[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 156 (Tuesday, September 26, 2023)]
[House]
[Pages H4475-H4480]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
EXTENDING AND MODIFYING CERTAIN AUTHORITIES AND REQUIREMENTS RELATING
TO THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS
Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill
(S. 2795) to amend title 38, United States Code, to extend and modify
certain authorities and requirements relating to the Department of
Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
S. 2795
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. TWO-YEAR EXTENSION OF TEMPORARY CLARIFICATION OF
LICENSURE REQUIREMENTS FOR CONTRACTOR MEDICAL
PROFESSIONALS TO PERFORM MEDICAL DISABILITY
EXAMINATIONS FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS
AFFAIRS UNDER PILOT PROGRAM FOR USE OF CONTRACT
PHYSICIANS FOR DISABILITY EXAMINATIONS.
Section 2002(a)(4) of the Johnny Isakson and David P. Roe,
M.D. Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act of
2020 (Public Law 116-315; 38 U.S.C. 5101 note) is amended by
striking ``three years'' and inserting ``five years''.
SEC. 2. TWO-YEAR EXTENSION OF PERIOD OF APPLICABILITY OF
CERTAIN RELIEF FOR RECIPIENTS OF DEPARTMENT OF
VETERANS AFFAIRS EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE WHO ARE
AFFECTED BY CLOSURE OR DISAPPROVAL OF AN
EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION.
Section 3699(c)(2)(C) of title 38, United States Code, is
amended by striking ``September 30, 2023'' and inserting
``September 30, 2025''.
SEC. 3. EXTENSION OF AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS FOR
EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS OF DEPARTMENT OF
VETERANS AFFAIRS.
Section 8117(g) of title 38, United States Code, is amended
by striking ``2023'' and inserting ``2028''.
SEC. 4. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS HOUSING LOAN FEES.
The loan fee table in section 3729(b)(2) of title 38,
United States Code, is amended by striking ``November 14,
2031'' each place it appears and inserting ``November 15,
2031''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Illinois (Mr. Bost) and the gentleman from California (Mr. Takano) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Illinois.
General Leave
Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks on
S. 2795.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Illinois?
There was no objection.
Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of S. 2795, a bill that extends
VA's expiring authorities.
The Veterans' Affairs Committee works on an extender bill every year.
This year, it was introduced by my friends, Senators Tester and Moran.
The 2023 extender bill does three things.
It would extend VA's participation in the National Disaster Medical
System for 5 years. VA has a mission to protect veterans and staff and
support public health during disasters or emergencies.
Second, the bill would also allow medical professionals who are
contracted to perform veterans' disability exams to continue practicing
across State lines. Now, VA depends on the contractors to perform most
of the disability exams, and the contractors depend on this authority.
This bill would continue the authority for 2 more years.
Finally, the bill would continue to protect student veterans if their
school closed or gets disapproved under the GI Bill. It would also
allow the Secretary to restore the entitlement to education benefits
for 2 more years.
I support this legislation because it gives VA important tools to
take care of all of our veterans. Without extending these authorities,
serious impacts to operations might mean VA's ability to protect
Americans during disasters would be limited, veterans' claims for
disability compensation would grind to a halt, and student veterans
would be left out in the cold if they attended a college that closed
due to fraud or mismanagement. We can't let that happen.
I once again thank Senators Tester and Moran for working on this
legislation in the Senate, and I also thank Dr. Murphy for his work to
lead and champion the legislation here in the House.
Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support S. 2795, and I
reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise to express my support for S. 2795.
Before I speak on the bill, I would like to note that September is
Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. I remind everyone that help is
available any time of day or night. If you are a veteran in crisis, or
if you are concerned about a veteran, confidential help is available by
calling 988 and selecting 1, or you can text 838255. You are not alone.
The House and Senate Committees on Veterans' Affairs have worked
together in a bipartisan manner on S. 2795, which extends expiring
authorities for the Department of Veterans Affairs.
