Lane Evans

Mr. EVANS

Mr. EVANS. Mr. Speaker, on the eve of Veterans Day--the day we set aside to honor our nation's veterans--I rise in support of H. Res. 41, a measure honoring women veterans and their contributions to the allied victory in World War II. In 1941, Congresswoman Edith Nourse Rogers introduced H.R. 4906, the bill that established the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC). Although faced with mounting opposition in the House, the bill was signed into law on May 15, 1942 as Public Law 77-554. Two months later, similar legislation was introduced and signed into law establishing the Navy Women's Reserve (WAVES) and the Marine Corps Women's Reserve. Four months later, the Coast Guard Women's Reserve was established. Women answered the call to duty without hesitation. The first group of 400 white and 40 black women were selected from among 30,000 applicants. They came from every state and a variety of circumstances. They all had two things in common--they had all volunteered and they had a desire to serve their nation. Just as their male counterparts, they had put their lives, their goals, and their dreams--on hold to serve their country. By the end of World War II, some 400,000 women had served in the military. There can be little doubt that these brave women performed a valuable role to the war effort during World War II. Historical documents are full of testimonials attesting to the excellence of women's contributions, disciplined character and their overall positive effect on the armed services. It is appropriate that we take this time to honor these brave women who served this nation with honor during World War II. I also commend the sponsor of this measure, my colleague from California, Loretta Sanchez. I thank and commend her for her leadership on this important measure recognizing the critically important contributions made by our nation's women veterans in World War II. To all our veterans on the eve of the last Veterans Day of this century, I say thank you for a job well done. Mr. Speaker, I am honored to support H. Res. 41 and I urge the immediate passage of this bill.

Mr. EVANS

Mr. EVANS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I salute the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Stump), the chairman of the committee, for his efforts to ensure a timely and accurate cost-of-living adjustment of 2.4 percent which will be provided to our Nation's service-connected disabled veterans and their dependents and survivors who are in receipt of compensation and DIC benefits. This increase in benefits will be reflected in payments beginning January, 2000. Mr. Speaker, this measure deserves the support of every Member of the House. I urge my colleagues to support the bill. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. EVANS

Mr. EVANS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak about one of the great injustices, one of the most flagrant violations of human rights. During World War Two, the Japanese military forced hundreds of thousands of women to serve as sexual slaves. Euphemistically known as ``comfort women'', they were predominantly Korean women and girls abducted from their homes and forced to serve Japanese soldiers. This government-sanctioned program created untold numbers of comfort stations or military brothels throughout Japanese-occupied territories in the Pacific Rim. For decades after the war, the Japanese government denied the existence of ``comfort women'' and the comfort stations, but in 1994, their position changed. The Japanese government admitted that ``the then Japanese military was directly or indirectly involved in the establishment and management of comfort stations and the transfer of ``comfort women [and] that this was an act that severely injured the honour and dignity of many women''. In 1993, international jurists in Geneva, Switzerland ruled that women who were forced to be sexual slaves of the Japanese military deserve at least $40,000 each from the state treasury as compensation for their extreme pain and suffering. Mr. Speaker, the Japanese government has a legal as well as moral responsibility to face its history. To continue to indignantly brush away these women's claims adds insult to injury. Stripped of their dignity, robbed of their honor, most of them were forced to live their lives carrying those horrific experiences with them covered under a veil of shame. I don't think they should do so any longer. I believe the Japanese government must do whatever can be done to restore some dignity for these women. The German government has formally apologized to the victims of the Holocaust as well as other war crimes victims and has gone to great lengths to provide for their needs and recovery, but the Japanese government has yet to do so. That is why, in the strongest possible terms, I call upon Japan to formally issue a clear and unambiguous apology for the atrocious war crimes committed by the Japanese military during World War II and offer reparations no less than $40,000 for each of the ``comfort women''. The surviving women are advanced in age, and time is of the essence. They have waited so long. They should wait no longer. Critics may ask why we should even dredge up something that happened so long ago and halfway across the world? Let me turn the critics' attention to the U.S. Constitution. It reads: ``We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights . . .'' Mr. Speaker, this nation was an experiment. An experiment to form a new system of government. A government based on the then-radical concept that we all have certain God-given rights that should not be violated--each and every one of us in this world. It matters not that injustices were committed against women and girls in East Asia over fifty years ago or fifty minutes ago. There is no statute of limitation on crimes against humanity. When human rights are violated, the international community must act because we have a moral responsibility to do so. Even today, we sometimes turn a blind eye to human rights. We sometimes take them for granted. We sometimes stay silent. But we shouldn't. Two hundred years ago, Thomas Jefferson wrote: ``the laws of humanity make it a duty for nations, as well as individuals, to help those whom accident and distress have thrown upon them.'' Mr. Speaker, I strongly believe we have a duty. We have a duty to help those who need our help. We have a duty to stand up for those who cannot stand up on their own. We have a duty to speak up for those who have no voices and to do what is just and what is right. So, let us do what is just and what is right for the ``comfort women'' and other victims. Let us speak out for them. Let us stand up for them. Let us lend them our strength. We must act and we must speak out, because in the end, people will remember not the words of their enemies, but the silence of their friends. We must not remain silent.

