Floor Statements

Mr. Chairman, I appreciate all the effort that the chairman has done to bring this document to the House floor, and I rise in support of this resolution; and I have got a few charts that we wanted to show to support the reason we are supporting this budget resolution.

Since we met here to consider our budget last year at this time, our economy, then struggling to gain traction, has made a tremendous, remarkable comeback. The policies we have put in place to deal with the extraordinary circumstances of the past few years have worked and continue to work.

Today, our economy is showing robust growth. The strong growth is expected to continue. In the third quarter of 2003, we saw the GDP growth at 8.2 percent, the highest surge in 20 years; and that was followed in the fourth quarter with a growth rate of 4.1 percent, still strong by historical standards.

It is interesting to note that last year at this time, private forecasters

were expecting real GDP growth of 3.6 percent for 2004. Now they are expecting 4.7 percent for 2004.

Housing starts are running at their highest levels in 20 years. Mortgage rates continue to run at their lowest levels in over 3 decades, and the bank prime rate is at its lowest level in 45 years. Inflation has been running at its lowest level in nearly 4 decades. U.S. real exports of goods and services rose in the fourth quarter at a 20 percent rate, the fastest pace in 7 years.

We have seen a significant increase in the stock market. The Dow Jones Industrial Average is up 25 percent since March of last year.

Most important, labor markets are improving. The unemployment rate is down 5.6 percent from 6.3 percent just last June.

We must keep this momentum. We cannot afford to cut this recovery off at the knees just as we are getting back on track.

This budget will keep taxes from increasing. If we do not act, Americans will face a tax increase next year. This budget helps to make sure that a family of four earning $40,000 will not have to face a tax increase of nearly $1,000 next year. Make no mistake, a tax increase would hurt our economy and destroy jobs.

This budget places economic growth and job creation at the highest priority by supporting those policies that are fueling the economic recovery. We need to keep the economy and jobs growing, and this budget supports those goals.

Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for allowing me this second opportunity to address this body.

As chairman of the Subcommittee on Benefits of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, serving under our esteemed chairman, the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith), I want to assure my colleagues that veterans and their benefits has been our number one priority. I want to share some facts to support that.

In fact, just today, we had a press conference with the chamber, a roundtable, and a lot of the star corporate citizens around this Nation, encouraging them to hire veterans, and they all came up with outstanding results of what has been happening recently to hire the veterans who are coming back. But the goal that I want to speak on tonight is to help prepare those veterans when they do return under the Montgomery GI Bill.

Mr. Chairman, since Republicans took control of Congress in 1995, we have fought to increase funding for the educational benefits veterans have earned through their service to this Nation.

We have this chart before us. Since 1995, total spending on veterans has increased from $38 billion to $60 billion. That is a 58 percent increase, compared with a 36 percent increase during the previous 10 years. Payments for veterans has risen by some 79 percent.

Our next chart. One way that these increases have been utilized is as an investment to veterans educational benefits. Since 1995, educational benefit payment levels under the Montgomery GI Bill increased from $405 to $985, an increase of 143 percent. This compares with only a 35 percent increase under the previous administration. This year, a veteran who served on active duty for 3 years or more will receive $985 a month for 36 months.

These educational benefits can be used for, number one, courses at colleges and universities leading to associate, bachelor, or graduate degrees; number two, courses leading to certificates or diplomas from business, technical, or vocational schools; number three, apprenticeships; number four, correspondence courses; and, number five, flight training and other training.

This budget provides for the October 1, 2004, scheduled COLA increase in veterans education benefits.

With this budget, Mr. Chairman, we have continued our commitment to ensuring that those who have served their country with pride, valor, and dignity receive the best of America's appreciation; and we are grateful for the veterans.

Mr. Speaker, this year marks the 140th anniversary of the final voyage of the H.L. Hunley. On February 17, 1864, the Hunley embarked on a dangerous mission when Lieutenant George Dixon led his crew to do what no other submarine had ever done before, successfully sink another ship in combat. That night in Charleston Harbor, the Hunley rammed her spar torpedo into the hull of the USS Housatonic. The ship sunk shortly thereafter, forever securing the Hunley's place in history.

