Walter Jones

Mr. JONES

Mr. JONES. Mr. Speaker, today the Education Savings Account conference report is on the President's desk. I urge him to sign this important legislation that would give parents increased opportunities to provide our children with the tools they need to learn. For years, out-of-touch bureaucrats have made decisions about our children's education. This abuse has seized control from local officials and stifled parental choice and involvement on decisions that affect our children. During the 105th Congress the Republican majority has made a commitment to our Nation's children, and is taking steps to return power to those who know best about our children, not the Washington bureaucrats, but the parents, teachers, and communities who, together, hold the key to strengthening our schools. This year alone we have passed education tax credits and the education savings account bill to increase parental choice and involvement in the education process. These are steps in the right decision. On behalf of the parents of the Third District of North Carolina, which I serve, I urge the President to sign education savings accounts for our children's future.

Mr. JONES

Mr. JONES. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of my colleagues, I want to thank Rev. David Clift for his opening prayer. Reverend Clift is pastor of the Duck United Methodist Church located on the beautiful Outer Banks of North Carolina, which is in the Third Congressional District. Since coming to the Outer Banks in 1994, the Reverend has served one of the fastest growing congregations in the State. Reverend Clift is married to Libby Aull and they have two children, Mark, who is a college student, and Elizabeth, who is in high school. I personally know several of Reverend Clift's church members who tell me he is a dynamic preacher and is greatly appreciated by his congregation. He is often invited to speak throughout the United Methodist Conference. Again, I would like to thank Reverend Clift for joining us today and for the work he does every day by serving our Lord and his fellow man.

Mr. JONES

Mr. JONES. Mr. Speaker, over the last recess, while attending several Memorial Day services, I spent time focusing on the state of our dwindling national defense. By failing to maintain a strong military, we are dishonoring those who have served and died for our freedom. Unfortunately, the next century will not be as peaceful as once envisioned. Surprising the U.S. intelligence community, India and Pakistan have conducted nuclear weapons tests. It has been reported that Iraq has enough deadly biological weapons to kill every human being on earth. Just last week North Korea threatened the United States that they would not cease the production of nuclear weapons unless they were compensated. Despite administration claims that no nuclear missiles are aimed at American children, a CIA report reveals that 13 of China's 18 long-range strategic missiles have nuclear warheads aimed at U.S. cities. Mr. Speaker, we do not live in a safe world. America faces new threats and dangers each and every day, and yet we continue to take risks with our military capabilities that would have been unthinkable a generation ago. Our forces today are 32 percent smaller than they were just 10 years ago. In 1992 we had 18 Army divisions; we now have 10. In 1992 we had 24 fighter wings; we now have 13. In 1992 we had 546 Navy ships; we now have less than 300. In the last year the Navy has cut the Arsenal Ship, delayed the development of the next generation aircraft carrier, and cut its near term purchase of tactical aircraft by 45 percent. This month the Army announced that it would downsize 6 divisions, cutting troop level 13 percent. Today I just read that the Marine Corps' entire procurement budget is now less than 1 week's worth of sales at Wal-Mart. Mr. Speaker, I want to repeat that. The Marine Corps' entire procurement budget is now less than 1 week's worth of sales at Wal- Mart. Our forces are dwindling and yet new threats to our freedoms are ever increasing. Quite frankly, we are taking our freedom for granted. The American family feels protected and safe. Mom and dad tell their children that they live in a peaceful world. They rest easy, hoping their government is adequately defending America. But what they do not know is that right now, while nuclear missiles are aimed at U.S. cities, our troops do not even have the basic ammunition they need. The Army is $1.7 billion short of basic ammunition, and the Marine Corps has a shortfall in ammunition of over $193 million. Mr. Speaker, I want to repeat that also. The Army is $1.7 billion short of basic ammunition, and the Marine Corps has a shortfall in ammunition of over $193 million. What they do not know is that in May, a Navy fighter squadron commander informed his superiors that only two of his squadron's 14 Tomcat fighter jets are mission capable because of a lack of spare parts. He said in his official report, and I quote, I strongly believe that it is my duty to protect my aircrews. Living at the end of the parts food chain can present difficult challenges and obstacles that may be unmanageable. We no longer have the tools to do our job. We must provide aircrews with the necessary flights to get them combat ready for the safety of this Nation. We are not telling the American people about the state of our military, Mr. Speaker. I and many of my colleagues in Congress have called upon the administration, senior military and the press to tell the hard truth to the American people. While the President has cut defense nearly in half, he has deployed our troops 25 times during his tenure. In fact, the President has deployed U.S. troops more often than any other President in peacetime since World War II. These peacekeeping deployments have cost the taxpayers over $13 billion and have bled our forces. The reality is our troops are learning peacekeeping and forgetting war fighting. These peacekeeping deployments have also kept our men and women in uniform away from their homes and families for lengthy periods of time and have thereby decreased their morale. We cannot continue to ask our military to do more with less. In the name of those who have fought and who have died for this country, we must continue to maintain our military readiness. I urge my colleagues to help preserve our freedom and security. We must support our armed forces. May God bless America.

