Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, the Republicans started off their 1 minutes today, as the President did last night, by saying it is time to show the troops how much we care. Show them how much we care, except when they come home!

How do we show how much we care?

We have cut the VA budget. The VA budget that was just announced is $1 billion short this year, $2.5 billion short next year.

Our troops come back with post-traumatic stress disorder, and can get no services. They come back with dental problems, and have to wait a year for an appointment. That is how much we show how much we support our troops!

Mr. Speaker, the Democrats tried through this whole appropriations process to raise the amount of money for our veterans. I asked for $3 billion, which would have made up for this shortfall. I was ruled out of order.

Do my colleagues know what is out of order, Mr. Speaker? This administration is out of order. This Congress is out of order.

We have to show that we do support our troops by giving them the support they need when they come home to the veterans health system. We are not doing that today. Let us hope that we can add this money as the appropriations process proceeds.

Mr. Speaker and colleagues, I rise today to urge support for two bills that I have introduced that address the needs of our veterans. We have recently celebrated Flag Day, and I believe an appropriate way to celebrate Flag Day is to introduce bills that will help veterans in pursuing their education and gaining admission to state veterans homes.

My bill, H.R. 2365, the ``Montgomery GI Bill Flexibility Act'', improves education benefits. An important piece of the Fiscal Year 2003 Defense Authorization bill that Congress passed was a provision that extends the time limit from 10 to 14 years for members of the Selected Reserve to use their GI Bill education benefits. Life in 2005 can make it difficult to finish an education in 10 years. Many times, veterans with families, work commitments, and economic difficulties are unable to fulfill all their requirements to receive a degree or certification within the 10-year period, and Congress recognized this difficulty for members of the Selected Reserve. It is time to extend the number of years for all participants of the Montgomery GI Bill.

A veteran who is interested in seeing H.R. 2365 pass writes: ``I served 8 years of active duty in the Army, including the Persian Gulf War. I am also a family member of an active duty service member. In support of my husband's military career, I have moved six times, currently planning move number 7, in the past 9 years. That, coupled with three babies, has made it difficult for me to use my GI Bill benefits.'' H.R. 2365 will ensure that more veterans are able to avail themselves of the educational opportunity that they have earned.

I have also introduced H.R. 3009, ``A Guaranteed Home For Our Veterans Act'', to address a problem that has been called to my attention by my constituents. One was told by his state veterans home in California that if he chose to transfer to his home state of Minnesota, he would have to wait a year in order to establish state residency before being accepted. Veterans should be able to transfer to any other state veterans home on a space-available basis. H.R. 3009 would make that change to save veterans from severe hardships if they want to move to be closer to their families.

Better Long Term Care and Education Benefits for our nation's veterans! I urge my colleagues to support these veterans' bills.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor San Diego's own living treasure, Craig Noel--the founding director of the Old Globe Theater.

Born in New Mexico in 1915, Craig came to San Diego as a child and made his Globe debut as a 20-year old actor in 1937. According to Craig, ``it's been a long tenure. You know, it took me 70 years to accomplish what anyone else could have done in 10--but then this is San Diego. Everything takes longer here. But the important thing is we've been able to keep it going.''

Craig has enriched the quality of life in San Diego through visionary dreams that became reality. He has worked to improve the larger community through his support and encouragement of playwrights, actors and theatre artists and through the nurturing generations of citizens who have become today's theatre-goers and arts supporters.

Craig established the world-renowned Shakespeare Festival at the Globe in 1949. He guided the theatre's transformation to professional status in 1959, establishing it as the oldest continuing, professional not-for-profit theatre in California.

Craig created an audience for new works through his early '60s spring seasons at the La Jolla Museum of Contemporary Art, where he introduced the works of Beckett, Ionesco, Anouilh, Pirandello, Brecht, Behan, Giraudoux and Albee to San Diegans. Their response was so enthusiastic that Craig instituted seasons of such works at the Falstaff Tavern, which was later remodeled and renamed the Cassius Carter Centre Stage (1969). Among Craig's other innovations are Globe Educational Tours and the Play Discovery Program, which began in 1974.

To fulfill his long-held dream of a theatre that would extend across the border to enrich artists and audiences of Southern California's two neighboring cultures, Craig instituted the Globe's bilingual theatre component, Teatro Meta, in 1983. Teatro Meta administers an award- winning, bilingual in-schools theatre program.

