E 1190 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks June 8, 1995

Tax reform: Tax reform and simplification

should be priorities again. Several proposals

are pending in Congress to significantly simplify the tax code. Those proposals include

replacing the income tax with a consumption

tax or a flat tax; or reducing the rates in the

current system in exchange for fewer exemptions and deductions.

Congressional reform: Real government reform means cleaning up our system of campaign finance, restricting special interest

PACs, and ending lobbyists’ gifts to members

of Congress. Voters are deeply suspicious

that organized interest groups have become

too powerful and that they have multiplied

to the point that they now are clogging the

arteries of the democratic system.

Health care: Americans are concerned

about the rise of health care costs and the

risk of losing coverage if they leave their

jobs. In almost every public meeting now, a

constituent will pull out a hospital bill that

has delivered a knock-out blow to family finances. They favor incremental reforms to

our health care system, such as barring insurance companies from denying coverage to

people with pre-existing medical conditions,

or cutting administrative costs in the system. They do not want to see drastic cuts in

Medicare services.

National defense: Our military strength

should be preeminent. Americans are proud

of our military forces, and recognize that in

a dangerous world those forces will be called

upon to perform difficult missions. They

favor improved readiness and strengthening

our ability to meet realistic threats to our

national security, but not wasteful spending

to meet threats long since gone with the end

of the Cold War. They know that defense dollars can be more prudently spent, and money

can be saved by cutting waste, fraud and

abuse.

Foreign policy: Americans are wary of our

commitments overseas, but they do not support a compete withdrawal from foreign affairs. They recognize that his country must

be engaged in the world—not because it feels

good, but because it’s in the national interest to do so. They believe that the world is

a better, more secure place because of American leadership. They think the overriding

consideration in any challenge should be to

act to protect the American national interest. They support trade policies that open

foreign markets to U.S. businesses and farmers; arms control efforts that make the

world a safer place; and use of force, when

necessary, to defend key interests.

Values: I am impressed by the number of

constituents who talk about the importance

of values, religion, and faith. They understand that not all our problems are fiscal,

and they are concerned about the coarsening

of our culture, the breakup of the family,

and a decline in civility. Voters are rightly

concerned about where as a society we are

headed. They believe federal programs

should strengthen families and traditional

values and not in any way undermine them.

At the same time most Americans say that

the federal government should not be excessively entangled in people’s religious lives.

Conclusion: This is not meant to be an exhaustive list, but it is a good start. What

underlies the public’s demand for change is a

deep anxiety about the future. Many working families have watched their income stagnate or fall for a decade and are worried

about the future. Government must help

working people confront the uncertainties

caused by a changing global economy. It

should try to give them more security and

confidence about the future. The demand

from ordinary Americans is for greater economic and personal security. They want the

good life in a stable community. They want

a chance to send their kids to college, to live

in safe communities, and to enjoy a rising

standard of living.

Our fundamental task is still to put the

nation back on the track—now and in the future—toward broad prosperity for all Americans.

BALLISTIC MISSILE DEFENSE

THROUGH NAVY UPPER TIER

f

HON. ROBERT K. DORNAN OF CALIFORNIA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Wednesday, June 7, 1995

Mr. DORNAN. Mr. Speaker, a near-term defense against ballistic missile attack can be

achieved by upgrading existing Navy AEGIS

cruisers, destroyers, and standard missiles.

[From the Wall St. Journal, June 5, 1995]

REVIEW AND OUTLOOK—DOABLE MISSILE

DEFENSE

Opponents of defending America against

missile attack have long argued that (1) it

can’t be done and (2) even if it could, it’s too

expensive. Meanwhile, proponents of missile

defense of late have been squabbling among

themselves about the pros and cons of their

individual pet projects.

But now, under the auspices of the Heritage Foundation, a group of 16 eminent scientists and former military and civilian Defense officials have put aside their differences and joined to come up with a proposal that is doable and affordable. Better

yet, it would work.

