Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 6225) to amend title 38, United States Code, relating to equitable relief with respect to a State or private employer, as amended.

I thank the Speaker, and I want to thank my distinguished colleague, the chairwoman of our Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity, Ms. Herseth Sandlin of South Dakota, for her bipartisan leadership in crafting this bill, Improving Servicemen's Civil Relief Act and USERRA Protections Act of 2008, to help protect our Nation's veterans. Congresswoman Susan Davis from my hometown of San Diego, Congressman Patrick Murphy who will be heard from soon from Pennsylvania, and Congressman John Carter from Texas also introduced language that is part of this legislation.

When they are called to duty, our servicemembers across the Nation leave their loved ones, they leave school, they leave work behind. Unfortunately, as we have many examples today, some of these servicemembers find difficulty in spite of presumed law to get back their old job, to get back into their housing or their enrollment at an institute of higher education. We have to make sure that all these men and women who are called up for service who do their duty don't have to face these difficulties which many thought were protected in law. We must honor their sacrifice by providing them with adequate protections so that they may have peace of mind that their interests and their families' interests are protected while serving our Nation.

This bill will protect these men and women by encouraging courts to use their full equity powers, including temporary or permanent injunctions, temporary restraining orders, and contempt orders, to protect the rights and benefits of these veterans. This section would amend title 38 by changing the ``may'' word to ``shall.''

Language that was authored by Congresswoman Susan Davis of California requires institutions of higher education to refund tuition for servicemembers who have not received academic credit, or allow servicemembers the opportunity to reenroll in the same academic status prior to their military service. The language also places a cap on the interest of student loans at 6 percent while the student is fulfilling military service.

As we will hear, language was included by our new member, Patrick Murphy of Pennsylvania, to allow servicemembers to terminate or suspend service contracts such as cell phone, housing, or utility contracts, due to a permanent station of change of station or deployment orders. And Congressman Carter of Texas included the allowance of the spouse of an active duty member to maintain the same State of residency as the servicemember for State taxation, and to allow the spouse to claim the same State as the servicemember in regards to State and property taxes, and voter registration.

Mr. Speaker, we must honor our men and women who dutifully serve our Nation. When they leave home, they should not have to worry about receiving a negative academic status, paying for a service which they cannot use, or paying taxes in a State for this which they don't claim. They should be afforded the rights and benefits that they honorably are fighting for. I urge my colleagues to support the bill to protect these servicemembers and veterans.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I have said several times today that our new Members have been very aggressive and active in extending the rights and care for our Nation's veterans. The same is true for Mr. Patrick Murphy from Pennsylvania, a new Member, our only Iraqi veteran, in fact, serving in the Congress, and has dedicated a lot of time to making sure his comrades get the health care and attention and benefits that they need.

I would yield to him 3 minutes.

Mr. Speaker, I would yield 2 minutes to my colleague from San Diego, Congresswoman Susan Davis.

Mr. Speaker, again, I want to thank Mr. Boozman, who worked so well with Ms. Herseth Sandlin on their committee. In the spirit that they worked together, we had contributions from older Members, younger Members, Republicans, Democrats in what is an extremely good bill.

General Leave

I would ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 6225, as amended.

I urge my colleagues to support the bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 6221) to amend title 38, United States Code, to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to include in each contract the Secretary enters for the acquisition of goods and services a provision that requires the contractee to comply with the contracting goals and preferences for small business concerns owned or controlled by veterans, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself 1 minute. I want to thank Mr. Boozman, and he included parts of a bill from Ms. Herseth Sandlin and from Mr. Welch from Vermont, another new Member who has been a great participant in our deliberations.

I would like to thank my distinguished colleague, Ranking Member John Boozman in the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity, for his bipartisan efforts in crafting H.R. 6221, as amended, Improving Veterans' Opportunities in Education and Business Act.

I also want to thank Subcommittee Chairwoman Stephanie Herseth Sandlin and Congressman Peter Welch for introducing language included in this important legislation.

Many of our veterans today are currently transitioning into the workforce or continuing their studies in higher education.

Some of our disabled veterans own small businesses, while others are receiving training to pursue other careers. Our veterans deserve to receive the necessary resources to succeed in life after the military. We must work together to ensure that our Nation's heroes are equipped and provided the training they need for their future careers.

