Veterans Health Care Facilities Capital Improvement Act of 2011

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2646) to authorize certain Department of Veterans Affairs major medical facility projects and leases, to extend certain expiring provisions of law, and to modify certain authorities of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes, as amended.

I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2646, as amended, the Veterans Health Care Facilities Capital Improvement Act, would encompass the Department of Veterans Affairs' request for major medical facility projects and leases for fiscal year 2012 and extend certain expiring authorities.

The bill before us today tracks with the resources that were provided in the appropriations bill that passed the House with bipartisan support.

The VA provides high-quality medical care and services to our honored veterans through an extensive and diverse portfolio of medical facilities. This national infrastructure generates a great deal of costly construction and maintenance needs which the Department must address.

Section 2 of the bill would authorize the appropriation of $87 million for seismic corrections and renovations at facilities in Los Angeles, California, and Seattle, Washington.

Section 3 of the bill would authorize the appropriation of $850 million to construct and modify medical facilities in Palo Alto, California; St. Louis, Missouri; San Juan, Puerto Rico; Fayetteville, Arkansas; and Orlando, Florida.

Section 4 would authorize the appropriation of $50 million for leasing eight out-patient medical facilities in Columbus, Georgia; Salem, Oregon; Springfield, Missouri; Fort Wayne, Indiana; Mobile, Alabama; Rochester, New York; San Jose, California; and South Bend, Indiana.

Section 6 of the bill would clarify what information the VA must provide to Congress when seeking authorization for a major medical project or facility project or lease.

Under current law, the VA is required to submit to Congress a prospectus for all major medical facility projects and lease requests. The information should include details relating to construction, equipment, and other costs for the proposed project, as well as any and all alternatives considered and data on projected utilization and operating costs. However, the VA has not provided this information in sufficient detail to allow Congress to effectively evaluate proposed projects and alternatives. Without accurate and complete information, Congress cannot carry out its statutory mission of ensuring an equitable distribution of medical facilities to provide access to care for our veterans across the United States or be assured we are good stewards of taxpayer dollars.

To similarly improve oversight, section 7 of the bill would require the VA to obtain congressional authorization when using bid savings to expand the purpose of a major medical facility project.

Section 8 of the bill would name the VA telehealth clinic in Craig, Colorado, the ``Major William Edward Adams VA Clinic.'' This provision was adopted from H.R. 1658, introduced by my friend and colleague Scott Tipton from Colorado, and I thank him for bringing this proposal forward. Major William Edward Adams, a Medal of Honor recipient, was a true American hero, and this designation would appropriately memorialize his brave service.

Section 9 of the bill would name the VA medical center in Big Spring, Texas, the ``George H. O'Brien, Jr., Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center.'' I would also like to thank my friend and colleague from Texas, Randy Neugebauer, for his efforts to introduce H.R. 558, which became this provision. George H. O'Brien, Jr., is also a Medal of Honor recipient, and it is important that we recognize his honorable service.

Additionally, the bill would extend, for various periods, expiring authorities for several programs, including those that provide services to homeless veterans.

It is deeply concerning that veterans continue to be overrepresented in the homeless population, and helping homeless veterans and those at risk gain access to the support they need to reintegrate into stable community environments and lead productive lives is one of the highest priorities of the Veterans' Affairs Committee.

The extension of these programs would provide comprehensive supportive services to help homeless and at-risk veterans find permanent housing, overcome substance use or other issues, gain meaningful employment, and put them on the path to being productive, successful members of our society.

This legislation represents a bipartisan effort, and I would like to express my thanks to Chairman Jeff Miller and Ranking Member Bob Filner, as well as Subcommittee on Health Chairwoman Ann Marie Buerkle and Ranking Member Mike Michaud, for their efforts to quickly move this important legislation through committee and to the House floor.

Further, the manager's amendment reflects an agreement reached with the chairman and ranking member of the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs, Senator Patty Murray and Senator Richard Burr. I extend my appreciation to them for their work on this bill. It is my expectation that, following consideration in the House, the Senate will act to take up H.R. 2646, as amended, and the legislation will be presented to the President for signature prior to the end of the fiscal year.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 2646, as amended, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to my friend and colleague from the great State of Texas, Representative Randy Neugebauer.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks on the manager's amendment to H.R. 2646, as amended.

