[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 16]
[House]
[Pages 21966-21969]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


[[Page 21966]]

    WAIVING POINTS OF ORDER AGAINST CONFERENCE REPORT ON H.R. 2620, 
DEPARTMENTS OF VETERANS AFFAIRS AND HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT, AND 
             INDEPENDENT AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2002

  Ms. PRYCE of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on 
Rules, I call up House Resolution 279 and ask for its immediate 
consideration.
  The Clerk read the resolution, as follows:

                               H. Res. 279

       Resolved, That upon adoption of this resolution it shall be 
     in order to consider the conference report to accompany the 
     bill (H.R. 2620) making appropriations for the Departments of 
     Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban Development and for 
     sundry independent agencies, boards, commissions, 
     corporations, and offices for the fiscal year ending 
     September 30, 2002. All points of order against the 
     conference report and against its consideration are waived. 
     The conference report shall be considered as read.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentlewoman from Ohio (Ms. Pryce) is 
recognized for 1 hour.
  Ms. PRYCE of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, for the purpose of debate only, I 
yield the customary 30 minutes to the gentlewoman from New York (Ms. 
Slaughter), pending which I yield myself such time as I may consume. 
During consideration of this resolution, all time yielded is for the 
purpose of debate only.
  Mr. Speaker, House Resolution 279 is a standard rule waiving all 
points of order against the conference report to accompany H.R. 2620, 
the Fiscal Year 2002 Veterans Affairs, and Housing and Urban 
Development, and Independent Agencies Appropriations bill.
  Mr. Speaker, this conference report provides yet another example of a 
carefully crafted, bipartisan product from our Committee on 
Appropriations that maintains fiscal discipline, while addressing some 
of our Nation's most pressing needs.
  It takes care of our veterans; addresses the Nation's critical 
housing needs; helps to protect and preserve our environment; invests 
in scientific research; and continues the exploration into space.
  I would like to take this opportunity to commend the gentleman from 
New York (Mr. Walsh); the gentleman from West Virginia (Mr. Mollohan), 
the ranking member, and all the members of the Committee on 
Appropriations for their hard work and dedication.
  The conference report maintains our commitment to our Nation's 
veterans who selflessly placed themselves in harm's way so we may enjoy 
the very freedoms which we so cherish.

