Veterans' Access to Child Care Act

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 95, the ``Veterans' Access to Child Care Act,'' which makes permanent the VA's Child Care Pilot Program and expands it so that all veterans who are primary caretakers have a safe, reliable, and cost-free option for child care when they use VA healthcare.

As the founder and chair of the Congressional Children's Caucus, I fully understand the importance of having access to affordable and safe child care.

The bill provides child care assistance to an eligible veteran for any period that the veteran receives covered health care services at a VA facility, and is required to travel to and return from such facility for the receipt of such services.

My own city of Houston is home to the second largest veterans' community in the United States in terms of resident veterans.

The U.S. Census Bureau recorded that Houston is home to approximately 282,000 veterans, which is almost one-fifth of the state's veteran population.

The Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center in the city of Houston has 111,189 veterans enrolled in the center.

For these veterans in Houston and veterans across the country, H.R. 95 provides access to child care for veterans receiving mental health services and other intensive health care services at VA facilities.

The VA reported that it had provided free childcare to 10,000 children through the pilot program and that veterans were consistently ``completely satisfied'' with the services received.

H.R. 95 ensures that veterans continue to get the care they have earned and deserve, and that includes ensuring that those seeking treatment at VA medical facilities do not miss appointments because they do not have access to safe and reliable child care.

The lack of convenient and affordable child care has prevented veterans from getting the medical care they need.

The cost of full time infant care across the United States in 2012 ranged from $4,600 to $20,200 a year.

The cost of full time care for a 4 year old ranged from $3,900 to $15,450.

Of those seeking childcare, 89 percent were looking for full time care and only 11 percent were looking for part-time care.

Parents who serve as the primary care taker of a child should not have to sacrifice their own health to find safe and reliable child care.

We must remove barriers that impede veterans' access to health care.

Currently, the Child Care Pilot Program offers free child care for qualified veterans using VA healthcare services at a limited number of participating sites around the United States.

Congress has reauthorized this popular pilot program three times in separate bills, but it is time to make this program permanent.

I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this important legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Minnesota, our ranking member, and the gentleman from Tennessee, our chairman, for their support of this bill and for their tireless advocacy on behalf of our Nation's veterans.

I rise today in support of H.R. 95, the Veterans' Access to Child Care Act, which will break down a barrier to care many veterans with children face. This is especially problematic for women veterans, who are often the primary caretakers of young children and a rapidly growing segment of the veteran population.

According to a 2015 VA study, 42 percent of women who use the VA said it is difficult to find childcare that would allow them to attend medical appointments, and for those who can, that care is often unaffordable.

The average cost of childcare in my home State of California, for instance, is more than $13,000 a year. As the post-9/11 generation continue to start their families, more and more veterans will face the unacceptable choice between caring for their children and getting the healthcare they need.

Without affordable childcare options, veterans can miss their appointments, including critical mental health appointments, that impact their long-term well-being. It is just common sense: better access to childcare will lead to better access to care, which will ultimately result in better outcomes for our Nation's veterans.

The VA currently runs a successful childcare pilot program at several locations around the country that benefits female and male veterans of all eras. My legislation will make that program permanent and expand it nationwide, ensuring that no veteran will have to miss a VA health appointment because of a lack of access of childcare.

I want to thank my colleague, Congressman Brian Higgins, for his steadfast support of this bill and all of my colleagues on the VA Committee who have backed this proposal every step of the way.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support this legislation and help ensure that veterans do not have to choose between caring for their children and getting the healthcare they need and deserve.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 95) to amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide child care assistance to veterans receiving certain medical services provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 95, as amended, the Veterans' Access to Child Care Act. This bill would make the Department of Veterans Affairs' successful pilot program to provide childcare assistance to veterans seeking mental or other intensive healthcare services through the VA healthcare system permanent.

I have been a ``Doctor Dad'' myself, and I know firsthand how difficult it can be to manage childcare responsibilities on top of everything else.

We know that the lack of childcare is a barrier to care for many patients and that assisting veteran parents, grandparents, and guardians in finding childcare opportunities while they are attending VA appointments will relieve a major stress point and increase access to care.

I am grateful to Congresswoman Julia Brownley, the ranking member of our Subcommittee on Health, for her leadership in sponsoring the Veterans' Access to Child Care Act.

I am proud to support this bill and urge my colleagues to do so as well.

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

Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, once again, I encourage all Members to support this legislation.

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

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

I rise in support of H.R. 95, as amended, offered by the Subcommittee on Health Ranking Member Julia Brownley.

Mr. Speaker, to increase access, we must eliminate barriers, and this amendment in the nature of a substitute does exactly that. The Veterans' Access to Child Care Act assists those veterans who are also parents to access the healthcare they need by allowing the VA to provide childcare assistance to eligible veterans.

Representative Brownley's bill is essential to ensuring all veterans have that access, and I appreciate her hard work to make it a reality. I urge my colleagues to support the amendment in the nature of a substitute.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Brownley), the author of this piece of legislation.

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

Again, the Chair heard the reasons for this. I thank the gentlewoman for authoring this needed piece of legislation and urge my colleagues to support its passage.

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