May 24, 1995 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H 5555

gun down his wife, the store manager, and

wound an innocent, unsuspecting pregnant

woman. Sheriffs deputies were doing their

job responding to the many daily calls where

violence is anticipated and usually resolved

by their skills and training. But Friday,

April 28, 1995 was going to be different!

Certainly, Sheriff’s Sergeant Tim

Mossbrucker didn’t know that when he

turned into the parking lot of this sleepy little suburban grocery store, he would be

gunned down in cold blood. I’m sure that

other deputies responding did not know that

they would be confronted by gunfire that

was going to take the life of their colleague

and friend.

How they must feel. You can rest assured

that how they feel is how we all feel. What

can be done about someone who has so much

rage and anger that he is willing to cut down

members of society by simply pulling a trigger?

I know that the entire law enforcement

community shares the grief and sense of

helplessness that must be felt by members of

the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department.

I, too, share the grief and despair that they

are experiencing. Sadly, this will not be the

last law enforcement officer we will put to

rest; this is not the last time we will have innocent victims taken from us over senseless

violence.

I would hope the next time you see someone who is willing to put his/her life on the

line for little pay and lousy hours, you will

tell them that you appreciate them and what

they do. It is quite possible that each time

they put on a uniform and start a tour of

duty, it could be their last.

RUSS COOK,

Chief of Police, Golden Police Department.

N

the House, the gentleman from New

ETHERCUTT

May 2, 1995.

The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr.

). Under a previous order of

fYork [Mr. OWENS] is recognized for 5

minutes.

[Mr. OWENS addressed the House.

His remarks will appear hereafter in

the Extensions of Remarks.]

previous order of the House, the gentleman from Indiana [Mr. B

The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a

f URTON] is

recognized for 5 minutes.

[Mr. BURTON of Indiana addressed

the House. His remarks will appear

hereafter in the Extensions of Reprevious order of the House, the gentleman from Texas [Mr. D

marks.]

The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a

f OGGETT] is

recognized for 5 minutes.

[Mr. DOGGETT addressed the House.

His remarks will appear hereafter in

the Extensions of Remarks.]

previous order of the House, the gentleman from Michigan [Mr. E

The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a

f HLERS] is

recognized for 5 minutes.

[Mr. EHLERS addressed the House.

His remarks will appear hereafter in

the Extensions of Remarks.]

previous order of the House, the gentleman from Texas [Mr. G

The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a

fENE GREEN]

is recognized for 5 minutes.

[Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas addressed the House. His remarks will appear hereafter in the Extensions of Remarks.]

BIPARTISANSHIP NEEDED TO

SAVE SOCIAL SECURITY

fThe SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a

previous order of the House, the gentleman from Tennessee [Mr. BRYANT] is

recognized for 5 minutes.

Mr. BRYANT. Mr. Speaker, I come

here tonight with a stronger hope and

brighter optimism for a sound and stable future for this country.

Bipartisanship is alive and well in

the U.S. Senate, and we need more of it

here in the House of Representatives.

I would like to take a few moments

to commend Senators ALAN SIMPSON

and BOB KERREY—two Senators of opposite parties—for their willingness to

put politics aside and work together to

save Social Security.

To me, the significance to be found in

their effort is their realization of a big

problem and their willingness to put

partisan politics aside in order to go

about the task of solving it.

Mr. Speaker, in Monday afternoon’s

issue of Congress Daily, Senator

KERREY said, and I quote: ‘‘I am the

chairman of the Democratic Senatorial

Campaign Committee, and so it’s possible for us to come forward and say

the DSCC is not going to go out and attack Republican Senators for doing the

right and responsible thing. We can

take politics out of it.’’

Senator KERREY also said, and again

I quote: ‘‘I will not put blinders on and

say, ‘well, I’ve got to attack somebody

just because they’re a Republican.’’

Senator KERREY, if you’re watching

this, I thank you and applaud you for

championing this crucial issue with

someone from the other side of the

aisle. The House of Representatives

needs more bipartisanship like that of

you and Senator SIMPSON.

Like Social Security, one of the most

crucial issues facing this Congress is

preventing Medicare from going broke

for the millions of seniors who depend

on it.

But no one seems to want to put politics aside, roll up their sleeves, and

solve the problem.

Instead, all we’ve heard are criticisms and attacks.

What good are these attacks doing?

What legitimate purpose are they serving?

None. Nothing. All the carping, all

the complaining, all the criticisms, are

doing not one thing to save Medicare.

In the May 29 edition of Newsweek

magazine, it was reported that during a

meeting of Democrats at the White

House to discuss saving Medicare, Senator JOHN BREAUX suggested that

Democrats join in a bipartisan commission to reform Medicare.

The article went on to report that

many of those present in the meeting

rejected the idea, instead opting to let

Republicans take the heat on this crucial effort.

What kind of leadership is that? How

can we make any real progress with

that kind of an attitude coming from

the other side of the aisle?

Senator BREAUX, you’re right on target, and I appreciate your foresight of

this important issue. We need more of

that kind of thinking here in the House

of Representatives. We’re going to have

to have it if we’re ever to save Medicare.

It’s time for Congress to come together and devise a plan to preserve

Medicare, and don’t worry about who

saves it.

Saving Medicare won’t be something

that will take place overnight.

It will require vision and foresight by

the policy makers. Any Medicare reform proposal Congress proposes must

entail reasonable, flexible, and common-sense alternatives for those who

may choose to seek their medical care

another source, such as an HMO.

Saving Medicare will require understanding by the millions of seniors who

depend on it. Any restructuring of

Medicare will require some changes.

But everyone must realize that if there

are no changes, there won’t be any

Medicare.

And most importantly, saving Medicare will require everyone in this body

to work together if we are to realize

success in our efforts.

We cannot—we must not—waste our

time haggling with each other about

preserving Medicare, because in the

next 7 years, father time will grant us

no time outs, no reprieves, and no second chances.

The many millions of seniors who are

depending on us to save Medicare cannot afford gridlock.

Like Senator KERREY said, ‘‘we can

take politics out of it.’’

I hope everyone in Congress can come

together like Senators SIMPSON,

KERREY, and BREAUX. Together, we

must devise a plan to save Medicare.

I urge my colleagues on the other

side of the aisle to participate in the

process of saving Medicare in a positive

and constructive manner.

We owe the millions of seniors of this

country who are depending on us, our

best effort.

previous order of the House, the gentleThe SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a

fwoman from Ohio [Ms. KAPTUR] is recognized for 5 minutes.

[Ms. KAPTUR addressed the House.

Her remarks will appear hereafter in

the Extensions of Remarks.]

ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE SPEAKER

PRO TEMPORE

fThe SPEAKER pro tempore. Members are reminded to avoid references

to Members of the other body.