Jerry Moran

Mr. MORAN of Kansas

Mr. MORAN of Kansas. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Mica) and the committee staff for the opportunity to be here today and for the quality piece of legislation that addresses many important concerns back home to the State of Kansas. I am grateful for the opportunity that we have had to work together, particularly in regard to Essential Air Service reform. This is maybe the most significant reform we have had since this program was created 25 years ago. The EAS provisions included in this bill give small and rural communities a greater role in the EAS process. Besides preserving its funding, it will also allow small communities to better tailor their local air service to their unique individual needs. It is vital small communities across the country remain connected to the national air network. This legislation also provides increased funding for the AIP, Airport Improvement Program, that is essential in maintaining our Nation's airports, both large and small, and continues funding for our Nation's contract tower program, a vital program that improves the safety for small community airports. Mr. Chairman, one section of the bill that remains a concern to me is section 420 that addresses the availability of maintenance information. This provision has some economic ramifications for aviation manufacturers. We discussed this issue in the full committee markup, and I appreciate my colleague's continued involvement and his responsiveness to the issue I have raised. The manager's amendment that the gentleman has offered will address some of the concerns. However, a couple of key safety and liability issues remain to be resolved. Mr. Chairman, as my colleagues know, I drafted an amendment that I think would be a satisfactory compromise on this issue, which I will not offer, but would ask for the gentleman's continued support and discussion as we try to find satisfactory resolution to this issue that is very important to the aviation manufacturing industry. I again thank the gentleman for all the efforts that he has put into this legislation.

Mr. MORAN of Kansas. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman from Florida. Mr. Chairman, let me begin by thanking you for your efforts in drafting H.R. 2115, the Flight 100--Century of Aviation Reauthorization Act. This legislation is vital for the continuation of our nation's aviation system. I would like to thank you, Aviation Subcommittee Chairman Mica, and the Committee staff for your assistance in creating a quality piece of legislation that addresses many important concerns for state of Kansas. I am grateful for the opportunity to work with you in crafting the most significant Essential Air Service (EAS) reform since the program's inception twenty-five years ago. The EAS provisions included in this bill give small and rural communities a greater role in the EAS process. Besides preserving funding, it will allow small communities to better tailor their local air service to their unique individual needs. It is vital that small communities across the country remain connected to the national air network. Their legislation provides increased funding for the Airport Improvement Program (AIP)--essential in maintaining our nation's airports--both large and small. Also, this bill provides continued funding for our nation's contract tower program--a vital program that dramatically improves the safety of small community airports. Mr. Chairman, one section remains that still concerns me--Section 420--the section that addresses the availability of maintenance information. As you know, this is a controversial provision because of its dramatic economic ramifications for aviation manufacturers--many of whom, I might add, are laying off workers and temporarily closing their production lines. Aviation manufacturing is vital to the Kansas economy. It is our second largest industry behind agriculture. Also, more than 60 percent of the general aviation aircraft produced in the United States originates in Kansas. We discussed this issue during the Full Committee markup and I am appreciative of your continue involvement and your responsiveness to the issues I raised. The manager's amendment does address my concerns with the bill's language addressing the cost of maintenance manuals. I continue to have concerns with Section 420 because we have not held a hearing on the issue, we have not heard from the FAA or the NTSB on the issue, and no one has shown me evidence that this provision will address a safety problem, if one in fact exists. Also, I have yet to see evidence that manufacturers are over-charging for these manuals. If the case has not been made that such an immediate safety issue exists, why is Congress getting involved in the economic regulation of the aviation industry? Mr. Chairman, unless it an urgent and significant safety issue, I think we should be reluctant to intervene in the marketplace. I still believe we should first ask the FAA to study this issue in order to define the key terms of this legislation. Why pull the trigger without asking questions first? Mr. Chairman, I drafted an amendment that I believe is an amenable compromise on this issue. However, rather than offer an amendment on a little-known and complex issue, I ask that you continue to work with me, the aircraft manufacturers, and the repair station industry, so a mutually agreed upon compromise--one that satisfies all parties--can be crafted during conference. I specifically ask for you commitment to address the following issues: (1) For safety purposes, language to protect manufacturer oversight; (2) Manufacturer liability concerns; (3) In keeping with the current scope of the regulation, to include in section (a) the terms ``type certificate holder,'' ``supplemental type certificate holder,'' and ``amended type certificate holder''; and (4) The definition of ``design approval holder.'' Again, I sincerely thank you and your staff for adopting the language contained in the manager's amendment--this is definitely a step in the right direction. Mr. Chairman, again, thank you for your consideration and your assistance.

Mr. MORAN of Kansas. I yield to the gentleman from Florida.

