Jerry Moran

Mr. MORAN of Kansas

Mr. MORAN of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, as Chairman of the Veterans Subcommittee on Health I am introducing the ``Veterans Service Dogs & Health Care Improvement Act of 2001.'' This legislation improves veterans' health care services in several important ways. It allows the VA to provide service dogs to disabled veterans. It mandates improvement in VA capacity for specialized medical programs for veterans, such as serious mental illness, spinal cord injury, blindness, amputees and traumatic brain injuries. It modifies the VA's ``ability to pay'' formula so that low-income veterans can receive the care they need. Finally, the bill establishes innovative pilot programs to help us learn how we can improve veterans' benefits in the future. We all know that dog is man's best friend, but for many disabled veterans, a dog is much more than a friend. Service dogs can greatly enhance the quality of life for many seriously disabled veterans. This bill authorizes the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide enrolled veterans with spinal cord injuries, immobility due to chronic impairment and hearing impairment to use service dogs in day-today activities. Training, travel, and incidental expenses incurred while adjusting to the dog may also be paid. This bill also seeks to strengthen mandates for VA to maintain capacity in specialized medical programs, such as serious mental illness, spinal cord injury, blinded veterans, veterans with amputations and veterans suffering from traumatic brain injuries, in each VISN. Although overall capacity has increased in the VA, there has been a decrease in the number of veterans with substance-use and mental illness served in specialized programs. With over 225,000 homeless veterans currently living on our streets, we cannot allow this to continue. Only 11 of 25 spinal cord injury facilities are providing the number of staffed beds specified by a VHA Directive. We must extend the reporting requirement to ensure VA is doing what was directed to care for our at-risk veteran population. Beyond the VHA Directive regarding capacity, this bill seeks to modify the current VA means-test threshold. For about fifteen years, the VA has determined a nonservice-connected veteran's ability to pay by comparing a veteran's income to a predetermined ``means-test threshold.'' The threshold, expressed in annual household income, is an assumed income level that would be sufficient to a veteran to pay for health care in the community. If a veteran's income is below the ``ability to pay'' threshold, (currently $23,688 for a single veteran without dependents) he or she is eligible for VA care, and permits the veteran to avoid the co-payments charged to higher-income veterans for VA health care services. VA's one national standard income threshold has been criticized for years because of the disparities in living costs throughout the country. The Department of Housing and Urban Development employs a system of ascertaining poverty levels for subsidized housing that is much more reflective of the cost of living around the country than the VA's means test. The Chairman of the Full Committee and I believe the HUD index should be used by VA to better reflect differences in economic factors. Another provision of this bill explores improved coordination of VA ambulatory and community hospital care. This calls for a 4-year, 4-site pilot project in which the VA refers enrolled veterans to local community hospitals rather than transporting them to an urban VA facility hours away. This is one more way the VA can work to bring VA services closer to the veterans they serve. Another pilot program proposed in this bill is a 4-year, 4-VISN program for managed care through an outside contractor in VA's $500 million fee-basis and contract hospitalization program. A contractor would provide resource information and referral services to eligible veterans, RN staffed advice lines, coordination with assigned VA case managers, and a variety of reports and data on utilization, satisfaction, quality, access, and outcomes. This program provides care to service-connected veterans whose places of residence or health conditions prevents them to be geographically accessible to VA facilities, or available VA facilities cannot furnish the care or services required. This would also provide health care for life threatening emergencies when no VA facility is available. Mr. Speaker, this bill makes important improvements in our veterans health care system. When Congress returns from the August break, the Subcommittee will consider this important legislation. I urge the members to support the bill on behalf of veterans.

Mr. MORAN of Kansas

Mr. MORAN of Kansas. I yield to the gentleman from New York.

Mr. MORAN of Kansas. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word. Mr. Chairman, I would like to join my colleague from New Jersey, my chairman. I chair the Subcommittee on Health for the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. I too would like to commend the gentleman from New York and the ranking member of this committee for their support of veterans issues and particularly for improving the access veterans can have to health care across the country. But I would also like to come here this afternoon and thank my chairman for working on another issue and it is one that is very important to a community of mine back home, Hutchinson, Kansas. Hutchinson is a community of just over 40,000 people. On January 17 of this year, the city experienced a series of explosions caused by natural gas that leaked into abandoned salt mines that migrated under the community. People in Hutchinson woke up that day to headlines and photographs demonstrating a major occurrence had occurred in this small town. Explosions rocked the community for the next 2 days, and fires continued to burn for the next 5 months. The explosions leveled two downtown buildings, destroyed homes, hundreds of people were forced to relocate, move their home and businesses, and tragically two people died as a result of injuries sustained from this occurrence. Just 2 weeks ago, another gas explosion occurred causing more damage to the community, both physically and emotionally. Hutchinson has a long history of salt production, resulting in hundreds of abandoned mines underneath the city and the surrounding region. In order to ensure that no natural gas further escapes and ignition occurs from these mines, each must be located and properly capped to ensure safety. Addressing this situation is vitally important to this community and its future. It is an important priority for our country. Even President Bush mentioned in his energy strategy this tragedy. I have requested assistance from the chairman. This is the first time I have come to the gentleman from New York asking for assistance in this manner. I was anticipating being intimidated by the gentleman. He met me with sympathy and empathy. I am very grateful for that kind of response. I appreciate the gentleman indicating his willingness to assist and provide support as this bill goes to a House-Senate conference.

