants by cosponsoring The Certified Registered Nurse First Assistant Direct Reimbursement Act of 2000.

Mr. COLLINS

Mr. COLLINS. Mr. Speaker, the lead story on most all newscasts today is about the high price of gasoline and fuel. In just the past 2 weeks, the price has risen 12 cents per gallon, with a national average today at $1.53 per gallon as compared to less than $1 one year ago. For the past two weeks the people at home have asked, what is Congress going to do about the high price of gasoline? Mr. Speaker, the only controlling factor the Congress has pertaining to the price of gas or fuel is the tax imposed by Congress. In 1993, the Congress increased the gas tax by 4.3 cents per gallon for deficit reduction. Today there is no deficit. Today Congress can repeal the 4.3 cents gas tax and help with the cost of gas and fuel. Mr. Speaker, I am aware of the needs and the challenges of infrastructure, but the Congress must adjust its needs, the same as a family adjusts its budget to meet its needs.

Mr. COLLINS

Mr. COLLINS. Mr. Speaker, with a fill-up at the gas pump draining more and more of a worker's wallet, it is time for Congress to provide relief to consumers. Congress has the power to help offset the rapidly increasing costs that are being imposed on working Americans, and we must act now. Today I rise to introduce the Fuel Tax Cost Reduction Act--a bill to repeal a 4.3 cents per gallon tax on gasoline. This bill expands on legislation I have introduced in the past by repealing the 1993 deficit reduction fuel tax as it applies to all modes of transportation. Mr. Speaker, this tax was included in the massive 1993 tax-hike. The purpose of this tax increase was to ``reduce the deficit'' during the time period when the old Congressional majority was regularly passing deficit-driven budgets that far outspent each year's tax receipts. Since that time, the Republican majority has taken action to balance the budget so that today the Federal government is running a positive cash flow. The end of annual deficits should mean the end of ``deficit- reduction'' taxes. Today, world oil prices are climbing, and experts now predict that the price of gasoline will rise to at least $2 a gallon. American families need help and this is the kind of tax relief that will help working families the most.

Mr. COLLINS

Mr. COLLINS. Mr. Speaker, in ongoing efforts to ensure safety and efficiency, nuclear power plants must periodically replace their steam generators. When a Florida manufacturing plant closes its doors following the delivery of two steam generators this year, there will no longer be any steam generator producers in the United States. Consequently, the 103 nuclear power facilities located in the United States will have no choice but to import replacement steam generators. Under the Harmonized Tariff Schedule, steam generators imported for use in nuclear power plants are taxed at a duty rate of 5.2 percent (except those imported from Canada, where a zero duty rate applies). Importing a single $30 million steam generator results in a tariff of approximately $1.56 million. Because nuclear plants generally replace two of these generators at a time, the cost of this hidden tax to consumers is considerable. Unless it is addressed, this duty will increase the cost of supplying electricity to Georgia's rate payers by $2.7 million this year. Such unnecessary expenses are inevitably incorporated into the rate base. According to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), at least a dozen nuclear power plants are planning to replace their steam generators over the next several years. Since there are no domestic manufacturers, there is no legitimate reason to continue imposing this duty. American consumers should not be required to bear this unnecessary cost. Today, with the support and original cosponsorships of colleagues from Tennessee, Arizona, Georgia, and Connecticut, I am introducing legislation that will suspend the duty on steam generators for nuclear facilities for five years, providing significant relief for energy consumers around the country. I urge my colleagues to join me in support of this legislation.