Mr. MORAN of Kansas

Mr. MORAN of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, today I am introducing the Department of Veterans Affairs Chiropractic Employment Act. I do so to prompt the Department of Veterans Affairs to make chiropractic care available to America's veterans. Currently, thousands of veterans enrolled in the VA health care system could benefit from chiropractic care. Millions of Americans use the services of chiropractors. However, veterans who are enrolled in VA's health care system are unable to receive this specialty care. Numerous studies have shown that chiropractic is an effective therapy, and can be an effective approach to low back pain, spasm, and other maladies of the spinal region, including health problems caused by the aging process and physical exertion. This bill would grant specific employment authority in VA for chiropractors as clinicians under Title 38 of the United States Code. Signed into law in 1999, section 303 of Public Law 106-117, the Veterans Millennium Health Care and Benefits Act, required the VA Under Secretary for Health to establish a defined policy regarding the role of chiropractic care for veterans enrolled in the Veterans Health Administration. Issued almost a year later, VHA Directive 2000-014, established what the Department deemed a policy on chiropractic care. However, the Committee on Veterans' Affairs found that declaration to be woefully inadequate and less than a policy. It was a way for VA to further delay the advent of VA chiropractic services for veterans. As a result, Congress enacted section 204 of the Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Programs Act of 2001 (Public Law 107-135). This statute required the Secretary of VA to create a program to provide chiropractic care and services for veterans who are enrolled in VA's health care system, and specified that each of VA's 21 Veterans Integrated Service Networks put at least one chiropractic care program in place. This law also required the establishment of a Chiropractic Advisory Committee within the Department, and charged the Committee to provide assistance to the Secretary in the development and implementation of the chiropractic health program the law authorized, including recommendations on scope of practice, qualifications, privileging and credentialing matters, among other factors that might influence the employment of chiropractors and the deployment of the new program nationwide. While some progress has been made by the advisory committee on chiropractic care, the Department is now contending that formal organizational, qualification, and classification studies are needed due to VA's lack of a specified employment authority in Title 38 of the United States Code for chiropractors. Other unnamed technical and professional fields are already specifically authorized. Such an undertaking by VA may require extensive usage of resources and much time investment on the part of the Central Office, advisory committee, Office of Personnel Management staffs, as well as outside consultants. A number of Members of the House Veterans' Affairs Committee believe we can remedy this situation with the bill I am introducing today, to speed VA's decision-making on establishing chiropractic clinical care positions within the staff of the Department. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased today to introduce this legislation that would address the authority for VA to appoint chiropractors in the Veterans Health Administration of the Department so that those veterans who are in need of chiropractic care may indeed and at last receive it in VA facilities. This bill will allow a fair compensation schedule with other comparable categorical providers already authorized in Title 38. Furthermore, this bill will permit the Secretary to appoint chiropractors on a full-time basis. Currently, chiropractors are only available to veterans on a fee or contract basis, thereby causing VA additional administrative expenses and inconveniencing the veterans who need this care. With this bill chiropractors may also be appointed to intern or residency positions, or on a part time or intermittent basis, as dictated by need. My bill will afford to chiropractors practicing in VA facilities the same privileges and responsibilities of other VA caregivers. I urge my colleagues to support this important legislation. My bill will provide an additional, needed specialty care program for our nation's veterans, who are most deserving of this benefit.

Mr. MORAN of Kansas

Mr. MORAN of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, it is my great honor today to welcome to the House of Representatives the Reverend Clint Decker. Through radio interviews and his involvement in his community of Clay Center, Kansas, I have worked with Clint for many years, and I am pleased to have him here today to offer our opening prayer. I am also happy to welcome his wife, Kathe Decker, a State Representative from the 64th district in Kansas. She has served our State very well in the State capital. Also joining them today is their granddaughter Jessica, who is visiting Washington, D.C., for the very first time. Clint is an ordained minister in the Wesleyan Church. He has served in the positions of Assistant Pastor and Youth Pastor in Clay Center Wesleyan Church since 1997. Over the last 3 years, Clint has served as the Assistant News Director for KCLY and KFRM radio. In these positions he has earned State awards for his work and has also helped the station earn Station of the Year honors. Clint has been involved in the Detour Youth Center, a local community youth ministry, since 2000. He has served on the board and been the ministry's director and has been a regular speaker in working with youth. In 1990, Clint's life was transformed and he later left a promising career in business to pursue service in the full-time ministry. Clint attended the Mid-America Nazarene University in Olathe, Kansas, and completed his requirements for ordination in Indiana. Clint was born in Poughkeepsie, New York, and has also lived in Ohio, Colorado, and Missouri. He is the youngest of one brother and two sisters. His father is an ordained minister in the Church of the Nazarene. His mother and father have been in the pastorate for over 25 years. Mr. Speaker, I welcome Clint and his family to the Nation's Capital.

Mr. MORAN of Kansas

Mr. MORAN of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, I oppose the decision of the Federal Communications Commission to increase the cap on media ownership. Yesterday, the five-member board of the Federal Communications Commission voted to allow one owner to control more stations within the same market and to allow television networks to acquire more stations. Until today, broadcast ownership rules limited networks to owning no more than a 35 percent share of television households. With this decision, that share rises to 45 percent. The FCC also voted to ease restrictions on media companies owning a newspaper and television station in the same market. These new rules will allow for more mergers and increased media consolidation across the country. This decision poses a threat to local programming in rural America. National programmers operate from a ``one-size-fits-all'' mentality and have less interest in the needs of our rural communities. If the networks acquire more of the local television affiliates, programming decisions are less likely to be made by local managers who have personal knowledge of the communities they serve. At the heart of our democracy is a free and diverse exchange of ideas. Placing the power of communication solely in the hands of a narrow group of media giants will undermine freedom of expression. Columnist William Safire expressed it best, ``The diffusion of power through local control, thereby encouraging individual participation, is the essence of federalism and the greatest expression of democracy.'' Yesterday's decision diminishes individual participation in the democratic process by suppressing one's ability to voice his or her opinion. Having fewer outlets for expression means that only a few voices will be heard: those of the large national programmers. These new regulations not only threaten to reduce the access to the local news, they infringe upon the ability to maintain an open forum for sharing opinions and ideas--the very democratic principals upon which our Nation was founded.