Once again, I encourage all Members to support H.R. 2646, as amended, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. President, I rise today in support of H.R. 2646, as amended, the Veterans Health Care Facilities Capital Improvement Act of 2011. I urge our colleagues to support this bipartisan legislation, which would allow for new construction projects in five States and Puerto Rico and would extend several VA programs, including vital homeless programs.

Last year, Congress passed, and the President signed into law, Public Law 112-10, Department of Defense and Full-Year Continuing Appropriations Act, and provided an advanced appropriation of fiscal year 2012 funding for veterans' health care. Enacting H.R. 2646, as amended, would avoid interruptions in VA programs and would allow VA to use the full amount of funding provided through Public Law 112-10.

VA has worked tirelessly to get veterans off the streets and into housing. Their efforts are commendable, but there is still work to be done. H.R. 2646, as amended, contains critical extensions to many of VA's programs to end homelessness among veterans. This bill would allow VA to continue to operate the drop-in resource centers that help connect homeless veterans to services; provide grants to transitional housing programs for the most vulnerable homeless veterans, such as the frail elderly, terminally ill, women with children, and seriously mentally ill; and continue its street outreach and emergency care services for homeless veterans. These programs are on the front line of VA's services for homeless veterans.

One of the best ways to end veteran homelessness is to prevent it from happening. This bill would support VA's homelessness prevention and rapid rehousing programs by extending the Supportive Services for Veteran Families Program, a critical resource for stopping homelessness before it begins. H.R. 2646, as amended, also extends the Homeless Veterans' Reintegration Program, which helps homeless veterans find and maintain employment. Extending these programs will decrease the number of veterans who may become homeless in these tough economic times.

VA has a long list of construction projects that have yet to be funded. H.R. 2646, as amended, would allow VA to make critical upgrades to its facilities and infrastructure to ensure that we can provide care to veterans in a safe environment. For instance, this bill would allow VA to begin a $51 million project to seismically strengthen the nursing tower and community living center at the VA Puget Sound Healthcare System in Seattle, WA. Built in 1985, this building does not meet the current seismic code for Washington State. Located in an area of high seismic activity, it is vital that this building be upgraded so that the VA Puget Sound Healthcare System can continue to deliver world- class healthcare to veterans in a safe environment.

We must allow VA to continue work on projects such as seismic corrections in San Juan, PR; construction of new Polytrauma and Blind Rehabilitation Centers in Palo Alto, CA; medical center improvements and cemetery expansion in St. Louis, MO; and additional parking facilities and nurse education opportunities to ongoing projects in Fayetteville, AR and Orlando, FL, respectively. Additionally, it would authorize VA to lease space for outpatient clinics in Columbus, GA; Fort Wayne, IN; Mobile, AL; Salem, OR; San Jose, CA; South Bend, IN; and Springfield, MO.

This bill helps us honor the legacy of heroic veterans by dedicating VA medical facilities in their names. With the endorsement of every member of the Texas congressional delegation, the West Texas VA Health Center in Big Spring, TX, would be renamed in honor of George H. O'Brien, a hometown hero. With similar support from the Colorado Congressional delegation, the Telehealth Clinic in Craig, CO, would be renamed in honor of MAJ William Edward Adams.

Our Nation's veterans have sacrificed much in their service to this country, we must make sure they receive the care and benefits they earned.

I yield myself such time as I may consume.

I would like to thank the gentleman for his hard work on this bill as well as the chairman and the ranking member. I would also like to thank the gentleman for his service to this Nation in uniform and now on the VA Committee--a tireless advocate for our veterans. I think this piece of legislation authorizing the construction and some important things that you've just heard the gentleman talk about is a model for how we can do business here in a bipartisan manner--agreeing on things, discussing them, moving out of subcommittees, through the full committee, and now here to the House floor. So thank you for that.

Mr. Speaker, our most solemn obligation is to take care of the men and women who have served our Nation and to ensure that they have access to the benefits and the quality health care that they've so rightly earned. We have an obligation to make sure the places that they receive care are world class and safe.

H.R. 2646, as amended, would authorize $937,370,000 for seven major medical facilities. These projects include critical improvements to VA medical centers to protect them in the event of natural disasters and to protect our recovering veterans by addressing basic safety needs, such as adding fire extinguishers and abating existing asbestos. The projects also provide for state-of-the-art facilities and training centers to improve the care veterans receive and to make sure that veterans feel comfortable and welcome at all our facilities. Additionally, the bill would authorize funds for eight new major

medical facility leases that will assist the VA in bringing health care closer to veterans and improve the quality of current health care services, especially in rural America.

