Blanche Lincoln

Mrs. LINCOLN

Mrs. LINCOLN. Mr. President, first I commend my colleagues on the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee for all of your hard work on this important piece of legislation and for bringing a bipartisan bill before the full Senate. When the Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act, or IDEA, was enacted in 1975 it brought with it the promise that children with disabilities would have access to the same quality education as nondisabled students. Over the last 30 years, IDEA has advanced the inclusion of students with disabilities into general education classrooms and has given nearly 6 million students nationwide access to services that address their special needs. When Congress passed IDEA nearly 30 years ago, they committed to providing states with 40 percent of the funding necessary to implement this law. Much to my dismay, Congress has failed our schools and the students they serve by providing them with a meager 19 percent of the funding as of fiscal year 2004. It was my hope that this current reauthorization would include mandatory full funding for IDEA because I believe that schools have waited long enough for the Federal Government to fulfill the promise made to them so many years ago. I was proud to support an amendment proposed by my colleague from Iowa yesterday, which would have provided mandatory full funding of IDEA. Unfortunately, the amendment failed by a small margin. I supported another amendment, however, offered by my colleague from New Hampshire to provide full discretionary funding for IDEA, which passed the Senate. I am proud that the Senate made full funding for IDEA a priority, and I look forward to working with my colleagues throughout the appropriations process to make full funding a reality. There are several important aspects of this bill, which will improve the educational experience of students, parents, and teachers. I am pleased that this bill will reduce the paperwork burden on teachers. I have heard from many special education teachers in my State of Arkansas that spend an inordinate amount of time on paperwork and this legislation would provide them with welcome relief so that they can focus on student performance. This bill will also streamline discipline procedures, which I believe will make schools safer and provide school administrators with increased flexibility. Additionally, it will improve parental involvement by creating parent and community information centers with the objective of encouraging parents and schools to work together and resolve disputes in a smooth and efficient way. I am also pleased that this bill provides more resources to schools to better train teachers and parents. This provision is of particular importance to Arkansas where school districts are trying to give financial assistance to teachers for continuing education but are struggling because they face tough budget times. I would also like to reinforce that every single child's learning experience is impacted by their community and school environment. Let us not forget that children with disabilities contribute an extraordinary amount to that learning environment. Students with disabilities deserve every opportunity to achieve educational success so that they can take on productive jobs and lead independent lives. IDEA is a critical law in ensuring that these opportunities are available, and I believe the bill before the Senate today will help educators, parents, and students achieve success in the classroom and beyond.

Mrs. LINCOLN

Mrs. LINCOLN. Mr. President. I rise in strong support of the legislation we are seeking an agreement to consider that would honor the service of our men and women in uniform who are defending our freedom honorably in Iraq and Afghanistan. This legislation would award separate campaign medals to members of the Armed Forces who participate in Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan and Operation Iraqi Freedom. The bill passed the House of Representatives unanimously in March and was reported by the Senate Armed Services Committee earlier this week. I am proud to have worked with my colleague, Senator Jeff Bingaman, and others on a companion bill in the Senate. I know after talking with service men and women from Arkansas that this is an important effort which will allow us to properly honor and recognize the individual sacrifice of those who put their lives on the line so far away from home to defend the freedom we cherish as Americans. In an effort to demonstrate support for our men and women in the military, I am circulating a Soldiers Bill of Rights petition in Arkansas to demonstrate to my colleagues in Washington how important it is to honor the sacrifice of our veterans and their families. This legislation is one of ten priorities I have included in my Soldiers Bill of Rights and I hope we can pass this bill in the immediate future. I close my remarks by commending my colleague, Congressman Vic Snyder, who led this effort in the House. Vic is a good friend and a Vietnam Veteran, and I am very proud of his leadership on this issue on behalf of the constituents we represent in Arkansas.

Mrs. LINCOLN

Mrs. LINCOLN. Mr. President, I want to congratulate Chairman Grassley and Senator Baucus on their decision to include a package of energy tax incentives in this bill. These tax incentives will promote the future development and production of renewable fuels, which we hope one day will lessen our dependency on foreign oil. The package of energy tax incentives now before us was first reported by the Finance Committee last year as part of H.R. 6, the Energy Tax Policy Act of 2003, and the Senate considered H.R. 6 in July of 2003. During floor debate of that legislation, I raised two concerns that I hoped would be addressed in the House-Senate conference of the energy bill. Chairman Grassley agreed with my points and assured me he would use his best efforts to resolve these matters. True to his word, as always, the chairman addressed my concerns in the conference version of H.R. 6. But as we all know, the conference version of H.R. 6 failed to gain enough votes to pass the Senate. Now, the chairman has decided to move a text that is essentially the same finance Committee package of energy tax incentives, not the conference version of the bill, as part of the FSC/ETI bill. One of my concerns, relating to the definition of a landfill gas facility, has been resolved by virtue of the fact that the provision in the Finance Committee package has been dropped. But the other concern remains. So now again, I feel compelled to raise this concern, and once again, request the chairman's assistance to address it in a House-Senate conference. So please bear with me again while I explain my concerns for the record. On February 11 of 2003, I introduced S. 358, the Capturing Landfill Gas for Energy Act of 2003. The bill is cosponsored by Senators Santorum and Hatch and would provide a credit under either Section 29 or 45 of the tax code for the production of energy from landfill gas, or LFG. In the past, Congress recognized the importance of LFG for energy diversity and national security by providing a Section 29 credit in 1980 and extending it for nearly two decades. However, the Finance Committee bill before us fails to recognize the importance of LFG in its creation of a new Section 45 credit. In contrast, the President proposed a generous Section 29 credit for LFG, and the House has passed a Section 45 credit for LFG as part of its energy bill. Both of these proposals would provide meaningful tax incentives to encourage the collection and use of LFG. Thus, this version of energy tax incentives falls well short of recognizing the importance of dealing with LFG, and I urge the chairman to address this shortfall in the House-Senate conference by affording the same incentive for LFG that other renewable energy sources are given under the final legislation. The potential energy and environmental benefits of future LFG projects are substantial, but they will be lost if we do not provide adequate provisions to support project development. I want to thank Chairman Grassley and Senator Baucus for their past work and support in addressing these important concerns. Further, I hope and request that they once again work with me to make sure Americans garner all of these important benefits.

