Lane Evans

Mr. EVANS

Mr. EVANS. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. EVANS. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from New York (Mr. McNulty).

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

Mr. EVANS

Mr. EVANS. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of House Resolution 298 and urge all of my colleagues to support this important measure. Mr. Speaker the purpose of House Resolution 298 is simple, but it is as profound as it is simple. House Resolution 298 expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that Veterans Day should continue to be observed on November 11th. In addition, Veterans Day should be observed separate and apart from any other Federal holiday or day for Federal elections or national observances. Our nation has a long-standing tradition of honoring our veterans on November 11th. As many know, the observance of Veterans Day on November 11th has historic significance. On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, the guns used to wage World War I were officially silenced. This day, Armistice Day, became known as Veterans Day as our nation recognized the sacrifice and service of all our Nation's veterans. Veterans Day should be preserved and continue to be the day our nation pauses to recognize all veterans. Let us retain November 11th as Veterans Day and honor all those who have served our nation in uniform.

Mr. EVANS

Mr. EVANS. Mr. Speaker, this rule prevents consideration of an amendment the gentleman from California (Mr. George Miller) and I would have introduced to strike Colombia from this trade preference due to their horrendous record on labor rights. This bill allows Colombia to import numerous goods across our borders duty free. This preference costs us $262 million. This is a lot of lost revenue at the expense of a country that does nothing to ensure the basic security of trade unionists. Four thousand trade unionists have been gunned down in the last few years, and 133 trade unionists have been murdered this year alone. In Colombia, virtual immunity exists for the murderers of these trade unionists. The Miller-Evans amendment suspends Colombia from this trade preference until it begins to investigate the murders of these labor leaders. We are really not asking too much for several million dollars of duty free treatment. I think we should stand in solidarity with the families of the 4,000- plus slain union leaders in Colombia that died for peace and human rights while their pleas for protection have been ignored by their own government. Their families have no consolation as the killers or these trade unionists remain free from prosecution. I urge my colleagues to remember that labor rights are human rights. Trade unionists risk their lives every day to ensure no person is subject to a wage that does not allow them to feed their family or works in a hazardous and dangerous workplace around the world. These are basic principles we must insist on if Colombia is ever to receive the benefits of trade with our Nation. I urge my colleagues to stand up and fight for labor rights and human rights.

Mr. EVANS

Mr. EVANS. Mr. Speaker, as an original cosponsor of H.R. 3253, the National Medical Emergency Preparedness Act of 2001, I strongly support this important legislation which will improve our national ability to respond to acts of terrorism and other medical emergencies. I look forward to quick action on this legislation and commend my friend and colleague, Chris Smith, for authoring this measure. The National Medical Emergency Preparedness Act of 2001 would create National Medical Preparedness Centers within the Department of Veterans Affairs. These centers would have several important missions. In addition to training medical personnel to recognize the symptoms of exposure to chemical, biological and radiological weapons, the National Medical Preparedness Centers will provide important national leadership in the development of new diagnostic tests, vaccines, and treatments for chemical, biological and radiological terrorist threats. Last month, on October 15, the Committee on Veterans Affairs received testimony on VA contingency missions to the Department of Defense in times of war or national emergency and as a participant in the Federal Response Plan during disasters. Federal agencies described a critical role for the Department and expounded upon additional roles, given the resources, the Department could play. In response to that hearing, H.R. 3253 was introduced. The National Medical Emergency Preparedness Centers established by this legislation will provide important contributions to innovation and leadership in the detection of biological, chemical, and radiological hazards, the development of vaccines to prevent devastating consequences we have seen from exposures to toxins such as anthrax and effective treatment for exposures to pathogenic materials. VA has many successful models of Centers that combine research, education and training, and patient treatment. Among such ``centers of excellence'' are its Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Centers, its Mental Illness Research Education and Clinical Centers, its Parkinson's Disease Research Education and Clinical Centers and other centers selected on a competitive basis in order to create living laboratories for applying state-of-the-art care to patients that need it. The synergies of these centers' missions combine to produce innovative research and technologies to their respective fields. VA has much to offer the Nation in establishing Centers that can build upon its existing expertise, but break new ground in further exploring areas that directly affect the lives of all Americans. I believe the benefits to our public health would far outweigh the $20 million annual cost to fund these Centers. As we continue our quest to protect our homeland, we must find leaders within the community to assist our efforts to protect Americans. VA can and should be part of this leadership team.