                              {time}  1145

  With November 11, being Veterans Day, fast approaching, our Nation's 
veterans deserve our thanks, but more importantly, they deserve and 
have earned the benefits provided in this conference report.
  This year the VA-HUD appropriations bill provides an additional $1 
billion over last year's increase for Veterans Medical Health Care, 
bringing the total to $21.3 billion. And I am proud to inform my 
colleagues, and more importantly our veterans, that we have increased 
Veterans Medical Health Care by $4 billion over the course of the last 
3 fiscal years.
  The bill increases Veterans Medical and Prosthetic Research yet again 
by $20 million and provides an extra $128 million over last year's 
funding level for the Veterans Benefit Administration to expedite 
claims processing, which is a big problem.
  Mr. Speaker, along with providing for the needs of our veterans, this 
legislation targets important resources towards the challenges faced by 
our urban communities and populations to provide adequate housing to 
help the most vulnerable folks in our society. Low-income families will 
benefit through this bill's investment in the Housing Certificate 
Program, which provides funding for Section 8 renewals and tenant 
protection.
  A $1.7 billion increase over last year's funding level will allow for 
the renewal of all expiring Section 8 contracts and provides needed 
relocation assistance. A total of $15.6 billion is provided for this 
important program in fiscal year 2002. This includes $140 million to 
fund some 26,000 new Section 8 vouchers. This housing assistance is 
critical in helping families who are trying to lift themselves up and 
improve their lives.
  Other needed housing programs that help our elderly, people with 
AIDS, and the disabled also receive increases above last year's funding 
levels in this conference report.
  The report also provides important resources to preserve and protect 
our environment for the next generation to enjoy. It targets funding 
with an emphasis on State grants to protect the water we drink and the 
air we breathe.
  The State Revolving Fund for Safe Drinking Water is increased by more 
than $25 million from last year's level, the Clean Water State 
Revolving Fund is funded at $1.35 billion, equal to last year's level, 
and, finally, State Air Grants are increased $8 million over last year.
  Mr. Speaker, this conference report also maintains our commitment to 
the exploration of space and the improvement of science. I am pleased 
to say that the National Science Foundation is increased by some $363 
million above fiscal year 2001. This represents the largest NSF budget 
ever, and will go a long way to help foster scientific discovery, 
promote basic research, as well as increase scientific education.
  NASA also receives an increase that will bring total funding to $14.8 
billion. It fully funds the Space Shuttle operations and maintains our 
commitment to the International Space Station. This will enable the 
United States of America to continue our superiority in space 
exploration and aeronautical research.
  Finally, Mr. Speaker, this conference report provides the Federal 
Emergency Management Agency with $2.2 billion for disaster relief to 
help some of our Nation's hardest-hit communities, much needed in this 
time of our Nation's crisis.
  Mr. Speaker, this is a good conference report and it deserves our 
support. It takes a responsible path towards addressing our Nation's 
most pressing needs and priorities. I urge all my colleagues to support 
this straightforward, noncontroversial rule, as well as this must-do 
piece of legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. SLAUGHTER. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from Ohio (Ms. 
Pryce) for yielding me the customary half-hour, and I yield myself such 
time as I may consume.
  Ms. SLAUGHTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to express my strong support for 
the work performed on this bill by the chairman, the gentleman from New 
York (Mr. Walsh) and the ranking member, the gentleman from West 
Virginia (Mr. Mollohan).
  This is a critical bill for many of our constituents. It directs 
funding for our Nation's veterans, addresses important housing 
concerns, protects the environment, and invests in science and 
technology research.
  Specifically, the conference report increases Veterans Administration 
health care funding by over $1 billion, money that will go towards 
eliminating much of the VA's backlog of veterans' claims.
  Moreover, the measure furthers our commitment to doubling the 
National Science Foundation budget to invest in science and technology 
to secure American competitiveness into the future.
  The bill authorizes $700 million in HUD Community Development Block 
Grant funding to New York State to provide grants to the New York City 
businesses damaged or affected by the attacks of September 11.
  My colleagues will also be pleased to know that the bill establishes 
a new, higher standard for arsenic levels in public drinking water, 
raising the standards from 50 parts per billion to 10 parts per 
billion.
  I also want to thank the chairman and the ranking member for the 
increase in funding in HUD's Office of Lead Hazard Control. Fifty of my 
colleagues signed a letter to the committee requesting this increase, 
because many older houses and apartments still contain lead-based 
paint.
  Research shows that children with elevated blood levels are seven 
times more likely to drop out of school and

[[Page 21967]]

