Lane Evans

Mr. EVANS

Mr. EVANS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to support H.R. 4328, The Omnibus and Emergency Appropriations Bill of 1998. Many of the provisions contained in this measure are deserving of support--these include aid to farmers, support for education and other worthy programs. However, I do have some serious reservations about one provision--Division D--Persian Gulf War Veterans Act of 1998. This measure incorporates text from S. 2358, including compensation legislation for Gulf War veterans that would attempt to override a compromise developed by both bodies' authorizing committees. This provision was inserted over objections in both Chambers in an effort to conciliate one member of the other body. I am unaware of any prior conference process that has been blatantly overridden to account for the desires of one Member. I am also extremely disappointed with my colleagues on the Appropriations Committee of the House and Senate for acceding to the demands of one individual who clearly did not express the authorizers' views. By putting this authorization into ``must pass'' legislation with a number of worthy funding initiatives, I feel that my colleagues have exploited the position in which I and others find ourselves today. The Veterans Affairs Committee in the House and the other body, the committees of jurisdiction, agreed to comprehensive veterans' legislation which is now awaiting passage by the other body. This measure, H.R. 4110, the Veterans' Programs Enhancements Act of 1998, was approved on October 10, 1998 by the House by a unanimous vote of 423 to 0. As agreed to by the House and Senate Veterans Affairs Committees and approved by the House, H.R. 4110 resulted from a consensus building process. This process created a bill that all concerned believed was cumulatively better than the sum of its parts. The compromise included parts of S. 2358, and of my bill, H.R. 3279, that allows the use of epidemiological models to determine what conditions ought to be compensated with regard to Persian Gulf War veterans. I considered this step to be a major gain for veterans. I sincerely believe that, in overriding the compromise, we will do a great disservice to our Gulf War veterans. H.R. 4110 allows the prevalence of illnesses veterans experience to serve as a basis for compensation determinations. This model--one supported by the Presidential Advisory Committee on Gulf War Illnesses--is thought by many scientists to provide an approach that gives veterans the benefit of the doubt. Even if veterans are unable to prove that their illnesses resulted from any of a host of possible causes, as the language in S. 2358 and now, would require them to do, conditions that they experienced more frequently than their peers could serve as a basis for compensation. By including the text of S. 2358 in the Omnibus and Emergency Appropriations Bill of 1998, those who have wrought the Omnibus and Emergency Appropriations Bill of 1998 have violated not only the spirit, but the letter, of the agreement of the authorizing committees. This is nothing less than a travesty of the legislative process. This is nothing less than using strong arm tactics to achieve the will of one. This is wrong, plain and simple.

Mr. EVANS

Mr. EVANS. Mr. Speaker, this budget plan addresses the needs of working Americans. Today we are taking important steps that will help insure that we save the budget surplus for Social Security, invest in sound education initiatives for our children and provide important relief to our nation's farmers. We have reached an agreement that goes a long way toward fulfilling our responsibility to the American people. It is a victory for Democrats, as many of the priorities that were headed for the chopping block were saved as a result of our efforts. This budget upholds the values that are important to Illinois' families and that will help build a solid foundation to continue economic growth. We have taken important steps, such as investing in public education, tackling the farm crisis and building and improving roads and bridges and empowering our communities--all without squandering the budget surplus. I am especially pleased that we are doing right by our nation's children. This bill take important steps to improve the quality of education in our public schools. By funding more teachers, we can have smaller classes that allow teachers to give attention to individual students. I am proud that we are helping communities to hire and keep qualified teachers in order to reduce class size in grades 1 through 3, years so crucial to the development of reading and math skills. Agriculture has long been a cornerstone of our rural communities and I am proud today that we are providing $5.9 billion to assist farmers suffering from record-low crop prices and severe weather. The package also includes an additional $1 billion in tax relief to protect our farmers as they struggle with unstable foreign markets. There is much more work to be done. We have many challenges ahead of us. The Republican Congress blocked Democratic efforts to provide simple, yet extensive relief to working families. As a result, we will not provide Americans this year with a livable wage; accountants instead of doctors will be making health care decisions for too many Americans; the influence of special interests will continue to go unchecked in campaigns and too many of our children will be taught in old and dilapidated schoolrooms. Americans deserve a minimum wage and a ``Patient's Bill of Rights'', comprehensive campaign finance reform, and modern, up to date schools for our children. Let's pledge to build upon the progress made today so that we can bring prosperity to all Americans in the future. Our working families are counting on it.

Mr. EVANS

Mr. EVANS. Mr. Speaker, I rise on behalf of the hard working steel workers in my district and the 450 employees of Northwestern Steel and Wire who were informed last week that their jobs would be eliminated at the end of this year. We have a responsibility to our steel industry and its employees to ensure a level playing field. This means aggressively enforcing our own trade laws and imposing a moratorium on steel imports from Asia, Russia and Brazil until our industry is back on its feet. This means demanding that the administration provide us with concrete evidence that they have responded to this steel crisis. We can no longer stand idly by as more and more steel workers lose their jobs. I urge my colleagues to support the Traficant resolution.

Mr. EVANS

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

Mr. EVANS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 559 which will provide a presumption of service-connection for atomic veterans who suffer from an extremely rare form of nonsmokers' lung cancer. For those veterans who died of this disease, benefits will be made available to their surviving dependents. I commend the author of this legislation the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith) for his tireless efforts on behalf of these veterans and all veterans and their dependents. I also want to thank the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Stump) for bringing this bill to the floor today. The time to redress these injustices has long since passed. H.R. 559 will provide justice to a small group of veterans. Congress can and should do more to compensate those veterans who sacrificed their health and in some cases their lives on behalf of our Nation. I urge all of my colleagues to support this measure. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. EVANS

