STEP Act

Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. Chairman, earlier this morning, in fact just a few minutes ago, I spoke on the tribute that Americans will give to their fallen this coming Monday, sadly so, but with joy and appreciation for the bravery of those who sacrificed their lives and their families.

Today I rise with an amendment supported by my colleague and a member of the Armed Services Committee, Mr. Johnson, to ask support for an amendment that can bring all us together, the designation of a national day of honor to celebrate the members of the Armed Services who will be returning from deployment in Iraq and Afghanistan and other combat areas. This national day of honor would recognize the enormous sacrifice and invaluable service that those phenomenal men and women have undertaken to protect our freedom and share the gift of democracy in other parts of the world.

How many of us have stopped to say ``thank you'' to a soldier walking alone in an airport, maybe having made a travel of millions of miles, thousands upon thousands of miles, to find himself or herself in their rural hamlet or urban center coming home. They have come home over the years, and they have come home not seeking glory or appreciation. That's our men and women. The men and women of the United States military and intelligence community who helped bring Osama bin Laden didn't ask for applause and appreciation.

My amendment will give all Americans, no matter what your political views, religion, ethnicity, gender or background, the chance to be able to say ``thank you.'' It is reminiscent of times that some of us did not live through. I am reminded of the pictures that I saw of those celebrating in the streets during World War II.

My uncle served in World War II. My grandmother sent her sons to war. She watched them one by one, and proudly so. As an immigrant American, she was glad to be able to send them to fight our battles.

Now, as we make our decisions to bring our troops home, to be able to provide them the opportunity of economic enhancement such as jobs and

education, let's have a day where all of us will be able to be in the streets, if you will, to simply say ``thank you;'' and job well done!

So I ask my colleagues to join me to say ``thank you'' to one of the most diverse exhibitions of American bravery and courage, and that is the United States military. As you can see, here they are, without fanfare, fighting for us in the midst of battle. And all I want to do is say ``thank you.''

Mr. Chair, I rise today offering my amendment No. 111 to H.R. 1540, ``National Defense Authorization Act For Fiscal Year 2011,'' which Hank Johnson the gentleman from Georgia has joined me in offering as a Cosponsor. I thank Representative Johnson for his support. My amendment will designate a National Day of Honor to celebrate members of the Armed Services who are returning from deployment in Iraq, Afghanistan, and other combat areas. This National Day of Honor would recognize the enormous sacrifice and invaluable service that these phenomenal men and women have undertaken to protect our freedoms and share the gift of democracy to other parts of the world.

My amendment provides an opportunity for all Americans, regardless of political views, religion, ethnicity, gender, or background to come together, and to recognize and honor our nation's heroes. I believe the paramount and overwhelming conclusion is that our freedom is intertwined with the sacrifices of our Veterans, whose devotion to our way of life is unparalleled. I am privileged to honor their sacrifices and the role they play in our nation.

We are in the midst of ongoing conflict and warfare. We must show continued support of our troops and increase their moral. What better way to demonstrate our support than by celebrating their return from deployment with a National Day of Honor. Though we may be divided by our positions on the war in Iraq, Afghanistan and other combat areas, we stand together to support our veterans.

Currently, there are close to 100,000 troops serving in Afghanistan. And even in the aftermath of the death of Osama bin Laden, troops remain in Afghanistan to protect against retaliatory attacks and to help rebuild the country.

As of April 2011, close to 46,000 American troops are serving in Iraq. At the height of the Iraqi dispute, close to 170,000 U.S. troops were stationed in Iraq. These courageous men and women are mothers and fathers, husbands and wives, yet they have risked their lives and left their families to fight for what they believe in which is freedom, equality, and all the like principles that America stands on. The courage and sacrifice of the men and women are certainly well deserving of celebration. Their service is an extraordinary act of patriotism for which we should all be thankful.

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. 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.

The military represents America's diversity. A National Day of Honor will celebrate men and women of all races and backgrounds. There are 2.4 million African American, 1.1 million Hispanic, 320,000 Asian American and Pacific Islanders and 169,000 American Indians and Alaska Natives who are honored veterans of our nation's military. Nearly 266,00 African Americans, 157,000 Hispanic Americans, 44,000 Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, and more than 18,5000 American Indians and Alaska Natives have served are nation in Iraq and Afghanistan.

A National Day of Honor will welcome home the diverse group of soldiers upon their return from deployments. Currently there are more than 44,500 African Americans, 31,000 Hispanic Americans, 10,000 Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, nearly 4,000 American Indians and Alaska Natives deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan. When they return home they will find waiting for them a universal welcome and celebration of their service.

A designated National Day of Honor will bring Americans together to celebrate those who have returned from serving our country around the world in the name of freedom and democracy. The debt that we owe to them is immeasurable. Their sacrifices and those of their families are freedom's foundation. Without the brave efforts of all the soldiers, sailors, airmen, marines and Coast Guardsmen and their families, our country would not live so freely.

As we continue to be engaged in hostilities in Iraq and Afghanistan, our young men and women will pay the ultimate price while wearing the uniform of our nation. Let us honor the memory of the 4,400 Americans who have died in Iraq and more than 1,300 who have died in Afghanistan. We also honor the sacrifices of our wounded: nearly 32,000 U.S. troops in Iraq and 9,000 in Afghanistan. And we must not forget all the lives lost on battle fields as our troops stood to support our democracy. Remember the average age of the 58,148 men and women who gave their lives in Vietnam was 23 years old.

As we remember their patriotic sacrifices, we must renew our commitment to keep our promises to the nation's 3 million troops. A National Day of Honor is the perfect medium to welcome home troops.

I represent a district that is home to one of the largest populations of military servicemembers and their families in the nation. There are over 200,000 veterans of military service who live and work in Houston; more than 13,000 are veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan. They should return home to banners and to a community that recognizes their service after years of combat.

