[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 30 (Thursday, March 7, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E303-E304]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 1505 OF THE HIGHER EDUCATION AMENDMENTS OF 1986

                                 ______


                        HON. WILLIAM F. GOODLING

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 7, 1996

  Mr. GOODLING. Mr. Speaker, today, I, along with our colleague from 
Michigan, Mr. Kildee, am introducing legislation to correct a board of 
trustees appointment problem for the Institute of American Indian Arts. 
This simple fix will help maintain the continuity of that board.
  The Institute of American Indian Arts is a federally created 
institution of higher education. It's primary purposes are to provide 
scholarly study of and instruction in Indian art and culture, and to 
establish programs which culminate in the awarding of degrees in the 
various fields of Indian art and culture. The institute is authorized 
under title XV of the Higher Education Amendments of 1986, and policy 
for the institute is set by a board of trustees which includes 13 
voting members appointed by the President with the advice and consent 
of the other body.
  Unfortunately, the board appointment process has proven to be overly 
cumbersome and this has resulted in a number of board members serving 
additional terms, sometimes beyond the time they wished to serve, in 
order to ensure that the board could maintain a quorum.
  The legislation we are introducing today would simply amend section 
1505 of the Higher Education Amendments of 1986 to allow the board to 
recommend successors for board members whose terms are expiring and who 
do not wish to serve additional terms. The President would have the 
prerogative to act on these recommendations, or to appoint another 
qualified individual of his choosing subject to the confirmation of the 
other body.
  However, should the President fail to act within 2 months of the 
expiration of the sitting member's term, and should that member not 
wish to serve an additional term, then the individual recommended for 
appointment by the board would be automatically seated.
  This legislation makes a simple correction to the institute's board 
appointment process. It was requested of us by the interim president of 
the institute, who is concerned that without this fix the board may not 
be able to maintain a quorum and the institute might suffer.
  This legislation is bipartisan and revenue neutral. It does not limit 
the options of the President in making appointments to the board, but 
merely streamlines the appointment process for this one institute.
  This is common sense legislation, and I urge its support.

[[Page E304]]



                        IN SUPPORT OF H.R. 2778

                                 ______


                         HON. JERRY F. COSTELLO

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 7, 1996

  Mr. COSTELLO, Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 2778, 
providing for relief for members of the Armed Forces currently serving 
on peacekeeping missions in Bosnia.
  This bill will provide benefits to those peacekeeping troops 
currently in Bosnia as part of Operation Joint Endeavor. For these 
military personnel, there should be no penalty for delays or tax on pay 
related to their service overseas.
  Specifically, the troops would receive an extension for filing income 
tax returns without penalty, exclusion of combat pay for taxation, 
forgiveness of income tax, and a reduction in estate taxes for those 
who die or are injured during the mission.
  In addition, military personnel in the combat zone also would be able 
to make long distance phone calls without being subject to the 3 
percent excise tax. Tax benefits would be retroactive to December 4, 
1995, and in effect until substantial U.S. involvement in the 
peacekeeping mission came to an end.
  Mr. Speaker, it is important that Congress try to alleviate as much 
of the burden as possible on our troops in Bosnia, and this small step 
will help those families trying to make ends meet while their loved 
ones are keeping the peace overseas. I urge my colleagues to join me in 
supporting this important legislation.

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