Mrs. LINCOLN

Mrs. LINCOLN. Mr. President, I thank my colleagues from Illinois and Nevada for being here to talk about an issue critical to our country. I rise to speak about the same issue, the growing crisis of the uninsured here in our great country. I have devoted a great deal of time and energy during my career in public service to develop solutions to our health care crisis. I believe it is critical, as Senator Durbin has mentioned, that we begin by dealing with this problem of the uninsured and doing it now. This is an issue on which we can come together and work through our differences and produce a product that actually is not only going to provide a better quality of life for all Americans, but it is also going to be an enormous step in dealing with the economics and the budgetary concerns that we have in our country today. One of our No. 1 employers in most of our communities in rural America are our health care providers. It is not just that the health care providers provide us with the quality of life and the medical care we need, but they are also a huge part of the economy in this country, if we can begin to work toward balancing that out and making sure we can predict what people's needs are going to be and where that payment is going to exist. The fact is, the number of uninsured in our country is alarming and it must become more of a national priority. One of the ways we have noticed it tremendously in our State of Arkansas is the number of uninsured who serve in our Guard and Reserves. We have found they are uncovered until they are activated. It creates a huge national crisis in many instances because we can't call these individuals up until they meet military health specifications. Most of them are employed by small businesses, so they are not getting the health care they need. The consequences of not addressing this problem are enormous, in terms of our Nation's physical and economic well-being. Right now, as many as 44 million Americans are uninsured. The vast majority, over 80 percent of the uninsured persons under the age of 65, are part of families where at least one family member is working. Many times, these individuals' jobs do not provide insurance or the coverage offered is too costly, given their limited incomes. Buying insurance on the individual market is unthinkable for many because the costs can be even higher in that marketplace. In my home State of Arkansas and in other rural States, the health care crisis has its own special character. In Arkansas, over 400,000 lack health insurance. Given the scope of this problem in Arkansas and nationwide, we need to develop innovative solutions to ensure people get the coverage they need. Why is access to health insurance so critical? Many believe even if people don't have access to insurance, that they still have their health care needs taken care of. I have no earthly idea where they come up with this misconception. The truth is, without health insurance many Americans find themselves faced with a barrier to health care. Uninsured families have less access to important screenings, the state-of-the-art technology that we have so meticulously developed, and prescription drugs. Uninsured adults have a 25-percent greater mortality risk than adults with health care coverage. An estimated 18,000 deaths among people younger than 65 are attributed to the lack of health insurance coverage every year. Uninsured adults with chronic conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, HIV infection, and mental illness have less access to preventive care and have worse clinical outcomes than insured patients. Uninsured adults negatively affect our health care providers and local economies, too. Senator Reid from Nevada brought up the issue of our health care providers who are trying desperately to provide needed medical care. A community's high rate of uninsurance can adversely affect the overall health status of the community, the financial stability of its health care institutions and its providers, and access to emergency departments and trauma centers. I can assure you hospitals in Arkansas will tell you how much uncompensated care jeopardizes the access to health care for the communities they serve. The facts make it clear. People without health insurance don't have their health care needs taken care of. Those who lack health insurance don't get access to timely and appropriate health care. For Americans without health insurance, children and adults suffer worse health and die sooner than those who have health insurance. It is clear the uninsured who have inadequate health care options tend to fend for themselves in the marketplace and with health care providers. Working families need help with this problem and they need it today. The lack of insurance also creates tremendous financial obstacles for working families. If an uninsured family member has serious health problems such as cancer or a heart attack, the bills can destroy the financial foundation of that entire family. Uninsured families are more likely to pay a higher percentage of their income for medical care, and often will have to borrow money from family members to cover medical expenses. The reality is debt from medical expenses often drives the uninsured into bankruptcy. In my home State of Arkansas, the No. 1 cause of bankruptcy is high medical bills. Recently, I, along with Senator Durbin, Senator Carper, and Senator Reid, introduced legislation in the Senate to help more Americans get access to health insurance coverage through their employers. We know that is the most logical place for them to access it. Small businesses are the No. 1 source for jobs in Arkansas. What better way to help our economy than to help these small businesses offer affordable health care options. More than half of workers in firms under 100 people make less than $25,000 a year--$25,000 a year, and they don't even get the child tax credit when we don't make it refundable. Can't we at least do something about providing them some health care? A high proportion of businesses with low-wage workers are much less likely to offer insurance. Our bill, The Small Employers Health Benefits Program Act, will provide the self-employed and the small businesses with a variety of private insurance plans. This approach would give these employers access to a larger purchasing pool and negotiated rates for health insurance. They would get more choice at lower costs--exactly what we as Federal employees get. The purchasing pool will be similar in the structure to the Federal Employees Health Benefit Program to which all Government employees across this great country have access. This is a far cry from the associated health plans some folks here in Washington talk about. These other plans--AHPs--allow companies to cherry-pick only the healthiest workers, leaving a pool of the sickest and neediest without coverage. That is not a way to attack this problem. It is only going to drive up costs in the long run. Our plan would provide more comprehensive coverage to a far greater number of workers. We have seen its success in what it provides to us and to our workers in the Federal Employees plan, not to mention all of the others who work in Federal Government across this land, from rural areas to urban areas. We have seen the increase in our ability to offer them choice and better cost. If we can make health insurance more affordable for all of these workers through their employers--all of these small-business workers--we would not necessarily solve the problem of the uninsured, but we would certainly make an enormous dent in it. Our plan would go a long way toward making health care more accessible for millions of workers and their families. After all, more than half of the private sector workers in the United States are employed by small businesses, and many of these businesses struggle with the cost of providing quality health coverage. That would go a long way toward helping to ease some of the anxiety and concerns people in this country are feeling. In my home State, 76 percent of businesses have fewer than 50 employees, so Arkansans would benefit greatly from this program. I have heard from many of our small-business owners in Arkansas who have been forced to drop or reduce their employees' health coverage because of the high cost. But it is not just small businesses. Health care and health care costs in this country are the first item of business for anyone who comes into our offices to talk to us about their needs and concerns. These small-business employers want to provide their employees with the best coverage possible because they recognize how valuable health insurance is as a tool for boosting recruitment, retention, and employee morale, not to mention their production. They are so much more productive when they have healthy people in their workforce. Clearly, health insurance can play a vital role in the overall success of a small business. Our plan would help our small-business owners provide employees with health coverage at a much lower cost--a win-win situation for everyone. With solutions such as this, health insurance plans for small businesses, we can ensure health coverage is a fundamental component of every American worker's economic security. We must make the growing number of uninsured in our country a priority. It must be a priority we all embrace in the Senate. It is clear working families are not getting the health care they need. Let us come together and do something good for the hard-working folks in this country who can't afford health insurance today. For those who can't get access to the most basic of preventive medicine, Congress needs to address this issue. The high cost of health care in the United States is giving other developed countries an advantage in keeping and attracting jobs. For each car they build, DaimlerChrysler AG pays about $1,300 in employee health care costs. When they make a car in Canada, they pay hardly anything. That is why the Big Three automakers actually lobbied the Canadian Government to maintain their national health care system. At a time when jobs are leaving our country, at a time when health care insurance premiums are rising by leaps and bounds and working families are feeling insecure about their jobs and health care coverage, Congress must do something, and we can do it now.

