Jim Ramstad

Mr. RAMSTAD

Mr. RAMSTAD. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I just want to take this opportunity, like the previous speaker, to thank Senators Domenici and Kennedy. It has been a real privilege to work with such committed public servants on this legislation, and also the chief cosponsor in the House, the gentleman from Rhode Island, who just spoke so eloquently about this legislation. I want to say, as I have said many times before as I have traveled this country, were the gentleman from Rhode Island's uncle, President Kennedy, still alive today, and were President Kennedy to write a sequel to his book ``Profiles in Courage,'' there would be a complete chapter about his nephew, the gentleman from Rhode Island, Patrick Kennedy, because not only has he been right on the policy and has done a tremendous job over the past several years fighting for parity, but also his personal story, which he shared with people all across this Nation, has literally inspired hundreds of thousands of people to get help. He has been a real profile in courage and a pleasure to work with. At this time, Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. RAMSTAD. I yield the gentleman 2 additional minutes.

Mr. RAMSTAD. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Connecticut, who has been a long supporter of parity, Mr. Shays.

Mr. RAMSTAD. I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, we would not be having the debate here today without the compassionate leadership of the late Senator Paul Wellstone. I want to thank the Speaker and majority leader, as well as Chairmen Rangel, Stark, George Miller, Dingell, Pallone and Andrews, for their key support. The issue before us today is not just another public policy issue. The issue today before us is a matter of life and death for 54 million Americans suffering the ravages of mental illness and 26 million Americans suffering from chemical addiction. Last year alone, more than 30,000 Americans committed suicide from untreated depression and 150,000 Americans died as the direct result of chemical addiction. On top of the tragic loss of lives, untreated addiction and mental illness cost our economy $550 billion last year, according to the Wall Street Journal. In fact, the Journal cited $70 billion was lost from our economy because of untreated depression alone. I am alive and sober today only because of the access that I had to treatment following my last alcoholic blackout on July 31, 1981. I woke up that day in a jail cell in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and I am living proof that treatment works and recovery is possible. But far too many people in our country don't have the same access to treatment that I and other Members of Congress, other Federal employees have. A major barrier for thousands of Americans is insurance discrimination, plain and simple, against people in health plans who need treatment for mental illness or chemical addiction. The legislation my friend from Rhode Island (Mr. Kennedy) and I have authored, H.R. 6983 before us today, would end this discrimination by prohibiting health insurers from placing discriminatory restrictions on treatment for people with mental illness or addiction. No more inflated deductibles or copayments that don't exist for physical diseases. No more limited treatment stays that don't apply to physical ailments, no more discrimination against people with mental illness or chemical addiction. I just want to say a word about the chief sponsor of this legislation, Mr. Kennedy, who has worked tirelessly on this bill. We have worked together for many years now on this legislation since he first came to the House. I want to publicly acknowledge and thank Mr. Kennedy, who has not only worked hard on this legislation, but has been an inspiration to literally hundreds of thousands of Americans as we traveled this country to 14 States, holding field hearings on this important legislation. Simply stated, the Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act, which has, by the way, 274 cosponsors from both sides of the aisle, simply stated, provides equal treatment for diseases of the brain with the body. Diseases of the brain should be treated the same as diseases of the body. There is no government mandate. Nobody is mandated to insure anybody for treatment for mental illness or chemical addiction. There is no mandate in this bill. All it says is if your policy includes coverage for mental illness or addiction, then you cannot be discriminated against, that is, those ailments must be treated the same as physical ailments. Providing treatment equity is not only the right thing to do, it's the cost-effective thing to do. Believe me, we have over the last 12 years assembled all the empirical data in the world, all the actuarial studies in the world, and they all showed the same thing, that equity for mental health and addiction treatment will save, not cost, but save, literally, billions of dollars nationally. At the same time, treatment parity will not raise premiums more than two-tenths of 1 percent. That's according to the Congressional Budget Office. Let me repeat that. Premiums will not raise more than two- tenths of 1 percent. So, in other words, for the price of a cheap cup of coffee per month, I am not talking about a fancy restaurant, I am talking about Pete's Diner, where many of us go, millions of people could receive treatment for chemical addiction and mental illness. In fact, 16 million people of the 26 million people in health plans could receive treatment under this bill. When my friend from Rhode Island and I traveled this country holding field hearings on this legislation, we heard, literally, hundreds and hundreds of stories of human suffering that ripped your heart out, broken families, tragic deaths, ruined careers, shattered dreams, all because insurance companies would not provide access to treatment for mental illness and addiction for people who were in health plans. We could change that here today. It's time to end the discrimination against people who need treatment for mental illness and addiction. It's time to prohibit health insurers from placing discriminatory barriers on treatment. It's time to join the coalition of insurance companies, yes, I said insurance companies. More than 10 of them now support this, as well as the major business groups who support parity. They know it's cost effective, they know parity saves health care dollars. It's time to make this bipartisan legislation the law of the land. The people of America cannot wait any longer for Congress to act. Mr. David Wellstone Son of the late Senator Paul Wellstone Co-Founder, Wellstone Action Statement for the Record in Support of the Passage of The Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008, September, 2008 I am pleased to speak in support of the Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008. This legislation is critically important to the future of health care, and it is also very close to my heart. During my father's time in the Senate, he never stopped fighting for fairness in coverage and treatment for mental illness and substance use disorders. My family and I are grateful for the tribute that the Senate and the House have paid to my father's legacy by naming the bill after him, as well as his close colleague, Sen. Pete Domenici. My brother and I founded Wellstone Action to carry on my father's work, and through this organization, thousands of people are trained each year to run for office and to develop grassroots skills in organizing and leadership. But nothing represents my father's passion and commitment more than his work to pass legislation that would end the discrimination against those with mental illness and substance use disorders. This legislation is a major achievement and will do so much to end that discrimination. For some time, I have been coming to Washington to speak on behalf of this legislation, but the fight for parity has a long history with many milestones: the 1996 federal law; the 1999 Executive Order that gave federal employees mental health and addiction parity benefits; the many successes at the state level to strengthen their parity laws; the times that Congress came very close to passing the expansion of the federal law; and the endorsement by President Bush in 2002. For my father, these milestones were very personal. His dedication stemmed from his personal observations of the terrible conditions in psychiatric institutions when his brother was hospitalized in the 1950s. These conditions, and the eventual catastrophic financial toll that my grandparents had to bear, inspired my father to do everything he could to make things right for those in similar circumstances. The legislation that my father and Sen. Domenici passed in 1996 was groundbreaking and important, for it established in law an important first principle of parity: that those with mental illness should not be discriminated against in insurance coverage. But my father knew that it was not enough, and that is why this legislation is so necessary. It is the critically important next step toward ending the persistent discrimination against people who suffer from mental illness and addiction. In the House, the tireless leadership of Congressman Patrick Kennedy and Congressman Jim Ramstad has been extraordinary, especially with the groundbreaking inclusion of substance use disorders in the parity bill and their protection of the rights of patients. They and the House Leadership, especially Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, should be proud of their efforts to make this legislation one that will strongly protect the needs of millions of Americans who have mental illness and substance use disorders. In the House, the efforts by the Chairmen of the Energy and Commerce, Ways and Means, and Education and Labor Committees should be proud of their successful efforts to fight for the rights of those with these illnesses. And, as I know well, nothing is accomplished without the unflagging commitment of hundreds of dedicated staff and advocates who have worked so hard to right the wrong of discrimination that has existed for so long in our country. I also want to extend my deep gratitude to former First Lady Rosalynn Carter for her many years of leadership on this issue and many other problems related to mental illness. She and my father worked closely together on parity for many years, and he was always grateful for her support and leadership. We know that mental illness is a real, painful, and sometimes fatal disease. It is also a treatable disease. My father used to say that the gap between what we know and what we do is lethal. Available medications and psychological treatments, alone or in combination, can help most people who suffer from mental illness and addiction. But without adequate treatment, these illnesses can continue or worsen in severity. Suicide is the third leading cause of death of young people in the U.S. Each year, 32,000 Americans take their lives, hundreds of thousands attempt to do so, and in 90% of these situations, the cause is untreated mental illness. This legislation will save lives. It will also go a long way toward ending the stigma that is behind the discrimination. People have asked me why I am so involved in this issue. My first response is, ``Because of my father, of course''. I loved him and I miss him, and I have learned that many others here in Washington and throughout the country miss him too, especially his courage and his compassion. He fought hard for those who had no voice, and he had a strong personal commitment to helping those with mental illness and addiction. After he died, Congressional members honored him and my family by promising to name the parity bill after him, and this meant a great deal to my family. But I also knew the kind of man my father was, and the kind of parity bill he would have wanted finally passed into law, and I wanted to help ensure that the final bill was one worthy of his name. The safeguards for patients that have been included in this final bill, such as protections of stronger state laws, out of network benefits, oversight of diagnosis coverage, and transparency of medical necessity, are essential to a strong law. This Congress can be remembered as the one that had the courage and leadership to pass a strong parity bill, one where everyone's voices had a chance to be heard. I, along with millions of Americans, look forward to the day when people with mental illness and substance use disorder receive decent, humane, and timely care. The passage of the Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008 brings us so much closer to this day. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. RAMSTAD. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. RAMSTAD

