Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Zeta Tau Alpha Epsilon chapter at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, who will celebrate their 100-year anniversary this year.

Founded back in 1903, Epsilon is the longest existing chapter of the Zeta Tau Alpha (ZTA) national sorority. Seven women in particular-- Elizabeth Kell Rose, Hattie Williams, Margaret Hutcherson, Grace Jordan, Bess Byrnes, Della McMillan and Mabel Sutton--were instrumental in establishing the first ZTA chapter west of the Mississippi River.

The mission of Zeta Tau Alpha is to make a difference in the lives of their membership by developing the potential of each individual through visionary programming. They emphasize leadership development, community service, academic success and continued personal growth for women.

Later this month, Epsilon will celebrate this historical milestone with a series of events in Fayetteville, Arkansas. I look forward to joining them for an Arkansas-Alabama football game watch party they are holding on September 26, 2003.

Mr. Speaker, I truly believe that Epsilon has enjoyed 100 successful years because of the wonderful women they attract to their sorority. Epsilon sisters are committed to their traditions, heritage and friendships that last a lifetime. These are among the core values that tie us together as a society and as Epsilon has proven are important ingredients to the success of any organization. Please join me in honoring the Zeta Tau Alpha Epsilon chapter at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville on reaching the 100-year milestone and wishing them another 100 more to come.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the Leadership Training Institute of America and their inspiring mission of faith for America's youth.

LTIA originated in my home district of Northwest Arkansas and has successfully spread throughout the country and even to places as far away as Russia. Their purpose is to provide America's future leaders with a strong Christian foundation of faith in today's secular society.

The participants of the program attend weekend seminars that teach them how their faith is a logical solution for many of the world's most challenging problems. They learn how to debate their worldly colleagues in an intelligent and inviting method. Furthermore, the students may attend a weeklong seminar once a year--here in our nation's capitol. While here, they meet with leaders in the Christian movement, attend discussions with their colleagues from all over the nation, and meet with their Congressional representatives.

I believe this training is vital in preparing our future leaders to take their place in society. The youth of today face physical, emotional, and social challenges that shock the imagination. They are inundated with graphic images of sex and drugs everywhere they turn. Yet, we expect them to maintain their childhood innocence, without providing them with the tools they need to combat the horrible examples they receive. LTIA provides America with a wonderful solution of a generation steeped in their Christian faith and trained to face a materialistic society.

As the former President Ronald Reagan said, ``The future doesn't belong to the fainthearted; it belongs to the brave.'' I believe the students involved in the Leadership Training Institute of America are part of our brave future and I applaud their efforts to make America an even greater nation than she is today.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Dr. Merlin Augustine and the M&N Augustine Foundation for a decade of service to the third district of Arkansas. The M&N Augustine Foundation embodies the spirit of neighbor helping neighbor. Their mission is to help individuals who, through no fault of their own, are down on their luck. They have accomplished great things to this end, including finding housing for the homeless, moving moms off welfare into paying jobs, providing funeral expenses for those without life insurance, and making holidays like Halloween and Christmas more enjoyable for underprivileged children.

I personally had a chance to help some of the foundation's 800-plus volunteers provide over 20,000 home-cooked meals to senior citizens, homeless individuals, and unemployed persons during their annual Easter Feed Program. Mr. Speaker, Dr. Augustine's contributions to our community are invaluable. He and the hundreds of volunteers of his foundation exemplify the spirit of charitable giving that President Bush so often speaks of, and I appreciate the opportunity to commend them here today.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the upcoming 50th anniversary of the Korean War Armistice and to honor all of the brave veterans who served in this conflict. On July 27, 1953, the Korean War Armistice Agreement took effect ending a 3-year war that was a crucial step in stopping the spread of communism and Soviet influence. U.S. troops, along with their allies, turned back North Korea's aggression and protected South Korea from falling into communist rule.

Today South Korea stands as a beacon, an economically prosperous republic, and a part of the world where stable democracies are not usually the norm.

We all know by reading the headlines that things are not so good just across the 38th Parallel.

Mr. Speaker, this Sunday marks the 50th anniversary of the end of the Korean War. It is important that we be eternally grateful to the men and women who took part in this campaign, for without their sacrifices the fall of the Soviet Union may never have been possible.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of legislation that honors the commitment and dedication of our Nation's teachers.

