Terry Everett

Mr. EVERETT

Mr. EVERETT. Mr. Speaker, as Chairman of the Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, I strongly support H.R. 70, a bill to codify burial eligibility requirements for Arlington National Cemetery. This bill would also put an end to the abuses my subcommittee found with politically connected burial waivers for individuals who have been getting into Arlington and taking the places earned by America's war heroes. Full Committee Chairman Bob Stump moved a similar bill last year and it was not acted upon by the Senate. I commend our Chairman for his persistence and for his devotion to our Nation's veterans in moving H.R 70 as one of his top priorities for the 106th Congress. Veterans' service organization and military associations have overwhelmingly supported this legislation and especially its prohibition against waivers. They better than anyone know that politics should play no part in who rests in the hallowed ground of Arlington. Mr. Speaker, apparently I differ with one of my colleagues on whether abuses occurred with Arlington burial waivers. At the January 28, 1999, Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee hearing on Arlington burial waivers, which I chaired, I stated that, ``in my opinion, in some cases there undoubtedly has been favoritism, overwhelming pressure, political influence, string pulling, and arm twisting, as well as public relations consideration, even if no one will openly admit it.'' My view has not changed, and I believe these things were abuses. Call them what you may, they occurred and they should be stopped. And, let there be no mistake about the matter of Larry Lawrence: he bought his way into Arlington with campaign contributions. His campaign contributions bought him an ambassadorship. His bought ambassadorship and his proven, not alleged, lies got him into Arlington. Even on his record, he was so miserably unqualified to be an ambassador that the Foreign Service Association took the unusual step of opposing his nomination. Money got him in, not his service to his country. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to hold the line against waivers, just as our brave men and women in uniform have held the line in battle against the enemies of freedom.

Mr. EVERETT

Mr. EVERETT. Mr. Speaker, the resolution before us today is very simple and straightforward. H.R. 4 states that it is the policy of the United States to deploy a national missile defense system. Most Americans would be puzzled by this, because it is a widely held misconception that we have an anti-ballistic missile defense system in place to protect the United States from any incoming missile; either an accidental launch from Russia, or an intended launch from China or any number of rogue nations. Yes, we spent $40 billion in the 1980's for research and development of the Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI). However, liberal naysayers and the media criticized the program for being a threat to the former Soviet Union, while trivializing and demonizing the program as ``Star Wars.'' Once the Berlin Wall fell and the Soviet Union collapsed, the collective wisdom of liberal policy makers convinced the public that such a missile defense system was no longer needed; the program was allowed to fade into a meager research effort. Unfortunately, here we are today still facing a formidable nuclear weapons arsenal of more than 7,000 warheads in the former Soviet Union. Moreover, the development of a ballistic missile capability in China, coupled by the intent of North Korea, Iran and Pakistan to briskly pursue advanced ICBM programs places the United States and the world at great risk. In addition, rogue states led by Iraq, Libya and Syria are pursuing ambitious ballistic weapons programs of their own. These sobering realities were again presented to each of us this morning by the threat analysis of the Rumsfeld Commission. However, President Clinton is opposed to this bill. According to the Statement of Administration policy, the Clinton Administration opposed this resolution for two reasons; they oppose the commitment to deploy a missile defense system and they are concerned about violating the Anti Ballistic Missile (ABM) Treaty. I cannot understand this Administration's reluctance to fully defend the American people, nor their concerns about complying with a treaty that we made with a country that no longer exists. Mr. Speaker, it's high time that the policy of the United States is to fully defend our nation from all threats, including incoming ballistic missiles. We are very close to achieving the technological challenge and capability of a ``hitting a bullet with a bullet.'' We must not allow the Administration's reluctance to get in the way of protecting Americans; let's support this legislation.

Mr. EVERETT

Mr. EVERETT. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the articles of impeachment. Mr. Speaker, I intend to vote for the rule of law and against this partisan attack on the Constitution of the United States. In America, the rule of law is above any man and above politics. We don't have kingships in this country, we have publicly-elected officials. We cannot have one set of laws for our rulers, and another for the ruled. No one, most especially the President, can escape the rule of law. Impeaching the President is an awesome responsibility, and one that I do not take lightly. After careful review of the Independent Counsel's Report to Congress, and in accordance with the findings of the Committee on the Judiciary, I will support all four articles of impeachment that are before us. The evidence of perjury, obstruction of justice and the abuse of power is clear and convincing. We owe it to each and every American, especially those who have fought and died for our freedoms, to restore the integrity of Office of the Presidency. If we do not take this action, our democracy will become hollow and the rule of law meaningless. Some have suggested that we should withhold action until Operation Desert Fox is completed in Iraq for the sake of our men and women in uniform. Our military is doing its job of protecting our Democracy, and therefore we must also do our job to uphold the integrity of the Constitution and the foundation of our Democracy. That means a vote for impeachment. I cannot articulate the pain and sorrow that this President has subjected the Nation any better then two of my constituents. I have an open letter to the President from retired Army Colonel Eric Jowers and an Op Ed piece by high school junior Kimberly Gilley that ran in the Dothan Eagle, and ask that they be included in the Record at this point.