Mr. RAMSTAD. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of this bipartisan comprehensive energy bill that opens offshore areas to drilling, provides incentives for the development of renewable energy, clamps down on speculators and requires oil companies to drill on 69 million acres of leased land and water. I oppose the alternative bill, which would give coastal states that support drilling over $40 billion from oil and gas royalties over the next 10 years. After 2019, the federal government would be required to transfer to coastal states nearly 40 percent of all federal revenues from offshore oil and gas drilling ($6 billion every year). Even the Administration has told us that such a cost would be too high! We should not hand coastal states billions of federal dollars, while giving them undue influence over national resource management. And, despite its cost, the alternative plan would do little to increase the supply or reduce the price of oil, according to the Department of Energy. Congress should debate offshore drilling on its own merits without using resource revenues to buy votes. Our nation needs a comprehensive energy reform policy that will boost supplies of all types of energy, reduce our dependence on foreign oil and lower gas prices. The American people deserve nothing less!

Mr. RAMSTAD

Mr. RAMSTAD. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize all the good people at Hammer Residences, who have come to Washington, DC, to take part in the American Network of Community Options and Resources (ANCOR) 2008 Governmental Activities Seminar and ``DSPs to DC'' events. Hammer Residences is working in my district to provide direct support and services to individuals with disabilities of all ages. Hammer employs 300 direct support professionals who provide a range of supports services 7 days a week, 24 hours a day, to help further the public policy goal of enabling people with mental and physical disabilities to live and work in their community. This outstanding, highly trained, highly skilled and highly committed workforce supports over 400 people with disabilities in our community. Hammer's services include residential and in-home services, case management and other support services for both children and adults with disabilities. For most of this week, people from Hammer Residences and all the attendees at ANCOR's events are meeting with their congressional offices. They are discussing the deepening workforce crisis threatening the quality of support services to people with disabilities throughout the Nation. Without an adequately paid, trained and dedicated workforce, Americans with disabilities and their families face a less secure future. Without the necessary workforce, providers cannot help our nation fulfill its commitment to people with disabilities embodied in the Americans with Disabilities Act and the U.S. Supreme Court's Olmstead decision. I applaud the people at Hammer Residences for taking a lead on this workforce issue. This is problem-solving at its best, and I encourage all of my colleagues to examine their commitment to providing the best support possible to people with disabilities in their districts. There is no better way to recognize this workforce's contribution to the Nation than to ensure that these dedicated direct support professionals are fairly compensated. I ask that my colleagues join me in cosponsoring the bipartisan Direct Support Professionals Fairness and Security Act (H.R. 1279) and urging hearings on this important issue in the coming weeks.

