[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 3 (Friday, January 5, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Pages S98-S99]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS

      By Mr. ROBB:
  S. 1516. A bill making appropriations to the Department of Health and 
Human Services for retirement pay and medical benefits for commissioned 
officers of the Public Health Service for the fiscal year ending 
September 30, 1996; to the Committee on Appropriations.


 RETIRED COMMISSIONED OFFICERS OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE LEGISLATION

 Mr. ROBB. Mr. President, I introduce legislation which would 
fund retirement and medical benefits through September 30, 1996 for the 
retired commissioned officers of the Public Health Service.
  I do not know whether many of my colleagues know this, Mr. President, 
but retired PHS commissioned officers have not received their 
retirement pay since our first continuing resolution expired on 
December 15, 1995. While retired members of the Federal Civil Service 
have thankfully been able to receive their retirement checks during 
this time period, the benefits of retired PHS commissioned officers 
come through a direct appropriation contained in the Labor/HHS 
appropriations bill, a bill which we all know has not yet been approved 
by this body.
  The roughly 3,600 beneficiaries of this program should not be victims 
of our budget battles, Mr. President. They served their country for 
many years and their country has made a commitment to them. This bill 
will allow us to meet the commitment.
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      By Mr. ROBB:
  S. 1517. A bill to make appropriations for the Black Lung Disability 
Trust Fund for fiscal year 1996; to the Committee on Appropriations.


             the black lung disability program legislation

 Mr. ROBB. Mr. President, I introduce legislation which would 
fund the Black Lung Disability Program administered by the Department 
of Labor through September 30, 1996, and the Black Lung Program 
administered by the Social Security Administration through the first 
quarter of fiscal year 1997.
  I was deeply disappointed that the limited continuing resolution 
approved by the House of Representatives earlier today did not include 
the Black Lung Programs. They should have been included, Mr. President, 
but they were not. When an effort was made to add funding authority for 
black lung beneficiaries during floor consideration of the House bill, 
that amendment was objected to by the other side of the aisle.
  Mr. President, I've been told by the Department of Labor that unless 
a continuing resolution which contains black lung funding is approved 
by January 12, 1996, the January 15 monthly payments to beneficiaries 
would not be issued. It is my understanding that the Social Security 
Administration needs a continuing resolution which contains 

[[Page S99]]
black lung funding to issue its February monthly payments as well.
  Mr. President, as I introduce this bill, I know that efforts are 
underway to bring a third continuing resolution to the House floor--and 
I sincerely hope that the Black Lung Programs are included in that 
measure. If that is the case, this legislation will be unnecessary.
  These programs are vitally important to thousands of disabled miners 
and their families and survivors in my State of Virginia and many other 
coal producing States. I hope we receive a continuing resolution from 
the House later this evening which will allow us to uphold our historic 
commitment to victims of black lung and their families and 
survivors.

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