Lane Evans

Mr. EVANS

Mr. EVANS. Mr. Speaker, the sexual enslavement of more than 200,000 young women and girls by the Japanese Imperial Army before and during World War II is one of the most ignored and overlooked violations of human rights and international law in the 20th Century. These women, euphemistically known as ``Comfort Women,'' are now elderly and living their last years without a formal apology from the government that enslaved them. We cannot allow these survivors to fade into history without the closure that would come from official recognition, which is why my colleague, the Honorable Christopher Smith, and I introduced H. Res. 759, calling on the Japanese government to formally acknowledge and take responsibility for its involvement in this unspeakable atrocity. Our resolution has broad Congressional support with 55 bipartisan cosponsors, including a substantial number of Members from the International Relations Committee, and the Congressional Human Rights, Women's Rights, Asian Pacific American, and Korea Caucuses. Additionally, on September 13, 2006, the resolution was marked up in the International Relations committee by unanimous consent, and subsequently sent to the Speaker with an official request that it be considered on the floor under suspension of the rules. We have also seen an overwhelming response from the Korean American, Chinese American, Filipino American and Vietnamese American communities to the Speaker asking for the resolution to come before the entire House of Representatives. Amnesty International, as well as prominent Japanese- American Congressman and my close friend, Mike Honda, also strongly and vocally support H. Res. 759 Mr. Speaker, it is beyond my understanding why H. Res. 759 has not been scheduled for floor consideration. There has been no visible controversy about the bill from Members of Congress. Moreover, many of the bills also marked up in the September 13 International Relations Committee hearing have made it to floor and passed by voice vote. It is deeply disturbing that the leadership of this House is not interested in supporting human rights or reiterating the role of the Congress to oppose human trafficking and other similar atrocities that have occurred throughout the world. This is not a Japanese issue, this is not a Korean issue, this is not an American issue; this is an issue about human dignity. And it is a slap in the face to those who have worked so hard to bring the Comfort Women issue to light on the international stage and especially to those who have been directly or indirectly affected by sexual slavery for this resolution to die at the hands of the Speaker after it successfully completed all the necessary procedural steps and demonstrated broad bipartisan support. I urge the Speaker in the strongest terms possible to allow H. Res. 759 to come before the full House under suspension of the rules before the end of the 109th Congress, so that we may once and for all put this issue to rest, and leave this Congress having made a strong statement in support of human dignity.

Mr. EVANS

Mr. EVANS. Mr. Speaker, on June 29, 2006, my colleague, Mr. Simmons, and I introduced H. Con. Res. 444, extending the thanks of Congress and the Nation to the Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office, the Joint POW/ MIA Accounting Command of the Department of Defense, the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory, the Air Force Life Sciences Equipment Laboratory, and the military departments and to the Socialist Republic of Vietnam for their efforts to achieve the fullest possible accounting of all Americans unaccounted for as a result of the Nation's previous wars and conflicts. I am honored to stand before you today in support of this resolution. On Friday we will celebrate National POW/MIA Recognition Day. As a Vietnam-era veteran I am deeply touched by the opportunity to discuss this resolution on the floor so close to this important day of recognition. It is difficult for me to understand that over 30 years after the end of hostilities in Vietnam, 1,802 Americans are still unaccounted for in Southeast Asia. It is only through the hard work and cooperation of the people, officials and governments of Vietnam and the United States that the remains of 604 Americans have been identified and returned to the United States. They are the heroes who are helping to bring closure and peace to so many American families. I urge all my colleagues to vote in support of this long overdue recognition and send a heartfelt message to all the individuals involved in the identification and recovery efforts that a thankful Nation values and appreciates the work they do.

Mr. EVANS

Mr. EVANS. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise in support of H.R. 5815, the VA construction authorization bill. I commend my colleagues on the Committee in producing this important piece of legislation. I am glad to see Congress once again fulfilling its responsibility to authorize new health care facilities for veterans. This is an important task. Veterans deserve the highest quality of health care. I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

Mr. EVANS

Mr. EVANS. Mr. Speaker, it is with great admiration and respect that I rise today in support of H.R. 2808, the Abraham Lincoln Commemorative Coin Act. In celebration of Abraham Lincoln's 200th birthday, I join the Illinois delegation and other colleagues in honoring this great Illinoisan with a commemorative coin. Abraham Lincoln was born on February 12, 1809 in Kentucky. As a young man, he moved to Illinois where he earned the nickname, ``Honest Abe.'' He began his political career at the young age of 23, when he was elected to the Illinois General Assembly. After serving 12 years, Lincoln was elected to the House of Representatives. He went on to run for U.S. Senate, during which he debated Stephen Douglas in the cities of Quincy and Galesburg located in my district. Although he was defeated, Lincoln's call to public service was strong and unwavering; he reemerged two years later as a presidential candidate. On November 6, 1860, Abraham Lincoln was elected the 16th President of the United States. From the beginning of his presidency, Lincoln was tasked with the challenge of reuniting a Nation divided over slavery and Civil War. President Lincoln was steadfast in his efforts to preserve our Union and never let the world forget that the Civil War involved an even larger issue. This he profoundly stated in dedicating the military cemetery at Gettysburg by proclaiming, ``We here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain--that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom--and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.'' As Representative of the 17th District of Illinois, I look to the legacy of Abraham Lincoln for guidance and inspiration. Not only did Mr. Lincoln show great leadership during a tumultuous time in our history, but he exhibited determination and conviction as he successfully fought to defend the liberty of every American. I urge my fellow colleagues to join me and vote in support of H.R. 2808, the Abraham Lincoln Commemorative Coin Act.