Mr. MORAN of Kansas

Mr. MORAN of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, I am delighted to be here tonight. I am honored to have served in the House of Representatives as a colleague of an outstanding Member of Congress, the gentleman from the 19th District of Texas. I have been especially privileged to serve on the House Agriculture Committee under the chairmanship of Larry Combest. Chairman Combest's example of leadership, commitment and integrity serve as a model for all of us in Congress, especially those of us who care deeply about agriculture. When I came to Congress, I knew it was important to me to be associated with people who understood and cared about agriculture and the farmers and ranchers of America. It was my honor to become acquainted with Chairman Combest. He has been a mentor for me since that time of my arrival seven years ago. Those of us who represent agriculture in the House of Representatives are a minority. There are not enough of us, so what it takes is people who go beyond their numbers, who more than 1 out of 435 can make a difference. And the gentleman from Texas has done that because he is knowledgeable and understands the issues. Agriculture is in his blood. That is where he comes from. It is who he is. Farming and ranching is Larry Combest. And he is a leader; he cares about using that information and knowledge on behalf of those engaged in everyday activities trying to earn a living on America's farms and ranches. Mr. Combest's leadership in the Committee on Agriculture is extraordinary. It is just something that we have relied upon and at times perhaps taken for granted. As we worked our way through a farm bill in this last Congress, it is clear to me that because of his leadership--and sometimes only because of his leadership--things happened. Larry Combest has a commitment to what he believes in, and he believes in farmers and ranchers. He wants to see our family farms survive and prosper. He wants that rural way of life to continue. He has a commitment to serving his constituents and to helping American agriculture be here today and tomorrow. Perhaps most importantly, he has integrity. I have never known anyone I could trust more than Larry Combest. His word can be taken for what it is, his word. What he says is what he means. His advice is honestly given. I have never known him to mislead anyone. And it was that character and that integrity that made it possible for us to do things in agriculture on this House floor. People trusted him, they respected him, and they honored what he was about. As he returns home to Texas, it is with some sadness that we see our friend Larry Combest leave. We all invest in other people in this place. Often I suppose we spend too much time worrying about things that are not so important. But the thing that is important is the relationships, friendships, and understandings that we have with other Members of Congress. I consider it the highest honor to have been associated with Larry Combest during his term as a Member of Congress. His relationships with other Members of the House will not end with his departure. His friendship with President Bush has been beneficial to those of us who care about rural America, and we look forward to his continued involvement in issues that matter to us and to farmers and ranchers across the country. Public service is something that we all talk about and engage in as Members of Congress, but we would do well to learn from the example of Larry Combest. He exemplifies the role of a true public servant, who did what he thought was right, who fought the fight and made a difference on behalf of his constituents, on behalf of all Texans, and on behalf of the people of America. Mr. Speaker, I wish both Larry and his wife Sharon the absolute best in their future years. I thank them both for their friendship. I honor and respect them, and I hope the fish bite. Thank you, Larry.

Mr. MORAN of Kansas

Mr. MORAN of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding to me. I am delighted to be here. It is an honor to have served in this Congress these last 7 years with the gentleman from the 19th District of Texas (Mr. Combest). Mr. Speaker, when I came to Congress I knew it was important to me to be associated with people who understood and cared about agriculture and who cared about farmers and ranchers of America; and it was my honor to become acquainted with Chairman Combest. He has been a role model and mentor for me since that time of my arrival 7 years ago. Those of us who represent agriculture in the House of Representatives are a minority. There are not enough of us, and what it takes is people who go beyond their numbers, who more than 1 out of 435 can make a difference. And the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Combest) has done that. He has done that because he is knowledgable and understands the issues. It is in his blood. That is where he comes from. It is who he is. Agriculture, farming and ranching is Larry Combest. It is because he is a leader, because he cares about using that information and knowledge on behalf of those engaged in everyday activities trying to earn a living on the farms and ranches of America. His leadership in the Committee on Agriculture is extraordinary. It is just something that we have relied upon. As we have worked our way through a farm bill in this last Congress, it is clear to me that because of his leadership things happened. He has a commitment to what he believes in, and he believes in farmers and ranchers of America. He wants to see our family farms survive and prosper. He wants that way of life to continue. He has a commitment to serving his constituents and helping American agriculture be here today and tomorrow. And, perhaps most importantly, he has integrity. I have never known anyone who I could trust more than Larry Combest. His word can be taken for what it was, his word. What he said is what he meant. His advice was honestly given. I have never known him to mislead anyone. And it was that character and that integrity that made it possible for us to do things in agriculture on this House floor because people trusted him, they respected him, and they honored what he was about. As he returns home to Texas, it is with some sadness that we see my friend Larry Combest leave. We all invest in other people in this place. Oftentimes I suppose we spend too much time worrying about things that are not so important. But the thing that is important is the relationships, friendships, and understandings that we have with other Members of Congress; and I consider it a high honor to have been associated with Larry Combest during his term as a Member of Congress. His relationships with other Members of the House will not end with his departure. His friendship with President Bush has really been beneficial to those of us who care about rural America, and we look forward to his continued involvement in issues that matter to us and to farmers and ranchers across the country. Public service is something that we all talk about, something that we engage in as Members of Congress, but we all have a lot to learn from Larry Combest who exemplifies the role of a true public servant, who did what he thought was right, who fought the fight and made a difference on behalf of the people of Texas and on behalf of the people of America. Mr. Speaker, I wish Larry and Sharon the absolute best in their future years. I thank them both for their friendship. I honor and respect them, and I hope the fish bite. Thank you, Larry.