Mrs. LINCOLN

Mrs. LINCOLN. Mr. President, I rise today with a heavy heart but with a great sense of Arkansas pride as well to pay tribute to five members of the Arkansas 39th Infantry Brigade who lost their lives fighting for our country in Iraq this past weekend. According to recent reports, Saturday was one of the deadliest days for the Arkansas service members since 1950 in the Korean War. On Saturday, four soldiers from the Arkansas 39th were killed in a mortar attack, and 27 hours later a fifth Arkansan was killed by a roadside bomb as he patroled the neighborhoods of Baghdad. I think back to last fall when I had the honor of attending a sendoff ceremony for the 39th Infantry Brigade in Little Rock, AR. That ceremony brought together soldiers, families, friends, and loved ones to commemorate the occasion and wish them the best in their mission, to join together in prayer and send them off with the idea that we would be back soon to welcome them home safely. The sendoff was not a celebration. In fact, it was a sobering occasion. After all, no one relishes the prospect of traveling halfway around the world, far from family and friends and home, to take on a dangerous mission. But even at such a somber occasion something special happens. Differences begin to fade away. The soldiers that were standing before me were no longer from big cities or small cities, they were no longer Black or White, and they were no longer male or female. Their differences did not exist. Those brave soldiers were Americans, and for the defense of this Nation, they become one of mind and one of mission. The oneness of purpose that the 39th exhibited that day should serve as a lesson to those of us they leave behind. They are sacrificing their lives not just for their kind and kin but for every American who enjoys liberty and peace. When a member of the 39th patrols Baghdad, he does not just patrol it for the sake and safety of Lewisville, AR, or Little Rock, AR, or Hazen or Humnoke or Batesville, AR; he patrols Baghdad for the sake and the safety of all Americans and the values and the ideals that we, as Americans, believe in and support. When a member of the 39th Infantry pays the ultimate price in battle, he does it not just for the sake of his children but also for the sake of my children and your children as well. In the end, these courageous souls are not only protecting our liberty, they are also teaching us what it means to be a part of one American family--one American family. In this time, when so many Americans are willing to lay their lives on the line, we in this body--we in this Nation--must become one America. We must understand what it takes to be one with the sacrifices that we, too, must undertake. Unfortunately, carrying out the duty of a nation requires sacrifices, and some of those are sacrifices we would rather not take. This weekend, we were once again reminded of the sacrifices that are required to protect our Nation. We, too, as leaders in this body--all Americans--must make sacrifices, too--to govern, to protect, to get along, and to make this Nation strong. Our sacrifices are not even worthy to be compared to what these brave Americans have done and the sacrifices they have made, but our sacrifices, too, are all too important, that the sacrifices they have made will not have been done in vain, that our Nation can remain as strong as it has ever been, and that each of us--from big cities and small, men and women, Black and White, Republican and Democrat--must become one America. Over the course of those 2 days, the State of Arkansas lost five brave soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice to make the world a better place. I know that my colleagues in the Senate join me in paying tribute to CPT Arthur ``Bo'' Felder, 36 years old, of Lewisville, AR; CWO Patrick W. Kordsmeier, 49 years old, of North Little Rock, AR; SSG Stacey C. Brandon, 35 years old, of Hazen, AR; SSG Billy Joe Orton, 41 years old, of Humnoke, AR; and SP Kenneth A. Melton, 30 years old, of Batesville, AR. Captain Felder served as a youth director at Saint Luke Missionary Baptist Church in North Little Rock. He was known as someone who felt at ease with children, who loved them, cared for them, and wanted to help prepare them for the future. It was reported in the Arkansas Democrat Gazette that Captain Felder was remembered by his friends as a person of faith and prayer. Chief Warrant Officer Kordsmeier was killed as he rushed to the aid of his fellow soldiers. His selfless act illustrates the kind of courage which is necessary to keep this Nation strong and free. According to the Arkansas Democrat Gazette, Sergeant Stacey Brandon was a prison guard for the State Department of Correction and later worked at the Federal prison in Forrest City, AR. His friends said of him: He was a very outstanding young man whose loss will affect a lot of people. He was one of the young people you could admire. Sergeant Orton was loved by his family and friends. It is reported that when they learned of his death over 100 people gathered around his home to stand vigil and to support his family. It was noted by those there that Billy had given his life for the cause of freedom. Many of Specialist Melton's fellow soldiers from Bravo Company were especially affected by his death. He had known and worked with many of them for years. It is reported that upon the announcement of Specialist Melton's death, his comrades did not think of the dangers of their mission but of comforting Specialist Melton's wife and children. Saturday's deadly attack on Camp Cooke, the base camp for Arkansas' 39th Infantry, occurred at 5 a.m. Captain Felder, Chief Warrant Officer Kordsmeier, Sergeant Brandon, and Sergeant Orton were killed in the final moments of the attack when they took a direct mortar hit as they emerged from the bunker where they had been taking cover. On Sunday, Specialist Melton was killed by a roadside bomb as he manned a machine gun atop his Humvee. These five brave men are a shining example of the citizen soldiers who are fighting in the deserts of the Middle East. Those serving in Iraq today are not only military men, but they are also doctors, lawyers, police officers, firemen, teachers, factory workers, business owners, and elected officials. Most importantly, they are husbands and wives, they are mothers and fathers. In short, they are our American family. They are the leaders of their respective communities. Their loss will not only be felt on the battlefield but also by their families, friends, and communities who will miss their love and leadership. When their Nation called, these brave men answered. They did so without regard to politics or party. They did so without regard to the many small differences we allow to divide us as a nation. I am sure the entire Senate body will join with me as we send our condolences and sympathy to the families and friends of these brave Americans, to send our thanks for the courageous way they have served their country. They left their homes as family members, co-workers, and friends, and they return as heroes. I am honored and humbled to pay tribute to their sacrifice. It is hard to find the words that you might think could match those sacrifices because there are no words. But we try. I challenge my colleagues today, let us not just use words. Let us use actions. Let our work be an example of the sacrifices we are willing to take by saying to one another, we will be one America. Thank you, Mr. President. I yield the floor.

Mrs. LINCOLN

Mrs. LINCOLN. Mr. President, I also rise today to pay tribute to a son of Arkansas who gave up the security of his family and home to protect our freedoms in the war on terrorism. Marine Private First Class Brandon Clinton Smith, 20, of Fayetteville was killed on March 17, 2004, in Al Qaim, Iraq, as he and three of his fellow Marines were racing to help comrades who had come under attack by insurgents. Brandon attended Fayetteville High School and dreamed of becoming a Marine. He fulfilled his dream by enlisting this past September. He was so proud of his decision that he framed his Marine Corps acceptance letter and hung it in his bedroom. Upon completing boot camp, Brandon became a member of the 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force. Brandon was buried with full military honors in Fayetteville on Friday, March 26. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his father, Gordon Smith; to his mother, Deborah Bolin of West Fork; and to his sister, Desirae. An attendee at Brandon's funeral was quoted by the Associated Press as saying that ``[Brandon] made a great Marine. We could see he had changed when he came back from training. He had found himself.'' As this mission in Iraq continues, I am humbled that this young Marine found himself in so great a purpose as defending his nation.

Mrs. LINCOLN. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to one of Arkansas' heroes who has paid the ultimate sacrifice in defense of his Nation. Sgt. 1st Class William W. Labadie, 45, a native of Bauxite, AR, was mortally wounded on April 7, 2004, during an attack by insurgents on his camp just south of Baghdad. William Labadie, known to his friends as Wild Bill, joined the Marine Corps right after high school. After serving in the Corps for 8 years he returned home and later became a member of the Arkansas National Guard. Sgt. Labadie was known as a real soldier's soldier. He took his responsibilities seriously and was excited by the opportunity to use his training in the service of his country. After having been in Iraq for less than a month and in a combat zone for less than 24 hours, Sgt. Labadie was fatally wounded when his camp came under a mortar and small arms attack. Our condolences and prayers go out to William's wife, Sunnie, of Del City, OK; to his son, Bryan; and to his parents, Cheryl and Carl Winters of Bauxite, AR. William's mother, Cheryl, was quoted in our State's newspaper, the Benton Courier, as saying that ``[t]his honestly was his goal in life. He knew that this was his last shot at 45 years old. He told his commanding officer: `Give me a shot.' It was like he was going to Disneyland.'' That kind of enthusiasm is what makes this nation great. We honor William's spirit and his strong resolve to take on the responsibility of advancing freedom to the world. Brandon Clinton Smith

