[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 53 (Thursday, May 5, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: May 5, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                         THE ``GIFT BAN'' BILL

  Mr. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, I rise today in support of the 
McConnell substitute amendment, which is the pending amendment. I would 
like to speak specifically in opposition to the provisions of the 
committee bill that would prohibit Members of Congress from receiving 
private reimbursements for travel, food, and lodging, in connection 
with charitable events.
  Mr. President, in August of this year, my wife Nancy and I plan to 
host a charity event in my State of Alaska to raise money for a breast 
cancer detection center that we have been supporting for a long time. 
The event is called ``Waterfall '94.'' The ``Waterfall '94 Committee'' 
is a nonprofit organization which is sponsoring the first annual 
``Fishing for Charity'' tournament. The committee's name comes from the 
location of the event near Ketchikan, AK, in the southeastern part of 
our State. The charity tournament will run for 3 days. Members of the 
Senate and leaders of the business community have been invited to 
attend and support this very worthwhile cause, as well as providing 
them with an opportunity to visit our State.
  The beneficiary of this event will be the Breast Cancer Detection 
Center of Alaska. That is a nonprofit organization located in 
Fairbanks. The center was established in 1974, with my wife, who is one 
of the founding directors, to provide free examinations and mammograms 
to all the women of Alaska. To date, women from more than 80 towns and 
villages have been able to visit the center for breast cancer 
screening. I understand that over 15,000 women have been examined, and, 
undoubtedly, lives have been saved.
  While the center has provided these thousands of examinations and 
mammograms over the years to women who would otherwise not be able to 
afford these services, the vastness of our State continues to prevent 
some women in many of the remote areas from accessing these services. 
We are hopeful that the proceeds from the event will allow the center 
to continue to fulfill its mission of providing screening for 
mammograms, outreach and educational services to the women of Alaska.
  Mr. President, it is our hope that this will become an annual event. 
The funds generated help purchase the new mammogram unit, which is now 
being installed, and will assist the center in obtaining a mobile unit 
that would be available for placement in a C-130. The National Guard 
could fly into these bush areas that have no road connection to provide 
this service to women in isolated communities.
  Many companies and organizations have generously offered to provide 
donations to the Waterfall '94 event to help pay for the travel, food, 
and lodging, and we would anticipate that Members of this body, 
Senators and one family member, would attend the event. Simply stated, 
without this generous support, the event would not take place.
  If Members of the Senate are prohibited from participating in events 
such as this, the chance to raise money for breast cancer will be lost. 
I suggest to those opponents of this type of charity event, that they 
should suggest some alternative, so we may continue to raise money for 
worthwhile causes.
  Of course, full disclosure of such events is already required. The 
Ethics Committee has an important role in monitoring Senators' 
participation and sponsorship of such charity tournaments. Clearly, 
these events take place in the light of full disclosure. Of course, the 
real winners of such events are the charities they support, like the 
Breast Cancer Detection Center in Fairbanks.
  We have seen the success of the Senator's Ski Cup in Park City, UT, 
for the children's hospital, which is sponsored by former Senator Jake 
Garn. Many of us will recall when Senator Garn went up in space and 
came back, his daughter was severely ill. He gave one of his kidneys to 
his daughter at that hospital. The charity event has been going on ever 
since.
  I think that the Children's Hospital in Salt Lake City receives 
approximately $250,000 each year from the Senator's Ski Cup. There have 
been stories that appeared on ``Inside Edition'' and others being 
critical of this type of event. Yet, some of those who criticize these 
events have participated. I think it is fair to say that the record 
will show that the junior Senator from New Jersey has participated for 
at least 3 years. I think it is rather coincidental that we see such 
criticism coinciding with our own individual election years, but I will 
not dwell on that.
  I think it is fair to recognize we were elected to represent 
Americans and to use our best judgment. We are accountable to those we 
serve. We must conduct ourselves in an appropriate manner, not simply 
ban activities which we are capable--and the American people are 
capable--of deciding right from wrong.
  Finally, Mr. President, I note that currently there are 182,000 women 
who are diagnosed with breast cancer each year and 46,000 die from that 
disease. Breast cancer is the second largest cause of death in my State 
of Alaska. One in 8 women will develop breast cancer in her lifetime. 
It is the leading cause of death of women between the ages of 35 and 
54. The risk of developing breast cancer increases dramatically with 
age. For women 70 to 74 years old, the risk of breast cancer is 1 in 
235. Mammography is one of the most reliable methods of early detection 
of breast cancer. Mammography has been proven to reduce mortality for 
women with breast cancer.
  I encourage my colleagues to recognize the significance of these 
statistics and how charitable events, such as the Senator's Ski Cup and 
Waterfall '94, contribute to reversing these numbers and saving lives.
  I thank the Chair for the time, and I thank my colleagues.

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