Chet Edwards

Mr. EDWARDS

Mr. EDWARDS. Mr. Speaker, because of our Nation's veterans, America won the cold war; because of our Nation's veterans, today we are the superpower in the world; and because of them our children today live in a safer world. This bill, H.R. 3118, is an effort, a simple but important one, to say thank you to those men and women who have served our Nation in uniform and now need service in our Nation's Va hospitals. This bill is a win-win. It is a win for veterans who will receive better care because of this legislation, and it is a win for our Nation's taxpayers because it will see that their limited resources are used more efficiently and effectively on behalf of our Nation's veterans. Basically, this bill does two things. It simplifies rules for VA health care, eligibility rules that perhaps are as complicated as the IRS Tax Code. By simplifying them, we will have a fairer and better system for our veterans. Second, it will facilitate effective and efficient outpatient care for our Nation's veterans. Mr. Speaker, the Committee on Veterans' Affairs has worked for years to enact legislation that would achieve a comprehensive reform of VA health care laws. H.R. 3118 is not the final answer, but it is a very important first step. It does not remedy the serious funding challenges that the VA has faced. It does not guarantee that every veteran will get the care that they seek. Comprehensive answers are beyond what we can accomplish in the few remaining days of this session. Nevertheless, this legislation is a bipartisan major step in the positive direction of serving our veterans. It is important legislation. This bill dismantles the statutory barriers that have interfered with VA efforts to deliver appropriate care. It simplifies an overly complex set of eligibility rules. It expands veterans' access to routine outpatient care, to preventive services and needed prosthetic supplies. And by providing greater latitude for contracting, it gives the VA important new tools to manage care delivery more effectively. While this bill will help the VA to streamline its health care delivery, it does provide very needed protection for some of the VA's most unique and potentially vulnerable programs. At a time that the VA must make every effort to reduce duplication and unnecessary expenditures, veterans have urged us to be especially vigilant to ensure that the VA maintains its vital specialized treatment and rehabilitation programs. The bill gives specific recognition to these programs and would provide safeguards to ensure that the VA retains the capacity to serve the specialized needs of the spinal cord injured, the blind, the mentally ill, and other disabled veterans dependent on the VA's specialized care programs. Our efforts in this bill to help the VA expand veterans' access to primary care services does not signal an intent to abandon needed though sometimes costly specialized treatment missions. Finally, Mr. Speaker, I want to add to the comments of other colleagues on this floor. I want to add my deep and lasting gratitude to the gentleman from Mississippi [Mr. Montgomery] for his many, many years of service to his country, both in uniform and here as a Member of Congress. To the gentleman from Arizona, Mr. Stump, the partner with Mr. Montgomery for so many years now in fighting for our Nation's veterans, this legislation would not be on this floor without his leadership as chairman of the committee. To the gentleman from Arkansas [Mr. Hutchinson], the subcommittee chair who worked tirelessly with veterans service organizations and Members of this House on both sides of the aisle to help bring this bill to the floor, and finally and not least importantly I want to say thanks to the gentleman from New York [Mr. Solomon], the chairman of the Committee on Rules who helped see that this bill could come to the floor in a timely fashion, knowing that there is not much time left in this session of Congress and if we are to turn this from a bill into law we must move quickly. So my thanks go out to Chairman Solomon for his bringing this together. Mr. Speaker, as with so much of the legislation for our Nation's veterans heralded and pushed through this House by the gentleman from Mississippi [Mr. Montgomery] and the gentleman from Arizona [Mr. Stump], there is not a big fight on this floor today. There is not a lot of people in the press gallery. Perhaps some think unless there is a fight, it is not important legislation. But, Mr. Speaker, I would suggest this is some of the most important legislation we have passed on behalf of veterans for a long, long time, and it is a credit to the leaders that I have mentioned in my last few comments that this is coming to the floor on a bipartisan basis. What a shame it is that the country does not see the headlines, the articles, the news coverage when there is such a cooperative effort made in this House of Representatives. But more important than the news coverage is the fact that this legislation when passed into law will make life better for our Nation's veterans who served all of us.

Mr. EDWARDS

Mr. EDWARDS. Mr. Chairman, each morning Members of this House with hand over heart turn to this flag and give a pledge: One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. In a few moments with our votes we will decide whether justice for all is simply words to be recited, an ideal worth defending. I believe in the Pledge of Allegiance, I believe it is worth reciting, and I believe it is worth defending. Vote ``yes'' on this amendment.