Mr. EVERETT

Mr. EVERETT. Mr. Speaker, I want to associate myself with all these great things that have been said about Jerry Solomon, but I also like to tell the Members something that is going to surprise them. I got here in the 103rd Congress, and there were two Members from a little place called Midland City, Alabama, population 400, myself and my friend Earl Hutto, the gentleman from Florida. We found that we lived in the same house in this small Dale County, Alabama town. Well, also my good friend, the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. John Lewis) is from about 18 miles up the road, just over the Dale County line in Pike County, Alabama. Being very proud of that, I told Jerry Solomon the story one day, and he started laughing. I said, ``What are you laughing at?'' He said, ``You don't know where I'm from?'' I said, ``Well, I guess you're from New York. You've represented them now for 18 years.'' He said, ``No, I'm from Echo.'' Mr. Speaker, Echo is 7 miles from Midland City, Alabama, and then had a population of about 40 people. We had in the 103rd Congress 4 U.S. Congressmen from a rural southeast county of Alabama. I recently, last week, gave Jerry a note from a relative of his who stated how much his Dale County family they loved and admired him. Jerry, I think you have heard here today we love you, and we admire you, and we are going to miss you.

Mr. EVERETT

Mr. EVERETT. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this conference report to the FY 99 Defense Authorization Bill (H.R. 3616). While we continue to underfund our national security strategy, this being the fourteenth consecutive year of a declining defense budget, this conference report meets our defense priorities within this constrained budget environment. Last week, the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Secretary of Defense presented the President with the stark realities of the state of military readiness and weapon systems modernization shortfalls that our military is now experiencing. The President indicated his willingness to address these funding shortfalls in next year's budget request, which is a long time coming. With regard to a specific land conveyance provision in the bill (section 2833), I am pleased that we were able to make these technical, but necessary changes to the conveyance terms of real property from the Army's Redstone Arsenal to the Alabama Space Science Exhibit Commission. This section ensures that the future development of the U.S. Space & Rocket Center previously conveyed by the Army to the appropriate agency of the State of Alabama will remain consistent with the long-term master plan for the use of that property as agreed upon by the Center, Redstone Arsenal and the Marshall Space Flight Center, Present financing arrangements and mortgages relating to new and existing facilities at the Space and Rocket Center are preserved, and appropriate coordination of further financing initiatives, mortgages and other debt society arrangements in accordance with the agreed-upon master plan is assured. I urge my colleagues to support this conference report.

Mr. EVERETT

Mr. EVERETT. Mr. Speaker, I wish to pay tribute to the memory of one of America's political legends and one of my home State's greatest sons, George Corley Wallace. The 79-year-old former four-term Alabama Governor and Presidential candidate passed away on September 13 in Montgomery after a sudden illness. Governor Wallace was a native of Clio in my congressional district. There are few names which engender more passion in American politics than that of George Wallace. While the former Governor is remembered by many for his strong and controversial views on a number of social issues during a very difficult period in our Nation's history, his greatest legacy--his role in laying the foundation for modern conservatism--is often overlooked. As Alabama political columnist Bob Ingram points out, Wallace was quite fond of a 1980 New York Times editorial stating that Ronald Reagan ``sailed into the White House on the tide that George Wallace discovered.'' The famous ``Reagan Democrat'' phenomenon was a likely result of the growing conservative political culture which George Wallace expertly marshalled during his bids for the White House more than a decade earlier. Many of George Wallace's stands on State's rights and less government helped to pave the way for the eventual shift of southern Democrats to the modern Republican party. As a newspaper reporter and later as a publisher in Alabama at the time of Wallace's tenure as Governor, I reported some of the history that he helped create. While, I didn't always agree with the Governor, I never lost respect for his remarkable political skills. His brave recuperation from an assassination attempt and his remarkable reconciliation with his former political rivals of the Civil Rights era certainly galvanized George Wallace's role in history as one of America's most adept politicians. The legacy of George Wallace's popular conservatism is very much alive today. I am glad that he was able to see his commonsense government ideals rise to the top of the national agenda even though fate did not allow the skilled political boxer from Barbour County, AL, to fight the last round.

Mr. EVERETT

Mr. EVERETT. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 4110, the Veterans Benefits Improvement Act of 1998. I am very pleased that, once again, veterans with service-connected disabilities and the families of veterans who died from service-connected causes should receive a full cost of living adjustment (COLA) for 1999. This Congress is maintaining America's commitment to those who have answered the call to defend our great country and its freedoms. H.R. 4110 would provide a COLA commensurate with the Social Security COLA, which will be calculated at the end of this September. The increased benefit rate would begin on December 1, 1998. If it were calculated right now, it would be about 1.6 percent. As my colleagues have already described, this pro-veteran legislation would also improve several veterans programs. It would improve education benefits by giving veterans greater flexibility on payment of work-study allowances and by allowing credit for life and work experiences to establish eligibility for the GI Bill. This legislation would allow Federal, State and local governments to waive wage increase requirements and minimum payment rates for certain government on-the-job training programs, thereby making these programs more accessible to veterans. The VA and military services would also be required to provide service members and veterans better information about their GI Bill benefits. Recognizing the increasing importance of our Nation's Reserve and National Guard forces, H.R. 4110 would establish their permanent eligibility for veterans housing loans and would authorize the VA to furnish burial flags for deceased members of the reserve components even before they are eligible for retirement. This bill has too many good provisions in it for complete discussion here, so I have chosen only a few. Certainly, I support all of the bill. Mr. Speaker, I want to commend Chairman Stump of the full Committee, Mr. Evans, the Ranking Minority Member, Chairman Quinn of the Subcommittee on Benefits, and Mr. Filner, the Subcommittee's Ranking Minority Member, for their hard work and bipartisan approach on the bill. I am pleased to join them in cosponsoring the bill. And finally, Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to act favorably on this measure.

