Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to mourn the passing of the President and CEO of Conference of Minority Transportation Officials (COMTO), Julie Cunningham.

Ms. Cunningham served on President-Elect Barack Obama's Transition Team at the U.S. Department of Transportation and provided expert testimony before the U.S. Congress, including the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee, the Congressional Black Caucus and the Senate Democratic Caucus.

I have been working with COMTO and Julie Cunningham for many years, and was so pleased to host the COMTO conference in my home town of Jacksonville last year. She was a powerful force in the transportation industry and brought together all the minority voices in transportation to speak as one to ensure that people of color were working in and receiving contracts in the field of transportation.

Ms. Cunningham was nationally known for her talent in building healthy, effective partnerships across diverse government and corporate cultures as well as for her strong advocacy for a level playing field and maximum employment and contract participation for minorities, women, and economically disadvantaged persons. Under her direction, COMTO became a recognized resource as a result of the organization's advocacy relative to workforce diversity and inclusion, and participation by Historically Underutilized Businesses (minority, women and veteran owned businesses) in the transportation industry. COMTO was awarded the 2005 Disadvantaged Business Advocate of the Year by the U.S. Department of Transportation.

Prior to joining COMTO, she held positions in the energy and construction industries. She was previously employed as a Senior Consultant at a Nuclear Power Plant and was credited for developing critical strategic and internal communication plans for a struggling power plant. She led the plant's senior management team in implementing programs to improve employee morale and to win the stakeholder community as ambassadors of nuclear power. She is also known for her ability to implement grassroots programs, and facilitate work process improvements for nuclear power plants.

A veteran of the U.S. Army, Ms. Cunningham was a member of many boards of directors, including the Mineta Transportation Institute, the Eno Foundation and the National Transit Institute Advisory Council. She was also a member of the American Society of Association Executives, and the Association for Conflict Resolution.

A native of Cleveland, Ohio, Ms. Cunningham graduated from Hiram College with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Business Management. She leaves to cherish her memory her daughter, Karissa Cunningham of Clarksville, TN; parents, James and Louise Smith of Painesville, OH; siblings, Cathy (Safdar) Hussain of Jacksonville, FL, Elisa (Paul) Sanchez of Painesville, OH, and Jeffery Smith of Painesville, OH; grandmother, Minnie Banks of Painesville, OH; niece Tiffany Smith of Cleveland, OH; nephew, Blake Smith of Coshocton, OH; great nephew, James Gadomski of Painesville, OH, as well as many aunts, uncles, cousins, and lifelong friends throughout the nation.

My prayers go to Julie's daughter and her family, and to the many members of COMTO. I am thankful for her life and many accomplishments.

Mr. Speaker, on Friday, June 20, 2014, I mistakenly voted ``aye'' on rollcall vote 334. I meant to vote ``no.''

I support all forms of energy, including biofuels and agree with the vast majority of Americans who agree that we must diversify our fuel supplies with alternatives to oil. The list of auto makers embracing biodiesel continues to grow, and currently all major U.S. engine manufacturers support blends of up to 5 percent, while more than three- quarters support 20 percent blends in at least some of their engines. Many engine manufacturers are now actively promoting their positive positions on biodiesel blends (Ford, for example, now uses a B20 logo on heavy-duty diesel trucks.)

A few years ago, Americans were filling up their cars at record prices--60, 80, 100 dollars a tank--and looking to Washington to see what could be done. To see what we could do to replace a crippling oil addiction with the energy technology this challenge demands, and our nation deserves. To relieve the strain on their budgets and their families not ten years from now--but now.

Our government and military need to work toward the goal of including biofuels in their vast array of energy products. I support the military, I support the environment but I do not support this amendment.

Mr. Speaker, I am reminded of the first words of the first President of the United States, George Washington, whose words are worth repeating at this time:

The willingness with which our young people are likely to

serve in any war, no matter how justified, shall be directly

proportional as to how they perceive the veterans of earlier

wars were treated and appreciated by their country.

