Bob Filner

Mr. FILNER

Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the retirement of John Lockhart, who later this month will complete a distinguished career in education spanning nearly 30 years, including the last 20 as the legislative advocate for the San Diego County Office of Education. As legislative advocate, John Lockhart has been charged with a multitude of difficult tasks: following education legislation both in the California Legislature and in Congress; working closely with local, State, and Federal officials in San Diego County; coordinating with superintendents, trustees, and staff of the San Diego County School District; and organizing an endless number of programs, briefings, and workshops. For all of these responsibilities, John Lockhart has had one goal: to improve the education of elementary school students in San Diego with leadership and service. As a former member of the San Diego School Board, I can attest to the fact that John Lockhart has achieved this goal year after year. The entire San Diego County educational community will remember John for his efforts to improve the educational quality of our schools. John began his career in 1957 as a science education researcher for the National Science Foundation. He next served as executive assistant to the chief lobbyist at the National Education Association. Beginning in 1966 he was an educational systems specialist at Litton Educational Publishing in Washington, DC. He later served as vice president of the Taber Management Co. in Washington, DC, where he helped education clients with membership, funding, and program promotion, and was involved in the marketing of multimedia materials in applied behavioral sciences. John has also worked for the Washington State Department of Public Instruction and the Colorado Education Association. Since his arrival to San Diego in 1977, John has become a highly respected member of the Association of California School Administrators. His contributions as legislative advocate for education in San Diego County will forever be remembered and appreciated. I ask all residents of San Diego County to join me in saying ``well done'' to a true leader and advocate for education.

Mr. FILNER

Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman, and I also want to thank the gentleman from Texas [Mr. Coleman] for all his work in his tenure here. He has not only developed the expertise and the technical knowledge, but he approaches the job with a sense of balance and a sense of humor that helps us all. I thank him for his friendship and mentoring while I have been a Member. Mr. Speaker, we all recognize the need that exists to invest in our transportation infrastructure. I, therefore, somewhat reluctantly rise today in opposition to this conference report. Mr. Speaker, in every State, in every municipality, the need for funds to repair or build new highways, bridges, or public transportation systems far exceeds our ability to pay for these needed improvements. Nowhere is this need more pronounced than for our Nation's regional and short-line railroads. That is why I cannot understand why this conference committee removed the funds that the Senate provided for section 511, the Railroad Rehabilitation and Improvement Program. Mr. Speaker, this was not a lot of money. The Senate provided only $4 million. But this appropriation would have had a beneficial effect that far outweighs this meager amount. This small appropriation would have guaranteed a minimum of $75 million in private sector loans. Private sector loans. That is, for every dollar appropriated for section 511 loan guarantees, we would have received almost $20 in much-needed loan guarantees for our regional and short-line railroads. These are not grants; these are loan guarantees that will be repaid, and these loans do not have a history of default. In fact, this loan program has one of the highest repayment rates of any government loan program. It is not corporate welfare. There were no earmarks. There was no pork. Regional and short-line railroads would have had to demonstrate economic viability to qualify for these loan guarantees. And while there were no earmarks on appropriation, section 511 would have had a tremendously beneficial effect for the economy of southern California. Mr. Speaker, we have a project that enjoys widespread support, that will create tens of thousands of new jobs in San Diego and Imperial Counties, reestablishing what is called the San Diego and Arizona Eastern Railroad. The lack of a direct rail link to the east is hampering the real growth potential of the San Diego economy. Currently, San Diego's few commercial rail shipments must first make a several hundred mile detour. Ships which would otherwise use the Port of San Diego are therefore forced to go elsewhere in search of faster rail routes to inland markets. As a result, our communities lose out on business opportunities and our port suffers from serious underuse. Reestablishment of this San Diego and Arizona Eastern Railroad is one of the top priorities of everybody in San Diego and enjoys bipartisan support. The City of San Diego, the San Diego County Board of Supervisors, the San Diego Association of Governments, the Port of San Diego, the Greater San Diego Chamber of Commerce, and the San Diego Economic Development Corporation all rank the reestablishment of this rail link as the highest priority for our area's economic development. Many of our Nation's regional and short-line railroads find it difficult to obtain private financing for rail line improvements due to short terms and high interest rates. Government assistance in the form of loan guarantees often becomes the only viable means to rehabilitate these vital links in our transportation infrastructure. Mr. Speaker, I believe that this section 511 program, because it is not a grant, because it is not even a loan, but a loan guarantee to leverage private sector loans, is precisely the type of public-private partnership this Congress ought to encourage. Last year the chairman of the subcommittee joined me and several of my colleagues in a colloquy in support of this program. In that colloquy the chairman stated: I concur that these loan guarantees have proven to be reliable and can be a cost-effective and wise use of Federal transportation dollars. * * * I can assure you that I am sensitive to the needs of our regional and short-line rail lines. I will certainly consider funding the 511 Loan Guarantee Program if it is brought before a House-Senate conference. The Senate came through. They appropriated funding for section 511 loan guarantees, and I congratulate my colleagues in the other body for their vision. I just want to conclude, Mr. Speaker, by saying that unfortunately the conference committee as a whole did not demonstrate the same vision nor interest in revitalizing our regional and short-line railroads. For that reason, I must oppose the conference report.