Mr. EDWARDS

Mr. EDWARDS. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3643, as amended, is an omnibus health care bill which tackles a broad spectrum of issues affecting special veteran populations--women, veterans exposed to toxic and hazardous substances, and veterans suffering with chronic mental illness. Mr. Speaker, I'm very pleased that this bill includes two provisions I introduced last year. One calls for VA to establish a committee of experts to assess its mental health programs and make recommendations for improvements. The other authorizes appropriations for VA to establish up to five centers of excellence that would provide mental health research, education, and clinical care. Mr. Speaker, I think it's important to appreciate that more than 50 percent of all eligible veterans who suffer from severe mental illness rely on VA for care; that's more than five times the proportion of veterans in the general population who use VA for any health care. The Department reports that 64 percent of those veterans are service- connected for a psychiatric condition. I believe these data underscore the importance of VA mental health programs, and the need for this legislation. I urge Members to support H.R. 3643.

Mr. EDWARDS

Mr. EDWARDS. Mr. Chairman, I would first like to commend the chairman of the committee, the gentleman from California, Mr. Lewis, and the ranking member, the gentleman from Ohio, Mr. Stokes, for carrying on the spirit of decency and civility from the life and spirit of Bill Emerson, whom we honored just a few moments ago on the floor of this House. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of this bipartisan legislation, and I also want to pay special note to my support of the Hefner amendment, which will be discussed in a few moments, dealing with the Office of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. A number of major veterans service organizations have endorsed this amendment, and that is one reason why I hope it will pass on a bipartisan basis. Without this amendment, this bill, in my opinion, would micromanage the Office of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. This amendment, the Hefner amendment, simply lets the VA Secretary manage his own office in a responsible manner within his given budget. I believe Secretary Jesse Brown has earned that right. He is a combat- wounded veteran, a marine who has served his Nation with honor and dignity. In time of war he put his life on the line for his country. In time of peace he has served our Nation's veterans. I understand that some Members of Congress, and I respect this, feel that Secretary Brown has sometimes been too strong or perhaps too partisan in his advocacy for veterans. Personally, I believe Secretary Brown has been an outstanding leader and voice on behalf of veterans, but I believe the Secretary would be the first to say that he fought in combat to defend our right to debate his service. Mr. Speaker, I believe that debate should occur in the Presidential campaign of 1996 and not in the management of the VA Secretary's office, and in a way that, intentionally or not, could hurt our Nation's veterans. I would like to include for the Record letters from a number of the veterans service organizations supporting the Hefner amendment, including letters from the VFW, the Disabled American Veterans, letters from the Paralyzed Veterans of America, and the Vietnam Veterans of America.

