[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 137 (Tuesday, September 27, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: September 27, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
              VA, HUD, INDEPENDENT AGENCIES APPROPRIATION

  Mr. ROCKEFELLER. Mr. President, as chairman of the Committee on 
Veterans' Affairs, and as chairman of the Commerce Subcommittee on 
Science, Technology and Space, I want to comment on the conference 
report on H.R. 4624, the fiscal year 1995 Departments of Veterans 
Affairs and Housing and Urban Development, and independent agencies 
appropriation bill.
  Mr. President, I commend the chairs of the respective House and 
Senate Appropriations Committees and the other conferees who reached 
the agreement reflected in this conference report.
  And once again, I especially commend Senator Mikulski, Chair of the 
VA-HUD-Independent Agencies Subcommittee for her valiant leadership 
throughout this process. Thanks to her dedication and acumen, the 
subcommittee succeeded in making the tough funding choices that were 
required of them this year, and we now will enact a package that 
strikes a good and fair balance among programs for veterans, science, 
housing, and the other important areas covered in this legislation.
  I believe America's veterans can feel pleased and grateful towards 
the fiscal year 1995 appropriations that was secured in this conference 
agreement for the Department of Veterans Affairs. Despite a 
particularly difficult budget situation, this conference report 
addresses many of the VA's highest priority funding needs, programs 
that truly deserve our support so that we may continue to seek to met 
the needs of our Nation's veterans and their dependents and survivors.
  Mr. President, I specifically recognize that the conference agreement 
provides $252 million for VA medical research. This amount is $41 
million above the amount requested by the administration and allows the 
funding for research to remain at the fiscal year 1994 level. While 
this appropriation will not support any new research initiatives, it 
will salvage some 400 ongoing research projects, covering such critical 
problems as Alzheimer's disease, AIDS, and alcoholism.
  Mr. President, I note with enormous gratitude that the conference 
report includes many of the specific requests made by the Senate 
Committee on Veterans' Affairs concerning the funding of particular 
items in the medical care account. For a number of medical care 
programs, the conference report provides additional amounts above the 
administration's budget request. Specifically, the final agreement 
provides for increased funding above the amounts requested by the 
administration for the following purposes: To enhance medical care for 
women veterans; to increase funding for programs for homeless veterans; 
to increase funding for blind rehabilitation services; and to support 
the installation of bedside telephone systems in VA hospitals.