Mr. FILNER

Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Gordon ``Gordy'' Williams, the San Diego County Building & Construction Trades Council's 1996 Retired Labor Leader of the Year. Gordy Williams, a native of San Diego County, was raised in the great South Bay community of National City. He joined Painters' Union Local 333 at the age of 18. Four years later he was elected to the executive board of his union, where he became its business representative nearly 25-years ago. Gordy Williams' enormously productive tenure in local 333 caught the attention of the International Brotherhood of Painters and Allied Trades, which soon made him a general representative for the International Union. Gordy also served as delegate to the Building Trades Council for many years, including a term as its president. He also served as an officer of the San Diego-Imperial Counties Labor Council, as well as the California State Council of Painters. But Gordy Williams did not stop there. He found the time and energy to serve the community at large--including the board of directors of National City Parks Apartments, a low-income housing complex owned and operated by the San Diego Building & Construction Trades Corporation; the California Regional Coastal Commission; and as a trustee of the San Diego Leukemia Society. He also found the time to be the master chef at the Building Trades Holiday Bowl tailgate parties and the Letter Carriers' Annual Food Drive. And, he has done all this despite health problems which he has faced with great courage. Mr. Speaker, Gordy Williams is a great man, and a true friend. I join his building and construction trades brothers and sisters in San Diego and around the country in thanking him for his dedication and great spirit, and in wishing him the very best in his retirement.

Mr. FILNER

Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to remind this House of the continuing threat to our Nation's sacred houses of worship. Reverend J. Linzie Whitmill recently contacted me to say that his insurance company is threatening to cancel his church's fire protection policy. Mr. Speaker, Reverend Whitmill and his congregation have not been negligent in minimizing the risk of fire, nor have they been negligent in paying their insurance premiums. How then is it that this model insurance client is facing cancellation of the insurance that provides his congregation financial and emotional security and peace of mind? Apparently, the insurance company feels threatened by the recent plague of church arson. This injustice must be stopped. Before we adjourn, I urge this Congress to approveH.R. 3830, the Church Insurance Protection Act [CIPA] to guarantee insurance protection for our churches. America's churches cannot wait until next year for passage of this bill.

Mr. FILNER

Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker and colleagues, I rise today to recognize Dave Moore, the business manager and financial secretary of Local 465 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, who will be justly honored as the 1996 Labor Leader of the Year by the San Diego County Building & Construction Trades Council on September 14, 1996. Dave Moore was born into a union family in Schenectady, NY, and went on to spend his life in the larger union family that is the labor movement. Arriving in San Diego in 1960, he was quickly hired by San Diego Gas & Electric Co. His leadership qualities were obvious within his union, which made him a steward in 1962, and he achieved the position of journeyman lineman by 1967. As Dave Moore's skills and knowledge increased, so did his zeal to serve--and to lead--his coworkers and his union. All of these qualities were duly recognized when, after 8 years as a steward, Dave was elected to his union's executive board. So successful were his two terms that he was appointed assistant business manager. Dave was elected president of Local 465 in 1980 for two terms, and then served for two successive terms as the Local's business manager. Never forgetting his roots or his union brothers and sisters, he resumed work at San Diego Gas & Electric Co. for 3 years before being reelected as the Local's business manager for the third time in 1995. Dave Moore is a back-to-basics labor leader, ever watchful and alert to threats to the dignity of workers and always working and fighting for fair pay and fair treatment. He has worked to gain benefits such as health care, pensions, and parental leave, not only for his own family, but for the whole union family. Mr. Speaker, I join labor leaders and many others in San Diego in congratulating Dave Moore on receiving the Labor Leader of the Year Award from the San Diego Building & Construction Trades Council.