Mr. MORAN of Kansas

Mr. MORAN of Kansas. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding time to me. I am somewhat surprised by my presence today on the House floor. It was a year ago this month in which we addressed the issue of Cuba and the opportunity to sell agricultural commodities, food, and medicine to that country. By an overwhelming vote of both parties in this House, this amendment was passed. Ultimately, through a long process, that amendment is being implemented, and rules and regulations have been announced by the Department of Treasury for us to comment on, and the opportunity for that trade, at least in theory, is now taking place. In that same time frame, an amendment was offered to do what the gentleman from Arizona attempts to accomplish today, and by a vote of 232 to 186 we all agreed that travel to Cuba should be allowed. Yet that part of the day's activities a year ago remains to be implemented. So I rise today to support the gentleman from Arizona in his effort to open the opportunity. My interest in this topic began really in a selfish way, in trying to find a way to create additional markets for the farmers of my State, a place to export their agriculture commodities. But as I addressed and concerned myself with this issue, it became clear to me that this is something more than just about the self-interest of trade and exports of agriculture commodities to Cuba. It is about Cuban people. It is about freedom. It is about democracy. This is about the opportunity of changing a way of life. In Kansas, we will try something once. If it fails, we very well may try it again, but if it fails a second time, we are going to be a little more skeptical. Maybe by the third time after failure we will decide to try something new. For 42 years we have tried to change the government of Cuba, and we have failed. It is time for us to try something different that actually may work. It is time for a change. So Kansans with their common sense would say, okay, we tried, it does not work. Is there not something else we can do? All of us want to change. Everyone that I have heard speak today wants to change the behavior of the government in Cuba. The question is, how we do it? What we have done does not work. I rise in support of the substitute offered by the gentleman from Arizona. Secretary of State Colin Powell said that we will participate in activities with Cuba that benefit the people. I have now met with the dissidents of Cuba who say that this is the right policy and that we can change the behavior of the country for the benefit of the Cuban people. I ask that we try something new today.

Mr. MORAN of Kansas

Mr. MORAN of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge an error I made earlier today in voting for the previous question motion on the Treasury, Postal Appropriations bill. As is customary on such procedural motions I voted ``aye.'' Had I been aware of the implications of the vote, I would have voted ``no.'' I have been and continue to be an opponent of Congressional pay raises. Fiscal discipline must start with our elected officials. My constituents don't get a cost of living increase every year and neither should we. Had I known the previous question vote would be construed as having anything to do with a congressional COLA, I would have opposed it. Not only do I oppose the pay raise itself, but I strongly oppose the manner in which this issue is handled. We ought to have a clear ``yes'' or ``no'' vote on the pay raise and let the chips fall where they may. When given the opportunity to vote on the pay raise directly, I have always voted ``no.'' If others feel differently, let them cast their vote in the light of day and explain it to their constituents. To disguise an issue as important as a congressional pay raise inside a procedural motion is less than honest. Such gimmicks further erode this institution's credibility and member integrity. It is my responsibility to know all the implications of the motions and bills that I vote on. My constituents deserve my attention on each and every vote. One the issue of a congressional pay raise, the American people deserve better from all of us.

Mr. MORAN of Kansas

Mr. MORAN of Kansas. Mr. Chairman, I rise today to speak in favor of the Small Business Administration 7a Loan program. Currently, 40% of all long term business loans of $1 million or less through private sector lenders have SBA involvement. Because of inadequate federal resources, SBA has had to rely on increased user fees. This results in higher costs and many lenders quit providing SBA loans because they are not profitable. This often means that small business are denied long term credit. Over the last eight years, over 5,500 small business loans were made in the state of Kansas. If SBA had not been available to finance these loans, most would not have been made. Small businesses are vital to the small communities in my district. Without the availability of these long term loans, many small business would never get off the ground. If SBA must continue to rely on user fees to fund SBA, the future of small businesses will be jeopardized. I urge my colleagues to support increasing SBA funding under the Commerce, Justice, State Appropriation bill.

Mr. MORAN of Kansas

Mr. MORAN of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, I rise this evening in honor of one of my constituents, Maisie DeVore, of Eskridge, Kansas. Her story, that I want to describe here in a few moments, demonstrates what one determined person can do to make a difference in the lives of others and in the life of her community. Maisie DeVore is 82 years old. Thirty years ago, Maisie decided that her community of Eskridge, population 530, needed a swimming pool; and she set about raising the funds to build one. Over the course of 3 decades, Maisie earned a few dollars at a time by collecting aluminum cans, selling homemade jelly, and auctioning off her homemade afghans. Over the years, Maisie's hard work earned her more than $100,000, which, coupled with a $73,000 granted from the State of Kansas, provided the funds necessary to make her vision a reality. The Eskridge Community Pool officially opened this past Saturday, July 14, 2001. Maisie was telling me this past Saturday that when she started this project, her kids were 7 and 12. They are now adults living in another community; but, still, the pool was opened. Fittingly, Maisie was the first person in the pool. She was soon followed by about 50 of the younger residents of Eskridge. I was fortunate to be in Eskridge to share this city-wide celebration that was declared Maisie DeVore Day. At the completion of her many years of work, Maisie's accomplishment has drawn the attention of State and national media and will be featured this Sunday on the CBS Sunday Morning Show. Maisie's commitment to the welfare of her community and neighbors is a great example of service and leadership. More than the accomplishment of a personal goal, Maisie's success is a uniting theme for an entire community. Her story demonstrates that one individual, one individual, can bring a community together and truly make a difference in the lives of others. The completion of this project marks a major achievement for Maisie DeVore and for the community of Eskridge. This facility promises to be a tremendous asset and a source of pride for this small community. This story is about small-town America and what the life of one individual can do to benefit his or her neighbors. So I rise tonight on the floor of the House of Representatives to commend Maisie DeVore for her unending work, her vision, and her completion of this community project. I salute Maisie DeVore and the community of Eskridge.

