[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 33 (Wednesday, March 15, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2204-S2207]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS

      By Ms. MIKULSKI:
  S. 2415. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to increase 
burial benefits for veterans: and for other purposes; to the Committee 
on Veterans' Affairs.
  Ms. MIKULSKI. Mr. President, I rise to introduce the Veterans Burial 
Benefits Improvement Act.
  We must honor our U.S. soldiers who died in the name of their 
country. These service men and women are America's true heroes and on 
this day we pay tribute to their courage and sacrifice. Some have given 
their lives for our country. All have given their time and dedication 
to ensure our country remains the land of the free and the home of the 
brave. We owe a special debt of gratitude to each and every one of 
them.
  Our Nation has a sacred commitment to honor the promises made to 
soldiers when they signed up to serve our country. As a member of the 
Senate Appropriations Committee, I fight hard each year to make sure 
promises made to our service men and women are promises kept. These 
promises include access to quality, affordable health care and a proper 
burial for our veterans.
  I am deeply concerned that burial benefits for the families of our 
wounded or disabled veterans have not kept up with inflation and rising 
funeral costs. We are losing over 1,000 World War II veterans each day, 
but Congress has failed to increase veterans' burial benefits to keep 
up with rising costs and inflation. While these benefits were never 
intended to cover the full costs of burial, they now pay for only a 
fraction of what they covered in 1973, when the Federal Government 
first started paying burial benefits for our veterans.
  I want to thank my colleagues on the Veterans Affairs Committee for 
working with me in the 107th Congress. Together, we were able to 
increase modestly the service-connected benefit from $1,500 to $2,000, 
and the plot allowance from $150 to $300. While I believe these 
increases are a step in the right direction, they are not a substitute 
for the amounts included in my bill.
  That is why I am again introducing the Veterans Burial Benefits 
Improvement Act. This bill will increase burial benefits to cover the 
same percentage of funeral costs as they did in 1973. It will also 
provide for these benefits to be increased annually to keep up with 
inflation.
  In 1973, the service-connected benefit paid for 72 percent of 
veterans' funeral costs. Today, this benefit covers just 39 percent of 
funeral costs. My bill will increase the service-connected benefit from 
$2,000 to $3,713, bringing it back up to the original 72 percent level.
  In 1973, the non-service connected benefit paid for 22 percent of 
funeral costs. It has not been increased since 1978, and today it 
covers just 6 percent of funeral costs. My bill will increase the non-
service connected benefit from $300 to $1,135, bringing it back up to 
the original 22 percent level.
  In 1973, the plot allowance paid for 13 percent of veterans' funeral 
costs. Yet it now covers just 3 percent of funeral costs. My bill will 
increase the plot allowance from $300 to $670, bringing it back up to 
the original 13 percent level.

  Finally, the Veterans Burial Benefits Improvement Act will also 
ensure that these burial benefits are adjusted for inflation annually, 
so veterans will not have to fight this fight again.
  This legislation is just one way to honor our Nation's service men 
and women. I want to thank the millions of veterans, Marylanders, and 
people across the Nation for their patriotism, devotion, and commitment 
to honoring the true meaning of Memorial Day. U.S. soldiers from every 
generation have shared in the duty of defending America and protecting 
our freedom. For these sacrifices, America is eternally grateful.
  I ask unanimous consent that the text of this legislation be printed 
in the Record.
  There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be 
printed in the Record, as follows:

                                S. 2415

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Veterans Burial Benefits 
     Improvement Act of 2006''.

     SEC. 2. INCREASE IN BURIAL AND FUNERAL BENEFITS FOR VETERANS.

