[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 27 (Friday, March 11, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: March 11, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
          STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS

      By Mr. JEFFORDS:
  S. 1925. A bill to provide for the conservation of rhinoceros and 
tigers, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Environment and 
Public Works.


             rhinoceros and tiger conservation act of 1994

  Mr. JEFFORDS. Mr. President, in 1970 there were over 65,000 black 
rhinoceros alive in the wild. Today there are only 2,000, and this 
number is rapidly declining. Of the eight species of tiger which have 
historically roamed our planet, three species are extinct. In fact, 
there are fewer than 5,000 tigers left in the wild, a 95 percent 
decline within this century. At this rate of decline, these species may 
not survive into the next century.
  Mr. President, we can no longer stand by and allow these animals to 
go extinct. The threat is real and it is immediate. Loss of habitat and 
exploitation by humans threaten the survival of rhinoceros and tigers. 
But the gravest threat to these species is the international trade in 
rhinoceros and tiger parts and products. Poaching of rhinoceros and 
tigers continues because a few select countries continue to use parts 
from these animals for traditional medicinal purposes and other uses. 
This illegal trade must stop.
  The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species [CITES] 
accords protection for wild animals that are in danger of extinction. 
This Convention, signed in Washington in 1973, asks members to take 
limited trade sanctions against countries who engage in trade or taking 
which reduces the effectiveness of any international endangered species 
conservation program. U.S. law implementing the treaty allows the 
Secretary of Interior to make determinations if a country is engaging 
in illegal wildlife trade. If the Secretary certifies that a country is 
threatening the survival of an endangered species, the President has 60 
days to decide whether to take further action. This can include working 
with violators to develop laws and enforcement mechanisms to end the 
use and trade in endangered species, as well as establishing education 
plans and programs to consolidate and control stockpiles. Finally, the 
President can approve import prohibitions if a country continues to 
violate the international laws.
  Since 1974, the Department of Interior has certified foreign 
countries more than 20 times, most for diminishing the effectiveness of 
whaling protection laws. However, sanctions have never been imposed by 
the President. In the case of rhinoceros and tigers, I believe we must 
seriously consider sanctions against those countries who are continuing 
to violate international endangered species law.

  Mr. President, today I am introducing legislation which will go a 
long way toward protecting the last remaining rhinoceros and tigers in 
the wild. The Rhinoceros and Tiger Conservation Act of 1994 will create 
a mechanism to support the conservation programs of nations whose 
activities affect rhinoceros and tiger populations and provide and 
financial resources for those programs.
  The conservation fund can be used to support projects which protect 
rhinoceros and tiger habitat and programs which attempt to end the 
demand for rhinoceros and tiger parts and products. The fund is modeled 
after the highly successful African Elephant Conservation Fund created 
in 1988 by the U.S. Congress. This fund has provided grants to 33 
elephant protection projects in 13 countries, including: Burkina Faso, 
Botswana, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Congo, Gabon, Kenya, 
Malawi, Namibia, Senegal, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe. These 
countries do not have the money or the manpower to stop poaching. Many 
of the projects assisted by the fund have proven vital to the continued 
survival of African elephants.
  In addition, Mr. President, the fund can be used to help those 
countries which use and trade rhinoceros and tiger parts to end these 
illegal practices. This money could help violators set up public 
education programs, establish training programs for enforcement 
personnel and develop plans to consolidate and control stockpiles. 
Ending demand will reduce illegal poaching and preserve species.
  Also, Mr. President, the legislation mandates an end to the 
importation into the United States of all fish and wildlife products 
from nations that continue to violate international laws and trade in 
rhinoceros and tiger products or engage in other activities that 
adversely affect those animals survival.
  Mr. President, we must act immediately to avoid the extinction of the 
last remaining rhinoceros and tiger populations. Unless we take action, 
the dramatic decline in these animals will continue, until it is too 
late. This legislation is a bold step toward achieving this goal. I 
urge my colleagues to join in working to project and preserve those 
rhinoceros and tigers living in the wild.
           By Mr. ROCKEFELLER (for himself, Mr. Murkowski, Mr. 
             DeConcini, Mr. Mitchell, Mr. Graham, Mr. Akaka, Mr. 
             Daschle, Mr. Campbell, Mr. Thurmond, Mr. Simpson, Mr. 
             Specter, and Mr. Jeffords):
  S. 1927. A bill to increase the rates of compensation for veterans 
with service-connected disabilities and the rates of dependency and 
indemnity compensation for the survivors of certain disabled veterans; 
to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.