I want to thank the chairman for his leadership. Those 90 hearings, I was at most of them. I know the House has done their work, whether it was here in Washington, D.C., or in the field and around the country. I am the senior member on the committee, having served on the committee for over 22 years.

I have to remind the committee and this House that the problems with the veterans did not start today. They are long-term problems. I am pleased with the fact that I was on the committee when we passed the largest VA budget in the history of the United States.

In addition to that, forward budgeting--which I thought would never happen, but the veterans have not caught up with the whims of the House, not passing this appropriation or not passing this authorization, so we know today what kind of veterans benefits that we are going to get.

Many other veterans--in fact, over 99 percent of them say that they are very satisfied with the system. They love their VA system, but the key is that there are some problems, and we need to work in a bipartisan and bicameral fashion with the Senate to make sure that we address these challenges.

I really do believe to whom God has given much, much is expected, and we have to make sure that the veterans get the care that we have promised them.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in full support of H.R. 2072, as amended, the Demanding Accountability for Veterans Act.

This legislation addresses a number of concerns that have arisen during hearings and other forums that we have conducted during this Congress.

Too often, we have seen inspector general reports that find the same problem time and time again at VA medical centers, but nothing seems to change.

Recommendations are made, solutions are identified, plans are made, but there is no followthrough. Problems aren't fixed, processes aren't changed, and problems reoccur several times over.

This bill would require the Department of Veterans Affairs inspector general to determine whether appropriate action has been taken by the Department in response to a report concerning public health or patient safety; and if he determines it has not, it authorizes the VA IG to alert the Secretary and Congress. This authority will increase accountability and will, hopefully, get the actions needed for things to change.

H.R. 2072, as amended, also addresses medical foster homes. It authorizes the Department to enter into contracts with medical foster homes to pay for long-term care for veterans who are already eligible for VA-paid nursing home care. We know that many veterans prefer to be cared for in a homelike setting rather than in an institution. This provision gives them that option.

The Department of Veterans Affairs has many homeless programs, and I am proud to say that we have done a great job in reducing the number of homeless veterans by 50 percent. Buildings in which these homeless veterans receive services must be held to the highest standard concerning safety. This bill would require per diem payment recipients under the VA's Homeless Grant and Per Diem Program to provide the VA with a certification of compliance with all relevant fire, safety, and building codes.

It is our commitment--no, our obligation--to ensure that veterans receive the best care and treatment available. This is whether we are fighting homelessness, ensuring the safety and security of facilities, or ensuring that when

a problem and a solution are identified they get addressed.

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

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

Madam Speaker, how much time do I have remaining?

Madam Speaker, I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

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

I am reminded of the words of the first President of the United States, and I think they are worth repeating here today: the willingness with which our young men are likely to serve in any war, no matter how justifiable, should be directly proportionate as to how they perceive the veterans of early wars are treated and appreciated by their country.

I want everyone to know that I have been on this committee for 22 years. I am the longest-serving member on this committee, and I support the veterans 100 percent; but I remember in 2005 when the first servicemen started returning home and the Bush administration was underfunding the VA to the tune of $1.5 billion. Congress had to pass a supplemental funding bill to pay for this shortfall. Because the administration was using old data, which was taken before all of these veterans returned for care, the number was wrong, and the veterans paid the price. Following that, a Democratic-leaning Congress increased the VA's budget to its highest level ever in the history of the United States, guaranteeing that veterans' health care would not be subject to the whims of politics and to advance appropriations on Capitol Hill.

I know many people don't remember that, because sometimes it is like we don't have any institutional memory around here.

I want to commend Secretary Shinseki. He did a yeoman's job as the Secretary. When each Vietnam veteran had to prove his case, he opened up the VA so that all of the veterans could come in. Certainly, the VA wasn't prepared for millions of additional veterans, but it was the right thing to do.