  Mr. President, I continue to be concerned about funding for homeless 
veterans programs. While I am pleased with the increase in the 
conference agreement of $10 million above the administration's request, 
this amount is disproportionately low in relation to overall Federal 
funding for homeless programs. Veterans represent over one-third of our 
Nation's homeless population. I certainly am encouraged by the 
appropriation for VA homeless programs; that funding will allow VA to 
continue its endeavors to meet the needs of homeless veterans through 
its own programs. However, I again strongly urge HUD to direct an 
appropriate level of funding to homeless veterans programs.
  Mr. President, the conference agreement's appropriation for VA's 
general operating expense account is highly commendable as well. The 
administration proposed cutting 622 full-time employee equivalents from 
the Veterans Benefits Administration at a time when the Department 
faces a claims backlog of well over 500,000 pending claims. As I have 
heard repeatedly from veterans in my own state of West Virginia and 
around the country, the current situation in the adjudication system is 
appalling. This cut in staffing not only would hinder VBA's efforts to 
reduce the backlog, it would likely make an already devastating 
situation even worse.
  The House and Senate conferees clearly recognized the importance of 
the adjudication process and have appropriated an additional $16.5 
million for additional staffing to help reduce the claims backlog. The 
conference agreement also provides an additional $1.6 million 
specifically to address the backlog of vocational rehabilitation and 
counseling claims.
  The claims adjudication process is a primary function of VA. VA 
desperately needs adequate funding and staffing to fulfill its 
obligation to provide all benefits to which veterans are entitled in a 
timely and efficient manner. While the additional funding will by no 
means solve the backlog problem, it certainly will help to avoid the 
situation becoming worse, and perhaps even to begin to alleviate it.
  I also note with pleasure that the conference agreement appropriates 
additional funding for major construction projects. Under the 
administration's request, VA construction was dealt a significant blow 
and would have sustained a cut of $254 million, or 53 percent, from the 
fiscal year 1994 level. The conference agreement appropriates $252.9 
million above the administration's budget request, almost returning the 
funding level to that for fiscal year 1994.
  Finally, with respect to VA appropriations, I acknowledge that the 
conference agreement provides an additional $10 million for grants for 
the construction of State extended-care facilities. This amount will 
allow the State home construction program to keep pace with the long-
term care needs of veterans. In addition, this funding level will avert 
a severe backup of projects in those States that are ready to proceed 
with the acquisition and construction of State extended-care 
facilities.
  Mr. President, as a last note, I express my strong support for the 
conferees' action to fund the Court of Veterans Appeals Pro Bono 
Representation Program at a level of $790,000, the amount requested by 
the Court. This program is of vital importance to our Nation's 
veterans. It has been extremely successful in securing pro bono 
representation for veterans appearing before the Court of Veterans 
Appeals.
  I also support this conference report for its investments in science 
policy, specifically the National Science Foundation [NSF]. On NASA, I 
believe that we have found a proper balance of funding to maintain our 
preeminence in air and space, while insisting that NASA target its 
efforts more carefully with a stronger emphasis on technology. An 
example of this commitment to competitiveness is the appropriation for 
two new American wind tunnels. The lack of modern testing facilities 
for new aircraft has forced U.S. manufacturers like Boeing to go to 
Europe for testing of their latest designs. In doing so, we fear that 
the data of their newest ideas may be compromised. The construction of 
these tunnels on American soil will assure that our aeronautics 
industry remains first in the world. As chairman of NASA's authorizing 
subcommittee with a focus on the science and technology policy, I want 
to note my strong interest in the wind tunnel initiative and intention 
to promote the best possible results.
  It also has been my privilege to work closely with the distinguished 
chair on science issues, including a historic effort to jointly sponsor 
the NSF reauthorization legislation along with Senator Kennedy who 
chairs the Senate Labor Committee and shares oversight responsibility 
of NSF. Such cooperation among committees of jurisdiction and 
appropriations can forge a strategic plan for investment and 
development in the critical areas of science and technology, which will 
play an increasingly important role in our country's future 
competitiveness.
  As a former VISTA worker and a proud cosponsor of President Clinton's 
National and Community Service Act, I appreciate the efforts to secure 
as much funding for this program as possible. I was in West Virginia 
just a few short weeks ago to participate in the program to swear in 
the first group of AmeriCorp members. This event brought back a flood 
of personal memories of my own experiences in Emmons, WV, as a VISTA 
worker about 30 years ago. I know firsthand the importance and lasting 
effect that community service has on both participants and those they 
serve, and I believe strongly in this initiative.
  While I was not as involved in the efforts on programs in the 
Department of Housing and Urban Development or the Environmental 
Protection Agency, they are enormously important for West Virginia and 
our country.
  Mr. President, I applaud the House and Senate Appropriations 
Subcommittees and full committees for their fine work on the extremely 
arduous task of crafting this measure under such tight fiscal 
constraints. This has been a particularly difficult year, filled with 
tough fiscal choices, and I do not envy the decision process they 
faced. To the credit of many, the result is a responsive, solid final 
agreement affecting VA and other agencies. With the necessary 
leadership and management that we ask of VA, I am confident that in the 
most critical program areas--medical care, medical research, and claims 
adjudication--VA will be able to continue fulfilling its many important 
responsibilities to our Nation's veterans.
  And again, I express my deepest gratitude to my esteemed colleague, 
Senator Mikulski, the chair of the Senate VA-HUD Subcommittee, for her 
continued efforts with respect to veterans' programs. I truly 
appreciate the extraordinary spirit of cooperation between our 
respective committees during the appropriations process and throughout 
the year. Consistently over the years, Senator Mikulski has shown 
strong, unwavering support for veterans and their families, for 
continued progress in science and space, and for America's housing 
needs. This year has proven to be no exception, as has been so clearly 
exhibited by her efforts in reaching this final agreement.

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