[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 106 (Thursday, August 4, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: August 4, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                       VA-HUD APPROPRIATIONS ACT

  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Under the previous order, the 
Senate will now resume consideration of H.R. 4624, which the clerk will 
report.
  The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       A bill (H.R. 4624) making appropriations for the Department 
     of Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban Development, and 
     for sundry independent agencies, boards, commissions, 
     corporations, and offices for the fiscal year ending 
     September 30, 1995, and for other purposes.

  The Senate resumed consideration of the bill.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the Senator 
from Hawaii [Mr. Inouye].
  Mr. INOUYE. Mr. President, I have been advised that shortly the 
Senator from Alaska [Mr. Murkowski], will be offering an amendment 
which I believe has some merit, but I question very seriously the 
method of funding, because it will have a major impact upon three 
projects, and one is a medical facility in Hawaii.
  On a per capita basis, there are more veterans in the State of Hawaii 
than in any other State. More men and women have put on the uniform of 
this great Nation and told the world that they were willing to stand in 
harm's way for our people. And yet, of the 50 States, there are only 
two States without veterans hospitals, and one happens to be Hawaii. In 
addition to that, Hawaii is the only State without a veterans home.
  So we do not have a veterans hospital nor do we have a veterans home 
for long-term care. Yet we have more veterans in the State of Hawaii on 
a per capita basis than any other State.
  Mr. President, we have waited a long time, and the hospital facility 
in Hawaii is a unique innovation. We will be using one wing of the 
Tripler Army Medical Center. We are going to make use of an old 
military hospital. We will have a new facility, and this will be for 
long-term care, exactly what the Senator from Alaska is proposing to 
do.
  If the amendment of the Senator from Alaska is presented to the 
Senate, considered, and passed, it will be an unfair and devastating 
blow to the men and women from the State of Hawaii who have waited all 
these years for what all other States take for granted.
  So I hope that when the time comes this body will reject the 
amendment of the Senator from Alaska.
  I thank the Chair very much.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the Senator 
from North Dakota [Mr. Dorgan].
  Mr. DORGAN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to be able to 
speak for 9 minutes as if in morning business.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so 
ordered.

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