Ike Skelton

Mr. SKELTON

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

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Chairman, I appreciate the effort of all the Members involved in this issue and thank them for bringing it to the attention of the House. We need to do the right thing for these people who through the course of providing for the defense of our Nation received injury due to exposure to hazardous materials. I support the amendment and I certainly encourage its adoption.

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Chairman, I urge my colleagues to support the amendment offered by the gentleman from Mississippi (Mr. Taylor), which expands and makes permanent the TRICARE Senior Prime program, more commonly known as Medicare subvention. I focused on the need to improve access to health care services to the men and women in uniform in the past and particularly for our Medicare eligible retirees. This is truly the year of military health care. The expansion and permanent authority for Medicare subvention which the Taylor amendment will provide will begin to fulfill the commitment made to our men and women in uniform who were promised access to health care services for life if they served 20 years or more in the Armed Forces. We made that promise to take care of the career men and women and their families and me must, Mr. Chairman, keep that promise. The Taylor amendment improves access to medical care for Medicare-eligible military retirees by expanding TRICARE Senior Prime to military hospitals and making the program permanent. It is an important step toward ensuring access to care for retirees and their dependents over the age of 65 who live near military facilities.

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word.

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself 15 seconds to point out the actual facts that are before us. There is nothing in my amendment that talks about remuneration. There is nothing in my amendment that talks about a referendum. What it does, it strikes the killing language and transfers the excess western part of the island. That is all it does. Mr. Chairman, I yield 3 minutes to the Resident Commissioner, the gentleman from Puerto Rico (Mr. Romero-Barcelo).

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chairman, I speak in favor of a strong national security. This amendment is for just that. My amendment is the only way we can get back the range at Vieques permanently. My amendment would strike language that is in the bill that guts the negotiated agreement between the administration and the Navy on the one hand, and the Governor of Puerto Rico on the other. My amendment would put in place the first piece of the conveyance, the conveyance of the excess land on the western end of the island, to the people of Vieques. During the debates we have heard much of the island of Vieques, a lot about what the Navy needs and why it is important to the Navy. Well, that is an excellent point. If we really want to know what the Navy needs, let us listen and find out from the Navy itself, the Secretary of Defense and the President. The Secretary of the Navy, the Secretary of Defense and the President all vigorously opposed the language in the bill regarding Vieques. The Secretary of the Navy states that the committee bill ``would establish conditions on disposal of the Naval Ammunition Support Detachment that are contrary to presidential directives on that subject.'' The Secretary of Defense, William Cohen, says that ``any legislative proposal that unilaterally undermines that agreement will reverse the positive momentum that has been accomplished to date.'' The administration policy is ``the title of the bill regarding the Navy's facilities in Vieques, Puerto Rico, is unacceptable. If enacted, key provisions would make it likely that our Navy and Marine Corps personnel would not be able to get the training they need on the island.'' Departments of the Navy and Defense and the administration as a whole strongly support this language. It strikes this title and replaces it with language regarding the first part of the agreement, and that is the transfer of excess land to the people of Vieques. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Mississippi (Mr. Pickering).

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself another 15 seconds. Mr. Chairman, quoting from General James Jones, the Commandant of the Marine Corps, his letter goes on to say additional information. It says, ``Positive resolution of the Vieques referendum regarding live- fire training will restore Vieques training to its fullest potential.'' We should read the entire letter to this body. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Hawaii (Mr. Abercrombie), the ranking member from our committee, the Committee on Armed Services, the Subcommittee on Military Personnel. (Mr. ABERCROMBIE asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Gutierrez).

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Crowley).

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Velazquez). (Ms. VELAZQUEZ asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)

Mr. SKELTON

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Pickett).

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to the amendment.

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Chairman, I have one remaining speaker. I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Engel). (Mr. ENGEL asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Chairman, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Sisisky), the ranking member of the Subcommittee on Military Procurement. (Mr. SISISKY asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Sanchez), an outstanding member of our committee.

Mr. SKELTON

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Hill). (Mr. HILL of Indiana asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Chairman, we see nothing wrong with the gentleman's amendment. As far as we are concerned, we accept it.

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

Mr. SKELTON

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, today I wish to recognize a truly outstanding officer, Brigadier General Leroy Barnidge, Jr., United States Air Force. General Barnidge will soon be completing his assignment as the Commander of the 509th Bomb Wing, Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri, located in the heart of my Congressional District. General Barnidge distinguished himself by exceptional conduct in the performance of his duties as the commander of America's only B-2 bomber base. A natural leader, he carried America's most visible bomber from infancy to warfighting maturity and beyond. Widely recognized as a leading Air Force ambassador, he was hand-picked to host the highest levels of visitors including President Clinton and President Gorbachev, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Secretaries of the Air Force and Navy, and many of our colleagues in Congress. General Barnidge's command of one of the most inspected facilities under the START Treaty was unprecedented, resulting in five visits with no discrepancies. He also led the wing to an Excellent rating in its first-ever B-2 Nuclear Operations Readiness Inspections and two nuclear surety inspections. In addition, the wing maintained an impeccable safety record in both combat and daily operations, as General Barnidge always kept flight and ground safety at the forefront of planning and execution. General Barnidge's unmatched communications skills resulted in worldwide coverage of the B-2 and 509th Bomb Wing during his participation in press conferences with both the White House and Pentagon Press Corps. Through his energetic support of community activities and numerous speaking engagements, he single-handedly built a relationship between the base and local community that will last for years. His visionary leadership will pay dividends to the 509th Bomb Wing and the Air Force far into the future. In addition, General Barnidge was recently named Air Combat Command's Outstanding Wing Commander and awarded the Moller Trophy. This trophy is presented to the wing commander who demonstrates the most effective personal leadership to achieve or maintain the wing's combat effectiveness. General Barnidge led the 509th Bomb Wing into air power history and set the standard for future operations with overwhelming success during Operation Allied Force. Mr. Speaker, General Barnidge deserves the thanks and praise of the nation that he has faithfully served for so long. Also, his wife, Sandy, deserves so much credit for her strong supportive role. I know the Members of the House will join me in paying tribute to this exceptional officer.

Mr. SKELTON

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I hope the chairman of the Committee on Rules understands my concern for the military retirees, that it is a major problem. They were told when they joined if you stay with us 20 years, we will take care of your health care for life. And I think that there should be some assurance that we would be able to at least debate the issue on a proper amendment, and that is why I said what I did a few moments ago. I really do not have a great deal of problem with this part of the rule; however, I cannot in my own mind bifurcate the two parts of the two rules, and that is why I said what I did. I would certainly hope that the Taylor amendment would be made in order in the second go-around.

Mr. SKELTON

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Buyer).

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to my friend, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Ortiz).