Betty McCollum

Ms. McCOLLUM

Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in cautious support of the Syria Accountability and Lebanese Sovereignty Act (H.R. 1828). It is entirely appropriate that we send a strong message to the Syrian government that they have not done enough to weaken terrorist activities in their country. Syria's continued support of international terrorist organizations like Hizballah, Islamic Jihad and Hamas is unacceptable. The United States has given Syria ample opportunity to remove these terrorist threats, and we cannot stand idly by while terrorist operations continue. In addition, the United States must clearly state that the Syrian occupation of Lebanon will not be tolerated. The people of Lebanon deserve to be ruled by the Lebanese, and not an occupying Syrian force with ties to terrorism. Syrian troops in Lebanon represent a destabilizing force that threatens the peace of Israel and the entire Middle East region. The Syria Accountability Act must be used as a political lever intended to send an unmistakable message to Syrian President Assad that his government's support for terrorist organizations and occupation of Lebanon cannot be allowed. It must not, however, be interpreted as a catalyst for military action in Syria. Inflaming the dialogue about Syria's reported connections with al-Qaeda or Iraq will only lead to rash decisions unreflective of the best interests of the United States and our allies in the global war on terrorism. We must remain committed engaging the Syrian government in diplomatic exchange. Only by talking can we expect to improve our bilateral relations with Syria and bring about a peaceful resolution to this challenging issue.

Mr. McCOLLUM

Mr. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, yesterday, hundreds of immigrant workers all over the country converged in Washington on their way to New York City as part of the Immigrant Workers Freedom Ride. They are here to raise awareness about the plight of immigrant workers. Over the years, the United States has been called a nation of immigrants. The fact that we are a melting pot for so many different cultures, races and religions makes us unique in the world. It has helped mold our national character. For more than 300 years, various ethnic, cultural, and social groups have come to our shores to reunite with their loved ones, to seek economic opportunity, and to find a haven from religious and political persecution. They bring their hopes and dreams and in turn, contribute, enrich and energize America. In my home state of Minnesota, immigrants have worked hard to establish a rich culture and strong economy. Many immigrants in my state become American citizens. In 2002, over 5,400 immigrants became American citizens in Minnesota. Sixty-five percent of immigrants in my state who are eligible for naturalization become citizens. These new Americans work hard, pay taxes and make indispensable contributions to our economy. Through their tax payments, they help finance the costs of schools, health care, roads, welfare payments, Social Security, and the nation's defense. I am proud to be a cosponsor of a resolution introduced by my colleagues Representatives Hilda Solis and Mike Honda supporting the goals of the Immigrant Workers Freedom Ride: to create a clear road to citizenship for all immigrant workers, allow workers to reunite their families, ensure immigrants' civil rights and liberties, and protect the rights of immigrants in the workplace. Our country was founded on the strength of our immigrant communities. A strong immigration system is a sign of a confident and successful nation, and we should welcome those who, in that spirit, seek to make the United States their home.

Ms. McCOLLUM

Ms. McCOLLUM. Ms. Speaker, due to a scheduling conflict on September 25th, I was unable to vote on rollcall vote 522 and 523. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes'' on rollcall vote 522, the Motion to Instruct Conferees on H.R. 1, the Medicare Prescription Drug and Modernization Act. It is vitally important that the Medicare Conferees accept the Senate-passed provisions requiring a federal ``fallback'' prescription drug benefit; agree to the best provisions improving Medicare payments to health care providers in rural areas; and reject the cut in payments to hospitals in the House bill which will adversely affect hospitals in rural areas. I would also have voted ``yes'' on rollcall 523, the Motion to Instruct Conferees on H.R. 1588, the Defense Authorization Act. At a time when we are asking more from our Reservists and National Guard than ever before, it is only fair that we provide these heroic women and men with the proper health care they need to care for themselves and their families. I will continue to support efforts toward a strong health care system for all our military women and men, and I encourage my colleagues to do the same.

Ms. McCOLLUM

Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 13, to reauthorize the Museum and Library Services Act. H.R. 13 contains a provision that will amend the Arts and Artifacts Indemnity Act to increase maximum limits on liability amounts. It is important to pass this provision that would raise the cap so that museums are able to obtain valued exhibitions from overseas. The current cap is preventing museums from receiving the total amount of indemnity coverage that they need, forcing them to buy commercial insurance. Many museums simply cannot afford commercial insurance. This provision will allow museums to continue benefiting from the Arts and Indemnity Program, which has benefited millions of Americans by allowing valuable works of art to travel to U.S. Museums. Several museums in Minnesota, including the Walker Art Center and the Minneapolis Institute of Art will be able to continue borrowing exhibitions from all over the world. Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to support this very important bill.