The crew, however, never returned and vanished into the harbor. The location of the crew and ship remained a mystery for over 130 years until 1995 when the submarine was found. It was placed under the care of the Warren Lasch Conservation Center in North Charleston in my district. Through the efforts of the Hunley Commission and the Friends of the Hunley, the vessel will be preserved for generations to come. All eight crew members' bodies have been recovered and will receive a military burial on April 17, 2004, at Magnolia Cemetery in Charleston. I welcome all Americans to take the opportunity to marvel at this archeological wonder.

Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I rise today in recognition of a very special Town in my district called Lincolnville, South Carolina. In 1867 seven black men led by Bishop Richard Harvey Cain were dissatisfied with the way they were being treated in Charles Town, which is now Charleston, South Carolina. They set out to locate land for sale by the South Carolina Railroad Company. They found a location called ``Pump Pond'' where the local train stopped to get water and wood and later water and coal. They purchased 620 acres from the South Carolina Railroad Company and established the town on February 14, 1889. They were granted a state charter on December 14, 1889. The people of this great town named it Lincolnville in honor of Republican President Abraham Lincoln who freed the slaves.

On February 14, 2004, the Town of Lincolnville will be 115 years old. Since the town was founded during Black History Month, on February 28, 2004, there will be a great Jubilee Celebration with visual arts, arts and crafts, music, dance, theatrical presentations and great food. This wonderful celebration will be in remembrance of Lincolnville's founding fathers while displaying the spirit of its diversity throughout the community.

Happy Birthday to the people of the great Town of Lincolville, South Carolina.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Morris Island Lighthouse and to applaud the efforts of Save the Light. Save the Light is a non-profit entity dedicated to the preservation of the Morris Island Lighthouse. The Morris Island Lighthouse, a National Historic Landmark which began operation in 1876, is a true historical treasure, playing significant roles in both the Revolutionary and Civil Wars. It was decommissioned in 1962 by the U.S. Coast Guard, but is now owned by the State of South Carolina and leased to Save the Light.

The island on which the lighthouse is situated has all but washed away, leaving the lighthouse precariously perched on a tiny sandbar that sits underwater at high tide. I want to thank Chairman Taylor and the Appropriations Committee for providing the first federal funding for this project in the recently passed Interior Appropriations Bill.

Save the Light has been coordinating monumental preservation efforts dedicated exclusively to the foundation repair of the Morris Island Lighthouse. The organization began as a grass roots effort by concerned citizens and has taken charge of the preservation of this historic site when public agencies would not. Save the Light has generated significant public support in raising funds for the project, worked with the Army Corps of Engineers and established a long-term maintenance program for the lighthouse.

The level of public support generated for its preservation underscores the importance of the Morris Island Lighthouse to the community, and I applaud Save the Light for all of their hard work and dedication. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of House Resolution 257 urging President Bush to bestow this Nation's highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom Award, on Harry W. Colmery, former national commander of The American Legion.

Mr. Colmery is credited with drafting the Servicemen's Readjustment Act of 1944, otherwise known as the World War II ``GI Bill of Rights.'' The GI Bill not only enabled the successful transition of millions of World War II veterans back to civilian life, but also paved the way to create America's modern middle class.

In fact, about 7.8 million men and women were educated or trained by the World War II GI Bill, arguably our most successful domestic program ever.

With our brave service men and women currently engaged in dangerous military operations in Iraq, Afghanistan and other areas of the world in support of the Global War on Terrorism, it is so critical for Congress to continue to provide our military personnel with top-notch benefits like today's Montgomery GI Bill. As I travel throughout the first district of South Carolina, veterans and current service members always remind me of the importance of these educational benefits.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my fellow colleagues to support this Resolution to honor Harry W. Colmery, a man of extraordinary wisdom and foresight.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commend the efforts of many in the business and industry community who far exceed current-law requirements of the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act, better known as USERRA. The act simply states that when a Reserve or Guard member returns from active duty he or she is entitled to the job that they left behind.

However, USERRA not only protects Reserve and Guard members and their families, it also gives America's business and industry a chance to be part of the ongoing effort to protect our freedoms.