Mr. FILNER

Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, Americans in every corner of this great Nation let out a collective cheer last Saturday as Gail Devers won her second straight Olympic gold medal in the 100 meters. Everyone in San Diego County, CA, is familiar with Gail's achievements. A graduate of Sweetwater High School in National City, Devers became only the second woman in history to win consecutive gold medals in the 100 meters. Even without this impressive accomplishment, Gail Devers would be a modern day hero. She won 10 area track titles in various events for Sweetwater High while setting seven section records and winning three State titles. She was so widely known in San Diego's South Bay that Sweetwater High named its stadium after her. Her high school yearbook inscription read, ``follow your dreams wherever they may lead.'' Little did she know that those dreams might never have been fulfilled on the track. In 1988, she developed Graves' disease and could not run for almost 2 years. She suffered through radiation therapy to counter the disease, which nearly forced the amputation of her feet in 1991. Only a year later, she won the first of her two 100 meter gold medals at the Barcelona Olympics. Despite consecutive disappointing finishes in the 100 meter hurdles, including a fall over the final hurdle to surrender the lead at the Barcelona Olympics, Gail Devers has been a model champion with her bright smile and uplifting demeanor. Gail led the San Diego County contingent of athletes at the Atlanta games--a contingent that numbers 98 strong. Many of these athletes, and others from across the Nation and around the world, trained prior to the games at the ARCO Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista in my district. The San Diego community deserves to be proud of its athletes and its support of the American Olympic effort through the Olympic Training Center. We are especially proud of Gail Devers, who has overcome life- threatening adversity to become an heroic Olympic champion.

Mr. FILNER

Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3118, The Veterans' Health Care Eligibility Reform Act of 1966, is an important step toward improving health care for our Nation's veterans. The veterans in my congressional district, the leaders of San Diego County's veterans community, and the representatives of national veterans organizations all agree that we need veterans' health care eligibility reform. This bill will simplify the rules governing VA medical care. It will allow veterans to get outpatient service when that is more appropriate than inpatient care. This bill will allow the VA to treat veterans for less money, with the savings going for expanded services. Veterans' health care eligibility reform is one of the first issues confronting me when I came to Congress in 1993, and I am proud to be a member of the Veterans Affairs Committee which has worked so hard on this bill. I appreciate the work of Chairman Bob Stump, ranking member Sonny Montgomery, chairman of the Subcommittee on Hospitals and Health Care Tim Hutchinson, and Subcommittee ranking member Chet Edwards for their tireless efforts in developing H.R. 3118. As you know, similar legislation passed the Senate Veterans' Affairs panel last week, which makes our vote today even more important. I urge my colleagues to join me in support of this bill. If this is indeed the last bill that Sonny Montgomery will be on the floor for, we also want to add our profuse gratitude for his friendship. I knew Sonny before any of you did, by the way. I worked with him before he was a Member of Congress, when he was a general in Mississippi. He taught us everything, and I think that the lasting, the greatest legacy that Sonny Montgomery will have is that as much work as he did, there is still more work to be done for veterans, and he has trained us all, educated us all, and we will carry on the work that he has been so successful at and we will finish the job that he started.

Mr. FILNER

Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 3586, the Veterans' Employment Opportunities Act of 1996. This bill would broaden and strengthen veterans' preference in Federal employment, and I congratulate John Mica, chairman of the Government Reform Subcommittee on Civil Service, and Jim Moran, the ranking member on that subcommittee, for developing this measure. For too long our veterans have not had an effective means of redress when they believe their rights under civil service law have been violated. I am particularly pleased that section 4 of H.R. 3586 would correct this problem. I know that representatives from several of the veterans' service organizations, and Office of Personnel Management staff, helped design the appeal mechanism in H.R. 3586, and I want to thank all of them for their good, creative work on this issue. It is important to point out that the civil service system has worked very well for veterans in recent years. For example, an average of 18.5 percent of new fulltime hires were veterans during fiscal years 1990, 1991, and 1992. During fiscal years 1993, 1994, and 1995, that figure increased by more than 50 percent to 31.1 percent. Nonetheless, even the best, most supportive system can be improved, and I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 3586.

