[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 115 (Friday, September 15, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Page S9660]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Ms. COLLINS (for herself and Mr. Harkin):
  S. 3906. A bill to amend chapter 89 of title 5, United States Code, 
to make individuals employed by the Roosevelt Campobello International 
Park Commission eligible to obtain Federal health insurance; to the 
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
  Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce legislation 
that would correct a unique health insurance problem for some American 
citizens whose work is devoted to maintaining the memory of President 
Franklin D. Roosevelt at his Campobello Island retreat near the Maine 
border.
  About 10 U.S. citizens from the State of Maine work in Canada under 
terms of a treaty that governs operation of the Roosevelt Campobello 
International Park. As you know, that beautiful island in the Province 
of New Brunswick was President Roosevelt's treasured retreat, and still 
draws thousands of visitors from around the world.
  The American employees of the Park are, unfortunately, faced with a 
difficult problem in obtaining affordable health-insurance coverage. 
The legislation I introduce today would solve their difficulty by 
making them eligible for coverage under the Federal Employees Health 
Insurance Benefits Program.
  In the spirit of bipartisan recognition that FDR was one of our 
greatest and most inspiring Presidents, I am delighted to be joined in 
this effort by Senator Harkin. His endorsement of this bill is 
especially notable because he serves on the Roosevelt Campobello 
International Park Commission, and is thus very familiar with the 
difficulty of my Maine constituents employed at the Park.
  The Roosevelt Campobello International Park was dedicated in 1964 as 
a unique memorial to former President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The Park 
is governed by a treaty between the United States and Canada, and is 
funded by both governments.
  The Park employs approximately 10 full-time employees who are 
American citizens residing in Maine. Unfortunately, the treaty that 
governs the Park does not address the health insurance needs of 
individuals employed directly by Roosevelt Campobello International 
Park. As a result, the State Department issued an opinion in 1965 
stating that those employed by the Park Commission, ``shall be subject 
to the relevant Canadian labor laws.'' Based on the State Department 
opinion, the Civil Service Commission, the predecessor of the Office of 
Personnel Management, has determined that the employees are not 
considered Federal employees eligible for FEHBP coverage.
  The employees currently receive health insurance coverage through a 
small group plan negotiated by the Roosevelt Park Commission. The 
premiums have risen so dramatically that they can no longer afford 
coverage.
  The full-time employees are unique in their situation and should be 
included under the FEHBP for health insurance purposes. This would be a 
matter of equal treatment as well as compassion for those workers and 
their families. Full-time employees of other parks that share a border 
with Canada, like Glacier National Park, while technically the shared 
responsibility of both the United States and Canada, are eligible for 
coverage under the FEHBP.
  In addition, the location of the Park makes it impractical for these 
employees to seek medical treatment in Canada even if the government 
allowed them to join the Canadian health system. The closest doctors 
and hospitals are in Maine, and the Park is only accessible from the 
United States.
  If the treaty were negotiated today, health insurance would certainly 
be a part of the negotiations. The situation facing this small group of 
Roosevelt Campobello Park employees is a consequence of negotiations 
conducted when health insurance was not a standard employee benefit as 
it is today.
  I hope that my colleagues will join me in supporting this legislation 
so that U.S. citizens maintaining the Park honoring a great American 
President will be treated fairly.
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