Jim Ramstad

Mr. RAMSTAD

Mr. RAMSTAD. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the requisite number of words. Mr. Chairman, I join my colleagues from Pennsylvania and West Virginia in sponsoring this amendment to prevent the drastic 50-percent cut in Legal Services funding. Unless we pass this amendment today, those words etched atop the United States Supreme Court, ``Equal Justice Under Law,'' are meaningless. Those words are a mere mockery unless we pass this amendment today. Let us talk facts, Mr. Chairman. The antagonists of the Legal Services Corporation who want to kill Legal Services for the poor know that the funding level in the bill is a 50-percent cut from last year. That follows on the heels of a 33-percent cut from the previous year. As a result, Mr. Chairman, Legal Services programs are serving right now 300,000 fewer low-income Americans because of decreased resources represented by those cuts. If this amendment does not pass today, an additional 400,000 vulnerable low-income Americans will have no representation under the law. Let us talk about what type of Americans are served by Legal Services: children who need child support orders enforced and their mothers or fathers; private health insurance for children who have no health insurance, that is hardly a radical notion; victims of domestic violence; children who are abused; consumer fraud; people who are victims of consumer fraud and unlawful discrimination. Mr. Chairman, we also have to talk facts. The antagonists, those who want to kill Legal Services, know full well that in 1995 we made reforms. With all respect to the gentleman from Georgia, there is no representation of people evicted from public housing due to drugs. If that is still going on, then let us go after the abuser, but it is written into law there are no class action suits, no lobbying, no legal assistance to illegal aliens, no political activities, no prisoner litigation, no redistricting representation. We have, Mr. Chairman, a new Legal Services because of these reforms, which I supported. Now, let us talk about funding. There is nobody in this body on either side to whom I take a back seat when it comes to frugality with the taxpayers' dollars, and if my colleagues do not believe me, check the Citizens Against Government Waste lifetime ratings, check the ratings of the National Taxpayers' Union. But, Mr. Chairman, if we are to give people in this country, every person, regardless of income status, true justice under the law, we need to pass this amendment and not gut this program here today. Volunteer lawyers, and believe me, no State surpasses Minnesota's contribution for pro bono work, but volunteer lawyers cannot meet the critical legal needs of poor people alone any more than doctors could treat all of the medical needs of the poor or grocers can feed all of the hungry without paying. We cannot effectively provide legal services to the poor without this public-private partnership. Even in a State like Minnesota, last year 3,000 attorneys donating 30,000 hours of free pro bono legal services valued at over $3.5 million, even in a State like Minnesota, we closed last year 4,000 fewer cases, and tens of thousands of people, poor people, were turned away, could not have representation, could not have, Mr. Chairman, equal justice under the law. I do not have any argument with those who stick to the facts, but let us talk about the new Legal Services, not the old, and let us not try to confuse people with those old arguments. I was as critical of the old Legal Services as many in this body who are against this amendment today. The bottom line, Mr. Chairman, is we have passed tight restrictions on Legal Services Corporation. We do have a solid public-private partnership here. Poor people, most of them, are getting their day in court as far as civil justice is concerned. If our justice system is going to continue to have meaning, respect, legitimacy, we cannot just provide legal services to the wealthy, to those with means. Then justice cannot truly be just. I urge my colleagues to support basic fairness and equality under the law by restoring Legal Services funding.

Mr. RAMSTAD. Mr. Chairman, the reference to my home State of Minnesota, the gentleman who made that statement should know that, in fact, there are no Legal Service Corporation dollars involved in that lawsuit. It is Minnesota, not Wisconsin.

Mr. RAMSTAD. I yield to the gentleman from Indiana.

Mr. RAMSTAD. Mr. Chairman, I yield to the gentleman from Indiana [Mr. Burton].

Mr. RAMSTAD. Reclaiming my time, Mr. Chairman, for 6 or 10 violations about which my distinguished colleague from Indiana speaks, we do not gut equal justice under the law, we do not eliminate legal services for the poor, we go after those who violated our restrictions that were imposed, properly so in my judgment, back in 1995, which took effect in 1996, but we do not void the fifth amendment, we do not void equal justice under the law, the equal protection clause of the U.S. Constitution because of 6 to 10 violations.