Mrs. LINCOLN

Mrs. LINCOLN. Mr. President, I voted against the cloture motion to S. 2290 because I did not believe this bill was ready to be debated on the Senate floor. Unfortunately, the process that created this bill did not give stakeholders an adequate opportunity to fully discuss and debate honest differences. As a result, significant issues remain that can and should be addressed before proceeding to consideration on the floor. I am confident, however, these issues can be resolved if the interested parties will come to the table and work in good faith until a compromise can be reached. In my conversations with asbestos victims, industry officials, and labor leaders a common thread has emerged; we are too close to walk away now. I have consistently expressed support for a legislative solution to the asbestos crisis that would establish a trust fund to pay legitimate claims in a fair and efficient manner. However, if we ask American citizens to give up their right to a day in court, we must ensure they will be treated equitably by the alternative. Further, we must ensure that the trust fund remains solvent and efficient. We also must make certain that the fund will be up and running as quickly as possible. All of the parties in this discussion have a vested interest in making the trust fund work. For the victims, many have waited far too long to receive the compensation they deserve in a timely and efficient manner. For the business community, they have agreed to commit a significant amount of money to this fund. It is in their best interest to make sure the fund works by paying victims a fair amount in a timely way to ensure they are not threatened by non-meritorious claims if this process returns to the courts We can reach agreement on this vital legislation if all sides stay at the table. Legislation is rarely a work of art, it is a work in progress. We must continue to push forward until a solution is found.

Mrs. LINCOLN

Mrs. LINCOLN. Mr. President, I rise today to voice my strong opposition to yesterday's ruling by the European Commission against the Microsoft Corporation. While Arkansas is not the headquarters of the Microsoft Corp., we are keenly aware of the negative impact that the European Union's protectionist trade actions have on American business and our Nation's economic growth and job creation. Time and time again, farmers and agribusiness in my state have been denied the opportunity to compete in the European market. As a member of the Senate Finance Committee, I am dedicated to ensuring a level playing field with our trading partners. This goal cannot be accomplished alone. It will require a multinational cooperative effort which developed countries like the United States and Europe must lead. The EU's actions, specifically the one taken yesterday, are a significant step in the wrong direction. I encourage the administration to continue to engage their European counterparts and demand a more cooperative effort. I yield the floor.

Mrs. LINCOLN

Mrs. LINCOLN. Mr. President, I thank my colleague from Kentucky for raising this issue. I have been very concerned about our small businesses and how they fare as well. That was one of the reasons I requested information from the IRS on this very issue concerning how our small businesses are affected. Addressing this argument about small business and cutting the top rates: According to the IRS statistics we received back from the IRS, only 3.8 percent of small business and farm returns have income over $200,000. So you have to earn $319,100 before you even make it to the top tax bracket. All of your income up until that amount is taxed at the lower rate. If you look at the statistics that the IRS brings to us, 62 percent of small businesses and farm returns in this country have incomes of $50,000 or less. They do not fall into this top category of income that is being discussed. I appreciate the Senator bringing this up so we can really talk about who falls into this category. I ask my colleagues to recognize we are talking about taxable income, which is after expenses. This is take-home pay, take-home pay for these companies. This is the money that is not being invested in new plants or new equipment, this is not money that is going to employment, increasing jobs which we know our small businesses are capable of if they have the resources to invest there. This is taxable income after expenses, so it is taxable income that has really gone to the bank already. I think it is very important for us to recognize what we are talking about. It also might be of interest to my colleagues tonight to know that after I had a very similar discussion about these statistics with the Secretary of the Treasury, he called me the other day and told me he had reviewed my charts and found them accurate. He said they were hard to read but they were accurate. They are a little bit small. But I think it is so important for us to recognize. The reason it hit home for me is because Arkansas finds itself actually in a little bit higher circumstance than that. Well over 62 percent of our small businesses in Arkansas are our largest employers. Roughly upwards of 70 percent find themselves in that 50 percent or less category. Again, this is after expenses. This is what they are taking home. I know my colleague in his amendment talks about individual income tax returns as a partnership, or a sole proprietor, or subject chapter S corporation. But I encourage my colleagues to understand that these are flowthrough entities. If you are talking about these individuals and these groups, they are very small as a percentage of what we are talking about in small businesses. These are individuals who might file schedule C or schedule S. I think it is so important for us to look at the numbers. I agree wholeheartedly with my colleagues that small businesses are the engine of this economy. They are the ones that provide the most jobs. Most of the jobs in Arkansas are provided by our small businesses. It is important we accurately look at the resources we are trying to put back into the hands of small businesses so they can reinvest and grow the jobs we know we need to continue to build on this economy. I hope we will take a look at the numbers which have been provided. We talk some about upward mobility. I know that has been discussed as well by many of our colleagues about the opportunity that Americans want to have, the potential they want in order to reach those upper brackets. But, quite frankly, if you look at the upward mobility in my State, in 1991 the per capita personal income was about $15,175. Today, it is $22,750. That is an increase of about 33 percent over the decade. But Arkansans, on average, are still earning less than $23,000 a year. Less than 10 percent of our Arkansans earn over $200,000 a year. I just try to make this point. I hope my colleagues will look at incomes in their own States. When you find in other States such as ours that 50 percent of the people have an adjusted gross income of less than $25,000 and over 80 percent roughly have an adjusted gross income of less than $50,000 a year, we have to look at putting money into the pockets of people who are going to grow this economy. We have to keep a balance. I hope my colleagues will look at what is happening. If you talk about upward mobility, it will take a 1,400-percent increase in income to reach those upper margins that are being talked about from where most of our small business and other income earners in our State are. I hope my colleagues will take a second look at what he is trying to propose. I hope my other colleagues realize, if what we want to do is make sure we are growing the economy and protecting small businesses, we need to look at the statistics the IRS has given us about where those small businesses are and where those resources lie.

Mrs. LINCOLN

Mrs. LINCOLN. Yes.