Mr. JONES

Mr. JONES. Mr. Speaker, having attended, like many of my colleagues, several Memorial Day services over the recent recess, I continue to become more and more concerned by America's dwindling national defense. By failing to maintain a strong military force, we are in effect dishonoring those who have served and died for our freedom. Please allow me to highlight some recent events. Surprising the United States intelligence community, India conducted five underground nuclear weapons tests last month. Neighboring Pakistan has since conducted six nuclear weapons tests of its own. It has been reported that Iraq has enough deadly biological weapons to kill every human being on Earth. And despite administration claims that no nuclear missiles are aimed at American children, a CIA report released last month reveals that 13 of China's 18 long-range strategic missiles have nuclear warheads aimed at United States cities. Mr. Speaker, we do not live in a safe world. America faces new threats and dangers each and every day, and yet we continue to cut our defense budget. The President's request for the fiscal year 1999 defense budget represents the 14th consecutive year of real decline in defense spending. Our forces today are 32 percent smaller than they were just 10 years ago. In 1992, we had 18 Army divisions; we now have 10. And that same year we had 24 fighter wings; we now have 13. We also had 546 Navy ships in 1992; we now have 333. Our forces are dwindling and yet threats to our freedom are ever increasing. Quite frankly, we seem to be taking our freedom for granted. This is a foolish thing to do. Just ask any veteran or any American who has lost a loved one in service to our Nation. Mr. Speaker, in the name of all those who have fought and who have died for this country, we must continue to maintain a military readiness. We cannot throw away the security America has fought so hard for. Right now while nuclear missiles are aimed at United States cities, our troops do not even have the basic ammunition they need. The Army is $1.7 billion short of basic ammunition and the Marine Corps has a shortfall in ammunition of over $193 million. I want to repeat that, Mr. Speaker. The Army is $1.7 billion short of basic ammunition and the Marine Corps has a shortfall in ammunition of over $193 million. At the same time the President has cut defense nearly in half, he has deployed troops over 25 times during his tenure. Thirteen billion dollars-plus has been spent on these peacekeeping deployments, which have exhausted funds that would have otherwise been used to maintain our military readiness and have stretched our forces to the limit. These peacekeeping deployments have also kept our men and women in uniform away from their homes and families for lengthy periods of time and have thereby decreased their morale. We cannot continue to ask our military to do more with less. This is why I was especially disappointed this year, to see that the President requested more than $100 billion in new domestic spending but failed to propose one dime in increased defense spending. Mr. Speaker it is past time to once again provide our military with the resource its needs to do the very important tasks it faces of protecting America. I urge my colleagues to help preserve our freedom and security and to support our Armed Forces. Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and may God bless America.

