Jerry Moran

Mr. MORAN of Kansas

Mr. MORAN of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, since September 11, our Nation has been made to reevaluate every action we undertake on a daily basis. What we once considered a safe Nation has become a people concerned about security, and they look to Congress and the President for answers. With the bill we will pass today, H.R. 3253, the Committee on Veterans' Affairs is challenging the Veterans Administration with the task to address some of our new concerns: to use a fraction of the assets of the Department of Veterans Affairs to help protect the people of the United States from terrorists. We will charge the administration with this task because we believe it is one that they can readily handle. We must be proactive in preparing the United States for a future terrorist attack. As our Vice President said just yesterday, ``The prospects of a future attack against the United States are almost certain. Not a matter of if but when. It could happen tomorrow, it could happen next week, it could happen next year, but they will keep trying.'' Those are sobering thoughts. We must respond in a timely, effective, and comprehensive manner to protect the American people if and when an attack occurs. This bill would do just that. Under this bill at least four geographically separated national medical emergency preparedness centers would be established. Each center would independently study and work toward solutions to health consequences that arise from exposure to chemical, biological, and nuclear substances used as weapons. What makes the VA a good host for such a new and important mission? In addition to meeting its medical care mission to millions of veterans, the VA health care system is the Nation's largest 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 an essential asset in responding to national emergencies. Not only would the four special centers conduct research and develop methods of detection, diagnosis, vaccination, and treatment for chemical, biological, and radiological threats but they would also be charged with 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 these deadly elements. 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. VA's infrastructure, which includes affiliations 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. Mr. Speaker, this bill is a definite win-win proposition. The people who need to be trained in saving lives will be properly armed with current information and education. Mechanisms will be put in place to study the likely avenues and methods of chemical, biological, and radiological poisoning; and the VA will be a part of a firm foundation for rapid response by local and Federal officials in types of emergency that only 18 months ago we could have scarcely imagined. H.R. 3253 is a good bill, Mr. Speaker. I commend the gentleman from New Jersey for his efforts in this regard. I urge all my colleagues to support this effort and hope that it will pay a large dividend in our war on terrorism.

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 honor the life of Mr. Richard ``Dick'' Dillon of Hutchinson, Kansas. Dick fulfilled many important roles in his life-- each of them with integrity, passion and enthusiasm. Dick proudly served his country in the United States Air Force for two stints, culminating in active duty service during the Korean War. Dick's dedication to his hometown was unsurpassed. Throughout his life, he took a lead role in making certain his community of Hutchinson was progressive in pursuits of education, culture and other quality of life issues. His leadership and service on the board of directors for the community foundation, school district, hospital and church were always marked with trademark humor and a keen emphasis on questioning and listening. Dick was, by every account, a successful businessman. Along with his brother, Ray ``Ace'' Dillon, Jr., and his cousin, Paul, Dick worked to develop Dillons Stores--his father's grocery business--into a nationwide retailer. It later became part of the Kroger Company family. Those whom he interacted with for over 40 years wholeheartedly agree on the impact of his vision and dedication to the business. His colleagues summed up their goodbye this way: ``Dick was short on ceremony and long on giving credit to others. He helped us all walk a little taller.'' I can think of no finer compliment. Most important to Dick was his family. Over the course of 50 years, he and his wife, Carolyn, raised three sons, Brad, Reed and Steve, and devoted endless love and attention to their six grandchildren. Dick fulfilled many important roles in his life, and in each of those roles made his community, state and nation a better place. I join his many friends and admirers in extending my deepest sympathies to Carolyn and her family during their time of loss.

Mr. MORAN of Kansas

Mr. MORAN of Kansas. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time. The amendment before the House tonight is a compromise that I believe will lead to better health care for our veterans and our service men and women, as well as a more efficient use of resources for their care. Chairman Smith has been the driving force behind this idea, and I commend him and the gentleman from New York (Mr. McHugh) and the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Snyder), the chairman and ranking member of the Subcommittee on Military Personnel, for their very cooperative, fair, and objective considerations of the issues and concerns of both the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Defense and both of our committees here in the Congress. While each Department has traditional and long-standing values and practices in providing health care to separate beneficiary populations, this bill seeks the common interest of both veterans and military personnel and to create partnerships and better coordinations in each institution. This amendment will commit each Department to improving health sharing and coordination of resources and services. It will also prompt the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs to take full advantage of all these opportunities to make our health care resources available for all active and retired service men and women. Mr. Chairman, I urge my colleagues to adopt this amendment.

Mr. MORAN of Kansas

Mr. MORAN of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize five outstanding educators who today were announced as inductees into the National Teachers Hall of Fame in Emporia, Kansas. This is the 11th year of inducting members into the Hall of Fame, whose mission is to honor exceptional teachers and promote excellence in teaching. I congratulate today's honorees. These inductees are being honored for their devotion to our nation's children and for their many contributions to their communities. Students in inductee Dana K. Kelly's Southwest Elementary in Lakeland Florida, adopted 50 children school for the deaf, and send them monthly care packages from mittens to candies. Janice Gould, an art teacher at Lawrence Hall Youth Services in Chicago, Illinois, helped her students create a Permanent Children's Art Collection for the Illinois State Board of Education. This project demonstrates what special-needs children can create when given the proper environment to flourish. Fellow inductee Jane Bray Nelson, a physics teacher at University High School in Orlando, Florida, is distinguished not only by her many awards, but by her students' admiration. I am especially proud to announce that two of this year's inductees hail from my home state of Kansas. E. May (Pat) Lindquist is a tutor and substitute teacher in Brookville. Ms. Lindquist has dedicated 54 years of her life to teaching, having first taught in a one room school house in 1931. Liza Zahn Crooks is a fourth grade teacher at Black Bob Elementary School in Olathe, Kansas. Ms. Crooks is known for developing innovative teaching tools, including the Good Bears of the World program in which students give a teddy bear to people going through difficult times, particularly children and senior citizens. I commend each of these individuals for their commitment to excellence in education. Teachers are so important. When you ask people who has made a difference in their lives, the answer you are likely to hear is ``my teacher.'' My own interest in the world outside my Kansas hometown was sparked by my teachers, who in grade school and high school taught me the love of books, biography, politics and history. Every day, in schools all across America, teachers provide similar guidance to the next generation of students--teachers who, for inadequate pay, educate not only with facts and figures, but also instill a love for learning and a sense that there is a world out there beyond the city limits of our hometowns. No matter how lofty the goals, no matter how difficult the road, teachers have been there to show us that, yes, our dreams are possible, and that, yes, we can succeed. So on National Teacher Day, I salute these five educators for their dedication to the youth of America. May you always find satisfaction in knowing that you have made a tremendous difference in the lives of your students. Thank you.