Mr. EVERETT

Mr. EVERETT. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 3980. Eight years after 700,000 American troops were deployed to the Persian Gulf, many disturbing questions remain unanswered about their residual medical conditions. As I said at our joint Subcommittee on Health and Oversight Hearings on Persian Gulf War Veterans' Health Concerns in April 1997, ``It is clearly evident that our government was aware of the presence of chemical weapons in Iraq since at least 1986. The CIA and the Defense Department's long denial of the possibility of chemical weapons exposure was a great disservice to thousands of Gulf War veterans who believe their tour of duty in the Persian Gulf has adversely affected their health.'' While DoD and the VA have improved their research, a more disciplined approach is required to address the unresolved questions regarding Persian Gulf veterans health problems as well as applying these lessons learned from the Persian Gulf experience to assist veterans who may deploy in future conflicts. As my colleagues have mentioned before me, this legislation would authorize the VA to provide priority health care to treat illnesses that may be attributable to a veteran's service in combat during any period of war after the Vietnam War or during any other future period of hostilities. This legislation would require the VA to establish a multi- disciplinary National Center for the Study of War-Related Illnesses to carry out and foster research, education and improved clinical care of war-related illnesses. This bill contains many requirements for accountability and openness, so I have chosen to address only a few. I fully support all provisions of this bill. Mr. Speaker, I want to commend Chairman Stump of the full Committee, Mr. Evans, the Ranking Minority Member, Chairman Stearns of the Subcommittee on Health, and Mr. Gutierrez, the Subcommittee's Ranking Minority Member, for their hard work and bipartisan approach on the bill. I am pleased to join them in cosponsoring the bill. And finally, Mr. Speaker, when we send American troops into the hostile physical and military environment of war and they come back wounded or ill, we need to do all we can to heal the wounds of war. I urge all of my colleagues to approve this bill.

Mr. EVERETT

Mr. EVERETT. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the requisite number of words. (Mr. EVERETT asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. EVERETT. Mr. Chairman, as a supporter of fairness for our Nation's veterans, I rise in strong opposition to the Hinchey amendment. It is ironic that this legislation, which the sponsors say will help veterans, will end up destroying many veterans. If the Hinchey amendment is adopted, veterans across the Nation will lose newly-won equitable assets to vital medical care funds afforded to them by law. In April of 1997, the VA implemented VERA to address medical care funding inequities in VA facilities nationwide. Since its implementation, the findings are, contrary to what we have heard on this floor, for which they say they have documentation, and I would like to see it, as chairman of the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, because nobody has given it to me, but contrary to that report, the well-known accounting firm of Price Waterhouse reviewed VERA and has given it positive marks in its March report. It says that VERA was a well-designed, conceptually sound system marked by simplicity, equity, and fairness. This positive review was conducted on the heels of another favorable assessment by the General Accounting Office in 1997 which noted that VERA is making resource allocations more equitable than previous funding systems. Despite the evidence that VERA is working just as it was intended, the sponsor of this amendment, the gentleman from New York (Mr. Hinchey) claims that his veterans in New York are being shortchanged. Nothing could be further from the truth. VERA is designed to factor in regional costs, such as labor, differences in patient mix, and varying levels of support for research and education. For example, in New York, the gentleman's district, the average veteran patient receives $5,659. In my district in Alabama, which is part of VISN 7, the average patient just gets $4,300. In reality, New York's VA facilities receive an average payment per patient which is 27 percent higher than the national average. What disturbs me even more are the charges by some in the New York delegation that somehow VERA's funding allocations have resulted in a deterioration of health care and untimely deaths in several New York VA medical facilities. These are serious charges. I would frankly like to see their proof. It is my understanding that my colleagues from New York base their facts on a report by the VA's Inspector General as to the deaths at Montrose and Castle Point New York VA hospitals. This very report vindicated VERA in those cases. The VA's IG report even went on to specifically state there was no impact of VERA at Castle Point and Montrose concerning mortality rates. VERA was in fact not tied to any health care quality concerns at these facilities reported by the VA IG. Further, I understand that the VA's IG report did list over 150 areas of improvement to address the problems of two New York hospitals, but none included VERA, despite what you have heard on the floor today. As chairman of the VA Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, I rely on facts. I must tell the Members, there are no facts to back up the claims that VERA has adversely affected any veteran, any of my veterans or any in New York. Rushing to judgment armed with half facts serves no one's interests, especially our veterans. America's veterans deserve the very best medical care, and VERA is helping deliver it. We need to work that out. Let me also say, I would suggest that my fellow Members of Congress visit their VA hospitals and pay particular attention to the way their money is spent. I have seen $200,000 spent for gold-plated faucets by a director, of health care money, by a director renovating his house; $26,000 for a fish tank; $100,000 for another fish tank, and by the way, in the area that they say is going to be affected, $20,000 just to keep this fish tank up every year. Mr. Chairman, I would suggest we all take a close look at how VA spends its money. I am very satisfied with the current help I am getting from the VA on cracking down on this kind of stuff. Another hospital, 63 percent occupancy. The overtime runs over a million dollars a year consistently. It is absolutely unacceptable. I urge a ``no'' vote on this amendment.