I can tell you that I have done my reconnaissance and that we are not involved in any scandals in Florida. When we had a problem in the Miami hospital--and this is a service that we should give the Secretary the authority to do--two small projects had to be stopped because they combined into one project--the operating facility. We were able to get it amended and get it taken care of so that the veterans in the Miami hospital were being cared for. In Orlando, we have been working on that VA hospital for over 25 years--a long time. The VA has not built any hospitals until recently, and now we are building six new hospitals. We had not built a VA hospital in the Veterans Administration for 15 years.

Yes, we are coming together in Congress and are doing what we should do for the veterans. Let me point out that I support this bill, but this bill should go to every agency, because every single agency ignores the reports that come in. So, if we are going to do our oversight, we should do it with all of the agencies. We should not let veterans think that we are not doing what we need to do to take care of them. It should be, as I would say, one team and one fight. We should be fighting for the veterans. Ever since I have been on this committee, it has been all for the veterans. It hasn't been about the politics that go on--you did not fill out my report. The important thing is that we are taking care of the veterans.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to thank Secretary Shinseki for his service.

When you are born you get a birth certificate and when you die you are going to get a death certificate, and that dash in between is what you have done to make this a better place.

I have served on the Veteran Affairs' Committee for 22 years, and I know that my colleagues in the House and in the Senate talk a good talk. We talk about what we want to do for veterans. But talking and walking and rolling, I know for a fact that not until we had a Democratic House, a Democratic Senate, and a Democratic President, we got the largest funding in the history of the United States for the veterans.

This Secretary opened up the system so that all the Vietnam veterans could come in without proving one by one. So it is a lot of work that we have got to do--not what we have got to do, not just the VA, but what we have to do to make sure that we have the kind of service the veterans deserve.

Corrine Brown Grateful for the Service of VA Secretary Shinseki

He Is a True American Hero

Washington, DC.--Congresswoman Corrine Brown released the

following statement today:

As a senior member of the House Veterans' Affairs

Committee, I am disappointed in the resignation of VA

Secretary Shinseki. While he felt he would have been a

distraction going forward to resolve the issues brought to

light by Phoenix, I feel Secretary Shinseki was the person

most capable of fixing these issues. I am grateful for his

service both as a soldier and a veteran.

Since being sworn in as the seventh Secretary of Veterans

Affairs in 2009, Secretary Shinseki has brought reform and a

new way of thinking to the VA. As a former Chief of Staff of

the Army, Secretary Shinseki knew what the young men and

women protecting our freedoms overseas were going though and

wanted to make sure they did not have to fight a bureaucracy

to get the services they earned.

The young men and women coming back and the veterans from

previous wars shared more than battlefield wounds when they

returned home, they shared a difficulty in getting care and

benefits for their signature wounds. For the Vietnam

veterans, it was exposure to Agent Orange; for veterans of

Iraq and Afghanistan, it was Traumatic Brain Injury.

Secretary Shinseki made the decision in 2009 to establish

service connection for Vietnam Veterans with three specific

illnesses that, based on the latest scientific evidence, have

been associated with exposure to the herbicides referred to

as Agent Orange--Parkinson's disease, ischemic heart disease,

and B-cell leukemias.

This was the right thing to do for Vietnam Veterans and,

thanks to this decision, Veterans who served in Vietnam

during the war and who have one of the ``presumptive''

illnesses do not have to face another hurdle and prove an

association between their illness and their military service.

Thanks to this quick and decisive action VA has granted more

than 160,000 retroactive claims associated with these three

presumptive conditions, and awarded more than $4.5 billion in

retroactive benefits, with an average retroactive benefit

payment of nearly $27,000. Under Secretary Shinseki, the VA

continues to expand and improve its mental health programs,

adding more than 3800 mental health professionals to its

clinical staff. As part of VA's 2012 hiring initiative, VA

has hired 1,600

mental health clinicians for newly created positions and 800

Peer Specialists and Peer Apprentices.

