Lane Evans

Mr. EVANS

Mr. EVANS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 100, the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act, the bill to modernize the Soldiers' and Sailors' Civil Relief Act of 1940. The chairman of the committee has outlined most of the important provisions and the bipartisan work that went into putting this piece of legislation forward. It is truly a bipartisan effort. I also want to thank the Department of Defense and especially the Air Force for their contributions to the bill. Last year we held two hearings on an earlier version of this bill. I am particularly pleased that the bill allows for automatic updating of certain provisions such as the ceiling on rents subject to the protections of the act. Legislation which provides automatic links to other laws and criteria avoid becoming quickly outdated. I have been approached by Members who would like to see additional bills considered to provide protection from civil liabilities. I hope that the committee will hold a hearing on other bills which have been introduced. With the men and women of our country serving in Iraq, Afghanistan and throughout the world, it is important to provide them with an up- to-date protection act now. H.R. 100 is a good bill, and I urge my colleagues to show their support for our troops by voting for it. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. EVANS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Gutierrez).

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

Mr. EVANS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Maine (Mr. Michaud).

Mr. EVANS

Mr. EVANS. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to join my colleague, the gentleman from Chicago, Danny Davis in recognizing a true American hero, the Honorable Jesse Brown. The late Jesse Brown served as the Secretary ``for'' Veterans Affairs from 1993-1997. Jesse insisted that people refer to him as the Secretary ``for'' Veterans Affairs in order to emphasize his role as a champion of veterans. It is for this role that he will always be remembered. Jesse spent his teens and early adulthood in Chicago where his mother, Mrs. Lucille Brown, continues to reside today. It is fitting that we re-name the West Side division of VA Chicago in his name. Jesse was a personal friend of mine, but thousands of veterans in this Nation also recognized him as a friend. He oversaw a period of growth and improvement in the VA health care system that changed many Americans' view of the health care system by modernizing and greatly improving the quality of its services and allowing new access to millions. Jesse never took ``no'' for an answer. When it came to demanding the best for our veterans, he would even take on the President. I remember the legendary stories of his trips to the White House to challenge the President's budgets for veterans. He always wanted more and he almost always won. Even at his memorial service, which I, along with former- President Clinton, attended this past summer, long-time friends and associates spoke of a man to whom it was impossible to say no. Jesse's path was probably laid for him when he was wounded in combat while on patrol in Danang. The injury would leave him partially paralyzed for the rest of his life. After a long period of recuperation, Secretary Brown began a career in veterans' advocacy that spanned the remainder of his life. The Secretary worked his way up the Disabled American Veterans structure culminating his 25-year career by serving as executive director from 1989-1993. As Secretary ``for'' Veterans Affairs, Jesse fought to make good on his promise of ``putting veterans first.'' He made it his priority to meet veterans whose needs had long gone unrecognized--he made homelessness ``the fifth mission'' of the VA. He added counseling for women who experienced sexual trauma during military service. He worked tirelessly to expand benefits for veterans who were former prisoners- of-war and for those exposed to Agent Orange, radiation and mustard gas. He began an aggressive research agenda into the causes and effective treatments for veterans of the first Persian Gulf War. Even toward the end of his life, Secretary Brown continued his advocacy for veterans as the first executive director of the Disabled Veterans Life Memorial Foundation. Sadly, Jesse left us all too soon after a struggle with Lou Gehrig's disease this past summer. He is survived by his wife Sylvia, along with two children Carmen Stewart and Scott Brown and many other relatives and friends. As a fellow Marine, Jesse truly knew the meaning of ``leave no man behind.'' He lived his life according to that creed. He has earned the honor we are bestowing upon him today.

Mr. EVANS

Mr. EVANS. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to salute an outstanding young woman who has been honored with the Girl Scouts of the USA Gold Award by Girl Scouts of the Mississippi Valley, Inc. in Rock Island, Illinois. She is Meredith Ellis of Girl Scout Troop 4043. She is being honored for earning the highest achievement award in Girl Scouting. The Girl Scout Gold Award symbolizes outstanding accomplishments in the areas of leadership, community service, career planning, and personal development. The Girl Scout Gold Award can be earned by girls ages 14-17 or in grades 9-12. Girl Scouts of the USA, an organization serving over 2.6 million girls, has awarded more than 20,000 Girl Scout Gold Awards to Senior Girl Scouts since the inception of the program in 1980. To receive the award, a Girl Scout must fulfill five requirements: earn four interest project patches, earn the Career Exploration Pin, earn the Senior Girl Scout Leadership Award, earn the Senior Girl Scout Challenge, and design and implement a Girl Scout Gold project. A plan for fulfilling the requirements of the award is created by the Senior Girl Scout and is carried out through close cooperation between the girl and an adult Girl Scout volunteer. As a member of the Girl Scouts of the Mississippi Valley, Inc., Meredith began working toward the Girl Scout Gold Award in June 1999. Meredith worked with her partner Maria Witte on painting a wall mural for a local gymnastics facility. The earning of the Girl Scout Gold Award is a major accomplishment for Meredith and I believe she should receive the public recognition due her for this significant service to her community and her country.