H.R. 6221 would clarify a provision in current law that was intended to assist veterans in the Federal procurement process. This provision has been interpreted by the VA General Counsel that it does not apply to agents acting on behalf of the VA. H.R. 6221 would clarify congressional intent and require any entity that purchases goods and services on behalf of the VA to comply with the contracting goals and preferences for small businesses owned or controlled by veterans.

Language introduced by Representative Stephanie Herseth Sandlin of South Dakota would authorize $10 million for VA to conduct a 5-year pilot program to expand the veterans' campus work study program.

Eligible work-study may include positions in academic departments and student services, such as jobs in tutoring, research, career services, and campus orientation.

Language was introduced by Representative Peter Welch of Vermont to authorize $60 million for the next 10 years to fund the Service Members' Occupational Conversion and Training Act, commonly called

Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers.

I would ask, Mr. Speaker, that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 6221, as amended.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 674) to amend title 38, United States Code, to repeal the provision of law requiring termination of the Advisory Committee on Minority Veterans as of December 31, 2009.

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

This bill comes to us from our colleague from Chicago, Congressman Luis Gutierrez, and this would repeal the law that requires the termination of the Advisory Committee on Minority Veterans on December 31 of 2009. We cannot let this important committee vanish.

Today, Mr. Speaker, over 14 percent of veterans are from racial or ethnic minority groups. African Americans comprise about 10 percent. The rest are Hispanic, Asian, or Native American. However, the Census Bureau projects that the number of minority Americans will shift significantly in the future and will grow to about 35 percent of the total population by 2050. Undoubtedly, that will be reflected in the percentage of people of color in the military, which is already steadily on the rise.

This trend has been true for black women who are joining the military at a greater rate than they are represented in the overall population and in a greater ratio than their male counterparts. In fact, black women comprise almost 35 percent of female servicemembers. This pattern will affect the VA's mission and scope, and it must be prepared to respond to properly deliver benefits.

Congress developed the Center for Minority Veterans and the Advisory Committee in 1994 to advise VA and Congress on providing health care and delivering benefits to minority veterans because there were disparities in such service. We had hoped to improve VA practices for future generations of minority veterans. This center has issued an annual report since 1994, and it's mandated to focus specific attention on African American, Hispanic, Asian, Native American, and Pacific Islanders, which it has done by conducting town hall meetings and site visits to such places as inner city Los Angeles and Native American tribes in Alaska.

The House Committee on Veterans' Affairs has explored these disparities and has been greatly assisted by the Committee on Minority Veterans. Its recommendations regarding outreach, research, education, staff diversity, translation services, and housing have been extremely enlightening and have resulted in many improvements.

At the present time, the Advisory Committee on Minority Veterans is due to sunset in 2009. This bill would prevent this from occurring and would serve to bring permanent awareness to cultural, racial, and ethnic issues among veterans to Congress and VA leadership.

I urge this Congress to support the bill and allow the Advisory Committee on Minority Veterans to continue its work uninterrupted and fully supported.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I would again ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on H.R. 674.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5892) to amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to modernize the disability benefits claims processing system of the Department of Veterans Affairs to ensure the accurate and timely delivery of compensation to veterans and their families and survivors, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, this bill comes to us from the chairman of our Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs Subcommittee, a very active, committed, new Member, Mr. Hall from New York, and I would yield to him as much time as he may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I would yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hare).

Mr. Speaker, I would yield 2 minutes to our new Member from Indiana (Mr. Donnelly), another very active and committed member who is concerned about our veterans in America.

I have no further speakers.

Let me just say in conclusion, Mr. Speaker, that I think it's safe to say that for every single Member of this House, when they have town meetings with veterans, the single biggest complaint is the disability claims system. They've been waiting months, years even--decades--for decisions. This is an insult to their service. We have a long way to go in changing that. This bill is a big step toward erasing that incredible backlog. This situation is the biggest single factor that leads veterans to think that ``VA'' means veterans' adversary instead of veterans' advocate. So we have to change it. It is going to be changed as rapidly as we can, and I encourage all Members to support this bill.