At the core of the Heritage Team B plan is

an upgrade of the Navy’s Aegis air-defense

system to allow it to shoot down long-range

and short-range ballistic missiles. The Aegis

is a shipboard radar-tracking and interceptor

system that directs surface-to-air missiles,

also on ships, against enemy aircraft and

cruise missiles. It is intended for use in combat theaters—for example, to defend the Marines from attack as they storm a beach.

The Navy is already working on an upgrade that would allow it to intercept missiles outside the atmosphere, in the ‘‘upper

tier.’’ The Upper Tier system would also be

for theater use, though the upgrade would

vastly expand the territory it could protect.

The Team B proposal calls for Upper Tier to

be upgraded even further, to shoot down missiles of any range. Given such a capability, if

Upper Tier were deployed on ships scattered

around the American coast, it would provide

a protective shield against strategic missiles

aimed at the U.S.

And therein lies the rub. For, incredibly,

the United States has agreed not to defend

itself against missile attack. This was the

mad promise made 23 years ago in the AntiBallistic Missile Treaty with the Soviet

Union. It is an even more reckless pledge

today considering the growing threat of missile attack. A full upgrade of Upper Tier

would violate the ABM Treaty since it could

be used to defend the U.S. against attacks by

strategic missiles.

If we proceed along the current track,

Frank Gaffney, a former Reagan Defense official and a member of Team B, points out

that a Navy Aegis commander in the Sea of

Japan would be in the absurd position of

being able to shoot down a missile the North

Koreans aim at Tokyo, but incapable of

shooting down one heading for Chicago. How

on earth could it possibly be in our national

interest to dumb down the Upper Tier system so that it can be used to protect our allies and our troops abroad, but not one heading for our homeland?

The experts on Team B say a fully upgraded Upper Tier system could begin to be

deployed in three years at a cost of only

about $1 billion. For a total cost of between

$2 billion and $3 billion, 650 interceptors

could be deployed on 22 Aegis cruisers by

2001. The reason this is so cheap is that the

U.S. has already invested close to $50 billion

in the Aegis system; most of the necessary

infrastructure is already there.

A fully upgraded Upper Tier alone wouldn’t

provide a perfect national defense, but it’s a

start. Team B also wants to expedite work

on Brilliant Eyes, a space-based sensor capable of detecting missile launches and tracking missiles in flight. And it calls for putting

more money into research on space-based defenses, which in the long run are the most effective and cheapest way to defend against

missile attack.

It is hardly controversial to assert that it

won’t be all that many years before a pirate

in a place like Baghdad or Pyongyang gets

hold of a nuclear bomb and the means with

which to deliver it. When that capability exists, it will of course be too late to start

slapping together a national missile defense.

The House National Security Committee

took a step in the right direction when it

marked up a defense spending bill that would

authorize more money for Upper Tier, Brilliant Eyes and missile defense in general.

Similar legislation is making its way

through the House Armed Services Committee.

That’s the good news. The bad news is that

the House bill makes it clear that all this

must be done within the confines of the ABM

Treaty. Even worse is the possibility that

the ABM Treaty might be expanded to cover

some theater missile defenses, as suggested

in the agreement President Clinton signed in

Moscow earlier this month. Some Members

of Congress ought to ask their constituents

whether they really want their government

to consciously retard its defensive capability

because of an antique Cold War treaty. It’s

now time for this country’s political establishment to admit that future missile technology is likely to be carrying something

much nastier than communications satellites.

NAVAL WAR COLLEGE PRESIDENT

fRETIRES

HON. IKE SKELTON OF MISSOURI

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Wednesday, June 7, 1995

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, today I wish to

honor Rear Adm. Joseph Charles Strasser for

his faithful and dedicated service to the U.S.

Navy. In June 1995, Rear Admiral Strasser

will retire from the Navy. For the past 5 years,

Admiral Strasser has headed the Naval War

College, bringing outstanding instruction in

strategy and military affairs to officers of our

country.

Strasser was commissioned into the U.S.