Mr. RAMSTAD

Mr. RAMSTAD. Madam Speaker, I rise to take a moment to remember the tragic event that occurred 1 year ago today when an eight-lane bridge on Highway 35-W in downtown Minneapolis collapsed and took the lives of 13 people. No Minnesotan will ever forget the night of August 1st. No Minnesotan will ever forget the horrifying image of the school bus, barely hanging onto the edge of a piece of concrete. We all wondered how many children were on the bus and how they could be rescued. But all those children made it off the bus to safety, thanks to the kindness of strangers. And that is what people will remember the most-- the brave first responders and ordinary men and women who risked their lives to save others. Madam Speaker, our thoughts and prayers are still with the victims and their families, and we must do everything possible to assure a tragedy like this will never happen again. Minnesota has done a lot this year to improve the quality of its infrastructure. I am proud to say that after a year of hard work and dedication, the bridge is expected to re-open in 2 months, ahead of schedule. Madam Speaker, my deepest gratitude goes to my colleagues who responded so quickly during Minnesota's time of need, and to every person who responded to this disaster, saving lives, caring for the injured, comforting victims and their families and making our bridge whole again.

Mr. RAMSTAD

Mr. RAMSTAD. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Just briefly, I rise again in strong support of the Pension Protection Technical Corrections Act. It truly is a vital piece of legislation for the people of America. I want to again thank Chairman Rangel, Chairman Miller, Ranking Member McCrery, Mr. Pomeroy, and Mr. Andrews for their collaboration on this legislation, and last but not least the unsung heroes who worked tirelessly to put this product together, all the staff members of the respective committees. I urge passage of the bill. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. RAMSTAD. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 6382, the Pension Protection Technical Corrections Act. Pension technical corrections, Mr. Speaker, are hardly considered glamorous bills. The Tax Code and ERISA which govern pension plans are complicated, to say the least, and the interaction between the two sets of laws is very complex. So it is no surprise that a pension technical corrections bill is, as named, highly technical. But that doesn't detract from the importance of this bill. Because of the complexity of this area of law, a number of glitches have been discovered that prevent pension laws from operating the way Congress has intended. This bill will fix those glitches, will correct those errors, whether they are drafting or other errors. This will give much- needed certainty to plan administrators, government regulators, and, most importantly, the people who depend on pensions for their financial security in retirement. That is the bottom line. This is all about making these corrections so that the people who depend on pensions for their financial security in retirement will have certainty and security. Mr. Speaker, I realize some people do not fully appreciate what a difficult and painstaking process is involved in technical corrections. In fact, until I got involved directly, I didn't realize how complex a process this was, involving both caucuses, five committees in both bodies of Congress and three executive branch agencies. In the case of the bill before us today, the process is led by the staff of the Joint Committee on Taxation, which did a marvelous job, and includes collaboration from the bipartisan staff of the Ways and Means Committee and Education and Labor Committee, as well as their counterparts from the Senate Finance and Senate Health Committees. All of those staffers should be commended, Mr. Speaker, for the excellent work they did on this legislation. Also involved were representatives from the Treasury and Labor Departments and the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation. Sometimes, Mr. Speaker, there are disagreements about what should and should not be considered technical. Each participant in the process has a veto. Thus, only items that were unanimously viewed as correcting a drafting mistake are included in the technical title of the measure before us. Getting all these players to agree that the sky is blue is certainly not an easy task, so I can't overstate how monumental it is that we now have a bill that survived that rigorous process. There is also another title in the bill containing a few other pension-related items that are not purely technical. I want to thank Chairman Rangel and his staff, as well as the Members here before us today, the outstanding Members on the other side the aisle from the committee, Mr. Pomeroy and also the gentleman from New Jersey, for their cooperation and collaboration on the bill. I also want to thank Mildeen Worrell from Chairman Rangel's staff for working to include the provision that I authored that solves an urgent problem for State employees back home in Minnesota, including many, many first responders, police, firefighters and other first responders, as well as teachers. I am also grateful to Ranking Member McCrery and his excellent staff for their assistance. Mr. Speaker, let me conclude by saying it is time to provide much- needed certainty to our Nation's pension plans and the people who rely on them. I urge my colleagues to support this bill. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. RAMSTAD

Mr. RAMSTAD. Madam Speaker, it is my special privilege to welcome today's guest chaplain, Senior Pastor John Crosby of Christ Presbyterian Church in Edina, Minnesota. On behalf of the entire House of Representatives, thank you, John, for your moving and timely prayer, and for serving as guest chaplain today. Madam Speaker, the Reverend John Crosby is a true servant-leader who personifies faith, compassion and service to those less fortunate. He is a true man of God. Pastor Crosby has been at Christ Presbyterian Church, one of the most dynamic and vibrant faith communities in the Twin Cities, since 1989. John and his wife, Laura, came to Minnesota from Washington, DC, where they ministered at the National Presbyterian Church. They have two daughters, Maggie, who is a junior at Denver University, and Katy who worked as a congressional intern in my Washington office and is now working here in Washington for Bread for the World. Knowing Katy as I do, I can personally testify to the wonderful job John and Laura have done in raising their outstanding daughters, and I am pleased that Laura and Katy are here today in the Speaker's gallery to see their husband and father deliver the opening prayer. Madam Speaker, Pastor Crosby is a thoughtful and caring person who applies his faith to daily life and the major issues of the day. He is very interested and involved in policy matters, and he has been a trusted adviser throughout my 18 years here in Congress. John Crosby also has experience working in the United States Senate for former Chaplain Richard Halvorsen. Our Twin Cities community is truly blessed by Pastor Crosby's strong and principled leadership, as well as his inspiring commitment to help people in need. Under Reverend Crosby's tenure, the youth program and community outreach at Christ Presbyterian Church have grown exponentially, and have been a great asset, a great resource for our community at large. Over a thousand young people are involved in the youth program at Christ Presbyterian Church. And I will never forget when that youth group lost one of its own in a car accident a number of years ago, a beautiful young woman whose family I knew well, and a thousand young people from that church gathered spontaneously that Sunday night at the church, and John led them in prayer. Pastor Crosby is a man of God who lives out the Biblical command to love God, love others and serve the least amongst us, and I am proud and grateful to call him my friend. Thank you again, John, for serving the House of Representatives today and for doing the Lord's work here on the Earth each and every day.