The Senate passed this bill by unanimous consent, and I hope my
colleagues will support it. This bill must be signed into law before
Sunday so that important programs at VA do not lapse.
It is a bit ironic that we all recognize the need to pass this bill
before Sunday because of how important VA programs are and that we work
to extend them the same week that we are facing a
[[Page H4476]]
government shutdown that will shutter some important services at VA.
Nevertheless, this is a must-pass piece of legislation. Section 1 of
the bill extends VA's authority to enlist medical professionals across
State lines for the purposes of conducting disability medical exams on
behalf of veterans.
When a veteran files a claim with VA for a service-connected
disability, they are often required to receive an exam to document and
substantiate their injury or illness and its severity. This exam
requires a medical professional who is well-versed in the injuries and
illnesses that are unique to the veterans population and in the forms
VA requires to be submitted. It may be the case that a provider with
this expertise is not reasonably near the veteran.
To alleviate this problem, Congress enabled VA to authorize certain
medical professionals to practice across State lines. This vital
authority has been used by VA and its contract examiners to tremendous
effect, greatly reducing the potential wait time a veteran may face in
scheduling their exam and also reducing the distance many veterans must
travel to attend that exam.
Extending this authority means removing roadblocks to veterans
accessing the care and benefits they have earned.
Section 2 of S. 2795 provides relief to veterans who are affected by
the closure or disapproval of an educational institution.
Student veterans should not be the ones penalized when their school
closes. While we can't give student veterans back their time when their
higher education institution closes, at the very least we should give
them back their GI eligibility. Section 2 of this legislation extends
the relief established in the Isakson and Roe law for more than 2
years.
Our committee remains committed to making it straightforward for
student veterans to get their benefits back when a school fails to
uphold its promise. While it is important to make sure that the
authority being extended in the legislation before us today does not
lapse on Sunday, I note that a permanent solution authored by
Representative Ramirez, H.R. 1767, the Bipartisan Student Veterans
Benefit Restoration Act, has been favorably reported out of the
committee and is widely supported by the veterans service organizations
but is still awaiting a vote before the full House.
Representative Ramirez' bill would address the inequity in
protections and relief for current and former student veterans who have
lost their GI Bill benefits due to fraud when their benefits were not
restored while their nonveteran classmates have had their student loans
discharged.
It is inexplicable that, in our current system, these student
veterans are still waiting for their relief and that Congress allows
this inequity to persist.
Mr. Speaker, I urge the House to take up and pass H.R. 1767 as soon
as possible. It would grant relief to thousands of student veterans who
have lost their GI Bill benefits due to fraud and would finally ensure
that GI Bill beneficiaries have the same protections as student loan
borrowers.
Section 3 of the bill before us today will extend VA's authority to
prepare for and respond to disasters and emergencies for the next 5
years.
This authority is commonly referred to as ``VA's Fourth Mission.''
The bill authorizes appropriations to carry out this authority.
Under its Fourth Mission, VA carries out several major
responsibilities. First and foremost, it ensures VA medical facilities
are prepared to protect veterans and staff during a public health
emergency.
Second, under this authority, VA serves as a contingency backup to
the Department of Defense medical system during a national emergency.
VA can also provide support under this authority, such as staff or
medical supplies, to assist civilian patients.
Finally, VA may furnish hospital care or medical services at its own
facilities to nonveteran patients on a humanitarian basis during
emergencies.
The COVID-19 emergency proved what a vital role VA's Fourth Mission
authority plays in protecting public health, not just for veterans but
for all Americans. I could not be prouder of how heroically the
Department of Veterans Affairs carried out this mission during the
height of the pandemic. VA not only sustained its own capacity to
provide care to veterans and prevent the spread of the virus among its
workforce, but it also provided critical care to civilians, serving as
the backstop to the American healthcare system through Fourth Mission
assignments in nearly every State and territory.