Mr. EVANS

Mr. EVANS. Mr. Speaker, yesterday marked the 1 year anniversary of House passage of H.R. 810, the Stem Cell Enhancement Act. Hundreds of patients, their loved ones, and advocates were here to remind the other body that we are still waiting for this research to move forward. We have not forgotten. Every day scientists are breaking new ground in the study of stem cells and bringing new hope and possibility to finding cures for a variety of diseases. Parkinson's disease affects over 1 million Americans, and I am one of those patients. Parkinson's affects every day of my life. When I was first diagnosed with this dreadful disease, I was told I would have be able to effectively manage my symptoms for a number of years. Unfortunately, in recent months, the symptoms have become more bothersome, and I have announced plans to retire at the end of this Congress. The decision to retire was a very sad one for me because I believe strongly in serving people. But Parkinson's will not keep me down. I have been overwhelmed by the encouraging letters I have received from my constituents, colleagues and friends, veterans, and well-wishers from across the Nation. I am heartened by your calls and e-mails. I have said before that having Parkinson's has made me a better Congressman, and it's true. I know first hand what people go through when battling illness or injury. This is why it is so important to pass a bill that will allow us to perform research on more stem cell lines. It is past time to allow researchers and doctors access to study these important cells. Because embryonic stem cells are the only cells that have the ability to turn into any cell in the body, their potential should not be ignored. They hold not just the potential to provide direct treatments and cures for today's debilitating injuries and illnesses, but they hold the key to unlocking our understanding of how the body works at the most fundamental level. Mr. Speaker, I will say again: Parkinson's will not keep me down. But as I know first-hand, the millions of Americans and their families want research accelerated now. The other body may have not acted yet to pass the stem cell bill, but we have not forgotten. We are hopeful the other body will take this bill up in short order and in turn provide hope for these courageous people.

Mr. EVANS

Mr. EVANS. Mr. Speaker, during World War II and the colonial occupation of Asia in the 1930s and 1940s, the Armed Forces of Imperial Japan, often in collusion with private traffickers, forced over 200,000 young women and girls into military brothels. These women were euphemistically known as ``comfort women.'' This despicable sexual enslavement of mostly Korean and Chinese women was officially commissioned and orchestrated by the Government of Japan. In one of the most extensive cases of human trafficking in the 20th century, women and girls throughout Asia were recruited by force, coercion, or deception, transported across national borders, and kept at the mercy of the Japanese military in subhuman conditions. They were raped, beaten, and forced to have abortions. However, the horror of this experience did not end with the cessation of hostilities. Many comfort women were killed by Japanese soldiers after Japan surrendered. Some of these women could not return to their homes, and found themselves abandoned in hostile lands where they were viewed as collaborators. Those who survived live daily with the painful memories of their enslavement, and many still suffer serious health effects as a result of their ordeal. Due to the shame connected to their captivity, many comfort women chose to conceal their enslavement and many others have come forward about it only in recent years. While the facts of these crimes are incontrovertible, the Government of Japan has not officially accepted responsibility for this atrocity. Some textbooks used in Japan minimize the comfort women tragedy and distort the Japanese role in these and other crimes committed during World War II. Moreover, as recently as June 2005, Japanese Government officials praised the removal of the term ``comfort women'' from Japanese textbooks. The Government of Japan's disregard for correcting past wrongs has been further demonstrated by its leaders' frequent pilgrimages to the Yasukuni Shrine near the Imperial Palace in central Tokyo. The Yasukuni Shrine is dedicated to the 2.5 million people who died in Japan's conflicts between 1853 and 1945 but also memorializes 14 convicted Class A war criminals that committed many atrocities during World War II. Despite international criticism, the current Japanese Prime Minister, Junichiro Koizumi, has made several visits to Yasukuni since he took office in 2001 and has stated that he will continue making the visits through the end of his term. On April 4, 2006, Congressman Christopher Smith and I introduced H. Res. 759, legislation that calls on Japan to acknowledge and accept responsibility for forcing women and girls into sexual slavery during the World War II era. We hope that this bill will encourage Japan to be honest about its history and to educate current and future generations about this crime against humanity. Mr. Speaker, for these reasons I urge my colleagues to support this important piece of legislation, in order to demonstrate that we do not forget the suffering of the comfort women and the criminality of those who enslaved them.