Mr. MORAN of Kansas

Mr. MORAN of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, the House this week begins debate on campaign finance reform. This debate is important for a number of reasons. We need to end the practice of unlimited soft money contributions from corporations and labor unions. We need to improve disclosure requirements so that ordinary citizens know who is paying for campaigns. Most importantly, we need to restore people's confidence that their elected officials are looking out for their interests. In previous debates on campaign finance reform, I have supported a ban of soft money. These unregulated, unlimited contributions have cast a shadow of impropriety over electioneering efforts by both political parties. Soft money circumvents current campaign finance laws which prohibit corporate contributions to federal campaigns and limit how much an individual can contribute. Banning soft money would eliminate the largest source of questionable campaign money in elections and would help repair Congress's tarnished public image. Another key principle of campaign finance reform is improved disclosure. Voters have a right to know who is contributing to campaigns, how much and when. They also have a right to know who is paying for advertising and other political activities on behalf of or in opposition to candidates. Armed with this information, voters are more than capable of judging who is representing them and who is representing special interest contributors. Reform legislation should strengthen disclosure requirements and improve electronic access to campaign finance information. While I strongly support reforming our campaign finance laws, I do not support taxpayer financing of federal elections. Nor do I support proposals that infringe on the free speech rights of individuals or groups. The freedom to support or oppose candidates is fundamental to the American system of government. Public financing forces citizens to support with their tax dollars candidates they oppose at the ballot box. Similarly, it is wrong to prohibit citizens from using their own resources to advocate the election or defeat of a candidate. We need to ensure that we do not use the banner of reform to silence the voices of those who oppose us. I will work to pass and send to President Bush a campaign finance reform bill that accomplishes true reform while protecting the rights of all citizens to participate in our democracy.

Mr. MORAN of Kansas

Mr. MORAN of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from Maryland (Mrs. Morella) for yielding me the time. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of this legislation that would establish a commission to recognize the 50th anniversary of Brown v. Topeka Board of Education. As we approach this 50th anniversary, which will occur on May 17 of 2004, it is appropriate that Congress demonstrate its concern for the rights of all Americans through the establishment of a Federal commission to encourage and provide for the commemoration of this historic ruling. It is also appropriate today to recognize one of the leaders of the educational effort that has stemmed from the Brown case. I would like to acknowledge the dedication and hard work of Cheryl Brown Henderson, a Kansan, who brought to my attention the national importance of this 50th anniversary of the court decision. Ms. Henderson has been mentioned as the daughter of Oliver L. Brown, the lead plaintiff in this case; and I commend her for her dedication. I commend her father for his courage. Her commitment to human rights has led to her travels across America sharing the lessons of this and other landmark civil rights cases. My own interest in this historic case began as a student at the University of Kansas. One of my professors, Paul Wilson, was the junior Kansas assistant attorney general assigned to defend Topeka Board of Education. Largely through happenstance, Wilson wound up arguing before the Supreme Court in one of his first cases as an attorney. Each spring for many years, Professor Wilson spoke at a noon forum on his involvement in Brown v. Topeka Board of Education. Each year, the talk grew more and more popular, attracting an ever larger crowd of students. The stories he hold about that experience were fascinating stories of buying his first suit to a trip to Washington, D.C., riding a train for his first time outside the State of Kansas, filling out the paperwork to be admitted to the Supreme Court so he could make his arguments, and how inspiring it felt to watch Thurgood Marshall passionately, yet logically, argue the case, even when Wilson himself was on the other side. Besides preserving his memories of the facts of the Brown case in his classroom speeches, Professor Wilson had a unique perspective to analyze the issues and the impact of that case. Professor Wilson later wrote a book entitled A Time to Lose about his recollections of those times and the politics of that era. In his memoirs, Wilson offers some lessons about the evolution of race relations since that ruling. Wilson states, quote, ``this was the first time segregation was publicly acknowledged as a wrong practice. The decision issued in 1954 caused me, Professor Wilson, and caused America to realize that to argue the policy of separate but equal was to defend the indefensible.'' In the Brown case, the Supreme Court was asked to decide one of the important issues facing our country. It was being asked to reverse a trend of law, because up to that point legal decisions had supported the separate but equal policy. Not until Brown were the traditional notions of segregation challenged in a shift toward the public recognition of human equality and the fundamental worth of every person. The Supreme Court ruling made a monumental impact on human rights struggles worldwide. The laws and policies struck down by this ruling were the products of prejudice and discrimination. Ending the legal practice of these behaviors caused social and ideological implications we continue to feel in our country today. We are fast approaching the watershed of 2004. This commission could impact how people learn about the case and would carry the decision's message into the 21st century. Mr. Speaker, I urge its passage.

Mr. MORAN of Kansas

Mr. MORAN of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding me this time. It is with concern today that I rise on the House floor. This is an important piece of legislation. We have worked hard at making certain that the farmers of Kansas and across the country have access to additional resources this year to tide them over; and yet the actions of our House Committee on Agriculture last week, I think, are inadequate in reaching that goal. I voted against the passage of this bill from the committee, and yet I know it is important for the process to continue. We have hope that additional dollars will be placed in this legislation before this bill returns from the Senate. Two weeks ago I spoke on the House floor about the difficulties facing farmers in my State. I talked about corn prices at $1.89 and gasoline at $1.93. That does not work. Combines and custom cutters are working their way across Kansas now. Wheat prices dropped 25 cents last month; and when I looked at the board this morning, in Dodge City wheat was $2.71, down another 4 cents. Assistance today is important. Many of my farmers will not be able to wait around and see what happens with the farm bill and the improvements that we hope to make in agricultural policy in this Congress unless they have some dollars to tide them over now. The crisis is real, and the consequences of our failure to act are significant. I joined the chairman in supporting an increase for assistance for farmers. Our position failed by one vote, 24 to 23. So even within the House Committee on Agriculture, there is disagreement in the best way to help producers. However, I think now is not the time to hold up this bill over our previous disagreements. It is time for those of us concerned about agriculture and rural America to come together and to work on behalf of our Nation's farmers and ranchers. I look forward to that process continuing, and I look forward to working with my chairman and the ranking member to see that good things happen in Kansas and American agriculture.