Ms. McCOLLUM

Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, I rise to welcome His Holiness, the 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet, and to join with my colleagues in support of this resolution. The Dalai Lama's steadfast leadership and commitment to peace and positive social change for the people of Tibet has been a model for this world. His continued defense of human rights worldwide is an inspiration to all of us. In 2001, the Dalai Lama made a very special visit to Minnesota. It was an honor to have him in our State. It was a unique and exciting experience for all Minnesotans, but especially for the thousand Tibetans living in Minnesota. The Dalai Lama brought a message of faith, self-examination, and compassion to us in Minnesota. He continues to encourage all of us to take a firm position regarding principled matters, such as human rights, democracy, and religious freedom. Today, the Dalai Lama's message continues to resonate, and it is truly more important than ever. The defense of political, religious, and human rights requires constant vigilance. We must work with such inspirational leaders as the Dalai Lama to promote human rights, health, healing, opportunity, and hope for the people of Tibet, the United States, and the world. I encourage all of my colleagues to take a moment to reflect on this very special message of peace, hope, and humanity that the Dalai Lama brings to us. This week I would urge all of my colleagues to join together in reflecting once again in peace, hope, and opportunity for our world. I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.

Ms. McCOLLUM

Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Chairman, Head Start is a program that works. Studies have shown that this is an investment that pays off. Children in Head Start are less likely to be held back in school or placed in special education classes, saving our schools precious dollars. These children are more likely to be successful students and to graduate. In my home State, there are currently 16,000 children eligible for Head Start and not receiving services because of lack of funding. Budget constraints this year have forced Minnesota to make drastic cuts in early childhood programs, cutting more than $3 million in Head Start funding. Early childhood and family education was cut by $7 million. School readiness was cut by almost $2 million, and the Way to Go program, well, that was just plain eliminated. Combined, this represents a 14 percent cut in base funding for early childhood programs in Minnesota. Now, this legislation would give States a block grant, and in my opinion, that will limit accountability, allowing States to reduce performance standards, allowing for increased class sizes, decreased child-teacher ratios, cutting off services possibly for 3-year-olds, and using unproven curriculum. This legislation would allow States like Minnesota to cut Head Start funding, a temptation I know they will not be able to resist, given the current track record with early childhood programs, and allow governors like my own to shift funding away from Head Start and put programs at risk. Head Start works. It does not need to be overhauled; it needs to be funded.

Ms. McCOLLUM

Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word. Mr. Chairman, I had an amendment. It was very simple, and it would have provided $200 million of the funds appropriated for the HIV/AIDS assistance, that it be directed for orphans and vulnerable children affected by HIV/AIDS. With the support of the gentleman from Illinois (Chairman Hyde) and the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos), ranking member, I was able to add a similar amendment to the Global AIDS authorizing language earlier this year, and it required that 10 percent of all HIV/AIDS funding go toward assistance to orphans and vulnerable children. The amendment I was going to offer today would have made good on this promise. It would have made Congress show that it was going to be responsible in the way that it passed the Global AIDS legislation earlier this year. This amendment would have helped to protect the youngest victims of the AIDS pandemic, those who cannot advocate for themselves. The AIDS emergency is quickly becoming the worst health care catastrophe in the country and is leaving millions of children suffering the loss of their parents in its wake. Already, 25 million people have died from AIDS worldwide. And as more and more parents die, millions of children around the world are left facing an increasingly bleak future. For example, in Uganda, Christopher, a 13-year-old boy, is now officially one of the 1.7 million children orphaned by the AIDS epidemic in his country. After losing his mother to AIDS this past December, Christopher runs his household. He cares for his 9-year-old brother. Their three sisters are in the care of relatives, as the siblings had to be separated because no one single family could take on all five children. Although Christopher appears to be healthy, his younger sister has been getting sicker, and more frequently she is unable to play and to function as any child would. But yet none of these children have gone for HIV testing. Why? Because if an HIV test is confirmed as positive, a foster family would be less likely, less inclined to look after a sick child whose days are numbered. At an age when most boys are thinking about their next soccer game, like my nephew, Christopher's thoughts are only of daily survival. If he goes to school, who will work the land? Who will ensure that there will be food on the table for suppertime, not to mention look after his younger brother? In a society where resources are scarce and poverty is a common denominator, children like Christopher are more vulnerable as they have no one to protect them. If Christopher chooses to go to school, he will leave his home, the farm garden plot unattended, and that risk is just too great for him to take. We have a responsibility today to ensure that this money goes to improve safe, healthy children, the survival of children, children like Christopher and his siblings. I knew that my amendment was going to be subject to a point of order as I had taken it to the Committee on Rules, and I was unable to provide this body with a waiver to allow the House to move forward and vote on this vital issue. However, I am very hopeful that the gentleman from Arizona (Chairman Kolbe) and the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Lowey), ranking member, will continue to work to enhance the report language as the appropriation process moves forward to ensure that orphans and vulnerable children receive their appropriate share of the HIV funding that we promised them.

Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the requisite number of words. I would like to speak in strong support of the McGovern-Skelton amendment. Mr. Chairman, I yield to the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. McGovern).

Ms. McCOLLUM

Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Chairman, today we are voting to fund the U.S. military to meet its future needs. Our duty to our servicemen and women is to provide them with the tools and the means to protect and defend our nation as well as protect them when in conflict. An issue that has persisted to be unsatisfactorily addressed by Congress is the endangerment of our soldiers and civilians--especially children--from the unexploded remnants of cluster munitions. These munitions disperse thousands of small grenades into areas of conflict that include battlefields but too often also include urban and rural areas inhabited by civilians. Cluster weapons have been used by U.S. military forces in conflict areas including Laos, the Persian Gulf, Kosovo, Afghanistan, and most recently during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Unlike other military weapons, cluster bombs have a failure rate that can reach as high as 40 percent, leaving a trail of thousands of unexploded ordinance that cause death and destruction for our soldiers and civilian populations alike. This unexploded ordinance creates an extremely hazardous environment for soldiers patrolling the areas, future peacekeepers and civilians who unwittingly pick these weapons up or step on them--most frequently children. In Kosovo in 1999, five children playing with the colorful unexploded sub-munitions were killed. In Iraq, a child's eyes were blown out when a grenade he was playing with near his Baghdad home exploded in his face. Another young Iraqi man brought a grenade into his home, where it exploded, injuring the man severely and killing his 8-month old sister, who had been resting on the living-room floor. U.S. soldiers are in similar danger. As our troops in Iraq canvass the region, they encounter thousands of unexploded cluster grenades on the roads, in the homes and in the hands of the Iraqi people. It has made their job much more difficult, and in the case of Army Sergeant Troy Jenkins, has cost them their lives. Sergeant Jenkins was killed in Iraq when, after encountering a child who was handling a cluster weapon, the weapon exploded. The Department of Defense has correctly identified the problem of unexploded cluster bombs and is taking steps to ensure these weapons are safe. In 2001, then Defense Secretary William Cohen issued a Pentagon-wide memorandum calling on the Department to achieve a 1-percent failure rate by 2005. I ask unanimous consent to insert a copy of Secretary Cohen's memo into the record at this time. Achieving a 1-percent failure rate requires the simple addition of a secondary fuse to blow up the cluster grenade or neutralize it should it fail to explode on impact. The technology to reach this goal is available, and the Army has already begun developing these new munitions. Yet, little funding has been allocated to expand this technology to all branches of military service. The bill before us today continues to shortchange this commitment. As a result, dangerous cluster bombs with high failure rates remain in use, with thousands more in military stockpiles. This leaves future families, soldiers and innocent children vulnerable to these hazards. Congress can and must do more. Today, I am calling on Congress to strengthen our commitment to our soldiers and civilians around the world from the danger of cluster bombs deployed by the U.S. military. It is our responsibility to support the Pentagon and our allies around the world who have sought to address this danger by ensuring cluster weapons are not deadly for years after their use. Reaching a 1-percent failure rate for cluster bombs is possible right now, but not without the full commitment of Congress. We have the will to enforce this goal--now we must have the way. I look forward to working with both Chairman Lewis and Ranking Member Murtha in the weeks and months ahead in addressing this critically important issue. I also ask unanimous consent to insert into the record at this time a recent article from Newday.com on cluster munitions. The Secretary of Defense, Washington, DC, January 10, 2001. Memorandum for the Secretaries of the Military Departments. Subject: DoD policy on submunition reliability (U). Submunition weapons employment in Southwest Asia and Kosovo, and major theater war modeling, have revealed a significant unexploded ordnance (UXO) concern. The following establishes the Department's policy regarding submunition weapons acquisition. The policy applies to systems delivered by aircraft, cruise missiles, artillery, mortars, missiles, tanks, rocket launchers, or naval guns that are designed to attack landbased targets and that deploy payloads of submunitions that detonate via target acquisition, impact, or altitude, or self-destruct (or a combination thereof). It is the policy of the DoD to reduce overall UXO through a process of improvement in submunition system reliability-the desire is to field future submunitions with a 99% or higher functioning rate. Submunition functioning rates may be lower under operational conditions due to environmental factors such as terrain and -weather. Program Managers shall include the non-recurring cost of increasing the overall functioning rate; the operational use costs, including the cost of clearing UXO on test and training ranges in accordance with DoD policy and operational requirements; and disposal costs, as part of the life-cycle costs of all future submunition weapons. The Program Manager should establish submunition functioning thresholds and objectives that advance the process of improvement in system reliability, and that take into consideration the benefits from reduced UXO (i.e., a cost-benefit analysis of increasing the functioning rate (cost) and the resulting reduction in UXO (benefit)). The Services may retain ``legacy'' submunitions until employed or superseded by replacement systems in accordance with the above policy. The designation ``legacy'' would apply to submunition weapon acquisition programs reaching Milestone III prior to the Fast Quarter of Fiscal Year 2005. The Services shall evaluate ``legacy'' submunition weapons undergoing reprocurement, product improvement, or block upgrades to determine whether modifications should be made to bring them into compliance with the above policy. The Services shall design and procure all future submunition weapons in compliance with the above policy. A ``future'' submunition weapon is one that will reach Milestone III in FY 2005 and beyond. Waivers to this policy for future ACAT I and II submunition weapons programs, shall require approval by the JROC. Thus policy applies to all acquisition category submunition weapons programs. Compliance with this policy shall be assessed by the Component or Defense Acquisition Executive, as appropriate. William Cohen.