Mr. RAMSTAD

Mr. RAMSTAD. Madam Speaker, as co-chair of the Bipartisan Disabilities Caucus, I rise in strong support of the bill before us, the ADA Amendments Act. It is a matter of basic justice for every American to have access to public accommodations and businesses. And every American deserves the opportunity to hold a job, contribute their talents and live with dignity and independence. That's what the Americans with Disabilities Act, ADA, of 1990 was all about--creating access and equal opportunity for millions of Americans with disabilities. And that's why the recent court cases that have chipped away at the protections of the ADA have been so alarming. This important bill will stop the erosion and clarify that people who use adaptive technology to cope with their disability still deserve the protection of the ADA. People with disabilities have to overcome obstacles every day. It's time to remove the legal obstacles to their basic civil rights. It's time to tear down the barriers that keep people with disabilities from fully participating and sharing their gifts. It's time to restore basic justice. I urge my colleagues to support this important bill.

Mr. RAMSTAD

Mr. RAMSTAD. Madam Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to a truly great community in Minnesota's 3rd Congressional District which has played a crucial role in the history and development of our region and State. Bloomington is our State's 5th largest city and this special city will celebrate its 150th birthday on May 11, the same day the State of Minnesota was admitted to the Union. Madam Speaker, we salute Bloomington for its remarkable success, pioneering spirit, record of public service to help people in need and role in positioning both Minnesota and the U.S. for a prosperous future in the global economy. Bloomington is a place of historic importance situated near the confluence of the Mississippi and the Minnesota Rivers, and in close proximity to Historic Fort Snelling, completed in 1825. The soldiers of Fort Snelling mediated disputes between Minnesota's Dakota and Ojibwe Indians. In 1843, the first European settlers built a cabin near the current 10th Avenue Circle and taught farming methods to Dakota Indians. The territory to the west opened to settlers in 1851. Bloomington is a city with tremendous historical pride and patriotism and we honor all of Bloomington's courageous members of our armed forces who have fought for freedom. Bloomington was also the home of Tom Burnett, Jr., one of the heroes of Flight 93 on September 11, 2001. Madam Speaker, Bloomington is home to 85,172 wonderful people and it has been my pleasure to represent all of them in Washington the past 18 years. Bloomington natives have been leaders in commerce, technology, environmental awareness, sports and the arts. Control Data was born in Bloomington and was one of the pioneering supercomputer firms. For most of the 1960s, it built the fastest computers in the world. It has been my great pleasure to work with the Bloomington Art Center on the 3rd Congressional District High School Arts Competition every year. Bloomington's public schools have produced some of our Nation's best and brightest. Bloomington is also home to the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge, which has been so critical to preserving water quality throughout the Midwest and the Mississippi River Valley all the way to the Gulf of Mexico. Madam Speaker, you could travel this entire Nation and not find a more caring, committed, hard-working and innovative community. Bloomington is home to Minnesota's first major league baseball and football teams and the world famous Mall of America, and it is adjacent to Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport. Bloomington has been the face of Minnesota to many all across this great land. For that we thank all the people of Bloomington for helping boost Minnesota's image in the eyes of the world. Madam Speaker, in recognition of the historic significance of the Sesquicentennial Celebration to the Community of Bloomington, to the State of Minnesota, and to the United States of America, we are pleased to dedicate May 11, 2008, as the Bloomington Sesquicentennial Day in Minnesota. Happy 150th birthday, Bloomington, Minnesota!