Mr. EVANS

Mr. EVANS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to the DC/Labor- HHS Appropriations conference report. There are many reasons to oppose this measure. Among the worst of the provisions contained in this conference report is the irresponsible across-the-board 1-percent cut in discretionary spending fashioned by the House Republican leadership. It is the worst kind of cynicism to claim that a 1-percent across- the-board cut will correct waste and fraud in government programs. I'm strongly opposed to cutting the funding for veterans' medical care just approved by Congress. The majority whip has issued a press release that claims the cut in Veterans' medical care funding he is recommending would not affect health care for America's veterans. Veterans know better. You can't cut health care funding without cutting health care. Congressman DeLay sent a press release to the leadership of major veterans service organizations defending the 1.4-percent cut in appropriations he originally supported, which affected veterans, among other discretionary programs. Let me state that three years of straight-line funding for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has left the agency struggling to meet the increasing costs of medical care for the growing number of enrolled veterans it treats. Now the Republican leadership claims a $190 million cut in veterans' medical care funding would do no harm. They maintain these funds can be squeezed out of the budget and be found in ``mismanagement and waste.'' What the Republican leadership fails to acknowledge is the tremendous changes VA has already made to be more efficient. In the last few years, VA has closed thousands of beds, eliminated thousands of staff positions, and strengthened many of their auditing systems. House Democrats have strongly supported proposals all year that would have added sums ranging from $2 to $3 billion to the President's initial proposal for veterans' medical care. Indeed we have all worked hard to improve funding for veterans. Veterans service organizations have called on Congress to appropriate up to $3 billion more than the administration's original budget proposal for veterans' health care. Now many veterans services organizations have vehemently denounced the Republican leadership's proposed across-the-board cut. I quote from a letter signed by the executive directors of AMVETS, Disabled American Veterans, Paralyzed Veterans of America, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S. regarding these cuts: ``It seems disingenuous at best for Congress to recognize a problem in funding for veterans health care, provide the dollars with one hand to help solve that problem, and then take dollars away with the other. No one is fooled by this budget sleight-of-hand.'' Mr. Speaker, no one is going to be fooled by this belated and disingenuous concern about government inefficiency. I urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on this abrogation of responsibility. Vote ``no'' on this conference report. It is already evident VA will struggle, even to deal with the unprecedented increase Congress has enacted and the President has signed into law. How will this affect the VA health care system? In many parts of the country, veterans must wait up to six months just to see a primary care doctor. VA has also unraveled mental health and long-term care programs which were once hallmarks of the VA system. There are now even complaints that VA's highly-regarded special emphasis programs for which there is supposedly congressional protection--such as spinal cord injury and blind rehabilitation--are under attack. VA has done much to streamline its services in recent years. Over five years, VA has reduced its workforce by almost 10 percent, closed hundreds of beds throughout the system, reduced its inpatient census by almost 30 percent and eliminated 37 percent of its inpatient treatments per year. It has integrated or consolidated 50 medical centers. In testimony before the Veterans' Affairs Committee this April, four Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) directors, commenting on the proposed future efficiency-derived savings, concurred that ``all the low-hanging fruit has been picked.'' Savings available to the system in the future, the directors said, will be harder fought and more disruptive. The Republican leadership has contended that VA could absorb further cuts ``without having any effect on health care to veterans,'' citing figures from studies that were challenged earlier this year. For example, the majority whip's release contended VA could save a million dollars a day by eliminating some of its overhead in capital assets. But whether savings of this magnitude could be realized in the immediate future with significantly uprooting current VA programs is highly questionable. Even without the Republican budget cuts, ``there isn't enough money in the budget now to tear down or renovate underutilized buildings, let alone to replace them with new, modern, smaller clinics. Any savings here will require investment, not magic, and will not come quickly.'' Likewise, DeLay's release pointed to a report suggesting $17 million is lost each year in fraudulent or improper workers compensation claims. Actually, testimony at the March 24 Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations hearing demonstrated that VA's workers compensation costs are not unusual, and that the answer is in heading off injuries and helping employees with rehabilitation. In fact, VA has been cutting these costs since 1994, and is completing automation of its claims system for better management, but savings are already part of the FY 2000 budget. The DeLay release also noted his plan would not affect benefits checks. Of course, it wouldn't. That, at least, is still out of Mr. DeLay's reach. It's troubling that he would even mention compensation for service-connected disabilities and his restraint with regard to compensation for service-connected disabilities.