Mr. EVANS

Mr. EVANS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce the Servicemembers' Transition Assistance Program and Services Enhancement Act of 2003. This legislation would improve our servicemembers' often challenging transition process from active-duty military service back into civilian life. In the Homeless Veterans Comprehensive Assistance Act of 2001 (Public Law 107-95), Congress made a commitment to end chronic homelessness among veterans within this decade. This legislation is a strong step forward to honoring that commitment. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to say that this bill is a proactive measure; it aims to educate our separating servicemembers about the risk factors associated with homelessness, as well as provide them with the tools they need to obtain quality long-term employment. Unemployment and continual underemployment can lead to poverty, which is the common denominator and root cause of homelessness. This measure would ensure that all servicemembers have the opportunity to participate and take advantage of important Transition Assistance Program (TAP) services prior to leaving military service. TAP is jointly administered by the Departments of Defense, Labor, and Veterans Affairs. These services generally include, employment counseling, career assistance, and veterans' benefits guidance for active-duty servicemembers returning to civilian life. Currently, only the Marine Corps requires mandatory TAP attendance for all of its separating or retiring servicemembers. The Marine Corps again leads the way! Mr. Speaker, every veteran and servicemember I have spoken with concerning TAP has said that attending a transition workshop was a positive experience, and that the services truly helped them in their civilian job search. Additionally, as we all know, the military is comprised of a substantial number of married servicemembers. This measure acknowledges the special people that make-up our military community, and encourages full spousal participation in TAP services. Further, this important legislation would also require that TAP workshops include homelessness risk awareness assessments. As servicemembers leave military life to become civilians, they must adjust to new responsibilities and in certain ways a new lifestyle. This transition can be particularly challenging to veterans who are at greater risk of becoming homeless. According to recent studies, veterans: comprise 23 percent of the overall homeless population and 33 percent of the homeless male population; are twice as likely to become homeless as non-veterans; female veterans are approximately four times as likely to become homeless as their non-veteran counterparts; 40 percent of homeless veterans reported mental health problems; 49 percent reported alcohol abuse; 31 percent reported drug use; 52 percent reported chronic medical conditions. Lastly, Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Linda Boone and the entire staff of the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans. I very much appreciate their advocacy on behalf of homeless veterans. I encourage all my colleagues to support this proactive legislation.

Mr. EVANS

Mr. EVANS. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to salute an outstanding young woman who has been honored with the Girl Scouts of the USA Gold Award by Girl Scouts of the Mississippi Valley, Inc. in Rock Island, Illinois. She is Maria Witte of Girl Scout Troop 4043. She is being honored for earning the highest achievement award in Girl Scouting. The Girl Scout Gold Award symbolizes outstanding accomplishments in the areas of leadership, community service, career planning, and personal development. The Girl Scout Gold Award can be earned by girls ages 14-17 or in grades 9-12. Girl Scouts of the USA, an organization serving over 2.6 million girls, has awarded more than 20,000 Girl Scout Gold Awards to Senior Girl Scouts since the inception of the program in 1980. To receive the award, a Girl Scout must fulfill five requirements: earn four interest project patches, earn the Career Exploration Pin, earn the Senior Girl Scout Leadership Award, earn the Senior Girl Scout Challenge, and design and implement a Girl Scout Gold project. A plan for fulfilling the requirements of the award is created by the Senior Girl Scout and is carried out through close cooperation between the girl and an adult Girl Scout volunteer. As a member of the Girl Scouts of the Mississippi Valley, Inc., Maria began working toward the Girl Scout Gold Award in June 1999. Maria worked with her partner on painting a wall mural for a local gymnastics facility. The earning of the Girl Scout Gold Award is a major accomplishment for Maria and I believe she should receive the public recognition due her for this significant service to her community and her country.

Mr. EVANS

Mr. EVANS. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to salute an outstanding young woman who has been honored with the Girl Scouts of the USA Gold Award by Girl Scouts of the Mississippi Valley, Inc. in Rock Island, Illinois. She is Angie Briggs of Girl Scout Troop 4017. She is being honored for earning the highest achievement award in Girl Scouting. The Girl Scout Gold Award symbolizes outstanding accomplishments in the areas of leadership, community service, career planning, and personal development. The Girl Scout Gold Award can be earned by girls ages 14-17 or in grades 9-12. Girl Scouts of the USA, an organization serving over 2.6 million girls, has awarded more than 20,000 Girl Scout Gold Awards to Senior Girl Scouts since the inception of the program in 1980. To receive the award, a Girl Scout must fulfill five requirements: earn four interest project patches, earn the Career Exploration Pin, earn the Senior Girl Scout Leadership Award, earn the Senior Girl Scout Challenge, and design and implement a Girl Scout Gold project. A plan for fulfilling the requirements of the award is created by the Senior Girl Scout and is carried out through close cooperation between the girl and an adult Girl Scout volunteer. As a member of the Girl Scouts of the Mississippi Valley, Inc., Angie began working toward the Girl Scout Gold Award in August 2001. Angie created handmade books and toys for the children in a homeless shelter. The earning of the Girl Scout Gold Award is a major accomplishment for Angie and I believe she should receive the public recognition due her for this significant service to her community and her country.