Mr. JONES

Mr. JONES. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of the Religious Freedom Amendment, and I commend my good friend, the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Istook) for introducing this important legislation. America was founded on Judeo-Christian principles, and the Founding Fathers, therefore, took steps to ensure that the individual's freedom of religion would always be protected. Unfortunately, recent trends have infringed on this important freedom, and children and adults nationwide are finding that their rights have been suppressed. I think that the Founding Fathers would be sorely disappointed. Today we have the opportunity to ensure that Americans are once again able to freely express their religious beliefs by passing the Religious Freedom Amendment. The amendment does not infringe on anyone's rights. It simply protects the individual's right to pray and to express his or her religious belief. In my opinion, it is the key to restoring true religious freedom in America. In closing, please allow me to share an excerpt from a 1995 article by Jeff Jacoby about the Founding Fathers' sentiments on religion and freedom: In linking religion to American liberty, Adams and Jefferson were not simply bowing to the political correctness of their time, or verbalizing empty sentiment that no one was expected to take seriously. They were articulating a core principle of American nationhood: Religious faith, and the civic virtues it gives rise to, is as indispensable to a democratic republic as freedom of speech or the right to own property. Religion can survive in the absence of freedom, but freedom without religion is dangerous and unstable. I urge my colleagues to remember the wisdom and wishes of our Founding Fathers, and to take steps to ensure that free expression of religion once again reigns in America. Support the Religious Freedom Amendment.

Mr. JONES

Mr. JONES. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that my name be removed as a cosponsor of H.R. 716.

Mr. JONES

Mr. JONES. Mr. Chairman, I join the gentleman from California (Mr. Hunter) and the gentlewoman from Washington (Mrs. Linda Smith) in offering this amendment today to urge the House to address this issue quickly. The truth is Congress never intended to change the longstanding policy, that is, to understand the unique nature of homeownership for the American taxpayer serving in the military, when we drafted the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997. It was an oversight. Clearly, it is unfair to deny men, women in the military the same tax relief as their civilian counterparts. That is exactly what is happening. I urge my colleagues to support this resolution and the legislation to correct this unfairness.

Mr. JONES

Mr. JONES. Mr. Speaker, it is a sad fact but it is true that America's education system is failing our children. Many of today's students are not learning as they should, and some are even afraid to go to school because they are forced to attend a school in which they fear for their safety. This terrible situation has resulted from years of Federal bureaucracies trying to fill a role that needs to be filled by parents, teachers, and communities. The Federal Government already funds more than 760 Federal education programs which span 40 Federal agencies, boards, and commissions and costs the American taxpayer nearly $100 billion a year. But these efforts have failed our children. They have failed because a Federal bureaucrat who is hundreds or even thousands of miles away cannot possibly determine what is best for a child like those who see the children every day. It is past time to return education to parents, teachers, and communities where it belongs. I hope my colleagues will support school choice

Mr. JONES

Mr. JONES. Mr. Speaker, as America prepares to observe the National Day of Prayer this Thursday, I wish to share a story I heard on the radio recently. It is the story of an exceptional group of young people at Lutheran High School Westland, a Christian school in Westland, Michigan, and their efforts to express their religious beliefs. Last month, the students at the school, acting on their own initiative, built a display of 2,000 small white crosses on the school's lawn to represent roughly 4,000 abortions that are performed daily in America. The students peacefully, yet powerfully, wanted to express their opposition to abortion. Shortly after the crosses went up, however, complaints were filed. The display was called tacky and political in an attack printed in the local newspaper. Fortunately, through community support and true dedication by the students, the cross display remained on the school's lawn for a full week as originally planned. But we have to pause to ask would the display have been criticized at all if the crosses represented deaths from cancer or drunk driving accidents instead of abortion? I fear, especially as we near the National Day of Prayer, that this story is yet another example of the way in which freedom of religious expression is coming under attack in our Nation. America was built upon Judeo-Christian values, but this very important element of our culture is now all too often not only ignored but also frowned upon. Children have been barred from bowing their heads in private prayer, from writing of their religious beliefs in school papers, and even from bringing the Bible to school. I think it is a sad commentary on our Nation that we can have a serious debate on the House floor about using taxpayer dollars to buy hypodermic needles for drug addicts, and, yet, a child cannot read the Bible in his or her school library. This is the very reason that the Religious Freedom Amendment, introduced by my good friend, the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Istook), is so important to our Nation. The Religious Freedom Amendment protects the freedom of religion which we have enjoyed for so long under our Constitution, but which has been suppressed by recent court actions and trends. It retains the First Amendment safeguard against official religion and keeps school prayer voluntary, but protects it just as other forms of free speech are protected. In other words, the Religious Freedom Amendment protects religious expression like school prayer and the students' display at Lutheran High School in Westland, Michigan. It also, of course, retains the right of others to express their disapproval of any such display or to abstain from group prayer. The key is everyone's rights are protected. Again, I repeat, the key is everyone's rights are protected. This was the case in Westland where, fortunately, the Religious Freedom Amendment was not necessary this year, as the students were not required to remove their display. The school officials and students are quick to point out that the criticism of their cross display actually turned into a positive by generating publicly an overwhelmingly amount of support for their cause. But it is not always the case, as I indicated earlier. Other displays of religious expression, including private prayer, have been banned by law in locations nationwide. In my opinion, and in the opinion of 75 percent of Americans polled, it is critical for Congress to pass legislation that ensures the religious liberties once again receive full protection in America. I urge my colleagues to support the Religious Liberties Amendment that has been offered by the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Istook) and others on the House side.