Mr. EVANS

Mr. EVANS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H. Con. Res. 322, acknowledging the contributions of the United Service Organization to the morale and welfare of the servicemen and women of our armed forces and their families. It is with great honor I join Congressman Reyes and my fellow colleagues in supporting the United Service Organization (USO), an organization I know well as a Vietnam-era Marine. The USO was formed in response to a 1941 request from President Franklin D. Roosevelt for the purpose of providing the men and women of the Armed Forces with comfort, hospitality, and recreation. The USO continues to successfully fulfill this mission in collaboration with the U.S. government and numerous private organizations. Since the opening of the first center in 1963, the USO has grown to over 120 centers worldwide, ranging from Seattle, Washington to Seoul, Korea. Annually, 12,000 volunteers donate 450,000 hours of their time assembling and delivering over 750,000 care packages to deployed service members. Last year, Members of Congress and their staff participated in three care package stuffing events that assembled about 12,000 packages for troops deploying to Iraq and Afghanistan. As our military continues to grow and change, the mission of the USO also continues to expand and incorporate new ideas to better serve our servicemen and women. In 2003, the USO began ``Operation Phone Home,'' which distributed over one million prepaid phone cards to our troops, enabling them to communicate with family members while stationed overseas. The most well-known programs sponsored by the USO are the Celebrity Entertainment shows, which have proven to be an effective morale booster. In 2005, the USO sent over 50 celebrity entertainment tours in 30 countries, which were attended by almost 200,000 service members. Longtime USO entertainer, Bob Hope, is perhaps the most memorable advocate of the USO. His legacy continues to inspire and attract celebrities, entertainers, and the American people to donate their time and talents in support of the troops. The USO provides a channel for American citizens to express appreciation and admiration to those who bravely defend the United States overseas, and to let our military men and women know they are cared for and not forgotten. The USO embodies the generous spirit of the American people and their unwavering support for our servicemen and women. On the 65th Birthday of the USO, I, sincerely extend my thanks for providing so much support and comfort to our Armed Forces.

Mr. EVANS

Mr. EVANS. Mr. Speaker, approximately 138,000 troops are serving in Iraq and hundreds of thousands more are stationed at bases all over the world. These men and women bravely volunteered to serve their country and fight to preserve the democratic ideals we as Americans hold dear. It is because of them and the sacrifices they make, I rise today to bring attention to a very serious issue. On a rainy November day in my district, a group of protesters gathered at the funeral of SGT Kyle Wehrly--the first resident of Galesburg, IL to die in Iraq. During the funeral, they shouted cruel, hateful words at the mourners. Upon hearing the protesters might show up at the funeral, a group of students from Knox College in Galesburg organized to silently stand in front of the protesters, raising their umbrellas to block the hateful words and placards from the family members and friends of Sergeant Wehrly. In response to the emotionally charged and widespread attention this incident and other similar protests brought to the State, Illinois Lieutenant Governor, Pat Quinn, proposed a new law preventing protests at funeral services throughout the State. The Let Them Rest in Peace Act prohibits protests within a 300-foot zone around any funeral or memorial in Illinois from 30 minutes before a service until 30 minutes after. ``No grieving military family should be subjected to vile epithets and signs at the funeral service of their loved one who has made the ultimate sacrifice for our country,'' Quinn said in a recent press release. ``This legislation strikes an important balance between the First Amendment religious rights of families to bury their dead with reverence and the expression rights of those seeking to harass mourners at a funeral service.'' I wholeheartedly support free speech and the right of every American to exercise that right. I also strongly believe the rights of families privately mourning the loss of loved ones are violated and the contributions of our fallen military heroes are belittled when funerals are targeted for picketing and other public demonstrations. Picketing of funerals only cause emotional disturbance and distress to grieving families, which is why I support the Lieutenant Governor's proposal. The Let Them Rest in Peace Act allows family members to peacefully mourn while preserving free speech. Under the Lieutenant Governor's law, people can still protest, they just have to do it from 300 feet away. I commend the students of Knox College for the decency they showed the family and friends of Sergeant Wehrly by peacefully and silently creating a barrier between them and the hateful, painful words of the protesters. I hope their actions help bring further attention to this issue so we can better honor our men and women in uniform, while continuing to uphold our treasured first amendment rights.

Mr. EVANS

Mr. EVANS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong opposition to the so called ``Deficit Reduction Act of 2005.'' The purpose of this bill was to rein in the deficit in order to offset the costs of rebuilding areas devastated by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, and to aid displaced hurricane victims. Unfortunately, the Deficit Reduction Act does exactly the opposite. It raises the deficit, while cutting crucial funding for critical federal programs such as Medicaid ($11.4 billion in proposed cuts), food stamps ($796 million), student loans ($14.3 billion), and child support enforcement ($4.9 billion); programs hurricane victims need now more than ever. The Deficit Reduction Act also hurts residents in my district by significantly cutting funding for rural development. This legislation disguises the fact that the $50 billion it proposes in mandatory cuts will go to offset revenue lost due to the President's tax cuts passed in the budget resolution earlier this year. Additionally, this bill facilitates further tax cuts for the wealthy, leaving nothing for deficit reduction or for hurricane victims. The Deficit Reduction Act is part of a larger budget resolution that calls for $57 billion in additional tax cuts, increasing the deficit by at least $35 billion. After the tax cuts are in place, there will not be a dime left to pay for Katrina or Rita. Why must those who suffered at the hands of the hurricanes be asked to sacrifice more? Since 2003, Congress has passed three huge supplemental appropriations bills for the cost of the war and reconstruction in Iraq. I supported these bills because when we put troops in the field, we stand behind them. As a former Marine, I am committed to that. I ask my colleagues who support this bill this: We don't offset the costs of rebuilding Baghdad and Basra; Why do you request we offset the costs for New Orleans and Biloxi? The bottom line of this bill is that average Americans are being asked to sacrifice so wealthy Americans can receive tax cuts. When the Bush Administration took office in 2001, it inherited a surplus and predicted that surplus would continue even if tax cuts were adopted. The Bush budget was passed by Congress and became law. In fiscal 2005 there was no surplus, but instead a deficit of $319 billion. Estimates indicate that these deficits will only get worse over the next ten years, and it will be hurricane victims and the poor who will pay for it. Because I serve in Congress for those who need the helping hand of the government during national emergencies, or who struggle to pay for college, or who are sick and poor and rely on Medicaid, or who live in the rural communities of my district, I cannot support the Deficit Reduction Act and I will vote against its enactment in its present form.