Today under Republican leadership the House is scheduled to take up two important education reauthorization bills that highlight our support for America's teachers. The Ready to Teach Act of 2003 and the Teacher Recruitment and Retention Act are two important bills that will help ensure that there is a quality teacher in every classroom, and that they are rewarded for their service.

As a former school board member and parent of three public school graduates, I have seen firsthand how hard our teachers work. It is only fair, then, that we create an environment that encourages and rewards their dedication.

Mr. Speaker, our children are blessed to have some wonderful teachers who are committed to their growth; however, we must ensure that these great people have incentives to continue to teach our children. These two bills are a step in the right direction, and I look forward to casting a vote of support for our teachers today.

Mr. Speaker, as the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Souder) mentioned, this past weekend I had the pleasure of going to Colombia by invitation of the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Souder) and the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Tom Davis). I am a member of the Speaker's Drug Task Force, and we are going to celebrate the third anniversary of the Colombia Plan. We have spent a lot of money in Colombia; and we have tried to thwart the growing production and distribution of drugs, primarily heroin and cocaine. I really wanted to see firsthand if we were being effective, if we were spending our money wisely.

What I saw was beyond my expectation. I think we are doing very, very well in that area. The Colombians, with our help, are working very hard to eliminate the illegal drug production. They do this by spraying, by intercepting drugs by land, sea and air, and are actively breaking up drug laboratories, places of production.

I had an opportunity to ride in the boats that they use to intercept the drug traffic on the high seas. These are little speed boats. They will basically be watching the radar and they will see a little blip. They run out and jump in the boat and race out and intercept the ship, the boat, whatever. We had an opportunity to do this, and it was a lot of fun to see these guys in action, and they did a great job. I was very, very impressed with their professionalism and the fact that they were doing such a good job. And yet after we left, after the Americans left, the Colombians were there and went about their business. Since then, they have intercepted trafficking in cocaine, heroin, whatever.

The Colombians are fighting this battle. Certainly we are providing some help and resources. We were able while I was there to go to a Colombian hospital and see some of the soldiers that had been injured in the last few weeks. One of them had lost a leg. One of them had shrapnel blow up in his face and lost an eye and part of his face. But their spirits were high. The young man that lost his leg was talking about going ahead and trying to remain in the military and continue to fight the battle.

So the Colombians are making great headway. They are taking back their country from the terrorists and thugs that are financing this effort by kidnapping their own people and ransoming them and producing illegal drugs. I think what I like about the way that the Colombian Plan is structured is in the sense we have an exit strategy. We are providing a lot of resources, a lot of know-how, but the Colombians have done a tremendous job of picking up on that.

I have a good friend that is an ophthalmologist, an eye doctor; and he will go to Africa and he will work on the natives and do cataract surgery and glaucoma surgery. And while he is there, he will help a lot of people; but where he really helps is while he is there, he teaches the surgeons there how to do the procedures so when he leaves, the surgeons that are there go on about their business and continue to care for people, continue to do a good job.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Souder) for asking me to go on the trip. I appreciate the gentleman's leadership in this area, and I thank the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hastert) for taking on this scourge that is a problem to America and so many other places in the world. I really feel like the Colombia Plan is doing just what we want it to do.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Lincoln Echo Newspaper for 10 years of service to Fort Smith, Arkansas.

Last week, the Lincoln Echo celebrated its 10-year anniversary. It began with the mission of unifying Fort Smith's African-American community. When the paper was sold in 2001, its mission statement changed to reflect the changes in Fort Smith. Their new aim became to unify Fort Smith's diverse communities.

Their work has been noticed not only in Fort Smith but around the country, reaching over 25,000 readers in 29 different States. This paper has preached the importance of unity in our neighborhoods and continuously relays a positive message to all of its readers.

Mr. Speaker, I want to commend Napoleon Black, Allen Black, Jr., Cecil Greene, Jr., and everyone involved in the Echo's success. I look forward to many more years of success for the Lincoln Echo.

Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of H.R. 2115, and I commend the gentleman from Alaska (Mr. Young), the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Mica), the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Oberstar), and the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. DeFazio) for their efforts to bring this legislation to the floor.