Mr. MORAN

Mr. MORAN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Price), my very good friend and colleague, for yielding. I thank him for laying out the Democratic and the Republican plans tonight. These are going to be the subjects of the debate tomorrow, and it appears that we are going to have another party-line vote. My friend recalls another party-line vote that we had in 1993 when President Clinton proposed an economic growth strategy to get out of another Bush recession. We were told by our colleagues on the Republican side of the aisle that this was going to cause more unemployment, further recession, that we would never recover, that it was unfair. The fact is President Clinton did raise taxes. We are not talking about raising any taxes. President Clinton went ahead, raised taxes on the wealthiest people in this country. He balanced the budget. He made sure everything was paid for, that we did not have to borrow money from Social Security and Medicare to pay for tax cuts as of course this tax cut plan does. It borrows every penny out of Social Security and Medicare. But now that we look back on the effects of that economic growth strategy that was very consistent with the Democratic plan that the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Price) has laid out and that the Democrats are going to present tomorrow, it worked. It worked. During the 8 years of the Clinton administration, this country experienced the highest prosperity that any country in the history of civilization has ever experienced. Certainly this was the best extended economic boom that America could ever have realized. And, in fact, all those people, those people at the highest tax bracket, that was 39.6 percent at that time, they took home more after-tax income than has ever been achieved in any economy in the history of this United States of America. The wealthiest made more wealth, more wealth than they have ever experienced. So it was not a confiscatory rate. What we did was to plow money back into investing in people and education and training, balancing the budget so the financial markets had confidence that there were not going to be high interest rates in the future, and it worked. It worked. And of course those who own the means of production, they benefitted the most. So now what are we going to do? As the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Price) has shared with us, we are doing just the opposite of the Clinton plan. We are consistent with what President Bush has already done, although so far the tax cuts that he has implemented have cost this economy 2.7 million jobs, but now we have a tax cut that is going to give the same amount of money to 1/10 of 1 percent of the American people. The 1/10 of the 1 percent of the very wealthiest Americans are going to get the same amount of money that the 90 percent of Americans who are earning less than $95,000 a year, which is pretty good but those are in the middle class. From $95,000 down, that is 90 percent of the American people, they are going to get as much benefit as the top 1/10 of 1 percent of the very wealthiest. Can that possibly be fair? It is not fair, and it is going to come back to haunt us. And this money that has to be borrowed from Social Security and Medicare that is going to come due, we are not going to have to pay it. Our kids are going to have to pay it. We have estimates now that the public debt of a child that is born today, by the time they are ready to enter high school, we are going to have $12 trillion of debt. By the time they become a working adult, it is going to be much more than that; and they are going to be spending half of their income paying off debt that their parents' generation caused because of these tax cuts that are unpaid for. It is almost criminal. Also, in addition to being so unfair to subsequent generations of Americans, it is so duplicitous. Now, I know it seems like nickel and diming; but, gosh sakes, in order to get this plan that is going to be offered by the majority through, we get a whole lot of magic tricks in this. For example, you raise the child tax credit to $1,000, but for 3 years; and then you bring it back down again so that it does not look as though it is as costly as it really is. You do the same thing with the marriage penalty. The American people ought to ask the proponents of this tax plan, do we get to keep these tax cuts? Are you going to give it on the one hand and take it away from the other? The fact is it is the latter. It is just like the last tax cut, to purport we could pay for it, they sunsetted it all in 2011. Now they come back, of course, and want to make all the tax cuts permanent.

