Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of my bill, H.R. 2942, and I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 2942, a bill that will help transitioning servicemembers find employers who want to make a smart investment hiring a veteran.

This bill, to reestablish the Professional Certification and Licensure Advisory Committee of the Department of Veterans Affairs, will allow subject-matter experts to review State licenses and credentialing to certify that military men and women in specific career fields are able to transfer their skills to the private sector.

By the time most of our servicemen and -women leave the military, they have gained a wealth of experience that can translate into civilian career fields. In addition to teamwork, perseverance, loyalty, and leadership, our military servicemembers possess technical skills that are available to employers.

Unfortunately, many of our military servicemen and -women have difficulty finding jobs after leaving the military because they don't have a civilian license or certification.

They possess the same skills and have the same training, but can't obtain employment in their career field because they need a license.

In a tough job market, this creates one more barrier for our transitioning military men and women that can mean the difference between finding and not finding a job.

This bill addresses some of these barriers for our newest veterans. Under this bill, the VA's advisory committee on professional certification and licensure, which ended in 2006, will be reestablished through December 2019.

In addition to helping veterans transfer their skills toward civilian licenses, these subject-matter experts will advise the VA to recognize new licensing and certification programs, so that veterans can use their GI Bill benefits to pay for the cost of these training programs and licensing exams.

This advisory committee will also make it easier for veterans to comply with State licensing requirements that may differ from State to State. This will give veterans more options in their choice of training and certification programs, since veterans cannot use their GI Bill benefits toward programs that are not VA-approved, even though completion of many of these programs would give veterans the licenses they need.

When veterans are able to put their skills to work, they are able to support their families, businesses profit, and communities benefit.

Again, I urge your support for these men and women as they return home and ask you to ensure their valuable time in the military is not lost.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from California (Mr. Takano).

Mr. Speaker, in closing, I just want to thank Chairman Miller, Ranking Member Michaud, and the committee staff for working with me on this legislation.

I urge my colleagues to pass this. Earlier this year, I had the opportunity to visit some military bases, talking to our men and women who will soon transition out of the military and become veterans, and the number one concern they had was: Where am I going to find a job? How am I going to find a job?

So this bill is critically important to our veterans. They deserve to know that they are going to find meaningful work when they come back and especially in the areas that they have been trained in the military.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the committee and the staff for helping me with this.

I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I don't have any further speakers, so I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in full support of H.R. 4261, the Gulf War Health Research Reform Act of 2014, and I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I would first like to thank the chairman of our committee, the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Coffman), for his sponsorship of this bill. It is such an important one, and I am a cosponsor on that.

For many of the veterans of the gulf war who suffer from Gulf War illness, it has been a long, hard-fought battle, just to have this government recognize that their illness and serious physical conditions were caused by toxic exposures.

Congress first created the Research Advisory Committee on Gulf War Veterans' Illnesses because the research being done at the time was considered inadequate, partially due to a mistaken belief that it was a psychological condition.

Through the research, we now know that Gulf War illness is a debilitating physical condition, not something that is all in your head, as many veterans were initially told.

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 4261 will ensure that the Gulf War illness research advisory committee conducts and reviews objective research to help our veterans who are suffering from Gulf War illnesses. This research is essential to finding treatments that improve veterans' health and quality of life.

It is also important that causes of these illnesses be identified so that our veterans with illnesses connected to service during the gulf war can receive VA medical treatment and VA benefits, and it will also help our military, so that commanders can work to prevent and limit our troops' exposure to toxic chemicals in the future.

This bill will allow the Research Advisory Committee on Gulf War Veterans' Illnesses to direct research and review research findings independent of the VA. It will restore the independent authority of the Research Advisory Committee by having the chairs and ranking members of the House and Senate Veterans' Affairs Committees appoint nine members and allowing the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to appoint three members.

Additionally, the Advisory Committee will provide advice to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and to the House and Senate Veterans' Affairs Committees on proposed research studies, research plans, or research strategies related to the health consequences of military service during the gulf war.

Our gulf war veterans suffer from real illnesses. These illnesses require real treatments that can only be found through proper, objective, evidence-based research. This Research Advisory Committee has the potential to find these treatments with the right combination of researchers directing and reviewing research.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, in closing, I just want to acknowledge the work of Mr. Jim Binns of Arizona, who has made countless trips back here advocating for this bill.

I urge my colleagues to support it. We really need to do right by our gulf war veterans.