Mr. EVANS

Mr. EVANS. Mr. Speaker, today I am introducing H.R. 1712, the ``Veterans Federal Procurement Opportunity Act of 2003.'' This bill provides numerous checks and balances to assure that veteran small business owners receive appropriate consideration when pursuing Federal contracts. This measure also provides the mechanisms to achieve goals for awarding federal contracts to specified small business concerns already established by Congress. It further establishes a Development Program for Small Business Concerns Owned and Controlled by Qualified Service-Disabled Veterans; provides for a 3% Federal procurement participation goal for veteran-owned small businesses; increases the Government-wide Federal small business participation goal from 23 to 28 percent; eliminates double counting of small business categories; credits both prime contracts awarded to small businesses and applicable small business subcontracts awarded by prime contractors towards the achievement of an agency's small business participation goals; provides for a penalty to be assessed to prime contractors who fail to utilize small business firms outlined in subcontracting plans subsequent to a contract award; provides a restriction on the use of funds by an agency in the subsequent year after failing to meet its small business subcontracting goals; authorizes the appropriation of $1 million annually for the National Veterans Business Development Corporation in fiscal years 2005 and 2006, and extends authorization for the Advisory Committee on Veterans Business Affairs through September 30, 2009. Like our veterans of prior wars, our men and women in uniform have fought with courage and honor during the war to win freedom for the people of Iraq. As we have witnessed our servicemen and women prosecute Iraqi Freedom, we have watched our best and bravest confront the horrors of war to defeat the forces of evil. As a nation we are grateful and the men and women who so unselfishly serve this nation in our Armed Forces. We are thankful not only for today's soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines, but for the veterans who have blazed the trail before. Our servicemen and women have given much to this nation. We, in turn, as a nation have a profound obligation to them. We must provide the medical care our veterans need as well as promptly adjudicate their claims for service-connected disability. In addition, we should provide those veterans who elect to begin a business of their own with an opportunity to do so upon their return to civilian life. Our veterans have much to contribute to this nation following their service in uniform to this country. The time veterans have spent in service to this country, however, has competitively disadvantaged them in the marketplace relative to those not sacrificing a break in their careers in service to this country. Veterans who have been inflicted with service-connected disabilities are placed at an even higher disadvantage. Service-disabled veterans may not be readily accepted into traditional employment, or their disabilities may be such that they are unable to adapt to a traditional 9-5 job. Despite their disabilities, these veterans continue to be both creative and innovative, and have much to contribute to this nation's productive capacity--``We owe them this chance!'' Our nation has not achieved its goals for contracting with requisite categories of small business concerns. For federal contracting with service disabled veteran business owners, Congress established a goal of three percent, but this goal has not been achieved. Actual performance is much less. In fact, our government has not even achieved one-tenth of the goal for contracting with service disabled veteran business owners. For most other procurement categories, such as women owned businesses, the prescribed goal has also been missed. The checks and balances in H.R. 1712 provide both the mechanisms and the incentive to achieve small business contracting goals. They are very fair. They will provide the means to achieve the federal procurement goals Congress has established. I urge my colleagues to help this nation actually achieve the goals established by Congress--in the process, you will be helping our veterans as they return home.

Mr. EVANS

Mr. EVANS. Mr. Chairman, will the gentleman yield?

Mr. EVANS. Mr. Chairman, I commend the gentleman for his amendment. The VA has many programs they have put in place to address returning servicemembers' health care needs, to train their personnel, and to ensure that the VA providers and patients have access to adequate supplies of necessary drugs and state-of-the-art protective gear for decontaminated equipment. The amendment of the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Rodriguez) would ensure that the VA is adequately funded for these purpose; and as he indicated, it would allow the VA to establish four new centers of excellence in bioterrorism. These centers, created by legislation introduced by the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith), chairman of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, and me would allow the VA to draw from expertise that it has had in the past such as environmental hazards, post-traumatic stress disorder; and I understand the VA has lifted a bar on the provision of medical care funds for these centers, but they were underfunded. We cannot continue to erode resources for VA's medical health care system.

Mr. EVANS

Mr. EVANS. Mr. Speaker, last week the United States Air Force lost six servicemen and women in Afghanistan when their helicopter crashed while on a humanitarian mission to evacuate two injured children. Lieutenant Colonel John Stein of western Illinois was among those killed. I would like to take this opportunity to celebrate his life, commend his remarkable bravery, and extend my sincerest condolences to his family, friends, and loved ones. He will be missed. A Bardolph native, John Stein began dating his wife, Barbara (Nelson) Stein, while the two were students at Macomb High School. He graduated in 1981, she in 1980. Macomb High School principal Michael Sartore remembers Stein as a quiet, hard-working, dedicated student. A career military officer, Lt. Col. Stein resided with his family at Moody Air Force Base in Valdosta, Georgia. The couple has three children: Doug, 17, Erin, 13, and Timothy, 11. His mother, Hazel Henry, still lives in Macomb. Lieutenant Colonel Stein was a helicopter pilot with the 41st Rescue Squadron at Moody Air Force Base, a part of the 347th Operations Group specializing in rescuing downed pilots behind enemy lines. Kelly Friday, a childhood friend, said that even in high school Lt. Col. Stein wanted to be a helicopter pilot. ``Any goal he set out to achieve, he mastered it,'' he recalled. ``He was very intelligent; anything he touched he mastered.'' On behalf of the communities in western and central Illinois, I would like to extend my thoughts and prayers to the Stein family at this difficult time. Lieutenant Colonel John Stein's courage in serving his country will not soon be forgotten.

Mr. EVANS

Mr. EVANS. Mr. Speaker, last week western Illinois lost one of its sons in the war against Iraq, and I would like to take this opportunity to celebrate his life, commend his bravery, and extend my condolences to his family, friends, and loved ones. Corporal Evan James, a member of the Marine Corps Reserves Unit based in Peoria, Illinois, made the ultimate sacrifice for his country. While his unwavering commitment to this nation and its ideals are an inspiration, it is a tragedy that this young, promising life was cut so short. He will be missed. Corporal Evan James, 20 years old, was born to Mike and Donna James of LaHarpe, Illinois. A 2000 graduate of LaHarpe High School, he played basketball while there and was a guard and outside linebacker on the Thunder football team. After graduation, Cpl. James joined Company C of the 6th Engineer Support Battalion to help pay for college. He was studying to be a physical fitness trainer at Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville. James' unit was fully mobilized on January 14, 2003 and he was deployed to the Persian Gulf in February. According to Gunnery Sergeant James Howard of the Naval and Marine Corps Reserve Center in Peoria, Evan James achieved his corporal's rank faster than most Marines, and was very professional with leadership abilities beyond his age. Captain John Bruzza called James a model Marine and a good leader who performed well above his pay grade. James' aunt Diane Kornegay said this about her nephew: ``They wanted a few good men and in Evan they got the best . . . . If you met him you would love him. He was that kind of person and we're just very proud of him for the person he was.'' On behalf of the communities in western and central Illinois, I would like to extend my thoughts and prayers to the James family at this difficult time. Corporal Evan James' courage in serving his country will not soon be forgotten.