Mr. EVANS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the bill, H.R. 4567, although I do so with some reservations. The Committee on Veterans' Affairs has a long tradition of bipartisanship in developing constructive policy to meet the needs of veterans. Under the leadership of Chairman Bob Stump, our Committee considered, perfected and approved, H.R. 1362, the Veterans Medicare Reimbursement Act of 1997. I continue to believe H.R. 1362 better addresses the needs of veterans and VA while simultaneously providing Medicare savings. These Medicare savings would result from authorizing VA to charge the Health Care Financing Administration for certain care provided by VA to certain Medicare-eligible veterans using a discounted Medicare fee schedule or capitated payment rate. H.R. 1362 was approved by the Veterans' Affairs Committee with the support of the Administration and all of the major veterans' services organizations. Working with the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs, the Senate Finance Committee included a provision similar to H.R. 1362 in its version of the Balanced Budget Act of 1997. Unfortunately, this provision was not included in the conference agreement. I hope that future negotiations with the Senate will yield a measure more like H.R. 1362--a more thoughtful and cautious approach than the measure we are considering today. My support for the measure before us today is due to VA's desperate need for funding from non-appropriated sources on which the Administration is depending. Since it received authority to retain medical care cost recovery funds, VA collections have actually declined. VA intended to use both Medicare reimbursement and medical care cost recovery funds to provide 10-percent of its funding from non- appropriated sources. VA's inability to collect the levels of funds it anticipated from these sources has resulted in a serious unanticipated budget shortfall. Now VA faces a new challenge--the Under Secretary for Health has committed to ``take all comers'' into its health care system and provide them with specified health care benefits. Since VA has already committed to enrolling both veterans who bring payment for services to the door with them and veterans without such funding, VA will have no additional incentive to treat those in higher-income groups. I am uncertain what the consequences of Dr. Kizer's decision to enroll all veterans will be for VA, but I know that additional resources will better ensure its ability to honor this commitment without limiting access to care to other veterans with a higher priority to care. I commend the gentleman from California, Mr. Thomas, for his work on behalf of VA-Medicare Subvention. However, I believe we need to re- assess VA's health care funding sources and end the funding ``shell game'' which has subjected VA to an uncertain revenue stream for the last three years. It hasn't worked. If VA is to be a high-quality health care system, Congress must be committed to funding the VA with adequate appropriated resources for the next fiscal year and years to come.

Mr. EVANS

Mr. EVANS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Vermont (Mr. Sanders).

Mr. EVANS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from California (Mr. Filner). (Mr. FILNER asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.).

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 1 minute to the gentleman from California (Mr. Farr). (Mr. FARR of California asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks, and to include extraneous material.)