Mr. EVERETT

Mr. EVERETT. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the Second Congressional District of Alabama, we extend our heartfelt sympathies to the families of Special Agent John Gibson and First Sergeant Jacob Chestnut. The heroism that these two men displayed in protecting the people's House cannot be overstated. They gave the ultimate sacrifice on behalf of the freedom's we Americans enjoy in our free and open society. The following editorial ran in today's Montgomery Advertiser reminds us that freedom is not free. Freedom Isn't Free officers gave lives for public Two men gave their lives Friday to once again prove what U.S. history has shown time and again--freedom isn't free. When a gunman opened fire at the U.S. Capitol, two Capitol police officers, Jacob Chestnut and John Gibson, were killed. They died while protecting the occupants of the Capitol and the public, which is in itself a noble sacrifice. But they also died protecting the public's freedom of access to its government, something U.S. citizens may enjoy to a greater extent than citizens of any other nation. That is an essential freedom in a democratic nation. We suspect Officers Chestnut and Gibson were well aware of that. It makes their sacrifice all the more noble. These officers deserve all the praise and honor a grateful nation can bestow upon them. But we doubt that any would have pleased them more than the reopening of the U.S. Capitol to citizens on Saturday. It is only common sense for government authorities to review security measures at the Capitol and to take whatever reasonable steps are necessary to close breaches in that security. But care needs to be taken that nothing is done to significantly limit the public's access to ``America's house.'' If authorities overreact and make it difficult for the public to gain ready access to the halls of Congress, it would amount to capitulation to whatever insanity prompted this despicable act. There were a lot of heroes Friday. Among them was U.S. Sen. Bill Frist of Tennessee, a heart surgeon who helped treat the injured. There were scores of tales of adults--parents and strangers--who used their bodies to shield children. There was also the quiet dignity of Sgt. Dan Nichols, who noticeably struggled to hold his emotions in check while ably serving as spokesman for the Capitol police. But at the head of the list of heroes are Officers Chestnut and Gibson. They, like so many others before them, paid the ultimate price of freedom.

Mr. EVERETT

Mr. EVERETT. Mr. Chairman, this amendment is based on false information, it is poor from a policy standpoint, and it is unworkable from a practical standpoint. How strange it is that while the author of this amendment just a few hours ago on this floor fought for family farms in Wisconsin, he now offers an amendment that would destroy family farms that he has no interest in. Opponents continue to claim that this peanut program costs families additional money. That simply is not true. The report that they quote identifies the consumer as corporations, not families. Since the price farmers receive for their peanuts was slashed over 2 years ago, the price of a candy bar has gone up. Not one penny of that money taken from farmers has gone to families, not one penny. This bill takes money from working farmers and puts it into the hands of greedy corporations. Mr. Chairman, I yield back what common sense is left in this place.

Mr. EVERETT

Mr. EVERETT. Mr. Speaker, on June 11th, I was unable to cast my vote in support of H.R. 466, condemning the brutal killing of James Byrd, Jr. The measure was not scheduled for the day's legislative business, and I had already committed to travel plans to reach my district that evening. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye.''