       (a) Increase in Burial and Funeral Expenses and Provision 
     for Annual Cost-of-Living Adjustment.--
       (1) Expenses generally.--Section 2302(a) of title 38, 
     United States Code, is amended by striking ``$300'' and 
     inserting ``$1,135 (as increased from time to time under 
     section 2309 of this title)''.
       (2) Expenses for deaths in department facilities.--Section 
     2303(a)(1)(A) of such title is amended by striking ``$300'' 
     and inserting ``$1,135 (as increased from time to time under 
     section 2309 of this title)''.
       (3) Expenses for deaths from service-connected 
     disabilities.--Section 2307 of such title is amended by 
     striking ``$2,000,'' and inserting ``$3,712 (as increased 
     from time to time under section 2309 of this title),''.
       (b) Plot Allowance.--Section 2303(b) of such title is 
     amended--
       (1) by striking ``$300'' the first place it appears and 
     inserting ``$670 (as increased from time to time under 
     section 2309 of this title)''; and
       (2) by striking ``$300'' the second place it appears and 
     inserting ``$670 (as so increased)''.
       (c) Annual Adjustment.--
       (1) In general.--Chapter 23 of such title is amended by 
     adding at the end the following new section:

     ``Sec. 2309. Annual adjustment of amounts of burial benefits

       ``With respect to any fiscal year, the Secretary shall 
     provide a percentage increase (rounded to the nearest dollar) 
     in the burial and funeral expenses under sections 2302(a), 
     2303(a), and 2307 of this title, and in the plot allowance 
     under section 2303(b) of this title, equal to the percentage 
     by which--
       ``(1) the Consumer Price Index (all items, United States 
     city average) for the 12-month period ending on the June 30 
     preceding the beginning of the fiscal year for which the 
     increase is made, exceeds
       ``(2) the Consumer Price Index for the 12-month period 
     preceding the 12-month period described in paragraph (1).''.
       (2) Clerical amendment.--The table of sections at the 
     beginning of such chapter is amended by adding at the end the 
     following new item:

``2309. Annual adjustment of amounts of burial benefits''.

       (d) Effective Date.--
       (1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), the 
     amendments made by this section shall apply to deaths 
     occurring on or after the date of the enactment of this Act.
       (2) Prohibition on cost-of-living adjustment for fiscal 
     year 2007.--No adjustments shall be made under section 2309 
     of title 38, United States Code, as added by subsection (c), 
     for fiscal year 2007.
                                 ______
                                 
      By Mr. BURNS (for himself and Mr. Pryor):
  S. 2416. A bill to amend title 38, United Stares Code, to expand the 
scope of programs of education for which accelerated payments of 
educational assistance under the Montgomery GI Bill may be used, and 
for

[[Page S2205]]

other purposes; to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
  Mr. BURNS. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce the Veterans' 
Employment and Training Act of 2006. I am joined in this effort by 
Senator Pryor. This important legislation will provide expanded 
benefits for our brave men and women returning from service in the 
Global War on Terror, while also providing needed workers to growing 
sectors of our economy.
  Under the Montgomery G.I. Bill, the Veterans' Administration 
currently provides accelerated benefits to assist our service men and 
women in transitioning to the civilian job market. Through this 
program, the VA makes short-term, high-cost training programs more 
attractive to veterans by paying benefits in a lump sum, and by 
covering up to 60 percent of the cost of some educational programs. 
However, this program is now only available to men and women who seek 
training in high-tech programs.
  In order to provide this benefit to more of our brave men and women 
in the armed forces, the Veterans' Employment and Training Act will 
expand eligibility for accelerated benefits to include industry sectors 
identified by the Department of Labor as likely to add large numbers of 
new jobs or require new job training skills in the coming years. These 
sectors include construction, hospitality, financial services, energy, 
homeland security, health care, and transportation.
  A number of these sectors face critical shortages of employees now or 
in the near future and are anxious to attract veterans to their 
professions. The trucking industry, for example, needs an additional 
20,000 drivers today and expects to face a driver shortage of 110,000 
drivers by 2014. The modest change that I am proposing today will help 
to provide needed workers to these and other industries.
  But more importantly, we must remember the great sacrifices made by 
those in the Armed Forces. For many of these brave individuals, the 
transition from military service to civilian life is not an easy one. 
It is particularly difficult for veterans between the ages of 20 and 
24, who currently have an unemployment rate of over 15 percent--nearly 
double the rate of non-veterans in the same age group. This is simply 
unacceptable!
  We have an obligation to make sure that these individuals are not 
forgotten when they return from service. One step we can take now is to 
ensure that those who serve have access to every educational 
opportunity possible. By expanding eligibility for accelerated G.I. 
Bill benefits, we will give many of these veterans a new opportunity to 
get training and find work in some of the fastest growing sectors of 
our economy.
  I urge the Senate to act soon to pass this legislation. We owe it to 
the men and women of the Armed Forces to act quickly to provide them 
with this expanded benefit.
  I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the 
Record.
  There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be 
printed in the Record, as follows:

                                S. 2416

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Veterans Employment and 
     Training Act of 2006''.