Mr. EVANS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, the measure now before the House, as amended, the Veterans' Benefits Enhancement Act of 1998, deserves the strong support of every Member of the House of Representatives. This measure improves the benefits provided by a grateful Nation to the men and women who, through their honorable service in uniform, have earned the benefits provided by Congress on behalf of this grateful Nation. The legislation is the result of diligent work, and I want to thank the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Stump), chairman of the committee, for his work and efforts in making this come to passage today. One of the most important provisions creates a new permanent framework for establishing a presumption of service connection for Persian Gulf war veterans. I urge every Member to support the passage of this legislation. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the Veterans' Programs Enhancement Act of 1998. This omnibus measure improves many of the benefits which a grateful Nation has provided to the men and women who served in uniform and deserves the strong support of every Member of this body. The legislation now before us is the result of the diligent work and cooperative efforts of many Members. In particular, I want to recognize and thank the Chairman of the Committee, the gentleman from Arizona, for his continued leadership on behalf of the Nation's veterans. I also want to commend the Chairman and Ranking Democratic Member of our Health Subcommittee, Cliff Stearns and Luis Gutierrez; the Chairman and Ranking Democratic Member of our Benefits Subcommittee, Jack Quinn and Bob Filner; the Chairman and Ranking Democratic Member of our Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee, Terry Everett and Jim Clyburn, and the other Members of the Committee who have contributed to this legislation. I also want to recognize the Democratic and Republican staffs for their outstanding efforts and their critical contributions to the legislative process and the measure before us. cost-of-living adjustment The Veterans' Benefits Enhancement Act of 1998 includes numerous important provisions. This measure provides a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) in the rates of compensation for veterans with service-connected disabilities and the rates of dependency and indemnity compensation for survivors of certain disabled veterans. The bill assures our veterans and their families that the value of these benefits will not be diluted by increases in the cost-of-living. While the amount of the increase to veterans and their families will not be great because of minimal inflation, it will protect the purchasing power of these beneficiaries. By enacting this bill, we are keeping our promises to those veterans who have sacrificed their health and, in some cases, their lives for our nation. The adjustment to be provided to veterans in receipt of compensation for a service-connected disability are to be the same rate of increase being provided to beneficiaries of Social Security benefits. Our Nation owes much to those who have honorably served in our Armed Forces. persian gulf veterans This bill provides for an independent scientific inquiry and research to ascertain the nature of the illnesses which are experienced by our Gulf War veterans and to determine the most effective means of treatment for these illnesses. This will fulfill for many Persian Gulf veterans, as well as the American public, the need to bring a credible ``third-party'' perspective to the table. Earlier this year I introduced H.R. 3279, the Persian Gulf Veterans Act of 1998, which provided for epidemiological studies to identify medical conditions which are more prevalent among Gulf War theatre veterans than comparable groups. This scientific approach provides an important means of identifying those medical conditions for which VA should consider compensating Gulf War veterans. I am pleased the compromise legislation we are considering today incorporates the intent of H.R. 3279. Approximately 697,000 American men and women served our country during Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. These members of the Armed Forces were subject to the rigors of combat in a desert environment and to a variety of potentially toxic substances which alone, or in combination, may have adversely affected their health. It may take years to determine why Gulf veterans are sick, but one thing is indisputable. Our veterans are suffering, and many share similar symptoms that are not attributable to any particular known cause. These symptoms, rather than unknown and yet-to-be-determined causes, are an appropriate basis for granting compensation. This approach will require scientists to determine which conditions are most likely the result of Gulf War service. This approach will also not require veterans to prove that a certain specific exposure caused an adverse health outcome; proof of which would require science and data that do not now, and may never, exist. Determining the ``prevalence'' of the illnesses Gulf War theatre veterans experience more often than comparable populations is a scientifically valid epidemiological approach endorsed by scientists from the President's Gulf War advisory panel. On February 5, 1998, Dr. Arthur Caplan, a member of the Presidential Advisory Committee on Gulf War Veterans' Illnesses, stated that his Committee felt a prevalence model gave the veterans the greatest benefit of the doubt. According to Dr. Caplan, ``Gulf War Illness is a very real phenomena. No one on this committee should doubt that for a moment. . . . What should be forthcoming . . . is an unwavering commitment from this Congress and this administration to provide the health and disability benefits to all those who became sick when they came back from the Gulf.'' I am very pleased the measure before us today includes, in principle, many of the provisions contained in the Persian Gulf Veterans Act of 1998 and believe it will provide answers to the many health-related questions and concerns of our Gulf War veterans. The measure before us also authorizes a study to determine scientifically-rigorous measures of health treatment provided to Gulf War veterans. Many veterans have told me heartbreaking stories about the deterioration of their health since their return from the Gulf. Some have been suffering for many years and are desperate for effective health care treatment. Finding meaningful ways of assessing outcomes can help scientists determine the best health care treatments so more veterans can benefit from them. Assessing effective treatment was an important part of my bill, H.R. 3279, and I thank my colleagues for including this provision in the compromise agreement. This legislation also extends expiring authority for the health care assessment of spouses and dependents of Gulf War veterans. I have strongly supported this program but have been concerned that inadequate implementation by VA has hampered its usefulness. For the many dependents who seem to be suffering from ailments similar to those experienced by their spouses who served in the Gulf, providing them with a thorough physical examination is entirely appropriate and will, hopefully, ensure their peace of mind. This measure will provide the opportunity for more dependents to take advantage of this important program. eligibility for va health care for pgw veterans Another of the important component of this bill is the extension of eligibility for VA health care for PGW veterans with undiagnosed illnesses until the year 2002. Earlier this year, I introduced H.R. 3571 which extended this authority and am pleased this provision was incorporated in the measure before us today. national center for war-related illnesses In addition, this legislation requires VA to enter into a study to determine the agencies and resources best suited to examine war-related illnesses. A plan will be developed to assign an appropriate agency to advise VA and DOD regarding preparation for post-deployment medical responses and assess the extent to which activities such as medical record keeping and risk communication can be improved to enhance veterans' post-combat health status. authority to treat combat veterans This bill gives VA the tools to apply these lessons learned by allowing VA to treat veterans from a theater of combat for two years post--discharge and to establish a plan for examining the health status and health utilization of veterans of future combat periods. This measure applies ``lessons learned'' from past experience with the aftermath of war and its effect on veterans. We have learned that some veterans may experience illnesses following their combat service unrelated to recognizable combat wounds. We have learned that the sooner we address these health consequences, the more likely veterans are to improve over shorter periods of time. We have learned that having systems in place to identify unusual health care utilization patterns among combat veterans can help us to quickly recognize trends that may indicate unique exposures or problems. sexual trauma counseling Among the most important provisions contained in the measure before us is the extension of VA's authority to provide sexual trauma counseling to victims of sexual assault during their military service. My good friend, Luis Gutierrez, the Ranking Democratic Member of the Health Subcommittee, has worked tirelessly to reauthorize VA's provision of sexual trauma counseling to veterans, and he is due much of the credit for the inclusion of this provision in the omnibus bill. Some surveys indicate that up to 52% of women in the military state that they have been sexually harassed. Since the number of women entering the military continues to grow, the need for sexual trauma counseling will obviously continue. While I am pleased that we are extending the authorization of this valuable program today, I want to continue to work on improvements and enhancements to sexual trauma counseling eligibility in the future. transitional housing for homeless veterans Mr. Speaker, I am very glad that the provisions of H.R. 3039, the Veterans Transitional Housing Opportunities Act of 1998, approved by the House on May 19, 1998, are contained in H.R. 4110. These provisions will expand the supply of transitional housing for homeless veterans by authorizing VA to guarantee loans for self-sustaining housing projects specifically targeted at homeless veterans. Patterned after many successful programs across the country, residents of the housing projects established under this section would be required to seek and maintain employment, maintain sobriety, and pay a reasonable fee for their residence. According to Department of Veterans Affairs statistics, one-third of the homeless men in this country are military veterans, and approximately 60% of those individuals are veterans of the Vietnam era. On any given night, more than 271,000 veterans sleep on America's streets or in homeless shelters. Although transitional housing has been identified as a major need for homeless veterans, there is an acute shortage of this type of shelter, largely because of the difficulty in obtaining financing. In fact, to accommodate the hundreds of thousands of homeless veterans, VA has fewer than 5,000 transitional-type beds either under contract or as part of its domiciliary program. I believe that the loan guaranty program established under H.R. 3039 will generate opportunities for localities to provide transitional housing for homeless veterans. Selected Reserve Home Loan Eligibility The compromise measure also includes a provision which would extend for five years the eligibility of members of the Selected Reserve for veterans housing loans. A similar provision was included in H.R. 4110, the Veterans' Benefits Improvement Act of 1998, when it was approved by the House in August. The VA's current authority to guarantee home loans for members of the National Guard and Reserve components will expire on September 30, 1999. More than 43,000 Selected Reserve members have bought their homes using a VA home loan, and 67 percent of these individuals were first-time buyers. This program has been very successful, and I am pleased that this extension is included in the compromise agreement. Veteran Status for Merchant mariners Another provision in the compromise measure extends veteran status, for the purpose of burial benefits, to Merchant Mariners who served our nation between the dates of August 15, 1945 and December 31, 1946--the official end of World War II. Until now, this special group has not received the recognition of veteran status to which I believe they have long been entitled. The service of Merchant Mariners to our nation includes the heroic efforts put forth during World War II by the thousands of young men who volunteered for service in the United States Merchant Marines. Many of these mariners were recruited specifically to staff ships under the control and direction of the United States Government to assist the World War II effort. These seamen were subject to government control; their vessels were controlled by the government under the authority of the War Shipping Administration and, like other branches of military service, they traveled under sealed orders and were subject to the Code of Military Justice. Some volunteers joined the Merchant Marines because minor physical problems, such as poor eyesight, made them ineligible for service in the Army, Navy, or Marine Corps. Others were encouraged by military recruiters to volunteer for service in the Merchant Marines because the recruiter recognized that the special skills offered by the volunteer could best be put to use for our country by service in the Merchant Marines. Most importantly, all were motivated by their deep love of country and personal sense of patriotism to contribute to the war effort. In order to staff our growing merchant fleet during World War II, the U.S. Maritime