Mr. EVERETT

Mr. EVERETT. Mr. Speaker, as part of the discussion on this administration's lack of cooperation with the Congressional investigations, as well as the continuous assertion of executive privilege, I thought my colleagues would be interested and surprised to learn of another stonewalling situation and another assertion of executive privilege by President Clinton's White House. It involves the waiver granted by this administration for the burial of Ambassador Larry Lawrence at Arlington National Cemetery. I would ask, why on the Earth would the President of the United States not want to reveal to the Congress what happened in the White House in decisions involving matters not even remotely connected to national security? It is stonewalling, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as part of this discussion on this Administration's lack of cooperation with Congressional investigations, as well as on assertions of executive privilege, I thought my colleagues would be interested and perhaps quite surprised to learn of another stonewalling situation and another assertion of executive privilege by President Clinton's White House counsel. It involves the waiver granted by President Clinton to the former surgeon general, Dr. C. Everett Koop, for burial at Arlington National Cemetery, and the waiver granted by the Secretary of Army for the burial of Ambassador Larry Lawrence at Arlington. As Chairman of the Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, I asked the White House for information and documents regarding the White House role in the waivers for Dr. Koop and Ambassador Lawrence. My colleagues will certainly recall the Subcommittee's discoveries that Dr. Koop is the only living person with a waiver, a violation of Arlington's regulations and that Ambassador Lawrence had falsely claimed heroic wartime service in the U.S. Merchant Marine. The White House has declined to provide responsive answers to the Subcommittee's questions about Dr. Koop's waiver, which was subsequently withdrawn after its existence became public knowledge. That's the long and the short of it. And, Mr. Speaker, I was totally surprised and amazed, when the President's counsel, Mr. Charles F.C. Ruff, not only did not provide responsive answers to the Subcommittee's questions about Ambassador Lawrence, he asserted executive privilege with respect to certain documents that the privilege log enclosed with his letter of January 23, 1998, described as a ``Memorandum to President from Deputy Counsel to the President and Deputy Assistant for Intergovernmental Affairs regarding Ambassador Lawrence's burial at Arlington Cemetery'' and ``Cover memorandum to President from Assistant to the President and Staff Secretary attaching a copy of document ANC 0000018 described above and a list of persons buried at Arlington Cemetery.'' Mr. Speaker, I ask, why on earth would the President of the United States not want to reveal to Congress what happened at the White House in decisions involving matters not even remotely related to national security. I don't have the answer to my question, and I don't know if the White House is hiding anything, but I am going to keep on trying to find out. I do believe this is the first time the Veterans Affairs Committee has ever been confronted with an assertion of executive privilege as it attempts to fulfill its constitutional oversight responsibilities, and I want America's veterans to know what the White House is doing, because I think it is the wrong way to conduct the people's business, particularly when it comes to veterans. I hope veterans will let the President know how they feel about it. I can't imagine any good public policy reason to be hiding away information and documents under these circumstances, and I hope the White House will reconsider its position.

Mr. EVERETT

Mr. EVERETT. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of this en bloc amendment package, which includes my amendment to require that all excess military helicopters meet certain safety and operational requirements before they can be transferred to foreign governments. Any work required to meet these standards must be done by a qualified U.S. company in the United States. The amendment has been modified to meet the concerns of the International Relations Committee. The purpose of this amendment is two-fold. First, to ensure that when we transfer these helicopters (primarily UH-1 Huey's) to our allies for counter drug missions or other purposes, that the aircraft are actually operational, and at least, meet minimum safety standards. The current ``where is, as is'' standard often means these aircraft are not airworthy when they are transferred. Mexico has a large fleet of our excess Huey's rotting in a field, because they haven't been overhauled and can't fly. Secondly, to help maintain the aviation industrial base, any work necessary to bring these aircraft up to these minimum standards ought to be done in the United States, by American workers. This would be consistent with the standard that we currently use for the transfer of naval vessels. In the near term, most of these excess aircraft are destined for Columbia and other South American countries to help them fight the war on drugs. If America is serious about stemming the tide of the illegal drugs that are infiltrating our borders, we ought to send our allies overhauled Huey's with a five to ten year life extension, rather then an ``as is'' Huey that may last two months. This policy change makes sense and I urge all members to support this amendment.

Mr. EVERETT

Mr. EVERETT. Mr. Chairman, the legislation before us today represents our best efforts to fashion a defense authorization bill that meets the national security requirements of the country within a constrained budget. This year marks the 14th consecutive year of real decline in defense spending; a fact that has led to the military being slashed by more than one-third. As a percentage of the Gross National Product, this defense budget represents only 3 percent; the lowest level since before World War II. I raise these points as a warning. As a Nation who has invested dearly to amass the greatest military in the world, we cannot continue the erosion of our national security capabilities without assuming greater risk in our ability to meet the many and varied challenges of America's security interests. The Joint Chiefs have all testified that we can still get the job done under this budget, but the associated risk factor to meet the national threat assessment continues to increase. The unfunded requirements also continue to grow, amounting to $54 billion over the next 5 years according to the Chiefs. These unfunded requirements range from the modernization of key weapon systems, to real property maintenance backlogs, to quality of life issues effecting the dedicated military personnel and their families. In addition to these massive unmet requirements, the Congressional Budget Office has indicated that Clinton's 5-year defense budget will not even keep pace with today's mild rate of inflation. This fact broadens the defense budget problems by another $54.4 billion shortfall between now and fiscal 2003. These sobering realities of the defense budget are important to note, because this administration continues to task the military with countless forward deployments while failing to provide the resources necessary to conduct these missions. The Op Tempo rate of our military personnel is at the breaking point. The Bosnia peacekeeping mission and Operation Southern Watch in Iraq continue to sap the readiness accounts of the services, requiring Congress to approve last-minute emergency supplemental appropriations bills to pay for critical training accounts depleted by these foreign policy forays. These trends are an indication of poor management of the country's national defense. With that said, I must commend Chairman Spence and the subcommittee chairman for their work in crafting this bill under these difficult circumstances. We have been able to provide additional funds for key weapon systems procurement like the UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters and Javelin precision guided missiles and speed up the testing and development of the RAH-66 Comanche, while also adding critical funds to help improve and maintain the infrastructure on our military installations. I urge all members to support the bill.

