[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 26 (Thursday, February 9, 1995)]
[House]
[Pages H1535-H1536]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 IN SUPPORT OF DR. HENRY W. FOSTER, JR.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Cunningham). Under a previous order of 
the House, the gentlewoman from North Carolina [Mrs. Clayton] is 
recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mrs. CLAYTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Tennessee 
[Mr. Clement] to complete his remarks.
    
    
  Mr. CLEMENT. Mr. Speaker, these faxes that I got today are prime 
examples of those that know Dr. Foster the best. This is just one 
example. Dr. Henry Foster is a very positive man and doctor. He is a 
God-fearing man. Dr. Foster cares about people, all people, especially 
women and children. Dr. Foster said recently that some of his 
priorities as Surgeon General are teenaged pregnancy, AIDS, low birth-
weight babies, children that abuse with the consumption of alcohol and 
tobacco.
  He has a lot of priorities, but I think the most we can ask, let Dr. 
Foster have his day.
  We have heard from a lot of people that feel very strongly on issues, 
and we all feel strongly on issues. We can surely do a lot to divide 
our country; however, let us find ways to unite the country. Let
 us at least give Dr. Foster the opportunity to plead his case in the 
U.S. Senate before the confirmation hearings.

  I know, by knowing Dr. Foster on a very personal and professional 
basis, that when he pleads his case people will listen and understand 
this man is qualified, this man is compassionate, and this man can 
serve us well as the next Surgeon General of the United States.
  Mrs. CLAYTON. Mr. Speaker, I also want to join in supporting Dr. 
Foster as the Surgeon General. He is eminently and exceptionally 
qualified. In fact, his qualifications are not being questioned. His 
suitability is not being questioned. If there is any question at all, 
it is just if he had the recall of mind for 30 years of all the details 
of a very distinguished career.
  Mr. Speaker, I would say even those things that he is questioned 
about, the numbers of, not whether he did anything illegal, he 
practiced his profession and did it well. He was a researcher. It 
simply concerned an opportunity to recall something, and he failed to 
recall the exact number. I question anybody who has not had the 
opportunity to misstate a number or misstate what they did yesterday.
  Certainly, Mr. Speaker, we would not expect, with a man who has had 
such a distinguished career, that he would be judged for a momentary 
lapse of a number. In that instant, please understand, Mr. Speaker, 
there was nothing about anything that he did inappropriately, any 
violation of the law.
  [[Page H1536]] So I honor those persons who say they have legitimate 
concerns, they have the right to differ, but to deny a person the 
opportunity to defend himself I think is certainly un-American.
  Further, Mr. Speaker, I think there is an erosion of an opportunity 
to have debate around the issue of abortion. If people really want to 
have an honest debate about it, they ought to do that, and not find a 
way to have a way of destroying a man's profession. We can simply be 
honest in our debate as to where we feel on certain issues, but we 
ought to be honorable and recognize the service this gentleman has 
given.
  Why I am particularly interested in this gentleman, because he has 
not only come with a distinguished professional career, but he comes 
with a service of commitment to the community around teenaged pregnancy 
and around those issues.
  We say we want to do something about welfare reform, so this is an 
opportunity, I think, to have a gentleman both of the profession and 
service.


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