Mr. RAMSTAD

Mr. RAMSTAD. Madam Speaker, Tom Burnett, Jr. was a true American hero. All Americans owe Tom and the other passengers on United Flight 93 a deep debt of gratitude for their bravery on September 11, 2001. Indeed, the Members of this body may owe their very lives to Tom Burnett, Jr. and the other courageous passengers. Tom Burnett, Jr. grew up in Bloomington, Minnesota, in the 3rd Congressional District, which I am privileged to represent. Tom was among the small group of passengers who confronted the hijackers that fateful morning. Department of Defense officials believe Flight 93 was headed for a target here in Washington, most likely the White House or the Capitol. Tom's father, Tom Burnett, Sr., has long-held and serious concerns about the design of the Flight 93 Memorial Project proposed for the site where the plane crashed in Pennsylvania. Madam Speaker, I would like to insert comments from Tom Burnett, Sr., regarding what he believes to be serious problems with the design of the memorial to his beloved son and the other passengers. Here are Tom Burnett, Sr.'s important concerns about the Flight 93 Memorial: ``I am the father of Tom Burnett, Jr., a passenger on Flight 93 on 9-11-2001. Tom Jr. led the effort to take that flight back from the hijackers, and he and 39 passengers and crew almost succeeded. ``My son confronted a terrible moment of truth. Faced with a plot against our nation, he and the other heroes of Flight 93 fought back, and at the cost of their lives, foiled that plot to destroy the White House or the Capitol. Now it is time for the rest of us to face our moment of truth. Flight 93 has been rehijacked, and I am requesting that, if you can, demand that a proper investigation of the Memorial Project be conducted. ``This was no accident. The Memorial Project held an open design competition in time of war, inviting the entire world to enter. Guess who joined in? That group of trees that sits roughly in the position of the star on an Islamic flag is the crash site. What do you think is being memorialized here? ``A second Islamic feature that I also protested when I served on the Stage II jury is the minaret-like Tower of Voices, formed in the shape of a crescent, with its top cut at an angle so that its crescent arms reach up into the sky. Upturned crescents are a standard mosque adornment in many Muslim countries. ``Every iota of this original Crescent of Embrace design remains completely intact in the so-called `redesign.' That is why Congressman Tancredo asked the Park Service to scrap the existing design entirely. Instead of getting rid of the giant crescent as Tancredo demanded back in 2005, architect Paul Murdoch only disguised it with a few surrounding trees. ``Also remaining are those 44 glass blocks on the flight path. (There were 40 passengers and crew and four Islamic terrorists on Flight 93.) The Memorial Project acknowledges the 40 blocks inscribed with the names of my son and the other heroes, and they acknowledge the three inscribed with the 9/11 date, but they pretend not to know about this one: the huge glass block that dedicates the entire site. ``When this 44th glass block is pointed out, Project Partners say that it can't be counted with the other blocks because it is not the same size. What? Because the capstone to the terrorist memorializing block count is magnificent, that is supposed to make it okay? ``For every Islamic or terrorist memorializing feature of the crescent design, the Park Service has another equally phony excuse. ``What do we have to do to convince those opponents that the proposed Flight 93 Red Crescent still doesn't cut it? It is terribly flawed and should be thrown out to begin the quest for an entirely new design worthy of their efforts, those heroic Americans who were on that plane that fateful day. ``I was on the second jury in August, 2005, that approved that design over my objections. I objected then, in August 2005, and I am still adamantly opposed today to a design that is riddled with Islamic symbols. ``By consensus, the Stage II jury forwards this selection to the partner (architect Paul Murdoch) with the full and unqualified support of each juror, says the report that was issued. ``No, to the contrary, the vote was not unanimous, it was 9 to 6, and we, the minority, had no veto power. This is my effort to get back in the game. ``I don't want that design that has been redesigned several times by its originator and a design committee. In addition to the Red Crescent being a giant mosque, the proposed `Tower of Voices' looks like an Islamic minaret. ``Millions of Americans and I find the `Red Crescent of Embrace' an insult to my son and the others on Flight 93 who engaged in a violent struggle to take that plane back from the Islamic hijackers and were suddenly placed in the vanguard of the war on terrorism. Facing unfathomable choices, Tom was calm, clear headed, decisive and fearless. I can only hope that in the years to come the rest of us live up to the standard of heroism that he and others set on 9/11. ``What I am preeminently concerned about is what our countrymen will feel and learn when they visit the site. ``The story, when properly presented, will honor and reverberate in history. What those heroes accomplished for their fellow Americans, and for the entire Western World. ``I would want them to feel the desperateness of those aboard Flight 93 as they became aware of what was happening, and their cold realization of what they had to do. I want them to ask themselves, what would I have done had I been aboard that flight? We know that in very little time the passengers got out of their seats, and attempted to take back the airplane. ``I do not want my son's name used anywhere on that Memorial, which is an insult to him and the other passengers and crew, and what is needed is a thorough, honest and objective investigation of the process during its selection, how and why. ``I am confused but undaunted by the attacks on me and anybody else who is against this design centered around Islamic symbolism. ``Those who have opposed me in many efforts to be heard includes some of the victims family members (thankfully, few), officials in the National Park Service, a few newspapers and some others. ``The possibility of them prevailing to railroad the acceptance of this flawed design worries me! But I am undaunted in my attempt to start over, to scrap it, and get a new design. That doesn't include a bow to the Islamic fanatics. ``An investigation is needed to avoid a cataclysmic mistake. It must be now, or else the flawed design could come about. Let us get at the truth. Their stubborn persistence is terribly misguided. Maybe well intentioned, but flawed in telling me that I don't see what I see. ``Designer Paul Murdoch (and others) are engaging in personal attacks on anyone opposed, including Alec Rawls who has written widely damning the Memorial. His latest, a book, ``Crescent of Betrayal,'' gives a reasoned and thorough explanation for scrapping it. ``I am suggesting that it is past time to start over with a new design, one that will truly be worthy of those 40 heroes.'' Madam Speaker, may God bless Tom Burnett and his family. And may God bless America and all the heroes like Tom who gave their lives to save others on September 11.

Mr. RAMSTAD

Mr. RAMSTAD. Madam Speaker, I rise to pay special tribute to Margo Wels Jeske, a great American who exemplifies all that is special about our Nation of hard-working, visionary business leaders. Margo has followed a path that all of us in this chamber should strive to emulate--she cares about people first. Well before the age of computers, in 1966, when jet travel was still rare and gas was 35 cents per gallon, a young woman named Margo Wels from Nicollet, Minnesota, joined the North American Life and Casualty Company as a cashier in its New Ulm office. Margo served North American Life and Casualty and its successor company, Allianz Life, for 42 outstanding years. She held a series of important positions, including Executive Assistant to the President and other key company officials. Margo retired in early February. Today, we salute Margo Wels Jeske for her leadership and hard work in protecting people and families and helping our area keep and develop good jobs. Madam Speaker, we all know from our experience in Congress the importance of people like Margo. They have tremendous institutional knowledge, mentor younger workers and help bring order to the lives of the people with whom they work. Throughout her entire career at Allianz Life, Margo earned the deepest respect and affection of the thousands of people with whom she came in contact. Her humor, personal kindness and professionalism made her a crucial part of the company. We live in a time when connections between people are not as strong as they were in the past. But when we examine the life of Margo, we recognize the real importance of those connections. We are worse off for the lack of the personal touch. To thrive, all institutions need committed people, and no one exemplifies this better than Margo Jeske. Every season of life has its own unique pleasures and Margo has decided it is time to retire, travel and do other things that she enjoys. Madam Speaker, I want to commend Margo for her successful career and extend my best wishes to her and Wayne and their son, Eric, for health and happiness in the years ahead. America salutes Margo and all our citizens like her who bring a caring and committed attitude to the job each and every day. I hope that each of us in the U.S. Congress seek to serve our constituents with the same dedication shown by Margo Wels Jeske each and every day.