Mr. EVANS

Mr. EVANS. Mr. Speaker, I am here today to add my voice to those celebrating the 150th anniversary of the Grand Excursion of 1854. This was an important journey in the upper Mississippi River valley that incorporated rail and steamboat travel and went from Chicago, Illinois to Saint Paul, Minnesota, and to the Falls of Saint Anthony. This trip began as a promotion by the Rock Island Railroad, the first railroad to reach the Mississippi and ended up transporting more than a thousand businessmen, statesmen, journalists, and others, including President Millard Fillmore, into the West. The Grand Excursion brought recognition and interest to the natural beauty and economic potential of the upper Mississippi River valley. The Grand Excursion helped open up the upper Mississippi River area, which includes Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin, and Minnesota, creating a number of communities all along the river. My district includes the city of Rock Island, the starting point for the riverboat journey, and many other communities that flourished. The prosperity of much of the Midwest was due to the development of the Mississippi River and the interest that developed in the valley's natural resources and access to the west. This year, in honor of the 150th anniversary, many of the communities that took part in the original Grand Excursion are educating their residents and tourists about the trip and celebrating the success of the excursion. I support this resolution as it recognizes both the importance of the 1854 trip and of the 2004 commemoration. Communities such as Rock Island and Moline, Illinois are taking part through education programs linked to the original journal, environmental projects linked to the River, and development plans linked to the waterfront. I support these efforts, and hope that the Administration will help celebrate and commemorate this important historic event.

Mr. EVANS

Mr. EVANS. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong support of the budget proposed by the gentleman from South Carolina, Mr. Spratt. The Republican majority of the House Budget Committee approved a federal budget reducing funding for veterans' health care and benefit programs by nearly $25 billion. The actual spending impact of these cuts would be even greater. Over a ten-year period the GOP is proposing a cut of almost $9 billion in veterans' health care--an average of more than $900 million less than the President has proposed per year. For other veterans' benefits, including cash payments to veterans disabled by military service, the Republican budget calls for a $15 billion cut in spending from current levels during the next ten years. In sharp contrast to the Republican's proposal, the Committee on Veterans Affairs, on a bipartisan basis, recommended adding $3 billion to the President's budget next year for veteran discretionary programs including medical care and research, construction, and programs that fund the administrative costs of other important benefits such as compensation, pension, and education programs. A group of Veterans Service Organizations who support the Independent Budget also recommend an increase over the President's budget of almost that much. The Republicans also spurned other efforts to increase funding for the nation's veterans. An amendment in the Budget Committee offered by Darlene Hooley to add $1 billion for veterans' health care and restore cuts in mandatory programs was voted down on a largely party-line vote. Passing the Republican's budget will mean serious problems for veterans' health care. Among them, Congress will have to seriously consider the new copayments and enrollment fees proposed by the Bush Administration in order to keep the system operating in the next fiscal year. Some of these proposals include retaining the ineligibility for new Priority 8 veterans for VA health care services indefinitely, requiring Priority 7 and 8 veterans to have an annual enrollment fee in addition to increased copayments for pharmaceutical drugs and primary care and providing only veterans with highly rated service-connected disabilities (more than 70 percent) VA Nursing Home care. In addition, passage of the Republican's budget would mean there would be no additional funds available to implement the Homeless Veterans Comprehensive Assistance Act to work toward the goal of elimination chronic homelessness in a decade. It would also mean that the current exercise Capital Assets Realignment for Enhanced Services (CARES) that VA is undertaking to assess the best use of its physical infrastructure will become a ``de facto'' closure commission with no ability to respond to veterans' needs for primary care, long-term care, and mental health projected by its own models. There would be little money leftover for any of the system's desperately needed construction projects. As serious as the problems for health care would be, the implications of the scheduled cuts for veterans' benefits would be even worse. The Administration's Budget for 2004 makes no provision for additional service-connected disability benefits resulting from the present war with Iraq. As we know from the last war in the Persian Gulf, war results in adverse health effects and justifiable claims for service connected disability compensation. It does acknowledge the expected increase in veteran's claims and an expected worsening of the disabilities of some service-connected veterans. Under these circumstances, cuts in mandatory spending can only be made by cutting benefits to veterans with service-connected disabilities. Ninety percent of the mandatory spending the Budget Committee proposes to cut is from cash payments to service disabled veterans, low-income wartime veterans and their survivors. I do not believe that as our young men and women are fighting in Iraq and defending freedom in other parts of the world, we should pass a budget which will not fully compensate them for any disabilities they acquire during, or as a result of, that service. Other programs funded with mandatory spending are the Montgomery G.I. Bill education benefits, vocational rehabilitation and independent living programs for service-disabled veterans, subsidies for VA home loans and insurance for service-disabled veterans and funds to provide headstones, markers and flags for decreased veterans. As our Nation enters a war certain to result in disability and death for young Americans, the Budget Committee's proposed requires the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs to make permanent cuts in the benefits paid to those disabled by virtue of their service to our Nation. These cuts must be made, so that our government can afford to provide a tax cut which will benefit only the wealthiest Americans, many of whom have never served in the military. In contrast, Mr. Spratt's amendment would restore the cut for benefits and health care and add $200 million to the VA health care budget. I ask you now, who deserves to receive the benefits of the national treasury--America's disabled veterans or America's millionaires? I urge my colleagues to vote for the Spratt amendment.