More than 6,000 VA employees volunteered to deploy to assist civilian
or Tribal health systems. VA provided nearly 1.2 million pieces of PPE,
such as masks, gloves, and gowns to non-VA facilities. VA admitted
nearly 700 nonveterans for care at its medical facilities.
The difference VA made through its Fourth Mission authority cannot be
overstated. Countless lives have been saved, and it is imperative that
we extend this authority.
Finally, this bill includes a noncontroversial section regarding
housing loan fees that provides an offset to the small cost of this
bill.
Congress has extended these authorities countless times with the
support of the VSO community, which ensures that this legislation does
not increase the debt or deficit.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the
gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Murphy), the author on our side of
this Chamber for this piece of legislation.
Mr. MURPHY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of S. 2795, a
critical piece of legislation that extends the authority of the
Department of Veterans Affairs to continue providing several essential
services.
I am proud to have introduced the House version of this bill and
grateful for Senator Tester's leadership in the other Chamber.
Mr. Speaker, my district is home to over 76,000 veterans, and it is
my honor and privilege to represent them in Congress.
I thoroughly believe that when a man or a woman signs on the dotted
line to serve our country, that is their contract, but when they come
home, it is our contract to take care of them.
It is an absolute priority of mine to make sure that their VA
benefits, which were promised and earned, are given to them.
This legislation enables the Department of Veterans Affairs to
continue carrying out its duty to care for our veterans efficiently and
effectively. It allows physicians and nurses that do veterans'
compensation and pension plans to practice across State lines. It
allows the VA to restore veterans' GI benefits if they use them at an
educational institution that closes or gets decertified from the
program. It extends the Veterans Health Administration's emergency
preparedness measures to protect access to care during times of crisis.
Our veterans have made great sacrifices to protect our way of life
and our freedom. It is only right that we, in turn, serve them and give
them the benefits that they have adamantly earned.
Mr. Speaker, I support this legislation and urge my colleagues to do
the same.
{time} 1715
Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from
Texas (Ms. Jackson Lee), my good friend who holds a seat on the House
Budget Committee, Homeland Security Committee, and the House Judiciary
Committee. She is indeed a staunch advocate for all of our military
servicemembers and veterans.
Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from California,
particularly for his extended leadership and work on behalf of the
Nation's veterans. I thank our manager, who is leading on the majority.
This is an important and bipartisan effort to ensure the promise that
we make to the men and women of the United States military that
ultimately serve--and I always use this term--particularly, for those
who have come from the city of Houston, and Texas, and then for the
Nation. These men and women put on the uniform unselfishly. They are
ready to serve. They own up to their responsibilities. They are going
away from their families, and they come back and are in need of
important services.
[[Page H4477]]
This bill is important because it extends from 3 to 5 years the
authority for additional licensed healthcare professionals to perform
medical disability examinations as part of an existing VA pilot program
related to the use of contract physicians for disability examinations.
If you do casework in your district, you are well aware of the
challenges of our veterans in getting assessed for disability. Some
feel unfairly treated and analyzed for the percentages that they get.
This is certainly extremely important with 18.5 million veterans in
the United States, and with 1.5 million of them from my own State of
Texas.
Several initiatives that I have designed in the past have aided
Active-Duty servicemen and servicewomen, along with veterans, such as
enforcing accurate reporting of maternity mortality rates among the
Armed Forces, addressing physical and mental health concerns, and
securing triple negative breast cancer funding.
This legislation is extremely important because it adds, if you will,
additional services, expands additional services, and it also reflects
our commitment to every soldier, sailor, airman, and marine that is
welcomed back with all the care and compassion that this grateful
Nation can show.
Our Nation has a proud legacy of appreciation and commitment to the
men and women who have worn the uniform in defense of this county.
Veterans continue to have unanswered needs.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentlewoman has expired.
Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I yield an additional 30 seconds to the
gentlewoman from Texas.
Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, veterans continue to have many
unanswered needs, and I will continue to fight for their rights.
The reason why it is important to move quickly on the extension in
this bill is because in addition to the ability to assess one's
benefits, it is, of course, recognizing the myriad of issues they face,
such as homelessness.