Mr. MORAN of Kansas

Mr. MORAN of Kansas. Madam Speaker, on behalf of over 94,101 Kansas youth involved in the 4-H program, I rise today in support of the National 4-H Program Centennial Initiative. 2002 marks the 100th anniversary of 4-H and it is only fitting that today we take action to recognize the important contributions that this organization has made in the development of our youth. In my home state of Kansas, 4-H is the largest youth organization outside of school. Almost 100,000 youth between the ages of 7-19 are involved in 3,065 4-H clubs and groups. 4-H reaches 1 in 7 Kansas youth, helping them develop important life skills such as teamwork, cooperation, time management, and communication. 4-H is a diverse organization, in both its membership and programming. 4-H is traditionally thought of as being targeted to ``farm kids.'' Yet 55% of 4-Her's in Kansas, a very rural state, reside in suburban and urban areas. Of the 6.8 million youth in 4-H nationwide, 30% represent minority racial, cultural, and ethnic populations. In fact, minority youth are the fastest growing segment of 4-H membership. While 4-H has expanded to meet the needs and interests of youth with diverse backgrounds in all types of communities, at the same time it continues to honor its historic connection with America's rural communities. In Kansas, 45% of 4-H participants live on farms or in rural areas. As a member of the Agriculture Committee and the Congressional Rural caucus, I understand and appreciate the leadership and opportunity 4-H has provided to millions of our rural youth over the past century. The purpose of 4-H is illustrated in the 4 H's--head, heart, hands and health--which make up the symbolic 4-H clover. As the pledge states, 4-H does indeed teach youth to think more clearly, to value loyalty, to engage in service, and to follow a healthy lifestyle so that they may become better citizens who will enrich the lives of others and improve our society. The occasion of a centennial is a significant milestone for any organization, and I am proud of the century of service 4-H has given to our nation. I encourage my colleagues to recognize the contributions and value of 4-H youth development by supporting the National 4-H Program Centennial Initiative.

Mr. MORAN of Kansas

Mr. MORAN of Kansas. I thank the gentleman from South Dakota for yielding to me, and I am pleased to participate with my colleagues from Nebraska and South Dakota and Minnesota. And I know there are many other Members of Congress who care deeply about the issues we are attempting to address and to bring to our colleagues and the country's attention this evening. I came to Congress with a goal in mind, and that goal was to do what I could do as one Member of Congress, as one individual, to have a little prosperity in rural America, to have an opportunity for my children to raise their families in rural communities in our State or across the country. So much of what goes on in this body, in this House of Representatives, and goes on here in our Nation's capital, affects whether or not there is prosperity in Kansas and whether or not there is prosperity across the country. It also affects the likelihood that the next generation can enjoy the quality of life that we have enjoyed in my State of Kansas and across the country in rural States around our Nation. So we have our challenges and our tasks before us. It is difficult to meet those challenges. Rural America is suffering. We have heard a lot during my early days in Congress about the booming national economy, and it became clear to me that the folks of my State in agriculture and in the oil and gas industry were financing this booming national economy and that we were left behind. Seems to me that those of us who care about rural America, the tasks before us are related to agriculture and whether or not farmers can break even and can earn a little money and whether or not the next generation of our young people in the farming communities have the opportunity to return to their communities and return to their family farms. It is about small business and whether or not businesses are going to remain on Main Street America across our country. It is about the rules and regulations and taxes and all the requirements and paperwork and bureaucracy that we put in front of businessmen and women and tell them to compete and to survive. And yet in many of the communities I represent, whether or not a grocery store is on Main Street is the main talk of economic development in the community. It is not about whether or not there is a new factory arriving in town but whether or not there is a hardware store and a pharmacy. So much of what we do here increases the cost of being in business, and yet we do not have growing populations such that we can spread those increased costs to meet those rules and regulations and taxes and workers compensation premiums and health care costs among more customers. So it is agriculture, it is small business, it is transportation. How do we make certain we can get from one community to another, that we can get our agricultural products to market? Not too many months ago we received complaints from our constituents about soybeans being imported into the United States from Brazil, from South America. And my constituents, my farmers who grow soybeans, could not understand how can they bring soybeans and soy meal from South America to the United States and sell it in North Carolina cheaper than we can get it there from the middle of the country. The answer was our transportation costs. It was cheaper to put it on a boat from South America and ship it to the United States than it was to put it on a train and move it just halfway across our country. Transportation costs matter to us; and whether or not we have roads and bridges and highways and railroads, and even airports and aviation will affect whether or not rural America remains alive and well. It is about education and technology. I know the gentleman from Nebraska has championed issues related to whether or not we are going to have access to technology in our communities. And awfully important to us is whether or not we have access to health care. Our ability to keep hospital doors open, to keep physicians and nurses and home health care agencies in our communities has a great effect upon whether or not those communities survive. So many of our people living in rural communities are seniors, and they will not be able to take the risk to live in a community where the hospital is not there anymore. Young kids who are just starting their families do not want to raise their children where there are no doctors. So those of us who care about rural America need to make certain that we protect the delivery of health care in rural America. And this issue called Medicare that we deal with in this Congress and in this Nation's capital affects us greatly. So we have our challenges. Tonight we wanted to talk a bit about agriculture. It is clear to me that without prosperity on the farm, there is no prosperity in the communities of Kansas. And that is true whether you live in Topeka, Wichita, or Overland Park, the larger cities of our State, or whether you live in Goodland, Smith Center, or Protection. Agriculture matters, and the future of our economy and our State is determined whether or not our farmers and ranchers are surviving, whether or not they are making ends meet, and whether they have anything left over at the end of the year. I was taken to task by one of my constituents for the amount of time that I spend dealing with agricultural issues, and the thought was the farmers are doing just fine and that I do not need to worry so much or work so hard. The reality is that we have almost no sons, no daughters either staying in our communities or returning to the family farm after going to college. And if there was any prosperity or any money to be made in agriculture, those young men and women would be back on the farm. It is not happening. This is certainly an agricultural week in Congress. The plight of our farmers and our ranchers is not forgotten here. We have, as has been mentioned earlier tonight, addressed an issue of lost payments for market, the low price, what I call disaster assistance. The Committee on Agriculture will have a bill on the House floor tomorrow dealing with this assistance to try to tide the farmers over for a while longer until we can do some other things to keep them in business. Farmers do not want payments from the government; they want to earn their living from the markets. But unfortunately, government puts many stumbling blocks in their way. And as the gentleman from Nebraska said, our competitors, those particularly in the European communities, they are subsidized eight times what we are in the United States. My hands are going up because there is a bar graph in the office which reflects the Europeans subsidize agriculture eight times what we do in the United States. Yet we tell our farmers to farm the markets, to compete in the world. It is not a level playing field at all. A pie chart in my office reflects that 82.5 percent of all subsidies to help export agriculture commodities around the world is provided by the European Community. Our slice of that pie is 2.5 percent. Yet we tell our farmers to compete in the world. Go out and grow the crops, sell them. Yet we have such an unlevel playing field. We have trade embargoes and sanctions against other countries. The farmer did not ask for those; yet because of foreign policy, we conclude we cannot sell wheat or grain or meat products to some country around the world because we do not like their behavior. The reality is we do not change their behavior; we just cause our farmers, our ranchers to lose one more market. It seems to me those of us who care about agriculture have to care about a farm bill and farm policy. That farm bill is going to be discussed, debated and written. This is my first time in Congress in which we have tried to draft a farm bill, and I am looking forward to being fully engaged in that debate. That will take place in the House Committee on Agriculture during the month of July, and we will be back on this House floor with an agricultural bill that will be important to farmers. But we have had low prices in many farm bills, so that is not the total answer. We have issues related to trade and sanctions and exports. These farm commodities must be assumed. We have great concerns about lack of competition in agriculture. Everybody that the farmer buys from and sells to is getting larger and larger, and the farmer feels the squeeze. We need to make sure our antitrust laws are effective and are enforced. So the challenges are there; and yet the reality is that without prosperity in agriculture, there is no prosperity in rural America. We are in the middle of a wheat harvest in Kansas, and it is working its way from south to north. It has been to Texas and Oklahoma, it is now in Kansas working its way into Nebraska and South Dakota. We have lived in Kansas for the last several years with these terribly low commodity prices because we have had good yields. Last year the drought hit Kansas and decimated the soybean crop. This year, in wheat harvests, the number of acres that will be harvested in Kansas is expected to be the lowest number of acres since 1957. So now this year not only will we have terribly low commodity prices but we have no crop to harvest, or a smaller crop to harvest; 56 million bushels less wheat to be harvested in Kansas it is estimated. And although the early harvest reports have been good, we have concerns about kernel bunt and rust. And, unfortunately, as has been mentioned by my colleagues, the increased cost of inputs, particularly fuel and fertilizer, estimated by our Kansas farm management database, is an increase of 33 percent in costs for fuel. So our work is cut out for us. I look forward to working with my colleagues across the country to see that we have disaster assistance, the market loss assistance program tomorrow on the House floor, that it is passed and sent to the Senate and that it is addressed quickly, and that we have an agricultural policy, a farm bill through the Committee on Agriculture later this year. And I agree with the gentleman from Minnesota, it is critical that the Senate join us in addressing this issue. Our farmers and their bankers need to know what farm policy is going to be in this country. This issue is important to me. It is not just whether farmers make a living. This is about a way of life, and it is a way of life that is evaporating in this country. It is about a way of life in which sons and daughters work side by side with moms and dads and grandparents, and where character and values and integrity is passed from one generation to the next. So although tomorrow we will be talking about dollars, what we are really talking about is a way of life, and a way of life that was the history of our Nation. I look forward to joining my colleagues tonight and my colleagues throughout the year and my colleagues across the country to make sure that rural America is not forgotten in the United States House of Representatives. I yield back to the gentleman.