Mr. EVANS

Mr. EVANS. Mr. Speaker, today I am introducing H.R. 1309, ``The Veterans Prescription Drug Benefits Act of 2003'', legislation which will provide a revolutionary change in veterans' medical care. ``The Veterans Prescription Drug Benefits Act of 2003'' would allow veterans to be the first among America's seniors and disabled people to have a real, meaningful Medicare outpatient drug benefit. If our nation is serious about implementing a drug benefit for seniors, the legislation I am introducing today would speed the availability of a prescription drug benefit and could even result in savings for the Medicare trust fund by allowing VA to employ its considerable prescription drug purchasing and benefit management skills in administering the benefit for veterans who are Medicare eligible. Additionally, this legislation would realign VA health care, allowing VA to concentrate its health care assets on the many veterans who rely upon it for the majority of their care needs. ``The Veterans Prescription Drug Benefits Act of 2003'' would, for the first time, allow veterans to bring prescriptions ordered by physicians who are not affiliated with the Department of Veterans Affairs to the VA to be filled. It would also require the Medicare trust fund to pay the cost of this new benefit for veterans who choose it and who are also eligible for Medicare Part A and enrolled in Medicare Part B. Recently the Secretary of Veterans Affairs has decided to restrict enrollment of higher income veterans to those who were enrolled prior to January 17, 2002. Consequently, this legislation would allow veterans who no longer have the option of receiving a full continuum of health care services to receive subsidized prescription drug coverage from VA. Providing, this new drug benefit to Medicare eligible veterans could also have the effect of eliminating the enormous queues that have developed as higher income veterans have flooded the system to seek inexpensive prescription drugs. As of the end of January, about 202,000 veterans had waited longer than six months for a first primary care visit or for necessary follow up care. Many of these veterans are likely to be Priority 7 or 8 veterans who constituted more than 75 percent of VA's new users in 2002. Offering these veterans an opportunity for new drug coverage without first obtaining an appointment with a VA provider could have the effect of significantly reducing or entirely eliminating these waiting times. In fiscal year 2002, VA estimates almost 900,000 veterans used the VA health care primarily or exclusively to fill drug prescriptions who would also be likely to take advantage of a new prescription drug benefit. At the end of 2000, VA's Office of Inspector General (IG) advised ``VHA can reduce the cost impact of providing prescriptions to priority group 7 veterans, make additional resources available for veterans healthcare, and enhance the delivery of prescription services to veterans.'' (Audit of Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Pharmacy Co- Payment Levels and Restrictions on Filling Privately Written Prescriptions for Priority Group 7 Veterans, Report No. 99-00057-4, December 20, 2000) This report suggested that VA could have saved more than $1.3 billion in fiscal year 2001 by eliminating the need for VA to re-examine veterans who have already received examinations and tests to receive prescriptions from private physicians. These savings were projected only for Priority 7 veterans, who were, at that time the group with the lowest priority for care. For all veterans, the IG might project even higher savings. While cognizant of his IG's finding, Secretary Anthony J. Principi testified before the Committee on Veterans Affairs that he believed that the IG did not factor in the additional costs of new demand for the prescription drug benefit. His response when asked about a prescription drug bill introduced in the 107th Congress by Mr. Wicker was: I would like nothing, better than to be able to provide prescriptions for all of our veterans. And I very, very seldom disagree with my IG about cost. There is no question that the IG is right that we would save money if we did not have to do the medical evaluation, like Mr. Simmons said earlier. . . . I think the doors would come tumbling down by 25 million veterans or whatever percentage are on prescriptions, seeking to get their prescriptions filled at the VA. So I think yes, on the one hand we would save money. But how do you control the workload increase? If you just increase by 25 percent the number of veterans who are coming to us for prescriptions--and that is not a large number--the bill would be $9.2 billion. Fifty percent, it would be $15.9 billion. Again, where do we get the money? Offering veterans an opportunity to receive subsidized drug coverage from VA through Medicare and receive the rest of their care from their choice of private providers is one possible solution to the Secretary's dilemma. My bill requires a veteran to choose between a VA benefit and a Medicare benefit. I do not believe it is likely that thousands of satisfied veterans would disenroll from VA to receive this new benefit--those with satisfactory access can receive even cheaper drugs as VA beneficiaries. However, particularly since Priority 8 veterans are being told they can no longer enroll for all health care services and waiting times make access to VA services difficult for some veterans, I believe some lower priority veterans might opt to receive the new Medicare benefit administered by VA. In addition, it would present a new option for subsidized drug coverage to Medicare-- eligible veterans that might interest veterans who have never attempted to access the VA system. My bill also provides an option for veterans who have highly rated service-connected disabilities to have this coverage at VA expense to fill private sector physician written prescriptions. I believe this option might only be attractive to veterans that have serious access problems due to their distance from VA medical centers or other factors that make even the rare visits to physicians necessary for pharmacy refills extremely difficult. The yearly option to choose one system or the other--Medicare or VA-- for health care benefits offers the federal government an opportunity to assess the effect of coordinating multiple eligibilities without compelling veterans to choose between services to which they currently have open access. Because this is a new benefit, veterans' choice to enroll for that benefit would not be easily characterized as a dimunition--but rather would be an enhancement--to existing choices. Mr. Chairman, I believe the ``Veterans Prescription Drug Benefits Act of 2003'' offers a solution to many of the problems confronting VA today. It will allow VA to offer some benefit to veterans who have been ``locked out'' of VA for the indefinite future and a more convenient choice for the many veterans currently in long queues for their first appointment for VA provided health care. I have letters of support from several of our major service organizations that I would like to insert into the Congressional Record. American Veterans, Lanham, MD, March 17, 2003. Hon. Lane Evans, Ranking Member, House Veterans' Affairs Committee, Washington, DC. Dear Representative Evans: On behalf of the members of AMVETS, I write to express our gratitude and support for your leadership in proposing legislation to permit veterans to obtain prescriptions from veterans' hospitals using prescriptions written by hometown doctors. Currently, veterans are eligible to receive prescription medications from the VA only if a VA physician prescribes the medication. While insisting that a VA doctor see the patient may not seem like too great an imposition, many of the more than 200,000 veterans waiting over six months for a doctor's appointment are waiting to have a prescription written and filled. Your legislation would allow VA to fill veterans' prescriptions written by hometown doctors under special circumstances. First, the veteran would accept VA solely for the purpose of filling prescriptions. Second, the veteran would be required to make a copay based on the type of drug treatment requested. And, third, the cost of the prescription would be partially offset through Medicare reimbursement. This change would provide an avenue for many veterans to receive timely access to prescription drugs and reduce the number of veterans waiting to see a VA physician as well. Again, we appreciate your creative approach to solving an issue facing many veterans and thank you for taking a very big step toward helping veterans receive access to prescription medications. Sincerely, Richard A. Jones, National Legislative Director.

