[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 7]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 9741]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




           ON THE VETERANS' SURVIVING CHILDREN'S BENEFITS ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. MICHAEL H. MICHAUD

                                of maine

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 10, 2003

  Mr. MICHAUD. Mr. Speaker, with our Nation at war, young men and women 
in uniform are placed in harm's way and risk losing their lives. Sadly, 
some have already made the ultimate sacrifice. We owe these brave 
individuals a great debt, and we also owe that debt to their families.
  The surviving spouses of military personnel who die in service and 
veterans who die as a result of service-connected disabilities become 
the sole caregivers for their children. They deserve the best 
assistance that our Nation can provide. For this reason I am 
introducing the Veterans' Surviving Children's Benefits Act.
  In 2001, the Department of Veterans Affairs completed a 
congressionally mandated evaluation of survivorship benefits paid to 
the families of men and women who have given their lives for their 
country. According to the results, a surviving spouse with dependent 
children needed to receive an additional $250 per month in Dependency 
and Indemnity Compensation (DIC). With the additional $250 per month, 
the benefits provided to a surviving spouse with children would be 
comparable to the benefits received by a surviving spouse who did not 
have children. The study found a $250 increase in monthly benefits was 
needed regardless of the number of children in the family.
  The Veterans' Surviving Children's Benefits Act would provide a $250 
monthly increase in survivor benefits recommended for surviving spouses 
with children. While no amount of money can ever compensate a child for 
the loss of a parent, I believe that we should assure that surviving 
spouses with children have their needs met to at least the same extent 
as surviving spouses without children.
  I ask my colleagues to join me in providing this small but necessary 
comfort to the surviving children of military personnel who have made 
the ultimate sacrifice for their country.

              ROLF SCHULZE: ACADEMIC, UNION LEADER, FRIEND

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. BOB FILNER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 10, 2003

  Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, I want to take this opportunity to recognize 
and congratulate Dr. Rolf Schulze upon the occasion of his retirement 
as a professor at San Diego State University (SDSU), the institution of 
learning at which I also taught for 20 years. Rolf has outdone me, 
though, with a teaching career of 34 years!
  I first met Rolf in the early 1970s, when we were both new to SDSU. I 
discovered a man of conviction, dedicated both to his academic 
endeavors and to his belief in the importance of the labor movement. 
Rolf began as a trade union member at 15 years of age. He came to the 
United States from Germany at age 17 with few dollars in his pocket but 
very large dreams. After serving in the military, he obtained his PhD 
at Michigan State University, followed by his appointment to teach at 
SDSU.
  Rolf became president of the United Professors of California in 1970 
and later, when it became the California Faculty Association, he served 
several more terms as president, as well as serving as a member of the 
SDSU Senate. He now is a member of the Executive Board of the San 
Diego/Imperial Counties Labor Council.
  Rolf exhibited his special talents in working for solidarity within 
his own union, as well as with other unions--promoting quality 
education, fair working conditions, compensation and benefits. He has 
been a leader in helping to institute many democratic cost reforms 
within the California academic system.
  As a Sociology professor, Rolf demonstrated his love of teaching, 
research, and writing. His students consider him to be an inspiration 
to them, coming back to acknowledge his influence years after their 
graduation. It is well known that there is ``standing room only'' on 
the first day of his classes. He challenges his students to think for 
themselves, to question, and not to settle for the status quo but 
always to look for better ways to solve problems and to guard our 
liberties.
  Rolf's way of solving problems at all levels is to communicate openly 
and to encourage the building of consensus. he has been a leader in 
bringing faculty, unions, and administration together for the 
betterment of all, not by grandstanding--which is not his way--but 
through his own brand of quiet, patient listening, showing respect for 
all points of view.
  Upon his retirement, he leaves the university a far better place. He 
is joined in celebrating his accomplishments by his wife Jane Carney 
Schulze, his sons Mark and Eric, and his daughters-in-law Patty Mooney 
and Tina Thomas.
  My best wishes go to my colleague and my good friend, Rolf Schulze.