Mr. RAMSTAD. Mr. Chairman, reclaiming my time, I do not dispute what the gentleman just said. I do not think the majority of this body would dispute that, including those of us who defend Legal Services for the poor. Of course there should be sanctions to those who violate the reforms that we enacted in 1997 which took effect in 1996. I will join my colleague in such legislation. But this, Mr. Chairman, is not the vehicle to attach that, to go after those violators. We have already, from last year, and again, let us speak to the facts, last year's funding level was $283 million. Even this amendment only restores funding to $250 million, so it is not level funding. Let us deal with the violators appropriately, but not here.

Mr. RAMSTAD. Reclaiming my time, Mr. Chairman, and my time is very short, I will be the first to go after and to join my colleagues in going after any of those violators, but let us not kill Legal Services because of 6 to 10 violations.

Mr. RAMSTAD. Mr. Chairman, I yield to the gentleman from Indiana.

Mr. RAMSTAD

Mr. RAMSTAD. Mr. Speaker, as the author of the Jacob Wetterling Act of 1994, I am proud to be a cosponsor of H.R. 1683, the Jacob Wetterling Improvements Act of 1997, and I urge my colleagues to support this important child protection measure. The 1994 Wetterling Act signaled a national, coordinated commitment to protecting America's children. For the first time, we instituted a national system for registering the worst kind of convicted criminals-- those who prey on children. This landmark law was named after Jacob Wetterling, an extraordinary youngster who was kidnapped in 1989 from the small community of St. Joseph, MN, when he was 11 years old. We have not heard from Jacob since his abduction, but we continue to pray for his safe return and for the safe return of hundreds of children stolen from their families. Jacob's incredible mother, Patty Wetterling, has become a tireless advocate for protecting children. Patty and her husband, Jerry, formed the Jacob Wetterling Foundation, which promotes child safety and responds to child abductions. With Patty's help, we were able to enact the 1994 Wetterling Act. With her help, we are building stronger child protection laws every day. H.R. 1683 builds on the foundation of the 1994 Jacob Wetterling Act, and applies the Wetterling requirements to offenders convicted under Federal or military law. In addition, it will give the FBI access to state sex offender registries and allow the U.S. Marshals Service to monitor offenders enrolled in the Federal Witness Protection Program. This bill will also give additional flexibility to states to help them establish effective offender registration programs. Just a few months ago, I stood with Patty Wetterling, Ernie Allen of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, the other sponsors of H.R. 1683 when we introduced the bill during Child Safety Week. I am grateful to all these people--and particularly Mr. McCollum, the bill's sponsor and chair of the Crime Subcommittee--for helping to move this important legislation so quickly through the process. I look forward to continued progress toward ending the tragedy of stolen childhoods and making American communities safer places to grow up.

Mr. RAMSTAD

Mr. RAMSTAD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce the Substance Abuse Treatment Parity Act, a bill to give alcoholics and drug addicts more access to treatment by prohibiting health insurers from placing discriminatory caps, financial requirements, or other restrictions on treatment that are different from other medical and surgical services. As a grateful recovering alcoholic, I've seen first hand the value of treatment for people who are chemically dependent. As someone who stays close to recovering people and treatment professionals in Minnesota, I've been alarmed by the dwindling access to treatment for people who need help. That's why I believe it is time to put chemical dependency on par with insurance coverage for other diseases. Alcoholism and drug addiction are painful, private struggles with staggering public costs. In fact, the direct and indirect costs of alcoholism alone in this country exceed $90 billion each year. Assuring access to treatment will not only combat this insidious disease--it will save health care dollars in the long run. Treatment helps people stay healthier longer and saves the health care system money. The empirical evidence supports what I already know as a recovering alcoholic--providing treatment is good preventive medicine. A Minnesota study to extensively evaluate its treatment programs' effectiveness found that Minnesota saves $22 million in annual health care costs because of treatment. A California study reported a 17 percent improvement in health conditions after treatment--and dramatic decreases in hospitalizations. A Rutgers University study found that untreated alcoholics incur general health care costs that are 100 percent higher. It also found that after treatment, days lost to illness, sickness claims, and hospitalization dropped by half. A report printed in the 1992 Journal of Mental Health Administration sampled 63,873 hospitalized alcoholics and found medical complications are far more severe among those not treated for alcoholism. This legislation will help eliminate barriers to treatment--without significantly increasing health care premiums. We have the empirical evidence to support this assertion: A Milliman and Robertson study released today found full and complete substance abuse treatment parity would increase per capita health insurance premiums by only one half of one percent--without even considering the obvious savings that will result from treatment. And just like the mental health parity provision of last session, this legislation waives the requirements if premiums increase by more than 1 percent. It also exempts small businesses with fewer than 50 employees. Mr. Speaker, removing barriers to treatment is a huge step in the right direction. Parity for substance abuse treatment is the right thing to do. It's also the cost-effective thing to do. I urge my colleagues in the House to support this important legislation and look forward to working with all Members in both the House and Senate in passing this bill.