Mr. MORAN

Mr. MORAN. Mr. Speaker, for the last 68 days, 11 of my House colleagues and I have worked to resolve differences with our Senate counterparts and finish a farm bill. The House Agriculture Committee began writing this bill more than two years ago. We held 47 hearings in Washington and across the country, and heard testimony from 368 producers and the organizations that represent them. More than 2,500 farmers and ranchers participated in the process of crafting the House bill, which was approved unanimously by the Committee and was passed last October by the full House with bipartisan support, on a vote of 291-120. This bill reflects a broad effort to respond to the concerns and needs of agricultural producers, rural citizens, and American consumers. Why this effort to approve a farm bill? Because our farmers need it, rural America deserves it, and our consumers demand it. The American farmer is the most efficient producer of food and fiber of anyone in the world. For an example of the benefits of agriculture we enjoy in America, let's consider a loaf of bread. I purchased this loaf of bread this morning at my neighborhood grocery store for $1.69. Each bushel of wheat, for which the farmer receives about $2.50, yields 65 loaves of bread. That means the farmer receives about $.04 for each loaf sold--when was the last time you purchased a loaf of bread for 4 cents, the amount actually going to producers? It's easy to see why farmers grow increasingly frustrated by the widening gap between the prices consumers pay and the commodity prices they receive. There's no doubt that times are tough in farm country. The ag economy continues to suffer the burden of low market prices and rising costs of production, and producers, already squeezed by narrow profit margins, pay the price. Last month, I completed my 66-country tour and story was the same in each town hall meeting from Alemena to Zurich. Record low prices and poor weather conditions paint a bleak picture for farm families. This week's headlines in Kansas read: ``High Input Costs, Lower Livestock Income Cut Kansas Farm Income 28.6%''; ``Bankers Indicate the Farm-related Businesses Continue to Struggle''; and ``Falling Prices Mean Big Losses for Cattle Feeders.'' Average net farm income in Kansas last year totaled less than $28,000 per farm. Total farm expenses increased 7 percent and average farm debt climed to 34 percent of assets, up 32 percent from the year before. In 2000, a farmers spent $81 for every $100 worth of farm products sold. In 2001, those input costs climbed to $87 for the same level of market returns. Even more recently, the market price drops have been dramatic. The breakeven price for the average cattle feeder on May 1 was about $70 cwt. On April 29, cattle prices were $62--down from $73 on March 1, just two months earlier. That means that producers lost around $120 on every animal they sold. Multiply that number for an individually-owned, 10,000 head feedyard in Ashland, KS, and that feeder has just lost $1.2 million. These are the stories I heard all across the First District of Kansas. Our farmers and rural communities need help to survive, and looking at the farm economy over the past 20 years tells why. In 1970, a combine cost $7,000; today it is $170,000. Tractors have increased five-fold in price. Fuel was $.30 per gallon; today it's $1.30. The amount of seed corn for planting that could be purchased for $25 in 1972, now costs $140. Income, on the other hand, has gone the opposite direction of input costs. In 1973, soybeans sold for $12 per bushel; yesterday, they were at $4.28. In 1974, wheat hit $5 per bushel; yesterday, it was $2.45. So it should not come as a surprise when farmers turn to us in desperate times, or send sale bills like this one--with the note inside from a farm wife--``This is the reason we need a decent farm bill! I have a young man, with farming in his blood, eager to take over our ground--Please make it possible for him to continue the family tradition and earn a decent living from the farm to provide for this family.'' There are many reasons we need a farm bill, and a farm bill is about much more than just agriculture. It's about maintaining the safest, most abundant, most affordable food supply our consumers expect and deserve. It's about preserving the environment for future generations, conserving natural resources and protecting the quality of our water and air. It's about helping rural communities sustain their economies. It's about ensuring adequate nutrition for all Americans, especially our children. But for Kansas, it's also about avoiding this headline: ``On the Auction Block: Farmers getting out, putting land for sale in tough economic times.'' This bill is worth $318 million to the Kansas economy this year alone, to keep farmers on the land, shoppers on Main Street, children in our schools. If we don't act now, next year may be too late for some family farms. The wheat crop is in the ground, just over a month from the beginning of harvest, and planting is underway for other crops. Farmers need details of a farm bill sooner, not later. I urge you to support the farm bill and vote for the conference report.

Mr. MORAN of Kansas

Mr. MORAN of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, for the last 68 days, I have joined my House colleagues, 11 of them, to work on resolving differences in a farm bill between a bill we passed last summer and a bill passed a few months ago by the United States Senate. During those 68 days, I have come to greatly admire and respect the leadership in our Committee on Agriculture, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Combest), our chairman, and the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Stenholm), our ranking member. But why have we made this effort? Why does it matter? I think the answer is because we care about the future of our farmers and our ranchers, and we care about the future of the communities in which they live. There is absolutely no doubt but that the times in agriculture country are tough. They are not getting better, they are getting worse. The profit margins are squeezed. Last month, I conducted 66 town hall meetings from A to Z, Almena to Zurich. Record low prices for weather conditions paint a terribly bleak picture for our farm families. This week's headlines in the Kansas press: ``High Input Costs, Lower Livestock Income Cut Kansas Farm Income 28.6 Percent''; ``Bankers Indicate That Farm-Related Businesses Continue To Struggle''; and ``Falling Prices Mean Big Losses for Cattle Feeders.'' The average farm income for a Kansas farmer totaled less than $28,000 per farm. Total farm expenses increased 7 percent. The average debt for a farmer increased 34 percent. Farmers used to spend $81 for every dollar's worth of product they sold. Today it is $87. Cattle prices are down, meaning that our producers have lost $120 on every animal they sell. For a 10,000-head feed yard in Ashland, Kansas, that feeder has just lost $1.2 million. These are the stories I have heard over the last month in 66 locations across my district. It is time for us to step forward. I have a farm bill, a sale bill, that a constituent sent me, indicating that her neighbor was selling out the farm because they could not make it. And the note was, I have a young man who wants to take over my farm. This is why we need a farm bill, so that that next generation has the opportunity to be farmers, to feed the world. It is about maintaining the safest and most abundant supply and having our consumers receive the safest food supply at the grocery store. It is about preserving our environment for future generations, conserving our natural resources, protecting our water quality and air. It is about helping rural communities sustain their economies. It is about ensuring adequate nutrition for all Americans, especially our children. But for Kansas it is about avoiding the headlines that say, ``On the Auction Block: Farmers Getting Out, Putting Items, Land Up For Sell During Tough Economic Times.'' This bill is valuable to the Kansas economy and it is valuable in our efforts to keep farmers on the land, to keep shoppers on our main streets, and to keep children in our schools. If we do not act now, next year will be too late for many family farms. The wheat crop is in the ground. In just over a month we will begin harvest in my State, and planning is under way for our other crops. Farmers need details of a farm bill sooner, not later, and I urge my colleagues to support this farm bill and to vote for the conference report. Mr. Speaker, I submit for the Record the Kansas press article I referred to earlier: [From the Garden City Telegram, Apr. 11, 2002] On the Auction Block Getting out: Farmers putting items, land up for sell during tough economic times (By Kathy Hanks) Gary Brooks is sifting through a collection of nuts, bolts and used tractor parts deciding what to sell Saturday at his farm auction. Brooks and his wife, Carla, have farmed in the Healy area for 37 years. And though he describes the upcoming sale as ``bittersweet,'' the Brookes are ready to get out of farming and make a life change. ``We can see the handwriting on the wall. We've been pretty small farmers, and we just can't get enough for what we raise,'' Brooks said. ``My machinery is older, and it takes about two years of crops to fix something that breaks.'' The couple has made some major decisions in the past months. ``If your mind is made up, then it's a positive thing. If someone else is telling you that you have to get out, then that's sad,'' Brooks said. They had a land auction earlier this year; selling about three-and-a-half quarters of ground. After Saturday's sale, the couple plans to move to Hays, where they will be close to children and grandchildren. ``I don't know what kind of job I'll get, but I sure don't want to work on commission; I've been doing that for years,'' he said. ``I want a job with a regular paycheck. I have a degree in botany, but I don't know what kind of work I can find with that.'' Brooks, however, said he is not too concerned. ``This is our decision. We'll walk away with a little money. And I'll be grinning all the way,'' he said. Every weekend in April, Russell Berning, owner of Berning Auction, Marilenthal, has a farm auction scheduled somewhere in western Kansas. ``I wouldn't call these forced sales. I'd call them encouraged sales. The owners can see there's no future, and they want to get out while they still have something left,'' Berning said. He has been in the auction business since the late 1980s, beginning just as the bad economic times and forced sales were ending. Though farm sales are on the increase, he said what he is observing today is nothing compared to the 1980s, when many farm families were forced out of operation. ``At least for now, the mood is more of relief to be getting out of farming,'' Berning said. There are no ``Penney Auctions'' taking place where the neighbors come and buy your land and machinery for pennies, then return it to you. Instead, your neighbor is more likely to buy your ground. ``In western Kansas, we are seeing dry land sell for upwards of $725 per acre. People are buying the land. There are some guys still willing to take a chance with low interest rates,'' Berning said. ``And there is the old money farmers who have been on the land for generations. That's where most of the sales are coming from.'' Berning described the typical farmer selling his land as in his 50s and wanting to do something different with his life. ``I know some guys who are going into the insurance business, working as federal crop adjusters. That's a job where they still will be able to use their knowledge and still be involved with the farming aspect,'' he said. ``I see them selling their land and looking forward to doing something different.'' According to Berning, several of his recent sales have been in the Healy area of Lane County. ``They have had some dryer years in the past then some areas around them. It has just hit them earlier. If we don't get any more moisture, and prices don't change, we're going to see more of this. I think we're just on the verge right now,'' Berning said. Along with land, he is selling a lot of farm equipment. ``A lot of what I'm selling is good, modern equipment in good shape, that is bringing in good money,'' Berning said. ``The older, smaller equipment has taken a significant drop in price.'' At Scott Auction, Garden City, Kent Scott was observing a similar situation with farm auctions. ``I'm not seeing an increase in forced sales. Instead, I see farmers trying to get rid of things on their depreciation schedule that they have quit using on the farm,'' Scott said. ``They may be cutting back their operation because of economics. Prices are not good. So, some are selling out now when they still have their equity.'' Berning agrees with that scenario. ``I have seen farmers selling their farm equipment and then just look for other work. They want to sell their land while they still have some money left to start a new life.'' Berning said. ``Things aren't bad right now. It could get worse. And they do appear that they will get worse before they get better.'' In the southwest corner of the state, Jim Carrithers, owner of Carrithers Auction of Johnson City, said he is not seeing a noticeable change in farm sales. ``I can't seen any increase in farm sales with farmers going out of business,'' said Carrithers, who conducts auctions in southwest Kansas, eastern Colorado and the Oklahoma panhandle. ``We have always had farmers who made the decision to get out. They can see they aren't getting anywhere and would prefer to work for a company with insurance benefits. ``I am seeing just an average year, no different than what I've observed in the past 30 years of being in the business. Farmers just need some rain and a better farm program.