In the words of President John F. Kennedy, ``As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.'' It is not simply enough to sing the praises of our nation's great veterans; I firmly believe that we must demonstrate by our actions how proud we are of our American heroes.

There are 23 million veterans in the United States. Currently, more than 1,626,000 veterans are living in Texas and more than 32,000 veterans live and work in my Congressional district alone.

It is my hope that by having a National Day of Honor we will take the time to show appreciation to those who have answered the call to duty upon their return home. As the great British leader Winston Churchill famously stated, ``Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few.''

I firmly believe that we should celebrate our veterans after every conflict, and I remain committed to both meeting the needs of veterans of previous wars, and to provide a fitting welcome home to those who are now serving. Veterans have kept their promise to serve our nation; they have willingly risked their lives to protect the country we all love. We must now ensure that we keep our promises to our veterans.

We promise to leave no soldier or veteran behind. Politics and partisanship should never be a factor in our support for American veterans or troops. On the battlefield, the military pledges to leave no soldier behind. As a nation, let it be our pledge that when they return home, we leave no veteran behind. Celebrate their return home with a National Day of Honor. This day and every day, let us honor their service with actions that fulfill our commitment to our troops, their families, and our veterans--and that are worthy of our grateful nation.

Our nation is founded on the principles, laid out in the Declaration of Independence, that ``all men are created equal,'' ``that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights,'' and ``that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.'' At various points in our history as a nation, we have found need to send our sons and daughters, our most precious resources, overseas to fight in defense of these great principles. At times when the need is greatest, America's soldiers have always stepped up to protect our nation.

And so, today, I hope we will all take time from our daily lives to reflect upon the sacrifices made by those who serve in our armed forces, and to resolve together that we will provide returning veterans with the welcome, services, care, and compassion that they deserve. We should celebrate throughout the country to the sacrifices made by our men and women returning from their deployment to Iraq, Afghanistan, and other combat areas. Let us all remember that one of the things that makes our nation truly great are the young men and women willing to fight to defend it, to defend us, and to defend our way of life.

I reserve the balance of my time.

I thank the chairman very much for his kind words.

Mr. Chairman, I am delighted to yield 1 minute to the ranking member, the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Smith).

Mr. Chairman, let me first of all thank the chairman of the full committee and the ranking member of the full committee. Although this is not an amendment that pertains only to my district, I want you to know that I represent a district that is home to one of the largest populations of military servicemembers and their families in the Nation. There are over 200,000 veterans of military service who live and work in Houston; more than 13,000 are veterans from the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. They should return home to banners and to communities that recognize their service after years of combat. I might say that the State of Texas, along with all of the States, claim to have their wonderful share of our men and women of the United States military.

Mr. Chairman, I offer this amendment so the children of America can likewise be with us as they wave their flags and welcome our men and women home.

As President John F. Kennedy said: As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.

Let us live and act on our gratitude, and celebrate on this national day of honor the men and women who have served us so gallantly and bravely. I ask my colleagues to join me and Mr. Johnson in support of this amendment, to honor our returning troops by a national expression of thank you, again, for a job well done.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.

I thank the ranking member. I rise to support the en bloc amendments and to add my understanding and support for the McGovern-Jones and a number of other Members' amendments.

Let me first make it clear that this is a bipartisan amendment, and there was a great deal of collaboration and sensitivity to formulating a structure that would be respectful of the men and women who serve us today. But I rise to support this amendment because I can clearly see the human and financial costs which have been so high--$10 billion a month, which in this climate where we are addressing franchise terrorism, where individuals can rise up and do harm to the United States at any time, it is time now to plan a time frame for accelerated transition for our troops to come home from Afghanistan, to find a political solution with diplomacy, to be able to deal with al Qaeda in a manner that will allow----

This amendment does not stop the reassessing of how al Qaeda is now functioning with its titular head, its inspirational head no longer, and whether or not the remaining members of al Qaeda will seep and spread into other places where we have to address this question, and, of course, the amendment does not limit existing authority on ongoing al Qaeda efforts by sharing intelligence or changing military

strategy, tactics or operations on the ground in Afghanistan. This amendment helps to bring our troops home. Remember Pakistan, how we have to work with them and try to help the Pakistan people, we need to focus broadly to help secure the homeland.

This is an important amendment. I support the en bloc amendment, and I support the McGovern amendment. Let us find a way to bring our troops home.

I rise to support the en bloc amendments and particularly my amendment dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder.

My amendment sends a clear and resounding message that we take all wounds endured by our veterans seriously. Although their wounds may be invisible, we recognize that they should be properly treated. One of the best ways to increase the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder is to access treatment and to increase treatment in a number of local and community medical facilities.

I want to thank the chairman and the ranking member for accepting this amendment and for recognizing the enormous burden that has come about through PTSD.

According to the Defense Medical Epidemiology Database, the number of hospitalizations and outpatient visits in which PTSD was a primary diagnosis between 2000 and 2009 was 5,307 hospitalizations and 578,120 outpatient visits.

I also rise today in honor of my friend and late colleague, Congressman John Murtha, who worked with me to establish an outsourcing clinic in the Houston area at the Riverside Hospital. What a difference it makes. If proper medical care is given, about 40 percent to 60 percent of people who develop PTSD can get better care.

How many of us can even talk about this experience short of our Members who have experienced combat who are here in the United States Congress? The average American who has not does not know the trauma of experiencing danger every day in protecting themselves and their comrades.

They come home. They deserve not only our celebration of their return but to be treated so that they can go on with their lives. Since October 2004, approximately 1.64 million U.S. troops have been deployed for the OEF and OIF in Afghanistan and Iraq. Let's say to our soldiers: You are deserving of our care.

Let us provide more access to care for post-traumatic stress disorder. I appreciate your support for this en bloc amendment.