twice as likely to fall behind their peers in language acquisition. In 
my district of Rochester, New York, 37 percent of the children tested 
have more lead in their blood than the Center for Disease Control and 
Prevention considers safe.
  Over the past decade, HUD has worked with local governments and 
agencies to increase the number of lead hazard control programs. 
However, millions of housing units remain contaminated with lead-based 
paint. To further reduce lead paint health hazards, the fiscal year 
2002 HUD budget receives a $9.8 million increase over fiscal year 2001, 
bringing the total to 109.8 million. These funds will be distributed 
through competitive grants to entities who agree to match the Federal 
grant. So, combined with the private-sector funding, it supports a 10-
year strategy to eliminate paint hazards in 2.3 million private housing 
units occupied by low-income children.
  Included in this request is a set-aside of $10 million to continue 
the Healthy Homes Initiative, which helps to develop, to demonstrate, 
and promote cost-effective preventive measures to correct multiple 
safety and health hazards in the home that can cause serious disease 
and injuries to children.
  There are lots of other programs in the bill that I could highlight 
for my colleagues, but I will save that for Chairman Walsh and Ranking 
Member Mollohan, but let me say I support both the rule and the 
underlying bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. PRYCE of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to yield 3 minutes 
to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Knollenberg), my distinguished 
colleague and a member of the Committee on Appropriations.
  Mr. KNOLLENBERG. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding me 
this time, and I thank the chairman, the gentleman from New York (Mr. 
Walsh) and the ranking member, the gentleman from West Virginia (Mr. 
Mollohan) for the great work that they have done to produce this 
conference report and, in effect, to produce this bill.
  I would also like to thank Frank Cushing, who works under a great 
deal of stress, but does it very, very well, and all the staff that has 
done so remarkably well to produce this bill that we have, this 
conference report that we have in front of us today. None of it would 
be possible without their dedication, their expertise, and the long 
hours. I salute their work.
  I just want to highlight a few of the provisions in the bill. The 
bill provides an extra $128 million to help the Veterans Benefits 
Administration to expedite claims processing. The veterans of America 
do not deserve to suffer the lengthy waits they do now to receive the 
benefits that they deserve. The extra funding is an important step 
forward in cutting these wait times.
  I would also like to thank the chairman, the ranking member, and the 
gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Oxley) for working with me to improve a pilot 
housing program in my district. This has amplification potential with 
districts around the country. The program is providing a viable and 
cost-effective housing alternative for the aging population, and I am 
pleased that it will continue.
  I want to note also there is a $363 million increase in funding for 
the National Science Foundation. The NIH and CDC get much of the 
publicity when we talk about medical and scientific advances. But few 
of those advances would be possible without the basic research that is 
conducted by NSF. I am pleased that these and other funding priorities 
in the bill will be signed into law when this conference report lands 
on the President's desk.
  Chairman Walsh is to be saluted for crafting this piece of 
legislation under some very difficult circumstances. He and the 
gentleman from West Virginia (Mr. Mollohan) have worked tirelessly with 
our colleagues in the other body to forge a fiscally responsible bill 
in a bipartisan spirit.
  So, Mr. Speaker, this conference report is the fruit of the effort, 
and I urge adoption of the rule and the conference.