General Leave

I would ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on H.R. 5892, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, we are at the conclusion of a set of eight pieces of legislation that will each one improve the quality of life for our Nation's veterans. Each one is a step forward to recognizing their service. We have thanked all the Members for working on this.

I want to thank the staff on both sides of the aisle. When you have a collection of bills like this, it takes a lot of time, especially on a weekend, unfortunately, for them. So we thank all the staff--Republican and Democrat--for getting all of the reports and all of the work done for today's bills, which really contribute to the well-being of our veterans.

I would yield back the balance of my time.

Offered By: Mr. Filner

Amendment No. 19: At the end of title II of the bill (page

51, after line 11), add the following new section:

Sec. 226. Appropriations made available in this title for

``Medical services'' shall be used by the Secretary of

Veterans Affairs, in an amount not to exceed $10,000,000, to

establish, in cooperation with the Secretary of Defense, a

heroes' homecoming pilot program to evaluate the

effectiveness of offering compulsory screening, evaluation,

and when indicated, treatment for mental health conditions

such as post-traumatic stress disorder, and traumatic brain

injury, to servicemembers (and immediate family members)

returning from deployment and those recently discharged.

Offered By: Mr. Filner

Amendment No. 21: At the end of title II (page 51, after

line 11), add the following new section:

Sec. 226. (a) Clarification of Meaning of ``Combat With the

Enemy'' for Purposes of Service-Connection of Disabilities.--

(1) Section 1154(b) of title 38, United States Code, is

amended--

(A) by striking ``In the case'' and inserting ``(1) In the

case''; and

(B) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

``(2) For the purposes of this subsection, the term `combat

with the enemy' includes service on active duty--

``(A) in a theater of combat operations (as determined by

the Secretary in consultation with the Secretary of Defense)

during a period of war; or

``(B) in combat against a hostile force during a period of

hostilities.''.

(2) Paragraph (2) of subsection (b) of section 1154 of

title 38, United States Code, as added by this subsection,

shall apply with respect to a claim for disability

compensation under chapter 11 of such title pending on or

after the date of the enactment of this Act.

(b) Pilot Programs To Provide Disability Compensation on

Basis of Certain Presumptions of Service-Connection.--The

Secretary of Veterans Affairs (in this section referred to as

the ``Secretary'') shall carry out two pilot programs, each

for a period of two years, at regional offices of the

Department of Veterans Affairs. The first pilot program shall

be carried out at each regional office of the Department for

which the Secretary, as of the date of enactment of this Act,

has entered into a contract with a private entity for the

entity to conduct medical examinations required to administer

claims for disability compensation under chapter 11 of title

38, United States Code. The second pilot program shall be

carried out at four other regional offices of the Department

selected by the Secretary, one for each of the four regions

of the Department.

(c) Presumption of Service-Connection.--At each regional

office participating in a pilot program under this section,

the Secretary shall administer claims for disability

compensation under chapter 11 of title 38, United States

Code, by considering each disability for which a claim is

submitted to that regional office by a veteran to have been

incurred in or aggravated by the veteran's service in the

active military, naval, or air service during a period of

war, campaign, or expedition or in a theater of combat

operations during a period of war or in combat against the

hostile force during a period of hostilities, notwithstanding

there is no record of evidence of such disability during the

period of service.

(d) Minimum Disability Rating.--In the case of any claim

for disability compensation submitted to a regional office

participating in a pilot program under this section, the

Secretary shall assign to the veteran who submits the claim a

disability rating of at least minimal under the schedule for

rating disabilities adopted and applied by the Secretary

under subsection (e).

(e) Evaluation and Compensation of Disabilities Under Pilot

Programs.--Under the pilot programs--

(1) the Secretary shall reduce the number of grades of

disability upon which payments of compensation are based that

would otherwise be applicable under section 1155 of title 38,

United States Code, from ten to four;

(2) the four grades of disability shall be minimal,

moderate, severe, and very severe; and

(3) the Secretary shall determine the amount of

compensation payable for each of

such four grades of disability so that the amount of a

compensation payment for a veteran in that grade of

disability is equal to the amount of compensation payment for

a veteran under such section 1155 with the highest percentage

of disability that corresponds to such grade.

(f) Compensation Not Treated as Overpayment.--If the

Secretary adjusts the amount of compensation payable to a

veteran for a disability subject to a presumption of service-

connection under a pilot program under this section, any

payment of compensation to the veteran before such adjustment

shall not be considered an overpayment for any purpose.