Mr. EVANS

Mr. EVANS. Mr. Speaker, I also want to thank Chairman Buyer, chairman of the full committee; the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Miller), the Benefits Subcommittee chairman; and the gentlewoman from Nevada (Ms. Berkley), the ranking member; as well as Senator Craig and Ranking Member Akaka for their work on this bill. S. 1234, the Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2005, will help our service-disabled veterans and their survivors to maintain the value of their compensation benefits despite any increase in the cost of living. Our Nation's veterans and survivors have earned these benefits. We must not allow them to erode by the simple passage of time. This is a bill which deserves the full support of all Members of the House, and I urge my colleagues to support it.

Mr. EVANS. Mr. Speaker, will the gentlewoman yield?

Mr. EVANS

Mr. EVANS. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 3665, as amended. It is only fitting that as November 11th approaches and we prepare to commemorate another Veterans Day, we are meeting here today on the House floor to discuss and pass this legislation, which is intended to honor the courage and sacrifice of the nation's veterans. I would like to thank Chairman Buyer for his support of this bill. I also want to thank the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Economic Opportunity Subcommittee, John Boozman and Stephanie Herseth, for their work in developing and moving this important legislation to the floor. The housing, employment and homeless provisions contained in the bill are very important and should be enacted into law. Madam Speaker, I am proud to be an original cosponsor of this bill. Our servicemembers, veterans and military families sacrifice greatly. It is our responsibility to care and provide for them upon their return from service as we do when we send them off to war. I strongly support this measure, Madam Speaker, and I urge all my colleagues to vote for its passage.

Mr. EVANS

Mr. EVANS. Mr. Speaker, the Military Order of the Purple Heart, whose membership is comprised entirely of combat wounded veterans, fully supports H.R. 1588, which is a comprehensive approach to addressing the mental health needs of service members exposed to combat, including those members of our Armed Forces now serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. A recent Army survey found that about 28 percent of Iraq veterans-- about 50,000 servicemembers in this year alone--returned home with problems from lingering battle wounds to toothaches, from suicidal thoughts to strained marriages. Almost 1,700 servicemembers returning from the battlefield this year had thoughts of hurting themselves or that they would be better off dead. If left undiagnosed and untreated, post-traumatic stress disorder, PTSD, can lead to suicide. Last year, the New England Journal of Medicine published research that found 15 to 17 percent of front-line troops suffered depression, anxiety or PTSD. As the MOPH letter states, ``We have learned from past wars that the injuries to military members do not stop on the battlefield but may manifest themselves months or years afterward. America must be there to help the healing process. H.R. 1588 would accomplish this goal.'' I ask that the letter from the Military Order of the Purple Heart be included in the Record. Military Order of the Purple Heart, Springfield, VA, November 1, 2005. Hon. Lane Evans, Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, DC. Dear Congressman Evans: On behalf of the membership of the Military Order of the Purple Heart (MOPH), whose membership is comprised entirely of combat wounded veterans, I write to pledge our unequivocal support of H.R. 1588 the ``Comprehensive Assistance for Veterans Exposed to Traumatic Stressors Act of 2005''. At a time when our military men and women are engaged in the war on terrorism this act is most appropriate. We have learned from past wars that the injuries to military members do not stop on the battlefield but may manifest themselves months or years afterward. America must be there to help the healing process. H.R. 1588 would help accomplish this goal. You may count on the MOPH in anyway possible to ensure that this legislation becomes law. Respectfully, James D. Randles, National Commander.

Mr. EVANS

Mr. EVANS. Mr. Speaker, the need for this bill has been growing for more than a decade. The Department of Veterans Affairs usually does a reasonable job managing programs of interest to veterans, but it does not do well in managing information technology programs. Significant funding was invested in VA information technology programs that later failed due mostly to mismanagement. If VA had in place the sound management processes required by this bill, many of those information technology failures could have likely been avoided. This would be better for the taxpayer, and it would be better for the mission of VA, and most importantly, it would give us an opportunity to thank our veterans who served more than they anticipated in the Armed Forces. I want to thank Chairman Buyer for keeping our Nation's commitment focused on this initiative. The bill language contains the checks and balances needed to successfully manage information technology at the VA. It will allow us in Congress to track how VA manages its information technology assets. I cosponsored this legislation, and I encourage my colleagues to vote ``yes'' in support.