Since 2009, Congress has increased the mental health care

budget by 42 percent and VA has treated 1.4 million Veterans

with specialty mental health services in fiscal year 2013

(FY13) alone. Under Secretary Shinseki's leadership, the VA

has expanded access to mental health services with longer

clinic hours, telehealth capability to deliver services, and

standards that mandate rapid access to mental health

services.

In July 2010, VA published a historic change to its rules,

streamlining the process and paperwork needed by combat

Veterans to pursue a claim for disability pay for PTSD.

After Secretary Shinseki made it easier for those claiming

Agent Orange and PTSD injuries, the claims backlog had major

increases. With his work to have overtime and sharing of

records, the claims backlog has been reduced by more than 50%

in the past 14 months. The VA has shown an unwavering

commitment to improving the delivery of benefits to Veterans.

With input from all of it veteran partners, the VA created

and is implementing a comprehensive plan to end the Veterans

disability benefits claims backlog.

When Secretary Shinseki took office, he set a goal of

ending Veterans homelessness by 2015. The VA, along with

local, state, and federal partners has decreased the number

of homeless Veterans on a given night by 24 percent since

2010 and are continuing to work to keep bringing this number

down.

The VA provides quality and timely healthcare and benefits

to our veterans. We have a duty to make sure that all those

who have defended this country when called upon receive the

care they have earned through their service. The VA is better

for Secretary Shinseki's service to our veterans.

Mr. Speaker, as a senior member of the House Veterans' Affairs Committee, I have been on this committee for 21 years. I strongly support Secretary Shinseki and his leadership of the Department of Veterans Affairs.

It is very important as we go into Memorial Day that we let the veterans know that we appreciate their service. We also need to let them know that we are going to do all we can to make sure they have the quality health care that they deserve.

The VA operates 1,700 sites of care and conducts 85 million appointments each year, which comes to 236,000 health care appointments each day.

The latest American Customer Satisfaction Index, an independent customer service survey, ranked VA customer satisfaction at 95 percent among VA patients, among the best in the Nation and equal to or better than any private sector hospital.

Since its peak in March of 2013, the VA has reduced the benefits claims backlog by 50 percent, on track to eliminate the backlog in 2015. VA also implemented an automatic electric claims processing system to better serve veterans into the future. In 2013, VA paid out $66 billion in compensation claims to 4.5 million eligible veterans. Under the leadership of the Secretary, we also expand access to earned benefits for veterans of all eras.

In addition, VA granted presumption of service connection for three Agent Orange-related conditions. Let me just say that for years the veterans in this category have been trying to get assistance from the VA and they were denied. This Secretary stepped up to the plate and let all of those veterans come in, millions of additional veterans.

Since 2009, VA has reduced the estimated number of homeless veterans. We have been trying to get them to do that since day one over 22 years ago, but this Secretary has reduced it by 24 percent. They have conducted over 6 million clinical visits with over 600,000 veterans who were homeless or at risk of homelessness, including the formerly homeless. In 2013 alone, VA served more than 240,000 veterans who were homeless.

In closing, the VA is like a big ship, one that I have been working on for 22 years--slow to turn. But under the leadership, the Democratic leadership and the Republican leadership, we have funded the largest VA budget increase in the history of the United States. Like the first President said: We must make sure that the VA does what it can to serve those veterans and give them the service we demand. God bless America and continue to bless the veterans who have served America.

Mr. Speaker, the Water Resources Reform and Development Act conference report is a perfect example of how government is supposed to work. I want to thank Senators Boxer and Vitter and Congressmen Shuster, Gibbs, and particularly Rahall and Bishop for their commitment to produce a comprehensive and bipartisan bill supported by all of the stakeholders.

I also want to thank President Obama for his leadership improving and expediting the process for completing projects at the Corps of Engineers and encouraging Congress to complete the WRRDA conference. I hope this bipartisanship continues as we reauthorize surface transportation programs.

This legislation includes a lot of positive provisions that are going to help improve, expand, and accelerate Corps of Engineers projects.

