Blanche Lincoln

Mrs. LINCOLN

Mrs. LINCOLN. Mr. Speaker, today I rise in strong support for S. 2, the Congressional Accountability Act. This piece of legislation will finally submit to Congress to the same laws it imposes on others. How can we expect to understand the implications of legislation we write if we aren't required to follow its rules? That, Mr. Speaker, is a glaring example of Congress being out of touch with middle America. This initiative represents years of hard work in a bipartisan manner. Not only do I fully endorse this bill this Congress, I was also a cosponsor of similar legislation, H.R. 349, last year and fully supported H.R. 4822 when it passed the House overwhelmingly in August 1994. Unfortunately, efforts to pass legislation in the Senate died at the end of the 103d Congress. For far too long, Congress has been writing and passing legislation that affects everyone but itself. It is evident that Congress must set the example and live under the rules it imposes on others. No longer will congressional employees be subject to discrimination, bad working environments, or other working related ills that other employees are protected from under our national laws. Our employees will have the avenues to address grievances in the workplace like any other American employee. They will have employee rights that have been denied to them for far too long. I believe that this is a responsible, bipartisan bill and urge its immediate adoption.

Mrs. LINCOLN

Mrs. LINCOLN. Mr. Speaker, due to medical reasons, I was unavoidably absent during rollcall vote No. 16 on agreeing to S. 2, the Congressional Accountability Act. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye.''

Mrs. LINCOLN

Mrs. LINCOLN. Mr. Speaker, today I am introducing legislation that would transfer property rights in the Corning Fish Hatchery from the Federal Government to the State of Arkansas. Due to Federal budget cuts, the fish hatchery was closed in early 1983. However, the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission resumed hatchery fish production in May 1983, after entering into an agreement with the Fish and Wildlife Service. The fish hatchery has been operating since 1983 as William H. Donham State Fish Hatchery. This fish hatchery has become an important part of the fisheries division fish culture program and I believe that this transfer will greatly benefit the sportsmen and women of Arkansas. This warm water hatchery is very active and successful, producing 250,000 to 1,000,000 fish annually. About 95 percent of these hatchery-reared fish are stocked in new or renovated public lakes. The remaining fish are allocated to private applicants for stocking new or renovated lakes and ponds. The principal fish produced at the hatchery are largemouth bass, bluegills, redear sunfish, white and black crappie, and channel catfish. Currently, no Federal funds are used to operate or maintain the William H. Donham State Fish Hatchery. It is financed solely by funds derived from resident and non-resident fishing licenses sales. This transfer of ownership has the support from both the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission and the Fish and Wildlife Service. It is appropriate to transfer the property to the State of Arkansas since the funds used to finance the hatchery's programs are raised within the borders of Arkansas. In addition, without this transfer, Arkansas would be unable to make long-term commitments as to the direction the hatchery will take in its operations. I introduced similar legislation last year, H.R. 4253, which passed both the House of Representatives and the Senate. Unfortunately, this bill died in the last hours of the 103d Congress. Nevertheless, this is a noncontroversial bill and I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

Mrs. LINCOLN

Mrs. LINCOLN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce legislation to transfer the Stuttgart Fish Farming Experimental Laboratory to the Department of Agriculture. The lab was established in 1958 under the Interior Department and charged with conducting research and experimentation to solve problems relating to the commercial production of warmwater fish. Located in the heart of the Nation's catfish and baitfish production region, the lab and its staff have become nationally renowned for their work on behalf of the aquaculture industry. In the years since the laboratory was established aquaculture has progressed rapidly, becoming the fastest growing segment of U.S. agriculture, accounting for nearly 300,000 domestic jobs. My home State is the largest producer of commercial baitfish and the second largest producer of catifsh--accounting for nearly $100 billion in annual revenue. Mr. Speaker this simple bill will transfer the laboratory from the Interior Department to USDA. I believe that this move makes sense because the people who do business with this laboratory are farmers, and are best served by USDA. The bill also changes the laboratory's name to the Stuttgart National Aquaculture Research Center to better reflect the excellent work that the lab produces. I look forward to passage of this legislation.

Mrs. LINCOLN

Mrs. LINCOLN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to re-introduce a bill that will make health insurance premiums more affordable for farmers and self-employed individuals. The Health Insurance Equity Act of 1995 simply changes the tax code to permanently provide the self-employed with a 100-percent tax deduction for costs incurred while purchasing health insurance. This legislation will also be retroactive to the previous tax year beginning January 1, 1994, when the 25-percent deduction expired. Let me be clear, this legislation gives the self- employed the 100-percent deduction now, and extends it to last year. It is time to face the facts about purchasing health coverage today. Many of the 37 million uninsured are small business owners. Health care costs averaged $3,160 per person in 1992, with current increases projected to run in double digits through the end of the century. Prescription drug costs in many cases have risen more than 60 percent since 1985. My constituents are asking for relief. This bill achieves our goals of health care cost reduction and better access for the uninsured while reducing costs for those currently insured through lowering fees passed onto consumers from hospitals for care of the uninsured. Adoption of this proposal may even encourage employers to purchase better health care plans for their employees. Our actions must show our constituents that we understand the problems they are facing. This legislation achieves 100-percent deductibility immediately without any phasein. Tax relief and tax fairness are what this legislation is all about, and tax relief and tax fairness are what the Health Insurance Equity Act of 1995 is promoting. While this legislation is not the final solution to our health care ills, it is a necessary first step in providing assistance to the small businessmen and farmers who are the economic backbone of my district, my State, and our economy.