  Ms. SLAUGHTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from 
Illinois (Mr. Davis).
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I commend and congratulate the 
gentleman from New York (Mr. Walsh) and the gentleman from West 
Virginia (Mr. Mollohan) for their outstanding leadership and work on 
this bill.
  I rise in support of the rule and in support of the conference 
report. I am particularly pleased that the report funds renewal of 
Section 8 contracts due to expire in 2002, and that it funds 25,900 new 
rental vouchers.
  I am disappointed by the elimination of the Drug Elimination Grant 
Program, but understand that these programs will be funded from 
increases in public housing operating subsidies.
  I am also pleased that programs for the elderly get a small increase, 
and that housing programs for the disabled are positively impacted. I 
had hoped not to see any decreases in funding for distressed public 
housing and the empowerment zones.
  I am gratified, Mr. Speaker, to know that we are increasing funding 
for Veterans Administration programs, and I trust that this means that 
our VA hospitals and services in the Chicago area will not have to 
experience drastic cuts in programs and services, and that we do not 
have to continue the talk of the possibility of closing the Lakeside 
Veterans Administration Hospital.
  I commend the committee for increasing by 9.5 percent programs for 
the homeless and a 7.5 percent increase to help meet the housing needs 
of persons with AIDS and their families.
  Mr. Speaker, these are indeed difficult times, and these are 
definitely times where there are going to be unmet needs. However, in 
spite of that, the committee has done a good and outstanding job and 
has a good product. I commend them for their efforts, for their 
astuteness, and for the balance which they have displayed.
  Ms. PRYCE of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume 
to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Walsh), my distinguished colleague 
and the chairman of the VA-HUD Committee on Appropriations. We all take 
our hats off to him for his hard work, as well as to the ranking 
member, the gentleman from West Virginia (Mr. Mollohan).
  Mr. WALSH. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from Ohio for 
yielding me this time. She has now helped us guide this bill through 
the House for the third time, and she does a marvelous job. I would 
also like to thank her opposite number, my neighbor, the gentlewoman 
from New York (Ms. Slaughter), for the courtesies extended to the 
gentleman from West Virginia (Mr. Mollohan), myself, and our 
subcommittee. Thanks also to Chairman Dreier, who quickly guided us 
through the Committee on Rules and turned us loose.
  We think we have a very good bill. There are a number of compromises 
within the bill, but there are also, I think, some fairly important 
policy statements that we make. We allocated precious resources to the 
priorities that were expressed by the House and the Senate, and I will 
deal more with the details when the bill comes before us. But I would 
urge all Members to support the rule.
  Ms. SLAUGHTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Filner).
  Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding me this 
time, and I would like to point out that as this body is preparing to 
adjourn for Veterans Day, despite some of the comments we have heard, 
this budget is not a good budget for our veterans and we are not 
honoring them as we come up to Veterans Day.
  I understand that the chairman of the committee and the ranking 
member have had a certain budget to deal with, and they have done the 
best they can. But this Congress just passed a bill which gave $25 
billion in retroactive tax increases to the biggest corporations in 
this country. IBM will get a check for $2 billion, GE and Ford will get 
checks for between $1 billion and a $1.5 billion. And what did we do 
for veterans in this budget? Barely keeping up with inflation. Barely 
keeping up with inflation.
  At a time when the backlog of cases to be adjudicated accumulates at 
10,000