Mr. COLLINS

Mr. COLLINS. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to introduce today legislation that would provide tariff relief on machinery and components for use in the manufacture of digital versatile discs (DVDs). DVD, using cutting-edge optical disc technology, provides consumers the highest quality audio and video reproduction. Used both in DVD players as part of a home theater system and in DVD-ROM-equipped computers, these discs have grown enormously in popularity since their introduction in 1997. I have used this technology myself and certainly understand its rapid growth. In the short time since the introduction of DVD hardware, demand for discs that play on these machines has grown from 8 million annually to an expected 394 million in 2000. In fact, it is expected that DVD technology will replace both videocassette tapes and video laser discs as the preferred medium for presentation of movies in the home. There are at least 17 domestic producers of DVDs, including such electronics and entertainment companies as Time Warner, Panasonic, Sony, and JVC. Panasonic is also a major employer in the state of Georgia, with over 1000 employees in my district alone. In 1997, Panasonic opened the first disc replication facility in the United States to dedicated exclusively to the production of DVDs. Nine hundred Panasonic employees in the United States now produce over four million video discs per month for such movie companies as Universal, Fox, and Paramount. In total, companies in the United States produce 16.6 million discs a month, all using imported machinery. DVDs are the ``next generation'' recorded video media in the marketplace, succeeding video laser discs (VLDs) that were produced in the early 1990s. These machines consist of several components (including a master recording system, injection mold machine, laser encoder, and finishing line) that function together to produce DVDs. Machines that produce DVDs use essentially the same technology as machines used to produce VLDs--a laser encoder creates the desired pits on optical disc media (plastic or glass disc substrates). Recent advancements in technology enable DVDs to hold more recordings on smaller discs than VLDs. In 1994, Congress passed new, duty free tariff legislation for VLD manufacturing machines. This legislation helped companies like Time Warner (WEA Manufacturing) create and save jobs in the U.S. that were being lost as a result of foreign production of CDs and VLDs. Importantly, this legislation did not adversely affect any U.S. industry because optical disc technology, such as that used in VLDs and DVDs, was first developed overseas and there was no domestic production. Shortly after passing duty free legislation on VLDs, however, home video entertainment shifted to DVDs. Companies shifted production of VLDs to DVDs using substantially the same systems, and companies like Panasonic began manufacturing DVDs in the U.S. DVD manufacturers import the machines used to make DVDs, purchasing them from the same foreign companies that produced VLD manufacturing machines. Under the established legal principal that legislation should be interpreted to take into account advancements in technology, DVD manufacturing machines should be classified under than same duty free provisions as VLD manufacturing machines. Customs, however, has ruled that DVD manufacturing machines are not classified under the duty free provisions for VLDs, and that the components of DVD manufacturing machines should be classified under 11 separate tariff headings, with an average duty of three percent. This ruling has had the effect of negating the benefits of Congress' 1994 legislation on VLDs. My legislation would provide tariff relief on imported DVD machinery and components, thus reducing the cost of production for domestic manufacturers. Competition from Taiwan, Japan, and the European Union is very strong. A recent internal study indicated some overseas competitors are trying to sell their DVD discs in the U.S. as low as 75 cents each, compared to a cost of $1.61 for domestic production. Reduced production costs would help the seventeen U.S. producers of DVD discs be more competitive and ensure the continued employment of American workers in those companies. Indeed, duties on the discs produced using DVD manufacturing machines actually are lower than the duties now imposed on DVD manufacturing machines. The proposed legislation would remove such inequitable and inverted tariffs, thereby promoting U.S. jobs and manufacturing of DVDs in the U.S. New DVD products are being released each year. Recordable DVDs will be available in 2001. As U.S. consumers respond to the superior quality of digital sound and images, this legislation will help companies fulfill the demand for digital products and help increase jobs associated with the popularity of this important information technology media. This legislation also will protect U.S. intellectual property rights. Movie studios have invested heavily in the protection of movie content for DVDs. Keeping production of DVDs in the U.S., rather than in countries that have weaker intellectual property laws and enforcement, will help prevent the mass piracy of software that occurs overseas. The enactment of this legislation for DVD machinery and components would not injure any domestic producer, and it would ensure the continued growth of jobs and investment in the United States while protecting against the potential loss of valuable intellectual property. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

Mr. COLLINS

Mr. COLLINS. Mr. Speaker, if we are to climb the mountain of tax reform, we have to take it one step at a time; and I think the right approach is to aim first at individuals and remove the burden of excessive taxation and complicated regulations. The very first place to start is by scrapping tax penalties. Why hit people with a heavier tax burden for being married, for working after retirement, or for building a family business or farm? The Senior Citizens Freedom to Work Act is an important step to remove one of those penalties. It will end the Social Security earnings limit which discourage seniors from continuing to work. This legislation follows an important first step we took a couple of weeks ago with the passage of the marriage penalty tax relief. Finally, I hope that we will take a third step, and that is by helping families by eliminating the death penalty tax which hammers families, family- owned businesses and farms. Mr. Speaker, let us keep moving forward, making progress in tax reform and support H.R. 5.

Mr. COLLINS

Mr. COLLINS. Mr. Speaker, since the early days of this century, it has been Federal policy to insure a proper, dignified burial for veterans who are qualified to receive a VA pension or compensation. Today, I will introduce legislation to insure that after years of inadequate support this policy is actually implemented. Ever since veterans were first provided with a burial allowance following World War I, the benefit has been slowly eroding. If the original allowance were adjusted for inflation, the $100 World War I benefit would total over $1,000 today. The $150 benefit provided after World War II would total over $850 today. The $300 benefit that has been provided since 1978, the last time the benefit was increased, would total over $700 today if it were adjusted for inflation. Today, however, veterans' families receive exactly what they would have received 22 years ago--$300--a fraction of the cost of even the most basic memorial. Our veterans deserve better. The Veterans Burial Benefits Improvement Act enhances the current, insufficient burial allowance, providing $1,000 to each qualified veteran. This brings the benefit in line with Congress' original intent--allowing veterans' families to provide our soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines with dignity in death. I urge my colleagues to join me in this effort by cosponsoring this important initiative.

Mr. COLLINS

Mr. COLLINS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of legislation which eliminates the marriage penalty. To do so is just basic tax policy fairness. The code should not take more from those who are married just because they are married. While the bill before us provides important tax relief, it needs improvement; and later this afternoon, Mr. Speaker, I will offer an amendment under unanimous consent that will strengthen the legislation by ensuring that we provide relief from the marriage penalty this year. As we know, the current language calls for a standard deduction for married couples beginning next year, the tax year 2001. But, Mr. Speaker, according to the Congressional Budget Office, the Federal Government will collect more taxes and revenues this year than we anticipated; so therefore I think we should share those unexpected revenues with the people that work so hard for them. Another point that I would like to bring out, Mr. Speaker, is the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Neal) mentioned the alternative minimum tax. It is a problem. It has been a problem for a number of years, and we have tried to address this problem in the past. This bill does have a provision that will partially correct the alternative minimum tax problem for those who will be affected by the changes in the Tax Code. The administration has also offered a proposal that would eliminate probably about one-half of those over the next 10 years that will be affected by the alternative minimum tax. One-half is not enough. As the gentleman from Massachusetts said, we need to repeal the alternative minimum tax provisions of law. I hope this House will support me in my unanimous consent request to offer an amendment later this afternoon.

Mr. COLLINS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to offer an amendment to change the effective date to the year 2000 to double the standard deduction for married couples, and add that amendment to this bill.