Mr. Speaker, I will conclude by saying, should we not focus on their
service, their commitment, and realize that shutting down the
government is not in any way an expression of gratitude to those men
and women who serve us unselfishly?
Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to support S. 2795, and for us to
proceed in a way that honors this Nation.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of S. 2795, a bill to amend
title 38, United States Code, to extend and modify certain authorities
and requirements relating to the Department of Veterans Affairs, and
for other purposes.
S. 2795, a bill passed by the Senate on September 13, 2023, is an
important and necessary measure that I encourage all of my colleagues
to vote in favor of today because it will serve as a critical and
necessary source of support for our veterans by extending the
eligibility or applicability of various Department of Veterans Affairs
(VA) programs and benefits.
First, the bill extends from three to five years the authority for
additional licensed health care professionals (i.e., physician
assistants, nurse practitioners, audiologists, and psychologists) to
perform medical disability examinations as part of the existing VA
pilot program related to the use of contract physicians for disability
examinations.
Currently, when an individual transfers fewer than 12 credits from a
program of education that is closed or disapproved, the individual is
deemed to have not received those credits, and no charge from the
individual's entitlement to education assistance may be made for that
period of enrollment.
Under the bill, this period of relief for those affected by a closure
or disapproval is extended by two years to apply to programs that close
or discontinue before September 30, 2025.
This bill also extends authorization for VA emergency preparedness
for public health emergencies through FY2028.
Additionally, the bill also extends the applicability of certain loan
fee rates under the VA's home loan program through November 15, 2031.
These proposed changes align with my longstanding support for
veterans.
Of the 18.5 million veterans in the United States, 1.5 million of
them are from my own state of Texas.
Several initiatives I have designed in the past have aided active-
duty servicemen and women along with veterans, such as enforcing
accurate reporting of maternity mortality rates among the Armed Forces,
addressing physical and mental health concerns, and securing
authorization for Triple Negative Breast Cancer as well as Post-
Traumatic Stress Disorder.
In 2015, I was also proud to introduce the H.E.R.O.E.S. Act which
offers assistance and materials to help veteran's transition from the
battlefield to the workforce.
I am very proud of the work Congress has done to address the health
concerns of active duty and veteran servicemen and women, but there are
still improvements to be made.
According to Texas State University researchers, the Center for
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has found ``a lack of effective
interventions persist for the veteran population from public agencies
such as the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs VA) and private
organizations.''
In other words, although programs and resources have been implemented
to assist veterans, there is still work to be done, as the veteran
community is still suffering.
According to CDC Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System data,
``the overall health of the average U.S. veteran is far worse than that
of the average American, with veterans suffering more from such
conditions as obesity, skin cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary
disease (COPD), arthritis, kidney disease and mental health
disorders.''
Members of the armed forces are vital to our nation, and I am
committed to ensuring that veterans receive the quality healthcare and
other services that they deserve.
We must be united in seeing that every soldier, sailor, airman, and
marine is welcomed back with all the care and compassion this grateful
nation can bestow.
Our nation has a proud legacy of appreciation and commitment to the
men and women who have worn the uniform in defense of this country.
Veterans continue to have many unanswered needs, and I will continue
to fight for the rights of our most patriotic Americans.
Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, how much time is remaining?
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman from California has 10 minutes
remaining.
Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, it is important that we pass this legislation, but it is
cold comfort when the operation of the entire government is hanging in
the balance this week.
We aren't any closer to extending funding for the Department of
Veterans Affairs, or any other Federal agencies that servicemembers and
veterans depend on.
I think we all need to consider what a shutdown means for
servicemembers and veterans. It will undermine the PACT Act by delaying
the onboarding of much-needed veteran service representatives, and
negatively impact customer service for veterans. The claims backlog
will grow, delaying benefits and services.
Important research will come to a halt, including life-improving
prosthetics research.
There will be no setting of headstones at veteran cemeteries.