These projects will improve the safety of the American public, generate billions of dollars in economic activity, create hundreds of thousands of good-paying jobs, and benefit the Nation's economy as a whole.

We have a group of transportation stakeholders from Florida in the audience today, along with the Jacksonville mayor, Alvin Brown; chamber president, Daniel Davis; port director, Brian Taylor; and Congressman Ander Crenshaw.

They, along with other leaders, worked as a team to make sure that Florida was not left behind.

In closing, I encourage all of my colleagues to vote for this bill. It is an example of one team, one fight, and what we can do when we work together.

Mr. Speaker, as a senior member of the House Veterans' Affairs Committee, I rise today in strong support of Secretary Shinseki and his leadership of the Department of Veterans' Affairs. No veterans should ever go without the healthcare they deserve, but it is important to not just focus on anecdotal problems but to look at what the Secretary and the VA have accomplished.

The VA operates 1,700 sites of care, and conducts approximately 85 million appointments each year, which comes to 236,000 health care appointments each day.

The latest American Customer Satisfaction Index, an independent customer service survey, ranks VA customer satisfaction among Veteran patients among the best in the nation and equal to or better than ratings for private sector hospitals.

Since its peak in March of 2013, the VA has reduced the benefits claims backlog by nearly 50 percent, on track to eliminate the backlog in 2015. VA has also implemented an automated electronic claims processing system to better serve Veterans into the future. In 2013, VA paid out $66 billion in compensation claims to 4.5 million eligible Veterans.

Under the leadership of Secretary Shinseki, VA has also greatly expanded access to earned benefits for Veterans of all eras.

In addition, VA granted presumption of service connection for three new Agent-Orange-related conditions: Parkinson's disease, hairy cell and other chronic b-cell leukemias, and ischemic heart disease; and for Gulf War Veterans, VA granted presumption of service connection for nine diseases associated with Gulf War Illness.

For all combat Veterans with verifiable PTSD--World War II, Korea, Dominican Republic, Vietnam, Grenada, Panama, Somalia, Operation Desert Storm, Iraq, Afghanistan, among others--VA loosened the evidentiary standard to receive benefits.

Since 2009, VA has reduced the estimated number of homeless Veterans by 24 percent. They have conducted over six million clinical visits with over 600,000 Veterans who were homeless, at risk of homelessness (including formerly homeless). In 2013 alone, VA served more than 240,000 Veterans who were homeless or at risk of becoming homeless--21 percent more than the year before.

The VA has made progress for veterans of the future by providing Post-9/11 GI Bill educational benefits to more than one million students and decreasing the disability claims backlog by nearly 50 percent.

I welcome Secretary Shinseki's announcement that the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) will complete a nationwide access review at all health care facilities. As stated, the purpose of this review is to ensure a full understanding of VA's policy and continued integrity in managing patient access to care. As part of the review during the next several weeks, a national face-to-face audit will be conducted at all clinics for every VA Medical Center.

I am confident in the health care our veterans in Florida are receiving. With eight VA Medical Centers in Florida, Georgia and Puerto Rico and over 55 clinics serving over 1.6 million veterans, the care veterans are getting is the best in the world.

Over 2,312 physicians and 5,310 nurses are serving the 546,874 veterans who made nearly 8 million visits to the facilities in our region. Of the total 25,133 VA employees, one-third are veterans.

In 2013, 37,221 women received health care services at VA hospitals and clinics in Florida, South Georgia and the Caribbean--more than any other VA healthcare network nationwide. This means that more than 75 percent of women Veterans enrolled for VA healthcare in VISN 8 were seen by providers in 2013.

I am especially pleased at the new Jacksonville Replacement Outpatient Clinic that was recently opened. The two-story, 133,500 square foot clinic provides state of the art technology and increased specialty services including diagnostics, improved laboratory facilities, expansion of women's services, minor ambulatory surgical procedures, expanded mental health telehealth services and additional audiology.