Mrs. LINCOLN. Mr. President, I thank my colleague. I thank all of my colleagues. This is such an important issue as we look at the budget in the confines of the budget of this country, really in the context of priorities. We have a lot of choices and we have a lot of priorities in this country. Each of us as Americans, here in the Senate, our constituents who depend on us tremendously to make sure that the priorities of this country are recognized--each of us in our own homes and families has to set priorities within the confines of our own family budgets. We have to look at the year, the circumstances, and we have to figure out what is important to us as a family, important to us as part of a community, and what is important in terms of long range goals that we have for ourselves, our families, our communities and, in this instance, our Nation. We also have to recognize that the priorities and choices that we make regarding those priorities have consequences. They have immediate consequences on our families, communities, and our country. They also have long-term consequences on the things that we want to achieve as individuals and collectively as a group. That is why I rise today to offer an amendment to the budget resolution to provide $60 billion over 5 years to reduce the growing number of uninsured Americans and to reduce the high cost of health care. I do not know about the other Members of this body, but I do know, almost to the individuals who come into my office, whether they represent corporate America, whether they represent their families, whether they represent the interest of their community and the small businesses that make up that community, but to a person, almost every one of them mentions the cost of health care in this country, its escalation, and the concern it brings to them as an individual and to their families, to their businesses, and to their communities. What are we going to do about it? How much of a priority are we going to make this issue in terms of the high cost of health care in this country? One of the most incredible contributors to this high cost of health care is the number of Americans who are uninsured, those who are unprepared for what may happen to them or to their family members. It affects them, it affects their families, it affects their jobs, their employers, their communities, their health care providers--it affects absolutely everyone. This amendment I offer today will dedicate funding to address this critical issue and to do so in a way that is fiscally responsible. Unfortunately, the budget resolution before us does not specify either an amount to promote expanding health insurance coverage or a way to pay for it, which leads me to believe it simply is not a priority, and I am here today to make it one. The fact is, the number of uninsured in our country is alarming and should be a national priority. Based on the statements of HHS Secretary Tommy Thompson last week, it is clear President Bush's administration does not recognize the severity of this crisis. Secretary Thompson was quoted as saying: Even if you do not have health insurance in America, you get taken care of. That could be defined as universal health care. With all due respect to Secretary Thompson, I do not know where he is getting his information. Just look at these simple facts: 20 percent of the working-age adults in Arkansas are uninsured. Nationwide an estimated 44 million Americans do not have health insurance. Uninsured families have less access to important screenings, state- of-the-art technology, and prescription drugs. Uninsured adults have a 25-percent greater mortality risk than adults with health insurance coverage. An estimated 18,000 deaths among people younger than 65 are attributed to lack of health insurance coverage every single year. Uninsured adults with chronic conditions, such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, HIV infection, and mental illness, have less access to preventive care and have worse clinical outcomes than insured patients. Uninsured adults negatively affect our health care providers and the local economy, too. A community's high rate of uninsured can adversely affect the overall health status of the entire community, the financial stability of its health care institutions and providers, and access to emergency departments and trauma centers. My hospitals in Arkansas will tell you how expensive uncompensated care can be. These facts make it clear. People without health insurance do not get taken care of, as Secretary Thompson said. Those who lack health insurance do not get access to timely and appropriate health care. The fact is Americans without health insurance--children and adults-- suffer worse health and they die sooner than those who do have health insurance. The fact is people who lack health insurance are sicker and they die sooner. You do not get taken care of if you have no health insurance. You simply fend for yourself. Working families need help with this problem. In Arkansas, the No. 1 cause of bankruptcy is high medical bills. If what we want to do is put our economy back on track, let us work to provide small businesses and industry the ability to access health insurance and health care for their workers. We know that works. Last week, I introduced legislation with Senator Durbin and Senator Carper to help small businesses gain access to affordable health insurance for their employees. Small businesses are the No. 1 source of jobs in Arkansas. Small employers say offering health insurance has a positive impact on recruitment and retention, employee moral, their performance, and the overall success of their business, their ability to succeed and to grow the jobs that will help make this economy strong. What better way to get our economy going again than to help small businesses to succeed? More than half of the workers in firms under 100 people make less than $25,000. I ask my colleagues, How in the world can someone afford health insurance in the open marketplace on an income at that level? Firms with a high proportion of low-wage workers are much less likely to offer insurance, and the fact health insurance for individuals, low-income working families to afford it on their own does not exist. This budget resolution does not prioritize this growing problem. It fails working families because it does not put any money aside. In President Bush's budget, he suggested he wants to work with Congress on an offset for this proposed plan. Guess what, Mr. President. I have one. Let's eliminate the abusive tax loopholes corporations have taken advantage of for years. How long do we have to wait, anyway? This amendment is about priorities. Are we going to choose to help working families afford health insurance? Are we going to continue to allow corporations to get away with these abuses? We have investigated Enron's tax shelters activities, but we have done nothing. We have done nothing in those circumstances. We must make the growing number of uninsured in our country a priority. It is clear working families are not getting the health care they need. No one can argue with that point. I challenge any one of my colleagues. If they are not hearing the same concerns in their offices, I would be surprised. There are a number of bipartisan proposals introduced in the Senate to address the high number of uninsured. Let's come together and do something good for the hard-working folks in this country who cannot afford health insurance, those who cannot get access to the most basic of preventive medicine. Congress needs to address this issue. The high cost of health care in the United States is giving other developed countries an advantage in keeping and attracting jobs. If we want to talk about losing jobs, look at one of the highest costs to industry and to small businesses. It is providing quality health care and health insurance that is going to allow them to keep those workers and provide them what they need to be good workers and good family members. For each car they build, DaimlerChrysler AG pays out $1,300 in employee health care costs. When they make that car in Canada, they pay hardly anything. They depend on a government program to provide that health care. That is why the big three automakers actually lobbied the Canadian Government to maintain their national health care system. If we want to keep jobs in America, let's make it worth their while. Let's make their quality of life comparable in those instances. At a time when jobs are leaving our country, at a time when health insurance premiums are rising by leaps and bounds and working families are losing their jobs and what health insurance they may have, Congress must do something. I do not claim my amendment will address every health care need in our Nation. Some want to do more, and some think we should do less. I believe my amendment is a balanced, commonsense approach that will advance this important cause in a meaningful way. I ask my colleagues for their support. We cannot assume people are getting the health care they need, because they are not. All we have to do is listen to corporate America, listen to small business, listen to our health care providers, most importantly, listen to our constituents.

Mrs. LINCOLN. Mr. President, we cannot continue to turn a blind eye. Let's get it done. I urge all Senators to vote for my amendment and vote on behalf of quality health care for all Americans. I thank the Chair.

Mrs. LINCOLN. I ask unanimous consent to lay aside the pending amendment, and I send my amendment to the desk.

Mrs. LINCOLN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the reading of the amendment be dispensed with.

Mrs. LINCOLN

Mrs. LINCOLN. Mr. President, I draw my colleagues' attention to the amendment offered earlier today by myself and many others. I cannot think of anything that could help us in this Nation redirect our economy, rebuild the fabric of our country, help our families, our working families, our military families, our children across this Nation, than looking at what we can do for the uninsured in this country. The number of uninsured in our country is alarming. It should be a priority in this budget debate. As we look at the budget debate we are dealing with, we should think about priorities and the choices we have to make and the consequences down the road if we do not make the right priorities and the right choices. I encourage all of my colleagues to take a look at what we are doing. We are providing for the uninsured. We are making sure it is not paid for by increasing taxes, but cutting loopholes, cutting corporate loopholes that have existed, which we have all agreed are wrong. We need to do something about it. Redirecting those resources to the uninsured is the correct thing to do.

Mrs. LINCOLN

Mrs. LINCOLN. One of my priorities as a Senator has been to seek ways we can make our Government work better. I believe one important place to begin is with our programs for our veterans. It is particularly true as our population ages, the Veterans Administration must adapt to new demands. Over 45 percent of American veterans are now over the age of 60. In addition, the largest group of veterans, the Vietnam-era veterans, are nearing retirement. We are going to need innovative approaches to meet the needs of these veterans. A top priority should be to ensure our veterans benefits are more fair and equitable. The amendment Senator Daschle and I, as a cosponsor, offer today would increase funding for veterans health care by $2.7 billion. We would accomplish this by reducing tax cuts for people making over $1 million per year, so this measure would not add to the Nation's budget deficit, the budget deficit our children will be paying. One measure of a nation's greatness is how well it cares for those who have fought and sacrificed to protect its citizens, its values, its freedoms, and its interests. I urge my colleagues to join me in voting for this amendment to ensure our veterans have health care they so richly deserve, and that we do so without putting an enormous burden on our children. I would like to also comment on some of the talks we have had, both in the Finance Committee and here, about where those dollars are actually going to come from and who actually gets harmed, and remind our colleagues today these dollars do not come out of the small business arena. We have had information from the IRS which indicates that. We have charts which help us show that. I hope my colleagues will look at what is most important: The priorities and the choices we have to make today, and the consequences we will see from those choices we make. Let us support our veterans. Thank you, Madam President.