Mr. EVANS

Mr. EVANS. Mr. Speaker, in my tenure in Congress, I have been dedicated to reforming many aspects of the health care system to promote the highest quality health care benefiting the greatest number of Americans. Mr. Speaker, I do not believe that the HEALTH Act would contribute to this goal. This legislation blatantly advances the political agenda of the insurance companies. It does nothing to address the looming health care crisis we face where over 40 million Americans are without health insurance, access to quality care, or an ability to afford even basic screenings and medicines. This legislation would place a $250,000 limit on non-economic damages in malpractice suites brought against medical professionals. I cannot support limiting non-economic damages awards because I do not believe we have the authority to place an arbitrary dollar amount on the value of a person's health or life. These payments compensate patients for very egregious injuries, such as the loss of a limb, vision impairment, and infertility. The loss of a child or spouse can also fall under the limiting category of non- economic damages. These damages are so wide and varying that a one- size-fits-all approach just will not suffice. Further, limiting payments would disproportionately affect women, children, the elderly, the disabled and others that may have endured indescribable suffering, yet cannot claim a loss of wages or salary. To limit payments on meritorious cases involving legitimately injured patients is a step in the wrong direction for both the best interests of patients and for the discussion on truly lowering malpractice insurance costs. I do not believe that this legislation is particularly effective. These severe limitations would do little to lower insurance rates. For example, California, which has an equivalent cap on non-economic damages, has medical malpractice rates that are 19 percent higher than the countrywide average. It is crucial that a number of factors must be addressed to find an acceptable, working solution to this problem. I support the alternative bill on which the Republican Congress refused to allow us to deliberate. That we are not allowed to debate on the Democratic alternative erodes the democratic process of which our government was founded and of which rules this House. The Conyers-Dingell substitute would repeal the federal anti-trust exemption for medical malpractice insurance. This would increase competition and lower premium costs. The bill I support reduces the amount of frivolous lawsuits filed by providing severe penalties to lawyers who submit cases either without certification of merit or with a false certification of merit. I find the mandatory mediation provision in the Democratic substitute to be especially pertinent and of tantamount importance in approaching a viable solution to this complex problem. Mediation and the establishment of an alternative dispute resolution system will allow both defendants to reduce their litigation costs and victims to gain fair compensation. I urge my colleagues to vote down H.R. 5 and demonstrate their support for a Democratic alternative which will truly begin to curtail ghastly expensive medical malpractice insurance costs.

Mr. EVANS

Mr. EVANS. Mr. Speaker, I am here today to mark the one-year anniversary of the Section 201 temporary tariff relief for the domestic steel industry. This is an issue that, unfortunately, I have worked on of for too many years. However, the current section 201 remedies are working, and I urge the President to continue to support our domestic steel industry by continuing the relief program over the original three year plan. As many of my colleagues are aware, from 1997 to 2002, 35 domestic steel companies were forced into bankruptcy through illegal dumping practices. One of these companies was Northwestern Steel & Wire Company, which was in Sterling, Illinois, in my district. Northwestern Steel and Wire was forced to close its doors and 1,400 employees lost their jobs. The Department of Labor determined that Northwestern Steel employees were eligible for Trade Adjustment Assistance because ``various customers increased their reliance on imported steel and wire rod.'' This reliance came from a system of foreign steel being dumped into the U.S., thereby preventing American steel companies from fairly competing. In March 2002, the President imposed 3 years of declining tariffs on various steel products and raw materials. This has allowed the domestic steel industry to deal with changes in the market in a way that does not simply bankrupt all producers or displace thousands of workers. By preventing illegal dumping, the Section 201 relief has allowed a new company to move into Sterling, Illinois. Sterling Steel is currently working with the community to use the Northwestern Steel facilities, and bring steel jobs back to the area. They have created 200 steel related jobs in an area that had lost all steel industry. The ability to open more efficient steel factories and creating jobs in a more stable steel market can only occur with a level playing field. Steel tariffs provide that. The U.S. steel industry provides not only jobs for communities like Sterling, Illinois, but it also helps secure our national defense. Many vital products that protect and defend our nation's troops are made of steel. Not, just any steel, American steel. Without the opportunity and protection of the 201 relief, we could not guarantee the men and women of our armed services the protections of new ships and tanks. The domestic steel industry is necessary for our nation's vital infrastructure, making up parts of our roads, power plants, and pipelines. By reducing competition by allowing dumping to close down domestic steel producers, we make our nation and our economy more vulnerable. I want to encourage the President to continue with his plan for three-year declining tariffs. This action will allow the domestic steel industry to stabilize and help communities like Sterling to adjust to the new market without massive layoffs. We must continue to support domestic industry in order to properly turn our economy around.

Mr. EVANS

Mr. EVANS. Mr. Speaker, my congressional district lies a long way from the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, but on September 11 all of America was a victim of this deadly and unprovoked attack. The next day, my office was inundated with calls from young men and women ready to enlist in our Armed Forces to serve in the war against terrorism. Now almost 18 months later, these seasoned soldiers and sailors are on the front line of terrorism, having already served in places like Afghanistan, the Philippines and in the Horn of Africa. I salute their courage and selfless dedication.