Commission established training camps around the country under the direct supervision of the Coast Guard. After completing basic training, which included both small arms and cannon proficiency, seamen became active members of the U.S. Merchant Marines. These seamen, often at great personal risk, helped deliver troops and war supplies needed for every Allied invasion site from Guadalcanal to Omaha Beach. More than 6,500 Merchant Marines who served our country during World War II gave the ultimate sacrifice of their lives, including 37 who died as prisoners of war, and almost 5,000 World War II Merchant Mariners remain missing and are presumed dead. In addition, 733 U.S. Merchant ships were destroyed. Even after the surrender of Japan, members of our Merchant Marine fleet were in mortal danger as they continued to support the war effort by entering mined harbors to transport our troops safely home. After the war ended, they carried food and medicine to millions of the world's starving people. It is important to remember that during the time period addressed by this bill, August 15, 1945 through December 31, 1946, 12 U.S. Flag Merchant Vessels were lost or damaged as a result of striking mines, and some of the Merchant Mariners serving on these vessels were killed or injured. Fully understanding the tremendous risks they faced, mariners nonetheless willingly went into mined harbors so that they could bring our American troops home to their families and friends. I believe these courageous Merchant Mariners, who were subject to the risks and dangers of war between V-J Day and the official end of the war, have been wrongfully denied veteran status. They faced the very real hazards of war-time hostile actions and should not be denied the status of veteran for purposes of laws administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs because their sea-going contribution began after August 15, 1945. With the enactment of this legislation, Congress officially recognizes the veteran status of these brave mariners for the purpose of burial benefits. As the author of the Merchant Mariner Fairness Act, H.R. 1126, which was cosponsored by more than 300 Members of the House, I would have welcomed the enactment of that legislation which provided additional veterans' benefits to these brave mariners. Nevertheless, I am pleased this legislation will at long last provide overdue recognition and grant veteran status for burial benefits. State Veteran Cemetery Grant Program The compromise agreement also modifies the current State Cemetery Grants Program to authorize VA to pay up to 100 percent of the cost of constructing and equipping state veterans' cemeteries. Under current law, VA may pay up to 50 percent of the cost of land and construction. This provision was contained in H.R. 4110, the Veterans Benefits Improvement Act of 1998, as approved by the House in August. When the Department first proposed that the state cemetery program be altered, VA officials indicated that they intended the modified program to replace construction of new national cemeteries. Although we on the Committee were interested in the VA's proposed change to the state cemetery grants, we strongly disagreed with the VA's assertion that an improved state grant program would eliminate the need for future national cemetery construction. The Committee made it clear to the VA that continuing construction of new national cemeteries, must be a high priority and that the state grants program, although important, is merely a supplement to an expanding national cemetery system. The VA subsequently expressed complete support for the Committee's views regarding future national cemetery construction, and the Committee included the state grant program enhancements in H.R. 4110, as approved by the House in August. education Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased that the compromise measure includes all of the education-related provisions contained in H.R. 4110, as introduced, the Veterans' Benefits Improvement Act of 1998, which was unanimously approved by the House on August 3, 1998. Although all of these provisions will enhance veterans' education programs, I particularly want to stress the importance of the sections of the bill which require the VA and the military services to provide additional information regarding Montgomery GI Bill benefits to active duty servicemembers. We have been told by college and VA officials that too many active duty servicemembers and veteran students are not well informed regarding their Montgomery GI Bill (MGIB) benefits. They do not understand the payment procedures under the MGIB and, too often, do not know the amount of the benefit to which they are entitled. Additionally, we have been informed that some young veterans who have taken early-outs from their military service, specifically in order to enter college, discovered when they applied for their VA education benefits that, because they took an early-out, they had not fulfilled the minimum active duty requirements and, consequently, had lost their eligibility for Montgomery GI Bill benefits. It is our expectation that the VA and service branches will work closely together to ensure full and effective compliance with the requirements of the compromise measure and that servicemembers will have the GI Bill information they need--when they need it. uniformed services employment and reemployment rights act (userra) I am very pleased that the bill we are considering today includes the provisions of H.R. 3213, the USERRA Amendments Act of 1998, which was approved by the House on March 24, 1998. These provisions are, in part, derived from those of H.R. 166, the Veterans' Job Protection Act, a bill introduced by Congressman Bob Filner, the Ranking Democrat on the Veterans Affairs Subcommittee on Benefits. For more than 50 years, Federal law has provided protection for members of the uniformed services (including active duty and Reserve/ National Guard duty) who choose to return to their civilian employment following military service. This protection has long covered state and private employment and is codified at chapter 43, title 38, United States Code. In particular, protections for those who believed their veterans' reemployment rights had not been honored included the right to bring an action against a state or private employer in federal court. In 1996, the Supreme Court reached a decision in Seminole Tribe of Florida v. Florida that had the unintended effect of making unconstitutional, the right of state employees to sue their employers in federal court if the employees believe their veterans' reemployment rights had been violated. Since that decision, at least two court decisions have ruled against the veteran involved. This bill restores the protections and remedies for state employees that existed prior to the Seminole Tribe decision, and I appreciate the Senate's support for the House-passed legislation. nasopharyngeal irradiation therapy The compromise measure addresses the long-standing need for treatment of disorders associated with nasopharyngeal irradiation therapy. This therapy exposed veterans to higher doses of radiation than many of the atomic veterans who are eligible to receive care in VA today. Veterans who served on aircraft or submarines were routinely and, often, involuntarily exposed to this therapy for prevention of sinus and ear infections that were common hazards of this service. Providing care for conditions thought to be related to such treatment is long overdue. Credit is due to the Administration which recommended enactment of similar legislation to Congress. specialized services for disabled veterans The bill before us today includes a provision to require VA to add effective measures of capacity and quality, developed with VA's Advisory Committees on the Seriously Chronically Mentally Ill and the Committee on Special Disabilities to managers' performance contracts. I thank the Committees' majority who agreed to hold the compelling hearing in July and to develop the provision before us today. Decentralizing VA management and taking away authority VA service chiefs once had for ensuring the integrity of these programs may be largely to blame for these programs' disintegration. Once these programs offered ``state-of-the-art'' in managing care for some types of disabilities, particularly for combat injuries. With no effective VA oversight of these programs, they now seem to be falling into disarray. Performance measurements are now king and VA managers with power over resource distribution are not now evaluated ensuring the integrity of specialized services. I am particularly pleased this measure offers another means to address the provision of specialized services for disabled veterans. The Subcommittee on Health of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs conducted a hearing earlier this year which examined the need to further protect these special programs. Notwithstanding special legislative protection Congress enacted to ensure that capacity in these programs is maintained, testimony from both veterans and other witnesses indicated VA has, in large part, not provided this protection. Medal of Honor Pension The Committee has been advised that veterans who have been honored with the Medal of Honor are often called upon to attend many civic events and ceremonies all over the country because of their receipt of the Medal of Honor. In order to assure that the cost of any such participation does not adversely impact the finances of these recipients of he Medal of Honor, the bill increases the amount of the special pension which they receive from $400 per month to $600. life insurance accelerated death benefit Terminally ill veterans often suffer from severe financial hardship. In order to relieve this hardship, the bill allows terminally ill veterans with a life expectancy of less than 12 months to obtain up to 50% of the value of their veterans' life insurance policy as an accelerated death benefit. In order to assure that the funds received will be available to the terminally ill veteran; accelerated death benefits will be exempt from income and resources for purposes of all Federal and federally assisted programs and for all other purposes. Thank you Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 4110, as amended. For the benefit of all Members, I have attached a summary of the provisions of H.R. 4110, as amended. Summary of H.R. 4110, as Amended H.R. 4110, as amended, would: title i--provisions relating to veterans of persian gulf war and future conflicts 1. Provide for the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) to review and evaluate the available scientific evidence and determine whether there is scientific evidence of an association between illnesses experienced by Gulf War veterans and service in--or one or more agents, hazards, or medicines in--the Persian Gulf War. NAS would report its findings and recommendations to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, who would be required to evaluate the report and provide recommendations to Congress as to whether such scientific evidence would warrant a presumption of service connection. NAS would provide periodic reports as well as recommendations for additional scientific studies. 2. Establish authority for VA to provide priority health care to treat illnesses that may be attributable to a veteran's service in combat during any period of war after the Persian Gulf War or during any other future period of hostilities (notwithstanding that there is insufficient medical evidence to conclude that such illnesses are attributable to such service). Treatment would be available under this special authority for a period of two years after such veteran's discharge from service. VA would be required to track the health status and health care utilization patterns of veterans who receive care under this priority. 3. Extend VA's special authority to provide care to Persian Gulf veterans through December 31, 2001. 4. Require VA to enter into an agreement with the National Academy of Sciences or another appropriate independent organization to assist in developing a plan for the establishment of a national center for the study of war- related illnesses and post-deployment health issues. 5. Require VA to establish a public advisory committee (to include veterans of the Persian Gulf War) to provide advice to the Secretaries of Veterans Affairs, Health and Human Services, and Defense on proposed research studies, research plans, or research strategies relating to the health of Persian Gulf veterans. 6. Require Departments of Veterans Affairs, Health and Human Services, and Defense to report to Congress by March 1 of each year the status and results of such research activities, along with the list of research priorities for the upcoming year. 7. Require public availability through the World Wide Web and elsewhere of the findings of all Persian Gulf research conducted by or for the Government. 8. Require VA to enter into an agreement with the National Academy of Sciences to determine whether there is a methodology by which VA could determine the efficacy of treatments provided to Persian Gulf War veterans for illnesses which may be associated with their Persian Gulf War service. VA is to develop a mechanism, if scientifically feasible and reasonable, to monitor and study the effectiveness of such treatments and health outcomes. 9. Require VA and DoD to enter into an agreement with the National Academy of Sciences to (a) develop a curriculum (to take account of new research findings relating to care of veterans with illnesses that may be associated with Persian Gulf War services) for use in continuing education of VA and DoD physicians. 10. Extend VA's authority to evaluate the health status of spouses and children of Persian Gulf War veterans through December 31, 1999, and to provide such examinations through VA facilities, or under its fee-basis or other contract arrangements.