Mrs. LINCOLN. Madam President, I thank my colleague, the minority leader. I stand today to speak in strong support of Senator Daschle's amendment to the budget resolution that would ensure the U.S. Veterans Administration has the funding it needs to provide the best services possible to our Nation's veterans. My father passed away about a year and a half ago. He was an infantryman in the Korean war. Both of my grandfathers served in World War II. I believe probably one of the most important values those men instilled in me when I was growing up was the need to respect and honor our Nation's veterans, those who had put their lives on the line to ensure our freedoms and this incredible Nation we are a part of could be sustained. I have always treasured that lesson, and my father's example has guided me throughout my career in public service, as well as the examples of those I have met along the road of the very strong and determined and willing Arkansans who have also served this country. That lesson has always been important, but it is particularly poignant today. With the war on terrorism and the war in Iraq, a new generation of young people has stepped forward to defend our Nation and the world against threats to our security, peace, and stability. Many have given their lives in this cause. A great many more, who rarely get mentioned, have been wounded in action, and they will need our support in the years to come. We often hear people talk about the American military's superiority in weapons and technology, which is the most advanced and powerful in the history of the world. I know every Member in this body is proud of that. But there is also no getting around the fact our most important military strength resides in our people, in the men and women who serve, and in the officers who lead them. No weapon and no technology is as valuable to our military as our military personnel. One of my top priorities has been to ensure our military personnel gets the support they need, whether it is equity in pay, health care, housing, or child care. With an all-volunteer military, it follows you are going to have more career soldiers, and more of those soldiers are going to be married and have families. We should recognize this and provide for their needs. Particularly with the demands placed on our soldiers in the war on terror and in Iraq, we need to find new ways to better serve them and their families in recognition of their service and their sacrifice to this country. Their sacrifice today reminds of us of the sacrifices of earlier generations. It reminds us of the service and sacrifice of those who are here today. It should remind us we owe our veterans a much greater debt than just gratitude and respect. We also have an obligation to support the health and well-being and dignity of our veterans and their families when they need health care or when death, disability, and economic hardship leave them in distress. The cornerstone of this commitment is our Veterans Administration, with its numerous support programs for health care, homelessness, and veterans with special needs. But as many of you know all too well, our veterans programs have not always lived up to their promise. While things have improved in many respects, we still have some distance to travel to make our veterans programs the most effective they can be.

Mrs. LINCOLN. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent for an additional 2 minutes.

Mrs. LINCOLN

Mrs. LINCOLN. Madam President, I rise today with my colleague, Senator Durbin, to introduce the Small Employer Health Benefits Program Act of 2004. This legislation seeks to address an enormous problem facing small businesses in Arkansas and all across the country: accessibility and affordability of health insurance. I have talked with many small business owners in Arkansas who have been forced to drop or dramatically reduce health insurance for their employees even though they desperately want to offer it. Small employers say that offering health insurance has a positive impact on recruitment, retention, employee attitude, performance, health status, and the overall success of the business. What better way to get our economy going again than to help small businesses succeed? Small businesses are the number one source for jobs in Arkansas. And the smaller the businesses, the less likely they will offer health insurance. Nationally, 58 percent of all private sector employers offer health insurance. Only three States fall below this average: my home State of Arkansas, Mississippi, and Montana. Arkansas, rate for private coverage is 43 percent. That is why I am proud to introduce legislation today that will offer small employers a real solution to the problem of accessing affordable, comprehensive health insurance for their employees. Our legislation calls for the creation of a new Small Employers Health Benefits Program which will offer small employers affordable choices among private health insurance plans by giving them access to a large purchasing pool and negotiated rates. Our bill combines the best of what government-run health care, but harnesses the power of market competition to bring down health insurance costs by using a proven government negotiator. Under our bill, small businesses across America would be able to pool their risk and purchasing power together to offer affordable health insurance options for their employees. Based on the successful Federal Employees Health Benefits program, which has provided quality benefit choices to Federal employees for decades, our program would offer small businesses a range of benefit packages from a variety of insurance companies, ensuring them a choice of affordable products. All small employers with under 100 employees could voluntarily participate in the new SEHBP. Why only 100 employees or less? We target help to those who need it the most. Take Arkansas as an example. 87 percent of the businesses in Arkansas with 100 to 200 employees do offer health insurance. However, most businesses in Arkansas, 76 percent to be exact, have less than 50 employees and less than one- third of them are able to offer health insurance to their employees. Also under our bill, if employers agree to pay a minimum percentage of the premium for workers making under $25,000, they would receive a refundable tax credit in return. Why only low-wage workers? Studies show that more than half of workers in firms under 100 people make less than $25,000. And firms with a high proportion of low-wage workers are much less likely to offer insurance. Further, current health tax-credits are not targeted to those who need help the most. A recent study shows that only 28 percent of current health benefit tax expenditures will go to families with incomes below $50,000 this year. This is bad considering that these families account for more than half of all families in our country. In contrast, families with incomes of $100,000 or more comprise 14 percent of the population but will account for 26 percent of all health benefit tax expenditures. By giving small employers a refundable tax credit to defray part of the employer contribution for low-income workers, we provide help to those struggling families who need it the most. One of the best aspects of our program is that every person working for a small business anywhere in the country--rural or urban--would have access to a choice of plans. And workers who move from one SEHBP- participating company to another anywhere in the Nation would be able to maintain their same health coverage. For example, a florist working in Helena, AR, who is enrolled in an SEHBP nationwide plan could move to Carbondale, IL, without changing her health insurance. It's that easy. Consumers are protected because plans in SEHBP will be subject to the same strict regulatory and solvency standards applied to plans in FEHBP. And small employers would be relieved of the burden of comparing insurers, benefit packages, costs and negotiating contracts. I hope that our colleagues will take a careful look at our legislation and present it to the small businesses in their States. I hope they will ask them about their struggle to find affordable health insurance in today's market and see if they'd view this as a better alternative. The number of uninsured in our country is alarming and should be a national priority. It is apparent by the statements of HHS Secretary Tommy Thompson yesterday that President Bush's administration doesn't recognize the severity of this crisis. Secretary Thompson said: ``Even if you don't have health insurance in America, you get taken care of. That could be defined as universal health care.'' With all due respect to Secretary Thompson, I don't know where he's getting his information. Just look at the facts: Twenty percent of the working-aged adults in Arkansas (who are between 19 and 64 years of age) are uninsured. Forty-four million Americans nationwide don't have health insurance. Uninsured families have less access to important screenings, state- of-the art technology, and prescription drugs. We just passed a Medicare prescription drug benefit because we know how important access to prescription drugs are in improving health. Uninsured adults have a 25 percent greater mortality risk than adults with coverage. About 18,000 deaths among people younger than 65 are attributed to lack of health insurance coverage every year. Uninsured adults with chronic conditions like diabetes, cardiovascular disease, HIV infection and mental illness have less access to preventive care and have worse clinical outcomes than insured patients. They try to buy insurance, but it is virtually impossible to get in the individual market. Uninsured adults negatively affect our health care providers and local economies too. A community's high rate of uninsurance can adversely affect the overall health status of the community, the financial stability of its health care institutions and providers, and access to emergency departments and trauma centers. My hospitals in Arkansas will tell you how expensive uncompensated care can be. These facts make it clear: people without health insurance don't ``get taken care of'' as Thompson said. Those who lack health insurance don't get access to timely and appropriate health care. The facts are that Americans without health insurance--children and adults--suffer worse health and die sooner than those who do have health insurance. In Arkansas, the number one cause of bankruptcy is high medical bills. These working families need help with this problem. The fact is that people who lack health insurance are sicker and die sooner. You ``don't get taken care of'' if you have no health insurance. You fend for yourself. That's why our small businesses employers--who make up most of the businesses in Arkansas--want to offer health insurance to their employees. And that is why our bill that Senator Durbin and I are introducing today is good for America.