Mr. EVANS

Mr. EVANS. Mr. Chairman, today I rise in support of H.J. Res. 65. I totally disagree with the Base Realignment and Closure Commission's decision pertaining to Rock Island Arsenal and other key installations across the Nation, including Springfield Air Base as well. The BRAC process is seriously flawed. Both the Department of Defense and the BRAC Commission failed to follow the criteria established by Congress to base its decisions on military values and cost savings. I expected the DOD and the Commission to follow the criteria outlined in the BRAC legislation. It failed to do so. The BRAC Commission stated it will actually cost the American taxpayer with no further expectation of future savings. The government will never receive a financial payback from this move. The BRAC Commission recommended realignment of installations in the 17th Congressional District of Illinois, but failed to base its decision on military value criteria. Rock Island DFAS was rated number one in military value, but the Commission recommended consolidation at facilities rated substantially below Rock Island: Columbus, 7; Indianapolis, 9; Cleveland, 12; Limestone, 17; Rome 19. The BRAC decisions regarding not only bases in Illinois, but throughout the Nation, are extremely frustrating because the Commission recognized the military value and cost savings provided streamlining of bases already undertaken on a local level. I am a former marine, and I will not surrender this fight to save jobs at the Rock Island Arsenal. I will continue to work with the Quad City Development Group and local officials to strengthen the arsenal and to bring more jobs to the island. Mr. Chairman, I want to thank the gentleman from Peoria, Illinois who has done an outstanding job in fighting this battle. I look forward to working with him on the cleanup of this process and hope that we do not have to go through it again. I appreciate his leading the charge on this bill today.

Mr. EVANS

Mr. EVANS. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 512, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Mr. EVANS

Mr. EVANS. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3200, as amended by the Senate. Earlier this year, Congress increased the amount of insurance available to servicemembers to $400,000. That provision is scheduled to expire September 30, 2005. We need to make the increase permanent now. Under this bill, men and women currently serving will receive $400,000 in life insurance unless they choose to receive the lower amount. H.R. 3200, as amended, will receive my full support. It deserves the support of every Member of this body.

Mr. EVANS

Mr. EVANS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to have the name of the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Boyd) removed as a cosponsor of H.R. 515, as it was inadvertently added.

Mr. EVANS

Mr. EVANS. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3200. Earlier this year, Congress increased the amount of SGLI available to servicemembers up to $400,000. That provision is scheduled to expire as of September 30, 2005. We need to make this increase permanent. The costs for this increase would be borne by the men and women who are covered under the SGLI program. SGLI is an insurance program paid by the men and women who are insured. Only in times of war when there is a marked increase in servicemember deaths does the government contribute payments for extra hazards. H.R. 3200 will receive my full support, and it deserves the support of all Members of this House. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 3200, the Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance Enhancement Act of 2005. Earlier this year, in Public Law 109-13, Congress increased the amount of Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance, SGLI, available to servicemembers. That provision is scheduled to expire as of September 30, 2005. This bill would make the $400,000 of coverage provided on a temporary basis in Public Law 109-13, permanent. The costs for this increased amount of insurance would be borne by the men and women who are covered under the SGLI program. We must never forget that SGLI is an insurance program, paid for by the men and women who are insured. Only in times of war when there is a marked increase in servicemember deaths, is the government charged for the ``extra hazards'' of this insurance. No government payments were made between the end of the Vietnam era and 2003. During the last 3 years, the military services have contributed to the cost of payments for ``excess deaths'', the number of deaths which exceed the expected death rate by more than 8 percent, resulting primarily from military operations in Afghanistan and Iraq. H.R. 3200 also establishes criteria for notification to the spouse or next of kin when a servicemember elects less than the maximum amount of SGLI and notification to a spouse when a servicemember names a beneficiary who is neither the spouse nor child. Generally, I would expect that a servicemember would discuss his or her financial decisions with persons who may be beneficiaries of a life insurance policy. The notice provisions may be helpful in those situations where a servicemember inadvertently fails to inform their next of kin or spouse of these decisions. I am strongly opposed to the provision included in Public Law 109-13 which would require a married servicemember to obtain the consent of their spouse, even in situations where the spouses are estranged, if less than the maximum amount of coverage is selected. I am pleased that that provision would be repealed by this bill. I also believe that no notice should be provided when a servicemember names a child or children rather than their current spouse as the beneficiary of a SGLI policy. Servicemembers are in the best position to determine whether a spouse or child, or some combination of spouse and child should receive the proceeds of their SGLI in the event of the servicemember's death. Finally, the bill would allow a servicemember to decline coverage under the traumatic injury protection of Public Law 109-13. This insurance, like SGLI, is paid for by the servicemembers with extra hazards coverage for excess traumatic injuries in wartime paid by the military services. I urge all members to support this bill, so that enhanced coverage currently provided under SGLI will not lapse on September 30, 2005. H.R. 3200 will receive my full support and it deserves the support of all Members of this House.