Companies like Schering-Plough, ExxonMobil, SCANA Corporation, Wal- Mart, W. W. Grainger, International Paper, and the McNaughton-McKay Electrical Company in South Carolina, all have added enhancements such as paying the full salary deferential, continuing health and life insurance for the servicemembers and their families, and even creating special Web sites for spouses. These are outstanding corporate citizens and I applaud them.

With more than 150,000 reserve component service members still on active duty in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and the Global War on Terrorism, this effort is very critical. Mr. Speaker, I urge all employers to not only follow the letter of the law with respect to mobilized Reservists, but to also do their part in supporting the war on terror.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time, and I am pleased

we are here today to consider the Veterans Benefits Act of 2003, a bipartisan effort with no less than 37 substantive provisions.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to highlight five of the provisions of this comprehensive bill which provides more than a billion dollars in improved benefits over 10 years.

Section 101 of the bill is long overdue. After years of trying to find the offsets, we are finally able to bring equity to those surviving spouses who lose their Dependency and Indemnity Compensation upon remarrying later in life. Section 101 would allow a surviving spouse who remarries after age 57 to retain DIC, as well as home loan and educational benefits. The gentleman from Florida (Mr. Bilirakis) has championed this cause for almost 15 years now, and I appreciate his dedication.

Small business is the bedrock of our economy. Section 301 of the bill would expand the Montgomery GI bill while authorizing educational assistance benefits for on-the-job training of less than 6 months in various types of self-employment training programs. Similarly, section 305 would allow, for the first time, servicemembers, veterans and certain dependents to enroll in entrepreneurship and pre- entrepreneurship courses offered by the Small Business Development Centers and the Veterans Business Development Corporation. I applaud the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Renzi) for this provision, as well as provisions giving Federal agencies and departments new discretionary contracting authority to assist service-disabled veteran-owned businesses, another first.

Indeed, we, as a Nation, should accord veterans who become disabled in their service to this Nation a full opportunity to participate in the free enterprise system they have fought so hard to defend.

Section 309 would require the Department of Labor to go where its customers are to provide in-person Transitional Assistance Program services overseas, as VA has done since about 1992. I applaud the gentleman from Idaho (Mr. Simpson) and the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Reyes) for their long-standing work on this provision.

Lastly, section 402 of the bill increases the adapted housing and automobile allowances for disabled servicemembers. I applaud the chairman of the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs, Mr. Specter, along with the ranking member, Mr. Graham, for their many excellent contributions to this bill. I also applaud the former ranking member of the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs, Mr. Rockefeller, for his continued assistance.

In closing, I commend Chairman Smith, Ranking Member Evans, and Subcommittee on Benefits' Ranking Member Michaud for their leadership and diligent work on this bill, as well as the support they have given to me my first term as chairman of the Subcommittee on Benefits. I also want to recognize the good folks who make up the committee staff, many of whom put in long hours so we could consider this bill before we adjourned.

I wholeheartedly support H.R. 2297, as amended, and encourage the full House to support it as well.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1516, as amended, and reiterate the comments of our chairman in commending the other body for acting so quickly.

In December of 2001, the Logistics Management Institute recorded their finding on the current and future burial needs for veterans. Their findings were based on VA providing a burial option for 90 percent of the veterans residing within a 75-mile service area of an open national or State cemetery.

LMI concluded that 31 additional veterans cemeteries will be needed over the next 20 years in increments of 5 years. H.R. 1516, as amended, will require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a new national cemetery in the top six areas of need within 4 years of the date of enactment of this act.

The six cemeteries identified in today's bill would serve over 1 million veterans. Among the six is a new cemetery in the Greenville/ Columbia, South Carolina, area. Since I served for 16 years in the State House in Columbia, I understand firsthand how important this is to the veterans in that area. This cemetery would serve more than 169,000 veterans and their survivors, and I am pleased it is included in this bill.

I want to thank the ranking member of the Subcommittee on Benefits, the gentleman from Maine (Mr. Michaud), as well as the chairman and ranking member of the full committee, the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith) and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Evans). Time and time again these folks showed their commitment to our veterans and their families.