Mr. MORAN of Kansas

Mr. MORAN of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, it has been a year of remembrance for Fort Hays State University, which is in the midst of celebrating its centennial year. Few events provide greater reason to pause and appreciate the continuing excellence of this university than the accomplishments of the last week. In the course of one week the university claimed not one, but two national championships. I stand today to recognize this tremendous feat. It is truly an honor to represent such an outstanding institution. Two students from my own district, Joe Ramsey of Nickerson and Jason Regnier of Salina started this remarkable week by winning the Cross Examination Debate Association National Tournament. These students captured the individual team title and were honored as top speaker in the tournament. The team was challenged by opponents from a number of the country's most well known universities, however they proved that some of the brightest minds reside in western Kansas and at Fort Hays State University. I commend Joe Ramsey and Jason Regnier on their tremendous drive and resolve over the course of their competitive debate careers. Their success speaks highly of their talent and commitment, as well as that of their coach Dr. William Shanahan and teammates Brent Saindon and Paul Marbrey. Following the triumphant return of the debate team, three more students from my district were declared national academic champions. This time Sarah Evans of Garfield, Steven Sutter, of Abilene and Nicolette Zeigler of Mankato were honored for their victory at the American Express Financial Planning Invitational. This prestigious competition tests the financial knowledge of students at top universities from across the country. Once again, Fort Hays State University students proved themselves among the best in the country. I commend these students for their dedication and energy in preparing for and attaining this victory. It is a clear testament to their financial knowledge, motivation, and academic ability. I also offer my thanks to Dr. Thomas Johansen and Dr. Rory Terry for preparing this team so very well. It is a tremendous accomplishment to be recognized as the very best. This level of achievement would not have been possible without the leadership of President Edward Hammond and the support of many other members of the Fort Hays State University community. I congratulate the Fort Hays State University Debate and Financial Planning Teams on their victories. They have helped make the history of Fort Hays State University that much richer in this its centennial year.

Mr. MORAN of Kansas

Mr. MORAN of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, as Chairman of the Subcommittee on Health of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, today I and Ranking Democratic Member, Mr. Filner of California, introduce a bill to authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to complete ten construction projects to improve, renovate, and update Veterans Affairs medical centers across the country. These older VA medical centers are in dire need of repair, and our veterans need and deserve quality health care in modern, well maintained, and safe buildings. The Veterans' Major Medical Facilities Construction Act is an important step that would provide authority to the Secretary to move forward on VA's highest construction priorities without further delay. The bill authorizes appropriations for each project, and limits each project to not exceed the level authorized. The total amount authorized for these projects is $285 million. The House VA Health Subcommittee will hold a hearing on this proposal on April 24th. The VA medical facilities receiving seismic upgrades and corrections or seismic bracing and anchorage of non-structural items include facilities in Palo Alto, San Francisco, West Los Angeles, Long Beach, and San Diego, California. These upgrades will bring each facility into conformance with current VA seismic standards. Completion of these construction projects will eliminate significant safety risks. Cleveland, Ohio's VA medical facility's mechanical and electrical systems will be replaced. Installed in 1961, they are in dire need of attention. Anchorage, Alaska's project involves the construction of a new combined Veterans Affairs Department of Defense facility, which will help address the workload and provide space for additional personnel. This project reflects our interest in having these two departments share health resources under Public Law 97-174, the Veterans Administration and Department of Defense Health Resources Sharing and Emergency Operations Act. The VA Medical Center in West Haven, Connecticut will see a variety of improvements: renovations to inpatient wards to correct patient privacy inadequacies, consolidation of support services, and corrections to deficiencies in air quality, ADA accessibility, and the general safety of patients and staff. The construction project for the VA medical facility in Tampa, Florida will relocate three Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) inpatient wards and ancillary support functions to the new SCI building just dedicated in February 2002. This will allow for more space and further expansion of the facility. The authorization level of $285 million is included in the resolution on the budget approved by the House on March 20, 2002. Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased and encouraged that the budget resolution the House approved included the funding necessary for this bill. I especially want to thank the Budget Committee Chairman, Mr. Nussle, and the Ranking Member, Mr. Spratt, for their understanding and support of these critical construction needs in the Department of Veterans Affairs. Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to cosponsor and favorably consider this measure to improve the hospitals and clinics in which veterans receive their health care. We have no greater responsibility than to ensure VA facilities are safe and up-to-date. This bill will aid us in that effort and I am proud to introduce it and urge its early passage.

