Department of Veterans Affairs Expiring Authorities Act of 2013

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 1412, the ``Improving Job Opportunities for Veterans Act of 2013.'' There are over 800,000 veterans unemployed, or unable to find work in the United States, and the number is rising every year. If our brave men and women are to serve at home and abroad, it is our moral obligation to help ensure they can successfully transition into the workforce. For this reason I support the legislation before us.

H.R. 1412 would extend for one month an expiring provision of law that limits pensions paid to certain veterans who are receiving Medicaid coverage in Medicaid-approved nursing homes. The bill also would modify the conditions for veterans to receive education benefit payments from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for participating in on-the-job training and require VA to enter into agreements with other federal agencies to promote on-the-job training opportunities for veterans.

The Improving Job Opportunities for Veterans Act will reduce the final OJT/Apprenticeship salary requirements that employers pay of the normal wage from 85% to 75% to encourage employers to offer more OJT/ Apprenticeship training for an additional 4 years. The bill also requires other Federal agencies to enter into agreements with the Department of Veterans Affairs to hire veterans using the OJT/ Apprenticeship benefit and extends reduced pension benefits for certain veterans in Medicaid funded nursing homes.

If enacted, CBO estimates that, on net, the bill would decrease direct spending by $14 million over the next five years and by $12 million over the next ten years. Because the bill would affect direct spending, pay-as-you-go procedures apply. Enacting H.R. 1412 would not affect revenues. In addition, implementing H.R. 1412 would have an insignificant effect on discretionary spending.

Mr. Speaker, instead of returning home to their loving families, friends, and loved ones, 12 percent of veterans--about 1 in 8--are returning home to find unemployment lines. We owe it to these men and women who selflessly served our nation to help them change their condition for the better. The legislation before us, H.R. 1412, is a step in the right direction for veterans across the country and for many of the 35,000 veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars who live in the Houston metropolitan area.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all my colleagues to join in me in supporting H.R. 1412, the ``Job Opportunities for Veterans Act of 2013.''

Mr. Speaker, I wish to inform the House of Representatives that on May 21, 2013, I was unable to participate in three recorded votes due to my participation, along with the entire Oklahoma delegation, in a tour of tornado affected areas in and around Moore, Oklahoma.

I wish to submit for the record a summary of these bills, as well as statement on how I would have voted on each had I been present. I would also like to note that these are the only votes I have missed so far as a Member of Congress.

H.R. 1412, the Improving Job Opportunities for Veterans Act of 2013, passed the House by a vote of 416-0. Had I been present, I would have voted for H.R. 1412. The bill incentivizes private sector companies to participate in Veterans Administration (VA) on-the-job-training (OJT) training programs by reducing the level of employer contributions. It also requires the VA to enter into OJT agreements with other federal departments and agencies, which will encourage the federal government to hire veterans by fully leveraging available authorities. Finally, H.R. 1412 offsets any additional costs by extending for one month the VA's authority to pay reduced pensions to veterans using Medicaid- approved nursing facilities. According to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), H.R. 1412 would reduce direct spending about $14 million from FY14-FY18 and produce an ``insignificant effect on discretionary spending.''

H.R. 1344, the Helping Heroes Fly Act, passed the House by a vote of 413-0. Had I been present, I would have voted for this bill. H.R. 1344 directs the Department of Defense to develop processes to expedite airport screening for severely injured and disabled service members and veterans.

H.R. 324, to grant the Congressional Gold Medal, collectively, to the First Special Service Force, in recognition of its superior service during World War II, passed the House by a vote of 415-0. I co- sponsored this bill and I would have voted for it had I been present. The bill authorizes two Congressional Gold Medals for the First Special Service Force, a joint Canadian-U.S. special operations unit that served with distinction during WWII. The First Special Service Force was the precursor unit for both the U.S. and Canadian Special Operations forces.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank Chairman Miller and Ranking Member Michaud for working with the members of the House and Senate Veterans Affairs Committees to pass this important legislation.