Mr. Chair, I rise today in support of my amendment #112 to H.R. 1540, ``National Defense Authorization Act For Fiscal Year 2011,'' as it will send a clear message on the importance of increasing access to treatment for those suffering from post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). As a Member of Congress from Texas, a state which has sustained more casualties in the ongoing conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq than all but one other state, I am pleased to offer this amendment.

My amendment is intended to address the urgent need for access to post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) treatment and counseling facilities servicing veterans. This includes veterans living in some of the more distressed areas of our country.

We must encourage the establishment of innovative public-private partnerships for the treatment and research of PTSD in teaching hospitals across the country by placing a focus on the importance of caring for those who live with post traumatic stress disorder.

We can never do enough to honor our wounded veterans. The Congressional Research Service puts the number of troops deployed since 2000 suffering from post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) at nearly 67,000.

Post traumatic stress disorder is one of the most prevalent and devastating psychological wounds suffered by the brave men and women fighting in far off lands to defend the values and freedom we hold dear. This country has the necessary resources to provide Veterans and members of the Armed Forces with world class care.

I represent a district that is home to one of the largest populations of military service members and their families in the nation. There are over 200,000 veterans of military service who live and work in Houston; more than 13,000 are veterans from the Iraq and Afghanistan. For the brave men and women who have been wounded in combat, help is on the way.

Mr. Chair, my amendment sends the clear and resounding message that we take all wounds endured by our veterans seriously. Although a soldier's wounds are invisible to the naked eye; they are still wounds that should be properly treated. One of the best ways to increase access to treatment is to increase the number of medical facilities specializing in post traumatic stress disorder located in underserved urban areas. Access to post traumatic stress disorder treatment is especially important since veterans living in such areas are less likely to be diagnosed and treated for post traumatic stress disorder.

In Houston the Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC) is the primary point of care for most returning veterans. It serves over 6,000 veterans in the area. 90% of those served at the VAMC are men, and 21% have been diagnosed with some form of depression or PTSD. We need to include community based health care providers to reach veterans living in underserved urban areas. The treatment of PTSD should be community based.

As a senior member of the Judiciary and the Homeland Security Committees, I agree with President Obama and the Administration in reaffirming our commitment to supporting our veterans and military warriors. The $1,000,000 Department of Defense (DOD) awarded grant recognized the importance of expanded efforts in diverse communities around the country, as the government seals its promise to ensure our Military Personnel and Veterans have the best medical care available.

It has been a long fought battle, as I have worked tirelessly with the late John Murtha, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Defense, of the House Appropriations Committee and Senior Leaders from DOD for more than four years to secure $1,000,000 in federal funding in the 2010 Defense Appropriations Bill for Riverside General Hospital. These funds provided facilities and services to treat Post Traumatic Stress Disorders (PTSD) for National Guardsmen, Reservists and Veterans discharged and/or on leave.

These funds represented a major step towards providing expanded resources in the heart of the city of Houston for those suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorders.

The DOD awarded grant recognized the importance of expanded efforts in diverse communities around the country, as the government seals its promise to ensure our veterans and warriors in uniform have the best medical care available.

These funds provided trained experienced physicians, nurses, therapists and other healthcare professionals the necessary services to treat Post Traumatic Stress Disorders for Military Personnel and Veterans discharged and/or on leave of duty. In addition, Riverside General Hospital is now able to provide psychiatric, medical emergency medical inpatient, and outpatient services.

There are currently close to 200,000 military and civilian personnel in the state of Texas, many living in the Houston area. Riverside General Hospital, located in the 18th Congressional District, is the only hospital in Texas privately owned by African-Americans.

Riverside General Hospital was founded due to the heroic efforts of veterans in the First World War. Riverside General Hospital, formerly the Houston Negro Hospital, was erected in 1926 in memory of Lieutenant John Halm Cullinan, US. Army. Riverside General Hospital is the only private African-American-owned hospital in the state of Texas that is contracted to provide inpatient psychiatric and inpatient detoxification services to TRICARE beneficiaries.

post traumatic stress disorder

I have always been a supporter of the men and women in the military, visiting every combat zone, including Bosnia, Kosovo, Albania, with numerous visits to Afghanistan and Iraq. After interacting with our deployed warriors, I began to understand the actual devastation caused by PTSD, which fueled my passion to help create a facility to help and provide care for those military members and veterans affected.

There have been several reports of Military Personnel to include National Guardsman, Reservists and Veterans suffering from PTSD-like symptoms for well over 100 years. Some examples are veterans of the US Civil War, who suffered emotional problems and were said to be afflicted with ``soldier's heart'' or ``Da Costa's Syndrome''; veterans of World War I was diagnosed as ``shell Shocked''; and veterans of World War II were classified with ``battle fatigue'' or ``combat fatigue''. Other terms used to describe military-related mood disturbances include ``nostalgia'', ``not yet diagnosed nervousness'', ``irritable heart'', ``effort syndrome'', ``war neurosis'' and ``operational exhaustion''.

War veterans are the most publicly-recognized victims of PTSD; long- term psychiatric illness was formally observed in World War I and the syndrome entered public consciousness after the Vietnam War.

treating the ``invisible wounds of war''

According to the Defense Medical Epidemiology Database, the number of hospitalizations and outpatient visits in which PTSD was the primary diagnosis between 2000 and 2009 were:

5,307 Hospitalizations

578,120 outpatient visits

Military Personnel and Veterans with PTSD have lived through traumatic events, causing many of them to fear for their lives, bear witness to horrible things, and feel helpless and hopeless. PTSD symptoms usually start soon after the traumatic event, but they may not appear until months or years later. If provided proper medical care, about half (40% to 60%) of people who develop PTSD get better at some time.