Mr. EVANS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee).

Mr. EVANS

Mr. EVANS. Mr. Speaker, in a matter of days, Adam Sachs, an outstanding member of my Committee staff will return to Kansas City, Missouri. As Adam begins this new chapter in his life, I wish Adam, his wife, Julana Harper-Sachs, and their two daughters, Haleigh and Maggie Harper, happiness and success in the coming years. Adam began his government service in 1987, when he joined the staff of my congressional office. While a member of my personal staff, Adam served as my legislative assistant for national defense issues and other key issues until 1989. Adam then returned to school and received his law degree from Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri, in 1992. Last year, after he had established a successful law career in Kansas City, I was fortunate to prevail upon Adam to return to Washington to join the Democratic staff of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs. As a member of my Committee staff, Adam has served as the Chief Counsel and Staff Director of the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations. While Adam's tenure with the Committee has been short, his accomplishment have been significant. Among his achievements, Adam was instrumental in the establishment of a new process by which the Department of Veterans Affairs responds to allegations of employment discrimination, including sexual harassment in the VA workplace. When inaccurate allegations were made that burials in Arlington National Cemetery were being sold in exchange for political contributions, Adam determined the facts which refuted the improprieties which had been so eagerly alleged. To ensure Arlington National Cemetery continued to be our Nation's most honored final resting place, Adam worked in a bipartisan fashion to develop legislation to maintain the integrity of burials at Arlington National Cemetery. As an indication of Adam's legislative abilities, this legislation was overwhelmingly approved by the House of Representatives. Adam is blessed with many outstanding attributes. He has a passion for fairness and justice, an unfailing sense of good humor and a willingness to always take on one more task. Adam, those of us who have come to know you and work with you, will miss you. We wish you all the best and look forward to seeing you again in the future.

Mr. EVANS

Mr. EVANS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to granting fast track trade negotiating authority. I oppose this legislation because of the adverse effects that the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), which was negotiated under ``fast track'' authority, has had upon working American families. There is no question that NAFTA's track record has had an adverse effect on U.S. wages. This country has lost over a quarter of a million jobs. In my home state of Illinois, 23 companies have moved to Mexico as a result of NAFTA. Instead of the old, failed ``fast track'', we need a trade negotiating authority that gives the President the tools to negotiate trade agreements that reflect the wishes of most Americans--fair, responsible trade that protects the environment, working families and public health. We have much to lose with this vote. U.S. taxpayers have invested billions to establish and maintain one of the safest food supplies in the world. Yet we undermine consumer protection by allowing food to be imported from countries where health and safety standards either do not exist or are not enforced. Under NAFTA, food imports from Mexico and Canada have dramatically overburdened the Food and Drug Administration's ability to adequately inspect food imports. More and more we hear of illnesses caused from foreign foods. We need to make international bodies and foreign governments with weaker standards accountable if we are to protect the health of all Americans. Granting fast track authority will only threaten the safety of our food supply. As a representative from the Corn Belt, I understand our farmers are struggling through tough times with commodity prices that are the lowest they've been in years. However, trade negotiations take years. Our farmers need immediate relief. We should be looking at ways to put money in their pockets where they most need it and ways to help our trading partners get back on their economic feet. Fast track is not the cure-all to the farm crisis, it is, at the moment, a distraction. Without labor, food safety, and environmental provisions in the fast track legislation, we have no guarantee that these issues will ever be addressed. I am not willing to risk the health and safety of my constituents on an authority that cannot safeguard their well-being. Lets fix the problems we have with unfair trade negotiations, lets not add to them. I urge all my colleagues to vote no on fast track.