Specifically, I am happy to see the extension of the Veterans Paralympic program, which reflects my legislation, H.R. 1402, the Veterans Paralympic Act, which passed unanimously out of the Economic Opportunity Subcommittee before being combined in an omnibus bill in the full committee. This program ensures that disabled veterans in local communities throughout the country continue to have opportunities for rehabilitation, stress relief, and higher achievement through adaptive sports.

U.S. Olympic Committee's Paralympics Chief Charlie Huebner testified at a hearing that ``participation in sports and other athletic activities can help speed the rehabilitation process for disabled veterans.'' As a Marine Corps combat veteran, I couldn't agree more with Mr. Huebner, and I personally understand the importance of rehabilitation opportunities for returning veterans.

Finally, although I fully support the passage of the extenders package, I am disappointed that the substance of H.R. 1412 was not included in this bill. H.R. 1412, the Improving Job Opportunities for Veterans Act, seeks to build on an existing, yet little known and underutilized on-the-job training program that assists veterans by allowing them to use their educational benefits to learn a trade or skill by participation in an approved apprenticeship or on-the-job training program.

Employers in my district have expressed their desire to work with this program and hire more veterans because they know how valuable a veteran can be to their organization. Additionally, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America has endorsed the legislation by saying, ``IAVA stands ready to support and promote innovative ideas like this to end the veterans' unemployment crisis.''

It is my understanding that the original provisions of H.R. 1412 were dropped without prejudice and that they will be part of an upcoming negotiation between the House and the Senate. I look forward to seeing the substance of that legislation advance, and I will be working with Chairman Miller to ensure that happens.

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

I rise in support of H.R. 1412, as amended, the Department of Veterans Affairs Expired Authorities Act of 2013.

VA would lose the authority to continue a number of critical programs

that, without action, would expire next week. These programs assist our most vulnerable veterans reintegrating back into society and into their communities.

With this legislation, wrap-around services for homeless veterans and their families would be authorized to continue. Services such as counseling, job training, job referrals, financial assistance, case management, housing, and the special needs for the frail, elderly, and seriously mentally ill veterans will continue.

We listened to veterans when they told us that they were busy with jobs, school, and families and, as a result, found it difficult to get the health care they needed without childcare assistance. This measure extended for 1 year VA's authority to provide childcare assistance for certain veterans receiving intensive health care services.

This bill would extend the authority to provide a monthly assistance allowance to veterans with disabilities who are invited by the U.S. Olympic Committee to participate on the U.S. Paralympics team. More than 14,000 veterans with disabilities have benefited from these activities. The results for these veteran athletes have been astonishing both in terms of athletic accomplishment and personal accomplishment.

This bill extends eligibility for specially adapted housing for our most disabled veterans. It would allow them to live more independently in their daily lives.

Mr. Speaker, I believe we have a moral obligation to ensure that we do what needs to be done to help those who have worn the uniform receive the benefits and services they have earned. These extensions of critical programs we are considering today will help us do all we can.

I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support H.R. 1412, as amended. I want to thank Chairman Miller for working in a very bipartisan way for veterans.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, today, I want to express my support for the Department of Veterans Affairs Expiring Authorities Act of 2013. This legislation includes the reauthorization of several fundamental programs that serve some of our most vulnerable veterans who are overrepresented in our nation's homeless population. These programs are the Homeless Veterans Reintegration program, the Grant and Per Diem Program for Homeless Veterans with Special Needs program, the Supportive Services for Veterans Families programs, and the Incarcerated Veterans Transition Program.

I believe that Congress and the VA must do what it necessary to end the homeless veterans problem, which is why I introduced H.R. 2485, the Helping Homeless Veterans Act. In addition to the programs that will be reauthorized in H.R. 1412, H.R. 2485 would reauthorize several other homeless veterans programs, such as the Therapeutic Transitional Housing component to the Compensated Work Therapy Program and the Acquired Property Sales for Homeless Veterans Program. This important legislation has been endorsed by numerous Veteran Service Organizations, including the American Legion, the Military Officers Association of America, the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans, and the Center for American Homeless Veterans. Without Congressional action, we will neglect our nation's heroes by letting these programs expire at the end of this calendar year.