With that, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to talk about the need for accountability and action in the Department of Veterans Affairs. I urge my colleagues to sign on to a letter I have written the Secretary that follows up my call on May 6 for a nationwide audit of all veteran medical facilities.

While the VA has stated that an audit is currently under way, I am very concerned about testimony in last week's Senate Veterans Affairs hearing. In that hearing, it was suggested that the audit under way may not be as thorough and comprehensive as what I called for.

I do not believe that a thorough, in-depth examination of patient scheduling in every VA facility can be accomplished in just a few weeks.

Mr. Speaker, if we are dealing with a serious, systemic problem, then this audit is critical. We need a thorough and comprehensive review of scheduling practices at every VA medical facility. Anything less would be a disservice to our veterans who deserve a health care system they can trust.

Mr. Speaker, I have a motion to recommit at the desk.

I am opposed to it in its current form.

Mr. Speaker, this is the final amendment to the bill, which will not kill the bill nor send it back to committee. If adopted, this bill will immediately proceed to final passage, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, this bill is fiscally irresponsible. It is an unpaid-for bill that costs $156 billion. When combined with the other six permanent tax extenders passed by Republicans on the Ways and Means Committee, the combined cost of all six bills is $310 billion. Not $1 of these bills is paid for, not $1 to offset the cost.

They do not close one special interest, corporate tax loophole to offset the cost of these bills.

The bill threatens so many critical programs that we care about. It threatens tax extender provisions that are not included, the new markets tax credit, the work opportunity tax credit for veterans, and renewable energy incentives.

The bill also threatens enhancements made to refundable tax credits for working families that expire in 2017, the child tax credit, the earned income tax credit, the American opportunity tax credit for education.

Republicans may have turned off, at the eleventh hour, the automatic spending cuts that would have resulted from passing this legislation after we called them out for it. What isn't done with one hand by them will be done with the other.

Republicans will add to the deficit. Let me make that clear. Republicans will add to the deficit and then automatically use that to push for harmful cuts elsewhere.

The Ryan budget lays out where the Republicans will make the cuts. They will make cuts to education, Head Start programs, and K-12 education. They will make cuts to medical research, such as the important work done by the National Institutes of Health.

On the other hand, medical research is one type of research that they seek to incentivize with this bill. On the other hand, they are cutting programs at the National Institutes of Health.

Do you get my drift here?

They will make cuts to Medicare, Medicaid, and other health programs to the tune of $2.9 trillion. They will make cuts to transportation, $52 billion.

This bill throws the Republican budget so out of balance--the first opportunity they have to go against their budget, they take it--they had to waive their own rules to make this bill work.

Chairman Camp made this provision permanent in his tax reform bill and paid for the provisions. He paid for it. The President made this provision permanent, and he has offsets to cover the cost in his budget.

We should have time to look and find common pay-fors and pass this bill in a fiscally responsible manner.

Again, I support the R&D tax credit, as do the vast majority of the members of our Caucus, but we do not support this bill.

I ask for a ``yes ``vote on my motion.

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

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

Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word.

Mr. Chairman, I support this amendment. It is my job as ranking member of the House Veterans' Affairs Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee to ensure that we get to the bottom of the allegations that patients died at the Phoenix VA due to delayed care.

I want to ensure that the inspector general has the resources it needs to conduct a swift and thorough investigation of the Phoenix VA and at other facilities where treatment delays are reported.

We need to ensure there is accountability and that veterans will never again wait for the care they deserve.

Delayed care is denied care, and veterans should never have to fight to receive care when they have already served and sacrificed for our country.

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

Mr. Speaker, it is with great pride that I recognize the life and work of Nika Fleissig. As a young woman, Ms. Fleissig lost her entire family during the Holocaust in Poland, but she survived to tell a heroic and inspiring story.

Ms. Fleissig was born Bronislawa Felicia Kohn in 1920 and was raised by her loving family in Krakow, Poland, until Nazi anti-Jewish laws caused her father to lose his business and forced the family to move from their home. By 1942, both of Ms. Fleissig's parents and her younger brother had been killed by the Nazis. She was left completely alone. Through the goodwill of virtuous and brave friends, and with her own talent for languages, she survived on her own.

After surviving the bombing of Warsaw and near-starvation living in bombed-out buildings, Ms. Fleissig was eventually captured and incarcerated in a prisoner of war camp in Oberlangen, Germany. Throughout 1944 and 1945, Ms. Fleissig survived unthinkable hunger, abuse and deprivation until April 12, 1945, when she was freed from the concentration camp by Polish and Canadian forces.

