Daniel Inouye

Mr. INOUYE

Mr. INOUYE. No.

Mr. INOUYE

Mr. INOUYE. May I first thank my chairman for his most generous remarks. Mr. President, I begin by congratulating Chairman Stevens for the superb manner in which he has guided this bill through the committees to the floor. I wish to associate myself with the remarks of my dear friend and chairman of the committee, Senator Stevens. I suggest to my colleagues that this is a good measure, worthy of support by all of us. I join my chairman in requesting that our colleagues submit their amendments in a timely fashion. I note that this measure--a measure that includes $287.6 billion; the largest ever considered by this Senate--was unanimously approved by the Committee on Appropriations by a vote of 28-0. It will do a great deal for both our readiness and moderniation requirements to protect our nation's security. Highlights include: For our military personnel and their families: It provides full funding for military pay including a 3.7 percent pay raise; an increase of $153 million for military bonuses to improve recruiting and retention; and increases for the GI bill for Reservists. The subcommittee has fully funded readiness programs, including: $4.1 billion to support our peacekeepers overseas; an increase of $183 million for our National guard; and a total increase of $4.5 billion for readiness from the levels provided in FY 2000. Full funding is also recommended for the new prescription drug benefit as authorized; and $275 million is recommended for breast and prostate cancer research. Critical investment highlights include the following: Full funding for our F-22 and F/A-18 fighters; an increase of $250 million for the Army's highest priority, ``transformation''; full funding for the Navy's carrier, submarines, and destroyers; and, an increase of $411 million for ballistic missile defense programs. However, Senators should be advised that the bill does not provide a blank check to the Pentagon. It includes some tough reductions to programs that are being schedule, over budget, or simply not ready to proceed at this time. I want to assure my colleagues that the No. 1 priority in this bill is to protect near-term readiness. The men and women willing to go into harm's way to protect the rest of us simply must be provided the tools they need to defeat any threat. At the same time, the bill provides sufficient funding for modernization programs so that future readiness will also be protected. We must continue to invest for the future to ensure we are never caught unprepared. I would also like to point out that the Chairman has been very responsive to the wishes of the members. Many of the suggestions made by the Members of the Senate have been incorporated into bill. This is a very good bill. I strongly encourage all my colleagues to support it. Amendment No. 3278

Mr. INOUYE

Mr. INOUYE. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce a bill to amend the Native American Languages Act to provide authority for the establishment of Native American Language Survival Schools. I am joined in co-sponsorship by Senators Akaka, Cochran, Dodd, Kennedy, Murray and Schumer. Mr. President, for hundreds of years, beginning with the arrival of European settlers on America's shores, the native peoples of America have had to fight for the survival of their cultures. History has shown that the ability to maintain and preserve the culture and traditions of a people is directly tied to the perpetuation of native languages. Like others, the traditional languages of Native American people are an integral part of their culture and identity. They provide the means for passing down to each new generation the stories, customs, religion, history and traditional ways of life. To lose the diversity and vibrant history of many Indian nations, is to lose a vital part of the history of this country. Mr. President, Native American languages are near extinction in the United States. Studies suggest that at one time several thousand distinct Indian languages existed in what is now America. Today that number has dwindled to approximately 155 Indian languages. Of these 155 languages remaining, 45 are only spoken by elders, 60 are spoken only by middle-aged adults or older adults, 30 are spoken by all adults but not children, and only 20 Native languages are spoken by most of the children. With so many Native communities facing the loss of their languages as elderly native speakers pass on before the language can be taught to younger generations, it is little wonder that this tragedy is growing exponentially, day by day. In the 1880s, as part of the United States' forced assimilation policies towards Native Americans, a system of off-reservation boarding schools was initiated. Native American children were forcibly taken from their families, transported hundreds of miles to schools where their hair was cut notwithstanding the religious importance of hair length in most native cultures, their clothes replaced with military- style uniforms, and they were forbidden to speak their native languages or practice their religion. Although this effort to eradicate Indian culture was not successful, it did separate several generations of Native Americans from their native languages. The Native American Languages Act of 1990 officially repudiated the policies of the past and declared that ``it is the policy of the United States to preserve, protect, and promote the rights and freedom of Native Americans to use, practice, and develop Native American languages.'' The Act was amended in 1992 to provide financial support to Native American language projects. Mr. President, this bill would bring the nation one step closer to assuring the preservation and revitalization of Native American languages by supporting the development of Native American Language Survival Schools. These schools would provide a complete education through the use of both Native American languages and English. The bill also provides support for Native American Language Nests, which are Native American language immersion programs for children aged six and under. In addition, the bill provides authority for the following activities: curriculum development, teacher, staff and community resource development, rental, lease, purchase, construction, maintenance or repair of educational facilities, and the establishment of two Native American Language School support centers at the Native Language College of the University of Hawaii at Hilo, and the Alaska Native Language Center of the University of Alaska at Fairbanks. Mr. President, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation to assist the Native people of America in their efforts to reverse the effects of past Federal policies by reintroducing today's children to their Native languages and preserving Native languages for the generations to come. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. INOUYE

Mr. INOUYE. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce a bill to amend the Native American Languages Act to provide authority for the establishment of Native American Language Survival Schools. I am joined in co-sponsorship by Senators Akaka, Cochran, Dodd, Kennedy, Murray and Schumer. Mr. President, for hundreds of years, beginning with the arrival of European settlers on America's shores, the native peoples of America have had to fight for the survival of their cultures. History has shown that the ability to maintain and preserve the culture and traditions of a people is directly tied to the perpetuation of native languages. Like others, the traditional languages of Native American people are an integral part of their culture and identity. They provide the means for passing down to each new generation the stories, customs, religion, history and traditional ways of life. To lose the diversity and vibrant history of many Indian nations, is to lose a vital part of the history of this country. Mr. President, Native American languages are near extinction in the United States. Studies suggest that at one time several thousand distinct Indian languages existed in what is now America. Today that number has dwindled to approximately 155 Indian languages. Of these 155 languages remaining, 45 are only spoken by elders, 60 are spoken only by middle-aged adults or older adults, 30 are spoken by all adults but not children, and only 20 Native languages are spoken by most of the children. With so many Native communities facing the loss of their languages as elderly native speakers pass on before the language can be taught to younger generations, it is little wonder that this tragedy is growing exponentially, day by day. In the 1880s, as part of the United States' forced assimilation policies towards Native Americans, a system of off-reservation boarding schools was initiated. Native American children were forcibly taken from their families, transported hundreds of miles to schools where their hair was cut notwithstanding the religious importance of hair length in most native cultures, their clothes replaced with military- style uniforms, and they were forbidden to speak their native languages or practice their religion. Although this effort to eradicate Indian culture was not successful, it did separate several generations of Native Americans from their native languages. The Native American Languages Act of 1990 officially repudiated the policies of the past and declared that ``it is the policy of the United States to preserve, protect, and promote the rights and freedom of Native Americans to use, practice, and develop Native American languages.'' The Act was amended in 1992 to provide financial support to Native American language projects. Mr. President, this bill would bring the nation one step closer to assuring the preservation and revitalization of Native American languages by supporting the development of Native American Language Survival Schools. These schools would provide a complete education through the use of both Native American languages and English. The bill also provides support for Native American Language Nests, which are Native American language immersion programs for children aged six and under. In addition, the bill provides authority for the following activities: curriculum development, teacher, staff and community resource development, rental, lease, purchase, construction, maintenance or repair of educational facilities, and the establishment of two Native American Language School support centers at the Native Language College of the University of Hawaii at Hilo, and the Alaska Native Language Center of the University of Alaska at Fairbanks. Mr. President, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation to assist the Native people of America in their efforts to reverse the effects of past Federal policies by reintroducing today's children to their Native languages and preserving Native languages for the generations to come. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. INOUYE