H.R. 2115 protects the needed investment in our aviation system, and while doing so, it addresses the needs of our small communities. Most of us here in Congress represent small community airports. There are only a few airports the size of Chicago, Atlanta, or Los Angeles. In fact, over 60 percent of our airports are small airports.

That is why it is so important that H.R. 2115 continues the Small Community Air Service Development Pilot Program. This program is devoted to developing air service to smaller communities. Fort Smith, Arkansas Regional Airport, from my District, was fortunate enough to be one of the 40 airports selected to participate in this program. I am pleased to report that the program has been instrumental in enhancing air service in Fort Smith. They are truly a success story. The continuation of the Small Community Air Service Pilot Program is very important to small airports.

Another feature of this bill that works to support needs of small communities is the continuation of Essential Air Service. I commend the entire Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure for working together to improve the EAS program. The gentleman from Kansas (Mr. Moran) worked very hard on this program, and I thank him for his efforts.

EAS provides air service to rural airports that would normally not be able to support a commercial air carrier in their community. In my District, Boone County Airport in rural Harrison, Arkansas depends on the EAS program for commercial service. The continuation and full funding of EAS is necessary for these rural communities. They simply cannot afford to pay a high-cost share to sustain service, and above all, they cannot afford to lose service.

H.R. 2115 adequately funds the EAS program and creates a community choice program that will allow communities to take ownership.

I ask support for the legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor one of America's bravest, Private First Class Eric Bleything of the 3rd District of Arkansas.

Private First Class Bleything, a scout with the 3rd Armored Calvary Regiment in Iraq, was wounded last week when the eight-vehicle resupply convoy he was with was attacked. He was shot in the stomach with an AK- 47. Fortunately, the bullet missed all vital organs, and he is in good condition.

Private First Class Bleything is one of the many heroes currently stationed in Iraq. However, what makes his story even more special is that Private First Class Bleything had an opportunity to stay in the U.S. rather than ship out with his unit in April. His wife had just been diagnosed with cancer, and his commanders told him he could stay behind to be with her through the treatments. However, they decided he should go and be with his unit. As Marcie herself said, he felt the obligation to go and serve his country.

Mr. Speaker, Private First Class Bleything embodies the courage and sacrifice of America's men and women. My thoughts and prayers are with him as he continues to recover from this attack.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1911) to amend title 38, United States Code, to enhance cooperation and the sharing of resources between the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Defense.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

(Mr. BOOZMAN asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. Speaker, for many years, the Departments of Veterans Affairs and Defense have been obligated by law to share health care resources. Congress enacted the original sharing law, Public Law 19- 174, in 1982. Through a series of hearings and business meetings, our committee found that the law was being unevenly implemented and that much more could be done.

Congress recently reemphasized its commitment to this policy when it passed sections 721 to 726 of the Bob Stump National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2003. Although our committee found evidence that sharing is working very well in some locations, the two Departments have never made a strong commitment to sharing and planning future health care activities. There are many reasons that the two Departments have not shared as much as they could, but we have found in general that there was a lack of committed leadership to implementing the goals of sharing.

The original sharing legislation established a VA-DOD committee to review policies and practices related to sharing of health resources. This committee was charged with identifying new or potential opportunities and making recommendations to VA, DOD and Congress. Our oversight activities revealed the joint committee had not achieved its full potential, and we made a number of changes to the committee's charge last year.

The significance of H.R. 1911 is that it would expand the purposes for which the original joint committee was

formed. It is not just health care where coordination and sharing is needed. There is a substantial amount of information that DOD maintains that is essential for the administration of various benefits, programs such as the Montgomery GI bill and disability compensation. Clearly, the government can be more responsive to future veterans and claims for benefits they earned if the two Departments can exchange information accurately and quickly.

H.R. 1911 would also increase flexibility for the joint committee to make recommendations in mutual interest areas. The committee would also be permitted to assess policy changes in both Departments in order to advance services and opportunities for the future. As a result, a more efficient system of delivery of health care and benefits to VA and DOD beneficiaries should evolve.

This is a goal I know both VA and DOD share, to provide continuity of care, prompt access to earned benefits, and better service to our current and former service members.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Kirk).

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time, and I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 1911.

Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 1911.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1683) to increase, effective as of December 1, 2003, the rates of disability compensation for veterans with service-connected disabilities and the rates of dependency and indemnity compensation for survivors of certain service-connected disabled veterans, and for other purposes.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, this is one of the most important bills the Committee on Veterans' Affairs brings to the floor each year. H.R. 1683 would provide, effective December 1, 2003, a full cost-of-living adjustment to the compensation veterans receive for their service-connected disabilities. Survivors receiving dependency and indemnity compensation, DIC, would also receive this increase.

The basic purpose of the disability compensation program is to provide a measure of relief from the impaired earning capacity of veterans disabled as a result of their military service. As of April, 2003, more than 2.4 million veterans were receiving service-connected disability compensation. These benefits are paid monthly and range from $104 for a 10 percent disability to $2,193 for a 100 percent disability.

Additional monetary benefits are available for our most severely disabled veterans as well as those with dependents. Spouses of veterans who died on active duty or as a result of a service-connected disability likewise are entitled to monetary compensation as the Nation assumes in part the legal and moral obligation of the veteran to support the spouse and children. Depending on their spouse's rank or grade in service, a spouse receives between $948 and $2,021 monthly.

Currently, there are more than 295,000 surviving spouses and more than 29,900 children receiving dependency and indemnity compensation. At the end of 2003, VA will have paid approximately $14.2 billion for the year in compensation benefits. With the cost-of-living adjustments estimated at 2 percent, that number will rise to approximately $14.6 billion for 2004, a $335 million increase.

I would like to commend the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Brown) and the gentleman from Maine (Mr. Michaud), the chairman and ranking member of the Subcommittee on Benefits, for considering this bill in a timely fashion, ensuring that veterans receive their COLA. As the new chairman of the subcommittee, the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Brown) has proven himself a leader and advocate for our Nation's veterans and their survivors. I appreciate his diligence and dedication to the committee.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I urge Members to support the Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2003, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 1683.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1257) to amend title 38, United States Code, to make permanent the authority for qualifying members of the Selected Reserve to have access to home loans guaranteed by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and to provide for uniformity in fees charged qualifying members of the Selected Reserve and active duty veterans for such home loans.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased that the House is considering today H.R. 1257, the Selected Reserve Home Loan Equity Act.

This legislation would save more than $50 million over 10 years and is similar to a bill the House passed in the 107th Congress, H.R. 2095. This measure makes the VA home loan program for members of the Selected Reserve permanent and reduces the funding fee charged to the Selected Reserve home loan applications to the same amount as that paid by active duty servicemembers.

Under current law, the reservists may participate in VA's home loan program through 2009. In the past decade, however, reservists have been increasingly called upon to participate on active duty for extended periods to support the national defense. Indeed, members of the Selected Reserve have become an integral part of America's total force, and they should be afforded the same home loan benefit as active duty veterans.

The CBO estimates that VA will guarantee 9,000 additional loans a year between 2010 and 2013 due to this legislation. Additionally, H.R. 1257 will provide uniformity in the funding fees charged to members of the Selected Reserve and active duty veterans for VA home loans. Today in most cases a reservist pays three-quarters of a percent higher funding fee than that charged active duty veterans.

This policy exists despite data indicating that the foreclosure rates for members of the Selected Reserve have been almost one-third lower than that of other veterans. Again, Mr. Speaker, with our country relying more and more on reservists, they certainly deserve equality in fees with other veterans.

Finally, this bill would affect the home loan guarantee fees for veterans qualifying for second or subsequent home loans with no downpayment. The fees for veterans who obtain a subsequent VA home loan would be raised from 3 percent to 3.3 percent for loans closed before October 1, 2011, and then reduced to 2.15 percent for loans closed between October 1, 2011, and September 30, 2013. CBO estimates that the bill would save $4 million in 2004, $4 million over 5 years, and $51 million over 10 years.

Mr. Speaker, this bill was unanimously recommended by our committee. I thank the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Evans) for his work in introducing this measure, as well as the chairman and ranking member of the Subcommittee on Benefits, the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Brown) and the gentleman from Maine (Mr. Michaud), for considering this bill in a timely fashion.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Simmons).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith), the distinguished chairman of the Committee on Veterans Affairs.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the Selected Reserve Home Loan Equity Act.

Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 1257.