     SEC. 2. EXPANSION OF EDUCATION PROGRAMS ELIGIBLE FOR 
                   ACCELERATED PAYMENT OF EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE 
                   UNDER THE MONTGOMERY GI BILL.

       (a) In General.--Subsection (b) of section 3014A of title 
     38, United States Code, is amended by striking paragraph (1) 
     and inserting the following new paragraph (1):
       ``(1) enrolled in either--
       ``(A) an approved program of education that leads to 
     employment in a high technology occupation in a high 
     technology industry (as determined pursuant to regulations 
     prescribed by the Secretary); or
       ``(B) an approved program of education lasting less than 
     two years that leads to employment in a sector of the 
     economy, as identified by the Department of Labor, that--
       ``(i) is projected to--

       ``(I) experience a substantial increase in the number of 
     jobs; or
       ``(II) positively affect the growth of another sector of 
     the economy; or

       ``(ii) consists of existing or emerging businesses that are 
     being transformed by technology and innovation and require 
     new skills for workers; and''.
       (b) Conforming Expansion of Program of Education.--Such 
     section is further amended--
       (1) by redesignating subsection (g) as subsection (h); and
       (2) by inserting after subsection (f) the following new 
     subsection (g):
       ``(g) For purposes of this section, a program of education 
     includes a program of education (as defined in section 
     3002(3) of this title) pursued at a tribally controlled 
     college or university (as such term is defined in section 2 
     of the Tribally Controlled College or University Assistance 
     Act of 1978 (25 U.S.C. 1801).''.
       (c) Conforming Amendments.--
       (1) Heading amendment.--The heading of such section is 
     amended to read as follows:

     ``Sec. 3014A. Accelerated payment of basic educational 
       assistance''.

       (2) Clerical amendment.--The item relating to such section 
     in the table of sections at the beginning of chapter 30 of 
     such title is amended to read as follows:
``3014A. Accelerated payment of basic educational assistance.''.
                                 ______
                                 
      By Mr. PRYOR (for himself and Mrs. Lincoln):
  S. 2417. A bill to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to 
designate the President William Jefferson Clinton Birthplace home in 
Hope, Arkansas, as a National Historic Site and unit of the National 
Park System, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Energy and 
Natural Resources.
  Mr. PRYOR. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of 
the bill be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                S. 2417

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. WILLIAM JEFFERSON CLINTON BIRTHPLACE HOME NATIONAL 
                   HISTORIC SITE.

       (a) Acquisition of Property; Establishment of Historic 
     Site.--Should the Secretary of the Interior acquire, by 
     donation only from the Clinton Birthplace Foundation, Inc., 
     fee simple, unencumbered title to the William Jefferson 
     Clinton Birthplace Home site located at 117 South Hervey 
     Street, Hope, Arkansas, 71801, and to any personal property 
     related to that site, the Secretary shall designate the 
     William Jefferson Clinton Birthplace Home site as a National 
     Historic Site and unit of the National Park System, to be 
     known as the ``President William Jefferson Clinton Birthplace 
     Home National Historic Site''.
       (b) Applicability of Other Laws.--The Secretary shall 
     administer the President William Jefferson Clinton Birthplace 
     Home National Historic Site in accordance with the laws 
     generally applicable to national historic sites, including 
     the Act entitled ``An Act to establish a National Park 
     Service, and for other purposes'', approved August 25, 1916 
     (16 U.S.C. 1-4), and the Act entitled ``An Act to provide for 
     the preservation of historic American sites, buildings, 
     objects and antiquities of national significance, and for 
     other purposes'', approved August 21, 1935 (16 U.S.C. 461 et 
     seq.).
                                 ______
                                 