Mr. EVANS

Mr. EVANS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I strongly support the measure before us and salute the chairman, the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith). Qualifying veterans, members of the Guard and Reserve and service members serving on active duty are eligible for veterans' educational benefits administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs. Those eligible for VA education benefits are entitled to receive a specified number of monthly payments to further their education. During a period of conflict, active duty servicemen and Reservists may need to leave school before an academic term has been completed in order to perform military service in the Nation's defense. Although these men and women have used a part of their VA education benefits to begin a term of study, they are unable to complete their academic work. Unfortunately, under current law, the entitlement these men and women have used is not restored for their future use even though their studies have been interrupted to serve this Nation. During the Gulf War, Congress addressed this issue to protect the education benefits of our men and women in uniform. Chapter 30 in title 38, as well as chapter 1606 in title 10, were amended to provide for reinstating a veteran student's entitlement to provide for reinstating a veteran student's entitlement to education benefits if the courses in which he was enrolled were interrupted for active duty service. This applied equally to chapter 1606 and chapter 30 beneficiaries and, importantly, the reinstated benefits had to be ``in connection with the Persian Gulf War.'' In 1999, Congress amended this law by deleting the limiting language for chapter 1606. Because of this deletion, current chapter 1606 beneficiaries who discontinue school for active duty service will indeed have their entitlements reinstated. Mr. Speaker, in the case of an individual who has been receiving educational benefits from the VA, but is prevented from completing his or her coursework as a result of changed military duties or because of activation, this bill would rightfully restore his or her entitlement that was being used for interrupted schooling. Thus, upon returning to school, H.R. 3240 would permit the individual to resume their educational pursuit with the amount of entitlement they possessed before entering the interrupted academic term. The Nation devoted this past weekend to its solemn recognition of the brave men and women who have served this country. In the natural extension of this spirit and in the best interests of the future of the men and women in the Armed Forces, I strongly urge my colleagues to support H.R. 3240. The name of the gentleman from New Jersey is strongly associated with this bill. I look forward to working with him in the implementation of this legislation. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. EVANS

Mr. EVANS. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the efforts of the chairman and ranking member of the subcommittee under difficult circumstances. As most Members know, the allocation of the subcommittee was insufficient to adequately fund the Department of Veterans Affairs, and particularly veterans medical care. While I am disappointed about the appropriations provided in the conference agreement for veterans, I realize the extraordinary conditions under which we have had to work this session. I hope that we can redress some of the shortcomings in this year's budget in the next fiscal year. As a nation, we are now engaged in the first war of the 21st century. We must be prepared to provide the benefits and services of our future veterans as well as meet the needs of those men and women who have honorably served our Nation in uniform in years past. This is a moral obligation of our Nation. Undoubtedly, major additional funding for the Department of Veterans Affairs and particularly veterans medical care and services can be fully justified. As the need for additional funding becomes more obvious in the weeks and months ahead, I look forward to the administration submitting a request for the additional funding which is clearly needed. Until that time, VA will continue to do its best to meet its missions. But VA can only do more with insufficient resources for so long. A day of reckoning is fast approaching. We must do better by our Nation's veterans. While we have improved upon the President's request, the Department of Veterans Affairs still estimates shortfalls for delivering current services in FY 2002. This year we will continue to pass legislation encouraging VA to do more, including managing its role as a backup provider to the Department of Defense in times of war or national emergency and combating bioterrorism. I want VA to fulfill these roles, but I also want to ensure that they have adequate resources to take on these challenges. This Sunday, November the 11th, when Members of this body are praising our veterans' past deeds and stressing the importance of a strong national defense, I ask all Members of this House to make a commitment to our deeds and our actions reflect our words. We must provide adequate resources to our past and present servicemembers. We can do less.

Mr. EVANS

Mr. EVANS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I also want to thank the chairman of the full committee, the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith), and the ranking member and chairman of the Subcommittee on Health. They have put together an important measure which will help veterans of our country, and is thus deserving the support of every Member of this House. As reported, H.R. 2797 authorizes the provision of service dogs to eligible veterans. Today, service dogs provide invaluable assistance to many blind veterans. This measure will authorize similar assistance to mobility- and hearing-impaired veterans. These veterans can be well served by these highly trained animals. As the erosion of programs for disabled veterans occurs, particularly the mentally ill, the concerns of Congress have proven prophetic. This reporting requirement is an important tool for Congress to assess the delivery of care needed by veterans and to hold VA accountable for its decisions. The measure also authorizes a nursing commission that will review current and future challenges to the nursing profession in the VA. I am hopeful that this independent body will provide sound advice to the VA and to the nursing profession in general and consider appropriate ways to encourage members of our nursing profession to seek and maintain employment in the VA. Mr. Speaker, the gentleman from Kansas (Chairman Moran); the ranking member, the gentleman from California (Mr. Filner); and others on the subcommittee strongly urge our colleagues to support this legislation. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. EVANS

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 myself such time as I may consume. (Mr. EVANS asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks, and include extraneous material.)

Mr. EVANS. Mr. Speaker, I salute the gentleman from New Jersey (Chairman Smith) as well. He has done excellent work in bringing this bill about on a very short basis. We know the gentleman has outlined it pretty well. I wanted to just offer a few random thoughts. Mr. Speaker, we were all horrified by the devastation caused at the World Trade Center in New York and the Pentagon, as well as the tragic loss of innocent life in Pennsylvania which also occurred. Since these senseless acts of terrorism, our service members have been called to put their lives on the line once again. Many of us have paused to take stock of how America treats their fallen heroes, our veterans. Fortunately, we have a measure before us today that reflects the appreciation of a grateful Nation. This bipartisan legislation we brought to the House floor today will benefit our homeless veterans. Originally, I had introduced comprehensive homeless veterans legislation in the 106th Congress. Earlier this year I again introduced comprehensive legislation, which received the support of more than 130 bipartisan cosponsors, H.R. 936, as its predecessor was named, to honor the contributions of Miss America 2000 Heather French Henry on behalf of the homeless veterans in our country. During her years of service as Miss America, she was an untiring advocate for our Nation's veterans and succeeded as no one else in increasing public awareness about this issue. She educated the American people as a result and gave hope to those in need. She is the daughter of a combat-wounded veteran whom she accompanied to the VA for his medical care. Her uncle was also a combat veteran who became homeless after his service to our Nation. She advocated on behalf of homeless veterans with sensitivity and compassion, and I thank her for her contributions. H.R. 936 addressed some of the most pragmatic hurdles I believe homeless veterans face in re-attaining optimum independence and productivity. Many of the building blocks for homeless veterans' programs are contained in the VA's mental health infrastructure, but there is not enough vital substance abuse and mental health care programs to help our veterans on to the path of sobriety and increased functionality. I believe that H.R. 2716, as amended, will help us address these deficits and help balance and improve the VA's program for homeless veterans. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from California (Mr. Filner).