Mrs. LINCOLN

Mrs. LINCOLN. Madam President, I rise today to pay tribute to a group of Arkansas who are demonstrating true leadership and commitment in facing down one of the gravest problems facing African-American communities today--black on black crime. Many people are unaware of the extent of black on black crime. Consider: African-Americans constitute 12 percent of the U.S. population. But in 2002, 45 percent of all murder victims nationwide were black. Of those murders, fully 91 percent were incidents of black on black crime. For young black men, homicide is the leading cause of death; for young black women, the second leading cause of death. It's clear that we need to address this epidemic. The good news is that, in Arkansas, we're trying to do just that. Last year, a group of community leaders, business leaders, government officials, and religious leaders banded together to form the ``Black On Black Crime Coalition,'' dedicated to raising public awareness of this important issue and developing solutions to mitigate this epidemic of crime and violence that is destroying lives, families, and communities every day. The coalition is just over one year old, and I'm proud to say that they are making great progress in developing new solutions, programs and plans to reduce the incidence of violent crime in the black community. These range from community workshops to neighborhood associations, from youth programs to public awareness campaigns. The coalition is working with government leaders and law enforcement officials to develop fresh, innovative solutions to the problem of black on black crime. I've worked with the coalition as a partner, and I've been impressed with the energy, seriousness, and dedication that members of the coalition display. Given the commitment I've seen so far, I'm confident that we will see outstanding results from this vital organization. Even if we can't completely eliminate black on black crime, we can significantly reduce their frequency. That will be good news for all of our communities. We recently observed ``Black On Black Crime Prevention Month'' to mark the coalition's founding in Arkansas and to continue raising public awareness about this epidemic of violent crime. I thank them for their commitment, and I ask that my colleagues join me in recognizing their leadership. It's been a great year, and I look forward to working with the Black On Black Crime Coalition for many years to come.

Mrs. LINCOLN

Mrs. LINCOLN. Madam President, today I rise to pay tribute and to honor a young man who was recently killed in action in Iraq--1LT Adam G. Mooney, a soldier in the U.S. Army who was killed during a search and rescue mission on January 25. First Lieutenant Mooney was 28 years old. Adam Mooney was a native of Cambridge, MD, assigned to the 3rd Squadron, 17th Cavalry, 10th Mountain Division of the U.S. Army, stationed at Fort Drum, NY. After graduating from high school in Dorchester County, MD, in 1993, Adam attended the University of Maryland Eastern Shore. He left college to enlist in the Army, but returned to the university soon after to complete his degree in aviation management science. Adam was a lifelong enthusiast of aviation and flying--in fact, he earned his pilot's license at about the same time he earned his driver's license. In the Army, Adam was able to further pursue the challenges of aviation while flying the OH-58 Kiowa Warrior helicopter. His unit was deployed to Iraq late last year, where Adam flew helicopter missions to provide support, security, and intelligence to ground troops. On January 25, 1LT Adam Mooney was flying a rescue mission near Mosul, Iraq, in search of soldiers whose boat had capsized on the Tigris River. According to witnesses, Mooney's helicopter hit a power line and plummeted into the river. The bodies of both Mooney and his co-pilot, CWO Patrick Dorff, were missing in the aftermath of the crash--Dorff's body was found 4 days later, and Mooney's 3 weeks later. We extend our deepest sympathies to their families, who certainly suffered under great strain and emotional stress while they awaited news of their loved ones' welfare. Adam Mooney's wife, Katie, lives with her parents in Conway, AR, where she moved to work on her nursing degree while her husband was serving overseas. Our deepest condolences and prayers go out to her, as well as to Adam's parents, friends, and loved ones, in this time of great loss for their family. Adam was a courageous young man, lost to us far too soon, but we remain confident that his sacrifice was in a noble and honorable cause. Thank you, Madam President.

Mrs. LINCOLN

Mrs. LINCOLN. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize a program that provides an important service to the men and women serving in our military. With our Armed Forces deployed for extended tours of duty in both Iraq and Afghanistan, the pressures placed on family members left behind can be enormous. While the military is dedicated to taking care of its own, the need continues to escalate. Today, more than 140,000 troops are fighting the war on terrorism in Iraq, in Afghanistan, and around the world. Many of our brave men and women have now been deployed much longer than expected. Some active units served in Afghanistan, returned home for 6 months, and were immediately redeployed to Iraq Reservists are facing extended deployment as well. Arkansas reservists in the 39th Infantry Brigade, for instance, were recently called up for what could be a 1-year rotation in Iraq beginning early next year. In many cases, the sole breadwinner in a family is deployed, making it difficult for the families left behind to cope with medical bills or other unexpected expenses. Today, I would like to recognize an effort undertaken by local radio and television stations to help address these issues. The National Association of Broadcasters is leading its local television and radio stations in a partnership with the Armed Forces Relief Trust to raise funds for military families in need. By producing, distributing, and airing radio and television public service announcements, the NAB and its radio and television broadcast members are helping raise funds for those military families in need. Last year, the four emergency assistance programs representing the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps distributed more than $109 million in interest free loans and grants to military families. Now that the four programs have joined together into the one trust, and more importantly, now that the trust is receiving generous access to the airwaves to get out its message, they will undoubtedly be able to provide yet more assistance. All of us count on our service people who are far from home protecting us. Their families are enduring hardship enough in waiting for them to return. It is incumbent upon all of us to ensure their families do not want financially during this most difficult time. I would like to compliment the local radio and television stations that are involved in this effort. As small business people, they are dedicating a valuable resource--airtime--to a timely and important cause. I salute their efforts.