Mr. JONES

Mr. JONES. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to claim the time of the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Paul).

Mr. JONES

Mr. JONES. Mr. Speaker, it is sad to say, but America's children are not receiving the education they need and deserve. I believe that we are facing this grim situation because parents, unfortunately, have been edged out of the system. For years and years, the Federal Government has tried to solve educational problems. In fact, the Federal Department of Education has spent over $444 billion since its establishment in 1980, but it has failed our children. Adding more bureaucrats and ignoring parents and teachers is not the solution. The Federal Government has had its turn. The solution is to put education decisions back in the hands of parents and teachers where education belongs. It is time to truly repair our damaged education system and to empower parents to choose the school that is best for their children. Support school choice for America's future.

Mr. JONES

Mr. JONES. Mr. Speaker, I rise tonight to talk about national defense and the state of our military. It is a very important subject that does not seem to have received adequate attention lately. In fact, the President this year devoted only one sentence in his entire State of the Union Address to the need to maintain a ready and modern force. Additionally, the President's 1999 budget proposes more than $100 billion in new domestic spending, but it fails to provide one dime in increased defense spending. The administration's budget request for defense in 1999, therefore, represents the 14th consecutive year of real decline in defense spending. I personally do not believe this is the right policy for our Nation, and I know from talking to citizens in eastern North Carolina that they do not think so either. My constituents, like so many people throughout America, realize that having a strong national defense has played a critical role in the history of our country and that now is no time to have a weakened military. Maintaining a ready and modern force is like insurance for our Nation. None of us would want to drive our cars without having car insurance in the event of an accident, but we seem to be denied that same protection to our national safety and freedom. There is clear evidence that we no longer have the military to fight in two regions at the same time. Considering the real likelihood of this situation, I think it is past time that we take a serious look at protection we are denying ourselves. Once diminished, our forces cannot rebuild quickly, and they are, unfortunately, already 32 percent smaller than they were just 10 years ago. We have such fine men and women in our military today, but they are constantly faced with budget cuts and shortages despite so many base closings. Our pilots are not receiving the flying time they need to be thoroughly prepared, and many are leaving the military at an alarming rate. All too often our troops do not have adequate equipment, and their morale is suffering. I, for one, find this situation unacceptable. So many of our fellow countrymen have fought and sacrificed and even died so that we may have the freedoms we enjoy today. Yet we are, in effect, taking their bravery and sacrifices for granted by failing to adequately protect the safety and freedom they fought for. The President has deployed over 25 times our forces during his tenure at a monetary cost that exceeds $13 billion, and yet he continues to cut their budget. The 1999 defense budget request, when measured in constant dollars, represents the smallest defense budget since the beginning of the Korean War in 1950. I hope that, as we proceed with this year's appropriation process, my colleagues in this Congress would join me in the fight to stop this reckless depletion of our military. In the name of freedom, let us once again provide our Armed Forces with the resources they need to fulfill their mission of protecting this Nation. Mr. Speaker, may God bless America.