Mr. EVERETT

Mr. EVERETT. Mr. Speaker, I wish to bring to the attention of the House a very special group from my congressional district celebrating a milestone of public service to the people of Southeast Alabama. I am speaking about the Retired Senior Volunteer Program of Houston and Henry Counties in the Alabama Wiregrass region. This month this organization celebrates 25 years of community volunteerism and selfless public service. Founded locally in 1973, the RSVP provides meaningful volunteer opportunities for people who are retired or semi-retired. During the past quarter century, the RSVP's volunteers have impacted Houston County, Alabama with 2 million hours of service. If you were to convert that to a monetary value, it would exceed $10 million. Federally funded by the Corporation of National Service and sponsored by the Zonta Club of the Dothan Area Incorporated, the RSVP is making a difference in the lives of many Alabamians. I am very proud to salute the RSVP of Houston and Henry Counties as they commemorate 25 years of helping others. I join all my colleagues in wishing them 25 more productive and beneficial years of community service.

Mr. EVERETT

Mr. EVERETT. Mr. Chairman, I am proud to speak today in support of H.R. 2400, the Transportation Authorization bill. Our nation's infrastructure has been overlooked and treated as a low priority for far too long. It is time to re-invest in our nation's roads, bridges, and other surface transportation needs. By improving and properly maintaining our infrastructure, we will enhance new growth opportunities, commerce, and safety. I believe this legislation meets many of these goals. In addition, the regional distribution of gas tax and user fees are more properly allocated among all 50 states in this bill than in the past. As a member of the Donor State Coalition, this represents a hard fought victory for those states, like Alabama, that have been paying in more in gas taxes than they have received in federal highway funds. I pledge to continue in my efforts to see that donor states ultimately receive a 95% overall rate-of-return and further that these states receive a rate-of-return of 100% of the fund distributed to states. Perhaps most importantly, H.R. 2400 addresses the infrastructure priorities of the State of Alabama. Of our Governor's top highway priorities, I am pleased to say that two of these projects are located in my district in Southeast Alabama. The bill provides additional funding, at my request, for both the Montgomery Outer Loop project and the Dothan I-10 Connector. Once completed, the Outer Loop will link I-85 with I-65 and U.S. 80. This will allow for more orderly growth in and around Montgomery, our state capital. The eastern side of Montgomery is experiencing the most rapid growth of the area, so construction of this outer loop project will ease the burdens currently placed on our existing transportation routes. The Dothan project will connect Dothan with Interstate 10 in northwest Florida. Additionally, this freeway will serve as an important link between Fort Rucker, home of the U.S. Army Aviation Warfighting Center, and the interstate system. Both of these projects are essential in meeting the increasing demands in these rapidly growing and developing areas. Further, as priorities of the state transportation officials, these projects are in the state's long range plan and are thereby assured of receiving the requisite state matching funds. Mr. Chairman, this legislation represents a balanced blue print for renewing American's highway infrastructure and safety needs over the next six years. I am confident that the funding commitments of the bill will remain within our balanced budget structure, and I urge its adoption.

Mr. EVERETT. Mr. Chairman, I am proud to speak today in support of H.R. 2400, the Transportation Authorization bill. Our nation's infrastructure has been overlooked and treated as a low priority for far too long. It is time to re-invest in our nation's roads, bridges, and other surface transportation needs. By improving and properly maintaining our infrastructure, we will enhance new growth opportunities, commerce, and safety. I believe this legislation meets many of these goals. In addition, the regional distribution of gas tax and user fees are more properly allocated among all 50 states in this bill than in the past. As a member of the Donor State Coalition, this represents a hard fought victory for those states, like Alabama, that have been paying more in gas taxes then they have received in federal highway funds. I pledge to continue my efforts to see that donor states ultimately receive a 95 percent overall rate-of-return and, further, that these states receive a rate-of-return of 100 percent of the funds distributed to states. Perhaps most importantly, H.R. 2400 addresses the infrastructure priorities of the State of Alabama. Of our Governor's top highway priorities, I am pleased to say that two of these projects are located in my district in Southeast Alabama. The bill provides additional funding, at my request, for both the Montgomery Outer Loop project and the Dothan I-10 Connector. Once completed, the Outer Loop will link I-85 with I-65 and US 80. This will improve traffic safety and allow for more orderly growth in and around Montgomery, our state capital. The eastern side of Montgomery and surrounding area represent one of the most rapidly growing regions in the state, so construction of this outer loop project will ease the burdens currently placed on our existing transportation routes. The Dothan project will connect Dothan with Interstate 10 in northwest Florida. Additionally, this freeway will serve as an important link between Fort Rucker, home of the U.S. Army Aviation Warfighting Center, and the interstate system. Both of these projects are essential in meeting the increasing demands in these rapidly growing and developing areas. Further, as priorities of the state transportation officials, these projects are in the state's long range plan and are thereby assured of receiving the requisite state matching funds. Mr. Chairman, this legislation represents a balanced blue print for renewing America's highway infrastructure and safety needs over the next six years. I am confident that the funding commitments of the bill will remain within our balanced budget structure, and I urge it's adoption.