Mr. MORAN of Kansas

Mr. MORAN of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the opportunity to address the House this evening in regard to our responsibility as Members of this body to listen to our constituents. It is important that once we listen, that we bring that message back to Washington, to our colleagues here on the House Floor, and to the administration down the street. Mr. Speaker, within the last few weeks I completed my 66th town hall meeting, one in each county of the First Congressional District of Kansas. Unfortunately, Mr. Speaker, there are many challenges that rural America faces as we try to survive today, have a little prosperity, and move our people and our communities to the future. The issues across my State and across rural America continue to be serious; issues related to agriculture. This is another year, Mr. Speaker, in which farm commodity prices remain low. In addition to that, we have, in many places in the country, and including most of Kansas, a very severe drought. So on top of low commodity prices, our farmers face the prospect of poor production. Absent snow falls this winter, absent rainfalls this spring, our ability to put a product into the bin at any price has become very difficult. Our circumstances in agriculture are bleak, remain bleak, and they are the backbone for the economy of places like Kansas, and it is important that we continue our efforts in regard to farm legislation. Our conferees, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Stenholm), the ranking member, and the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Combest), the chairman of the House Committee on Agriculture, continue in almost 24-hour-a-day sessions attempting to negotiate a farm bill. It is important that this work proceed. It is important that there be a return financially to the farmers and ranchers of this country. Our farmers are concerned not only about farm policy, but about the desire for competition within the agribusiness world, the entities which they buy from and sell to, and certainly a desire for open markets, the ability to export their agriculture commodities around the world. So, Mr. Speaker, I hope to raise the awareness of my colleagues from places outside the farm belt of the importance of farm policy, the importance of agriculture and consumption, and the importance of having competition within the agricultural arena. We look forward to meeting the country's energy needs with agriculture, and certainly the opportunities for biodiesel and ethanol remain an important opportunity for our farmers across the grain belt of our country. But in addition to agriculture, we have concerns with our hospitals. Medicare has become a huge factor in whether or not hospital doors remain open, whether or not there are physicians in our communities, and we need to continue to find ways that we can reimburse our health care providers in rural America who are 60, 70, 80 and even 90 percent of the patients that those hospitals treat and that are seen by our physicians are Medicare recipients. In addition, we have issues related to small businesses. How do we keep our businesses on Main Street? Clearly, the tax burden, the rules and regulations that we in Congress and those in administrations, current and past, have placed upon our business community have a huge impact. We do not have more customers everyday who move to our communities for our businesses to sell to, to spread those increasing costs among. So we in Congress have an obligation to oversight, to reign in those rules and regulations that lack common sense and that are not based upon science, because the end result of failing to do so means that the business community in rural America suffers. It is also important for us to have adequate transportation, to make certain that our railroads, our highways, our airports and aviation are functioning, that people who live in rural America have access to the rest of the world. Of course we have concerns about the consequences of losing passenger train service across long distances of our country. I look forward to working with my colleagues in that regard. Finally, I would say education and technology are important to rural America. We need to do our part to make certain that our Federal mandates are paid for. The consequences of our failure to pay for IDEA has a huge effect upon those who try to finance local school districts through the property tax levy. So we have our work cut out for us as we look at educational issues to make sure that what we require, we pay for. It is important for us to make certain that the rural communities and the people who live there are not left behind as the rest of the world accesses technology. It is important to us to have fiberoptics and Internet and broadband services; things that used to have to be done in the city can now be done in rural places across the country. So despite all of our challenges, we know what the issues are. We must work together, rural and urban America, to try to make a difference in the lives of all Americans. But I will tell my colleagues that despite the problems in 66 counties during the last few weeks, I remain optimistic because the people are there to make a difference.

Mr. MORAN of Kansas

Mr. MORAN of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, It is an honor to recognize the 90th anniversary of the Girl Scouts of the United States of America. From March 10 through March 16, 2002, this organization of approximately 3.7 million members celebrated their long and distinguished history. Since the first Girl Scout meeting, on March 12, 1912, the Girl Scouts have successfully embarked upon their mission to help all girls grow physically, mentally and spiritually. This mission has been accomplished by empowering girls to develop their full potential, by relating positively to others, by teaching values that provide a foundation for sound decisionmaking, and by contributing to society. The Girl Scouts are remarkable in their ability to address contemporary issues affecting girls, while at the same time maintaining the core set of values that were adopted nearly a century ago. There are approximately 50,000 Girl Scout members in the State of Kansas. They volunteer their time and energy to make their communities, the State of Kansas, and their Nation a better place. Through the Girl Scouts Program, these girls develop skills and values that will serve them well throughout their lives. We also must not overlook the thousands of adult leaders and parents who volunteer their time to the Girl Scouts. It is the efforts and supervision of these adult leaders that ensure the success of these programs. These leaders provide an important influence upon the lives of young girls--an influence much greater than I will ever possess as their Congressman. I would like to personally recognize: J. Lynn Smith, Executive Director, Flint Hills Council, Emporia; Linda Mills, Executive Director, Sunflower Council, Hays; Susan Kendall, Executive Director, Wheatbelt Council, Hutchinson; Martha Fee, Legislative Volunteer, Wheatbelt Council, Hutchinson; Diane Oakes, Executive Director, Kaw Valley Council, Topeka; Cindy Frank, Executive Director, Golden Plains Council, Wichita; and Cynthia Stein, Board of Directors President, Golden Plains Council, Wichita; Girl Scout leaders who have donated countless hours of service to the Girl Scouts. Thank you for your dedication to improve the lives of the young girls. Once again, congratulations on the 90th anniversary of the Girl Scouts. May you have many more years of success in mentoring our Nation's young women.