These veterans fought for our country and now it is our time to fight for them. I commend Chairman Miller and Ranking Member Michaud for their leadership on this legislation to reauthorize these programs, and I appreciate their effort to end homelessness among veterans.

With so many men and women returning home and transitioning to civilian life, now is not the time to waiver on our resolve.

I encourage my colleagues to support passage of H.R. 1412, and also join me in supporting H.R. 2485, the Helping Homeless Veterans Act.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Maine for yielding.

I rise today to support the increased job opportunities embodied in H.R. 1412 and the changes it makes to the on-the-job training and apprenticeship programs at the Department of Veterans Affairs. I want to thank the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Coffman) for introducing this bill and the Veterans' Affairs Committee leadership, Chairman Miller, Ranking Member Michaud, and subcommittee Chairman Flores for moving this bill through committee.

This legislation will expand access for veterans to on-the-job training and apprenticeships, and assist employers in hiring veterans who have shown time and again that their real-world experience, leadership, and countless other skills are great resources for American companies. By reducing the percentage of salary paid to a veteran participating in one of these programs, this bill would make it more attractive for companies to hire veterans doing on-the-job training and apprenticeships.

It is our hope that these opportunities will help bridge the employment gaps veterans are currently experiencing. Unfortunately, it is also clear from our subcommittee work that the Department of Veterans Affairs could be doing a better job advertising this great benefit. The more veterans and employers know about these benefits, the more opportunities veterans can have in the job market.

I am proud to support this legislation and urge my colleagues from both sides of the aisle to support it as well.

Mr. Speaker, I am very proud of the bipartisan spirit of the Veterans' Affairs Committee.

Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably absent during the week September 23, 2013. If I were present, I would have voted on the following:

Rollcall vote No. 484: H.R. 1961, ``nay;''

Rollcall vote No. 485: H. Res. 354, ``yea;''

Rollcall vote No. 486: H.R. 3095, ``yea;''

Rollcall vote No. 487: H.R. 2600, ``yea;''

Rollcall vote No. 488: Journal Vote, ``yea;''

Rollcall vote No. 489: Grijalva Amendment, ``aye;''

Rollcall vote No. 490: Napolitano Amendment, ``aye;''

Rollcall vote No. 491: Senate Amendment to H.R. 1412, ``yea;''

Rollcall vote No. 492: H.R. 3096, ``aye;''

Rollcall vote No. 493: H. Res. 361--Martial Law Authority Rule, ``nay;''

Rollcall vote No. 494: Motion on Ordering the Previous Question on the Rule, ``nay;''

Rollcall vote No. 495: H. Res. 366--Rule providing for consideration of both the amendments to the Senate Amendment to H.J. Res. 59, ``nay;''

Rollcall vote No. 496: H.R. 2251, ``yea;''

Rollcall vote No. 497: Motion to Concur with the Senate Amendment with a House Amendment, Part 1 (Paulsen), ``yea;''

Rollcall vote No. 498: Motion to Concur with the Senate Amendment with a House Amendment, Part 2 (Blackburn), ``nay;''

Rollcall vote No. 499: H.R. 3210--Pay Our Military Act, ``yea;'' and

Rollcall vote No. 500: H.R. 2848--Department of State Operations and Embassy Security Authorization Act, Fiscal Year 2014, ``yea.''

Mr. Speaker, I regret I missed votes on September 27, 2013. Had I been present, my intention was to vote ``yes'' on Senate Amendment to H.R. 1412--Improving Job Opportunities for Veterans Act. Further, I would have also voted ``yes'' on H.R. 3096 to designate a Federal Bureau of Investigation building as the ``Michael D. Resnick Terrorist Screening Center.''

A meeting in Detroit to address the economic situation of the City with senior White House officials, Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan, Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx, and Attorney General Eric Holder and others in the Michigan Congressional Delegation was the reason for my absence. Additionally, Governor Rick Snyder, Mayor Dave Bing, and Emergency Manager Kevyn Orr were in attendance. I felt my participation vital to the interests of my constituents.