Ms. Fleissig immediately began working with Allied forces to assist refugees and other victims of the war. As a speaker of English, French, German and Polish, Ms. Fleissig was an unrivaled contributor to this cause. Ms. Fleissig first served the British military by accompanying officers to displaced persons camps to help people rebuild their lives. She then assisted the American Army in a similar capacity. Ms. Fleissig was given an American uniform and the rank of Lieutenant.

On February 14, 1946--Valentine's Day--Ms. Fleissig arrived in New York City and for the first time saw the Statue of Liberty and America. Her new life in her new country had begun.

Mr. Speaker, this week is Patient Safety Awareness Week, and today I'd like to recognize the National Patient Safety Foundation and the Organizations in my district that work to promote and improve patient safety.

In Arizona's District One, we have several facilities that are committed to patient safety, including Oro Valley Hospital, Flagstaff Medical Center, and Ventana Medical Systems.

Oro Valley Hospital has been nationally recognized for its efforts, which include daily safety huddles and employee empowerment. At Flagstaff Medical Center, their patient safety program also encourages employee collaboration.

My district is home to Ventana Medical Systems, a world leader in developing solutions for tissue-based diagnoses. Ventana has a new advisory board that brings together experts to review patient safety.

I applaud the National Patient Safety Foundation and the hospitals and companies in my district and nationwide who are leading the way to keep patient safety as a top priority.

Mr. Speaker, Lance Clinton Davison was born on January 8, 1979, the first son of John and Desbah Davison.

In Navajo tradition, Lance is of the Hashtl'ishnii Clan and born for Bilagaana. Lance was raised in Flagstaff, Arizona, and graduated from Flagstaff High School in 1997. Upon graduation, Lance joined the U.S. Marine Corps, where he excelled and became an especially accomplished marksman and scout/sniper.

Immediately following the tragedy of Sept. 11, 2001, Lance was deployed to Afghanistan for duty in the 3rd Battalion 23rd Marines 1st Marine Division, for which he received several medals and commendations, including the Bronze Star and Purple Heart.

Like so many veterans, Lance not only served his country but he came home and helped strengthen his own community. He became a police officer with the Flagstaff Police Department and founded Raven2 O.D.G, a disabled veteran-owned business that provides enhanced training for SOCOM Operatives and agency professionals with precision marksmanship skills.

Lance's dedication to his country and community was surpassed only by his dedication to and love for his son, Korben. Lance was a true hero.

American poet Thomas William Parsons once wrote about the men and women who sacrificed for our country: ``On thy grave, the rain shall fall from the eyes of a mighty nation.''

Sgt. Lance Davison, a valiant Marine and devoted father, is one of the reasons our nation is mighty.

We remember, honor and mourn him--Lance left us far too soon.

Lance and all of our veterans deserve a community and a country that stand up for our soldiers when they come home. These men and women have served honorably, but they may also struggle mightily.

For years, I've kept a quote on my desk--it was given to me by a veteran, and it says: ``Because they have already paid the price, fight for veterans with all of your might.''

Fight for veterans with all of your might. This is how we will honor Lance.

Mr. Speaker, I have a motion to recommit at the desk.

I am opposed in its current form.

Mr. Speaker, this is the final amendment to the bill. It will not kill the bill nor send it back to committee. If it is adopted, this bill will immediately proceed to final passage.

Water is a critical issue in Arizona and especially in my district. Water can be, also, a divisive issue. In Congress, we need to provide leadership and work together on long-term solutions that protect our water sources, communities, tribes, and local economies.

In particular, I believe this bill needs language added to strengthen the rights of our tribal governments. Arizona's District 1 is over 90 percent public lands. It contains several important waterways, national forests, and recreation areas, and it has 12 Native American tribes.

In my previous term, I introduced the White Mountain Apache Tribe Water Quantification Act, which was signed into law. It was a historic agreement that created jobs, protected tribal water rights, and established reliable water sources for many of Arizona's communities.

As this legislation moves forward, I want to ensure that we protect the following priorities: our tribal communities, our fishing and sportsmen, our drought mitigation efforts, and our ability to fight wildfires. And we need to manage water rights and land-use permits in a balanced way. We can do this in a way that respects tribes, preserves recreation, and protects our communities from droughts and wildfires that have already caused so much devastation in Western States. In my view, these issues should be our priorities.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. Speaker, this week is Patient Safety Awareness Week, and today I'd like to recognize the National Patient Safety Foundation and the organizations in my district that work to promote and improve patient safety.