(g) Audit of Certain Claims.--The Secretary shall conduct

an audit of between five and ten percent of all claims

administered under each pilot program under this section.

(h) Time Frame for Adjudication of Claims.--The Secretary

shall ensure that for each claim that is administered as part

of a pilot program under this section a final determination

is made not later than 90 days after the date of the

submission of the claim. Notwithstanding section 5103A(d) of

title 38, United States Code, a final determination for such

a claim may be made without a medical examination.

(i) Authority To Enter Into Contracts.--(1) The Secretary

may enter into a contract with a medical professional,

including medical professionals who are not physicians, for

the provision of medical reference assistance to employees of

the Department who are responsible for rating disabilities at

a regional office participating in a pilot program under this

section. In no case shall such a medical professional be

utilized or employed to rate any disability or evaluate any

claim.

(2) If the Secretary utilizes or employs medical

professionals in a pilot program under this section, the

Secretary shall ensure that employees of the Department in

all regional offices of the Veterans Benefits Administration

participating in the two pilot programs have access to such

medical professionals as a medical reference resource.

(j) Surveys.-- In carrying out each of the two pilot

programs under this section, the Secretary shall--

(1) conduct statistically significant surveys of employees

of the Veterans Benefits Administration participating in the

pilot program to ascertain whether, how, and to what degree a

medical professional would provide assistance to such

employees in carrying out their duties; and

(2) submit a written report of the findings of each survey

to Congress not later than 30 days after the date of the

conclusion of the pilot program.

(k) Limitation on Statutory Construction.--Nothing in this

section shall be construed as limiting or affecting any

veteran participating in a pilot program under this section

from being eligible for disability compensation under chapter

11 of title 38, United States Code, other than as specified

in such chapter.

(l) Report to Congress.--Not later than 30 days after the

date of the conclusion of each pilot program under this

section, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on

the pilot program. Such report shall include--

(1) the number of claims for disability compensation under

chapter 11 of title 38, United States Code, that are pending

at the regional offices participating in the pilot program on

the date of the conclusion of the pilot program;

(2) the average amount of time required to process a claim

for such compensation at such regional offices during the

period covered by the pilot program;

(3) a quantitative and qualitative comparison of how such

claims were processed at such regional offices during the

period covered by the pilot program and how such claims were

processed at other regional offices during such period;

(4) the results of the surveys conducted under subsection

(j); and

(5) the recommendations of the Secretary with respect to

implementing the pilot program at all regional offices of the

Department.

(m) Emergency Designation.--The amounts required to carry

out the amendment made by subsection (a) and the pilot

programs under this section are designated as an emergency

requirement and necessary to meet emergency needs pursuant to

subsections (a) and (b) of section 204 of S. Con. Res. 21

(110th Congress) and section 301(b) of S. Con. Res. 70 (110th

Congress), the concurrent resolutions on the budget for

fiscal years 2008 and 2009.

Offered By: Mr. Filner

Amendment No. 18: At the end of title II of the bill, (page

51, after line 11), add the following new section:

Sec. 226. Appropriations made available in this title for

``Medical services'' shall be used by the Secretary of

Veterans Affairs, in an amount not to exceed $250,000,000, to

establish a community grant program to provide rehabilitative

services to veterans and servicemembers with post-traumatic

stress disorder or traumatic brain injury. The Secretary of

Veterans Affairs may enter into cooperative agreements with

States and localities in order to inform veterans and

servicemembers of programs and benefits under this grant

program.

Offered By: Mr. Filner

Amendment No. 22: At the end of title II (page 51, after

line 11), add the following new section:

Sec. 226. (a) Payments to Veterans Who Served in

Philippines During World War II.--During the one-year period

beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act, the

Secretary of Veterans Affairs (in this section referred to as

the ``Secretary'') shall make a payment to a person described

in subsection (e) who, during such period, submits to the

Secretary an application containing such information and

assurances as the Secretary may require.

(b) Payment Amounts.--Each payment under this section shall

be--

(1) in the case of a person described in subsection (e) who

is not a citizen of the United States, in the amount of

$9,000; and

(2) in the case of a person described in subsection (e) who

is a citizen of the United States, in the amount of $15,000.