Mrs. LINCOLN

Mrs. LINCOLN. Mr. President, I rise to speak about the Medicare prescription drug coverage conference report before the Senate today. I do strongly believe this is a historic opportunity. I believe we should not let it pass by. This proposal represents a $400 billion expansion of the Medicare Program, the largest expansion of Medicare since it was created nearly 40 years ago. While I intend to support this measure, I think what is most important at this juncture is to be honest with the American people. For me, it means being honest particularly with the people of Arkansas and the Arkansas seniors. This bill cannot be and will not be all things to all people. The bill will not provide free drugs for everyone. Some seniors, because we have talked about this for so long, have come to their own conclusion that what we were trying to get was free drugs for all seniors in this country. I have to remind people we are in debt in our country up to our eyeballs, as far as the eye can see. We did not have an opportunity to provide free prescription drugs to all seniors in this country. Therefore, we have to do the best we can do right now with what we have. I am not pleased about the debt. I didn't support the last tax bill and I am scared to death of the debt we are creating for my twin boys who are 7 years old right now. The fact is, in this year's budget we have $400 billion dedicated to American seniors. We have to do the best job we can to make that productive for them in this current circumstance because next year and the year after that, it will not be there; we will still be in debt up to our eyeballs. We have a tremendous amount to do. This bill starts that. It is unfortunate the issue of adding a prescription drug benefit to Medicare has become so politicized. Several Democratic conferees, many of them experts on this issue in their very own right, were not permitted the opportunity to negotiate the final bill. They were conferees in name only. I join them in their frustration and how they feel. They have a right to be angry. It was wrong and unjust. They were prohibited from being part of this very important conference. This bill would have been better had they been involved. Despite the flaws in this legislation and the partisan process we witnessed over the last few months, Democrats and seniors should be pleased that many of the principles we fought for are contained in this bill. Is this the bill I would have written? Absolutely not. But there are components in this bill that are productive and move us forward. On behalf of our seniors, we must seize that opportunity. The bill before the Senate today will provide all of the 453,438 Medicare beneficiaries in Arkansas with access to a Medicare prescription drug benefit for the first time in the history of the Medicare Program. Every senior will have access to a drug benefit to help them with the extraordinary cost of prescription drugs. Extraordinary. Again, it is not all things to all people. If you find yourself in a position where you are well off and you do not have a lot of prescription drug costs, there may not be in here the most advantageous drug program for you, but for the sickest and the neediest of this country we have come a long way in this bill. While the benefit is somewhat meager, I am confident we will improve on it in the future for those who maybe do not get the best return from this package. But this bill targets the sickest and the neediest of seniors, those with the highest drug costs and those who are in the lowest income category. Because of the $400 billion limitation, that is where we have gone. When fiscal times improve, we should eliminate the gap in coverage. I am concerned about those seniors who will be hit with the gap in coverage and have to continue to pay their premiums. But the point is, every senior in Medicare in Arkansas will be able to choose to enroll in a new voluntary drug benefit while staying in the traditional Medicare Program. This is a huge victory. Seniors will not have to leave the Medicare they love to get a prescription drug benefit. That is because the bill contains a fallback plan--a Government guaranteed plan or safety net--that will provide drug coverage should private, drug-only plans not come into their area. We in Arkansas know a lot about that. We have seen what happens when Medicare+Choice comes in. I am concerned that the fallback provision in this bill is not as strong as that which was passed in the Senate bill because it allows one prescription plan and one integrated plan to provide the drug benefit instead of two prescription plans. I intend to work with my colleagues to fix this flaw before the drug benefit is enacted. I am glad that the conference agreement requires a national fallback contract, so that the Government fallback will always be there when necessary.

Mrs. LINCOLN. I thank the Senator from Iowa. Mr. President, I have a lot more to say, and I hope I will have an opportunity to do it at some point. I think the most important point to be made today is to talk about those who will be served. Over 170,700 beneficiaries in Arkansas will pay no premium for their prescription drug coverage and a nominal copay of no more than $2 for generic drugs and $5 for brand name drugs. They also will not have a gap in their drug coverage. We are addressing some of the neediest individuals in our country at this juncture. Over 40,200 additional seniors in Arkansas will qualify for reduced premiums, lower deductibles and coinsurance, and no gaps in their drug coverage. All told, over 40 percent--over 40 percent--of Medicare beneficiaries in Arkansas will receive the much-needed special help. This low-income assistance is of special importance to Arkansas' older women. Medicare seniors are disproportionately women and disproportionately poor, and will be served well by this special assistance. There is much I would have done to strengthen the low-income provisions, such as not having an assets test for everyone and ensuring that Medicare could wrap around the cost-sharing requirements in the Medicare bill and that Medicaid could pay for prescription drugs not on the private plan's formulary. I fought to include a new benefit providing screening for diabetes. The new diabetes screening benefit will help with the fact that approximately one third of the 7 million seniors with diabetes--or 2.3 million people--are undiagnosed. They simply do not know that they have this very serious condition--a condition whose complications include heart disease, stroke, vision loss and blindness, amputations, and kidney disease. This bill takes a number of steps to protect seniors' access to community pharmacies. I worked hard to ensure that private PBMs must disclose any price concessions made available by manufacturers, that the Secretary of Health and Human Services has the authority to audit the financial statements and records of plans to ensure that they are complying with these disclosure requirements, and that the Federal Trade Commission study whether the PBMs that own their own mail order pharmacies have created higher drug prices for consumers. In addition, private plans must allow any willing pharmacist to be a provider under its plan. And for the first time, local pharmacists will be allowed to offer 90-day prescriptions just like mail-order pharmacists. These provisions are vital to rural hospitals, physicians, ambulance providers, home health providers, and rural health clinics in Arkansas. I have worked with my colleagues for a number of years on these provisions, and long-sought rural equity is finally achieved. This bill also contains several good additions to the traditional Medicare Program that seeks to improve the health and well-being of seniors. Among the provisions that I fought to include is my demonstration program on chronic care management that will help determine the healthy outcomes that result when a geriatrician is paid appropriately for caring for a patient with multiple chronic conditions. I also fought to include coverage for insulin syringes. Roughly 40 percent of the senior population with diabetes--or 1.8 million seniors--use syringes to inject insulin into their bodies to control their diabetes every day. Without coverage, syringe purchases--which can be especially expensive for seniors on fixed incomes--would not count towards cost- sharing and yearly maximum out-of-pocket expenses. The low-income assistance in the Senate bill was much more generous. It helped 3 million more seniors. And I pledge to these seniors that I will continue to work on strengthening these provisions in the future. I am pleased that the conference agreement provides financial incentives for employers to continue offering prescription drug coverage for their retirees. I have received many calls this week from constituents who want to ensure they don't lose the health coverage they worked for their entire lives. It is frustrating that employers are already dropping retiree health coverage. So I am glad this bill provides tax incentives to employers and unions so they don't drop drug coverage. Employer groups have told me that this bill will actually encourage them to retain rather than drop coverage in the future. This bill also creates the most comprehensive rural package we've seen in years. By significantly decreasing or eliminating the disparities in Medicare payments that exist between rural and urban health care providers, seniors in rural areas will have better access to the care they need. To conclude, we must seize this opportunity before it is too late. This is not the bill I would have written, but it is a step forward. Yesterday, I talked with Cecil Malone, the president of the Arkansas AARP. We both agree that this moment must not be wasted. We must act now to get a benefit started. Once it is there, it can only get better. I promise the seniors of Arkansas that I will work day in and day out to make this prescription drug plan better. I will also work to preserve and protect the Medicare Program so it can continue to be a safety net for all those who are uninsurable in the private market--millions of seniors, individuals with disabilities, and people with kidney failure. The Medicare Program has prevented these most vulnerable individuals from being uninsured. We must remember the Medicare Program's origins and mission as we proceed--and do no harm to it. Finally, Mr. President, I thank Finance Chairman Grassley, Ranking Member Baucus, Senator Breaux, and the members of their staffs who worked so hard over the last several months to bring us to this historical moment. This bill also ensures that seniors have convenient access to pharmacies by adopting the same standard that TRICARE uses to determine access. The bill also includes my provision to waive temporarily the late enrollment penalty for military retirees and their spouses who sign up for Medicare Part B and to permit year-round enrollment so that retirees can access the new benefits immediately. I am glad that this bill takes some steps to contain the skyrocketing price of prescription drugs. One provision in the bill would help bring generic drugs to the market faster, and another provision would give the Government authority to create a system for the importation of drugs from Canada by pharmacists, wholesalers, and individuals once safety standards are met. I have long supported drug reimportation but both the Clinton and Bush administrations have refused to implement drug reimportation authorized by Congress, citing concerns about drug safety. I am glad this bill directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to conduct a comprehensive study that identifies current problems with implementing the current reimportation law we already have on the books so Congress can enact a law that will allow reimportation to go forward. Mr. President, there is a lot to be talked about here. I hope we will continue to work together to improve upon the shortcomings in this legislation as we work to see it implemented to make it a better program for current and future beneficiaries of the Medicare Program.