Mr. EVANS

Mr. EVANS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce the Veterans' Pension Improvement Act of 2001. This important legislation would recognize the military service of our Nation's wartime veterans by providing low-income veterans with pension benefits at age 65 without regard to a finding of total and permanent disability. The bill would reinstate a provision of Public Law 90-77, which was repealed in 1990. From 1967 until 1990, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) was authorized to presume that low-income veterans were disabled at age 65. In hearings on the 1967 bill, the American Legion testified that providing for benefits at age 65 would affect less than one-tenth of one percent of pension applicants and that the cost associated with providing medical examinations and disability adjudications would be reduced. Recent evidence indicates that the Legion's 1967 assessment was correct. In 1990, Congress eliminated the presumption of permanent and total disability at age 65 in Public Law 101-508. At that time, the Congressional Budget Office optimistically predicted that the measure would generate savings of $17 million in 1991 and total savings of $313 million over the five-year period. Such savings have not materialized. According to VA, it is rare for a wartime veteran with income below the pension threshold to be found not permanently and totally disabled. Rather than saving money, VA estimates that it is spending more money to provide medical examinations than would be paid out if benefits were granted at age 65. A July 1997 sample of pension claims showed that only 5.9 percent of all claims from veterans age 65 and older were initially denied on the basis that the claimants were not permanently and totally disabled. In 1998 and 1999, that number was even lower with only three percent of claims denied on that basis. After taking into account reversals on appeal, VA estimates that fewer than 300 veterans age 65 and older per year are denied disability pension based upon a finding that they are not permanently and totally disabled. VA projects the annual cost of the benefit will be less than $2 million per year. The cost of providing medical examinations for these claims exceeds $2 million per year. In addition to the costs of the medical examinations, additional costs are incurred in rating the disability. Our current policy is penny-wise and pound-foolish. Currently VBA has a backlog of 536,626 claims pending in regional offices. Another 95,066 claims are pending appeals to the Board of Veterans Appeals. Requiring the VA to provide a medical examination and make a disability determination on claims, which are almost certain to result in a finding of disability, is exacerbating the backlog with no financial gain to the government. Although prior legislation presumed a finding of disability at age 65, this bill would provide for a service pension without regard to disability similar to that previously provided to veterans of Indian Wars and the Spanish-American War. VA would only be required to obtain a medical examination and a finding of disability for those veterans over 65 who seek additional benefits based upon a disability which renders them homebound or in need of aid and attendance. This would reduce the cost and workload of providing disability examinations for low-income veterans who are almost always found to be disabled. The bill does not specifically require that veterans be unemployed to qualify for the benefit. This reflects the practical reality that wartime veterans whose income is low enough to qualify for pension benefits are almost always unemployed. Full-time employment at the minimum wage level provides income which exceeds the pension amount and would therefore disqualify a veteran for benefits. Mr. Speaker, in order to reduce the backlog and reduce the cost of making expensive disability determinations for claims of elderly wartime veterans. I ask my colleagues from both sides of the aisle to support the Veterans' Pension Improvement Act of 2001.