It contains several extensions of authority for homeless programs and supportive services for very low-income veteran families. We owe it to our veterans to ensure they have access to secure, safe, clean housing that offers a supportive environment.

Finally, this bill extends programs that are critical for our veterans who suffer from mental health issues. Nearly 30 percent of the patients the VA sees during any given year have a mental health diagnosis. We've taken strides to address this ever-growing issue, but we still have a long way to go. With the growing number of veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan and with an increasing number of veterans suffering from mental health issues, we must work together to tackle this challenge, and this legislation helps by extending those programs.

I would certainly encourage my colleagues to do what's right by our veterans and to support this good piece of legislation, H.R. 2646, as amended.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I urge the support of this important piece of legislation. Again, I thank the gentleman from Ohio and the staff on both sides for putting together an important piece of legislation for America's veterans.

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

General Leave

I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Earlier this year, I introduced H.R. 558. This legislation would rename the Veterans Affairs Medical Center located in Big Spring, Texas, after Medal of Honor recipient George H. O'Brien, Jr. I would like to thank Chairman Miller and Congressman Flores for working to include this legislation as a part of the bill before us today.

Born in Fort Worth, Texas, in 1926, Mr. O'Brien enlisted in the Marine Corps while attending Texas Tech University. Shortly after graduation, he was deployed to Korea.

On October 27, 1952, the Americans mounted a counterattack during the Battle of the Hook, a position of key strategic significance. When the battle began, Second Lieutenant O'Brien leapt from his trench and bravely led his platoon into deadly small arms, artillery, and mortar fire against a numerically superior force.

Mr. O'Brien's official citation tells his story best: ``Although shot through the arm and thrown to the ground by hostile automatic-weapons fire as he neared the well-entrenched enemy position, he regained his feet, waved his men onward, and continued to spearhead the assault, pausing only long enough to go to the aid of a wounded marine. Encountering the enemy at close range, Second Lieutenant O'Brien proceeded to hurl handgrenades into the bunkers and, utilizing his carbine to best advantage in savage hand-to-hand combat, succeeded in killing at least three of the enemy.''

Impressively, despite being wounded, Second Lieutenant O'Brien refused to be evacuated for medical treatment for nearly four hours, and continued to lead his men in battle.

One year to the day after his actions, Mr. O'Brien was awarded the Medal of Honor by President Eisenhower for ``conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as a rifle platoon commander in action against enemy aggressor forces.''

Upon his discharge from the United States Marines, O'Brien settled in Big Spring, Texas, to raise a family and begin a career in petroleum geology. He often participated in volunteer programs at the Big Spring VA. In a 2003 interview with American Veteran magazine, old Mr. O'Brien stated, ``This Medal of Honor is not mine. I hold it in trust for so many young people who didn't become grandfathers.'' George Herman O'Brien, Jr., passed away on March 11, 2005. He was 78 years old.

I urge my colleagues to support the underlying bill, and I am proud to honor this great American veteran.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 2646, the Veterans Health Care Facilities Capital Improvement Act of 2011. This bill authorizes appropriations for the Department of Veterans Affairs to begin major construction projects and enter into leases for VA facilities in 15 cities. These construction projects and leases will help many veterans around the country receive the best care they possibly can.

One of those leases has special significance for Hoosier veterans. Today, I'm very pleased that Fort Wayne, Indiana, will benefit from a lease that will support an important annex to the VA hospital that serves vets in northeast Indiana.

A 27,000 square-foot annex will provide a mental health clinic, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Clinic, and substance abuse clinic. This bill is the final step in moving the lease for this annex into fruition and extending health services for veterans in northeast Indiana. This annex will only add to the array of services already provided by the Fort Wayne VA Hospital. It's not the last chapter in our ongoing effort to ensure quality care for our vets, but it's an important one.

Nearly 30 percent of our men and women returning from Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom who use the VA Health System have Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Seven percent of newly returning veterans enrolled in the VA Health System are addicted to alcohol and/ or other substances. It's only right to take care of those who have risked their lives for our Nation.

When I came to Washington, I knew it was critical to obtain a seat on the House Veterans Affairs Committee for this very reason. I have the honor of working for the Fort Wayne hospital and veterans health care in northeast Indiana. This bill is not only important to Hoosier veterans, but also for our veterans around the country. I urge my colleagues to support the passage of H.R. 2646.