Mr. RAMSTAD

Mr. RAMSTAD. Mr. Speaker, I thank my distinguished chairman for yielding time to me, and for his outstanding leadership. I daresay, without the gentleman from Texas [Mr. Bill Archer], we would not be here with this tax relief bill, the most substantial tax relief for the American people since 1981. Mr. Speaker, in addition to the more publicized provisions of this bill, the child tax credit, the higher education relief, the capital gains cuts, and the death tax relief, I would like to point out several provisions that I have worked on for many months with several of my colleagues to help victims of the recent flooding in the Red River Valley of Minnesota and the Dakotas. I want to thank Chairman Archer for his help as well in getting these provisions in this bill. We include special mortgage revenue bond rules for those people to rebuild their homes in the flood areas. We extend the IRS deadlines in the flood areas. We provide interest abatement for delayed filings, and special IRS rules for the forced sales of livestock that were caused by the horrible, horrible floods. I am also gratified that several other reforms I have worked on are included. We changed the rules governing employee stock ownership plans [ESOP's] to make it easier for small businesses to give ownership to employees of the company. We prevent the taxation of survivors benefits. We stop, no more taxation for survivors benefits for police officers or firefighters killed in the line of duty. We make the administration of church pension and benefit plans much more workable. We include language to clarify the tax-exempt status of State health insurance risk pools that provide coverage for high-risk people and their children and spouses. Mr. Speaker, this bill will provide important relief to real people right now. I urge my colleagues to support this important legislation.

Mr. RAMSTAD

Mr. RAMSTAD. I thank my distinguished colleague for yielding me this time. It is amazing, Mr. Speaker, what we can do, the President and the Congress, when we work together in a bipartisan, pragmatic way for this country. That is why we are here today on an historic threshold, and I rise in strong support of the legislation before us today, Mr. Speaker, which will balance the budget and expand health care choices for the seniors of our country while preserving and protecting Medicare. Not only do we save Medicare from bankruptcy but we build a strong foundation so that Medicare can be preserved for the next generation. We give seniors the increased health care coverage where they need it most, Mr. Speaker, before they become ill, by increasing the amount of preventive care covered by Medicare. There are a few specific reforms I would like to highlight. One is the reforms we make to the AAPCC reimbursement formula. That reform, very, very important to cost-effective States like Minnesota that have historically delivered health care in a cost effective way. What we do by changing the reimbursement formula is expand choices for seniors in States like Minnesota, those that have been efficient in their costs and in their quality. This is a major reform, Mr. Speaker, in the Medicare managed care reimbursement formula. It will mean more equity for States like Minnesota and more health care options for Medicare beneficiaries in our State and others like ours. Incorporating a bill that I introduced earlier this year, this legislation before us today will establish a payment floor and will blend the formula to bring fairness and equity to beneficiaries living in rural and efficient provider States like Minnesota. The bill also includes an important new study of ways to provide health care to seniors to let them stay in their homes longer, to let them live independently longer by extending for 2 years the community nursing organization demonstration project. I think, Mr. Speaker, this reform will prove to be one of the most important reforms ever in Medicare. These very important community nursing organizations allow seniors to stay in their homes, to make their choice of staying in their homes as long as possible and at the same time saving Medicare dollars. This CNO, community nursing organization demonstration project, is vital to seniors in Minnesota and all over the country who have enrolled in this project. I am also pleased that this bill includes a provision to help certain hospitals that have merged with nursing homes meet necessary requirements to maintain appropriate geographical classification. This means a great deal to a hospital in Hutchinson, Minnesota. I am glad we were able to make this necessary change in the bill. Finally, Mr. Speaker, I thank the conferees for making all the necessary changes to Medicare to save this absolutely vital system for the seniors of our country. From extending the life of the Medicare trust fund, to ensuring quality care as a major tenet of the centers of excellence program, I commend the conferees for their hard work on behalf of current and future Medicare beneficiaries. Mr. Speaker, I strongly support this important legislation to preserve and protect Medicare and urge all my colleagues to support it as well and to continue working in a bipartisan, pragmatic way for the betterment of America.