Mr. EVANS

Mr. EVANS. Mr. Chairman, I would like to start off by taking a moment to personally thank the members of the Committee on Appropriations for the inclusion of increased funding for Parkinson's disease research. We are now on the verge of discovering a cure for Parkinson's. This strong Federal commitment on both the Republican and Democratic side will bring us closer to that end, and I appreciate all those Members helping out. I do come before the floor today also in the spirit of bipartisanship that has been the rule of the day. In the wake of the cowardly and horrific attacks on our Nation on September 11, partisan wrangling is indeed frivolous. To ensure that the business of this Nation moves on without delay, I decided not to offer an amendment today that, though I think it is crucial for the importance of the health of millions of Americans, could potentially be controversial and slow down the legislative process. Had our Nation not been struck on that faithful day 1 month ago today, I would have offered an amendment to expand stem cell research. This amendment, which I would like to submit for the Record at this time, takes a cautious measured approach to realizing the full potential of promising research. Mr. Chairman, I include the amendment I had proposed for the Record. Amendment to H.R. 3061, as Reported Offered by Mr. Evans of Illinois At the end of section 510, add the following: (c) Human Embryonic Stem Cells.-- (1) Findings.--The Congress finds as follows: (A) The President's decision to allow human embryonic stem cell research to go forward on stem cell lines derived on or before August 9, 2001, provides a crucial first step in conducting basic research on stem cells. (B) Basic research on human embryonic stem cells is essential to determine how stem cells proliferate, specialize, and differentiate. (C) Human embryonic stem cell research holds promise for cures and improved treatments for a wide array of diseases and injuries, including Alzheimer's disease, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, Parkinson's disease, and spinal cord injuries. (D) The National Academy of Sciences and leading biomedical researchers agree that therapies for use by humans will not result from stem cell lines derived from human embryos on or before August 9, 2001, which have been grown with the use of animal products that pose health risks to humans. (E) The President's policy must be revised if the Nation is to realize human applications of stem cell research. (F) Given the promise of human embryonic stem cell research, the Congress should act expeditiously to consider Federal funding for this important research. If the Congress fails to address this issue expeditiously, the National Institutes of Health must be allowed to expand Federal funding of human embryonic stem cell research beyond research on stem cell lines derived on or before August 9, 2001. (2) In general.--Not later than August 9, 2003, the Director of the National Institutes of Health shall issue guidelines to authorize funding for research using stem cells that were derived from human embryos after August 9, 2001, if the applicant provides assurances satisfactory to the Director of the following: (A) Date of derivation.--The research cannot be conducted effectively using one or more stem cells that were derived from a human embryo on or before August 9, 2001. (B) Conditions of derivation.--Any human embryonic stem cell to be used in the research may be derived from an embryo only if that embryo has been donated from an in-vitro fertilization clinic in compliance with the following: (i) The human embryonic stem cell is not derived from the embryo using Federal funds. (ii) The embryo from which the stem cell is derived is created for the purpose of fertility treatment and is in excess of the clinical need of the individuals seeking the treatment. (iii) Before being asked to consider donating the embryo for research purposes, the embryo's progenitors determine that the embryo is in excess of their clinical need for fertility treatment. (iv) Before being asked to consider donating the embryo for research purposes, the embryo's progenitors are given the option of donating the embryo to an infertile couple for adoption. (v) The embryo is donated with the informed, written consent of the embryo's progenitors (including a statement that the embryo is being donated for research purposes). (vi) The decision of the embryo's progenitors to donate the embryo is made free of any influence by any researcher or investigator proposing to derive or use human embryonic stem cells in research. (vii) Any compensation paid for the human embryonic stem cell does not exceed the reasonable costs of transportation, processing, preservation, quality control, and storage of the cell. (3) Earlier stem cell lines.--This subsection does not impose any restriction on funding for research using stem cells that were derived from human embryos on or before August 9, 2001. (4) Application.--Paragraph 2(A) shall not apply after August 8, 2005. (5) Effective date.--The guidelines issued under paragraph (2) shall take effect on August 9, 2003. I believe the majority of my colleagues will find this compromise a prudent approach to this sensitive issue. The amendment acknowledges the President's policy as a good starting place and allows research to go forward only under this policy in the near future. The science is in its infancy and the President's policy may be ultimately sufficient to conduct the most basic stem cell research that will be the foundation of science for the years to come. But this policy will not suffice for the long term. Leading researchers and the National Academy of Sciences agree that it will not result in human therapies. This amendment would give Congress plenty of time to thoughtfully consider the issue of federal funding for embryonic stem cell research. However, if we fail to act in the next two years, NIH would be directed to incrementally expend embryonic stem cell research over a period of several years. While I will not offer this compromise amendment today, I wanted to take this opportunity to remind members how critical this issue is to the millions of Americans who stand to benefit from this exciting new research. I hope that I can count on my colleagues' support when we revisit this issue next year. I would also like to take a minute to personally thank the members of the Appropriations Committee for the inclusion of increasing funding for Parkinson's Disease research. We are on the verge of discovering a cure for Parkinson's Disease. This strong federal commitment will bring us closer to that end.

Mr. EVANS

Mr. EVANS. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Vince Thomas, a committed and dedicated community activist from my Congressional District. He is retiring from his position as executive director of Project Now, a community action agency, after almost 30 years of service to the Quad Cities area. I have had the honor to know Vince for over 20 years. Throughout my work as a Member of Congress, I have had the privilege to work closely with him on many projects and initiatives to aid our local area. Through these efforts, he has helped build a strong Quad City community that respects diversity and reaches out to the less fortunate in our area. I am proud of the work we have achieved together and the wise counsel that Vince has given to me over the years. You need to look no farther than the numerous awards presented to him to know the high regard that the Quad Cities and people throughout Illinois hold for Vince. He has been awarded the Dr. Martin Luther King ``I Have A Dream Award'' and the Martin Luther King Steering Committee Peace Award as well as the Illinois State Council of Senior Citizens Award and an appreciation award from the Quad City League of Native Americans. He is clearly a man of conscience and duty. While Vince has been a man of many causes, he is also known for his warm personality. He may be a tenacious advocate, but he is also known for his quick smile and considerate manner. I am fortunate to count Vince as a good friend. For those who know Vince, his name is synonymous with working for social justice and serving the neediest in our society. While Vince will be retiring from Project Now, I know that he will continue to be an energetic advocate for the underprivileged in our area. I wish him the best as he embarks on his retirement. I know that he will continue to be an inspiration to those of us who seek to make the Quad Cities an even better place to live.