Mr. EDWARDS

Mr. EDWARDS. Mr. Speaker, on June 14, 1775, the Second Continental Congress, representing the citizens of the 13 American colonies, authorized the establishment of a Continental Army with the expressed purpose of providing for the defense of a fledgling democracy and its bedrock principles and values. The next day, Congressman George Washington became Gen. George Washington and prepared to take command of the new Army. The collective expression of the pursuit of personal freedoms that caused the authorization and organization of the U.S. Army, subsequently led to our Nation's Declaration of Independence and the codification of our bedrock principles and values in the Constitution of the United States. The birth and growth of that Army led to the birth of our great Nation. Today we celebrate the birthday of the U.S. Army, in recognition of 221 years of continuous, selfless, and valorous service to the citizens, principles, and values of the United States of America. For 221 years, our Army's central purpose has been to fight and win our Nation's wars. In years past, those wars have typically been fought and won on distant, foreign battlefields, while at home, the Army has provided for the security of a growing population. The Army's contributions include the development of our Nation's rail and water transportation networks, and innumerable medical and scientific achievements that have markedly improved the quality of life of our citizenry. Whatever the mission, the Nation turns to its Army for decisive victory, regardless of whether those victories are measured in the defeat of foreign armed forces or the timely delivery of humanitarian assistance at home or abroad. The 172 battle streamers carried on the Army flag are testaments to the valor, commitment, and sacrifice of those who have served and fought under its banner. Valley Forge, New Orleans, Mexico City, Gettysburg, Verdun, Bataan, Normandy, Pusan, Ia Drang Valley, Grenada, Panama, and Kuwait are but a handful of the places where American soldiers have won extraordinary distinction and respect for our Nation and our Army. Soldiers of character are today, as they have been throughout the Army's glorious history, the heart and soul of our Army. ``Duty, honor, country'' are more than mere words--they are the creed by which the American soldier lives and serves. Today's Army is without equal, not in terms of its size, but in the quality and dedication of the young men and women who have chosen to selflessly serve the Nation, at home and abroad, in peace and war, to accomplish the tasks directed by the Nation's leaders. Our young men and women, who receive tough, realistic training and are equipped with the finest equipment, are the envy of the world's nations. The Army's strength always has been, and always will be, the American soldier. Intelligent, physically fit, highly motivated, and educated, and well trained and supported, soldiers are our Army's capital asset. While no one can predict the cause, location, or magnitude of future battles, there is one certainty--American soldiers of character, selflessly serving the Nation, will continue to be the credentials of our Army. The Army is prepared to answer the Nation's call, and such calls have been increasing in number and disparity in recent years. These wide- ranging missions highlight the complex global security environment our Nation faces today. The threats are less distinct and less predictable than in the past, but more complex and just as real and dangerous. Rising sophistication among terrorists and rogue states, the standing armed forces of potential adversaries, and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction portend increasing challenges for the future. Our Army will continue to serve the central role in the Nation's response to these challenges. Our Army, the world's most capable and respected ground force, is in the midst of an unparalleled transformation as it prepares for the new challenges of the next century and a different world. The information age is already bringing rapid changes in the conduct of warfare. Future forces will be prepared to conduct quick, decisive, highly sophisticated operations anywhere, anytime. America's 21st century Army will integrate emerging information technologies with sound doctrine, flexible organizations, and soldiers of character and commitment to make our Nation's land force more versatile, deployable, lethal, and survivable. Our Army was ready at Lexington and our Army is ready today. Our Army will be ready to fight and win our Nation's call to service at home and abroad. Whenever the time, wherever the place, whatever the mission, American can count on her Army.

Mr. EDWARDS

Mr. EDWARDS. Mr. Chairman, star wars is the Freddie Krueger of defense. It simply will not die. Mr. Chairman, this amendment is very simple. If Members oppose star wars, vote ``yes'' on this amendment. If they want to revive star wars, an ill-fated taxpayer boondoggle that has never done anything for the American people's defense, then oppose this amendment. It is very simple. Mr. Chairman, if Members think it was not enough to take $30 billion of taxpayers' money to put into this program that never proved out, was never able to be deployed in the 1980's, then vote ``no'' on this amendment. To spend more money on star wars is like spending more money on the Edsel. It simply will not work no matter how hard we try. It is very simple. Finally, if we want to take limited defense dollars and ultimately put them in a space-based system that is unproven, rather than military construction, military pay raises, theater missile defense, if Members want to take money out of their terribly important defense programs and put it once again into star wars, which I thought my Republican colleagues said in the defense bill debate right on this floor last year they had no interest in, if Members want to do all of that, they should vote ``no'' on this amendment. If my colleagues think it is time to put a stake in the heart of this modern-day Dracula known as star wars, then vote ``yes'' for this amendment.

Mr. EDWARDS

Mr. EDWARDS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to offer best wishes for a full recovery to Tobin R. Boenig, a remarkable young man from Marion, TX. I met Toby during the summer of 1994, when he interned in my office. He worked with my staff on numerous projects, including extensive work on agriculture issues. During his brief tenure in my office, Toby earned the respect and admiration of his coworkers through his dedication, responsibility, and hard work. As a student at Texas A&M University in College Station, TX, Toby involved himself in many campus activities. He participated in the student senate beginning his freshman year, and held the position of academic affairs committee chair, speaker pro tempore, and speaker of the student senate. In addition, Toby served on the College of Agriculture and Life Science student council and was a member of the collegiate FFA. He was also an agri-speaker, speaking throughout the Bryan/College Station area about the importance of agriculture and youth leadership. Toby was awarded the Buck Weirus Spirit Award for his contributions to the Texas A&M student body. This past academic year, Toby served as the student body president of Texas A&M University, representing over 42,000 students to the Texas A&M administration, former students, and the State and Federal Governments. He graduated cum laude from the College of Agriculture and Life Science in May 1996. Shortly after graduation, Toby was involved in a tubing accident on the Guadalupe River in Texas, leaving him paralyzed from the neck down. In recent weeks, he has made great progress, regaining some feeling in his arms and legs, and the medical team now hopes for a full recovery through long and intensive physical therapy. During this time, Toby has maintained his positive spirit and enthusiasm for which he is known by family and friends. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of this body of legislators, I would like to send best wishes to Tobin R. Boenig for a speedy and full recovery. He is an extraordinary young man and is an inspiration to us all. Good luck, Toby.