Navy in June 1963, after graduating from the

Naval Academy. His initial assignment was as

an exchange officer with the Argentine Navy.

In July 1968, he began studying at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University. There he earned a master’s degree in

international relations, a master’s degree in

international law and diplomacy, and a Doctor

of Philosophy in political science. He went on

to attend the command and staff course at the

U.S. Naval War College in Newport, RI.

In January 1987, he was selected for promotion to rear admiral and In August of the

following year he became the commander of
June 8, 1995 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E 1191

Crusier-Destroyer Group Three. He was also

the commander of Battle Group Foxtrot, and

set sail on the U.S.S. Enterprise for her

around-the-world cruise. On July 17, 1990,

Rear Admiral Strasser became the 45th president of the Naval War College.

Rear Admiral Strasser has been awarded

many decorations including the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, Defense Superior

Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Meritorious

Service Medal, Navy Commendation Medal,

Navy Achievement Medal, Combat Action Ribbon, Meritorious Unit Commendation, and various campaign and service ribbons. I know

that this body joins me in wishing the best of

luck to him as he becomes the CEO for Pennsylvania State-Dubois Campus. My congratulations and best wishes to Rear Admiral

Strasser, his wife Barbara, and their four children.

TURTLE BAY ASSOCIATION SALUTED FOR PLAYGROUND REVIfTALIZATION

HON. CAROLYN B. MALONEY OF NEW YORK

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Wednesday, June 7, 1995

Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today

to alert my colleagues to an exciting community development project that has taken place

in my district.

Mr. Speaker, we are daily confronted with

the news of the breakdown of our country’s infrastructure, of crumbling communities that

have ceased to care. Across this Nation, the

most basic city institutions, such as parks and

playgrounds, have seriously declined in recent

years, as drug dealers and the homeless

move in and residents and their children stay

away. That’s why I think it is important to herald the kind of community action that has resulted in a stunning turnaround for Gen. Douglas MacArthur Playground in New York City.

Over the past year, the Turtle Bay Association, with the overwhelming support of neighborhood residents, has effected a revitalization

for the embattled playground.

The new MacArthur Playground should

serve as a shining example to all those who

doubt that communities can rally to bring

about substantive change. Beginning in 1994,

the Turtle Bay Association organized badly

needed renovations to the park, such as replacing contaminated sand in the sandbox and

repairing damaged park equipment. Recently,

the City Parks Foundation donated substantial

funds for the construction of a state-of-the-art

modular play system. To reduce installation

costs, neighborhood residents actually raised

money to purchase the equipment themselves.

Now MacArthur Playground stands ready for

its official ribbon-cutting ceremony on June

6th, a monument to community action as well

as an oasis for hundreds of children and their

parents.

The Turtle Bay Association and local residents should be commended for their devotion

to this extremely worthy project. Richard and

Amy Harary, and David and Susan Post Jensen in particular deserve special recognition

and thanks for their efforts to turn MacArthur

Playground around. I would also like to salute

860 and 870 UN Plaza, Chemical Bank, The

Family School, Post Jensen Inc., Richard’s Interior Design, the City Parks Foundation, and

the Tenants of 301 East 47th Street. Finally,

local merchants who donated food for volunteers at the project deserved recognition for

their generous part in this revitalization. These

people and organizations are a reminder to us

all that urban decline is not irreversible, that

caring neighbors can effect a world of good.

They give us hope for the future of our troubled cities.

Mr. Speaker, I am delighted to report such

good news to my colleagues, and to be able

to congratulate all those who made it possible

for New York’s children to play in MacArthur

Playground again. I am confident that their efforts will be enjoyed by generations to come,

and I am hopeful that they will inspire others

to do the same for their communities.

THE 30TH ANNIVERSARY OF HEAD

fSTART

HON. DAVID E. BONIOR OF MICHIGAN

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Wednesday, June 7, 1995

Mr. BONIOR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to

commemorate the 30th anniversary of Head

Start. It is hard to believe that one of the most

successful of the Great Society’s programs is

now 30 years old. For three decades this Federal program has been helping to improve the

quality of life for children throughout out Nation.

