[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 2 (Thursday, January 4, 1996)]
[House]
[Page H150]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1800
   THE BLANCHFILL FAMILY OF CHULA VISTA, CA: ANOTHER GINGRICH HOSTAGE

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Metcalf). Under a previous order of the 
House, the gentleman from California [Mr. Filner] is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, my colleagues, I want to tell you very 
briefly the story of yet another Gingrich hostage. Mr. Gingrich and 
company are not only shutting down the Government and shutting out 
Federal employees, they are causing real hardship for real American 
families, like the Blanchfills of Chula Vista in my district in 
southern California.
  Michael Blanchfill served his country for 20 years as a Navy medic. 
Several years ago, as he was about to be deployed for Desert Storm, he 
was diagnosed with Huntington's chorea, a fatal disease.
  Michael's wife, Loretta, has been forced to quit her job as a 
restaurant manager to care for her stricken husband. The Blanchfill's 
daughters, April and Rachel, also help care for their father, who can 
barely walk or talk. April has been inspired by her father's illness to 
study medical technology at Edutec Professional College, but now her 
studies are threatened because of the lack of funding due to the 
current shutdown.
  The Veterans' Administration Hospital in San Diego should provide 
therapy for Michael, but now no doctor is available to treat him nor 
will the VA supply him with a wheelchair during this shutdown, nor will 
the daycare for Michael be provided. And, of course, no home care will 
be available to permit Loretta to return to work.
  So Michael Blanchfill, a Navy veteran who served his country, 
desperately needs his country's help. As a medic, he was never taken a 
prisoner, but now he is a hostage, a Gingrich hostage to extremist 
demands.
  Mr. Speaker and Mr. Gingrich, let us focus on the real needs of real 
families like the Blanchfills. Let us pass the necessary resolutions 
now.

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