Mr. EDWARDS

Mr. EDWARDS. Mr. Speaker, I am kind of curious what happened tonight to the House Republican voices who have been saying all week that it is wrong to pass a budget that increases the deficit over the next 2 years. Since those voices have gone silent tonight on the Republican side, let me say it: This budget increases the deficit over the next 2 years, and it is wrong. Mr. Speaker, what a difference a month makes. Just last month, House Republicans bragged their VA budget included $100 million more for veterans' health care than the President's budget, yet somehow between giving our Memorial Day speeches and writing our Fourth of July speeches, the Republican leadership cut VA discretionary programs, important programs for veterans by $645 million. One month ago, they claimed and bragged about the fact they were spending more money than the President's inadequate budget for VA health care. And yet this budget has cut VA health care dramatically by freezing VA health care programs. Mr. Speaker, this budget will leave our Nation's veterans out in the cold, and it is wrong.

Mr. EDWARDS

Mr. EDWARDS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Col. John C. Meyer, Jr., on his retirement from the U.S. Air Force after 24 years of service to our country. Colonel Meyer is currently the chief of the Weapons and Nuclear Deterrence Requirements Division, Directorate of Operational Requirements, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, DC. As chief, he has overseen the requirements development for all of the Air Force's air-delivered munitions and for the maintenance and modernization of the Nation's ICBM force. Colonel Meyer has served our country with distinction. His decorations include the Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal with five devices, the Air Medal, the Aerial Achievement Medal with one device, the Air Force Commendation Medal with one device, and the Combat Readiness Medal with four devices. Mr. Speaker, on June 7, 1996, Colonel Meyer will retire from the U.S. Air Force. On behalf of this body of legislators, I would like to congratulate Col. John C. Meyer, Jr., on his retirement and thank him for his selfless service to his country.

Mr. EDWARDS

Mr. EDWARDS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Dollie Wood Walker on her retirement and give her my personal thanks for her hard work in my Waco district office. Dollie has served on my congressional staff for more than 5 years. During her tenure, she has helped me open my district office in Waco, TX, and has traveled with me throughout the 11th Congressional District of Texas. Dollie has worked tirelessly for the people of central Texas, assisting them with their Social Security and Medicare problems and needs. Dollie has also been a vital link between me and seniors' organizations in my district. AARP chapters, NARFE chapters, hospice societies, and various groups in central Texas all know Dollie and have benefited from her work and dedication. Mr. Speaker, on June 30, 1996, Dollie will retire from Federal employment. On behalf of this body of legislators, I would like to congratulate Dollie Wood Walker on her retirement and thank her for her selfless service to me and to the great people of central Texas. Dollie is a one-of-a-kind person and her spirit and energy will be missed but never forgotten.

Mr. EDWARDS

Mr. EDWARDS. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this motion to recommit because I believe it is designed to help the people we should care about most, and that is the families serving in our military and their children. Specifically, this motion to recommit puts $53 million more into the Impact Aid Program, which should be called the military children education program. Mr. Speaker, last December at Fort Hood in my district, I met with 50 soldiers being deployed to Bosnia. The second soldier I met had missed the birth of his first child because he was in Desert Storm. He was about to miss the birth of his second child because of his service to his country in Bosnia. It was a very personal experience to me in realizing the tremendous sacrifices our military families make for our country. If we cannot guarantee that soldier he should be paid as much as we would like him to be paid, if we cannot guarantee his family will not wait in line for hospital care, if we cannot guarantee 1996 housing, one thing we should all agree is that we ought to ensure that that soldier and others like him can know when he serves his country that his child will get a first-class education. This $53 million for impact aid will help do that. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the efforts of the gentleman from South Carolina, Chairman Spence, and the gentleman from Virginia, Mr. Bateman, to put $50 million in impact aid in this bill, and I support that effort. But this motion to recommit takes their good idea and takes it a step farther in making an unquestioned commitment to ensuring that the children of our military families receive a quality education. Our families deserve no less.

