Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today on behalf of the nearly 40,000 unemployed Nevadans at risk of losing their benefits if Congress fails to act before the end of the year.

While our economy has slowly begun to recover from the recession and housing crisis, there are still 1.3 million fewer jobs today than when the recession started 6 years ago. Nearly 4 million jobless Americans have been unemployed for more than 27 weeks. And while a newly unemployed worker has a 20 to 30 percent chance of getting hired, a long-term unemployed worker has only a 1 in 10 chance of finding a new job in any given month.

Cutting off a critical lifeline to those already struggling to make ends meet would be irresponsible and reckless, causing significant damage to our economic growth and costing our economy nearly 310,000 jobs, including 3,000 in Nevada.

I am proud to cosponsor the Emergency Unemployment Compensation Extension Act that would extend this vital program and related provisions for another year.

So before Congress pats itself on the back about a budget deal, let's think about those families truly in need during these holidays and beyond.

Mr. Speaker, with fewer than 7 legislative days left in the year, the window to address the staggering list of unfinished business before the House is rapidly closing: no farm bill, no long- term budget, no tax reform, no ENDA, no comprehensive immigration package, no replacement for the sequester. In fact, the GOP has continuously failed to govern and create real solutions to the pressing issues facing this country.

Over the past 11 months, Republicans have undermined the important economic progress that we have made, disproportionately harming low- income women and children and keeping 11 million undocumented immigrants in the shadows. They have gutted nutritional programs, voted to repeal health care reform 43 times, and shut down the government in a fit of pique, putting millions at economic risk.

This holiday season, as Americans enjoy exchanging gifts with family and friends, I am afraid all they are going to find from House Republicans is a lump of coal.

Mr. Speaker, recently the Republican leadership handed out a blank piece of paper labeled ``Agenda 2014.'' Blank means no goals, no plan, no immigration reform, no jobs, no nothing.

Well, I have a list of proposals that I would like to write on that blank slate, proposals that would create jobs, grow the economy, and strengthen the middle class. So I will start today by introducing commonsense legislation that achieves these objectives and invests in our country's ability to compete in the 21st century.

The Training Highly Skilled Americans Act would use revenue from H-1B visas to promote STEM education at minority-serving colleges and universities and provide scholarships to minority students who are going into STEM fields.

Science and technology companies are already paying our government to bring foreign workers to the U.S. to fill STEM jobs, so why not use some of these funds to train our own folks to have these skills to fill these jobs in the future? This is particularly critical for minority students, who are significantly underrepresented in these fields. By opening our doors to STEM education, we will strengthen our education system and our economy.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Miller and thank Ranking Member Michaud for yielding me this time.

As the ranking member of the Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs Subcommittee, I rise today in strong support of S. 893 to provide a COLA increase for disabled veterans.

In the wake of Veterans Day, let us take a lesson from President Kennedy's admonition that we should show our respect for our heroes not just through words, but through actions. This legislation is an opportunity for us to take such action. With its passage, Congress can show tangible support for our Nation's heroes.

Unlike with Social Security recipients, Congress is required to adjust veterans' COLAs every year. S. 893 would make that important adjustment for next year. That's a good thing that I support, but I would also urge the Senate in the meantime to pass H.R. 570, the American Heroes COLA Act, that would allow for an automatic COLA increase so that veterans' benefits are not subject to any congressional delay. Making the adjustment automatic would remove this important benefit from the capriciousness of partisan politics or personal grandstanding.

This bill was introduced in a bipartisan fashion by our subcommittee chairman, Jon Runyan, and me. It was unanimously approved by the House in May and is awaiting action down the hall. So, while we await the passage of that automatic increase, passing S. 893 is an important step forward. I support it. It will ensure that our Nation's heroes receive all the benefits they have earned, and I encourage my colleagues to support it as well because this will be a true recognition of the veterans whose service and sacrifice we honored yesterday.

Mr. Speaker, the annual Battle for Nevada between the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and the University of Nevada, Reno, is not just a football game played once a year; it is a time-honored tradition that reflects the best of Nevada's sports rivalries. The victor not only wins bragging rights for a year, but also the coveted Fremont Cannon, which is painted in the winning school's colors.

For 8 long years, Reno has claimed these spoils. But this past Saturday, after a great game between Nevada's two outstanding universities, UNLV celebrated its first victory against the Wolf Pack since 2004 and the long-anticipated return of Fremont Cannon to Las Vegas.