Student veterans will have counseling appointments canceled.
Hiring and training of new employees will stop, creating delays that
will last for months.
The Veterans Benefits Administration, the office that oversees
student veteran benefits, veteran housing, pensions, and servicemember
transition will have 40 percent of its staff furloughed.
At the Department of Defense, over 1 million soldiers, sailors,
airmen, marines, space guardians, and their families will go without
pay.
Training will stop, impacting our long-term readiness and security.
Commissaries will be closed on many bases, making it harder to get
basic essentials that military families need.
At the Department of Agriculture, the Special Supplemental Nutrition
Program for Women, Infants, and Children, commonly known as WIC food
assistance, will be cut off. Nearly a quarter, 24 percent of the
Active-Duty servicemembers and families are food insecure, and 9
percent of those families depend on WIC. You heard that right--9
percent of our military families depend on WIC.
How are our servicemembers supposed to focus on their job, which is
inherently dangerous, or a deployment when they are worried if their
family has enough to eat?
My colleagues may not think about these issues as they relate to
veterans. They are too busy giving lip service to half-hearted attempts
to cut the deficit
[[Page H4478]]
that they helped create rather than thinking about the actual
consequences of their rhetoric.
There is growing evidence that both older and disabled veterans are
suffering from food insecurity, as well as student veterans and Native
veterans. The Rand Corporation released a study examining the issue of
food insecurity among veterans.
Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Rand report be included
in the Record.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from California?
There was no objection. Https://www.rand.org/content/dam/rand/pubs/
research_reports/RRA1300/RRA1363-2/RAND_RRA1363-2.pdf
Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, food insecurity is linked to many poor
outcomes for physical and mental health, including increased risk of
suicide. Food insecure veterans have a 400 percent higher rate of
suicidal ideation. Food insecure veterans with a diagnosed mental
health issue have a 900 percent higher rate of suicidal ideation.
We, as Members of Congress, like to stand here on the floor of the
House or in front of the press or at a Memorial Day parade in our
districts saying that we are working every angle, trying with all our
might to eliminate or at least bring down the rate of veteran suicide.
But how we spend or don't spend taxpayer money reveals our true values.
When we are trying to do everything possible to address veteran
suicide, these pernicious cuts around the edges are simply increasing
risk for vulnerable Americans, and this includes veterans,
servicemembers, and their families.
Maybe my colleagues don't want to think about the ugly truth of
members of the military not getting paid. The ugly truth is that those
who serve are being asked to go without. Is that fair?
As noted in a recent article in Task and Purpose, cost of living and
food insecurity are ongoing concerns for military families and
veterans.
Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to include in the Record the
Task and Purpose article titled ``More than a million veterans
experience food insecurity.''
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from California?
There was no objection.
More than a million American military veterans are food
insecure, according to a new study. And of those, several
hundred thousand veterans are not enrolled or signing up for
available food assistance from the federal government.
That's according to a report from the Rand Corporation,
released Thursday. The report, ``Food Insecurity Among
Veterans: Examining the Discrepancy Between Veteran Food
Insecurity and Use of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance
Program (SNAP),'' looked at the gap between the overall
number of veterans experiencing food insecurity or hunger and
the smaller amount that take advantage of the federal
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or SNAP. Although
7.5% of all veterans--approximately 1.4 million people--
experience food insecurity, only 4.9% are enrolled in or part
of a household signed up for SNAP.
Compared to non-veterans, that is a much higher rate.
Although food insecurity is higher among non-veterans
(10.4%), 8.6% of people experiencing that report living in a
household signed up for SNAP benefits.
``Low enrollment by food-insecure veterans could be the
result of not meeting nutrition assistance eligibility
requirements, perceived lack of eligibility, social stigma
associated with SNAP participation, or negative messaging
around nutrition assistance,'' the report said.
The largest discrepancy is among the oldest veterans. The
vast majority of those 70 years or older experiencing food
insecurity are not enrolled in SNAP, with only 30% signed up.