Craig's most recent world-premiere productions include Lillian Garrett-Groag's ``The White Rose'' and Reuben Gonzalez's ``The Boiler Room.'' He also directed the U.S. premiere of Alan Ayckbourn's ``Mr. A's Amazing Maze Plays'' and ``Intimate Exchanges.''

Today, Craig, not willing to rest on his many past achievements, is in rehearsal for the Globe's upcoming production of ``Moonlight and Magnolias.''

In addition to his work at the Globe, Craig was the founder of the California Theater Council and a former vice-president of the California Confederation of the Arts. Craig has been recognized with many awards to include inclusion by the San Diego Union-Tribune on a list of 25 persons who shaped the city's history, the Governor's Award for the Arts and the University of Arizona Alumni Association's Outstanding Citizen for his contribution to their fine arts department.

Craig has had a distinguished 68-year career and staged over 225 productions of all styles and periods. Under Craig's devoted but demanding care, the Old Globe has developed into a major player in the world of theater and a training ground that has nurtured dozens and dozens of Broadway and Hollywood luminaries.

Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 322, on H. Res. 199, I was in my Congressional District on official business. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 323, on H. Con. Res. 155, I was in my Congressional District on official business. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.

Mr. Chairman, I yield myself 2 minutes.

Mr. Chairman, everyone in this House and everyone in this country knows that identity theft is one of the fastest growing crimes of our decade and creates a nightmare for those who become victims. Identity thieves make off with millions of dollars each day, and each day more than a thousand people are being defrauded. We just saw millions of credit card numbers stolen from the Visa and the MasterCard distribution centers. The Federal Trade Commission has said that identity theft is the top consumer complaint. We all know how credit can be destroyed, earned income can be taken, and a rejection for everything from a college loan to a mortgage can be done. And law enforcement will generally not pursue these identity theft cases.

Part of that peril is, in fact, contributed to by the Federal Government. By including Social Security numbers on Medicare cards, the Department of Health and Human Services places millions of Medicare beneficiaries at risk of becoming victims of identity theft.

I have a simple amendment, Mr. Chairman. It prohibits the Department of Health and Human Services from including Social Security numbers on Medicare cards. Many commercial health insurance companies and States have already taken such steps. Some States prohibit companies from displaying Social Security numbers internally and assign consumers unique numbers that would appear on Medicare cards. It is time for the Federal Government to catch up and help protect an individual's personal privacy. Even the GAO has published a number of reports and has concluded that there is no reason why the Social Security number cannot be removed from the Medicare card.

Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Indiana (Ms. Carson).

Mr. Chairman, I yield myself the balance of my time.

I find it strange that the distinguished chairman and the distinguished chairwoman, both of whom are well known for their support of Medicare, Social Security, and seniors in this Nation would object to what is really just a bureaucratic change, a change that can be done through computers in a very quick fashion.

The Department of Health and Human Services has said that the health insurance claim number that they use is merely a variation of the recipient's Social Security number, not the actual number, and has noted that the number may be based on the Social Security number of a spouse or parent. However, more often than not, the number the agency uses is the person's Social Security, preceded or followed by a single letter of the alphabet. The agency has said it has no immediate plans to stop this practice. What more can the Department of Health and Human Services do to the theft of our identity? Give thieves and unscrupulous people mothers' maiden names?

Not so long ago, I would tell the chairman, we experienced the same problem with the mailing labels sent to us from the IRS. I was told there was no way the IRS would change its practice and any disruption would disrupt the whole tax collection system of the Nation. I found that incomprehensible, simply a defense of bureaucratic inertia, and said that they can change a computer system very quickly so booklets that would be mailed out to millions of Americans would not have the Social Security number. I introduced a similar bill to stop the IRS from putting Social Security numbers on its mailings, and the IRS found a way in short time to stop the practice that could lead to identity theft.

There is simply no excuse, Mr. Chairman, for leaving Medicare beneficiaries vulnerable to identity theft with a thinly disguised Social Security number on Medicare-related mailings. This is merely bureaucratic inertia. It only requires a computer software change. No benefits to Medicare or Social Security will be held up. It is about time this Congress said to a bureaucracy, cut the fooling around, break through the red tape, and protect our seniors and all our families in America from identity theft.