Mr. RAMSTAD

Mr. RAMSTAD. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the requisite number of words. (Mr. RAMSTAD asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. RAMSTAD. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in strong support of the bipartisan Shays-Klug-Ramstad-Frank-Hinchey-Luther amendment to freeze fiscal year 1998 defense spending at fiscal year 1997 levels. As we continue our efforts to balance the budget and reduce the Federal debt, each and every Government program, including defense, must be scrutinized for potential savings. By freezing the defense budget we force the Pentagon to cut wasteful and duplicative programs and to live within their means, like every American family and business must do every day. This freeze is a modest reduction. In other words, this reduces the defense budget by only 1.7 percent or $4.3 billion. While I fully understand and strongly support the need for a strong national defense, I believe freezing defense appropriations at last year's level will produce further Pentagon cost savings reforms, without endangering our national security. Above all, it will show the American people that Congress treats all parts of the Federal budget fairly when it comes to cutting programs, balancing the budget and reducing the deficit. I strongly urge you to support this amendment.

Mr. RAMSTAD

Mr. RAMSTAD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a stellar public servant who passed away recently. Charles M. Sprafka, a native of Detroit Lakes, MN, and the associate Hennepin County administrator for human resources, died on June 24 following a long and courageous battle with pancreatic cancer. Mr. Speaker, Chuck's career in public service was varied and characterized by the pursuit of excellence in every way. The people of my home county in Minnesota were well served by his stewardship and great desire to help people in their time of need. President John F. Kennedy in his inaugural address on January 20, 1961, just outside this Chamber, declared: ``Ask not what your country can do for you--ask what you can do for your country.'' Chuck Sprafka did a great deal for his country, Mr. Speaker, and today I want to celebrate a dedicated public servant's inspiring commitment to his country and the people of Hennepin County he served so well. Chuck Sprafka was named Hennepin County personnel director in 1984. In 1994, he was named associate county administrator for human resources, which made him a member of the Hennepin County administration's executive team. Mr. Speaker, Chuck's record in public service was exemplary. In 1995, he was named recipient of the Twin Cities Personnel Association's ``Award of Excellence.'' In May of this year, Hennepin County created an employee recognition award in his name. His fellow workers in Hennepin County called Chuck The Rock. That's because, whenever there was a great challenge to be overcome, everyone turned to Chuck. His pioneering efforts produced a program called Quality Partnership Initiatives, a new county approach to improving the quality of service. Quality is the theme that comes first to mind when you summarize the career of Chuck Sprafka for he truly represented the best in public service. Mr. Speaker, Chuck was also very active in a numerous community and professional organizations, including the Industrial Relations Center Advisory Council, Minnesota Chapter of the International Personnel Management Association, and the national and Minnesota Public Employer Labor Relations Associations. He was also a member of the Human Resources Executive Council. Chuck was a great high school athlete at Detroit Lakes High School, one of the best skaters in that school's history. He loved the outdoors, and was an avid sportsman. After receiving a bachelor's degree in mathematics and chemistry from Bemidji State University in 1968, he had a successful career in the business world. He then returned to school and earned a master's degree in industrial relations from the University of Minnesota in 1972, after which he went to work for Hennepin County, Minnesota's most populous county and one of the largest employers in the state. During his tenure at the county, he did graduate work in public administration at Harvard University. Above all, Mr. Speaker, Chuck Sprafka was a dedicated and loving husband and father. As his lifelong friend Jon Boisclair put it, ``Chuck's family meant the world to him, and he loved them dearly.'' Chuck will forever be missed by his loving wife, Jeannie, and his children, Collette, Rachelle, and Nicholas. Mr. Speaker, Chuck Sprafka stood for all that's right with America, and his legacy will live on in the hearts and minds of all who were fortunate enough to know him.