(c) Limitation.--The Secretary may not make more than one

payment under this section for each person described in

subsection (d).

(d) Eligibility of Individuals Living Outside the United

States Entitled to Certain Social Security Benefits.--Receipt

of a payment under this section shall not affect the

eligibility of an individual residing outside the United

States to receive benefits under title VIII of the Social

Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1001 et seq.) or the amount of such

benefits.

(e) Eligible Persons.--A person covered by this section is

any person who served--

(1) before July 1, 1946, in the organized military forces

of the Government of the Commonwealth of the Philippines,

while such forces were in the service of the Armed Forces of

the United States pursuant to the military order of the

President dated July 26, 1941, including among such military

forces organized guerrilla forces under commanders appointed,

designated, or subsequently recognized by the Commander in

Chief, Southwest Pacific Area, or other competent authority

in the Army of the United States; or

(2) in the Philippine Scouts under section 14 of the Armed

Forces Voluntary Recruitment Act of 1945 (59 Stat. 538).

(f) Offsetting Reduction.--The amount otherwise provided by

this title for ``information technology systems'' is revised

by reducing the amount by $198,000,000.

Offered By: Mr. Filner

Amendment No. 23: At the end of title II (page 51, after

line 11), add the following new section:

Sec. 226. (a) Payments to Individuals Who Served During

World War II in the United States Merchant Marine.--

Subchapter II of chapter 5 of title 38, United States Code,

is amended by adding at the end the following new section:

``Sec. 532. Merchant Mariner Equity Compensation Fund

``(a) Compensation Fund.--(1) There is in the general fund

of the Treasury a fund to be known as the `Merchant Mariner

Equity Compensation Fund' (in this section referred to as the

`compensation fund').

``(2) Subject to the availability of appropriations for

such purpose, amounts in the fund shall be available to the

Secretary without fiscal year limitation to make payments to

eligible individuals in accordance with this section.

``(b) Eligible Individuals.--(1) An eligible individual is

an individual who--

``(A) before October 1, 2009, submits to the Secretary an

application containing such information and assurances as the

Secretary may require;

``(B) has not received benefits under the Servicemen's

Readjustment Act of 1944 (Public Law 78-346); and

``(C) has engaged in qualified service.

``(2) For purposes of paragraph (1), a person has engaged

in qualified service if, between December 7, 1941, and

December 31, 1946, the person--

``(A) was a member of the United States merchant marine

(including the Army Transport Service and the Naval Transport

Service) serving as a crewmember of a vessel that was--

``(i) operated by the War Shipping Administration or the

Office of Defense Transportation (or an agent of the

Administration or Office);

``(ii) operated in waters other than inland waters, the

Great Lakes, and other lakes, bays, and harbors of the United

States;

``(iii) under contract or charter to, or property of, the

Government of the United States; and

``(iv) serving the Armed Forces; and

``(B) while so serving, was licensed or otherwise

documented for service as a crewmember of such a vessel by an

officer or employee of the United States authorized to

license or document the person for such service.

``(c) Amount of Payments.--The Secretary shall make a

monthly payment out of the compensation fund in the amount of

$1,000 to an eligible individual. The Secretary shall make

such payments to eligible individuals in the order in which

the Secretary receives the applications of the eligible

individuals.

``(d) Reports.--The Secretary shall include, in documents

submitted to Congress by the Secretary in support of the

President's budget for each fiscal year, detailed information

on the operation of the compensation fund, including the

number of applicants, the number of eligible individuals

receiving benefits, the amounts paid out of the compensation

fund, the administration of the compensation fund, and an

estimate of the amounts necessary to fully fund the

compensation fund for that fiscal year and each of the three

subsequent fiscal years.

``(e) Regulations.--The Secretary shall prescribe

regulations to carry out this section.''.

(b) Appropriation.--In addition to other amounts

appropriated by this Act, there is hereby appropriated to the

Merchant Mariner Equity Compensation Fund required by section

532 of title 38, United States Code, as added by subsection

(a), $120,000,000, to remain available until expended, to

make payments under such section.

(c) Offsetting Reduction.--The amount otherwise provided by

this title for ``information technology systems'' is revised

by reducing the amount by $120,000,000.