Mr. MORAN of Kansas

Mr. MORAN of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, I am here tonight following the 141st anniversary of Kansas' entry into the Union to honor a great Kansan, Mr. Ross Beach. A business leader, philanthropist and lifelong Kansan, Mr. Beach was recognized on January 25 of this year as the Kansan of the Year. There is no one more deserving than Mr. Beach of this recognition. In his lifetime, Mr. Beach has changed the Kansas landscape, helping to make the State an even better place to live. A pioneer and leader in the oil and gas industry, banking, radio and television, his work has brought economic progress and jobs to our State of Kansas. In recognition of this success, Mr. Beach has been inducted into the Kansas Business Hall of Fame. Today he continues to influence Kansas as president of the Kansas Natural Gas Corporation and as chairman of the Douglas County Bank. In my hometown of Hays, where Mr. Beach resides, his generosity has made possible the creation of two of the community's most cherished assets, a world class performing arts center and museum of natural history. The philanthropic works of Mr. Beach and his talented and gracious wife, Marianna, extend far beyond our community of Hays, enhancing the lives of Kansans across our State through the Marianna Kistler Beach Museum of Art at Kansas State University and the Beach Center on Disability at the University of Kansas. These are the gifts that Mr. Beach and Mrs. Beach have made known to our State. Many of his most important acts of generosity have been performed in anonymity. It is with this spirit of commitment to unity and State that Ross Beach has lived his life. Not long after graduating from Kansas State University, he served in World War II as a naval aviator. Since that time Mr. Beach has repeatedly demonstrated his willingness to serve not only through his gifts but also with his time and talents, providing leadership to numerous organizations, including the Kansas 4-H and the Eisenhower Foundation. Mr. Beach has also chaired the Kansas Fish and Game Commission and served as president of the Kansas State Chamber of Commerce. Knowing Ross Beach as a businessman, it is clear to me why he has had such a successful career. Knowing him as a friend, it is no surprise that he has used his success to benefit his fellow Kansans. I commend Ross Beach for his many accomplishments, his philanthropy and his recent and most highly deserved recognition as Kansan of the Year.

Mr. MORAN of Kansas

Mr. MORAN of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to recognize our Nation's heroic men and women who are serving our country, our citizens, in the war on terrorism. Following the unspeakable acts of terror on September 11 of last year, the President admonished our Nation to prepare for a long struggle, a military and moral struggle, against terrorism. On Monday, I witnessed the departure of 25 young men and women reservists of the 388th U.S. Army Reserve unit in my hometown of Hays, Kansas. I watched the sacrifices of these families, of the young children who grabbed their dad's and mom's legs and the tears that are shed for moms and dads and friends and family and neighbors. These loved ones of our community have answered the call to duty, and America's war on terrorism has come home. As we now look at the deployment of thousands of United States military forces in combat and in Afghanistan and elsewhere, we should remember and learn from those who have served us in the past. We have to do the right thing by these soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines, with proper preparation and readiness before they are deployed. I want to try to assure our families, those in Kansas and elsewhere, that we are doing the right thing to ensure the safe return and a healthy life for our servicemen and women. Tomorrow morning, the Committee on Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Health will conduct a hearing to examine preventive procedures in place to protect health care of servicemen and women who have been deployed to Afghanistan. As chairman of this subcommittee, I will ask whether or not the lessons we learned and should have learned from our troop deployments in the Persian Gulf War have been integrated into current deployment procedures of the Departments of Defense and Veterans' Affairs. Has sufficient priority been given to matters of health protection, prevention and monitoring of our troops? Are our troops in Afghanistan deployed with the proper equipment, protective clothing, detection equipment, gas masks to fight a war in which chemical and biological weapons might be used? Are our troops prepared to detect reliably the presence of chemical and biological weapons? Are our troops trained to conduct effective military operations in an environment where chemicals or biological weapons may be used? We will review and hear testimony from the current Department of VA and Defense, and we will hear how we have benefited from the knowledge and gained information from past mistakes. The hearing will ask current and former officials of DOD and VA to review the roles they played in the Gulf War and how policy was formulated to deal with the known risks, as well as to discuss some of the problems later uncovered that were not anticipated in the immediacy of the deployment itself. We will be privileged to have two former United States Senators who conducted reviews and investigations on the Gulf War veterans. We will also hear from advocates of veterans from the Gulf War, who will provide recommendations to ensure the health of today's troops. As a subcommittee with jurisdiction over the VA health care system, and as a Member of Congress with a strong interest in and support of our military, we want this hearing to serve as a public record of our concerns about those being deployed in harm's way on foreign shores today. We must take steps necessary to ensure that these veterans have a healthy life when they return home. I hope tomorrow's hearing will be informative for everyone and will lead us to better solutions for the concerns that arose after Desert Storm, Somalia, Kosovo, Bosnia, and other recent military operations. The active duty and reservists, some 70,180 that have been called to serve in this war on terrorism, whether in Central Asia or elsewhere, will be veterans of the future. It is our responsibility as Members of Congress to help ensure that troop health is maintained and that our veterans return with the greatest possibility of leading a normal healthy life.

Mr. MORAN of Kansas

Mr. MORAN of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, I rise tonight in strong support and admiration of the cosponsors, the lead sponsors of this legislation. There is perhaps no more important issue that we face than the one of health care, certainly in Kansas, with the demographics of an aging population and our desire to make certain that all of our citizens across the country have access to adequate and affordable health care. As I talked to hospital administrators, hospital trustees across the State of Kansas, the greatest concern they have is the lack of health care professionals. At the top of the list is the front line providers of health care service, our nurses. That nursing profession is so important. I recently visited the school of nursing at Emporia State University, where I met with students who wanted to be nurses. I asked them the question, Why do you want to be a nurse? The answers were wonderful. They were about, when I was a young girl my grandmother was ill, and in the hospital the nurse took care of her. I watched how she cared for my grandmother and our family, and all my life I wanted to be a nurse. Today I am in nursing school so I can fulfill that ambition. They were the kind of stories about human care and alleviating human suffering, and it made me very proud to know that there were still people who want to enter a profession to care for others. Unfortunately, we have had a number of nurses retire, we have had a number of nurses change professions, and we have a number of people who still want to meet the needs of other citizens, meet their health care needs. I think it is so appropriate that we step forward tonight to create the incentives and the environment for our schools of nursing and for potential nursing students to fulfill their life ambition to help other people. It is important that we do things in the long run to make the nursing profession one that is rewarding and enjoyable, and we have issues of reimbursement and salaries that come from concerns we all share about Medicare reimbursement to local health care providers. We have certainly bureaucratic and paperwork issues that our nurses face. We want to make certain that our nurses do not spend their days charting results, filling out paperwork, and that they really are involved in patient care. While we work on those more long-term solutions to our health care challenges in our country, we must take the steps forward that this legislation represents in providing an opportunity for young men and women to move forward in their profession, to seek that opportunity to help other people, and to save lives. I strongly support and encourage the enactment of this legislation and again commend our primary sponsors for their help in bringing this very critical issue to us. It is about saving lives, it is about fulfilling lifetime goals, and it is about taking the young person or even the middle-aged or elderly person who wants to change careers or move up the nursing ladder to a different aspect of nursing. So tonight we have that opportunity, and I urge its passage.