Mr. FILNER

Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Nebraska for moving this legislation very quickly through the subcommittee, and I wish the chairman, Mr. Gilman, was here. He has worked long and hard to make sure that this resolution gets to the floor. Our colleagues over in the Senate, Senators Inouye and Akaka, will move this legislation very rapidly through their body, and I thank them profusely for that. Mr. Speaker, today is an historic day in this Chamber. We are taking the first step in the long overdue recognition of a group of brave soldiers who played a significant role in the outcome of World War II; that is, the Filipino veterans. Too few Americans are familiar with this chapter in our Nation's history. During World War II, the military forces of the Commonwealth of the Philippines were drafted to serve in our armed forces by an Executive order of the President of the United States. Under the command of General Douglas MacArthur, they fought side-by-side with forces from the United States mainland against our common enemy. Filipino soldiers defended the American flag in the now famous battles of Bataan and Corridor. Thousands of Filipino prisoners of war died during the 65-mile Bataan death march. Those who survived were imprisoned under inhumane conditions, where they suffered casualties at the rate of up to 200 prisoners each day. They endured 4 long years of enemy occupation. Those soldiers fortunate to escape capture, together with Filipino civilians, fought against the occupation forces. Their guerrilla attacks foiled the plans of the Japanese for a quick takeover of the region and allowed the United States the time needed to prepare forces to defeat Japan. After the liberation of the Philippine Islands, the United States was able to use the strategically located Commonwealth of the Philippines as a base from which to launch the final efforts to win the war. With their vital participation so evident, one would assume the United States would be grateful to their Filipino comrades. So it is hard to believe that soon after the war ended, the 79th Congress voted in a way that only can be considered to be blatant discrimination, taking away the recognition and benefits that the Filipino World War II veterans were promised, the recognition and benefits so richly deserved. The Washington Post wrote in 1947 that ``While the Philippine Islands were still under United States sovereignty, the President issued an order making the Filipino Army a part of the American Army. This made the Filipino soldiers who constituted that army a part of our fighting forces as much as were soldiers drafted from the States, and they remained in this status until the eve of the Philippine independence. Last year, however, Congress passed the First Rescission Act denying to Filipino veterans most of the benefits that go automatically to other veterans who were exposed to similar risks and hardships. ``We cannot help thinking,'' wrote the Post, ``that if Congress reviews the situation with full realization these men were members of our own army and subject to its orders, it will see that a great injustice has been done.'' That was 50 years ago, Mr. Speaker. Even President Truman, who signed the Rescission Act, said it did not release the United States from its obligation to provide for the heroic Filipino veterans who scarified so much during the war. He believed it was a moral obligation of the United States to look after the welfare of Filipino veterans. So do I, and so do my colleagues who join me in cosponsoring this resolution today. It has taken Congress 50 years to act, but finally we are going to correct this situation. The Senate earlier this month passed Senate Concurrent Resolution 64 and honored the Filipino World War II veterans. Today, the House of Representatives will join the Senate in this important statement. I want to thank all the Filipino veterans and all their sons and daughters who have called and written to educate Members of this Congress. This momentous vote would not have occurred without their efforts and persistence. Today, Mr. Speaker, I am proud to be a Member of this body. We are acting in a manner to correct the wrongs inflicted on these brave veterans. This is a first step. In the next Congress I will reintroduce the Filipino Veterans Equity Act, which follows the recognition we bestow today with benefits the Filipino veterans were promised. Mr. Speaker, many of my constituents are veterans affected by this resolution. Not a day goes by when they do not pray for a restoration of their honor and dignity. I urge my colleagues to correct a monumental injustice by recognizing and honoring the brave Filipino World War II veterans for their defense of democratic ideas and their important service and contribution to our victory in World War II. Again I thank the gentleman from New York [Mr. Engel], the gentleman from Nebraska [Mr. Bereuter], the gentleman from New York [Mr. Gilman], the chairman, and the gentleman from Indiana [Mr. Hamilton], the ranking member, for allowing us to vote on this today.