Since October 2001, approximately 1.64 million U.S. troops have been deployed for Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom (OEF/OIF) in Afghanistan and Iraq. Early evidence suggests that the psychological toll of these deployments--many involving prolonged exposure to combat- related stress over multiple rotations--may be disproportionately high compared with the physical injuries of combat.

In the face of mounting public concern over post-deployment health care issues confronting OEF/OIF veterans, several task forces, independent review groups, and a President's Commission have been convened to examine the care of the war wounded and make recommendations. Many recent reports have referred to PTSD as the signature wound of the Afghanistan and Iraq conflicts. With the increasing incidence of suicide and suicide attempts among returning veterans, concern about depression is also on the rise. PTSD impacts not only the service member as the aftershock of this invisible wound victimizes the families as well feel.

The Army says that for the first time the rate of suicide in the military exceeded that of the general population last year--20.2 per 100,000 people in the military, compared with the civilian rate of 19.5 per 100,000. (The Centers for Disease Control say the overall civilian suicide rate was 11 per 100,000 for 2005--the most recent year available--but the Army adjusts the figure to reflect the military's younger and much more heavily male demographics.) The Army's suicide rate was 12.7 per 100,000 in 2005, 15.3 in 2006 and 16.8 in 2007.

Although veterans who served in combat are most frequently afflicted by PTSD, events such as the Fort Hood shooting highlight the physical and psychological dangers facing military personnel in all roles.

Consequently, I believe it is extremely vital to extend to our civilian personnel the same benefits and support that we give to our active duty military. Civilians and military members on Fort Hood have equal responsibility to protect our nation and, as such, it is morally imperative that we work to honor these civilians by providing them with equal support in the aftermath of such traumatic incidents.

As our nation continues to fight injustices at home and abroad, we must remain committed to caring for those who give life and limb, so that we can enjoy our daily freedoms.

According to a National Vietnam Veterans Readjustment Study there are differences among Hispanic, African American, and White Vietnam Theater Veterans in terms of readjustment after military service. Both Hispanic and African American male Vietnam theater Veterans had higher rates of PTSD than Whites. Rates of current PTSD in the 1990 study were 28% among Hispanics, 21% among African Americans, and 14% among Whites.

African Americans had greater exposure to war stresses and had more predisposing factors than Whites, which appeared to account for their higher rate of PTSD. After controlling for these factors, the differences in PTSD rates between Whites and African Americans largely disappeared. On the other hand, the difference in rates of PTSD between Hispanics and Whites remained even after controlling for the fact that Hispanics had greater exposure to war stresses. African Americans and Hispanics often live in communities that do not have adequate access to health care services. I again stress that veterans who live in underserved areas should have adequate access to services.

For those of us whose daily existence is not lived in harm's way, it is difficult to imagine the horrific images that American servicemen and women deployed in Iraq, Afghanistan, and other theaters of war see on a daily basis. In an instant a suicide bomber, an TIED, or an insurgent can obliterate your best friend and right in front of your face. Yet, you are trained and expected to continue on with the mission, and you do . . . you do this for your country.

Mr. Chair, according to surveys conducted of troops in Iraq, 15-20% of Army soldiers have demonstrated signs of post traumatic stress. Symptoms of this serious disorder include nightmares, flashbacks, emotional detachment, dissociation, insomnia, loss of appetite, memory loss, clinical depression, and anxiety. One year after returning from combat, approximately 35% of soldiers are seeking some kind of mental health treatment. Among soldiers still stationed in Iraq and Afghanistan, many incidents of abuse, including killings and rapes by U.S. soldiers, have been attributed to ethics lapses caused by the strain of combat.

Most people with PTSD repeatedly relive the trauma in their thoughts during the day and in nightmares when they sleep. These are called flashbacks. Flashbacks may consist of images, sounds, smells, or feelings, and are often triggered by ordinary occurrences, such as a door slamming or a car backfiring on the street. A person having a flashback may lose touch with reality and believe that the traumatic incident is happening all over again.

The current conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq are the most continuous combat operations since Vietnam. Soldiers in Iraq are at risk for being killed or wounded themselves, are likely to have witnessed the suffering of others, and may have participated in killing or wounding others as part of combat operations. All of these activities have a demonstrated association with the development of PTSD. One study published in the American Journal of Medicine indicated that 94% of soldiers in Iraq reported receiving small-arms fire. In addition, 86% of soldiers in Iraq reported knowing someone who was seriously injured or killed, 68% reported seeing dead or seriously injured Americans, and 51% reported handling or uncovering human remains. The majority, 77%, of soldiers deployed to Iraq reported shooting or directing fire at the enemy, 48% reported being responsible for the death of an enemy combatant, and 28% reported being responsible for the death of a noncombatant. (Hoge et al., 2004).

For those of us whose daily existence is not lived in harm's way, it is difficult to imagine the horrific images that American servicemen and women deployed in Iraq, Afghanistan, and other theaters of war have faced. At the height of the insurgency, the Congressional Research Service places the number of attacks against American and coalition forces at 1,400 per day. The Armed Forces reports over, 4,000 troops have died and tens of thousands have been wounded in Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. According to the Department of Defense (DOD), 36,471 military personnel were medically evacuated from Iraq between 2003 and 2007 alone.

My amendment recognizes that these soldiers are first and foremost, human. They carry their experiences with them. In order to increase access we must first increase the number of medical facilities specializing in PTSD that are located in underserved urban areas, and conducting a concurrent study on increasing access to PTSD treatment at these facilities and that those soldiers will never feel forgotten or taken for granted. These soldiers can be certain that Members of Congress will ensure that they receive the necessary treatment to guarantee that their adjustment back into society is a successful one.

As the war in Iraq continues to drag on, and with our country continuing to send military personnel to Afghanistan, the military has been overwhelmed with returning soldiers suffering from mental health problems.