In Arizona's District One, we have several facilities that are committed to patient safety, including Oro Valley Hospital, Flagstaff Medical Center, and Ventana Medical Systems.

Oro Valley Hospital has been nationally recognized for its efforts, which include daily safety huddles and employee empowerment. At Flagstaff Medical Center, their patient safety program also encourages employee collaboration.

My district is home to Ventana Medical Systems, a world leader in developing solutions for tissue-based diagnoses. Ventana has a new advisory board that brings together experts to review patient safety.

I applaud the National Patient Safety Foundation and the hospitals and companies in my district and nationwide who are leading the way to keep patient safety as a top priority.

Mr. Speaker, Lance Clinton Davison was born on January 8th, 1979, the first son of John and Desbah Davison. In Navajo tradition, Lance is of the Hashtl'ishnii Clan and born for Bilagaana.

Lance was raised in Flagstaff, Arizona, and graduated from Flagstaff High School in 1997. Upon graduation, Lance joined the U.S. Marine Corps, where he excelled and became an especially accomplished marksman and scout/sniper.

Immediately after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, Lance was deployed to Afghanistan for duty with the 3rd Battalion, 23rd Marines, 1st Marine Division. During his combat service, he received several medals and commendations, including the Bronze Star and Purple Heart.

Like so many veterans, Lance not only served his country but came home and helped strengthen his own community. He became an officer with the Flagstaff Police Department and founded Raven2 O.D.G, a disabled veteran-owned business that provides enhanced training for SOCOM Operatives and agency professionals with precision marksmanship skills. Lance's dedication to his country and community was surpassed only by his dedication to and love for his son, Korben.

Lance was a true hero. The words of American poet Thomas William Parsons aptly describe our feelings about those heroes who sacrifice for our country: ``On thy grave, the rain shall fall from the eyes of a mighty nation.''

Sgt. Lance Davison, a valiant Marine and devoted father, is one of the reasons that our nation is mighty. We remember, honor and mourn him--Lance left us far too soon.

Lance, and all of our veterans, deserve a community and a country that stand up for our soldiers when they come home. These men and women have served honorably, but they may also struggle mightily.

For years, I've kept a quote on my desk that was given to me by a veteran. It says: ``Because they have already paid the price, fight for veterans with all of your might.''

Fight for veterans with all of your might. This is how we can honor Sgt. Lance Davison.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize Sergeant Mary Herrera, U.S. Marine Corps (Ret.), a brave young woman and member of the Arizona National Guard from my congressional district whose personal story of valor on the battlefield is truly inspirational. Her courage under enemy attack on November 8, 2003 on a routine mission in Iraq as part of the 855th Military Police Academy won her a Purple Heart.

I am proud of Sgt. Herrera, who represents the best and brightest in not only my district and state of Arizona, which is home to over a half million veterans, but also in our nation.

Thanks to her story and example, the state of Arizona passed a bill that authorized tuition waiver scholarships to National Guardsmen and women who received a Purple Heart or were medically discharged due to injuries while serving in the military after 9/11. The bill is known as the Mary Herrera bill. Now, Sgt. Herrera is a Field Representative of the West for the Coalition to Salute America's Heroes.

The Coalition to Salute America's Heroes is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, non-partisan organization, established in 2004 to provide severely wounded veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and their families with emergency financial assistance and other support services to help them recover from their injuries and rebuild their lives. All funds needed to develop and manage programs that advance its mission come from contributions to CSAH by individual citizens, corporate donors and foundations.

According to Major General David Rataczak of the Arizona National Guard, Herrera is ``the bravest person he has ever met.'' He refers to Sgt. Herrera as a true example of a modern citizen-soldier who, despite being small in stature, is motivated, loyal, physically and mentally capable, disciplined and proficient, courageous and always a professional.

Sgt. Herrera, who represents the changing demographic within U.S. armed forces, is dedicated to improving the lives of young veterans who are returning home from war. Last month, she represented our state in a high-level event hosted by CSAH in Washington, D.C., for members of Congress, staff and concerned citizens. The event focused on the serious challenge of homelessness facing young veterans, which is becoming a burgeoning crisis among female combat veterans.

