[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 104 (Friday, June 23, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Pages S8965-S8966]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               OFFICE OF SURGEON GENERAL TERMINATION ACT

  Mr. BURNS. Mr. President, yesterday I introduced a bill to eliminate 
the Office of the Surgeon General in the Public Health Service. In 
light of what we have just been through with Dr. Foster's nomination, 
what Dr. Elders went through, and even Dr. Koop, I think it has never 
been more clear that this position is a lightning rod. Let me say at 
the outset, this has nothing to do with Dr. Henry Foster, and 
everything to do with politics.
  For years, this office has been used by both parties as a political 
football. Instead of fulfilling the duties as spokesperson for public 
health, the Surgeon General has found himself or herself as a puppet 
for the administration, pushing forward rhetoric on whatever pet topic 
peaks their interest.
  I guess as a political appointee, you would expect this. However, 
when it comes to the public's health, politics should not come into 
play.
  But what makes this bill timely is the effort being made by both the 
administration and Congress to shrink the size of Government. Being a 
voice for good health habits is not a job that only a Surgeon General 
can do.
  There have been times in our recent history when we had no Surgeon 
General. Was the public's health in danger during that time? No. The 
duties were picked up by the Assistant Secretary for Health. In fact, 
through most of the 1970's there was no Surgeon General. During the 
Carter administration, the Assistant Secretary for Health doubled

[[Page S8966]]

as Surgeon General. And it worked. It wasn't until Dr. Koop was named 
to the position, that the offices were again split.
  Do not get me wrong--those who have filled this position have done 
some remarkable things. But the position is redundant. And if we are 
serious about wanting to reduce the size of Government and save the 
taxpayers money, then we have to take a close look at why this position 
is still there.
  The Office of the Surgeon General has six employees and costs the 
taxpayer close to $1 million each year. In the scheme of things, that 
may not sound like a lot, but to folks in Montana, folks in Arizona, in 
fact, folks anywhere outside the beltway, a million dollars is a lot of 
money.

  Am I saying the public doesn't need the information they get from the 
Surgeon General? No. They will still get the information that is 
important to preventing disease promoting wellness and learning how to 
live healthy lives. But that information will come from the Assistant 
Secretary for Health, who by the way should be no less credible. This 
position is consistently filled by a medical doctor. And again, it's 
been done before.
  Mr. President, I think it is time we stop playing games with the 
public's dollar. This is one level of bureaucracy that we don't need. 
It has been proven in the past and we can make it work again. 
Eliminating the Office of the Surgeon General would not only save 
money--without hurting the public, I might add--it will also remove the 
football that has been used by both Republicans and Democrats to 
control a pulpit that the public has come to count on.
  We do not need a separate Office of the Surgeon General, Mr. 
President. I have been joined by Senators Kyl, Thomas, Helms, Santorum, 
Nickles, Thompson, and Brown in introducing this bill and I urge my 
colleagues to join with me in this effort to restore common sense to 
the Government.
  I ask unanimous consent that a copy of the bill be printed in the 
Record.
  There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be 
printed in the Record, as follows:

                                 S. 957

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Office of Surgeon General 
     Termination Act''.

     SEC. 2. TERMINATION OF OFFICE OF SURGEON GENERAL OF PUBLIC 
                   HEALTH SERVICE.

       With respect to the Office of Surgeon General of the Public 
     Health Service--
       (1) all authorities and personnel of the Office are 
     transferred to the Assistant Secretary for Health of the 
     Department of Health and Human Services;
       (2) all unobligated portions of budget authority allocated 
     for the Office are rescinded; and
       (3) the Office, and the position of such Surgeon General, 
     are terminated.

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