Mr. MORAN of Kansas

Mr. MORAN of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Chairman Chris Smith for his leadership this year. Our new Chairman of the Veterans Affairs Committee has served our Veterans well. I am proud of the bill now before the House, H.R. 3447. It is a compromise that was achieved over several months by the House and Senate Veterans Affairs Committees. It contains measures from the health care bill that I introduced earlier this year, H.R. 2792, as well as proposals from a number of Senate bills. This bill will provide veterans greater confidence in their health care system, along with higher accountability for the VA. Important Provisions of this bill: Enables VA nurses to pursue advanced degrees while continuing to care for veterans. This aids recruitment and retention of nurses within the VA health care system, and promotes higher quality of care for veterans. Mandates Saturday premium pay to certain VA patient care staff, such as licensed vocational nurses, pharmacists, and respiratory, physical, and occupational therapists. This provision will ensure that the VA remains competitive with other providers. Requires the VA to develop a nationwide policy on health care staffing to promote safe and high quality care for veterans. Establishes a 12-member National Commission on VA Nursing that would enhance the recruitment and retention of VA nurses and strengthen the nursing profession in the VA and nationwide. Authorizes service dogs to be provided to severely disabled veterans suffering from spinal cord injuries, other mobility diseases, hearing loss or other types of disabilities that having a trained service dog would assist. Modifies VA's system of determining ``ability to pay'' for VA health care services by introducing an index used by the Department of Housing and Urban Development to determine family income thresholds. This would reduce hospital co-payments by 80 percent compared to current law, for near-poor veterans who require acute hospital inpatient care. Strengthens the mandate for the VA to maintain capacity in specialized medical programs for veterans by requiring each network of VA facilities to maintain a proportional share of national capacity in specialized health care programs, guaranteeing that these programs will be there if disabled veterans need them. I am pleased to report that the bill establishes a program of chiropractic services in each network of VA facilities. It authorizes the VA to employ chiropractors as federal employees as well as to contract for these services. Also, it creates a VA advisory committee on chiropractic health care. Thank you Chairman Rockefeller, Senator Specter and Senator Daschle, as well as Mr. Filner and Mr. Evans, who worked with me to achieve this compromise for an effective new program of VA chiropractic health care. Requires VA Secretary to assess special telephone services made available to veterans, such as ``help lines'' and ``hotlines,'' with a report to Congress. Provides authority for Secretary to study, then if found feasible, obtain a personal emergency-notification and response system for service--disabled veterans. Authorizes critically necessary construction project at the Miami, Florida VA Medical Center. In summary, Mr. Speaker, this bill will improve veterans' health care programs as well as assist the VA's health care personnel to provide quality care to our nation's veterans, especially those most seriously disabled and least able to help themselves. Veterans of our armed forces deserve a dependable and innovative system of health care and benefits. This bill increases our ability to meet the needs of veterans, who have sacrificed to meet ours. I am proud to be an original cosponsor of the Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Enhancement Act of 2001, and I want to thank the other Members and staff who have worked hard to finish this bill in the first session of this Congress. I particularly want to recognize my friend, Mr. Filner of California, and Susan Edgerton and John Bradley, our Staff Directors of the Health Subcommittee, as well as Bill Cahill and Kim Lipsky, professional staff members of the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs. These and other staff have worked closely with us to achieve this legislation on behalf of America's veterans.

Mr. MORAN of Kansas

Mr. MORAN of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, local commodity prices are becoming an everyday story for Kansas farmers and ranchers. Last week was no exception, with headlines like ``October Farm Prices Show an Abrupt Drop'' and ``Farm-Price Index Suffers the Biggest Drop on Record.'' Last Wednesday, data showed that farmers' prices were reduced the largest amount in 1 month, 9.5 percent. The decline between September and October is the sharpest month-to-month price drop in 91 years, since USDA began recording farm prices in 1910. The corn price, $1.79 for October, was down 12 cents from September. Twelve cents may not sound like much, but for the State of Kansas, that is a loss of $50 million to the State's economy. Soybean prices plunged 43 cents to $4.10 cents a bushel, 35 cents below the price just 1 year ago. For the average Kansas farmer who plants about 150 acres of soybeans, that is a 1-month loss of about $1,500 on his or her fall harvest. Farmers know that grain prices always drop around harvest time, but even the Department of Agriculture admitted last week that ``the breadth of this downturn is unanticipated.'' Grain producers were not the only ones affected. The index of meat prices fell 4.2 percent, hog prices at $41 per hundredweight declined $4.10, and cattle prices fell to $67.50, down $1.50. The news of this dramatic price drop is bad not only for agricultural producers, but for all of us who depend upon American agriculture for the security of our food supply. However, to farmers whose grain incomes have grown steadily smaller, it is no surprise, nor is it a surprise when the price continues to drop. More headlines just from yesterday tell that story: ``Wheat Export Commitments Second Lowest on Record,'' ``Corn Sales Lagging.'' Our farmers want to be able to continue feeding our Nation and others around the globe with the safest, most abundant food supply in the world, but with record low prices and trade barriers hindering the export market, times are tough in agriculture country. My farmers tell me that they want to get their income from the market to raise prices through increased exports to willing consumers in nations around the globe, yet political barriers distort international trade. And so our farmers need short-term assistance just to continue farming and to pass the family farm to their sons and daughters. The House has acted to assist farmers by passing the Farm Security Act last month. Now it is up to the U.S. Senate to realize the need for legislation. Last Thursday, the Secretary of Agriculture stated that she was pleased by the newly developed Senate plans to proceed with a farm bill this session. That statement was followed by the President's announcement Friday of his appointment of a new special assistant for ag trade and food assistance. The President said that he is not opposed to signing a farm bill into law this year, and the addition to the administration's agriculture team is a positive step to further coordinate farm bill efforts between Congress and the White House. I am encouraged to once again hear the administration's commitment to farm policy, and I am glad to see the Senate Committee on Agriculture responding by beginning to mark up their version of a farm bill. I look forward to working together on farmers' priorities: caring for the environment, a farm income safety net, and greater trading opportunities. With the tragic events of September 11, the battle against terrorism is continuing. Our Nation has many vital defense priorities right now both at home and abroad. However, food security is one of the most important elements of homeland security, and we must not overlook our Nation's farmers before this session ends. Farmers are counting on us to deliver the promise of a farm bill, and with all that they do every day to provide us with food, clothing, and shelter, we must not let them down.

Mr. MORAN of Kansas

Mr. MORAN of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, today marks the last day, this last day of October, as the last day of the month for national domestic violence awareness. Though society has made great strides in bringing attention to the crime of domestic violence, over 4 million individuals of this country continue to find themselves victims of physical, psychological and sexual abuse. While our Nation's attention is currently occupied by security threats both here and abroad, domestic violence is an issue that this country must continue to address. Domestic violence rarely makes the headlines, primarily because most of the abuse occurs behind closed doors. In most instances, the victim knows the attacker. Over 50 percent of the victims are battered by a boy or girlfriend. Over 30 percent are assaulted by spouses, and around 15 percent are attacked by ex-spouses. Many victims are reluctant to report these incidents to anyone because of fear of reprisal. There are many theories to explain why individuals use violence against their partners. Some explanations include dysfunctional families, inadequate communication skills, stress, chemical dependency and economic hardship. Though these issues may be associated with battering, they are not the causes, and merely removing these factors will not end domestic violence. Batterers begin and continue to have abusive behavior because violence is an effective method of gaining and keeping control over another person. The abuser usually does not suffer adverse consequences as a result of this behavior. Historically, violence against women has not been treated as a real crime but rather a private matter between domestic partners. The consequences for domestic violence are often less severe than the penalties for other criminal forms of abuse. Society tends to misplace the blame for continued abuse, focusing on the victim and criticizing him or her for not leaving the abuser. In many cases women simply do not have physical or financial resources to get out of the relationship. Risks of retaliatory abuse and injury are also factors in staying. Every year, domestic violence results in approximately 100,000 days of hospitalization and over 28,000 visits to emergency rooms. In these cases, major medical treatment is often required. Fear of death is another consideration. The possibility of being murdered by an abuser increases to 75 percent if the woman attempts to leave on her own. For these reasons, outside support networks and services are vital. Yet these resources are often limited. The lack of resources and shelters are a particular problem in rural areas. In my 66-county district, there are only nine domestic violence and sexual assault shelters. For many women in central and western Kansas, the distance to the closest shelter may be hundreds of miles away. In Kansas, one domestic violence murder occurs 55 minutes and 48 seconds. Proximity to a safe facility can mean the difference between life and death. Ensuring safe havens for women who leave abusive environments is a priority. Most domestic violence centers rely primarily on grants and local donations. Federal grants made under the Violence Against Women Act provided essential funds for shelter operation and support service. That program has been credited with substantially reducing the levels of violence committed against women and children. We must continue to ensure that our shelters and crisis centers receive adequate funding. As National Domestic Violence Awareness Month draws to a close, we are reminded that domestic violence is an issue that must be addressed all year long. Only through funding, education and support can America hope to end this terrible crime.