Mr. MORAN of Kansas

Mr. MORAN of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today, on National Teacher Day, to recognize this year's inductees into the National Teachers Hall of Fame in Emporia, Kansas. All of us have had special teachers in our lives, and we are forever indebted to them for their motivation, their compassion, and their desire to see students achieve their full potential. Now in its 14th year, the Hall of Fame continues its mission to honor exceptional teachers and promote excellence in teaching. Congratulations to the 2003 inductees: Larry Statler, Cynthia Jones, Ruth Ann Gaines, Kathleen McGrath, and Carol Strickland. At Santa Teresa Elementary in San Jose, California, Larry Statler has used his talents to create the Discovery program. Discovery is a collaborative effort between special and general educators. Although Larry specializes in special education, his superintendent calls him `a man for all children.' Cynthia Jones, a third and fourth grade teacher at Cason Lane Academy in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, has shared her love of education around the world. She has presented original research in Durham, England, and in Washington, DC. She participated in the White House Conference on Education from 1995 to 2001 and also traveled to Japan in 1999 as a Fulbright Scholar. According to a former student, Ruth Ann Gaines takes teaching beyond the classroom. At East High School in Des Moines, Iowa, she has created the `Sisters for Success' program, a mentoring organization for African-American high school girls to build self esteem and facilitate academic success. She has also created the Leadership Council, a school organization that helps address problems of diversity in the school and community. Kathleen McGrath of Ocala, Florida, loves knowledge and conveys that to her students through her dedication to teaching. Every student TRIES in her classroom. This motto stands for Trust, Relationships, Involvement, Expectations, and Success. Kathleen is also a three-time recipient of the Christa McAuliffe Fellowship in 1992, 1999, and 2001. I am especially proud to recognize Carol Strickland, who is from Emporia in my home state of Kansas. Carol won the Kansas Teacher of the Year award in 1999 followed by the U.S. Department of State Secondary School Excellence Award in 2001. Her accomplishments include launching an Applied Communication class to help students with Limited English Proficiency transition from high school to the working world. Larry, Cynthia, Ruth Ann, Kathleen, and Carol exemplify what it means to be a teacher--what it means to make a difference. These five inductees collectively have 143 years of teaching experience. I salute these men and women for their dedication to the youth of our country. It is my hope that they will find satisfaction in knowing the influence they have made on the lives of their students.

Mr. MORAN of Kansas

Mr. MORAN of Kansas. Mr. Chairman, I appreciate the gentleman from Alabama for yielding time to me, and I commend him on his leadership and persistence with regard to this legislation. It has been a long time coming, and I am pleased today to support H.R. 522. Much of my focus as a Member of Congress has been on what can we do to improve the chances that rural America will survive, what can we do to make certain that the communities across our country and the people who live there have a little prosperity today, but they also are able to preserve that way of life in small-town America for future generations. One of the concerns that is clearly there and can be demonstrated is the need for credit for small loans, the need for credit for small business, the need for credit for small farmers and ranchers. We must take steps that will strengthen the financial opportunities available for citizens of our communities across the country to save, to set their money aside. This will encourage those individuals to be able to do that in larger amounts, without having to take the necessary risks of investing in some more volatile kind of market or shopping for deposit ability in towns far away. Perhaps, even more importantly, if we want rural America to survive, if we want small business and agriculture to have an opportunity to succeed, they have to have access to credit. The opportunity that this legislation presents is a step in the right direction toward making certain that credit is available to our creditworthy business owners, farmers, and ranchers. I commend the committee and thank them for their efforts in this regard. I lend my wholehearted support toward increasing the amount of coverage and making it possible for our communities to have a greater volume of assets on deposit in their local bank.

Mr. MORAN of Kansas

Mr. MORAN of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, congratulations to the fifty-four students from Sacred Heart Senior High School in Salina, Kansas for their upcoming participation in ``The Red Road Travel/Study Tour.'' This experience will include performances at a series of Native American reservation schools in South Dakota from March 16-19, 2003. I commend each of these students for their hard work and success: James Andrewson, David Arpin, Sarah Arpin, Matthew Bachofer, Shannon Bechard, Kyle Berens, Stephanie Bieker, Hillary Blue, Kelly Breckunitch, Matt Broberg, Danielle Budreau, Jennifer Budreau, Jason Bulliegh, Katey Clark, Jason Curran, Kyle Davis, Alan Deneault, Courtney Ducharme, Lauren Ducharme, Christina Fekas, Shandra Francis, Vanessa Greene, Carissa Helvey, Emily Henke, Jessica Herbic, Alex Hernandez, Adria Jerkovich, Anne Kelly, Jessica Kelly, Andy Kinard, Matt Kienda, Jeff Koetting, Abby Luetters, James McKee, Mary Kate McKee, J.J. Neubauer, Ashley O'Brien, Jessica Polich, Michael Ratcliff, Susan Riordan, Lindsey Sandquist, Raquel Santiago, Emily Schmidt, Alisha Schoel, Tine Schoel, Kristen St. John, Marisol Sternke, Janell Straub, Jennifer Suelter, Raul Vasquez, Sarah Vermillion, Tyler Vishnefske, Megan Wells, Lauren Zey. ``The Red Road Travel/Study Tour'' is the latest event in a series which provides performance and educational opportunities for students. Paramount to this tour is the opportunity for these young people to experience a unique and different culture, while expressing good will through their musical talents. I would also like to recognize their director, Milt Allen, for helping prepare these young musicians. Mr. Allen's commitment and dedication to nurture and encourage our youth shines through the accomplishments of his students. The First Congressional district is proud to be represented by Sacred Heart Senior High School in this meaningful program. I commend Mr. Allen for his excellent job promoting education and the arts among the youth of Kansas. It is an honor to recognize such a meritorious group.

Mr. MORAN of Kansas

Mr. MORAN of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a man who affected the lives of many people in Kansas and across the country. This month we mourn the death of Mr. Milton Lloyd Morrison of Salina, Kansas. Milton Morrison was a quiet giant. A life-long Kansan, Milton was always true to his roots. He lived a life guided by the morals and values we hold dear: abiding faith, faithful service and absolute integrity. Milton's dedication to his community is renowned. Throughout his life, Milton took a lead role in making certain his community was progressive in pursuits of quality of life issues. His leadership and commitment to his church, college alma mater and professional trade associations were inspired by a favorite quote, ``Service is the rent we pay for the space we occupy in this world.'' Milton was by every account a successful businessman. With a disciplined approach he directed Morrison Ventures, a leading grain storage and farmland investment operation. His management style was always marked with trademark methodical thinking and a keen emphasis on patience and perseverance. Most important to Milton was his family. Over the course of 65 years he and his wife Becky raised two sons, Roger and Richard, and devoted endless love and attention to six grandchildren and 12 great- grandchildren. Milton Morrison made his community, state and nation a better place. I join his many friends and admirers in extending my deepest sympathies to Becky and her family during their time of loss.