      veterans' compensation cost-of-living adjustment act of 1994

 Mr. ROCKEFELLER. Mr. President, as the chairman of the 
Committee on Veterans' Affairs, I am introducing today S. 1927, the 
proposed Veterans Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 1994. I 
am enormously pleased that the entire membership of the Committee on 
Veterans' Affairs has joined me as original cosponsors of this 
important measure--including ranking minority member Frank Murkowski 
and Senators Dennis DeConcini, George Mitchell, Bob Graham, Daniel 
Akaka, Tom Daschle, Ben Nighthorse Campbell, Strom Thurmond, Alan 
Simpson, Arlen Specter, and James Jeffords.
  Mr. President, this bill would increase, effective December 1, 1994, 
the rates of compensation paid to veterans with service-connected 
disabilities and the rates of dependency and indemnity compensation, or 
DIC, paid to the survivors of certain service-disabled veterans. The 
rates would increase by the same percentage as the increase in Social 
Security and VA pension benefits. The compensation COLA would become 
effective on the same date that the increase for those benefits takes 
effect.
  Mr. President, we have a fundamental obligation to address the needs 
of the 2.2 million service-disabled veterans and 332,250 survivors who 
depend on these compensation programs. The needs of these veterans and 
survivors are uniquely related to veterans' enormous sacrifices on 
behalf of our great Nation. Addressing these needs is a top priority of 
mine as chairman of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
  I represent a State where military service is held in the highest 
esteem. Ever since I entered public life, to serve the people of West 
Virginia, I have worked very closely with our veterans and their 
families. The compensation payments that this bill would adjust have a 
profound effect on the everyday lives of over 2\1/2\ million veterans 
and veterans' survivors--including over 20,500 in West Virginia. It is 
our responsibility to continue to provide increases in compensation and 
DIC benefits in order to ensure that the value of those top-priority, 
service-connected VA benefits is not eroded by inflation. Most 
recently, on November 4, 1993, Congress enacted Public Law 103-140, 
providing a 2.6-percent increase in these same benefits, effective 
December 1, 1993.
  The Congressional Budget Office estimates that the December 1, 1994, 
Social Security and VA pension COLA will be 3 percent. This is a 
preliminary estimate, but I expect the actual increase will be close to 
this estimate. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that a 3-
percent COLA would cost approximately $340 million over current law.
  Mr. President, I am proud that Congress has provided annual increases 
in VA compensation rates every fiscal year since 1976, and I urge all 
of my colleagues to continue to support these necessary increases.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be 
printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                S. 1927

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of 
     Representatives of the United States of America in 
     Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Veterans' Compensation Cost-
     of-Living Adjustment Act of 1994''.

     SEC. 2. DISABILITY COMPENSATION AND DEPENDENCY AND INDEMNITY 
                   COMPENSATION RATE INCREASES.

       (a) In General.--(1) The Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
     shall, as provided in paragraph (2), increase, effective 
     December 1, 1994, the rates of and limitations on Department 
     of Veterans Affairs disability compensation and dependency 
     and indemnity compensation.
       (2)(A) The Secretary shall increase each of the rates and 
     limitations provided for in sections 1114, 1115(1), 1162, 
     1311, 1313, and 1314 of title 38, United States Code. The 
     increase shall be by the same percentage that benefit amounts 
     payable under title II of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
     401 et seq.) are increased effective December 1, 1994, as a 
     result of a determination under section 215(i) of such Act 
     (42 U.S.C. 415(i)).
       (B) In the computation of increased rates and limitations 
     pursuant to subparagraph (A), amounts of $0.50 or more shall 
     be rounded to the next higher dollar amount and amounts of 
     less than $0.50 shall be rounded to the next lower dollar 
     amount.
       (b) Special Rule.--The Secretary may adjust 
     administratively, consistent with the increases made under 
     subsection (a), the rates of disability compensation payable 
     to persons within the purview of section 10 of Public Law 85-
     857 (2 Stat. 1263) who are not in receipt of compensation 
     payable pursuant to chapter 11 of title 38, United States 
     Code.
       (c) Publication Requirement.--At the same time as the 
     matters specified in section 214(i)(2)(D) of the Social 
     Security Act (42 U.S.C. 415(i)(2)(D)) are required to be 
     published by reason of a determination made under section 
     215(i) of such Act during fiscal year 1994, the Secretary 
     shall publish in the Federal Register the rates and 
     limitations referred to in subsection (a)(2)(A) as increased 
     under this section.
                                 ______

      By Mr. ROBB:
  S.J. Res. 168. A joint resolution designating May 11, 1994, as 
``Vietnam Human Rights Day''; to the Committee on the Judiciary.


