103rd Congress. Health Care Reform. Veterans Health Care. Espy, Mike. Defense Spending.
1- The l03rd congress was sworn in this week. What do you think will be some of the top issues on the agenda in the coming two years?; 2- On the issue of health care reform, where do you think the veterans health care system should fit in?; 3- One...
Speaking with Congressman Gene Taylor of Mississippi
1- As this is being taped, the President is considering a veto of the Defense Authorization bill. You and I wrote a letter to him urging that he sign it. This bill is good for the country and...
102nd Congress. National Guard. Veterans Legislation. Highway Funding Bill. Higher Education Reauthorization Act. Counter-Drug Law Enforcement School.
1- The 102nd Congress adjourned last week. What is your assessment of its overall performance there past two years?; (He discussed these topics as plusses: Preserving National Guard and Reserve strength levels: veterans legislation: passage of a...
National Guard. Veterans Health Care System. Budget Defense Dollars.
1- You are leading the effort to prevent large scale cuts to the strengths of the National Guard and Reserve in FY 1992. What is the status of those efforts?; 2- There has been a proposal made here in Washington to allow non-veterans who are on...
1- Former Mississippi Governor J.P. Coleman died this past weekend. You served with him in State Government. How will he be remembered?; 2- President Bush announced he was drastically reducing our nuclear weapons arsenal and taking our nuclear...
Conaway, John. National Guard. Defense Spending. Natural Disasters.
Speaking to Lt General John Conway, Head of the National Guard Bureau; 1- With the reduction in defense spending, the National Guard is going to talk on a greater role in the total force. What do you see in the future for our citizen soldiers?; 2-...
National Guard. 155th Brigade. Department of Veterans Affairs. Meridian, MS.
1- A recent Governmental Accounting Office study was done on the readiness of National Guard combat brigades activated during the Persian Gulf War, including the 155th in Mississippi. The report cited some deficiencies. You have now asked the GAO...
Conaway, John. National Guard. New Avenger Missile System. Gulf States Initiative. Counter-Drug Program.
Speaking to Lt General John Conway, Head of the National Guard Bureau ; 1- In Mississippi, we were proud to have one of our National Guard units selected to man the new Avenger missile system. Could you talk about your decision to bring this...
1- President Bush and Secretary Baker have been able to get the Israelis and Arabs to sit down at the conference table in Spain? What do you think will come from the talks?; 2-Secretary of Defense dick Cheney will be coming to Meridian in two...
Term Limits. Veterans Affairs Committee. Montgomery GI Education Bill. G. I. Bill.
1- There has been some talk recently about term limits for members of Congress. How would an action such as this affect Mississippi?; 2- This has been a very busy year in the Veterans Affairs Committee. You have massed a number of bills, several...
1- The House of Representatives gave final approval Tuesday to military construction projects in Mississippi totaling $36 million. More than $20 million of that went to projects in the third district. What did they include?; 2- The house voted...
Retirement. World War II Veterans. Avenger Air Defense System.
1- On October 2 you announced you would not seek re-election to Congress in 1996. What factors went into making that decision?; 2- World War II Veterans, their families and those who worked on the home front during the war were honored this week in...
Haiti. Welfare Reform. Veterans Affairs Committee. Persian Gulf Illness.
1- Just prior to adjournment, Congress approved a resolution calling for the withdrawal of U.S. forces from Haiti. What did the resolution say?; 2- You supported and even tougher substitute to this resolution that called for and immediate...
1- President Clinton announced last week that we would bring U.S. forces in Somalia home by March 31. What do you think of this timetable?; 2- The House will consider later this week whether to keep funding the Selective Service system for FY...
1- Congressman, I understand that the State VA Home in Collins recently opened. Is this true?; 2- What do you think will be the big issues faced in Congress in the next year?; 3- The President will be able to use the line item veto for the first...
Baker, Richard. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms. Anti-Crime Legislation. Assault Weapons.
Speaking with Representative Richard Baker of Louisiana
1- You and I both voted against the Crime Bill. Among the reasons we opposed it was the ban on 19 specific assault weapons. But I understand this new law also leaves an opening for the...
1- There is renewed talk in Washington about sending American ground troops to Bosnia to enforce the peace. What do you think of the idea?; 2- This past weekend, you were in Newton for the ‘rollout’ ceremony that brought a new high-tech weapon...
1- Congressman, now that Congress is in recess, how do you think the 104th Congress did overall?; 2- What do you think of the spending bill that President Clinton just signed?; 3- Were you pleased with the amount appropriated for the defense?
Stenholm, Charles. Agriculture Department Reauthorization Bill. Department of Agriculture Reorganization. Espy, Mike.
Speaking with Congressman Charles Stenholm of Texas
1- The Agriculture Department us is one of the biggest in the government was there room for consolidation and reorganization?; 2- Could you explain what this reorganization will do?; 3- How would...
National Security Committee. Challenge Program. Montgomery GI Bill. Columbus Air Force Base.
1- Congressman, the National Security Committee recently held hearings on the Challenge program. What was the outcome of these hearings?; 2- Speaking of helping our youth succeed, how do you think the Montgomery GI Bill has done in this area?; 3-...
