Transport Aircraft Fuel Tank Safety Act of 2007

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2192) to amend title 38, United States Code, to establish an Ombudsman within the Department of Veterans Affairs, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I am glad my colleagues and I on both sides of the aisle were able to work together to craft this important piece of legislation. I would like to thank the Subcommittee on Health Chairman, Mike Michaud of Maine, and Ranking Member Jeff Miller for the bipartisan leadership they demonstrated in working on this important bill.

Over 30,000 servicemembers have been wounded in Operation Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. Many of these servicemembers suffer from multiple serious injuries that will require long-term care, spanning beyond their discharge and into the care they receive from the VA.

In 2007, reports from the Independent Review Group, the President's Task Force on Returning Global War on Terror Heroes, and the President's Commission on Care for America's Returning Wounded Warriors, all highlighted the need to improve case management for servicemembers and veterans in the military health system and in the VA. In response, the VA instituted a number of initiatives to support veterans and their families. These measures include appointing patient advocates in every medical center for OEF and OIF coordinators and transition patient advocates for those seriously injured in combat.

The Joint Federal Recovery Coordinator Program was also established to serve as a single point of contact for seriously wounded and ill servicemembers, veterans and their families. However, the scope of the FRCP is very

limited. As of June 1, 2008, there were only eight recovery coordinators working with 80 patients. Less seriously wounded veterans do not have access to the FRCP. Instead, they must attempt to navigate the complex system using medical centers, patient advocates, benefit counselors, OEF and OIF coordinators, transition patient advocates and vet center counselors.

H.R. 2192, as amended, would create the Office of the Ombudsman within the VA to oversee patient advocacy work and coordinate assistance for our Nation's veterans. The office would be tasked with identifying trends across the system in patient issues and complaints that would allow improvements to VA policies, practices and procedures. The office would also serve as the arbiter of last resort for complaints and issues that cannot be resolved at local or regional levels.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all my colleagues to support H.R. 2912.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, at this point I would like to yield 3 minutes to the author of H.R. 2192, a tremendous friend of veterans, not only in New Hampshire, but across this country, Congressman Paul Hodes.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

As we all know, our Nation owes its very existence to the brave men and women who have served in our Armed Forces. The freedoms and liberties that we cherish today were attained and protected through their sacrifice. These patriotic citizens have earned and should be provided the highest quality health care available.

I want to thank the leaders of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, Chairman Filner, Ranking Member Buyer, as well as Subcommittee on Health Chairman Michaud and Ranking Member Miller for their bipartisan efforts in developing the bill before us today. I also want to thank Mr. Hodes for introducing this legislation to establish an Office of Ombudsman within Department of Veterans Affairs.

In 2007, following the disclosure of problems at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, the President established a Task Force on Returning Global War on Terror Heroes and a Commission on Care for America's Returning Wounded Warriors. My predecessor in Congress, Senator Dole, co-chaired this commission.

The recommendations of this commission compelled the VA to initiative a variety of measures to better assist veteran patients and their families. Such initiatives included appointing patient counselor advocates at each VA medical center, providing coordinators for returning OEF and OIF veterans, providing transition patient advocates and establishing the Joint Federal Recovery Coordinator program to assist seriously wounded servicemembers.

H.R. 2192, as amended, would establish a centralized office to monitor the performance of these employees and provide veterans with a single point of contact for assistance with problems that cannot be resolved at the local level. The office would also track patient issues and complaints throughout the system and provide recommendations for improvements in policies, practices and procedures.

I support H.R. 2192, as amended, to ensure that our veterans receive the highest quality health care available, and I urge my colleagues to support it as well.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my distinguished colleague. I also would like to thank Chairman Filner, Ranking Member Buyer, as well as Subcommittee Chairman Michaud and Ranking Member Miller, for their strong bipartisan leadership in helping to bring this bill to the floor today.

This bill would establish an Office of the Ombudsman in the Department of Veterans Affairs to help our veterans cut through the red tape of the vast Veterans Administration bureaucracy to get the health benefits they have earned. After serving their country with honor and distinction, the last thing our veterans need is to fight the VA back home. Yet, unfortunately, many veterans have told me stories of drowning in bureaucracy at the VA. The good news is there are lots of numbers to call; the bad news is there are lots of numbers to call.

This bill was filed in response in part to the story of one of my constituents who was one of those soldiers trapped between active duty and veterans status. He was on active duty, but stuck at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, without knowing where to turn.

Chris was in a Humvee which had been blown up with by an IED. His arm was shattered in 13 places. He had metal fragments implanted in his head. He was suffering from a traumatic brain injury. Fortunately, he turned to us and we were able to work with his family and fiancee to advocate for him. He ultimately got the treatment he needed and was honorably discharged. Last week, I saw Chris and his new wife and new baby. He is working in Newport, New Hampshire, as an auto mechanic and owns his own home. He will likely need continuing treatment in the VA system.

This legislation will help veterans like Chris get the care and treatment they deserve, especially during the transition from active duty to the VA system. Our veterans who sacrificed for their country need help navigating that VA medical system. I wish it weren't so, but it is. Under this bill, veterans and their families will have advocates in the VA.

Let's honor our veterans by providing them with the advocates they need and deserve and support the creation of the Office of the Ombudsman.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2192, as amended, to establish an Ombudsman within the Department of Veterans Affairs. The extraordinary sacrifices of members of the armed forces have preserved our Nation's liberty and way of life. This bill will help ensure that these brave men and women, who took an oath to defend America, receive the highest quality health care available.

I want to commend the leaders of the Subcommittee on Health, Chairman Mike Michaud and Ranking Member Jeff Miller, for their bipartisan efforts in developing this bill. I also want to acknowledge Mr. Hodes for introducing this legislation to help meet the needs of our veterans.

In 2007, our Nation was outraged when unacceptable conditions at Walter Reed Army Medical Center were exposed in a news article. In response, President Bush established the Task Force on Returning Global War on Terror Heroes and the Commission on Care for America's Returning Wounded Warriors. Based upon recommendations from these blue-ribbon commissions, VA initiated various programs to better assist VA patients and their families. Such programs included: appointing patient advocates at each VA Medical Center, providing coordinators for returning OEF/OIF veterans, providing Transition Patient Advocates, and establishing the joint Federal Recovery Coordinator Program to assist seriously wounded service members.

H.R. 2192, as amended would establish a centralized office to monitor the performance of these employees, and provide veterans with a single point of contact for assistance with problems that cannot be resolved at the local level. The office would also track patient issues and complaints throughout the system and provide recommendations for improvements in policies, practices and procedures.

I support H.R. 2192, as amended, to ensure that our veterans receive the highest quality health care available. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 2192, as amended.