Mr. EVANS

Mr. EVANS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Helen Kilian, a freshman at Knox College in Galesburg, Illinois. I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Helen on receiving first place in the VSA arts' 18th annual Playwright Discovery Award. This competition elicits nearly 150 entries from across the country, but only four receive top honors. Helen's script was one of those honored. Helen's play addresses the pervasive issue of disability discrimination by telling the story of Frances, a young girl who takes on the challenges of high school and her own disability. Frances, who is afflicted with cerebral palsy, is offered an award for inspiring her classmates. This intriguing story, aptly entitled ``The Trouble with Being Inspiring'', delves into the assumptions that we hold about people with and without disabilities and ourselves. A production of Helen's play will be performed at the prestigious Washington, DC, Kennedy Center. This is a tremendous accomplishment for any playwright, but this success is an even greater milestone for Helen. Not only is Helen, who is 18, at the beginning of her writing career, but Helen also faces her own challenges. Helen has cerebral palsy. Helen has met the challenges that accompany cerebral palsy and turned her experiences into a tool to help all of us reexamine how we view disabilities. It is clear that Helen has no trouble being inspiring. Helen's single act dramatic work, ``The Trouble with Being Inspiring'', will be performed at the Kennedy Center this Monday, October 1. I encourage everyone to attend the play and support Helen's work. I know that my colleagues join me in wishing Helen continued success as she pursues her work as a playwright and continues her studies in creative writing and graphic design.

Mr. EVANS

Mr. EVANS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a dedicated citizen and long-time employee of the Quad Cities Development Group of Rock Island, Illinois--Ms. Helen Brandt. The Quad Cities Development Group, an umbrella organization for economic development for the major cities in my district, has been the catalyst for attracting over 14,000 new jobs and over $1 billion in new investment in the Quad Cities in the last 10 years. But an organization is only as good and only as effective as the men and women who give it its energy and life, and Helen Brandt has certainly been a dynamic force for enhancing the quality of life in the Quad Cities. For the past nine years, Helen has been a Project Manager for the Quad Cities Development Group. Helen worked on many of the successful projects that brought jobs and investment to the Quad Cities area including organizing marketing efforts for business clients around the John Deere Classic golf tournament. Helen also led the successful visits by the Quad City community leaders on their annual visit to Washington, DC, to present regional issues to legislative leaders and Federal officials. Prior to Helen's work with the Quad Cities Development Group, she served as the Executive Vice President of the Northern Illinois Industrial Development Corporation, and before that worked in the telephone industry for 25 years. Helen is one of those rare persons who can successfully accomplish all these work-related tasks while still finding time to volunteer in many professional and community groups. Helen will be missed by all her friends at the Quad Cities Development Group, but she plans to have an active retirement in the Moline area, so I am sure her community volunteer efforts will continue. I would like to wish Helen, her two children and five grandchildren continued success in her retirement.

Mr. EVANS

Mr. EVANS. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the resolution authorizing the President to use military force against the terrorist threat facing our Nation. The events of this week will be forever seared into the memory of this Nation. The sheer scale of this tragedy is almost unimaginable. In a single day, we lost more Americans than some of our bloodiest battles of our history, and it happened on our soil. The shock and horror of these unconscionable acts have quickly turned into anger and rage. However, we must put this all into perspective. By passing the resolution before us today, we will show that America will act forcefully and decisively in the face of unspeakable evil. The resolution will empower the President and the armed services to take the steps necessary to defeat the forces of terrorism and punish the culprits who are responsible for these heinous acts.

Mr. EVANS

Mr. EVANS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time. As the son of a firefighter, I was never so proud as I was of what firefighters did yesterday; but I believe all of our law enforcement officials, doctors and nurses, blood donors and volunteers, deserve to be saluted as well. Mr. Speaker, we will have a problem for survivors that I hope will be addressed head-on, and that is psychological problems referred to by Vietnam veterans called post-traumatic stress disorder. Many of the victims will have problems without any other additional assistance, and I was pleased to hear that the administration has called upon this country to provide the support that our fellow citizens who have survived and have post-traumatic stress disorder to come forward and help fund those programs. Mr. Speaker, I am proud of the City of Washington in terms of what local people did. We had cooperation and openness. The citizens of this great city came together and worked together with us. Mr. Speaker, we need to be careful to be good to each other as colleagues in this body. The gentleman in the chair today, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. LaHood), has led us in the past to make sure that we are a user-friendly institution, and I salute the gentleman and call upon my colleagues to make sure that we keep together on these important issues that we are going to be facing in the next few days and in the next few years.