(d) Regulations.--Not later than 180 days after the date of

the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall prescribe the

regulations required under subsection (e) of section 532 of

title 38, United States Code, as added by subsection (a).

(e) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the

beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting after the

item related to section 531 the following new item:

``532. Merchant Mariner Equity Compensation Fund.''....................

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of democracy in Iran and stability in Iraq. We in the United States Congress must work together for a stable and democratic Iraq. Today, there is undisputable evidence that Iran is the main contributor to the violence in Iraq which causes American and Iraqi casualties.

On July 4, Iran fired yet another GRAD missile at Ashraf City, the residence compound of the Iranian resistance--the People's Mujahadeen Organization of Iran. Iran's mercenaries in Iraq have also been busy calling for arrest, trial, and expulsion of these ``protected persons'' living in Ashraf. Our soldiers are protecting Ashraf in accordance with the Fourth Geneva Convention. Iranian action has therefore endangered them as well.

I have said many times that the mullahs in Tehran do not hold all the cards. The Iranian regime's aggressive policies are rooted in the weakness of their regime. The unrelenting assault on the civil and human rights of the Iranian people is a direct response to the illegitimacy of the extremist theocratic government. A military attack on Iran would be a tragic mistake. Yet, it is an error almost as grave to think that continued appeasement of the Iranian regime is the only alternative to war.

Reasonably, Western democracies, with the support of the peace activist community, should use all peaceful means possible to isolate the Iranian regime and to avoid war. However, the desire for a peaceful resolution of this crisis has led into policy choices which provide Iran with the legitimacy it craves and a strengthened diplomatic hand.

The most notable remnant of the West's unsuccessful attempt at ``engagement'' with Iran is the designation of the People's Mujahedeen Organization of Iran, also known as the MEK, as a foreign terrorist organization. The MEK provided significant intelligence that helped blow the whistle on Iran's clandestine nuclear weapon and missile development programs.

The MEK has already been removed from the United Kingdom list of terrorist organizations. Late last month, the British parliament approved the order put before it by that country's home secretary and removed the MEK from the UK blacklist. In light of the recent developments, the United States must seriously consider the court's findings as well as the present political environment and also remove the limitations it has placed on the MEK.

We must stop appeasing Iran and shift our support to the Iranian people. They are our best allies against Iran's aggression. Iranian people have an unwavering longing for freedom and democracy. We must work together to acknowledge their resounding rejection of extremism and move to support their efforts for democracy in Iran.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the Speaker and Chairman Conyers for bringing H. Res. 1182 to the floor today. This important resolution expresses the sense of the Congress that all American flags flown over Federal Government buildings and on

Federal property should be made in the United States.

The U.S. Census bureau estimates that $5.3 million worth of American flags were imported from other countries in 2006, mostly from China. Even though U.S. law requires every flag be labeled with its ``country of origin,'' the figure of foreign-made American flags has steadily grown over the past few years. This is an absolute shame! I am glad that the office of the Architect of the Capitol has reassured me that flags that we fly everyday over this very Capitol are proudly made in the United States.

As we celebrated Independence Day last week, we were reminded that the American flag is much more than our national symbol. It embodies our courage, liberty, and justice. The flag reminds us each and every day of the blood that was shed so that we may enjoy our freedoms. So as we proudly fly the Stars and Stripes, we must ensure that they are homespun in the United States. I urge my colleagues to vote for H. Res. 1182.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to urge support for a bill I have just introduced, H.R. 6457, the ``Encourage Initiative and Promote Self-Esteem Act''.

There are many people in our country who receive Social Security Disability benefits (SSD) because they have a ``waxing and waning'' disease--Behcet's Disease, Multiple Sclerosis, Lupus, Parkinson's, Cancer, AIDS and Arthritis are examples of ``waxing and waning'' diseases.

This process of seeking SSD and keeping it is often times an adversarial one. The climate of suspicion that applicants and recipients say they feel leaves many to view the Social Security Administration (SSA) with a jaundice eye. Everyone who actually gains disability benefits remembers the hoops of fire they had to jump through during the application process. As a result, many people often do not consider a try at working, fearing that the SSA will use that against them to deny future benefits. With concerns over fraudulent claims, I can understand how this environment came to be. But that doesn't make it right.