Mr. INOUYE. Mr. President, I rise today in recognition of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. In 1992, President Bush signed into law legislation designating May as Asian Pacific American Heritage Month to celebrate the contributions the Asian American and Pacific Islander communities have made to our country. Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders have been instrumental in the development of the American landscape for more than a century. The diversity within the Asian American and Pacific Islander communities exemplifies the richness of our multicultural country, celebrated through Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. Valuing family, cultural heritage, and commitment to society, Asian Americans and Pacific islanders have built strong communities contributing to our dynamic society and adding strength to the foundation of our country. With strong values, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders have succeeded in many facets of life including science where Dr. David Ho was celebrated as Time Magazine's 1996 Man of the Year; the arts, with fashion designer Vera Wang, writer Amy Tan, and actress Ming Na-Wen; sports with ice skaters such as Kristi Yamaguchi and Michelle Kwan and football legend Junior Seau; in the military where General Eric Shinseki is the Chief of Staff for the U.S. Army; and politics where there are two Pacific Islander Governors and where I am joined by six other Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders serving in Congress, and where a record number of Asian American and Pacific Islanders are serving as Administration appointees in some of the highest offices of government. This list is by no means exhaustive, it only scratches the surface of the contributions Asian American and Pacific Islanders have made to our country. Asian Pacific American Heritage Month allows us to pay tribute to the commitment and contributions these men and women have made to their communities and to our country. The growth of the Asian American and Pacific Islander communities, along with the achievements we have gained, have brought Asian American and Pacific Islander issues to the forefront of American politics. Last June, President Clinton signed Executive Order 13125 establishing the White House Asian and Pacific Islander Initiative seeking to improve the quality of life for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders through increased participation in federal government programs where they are most likely to be under-served. I commend the President for this Initiative and optimistically look forward to the progress this commission will achieve, under the chairmanship of Mr. Norman Mineta, to highlight and challenge issues pertinent to Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders have made considerable contributions to our nation. I am pleased that through Asian Pacific American Heritage Month the various histories, cultures, triumphs, and hardships of all Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders can be celebrated, honored, and remembered.

Mr. INOUYE

Mr. INOUYE. Mr. President, I would like to take a moment to honor Rear Admiral (Upper Half) Stephen Todd Fisher as he retires from the United States Navy after more than thirty-four years of active duty service. For the last five years, Rear Admiral Fisher has been the Deputy Surgeon General of the Navy-the first non-physician officer to serve in that position. In addition, Rear Admiral Fisher was the first Medical Service Corps officer to be selected by a board to the rank of two-star Admiral within the Department of Defense. He served as the Director of the Medical Service Corps from 1993--1995. RADM Fisher's assignments included tours on the U.S.S Repose (AH 16); Headquarters, Fleet Marine Force, Pacific; various Navy Hospitals and Clinics; the Naval School of Health Sciences; the office of the Chief of Naval Operations; and the Headquarters for Navy Medicine. He is also the recipient of the 2000 American Hospital Association award for Excellence in Federal Service. Rear Admiral Fisher's leadership as the Executive Agent for the Department of Defense Clinical Business Area led to the development of a computerized patient record which will be tested and evaluated this summer for government-wide adoption. This accomplishment has been highly praised by the National Library of Medicine Board of Regents and completes the planning segment of the Composite Health Care System II program. As Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Government Computerized Patient Record, Rear Admiral Fisher coordinated linkage between the Department of Veteran's Health Administration, the Department of Defense, and the Indian Health Services. A prototype of the Computerized Patient Record has been developed and will be alpha tested in Alaska in 2001. Under his leadership, the Composite Health Care System II Program Office was selected for the Government Technology Leadership Award and the Smithsonian Technology Award in recognition of its visionary use of information technology. As a principal member of the Military Health System Information Management Proponent Committee, Rear Admiral Fisher worked closely with the Deputy Surgeons General of the Air Force and Army, and the Executive Director of the Defense Medical Information Management System orchestrating the development, prioritization, and achievement of information management goals for medical readiness and peacetime health care programs for the Department of Defense. His contributions are far- reaching and will positively impact military health care for years to come. Mr. President, Rear Admiral Fisher's many meritorious awards and decorations demonstrate his contributions in a tangible way, but it is the legacy he leaves behind for the Navy Medical Service Corps, the United States Navy, and the Department of Defense for which we are most appreciative. It is with pride that I congratulate Rear Admiral Fisher on his outstanding career of exemplary service.