Mr. Speaker, with this bill we expand the opportunities for burial in the national veterans cemetery, which is no less than our final show of gratitude to our servicemembers. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 1516, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, Chairman Simmons has done a fine job of explaining the bill under consideration. I would like to thank him, Full Committee Chairman Smith, and my colleagues on the Veterans Affairs Committee for their excellent bipartisan work on this legislation.

We all understand the significant needs of our VA medical facilities across this great Nation. Many Members of this Congress have a VA building in their district that is old and in need of renovation, maintenance, and repair. The practice of medicine requires constant modernization of equipment and facilities, and we need to do our best to ensure that our veterans continue to receive the quality of care that they deserve. Although there are never enough resources for our veterans and their medical centers, this bill will authorize much needed help for those areas most in need.

In addition to the projects authorized in this bill, I think we can all agree that more needs to be done to encourage VA to coordinate with the Defense Department, the academic community, and maybe even the private sector

when medical facilities are constructed or renovated. During the consideration of this bill in full committee, I offered an amendment that was adopted without objection. It would require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to conduct a study to examine the feasibility of coordination by the Department of Veterans Affairs with the Department of Defense's Naval Hospital Charleston and the pending construction of a new university medical center at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, SC.

Our VA Hospital, located in downtown Charleston, was built in 1966. It was a good facility for its time, and the staff there does a great job, but it definitely needs a major facelift. The building is located right next to the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC), a modern and growing facility that is in the process of a large expansion project. MUSC and the VA work well together in many areas, especially in providing outstanding patient care.

On the old Naval Base, which was closed as a result of the last BRAC, the Naval Hospital Charleston remains a few miles away. The Navy has considerably downsized this facility, which mainly serves military retirees now. It is my understanding that the building may shut down in the future and move to a new, consolidated clinic location at the Naval Weapons Station Charleston. The proposed site would be a single 156,000-square-foot facility valued at greater than $30 million, but there are no plans that I am aware of to coordinate with the VA. It is clear that there is a tremendous opportunity for the VA, DOD and MUSC to work together for the good of our veterans and American taxpayers. I am certain that there are other similar examples throughout the United States.

I feel very strongly that this is the right thing to do for our active military personnel, retirees, and veterans. Earlier this year, we held a hearing on the Presidential Task Force Report, which focused heavily on VA-DOD resource sharing efforts. Both Undersecretaries McKay and Chu acknowledged that more could be done in this area, and Charleston was cited as one of many examples. The VA cannot afford to always go it alone in the future when planning and constructing new medical facilities.

For the sake of our veterans and the men and women who serve them in VA medical facilities, I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

Mr. Speaker, the chairman has done a great job in explaining the bill under consideration. As chairman of the Subcommittee on Benefits, I would like to take this opportunity to thank a few members of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs for their hard work.

We would not be considering this bill today without the bipartisan spirit of the Subcommittee on Benefits. The gentleman from Maine (Mr. Michaud), ranking member, and I have established a strong working relationship, a relationship built on what is best for our service members, veterans, and their families. Likewise, we enjoy strong participation from the subcommittee members, and I would like to thank them for their support and dedication.

We are very fortunate to have the gentleman from New Jersey's (Chairman Smith) vision and leadership at the full committee level. As a member of the committee for more than 20 years, he clearly understands how important these benefit programs are to deserving veterans.

Likewise, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Evans) has been a strong advocate for our military throughout his congressional career.

I am pleased to serve on this committee, which brings to the floor, year in and year out, such quality legislation.

Lastly, Mr. Speaker, I want to commend the gentleman from Florida (Mr.

Bilirakis) for his dedication to the surviving spouses of our active- duty service members and veterans. I have been a strong supporter of allowing these widows and widowers to marry and still retain their dependency and indemnity compensation. I am pleased this subcommittee was able to identify the offsets necessary to include this provision in H.R. 2297, as amended.

As the chairman indicated, the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Bilirakis) has introduced his bill to help widows in seven Congresses. I appreciate his patience with the process. As my colleagues may remember, the House passed this provision in legislation in the 107th Congress. I intend to work with my colleagues in the other body to ensure that this provision is retained during negotiations on the final version of the benefits package for the first session of the 108th Congress. Many survivors in the First District of South Carolina will benefit, as well as military survivors in all 50 States.