      By Ms. SNOWE (for herself, Mr. Baucus, and Mr. Lott):
  S. 2418. A bill to preserve local radio broadcast emergency and other 
services and to require the Federal Communications Commission to 
conduct a rulemaking for that purpose; to the Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation.
  Ms. SNOWE. Mr. President, I stand before my colleagues today to 
announce the introduction of a bill that will preserve an important 
resource needed during times of an emergency--free, local, over-the-air 
radio broadcasting. The Local Emergency Radio Service Preservation Act 
ensures that terrestrial radio service does not suffer from the entry 
of subscription-based satellite services into local markets.
  The most reliable form of communication today is radio. Oftentimes 
during natural disasters and other emergencies, many forms of 
communications become unavailable to the public. Wireless systems can 
be overloaded with calls. Satellite television service is interrupted 
by extreme weather conditions. Internet service connections are 
frequently disconnected. In contrast, over-the-air radio is an 
ubiquitous form of mass media that is available to nearly every car and 
household in the nation. The system cannot be overloaded and operates 
well under extreme weather conditions. Radio has been meeting the 
demands of local communities for nearly a century and is equipped to 
continue its service well into the next century.
  In 1997 satellite digital audio radio service, SDARS, was licensed by 
the Federal Communications Commission, FCC, to provide a national radio 
programming service. Today satellite

[[Page S2206]]

radio companies provide their service to consumers on a subscription 
basis. The cost of the radio equipment needed to receive the service is 
reasonable for the enthusiast, but too costly for low income 
households. For many families, satellite radio is not an option. 
Instead, these people must rely on traditional over-the-air radio for 
weather, traffic, news and local information.
  Should satellite companies begin to enter into local markets, going 
against the original spirit of the license agreement, local radio 
stations would suffer revenue loss. Advertising dollars are the radio 
broadcast industry's sole source of revenue. The technology exists for 
satellite companies to deliver local content, including local 
advertisements. Satellite industry players have publically stated that 
local advertising dollars could quickly become a new revenue source. 
This threat to free radio is a threat to the public interest.
  The Local Emergency Radio Service Preservation Act eases the threat 
to radio broadcasting. First the bill prohibits the use of satellite 
terrestrial repeaters to insert local content into specific local 
markets. Second, this legislation clarifies that future technologies 
cannot be used to distribute local satellite programming. Lastly, the 
act requires the Federal Communications Commission, FCC, to conduct a 
rulemaking on the distribution of region-specific content on a 
nationwide basis.
                                 ______
                                 
      By Mr. STEVENS (for himself, Mr. Hagel, and Mr. Kerry):
  S. 2419. A bill to ensure the proper remembrance of Vietnam veterans 
and the Vietnam War by providing a deadline for the designation of a 
visitor center for the Vietnam Veterans Memorial; to the Committee on 
Energy and Natural Resources.
  Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I come to the floor to introduce a bill, 
which seeks to honor Congress' commitment to our Vietnam Veterans. 
Joining me in sponsoring this legislation is Senator Hagel, a Vietnam 
veteran himself.
  On November 5, 2003 this body passed the Vietnam Veterans Memorial 
Visitor Center Act by unanimous consent.
  That bill authorized the construction of a center to educate the 
nearly 4 million visitors annually to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.
  This center will be an important resource for current and future 
generations, enabling them to have a better understanding of the 
Vietnam War and to pay tribute to the brave Americans who answered the 
call to duty.
  Unfortunately, the Visitor Center project has stalled due to 
bureaucratic delays.
  This bill would create a 30-day deadline following its enactment for 
the approval of the Visitor Center.
  We owe it to the Vietnam Veterans, and to the Wall's future visitors 
to follow through with this project. I urge my colleagues to support 
this important legislation.
                                 ______
                                 