Mr. INOUYE

Mr. INOUYE. Mr. President, I rise today to join my Chairman, Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell, in the introduction of a bill to reauthorize the Indian Health Care Improvement Act of 1976, Public Law 94-437. Mr. President, for the past two years, the leaders of Indian country have been engaged in a consultation process with the Indian Health Service in an effort to address changes to the Act which would hold the potential of improving and enhancing the ability of tribal health programs, urban Indian health care programs, and the Indian Health Service to provide comprehensive primary health care and public health services to all eligible American Indian and Alaska Native patients citizens. The goal of the consultation process was to build a consensus on the best means of addressing the health care challenges that confront Native America, so that the reauthorization bill could reflect a unified vision of the Indian Health Service, tribal governments and urban Indian health care programs. The tribal participants in this process appropriately named this comprehensive consultation process ``Speaking with One Voice''. Mr. President, this tribally-developed reauthorization bill is the most comprehensive to date. The first step in the consultation process was the convening of a roundtable discussion with tribal leaders, urban Indian health care providers, Indian Health Service health care professionals, national Indian health organizations, researchers, and other policy makers. Specific recommendations regarding the manner in which tribal consultation meetings would be carried out were developed at this Roundtable. From these recommendations, the Roundtable participants developed a consultation approach that included the pursuit of consensus on what amendments to the Act were necessary and the identification of opportunities for change, the identification of area and regional differences, the promotion of a partnership environment for tribes, urban Indians, and the Indian Health Service, and the establishment of a core group to review materials. Beginning in the fall of 1998, tribal representatives participated in twelve Area meetings to begin discussing concerns and recommendations related to the Act. Each of the twelve geographic Areas facilitated a consultation process with health care providers in their respective Areas, and this process was completed in January 1999. Four regional consultation meetings were held across the country from January to April, 1999. Regional meetings were intended to provide a forum for tribes to provide input, to share the recommendations from each Area, and to build consensus among participants for a unified position from each regional meeting. From these four meetings, a matrix of 135 recommendations for each of the sections in the Indian Health Care Improvement Act was developed, as well as proposals for new provisions. Over 900 health care providers participated in the four regional meetings. Upon the completion of the four regional meetings, the Indian Health Service convened a National Steering committee composed of elected tribal representatives and urban Indian health care program directors. Many of the members of the steering committee had participated in the Area and regional consultation meetings. The National Steering Committee developed a draft consensus bill based on the Area and regional consultation meetings. The draft bill was mailed to every tribal government and urban Indian health care program in the nation with a 30-day period for additional comments. The draft bill was then presented at a national meeting in Washington, D.C. in late July of last year. Participants in this national meeting included tribal government leaders, urban Indian health care providers, members of Congress and their staff, as well as several Administration and departmental officials. The National Steering Committee has completed a monumental task with the broad support of Indian Tribes and communities across the United States. With this in mind, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

Mr. INOUYE

Mr. INOUYE. Mr. President, I rise today to join my Chairman, Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell, in the introduction of a bill to reauthorize the Indian Health Care Improvement Act of 1976, Public Law 94-437. Mr. President, for the past two years, the leaders of Indian country have been engaged in a consultation process with the Indian Health Service in an effort to address changes to the Act which would hold the potential of improving and enhancing the ability of tribal health programs, urban Indian health care programs, and the Indian Health Service to provide comprehensive primary health care and public health services to all eligible American Indian and Alaska Native patients citizens. The goal of the consultation process was to build a consensus on the best means of addressing the health care challenges that confront Native America, so that the reauthorization bill could reflect a unified vision of the Indian Health Service, tribal governments and urban Indian health care programs. The tribal participants in this process appropriately named this comprehensive consultation process ``Speaking with One Voice''. Mr. President, this tribally-developed reauthorization bill is the most comprehensive to date. The first step in the consultation process was the convening of a roundtable discussion with tribal leaders, urban Indian health care providers, Indian Health Service health care professionals, national Indian health organizations, researchers, and other policy makers. Specific recommendations regarding the manner in which tribal consultation meetings would be carried out were developed at this Roundtable. From these recommendations, the Roundtable participants developed a consultation approach that included the pursuit of consensus on what amendments to the Act were necessary and the identification of opportunities for change, the identification of area and regional differences, the promotion of a partnership environment for tribes, urban Indians, and the Indian Health Service, and the establishment of a core group to review materials. Beginning in the fall of 1998, tribal representatives participated in twelve Area meetings to begin discussing concerns and recommendations related to the Act. Each of the twelve geographic Areas facilitated a consultation process with health care providers in their respective Areas, and this process was completed in January 1999. Four regional consultation meetings were held across the country from January to April, 1999. Regional meetings were intended to provide a forum for tribes to provide input, to share the recommendations from each Area, and to build consensus among participants for a unified position from each regional meeting. From these four meetings, a matrix of 135 recommendations for each of the sections in the Indian Health Care Improvement Act was developed, as well as proposals for new provisions. Over 900 health care providers participated in the four regional meetings. Upon the completion of the four regional meetings, the Indian Health Service convened a National Steering committee composed of elected tribal representatives and urban Indian health care program directors. Many of the members of the steering committee had participated in the Area and regional consultation meetings. The National Steering Committee developed a draft consensus bill based on the Area and regional consultation meetings. The draft bill was mailed to every tribal government and urban Indian health care program in the nation with a 30-day period for additional comments. The draft bill was then presented at a national meeting in Washington, D.C. in late July of last year. Participants in this national meeting included tribal government leaders, urban Indian health care providers, members of Congress and their staff, as well as several Administration and departmental officials. The National Steering Committee has completed a monumental task with the broad support of Indian Tribes and communities across the United States. With this in mind, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

Mr. INOUYE

Mr. INOUYE. Mr. President, I am deeply honored to rise in tribute to over 3,000 courageous professional Navy Nurses of the Korean War, undaunted in the face of danger, who unselfishly answered the call of duty. They came from every corner of the nation. They came from all walks of life. They joined the Navy because they wanted to serve their country. They wanted to share their professional nursing skills and to care for those injured in body, mind and spirit. The Navy nurses of the Korean War claim they did nothing special, they were just doing their job. But in the hearts of all who served with them, the doctors and the corpsmen, and their patients, Navy Nurses of the Korean War are true American heroes. During the Korean War, whole blood could only be kept for eight days. Hospital ships were in Korean waters for weeks, months. Navy nurses gave their own blood for patient transfusions. Many aboard the hospital ship Haven were found to be anemic from giving so much of their blood for the injured. Nurses worked around the clock during the mass casualties brought in from battles like Chosin Reservoir. Many times they worked 96 hours with just two hours of sleep in between swells of patients. Ever resilient and effervescent, Navy Nurses of the Korea War volunteered to assist orphanages in Inchon and Pusan caring for sick and wounded children. Severely injured children were brought back to hospital ships for surgery like having shrapnel removed from head wounds. Nurses ventured into POW camps to ensure that children in these camps were treated and inoculated. Whether the nurses were stationed close to the fighting aboard hospital ships in Korean waters, at Naval Hospital Yokosuka, Japan, at other medical facilities in the Far East or on the home front, nurses were always there for their patients . . . their patients always came first. Fifty years ago, Navy Nurses who served during the Korean War came home to quietly live their lives. For fifty years our nation has not known about this group of patriotic nurses who volunteered to serve our country. And they did it because they wanted to. They did it because they cared about our nation. They did it because they wanted to share their nursing skills. They did it because of their respect for life. Let us not wait a day longer. Let us remember how these courageous, patriotic women answered the call of their country. And let us remember those Navy nurses who made it home in spirit only to live on in the hearts of family, friends and their fellow countrymen. Let us remember those Navy Nurses of the Korean War who are now in nursing homes and long-term care facilities. These nurses who once fought so valiantly to save the lives of their patients, now fight each day for their own survival. Navy Nurses of the Korean War, you are forgotten no more. You shall remain in the hearts and spirits of all Americans. Let your story be told. Let your story be heard. Let your story be preserved in our history and remembered for decades to come. Your sacrifices and uncommon valor sparks the fire of patriotism, the foundation of our nation. Navy Nurses of the Korean War, your unfaltering commitment of service to our country brings pride and honor to us. Mr. President, I ask my colleagues in the Senate to join me in remembering these quiet heroes-- the Navy Nurses of the Korean War. Navy Nurses of the Korean War . . . thank you from the bottom of our hearts. You are our heroes. You are forever remembered in the hearts and souls of your fellow countrymen. You are forever remembered in the history of our Nation.