I am committed to improving the lives of thousands of veterans who have risked their lives for our nation, and I believe my amendment plays a crucial role in ensuring that veterans suffering from post traumatic stress disorder receive the medical treatment they desperately need.

Mr. Chairman, I rise to claim the time in opposition to the amendment, although I don't oppose the amendment.

Mr. Chairman, I commend the gentleman on his amendment. It think it will make the bill stronger. We should be doing all we can to help our wounded warriors. This is something that, fortunately, he picked up on. I think it is an exceptional idea. I thank him for it.

I yield back the balance of my time.

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

I thank the gentlelady for doing this. I think she is exactly right on. I think everything that we can do to honor these warriors who are out there fighting for our freedoms and freedoms of those around the world we should do.

I thank you for this amendment.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, I yield myself the balance of my time.

Again, I want to thank the gentlelady for her amendment. We have a good bill, this National Defense Authorization Act of 2012. It is a very good bill. We have a lot of good things in it; but this amendment, this amendment alone is reason to vote for the bill. I think we should all, on Memorial Day, on the day that you are requesting, and throughout the year, honor those who are willing to lay their lives on the line every day for us.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, I ask unanimous consent that the debate for consideration of amendment No. 55 be expanded by 10 minutes, and that such time shall be equally divided and controlled by the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. McGovern) and myself.

Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to my friend and colleague,

the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Coffman).

Mr. Chairman, the last time I was in Afghanistan a little over a month ago, I had a chance to visit with our Marines and troopers. They were so animated about their mission, so filled with the idea that they were able to fight for freedom.

They told me the thing that the people are asking them is when are you leaving now? They need to have the understanding that we're there to finish the mission, to be successful in the mission.

I yield 2 minutes to my friend and colleague, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Conaway).

Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to my friend and colleague,

the chairman of the Subcommittee on Readiness, the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Forbes).

Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to my friend and colleague, the chairman of the Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee of the Armed Services Committee, the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Wittman).

Mr. Chairman, might I inquire as to the time remaining.

Mr. Chairman, I yield the balance of my time to my friend and colleague, the vice chairman of the Armed Services Committee and chairman of the Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Thornberry).

Mr. Chairman, pursuant to H. Res. 276, I offer amendments en bloc.

Mr. Chairman, I urge the committee to adopt the amendments en bloc, all of which have been examined by both the majority and the minority.

At this time I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Alaska (Mr. Young) for the purpose of a colloquy.

Will the gentleman yield?

I do agree that assessing and correcting infrastructure problems at the Nation's strategic seaports, which are an integral part of our national defense readiness, is of vital importance.

As the gentleman knows, this committee has had a longstanding interest in our strategic ports, and I will be happy to work with the gentleman from Alaska and the gentlewoman from Guam to consider the appropriate measures to address the critical infrastructure needs of our strategic seaports.

Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Coffman), my friend and colleague.

I yield the gentleman an additional minute.

I encourage all Members to support the en bloc amendments.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, I urge the Committee to adopt the amendments en bloc, all of which have been examined by both the majority and the minority.

I reserve the balance of my time.

I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to my friend and colleague, the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Luetkemeyer).

Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to my friend and colleague, the chairman of the Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee, the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Wittman).

Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to my friend and colleague, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Kinzinger).

Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to my friend and colleague, the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Kingston).

I ask my colleagues to support these amendments, and I yield back the balance of my time.

I urge the committee to adopt the amendments en bloc, all of which have been examined by both the majority and the minority.

Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to my friend and colleague, the gentleman from New Mexico (Mr. Pearce).

Mr. Chairman, I ask unanimous consent that amendment No. 18 be modified in the form I have placed at the desk.

I urge the committee to adopt the amendments en bloc, all of which have been examined by both the majority and the minority.

Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to my friend and colleague, the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Turner).

I yield myself the balance of my time.

I want to thank my good friend. And, you know, we use that word a lot around here, but I really feel that Ranking Member Smith is my friend. And we have worked well together on this bill. I really appreciate his seriousness, the effort that he has put in to working, his staff. They have done an outstanding job.

I also want to echo your remarks about Secretary Gates--many, many years of outstanding dedication, devotion, of service to his Nation. I asked him what he was going to do. He said he had a long honey-do list. He was going to be working on that and probably a book.

I also want to welcome Mr. Panetta, Director Panetta, and wish him all the best on confirmation in the Senate. I look forward to working with him here as the new Secretary of Defense.

I want to thank the vice chairman of the committee, Mr. Thornberry, who has been a great right-hand man through all of this process, as well as all of the subcommittee chairs and ranking members for their hard work at the subcommittee level, and then helping out through this whole process.

I want to thank our staff director, Bob Simmons, and the minority staff director, Paul Arcangeli. They have been just magnificent through this process, as well as all of the staff here on the floor and those working back in their offices who worked so tirelessly on behalf of our troops, the men and women serving throughout the world in various uniforms of the service.

Mr. Chairman, I encourage all to support the bill.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to the motion to recommit.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to the motion to recommit on H.R. 1540, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012.

The authorizing language we have before us is a result of extensive bipartisan collaboration and unprecedented transparency, and to offer this motion at this time and on this very important bill is poor form and smacks of pure politics. It pains me that after such an effort on our part to work across the aisle, the Democrats have offered this motion. I fail to see where there's not been ample time and opportunity for input, discussion, debate, and resolution prior to this moment. I am dismayed that they would deem it necessary and prudent to play politics with this very important bill.

I need not remind all here that we're a Nation at war with troops in harm's way in combat every day fighting for our security and the future of our Nation.

During full committee markup, a total of 281 amendments were filed with 224 adopted. This compares to 172 filed and 137 adopted the year before.

