Andrew Connolly Veterans' Housing Act

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

I would like to thank the chairman, the gentleman from Minnesota, for bringing this bill and the others to the floor today. It's appropriate, as we are approaching Memorial Day, that we are working to fight for our veterans. But I think that all of us who get the opportunity to work in that VA Committee know that the chairman's focus on veterans is every day of the year, not just Memorial Day, and this is certainly a good one.

I rise in wholehearted support of the Veterans' Compensation Cost-of- Living Act of 2011, as amended. While we don't control the COLA, the chairman and everyone in the committee understood how important it was to get this forward, get there with Social Security when that's enacted. It is important that these payments are made on time. This Nation has a solemn and moral responsibility to our veterans, and this is just one more way to make sure that we do what's right.

I also would like to thank the chairman for including Mr. Braley's bill, the Andrew Connolly Act. It's really important. I think all of us who heard the testimony of Mr. Connolly and his family--a true American hero, someone who is doing everything right--want to make sure that we share that pain with him and his family for the costs that he has given going to war.

That grant is intended to assist eligible veterans to adapt a family member's home to provide a barrier-free living environment, to make sure that they have the highest level of independent living as possible. And so, again, I thank you for that.

I would, if I could, for just a moment, Mr. Chairman, just put in a slight plug, if I may, for a bill I'd like to see moved with this: H.R. 1025, the bill recognizing our reservists for their service and then being able to call themselves ``veterans.'' And I want to thank the majority and minority staff working on that; keep moving that in the future if at all possible. But your unwavering support of this piece of legislation, this bill, has been absolutely necessary. We worked on it together in committee the way it should be, and your leadership in bringing it to the floor is certainly appreciated.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I would like to also thank the distinguished gentleman from New Jersey, the chairman of the subcommittee. Thank you for your work on this. You're absolutely right. This is one that's supported; it is the work for our veterans. Together, you did a fine job of moving this through, Mr. Chairman. And we are certainly proud to support it.

I'm sorry, Mr. Miller. I tried to move you north from Florida. I just had Minnesota on my mind. This time of year, it's not bad, though.

Thank you for your work on this. It's a great bill.

I have no further requests for time, Madam Speaker, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1407) to increase, effective as of December 1, 2011, the rates of compensation for veterans with service-connected disabilities and the rates of dependency and indemnity compensation for the survivors of certain disabled veterans, and for other purposes, as amended.

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

I rise today in support of H.R. 1407, as amended, the Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2011.

This is an annual bill that authorizes a cost-of-living increase in veterans' disability compensation, veterans' clothing allowance, and dependency and indemnity compensation for veterans' survivors. This increase is tied to the increase in the cost-of-living adjustment for Social Security beneficiaries. I'm also glad that the committee was able to include H.R. 1671, the Andrew Connolly Veterans' Housing Act, to the end of this bill at the full committee markup.

This amendment was introduced by the gentleman from Iowa (Mr. Braley). It provides a 5-year extension for the VA to provide specially adapted housing assistance to individuals residing temporarily in housing owned by a family member. Unless it is extended, this program will expire on September 30 of this year.

I urge all of my colleagues to support H.R. 1407, as amended.

I reserve the balance of my time.

I thank the gentleman for his kind words. I look forward to working with him on his issues and other bills that will come before our committee in the future.

At this time, Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the chairman of the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs, the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Runyan).

I would invite my good friend to visit Florida's great northwest sometime in the winter, where thousands of people live like millions wish they could. So you're welcome any time.

General Leave

I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks on H.R. 1407, as amended.

Madam Speaker, I once again urge all Members to support H.R. 1407, as amended.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of Chairman Runyan's H.R. 1407, as amended, the Veterans' Compensation Cost-of- Living Adjustment Act of 2011.

In addition to authorizing a cost of living increase for VA disability compensation for FY 2012, which I support, the bill contains provisions introduced by my Ranking Member Braley of the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity, as the Andrew Connolly Veterans' Housing Act. These provisions would extend the Temporary Residence Grant commonly called the TRA grant program for five years.

The TRA program offers severely disabled veterans the opportunity to use a small portion of their Specially Adapted Housing grant to renovate the home of a family member to assist the veteran while the veteran is residing in the home on a temporary basis.

This program is needed because many severely injured veterans need temporary housing while their long-term home is adapted to meet their disabilities. For some veterans that temporary residence is that of a parent or sibling.

Anyone who attended the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity's hearing on Mr. Braley's bill could not be impressed by the courage shown by Mr. Connolly and his wife, Jennifer. Mr. Connolly is a former member of the Iowa National Guard unit that had the longest tour of duty in Iraq of any Guard unit.

Unfortunately, he has been diagnosed with cancer of the spine and is confined to a

wheelchair. His young son is also wheelchair-bound and is afflicted with a disease that requires the child to be on a respirator around- the-clock for life. That we would not extend a benefit that would make life better for Mr. and Mrs. Connolly is unthinkable and I applaud Mr. Braley for his work.

I also thank Chairman Miller, Ranking Member Filner, and Chairman Runyan for including the provisions of the Andrew Connolly Veterans' Housing Act in this must-pass legislation. I urge all Members to support H.R. 1407 as amended.

Thank you, Chairman Miller.

Today I rise in support of H.R. 1407, as amended, the Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2011.

H.R. 1407, as amended, which I introduced in April, puts veterans on equal footing with Social Security beneficiaries by increasing the amount provided for disabled veterans' compensation, veterans' clothing allowance, and dependency and indemnity compensation for veterans' survivors by the amount of the Social Security cost-of-living adjustment.

This annual and noncontroversial bill, which has been scored by CBO as having no budgetary impact, is a crucial part of ensuring benefits for disabled veterans and their families are sufficient to meet their needs.

H.R. 1407, as amended, also includes H.R. 1671, introduced by the gentleman from Iowa (Mr. Braley), the Andrew Connolly Veterans' Housing Act, which provides a 5-year extension to the current program set to expire on September 30.

Mr. Connolly's story demonstrates the beneficial impact specially adapted housing can have on a disabled veteran temporarily living in the house of a family member. It is important that we extend this program and continue to allow disabled veterans in similar situations adapted housing.

I urge all Members to support H.R. 1407, as amended.