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

Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.

Offered By: Mr. Filner

Amendment No. 8: At the end of the bill (before the short

title), insert the following:

Mr. Speaker, as California's Border Congressman, I am here to deliver some bad news and some good news about the health care providers in my district, the whole border region, and other parts of the country with large immigrant populations. The bad new is: they can't take it anymore!

They can't take the Federal Government's continued failure to assume the responsibility for fixing our broken immigration system.

They can't take the increasing cost of uncompensated emergency care for undocumented immigrants. The growing burden on hospitals, physicians and ambulance providers threatens to cripple the health care services that are available to all the residents of these communities.

In San Diego, UCSD is planning to close down a hospital, partly because of the growing costs of treating undocumented immigrants. The solvency of other hospitals is increasingly endangered. Continued neglect threatens the very existence of many of these hospitals and the health of communities throughout the Nation.

It's hard to blame the hospitals for their growing financial woes. Turning away uninsured, undocumented patients with medical emergencies would not only violate their moral and legal duties; it would endanger everyone's health by sending sick people back out into the community.

Instead, it is the Federal Government who is to blame. The Federal Government is responsible for immigration and therefore must take responsibility for the costs imposed on hospitals by a broken immigration system

As Congress continues to debate the best approach to reforming our immigration system, we must act now to shore up these hospitals and secure the health of communities throughout the country.

So, along with the bad news, I am also here to deliver some good news: I have joined with Congressman Kolbe to introduce bi-partisan legislation, the Pay for All Your Undocumented Procedures (PAY UP!) Act (H.R. 2934), to require the Federal Government to reimburse health care providers for these costs.

This legislation will bolster our hospitals and safeguard the health of both U.S. citizens and immigrants. I urge my colleagues to strongly support the PAY UP! Act.

Mr. Speaker. I rise today because legal immigrants and their families need our help.

As Congress continues to debate ways to address illegal immigration, we must remember the many hard-working legal immigrants that contribute so much to our nation's economy and culture. In Congress' zeal to crack down on illegal immigration, it has unfairly punished many of these legal immigrants.

That's why I invite all my colleagues to join my fight to reverse certain unfair provisions of so-called ``immigration reforms'' instituted by the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996. This law has allowed stable, long-term families headed by legal immigrants to be torn apart because of minor crimes committed years ago--crimes for which the offenders have already served their sentences.

A basic legislative attempt to fix this law was passed by the House of Representatives in the 106th Congress, but it was never taken up by the Senate. So I have re-introduced my ``Keeping Families Together'' Act (H.R. 2865). This bill would reinstate judicial review to the immigration process, restore the definition of aggravated felony that existed prior to 1996, end the practice of automatically detaining productive members of our society for minor crimes they committed years ago and for which they have already served their sentence, and allow legal immigrants previously deported to appeal that decision.

Please join me in supporting this critical legislation to restore justice to our immigration processes and keep families together.

Mr. Speaker and colleagues, I rise today to speak about my resolution, H. Res. 313, which urges the President to authorize the transfer of ownership to the Philippines of one of the bells taken in 1901 from the town of Balangiga in the Philippines. The bells are currently displayed at F.E. Warren Air Force Base in Cheyenne, Wyoming.

In the 100 years since the taking of the bells occurred, the citizens of the United States and the Philippines have shared many historic and political ties. The Philippines was a staunch ally of the United States during World War II. Brave Filipino soldiers were drafted into service by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, fought side-by-side with American soldiers, and were instrumental in the successful outcome of World War II. Filipino soldiers also fought alongside our soldiers on the battlefields of Korea and Vietnam.

Since the independence of the Philippines in 1946, the U.S.- Philippine relationship has been largely one of friendship and cooperation. The Philippines is a republic patterned basically on our own system of government. The Philippines is a valuable trading partner of the U.S. and an ally in the war against terrorism. Approximately two million Americans are of Filipino descent and close to 130,000 United States citizens reside in the Philippines. The acts of conflict that surrounded the taking of the bells of Balangiga are not consistent with the friendship that is currently an integral part of the relationship between our two nations.