This process, throughout, has been historically collaborative and resulted in the legislation being passed overwhelmingly 60-1 out of committee. We had all kinds of time to bring an amendment that would be helpful like this, then they bring this one. There's no offset. This would just put us again above the allocation from the chairman. This is really more Democrat increasing spending.

I oppose this motion and ask my colleagues to stand with me.

Mr. Speaker, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. Chairman, I want to thank the gentlelady for bringing this very, very important amendment forward. I think the

most important thing that we can do for those who serve in the military is show them our support in every conceivable way, and especially when they come home from service. Iraq and Afghanistan have been very, very difficult fights. The men and women in our military have fought bravely and amazingly. Every time I meet one of them, I am just in awe of how great our military is, how brave they are, and what a tremendous job they have done for us; but it is really important that we don't forget that here at home.

A statistic that I have heard over and over again is that it is really only 1 percent of the population in the United States who is actually participating in this war. It is critically important that the rest of us remember it, support those who fought in every way possible. I can think of no better way to help make sure that happens than the amendment offered by the gentlelady from Texas, to give them a day when we all think about it and we all remember what they have done. It is critical that we do that every single day. This will help in that process.

I thank the gentlelady for offering the amendment, and I urge support.

I rise to claim the time in opposition, although I am not opposed to the amendment.

I thank Mr. Runyan for bringing this to our attention. He has explained it very well, and I think this body should support the amendment.

I yield back the balance of my time.

I rise in opposition, although I am not opposed to the amendment.

I thank the gentleman for offering the amendment. I have no opposition. I support it, and I appreciate his bringing it to our attention on the committee. I urge the body to pass the amendment.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to the amendment.

I do oppose the amendment, and I will yield to my colleagues to explain our side.

I will begin by yielding 1 minute to the ranking member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, the gentleman from California (Mr. Berman).

Mr. Chair, I am pleased to yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Lewis).

I yield 1 minute to the gentlelady from California (Ms. Woolsey).

Mr. Chairman, I now yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Ellison).

Mr. Chairman, I now yield 1 minute to the gentleman from California (Mr. Farr).

I have only been yielding 1 minute at a time. I had 5; I yielded 4. How do I get down to 45 seconds?

I didn't make an opening statement.

I disagree with that but I'll live with it.

Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong support of the McGovern amendment, because I believe it puts us on the best path to successfully completing our mission in Afghanistan. I think it is very reasoned and very well thought out.

One of the keys to successfully completing this mission is to hand over responsibility to the Afghan people for their security and for their government. The McGovern amendment does not say pull all the troops out now at the end of the month or at the end of the year. It says we must begin, we must put in place a plan for drawing down so we can shift that responsibility.

I also agree with some of my colleagues who oppose the amendment. I think our men and women in the Armed Forces in the last 6 months to a year have made enormous progress in Afghanistan. The surge of troops that President Obama called for has made a big difference and has put us in a better position to be successful in Afghanistan. But the genius of the McGovern amendment is to recognize that there is also a trap in that, because if we stay too long, the Afghan Government becomes dependent upon us in a way that stops them from being independent.

Our goal, our mission in Afghanistan, is clear, despite many who say it isn't. We want a government in Afghanistan that can stand so that the Taliban and al Qaeda are not able to come back into that country. That is our goal, we're making progress towards it, but we will not complete that mission until the responsibility for that is turned over to the Afghan people. To do that, we need a plan and we need to recognize that that is the goal.

That is why the McGovern amendment calls for that plan, calls for us to step up negotiations with folks on the other side, between the Afghan Government and some of the Taliban leaders, which have been bearing fruit of late, so that we can begin that transition and bring our troops home and recognize the success that they've had.

A permanent or even lengthy occupation of a Muslim nation with U.S. troops is not going to work. We need a plan to properly disengage. That is how we will achieve what I think we all agree is the mission in Afghanistan.

I urge support for the McGovern amendment, and I thank him for bringing it. I think we need a plan for making that transition so we can have the success that we all want in Afghanistan.

Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentlelady from Texas (Ms. Jackson Lee).

I yield the gentlewoman 30 additional seconds.

Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Connolly).

I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Slaughter).

I yield the gentlewoman an additional 30 seconds.

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

Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Moran).

I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Lipinski).

I yield 2 minutes to the gentlelady from Texas (Ms. Jackson Lee).

I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Rhode Island (Mr. Langevin).

(Mr. LANGEVIN asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Lee).

I yield the gentlewoman 1 additional minute.

Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Tierney).

Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentlelady from New York (Mrs. Maloney).

Mr. Chairman, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlelady from California (Ms. Loretta Sanchez).

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

I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Walz).

I yield myself the balance of my time to close. I believe, if I am correct, this is the last amendment in the process.

I just want to thank Chairman McKeon, his staff, for their outstanding leadership. As has been said many times but cannot be emphasized enough, this committee prides itself on being bipartisan, and Mr. McKeon and his staff have more than upheld that tradition. We appreciate that.

We have worked together on a large number of issues, also worked together with Members of the Congress not just on the committee, as we have seen with many of the amendments processed. We have been able to include the ideas from a great many Members, both Republican and Democrat, from across this House. And I feel we have produced an outstanding product as a result.

I also want to take a moment to recognize this is the last markup or last House Defense bill we will be sending with Secretary Gates as our Secretary of Defense. And I want to honor him for his service. He has served seven, maybe eight Presidents, both Republicans and Democrats, has done an outstanding job for this country in all of those roles, and in particular as Secretary of Defense for the last 5 years. His leadership has been outstanding for this country. I will also note that he is retiring to the State of Washington. So that, too, shows great judgment on his part. We appreciate it's been great working with him. He will be missed.

We are excited to start working with the new Secretary of Defense, Mr. Panetta, as soon as he gets confirmed and moves into that role.