Mr. JONES

Mr. JONES. Mr. Speaker, today the House is listening to the American people by voting on the tax limitation amendment. I feel very strongly about this vote because I know that the citizens in my district, the Third District of North Carolina, need and deserve tax fairness. They, like so many Americans throughout this Nation, are tired of Congress raising their taxes time and time again with just a simple majority. Taxes have been raised so many times over the years that the American citizen now spends more on taxes than on food, clothing, and shelter combined. In 1934, the American people paid just 5 percent of their income in Federal taxes, but today that burden has soared to over 20 percent. This is simply unfair to the American people. The tax limitation amendment will protect the American people from elected officials who wish to raise their taxes on a lark by requiring a supermajority for such a vote. Four out of the last five major tax increases have passed with less than the two-thirds majority which this amendment would require. That means had the tax limitation amendment been in place, the American taxpayer could have kept approximately $660 billion of their hard-earned dollars instead of sending the money to Washington, D.C. I imagine this is why polls show that 75 percent of the American people support this amendment. When I was elected to Congress in 1994, I made a promise to the people of my district that I would work to reduce their unfair tax burden. This legislation that we are voting on today represents a major step toward that goal. It is a protection for the taxpayer that is long overdue, and I urge my colleagues to support it. Mr. Speaker, in closing, let me ask my colleagues to keep in mind a quote from an editorial in today's Investors Business Daily. I quote: ``The U.S. House will have the chance Wednesday to perform a noble deed. It can begin to unshackle American taxpayers by passing a tax limitation amendment to the Constitution.''

Mr. JONES

Mr. JONES. If the gentleman would further yield for just a moment, and I want him to correct me if I am wrong. Is it not true that in Texas, and I forgot the town, somewhere around Galveston I believe, a couple, 3 years ago, that a Federal judge actually told the principal of a school that if during the graduation that the person giving the prayer would use the name Jesus that if that was going to be done that the judge would order that U.S. marshals be stationed at the school and the person that used the word Jesus in a prayer would be removed? Am I correct or incorrect in that?

Mr. JONES. Mr. Speaker, there is something that the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Blunt) was making comment about; and I certainly appreciated his going from the beginning of this country, which was founded on Judeo-Christian principles, to the time that we are here tonight and talking about the good things that those of us who believe strongly in the right to practice our religion freely, which this Constitution guarantees us. But one thing that my colleague was saying that really rang up there with me is that it is so tragic in this Nation today where I believe the Justice Department reports that 100,000 young people bring guns to school every day. I want to repeat that. 100,000 students bring guns to school every day. Yet those same students, and please correct me if I am incorrect, those same students cannot bring a Bible to the school but yet they can carry guns.

Mr. JONES. I want to thank the gentleman very much for his leadership and to tell him that many people in the Third District of North Carolina are very pleased that he, along with many of his colleagues, some here tonight, have fought on this issue. We hope and we pray that we do have a debate this year on this floor dealing with trying to clarify our constitutional rights to practice our religion.

Mr. JONES. Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield?

Mr. JONES. Just one more question while my colleagues are standing here to talk about this issue. Is it not true that a constitutional amendment, as my colleague said in his earlier remarks, certainly the Constitution is like the Bible. It is sacred. It guarantees our right to practice our freedom, which, again, religion to be practiced freely. If the Constitution is to be amended, if it passes the House, and I want my colleague to touch on this, and the Senate, then it goes back to the States. Would the gentleman briefly explain that process for those that might be watching around this country so they know that they will actually have the final say through their legislative process?

Mr. JONES

Mr. JONES. Mr. Speaker, I see a lot of problems with our current tax burden, but today I want to highlight one of the biggest. The tax system in this country is antifamily. American families today spend more money on taxes than they spend on food, clothing and housing combined. They are taxed for most everything they do, even for taking the first step in getting married. The marriage penalty is just one of many antifamily taxes in this country. It penalizes more than 21 million couples an average of $1,400 annually simply because they are married. In my opinion, this penalty goes against the tradition moral fabric of our Nation. It is past time that we terminate the marriage penalty and other antifamily taxes that are placing such a tremendous burden on American families. Mr. Speaker, we need to be helping families, not penalizing families.

Mr. JONES

Mr. JONES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to thank the individual who made the following statement: ``It is time to change IRS to RIP, rest in peace.'' They hit the nail on the head. The Internal Revenue Service is truly out of control, just like the tax system it oversees. This Congress approved important Internal Revenue Service reforms last year which provide critical new protections for the American taxpayer. I hope those reforms will be enacted because they will certainly be an improvement. However, I fear these reforms will not be enough for the American people. The American people need more tax relief, both from the size of the checks they write to the Internal Revenue Service and from the lengthy and burdensome process they must struggle through each year simply to determine how much they owe. In fact, Americans spend $200 billion a year and 5.4 billion hours annually merely complying with the Tax Code. I believe that a fairer, simpler tax system is the answer. It is the best way to truly change IRS to RIP.