The Republic of the Philippines has repeatedly requested the return of the bells. They are an important symbol to the Filipino people, who wish to have them re-installed in the belfry of the Balangiga Church. I believe that it is time to resolve this situation in order to solidify the bonds between our two nations. My resolution would honor and promote the positive relationship our countries enjoy.

A compromise measure has been suggested to return one of the bells, as my resolution calls for, and to create two replica bells--one for each country. This compromise would satisfy most Filipino veterans.

As the years pass, I am confident that relations between our two nations will grow even stronger. To that end, the United States Government, which has final disposition over the Bells of Balangiga, should transfer ownership of one of the bells to the people of the Philippines as a measure of good will and cooperation. I urge the passage of my resolution.

Mr. Speaker and colleagues, I rise today to speak about two bills that I have introduced to better the lives of our Nation's disabled veterans. H.R. 1188, the ``Disabled Veterans Right to Commissaries and Space Available Travel Act,'' will extend commissary and exchange store privileges to service-disabled veterans with a rating of 30% or more and to their families. Congress must do all we reasonably can for the men and women who have become disabled in their service to our Nation. Our disabled veterans are important members of the greater military family, and they should be treated as such with every available opportunity.

This bill will also authorize transportation on military aircraft on a space-available basis to service-disabled veterans with a rating of 50% or more. Currently, members and retirees of the uniformed services and the reserves may travel free on Department of Defense (DoD) aircraft when space is available. This benefit is allowed when it does not interfere with military missions, and it recognizes that military careers are filled with rigorous duty.

But present policies do not extend this benefit to our disabled veterans. What more rigorous duty can be imagined than to become disabled in the service of our country? Why has the DoD chosen not to recognize the brave men and women who sacrificed their health and well- being while serving in uniform? This DoD policy needs to be corrected.

Space-available travel for these disabled veterans would cost the Federal government nothing and would not interfere with active-duty personnel. Current military is always given priority, and H.R. 1188 would do nothing to change that. What my bill will do is allow seats that would otherwise go unused to be occupied by men and women who have been disabled when serving their Nation.

I invite my colleagues to also support a second bill, H.R. 2747, the ``Disabled Veterans Life Insurance Enhancement Act.'' This legislation will make improvements in insurance for veterans who are disabled in their service to our country.

When the Service-Disabled Veterans Insurance (SDVI) began in 1951, it was intended to provide service-disabled veterans with the ability to purchase life insurance coverage at ``standard'' rates. Unfortunately, these life insurance premiums are based upon mortality rates for 1940, while current standard life insurance policies have premiums based upon the 2001 mortality table. This means that service-disabled veterans are being charged high premiums based on a table that is 60 years out of date. The Independent Budget, prepared and endorsed by many veterans service organizations, has recommended that the mortality table be updated so that service-disabled veterans pay lower premiums for insurance. My bill would provide insurance comparable to standard policies, based on 2001 tables. Another change will increase the amount of insurance available to $50,000, purchased in increments of $10,000.

Second, the VA provides mortgage life insurance (VMLI) to severely service-disabled veterans who qualify for specially adapted housing grants. Currently, this amount covers only about 55% of the outstanding mortgage balances at the veteran's death because the maximum amount has not been increased since 1992. We know how the cost of houses has skyrocketed since then in many areas of our country. In May, 2001, an evaluation by the Department of Veterans Affairs recommended that the coverage be increased, and The Independent Budget has also recommended that the coverage be increased. H.R. 2747 implements those recommendations by increasing the maximum to $200,000 to cover 94% of mortgage balances outstanding. Veterans can choose lower coverage, if they wish.

These bills are the right steps to take for our disabled veterans. They have sacrificed their health and well-being for their country, and they have earned the right to these privileges. Please support these bills and work with me for their passage.

Mr. Speaker, today I honor Bakers Local 315--recognized with the ``Outstanding Community Services Award'' by the San Diego- Imperial Counties Labor Council, AFL-CIO.

Chartered on December 12, 1936, Bakers Local 315 is 500 members strong. Deborah Lacey Zuelsdorf has been Secretary-Treasurer for ten years. Under her leadership and that of the Executive Board, the Bakers have been honored for their work with union companies and have received countless outstanding community service awards. The Bakers work with Bimbo USA, Interstate Brands Corporation, Vons In Store Bakeries, and the San Diego Bread Company.