Mr. FILNER

Mr. FILNER. I yield to the gentleman from California.

Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to address the House for 1 minute.

Mr. FILNER

Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize an outstanding religious leader in the San Diego community who is worthy of special recognition--Suffragan Bishop Charles L. Taylor. Suffragan Bishop Taylor has been actively involved in the San Diego community since 1958. During that time, he and his wife Esther have shared their love unselfishly with 32 foster children. He was also instrumental in implementing the Free-Lunch Program for under- privileged children at a local elementary school. In 1967, he established a church and began his pastoral work. He has been most influential in this capacity, and has left indelible trails for others to follow. He is the pastor of the Greater Apostolic Faith Temple Church in my hometown of San Diego, a church that has been a religious landmark for 70 years. In today's society, where children from all areas and backgrounds must eventually face the scourge of violence and drugs, it is imperative to have religious leaders who can advise, instruct and lead our youth toward a brighter future. In his local assembly and throughout California, Suffragan Bishop Taylor has willingly assumed this critical role. He has worked untiringly to help people from all walks of life. He has dedicated most of his efforts toward the young, helping them to lead happy and productive lives. Suffragan Bishop Taylor prepared himself for these challenging tasks by earning a bachelor of science degree from Virginia State College and two doctoral degrees in Divinity. He has attained honor and recognition from several leading organizations, including the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World--the oldest and largest Pentecostal organization on Earth. After 39 years as a working member of the organization, Suffragan Bishop Taylor will be elevated to the position of Bishop this August, joining the ranks of those who execute ecclesiastical decisions that affect the religious community. A gala celebration of his elevation will be held August 17 at the Hotel Del Coronado in San Diego. I join all of those who have been touched by Suffragan Bishop Taylor's work in congratulating him on this honor and encouraging him to continue his good work.

Mr. FILNER

Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, today my colleague the gentlewoman from Georgia, Cynthia McKinney, and I rise in defense of our Nation's sacred houses of worship by introducing H.R. 3830, the Church Insurance Protection Act of 1996. Our legislation will prohibit insurance companies from canceling, overpricing or refusing to renew fire insurance policies for any house of worship due to the current threat of arson. We are currently joined in our efforts by over 20 of our colleagues, and we are confident that this number will grow as more become familiar with the need for this important legislation. We cannot allow the insurer's fear of a claim to remove a congregation's ability to adequately protect its house of worship and support buildings. Our churches must be held harmless and not subject to punitive measures from insurance companies. Last month in a rare unanimous vote this House approved H.R. 3525, the Church Arson Prevention Act of 1996, to deter the epidemic assault on our Nation's houses of worship. It was our obligation to deter the flames of bigotry and ignorance that set these churches ablaze. We could do no less. Thankfully, few churches have been lost in the weeks since we passed this legislation. However, our work is not complete. America's churches are facing another threat, the loss of insurance coverage. With the embers of the destroyed churches still smoldering, some insurance companies have canceled or have threatened to cancel fire insurance policies for houses of worship because of the perceived increased risk of arson, and more companies are threatening to do the same. This threat has not been limited to the areas most affected by the church fires. Both predominantly African-American and predominantly white congregations in my own congressional district in San Diego have been threatened with loss of their fire insurance policies, as well. By prohibiting policy cancellations, this Church Insurance Protection Act extinguishes the smoldering embers that will continue to threaten our churches long after the fires are put out. America's houses for prayer are sacred places. While we continue our efforts to stop this current rash of arson fire and to rebuild these houses of worship, we must also be certain to protect their ability to insure themselves against future violence. Just as the House rose, with one voice, to denounce these hate-driven acts of arson last month, I hope it will unanimously endorse this measure to guarantee insurance protection for our churches. America's churches cannot wait any longer for passage of this bill. We urge our colleagues to act promptly to bring this important legislation to the full House before Congress adjourns.

Mr. FILNER

Mr. FILNER. Mr. Chairman, I yield the balance of my time to the gentleman from California [Mr. Bilbray]. I thank him profusely for staying with us late in the evening and for his support.

Mr. FILNER. Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.