Mr. EVANS

Mr. EVANS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Nadler).

Mr. EVANS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Filner).

Mr. EVANS. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. EVANS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Edwards).

Mr. EVANS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, before expressing my strong support for this resolution, I want to take a few moments to make some brief remarks commending and thanking Jill Cochran. Jill, as many Members know, is an outstanding individual who has served as a member of the Democratic staff of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. She is a Democratic staff director on the Subcommittee on Benefits, who will be retiring early next month after a career of 25 years. During this time she has been devoted to working with and on behalf of our Nation's veterans. Mr. Speaker, Jill has played a significant role in fashioning much of the major veterans' legislation enacted by Congress during the past 25 years. The list of her major contributions is so long I am unable to recite it in the time available. I will, however, recognize her many accomplishments in a statement in the near future. She will obviously be missed, but for everything there is a season. It would be easy to think about ourselves at this time and fret about her absence. Instead, we wish her only the best as she embarks on a new path in her life. At this time I merely want to say, thank you, Jill, for all you have done and accomplished for our Nation's servicemen and women. Mr. Speaker, I also rise in strong support of this resolution, which would confer status as an honorary veteran of the United States Armed Forces on Zachary Fisher. I regret that this action on this resolution was not completed before his death earlier this year, but I believe that approval of this joint resolution will be meaningful to his widow, Elizabeth, and to the entire Fisher family. Certainly it would be a gesture of tremendous importance to the men and women who serve in our Armed Forces and to our veterans. To put it simply, Zachary Fisher loved his country. He loved those who served their country through their military service. The contributions made by Mr. And Mrs. Fisher which have enhanced the lives of many military personnel and their families, and have honored their service and sacrifice, are extraordinary. Mr. Fisher was a remarkable man who lived an extraordinary life. In his statement regarding Mr. Fisher's death, the President said, ``Mr. Fisher helped all Americans repay the tremendous debt we owe to our men and women who every day risk their lives to defend our country and to advance the cause of freedom around the world. I am proud to present him with the Presidential Medal of Freedom last Fall.'' I am proud to stand in support of House Joint Resolution 46, and I urge my colleagues to support this measure. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.J. Res. 46, which would confer status as an honorary veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces on Zachary Fisher. I regret that action on this resolution was not completed prior to Mr. Fisher's death earlier this year, but I believe that approval of this joint resolution will be meaningful to Mr. Fisher's widow, Elizabeth, and to the entire Fisher family. Certainly, it will be a gesture of tremendous importance to the men and women who serve in America's Armed Forces and to America's veterans. To put it simply, Zachary Fisher loved his country--and he loved those who serve America through their military service. The contributions made by Mr. and Mrs. Fisher which have enhanced the lives of military personnel and their families--and have honored their service and sacrifice--are extraordinary. Saddened by the devastating effects on Marines and their families of the 1983 terrorist bombing of the Marine Barracks in Beirut, the Fishers established the Zachary and Elizabeth Fisher Armed Services Foundation. Through the foundation, the Fishers provided financial assistance to each of the families affected by this terrible tragedy. Subsequently, they established a scholarship program funded by the foundation and, since 1987, more than 700 students have gone to school as a result of the foundation's assistance. In 1990, the Fishers established the Fisher House Program, providing more than $15 million to establish comfortable temporary housing for the military families of patients receiving care at military and VA hospitals. More than 25 Fisher Houses have opened their doors and are now available to military families around the country. The Fishers have also provided the funding for charitable efforts such as the establishment of a child care center at the Camp Pendleton Marine Base and development of the CAMP Program, which provides services for the disabled children of military personnel at Lackland Air Force Base. The list of additional acts of generosity by Zachary and Elizabeth Fisher is almost endless. Mr. Fisher led the effort to save the aircraft carrier Intrepid from the scrap heap and contributed more than $25 million to convert the carrier into the Intrepid Sea-Air-Space Museum, located in New York City. He served as honorary chairman of the board of directors of the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation and established the annual Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Award for Excellence in Military Medicine. Zachary Fisher was also a strong supporter of the Jewish Institute of National Security Affairs, the George C. Marshall Foundation, the United Jewish Appeal, and countless other organizations. Mr. Speaker, Zachary Fisher was a remarkable man who lived an extraordinary live. In his statement regarding Mr. Fisher's death, President Clinton said, ``* * * Mr. Fisher helped all Americans repay the tremendous debt we owe to the men and women who every day risk their lives to defend our nation and advance the cause of freedom around the world. I was proud to present him with the Presidential Medal of Freedom last fall.'' I am proud to stand in support of H.J. Res. 46--and I urge my colleagues to support this measure. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. EVANS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Maloney). (Mrs. MALONEY of New York asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks, and include extraneous material.)