Meanwhile, for non-veterans, 40% of those 70 and up are
enrolled.
As a result, the authors of the RAND paper are proposing
several ways to close that gap. The strongest recommendation
calls for better and increased screenings for food insecurity
in veterans at places such as Department of Veterans Affairs
sites. Additional screenings at other clinical sites would be
helpful, in order to reach veterans who don't get care
through the VA. Additionally, the authors note that there
could be better communication and coordination among the VA,
the Department of Defense, and the Department of Agriculture,
which administers the SNAP program.
The new Rand report highlights the main forces behind the
food insecurity veterans face. Among other factors, veterans
are disproportionately represented among the number of
unhoused Americans in the country.
It also points to issues tied to food insecurity. Not
having enough to eat can lead to poor physical and mental
health and well-being. That in turn can lead veterans to
committing suicide.
Cost of living concerns and food insecurity have been
ongoing issues for military families and veterans,
particularly exacerbated by the economic upheavals of the
COVID-19 pandemic. Efforts to alleviate those challenges,
including cost of living adjustments and increased benefits
for veterans have not fully eliminated the problems.
However, the study found that more research is needed to
better learn why so many veterans are not signed up for
assistance and experiencing food insecurity.
Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, the plain truth is that military families
depend on programs like SNAP and WIC to make ends meet. I have been
working with my Democratic colleagues over the last several months on
ways to address the barriers faced by veterans to access important
services like SNAP and housing vouchers. We should be focused on
increasing access rather than looking to undermine or cut services for
veterans.
The plain truth is just that the threat of a government shutdown, the
uncertainty created by the House Republicans' inability to govern
creates unknowns and stress for our servicemembers and families. We
should be providing predictability and stability to those who serve.
Instead, the Speaker can't even tell us what funding measures we will
be voting on this week.
This looming shutdown is a self-inflicted wound by the House
majority, who are choosing politics over the responsibilities of
governance.
Mr. Speaker, the impact of this shutdown will be felt worldwide by
military and veteran families.
Mr. Speaker, S. 2795 is a good bill and I urge its support by all my
colleagues. It is impossible to pass this legislation, which we should
do, without recognizing what House Republicans aren't doing.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, many people know that I was in the State
legislature prior to coming to Congress, I was a foreleader there and I
knew and could identify when, for some reason, whether it is leadership
on one side of the aisle or the other side of the aisle, who wants to
drag the debate out. So I am going to do whatever I can to help them
out here.
Some things that were claimed here--I think it is amazing that the
claims that actually cause fear through our Nation and through people
who are providing services--we are going to try to work every way we
can not to have a shutdown, but we have a responsibility, and that
responsibility is to pass a budget.
That is not what we were supposed to be debating here at this time,
but I am glad to do that. If you remember when we were working on the
cap, where we would increase the cap, I think the other side of the
aisle said we were going to cut benefits for veterans. Veterans were
scared all over the United States because they claimed we were going to
cut benefits for veterans.
Oh, and what happened?
I told that--not only I as chair, but the Speaker and others--we are
not cutting benefits for veterans. Okay.
Let's see what actually--if the shutdown occurs, what actually is
still covered at the VA? I think it is very important that the American
people know.
Healthcare will not be cut. It won't even slow down. Compensation and
pension benefits and processing of claims on appeals, they will still
be done. The Veterans Crisis Line, it is most important, and I know
both myself and the ranking member know it is vitally important to make
sure that those veterans--the veteran numbers right now are 17 per day
that are committing suicide--we want to make sure that is open.
Housing benefits for the homeless, open. National cemeteries and
burial services and benefits, still going to be done. Essential IT
functions, network data centers, cybersecurity operations, are still
all going to be done with VA. The Office of General Counsel is still
going to operate.
The financial accounting and debt management center, maintenance and
management of VA facilities, VA customer service operations, workforce
management for electronic health records, the modernization office, VA
appeal court operations, small and disadvantaged veterans business
support operations--all not cut. Why?