When opened, the Orlando VA Medical Center will include 134 inpatient beds, an outpatient clinic, parking garages, chapel and central energy plant. Currently, the 120-bed community living center and 60-bed domiciliary are open and accepting veterans.

The VA provides quality timely healthcare to our veterans. We have a duty to make sure that all those who have defended this country when called upon receive the care they have earned through their service. I support the Secretary in his nationwide access review and look forward to hearing his report when it is finished.

Mr. Speaker, as a senior member of the House Veterans' Affairs Committee, I rise today in support of Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric Shinseki's announcement that the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) will complete a nation-wide access review. As stated, the purpose of this review is to ensure a full understanding of VA's policy and continued integrity in managing patient access to care. As part of the review during the next several weeks, a national face- to-face audit will be conducted at all clinics for every VA Medical Center.

I am confident in the health care our veterans in Florida are receiving. With eight VA Medical Centers in Florida, Georgia and Puerto Rico and over 55 clinics serving over 1.6 million veterans, veterans are getting the best in the world.

Over 2,312 physicians and 5,310 nurses are serving the 546,874 veterans who made nearly 8 million visits to the facilities in our region. Of the total 25,133 VA employees, one-third are veterans.

In 2013, 37,221 women received health care services at VA hospitals and clinics in Florida, South Georgia and the Caribbean--more than any other VA healthcare network nationwide. This means that more than 75 percent of women Veterans enrolled for VA healthcare in VISN 8 were seen by providers in 2013.

I am especially pleased at the new Jacksonville Replacement Outpatient Clinic that was recently opened. The two-story, 133,500 square foot clinic provides state of the art technology and increased specialty services including diagnostics, improved laboratory facilities, expansion of women's services, minor ambulatory surgical procedures, expanded mental health telehealth services and additional audiology.

When opened, the Orlando VA Medical Center will include 134 inpatient beds, an outpatient clinic, parking garages, chapel and central energy plant. Currently, the 120-bed community living center and 60-bed domiciliary are open and accepting veterans.

The VA provides quality timely healthcare to our veterans. We have a duty to make sure that all those who have defended this country when called upon receive the care they have earned through their service. I support the Secretary in his nation-wide access review and look forward to hearing his report when it is finished.

Mr. Speaker, this week the House will debate and vote on a resolution authorizing a new Select Committee on Benghazi. Indeed, the attack in Libya was a tragedy, as is losing an Ambassador doing official work for the United States abroad, but using these deaths to score political points is politics at its worst. After 9/11, our nation came together to do what is best for all Americans. There were no gotcha politics, no hearings to blame the victims; instead, we worked together as a unified body on Capitol Hill to protect the American people.

There have already been seven reviews of that terrible attack: one by the State Department's Accountability Review Board, two bipartisan reviews in the Senate, and four partisan reviews in the House. It certainly seems as though the Republicans' proposed special committee is nothing more than an attempt to exploit the deaths of four brave Americans to divert attention away from their own do-nothing record here in Washington.

Moreover, this new select committee is in reality, nothing more than a monumental waste of time and taxpayer dollars to help Republicans mobilize their extreme base ahead of the election. According to the Department of Defense in fact, they have already spent millions of dollars and thousands of hours responding to congressional inquiries. Nor will the new select committee have any additional powers that Chairman Issa doesn't have already--including the ability to issue unilateral subpoenas for any document or any witness, authority he just used to subpoena the Secretary of State.

To be sure, Benghazi was not the first time Americans have been killed in an embassy while in the service to their country. In the last 100 years, there have been 39 attacks on U.S. embassies with at least 44 American deaths. In one Embassy bombing in fact, a constituent of mine, Mr. Julian Bartley, Sr. one of the most senior African Americans in the U.S. Foreign Service, was the highest-ranking U.S. official killed in the August 7th, 1998 explosions at the American Embassies in Nairobi and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Jay, his son, a sophomore at the U.S. International University in Nairobi, also died in that explosion.