During the holidays, members work an extra shift and then the union bakeries donate what they have prepared directly to the Holiday Food Distribution. These breads and baked goods, made by the caring hands of the Bakers, help make the holidays a little better for union families experiencing lean financial times.

That is why we also honor and recognize Bakers Local 315, for their hard dedication to the community and for earning this year's ``Community Services Award'' by the San Diego-Imperial Counties Labor Council, AFL-CIO.

Mr. Speaker, today I honor Teamsters Local 36--recognized with the ``Community Services Award'' by the San Diego-Imperial Counties Labor Council, AFL-CIO.

Teamsters Local 36 was chartered in 1946 and was originally founded as a building material and construction local. The charter was changed in 1980 to read Building Materials, Construction, Industrial, Professional and Technical Employees.

In 1981, Teamsters built their own building and moved to their current location on Mercury Street in the heart of Kearny Mesa. This

building is named in honor of their former Secretary-Treasurer, John S. Lyons. This hardworking, dedicated and diverse organization can always be depended upon.

Their members volunteer for every food drive by working at the Margaret Sellers Post Office and routing the food from outlying Post Offices to the Food Bank. Each and every December, the Teamsters show up, complete with holiday cheer, pick up and deliver all the food to make the annual Holiday Food Distribution a success.

They are always present, making a contribution to the people of San Diego and promoting the good name of Labor. That is why we honor and recognize Teamsters Local 36, one of the finest organizations in San Diego and Imperial County, as the recipient of the ``Community Services Award''!

Mr. Speaker, today I honor the Viejas Band of Kumeyaay Indians for receiving the ``Spirit of Cooperation Award'' by the San Diego-Imperial Counties Labor Council, AFL-CIO.

The Viejas Band, one of the remaining 12 bands of the Kumeyaay Indian Nation, has approximately 289 members living on the 1,600 acre reservation in the Viejas Valley, east of Alpine.

The Viejas Band is recognized as a sovereign government by the United States, with which it maintains a government-to-government relationship. Only a few years ago, Viejas Reservation unemployment was as high as 80 percent. Today, as a result of revenues from tribal government gaming and other business enterprises, every Viejas tribal member has a job and no tribal members are on welfare. The band has built new homes, improved older residences, expanded the Tribal Government Center, and has constructed a community park, fire station, and a senior citizen center.

In addition, the band has embarked on a multi-million dollar series of environmental projects to restore the reservation land, watershed, streams and wetlands. Gaming has created approximately 12,000 jobs, primarily for non-Indian residents of the San Diego Region.

In 2001, the estimated payroll for gaming Tribes was more than $237 million, and employer-paid Federal and State payroll taxes are estimated to have been over $30 million. Viejas is a proud union employer and workers of the casino are part of Communication Workers of America Local 9400. Viejas is leading the way in bringing together communities and setting a great example of conducting business.

Congratulations to Viejas on receiving Labor's 2005 ``Spirit of Cooperation Award.''

Mr. Speaker, today I acknowledge a great friend of labor, Crosby Milne--recognized with the ``Outstanding Dedication Award'' by the San Diego-Imperial Counties Labor Council, AFL-CIO.

Crosby Milne's early upbringing was unfortunately marred by frequent moves and arbitrary acts of discrimination. As a result, Crosby became fundamentally opposed to any forms of discrimination. He used those early childhood experiences as a barometer to make good choices throughout life and guide his actions. Crosby served five years in the United States Navy, and in those years, he played many roles. He spent 29 years working his way up to become a top manager. Throughout his work he discovered that following a set of values is the best way to manage. He has used this concept ever since. In 1974, he began work as a management consultant for commercial firms and for dozens of nonprofit organizations, including the United Farm Workers and Cesar Chavez.

For the past several years, Crosby has been a volunteer for the San Diego-Imperial Counties Labor Council, generously dedicating his time and ideas for the betterment of workers throughout San Diego and Imperial Counties. He has facilitated various staff retreats and meetings as well as sat on various committees. He provides wonderful insight and assessments. Crosby was also very instrumental in forming the Center on Policy Initiatives. Crosby's opinion is highly revered, as he speaks from life experience.

We congratulate Crosby for receiving this year's ``Outstanding Dedication Award'' from the San Diego-lmperial Counties Labor Council.