Mr. EVANS

Mr. EVANS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to granting fast track negotiating authority. I oppose this legislation because of the adverse effects that the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), which was negotiated under ``fast track'' authority, has had upon working American families. There is no question that NAFTA's track record has had an adverse effect on U.S. wages. This country has lost over a quarter of a million jobs. In my home state of Illinois, 23 companies have moved to Mexico as a result of NAFTA. Instead of the old, failed ``fast track'', we need a trade negotiating authority that gives the President the tools to negotiate trade agreements that reflect the wishes of most Americans--fair, responsible trade that protects the environment, working families and public health. We have must to lose with this vote. U.S. taxpayers have invested billions to establish and maintain one of the safest food supplies in the world. Yet we undermine consumer protection by allowing foods to be imported from countries where health and safety standards either do not exist or are not enforced. Under NAFTA, food imports from Mexico and Canada have dramatically overburdened the Food and Drug Administration's ability to adequately inspect food imports. More and more we hear of illnesses caused from foreign foods. We need to make international bodies and foreign governments with weaker standards accountable if we are to protect the health of all Americans. Granting fast track authority will only threaten the safety of our food supply. As a respesentative from the Corn Belt, I understand our farmers are struggling through tough times with commodity prices that are the lowest they've been in years. However, trade negotiations take years. Our farmers need immediate relief. We should be looking at ways to put money in their pockets where they most need it and ways to help our trading partners get back on their economic feet. Fast track is not the cure-all to the farm crisis, it is, at the moment, a distraction. Without labor, food safety, and environmental provisions in the fast track legislation, we have no guarantee that these issues will ever be addressed. I am not willing to risk the health and safety of my constituents on an authority that cannot safeguard their well-being. Let fix the problems we have with unfair trade negotiations; let not add to them. I urge all my colleagues to vote no on fast track.

Mr. EVANS

Mr. EVANS. Mr. Speaker, today I am introducing legislation to authorize the employment of doctors of chiropractic as full-time health care professionals by the Department of Veterans Affairs and establish a permanent division of chiropractic services in the Veterans Health Administration. Joining me as original cosponsors of the bill in the House are Representatives Paul Kanjorski, Dale Kildee, Bob Filner, Jim McDermott, Thomas Manton, Neil Abercrombie, Joseph Kennedy, Luis Gutierrez, Eleanor Holmes Norton, George Brown, Martin Frost, and Charles Rangel, Eni F.H. Faleomavaega, James Leach, Patrick Kennedy, Bennie Thompson, and Virgil Goode, Jr. Each day in the U.S. more than one million Americans seek the services of doctors of chiropractic, receiving effective, safe and appropriate care from highly trained, state licensed providers. Beneficiaries in federal programs such as Medicare, Medicaid and federal workers compensation, have routine availability to chiropractic services to meet their health care needs. In contrast, the Department of Veterans Affairs has not routinely provided veterans access to this beneficial form of health care regardless of their specific needs or personal wishes. The research record continues to validate the use of chiropractic for a wide range of conditions. Even the U.S. Public Health Service, through the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research, rates ``manual manipulation'' as one of the top choices for back problems in adults because of its effectiveness and low cost. Chiropractic offers veterans a drugless, non-surgical option--an option that is a much-needed addition to the care available through VA. In virtually all other areas of the Federal health-care delivery system, Congress has recognized the role of chiropractic care, thereby ensuring that beneficiaries have a voice in choosing health care options that are best for them. My legislation will provide veterans the same ability to make health care choices that best address their specific needs. It is time to end this long-standing inequity in federal health care programs and give veterans a real choice in their health care. Our veterans deserve no less.

Mr. EVANS

Mr. EVANS. Mr. Speaker, during World War II thousands of young men volunteered for service in the United States Merchant Marine. Many of these mariners were recruited specifically to staff ships under the control and direction of the United States Government to assist the U.S. war effort. These seamen were subject to government control, their vessels were controlled by the government under the authority of the War Shipping Administration and, like branches of military service, they traveled under sealed orders and were subject to the Code of Military Justice. Some volunteers joined the Merchant Marines because their youthful age or minor physical problems, such as poor eyesight, made them ineligible for service in the Army, Navy, or Marine Corps. Others were encouraged by military recruiters to volunteer for service in the Merchant Marines because the recruiter recognized that the special skills offered by the volunteer could best be put to use for our country by service in the Merchant Marines. Most importantly, all were motivated by their deep love of country and personal sense of patriotism to contribute to the war effort. In order to staff our growing merchant fleet during World War II, the U.S. Maritime Commission established training camps around the country under the direct supervision of the Coast Guard. After completing basic training, which included both small arms and cannon proficiency, seamen became active members of the U.S. Merchant Marine. These seamen, often at great personal risk, helped deliver troops and war supplies needed for every Allied invasion site from Guadalcanal to Omaha Beach. I have heard from the merchant mariners who were responsible in 1946 for transporting tons of German mustard and other poisonous gas containers from Europe to the San Jacinto ordinance base in Texas. More than 6,500 Merchant Mariners who served our country during World War II gave the ultimate sacrifice of their lives, including 37 who died as prisoners of war, and almost 5,000 World War II Merchant Mariners remain officially missing and are presumed dead. In addition, 733 U.S. Merchant ships were destroyed. Even after the surrender of Japan, members of our Merchant Marine fleet were in mortal danger as they continued to support the war effort by entering mined harbors to transport our troops safely home. After the war ended, they carried food and medicine to millions of the world's starving people. In spite of the illustrious service of the World War II U.S. Merchant Marine, the Secretary of the Air Force, Edward Aldridge, inexplicably and erroneously made the decision in 1988 to define the dates for World War II service differently for Merchant Marines than for those who served in the other American forces. The effect of this decision was to deny veteran status to those mariners who served between the dates of August 15, 1945 and December 31, 1946, the official end of World War II. It is important to remember that during the time period addressed by this bill, August 15, 1945 through December 31, 1946, 12 U.S. Flag Merchant Vessels were lost or damaged as a result of striking mines, and some of the Merchant Mariners serving on these vessels were killed or injured. Fully understanding the tremendous risks they faced, mariners nonetheless willingly went into mined harbors so that they could bring our American troops home to their families and friends. I believe these courageous Merchant Mariners, who were subject to the risks and dangers of war between V-J Day and the official end of the war, have been wrongfully denied veteran status. They faced the very real hazards of wartime hostile actions and should not be denied the status of veteran of purposes of laws administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs because their seagoing contributions began after August 15, 1945. In recognition of the service rendered and dangers faced by those mariners who served during the period of August 15, 1945 through December 31, 1946, on March 19, 1997, I introduced the Merchant Mariner Fairness Act (H.R. 1126). H.R. 1126 will finally provide appropriate recognition: veteran status for a few thousand World War II American Merchant Mariners. While this status will enable them to be eligible for veterans' benefits, it is likely that the only benefit most will receive is proper recognition of their contributions to the war effort and the right to a veterans' funeral. The merchant mariners who would be granted veteran status by this bill are aging. They will not qualify for educational benefits. As Medicare beneficiaries, most already have long standing relationships with their medical providers and are unlikely to seek VA health care. Nonetheless, the Merchant Mariners of World War II will receive the long-overdue thanks from the nation they served faithfully and courageously. The Merchant Mariners Fairness Act would correct this erroneous administrative decision by making the service eligibility period for World War II Merchant Mariners identical to that established for others. As of yesterday, H.R. 1126 has been cosponsored by 310 Members of the House. Clearly, there is widespread and bipartisan support for H.R. 1126 and an overwhelming majority of the House agree with me on granting veteran status to this select group of Merchant Mariners of World War II. Unfortunately, the House has not yet taken action on the Merchant Mariners Fairness Act. It has been more than than a half century since the end of World War II. How much longer must these aging Merchant Mariners, who are the forgotten partriots of World War II, wait for their service to our Nation to be properly and fully honored and acknowledged? As approved by the other body, S. 414, the Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 1998, contained an important provision granting veteran status and limited veteran's benefits to a select group of World War II merchant mariners. With the number of days remaining in the 105th Congress rapidly dwindling, enactment of S. 414 as approved by the other body, would have properly provided the long overdue recognition to the Merchant Mariners who bravely served our Nation during the final days of World War II by granting veteran status and limited veterans' benefits. At long last, our Nation would have appropriately acknowledged their sacrifice and service to our Nation during wartime. I regret, however, that the provisions contained in S. 414 bestowing veterans' status to those mariners, who served between the dates of August 15, 1945 and the official end of World War II, have been deleted from this legislation being considered by the House. As a result of striking these provisions from S. 414, those mariners who served between the dates of August 15, 1945 and December 31, 1946, will be required to wait even longer to receive the veterans status which I strongly believe they have earned and are due. On a more positive note, I am very pleased to report that the Chairman of the House Committee on Veterans Affairs has pledged to work for Congressional approval of legislation granting veteran status and limited veterans' benefits to those mariners who served between the dates of August 15, 1945 and December 31, 1946, before the end of the 105th Congress. I welcome this commitment from Chairman Stump and based on his pledge I look forward to the approval of this legislation before the adjournment of the 105th Congress sine die.