      By Mr. ALLEN:
  S. 2424. A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to 
increase the contribution limits for health savings accounts, and for 
other purposes; to the Committee on Finance.
  Mr. ALLEN. Mr. President, I rise today to speak about the growing 
success of Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) and legislation I have 
introduced to expand Health Savings Accounts.
  In a positive action, Congress created Health Savings Accounts as 
part of the Medicare Modernization Act (MMA). Health Savings Accounts 
are an alternative to traditional health insurance--a savings product 
that offers a different and attractive way for consumers to pay for 
their health care. HSAs enable an individual to pay for current health 
expenses and save for future qualified medical and retiree health 
expenses on a tax-free basis.
  An individual must have coverage under an HSA qualified health plan 
to open and contribute to an HSA. HSA qualified health plan premiums 
generally costs less than traditional health care coverage. Therefore, 
an individual can put the money he or she saves on insurance into a 
personal Health Savings Account.
  I've always described myself as a common sense Jeffersonian 
conservative, which means I trust free people and free enterprise more 
than a meddlesome, burdensome government and that's why I'm such a 
strong advocate for Health Savings Accounts. Individuals own and 
control the money in their HSAs. Unlike a Flexible Spending Account, 
funds remain in the account from year to year, just like an IRA. There 
are no ``use it or lose it'' rules for HSAs. HSAs can become, over 
time, a strong, affordable health insurance product providing a savings 
``nest egg'' for health care expenses.
  In addition, HSAs allow individuals to make decisions on how to spend 
their money without relying on a third party. More specifically, the 
individual makes decisions about how much. money he or she wants to put 
into the account, whether to save for future medical expenses, or pay 
expenses that health insurance plans may not cover.
  The individual also decides what types of investments to make with 
the money in the account that will allow the account appreciate and 
grow in value. I want to make clear right here that the individual does 
not have to invest their money if he or she doesn't want to. This is 
only an option. The bottom line is that Health Savings Accounts give 
people the freedom to make the health care choices that best fit their 
needs and that best represent Mr. Jefferson's ideals and my own.
  Now, there are critics of health savings accounts. However, there is 
convincing evidence that HSAs have proven effective in controlling 
health care costs and providing an affordable option for Americans 
without health Insurance coverage.
  Critics who claim that rich people gain most from the tax breaks of 
HSAs should look at the facts. Of the 3 million Americans who have 
enrolled in HSA plans, 32 percent were previously uninsured, and the 
uninsured are not typically wealthy. Critics suggest HSAs will drive up 
the cost of premiums. However, a recently released study from the 
Deloitte Center for Health Solutions showed HSA qualified plans had a 
2.8 percent annual premium increase, compared to 8 percent for all 
other plans. This low rate of increase is another reason HSA qualified 
plans are affordable to those with lower incomes.
  Another common criticism of HSAs is that the tax break benefits are 
``too generous.'' But the President's proposal offering both a tax 
deduction and tax credit for money used to fund HSAs is no more 
generous than current tax benefits for employer-sponsored health 
coverage. However, our laws and proposal only level the playing field.
  Proponents of HSAs do not pretend that HSAs are going to ``fix'' the 
entire health care system, although they may go a long way toward doing 
so with more individual responsibility and opportunity. HSAs are an 
additional option--one that is affordable and chips away at part of the 
problem: the millions of uninsured Americans. Individuals need health 
insurance, especially for costly medical services, not only tax 
deductions for out-of-pocket spending. It is the combination of two 
products--the HSA and HSA-qualified health insurance plan--that has 
allowed over one million previously uninsured Americans to afford real 
health coverage.
  I am very pleased to see the positive results of Health Savings 
Accounts. But we cannot let this momentum slow down. We must do more to 
promote HSAs and give individuals more control over their health care 
needs--and that is why I am here today. I am introducing legislation 
that would increase the maximum amount individuals can contribute to 
their HSA.
  Under current law, an individual's contributions are limited to the 
lesser of the amount of the deductible or $2700 for self-only coverage, 
($5450 for family coverage), for 2006. Under this proposal, a person 
could contribute--without paying income or payroll taxes on the 
contribution--up to the plan's out-of-pocket maximum, which is higher 
than the deductible. So for an individual, the maximum out-of-pocket 
for 2006 cannot exceed $5250 or $10500 for a family. It is important to 
note though, that each HSA qualified health plan sets their own limit 
on out of pocket expenses, therefore, for an individual their out-of-
pocket expenses may be lower than maximum $5250 but more than the 
current limit of $2700. Nevertheless, this legislation allows 
individuals to save more money for their current and future health care 
needs and I am proud to be introducing it.
  Moreover, this proposal will remove the tax bias against consumer-
directed