Mr. EDWARDS

Mr. EDWARDS. Mr. Speaker, I do not come to this well with a speech that I have written because I had no intention tonight to give a speech. I came to this House to hear the debate on amending one of the most cherished documents that this world and this Nation have ever seen. And I want my colleagues to look around in this room at 10:15 in the evening. There are very few Members here; there are more staff people on the floor of this House than there are Members of the House. And the reason I ask Members to look around is that this is the only hearing that this amendment to the most cherished document in our country will receive in this House. It is not arrogance to want a full consideration and careful review of our Constitution. I suggest it is reverence, reverence for our document that we all proclaim to love and reverence for our country and the seriousness of the issues which we debate this evening. To my colleagues who genuinely believe that we should have such an amendment, or a similar one, I suggest let us have the courage to debate it in the light of day before the American people and not late at night as a political gimmick simply because this happens to be tax day. To my colleague and friend, the gentleman from Texas [Mr. Barton], who genuinely believes in tax limitation, let me suggest it says something wrong about this process when even he, who has fought harder for this issue than anyone I know, had to admit in a national publication just a few days ago that even he did not understand the content of this amendment to our Nation's Constitution. I plead with my colleagues to pay respect not to our Constitution, just with their rhetoric, but to pay respect to it with our process. I think our Founding Fathers would be sad, whether they supported tax limitation or not. I think our Founding Fathers would be sad that we would have had no single hearing on such an important issue, that we would debate amending the Constitution at 10:20 at night with very few Members on this floor and more staff members than Members here. Regardless of my colleagues' position on the issue, I suggest this is a sad day for our country and a total lack of reverence for our Constitution.

Mr. EDWARDS

Mr. EDWARDS. Madam Speaker, this morning I saw one of the most blessed sights that any husband or parent could ever see: My wife, cuddling in her arms, our 3-month-old son, both of them happy, healthy, and safe. But as I left them, I was haunted by the words spoken by a Republican House Member on the floor in this House last Wednesday when that person said: ``I trust Hamas more than I trust my own Government.'' Madam Speaker, Hamas is a terrorist organization that proudly murders innocent women and children. Every parent and every person in America should be outraged that a Member of this Congress could place trust in terrorists that would destroy the lives of innocent children and the families who love them. The Republican Member of this House who made this extremist, morally repugnant statement owes it to his or her colleagues and the people of this Nation to admit his or her identity.

Mr. EDWARDS

Mr. EDWARDS. Mr. Speaker, this rule is unfair to America's veterans. Let me repeat, this rule is unfair to America's veterans. Do not take my word for it, listen to what national veterans leaders have to say about language in this bill that the Committee on Rules did not let us even vote on to take out in regard to restricting the Department of Veterans Affairs. The National Commander of the Disabled American Veterans, Thomas McMasters, said ``* * * if enacted, would have a devastating impact on the office of the VA secretary * * *'' and he referred to the language as ``* * * unreasonable and seemingly punitive limitations * * * if not deleted, these spending restrictions will send a chilling message to disabled veterans.'' Do not listen to me, listen to the words of Steve Robertson, Director of the National Legislative Commission of the American Legion: ``This language would adversely impact the personal lives of 172 career employees and programs specifically designed for women and minority veterans. This is not a request for increased funding, but rather for fairness to those destined to bear the brunt of the hardship.'' Listen to the words of Richard Grant, with the Paralyzed Veterans of America: ``These cuts are an attempt to restrict the activities of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and reduce the effectiveness of the other affected Offices * * * in reality, the cuts will solely prove to be detrimental to veterans,'' detrimental. Listen to AmVets, their National Commander, Kenneth Wolford: ``As a result of this resolution we may expect that services to our Nation's veterans will suffer.'' Mr. Speaker, I never thought I would see this House vote to gag a combat-wounded veteran, Secretary Jesse Brown, who has had the courage to stand up and fight for our Nation's veterans. I am disappointed the Committee on Rules turned its back on every national veterans organization in America that wanted us to simply be able to have a right to vote to take that language out. Mr. Speaker, our veterans fought and gave their lives to give us the right to vote. The Committee on Rules said no to that very essential right. Oppose this rule. Mr. Speaker, I include for the Record letters from the officials of the veterans' organizations to which I referred:

Mr. EDWARDS

Mr. EDWARDS. Mr. Speaker, a moment ago we put our right hands over our hearts and pledged allegiance to our flag and the Nation for which it stands. I would like to challenge every Member of this House today to take another pledge, a pledge that we will not go home in February for a month, a pledge we will not take a paid vacation as Members of Congress, while this Nation is on the brink of defaulting on its good faith and credit for the first time in two centuries. Mr. Speaker, I think every Member of Congress tomorrow who would vote to recess, when we are on this brink, are playing Russian roulette with the American economy and average working people's lives whose mortgage rates will go up and veterans who will not receive their paychecks and the widows of veterans who will not receive their pensions. Anybody who votes to go on recess tomorrow should volunteer not only to give up his or her paycheck for the month of February. They should volunteer to explain to 44 million senior citizens why on March 1 they may not get their Social Security checks and Medicare recipients will not get their checks. We should stay here and work.

