[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 36 (Tuesday, March 28, 2000)]
[House]
[Page H1417]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page H1417]]
      MEN AND WOMEN IN THE MILITARY ON FOOD STAMPS IS UNACCEPTABLE

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the Speaker's announced policy of 
January 19, 1999, the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Jones) is 
recognized during morning hour debates for 5 minutes.
  Mr. JONES of North Carolina. Madam Speaker, again, I am on the floor 
to talk about our men and women in the military on food stamps. I want 
to start my comments by reading from the ABC show ``20/20,'' June 25, 
1999. This was an interview. The title was ``Frontlines Food Lines,'' 
and I want to read just a few comments. First, I will start with the 
reporter, Tom Jarriel; and he says, ``Military families redeemed a huge 
$21 million worth of WIC coupons in Defense commissaries last year. 
Even with that government help, the Millers cannot afford the insurance 
copayment to have their son's cavities filled.''
  I further want to quote an interview with David Lewis. David Lewis is 
a retired warrant officer and his quote is, ``I think the biggest 
problem is that they just don't have enough.''
  Going back to Tom Jarriel again, the reporter for ABC's ``20/20,'' 
and he says, ``Retired warrant officer David Lewis, a hardened combat 
veteran of 26 years in the Marine Corps, teaches financial planning to 
thousands of Marines a year at Camp Pendleton.'' David Lewis further 
states, ``At first it really bothered me that they did not have enough 
pride in themselves and I said,'' quoting David Lewis, ``Well, wait a 
minute. It doesn't have anything to do with pride. It probably took 
more courage for that kid to get food. It probably took a lot of 
courage for that kid to say, I cannot take care of my family; I need 
help.''
  Tom Jarriel further states, ``Lewis calculated that by total hours 
junior enlisted troops do not even earn minimum wage.''
  Madam Speaker, I want to read that again.

                              {time}  1245

  ``Lewis calculated that by total work hours, junior enlisted troops 
do not even earn minimum wage.''
  Madam Speaker, that is why I am on the floor today, and I have been 
once a week ever since we got back in February.
  I introduced H.R. 1055, which would help our men and women in uniform 
on food stamps. I am pleased to say today that there is strong 
bipartisan support. We have approximately 90 people who have signed 
this bill. I am encouraging our leadership, as well as the Democratic 
leadership, to please, let us not leave here in September or October 
and not speak to those who are serving our Nation, those who are 
willing to die for this country, that are on food stamps.
  To me that is unacceptable. That to me is what I think America stands 
for, is to help those in uniform who are willing to give their lives 
for this country.
  What I have before me today is a Marine. This Marine is getting ready 
to deploy to Bosnia. We seem to be able to find $9 million to $10 
million for Bosnia. We have already spent $10 billion to $11 billion in 
Yugoslavia. Yet, this cost to pass H.R. 1055 to get a $500 tax credit 
for those on food stamps would only cost this government $59 million 
over 10 years, roughly $5 million a year.
  I will be the first to say this will not get them off food stamps, 
but what I will say is that it will say to those in the military who 
are on food stamps that we in the Congress are concerned about the fact 
that they are on food stamps and they are willing to die for this 
country.
  I look at the other bills that we pass in the Senate and the House, 
and we can find billions of dollars in tax credits for Tysons Food to 
study chicken manure and how this might help with energy problems. I 
say, let us take care of those first who are willing to take care of 
America. They are our men and women in uniform who are on food stamps.
  I look at this little girl, Megan is her name. She is standing on the 
feet of her daddy. Do you know what, that serious look that she has, 
she is looking at a camera. In his arms he has his daughter Brittany. I 
am thinking about Megan. She does not know this at her age, but her 
daddy might not come back. He might not come back. He is willing to 
give his life for this country.
  This Marine represents all of our military in both Air Force, Navy, 
Army, and Coast Guard that are willing to serve this Nation.
  Madam Speaker, I hope that our leadership, working together with the 
Democratic leadership, will see that we do something to help men and 
women in uniform on food stamps. I want want to close my comments by 
sharing with you and the other Members here on the floor today a simple 
poem but I think a very powerful poem that was written by a Marine, 
Father Dennis O'Bryan, United States Marine Corps.
  His poem goes like this:

     It is the soldier, not the reporter,
     Who has given us freedom of the press.
     It is the soldier, not the poet,
     Who has given us freedom of speech.
     It is the soldier, not the campus organizer,
     Who has given us the freedom to demonstrate.
     It is the soldier who salutes the flag,
     It is the soldier who serves beneath the flag.

  Madam Speaker, it is the soldier whose coffin is draped by the flag 
who allows the protester to burn the flag.
  Madam Speaker, I close by saying to the leadership in the House, 
please, let us pass this legislation to help those men and women in 
uniform on food stamps.

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