Mr. MORAN of Kansas

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

Mr. MORAN of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, tonight we would like to pay tribute to rural America and to particularly highlight the efforts of the 140-member Congressional Rural Caucus. We have pledged ourselves to having attempts to preserve rural America, and I commend my cochairman of this caucus, the gentlewoman from Missouri (Mrs. Emerson), and the gentlewoman from North Carolina (Mrs. Clayton) for their leadership and dedication to the rural caucus on issues that matter to rural residents across this country. Our job as members of the Congressional Rural Caucus is to promote economic and social policies that support the continued viability of our rural communities. In many instances throughout my State of Kansas our rural communities continue to struggle. We continue to see populations in once-thriving communities decline across the Great Plains. Of 105 Kansas counties, 61 have smaller populations today than in 1900; 82 Kansas counties have lost population since just 10 years ago; and 65 counties are predicted to lose population in the next 10 years. Kansas communities are confronted with serious challenges of prosperity and survival. While working on the farm bill, Mr. Speaker, we hope there will be a strong component for rural development in that farm bill. And as parts of the rural caucus, I chair the task force on telecommunications. Seems awfully important for us to make certain that the provisions that are often available in more urban areas of our country are made available in rural communities as well. Our communities' survival depend upon access to increasing technology. Mr. Speaker, by providing one voice for rural America, the Congressional Rural Caucus will ensure that rural communities will remain viable and competitive. Our job in Congress is to raise the awareness of rural issues and to preserve that way of life. As Congress debates important issues like rural development in the farm bill, and access to telecommunication technologies, we must address the opportunities and challenges that we face in rural America. Rural Americans across the country need us to demonstrate our commitment for a better quality of life, and I urge my colleagues to join us in this fight and to speak out for rural America.

Mr. MORAN of Kansas

Mr. MORAN of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, the sign at the gas station and the sign at the co-op tell the story. Gas is $1.93 a gallon. Corn is $1.81 a bushel. We have suffered through some tough times in farm country, but I can't remember a time when one could not buy a gallon of gas for a bushel of corn. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak about a crisis that affects my constituents and everyone living in rural America. We are facing an economic one-two punch. The price of the principal product we sell, grain, is at an all-time low while the price of the principal product we use to grow that grain, fuel and fuel-derived inputs, are at an all- time high. One does not have to be an accountant to know that we cannot sustain this economic environment for much longer. Over the Memorial Day recess, I hosted nine of the 66 county townhall meetings that I conduct each summer across western and central Kansas. The concern was the same at every stop. How can we make a living with $1.93 gas and $1.81 corn? Since I came to Congress in 1997, my priorities have remained the same: Preserving our way of life for the next generation of Kansans. The current economic situation puts rural communities and the family farm in jeopardy. In the long-term, all Americans will suffer if we ignore America's agriculture producers. High gas prices today are the result of a failed energy policy. At the height of the so-called energy crisis in the 1970s, we were importing 30 percent of our oil needs. Today, we import 60 percent. In Kansas, we lost a good chunk of our oil production and the related jobs because it was easier to buy foreign oil than to support domestic producers. Now our energy policy essentially amounts to using the U.S. military to protect our foreign sources and then begging them for mercy when they meet to set prices. Ironically, we run the risk of repeating the same mistakes in agriculture that we have made in energy. If we do not act to save our farm infrastructure today, we will be dependent upon others for our food tomorrow. For several years, Kansas producers have been able to survive low prices with high yields. However, a drought last year and poor growing conditions this year have left most farmers with few options of where to turn. This is an issue of importance to all of us. Our rural energy and agriculture producers are vital to the prosperity of our country. Congress must act to sustain the way of life in rural America and to ensure a prosperous, self-sufficient America tomorrow. As we develop a sound national energy policy and as we draft the next farm bill, I encourage my colleagues to consider the concern of my constituents of $1.93 gas, $1.81 corn.

