The Fayette Citizen-Opinion Page
Wednesday, August 5, 1998
Veterans' legislation passes House

By REP. MAC COLLINS
3rd District U.S. Congress

Last week, the House of Representatives mourned the loss of two of our Capitol Police guardians, who now watch over us from a different post. The lives of Jacob Chestnut and John Gibson were cut tragically short, but their heroism and protection of our freedom will long be remembered.

I offer my heartfelt condolences to their families.

In legislative business, the "Fiscal Year 1999 Veterans Affairs/Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Act" passed the House, providing funding for veterans benefits, housing programs, and various agencies dealing with science, space, and the environment.

I strongly believe we must fulfill our commitments to those who have served our country. I voted for the legislation, which gives the Department of Veterans Affairs $19 billion and is $168 million more than was requested by the President. The increase provides over $17 billion in medical care for veterans and $320 million for medical research. The increases in medical funding will bring essential research and treatment for those suffering from Gulf War Syndrome, many of whom served from the Columbus area.

The Ways and Means Committee, on which I serve, favorably reported two bills to the House of Representatives. First, the "Miscellaneous Trade and Technical Corrections Act" (H.R. 4342) which, if enacted, will streamline Customs laws, make technical corrections to trade laws and temporarily suspend duties on a variety of imported products, including chemicals used in the production of anti-cancer drugs.

In addition, the Committee favorably reported a resolution (H.Con.Res. 213) which expresses the sense of Congress that nations of the European Union unfairly restrict the importation of U.S. agriculture products. The legislation directs the Administration to actively negotiate with these countries to eliminate these barriers to the export of American agriculture products.

The Ways and Means Subcommittee on Human Resources held a hearing to receive testimony about the effectiveness of local programs geared toward low-income, non-custodial fathers.

The House leadership announced last week that they have agreed to bring fast-track negotiating authority legislation to the floor in September. The legislation would allow the President to negotiate trade agreements with other countries. Congress would still have final consideration of the agreement.

Last week I became an original cosponsor of the "Crime Does Not Pay Act," which prohibits convicted felons from recovering damages from injuries received in the commission of the felony. It is wrong for criminals who break the law to be rewarded.

Several weeks ago I introduced a resolution to oppose Executive Order 13083, which lays the foundation for almost limitless federal authority to promulgate mandates preempting state and local law. My resolution expresses the sense of Congress that the powers given to the states should not be further encroached upon by the federal government. The resolution protects the Tenth Amendment to the Constitution: "The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people."

My office continues to receive tremendous support for this resolution from Georgia and all over the country. To date, 42 colleagues have joined as cosponsors of my resolution. Last week I sent a letter to all members of the House seeking additional cosponsors in response to the requests of state and local government organizations that the Administration consult them on matters threatening their Constitutional powers.

Visitors from Georgia to the Capitol last week included representatives of Georgia Agribusiness, the Georgia Hospital Association, the Georgia State Legislature, and the Medical Association of Georgia.

Ms. Chasity Mundy, a UGA sophomore from Peachtree City, spent a day in my office getting a first-hand look at Congress. Chasity was in Washington for a Leadership Institute Conference.

This week, the House will continue consideration of several appropriations bills as well as campaign finance reform.

As always, I encourage you to visit our web site "http://www.house.gov/maccollins" as a source of further information about Congress and Georgia's Third District.


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