Mr. MORAN of Kansas

Mr. MORAN of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, I would like to submit for the Record, remarks I gave at a dedication ceremony. Thank you Senator Dole, Secretary Principi, and distinguished guests, especially our veterans. I'm delighted to be here today on this very special occasion. I had intended to be very brief, but I concluded that the sooner we get done, the sooner I will go home. The sooner I go home, the sooner I will see my wife, and if she sees the nightly news with me seated so closely to Cindy Close, our favorite KWCH broadcaster, I'll have some explaining to do. So I'm going to take a few moments. This is an opportunity to pay a moment of tribute and, hopefully, a lifelong tribute, to a great Kansan. Before I do that, I would like to congratulate Senator-elect Dole. Russell, Kansas, must be an amazing place because we have three individuals with significant ties to Russell, Kansas, who are past, present and future members of that exclusive club, the United States Senate: Senator Bob Dole, Senator Arlen Specter, and now Senator-elect, Elizabeth Dole. We are delighted, as Kansans, to congratulate you on your success. We're here to pay tribute not only to Senator Dole, but to what Tom Brokaw calls the greatest generation. His words are these: ``They came of age during the Great Depression and the Second World War and went on to build modem America, men and women whose everyday lives of duty, honor, achievement, and courage gave us the world we have today.'' Bob Dole exemplifies the greatest generation. My purpose in introducing this legislation was not to recognize Bob Dole the Senator, the presidential candidate, or the majority leader. I learned today Bob Dole is the longest-serving majority leader. Senator Dole, I always thought you were the longest-serving Republican candidate for president. But we recognize him today as that soldier from Russell, Kansas, serving in the mountains of Italy. We recognize him for the consequences of his service and for the course of action he took to rehabilitate his life, and in the process, to change the lives of others. So although we can say many good things about Senator Dole, presidential candidate Dole, and Majority Leader Dole, we are here today to pay tribute to Bob Dole, the soldier. As you know, Bob Dole seeks no recognition. In 1969, during his first year in the United States Senate, he said, ``Most veterans today want no special recognition or attention. We did our duty, take pride in having served, and seek to live our lives as good and constructive citizens.'' That's Bob Dole. I have no doubt that he's uncomfortable being here today receiving this recognition. He was also a product of rehabilitation through the VA. We are also here to pay tribute to the men and women who work for the Department of Veterans Affairs. We are here to pay tribute to the volunteers who help those employees take care of the veterans of the United States. What we do in Washington pales in comparison to what individuals do for our veterans who need health care and rehabilitation services. They also are the heroes. The bill to designate the Wichita VA as the Robert J. Dole Department of Veterans Affairs Medical and Regional Office Center was widely supported. It was introduced in the House of Representatives and supported by our entire congressional delegation. Congressman Tiahrt and I concluded that this was a noble cause to undertake and introduced this bill in April of 2002. Our colleagues in both the House and Senate joined us. My subcommittee and committee passed it unanimously. The bill had 75 cosponsors, republicans and democrats, including the leadership of the House. This legislation was also co-sponsored by a fellow Russell native, Arlen Specter, who will be the new Chairman of the Senate Corp Committee on Veterans Affairs. It passed unanimously in both the House and Senate and was signed by President Bush on May 29th, 2002. In order to get to this point, the legislation had the support of every veterans' service organization in Kansas. Before we started this effort, we made certain that our veterans' organizations were fully supportive of acknowledging Bob Dole in this manner. And, Senator Dole, every one of them said a resounding, yes, this is an appropriate honor for the soldier, Bob Dole. Many of their leaders are here today, and I thank our veterans' service organizations for their support of this legislation and for all that, they do for the veterans of Kansas. Bob Dole is a role model and hero. He paid tribute, in his first year in the Senate, to one of his idols, his hero, another Kansan--General Dwight David Eisenhower. Bob Dole, talked about General Eisenhower, in 1969, upon General Eisenhower's death, about his dreams as a boy in Abilene, Kansas. General Eisenhower could never have envisioned the heights he was to scale in his lifetime. The honesty and sincerity, so characteristic of General Eisenhower throughout his life, can be traced to his heritage of his ancestors and strong guidance of his mother. His broad grin and good humor that reflected these qualities made him a popular idol and were part of his magic. People reacted to the special qualities exuded by this man. The contributions made by General Eisenhower are legend. His success in time of war made him a great leader of men. Thereafter, his unparalleled success in politics underscored the respect-and confidence he enjoyed by all Americans. The words that Bob Dole spoke about his hero, his role model, Dwight David Eisenhower, can today be said about our hero and role model, Bob Dole of Kansas. I grew up within 20 miles of Bob Dole's hometown, and I know the dedication, commitment, love and respect that the people of Russell, Kansas, share for their hometown hero. Let me conclude by quoting, Bob Dole's own words from Memorial Day 2002. On the one hand, war represents the ultimate failure of mankind or at least of the politicians and diplomats entrusted with keeping the peace. Yet it also summons the greatest qualities of which human beings are capable--courage beyond measure, loyalty beyond words, sacrifice, and ingenuity and endurance beyond imagining. Today, we pay tribute to Bob Dole's courage, his loyalty, his sacrifice, his ingenuity and his endurance. He is one of those veterans he pays tribute to. God bless America, and God, thank you for our Bob Dole.