Ms. McCOLLUM

Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of the Hyde- Lantos amendment. I am greatly encouraged by the bipartisan work of this body in moving forward with the Millennium Challenge Account (MCA) and reauthorization of the Peace Corps. Today, we take a significant step forward in addressing the needs of the developing world and strengthening the United States commitment to our global neighbors and families. While I support the unprecedented increase in foreign assistance provided through the MCA, I am concerned with the lack of environmental safeguards in the bill. Last night the Rules Committee refused to make in order my amendment to address this critically important issue. This amendment would have promoted environmental sustainability and the protection of our natural resources by requiring the compact made between the U.S. and an eligible country, under MCA, include an environmental assessment and regular benchmarks to monitor an evaluate impacts during the implementation of the project. Any development initiative that offers lasting relief from poverty and promotes economic opportunity must take into account the protection of the natural resources on which all people--all families--depend upon. The major environmental challenges facing the world today--water scarcity, poor sanitation, degradation of agricultural lands, and pandemic diseases, such as malaria--weaken the foundation for a strong and prosperous economy, a secure nation, and poverty reduction. In order for developing countries to assure the protection of their natural resources, achieve sustainable economic growth and promote the health, education and well-being of their citizens an assessment of the environmental effects of projects funded through the MCA should be required to be conducted. This amendment is consistent with environmental assessments currently required under the Foreign Assistance Act for USAID and the Overseas Private Investment Corporation--two of our largest foreign development organizations. These assessments are required for U.S.-sponsored development projects around the world and I believe should continue to be used on all future projects funded through the MCA. The MCA places a strong emphasis on the ability of developing nations to invest in their people wisely, rule justly and pursue sound economic principles that stimulate enterprise and entrepreneurship. Although we can all agree that each of these principles is critically important, it is unrealistic to expect any developing nation to achieve these principles unless a healthy environment exists. Without clean air, clean water and the protection of our natural resources, sustainable development, adequate health care and education, a stable open market and opportunities for economic growth are not possible. Economic growth at the expense of the environment is completely contradictory to the development goals of the United States. If investments in development are to yield sustainable benefits, the effects on a developing nation's natural resources must be taken into account. To do this, an assessment of a project's environmental impact must be part of a country's development plan from the beginning. I look forward to working with Chairman Hyde, Ranking Member Lantos and my colleagues in the other body on this important issue in the weeks and months ahead.

Ms. McCOLLUM

Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong support of the Obey- Miller Amendment. Congress must protect the economic security of the workingmen and women who keep our nation safe and prosperous. I've punched a time clock. I've worked in retail sales to help support my family. I know what it is like for families to rely on overtime to pay for their children's college fund or repairs on their homes. America's hard workingmen and women deserve our support. But this administration instead wants to deliberately cut the overtime pay of 8 million Americans. Under the Bush Administration's rules, working people, including police officers, firefighters, and nurses will lose overtime compensation--as much as 25 percent of their salaries. This cruel attack on working families demonstrates the true compassionate conservative values of this administration--tax cuts for the wealthy and salary cuts for working people. Today, Congress must protect the economic security of our working families. Support the Obey-Miller amendment today.