Mr. EDWARDS

Mr. EDWARDS. Mr. Speaker, I know this issue of defaulting on the good faith and credit of the American economy and our Government debts is an issue that a lot of folks back home do not necessarily relate to themselves personally. But I would like to specifically address what the default on March 1 could do to men and women who put their lives on the line for our country. I am very grateful to have the opportunity to be the ranking Democrat on the Subcommittee on Hospitals and Health Care of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. So on a regular basis I have a chance to go out to our VA hospitals and see those men and women who were combat injured and put their lives on the line. Let me quote from Jesse Brown himself, a very distinguished combat veteran who was very seriously wounded in service to our Nation. He said that veterans and their families have suffered enough. They should not be the victims of a battle they cannot even fight. The battle that Secretary Brown is talking about is the game of Russian roulette that is being played with the American economy in threatening to shut down our Government once again and to default on our debt. Let me just put this in real terms, to how a Republican pushed default on our debt, especially if we are going into recess and get a paid vacation for the next month and only come back 4 days before the March 1 default, let me talk about how this would affect real American veterans: 2.2 million veterans with service-connected disabilities may receive bad checks March 1. More than 300,000 survivors of veterans who died from service-connected causes may receive bad checks. To be even more clear on that, what that means is that widows of combat veterans who died in service to our Nation may receive bad checks, in effect, hot checks on March 1 from the VA. Nearly three-quarters of a million poor wartime veterans or survivors may receive bad checks. Also, $140 million a month in education program funds, G.I. Montgomery College loan funds would not go out to veterans on March 1 and for each month thereafter, if the leadership of this House does not keep us here for the month of February, and have us deal directly and honestly with the debt default issue. Hardworking VA employers and employees, people who try to take care of our veterans and hospitals all over this country, once again will not be paid for their work. That will have a devastating impact on the quality of people we can attract to work in our VA hospitals. The bottom line to all of this, Mr. Speaker, I would say to the gentleman and to our American veterans, is they need to understand that this complex, convoluted discussion of default is something that affects America's veterans, it affects 44 million senior citizens receiving Social Security checks, including many that are on SSI, that receive checks because they are disabled, in wheelchairs, and need that check to pay for their bills. This is a real issue, a terribly important one that affects real families. It is devastating, most importantly, to America's working families, those people who are working hard to pay their bills and put their children through college. Their mortgage interest rates could go up after March 1. The money they borrowed to keep their farm alive or to expand their business or keep their business alive, that they have struggled so hard to support for years, those costs could go up.

Mr. EDWARDS

Mr. EDWARDS. Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield?

Mr. EDWARDS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding to me. Mr. Speaker, I am disappointed that some Members on the Republican side of the aisle would not walk those 45 feet it would take to sign a discharge petition so we would not default on our debt, so that on March 1 we could pay Social Security recipients their checks, and veterans, and even soldiers serving in Bosnia now will not get paid if we do not do something about this debt problem. Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask the gentleman a question. If he and I were in business and we were within 30 days of our company going bankrupt, and we took a 26-day vacation and went to Hawaii and got a paid vacation and said, ``We will come back 4 days before our company goes bankrupt,'' what do you think the stockholders of that company would do to you and me?