Mr. FILNER. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself 2 minutes. Mr. Chairman, I rise to offer an amendment that would allow the Army Corps of Engineers to conduct critically needed studies to begin addressing and remedying serious flooding in the Tijuana River Valley in San Diego. Back in 1979 the Army Corps built a flood control project in the river valley but conditions have changed and it no longer works. It needs to be reevaluated, and this study can be fit entirely within the General Investigations account of the Army Corps. The International Boundary and Water Commission which has the responsibility to maintain this project recently informed me that the situation within the Tijuana River Valley requires an immediate reevaluation of the hydraulic conditions. As they said, the area downstream of the project has changed considerably within the last 25 years and has changed the hydraulic characteristics. Because of this change the project can no longer function as originally designed. In fact, serious flooding has occurred in the valley in 1983, 1985 and again in 1993. Furthermore, a couple of months ago there was a bomb scare at the Rodriguez Dam in Mexico. If this dam were to break, it would devastate the areas downstream of the reservoir, in this case the whole southern portion of San Diego County. It literally would imperil hundreds of thousands of American citizens. During this apparent terrorist episode the city of San Diego and the county water district discovered that there was no emergency response plan to deal with the failure of this dam. My amendment would appropriate $600,000 and direct the Army Corps, in consultation with the International Boundary and Water Commission, to conduct a study to provide an update of the hydrology in the Tijuana River Valley and prepare an emergency dam break response plan. Mr. Chairman, the Tijuana River Valley deserves protection from floods and from terrorists. I urge my colleagues to approve this request.

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

Mr. FILNER. I yield to the gentleman from Indiana.

Mr. FILNER. Mr. Chairman, I ask unanimous consent to withdraw my amendment.

Mr. FILNER. Mr. Chairman, I appreciate the understanding of the chairman and the understanding of the ranking member. I understand that because of the international nature of this request and the urgency of it, that they will be working with us to try to deal with it in the future.

Mr. FILNER

Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to join my colleagues in commemorating a tragic event--Turkey's military invasion of the Republic of Cyprus in July 1974. But I think we all agree that the even greater tragedy is the fact that 21 years later, Turkey's illegal occupation of northern Cyprus remains in place and the suffering of the people of Cyprus continues. Driven from their homes and villages, brutalized, and denied information as to the fate of over 1,600 loved ones missing since the invasion, the people of Cyprus have patiently cooperated with international negotiators--for 21 years--in the hopes of securing a peaceful coexistence. Mr. Speaker, Greek-Americans in San Diego and across the United States also share in the agony created by the occupation of Cyprus. They agonize about missing friends and family, the destruction of the Greek Cypriot culture and the denial of access to ancestral homelands now occupied by the Turkish army. These people have suffered too long! And so, together with the Greek-American community, I urge Congress and the administration to adopt a far more active role in pressing the Turkish Government to withdraw its troops from Cyprus, end the human rights abuses there and provide a full accounting of those who are missing. It's time we let Turkey know that a peaceful resolution to this crisis is tragically overdue.

Mr. FILNER

Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for his generosity in yielding time to me. Mr. Speaker, I want Members to know how much I have enjoyed serving as ranking member on the subcommittee that has jurisdiction over the Montgomery GI bill and other issues of special interest to you. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3673 is a good bill, and I particularly want to express my strong support for the education and employment-related provisions contained in title II of this measure. The chairman of the subcommittee has already fully explained the details of H.R. 3673, so I will not take up our time repeating that information. I do want to say, however, that I am particularly pleased that this bill includes the reauthorization of the Homeless Veterans Reintegration project. Under this very successful program, which is administered by the Veterans' Employment and Training Service in the Department of Labor, thousands of homeless veterans have been placed in permanent, substantial jobs. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 3673.