On that day in August, Osama bin Laden and his terrorist group, al- Qaeda, simultaneously set off bombs at the American embassies in Nairobi and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. More than 250 people were killed, including 12 Americans, and 5,000 wounded in the twin bombing attacks: we were all outraged at these coordinated attacks on Americans.

However, as Dana Milbank of the Washington Post put it: `Benghazi doesn't qualify as a scandal because the Republican allegations, even if true, don't amount to much. It is indeed scandalous that weak security allowed the killings to occur, and that the perpetrators still haven't been brought to justice. But Republicans are focusing on (United Nations Ambassador Susan) Rice's TV talking points, under the theory that she emphasized the role of a provocative video and street protests so the violence wouldn't disprove President Obama's contention before the 2012 election that terrorists were being defeated.'

Mr. Speaker, as I rise today, I am terribly, terribly saddened by the news of the passing of my very close friend and former colleague, Congressman James Oberstar. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family, Jean, his children, and grandchildren.

Mr. Oberstar was a true ``transportation guru.'' There was no one in Washington and most likely in the entire world who knew more about transportation than Chairman Oberstar. And he could tell you about it in several different languages.

For 36 years, Congressman Oberstar served the people of Minnesota's Eighth. I traveled on many codels with Mr. Oberstar, including a trip to Haiti, where he taught English there at the U.S. Embassy early in his career. I remember being so impressed not just by the amount of knowledge he had about Haiti, its history, politics, and infrastructure, but that he spoke French as well as in Haitian.

In closing, I take from the Bible: Mr. Oberstar has fought a good fight, he has run the race, he has finished his work, he has done a great job. God has blessed America by giving us Mr. James Oberstar.

Mr. Speaker, I have been an elected official for nearly 32 years, and one of the proudest moments I have experienced in all my years was when this House passed the bill to grant a Congressional Gold Medal to the Montford Point Marines. When the bill granting the Gold Medal passed, all of the Members of Congress honored the Marines with a standing ovation for their service, their bravery, and their dedication to preserving freedom and democracy for our nation and the world.

I was pleased to work with Marine Commandant General James F. Amos, who put his office and staff behind the Gold Medal and in only 4 months, we went from introduction to public law, granting that Gold Medal. There were 308 cosponsors on the bill and it passed unanimously by a vote of 422-0.

When I was first elected to Congress, I requested to be a member of the Veterans Affairs Committee. And today, as the second most senior Democrat on the Committee, I believe it is my duty to continue to do everything I can to assist the members of our armed forces.

So for me, it was more than an honor to sponsor a Resolution to recognize the service and sacrifice of the Montford Point Marines, and acknowledge today's United States Marine Corps as an excellent opportunity for the advancement of people of all races, which in large part is due to the service and example of the original Montford Point Marines.

Years before Jackie Robinson, and decades before Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King, Jr., these heroes joined the Marines to defend our great nation. Fighting racism both at home and in the armed forces, as well as enemies abroad, these men persevered and protected this nation when it mattered most.

These African Americans from all States were not sent to the traditional boot camps in Parris Island, South Carolina and Sari Diego, California. Instead, African American Marines were segregated, and went through basic training at Camp Montford Point near the New River in Jacksonville, North Carolina.

We must honor these war heroes' selfless service and sacrifice. They answered our nation's call at a time when our society was deeply divided along racial lines. Because of this, many of their contributions went unrecognized and many times they were not given the respect and recognition they deserved as Marines, as Americans, and as patriots. To correct this past injustice, we honor the Monford Point Marines, and this Gold Medal will forever anchor their role in the history of our nation's great military.

I am reminded of the words of the first President of the United States, George Washington, whose words are worth repeating at this time:

The willingness with which our young people are likely to

serve in any war, no matter how justified, shall be directly

proportional as to how they perceive the veterans of earlier

wars were treated and appreciated by their country.

Thank you all for your service.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of my constituent, April Green.