[[Page 21968]]

a week, this budget will do nothing to clear up that backlog. This 
budget will not help us cure or find a treatment or a cause for Persian 
Gulf War illness. It does not take any of the 250,000 homeless off the 
streets.

                              {time}  1200

  Mr. Speaker, it does not shorten the waiting time of months and 
months that our veterans have to wait for doctor's appointments. This 
does not honor our veterans, at a time not only when we are approaching 
Veterans' Day but when our men and women are at war and we will have 
more veterans and more service-connected problems. We are not sending a 
signal in the men and women engaged in the war against terrorism when 
we treat our veterans in this way.
  All of the veterans in this country came together to produce The 
Independent Budget, a budget by veterans for veterans. It outlined the 
needs that our veterans have. But what does this bill have, $2 billion 
less than what this calls for. The final conference report that we are 
voting on provides less money than either House provided in their 
resolution. How can a conference report come back with less than each 
House recommended?
  Mr. Speaker, those who are adept at these conference reports will 
have to explain that to me. We come back with $2 billion less than our 
veterans need, less than what each House called for, and yet we are 
about to go out on November 11 and November 12 and say to our veterans, 
we support them. We love them.
  Mr. Speaker, this conference report does not do the job that our 
veterans deserve and our new veterans are going to need. This budget 
again is a dishonor to our veterans as we approach Veterans' Day on 
November 11.
  Ms. PRYCE of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. SLAUGHTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentlewoman from 
Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee).
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I thank the ranking member and 
the chairman of the committee. We realize the trying times that we are 
in, and I think many of us would have relished the opportunity for 
these very vital programs to have provided more resources. In fact, I 
would imagine if we could go back to the drawing boards, we would 
recognize the enormous needs that these services in this particular 
bill address.
  But let me first of all as we talk about Veterans' Day acknowledge 
the extra $128 million that the veterans will get to expedite claims 
processing. If there is anything in our congressional districts that 
causes us great concern, it is our veterans coming in attempting to 
process their claims for needs that are immediate. I believe it is 
important to overcome that particular need.
  In addition, I think it is extremely important that there is an 
increase in this particular legislation for veterans. I would argue to 
say that we can always, as I work with homeless veterans, do more for 
them. I am hoping as we move towards the next session and the next 
fiscal year, we can reemphasize the needs of our homeless veterans with 
whom I have worked on a regular basis.
  But we are addressing some needs, and whenever I go home and interact 
with my community, they are always speaking about another issue and 
that is dealing with housing. I would like to refer to the housing for 
the Nation's elderly, section 202 which has received an increase, the 
homeless program which has been fully funded at $1.23 billion, the 
housing, the HOPWA program. I might say that we will be working with 
HUD to ensure that those dollars get to communities that are diverse, 
that we ensure that those programs are spread throughout, that we are 
reaching the communities that are impacted. We realize that in the 
African American community, HIV-AIDS is the one killer in ages 25 TO 
44. We need those dollars to be spread in a diverse way. We have 
community development block grant money, and I am delighted that is 
there, as well as the Superfund monies which have been funded.
  As a member of the Committee on Science, Subcommittee on Space and 
Aeronautics, express my extreme disappointment that we have not seen 
fit to fully fund our Space Station and provide the extra safety and 
the extra crew module. We fought against this cut, and I am hoping that 
the administration will see the error of its ways with respect to the 
Space Station. We have fought long and hard, and in this time the Space 
Station may become even more valuable. We realize that we have to be 
fiscally responsible as relates to NASA, but we need to do more.
  In Houston, in particular, we are very gratified that the conference 
has seen fit to focus on beautification. The Heights Association in 
Houston receiving $100,000; to focus on recreation, $25,000 for the 
Acres Home Citizen Council Recreational Complex that will enhance 
economic development in that area, create a whole buzz of activity, 
compete with of course our great sports arenas by going into a 
neighborhood and focusing, and recognizing that the whole Nation needs 
to be wired and to put in an intercity area, the home of Barbara Jordan 
and Nicky Leland, the Fifth Ward Technology Center in cooperation with 
the Houston Community College seed money of $50,000 to help us 
recognize that economic development technology are interwoven. I look 
forward to these ideas and these monies moving forward to help build 
our country and as well build a better quality of life.
  Ms. SLAUGHTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from 
Virginia (Mr. Scott).
  Mr. SCOTT. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding me this 
time.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the conference report 
for VA-HUD. The bill funds many important agencies, and much has been 
said about those agencies, particularly about Veterans' Affairs. But I 
would like to specifically recognize the hard work of the members of 
the conference committee for their work in approving funding increase 
for aeronautics research.
  We know that dollar for dollar, investments in aeronautics research 
pays off. Every aircraft worldwide uses NASA technology, and the 
research center located in Hampton, Virginia, has been at the forefront 
of developing these cutting-edge technologies. Engineering principles 
developed from the past research at Langley have contributed to overall 
aircraft safety and efficiency, including things like wind design, 
noise abatement, structural integrity, and fuel efficiency. It is 
important to remember that these principles were developed 5, 10 and 20 
years before they led to improvements in the aircraft we see today.
  In recent years, NASA's research has been reduced by about one-third. 
Reversing that declining trend in aeronautics funding now will enable 
the aggressive research and technology programs that are needed to lead 
the United States into the 21st century, as the world's leader in 
aeronautics and space research, a key cornerstone of our future 
economic prosperity.
  Again, I extend my appreciation to the gentleman from New York (Mr. 
Walsh) and the gentleman from West Virginia (Mr. Mollohan) and the 
other conferees for their strong support for the national investments 
in aeronautics research, and I urge Members to support the conference 
committee report.
  Ms. SLAUGHTER. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and 
I yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. PRYCE of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, this is a good conference report. It balances a number 
of very important priorities. It protects our environment and keeps the 
United States at the forefront of space exploration. It provides needed 
funding to ensure new scientific discovery and addresses our Nation's 
critical housing needs.
  Finally, it provides for the benefits and assistance of our Nation's 
veterans that they have earned and that they should enjoy. It is a 
fitting and timely tribute as we prepare for Veterans' Day this 
November 11.
  Mr. Speaker, once again our hats should be off to the gentleman from

[[Page 21969]]

New York (Mr. Walsh) and the gentleman from West Virginia (Mr. 
Mollohan) and the entire appropriations committee. I urge a yes vote on 
this rule and the conference report.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time, and I move the 
previous question on the resolution.
  The previous question was ordered.
  The resolution was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________