Mr. RAMSTAD

Mr. RAMSTAD. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a very special government, business and civic leader in Brooklyn Center. Minnesota, Phil Cohen. Phil's long career in public service has been guided by former Vice President Hubert Humphrey's fundamental principle: ``The moral test of government is how that government treats those who are in the dawn of life, the children; those who are in the twilight of life, the elderly; and those who are in the shadows of life, the sick, the needy and the handicapped.'' Phil has truly lived up to those lofty aspirations. I want to thank Phil Cohen for his many decades of public service to the people of our area--and wish him a happy 80th birthday. Phil Cohen, ``Mr. Brooklyn Center,'' is one of a kind--a friend to all and a dynamic whirlwind of economic, civic and charitable activity. His personal motto is: ``It's important for each generation to leave society in a better state than they found it.'' Madam Speaker, Phil Cohen has done that and then some. He is truly an inspiration. The Philip Q. Cohen Room at the Brooklyn Center Community Center attests to the magnitude of his giving. There are many reasons Phil is known as ``Mr. Brooklyn Center,'' From 1960 to 1990, at various times he served as Mayor and on the City Council and School Board. He has held leadership positions with the Metropolitan Council, the League of Minnesota Cities and many more community organizations. There is no cause or community organization, from the Lions and Rotary to the North Metro Mayors Association, Chamber of Commerce and Babe Ruth Baseball, which has not been touched by his energy and his heart. Phil helped create the Brooklyn Center Crime Prevention Association and the Brooklyn Center Charitable Foundation. Whether it is helping the Brooklyn Center Police Department obtain life-saving equipment; rescuing the Brooklyn Center High School Band program, which includes many students from disadvantaged families; helping local youth baseball; making every imaginable non-profit and civic group more viable and effective; mentoring a young person in leadership and public service; or just being there for someone in need, Phil Cohen has done it all. I have personally long relied on Phil's wise counsel. As a young Congressman arriving in Washington. I appreciated Phil's guidance on the ways of our Nation's Capitol. Phil was always there to counsel. As Legislative Assistant to former U.S. Senator Dave Durenberger for a decade. Phil shared his expertise with me, and my constituents have been the beneficiaries. Madam Speaker, I want to wish Phil Cohen a most joyous 80th birthday for his inexhaustible spirit of public service and all the good he has done for the people of Brooklyn Center. Phil truly is ``Mr. Brooklyn Center.''

Mr. RAMSTAD

Mr. RAMSTAD. I thank my friend for yielding. Mr. Speaker, the issue before us is not just another public policy issue, it's a matter of life or death for 54 million Americans suffering the ravages of mental health and for 22 million Americans suffering from chemical addiction. Last year alone, 300,000 people were denied access to addiction treatment, most had health insurance, and 33,000 people committed suicide from untreated depression. Over 150,000 of our fellow Americans died as a direct result of chemical addiction. On top of the tragic loss of lives, Mr. Speaker, untreated addiction and mental illness cost our economy over $550 billion last year. According to the Wall Street Journal, untreated depression alone cost our businesses $70 billion in lost productivity last year. So it's ludicrous for the opponents to come here and argue that parity will cost businesses $1.5 billion, as my friend from Washington, member of the Rules Committee, did. If you don't believe the Wall Street Journal, certainly those on our side of the aisle, what do you believe? Cost businesses $70 billion, just depression, untreated depression alone. Mr. Speaker, all the empirical data, including all the actuarial studies, show that equity for mental health and addiction treatment will save literally billions of dollars nationally. At the same time, it will not raise premiums more than two-tenths of 1 percent, according to the Congressional Budget Office. That's our own CBO numbers. So, I don't know where these people are getting these numbers, these inflated cost figures. Pulling them out of thin air is the only thing I can surmise. The CBO says it will not raise premiums more than two-tenths of 1 percent. In other words, for the price of a cheap cup of coffee per month, several million Americans in health plans can receive treatment for chemical addiction and mental illness. And it's unfortunate, Mr. Speaker, that some opponents of this legislation have misrepresented the costs of enacting parity. Mr. Speaker, I'm alive and sober today only because of the access I had to treatment back on July 31, 1981, when I woke up in a jail cell in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. I'm living proof that treatment works and recovery is real. But far too many people in our country don't have the same access to treatment that I had and other Members of Congress have also had. A major barrier for thousands of Americans is insurance discrimination against people in health plans who need treatment for mental illness or chemical addiction. The legislation that my friend from Rhode Island, Patrick Kennedy, who has worked tirelessly on this legislation, who arranged for all 14 field hearings, who has been a real champion, this legislation that we have authored will end the discrimination by prohibiting health insurers from placing discriminatory restrictions on treatment for people with mental illness or addiction. In other words, no more inflatable deductibles or copayments that don't apply to physical diseases. No more limited treatment stays that don't apply to physical diseases. No more discrimination against people with mental illness or chemical addiction. The Paul Wellstone Mental Health and Addiction Equity Act simply provides equal treatment for diseases of the brain and the body. This legislation provides people in health plans with the same exact coverage that we as Members of Congress have and other Federal employees as well. By the way, some of the exaggeration, some of the red herrings as to the use of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual IV are just beyond belief. The red herrings presented by opponents, caffeine addiction, sibling rivalry, jet lag, would not be subject to treatment because insurance plans can use ``medical necessity'' requirements. So let's not use bogus red herring arguments. Let's come with intellectually honest arguments if you're against this legislation. Also, the DSM-IV is used for Medicare, Medicaid, and veterans health care. I wonder how many of you can go home and say, look, it's good enough for Members of Congress but it's not good enough for you, constituents. I don't think anybody in this body would dare do that nor should we. If it's good enough for Members of Congress, it's good enough for the American people. Mr. Speaker, Patrick Kennedy and I have traveled the country from one end to the other, holding 14 field hearings. We've heard literally hundreds of stories of human suffering, broken families, tragic deaths, shattered dreams all because of insurance companies not providing access to adequate treatment for mental illness and addiction. I don't have time, Mr. Speaker, to recite some of these horror stories, but Patrick and I could share hundreds and hundreds of horror stories caused by discrimination in treatment for mentally ill and addicted people that we heard in these 14 States. Mr. Speaker, it's time to end the discrimination against people who need treatment for mental illness and addiction. It's time to prohibit health insurers from placing discriminatory barriers to treatment. It's time to pass the Paul Wellstone Mental Health and Addiction Equity Act. The American people, Mr. Speaker, cannot wait any longer.