Mr. MORAN of Kansas

Mr. MORAN of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a woman who affected the lives of thousands of people in Kansas and across the country. This month we mourn the death of Mrs. Patricia ``Patty'' Brooks Carey of Hutchinson, Kansas. As Kansans, we are dutifully aware of our state motto, Ad Astra Per Aspera which translates, ``To the Stars Through Difficulties.'' Patty lived this theme with an unsurpassed passion. In 1962, with vision and determination, Patty launched a small planetarium in the poultry house on the Kansas State Fairgrounds. From this humble beginning, the planetarium has evolved into a multifaceted space science education museum that today houses one of the world's largest and most significant collections of United States and Soviet space artifacts. Thanks to Patty's devotion, the Kansas Cosmosphere and Space Center stands as a testament to her mission of excellence. Patty's dedication to her hometown is legendary. Throughout her life, Patty touched the lives of many--especially those of children--taking a lead role in making certain her community was progressive in pursuits of education, culture and other quality of life issues. Her leadership and service on the board of directors for the Cosmosphere, Community Foundation and hospital were always marked with practicality, persuasion and genuineness. Most important to Patty was her family. Over the course of 61 years she and her husband Howard J. ``Jake'' Carey, grandson of the founder of Carey Salt, raised three sons, Brooks, Christopher and Michael, and devoted endless love and attention to six grandchildren. Gene Cernan, the last man to walk on the moon and whose Apollo 17 mission is featured at the Cosmosphere, summed up his goodbye to his friend this way: ``Patty was a very small woman in size, but certainly a big woman in stature. She had a dream, and she stuck with it.'' I can think of no finer compliment. Patty Carey made her community, State and Nation a better place. I join her many friends and admirers in extending my deepest sympathies to Jake and his family during their time of loss.

Mr. MORAN

Mr. MORAN. Mr. Speaker, my friend from North Carolina is absolutely right. This amendment strengthens the position, the leadership role of the United States. It builds on the lesson of 10 years ago that was a success then and should be a success today.

Mr. MORAN of Kansas

Mr. MORAN of Kansas. Madam Speaker, since September 11, our Nation has been made to reevaluate every action we undertake. A year after the attacks on New York and in Washington and the plane crash in Pennsylvania, we are still at a heightened state of alert. What we once considered a safe Nation has now become a people concerned about security. The citizens of America are looking now, more than ever, to Congress and to the President for answers. The legislation before us, H.R. 3253, would use the assets and expertise of the Department of Veterans Affairs to help protect the people of the United States from terrorists. Our government must be proactive in preparing the United States for future terrorist attacks. As Vice President Cheney cautioned earlier this year, ``The prospects of a future attack against the United States are almost certain.'' We must respond in a timely, effective and comprehensive manner to protect the American people when an attack occurs. This bill would help do just that. Under this bill, four geographically separated National Medical Emergency Preparedness centers would be established. Each center would study and work toward solutions to health consequences that arise from exposure to chemical, biological, explosive, and nuclear substances used as weapons of mass destruction. The VA is prepared to handle this new and important mission. In addition to its medical care mission to care for millions of American veterans, the veterans health care system is the Nation's largest health care provider of graduate medical education and a major contributor to biomedical and other scientific research. Because of this widely dispersed, integrated health care system, the VA can be, and has been in the past, an essential asset in responding to national emergencies. Not only would the four special centers conduct research and develop methods of detection, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment; but they would also be charged with the dissemination of the latest information to other public and private health care providers, to improve the quality of care for patients who may be exposed to deadly chemicals, radiation, or other terrorist weapons of mass destruction. This bill would also require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a program to develop and disseminate model education and training programs on the medical responses to terrorist activities. The VA's infrastructure, which includes affiliation with over 107 medical schools, and other schools of health professions, would enable current and future medical professionals in this country to be knowledgeable and medically competent in the treatment of casualties from terrorist attacks. Our bill provides the VA a formal role in the national disaster medical system and authorizes the VA to treat first responders, active duty forces, firefighters, police officers and members of the general public that may be victims of terrorism or other mass casualty disasters. With this bill, the VA health care professionals will be properly armed with information and education on bioterrorism response. Mechanisms will be put in place to study the likely avenues and methods of chemical, biological, and radiological poisoning; and the VA will be part of the rapid response by Federal, State, and local officials in types of emergencies that only a year ago we could scarcely imagine. H.R. 3253 is a bipartisan and bicameral compromise; and, Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this effort in America's war on terrorism.

