[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 39 (Wednesday, March 20, 1996)]
[House]
[Pages H2469-H2470]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      REPEAL HIV-DISCHARGE PROVISION IN DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT

  (Ms. HARMAN asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. HARMAN. Mr. Speaker, last night the other body voted to repeal 
the hateful and punitive provision in the Defense Authorization Act 
requiring the immediate discharge of service men and women infected 
with the AIDS virus. I congratulate them.
  Let us hope the House supports the other body's courageous action.
  Mr. Speaker, requiring the discharge of HIV-positive personnel is 
unfair and punitive and is opposed by the Pentagon, including all the 
surgeons general of the military services. It is also opposed by the 
Veterans Administration, the Disabled American Veterans, the Veterans 
of Foreign Wars, the Air Force Association, former Senator Barry 
Goldwater and conservative columnists George Wills and Charles 
Krauthammer.
  It is both unnecessary and bad policy for the Congress to interpose 
its own personnel policy on the military. As General Shalikashvili has 
testified, ``discharging service members with HIV deemed fit for duty 
would waste the Government's investment in the training of these 
individuals and be disruptive to the military programs in which they 
play an integral role.''
  Let's join such prodefense Senators as Sam Nunn, John McCain and 
Connie Mack in repealing the requirement that HIV-positive personnel be 
immediately discharged.

[[Page H2470]]



    LET US RECOGNIZE THE AMERICAN FARMER ON NATIONAL AGRICULTURE DAY

  (Mr. CHAMBLISS asked as was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. CHAMBLISS. Mr. Speaker, today on National Agriculture Day, I 
would like to express my appreciation for all the hard work that the 
American farmer does each year. Our Nation's food system is envied 
throughout the world. No where else is food produced and delivered with 
such remarkable quality and consistency, yet available at such a low 
price.
  And in spite of the criticism leveled on the American farmer I am 
proud to say that this Congress, with the help of farmers across the 
Nation, worked within the new Republican framework and took a long hard 
look at the existing farm programs. We put in place a system that works 
effectively and efficiently, for our farmers, for our taxpayers, and 
for America. The result: A farm bill that costs the taxpayers less 
money and at the same time gives our farmers a safety net. A farm bill 
that is more flexible and market oriented than ever before and a farm 
bill that is the most environmentally friendly agriculture legislation 
in our history.
  The road has not been easy. Farmers across the Nation struggle each 
year doing the most difficult work in the world. For this reason, on 
National Agriculture Day, it is important that we recognize the work 
they do and thank them greatly.

                          ____________________