Mr. INOUYE

Mr. INOUYE. Mr. President, I would like to take a moment to honor Captain John (Jack) and Captain Gloria Caffrey as they retire after more than sixty years of combined dedicated service in the United States Navy. These two outstanding Navy Nurse Corps officers culminate their distinguished careers at the Naval Hospital in Jacksonville, Florida, where Captain Jack Caffrey served as the Director of Operational Medicine and Captain Gloria Caffrey as the Director of Nursing Services and Associate Director of Clinical Services. Captain Jack Caffrey has distinguished himself as a true leader and pace setter in the Navy Nurse Corps. In addition to his last assignment in Operational Medicine, highlights of his career include serving as the Commanding Officer and Executive Officer of the Naval School of Health Sciences in Bethesda, Maryland. His strong leadership and dedication to excellence in education and training programs led to unprecedented technological advances in training materials and methodologies. For more than thirty years Captain Jack Caffrey has met every challenge and every assignment with enthusiasm and zeal. He has served as a positive role model for all Nurse Corps officers and his contributions will positively impact military nursing and health care for years to come. Captain Gloria Caffrey has also distinguished herself as an outstanding Nurse Corp officer for more than thirty years and has excelled in numerous executive and clinical assignments. While her accomplishments have been many, highlights of her career include serving as the Head of the Nurse Corps Assignment Section in the Bureau of Naval Personnel. In this role, she expertly managed the assignment of 3,200 Nurse Corps officers to billets Navy-wide. Captain Gloria Caffrey was instrumental in increasing the number of Nurse Corps officers selected to Executive Medicine billets and was key in developing policy changes affecting Defense Officer Personnel Management Act grade relief and subspecialty reductions. Her superior leadership, vision, and dedication to duty has been an inspiration to all military nurses. Captain Gloria Caffrey leaves a lasting legacy of excellence. Mr. President, more than fifty years ago, as I was recovering in a military hospital, I began a unique relationship with military nurses. The Caffreys embody what I know military nurses to be--strong, dedicated professional leaders, stepping to the forefront to serve their country and committed to caring for our Sailors, Marines, Airmen, Soldiers and family members during peacetime and at war. Captains Jack and Gloria Caffrey's many meritorious awards and decorations demonstrate their contributions in a tangible way, but it is the legacy they leave behind for the Navy Nurse Corps, the United States Navy and the Department of Defense of which we are most appreciative. It is with pride that I congratulate both Captain Jack Caffrey and Captain Gloria Caffrey on their outstanding careers of exemplary service.