Mr. RAMSTAD

Mr. RAMSTAD. Mr. Chairman, I thank my distinguished chairman for yielding this time to me and for his strong leadership in bringing this Taxpayers Relief Act to the floor to provide hardworking Americans with the most substantial tax relief since 1981, Mr. Chairman. This tax relief bill here today truly does cover people at all stages of life, from the childhood years through the education years to the savings years and into the retirement years. But in addition to the five major provisions in this tax bill which have been debated most extensively here today, the child tax credit, the education tax incentives, the capital gains tax relief, the extension of IRAs and reduction in death taxes, I would like to focus on three provisions which have not gotten much attention today but are very, very important to help victims of the recent flooding in the Red River Valley, and I would like to thank the chairman and the other members of the Committee on Ways and Means who worked together in a bipartisan way, who listened to those flood victims when we were there in the Red River Valley at those town meetings, particularly the gentleman from North Dakota [Mr. Pomeroy] and the gentleman from Minnesota [Mr. Peterson] on the other side of the aisle who worked to help craft these provisions. This bill today, this tax relief bill, includes special mortgage revenue bond rules for those people to rebuild their homes, their apartment buildings and houses in the flood areas. It includes extensions of IRS deadlines for flood area taxpayers. And it also includes special IRS rules for sales of livestock caused by the horrible historic flooding in the Red River Valley. Mr. Chairman, this bill will help real people right away. This bill will not only help all taxpayers at all stages of their life, but particularly right now those people in the Red River Valley who have been devastated, devastated by the horrible flooding. This Congress has listened to those people at those town meetings elsewhere, when the mayors came out here. The Committee on Ways and Means has responded. I strongly urge my colleagues to pass this important bill.

Mr. RAMSTAD

Mr. RAMSTAD. Mr. Speaker, as a member of the Committee on Ways and Means I am grateful for the bipartisan pragmatic way in which we put together the Medicare portion of this bill before us today. Not only do we save Medicare from bankruptcy today, we preserve it for tomorrow's seniors. I would like to focus briefly on the two specific reforms in the bill. One is a reform to make the AAPCC reimbursement formula, the Medicare reimbursement formula, more equitable to States like Minnesota. This is a major reform in the formula. It will mean more equity for States with rural populations and more health care options for Medicare beneficiaries in those States. For the first time there will be a payment floor and a blended formula to bring more fairness and equity to seniors in States like ours. We also continue to develop new and innovative ways to provide health care to seniors by extending for 2 years the community nursing organization demonstration project. These are very, very important projects again to let seniors live in their own homes longer and also to save important Medicare dollars. This is a vital program for seniors. Mr. Speaker, I urge all members to support this important legislation.

Mr. RAMSTAD

Mr. RAMSTAD. Mr. Speaker, I thank my distinguished chairman for yielding me the time. Mr. Speaker, I strongly support the bipartisan effort to renew normal trade relations with China and oppose the disapproval resolution we are considering today. United States engagement in China through continued trading relationships is clearly, clearly the best way to influence China's policies. How can we be a force for change in China's human rights policies if we are not there? We learned during our Committee on Ways and Means hearing last week that many evangelical Christians and humanitarian groups which actually work in China strongly support MFN renewal. Let me quote from two. First, Joy Hilley of Children of the World, which is a nonprofit international relief and adoption agency operating in China, said that her group's concern for continued access to China is based on their belief that their presence in China has not only enriched the lives of the children who have been adopted but has actually helped save the lives of those children who remain in orphanages in China. MFN renewal is also supported by the Rev. Ned Graham, son of another well-known minister, the Rev. Billy Graham, who heads a ministry which works with the churches in China. With all that in mind, Mr. Speaker, I must say that we do not need to apologize for recognizing that the United States-China trade relationship is also very important to jobs and to businesses in this country. An aggressive free trade policy is absolutely essential to our economy and our workers. We in Minnesota know what this means. In 1996, we exported over $60 million worth of goods to the growing Chinese market. We are currently working on improving that figure through the Minnesota Trade Office's Minnesota China Initiative. In fact our State legislature just authorized $350,000 for this effort to establish Minnesota companies as known and preferred vendors in China. The workers understand what this MFN means in terms of jobs. Let us hope the Congress understands. Vote down this disapproval motion.

