nam veterans and a memorial to recognize Korean Conflict veterans has been initiated. Yet there is no single national memorial to pay tribute to World War II veterans.

On April 21, 1988, the subcommittee held a hearing on legislation that would direct the American Battle Monuments Commission to establish a memorial and museum on Federal land in the District of Columbia or its environs to honor members of the Armed Forces who served in World War II and to commemorate United States participation in that conflict.

It was stated that there are cemeteries and memorials for the American Dead of World War II from the Far East to Europe, but there is no single national memorial for the greatest armed conflict in which this nation has been involved in the 20th Century, where the choice between democracy and tyranny was crystal clear. Witnesses also made suggestions on how to amend the bill and many of these were incorporated into the reported bill, H.R. 3742.

FOREIGN TRAVEL

MONTGOMERY CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION TO HAWAII, GUAM, PALAU AND THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES

In a letter dated February 19, 1987 to the Chairman of the Committee (Mr. Montgomery), Mr. Charles E. Joeckel, Jr., Executive Director of the Washington Headquarters of the Disabled American Veterans (DAV), expressed concern about the condition of various monuments and shrines in the Philippines honoring the memory of America's former prisoners of war and thousands of American and Philippine veterans who suffered and died on Corregidor, Bataan and other surrounding islands during World War II. The DAV proposed that the Chairman of the Committee lead a delegation to the Far East to inspect various sites, including the Pacific War Memorial located on the Island of Corregidor, and to meet with Philippine Government officials to discuss ways in which our two governments could work together to restore the memorial on Corregidor and the surrounding area to a place of dignity and respect. To that end, the DAV expressed its willingness to contribute toward the maintenance of the memorial.

On February 20, 1987, Chairman Montgomery announced plans to visit the Far East during the week of April 11-18 for the purpose of evaluating programs and services administered by the Veterans Administration (VA), the American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) and the Department of the Army in Hawaii, Guam and the Republic of the Philippines. During the trip, the Delegation toured Fort DeRussy, the Tripler Army Medical Center and the National Cemetery at the Punchbowl in Hawaii, and met with a group of veterans in Guam. While in the Philippines, the group met with President Corazon Aquino and other government leaders to discuss the restoration, operation and maintenance of the Pacific War Memorial on Corregidor; visited the memorial on Bataan, administered by the Philippine government; and met with the staff of the VA Regional Office to discuss programs and services administered by the VA in the Philippines.

Accompanying the Chairman on the mission were Veterans' Affairs Committee members J. Roy Rowland of Georgia and Claude Harris of Alabama. Three members of the Disabled American Veterans accompanying the Delegation were Kenneth G. Musselmann, National Commander; Dale Adams, National Adjutant; and Charles Joeckel, Executive Director of the Washington Office.

Also accompanying the Delegation to Hawaii and Guam were Congressman Ron de Lugo, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Insular and International Affairs of the House Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs, and Congressman Robert J. Lagomarsino, Ranking Minority Member of the subcommittee. The purpose of the Interior mission was to examine the prospects of approval by the Republic of Palau of the Compact of Free Association which was conditionally approved by the United States in Public Law 99658. Congressman de Lugo's group left the Delegation in Guam, but

again joined the Delegation in Palau upon its return flight to the United States.

The Delegation's complete report is contained in House Committee Print No. 6, dated May 18, 1987.

REPORT ON THE DEDICATION OF THE MEMIAL OF THE BATTLE OF NORMANDY-A MUSEUM OF PEACE-CAEN, FRANCE

To commemorate the D-Day effort and the Allied sacrifices during the summer of 1944, which resulted in the liberation of Europe, the people of France in cooperation with 12 other Allied Nations built a Memorial Museum of Peace in Caen, France. The museum, which comprises 37 acres, is situated on the plot of land around which some of the worst fighting took place. It is also directly over the underground bunker headquarters of General Von Richter, Commander of the 716th German Infantry Division.

In acknowledgment of this memorial museum, the Congress approved S.J. Res. 356 (Public Law 99-378), recognizing and supporting the efforts of the United States Committee for the Battle of Normandy Museum of Peace to encourage American awareness and participation in development of a memorial to the Battle of Normandy.