Mr. INOUYE

Mr. INOUYE. Madam President, I rise today to call attention to a recent New York Times article, ``India's Unwired Villages Mired in the Distant Past.'' It is because of the struggles developing nations face, as illustrated in the article, that I support the United States Telecommunications Training Institute (USTTI) and their work to increase access to telecommunications. The USTTI is a nonprofit joint venture connecting the public and private sectors, providing tuition-free communications and broadcast training to professionals from around the world. USTTI is geared toward meeting the common training needs of the women and men who are bringing modern communications to the developing world. The development of the telecommunications industry may be seen as a solution to economic troubles in developing nations. The New York Times article I referred to earlier states, ``. . . the wonders of telecommunications technology--distance learning, telemedicine, the Internet--offer a way out of the `old India','' where illiteracy, disease, and poverty punctuate the countryside. This scenario is not isolated to India, but may be applied to many developing nations throughout the world. In each instance, a big part of the solution is the deployment of modern telecommunications technology. The USTTI has been working to bring modern telecommunication services to the developing world for 18 years. The USTTI has offered 935 tuition-free courses and has graduated 5,574 men and women who are now helping to make modern telecommunications a reality in their 161 respective countries. The program participants are government officials responsible for developing and implementing telecommunications policies in their countries. By allowing developing countries to capitalize fully on the increased educational opportunities provided through the USTTI, countries prosper economically and connect themselves to the modern world. Madam President, I ask that the full text of the New York Times article be printed in the Record. The article follows: [From the New York Times, Mar. 19, 2000] India's Unwired Villages Mired in the Distant Past (By Celia W. Dugger) Hyderabad, India, March 15.--Cyber Towers rises from the campus of a software technology park here, a sleek Internet- connected symbol of the new India that is feverishly courting foreign investment, selling its wares in the global marketplace and creating wealth at an astonishing rate. But less than 50 miles away, in the poverty-stricken village of Sheri Ram Reddy Guda, the old India is alive and unwell. Illiteracy, sickness and hunger are the villagers' constant companions. Women and children work in the fields for less than 50 cents a day. The sole telephone--an antique contraption of batteries and antennae--almost never works. Like most of the villagers, Muhammad Hussain, an unlettered field hand in a ragged loin cloth, has never seen a computer, but offered that he did once watch an office worker at a typewriter. ``I saw the fingers moving, but I did not know what was being written,'' he said. The chasm between India's educated elite and its impoverished multitudes worries economists, politicians and some software entrepreneurs. Because of the extraordinary success of Indian engineers in Silicon Valley and the Indian software industry's sales to American companies, India and the United States have forged strong economic ties in high technology. President Clinton will acknowledge those links next Friday with a visit to Hitec City, where Microsoft, Oracle and Metamor are ensconced in the air conditioned comfort of Cyber Towers. But during his five-day whirlwind tour of five Indian cities, the president will spend little time in the villages, where almost three-quarters of this country's billion people still live and struggle for the basic necessities. At a time when India's software industry is creating a glamorous digerati and driving a dizzying escalation in stock values on the Bombay exchange, the boom has stirred a debate about the country's social and economic priorities, as well as the potential of high technology to transform the lives of the poor. Some, like Chandrababu Naidu, the chief minister of the southern state of Andhra Pradesh, whose capital is this bustling city, have an almost messianic faith in technology. Though fewer than one-half of 1 percent of Indian households now have Internet access compared with more than a third in America, the optimists believe that technology is coming that will make connecting to the New cheap enough for a broader spectrum of Indians to afford. ``If a television in a school is connected to the Internet, you can hold literacy classes in the evenings,'' said Randeep Sudan, who oversees information technology for Mr. Naidu. ``You can deliver the best of content to the worst of schools. Imagine the potential to revolutionize the educational process.'' But others worry that the boom may be distracting the country from its chronic problems and fear that the last decade's more rapid economic growth--spawned by India's loosening of restrictions on trade and investment--is leaving the poor, and the poorer states, further behind, even as the size of India's middle class has doubled. This is still a country where half the women and a quarter of the men cannot read or write; where more than half the children 4 and under are stunted by malnutrition; where one- third of the population, or more than 300 million people, live in absolute poverty, unable to afford enough to eat; where more than 30 million children 6 to 10 are not in school. K.R. Narayanan, India's first president from an untouchable caste, sounded this alarm in a recent speech. ``We have one of the world's largest reservoirs of technical personnel, but also the world's largest number of illiterates,'' he said, ``the world's largest middle class, but also the largest number of people below the poverty line, and the largest number of children suffering from malnutrition. Our giant factories rise from out of squalor. Our satellites shoot up from the midst of hovels of the poor.'' Even those who believe that the importance of the $5 billion software industry is overblown acknowledge its contributions. It has generated 280,000 jobs for the educated and highly skilled. Those workers, in turn, are creating demand for housing, refrigerators and other goods that help the economy grow. And there is potential for greater growth. A study by McKinsey & Company, the management consulting firm, forecasts that India's software industry could earn $87 billion and employ 2.2 million people before the decade is done. The success of the industry has also stirred optimism about India's ability to compete in a global economy. It has offered capitalist, free market models in a country where government still plays a central role and has hastened the tendency of the country's best and brightest young people to choose careers in business rather than the civil service. ``Every country needs a major success story to lift the psyche and to be seen as a powerhouse in something,'' said Krishna G. Palepu, a Harvard Business School professor who is bullish on the industry. ``This is India's chance. Suddenly, there's a sense of self-confidence and visibility internationally.'' But there are also limitations on what high technology can do to increase the productivity of the entire Indian economy, at least for now. The industry itself still generates only about 1 percent of India's gross domestic product and about 1 percent of worldwide software exports. The country desperately needs to attend to the fundamentals, most economists say, and some state leaders like Mr. Naidu concur. It must invest more in primary education and health care, build a working system of roads and power grids, reduce subsidies for power and fertilizer that go mostly to the better-off and generate higher rates of growth in agriculture and industry, which employ 8 in 10 Indians. India has lagged behind China, for instance, in educating its children and increasing its exports of textiles, shoes and toys--industries that employ huge numbers of less educated workers in China. By law, India has required those industries to remain small, typically employing fewer than 100 people per workplace--putting them at a tremendous disadvantage with China, where such factories employ thousands. In the garment trade, India and China started out in 1980 with about the same level of exports, but by 1996, India was selling $4.6 billion of its goods abroad, compared with China's $25 billion. The Indian government is in dire need of revenues to tackle its daunting ills, but so far the software industry is contributing relatively little to the country's public coffers. Income from software exports is generally exempted from the 38.5 percent corporate income tax. And unlike companies in other industries, high technology companies do not have to pay the 40 percent to 60 percent customs duties on computers and other technology items they import to operate their businesses. ``The software industry is making gobs and gobs of profits,'' said Anil Garg, an Indian and a Silicon Valley entrepreneur who is setting up an office for Aristasoft, the new company he helped found, in Cyber Towers. ``And yet there is this huge debate about whether it should pay taxes. I don't understand. Having taxes is a good problem. The roads here are broken, for God's sake. The schools are so bad. We have been the privileged class for so long. It's time for us to pay back.'' The software technology park of Hitec City and the village of Sheri Ram Reddy Guda are separated by only a short distance, yet seem to come from different centuries, and to stand at opposite poles, emblems of the new and the old India. Hitec City is a temple to modernity, with a soaring atrium, gargling fountains, an on-site A.T.M., basement car parking and Internet connections for all. The government has created an island where everything works. There are three separate power systems, ensuring that the lights will never go out. And the businesses do not need decent roads; they can deliver their products via satellite links or fiber-optic cables. Sheri Ram Reddy Guda, population 400, seems ancient by comparison. No one here owns a car or even a scooter. The ox cart is still the primary means of transportation and word of mouth the main grapevine. There is no health clinic, no cable television. Raggedy children who should be in school play in the dirt with toys made from twisted wire. The village is connected to the main blacktop highway by a narrow, mile-and-a-half-long dirt road, deeply gouged with ruts, that is nearly impassable in the rainy season. Most of the villages are from the formerly untouchable castes now known as Dalits, and they are grateful to Mr. Naidu's government for building 23 houses for them. But they say they desperately need a better road, reliable electricity and jobs. The village gets only about eight hours of power a day, and that is often of such low voltage that it does not operate the irrigation pumps. When rain is scare, as it is now, the fields lie parched and work is scarce. ``Chandrababu has not given us the current,'' said an old man, Baswapuram Yelleah, referring to the chief minister and waving his handmade hatchet as he gestured angrily with his hands. ``Our eyes are filled with tears when we see our fields.'' Yarrea Balamani is a widowed mother of five children, 7 to 18. She and her older children do farm work but lately there have been no more than 10 days of work in a month. ``If there was some industry around, we could get work every day,'' she said. ``That would be better for us. It's a very difficult life we are living.''

Mr. INOUYE

Mr. INOUYE. I move to lay that motion on the table. The motion to lay on the table was agreed to. Amendment No. 2994 (Purpose: Increase discretionary health funding by $1,600,000,000)

Mr. INOUYE

Mr. INOUYE. Mr. President, I move to table the amendment and ask for the yeas and nays.