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. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 3980. I want to thank the chairman, the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Stump), and the chairman and ranking Democratic member of the Subcommittee on Health, the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Stearns) and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Gutierrez), for their work on this important legislation. I join the chairman in voicing my strong support for this far-reaching legislation. The bill offers the VA a better means of assuring the quality of care provided to veterans of the Persian Gulf War and lays a foundation for understanding health care needs of veterans of future conflicts. I am particularly pleased that this bill incorporates H.R. 3571 that I introduced in March to extend VA's authority to provide health care treatment for Persian Gulf veterans. In addition, I am pleased that provisions of another measure, H.R. 3279, which I introduced to provide compensation for veterans with Persian Gulf illnesses and to improve their health care treatment, was also included in H.R. 3980. More than a year ago, I requested that the GAO determine whether VA is maintaining its capacity in certain special emphasis programs as required by law. Preliminary findings from this report and other sources indicate that the expensive specialized services, those once considered the crown jewels of the system, have indeed become increasingly vulnerable to programmatic shifts and funding cuts that now threaten their integrity. These programs serve veterans with catastrophic disabilities, conditions such as spinal cord injury, blindness, severe mental illness, amputations, traumatic brain injury and posttraumatic stress disorder, conditions that I believe most Americans would agree the VA system exists to treat. H.R. 3980, as amended, will require the VA to assess its resource managers' performance and, in part, base merit pay on ensuring that special programs receive programmatic and resource support veterans served by them deserve. This will better ensure that VA managers are not rewarded for dumping their patients who are most difficult and most costly to treat. There are a number of other important provisions in this bill, Mr. Speaker, which my longer statement for the record addresses. I want to thank the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Stump), the chairman, again for his work on this important legislation. I encourage my colleagues to support H.R. 3980, as amended. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3980. I want to thank Chairman Stump and the Chairman and Ranking Democratic Member of the Health Subcommittee, Cliff Stearns and Luis Gutierrez, for their work on this legislation. As a result of their efforts and the efforts of others, H.R. 3980, as now before the House, deserves the support of every member of this body. I join the Chairman in voicing my strong support for this far-reaching health care legislation. The bill offers VA a better means of assuring the quality of care provided to veterans who served in the Persian Gulf War and lays the foundation for understanding health care needs of veterans of future conflicts. In so doing, the legislation will undoubtedly benefit not only Gulf War veterans, but also those combat veterans that follow in their footsteps. I am particularly pleased that this bill incorporates the measure I introduced this past March, H.R. 3571, to extend VA's authority to provide health care treatment for Persian Gulf veterans. H.R. 3980 also includes provisions from a bill I introduced, H.R. 3279 (Persian Gulf War Veterans Act of 1998), to provide compensation for veterans with illnesses attributable to service in the Persian Gulf. For example, the bill requires VA to commission a study from the National Academy of Sciences to identify associations between exposures service members likely encountered as a result of Gulf War service and their health outcomes. VA has, on its own initiative, entered into a two-year contract with the Institute to review and evaluate the research and medical literature available to assess associations between exposures and health effects on Gulf War veterans. While the contract is not as expansive as that which is required in the Persian Gulf War Veterans Act of 1998, it lays the groundwork for research that could identify probable clinical associations and areas where more work is needed. I commend VA for taking the initiative to respond to the recommendation made by the Presidential Advisory Committee on Gulf War Illnesses and reaffirm my commitment to making this a longer-term partnership in the future. This measure further ensures that the federal government is accountable for its research agenda by establishing a Veterans Advisory Panel. The Advisory Panel will recommend areas where VA should do additional research, advise on strategies for research, and suggest improvements in study designs. This measure further ensures that the Research Working Group is accountable to Persian Gulf Veterans by requiring the Working Group to either implement the Panel's recommendations or to justify not incorporating their recommendations. The Committee has built on the relationship VA has already established with the Institute of Medicine. Assessing health care effectiveness was a concern of many of our members, so this measure asks VA to work with the Institute of Medicine to identify the outcome measures that would be useful in helping us understand which treatments are most beneficial to veterans. Outcomes would include measures of both health and functional status. Having both types of measures would allow us not only to assess if veterans' physical symptoms are improving, but if the veteran is also better able to engage in productive activities and social relationships. Mr. Kennedy's original Persian Gulf bill supported a measure for training VA clinicians to provide better health care to those with poorly defined symptoms or undiagnosed illnesses. I recognized the value in such a proposal immediately and I support the measure included in the legislation before us today to ask the Institute of Medicine to develop a recommended curriculum for VA primary and specialty physicians involved with Gulf War veterans' care. H.R. 3980 also establishes a new plan for addressing the spouses and children of Gulf War veterans. The current program is expiring but is clearly not meeting the needs of veterans' dependents. It offers a medical examination at only 18 sites around the country with no follow- up treatment if a problem is found. VA is now in the third phase of an important epidemiological study to identify prevalence of symptoms or conditions in veterans and their families. As the findings of this study become available, this legislation will require VA to engage in additional studies of those conditions veterans' families exhibit more than their peers. I will pledge that to the degree there are clinically significant associations found in this study, I will offer legislation to assure veterans' families have access to treatment for the conditions they suffer. My friends, Karen Thurman of Florida and Mike Doyle of Pennsylvania have each introduced bills to rename VA facilities in their states. These bills have been incorporated into H.R. 3980 and just last week, companion bills were reported favorably by the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee. Representative Thurman's measure will rename the Gainesville VA Medical Center after a long-time public servant, Malcom Randall, who served as the facility's director for more than 30 years. Congressman Doyle's provision will rename the Aspinwall VA Medical Center in Pittsburgh after the late Senator, H. John Heinz III. I thank the Members for their commitment to ensuring enactment of these two provisions and thank my colleagues on the Committee for favorably considering the renaming measures on behalf of these two worthy individuals. Recently, the Subcommittee on Health held a hearing on the record of the Veterans' Health Administration's special programs meeting the treatment and rehabilitation needs of disabled veterans. Specifically, the Committee wanted to ensure that the VHA was obeying a provision of the law Congress enacted as part of its comprehensive Eligibility Reform Act in 1994. The Act, along with the sweeping administrative changes being made, transformed the delivery of VA medical care. At the time the law was enacted, Congress realized there would be far reaching changes, many of which would be positive, but was prescient enough to recognize that authorizing VA to become a more efficient provider could adversely affect some successful programs. Our concerns were based, at least in part, upon watching the experience of private sector medicine, as it became more cost-effective. Specialty care for people with chronic conditions was more adversely affected than care in other areas, largely because it cost more to deliver. Accordingly, Congress required VA to maintain its capacity to meet veterans' health care and rehabilitation needs in the special programs. More than a year ago, I requested the General Accounting Office to determine whether VA is maintaining its capacity in certain special emphasis programs as required by law. The Veterans' Health Administration developed these special programs to treat combat injuries or other conditions disproportionately experienced by veterans. These programs treat and rehabilitate veterans with catastrophic illnesses or disabilities--conditions such as Spinal Cord Injury, blindness, severe mental illness, amputations, traumatic brain injury and Post-traumatic Stress Disorder--conditions I believe most Americans would agree the VA medical system exists to treat. It appears the expensive specialized services--the crowned jewels of the system--have indeed become increasingly vulnerable to programmatic shifts and funding cuts which threaten their integrity. I must sadly report that the hearing elicited some of the most disturbing testimony our Committee has heard this year. Witnesses made it clear that Congress must continue to collect data from VA to assess these programs and to improve the data VA collects. It is apparent that too many psychiatric inpatient settings are discharging veterans with severe mental illness onto the streets without community resources to support them; too many spinal cord injury centers lack the resources they need to operate and have no medical leadership for months on end; and the increasing demands on the prosthetics programs are not being met with new resources to support them. Worst of all, witnesses allege that VA officials are encouraging employees to underreport important measures designed to help Congress understand how well the programs are operating! Without these important measures or with faulty and inaccurate measures, which are required by law, we are unable to provide effective oversight of these critical programs. To address this concern, H.R. 3980, as amended, will require VA to assess its resource managers' performance in ensuring that special programs receive the programmatic and resource support veterans served by them deserve. Any merit pay managers receive based on their performance must assess how well these important programs are maintained. This will better ensure VA managers are not rewarded for ``dumping'' their patients who are the hardest and most costly to treat and is an important test in further protecting the programs which make VA a unique and essential provider. Also in the interest of special programs, for the third time, this Committee will put forward a measure to authorize a major construction project to replace the Spinal Cord Injury center in Tampa, Florida. There are major deficiencies in the current structure and the new wards this project will create are absolutely essential. My good friend, Mike Bilirakis, has been a tireless champion of this project for more than 10 years--neither the need, nor his devotion, to fulfilling it has diminished over this time. I am pleased H.R. 3980 is reauthorizing the sexual trauma counseling program that is helping so many of our women service members move on with their lives after being subject to traumatic physical or verbal abuse during military service. During a recent Committee hearing, we received unequivocal testimony from VA and veterans' service organizations about the value of this important program. In a perfect world we would hope that the problem of sexual harassment and abuse in our armed forces would diminish and, in time, be eliminated, but, in fact, all signs point to just the opposite happening. In this not so perfect world, it is essential that we maintain this program. I, again, want to thank Chairman Stump for working with me and others on this important legislation. I recommend and encourage our colleagues to support this legislation. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. EVANS. Mr. Speaker, I yield as much time as he may consume to the gentleman from California (Mr. Filner).