Mr. RAMSTAD

Mr. RAMSTAD. Mr. Chairman, I thank my colleague for yielding me this time. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in strong support of the Ramstad amendment to terminate further production of the Trident D-5 submarine launched ballistic missile. As we continue our efforts here to balance the budget and reduce the Federal debt, each and every Government program, including defense, must be scrutinized for potential savings. The further production of the Trident D-5 missile is one such program. We already have over 350 Trident D-5's in service. At a cost of over $50 million each, we simply cannot afford to continue increasing the size of this missile force, nor do we need to, as our missile capability is more than adequate. By ending production of this missile, we will save taxpayers $5.7 billion over the next 10 years, without sacrificing our national security. We must all strongly support the need for a strong national defense. But, at the same time, we cannot continue to fund programs that excessively spend scarce resources. Mr. Chairman, let me read from this letter from Taxpayers for Common Sense: As the United States moves to a balanced budget, it is unacceptable for taxpayers to finance an outdated missile program originally designed to counter Cold War threats. With 350 D-5 missiles already in service, the U.S. Navy is well- equipped, making further D-5 purchases unnecessary. Only a select few nations possess SLBM capabilities. The United States already leads the world in this area, with 4 other nations, Russia, China, France and Great Britain, all trailing in the distance. To the extent that the SLBM remains a viable strategic weapon in the redefined global arena, the United States possesses an adequate deterrent capability. Let us save the taxpayer $5.7 billion. Please vote for this amendment. Mr. Chairman, I include for the Record the letter from Jill Lancelot from Taxpayers for Common Sense: Taxpayers for Common $ense, June 19, 1997. Support Luther-Ramstad Amendment to DOD Bill: Cut D-5 Missile--Save $5.7 Billion Dear Representatives Luther and Ramstad: Taxpayers for Common $ense is pleased to support the Luther-Ramstad amendment to the FY98 Defense Authorization Bill to end further procurement of the D-5 submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) and deactivate eight Trident submarines currently equipped with an older missile system. This amendment would both eliminate future purchases of a weapon costing $50 million per missile and cancel the backfitting of submarines with older missile systems, leading to ultimate savings of $5.7 billion. As the United States moves to a balanced budget, it is unacceptable for taxpayers to finance an outdated missile program originally designed to counter Cold War threats. With 350D-5 missiles currently in service, the U.S. Navy is more than well-equipped, making further D-5 purchases unnecessary. Only a select few nations possess SLBM capabilities. The U.S. already leads the world in this area, with four other nations, Russia, China, France and Great Britain, all trailing in the distance. To the extent that the SLBM still remains a viable strategic weapon in the redefined global arena, the U.S. possesses an adequate deterrent capability. To ensure that we achieve the goal of a balanced budget, Congress must make difficult decisions regarding each and every dollar. Your amendment represents a sensible balance between sound defense policy and sound budget policy. Sincerely, Jill Lancelot, Legislative Director.