[[Page H4479]]
Because we have been working already with the Secretary of the VA to
make sure those services remain in place.
Are there certain things that will slow down, paperwork and things
like that? I hope we don't go into the shutdown, but those essential
services we are going to make sure are provided for our veterans. Why?
Because our veterans deserve it.
We want to make sure that we don't have fearmongering and concern in
that way.
I think there are people that should be concerned about a shutdown. I
am concerned about a shutdown. That is why we are going to be--and this
is very important for the American people to know--I know for a fact
that I am possibly going to be offering an amendment tonight somewhere
around 1 o'clock in the morning.
We are going to work through the day and through the night. We are
going to do it all this week to try to take care of the business of
this Nation. People should feel secure that we are.
That is not why we were here today. We wanted to talk about this bill
and the importance of it. Why?
Because these are essential services we must also pass by the end of
the month. As you can see, we are going to continue to do the work. We
are going to continue to work in this way, and I hope in a bipartisan
manner that we are.
We can go out and do press conferences and stand on this floor and
claim, oh, this isn't getting done or that isn't getting done. I
understand that. I have been around this process a long time. But
understand, we are here to do our job and we are going to do our job.
There are 435 Members in this Chamber, and all of them have opinions
and all of them have ideas.
You know what? We are doing a thing called regular order because many
people called for that.
You know what? There are two things in this life you should not watch
being made because it ruins the taste of both--sausage and law. Now we
are making law. We are coming together and running our heads together
and arguing and debating.
We are debating on our side of the aisle with our own colleagues, we
are debating on that side of the aisle with their colleagues, and we
are debating together to come up with the answers that we need to for
this Nation to do it right.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
{time} 1730
Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I remind my esteemed colleague and friend--
and I do believe the gentleman from Illinois is my friend--that we are
about to tonight bring up, again, the rule for the Defense
appropriations bill. This body failed to even pass a rule and to bring
to the floor the Defense appropriations bill.
Barring an ability to fund a continuing resolution before October 1,
which is this Sunday, we are facing our military servicemembers going
without a paycheck. This is a very serious moment. As far as I know,
none of the 12 appropriations bills have been agreed to and been sent
to the President's desk.
The bill before us today, this moment, is a bipartisan,
noncontroversial bill that needs to be signed by the President before
Sunday. Time is of the essence, but we can't forget all the things that
we are not accomplishing for veterans today, that we are not
accomplishing for our servicemembers who are in harm's way.
Servicemembers, veterans, and their families deserve to have access
to food, deserve to have access to housing, and deserve to have access
to healthcare and mental health care. If we look at the reauthorization
of the agriculture bill, it is atrocious what is done to all the
nutrition programs that our veterans and our military families depend
on.
Do not be fooled by the fact that we have passed a military
construction bill that fully funds VA but has not yet been agreed to
because of all of the poison pills that have been put into that bill.
We stand here waiting to see if the House Republicans can fulfill the
most basic role of Congress, which is to fund the government.
The brinksmanship of extremists in control of this Chamber is putting
servicemember pay and the WIC program at risk. This situation is both
unconscionable and was totally avoidable, yet we are here at the
precipice.
Madam Speaker, again, I ask all my colleagues to join me in passing
S. 2795. Fund the government. Feed veterans, feed servicemembers, and
feed their families.
Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. BOST. Madam Speaker, may I request the time remaining for each
side?
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mrs. Kiggans of Virginia). The gentleman
from Illinois has 12 minutes remaining. The gentleman from California
has 1 minute remaining.
Mr. BOST. Madam Speaker, I am so proud to be on this floor and for
what we do for the people, but it is interesting to watch the debates
that occur on this floor sometimes to try to stretch, as I said, and
draw things out.
I actually had the opportunity earlier this afternoon during 5-minute
speeches to talk about a friend of mine from the Illinois State
legislature who did this very, very well. He was a floor leader in the
State of Illinois. His name was William ``Bill'' Black. Bill was a
great orator, and he could talk on every issue.