Mr. INOUYE. The Senator's sense of the Senate mentions Indians, Indian smoke shops.

Mr. INOUYE. Mr. President, I am against smoking, but this amendment picks on Indians. Why don't we include all discount tobacco stores? Why don't we include Wal-Mart, Kmart, and all these places that sell discount tobacco? Why just pick on Indians?

Mr. INOUYE. Mr. President, I am against this sense-of-the-Senate resolution, and I hope we will vote it down.

Mr. INOUYE

Mr. INOUYE. Mr. President, I rise today in recognition of Tunisia, an old and devout friend and ally to the United States. March 20, 2000 marked Tunisia's 44th anniversary of Independence. In 1797, Tunisia and the newly independent United States signed a ``treaty of Amity, Commerce and Navigation.'' The pact provided for ``perpetual and constant peace'' between the parties. For more than 200 years, our two nations have enjoyed such a relationship. During World War II, Tunisia suppressed nationalistic sentiment to join the ranks of the Allied Forces and then supported western democratic ideals during the Cold War proving the U.S. could count on Tunisia. If all our foreign relationships were as faithfully observed as this one, our foreign relations would be more serene. In the face of the ever-present strife that surrounds Tunisia, with its location between Algeria and Libya, the country has managed to maintain internal stability. With its steadily increasing economic growth, Tunisia has built a stable middle class society. This growth has allowed Tunisia to become a strategic partner in the growing African market. The United States has benefitted greatly from its strong and prosperous relationship with Tunisia. We can not forget our friend in Africa who has stood by our side throughout our country's history.

Mr. INOUYE

Mr. INOUYE. Mr. President, I am fully aware that this is a busy year, the year we elect a new President. I also realize that one-third of our colleagues will be up for reelection or will be involved in the election for the seat from which they are retiring. As a result, all of us are striving to close this shop as soon as possible and go home. However, we do have important unfinished business with the Judiciary. The Judiciary is the critical third branch of our government. Just as it is important that we hold an election this year, it is important that we fill the vacancies in our court system. I can not speak of vacancies in other districts or other circuits, but I believe I can speak of vacancies in the Ninth Circuit. Hawaii is part of the Ninth Circuit. Since the retirement of Judge Choy in 1984, Hawaii has not been represented on that bench by a full-time Circuit Judge. The law of the United States requires that at least one member of the bench of each state be represented on the Circuit Court, that there be a judge from Hawaii on the Ninth Circuit. The Hawaii delegation has submitted the name of James Duffy. I have no idea whether Mr. Duffy is a Democrat or Republican. I have not asked him. However, his reputation as a skilled lawyer is well-established in our islands. Mr. Duffy was born and raised in Saint Paul, Minnesota. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the College of Saint Thomas and earned his Juris Doctorate from Marquette University Law School in 1968 where he served on the Board of Editors of the Law Review. Upon graduation, he came to Hawaii to begin his career. He has spent his legal career in private litigation practice, doing both plaintiff and defense representation, for more than 31 years. He has served the Circuit Courts of the State of Hawaii as a court-appointed Special Master in Probate, Guardianship, and Family Court Proceedings, as a Special Master for Discovery Rulings in civil cases, and as a Mediator. Mr. Duffy has also served in leadership roles in legal organizations, educational organizations, and even as a judge in the Hawaii High School Rodeo Association. In his spare time, he and his wife, Jeanne, breed and sell quarter horses and Brahma cattle. Mr. Duffy is a vital part of the Hawaii legal and civic community. Jim Duffy was nominated by the President for a position on the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals on June 17, 1999. I have been advised that the American Bar Association has finished reviewing his credentials. Mr. Duffy was unanimously given the ABA's highest grade of ``well- qualified.'' The Board of Directors of the Hawaii State Bar Association also unanimously reported that Mr. Duffy was well-qualified. In fact, in a letter to the Chairperson of the ABA's Standing Committee on the Federal Judiciary, the HSBA President wrote, ``[f]or what it's worth, my Board expressed dismay that there wasn't a category called `the very best.' We consider Jim to be the best of the best.'' Both Democrats and Republicans in my state, regard Jim Duffy as one of Hawaii's best lawyers. I do hope the Judiciary Committee will give Mr. Duffy a hearing and expedite the consideration of his nomination. This will provide its members the opportunity to meet him and review his credentials and skills. I am convinced the members will be impressed by him. I am equally convinced that Mr. Duffy will be a good judge.

Mr. INOUYE

Mr. INOUYE. Mr. President, I congratulate the Kuakini Medical Center Auxiliary on its 111th anniversary of service to Hawaii's community. From a modest beginning in 1889, the Kuakini Medical Center Auxiliary has grown to the largest active group of volunteers of a health care organization in Hawaii. The roots of the Kuakini Medical Center Auxiliary are closely tied to the charitable beginnings of Kuakini Medical Center. They form an indispensable century old team caring for the health of Hawaii's people. In today's busy world time is at a premium, yet these volunteers manage to provide essential support services to the Kuakini Health System, such as transporting patients, distributing patient meals, errands, sewing, tagging medical supplies, and collating medical research. Volunteers furnish comfort and companionship to patients and residents in need. On holidays and special occasions, volunteers create favors for patients' meal trays to brighten the day. In addition to the compassionate services provided, the Kuakini Medical Center Auxiliary assists the Kuakini Health System financially. Proceeds from the Gift Shop and numerous fundraising events are donated to Kuakini Foundation. Since 1980, the auxiliary has awarded more than $20,000 in scholarships to Kaukini employees to further their education. More than a million dollars has been raised for Kuakini Health System since 1971 by the Kuakini Auxiliary. Currently, the Kuakini Medical Center Auxiliary has over 600 active members contributing at least 67,000 hours annually. The savings in labor costs are estimated at more than $860,000 annually, but the selfless sacrifice and caring contribution that these volunteers provide are priceless gifts to Hawaii's community. I compliment and thank the volunteers of the Kaukini Medical Center Auxiliary for the 111 years of concerned meritorious public service they have rendered to Hawaii's community.