                        VIETNAM HUMAN RIGHTS DAY

Mr. ROBB. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text 
of the joint resolution be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the joint resolution was ordered to be 
printed in the Record, as follows:

                             S.J. Res. 168

       Whereas May 11, 1994, is the fourth anniversary of the 
     issuance of the manifesto of the Non-Violent Movement for 
     Human Rights in Vietnam;
       Whereas the Manifesto, which calls upon Hanoi to respect 
     basic human rights, accept a multiparty system, and restore 
     the right of the Vietnamese people to choose their own form 
     of government through free and fair elections, reflects the 
     will and aspirations of the people of Vietnam;
       Whereas the author of the Manifesto, Dr. Nguyen Dan Que, 
     and thousands of innocent Vietnamese, including religious 
     leaders, are imprisoned by the Socialist Republic of Vietnam 
     because of their nonviolent struggle for freedom and human 
     rights;
       Whereas the leaders of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam 
     are seeking to expand diplomatic and trade relations with the 
     rest of the world;
       Whereas the United States, as the leader of the free world, 
     has a special responsibility to safeguard freedom and promote 
     the protection of human rights throughout the world; and
       Whereas the Congress urges Hanoi to release immediately and 
     unconditionally all political prisoners, including Dr. Nguyen 
     Dan Que, with full restoration of their civil and human 
     rights; guarantee equal protection under the law to all 
     Vietnamese, regardless of religious belief, political 
     philosophy, or previous associations; restore all basic human 
     rights, such as freedom of speech, religion, movement, and 
     association; abolish the single party system and permit the 
     functioning of all political organizations without 
     intimidation or harassment and announce a framework and 
     timetable for free and fair election under the sponsorship of 
     the United Nations that will allow the Vietnamese people to 
     choose their own form of government: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
     United States of America in Congress assembled, That May 11, 
     1994, is designated as ``Vietnam Human Rights Day'' in 
     support of efforts by the Non-Violent Movement for Human 
     Rights in Vietnam to achieve freedom and human rights for the 
     people of Vietnam, and the President is authorized and 
     requested to issue a proclamation calling upon the people of 
     the United States to commemorate such day with appropriate 
     ceremonies and activities.
                                 ______

      By Mr. WARNER (for himself, Mr. Thurmond, Mr. Kennedy, Mr. 
        Chafee, Mr. Simon, Mr. Campbell and Mr. Glenn):
  S.J. Res. 169. A joint resolution to designate July 27 of each year 
as ``National Korean War Veterans Armistice Day''; to the Committee on 
the Judiciary.


               National Korean War Veterans Armistice Day

  Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce legislation, 
along with all of my seven fellow Korean war era veterans who are 
currently serving in the Senate, which would designate July 27 of each 
year as the ``National Korean War Veterans Armistice Day.''
  This day, July 27, is the anniversary date of the signing of the 
armistice which led to the end of active hostilities in the Korean war.
  Considered to be the forgotten war, I believe all Americans should be 
given the opportunity to reflect upon this tragic conflict and to 
realize the impact this war had on the many men and women who served 
this Nation in the armed services, as well as though who did not wear 
the uniform. With more than 160,000 casualties, the Korean war and our 
victory came at great cost, and its outcome shapes the very world 
political climate we live in today.
  This year is the forty-first anniversary year of the signing of the 
armistice which ended the Korean war, and we are seeking passage of 
this resolution prior to June 25, 1994, the forty-fourth anniversary of 
the beginning of the Korean war. This schedule will afford the 
legislation and executive leadership of the Nation the opportunity to 
become role models for appropriate resolutions or proclamations 
promulgated by the State, county, and municipal governments. In 
addition, the prompt passage of this resolution will allow time for the 
preparation of other appropriate ceremonies and activities called for 
in the proclamation to be issued by the President.
  I am confident you will agree that we must, as a nation, recognize 
the sacrifices made by so many men and women during the Korean war.
  Therefore, I respectfully ask each of my colleagues to cosponsor this 
truly worthwhile legislation.

                          ____________________