Mr. MORAN of Kansas

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 the following four suspensions passed earlier today: H.R. 1000; H.R. 37; H.R. 640; and H.R. 1661.

Mr. MORAN of Kansas

Mr. MORAN of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, I want to recognize Chairman Smith, Ranking Member Evans, Health Subcommittee Ranking Member Filner, as well as Chairman Specter and Ranking Member Rockefeller of the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs, for their leadership and support for this bill, H.R. 801, the ``Veterans' Survivor Benefits Improvements Act of 2001.'' Mr. Speaker, passage of this bill is a good reminder of why the Nation celebrates Memorial Day. There are many ways that people choose to honor our veterans. A number of veterans' organizations choose to honor the brave men and women who have given their lives for this country by observing a moment of silence. Others choose to visit one of the many memorials built in honor of veterans, and touch the engraved names of their departed loved ones, to feel their presence once again. Those of us here today on the floor of the House have the rare opportunity to honor not only our veterans, but also their dependents and survivors as well, with the passage of this legislation before us today. Often on this floor Members recognize Americans who gave of themselves because of love of country. Today I speak not only in praise of our Nation's veterans but also in praise of their families and their survivors. Throughout our history as a nation, the fight to protect and preserve our freedoms has not only been met on the battlefield. It has also been a struggle in the homes of our veterans--by mothers, fathers, sons, and daughters, who carried on despite facing the illness, injury, or loss of a loved one. The ``Veterans' Survivor Benefits Improvements Act of 2001,'' legislation that we are approving today and sending to the President, is a written acknowledgement of our debt. It establishes, in the CHAMPVA program, health coverage equal to that of ``TRICARE for Life'' for military families. Under H.R. 801, any beneficiary covered by CHAMPVA, who becomes eligible for Medicare, will automatically be covered by CHAMPVA for ``out-of-pocket'' costs not paid by Medicare or other insurance. In effect, CHAMPVA will become a secondary-payer for these Medicare beneficiaries. While we can never expect to balance the scales to pay back the enormous debt we owe to our Nation's veterans and their families, we can ensure our veterans and their families will have a better tomorrow. As we approach another Memorial Day, let us pass this legislation to show our commitment to all Americans who, in President Lincoln's phrase, have ``borne the battle'' for this country. Again, I thank the Chairman for his leadership, and urge my colleagues to support this important legislation.

Mr. MORAN of Kansas

Mr. MORAN of Kansas. Mr. Chairman, I support Representative Hoekstra's amendment. The federal government's role in education should be to support proven state and local reform efforts rather than create additional requirements for our local schools. By mandating new testing requirements on every child, every year from grades 3 through 8, this plan will take teachers and students out of class; take dollars out of state and local education budgets; and undermine successful reform efforts already under way in states like my own. In Kansas, state assessments already take students away from the classroom 6 to 7 days per year. If the assessment provisions pass as proposed, Kansas would have to add 10 new assessments. As a result, Kansas would be administering 21 assessments on an annual basis. H.R. 1 means even more time testing and less time learning. These new federal mandates are too expensive at a time when education budgets are already stretched paper-thin. In Kansas, the cost of administering state tests would rise from approximately $1.7 million to $9 million. Before the federal government starts tacking on expensive new requirements, it should work to fully fund existing mandates such as special education. Requiring more tests, will interfere with a 10-year educational improvement effort already under way in Kansas. Kansans have established a system that accurately measures yearly progress of our state, our schools, and our students. Our system holds schools accountable and provides reports to parents. Under H.R. 1's testing requirements, not only will states be required to develop new assessments, but local school districts will have to redesign their curriculums to meet the new assessments. The bottom line: Kansas is making progress, and we should not be forced to abandon a program that is working. Reform initiatives should come from the parents, teachers and local boards of education, and not be imposed by the federal government in a one-size-fits-all manner. I remain committed in my belief that the educational needs of a community are best known by that community. I urge my colleagues to support this amendment.

Mr. MORAN of Kansas

Mr. MORAN of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to call attention to the energy crisis that is draining the farm economy. My district, like many rural areas across the country, has suffered greatly as a result of high energy prices. Agricultural producers in particular have been hit hard as higher diesel and natural gas prices increase fuel, irrigation energy, and fertilizer costs. Our reliance on foreign oil and dependency on imported fuel has created a crisis for our nation's farmers. Kansas producers' net income fell 7.7 percent in 2000, down 11 percent from the five-year average, largely because of the summer drought and dramatic increases in the price of energy. On a nationwide average, energy costs alone caused a 6 percent decrease in farm income. According to the Kansas Farm Management Association, average cash operating expenses on Kansas farms increased 6.2 percent last year, and the increase was largely related to energy prices. Combined gas, fuel and oil expenses rose $2,551 per farm, a 33 percent increase. Prices for nitrogen fertilizers, a natural gas derivative, were the primary determinant in driving fertilizer costs up more than 10% above the 1999 average. Irrigation energy costs for a typical irrigated corn farm in western Kansas were $34,026, approximately one-fourth of the gross revenue generated. This figure represents an increase of almost $18 per acre just to run the irrigation system. With commodity markets remaining at record lows and the tremendous increase in energy prices, last year it cost farmers more to produce grain than they were paid for it. Without emergency assistance, producers would have lost money. Unfortunately, projections for the 2001 crop year are not optimistic. Given the current status of energy supply and demand, the Department of Agriculture predicts that producers will face a 15 percent decrease in net cash income due to energy and fertilizer costs. Losses will be still greater for irrigators. In addition to the negative impact on crop producers, the livestock segment of the agriculture industry has also been affected by fuel costs. According to the National Cattleman's Beef Association Cattle- Fax, high energy prices have cost the fed cattle market $4 per hundred weight in decreased demand. The crises spreads across commodities and across all regions of the country, from rice producers in California, to Kansas wheat farmers, to New England dairies. Since I arrived in Congress, I have asked both the Administration and my colleagues to develop a national energy policy. I look forward to reviewing the findings of the Domestic Energy Policy Task Force headed by Vice President Cheney when their report is released tomorrow. As we finally begin to look at legislation regarding national energy policy, it is important to keep in mind both the short and long term challenges that exist in the agricultural sector.