For people with ``waxing and waning'' diseases and conditions, they know that they will have good days and bad. They know that, barring a cure, they will always be sick, but that does not diminish their spirit. There needs to be a program that encourages people in this situation to secure temporary employment when they feel they can work without placing their SSD at risk for the times they cannot work.

H.R. 6457 would install a system based on a sliding scale. The more money one earns, the fewer benefits he or she receives. But there will be a built-in incentive to stay the course because the total monthly income when working will be more than either the work income or SSD.

Imagine a situation where those on SSD who have diseases that ``wax and wane'' could work, without fear, when able. That would be a lot of money put back into the Treasury in payroll withholdings and taxes--and more money put into the economy in increased purchasing, not to mention the contribution to society and elevated self-esteem of the workers. Think about the faith these people would have in a system of government that treats its people with dignity and respect instead of suspicion and contempt.

I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 6457 to improve the lives of thousands of Americans.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2818) to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for the establishment of Epilepsy Centers of Excellence in the Veterans Health Administration of the Department of Veterans Affairs, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, in this Congress the new Members have taken a great leadership role on many matters, and especially those in the area of veterans affairs. One of those great new Members is Mr. Perlmutter of Colorado, and I yield to him as much time as he might consume to explain his bill which is on the floor today and will do so much for so many veterans.

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

Point of order, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, clause 1 of rule XVII says: ``A member is required to confine himself or herself to the question under debate,'' which is the establishment of epilepsy centers in this country, ``and may not stray from the subject under discussion. If so, a Member may be subject to a point of order that his or her remarks are not relevant to the debate.''

And I raise that as a point of order, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, if I may say one more thing in support of my point of order.

Before I withdraw my point of order, I would like to point out that the definition of ``filling the time'' has just been shown by the ranking member.

Mr. Speaker, I ask to withdraw my point of order.

Before I yield to my colleague on the committee, I just want to point out to the 25 million veterans of our Nation, 100 million people who constitute their families, all of this Nation who cares about health care for our veterans, the benefits for our veterans, all of those who understand that this war is costing us enormous personal tragedies, brain injuries, amputations, psychological wounds, that we have millions of veterans from earlier wars who are suffering, need help from the VA. All of that health care, all of that concern for the VA has been called by my colleague, the ranking member from Indiana, ``filling the time.'' I am happy to fill the time with bills that refer to the health and well-being of all our veterans, whether from this war or from earlier wars.

I would yield such time as she may consume to a very important member of our committee for 16 years, the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Corrine Brown).

Would the gentleman yield?

Mr. Speaker, before I yield to the gentleman from Colorado, I heard the gentleman from Indiana object to the naming bills. I guess that would be a unanimous consent request to tell Mr. Hastings from Washington, Mr. Miller from Florida, Mr. Fortuno from Puerto Rico and Ms. Ros-Lehtinen from Florida that he doesn't want to hear their bills. That is what I heard.

I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Salazar).

I am the closing speaker on our side, Mr. Speaker, so I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, with all the huffing and puffing, I am glad the minority ranking member supports the bill. Let me remind people what this bill is all about. It is about our veterans. It is about our veterans.

A DOD study after Vietnam found in fact that 15 percent of veterans with severe traumatic brain injury, TBI, developed epilepsy soon after their injury. We know how many TBI victims we have from Iraq and Afghanistan. So as more and more veterans move from DOD health care to the VA health care system, the VA must be prepared to treat TBI and epilepsy.

The Epilepsy Centers of Excellence in this bill by Mr. Perlmutter of Colorado would function as centers of research on the diagnosis, treatment and long-term effects of epilepsy. It gives the VA the tools to provide to veterans with epilepsy the quality of care that they deserve.

I join my ranking member in urging my colleagues to support H.R. 2818, as amended.

General Leave

Mr. Speaker, I would ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 2818, as amended.

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 1098) supporting the goals and ideals of the Year of the American Veteran.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume, and I rise in strong support of H. Res. 1098 to support the goals and ideals of the Year of the American Veteran.

This resolution encourages the American people to recognize and acknowledge the sacrifices the American veteran demonstrates in the name of freedom; encourages the education of the American people on the many great contributions of the American veteran to American society; and supports the goals and ideals of the Year of the American Veteran.