Mr. MORAN of Kansas

Mr. MORAN of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, on August 2 of this year, I introduced along with the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith) and the gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Simmons) the Disabled Veterans Service Dog and Health Care Improvement Act of 2001. Numerous provisions in this bill will help disabled veterans become more self-sufficient in their daily activities and make other numerous improvements to the VA health care system. Mr. Speaker, in light of today's world events and in light of the activities that occurred on September 11, I am reminded of the testimony of one of the witnesses before our committee in which she quoted the first President of the United States, General George Washington: ``The willingness of future generations to serve in our military will be directly dependent upon how we have treated those who have served it in the past.'' And so today with the world events unfolding and with our service men and women facing harm and danger, I rise to support legislation that will make improvements on the health care delivery system for those men and women of our country who have served our Nation and its military in the past. I regret that the chairman of our committee, the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith), could not be with us this afternoon. He is on his way returning from his district. He has been delayed in transit. He represents an area of New Jersey that includes Trenton, an area that has recently seen postal workers exposed to anthrax and he has been in his district this weekend and today trying to ensure that the response of the Federal Government is appropriate and coordinated with the State and local responses, and so I tip my hat to the gentleman from New Jersey and regret his absence but commend him for his diligence in taking care of his constituents in these very uncertain times. Mr. Speaker, the measure, H.R. 2792, would accomplish the following improvements in regard to health care delivery for our Nation's veterans. First of all, as the title indicates, it provides service dogs to enrolled veterans who need these dogs because of mobility, hearing loss or other problems susceptible to improvement with a service dog. This bill also strengthens the capacity in that it mandates the VA to maintain capacity in specialized medical programs for the most seriously disabled veterans in each VA network, and, in part because of this provision, has received the strong endorsement of the Paralyzed Veterans of America. This capacity issue deals with care for serious mental illness, spinal cord injury and dysfunction, blind rehabilitation and veterans suffering from traumatic brain injuries. This bill also provides an opportunity to modify the VA's means test, the system of determining nonservice connected veterans' ability to pay for VA health care services, by producing a fairer means test for veterans across the country. This bill requires the Secretary of the Department to assess special telephone services made available to veterans such as help lines and hotlines and report to Congress. I would like to thank my friend and colleague the gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Capps) for providing us with the necessary input to include this kind of provision. We hope to work with the gentlewoman from California throughout the remainder of the year and into the future as the results of this study become known. This legislation directs implementation, Mr. Speaker, of the Chiropractic Service Program that was mandated by this Congress in 1999 in the Millennium Health Care Act, and provides that the chiropractic provisions be implemented nationwide over a 5-year period. Veterans would have direct access to chiropractic care. The role of a chiropractor in the VA would be as a first entry provider, limited to diagnosis and treatment of problems of the lower spine, in consonance with State laws governing the practice of chiropractic. Other problems of diagnosis and treatment encountered by VA chiropractors would be referred to specialists within the VA. I am pleased to be a sponsor of this long overdue measure that affords chiropractic care to America's veterans. I would like to take this opportunity to commend the full committee ranking member, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Evans), and the ranking member of the Subcommittee on Health, the gentleman from California (Mr. Filner), for their legislative efforts in regard to this issue. This issue is before us after several years of hard work and failure of the VA to make any progress following the passage of the Millennium Health Care Act of 1999. This bill also recognizes the need to sustain a dependable source of nursing staff for our VA health care system. It establishes an independent National Commission on VA Nursing to report to Congress its recommendations to ensure that the veterans health care programs have a sufficient supply of professional nurses in the future. Finally, the bill requires a study of an emergency response communications system for service-disabled veterans. The study is to determine the feasibility of providing enrolled, service-connected veterans emergency notification capacity that connects them with the global positioning system. I look forward to the results of receiving this study. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2792, the Disabled Veterans Service Dog and Health Care Improvement Act of 2001, makes important improvements in veterans health care, and I hope my colleagues will join me in supporting this legislation. I again thank the gentleman from New Jersey (Chairman Smith); the ranking member, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Evans); and the ranking member of the Subcommittee on Health, the gentleman from California (Mr. Filner), for their work and efforts in making changes to this bill and bringing it to this point on the House floor today for final passage. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. MORAN of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2792) to amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to make service dogs available to disabled veterans and to make various other improvements in health care benefits provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. MORAN of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 2792, as amended.

Mr. MORAN of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time. General Leave

Mr. MORAN of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I again thank my colleague from Illinois for his efforts today and appreciate his remarks. I remind my colleagues that a week ago we were also on this House floor adopting legislation dealing with the homeless issue and our veterans. Again the leadership of the gentleman from New Jersey (Chairman Smith) and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Evans) brought that bill to the floor. So, for a second effort today, we are attempting to make full our commitment to our nation's servicemen and women as they have retired and become veterans.

Mr. MORAN of Kansas

Mr. MORAN of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, the homeless assistance bill before the House today is a bipartisan product. The Committee has combined the best elements of the Chairman's bill, H.R. 2716, the Homeless Veterans Assistance Act of 2001, with those of Mr. Evans' bill, H.R. 936, and I believe our efforts will make a major impact in stemming homelessness in the veteran population. This legislation incorporates accountability, innovation, prevention, and funding programs that work to reduce homelessness. I believe these are the right tools, and this is the right moment, for us to make a concerted effort to help our homeless veterans. I want to thank Mr. Filner and Mr. Evans for their excellent work to bring this consensus bill to the House floor today. I congratulate the Chairman of our full Committee, Ranking Member Evans and other Members who have worked on this bill for their substantial contribution to an effort to finally solve this vexing problem. The latest count of homeless veterans totals over 225,000. Those of us who are comfortable in our lives have no idea how horrible these veterans lives are. Access to VA benefits, specialized services and effective outreach are vital components to any hope these individuals have in changing their lives. This bill can help our country's veterans return to a state of self- sufficiency, accountable for their own actions, with life skills to cope. Our goal is to eliminate chronic homelessness among veterans within ten years. By voting for this bill we take the first step in obtaining our goal of reducing our homeless veteran population. Also, some of our efforts may serve as models for homeless assistance programs for others. Mr. Speaker, our veterans cannot wait any longer for us to take action on this problem. Homeless veterans need assistance today; they need our help. Please support this measure.