Mr. EDWARDS

Mr. EDWARDS. Mr. Speaker, on July 18, 1995, I voted for the fiscal year 1996 Interior appropriations bill. While I did not agree with everything in the bill, I strongly supported the reforms that were included on the Endangered Species Act. Specifically, the bill prohibited the listing of new endangered species until the Endangered Species Act is reauthorized. Also, the bill prohibited the use of funds to designate critical habitat for listed species. As a defender of private property rights, I also supported the provision that defunded the National Biological Survey. When the House considered the conference report on this bill in December, again I supported the bill because of these important provisions. That measure passed the House on December 13, 1995 by a vote of 244-181. Unfortunately, President Clinton vetoed the Interior appropriations bill. I was disappointed that these important provisions were not signed into law. When the House voted to overrride the veto in January 1996, I fully intended to continue my support for the bill by voting to override that veto. However, when I checked the Congressional Record, I realized that I had mistakenly voted to sustain the veto. This vote was in error. I want to make it clear for the record that I support this legislation and I intended to vote to override the President's veto. I have consistently been in favor of making changes in the current Endangered Species Act [ESA]. I am a cosponsor of H.R. 2275, a bill supported by the Texas Farm Bureau that would make commonsense changes to the existing law. In 1994, when central Texas was under fire from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service over designating critical habitat for the golden cheeked warbler, I was a leader in forcing the Service to abandon the plan. I believe that this situation demonstrates the weaknesses of the ESA, and shows how desperately reform is needed. I have also been a vocal critic of the National Biological Survey. On June 22, 1994, I voted in favor of the Allard amendment to the Interior appropriations bill. This amendment, which would have eliminated all funds for the National Biological Survey, did not pass. This year opponents of the NBS like me were pleased to see that this program was targeted for elimination. While I appreciate the recent reforms in this program, I am still not convinced it is a prudent use of taxpayers' money. When the issues regarding private property rights come up for votes in 1996, I will vote to protect those rights as I have consistently done in years past.

Mr. EDWARDS

Mr. EDWARDS. Mr. Speaker, I will be brief in my point. I think this resolution does deal with the integrity of this House in a very significant way. Unless I am mistaken, it was not too many years ago when colleagues on the Republican side of the aisle of this House came to this floor and argued that we should have privileged resolutions and measures to consider the so-called House bank scandal, because a number of House Members had purportedly bounced thousands of dollars of personal checks. I would suggest to the Speaker and to our colleagues that if having Members of this House bounce thousands of dollars in personal checks goes directly to the integrity of this House, how in the world could we not conclude that having the U.S. Government for the first time in two centuries bounce billions of dollars of checks to people to whom we owe money, and entities all across this world, an action that would undermine the integrity of our creditworthiness and our reputation as a nation, how can the personal bounced checks go directly to the integrity of the House and not have our Nation's bouncing checks go to the integrity of the House? I would argue, therefore, Mr. Speaker, that this resolution clearly deals directly with the question of protecting the integrity and the dignity of this House, and would suggest that to rule otherwise might be inconsistent with the arguments we heard from our Republican colleagues just a few years ago.

Mr. EDWARDS. Mr. Speaker, I would like to be recognized to address the issue of the privileged motion.

Mr. EDWARDS

Mr. EDWARDS. Mr. Speaker, this morning at St. John's Church there was a memorial service for our departed colleague from Oklahoma, Mike Synar. As I listened to the deserving tributes paid to this remarkable public servant, I realized that death sometimes robs us of our last chance to say goodbye. So to my friend and colleague Mike Synar, I want to say goodbye one last time. I want to say, thank you, Mike, for reminding us what courage is all about. I want to say, thank you for reminding us that one person can make a difference. I want to say, thank you for reminding us that public service can be a noble calling. I want to say, thank you, Mike, for your genuine compassion and caring for your fellow human beings. And I want you to know that like the statue of your fellow Oklahoman, Will Rogers, which watches over this House just outside the doors of this Chamber, your spirit, the courageous spirit of Mike Synar, will forever hover over this House to remind each of us that courage and compassion and acting out of conscience are noble human traits. Goodbye, my friend. We will miss you, but never forget you.

Mr. EDWARDS

Mr. EDWARDS. Mr. Speaker, I would like to read one more letter from a real person in my district, another victim of the Gingrich shutdown philosophy. Mr. Edwards: I used to live on welfare but I fought my way out of the system. I'm employed at the VA hospital in Temple, Texas as a certified surgical tech. I'm not on food stamps, AFDC or Medicaid anymore. I support my children and take care of them through my job which I am not being paid for. The check I was to receive on January 2 was for rent, electric bills, food and gas. My 9-year-old's birthday had to be put on hold until I start getting paid again. I wish they could have felt my heartbreak when I told him and he started to cry. Mr. Speaker, it is time to pass a resolution to put the Government and decent, hardworking Federal employees back to work. We can do that if Mr. Gingrich and the House Republicans will let us take 15 minutes to vote in favor of a clean continuing resolution.