Mr. EVANS

Mr. EVANS. Mr. Speaker, we are here today to honor the memory of one of our great former colleagues, the late Mo Udall, who served in this House for nearly three decades. Four years ago this week, Congress passed the Morris K. Udall Parkinson's Disease Research Act as a tribute to his service and the courage that he displayed in the face of his illness. Sadly, Mo lost his battle with Parkinson's Disease in 1998. But his memory lives on in this Congress and in the research labs across the country that bear his name. I served with Mo Udall from 1983 to his retirement in 1990. During those years, I came to know and admire him as an effective legislator, a consummate humorist, and a dear friend. Mo always had a kind word and a joke for everyone. He brought a levity to this body that you wouldn't expect from someone fighting for his life. Ask anyone here who had the pleasure to serve with Mo and they will have a side splitting tale of the time that Mo brought the house down. Coupled with his good humor, was a commitment to serve this nation well. Despite his Parkinston's Disease, he served as chairman of the Interior Committee where he was a champion of preserving America's widerness areas. I admired Mo then, but my esteem for him grew even greater when I was diagnosed with Parkinston's Disease ins 1995. Our purpose here is to commemorate the passage of the Udall Act, which brings much needed resources to the study of Parkinson's Disease. The time has come to reauthorize the bill. And today, we have the honor of being joined by Mo's son, Congressman Mark Udall, who will lead the charge to see this program continued. We will be introducing the reauthorization bill in the coming month. I hope that all of our colleagues will join us in supporting that bill. The 11 Morris K. Udall Centers are busy conducting research on every aspect of Parkinson's Disease. The scientists there are some of the best and the brightest in their field. They believe that a cure for Parkinson's Disease is on the horizon--that it could be discovered in as littlle as five years. These researching give me hope. They are out there everyday working to make my life and the lives of the one million Americans living with Parkinson's Disease better. And let me tell you-- it's nice having these bright men and women on your side. I know they will find a cure, but they can't do it without our continued support. These Udall Centers are just one component of a larger effort on the part of NIH to develop more effective treatments, enhance prevention efforts, and eventually find a cure of Parkinson's Disease. At the request of Congress, NIH developed a five year Parkinson's Disease Research Agenda to bring the nation closer to a cure. Last year, we funded the first year of that agenda. This year, we must fund the second year by increasing funding for Parkinson's Disease research by $143 million. I am hopeful that the Appropriations Committee will follow through with what it started and honor Congress' commitment to the NIH Research Agenda. These initiatives are the lifeblood of the Parkinson's community. The Udall Centers and the NIH funded research are leading the world in the path to a cure. I encourage my colleagues support these programs.

Mr. EVANS

Mr. EVANS. Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support normal trade status for Vietnam. The vote today is really about how we best achieve change in Vietnam, and I believe the record speaks for itself. We have achieved progress by engagement: by encouraging Vietnamese cooperation on important issues such as human rights, immigration and political and economic reform. I can speak about this personally. I have been to Vietnam and seen the work of the Joint Task Force-Full Accounting, our military presence in Vietnam tasked with looking for our missing servicemen and women. I have visited these young women and men, and they are among the bravest and most motivated soldiers I have ever seen. Every day, from the searches of jungle battle sites to the excavation of crash sites on precarious mountain summits, they put themselves in harm's way to recover our missing. In talking with them, it made it clear to me that they were performing a mission that they truly believed in. On April 7 of this year, that danger became all too real. On that date, seven American members of the joint task force, along with nine Vietnamese, lost their lives in a helicopter crash as they were on their way to a recovery mission. This tragedy was a huge blow for our recovery efforts, as we lost both Americans and Vietnamese who had deeply been involved in finding our missing. We should remember our deceased Americans are heroes who gave their lives in pursuit of a mission they believed to be a high honor and a sacred duty. The only way we can carry out this mission effectively is to have a presence in Vietnam. To maintain that presence means reciprocating on the promises that we made to reward Vietnamese cooperation. Failing to approve this resolution would definitely send the wrong signal to the Vietnamese, not to mention the brave American men and women who are still searching for our missing in the rice paddies and mountains of Vietnam. The opponents of this argument or the opponents of this agreement will say that the Vietnamese Government has a terrible record on human rights, that they do not deserve normal trade arrangements with our Nation. I will not defend the Vietnamese human rights record. It needs serious improvements. We should focus on obtaining basic freedom for all Vietnamese. But former Ambassador and colleague here in the House of Representatives, Mr. Pete Peterson, demonstrated that we can achieve progress on human rights and a number of other issues that are important to our Nation by encouraging cooperation from the Vietnamese. As our first ambassador to this nation since the war, his stewardship led to tangible and dramatic progress on issues that have changed the lives of North Americans and Vietnamese for the better. By continuing this policy, the families of POWs and MIAs will get the answer about their missing, Vietnamese emigres will also be reunited with their families, and our country will have benefits from the fruits of Agent Orange research. We can risk all this if we turn our backs on this successful policy. Voting against this agreement would do just that. Mr. Speaker, earlier this year the House overwhelmingly supported a waiver of the Jackson-Vanik amendment restrictions on Vietnam. This is the fourth year in a row that the House, with growing and overwhelming support, voted for better relations with Vietnam. I believe that we should follow this course. Let us support the Joint Task Force for Full Accounting, and let us support our Nation's bipartisan policy that has only furthered our goals towards a more cooperative and open Vietnam. Please vote for this resolution.