Mr. RAMSTAD

Mr. RAMSTAD. Madam Speaker, I rise to speak about an American who is making a real difference in the fight against alcohol and other drug addiction. At the same time, he is projecting a positive image of Americans among the international community. On November 29 of last year, the National Anti-Drug Agency of Romania presented its National Excellence Awards. Honorees included the French Ambassador, the Russian Ambassador and the United Nations Representative. I'm proud to say, Madam Speaker, that an American was also recognized for his efforts, Mr. Irvin Dyer. Born and raised in Arizona, Mr. Dyer moved to Romania for business 15 years ago. Having become a successful businessman and the father of three beautiful children, Mr. Dyer was moved to action by the debilitating effects that drug and alcohol addiction was having on the people of Romania. In 2003, he became an advisor to the president of the Romanian Anti-Drug Agency, President Pavel Abraham. Since then, he has worked tirelessly to assist the Anti-Drug Agency in its efforts to stem the tide of illegal drugs and to help and treat those who have fallen victim to addiction's awful grip. Irvin Dyer's actions in Romania serve not only the people of Romania, but the whole world. The goodwill he spreads reflects well on Americans and our belief in caring for those less fortunate, protecting the future for our children and making the world a better place for all people. We should all be grateful for the wonderful example of Mr. Dyer, and like him, reach out to help the millions of people suffering the ravages of addiction.

Mr. RAMSTAD

Mr. RAMSTAD. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a very special business and civic leader in Minnesota. Barb Obershaw, president of the Twin West Chamber of Commerce, recently announced her retirement, and her many outstanding accomplishments deserve special recognition. Barb has served as Twin West president for five dynamic years after serving five years as president of the Burnsville Chamber of Commerce. Under Barb's dynamic and visionary leadership, the Twin West Chamber has grown and become the most active chamber of commerce in the region, with scores of dedicated members who serve on its committees, board of directors and foundation board. Madam Speaker, through Barb's leadership, Twin West successfully persuaded state officials to accelerate the Highway 100 expansion, established an emerging-leaders program for young professionals, and awarded more than $400,000 in scholarships to local high school students and adult learners through the Twin West Foundation. These are just a few of the many accomplishments during Barb's term as president. Madam Speaker, Barb's hard work and strong stewardship have done so much to promote our area's businesses and to grow and develop good jobs. Barb, thank you for all you have done for the people of our area and, on a personal level, for your wise counsel, friendship and support through the years. Congratulations again Barb, on your retirement and many thanks for your outstanding leadership of the Twin West Chamber of Commerce!

Mr. RAMSTAD

Mr. RAMSTAD. Mr. Speaker, with 54 million Americans suffering the ravages of mental illness and 26 million suffering from chemical addiction, the failure of this Congress to pass the Paul Wellstone Mental Health and Addiction Equity Act is a slap in the face to millions of Americans with mental illness and/or drug and alcohol addiction. It's also the biggest failure of this session of Congress. Congress' failure to knock down the discriminatory barriers to treatment is a matter of life or death for people suffering from mental health and addiction diseases, diseases that took the lives of over 200,000 Americans last year alone. Just 2 weeks ago, my friend of over 25 years took his own life as a result of depression. He joined 34,000 other Americans who have committed suicide from depression this year. In my home State of Minnesota, Anna Westin was a young woman with anorexia. She suffered for several years from this terrible disease. Her parents' insurance company refused to cover the inpatient treatment that she desperately needed. Distraught at her condition and being a financial burden on her parents, young Anna took her own life. Representative Patrick Kennedy and I held 14 field hearings across our country this year on the need to end insurance discrimination against mental illness and addiction. We heard story after story after story like these. We heard from Steve Winter, who traveled in his wheelchair to several of our field hearings. When Steve was a young teenager, he awoke one morning with a stinging pain in his back. He stumbled downstairs to breakfast. He realized that blood was streaming down his back. He heard his mother's voice say, ``Your sister is in heaven, and now you and I are going there to join her.'' His mother was pointing a gun at him. She had been taken off the schizophrenia drugs she desperately needed. As Steve put it, ``My mother didn't shoot my sister and me; her mental illness did.'' Clearly there are not many families in America, Mr. Speaker, who haven't been touched in some way by mental illness or addiction. Like my close personal friend, like Anna Westin and Steve Winter's sister, I could have been one of the thousands of Americans who die each year from mental illness and chemical addiction. For on July 31, 1981, I awoke in a jail cell in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, as the result of my last alcoholic blackout after abusing alcohol for 12 long and painful years. I'm alive and sober today, Mr. Speaker, only because of the access I had to treatment in 1981. I'm living proof that treatment works and recovery is real. But too many people don't have that access to treatment. It's a national disgrace that 270,000 Americans were denied addiction treatment last year. It's a national tragedy that 160,000 of our fellow Americans died from chemical addiction and 34,000 died from suicide as a result of their depression. And it's also, Mr. Speaker, a national crisis that untreated addiction and mental illness cost our economy over $550 billion last year. And what is Congress' response? Despite bipartisan passage by three House committees and two subcommittees, we were denied a vote in the full House on the Paul Wellstone Mental Health and Addiction Equity Act. This legislation would give Americans suffering from addiction greater access to treatment by prohibiting health insurers from placing discriminatory barriers on treatment. As many as 16 million Americans in health plans could receive treatment under this act. Despite the 273 cosponsors of H.R. 1424, this treatment parity bill, no vote was held. Despite the tens of millions of Americans suffering the ravages of addiction and mental illness, no vote was allowed to increase their access to lifesaving treatment. Mr. Speaker, it is time to end the discrimination against people suffering from mental illness and chemical addiction. It's time to end the higher copayments, deductibles, out-of-pocket costs, and limited treatment stays, discriminatory barriers to treatment that don't exist for any other diseases. It's time to treat mental illness and chemical addiction under the same rules as physical illnesses. Mr. Speaker, it's time for the House of Representatives to vote on the Paul Wellstone Mental Health and Addiction Equity Act. Those still suffering cannot afford to wait any longer.