Mr. MORAN of Kansas

Mr. MORAN of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize our nation's exceptional teachers. Today, as part of National Teacher Day and Teacher Appreciation Week, The National Teachers Hall of Fame will announce their 2001 inductees. Congratulations to this year's inductees: Ronald Foreso, Dr. Emiel Hamberlin, Mitsuye Conover, James Quinlan, and Ellen Kempler, for their hard work and dedication to our nation's students. The mission of The National Teachers Hall of Fame, located in Emporia, Kansas, is to recognize and honor exceptional teachers and the teaching profession. As part of this mission, The National Teachers Hall of Fame sponsors an annual teacher recognition program open to all K-12 teachers throughout the country. For the past 10 years, The National Teachers Hall of Fame has provided a fitting tribute to our nation's most important profession. On June 23, the Hall of Fame will induct its 10th class and welcome many of the 45 NTHF members back to Emporia to celebrate a 10-year reunion. I would also like to recognize all educators for their contributions to our communities--and to thank those special teachers who have made a difference in my life. Thank you Mrs. Bailey, Mrs. Pruter, and Mr. McCauley and all the others who educated me with facts and figures and instilled in me a love of learning. Few other professionals touch so many people in such a lasting way. Teachers fill many roles, as listeners, explorers, role models, motivators, and mentors. Educators make a difference in each of our lives. Today, and everyday, I would like to say thank you.

Mr. MORAN of Kansas

Mr. MORAN of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, I offer congratulations to the twenty-nine students from Hays High School in Hays, Kansas for their excellence in academic competition: Kristin Alstatt, Tara Bauer, Travis Beam, Chelsea Boldra, Sarah Braun, Kelly Brooks, Ashleigh Dyck, Elise Eilts, Brandon Fross, Rebekah Girard, Daran Herrman, Bojun Hu, Brandon Klaus, Brandi Legleiter, Matthew Leiker, Abby Maska, Fatou Mbye, Jayna Montoia, Charlotte Moore, Kayla Schippers, Jill Seib, Evan Shaw, Kevin Wasinger, Michael Wasinger, Sonya Wesselowski, Jeremy Wilson, Michael Wilson, Joslin Woofter, Alexandra Zehner. This past weekend, Hays High represented the state of Kansas in the national finals of the We the People . . . The Citizen and the Constitution program. These Kansas seniors joined over 1200 students from across the United States to compete in Washington, DC. These young scholars worked diligently to reach the national finals and through their experience have gained a deep knowledge and understanding of the fundamental principles and values of our constitutional democracy. I commend each of these students for their hard work and success. I would also like to recognize their teacher, Sue Boldra, for helping prepare these young students. Ms. Boldra's commitment and dedication to nurture and encourage our youth shines through the accomplishments of her students. The First Congressional district has been proud to be represented by Hays High for the past four years on the national level in this prestigious competition. I comrnend Ms. Boldra for her excellent job promoting education and patriotism among the youth of Kansas. I also applaud Professor Richard Heil at Fort Hays State University for his three years of service as a judge at the We the People national finals. Dr. Heil's commitment to this program has helped students from across the United States take a strong interest in the principles that govern our nation. It is an honor to recognize such a meritorious group.

Mr. MORAN of Kansas

Mr. MORAN of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, March Madness means many things to many people. In the quest for college basketball's holy grail, March represents the time when champions are crowned in all divisions. This week, I am proud to congratulate the Cloud County Community College women's basketball team from Concordia, Kansas. This past Saturday, the lady Thunderbirds won the National Junior College Athletic Association national title. For this team, this program, and this community, the championship is indeed a great honor. At times, it is easy to get wrapped up in all of the hype surrounding college athletics, but I think Cloud County coach, Brett Erkenbrack, said it best: ``Great team, a tremendous bunch of young ladies, and a great crowd.'' Cloud County is the first Kansas team to win the women's title in the 27 year history of the NJCAA tournament. The team includes three players selected to the All-Tournament Team, including Paulette Valentine, N'Keisa Richardson, and the tournament Most Valuable Player, Miklannet Tennal. The talented players on Coach Erkenbrack's team fought a difficult road on the way to earning the National title, defeating the number 5 and number 1 seeds, as well as enduring an overtime victory in the semifinals. The Concordia community also rallied around their home team. Attendance at the championship game was the biggest of the tournament and beat last year's mark by over 25%. This is a story of teamwork, preparation, and hard work, combined with a supportive community and families all pulling together for a championship run. It is a great story to tell and a story worth repeating. Congratulations again to the Cloud County Women's Basketball team. They truly are champions.