Congratulations to UNLV's coach, Bobby Hauck, and all the Rebels for their 27-22 victory against UNR. You have made southern Nevada proud.

As part of a friendly wager placed on the game and in honor of Make a Difference Day, my colleague, Mark Amodei from Nevada's Second District, and I will be performing a community service project wearing Rebels red.

Go Rebels.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Michaud for yielding to me.

As ranking member of the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs, I strongly support the bill before us, the omnibus bill, H.R. 2189.

This legislation includes my bill, H.R. 2086, the Pay As You Rate Act, which would require the VA to pay benefits to veterans as individual components of their claims are reviewed rather than at the completion of the entire claim.

Currently, veterans typically receive payments when all medical conditions within a claim are fully adjudicated. Veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan average 8.5 components in their claims. While some of these are very complex and time-consuming, other components are simpler.

The Pay As You Rate Act will require the VA to pay veterans as individual medical conditions are adjudicated, providing tens of thousands of veterans and their families much-needed financial support while the VA continues to work on the more complex aspects of their claims.

I thank Chairman Miller, Ranking Member Michaud, and Chairman Runyan for including my provision and other Democratic bills in this legislation.

Collectively, the legislation before us today should assist VA in its continued effort to transform the claims process from mountains of paper to a more efficient, effective electronic system. In just the past few months, the VA has made great strides in serving our Nation's heroes by reducing the benefits backlog. The VA has set ambitious goals, and Congress should work to support those efforts. More needs to be done, and it needs to be done quickly to ensure that veterans receive the benefits they have earned in a timely fashion.

I am also pleased to have worked with Chairman Miller on some of the task force provisions of this legislation. The provision that I added at the full committee markup would improve the proposed task force by including a subcommittee to look at the appeals process. While the VA is making significant progress in reducing the backlog, it is important that we are not creating a new backlog of appeals in the years to come. This subcommittee would be charged with making recommendations aimed at preventing that future backlog of appeals.

So I thank you, and I support the bill.

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

I rise in support of H.R. 1405, as amended.

I introduced this legislation, H.R. 1405, to improve the veterans' claims appeals process. Currently, a veteran must first exercise his or her appeal rights before the appeal process formally begins and the VA sends the required forms.

H.R. 1405, as amended, requires the VA to include an appeals form with the notice of decision for every claim. This cuts out several steps and speeds up the appeals process. This commonsense change will immediately reduce the time frame of the appeals process by 60 days.

H.R. 1405 will also allow the VA to provide better customer service to those veterans who are already struggling with significant delays and bureaucratic challenges.

This legislation is, indeed, a commonsense improvement that will result in veterans in southern Nevada receiving the benefits they have earned in a timely fashion. I constantly hear from veterans in Las Vegas that the process is too complicated and takes too long. This change will eliminate an unnecessary bureaucratic step and speed up the process for those veterans and all our veterans across the country.

H.R. 1405, as amended, is supported by the VA and the veterans service organizations who came and testified.

This piece of legislation also includes language from three other bills: H.R. 679, the Honor America's Guard-Reserve Retirees Act, introduced by Representative Walz of Minnesota; Chairman Runyan's bill, H.R. 733, the Access to Veterans Benefits Improvement Act; and Mr. Johnson's bill, H.R. 894, to reform VA's fiduciary program.

I want to thank the chairman of our subcommittee, Mr. Runyan, for moving this legislation through the subcommittee and for the bipartisan cooperation that guides our work on behalf of Nevada's veterans.

I also want to thank the many veteran service organizations for their helpful input and for supporting this legislation.

I urge my colleagues to support passage of H.R. 1405, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Walz), who brings incredible expertise and compassion to the committee as a decorated veteran himself.

Mr. Speaker, I would urge my colleagues to join us in support of H.R. 1405, as amended, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, nearly 73 years ago, as countries across Europe were falling to Hitler's forces, an emissary from Mussolini arrived in Athens to demand the Greeks surrender and allow the Axis forces to occupy that country. In response, the Greeks courageously replied, ``oxi,'' or ``no.''

The Axis forces quickly descended on Greece, but they failed to anticipate the courage of the Hellenic people, who led a passionate resistance in defense of their freedom and their beloved country. On the island of Crete, for example, with only broomsticks and plowshares as weapons, women and children held the Germans at bay for 10 days, breaking the back of the assault.