[[Page S2207]]

health plans. Today, the tax code subsidizes health care purchased 
through insurance but generally does not subsidize health care paid 
out-of-pocket. This encourages excessive reliance on insurance for even 
predictable, non-catastrophic care, which in turn reduces consumer 
sensitivity to the cost of health care. My proposal would help improve 
the efficiency and slow the growth of our nation's health care 
spending.
  Studies estimate that the average retiree will require hundreds of 
thousands of dollars of savings for out-of-pocket old-age health costs. 
HSAs provide strong tax incentives to encourage such savings. On a side 
note, I have introduced legislation, the Long-Term Care Act that 
compliments this HSA proposal. Under the Long-Term Care Act, we would 
allow individuals to use their 401(k) savings to pay for long-term care 
insurance. Both proposals provide commonsense approaches that will 
encourage individuals to plan for their future health care needs and 
reduce individuals' reliance on programs such as Medicaid.
  HSAs have proven to be an effective health cost containment tool. 
While there is a cost to the federal government associated with the tax 
benefit portion of HSA plans, we must weigh that cost against the cost 
of doing nothing and allowing cost shifting to those with insurance. 
Our health care system needs to switch to a preventive care system, 
which will keep future health care costs down rather than our current 
costly reactionary system. If we continue down our current path and 
make no significant changes to our health care system, the unfunded 
liability of entitlement spending will reach $26 trillion by the year 
2030, consuming the entire federal budget. We're at a crucial point, 
and I believe my legislation, and HSAs in general, offer a step in the 
right direction for personal responsibility in fostering affordable 
health care and savings.
                                 ______
                                 
      By Mr. CONRAD (for himself and Mr. Brownback):
  S. 2425. A bill to apply amendments to the Immigration and 
Nationality Act related to providing medical services in underserved 
areas, and for other purposes; to the Committee on the Judiciary.
  Mr. CONRAD Mr. President: Today, I am introducing a bill to 
permanently reauthorize the Conrad 30 visa waiver program to provide 
medical care to underserved rural America.
  One of the top concerns of North Dakota community leaders and 
hospital officials is the challenge of recruiting and keeping capable, 
quality doctors. In response, I created this visa waiver program in 
1994 to recruit highly qualified foreign physicians to medically 
underserved areas.
  This program was meant to help many areas across the country, 
especially rural communities that have a difficult time recruiting 
doctors, get access to primary health care. It has proven to be one of 
our Nation's top tools to recruit and keep doctors in our rural 
communities.
  The Conrad 30 program allows a State agency to grant visa waivers to 
foreign medical graduates who are in the United States for their 
residencies on foreign exchange J-1 visas. To qualify for the waiver, 
the physician undergoes numerous background and security checks, and 
must agree to serve a medically underserved community for three years. 
In exchange, the physician's requirement to return to his home country 
for a period of time before applying for a work visa is waived so that 
we can utilize them in underserved areas.
  Since the program was implemented in 1994, North Dakota has received 
a total of 90 Conrad State 30 J-l visa waiver doctors in communities 
all over the State.
  Nearly every rural hospital in the State--and many of clinics--have 
benefited from the program. For examp1e, Oakes, (population 1,979) has 
had 6 doctors, Bottineau, (population 2,336), has had 4, and Tioga, 
(popu1ation 1,125), has had 3.
  As you can see, many rural counties rely on the physicians they 
receive through the Conrad State 30 program to provide healthcare in 
their communities. This bipartisan program is critical to ensuring our 
rural health care needs are met for years to come.
  States have come to rely on the program. It has proven to be 
successful in bringing physicians to underserved areas without 
displacing American physicians, because the foreign physicians are 
filling a large and obvious void.
  It has been just over 14 months since the last reauthorization 
passed, and we're already working on another reauthorization. Clearly, 
two years has proven to be far too short. Since 1994, the Conrad 30 
program has been reauthorized a number of times. The current 
authorization expires on June 1, 2006. I urge my colleagues to pass 
this bill making the program permanent.

                          ____________________