The Commission on the Future for America's veterans has designated 2008 as the ``Year of the American Veteran,'' and today we are joining them in remembering our veterans.

I ask my colleagues to support this resolution, and for us to strive together to remember our veterans not only this year, but in the years and decades to come.

Mr. Speaker, I would say that George Washington over 220 years ago had it right when he said the most important factor in the morale of our fighting troops is the sense of how they are going to be treated when they come home. So we have a job to do for the veterans not only of this war, but of all the previous wars that we have carried out.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I'm prepared to close, and I will reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, we are debating House Resolution 1098, although the ranking member spent all of his time on a bill called S. 1315 which earlier passed the full Senate by a vote of 96-1. Would 96 Senators support a bill that cuts nearly $1 billion in special monthly pension benefits for elderly veterans? No, because that's not what S. 1315 does. And in fact, the leader of the minority party, Senator John McCain, voted in favor of this bill; and he said, I certainly believe that we should compensate not only the thousands and thousands of veterans who get the money from the bill but the Filipinos for their brave service to our Nation.

But we are on House Resolution 1098 to honor the Year of the American Veteran. I will tell the Speaker that in the last year and a half of a Democratically led Congress, about $17 billion of new money came into the VA system to help the health care of our veterans. That is real contribution to health care. That is real contribution to mental health that we need to deal with.

We have thousands and thousands, even though the Department of Defense refuses to admit it, of young men and women coming back from Iraq and Afghanistan with traumatic brain injury and PTSD, post- traumatic stress disorder. These require months and months, if not years and years, if not decades, of treatment from a grateful Nation for their service. We have put the money in that will begin to do that job.

Of course, our committee has to continue with oversight over bureaucracies that tend to respond rather slowly. But in our Resolution 1098, in our budget which meets the veterans' groups so-called independent budget, which is put together by them, and for the first time in the history of the independent budget for 2 years in a row we exceeded their budget from this Democratic Congress. So the Year of the American Veteran is not just words. It's budget dollars, it's commitment, it's programs, it's support for our brave veterans, like I said, whether from this war or earlier wars.

So, Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to unanimously support House Resolution 1098.

I would also ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on this resolution.

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 1231) supporting the goals and ideals of Vietnam Veterans Day and calling on the American people to recognize such a day.

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

This resolution, 1231, supports the goals and ideals of Vietnam Veterans Day. I don't think we have to remind this body that the Vietnam war was a very divisive time in this country. One of the lessons that we should draw from Vietnam is that although we may disagree about a war, as we do about the current one in Iraq, we must never, never disagree about the importance of honoring the service and sacrifice of the men and women who serve our Nation. We must never confuse the war with the warrior. We must never, never forget the warrior.

This war that we are engaging in Iraq is only exceeded in its length by America in the Vietnamese war, the longest conflict in our history. More than 3 million Americans served in southeast Asia. More than 58,000 Americans lost their lives on the battlefield. Over 300,000 Americans were wounded, and that was at the time of the war itself. We know because we did not honor these heroes when they came home and we did not have the resources in place, especially with regard to mental health, that we inflicted a terrible, terrible future on many of those soldiers.

Half of the homeless on the street tonight are Vietnam veterans. We think that there are more suicides by Vietnam veterans than who died on the original battlefield. That's a terrible, terrible blot on America for not honoring our veterans. And certainly we cannot make the same mistake again with those returning from Iraq and Afghanistan.

So we have a Vietnam memorial. We must always remember the service and sacrifices. A day of remembrance is a particularly fitting way to remember the painful lessons learned. But we could do some more material things, too, and I hope that the cooperation and goodwill shown by my ranking member at all times will make sure that we up the budget, for example, to deal with the homeless veterans on the street-- most of them are Vietnam veterans--that we grant their Agent Orange claims that they have fought for for decades, that we provide some security for them and increase the budget that is aimed at their future as citizens in this Nation.

So yes, let us pass this resolution. But let us move on in the context of the budget and in the context of other legislation to really honor these warriors who, when they came home, did not get that honor.

I will reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on House Resolution 1231.

I urge my colleagues to join our committee unanimously to support House Resolution 1231.

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