Head Start Works. It has proven to be successful in contributing to the readiness of children beginning school. It is far more than child

care. It is a comprehensive program that provides health, nutrition, and family services. It

involves parents by encouraging them to participate in classroom activities, accompanying

children on field trips, becoming substitute

teachers, and teaching them to help their children learn and grow. This family focus is one

of the reasons Head Start has been so successful. Unfortunately, many parents are unable to participate on a regular basis because

they must work. For these parents, Head Start

is a Godsend. Without Head Start, many children would simply lack adequate supervision

because their parents must struggle to pay the

bills.

Head Start is especially important for children with special needs. The identification of

speech or language difficulties as well as

more severe impairments allows early intervention to minimize and sometimes prevent

the long-range effects of such obstacles. The

health component provides youngsters an opportunity to have a complete health appraisal,

another advantage that many of these children

may not have had otherwise.

Today, the Macomb County Community

Services Agency [MCCSA] is hosting a Birthday celebration to mark the success they have

had in many of the communities I have the

privilege to represent. According to their mission statement, the challenge of MCCSA Head

Start is to empower participants towards selfsufficiency and skill development thereby removing barriers which limit the realization of

individual potential. Since the summer of

1965, the MCCSA Head Start program has

been removing barriers for literally thousands

of children. Originally a summer program serving barely 100 children, Head Start in Macomb

County has grown to serve children in 41

classrooms and four home based clusters. A

‘‘Community Action Agency,’’ MCCSA is dedicated to families and individuals seeking to improve their quality of life. For thirty years they

have been meeting the challenge with positive

results.

On this 30th anniversary, I applaud those

who have made the program a success and I

encourage my colleagues to join me in pledging continued support of Head Start.

CONGRESSIONAL REFORM

fHON. LEE H. HAMILTON OF INDIANA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Wednesday, June 7, 1995

Mr. HAMILTON. Mr. Speaker, I would like to

insert my Washington Report for Wednesday,

May 17, 1995 into the CONGRESSIONAL

RECORD.

REFORM OF CONGRESS

Congress has made significant progress in

its efforts to prevent and prosecute ethics

violations by individual Members. A ban on

honoraria for speeches, full financial disclosure, a prohibition on the use of official

funds for campaign expenses, and increased

scrutiny by the ethics committee have all

made Members of Congress more accountable

to the public. But public confidence in the

institution remains low, and further steps

are necessary.

Congress must continue to prosecute personal ethics violations vigorously, but we

must also strengthen Congress by addressing

institutional integrity more broadly. Some

congressional conduct, while it may be legal,

hampers the democratic process in the interest of political gain. We must broaden our

concept of public morality and the standards

of conduct to include a sense of fairness, respect for honest differences, and responsibility to the democratic process.

I have often expressed the concern that

money plays a disproportionate role in

American politics. The high cost of campaigns is increasing the dependence of candidates on special-interest groups, forcing

candidates to spend too much time raising

money instead of focusing on issues of national importance and meeting with voters.

Congress as an institution is damaged by

the perception that the flood of campaign

money or favors from lobbyists are influencing the behavior of Members of Congress.

Even though there is little evidence showing

a direct impact on Members’ voting records,

the public cannot be blamed for thinking

otherwise. The democratic process is also

damaged when Members make unfounded allegations or denigrate Congress as a whole

for personal political gain. Many important

reforms came close to passage last year, only

to falter in election-year politics. I support a

number of additional reforms to improve the

public image of Congress, including the following:

Campaign Finance Reform: The importance of Political Action Committees (PACs)

should be reduced. We should cap the total

amount of PAC contributions a candidate

could accept per election cycle and reduce

the maximum PAC contribution limit. Members of Congress should also be prohibited

from running ‘‘leadership PACs’’, which

some use to gain influence over other Members. Reform should require candidates to

emphasize small individual donations, capping the amount of large contributions a

candidate could accept per election cycle.