Mr. JONES

Mr. JONES. Mr. Speaker, people throughout this Nation are being denied a fundamental right, the right to freely express their religious beliefs. It is a shame that I have reason to make that statement here in the United States in the year 1998, but it is a sad fact. Please allow me to list a few examples. One example, a judge ruled in favor of a teacher who gave a young Tennessee student an F on a research paper, simply because she decided to write the paper about Jesus. On three separate occasions, St. Louis school system officials put a fourth grade student in detention for bowing his head to say a private prayer over lunch. Mr. Speaker, students from schools across the country have been prohibited from bringing the best-selling book in America to school, the Bible. At the same time, the Justice Department reports that 100,000 young people bring guns to school every day. It is a sad commentary on our Nation to say that our schools are safer from religion than they are from illegal drugs. Mr. Speaker, this country was built upon Judeo-Christian values. I believe we are in real trouble now that we have reached a time when, sadly, those values are being attacked and not protected. Every American, our children in their formative years especially, should be allowed to freely explore and express their religious beliefs that include voluntary school prayer. My good friend, the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Ernest Istook) recognized this fact, and has seen the many threats to religious liberties in this Nation. He has taken action. I am proud to be part of the team of over 150 cosponsors, Democrat and Republican, supporting the religious liberty amendment proposed by the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Istook). I believe it is the right step to protect one of our most fundamental rights which has been so frequently infringed upon recently. The religious freedom amendment corrects court actions and trends which have suppressed religious expressions. It will permit student- initiated procedures in public schools. The proposal retains the First Amendment safeguard against official religion and keeps school prayer voluntary, but protects it, just as other forms of free speech are protected. Specifically, if approved by a two-thirds margin of both Houses of Congress and ratified by the legislatures of three-fourths of the States, the religious freedom amendment will add the following words to the United States Constitution: ``To secure the people's right to acknowledge God according to the dictates of conscience: Neither the United States nor any State shall establish any official religion, but the people's right to pray and to recognize their religious beliefs, heritage, or traditions on public property, including schools, shall not be infringed. Neither the United States nor any State shall require any person to join in prayer or other religious activities, prescribe school prayers, discriminate against religion, or deny equal access to a benefit on account of religion.'' I commend my good friend, the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Istook), for presenting us with this opportunity to defend religious freedom in America, and for following the will of the people, as we in this Congress are elected to do. Public opinion polls have shown time and time again that three- quarters of Americans support a constitutional amendment to allow voluntary prayer in public schools and to protect religious liberties. I urge my colleagues to listen to their constituents, and to join in this effort to protect the right of religious expression in America. Support House Joint Resolution 78.

Mr. JONES

Mr. JONES. Mr. Speaker, we are now just 22 days away from April 15, tax day. As this dreaded day approaches, now, more than ever, Americans are struggling with an unbelievable tax burden. On top of their already busy daily routine, the citizens of this Nation are having to file through the 8 billion pages of forms and instructions that the IRS sends out each year. Laid end to end, these forms would stretch 28 times around the Earth. It is past time to reduce this tremendous burden. The American people want, need, and deserve tax relief. I hope that people throughout this Nation will contact their Representatives and encourage them to begin a national debate on how best to create a fairer, simpler tax system for the American people.