Mr. RAMSTAD

Mr. RAMSTAD. Madam Speaker, Congress has devoted considerable resources and effort to protecting the environment over the past few decades. Wildlife Forever, based in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota, has been a visionary partner in our nation's efforts to conserve America's wildlife heritage through conservation education, preservation of habitat and management of fish and wildlife. Today, I rise to salute Wildlife Forever as it celebrates its 20th anniversary and thank all the members and volunteers for all they do to protect our precious environment. Since 1987, Wildlife Forever has provided funding to more than 800 projects in all 50 states through private special interest conservation groups, state game and fish departments and federal agencies. Species that have received direct benefit from Wildlife Forever grants include the American bald eagle, billfish, black bear, blacktail deer, bluebirds, bluegill, Canada geese, catfish, coyote, crappie, ducks, elk, gray whale, great gray owl, grizzly bear, herons, kestrels, largemouth bass, Massasaqua rattle snake, moose, mule deer, muskie, otter, peregrine falcon, pheasant, prairie chicken, quail, ruffed grouse, salmon, sea bass, Sonoran pronghorn, songbirds, striped bass, trout, trumpeter swan, walleye, white-tailed deer, wild turkey--the list goes on and on. Partnerships are key to Wildlife Forever's success. Project highlights over the last 20 years include: Acquisition of 32,340 acres of land for public recreation; Wetland Restoration of more than 29,400 acres; Construction and placement of more than 9,224 bird and waterfowl nesting structures; Research utilizing radio telemetry and global positioning system with elk, grizzly bear, white-tailed deer, black bear, bighorn sheep, moose, goshawks and coaster brook trout; 125,747,367 public impressions with a `Stop Invasive Species' message; Stream improvements and riparian repair of over 240 miles; Land Management practices including controlled burns, prairie restoration, shrubbery plantings, and reforestation efforts of more than 325,310 acres; Fish hatchery support producing a yield of 30,371,109 fish stocked in public lakes and streams; Placement of more than 130 Watchable Wildlife interpretive signs. Madam Speaker, our Nation sends its thanks and gratitude to Wildlife Forever President and Chief Executive Officer Doug Grann and his entire team for all they do to protect the environment.

Mr. RAMSTAD

Mr. RAMSTAD. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the Defenders of Freedom Tax Relief Act, which provides important tax relief to the heroes who are defending our country, both abroad and here at home. I also appreciate that the bill includes a one-year extension of the 1996 mental health parity law, which prohibits insurers from discriminating against mental health treatment with aggregate lifetime or annual dollar limits. But we must go much further to end insurance discrimination and expand access to treatment for mental illness and chemical addiction. We must knock down the barriers of higher copays and deductibles, limited treatment stays, and the lack of out-of-network benefits that do not apply to any other disease. We must pass the Paul Wellstone Mental Health and Addiction Equity Act. It's a national disgrace that 270,000 Americans were denied addiction treatment last year. It's a national tragedy that 150,000 of our fellow Americans died last year from chemical addiction and 30,000 Americans committed suicide from depression. And it's a national crisis that untreated addiction and mental illness cost our economy over $550 billion last year. And think of the costs that can't be measured in dollars and cents-- human suffering, broken families, shattered dreams; ruined careers and destroyed lives. Passing mental health parity is not only the right things to do; it's the cost-effective thing to do. We have all the empirical data to prove that equity for mental health and addiction treatment will save billions of dollars nationally while not raising premiums more than two-tenths of one percent. This legislation has 273 cosponsors and passed three House committees with wide bipartisan support. It must absolutely be one of the first orders of business when Congress reconvenes in January. It's time to end the discrimination against people who need treatment for mental illness and addiction. It's time to prohibit health insurers from placing discriminatory restrictions on treatment. It's time to provide greater access to treatment. It's time to pass the Paul Wellstone Mental Health and Addiction Equity Act. The American people cannot afford to wait any longer for Congress to act.

Mr. RAMSTAD

Mr. RAMSTAD. I'd just like to conclude my portion, Mr. Speaker, by quoting from one of our key advisers on this legislation, somebody who's a true expert, Navy Captain Medical Dr. Ron Smith, who is former chairman of the Department of Psychiatry at the Bethesda Naval Medical Center and who's worked in chemical dependency in the field of treatment for dozens of years. And Dr. Smith, when he testified at a hearing several years ago, said every time you treat a person for addiction or mental illness, you're really helping seven people: their siblings, spouse, significant others, children, grandparents, uncles, aunts and others close to the addicted or mentally ill person. Why? Because these are family diseases that affect the entire family. And Dr. Smith went on to say at that hearing that the Paul Wellstone Mental Health and Addiction Treatment Equity Act has the potential to favorably impact more American people than any other law passed by Congress since Social Security and Medicare; that this bill, to provide treatment, to provide equity in treatment for mental health and addiction has the potential to help more American people than any law passed by Congress since Social Security and Medicare. Mr. Speaker, we can't afford not to pass this bill next week, the final week of this year of Congress. This is a historic opportunity for the Congress; and I know, I know in my heart that the President will sign the bill if it gets to his desk. Again, I urge all Americans who have an interest in this life-or- death issue to e-mail, call your Congress Member, your Senators in the next several days, urge them to pass the Paul Wellstone Mental Health Parity Act. It is absolutely essential that we get it done now. I thank the gentleman from Rhode Island for yielding.

Mr. RAMSTAD. Will the gentleman yield?

Mr. RAMSTAD. Ironically, when President Nixon declared the war on drugs, he directed 70 percent of the funding to treatment, prevention and education, 30 percent to the supply side. In other words, 70 percent to demand side, to reduce the demand for drugs, and 30 percent for law enforcement, proper adjudication and interdiction efforts. Well, today those funding priorities have been reversed, and we simply aren't spending our resources wisely. We are not doing enough on the demand side of the equation. That's why over the last decade and a half the treatment beds in America have disappeared. They're gone. Insurance companies aren't reimbursing. That's why, even more alarming, 60 percent of the adolescent treatment beds have disappeared over the last decade. We need to reverse those priorities. I remember visiting with President Clinton and several other Members of Congress and Mexican President, President Salinas, former President Salinas, and he said, until you Americans curb your insatiable demand for drugs, we're never going to be able to address the supply-side problem, the flow of drugs from Central and South America through Mexico into the United States. So the gentleman from Rhode Island is absolutely correct: we need to address the demand side. We need to spend more of our resources on treatment, education, and prevention.