The story of this bravery has largely been overlooked in the history books, but the Greek refusal to surrender proved to be one of the most decisive moments in the war. As Winston Churchill said:

If there had not been the virtue and courage of the Greeks,

we do not know what the outcome of World War II would have

been.

On August 28, Greeks around the world celebrate Oxi Day to honor the great legacy of the Greek people and share with the world the story of their bravery. I commend them and say, ``Happy Oxi Day.''

I thank the gentleman.

I would like to thank the chairman and the ranking member of this important committee for their work on this bill, and I would also like to thank my colleague from California (Mr. Thompson) for his leadership as part of this bill in addressing the enormous challenges that invasive species present to our country's waters.

In southern Nevada--you think of that as a desert, but there is a lot of water there--the spread of the quagga mussels is a growing threat to Lake Mead, which contributes nearly $1 billion to the local economy and supplies 90 percent of southern Nevada's water supply. The spread of quagga mussels in this critical reservoir has led to expensive countermeasures by the Bureau of Reclamation, which is spending nearly $1 million a year to prevent quaggas from infiltrating the Boulder Dam intakes. The Southern Nevada Water Authority was also forced to redesign the water intake 3 project, which is currently underway, to prevent quagga mussels from growing there as well. If unchecked, the mussels can clog the intakes to prevent water from reaching the residents and the visitors to southern Nevada. Likewise, Lake Tahoe, which borders Nevada and California, is on the edge of waterways where quagga mussels have been found and are taking hold. Should quagga mussels establish colonies in Lake Tahoe, the annual impact would be over $22 million a year.

The amendment that is part of this bill would direct the GAO to examine the current efforts to address the spread of invasives and to help develop a long-term strategy. So I would urge my colleagues to not only support the bill, but also the amendment.

Mr. Chairman, as a Member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, I want to thank Chairmen Shuster and Gibbs, and Ranking Members Rahall and Bishop for their hard work on this legislation. I also want to thank them for accepting the Nolan Amendment during Committee Markup that expands the use of the Noxious Weed program to cover aquatic invasives providing an additional tool to address the growing threat of invasive species to our environment and our economy. I want to thank my colleague from California, Mr. Thompson, for his leadership on this issue, and I urge my colleagues to support our Amendment.

The amendment itself is simple, but the underlying issue it addresses is complicated and critical because aquatic invasives impact communities across the country, including Las Vegas. In Southern Nevada we are facing enormous challenges with the spread of Quagga Mussels into our local waters, in particular, Lake Mead. Lake Mead is a crown jewel of the National Park Service system welcoming 8 million visitors every year, and contributing up to $1 billion dollars to the local and regional economy.

In addition to the recreational opportunities from boating and fishing, Lake Mead is also essential to the vitality of Las Vegas and Southern Nevada, providing 90% of our water. The spread of Quagga mussels in this critical reservoir has led to expensive countermeasures by the Bureau of Reclamation, which is spending nearly $1 million a year to prevent Quaggas from infiltrating the Boulder Dam intakes. In addition to countermeasures to prevent mussel infestation in Las Vegas' water intakes number 1 and 2 in Lake Mead, the Southern Nevada Water Authority has had to change the design of the water intake 3 project, currently underway, to prevent Quagga colonies from growing there as well. If unchecked, the mussels can clog the intakes, preventing water from reaching residents and visitors in Southern Nevada.

In addition to impacts in Southern Nevada, I am concerned about the mussels spreading to other parts of our country. Lake Tahoe, which borders Nevada and California, is on the edge of the waterways where Quagga mussels have taken hold. According to a 2009 Army Corps analysis, should Quaggas establish colonies in Lake Tahoe, the annual economic impact would be $22 million dollars.

These are issues we cannot afford to ignore.

Our amendment directs the GAO to examine the current state of efforts to address the

spread of invasives, and to develop a long-term strategy to address this growing concern.

Again I urge my colleagues to support our amendment.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today with the people of the Republic of China (Taiwan) as they celebrate as their National Day this week.

I am proud to consider myself a friend of the Republican of China and value the relationship between our two nations, which over the last century, has resulted in strong relationship focused on our cultural and economic ties. I visited Taiwan as a state legislator and often welcome its representatives to District One.

With the recent expansion of the Visa Waiver Program to include the Republic of China, the United States in general and Las Vegas particularly are excited about hosting even more visitors from Taiwan.