Mr. EVANS

Mr. EVANS. Mr. Speaker, today marks the 75th anniversary of the establishment of the Veterans Administration, what is now the Department of Veterans Affairs. Since the VA's inception, more than 33 million Americans have become veterans, and 25 million veterans are alive today. When President Hoover declared the Veterans Administration to be ``one of the most important functions of Government,'' he couldn't have been more right. It is one of our greatest callings and duties to provide care for those who sacrificed so much to preserve the liberties and freedoms we enjoy. The importance of this anniversary isn't just to mark the longevity of a federal agency, it is to honor and recognize the department's quality execution of its great and noble mission ``. . . to care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow and his orphan.'' The Department of Veterans Affairs operates the largest integrated health care system in the country, maintaining 1,300 clinics, nursing homes, hospitals, and other medical sites, and it is a system which pioneers advances in medicine, such as telemedicine and prosthetics, which improves the lives of all Americans, not just veterans. In fact, three Nobel Prize in Medicine recipients were VA doctors. Indeed, in keeping true to its mission, the VA has provided benefits to many spouses and dependents of our Nation's veterans by providing housing loan assistance and education benefits; and, when a veteran's noble life comes to its end, the VA's mission does not end, as it provides burial assistance for families, operating 120 national cemeteries in the United States and Puerto Rico. It is our responsibility, Mr. Speaker, as representatives of this great Nation's veterans, to uphold our commitment to them; to provide for them and their families the best care available; and to do that, we must enable the Department of Veterans Affairs to endure and build upon its impressive legacy. Today a new generation is coming to understand the sacrifices that come with service. As they join the ranks of our Nation's veterans, our commitment to them cannot be any less than it has been to past generations, and to the veterans still with us that depend so greatly on the Department's care. And so, though we mark a great milestone in the Department of Veterans Affairs history, let us not forget that its mission continues and that its success is dependent on our dedication to its cause. Mr. Speaker, I would like to submit for the record an article from U.S. News and World Report, dated July 18 of this year, ``Military Might,'' that powerfully demonstrates the impact of today's Department of Veterans Affairs and the legacy it is building for future veterans. [U.S. News & World Report, July 18, 2005] Military Might Today's VA hospitals are models of top-notch care (By Christopher J. Gearon) Three summers ago, Augustin Martinez's skin was yellow. He was in pain. And physicians at Kaiser Permanente, his usual source of care, were baffled. The frustrated Martinez, a retired Lockheed Martin engineer in San Jose, Calif., asked his brother, a New York physician, for advice. After consulting colleagues, his brother advised him to go to the Department of Veterans Affairs hospital in nearby Palo Alto. Martinez, a former Navy petty officer 2nd class, was entitled to VA care (eligibility depends on several factors, including date and length of military service, injury, and income). But his brother's recommendation took him by surprise. Better care at a VA hospital? But he went--and was quickly diagnosed with pancreatic cancer by Sherry Wren, chief of general surgery, who operated on him within days. He has relied on VA hospitals and clinics ever since. ``They run a good ship,'' says Martinez, now age 72. That they do, say healthcare experts. Routinely criticized for decades for indifferent care, attacked by Oliver Stone in Born on the Fourth of July, the VA health system has performed major surgery on itself. The care provided to 5.2 million veterans by the nation's largest healthcare system has improved so much that often it is the best around. And in the new VA, patient safety is a particular priority. Before making the first incision, for example, surgeons conduct a five-step audit to be sure they don't cut into the wrong body part or person. Doctors and nurses are unusually conscientious about hand hygiene, to reduce infections caused by carrying germs from one patient to another. Technology helps, as would be expected. Martinez is particularly impressed by the computerization of patient records. When he visits, his doctors and nurses instantly call up his medical records, including test results (his cholesterol is high and he suffers from asthma), CT scans, and medications via laptop, which has become as ubiquitous a tool at VA facilities as a stethoscope. Paper delay. But computerized records are more than a convenience. If all patient information could be reviewed on a computer screen and updated with each new test and observation, studies suggest that many of the medical errors that kill hospital patients would be prevented. Keeping everything on paper has been shown to delay care, force 1 in every 5 lab tests to be repeated, and cause unnecessary hospitalizations. But switching to computerized records can cost millions of dollars at a single hospital, so relatively few medical centers outside the VA have changed over. ``The information is right at your fingertips, right at the bedside, right when you're making decisions,'' Wren says. Besides giving her a quick snapshot of a patient's progress, the system automatically displays the latest and best studies and guidelines for that patient's condition. The screen also prompts her about preventive measures. If she calls up the record of a diabetic patient, for example, she is reminded to perform or schedule foot and eye exams, which diabetics must have regularly to prevent amputation or blindness. Such prompting is largely why the VA vaccinates 92 percent of patients ages 65 and older against pneumonia versus 29 percent 10 years ago, says Jonathan Perlin, the top doctor in the Department of Veterans Affairs. Outside the VA, he says, the rate averages below 55 percent. ``The increase not only has saved the lives of 6,000 patients with emphysema,'' says Perlin; ``we've halved hospitalizations for [patients with] community-acquired pneumonia.'' And the computerized system reduces medication errors, blamed for thousands of deaths in hospitalized patients, by flagging an order if there's a possible drug interaction, if the dosage doesn't match a doctor's order, or if there is a potential allergic reaction. Retired Army Sgt. Maj. Lance Sweigart of Laurel, Md., takes six medications for arthritis, high cholesterol, and depression. The 61-year-old Sweigart says he has ``never gotten the wrong medication'' at VA facilities in Baltimore. All drugs carry bar