Mr. INOUYE

Mr. INOUYE. Mr. President, I rise to recognize the Kuakini Medical Health System as it celebrates its 100th anniversary caring for Hawaii's people. Kuakini began as an ethnic charity hospital founded by Japanese immigrants who arrived in Hawaii to labor in the thriving sugar cane fields. Plantation wages were low and many newcomers found themselves unable to afford medical care. The Japanese Benevolent Society provided emergency relief to the immigrants, but a fire destroyed their facilities in January, 1900. Undaunted, the Japanese Benevolent Society started plans to build a charity hospital. Funds were raised through membership dues and community donations. Half an acre of land was purchased in Kapalama and a two-story wooden building housing 38 patient beds was completed by July, 1900. This humble beginning was the start of Kuakini Health System. As the last existing hospital in the United States established by Japanese immigrants, Kuakini is unique among health institutions in the United States and Hawaii. There have been many changes during the past century, but the commitment of the health professionals and volunteers of Kuakini Health System to meet the health care needs of Hawaii's community has not waivered. Kuakini Health System has expanded to embrace and serve Hawaii's community without regard to ethnicity, disability, age, sex, religious affiliation, or financial status. Kuakini Health System is in the company of only 5 percent of all U.S. hospitals having a heavy Medicare caseload. Sixty-five percent of the hospital's admissions are Medicare patients and Kuakini's hospital cares for the largest composition of elderly patients among Hawaii's hospitals. Kuakini Health System is a teaching facility, training health professionals in the precepts of compassion and quality in health care. Guests from around the world tour Kuakini to learn American health care and specific methods for health care. Kuakini includes the community in its educational goals with health and wellness fairs, health and prevention education classes, an information hotline, Internet access to information, Speakers Bureau Program and Open House aimed at giving students a first hand look at the different departments and professions within a health care organization. By bringing health awareness to our community, Kuakini contributes to the overall health and well-being of Hawaii's people. Kuakini Health System strives for excellence. Federal funds support nationally and internationally recognized medical research and health programs sponsored by Kuakini Medical System, such as the Japan-Hawaii Cancer Study, Women's Health Initiatives, and Honolulu Heart Program. Kuakini is regarded as a leader in the areas of cancer treatment, cardiac services, geriatric care, pulmonary disease treatment, gastroenterology services, health research, orthopedic surgery, telemedicine and cyberhealth. Kuakini Health System performs its health services without a major endowment or an affiliation with a larger organization for financial support. The Kuakini Health System has met the health needs and challenges of Hawaii's community for the past 100 years. As we start a new century and a new millennium, I am confident that Kuakini Health System will continue to make valuable contributions to the health of Hawaii and the United States through its commitment to benevolence, research, education, and excellence.

Mr. INOUYE

Mr. INOUYE. Mr. President, I am pleased to rise today to join with my distinguished colleagues from California, Senator Feinstein and Senator Boxer, in introducing legislation that would provide a permanent land base for the Timbisha Shoshone Tribe. For thousands of years the Timbisha Shoshone Tribe has lived in and around the area that is now Death Valley National Park. For many years, the Tribe sought unsuccessfully to obtain a base of trust land within its aboriginal homeland area. In 1994, when the Congress enacted the California Desert Protection Act, P.L. 103-433, it set in motion a process to address the need of the Tribe for a recognized land base. Section 705(b) of the Act provided that-- The Secretary, in consultation with the Timbisha Shoshone Tribe and relevant Federal agencies, shall conduct a study, subject to the availability of appropriations, to identify lands suitable for a reservation for the Timbisha Shoshone Tribe that are located within the Tribe's aboriginal homeland area within and outside the boundaries of Death Valley National Monument and the Death Valley National Park as described in part A of this subchapter. The study report, which finally was completed late in 1999, set forth recommendations for legislation that would implement a comprehensive, integrated plan for a permanent Homeland for the Tribe. The legislation that we introduce today would give substance to those recommendations. Briefly, the bill provides for the transfer of several separate parcels of land, currently administered by the Department of the Interior and comprising approximately 7,500 acres, in trust for the Timbisha Shoshone Tribe. These parcels include: 300 acres at Furnace Creek in Death Valley National Park encompassing the present Timbisha Village Site, subject to jointly developed land use restrictions designed to ensure compatibility and consistency with tribal and Park values, needs and purposes; 1,000 acres of land now managed by the Bureau of Land Management at Death Valley Junction, California, east of the Park; 640 acres of land now managed by the Bureau of Land Management in an area identified as Centennial, California, west of the Park; 2,800 acres of land now managed by the Bureau of Land Management and classified as available for disposal near Scotty's Junction, Nevada, northeast of the Park; and 2,800 acres now managed by the Bureau of Land Management and classified as available for disposal near Lida, Nevada, north of the Park. This legislation also authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to purchase from willing sellers two parcels of approximately 120 acres of former Indian allotted lands in the Saline Valley, California, at the edge of the Park, and the 2,430 acre Lida Ranch near Lida, Nevada. The legislation would designate an area primarily in the western part of Death Valley National Park as the Timbisha Shoshone Natural and Cultural Preservation Area, within which low impact, environmentally sustainable, tribal traditional uses, activities and practices will be authorized subject to existing law and a jointly established management plan agreed upon by the Tribe, the National Park Service and the Bureau of Land Management. Mr. President, this legislation will at long last provide the Timbisha Shoshone Tribe with land on which its members can live permanently and govern their affairs in a modern community, and will formally recognize the Tribe's contributions to the history, culture, and ecology of the Death Valley National Park and the surrounding area. It will ensure that the resources within the Park are protected and enhanced by cooperative activities within the Tribe's ancestral homeland, and by partnerships between the Tribe and the National Park Service and the Bureau of Land Management, all of which will be consistent with the purposes and values for which the Park was established. Mr. President, the legislation we are introducing today is incomplete in that certain map references and specific acreage numbers are still being determined by the Department. However, these are minor concerns that will be addressed in the coming weeks. It is vitally important that this legislation be introduced so that a hearing can be scheduled and all interested parties will have the opportunity to review this measure prior to the hearing.