Mr. MORAN of Kansas

Mr. MORAN of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, I would like to express my gratitude to the chairman of the committee, the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith); our ranking member, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Evans); and the gentleman from California (Mr. Filner), our ranking member of the Subcommittee on Health Care, for their leadership on this legislation. The Veterans Hospital Emergency Repair Act is very much a bipartisan measure. Health care for our American veterans is a high priority for this Congress, and that is demonstrated by this legislation being on the floor so early in this Congress. Presenting this bill and the earlier benefit measure, H.R. 801, prior to our spring district work period shows we are dedicated to attempting to do what is right for America's veterans and doing it early in this Congress. H.R. 811 provides us a map out of the forest, authorizing the VA to improve and upgrade veterans' hospitals with smaller projects while the VA and Congress decide the larger question about what to do for veterans' facilities in the longer term. We should not halt facility maintenance and improvements while the VA takes several years to come to decisions on redeployment of old VA facilities. A variety of factors have combined to result in a de facto moratorium on VA medical facility construction. Last year only one project was proposed, and no projects were funded. As the gentleman from New Jersey (Chairman Smith) indicated, the Committee on the Budget has supported the committee's underlying basis of this bill. Two of the members of our Committee on Veterans' Affairs sit on the Committee on the Budget, the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Crenshaw) and the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Brown). The Committee on Veterans' Affairs appreciates their support for this measure within the deliberations of the Committee on the Budget. The key components of H.R. 11 are, it authorizes the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out major medical facility maintenance and rehabilitation projects during the next 2 years, and authorizes appropriations of $250 million in the fiscal year 2002 and $300 million in fiscal year 2003 for those purposes. This bill also authorizes the Secretary to select patient care projects and, in certain circumstances, VA research facilities for such construction under this authority, not to exceed $25 million for any single project, with the exception that the Secretary could authorize up to $30 million for two seismic correction projects. This legislation limits the types of projects that could be funded under the authority to those that would improve, replace, renovate, or update facilities, including research facilities, for patients' safety, seismic protection, improvements, and accommodations for those with disabilities. The Secretary would be authorized to improve the various high- priority specialty disability programs within the Department, such as spinal cord, blind rehabilitation, traumatic brain injury, programs for seriously mentally ill. These veterans also deserve decent and upgraded facilities. This legislation requires the Secretary to consider recommendations to the VA Independent Board that reviews capital investment proposals in selecting projects under the Secretary's authority. And this legislation permits the Secretary to use Advanced Planning Funds to design programs selected by him under the purposes of this bill. Mr. Speaker, this bill provides for accountability. It requires the Secretary and the Comptroller General to report to Congress the projects selected under this authority, their purposes and their costs and the results of the authorization process and recommendations for amending or extending that authority so that Congress will have full opportunity to watch what the VA does with this new authority. Again, let me thank the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith), chairman of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, for his leadership and compliment his assertiveness in the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Mr. Speaker, the new Committee on Veterans' Affairs is making a good start in the 107th Congress under the gentleman's leadership. Mr. Speaker, I also look forward to working closely with the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith) and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Evans), ranking member of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, and also to the gentleman from California (Mr. Filner), the ranking member on the Subcommittee on Health in advancing VA health care in the 107th Congress.

Mr. MORAN of Kansas

Mr. MORAN of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, I rise this evening to convey my thoughts and prayers for the former governor of our State, Governor Joan Finney, and her family. Last month, Governor Finney was diagnosed with liver cancer. I wish her strength and courage as she fights this devastating disease. Governor Finney has had a long and distinguished career in service to the public. She was a trailblazer for women in elective office, and her example has served as inspiration and a role model for others in our State and around the country. Joan Finney served our State for 16 years as Kansas Treasurer. She started her career as a Republican and switched to become a Democrat. In 1990, she became the first women ever elected governor of our State. Governor Finney is truly a woman of the people. Throughout her years of public service, she was able to connect to everyday Kansans in a way all of us who hold elective office can respect and admire. I was privileged to serve in the Kansas Senate during Governor Finney's term as governor. During that time, she always had the well- being of the people of our State as her priority. While we sometimes disagreed, I always knew where the Governor stood on each and every issue. She was honest and straightforward. No public opinion polls, no focus groups, just Joan Finney doing what she thought was best for the people she loved, the people of Kansas. Governor Finney was always respectful, and her heart was always in the right place. She believed passionately in her positions and worked hard for the hard-working people of Kansas. Family is very important to Governor Finney. Members of her family played key roles in her campaigns and in her administration. I know that her family is with her now as she faces this great challenge. May the strength and goodwill that she displayed in her years as public service now help her defeat this terrible disease. My thoughts and prayers go out to Governor Finney, to her husband Spencer and to her children, Sally Finney, Richard Finney and Mary Holliday. Kansans care greatly for you, Mrs. Finney, and we pray God will bless you and give you courage and strength.

Mr. MORAN of Kansas

Mr. MORAN of Kansas. Madam Speaker, I join the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Blunt) in recognizing the achievement of a remarkable athlete that comes from the First District of Kansas. Claflin, Kansas, population 700, native Jackie Stiles, who averages around 30 points per game, is one of college basketball's most outstanding scorers. On March 1, she made history by breaking the NCAA Division I women's career scoring record of 3,133 points. She increased that record by adding another 35 points on March 3 during Southwest Missouri's final regular season game. Jackie's hard work and dedication to basketball is unparalleled. She remains the leading scorer in Kansas high school basketball history. Her practice routine includes shooting 1,000 baskets each time. While in high school, Jackie's right wrist was broken during a game. Days later, the right-handed shooter was training herself to shoot with her left hand. These examples demonstrate her natural talents and desire to achieve perfection. Jackie has received so many well deserved honors. Among them include twice being named Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year, in addition to being a member of the United State's Gold Medal-Winning Jones Cup Team. This year she was nominated for an ESPY, and is a hopeful for another Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year award, in addition to being named Naismith Player of the Year. Jackie is quick to acknowledge the contributions of others in her success, particularly her parents, Pat and Pam Stiles, of Claflin, Kansas. She always places her team first and herself second. She maintains an undying devotion to her fans and it is common for her to stay hours after the game until each person who wants an autograph has seen her. Seldom does an individual come along whose character and skill transcend beyond the court. In Kansas and Missouri, Jackie is a role model. Now the rest of the Nation can discover how special she is. Jackie Stiles is truly deserving of her most recent honors and accomplishments. Madam Speaker, congratulations to her and her hometown of Claflin, Kansas.