Mr. EVANS. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from Florida (Mrs. Thurman).

Mr. EVANS

Mr. EVANS. Madam Chairman, we are about to take a significant step forward in our efforts to restore public confidence in the American political system by passing the much needed reforms contained in the Shays-Meehan substitute. Under the current system, many average, hard-working Americans feel their voices can't be heard above the call of special interests. And who can blame them? The roar of unaccountable advertising campaigns financed by unlimited soft money donations dominates our elections. Where the voters seek an informed discussion of the issues, they find only slogans and rhetoric. Long after the need for reform became clear to the voters, its opponents resisted. Opponents of reform would have the American people believe that the only change necessary is increased disclosure, that unlimited sums of soft money pose no threat to the foundation of our democracy, the principle of one person, one vote. Against the will of the voters, opponents of reform sought to deny consideration of Shays-Meehan. Having failed in their delaying action, opponents of reform then waged a war of attrition, attempting to amend Shays-Meehan to death. Once again, supporters of reform stood tall and these efforts were defeated. Today, I am proud to join my colleagues, Democrat and Republican, to vote for the Shays-Meehan substitute, to pass meaningful campaign finance reform legislation, and to fulfill the commitment we have to the American people to ensure that their voices will be heard.

Mr. EVANS

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

Mr. EVANS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this legislation, as amended. I want to take this opportunity to thank the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Stump), the chairman of the committee, for bringing floor action on this bill today. I also want to thank the gentleman from New York (Mr. Quinn), the chairman of the Subcommittee on Benefits, and the gentleman from California (Mr. Filner), the ranking Democratic member of the subcommittee, for their hard work in passing this important legislation. The Veterans Improvement Act of 1998 is an excellent bill that includes improvements to several of our very important benefit programs and is yet another example of the bipartisanship that is a hallmark of this committee. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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