Mr. EDWARDS

Mr. EDWARDS. Mr. Speaker, there is a big difference between courage and kidnapping. Courage is sacrificing oneself for a cause. On the other hand, kidnapping is sacrificing someone else for a person's self- interest. I would suggest that the Gingrich plan to use Federal employees as hostages in the budget debate is far more akin to kidnapping than to courage. It is no profile in courage to sacrifice innocent victims for someone's own cause, and that is exactly what the Speaker and his supporters in the House have done. They are getting their congressional paychecks while they are stopping innocent Federal employees from getting theirs. That is not courage, that is hypocrisy at its worst. The issue before us is not whether we should balance the budget. I support that. That is an important cause. The issue before us is how we will balance the budget over the next 7 years, and the Gingrich Republicans have no right to use Federal employees, hundreds of thousands of them and their families, to force upon this country their own particular plan. If the Gingrich budget cannot withstand the light of day, if it cannot stand on its own in an open public debate in our democracy, then it would be morally wrong to pass that budget simply because it is the only way to free hundreds of thousands of Federal employees. Hostage taking, kidnapping, and blackmail have absolutely no place in a free society. Mr. Speaker, I think Senator Dole, the majority leader of the other party, a Member of the Republican Party, leader of the Senate, was right when he said enough is enough. I do not see any sense in what we have been doing. Let me repeat that. Senator DOLE said, ``I don't see any sense in what we've been doing. I would hope that we would have quick action in the House. People have been gone from their jobs long enough. Enough is enough.'' Bob Dole was right. Newt Gingrich and his supporters in this House are wrong. We should pass a clean continuing resolution and immediately reopen the Federal Government. We are not talking about statistics and numbers here, Mr. Speaker. We are talking about real people with real families. Let me tell you about some of those from our district who have written me: Dear sir, I am scheduled to be in surgery for colon cancer on the 3rd of January. Because of the government shutdown I have not been able to resolve the question of income. This thing has put my life savings in the toilet, so I don't have the money to come for the surgery. Since this thing is going to wipe out my career if I can't get some type disability, I'm going to be the only homeless person with an oxygen bottle for emphysema and a colostomy for colon cancer. I don't find much quality of life here. I have paid into Social Security since 1954. I also served in the U.S. military for 8.5 years. I find it a bad situation when I can't get any help. At 56 I'm too young to retire and too old to be retrained. A veteran in my district, Mr. Speaker, who served his country in the military for 8\1/2\ years, cannot get any help for colon cancer because of the shutdown, the unnecessary, unfair shutdown of the Federal Government. Mr. Speaker, it is fine and it is healthy and it is good for us to debate a balanced budget and how we are going to get there. We should have that debate. My feeling is whether that debate takes 2 days or 2 weeks or 2 months longer, it is better that we do it right than to do it under the blackmail threat of shutting down hundreds of thousands of Federal employees from receiving their paychecks. Another real person with a real family in my district, who is a victim of the Gingrich strategy: Dear Representative Edwards: Both my husband and I are employed at the Central Texas Medical Center in Temple, Texas. Because we both work for the VA, an underfunded Federal agency. We will receive only one-half of our paychecks on January 2. My car is five years old. We saved $1,100 to put into a badly needed transmission. Fortunately, we have that money to get us through this pay period. It do not know what we would have done if it were not for that. I cry every night when I watch the news because I am so angry and worried. We have another constituent that wrote, ``Dear Mr. Edwards. I was furloughed for two weeks even though I was told purchasing agents were essential on December 28, 1995. I am a single parent, and I am not whining about this, I am very proud of it, but there is no second income in my family.'' It is time to put Federal workers back to work.

Mr. EDWARDS

Mr. EDWARDS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today for the second time in as many years for the same reason, to recognize the Thorndale High School Bulldogs for their State football championship. I extend my sincere congratulations to head coach Don Cowan and the Bulldogs of Thorndale, TX, who captured the 1995 Class 1A State Championship on December 23, 1995 before a crowd of 8,000 at Gordon Wood Stadium in Brownwood, TX. Defeating the Roscoe Plowboys 14 to 7, the Bulldogs extended their winning streak to 32 games. This feat places Thorndale in a select class with 4 other schools as the only teams in Texas high school football history to post back-to-back 16-win seasons. The Bulldogs won their second consecutive State championship and third in 6 years with intense defense. Thorndale's defense, stingy all year, held its opponents to single-digit scoring in all but four of its games, six of which were shutouts. The Bulldogs' defense was so tenacious against Roscoe that it forced four interceptions and limited the Plowboys to only nine first downs, two in the second half. I urge my colleagues to join me today in recognizing and honoring true champions--the players, coaches, students, parents, and citizens of Thorndale, TX.