Mr. EVERETT

Mr. EVERETT. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong support of this emergency supplemental appropriations bill. The Nation has two compelling needs that warrant immediate attention by this Congress. First, the Clinton Administration's foreign policy has launched our military to the four corners of the world without the appropriate funding to conduct these missions. Whether or not you support the Administration's policy in Bosnia or Southwest Asia, we must give the men and women in uniform our full support. The defense budget has been in great decline for 13 consecutive years, and cannot sustain the continual drain of these types of forward deployed operations without sufficient funding. In the past, the costs associated with these operations were taken ``out of hide'' by raiding the readiness accounts. Unless we provide DOD with an additional $2 billion for these operations, our military leaders have testified that all training will be halted during the fourth quarter to pay for the Administration's foreign policy forays. That is unacceptable, so we must move expeditiously with this appropriations bill. Secondly, and most important to many of my constituents in southeast Alabama, is the $175 million in disaster assistance funding included in this legislation. Just three weeks ago, a large portion of my district, encompassing 12 of the 15 counties, have been declared a disaster area due to extreme flooding from the El Nino rains. One city in particular, Elba, was especially hard hit when a levee breached, resulting in two tragic deaths. The entire town was submerged in six feet of water, and displaced 2,000 residents. The State is still in the preliminary stages of making final damage assessments, but it's clear that, in addition to the loss of personal property, serious road, bridge and railroad damage has resulted from this flooding. I'm pleased that the committee has made additional funding available for the emergency relief program to repair damaged highways and rail lines. The Administration has sent up an additional request for 1.66 billion for future and unmet FEMA requirements, which I understand will be dealt with during the House-Senate conference. This FEMA funding will go along way in helping with their much-needed individual and family grant programs, relocation assistance and disaster mitigation plans. Prior to the flood, area farmers were also experiencing problems with the heavy rains that prevented necessary field preparations for this crop year. To add insult to injury, these heavy rains follow on last summer's drought that greatly reduced our farmer's crop yields. The bill provides additional funding for USDA's Emergency Conservation Program, Agricultural Credit Insurance Fund Program, Livestock Disaster Assistance, and Watershed and Flood Prevention Operations. Our farmers do a great job in providing the United States with the cheapest and most plentiful food supply in the world. The least we should do as a National is make these assistance programs more readily available to our farmers to help mitigate damages from natural disasters. Mr. Chairman, I applaud the Committee's work on this bill and urge its immediate adoption.

Mr. EVERETT

Mr. EVERETT. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to pay tribute to an outstanding organization that is building lives as it builds homes for the needy in my congressional district in central Alabama. I'm speaking about the Montgomery, Alabama Habitat for Humanity. I would like to enter into the Record this recent editorial in The Montgomery Advertiser honoring our local volunteers' selfless efforts. For sheer effectiveness, few charitable undertakings rival the work of Habitat for Humanity. The Montgomery chapter of that organization will soon begin its most ambitious project yet, a neighborhood of perhaps as many as 50 homes built the Habitat way--with donated money, materials and labor in what can only be described as the spirit of love. Habitat enjoys such wide support and admiration because it accomplishes its stated mission without a lot of frills or fanfare. It puts in decent housing people who are willing to work and be responsible homeowners, but who would never qualify for a mortgage from a conventional lender. Its most famous volunteer worker is former President Jimmy Carter, who is a pretty fair carpenter, but anyone who can drive a nail or carry some lumber or make sandwiches for lunch or do any of scores of other necessary tasks can find a way to help with a Habitat project. Montgomery Habitat for Humanity envisions a neighborhood off the Alabama River Parkway, near North Pass neighborhood. The land is in hand, foreclosed property donated by Troy Bank and Trust. Habitat officials favor the idea of creating neighborhoods over building individual houses scattered around a community. Montgomery Habitat built Litchfield, a 16-home neighborhood near Maxwell Air Force Base. Now it's looking at a project three times that size. Habitat is not some no-strings giveaway program. Those for whom Habitat homes are built make monthly payments on their homes, with the money going into a revolving account that helps pay for building other homes. They also are required to invest 400 hours of ``sweat equity'' on their homes and others. Habitat founded by former Montgomerian Millard Fuller 22 years ago, has built homes from the start, but by building neighborhoods it also builds lives. It builds a sense of community and gives hard-working, low-income people a stake in their neighborhood that rental property or government- subsidized housing cannot provide. Habitat is effective, which makes it especially appealing to those people who can contribute their time and labor and those whose contributions can only be financial. The proposed new neighborhood is an exciting prospect for Habitat and for Montgomery.

