[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 42 (Monday, April 18, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[Congressional Record: April 18, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
AUTHORIZING ESTABLISHMENT OF FACILITY AT HINES, IL, FOR TEMPORARY
ACCOMMODATIONS FOR FAMILY MEMBERS OF SEVERELY ILL CHILDREN
Mr. MONTGOMERY. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 1617) to authorize the establishment on the grounds of the
Edward Hines, Jr., Department of Veterans Affairs Hospital, Hines, IL,
of a facility to provide temporary accommodations for family members of
severely ill children being treated at a nearby university medical
center.
The Clerk read as follows:
H.R. 1617
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. AUTHORITY TO ENTER INTO AGREEMENT FOR USE OF
PROPERTY AT EDWARD HINES, JR., DEPARTMENT OF
VETERANS AFFAIRS HOSPITAL.
(a) In General. The Secretary of Veterans Affairs may enter
into a long-term lease or similar agreement with the
organization known as The Caring Place at Loyola, Inc., a
not-for-profit organization operating under the laws of the
State of Illinois, to permit that organization to establish
on the grounds of the Edwards Hines, Jr., Department of
Veterans Affairs Hospital, Hines, Illinois, a facility to
provide temporary accommodations for family members of
severely ill children who are being treated at the Loyola
University of Chicago Medical Center and other hospitals.
(b) Conditions.--An agreement under subsection (a) shall
ensure that there shall be no cost to the United States as a
result of the property use authorized by that subsection and
may permit the use of the property without rent.
THE SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Mississippi [Mr. Montgomery], will be recognized for 20 minutes, and
the gentleman from Arizona [Mr. Stump] will be recognized for 20
minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Mississippi [Mr. Montgomery].
(Mr. MONTGOMERY asked and was given permission to revise and extend
his remarks.)
general leave
Mr. MONTGOMERY. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their
remarks, and include extraneous matter, on H.R. 1617 and the next
veterans bill which we will consider today, H.R. 4013.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Mississippi?
There was no objection.
Mr. MONTGOMERY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1617 would make it possible to set up a Ronald
McDonald House at the VA hospital at Hines, IL.
This facility would provide a temporary place to stay for parents of
severely ill children being treated at the Loyola University of Chicago
Medical Center.
I want to thank the author of the bill, the gentlewoman from
Illinois, Mrs. Collins, for introducing this worthy legislation. I am
pleased to join her and all members of the Committee on Veterans'
Affairs in support of the bill.
Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman
from Illinois [Mrs. Collins].
(Mrs. COLLINS of Illinois asked and was given permission to revise
and extend her remarks.)
Mrs. COLLINS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to speak in
support of H.R. 1617, which would authorize the Caring Place at Loyola,
Inc. to use a vacant piece of property on the campus of Edward Hines,
Jr., Department of Veterans Affairs Hospital for a facility to provide
temporary lodging for family members of severely ill children being
treated at Loyola University of Chicago Medical Center and other
hospitals. The Caring Place at Loyola, Inc. is an Illinois not-for-
profit corporation which has identified the need for such a facility
close to Loyola University Medical Center. Because of its location,
unused status, and Hines officials' willingness to make it available,
the property on the grounds of the VA hospital is ideal for this
project.
This undertaking will be of no expense to the Federal Government
because its entire cost of $3.5 million will be raised from private
funds. Interested citizens, as well as hospital administrators,
doctors, and nurses at Loyola Medical Center and the surrounding
communities are working diligently as we speak to raise the funds
needed to build this 15-room structure.
Initially, the organizing committee for this project had hoped to
accomplish a long-term lease agreement for the establishment of this
facility through administrative action by the Department of Veterans
Affairs, but they were advised by the Department that they needed to
pursue this legislation and that is the reason for our bill today.
In his letter endorsing this project, Secretary Jesse Brown of the
Department of Veterans Affairs, called it ``* * * a much-needed service
* * * a good example of a successful joint public-private venture that
benefits the community at no out-of-pocket cost to the Government.''
By establishing the Caring Place at Loyola we can help relieve the
psychological and physical stress suffered by the families of children
being treated for the most serious medical conditions. In many cases
the physical presence and care of loved ones is as important to the
healing process as the treatment plan or medicine regime that these
children are receiving. To a severely ill child there is no substitute
for his or her mother and father. This bill will provide a place for
these families to stay nearby so that they can be with their loved ones
when they are needed most.
I would like to thank Chairman Montgomery, Ranking Member Bob Stump,
Subcommittee Chairman Rowland, and the other members of the Committee
on Veterans Affairs for their positive and nonpartisan support for this
project effort. Certainly, I speak for the many volunteers and the
future families who will use this facility. Mr. Speaker, I urge my
colleagues to join me in voting for this simple but necessary
legislation.
Mr. STUMP. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 1617, a bill to
establish a Ronald McDonald House at the Hines VA Medical Center in
Illinois.
I would like to join Chairman Montgomery in applauding Congresswoman
Cardiss Collins for introducing this important legislation and I will
yield to the ranking member of the Subcommittee on Hospitals and Health
Care, Chris Smith, for an explanation of the bill.
I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 1617.
Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman
from New Jersey [Mr. Smith], the ranking member of the Subcommittee on
Hospitals and Health Care.
Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1617,
a bill which will authorize the establishment of a Ronald McDonald
House at the VA Medical Center at Hines, IL.
Most of my colleagues are familiar with these houses as they are
available at many private-sector medical centers throughout the
country. Their purpose is to provide temporary housing for the parents
of seriously ill children who are undergoing medical treatment. What is
envisioned in H.R. 1617 is that the Secretary of Veterans Affairs would
enter into a long-term lease with the caring place at Loyola, Inc., to
establish and operate a Ronald McDonald House on unused grounds of the
Edward Hines, Jr., VA Medical Center. The Ronald McDonald House
authorized by this measure would provide housing for the families of
children being treated at the Loyola University of Chicago Medical
Center which is adjacent to the Hines VA Medical Center.
This House will provide a much needed service to the community served
by these medical centers at no cost to the Federal Government. The VA
does not use and has no plans to use the site on which the Ronald
McDonald House would be located.
Mr. Speaker, I know of no objections to passage of this bill and I
urge my colleagues to support it.
Mr. MONTGOMERY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself 1 minute.
Mr. Speaker, again I want to congratulate the gentlewoman from
Illinois [Mrs. Collins], for this excellent legislation. As the
gentlewoman said, this is private, public, and veterans programs
working together. That is what it is all about, to help all people in
the different communities.
Also, Mr. Speaker, we have at the desk these blue sheets that explain
this bill and the next bill that we will take up.
I would also like to mention of the loss of our American soldiers and
others in that tragedy that happened in northern Iraq. These American
soldiers could have had up to $200,000 of veterans life insurance. I
hope they did. I hope they had the maximum, because certainly that
would help the families to adjust and to carry on with life at this sad
time.
Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back
the balance of my time.
Mr. STUMP. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and
yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. MONTGOMERY. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Mississippi [Mr. Montgomery] that the House suspend the
rule and pass the bill, H.R. 1617.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor
thereof) the rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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