[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.
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