Mr. EVERETT

Mr. EVERETT. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this resolution to urge the President to promptly procure Black Hawk (UH-60) helicopters to assist the Colombian National Police in their fight against the production of heroin. Last year, this Congress passed the Foreign Operations Appropriations bill with specific direction to the State Department under the International Narcotics Control Program. Within this program, $50 million was slated for helicopter procurement, including three new Black Hawks and a package of upgrades for Huey (UH-1) aircraft to a Huey II configuration. I'm pleased to say that the Administration has just signed a contract for the delivery of five Huey II's, with the option for five more. Now the Administration must honor the full intent of Congress, and commit to the procurement of three new Black Hawk helicopters. The upgraded Huey's will meet most of the Colombian National Police's counter drug mission requirements, but a number of high performance Black Hawk helicopters are necessary to reach the poppy fields in the high elevations of the Andes Mountains. Mr. Speaker, if we are serious about fighting the war on drugs, we must first keep these narcotics from reaching our borders. Our allies in Central and South America are struggling against the international drug cartels--they are out-gunned, out-manned and out-financed. These helicopters are force multipliers, and will go a long way in helping Colombia halt the flow of these drugs to America's children, and I urge the adoption of this resolution.

Mr. EVERETT

Mr. EVERETT. Mr. Speaker, I have been informed that one of Alabama broadcasting's best loved personalities will soon retire after 40 years behind the microphone and television camera. A native Alabamian, Carl Stephens was practically born into his profession. A radio sportcaster at the age of ten in his native Gadsden and student manager of the college radio station while at the University of Alabama, Carl Stephens began his television career at the Alabama Educational Television Network before settling in as one of the states' best-known on-camera personalities at WSFA TV in Montgomery. At WSFA, Carl Stephens forged a 38-year career witnessing and reporting some of Alabama's and the nation's most historic events during the 1960s. Despite his contribution to news reporting in Alabama, it is noteworthy that Carl is best known by many Alabamians for his other roles. As host of a popular children's cartoon show in the late 1950's and co-anchor of the Auburn Football Review for many years, Carl's genteel charm and warm personality best shown through the television screen, earning him wide respect and many loyal fans. Carl will begin his well-deserved retirement effective this Thursday, but his voice will continue to be heard, as it has been for many years, over the public address system of Auburn University football and basketball games. I join with all Alabama in wishing Carl, his wife Mary, and all his family the very best in the years ahead.

Mr. EVERETT

Mr. EVERETT. Mr. Speaker, I have been informed that one of Alabama broadcasting's best loved personalities will soon retire after 40 years behind the microphone and television camera. A native Alabamian, Carl Stephens was practically born into his profession. A radio sportscaster at the age of ten in his native Gadsden and student manager of the college radio station while at the University of Alabama, Carl Stephens began his television career at the Alabama Educational Television Network before settling in as one of the states' best-known on-camera personalities at WSFA TV in Montgomery. At WSFA, Carl Stephens forged a 38-year career witnessing and reporting some of Alabama's and the nation's most historic events during the 1960s. Despite his contribution to news reporting in Alabama, it is noteworthy that Carl is best known by many Alabamians for his other roles. As host of a popular children's cartoon show in the late 1950's and co-anchor of the Auburn Football Review for many years, Carl's charm and warm personality was best shown through the television screen, earning him wide respect and many loyal fans. Carl will begin his well-deserved retirement effective this Thursday, but his voice will continue to be heard, as it has for many years, over the public address systems of Auburn University football and basketball games. I join with all Alabama in wishing Carl, his wife Mary, and all his family the very best in the years ahead.

Mr. EVERETT

Mr. EVERETT. Mr. Speaker, if the recent Veterans' Affairs subcommittee hearings on Arlington National Cemetery have demonstrated anything, it is the special reverence with which Americans regard Arlington as a national shrine to honor our military heroes, many of whom were ordinary people who were extraordinary in their defense of our liberties. The only objective of our work has been to ensure the integrity of that hallowed place. Although the committee's active interest in Arlington preceded the burial waivers investigation by the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, which I chaired, the subcommittee took a thorough look at Arlington and identified serious problems with the waivers and laid much of the foundation of H.R. 3211. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to join the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Stump), our full committee chairman, and many of our colleagues in this bipartisan legislation to codify and reform Arlington eligibility. With the assistance of the General Accounting Office review of burial waivers at Arlington, the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations found that the waiver process and criteria were unpublished; information about waivers has often not been available to the general public; the waiver process has lacked clear and consistent criteria, and to the extent it had criteria, it was never followed; decisions themselves have sometimes been inconsistent and not clearly documented; and worst of all, in large part because of the lack of openness and definition, the waiver process has been open to insider political influence, string-pulling and favoritism. While nothing is perfect, Arlington's system of burial waivers has proved to fall far short of the openness that veterans and the public deserve. I believe that there is widespread agreement that legislative steps are necessary to correct these serious problems our investigation has identified. As H.R. 3211 moves along and encounters the vagaries of all legislation, we should maintain the bill's objectives of establishing clear-cut eligibility and preserving the military character of Arlington. Mr. Speaker, I want to commend the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Stump) for his leadership on Arlington burial eligibility and for moving this very important legislation. I also want to commend the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Evans), our ranking Democrat, the gentleman from New York (Mr. Quinn), chairman of the Subcommittee on Benefits, the gentleman from California (Mr. Filner), that subcommittee's ranking Democrat, and the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Clyburn), ranking Democrat on my subcommittee. They have worked long and hard on H.R. 3211. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to approve this timely measure to protect the integrity and honor of Arlington National Cemetery.