Under the leadership of President and CEO David Walker, the Coalition to Salute America's Heroes helps severely wounded veterans and families of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom in the state of Arizona and across the country to recover from their injuries and illnesses by providing emergency financial aid and other support services, in hopes that these veterans can transition successfully into civilian life. In addition, the Coalition's emergency aid services respond to trends associated with suicide among veterans (24 per day), a skyrocketing divorce rate (60 percent among actives), and growing domestic abuse.

Recently, in my home state of Arizona, the Coalition awarded a $10,000 grant toward the construction of a multipurpose recreational facility designed to benefit long-term patients undergoing rehabilitation and other medical care at Prescott VA Hospital. In addition, it donated $5,000 to fund the design and construction of a bronze sculpture called ``Heroic Challenges'' (in the outdoor recreational facility at the hospital), which will depict a runner crossing the finish line with a look of determination on his face. The winner of this race, however, is distinguished by a prosthetic leg, a tracheotomy scar on his neck, several shrapnel wounds, and burn scars on one arm. Also, the Coalition donated a grant of nearly $5,000 to the Arizona Coalition to End Homelessness to support the group's initiatives to provide housing for homeless veterans. The grant furnished approximately 60 housing units that will be occupied by veterans.

We have not seen the total surge yet from Iraq and Afghanistan--and the women coming out of those conflicts are combat veterans who have the same issues the men have. The Coalition is working hard to address these challenges. In 2013 alone, the Coalition will have donated nearly $1 million in direct aid to veterans in addition to managing the many other CSAH programs that are available to wounded veterans (conferences, holiday gift checks, education and training, etc.).

On December 9-13, 2013, The Road to Recovery (R2R) Conference and Tribute is a four-day educational and motivational event for wounded veterans and their families designed to prepare them for the challenges in their lives that lie ahead.

On behalf of the state of Arizona, and in particular, the First District of Arizona, I would like to offer my deepest admiration, respect and appreciation to Sgt. Herrera and the Coalition for their efforts to improve the lives of those who have fought and served our country with distinction. We owe Mary a debt of gratitude. She is an example to us all.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in favor of H.R. 3521, which authorizes medical facility leases for the Department of Veterans Affairs. I am a cosponsor of this bipartisan bill, and I am pleased that it allocates $20 million for community-based outpatient clinics in my home State of Arizona.

The Phoenix VA Health Care System serves the majority of our veterans. More than 300,000 veterans reside in this service area. Having an additional facility will help these men and women access the care they deserve.

I thank my colleagues on both sides of the aisle for supporting this bill. Helping our veterans isn't a partisan issue; it is a national responsibility.

Mr. Speaker, I have a motion to recommit at the desk.

I am opposed in its current form.

Mr. Speaker, this is the final amendment to the bill. It will not kill the bill nor send it back to committee.

If it is adopted, this bill will immediately proceed to final passage. The Big Five oil companies are making record profits. They have made $250 billion in profits in just the last 2 years. At the same time, they are receiving $4 billion in oil and tax breaks every year.

U.S. oil production is at a 24-year high, with the United States soon projected to be the top oil producer in the world. Before these big oil companies get even more drilling rights on public taxpayer lands, they should give up these unneeded subsidies. Otherwise, this is another giveaway to Big Oil.

It expands drilling on public lands at the expense of public uses like hunting, fishing, and recreation. It also goes far beyond the reforms for tribal self-determination in energy development.

It limits community input on projects that may affect the environment, and it bars the door to justice for claims from victims of environmental disasters caused by energy development projects on Indian lands.

This bill has real threats to our tribes, so we need to amend H.R. 1965 to remedy this, and we need a fair return for taxpayers. This amendment is a way to lower the deficit so that it is a win-win for taxpayers.

I urge my colleagues across the aisle, who care so much about our tribes, to vote to close this massive tax loophole and giveaway.

I urge my colleagues across the aisle to side with the American people, especially the Native American people, instead of Big Oil and support this amendment.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. Speaker, the folks in my Arizona district have seen enough of the partisan nonsense in Washington. The distractions here help no one, but jobs do, and that is why we have to stay focused on economic development.

In my district, those opportunities include strengthening our infrastructure:

At the Grand Canyon, the trans-canyon pipeline is in desperate need of repair, and the Canyon's maintenance backlog continues to grow;

In the White Mountains, we can revive the timber industry by building on the momentum of the Eagar sawmill and the Fort Apache Timber Company;

And with a new contractor onboard, it is time to shift the Four Forest Restoration Initiative into high gear and help our forests.

Projects like these create jobs and improve the quality of life for folks in rural Arizona. I urge my colleagues to work together on commonsense efforts to create jobs.