So I thank the chairman. And I guess I want to conclude by thanking my staff. This is my first time as the ranking member on this committee. It is a great honor that the caucus gave me, and I absolutely could not have gotten it done without the help of the staff that we have on the Armed Services Committee, both minority and majority for that matter. So I thank them for their help and their assistance.

I urge support for the bill, and I again thank the chairman. It has been great working with him on this.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. Chair, we're offering a simple amendment that will make it much easier for our wounded warriors to obtain access to adaptive recreational equipment. We have these proud men and women coming back from the field of battle with obviously very, very severe wounds; and what we have found is some of the best things they could do to get back with their lives and professional development is to have access to adaptive recreation, both services and equipment. And I know some of these folks do incredible things with paralysis skiing, with severe injuries riding adaptive bicycles, people who have lost their vision, wounded warriors getting back up on the slopes, and it has been a tremendous thing for these men and women to help restore their confidence, rebuild their strength, and get back into the swing of things.

Research has shown this works not only from a psychological but also from a physical standpoint. But we have a little glitch that, whereas our veterans through the Veterans Administration can have access to this adaptive equipment, such as monoskis and adaptive hand-cranked bikes, our wounded warriors haven't necessarily had the authorization to be provided that equipment who are on active duty. So my amendment would simply authorize the Department of Defense to make that available.

And I have been inspired by Lieutenant Colonel Daniel Dudek, who until today has been the commanding officer of the Warrior Transition Battalion at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Tacoma. He is moving on to continue this work here at the Pentagon. He lost some function in his limbs and has done a tremendous job helping wounded warriors get back going.

We'd like to extend this systemwide now, and this would authorize the DOD to do that.

So we would commend this as one step forward to helping our proud men and women regain their confidence, enjoy life and professional abilities. We commend this.

For the young men and women who return from overseas with a severe injury or disability, recreational activities--spending time outdoors skiing or on the basketball court shooting hoops with friends--offer them a chance to forget their disability and focus on doing the things they love. Research has shown that engaging in physical activity regularly benefits wounded warriors' confidence and overall quality of life. Thanks to the incredible equipment available to these wounded warriors--such as ``mono-skis'' or sport

wheelchairs that have been adapted to fit their disability-- participating in outdoor recreation is a real possibility. At this time, service-disabled veterans may receive such adaptive recreation equipment through the Department of Veterans Affairs. For the wounded warriors who remain on active duty, however, access to the rehabilitative equipment that can get them outdoors and active may be more difficult. Lieutenant Colonel Daniel Dudek, who until today served as the commanding officer of the Warrior Transition Battalion at Joint Base Lewis McChord, in Tacoma, WA, is one of these brave wounded warriors. My amendment would authorize the Secretary of Defense to provide wounded warriors who remain on active duty the same recreational equipment that their retired comrades receive through the Department of Veterans Affairs. This amendment will open the door to daily exercise and friendly athletic competition with friends, and will give them independence to pursue the recreational activities that give them the most joy.

Brief Background

After a scathing Washington Post investigation of their wounded warrior programs at Walter Reed, the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs overhauled their wounded warrior transition care programs. While I applaud the steps they have taken, I am introducing this amendment to fill a remaining benefit gap.

Previously, when a member of the Armed Services was found ``unfit to serve'' because of a disability--a process that included an appearance before a MedBoard--they were automatically retired and began receiving care through the VA. Now, you can apply to remain on active duty.

Active duty members, who have been declared unfit for duty and cannot transition back into, stay on in service of their country in other capacities. Many of these men, such as Lieutenant Colonel Daniel Dudek (who I mentioned earlier), are serving as inspirational mentors to other wounded warriors who are undergoing a difficult transition. Though they are not serving on the battlefield, they are providing our country a valuable service by assisting with this transition.

To account for the benefit gap that prevents active duty wounded warriors from receiving recreational equipment through TRICARE, the DoD has worked with VA to see that some active-duty members received assistance through the VA. However, this was inefficient and many active duty wounded warriors were still without the equipment they wanted. Further, the VA's authority to help active duty members is set to expire on December 31, 2012.

Beginning in 2008, the DoD developed a pilot program to provide rehabilitative equipment to active duty service members. However, the definition of rehabilitative equipment was restricted to simply provide ``hand bicycles.'' My amendment would give the DoD flexibility, and allow wounded warriors independence to choose the type of recreational rehab they want to pursue.

My amendment in no way abridges the rights or services currently enjoyed by wounded warriors. It simply gives them expanded access to rehabilitative, recreational equipment.

Lieutenant Colonel Daniel Dudek (Commanding Officer of Joint Base Lewis McChord's Warrior Transition Battalion)--paralyzed from the feet down after an IED attack. Stayed in the service working with other wounded warriors as they transitioned back to active duty or retired. LTC Dudek wanted a ``mono-ski,'' but was unable to receive one through the DoD. Had he retired, he could have been provided a ``sit-ski'' by the Department of Veterans Affairs. Under my amendment, the Secretary of Defense will be authorized to provide this equipment.

I have spoken with another Army Colonel who is 100 percent disabled but was approved to stay on active duty. However, when he tried to get adaptive sporting equipment--in this case a mono-ski--through the caregivers at the DoD health facility Walter Reed, he was unable to get it as it wasn't covered through TRICARE. Again, the VA could have purchased it if he was a veteran, but since he had not yet retired he did not have access to the same equipment that he otherwise would have.