Mr. EVANS

Mr. EVANS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise in strong support of H.R. 2540, the Veterans Benefits Act of 2001; and I commend and salute our distinguished chairman of the committee for his leadership in working with the Members on both sides to bring this measure before us today. I join with him in saluting the staff that he has recognized as well. I also want to recognize the new chairman of the Subcommittee on Benefits, the gentleman from Idaho (Mr. Simpson), and the ranking Democratic member of the Subcommittee on Benefits, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Reyes), who contributed to the bill before us today. In addition, I want to publicly acknowledge the important contributions of the gentleman from New Mexico (Mr. Udall) and the gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Capps) and others to this legislation. As amended, this resolution contains many provisions important to our veterans, and I will highlight just a few. The bill provides an annual cost of living adjustment, effective December 1, 2001, to recipients of service-connected disability compensation and dependency and indemnity compensation. It is the obligation of this grateful Nation to preserve the purchasing power of these benefits. This COLA will mirror the COLA received by Social Security recipients. Section 201 of the bill is the one that I introduced. This section provides a statutory basis for a presumption of service-connection for Vietnam veterans with Type 2 diabetes who were exposed to herbicides. This provision assures our Nation's veterans that this is a benefit based in law. Section 202 of the bill is based on H.R. 1406, which I introduced. It identifies additional ill-defined or undiagnosed illnesses or illnesses for which service-connection is presumed for Gulf War veterans. Additionally, it lists symptoms or signs that may be associated. H.R. 2540 authorizes a 2-year pilot program for expanded toll-free access to veterans' benefits counselors. This provision is derived from the recommendations made by the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Baker), a member of the committee, and the gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Capps), a Member of good standing; and we appreciate her work. I am pleased that H.R. 2540 also extends the authority of the VA to make direct home loans to Native Americans who live on trust lands. I want to thank the gentleman from New Mexico (Mr. Udall) for introducing similar legislation in H.R. 1929. Again, I want to thank the chairman of the full committee and the chairman and ranking member of the subcommittee for bringing this bill before us today. I urge all our colleagues to support H.R. 2540, as amended. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 2540, the Veterans Benefits Act of 2001. I commend and thank the distinguished Chairman of the Committee, Chris Smith, for his leadership in working with members on both sides of the aisle to bring this measure before us today. I also want to recognize the new Chairman of the Subcommittee on Benefits, Mr. Simpson, and the Ranking Democratic Member of the Subcommittee on Benefits, Mr. Reyes, who contributed to the bill before us today. I fully support the cost-of-living increase provided by Title I of H.R. 2540. The purchasing power of the benefits which our veterans have earned must be maintained and not be diminished because basic living expenses have increased. Our Nation's veterans have earned their benefits. It is the obligation of a grateful Nation to preserve the purchasing power of these benefits and pay them in a timely manner. As a long time supporter of benefits for veterans who have suffered from the effects of exposure to herbicides such as Agent Orange, I welcome VA's recent regulation providing a presumption of service- connection for Vietnam veterans exposed to dioxin who now suffer from diabetes Mellitus, Type 2. This was the right action to take. Now it is time to provide a statutory presumption that makes it clear to veterans that their eligibility is protected as a matter of law. Section 201 of the bill is based on legislation I introduced, H.R. 862. This important step will not result in any additional benefit costs, but will assure our Nation's veterans of their statutory right. I also strongly support section 202 of the bill, based on H.R. 1406 which I introduced to overturn a narrow and erroneous opinion of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) General Counsel. Thousands of veterans who were healthy before their service in Southwest Asia have experienced a variety of unexplained symptoms since going to Southwest Asia. Claims for service-connected compensation filed by Gulf War veterans were originally denied because no single disease entity or syndrome responsible for these illnesses had been identified. In providing for compensation due to undiagnosed illnesses or illnesses which could not be clearly defined, the Congress specifically intended that under Public Law 103-446, veterans be given the benefit of the doubt and provided service-connected compensation benefits. Because of an erroneous Opinion of VA's General Counsel, the law's intent has been frustrated and many veterans have been denied compensation. As many veterans organizations have noted, both the former Chairman of this Committee [Bob Stump] and I have criticized VA's interpretation of the term ``undiagnosed illness'' in VA General Counsel Precedent Opinion 8-98 as extremely restrictive. That opinion held that VA is precluded from providing benefits to veterans who develop symptoms after military service and who receive a diagnostic label, such as ``chronic service fatigue syndrome'' even for illnesses which are not clearly defined. Thousands of veterans have had their claims denied because ``chronic fatigue syndrome'' or another diagnostic label such as ``irritable bowel syndrome'' was provided. Other veterans with identical symptoms whose physicians did not attach a diagnostic label have had their claims granted. Such disparate treatment is unfair and unacceptable. Since there is no known cause for these illnesses and no specific laboratory tests to confirm the diagnosis, as a practical matter VA's ability to provide compensation has been limited to veterans whose symptoms became manifest during active duty or active duty for training or to veterans whose physician indicated that the veterans symptoms were due to an ``undiagnosed'' condition. Section 202 of H.R. 2540 places the emphasis where Congress originally intended by focusing on the symptoms which have had such a disabling affect on the lives of some Gulf War veterans. The bill addresses illnesses which are not clearly defined, rather than illnesses whose etiology is not clearly defined. As Dr. Claudia Miller, an experienced medical researcher testified at the October 26, 1999, hearing of the Subcommittee on Benefits concerning Persian Gulf War Veterans Issues, ``In medicine, we will label something with a name, as you are aware, and call it a diagnosis, but it may not convey what the etiology is. There are very few places in medicine where we say what the etiology is when we give a diagnosis. One of the few is infectious diseases.'' In focusing on the symptoms of poorly defined illnesses, the bill applies to disabilities resulting from what is increasingly referred to in medical research as ``chronic multisymptom illnesses''. (See, ``Chronic Multisymptom Illness Affecting Air Force Veterans of the Gulf War'', Fukuda et al, JAMA 1988; 280:981-988, ``Clinical Risk Communication: Explaining Causality To Gulf War Veterans With Chronic Multisymptom Illnesses'' Engel, Sunrise Symposium (June 25, 1999) (Found at www.deploymenthealth.mil/education/risk comm.doc) and ``Multiple Chemical Sensitivity and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome in British Gulf War Veterans,'' Reid et al, American Journal of Epidemiology, 2001 153:604-609. Veterans must be provided the benefit of the doubt. VA's cost estimate for compensating Gulf veterans who suffer from fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndome and irritable bowel syndrome is evidence that claims which Congress intended to recognize in its 1994 legislation are being denied under present law. The handling of claims based on undiagnosed illnesses continues to be problematic. Current VA policy requires VA to consider symptoms attributed to a diagnosed condition under whatever rating is appropriate and to also give full credence to symptoms which cannot be attributed to any of the diagnosed illnesses. In some cases, adjudicators in VA Regional Offices have failed to follow VA policy. I hope that by expanding the coverage of service-connection to illnesses which cannot be clearly defined, VA adjudicators will make fewer such errors. I regret that having expended so much of our Nation's resources on a large tax cut, we lack the funding to make this provision effective until April 1, 2002. There is one and only one reason for not making this provision effective upon enactment and even retroactive to the date of the original legislation. Having spent our Nation's ``surplus'' on large tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans, we have to search for nickels and dimes to meet our debt to our Nation's disabled veterans. This is a disgrace, but it is the result with which we are now forced to live. I understand the concerns raised by those who believe the presumptive period for undiagnosed illnesses should be extended. Except for members of the Guard and Reserve who, though not assigned to the Gulf have suffered adverse effects following the administration of anthrax and other vaccines while on inactive duty for training. I am not aware of any cases where symptoms of undiagnosed illnesses have recently become manifest. I am also not aware of any servicemembers recently assigned to the Gulf having experienced symptoms of undiagnosed illnesses, chronic fatigue syndrome or fibromyalgia. However, because this may exist, I do not oppose the two-year extension of time contained in the Manager's amendment. Although I hope that no disabilities with a long latency period such as cancer or other illnesses will result from Gulf Service, I will support a presumption of service-connection if and when certain disabilities are determined to be more prevalent in Gulf veterans than comparable populations. Section 203 of H.R. 2540 gives the Secretary of Veterans Affairs the authority to protect the service connection of veterans receiving compensation benefits. Last year, Congresswoman Capps and I became aware that VA was having difficulty in recruiting veterans to participate in a VA-sponsored research study concerning the prevalence of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS or Lou Gehrig's Disease) in Gulf War veterans. Because ALS is such a rare disease, the validity of the study required that as many veterans as possible with this condition be identified. A number of veterans refused to participate in the study because they were currently receiving service connected compensation benefits attributed to an undiagnosed illness. If ALS were to be diagnosed, the veteran would lose those benefits. In response to a joint request from Mrs. Capps, Mr. Stearns, Mr. Bilirakis and myself to protect the benefits of the ALS study participants, former Acting Secretary Gober stated in an October 19, 2000, letter, ``there is simply no viable way to provide such protection consistent with existing law and standards of ethnical conduct for Government employees.'' Section 203 of H.R. 2540 is intended to remedy this dilemma and provide the VA with the authority needed to enable veterans to participate in medical research studies, without fear that their benefits will be placed in jeopardy. Absent such authority, there is a very real risk that veterans will be caught in a ``Catch-22'' situation. Without adequate research, it may not be possible to demonstrate an association between service in Southwest Asia and specific rare illnesses experienced by a small number of Gulf War veterans. If the research is inadequate, deserving veterans may be denied compensation. Medical research serves an important humanitarian goal, by furthering knowledge concerning human diseases and treatment. Veterans who participate in such research, without any likelihood of direct benefit to their own lives, deserve to be protected, not punished, for their humanitarian spirit. By preserving the service connected character of the veteran's disabilities, they and their survivors would qualify for compensation and dependency and indemnity compensation (DIC) benefits. I am also pleased that the bill addresses concerns expressed by Mrs. Capps and Mr. Baker concerning VA's toll-free telephone service. The proposed pilot project should provide veterans with improved access to VA employees for those questions which cannot be handled by VA's automated telephone system. This is particularly important for the growing population of elderly veterans and survivors, who may have difficulty navigating through the high-tech world of automated telephone systems. I expect that this pilot program will provide us with valuable information concerning VA's ability to handle telephonic inquiries. Likewise, I strongly support the provisions in H.R. 2540 that are derived from H.R. 1929 introduced by Tom Udall and myself to extend the pilot program providing direct home loans to veterans residing on tribal lands. It is critical that this Congress continued to recognize the important differences between homes on tribal land and conventional home loans under Anglo-American legal principles of real property. This bill provides another home ownership option to Native American veterans residing on tribal lands. H.R. 2540 also contains provisions derived from H.R. 2222, introduced by Mr. Filner and H.R. 2359, introduced by Chairman Smith and myself. VA should not be holding monies which could be distributed to the beneficiaries or heirs of a veteran when the primary beneficiary cannot be located. VA should make every effort to assure that the rightful or equitable beneficiaries of these interests receive the funds to which they are entitled. Section 406 of H.R. 2540 would eliminate the requirement that veterans filing an appeal with the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims also notify the VA. This requirement has apparently caused confusion among appellants and caused some to be denied their right to appeal a decision to the court in a timely manner. Since current court rules require the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims to notify the Secretary of Veterans Affairs when an appeal is documented, sufficient notice would be provided to the Secretary with the elimination of this requirement. I thank the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Subcommittee for bringing this bill forward and urge all members to support H.R. 2540. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. EVANS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Filner).

Mr. EVANS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Mississippi (Mr. Shows).