H.R. 2297, as amended, contains more than 20 provisions which would enhance, improve, or extend benefits to our most deserving veterans, those who put their lives on the line daily defending our homeland. I am proud to serve on the authorizing committee overseeing these benefits, and I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Ms. Ollie M. Smith, who is retiring as Director of the Transition Assistance Program (TAP), Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Force Management Policy), after holding this position since November 1996. TAP is a program run jointly by the Departments of Defense, Veterans Affairs, and Labor to assist separating servicemembers and their families as they transition into civilian life.

Ms. Smith has dedicated her career to the Department of Defense, working for not only the Office of the Assistant Secretary, but also for the U.S. Navy and the Defense Logistics Agency. Ms. Smith's career began at the Naval Supply Systems Command as a Project Manager. She also served in the great State of South Carolina at the Charleston Naval Supply Center as a contracting officer.

After serving on the Board of Naval Corrections from 1986 to 1993, Ms. Smith became Chief of Business Management, Defense Distribution Standard Center at the Headquarters of the Defense Logistics Agency. While there she was responsible for budget formulation, justification, and execution of the Defense Standard Systems budget.

Since November 1996, her responsibilities have changed to the more human aspect of the Department of Defense. As the Director of TAP, she oversaw the automated outplacement assistance system, public and community service policy, and job seeker and employment outreach for active duty servicemembers and their families.

Ms. Smith's enthusiasm, commitment, and professionalism are hallmarks of her persona.

Thank you, Ollie, for your dedication to America's servicemembers and veterans. You are leaving a lasting legacy of dedicated service to America and those who protect our freedoms.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the extraordinary accomplishment of Miss Sarah Mercer of Moultrie Middle School in Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina. Miss Mercer recently won the Siemens American History Innovation Award at the National History Day Competition held this summer at the University of Maryland.

Her entry, ``The Fencing Frenzy: Rights and Responsibilities of Barbed Wire Usage in the Wild West,'' highlights how the innovation of barbed wire led to efficient, economical, and ecological practices for both ranchers and farmers on the American frontier. I am proud to represent Miss Mercer and her family, who reside in South Carolina's First Congressional District.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the outstanding achievement of the 2002-2003 Clemson University Golf Team. The Tigers, who started and ended the year as the number-one ranked team in the Nation, clinched the school's first NCAA Division I golf title in May in Stillwater, OK and became the first school in NCAA history to win its conference championship, NCAA regional title and National Championship in the same year. The national title victory was the sixth tournament win of the year for the Tigers, a single season record, and the team finished the season with a remarkable 124-8-3 record against top 25 opposition, an incredible 93 percent winning percentage--by far the best in the Nation and in Clemson history.

The 2003 National Champions were led by team number one, D.J. Trahan, the 2002 National Player of the Year and the 2000 USGA Public Links Champion. D.J. is a member of the ACC's 50-Year Anniversary team and has represented the United States as a member of the 2001 Walker Cup team and the 2002 Palmer Cup and World Amateur teams. He was awarded the Ben Hogan Award as top colleague golfer and named the top collegiate golfer by Golf World in 2002. D.J., whose career GPA is a 3.2, was also elected to the Verizon Academic All-America third-team for 2002 becoming the first Clemson athlete to be named a National Player of the Year and Academic All-American in the same year. I am proud to have Mr. Trahan, a resident of Mount Pleasant, as a constituent in South Carolina's First District.

Mr. Speaker, over the years the first district of South Carolina has been home to many heroes. I would like to thank one of them today.

Brigadier General Jerry Black retired this Sunday after 36 years of distinguished service in the U.S. Air Force and Air Force Reserve.

A low country native, General Black graduated from St. Andrews High School and the Citadel. From there the Air Force sent him all over the world.

From pilot training in Texas to service in Vietnam, from Panama to the Middle East, in peacetime and in war, General Black was always eager to answer his country's call to duty.

Most recently, General Black served as the wing commander for the 315th Air Wing in Charleston Air Force Base. It was here that I had the pleasure to meet with him on several occasions. I can personally attest to the many long hours he dedicated to ensure success in both Afghanistan and Iraq.

General Black leaves behind a legacy of dedication, selflessness, and integrity. Our country is better for his service, and the first district is proud of this hometown hero.