H 5694 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE June 8, 1995

What do these massive cuts for Medicare and Medicaid mean to rural Missouri, where I am from? It means loss,

a huge loss in revenues for my hospitals. It means many of my senior

citizens who are on a low income and

Social Security will have to pay money

they do not have in order to give tax

cuts of $20,000 for those who earn over

$250,000 a year. That is not right. That

is not fair. That is mean-spirited.

We need rural hospitals in rural Missouri. We do not need them to be shut

down because they want to give tax

cuts to the wealthy. Mr. Speaker,

think twice before you act.

HYPOCRISY ON ETHICS COMPLAINTS REGARDING BOOK ROYfALTIES

(Mr. HEFLEY asked and was given

permission to address the House for 1

minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. HEFLEY. Mr. Speaker, I listened

yesterday with interest as the whining

and moaning voices from the other side

of the aisle criticized the Speaker of

the House. What were they criticizing

him for? He wrote a book. He was doing

a book tour. Actually, he might get

paid for that book. They acted like

there was something unusual or unethical about what he was doing.

I would just ask, Mr. Speaker, where

were those same voices in 1990, when

Senator GORE received $33,300 in book

royalties? Where were they in 1991,

when Senator GORE received $66,700 in

book royalties? Where were they in

1992, when Senator GORE took a 35-city

book tour and received $546,260 in book

royalties? Where were they in 1993,

when Vice President GORE received

$310.84 in book royalties?

There is a difference, however, Mr.

Speaker. Senator GORE received a

$100,000 advance. Speaker GINGRICH received $1. Stop the hypocrisy; it does

not play well.

EXPRESSING PRIDE IN CAPTAIN

O’GRADY AND HIS MARINE RESfCUERS

(Mr. SKELTON asked and was given

permission to address the House for 1

minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, Americans awakened today to good news, the

rescue of Capt. Scott O’Grady, the F–16

pilot whose plane was shot down last

week by rebel Serbs over Bosnia. The

successful mission was performed by

the Marine Expeditionary Force, commanded by Col. Marty Berndt.

I share the pride in Captain O’Grady

and the rescuing Marines that was so

eloquently expressed earlier this morning by the President, our NATO Commander, Admiral Leighton Smith, and

members of Captain O’Grady’s family.

I had the pleasure, Mr. Speaker, of

congratulating Colonel Berndt by telephone just a few moments ago. He was

personally along on the rescue mission.

I have visited our troops participating

in Operation Deny Flight, which includes an A–10 reserve wing from

Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri.

All Americans should be grateful for

the courage and for the dedication to

this dangerous mission. We must also

continue to support those who risk

their lives every day in training and

combat, in peace and war. All Americans, Mr. Speaker, are proud of Captain

O’Grady, the rescuing marines, and all

who wear the American uniform.

(Mr. GOSS asked and was given perGOOD NEWS

fmission to address the House for 1

minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. GOSS. Mr. Speaker, I would like

to continue on in the sentiment of the

gentleman from Missouri [Mr. SKELTON] who has so eloquently expressed

our pride this morning in our military.

Indeed, it is a great pleasure to wake

up to good news in the midst of all the

trouble that we are experiencing in the

Bosnia area.

According to the morning news reports, and as has been confirmed now,

the American pilot downed in Bosnia

has been rescued by American marines,

and is safe aboard a United States ship.

I am sure every American’s heart sings

to hear that news. This was a very

risky rescue mission. It was extremely

dangerous. It was no easy thing to do.

It took a lot of courage and professionalism, but the professionalism,

team spirit, and perseverance of our

military personnel, coupled with the

grace of God, saw those marines

through, and helped bring our young

pilot out of danger, back to his family,

and back to our shores.

With the commemorations of Memorial Day still fresh in our minds, this

feat of bravery reminds us again the

risks and sacrifices our men and

women in uniform take very day. We

wish the pilot and his family well, and

we thank all the families of those

brave young men and women who serve

in our Armed Forces. They are always

there when we need them. Thank God

for them.

A SALUTE TO MARINE CAPT.

SCOTT O’GRADY AND HIS RESCUfERS

(Mr. GEPHARDT asked and was

given permission to address the House

for 1 minute and to revise and extend

his remarks.)

Mr. GEPHARDT. Mr. Speaker, I rise

this morning to pay tribute to a remarkable act of courage that has taken

place in the war-torn land of Bosnia.

I am talking about the rescue of

Capt. Scott O’Grady, who had been

missing for nearly a week, since his F–

16 jet was shot down by the Bosnian

Serbs.

Many had almost given up hope of

Scott’s return. But for 6 days, he survived on his own in the woods—and

stayed out of enemy hands—because of

what one marine colonel called his

‘‘guts and his training.’’

That is when an outstanding team of

marines, led by Col. Martin Berndt, responded to his radio call, and braved

fire from Serb forces to bring this

American patriot back home.

Mr. Speaker, there are no words to

express the gratitude of each and every

American to Captain O’Grady, who

placed his life on the line in the service

of his country.

His valor, his perseverance, his cunning and skill in the toughest of circumstances are a tribute not just to

the U.S. Marine Corps, but to America’s fighting spirit itself.

As for his rescuers, I think it should

be clear today that, as much as we

need our weapons systems—as much as

we need the sophisticated technology

that keeps our troops safe and helps

them do their jobs—the heart of our

Armed Forces is the drive, the dedication, the determination of our men and

women in uniform to do their best for

America.

On behalf of every Member of this

Congress, I salute them—I thank

them—and I am grateful for the gift of

Captain O’Grady’s return to family and

country.

PUT THE TAXPAYERS’ INTERESTS

FIRST: SUPPORT THE AMERICAN

fOVERSEAS INTERESTS ACT

(Mr. CHABOT asked and was given

permission to address the House for 1

minute.)

Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Speaker, today,

the House will have an opportunity to

vote for a foreign aid bill which, for the

first time in nearly a half-century puts

the interests of the American taxpayer

first.

H.R. 1561 eliminates three major Government agencies and more than 20 low

priority programs. It cuts $3.7 billion

from current spending over the next 2

years and it calls for savings of $21 billion over the next 7 years.

The American Overseas Interests Act

finally brings an end to the foreign policy status quo. It concentrates our limited resources on helping our friends to

help themselves, it improves our global

antiterrorism efforts and it strengthens our hand in the area of international narcotics control.

Mr. Speaker, Chairman GILMAN and

the International Relations Committee

have crafted a good bill—a bill which

protects the interests of the American

taxpayer and brings an end to the foreign aid status quo. I urge my colleagues to support the American Overseas Interests Act.

(Mrs. SEASTRAND asked and was

OVERSEAS INVESTMENT

fgiven permission to address the House

for 1 minute and to revise and extend

her remarks.)

Mrs. SEASTRAND. Mr. Speaker,

when is a spending cut a spending cut?