Mr. RAMSTAD

Mr. RAMSTAD. Mr. Speaker, we are privileged to have the Reverend Robert Taylor Baggott III of Wayzata, MN, as our guest chaplain today. Bob Baggott is the senior minister of my home church, Wayzata Community Church, and a close personal friend. Bob is a highly respected member of the clergy and a person of great spirituality who has touched many lives throughout our Nation. In fact, Mr. Speaker, Bob Baggott was brought up in a Baptist church in Georgia. Bob is well known for his inspirational and insightful speaking. He is a product of one of the great preaching seminaries in our Nation, New Orleans Seminary. Reverend Baggott has a remarkable record of community outreach and religious stewardship across this land, from New Orleans and Atlanta to Chicago and Miami to Minnesota. Bob Baggott started his ministry at Baptist Hospital in New Orleans, then received his masters of divinity degree and served as associate pastor at a Baptist church in Atlanta. From there he accepted a call from Plymouth Congregational Church in Miami, where he founded the New Life Family Shelter. Also in Miami, Reverend Baggott served as trustee of Miami Interfaith Counseling as well as community services, Christian Community Services, that is, on top of chairing the United Protestant Appeal in Miami. Little wonder then, Mr. Speaker, that Bob Baggott was voted Man of the Year by the Miami Christian Community Agency. Reverend Baggott was also chosen as guest preacher at the National Cathedral here in Washington in 1989 to speak at the anniversary service for the victims of the Pan Am flight 103 tragedy. Mr. Speaker, Reverend Baggott came to Wayzata, MN, our community, after serving as senior minister at First Congregational Church in Naperville, IL. Bob also currently serves on the National Clergy Advisory Board for the Chicago Theological Seminary. Bob and his wife Beth, who is visiting with us today and sitting in the gallery, are both children of ministers. Bob's father is a retired senior minister of a large Baptist church in Birmingham, AL. Beth's father is a retired Lutheran pastor. Beth and Bob are the proud parents of Taylor who is here today on the floor. Taylor is an 11-year-old hockey player who is going to be a great one in Minnesota, and Peyton, who is with Beth in the gallery, his beautiful 6-year-old sister. Mr. Speaker, it is a great pleasure and privilege for me to welcome the Reverend Robert Taylor Baggott III and his family to the House today, and we offer him our heartfelt thanks for serving as our guest chaplain.

Mr. RAMSTAD

Mr. RAMSTAD. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to the Gekas amendment. I am disappointed we are considering an amendment which would further delay much-needed relief to the flood-ravaged Red River Valley. I witnessed firsthand the incredible devastation and the thousands of hurting people in the Red River Valley who are counting on Congress and the President for help. They need flood relief now to rebuild their homes, businesses, and communities. They don't need a Christmas tree bill with unrelated items attached to it like the Gekas amendment. Under normal circumstances I would support the automatic continuing resolution. However, this legislation should be handled separately, and the Disaster Recovery Act passed as soon as possible without an amendment which would cause a Presidential veto. I respectfully urge my colleagues, on behalf of thousands of food victims in the Red River Valley who want to help themselves, to vote no to the Gekas amendment. Let's get help to flood victims now without any further delay.

Mr. RAMSTAD. Mr. Chairman, will the gentleman yield?

Mr. RAMSTAD. I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong support of this amendment. When a group of us with the Speaker toured the devastated Red River Valley to see the flood firsthand, the Speaker put it best when he said we need CDBG funding to allow these States and communities maximum flexibility to help homeowners and small businesspeople recover. He said we need CDBG funding because we need to give funding to these people as boldly and rapidly and as efficiently as possible. Mr. Chairman, this means the Thune amendment. Let us give local officials some more control and more resources to help these people recover from this flood of a century which literally destroyed two cities. This flexibility is absolutely necessary. Let us get help to them now without Washington strings attached.

Mr. RAMSTAD

Mr. RAMSTAD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today on National Peace Officers Memorial Day to pay tribute to the 14,318 peace officers who have paid the ultimate price to protect our law-abiding citizens in our communities. The names of these heroes are inscribed on the wall of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial located just blocks from this Capitol. Two hundred fifty-four new names were added this week in a candlelight vigil, representing 116 police officers killed in the line of duty in 1996 and 138 others who sacrificed their lives in other years. My home State of Minnesota lost 3 police officers in 1996 who died in the line of duty. Brian Klinefelter, a St. Joseph, Minnesota police officer was slain by a liquor store robber. Rice County Deputy John Liebenstein was killed when his car was rammed by the teenage driver of a stolen car. A Dakota County, Minnesota Deputy Luther Klug was killed by a drunk driver who broadsided his patrol car after running a stop sign. The drunk driver had a blood alcohol content of 0.20, twice the legal limit in Minnesota. Another police officer, a Minneapolis police department officer, sustained a very painful loss at the hands of a drunk driver just 2 months ago. The car of a drunk driver crushed the right leg of Officer David Loeffler, a rookie Minneapolis police officer while he and his partner were helping a pedestrian. This inspirational young officer sustained an amputation to his leg below the knee, but he is still determined to return to the force some day with the use of a prosthetic leg. These heroes, Mr. Speaker, are the reason we celebrate and observe Police Week and commemorate police officers Memorial Day. We honor the fallen and we also honor the living, the thousands of peace officers across this Nation who stand tall, putting their lives on the line every single day they wear the badge. This year I have the privilege of serving with the gentleman from Michigan [Mr. Stupak], as cochair of the House Law Enforcement Caucus. The Caucus is promoting several legislative initiatives which I would like to call to the attention of our colleagues. These initiatives would amplify the message of Peace Officers Memorial Day. The first is House Concurrent Resolution 41 which the gentleman from Michigan [Mr. Stupak] and I have cosponsored. This calls for the creation of a postage stamp commemorating fallen officers. The second is House Concurrent Resolution 47 which we have joined our colleague, the gentleman from Pennsylvania [Mr. Foglietta] in sponsoring. This resolution would fly a flag at half staff over the Capitol whenever a law enforcement officer is slain in the line of duty. Mr. Speaker, the least we can do to honor police officers across this Nation, those who have been killed in the line of duty, is to cosponsor and pass these two initiatives. So I encourage my colleagues to sign on to these bills to cosponsor both of these measures, and I also encourage support for every other legislative initiative which would help law enforcement officers and the families of those who risk life and limb to promote law and order in our communities, in our States, and in our Nation.