Mr. JONES

Mr. JONES. Mr. Speaker, I rise tonight in honor of a great American, an American who has returned home to be buried in his beloved country. Colonel Paul G. Underwood was not only a great American, he was also a beloved son, a brother, a husband, father and friend, who served our Nation as a brave pilot and who ultimately made the supreme sacrifice in the name of freedom. Colonel Underwood began his military career by enlisting in the United States Marine Corps Reserve and then later transferring to the Air Corps. After attending school at Northrop Aeronautical School, he joined the Air Force where his flying duties led him to the F-105 Thunderchief. Through the course of his distinguished military career, Colonel Underwood earned a number of awards; including the Distinguished Flying Cross, an Air Medal with four Oak Leaf Clusters, a World War II Victory Medal, a Vietnam Service Medal and a Purple Heart. Prior to 1966, his war service to our Nation included World War II and Korea, with 201 combat missions. In January of that year, Colonel Underwood was deployed to Vietnam from Seymour Johnson Air Force Base in eastern North Carolina. While there, he bravely and nobly performed 22 combat missions. Unfortunately, on March 18th, 1966, Colonel Underwood's F-105 Thunderchief was shot down. He was then listed MIA for 12 long years and was ultimately declared dead. The Underwood family was forced to suffer not only with a tremendous and almost unbearable loss, but also with a great deal of uncertainty. It was not until recently that Colonel Underwood's remains were recovered in North Vietnam. Yesterday, 32 years to the date of his death, I had the honor and privilege to have the humbling experience of attending Colonel Underwood's funeral at Arlington National Cemetery. Mr. Speaker, I cannot express in words what this experience meant to me. So many, far too many, young Americans have been seriously wounded and have even given their lives for this country. So many families have suffered. I would like to take this opportunity tonight to recognize and honor Colonel Underwood and his family and all those who have sacrificed and have either lost their own lives or lost a loved one in service to this Nation. Ms. Gloria Underwood is a role model to us all. She is a remarkably strong person who, despite suffering through an almost unbelievable ordeal for 32 years now, managed to rise above many difficulties and to raise a fine family. I thank her from the bottom of my heart for including me in yesterday's very special service. I would like also to remind the Underwoods and all families who have faced similar tragedies that, as sorrowful and difficult as the loss of a loved one in service must be, it is not in vain; it is for America and for all her future generations. Brave soldiers like Colonel Underwood are the Nation's strength. The words are best expressed in the following lines written by Ralph Waldo Emerson in his poem, ``A Nation's Strength,'' and I quote, Not gold but only men can make a people great and strong; men who for truth and honor's sake stand fast and suffer long. Brave men who work while others sleep, who dare while others fly, they build a nation's pillars deep and lift them to the sky. Mr. Speaker, an American hero has returned home to his family and a grateful nation to take his place among the many war heroes that are buried at Arlington National Cemetery. He rose and fought and died for the many freedoms that we too many times take for granted. I salute Colonel Paul Underwood, a true American hero, and his family and all those who have fought and died and suffered loss in the name of freedom. The men like Colonel Underwood have truly given this Nation its strength. Let us never forget their sacrifices, Mr. Speaker. And God bless America.

Mr. JONES

Mr. JONES. Mr. Speaker, today we are just 30 days away from the day of the year that many Americans dread the most, and that is April 15th. April 15th, as we all know, is tax day. That means that, as we speak, families, businesses throughout the Nation are filing through mountains of documents, forms, rules and regulations; and they are frustrated. I know my constituents in eastern North Carolina are frustrated, along with people throughout this Nation. My constituents tell me they are having real problems with our complex and burdensome Tax Code. Of course they are. Because they are currently facing 480 different tax forms, the easiest of which, the 1040 EZ, has 33 pages of instructions, all in fine print. The American people want, need and deserve tax relief. Just ask anyone who is preparing for April 15th. We owe the American people tax relief. I hope that in a bipartisan way we can work together to provide them with a fair, simpler tax system.

Mr. JONES

Mr. JONES. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from California very much for yielding. I really wanted to make a brief statement. Then I have got a couple questions I would like to ask him. I first want to thank him for the leadership he, as well as the Speaker and other Members, provide on the Committee on National Security. It is because of his experience and his knowledge, he is a former veteran himself, that he is able to help those of us who are new on the committee understand the threat and importance of trying to rebuild our military, which I think has taken unbelievable cuts over the last several years. And before I ask the question, I wanted to make the statement, because I know of also his interest in our retirees, those who have served this Nation both in wartime and peacetime. I believe I read recently, and correct me if I am wrong, that the President has recommended approximately a $300 million cut in veterans health care benefits and at the same time asking for a 38 percent increase in funding for the National Endowment for the Arts and some of his other social programs. To me, that is a tragedy when we turn our back on those who have served our Nation again, whether it be peacetime or wartime. My colleague touched on deployments earlier. Would the gentleman please verify for me and expand if he can. Is it true that since President Clinton has been our President that we have been on 25 deployments? And if that is true, could you approximate the cost of that and where those monies come from.