Born April Smith, Ms. Green was born in Clarksburg, West Virginia to Janet Smith Thomas on April 12, 1969. Raised by Janet and Daniel Thomas in Jacksonville, Florida, she was educated in the public school system, graduating from Sandlewood High School in 1987. Upon completion of high school she attended Georgia Southern University in Statesboro, Georgia where she majored in biology and played on the basketball team. April then enlisted in the Air Force Reserve, and shortly after enlisting was deployed to the Middle East in support of Operation Desert Storm, where she served in the Medivac Unit as a medical assistant.

After serving her country and completing college at Georgia Southern she returned to Jacksonville, Florida and began a career in banking. After many years at Barnett Bank of Florida, reaching the position of Vice President of Loans, April was called upon to serve in a different capacity. In 2003 she was contacted by her pastor, Bishop Rudolph McKissick, Sr. to provide leadership in the role as the church administrator and chief financial officer. At Bethel Baptist Institutional Church, April oversees the day to day operation of the church staff, finances and development. Bethel is the oldest African American Church in the State of Florida with a membership of approximately 11,000.

Always wanting to give back to the community and having a passion to assist kids with their quest to attend college and further their education, April started the Jacksonville Pistons, a non-profit organization that would accomplish that goal. She created a traveling basketball organization for boys and girls between the ages of 8-17 with an emphasis on academic achievement and personal growth. To date she has mentored over 200 kids whom attended college.

As she celebrates her 45th birthday, I speak for the entire Fifth District in thanking April Green for all her hard work serving the Jacksonville Community.

The documents that we are debating today are more than just the Republican budget. It is who they are.

They constantly quote scripture, yet the Bible says the poor will always be with us. Our job is to help raise the standard.

They remind me of ``The Wizard of Oz.'' The Republicans have no heart.

This is another example of reverse Robin Hood--robbing from the working people and the middle class to give huge tax cuts to the rich.

The latest House Republican goals are to dismantle Medicare by ending the guarantee and replacing it with a voucher program and block grant and cut Medicaid by $732 billion.

I was so upset last year when the SNAP program--programs like Meals on Wheels and assistance to children--was cut by $40 billion. Now they cut it by $125 billion.

They want to repeal the Affordable Care Act. But let me just mention that everybody that talks about repealing it has health care. Every single one of them have health care.

They reject the President's proposal for veterans and Job Corps while aiming to reduce the high unemployment rate among veterans. A cut of 24 percent to nondefense appropriations would mean $146 billion cut from veterans' health care.

They cut transportation and infrastructure projects by $173 billion, phasing out the Essential Air Service programs to 160 small communities.

It eliminates Amtrak operational funds, resulting in 36 States and more than 20 million people losing Amtrak service. The transportation budget assumes no highway or transit investment in 2015.

And while everyone knows that education is critical, they cut billions from programs like Head Start.

To whom God has given much, much is expected. I certainly think more is expected from the Republican leadership in this House.

As I said from the beginning, they remind me of ``The Wizard of Oz.'' This Republican House has no heart.

Mr. Speaker, it is critical that we continue to improve access for women and minorities to jobs and contract opportunities in the field of transportation.

As the Ranking Member on the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials I am introducing legislation today establishing a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) program at the Federal Railroad Administration so that women and minority owned businesses will be guaranteed participation in any new passenger and high speed rail initiatives.

The U.S. Department of Transportation has been the leader in ensuring minority and women owned participation in transportation projects, advocating for a reasonable 10% set aside for businesses that often struggle to compete on an uneven playing field with larger firms. Currently, each of the other modes of transportation have a successful DBE program, and it is critical that the Federal Railroad Administration develop a program for these same businesses.

The Congressional Black Caucus has made strengthening Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) programs at the Department of Transportation a top priority, and will continue to push to ensure that these worthy goals are being met.

This legislation will keep the American Dream alive for many women and minority owned companies and I encourage its swift passage and implementation.