Mr. MORAN of Kansas

Mr. MORAN of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, times are often tough in the high plains of our country, and Kansas farmers and ranchers struggle every year to make ends meet, but this year is especially difficult, and I want to bring to the attention of my colleagues here in the House tonight and the citizens of our country the difficult circumstances that those farmers and ranchers face this year because of very little snowfall, no rainfall this spring, and this being the second and third and sometimes even fourth year in a row in which moisture has been lacking for farmers to farm and ranchers to raise their cattle. I just completed 25 town visits throughout the month of August across the First District of Kansas and saw the worry and concern upon farmers' faces. Every day our farmers look to the skies and hope and pray for rain. Communities gather every evening in the community band shell where they come together and as a community pray that rain will fall. The circumstances that our agriculture producers face and the communities in which they live is desperate. We have ranchers selling their cattle every week. Our herds are being culled. We had almost no wheat harvest in many places in Kansas; and in fact statewide wheat harvest was down almost half of what it was last year, and last year was a very bleak year in and of itself. The fall crops, the milo, our fall crops have failed, almost no fall crops produced in Kansas because of lack of moisture. Here in a couple of weeks our farmers will try to begin the process of planting wheat, and yet no rain comes. There is no moisture in the surface, no subsoil moisture for those seeds to germinate. In addition, our cattle are struggling because there is no water in the ponds and no grass to feed. So I think it is important for those of us who care about the future of rural America, those of us who care about the livelihood of our farmers and ranchers, to bring to our colleagues in Congress the circumstances that we face. Almost every year that I have been in Congress, 6 now, we have had an emergency assistance package designed to help those who face natural disasters, those who struggle as a result of hurricanes and floods. I am here to tell my colleagues that the circumstances that farmers and ranchers face in Kansas and Nebraska and Colorado and Wyoming and South Dakota and Oklahoma are no less dire than those that our citizens have faced in other places in the country due to floods and hurricanes. I ask my colleagues to join with us to find a way to provide assistance, to pursue drought assistance and disaster relief for farmers and ranchers across the country and to look for ways that we can do so in a way that is responsible and meaningful. I look forward to working with my colleagues on the House Committee on Agriculture and my colleagues across the country and with the administration and Senate to see that those goals are accomplished. No less than the future of rural America is at stake. Many of the farmers and ranchers in Kansas are in their sixties and seventies; and absent assistance from Congress this year, they will not be farming and ranching next year. Absent them having a livelihood, the communities that dot the landscape of our rural portions of the country will cease to exist and a way of life that has honored this country, that has been a backbone of this country, will disappear. So I ask respectfully my colleagues for their assistance as we pursue the issues of drought assistance. The gentleman from South Dakota (Mr. Thune), the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Osborne), and I have introduced legislation; and we will be seeking support of our colleagues to address this issue.

Mr. MORAN

Mr. MORAN. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer).

Mr. MORAN of Kansas

Mr. MORAN of Kansas. Mr. Chairman, I yield 45 seconds to the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Osborne).

Mr. MORAN of Kansas. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. For the Members of this House who were Members in July of 2000, this amendment will sound awfully familiar. Two years ago this month, I offered a similar amendment, in fact, nearly identical amendment, to the one I offer this evening to the Treasury Postal appropriations bill. This amendment would ban the implementation, the enforcement of the sanctions against the export of food, agriculture, commodities and medicine to the country of Cuba. The history of this amendment is such that this amendment passed 301 to 116 two years ago this month. A majority of Republican Members of Congress, a majority of Democrat Members of Congress supported this amendment. Ultimately, through efforts of the leadership of this House, along with the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Nethercutt) and the gentlewoman from Missouri (Mrs. Emerson), the Trades Sanction Reform Act of 2000 was signed into law as part of the agricultural appropriations bill and trade on agricultural products, food and medicine was authorized in a limited fashion. Beginning last Thanksgiving, Cuba has purchased more than $100 million worth of U.S. commodities. Thirty States have sourced 650,000 metric tons of food to Cuba. Given the opportunity, Mr. Chairman, had the Committee on Rules allowed me to have a waiver of a point of order, I would have offered an amendment to clear up a number of problems that have arisen, not in creating problems for the country of Cuba but creating problems for our farmers, our ranchers and our companies that seek to export agriculture commodities, food and medicine. We have a myriad of restrictions related to the license, shipping, financing that, in my opinion, create only handicaps for us, not creating any kind of pressure on the country of Cuba, and so this amendment tonight is an attempt to again reaffirm our support as a Congress, as a House of Representatives for trade with the country of Cuba. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. MORAN of Kansas. Mr. Chairman, I yield 45 seconds to the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Nethercutt).

Mr. MORAN of Kansas. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. MORAN of Kansas. Mr. Chairman, may I inquire of the time remaining?

Mr. MORAN of Kansas

Mr. MORAN of Kansas. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to a Congressional pay raise. I do not support this procedural motion, and I do not support the way this issue is being handled. Failure to allow an up or down vote on this issue only serves to increase cynicism towards the political process and confirms the feelings of many voters that their representatives are out of touch. This process needs to be reformed. Members of Congress should be on record with the citizens of their districts as to whether they believe an increase to their salary is justified. Given the opportunity, I would vote ``no.'' Fiscal discipline must start with elected officials. At a time when farmers and ranchers and small businesses across Kansas are struggling and rural hospitals and other health care providers are curtailing services, there is no place for a Congressional cost of living increase, especially one born in a cloud of secrecy.