Mr. EVANS

Mr. EVANS. I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the resolution offered by the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Sam Johnson). As the ranking member of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs and a member of the Committee on Armed Services, the issues I deal with on a daily basis address the human costs exacted by war. Whether it be the millions of disabled veterans who still seek care from the VA or the innocent men, women and children who have been maimed by land mines, the scope of the carnage caused by war is breathtaking. We have come to take for granted that it is a barbaric enterprise, a part of the human condition that will always remain with us. However, the Geneva Conventions have helped bring some measure of sanity to the insanity we call war. It has helped to act as a safety net for the innocents of the world as well as foster respect for the basic human rights of combatants. While it has never by any stretch of the imagination been a perfect instrument, it is hard to imagine the pain and suffering that would have happened in our world without its existence. If the Geneva Convention is to remain a living and important document, we must do all we can to ensure its relevance to the nations of the world and to all combatants. Today's resolution honoring the 50th anniversary of their creation will send an important message to the world that the United States believes in and embodies the humanitarian principles inherent in these accords. I urge my colleagues to support this important resolution.

Mr. EVANS. I yield to the gentleman from Missouri.

Mr. EVANS

Mr. EVANS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the sacrifices and contributions made by Chinese Americans during World War II. Today, many of these brave men and women who served with pride during that time are gathering in Washington to remember their war years and the experiences that changed their lives forever. And tonight, the Organization of Chinese Americans, together with the Asian Pacific American Studies Program of the Smithsonian Institution, is sponsoring the world premiere of the documentary ``We Served with Pride: The Chinese American Experience in World War II''. The documentary is a first hand look at the personal experiences of Chinese Americans during the war. I hope these efforts will help reverse an unfortunate situation. Despite their sacrifices, the service of Chinese American veterans during World War II is not well known to most Americans. More than 20,000 Chinese Americans served in the U.S. Armed Forces during the war, in almost every imaginable capacity. Without question, their sacrifices and distinguished efforts helped push our nation on to victory over the Axis powers. Their pride is justified. The contributions they made in every theater of the war should be remembered. As Americans learn more about its nation's participation in the war through films such as ``Saving Private Ryan'', we should also use this opportunity to educate them about all facets of the war effort. The costs that Chinese American war veterans paid to defend our nation deserves this acknowledgment. I urge the entire House of Representatives to join me in asking that our nation reflect upon these contributions and again thank our Chinese American veterans for their sacrifices and service.

Mr. EVANS

Mr. EVANS. Mr. Speaker, I have joined 200 of my colleagues as cosponsor of the Maintain United States Trade [MUST] Law Resolution. This bill is about more than steel. It is about the over 290 products from 59 different countries that are being dumped on open markets. All American products, such as steel, agricultural goods and manufacturing items are currently protected under the antidumping and countervailing duties laws. However, some countries would like to open debate on these laws. Opening these rules to renegotiation could only lead to weakening them, which would in turn lead to even greater abuse of the world's open markets, particularly that of the United States. When the World Trade Organization's Ministerial Conference meets Seattle on November 30 through December 3, a new round of trade negotiations will be held. The MUST resolution will request that the President and his trade representatives refrain from renegotiating international agreements governing antidumping and countervailing measures. The President must not participate in any international negotiation in which antidumping or antisubsidy rules are part of the negotiating agenda. He should also not submit for congressional approval agreements that require changes to the current antidumping and countervailing duty laws and enforcement policies of the United States. Above all, he must enforce antidumping and countervailing duty laws vigorously in all pending and future cases. The MUST resolution has wide bipartisan support from Members from 37 States from every region of the country. Already, successful antidumping cases have been filed on behalf of producers of industrial goods, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, advanced technology products, agricultural goods, and the American steel industry. No longer can we stand idly by as more and more workers face unemployment lines and uncertain futures. Foreign governments are shielding their industries from the fallout of the Asian financial crisis--it is time we stood up for our own. We must fight for American jobs. I urge the House leadership to bring the Maintain United States Trade [MUST] Law Resolution to the floor as soon as possible.