Mr. FILNER

Mr. FILNER. I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time. Mr. Speaker, I will not take up time by again summarizing this bill. I do, though, want to particularly point out two of the provisions in H.R. 3674. First, this measure would provide a modest increase in the benefits paid under the Montgomery GI bill--active duty. As the costs of education continue to rise, we must ensure that the GI bill is a meaningful readjustment benefit that provides an adequate level of assistance to our veteran students. Additionally, in a recent report, the Department of Defense cautioned that we must pay close attention to the benefit levels paid under the Montgomery GI bill if this program is to continue to be an effective recruitment tool. Next, a provision of H.R. 3674 would permit certain active-duty individuals who have eligibility under the Veterans' Educational Assistance Program, known as VEAP, to transfer to the Montgomery GI bill. By way of background, the new GI bill, as introduced by Mr. Montgomery and approved by the House in 1984, would have permitted all servicemembers with VEAP eligibility to transfer to the new program. The new GI bill was a far more generous program than VEAP, and Sonny wanted those members of the Armed Forces who were VEAP-eligibles to have the opportunity to enroll in the more attractive program. Unfortunately, the then-chairman and ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, both of whom were opposed to the new GI bill, refused to accept this provision. The only way to reach a compromise and establish the new program was to accept the Senate restrictions on eligibility. Since then, however, Sonny has taken every opportunity to move individuals out of the VEAP program and into the Montgomery GI bill. H.R. 3674 continues his good work, and will enable yet another group of servicemembers to establish Montgomery GI bill eligibility. The Montgomery GI bill has been a landmark program, and I am proud to have the opportunity make it even stronger and better.

Mr. FILNER

Mr. FILNER. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word. Mr. Chairman, America's children could once again become the innocent victims of shortsighted proposals to cut education programs. The American people remember last year, when the majority unleashed an all-out assault on title I, Head Start, Goals 2000, bilingual and immigrant education, student loans, and a host of other valuable programs. Well, here we go again. We have an education budget for 1997 that looks a lot like last year's proposal. Many of the cuts that appeared in their 1996 budget proposal have been given starring roles in 1997. The plan for 1997 falls more than $2.8 billion short of President Clinton's request. Proponents of the plan claim that they are merely freezing education funding at last year's levels, yet their proposal would cut the Federal education budget by $644 million from last year. At the same time, 1 million additional children who rely on these programs will be enrolled in America's schools by the fall of 1997. California's K-12 enrollment is expected to be 350,000 higher in 1997 than it was 2 years previously. Considering this growth, the majority's plan grossly underfunds education programs. The level of underfunding in my home State of California is staggering: Total funding for education in California falls $328 million short of what is needed. Goals 2000 is underfunded by nearly $55 million. Title I--more than $66 million below what is needed. Safe and Drug-Free Schools Programs--underfunded by nearly $8 million. Immigrant education programs--more than $14 million below what is needed. Special education--underfunded by more than $33 million. Job training and education--more than $3 million below what is needed. Adult education--underfunded by nearly $5 million. Even the smaller but equally as important programs that help children in California will suffer under the majority's plan. For example, homeless children and youth--more than $750,000 below what is needed; Indian education--underfunded by more than $800,000. The majority needs to learn that the American people don't want to see cuts in education. Americans overwhelmingly rejected the cuts that were proposed last year. Perhaps the advocates of these cuts should listen to their colleagues on the other side of the aisle who have put forth a families first agenda, which would balance the budget without draconian cuts in education. Mr. Chairman, I would hope that we would pass the Obey amendment that is on the floor or that we would reject the bill before us because it shortchanges America's children.

Mr. FILNER

Mr. FILNER. Mr. Chairman and colleagues, I rise to express my strong support for the amendment to the Labor/HHS/Education Appropriations bill offered by the Chairman of the Veterans' Affairs Committee [Mr. Stump]. Under this provision, $3.8 million would be added to the funding level for the Department of Labor's Veterans' Employment and Training Service and $2 million for the Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program. On June 18, I spoke about my deep distress when the Labor/HHS/ Education Appropriations Subcommittee slashed veterans' employment funding by almost $12 million below the level recommended by President Clinton--far below the level of funding that is needed to place our veterans into permanent, good-paying jobs. I shared with my colleagues the fact that 28,000 fewer veterans would be placed in jobs than proposed in the President's budget. I called attention to the Republicans' recommendation that the transition assistance program be terminated, a successful program that has trained hundreds of thousands of men and women so that they could quickly find good civilian jobs upon leaving the Armed Forces. Fortunately, most members of the Full Appropriations Committee heard these concerns expressed, not only by me but by many other veterans supporters. An amendment offered by Mr. Obey to restore most of the funding was approved. This amendment, which we are now considering, will go a step further and fully restore veterans' employment funding to the level originally requested by the President. I thank the Chairman of the Veterans' Affairs Committee for this responsible amendment, and I urge my colleagues to support it.