Mr. RAMSTAD

Mr. RAMSTAD. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding to me. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of my colleagues' efforts to bring attention to the tragedy of drunk driving, and to discuss briefly a bill I have introduced with 20 of our colleagues on both sides of the aisle to establish a national commission on alcoholism to deal with this fatal disease in a comprehensive and cost-effective way. Mr. Speaker, alcoholism killed over 100,000 Americans last year. That is more than all illegal drugs combined. Half of our Nation's convicted murderers committed their crimes under the influence of alcohol. My colleague, the gentleman from Florida, and my colleague, the gentlewoman from Oregon, already discussed the devastation caused by drunk drivers. Alcoholism is truly a painful struggle with a staggering public cost. Untreated alcoholics incur health care costs at least double those of nonalcoholics. In indirect and direct costs together, the public, the American taxpayer, pays at least $86 billion because of alcoholism. I recently spoke with a former radio talk show host and city council member from Minneapolis. Her name is Barbara Carlson. Barbara told me the absolutely heartrending story of a young neighbor of hers killed by a drunk driver. It had so affected Barbara that she called her old station and asked for special air time, just to talk about this terrible tragedy and the scourge of drunk driving in this country. Mr. Speaker, Barbara Carlson put it best when she said we will never reduce the 17,000 deaths that occurred last year alone in alcohol- related crashes unless and until we address the root cause of alcoholism. That is why we are introducing this legislation to create a national commission on alcoholism, to develop a practical, achievable public policy to deal with this costly, fatal disease. Mr. Speaker, we need a national strategy. To deal with illegal drugs, we have the Office of Drug Control Policy. We do not have a concerted national effort to deal with our No. 1 killer, alcoholism. Let me just explain this bill very briefly, Mr. Speaker. This bill, H.R. 1549, would establish the Harold Hughes-Bill Emerson Commission on Alcoholism, named after two exceptional public servants who everyone in this body knows and who passed away last year; Harold Hughes, a very distinguished Democrat Governor and former U.S. Senator from Iowa, and Bill Emerson, a colleague of ours, a Republican member from Missouri. Both men were passionate advocates in the struggle against alcoholism, and both men strongly advocated the creation of this commission, and they handed this off to me to chief sponsor. This temporary commission to deal with the problem of alcoholism will include 12 appointed members and also the director of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. I foresee prevention and treatment experts on this commission, representatives of Mothers Against Drunk Driving, academic and medical professionals, representatives of the business community, recovering people, and Members of Congress. The commission will be charged with specific tasks, including ways to streamline existing treatment and prevention programs, and develop a national strategy to counter this deadly and costly epidemic. Within 2 years the commission will be charged with submitting its recommendations to the Congress and the President, and then disband. I strongly urge my colleagues to cosponsor H.R. 1549. Mr. Speaker, only by addressing the underlying problem of alcoholism will we ever reduce the incidence of drunk driving in America. Again, I thank the gentleman for yielding, and for his efforts in this important effort to deal with drunk driving.