In observation of the dedication and official museum opening at which representatives from 13 Allied nations attended, the Honorable Marcy Kaptur led a Congressional Delegation (CODEL) of 5 Members to represent the entire House of Representatives at the dedication of the Battle of Normandy Museum of Peace in Caen, France during June 4-8, 1988.

The presence of the Members at the dedication ceremony served as a living tribute to those heroic individuals who successfully completed an impossible task in the struggle for freedom in the 20th Century. The museum is a powerful reminder of the price of freedom and the fragility of peace on earth.

There follows a brief background on D-Day.

On June 6, 1944, a military force of 153,000 American, British, and Canadian soldiers launched the most massive assault and land battle of its kind ever attempted in the history of the world. The goal was the liberation of Europe and the preservation and restoration of freedom and dignity in the western world. The battle was to last 76 days-the longest in history. At stake was more than the fate of 400 million people already under Nazi oppression. Ultimately, the freedom of humankind hung in the balance.

The D-Day assault and amphibious landing involved 5,000 naval vessels and 11,000 sorties of Allied aircraft. Three divisions of airborne troops, the 82nd and the 101st of the United States and the 6th of Britain, dropped inland and captured key points which German reinforcements were prevented from using.

The loss in both men and material was high. American casualties at Normandy totaled 127,000, including 31,000 killed.

Few events have had such a resounding impact on the course of world history. The D-Day invasion was massive, brilliant and successful. We owe our liberty to our servicemen and Allies for their courage and extraordinary efforts in bringing about the defeat of

Hitler's armies. This battle was the turning point of the war in Europe, unrivaled in its intensity, bitterness and tragedy.

In conclusion, the delegation was most impressed with the museum. The Committee will be moving forward to create a WWII memorial and museum in the Washington, DC area so that future generations may be given the opportunity to understand the roots of America's freedom, the price that has been paid for our liberty and the challenges to world peace that exits today.

The official report on this trip is contained in House Committee Print No. 16.

OTHER ACTIVITIES OF THE COMMITTEE

REPORT ON THE BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 1988

On February 3 and 4, 1987, the Full Committee held hearings on the proposed budget for the Veterans' Administration for Fiscal Year 1988. During these hearings, the Committee received testimony from the Veterans' Administration, veterans service organizations, and from several directors of VA facilities. Two weeks later, the Committee met and marked up its proposed report to the Budget Committee, which was then transmitted to that committee on February 25, 1987. The Committee rejected the Administration's proposals to transfer funding of the Montgomery GI Bill to the Department of Defense, rescind $75 million in funds appropriated for veterans' health care, increase the fee paid by veterans obtaining GI home loans from 1 to 22%, and reduce the VA's ability to provide health care in the future.

The Committee recommended additions to the President's proposed budget as follows:

(1) $289 million for VA medical programs to provide a current services budget;

(2) $18 million for design or construction of four nursing homes;

(3) $15 million to enhance the VA's domiciliary program to provide more care for the nation's homeless veterans;

(4) $60 million to continue the VA's Veterans Job Training Program;

(5) $10 million to allow the VA to administer its benefit programs on a timely basis;

(6) $30 million for treatment of veterans with AIDS, and $5 million for AIDS research; and

(7) $25 million for a computer-supported, cost-based resource allocation program.

The Committee noted its concern that overall expenditures for veterans programs continue to decline as a percent of the Federal budget. Noting that over the past several years, a number of veterans programs had been reduced or eliminated to help reduce the deficit, the Committee recommended an increase above the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) baseline of approximately $250 million in budget authority in order to reverse declines in levels of services and to meet the increased demand for VA health care. The Concurrent Resolution on the Budget for Fiscal Year 1988 provided for veterans benefits and services to be funded at the CBO baseline, $27.9 billion in budget authority, and $27.35 billion in outlays.

The Veterans' Affairs Committees of the House and Senate were instructed to report measures which reduced budget authority and outlays in programs under their jurisdiction by $50 million in fiscal year 1988. Subsequent to House action on this reconciliation measure (H.R. 3545), the fee on VA home loans expired; in extending the fee for 90 days, the Congress also enacted legislation (P.L. 100136) which prohibited the VA from selling its loan assets without repurchase agreements unless it received the full face value of the loan. Subsequently, when the President and Congressional leaders reached agreement on the budget for fiscal year 1988 (the Budget