codes, as do patients' ID bracelets. Both are scanned before a medication is administered to make sure the drug and patient match and last-minute order changes are caught. It's not yet sophisticated enough to offer the appropriate dosage, but Isabel Sotomayor, a nurse at the VA Medical Center in Washington, D.C., says the system snags one or two potential errors every day during her medication rounds. The impact of such changes is real, says Harvard School of Public Health professor and renowned patient-safety advocate Lucian Leape. ``Recent evidence shows [that care at the VA system] is at least as good as, if not better,'' he says, than care delivered elsewhere. In the 1990s, for example, the VA began using a new way--since adopted by the American College of Surgeons--to evaluate surgical quality. It enabled VA surgeons to reduce postoperative deaths by 27 percent and post-surgical complications by 45 percent. Recently published studies have found that the VA rates much better than Medicare fee-for-service providers in 11 basic measures of quality, such as regular mammograms and counseling for smokers. Late last year, the Annals of Internal Medicine published a study showing that the VA had ``substantially better quality of care'' than other providers in many of nearly 350 indicators of quality, such as screening and treating depression, diabetes, and hypertension. Overhauling a system of 157 hospitals, 134 nursing homes, and 887 clinics is never finished. Recent reports by the inspector general of the Department of Veterans Affairs have highlighted such problems as cancellation of surgeries, unexpected deaths, and radiology backups at VA facilities in Florida. Surgeries have had to be canceled at some facilities because surgical supplies were unavailable or improperly sterilized. But John Daigh, who as assistant inspector general for healthcare inspections is responsible for exposing such flaws, says that VA top brass haven't retreated into denial. They ``have stepped up to the plate and fixed the problems'' that his investigators uncover. That, too, is evidence of a seismic shift, brought about not by high-tech breakthroughs but by a fundamental change in VA culture. A new emphasis, on patient safety and on a work ethic that stresses constant examination of the processes and procedures that go into caregiving, arrived in 1994 when Kenneth Kizer, former director of California's Department of Health Services, was tapped to run the VA health empire. His mission, as he saw it, was to remake the unwieldy system into one of the world's safest and finest. Kizer started holding doctors, administrators, and managers directly accountable for the quality of their patient care, linking, for example, how many heart-attack patients received recommended beta blockers and aspirin to job reviews. And the performance for each facility was made public, which turned out to be a major motivator. ``People competed like hell,'' says Kizer, now president of the nonprofit National Quality Forum, which develops national standards for assessing the quality of healthcare. Kizer was immersed in studies of patient safety years before the Institute of Medicine's jolting report in 1999 of hospital errors that kill tens of thousands of patients. To cultivate a ``culture of safety'' at the VA, he created a National Center for Patient Safety, and to head it up he brought in James Bagian, a former astronaut who had investigated the space shuttle Challenger accident for NASA. Bagian's hire was ``one of the smartest things [Kizer] did,'' says Leape. Both an engineer and physician, Bagian brought to the VA unique skills and a zealous commitment to safety. ``It was like being in two different worlds,'' Bagian says of the move from NASA to the VA. ``One had a very constructive and methodical approach to how we identify problems, decide whether they are worth fixing and then fix them versus one that was done much more like a cottage industry, where decisions are based on what's my opinion or how do I feel about it today, which is not how you should run healthcare today.'' Out loud. Bagian wanted people to report mistakes or close calls in treating patients. Such intelligence was crucial if safety was to be improved, because many errors happen because of a flawed system rather than a careless individual--a chart mix-up that could have ended in surgery on the wrong patient, the incorrect medication given to a patient because it was stored next to another one with nearly the same name. At today's VA hospitals, patient safety teams identify every step that led up to a blunder or close call to determine needed changes. For example, the VA has instituted a process to ensure that surgeons operate on the correct person or body part. One step includes asking patients to say their full names and birth dates out loud and to identify the body part to be cut. Bagian's greatest challenge was shifting the attitudes of VA staffers. Few people reported a gaffe, for fear that they or the person who made it would suffer. ``The VA had the most punitive, hardest culture I had ever seen,'' says Kizer; he and Bagian wanted to change the VA's punishment-oriented ways to an open, nonpunitive environment. But the staff didn't begin to respond until top managers showed they were serious. In the new VA, for example, managers could be fired, fined, and even jailed for retaliating against workers who file mistake reports. Reports began coming in. More than 200,000 close-call and error reports have been filed at the VA without anyone being punished. ``Staff gets to have input about how to provide better care,'' says Sotomayor, a VA nurse for 15 years. ``The attitudes of people have changed.'' They take pride in the results, such as a decline in patient falls and a pacemaker redesigned by the manufacturer because of a close call. And other hospitals have noticed. Jennifer Daley, chief medical officer and senior vice president of clinical quality at Tenet Healthcare Corp., is using the VA as a blueprint to improve performance at the nation's second-largest for-profit hospital operator. ``There is room for improvement,'' says Bagian. ``We're not perfect, make no mistake about it.'' But now the drive to enhance safety has become an accepted part of the VA. Caregivers on the front lines turn in a steady flow of ideas, such as requiring that doctors key in the full name rather than the first few letters when ordering a prescription. That minimizes the chance, say, that a patient who needs clonidine, a blood-pressure medicine, will get clozapine, an antipsychotic. Augustin Martinez simply appreciates that he took his brother's advice. ``I was fortunate I was a veteran. Otherwise, I don't know what else I would have done,'' Martinez says. ``I don't think I would be here today.'' Small steps that made a difference These are a few of the changes the VA has put in place to make patients safer.