Mr. INOUYE

Mr. INOUYE. Mr. President, I would like to take a moment to honor Rear Admiral (Upper Half) Joan M. Engel as she retires after more than thirty years of active duty service in the United States Navy. Rear Admiral Engel culminates her distinguished career as the Assistant Chief for Operational Medicine and Fleet Support at the Bureau of Medicine and Surgery. As the first non-physician officer in medical department history appointed to this position, Rear Admiral Engel brought a fresh dedication to improving Navy Medicine's ability to deploy health care worldwide. She formally directed sweeping changes to the missions of her subordinate commands and instituted many progressive initiatives such as: a robust Force Health Protection program; Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Environment agent threat assessment and education programs; the creation of Forward Deployed Preventive Medicine Units; the establishment of the Navy Operational Medicine Institute, a new command focused on advanced operational aviation, undersea, and surface medicine training; and the complete restructuring of Navy Medical Research and Development laboratories and programs. Rear Admiral Engel was the first female, and first Nurse Corps officer, to be selected by a board to the rank of a two-star Admiral within the Navy Medical Department. She served as the Director of the Navy Nurse Corps and Assistant Chief for Education, Training, and Personnel at the Bureau of Medicine and Surgery. Through collaboration with other military nursing leaders, Rear Admiral Engel ensured that a Bachelor of Science degree became the minimum level of education for entry into practice for military nurses, and championed the establishment of a military nursing constituency within the American Nurses Association. Rear Admiral Engel was instrumental in advancing the extensive Tri-Service Nursing Research Program which focuses on research to develop best practices for nursing care. Attuned to issues related to women in the Navy, her participation in the landmark 1990 Navy Women's Study Group was the catalyst for enhancing the delivery of culturally competent women's health care and increasing the number of operational assignments for Navy nurses. Her contributions are far- reaching, and will positively impact military nursing and health care for years to come. Mr. President, more than fifty years ago, as I was recovering in a military hospital, I began a unique relationship with military nurses. Rear Admiral Engel embodies what I know military nurses to be--strong, dedicated professional leaders, stepping to the forefront to serve their country and committed to caring for our Sailors, Marines, Airmen, Soldiers and family members during peacetime and at war. Rear Admiral Engel's many meritorious awards and decorations demonstrate her contributions in a tangible way, but it is the legacy she leaves behind for the Navy Nurse Corps, the United States Navy and the Department of Defense for which we are most appreciative. It is with pride that I congratulate Rear Admiral Engel on her outstanding career of exemplary service.

Mr. INOUYE

Mr. INOUYE. Mr. President, I would like to take a moment to honor Brigadier General Bettye H. Simmons as she retires after twenty- nine years of active duty service in the United States Army. General Simmons culminates her distinguished career as Chief, Army Nurse Corps and Commander, United States Army Center for Health Promotion and Preventive Medicine. General Simmons' distinguished career began in 1971 when she entered the Army nurse Corps through the Army Student Nurse Program. Her numerous military assignments have been diverse, including leadership roles in clinical services, staff education and development, and Army Medical Service administration and policy. As the Chief, Army Nurse Corps, General Simmons demanded the highest standards for military nursing. With other military nursing leaders, General Simmons ensured that a Bachelor of Science education is the minimum qualification for entry on to active duty for any military nurse. She was the driving force behind the multi-million dollar Triservice Nursing Research Program, a program focused on research that develops best practices for nursing care. General Simmons initiated a post-deployment program for injured Army Reserve soldiers that determined the appropriate level of medical care before the soldier returns home. This program saved countless dollars in civilian health care costs and honored the commitment to care for our Reserve Forces. As Command Surgeon for Forces Command, General Simmons improved unit medical readiness by 20 percent. She redesigned the battlefield evacuation process, providing a lightweight, robust capability to ensure the right medical care is provided to the soldier at the right time and at the right place. Her contributions are far-reaching, and will impact military nursing and health care for years to come. Mr. President, more than fifty years ago, as I was recovering in a military hospital, I began to understand the critical role of military nurses. General Simmons embodies what I know military nurses to be-- strong, professional leaders who are committed to serving their fellow comrades in arms and their country. General Simmons' many meritorious awards and decorations demonstrate her contributions in a tangible way, but it is the legacy she leaves behind for the Army Nurse Corps for which we are most appreciative. It is with pride that I congratulate General Simmons on her outstanding career of exemplary service.

Mr. INOUYE

Mr. INOUYE. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce a bill to reauthorize and extend the provisions of the Native Hawaiian Health Care Act. I am joined in the sponsorship of this measure by my esteemed colleague, Senator Daniel Akaka. Although the act was enacted into law in 1988, appropriations to implement these critically-needed health care programs and services were not forthcoming for several years. As a result, the Native Hawaiian Health care Systems are still struggling to address the overwhelming need for health care services that are designed to improve the health status of the native people of Hawaii. Native Hawaiians have the highest cancer mortality rates in the State of Hawaii, as well as the highest years of productive life lost from cancer. Native Hawaiians also have the highest mortality rates in the State of Hawaii from diabetes mellitus--130 percent higher than the statewide rate for all other races. The death rate from heart disease is 66 percent higher amongst Native Hawaiians than for the entire State of Hawaii. The Native Hawaiian mortality rate associated with hypertension is 84 percent higher than that for the rest of the State. These are just a few of the health status indicators at which the health care programs and services authorized by the Native Hawaiian Health Care Improvement Act are targeted. Through the training of Native Hawaiian health care professionals, and the assignment of physicians, nurses, allied health professionals, and traditional healers to serve the needs of the Native Hawaiian community, we anticipate that the objectives established by the Surgeon General--the Healthy People 2010 goals--as well as kanaka maoli health objectives--will be attained. But to do so will require a sustained effort and a continuity of authorization and support for health care services provided to our most needy population. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of this measure be printed in the Record.

Mr. INOUYE

Mr. INOUYE. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce a bill to reauthorize and extend the provisions of the Native Hawaiian Health Care Act. I am joined in the sponsorship of this measure by my esteemed colleague, Senator Daniel Akaka. Although the act was enacted into law in 1988, appropriations to implement these critically-needed health care programs and services were not forthcoming for several years. As a result, the Native Hawaiian Health care Systems are still struggling to address the overwhelming need for health care services that are designed to improve the health status of the native people of Hawaii. Native Hawaiians have the highest cancer mortality rates in the State of Hawaii, as well as the highest years of productive life lost from cancer. Native Hawaiians also have the highest mortality rates in the State of Hawaii from diabetes mellitus--130 percent higher than the statewide rate for all other races. The death rate from heart disease is 66 percent higher amongst Native Hawaiians than for the entire State of Hawaii. The Native Hawaiian mortality rate associated with hypertension is 84 percent higher than that for the rest of the State. These are just a few of the health status indicators at which the health care programs and services authorized by the Native Hawaiian Health Care Improvement Act are targeted. Through the training of Native Hawaiian health care professionals, and the assignment of physicians, nurses, allied health professionals, and traditional healers to serve the needs of the Native Hawaiian community, we anticipate that the objectives established by the Surgeon General--the Healthy People 2010 goals--as well as kanaka maoli health objectives--will be attained. But to do so will require a sustained effort and a continuity of authorization and support for health care services provided to our most needy population. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of this measure be printed in the Record.