Moreover, I would also like to see Taiwan join the International Civil Aviation Organization soon. Taiwan's participation in this important organization will promote global aviation safety and security while strengthening ICAO as an institution.

The United States and Taiwan continue to share a close friendship and important economic relationship, and I congratulate the people of Taiwan on the occasion of their National Day.

Mr. Speaker, 15 days ago, an extreme faction of the Republican Party, supported by its leader and empowered by its more complacent members, brought about a shutdown of the entire Federal Government. It has since brought us to the brink of an unprecedented default, and now it refuses to accept a compromise that will open up the government, put people back to work, and lift the debt ceiling so the United States can pay its bills.

Americans are fed up with the political obstructionism and dysfunction that has caused this unnecessary crisis. With the clock running out, we cannot afford to waste any more time. We need to act now. So I say to my colleagues across the aisle, stop your guerilla tactics; stop playing games with the good faith and credit of the United States; stop putting radical ideology ahead of the welfare of the American people; and stop sabotaging our economy and our democracy.

We have got to bring common sense, integrity, and honor back to the House of Representatives and do what is in the best interests of this great country.

Mr. Speaker, I am delighted to congratulate the Walter Bracken STEAM Academy in District One in Las Vegas for being named a 2013 National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence and for being designated as ``exemplary high achieving.''

The Blue Ribbon Schools award is the highest honor that the Department of Education can bestow on an American school. The administration, faculty, staff, and students of the Walter Bracken STEAM Academy should be very proud. You have developed a strong school community where students are encouraged and enabled to pursue their interests and develop their talents, skills, and intellect.

The most important investment we can make for the future of our nation is in the next generation. Walter Bracken STEAM Academy is a prime example of what we can accomplish both individually and as a society when we make access to a quality education a priority.

Mr. Speaker, over 186,000 students in Clark County School District in Las Vegas receive free or reduced school meals, and for many this school meal is the only food they'll eat all day. Yet this destructive government shutdown has cut off Federal funding for school meals, leaving school districts to struggle to feed their students with budgets already devastated by the sequestration.

Hungry children come to school unprepared to learn, and school meals give them the opportunity that they need to succeed. Children who eat a school breakfast are better able to score higher on academic tests, they're less likely to miss school, and they're more likely to graduate. Despite this, Republicans are preventing Federal funds from buying food for these students.

With 28 percent of children in Nevada at risk of going hungry, we should be doing everything we can to feed these students. The Republican shutdown is doing the opposite. It's harming vulnerable children by literally taking food from the mouths of babes.

Shame on these Republicans. They must end this shutdown now.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize World Tourism Day.

This year's theme is ``Tourism and Water: Protecting Our Common Future,'' and I join with the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority in celebrating this theme.

For southern Nevada, this combines two of our most prized resources, tourism and water. Last year, nearly 40 million visitors came to Las Vegas. We hosted over 21,000 conventions and meetings, which brought in some 5 million national and international visitors, most of whom spent time in District One.

To continue successfully attracting and serving tourists and residents in the middle of the desert, southern Nevada has learned to be especially conscientious about water usage. In Las Vegas, we've found efficient ways to maximize our water usage to enhance the experience of visitors while safeguarding this critical resource for the long term.

Every day, tens of thousands of tourists pass by to take in the majestic beauty of the fountains at the Bellagio, not realizing that they come from recycled water. There is also CityCenter, a resort destination located on the Strip which is the world's largest environmentally sustainable, mixed-use, new construction development to receive LEED certification. Every year, CityCenter saves nearly 50 million gallons of water and, as a tribute to its commitment to sustainability, proudly displays an art exhibit of the Colorado River.

Tourism and Water, it's a great theme. Come and experience it for yourself only in District One.

This week, a leading Nevada Republican said that the 2014 elections will be a ``great year for Republicans'' because a lot of minorities and a lot of younger people will not turn out. Well, while the GOP plan for 2014 is focused on voter suppression, I'm here to deliver a different message:

Minorities and women are going to be turning out in droves next year because they see what the Republican leadership is doing in Washington. They see the dysfunction the Republicans have created and are apparently so proud of. They see the Republican agenda that's driven by an extremist ideology rather than what's best for Americans.

In fact, voters of all types are seeing--and will see over the next few days--just how out of step their House Republicans truly are. They grapple not with the needs of Americans, but with the two wings of their own caucus: the far right and the further right.

We need a new agenda.