Mr. EVANS

Mr. EVANS. Mr. Chairman, I rise to express my strong support for H.R. 2723, the Bipartisan Managed Care Improvement Act of 1999. Today, Democrats and Republicans have joined together to advocate for reforms that will restore control over medical decisions to patients and doctors and make the health care system more responsive for all Americans. The Bipartisan Managed Care Improvement Act institutes meaningful, common sense reforms of managed care. It will ensure that people may seek care in emergencies without having to wait for prior authorization from an insurer. It will guarantee that patients who need specialized care will have access to appropriate specialists. It will improve the quality of care for women and children, allowing women to see obstetrician/gynecologists without referral and ensuring that children can see pediatricians as their primary care physicians and pediatric specialists if necessary. This bill establishes real accountability for health insurance companies when they make medical decisions, accountability that has been lacking under ERISA. With a strong, two-stage process of internal and external appeals for denial of care, patients will now have recourse to challenge decisions and have their cases resolved by an independent board of health professionals. And in those extreme cases when a patient suffers injury or death due to denial of care by a health plan, patients and their families will have the same access to state courts for damages that is currently available to all patients whose plans are not covered by ERISA. I am also proud that H.R. 2723 will help people in the most dire of situations receive coverage for routine care during clinical trials. This issue was brought to light for me by a constituent, LaDonna Backmeyer, who is bravely fighting a rare form of cancer, renal leiomyosarcoma. LaDonna has participated in a clinical trial at a National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, and under the bill, the costs of routine care during a clinical trial would be covered. I want to thank LaDonna for educating me, for inspiring all of us with her courage, and for being willing to speak out for the need for reform of our health care system. At its core, this bill is about giving back control over medical decisions to real people and their doctors, and restoring faith in the American health care system as the best in the world. I urge my colleagues to vote for H.R. 2723 and to enact these critical reforms.

Mr. EVANS

Mr. EVANS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Mississippi (Mr. Shows).

Mr. EVANS. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. EVANS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Traficant).

Mr. EVANS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Reyes).

Mr. EVANS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.J. Res. 65 and urge the Members of the House to approve this measure. I also salute the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith), the vice chairman of the committee, for his leadership on this issue. This measure, Mr. Speaker, commends those veterans who fought and died during World War II in the offensive known as the Battle of the Bulge. It also authorizes the President to issue a proclamation calling upon the people of the United States to honor the veterans of this battle with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities. 1999 marks the 55th anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge, a costly and important victory for the United States. It is fitting that we as a Nation honor the sacrifices and service of America's veterans who fought and sacrificed during this battle. H.J. Res. 65, as amended, is an excellent bill; and I urge my colleagues to support this legislation. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. EVANS

Mr. EVANS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Reyes).

Mr. EVANS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Filner).

Mr. EVANS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, as original cosponsor of H.R. 1663, the National Medal of Honor Memorial Act, I am very pleased this legislation is being considered today. The Medal of Honor is, of course, the highest award for valor and action against an enemy force which can be bestowed upon a member of the armed forces of the United States. Established in the Civil War, only 3,429 Medals of Honor have been awarded since that time. Because of the extraordinary nature of this Medal and those extraordinary Americans who have earned it, it is fitting that the Medal of Honor recipients be honored at designated Medal of Honor sites. I particularly want to particularly commend the gentlewoman from Indiana (Ms. Carson) for the amendment in the nature of a substitute which she offered to H.R. 1663 during its consideration by the committee. As perfected by the Carson amendment, the Congressional Medal of Honor Society has expressed enthusiastic support for H.R. 1663, as amended. Mr. Speaker, I include for the Congressional Record a letter from the Congressional Medal of Honor Society, as follows: Congressional Medal of Honor Society, Mt. Pleasant, SC, September 3, 1999. Hon. Lane Evans, House Veterans' Affairs Committee, Washington, DC.

Mr. EVANS. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. EVANS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Indiana (Ms. Carson).