Mr. EVANS

Mr. EVANS. Mr. Speaker, yesterday I was unavoidably detained due to a delayed flight and, therefore, I missed rollcall votes Nos. 380, 381, and 382. Had I been present, I would have vote ``yea'' on all three votes.

Mr. EVANS

Mr. EVANS. Mr. Chairman, I rise today to express my support for H.R. 2864, particularly the provisions authorizing the projects in the Upper Mississippi River basin. As many of my colleagues know, the Corps began studying the locking needs on the Mississippi River nearly 12 years ago. These locks were built in the 1930s, and were never expected to carry the workload that they have as long as they have. Today, over 100 million tons of materials are carried along the Mississippi and Illinois waterways. Because of their age and their use, the locks are deteriorating and breaking down. The Corps has done its best to maintain these locks, but their efforts are compromised due to lack of funding. We have locks using temporary gates, crumbling concrete, and a host of other concerns through out the lock system. This leads to costly delays and increased costs to everyone. Additionally, the process of double locking, made necessary by the smaller lock chambers, doubles the workload and the chance for serious accidents at all of these locks. The added costs and the added risks could easily be overcome by building 1,200-foot locks. The locks on the Mississippi and Illinois rivers are vital to the regions economy creating a cheaper method to ship goods to ports and then overseas. However, these locks are facing many potential problems and are getting older every day. They need to be modernized and improved sooner rather than later. While some people have expressed concerns about the need to expand the locks, the people whose livelihood is dependant on them know the necessity of this project. Farmers in Brazil, China, and other competing nations have had the advantage of government investment in the infrastructure used to ship their goods. We must invest in expanding our locks so that our farmers can compete in the global market. Additionally, this bill also addresses the environmental needs of the Upper Mississippi River. Water systems are transportation routes for ships, homes for wildlife, and recreation areas for communities. By improving the environment of the Mississippi River Basin, we are investing in all three of these uses. The Corps projects will help restore the wildlife along the Mississippi and help with water management. By restoring wildlife habitat, we will bring back nesting grounds for the bald eagle. By restoring natural features to the river, we will help mitigate some of the flooding that can devastate the surrounding area. By restoring fish passages, we are bringing opportunities for families to come together to play and fish along the river. it The resources put in to improving the ecosystem are a necessary compliment to the lock improvements. The Corps efforts to improve the ecosystem surrounding the locks and dams will help mitigate the effects that we have on the Mississippi and Illinois Rivers. We have a responsibility to take advantage of the opportunity to provide the resources for these projects. I am pleased to see that the Committee took that opportunity. There are many other vital programs that are in this legislation. For example, the aquatic ecosystem restoration project at Emiquon in Fulton County, Illinois will provide researchers and the public an opportunity to learn about how wetlands work to protect and preserve the surrounding areas, on land and in the river. The inclusion of the authorization to complete the Upper Mississippi River Comprehensive Plan will allow the Corps to finish this vital study that will help communities along the river to protect themselves from disastrous flooding. There are many other such projects that will help us examine what we can do to improve our water resources and implement what we know. I urge my colleagues to support the vital Mississippi River lock improvements and support the underlying legislation.

Mr. EVANS. Mr. Chairman, I rise today to express my support for H.R. 2864, particularly the provisions authorizing the projects in the Upper Mississippi River Basin. As many of our colleagues know, the Corps began studying the locking needs on the river nearly 12 years ago. Those locks were designed a long time ago. They need to be modernized and improved sooner rather than later. Farmers in Brazil, China and other competing countries have had the advantage of government investment in infrastructure to ship their goods. We must invest in expanding our locks so that our farmers can compete. Additionally the bill addresses the ecosystem's needs for the areas of the river. The Corps projects will help restore the wildlife along the Mississippi. These resources put to improving the ecosystem are a necessary compliment to lock improvement. Mr. Chairman, I urge my colleagues to support this improvement and support H.R. 2864.

Mr. EVANS

Mr. EVANS. Mr. Speaker, I am proud that H.R. 1220, in addition to providing veterans with needed health care, includes the cost-of-living adjustment as well. This will permanently authorize VA Parkinson's centers as well. Some 42,000 veterans with Parkinson's receive care at the VA. In 5 years, an estimated 39,000 older veterans will have the disorder. Treatments exist for Parkinson's, but research continues to improve treatments and to search for a cure. VA is on the cutting edge of research and treatment because of these centers. Veterans service organizations and Parkinson's advocates all support the permanent authorization of these centers. While the bill does not also authorize VA's two multiple sclerosis centers, I continue to support the centers and hope they can work so we can get them properly authorized. Authorizing the centers will make sure that the VA will continue to be a model of innovation in the delivery of health care and research for this chronic disease. This bill offers hope to veterans and others with Parkinson's. I ask my colleagues for their support.

Mr. EVANS

Mr. EVANS. Mr. Speaker, 2 weeks ago the administration told Congress that the VA health care system did not need any more money. Then, feeling the heat, they said they needed an additional $975 million. Just yesterday, the Bush administration conceded that it had made another mistake. Now they say they need another $300 million. It is clear that either the administration cannot get it right or does not want to get it right. The nearly $1.3 billion that the administration now admits is necessary this year is the amount Democrats have been working hard for this last year. The Republican leadership has consistently fought adequate increases in the VA health care budget. Now, more than 50,000 veterans are coming to health care appointments and being denied care. It is time to stop nickel-and-diming veterans health care and give the veterans of this country what they need and deserve.