I explained during that time that because he was an educator and then
the president of a community college, when he became a legislator, he
knew how to explain the issues exactly the way they needed to be
explained so that whether you were a scholar or just an average person
on the street, you could understand what was going on.
Basically, he used a good southern Illinois term that said he would
put the cabbage down where the hogs could eat it. Let me tell you, that
is what I would like to do.
As we have listened here, going off and leaving the bill we were
actually debating on, we have talked about everything that is going on
around here. I said earlier that it will continue to go on. Why?
Because we have been elected by the people to work through this
process. We are going to work through this process.
I hope that there is not a shutdown. If there is a shutdown, is this
the first time we have shut down? No, it is not. What we have to know
is that we want to make sure we are getting it right. The American
people want us to get it right.
What legislators discover once we are here, with the 435 districts,
what is happening in the ranking member's district, quite often his
people feel different than the people of the Illinois 12th District,
which I represent. They feel different because they come from different
cultures. It is our job to try to come up with something that is
balanced and that can actually operate this Nation the way we need to
have it operated.
Let me also say this: We also know that we can do a whole lot of
things at the same time. Right now we are working on appropriation
bills, and my colleague from the other side of the aisle said that we
have not passed an appropriation bill. Well, we actually had one
appropriation bill out, and there wasn't a single Democrat vote on it.
It is kind of interesting to watch on this floor when somebody claims
you haven't done anything. However, not a single vote came in from that
side of the aisle. As we are moving forward, though, we do have the 12
budget bills to move.
Now, will there be a CR? I don't know. Let me tell you the first
thing we are going to do is we are going to move rules because that is
what we do. We are going to move the rule, and we are going to have
debates. I thank the members of the Rules Committee who worked all
weekend long to try to make sure that through this process they are
crossing the T's and dotting the I's.
As I said in a speech on this floor earlier today, every comma, every
dot, and every word matters. Every comma, every dot, and every word
matters. Why? It matters because it is going to affect generations to
come. It will affect people next week, next year, and 10 years down the
road.
What we do here is serious business. I am getting concerned sometimes
that the only thing people want to see is the rhetoric back and forth
when they don't understand how much time we do
[[Page H4480]]
spend working across the aisle together to having successful pieces of
legislation that actually get things done.
We both knew, the Senate knew, with Senator Moran and Senator Tester,
that this piece of legislation that we are working on today needed to
be moved by the last of this month or these services would fail.
Rightfully so, in a bipartisan manner, we have and we will move this
tonight, and it will move on to the President so those vital services
are not removed or even say a flaw in them where a problem could
happen. Remember, all I said about the words and the dots and the
commas: They aren't just words; they affect people's lives. That is why
we have got to get it right, and we are going to work to get it right.
Madam Speaker, I am ready to close, but I reserve the balance of my
time.
Mr. TAKANO. Madam Speaker, I am pleased that the gentleman from
Illinois (Mr. Bost), my friend and colleague, would like to feed
cabbage to his hogs, but I want to feed America's veterans, America's
military families, and America's servicemembers.
I ask all of my colleagues to join me in not only passing S. 2795,
but we also need to fund the government, and we need to make sure that
our military families, our veterans, and our servicemembers have enough
to eat.
Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. BOST. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding, and I
thank him for the spirited debate. Once again, that is the rhetoric I
was talking about, to think that people on this side of the aisle don't
want to take care of our veterans and feed our veterans, don't want to
make sure that SNAP programs are passed and that those people in need
are taken care of, that is the rhetoric we have got to stop.
In this particular bill, this bill actually does provide and make
sure that we can carry on these three areas of service in the VA that
are vitally important. We want to make sure that our colleagues on both
sides of the aisle support this legislation. I will encourage mine. I
just heard the ranking member support and encourage his Members to
support this legislation as well.
Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Bost) that the House suspend the rules and
pass the bill, S. 2795.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
____________________