Mr. EVANS. Mr. Speaker, I would like to commend the young men and women of our nation and my district who risk their lives daily to protect our nation from global terrorist networks wishing to do us harm. Our men and women in uniform's selfless dedication embodies the spirit of America. I believe the extraordinary commitment of everday Americans to root out fanatics bent on destroying our way of life will make us successful in the war on terrorism. This is the first war in our nation's history where we face an enemy that solely targets innocent civilians, regardless of their age, religion, race, or background. And when the call of duty went out to mobilize against this enemy, thousands enlisted and re-enlisted to fight this global threat. A week after the attacks on America, a 40 year old constituent in my district called me begging to join the war on terrorism. He is a 40 year old married farmer and was willing to forsake his home and career to serve in the U.S. Army. And as you know, there are no ``leaves of absence'' when you farm. He was willing to give up his farm and accept a temporary separation from his wife to serve in our nation's armed forces. As you can imagine, he called me and wanted assistance in joining because the U.S. Army prohibits enlistments beyond 35 years of age and conforming to this policy he was denied enlistment. But, I commend his unusual, but not uncommon, willingness to serve our nation. In my position as the Ranking Democratic Member of the House's Veteran's Affairs Committee, I have had numerous veterans approach me and personally volunteer to serve and fight in the war against these terrorists. Veterans as old as 85 have told me they would be willing to join the war on terrorism if their country ever called on them. While those of us in Congress may differ on how best to deal with Iraq and North Korea, we stand absolutely united on the war on global terrorism and our support for our troops. And as the senior Democrat on the House's Veteran's Affairs Committee, I will do my part to ensure that when these troops return home they are entitled to the protections and benefits guaranteed to every veteran. Their selfless sacrifice and long absence from home must be rewarded. Just as we stand vigilant against any further terrorist acts we must stand together to protect the entitlements and benefits that protect the members of our armed services when they return home.

Mr. EVANS

Mr. EVANS. Mr. Chairman, I have come before you today to share my strong opposition to H.R. 534 and to ask my colleagues to vote for the Greenwood substitute. It is very important to me personally that we take a serious look at the issue of banning technology for the inherently different uses of creating embryos for both therapeutic cloning and reproduction cloning. First, this issue does not conflict with religious faith. One leading scientist provides this description of cloning technology: ``Because there are no body cells of any kind, and the cells have not yet individualized they are not a person yet, by definition. Saying that a preimplantation embryo is a human being and arguing that therapeutic cloning is, therefore, unethical is simply not based on fact.'' Therapeutic cloning and stem cell research have the potential to bring us exciting new treatments and possible cures for many of our most debilitating diseases and injuries including Parkinson's, diabetes, heart disease, multiple sclerosis, burns, and spinal cord injuries. The list goes on. The number of Americans suffering from these afflictions--and indeed the number of those who will potentially reap the benefits--is estimated to be over 100 million. Mr. Speaker, and as someone with Parkinson's Disease, I am one of those millions. Critics of therapeutic cloning and embryonic stem cell research say that there has been little progress and these techniques offer only pipe dreams to those who are sick or dying. I ask my colleagues why this fledgling science which is in its infancy should be banned before further developments and progress can be made. Opponents to therapeutic cloning say that the possible evils associated with creating cloned human beings are so great that we need to ban the technology itself, that is a slippery slope. This is simply not the case, and the Greenwood substitute institutes severe criminal penalties for anyone involved in implanting a cloned embryo in a women's uterus. In fact, the only slippery slope in this debate--the fate of embryos, which may be applied then to embryos created for in vitro fertilization, that are created with a possibility of being discarded is at stake. As a society, we have accepted and even embraced the science of in vitro fertilization. Deciding that we should more to a society in which embryos should never be created with the knowledge that they would be discarded would not only affect the importance research of embryonic stem cells but also affect the millions of Americans who gain hope of bearing their own children by in virto fertilization. Regeneration medicine provides hope for millions of Americans. It is the future of medicine for so many of our citizens who suffer every day. It holds hope for my life. Let us leave science and medical technology to our medical technology to our medical researchers and use our time to focus on this Nation's real problems. I urge my colleagues to vote for the Greenwood substitute, H.R. 801, and vote against H.R.534.

Mr. EVANS

Mr. EVANS. Mr. Chairman, I stand before you today to show the American people what the Republicans in Congress really stand for. This welfare reform bill perpetuates the misconception of the stereotypical welfare recipient and does little to actually help those on the welfare rolls gain economic independence. H.R. 4 does nothing to help people move into real jobs providing livable wages. One of the key factors in moving recipients from welfare to work is the ability to obtain education and job training. This legislation ignores the reality of the situation: education is imperative to propel those on the welfare rolls into higher paying jobs that are the real road to self-sufficiency. In the current state of our economy, now more than ever, we need to provide job skills and training to the poorest families. Even skilled workers are having a difficult time finding employment, and it would be ruthless for us to turn our backs on those with less skills in their time of need. Mr. Chairman, this Republican bill's extended work provisions are extremely troubling. Mandating a 40-hour work week for single parents on welfare without providing the needed monies for child care is reprehensible. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that $11 billion will be needed to fund for child care in order to make this extended-work mandate feasible. H.R. 4 allows only $1 billion for this care, thus leaving our already financially-strapped states in a serious predicament. Further, this legislation lacks alternatives to abstinence-only education. It is irresponsible that we are not providing monies for comprehensive sex education program that would help reduce teen pregnancy, reduce sexually transmitted diseases and promote sexual health. I support the Democratic substitute that understands and provides for the real purpose contained in the title: Temporary Assistance to Needy Families. These alternatives give recipients a hand up, not a hand out. By extending the definition of work to include job training, getting a GED, and care for a child under 6 or the disabled, my Democratic colleagues and I show our compassion for the poor in their time of need. Republicans are showing their true colors by introducing this legislation: a sincere lack of understanding of the factors that lead people to seek government assistance and a lack of mercy for those down on their luck in this time of economic recession. We need a fair and decent method of helping those who need our help the most. I urge my colleagues to vote against H.R. 4.