Ms. McCOLLUM

Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, this Medicare bill fails to provide women with real prescription drug coverage they need and deserve.

Ms. McCOLLUM

Ms. McCOLLUM. And does the Kind amendment also allow for second automatic referrals if States allow for second opinions?

Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to join my colleagues today in offering a motion to recommit to protect the coverage that women and children currently have today. This motion simply states that associated health plans cannot stop coverage for well-child visits, maternity or other types of visits that are vital to women's and children's health care. Children deserve a healthy start in life. Coverage to promote healthy children is required in Minnesota and 30 other States. This coverage ensures that children have regular visits to pediatricians to get immunizations and preventive care. Why would we not want to protect our children? This coverage is particularly important because getting a good start in life can prevent avoidable illnesses, identify serious disabilities, and reduce future health care costs. We have all seen the importance of childhood immunizations. For example, today polio has been eradicated because of the determination and commitment our country had to immunize children when they were young. Regular doctor visits for newborns is absolutely critical. Thirty-three children are born every day with severe hearing loss. If caught early enough through preventive doctor visits, this screening can make a difference. It can make a difference in their lives and a difference in the money spent on special education. This motion ensures that families who currently have well-child visits and maternity coverage will not lose it tomorrow. We should be ensuring access to quality, comprehensive health care for our Nation's working families and not rolling back basic coverage. I urge my colleagues to support the motion to recommit.

Ms. McCOLLUM. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong opposition to the substandard health coverage that will be proposed in this bill. Americans deserve affordable, quality health care coverage for our children and for our families, not this substandard bill filled with gaps, holes and exceptions that leave women and children especially vulnerable. This bill leaves gaps for expecting mothers, leaves holes for children with diabetes, leaves exceptions for families requiring mental health care coverage. This legislation rewards bad medicine by preempting every State standard that guarantees quality health care, that protects women, children, and our families. As a Minnesota State legislator, I fought hard for our State's health care requirements. People were not getting the care that they needed or deserved. Families living with diabetes came into my office and would tell me how their health plans would cover their insulin but would not cover the needles to deliver the insulin or the test strips to test their sugar levels. This basic health care is needed to keep people with diabetes healthy and enables them to manage and control their disease. We passed laws in Minnesota mandating basic coverage that health plans were not providing. They were not providing basic health coverage. Today we are considering legislation that rolls back these basic health care protections. Minnesotans want comprehensive, affordable health care. Minnesota health care professionals in a hearing I held, nurses, pediatricians, psychologists and, yes, their patients, told me they strongly oppose these substandard association plans. Let us ensure quality. Let us ensure affordable health care that protects women, protects children, protects our families and does not only protect them but protects those who we have heard over and over again, the million people who stand to lose health insurance should this bill be enacted.

Ms. McCOLLUM. I thank the gentleman. I will be supporting the Kind amendment because if the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Kind), and the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Andrews) and I all worked for the same employer, I would like to think that my basic health care coverage, including my reproductive health, would be covered.

Ms. McCOLLUM. I yield to the gentleman from Wisconsin.

Ms. McCOLLUM. That is correct. And it is my understanding that insurance companies did not offer these coverages because they were, in their opinion, too expensive to cover, and that put gender discrimination at risk for women in their reproductive years.

Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, reclaiming my time, that is totally correct. In fact, many of these I was directly involved in in the State of Minnesota, because we had families, women, mothers, husbands, brothers, aunts and uncles come and say that this was basic health care coverage that their mothers needed, that their grandmothers needed, that their nieces needed.

Ms. McCOLLUM. I yield to the gentleman from New Jersey.

Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman.

Ms. McCOLLUM. So we have good reproductive health coverage for women while we are expecting. But also I found with many of the women I have spoken with, and their husbands too, they would like to make sure that women have access to gynecologists, sometimes as their primary care physicians, and many States allow this. Would the Kind amendment allow this to continue?

Ms. McCOLLUM. Would a minimum maternity stay be covered?

Ms. McCOLLUM. Is a minimum mastectomy stay also covered if States have that as part of their law?

Ms. McCOLLUM. If a State requires maternity coverage so it is not the drive-through maternity coverage that we have heard about in past years, is that covered?