Mr. MORAN of Kansas

Mr. MORAN of Kansas. Mr. Chairman, I rise today to support H.R. 2646, the Farm Security Act of 2001. Today's farm bill is the result of two years' work by Chairman Combest and Ranking Member Stenholm. On September 18, 1999, eight other members of the House Agriculture Committee, Republicans and Democrats, came to Hutchinson, Kansas for a field hearing on the State of the Farm Economy. The hearing came at a time when Congress was poised to act on its second emergency assistance bill in as many years. With the passage of a disaster package in October of 1998, the Chairman of the committee saw it appropriate to come to Kansas the next year and begin to hear from farmers and ranchers on suggested changes for farm programs. For the next two years, farmers continued to struggle, and Congress continued to respond with additional emergency spending bills to help producers cope with the sustained period of depressed commodity prices. During this time, the House Agriculture Committee was not satisfied with simply passing disaster bills with no end in sight. The Chairman of the Committee took the lead in getting new ideas from farmers, ranchers, economists, and other policy experts concerned about U.S. agriculture. Now, over two years and 40 hearings later, we are here to consider the House version of a new farm bill, H.R. 2646--the Farm Security Act. The bill before the House today represents a bipartisan compromise, worked through the full committee process. The concepts of the bill were initially released as a draft for members and producers to comment on the proposal. Legislation was drafted, a two-day mark-up was held, and on August 2nd, the Farm Security Act was reported favorably by voice vote of the full House Agriculture Committee.

Mr. MORAN of Kansas

Mr. MORAN of Kansas. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the requisite number of words. I rise to oppose, strenuously oppose the amendment that is being offered here today. The House Committee on Agriculture has spent months, years now, beginning in Kansas at the Kansas State Fair 2 years ago September, taking input from farmers about what we can do to address the crisis that we face in agriculture. That crisis is real. We face the circumstances in which the farmers of this country will not be farming. The economic conditions that American farmers and ranchers face are serious and getting worse. My farmers talk about what they do to serve to the next week, to the next month, to the next year. They talk about if things get any worse they have no option but to sell the farm and move to town. The average age of a farmer in Kansas is 58\1/2\ years old. There is no next generation waiting to take over the farm because there is no profitability in agriculture, and the idea that we can remedy this situation by putting more money elsewhere than into farmers' income is terribly, terribly flawed. There will be no farmers as stewards of the land absent an income in which to continue farming. What do we expect ourselves to do when the farmers are no longer on the land? Do we expect us to hire government employees to go out and manage the land so that they can perform conservation practices that our farmers are practicing today? I care greatly about the use of land, about water quality, about water quantity. There is no greater conservation environmental issue in the State of Kansas than the quality of water, and if we have a future in the State of Kansas, it is because we have a clean and adequate water supply. I am proud of the efforts of the House Committee on Agriculture to address conservation environmental issues. We have spent a lot of time and a lot of effort taking a lot of input. Our ability to have the people necessary to be in the fields performing conservation practices is gone, absent the kind of assistance in the commodity title of this farm bill. The reality is that life on the farm is tough. It is getting tougher, and if we care about conservation, if we care about the environment, we will make certain that those farmers and ranchers are there and we will oppose the amendment offered by the gentleman from New York (Mr. Boehlert). We need the assistance or we are going to have larger and larger farms. The gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Berry) is absolutely right, if we want to see greater concentration in agriculture, put our farmers out of business and then only those who are large will be left. This issue is at the core of whether or not we care about America, and especially whether or not we care about rural America and if we want children in the schools across the State of Kansas and across rural areas of the country and if we want people shopping on Main Street, the critical issue we face is whether or not our farm families can make ends meet, and they are not doing it today, and they will not be helped with the passage of this amendment. I urge my colleagues to oppose it.

Mr. MORAN of Kansas

Mr. MORAN of Kansas. Mr. Chairman, I thank the chairman for yielding me time. I appreciate the leadership of both gentlemen from Texas (Mr. Combest, Mr. Stenholm) on this very important issue. I am here today in part because I care about farmers and ranchers. But the reason I care about farmers and ranchers is because I care about America and I care especially about rural America. What we do today will affect the outcome of whether or not those farmers and ranchers are in business next week, next month, next year and for the next generation. If Members care about America, they have to care about rural America as well. The average age of a farmer in Kansas is 58 years old. I have talked to many young farmers, sons of farmers who want to come back to the family farm, but because of the economy, it is simply not possible. There has not been profitability in agriculture for so long that we do not have anyone stepping forward to replace this generation of farmers and ranchers in our country. What that means, in much of America is there are fewer kids in school, there are fewer shoppers on main street and our rural communities continue to see a demise in their way of life. It is that way of life, it is farming and ranching and that rural way of life throughout our history that has enabled us to pass character and values from one generation to the next. In very few places in America today do sons and daughters work side by side with moms and dads and with their grandparents. The history of our country, the heritage of our Nation, was built around the opportunity for that family farming operation, not only to provide food and fiber to the world, but to provide character and judgment and values to children and grandchildren. So when I talk about the importance of agriculture and farming and ranching in this country, it is important to me that farmers and ranchers have an economic viability, but it is important to me that that way of life that they represent, that they exhibit, is preserved for another generation. Economic times in agriculture are tough. It is the fourth year in which the economy has declined. The headline in one of my local papers this week, ``Kansas Farm Income Falls 38.9 Percent.'' Net farm income in Kansas last year without government assistance would have been a loss of $6,417. These issues matter to whether or not our farmers and ranchers can survive with low commodity prices and terribly high input costs, fuel and fertilizer. It is about farms and family farms and it is about the communities that they live, shop and send their kids to school in. This issue is one of many that is important to rural America. We care about health care and its delivery in rural America. We care about access to technology. We care about small business. Certainly we care about education. Those issues are important, but we have to have the economic base in our part of the world, in our part of the country that can support those services. It seems to me in agriculture it is important to talk about a farm bill and farm policy, but we also have issues before us related to trade and exports. Grain and agriculture commodities must be consumed. We can have low prices and high prices for farm commodities in every farm bill. The ultimate goal must be to export and to consume grain around the world and domestically in a way that provides profitability to agriculture. But we face tremendous obstacles as we compete in the world. One of the realizations that I have come to over the last several years is that the rest of the world does not play by the same rules we do. So when we talk about assistance to agriculture and, yes, it is lots of dollars, it is a lot fewer dollars than what the other countries, what the European community, what Japan, what Korea, what other countries in the world provide in assistance to their farmers, because they understand the importance of agriculture, they understand the importance of providing food and fiber not only to their own citizens but exporting around the world. Look at the charts. When you look at export assistance, we provide a very small sliver in support of agriculture and exports around the world. The rest of the countries, in fact, the European community is 83, 84 percent. Ours is 2\1/2\ percent, and yet we tell our farmers to compete in the world, to farm the markets. So we need to not only address farm policy, but we have to come back and address issues of trade, of exports, of sanctions, of our inability to export agricultural products around the world, and to make certain that we find new and better uses of agriculture products at home. Finally, we need to make certain that we do the things necessary to make certain that agriculture has competition. I am all for the free enterprise system, but we need to make certain that our farmers are not caught in the squeeze, as everybody they buy from and everybody they sell to gets larger and larger. Mr. Chairman, I support the bill. I urge my colleagues to pass it. I thank the chairman for the opportunity to address this important issue today.