Testimonials from Wounded Warriors

``All the training and dedication pays off when you have

crossed the finish line, you're standing completely exhausted

next to your fellow service member, and for that moment,

completely forgetting about your disabilities.''--Jose Ramos,

Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class, U.S. Navy, Above Elbow

Amputation, Iraq War Veteran

``Six months after my injury I was skiing again. You can't

imagine the confidence that gives you and so you start seeing

yourself doing things in life again . . . knowing that you're

going to get a job, knowing that you're going to go to school

because you're out there tearing up the slopes. It's just a

super family here. It's a great experience, it's a family

experience, and the whole community just gives its all to

give you a group hug and I love coming here.''--Dennis

Walburn, U.S. National Guard LTC, Wounded Warrior, Above Knee

Amputee, Iraq War Veteran

``It was amazing, I was out there on the water, hearing

everyone cheer me on. I was waterskiing! It's something I

never thought I would be able to do again.''--Joey Bozik,

U.S. Army SGT, Triple amputee, Iraq War Veteran

I reserve the balance of my time.

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

I thank the gentleman for yielding and thank him for his leadership and working with Congressman Walter Jones on this bipartisan amendment, which has been brought to the floor. They have worked again in a bipartisan way, in a patriotic way, to ensure that U.S. troops are brought home from Afghanistan safely and expeditiously.

Listening to the debate, it's interesting because I don't know that we are that far apart because we all want

to ensure the national security of our country. We all respect our men and women in uniform and the job that they are doing to keep us the land of the free and the home of the brave.

We respect them when they come home as our veterans, but we have to know that involvement of nearly 10 years has serious consequences for our country.

I told the President of Afghanistan on my recent visit this spring that each time I go there I say the American people are growing tired of war; we are weary of war. We went into Afghanistan in the fall of 2001. For about 7 years, there was no plan. There was no plan on how we would execute what we went to do and how we would leave.

When President Obama became President, many of us who were eager to bring our troops home gave him a chance to put forth a plan, which he did, which calls for the drawdown of troops in July 2011, and drawing down more completely by 2014.

President Obama himself had said earlier this month, I have already made a commitment that starting in July of this year we are drawing down troops and we are transitioning. We are training Afghan forces so they can start securing their own country.

The President went on to say we don't need to have a perpetual footprint of the size we have now. So, therefore, I think it's really important for us to know what this amendment does that I think reflects the mood of the American people.

It requires within 60 days of enactment, a plan and time frame for the accelerated transition of military and security operations to the Government of Afghanistan; within 60 days of enactment, a plan and time frame for negotiations leading to a political solution and reconciliation in Afghanistan, and within 90 days of enactment, a National Intelligence Estimate on leadership, location and capabilities of al Qaeda and affiliated networks and cells.

Who can be against that? Who can be against that? We are talking about 60 days a plan for transition, and 60 days a plan for negotiations.

I appreciate the efforts of this amendment, as it underscores the importance of having a plan and a time frame for a transition of responsibility, a transition of responsibility for security and stability to the Afghans so that we can bring our troops home.

The National Intelligence Estimate on al Qaeda that is called for in the plan will also help ensure our policymakers that they have updated information on the threat posed by al Qaeda and its affiliates who remain a threat even following the death of Osama bin Laden. Careful intelligence analysis is essential to keeping the American people safe.

So as I salute our men and women in uniform, I also want to salute our men and women in the intelligence community who are an important part of keeping the American people safe. I commend them and CIA Director Panetta for his leadership in the Osama bin Laden operation.

But back to the specific point of this amendment. I have gone to Afghanistan year after year after year, never thinking that we would be engaged in the longest war in America's history. The first 7 years, not even a plan; but now the President has put into motion how we make judgments about how we stay and how we leave.

If you visit the women in Afghanistan, as many women in the Congress have done and some of our male colleagues as well, they will tell you whether you are talking to educated women in Kabul, but really more relevant to me, poor, poor women in the provinces, they are all saying the same thing.

I visited a group of women in the province of Zabul, just as I have visited a number of provinces and spoken to the women across Afghanistan. The women in Zabul said we really want to educate our daughters, we want to have access to health care clinics and the rest, but we can't have that until we have security, and we can't have security until we end corruption.

There are many things going on in Afghanistan that must change. There will be a better chance for change if we make an investment in the civilian side of this transition, whether it's diplomacy, whether it's part of the construction. They tell me not to say reconstruction because not much was there before. Construction there includes building schools. We visited little schools and schools in different parts of Afghanistan. It's very encouraging.

Our troops know that we have to leave, that we have to transition out. But as I told President Karzai also, we didn't come here, and we are not staying here 10 years so that when we leave women return to the subjugated position they were in under the Taliban.

So the answer to that is women must be at the table when you have the negotiations for reconciliation of the leadership of the Taliban, and reintegration of rank-and-file members of the Taliban. As we move toward more stability in Afghanistan, women must play a role. Women in America, women throughout the world care about how this all turns out there.

So here we are, almost 10 years later in a situation where we just want to have some management of this issue.

Let's have a plan for how negotiations will take place. Let's have a plan after we see the National Intelligence Estimate based on what the al Qaeda threat is.

This is a very wise amendment. I thank Mr. McGovern and Mr. Jones for how they put it together because it is very reasonable. It has a goal in sight. It has a reasonable approach as to how we get there. But make no mistake: in overwhelming numbers, the American people think we have done our job there in terms of helping the Afghan people. Our purpose there was to protect the American people. We can do both by focusing more on the civilian side of governance issues and how Afghanistan is governed on anti-corruption issues. And our initiatives that I have seen there on this recent trip are an improvement over the past, by training the national security forces of Afghanistan, be it police or the military, so they can maintain their own security, and by diplomatically enlisting other countries in the region because they all have a vested interest in the stability of Afghanistan.

But an open-ended, unending war there, which is costly but is nothing compared to the cost of the loss of our young men and women, that's our first and foremost concern. But there is also the cost in dollars, the cost in opportunity and in military strength. This involvement and engagement in Afghanistan is not strengthening our military.

So Americans are paying a big price. We want to make sure we are getting a return on that investment, and time is a very important factor. It's time for our troops to come home. And I thank Mr. McGovern and Mr. Jones for their leadership.