Mr. EVANS

Mr. EVANS. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to commemorate the retirement of one of Central Illinois' most dedicated public servants. For the past 28 years, my friend Gary Grzanich has served as the Fulton County Regional Superintendent of Schools in Lewistown, Illinois. An innovative administrator, Mr. Grzanich worked tirelessly to ensure his students an exceptional learning environment and unequaled educational opportunities both in school and in extracurricular activities. A Fulton County native, Mr. Grzanich graduated from Canton High School and received both his Bachelor's Degree and Educational Specialist Degree from Western Illinois University. He later attended Bradley University in Peoria, where he was awarded a Master's Degree. A teacher and coach for 11 years, Mr. Grzanich went on to work for the Illinois State Board of Education before running for Fulton County Regional Superintendent of Schools in 1974. Aided by hand-painted signs, he won the post and held it despite periodic electoral opposition until November 2002. Gary Grzanich's 28 years of service yielded a vast array of accomplishments benefitting both his students and the wider Illinois educational community. The Chairman of the Mid-Illini Educational Cooperative, he was also a member of the Illinois Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (IASCD) and the Superintendents' Round Tables at both Bradley University and Western Illinois University. He established a Cooperative Testing Program in Fulton County schools, initiated the GED Testing Program in Fulton County, introduced Madeline Hunter's ``Science of Teaching'' theories to Fulton County teachers, and launched an Institute Day for his schools' gifted students. Mr. Grzanich worked to promote the fine arts through comprehensive arts grants, brought the substance abuse DARE program to Fulton County students, and initiated a county-wide policy on AIDS. In addition to these achievements, he also held posts in the Regional Superintendents' Association and the Illinois Association of School Administrators, and is a past member of the State Certification Board and the Blue Ribbon Committee for Teacher Preparation and Training. A lifelong Democrat, Mr. Grzanich is married to Dian and has two children, Susan and Jon. Fittingly, both his daughter and son grew up to become teachers in Central Illinois. He still lives in Canton, and will most likely keep himself busy hunting and fishing during retirement. On behalf of Fulton County and the rest of the 17th District, I would like to extend my sincerest thanks to Gary Grzanich for his many years of service to the youth of Illinois. His hard work and unfailing leadership will be sorely missed.

Mr. EVANS

Mr. EVANS. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the bill, S. 2237, as agreed to by both the House and the Senate. This bill improves compensation benefits for hearing disabled veterans and for women veterans, extends protection under the Soldiers' and Sailors' Civil Relief Act to members of the National Guard and provides improvements to the judicial review of claims for veterans benefits. The agreement before the House is the result of the efforts of many people on both sides of the aisle. I thank our Chairman, Chris Smith, for his determined and effective leadership. I also thank other Members of our House Committee; the leadership of the Veterans Affairs Committee in the other body and, of course, the staff of our House Committee who have worked long and hard on this legislation. In particular, I thank Mary Ellen McCarthy and Geoffrey Collver for their untiring efforts. S. 2237 incorporates provisions from a number of bills passed by the House. The Veterans Benefits Act of 2002 will allow surviving spouses who remarry after age 55 to retain CHAMPVA health insurance benefits. Mr. Speaker, I was honored by the Gold Star Wives of America for my advocacy on behalf of surviving spouses of veterans. While I am pleased that these spouses, like civil service surviving spouses will be able to retain health insurance benefits, I am extremely disappointed that the provision allowing Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) recipients to remarry after age 65 and retain those benefits was not included in the final bill. I hope that in the next Congress, these surviving spouses will be able to receive full comparability with federal civil service survivors who are allowed to remarry at age 55 without loss of benefits. The bill also includes provisions similar to those contained in H.R. 4017, which I introduced, in order to provide members of the National Guard who serve for at least 30 consecutive days with protections under the Soldiers' and Sailors' Civil Relief Act (SSCRA). The SSCRA protects those who are serving our country from civil actions and reduces the rate of interest on certain obligations entered into prior to being activated for military service. When we ask the men and women of the National Guard to respond to a national emergency, such as the services required following the tragedies of September 11th, we have a responsibility to assure that their service to our country will not place them in unnecessary financial jeopardy. Mr. Speaker, the bill expands the jurisdiction of the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit over cases appealed from the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims to cover all questions of law and not merely interpretations of statutes and regulations. It clarifies the authority of the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims to reverse decisions of the Board of Veterans Appeals in appropriate cases and requires the decisions be based upon the record as a whole, taking into account the pro-veteran rule known as ``benefit of the doubt.'' Under the bill, non-attorneys who are permitted to practice before the Court of Veterans Appeals will be able to qualify for fees under the Equal Access to Justice Act even if they are not supervised by an attorney. Under current law, these practitioners are eligible for these fees only if their work is supervised by an attorney. I hope these changes will provide fairer and more efficient decisions on veterans' claims. In addition to these benefit provisions, S. 2237 also: Authorizes a study by the National Academy of Science concerning the relationship of military hearing loss and acoustic trauma to military service. Authorizes the placement of a memorial to the World War II Battle of the Bulge at Arlington National Cemetery. Allows severely disabled service-connected veterans who qualify for Veterans Mortgage Life Insurance to retain their coverage regardless of age. Authorizes a two-year program of hybrid adjustable rate mortgages under the VA home loan program. Provides for an increase to $1000 per month in special pension benefits payable to persons who have been awarded the Medal of Honor. Sets forth the amounts of benefits to be paid as service-connected compensation and DIC benefits effective December 1, 2002. S. 2237 will now be considered by the Senate. If S. 2237 is passed by the Senate as approved by the House, it will be sent to the White House to be signed into law by President Bush. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.